Never the Helpless Victim

I can't believe I'm getting this old! My mind feels like 38, but the body qualifies for retirement next year! Why is it that time seems to go by more quickly the older one gets? I was reminded of this phenomenon in reading my good friend Don Johnson's Jibstay reflection on his son's 28th birthday and his thinking it was only yesterday he was 28. It's about attitude - you choose how to respond to life's circumstances, which interestingly enough is one of those attributes of being created in God's image. He has omnipotent will - and has given us a measure of individual will as a dim reflection of his awesome power to choose. What a gift. We never are the helpless victim as life can take from us everything we have - except our ability to choose how to respond.

Anxiety - It Can Kill You

While sipping coffee Sunday morning, a cancer update on the news program caught my ear - a 50% chance of reducing a recurrence of cancer in women if they learn how to more effectively deal with anxiety. Fifty percent! I have often thought there is a connection between how we handle stress and our physical well-being. I remember years ago, when going through a stressful period in my life, asking God for an inner sense of peace and joy. A scripture came to mind then that may prove helpful in the midst of today's economic turmoil, for it teaches an important lesson. Galations 5:22 says: But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I had been praying for peace and joy, when instead I should have been seeking the kind of spirit-filled experience that produces that kind of fruit. Being reminded that God remains in control, even in the midst of turmoil, is a reassuring thought.

Covenant Stringers

In the newspaper business, we often called them stringers - or correspondents. These are the folks who often provide the news tips and detail that make good - and timely - news stories possible. Thanks to two Covenant "stringers" - Rick Lindholtz and Curt Peterson - we had fast information on the fire threat to Montecito Covenant Church early this morning (November 14) from the raging Santa Barbara fire. If anyone wants to join the rank of stringers, it's easy - just email us at newsdesk@covchurch.org. Attach photos if you have them. To read this morning's story, visit Montecito Fire.

Pastors - Spend More Time in Coffee Shops

During a recent panel discussion, a group of pastors grappled with the challenge of helping people like me become better disciples, to grow deeper in our faith. What I find curious is the missing voice in that conversation - people like me!

Why not have the intended targets of all this churchly planning also at the table, to share with pastors how they believe the process could be more effective?

I'll leave the discussion of the relative merits of small groups, months-long training programs and mentoring to those pastoral discussions, offering instead one simple idea: use the morning worship sermon time as more of a teaching than a preaching opportunity. Unlock the handcuffs of the lectionary and free pastors to talk more directly about those things with which we struggle in our daily lives.

Too often I see a pastor attempting to make relevant some obscure text that is the required reading of the day. I'll offer one idea borrowed from my years as a daily newspaper editor that might prove helpful.

I had a favorite local diner in one community where a lot of folks would hang out for coffee, donuts and breakfast or lunch. I would go one or two mornings a week, find a small table centrally located in the room, order coffee, and spend the next 30 minutes just listening. I tuned into the many conversations around me, making note of the topics that seemed to be of greatest interest or concern. Then I would return to my newsroom and ask what stories were on deck for our next daily edition that addressed those topics. If none were on our radar screen, reporters were scrambled to develop them - quickly.

You see, I learned that readership went up when folks saw news items touching on those topics they had just been discussing over coffee earlier.

Perhaps pastors would benefit from spending more time in coffee shops.

To read about the panel:

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080522/32486_Are_Small_Groups_Enough_for_Disciple-Making%3F.htm