Another Weather Adventure

Sometimes, it seems like we have a "kick-me" sign taped to our proverbial backs:


As bad as it has been around here in a while. And it won't be over until later tonight.

Easter Praise

Admittedly, Carrie Underwood is not my usual cup of tea. Yet as I watched the video below through teary eyes, I could not help but notice the crowd coming to its feet during the final chorus of this most powerful hymn. People rise with some perhaps not even knowing why. It seems that wherever and whenever it is sung, if it is sung well, an atmosphere of worship breaks out. The hymn has a deep resonance with me, for a variety of personal reasons. On this magnificent Easter morning, I pray that we may all stand in awe of the Lord our God: How Great Thou Art!



(h/t): Gus Marvinson

A Day of Joy

I have been trying all day to put together the words to best express what's in my heart, and remarkably, I find myself unable to turn the phrase. I have some thoughts, but they are for my son, and my son alone.

So I'll let the pictures below speak for themselves. On this Palm Sunday, my oldest son, of his own accord and at a time of his own choosing, made a public profession of faith and was baptized. While he has seemingly carried an inner light and understanding regarding the Truth for several years, a few months ago he made his decision, to my great joy. And I am, indeed, rejoicing!







"I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth." (3 John 1:4)

"… and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and fully of glory, …" (1 Peter 1:8)

The Coming Reboot

In recent years, movies and television have been filled with quite a number of "reboots." A reboot goes beyond the typical "remake" of a classic movie or show. Instead, the reboot is a complete refresh on a franchise or a character or a storyline. ABC's "V" is a reboot of the campy '80s miniseries. Smallville was a reboot of the Superman franchise. How many versions of Batman have hit the big screen? My favorite reboot, however, was the reinvigoration of the Star Trek franchise at the hands of J.J. Abrams.

I was an ardent fan of the original Star Trek series (TOS) and its movies. When Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) came out, I was a slow adopter, only buying in when the Borg entered the storyline. With the TNG universe, we got DS9 and Voyager, which I also enjoyed. Paramount tried yet another series (Enterprise), but cancelled it when it finally started to get interesting. But note that all of these series existed within the same universe, as it were.

Abrams reboot of the franchise with 2009's Star Trek, while tapping the same characters as TOS, changed the dynamics of the story by the application of a difference perspective, almost a counterfactual exercise: "what if" these characters had developed differently due to different life experiences? I remember being quite skeptical about this new look, not sure I'd like the suggested changes to the Star Trek "canon." To my surprise, the movie is by far my favorite of them all (with a place of honor still reserved for The Wrath of Khan). Abrams succeeded, despite the pained efforts to explain the changes and maintain continuity with TOS. Star Trek (2009) is a reboot - same people, but with different perspectives, different relationships, and an unwritten future. And now for the segue….

The same people, with different perspectives, different relationships and an unwritten future. This is the state of the church I've called home for the last 17 years. By June of this year, Chase Valley Church will cease to exist, its current membership and properties becoming a satellite of Cove Church. I won't go into all the reasons for this, but suffice it to say that the merger is in the best interests of continuing ministry in our particular location. I've struggled for an appropriate analogy or metaphor to describe this moment, and for now I'm going with the reboot - same people, different perspectives, different relationships and an unwritten future.

From our early days in storefront facilities, to the construction of our building on 28 acres of land, to dynamic statistical and spiritual growth, to a dramatic diaspora and decline, only a handful of us are left who span the relatively short life of the church. We have seen many people come, and many people go. We have witnessed the transformative work of God in our midst, touching and changing the lives of many. We have also suffered through pain, scandal, and the turmoil of disunity. These are experiences we will forever carry with us, with memories that deserve to be treasured and stories that need to be told and retold, and hard lessons to remember. It is a fortunate thing that eternity is forever, so that who we are (or were) will perhaps be remembered in the Light of the things that truly matter.

But we are still here. We are the same people, viewing almost 20 years of ministry in the rear view mirror, faced with envisioning the church with a different perspective, developing a new and different set of relationships both to the institutional parent church and to individuals under whose authority we will now serve. For some, this change will be too difficult to take, and they will probably leave. But there will be many who will, although perhaps with some trepidation, step into this new world and embrace the opportunity of an unwritten future. Because in the end, it is not about institutions, territory and control. I have asked myself frequently whether I'm up for the reboot. I will admit to a certain sadness over our state, and I confess I'm grieving over the potential loss of who we are (or were). But then again, some of that sense of "self" left with those that walked out the door years ago. But here I catch myself, remembering that it's about furthering the Kingdom of God where we are and where we can. Our identity is not found in Chase Valley, nor will it be found in Cove. Our identity is in Jesus Christ. To take any other perspective would be detrimental to us and to our ministry.

As I said, there are stories to tell, and perhaps over the next few months, I'll share some of those, if appropriate. Until then, I'll choose to look forward toward that unwritten future in the life of our church, knowing that in a very real sense, the future has already been written by He who stands both inside and outside of time. The raging waters of change will undoubtedly be choppy, but with faith, they are navigable. This reboot of our church can be a good thing, and reinvigorating to our purpose as followers of Christ. That is my hope, anyway, and my prayer.

Finally, A Serious Budget Proposal?

It is no secret to those who know me that I lean very much to the conservative side of the political aisle. I have not hidden that fact on this blog, although I do try to keep my political commentary in the realm of the respectful. Last July, I lambasted Congress for their decision not to produce a budget for FY11. I viewed that failure, which has led to today's threat of a government shutdown (which may very well affect me), as a derelication of their Constitutional duty. For years, for whatever reason, the political class has lacked the courage to seriously engage the looming financial crisis facing this nation in the form of unfunded liabilities. The mounting debt and the increasing deficit is a true disaster waiting to happen. And contrary to statements that have been made in the past year or so by the current administration, I do not believe you can "spend" yourself into prosperity. Sound investments, fiscal discipline, and sensible budgeting based on reasonable projected revenues - these are some of the components of good financial planning, be you individual, business or government.

Paul Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, has released the GOP budget plan for FY12 (again, something the Democrats couldn't bring themselves to do last year when they controlled the House). According to his opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, this proposal will cut $6.2 trillion in spending from the President's budget over 10 years, and in that same period will reduce the deficit by $4.4 trillion. Read the article for a hint at how this will be accomplished (I'd like to read the plan myself before trying to expound on it in any serious way).

Look, I don't know whether this is the right plan, and I don't have the expertise to judge its merit on the fine print details. What I do know is that in a debt and deficit crisis of this magnitude, we can't argue over billions - we have to argue over TRILLIONS. And this is the first serious budget proposal that attempts to address the problem in the proper context. That is, everything is on the table for discussion - in particular entitlements that we simply cannot afford, unless we dramatically raise taxes and thereby endanger an already fragile economy. Predictably, the former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has already fired off the first "Republicans are mean" salvo. And don't get me started about her use (or misuse) of Scripture, as she quotes it in the video, as justification for Government action. Expect to hear more of it though, in the days ahead.

Below is an interesting video, featuring Paul Ryan. Obviously, it's a sales pitch, but it is not a bad one. If nothing else, the budget he's putting on the table represents - finally - a serious attempt to address a serious problem. It remains to be seen whether the rest of the political class (both parties) in Washington is willing to engage this on a serious level. Color me skeptical.

Fools aren't always those who rush in

In 1711, the English writer Alexander Pope saw published his poetic Essay on Criticism, a long but often delicious piece of commentary on the nature of criticism - and critics - and the value (and failings) thereof. It has been far too many years since I engaged in any form of literary analysis, and even if I had the time, the practice would find my skills and intellect woefully inadequate to the task. Pope's essay is likely unknown to many, as the study of classical literature has fallen to elective status (at best) in our curriculums. Nevertheless, you are likely familiar with its most quotable phrases:

"A little Learning is a dang'rous Thing/Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian Spring:"

"Whoever thinks a faultless piece to see/Thinks what ne'er was, nor is, nor e'er shall be."

"To err is Humane; to Forgive, Divine." (often quoted as "To err is human …")

"All seems Infected that th'Infected spy/As all looks yellow to the Jaundic'd Eye."

"For Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread."

Another quote I like:

"True ease in writing comes from art, not chance/As those move easiest who have learned to dance"

"For Fools rush in …." Three hundred years later the phrase remains lodged in our cultural lexicon. And apart from its proper context, the common meaning and usage seems to generally convey the idea that insufficiently intelligent people, lacking wisdom, rush into situations without taking measure, counting the cost, or otherwise appreciating the sanctity or value of the circumstance or moment. The antithesis, of course, is that the wise measure their words, analyze the situation, and move (if necessary) with care as opposed to haste. In Pope's day, I wonder if the term "fool" was more descriptive of those lacking in specific judgment or expertise, as opposed to intelligence, which in the context of the act of criticism, and of the critic as a vocation, seems to make sense. (After all, many "critics" are far from experts in the matters and people they criticize).

Nevertheless, I find myself wondering today if the maxim (apart from context) is always true. For instance, in the New Testament, you have the rich young ruler who walks away from Jesus, the countless in the crowd who despite seeing the wonders and hearing the teaching of the Christ, turned away. Contrast this with the parables of the Kingdom of God, as reflected in the metaphors of a field with hidden treasure and the pearl of great price. Or the children who rushed to Jesus, or the impulse of the woman who poured out a jar of perfume upon Jesus' feet. Food for thought, I guess.

In my own journey through this life, I find in myself that tendency to overanalyze a moment, to overlook the simplicity of a simple truth, to introduce complexity that needlessly complicates the matter. Sometimes, there are benefits to the examination. Yet many times, there is a cost as well, most often measured in the loss of joy in the moment, and of course, time.

Self-control (and the wisdom it can beget) is a virtue worth pursuing. But control that results in a fist clenched so tightly upon one's spirit (or that of another) squeezes out what joy there is to be found in this life. Who is the fool who forsakes joy in exchange for a control that doesn't even exist?

Perhaps it is not always the fool that rushes in, but rather the one who fails to grasp the value of the moment and the opportunity therein, and dawdles away the time, choosing to fabricate complexity where simple truth would and does suffice.