Monday Morning Brief – 4.13.09

So much to say but I’ll try to keep it brief.  But remember I said try.

What I Enjoyed this Week – 1.  We really did have a great Easter.  We saw some relatives through out theweekend that we hadn’t seen in a while that .  Also, we really enjoyed our church community this Easter.  It will be almost 3 years that we’ve been at this church and I’m really feeling that I am a part of people’s lives and they are part of mine.  We’ve felt that about 2 years ago but we’re really feeling it now.  Who knows, I may stick around another 5 or 6 … months (I know I just wowed you with my incredible faith ;-).  Our services were pretty good too.  We are an inter-generational church which has it’s beautiful moments and tougher moments. Easter Sunday we had a choir with a band that just really sounded good together.  I’m not much of a choir person (meaning I’m not 50 years old) but I was really moved by the service.  3. I enjoyed my Lenten practices this year.  I do feel I could have done better at one of them but was pretty blessed by the others. I don’t really know how to talk about it in this space but I encourage you to participate the next Advent/Lent.  

What Else I Enjoyed this Week – 1. The return of baseball! drama in New York, Manny not producing, sleeper times like the Marlins coming out swinging, the Cubs looking good and rumors of baseball being played in the midwest – the old pastime is back!  Oh, and my fantasy team was quite victorious over my fellow pastor, neighbor, fellow Yankee fan, Tim. 2.  The Lost episode with Ben was great.  3.  Had some good discussions with a few of my friends which began over this blogging medium.  Also appreciated how my friends and I disagree over important matters.  Again, this is part of what compels me to the emerging church thing.  It’s culture allows for great discussion, truth-searching and soul searching.  Looking forward to more of this.

What I’m Reading – Just finished Exploring the Old Testament – A Guide to the Prophets by J. Gordon McConville.  Almost finished with Jesus, the Final Days by Crag Evans and NT Wright.  Just started reading Who Goes There? By Rebecca Price Janney.  And  The Hauerwas Reader (Yeah, let’s just assume that I’ll always be working through that).

What’s Been on the Ipod – Podcasts and lectures.  As far as music, there are weeks when I have to listen to something new and there are weeks that I feel I don’t take advantage of the music collection I already have.  So, it was a week of U2, Dylan and worship music. 

 What I’ve Been Watching – Saw Knowing with Nicholas Cage.  I enjoyed it but it was a lot different thenwhat I though it was going to be.  I only saw the previews and I didn’t realize it was a true sci-fi movie.  I thought it was going to be more like a natural thriller with a twist of the mysterious/supernatural.  I suppose I thought it was going to be The Day After Tomorrow with a splash of Contact.  Turned out to be pretty apocalyptic and pseudo-biblical ?? kinda – I don’t know what to call it.  It’s an interesting movie, again, not sure I was ready for it.  Saw it with my sr. pastor so we had a fun discussion about that.  In fact, I think that was one of the saving graces of it.  Had I watched on DVD by myself, it’s fair to say that I would have been disappointed.  One of my problems is that I couldn’t figure out the purpose of Nicolas Cage’s character and I still can’t.   I think I’ll talk about this movie as a reference point like the way I talk about heaven and hell in What Dreams May Come.  Knowing actually has a decent conclusion once you realize what kind of a movie it is.  I’m not the only one who thought it was a little weak though.  The New York Daily News did not appreciate it – Nicolas Cage’s ‘Knowing’ isn’t prophetic … just pathetic.  

What’s Going on in our Student Ministry –   1.  Several of them are off for break these past two weeks so getting together has been easier.  These kids and their school educations are very inconvenient for a youth pastor.  ;-)  2. Aside from the Kimball’s They Like Jesus video curriculum, we are doing a service project weekend this upcoming week.  I always look forward to these and wish we could do them more often. Anyway, Friday night, we’re headed to a men’s ministry in Paterson that we’ve built a decent relationship with over the years.   A lot of these guys have been through the terrible times of drugs, prison, abandonment, violence etc.  They join this 9 month Christian rehab home that aims to set Christ first in their lives, rebuild their fractured relationships (which is a common theme in most of their stories) and get them off to a sustainable trade or career.  Many guys return for one reason or another, many fall away, but many see this as the turning point of their lives.  We will also be doing some community service and then off to the Eastern Christian Children’s Retreat that houses and ministers those with mental disabilities.  This will be our first time there so I’m looking forward in seeing how this will go.  I visited it a couple weeks ago, I think it’s going to be pretty eye-opening.  2. We also have several fundraisers for our mission trip that we’re planning, it’s a busy time.  Looking forward to August.

What’s Going on in Seminary – starting a new class next week – Jesus and His Message.

What I’m looking forward to 1. Nathan’s first birthday party.  2. Q Conference in Austin, Texas.

What I am Doing at the Moment – Just got off the phone with everyone and cramming for my final exam before our youth leader’s mtg.  

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