So, eventually, I'll get around to blogging about this event. You've probably seen the pics on facebook anyway...

I have a slip of about 40 possible blog topics on my desk. Maybe we'll get a snow day Wednesday and I can tackle some. :)

A Poem

Believing
Aspiring
Reaching
Ascending
Calling
Knocking

(Hears Us, Sees Synergy, Even In Need)

Opening
Brightening
Achieving
Making
Alive

It Was So Worth It!

Preparing

Wow, it's been a while.

Preparing for the inauguration tomorrow. Many, many friends have told me I'm crazy for trying to go downtown. But I can't help myself.

I could sit at home and watch on TV, and see and hear every word. It is quite possible that, by going, I won't be able to see or hear anything. But I can't help myself.

I've always voted but never gotten involved beyond that point. But it's time to stop spectating. I can't help myself.

I have 4 possible travel plans, a great travel buddy, and an itching desire to be a part of something this powerful, not by sitting in comfort on the couch, but by getting up and doing something - anything - to be involved.

The best argument I've heard not to go, is that the work presidency should be more important than a single celebration. In other words, we didn't vote for Obama so we could throw a party - we voted for Obama so we could get to work. He used the analogy of matrimony - the wedding is nice, but it's the marriage that really counts.

On those terms, I'm looking forward to a great presidency. But I'm also going to the party. Yes, I want to have my cake and eat it, too. I can't help myself.

Who's on the Outside?

Yet another thing there's been a lot of talk about lately:
Reaching those "on the outside." According to the Great Commission, this is one of the core functions of the church. But it requires us to identify who's out there.

A group we've focused on a lot lately is young, digitally connected millenials. This group is, indeed, on the outside as far as Christianity is concerned. Over half of them have never set foot in a church. But as far as society and culture are concerned, they're very "in."

But my life so far has been focused on a very different group: recent immigrants, the underemployed, families in poverty. This group is also often on the "outs" as far as Christianity is concerned. (Many of them claim religion, of either Roman Catholic or Evangelical background. But they don't identify with the parishes in the area because those denominations aren't meeting their current needs.) But they're also "out" in terms of society and culture. They live 2 families to 1 townhouse, work 3 jobs to feed their kids, drive a 1994 Corolla, and don't have regular internet access. Or dental care. Or, sometimes, jeans that fit. Their kids know how to use technology, but lack the financial resources to take advantage.

But it seems like all our creative and financial energy is going towards tech-ing up the church. (I speak not of my own congregation specifically, but of church leadership and membership in general). Are we deliberately excluding this second group?

This is my main objection to the debate about things like setting up online groups, killer websites, twitter networks, and using Facebook to conduct church business. These tools will help us reach one underserved segment of society, but by their nature come at the exclusion of another.

Of course, one congregation can't be all things to all people. But it seems that a whole lot of congregations have decided to go one way here, and there is a dearth of groups effectively reaching out in other directions. I'm not even sure we've all genuinely considered them -

Back to the Grind

I haven't written much lately. On purpose.
Tomorrow, vacation ends and back to the grind.
I'll probably feel compelled to write in this space again as well.