As the semester begins so does the prescribed reading.  I haven't spent as much on books as I did last semester, yet.  Let me get some of those read and I'll share them with you.

I don't have the time or, sorry, desire to provide beneficial reviews right now for the books I completed over the break.  But I'll share them with you with just a small note for each.

• Mere Discipleship: Radical Christianity in a Rebellious World

•  I'll call this a must read for the Church.  It certainly challenges certain assumptions about the role we give our faith.  Some of it will sound familiar to this.  
  

• the EMERGING church: Vintage Christianity for New Generations

• If you're not completely familiar with the idea of post modernism this book will provide some insight that is easy to make sense of.  The first half of the book covers many facets of post modern (perhaps post-post modern) ideals.  To finish, the second half considers how the church can provide spiritual opportunities to meet the post modern mindset. 
  
• What Difference Do it Make?

• The follow up to Same Kind of Different as Me.  If that book inspired or touched you then you might want to see how it did the same to other people.  Denver and Ron also share with you other parts of their story that only add to the meaningful testimony of love and forgiveness.  You'll have it read in no time.  
• First Things First: Rules for Being a Warner 

• This book came with a marriage study I ordered.  So, I read it in a couple of days.  I appreciated the Warner's willingness to share from their experiences.  It's written from a his and her perspective.  You definitely get a different picture of the NFL star and his family. 
  

A final book I have yet to finish: Love & Respect.

There aren't many videos that include Pues Si Vivimos. Pity; it's a favorite hymn of mine. We sang it together last Sunday as a way to be in prayer for the many people suffering in Haiti. It was a special time, at least for me.

I did come across this song: We Belong to You



It's a nice song; I had never heard it before. You'll recognize the same thought as in Pues Si Vivimos (United Methodist Hymnal #356). Something worth sharing, learning and singing together.

Here are the lyrics:
Refrain
We belong to you, O Lord of our longing,
We belong to you.
In our daily living, dying and rising
We belong to you.

1. In the waters of your mercy,
When the old becomes the new,
Souls united in the myst'ry:
We belong to you.

2. Filled with gifts and filled with goodness,
Spirit breathing life into
All who seek to find their purpose:
We belong to you.

3. When we share the bread you’ve broken
With the many and the few,
We are blessed and we are broken;
We belong to you.

4. We are called to share your word, Lord,
In all we say and all we do.
As our journey moves us onward,
We belong to you.

Stay blessed...john

There’s a new addition to the Fletcher family. Well, okay he’s been around a little while. We’ve had him for several months already. So, he’s not really “new.” However, I have not had a chance to introduce our cyber readers to him. Ladies and Gentlemen, meet our family’s first dog. His name is Pookie. Yes, we’ve heard all kinds of translations from groomers and friends. We say it the way it’s spelled. Think Winnie the Pooh and Cookie Monster.

He is a seven month old miniature schnauzer. People and vacuums make him bark. He doesn’t like to get his nails trimmed, and we are convinced he is the sock monster everyone always talks about. There is no roll of bathroom tissue that is safe from him, no broken tree branch that stands a chance against him or any Fletcher heart able to withstand his cute little head turn, ear flap when you call him.

Nicknames include “The Pookster” and “Pookie Monster.” Occasionally, you’ll hear someone in a high pitched voice call out, “Pookie Wookie.” His list of commands (that is what “tricks” he can do) include “Sit,” “Shake,” “Lay” and “Come.” He also does pretty well with “Stay.” I am currently teaching him “Bow,” “Dance” and, yea, yea, “Preach.” Oh, and to calm down when he hears the doorbell.

The kids have been waiting for the chance to have a dog. Opportunity barked and it finally happened. Now, where did I put my other shoe? Stay blessed…john

No, it's not a Music Monday, but United Methodist Communications emailed this video to me and I wanted to make sure you had a chance to watch it.  Take time to watch it through, and take time to be in prayer.





Read the article from the UMC website here. God be with you. Stay blessed...john

Oak Haven will have a church wide planning session at the end of this month. I’m excited about it, and hoping a large percentage of our membership (not just members) attends. There are some ideas I want to put out, and who knows what might happen?

I’ll also use this time to offer a few of my goals for the year. There’s actually one that I’m hoping everyone will get behind. I’m not sure how many Irvingites are readers of the blog. Just in case there are some I’m not letting the cat out of the bag, yet. The only sneak preview is this video I will use: Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?


So, any ideas or words of wisdom about planning sessions you want to share? Let me know. Leave a comment or drop an email. Stay blessed...john

It's Monday; we like music.  This week I begin the Spring semester.  When I'm done I'll have two years down!

So, to celebrate, let's go back to school.

Billy Madison Back to School Song



Back, Back to School Again!




Stay blessed...john

Texas Stadium is ten walking minutes from where I live and five more from where I worship God (that is on Sunday mornings). Most people know I am not a Dallas Cowboy fan—Fly Eagles, Fly! That doesn’t mean I don’t recognize the organization’s history and significance in American sports (It does mean last Saturday’s game was horrible!). Just as well, living in Irving only deepens my understanding of what Texas Stadium has meant to Cowboy fans over the last three decades. So, since the new stadium opened in Arlington, it seems everyone has had an opinion about what should happen to the empty building here in Irving.

If you haven’t heard, Kraft Foods has made a deal with the city of Irving to take care of the implosion of Texas Stadium (I’ll get the best pictures I can). The latest news from this undertaking involves a nationwide contest that will choose one young person to push the switch that will bring down the stadium. Contestants have to be between the ages of 9-12 years of age. I know there are many young people deserving of this prestigious honor. But the button can only handle one finger. I would like to suggest one young person for consideration—even though he’s too young to enter the contest.

Jonathon Slack is a boy who might be like any other seven year old, but as great as I think my kids are their Christmas vacation didn’t look anything like his. During a recent holiday trip to Chicago the young man witnessed something many of us make excuses for. How many church conversations have I been a part of that mull over the reasons why we can’t or won’t do anything this common experience? A woman was holding a sign indicating she and her young son had no place to live. Jonathon returned home with his family disturbed, wanting to return and bring the woman the $6 he had. His mother convinced him that probably wouldn’t be the best thing to do, but got him thinking of other ways he could help. You can read the story here. The short of it is that Jonathon got people to donate more than four truckloads of toys and food in a matter of approximately ten days. The donations were given to a Chicago homeless shelter.


I wish this was how more people in the church were. Better said, I wish his was the kind of reaction sermons, times of worship and local mission efforts inspired. Thank God for our children who have a very profound way of teaching and reminding us of our call as God’s people. I don’t know if Jonhathon would be interested in blowing up a building. When I was that age I would be, but look at what is in the kid’s heart right now. Kraft, bend the rules; let Jonathon win!

Here’s what I want you to do: email this post or the article from MSNBC about Jonathon’s story to everyone you know. I want every minister, church leader and pew sitter to read that article and confess our sin against God by “what we have left undone.” Too often church councils and ministry groups are so focused on what they can’t do. In so doing we forget what we can be doing. Thank you Jonathon for waking me up. Stay blessed…john

Rodney Clapp’s A Peculiar People: The Church as Culture in a Post-Modern Society is a project challenging the Christian church to renews its stance as a peculiar people. The church has enjoyed a close knit relationship with the state since Constantine mandated Christianity a state religion. Since that time, the state, and much of Western society, has reduced the value of this relationship with the Church. As this process continues, Christians are left to embrace a culture that increasingly finds little use for their institution. Mourning the loss of benefits associated with a longstanding role as chaplain to the state, many in the Church feel helpless and left to wonder what role the Church can have in a pluralistic society. Clapp’s work offers a solution that stands opposed to that of many in mainline Christianity.
A primary role for Christianity in society, Clapp observes, is that of tradition. For that reason it is difficult, perhaps more emotionally than anything, for society to completely alienate the Church. So, the church becomes an empty service provider called in to complete routine, traditional tasks when needed, or when felt as an appropriate thing to do—a concept Clapp defines a sentimental capitulation. Through this incorporation of liberalism, Christianity has been deduced to an inferior, privatized form of religion. Also, Clapp concludes, going against its heritage and contributing to its cultural devaluation, many in the Church have lobbied rigorously for a renewed tie to the state—entrenchment. These two solutions had done little to benefit the Church. Clapp argues the solution is for the Church to do what society will not: alienate itself from society. More specifically, in a process of radicalization, the Church should stand apart as a separate institution governed by its own culture of faith.
How does the Church respond to the rising mistrust, apathy and disregard society holds for Christianity? Finding middle ground in this argument seems futile. Walking the line of church-and-state is burdensome if holding tight to either position Clapp suggests many Christians impose. Perhaps that helps explain the difficulty the Church has faced in maintaining its viability. In a direct and, I suggest, motivating way, Clapp challenges the church to be the Church. This separation is not a novel, elusive or individual effort. For centuries before Constantine the church stood this way.
By reestablishing this model of livelihood Christianity can assert itself as an authoritative entity on its own—without depending on the support or endorsement of the state. With this autonomy the Church can demonstrate its faithfulness to God and mission of the Gospel of Christ. Christianity induces further estrangement from society by trying to relish and reincorporate ideals of times past. In reality, this pursuit exhibits a misguided trust and devotion towards the state. The model of radicalization presented by Clapp offers the Church an opportunity to realign its purpose to that established by her Lord. The words of 1 Peter 2:4-5 come to mind as I consider this opening. We, the Church, have the tremendous calling and occasion to be the living stones standing as a spiritual house.

In the most recent edition of Under the Church (Oak Haven newsletter) I promised an extended version of my article. Yea, I know: Thanks, John. Whoopee! Still, here it is. First, so we’re up to speed, I’ve written monthly newsletter articles as Pastor, Associate Pastor, Lay Ministerial Assistant and all around good guy for four churches. That’s not nearly as much as some of my older other colleagues, but it’s not something I’m putting out there for comparison. It’s been about eight years worth. So you figure 12 months in a year times eight and there you have it.

All those articles have mostly followed the same format—most notably always being exactly 200 words. That has remained somewhat of a discipline for me. It can be difficult to say anything remotely worthwhile in exactly 200 words. But it can be done. Sometimes I’ve done pretty well. Other times not so much. It also helps our faithful, underpaid, but your reward will be in Heaven church newsletter editors know how they’re going to fill up pages. God bless ‘em.

This month I wrote on something I think is very important to all of us. Just like other months there was no way I could cram everything I wanted to say into those two small paragraphs. But this was something I really wanted a chance to share.

I cannot recall when I last watched the ball drop on New Year’s Eve. However, ever since I was a kid, I always try to watch a year-in-review program. It’s interesting to remember events that happened or people who stood out (for good or bad), and even hear about things I overlooked. What I’ve learned is that is an important part of faith development. No, not remembering all the scandals or sporting champions of the year. Rather, taking time to reflect. Reflection is a valuable and important tool for faith. Our world of hurriedness though doesn’t help us use it.

When everything is due yesterday a tendency arises to get things done and quickly move on. Of course, that spills right into our spiritual life. You know what I mean: Flip through the devotion book. Check. ThankyouJesusforthis…food. Check. And so on. What are other reasons we aren’t very good at reflecting? Maybe it reminds us too much of, “Go to your room and think about what you’ve done!” Ouch. Perhaps our “Is that going to be on the test?” mentality has left us with a bunch of memorized facts that we don’t know what to do with. I had a professor who wrapped it up best with her question: So what if you know it; why does it matter that you know it? In other words, what does being Jeopardy or Trivial Pursuit champion have to do with understanding why you know what you’re bragging you know.

Without reflection, spiritually speaking, the danger is that Bible reading, for example, becomes and remains just boring reading. On the same note, going to church is just something you do before the game—that is if church doesn’t interfere with the game! God forbid a night service or study be held during the NFL season. Oh, the choices you’ll have to make. Oops. That’s another article. Let’s regroup. Take time to consider what we (not just you) read in Scripture, what we sing about and what is preached to us each week. Reflection offers insight, wisdom and understanding. Sign me up!

Maybe your church is different from many of the ones I have been to. Maybe not. Have you ever experienced the post-sermon shift? Well, it’s not limited to the sermon as there are reports of this phenomenon after prayer time, too. It can be quite deafening. Immediately after a minister finishes a sermon how many times do we immediately hear the congregation reach for the life support (bad sermon joke there somewhere) to check what is next on the agenda? Oh, the great and powerful bulletin. Never mistake free, always changing and always folded just a little crookedly. That drives us OCD people crazy!

Now, ministers have some part in this if they haven’t made an effort to make reflection time. So, let’s make a deal. After your next sermon experience, keep your hands off the bulletin for thirty seconds. For one, you already know what happens next. Chill. Secondly, you just might throw everyone around you off their rocker as you bring it all home and use that time to close your eyes and ask God to help you hear the voice of God. Now, if you’re minister doesn’t have that kind of time in the service, when you open your eyes you might get put on the Sleeps During the Sermon list. Consequently, you will always be a story for your pastor to share with her/his pastor buddies about those kind of people, but you’ll know better. If, however, your minister shares this insight with you, as you both open your eyes you can share a quick wink: Praise God.

Some of us might not have the slightest idea how to begin learning how to use reflection. Glad to meet you some of us; I’ve got a few words for you. Realize that a great part of reflection starts with asking questions: what does this mean? How do I or my actions fit into any part of this reading/sermon, etc? Ask these kinds of questions in your praying. Yep, you can’t get out of praying.

Here’s a simple exercise for you to try. Read Philippians 4:8-9. Now, stop and “think about these things.” Think about people who demonstrate “these things.” Think about stories you know of that illustrate “these things.” Figure out how where your life matches those “things” and also where it does not. When you get real into it you’ll notice you might want to write these things down, but we’re in no hurry right now. The God of peace is waiting for you. Happy New Year! And I said it all in only 1,004 words. Stay blessed…john

What do you think?

I’m writing this post about 48 hours before the last game of the regular season of the 2009/2010 season. There is a game on the schedule everyone is waiting for. A division title and a week off in the playoffs are possibly up for grabs. As I’m writing now (two days ago) I don’t know what you know about the game as you’re reading this right now. I do have my suspicions!

No matter the outcome, Philly has had a good season. We’re in the playoffs and there should be some good games coming up. What does all that mean for us today? Well, it’s a Philadelphia Eagles Music Monday. E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles! Stay blessed…john


Fly Eagles, Fly!

Philadelphia Eagles Rocky Song (Some of the names are outdated, but it's still a good song).

And, of course, the theme from Rocky!

Please be in prayer for the members and friends of Mercedes FUMC. Earlier this week their church caught fire. They have a fellowship hall to use for worship services. Still.

I remember preaching in their sanctuary was fun because a picture of Jesus looked back at you from the back (by the front doors) of the church.

Here are two news reports about the incident:
Mercedes Church Damaged in Blaze

Fire Destroys Valley Church

Interesting. The same church was damaged in one report and destroyed in another.
Stay blessed...john