Last week...

So here’s the thing… Two crazy/weird God things happened last week in my little world. The first one, is more comical that not, but it started me thinking about church….
I was in Roanoke at the COX cable building about to do some filming for a commercial to air this fall or around Christmas (Don’t worry, I totally embarrassed myself) and I had to go to the bathroom. I turned on and noticed the toilet sit was left up. Okay, stay with me here. I figured, that’s one less thing I have to do and then I noticed it, plain as day under the toilet seat, the word CHURCH.
Okay, my wife informed me that CHURCH did make toilets but this was surprise to me. I was unaware. It was a totally God moment though, because it reminded me of where the church really is. It’s not completely at 3385 North Franklin Street. It is in fact in those places that we sometimes least expect it, and definitely in those places where you don’t want to go.
If the church really happens outside of the “church” then there has to be something that we are learning inside the “church” right? Every moment of most days you are I are learning something new. Whether it’s through the latest Tweet, or most recent text, we are gathering some new information that teaches us.
Sooo…. The way I see it, the church has gotten a bad rap. Because the church has gotten knocked around and because the church has wrongfully knocked around others, we need to bring holy back. We need to bring holy, set apart to serve, back and we need to bring real, in the places you don’t want to go love back, so the people of God might say the same thing that Jackson told me on Wednesday morning when he said, last night Jesus held his hand while he was sleeping.

Speak on It!

Still Got It...

This is from this weekend...More to follow about the story. This is my crew from high-school 15 years later!!

Speak on that!

I almost forgot...

I have dear friends who actually read this blog. I know, I'm surprised as well. Amanda Garber and Lisa Dockins, I'm actually thinking of making a real blogging comeback.

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First Day....

So today I watched my son get on the bus for the very first time. It’s funny how he walked on the bus like he’d done it a thousand times before. Lori and I held it together until the bus took off and as we started walking back up the hill toward the house we lost it. Yeah…we cried a little.

So now, for our family there is a new adventure. If I’m being honest, I’m a little overwhelmed with trying to understand the ramifications of what this day really means for our future. Not getting crazy, here, but his life and the life of our family will be very different from here on. This experience will form and transform Jackson and all of us over time. (I just hope he doesn’t get sent to the principles office the first week, because then there will really be some transforming going on!)

Of course it will be exciting, breathtaking, exhausting, crushing, difficult, and life- altering from moment to moment. And each day will be different. I think I’m ready. But then again, if we don’t move forward, where are going to go?

Tomorrow you will have another day before you. You will probably get into your car, go to work, hang out or do whatever you do, just like you’ve done a thousand times before. But what if anything will cause your day or our life to be different? What will transform you? I’m not really a cynic, but I don’t think the most recent healthcare debate, or just because Hokie football is upon us we will really, I mean really be transformed by either.

But Jesus will.

Your boy Paul wrote to the church in Corinth and he said “anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Cor. 5:17).

Once we start getting serious about that one statement, things become very different in our life. It doesn’t mean we don’t fall down, or get dirty sometimes, because life is difficult. Hello! BUT…it does mean that because I’m a new person, with the power of Christ working in me, and I’m trying to live my life as Jesus modeled (surrendered, and full of love) then when I get on that bus tomorrow morning I’ve got the strength to live and the strength to love…

Each of us has another moment…

Speak on It!

Haters...

You know what bothers me. Haters. Sometimes when I'm hanging out, people try to hate! It's funny how everyone seems to think that they are comedians, when in fact they are haters. Now, you may be wondering how I could be so cruel. Don't read too much into this rant. It's just for fun and to ensure some friends, (aka Lisa) that I still know how to post a blog.

Speak On That!

More than breakfast...

So this morning I was eating breakfast (imagine that) with our men's bible study at a local restaurant when all of a sudden it happened…

We had really finished breakfast but there were three of us still hanging out for a little conversation.  I stood up and moved to the side and before I knew it, the three of us had completely blocked the aisle.  So we talked for a couple of minutes with seemingly no issue.  The place was just about empty when all of a sudden one of the waitresses stopped and gave us a “slap you in the mouth look.”  

She said, “Do you think you are at home?” “You think you can just sit all around here wherever/however you want?” We all three replied “No ma’am,” and quickly moved back around the table to continue our conversation. 

Over the course of the day I’ve considered two ways of interpreting this event.  Before I go any deeper here…let me say, I’m cool with what she said, actually even how she said it, but it does bring to mind some possible thoughts to consider in relation to the church.

She didn’t hold back in telling the truth.  That’s refreshing actually.  Sometimes in the church we hide behind the truth don’t we?  What keeps us from speaking the truth in love?  (Ephesians 4:14-16) 

Probably afraid to lose members, upset the apple cart or some other dumb reason…but still we stop. 

Or maybe people aren’t ready to hear the truth?  Could it be? 

Speak On It!  

Okay...

I know I'm a total dork and I'm tremendously behind on posts...  So in light of that I'm going to try just a little harder.  Okay, maybe.  

In the meantime check out the interpreter magazine... 

http://www.interpretermagazine.org/interior.asp?ptid=43&mid=13435

Speak On It.... Peace