Category: General (page 3 of 121)

As much as I want to check my email and keep up with the overnight news, I need to hear from God first.

As much as I want to get the positive reviews from yesterday, I need to hear from God first.

As much as I want to get up and get out to the gym, I need to hear from God first.

One of our local public radio stations has a morning classical music program called Second Cup Concert. Today, I was in my office at our building, listening to that program, drinking a pot of Sumatra. (Lately, I’ve had help drinking that coffee, but not today, and that’s a story for another day anyway.)

So, on about my third cup, this just found its way into my notebook…

Coffee is supposed to be a social beverage, one that is best shared with one’s compatriots, in some cozy, yet crowded corner cafe. It’s never intended to be a lonely pursuit, brewed and consumed cup by desperate cup by some fellow who’s lost all his will to live and all his reasons for doing so.

Coffee is meant to be a creative beverage – one that inspires great conversation, great ideas, great dreams. It’s never at its best as a substitute for some poor sap who, but for his supposed religious and cultural sensibilities, would more likely be drowning in the cold crystal bottom of some old-fashioned glass, instead of a warm ceramic mug.

OK, so I was sick yesterday, and missed church for the first time in, well, I don’t remember. But anyway, here are some things you think about when you’re out of your routine…

• People might as well get involved in church, because there ain’t very much on TV on Sunday.
• Ed, I love ya man, but you really need to rethink the little pixie shoes with the suit. I’m just saying…
• Getting out of your weekly routine messes you up for a while.
• Even when you’re not physically “there,” you’re still mentally, emotionally, and spiritually engaged in what’s supposed to be going on at church.
• And even though you’re wearing your son’s reject Superman t-shirt, you really need to know that you aren’t Superman. So why do you feel so guilty about being sick and missing church?
• The sofa gets pretty uncomfortable after several hours.
• I guess they call it “practicing medicine” for a reason…”I think what we’re dealing with here is bronchitis. The only issue is whether it’s bacterial or viral. I’m going to prescribe an antibiotic which should clear it up pretty quickly if it’s bacterial. If it’s viral, it’ll just have to run its course.”
• Nothing tastes good when you’re sick.
• When you’re sick, and there’s nothing on TV, and you’re worried about what you ought to be doing at church, and nothing tastes good, and you spend three stinkin’ hours at the doctor and pharmacy, and when you’re out of your routine, it’s pretty easy to throw yourself a little pity party.
• But seeing videos like this has a way of making you smile, weakly and sickly though it may be. It also has a way of making you grateful for the friends God puts in your life. But at the same time, it makes you really wary about preaching for those friends in a couple of weeks because you just aren’t as creative as your friend. (Thanks, Tony!)

I can’t remember a Sunday when I didn’t make it to church because of illness, so today is going to be a rare day for me!

I’m coughing like crazy, got a fever, can’t talk (woo hoo! everyone says!), and I feel like some big honking truck has run over me, backed up and run over me again. And again. And one more time for good measure.

If you get a minute, and if you think about it, would you lift up a prayer or two today? Thanks…

Any of you pastor-types having problems getting on pastors.com tonight?

(Hey, after all, it is Saturday night…gotta download those sermons for tomorrow, right?) 🙂

OUCH! This came from the A.W. Tozer daily devotional, and the picture perfectly illustrates the point: an old man, holding on for the ride, but going nowhere…

We have to consider whether we are just going around and around–like a religious merry- go-round. Are we simply holding on to the painted mane of the painted horse, repeating a trip of very insignificant circles to a pleasing musical accompaniment?…

(NOTE: I’m not a theologian or a Bible scholar. Nor do I play one on TV. I didn’t even stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.)

This morning I was reading Mark’s account of the first Easter morning. and I jotted down some thoughts in my notebook…

• The three women bought spices to anoint Jesus’ body. When they got to the grave, they found the stone rolled away from the entrance and saw a young man in white, and Mark records that they were amazed. The young man said, “Don’t be amazed.”
• His instructions were to go and tell Jesus’ disciples what had happened. But, he implied, you’d better get a move on, because Jesus is already on the move!
• Their response? They ran like crazy! They were shaking and amazed. And they said nothing because they were scared!
• Mary Magdalene went and reported that she’d actually seen the risen Christ, and the disciples “refused to believe it.”
• Later, Jesus Himself appeared to two others on the road to the country, and they, too went and reported their encounter, “but they did not believe them, either.”
• Later, He appeared to the eleven at dinner, and “He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.”

I think there is a huge disconnect between what He says and what we see, so for us, the seeing always seems to trump the listening/believing/responding/obeying.

OK, after an earlier Unwind of Kutless and Hillsong, I’ve settled into some Mahler for the rest of the evening (heck, it’ll take that long to listen to the whole thing!)

Anyway, the “Resurrection” that Mahler’s Symphony No.2 refers to is not THE Resurrection that we celebrate today. But the Mahler Second is bold, powerful, inspiring.

And that is almost like – but not nearly as bold, powerful, and inspiring as – THE Resurrection that we celebrate today!

The last movement – for me, at least – is like Beethoven’s Ninth or even the great Puccini aria Nessun dorma. Even if you say you don’t like classical music or opera, it still has a way of moving you.

Of course, as usual, your mileage may vary…

Beat. Worn-out. Exhausted. What other synonyms can you walking thesauruses (thesaurii?) come up with?

Let’s see… how’d it go?

Headed out for our “sunrise”service. I thought Easter was supposed to be in the spring! Not stinkin’ winter! Oh, well…one of the stillest, quietest mornings I remember in a long, long time. And I wondered if that first Easter morning was kind of the same way.

Great spread at the early thing, thanks to the lovely and gracious “Mrs. Just Charlie.” Oh, and Alaura the Dunkin Donuts gal who wondered aloud why I thought Easter was the biggest day of the year. And who considered the claims of Jesus for the very first time behind the counter at the donut place.

Good turnout at the early thing, including a couple I met at one of those “rent-a-pastor” funerals a couple of months ago.

Almost went to see The Mad Babbler at RidgeStone’s 9:00 Easter service, but did a last-minute lookover of my message for 11:00. And spent some time hanging with some of our church folks.

Double our usual crowd at 11:00. Lots of guests. Most connected to our folks in some way or another. Not a home run on the message, but maybe a run-scoring double. We’ll see…

Good to hang out with “The Boy” for a few minutes.

Went to three places before finding a place open for lunch. Ended up at good ol’ Provino’s. Stuffed with lasagna. (Note: Spring break and Easter are now officially over – gotta hit the Y – and hard! – tomorrow!)

Note #2: If it’s in the shape of an egg, and if it has a brightly-colored foil wrapper, and if it says something like “Dove Dark Chocolate” on it, just put it down and walk away. I’ll take care of the situation!

After lunch, watched another good game. (Note to my buddy Roger: I know we’re only six games into the season. I know y’all whacked us 11-1 on Friday. I know your whole lineup is pretty potent from top to bottom. I know your guys can pitch. I know it’s a long, long way to September yet, but I think y’all are going to have some company atop the National League East this year. Going to be fun again, maybe…)

Kutless and Hillsong on right now for the Sunday afternoon unwind. Dozing.

Speaking of Hillsong, I know it shows my old-cootness, but I am still blown away for some reason by the fact that I can order sheet music from Australia on Saturday night, and have it in the service Sunday morning! Amazin’ ain’t, Tom?!?!

That pretty much wraps up Easter ’07. Long day. Good day. Jesus is alive.

At least it appears that way to me from all the people who are looking for information on him, and finding my earlier post about a bugler playing Reveille at his funeral!