Airports

This time tomorrow we will be in Mexico City.  It will be a nice feeling to have arrived, but honestly one of my favorite things is hanging out in an airport.  Not only is there the people watching, but the food is always really enjoyable.  I’m thinking Chili’s for our layover tomorrow!

As much as I like the airport, I HATE airplanes!

Community Dinner

Tonight at community dinner the concept of online church (exclusively experiencing the body of Christ through a computer) was brought up.  Although the general tone was against it I found the criticisms interesting:

1.  Fake, surface level relationships (the ability to deceive others into thinking you are doing well)
2.  Lack of accountability
3.  No real responsibility
4.  No quality time spent with the people in the community of faith 
5.  Participation avoidance

All of those were mentioned.  Some were focused on more than others.  What is interesting though is that EVERY one of those are blatantly obvious problems within the current traditional church model

Most churches have some of the following (if not all):
- That group that shows up 5 minutes late and bolts at the end of last song
- 25% (maybe) of congregation volunteer somewhere while the rest do nothing
- 1% (maybe) of congregation has a ministry outside the church institution 
- Accountability problem: Even if a problem is identified, unless it is premarital sex, homosexuality, or gossip (but only if it affects the pastors) it will probably go unmentioned.  Most traditional churches who count the butts in the seats just rationalize away or ignore real accountability
- A plan for “community” that begins and ends with a “small group” that usually consists of some number of people who get together for an hour and a half a week in a controlled environment*(see note at bottom).  This is not quality time – I can convince anyone of anything for an hour and a half a week.  You can do this for a year and not learn half as much as you would playing a couple of hours of competitive basketball with somebody.  
- 20% of the people doing 80% of the work.  I’ve read leadership books (for ministry) that used this statistic to promote investing most of our time in that 20%…doesn’t that reinforce the laziness of the other 80%?

* I changed my mind.  Probably shouldn’t say what I planned to say here

In conclusion, I am not on board with the idea/concept of a 100% online community (although some churches use it really effectively as a supplement), but I think we need to come up with better arguments against it.  The current ones apply to many of the current models as well.

Captions Contest

Last weeks winner:  Hal – “Return from Amsterdam” post

Good Luck!

One week til Mexico

One week from today we will be in Mexico City.  By this time next Saturday I will have said “no entiendo” 37 times, been kissed on the cheek 14 times, been inappropriately touched on the subway 1 1/2 times, and eaten my weight in Tacos al Pastor. 

Oh yea, we are going to be doing some ministry down there too!

Nolan’s first spanking

Nolan got his first spanking today – bear bottom that is.  He cried, we hugged, and he stopped throwing his toys at the wall.  It was all amazingly effective.

If only adults in the church responded that well to correction.

One more day without soda

One more day until I can drink soft drinks again.  It was tough the first few days, but now I hardly crave it.  The hardest part is going out to eat.  Water just doesn’t taste right with a burger.  I feel like an idiot going through McDonalds and asking for a bottle of water after ordering Chicken Nuggets.  

I think this little test will definately help me cut back a considerable amount though.  At least I hope.

January 27, 2001

STIM retreat. for the past month or so my relationships with everything and everyone have been changing. with God i am more comfortable now than ever before. i can give glory where it belongs even in class settings. i am understanding my victory, my comfort zone, my love in Jesus. my biggest praise right now is my relationship with Kristan. for the past week or so we have grown closer together through fearless communication. last night we ended up talking late, hours after the STIM campers went to bed. we talked about a lot of stuf that we never talked about before. i understand her heart better than anyone i have ever known. God will really bless kristan when she finally decides missions is where her heart is. i have never known a person so capable of love. the most remarkable thing about her is the fact that she has no idea that she loves so well. i am sitting with her now and she simply radiates Jesus. if i didnt love her so much i would probably find myself in love with her.

I remember this night.  We were sitting in a cabin – both journaling.  I doubt she was writing about me at that moment, but I couldn’t get my mind off of her.  I sound kind of stupid at the end there, but it will earn me points in a month or so when she finally hops on here and reads my blog again…so it’s worth it.

December 31, 2000

I think i am dying. i am really sick. i hate the cold and i hate snow (note: i am from tx where snow comes in a can).
Father God, you know my heart. you know my inadequacies, you know i cant spell. i seek your wisdom Lord, what is wrong with my heart? i dont understand why it still hurts a little to imagine Kristan with another guy. she is my best friend God, and i dont want to have feelings like that for her.  God you know the reality of my heart. you know where it is broken. Please Father, show me.
your son
michael

Kristan and I really were such great of friends I resisted (for a brief time) letting feelings for her develop.  This blog was on the tail end of a conference a group of us went to called Urbana.  It was literally the coldest I have ever been.  I never learned the layering concept so I walked around in a t-shirt and jacket the whole time.  By the end of the conference I was miserable. 

November 21, 2000

Thank you God for the best year of my life. There have been struggles, but you are my rock on which i lean. this next year will be better than the first. God is setting up mission work for me through STIM. it looks like i may make 3 journeys in the next year to India, Mexico, and Israel. i am truly blessed, the rest of my life i devote as a humble servant of the Lord and of the Lords people.

I wrote the above section on the one year anniversary of becoming a Christian.  Cleaning out some old stuff I came across my old journal and remembered that I meant to get some of them up here. 

STIM – “Student Training In Missions” was an organization that set me up to go to Mexico City for the first time back in the summer of 2001.  The other trips didn’t work out for reasons I don’t remember.  It was also at a STIM weekend I really fell in love with Kristan. 

Caption Contest

Last weeks winner:  Chris Garren

Nice work everyone!  Here is this weeks Pic -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOOD LUCK!