confessions of a church planter

confession:  i don't care.  a lot of people will pit the two different genres of church songs in a competition with one another.  those that prefer hymns will often say, "i love the hymns b/c of the deep theology," but then they'll add, "those praise songs are just 7-11 songs.  it's the same 7 words sung 11 times."  that person never listened to the hymn i sang this morning at a prominent, traditional church.  the words were few, and there was no deep theology.  that person also forgot that the angels are recorded as singing, "holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty."  the person who prefers praise songs often comment on the heart or emotion involved.  as if, a person's heart or emotion isn't involved in singing certain hymns.  this debate drives me crazy b/c there's no competition or war going on between the two styles.  if the songs could speak, i think they'd say, "don't sing me if you're going to debate worth."  i wonder if paul had in mind this future debate when he wrote these words in Ephesians 5:19: Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  don't forget, he also wrote these words in Colossians 3:16: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

seems to me that variety is important, and more importantly, no genre is better than the other.  at The Vine we use both.  it's all packaged in a modern style, but the genre is varied.  one of favorite recent services included a song that our worship pastor, gregg hampton, wrote and a modernized version of the doxology.  it was amazing.  perhaps, this is what paul had in mind.

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confession:  i told my daughter that Christmas was over.  this morning my daughter, Laney, wanted to watch "Santa Claus is coming to Town."  i told her that she couldn't.  she asked why she couldn 't, and i told her b/c Christmas was over.  i felt awkward about that response.  in reflection, my awkwardness was caused b/c Christmas isn't over.  Christmas isn't one day event.  i love something my brother, stephen, said this morning.  he said, "Christmas isn't a one day celebration.  it's a one day event, that becomes an everyday celebration."  that's good.  that's what i should be teaching my daughter.  i probably still won't let her watch santa, but i don't need to use the excuse that "Christmas is over."  my brother reminded me this morning that in celebrating Christmas all year long we need to do three things based on Is. 63:7-9: 
1.  Tell of God's Kindness
2.  Walk in Honesty with God
3.  Let God Carry our Burdens

i pray that Christmas won't end for you, but will only be renewed for you on 12.25.08.  you better hurry.  there are only 360 days left.

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confession:  it's awkward seeing grown men cry.  i know it's awkward for others when i tear up, but i'm talking about crying-no words, lips quivering, tears streaming.  i know what you're thinking: "what made david cry this time?"  however, it wasn't me who was crying this time.  in fact, i didn't even tear up, which was extremely unanticipated and pleasant.  yesterday, i got to play santa or gift-giver, whichever you prefer.  gregg hampton, our worship pastor, and i dropped off some gifts fora man who's family is struggling to make ends meet.  about two weeks ago, he provided our church with a list of toys wanted for his two kids.  we were able to purchase all the items on the list and then some.  brother was crying.  i know they were tears of joy b/c of the generosity of our church, which ultimately is a reflection of God's generosity in Jesus Christ.  after a couple of hugs and regaining his ability to speak, he said, "oneday i'll find a way to pay you guys back."  i'm sure he will, but he doesn't have to pay us back.

he's comment made me wonder if that's the reaction caused by grace.  grace by definition comes with no obligations or expectations, and yet, grace costs us our lives.  i guess it's another paradox of faith.  deitrich bonhoeffer discusses this paradox in the cost of discipleship.  i'm not sure that repayment is the best articulation of a response to an expression of grace.  if that's the case then isn't grace then simply a loan.  grace is a gift, an irrevocable gift.  however, what grace creates in a person is a response of wanting to show gratitude and similar character. 

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confession: my family and i have been on a marathon of watching Christmas movies.  the latest viewing was of the polar express.  at one point my son was a little frightened and he got up off of his bean bag and laid with me on the couch.  needless to say, i loved that.  anyway, sorry for the tangent.  as i was watching the polar express for the first time, there was familiarity in the voices of three different characters: the conductor, the hobo, and santa claus.  so, i've developed a theory that there is trinitarian symbolism on the polar express.  here's my theory or theology: 
1.  there's one voice, but three persons.  they all have the same essence-voice of tom hanks.  however, there are three distinct persons. 
2.  the conductor is the Son-while Santa and the hobo play a role in the salvation, the conductor is the one who is sent to save the kids' belief in Santa.  ah yeh!  you are loving this!  he doesn't force them to get on "the train," but encourages them to get on the train by reminding them of their identity and by revealing things to them that only the omniscent would know.  this is similar to Jesus, the Son, sharing with the samraritan woman at the well about her past and current situation.
3.  (if you're still with me)the hobo is the Holy Spirit-the Spirit is invinsible, but the effects of the Spirit are not.  don't forget that the hobo claims to own the train and the north pole.  not only that, but he invisibly acts in ways to move the kids toward salvation or redemption of belief.  not only that, but he assists the conductor in saving the girl.
4.  santa is the Father-think about all the non-transferable characteristics of God and then think of santa.  elves and angels?  remember, also the transaction took place when the closed his eyes and said, "i believe."  sounds like praying, "i believe." 

there's more to this, obviously, but i don't have time to ponder all the theological implications of the polar express.  as you have time, i'd love to hear your thoughts.

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confession:  i cried.  isn't wasn't like the bawl your eyes out cry, but i did get choked up to the point i couldn't speak well.  you might be wondering what was this catalyst for my tears or if you know me well, you're probably saying, "big deal."  here's the deal:  liz and i were leaving a store with our kids.  the store had a rep from the salvation army ringing a bell and collecting money.  another confession: i can't walk past a salvation army person without giving something.  i'm not trying to be pious, i'm just saying.  i don't do that with everything-just salvation army. anyway, i thought it'd be good to let the kids throw in a couple of dollars.  so, i gave each a dollar.  once they put them in there, laney asked, "why'd we do that?" so, i said, "we give money to them b/c they help people who don't have clothes and food." well, that's what i was trying to say.  it was broken.  it was fragmented.  eventually i got it out, but i felt like an idiot b/c i was welling up with tears.  

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confession:  i'm not a real estate agent.  they don't teach in pastor's school how to find, appraise, acquire land.  so, in the effort to figure out the next step in the church planting process (everyone says it's land, though i'm not sure about that), i'm learning as i go.  i was confessing to a church planter friend, dave slagle at veritas church in atlanta, that i was at the end of my rope, frustrated, encountering dead-ends everywhere.  he asked me if i had read In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day.  i told him, "no," but i have it sitting in my office waiting to be read.  my brother gave it to me last Christmas.  many have recommended it to me.  to be honest, it wasn't at the top of my priority list.  that was the week of thanksgiving so i didn't pick up the book.  well, this week, i was again lamenting over dead-ends in my abilities and in search for the next step.  in walks my son into my office.  i told him that he needed to leave so i could finish my work.  he went immediately to my book shelf, pulled one book, threw it on the floor, and walked out of my office.  guess what book!  yep, in a pit with a lion on a snowy day.  o.k. God, i'll read it.

God knew exactly what i needed in that moment to encourage me.  God's timing was perfect.  God knows exactly what you need in that moment of needing encouragement.  God timing is perfect.

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