World Wide Day of Play

Posted September 27, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Awareness, Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Life, People, Sports, Vision
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Something amazing has happened today. Nickelodeon, Noggin, The N and NickToons have all gone dark. From noon until 3:00pm nothing will be shown on these channels. For the fifth consecutive year Nickelodeon is brokering its influence for a Worldwide Day of Play. This is the first year that all Nickelodeon networks and their comparable websites will effectively shut down in order for kids around the world to get out and play.

There have also been over 1,000 play event scheduled around the United States. This was designed as a way for Nick to encourage kids to fight obesity. Before and after the blackout, each network will show programming that is health-related. Nick has partnered with several organizations this year including the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Big Brothers and Big Sisters along with the National Football League.

What a great opportunity to for our kids to see that there is more that they can do, and that influence can be used in positive ways to motivate us toward better goals and a better life.

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Alzheimer’s Memory Walk

Posted September 25, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Awareness, Belief, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Life

Alzheimer’s is a disease that is increasingly affecting more and more of us. Today it is uncommon to find someone who does not know of a friend, family member or acquaintance who either has known, knows or is going through themselves this terrible disease.

The most difficult part of Alzheimer’s is that when we lose memory, we lose the path of our life. When the signposts of the past are gone, we truly become lost. To watch as someone you love enters into a place of lostness within themselves is a decidedly helpless position to find yourself in.

My friend, Mike Scarborough, has set up a team to participate in the Georgia Alzheimer’s Memory Walk this November 1st. I encourage you to click here and either become part of the team, donate or both. Significant advances are being made in the search for a cure, but more help is needed. Together we can indeed make a great difference in the future!

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President Bush and David Blaine

Posted September 24, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Influence, Life, Production

Odd title I know, but this is something that couldn’t go unsaid. As Creative Pastor I make sure that nothing technical gets in the way of the success of our creative learning environments on Sunday morning. Sound, lighting, video, music selection, drama, set design and execution are all critical elements that if done effectively will all fade into the background and go without comment.

Cue the President. During what could be one of the most important “talks to the nation” he’ll make before leaving office, a continuous mic cable noise could be heard throughout his talk – an annoying muffled low bumping noise – that was distracting and, most important – not the technical quality of presentation you expect of the White House. This is especially significant when telling the nation that the government is the only entity capable of handling the economic crisis that we all are fully aware of. Mic noise – economic stability of the free world. I know they are totally dissimilar and the audio guy was fired, but given everything else on the radar, this was a time to shine and for tech problems to disappear – and they didn’t.

Cue David Blaine. In what was heralded as one of the greatest magical experiences since the Flood, David Blain made those who were interested sit for a couple of hours until….in a moment that was to at least rival Houdini….did he explode?….did he transform into some other creature?….did he give everyone in the audience a new car?…No. He jumped off of a 40 foot truss, connected to a safety harness and then was lifted away by a large bunch of helium balloons while we all watched in awe. Awe that we had been duped into wasting a couple of hours to see a fair ride. How does this connect? As David Blaine is “disappearing into the night”, someone forgot to mute the audio of a guy saying, “Get him up. Higher, higher. Get him up.” Now I’m no magician, but that sounded a lot like a director giving cues.

The key takeaway is this: details matter – in life, in business, in family. Apparently we do need to sweat the small stuff…at least some of the time!

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Lifegroups

Posted September 24, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Life, Lifepoint, People

I have to say a word about the most important part of Lifepoint Church – Lifegroups. If you want a better explanation you can go here, but for me the experience of group life is one of community and trust unlike anything you will experience anywhere else.

In today’s society the increase in social networking sites has shown that people have a need to connect. A lot of times in church we think that we provide for this need of connecting with the services on Sunday or, in other churches, during a mid-week meeting. These venues are often one sided with communication coming from one person to a crowd and the interaction before and after the service amounting to a few minutes.

Typically, unless there is a previous interaction before the service – as with a friend co-worker or family – little or none is experienced in the service itself. This is where the Lifegroup comes into play. In a group people come together for the sole purpose of getting to know each other and talk about each others lives.

Before you ask, no, you don’t come the first week and divulge your deepest secrets only to be shackled to the group because of black-male. Believe it or not, I have had people – maybe not in those blatant terms – say basically the same thing. Lifegroups are about living life. They are about living life together with other people- not alone. How many times do you think about going out, but don’t because you don’t want to go alone. With a group there is always someone doing something with someone else.

And it’s not just for partying. When you need someone to listen or keep the kids while you go to the hospital or bring you dinner when you come home from the hospital – you’ve got your group. Life with a group is undeniably one of the most rewarding investments you can make for your family’s future and health. Talk to Dan, who heads up our Lifegroups, and start doing life together!

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Pillar of Generosity Part One

Posted September 23, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Belief, Lifepoint, Message Series

This Sunday we talked about the subject of generosity. This is a topic that is not mentioned in a lot of churches because too frequently we connect it only to money. Churches are afraid to talk about money even though we all have some and use it to live. That failure to connect generosity to a deeper spiritual need is compelling because of Jesus’ pervasive teaching on the subject.

At the essence of generosity is a willingness to give and a refusal to hoard. Love is essentially an act of generosity because we are giving our love to others. In the narrative of the Prodigal Son, the father exercises generosity by not extending wrath and throwing a party. At the heart of the practice of Christian spirituality is the generosity of the One who displays that generosity by giving Man the ability not only to be aware of his need for a more abundant life, but also the ability live out that abundant eternal life – not in the “by and by” but now.

How incredible to be a part of a spiritual discipline that emphasises giving of love and grace instead of the taking of lives and land. Several years ago, we in the established church couldn’t say that. The Crusades had been waged in an onslaught of taking, all in the name of God. Thankfully those times have past, but there are still some who view Christianity as a “war to fight” or a “battle to win”. Jesus told Peter when he tried to take from another that “he who lives by the sword, dies by the sword”.

May we do all that we can to become a community of generous people who live generous lives in generous ways. Only then will people “know us by our love”.

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UGA in Arizona

Posted September 20, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Georgia Bulldogs, Life, Me, Sports, Uncategorized

What can I say about the Dawgs this week? Although they started slow, the momentum built and Georgia continued their winning streak with game 11. One of the Most Likely to Be Seen in the Highlight Reel had to be Knowshon Moreno’s high flying touchdown. He must have had some Red Bull because he certainly had wings on that play.

Matthew Stafford continues to add to his portfolio. His arm strength is becoming legendary, and the way he connects with his receivers is magical and beautiful to watch. This game he threw for a career-high of 285 yards. Stafford wasn’t the only Dawg to show on Saturday. Freshman A. J. Green had an impressive evening as well. 159 yard on eight catches and a Touchdown is a great night. Aside from Knowshon’s early leaping Touchdown, he had another 100+ yard night. With 23 carries for 149 yards and 2 Touchdowns, Moreno is quickly becoming mythological in his playing.

Even though there are plenty of outstanding individual players, you have to give kudos to the Georgia Defense. ASU was only able to get only 4 rushing yards on 19 attempts, its second lowest since a negative 2 yards against Cal in 2002, and second lowest by an opponent for the Bulldogs in the Richt-era.

The Dawgs return to Stanford Stadium next week to meet No. 9 Alabama in what is sure to be another exciting game.

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Neighbors

Posted September 19, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Awareness, Life, Me, People

I met our new neighbors today. Harry and Nancy are the newest residents in our quaint little subdivision somewhere in Middle Georgia. This morning I walked out to the car to hear the sound of Canadian Geese overhead. I would have shot, if I’d have had my gun, but then I would probably have a new assignment in a small cell.

Harry and Nancy are older that I am and have lived through some amazing world events. I was taken by how much we have to gain by investing into knowing the people who live next to us. In a world where, according to a new report, social networking is more popular now than on-line porn, out inter connectivity to actual humans in our vicinity is less and less.

Fred Rogers used to ask me every day if I would be his neighbor, and each day that I did, I learned new and interesting stuff. Take some time and get to know a neighbor. The wealth that it will bring to your own life will surprise you.

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Debbie Blue – From Stone to Living Word

Posted September 18, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Books I'm Reading, Creativity, Life, religion

Had to write a little about this book. From the first line – “I’m not good with answers” – the book is immediately accessible. Blue writes openly and confidently as she weaves through some thoughts that many of us have had but found difficult to articulate.

As a pastor, she talks about wishing to be like Father Zossima in The Brother’s Karamazov.

She quotes Eduard Thurneysen speaking about Father Zossima saying:

 “It [his pastoral approach] is not designed to remove [people’s] burdens, to lead them out of the uncertainties of their lives, but it is intended to lead [people] into them truly and for the first time…for in persevering in the uncertainties of life, he sees the only way of redemption.”

She follows that great quote, about a character in a book that you should read if you haven’t, by stating, “I honestly don’t know what it would even quite mean to straighten a life out.

 

So often we perceive the church as a place to fix things, as God a “fixer”, as life needing to be fixed. Life is meant to be lived fully and that often means it will be messy and loud and unpredictable and wild. When we accept that we are trying to embrace the Unembraceable, know the Unknowable and understand the Incomprehensible, a non-straightened out life seems to be the only kind that would fit.

 

Oh to let go and embrace nothing, knowing that in that futile attempt you have found what you were looking for. He is unembraceable not because he is far and distant, but because he so permeates every inch of our lives that if we were to contain him, he would cease to be himself. He is “in all, above all and through all”. If we can learn to live within the drawing love of God the Other, our lives themselves will transcend understanding and the chaotic will become beautiful and our view of God himself or herself will expand into an ever increasing undulation of love that desires to overwhelm and overtake us.

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Wine….and more wine!

Posted September 17, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Awareness, Belief, Context, Creativity, Influence, Kingdom of God, Life, religion

In lieu of the comments from Sunday’s message I feel compelled to bring up the story of Jesus and the wedding in Cana. In spite of the church’s need to display Jesus as a party pooper, he was nothing of the sort. Jesus was, in fact, the kind of guy you would want around if you were to throw a party.

Jesus’ ability to turn water into wine, although very handy, is not the reason I chose to give my allegiance to him. Jesus embodies hope and gives me a reason to wake up in the morning. He sees all of life as a sacred celebration. This story is full of implications that when life seemingly runs out of joy/hope/peace/meaning (wine) he is there to bring it back. When everything seems lost and the party is doomed, look for Jesus like Mary did and he’ll bring the abundant life back to your party.

The biggest thing this story can teach us is seen as John mentions that it took place on the third day. The third day is typical of resurrection, and if so, the first day would be the wonderful – everything is OK  good Friday. The second day would have to be those liminal spaces where we are anything but settled, but the third day is significantly different. With Jesus’ response, the third day becomes a day filled with expectancy and hope.

For us the significance of this story has to go to the jars of water. Prepared for a sacred service they are transformed into functional jars for the service of the people. How much of our own religious world is filled with sacredness. So much so that we overlook it’s functionality to service. If the service needs to change from Sunday to Thursday let’s change it. If we need to sit on the floor instead of pews, let’s do it. If we need to have a true conversation instead of a talking head let’s do it. Certainly in the church there are issues of practicality, but ultimately everything that we do has the ultimate end of bringing people into the abundant life Christ has given to us. Everything is a means to that end – not an end to itself.

Mary knew that the party didn’t have to end. She knew what resided in Christ -and so do we. As we look toward our future, let our response be that of Jesus. Crank up the music, tell the baby-sitter you’ll be late, smile and grab your partner, this party isn’t near over. The best really is yet to come!

Comments: 2 Comments

What a Day!

Posted September 14, 2008 by Chris
Categories: Lifepoint, Message Series, People, Strengths, Vision

First, I have to say thanks to those who responded and brought compact fluorescent light bulbs, we still could use a few more, but we got several thanks to you! Next, I have to say that the energy and interaction was off the chain today. I love what I get to do! You guys at Lifepoint are the reason that the meetings are so memorable. What you bring with you and how you chose to get involved always is the difference maker every time we get together.

I can’t wait to see how things continue to get better as we move forward to the end of this year and the beginning of another.

BTW – please comment with your favorite country song. The next song you hear might just be the one you suggest!

Comments: 6 Comments

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