matt's thoughts

Today Is Holloween...

As a Christian and as a minister it has been difficult for me to land in a good place about where I stand on Halloween.  I grew as that kid who gave out tracts instead of candy..ugh...but have come around to a bit more balanced place in my adult years...i think.   My wife grew up with Holloween being a very special time with her dad, and has swayed my heart a bit in my approach to things. 

Yesterday we spent time as a family carving pumpkins on our back patio, and I was so excited about my wife's approach and perspective to this long-time tradition.  She used it as an opportunity to tell the story of Jesus and the message of the gospel to our oldest daughter. 

As we scooped out the slimy insides of the pumpkin, Tricia talked about how the bad things that we do, (like being mean and disobeying our parents) are like our slimy insides that need to be cleaned out.  She shared with Hope about God's desire to clean out our hearts so that we can live with Him in heaven, and that Jesus died on the cross so that we can have clean hearts.   Then they carved a happy face in the pumpkin and talked about how letting Jesus clean out our hearts gives us joy. 

Then as we finished up Tricia talked about God putting his love inside of us was just like putting a light or a candle inside of the pumpkin.  It shines out so everyone can see his love inside of us. 

It was so great to see things that represent this holiday, which has so many dark elements, redeemed to communicate the love of Jesus to my little girl. 

my monday

Sitting here in the car dealership waiting room...boy they go the extra mile with these places. Thought about bloggong why I am here, but that would take waaaaay to long. Needless to say there are many other places I would rather be.

On another note, we had a great service yesterday. Our set-

1. You Never Let Go
2. Your Grace Is Enough
3. Beautiful One
4. You Are My King
5. Let Us Love And Sing and Wonder

Fall Festival

We spent the afternoon at a Fall Festival for the neighborhood that our church meets in.  It was an awesome  time to serve the community and be there "with them." 

My favorite quote of the day, regarding all the Historians there helping: 

"Who are these people who throw great parties?"

 

Surprise!!

I just got back from a surpise party that some folks threw for Ben and me and our families to celebrate Pastor Appreciation month.  I feel so blessed to be at History.  The people here are so loving and so committed to Jesus and to one another...it is truly an amazing community. 

I didn't have my camera...as it was a surprise, but i'll post some pics if I get some from the others present. 

You Should Own this Dragon

I just finished Donald Miller's, To Own a Dragon.  It was awesome...

I have been a big fan of Donald Miller for a while now, each book he puts out has a unique way of speaking right to the heart of things in an amazingly accessible way...though I didn't much like Through Painted Deserts...a re-release of his first book that bombed on its first outing. 

The subtitle for this book is: Reflections on Growing up Without a Father.  Miller addresses a very relevant issue of Fatherhood, and the issues that come with our "father wounds."  I grew up with a great dad, but even still there were parts of this book that really spoke to me.  I found it a really important read as I seek to minister in this emerging generation.  Henry Nouwen in his The Wounded Healer written in the 1970s, predicted that the coming generation would be a fatherless generation.  I have been struck how true this is as I interact with young men.  I'm so glad that Miller chose to address this important issue...

See the Morning Review

I've had Tomlin's newest album on my iTunes for almost two weeks now and to be honest I haven't listened to it very much.  There are some solid songs on it, tons that are very fitting congregationally, but to be honest it almost feels more like an extension of his previous album than something new. 

I really love Tomlin's stuff, and will probably be doing some of these songs, but I wasn't blown away by the album as a whole.  This is a good collection of songs and you should definitley buy it...but for me it is more as a resource than one of those albums I play over an over.

What did you think?
 

Philippians 2:25

 

"But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs."

I'm struck by Paul's description of his friend here.  I think most of us lean more toward one of these descriptions...brother...fellow worker...soldier...messenger.  One of these most likely resonates with you.  (I'm naturally a brother/messenger kind of guy) 

Life lived counterculturally in the Kingdom of God here on earth is never a simple thing though...it requires much of us and of those around us.  It requires that we are more than we are naturally comfortable with.  If this is lived out I reckon that it will mess with our pet theologies and shake up our comfortable church lives...but that is probably better. 

a good moment in my day

Wally the Worship Leader

I'm a sucker for satire...more here
HT: Bob

bling

not sure what to say about this
HT: los