Passing the Torch

Leonard DeLautre was a dear friend, in my last few years of ministry in Georgetown, Kentucky. I was the Pastor of Central Church of God and he lived across the street from the church. I spent many hours sitting, listening, and learning from him. He gave me books every time I visited, and now looking back I wonder why I didn't see him more often. When I left the community in 2004, to move to Texas, he blessed and prayed for me and my family and believed in me. I will never forget him.

A Baptism - 7 Years Ago Today

Jon Mark and Emma were baptized by me on this day in 2001 in Georgetown, Kentucky! It was an awesome day...

Martin Luther

I copied and pasted from www.history.com

October 31: General Interest
1517 : Martin Luther posts 95 theses

On this day in 1517, the priest and scholar Martin Luther
approaches the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg,
Germany, and nails a piece of paper to it containing the 95
revolutionary opinions that would begin the Protestant
Reformation.

In his theses, Luther condemned the excesses and corruption
of the Roman Catholic Church, especially the papal practice
of asking payment--called "indulgences"--for the forgiveness
of sins. At the time, a Dominican priest named Johann Tetzel,
commissioned by the Archbishop of Mainz and Pope Leo X,
was in the midst of a major fundraising campaign in Germany
to finance the renovation of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
Though Prince Frederick III the Wise had banned the sale of
indulgences in Wittenberg, many church members traveled to
purchase them. When they returned, they showed the pardons
they had bought to Luther, claiming they no longer had to
repent for their sins.

Luther's frustration with this practice led him to write the 95
Theses, which were quickly snapped up, translated from
Latin into German and distributed widely. A copy made its way
to Rome, and efforts began to convince Luther to change his
tune. He refused to keep silent, however, and in 1521 Pope
Leo X formally excommunicated Luther from the Catholic
Church. That same year, Luther again refused to recant his
writings before the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V of
Germany, who issued the famous Edict of Worms declaring
Luther an outlaw and a heretic and giving permission for
anyone to kill him without consequence. Protected by Prince
Frederick, Luther began working on a German translation of
the Bible, a task that took 10 years to complete.

The term "Protestant" first appeared in 1529, when Charles V
revoked a provision that allowed the ruler of each German
state to choose whether they would enforce the Edict of Worms.
A number of princes and other supporters of Luther issued a
protest, declaring that their allegiance to God trumped their
allegiance to the emperor. They became known to their
opponents as Protestants; gradually this name came to apply
to all who believed the Church should be reformed, even those
outside Germany. By the time Luther died, of natural causes,
in 1546, his revolutionary beliefs had formed the basis for the
Protestant Reformation, which would over the next three
centuries revolutionize Western civilization.


--
"It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive." - Bruce Springsteen
"Fatigue makes cowards of us all." - Vince Lombardi

Facebook Is Overrated

Are you kidding me? I mean, don't mishear me - it's really cool to reconnect with so many friends and foes from the past. But my frustration is that it is an "online community" and that's it. Real community, one which shares life with another is rare and much tougher to accomplish.

(Abby serving as a volunteer at Field of Dreams 2008 - an event organized by our church - she had a blast working with Girls In Action for five hours in the heat giving away bottles of water!)
I know I sound simplistic and as one co-worker suggested (I am perhaps jealous of the success of it), but let's be honest and say that all these "confirmed requests" for friends does not make a friendship. It' a modern-day, internet-driven facade.

Authentic relationships share life and is better accomplished by on our feet and not our seat. Community is...
- getting our hands and feet dirty in a clean-up effort after a storm
- taking care of your dog and mail while you are on vacation
- playing basketball with your neighbor's fiancee
- sharing a meal together (a lost art and expression of love)
- taking cookies to a retired couple next door sounds so 1950ish, but it works!
- tossing the ball back to our yard after the massive grand slam by dad
- rubbing shoulders with humanity

All these things have happened recently in our neighborhood. By the way, the majority of our neighbors are not Christian, but they understand community and the value of sharing life together despite political, economical, and religious preferences. Community is better experienced face to face.

No wonder Facebook has become so huge. It caters to our anonymous online lifestyle, while rejecting our need for touch, tears, and laughter with a friend, who thank God is not a profile and will not ask me to click "confirm" or "ignore".

EVERYTHING by Lifehouse

This was shown at our church last Sunday during the sermon...twice! It's worth watching again. The song is "Everything" by Lifehouse.

Raising Respectful Teenagers

I lived in Cynthiana, KY from 1991-1996. During that time, I visited Roger and Vicki Purcell many, many times. They have three kids (all grown up now!) - Jason, Keri, and Libby. I watched these three interact with their parents, be responsible with their things (most of the time), and function fairly well together.

The main thing that impressed me was not the interaction at home or with each other, but how respectful they treated me and other adults. Roger and Vicki set the bar for us to follow on teaching children how to treat other people, especially those in-charge or with authority over them.

I must say as a proud parent, for most of the time - Jon Mark, Emma, and Abby are respectful kids. Huge thanks to Roger and Vicki for modeling for me how to raise three kids to be respectful of others in a disrespectful world.

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Seven needs of teenagers which need to be fulfilled to become respectful adults.

1. A distinct identity and sense of uniqueness. Every teenager has a particular arena where they excel. Help your teen identify her area of competence.

2. A movement from their childhood dependency on their parents. Get your son or daughter involved with a "mentor." A mentor can be a powerful force in developing convictions of their own.

3. Meaningful relationships with peers and mentors outside the family. As they grow older, teenagers enjoy spending more time away from home. Their friends and peer group is vital to satisfy their need for companionship, fun, emotional support, and intimacy. The transition from home to peers will need to be positive.

4. The ability to relate well to the opposite sex. If you are considering allowing dating then develop a dating contract. Having a written contract helps take the pressure off guessing when a teen is ready to date. Dating readiness should be the result of a teenager displaying qualities like honor, integrity, responsibility and resistance to peer pressure. The dating contract can provide the family with accountability, mutual agreement, and security.

5. Prepare for a career, economic Independence, and other adult responsibilities. Not only is it important to encourage teenagers in the areas that they have interest, but it is also necessary to teach them real skills. The teaching of skills to adolescents often results in increased achievement and a boost to self-esteem. In other words, the more skills a teenager acquires (how to cook, change the oil, fix something broken, or build something), the better he will feel about himself.

6. A Biblical faith with a Christ-centered focus. First, in the home with prayer, Biblical teaching, and constant reminders of God's presence. Secondly, in the local church where the family regularly worship God, grow in their faith, and serve the body of Christ.

7. The assurance that they can talk to their parents about anything. When they come to us, we must be careful what we communicate. If we say, "Not now, I'm busy," they'll take note of our busyness and perhaps will hesitate next time in asking. A teenager needs to know that she's valuable and that her parents are available in times when she needs them the most.

An Open Email

Pastor Chris and Pastor Dan (please fwd to Pastor Doug as well),

Sunday, I felt terribly uncomfortable b/c though change basically doesn't bother me, (in fact I need it to thrive and feel alive); I have to make some serious adjustments in my life before God is going to reveal himself more fully. So I wept, no I really lost it - which is not cool for a fool with way too much pride!

The tears were reflections of pain, broken dreams, bruised ego, and signs of a child lost in the mall of life with dad and mom nowhere in sight. I know God expects from me far more than I have given b/c of the gifts, opportunities, education, ordination, blaa-blaa, and yet I have refused to accept the challenge to rise up.

Pastor Dan, thanks for being a man I can follow in this desert experience of vocational displacement. In the words of Bruce Springsteen, "Someday we will look back on this and it will all seem funny" (the song Rosalita circa 1972ish). Maybe not funny as in HA HA - but seeing this time as a fleeting and monumental moment in a life worth living. Dan, I'm gonna miss the crap out of you, especially our meals, talks, and missed appointments!

Pastor Chris, you are hilarious and our kids totally love your preaching which certainly makes it easier to get them to church on Sundays with minimal complaints. I am grateful you have taken an interest in Jon Mark with the whole Germany trip; I pray this will be a life-ruining journey for him (you know the kind of ruin that eats at your heart your whole life - hence you are scarred by God's grace and love). By the way, in two preseason games, he has pitched to 7 batters: 1 walk, 1 foul tip, 6 K's. And yet I told him yesterday that regardless of his wins and losses, I am most proud that he has chosen to go with the mission team to Germany this summer.

Pastor Doug, I have benefited from your encouragement - your words have gone a long way into my life and heart. Also, huge props (a lousy attempt in hip lingo) for creating a worshipping environment that our kids actually enjoy.

Roger


"Fatigue makes cowards of us all." - Vince Lombardi
"It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive." - Bruce Springsteen
"If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated me first." - Jesus of Nazareth