Weekly Reflections…

The Weekend that was: It was a BUSY weekend. We went down to YC in Winnipeg MB, with our youth group and had a BLAST!!! Great speakers, music and hang out time! Usually when I take a group to events that require a lot of supervision and responsibility I can’t wait for the weekend to end… I sit in my office today (WEDS) and wish we were still at YC!

Where I am at the moment: I am in my office listening to music!

On my to-do list this week: I have to prepare messages for friday and Sunday! And also, do some follow up with the youth who came to YC!

Procrastinating about: Preparing messages for this week! I have ideas though!

Book I’m in the midst of: Still reading the same books as last week! I can’t wait for my copy of ‘Flickering Pixels’ to arrive in the mail late this week or early next!

Music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: A Lot! I purchased quite a bit of music on the weekend! I bought the new Jars of Clay album, which is a great listen! I was recommended this new worship outfit known as ‘The Michael Gungor Band’ by the guy working the booth at YC. And man are they good. Talk about a hidden secret in the worship music scene. Check them out for sure! My first ‘Christian’ purchases in a long while! I’m also really enjoying the new Future of Forestry ep and Pilot Speed albums.

How I’m feeling about this week: Wanting to have a good week and want it to pass lol! Vacation in like 12 days!!!!

Weekly Reflections…

The Weekend that was: I had a decent weekend! Watched some hockey, prepared a message and shared it on Sunday morning! The weekend was actually quite un-eventful! I was hoping to watch ‘Yes Man’ on Saturday, but once again sports won the day!

Where I am at the moment: At my kitchen table, drinking some tea!

On my to-do list this week: It’s a very busy week. We have YC coming up this weekend and we have to travel 8 hours to get there. So I’m hoping to get everything planned and in order for the trip. I want to hit the gym a few times, i’ve been on a roll lately. And I definitely want to take some time and read! Did I mention drinking coffee?

Procrastinating about: I guess YC stuff a little and definitely youth camp planning!

Book I’m in the midst of: Well I’m still reading ‘The Divine Conspiracy’ by Dallas Willard and ‘The Unlikely Disciple’ by Kevin Roose. I have come to accept the fact that I will be reading Willard’s book for a while, possibly a month or two. It is loaded with great teaching, it’s tough slugging at times, yet very rewarding. It’s the kind of book that I don’t want to rush and so I won’t! Roose’ s book is great. It’s become my before bed read. I’ve also began reading Frank Viola’s new book ‘From Eternity to Here.’ I’ve only read great reviews and so I’m hoping to go through this one on the bus ride this weekend!

Music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: I’ve still been listening to a lot of Metric and Billy talent. I picked up the new album by Pilot Speed (formerly known as Pilate) the other day. I’ve enjoyed it thus far, although it is very different. Almost too different. I think i’d like it more if it wasn’t by Pilate (or should I say Pilot speed).

How I’m feeling about this week: Im feeling good and looking forward to it. I know come Sunday i’ll be in need of a vacation but it’s all worth it. Pray for our youth as they attend YC this year!

Weekly Reflections…

I’ve seen this regular monday update on other blog’s (Jordon and Marko) and figured this would be a great way to do regular weekly updates… so I will steal it without shame… here goes:

The Weekend that was: It was a good weekend! Friday night’s youth service was great. We had roughly 30 people out and seen a lot of new faces. I spent most of Saturday watching hockey. Finished up my message for Sunday morning’s service. It’s interesting, I felt as though I didn’t prepare well and yet many thanked me for the encouragment. All to say, I think when there’s less of me and my ‘good preparation’ and more of God, the message will minister that much better… What a crazy thought! I spent the rest of Sunday napping and hanging out with friends. All in all a good weekend!

Where I am at the moment: Sitting in my office, stressing out a little about our upcoming Youth Convention that we attend 7 hours away from Thompson.

On my to do list this week: Prepare a sermon for Sunday morning and make sure I get everything set up for the YC Trip. Most of all, I have to chase kids down for their registration forms and money, oh the joys of youth ministry!

Procrastinating about: YC stuff and sermon prep…

Book I’m in the midst of: Reading two at the moment! I’m reading a memoir, “The Unlikely Disciple” by Kevin Roose… So far so good, but wish I had more time to read at the moment… And also, “The Divine Conspiracy” by Dallas Willard… I’ve always known this was a good book, but it’s thick 400 pages, has always scared me off from reading it… I’ve read 2 chapters and love what he’s saying… Any minister would do well to read ANYTHING that Willard writes!

Music that caught my attention this past week: It’s been hardcore nostalgia this past week. I’ve mainly been listening to old Billy Talent and Metric albums. It’s amazing how Billy Talent’s first disc still stands up very well 6 years later… I think the concerts made that much of a good impression, that i like the music even more… Metric’s new album Fantasies is a great listen and their first album ‘Grow up and blow away’ which was only released last year, is totally blowing me away! A hidden secret for sure! Make sure to check them both out!  Also the New HIP disc is really good!

How I’m feeling about this week: A little stressed and yet happy that spring is here (and hockey playoffs!) Go Rangers, Go Flames!!!

U2- No Line on the Horizon

It’s been over a week since U2 released their new album and reviews/opinions seem to be mixed all across the board! Rolling stone seems to think it’s an instant classic as where Time magazine and Pitchfork, weren’t so quick to go there!Personally, I’m begining to learn that I have a tendency to hype up new releases to the point that my expectations can never be met, due to them being somewhat unrealistic! I like to read other’s opinions on music and as I was reading through the reviews of NLOTH, I had to continually ask myself, are people reviewing and rating this disc based on how it stands up in today’s music market, or is U2 in such a class of their own that the only thing you can compare this disc to, is the rest of the U2 catalogue? I think, the latter is true!

I’m not even going to write a review of sorts about this disc because I probably don’t understand music well enough, nor do I have the “music reviewer langauage” down pat, to write such a review! But I will state a few of my opinions regarding the new album!

1. I loved ‘All that you can’t leave behind’ and ‘How to dismantle an automic bomb’. They were great albums, full of great anthems that you knew would be sung throughout the audience of every show and maybe the songs were even a little more shamefully pop! I was blown away by how much U2 chose to mix things up on this album… Although I feel we have heard them sound like this before (think Auchtung baby), I still felt a little alienated by the album, in comparison to the last two!

2. For the first five days after buying the album, I felt that this was a BIG letdown, the songs didn’t stay in my head like previous efforts, and the Letterman performances didn’t blow me away like past performances I’ve seen!

3. I am now starting to appreciate NLOTH, for what it is! It’s a great rock album and you can tell that U2 felt the need to keep things fresh, rather than safe by releasing another ATYCLB or HTDAAB! I still feel, like i said above, that we’ve somewhat heard this album before, but it is a departure from the previous two releases!

4. My favorite tracks, as of now, are: Breathe, Stand up, Magnificent and Unknown Caller!

5. I think with time this album will really grow on me! I’ve heard many say it’s definately a ‘grower’ and not so much a ‘shower’. I don’t want to write the album off a week into it’s release… some of my favorite albums have taken me months or years to truly appreciate!

Have you heard the album? What do you think?

Elections, Music and Christmas

I have to admit, I am looking forward to November 4th in America… I know as a Canadian the American election is not my business, but it does have an effect on me whether that is right or not, and it is getting quite annoying always hearing about it on my television… I think this is where Canada nailed it right… our election lasted all of 6 weeks… perfect… 6 weeks, 300 million dollars later (sick)… and not much changed, except that the Conservative got more seats, the Liberals got smoked, the Green Party attended the debates but couldn’t win a seat (you figure that out), The Bloc is still pissin everyone off and The New Democrats have grown a little and I have to admit that their leader makes the most ammusing comments about the oppositions leaders’ sweater! Don’t get me wrong i love politics, but i think everyone has their limits! I look forward to getting a Time or Mclean’s Mag in the mail that is free of election talk… i know i’ll keep dreaming, but you can always hope!

I’ve found myself listening to a lot of music lately… this isn’t unusual, but what is… is that I find myself digging back into my high school and Elementary school days for my musical tastes as of late… Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Tom Petty, The Tragically hip, Incubus, Candlebox, REM, Oasis, Radiohead etc… it’s never sounded so good… I think this is the litmus test for what good music is… Whether or not you can throw it in 10 years later and still enjoy it as much or more than you did before… I’ve been enlightened to see that LimpBizkit, LFO, Savage Garden, Eifffel 65 and the like didn’t past the test… I wonder what that says of some the present day music of our day… Will people really rock out to Daughtry or Jordin Sparks in 10 years… time will tell…

And finally, I cannot believe that Christmas is approaching so quickly… With the economy in turmoil, I wonder how this will effect Christmas spending? And as a guy trying to follow the ways of Jesus, I wonder if this can be a real positive thing? … Christmas stresses a lot of people out and I think this is the opposite of what Christmas is supposed to be about… I’m all for giving each other gifts and don’t want to quit that, because I think it’s a good thing… Spending money on each other is not what i’m warring against… But I think it can been taken to an unhealthy level… It shouldn’t stress us out to the point of illness… I know I have to get my shoppping going soon… I’m always the last 2 weeks before Christmas shopper… i need to avoid that this year, for the sake of sanity and favour with my wife… I look forward to the snow, hopefully in November (us Canadians must sound crazy) and upcoming season… These are my morning thoughts!

Sluggish evangelism!

I’ve been reading through Dan Kimball’s latest book and he said something that got me thinking… “Love is more than passing out a tract or holding up a sign and feeling that our job is done because we’ve let others know about Jesus.”

I spent sometime a year ago working at a Christian bookstore and music dept. I remember many of the ridiculous products that either came in the store or were presented to us hoping that we would market these products that make “great witnessing tools.” Take this shirt for instance… We all know the post delviery guys who love deliviring stuff to the office andf pushing the big red button on the secretaries desk that shouts back, “That was easy!”… Working in the bookstore I came to see how Christians, especially in the marketplace, have a tough time coming up with original ideas and so here we have this shirt that tells us how easy life with Jesus is! Kimball’s words made me think about how we want everything made easy… we invent shirts and tracts and other products so that we can tell people about Jesus with little effort… Yet I wonder what people on the outside of Christianity, actually think about these shirts… I’ve always had a minor beef with salvation tracts… Although i believe God can and probably has used them to draw people to Him, I wonder what the intent behind the tract is… I know some people who love tracts… They feel that handing them out to people fulfill’s their duty to witness to the world… but does it really? I wonder if Jesus would’ve handed people papers about Himself? I don’t think so… I think He knew they needed to experience Him!

I fear that as Christians it’s easy to become lazy and create things that make us feel good about ourselves and our work in the great commision…. When what this world really needs and wants is to see Jesus and how REAL He is… Through His church, through His people and not just on our shirts or hats… Are these “helpful” Christian products really good?… or do they just take us further away from what it means to really be and live like Jesus? Because when it comes to me showing unconditional love… I don’t get a “That was easy!”… In fact, I find that it’s beyond my ability… and that’s why I need Jesus… that’s why the world needs Jesus… and in some strange way… we are to be Him!

ps… and it’s not always Easy!

It’s been too long…

 Sitting here kind of Reading some Kimball and keeping my eye on a pretty pathetic football game… It’s been a while since i last posted and have to admit that sheer laziness and desire to write is what has kept me from posting! But tonight my mind is on the morning service in 13 hours or so…

It’s my turn to speak and I plan on sharing some thoughts on talent and what that means for those inside the church. I’ve spoken on this a couple of times before and both times were to a youth audience and the message was met with positive responses… I sort of encouraged them to use their talents that they had been given… That God had given each of us some amount of talent and that we need to invest and not rob this world of our gifts and of that which God has given us to serve others… Our world seems obsessed with talent… We celebrate it through TV shows, sports, etc… But in the Church we seem to neglect people’s talent… aside from good voices, musicians, or speakers… because this really covers everything right?… Hopefully, you sense my joking…

I’ve been noticing lately how many people have the idea that church is more of a show than it is something that everyone shares in. Where did we ever get the idea that the only people who contribute in the church are the people on the platform? It seems to me that a read through the New Testament shows that all of believers are to contribute and serve in the Church and more importantly as the Church (Eph. 4:11-12). I fear that for too long i’ve held the mind-set that the Pastor’s do the work… As a young pastor i’ve always felt giving work or duties to others was me just trying to be lazy and put everything on others… Now i’ve began to see it as doing church the way it is meant to be done… Everybody contributing and playing a role! Discipleship is far more than just reading or learnin the scriptures…

I guess going into tomorrow i’m going to teach on the Kingdom parable of Matthew 25, The Parable of the Talents… In which Jesus tells of the servants who were entrusted with talent (money, a God given thing) and how they handled the responsibility… I’m probably going to challenge and more so encourage those who aren’t presently involved in ministry in or out of the Church to get involved… and to start using the talents and gifts that God has given them as important parts of the body… It seems odd that this isn’t basic understanding from the bible, but i guess i’ve missed it before and so have many others… Anyways those are some thoughts i’m having this evening… Hopefully I communicate better in the morning…

Wide Awake.

“Faith is the determination to create with our lives what only our hearts can conceive. We pursue what we do not have as if we cannot live without it. I wonder if that’s why dating is sometimes more exciting than marriage. Maybe our marriages would get better if we kept pursuing our spouses.”

I thought this was interesting. It’s taken from Erwin’s latest book ‘Wide Awake.’ Not only does he encourage us to live life by faith (In trust), but he gives some good marriage counsel in the process… Which the ‘charasmatic with a seatbelt’, part of me, would amen! I wonder though, if this is just as true about becoming a Christian and being ‘new’ to the whole following God thing. I know it’s easy to get instituionalized and just become comfortable and accepting of what a contemporary Christian should look like. Do we get so comfortable that we quit pursuing God, like we first did upon knowing Him? Does Revelation 2 need to be read again and again, so that we never forsake our first love? This makes sense… The truth is, Heaven forbid I become content with just being a ‘good Christian/pastor’, in the sense of attending church, preaching and having the odd awkward social get together. Come to think of it, Heaven forbid I ever just become another ‘good Pentecostal’ also! May I continually pursue God with more passion and live with a holy discontent all of my days!

Music.

One of my favorite things to do when i was in elementary/high school was to make compilations of my favorite music of the moment. Although technology has advanced and i no longer use cassettes, i still love bunching together a bunch of songs to listen to! To anyone who likes music, this is what’s been on my ipod the last little while:

1. Superstar by Sonic Youth: There is just something so peaceful and relaxing about this great remake of a classic tune by the Carpenters! It was recently featured in the movie ‘Juno’ and was also on the soundtrack… On Itunes you cannot buy it off the soundtrack unless you download the whole album, thankfully though, it is available as a single download on itunes from The Carpenters tribute disc, entiled, ‘If I were a carpenter.’ This song which is probably more famous now for a great scene in the movie ‘Tommy Boy’, nonetheless, is a great song and Sonic Youth made it listenable without having to question one’s gender while doing so…Check it out!

2. The Resolution by Jack’s Mannequin: Just discovered these guys recently. And have also found out that he was one of the founding members of former band ‘Something Corporate.’ Although, the former band was never one that I would call a favorite, I enjoyed the odd tune and am glad i didn’t judge this new music based on the former. Jack’s new album releases September 30 and this is the first single! I can’t wait!

3. Come all you weary by Thrice: Yes, this song is based right out of the scriptures! I picked up the new Thrice disc while I was at YC and was a little skeptical as i bought their last disc (a companion piece to this) and was a little let-down by it! This song is just what you need if you’re having a tough day/week… I think it works because the guy actually sounds sincere… and believable!

4. Them Kids by Sam Roberts: What else can i say… He’s Canadian and makes great music! I thought for sure he would lose a step with this new album, but thankfully I am proved wrong! I think this is right up there with his top singles and love the opening guitar part! Good job Sam!

5. You are Mine by Mute Math: Probably my favorite song by the band! I was never really interested in this tune i admit, until i read on John Mayer’s blog last September how they were quickly becoming one of his favorite bands and that this was among his faves… I checked it out, gave it a chance and for literally the last 8 months, it’s been a constant play on the ipod! peaceful!

6. Vultures by John Mayer: Speaking of Mayer, if you haven’t checked out his new DVD you must, it’s amazing and gives a new respect for his music! Vultures was and is my favorite song from his last album, but even more on this new live album… He’s recorded the song 3 times on cd and each time it sounds better!

7. Maybe Tomorrow by Stereophonics: Had to mention this one… It has literally been on my ipod list for 3-4 years now, not sure as to the exact time, but i never get sick of this song. My bud Kris introduced me to stereophonics then and am yet to find another song that sticks in my head like this one! It was featured on movies such as ‘Crash’ and ‘Wicker park’ and was played in such appropriate scenes, that only made me like the tune more!

8. Love’s not a competion (But I’m Winning) by Kaiser Chiefs: When I was living in Toon, I was sitting around the house one night watching Conan O’brien with my bud Travis and these guys performed. They didn’t perform this tune, however their live performance of their single ‘ruby’ was enough to encourage me to go out and by their disc the next day! Such catchy music! Love this tune for some reason, lyrically it’s fun and is the kind of song that makes me wish i was talented enough to play at an open mic show! If only?

9. I will Possess your heart by death Cab for Cutie: Lyrically, this could qualify as the “Stalker’s National Anthem.’ Once you get pass that and the once-annoying, now great 4 minute bass intro, you’ve got a great tune that’ll definately remind me of the summer!

That’s it for now, hopefully some people check out some of the tunes… Now my question for you is, what have you been listening to lately? What are your favorite tracks right now?