Archive for July, 2010

I hope I’ve made a case for asking significant questions and considering eternal issues as you consider “leaving your church.” If you are just stopping in, scroll down to the bottom and read the first entries in this series so you’ll be in the thought-flow for this entry.

Simply put, there are times that you may need to leave you church. However, in our remote control culture where we change channels on a whim and we have our food made-to-order, we must refuse to allow our consumerism to influence our commitment to Christ.

I provide the following thoughts about leaving your church as a template for prayerful consideration over time, not as a checklist for “how to.” In addition, these thoughts should be applied to most churches. This is not a place for the isolated instances of abusive churches, horrible situations, or moral failings in leadership (though they do exist!). It’s meant to address the typical instance of a growing sense of unease or discontent in your heart as a regular, faithful member of a church. It does not apply to the once-a-monthers, infrequent attenders or the uninvolved church consumer/pew sitter.

1. Do not allow your emotions to direct your decision to leave your church.
2. Do not allow your personal preferences to outweigh biblical guidance in leaving your church.
3. Make sure you’ve had at least one honest, unemotional meeting with the pastor before you leave.
4. Your goal is to leave in love, not in frustration, anger or disenchantment.
5. Review your commitment to be obedient to Christ and to protect the unity of His body and the beauty of His bride.
6. Resolve to not tear down, stir up, or bring people with you as you leave.
7. Deal with authority issues in your heart. Are you willing to submit your life to leaders and follow their authority? If not at this church, then what church?
8. Seek counsel from godly friends or family outside your church.
9. Commit to pray diligently for God’s blessing and favor upon your church and its leaders for 60 days before leaving or stepping out of an active role. You may discover a unique refreshing of your heart as you begin to pray.
10. Be as tough on yourself as you are on your evaluation of your church.

This is not an exhaustive list, obviously, and I’d love to hear from other leaders what you might add or substract from these. As a pastor, I know there’s a back door to our church and that people can silently slip out of it – sometimes unnoticed. If there’s a steady stream, there’s a problem. However, a trickle is normal and necessary for many reasons. We’ll cover those in anther entry.

To be continued…

This is the tame version of the original quote:

“Opinions are like buttholes; everyone’s got one.”

Including pastors.

Yes, we have buttholes. And yes, we have opinions. (I can sense my mom cringing from here.)

Let’s clarify that I don’t mean opinions about scripture and theology in this column, although it would be just as applicable. I’m referring to cultural or local issues. Things that get the locals hot under the collar. Things that “get out the vote.”

It seems culturally hip these days for pastors to go to one or the other extreme with their opinions. One camp conceals their personal druthers while the other parades it. One camp smiles and wants everyone to be their friend, while the other has no friends. One group embraces politics and soundbites while the other communicates through books and speeches. Think of Joel Osteen and Pat Robertson as being representative of each.

The Smilies

The strategy, unspoken or not, of this line of thought is that it’s more important to be able to relate with everyone than isolate yourself with a strong opinion on a matter. It has its merits. Not every opinion is worth offering, and why would we who seek to offer the joyful truth of Christ have it ignored because someone can’t stand how we think about an issue of irrelevance?

The Smuggies

This camp of leaders is confident of their rightness and often expresses it. No need to whitewash things, they say. So they wield the truth according to them as a sledgehammer. Few are spared, including other mediating opinions that might urge a conciliatory tone.

Where I Stand

Over the course of being a Christian leader (for 20+ years now), I’ve wandered in and out of both of the above camps. I enjoy it when people like me, so I’ve worked up a good smile. On the other hand, I also enjoy being right and at times have even ignored information that might disprove my stance.

Recently in our community of Blacksburg, VA, two strong issues have come up that have provoked my thinking about whether to offer my opinion or not. (Of course, who really cares what I think, anyway?) As I’ve discussed my thoughts with others, it always seems to be those that feel the same way I do. Do you tend to gravitate towards approvers as well? It certainly makes me feel like I’m right when others are nodding. And of course, I affirm their rightness as well. So we leave as happy campers, mutually appreciative of our wisdom but frustrated with “they” and not able to effect change.

It’s that effecting change stuff that gives me the willies, honestly. Change. We had a candidate recently run on that mantra, and he meant it. I won’t offer you my opinion about that… unless you feel the same way I do.

What do you find yourself getting frustrated about that isn’t related to issues of ultimate or eternal significance? When is it appropriate to speak up, to try to change things, to offer an alternative viewpoint? When is it better to keep the peace? As a pastor, I struggle with those questions. I don’t want to lose an ounce of influence that has been divinely won for me by matters that are meaningless.

A few questions I filter as I consider the publicity of my opinions:

• Will they be more helpful in the long run to others or will they simply “stir the pot?”
• By speaking up, would it be possible that I might gain influence or improve the situation?
• By speaking up, would it be possible that I might lose influence and hinder true solutions?
• Is it more important to speak to issues or to befriend those who might shape the solution?

As a leader and an influencer of a small amount of people, I am probably oversensitive to the extreme importance of being a steward of my ideas and thoughts. What I think about things really isn’t important. What God thinks of them is. But does God care about the issues, big and small, that mark our lives and divide our neighborhoods?

I believe He does.

To be continued…

It’s not too often that I review a product, and this will be short and sweet, but after plunking down a wad of dough for our iPad, I promptly began puttering around for some iPad protection. One thing you’ll discover quickly is that most of the cases that Best Buy and retail stores sell are, well, sorry. And expensive.

When I found the CrazyOnDigital Folio on Amazon for only $20, I was pretty skeptical. “That’s cheaper than most iPhone cases! How can it be any good?”

I’m a review reader, though, and after skimming the reviews of the case, I opted to get one. Amazon has a great returns policy, and I took advantage of our Amazon Prime membership for free 2-day shipping.

Short story: We love it!

It’s truly a quality, attractive case. I also love that it has utility pockets. The fold-over design allows you to set it up on your lap, or do give it just the right tilt angle on your desk to type on your iPad effectively.

What are you waiting on? Go get it.

On July 15, 2009, we pulled out of our driveway at 320 W. Jefferson in Monticello, Arkansas for the last time as its owners. The last two months before our move to Virginia last year were a whirlwind of goodbyes, a mission trip to Poland, floating the Buffalo River, lunches with long-time friends, and garage sales. When we finally hit I-40¹, our hearts were full of gratitude and eager expectation for what our God had in store for us in our new home.

We took our time, spending the night in Jackson, TN and again in Knoxville while we timed our arrival with our movers. We stopped in Nashville and showed the kids Opryland and the hotel. Little did we know that a monster flood would hit in the past year requiring the closings of both for a long time to renovate and repair.

We arrived in VA on July 17 and spend the next 24 hours unpacking before our first experience with Northstar Church in worship on July 19. It seems like such a long time ago because this past year has been so momentous. As I reflect, I am still overwhelmed with gratitude and awe for the friendships we made over 14 years in Monticello, Arkansas. Small town. Big heart. Don’t just ask us. Ask any of the evacuees from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that made it their extended home. Ask those who still live there. While Steve Jobs touts the magic of the iPad, there is relational magic in that southeast Arkansas community.

Because we genuinely and deeply felt that our move was orchestrated by the grace of God, it wasn’t a transition of convenience. Rather, it was obedience. We had prayed so hard for so long that the Lord would guide us in our path, and we’d offered our lives into His sure hands over and over – through health crises, church issues, financial stress and more. When the body of Christ known as Northstar Church began to talk with me about the possibility of becoming their next pastor, we were unsure at first.

When it became apparent through two visits, multiple conversatiosn, and dozens of emails that God seemed to uniting our lives with those of a new church family, we were overjoyed and heartbroken at the same time. We wrestled hard with whether we could leave Journey Church as a still-growing church start. We wondered if we could move further away from family. We interceded on behalf of Sam and Adelyn and how the transition would impact them. We questioned whether leaving the extended relational network and favor that God had given us in Arkansas was wise. It just seemed like things were really happening.

In the end, though, it became as simple as a “yes.” We had committed our lives a long time ago to put our “yes” on the table with the Lord. If He should ever call, ask, guide or command, our response was prepared. It was “yes.”

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 1.20)

Since arriving in Virginia, we’ve been amazed at God’s continued favor as we’ve built new friendships, discovered wonderful blessings, and experienced the joy of a loving church family that, like Journey, wants to model the love of Jesus Christ to its community through authentic relationships and selfless service.

As I watched some of the kids from church today paint metal yard furniture that we’d recovered from the trash, I marveled at how God loves to turn trash into treasure in all our lives. I can certainly identify with King David’s stunned gratitude in 2 Samuel 7.18:

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

We don’t deserve any goodness from God whatsoever. The question should never be “Why does God allow so much evil in the world?” but “Why does God allow so much good?” We didn’t deserve Arkansas. We don’t deserve Virginia. It’s all grace and kindness from God. The apostle John swam in the sea of God’s love (he was called the beloved disciple), and toward the end of his life, he wrote (I imagine with joyful tears):

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3.1)

I feel this same awestruck wondrous relief this evening as I reflect over the past year. We’ve moved twice in 12 months. We’ve been blessed with new friendships – both in the church and outside of it. We love our neighbors (a very biblical thing to do!), and the challenges of leading and growing in this new community are joyfully significant.

So hello, Virginia. We’re here. We’re glad, and we’re eager to experience the realities of a loving God among you. Thanks for helping us feel at home so quickly. It’s all been a delight – the “short corn,” the cool nights, the snow, the morning mists, the fireworks display, the friendliness, and the two cars we’ve bought since arriving.

If so much can happen in a year, we better buckle down. There’s no telling what the Lord has for us around the corner.

*You can read about our trek to Virginia here:

• A turn on the trail
• Busy, busy
• Increasing gratitude
• Yard sale of the week
• Jet lag, packing and after glow
• Going dark
• Settling into Blacksburg
• Ode to Monticello

It’s been about three weeks since we got our iPad, and I thought I’d share what we’re continuing to learn from it and our use of it. It really is in the process of revolutionizing how/when/where I digest information and media.

1. It’s all about the apps. Even more so than the iPhone. Yes, one can argue all you want that “it’s just a big iPhone/iPod Touch,” but that’s not a valid argument. For starters, there are apps for the iPad that are not available for those devices. Second, many apps that are available for both have been rewritten and redesigned for the iPad. And yes, they are ultimately better.
2. The screen is gorgeous. Yes, I know my Macbook Pro screen is similar or better. But I don’t hold my Macbook Pro screen at the same viewing distance as my iPad. Watching movies via Netflix or iTunes with an iPad is stunning. You feel immersed in the story. The screen also makes working on the iPad completely enjoyable.
3. Reading books on the iPad is truly doable. I’ve been a skeptic of eBooks for a long time. I don’t know that I’ll ever get over my love affair with a bound volume. Plus, I doubt I’ll take my iPad into the bath tub with me. (sorry for the mental picture) There are several eBook apps that are simply brilliant, and many give you the option of adjusting the screen tint so that you feel like you’re actually viewing a printed page.
4. The iOS is pretty stinking amazing. I wrote in my journal the other day that it’s actually liberating for me. I’m a huge multitasker, and too often I’m guilty of bouncing through screen real estate from one program to another, one project to another and losing myself in the day. The way the iOS is structured has compelled me to think linearly, and it has been refreshing. I don’t have dozens of windows open in the background. I can’t see what’s going on behind the scenes while I’m in an app without exiting. No Growl notices. Etc. I hope that the upcoming iOS 4 update for the iPad doesn’t ruin that wonderful simplicity of focus for me.
5. Perfect for communication. Skype works flawlessly, and thus far, we haven’t used the 3G capabilities of the iPad. From email to Twitter, the iPad is wonderful for connecting.
6. MobileMe. It just keeps getting better. But with Apple’s cloud service, our phones, our computers and the iPad are all simultaneously synced with our contacts, calendars, web bookmarks, etc. Sigh.

A complaint about apps

One complaint I have is that apps that are available on both iPhone and iPad platforms generally require two different purchases. I can’t gripe too much because the iPad apps are better (see #1 above). However, with the App Stores not allowing you to preview software, it’s like shooting in the dark as to whether an app will be good or not. Since apps are more expensive for the iPad in general than the iPhone, that’s not a risk I take. Rather, I opted to immediately jailbreak our iPad, and I use Installous to preview apps before I buy them. Those apps that are good, I buy; those that aren’t, I delete. There needs to be an app store process like renting movies from iTunes which gives you 1-3 days with an app before it “times out.”

Apps to “check out”

The eBook apps continue to turn heads (and pages). In addition to Apple’s own iBooks, there are stellar apps from Barnes & Noble, Amazon Kindle, and Borders. My favorite (and the one that is consistently cheaper) is the Kindle app. It’s truly a work of art, and it makes buying an actual Kindle moot. Why buy a Kindle which only does eBooks when you can buy an iPad with a wonderful Kindle app? (or the Nook for that matter)

Twapps

The following apps are ones that I’m currently comparing for the ultimate honor of being my official Twitter app on the iPad:

• Echofon Pro
• Osfooro
• Twittelator

Each have pros and cons, but I like how Echofon syncs my read/unread tweets with Echofon for the iPhone and for the desktop. Osfoora is probably the most well-designed and graphically appealing, but I wish it had another theme option besides the dark one.

Big Facebook Fail

I could not believe Facebook didn’t have an iPad app. I guess they’re trying to push you to simply using the Facebook site in Safari? However, I’ve loved the simplicity and distractionlessness of the iPhone Facebook app. It’s a definite niche and a plus. At this point, there’s an absolutely gorgeous app called Sobees Lite that renders Facebook like a magazine. I heartily recommend it, but it lacks many of the iPhone apps functionality. The Facebook hole on the iPad at present is just begging to be filled by someone.

Another iPhone-iPad transition fail is Fox News’ app. Cmon, guys!

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring

I prefer Accuweather over the Weather Channel Max. Accuweather may look too simple, but everything is clickable, and it has a nice graphic interface to get to maps, video reports, etc. The free WC app is that way because it supports annoying popup ads.

Feed Me

If you’re still surfing to your favorite blogs one at a time, you are so… late 90s. Get a feed reader and use it today. I’ve chosen Google Reader simply because Google owns our birthright, and I wanted to be sure I was in their will. It also syncs with everything but your kitchen, uh, nevermind. You get the picture.

I’ve used Reeder on my iPhone for quite a while, and its iPad app has the best rating. However, I hate – with a passion – its start screen. It’s essentially little stacks of paper representing the different folders that I’ve sorted my blog reads into. I much prefer how the iPhone app lists them in the left column. I was pleased to discover that MobileRSS Feed Reader has a much better layout initially.

However… Reeder just seems to have a smoother feel to it functionally and aesthetics-wise than does MobileRSS. I’m torn between the two. Everytime I fire up Reeder and get those obnoxious and unhelpful little stacks, I get fired up. But when I attempt to use the other exclusively I feel like I’m missing a long lost friend.

Other Apps I Like & Use

• Words with Friends HD (was there really a need to say this?)
• Taska – the best productivity app I’ve found on the iPad. Beats Things, ToDo and others. Like that it syncs with ToodleDo. I wish 2Do had an iPad app because that’s what I was using on the iPhone.
• Chronicle – for journaling, notetaking
• News apps: Fox News (iPhone version), NYT Editor’s Choice (I can’t help it for now; it’s beautiful), Early Edition, USA Today
• Camerabag – wonderful photo editor
• Bible apps: ESV Bible (great!), YouVersion Bible (super!), OliveTree Bible Reader (it has some great free resources, among which are a downloadable, searchable and indexed archive of all of John Piper’s sermons)
• ContactsJournal – a pretty cool way of keeping notes for those who have a large contact list; great for organizational leaders who need to remember conversations and news about members or volunteers
• Netflix and ABC Player
• DC Comics and Marvel Comics - I was a comic book collector nerd forever. In reading a few stunningly gorgeous issues on these apps, the inner nerd is clawing to get back out.
• Calendar – yes, the stock iCal app for the iPad is just, well, perfect. Thank you, Apple.
• TwentyThree – a way cool geo social network consolidator. Great for digital stalking. And beautiful. Check out the pic below.

Recommendations to Steve

Here’s what I would do to improve upon the iPad:

1. Multiple users. With OS X, the ability to create user accounts is wonderful and allows families to share one computer without messing up the settings, emails, and creative personalizations. Currently, the iPad is a little hard to use between multiple folks. It’s not like an iPhone that is mine. The iPad, I would imagine in many settings and households, is shared.
2. A camera. Yes, I’m an early adopter, and no, I don’t mind that the first iPad didn’t have one. But bring it on!
3. Sortable options in the App Store. When I do a search for “Twitter” to check out Twitter apps, I want to be able to sort the results by price, by rating and by release date. Having to scroll through windows by clicking on arrows seems very Windowish. Give us a list view or something.
4. Quit fighting jailbreakers. They improve your product significantly. Or if you just fight with them for the free media attention, then you’re still a genius.
5. Put a little gap in the case somewhere so that if you cover it with your finger, the person to the right of you will lose all cellphone signal.

Apps We Need

• A texting app that allows you to receive texts sent to your cell phone and then allows you to send through that account… over WIFI. There are numerous texting apps that require you to create a new virtual number, and those are nice, but I’d really like to get my texts on my iPad – without 3G.
• eBook Low Price. An app that consolidates the prices among all the big eBook apps and shows you which app/vendor has the cheapest price for that eBook. I would imagine that clicking on that low price automagically launches the corresponding eBook app and brings you to the purchase page for that book.

What about you? What’s been your iPad experience? How has it changed or is it changing how you relate with news, media and communication? Apps you like or want to see?

Many moons ago, my in-laws gave me a tent for Christmas. Those many moons almost surpass the birth of Adelyn. When we decided last week to “go camping,” it was not with the confident declaration of a family that “camps.” Rather, it was the over zealous determination to have a family outing after a softball tournament threw out our beach vacation.

As we were packing for the trip, I noticed on the tent box (still sealed) the address it had been delivered to: 162 Tanglewood, Monticello, AR. That was 4 houses ago. Many moons/4 houses/same thing.

We picked a site on the New River because it was relatively close, and with the heat wave of the last few weeks (mid 90s! Gasp!), we wanted to be able to do some tubing, swimming and fishing. We discovered quickly a lost benefit of our Sequoia – space. By the time we had finished packing, our two cars headed for New River Junction campground.

Carolyn and Adelyn made a Wal-Mart and Big Lots run on the way and ended up making the best purchase of our trip: air mattresses. Sam and I beat them to the camp and had the tent set up like we were old pros. Our only hitch was some kind of white, vomit-like gel on the ground -left by the previous campers. Sam and I almost added our own after close examination. We solved the dilemma primally by dumping ashes from the fire pit on top of the mass and then stomping it dry. Our testosterone surged.

The next 24 hours were perfect for three of us, but a Johnny Cash experience for one. I was delighted to find that the campground had WIFI. It was sketchy, but there. Actually, the portapotty had a better signal than our tent site – at least, I heard that it did. Ahem.

We roasted hot dogs, had smores and thereby branded ourselves as obeying the Great American Camping Meal Requirement. I told a ghost story around the campfire that had two profound reactions from the kids:

1) Sam said, “That was stupid.”

2) Adelyn crawled into Carolyn’s lawn chair with her. (It was the infamous “Drip, Drip” story for those ghost tale connoisseurs out there.

You’ll have to read the Johnny-Cash-linked tale above for an idea from a tenderfoot about how the night went. There were no bumps in the night, however.. only whistles.

By waking alive, we won. We’d camped! Yeehaw! After conquering the wilds of Virginia by not losing anything or hammering a tent peg through my foot, we declared our initial camping experience a success. We packed up and returned home shortly before lunch the following day with a commitment to venture out again soon.

What was your first camping experience like? Any recommendations on must-have investments for campers?