Archive for 2005
The Switch and The White Witch
Well, I think the switch is going to be on. Right now, I’m going to wait for some Christmas money – then I am going to pony up, buy a domain, get my own site and run WordPress.
I do like Blogsome though…been fun tweaking the blog over there….not quite ready for public yet.
This morning – preached on the White Witch for our Narnia series. We had a guest worship leader. He did a fine job. So don’t take what I’m going to say next wrong…
But I missed Rowland. We spend so much time with each other – it’s like we can read each other’s mind. Plus, we kinda just ‘know’ what kind of mood or pace should be going on.
So, I just needed to say that.
A Blogging Change?
I’m thinking of moving away from Blogger as my main blog tool. I love it, it’s easy, fast, fairly reliable but there are a couple of features that the more I blog, the more I want.
Comment RSS/Subscription
Categories
Search This Blog feature – yes, google has one but it doesn’t work with archived pages. At least I haven’t gotten it to work.
I’m flirting with Blogsome. But the thought of starting a blog over from scratch is just…well, it’s work.
It isn’t safe, but it’s good…
Just got out of a screening of Narnia. WOW. Very well done. I’ll go see it again.
SPOILER ALERT…STOP READING…
Couple of favorite parts of the movie – they completely got the White Witch right.
The Beavers were perfect.
And Aslan’s roar when she questions his honor …. it rattled the theater. AWESOME!!!
There was a 1st grader sitting behind. She completely lost it when Aslan was killed. She just cried and cried and cried.
Great movie!
The 4th Place, Part 2A
I’d like to backtrack and change my mind about something I wrote yesterday.
I said this:
I’d argue it’s still about intimacy with Christ and others that is the bullseye, but the starting point is different.
I’d like to challenge that. Having an “intimate” relationship with Jesus that never penetrates a larger circle – public and social – is monasticism.
There’s nothing wrong with monasticism. I just don’t think it’s complete. It’s not incorrect, it’s incomplete. Not whole.
So I think I’d like to reframe what I said to this:
I’d argue that the bullseye is to have a WHOLE, complete relationship with Jesus that covers all the places.
There…I think that’s better.
The 4th Place, Part 2
So we’ve got these 4 places: public, social, personal, and intimate. The modern mind wants to see these as phases to be worked through. There is some validity/truth to that as long as you are not picky as to which one is the starting point and which direction that process goes.
Here’s what I’m ‘supposing’ (at least in Little Rock.) You’ve got a segment of folks whose entry point to meeting Jesus is going to be the public place. It’s large, they can get lost, they can test and taste with major exposure. It’s also a part of the culture of the South – you go to church.
(Although I’d quickly add that this is changing. In the next 5 to 10 years, Little Rock will be decidedly less churched…that’s another post, another day.)
For this type of folk – their growth challenge will be to move toward community/intimacy.
However, there are people who just hate the public space and will immediately gravitate towards the personal place. They are wired that way, they want that kind of friendship…lots of reasons why. The point is that personal space becomes their entry point.
I’d argue it’s still about intimacy with Christ and others that is the bullseye, but the starting point is different.
At Grace – our public space is good. Sure, we’ve got some places to grow and stretch but overall the public place is a great first taste of God and Grace.
The wheels fall off the wagon for us in the next two places…which I’ll unpack tomorrow.
Email Convo with Harry Anderson
Harry:
Heard a rumor today that Houston Nutt will replace Barnett at Colorado. HUH?
Grant:
Is Colorado that desperate?
What New Youth Pastors Really Need To Know
1. There is no such thing as “cool clipart.” It all looks ridiculous and cheesy. Let’s just call it what it is and go on with life.
2. No. We really don’t NEED one more lock-in, car wash, fundraiser, or t-shirt.
3. Okay, I got carried away with that last one – we do need lots of t-shirts.
4. Dress does matter. Don’t ever show up to a youth event in a suit or business casual for that matter.
5. Students are loud, immature, and random. Don’t confuse that with stupidity.
6. It is completely acceptable to name an event – 5.36, Fastbreak, Amped, Unplugged, My Dear Aunt Sally’s Rose Garden.
7. It is completely uncool and ridiculous to name the entire youth ministry. They are drawn by relationship, not fluff. Plus the guy/girl behind you is going to change it anyway.
8. Your volunteers are your greatest assett and lifelines. They are not obstacles. Trust them implicitly.
9. Get some rubber chickens.
10. Take your calling seriously but not yourself.
11. The stupider the game – the more popular. Conversely, the more complicated the game, the lamer it ends up being.
12. All games are better in the dark.
13. And with loud music.
14. The best conversations happen on the way home and after curfew.
Jeremy’s Plan
Jeremy noted here that he would love to have his picture on my blog. Well, here you go, Jer.
Now to steal a page from marko, put your favorite caption for here in the comments. The winner gets to free lodging and meals if they decide to ever go see Jeremy.
The 4th Place
I had lunch the other day with Jim Wilson, the small group/teaching pastor at Fellowship Bible Church, Conway. In the ongoing attempt to move folks from congregation/large group to small group/community, he’s given up on the guilt trip.
In other words – to say and communicate from up front that you don’t belong if you aren’t in worship and a small group doesn’t really endear or encourage people to get involved. If anything, it insults them and could be a huge discouragement as to where they are on their own spiritual journey.
As Jim was saying this, I was reminded of marko leaving his own church because of a similiar thing – insulting those who are on the journey. Unfortunately, I was also reminded of my own words in the not so distant past.
Jim brought the need for 4 places – just from a sociological point of view.
A public place – celebration/crowd arena.
A social place – a place to hang and get to know
A personal place – a place to let the guard down and be real
An intimate place – a place to be completely undone and vulnerable.
I was already racing ahead in my convo with Jim. If those are the 4 places that people live – as a church (Grace particularly) we are just aiming at 2, hoping that one of them leads to a 3rd.
Furthermore – we don’t see those things as a journey – we see them as slots to fill. I’m not sure that’s healthy either.
Now here are my first thoughts about all of this….
1. I think Life Groups can be a personal place in which our intimate place exists. (You find your lifewalking crew inside your Life Group.)
2. We (Grace) are doing a pretty cruddy job of social places. I do think they are needed – times to hang and laugh and play and eat and celebrate.
3. I think the key is have places for folks to plug in at whatever level they feel comfortable in – but the goal is to move towards an intimate place (transformational living).
Over the next week, i’m going to try to unpack each of these places in our church setting.
The real hard part will come after that – implementing those ideas!!
Kristi, Kristy, Kristie, Kristey
Most people would have considered it an honor to even be mentioned on my blog, let alone a photo. But now we are getting all — catty about it. For the back story….look here.
Other Acceptable Names for Kristi/Kristy/Kristie/Kristey:
Rich’s Rib
The K-Meister
The Smirnoff Killer
The 5k’er. (Could be kilometers…could be kegs…you never know.)
The Alto
Captain Obvious …(Where’s Moe’s? Where’s the start? Where’s BB Kings?)
Make your vote count…
Beale Street and Jesus
BB’s was standing room only Saturday night. So the 6 of us fought our way to the back corner, found a small table and were waiting for another to open up. The table next to ours was occupied by a partially drunk man, his date (I think), and another woman who smoked like a chimney. They were all over 50.
They offered us their table when they were done – they were waiting to check out. In that short 5 minutes we talked about the Rolling Stones, Little Rock, the Fed-Ex Forum, The Pyramid, and London, England.
I liked him. He was friendly, engaging, and fun. I think he liked me too.
And that got me thinking – 8 years ago I would not have liked him. I would have judged him. I would have told you that the biggest problem in his life was alcohol…maybe smoking…maybe listening to the Rolling Stones. Now, only 1 of those 3 really bother me.
(Sorry, just not a big Stones fan. I don’t get ‘em. Plus the fact that one of them is going to die on national television during the Super Bowl Halftime show is really disturbing me.)
In fact, 8 years ago, I wouldn’t have even been in a position to talk to him. Last week I went to the Bridge and met some other guys (and girl) that I like. I would not elevate my life as the model of transformation…far from it. I take to long to allow God to work.
But He is working. I’m getting a taste of what it means to minister out of compassion and calling as opposed to guilt and duty. I’m getting a taste of what it means to taste and see that God is good.
As Jesus has demanded a re-evalution of my previously held values over the last few years, He painfully pointed out a shocking absence from them.
People.
And that 5 minute conversation with a half-drunk man on Beale Street reminded me that God’s not through with anybody…even me.
Spelling Correction
Amy just informed me that Kristy spells here name Kristy, not Christy. Which is a perfectly fine way to spell Christy – with a K.
Personally, I’m favorable to C names…but K is fine.
I also have a history with spelling the right name the wrong way.
The Gospel Story In Warm Clothes
What a great intro to Narnia by Jim Wilson. If you haven’t read the Chronicles, this would be a great time to do it!
You can download the sermon here or subscribe to Grace’s Podcast via iTunes here.
Some random questions you can walk through this week with your lifegroup…
What is your favorite story/movie? Why?
What deeper/higher truth does it ‘cloth’?
What in that story convicts you? Challenges you?
What heroe are you most in love with or wish you could be?
What villians scare you to death?
What parallels do you see with your favorite story to the gospel?
Peg This
You know those little peg games at Cracker Barrel? Well…here is your winner. Unbelievable…first time, Angela drilled it.
Gift Wrapped
Here are the 3 runners…they did so well, they wrapped them in gift wrap after the race.
Okay – not really. It’s some kind of foil that is supposed to keep you warm. Just imagine 6,000 of them, all catching reflections of something. The race ended inside Auto Zone Park, home of the Memphis Redbirds
They Are In There…
Somewhere in there, Amy and Angela are ready to roll. 6,000 runners in downtown Memphis…quite a sight.
Memphis Weekend
Amy and I went with some good friends to Memphis. Kristy and Angela workout with Amy so when one runs in a race – we all end up going. Angela and Amy ran the half-marathon, Kristy up and signed up for the 5k…impressive.
This weekend – the St. Jude Memphis Marathon & Half Marathon. We also spent some time at BB Kings place. Wow – food was awesome, music was better.
And of course – playing cards.
Homemade Pizza Night
If you got some Grands biscuits (cheese are best), Italian dressing, pepperoni, cheese – you can have a homemade pizza night!
Slap ‘em in the oven for 10 minutes…viola — pizza!
The kids loved it…
I’m feeling a little violent…
Okay – tonight for the first time in weeks…months…I have absolutelty nothing to do.
Do you know how awesome that is???
I’m feeling that the universe needs defending…
On X-box live…
say, around…9 ish….
anybody else wanna play?
A New Naked Blog
Got your attention? I wonder how many filters are going to let this post through??
I’ve been reading a couple of blogs religiously – pun intended – that I have to pass on. I’ll update my blog roll later tonight.
The first one – nakedreligion.com
Today’s topic – church membership. I love IT!!!!! He argues that membership implies participation, financial committment, and a buy in on mission and vision of church (not a need to change it and complain about it.) Otherwise – it’s meaningless and might as well not have it.
Can I get a freakin’ amen to that?
The second one is Mark Batterson’s blog of the Theatre Church in DC. I also subscribe to his podcast.
I’m seriously resonating here….can you hear it?
Cranky Uniform Czar Emerges
I will now put on my uniform czar title and hat. Mainly because the update on the NFL uniform ranks is coming…it is a playoff tradition on G’s Rants.
But first – a litte warm up for us all.
This junk here on the right. This photo shows 2 of the most hideous football uniform mistakes of the 2005 season.
First, Virginia Tech. Don’t jack with a different color on the sleeve. What is that all about? Then to only do it on ONE sleeve? What drugs are you taking from Marcus Vick? Looks like something Paula Abdul would wear.
Miami – do they have a decent uniform other than the classice orange jersey they used to wear? The green uni with the green helmets? Major suckage there. Then there are these unis. They are bearable…but they are not good.
What is with the green stripe that wraps around the ENTIRE jersey…for no apparent reason. Kinda like evacuation plans in Miami…why do we have them?
The Detriot Lions…specifically Matt Millen. Fire Marriucci on Thanksgiving weekend because of your draft picks. That makes complete sense. Plus your uniforms are quite honestly just as offensive as the product on the field.
Then to elevate Jauron – who could not win in Chicago? You are telling me that Jauron is a better option than Marriucci? My only hesitation in telling Matt Millen to resign is that then I would have to listen to him even more because he’d go back to the TV Booth.
Which would be bad for us all…not just Detriot.
It is over!
One week of blog fasting…didn’t know if it was Grantly possible.
It is. Now I don’t have to prove that again.
What I got out of the time —-
Spent more time reading and writing in journal. Never a bad investment there.
Spent more time in thin places/God moments.
I also got a yearning for a ‘return’ if you will to the point of this endeavor in blogdom.
Have some laughs, be vulnerable, challenge other leaders, dare to try/risk getting the crazy stuff inside my brain outside of it.
Here we go…again!
Paul Shackleford, Engage the Culture
What a great capstone to our Missions Month! Shack really did an outstanding job challenging us. Here is the sermon to download, here it is for iTunes.
My notes from Shack’s sermon:
In order for God to do what He wants to do in us and through us, He needs to know we love Him. He asks questions like “Do you love me” to reveal the answer to US, not Him.
Compassion and humility are essential qualities for those who engage the King’s flock.
Relationship is the key to ongoing “fruitful” involvement…and relationships take TIME.
Engaging means to go beyond providing basic needs and plan for ongoing involvement.
God’s reward for a job well done will likely be more hungry sheep.
Don’t expect anything more from Jesus than the humbling opportunity to show your love for Him in the way He ordains you have the best opportunity to do so.
Paul’s “Something To Think About”
Is your life proof of your willingness to suffer OR evidence of your love for a gracious God? Do you truly love Jesus?
Is your love for Jesus sufficient motive for commitment to engage OR do you need/expect other forms of motivation?
Are you willing to alter your lifestyle to change someone else’s? Is eternity really more important to you than ________ ?
What is the position of your hand – a closed fist or an open palm? What are you holding on to?
Responding to Jesus and engaging the culture means…
Putting your love for Him first
Putting your love for Him in action
Putting in some time.
Sweet Home Alabama?
We’re in Grove Hill – here’s a link to a satellite picture of where we are. It’s a little blurry…I guess south Alabama doesn’t deserve a sharp picture.
Couple of housekeeping comments…
Nixon – man, you honor me. Thanks for the nomination. I won’t win but it’s a honor to even be nominated…right? hahaha…
And – next week, me and you, coffee. when and where?
Clay – I find it humorous that you come crawling out of the woodwork AFTER football season is over. Hat tip to Arkansas for beating a young Kansas team. Stan Heath should have a great team this year, make the tournament, scare the bejesus out of a higher rank team in the first round, but lose in the second.
Blogging will be lighter/less than usual…happy thanksgiving.