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Church Leadership Journal Joy Notes

A Climate of appreciation returns to us on Pastor Appreciation Sunday!

As a pastor, you never quite know what the congregation will do for pastor appreciation Sunday, a verbal roast, a vacation you weren’t planning on, a hearty dinner or…?  And they like to keep us in suspense too.  But it is always worth the wait.

This year there were so many wonderful parts of it.   There was, of course, a great meal — a multi-course Italian dinner.  But there were also many cards of appreciation.  And so many people came up to us personally too and expressed private words of thanks for our help, support, discipleship and leadership in their lives.  That is so meaningful.   These would have been enough reward to last a long time, for as Paul said, you are our crown (1 Thess. 2:19).   

But the congregation added more.  They brought thoughtful gifts too.  Knowing that we enjoy going out to eat but seldom do, the congregation gave us gift cards to restaurants including my favorite fast-food  lunch spot –Subway and JoAnne’s favorite “my-birthday-treat” place – Red Lobster.    Then they brought out 2 huge bags, one for the Jones’ and one for Paashaus’.    Inside were gorgeous handmade quilts lovingly completed by the quilting fellowship group, done in our favorite colors.   JoAnne got it out nearly as soon as we were home and put it on our bed.   She loves it.  The ladies said that I had wandered through downstairs at church one day when they were working on it and remarked that it was a beautiful one.   But I had no idea it was for us.  It is the Dresden Plate pattern, one of my favorites too.

As I thought later about the wonderful day, I was humbled as I was reminded that I have tried to build into our church leaders a climate of appreciation.  I frequently write notes thanking them for their work.   I encourage them to do the same for others.   I teach how important it is to look for the gifts God has given to others and how God wants to use them in his work.    And now, on pastoral appreciation day, this climate of appreciation was coming back to us as pastors.   Perhaps in some way I am experiencing what Solomon was talking about, “He who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward” (Pr 11:18 NIV).   It seems I am reaping multiples of what I have sown.  It’s a God thing!  Awesome!

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Journal Joy Notes

Corn Maze Fun

Fall is a great time for family fun.  On our recent two day trip to Keely’s and Mark’s house, we took time for a couple typical fall activities.   The most fun one was a big surprise to me.  I thought I was just going along but ended up really enjoying it.   Life often works that way doesn’t it.  It’s one of the reasons God gives us friends and family to push us a little out of our ruts. 

Back to the story—we went through a huge corn maze.  And we had the pick of days for it too – a sunny fall beauty in the Connecticut countryside with autumn colored roadside hedges, pumpkin fields and grazing cattle.  Looking at the map of the field, however, I just knew they used modern technology to cut it.   Inquiring, I found out I was correct; a GPS was used to mark the cuts.  I never did find out exactly what the paths were originally cut with, though I confirmed my observations that they were cut some time before so that they could be made smoother.  In this maze were hidden posts that we needed to find.   Doing a crayon rubbing of the emblem on the top of the post proved that you found it.  This made it more of a puzzle as you found yourself guessing where they would have hidden the thematic posts; traversing unlikely parts of the maze; and generally getting about twice as much exercise as you had planned–which is probably a good thing.

We also went apple picking. The trees were the new size – only about twice as tall as I am so most of the branches I could reach.  I knew I would love that and the rest of the crew had to drag me away before I filled the car and spent too much money.  Orchard-ripe Mac’s are just too good.  Keely, Mark and JoAnne were happy to pick a half a bag apiece.  But I filled three and…well, I might still be there if JoAnne hadn’t warned me that I didn’t have that much money. 

I’m always encouraging couples and families to find activities to do together besides watching movies or TV; activities that prompt conversations and laughter, that create memories to cherish and talk about later.   Such times help to bond us together in loving families.   Apple picking and solving corn mazes together are two are great examples I can personally recommend.

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News Commentary

Carl Paladino may be mad but he’s not crazy!

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/tomtoles/2010/10/carl_paladino_unhinged.html

http://blog.syracuse.com/opinion/2010/10/paladino_vs_brainwashing.html

Commentators, especially liberal ones, have had a ball with Carl Paladino’s recent comments.  I quote one version of the supposedly offending lines. “Appearing before a group of Orthodox rabbis in Brooklyn on Sunday, Paladino declared that he didn’t want children “brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option — it isn’t.” Then, in trying on the “Today” show on Monday to make things better, he made them worse. He spoke of how “disgusting” he had found a gay pride march he had seen, in which marchers “wear these little Speedos, and they grind against each other.”” (From  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/13/AR2010101305533.html ) 

My contention is that Carl Paladino is not bigoted as the cartoonist suggests, but rather represents accurately two contentions of the majority of Americans, both of which are completely lost on the modern-day media and, of course, on the gay-rights lobby as well.

The first constitutional contention he represents accurately is that it is the right of people of faith, whether evangelical Christian, Muslim, Catholic, Jewish, Amish, Orthodox or Mormon who believe that homosexual behavior is wrong, to teach their children the same and not to have their children taught otherwise by whomever.  This is fundamental to the free exercise of religion.  Schools exist primarily to work for parents, and only secondarily to serve the interests of the state.  Carl understands this right. 

Second, Carl’s comments about Speedos and grinding in a gay rights parade describe an immodest display.  Such behavior would be immodest if it were by a woman and a man too.  It would also be inappropriate for children then as well.   Good parents still teach children modesty.   But contemporary culture considers the concept of modesty archaic.   Media moguls argue that freedom of expression rules.   Consider the argument currently raging concerning the GQ pics by Glee stars (http://blog.syracuse.com/entertainment/2010/10/steamy_glee_gq_pics_have_many.html).  How dare parents bring up the idea that stars might want to be a good example of something old-fashioned like modesty because their show caters to preteens.  And the stars themselves are clueless.  As far as Hollywood and the fashion industry are concerned, about the only ones who cover up are the Amish, Muslims and very old women.   Carl is right that children should not be taught that immodest displays are proper, whichever sex they involve.  They indeed, don’t need to see them.

Carl’s candidacy may have issues, but the way he thinks about gays grinding in Speedos and politically correct police pushing gay rights on other peoples’ kids is not one of them.  His mistake was in apologizing instead of explaining.  Quite a few of us are just a little mad that simply thinking thoughts like I am writing will get us labeled as bigots.   But having traditional morality is not the same as being a bigot, despite such verbal bullying!

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Americana Journal

Snoqualmie Falls and A Railroad Museum

This railroad museum we didn’t just run into, but found on the maps and in the guidebook.   Near the end of our recent summer vacation, we decided to stop on our way back toward Seattle to see Snoqualmie Falls in WA (http://snoqualmiefalls.com/).   It is an impressive cataract, higher than Niagara.  The viewpoint park was under reconstruction so we could not quite see it to best advantage.  In addition, the water was lower in August, so it did not show the power it would have in the spring.   But it still was very impressive.

On our way out to the falls, there were two tracks of old railroad equipment collected by the museum there, including numerous engines.  So JoAnne hung out at the falls park while I returned to the train museum.  A few pieces had been restored.  Many others were awaiting attention.  One of the most unique engines, in my view, was parked in the back where it could not be seen very well.  It was a large tank engine.   One usually thinks of tank engines as being smaller.   However, the curator at the museum answered that in the West larger tank engines were not that uncommon. Near the museum grounds was an example of the logs that where originally cut there. As you can see from the picture, it was huge.   You would think it was a redwood but it was not, it was just a big spruce. 

The depot itself was impressive and very well preserved.  Behind it was an old building, originally a lodge building, currently holding a restaurant/bar.  It had been preserved too and was fascinating inside.  I had a glass of Snoqualmie Root Beer on-tap there.   There was a mount of a mountain lion in the corner and a chromed wood stove. The old bar still had water running in the trough spittoon at its base.    I could only imagine how gross it must have been when that was actually in use. 

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Journal Joy Notes

Why a Christian College like Houghton

I usually enjoy my trip to Houghton for the fall Trustee meeting, but this time, something really exhilarating happened.  I was privileged to be invited late one evening to give a devotional message for the guys of 2nd West.   Jed Boswell, a young man from Community Wesleyan, who lives on that dorm floor, extended the invitation.    With joy, I learned that such meetings are a regularly scheduled event.  Sometimes they were used for Bible study; sometimes to hash out ideas.   They are well organized and include worship time and praying for each other.  I shared briefly on the phrase Paul uses “until Christ is formed in you” (Gal. 4:19) and focused on the Greek verb which comes directly into English as the verb ‘to morph.’    We discussed together how Jesus is changing us, why it is a more difficult process than expected and how we can cooperate with what God is doing.   The evening ended with reciting the 2nd West creed pledging to represent Christ well and singing the Doxology– typical Houghton tradition, deftly mixing traditional and contemporary in the informal liturgy of the evening.   I encouraged the young men that what they were doing was a positive example of the words, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17 NIV).

I could not help but reflect on how different this was from what went on in hall corridors of the secular college I attended as an undergrad.   For one thing, most of those who lived on my corridor sophomore year, I didn’t even know.    My roommate smoked (strictly tobacco), another guy on the corridor had his girlfriend as his roommate.  I felt isolated socially.  That was a contrast from the year before but my previous roommate had flunked out and I nearly had.  Neither of us had disciplined our time well—too many distractions.   Thankfully, in my second year, some graduate students founded an Intervarsity Christian Fellowship on our campus and I started attending.  It gave me the gift of positive spiritual encouragement that these guys in 2nd West are giving to one another regularly.   Because of their growing relationships, they will form lifelong friendships with their dorm friends. 

This evening experience reminded me why I make no apologies for encouraging parents strongly to send their teenagers to Christian colleges.  Not everything is perfect there, for sure.   But there are so many possibilities for spiritual encouragement and discipleship enrichment and growth that either do not exist or are not as accessible on a secular campus.  Instead, on a campus such as I attended, the student encounters both direct and subtle pressures of various kinds to fall away from the faith.   Before our daughter was very far in high school we told her we wanted her to choose a Christian college.  She was completely free to choose which one, but since we were paying so much, we wanted to invest our money in something we could believe would be truly good for her.    We have always been glad we took that position.    It was an unexpected blessing when she chose her Mom’s Alma Mater – Houghton College.   

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Americana Journal

Willard Clock Museum

Just one corner of one room

 

Friday, October 8, JoAnne and I visited Willard Clock Museum (http://www.willardhouse.org/) near North Grafton, Massachusetts.   The museum is in the original family homestead, a pioneer-era, hand-hewn beam framed complex of buildings.   The buildings themselves helped one to step back in time and get the feel for the era.  What a tremendous display of fine early American craftsmanship, industry and inventiveness awaited inside the decidedly unpretentious exterior.    I recommend it.   What a great stop for investigating the early milieu of greater Boston.   

beautifully preserved colonial room

Four Willard brothers and their immediate descendants were the clockmakers.  Benjamin the eldest built tall clocks exclusively, some still working today, second hands included.  He used brass etched faces that he hired an engraver to do for him.  I admired the woodwork; but the brothers did not do that themselves, usually.  Brother Simon invented banjo clocks.  A copy of the patent is on display showing signatures by then President Thomas Jefferson and secretary of state, James Madison.    Simon made one displayed clock with a silver face, which was formed for him by Paul Revere.    The third brother, Ephriam also has clocks on display.  The last brother, Aaron was the businessman of the family and had a factory in Roxbury.  The business continued three generations until a grandson of one brother moved to California and made a fortune in the gold rush.   

shows the craftsman furniture and clock displays

In the workshop we saw the hand machines used to cut gears.   The newer one was turned by a foot pedal.   All the gears were filed to a point by hand.  We could see why one clock might take six months or more to make.   Also displayed in the workshop was an example of the workings of a large tower clock such as the brothers would have made for church clock towers or government buildings.    

JoAnne and I commented that so few things are  even attempted in our day that take a long time to make.  We do not have the time or patience for it.   It is one of the weaknesses of our present cultural mindset .    But I also could not help but reflect upon the legacy of their craftmanship.   Because of their skill, care and patience, people are still admiring their work and preserving it, centuries later.   I think sometimes the best done work is not rewarded quickly; but is increasingly admired over the long term.

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Americana Journal Who Am I

Alliance Bank Stadium and Community Wesleyan Church

It’s October and the Major League Baseball play-offs are beginning already.   It reminds me that I was happy to attend the last home game for the Chiefs this summer.   By now, I’ve forgotten the score,  but  I remember the atmosphere and the good feeling of being at the ball park.  I think about it as I watch the Yankees beat the Twins on TV.  As good as TV coverage is, it’s just not the same as being there.  When you are in the stadium, you feel part of the action and part of the team’s extended family—its fans.   When you like baseball, there’s just something about being at the park watching.   The field was immaculately groomed.  I love the new real grass field.  The food was great–white hots are the best deal and they were super.  I bought a new cap to advertise that I’m a fan.   And it turned out to be fireworks night too, which I didn’t know when I went.  (I looked the game on the website.  The Chiefs beat the Redwings 7-3 on 9-2-10)   It’s always nice if the team wins.  But you want to be there anyway whether they do nor not.    I took a few snapshots that turned out okay considering the level of camera I use.

I started thinking – dangerous, I know.    I hope people who identify themselves as Christians feel like they want to be at church too—like they want to be in on the action; like they are part of an extended family, because they are.   They are on Christ’s team.  Whether it’s a big Sunday in the church schedule or an ordinary one, whether the pastor hits a home run with his sermon or strikes out, I hope they are just glad to be in God’s house; sensing His presence, offering their own praises, saying their own prayers encouraging others, and generally adding to the excitement of the moment by being there.    It’s what fans do.   And some morning – just anytime –there might turn out to be fireworks of a different kind – a time when God makes his presence known in a special way to you or to the congregation.   You’ll forget most everything else about that service, but not your own encounter with God.    And you will want more of those touches.

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Journal

Spam counterattack working so far

Good news for true readers of my blog. Since I added the math quiz plug-in, spam has dropped from nearly 200/day and growing to zero/day. I am very happy about that. I believe it will add to the overall quality of the blog.

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News Commentary

Syracuse Life Chain a United Witness

http://topics.syracuse.com/tag/Life%20Chain/index.html

My wife, JoAnne, and I along with another couple from Community Wesleyan, George and Jenny Raterman joined in the Syracuse Life Chain Sunday afternoon.   It is an annual public expression of our stand for the sanctity of life.   I have not attended for a few years, but this year, I was inspired by my participation in Pray & Act to take part again.   As I stood by the road, a lady walked by with a beautiful sign picturing a very young baby in the womb and a Bible verse neatly printed.  The verse reminded me of my favorite pro-life verses,    “You formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb.   I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful.  My soul knows that very well” (Ps 139:13-14 WEB).  Certainly God is actively creating in the life of every individual from conception.

Visible Unity –Cool!

Life Chain is especially notable as a united witness to the Biblical value of respect for the sanctity of human life.   The unity is demonstrated visibly in the unity of signs carried.   Most of the participants hold the same pre-made signs that say either, “Abortion kills children,” or “Adoption, not abortion.”     The current venue is a manifest symbol of unity too.  Life chain happens on Route 11 where North Syracuse Baptist and St Rose de Lima Roman Catholic churches are across from each other.   Marchers can pick up signs at either location and they met together afterwards at the Catholic church to hear political speakers who are pro-life.

Four major streams of Christendom united in this witness!

I remarked to the lady across the street in front of the St Rose de Lima Church holding the same sign I was how neat it was that the Catholic and Baptist churches cooperated in this event.   And the unity that was there was much wider even than that.   I represented the Wesleyan/Arminian strain of Protestantism while the Baptists represented the more Calvinist strain.  So each side from one of the bigger theological partitions in Protestantism was represented.     A few moments later, I walked up the street and spoke to Father McCaffery of the Greek Orthodox Church (Franklin Park) who stopped by to stand in solidarity with this witness to pro-life.    He represented another great wing of the Christian church, the Eastern Church.   As I reflected on this gathering, I could not remember being a part of another event like it in my life where these four great strands of Christ’s church were visibly praying and working together for one immediate purpose.  Certainly, as Jesus promised, hell cannot stand against such a united front.

I pray that Roe vs. Wade is soon over-turned or rendered irrelevant by a ruling that life begins at conception.   Our country must stand for the sanctity of life as the Bible does and the Declaration of Independence also does.   Eliminating children because they come at an inconvenient time is an affront to their Creator.   It is also a major cause of the economic crisis in the Northeast.  There would be millions more people needing goods and services if it were not for the crimes of the abortion industry.    Law should only be mute on this issue in cases where the life of the mother is in danger.   And I understand that cases presenting such a tragic choice are so rare that some obstetricians have testified to never having seen one in their practice.

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Journal

Spam attacks countered

The game of blogging has become more complicated for me recently as I have been attacked by a new brand of spammer.   The shear numbers are overwhelming, adding up to about 200 per day now and growing steadily.   I think I must have triggered some machine lists abroad.    So I am adding a short math quiz feature to the comments section.  The purpose is simply to check that the responder is a human being, not a machine.  Thanks for your understanding.