Lather, Rinse, Repeat

I've received a few messages or had a few conversations each day this week with people who've taken Sunday's challenge.  Some have sent the directions from the back of their shampoo bottles (some of which are pretty funny).  Some have talked about the condition of their hair.  I even received an article from the Wall Street Journal about shampoo.

This past Sunday's challenge was to shampoo twice each day this week (as instructed by the general "lather, rinse, repeat" on the back of shampoo bottles) as a way to remind us of the Discipline of Repetition.  Our transformation into people who more clearly represent our Father happens as a life-long process.  We need to keep going and we need the power of community.  Shampooing the second time each day will help remind us to keep going in our journey.  And using both hands to lather and rinse will help remind us that we cannot do this alone.

Again, there will be no magic in your hygiene practices this week...but you never know what God will use to reveal Himself to you.  From the sounds of conversations so far with people this simple, daily reminder is helping them with the Discipline of Repetition.  May God reveal Himself to us more and more each and every day - whatever that takes.  Lather, rinse, and repeat.

6 Months Ago

Today our youngest daughter turned 6 months old.  It's unbelievable how quickly the time goes by.  [I'm sure that many of you further down the path of parenthood can attest to that truth even more than I can imagine.]  Everyone gives advice about how we should cherish each day - and we do - but cherishing in no way slows down how quickly it passes.

In a related issue, our oldest daughters are almost three and yesterday Jen wanted to say something to me about them in front of them and she said, "We'll have to talk about that a little later."  It was weird for me to hear that because of what it signified.  What she said was true and the girls do understand conversations that are held in their presence.  It was timely in that it was another reminder that our girls are growing up very quickly.

I'm not wanting to delay the maturity of our girls or always keep them young...that would selfishly unfair of me.  I'm wanting to see them develop into the young women that God already knows.  I just want to be able to appreciate as much as I can along the way.  Six months ago seems just like yesterday.

Tennessee Flooding

Many of you have asked me recently how my mom has been doing since she lost her home in the Tennessee floods.  Thanks for your concern and your continued prayers.

At this point mom is doing very well.  She is living with my brother and sister-in-law and we're working on what the long-term, permanent solution will be for her.  It'll be another house at some point but we're working on what that will be.

Mom lost just about everything in the flood.  She was able to protect (and salvage) some pictures and other items of special significance.  She was also able to get almost all of her clothing and a decent amount of kitchen stuff.  Practically all of her appliances and furnishings were destroyed.  What we were able to save is now in storage with other family members.

Mom is thankful for what she does have and is thankful for life (other people in our hometown were not so fortunate).  With that as a backdrop, she is pushing through with a grateful and even anticipatory spirit.  We'll see what the next chapter brings.

Rhythms

Sometimes I wonder about the rhythm that I keep.  It seems very different than what it used to be as I was growing up.  At that time it seemed that my entire family and I had more of a daily rhythm.  Perhaps it was because we lived in a very small, rural town.  Perhaps it was just a simpler time.  But it seemed that we counted by days when I was growing up and things were scheduled by the day.

Now it seems that my entire family and I have more of a weekly rhythm.  Perhaps it is because we live in a large, suburban area.  Perhaps it is just a more complex time.  But it seems that we count now by the week and have to schedule things in a seven day block because the individual days in that block simply don't have enough combined hours.

You would rightly argue that God is the one who designed the weekly rhythm.  But it seems that He created the entire world in six days and then spent a day in rest.  I usually get through six days, let stuff spill over into the seventh and then move on to the eighth and following days without much of breath.  That was not God's design.

One of our Next Steps this past weekend was to plan a "Matthew Party" to which you would invite people to your house this week for a party.  I thought, "That won't fit into this week...or next...how about 3 1/2 weeks from now...does that work?"  That's the part that I don't remember from my years growing up.  If you had told me that we were going to do something 4 weeks from today as a kid, it would have simply felt like forever.  Now I wonder if there is enough time in 4 weeks to make it work.

So maybe my rhythm is just off.  Maybe my family is busier than yours...but I really don't think so.  I think I've missed an important element in rest and recognizing today for what it is.

I don't have a neat way to tie this post up with a bow.  I'm just praying that God will show me His Rhythm.  I don't want to miss the melody of life in Him simply because I can't keep tempo.  God's movement is a movement you don't rush.

Hebrews 3:13 - But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

Passover (Seder Meal)

You'll begin hearing about our upcoming Passover celebration (seder meal) in the coming week.  I'm really excited.  I've facilitated two of these events before and I can tell you that they are powerful reminders of the redemption story of God - both of the nation of Israel from the bondage in Egypt and our own story of freedom in Christ (which, by the way, correlates nicely with our Free series).  We're planning it for the Thursday evening before Good Friday (rather than a Good Friday service) because that was what Jesus would have experienced on Thursday night and we hope it will make Good Friday more memorable.

I like the seder meal because it evokes all of your senses; there are things that you see and hear (obviously) but also things that you touch, taste, and smell.  You sample a lot of different types of food that commemorate different parts of the exodus story.  You also enjoy an entire meal together celebrating the freedom of God.

I also like it because it is intergenerational - there is something for people of all ages.  Grandparents help "tell" the story.  Young kids search for bread in the room like an Easter egg hunt.  It's a great time.

We'll begin selling tickets this weekend.  You've got to make plans to attend.

Food Packing This Weekend

I'm incredibly excited about the opportunity that we have this weekend to pack 80,000 meals for people in Haiti.  What a great chance to actively participate in bringing relief to a nation that has been completely crippled and devastated.  I get even more excited when I think about the fact that the elements that will go into this Sunday were put in place long before the earthquake struck on January 12th.  By listening to God we were able to get ahead of the need.  And I know Parkside well enough to confidently say we'll continue to address the needs (in a very hands-on way) for years to come.

So let's celebrate together what God is doing this weekend through all of us at Parkside.  Both campuses will be pulling together to do something great.  Lots of us have invited friends and neighbors.  Talk with people in your circle of influence and come on out this Sunday.  See you then!

Salem Rd Campus: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
River Campus: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

A Quote I've Read Again Recently

I reread a quote recently that always strikes a deep cord within me.  This is an excerpt from The Present Future by Reggie McNeal:

The difference between planning and preparedness is more than semantics in the biblical teaching.  God does the planning; we do the preparing.  It is God who declares: "I know the plans I have for you," he says in Jeremiah 29:11.  He does not say, "I am waiting for you to develop plans I can bless."  I am not against planning.  I am just suggesting that there is a dimension beyond planning that is critical for us to understand.  We can settle for our imaginations, our plans, and our dreams.  In fact, I think the North American church has done just that.  We have the best churches people can plan and build. But we are desperate for God to show up and do something that only he can get credit for.  God wants us to pray and to prepare for his intervention.

God knows, we need it.

I pray about this for us at Parkside every day - that God would reveal His Kingdom to us rather than us trying to assert our kingdom on Him.