faithrunner

Brian McLaren launches another look at Christianity this week with his new book, Everything Must Change . McLaren has helped my faith grow and challenges my theology. I've wrestled with him many times, but have grown every time we have. I love McLaren for his writings and musings--many of which I would not consider on my own. I have not suffered the ridicule or attacks he has for his efforts to address a changing culture with the gospel, but I have a sense of some of what he is trying to do and why some people don't like him doing it. I got my email newsletter from Allelon today , and Alan Roxburgh interviews his friend Brian McLaren about what it is like trying to lead people to faith and getting beat up by those who say they follow Jesus already. It's about 20 minutes, but worth the watch to get an insight into both men's hearts. You'll like the prayer McLaren shares at the end of the interview. I'll get the book and let you know what I think about it. Che...

We traveled to Waco this past weekend to perform the wedding of Freeland Ackley and Brooke Chisum . Brooke is David Chisum's daughter, and we have been friends since the mid-80's. Storey and Brooke went to school together at PSHS , and Summer is in Tri Delta at Baylor , where Brooke was a member while at Baylor. One of the greatest joys of being a pastor is being part of the family events of friends. The ceremony was special because Freeland and Brooke's first love is Christ and then each other . Their friends are great people, and love them deeply. It was an outdoor wedding and Freeland's Great Danes were the ring bearer and flower girl--and it still worked! It was hot, but the setting was beautiful and worth the sweat. We got to spend time with our kidos , which is always a bonus. Storey and Graham continue to work on their fixer upper, and Summer is full swing into her student teaching. I even got a run in at Cameron Park, my favorite training spot for trail runn...

This past weekend five Legacy Cyclists rode in the 64-mile tour of the Cotton Patch Classic in Greenville , TX and surrounding towns. Our goal was to cross the finish line together and to finish before noon. We rode as a team , the faster riders resisting their usual speeds and the slower riders cranking it up to keep the average speed higher than they would normally ride. We rode in a pace line most of the way and only stopped once to refuel (and make room for more liquids if necessary). We crossed the line together and only missed our time goal by minutes. I am always amazed at the power of team. When you share the lead position, take turns drafting on other team members, and crank harder than you would on your own to keep the team's goals you discover you are better together than on your own. I was glad I was riding with my team as the day got warmer, the hills longer, and the wind picked up in our faces. I've been the lone rider we flew by many times that morning, and I d...

Last Sunday was the Kick Off for 40 Days of Community at Legacy. We had a great time the entire morning, and topped it all off with water fun in the parking lot. Of course, the team signed the staff up for a turn in the dunk tank. He's me coming out of the tank with the shock of cold water still on me. Here's Troy adding ice to the tank just to prove the young guys can do it no matter what. Markus thinks its going to be easy, but he has the right idea on his shirt! And, as usual, Kenyon says, "Bring it on! This is nothing for an Crimson Tide fan." (Notice Markus is still smiling. He's next.) All in all, it was a fun day, and we added 105 people to Host Home groups who were not in a LifeGroup before Sunday...worth the cold and wet, I'd say.

I read on a friend's blog tonight that Madeleline L'Engle died last Thursday. She has been a literary hero of mine from the day I read her most famous children's book, A Wrinkle In Time . Just read the first page , and I'll say you'll be hooked. Monica Hesse of the Washington Post.com wrote today, "'A Wrinkle in Time' was not the sort of book you were assigned in school; with its New Testament quotations and witchy supporting characters it was at once too Christian and too blasphemous. It was the sort of book you discovered on your own, shelved as it was in the big kids' section, and that you read ferociously into the night with a mug of Swiss Miss -- a replica of Meg's homemade cocoa." So true. But it was not her children's books alone that caught my imagination. Her books on the biblical stories like A Stone for a Pillow added life and thought to dusty characters I had long left in darkened Sunday School rooms. She stretched my ...

Sally Morgenthaler is known for her book and concept of “ Worship Evangelism .” She has begun to re-think that idea…radical stuff. Here’s an excerpt from a recent article to get you going. “In 2000 I didn't have all of the numbers I have now, but I had seen enough to know what was happening. The contemporary church—including the praise-and-worship church, the worship evangelism church—was in a holy huddle, and I began to talk about it. It was excruciating. It was career suicide. But from pastors conferences to worship seminars to seminaries, I began challenging leaders to give up their mythologies about how they were reaching the unchurched on Sunday morning . Yes, worship openly and unapologetically . Yes, worship well and deeply. (Which means singing songs that may include anger, sadness, and despair. Have we forgotten that David did this? Have we discarded the psalms?) But let our deepened, honest worship be the overflow of what God does through us beyond our walls .” Th...

Kim and I are in Austin this weekend to perform the wedding of Ryan Shipley and Cate Johnson . Ryan's mother and step-father are Bobbie and Doug Otto, and have been family friends for a long time. Weddings of family friends are some of the greatest joys of being a pastor. Pray for Ryan and Cate as they begin this life-long journey together this evening. The rehearsal dinner was at Chez - Zee . Go there is you have a chance! Awesome food and a fun place to eat. Thank you Doug and Bobbie for a wonderful meal and meaningful experience. We worshiped with my nephew and Kim's best friend (and their friends and family and about 1500 others) this morning at Austin Stone Community Church . This church is doing the deal, and the next generation is participating with passion and great numbers. They do the basics well: worship, small groups, training, and making disciples. Chris Tomlin leads worship there regularly. He was not there today, but the worship was passionate and Matt Carter,...