Ran a few errands at lunchtime and it seems most people are listening to or watching the inaugural "love fest." The historical significance of the first non-white president (Obama is not truly African American) cannot be ignored, and on one level, this is a huge advance for this country.
But I confess I am very disappointed in Obama already. We have people who are struggling to pay their mortgages and heating bills, manage sky-rocketing health-care costs and taxes, and Obama & Co. (the Democrats) are throwing the most expensive coronation, er inauguration ever!
If Obama has said, "Let's just do what is Constitutionally required to effect the transfer of power, and then get down to business. [Okay, maybe one party (I suppose the Democrats do have a reason to celebrate)]; that would have been a HUGE statement in light of our deteriorating economy.
20 January 2009
19 January 2009
Assorted thoughts for mid-January 2009
I don't know whether I want to listen to Obama's inaugural speech tomorrow. There won't be anything he will say to change my opinion--I did not vote for him--and I will probably only feel worse hearing all he wants to do to our country.
* * * * *
Spent the last two weeks preparing our church's annual report. We went electronic this year, mainly to cut costs, but since all but five members have email, we created PDF files of everything and emailed them. Now we need to figure out how to post documents for download from our website.
* * * * *
We purchased the license to show the movie Fireproof throughout 2009 (our CVLI license does not cover it). Our small group is going to plan three showings in March, which we will open to the community "on behalf of the church in Littleton" so it's not an "our church" thing. I hope we can kick off two or three small groups from the movie, using the follow-up discussion material.
* * * * *
Last summer I read Bill Hybels' book Axiom. One of his axioms is "Six by Six." Every six weeks, he selects six objectives/goals/projects he works on for that period. Bill works long days, much longer than I do or can, but I've been thinking that it may be a good idea to implement something like it this year for me. Maybe "Four by Six." I already have one thing completed two weeks into January (annual report). Number two: performance evaluations...(oh goody!)
* * * * *
Spent the last two weeks preparing our church's annual report. We went electronic this year, mainly to cut costs, but since all but five members have email, we created PDF files of everything and emailed them. Now we need to figure out how to post documents for download from our website.
* * * * *
We purchased the license to show the movie Fireproof throughout 2009 (our CVLI license does not cover it). Our small group is going to plan three showings in March, which we will open to the community "on behalf of the church in Littleton" so it's not an "our church" thing. I hope we can kick off two or three small groups from the movie, using the follow-up discussion material.
* * * * *
Last summer I read Bill Hybels' book Axiom. One of his axioms is "Six by Six." Every six weeks, he selects six objectives/goals/projects he works on for that period. Bill works long days, much longer than I do or can, but I've been thinking that it may be a good idea to implement something like it this year for me. Maybe "Four by Six." I already have one thing completed two weeks into January (annual report). Number two: performance evaluations...(oh goody!)
22 December 2008
Happy Winter!
We greeted yesterday's official onset of winter with another foot of white stuff...added to the 8 inches already on the ground from Friday's storm. And we expect another 3-6 Wednesday!
When I arrived at work this morning, the facility maintenance guy was toiling with a shovel to move the stuff. I asked him why he wasn't using the snow blower (like I intend to later) and he said the rip cord frayed and broke, and the electronic start wouldn't kick the machine over. Bummer.
Besides the snow blower, I get to trudge through the drifts and try to remove some of the snow buildup from the porch roof with a roof rake (interesting name: 'cuz you literally pull snow off the roof with it).
And it's flurrying right now. Ah, North Country weather in winter! So much for global warming!
It'll definitely be a white Christmas this year.
When I arrived at work this morning, the facility maintenance guy was toiling with a shovel to move the stuff. I asked him why he wasn't using the snow blower (like I intend to later) and he said the rip cord frayed and broke, and the electronic start wouldn't kick the machine over. Bummer.
Besides the snow blower, I get to trudge through the drifts and try to remove some of the snow buildup from the porch roof with a roof rake (interesting name: 'cuz you literally pull snow off the roof with it).
And it's flurrying right now. Ah, North Country weather in winter! So much for global warming!
It'll definitely be a white Christmas this year.
01 December 2008
Thoughts on quitting (teaching SS class, that is)
I've been debating this thought for a while now: I think I need to end my tenure as Junior High Sunday School teacher after this year ends. Not that I really want to, mind you. But I find I can't give the task the time and energy I want to, and there's really nothing else to give up.
Part of this dilemma arises from my role at the church, and my necessary involvement in overseeing ministries and coaching leaders. I teach a Bible study at the local senior living facility (I consider that outreach since I can plainly present the Gospel every time I'm there). I coach and serve on the Connection ministry team (our monthly mid-week worship gathering), occasionally speaking as well. Then there's our newly started small group, which includes two couples who have a lot of questions (they're fairly young in the faith).
Eventually, my coaching role on the Connection team will no longer be needed (I hope), and I hope to involve more people with the Bible study. The center would love a weekly study, but it's during the morning (when most of the 70-, 80-, and 90-year old residents can best function), and that's when most other people work.
All this on to my of my regular duties developing the small group ministry, aligning church ministries to our church vision, handling the administrative needs of the church, etc. I successfully transitioned the weekly slideshow preparation, as well running the slides during services. And I stepped away from regularly playing in the worship ensemble a year ago.
So I have had more time for planning and research and more planning, etc. But I find the Sunday School class has become a late-Friday after thought. "Oops, I still have to put together Sunday's lesson plan!" And I certainly don't have the band-width to keep in touch with the kids and build relationships outside of Sunday morning (I wish I could).
Besides, I'm not the only one who can do this: with over 200 adults in the church population, there has to be someone who can and wants to work with these kids. But as long as I'm in place, these individuals will never step up to say they'd like a shot at the class. Last year, the senior high class teacher stepped down, and we actually thought we wouldn't have a class. But someone stepped up, and with a novel idea for the class structure, she has a regular attendance that we haven't seen in years.
So maybe it's time for the junior high class to be removed from my plate, so someone else can take up the opportunity.
Part of this dilemma arises from my role at the church, and my necessary involvement in overseeing ministries and coaching leaders. I teach a Bible study at the local senior living facility (I consider that outreach since I can plainly present the Gospel every time I'm there). I coach and serve on the Connection ministry team (our monthly mid-week worship gathering), occasionally speaking as well. Then there's our newly started small group, which includes two couples who have a lot of questions (they're fairly young in the faith).
Eventually, my coaching role on the Connection team will no longer be needed (I hope), and I hope to involve more people with the Bible study. The center would love a weekly study, but it's during the morning (when most of the 70-, 80-, and 90-year old residents can best function), and that's when most other people work.
All this on to my of my regular duties developing the small group ministry, aligning church ministries to our church vision, handling the administrative needs of the church, etc. I successfully transitioned the weekly slideshow preparation, as well running the slides during services. And I stepped away from regularly playing in the worship ensemble a year ago.
So I have had more time for planning and research and more planning, etc. But I find the Sunday School class has become a late-Friday after thought. "Oops, I still have to put together Sunday's lesson plan!" And I certainly don't have the band-width to keep in touch with the kids and build relationships outside of Sunday morning (I wish I could).
Besides, I'm not the only one who can do this: with over 200 adults in the church population, there has to be someone who can and wants to work with these kids. But as long as I'm in place, these individuals will never step up to say they'd like a shot at the class. Last year, the senior high class teacher stepped down, and we actually thought we wouldn't have a class. But someone stepped up, and with a novel idea for the class structure, she has a regular attendance that we haven't seen in years.
So maybe it's time for the junior high class to be removed from my plate, so someone else can take up the opportunity.
24 November 2008
Habits are hard things to break...and create
I'm still working through John Burke's Soul Revolution, a book that walks readers through his church's 60-60 Experiment. This experiment basically trains a person to become more aware of God throughout the day, by connecting with Him every 60 minutes for 60 days. The book includes lots of stories of how people's lives dramatically changed through their experience.
Whether 60 days is enough is debatable. Burke talks in one chapter about how people need to do something every day for 90 days for a new habit or way of thinking to take hold. But I suppose 60 days sounds more doable if you're trying to convince someone to take on the experiment.
I purchased an inexpensive kitchen timer (60 minutes) to try this. But during the dry run, I discovered that I have to cycle through every second to reset the timer for the next hour. That's a lot of thumb pushing, unless I decide to enter the "texting" Olympics.
* * *
Another habit I plan to attempt to build is exercise. A local gym recently opened its doors and the cost was more than right: it basically removed all obstacles to joining. Since I'm pushing the half-century mark, and my family's medical history may start to catch up with me if I don't do something, I took the plunge and enrolled last Wednesday.
Then my wife and kids decided to visit friends in Connecticut over the weekend, leaving me with no car (yes, we did that on purpose). I planne to--and did--walk wherever I needed to go. I think I averaged about five miles each day. So I haven't made it to the gym yet. Today should be the day.
Whether 60 days is enough is debatable. Burke talks in one chapter about how people need to do something every day for 90 days for a new habit or way of thinking to take hold. But I suppose 60 days sounds more doable if you're trying to convince someone to take on the experiment.
I purchased an inexpensive kitchen timer (60 minutes) to try this. But during the dry run, I discovered that I have to cycle through every second to reset the timer for the next hour. That's a lot of thumb pushing, unless I decide to enter the "texting" Olympics.
* * *
Another habit I plan to attempt to build is exercise. A local gym recently opened its doors and the cost was more than right: it basically removed all obstacles to joining. Since I'm pushing the half-century mark, and my family's medical history may start to catch up with me if I don't do something, I took the plunge and enrolled last Wednesday.
Then my wife and kids decided to visit friends in Connecticut over the weekend, leaving me with no car (yes, we did that on purpose). I planne to--and did--walk wherever I needed to go. I think I averaged about five miles each day. So I haven't made it to the gym yet. Today should be the day.
12 November 2008
Vacation is great!
Spent four days away from the daily routines, visiting my sister and family. Their church currently lacks a pastor (long story there) and the speaker was the sound man! He shared his (brutal) testimony, focusing on forgiveness. Which was a kicker of a message given the guy's background.
My brother-in-law leads worship and invited me (since he knew I was coming) to join the worship band Sunday morning. I added my violin and whistles to the musical texture. I muct admit I had a ball. It is especially gratifying to play with musicians who are very good at what they do, but also know how to play with others, and understand music. Not everyone played every song the same way, or even all the time.
Part of vacationing for me includes avoiding the news: I don't even read the newspaper. I came back to the office this morning, fired up my computer, and deleted about 100 emails, including four doomsday warnings that the FCC will imminently ban religious broadcasting fro TV and radio. This sucker has been around since 1975 and remains false. I also discovered that the pressing national news item on Yahoo.com is what breed of dog will live in the White House.
Come on! Like that's news?! But then, given our culture's obsession with celebrity, I shouldn't be surprised.
My brother-in-law leads worship and invited me (since he knew I was coming) to join the worship band Sunday morning. I added my violin and whistles to the musical texture. I muct admit I had a ball. It is especially gratifying to play with musicians who are very good at what they do, but also know how to play with others, and understand music. Not everyone played every song the same way, or even all the time.
Part of vacationing for me includes avoiding the news: I don't even read the newspaper. I came back to the office this morning, fired up my computer, and deleted about 100 emails, including four doomsday warnings that the FCC will imminently ban religious broadcasting fro TV and radio. This sucker has been around since 1975 and remains false. I also discovered that the pressing national news item on Yahoo.com is what breed of dog will live in the White House.
Come on! Like that's news?! But then, given our culture's obsession with celebrity, I shouldn't be surprised.
05 November 2008
We can be really dumb sometimes
"First of all, I urge you that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority..." 1 Timothy 2:1-2
I'm sitting here the day after a national election, considering what turned out to be a close election (popular vote). Only four percent separated the two major candidates. As a full-time employee of a church, I tread a careful line before the election, guarding my personal views. Now that the election is over, I can say most of the folks I voted for will be looking for new jobs soon.
Some observations on this "morning after":
Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress will need our prayers: that their decision-making will be infused with godly wisdom and truth (hey, it could happen!), but even more importantly, that they will, if they haven't yet, committ to following Jesus Christ.
Let's start today to pray.
I'm sitting here the day after a national election, considering what turned out to be a close election (popular vote). Only four percent separated the two major candidates. As a full-time employee of a church, I tread a careful line before the election, guarding my personal views. Now that the election is over, I can say most of the folks I voted for will be looking for new jobs soon.
Some observations on this "morning after":
- It will be trumpeted that America spoke and voted for change. Well, half of us did. Obama will do well to remember that almost half the country did not vote for him, so he does not enjoy strong majority support. In my over 20 years in the business world, change for change's sake NEVER ends up good.
- Elections should be about choice between ideas. Listening to the news and the pundits and anyone else who managed to get themselves in front of a camera this morning, this election was apparently about getting--finally--a black/minority president. That's all anyone talked about for the 45 minutes I had the TV on!
- We really need to abolish the electoral college. Yesterday's election results would not have changed, but when the popular vote is so close, but the electoral college is not, there's something wrong. Every other office in the country, no matter what level, relies on a straight popular vote: either the people voted for you or not. We like to pay lip service to the idea: one person, one vote. That's hogwash. My vote only counts if I happen to side with the majority, AND if my state carries enough weight to matter on the national stage. Eliminating the electoral college would force candidates to value EVERY voter, no matter his/her residency.
Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress will need our prayers: that their decision-making will be infused with godly wisdom and truth (hey, it could happen!), but even more importantly, that they will, if they haven't yet, committ to following Jesus Christ.
Let's start today to pray.
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