Lenten Thoughts

I grew up in the South. I also grew up in the evangelical church of the South. We did not celebrate Lent. Thinking back, I am not sure I had a any real understanding of the Lenten season until I was in HS. In my thirties like many I began to ask simple questions about my faith, my world view and my future. In this time of searching I read authors I had never heard of, built friendships with people from different Christian traditions & more than once asked myself, "Why did we do/believe that?".

Along the way I discovered many of my Catholic brothers & sisters of the faith had just that...faith. Faith in the same God, the same scriptures and the same Christ. Their faith and worship was rich with images not only for the eyes, ears, but also the palate of taste. I had not only discovered new members of my spiritual family, I had also re-discovered my faith in a new and vital way.

Advent & Lent are now a part of my annual worship experience and each year The Spirit teaches me something new and beautiful about following this Jesus the Christ.

I am excited about what I shall discover over the next 46 days.

PS Just so you will know, here is what I am fasting from the next 46 days.

1. I will be eating vegetarian

2. I will be consuming no desserts, sweets, candy and will avoid white sugar.

3. I will limit myself to 3 pints of local brew per week.

4. My Facebook statuses will be limited to the things I HEAR from God's presence as I practice LISTENING.

Help rebuild homes in New Orleans

As you read this, please don't forget to read my stories along the way at the end of this post, and please pray for the folks in New Orleans and the entire Gulf Coast as they struggle to rebuild their homes, their communities and their lives.
This picture was taken August 29, 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. 53 levees failed and flood waters entered the city, filling many neighborhoods with several feet of water. Homes and businesses sat for weeks in the flood waters. Most of us watched from the comfort of our homes as thousands struggled to make their way to safety. The response from local, state and federal authorities will go down as a lesson in how government, even in free nations, can fail the citizens it should strive to care for.

Three years later the effects of the flooding are evident as you drive into New Orleans on I-10. Industrial and commercial buildings are abandoned, community churches are empty and thousands of homes and apartments sit in ruin.

December 28, 2008 – January 3, 2009 I worked to rebuild homes for the citizens of New Orleans. I was asked to go to New Orleans for a week and use the constructions skills I have to help the people of New Orleans return to their homes.

This is the home of Mrs. Holloway. She moved here and bought this house in 1989. She raised six kids here and still takes care of her 21yr old son. When the house is rebuilt she will move her 90 year old mother in with her. Her mother lost her home during the storm and needs a place to live. Mrs. Holloway used her insurance money to pay off her mortgage and live the last three years. Her resources are growing thin, yet much work remains to be done to complete the home. The house needs framing to be reinforced, plumbing and electrical must be installed, the house must be insulated, sheet rock needs to be hung and finished, new flooring needs to be laid in all areas, bath rooms need completion and the kitchen needs to be outfitted. Mrs. Holloway can pay for most of the materials and some of the tradesman needed, but much of the home will be completed by volunteer labor and donated materials. With four to six weeks of hard work and a bit of cash for materials, Mrs. Holloway could be in her home by Easter. She is a dear lady of joy and faith, each day she is trusting God to help her move back into her house.

Me, Mrs Holloway and Paul Slemons.

Mrs. Phenix, Mrs. Phillip & her son Glenn.

Mrs. Phillip and her sister Mrs. Phenix have lived in their homes side by side for over 56 years. They raised families and cared for the neighborhood all that time. They are both widowed and are dearly loved by Mrs. Phillip's son Glenn who lives in Houston. As Katrina raged, he made sure his mother and aunt were driven to Houston and a place of safety. These two sisters stayed in Houston for over one year before they could return to find their homes ruined by the flood waters which reached 7 feet in each house. Volunteers from Washington State worked hard to make sure Mrs. Phenix was in her home before Christmas. Mrs. Phillip will have to be patient a while longer as volunteer teams are harder to come by this time of year.

Me & my brother Louis cutting window trim for Mrs. Phillip's home.

Mrs. Phillip's home is in the last stages of the renovation process. All the window trim, some door trim and base molding were installed the three days we worked there. The team I was with even began the installation of new hardwood flooring in the home. Another volunteer team worked a week laying tile and it looks great in the two bathrooms. Before very long, Mrs. Phillip will be able to return to her home and that FEMA trailer will be her home no longer.

Mrs. Phillip showing my nephew Andrew the pictures of the inside
of her house after the flood.

Each person I met during the week had a story of how Katrina changed their lives.. Some left the city before and returned months later to find all they ever had was gone. A few I met had to be rescued from the roof of their homes as the water filled the neighborhoods in moments. Regardless of the story there is still much to be done in New Orleans to return folks to their homes. As of last week, there were 150,000 homes in New Orleans that need to be renovated, rebuilt or razed. Only 8,000 building permits were completed in 2008, at that rate it will take at least ten years to complete the rebuild of New Orleans and at least a generation to restore the city. As time moves further from the date of the storm, more and more folks will forget about the folks in New Orleans rebuilding their homes and communities.


The weather here in N.C. is typically wet and cold in the winter months. Construction slows until March and time is spent catching up on paper work or taking projects that are totally indoors. I have time. I am willing to return to New Orleans and help Mrs. Holloway and others rebuild their homes and neighborhoods, but I cannot do it alone.
I will commit to go one month, but I must cover my expenses as well as keep my family going in NC. I would like to raise $3000.00 to cover my expenses and keep the family fed while I go. All monies will be given to our church, The Carpenter's Shop and are tax deductible. I have heard from many folks that wish they could go but don’t have the time. I’m asking everyone who believes that “but for the grace of God, go I” to help me help the folks of New Orleans for the next month.
Last year we raised money for the Polk family after Harry’s fall. This year it’s a different need but one with just as much eternal significance. I ask you to pray, and if this is something that you feel God would have you support, our PayPal account is carpentersshop@gmail.com. Just go to PayPal, click on send money and all funds will be appreciated. If my Twitter and FaceBook friends would give $10.00 each, we would more than reach the budget easily. My family and I have committed to help these people in whatever way we can, but we will need your help.


The stories along the way:

The Lady & her dog "Babe".

Thursday afternoon as we worked on hardwood flooring and trim in Mrs. Phillip's house the sun was shining bright and warm. Children were riding their bikes and neighbors were strolling through the community. A lady was walking down Law St. with her dog and I laid down my tools to cross the street and introduce myself.
Immediately she began to thank us for coming to help rebuild the homes in her neighborhood and tell her Katrina story. She and her dog babe live a few blocks away and as the storm approached she and babe crawled in the pickup truck to fight the traffic as it drove north out of New Orleans. The storm raged around the truck and she talked to God and to babe for comfort as she pressed on toward Baton Rogue. There she stayed with a cousin and watched on TV as her life long home town was covered in the waters of Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River. She and Babe moved in with her cousin for a year as the city sorted out the mess. After returning, she found that her home had been filled with water to the ceilings and all her belongings were ruined. She had good insurance, and with that money and a bit more form the Federal Government she is attempting to rebuild her home. Over three years after the storm she is still waiting as crews are now finished the new ceilings in her home. She hopes to be in the house completely before Mardi Gras. She and her dog Babe are thankful to be alive and even in the midst of difficult situations this fine Lady has the joy and strength to praise God for what was a beautiful warm day in New Orleans.

Percy
On my last night in New Orleans the team went into the French Quarter for dinner. It was a time of celebration as we reflected on the people we had met and the work we had completed. A walk down Bourbon St and a spin through Jackson Square took us down Decatur St. On Decatur is a cigar factory, where men of great talent are hand rolling wonderful cigars.
Percy was the counter salesman that night and met us as we entered the store. He has a broad smile and happy face, yet he is just a bit shy. He made a good sell and even gave me a cigar to smoke that evening. I sat at a table in the store with my nephew Andrew and college student Josh and we enjoyed the cigars and the company. Percy came by our table and I then asked him to tell me his Katrina Story.
"Mine was crazy", was his simple and honest reply.

"I was in the jail that flooded after the storm. We almost drowned." From his story it appears the police were attempting to get as many people off the streets as possible. Percy was arrested and charged with armed robbery and placed in the county jail to await the storm. "They realized the jail was gonna flood, we thought they were gonna leave us to drown. After some time they got us out of the jail and took us to a bridge over pass on I-10. They put guards on each end of the bridge with guns and told us to stay put or jump off the edge. It was a mess, some guys died, but it won't on the news. All the paper work was under water the computers were gone. They started to ask us who we were and began to release us and dismiss the changes. They let me go and dismissed all the charges. They also released some real bad men. I left and went to Phoenix, AZ and worked for a year. I got this job about a year ago and I like it and the manager treats me nice."

I then asked Percy about his life. He grew up in poverty and brokenness, finally ending up in Nebraska at Boys Town were he was loved and cared for. He loves New Orleans, but cautions that it is a great place to visit, but you would not want to live there. "This city is full of animals", was a statement he made more then once during our conversation. He left me with his address and phone number. He wants to show me the real New Orleans and take me to eat the best food in the city on the West Bank. When I return, Percy will be one of the first people I will call, I want that big smiling face to experience the love of Jesus.



Raphael
The first day I was working in New Orleans I met Raphael in a 7th Ward neighborhood. He was young man about 35 and greeted and thanked the team for coming to NOLA to help rebuild. I asked him to tell me his Katrina story...

"My wife and I own two small houses here in the 7th ward. One was our house, the other was an investment property. After the storm we took the insurance money to rebuild the houses, but it was not enough. We had to cash in our retirement accounts to finish the two houses. We had worked hard for twenty years to have something for retirement. It is all gone, we will have to work the rest of our lives to pay off the houses and survive. If you owned anything down here, there was no help for you, no help at all. We have been back in our house for about nine months. We moved my parents into the other house so they would have a place to live, their house is gone and they did not have any insurance. The old folks in the neighborhoods need help...Thank you for coming!"

Missional Misgivings

Dan Kimball speaks on his thoughts regarding missional churches.
I agree with him, if you define a missional church and life style as narrowly as he.

Leadership Journal has an article about "Showtime" churches. A slight contrast to Dan musings.

J. Lee Grady adds his two cents worth on the charismatic breakdown.
(HT:Bill Kinnon)

Chris Elrod breaks down what church planting should be about.

Blackwater Falls and tons of laughter

The temps were great and the skies were blue while I walked to the falls. Jarrod, Ingrid, Phil and Sherry and I enjoyed our light conversation and vigorous hike to see and hear the falls.
We kicked around Davis and Thomas and finally headed up into the mountains to find the gang and make sure Len Sweet made it in from Morristown, NJ safely. i am now heading to bed and looking forward to the rest of the weekend with friends.

Country roads take me home...

I'll be leaving in a few hours for a drive to West Virginia. It has become an annual trip for me. I'll spend the weekend with folks who have become my friends the last five years. Len Sweet, his brother John, Lisa and Will Sampson, Jarrod Hunt, Ingrid Flowers, Lan Leavell, Missi Wilson, Mom Wilson and a handful of others who are faces and memories. We will talk about Jesus, the future of the church and things as trivial as cigars and whiskey. We will share our meals together and pray for and with each other.

A great deal of the time I will spend looking at the mountains, soaking up the air and asking a simple question; "God, am I still where you want me doing what you want me to do?" It sounds simple, but life revolves around that question everyday. To walk with God and to walk on the "right" road with Him. If you stumble across this post the next few days, take a moment and pray for me and my family as we continue to walk with God into the future not forgetting the past.

Change the life of a child for $40.

Help change the life of an American child.

House Church Promo

This video was just so cute I had to post it.

Jesus is for Losers

Brant Hansen writes one of the best posts of 2008.

David Hayward has great thoughts on feelings and faith.

Take 45 minutes and watch this great "sermon" by Reggie McNeal



Read "The Rescue of MoonBase Asimov" and the follow-up post by Dan Edelen, both worth the read and the brain energy expended as you ponder.

Big paintings = God's kingdom on earth, touching people, where they live and work and play...

Dan Nelson started the painting above at 12 noon May 17. He set-up his giant easel as a part of Artplosure 2008.

This is the same painting at 3pm Sunday, May 18. Dan finished the painting at 6pm Sunday evening, the painting was then sold to the high bidder of a silent auction that went on while he painted. At 3pm, the price was around $550.00.

Dan is an artist. He paints big. He paints small. He illustrates books.
He paints portraiture. He draws on sidewalks with chalk. He draws/paints architecture. He draws cartoons. Dan plays several instruments. Dan sings. Dan writes music. Dan is an artist.

Dan is also a pastor. Dan planted and lead a church for several years. They would meet on Saturday in Moore Square in Raleigh, NC. They would make music and eat food together, inviting any and all in the park to join along. On weekends, Dan would set-up his giant easel and paint and talk to people as they passed by. Dan met many people and a church grew. Dan painted and pastored for several years, then decided to move the church to a home church. After five years of home church, Dan spends his Sundays painting all over the area. After many years of church, Dan is now part of the fastest growing Christian community in North America. Dan is one of the many Christians who is no longer a member of a church. Most Sundays he never even attends a church.



Dan is an artist, a musician and probably a better pastor now than he ever was when he was pastoring/attending a church.

Prayer for a friend...

This is my friend Lisa. She just left the U.S.A. for a few weeks. She is traveling to Swaziland with Children's HopeChest. She is traveling with her 19 year old daughter Ty. They are going to have a life changing experience. When they return, they are going to write a book for Zondervan about the trip and about Children's HopeChest. Will you please pray for them, they will return to the states on Feb 3. They will then begin to write the book. All proceeds will be given to Children's HopeChest. I hope you will pray and buy a copy of the book when it is released.

A fun time was had by all.

I met a blog friend last night...in the flesh. I also met his friend Jay, who I now consider to be my new friend. I will take the memories of the evening with me for weeks.

Milton writes about the event here.

The Church of Your Dreams IV

Two months ago I was invited to a regional hot rod show by my cousin. He owns several show cars and spends his weekends traveling the circuit here in the southeast. He and his wife hop in the RV, hook up the hauler and let everyone enjoy the beauty of their classic hot rods.

The club in this region raises money for The Duke Children's Hospital at each event. The Sunday I attended was no different. The club raised $4500.00 on a Sunday for the hospital. 500-750 folks walked around the show admiring the cars and enjoying each other and the beautiful late fall day.


From April to late September clubs like this one hold a hot rod show somewhere in this nation. The clubs are made up of young and old, male and female, different ethnic backgrounds, diverse social strata and careers as varied as the autos. $20,000.00 cars are sitting next to $200,000.00 cars and it seems each owner wants to tell you about his car. It is a great place to enjoy cool cars and the fabric of USAmerica.



The church of my dreams would own a classic hot rod and a portable cooking kitchen.
Each weekend during the show season people of faith would travel to the next show with chillers full of food to prepare and a great hot rod to "show-off".


These followers of Jesus would build authentic and deep relationships with cars buffs all over the show circuit and would generally serve this community with time and resources. The grill top on the kitchen would be full of eggs and bacon in the mornings for the show volunteers and cheese steaks, burgers and good food would fill the cars owners and families the rest of the day. If there was problem, all would know to come to the car of those Jesus People. All would find these Christiancarbuffs knowledgeable about classic cars and always full of mercy, compassion and time to listen. Why would we do this? That is simple, because on Sundays from April to late September thousands of folks are at the hot rod show and I believe that is where Jesus would hang out.
















Speaking of hot rods. Do any gear heads out there know who this gentleman happens to be?

The Church of Your Dreams. III

My father tells the stories of Sunday dinners when he was a child. The large family house on Oakwood Ave. was full of friends and family. In the forties, the table always had a few servicemen from Camp Butner and during WWII there were always a few boys on weekend pass in the house.
No Sunday dinner would be complete without lots of southern cooking and GrandMa Chalmers was a true southern lady and excellent cook. My father says that there were no less than four meats and at least 6 vegetables and other sides. The pie safe was always full of fresh baked pies and cakes, not only on Sundays, but daily. Abundance was the theme and there was always room for one more to join and dine.

I have heard this same story from many folks of an older generation. I also remember Sunday dinners and afternoons filled with neighbors and ice cream freezers and ball games. We have lost so much even in a time when technology has made our lives "better".


The church of my dreams would make the sacred meal one of the main themes of the community. A large dining hall would be more important than a "beautiful" sanctuary. Of course, a large hall would need a large table, one that could seat large numbers of people. Several times a week the community would join around the table to share a meal and our lives together. Always on Sundays! There would always be enough for all to eat. No conversation would be taboo when we dined together. We would share the food, joy, pain, life together around the table.

We would always set an empty chair and plate at the table. This visual metaphor would remind us that there is always room for one more soul at our table, always room for one more soul in God's family. We would remember the cross, the empty tomb, the risen Lord. These would be the simple sacraments of our sacred meals.

The table would be BIG. Made by hand of native timber and crafted by someone in the community. The story of it's making would be part of the church's story and history. I would dream of all the chairs being different, just like all the folks who gather round, but all united by faith and love and community.


This table and hall would also be available for all to use. Family reunions, wedding receptions, birthdays, wakes and special events would be celebrated around the BIG dining table. Members of the faith community would support these events with the culinary skills learned together. The kitchen of our dreams would be used to benefit any and all who needed it for such joyous occasions.

The Church of Your Dreams. II

Did you know that America no longer cooks. We have become pros at heating and microwaving, but in many American homes very few families actually cook from scratch.
I was not aware of this trend in American homes until I began to look into food insecurity in my community. After a little reading I began to look at what is being sold in most grocery stores in America. It is pre-prepared,pre-cooked,pre-packaged. The food is ready to heat, ready to serve and ready quick. Fresh produce and meat sections are more compact, while the pre-processed areas are huge. I asked questions of people in the community who work with families with low food security. Here is a little of what I learned.

Single parents are raising an average of two children, sometimes three are more. The state and federal support funds should be able to feed a family of four on what is given to them by the system. The first of the month these parents go shopping for food. They go to the big box grocery stores with many choices. They will fill from 11/2 to 2 carts full of food. This food is planned to last an entire month. The carts have no fresh fruit or vegetables. No fresh meat or poultry. You will find the carts over flowing with frozen entrees, pre-packaged snacks, and lots of soda and juice products. The food value content is made up mostly of sodium, sugar, white flour, high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oil, fillers and a chemical lab. The food "may" taste good, but it has no holding ability, it does not stick to the ribs of a small child's belly.

The family eats well for about 2-21/2 weeks, then the pre-packaged and VERY expensive food begins to run out. The single parent is then faced with hungry bellies and very little cash. That is when they will begin to rely on the $.99 menu at the fast food eateries. Huge amounts of french fries will be purchased and consumed. They are "good" and filling and a family can eat for around $5.oo. Start the month over and push repeat.

In talking to social workers, they have communicated a common theme with these single parents...NONE OF THEM KNOW HOW TO COOK. As a child, these young parents remember a grandmother or great aunt that cooked. Their mother may have cooked some, but did not teach them any kitchen skills.

It is a trend in American culture that has very little to do with education, employment or income level. I spoke with a friend yesterday, he has a Phd and his wife completed a Masters Degree. Their 15 yr old daughter cannot boil water, the three sons CAN cook, over a fire in a scout encampment, but probably could not transfer that skill to a kitchen to feed a family.

We have a food crisis in our country. The food producers know this. They are not bad people, they are responsible to stock holders to make money. These food companies are making money on an American culture that does not cook. They have switched from fresh, wholesome products to what America wants and needs at this time. Quick, tasty, easy! The American dream.


The church of my dreams would invest in a state of the art commercial kitchen. Not set up only to prepare large amounts of food, but set up to teach. To teach young and old, single and married, churched and non-believing, red, yellow, black and white the art and joy of cooking.

Good food, simple recipes, local products, lots of laughter and learning and relationship. We would talk about the power of food and the sacred meal and how scripture respects both deeply. We would always share the food prepared together with all who were hungry. Guest cooks and chefs would come and teach



Well cooked fresh food and family go together like bread and wine for communion.
You cannot separate the power of a family meal from the power of communion. To do so is just bad theology, a misunderstanding of the bible and the character and nature of the Father. The church of my dreams would restore the sacrament of food and cooking to the spiritual community, a commercial teaching kitchen would just be a beginning.

The Church of Your Dreams.

The second weekend of November I attended a spiritual advance in the mountains of West Virginia. Len Sweet was the host and Alan Hirsch was the conversation facilitator for the weekend. Alan has a passion for the church and a heart to live a missional life.
In the middle of talking about the missional church in the USA, Alan made a very short statement,"Build the church of your dreams", was all he said and then moved one. I have not been able to stop thinking of what he said and how that simple statement lived could infuse communities with the the radical presence of Jesus. I have been building the church of my dreams in my heart and want to share a few ideas here. Your comments and thoughts would be welcome.



Every few days I drive into Oxford. I normally travel the same path there and back. On the way I pass two small run down houses. In those two homes live two families.
I do not know the families, but I see them living their lives in these two small run down houses. In the heat of the summer you will find them sitting on the front porch, it is a bit cooler, but still, it is terribly uncomfortable here July, August and part of September. In the winter, they burn wood to stay warm. There is a privy behind the houses. It is probably not used a this time as city water and sewer were added a few years ago.





The church of my dreams would push down these old fire traps and build the families brand new energy efficient homes. Homes where they could stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The church of my dreams would do this because it is good for our community and for the two families. We would do it because it would cause joy. Joy always brings God's party down to earth and Jesus would lead the conga line.

Cool things happen among friends.

My friend Lisa Samson is a novelist. She has the opportunity to tell stories and have them published. She is good at what she does. This can be clearly seen by the fact that Publishers Weekly voted one of her books in the top 150 for 2007. She recently co-authored a book with her husband Will. Justice in the Burbs is a great book and you should read it.

Lisa contacted me last week with a request. She wanted to interview me and post the conversation on her blog for this week. I thank her deeply for the honor she has shown me and my family by the gesture. I hope the story of God in our lives will cause all of us to take one more step into the mystery of God's Kingdom. Take a look at the interview here.

Thank God for Mountain Momma

It has been busy here the past four or five days. Construction is keeping me busy, with several dead lines and a weekend marathon project for a store up-fit in a local mall. With a few hugs from family and a few hours sleep it has been hectic. All is well, as we start another week with a full calender.

I am excited this week as the weekend brings me to a yearly pilgrimage. On Thursday morning I will drive to here for a bit of hiking and outdoor enjoyment. By Thursday night I will be here. Friday morning will begin a weekend of this. If all goes well, I may stick around in the mountains an extra day to absorb the beauty of creation. As I travel by car, I will most likely not take any music, audio books or radio. Last year, I traveled in silence, it was great.

Here are a few articles of interest.

Christians are slowly embracing Scientology.

If you enjoy wife beating, convert.

Dan Edelan on education.

Finally, he is going to write a book.

Great thoughts by RobbyMac.

Leading Atheist gives it up.

Welcome Youth Workers!!!

Thanks to Gman, I found out my blog somehow ended up in a YS Update. If you are visiting because of that link, blessings2u for coming. If you are a youth worker blessings2u4whoUR!!


You are tilling hard ground.

The sun is hot.

Your hands are blistered.

You are tired.

Keep tilling.

After you till the soil for days.

Turn the soil over.

And do it again.

Cut in rows.

Plant seeds.

Plant seeds.

Plant seeds

Plant seeds.

Water them well.

The garden is planted.

The work has been long.

You are tired.

You may leave this garden.

You may not see the crop.

You may not feast of the bounty.

But it will be there.

Just to prove this is true, read this post from a few years ago.

I just gotta shout....Aaamaaaeeennn!!

The InternetMonk rants.

"Shake that bush one more time!!"

Rant #1....I think

My mother tells me I was 4 weeks old the first time I attended church. I am sure I was with her or in the nursery. As a matter of fact, my first memories of church are memories of the nursery at North Gate Chapel in Durham, NC. I remember Nilla Wafers, Ritz Crackers, happy faces and safety. I remember many faces of love and caring from Sunday School. I remember the stories of the First Testament, Joseph, Noah, Adam and Eve, Moses, the great prophets, King David and of the Hebrew nation of Israel. The stories of Jesus were always placed in high priority and the story of His life, death and resurrection were displayed in flannelgraph many times. I loved that church, those people, the story of the Bible. By elementary school I knew all the major players, many verses of scripture and had heard the themes of most all the books of the Christian Bible. I loved the music of the church, the hymns, the choruses. We sang with NO instruments in early services and I loved to hear the harmonies. Middle school may have been in a different church, but most all was the same...the main parts. By high school "youth group" activities dominated my calendar and after high school I knew I wanted to work in the church, somewhere, somehow.

By college I realized American Christianity had many flavors. More than the corner ice cream shop. At that time, I chose a flavor that was like rainbow sherbet...many different colors and flavors all rolled into one. It was good for a time, but after after six or seven years I was ready for plain vanilla. My wife and I ended up in a main line church as staff members. It was good for five years or so, but then we longed for chocolate syrup. A few years later, it was time to try planting a church. It has been hard, but rewarding work.

Seven or eight years ago, I began to hear the word emerging used in context of church. I started reading, listening, hearing, dreaming, laughing, crying, but still, in love with the church.
I consider myself part of the emerging church. I consider myself part of the ancient church. I consider myself part of the conservative and liberal arms of the church. I consider myself part of the body of Christ. I want to ask questions of the USAmerican Church and it's leaders. I want to be part of the church that saves the world, yet loves humanity and the planet.
I believe that there is a real Hell and Heaven. I just do not want to treat people like hell to get them into heaven.

I am a gun toting, whiskey sipping, hymn loving, movie watching, book loving, family man that wants the church to be better tomorrow than it has been in my lifetime. I believe that many in the emerging/post-modern movement are going to lead the church to be more like Jesus in the future. So there, I said it. I am not what you think I should be. I am what Jesus is making me.

Yes, you know I want Muslims to rule the world. Frank Pastore may have been a MLB star, but here he proves he is not a thinker nor an asker..

I want my beautiful daughters to live like this.

All of these probably illustrate me;).

Emerging Grace expressing the "words" of the Emerging Church.

(HT to Jordan , Andrew and RobbyMac)