I apologize for this longer entry. Hopefully it will be a quick read.

During our Comm group this past Wed we did something a little different. Our senior pastor every so often ‘interviews’ folks to give them a chance to share how they came to Christ and what difference that has made in their lives.

So instead of continuing our 4 part video series on relational outreach called “Just Walk Across the Room,” I figured I’d steal a page out of an older coach’s play-book and interview someone who spent the last week involved in relational outreach. Staci and John, who deserve their own Wikipedia page in my opinion, have hosted week long reunions the last several years. You could call them family reunions of sorts, for several different families who adopted children out of the same orphanage in Vietnam reunite once a year down in sunny Florida (pronounced Flar-ida of course).

Largely successful and quite anti-Christian, these families have built a strong bond with John and Staci over the last several years. They already have planned a trip for next year.

Since I didn’t podcast my interview with Staci and John (interviewing someone is harder than it sounds on the radio-I have to give that to Jim Rome, who is the best I’ve heard), I’d like to just conclude with some of her concluding points, encouragement and challenges to our group.

1.) Hospitality-Having people in your homes opens up a new level of trust, intimacy, friendship. After several years, one woman quite hostile to Christianity allowed Staci to talk with her about the gospel. In addition, having folks in your homes allows people to see your strengths as well as your weaknesses-which gives you a chance to model repentance. Weaknesses probably give us more of an opportunity for the gospel, so there is nothing to fear (like screwing up or accidentally saying something you shouldn’t) for the repentant person! There is simply a deeper level of intimacy when people come into our homes. Staci mentioned that it is different than just being out in public or hanging at a coffeehouse.

2.) Intentionality-Staci specifically mentioned being convicted about being intentional with her neighbors. The Vietnam gang takes the initiative with this whole deal each year. While Staci has been involved in bringing several folks to Hope and even more into her house, she still felt a need to continually be intentional in seeking to bring folks into their homes. She has seen the gospel go forth in the context of hospitality over the years. Obviously a very hospitable woman already, we all felt challenged/encouraged to keep pressing forward to advance His Kingdom, not our own. I love it when ‘non-professional Christians’ (I’m being facetious of course) communicate my vision and live it even better than myself. I left encouraged, and excited to continue moving forward.

First of all, I do need to make reference to an earlier post. I left early from the Casting Crowns concert on Sunday night, and apparently the lead singer chose a later time to encourage people to find a church home. And one of the folks whom I thought didn’t attend a church, apparently, has been visiting a church. It takes a big man to admit he’s wrong, and sometimes I’m big. I’m being big now. Big and humble.

I chose not to attach an image to this post. You’ll understand why very shortly.

When one is an expectant father, he will find himself doing things he never would have seen himself doing. Here’s an example. Yesterday I made a few phone calls during my lunch break to doctor’s offices. Why? Our OBGYN doesn’t do circumcisions anymore. And neither does our desired pediatrician. I’m not going to do it, so I realized I would have to ‘hire out’ or ‘subcontract’ (not really sure what the correct term is) out this procedure.

The two offices I talked to yesterday both informed me of their prices. So I was trying to find the cheapest circumciser in the area (the strange thing is that we don’t know what we’re having so it all might be a moot point). Not sure if that’s really wise. The cheapest circumciser? One place told me they take cash only. 200 dollars as opposed to 250; but they take cash only. Not sure if that was a good option either.

I really wanted a boy at first (I would be happy with whoever God will bless us with-so don’t go nuts on me please) so I could take him fishing, coach his sports, etc….But I actually think we’re going to have a girl, which I will be plenty and JUST AS thankful for. And I really want a girl some time. Maybe sooner rather than later, especially after these strange conversations!

One of my favorite things to do (well that is probably an exaggeration) is to pronounce myself a “Good Samaritan.” Amy and I do it all the time if we do anything decently nice or nicely. On the way to the concert on Sunday, I did so again, and explained to those in the car that anyone who does anything good or semi-good automatically becomes a Good Samaritan. Especially on the evening news.

Just last night it was reported that a homeless man turned in a wallet he found with a hundred dollars in it. Now honestly that is amazing, and probably news worthy. But when he was interviewed, his ‘title’ was “Good Samaritan.” I’ve seen dozens of similar interviews where the person in question somehow garners that title. If you do something good, you’re a Good Samaritan.

This title has been used so haphazardly that it no longer means what it used to mean. A Good Samaritan was originally an oxy-moron. It originally referred to someone who risked his life and spent his time and money to save a clear cut enemy: the person he saved actually despised him (or Samaritans as a race).

Probably a more relevant term would be “The Good Talibani.” That might capture the hostility and the risk, cost, and grace shown by the parable of the Good Samaritan.

I don’t really like it when folks no longer use the word “Christian” (substituting ‘Christ-follower’) to define themselves-I think we should just redefine the term biblically. However, I understand why they do so. Just like Good Samaritan, “Christian” doesn’t mean a whole lot anymore. Anyone who does something ‘good’ could be interviewed by the news with the subtitle “Christian.”

And a Christian is a disciple (Matt 28:19-20) or ‘Christ-follower.’ So I guess I could get used to it; though I do think its a little too trendy for me to start using it! I wonder how long that term will last; I’m betting a century or less. Too bad I won’t be around to collect the money.

As a pastor, my calendar is usually filled with stuff. So being flexible is usually not an option. I usually have to plan flexibility, if that makes any sense (leave days open to be flexible). If my mother-in-law is a schedule ‘Bloodhound,’ my Mother has nasal blockages. My family is a last minute family. Because of Amy’s mother, they are a first minute family. Just for the record, I think both have good points.

On Thursday night my mother left a voicemail explaining that someone had given her a bunch of tickets to the Casting Crown’s concert on Sunday night. After an interchange of yes and no, wait-and-see phone calls, I felt led on Saturday to take the youth group, and a random spattering of others (friends, in-laws, roommate of friends and boyfriend, etc…). I usually hate to cancel normal youth group due to lack of momentum, but I’m glad I did this time. Change of pace is good some times.

The concert was great, the musicians skillful, and worshipful (Lyrics on the screen), and Christ centered. We were fortunate just to get there in time (I had to run to the ticket counter, arriving there 5 minutes before it closed-which would have precluded us from getting in). God providentially worked out several things of which I have neither the time to tell nor can afford the embarrassment of telling.

One thing I’ve noticed over the years: if you’re a Christian artist in a concert setting, you can say no wrong. People just go nuts. But at least the lead singer promoted the sponsorship of World Vision kids-and the line at the table was WAY LONG.

My only real critique of the evening was that he ASSUMED everyone attending had a church home. Unfortunately that is not always the case, and sometimes regularly not the case. You’d be surprised at how many people simply don’t go to church, or don’t go on a regular basis. With the affect he had on World Vision recruiting, I only wish he would have said: “Get thee to a church home and stay there, worship, connect, and serve.” I had folks with me who don’t go to church at all, or go off-and-on. It would have been nice for them to be challenged by someone else other than me.

Other than that, a late, but great, fun, and bonding filled evening. And flexible too.

As a father to be, I wonder how my own junk will affect my child. No father is perfect, and so all of us who were at one time children, deal in some way with junk passed down from our parents. One family I knew at a previous church always blamed others and never took any personal responsibility. It was passed down from father to all of his children. In Billy Madison, the O’Doyle family continually proclaimed “O’Doyles rule!” until the whole family drove off a cliff in their station wagon. I see it all around me. Even at the gym.

Let me explain. On Friday, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a beautiful Mulletino (aka the Latin Mullet). The long part in the back was bleached and permed, while the rest was dark brown. As I left the gym, I spotted one of his kids. The sides of his head were shaved, while the top was short, and the back was long, flowing, and pristine. Another Mulletino. Like father, like son. Sorry I didn’t get a picture with my cell phone. Maybe another day.

Since no father is perfect, it just reminds me of the need to be a repentant father and to regularly point my child to the Heavenly Father. Otherwise he might try to look a little bit TOO much like me. Although I’m not worried about him/her trying to copy my hair style: balding brown is not really ‘in’ right now.

This year for youth group, the main theme has been “How to live as a believer in an unbelieving world?” Our first step was to spend time studying how to study the bible. Our next step involved going through a study on the book of Daniel written by yours truly.

Our final step is a series on engaging culture by analyzing movies and music: teaching the kids not to be oysters (and suck everything in), but to engage with ideas presented, evaluate them biblically, and hold fast to Jesus. Well, one great joy as a teacher has been seeing a ‘student’ begin to teach.

I gave some framework to a youth and let him ‘run with’ the discussion on Harry Potter V. He did quite well. There is something beautiful in seeing information, passion, and skill passed on to the next generation.

The Harry Potter ‘Handover’ happened because I hadn’t seen ANY of those movies. I just watched the fifth one. While I enjoyed it, I wasn’t quite ‘qualified’ to lead the discussion, seeing as I couldn’t remember any of those weird names.

But for our next movie, I’ll be intentionally allowing another youth to lead the discussion. Hopefully I can train up some new youth leaders who can continue the process in due time. Allowing new people to lead does a few things.

First of all it allows me to see if they are ‘getting it.’ A seminary professor once said, “You don’t really grasp the material until you can teach it.” Whether in a classroom, discussion, or one-on-one setting, I think he’s right.

Next it gives youth more responsibility and ownership. If we don’t push them and expect anything out of them, we’ll see very little out of them.

Finally, giving over control of the these lessons, trains new leaders. It’s what Paul did to Timothy. But Paul did so with the expectation of him continuing the process of raising up new leaders (II Tim 2:2). In other words, do everything you can to make yourselves expendable. You won’t be around forever. One of the goals of a pastor or any elder or lay leader in a church should be to do all he/she can to work himself out of a ‘job’ and make himself more and more expendable. Strange goal, but I think a good one.

I spent most of today in Lakeland, FL. It was a “training day” of sorts for me and several others. An elder at Trinity Pres named Tim is on the board of I See Jesus (the study is called The Person of Jesus ) and trains leaders to more fully master the craft of leading these discussions. Our community group had been going through this study but have since taken a break.

The format was fairly loose. Five people presented and led us through a study of 5 different lessons. Each of these sessions took 45 minutes to an hour. Afterwards we all helped in evaluating the discussion, with Tim (all 6 foot 9 of him) of course taking the lead.

At first I felt a little nervous for those leading the discussions. Second, I thought, “I’m glad I’m not leading one of these babies.” I hadn’t really been in one of these group evaluation things since preaching Lab (where people critique your sermons and take notes while you’re preaching!). However the group was extremely loving, quick to commend, and yet still offered some constructive feedback.

Tim mentioned that there is very little evaluation that ever goes on within the church body. And he was not talking about people critiquing sermons. I think that he had a strong point. Very few people seek input on how they can do something better. Very few people even listen to input without getting defensive.

But the other day, Amy gave me some constructive criticism on how to ask questions in youth group. Its not too hard (its always a little hard because of that pesky pride problem we all have) to hear that kind of stuff from her, because I know she loves me and respects me.

I can’t read minds or hearts (I leave that to Jesus-and you should too), but it seemed like the discussion leaders actually welcomed the constructive feedback. No one was defensive at all. It was beautiful. It was loving. Not self-protecting, and not enabling (both of which pass for love these days), but actually loving.

Everyone in there definitely respected each other’s commitment to ministry and to Jesus. And over time, I really got to like the folks. When those two components collide, evaluation is much easier.

While there are many folks who reject all authority as evil, I found, via another blog, one who doesn’t. Stephen Colbert has a theistic worldview (I think he’s Catholic) and argues with a doctor on where good and evil comes from. Since his show is primarily comedy, I can’t tell how serious he really is. However I found this dialog humorous, somewhat surprising, informative, and slightly encouraging. By the way, it only takes 5 minutes. Click here to view the clip from his show “The Colbert Report.”

We had a fruitful discussion on the movie To End All Wars in our Christian Ed Sunday. While we had fewer people than with The Waitress (which surprised me-this movie actually had a Christian screen writer), our time was beneficial to me-and I hope to all who participated. I highly recommend this movie. However, recognize that it is HEAVY. But I’ve not seen a movie that more clearly and practically displays the gospel and its power to change lives.

The movie is based upon a true story of Scottish POW’s in WWII who build the trans-Burmese railroad. Obviously conditions didn’t prove beneficial to living or loving, yet some prisoners found strength through the gospel and its application to life. For anyone to love in those conditions, the power of the gospel would HAVE to be real. And it was. And it still is. Fortunately, that means there’s hope for all of us to love our enemies.

One of the topics of discussion-and there will probably be several more to follow-was the need to understand the culture/background/personal idols of people among whom we’re living. The Japanese followed (to some extent) the Bushido code, which valued honor and deference to superiors, and devalued the individual and right to life.

Upon arrival, the POW doctor reminded the Scottish lads that beating a White person was like beating someone of an inferior race, tantamount to beating a dog. In addition, they had to learn to bow in deference to the guards. Since these guards were the lowest of the lows (that’s how you get to run Japanese prison camps), respect went a long way to these folks. In time, the POW’s learned how to better relate AND communicate with the Japanese. In one instance, a guard (an enemy) actually became friends with and stayed with the POW’s when all the other Japanese fled the scene.

We agreed that it is necessary to understand the mindset of those among whom we live. For all people subscribe to some sort of code, idol, or system of thought. It is nearly impossible to get to heart issues without understanding where one’s ultimate allegiance lies. In other words, we need to understand WHY people do things: they act according to what they hold most dear. We should always be on the lookout for the WHY. The POW’s began to understand the WHY and thus managed to live among and communicate with those hostile towards them. So too must we seek the WHY, in order to live among our neighbors, become friends with, and eventually, hopefully, communicate the gospel to them via our lives, Christian community, Church, and personal discussions.

On Valentines Day, Amy and I did what most love birds do on this special day: go to the dentist. It would have been romantic, I guess, if we had been in opposite rooms or something. But our appointments were staggered so we didn’t quite get to share the moment.

Regardless we shared a great joy through sharing good news. I had no cavities (by the grace of God), great teeth (still not really sure what that means), and she didn’t complain about my small mouth (she only mentioned it after I first brought it up). Hygenist of the year for sure. Of course Amy’s report was similar.

While being subjected to one of the few necessary evils (the dentist office) left in this world, I had two predominant thoughts.

1.) I was impressed at the hygenist for being able to talk with me, in a conversational way, that still afforded me a chance to respond with grunts and ‘uh-huhs.’ That takes skill.

2.) Since her hands were in my mouth pretty much at all times, I had to listen to what she said. And she was interesting and surprisingly inquisitive so it wasn’t all that hard. But I really had no choice either. I couldn’t speak. I was reminded of two verses.

a.”Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry (James 1).” This is hard for
pastors-we spent 3 years of our lives studying so that we could come back and teach people. But its probably hard for most, and necessary for all.

b. “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while the wicked are in my presence….(Psalm 39:1-2a).” At the dentist office, we have a muzzle. But when we leave, we leave that muzzle behind. I’m going to try to remember the blessing of someone having their hands in my mouth: I’ll listen better. After all, its better their hands than my foot.