I have been really busy the last few days, so here is my best attempt at playing catch up! We had our staff meeting on Monday and it went really well, God is opening so many new doors for us and for that I am thankful! Our leadership is so together right now and so focused I pray that God helps us stay that way. I am also pretty excited about the way that our leadership works it is so inclusive of people and their thoughts and feelings. I don't think I have ever felt so supported in my ministry time, ever! God is good!
And now for somehting completely different...
I am a Monty Python fan, there I said it! I have been and will always be. I used to watch MP movies over and over again, fortunately for me I have stopped doing that, now I just quote them. Actually I was just thinking of a quote from The Holy Grail, you know the part where the guy goes from door to door through the city yelling "Bring out your dead."
I don't want to make light of anything as serious to a family such as death of a loved one, but yesterday I went to a funeral, and it was pretty sad. I got to do the funeral singing. We sang some fine tunes, such as: I Come to Garden Alone and My God and I. These, which really for a funeral aren't so sad, but I got the idea during the presentations and by what the family said that they really wanted to paint a sad picture. It may just be me, but I guess it brings me to the point where I wonder what funerals should be all about. I mean this funeral was sad because it was the mother of one of our shepherds, and I know his family has struggled with this for months so it was time for her to go, but I guess my point is. I don't quite understabnd why it has to be so somber. I have always heard people in my family say that they wanted their funerals to be a big shin dig, happenin hymns and roll'em out the door. I don't know. My grandma told me when I was really small that she expected my brother and sister and I to trio the tune "O Happy Day." I was twelve and wreck when the day came, that was my granny!
My ultimate thought is that funerals should be a celebration of sorts. Similar to how I feel our worship should be (I'll jump on that soap box another day). A celebration of a person passing into something better than the junk that we have to deal with on earth. I just kept thinking yesterday, that I want people to be laughing, having fun, and thankful that God loved me enough to call me his own. I don't know where I am going here, I am just dropping my thoughts, but this is something I have and may always, pondered.
One strange thing yesterday, Gene's mom attended church where Port City spilt from, and they have recently merged so one interesting thing was that all of the elders from the old UB church were there. I am so amazed at how some of them treated some of us..it was odd at times. One in particular I recalled though, Leroy McGaughy. He is always still so kind and loving towards me. He was one of the men who worked pretty hard to get me to Mobile, and he still treats me with respect and honor, even though he may not agree with my personal decision. Isn't that how we all should be? I wish I could say the same for all of them.
On a happier note, I am so pumped about what God is doing at Port City. This Sunday is our teacher appreciation Sunday and every and all types of teachers in our community are invited, it is exciting. The Calling went really well last night, we talked about support and our teens were pumped, we played an awesome game. Not to mention the fact that our pool and ping pong tables made their debut last night. I have never seen our kids so excited. I am so thankful for our shepherds Gene and Jerre, who allow me to grab things and run with them, The Calling is becoming a bigger and bigger deal each week, and it's because we actually had the faith to allow God to work! He is awesome!
JD said...
Good Post, Chris. We had a funeral here a few weeks ago that was a true celebration ... and it was appropriate. There is a time to mourn, and we shouldn't hide from it. Christians have something to smile about in their tears.
Leroy has always been an encourager to me and I'm not surprised that he has the spirit to rise above the differences and still be kind.
Glad THE CALLING is going well. I like the way you think outside of the box. Last night I was talking with one of our deacons about doing a coffee house type thing with our teens ... he's a musician ... we might do some acoustic entertainment ... even some kareoke (spelling?) ... but it's all just talk right now ... but anyhoo... keep up the good work with the teens ... they are an awsome force in the Kingdom!
JD said...
OH...and Monty Python...my favorite line...
"It's just a fleshwound, I've had worse."
"You Lie!"
Jenni said...
I agree with your perspective on funerals. I think it should be a celebration -- while we that are "left" may be sad to be missing the deceased, hopefully, the angels in heaven are rejoicing! I pray that for sure at funerals of believers, we don't allow Satan to capitalize on our sadness, but give all glory to God and rejoice that we'll see our loved one again in eternity!
