hank 

Paid Clergy?

Next year when I get done with seminary will it be in the best interest of our church, and for me, for me to get a "real" job. The more and more I think about it I wonder why our church, or for that matter many churches, need a full time paid pastor. I sometimes wonder if our church would grow stronger if I did construction forty hours a week and then pastored on the side as a regular member of the church. Some would say I would then be overwhelmed with the work load, but what if I didn't take it on? What if we let the church be the church? Wouldn't the work load be just the same as any other church member? We need a new model of church. We need to see the Body of Christ fully alive and active.

20/5000 Eyesight

This morning two girls from the college, who are apart of our church, prayer walked part of the neighborhood with me. While we were walking one of the girls said something along the lines of “last week’s service was one of the best I was ever apart of. I felt like that was what was church is supposed to be about.”

I was floored after she said that cause I felt last week’s service was pretty average and my sermon was really weak. So I asked what was so good about it and she said, “God.”

I think I need to start opening my eyes so I can see God in our services. I’m so worried about the sermon, the music, the show, and making sure everybody is Ok that I forget to see God, who is there the whole time. Lord, forgive me.

Tray swap

For all my friends who remember switching trays with Treveca our senior year (and yes I'm still a bit bitter), they pulled it off again last night, but this time with Olivet. Olivet's trays our plain so it's not as cool as it was when we walked into the cafeteria and saw the big TNU across the trays.

It feels kind of good knowing that I was a part in a small way with a prank that was so good that it gets repeated. I'll have to not sound too arrogant when I tell our college kids this at church on Sunday.

Hi

Sorry I haven't really blogged in a while. I got frustrated with it for some reason that I can't put my finger on. A couple things of interest for you...
-Saw Mike Pape last weekend. I couldn't believe it when I saw him. Had a good conversation with him and he seems to be doing pretty well for himself. He got married, has a good job, and is building a new house. So for all my college friends who have been wondering what ever happened to Pape, now you know.
-Mandy and I took Hank to Mohican yesterday. Went on a long walk from the covered bridge to the dam and back again. Hank loved it, he couldn't stay out of the water, but luckily we had blankets to put across the back seat for the ride home. I like walks in the woods.
-I don't like two of my seminary classes this quarter. I'm very frustrated in them, yet a friend reminded me I might need to humble myself a bit so maybe I could learn something. With such a big head it is sometimes hard to learn what you need to learn.
-Less than two months tell Lucy is due to join us on the outside. I'm pretty pumped silly about that.
-We got some crazy college kids who are diving into our church. At least two are moving into the neighborhood for their senior year. A couple are graduating and sticking around with us. Others are prayer walking the neighborhood once a week. I was pretty curious about them at first, but I'm begining to see why God has brought us all together.
-I'm in the midst of a sermon series called what does it mean to be the people of God. So we're saved and happy and go to church once a week, but is that it? Are we any different than the rest of the world? If so, how?
-That's all for now. I love you all.

TV evangelist? Yep, that's me! 

I like taking pictures of myself 

I LOVE MY WIFE 

I love warm spring days, especially when I get to spend them with these people. 

The nursery is almost done, I can't wait for Lucy! 

My beautiful pregnant wife 

Narnia

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe in theaters December 9th, 2005. I can't wait to take Lucy! She'll have all the books read (or at least read to her) by that time.