Infectious.

I love The Sound of Music.

Now that I have the unstudly admission out of my system, I can move on. Don't judge me. We all have ugly secrets.

I remember the first time I sang a medley of the songs from that movie with my wife present. I can't remember if I did it before or after my Grease performance, but I distinctly remember being grateful that I had already married her prior to the performance.

Look... I don't know what it is about that flick that makes me overcome the knowledge of my horrendous singing that usually keeps folks safe from my voice. I can't help it. Edelweiss always brings tears to my eyes. And I don't even have to be singing it for that to happen.

Of course, the video above was an instant hit... it was posted by a CB friend. I have always been fascinated with flash mobs, but this one truly seemed to spread goodwill. Towards the end, you really can't tell who was who; everyone seemed to get caught up in performance, and I am guessing they left the folks present happier than they were before it started.

This, along with the earlier post about the poor lady dying alone, got me wondering about what we, the church, are doing to infect our communities. Are we conduits for joy and the positive. Do we light up night and help dispense faith and hope? It so easy to become the opposite... a symbol of condemnation or a bastion for the holier-than-thous'.

It takes a little bit more than simple lip service. I think it takes a change of consciousness. It takes a real effort to liken oneself to the best Model of all.

At the end of the day, the success of any ministry can be measured in any number of ways, but one that we must really be concerned with is the change in the lives of the people in our cities.
Praise God

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Greening BFC

On Sunday, our pastor was talking about visiting the site of the future new Branch Family Church building (the plot had just recently been graded). He laughingly mentioned seeing something that warmed his heart: someone had created an impromptu marker by etching "BFC" in a slab of concrete. The person(s) garnished the top with a small branch. Derek made fun of the fact that there was no grass or greenery on the branch whatsoever.

Enter Mr Genius Landscaper, the Defender of all that could be lush (moi). I drove the family there, and spruced up the monument, using plucked grass and foliage from a nearby tree to create the facade of green.

As the family looked on in shame and confusion, I persevered and worked on my piggybacked masterpiece. I flirted with the idea of etching my name in the concrete base, but in the end, I figured that further "borrowing" of this intellectual property would be too shameful.

I figured that with this selfless offering, our church family would name the gymnasium after me.

Now that I have destroyed any chance of running a viable landscaping buisness, I present the "BFC Land marker Reimagined with a touch of Tre."

I'll accept a small shrub being named after me. Or a fence post. Please?

I am reluctantly posting this disclaimer: my wife wants it to be clear that though she was present, she had nothing to do with the crazy idea, and wants The Branch family to know what she goes through on a daily basis.
Praise God.

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Never missed.

In this scary, sad story, we hear about the account of a reclusive widow who died and wasn't discovered for a year and a half.

There is so much that can be said about this. The 72-yr-old lady was a long-time resident, had lived alone since her husband died in 1985, and tragically, no one noticed her absence for the 18 months that preceded the discovery of her and her dog's remains. Her house was even auctioned off with the body inside.

The easy thing to do is to wonder aloud as to how her neighbors did not notice her absence. I mean, really? In this day and age?

And then it hits you. It is all about this day and age. Even worse, when I look in the mirror, how much better am I?

When God spoke about neighborly, I don't think He was very unclear. The whole love requirement was simple and all-encompassing. Yet, when I spent the time to examine myself in the light of the story above, I admittedly fall flat. Would I really go out of the way to be a true neighbor, or do I make up the excuse of not being "nosy" to help be justify avoiding interaction? Am I accessible to my fellow man?

What about the homeless guy down the street? My brother or sister in Life Group? The parent of a player I coach? My wife?

There are so many arguments out there... it's a different time, the internet, privacy issues.... you name it. Should they matter?

Honestly, when I put myself on the scale that compares the love for myself with my love for my neighbors, one side is woefully short.

I think that is something we all need to look at intimately, as individuals and/or church workers. We should strive to ensure no one slips through the cracks.

The report references folks who were trying to remember what the lady looked like.

Have you been neighborly today?
Praise God!

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Pastors doing the unthinkable

Every now and then, I hear of something that makes me take pause.

This is one of them...

Twitter Pal and fellow Alltopper Ron Edmondson, who pastors Grace Community Church in Clarcksville, TN, recently asked his staff to evaluate him.

No... he wasn't high (off earthly substances, at least). So, why would a pastor willingly remove the cloak of infallibility by subjecting himself to review by his own staff?

Why would he publish the results?

The humility shown here is golden. Your staff see the communication goes both ways. You have an opportunity to gauge your own performance. You can see show you adhere to the same ideals you hold them to... the pluses are endless.

Of course, the ego has to be turned off, which, is probably the biggest advantage of all.

Humble hats off to Pastor Edmondson!
Praise God!

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Under the sun...

I stumbled upon this post from CrackBerry acquaintance Tlynnsmith, and it really, really touched me. Talk about timely.

I think in this day, in these economic times, it is good to go back to the Source.

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Misplaced Expectations

The other day, I took my son to get his haircut for the first time.

Prior to leaving, my wife mentioned that he might be tired and cranky, as his haircut would conflict with his usual nap time.

"Honey, I don't play that," I sanctimoniously stated. " Sleepy or not, I am the law. He WILL behave."

She looked at me with true pity.

I gave myself a few minutes to allow my puffed-out chest to deflate, and my son and I departed for the barbershop.

My plan was simple. I did what every dad does when faced with a potential discipline problem. I offered a bribe.

"Hey X... If you behave, and sit in the chair like a big boy, Daddy'll get you a donut!"

His eyes lit up. "Donuts?" (His automatic use of the plural was admirable).

"Yep... donuts! Daddy loves you."

With the bribe in place, as expected, the event went very well. My son acted in exemplary fashion, and made me proud.

For all but the last two minutes, anyway.

Not one to hold grudge, I decided to get him his donut. After running some errands, I fired up my BlackBerry TeleNav software and GPS puck and searched for "donuts." I was pleased to find out that there was a heretofore undiscovered Krispy Kreme location not far from where we lived. Every other "real" donut place was a significant distance away.

You see, not any donut shop would do for me... I mean, my son. Top of the line only. No gas stations; no grocery stores. Only KK or DD would do.

We drove with glee. The location seemed weird... it was in an industrial area, but we were unperturbed. I smiled with relief when I saw the small sign and vehicles.

My son was wide-eyed in wondrous amazement. "Donut trucks," he whispered in awe.

However, something just didn't feel right. There weren't any people with actual confectionaries. No workers. No drive-thru. No cops. And, unless they were cultivating the flour they used in the production process on-site, the humongous warehouse was serious overkill.

The security guard threw me for a loop. Who was making these donuts? What was in them? Was Willy Wonka on the loose in Charlotte?

I walked up to the security guard and asked where I could purchase donuts. He looked confused.

"We don't sell donuts. Not to individuals."

My son and I were dejected. We had driven to a bulk distributor.

Half an hour later, we were eating donuts from a grocery store. And my son couldn't be happier.

Sometimes, simple love is all it takes.

Picture courtesy of CharlieCLC via Wikimedia Commons.

Sent via BlackBerryPraise God

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What a month!

This has been one of those testimony-laden months. Getting back in the saddle, and looking forward to writing.

The good news is that I am back!

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Arrested.

I read this touching account from the blog of John Maxwell, an influential author and speaker, who recently was arrested (yes... arrested).

Sorry... I found it refreshing: a public figure who, in my opinion, makes no excuses for an occurrence, and takes the responsibility for it. He scores high marks in the integrity sweepstakes in my book.

Thanks to fellow Alltopper Ron Edmonson for the post that revealed the story to me.

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People I dislike: Derek Turner

I dislike Derek Turner... for a few reasons:

- Derek is truly one of the most sincere people I know. You really want to see that your pastor is a bit insincere. As my pastor, Derek abjectly fails here.

- Derek has looked pain and horror in the eye and come out with a closer relationship with God. He continually makes me feel like I can deal with the petty things in my life with more joy. This makes me mad.

- Derek truly loves people. He reaches out regardless of how it makes him look. Again, he makes me shine the light on my own life. Not cool.

- Derek was a phenomenal soccer goalkeeper at ORU. Now I have nothing to boast about.

- Derek uses a BlackBerry, and references the Bible from it. See previous bullet.

- When asked about Diversity, Derek's answer is, "What Would Love Do?"

Whatever. I truly dislike this guy.

Derek Turner is Pastor at The Branch Family Church in Charlotte, NC.

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Nobodies

In christian social networking circles, name recognition means everything. The worlds of FaceBook and Twitter abound with ministry heavyweights. Getting involved is a sign of being connected.

Still, behind the scenes, underneath the celebrities, there is a network of quieter folks, no less inspiring and with compelling stories -- folks that blow you away with their sincerity and friendship.

These "nobodies" (a group which I humbly fall in to) are what make social networks what they are. I know that I can get with Danny with a quick tweet, or shoot the breeze with Pamela, or argue with Karen. I can TokBox with Amanda, Richard, Scott, Ms Michelle and the rest of the Rowdy 180 till the wee hours of the morning.

I know that Waalien is always available; JennFelt is just a call away; I can plan a lunch meeting with Jace, Justin and/or Antoine on the fly. I can talk poetry with Sarah, cyber-box with Paige and call on Ron for some back-up. Cool thing is that I can pray with any and all of these people at any given time.

I could go on and on. I could shut down Blogger if I took the time to detail how my social family affects me and my ministry. From 180 to CB to beyond, I am grateful for the friendship, and for being celebrities in my life.

As a tribute, I am starting a segment... starting with a couple people you may or may not have heard of, called "People I Dislike..."

Stay tuned...

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Street Cred

In ministry, you need street cred.

It's a simple concept, and everybody knows it's true. In youth ministry, the need is even more pronounced.

For instance, everybody knows that in youth ministry, you can "up" your rep with a few add-ons. You can also knock yourself down a few notches with misconceived ideas.

For example: a motorcycle gives you instant credibility. And specific motorcycles give different vibes. A senior pastor on a Harley is uber-cool; on the other hand, a youth pastor will want to get a two-wheeler that sacrifices comfort. Yep, you guessed right: the youth pastor who is serious about projecting street smarts will only ride a crotch rocket. Preferably in neon coloring.

Another instant-rep-giver that may be a bit more ubiquitous is the tattoo. Nothing proclaims "downness" like inked skin. And no, I am not talking about christian symbols like the cross, or ambiguous etches like thorns on the biceps. Dude, I am referring to confusing symbols that originate in the Far East. No youth pastor is complete without at least one. Trust me, youth ministry search committees will ask to see them. Going forward, I suggest going to interviews with tank tops and sleeveless mesh muscle shirts to portray seriousness.

No budding youth pastor is complete without body piercings. Abundance is key. In fact, the "maler" one is, the more exposed piercings are needed. Lips, eyes, elbows -- anywhere and everywhere. If you walk by a microscope and it it does not need to be recalibrated, you are simply not dedicated enough.

Yeah... it's true. Unconventional is in. It is trendy to be atypical. Shoe shines are not enough. Maturity can be a minus. Youth ministry is like gymnastics. 25 yrs of age makes you a senior citizen.

I am in trouble. I married wrong. The woman is perfect... but each time I brought up getting a bike, she ominously presented me with new life insurance policies. I finally gave up. I am not big on tattoos, and henna just doesn't give me the juice I need. The joke, however, is on y'all; I can get all the piercings I want.

Hmph.

Images courtesy of Wiki Commons.

Praise God

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BlackBerry-less

So, I have been cranky... the USB port on my 8320 was ruined, and thus, I couldn't charge or sync my phone.

I had a few options. I could get a refurb unit from Tmo for free, but that would mean getting a new PIN, and switching over the tons of apps to a device that wouldn't be new. I could upgrade to the 8900, but then, I'd have the same problem as above (plus, an expense I could not justify).

I even flirted with the idea of getting a new device and/or carrier, but in the end, I decided thatmy 8320 was too good to let go, and no current device was an upgrade by my standards.

So, I sent in the phone to BBRepairshop. Can't wait for the device to get back.

Stay tuned. I am.

Praise God

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Women and self-worth

Now that I have a daughter, I can authoritatively comment on women and self-esteem. I can authoritatively say I still know nothing: except to listen to my wife and do my darnedest to ensure she understands how she should be treated and how she should view herself.

This post is from dear friend Jen... I absolutely loved it.

Burn away!

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Soccer Keeper Uses iPod

As a soccer coach and former keeper, this bit of news from Reuters caught my eye... a keeper using an electronic device (in this case, an iPod) for on-the-field analysis that arguably helped him and his team win the coveted League Cup via penalty shoot-out.

Ben Foster, goal tender for powerhouse Manchester United, watched penalty kicks previously taken by opponent Tottenham Hotspur designated kickers. He watched the clips with United's goalkeeping coach as a tactical move prior to the shoot-out.

In youth soccer, I think one of the most under-utilized tools is game film. Having film, in my opinion, is priceless. Ever talked to a 12 yr-old about a mistake he/she made on the field ten minutes earlier? Chances are he/she won't remember. Have the same child watch herself on video... they practically troubleshoot themselves. Pointy ball coaches have been doing this forever; you wonder why we, as coaches of a game as fluid as soccer, do not routinely film games for future reference.

It is relatively easy to get parents to tape a game, too.

Hopefully, The FA and FIFA won't overeact and ban the use, though an argument could be made that allowing some electronic aids on the pitch opens the doors to abuse. Still, it goes to show that real football goalkeepers are the smartest folks around.
Praise God!

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That pesky concept known as faith...

Faith is:

* a very, very disconcerting topic. Lord, you're telling me to rest on You? Completely?

* the ultimate log/speck talking point... easy to troubleshoot in others, not so much in self

* is a very humbling concept.

* can be contagious. Sometimes, it takes one faithful person to effect change

* is extremely energy-efficient. A speck does wonders.

* does wonders for mental health.

* is phenomenal when paired with sister pesky concept "love."

Praise God!

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Injured good Samaritan ticketed for jaywalking

Seriously? Please give this guy a break... (and someone finally did).

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The Source

I had gone over to my parents house this weekend to look at a problem they were having with their wireless network. I had installed it a few weeks earlier, and Mom reported that all of a sudden, it had quit working.

I was able to isolate the initial problem fairly quickly, but for the life of me, I could not get it up and running. The cable modem was working fine, and after resetting, it was broadcasting "online" and the router seemed fine. I just could not continue the connection to the world wide web.

Stumped, I decided to take a break and start another project for my Mom: getting her Wii console fixed. My mom had shocked us all by purchasing the gaming system a few weeks back, but for the kids, it made Nana's home even more welcome.

While looking for the Wii serial number, I noticed that my parents were now on DirecTV. Impressive, I thought.

It wasn't till later that the answer to my initial problem jumped at me. I called my Mom.

"Mom... when did this problem start?"
"In December" she answered.
"Well, when did you cancel cable and go to DTV?" I queried.
There was a pause. "In December."

Voila! Problem solved! The folks had cut off cable. There was no internet source.

The teaching moments are analogies are plentiful for every facet of ministry, personal and church. Basically, it can boil down to asking, particularly in lean times: what is your Source? Is it constantly refreshed? Is there something blocking it?

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Prison Break.

In this story from Reuters, we hear about the sad case of a prisoner who requested that the police actually re-incarcerate him. Life in the real world was not pleasant. He needed a break from freedom.

It actually tugged at my heartstrings. I admit it.

I was thinking of the first of the Matrix movies, where a group of rogue humans fought to free other humans from a captive facade created my machines to keep them (humans) under control. A subplot was the idea that some people freed from bondage actually preferred to be returned to the empty existence. In the movie, one of the humans was so intent on returning, he betrayed and killed most of the crew.

How do we present ourselves (as ministers)? Do folks come in all green-eyed, and yearn to get away from our fellowship as soon as possible? Do we really work to maintain the relationships we have, versus letting the newbies fend for themselves?

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Want a mistress? Think again...

In this story that blurs the line between real and incredible, we get yet one more reason why having a mistress is generally not a good idea...

I blame this on Twitter Pal Ben Cotten, who made the tweet that brought it to my attention.

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Sweet tea, me-way and ministry.

I am a sweet tea addict.

Sweet tea defines my identity: in it, I am proud southerner. Nothing gets me out of a funk like some ice cold sweet tea. Now, I like to consider myself smarter than Esau, and I truly believe that lentil soup would never make me sell my birthright, but in my more lucid moments, I have to admit that a pitcher of liquid brown goodness would give me pause.

Now, along with this love of sweet tea comes an absolute disdain of iced unsweetened tea. Just typing that pushes me to the edge of insane anger. Would adding some sugar really be that hard? It gets worse when you go to a restaurant an ask for sweet tea, and they offer you the unsweetened, poisonous version. Then, they rub salt in the wound by offering to mix in sugar for you. Really? It should be criminal. People have been jailed for less.

It's just the way things should be. Sweet tea should be sweet, and it should be cold. When I say sweet, I mean it should hit the brain on the first mini-sip. When I say cold, it should threaten the esophagus with frostbite from beginning to end. Yeah... that's how it should be. As Mr Nezzer of Veggie Tales fame would say: bland, lukewarm, barely-any-sugar "sweet" tea is for sissies!

So, I think something is clear. I couldn't really explain the pros and cons of the latest stimulus bill, but when it comes to serious issues like the chilled consumption of Camellia sinensis, I am very, very passionate. The Boston Tea Party holds extra special significance with me, homie...

Hey, Don't judge me. We all have our individual passions...

It's funny, though, how my way becomes the "right" way. Almost imperceptibly, my way becomes THE way. And, despite my good intentions, that becomes dangerous when it supersedes what should be my true Guide.

When it comes to ministry, it can be a tricky balancing the need for open-mindedness with the requirement of unyielding ethics. On the flip side, we have seen when the "me-way" leads astray when it is paired with an unfettered desire to think outside the box... and that, my friends, is a discussion for another day.

Images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

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