I am sitting at my desk in downtown Tulsa, working late, trying to catch up from last week's hectic schedule. I am listening to our Pastor's iTunes account; a little Credence Clearwater Revival is good for the soul every now and then. In moderation. I can only listen when the maintenance staff has left for the evening- even they frown upon my chicken-wing and limp-legged dancing style.
I also am wondering about the scope of ministry of the church. The big "C" Church, not our family of faith in downtown Tulsa. I confess that I don't understand all the dynamics of ministry, nor the appropriate parameters for ministry, nor the cost evolved in a lack of ministry. We focus so much time and energy on what we purport to be ministry, and I have to ask myself the same question asked at the conclusion of Jim and Casper Go to Church, where the atheist asks the minister "is this what Jesus asked you guys to do?"
I don't really care for the book or its premise. Nonetheless, I seem to be haunted by this theme in my own life and "ministry". Eric- what you are doing- is that what Jesus asked you to do?
I sit in a comfortable chair at a high-quality workstation with cool computer hardware and software, plenty of music equipment, and the freedom to use it all in ministry. And I stay very busy with it all.
As for my call, I do feel this is what Jesus would have me do right now. I use the gifts He gave, in the position I am in, to serve this church family. I get that. I'm all over that.
As for ministry... now there's the rub.
We as a church constantly evaluate ourselves in service, ministry, education, worship, fellowship, finances- you name it, we measure it. We invest resources in measuring program effectiveness, program potential, and return on investment (now that is a sore subject for another post...). However, I continue to look downtown and around town and see unchurched people. Lots of them. They play golf at courses I pass on my way home from church. They are at pools and sports fields early on Sundays so they will have their Saturdays free. And I wonder to myself, what lengths should we go to try to reach those families?
And what about the intelligentsia of the area- those who consider themselves too intellectual to consider the necessity of a Savior even a remote possibility? They can be found at any time of the day at Starbucks and Panera Bread and Barnes and Noble and other hang-outs for smart people. (I am smart enough for the drive-through,that is about it.....). Not to mention our friends and acquaintances who wear black all day long in 100-degree heat; those for whom goth has given a unique persona. Those who give no consideration to the hereafter or to a Creator who passionately wants to Love them face to face.
But in thinking through all this muddle, these two questions battle for my attention:
How far should we (as a church) go to gain the attention of the lost and unchurched?
Once we have their attention, when and where does the ministry occur?
I'd ask for your input (the three humans who read this blog) to these questions. I am not taking a poll, and will not use your answers in research. I am curious for other people's opinions.
They directly relate to my first question... Eric, is this what Jesus asked you to do?
We'll delve further into these questions in a later post. Now I need to go- "Bad Moon Rising" is next on the playlist.
Life is good!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Friendship
I have been thinking.
Specifically, I have been thinking about our friends. We are blessed to have friends all over the southern states, some in foreign places like Wisconsin and New Jersey. What has forced my delightful consideration of our friends? A few things...
One, the list of friends to contact when my Dad died. I realized there were friends who would come at the drop of a hat, with no consideration of time or distance. Those friends are a beautiful and valuable part of our lives.
Another was born from joining cyberlife on Facebook. As of this writing, I have 78 friends on Facebook, and I don't even go to it every day. However, I have found and been found by people I have not seen in 20 years, but through this social networking site, I suddenly realized the scope of our friendships over the past 22 years of our married life.
We have discovered old college friends, work acquaintances, choir members, and girlfriends (We don't dwell too much on that...). But we (I do most of the surfing) thoroughly enjoy becoming reacquainted with folks who come complete with fond and beautiful memories.
Another source of this chain of thought comes from planning my sweet wife's birthday event. This is a big milestone, and I have considered how to include friends and family from the depth and breadth of our marriage in the celebration. I began a mental list of friends I would like to include, and the problem soon made itself known. I called to mind friends from former churches; friends from college and seminary; friends from home, friends from here. As I mentally tallied the list, I thought that it must be nice to live in one place all your lives, and only have to manage a small set of life-long friends.
It didn't take long to realize what a mis-directed thought that is....
While thinking, the reality of this blessing dawned on me- the blessing of having many friends in many places. And it is a unique blessing, for I believe in every church we've served, in college and seminary, there is at least one family who would respond to our crisis in a moment's notice. As the song says, "you find out who your friends are...."
Some of our oldest (I mean people with whom we have been friends the longest) are coming to Tulsa this weekend. Our beautiful friends have been friends for 20 years now. These are the kind of friends you can vacation with, and not wear makeup. These are the friends who are friends, even when you haven't seen each other for a year- you just pick up where you left off. The McBrides are a priceless part of our friendship family, and we are better because of their friendship.
I admit that managing friendships across several states and two decades is a daunting task. However, I am discovering the joy of warm memories while counting our blessings... one friendship at a time.
Life is indeed, good.....
Specifically, I have been thinking about our friends. We are blessed to have friends all over the southern states, some in foreign places like Wisconsin and New Jersey. What has forced my delightful consideration of our friends? A few things...
One, the list of friends to contact when my Dad died. I realized there were friends who would come at the drop of a hat, with no consideration of time or distance. Those friends are a beautiful and valuable part of our lives.
Another was born from joining cyberlife on Facebook. As of this writing, I have 78 friends on Facebook, and I don't even go to it every day. However, I have found and been found by people I have not seen in 20 years, but through this social networking site, I suddenly realized the scope of our friendships over the past 22 years of our married life.
We have discovered old college friends, work acquaintances, choir members, and girlfriends (We don't dwell too much on that...). But we (I do most of the surfing) thoroughly enjoy becoming reacquainted with folks who come complete with fond and beautiful memories.
Another source of this chain of thought comes from planning my sweet wife's birthday event. This is a big milestone, and I have considered how to include friends and family from the depth and breadth of our marriage in the celebration. I began a mental list of friends I would like to include, and the problem soon made itself known. I called to mind friends from former churches; friends from college and seminary; friends from home, friends from here. As I mentally tallied the list, I thought that it must be nice to live in one place all your lives, and only have to manage a small set of life-long friends.
It didn't take long to realize what a mis-directed thought that is....
While thinking, the reality of this blessing dawned on me- the blessing of having many friends in many places. And it is a unique blessing, for I believe in every church we've served, in college and seminary, there is at least one family who would respond to our crisis in a moment's notice. As the song says, "you find out who your friends are...."
Some of our oldest (I mean people with whom we have been friends the longest) are coming to Tulsa this weekend. Our beautiful friends have been friends for 20 years now. These are the kind of friends you can vacation with, and not wear makeup. These are the friends who are friends, even when you haven't seen each other for a year- you just pick up where you left off. The McBrides are a priceless part of our friendship family, and we are better because of their friendship.
I admit that managing friendships across several states and two decades is a daunting task. However, I am discovering the joy of warm memories while counting our blessings... one friendship at a time.
Life is indeed, good.....
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Life's Been Good to Me (So Far.....)
Well, ok. Now you've done it.
I hope my recent hiatus has served to offer some fresh perspectives on life in general, and writing, specifically. I hope to regain my writing momentum and offer my simple nuggets of wisdom on a more regular basis. Now that I think about it, nuggets are really just small bits of something larger. A nugget is just larger than a flake..... better to be a nugget than a flake....
Anyway..... Life is Good.
It was announced just yesterday that the world-renown recording group known as the "Eagles" will play the opening concert in our not-quite completed Bank of Oklahoma Center. That concert is in September, and I know where they will sell at least 3 seats.
My family plays their DVD from the Melbourne tour quite regularly, and quite loudly. And so, to honor the lyrics from that wonderful Joe Walsh song....
Life's Been Good to Me (So Far.....)
I hope my recent hiatus has served to offer some fresh perspectives on life in general, and writing, specifically. I hope to regain my writing momentum and offer my simple nuggets of wisdom on a more regular basis. Now that I think about it, nuggets are really just small bits of something larger. A nugget is just larger than a flake..... better to be a nugget than a flake....
Anyway..... Life is Good.
It was announced just yesterday that the world-renown recording group known as the "Eagles" will play the opening concert in our not-quite completed Bank of Oklahoma Center. That concert is in September, and I know where they will sell at least 3 seats.
My family plays their DVD from the Melbourne tour quite regularly, and quite loudly. And so, to honor the lyrics from that wonderful Joe Walsh song....
Life's Been Good to Me (So Far.....)
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Blogger's Block
Wow- it has certainly been a long time since my weary hands poorly typed a blog message. I guess "Blogger's Block" is a reality after all....
Life is good....
The kids are out of school now. Sweet Madilyn is attending our church's day cmp this summer, and will be at church all day, every day. We have a spectacular program featuring lots of day trips, swimming, picnicing, Zooing (is that a word?) and other fun activities. She loves it! She will also attend the local High School Basketball Camp in a few weeks... She is beautiful, so funny, and such a delight!
I love her so much!
Andrew has completed his junior year, and is now officially a senior... in High School! Where has the time gone? It was just a few weeks ago I was holding this fragile babe, arms shaking, wondering to myself, "What have I done?" It was just a few weeks ago when he spit up in my shirt pocket as I was going out to lead worship at our church.... weeks ago, I held him in my arms as I baptized him in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit... just yesterday, we talked late into the night of his first broken heart....
Now, he works two jobs (mowing and church day camp) to fuel his truck and his summer activities, and I hardly see him anymore. Except at night, or when he needs some cash to carry him over 'till payday.
I love him so much!
And sweet Jane has completed her service at one of the nicer elementary schools in the Tulsa school system. She has become a victim of politics, however; she will not be reassigned to her school that she learned to love. Further, she won't know where she will be assigned until July. But, she loves those children!
Jane begins her summer position on Monday at our church's day camp. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Yes, we will all work for the church this summer while Mads plays all week long at the church. Carpool heaven! Tomorrow Jane and I will spend the day together, shopping and arguing, arguing and shopping... and making up... we need to get a few things for the house. Jane is so good with our kids, and is the perfect mom... God made her in a uique way, a way that nurtures our children and loves and protects and pushes. She is such a blessing!
I love her so much!
And me-
I just go to work every day, come home at night, lay around, help out some with the trash and the dishes and the towels and the sheets... and soak in the blessings of my beautiful family. We will never be on a reality show for the most awesome family; we'll never have a magnificent dream home built by ABC; and we'll probably spend our time working for ways to stretch the dollar, get the kids through school, and still have some capital for retirement.
And as I go to bed at night, I count my blessings. I sleep well, because I never reach the end of the list.
Life is good....
Life is good....
The kids are out of school now. Sweet Madilyn is attending our church's day cmp this summer, and will be at church all day, every day. We have a spectacular program featuring lots of day trips, swimming, picnicing, Zooing (is that a word?) and other fun activities. She loves it! She will also attend the local High School Basketball Camp in a few weeks... She is beautiful, so funny, and such a delight!
I love her so much!
Andrew has completed his junior year, and is now officially a senior... in High School! Where has the time gone? It was just a few weeks ago I was holding this fragile babe, arms shaking, wondering to myself, "What have I done?" It was just a few weeks ago when he spit up in my shirt pocket as I was going out to lead worship at our church.... weeks ago, I held him in my arms as I baptized him in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit... just yesterday, we talked late into the night of his first broken heart....
Now, he works two jobs (mowing and church day camp) to fuel his truck and his summer activities, and I hardly see him anymore. Except at night, or when he needs some cash to carry him over 'till payday.
I love him so much!
And sweet Jane has completed her service at one of the nicer elementary schools in the Tulsa school system. She has become a victim of politics, however; she will not be reassigned to her school that she learned to love. Further, she won't know where she will be assigned until July. But, she loves those children!
Jane begins her summer position on Monday at our church's day camp. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Yes, we will all work for the church this summer while Mads plays all week long at the church. Carpool heaven! Tomorrow Jane and I will spend the day together, shopping and arguing, arguing and shopping... and making up... we need to get a few things for the house. Jane is so good with our kids, and is the perfect mom... God made her in a uique way, a way that nurtures our children and loves and protects and pushes. She is such a blessing!
I love her so much!
And me-
I just go to work every day, come home at night, lay around, help out some with the trash and the dishes and the towels and the sheets... and soak in the blessings of my beautiful family. We will never be on a reality show for the most awesome family; we'll never have a magnificent dream home built by ABC; and we'll probably spend our time working for ways to stretch the dollar, get the kids through school, and still have some capital for retirement.
And as I go to bed at night, I count my blessings. I sleep well, because I never reach the end of the list.
Life is good....
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Clear the Stage
I ran across this video on YouTube. Please take the 9 or so minutes required to listen from beginning to end.
Hear it.
Live it.
Hear it.
Live it.
Friday, April 25, 2008
A Dose of Reality
I grew up in the country- the riverbottoms and cottonfields of West Tennessee, specifically. Though for some, the jury is still out on whether I've grown up or not. But alas, I regress....
The move to Tulsa several years ago has been, shall we say, eye-opening. Tulsa is a lovely, progressive town with vision for growth, infrasturcture to support it, and all the political and social problems relative to a mid-major city in the midwestern United States.
The church I serve is downtown; the city is building a new baseball stadium across the parking lot from our main entrance (woo-hoo!!!!!). One block north of our main entrance is the city Greyhound Busline station. Two blocks west of our location is the YMCA. Travelling between the two sites are individuals and families with nowhere to live. Some are travelling through to other locations with a day or two layover; others migrate to the bus station hoping for a free meal or free bus ticket to a better way of life. The "Y" offers a hot shower and a hot meal and an overnight cot for men who are down on their luck. And every day and every night, they walk right by our church.
Last year we opened the First Baptist Church Caring Center on the other side of the bus station. There, we serve individuals and families who have overwhelming physical needs- food; clothing; companionship. Sometimes the Caring Center will send a family here for counsel; more often than not, the church sends people to the caring center for help. The Caring Center is staffed by a legion of volunteers and is supported through the budget of our church. It is a wonderful ministry, and literally hundreds and hundreds of struggling people have benefitted from its existence.
Yesterday was our annual Caring Center Outreach Luncheon, where dozens of volunteers cook a hot meal, prepare gift bags, and invite Tulsa's homeless population to the church for a meal, some entertainment, and a presentation of the gospel message. It is a neat time; once you get over the intimidation of the dress- and- smell of most of the guests. We served a couple hundred hungry souls yesterday; some familiar to the churh and the caring center, some not. There were several who have been a part of the Tulsa homeless community for years now. We know their names, we know the general area in which they "live". My heart breaks for them.
Most disturbing, however, was the number of children- and babies- that we saw yesterday. Single moms with infants living in their cars at night because they have nowhere else to stay. One mom was on the streets with her toddler daugter in order to escape an abusive situation at home. Beautiful newborn babies who laugh easily and cry loudly. Children who haven't had a hot meal in days. While it is difficult to reserve judgement ("there, but for the grace of God, go I") on the parents, it is obvious they are doing the best that they can. They provided a good meal for their kids yesterday, which was more than they got on Monday.
I think the Bible would have us be generous to this community- very generous. Grace is controversial at best, and at its worst, is indefensable. After all, isn't that, at its very nature, the purpose of grace? To offer value and purpose and hope to the undeserving?
The truth is, none of us are deserving of any good thing. We are all blessed beyond belief, and grace is lavished on us every day. It's time to send it on down the line.
We pray for our homeless community and attempt to serve their needs as best we can. And yesterday, it was good to see some folks still kicking, still "making it" on the streets. But our hope is that they can get off the streets, get their lives together, and either restore or build the necessary relationships that will keep them off the street. And so next year, we will see them as volunteers, not as clients.
By the grace of God.
The move to Tulsa several years ago has been, shall we say, eye-opening. Tulsa is a lovely, progressive town with vision for growth, infrasturcture to support it, and all the political and social problems relative to a mid-major city in the midwestern United States.
The church I serve is downtown; the city is building a new baseball stadium across the parking lot from our main entrance (woo-hoo!!!!!). One block north of our main entrance is the city Greyhound Busline station. Two blocks west of our location is the YMCA. Travelling between the two sites are individuals and families with nowhere to live. Some are travelling through to other locations with a day or two layover; others migrate to the bus station hoping for a free meal or free bus ticket to a better way of life. The "Y" offers a hot shower and a hot meal and an overnight cot for men who are down on their luck. And every day and every night, they walk right by our church.
Last year we opened the First Baptist Church Caring Center on the other side of the bus station. There, we serve individuals and families who have overwhelming physical needs- food; clothing; companionship. Sometimes the Caring Center will send a family here for counsel; more often than not, the church sends people to the caring center for help. The Caring Center is staffed by a legion of volunteers and is supported through the budget of our church. It is a wonderful ministry, and literally hundreds and hundreds of struggling people have benefitted from its existence.
Yesterday was our annual Caring Center Outreach Luncheon, where dozens of volunteers cook a hot meal, prepare gift bags, and invite Tulsa's homeless population to the church for a meal, some entertainment, and a presentation of the gospel message. It is a neat time; once you get over the intimidation of the dress- and- smell of most of the guests. We served a couple hundred hungry souls yesterday; some familiar to the churh and the caring center, some not. There were several who have been a part of the Tulsa homeless community for years now. We know their names, we know the general area in which they "live". My heart breaks for them.
Most disturbing, however, was the number of children- and babies- that we saw yesterday. Single moms with infants living in their cars at night because they have nowhere else to stay. One mom was on the streets with her toddler daugter in order to escape an abusive situation at home. Beautiful newborn babies who laugh easily and cry loudly. Children who haven't had a hot meal in days. While it is difficult to reserve judgement ("there, but for the grace of God, go I") on the parents, it is obvious they are doing the best that they can. They provided a good meal for their kids yesterday, which was more than they got on Monday.
I think the Bible would have us be generous to this community- very generous. Grace is controversial at best, and at its worst, is indefensable. After all, isn't that, at its very nature, the purpose of grace? To offer value and purpose and hope to the undeserving?
The truth is, none of us are deserving of any good thing. We are all blessed beyond belief, and grace is lavished on us every day. It's time to send it on down the line.
We pray for our homeless community and attempt to serve their needs as best we can. And yesterday, it was good to see some folks still kicking, still "making it" on the streets. But our hope is that they can get off the streets, get their lives together, and either restore or build the necessary relationships that will keep them off the street. And so next year, we will see them as volunteers, not as clients.
By the grace of God.
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