More photos here...

General News

• Gregg Easterbrook says "Life is Good" even when everyone is saying how terrible things are today
• S. T. Karnick thinks the media is interested in making all of us Girly Men with an attack on masculinity.
  

Technology

• Too much e-mail - I think I feel what this New York Times piece is getting at...between blogs, e-mail, Facebook...it gets difficult to focus.  Lost in E-mail, Tech Firms Face Self-Made Beast.
• Nicolas Carr in the Atlantic Monthly asks a poignant question - Is Google Making Us Stupid? - Personally, we were probably stupid before Google...but maybe we are getting stupider. I just finished a book about Google so this quote was not surprising...it may surprise you though - Perhaps Google will BE Skynet some day...we'll see.  I'll give you some context:
  

The company has declared that its mission is “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” It seeks to develop “the perfect search engine,” which it defines as something that “understands exactly what you mean and gives you back exactly what you want.” In Google’s view, information is a kind of commodity, a utilitarian resource that can be mined and processed with industrial efficiency. The more pieces of information we can “access” and the faster we can extract their gist, the more productive we become as thinkers.

Where does it end? Sergey Brin and Larry Page, the gifted young men who founded Google while pursuing doctoral degrees in computer science at Stanford, speak frequently of their desire to turn their search engine into an artificial intelligence, a HAL-like machine that might be connected directly to our brains. “The ultimate search engine is something as smart as people—or smarter,” Page said in a speech a few years back. “For us, working on search is a way to work on artificial intelligence.” In a 2004 interview with Newsweek, Brin said, “Certainly if you had all the world’s information directly attached to your brain, or an artificial brain that was smarter than your brain, you’d be better off.” Last year, Page told a convention of scientists that Google is “really trying to build artificial intelligence and to do it on a large scale.”

Such an ambition is a natural one, even an admirable one, for a pair of math whizzes with vast quantities of cash at their disposal and a small army of computer scientists in their employ. A fundamentally scientific enterprise, Google is motivated by a desire to use technology, in Eric Schmidt’s words, “to solve problems that have never been solved before,” and artificial intelligence is the hardest problem out there. Why wouldn’t Brin and Page want to be the ones to crack it?

Still, their easy assumption that we’d all “be better off” if our brains were supplemented, or even replaced, by an artificial intelligence is unsettling. It suggests a belief that intelligence is the output of a mechanical process, a series of discrete steps that can be isolated, measured, and optimized. In Google’s world, the world we enter when we go online, there’s little place for the fuzziness of contemplation. Ambiguity is not an opening for insight but a bug to be fixed. The human brain is just an outdated computer that needs a faster processor and a bigger hard drive.

Nicholas Carr, Is Google Making us Stupid? The Atlantic Monthly July/August 2008, http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/google - accessed June 16, 2008.

Peripateo - My Walk

• The Boston Globe teaches us about napping - now we are talking.  Power Naps actually boost productivity...How to instructions here.
  

I am sitting in a restaurant in the place of my birth...or, uh, rather the place of my new birth.  Today I was completing a drive from my former home in Franklin, TN to our temporary home this summer with Kasey's parents in Raleigh NC.  We have detoured for a few weeks as we finalize housing for our actual move to New Jersey.  As I neared Raleigh I felt drawn, somewhat magnetically, to exit and take a drive through Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  I have since called my wife and told her I would get to Raleigh later this afternoon and needed some time to think.

For some reason, the whole process of raising funds, finishing ministry, selling a house, finding a new one and preparing to move has swamped my soul a bit.  I have struggled in the last few weeks to find my passion as a myriad of details has swirled about me.  I have also been a bit distracted reading two technology books - one on the history of the iPod, the other on Google.  I guess I was interested in tech history as I once studied to work in the technology field and have kept an interest.  Anyway, it has been a bit tough of late to see the forest from the trees so I am thankful for today's detour.

I drove around the campus and looked at dorms I once called home, places I used to party, athletic facilities where I sweat and bleed and paths I walked daily to classes.  I saw Phillips Hall where I studied Physics and Sitterson Hall where my love for computer science blossomed so many years ago.  Yet the most profound thing I remembered here was meeting Jesus in some quiet places around this campus and having the direction of my life profoundly changed.  I ate lunch at a place called Armadillo Grill, a place I visited often during my time here - at least when wrestling was not in season and I could actually eat a little. Smile.  I even talked to a homeless guy about Jesus and probably gave him beer money for the day.  We used to hang with the Chapel Hill street guys back in the day as well.  Sitting there in the tex-mex grill, the classic rock, the smells and the scenery brought me to a place of nostalgia.  So many things happened in this town for me.  I became a Christian, I met Kasey Monroe (now my wife of 12 years), I grew in my love for truth and intellect ual life and received a calling upon my life that, to my knowledge, God has not in any way revoked.  

I am 35 years old and in transition - this can be a tough time for people.  I sense this in my soul. At my age you now have a bit of a past, a few memories, and if motivated, you still feel like you have so much left to do.  I'm really not sure why I pulled off here in Chapel Hill today, nor why God detoured us to NC for a short season.  My conclusion is that I needed to remember, to reflect and contemplate the horizon before us.  So I am wandering Chapel Hill today by foot and in my black Mazda 3 hatchback...on my iPod plays the autobiography of Ravi Zacharias recounting his own story as he "walked from East to West."  Ravi was good to me during my final days in Chapel Hill as he nourished my mind with a view of Jesus that was satisfying, sincere, and intellectual.  I loaded his book on my iPod a few days ago but did not expect to be listening to him in Chapel Hill.

For some strange reason I live with a constant concern of my life not counting for much.  The reality is this world and our lives within it are so brief in their passing.  What else can we do but try?  To be honest I wonder where this present age is heading long term with so many competing views of reality, people with agendas and clashing ideologies clamoring for supremacy.   I also find the level of understanding and intellect in the church to be troubling.  Yet I am convinced of a few things in this life:

But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.  2 Timothy 1:12

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:66-69

Why am I in Chapel Hill today?  Perhaps to remember Jesus and him crucified and his work to save people far from him...Perhaps to remember Jesus, his wisdom and the truth he revealed to the world.  For if I have hope it is in him, not in Steve Jobs or the Google Guys as cool as their products may be.  For that matter, our hope is not in any others who desire to proclaim themselves saviors of the world...for that title is reserved for the one who created to world, then lived, died and was raised...For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever.

Met a new friend today through Facebook...I really enjoyed his quotes so I thought I would share them here on the POCBlog...

I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess. - Martin Luther

Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God. - Martin Luther

When you see a man with a great deal of religion displayed in his shop window, you may depend upon it, he keeps a very small stock of it within - C.H. Spurgeon

By perseverance the snail reached the ark.
- C.H. Spurgeon

Jesus is mighty to save, the best proof of which lies in the fact that He has saved you.
- C.H. Spurgeon

Good meeting you Beau 

Kasey and I are moving again next week.  Not to where we were hoping but to an interim stop on our journey towards New Jersey.  We have a slight game delay so we have to pull the tarp over the field and sit in the dugout for a short season.  As I think about moving I can testify that I have grown and matured a little in the last four years...want proof? I promise I will NEVER do this again.

Figure 1 - Reid's moving schematic (yes schematic) from May 2004...man, did I have issues.  Now I will only do this in my head and not do it on the computer.  For those who are wondering...yes, it was all "to scale." For larger version - click here.

Last night was my final night teaching at the Inversion Fellowship.  This has been my post the last 3.5 years and most every Thursday night from Fall 2005 until last night have been spent with my friends there.  We are finishing a series entitled Walk On - A Call to Endurance in 2 Timothy and last night I preached from chapter 2 Timothy 4:1-8. 

My message was entitled Endurance has an Ending (Don't Punk Out) and treated the beginning of Paul's last words to his padawan learner Timothy.  It was a fun night, an emotional night and a night in which I pray Christ was honored.  Throughout the evening my inverted friends brought some special blessings to my soul. 

First, some fun knuckleheads wore some Jesus Junk t-shirts in solidarity with me.  I have been wearing this sort of shirt and mocking them this semester to have a little fun.  Well, three Inversion folks showed up last night wearing their own.  You know the shirts - the ones who take the John Deer logo and make it say "John Three" or take a Starbucks logo, change it around a little and the quote a verse from the book of He-Brews.  Well intentioned gear that I find profoundly stupid.  Well meaning Bible belt youth groups tend to dig this stuff as creative outreach.  As you know Jesus died for "MySpace" in heaven - good grief.  But I felt the love to have some peeps join in the fun.

Additionally, this crazy bunch of folks have been training to run in the Music City 1/2 or full marathon coming up this weekend here in Nashvegas.  These guys have made "Team Inversion" shirts with the cause they are running for being "Jacob's Well" - the shirst are killer and I was super humbled by their raising funds as a team for our little church plant heading to New Jersey.  Team Inversion - I've got big love for you. Here's a picture - that sweet baby blue has both Jacob's Well and Carolina on my mind.

They also made us a nice collage with the graphics of each teaching series we have led here over the past few years.  Can't wait to hang that on a wall in my dark basement office somewhere in Jersey!  Finally, to all of you Inversion people - thank you for you love, your spontaneous words of encouragement, your notes and your care for our family.  Most importantly, we thanked Jesus last night.  The crucified and risen one who calls us to live revolutionary, upside down lives as we struggle forward in his mission for his glory in the world.  I will close with a few challenging words from the greatest person who ever lived. 

Matthew 10:38, 39 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 23:11, 12 The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Mark 9:33-35 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 

Mark 1:14,15 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

A friend just asked why I wasn't blogging so much these days...I sent him this reply that I thought I would share.  Unless I decide to Liveblog the DWELL Conference (not going to happen) the POCBlog may be a little slower than usual.

I had a friend in Fri/Sat, preached twice at a church in Louisville Sunday, had seminary Monday, preach my last message at Inversion this Thursday (you should come), have the Jacob's Well send off gathering Sunday, final exam Monday, fly to NYC Monday night, at a conference for a couple of days, then house hunting through the weekend and back on May 4 with my tongue hanging out...and I have a wife and three kids who I want to know me. So blogging, Schlogging...the POC Blog may be a bit fallow for a bit

So that is how life is rolling right now - please pray for us if you think about it...we still need a place to live in NJ.

On Wednesdays in this interim season between Inversion and moving to New Jersey I am trying to slow down the soul a bit on Wednesdays for some time dedicated to my growth and development as a man.  One of things I am doing is reading slowly through the book Renewal as a Way of Life by Richard Lovelace (I forgot to put this one on the "books I am currently reading" below).  I am about 1/3 of the way through the book and it has been very good, humbling and quotable.  So, I thought I would share some quotes today which encouraged me...and by typing them out hear perhaps provide some light for others.

Here is one on the relation to using God to get stuff...a mixture of Lovelace/Augustine:

On the other hand, evangelical religion as an aid to self-assurance, health or wealth really short-circuits the soul's path toward contact with God, which is the heart's deepest desire.  As Augustine observes, "Many cry to the Lord to avoid losses or to acquire riches, for the safety of their friends or the security of their homes, for temporal felicity or worldly distinction, yes, even for mere physical health which is the sole inheritance of the poor man...Alas, it is easy to want things from God and not to want God himself; as though the gift could ever be preferable to the giver." Or as he says elsewhere, "The soul cannot rest save in that which it loves.  But eternal rest is given only in the love of God, who alone is eternal." Lovelace, 31

The next one was his commentary on the soul's search for a sense of value and identity apart from God - I think many of us, Christian and not, live here often.

They must get a black market substitute for God's love from psychiatrists or other human beings. But this need for love and dignity is so great that self-admiration and the love of others cannot begin to satisfy it.  We can cheer ourselves up only so long by repeating the pitiful fiction "I'm OK - You're OK."  Then we begin to check our own credentials, and our therapist's, for making such judgments.  Lovelace, 36.

In reflecting on the outflow of the love of God through his people he makes a rather dogmatic claim which I found very true.

Spirituality which neglects the love of neighbor, and which fails to seek justice for the neighbor, is simply not biblical. Lovelace, 37.

He has an interesting metaphor for the reality of human enterprise on the earth.  We can be about building the Kingdom or simply go on building Babel.

In the Old Testament, God warns Israel that most human kings will not hallow life, but will turn it into building materials for the Tower of Babel (he includes here the text of 1 Samuel 8:11-18)...Things have not changed since biblical times. Building Babel is still an expensive business. Lovelace, 43.

Indeed, it costs us our very selves as we become cogs in the machine rather than sons and daughters with a purpose in the universe. Finally, in a bit of meddling he comments on the focus of upwardly mobile Protestants in New England after the influence of dying religious formalism (in our day we might as well apply it to upwardly mobile atheological evangelicals). 

The real goals of upwardly mobile Protestantism can be seen in Lisa Birnbach's humorous volume entitled The Official Preppy Handbook, which idealizes the semi-apostate New England family, still glumly going through the motions of "the Puritan ethic" in a sort of twilight zone between Christianity and secularism in order to facilitate its summers on Martha's Vineyard. Lovelace 52-53.

Lovelace's book so far has been a great refresher - a call to God-centeredness and then to living under the rule and reign of Jesus - working, laboring, fighting for...a Kingdom of peace, justice, truth and beauty in this present age as we await the renewal of all things.   

Some seminary blog friends tagged me with a reading Meme.  So here goes.

What are you reading on Spring reading days?

Spring reading days...hmm...don't have that as an external but here is what I am currently picking through.  I am about six chapters into Keller's book The Reason for God.  I am also reading a book from the UK entitled Total Church by Chester and Timis.  Not sure if this counts but I am also listening to The Mystery of the Middle Ages by Thomas Cahill - a strangely ecclectic volume. 

What do you wish you had time to read?

Gospel in Pluralistic Culture by Leslie Newbegin, Fear and Trembling by Kierkegaard, One Body, One Spirit: Principles of Successful Multiracial Churches by George A. Yancey

What have you decided NOT to read that you were assigned to read.

I'm only in one class so I am gutting it out and reading it all :)

What is one great quote from your reading?

This is odd - I heard a great quote from Francis of Assisi from Cahill's book.  It is on the third audio MP3, thirty minutes in...I do mean to go back and transcribe it. I think it is this one though:

Why are you blogging? (You’re supposed to be reading!)

As anything we do, I think I am blogging because I want to...and I think God wants me to as well. I blog primarily to think and write about things that interest me - mainly the gospel, theology, technology, philosophy, culture and stuff that makes me laugh out loud (stuff like this).  As such my blog is a work of eclecticism - shallow enough in many spheres as to perplex those who read the site.  Is this a tech blog?  Is this a theology blog? Is this a Christ and Culture Blog? Apologetics?  No - well, maybe a little.

I want to tag Owen Strachan with this (even though he is now at Trinity) 

Kasey and I have been up here in NJ since Thursday looking for a new home for our family.  The house hunt has been discouraging as things are either really expensive or really shack-like.  We found a nice ranch and made an offer which was countered.  We have another offer in and awaiting a reply.  Please pray as there simply isn’t much here in our price range even though we did pretty well on our house in Tennessee.  Pray for Kasey and me as this has been a strong dose of reality for us this weekend.  Thank you so much.

There are many who do not know who St. Patrick is or what he accomplished in the 5th century.  In fact, my daughter's public school is doing rainbows, leprechauns and pots of gold...but without a clue about St. Patrick - whose day we celebrate.  In order to introduce the patron saint of Ireland to you I would highly suggest the critically acclaimed work of Thomas Cahill.  Cahill has written several works about the various streams of historical influence on western culture.  His work How the Irish Saved Civilization tells Patrick's story as well as the converted Celts who carried on western literary learning while the continent went through a tumultous time after the sacking of the Roman Empire.  Great book - if you are Irish and don't know your history...get this book.  Cahill's works are all available in audio book format through iTunes and audible.com.  I am going to grab his Mysteries of the Middle Ages here today.

Finally, Mark Driscoll's short essay on St. Patrick is a quick and introductory read with some sources linked at the bottom.  Of course there is our beloved, though sometimes erroneous friend, wikipedia as well - enjoy the St. Patrick wiki.

This weekend I was back in North Carolina to spend some times with my friends at Vintage21.  Vintage is a church in downtown Raleigh which is a church of seekers, followers and doubters who are learning to follow and worship Christ.  You can read more about their vision here.  Two of their pastors did my assessment interview with the Acts 29 network - they looked me over and examined my life and doctrine pretty thoroughly.  The good thing was that they still liked me after that. 

Anyway, I jumped in from the bull pen to preach for them this weekend while their lead pastor Tyler Jones was on vacation.  I preached from 1 Corinthians 11, stopping right before the passage about head coverings.  Actually, I just had 1 Corinthians 11:1 - you can listen to that here if you like and also read some questions for reflection. 

I really enjoyed being with the Vintage community - their vision is to proclaim and live vintage Christian faith - the teaching of Scripture, the gospel of Jesus. loving God and our neighbors...into our 21st century context.  Some of you may have heard of Vintage because of their Jesus videos.  If you have not seen those they are some pretty good comedy poking a little fun at religion.  The Jesus videos live here and even have their own MySpace page.

Many thanks to Nate, Matt and Tyler for their invitation and hospitality.  Godspeed to your work in the triangle - for the glory of God and the good of your city... 

Every so often life has a rhythm which brings a sweetness to the soul.  Not every day is like this, in fact the good days can be followed by some that remind you that the foul stench of the fall still dominates our reality.  Yet this weekend was filled with sweet echoes of a golden goodness which exists far beyond the shores of the earth.  My weekend was simple yet full of simple graces which make me smile even in writing.

I enjoyed seeing my kids on Saturday morning and then packing up my bags for a two day visit to the state of North Carolina.  Carolina is a special place for me.  Though it is not my home, in many ways it has a homelike ring to it for me.  I grew up in Virginia Beach; a great military and tourist town where I have many treasured youthful memories.  Yet it was in North Carolina that many signposts guiding me to the life I pursue today.  It was at UNC Chapel Hill that I met Jesus while studying Applied Science and Physics and competing for the tarheel wrestling team.  It was at UNC where I met a captivating young woman named Kasey Monroe; smart as a whip, gorgeous, fiercely interesting and tough as nails as an athlete.  Man, I am still so whipped in love with that girl.  She is sleeping now and I just thank God for her.  It was also in North Carolina that we connected with a new church in the mid nineties.  This weekend I spent time with this family of faith once again.

Grace Community Church was started in 1994 by a group of families that consisted of professors from Campbell University, Moms, business men and a cool group of their high school kids.  Kasey had transferred to Campell and connected with some of these folks as she was renting an apartment from one of the members of the new church.  During our last few years of college we were asked to do several events with their youth group; one of which was a weekend beach retreat where we encouraged the crew towards a radical commitment to Jesus.  The year we graduated and went on staff with Athletes in Action we had a six month season where we were raising money and actually being youth pastors with the high school kids.  One thing the youth group produced was Rhett and Link - we claim them on Tuesdays and Saturdays...and their new song on the Oscars is funny. We'll never forget Eric Woodruff, Rhett McClaughlin, Link Neal, Rebecca McKinney, Maria Mathews, Heather Wilson, The Enzor brothers, Chris Lanier and many others.  Grace was one of the churches that launched our family into ministry in 1997 so we are grateful for their friendship over the years.  So it was a sweet time to visit them this weekend.

I stayed in the home of Jim and Joy Aycock - Jim is a retired preacher who is gracious and spirited.  Joy is a wonderful host who showed so much southern hospitality that I rethought our call to Jersey for a couple moments.  It was sweet to be among people who still value spending time together, taking time to talk and bringing a word of friendship to others.  I met a new friend in pastor KJ Hill - who is actually FROM New Jersey but made it south to coach soccer...then became a pastor.  I love KJ and his family though my time with them was brief.  His wife Liz has a great mind and we had some great theological banter around the dinner table.  I caught up with Rhett and his wife Jesse - he is a young man I am really quite proud of.  Rhett spun a little comedy in introducing me on Sunday morning as a guy who could kill them with my bare hands as well as beat them in Jeopardy...funny - you can hear it in the sermon audio here. I preached twice on Sunday morning and then spent time at a pot luck dinner and shared the ministry of Jacob's Well with my old friends.  It could not have been more encouraging. Having such a good time made getting up at 3:45am CST to drive to the airport, fly home, drive to class and immediately take an exam feel all the more worth it.  I think I did OK on the test too - smile.

Finally, I was able to spend just a few moments with their pastor Brad Talley.  Brad is watching his beloved wife Linda struggle for life in the midst of aggressive brain cancer.  Oh, how it aches to see life ebb away.  I love pastors and hanging with them.  Brad has many challenges in these days but I was so encouraged by the way he talked about his Lord, his wife and marriage.  Pray for the Talleys as they walk so close the valley of the shadow of death.  Linda could very much be in her last few days of life. Our hope is with them and with them it is in Jesus.

Grace Community has grown beyond meeting in a living room, small buildings, the ruritan club, a school auditorium and cafeteria to having their own facility and a small staff. Yet they face some challenges and are moving forward in the gospel.  I kept thinking to myself "he who began a good work in them will be faithful to complete it..." I pray to stay in partnership with our friends at Grace for as long as God permits.  I love the people there, and they continue to love our family so well.  I would do anything for the people at Grace and thankful for this sweet echo over the weekend...which brought past, present and future together for me in the work of Christ.

Kasey and I are putting our house for sale as we work towards moving to New Jersey to plant Jacob's Well - if you know anyone who might be interested in moving to Franklin, please put them in contact with us. Blessings

Here is a link to the listing. 

I posted a brief update on the Jacob's Well web site today on the progress God is bringing in our church planting efforts.  You can read that here.

It is amazing how off line life can keep me from developing content for the blog here.  I in no way resent this, but feel the reality often.  I have had a great holiday with much "quality time" (not said cynically, but will joyful sincerity) with my wife and three kids.  It is a great delight to know and walk with my little people - even more to be known and understood by them as they get older. 

I have loved getting to know Kylene better as she rounded her four year mark last week.  She is on her way towards learning to read with her letters and most sounds under he little belt.  She loves to run back and forth in our house (yes, we let our kids run a bit in the house - bad parents!) and spend one on one time with Mom and Dad.  She is also able to ride in a booster seat now so it is fun to take her out with me places without having to take the mini-van.  Not that I have van shame or anything. 

Kayla, our six year old, has become a bit of a football buddy of mine over the holidays.  Yes, I have watched too many games and read less than I intended.  Alas, I must learn to give grace to myself.  But Kayla and I just love watching a game together.  She understands almost all the rules (not sure she gets touch backs and safeties yes) and is a pretty active fan. Some man will be blessed some day - just doing my part.  We continue to learn the 10 commandments and teach them to Kylene - fun to see how 4 and 6 year olds see the relationship between Law and Gospel.  I am also reading Nehemiah with Kayla to prepare her for our new series in "big church" - she comes with us now must Sunday mornings and was scratching out here little sermon notes today.  I did almost get teary eyed.  It is fun to have both girls exclaim loudly a cacophonous "Boooooo!" whenever we read the names Sanballat or Tobiah in Nehemiah.  Equally fun to hear them yell "Yeaaaaaa!" when we read the name of God.  Rowdy bed time Bible time - I just love it. 

As always these little girls really steal my heart away.  I took them to see a movie the other day and just watched them sitting there and prayed for godly young men for both of them some day.  I love having daughters and it is one of the greatest callings of my life.  I can't help but be thankful.  Young boys on notice - me and Tommy are watching you already - speaking of Tommy.

Little Tommy Reid has been a great treat for me this season of slowing down.  I have so enjoyed getting him up for breakfast, sitting him in a little chair and talking to him like he is a big man.  I also like the fact that he can come into the bathroom and watch me shave (fascinates him).  With little girls there are certain things you cannot share, but having the little man with me for bathroom time is really a trip.  He also has learned a new word which he says whenever he passes a television..."butball" - Yes, did I mention I have watched too many games?  I love it that he like balls, wrestling with Daddy and head butting.  Oh why did God give me a son - too rich of a grace.

Finally, I have enjoyed the times with family both in North Carolina where Kasey's parents live, a weekend with my Mom and Brother and some time with my Dad her in Tenn.  Parents are also gracious to allow me to take my bride out on a date or two while they baby sit/play with/bless/grandparent our kids.  Kasey and I are have had some laughs over the break - I have even willfully went shopping with her.  She is also encouraging me in my goals for the spring of getting in better shape and deeping my walk with Christ.  We have our moments for sure, but I still think God gave us something special in our marriage and friendship.  I hope it infects others because it is really something God given and good.

Well, I have a book review and probably a review of my new non Macintosh laptop coming here on the blog.  I travel up to a seminary class next week on monkeys and men (actually entitled Origins) and I have a myriad of to-do(s) associated with Jacob's Well and Inversion.  By the way, if you know anyone with a spare 150K to invest in church planting up north, please let me know - it would help with my schedule - smile.  We are still on track to move in the summer (God willing) and look forward to focus more on the new direction here soon. 

As 2008 began I did not list a whole bunch of books, music, or highlights from 2007 here at Power of Change - but I did want to write a bit tonight about those with whom I spent the last days of 2007.  I call them the Monaghan Home Team - and I love them deeply...much more than I love to blog...even more than football games.

I have been thinking a bit about American holiday traditions and what we celebrate these days.  Now, I know many of you grew up thinking Christmas was about Jesus away in a manger, but I want to tell you there is a different reality for many in America.  Personally, growing up Christmas was about Santa Claus and getting stuff.  Later in life - after that horrible day when you find out that "he isn't real" you expect expensive presents from your parents.  Of course you join in the whole Santa conspiracy from the top end of the ladder enjoying the delight of the younger cousins and kids in the family.  This year after seeing that almost all the cartoons on television were about Rudolph, Frosty and Satan Claus I realized that something has really shifted in our celebrations and holidays.  In many ways, Christmas is about celebrating nothing.  What do I mean?

Some of you may very well know that our word "holiday" derives from the Old English haligdæg, from halig "holy" + dæg "day."   In other words, a holiday was a holiday set aside for observance and celebration of something.  Usually holidays are created by people for the remembering of important or sacred events. This pretty much carries throughout all cultures where people set aside time to remember important things from their histories.  We still observe this concept pretty much today, but something strange is happening with Christmas.  For all the Christians reading this post, this really will not apply.  For believers in Christ still celebrate advent and incarnation...although on the awkward day of December 25th (for a short history of this go here).  Yet for many others Christmas comes once a year to celebrate something for sure...namely, CHRISTMAS!!!

In other words, many now celebrate a holiday to celebrate the holiday.  Something has slipped out of the event somehow.  We celebrate the holiday itself rather than something sacred or of importance to remember.  So what do we really celebrate?  Well, my cynical answer would be the percentage of consumer spending and the propping of our "way of life" and economic engine.  We spend and buy and go into debt for the sake of our friends and loved ones while it keeps our economy purring along.  But that answer is too simplistic for me in light of sociological realities.  I don't want to get into taking back Christmas for Jesus arguments here - we can do this in our own families if we fight the demon in the red suit, but I do want to look at the nature of Christmas celebration without Christ's advent central.

What is celebrated?

Perhaps the easiest way to see what we celebrate is to observe the expectations, affections and movings of your soul.  What comes to mind when Christmas is looked forward to?  I would guess for many Americans it would be seeing friends, family, and giving and receiving material things. From the view of advertising and attitudes I have observed in children, I would say most are excited about "what they are getting for Christmas."  So it seems to me that celebrating Christmas is not the setting apart of a "holy day" but rather a celebration of contemporary values supplemented by exciting children's mythologies like Rudolph guiding a slay and made up magic to fill the emptiness of our souls. 

Now, most of this you will say is just plain good fun. I agree - Christmas was and is really fun for me and our family.  Yet I am just reminded of the emptying of this holiday - it is a mere rejoicing in what we already like, rather than remembering something important or sacred which defines and marks us as a people.  Of course, this may be indicative of what America is - a common set of "holy" days may be forever removed as we simply no longer have a central story of cultural cohesion.

I am thankful we still have some common holidays like July 4th, where we celebrate the creation of our republic, days set aside to remember our fallen soldiers and the freedom they secured, we even have days for presidents and civil right leaders.  I thank God for these.  But for the Christmas season most of the center is gone in public discourse but is still echoed when we sing some carols in which theology sneaks back in.  It sort of both humors me up and fills me with sorrow to hear about my daughters "winter party" in our local public school.  I thought what will be left for us to celebrate "together" as a broad public in America - maybe that it is cold, dark and it some parts snows. 

I love the diversity of God's creation, the earth and all its peoples.  We love parts of many cultures in the world in which we have participated.  Yet the great chink in the diversity movements splendor is that it offers no way of unity within the beauty of diversity.  It only separates and multiplies us out into ever smaller groups - each needing its own day during the darkest time of the year.  Perhaps we will all agree on peace of earth and good will to men - but we dare not ask or care or look into the origin of that phrase or the ontology of of that goodness.  This would lead us back towards the holy...which large segments of western culture simply do not want during our holidays. 

Merry Christmas...

We so often live in our own moments that we forget to see what wisdom would teach us if we spent time thinking about the passing of life.  This Christmas we were with my in laws in North Carolina and I experienced a few moments that have reminded me of the brevity of life.

We know Scripture exhorts us to number our days that we might gain a heart of wisdom.  We can read how life is but a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow.  We can read the great philosophy of Solomon reflecting of the emptiness of life under the sun without any transcendent meaning or reference point.  People can tell us that time flies and we can see how shocked we are as the grains of time slip through the hour glasses which are our lives. 

Yet there is something helpful in being with people from many generations during our days which help us to experience the truths of Scripture.  I had a couple such interactions this week.

The first came as my wife, her father and I watched my six year old daughter swing on a little wooden swing set.  The joy of youth seemed to grip us all and it was at that moment where my Father-in-law chose to speak.  He said simply:

Now guys, you realize that one third of Kayla's time in your home has already passed and the next two thirds will seem to pass even more quickly. 

I realized a few things - I love my kids and I have very mixed emotions about them growing up.  First, I already sense an ache of loss - of times spent today which will be lost forever from our grasp.  My little girls will soon be past the age of nuzzling up into my arms.  I can still hold one on each limb and I already mourn that this will not last forever.  At the same moment I have loved watching them learn, grow and become.  I don't like it, but I rejoice in the process.  I also paused to say - yeah, she is only 4-6 years from hitting puberty.  Oh dear Jesus help out Dad.

The second moment came with my wife's grandfather Elmer Underwood.  Papaw, as Kasey calls him, is a spry 84 year old preacher who has worked as a carpenter for much of his life.  He was an encouragement to me, as he has often been, in my calling to the gospel.  This holiday was different for Elmer because 2007 marked the passing of his beloved wife Betty.  Betty went to be with Jesus and I missed her this Christmas.  I know Elmer misses her very much.  It was almost like she wasn't dead - I caught myself mentally thinking, "Where is Mamaw?" a few times when Papaw and I were together. 

Death is not a comfort nor a kind companion to humanity.  It is an enemy that comes upon us in stealth.  We ignore his coming, we feel and sense as if "today" will continue in perpetuity.  Yet there is a calling upon each of our lives where we will pass from this age into eternity.  So many of us run to and fro building piles of stuff in our homes, seeking accomplishments for ourselves and looking to advance in life.  Far too often we forget to stop and think - this is ALL soon coming to an end.  

I thank God that my father-in-law and grandfather-in-law spoke and exhibited wisdom to me this week - I am hugging my kids more, thanking God more and have my now mingled with both joy and sadness as this life continues to ebb away.  If but for this life we had hope we should be most pitied among men - an apostle once wrote these words.  Yet thanks be to Christ, the resurrected one who promises eternal life to all who believe.  Will he allow me to put my girls to bed in feety pajamas in the life to come?  I'm not sure - I kind of hope so.  But I do know I have a few more laps around that track here on earth.  I want to run well - going to nuzzle a bit tonight as we head off to bed. 

Yesterday I sent out a note to friends and partners of Jacob's Well.  For some odd reason I felt led to write some Haiku as we reflected on life and calling this Christmas.  For some reason I really liked learning Haiku poetry in elementary school and that has stuck with me.  For all the fellas who might mock writing poetry (or particularly Haiku) let me just say that my wife digs my poetry.  Mock all you like.  Anyway, here are the little poems

One Last Tennessee Christmas
Three Poems
By Reid S. Monaghan

Grace Abounds to Us
Tender Tennessee Christmas
Soon We Must Depart

Gospel and Mission
A Coming Day in Jersey
God Walks Before Us

A Babe Incarnate
Friends, Prayer and Partnership
New Hope Eternal

As you might observe I used the standard 5-7-5 syllable format which brings up a question that might involve regional/cultural dialects in order to answer.  So here is my question: Does the word "Prayer" have one or two syllables?  Or more accurately, in the way you say the word, does it only have one?  What do you say - one or two.  If two then my last poem is valid 5-7-5 - if only one syllable I would change it to read "Friendship, Prayer and Partnership"

Do you say Pray-er or Prarrr?

There is much made in our culture, certainly in corporate settings, about the importance and nature of leadership.  There are those who advocate coalition building, those who advocate proactive decisiveness, those who still validate hierarchy and those for flattened non hierarchical structures.  Even definitions for leadership bounce all around with the the latest gurus offering their counsel.  My thoughts and experience of leadership have grown through the years but there is one principle that I keep returning to which I find both effective and biblical.

I guess someone could have a name for this but I simply call it leading from among the people.  To be honest, I have found myself in leadership roles my entire life.  Whether leaders are born or made, I am not saying, but I do know that it has been somewhat natural for me to find myself leading others.  Whether it was quarterbacking the high school football team, leading the honor society, captaining our wrestling team my days as a teen were filled with leadership.  In college it seemed that many of my college teammates and classmates would come to me for counsel and insight into life difficulties and problems.  During my life over the last 12 years God has has consistently placed me with and among leaders in ministry.  Anyway, the leaders I personally have found most attractive and the kind I pray to be are those who "lead among the people." 

First, let me describe some ways of leading which are counter to this sort of leadership.  Second, I want to give a few illustrations of what I mean when I say "lead among."  Two will come from Scripture, one from pop culture...none from books written by the business gurus.

What it means to NOT lead from among the people

• Leading from Above - this is being in charge of people, telling them what to do without embracing or experiencing the circumstances.  It is leading from positional authority...calling down from on high so to speak.  I like this leadership only from 3 persons - Father, Son and Holy Ghost - I do not enjoy it from people.  It is particularly troublesome if the person does not have trustworthy character or is not willing to personally sacrifice with or for those she leads.  Having responsibility for others is good - having authority without character is resented. 
  
• Leading Insincerely - Some like to fake it.  To act interested, concerned, even get their hands dirty with others in their leadership.  The problem can be that they do not naturally feel a place among those they lead - they do things in order to produce effects without really living it authentically.  Usually this sort of leadership is short lived or seen through.  People tend to have pretty high authenticity meters today - a fake usually is exposed.
  
• Leading for Personal Gain - I know there are some who say that this is the default motivation of every heart - personal self-interest.  I just think it is brutal to be led by someone who sees others as a means to and end and not an end themselves.  There are even definitions which describe management as using others to accomplish pre determined goals.  This could be good or terrible.  It all depends on how "using" is defined.
  

Life Reflected in Film 

One of crazy Mel Gibson's recent movies demonstrated the kind of leadership with which I resonate.  No it is not Passion of the Christ, but we will get to Jesus' leadership in a moment.  The movie is entitled We Were Soldiers. The 2002 film features the story of Lt. Col Hal Moore and the Battle of la Drang in during the Vietnam war.  Col Moore's leadership style was strong but very clear.  I will not forget his line in the movie "Men, I will be the first one off the chopper and onto the field and I will be the last one to leave."  There was not question that he was the leader; there was no doubt he was in charge.  Yet he found with and among his men and did not bug out when things got hot.  The director dramatically portrays this in the film with his boot hitting and exciting the ground of that bloody battle field.  Men love to follow guys like this who lead among.

Biblical Leadership - Old Testament

The most prominent example of this I find the Scriptures.  In the Old Testament Song of Debra (Judges 5) a great battle had been one by the nation of Israel over its enemies.  Debra sings a song of celebration after the victory where God is honored.  A few things stood out to me in regards to the leaders of Israel.  The song begins with stating something obvious, but the entire point of leadership:

1 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day:2 “That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly,bless the Lord!

Leaders led and did not abdicate or leave the people in confusion.  Second, the people offered themselves willingly without which you have only coercion not true leadership.  These simple realities were enough case for rejoicing. Additionally the song says the following of the people in verse 9:

My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the Lord.

It seems the Hal Moores of the world existed in our ancient past as well as leaders offered themselves willingly among the people.  The leader who leads at not cost to himself does not gain the respect as the one who fights along side of his men.  The Old School kings would fight; new school leaders sit aside from the battle.  I like the Old School.

Biblical Leadership - New Testament

In the book of 1 Peter, their is an exhortation given to elders - men called to give leadership in the local church.  The "among them" principle is found here as well in chapter 5. 

5:1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Now I could spend way too many words here on the POCBlog expounding on this but to be honest I think the words "among you", willingly, not for shameful gain (TV preacher?), not domineering, examples, humility...well, these words can just speak for themselves.

Finally, the incarnation which we celebrate at Christmas is the prime example of this principle.   And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. If anyone had the right and ability and position to lead from above it would be Jesus.  Who being in the very nature God...took the form of a servant (Philippians 2:1-11).  He took on human nature, walked with people, taught from among, exemplified from among, healed from among and died among the people.  He gave his life for others, served others and lived in light the Father, the highest authority. In my opinion he is the greatest leader in human history.  Here are his words on leadership.

35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

To summarize, leading among people means living out with people the goals and callings of an organization.  It does not mean that a leader has to participate in every job or every aspect of a group, but it does mean that people experience him "with them" in tangible ways.  How that works out will depend on the organization, its tasks, the nature of its calling etc.  People want to be appreciated, valued, have their work validated and to know that another human being is as interested in their life as much as their life accomplishes for the team.  Such leaders I will follow - the other kind I will ignore.  I am not saying I will not submit to and respect rightful authority which is place over me.  What I am saying is that I will pursue legitimate paths to align under different leaders and will not waste my life under men who neither know me nor go to battle with me.  Life is too short for that.

The worship ministry here at Fellowship Nashville and several artists from the church have put together a Christmas Album entitled Ring the Bells - A Christmas Offering.  The unique thing about the album is that ALL proceeds are going directly to our church's mission partnerships in Africa.  You can see a video about the project here (wmv format).

The CD features the following tracks:

The CDs make great Christmas gifts and are just $15.00. They can be purchased directly here. Do some good along with your gift giving this year.

I am by no means what someone might call a prolific blogger.  I have a day job, a wife and three kids, am in Seminary, working on planting a church...and I enjoy writing when time affords.  Yet I just noticed something fun on my Movable Type Control Panel today...[for those who want to know - POCBlog is powered by Sixapart's Movable Type Software - Word Pressers I know you guys are cool]

I don't share too much the metrics of this site (for instance, how many page views a month we see) but I thought this was a bit different.  After being at this for a bit, the POCBlog is at 995 entries and 957 comments which means two fun milestones are just ahead.  First, the 1000 entry mark and second, the point at which comments eclipse the number of posts.  It has been fun to see a community form here with common interests and friends old and new.  I even love all those Mac people who always comment when I praise or mock the Apple cult. 

Anyway, what began as a way to put my thoughts down has turned into something I really enjoy.  I like thinking with you, hearing from you and keeping in touch with friends all over the world.  Thanks for walking these paths over the past few years and we look forward to the continued exchange of thoughts, laughs and Zune information in the days ahead.

It is a bit difficult to keep up with the POCBlog these days.  I would mention how many days I have had off in the last 2 months but then the Sabbatarians would tell me what a sinner I am. Believe me, I am very aware already.  Life has moved along at quite a clip with being a husband and father, speaking, leading inversion, raising funds for Jacob's Well, travel to NJ, seminary...and blogging.  Well, at least once in a while I find a moment to write.

I just returned from a week in New Jersey which ended with a delightful day long delay in Newark airport and a midnight arrival on Sunday evening.  From there I had to get up and read about 100 pages and then report to my church history class for a quiz and the 411 about our upcoming final exam.  Jersey was good.  I spoke twice at Rutgers, went to the RU/Pitt football game and met with some pastors and campus ministry leaders in the area.  I feel like I am learning more and more about the community God has called us to...it really going to be a walk in the park - an easy cushy church job.  Just kidding...there have been a couple of days when I have asked Jesus if he still liked me after calling us to Jersey. 

To be honest, where we live today is just a great place.  Lots of families, lots of friendly people (a few shallow church folk as well), lots of housing, low taxes and cost of living, some good churches, good schools etc.  Let's just say that Jersey is about as different from Nashville as Toby Keith and the Dixie Chicks.  A few thoughts on Jersey culture are here.  One of my prayers is to actually become a Jersey guy - I guess about 10 years from now I will feel abrasive to southern folk...wait, I already feel abrasive to some southern folk.  Perhaps I have a little Jersey in me already.  We'll see.

Anyway, I am back home and enjoying the final days of a church history class, meeting with some friends about partnering with Jacob's Well and deeply thirsty to have some down time for Scripture and reflection.  Our schedule is intentionally going to slow down here in the coming months to focus on relocating and the church plant...but more importantly for time to drink deeply with the Lord in preparation for our coming labors in the northeast. 

I have greatly enjoyed the slow reading of Alistair McGrath's new book Christianity's Dangerous Idea - The Protestant Revolution from the 16th Century to the 21st. I am going through it as a pure pleasure read - which for me means no highlighter and no sticky flags...though I did dog ear a few pages on the plane Sunday :) Look for a review here some time before the Rapture (if you believe in such things).

Finally, I ran across a few interesting articles today.  First, Bishop Desmond Tutu echoes the current zeitgeist about homosexual practice over on the BBC.  It is quite clear that the demonization of anyone who holds traditional morality is a present reality.  The malaise of the Anglican communion is indicative of a greater disjunction of many churches from their scriptural moorings.  Second, Dan Kimball, a prominent voice in the emerging/emergent conversation writes some excellent thoughts regarding the balance between Kingdom living now and gospel proclamation associated with the after life. A find balance that we have been preaching from day one at Inversion. I don't jibe with everything Kimball, but this is a timely and good word.  If you are not familiar with Kimball - you need to at least check out his stray cats like 1980s rock-a-billy hair.  Nice.

Finally, I had a great reunion with my beloved family this week after being out of town for a good 8 days.  It was great to be home to contemplate the future together.  Kasey and I are wrestling with schooling decisions - mainly between public (great missional opportunities to meet people...no extra money) and Christian (laying a cooperative gospel foundation in the early years) schools.  Please pray for us on that and your opinions are welcomed.  

My most recent talk in our Gospel of Mark series is up online...I have so enjoyed studying this gospel and communicating its words to my friends.  The gospel is the story we live in and I am humbled by God's grace to me - in all my pride and sin - extended my way on the cross of Christ. 

May you all have a great Thanksgiving - a meaningful day for those who have someone to thank.   

The most recent update on Jacob's Well is over at the www.JacobsWellNJ.org - you can jump to it directly here. 

Just as an update, as soon as a few checks come in, the 35K match has been reached - a few of you POCBlog readers chipped in.  Thanks so much for praying for us and helping us towards our move north in June.

I just go word that John Weber, Athletes in Action chaplain for the Dallas Cowboys just passed away on Thursday.  Though I only knew John from a few short conversations he was as respected as any I knew in the AIA world.

There is a story about him over at the Dallas Cowboys Web Site.  John was a guy that quietly impacted many lives serving others in the name of his Lord.

Here is the link - please pray for the Weber family as they grieve the loss of a kind servant. 

My good friend Andre Davis is having a great day for the Houston Texans - as of the beginning of the 4th quarter Dre has 5 catches, 117 yards and a touchdown...represent Dre! Andre was part of our ministry at Va Tech, helped me out here in Nashville with an inner city football camp in Summer 06.  When VT made the national championship game in 1999 Dre was on the cover of Sports Illustrated...with a symbol that marks his life on his glove.  He and his lovely wife Janelle are dear friends expecting a son in January.

There are seasons in life which are just full.  I don't particularly like the word "busy" as it is overused, reflects no sense of value and it seems to communicate very little.  So I choose the word full to describe life in certain seasons like the one which we find ourselves.  We have started a new season with the Inversion Fellowship, a group of men and women who have become so dear to me.  We are working on raising funds for church planting so that we do not have to take a salary from the new church for the first few years, yet be full time in the work.  It is also a season involving some travel and time away from my wife and kids.

Last weekend we had a weekend retreat with Inversion - a passionate look at the Missio Dei, the mission of God in the world.  Currently I write these a few feet from a burrito buffet line at a Campus Crusade Fall Retreat for the students at Western Kentucky University.  I am spending time with the students this weekend teaching about the nature of the gospel and its import for young people launching out into the world.  Our dreams must be in the gospel and this then must define our views of success, relationship and calling.  So far I have preached two times and it has been rich. But I am also aware that my little 6 year old girl is playing soccer with her Mom as the coach...and I am unable to be there.  Not exactly suffering, but a small sacrifice that feels like a loss in the soul.

This afternoon I have some free time - so I am debating whether to redeem the time and work on a paper I am writing on Emerging Churches and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Or I may take a nap.  Neither is the more godly choice and I think it might be possible to do both.  This Thursday we will discuss all things emerging at Inversion - should be interesting. 

On Saturday and Sunday of next week I will preach 4 services at our church out of Philippians 2:12-30 - a rich passage which has shaped my view of life in community, reflecting God's grace as we work out our salvation in fear and trembling.  We work and live out the salvation brought to us in Christ, but it is God who works in and through us to will and act according to his good pleasure.  Or as Calvin put it:

There are, in any action, two principal departments — the inclination, and the power to carry it into effect. Both of these he ascribes wholly to God; what more remains to us as a ground of glorying?

John Calvin, Commentary on Philippians available from http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom42

Yes, we rejoice in his work in us as he changes us through the gospel so that we shine like lights in a crooked and depraved generation. 

That Sunday afternoon I hope to take a nap, do a midterm for a seminary class I am taking and then we hit the mini-van as a family to travel to our former home of Blacksburg, VA.  Many of you know of the tragic events which happened on the Va Tech campus this past spring - part of what has come from that is an event on Oct 9th and 10th entitled Finding Answers Amidst Life's Greatest Losses - An Open Forum with Ravi Zacharias.  There are close to 30 church and parachurch organizations working together on this event. One of my good friends, Danny White, is working on many of the details.  I trained Danny in campus ministry years ago and I was thankful to be able to make the first connections with RZIM and my friends in Blacksburg just a few days after the shootings.  It will be great to see what God does these two days in October.  During our time in Blacksburg I will also preach at our home church Oct 14, catch up with several old friends and connect with many about partnering with our church plant Jacob's Well. 

Finally, Oct 21 we will present the church plant to the people of Fellowship Bible Church in Tennessee by way of a video my friend Scott Moore it putting together and hold some interest meetings on Sunday nights Oct 21 and 28.  Then I want to crash for a bit...then off to New Jersey for a week (Nov 10-18) meeting with some pastors and speaking on campus at Rutgers.  Then I pray to enjoy some down time with Kasey and hopefully a little vacation...before a writing push in December. 

I sit here around 160 or so students eating lunch and I am overwhelmed with thankfulness to the creator of all things - Jesus Christ.  He saved me in 1992 , put calling on my life, gave me a great best friend and wife in Kasey and some wonderful kids.  I cannot see the future any more than I can see past the stars, but I know who made and holds both...and for this I am grateful.

Some of you may have noticed that I posted a video from Southpark on the founding of the Mormon religion by Joseph Smith.  I wreslted with whether to post it or not.  The reason I posted it in the first place was simple. First, I thought it was funny.  Second, although in caricature, it did follow the story of Joseph Smith pretty well. 

After having the video up for a day or so I decided to take it down.  I received no complaints about it, nor any comments on the post.  Quite frankly, I was convicted by the fact that the video was not exactly charitable.  Though I make no defense of Mormon teaching and I consider Joseph Smith to be a false prophet, the nature of Southpark is to make fun of people, not only ideas, and by posting I was chiming in.  I do not think beliefs should be immune or free from scrutiny or ridicule, but the more I prayed and thought about it, the video went beyond critique of doctrine to mocking a whole group of people.  Perhaps I am being a bit too sensitive and need to lighten up a bit, but the decision was made to take it down.

Thanks...

I wanted to publicly thank our Lord and Master Jesus Christ for the work he did in our Inversion community this weekend during our fall retreat.  Thanks to Jonathan and Jennifer, my partners in Inversion crime, who planned a great event.  God knit our community together in the gospel and called all of us to care about the lost and hurting around us.  Tom Pussel, fellowship church planter in Louisville shared with us from the Scriptures during the weekend and his final 15 min with us was walking through a slide show of pictures of his life "as a missionary in his culture in Louisville, KY"

• He showed his lawnmower where he cuts his neighbors grass and talks to her about Jesus
• He showed a pool hall where he was in a pool league with tatted up guys
  
• He showed a brew house where they held Men's fraternity at 6am and a guy who works there as come to Christ
  
• He showed an African American boy who he serves with as a "Big Brother" - he doesn't know his Dad and his mom is a crack addict...but he has been adopted. Adopted by a blind white lady (really, blind as in "can't see") - we looked at the family photo and said "God put that together"
• He showed us pictures of a weight room where guys lift and talk about Jesus.
• About some friends playing in a softball league that was not a church league and befriending (and getting crushed by) the "Tattoos and Piercing Shop" team whose Jerseys read "Damn Right it Hurts" on the back.

I grabbed two of our men and said to them "That is church planting..." Notes have been coming in to me via e-mail and Facebook this morning from our people who just had a great time.  On Saturday night we met with Jesus at his table and I watched my Inversion family participate in Jesus' body and blood and I lost it.  I love these people - and I am leaving them soon.  Jesus is doing a great work in them and in the Inversion community, to send all of us into this world, into culture with the gospel.  Also, I know some guys were at the retreat who are not sure they are in with the Jesus thing...they seemed to be very much "of us" by the end. 

I am so prayerful that Bible belt folks would step out of "I like this band, I like this preaching, this place has great kids ministry, consumerist church shopping nonsense" and beg God that our mission is about him, about the broken, the lost all around us.  Too often in my conversations over the last three years I have met Christian after Christian that simply have no relational contact with non Christians.  This must change - this weekend I saw God's light breaking onto many of us, that we must change...to be with the people whom Jesus spent time with - tax collectors, sinners, prostitutes...or in our day the guy at work, folks at the bar, people at the clubs, the waitress we work with, people downtown in impossible circumstances, the person across the street.   We do not need to go change everyone, get them to buy a certain flavor of upstanding appearances...but we need to be with them and tell them about Jesus, a Jesus who redeems and rebuilds lives, saves souls and brings a Kingdom.   This has been my hope and prayer for us - and for myself and my family. We all fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace...he then calls to us "follow me" and he meant it.  His road was with sinners, his disdain for the self-righteous and religious, his compassion was on sheep without shepherds, his destination a cross of shame, yet to then conquer death and be raised.  This is our message - a crucified and risen God - whose hope dawns every day, his mercies new every morning...Great is his faithfulness.  We are his ambassadors that means we rep his rule and reign in the world among those who remain under the dominion of a wicked ruler whose cruelty is immense and whose time is short.  I am thankful to be called a follower of this Jesus - that he would have anything to do with me, let alone love us as ravenously as he does, and give us a mission in his world. 

I know our ministry has inched forward these three years, but we have been more about reshaping a community, their passions, our hearts than simply filling up rooms.  This was a good weekend in that evolution - which by God's grace will turn into a revolution in all of our lives.

To my Inversion family - go now and follow Jesus...fear not, love deeply and give your life away. 

We recently had a photo made of our three kids and it turned out to be a fun picture. I'll fill in the details with some commentary.

• On the right is Kayla Joy, she'll be six in a little over two weeks and is in the first grade - all she wants you to look at is the hole in her mouth where her baby tooth used to be. Hence the big smile...
  
• In the middle is Thomas...aka Tommy Reid.  He is saying "help, you don't know what these two do to me...please, help"  You can see his plea written all over his face.  He is 13 months and loves head butting.
  
• On the left is Kylene Jordon - she is 3.75 - She is saying to us "look how sweet, cute and innocent I am! Except you cannot see my left hand...I am giving Tommy a wedgie."

 

OK, this is my one year old boy Thomas Reid Monaghan.  AKA Tommy Reid.  I know many of you prayed for this little guy last year when he had so much trouble at his birth.  We are thankful that he is healthy, growing and doing push-ups.  Well...sort of.   

A prayer for young Thomas:

My Son, May grace rest upon your soul
May humility mingle with boldness as you grow into a man
May you grow in wisdom, stature and in favor with all
May you learn to trust, but learn to question
May you learn to labor, and learn to rest in God
May you embrace sanctified masculinity, but never barbarism
May you rise to love, serve and lead well all those who will surround you
May you not give way to a generation floundering in a sea of lust
May truth be your guide, hope your companion and the risen Christ your vision all of your days.
You are loved and treasured - but not above our God - may he alone rise to the highest place in our affections. May our hearts ever be one in him.