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1 month ago
"Social NOT-working"
As I was driving to church today, a 25-minute drive that turned into an hour, parking into the church I had the sudden urge or craving to whip out my cell phone, blog, twitter, and facebook how frustrating it was to have hit every single red light imaginable on my way to church from Biola (w00t).
But as I got out of the car, caught a wiff of the cool breeze from the incoming fall season - I couldn’t help but “slow down”. I thought to myself - “why, for any reason would people want to know about hitting red lights?”
Would my informing of people give them the blueprints for avoiding red lights? Would my information somehow give people new insight into how to really live life?
… well, no… it wouldn’t.
Deep down inside of me, the urge to write about the minute details of my day, whether it was a “stellar” food place I discovered, or some sort of super “ORIGINAL” finding - deep down inside, my desire was the need for attention.
Deep down sometimes I can feel insecure (yes, pastor’s feel it at times too), and out of this insecurity comes the desire for attention from people, and the sometimes the way our society moves, getting attention means being as blatant and bold about your personal information as you can - maybe even throwing in a big fish or two here and there…
So I trenched deeper. What would be a great way to settle my insecurity and work on this urge that I have while growing in character and honoring God (my shameless plug)?
I called my wife. I called Annie.
God gave me a help-mate like Annie, who would love and support me no matter what. So I gave her a call at work and told her about my viscious trip from Biola (w00t) to Church (w00t Cornerstone). And her surprise at how long it took me, her listening to my complaining vanquished any desire in me to blog about my day. Not only that, but get this - our conversation went beyond the venting of my experience earlier this morning… something more.
But I guess that leads me here. Why blog about it now? My conviction stands that social networking ploys to “connect the world”, while they do very much (i.e. the Kogi BBQ truck, connecting with family overseas, etc.), also serve as a means of “disconnecting people”.
Would I otherwise have called my wife at work to talk with her? Would I have engaged in a more wholesome conversation with someone? Or would I have expected all my friends and family to know what’s going on with me in 140 characters or less?
Want a Pastor’s Perspective?
Call someone you love this week, today, or within the next hour. Take your status updates and share it to them, tell them more about it. Better yet, take on this challenge:
“DEEPEN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY”
You see, I grew up with family and friends with whom I’ve lost contact with over the past several years… Especially as the holiday season rolls along and I now have the opportunity to be with them again - will our conversations go deeper than they ever have before? Or will it be more wholesome?
Because… isn’t what we truly need out of social networking, just that? Networking? It was meant to be a catalyst for relationships, not intended to replace the whole.
So there it is… I encourage you to spend time with friends and family this week - “talk” with them. Listen and speak when appropriate.
“We must love eachother or perish…”
- Morrie, from the book Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom.
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2 months ago
GOD, here's my prayer
Lord, I pray that I may be deeper in my relationship with you,
That I will thirst more for your WORD,
That I will hunger more for our relationship,
I pray that you will give me a heart that’s bigger than me,
Give me a heart for those that are broken,
Those in need of you,
I pray that I might seek you,
All of the days of my life,
I pray for character,
That I may be more of the person you desire for me to be.
I love you Jesus.
Amen.
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2 months ago
Contemplation
I had the opportunity to see a video of a baptism done by our old youth pastor Josh Tongol on facebook this morning. It was so beautiful it almost led me to tears, person after person screaming their love for Jesus just before making a public symbol of the dying of their old self and the rising of the new in Christ. I couldn’t help but think to myself that Christians like these are going to save and impact the world.
All of this also got me to see that the Christian Life is a beautiful thing - and though we may not be all the way “there” yet (wherever “there” is)… I do know this - that we can be radically passionate about following Christ… so passionate that even though we dunk ourselves in the ocean with onlookers passing by, without shame, without apprehension we can call out to the heavens and say “LORD… I am yours!” May God continually bless Josh and his ministry in the Philippines AND LORD please bless our ministry here in ((La Puente)) - give me a heart like Billy Graham’s, Josh Tongol’s, like Christ’s for wherever you lead me and whoever you lead me to.
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2 months ago
Orphan Sunday - November 8, 2009 - Let’s do this.
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3 months agoWhat Do the Fins on the Surfboard Do?: How to Shape & Make a Surfboard | eHow.com
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Notes: 993 / 3 months ago from azulskies
This is gross.
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3 months agoCompton Pastor Embezzles
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3 months agoYouth Group leader accused of having sex with teen
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3 months ago
Pastors and Moral Struggles
I just finished reading two articles within the LA times about the fall of two Christian leaders. One, a senior pastor, the other, a youth pastor. What hurts the most is that not only does news like this affect people’s perspective on organized religion, but what it does is also shows us serving in ministry how personal sin can easily blow out into bigger proportions.
I am truly humbled by this experience and I am thankful that God has preserved me in ministry for so many years. But news like this constantly reminds me of the fact that we are not to get too caught up in the work of God that we forget the God of the work (my first cliche line blogged). The truth is that we forget sometimes that everything outwardly that comes out of us whether through ministry or personal experience can serve as a reflection of our inner spiritual condition.
Pray, pray, pray, pray, pray.
I encourage you all who serve in ministry, to continue to fight the good fight. Pursue Christ, seek first the Kingdom of God - seek God first! God bless you guys!
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3 months ago"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever"- 1 Peter 1:24-25
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