what do we need to do

Something has been bothering me lately.  It hasn’t been the terrible way the Riders lost yesterday or my utter meltdown on the golf course last week (even Neil beat me:-) I’m not even too bothered that I ordered a Cinnamon Dolce Latte from starbucks last week and after driving off tasted that it was just a Pike’s peak – black (I don’t do anything without sugar in it – I’ve tried and I can’t)

I’m in a little more serious mood today.  God has given me an “ache” inside my stomach (and it’s probably not from the sugar – I know you were thinking this) The ache comes from knowing that there are over 14000 people in our neighbourhood of McKenzie Towne and the majority of them don’t have a relationship with Jesus.   My “ache” comes from asking myself “what are we, as a church, doing to change this?”  I could list a couple of things that we’ve tried.  I could highlight that are church is growing and people are coming into a relationship with Christ.  I could highlight the amount of baptisms we’ve had this year.  All of these things are great. 

What’s bothering me is this; I want God sized dreams and God sized ideas.  Constantly I’ve been asking God “how can we, at least, present to gospel and/or show your love to all 14,000 people in the next couple of years (2 or 3)?”  Our church is in such a perfect position – we are in the center of the community.  We are a ”town” inside the city.  How can we leveredge this to impact our community?  What can we do to reach everyone that’s never been done before?  Scrap the traditional “outreach” ideas; what could we do/be that’s so “out there” that would impact every single person in this community? 

I’m praying for some answers to this question.  It doesn’t matter how much it would cost, it doesn’t matter how much effort it may take – I want every single person who calls McKenzie Towne their home to know what Jesus did for them on the cross.  How do we do it?

I love winning

This is just to remind all of you that I am very competitive and I love to win.  There’s nothing more invigorating than beating your friends in a competition – I love it. 

*this blog post is really for only three people (you know who you are)  Bring it whenever, wherever.  You will still lose and I will still win.  It’s getting a little too easy:-)

** Chances are I will lose next time because I just wrote this … but it’s fun.

go fly a kite

We had a strong wind blowing yesterday so our family decided to go fly a kite.  I can’t believe how much fun it was – here are some pics

Decisions

I find it hard to make decisions; where to eat, what shirt to buy, who to cheer for in the NFL (I still haven’t been able to pick a team).   Everytime I’m faced with a decision I don’t want to make the wrong choice because I don’t want to regret it later. 

Things don’t get easier in  my work life when I’m put in a decision making situation as Lead Pastor of MTC.  It seems like there are decisions around every corner and I’m the one who is responsible to make the final say.  It’s been quite the experience for me to understand that someone has to say either “yes” or “no” and in a leadership position this is my role.  The bible makes it very clear that “the counsel of many is wisdom” which is why there is an elders board – but someone has to lead the process. 

A huge encouragement for me, as a leader, has been a talk that Andy Stanley had at the Catalyst west conference I attended back in April.  Andy said some words that I needed to here, here are a couple of quotes that have encouraged me; “uncertainty is why we need leaders.” “If every situation were clear, no leadership would be needed.” “Uncertainty underscores the need for leadership. Uncertainty is the arena in which leadership is recognized.”  

As I grow as a leader (and as you grow as a leader as well) I am learning that leadership is a great responsibility but one that God has given you (and me).   It is our responsibility to be listening to what God wants for you and your responsibility and to respond accordingly.  And from what I hear from some veterans – you’ll rarely be 100% convinced it was right.

First day of school

You know the feeling; that turning in your stomach when you walked into the local K-mart or Zellers with your mom and you saw the giant sign that said “Back to school supplies”.  You were with your mom so you couldn’t swear (unless you lived on the farm and you were only allowed to say one word that your “non-farm” friends couldn’t say) but you said to yourself  “It’s only July, my summer just began”. 

From that point on you had an unofficial countdown in your head of when the dreaded day of school would begin; 30 days, 15 days, 2 more sleeps, one more hour etc …  You were the deer and the beginning of school was the headlights.  Your tried everything to get out of the way, even telling your Mom ”seriously, I think you’d be a great homeschool teacher!” or you’d think to yourself “what would ferris buhler do?”.   Nothing worked – the first day always came.

I’m feeling for all the kids at school today.  Some parents are happy that their little one is out of the house again, some parents balled like a newborn on the steps of the elementary school.  Whatever the parents have gone through – the child has to wait another school year for summer vacation.   

The first day of school – oh what memories. 

*Caleb starts on Monday and Abby starts on Tuesday.  We’re partying till then.

Seriously officer – my one year old did it.

4 Things our 19 month old daughter can’t do:

• change her own diaper
• say “DADDY RULES”
• dunk on a regulation size basketball hoop
• wakeboard

1 thing our 19 month old can do:

• Call 911

*Just to let you know – anytime someone calls 911 in Calgary – two of the cities finest comes to your house and makes sure there is nothing going on … and they are very thorough!

Throwing rocks

While on vacation in Ontario my family got the chance to spend 5 days with my sister at her cabin by the lake.  Five days of swimming, boating, sleeping, reading, eating, bear watching and marshmellow cooking.  We loved it and wished we could have spent the whole summer there.

As we relaxed I found my son doing something that all boys like to do; throwing rocks into the water.   For a minute we watched as Caleb did his best Roy Halladay impression as he took baseball sized stones and threw them with all of his might into the lake, laughing as every stone left his hand.  It was definately a Normal Rockwell painting in the making … until we realized that he was actually throwing AT something.  Caleb wasn’t just throwing large stones into the lake to see the ripple they make – he was taking the largest stones he could find and throwing them at the 6 ducks who called the lake their home.    A mere two feet away Caleb was trying to see if he could take a wing off these unsuspecting birds. 

We quickly put a stop to his target practice (I told him the only animal he’s allowed to throw stones at are cats :-)   Like most boys he just didn’t think of the consesquences of his actions. 

It got me thinking; is there anything that I do, withouth thinking, that may hurt other people – and I don’t even realize it?  Do I do or say things that may seem quite normal to most people that may be hurtful to some?  More importantly, is there anything that I do or say or think that might be quite hurtful to my heavenly father?   

It’s funny – a little stone throwing non-incident really got me reflecting on what I do personally.  It’s funny how God works in ways like this. 

*as an aside – there would have been a positive side if he did hit one of the ducks with a stone!  We would had one less hotdog meal.

Is there a dress code?

Is there a dress code when flying?  I’ve never seen one when I enter the airport and I haven’t seen one on the plane.  If there is one I’ve missed it.

 The stewardesses  flight attendants have their uniforms, the pilots have their cool threads and the air line workers wear the same outfits but as a passenger it seems like you can wear anything you want.   If you want to be casual and wear jeans and a t-shirt , you can still fly.  If you feel like wearing business attire you’re O.K.   On our trip to Ottawa I saw a guy with a harley davidson hat, dirty blue t-shirt and ripped jeans sitting beside a guy who’s hair was nicely done and was wearing a nice suit.   Neither of them seemed out of place, neither of them were complaining and both of them were equals on that plane.  Both of them were heading the same direction and both of them got to their destination at the same time.

One aspect that I love about our church is that it’s much like an airplane.  Some people like to dress in their business suit and pretty dress and some people like to come in their sandles and shorts.  They sit together, they worship together, they pray together and they know they are family, a community.   They are equals even though they choose to wear different styles. 

2 Corinthians 3:17 says where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  There is freedom to be yourself when you know that God doesn’t look on the outside but rather looks in the heart.

back at it

I feel like writing again so I thought I’d get back in the saddle.  I’ll give you a little debrief of our life the past month or so:

• Summer weather has been terrible.  I’m not complaining b/c I hate it when people complain about the weather. I’d rather you complain about my preaching or how the toronto blue jays frustrate you (especially in the last three innings where they could lose to a little league team – seriously – what is vernon wells problem hitting .183 when runners are in scoring position.  I’m glad he’s making more in a day than I do in two years) 
• I’ve done only two wedding this past month.  We have Aaron (our youth pastor) and  Cameron (works for Mustard Seed – they guy is awesome) sharing the responsibility.  It’s been a nice break for me not to be controlled by rehersals and wedding times.   For some reason I miss seeing the different style of dresses the brides wear?  I know – what is wrong with me? 
• We just got back from a two week vacation to see my parents and my sisters family.  It was a great time to relax, visit and enjoy some great conversation.   I could definately vacation for the rest of my life – could that be a job?  Professional vacationer? 
• Karen and I had our 10 year anniversary on August 7th.  10 years!  I think she looks more beautiful today than when I first met her (seriously – she ages well – I definately married up!)   It is my dream and goal to take her somewhere HOT this winter.  We’ve never gone on a hot holiday (without kids) and I thought a 10 year anniversary would be a great excuse to go.   Now if someone would pay me to vacation then it would be a little easier   She needs a week to do nothing, cook nothing and relax.  
• Karen had her birthday while we were on vacation as well.  When we were dating my mom made her a birthday cake and we took a picture of the two of us and the cake.   12 years later my mom made another cake and took a picture of the five of us with the cake – wow have times changed. 
• Caleb got hit in the head by an hawks wing.  Seriously, it flew right beside his head.  Craziness.  He’s O.K.  He actually laughed.  (I should tell you that it was a trained hawk at a reptile “zoo” outside Ottawa.  You were probably playing out some crazy scenario’s in your head before I mentioned that)

Many more things happened this past month but I don’t want to bore you with them … yet.  I’ll keep you posted – I might even put some pictures up.

I’m on a break

I’m taking the summer off from blogging. I thought I might tell you this – all four of you that read it