Hey! COME BACK!

 

please.

Working in Ministry is INSANE

I am sitting here, staring at my "desk" (actually, i can't see the top of it...it's pages upon pages of things to get done and put away). I find myself thinking about how insane ministry can be: both in a good way and a bad way (mostly good). Here's a collection of what's bouncing around in my brain:

• As a staff, we try to decide what ministries and resources will best serve the church. The people who make up the church give money to make that happen. If they don't like something, they might stop giving. Either we're serving them well, or they're faithful and obedient (maybe both?), cause that isn't happening.
• Every single person in a church is different. There is no true demographic. Our demographic is "human." 
• How do I communicate to all of these people without leaving anyone behind?
• I'm not a Pastor or anything, but I think my work touches a lot of people.
• I am longing for clarity and direction in our planning, values and organization (it's coming...I'm really excited).
• A church isn't a simple organization. But it can be organized.
• Why don't some people like churches?
• I think there are a handful of high-profile "Christians" who have messed up on our behalf. Sucks.
• Is there a chance that people with preconceived notions about church and Christians could come to Grace and see that it's different? That would be cool...maybe a meetup at Grace through Twitter. Come on ErieBlogs, you know you want to.
• I love talking to my parents about church and Jesus and what it all means. I feel like I have a new perspective on the whole thing (from communications to what happens on Sunday mornings).
• I don't want to be an island. I want to be part of a team. 
• What does Erie need most? Can we provide it?
• I want to do my best, not only because God requires it, but because there are over 1,000 people counting on me not to screw it all up.

Our Hope Endures

O sacred Head, now wounded,

with grief and shame weighed down,

now scornfully surrounded

with thorns, thine only crown:

how pale thou art with anguish,

with sore abuse and scorn!

How does that visage languish

which once was bright as morn!

What thou, my Lord, has suffered

was all for sinners' gain;

mine, mine was the transgression,

but thine the deadly pain.

Lo, here I fall, my Savior!

'Tis I deserve thy place;

look on me with thy favor,

vouchsafe to me thy grace.

What language shall I borrow

to thank thee, dearest friend,

for this thy dying sorrow,

thy pity without end?

O make me thine forever;

and should I fainting be,

Lord, let me never, never

outlive my love for thee.

If You're an Artist in the Church and Hate Your Job

I wrote an article for Collide Magazine about artists in the church. I'm bringing it up here because I wanted a place where people could dialogue through the comments about it, if needed.

Here's the article.

Let me know what you think.

Meet My New Best Friends

Awesome yoga mat:

New kicks:

The sad thing is, i found these sneakers on my honeymoon (12/07) and finally bought them on Saturday. I'm not so good at buying things for myself.

Also, Rachel bought me a camera lens for my birthday. It's really fun to use. I call this, "The Pen is Mightier than the Twitter":

And this is my "Dave Stop Working in the Living Room on the Dining Room Table" series:

The Anatomy of a Prank

1. Get a good inside joke.

2. Invest some money.

3. Find a leader (a.k.a. mastermind):

4. Get a team of stooges:

5. Commit:

Wait.

What?