Back to school

I'm excited. Tonight I head back to the classroom.

I've reduced my course load from the usual (2 courses per semester) to one. I lightened my teaching load so I could take on the interim lead role at HMC. I've had a lot of fun this summer but I'm eager to get back to having my mind stretched by some great students.

If only it didn't take me an hour and a half to get to school. At least I don't have to ride in a big yellow school bus.

Time on the bench

When I was young I loved play hockey. I wanted to stay on the ice forever, hoping that the puck would find my stick so I could bury it deep in the other team's net. I dreamed about those moments.

But skating and stick handling was only half the game. The other half was spent on the bench, re hydrating and cheering on my teammates. Here's the crazy thing: I never dreamed about sitting on the bench.

Then one day I became a pastor. I dreamed of expounding challenging texts in the pulpit and helping people follow Jesus. I never thought about the other side of effective ministry--time on the bench--the care of my own soul.

In the midst of the September rush, here's what I've realized: there is a direct correlation between disengagement (time on the bench) and quality engagement. When life and ministry demand greater engagement, it's time to get off the ice and spend some time on the bench. I've found that my productivity, creativity and insight is exponentially higher when I'm well rested.

The hard part is giving myself permission to disengage. Even when I think I'm letting others down by being temporarily unavailable, I'm likely not. My contribution isn't as important as others think it is. And if it is important, I'll be better equipped to tackle it once I'm back on the ice.

Besides, I'm no help to anyone when I feel like this.

Practice Resurrection

I turned the final page of my fourth Peterson book yesterday.

Practice Resurrection has been my favorite of the 5 volume series. It's a commentary on the book of Ephesians but it's really a wake up call for the 21st century North American church. I'm toying with the idea of making it required reading for every Ministry Council member in the year to come.

There's one part where Peterson unpacks a Martin Buber concept that sees people in three hyphenated relationships--I-It (not good), Us-Them (also not good), and I-You (good)

Here's a bit of what Peterson says about the "I-It" relationship:

"I-It turns persons into things so that I can control or use or dismiss or ignore them. It is the basic word that is particularly attractive in buying and selling, but it infiltrates every sector of life. When it infiltrates our congregation, the men and women with whom we worship and work become objectified... they gradually become functionalized. Under the pressure of "working for Jesus" or "carrying out the church's mission," we begin to treat our family members and fellow workers more like parts of a machine than parts of a body. We develop vocabulary that treats men and women and children more like problems to be fixed or as resources to be used than as participants in a holy mystery.... Love, the commanded relation, gives way to considerations of efficiency interpreted by abstractions--plans and programs, goals and visions, evangelism statistics and mission strategies."

If you can't envision what an "I-It" church looks like, my friend Scott sent me a link to a video that might be helpful.



This is not what Jesus had in mind when He breathed life into His church.

Retreat Week

It's retreat week around HMC.

Today was our all-day staff retreat. We spent the morning with all staff, including our administrators and custodian. We played a team-building game that involved piling everyone onto a ridiculously small tarp--then we tried folding it. Fun.

We talked about transition. We told a few lies (ever played 2 truths & a lie?). We talked about the fall pulpit series (families, get ready to sign up for the Feud!). We talked about our core values. And we ate.

In the afternoon our ministry staff stuck around to do the dishes and get honest with each other. We talked about the vision and whether we're all pulling in the same direction. And we drank a lot of coffee.

1 retreat down. 1 to go.

This weekend is our Ministry Council retreat. Friday night our ministry staff will share our thoughts on our organizational structure and where we're headed. On Saturday, our leadership council will make decisions that may affect the course of ministry for years to come.

My shoulders and neck feel a bit tense. I think my knees will be aching soon.

Moved by words on a page

We picked our little girl up from camp tonight. The bright pink cast made her easy to spot in the midst of so many children.

On the ride home she told us about a cool swamp walk that smelled worst than toilet water. She also shared stories of talent night and a counselor that made rules like "no farting on the tarp".

She even told of the morning she was moved to tears reading one of the letters Erika and I had pre-written and stuffed in her suitcase. When we asked who wrote the letter, mom or dad, we found out it was me.

If only a editor could be similarly moved by my submissions for publication.

Bookkeeper Deadline

Today was my first day back in the office after my week of vacation.

It was good to reconnect with the staff and get caught up on the latest HMC news.

Here's a newsworthy item:

Tomorrow is the application deadline for a part-time bookkeeper  (10hrs/week).

So Mr. or Ms. bookkeeper.  If you're out there, stop procrastinating.  Now's the time to apply.

Keeping my head above the water

Blogger, I've missed you. It's been way too long.

As you can probably tell, I don't have as much time to write these days. It comes with saying good-bye to another pastor. Since coming to HMC I've waved farewell to five ministry staff in less than four years (Milly, Claran, Olu, Rick, and Peter). The latest, Peter, our 20 year veteran pastor was a rock of stability. I miss him but I'm glad he has moved on. I wanted to keep him around, but he had other plans. His absence has allowed our staff team to stretch into uncomfortable-land. That's the magical place where we all receive more to do--we'll call them new opportunities--to sink or swim as pastors.

As far as I can tell we've all got our heads above water (even though my blogging silence might indicate otherwise). I believe our staff team is headed in the right direction and I'm encouraged to see so many HMC people jumping in after us.

The real test will be how well we elder one another once we face the crocodiles ahead.