RE:think

Conversations You MUST Read

One of my favorite bloggers, Dan Edelen, posted today on "Modern Evangelicalism: MAO Inhibitor?" I think he hits it out of the ball park and really puts a finger on what I miss about the UMC church and even the Episcopal church I attended attended in my youth. Basically, the premise is this: Modern Evangelicals have given up the Mystery, Awe, and Otheness of God. I agree with this on so many levels.

Then, if the blog reading day wasn't complete enough, the imonk, another fav, goes and unpacks this all a little more. Read it here:Dan Edelsen and Evangelicalism's Loss of "Majesty, Awe, and Otherness""

I couldn't carry these guy's jock so I won't try and add anything. I do think you should go read the posts and the comments if you get a chance. Especially if you, like me, have been immersed in "modern evangelicalism" for a while.

The Task of "Moving On"

We all have a long list things "we are". Like this... I am a husband, dad, son, brother, friend, applications analyst, blogger, computer geek, professional worry wart, guitar player, etc... Until this week, I was also a worship leader.

I've lead worship in my dear little church (i thank them so much) for nearly five years now. I always knew it wouldn't last forever, and just knowing that, dreaded the day that it would come to end. I had no idea just how hard it would be to move on.

I've known a for a few months that it was my time to step aside and let someone else lead. And that's a hard thing to live with. Giving up something that has become so dear and is such a part of who you are at a given time is no easy thing. I wrestled with it. I denied it was time. I wasn't as diligent as I had been. And in the end, I realized that it wasn't something I wanted "pried from my cold dead hand."

So I resigned. Some could say I quit, but I knew this chapter was ending. There is a season, turn, turn, turn. To hold on wouldn't just be unfair to me, but also to those dear brothers and sisters I have the honor of serving. I didn't want to be that aging veteran who kept playing past his time. I didn't want to be Bret Favre.

We will still be at the same little church, with the same brothers and sisters and I am sure that the next person to lead us in music will bless us big time. But...

I expect an emptiness for a while. I fully expect that there will be days and times I'll miss it greatly. I'll hear a song and wonder why I am not leading people in singing it anymore. I'll help out down the road and maybe fill in if needed. But I must move on.

This isn't the end of ministry for me. I am quite sure that God will fill the hole with something made just for me. He'll keep growing me up and teaching me new things with whatever it happens to be. And maybe, one day, I'll even lead a congregation in singing again.

But for now, I will wait. And I will move on.

(pray for me)

I Promise to Post...

My posting has been as sporadic as it ever has over the past month. I haven't gone anywhere and have some posts and things to tell you coming up. It's just been a busy time for me and we've been enjoying the nice weather as a family. We've also been playing our Wii quite a bit. What a wonderful creation for families! We love it!

Anyway, I will have some good stuff to post soon and a couple of updates. Thanks for checking in!

What Would Jesus Drink?

This is why I could never be a Southern Baptist again. It was fresh on mind as a part of the sermon at our church yesterday and then I ran across this article via Bob.

The weaker brother/stumbling block argument comes up and then a fantastic question is asked down in the comments. Why couldn't teetotalism be a stumbling block itself? If I am completely honest, I am personally very uncomfortable around teetolalers when this stuff is being discussed. Even when they are being fair and not imposing their belief on me. There have been times that I truly think it was a stumbling block for me because I am made to think that I am bad for drinking beer and not as spiritual as they are. I'm one of THOSE Christians and they are not. EVEN WHEN THEY DON'T MEAN IT THAT WAY.

This question was also asked and I wonder if there is a good, fair answer for it: Why did Jesus not refrain from drinking alcohol if it is an obvious "stumbling block" to our "weaker brothers"? Surely all the bad stuff that comes along with alcohol and it's abuse was around in the first century as well...

Link: the evangelical outpost: What Would Jesus Drink?:
Alcohol, Ethics, and Christian Liberty.

My Wife, The Geek

After many long years of trying to mold my beautiful bride into a geek like me, I think I've succeeded. Here is my proof. Sorry honey but I've gotta do this. I won't live alone as a geek when you too have become one. You harassed me way too many times about being a geek for me to not announce to the world how you have become one yourself.

1. She is a huge fan, along with me, of the TV series Heroes. This show is probably the biggest hit for geeks on TV in years. Its comic books come to life without the goofy costumes.

2. Not only is she a big fan of the show, she has been out on the internet finding episode spoilers. My geek radar is about to peak...

3. She has become a big time Nintendo fan girl and gamer since we got our Wii. She logs more time on that thing than any of us.

4. Oh yeah, she also hits the internet for cheats and Easter eggs for games.

5. In the past couple of years, through school, she has become a computer software guru in many ways.

Vette, welcome to geekdom. We are glad to have you.

Next thing you know you'll want to go to Dragoncon with me...

Jerry's Gone

I felt really strange today when my brother called to ask if I'd heard Jerry Falwell had passed. Jerry Falwell was the ultimate symbol of all the things that bugged me about church and Christianity in the south. I disagreed with him and his followers on many levels. I've despised the way he pushed into politics at what I felt was a high cost to the Kingdom.

But now he is gone and as a believer, that means that he's with Jesus now. He had the most important thing right...

Up Early on a Saturday

I was up and thought I'd post. I'm up so early because I was suppose to be in charge of a yard sale at church today. I say suppose to because it didn't happen due to me being an idiot when it comes to such things.

We have an absolute pro at our church when it comes to these sales. And like a good coach, she sent an email last night with some of the details I would need to consider. You know things like, make sure you have change, make signs, get it in the newspaper. You know BASIC stuff. Since none of it was done, she says maybe we should do it another weekend. Which is a good idea.

Here is the bad part. I recently made Friday evenings a no email/internet night. I didn't see the message. No one was there this morning. I'm an idiot. I'll do better next time though with the good instructions I was given by our pro. I don't do details well on a few things, and yard sales are now on that list. Thanks for the help K-Mac.

Thank God for the way he puts the body together huh?

My Boy's First Baseball Game

Last night was a big night for the Wagner's as Ricky took the field for his first real game. I think I was more nervous for him than I ever was for myself. It went very well. Ricky batted led off and his box score looked like this...

AB R H RBI

3    3  3  2

Not bad. Not bad at all. I was really proud and it was fun hearing Evette being a loud, cheering, supporting Momma. They won their game 12-10 to start the season. And as any self respecting father would, I have pictures. Enjoy.

It's Spring, Watch Out for Ninjas

Good stuff here. You really should be careful. A throwing star to the neck or a bo staff to the head could really ruin your day.

Dwight Schrute's Schrute-Space: When Ninjas Attack!

Whether it is a throwing star to the neck at a bowling alley, a poison spike that sails through an open window and lodges itself in the fleshy part of the leg, or a mysterious black-clad figure with a bo staff, perched up on the ceiling of your garage as you pull in your car from your awesome job, ninja attacks can and will happen anywhere and anytime.

Schilling Says Sorry

Curt Schilling has a big mouth. It's a point of public record. He loves to talk to the media and he sometimes says too much. A few days ago, in a radio interview, he talked about Barry Bonds admitting to steroid use, cheating on this wife, cheating on his taxes, and cheating on his team. I don't care much for Barry, but there was a problem with Curt's statement. Barry has never admitted to any of those things.

I was so disappointed. Schilling looked very hypocritical. He has complained about folks getting things straight when speaking about him, and then this happens. He's also a Christian so it was a double whammy for me. None of us are perfect, but it always stings when someone so high profile stubs their toe.

But yesterday he came through with what I thought was a very good, honest apology on his blog. I was so glad to read this and he really swallowed some pride. It takes a big man to do this.

Some will say it wasn't real. Others will say he's only trying to keep things on an even keel so he can continue to be so outspoken. Maybe that's true. I just know that what he did was tough and I appreciated it.