Information Overload

It is Thursday morning and Sunday's coming. I have been reading a lot of old seminary stuff to prepare for this weekend's sermon "Exposing the Lies of the DaVinci Code." It is interesting to note the stuff we learned in school may really be worthwhile someday. I took Greek, but it 16 years at Dallas Bay not one person has ever said, "You did a great job of parsing that Greek verb this morning pastor." I took Hermeneutics too. I'm not sure I even remember what that means. However, the church history class that I slept through, I mean I attended in a relaxed state of mind has become very helpful. This whole DaVinci code stuff could be very confusing if a person didn't have a firm grip on church history. Dan Brown pretends to tell the truth about church councils and the decisions they made but about all he gets right are the dates. There is something sinister in a book that re-tells church history in such a way to question everything we believe. As my undergraduate history teacher would say as he sat crossed legged atop his desk smoking a cigarette, "Every author has an axe to grind." Brown is grinding his axe too. I'm not sure why he is, but as I read the book I saw the sparks flying in my head. So I have reread church history, particularly the first few centuries, out of my old church history textbook. I can't be;believe all the stuff I missed the first time through. Maybe it was because I was looking at the inside of my eyelids. Now I've learned so much my head is about to explode. I have just gotten my notes back from Deanna, my ministry assistant, and their 6 pages long for the first sermon. Whoops, maybe I got carried away. Here's my dilemma, I don't want the congregation to assume the same position Sunday as I did class. You know, somewhere between looking at your watch and counting the fibers in the carpet. So I've got to and trim the fat off Sunday's sermon. There's a lot of good stuff hiding in there. See you Sunday, and just in case, don't drink the decaf.
In His Shadow,
Pastor Ken

What's In the Bucket?

Well we've been tallying results from Easter Sunday. Best we can tell there were between 2,200 - 2,400 on campus last Sunday. That's up from around 1,800 last year. One big difference, there were 4 people who made professions of faith this year. That added to the 31 who were saved only days before during "The Passover Lamb" comes to 35. Another big WOO-HOO! We are still calling all those who indicated a desire to join the DBBC fellowship in the last month. If all pans out there will about 20 new families as a part of our church family. With all those positive numbers I should be on top of the world right? Well, while I am excited, such growth comes at a cost. Not everyone likes creativity in worship. To some the changes are not what they like. They like tradition. Tradition is so closely tied to their faith it is difficult for them to separate the two. So things like a bucket that contains heaven with rock, country, and gospel songs is more irritating than inspiring. So again this morning I received news that another senior adult family has moved their membership to a very traditional church. They were good people I'm sure and DBBC is poorer because they are gone. Maybe no one but a pastor could understand how I feel. I feel very responsible for feeding the flock, young and old. It is a balancing act to reach the unchurched while ministering to those who have been Christians longer than I've been alive. Those of you who read this blog are concerned about Dallas Bay as I am. Just say a prayer that I will stand true to the vision God has called me to pursue and not to be distracted by sheep who find other pasture. (Boy, that was corny.) You know what I mean.
God bless,
Pastor Ken

What a Blessing

This is the morning after. The morning after the biggest musical/drama Dallas Bay has ever attempted. Weeks of construction and mess, long hours and frayed nerves, prayer and sweat and it is over. Kinda like Christmas. I have post-production depression. Or at least I did have for a few moments. That is until I heard the total professions of faith for the four day event. 30 new members to the kingdom are a result of our efforts and Gods' grace. WOO - HOO. I'm no longer feeling like the morning after. It is more like a "new day." Never have so many at DBBC joined together as a team to do so much. I think I read about another church one time who had "all things in common." So just one more WOO - HOO (that's like a "Thank You Jesus" or PTL for the uninitiated.) Off to the Men's retreat.
In His Shadow,
Pastor Ken

How To Pray

As I sit at my laptop early this Monday morning I have just concluded my morning devotions. This morning I finished the last chapter of II Chronicles. You may not know that this is joined with I Chronicles in the Jewish Bible and simply called "The Chronicles of the Kings." The one thing that struck me while reading of these leaders of Judah who reigned from their throne in Jerusalem was they were on top of the world (religiously speaking.) They were sitting on the throne of David. There was no more important or desired place to be for an Old Testament Jew. Such privilege also came with a price. Their position placed them as the spiritual and political leader of God's chosen people. Some did well at their task, others failed. They would either "do good in the sight of LORD" or they would "do evil." According to their leadership the people would follow the same path. Either prosperity would follow a good king or evil and calamity would come upon the nation during an evil king's reign. With great privilege comes great responsibility! I think about that phrase often. God has chosen to bless the church I serve. In the last three weeks at least 5 people have come to know Christ. We have more than a dozen baptisms waiting to take place. (After the set is cleared from the Easter program.) A dozen wonderful families and a few children have joined our fellowship during the same time frame. There is no sign of the growth letting up. As I told a pastor friend of mine, "I'm just trying to keep out of God's way." With such privilege comes great responsibility. So here's how you can help. Pray. Don't get long winded in your prayers for me. Save that for others. Just pray this way. "Lord keep Pastor Ken clean and close." That's all you need to say. He will know what you mean.
In His Shadow,
Pastor Ken

Priorities

OK, so I'm feeling a little guilty. I just finished watching Formula 1 qualifying in Australia. It actually happened last night while I was sleeping. I recorded it so I could watch at my leisure. (Aren't Digital Video Recorders the coolest things since sliced bread?) Formula 1 cars are exotic multi-million dollar machines that only a handful of drivers in the world can actually tame. Only a few minutes had passed since the qualifying ended when the phone rang. It was one of our members at DBBC who works at a local restaurant that makes the best cinnamon rolls in the world. (They glaze them with a caramel sauce and are about the size of a small pillow.) She said they only had five left. (They only make them one day a week.) I thanked her for thinking of me and decided to exercise restraint....and only have her put two back for me. I'll pick them up at lunch. They are great with a diet cherry Coke. So what have I done so far this Saturday morning? I have endulged in watching exotic racing cars reserved only for the super rich and planned for a mid-afternoon rendezouz with a pastry that has too many calories to be numbered. I know you are now feeling better about your morning routine and are probably a little less impressed with the morning activities of your spiritually minded pastor. If that was all I had done this morning you would be justified in your smugness. What I haven't shared is how my morning began. I began with a cup of coffee while the boys were still shading their eyes from the morning sun underneath their pillow shams. With the cup of coffee in hand I began the morning with a conversation with my Maker. After thanking Him for His blessings and the grace to see another morning I opened His Word. I am currently reading through II Chronicles, Proverbs, and II Corinthians in my morning devotions. It's incredible what the Lord is revealing to me in these books. So before watching exotic racing machines and placing an order for a "nearly sinful" pair of pastries I began the day with my savior, and that places everything in perspective. My favorite Bible verese is Matthew 6:33. He tells us to seek Him first. He is to be our priority. He does not say we are to have no other interests. It is the order of our day He is concerned with. Gotta go now. "Dream Car Garage" just came on the Speed Channel. Keep the shiny side up!
Pastor Ken