Thanksgiving Traditions

We have a great Thanksgiving tradition here at Southside we call "Pie Night". The idea is that on Thanksgiving day you have the best meal of the day - and you're too full to enjoy the best desserts of the day. So, on the night before Thanksgiving - everybody brings their favorite pie - and we have a great time of fellowship! Last night was wonderful. Huge crowd. Many guests!

This year we also started a new tradition. Our Thursday morning men's prayer group invited anyone to come and pray with them. The prayer time had one hitch - you couldn't ask for anything. The whole prayer time centered on thanking God! (Harder than it sounds!) We had a great time of prayer this morning. A new tradition has been born!

What are your Thanksgiving traditions?

This N' That

I've found a new writer that does John Grisham better than John Grisham does John Grisham. The book is "Color of Law" by Mark Gimenez. He's not as "clean" as Grisham - but a good read nevertheless. Could be a good idea for Christmas if a Grisham fan lives at your house.

Going to the BYU vs. Utah game tomorrow at BYU. I think the Utes will get their lunch handed to 'em - but it should be fun. I love rivalry games. In your mind, what is the biggest rivalry in college football?

Its time for college hoops! Bout time! I love college basketball. You can have the NBA. Maybe the Hogs will have a good year. Lord knows we're due.

Jan Karon just published her last Midford series books. (she will continue books about the old pastor - just not in Midford). I love those books - along with the Harmony series by Philip Gurley. Both are about a pastor in a small town. Like good hot chocolate - both of these series will warm the soul. Good stuff.

Just saw Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Five stars! Two thumbs up. Had a great father -daughter date.

Have a great weekend.

The Present Future

I love the six tough questions that Reggie Neal posses in his book "The Present Future". First, he gives us the wrong question, then he asks the "right" question. This was a very thought provoking book for me. I would strongly recommend this read to elders, ministers and members alike - then, come together and have a round table discussion!
First wrong question: How Do We Do Church Better? The tough question is "How do we deconvert from Churchianity to Christianity? Quote, "North American Christians think in terms of its institutional expression, the church, as opposed to thinking about Christianity in terms of a movment."
Second wrong question: How Do We Grow This Church? (How do we get them to come to us?) Tough question: How do we transform our community? (How do we hit the streets with the Gosopel?)
Third wrong question: How do we turn members into ministers. (Watch out, Rick Warren!) Tough question: How we turn members into missionaries?
I love this quote, "The first Reformation was about freeing the church. The new Reformation is about freeing God's people from the church (institution).
Fourth wrong question: How do we develop church members?
Tough question: How do we develop followers of Jesus?
Fifth wrong question: How do we plan for the future?
Tough question: How do we prepare for the future?
Sixth Wrong Question: How do we develop leaders for the work of the church?
Tough question: How do we develop leaders for the Christian movement?

Now, as with any book, I don't agree with everything the writer says. Few books have made me think out of the box has this book did.

Do you have a book to recommend?

The Church is my voo-doo doll?

After several weeks of just awesome Sundays - it was bound to happen. Our worship leader called to say that he couldn't be there - had to get a last minute replacement, the computer that runs our projector blew up; the chairs in the worship center were a mess; a teacher came in and needed help with the copier, so I did all that instead of having quite time and focusing on the sermon. (Church is like that sometimes; you have to do the "stuff" - no time for what you're really called to do!) As we were in the service, the men went to serve the Lord's Supper. It wasn't there! No one had thought to get it from the kitchen.
As I was walking out of the building following second assembly, someone yells at me - "who is going to lock up?!". Translation - "Hey, Randy - lock up the building!". I did.
Here's the deal - when the church has a great day - I feel great! When the church has a bad day - I tend to be discouraged and down. If the church is going through a growth spurt, I'm excited and everything looks rosey. If the church is struggling - I get down and negative about everything. The church becomes a voodoo doll in terms of my emotions. THAT is not good, but if I'm honest - too often it is true.
Here's hoping we have a good Sunday next week!

Getting at the Heart of Things

Lately, our church has experienced a new awakening. We are focusing on those who are "out of the assembly". First, we are visiting the shut ins who can't come. We don't take the supper "to" them but come to take it "with" them. What a great blessing it has been - both to them that are shut in but also for those who have gone to minister to them. Second, we are collecting food every month for the Crossroads Urban Center - a shelter that ministers to the working poor. We helped them with their annual bazar and will help them with getting 3,000 turkey dinners to the families the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Third, we are collecting food for the Utah Food Bank for their Thanksgiving drive. Fourth, we are making Gift Baskets For the Elderly. Great way to encourage our senior saints! Fifth, the school that meets in our building (run by one of our members) is collecting Christmas Shoe Boxes to send out next week. Sixth, Sub for Santa is an annual outreach for us. We usually help 50 or so children with providing Christmas presents for them.
There is more to do! We are trying to be more active in meeting the needs of our community. We are trying to make this a year round attitude - not just an emphasis for the "holidays".
I would love to hear what your church is doing! For example, I know of two churches here in Salt Lake that are combining their efforts to do their own "home maker" for a single mother!
May we not be weary in well doing!

Applause to the Eagles!

I applaud Coach Andy Reid and the entire Philadelphia Eagles organization. They recently suspended "superstar" receiver Terrell Owens for comments and behavior affecting the team. The TEAM - a word that Owens doesn't understand. He was upset that the team didn't acknowldege some individual milestone that Owens set in a game several weeks ago. He has time and time again put down McNab (the quarterback) and other teammates in interviews. He wanted to redo his contract (a 7 year contract, if I remember right) the very second someone else signed a better deal that the one he received.
He has started fights with teammates in the locker room. In a press conference Coach Reid said that the organization doesn't acknowledge "individual" acomplishemts - only TEAM acomplishments. Man, I love that!
Owens offered a lame apology. Didn't mention McNab or his coach in his statement. Following that, the team suspended him for the rest of the season! Owens will loose $800,000! The team plans to trade him in the off season.
In a sports world filled with "superstars" (not super teams!) - where its all about "me" - stands the Philadelphia Eagles! Its all about the team, baby!
May their numbers increase.

Incredible Video

Watched a DVD last night entitled "Mark's Gospel" by Max McLean. WOW! He resites the entire gospel from memory. He is an actor, so the presentation is very dramatic. Very, very moving. It is 101 minutes long, but goes very fast! We are planning a special Saturday or Sunday night presentation here at Southside. Cost is only $11.99! Just go to www.visionvideo.com and get this great ministry resource!

Are You Giving What You Expect to Get?

Are You Giving What You Expect to Get?

In the spirit of the principle of reaping and sowing – I’ve noticed a growing trend among Christians. They want to reap but they don’t have time for the “sowing”. A few examples:
People expect, and want, the church to be friendly – but when they come to assembly, they greet no one, have a frown on their face, sit by themselves, leave quickly, - and do this week after week all the while expecting the church to be warm and inviting.
People brag about how great their church is – great classes; great small groups; great worship, etc. but they never have the time to teach, attend or take part in leading an assembly.
People love to see baptisms – but they haven’t invited anyone to assembly or started up a conversation about faith for fear of being seen as misfits at work.
People love to be noticed when they miss the assembly; but don’t call others when they miss the assembly! People love for others to help them in their time of need – but they never have the time to help others.
There seems to be a gap between what most of us are willing to “give” versus what we expect to “get” out of this thing called church.
Try this – determine to "be" the church like the one you are drawn to: smile and say hi to everyone you see at worship assembly; teach a children’s class; get involved in a small group, invite someone to come to worship assembly; serve others (even when you have other things you would rather do); give sacrificially (at least 10%); - and see if you are not a changed person! Try this for six months and see if your church is not a changed church!
The kingdom will only grow as fast as we grow as individual disciples.
You know the old definition of insanity – doing the same things but expecting different results! Let’s get new results by having new attitudes which will yield new habits!

Behold, All Things Are New!
Randy

Favorite Halloween Candy?

Seeing my daughters come hom Monday night with their haul of candy brought back memories of me and my two brothers coming home with our sacks full of sugary sweets. We would put them by our beds and eat all night. (No wonder we woke at 3 am with stomach aches).
But this leads me to the question of the day. In seeing the candy spread out over the living room floor - my daughters put the candy in piles - one pile is their favorites; one pile is to be eaten after all the favorites are gone - the third pile is for daddy (translation: all the stuff they don't like). In my stack are things like Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, Baby Ruth, 3 Musketeers Bar, Milky Way (dark), Whoppers. (I remember eating whoppers out of milk carton container. Do you?) How did I rasie kids who don't like the good stuff?
Here's the question: What is your favorite candy? Give me the "discard" pile any day, and throw in a Snickers . How bout you?