Earth Hour

Joshua Tree National Park, March 28, 2009

Boy Scout Nature Hike

Joshua Tree National Park, March 29, 2009

Electronic Media

On Saturday I attended Founders' Day at Chapman University, which featured DisciplesWorld editor Verity Jones as speaker. In a morning forum, she spoke about the history of the magazine.

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has a long history of independent journalism. At one time there were dozens of newspapers and magazines being published in one form or another. Many folks saw the value of having editorially-independent publications that could report on church news as well as include opinion columns which fostered healthy debate regarding church issues. At the end of the 20th century, there was one such publication in print: the Disciple.

In early 2002, the Disciple ceased publication. Several Disciple members, alarmed by this, rushed to create a new publication in time so that there would be no period in which the denomination would be without an independent journalistic publication. They only had 45 days in which to start a magazine from scratch and get the first issue published--and amazingly, they succeeded!

In recent years DisciplesWorld has increased its online presence. With my own congregation's growing use of electronic media (we now have a website and a facebook group; our worship services are now available as podcasts; and we will soon be publishing our newsletter via email), I asked Verity Jones about the future of the DisciplesWorld website and the relationship between the magazine's online content and its print content. I hoped she would provide an answer that would help me as I lead my congregation in further exploration of these new media.

Her answer, basically, was "We're still discerning and figuring that out." (That's not an exact quote, which I point out in the interest of journalistic integrity.) She also mentioned that one of the features on the DisciplesWorld website was a community of bloggers, and pointed out to the crowd that my blog was one of those listed there. (I think this blog may have gained a few readers by her mention. Woot woot!) On the other hand, I think perhaps she was hoping I'd be able to help her find an answer to that question. I guess I should know more about these things, being a blogger and all, but really, I'm just fooling people into thinking I'm tech-savvy.

Nevertheless, the new media available today make this an exciting time. As people increasingly lose interest in print media, it is also a challenging time for all forms of journalism, including DisciplesWorld. I don't know how successful the magazine will be in adjusting to the changes, I don't know how successful my congregation's transition to an electronic newsletter will be, and I certainly don't know all the ways in which new forms of communication will affect how we do ministry. But it will sure be exciting to find out!

Blog Update

I've decided to be (a little) more intentional about this blog. I originally started this blog to post stories and reflections drawn mainly from my life as a pastor. Over time, I began including photographs, which at times has made this a sort of "family photo album" kind of blog. The result, it seems to me, is that this blog has two different identities.

I've pondered the idea of splitting this blog into two, so that there would be one blog for written stuff, and one for family photos. However, I really don't want yet another blog. (In addition to this one, I have a blog where I post my sermons, and I also contribute to a group blog for preaching.)

So here's what I've decided: From now on, I will post a written piece every Thursday. If you like to read what I write, check in on Thursdays, because that's when new stuff will appear.

I will also continue to post photos, updates, that sort of thing. These will appear more or less randomly, with a schedule that may have several posts one week, and no posts in others. However, these types of posts will never appear on Thursdays.

And, since this is not a Thursday, here's Ethan and his fellow sixth-grade chorus members at their concert last week:

Ethan is to the right; they're singing "I'd Do Anything For You" from Oliver!

Famous First Words

The first moon landing:
"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

The first speech to Congress by the first African-American U.S. President:
"Now is the time to act boldly and wisely – to not only revive this economy, but to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity."

The first telephone call:
"Mr Watson — Come here —I want to see you."

The first words heard on the first Bixby Knolls Christian Church worship service podcast:
"Get those cookies off the chancel!"

(Listen to the whole service: click here.)

When Pastors Dream

It was time for the pastoral prayer. I looked down at the prayer I had prepared--I had typed it out on a sheet of paper, a rather long prayer, divided up into many small paragraphs. I looked out at the congregation and invited the people to pray with me.

I began praying. But somewhere along the way, I had stopped praying. My eyes kept following the words I had written, and my mouth kept voicing those words, but my mind was elsewhere. I began to think about church business, and what comes next in worship, and what my family was doing after worship was over. As my mind drifted, I entered an almost sleep-like trance. The words kept coming out of my mouth, but I was no longer aware of them.

Time passed. It was a very long prayer.

It was the "amen" that woke me up. I looked out at the congregation, but the people were gone. All of them. Every pew was empty.

I asked God, "Where'd everybody go?" but God did not answer.

"God? Are you there?"

Silence.

"God?!?"

And then I heard God's voice. "Oh, were you talking to me?"

Cool Day at the Beach

It was one of those wonderful "do nothing" days, in which one does nothing for hours on end, and doesn't get bored. After the chairs and towels and umbrellas are carried out to the sand, no one says, "Now what?" You either sit, or you play in the sand, or you see how well the kite will fly today.

On this particular day, sitting did have its advantages. Far out in the ocean, numerous small, white "puffs" could be seen. Spouts! The grey whales are on their annual migration north, and many of them passed by.

Closer to shore, where the waves were breaking, seals frolicked. (Or were they sea lions?) The water was too cold for us, but just right for them. And late in the day, a pod of dolphins swam by, jumping out of the sea, high into the air, putting on a wonderful show.

Of course, I was too enthralled by the show to get my camera out. The only wildlife I took a picture of was this pelican. Most of the pelicans were putting on a show of their own, flying over the water, then diving down with a great splash when they'd spot something that looked good to eat. This guy (or girl), however, seemed content to just watch for a while.

(Clicking on the pictures will open a larger version.)

How To Get What You Want

You just gotta have the hat that is on the store shelf, but Mom and Dad say no. What do you do?

Exhibit A: Note the child on the left. He is employing the "puppy-dog" tactic. He figures that if he makes a pitiful enough face, the parents will be moved to--well--pity, and will buy him the hat he wants.

Exhibit B: Note the child on the right. His plan is to win the parents over with cuteness. He figures that if he shows his parents how cute he is in the hat, and how happy it will make him to have the hat, the parents will surely give in.

Unfortunately, neither tactic worked on this particular outing. Better luck next time, boys!

Walk With Me

As I look out my office window, I notice that a few sprinkles are falling, creating dark spots on the asphalt alley that separates the church from the doctor's office next door. The drops are few and far between, and I can't help but think that they will do little to help the "drought emergency" that California now finds itself in.

In about an hour I will leave and walk three blocks to my son's middle school for a conference with his English teacher. I have my umbrella just in case. I don't think it will rain enough for me to worry about getting wet, but it is nice to keep the drops off my glasses. I guess a ball cap would have worked just as well, but I left that at home today.

Nevertheless, as I make my way, I wonder if I'll see someone I know drive by on the street. If so, they will more than likely pull over and ask if I need a ride. No doubt they'll be feeling sorry for me. No doubt they'll think I'm being overly polite (or perhaps stubborn) when I tell them "no thank you." No doubt they will feel guilty for leaving me there, walking down the street, in the rain.

It's 69 degrees outside right now. It's just a few drops of water, just enough to make the fragrance of the jacaranda trees and the recently mowed lawns that much more wonderful. It's only three blocks. And I've been sitting at my desk most of the day, yearning for the opportunity to stretch my legs.

Perhaps when I see them driving down the street, I'll feel sorry for them, and invite them to park the car, get out, and walk with me.