Bruce Black @ FXCC

The Last Will and Testament

2006-10-18T14:30:00.000-04:00

In the tradition of our Restorational Fathers, today I am writing the last will and testament of my blog. After much consideration and dealing with personal guilt, today will be the last entry in this blog.

Though I have enjoyed writing this blog and have appreicated the many comments it has received, I feel that right now to be most effective in my job I need to stop blog writing. Currently it's impossible for me to give "the blog" the attention it needs. But more importantly at the moment I need to be giving other areas of my life and mission more time and energy.

So thanks for reading.

Show Jesus,
Bruce

2006-10-03T10:03:00.000-04:00

I finished reading Bill Hybels book Just Walk Across The Room. It was very motivational and shared helpful information on how to become active in sharing your faith. Hybels believes its as simple as walking across the room. Hybels may be one of the best one on one "sharers of faith" I've ever encountered. If you are interested in developing your capacity and desire to become more outreach oriented, this book is extremely helpful.

I will be preaching about personal outreach in mid January.

This past week has been an emotional rollar coaster for many of us, especially me. One of our members and a dear friend, was diagnosed with cancer. His name is Bob Roth and he's the father of five children 12 and under. Bob is the picture of health, but a jogging injury sent him to the doctor and the doctor sent him to have an MRI and what was thought to be a tendon injury turned out to be something far worse. The initial reports are extremely hopeful, but please pray for Bob, Teresa and their children. Bob, age 42, will have a hip replacement this week and then begin chemo therapy as soon as possible.

Hallel was here this past Sunday and theh energy and worship was inspirational. It was a great day of worship. Thanks to Murray for having the vision to bring them here.

Enjoy your Tuesday.

Back at work

2006-09-20T10:36:00.000-04:00

It's aways a humbling experience to return to work and see how things went so well in your absence.

But it is good to be back in my yellow office. And the weather is spectacular and fall is just around the corner. Life is good.

I'm reading two books right now I'll let you know about as soon as I'm done with them. One is by Bill Hybels on evangelism called Just Walk Across the Room and the other is by Les and Leslie Parrott (yes that this their real names) called Your Time-Starved Marriage.

I watched the new Matthew Perry show Studio 60 on Monday night. I liked it.

I've already given up on the Redskins.

I think it's going to be an all New York World Series (Mets vs. Yankees).

My dad a graduate of Oklahoma University is still grieving about what happened to OU at Oregon this past Saturday. In case you don't know what I'm referring to, consider yourself blessed. Dad and my mom are visiting my Granddad and his wife in Oklahoma City this week. Dad told me that this football fiasco has not just been on the front page of the Oklahoma City newspaper's sports page, but was on the front page of the newspaper and all other "world and national" news was relegated to inside the paper. Think college football is important in middle America?

I hope you have a great day.

More later...

Life after the knife

2006-09-18T15:22:00.000-04:00

Well I wish I could make my recent surgery into a bigger deal than it actually was.

But I can't.

Last Thursday, I had umbilical hernia repair surgery. Which basically means that my "innie" had turned into an "outie" and it needed to be fixed. Nothing macho here. (It is a hernia that typically pregnant women and infants get!)

It looks as though the surgeon made a small incision under my belly-button (it's still covered up with a bandage), then he pushed back in what was sticking out, sewed in some mesh and finally stitched me back up. It took less than 30 minutes. I was home less than an 90 minutes after the surgery started.

I was told to do nothing for five days (which I've done) and I go back and see the Dr. tomorrow for my "follow-up" appointment.

I've had this condition for several months, but learned in August from a good friend in the medical profession that it could turn ugly fast. (Mention of softball size protrusions coming out of my belly-button got my immediate attention.) So I scheduled the procedure and now it's done. Hopefully it was stay done.

This tiny surgery has made me have great sympathy for people who have real surgery (which I have been spared up to this point in my life). I will be a much more attentive and compassionate when I talk with people who undergo surgery of any kind.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers, your encouragement and your surgery stories. They helped (and scared) me into getting better.

Happy Hump Day

2006-09-13T10:47:00.000-04:00

If you can make it over "the hump" of Wednesday it's downhill for the rest of the work week.

I was just reading an article out today about the rightness or wrongness of studying the Bible in public school. Since the article was in a USATODAY Blog I was able to read through many of the comments given to the article (and responses to other blog comments). Those were the most interesting. No matter which way you slice it, the Bible causes people to take sides. People may not read it and may not believe in it, but they can't leave it alone.

I'm having some minor surgery tomorrow. It's an "out-patient" thing. "Out-Patient" seems to be like dry cleaning..."In by 11 out by 5." I'll tell the nurse, "Light starch please." Maybe it will help my posture.

Though it's minor surgery, I've been told that I have to do nothing for five to ten days. And I can't lift anything of any weight for six weeks. My thought is that forced to watch day time television, the doctor knows any patient will take it easy to get better as soon as possible.

My mom's birthday is tomorrow. I've been blessed to have her as my mom. Her love for God and his people, her love for her family, her sense of humor and her great cooking have been a blessing to my life. Happy birthday mom.

More later...

9.11. and beyond

2006-09-12T10:30:00.000-04:00

I made it through the 9.11 weekend. How about you? Sunday morning we had a great worship service that included honoring and appreciating our local fire fighers and police officers. I think our small effort of thanks made them feel good. And I have to think they're going to enjoy the grill and the plasma TV, as well as all the goodies that went with them.

Sunday night, Jeanette and I were crashing on the couch as I flipped channels. We turned to CBS and were stunned for 90 minutes as we watched video footage of a 9.11 documentary that we had never seen before. Evidently the documentary was to be the maturing of a brand new New York City fire fighter. The fellow they were chronicling had started his fire-fighting assignment just days before 9.11 in a station that was near the World Trade Center. It was mesmerizing and brought back a lot of buried emotions.

Yesterday on the actual anniversary, I just went about my day. No real emotional ups or downs.

But there was one great blessing that happened yesterday. The Redskins lost to a team they were supposed to beat. Since it looks like another losing season, I can disengage early. It frees up a lot of Sunday afternoon time. If they were good I'd feel like I had to watch and follow them. If they're lousy, then it is so much easier to just release and simply root against the Dallas Cowboys.

Hope you have an uneventful day.

Lou Holtz On Life

2006-09-07T15:10:00.000-04:00

I recently finished Lou Holtz autobiography, Wins, Losses and Lessons. Throughout the book Holtz (who is deeply religious) shares his thoughts and reflections on life.
Here were a few I underlined:

Material goods are never a substitute for a family's love.
The most important important decisions a man makes in his life are what kind of relationship he has with God, whom he marrieds, where he lives, what he does for a career, and what kind of example he sets for others.
Successful people adapt to change, even thrive on it, while those who dread and resist change, have trouble.
What I thought was a terrible setback turned out to be one of the greatest things that ever happened to me.
Jimmy Durante said, "If they're laughing, they ain't gonna shoot you."
I learned at an early age that it's not what you have but who you have that counts.
At the end of the day, commitment and determination triumph every time.
Great acheivments require great sacrifice.
It's always better to face the truth, no matter how uncomfortable, then to continue coddling a lie.
If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans for the future.Coach Burns liked me and appreciated all the things I did for the program. I knew this because he told me so as he was firing me.

Hope you enjoyed some proverbs from Lou.

More soon.

Honor Where Honor Is Due

2006-09-06T11:14:00.000-04:00

This Sunday at 9 AM, FXCC will honor the local Fire and Police "people" of the Fair Oaks Station. I'm excited about this opportunity to recognize and appreciate these important and dedicated public servants. If you attend FXCC I hope you'll be there at 9 AM this Sunday to help us say "It's five years later, but we still remember and appreciate you."

You're welcome for the rain. Last Thursday just before Ernesto hit, we had a sprinkler system installed in our yard. And then of course yesterday it rained even more. The only law we live by is Murphy's!

Currently our church is going through a process to refocus or maybe better put, to re-discover our mission and vision. What do you believe the mission of the church to be? And what is your vision for the church of Jesus Christ?

I'd be interested in knowing your thoughts. You can even sign in as anonymous (smile).

I'm back

2006-09-05T13:26:00.000-04:00

It was a dark and stormy morning...

Really it was. But it was a very moving morning. After riding through rain and I-66 traffic this morning at 9AM I was sitting in the Old Post Chapel at Fort Meyer for the funeral of a father of a good friend. As the service progressed (which BTW was the largest military funeral and burial I have ever witnessed in person) I was reminded of two important things:

1. The importance of being saved by God's grace. It sober and somber time like a funeral I'm reminded that life is a matter of life and death. Having a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus is the most important thing anyone can have.

2. The importance of being a part of a local church family. While several of us FXCC members were at memorial service, our friend's FXCC small group was at their home preparing a meal for all who attended the service. When family and friends arrived, every need was predicted, met and attended to. It was a wonderful gift of compassion, care and love.

Thanks for the kind words about my blogging. It's good to be back. I hope you've had a great summer. I'll share more about my summer (and sabbatical) of change, growth and renewed focus.

More soon.

Check back in September

2006-07-31T11:18:00.000-04:00

Hey, as you can tell I'm taking a break from blogging. I will be returning to writing in early September.
Thanks and see you then.

Saturday in the park, or the office...

2006-04-22T13:25:00.000-04:00

Sorry I've missed blogging the past couple of days. It isn't that life is hectic; it's just that I'm disorganized! I'm still on an emotional and spiritual high after last weekend's Easter worship assemblies. I hope tomorrow will continue to build on what we experienced last weekend.

Life is good. I fertilized the yard and it actually rained as predicted. Good news for our grass, bad news for our weeds.

I'm getting really excited about my upcoming sabbatical. I've chosen to use it during the month of May. I had no idea that I would be this excited about the time off for personal renewal and development. I'm so blessed to be granted this great gift by the FXCC Elders.

Because of Rubel Shelley being here the first week of June to teach and preach, I will actually not preach for six straight Sundays. I have not ever missed more than two Sunday's preaching in a row since 1978. That's like 28 years...

I do have a master plan for my month off. I'll share more details later. But I will say that I don't plan on blogging during the time I am "sabbaticalling." I know that this month off may cause all three of my readers to stop reading my blog forever, but that's a chance I'm willing to take!

If you're a member of FXCC please keep our church in your daily prayers. These are exciting times for our church. I truly feel that great things are on the horizon.

Baby News and more...

2006-04-19T11:22:00.000-04:00

I could barely contain my excitement at the news about Tom and Katie having their baby. And then to learn that Brooke Shields had her baby in the same hospital just a couple of hours later. Oh, I'm dizzy. I just hope the nurses don't get the new mother's medicine mixed up...

I'm still trying to figure out why our culture is so caught up in the lifes of celebrities. Why are we so fascinated by what's going on with Brad and Angelina? Why do we care if "The Donald" just had another child with another wife? And why don't we care about the couple in our condo complex having a new baby?

Any ideas?

Oh, and do we need any more books, articles and interviews that are trying to make "tie-in" money off the releases of The Da Vinci Code in movie and paperback? Time magazine this week has a cover story on Opus Dei and earlier this week, Diane Sawyer reported from Opus Dei headquarters. I was in a bookstore recently and there now seems to be section dedicated to this growing genre of work. If Tom Hanks wasn't in the movie, I might boycott.

That was my whine for Wednesday.

See you soon...

I feel so grown up

2006-04-18T09:20:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I got an email from Gallup Press asking if I wanted to preview a new book and provide feedback to them prior to it's being published. I feel so grown up!

I picked up the book after I returned from vacation last Friday. The book is entitled, Growing Engaging Churches How to Stop "Doing Church" and Start "Being the Church" Once again. It's written by Albert Winseman who has written Living Your Strengths which is work on the Christian spin to Gallup's Now, Discover Your Strengths.

It was pretty cool to read through this book but what was most exciting is the books content and perspective. The author explains why some churches are flourishing and others are floundering.

In the opening chapters he mentions three things that cause churches to flounder:
They don't make new people feel welcomed or wanted.
They have no stated standards or expectations for members.
They downplay the role of an "emotional connection" between people and the church.

He asks this question: If new people are showing up at your church every Sunday, will you be ready to welcome them, and make them feel like they are valued and have something meaningful to give?

Interesting questions that are making me do more than think...

Holy Easter

2006-04-17T09:43:00.000-04:00

Wow, it was a great day yesterday. An Easter I'll long remember. It started a little earlier than usual with our "Sunrise" worship assembly. But it was glorious. The weather was cool and crisp, the sunlight was shining through the trees, the dogwoods were in bloom, the trees were covered with their new leaves, birds were chirping and an occasional flock of geese honked as they flew by. The singing and communion service were inspirational. It was a great start to a great day. Our next two services just seem to build and build. Darla Robinson and our worship ministry put together an amazing video that we shared at both our "inside" assemblies. It was right on point about what Easter really means. If you're not a member of FXCC it might be something you would want a copy of. I'll see if we can put it on the FXCC website for you to view.

Dozens and dozens of FXCC members helped set up and take down chairs and tables, they cut fruit, bagels, and muffins, they cooked biscuits and prepared juice, coffee and tea. Others hid thousands of plastic eggs for kids and their parents to find. Dozens of FXCC members road the shuttle to leave parking spaces for our extra 250 guests. Still others helped out in communion prep, taking digital photos of everything and everyone, and still others greeted and welcomed guests.

What also was a highpoint for me was the number of FXCC members who invited their friends to come to worship with them. I can't think of any greater indicator of how "church" is impacting someone than if they are willing to bring people with them to worship.

Thanks to all of you who have been praying during our 40 days of prayer asking God to make our Easter service the great success that it was.

I'm Back

2006-04-14T15:09:00.000-04:00

We had a great week visiting our oldest daughter and her husband. Southern California with family is always great. We slept late, ate great and spent a week just hanging out. And we went to several restaurants that had great iced tea. In fact, Southern California may have the best iced tea in the U.S.

Today I was again reminded of what a different world we live in. I was reading an ad in the Washington Post for a bicycle store. The ad talked about what the bike store sold, it gave its four D.C. area locations and each location's phone numbers. Then at the bottom of the ad were these two words: Financing Available. I pretty sure that when my parents bought me my one and only bike; a 26 inch (they just knew I would grow into it... I didn't!) red and white "Huffy" they didn't have to finance its purchase!

On a much more serious subject, I'm involved with a funeral service tomorrow. One of our FXCC families lost their 24 year old son to death this past week. It is such a tragedy. Life is hard enough as it is, but when faced with such a loss, life can almost seem impossible. Keep our church family in your prayers as we try to help serve and minister to this hurting family.

I hope you have a happy Easter. If you're in town on Sunday, come join us at 6:30, 9:00 and 10:20 AM.

Chicken Little May Be Right

2006-04-05T08:32:00.000-04:00

I believe I just lived through the Apocolypse. I went for a short jog this morning at 7:25. As I left the sky was sunny and the wind was calm. Within 12 minutes, the wind picked up to gusts of 30 miles an hour, the skies grew black and it started to snow and then rain. It was lovely. The good part was that it made me cut my run short!

My dad and I stayed up late last night and watched the Maryland-Duke Women's Basketball Championship. It was an amazing game. A Maryland freshman hit a three-pointer with 6.1 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime. It was one of the great moments in sports. Maryland won as you probably know. It was great game made better by being able to watch it with my dad.

I'm taking a week break from blogging. I'll be back late next week. I'm sure you'll use the time to dye Easter eggs.

See you soon.

Tuesday Thoughts

2006-04-04T10:54:00.000-04:00

Okay, so UCLA didn't win last night. I think orange and blue uniforms are nice too! Actually once George Mason lost, my interest in the tournament was lost. And besides it was on at the same time as "24." There is no contest between Jack Bauer and Joakim Noah. And I wasn't disappointed. "24" was another slam dunk last night. Who would have ever guessed the ending?

We live in a very different world. If you don't believe it, then think about CBS offering Katie Couric more than $15 million a year to become the first solo female news anchor in TV history. I hope that Katie gets the job. She's a UVA graduate and our youngest is attending UVA right now. Maybe Katie can help find her a job!

If you don't live in the D.C. area you may not know about Wolf Trap. It is the only National Park for the Performing Arts. Each summer Wolf Trap is host to a large number of musical, dance and dramatic performances on it's outdoor stage. I just got a copy of their 2006 schedule. It ranges from the Doobie Brothers to Marvin Hamlisch to Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull ("Sitting on park bench...) to the Beach Boys to Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Bonnie Raitt is performing in early July. I'll see if Jeanette wants to go.

We try to go to Wolf Trap at least once a summer. It's a great experience.

Speaking of being in a different world... This summer the National Symphony Orchestra will perform "A Video Game Symphony" at Wolf Trap. Do you really need to pay $42 a ticket to hear the background music to Mario Brothers?

bic pens, floss and the "J" key

2006-04-03T14:29:00.000-04:00

If you knew me well you would know that attention to detail is certainly not one of my long suits. Jeanette calls my office "the Black Hole": things go in but they never come out! I intentionally never carry expensive pens or personal items on my person because I end up losing them.

That's why I count it as one of life's great victories when I kept one 19 cent BIC pen until the ink was completely gone. It was incredible. It's never happened again.

I had the same "rush" when I was able to keep the same container of dental floss until the floss was completely gone. Yeah for me!

And this weekend, I can't believe it but I have typed on my laptop keyboard so much I have worn off the "J" key. It fell off. Maybe it was from the sermon series I preached last year on "J"ames. Or maybe it's from writing to "J"eanette and typing, "you are the "J"am in my "J"elly-roll. I wonder if it's from reflecting on and writing about whether "J"ehosophat really was a "J"umper.

But for whatever reason, I've kept a computer long enough to wear part of it out.

By the way, anybody know how to fix a laptop keyboard?

Now if I could just find my "J"ump drive I could save this entry.

I hope your having a "J"ubilant Monday.

Mom looking over my shoulder

2006-03-31T19:49:00.000-05:00

Some things happen and it immediately brings you back to earlier time in your life. As I type this entry, my mom (my parents are visiting from California) is sitting on the couch next to me watching Jeopardy. Though I'm now 50 and a half and am typing on a Wi-Fi capable computer, it's kind of weird having your mom look over your shoulder and check your spelling and grammer. (I was just informed grammer is spelled "grammar.")

My mom use to edit my papers (she was the original spell check)when I was in middle school (back in the day it was called "Junior High) and High School. (I shouldn't have capitalized junior high or high school, should I?" Was that a complete sentence\? Can you end a question with the pronoun "I." Is "I" a pronoun?") Oh my word, I can't handle the pressure!

Back "in the day" my mom would edit and type my papers and my dad would wonder aloud "How can you have procrastinated so long to start this paper?"

It's amazing to think that now I know spend a few days a week writing a blog. (Which evidently my mom (should "mom" be capitalized, since it's my "mom?") reads every entry. Talk about potential "writer's blog block!"

We had a great day today. My folks and I went downtown to see the cherry blossoms. They were truly breath-taking. The sun was shining it was 70 degrees and the blossoms were at peak. The three of us with 40 thousand of our closest friends fought for three parking spaces and the privilege of seeing one of our country's true national treasures. If you ever get a chance to see the cherry blossoms they are definitely worth the traffic, the stress of finding a parking space and walking around a big lake with thousands of people and no guard rail. It is truly a spectacular experience.

D.C. at an intersection

2006-03-29T11:16:00.000-05:00

If you don't live in the D.C. area let me try to explain what it's like driving here.

Imagine that...You're in the left turn lane about 15 cars back. The arrow turns from red to green and the guy in the car at the front of the line is on his cell phone so he doesn't see it change. 14 cars in front of you start honking. The man in the lead car makes a hand gesture and turns left. As you finally make your way to the front there are three cars in front of you as the light turns yellow. The three cars in front go through on yellow, you gun it and go through on yellow turning to red. As you go through the intersection you look in your rearview mirror and see three cars follow you through on the red light.

Welcome to D.C.

People are going nuts for George Mason. It would be amazing if they won at least their first game. If they won it all, Hollywood could make a remake of Hoosiers. They could call it Poosiers (Patriots and Hoosiers) Tom Hanks could play the GMU coach.

Quick question: What are you throughts about Wednesday night church assemblies?

GEORGE MASON

2006-03-27T09:18:00.000-05:00

Unless you were in a coma, you now know that Fairfax's own, George Mason's men's basketball team has made the Final Four. What a game. I talked with someone from church who actually got to see the game in person. They said it was "Awesome!" I'll tell you, it wasn't too bad on TV. I must admit when UConn tied it to go into overtime, I was ready to toss in the towel. Fortunately, GMU wasn't. In spite of poot free throw performance, they prevailed. It was great!
FYI my favorite Final Four name: GMU's Folarin Campbell. Final Four Folarin sounds fantastic.

But even better was yesterday morning's worship. It was a wonderful day of praise, devotion and worship. Thanks to Murray and his team for all they do for FXCC. It was a great time to be preaching on worship!

Quick tip on landscaping. It has to be watered. A lot! Pray for rain. I've almost hung myself tripping over hundreds of feet of water hose.

Have a great Monday and keep praying. And as you pray ask God to make me and our church more responsive to the needs of those who don't know Him.

Delayed Grassification

2006-03-24T09:29:00.000-05:00

We moved into our current house 12 years ago today! For twelve years we have looked out our sliding glass door at our back yard at the middle school behind us. Six months ago, we had a fence put up and a patio put in and a pergola erected and today we're getting landscaping! We have waited 12 years for shrubs and natural screening so the middle schoolers and every kid who plays youth league T-Ball in our area on the school ball fields behind our house,will no longer be looking in our back yard. Yeah!

I'll let you know if it was worth the wait.

UCLA won last night. My team (and their uniforms) are still in the tournament.

If you come to my blog through the FXCC website next week you'll notice a disclaimer on the church website about all the ministers' blogs. It will say that each of our blogs (Murray, Chris, Mark and mine) are our own ideas, opinions and thoughts. The minister's blogs shouldn't be considered church policy. I'm glad the disclaimer is going to be there to clear up any confusion. Afterall, I don't think the church en masse is backing the UCLA Bruins in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. In fact, I may be the only one who likes their uniforms and used that to choose them to win the NCAA tournament!

I read a pretty good by John Maxwell this past week. It's titled: 25 Ways To Win With People.
(Catchy title eh?)

He and the co-author list 25 ways that John Maxwell excels with bringing the best out of people. It's actually a pretty good book. The 22nd way to win with people is called "Learn Your Mailman's Name." (Which I need to do. I think his name is "Tom.") If you struggle with remembering names here's Maxwell's Tip: use the SAVE method. Here's what you do when you first meet a person:

S- Say the name three times in the conversation
A- Ask a question about the name (for example, how it is spelled) or about the person
V- Visualize the person's prominent physical or personality feature
E- End the conversation with the person's name.

I'm going to use it and hope it helps me "SAVE" people's names in my deteriorating brain.

Help Strikes Again!

2006-03-22T15:39:00.000-05:00

I read a great story yesterday. Two young Boy Scouts come home and tell their parents about their day. They relate how earlier in the day, they found this boy by the side of the river who wasn't breathing, but they became frustrated when they used their CPR training on him. The Boy Scouts said, "We kept trying to use CPR, but we had to quit, because every time we tried to do CPR the guy kept getting up and walking away!"

It's amazing how many times we try to help people who don't need our help and we avoid or neglect people who so obviously are in need. I'm guessing part of the reason this happens is that once we've overcome a problem or learned about it then we see it everywhere in everyone. I know for me, it is so easy for me to superimpose a methodology that has worked for me in overcoming a personal issue onto someone else going through a problem. I'm a person that likes to read and learn, so if you have a problem, then I'm pretty much going to recommend a book to read. Or I like to talk, so if you have a problem I'm going to assume you need to talk it out.

Maybe both of those approaches are of value, but they may have more to do with me, then with the person in trouble. If you look at Jesus he used a variety of methods to help a variety of people connect with God. Long before Daniel Goldman discovered Emotional Intelligence and that other guy discovered the Nine Different Types of Learning Styles Jesus understood that though God fits all people, one method doesn't fit everyone. Some people may be helped by a hug and others by a rebuke.

The point is finding the method that best applies the cure.

I think...

92 Percent

2006-03-21T08:06:00.000-05:00

A long time ago I read a little booklet on "worry." The one thing I remember from it this:
92 percent of the things we worry about never come to pass.

Yesterday I was fretting about something. I remembered that statistic, and I pretty much believed it, but I still was "concerned" about an upcoming event. And guess what, it didn't happen. Though I one point I was ready to jump into the deep end of worry, because I had convinced myself I knew what the worst case scenario was and that it was going to happen. It didn't!

I read somewhere that the German word for "worry" means "strangle." Boy, that's the truth. That's exactly what worry does. It strangles the life out of you while you sit and wait for the worst to happen. It cuts you off from rational and productive thought and action. And here's the worst part, 92 percent of the time what our worrying has convinced us is going to happen, doesn't!

Jesus was so right, don't worry about tomorrow, today has enough concerns. Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure I couldn't handle knowing what was going to happen tomorrow. I need to be content in just living life one day at a time.

That's the Ticket

2006-03-17T14:25:00.000-05:00

I got a speeding ticket Wednesday. Yeah, I was on my way to meet someone for breakfast (for the most expensive oatmeal I've ever eaten!) and as I rounded a curve, I met Officer Smith who was standing in the middle of the road pointing at my car and telling me to pull over. I was evidently traveling a little too fast and he wanted to have a chat with me and hand me a nice piece of paper with instructions on how I can contribute to the betterment of Fairfax County.

In all seriousness, I really upset me to get the ticket (I was four blocks from my house, not paying attention and going 39 mph in a 25 mph zone.) I wasn't looking to paying the fine, but what really upset me was having it on my "permanent record" (you know with insurance and all that stuff). I was also rattled that I could drive that close to home and have no clue how fast I was going.

I felt pretty guilty all day. In fact, I kept thinking about getting the ticket and trying to scheme some way out of it, or hoping Officer Smith would contact me and tell me my guilt was absolved. I thought back over my conversation with Officer Smith and wondered if I could have handled it differently so I could have got off with a warning so I wouldn't have my "permanent driving record" stained again.

In the middle of all this mental strain, it hit all this emotion was being spent on getting a traffic ticket. And then I thought, "Maybe this is how I should feel about every sin I commit." I mean I just as guilty every other time I sin, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't impact me as severely.

What registered with me (long after I had returned my regristration to the glove box) was that if I was more in touch with personal guilt, I might feel more in touch with God's grace and forgiveness.

I'm not looking forward to paying the fine, but cost did at least come with a lesson...

Two are better than one

2006-03-15T10:15:00.000-05:00

I was just reading an article in TIME magazine about James Patterson the prolific best selling author. In the article he explained that much of his success stems from his ability to work with co-write with other authors. In fact, eight of his best sellers have been collaborations.

I find that fascinating. Here's why, often I feel like I'm cheating if I don't think it up or do it all by myself. But here's a nationally renown author saying that his work is better and he's more productive when he collaborates with other talented people.

The article tells how Patterson's "probably outsells Toni Morrison 10 books to 1, but his success comes at a price. He will never get the respect from the literati. Most reviewers ignore him. In a culture that values high style over storytelling, pretty prose over popularity and pulse-pounding plots, he's on the wrong end of the spectrum, and he knows it...The fact is, Patterson is an affront to every Romantic myth of the artist we have. He's not tortured. He's not poor. He doesn't work alone, and he's way too unsentimental about his work."

I don't mean to make everything I read into a sermon illustration but doesn't this seem important for Christians and local churches? We're not called to be valued by worldly standards we're called to be effective in sharing Jesus with people who don't know him. We're to story-tellers of the best story there's ever been.

I don't know, it just seemed to leap out at me that we're not to go it alone and that when we work together we can be so much more effective.

You draw your own conclusions or cancel your subscription to TIME.

Marching On

2006-03-13T13:30:00.000-05:00

We had a great day yesterday at worship. Is there anything better than getting together with lots of people who love God and all worship together?

The weather is truly spectacular today. I understand it's supposed to change drastically by week's end. I'll believe it when I put my coat on...

The teams have been selected and the brackets have been filled for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. I have no clue who to pick as the eventual winner, but that's never stopped me. I'm picking...UCLA. I like their uniforms! (Have you noticed how March Madness now ends on April 3rd?)

Thanks for all the input about phone services. I'll let you know what we decide. What I can tell you is that when your teenagers leave to go to college you quickly discover who most of the phone calls were for (and typically from boys!)

Hope you get to leave work early today!

Spring Thoughts

2006-03-10T09:52:00.000-05:00

Wow, Spring is here and I'm ready for it. The sun is shining, temperatures are rising and I'm smiling. It's supposed to be seventy today, tomorrow and Sunday. And then drop back down to 59 degrees on Monday. I love it, love it, love it.

Speaking of Spring's arrival does anyone care about the World Baseball Classic? Actually does anyone care about Major League Baseball until the playoffs and World Series? And if the USA looses the World Baseball Classic does MLB feel obligated to change the name from "The World Series" To "The National Series?" Because it will be obvious, that the US winner is NOT the best in the world. The winner of the World Baseball Classic would be the "World Winner." (Now I realize that the all-star team now in the WBC are not the Yankees or the Braves but you get my point.) These are things I think about in warm weather...sorry.

Wedding season begins tomorrow. I perform my first ceremony for a couple who goes to our church. Currently I have pre-marital counseling scheduled with six couples. It should be a great spring and summer for wedding caterers! Whenever I'm involved in some aspect of a new marriage it reminds me of how blessed I am to have been married to Jeanette for what will soon be 29 years. I am a blessed man.

I need help from the four of you that read my blog. I'm getting killed by my home (land-line) phone provider. I'm way over paying. We're using MCI and they arecharging too much! We do have broadband high speed internet access. Any suggestions? Any experience with cheaper providers?

Complications

2006-03-08T12:31:00.000-05:00

It's been all over the news that a book detailing Barry Bond's "alleged" steroid use has just hit the bookstores. It is based on a two year study of court documents, police reports, interviews with over 200 people closely involved with Mr. Bonds and a bunch more.

The authors (who are respected investigative reporters) lay out one contradiction after another between Mr. Bond's testimony and denials of drug use with the "facts" they "allegedly" have uncovered in their research.

So now baseball fans wonder: Should Mr. Bonds records stand? Should there be celebrations when and if he breaks Babe Ruth's record or possibly Hank Aaron's all-time homerun record? Should he be in the Hall of Fame? Should he be banished from baseball? Should he be singled out when so many other major leaguers have "allegedly" been involved in the same misconduct?

I certainly don't sit in judgment on Mr. Bonds. But this episode certainly does remind me of Solomon's words:
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." Proverbs 14:12

And what Jeremiah prayed in Jeremiah 10:23-24:
"I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his own steps; Correct me, Lord, but only with justice--not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing."

Sin really complicates life.

Function and form

2006-03-07T08:16:00.000-05:00

Just got finished with breakfast with a bunch of guys from church. It was great fun. I don't know why it works this way, but you seem to get to know guys better when you sit down and eat with them. It must be something in the bacon.

A question came up yesterday, "Does how you pray important?" From my personal study, I think God is more concerned with us talking to him than he is how we talk to him. In some private study over the past few months Jeanette and I have been reading through the Psalms. As you read them, you can't help but notice how the writers have no problem sharing with God their feelings, raw emotions and personal perspective. They share their joy, their fear, their sorrow, their frustration, their disappointment, their anger, their bewilderment and even more.

Evidently, God welcomes open and authentic conversation. These "song writers" communicated with respect and love for God, but they didn't seem to stand on formalities. What they did stand on was a conviction that God was at the center of their lives and that He welcomed being talked to, admired, consulted with and even yelled at.

When our kids were growing up I remember Jeanette telling each of them "You can say anything to us (the parental units) as long as you speak respectfully and lovingly." That's how we felt as parents. We wanted our kids to let us into their lives and talk to us about it. God is the ultimate parent. I think he's more concerned with the conversation's content and intent then he is the conversations form. He wants to hear from his kids.

That said, I must tell you that form can be a great help in our attitude to God. Lifting up your hands helps us feel as though we asking for help and it's hard to be arrogant when your down on your knees. Holding hands with other "prayer partner" sure makes it hard to be angry with that fellow petitioner.

Form can help remind us who we are and who God is. But when it comes to prayer, I think that God, like any parent, loves to listen to his children.

Oscars, Oatmeal and Prayer

2006-03-06T08:46:00.000-05:00

Let's see, I picked four of the five big winners of the Oscars. I know, pride goes before destruction, yeah, yeah, yeah...

Because of our church's 40 days of prayer I've been thinking a bunch about prayer lately. I've heard that how you pray is a barometer to your spiritual life. I'm about ready to agree with that for this reason: when you love someone you want to be with them as much as you can and talk to them as often as you can.

I think that's pretty much what prayer is: wanting to be in God's presence and wanting to talk to him.

Hey if you're a guy who lives on the west end of Fairfax County or the east end of Loudoun County come join us for breakfast tomorrow morning (March 7) at 6:15 AM at Bob Evans on Route 50 (near the intersection of 50 and 28). Come share a bowl of oatmeal with a bunch of your FXCC buds. The hope of the breakfast is to provide a time for Christian guys to hang out, talk, eat and grow spiritually. We'll be talking about our 40 days of prayer.

Even if you don't attend FXCC feel free to join us in our 40 days of prayer. I'm pretty sure that God won't mind having a few more of His kids talking to him.

Have a good Monday.

Oscar Picks

2006-03-03T09:37:00.000-05:00

Okay, I just read that the Oscar telecast is the most watched special programming year in and year out on TV. So here are my picks for the winners:

Best Supporting Actor: George Clooney
Best Supporting Actress: Rachel Weisz
Best Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Best Actress: Reese Witherspoon
Best Picture: Good Night and Good Luck

At least those are who I want to win. Okay, I really want Joquin Phoenix to win Best Actor, but I don't think he has a chance. And I know that Good Night and Good Luck doesn't have a chance, but it's the only one of the Best Picture nominees that I've seen. Jeanette and I actually saw the movie "Junebug" this summer at the artsy movie theater in Fairfax and we both liked Amy Adams who is nominated for Best Supporting Actress. She was really good. So if she won we would feel great.

That's my picks. I'd say the best movies I saw in 2006 were

The Constant Gardener; Walk the Line and Batman Begins

See you Monday or Sunday if you're at church.

Friends

2006-03-02T10:58:00.000-05:00

I've had two conversations with old friends in the last 24 hours. It was nice. I talked to one in Texas, and one in Tennessee. It makes me glad for telephones. It also makes me wonder why I don't talk to "long distant" friends more regularly?

I really did wonder about why it's tough to keep up with friends. I came up with several possibilities:
I'm selfish and maybe not the best of friends myself and I don't make friendship the priority it needs to be.
As people leave your life, others move in. These new friends and relationships never take the place of other friends, but they require time and energy to develop.
As I grow older my circle of relationships keeps getting bigger and bigger. There are more people to tend to. For example, my extended family has grown to such a point with siblings, cousins, grandkids, etc, we first moved to drawing names and now we buy for "the kids" of the family. Though I'm not sure when a kid quits being a kid. That's just with my family.

Friends grow and change. Because someone was my buddy in third grade doesn't mean he's going to want to hang out with me for life.

I'm not sure what all this wondering means...
But here's the deal. There are certain people I want and need in my life. And it is best for me if I stay in contact with them. So whether they're on my calling plan or not, I'm going to stay in touch with them. As Solomon says, Iron sharpens iron one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) And I need all the sharpening I can get.

If you have any great ideas about how to stay connected with long distance friends, feel free to share them.

Barney McCloud

2006-02-28T11:26:00.000-05:00

This past weekend, two of my growing up television icons passed away: Don Knotts and Dennis Weaver. Both played lawmen of a different kind. Though Weaver got his start on Gunsmoke, I remember him from being a New Mexico cowboy cop misplaced in New York City. Though I saw him as a cartoon fish in Mr. Limpet, I will always remember Don Knotts as Barney Fife. (I never got into his Mr. Furley character on Three's Company.)

Lots have been written this weekend about these two famous character actors, I'll simply add I was more than entertained by both of them.

Our church is starting 40 Days of Prayer this next week. I'm excited about it. A dad just left my office who's infant daughter came home home from the hospital yesterday. Our church family has prayed for her since she was born seven weeks pre-mature. He shared his belief that she is at home because of God working and prayers offered.

Is there anything more powerful to faith than answered prayers?

Have a great Tuesday.

Compliment

2006-02-27T10:30:00.000-05:00

Had a great day at church yesterday. It was jam-packed with inspirational stuff. It's amazing what God can do with people who meet week-in and week-out.

I'm slowing reading through John Maxwell and Les Parrott's book 25 Ways To Win With People. I'm up to way number 5. But I got to tell you I like what I'm reading. This book offers some really practical stuff that helps you get along with people and deepen relationships. Numero Fivo is Compliment People In Front Of Other People. Boy that's a great thing to remember. We do this thing in our office (when we remember) to give the outstanding staff member of the previous week a can of Mr. Pibb. (Trust me there is a reason for this particular reward.) We clap, hoot and holler and cheer for the person who wins the award for their going the extra mile. It's a lot of fun and helps create an atmosphere of encouragement and helps us add value to each other.

Have you seen some great ways to compliment people in front of other people?

Just for grins. One of the more memorable compliments I've ever publicly received was early on in my preaching career. At that church if you were a visiting male, you were asked if you would say a public prayer. This Sunday to conclude our worship the guest male prayed, "...and dear Lord, please bless Brother Black, who works here from time to time..."

You could hear the laughter throughout the entire auditorium. It was great.

Can Money Buy Happiness?

2006-02-24T08:16:00.000-05:00

I read yesterday about the eight people who won the $365 million Powerball. After taxes they each pocket $15.5 million. Their immediate plans are education, travel and taking it easy. I wonder what I would do if I suddenly won $15.5 million dollars?

I also found it interesting that one of the winners, when asked why he played the lottery responded, "Everyone has dreams..." I wonder about the other millions of people who didn't get their dream because he got his?

I remember reading about a minister who won a smaller version of the lottery a few years back. He claimed to have found the winning ticket in the church parking lot. Yeah, right.

I truly don't know exactly what to think about the lottery. My gut reaction is that it's not a smart investment. I've heard people claim that it's gambling and therefore it's wrong. But are retirement investments in the stock market a form of gambling? I know people who spend their day watching stock reports. In fact, aren't their many areas of life where we participate in a form of gambling?
Are you gambling right now with your GM car with the company ready to declare bankruptcy? Trying new medicines to cure an illness? Sending your kid off to a college you never attended.

I think anything that becomes a potential "god" in my life is sin. Since I don't play the lottery it might be easy for me to condemn it. But when it comes to when does food become a "god" that might be my "American Idol."

What do you think? Got any Scripture to go with your thoughts about lotteries and get rich quick plans? I know we all have read stories of people who won the lottery and their lives ended up worst rather than better.

I'd like the help.

Sasha, Snow and Sweet-spots

2006-02-22T10:01:00.000-05:00

Do we really think it was a "coincidence" that the Ladies were front and center on the two largest stages in the world last night. Last night it was Ladies night in Olympic Figure Skating and on American Idol.

I watched little of either. I knew I didn't have to. I knew I would see replays of each performance 653 times by weeks' end. So Sasha leads after the short program and the younger girls got all the props from the Randy, Paula and Simon.

How about that snow this morning. If you don't live in the northern or western suburbs of D.C. you may not be aware that we are currently getting two to three inches of unpredicted snow. Again, "Is there any greater job than being a TV weatherperson?"

I just picked up Max Lucado's lastest book, The Cure For The Common Life. (Or something like that.) It looks really good. I'm about 50 pages into it. It's written to help everyone discover their "sweet-spots." I see where Max has now sold over 40 million books. Wow. Jeanette and I were in college with Max and we all served in student government together. He was a great guy then and obviously he's a great and talented guy now.

Have a great day and check our website to see if we're still meeting tonight.

Happy Presidents' Day Sale

2006-02-20T19:42:00.000-05:00

I heard that the Post Office is going to put the image of late President Ronald Reagan on the 39 cent stamp. Seems kind of tame compared to Washington and Lincoln getting a three day weekend set up in their honor.

Yet, you have to look hard to see if there is really any evidence that anyone remembers much less celebrates the 1st and 16th presidents. The only thing I really saw today was a whole lot of stuff on sale in their honor. Hey, maybe if you bought something for me today you could mail it to me with a few Presidental 39 cent stamps.

By the way, does Herbert Hoover have anything named after him besides a vacuum cleaner?

It was a great day to sleep in till after 7:30 AM. We went to a movie, ate a mid-afternoon lunch and actually went for a walk. Now we're getting ready to watch Jack Bauer on 24. It's still the best thing on TV.

By way of being a name dropper. I have been in the lobby and the gift shop of the Ronald Reagan Library. I would have gone farther than the lobby and the gift shop but there was a admission charge.

I've been all the way to the top of the Washington Monument and all the way inside of the Lincoln Memorial. They're free.

Have a presidential evening.

T.R. Knight and the rest of us

2006-02-17T15:01:00.000-05:00

USAToday has as its lead Life Section article TV's top everymen. The article highlights five guys who are now on hit TV shows who aren't anything really special by Hollywood standards. They're kind of just like the rest of us.

Evidently in Hollywood everyday people aren't the kind of people who get cast in big shows much less become "standouts." It's such a wierd twist that it captures a national newspaper's attention.

When I see stuff like this it makes we wonder why we listen to Hollywood. I don't know about you, but there are more Georges (from TV's Grey's Anatomy)Edgars (from TV's 24) and McGees (from TV's NCIS) in my life than Brad Pitt and Matt Damon. In fact, all I know are "everymen and everywomen."

So why are we so obsessed with the life that Hollywood protrays. Maybe life is at it's best when you're playing a supporting role as an "every-person."

What do you think?

February Plans Mean June Weddings

2006-02-16T10:55:00.000-05:00

Weddings are springing up. I was doing pre-marital counseling yesterday for one couple. (Actually I think I'm scheduled to do pre-marital counseling for five different couples over the next few months) Answering email about another wedding this morning.

But get this... I was in a bookstore this morning. (I think it was Borders or Barnes and Noble or Barnes and Borders or Noble Borders or something like that!) Anyhoo, I'm walking through the two city block magazine area and finally come upon the "Wedding" section. Can you guess how many different magazines, not copies of the same magazine, but different wedding magazine publications, there were?

Did you guess THIRTY! That's right. The Big 3-0! I was so stunned I had to "take-a-knee." I'm convinced there is a sermon illustration in there somewhere and I bet you it has something to do with the age old battle of silk verses real flower reception arrangements. Or it could be... D.J. or live band? Sit-down or buffet reception? Staged or candid photos? Or maybe it has to do with chocolate fondue fountains and the groom's cake? Or, should there it be a couple's shower or just the traditional bridal shower or both? Or who should be seated with the family? (What row should Aunt Tilly and Uncle Spike sit on?) Or maybe the rational behind the benefits of a wedding cake that costs $6.95 a slice? Answering the pressing question: all inclusive or pay as you go Carribean honeymoon? Or how to make the ring bearer not pick his nose during the ceremony?

What do you think 30 different magazines have to say about weddings? I'm not sure, but if you're getting married this year, you need to do three things immediately:

First go to your bank and take out a line of credit.
Second go to Barnes and Borders and purchase 30 wedding magazines.
Third, buy a truss for your fiancee for the hernia he will get as he carries them to your car.

Happy reading...And please don't skip over the section on how much to pay the minister!

Don't I Feel Special

2006-02-15T09:23:00.000-05:00

I was just reading another article about the habits of aging Baby Boomers. I was reminded that I am one of 77,702,865 Americans born between 1946 and 1964. (Extra credit information: I was born on July 16, 1955 so I was almost smack dab in the middle of that 77,702,865. I truly know what it means to be a "middle child.")

The above mentioned Newsweek article shared that:
"...more boomers are single than any previous cohort of forty-to-sixty-somethings. According to the Census Bureau, 28.6 percent of adults age 45 to 59 were unattached in 2003, compared to only 18.8 percent in 1980. (Of those, 16.6 percent were divorced, 2.9 percent were widowed and 9.1 percent had never been married. And many of these singles are on the prowl. In a recent AARP (no I haven't joined yet!) survey, up to 70 percent of single boomers said they dated regularly."

I don't know what 28.6 percent of 77 million is, but it sounds like a pretty big number.

I've got to tell you, this "single" situation really is getting my attention. I couple of single guy friends sent me some D.C. data recently that documented that around where we live, the single adult population is about forty percent of all adults.

I think someone stuck in the middle of millions of baby boomers can figure out that this singleness in "The States" is significant.

Speaking of snow, it should be gone by Friday. Elven and a half inches of snow on Saturday night and 60 degree temperatures the day after Valentine's Day. You might want to get your life right. We could be experiencing the "last days."

This past Sunday instead of shoveling sermon material, I shoveled snow. I'm still sore. I'm guessing in another ten years I'll be hiring one of the neighborhood "high school boys" to shovel the driveway. I remember that's what the "old people" did in the upstate New York town where I grew up. It was good money too. A couple of bucks per driveway. Up there it could take half a day to shovel out after a storm.

Enjoy the melt.

Happy V Day

2006-02-14T08:16:00.000-05:00

It is an amazing thing to have love in your life. The apostle Paul knew what he was talking about when he said it was the most excellent way (1 Corinthians 12:31b). This morning I woke up to realize this is my 32th Valentine's Day celebration (three dating plus 29 married) with Jeanette. Though they are different now than when we were dating, they are no less passionate and are far more meaningful. Through the love we share, God has showered us with so many other blessings. In fact, through the love of our marriage God has been able to show me His love in a fuller sense over the past 32 years.

If you read this blog you are aware that I've been reading a bunch on "being single" recently. What I've discovered is that the Big V Day may be one of the hardest of the year for people who are single. If you are single and are looking to be someone's Valentine, count yourself one of ours (Jeanette and mine). What we've learned from 32 Valentine's Days is the joy of knowing that God loves each of us. That may sound cheesy, but it's true.

So whether your single, single again married or married with children realize that God loves you and enjoy your little candies (that taste like Tums) with "Be Mine" on them.

May I help you?

2006-02-13T10:21:00.000-05:00

When I’m meeting someone for lunch or dinner at a restaurant in a shopping mall or plaza, I will typically go into the stores and look around. Pretty regularly, a nice salesperson will come up to me and ask, “May I help you?”

To which I respond, “You could if I knew what I wanted.” It’s hard to buy something when you don’t know what you’re looking for.

· It’s hard to find someone for your life, if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

· It’s hard to find a church if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

· It’s hard to raise a child or children if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

· It’s hard to find a job, a place to live, a college, friends, a pet, if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

· It’s hard to find a life, if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

What are you looking for? It’s worth thinking about. If you can write it down, say it out loud then you can at least get started. Talk to some other people about what you’re looking for and who knows you may find some help.

Currently I’m looking for warm weather to melt the snow in our yard.

Interesting point of view

2006-02-10T16:26:00.000-05:00

I'm currently reading Albert Y. Hsu's book, Singles at the Crossroads. About half way through the book he mentions that being single brings with a lot of positives in serving the Lord. One positive is the ability to serve and work with local churches. Albert laments however that most churches would never hire a single to it's ministerial staff. He then shares that many churches refer to 1 Timothy 3 as a fallback scripture for the position of not hiring singles as ministers.

Albert points out that it is interesting that Paul could be an apostle, but not an elder. And calls that self-contradictory. Is it? There are lots of people who can be elders but only 13 who were apostles. And there are many of us who are married who will never be elders. Is that the point? Is the highest calling in life to be an elder or apostle. I think not. In the same way the highest calling isn't to be married or single.

But I'll tell you Albert got me thinking. When Paul is talking about being the husband of one wife in that culture, could Paul have been talking about men who had more than one wife at a time?

Plus if we are looking to find the best qualified person to serve in ministry (when the job isn't being an elder) should married or single matter?

Some times I like thinking about this stuff.

The Ultimate Snow Bind

2006-02-09T23:45:00.000-05:00

I hate weekend snow. If you don't live in the D.C. area you may not know that a snow storm is headed our way this Saturday. Weathermen and weatherwomen are already salivating at the thought of inches of the fluffy accumulationg coming our way.

However Saturday snow is a nightmare for Sunday church. Take this Sunday: we have Birth Dedications planned for both assemblies. This means that for some young families grandparents have traveled to be here this weekend for their grandchild's dedication. If we are snowed out, it might mean they might not be able to come back another weekend. That's just one of many examples I could sight. Weekend snow is a blight on church life.

From the other perspective I'm married to a school principal who has her world turned upside down when it snows Monday through Friday. Snow delays are a logisitcal nightmare and missed days mean missed instruction. Standardized tests are just weeks away from being taken.

So where does this leave us: praying it won't snow! Or praying for more snowplows!

Oh for the days when as a family prior to going to bed we would all do the "snow dance."

Bagels and the Olympics

2006-02-08T07:28:00.000-05:00

Just in case you every need to know, the best bagels in the world come from Panera. The Dutch Apple and Raisin bagel is the best bagel ever baked. Oh, and there is no need to comment on this choice. Everyone knows that the Panera Dutch Apple and Raisin with Hazelnut Creamcheese is the best bagel-breakfast experience one can have this side of heaven. No exaggeration!

For those of you who live in places without a Panera I have only one thing to say, "Move!"

Speaking of sabbaticals, I've decided when I am taking mine: May. I'm already kind of weirding-out about it. It will be the first time in my adult life I have ever had so much time away from work. A month with no sermon and class preparation and delivery, no staff meetings, no counseling, no articles to write, no Monday night Elders' meetings, no blogging, no required reading, no lunch or dinner meetings, no mandatory emails, no funerals, no weddings, no hospital visits, no phone calls, no decisions to be made, no church responsibilities, and did I mention no meetings? It will be wierd and wonderful. I am truly blessed to be a granted such an experience.

Does anyone care about the Winter Olympics? I might watch to see the ski jump and maybe some snowboarding and downhill skiing. I'm not to interested in the two-man luge or 30K cross-country skiing. Though seeing icicles "growing" in a guy's beard is pretty cool.

Hey if you are a guy who lives or works in Chantilly, VA some of us are going to be starting a guy's breakfast soon. Let me know if you want details. Unfortunately it won't be at Panera.

Hey, I just thought of something. Could those five rings of the Olympics actually be the outline of Panera Dutch Apple and Raisin Bagels?

Just a thought...

Super-Bowled-Over

2006-02-06T14:18:00.000-05:00

I'll expect lovely gifts from all Steeler fans who read this blog. I convinced that my selection of the Seahawks to win is what pushed the Steelers on to victory. Yeah for the Yellow Hankie or whatever you all call that caution-colored washcloth thing.

I got home from church yesterday afternoon about 12:45 PM, flipped the channel to ABC and they were already in the pre-pre-pre-game show. Super Bowl hype has reached a new level.

I thought the game was less than fantastic. I watched about three quarters of the game and missed the half-time. That may not have been wise, considering how old The Rolling Stones are. I may never see them perform again. Of course, using the term "perform" loosely.

I didn't see many commercials, but my top two were: the fly that got zapped in the hospital and the sheep "streaker." I thought the Diet Pepsi adds may have been the most lame.

The highpoint of the evening may have been the smoked pulled pork sandwich I had at the Newcombs. That truly was super.

Actually I'm glad the Super game has come and gone. Now I can give my full attention to my sporting passions: the curling competition in the Winter Olympics.

Bye for now...

Super Stuff

2006-02-03T10:59:00.000-05:00

Please pray for me. I am about to do some serious harm to the people at blogger.com. Due to their site’s technical errors this is the fourth time I have had to type this entry. So I’m taking a deep breath and starting again…

Sorry that I missed you yesterday. I had a case of the “rockin’ pneumonia and the bloggie-woggie” flu. Okay, I had a runny nose and tiny temperature. But my sickness did allow me to use my day off to finish reading a great book. How To Get A Date Worth Keeping is written by Dr. Henry Cloud. It’s a 2005 paperback published by Zondervan.

You may know Dr. Cloud from his co-authoring the bestseller Boundaries. You may not know that Dr. Cloud was single into his thirties and for the past ten years has been a “dating coach” to a host of Christian singles. In How to Get A Date, Dr. Cloud gives specific and practical (make that brutally practical) advise on how to help anyone to get their dating groove on.

In fact, Dr. Cloud makes this promise…if you buy wholesale into his program you will be dating within six months. After reading his book I would definitely agree with his guarantee.

If I ever teach a seminar for singles or faciliate a single’s small group this book will be required reading.

Sunday is the Super Bowl. Here’s my prediction: Seattle by 3. Actually I want Pittsburg to win and that’s why I’m picking Seattle. If you remember, every team I’ve chosen to win in the playoffs has lost. Sorry Seattle fans.

If you are a FXCCer, this Sunday you’ll get to see a great video. Thanks to the amazing talent and super human effort of Dana Bradshaw, Darla Robinson and bunch of other FXCCers, you’ll see this video of how God helped FXCC go the second mile in 2005.

This evening and tomorrow I’ll be attending a small group seminar along with 40 plus FXCC small group leaders and co-leaders.
Have a great weekend.

Lessons Continue

2006-02-01T14:57:00.000-05:00

This warm weather is nice, but I have the Shenandoah River running down the back of my throat.  I’m not supposed to have allergy attacks until April or May.  Does this mean that I’ll have them now and later?

I know…nobody likes a whiny blogger.  I hear that all the time.

I’m just finished reading Table For One by Camerin Courtney.  Reading it again helped me to pull back the curtain and see into the lives of people living single and the way “the church” relates to them.  Talking about the way that typical congregations work (primarily for those who are married and have families) Camerin comes to this conclusion:

A lot of movers and shakers in the church have no idea there’s a problem for those of us who are single.  (page 40)

So Camerin has given her single efforts as a writer and church attender to not only help Christians deal with being single, but helping churches understand the perspective of people living single.

Also in this book, Camerin spends a lot of energy helping singles not to give into self-pity or blaming.  She points out that though people are insensitive in conversation and relationships it’s best to take the high road and not give in to cynicism and grudge-holding.  I thought that was really helpful.

I just started reading How To Get A Date Worth Keeping by Dr. Henry Cloud.  I’ll let you know what I find out.

Busy but productive

2006-01-30T18:27:00.000-05:00

It has been a busy day.  Sorry this is going to be short, not unlike me!  The weather was spectacular today.  It had to be in the sixties.  Unfortunately, like many of you, I was unable to get out and enjoy it.

My big lesson relearned today from dealing with people is this:  Sin really hurts.  Stay as far away from it as you can.  Find someone to hold you accountable.  Go to whatever length you must go to stay pure and blameless.

God wants only what’s best for you.  Trust Him and obey Him.

Oprah Duped?

2006-01-27T10:03:00.000-05:00

We live in weird times. If you don't believe it then you should have watched the news last night. One of the lead stories was that Oprah isn't infallible. Call 60 minutes: Oprah isn't almighty. She can be fooled. Oprah can make a mistake. The guy she endorsed who wrote the book, A Zillion little reese's pieces or whatever it is, evidently didn't actually do all the stuff he said he did in his book. (His book was number 2 on the top 150 list yesterday.) Even the author's publisher admitted culpability. They are still going to sell the reese's pieces book and the author's other current best seller. They're just going to put a disclaimer in the front of future editions claiming it's not all factual.

I wonder if Oprah could be wrong about this, could she be wrong about...Who cares just put a disclaimer in the front her show and we'll still watch it.

Okay kids the Super Bowl is nine days away. Do we care? But it is a great excuse to eat Doritos.

I took my day off yesterday. I slept in then wrapped up in my new personal blankie and read a mindless fiction novel by Ken Follet. It was cold outside but I was toastie and content.

Can you believe Kobe scored 81 points in a game? If you added up every point I have scored in every basketball game I have ever played from middle school until now, the total would not be 81 points!

I'm on to my next book about single life: It's entitled Table for One by Camerin Courtney. It was referred by Lauren Winner in her book. I'll keep you informed.

Thanks for the feedback and the help

2006-01-25T19:00:00.000-05:00

Danger Will Robertson: This blog has not be spell or grammer checked!

First of all let me thank all of you who for some reason read this blog with some regularity.

Second of all, thanks for your comments. They are a great form of feedback to me.

Third of all (can you tell I like the "of all?) we're all in this life together. So I'm thinking we need to really help each other and be willing to be helped.

So here's the deal for me... Over the past couple of months, i've spent some quality time with people who aren't married and they have helped me see that there is a lot about life that they know that I don't know.

Now that's not unusual because there is a lot I don't know. I have no clue how that skinny kid eats 50 hot dogs in 10 minutes but I don't care about that. And I don't know how tatoo artists keep from sneezing while they are working, but since I'm probably not going to go into the tatoo business, its not a primary concern to me.

But learning how to show God's love more significantly to people who aren't married, is important to me. So I'm going to "single's school".

Here's what I think I've learned so far:

Church is geared for married people and kids.

I read this past week this comment from a single person: "Why can't our minister talk about roommates instead of always using the example of married couples?" As I read that I thought, "Ouch!" that nailed me. I've had roommates, our kids have had roommates, why don't I use that example?"

Relationships are critical for singles and sometimes hard to come by.

Everybody needs other people in their lives and they especially need people who understand their perspective and personal struggles. For singles it can be a challenge to find "community" no matter how easy "Friends" makes it seem.

Singles have temptations like married people only different.

We all struggle with temptation, but Satan is smart enough to come get us where we are most vulnerable. Also I'm learning that for some reason as Christians we have really made sexual temptation and sin the "big deal sin" so when we talk about the single life, we obviously focus on "the big deal sin" and unintentionally diminish so much of a their lives. For example, Jeanette is my wife, but she is so much more than "The Little Preacher's Wife." It is a great disservice to relegate her to this diminished status. She's proud to be my wife, but she was a complete and whole person before she ever met me. And Single people are so much more than people waiting to get married.

But I ramble. I may know more, but I don't know it yet.

I'm Learning I'm Ignorant. (I know you knew it already!)

2006-01-24T15:43:00.000-05:00

I finished Lauren Winner's book Real Sex today while eating lunch at Uno's. Uno's Tuesday Thick Crust Lunch Special is the Chicago Classic. Salad and pizza for under 8 bucks, so when I'm on my own for lunch on Tuesdays I head to Uno's with a book in my hand.

So I finished Real Sex which is about living the "chaste" life which Winner explains means the "pure" life or the moral life that God desires.

As I read the book I realized some things about myself:
1. I've never really been single, at least without a girlfriend since I was in high school. Jeanette and I met in high school dated all through college and then got married in the summer after college graduation.
2. As a result of my personal experience (along with other intellectual factors) I'm incredibly ignorant about being single in the 21st or any other century.

As i read the book I began learning lots and I'm going to learn more. I've been in recent conversations with Christian singles and I am planning more. I've just bought three new books that I will read to get better educated. And I'm hoping that some you out there who are living single or single again lives can help me to get smart about single life.

Evidently there are now 86 million single adults in the U.S. That's 34 percent of all U.S. adults. That's huge! I need to get over myself and get educated. So help me. Talk to me, comment, email me, write me letters, share your perspective and your experiences. I need help to be of help to a really important part of our church and our culture.

It wouldn't hurt if you prayed for me too.

Funeral for a friend

2006-01-23T08:58:00.000-05:00

I'm getting ready to attend a funeral for a dear family friend. Wayne is the father of Jim who attends our church. Wayne died of cancer last week at the age of 81. He was an amazing guy who touched the lives of hundreds if not thousands of people for the better.

Wayne is a perfect example of how God can use a life of faith to enrich others for eternity. Wayne was a high school teacher. He was a dedicated father, friend and Christian. Wayne loved his wife, his children and anyone who everyone who came into his path.

Though I didn't know Wayne well, my extended family certainly did. Wayne and his wife were the glue that helped my widowed mother-in-law survive the sudden loss of her husband. No one other than God himself will know all that Wayne did for my mother-in-law. And I would guess that she is not the only widow or broken person that Wayne opened his heart and life too.

I'm pretty sure that Wayne was passed over by worldly honors, but today hundreds of us will gather to celebrate his eternal rewards.

Just like Paul says life doesn't end in death, it really just begins.

Florida's got nothing on us

2006-01-20T23:58:00.000-05:00

Hey it's just about midnight on Friday. It's been a week hasn't it? But soon it will be sleep in Saturday. I know I'm getting old because sleeping into 8 or 8:30 AM I now consider late. I can remember in college sleeping in on Saturday morning, getting up and hurrying to the school cafeteria before they quit serving lunch. Those were the days.

If you don't live near D.C. you have no idea about the kind of weather we have been experiencing this week. It's been like early summer. Today D.C. set a record for high temperature. 63 degrees. It's been fabulous. And it's supposed to be warmer tomorrow. I know the kids want to use up all of their snow days, but I got to tell you I enjoy not shoveling or sliding in snow.

But let's face it...February is coming.
When we use to live in Michigan Jeanette said, "God made February with 28 days because we couldn't stand it to be any longer!" Trust me, in Michigan, February is the longest month of the year.

But oh, January 06 in D.C. It's been delightful. Hey kids, don't forget to wear sunscreen.

Big Time Loser

2006-01-18T10:03:00.000-05:00

Washington, Indianapolis, New England and Chicago. What do all those teams have in common beside losing last weekend. They were were all the teams that I were hoping would win. That's right each of my four "favored" teams lost last weekend.

This means several things:
First, I'll never work on ESPN.
Second, if you want to back a winner pay me to tell you which team I want pulling for and you'll know that their opponent will end up winning.
Third, I could care less who plays in the remaining three games including the Super Bowl.
Fourth, if you make me mad I'll start to like your favorite team and then they'll lose. I mean it. One vote of confidence from me and the Steelers could be ruined!

Not that I care, but who do you think is going to win the Super Bowl?

2006-01-17T08:59:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the new world order. I'm typing this blog entry at our local mechanic shop. To help people lose track of how much time it takes to get your car worked on, they have two computer stations set up with Internet access.

I'm here with our college daughter getting her oil changed before she drives back to school. I am happy to report that there is no grease on the keyboard or Lava soap in the restroom. But an oil change has never cost more.

About Sunday's sermon (I know that's all you thought about this weekend!)...I'm glad to have preached a vision-casting sermon. It was a great process to personally go through. It helped me get a great sense of clarity in serveral important areas of my life. It also made me see the level of commitment I have to FXCC and it's future.

Also this weekend I was excited that my favorite TV made a huge return. We three sat glued to the tube for four hours of "24." Sunday night's two hour kickoff was some of the best TV I've watched in years. We were shouting and almost standing by the first commerical break. The first 15 minutes rocked our TV viewing world. I'm excited about Jack Bauer is going to save the world this season.

Jeanette pointed out that Jack and I now have the same haircut, so don't mess with me or I'll turn you over to CTU or worse...

Enjoy the beginning of your four-day work week.

157 and counting

2006-01-13T22:25:00.000-05:00

When I put in my password to write my blog, it tells me how many "posts" are on my blog. This is number 157. One hundred 156 blog entries since April 1, 2005. Each one of them memorable in their own way. . .

Right...

Do you know that if you add up the digits of 157 they add up to 13. Also I'm sure you were quick to notice that the first number of 157 is the number "one". Today is January (the one month of the year) 13th. And it's a Friday. That is freaky isn't it?

You know what this means? It means that if you are reading this entry that it is past 10:30 PM (which is the exact time right now as I type this blog and you should know that 10:30 is a time whose digits add up to 13. How eerie is that? Well I guess they could add up to 40, but that isn't nearly as sinister!) and it's bad luck for you, because you're home on a Friday night reading this!

To which I say, "You have got to get a life!" Because obviously I don't have one.

Hey I'm preaching on vision this Sunday. I've really come to believe that having a vision of the future is critical to life success. I think that's why the bible talks about heaven. We need to be able to picture where we are headed. I think this is true for a shorter term, too. We need to have an idea of where we are headed. We need to be able to visualize where we're going to end up when we get where we're going.

It's been an interesting couple of weeks thinking about the picture painted in my mind about the future of FXCC. In fact, it has been an extremely helpful exercise. I would encourage you to think about the vision for your future. The more specific the picture is, I'm told, the more helpful it will be.

I'll let you know how the sermon goes.

Now go to bed.

sunny, warm and gone

2006-01-12T13:10:00.000-05:00

Hey Kids,
It's 64 degrees outside on January 12th. And today is my day off. You got to love the start of 2006.

And since it's 64 degrees and sunny and today is my day off, why am I blogging?

Oh, I guess I'm not...

2006-01-11T10:33:00.000-05:00

Here's my quick list of what makes for great relationships:
Own what you expect.
The biggest reason for disappointment and frustration in relationships is people not getting what they expect their supposed to get in relationships. The reason they don't get what they expect, is that they don't tell the other person their expectations. In order to be able to communicate your expectations you have to "own them." You must be honest and clear with what you are wanting out of relationship.

Get Humble and Selfless
Arrogance and selfishness are death to relationships. Humility and uncondtional love (their opposites) are the core of vibrant, long-lasting relationships.

Spend your effort and energy in learning everything you can about the other person
Too frequently people think that purpose of a relationship is to find someone to meet "their" needs. Nope. Relationships are for you to discover everything you can about the other person so you can meet their needs. There is no greater joy and adventure than spending a life time in the discovery of another person.

Be passionate
It doesn't matter whether you're an introvert or extrovert, from LA or "LA" (Lower Alabama), old or young, boy or girl, you can be interesting and exciting if you are person who has strong convictions and deep emotions. Live life fully.

Be able to laugh at yourself
Few things in life are more magnetic than the ability to see yourself clearly and to see the comedy that is your life. When you fail or fall or mess up be the first to laugh at it.

Admit when you are wrong and learn the most important words in relationship: "It's my fault and I'm truly sorry. Will you forgive me?"
All of us mess up. Too few of us own it. The only person you are in control of is you. So when you are at fault step forward and admit it. Don't try to explain or rationalize your behavior. It will seem like you are trying to excuse what you did. Admit your failure (and sin) and ask for forgiveness.

That's a start to what I think are key principles to relationships.

The more things change...

2006-01-10T10:11:00.000-05:00

The last week has served as a reminder that no matter how sophisticated our world gets it's still the everyday things like relationships that matter. Relationships are the essense of what life is about and where life is lived. And many people who in other areas of their lives are so talented, so informed, so together, just can't manage relationships.

People get confused and complicate relationships. They get selfish and demand the wrong things from relationships. They get hurt and swear off relationships. They don't have the relationships they believe they want and they exaggerate the place of relationships. They get frustrated and nervous and get in the way of relationships.

Tomorrow I'll share with you what I think makes for great relationships...What do you think makes them work?

Sex and the Christian Single

2006-01-09T08:45:00.000-05:00

How does a single (or single again) Christian handle sexual temptation? Here's some ideas:

Have an accountability friend of the same sex and same value system with whom you share all the details of your life.
Get pornography-watch software on your computer that put your accountability friend (or friends) on it so they can monitor your Internet use.
Don't devalue double-dating
Get invested in service projects. Sociologist Tony Compollo suggests that service to others is a great way to dissipate sexual longings. (I know that sounds weird, but it makes sense.)
Don't buy into what the world says. Some things are worth waiting for. Ask yourself why so many married couples now have problems with their sex life? Could it be that they started out wrong? (I'm thinking, "Yes."
Don't ever give sex to get love, or tell somebody you love them to get sex.
If dating has been about sex, then stop dating. Take time off to figure out what God wants.
Stay out of bedrooms.
Don't sleep over even on the couch. Get in your car and go home.
Talk to your significant other about your values and your spiritual life. Too often people get involved in sexual sin simply because they didn't talk about the temptation and plan against it.

Well, there's a start. Got any other ideas? If you do, then hit comment and share them.

Have a great Monday.

More Help Tomorrow

2006-01-08T08:19:00.000-05:00

Hey, I had a couple of single people tell me that my sermon last week didn't have enough specific help for singles who deal with sexual temptation. So how about we collectively tackle this tomorrow and Tuesday. If you have any great ideas that have worked to help you "do the wise thing" in this area, send them on!

And if you are reading this on Sunday morning January 8. Get dressed and go to church!

What a game

2006-01-05T12:58:00.000-05:00

I haven't seen the ratings yet, but I'm guessing that me and 35 million of my closest friends watched one of the greatest college football games of all times last night. It was a great game in spite of the fact that Texas won.

And who of us 35 million watchers didn't think that with 23 seconds left and third and five from the nine that Vince Young wasn't going to score? I'm guessing even Matt Leinhart's father knew it. (I don't know about you, but I was getting motion sickness from all the times ABC was cutting to a shot of Matt's dad in the stands. President Bush doesn't get that much media exposure!)

All I can say about Vince Young's performance is:watch out Michael Jordon, LeBron, Tiger and Michelle Wie, there's a new endorsement king in town. As impressive as Vince Young is on the field, he seems equally skilled on camera and speaking into a microphone.

Here's a quick word to the guys in my NGA class. Sorry about the joke last night. I apologize for going for the cheap laugh. It won't happen again.

Have a great Thursday counting the days to the NFL playoffs, Superbowl, Pro Bowl and then arena and European Football league games.

The Things Kids Teach Us

2006-01-04T09:02:00.000-05:00

Here's a story I read yesterday...

Comedian and actor Michael Pritchard was making a presentation at a local elementary school. At one point he found himself talking with a third grader. When he asked the young girl what she had been learning, she responded that she’d been learning sign language. “Sign language,” Michael responded? Michael wasn’t a teacher but he was pretty sure that sign language was not typical curriculum for third graders. So he asked her how she came about learning sign language.

The young girl explained that her best friend since first grade couldn’t speak or hear. So she asked her best friend’s mother is she would start teaching her sign language so she could communicate with her best friend. Her friend’s mom agreed. Then the third grader looked up at the adult and taught him with these words, “I listen with my eyes and heart, not just my ears and brain.”
The Leadership Challenge page 320

This story made me think of this passage...
Ephesians 1:18-19
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Have a great Wednesday and don't forget to lead with your heart.

Happy New Year Three Days Late

2006-01-03T10:12:00.000-05:00

Welcome to 2006. In honor of "the old man" we will play this year on our sticks, with a nick-nack-patty-whack and give your dog a bone.

Yeah baby! (Can you tell I watched a repeat of Inside the Actor's Studio with Mike Myers a couple of days ago?)

Hope the holidays went well for all out there in blog world. They were a real blessing for me and our family. It was great to be all together (well at least the five of us (parents, kids and son-in-law. Maybe some day the whole clan will reunite.) I have entered the Ipod world. Santa brought me an Ipod Shuffle. So once our youngest gets some time she can set it up and I'll be shuffling away.

I did some reading over the holiday. I read a book given to me by my friend Paul. It's titled, Soft Selling in a Hard World by Jerry Vass. It was actually very helpful. I hope I'll be disciplined to put his suggestions into my interactions with people.

And I'm 300 pages into a great book entitled, The Leadership Challenge by Posner and Kouzes. It is one of the best books I've read on leadership in my life. It's taken me a long time to read, but it has helped pull together a lot of the stuff I've read about leadership in the past. I'll let you know more when I finish the book.

I spoke on Sexual Purity this past Sunday. Much of what I shared wasn't original or new, but I'm convinced that we need new a regular "purity reminder." If you're interested in knowing more, check out FXCC.org and click on sermons.

The four part series I just finished came out a great book by Andy Stanley. It's titled, The Best Question Ever. It was very helpful to me, so I naturally figured it would be helpful to others.

For the next couple of weeks, at FXCC we'll be focusing on our mission and the vision for our congregational future. Even in you don't attend FXCC, keep us in your prayers. If you are an FXCC member, hit your knees and start praying (smile).

More later...

PS Yes, I did sleep in the New Year. However, five hours earlier I watched New Year celebrated in London.

Ho Ho Ho

2005-12-25T06:59:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas. It's early Christmas morning. I hope that Santa brings you everything on your wish list. My wish is that today at our church hundreds of people will be brought closer to God by celebrating His love and remembering His arrival over 2000 years ago.

It's been a gift to me to be able to relate to you readers through this blog. Thanks for sharing your valuable time with me.

Merry Christmas

Hard Day's Night

2005-12-21T19:22:00.000-05:00

That's how I feel, or maybe "HELP!" would be more appropriate. We've got company coming. Tonight or should I say tomorrow morning at 12:16 we have a daughter and son-in-law arriving for a Christmas visit. That meant that work needed to be done. And let me tell you it is great having an incredibly responsible 21 year old daugther home from college. She helped me make a run to the dump, the grocery store, change sheets, put stuff back in the attic, as well as wrapping gifts, cleaning bathrooms and a ton more. We'll pick up the freezing Southern Californians a little after midnight.

I love company, I just don't like cleaning up for them!

In case you have been in a coma the past 24 hours, Murray and Jamie Sanderson had their baby. Faith arrived at 7:45 PM last evening (December 20). She weighed 9 pounds 12 ounces and is 21 and 3\4 inches long. Wow. I wasn't that talk when I was eight!

Check out Murray's blog. I'm sure there are pictures, pictures, pictures and the happy ramblings of a new dad.

Since our out of town children are arriving, I'm guessing my blogging will be kept to a minimum. So to the two of you reading this blog, I wish you a Merry Christmas. And hey in you're in town, come to our Christmas Eve service and join us Christmas Morning.

Unexpected Christmas Gifts

2005-12-20T15:20:00.000-05:00

I just got back from the hospital. I was out shopping and got a voice mail that my good friend Roger was in the hospital. Last night he checked himself into the hospital and was helicoptered to another hospital when it was discovered his "chest pain" was extremely serious. When he arrived at his second hospital they whisked him in for a heart catheterized and inserted stints into to arteries.

Roger is going to be fine. In fact, he's going to feel better than he's felt in months.

Thankfully.

Isn't it amazing how we can take our good health for granted? But what may be more amazing is the way we take the good health of people we love for granted even more. Every day we're alive is a gift from God to be enjoyed and celebrated. This Christmas I'm celebrating Roger's new found health!

Before I left his hospital room Roger (who is my age) made the decision and commitment to quit taking our health for granted. I'm going to join him as he changes his diet and we're going to join each other on the golf course when the weather warms up.

I think somewhere in the Bible it says that our bodies are God's temple. I'm thinking I might want to spruce up the place.

Polar Bear Smolar Bear

2005-12-19T09:06:00.000-05:00

For some unknown reason, last year I signed up to get National Geographic. The January 06 issue just arrived and I read this quote from an article entitled Artic Hunters On Thin Ice:

"Without knowing the polar bear's ways, I would have died out here many times."

Big hairy deal.

Hey let's see that guy go from the HOV left lane to the right exit lane on 66 in 200 yards, in rush hour traffic at 6:15 PM on a Friday night.

Or have him try to fight his way to the front of the line at Starbucks on a Monday morning and order a "Venti-half-caf-no-fat-wet-cappuccino" while talking on the cell phone with his wife and glancing at the Sports page at the same time.

Or have him leave the office at lunch, drop off dry cleaning, stop by the bank, pick up lunch at Subway and be back at his desk in 58 minutes.

Or how about this, have him find a way to eat dinner together on Wednesday night with his family and make it to church when he had to stay late at the office; his daughter has dance after school; his son has basketball at 5 PM; his wife has to cart them around and stop by UPS to pick up Christmas packages the UPS guy wouldn't leave at the door because everybody was out of the house when he stopped by.

Do any of those things and then we'll talk about the ways of the polar bear!

21

2005-12-16T14:24:00.000-05:00

Where were you 21 years ago. Oh, by the way, it was a Sunday. I know where I was at least from 3 PM on 21 years ago, December 16, 1984. I was driving Jeanette to Riverside Community Hospital and standing around while she gave birth to our second and last child. It was a sunny, warm and beautiful day (and that's why we love southern California. There is no place like southern California in the winter months.) We arrived at the hospital about 4:15 and out came daughter number 2 at 6:40 PM.

For those of you who are familiar with the scriptural times for Sunday night worship assemblies, you already know that she was born during Sunday night worship assembly. I didn't preach but that doesn't mean the church didn't have the news. Because of "switchboard" issues, someone from church was actually able to phone directly into the delivery room just as our new baby was about to be born. As I was coaching Jeanette to pant and blow we could hear the nurse giving one of the Elders a "blow-by-blow" account of what was transpiring. Now that I think about it back in 1984 the phone company was nicknamed "Ma Bell." Maybe "Ma" always had delivery room access.

For the past 21 years December 16 has been one of the best days of my life. It always will be.

What Weather!

2005-12-15T13:04:00.000-05:00

Wow, I keep looking over my shoulder looking for Arnold Schwarzenegger dressed up as Mr. Freeze. Man is it cold. Oh, course I'm not talking Michigan or Alaska cold, but for December in D.C. it is really cold and awful. Right now it is 31 degrees and raining on top of roads that are partially covered with snow. And it's only December 15th.

And by the way, I never bought George Clooney as Batman. And Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl. I don't think so. I really liked Christian Bales in Batman Returns this year. He was believable.

I'm anxious to see King Kong. I think it's going to be great. I've seen some exit interviews and at seems as though the people who sat through all 187 minutes really enjoyed each one of them. And I'm hopeful that the theater will be heated!

More tomorrow and maybe..."the sun will come up tomorrow" and it will warm up!

Just In Time for Christmas

2005-12-14T08:26:00.000-05:00

I just opened up this week's issue of Time Magazine. It's The Best Photos of 2005. The first 47 pages of pictures are nothing but photos of catastrophes and the horrific impact they had on human life: Hurricane Katrina, the tsunami, the October 8 earthquake in Pakistan that killed 88,000, the war in Iraq (a photo of U.S. soldier rubbing his now missing leg was very penetrating), the bus bombing in London, the ethic warfare of western Sudan, ongoing trouble in Israel and Gaza, riots in Paris and then on the 48th page of photos is a photograph of Michael Jackson going to trial in pajamas.

Added to this optimism is the fact that right now it is 12 degrees below freezing outside and the this is the coldest December I can ever remember D.C. (which I believe now stands for Doggone Cold!)

Boy, after this year and in this cold, we need a little Christmas. It's been a hard year, an easy year to loss hope and faith. I wonder if our world right now that seems under siege isn't a little like the world Jesus came into. It made me think of the closing words of the first verse of O Little Town of Bethlehem

Yet in the dark streets shineth, the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.

We need a light that shineth that is more than the glow coming from parking lot lights at the mall or the blinding light from those new "blue-white" irritating headlights on luxury cars. We need a light than enlightens our souls. We need the hope of God living with us and in us.

We need Immanuel... God with us.

More tomorrow...

Thai Food and Post Office Lines

2005-12-13T10:03:00.000-05:00

I'm just about to leave to meet someone for lunch. We're meeting at Tera Thai in Vienna. This is a new experience for me. I've never really been a Thai food fan. But Jeanette has been trying to get me to try Thai for a long time. So today I make the plunge. I'll let you know what my stomach thinks.

I probably should have written about this yesterday so I could have gotten your recommendations for favorite Thai dishes or at least ones to avoid.

I'm mailing Christmas gifts to out-of-town family today. The biggest gift of love for me isn't buying gifts for family, it's mailing them. Finding the right box is what drives me crazy. I've actually gotten to the point of thinking about mailing ease as I'm purchasing gifts for out-of-town family members. If it won't fit in a box, then they don't get it! Every year getting gifts mailed seems as painful as giving up a body part. No exaggeration!

FYI if you're an FXCC guy and you're looking for a great group of guys to meet with on Wednesday night come join us tomorrow night at 7:30 here at the FXCC building. We had 37 guys show up last week to find support and help in being the man God wants us guys to be. We could use a few more.

Silent Sunday

2005-12-12T16:38:00.000-05:00

Hey if you ever want to hear silence, I mean real, complete, total silence, then preach on giving. It is so quiet you can hear a dollar bill drop.

It could be that the audience was also sound asleep. (I thought I would say that since I knew many of you were thinking it already!)

Guess what I preached on yesterday.

There are a couple of sermon subjects that elicit the "silent treatment." And money is one of them. But even though it's a sensitive subject, I was happy with the number of people who spoke to me after worship and confirmed that it was a needed message. FXCC is in a real giving mode right now. It's exciting to see people seeking God first in every arena of life.

We had our office Christmas party today. It's always an annual highlight. We have several people that are a party all by themselves. So when you get them all in a living room together, you better watch out. The Christmas party is a great way of having holiday fun and also saying thanks to the people who volunteer in the FXCC office. We have a great crew of regular volunteers whose work often goes unnoticed by the majority. But trust me these folks make FXCC run much more efficiently.

FXCC hosted a talent show last night. It was a great success. I'm always amazed by the diverse and deeply talented people who attend our church. There was 300 plus people here who enjoyed music, drama, stand-up comedy, and dance. Hey, the refreshments were even really good. If you missed it see if you can find a video. Sorry, but the refreshments are gone.

More tomorrow...

Hey it's the weekend!

2005-12-10T11:34:00.000-05:00

Here’s a rare Saturday Blog

I’m still not over being sick.  But at least I have one foot out of the grave.  Today I’m attending the dress rehearsal for FXCC’s Talent Show “This Gift I Bring…”

I’m looking forward to it.  I’m always amazed at the diverse ability and rich talent that so many FXCC people have.  It’s a pleasure to enjoy their talent and to have them share it with all of us.

Then after the three hour rehearsal, I have the pleasure of baptizing a person seeking to give their life to God.  What a great blessing to be a part of this eternal event.

Hey go to church tomorrow.  Give God the gift of your presence.

NGA: No Girls Allowed

2005-12-08T10:05:00.000-05:00

That's the name I came up with for a new bible class-support group that I'm teaching-leading It's a class just for guys, no girls allowed. The guys in class are there because they want to figure out what God wants them to be at this point in their lives. The point of the class is to give guys support, information and encourage. We met for the first time last night. I don't know how it went for the other guys but...

It was a great experience for me to be there.

It was amazing to see how many guys were willing to rearrange their schedule, make the massive commute home and then to our building or traveling straight from work to the building. It was also great to see such a diverse group of guys: young, old, new and old Christians, married, single, different vocations, but all wanting the same thing: help in being the man God called them to be.

As soon as I saw Jeanette after class last night she asked how it went. I told her it was pretty incredible. She smiled and said, "So you job now is not to screw it up, isn't it?" We both laughed and I said, 'You are so right." Keep me in your prayers.

If you are a guy out there reading this and would like to know more about what's going to be happening in NGA, share a comment and I'll give you more details.

Also if you are reading this and want to know what it's like to live in D.C. here's an example. As I walked down stairs after NGA last night a guy came up to me and said, "NGA?" You know that's the initials of a former spy agency, don't you?"

I love living here.

More tomorrow...

Green around the gills

2005-12-07T06:56:00.000-05:00

That's what my mom used to call it when someone got sick. "They're a little-green-around-the- gills." Does that mean that's what a wall-eyed pike looks like when they get the flu? I don't known if I was "green-around-the-gills" but I've felt "green-around-the-everything" since Sunday. I've had a green river running down my throat and my considering my temperature it could have been a molten green river.

And I'm not in the least bit exaggerating.

Okay maybe a little bit. But I did have a little cough and I did have to go to the doctor and he made me shallow some big red pills. (Okay maybe the pills weren't that big and they were a shade closer to pink then red!) But doctor didn't give me a lollipop or a sticker!

I've heard that women think that we men are such wimps when it comes to getting sick? I strongly disagree. I hardly even used the bell that Jeanette gave me to use. (Why use a bell when you can call her on her cell phone, right? I mean that way it's easy for her. She can be anywhere in the house and or even outside and still be available to come fluff my pillow and turn the channel for me. Hey when I'm sick it's hard pressing those buttons on the remote!)

Seriously, when I'm sick, I like to be left alone most of the time. It's when I'm starting to get better that I want to talk about it and have other people tell me how brave I was to suffer through the sniffles.

I'm now in my fourth flu symptom day and I want you to know I'm a paler shade of green. And I've now been antibiotic for two days so I shouldn't be contagious. So please feel free to come up and shake my hand. If you should happen to get sick, what better time of the year? Green has always gone with Christmas.

More tomorrow.

2005-12-02T07:32:00.000-05:00

I have a whole new life now that I'm fifty. On my day off yesterday I went to Costco to purchase hearing aid batteries. I got the five-gallon size. Due to my numerous visits there I have developed a casual relationship with the fellow who runs the "ear shop." We've talked about Christianity, the bible and a cappella music. I'd given him my email address but never my business card. So yesterday as he walked up I had a card, so I gave it to him. He thanked me and went back to attend to two 75 year olds in his sound proof booth.

While I was handing him my card, another Costco employee said, "So you are a minister?" And I confirmed I was in spite of my appearance. He then began to tell me how he had found a church this year near where he lived that had proven to be a great blessing in his life. He further explained the reason for the need of spiritual support: his daughter in her forties had committed suicide this past spring. He then shared with me more details about the events surrounding her passing. As he talked his eyes filled with tears and his voice trembled. He ended by saying again how much his new church family had come to mean to him.

Preachers may tell you that they have a tough life. Don't you ever believe them. Yesterday I was never more proud of my profession. It gave me the entry into the life and sorrow of a dad who loved his daughter. And I was once again reminded of no matter how "sophisticated" our society becomes "the church" still makes an eternal difference. And I'm blessed to work for it.

It almost makes standing in line at Costco worth it.

On the first day of Christmas

2005-12-01T08:55:00.000-05:00

All I want for Christmas...
Well I would ask for world peace, but I think it's too expensive. Jeanette and I have actually set a spending limit on each other this year. And I'm pretty sure that world peace is going to be out of our range.

My paternal granddad when asked what he wanted for Christmas, every year would respond, "New socks." I couldn't believe that's all he asked for. But I got to tell you at 50 putting on a new pair of socks feels pretty good. I once read that Jerry Lewis wears a new pair of socks every day. (I'm guessing the reason for that may have been that the once worn socks refused to go back on his feet!) So new socks may be on my list.

Also I'm a tennis shoe, running shoe, sneaker freak. I love them. And the more colorful the better. My problem is that my feet don't fit comfortably in just any shoes. So it's hard for others to buy them for me. (Okay, I'm also very picky, or what my family would say is "snooty" about sneakers.) So maybe a gift certificate to Foot Locker or DSW may be requested.

And now for my head. I have really gotten into reading. I want books to read.

Well there you have my Christmas list from toe to head. Socks, tennies, and books.

Oh, also for Christmas I want our church to grow, our family to be be closer to God and each other; I want to help more people to Christ; I want every FXCC member to discover their gifts and be empowered to use them for God's glory; I want to be a better man, husband, father, son, uncle, minister and friend; I want to figure out how to more effectively communicate God's message to people living in Northern Virginia and its surroundings; I want to be able to be less selfish and more sacrificial; I want to be the first to serve and take the lead in helping others; I want to be more aware of myself so I can use what I have to and have been given to meet the needs of others; I want to get in shape and show God I honor him by caring for the body he gave me; I want to avoid temptation and understand the horror and damaging effect of sin; I want to be a person that when others think of me, in some small way they think of Jesus; and I want world peace too.

More tomorrow...

Two quick and one eternal

2005-11-28T10:34:00.000-05:00

Here’s a quick observation.  I just read a headline that stated that a recent study shows that almost half of the people diagnosed with cancer continue to keep smoking cigarettes even though tobacco substantially increases the risk of death.

I can tell you that I find that hard to understand.

I can also quickly tell you that I don’t now or have never smoked, except for one puff that I took from my grandfather’s Camel cigarette.  In fact, I took that puff in front of my parents, siblings and grandparents.  I was probably nine years old.  I immediately got sick from the one puff.  But the point is, I don’t smoke.

But I do other things.  I don’t sleep like I should.  I don’t eat like I should.  It’s hard for me to stay away from work mentally.  And I’m probably in the worst physical condition in my life.  I’ve had one physical in 30 plus years.  It was a couple of years ago and the blood work showed that my cholesterol was over 200.  I was told to lose weight and come back in six months to get my blood work done again.   That was two years ago.

I’m sure you find that hard to understand.

Here are two quick thoughts:
It’s easy to be critical of people who struggle with stuff that isn’t a struggle for you.

And we all have stuff we have to deal with and we don’t.

Here’s an eternal thought:
That’s why we need Jesus.

HTD

2005-11-23T15:04:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving Day tomorrow. We all have a lot to be thankful for.Top five things I'm thankful for aside from God, church, family and friends:
1. Health
2. Good books
3. Our new hot tub
4. A few days off from work
5. Spell check

I truly am a blessed person.

Oh, here's a diet tip from me to you. If you want to reduce your desire to overeat or even eat at all, go to christianchronicle.org. The picture there is scary, frightening and could possibly be the only photograph of "Big Foot" on a bad hair day. This photograph is not to be viewed by small children, people with circulatory concerns or people from states that begin with the letter "M". If the above warnings do not apply to you, then view at your own risk.
Trust me it was a frightening experience for me to look at that horrid picture.
I’ll be back blogging after the weekend. Eat early and often. And don’t forget to say thanks…

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Then and Now

2005-11-22T14:56:00.000-05:00

I’m driving a rental car while one of ours in the body shop for repairs.  A deer can leave quite a dent in case you were wondering.  So while the car is in the shop for much of the month of November I’m driving a Toyota Corolla.  It’s costing our auto insurance (yes I did get a rental car rider on our policy less than six weeks ago!) less than 23 bucks a day for this luxury vehicle.

What’s amazing about this car, isn’t the car, it’s the guy that’s driving it.  I’m so put out that the Corolla doesn’t have power locks, power windows, power anything.  If you can believe this, I have to reach all 34 inches across the car to open the other door.  I have to lean back to manually (that word means, by hand in case you aren’t familiar with it) unlock the back doors, too.  And the windows, forget it.  I have to actually wind a handle around to get the window to go up and down.  There is no cruise control and the wipers only have one intermittent setting, not 34 different intermittent settings.  There’s no lumbar support and only one compartment in the console and no extra electrical outlets.  It doesn’t even have a compass in it.

But of course, it does have a CD player.

Can you guess the first car that Jeanette and I bought 28 years ago when we first were married?  It was the car of our dreams.  It was a great car.  That’s right it was a Toyota Corolla.  It was the coolest car we could have ever hoped to own.  We bought and drove it for three years and sold it to a kid in the teen group at church for only $400 dollars less than we originally paid for it. The kid wrecked it in less than a month.  Our first Corolla doesn’t even compare to version I’m driving now.   This 2005 model is like a Rolls compared to that 1976 model.

So this Thanksgiving, I’m thankful to remember simpler times and being reminded of what makes a person truly happy.  (Plus Thanksgiving will mean only one more week until I get my car back from the body shop!)

News from the church front

2005-11-21T10:26:00.000-05:00

News from the church front...

Yesterday, we had a scare. One of our more "senior members" had fallen into a condition that caused her family to become alarmed near the end of worship. Doctors were found, 911 was called; ambulances and paramedics arrived. The person was examined and fortunately sent home. As it turns out this person's health issue was not complicated. Here was the problem: they had fallen so sound asleep during my sermon, they couldn't be awakened.

I love my job.

Had a staff meeting this morning if you want to call it that. There was so much laughter and fun I'm not sure what was accomplished.

I love my job.

The FXCC Growth Options Team made a presentation yesterday. It was inspiring to see 182 FXCC people attend just a great presentation by such dedicated FXCC GO Team members.

I love my job.

I guy just walked into my office, out of a job, hungry and asking to wash windows to earn some money so he could buy food for his family. He left my office with the ability to to that because I belong to a church that provides money to help people in need.

I really love my job.

More tomorrow.

Kids, the Internet and Tech Turkeys

2005-11-18T13:53:00.000-05:00

I spoke to a group of children today. It's always an interesting and exciting experience to speak to kids. My topic was timely, if not tired: Thanksgiving.

I started by asking the kids what their favorite Thanksgiving food was. Hands shot up and answers came flying:
mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, turkey, dressing, pumpkin pie, apple pie, pickles and chicken. Favorite Thanksgiving fare: pickles and chicken. . . I love kids.

Speaking of kids. Our son-in-law turns 25 tomorrow. Happy Birthday Dean. Oh yes, I am old.

I got an email today from a coed who matriculates at Notre Dame University. Evidently, she goes to the FXCC website regularly and listens to sermons. She wanted me to know how much our church meant to her while living in South Bend, Indiana. Wow, I'm thinking, this Internet thing may really catch on. What do you think?

Our youngest attends UVA and tomorrow they play their arch nemesis Virginia Tech in football. I'm predicting an upset. I'll be upset when Tech wins!

Enjoy your weekend and see you Sunday.

T minus eight

2005-11-16T19:02:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving is just about a week away. Time-0ff for turkey. I'm not a big fan of turkey. In fact, I could skip the turkey and eat everything else. But then I've heard about frying your turkey in peanut oil. It's supposed to be fantastic. But, we're having company this year so since we've never fried a turkey that might be a bit ambitious. But it sure looked good when Paula Dean did fried one of those gobblers up!

I'm more of a stuffing kind of guy. I like cornbread stuffing. Not this oysters stuffed in stuffing stuff. I also love pie and rolls and green bean casserole with those little friend onions and mashed potatoes and gravy (without those yucky giblets) and yams and cranberry relish and I've got to quit, now because I'm coming close to sinning.

When the kids were little the day after Thanksgiving we would drive to a tree farm and cut down our Christmas tree. When our youngest entered college we purchased an artificial tree. It's certainly easier to climb up into the attic rather than driving to West Virginia to find the perfect tree, but the attic doesn't serve hot apple cider.

And then it is time to put out the outdoor Christmas lights. I always enjoy how the lights look after they are put out. What I don't like is getting the old strands of lights out, plugging them in to test if they work. Seeing that they do in fact all work. Putting them out, plugging them in and having that strand not work. That does not make for a merry Bruce. Every year I threaten to just buy all new lights. But since we didn't get ours at Wall-mart back in July when they went on sale, there may not be any left.

But no matter what by the last Sunday of November we'll have gobbled down turkey, found a tree and enlightened our neighborhood. So in the words of my now 95 year old grandfather:
"If you get within a mile of our house, turn around."

And the password is...Cheap Gas

2005-11-15T22:16:00.000-05:00

For the next fourteen days every time I turn on my laptop, I will see a countdown as to how much longer my current password is valid. I will then have the question prompt, "Would you like to change your password now?"

"No I would not like to change my password now!" I typically wait until the last day and the last moment to change my password. I'm the same way when filling up the gas tank of my car. I wait until I'm driving on fumes until I fill up. Unlike simply being a procrastinator with my password, there are two legitimate reasons for my tank-filling-tardiness.

First, I hate filling up the tank. I get no kick from octane. I've never been one that likes to drive in, swipe my card, fill-r-up and drive off. This may surprise you, maybe even alarm you, but I've got a confession to make. Here it is: I've never bought beef jerky at a gas station. There I said it. I'm not a gas station junkie. I drive in and fill-r-up only when I absolutely have to.

Second, I put off filling up because I'm constantly willing to bet my "BP" that I can find a better price on gas. I'm always on the street playing my own "Shell" game for cheap gas. And guess what, I typically end up paying an extra 15 cents a gallon for my desire to play unleaded lotto. I admit it. I have an addiction to Texaco hold 'em. I know how much gas my car is "holding" but I hope that prices will "flop" lower. If they don't then I'll take the "turn" up "Fourth street" and if I don't find the price "flushed" down there, I'll drive "straight" up "Fifth street" right by "the river" hoping gas prices have been "paired" down.

I want to get high on cheap octane. I've got an obsession for underpriced unleaded. Trust me I'll stay "Mobil" until I can find gas on the cheap or until I'm strung out when I run out of what I've got.

I need help. So I'm sending out a the international signal for help for those with cheaper gas addiction:

Esso-S Esso-S Esso-S

I have got to get a life.
More tomorrow...

The Wizard of Oz

2005-11-14T13:56:00.000-05:00

The movie "The Wizard of Oz" was on TBS this weekend. I can remember the first and only time I have sat through the entire movie. It was when I was an eight-year-old living in upstate New York. It was the around Thanksgiving or Christmas. (I think TWoO was a holiday TV staple back then). It was on a Sunday night and I was at home rather than at church because three of the Black family (myself included) had the mumps. So my mom made us dinner and we sat in front of the TV and watched the whole show.

That movie scared me silly.

I was petrified. I still have nightmares about the Wicked Witch of the West and dreading the chance of growing and becoming an adult munchkin. In fact, some of those munchkins looked like me, as an eight-year-old, with the mumps! (Well you can see why I still have nightmares about the munchkin thing!) I didn't much care for for anything in that movie as an eight-year-old.

And truthfully, it doesn't do much for me now. I've never been to Kansas and I'm not really sure after seeing TWoO that I would want to go back to Kansas even if it was my home.

I can also remember the first time I saw Gone with the Wind. Mom and Dad loaded up the kids and we drove 35 miles to another city to see it. I'll give my kid reaction in two words:

Hated it!

Now Mary Poppins, that was a movie! 'Just a spoonful of sugar..."

More tomorrow...

Men's Retreat

2005-11-12T20:31:00.000-05:00

I went to the FXCC Men’s Retreat this weekend.  It was great.  I played golf with some church guys.  I won’t say anything about the golf except this:  we saw parts of Front Royal, Virginia that aren’t on the Chamber of Commerce tour map.  My new nickname is Bruce Brushhog!

The retreat was a great time of inspiration, friendship and fun.  Ken Dye did a great job as our speaker, Ed Cox and crew overfed us, the guys I got to hang out with were great and the worship times were inspirational.  Lane, Paul and Stan did a great job putting the weekend together.

One quick personal story:  Due to the snoring and potential for practical jokes, I typically sleep in my car at Men’s Retreats.  This year I did the same.  It didn’t work out too well, however.  I was cold, I couldn’t get comfortable and at 3:30 in the morning I needed to make, well, I needed to make a pit stop.  As I climbed out of the sleeping bag, to make the long cold walk, I reached out and opened the car door and set off the car alarm.  That’s right.  Under the big dipper, Northstar and all the galaxies of the universe, I set off my car alarm and couldn’t immediately find the key and figure out the right button to push to turn it off.  It was quite a sight.  I retreated to my car.

Fortunately it couldn’t be heard over the snoring.

Have a great Sunday.

Check in the mail

2005-11-10T14:24:00.000-05:00

Sometimes when I go to the mail box I get a little nervous. Sometimes as I make that trek to the curb, I'm fearful that our mail receptacle might have turned into Pandora's box. I wonder is there any thing there from my favorite IRS agent? Or worse, a letter from the water department telling me that I haven't paid my bill and now I am going to have to shower with sand.

Today I was perfectly confident as I marched toward my mail. I reached in and sorted out the 23 applications to increase my credit, the half-inch-thick mailer with coupons to businesses I'll never visit and then I finally came to, not one, but two letters addressed to me from an insurance company with whom I had recently done business. I opened the first and read a half page letter telling me to fill out a form that they needed to have for future reference. I then read another included page of disclaimers about my information remaining private. I didn't see the form anywhere, even in the enclosed return envelop.

So I figured that the other look-a-like letter from the same company must contain the form. Nope. Inside the other envelop was the same half page letter urging me to fill out the much needed form, the full page of disclaimer information, the return envelop and zippo, no form.

Life is fun.

Actually instead of fear, I've been having lots of fun with the mail lately. Someone, (I'm guessing an FXCC member with lots of time on their hands) as a special present to me, signed me up for somewhere between 20 to 25 magazines. They went to the trouble to fill out the little "tear-out" cards included in magazines with my name and address and mailed them in. So in recent weeks I've received Rolling Stone, Pregnancy, Gun Times, The National Economist, Mustangs and Other Hot Fords, Wine Tasting, Shooting, SI, Runner's World, Backpacking, National Geographic, National Diplomacy, just to name a few.

It has been so much fun to call and talk with all the 800 operators who evidently weren't standing by their phones waiting for my call to cancel my subscriptions. But I did learn this (and I'm not making this up): filling out those little cards on behalf of someone else is a federal (you read that right) federal crime. You see it involves the mail, which eventually "the feds" take fairly seriously.

I talked to a guy yesterday as I canceled a "men's magazine" I hadn't subscribed to. In the course of our conversation I told him why I was canceling and he confirmed that what had been done to me was against the law. He went on to tell me of a man who was mad at a judge for finding him guilty. To get back at the judge "the man" signed the judge of for lots of "men's magazines." The judge didn't find it funny and hired a lawyer to go after the prankster. The lawyer is currently waiting to examine the handwriting on the card that was filled out. The guy I was talking to was mailing it to him. Again, no joke. In fact, the magazine operator is sending me a copy of the card filled out on my behalf. I'll be checking the handwriting in the blue books beginning this Sunday!

I kid. . . maybe.

So here's the deal, I'm getting magazines I didn't order and not getting "double" the forms I should be getting.

Welcome to life in the 21st century.

Cheap Forgiveness

2005-11-09T14:19:00.000-05:00

Personally, when I do something wrong and it's pointed out to me, I like to say "I'm sorry." and then let's all move on and forget it. But life doesn't work that way.

Consequences continue. If you run a red light and hit an innocent car, you can say you're sorry, and the "victim" may immediately forgive you. But boy the consequences continue. In fact the consequences may prove to be helpful. You have to deal with "your victim"; the police, your insurance agent; their insurance agent; you will need to get an estimate of the damages; make an appointment to get your car fixed, get your car fixed; pay for a rental or bum a ride from others; go to court; pay the fine; have your insurance rates go up; and you have to listen to others say to you, "I told you that yellow means slow down and stop!"

God set things up so there are consequences that help remind us of fallout of selfishness; to influence us to not make the same mistake in the future and to show how necessary it is to rely on God in the first place.

So don't wish those consequences away. They are there for a purpose.

Being forgiven is one aspect of God's love. Dealing with consequences is simply another.

Vote Early and Often

2005-11-08T08:06:00.000-05:00

It's election day. I woke up this morning thinking about how fortunate I am to live in a place where we can have a change in government happen by a bunch of people driving to their local elementary or middle school. It takes Jeanette and I forty-five seconds to walk from our back door to our "polling place" (a local middle school). We don't have to drive or park. If there's no line we can vote during the commerical break! What a country. . .

There usually are several times during the year that I think about future sermon selection. Right now I'm thinking and praying about 2006 sermon series. One series that I will be doing will be on helping people discover their spiritual strengths and using them for God's glory. I really feel this critical to discipleship development. Plus there is a lot of new cutting edge material out on this important topic. Also, early in 06 I will deal with our congregational vision and future plans.

What seems important to you right now? What part of God's Word would you like to hear preached? Is there a passage? A book from the Bible? A topic that you feel needs to be addressed? I'm not making any promises, but I'd love to get your input.

Wow, what a weekend!

2005-11-07T10:28:00.000-05:00

God cleaned up at Powerhouse this past weekend.  For those of you reading this who aren’t familiar with our every-other-year-teen-retreat called Powerhouse.  That’s just what it is.  Every other November we host a weekend for teens.  Jeff Walling comes and speaks, activities are planned, food is prepared and God is worshipped.  Typically 550 t0 650 come to the Friday night through Saturday night event.  Several hundred visitors stay over until Sunday morning and worship with us.

This year’s Powerhouse theme was as simple as it was profound: CLEAN.  The theme was based on 2 Corinthians 5:17 that says that in Jesus all people are made clean and are new.

This weekend 22 young people gave their hearts and lives to Jesus and were baptized.  They are now truly CLEAN.  Check out FXCC.org to see pictures.  Added to the blessing of these new Christians, was the experience of seeing our worship center filled to overflowing by young people praising God and longing to learn more from Him. It was truly a great experience.  And don’t even get me started about worship yesterday morning.

Powerhouse 05 is just another reminder of what God can do in the lives of people who their hearts in His hand.  My heart goes out to the 200 plus FXCC members who allowed God to use them to make Powerhouse a clean sweep.

More tomorrow.

Friday: Feelings, Wo-o-o Feelings

2005-11-04T07:10:00.000-05:00

I'm sore. Yesterday I played racquetball for an hour. During that hour, there were moments I wasn't sure I was going to live. In fact, I was so convinced that my demise was evident, during points I was making funeral arrangements.

Now don't get me wrong. Though it hurt, it made me "suck wind, when it was over I was exhausted, and though today can barely move, I still had a great time. It was great fun and I remember how much fun racquetball was every four hours today as I inhale Advil.

As I hobble around today I will get great comfort from the realization that today 76 years ago, my dad, was born. I have experienced many blessings in my life, two of the greatest being my parents. I grew up in a home where I was loved, accepted and valued. My dad showed me how to love God, love your wife, love your children, work hard and have lots of fun. Have a great birthday Dad. Your check is in the mail.

Today also begins FXCC's Powerhouse. For those of you unfamiliar with Powerhouse, every two years our church puts on a huge weekend event for teens. This weekend we will have 600 plus guests coming to listen about and learn from God. Jeff Walling will speak (is he an awesome speaker or what?); the worship will be inspirational; the small group interactions will hopefully make an eternal impact; and my prayer is that lots of young people will give their lives over to Jesus.

If you have a moment today pray for Powerhouse...

And maybe my back and my knees and my neck and my triceps and. . .

Getting Educated

2005-11-02T10:36:00.000-05:00

As I walked the thirty yards from my parking lot to the office, my cell phone rang. It was a co-worker informing me that I had a guest waiting for me. The "guest" is fellow who's been showing up once or twice a month at the office for the past ten or twelve years. He's a fellow who is 55 and homeless. He lives in shelters and struggles to keep a job. When he has a bicycle he rides it, when it pawns it for money he walks and rides the bus.

Today we got in my car for a ride to Kmart to purchase a room heater. Or so I thought. He had told me that the room he stays in is cold at night so he needed a heater. But when we arrived at the store, I was led to the Sporting Goods section and we looked at outdoor personal heaters. We picked one out and a couple of propane tanks and as we headed for to check out counter, I realized that a heater like this was designed to keep you warm sleeping outside or in a place where electricity might not be readily available.

I was immediately humbled and educated.

I try my best to manage me life. But I've never ridden a county bus much less depending on mass transit for my personal travel. I have no clue when, where or how buses run. I do have a bike, but it has sat perched in my garage for years without being ridden. If I walk anywhere it is typically a short distance. When it comes to food, I'd have to think hard to remember the last time I was truly hungry. And when it comes to slepp, we have four beds in our centrally heated and cooled home.

It wasn't until recently that I finally figured out how wrong I was about poverty. I'm not smart enough to be poor. I wouldn't last a week. I don't have the ingenuity or the will-power or the determination.

The more things change...

2005-11-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

We had nine, count them nine, trick-or-treaters last night...
I ate all the leftover candy!

We started paying our electric bill by automatic on line payment...
They continued to overcharge us! (I'm calling this morning to get it figured out.)

We've learned recently that Fairfax County is no longer classified as "suburban" it is now considered "urban..." (There's no more land left.)
Deer can still run into your wife's car. (Everyone and everything is fine, except for our the increases to our auto insurance.)

I still have a hard time stepping on a scale....
Today, November 1 I am starting a diet.

Yep that's true. The weight loss begins today. I want you to hold me accountable. In the words of one of our FXCC members, I've been "pouring" myself into my clothes for quite a while now.

I'm not quite at my all-time high weight, but I can certainly see that weight (though I would probably have to bend over to see it!)

I can't understand my slow weight gain. I've eaten anything I want, I don't work out regularly and I sit on my seat all day long. How could this weight gain have happened?

Well I've lost it before. Before Kirstie Alley became a "fat actress" I lost 40 pounds on Jenny Craig. And then five years later I lost a bunch of weight on Weight Watchers. My goal this time is to simply get to the point where people come up and say, "Bruce, you look so thin. Have you been sick." When I look sickly, I'll know I'm at the right weight!

So here I go again. I'll be sucking on water bottles, eating handfuls of carrots and counting every morsel I put in my mouth for the next six months. And I will be sore for the month of November as I restart an exercise program that will include more than walking into McDonalds rather than just driving through.

I've been told that telling a few friends that you are beginning a diet is helpful. It gives you accountability. So to the two of you reading this, please keep me accountable. Ask me about how the carrots and skinless chicken breast taste and how sore my fat covered muscles are.

But I will warn you for the next three months, you may want to keep your distance from me if you are holding a turkey leg in your hand!

More tomorrow.

bOILING over?

2005-10-28T12:35:00.000-04:00

What are your thoughts about the biggest third quarter oil profit in history? ExxonMobil made $1,250 per second over the past quarter. Shell made 9 billion last quarter. Other oil companies also recorded huge profits during the same three month period during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

What do you think about it? I see that Senate hearings are going to take place. We live in a capitalistic society based in supply and demand. Should we have a problem when companies make billions of dollars in profit? Is this the "American Way?" Or should be stunned?

I will admit that right now I'm more stunned than waving the flag.

I'm anxious to hear your perspective.

Nora Jones and staying awake

2005-10-26T15:38:00.000-04:00

I not only drive my wife hand-me -downs I now use her hand-me-down stereo. It's much nicer than the one I have in my office, so after carrying it around in the back of my car for two months, I finally plugged it in today. It came with a couple of CDs that Jeanette listens to. One of them is Nora Jones' (the daughter of Ravi Shankar. Ravi turned 85 years old back in April. He now is as old as Norwegian Wood!) Come Away With Me. It is so smooth I'm having a hard time staying awake.

I'm a person that just doesn't do music well. I have this tendency to get a new CD, listen to it 438 and a half times in a row, and then never want to listen to it again. (I'm now 234 times into Bon Jovi's newest release). I've become old. I rarely listen to new music. I know little about Weezer, Death Cab for Cutie, Greenday or Blueday or Redday. I do know about Bluebirds and Redbook.

I know who Kanye West is, I even watched a "Behind The Music" show on VH-1 about him. I even liked it and some of the music they played. Though I'm not sure I could pick out a song of his.

On a positive note I usually do like the sound track of Smallville.

I need to quickly expand my musical horizons. Any suggestions.

Halloween candy is only a week away!

2005-10-25T09:48:00.000-04:00

Why do TV networks send weather-people to the eye of the storm? Watching Al Roker tip over from Wilma's wind is funny, but does it make the report more informative?

Living in the land of naive: At one point a couple of weeks ago I thought I would "tear out" our little back patio to save some money. As it turns out our little patio was ten inches of concrete held together with miles of "rebar." If I would have tried to remove it, we would have a new definition of eternity.

I just learned of Rosa Parks death. She was an amazing example of how powerful and influential one committed life can be.

I continue to think that Jon Stewart is one of funnier people in entertainment.

We had a couple of reporters who work for a Christian magazine here this past weekend to do an article on FXCC. I don't know whether to be nervous or excited about their upcoming December article.

I've started the past two days with this prayer:
“God, today let me be your servant wherever I go, whatever I do, to whomever I meet.”
It's made a difference.

More tomorrow.

What can someone learn from us?

2005-10-21T16:00:00.000-04:00

I was sitting today at lunch with a reporter from The Christian Chronicle. He and his wife, who also works for The Chronicle, are in town to do a story on FXCC. As we were eating, he was "peppering" us with questions about our church. At one point he turned to the ministers and asked, "What could other churches learn from your church?'

Wow. That was sobering. What kind of example is our church to other congregations?

I thought of how it is an FXCC priority to get people integrated into our church family as soon as possible. And then the discussion continued with other ministers chiming in.

What would you say if you are reading this and you belong to FXCC? Or if you don't go to FXCC what would you say there is about the church you attend that other churches could learn from?

And then I guess the next question would be, "What could someone desiring to be more like Jesus learn from me?" "What could they learn from you?"

Have a great weekend.