I am going to post a comment over here, on my frequently unread blog. My wife told me to tell you that she reads my blog.
Does anyone know the words to "the Rose?"
Friday, February 29, 2008
Leap Day
I was feeling a quarter of a day off recently, so am I glad that today is Leap Day. I can get caught up.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Choosy Lovers Choose Jif - I mean Jesus!
Well, it’s official! The church is just another thing for which people shop. A recent study that was released by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, states that more and more people are shopping for churches, and brand loyalty is a thing of the past.
Actually, I am surprised that it took this long for it to be stated in a report, because I think that many people have known it for a long time. In fact, I think that others have done studies that have stated the very same thing, but this story is acting much like Punxsutawney Phil’s pronouncement on February 2nd, it states the obvious.
I read stories on this very topic twice in the past 12 hours. One of the stories from Time Magazine was forwarded to me, and the other appeared in the Post Gazette this morning. Both stories report the findings of the survey conducted by the Pew Forum, but I guess I wasn’t as surprised by the findings as the authors of the articles.
Quite simply, while Americans claim to be religious, almost a quarter of people who responded have “switched” denominations and even faiths during their life time. Christians still dominate the American landscape, but Protestants are losing their majority slowly. Many people experience shifts in their lifetime as families begin to experience church differently than they did in their upbringing.
You have probably seen this in your reality. People may claim to be “Catholic” but do not attend, or “Protestant” but don’t know a denominational affiliation. Most people today will shop for churches that meet the needs of their families or find someplace where “everybody knows their name.”
Branding is a hot topic in church administrative discussions, but the truth is that from this perspective, I think it is probably most important that we do our best as a church at proclaiming Christ and him crucified, and if it is as a Methodist or a Catholic – great. Working for the Kingdom of God should be our most important objective. Transforming lives and families should be our chief goal.
In the twenty-forth chapter of Joshua, I think it talks about this article. "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
If you ask me on a normal day, I’d probably tell you that I’m a United Methodist. However, it is most important for me to be a Christian; to love others, and most importantly to love God. And as for me and my house – we will serve the Lord.
This week in worship we will continue to Follow Christ in our Lenten Journey. My message will be on opening ourselves to the prospect of faith. I look forward to seeing you and greeting you as a brother and sister in Christ as we seek to serve the Lord.
Actually, I am surprised that it took this long for it to be stated in a report, because I think that many people have known it for a long time. In fact, I think that others have done studies that have stated the very same thing, but this story is acting much like Punxsutawney Phil’s pronouncement on February 2nd, it states the obvious.
I read stories on this very topic twice in the past 12 hours. One of the stories from Time Magazine was forwarded to me, and the other appeared in the Post Gazette this morning. Both stories report the findings of the survey conducted by the Pew Forum, but I guess I wasn’t as surprised by the findings as the authors of the articles.
Quite simply, while Americans claim to be religious, almost a quarter of people who responded have “switched” denominations and even faiths during their life time. Christians still dominate the American landscape, but Protestants are losing their majority slowly. Many people experience shifts in their lifetime as families begin to experience church differently than they did in their upbringing.
You have probably seen this in your reality. People may claim to be “Catholic” but do not attend, or “Protestant” but don’t know a denominational affiliation. Most people today will shop for churches that meet the needs of their families or find someplace where “everybody knows their name.”
Branding is a hot topic in church administrative discussions, but the truth is that from this perspective, I think it is probably most important that we do our best as a church at proclaiming Christ and him crucified, and if it is as a Methodist or a Catholic – great. Working for the Kingdom of God should be our most important objective. Transforming lives and families should be our chief goal.
In the twenty-forth chapter of Joshua, I think it talks about this article. "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
If you ask me on a normal day, I’d probably tell you that I’m a United Methodist. However, it is most important for me to be a Christian; to love others, and most importantly to love God. And as for me and my house – we will serve the Lord.
This week in worship we will continue to Follow Christ in our Lenten Journey. My message will be on opening ourselves to the prospect of faith. I look forward to seeing you and greeting you as a brother and sister in Christ as we seek to serve the Lord.
Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Give Gratuitiously
If you have heard me write about this before, it is probably because it comes from one of my favorite passages of scripture. The passage suggests how it is that we can live as true Christians and in many ways it talks about how we can live in relationship with one another. It has been used in weddings, it has been used at funerals, and I often use it as a simple way of remembering our task.
We are called to love. You could say that it is a basic task, a basic obligation, a basic human response to our lives. Love should not be a response to something, yet a response to simply living. Love and loving abundantly should just be what we do, it should just be who we are.
Paul wrote, “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.” Romans 12:9-12
I remember when I was a child, there was a little comic that was entitled, “Love is.” I remember them more because my sister used to cut them out of the paper each day and collect them. I guess she was in her romantic teenage years and much of what they said, spoke to her. (If she reads this – I’m not going to get much love.)
We are being most human, most Christian when we love. And yet, for so many this is one of the hardest things to do. We have to be reminded of love, we have to be taught love, we have to respond to love – yet it is just what we are supposed to be. It is a basic human sentiment. It is so basic, that Christ reminded us that there were only two things that were important – Love of God, and Love of Neighbor.
I have been thinking a lot about Love in the past few days. It is probably a good reminder for me as I read that passage from Romans, that we are called to love, and it is to be genuine and filled with passion.
Henri Nouwen, in his book, “The Inner Voice of Love,” writes:
Your love, insofar as it is from God, is permanent. You can claim the permanence of your love as a gift from God, and you can give that permanent love to others. When others stop loving you, you do not hae to stop loving them. On a human level, changes might be necessary but on the level of the divine, you can remain faithful to your love.
One day you will be free to give gratuitous love, a love that does not ask for anything in return. One day also you will be free to receive gratuitous love. Often love is offered to you, but you do not recognize it. You discard it because you are fixed on receiving it from the same person to whom you gave it.
The great paradox of love is that precisely when you have claimed yourself as God’s beloved child, have set boundaries to your love, and thus contained your needs, you begin to grow into the freedom to give gratuitously.
In many ways, this love that is given freely can only be given as a response. It is a response, not to what others have given to us, but by the love that is first given to us by God. God loves us abundantly and it is because of that love that we can love others.
I pray that you can claim that love today. Know that you are loved, not only by God but by many.
This week in worship we will continue our Lenten Series entitled, “Follow Me” when we are invited to follow Christ to the Well. I look forward to seeing you in worship this week so that you may know that you are loved gratuitously.
Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg
We are called to love. You could say that it is a basic task, a basic obligation, a basic human response to our lives. Love should not be a response to something, yet a response to simply living. Love and loving abundantly should just be what we do, it should just be who we are.
Paul wrote, “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.” Romans 12:9-12
I remember when I was a child, there was a little comic that was entitled, “Love is.” I remember them more because my sister used to cut them out of the paper each day and collect them. I guess she was in her romantic teenage years and much of what they said, spoke to her. (If she reads this – I’m not going to get much love.)
We are being most human, most Christian when we love. And yet, for so many this is one of the hardest things to do. We have to be reminded of love, we have to be taught love, we have to respond to love – yet it is just what we are supposed to be. It is a basic human sentiment. It is so basic, that Christ reminded us that there were only two things that were important – Love of God, and Love of Neighbor.
I have been thinking a lot about Love in the past few days. It is probably a good reminder for me as I read that passage from Romans, that we are called to love, and it is to be genuine and filled with passion.
Henri Nouwen, in his book, “The Inner Voice of Love,” writes:
Your love, insofar as it is from God, is permanent. You can claim the permanence of your love as a gift from God, and you can give that permanent love to others. When others stop loving you, you do not hae to stop loving them. On a human level, changes might be necessary but on the level of the divine, you can remain faithful to your love.
One day you will be free to give gratuitous love, a love that does not ask for anything in return. One day also you will be free to receive gratuitous love. Often love is offered to you, but you do not recognize it. You discard it because you are fixed on receiving it from the same person to whom you gave it.
The great paradox of love is that precisely when you have claimed yourself as God’s beloved child, have set boundaries to your love, and thus contained your needs, you begin to grow into the freedom to give gratuitously.
In many ways, this love that is given freely can only be given as a response. It is a response, not to what others have given to us, but by the love that is first given to us by God. God loves us abundantly and it is because of that love that we can love others.
I pray that you can claim that love today. Know that you are loved, not only by God but by many.
This week in worship we will continue our Lenten Series entitled, “Follow Me” when we are invited to follow Christ to the Well. I look forward to seeing you in worship this week so that you may know that you are loved gratuitously.
Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
The Important Things In Life
How many times in a day do you get one of those emails that offers you a philosophy on life and prompts you to send this onto five of the most important people including the one who sent it to you? I get them quite often, read them quite regularly, but don’t forward them. It’s not a reflection of the person or the message, but many times a time factor. Plus they really have to be the most spectacular thing I’ve ever read. Plus, how would I be able to come up with these wonderful emails that you delete? Just kidding!
I got one of those emails today. Actually it had all of the characteristics of the aforementioned, but it didn’t tell me that I was a heathen if I didn’t forward it. It was about the important things in life. I read it before, and I read it again.
In a nutshell, it asked if you could remember the five wealthiest people in the world, the last five Heisman Trophy winners, and even some other trivial information. I for one am usually a master of useless knowledge, but even this information is beyond my scope of reason.
It then asked if you could name a few teachers who aided your journey through school; three friends who have helped you through a difficult time; five people who have taught you something worthwhile; a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special; and five people you enjoy spending time with.
You can probably come up with the point of this story and the email, but sometimes these things cause you to think just a little bit about what is really important.
And then there are the times when a real email is read about a real situation, and it makes you take stock even more.
Late yesterday, after being home all day with the kids and dreading the fact that I was not in the office, I received a phone call from a college buddy. Our friend was in an accident in Maryland and was not expected to live. It is so hard to hear about a friend who is married with three children, who will not be with us much longer. So many thoughts go through your head, so much pain and hurt for the family. You remember a friend, and laughter.
And suddenly, you take stock in what is really important! Suddenly spending time sled ridding, building an igloo, and cooking dinner for your family isn’t so bad after all!
This entire time, I have been thinking about a text that I have often repeated, but it is also making a lot of sense today. Matthew reminds us of how Christ told his followers not to worry about tomorrow, which will bring worries of its own. Worry about the important things, and reassures us that God will take care of the rest. It also says, “Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
This E-pistle is a day late – but can you tell I’m not too worried? I value you and I value the opportunity to be with you. Simply writing this today is a cause for me to give thanks for the day, for my God, for you, for my family . . . well I could go on. But for now, I give thanks for today, and hope that you can as well. Remember, tomorrow will have worries of its own.
This week in worship we will continue our Lenten journey together as we hear the story of Nicodemus in John 3. I hope that you will be here and take stock in what God has given you this week. I look forward to worshipping with you.
Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg
I got one of those emails today. Actually it had all of the characteristics of the aforementioned, but it didn’t tell me that I was a heathen if I didn’t forward it. It was about the important things in life. I read it before, and I read it again.
In a nutshell, it asked if you could remember the five wealthiest people in the world, the last five Heisman Trophy winners, and even some other trivial information. I for one am usually a master of useless knowledge, but even this information is beyond my scope of reason.
It then asked if you could name a few teachers who aided your journey through school; three friends who have helped you through a difficult time; five people who have taught you something worthwhile; a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special; and five people you enjoy spending time with.
You can probably come up with the point of this story and the email, but sometimes these things cause you to think just a little bit about what is really important.
And then there are the times when a real email is read about a real situation, and it makes you take stock even more.
Late yesterday, after being home all day with the kids and dreading the fact that I was not in the office, I received a phone call from a college buddy. Our friend was in an accident in Maryland and was not expected to live. It is so hard to hear about a friend who is married with three children, who will not be with us much longer. So many thoughts go through your head, so much pain and hurt for the family. You remember a friend, and laughter.
And suddenly, you take stock in what is really important! Suddenly spending time sled ridding, building an igloo, and cooking dinner for your family isn’t so bad after all!
This entire time, I have been thinking about a text that I have often repeated, but it is also making a lot of sense today. Matthew reminds us of how Christ told his followers not to worry about tomorrow, which will bring worries of its own. Worry about the important things, and reassures us that God will take care of the rest. It also says, “Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
This E-pistle is a day late – but can you tell I’m not too worried? I value you and I value the opportunity to be with you. Simply writing this today is a cause for me to give thanks for the day, for my God, for you, for my family . . . well I could go on. But for now, I give thanks for today, and hope that you can as well. Remember, tomorrow will have worries of its own.
This week in worship we will continue our Lenten journey together as we hear the story of Nicodemus in John 3. I hope that you will be here and take stock in what God has given you this week. I look forward to worshipping with you.
Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg
Monday, February 11, 2008
Number three lost number two
Last week, number three told us that she had a loose tooth. For those who know Tracy, you know that the seemingly insignificant moments are huge for her. This is her baby and the last. So to know that she had her first loose tooth was huge. That first one, she delicately wiggled and wiggled. She didn't want anyone close to her. It finally came out just before dinner.
Well this morning as we were waiting for the two hour delay to lapse, she came up to me and said, "daddy, I have another loose toof." Five minutes later it was gone.
P.S. - I just got harrassed for the previous comment about "seemingly insignifant moments."
Well this morning as we were waiting for the two hour delay to lapse, she came up to me and said, "daddy, I have another loose toof." Five minutes later it was gone.
P.S. - I just got harrassed for the previous comment about "seemingly insignifant moments."
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
The Cox Family Vehicle
This past weekend, I had some fun recalling one of our family vehicles. It brought back some memories for me, as well as some laughs.
When I was a child my family drove everywhere for vacation. Other than the fact that I had visited the airport because I was curious about airplanes, I had not been on an airplane until I was a teenager. It didn’t matter how far away our vacation plans took us, we drove. In the early years, it was the Ford Station wagon with the optional faux wood grain paneling – you know the model. I think that the movie Family Vacation was modeled after my father.
My father would set his sights on a particular destination. One such year it was Disney World. We loaded the car the night before with most of the luggage on the roof-top carrier. Bungie Cords fastened it to the carrier - step back because if one got loose, you'd lose and eye.
All six of us would be jammed into the station wagon. I sat where ever I was told. If the others were in the middle, I was jammed in the back with all the sliding luggage. If my brother wanted to sleep back there, I was relegated to the wheel well between the seats.
We drank tab, ate charle's chips and bologna sandwiches, stopped several nights along the way, had tuna fish sandwiches and cold fried chicken. Who can forget the pudding. We always carried that green water cooler from Coleman and quite often it spilled on my sleeping bag.
Of course, what would a family vacation be without many stops along the way. One such stop was Stone Mountain in Georgia. Stone Mountain is a huge granite protrusion that looks more like a bald head than a mountain peak. I don't remember much about that stop other than being fearful that I would slide down the smooth peak once we arrived at the top via the tram.
Unlike Family Vacation, Disney World was open when we arrived. Thank God for the LTD with the flippy lights, the car-top carrier, the hidden seats that flipped up in the back, and the state of the art AM/FM radio, and of course the optional faux wood grain paneling on the side.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
To Fast or Not to Fast, That is the Question
For many across the country, today is a day of voting. But for the rest of us, today is a day of preparation. Some call it Mardi Gras, some Fat Tuesday, some shrove Tuesday, and even others call it Pancake day.
Regardless of what you call today, it is a day of preparation for Lent. Tomorrow begins the yearly observance of Lent that will last for the 40 days leading up to Easter. If you want to be technical – it is 46 days long, but Sundays do not count as official observance days. Lent is a time of penitence and fasting, a time of removing obstructions and obstacles in our walk of faith so that we might concentration on the sacrifices made on our behalf by Christ. Lent is a time of conversion where we can grow through repentance, fellowship, prayer and fasting.
For many faithful, fasting means giving something up. This is a more frequent practice in the Roman Catholic tradition, but has some strong merit. Removing obstacles in our lives causes us to be more in tune with the sacrifice. That’s where Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday comes in. Today is the day when we can use up all of the things in our cupboards that cause us to break the fast, such as milk, eggs, flour, and butter.
There have been years in the past when I have entered into a Lenten Discipline of fasting from something. I have given up various things that have caused me to stumble such as Coke, candy, cookies and even caffeine. But unfortunately, my willpower is such that rather than truly fasting or eliminating that item, I substituted it with something else. Many times – that substitution was nothing more that – a substitute. It didn’t prove anything. If I gave up coke, I drank more coffee. When I gave up cookies, I rationalized my devotion to cakes. When I gave up caffeine altogether, I substituted that for having a headache all day and lashing out irrationally.
Personally, I think one of the hardest things to do is to fast entirely from food. Giving up all food for a day is quite difficult. Whether it is the psychological part or the physical part – it is just difficult. I actually tried it several years for one day each week during Lent. Sometimes it worked; other times I buckled under the pressure.
Regardless of what you do during Lent – I think it should be for the right reasons. Don’t give something up, or add something just to accomplish a task or look good. Don’t do it because of pressure from someone else or because “everyone else is doing it.” But do it so that you might be converted. Do it so that you might grow in faith, through repentance, fellowship, prayer and fasting.
On Ash Wednesday, you will likely hear a text from Matthew that says, “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” To me that is a reminder that if I do something – it’s going to be to strengthen my faith, not so I can be seen by others as completing a task.
I will do something, but I haven’t decided what – I still have another 10 hours to decide. I invite you to enter into a spiritual discipline during Lent. Regardless of what you do – I hope that you do it for your own personal and spiritual growth.
This week, we begin our Lenten Journey together. I will begin a series entitled, “Follow Me” where we talk about denying ourselves, lifting up the cross, and following Christ. This week, we will be following Christ to the desert. I look forward to seeing you in Worship.
Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg
Regardless of what you call today, it is a day of preparation for Lent. Tomorrow begins the yearly observance of Lent that will last for the 40 days leading up to Easter. If you want to be technical – it is 46 days long, but Sundays do not count as official observance days. Lent is a time of penitence and fasting, a time of removing obstructions and obstacles in our walk of faith so that we might concentration on the sacrifices made on our behalf by Christ. Lent is a time of conversion where we can grow through repentance, fellowship, prayer and fasting.
For many faithful, fasting means giving something up. This is a more frequent practice in the Roman Catholic tradition, but has some strong merit. Removing obstacles in our lives causes us to be more in tune with the sacrifice. That’s where Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday comes in. Today is the day when we can use up all of the things in our cupboards that cause us to break the fast, such as milk, eggs, flour, and butter.
There have been years in the past when I have entered into a Lenten Discipline of fasting from something. I have given up various things that have caused me to stumble such as Coke, candy, cookies and even caffeine. But unfortunately, my willpower is such that rather than truly fasting or eliminating that item, I substituted it with something else. Many times – that substitution was nothing more that – a substitute. It didn’t prove anything. If I gave up coke, I drank more coffee. When I gave up cookies, I rationalized my devotion to cakes. When I gave up caffeine altogether, I substituted that for having a headache all day and lashing out irrationally.
Personally, I think one of the hardest things to do is to fast entirely from food. Giving up all food for a day is quite difficult. Whether it is the psychological part or the physical part – it is just difficult. I actually tried it several years for one day each week during Lent. Sometimes it worked; other times I buckled under the pressure.
Regardless of what you do during Lent – I think it should be for the right reasons. Don’t give something up, or add something just to accomplish a task or look good. Don’t do it because of pressure from someone else or because “everyone else is doing it.” But do it so that you might be converted. Do it so that you might grow in faith, through repentance, fellowship, prayer and fasting.
On Ash Wednesday, you will likely hear a text from Matthew that says, “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” To me that is a reminder that if I do something – it’s going to be to strengthen my faith, not so I can be seen by others as completing a task.
I will do something, but I haven’t decided what – I still have another 10 hours to decide. I invite you to enter into a spiritual discipline during Lent. Regardless of what you do – I hope that you do it for your own personal and spiritual growth.
This week, we begin our Lenten Journey together. I will begin a series entitled, “Follow Me” where we talk about denying ourselves, lifting up the cross, and following Christ. This week, we will be following Christ to the desert. I look forward to seeing you in Worship.
Please pray for me, and know that I am praying for you.
Greg
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