Bragging...about what God has done

 * The following is an article written for our local Mail-Journal newspaper this week as part of the "Church" section of which I am a regular contributor.

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Boasting and bragging are not typically traits Christians seek to be known for. And having lived my entire life in Indiana and Ohio, I certainly know that boasting is not something our Midwestern culture appreciates.

Yet I would like to take this opportunity to do a little bragging, bragging in what God has done. A few months ago, our church secretary mentioned an idea regarding honoring all the people who volunteer and serve in our church. It seemed like a worthwhile concept and so we started planning a dinner celebration. In the course of our preparation, we went through our regular attenders and members at Milford First Brethren. Low and behold, after going through the list, we discovered that EVERYONE who regularly attended and/or was a member served in some capacity with our church’s ministries.

That was both surprising and not surprising. We are not a large church by any means, so to an extent, we need everyone to pitch in at times. But it is an incredible blessing that both the old and young have found ways to serve.

As the pastor, I cannot take credit for this even if I wanted to. Instead I find myself echoing the apostle Paul’s words in a couple of his New Testament writings. In 2 Corinthians 10:17, he quotes Jeremiah when he says, “But ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’”. And in Romans 15:17, he says, “Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God.” I find myself in full agreement with his perspective. I can’t brag about my own achievements or even about my people’s service per se. I can brag about the work God has done in their hearts and lives to lead them to this kind of service as a community of believers to the community around them.

Our celebration was a delightful evening. We catered some BBQ and had some terrific desserts. My good friend, Pastor Tim Sprankle from Leesburg shared a word of encouragement and we were also treated to a country music concert by Jim Olson, brother of one of our deacons who has recorded several albums as a solo artist.

I will remember that evening for a long time, not just for the event itself, but for what it represents – God working among his people to invest in His Kingdom in simple, tangible ways.

Happy Anniversary to me!

Twelve years ago, January 1, 2013, I officially started as pastor at Milford First Brethren Church. 

If my memory serves me correctly, I did go into the office that New Year's Day. A few days later, I started this blog. As you can see from that link, I was much more active back then with my blog posts.

Many things have changed with me, my family, and our church for sure. Through it all, God has been faithful and good. We have seen him at work in some special ways here in Milford. 

Today, I thought I'd share some reflections that have been sitting in the back of my mind for quite awhile but have only probably recently thought about connecting all the dots.

And they truly are reflections - looking back at God's hand in guiding and preparing me for these last 12 years. See, if you've ever read this blog before, you know the influence Christian music has had on my life. It's a favorite subject of mine - and while I am no longer someone who is on top of every new act or group, it is still an interest of mine.

And as I've reflected on God's guidance on my life to this point, I've realized that there were some particular songs that prepared me, almost subconsciously, for serving here in Milford. I was thinking about this awhile ago and realized there were 3-4 songs (plus one honorable mention) that were not big hits, but caught my attention in my college and seminary years where I was studying for pastoral ministry. Several months ago I wrote out my list and subsequently lost it but I rewrote it and will share it below. I feel compelled to say that I think my original list included another song that I just can recall.

But here are some Christian pop/rock songs that honor small-town ministry and being faithful in relative obscurity. These have always encouraged me lest I get envious or coveting greener pastures.

France Trip Report

We're back!

Wednesday evening I finally returned home after our 10 day Lancer basketball cross-cultural missions trip. 

It was the fastest long trip I can remember being on. Each day felt long - filled with travel, activities, and new things that stretched our comfort zones. But it seems a little surreal to be back already. Just a few days ago I was standing at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.

I'll be adding a bunch more photos at the end but I thought I'd share the "mantras" of our trip. These were phrases that got repeated ad nauseum that will stick in our heads for awhile I'm sure. Each of these originated by our host missionary, Dave Hobert, but added to the fun and craziness of our travels.

"We'll figure it out"

When you're on a cross-cultural trip, you have to adapt and be ready for whatever comes up. We certainly had our share of opportunities to be flexible. Time-consciousness is different in France for instance.  In the end though, even the unexpected hiccups turned out well and things did work out. For instance, we had got tickets to a lower-level pro soccer match in the Burgundy area. Half of us ended up at a high school rugby match at first because of an error in directions. But we got to the right field and ended up in the owner's box facility and given a bunch of free food. They even took us out on the field at halftime.

"We gotta go!"

French culture isn't as time-conscious as we are, but that doesn't mean being on time doesn't matter. One factor that made some parts of the trip a little more hectic was the fact that we didn't stay in the same hotel for more than one night. Thus we were going here and there every night after traveling here and there for our clinics, games, or sight-seeing events. We were split up between 4 vehicles too and while the fans and crowds would often like to get autographs and talk after our games but in many circumstances, there was a cut off. And so, "we gotta go" became a rallying cry...only to see our host or some of the players caught in the 'people traffic' and choosing the relational connection over time concerns.

"We gotta stay together"

As described above, travel was always a challenge. And Hobie (Dave Hobert) would often stress the need to stick together on the roads. It didn't always work out that way. Between his driving and some of our others' inexperience driving stick-shift vans - 'we gotta stay together' became a satirical pun fairly quickly. No one got lost though and we made our appointments fairly easily. But there were some interesting moments for sure. 

There were a ton of other more personal stories and observations I'm taking away. And I may share them in the future. 

This team is a special group of guys though. They are special on the court, 31-4 last year/#2 in NAIA. And they have a unique chemistry off the court too. All glory to God for what he did in our hearts and how he used us to plant seeds for Christ.

What's Ahead (?)

Tonight is the last night of 2022. 

College Football bowls and playoff games are being played. Parties are being held. Winter breaks are being enjoyed (except for those who flew with Southwest). 

The rest of my family is currently asleep, though my wife will probably want to wake up to see the NYE ball drop. 

Like many often do at this time of year, I've been reminiscing about the past. Not just this year though, the last 10. January 1 marks 10 years at Milford. It has been a rewarding and eventful journey. It felt like the first five years went long, while the last five went fast. Some of that is due to COVID interrupting a good portion of a year plus. Some of it was my own learning curve in ministry those first few years. 

The first seven plus years saw a lot of rewarding things happen. Yet it has also felt like the last 3-4 years have had a lot of difficulties - illnesses, deaths, COVID complications, a congregation changing and aging. 

Tomorrow is Sunday and I will be preaching my last sermon for a bit. It's nothing serious but I am taking sabbatical from my pastorate. Only for a month - a longer one likely awaits in 2024 and I feel more worn down than burned out. But it's a break I can tell my soul needs. It's needed to reconnect with God, stay connected with my family, and find refreshment without the week-to-week grind that being a pastor can often entail. 

I will be taking a break from social media and blogging. But I look forward to returning with some fresh perspective and fresh energy to continue to serve my Lord with all I have.

Thursday Thoughts

We are in the throes of the Christmas season it would seem. 

With all of the extra programs and specials and events that churches tend to have around Advent, it can be a tiresome stretch for pastors. My church doesn't have too many extra things going on typically. But even just adding in family plans can pile stress on top of stress.

Pretty much every year there comes a point where I feel myself being drained by it all. Certain Christmas things can be reenergizing though. Near the top of the list is the music. But not all Christmas music. I find a few specific selections tend to refuel my tank. I'll probably feature several over the next week and a half, but here's one I've always enjoyed, Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant. It's a beautiful, simple song entreating the Lord for his grace and presence.

Some things we've learned with Baby #2

So "EJ" our second son was born back on New Year's Eve 2019. For our first, Tate, I posted a Music Monday for him and later shared about the drama of his birth. It was my most read post ever.

Oldest kids notoriously get more attention, pictures, and celebration than the siblings that come later. I've wondered in my own mind if having blog posts about Tate but not EJ is an example of that. Thinking it through however, I think it is a little simpler. While Tate had some unusual aspects to his early life, EJ has been pretty normal by comparison. And normal hasn't felt "blog-worthy". 

EJ has been a joy and welcome addition to our family. He certainly adds to the dynamic of our family. Going from a family of three to a family of four has not been a little thing though. So as I've considered it, I've come up with a few blog-worthy things I appreciate because God gave us little guy #2.

1. I appreciate the busyness. "Appreciate" is a relative term here. Going from 1 to 2 kids doubles the work. We thought we had our hands full with Tate. Adding EJ to the mix has certainly stretched us. But it is rewarding work and a beautiful responsibility. We don't take our kids for granted. In the day-to-day grind of our parental routine, we try to survive the busyness. Then every so often, moments come along that make you appreciate the craziness.
   
   
2. 
   I appreciate the differences. Tate's story had drama.  And as he grew, he ended up a little behind developmentally when it came to crawling, his core, and walking. We got him on the right track thanks to a local facility. EJ had a pretty simple birth. He seems to be right on track with his physical development, figuring out crawling and using it to his advantage. Also along these lines - Tate was born pretty bald, with only peach fuzz on his dome. EJ has had a full head of hair at birth and will no doubt need a haircut way earlier than his brother.
   
   
   
3.  I appreciate the bonds of family. Before, it was two parents caring for, working with, and loving on one child. Now, there is more of a peer-to-peer element with these brother siblings. Even at this early stage, it has been cool watching them as they interact as brothers.

I should add that my wife has been a rock-star as we've had to figure out this new world of two kids. There's been plenty of stress, especially with this pandemic. She's worked hard to cover so much and God has given us enough grace to manage. And that's all we've really needed.

Gen Con reflections and quotes

We just returned from our Brethren Church National Conference which was held at the beautiful and spacious Ridgecrest Conference Center outside of Ashville, North Carolina. 

It was a busy week so we took our time coming back this weekend and made it a mini-vacation which was a good decision. Having some time to reflect on the conversations, meetings, and sessions I thought I'd share some of the key quotes I am taking away from this year's gathering. 

It turns out all of these are from our main speaker, Karl Vaters, who is an author, pastor, and expert on small churches. He proved to be a perfect fit for who we are and where we are at as a denomination. 

A little background, The Brethren Church traces its roots back to 1700's Germany when a movement was birthed out Anabaptism and Radical Pietism. Fleeing hardship and persecution, these original Brethren moved to the American colonies and continued many aspects of their spiritual and social lifestyle including being agrarian (farming) people and remaining German-speaking for many years. These preferences led them to starting churches in rural areas to begin with. And while various groups have splintered off and no longer maintain this path, it still provided the foundation for where we began and where our churches were planted. Because our specific denomination did not dramatically change course we remain in mostly rural areas with mostly smaller churches (50-150).

And here is where the Conference's themes and Vater's expertise comes in to play:

"Small is not a problem, virtue, or an excuse."

IKEA and Starbucks are both wildly successful businesses with vastly different business models (h/t to Vaters for this genius analogy). We don't have to compare ourselves with bigger ministries and we don't have to arrogantly believe we're better because we "provide a better personal touch."

"A healthy church will not necessarily experience numerical growth."

Numbers may accompany healthy ministry, but not always. We need to divorce ourselves from the assumption that numbers equal health and health equals numbers. More quotes to come, after the break...

Music Mondays

As this blog indicates, I serve as a pastor in Milford, Indiana. Wikipedia will tell you that Milford is a town of about 1,500 people and not much else. Our local news will tell you that, like so many other communities in our area, it is dealing with a significant meth problem. 

Of course, Wikipedia and arrest reports don't tell the whole story. There are good jobs, pleasant people, and - for me and my church - great ministry opportunities. 

I appreciate the Lord leading us here. Even though I grew up close to it, I didn't give it much thought, other than it being a place on the way north to bigger and better things.

I wonder though if the seeds weren't planted in my late high school/early college years for me to end up here. And it all began with a band called Bleach. 

Bleach was one of those niche Christian bands whose fans were loyal and adamant that they were underrated. Their second album Static had some fun hits but it was their overlooked third track that stuck with me.

"Rundown Town" tells the story of a aging minister who never finds any limelight but leaves a legacy of faithfulness to where God called him. Something in my soul was immediately drawn to this idea from the first time I heard it. 

Since I was a kid, I always had this belief that I was destined for greatness. As I grew older and my athletic abilities fell short of "pro-level", I started coming around to the idea that how I defined "greatness" could use re-evaluation. I realized that God's definition was way different than mine or the world's. 

So when a pastoral opening at a small-ish, but healthy church came across my path. I saw the opportunities as much as anything else. And it hasn't been disappointing. Sure we want to see our church's influence grow and I'd like to make an impact on many lives. But those are the right goals, those are fringe benefits to properly serving the Kingdom. Fruit/results/growth - those are all by products of faithfulness, plus they are out of my control and in God's hands anyway. 

And that's how I've discovered fulfillment in the midst of a 'rundown town'.

Non-Music Monday

I realized something today. Unlike 95% of most people, I actually like Mondays.

You might think, "of course you do, you're a pastor and Monday is your day off." That would be wrong. I take Tuesdays off.

Mondays have become essentially 'miscellaneous days' for me. While each week varies, Mondays are less about study and Sunday-prep and more about people and pet-projects. I often use Monday to visit people, whether it be in nursing homes, the jail, the hospital or their homes. And if some of those places seem unusual - ask your pastor, he probably frequents those places too. 

Sometimes it is a duty and something I know I need to do. 
Other times, it's an absolute privilege and blessing. This morning for instance, I had the opportunity to meet with someone going in for surgery. In the middle of it, I felt what can only be described as 'a holy moment' as I met with them and their family and prayed. It wasn't me, but God decided to use this unworthy vessel to show up.

Another one of the highlights of this Monday was preparing the final exam for the class I've been teaching at my alma mater. The fact that my schedule allows me the chance to teach freshman college students how to read and study the Bible is pretty cool. And I find Mondays to be an optimal day to get ready for Wednesday. Pet projects like this help me be refreshed and ready for the weekly demand to proclaim "Thus says the Lord" on Sunday morning.

I don't write this to pat myself on the back - as I said, many other pastors are doing the same thing. Frankly, there are people in my church who do this kind of thing and do it better than me.

No, I write this to give those of you non-pastors a peek behind the curtain as to what goes on in full-time ministry. Also, I share it to prove the point we ministers work more than 1 day a week :). So while you may be battling 'a case of the Mondays', try to find something redeemable about your day as well as your weekly grind.

Music, ehh make that Ministry Monday

Why I don't like ties!

Pastors these days have a variety of fashion choices when they prepare to preach. Some stick with the traditional sport coat, tie, and dress pants. Others ditch the coat, but wear the tie. While still others go way to the opposite extreme and dress super casual with a nice t-shirt, with shorts or jeans. Whereas a previous generation of pastors had to wear a super formal outfit, today it's basically whatever you feel like. 

For me, I typically wear a dress shirt and dress pants on Sundays. Our church is not a super-formal dressing bunch and I've yet to hear a complaint about my attire. That said, about once a month I'll wear a tie and maybe even one of my two sport coats. Yesterday was one of those days. I wore khaki dress pants with light green shirt and matching tie. 

I realized early on in my sermon that the tie was rubbing up against my throat causing me some irritation that caused some mucus in my throat to trigger some coughing and nasal issues. I really haven't been able to shake what I believe to be allergy-related flem ever since my last job when I work in the basement of a hundred year old building. 
It's not uncommon for me to have to pause and clear my throat at some point during my message. But yesterday as I was desperately trying to avoid coughing through important points about 'working out our salvation', it hit me that the tie definitely makes it worse.

I like to dress up, I really do. Every once in a while it's nice to look my best. But it's at the point where I am going to be ditching the tie because it aggravates my throat stuff.  Eventually I just need to get my allergies identified and addressed - Claritin ain't fixing it - but for now it's both simpler and less expensive to reduce my wardrobe by one item.

And so ends the story of why I dislike ties. Sorry for no 'Music Monday', this ministry issue amused me enough to write it in lieu of a music post.