The Caboose

Day 40 Doxology:  Wow!  This year I've managed an entire Lenten Season without missing a single blog post-I may have miss-numbered a few, but I got'm all in!  "SPEECH, SPEECH!" I'd like to thank God...without Him none of this would have ever been possible!

I say that jokingly, of course. However, after I thought about it, there was a lot of Christ from a lot of people that helps throughout the year so that God can continue to show up in powerful ways!  I won't dare begin to list the names, but from Amy to the person that commits to showing up on Sundays this post is for you!  Today's doxology is not an image of my doxology but rather of symbol of "not my image"!  While you're scratching your head, I'll explain.

I have grown accustom to everything Amy does for me while she holds down a house, family, and more than a full-time (paying) gig.  Well, she has the flu!  To the best of my recollection, moms don't have time for the flu, but she does and asked if I could do the bulletins for church.  I did them, but it reminded me the value of Amy and it made me think about everyone else that plays a role in being Christ to, not only me, but to everyone else at The Summit and Julia Street.

So, for my final doxology of Lent 2016 my doxology picture is you represented by a single finalized bulletin for Easter, and a reminder that when we serve each other we are reminded that Christ has risen!

Feel better Amy, we need you!

Thanks Be To God

Day 39 Doxology:  Welcome to the next to last doxology for this season of Easter prep!  And...what a day of praising God it has been!

It started with some great reading!  I love journaling and reading about Biblical mentors!

After my time with my Biblical mentors, I cooked breakfast for Shannon and J-3.  If she told me once, she told me twenty times how much she enjoyed it and "thank you, dad!"  She is so sweet-like her Deddy!

So, if you're counting: Biblical Mentors, cooking eggs, bacon, and biscuits for the fam, and repeated praise from my daughter!

Next, I headed to St. Paul for our Good Friday service when I saw this man.  He was carrying a cross down the road in celebration of Good Friday.  He was one of three that I had the pleasure of not hitting as I passed!  Still I'm proud of their dedication, and it did make me slow down as I traveled through several counties today.

After, a colleague shared the Good Friday message we ate lunch-That's what good Methodist do!  I had the pleasure of another doxology as I sat and talked with my Julia Street Memorial family.  They are incredibly hard workers.  They had the desserts in the line-up awaiting one's BBQ drenched palate. There is something about laughing that makes you feel as if God is warming your heart!  I love my Julia Street family!

So, once again with additions: Biblical Mentors, Breakfast, "Thank You's", Cross-toters,  JSM Fam!

Afterwards, I headed back to the church for some emails and creative brochure handouts construction for Easter Sun-Rise at Mabry's Overlook.  While I was conjuring up my creative juices...Mrs. Diane. surprised me.  She was decorating for Easter-pretty awesome, but you'll have to wait until Sunday to see it for yourself!  It was worth a pause of "praise"!

I had to meet Shannon and the girls at her moms for dinner, but I had to go to the park and drop off the brochures in time for the weekend check in crowd, first.  Let me just say, every year I am amazed at the walk up traffic for our Sun Rise Service Celebration, and I want it to continue!

Once at the Lodge, I checked in-See yesterdays doxology!  Now get this...the check-in lady saw the brochure handouts that I had brought with me, and asked if she could have one?  She said that she has had several people ask her about the service, and they were there just for it!  Can I get a Praise God?  Whoop, whoop! I handed her the stack and said pass 'em out...they were for her!  She couldn't believe the coincidence...But we know, don't we?

But there's more praise to go around...I checked in, drove to our cabin and bamm...Sugar Love for the family.  In the cabin (which is a gift from our Summit family) was a basket of candy, chocolate, drinks and these packets of sour gum called "Cry Baby"-my mouth is full of spit thinking about it!  I couldn't quit eating them!

So, the count continues: Biblical Mentors, Breakfast, Daughter's Praise, Cross-toters (traffic dodgers), JSM peeps, A Diane surprise, the Holy Spirit helping me check in and the scales that fell from a ladies eyes, The unknown's asking about the Sun Rise Service, The cabin, The candy....and the Love!

Count'em!  That is a day's worth of moments that I paused and thanked God for the pleasure of His presence.  How many did I overlook?  The common thread linking each moment is love, more specific God's love.  How can anyone go through life and not know it, and why would we let them?

I have the greatest life, friends, family, churches in the world, and I serve the greatest God that is out of this world -Thanks be to God!

Thankfulness For Everyone

Day 38 Doxology:  The following is clear and unobstructed...It is an example of my love for you and your love for my family...it's a gift that is teachable...it's a gift that is humbling! My goal is to not complicate it, and teach my family to recognize its greatness by saying thank you!

I often feel God's love for our church.,.and like last year, I get the advantage to teach my daughters based on previous years, that the times that I am away from home make a huge difference in the life of others.  It is a time of serving God!

Can you say that your time away from home is a time investing in your relationship with God?

This image is a picture that reflect a church's love for the family that serves her...I only pray that you recognize the thankfulness that me and my families share for your graciousness!

I am the luckiest pastor on earth!

Tracks of Growth

Day 37 Doxology: There are only three days of doxologies and four days 'til Easter left of this year's Lenten season.   It has been an extreme blessing for me, this year more than years past, I think?  This year, the blog expanded.  Friends away from the church learned of my Lenten discipline, my daughters learned what I had been doing, and it just grew and prompted many, many conversations...it just grew.

Sometimes it is like that with ministries.  We start programs, do our homework then strategically implement steps to the system giving our programs the best chance for success, but sometimes they don't succeed.  Then the real question is...now, what do I do?  Do we give up or be diligent offering an exercise in faith?

I have had such an experience.  A while back, I saw the need for an immediate class that guest could be a part of when they visited.  If God gave us the gift of guest for a Sunday, would I have place where they could immediately get plugged in?  We did not; we needed an entry point for guest!  I implemented a track for growth in discipleship called Growth Tracks-creative, I know!

It was successful at first.  It generated members, but then participation declined.  I questioned the times it was offered, the number of times it was offered in a month.  Heck, I even questioned the need, but I stuck with it. Within the last month and a half we have gained 3 new members through our Growth Tracks Discipleship Initiative-praise God!  The latest, not only became a member tonight, but will be baptized soon.  Is our time wandering in the desert over?  Sometimes we have to preach it until we believe it!

In the 1700's, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, had visited the providence of Georgia (U.S.) on a disastrous mission trip to the Indians that left him questioning his faith.  As a result, he was thinking of leaving the ministry and stop preaching.  It was during this time that he met a man named Peter Boehler, a Moravian missionary.  In Wesley's journal he wrote, "Leave of preaching.  How can you preach to others, who have not faith yourself?" I asked Boehler, whether he thought I should leave it or not.  He answered, "By no means."  I asked, "But what can I preach?" He said, "Preach faith till you have it; and then, because you have it, you will preach faith." The rest of Wesley's life is history.  The Methodist movement flourished and lives were saved...like tonight.  Preach Growth Tracks?  What would Boehler say?

Checks and Balances

Day 36 Doxology:  Tonight was an education in civic doxology.  Our small city is haven't a not-so-small disagreement about funding for our city school system-a school system that has always excelled more than their means.

There is one group that wants more city...including more resources and funding for civic structures and systems-important! There is another group that feels like the city is moving forward without any budgeting concern for the city school's needs in constant cycle of state funding decreases-important! Both sides are worth being heard.

So, tonight's doxology is NOT an exercise in futility.  Tonight, I went and listened.  Instead of getting mad, getting defensive, talking down, or making sure everyone knew that my feelings were hurt...I listened.  In listening, I promised myself that I would become better informed in the future.  That to date...I had been uninformed and absent in the system of checks and balances which makes our system greater than any other.

Our system of government is made great because we can listen and talk-checks and balances.  It is this greatness that makes the world jealous and angry.  What is not great is when our adults act like the children that we are claiming to stand in the trench for...not cool!  However, politics is not cool according to Christ-something to consider.

In contrast, Anything worth having is worth fighting for.  Just a few dates to remember...1776, 1918, and 1945, but how long will God support our cause?  Maybe the better questions is how long will God support our personal causes?

I wonder do we consider God's guidance on every level of our life?  In my experience, we want a change of circumstances and not ask God to change our whole life -that means giving up control.  God is a God of life changes!  Paint that on an overpass!

With all that said, my doxology initially was the moment I left the adults standing firm on the side for or against whatever, but that changed the moment I got home.  When I got home the fight became personal! When I got home, my daughter decided to surprise her parents by cleaning her room-stop the press!  I joke, but if you read yesterday's blog then you know the burden of a parent and the egg shells that are scattered throughout the house.  I stink as a parent...until tonight!

Tonight, after a clean room, I sent a single text to my daughter-"I Love You!"  If you have a child at college, then I encourage you to send a simple text that says..."I love you!"  Three words that can break all barriers.  Three words that adults and city council members could stand to hear..."I Love You!"-checks and balances for sure!

The Start of the Countdown

Day 35 Doxology:  The countdown is on to the much awaited sunrise that changed the world and will bring to a close this years 40 doxologies.  However, that is a week away, and "we still have tonight."  Though that sounds a little too much like Bob Seger lyrics, we really are to make the most of today/tonight, and that is what I plan on sharing.

The events happened pretty quick tonight.  Once Shannon and I dropped some cash at Sam's we headed home to unload then to carry a few items to a friend. Once there, my life-long buddy insisted I stay and watch Woodlawn-a movie less about Tony Nathan and more about what Jesus can do if you allow Him into your home-school-community. This is the headline graphic...

If you've watched the movie that would be enough for today's doxology, but there was more left to my day before bed.  Shannon and I had found a two-sided mirror at Bed Bath & Beyond that I had wanted for a long time for our bathroom.  This mirror increases your power X8.  It attaches to the wall and swings out then folds up out of the way against the wall-it's great for putting in contacts.  By now you are thinking Jesus will return before he gets to the huge doxology worth mentioning.  Here it comes.

Just above the base of the mirror is a picture, two pictures in fact. They are a picture of my three daughters the first day that I arrived at my 1st appointment and the last day that I served that appointment.  Those two pictures represented 2 years of growth of my girls and myself.  It made me pause and just thank God that following Him is a process-a journey.  It is a road worth traveling regardless of the terrain.  It is our calling to be shared...whatever lies ahead.

That would usually be enough for me to close my computer and wished I'd proof my blog one-more-time, but there was more to my evening.  J-2 and J-3 had a strong discussion-an argument really that made them end in a hug and apology.  It took everything in me to NOT get involved.  The image of the two of them hugging was my true doxology (not pictured). If you have something unresolved with someone...there is a Father in heaven that wants you to resolve it, and fights the urger to fix it for you.  Be the bigger person.  Be the person that extends your arms to welcome the embrace that offers forgiveness and grace.  Isn't that was Jesus did for you?

To God Be The Glory

Day 34 Doxology:  The countdown continues!  Also, the doxologies become more difficult as I witness God's reach throughout my life...I pray you have become a witness to God at work in your own life.  I'll tell you a simple secret...that is my goal!

Regardless if you've witnessed God at work in and around you I have, and I have loved this process.  So much so, that I almost hate to see it end.  I am trying to figure out a way to transition to a different doxology blog format throughout the whole year and hoping that it will not take away from what we share together during Lent.

Nonetheless, today was a bookends of "praise God" moments.  I served along side many disciples as we offered food alternative to those that need it most.  I watched servants take up the slack as one of our very own were investing in their own family time in Gatlinburg, TN.  Not to worry...we handled it well, and I believe they would be proud!  I had a lot of God moments throughout my Food Pantry morning, but one in particular included prayer with a mom that had lost her husband and wrestles with her son's liver cancer.  I never get use to prayer over a person as their tears are flowing...I never get use to being such a vessel of God's reach!

Speaking of God's reach...My day closed with an equally great doxology but in a different way.  I love the way our church has grown to understand that they have authority-authority to lead others; authority to share their faith; authority to act!

This evening, as I was sitting in my favorite chair and watching basketball with my busted bracket, I was sent a picture from someone in the church that shared how they spent their Saturday. I was blown away!  I didn't have the words to adequately share how much that picture meant to me.

Every day that I walk from my car to our church office I walk on a pea-gravel saturated sidewalk.  It is the residue of our daycare children playing. That is what they do! We have swept it, shoveled it and scooted it with our feet, but it's a natural process of our daycare children playing.  It's just what we have to deal with...until this evening!

This family worked to solve a problem.  I love it!  Our church is starting to reach a maturity where we no longer ask for permission to be disciples.  To God be the glory!

I can't say enough about the joy of feeling God's presence through our Julia Street Memorial Food Pantry and The Summit's growth through our small groups and discipleship planning-we are growing and growing more healthy! Again, to God be the glory forever, and forever, Amen!