Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Community’ Category

Did You Hear That?

Posted in Community, Family on December 13, 2010| 2 Comments »

Did you know that the average speed of an American person’s speech is 120 to 140 words per minute?  Now if you live up north, it is probably a little faster but if you live in west Texas, the rate is 9.  OK, just kidding – we do speak a little faster than that in west Texas.  Having grown up here and lived here most of my life, I can say from experience that most west Texas folks talk a little slower than the average.

But, did you know that the average number of words per minute that a person can hear and comprehend is 300?  Now I went to school for many, many  years (just ask my wife), but I can tell you that math is not my strong suite.  But even with that being the case, it would appear that we can hear and comprehend at about twice the speed of normal conversation.

You may be thinking, “So what?”

Here is my point – when we are carrying on a conversation, our minds often wander while the other person is talking.  Since we can comprehend faster than the other person can speak, we have a tendency to begin to formulate what we will say next while the other person is still speaking.  We have a tendency to jump ahead and try and determine what the person is about to say or is trying to communicate.

What this normally leads to is miscommunication due to our lack of really listening to the other person.  James 1:19 says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”  The importance is placed on the listening.

Think of all the problems that would be solved (probably before they even become problems) if we would focus more of our attention on truly listening and hearing the other person.  Instead, we often jump to conclusions and build our own assumptions without ever really hearing the other person.

Following Jesus is about relationships – having a relationship with Jesus and also having relationships with others.  The writer of James reminds us that if we are to have meaningful relationships with others, we must learn to listen.

Concentrate on listening today!

Read Full Post »

The Love Badge

Posted in Community, Formation on December 9, 2010| 2 Comments »

Yesterday, I received a card in the mail from one of our area hospitals reminding me that my “visiting clergy I.D. badge expires soon.”  So the request was for me to visit the hospital and update my information in their system so that I can get a shiny, new badge.  The badge serves a security purpose so that hospital personnel can identify me as someone who can be in certain places in the hospital.  It is a sad commentary on our society that a badge is even needed, but I do understand the need for such identification.

As I thought about making arrangements in my schedule to get by the hospital, I thought about how the badge will help people identify me and my role.  Then my mind wandered – like a stray animal on the open range, walking through fields . . . oops, sorry, did it again.  Where was I?  Oh, yes, my mind wandered and I began to think about how people identify me in other settings.  How do people know me?

My hope and prayer is that I am known as a Christ follower.  I desire that my actions, attitudes and words leave little room for ambiguity when it comes to what my life stands for and who I serve.

Jesus said we should wear a “Love” badge.  Well, not exactly.  What he said was this: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).  Everyone will know who we follow by how we love.

So here is my challenge for us today:  Do people have difficulty determining what you stand for and who you follow based on your actions?  Or does the way you show love to people daily identify you as a follower of Jesus?

Make sure your Love badge is completely visible  today and let people know who you really are.

Now I’m off to the hospital to get a new badge – that’s OK because I hate my picture on my current badge – the only problem is, I still look like I did when I took the last picture!

Read Full Post »

Pray For Mexico

Posted in Community, Missions on December 1, 2010| 1 Comment »

I made my way to Laredo yesterday on my way to deliver the gift boxes in Roma, Texas.  My prayer is that the boxes make it to the children at the shelter in Miguel Alemán today.  Please pray that the gifts get to the intended recipients.

As I made the 10 hour drive yesterday, there was plenty of time to think about all that is going on along the border.  I wish I could report that God gave me the answer of how the violence can be stopped.  Unfortunately, that is not the case.  But I did arrive in Laredo with a resolve that this trip is not the end of concern for people imprisoned in their own country and enslaved by violence.  At the very least, we can continue to pray!

I am not sure what this idea will lead us to but I can say that at this point, what I am thinking is that it may be an awareness campaign.  I have launched www.prayformexico.org.  There is really nothing there yet except for a url and some dreams.  I covet your prayers for this effort.

I asked a question of our congregation in a sermon a couple of weeks ago that I have been asking myself since that time.  The question was, “What are you going to attempt this week that will surely fail if God does not show up?”

This effort of Pray For Mexico is one of those things – an effort that will surely fail if God is not involved.  So please pray for God to guide and shape it to be something useful for the Way.

As always, thanks for stopping by and reading my ramblings – you are a blessing!

Read Full Post »

Headed to the Valley

Posted in Church, Community, Missions on November 30, 2010| Leave a Comment »

In a few hours, I will be headed to the valley in a van full of gift boxes for the children in the shelter at Cuidad Miguel Alemán.  There are many children living in this shelter so our church staff, along with some donations from others,  have put together a gift box for each child.  Yesterday, a group of college students came to the church and assembled the boxes and loaded them on our old church van, and now I have the privilege of driving these gifts to the valley to be given to the children.  It is great to be involved with such a wonderful group of people working together for such an important mission.

Here is my request of you today.  Please pray for the children who will receive these boxes.  Pray for their safety.  Pray that God will use these simple gifts to work in each of their lives.  Most importantly, pray that each child will experience God’s love and presence through this effort in ways they have never known before.

Thanks for your support!

(more…)

Read Full Post »

Violence Along the Border

Posted in Community, Hope, Missions on November 15, 2010| Leave a Comment »

The news reports have not changed.  The violence in Mexico continues.  The refugees of Cuidad Mier are still living in a shelter in Miguel Alemán, just as they were over  a week ago.

Last week I shared about what is going on in the area just across the Mexican border from Roma, Texas (a community just outside McAllen) – you can link to those posts here and here.  Last Friday I announced that on Tuesday, November 16, I am asking all who read my ramblings to consider fasting with me for Mexico.  Tomorrow is the day.

One of the purposes of a fast is go without something as a means of reminding ourselves how dependent we are on God.  There is no question that the situation along the border is beyond our control.  We are utterly dependent on God to intervene.

Please join me in fasting and praying for our brothers and sisters along the border – particularly in the shelter in Miguel Alemán.  Tomorrow I will give you specific things to pray for so check back in the morning.  Today, please help me spread the word that tomorrow is a day to fast for Mexico.

Be blessed today!

Read Full Post »

Fast For Mexico

Posted in Community, Hope, Missions on November 12, 2010| 2 Comments »

I am still without a real sense of understanding of what can be done – and still without words to describe what I am feeling.  After being so close to the horrific situation in border towns near McAllen and yet not being able to do anything about what is going on over there, I am left frustrated and numb.  And of course, it is not just McAllen.  This paralyzing situation stretches the length of the border.  Juarez, Mexico has become  one of the most dangerous cities in the world.

There are families that live in constant fear for their lives.  Small children don’t understand what is happening but they live in turmoil and fear.  I can’t imagine raising my sons in that environment.

I also think of the pastors who, even if they have the means to leave, choose to stay to minister to the people.  What true servants of God!

The only thing I know to do in this moment is pray.  I ask you to pray as well.  Would you stop in this moment and ask God to intervene.  Ask God to bring peace and comfort to those living in fear today.

I am not one to regularly practice the spiritual discipline of fasting, but Tuesday, November 16, I am setting aside to fast and pray for God to move along the border.  I ask you to consider doing the same.  Would you join me in fasting on that day and in place of eating, spend that time in prayer for the situation along the border – for those people who live in constant fear for their lives?

I know God will honor your heart cries as we fast for Mexico.

Read Full Post »

A Different Side of Church

Posted in Church, Community on October 28, 2010| Leave a Comment »

I don’t think it occurred to me as our Children’s Minister and I were vacuuming the popcorn and trash off of the gym floor at 8:30 last night.  In fact, I don’t think much occurred to me other than I was tired and I wanted to be at home.  But as I reflected on our evening at church, I put it all into perspective.

Last night we had church!  We hosted our annual fall festival.  We had games and food, a bounce house and a ton of kids with their parents.  It was awesome to see so many people having fun together in a safe environment.  It didn’t matter if they regularly attend our church.  Everyone was welcome and everyone had a great time being together.

In my mind, that is an image of what the church should look like all the time.  People coming together without any pressure of wanting to “fit in” – just happy to be together.

As I look back on last night’s experience – it was worth it.  I would vacuum the gym again if I had to.

Read Full Post »

A Legend of a Preacher

Posted in Church, Community, Leadership on October 22, 2010| Leave a Comment »

I grew up in a small town in west Texas – Kermit (Go Yellow Jackets!!).  In my hometown you could find a wide variety of folks but everyone got along fine.

One of the things I remember about our church and our community is that a couple of times per year they would do what I would call the “preacher swap.”  Our pastor would preach in another church in town one Sunday and a pastor from another church would preach in our church.  It was one of those Sunday’s that I was introduced to Brother Lewis.  He was the pastor of the black Baptist church in Kermit.  I had never in my life heard anyone preach with that much passion and enthusiasm.  When he really got “cranked up” he would begin to sing his sermon.  I never watched the time when I listened to him preach.  I guess the reason I was so drawn to him was that his preaching was a mere reflection of who he was and how he lived.  He was a true humble servant of God.  It affected me to the level that I would take some friends and go to their church occasionally, just to hear him preach.

The only catch to going to visit his church was that if you visited, he would expect you to get up and sing for the congregation.  Now, I’m not sure you are getting the picture, but it was impossible to sneak into their church and blend in and remain anonymous – I was a little lighter skinned than the norm of the others sitting in the room.  So I knew when I went that I would have to sing – but I didn’t mind – it was worth it.

I tell you all of this because I am going to today to pay my last respects to this legend of a preacher.  A man that affected so many lives.  A man that was arrested in the 60’s for his non-violent protests.  A man that marched on more than one occassion with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  A man who leaves a huge hole in so many lives.

He did not pastor a mega-church.  In fact, his name never became well-known.  But for those lives he touched – he was a giant and he will be missed!

So I am going to his funeral today – I wonder if they will ask me to sing! 🙂

Read Full Post »

Unified To the Core

Posted in Church, Community, Hope on October 11, 2010| 2 Comments »

Today, my reading was in Romans.  In Romans 15:5-6, Paul encourages followers of the Way – us – by asking God to bless us with a spirit of unity.  Paul realized the importance of getting along.  As a community of believers, we are to be a family who loves one another, who enjoys being together and who takes care of one another.  Stop and think about it; who wants to be a part of a dysfunctional family on purpose?

But Paul goes on to say that the ultimate reason for this unity is what?  That God would be glorified.

The world needs to see a faith community that loves one another and God – not a community of individuals who can’t stand each other.  God is not glorified when we don’t get along.

Paul doesn’t stop with a general statement about unity.  He says that we should glorify God with one heart and one mouth.  This is the part that really caught my attention this morning as I was reading and praying through these two verses.  Paul is pushing for real unity – not just lip service.  Not only are we to be one mouth, but we have to be completely unified – we have to have one heart!

That is really hard in a family of believers.  Sometimes we go along with what is going on and we voice our agreement, but in our hearts, we are not really fully committed to the family.  Paul tells us that for God to be glorified, we need to have one mouth and one heart!

So where do we start?  Today, we start with prayer.  Begin asking God to give you and your faith community a spirit of unity not only in word but in heart.  Ask God to start with you!

Be blessed today!

Read Full Post »

Just Hanging Out With People

Posted in Church, Community, Hope on September 30, 2010| Leave a Comment »

My time in the car yesterday gave me time to catch up on listening to some podcasts.  I listened to Andy Stanley and Francis Chan.  I also listened to Nancy Ortberg and Ed Stetzer.  All of these talks challenged me and gave me much to think about on my long journey home.

But the one that provoked the most thought in me was a talk by Reggie McNeal.  i have mentioned him before.  I don’t know that I have ever heard him speak, whether in person or recorded, that I was not moved.

One of the things he discussed is the way the church has become program centered when she should be more focused on people development.

He referenced a church he has worked with and the experience this particular church encountered after hurricane Katrina.  The church building was severely damaged by the storm and in the weeks that followed the storm, the church had to redefine who they were and God’s calling for them.

Without a building, they could not do their programs.  The result was that, in the pastor’s words, “we just had to go hang out with people.”

What a great look at the church.  Reggie made the point that we have been engrained to accept that the church is a place when in reality it is a person – it is you and it is me.  If we are to be the church, we must realize that being the church is not about programs but rather about empowering people to be the church where they work and live.

So here is a question for you to think about today:  How is your church developing people to be the church in real life?

I would love to hear your feed back!

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »