5 years ago
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
And it's four months
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Invitations
So, all in all things are off to a fairly good start. I have tried to heed Rev. Camphouse's words of wisdom and have tried to come in without a vision but instead to listen and to help the people try to figure out just what in the heck God wants to do here. So I have been visiting like a crazy person, making trips to the hospital, catching up on House season 4 and most of all, learning the tricks of the trade that operating a riding lawnmower involves.
As I have been listening and preaching and pastoral caring what I have discovered in many ways is that its much easier to think about how the church and how the pastor should do things than it actually is to do them. One of the things that I have been thinking most about and trying to figure out how to do well is invitation.
Much of my thinking on this issue starting in a conversation with my Baptist-leaning dad over dinner. My churches have a history that involves a weekly altar call (Those of you who remember my time at the Candler Office of Worship will find this full of karma). Not surprisingly, we are currently not doing an altar call. I was explaining this to my father and he getting quite concerned; and he challenged me to think about how to invite people to consider salvation.
Now I explained to my dad that as a United Methodist Mr. Wesley would never talk about one moment of being saved but that our whole lives we were in the process of being saved, but that didn't seem to answer it. And as I have walked away from our dinner conversation, I have been thinking a lot about what it means to invite people to live the Christian life, in worship, in Bible study, in pastoral care and in our life together as a church.
I don't think that the traditional altar call or even the invitation to Christian discipleship that most of us have somewhere in our bulletins really get the whole thing, but I am having trouble visualizing what not just welcoming folks to hang out with us or even serve on one of our committees but inviting them to participate in the Christian life looks like.
This thought has been kicking around my head for a couple of weeks and I still don't have a clear direction about it. I think part of it is probably creating space for responses to the word that include silence and contemplation. I imagine part of it is creating some space for a public response, because our faith is public. And I imagine part of it is inviting folks into small groups that wrestle with the practices. And I imagine another chunk of it involves inviting folks to participate in justice in our community. I'm not sure how it fits together and my guess is that I won't have it all figured out for a while.
It turns out this stuff ain't easy. Maybe its time to go back to school.
As I have been listening and preaching and pastoral caring what I have discovered in many ways is that its much easier to think about how the church and how the pastor should do things than it actually is to do them. One of the things that I have been thinking most about and trying to figure out how to do well is invitation.
Much of my thinking on this issue starting in a conversation with my Baptist-leaning dad over dinner. My churches have a history that involves a weekly altar call (Those of you who remember my time at the Candler Office of Worship will find this full of karma). Not surprisingly, we are currently not doing an altar call. I was explaining this to my father and he getting quite concerned; and he challenged me to think about how to invite people to consider salvation.
Now I explained to my dad that as a United Methodist Mr. Wesley would never talk about one moment of being saved but that our whole lives we were in the process of being saved, but that didn't seem to answer it. And as I have walked away from our dinner conversation, I have been thinking a lot about what it means to invite people to live the Christian life, in worship, in Bible study, in pastoral care and in our life together as a church.
I don't think that the traditional altar call or even the invitation to Christian discipleship that most of us have somewhere in our bulletins really get the whole thing, but I am having trouble visualizing what not just welcoming folks to hang out with us or even serve on one of our committees but inviting them to participate in the Christian life looks like.
This thought has been kicking around my head for a couple of weeks and I still don't have a clear direction about it. I think part of it is probably creating space for responses to the word that include silence and contemplation. I imagine part of it is creating some space for a public response, because our faith is public. And I imagine part of it is inviting folks into small groups that wrestle with the practices. And I imagine another chunk of it involves inviting folks to participate in justice in our community. I'm not sure how it fits together and my guess is that I won't have it all figured out for a while.
It turns out this stuff ain't easy. Maybe its time to go back to school.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Changes
So, it's been a little while since I posted. Getting commissioned, receiving an appointment, leaving Atlanta and moving to Greeneville will do that to you. There is other news that many of you know about, but employment issues prevent me from blogging about it just yet. It is very good news, and life, despite being apart from Erin and adjusting to a new place, is relatively good.
A few things that have been noteworthy in the last couple months and the first few days of my new appointment.
1. A helpful neighbor giving me a heads up about the importance of the KJV.
2. It is really helpful being connected to fellow pastors, particularly when you have to figure out something as crazy as going from Atlanta to the farm.
3. We heard Adam Hamilton at annual conference this year. I think we probably should have read more of Hamilton in seminary. Although I didn't agree with him on everything, he had very good things to say, was theologically sound, and has figured out how to involve people in a UM community of faith that seems to live out a Wesleyan way of life in some good ways. Plus, once you enter the church he is one of those people you have to be able to be conversant in.
4. We made what I think was a good decision to approve direct billing for pastor's health insurance at annual conference. It's going to be a challenge for some smaller churches, but if people aren't going to pay apportionments in full, then we have to be responsible. This feels like a tough, challenging, but ultimately responsible facing of reality.
5. Who knew that three different churches in one charge meant three different hymnals? Apparently, I should have.
6. In our conference the commissioning service is connected to the retirement service. Quite humbling watching pastors who have served 51 years pass the mantle to us. Exciting, invigorating, challenging. A good reminder of what we are committing ourselves to. With God's help.
6. Being young, single and the new pastor, I have more garden-fresh vegetables than I know what to do with.
You would think that living in a new place, about twenty five minutes from anything (and by anything I mean Wal-Mart, Ingles, the Applebee's and Zaxby's), apart from the boss would lead to more consistent blogging. It probably will, but I make no promises.
A few things that have been noteworthy in the last couple months and the first few days of my new appointment.
1. A helpful neighbor giving me a heads up about the importance of the KJV.
2. It is really helpful being connected to fellow pastors, particularly when you have to figure out something as crazy as going from Atlanta to the farm.
3. We heard Adam Hamilton at annual conference this year. I think we probably should have read more of Hamilton in seminary. Although I didn't agree with him on everything, he had very good things to say, was theologically sound, and has figured out how to involve people in a UM community of faith that seems to live out a Wesleyan way of life in some good ways. Plus, once you enter the church he is one of those people you have to be able to be conversant in.
4. We made what I think was a good decision to approve direct billing for pastor's health insurance at annual conference. It's going to be a challenge for some smaller churches, but if people aren't going to pay apportionments in full, then we have to be responsible. This feels like a tough, challenging, but ultimately responsible facing of reality.
5. Who knew that three different churches in one charge meant three different hymnals? Apparently, I should have.
6. In our conference the commissioning service is connected to the retirement service. Quite humbling watching pastors who have served 51 years pass the mantle to us. Exciting, invigorating, challenging. A good reminder of what we are committing ourselves to. With God's help.
6. Being young, single and the new pastor, I have more garden-fresh vegetables than I know what to do with.
You would think that living in a new place, about twenty five minutes from anything (and by anything I mean Wal-Mart, Ingles, the Applebee's and Zaxby's), apart from the boss would lead to more consistent blogging. It probably will, but I make no promises.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
It's a 40-Incher
It's been much discussed, much-researched, much-obsessed over, but yesterday I made an investment that will no doubt change my life.
Yes, I bought a television. But not just any television - a 40-inch, 1080 p, 120 hz top of the line, state of the art Samsung television.
I wasn't planning on such a purchase a couple of months ago, but after learning that my new placement will take me to the edge of civilization, a friend said, "Ogle, I think a big screen television now becomes a completely justifiable purchase." Figuring that the television and I would be rediscovering our relationship, I readily agreed.
I have been researching what I "needed", how much I was willing to spend, and yesterday those two factors came together thanks to an end of the model year, a Best Buy associate eager to make a sale and a girlfriend who knows how to haggle for a half-price television.
I know my life will never be the same. I don't know how I did ministry before this purchase, but I am quite sure that my new parishioners will greatly benefit from this investment. And I have a feeling I might be attracting some visitors to watch football on Saturdays.
Yes, life is good.
Yes, I bought a television. But not just any television - a 40-inch, 1080 p, 120 hz top of the line, state of the art Samsung television.
I wasn't planning on such a purchase a couple of months ago, but after learning that my new placement will take me to the edge of civilization, a friend said, "Ogle, I think a big screen television now becomes a completely justifiable purchase." Figuring that the television and I would be rediscovering our relationship, I readily agreed.
I have been researching what I "needed", how much I was willing to spend, and yesterday those two factors came together thanks to an end of the model year, a Best Buy associate eager to make a sale and a girlfriend who knows how to haggle for a half-price television.
I know my life will never be the same. I don't know how I did ministry before this purchase, but I am quite sure that my new parishioners will greatly benefit from this investment. And I have a feeling I might be attracting some visitors to watch football on Saturdays.
Yes, life is good.
Friday, April 17, 2009
The Boss Makes YouTube
So, Erin, who is the director of development for Easter Seals here in North Georgia, was interviewed by a children's television station. And to make things even better, her interview is posted on YouTube. Her interview starts about a minute in. She's the one who looks like she's older than 12.
In case you are interested, you can still register for the Easter Seals walk at Grant Park, which is tomorrow and begins at 9 at Grant Park. I'll be the good looking one passing out t-shirts.
In case you are interested, you can still register for the Easter Seals walk at Grant Park, which is tomorrow and begins at 9 at Grant Park. I'll be the good looking one passing out t-shirts.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Low Mileage Tires and High Anxiety
So, I don't think I could ever run a ponzi scheme. I just don't have the stomach for it.
I got a flat tire after hitting a GINORMOUS pothole on my way home on Monday. Considering it was my second one in ten days and knowing that I needed to get a new set soon anyway, I went ahead and took the plunge.
I like to consider myself pretty laid back and able to roll with the punches, but the reality of spending that amount of money living on a seriously reduced income took all the energy out of me. I was so worried about my ability to make it through the end of June on my current income (to any worried readers I will be able to do, so no need to send donations) that I lost all ability to do much of anything. I graded a couple of papers, holed myself in my room, ate some gourmet eggs that Erin cooked for me, listened to her sermon on trust, and then went to sleep.
I also realized, in my afternoon of nothingness, how lucky I am. Although I have been through quite a bit of things over the last couple months, I also have friends and family who helped me out and would continue to do so if I asked.
I am not sure how people who have to live paycheck to paycheck do it. The increased stress level and heightened anxiety of living this way for five months has given me a great appreciation for the chronically poor and the more than 5 million Americans who have lost their job in this financial meltdown.
While we often speak about the burden of making ends meet without adequate resources, the psychological burden often goes unnoticed. Anxiety and stress make it harder to work, harder to keep up the struggle against all the forces of depression.
I'm very thankful to have a job, thankful that this paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle will end soon, and wanting to pray for all those folks who don't have the same luxury.
I got a flat tire after hitting a GINORMOUS pothole on my way home on Monday. Considering it was my second one in ten days and knowing that I needed to get a new set soon anyway, I went ahead and took the plunge.
I like to consider myself pretty laid back and able to roll with the punches, but the reality of spending that amount of money living on a seriously reduced income took all the energy out of me. I was so worried about my ability to make it through the end of June on my current income (to any worried readers I will be able to do, so no need to send donations) that I lost all ability to do much of anything. I graded a couple of papers, holed myself in my room, ate some gourmet eggs that Erin cooked for me, listened to her sermon on trust, and then went to sleep.
I also realized, in my afternoon of nothingness, how lucky I am. Although I have been through quite a bit of things over the last couple months, I also have friends and family who helped me out and would continue to do so if I asked.
I am not sure how people who have to live paycheck to paycheck do it. The increased stress level and heightened anxiety of living this way for five months has given me a great appreciation for the chronically poor and the more than 5 million Americans who have lost their job in this financial meltdown.
While we often speak about the burden of making ends meet without adequate resources, the psychological burden often goes unnoticed. Anxiety and stress make it harder to work, harder to keep up the struggle against all the forces of depression.
I'm very thankful to have a job, thankful that this paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle will end soon, and wanting to pray for all those folks who don't have the same luxury.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
A Cautionary Tale
"I blame the radio for sowing a good deal of confusion where theology is concerned. And television is worse. You can spend forty years teaching people to be awake to the fact of mystery and some fellow with no more theological sense than a jackrabbit gets himself a radio ministry and all your work is forgotten." - Gilead
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