AnotherJohn.Com

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...

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...

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 Wo...

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 ...

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 socie...

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 h...

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