It ain't easy being "green"

I have spent a significant amount of time lately in prayer asking God where He is calling St. John’s to venture in 2008. A recurring theme of these prayers center on God’s call for us to be more environmentally friendly. I am not sure the correlation between these prayers and our upcoming viewing/discussion of An Inconvenient Truth, but I am sure it has something to do with it. I find myself captivated by the notion of caring for our environment in a healthier way. In today’s language we refer to the concept as being "green". As I pray, asking God what it means for St. John’s to be more “green”, a few things come to mind:
-I am going to need some help. I know just enough about being “green” to get myself in trouble. I don’t even know how to put the recycle bin out in a way that the truck will pick our stuff up. At St. John’s, we need some folks who can put their heads together and get us on the right track.
-I know this is a lesson I need to teach/model to/for my daughter. Her generation is going to need to be more “green” than any other since the Industrial Revolution.
-All small things CAN and DO make a difference.
-I am going to jump start this movement by creating a bottle/can Sunday the last Sunday of each month. It will be an opportunity for individuals who desire to contribute to our "green" campaign, clean out their garages, and help fund the missional efforts of St. John’s all at the same time.

I hope to expand on these thoughts in the coming weeks and months. Will it be easy being "green"? I don't know. What I do know is-

God will provide direction.

"Faith in Film" series

I am really excited.
On October 7th we begin “Faith in Film” at St. John's starting at 6 pm. We are showing An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore’s movie about global warming. No matter where you fall on the issue I encourage you to join the dialogue. The showing of the movie will be followed by a discussion and we will finish up by 9 pm. I am really hoping we have people with different view points as it always makes for a better discussion. Good, healthy dialogue about this world God has given us management over is part of what we are called to engage in as God’s children. We will start and end each discussion with the acknowledgment that we are first and foremost God’s children. Differences in opinion will not change that understanding and it will serve as the background for our dialogue. Before the discussion begins we will make a covenant with each other to respect each others opinions and learn from each other. I hope to see many of you there.
I am really excited.

Ready to clean house?

I want to write to you today about clutter. Right, the stuff that is all around your house, car, office and life. The stuff that you swear you are going to deal with if you only had the time. Yes, you got it, the stuff that drives you crazy and makes you unable to relax even in your own house. You know, clutter.

One of the books I am currently reading is John Ortberg’s latest, When The Game Is Over It All Goes Back In The Box. Great book so far. Ortberg is one of my favorite authors because he explains things in a way I understand and challenges me at the same time. I just read his chapter about clutter. About the stuff we save and hold onto, the stuff we cannot do without. Ortberg talks about it being the stuff that gets in the way. He explains, “There are now more than 30,000 self-storage facilities in the country offering over a billion square feet for people to store their stuff. In the 1960’s, this industry did not exist. We now spend $12 billion a year just to pay someone to store our extra stuff! It’s larger than the music industry.” (Orberg 83) He further goes on to talk about how it is only stuff, it is not eternal, and that if we spent as much time, finances and energy investing in things that are eternal by nurturing our Spiritual lives and living the life of a disciple who knows what sort of impact we could make in the world God has entrusted us with managing. What kind of change agents for God could we be if we began with a 12 billion dollar budget each year?

But first, you have to get rid of your clutter. Get rid of all that stuff that is getting in the way. The stuff that is preventing you from doing the things you are called to do. If you took an inventory of your clutter today, what would you find? Is the clutter in your life making you feel better? Is it nourishing your soul? What if you spent your time that you manage (or mismanage) your clutter and dedicated it to God? It is time to clean house and channel all that clutter energy toward God. Care to join me?

Let go and let God!

Over the past few weeks I have been involved in a couple of discussions about forgiveness. The topic has been on my mind so much that I even preached about the forgiveness offered in Philemon a few weeks ago. It seem as though forgiveness is tough for most people. Actually, the forgiveness part is easy for many as long as they can add, "but I won't forget". Yet this is counter to what God calls us to, to be people who forgive and re-establish relationships with those we forgive and start with a clean slate, no reminders of how we will "not forget". I am not saying that we should become doormats or anything, that we should let ourselves be abused by another, I am simply suggesting that when we forgive, forget and engage in relationship again we have done our part. If the one we forgive cannot handle that type of forgiveness we have to let go with the knowledge that we did what we are called to do, and then we have to give it up to God. What I am learning through these conversations is the power of being made free when we truly forgive and let go of the baggage that goes along with "but I will not forget". It is almost as if we say, "this issue or hurt will not rule my life". After many of these conversations, I wonder if anyone who ever carried around that saying about someone close to them really ever felt better because of "not forgetting"?

A new way to worship?

Lately I have been thinking about what it would look like to create a worship service that one could participate in without having to read from a book or bulletin, without knowing how to sing or read music . I am thinking of a service where you are free just to worship without worrying what comes next or hoping you do not lose your place. I have decided to challenge myself-and maybe stretch our community in the process-with such a worship during Advent this year. I am thinking we will have mid week Advent services and the worship will all be shaped in this new way. Stay tuned and see how it develops!

Sharing the gifts!

This morning I delivered about 75 of our back to school packets to one of our local elementary schools. After some deliberation we decided to donate some of the packets to benefit students in need at one of our closest elementary schools. It felt good to find homes for the packets that were left after our event on August 25th (remember the rain). I hope and pray that these packets will be supportive to the families that receive them. The real question that I was left with after I dropped them off, feeling good, was one that I often challenge our church with, "why, if it feels so good to do things like this, do I not make more time to do them?".