Dan's Stream of Consciousness

Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks vacation, part 1

2011-07-10T08:33:00.006-06:00

Justin’s Graduation Trip

On July 4th, while a lot of people were sleeping late and going to parades, my family was flying out to California for a vacation at Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. Leslie, Justin, his girlfriend Boni, Faith and I, flew out to Fresno, California. From there we rented a minivan and drove up to Yosemite National Park.

This vacation was for all of us, but it was also to celebrate Justin’s graduation from high school. We started thinking about this part of the country while watching Ken Burns’ highly acclaimed The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. It reminded us of the wonderful parks we’ve already visited, but made us want to visit more of these them, particularly Yosemite. And since Sequoia National Park was nearby, we decided to visit there too.

Yosemite National Park

Driving into Yosemite Valley for the first time reminded me of when I first saw the Grand Teton mountain range, as a child. Places like these with their panoramic vistas draw you in with their awesome beauty. When you see these places, particularly for the first time, you just want to stay awhile and take it all in.

While in Yosemite, we enjoyed visiting many of the park’s wonders, particularly the waterfalls. As I write this, I think about the drought we presently have in Texas. But the Yosemite waterfalls just kept gushing from all the snowmelt in the mountains above. Incidentally, we couldn’t have come to Yosemite at a better time because they had so much snow this past winter, which in turn, meant the falls had a higher volume of water.

Hiking

Most of these beautiful places in Yosemite involved short walks to and from. But Justin and I actually hiked the 8.2 miles Panorama Trail from Glacier Point to the valley floor. Pictures cannot capture what we saw and experienced on that hike. We saw Half Dome, the park’s most imposing granite feature, from many angles, and visited two or three waterfalls from above.

All the jogging and bicycle riding I’ve done in the last several weeks didn’t fully prepare me for this strenuous hike. We were pretty sore for the next few days. In fact, I walked funny and at a slower pace than usual. But I wouldn’t have traded the experience for anything!

Biking

Leslie and I rented bikes for a full day in Yosemite, which is a great way to see the valley. Their bike paths are some of the best I’ve seen in all the national parks we’ve visited. So if you visit the park, and you’re able to, I recommend renting one of these bikes because you can sometimes get to places faster than taking the park’s free shuttle service, with buses that fill up quickly with tourists.

Lee Stetson as John Muir

Later that evening we all enjoyed a live one-man play in Yosemite Theatre. It was Lee Stetson playing the part of naturalist John Muir (1838-1914). Through his writings, Muir did more to bring Yosemite and the entire Sierra Nevada range to the mind of the American public than just about anybody, with a view toward preserving these areas so that future generations could enjoy their natural beauty.
If you’ve seen the National Parks special I mentioned above, Lee Stetson was featured quite a bit when talking about the life of John Muir.

Park Ranger Shelton Johnson

Another person you see a lot in the special is National Park Ranger Shelton Johnson. I knew for a fact that Shelton was a park ranger in Yosemite, so I spent 3 days asking other rangers if he was around. The first two days of our visit in the park, Shelton was finishing up a business trip to Alaska, but on this last day of our visit, he was there!

The day before meeting Shelton in person, I bought his first novel, Gloryland, which is about a buffalo soldier stationed at Yosemite in the early 1900s. As a matter of fact, Shelton’s passion is researching the role of buffalo soldiers in the national park system. Shelton, the park’s only African-American ranger, is for bringing more African-Americans to the National Parks, so they can experience the beauty and grandeur of these places. As it is, a very small percentage of them actually visit the parks at the present time.

Super Bowl canceled

2011-02-03T17:50:00.002-06:00

Of course I'm just kidding and having a little fun here. The Superbowl is still on. :-) But thanks for clicking. Since you clicked here, here's a little look back at all the basic statistics of Super Bowl: The teams who've played in the Bowl, as well as the final scores. It's on the NFL website, and goes back to 1967, Super Bowl's first year.

Even Gangsters are touched by nature's beautty

2010-07-28T11:38:00.002-06:00

Yellowstone National Park. Justin was trying to secretly videotape this streetwise gang member from L.A. But then he got a little too close. The gang member asked him where the falls were. And the funny thing is that the gang member was standing right in front of them. When Justin pointed in the direction of the falls, the gang member turned around and looked, and dropped his jaw! He was so smitten by nature's beauty, he couldn't even pause to thank Justin. Instead, he just kept staring at the falls! What a moment! Glad Justin caught it on tape.

Summer Vacation 2010 Part 5

2010-07-15T22:09:00.002-06:00

Day 10:

Visited Badlands National Park and continued south to Colorado Springs. My mother-in-law described the Badlands better than anyone, I think. She says it’s like driving on the moon. If you want to see the Badlands featured in a movie, look at the opening scenes in Jurassic Park. Some people camp at the Badlands, but I prefer places like the Tetons and Yellowstone. Nevertheless, we just had to see this strange and wonderful park, because we’re not up this direction too often. On the way to Colorado Springs, two coyotes crossed the road in front of us. Pretty neat.

Day 11:

OK, I’m caught up and typing in the present tense, as I sit in the passenger seat while Justin drives. But what is there to say? We have a 9-hour trip to Lubbock. Woo Hoo. The mountains to the West of us are nice. About to go through Pueblo, Colorado. I have fond memories of tent camping at a KOA there when my dad took us to the Tetons in 1977!

Day 12:

Just got home after traveling from Lubbock. Stopped in Llano along the way to visit some friends. Overall, an easy day of travel. It's been a wonderful vacation. Now for the unpacking! I must say that we were blessed with great weather just about the whole time we were gone. It was a whirlwind, but a family vacation we will all remember for some time.

Summer Vacation 2010 Part 4

2010-07-14T20:30:00.001-06:00

Day 8:

This day was for travelling. We went to Hill City, South Dakota, which took all day. Travelled through Cody, Wyoming, which is the rodeo capitol of the world. The most beautiful parts of the drive were also the parts that slowed our progress: the mountains, which we had on the west side of the state, as well as the east. But I love the mountains, so I’m not complaining. Saw several mule deer in the eastern part of the state.

Day 9:

Today we saw the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore! Between the two parks, we drove through Custer State Park, where a buffalo stepped in the road in front of us and just stayed there. Leslie, who was driving, obviously stopped the car, as well. I leaned out the window to take a picture. You gotta know we were like 5 feet away from this huge mammal. From the backseat, Justin could only say “for the love of God, would you please back up?!?”

Unlike Yellowstone and the Tetons, I had never been to these great American tourist sites. Crowded at both attractions, but a wonderful experience, overall. These rock sculptures take years to complete, with lots of dynamite! The horse alone at the Crazy Horse memorial will take 10 to 15 more years to complete. And did you know that Mount Rushmore was never completed? It’s OK, though. I can’t imagine it looking any other way, can you?

It’s one thing to see pictures of these great monoliths, but nothing compares to being there. “Huge” doesn’t even come close to describing these things. To give you some perspective, sculpturing Mount Rushmore began in the 1920s and took 14 years. Crazy Horse, which is much larger, was begun in the late 1940s. The stories behind these great works of art are incredibly interesting, and worth looking up.

We saw a mountain goat while we were at Mount Rushmore. And we saw an introductory video about wildlife in the park. The narrator talked about the very common mule deer, as opposed to the rare sighting of white tail deer. “Ha!” I thought. “Just visit my front yard. You’ll be able to see all the white tail deer you want!”

Summer Vacation 2010 Part 3

2010-07-14T08:19:00.000-06:00

Day 7:

I kept telling my family that we had a long drive ahead of us, and this was the day. I’m not talking about driving across a state. I’m talking about just driving the grand loop of Yellowstone. Because we stopped to visit the various sites along the way, this loop took us 11 hours to complete! So we began our journey about 9:30 in the morning, traveling clockwise.

First, we came to the Old Faithful, the most famous feature of the park. We were lucky that we arrived about 15 minutes before the next eruption was to occur. So we raced to find a place among the thousand or so other visitors that were there at the time. Sure enough, it went off right on time. I don’t know all the math and science that goes into predicting the time of the eruptions, but I respect the people who take care of it for the rest of us!

Next, we visited Grand Prismatic Spring, another hydrothermal feature, with water the color of deep blues and greens, as well as mixtures of orange, red, and yellow along the edges. Like the Marfa lights in Texas, this is just hard to describe. You really must see this for yourself. Or, if you like, look it up on the internet.

Our next stop, Mammoth Hot Springs, is also hard to describe. The area looks like cave formations, except on the earth’s surface, and the smell of sulpher is almost overwhelming. Very cool site, though. Following this, we went to the place that gave Yellowstone its name: the waterfalls and the canyon. This particular canyon really does have a yellow-colored stone. Imagine that? And the upper and lower falls are majestic! After visiting the falls, we went back to our room and crashed.

Along the road on this trip, we saw a grizzly bear and her two cubs, as well as a black bear. Wow! These animal sightings made the trip that much more special.

Summer Vacation 2010 Part 2

2010-07-13T06:55:00.003-06:00

Day 5:

It was nice waking up in the Tetons. I came here with my family when I was a young teen back in 1977, and then again in 1979. So it's been a long time since I've seen these mountains. I woke before the rest of the family and went to have breakfast at the lodge. Someone yelled that they saw a grizzly out the large windows that face the mountains. So I hurried over there, and borrowed the guy's binoculars. Sure enough, out in the field was this grizzly looking for breakfast among an elk herd.

On this day we hiked in the Rockefeller Preserve in the south end of the park. The destination was a very nice glacial lake. We stuck our tired feet in the water, which was refreshing. On the hike back from the lake, we followed a creek all the way down, crossing it several times on walking bridges that offered magnificent views of the clear flowing water, as well as the mountains directly above us.

After hiking, we went to stay in a cabin at Colter Bay, on the northern end of the park. Has anyone ever told you that the driving distances in these national parks! That's OK, though. It allows us to slow down and take in the beauty. Saw a herd of buffalo grazing by the side of the road on the way back. I forgot to mention we saw a couple of female moose grazing by the river the day before. We all really enjoy seeing the animals.

Day 6:

It was time to go north to Yellowstone National Park, which almost borders the Tetons, except for about 8 miles in the middle. We set up "camp" at one of the rooms in Grant Village, named after President Ulysses S. Grant, who established Yellowstone as the world's first national park in 1872. Since the West Thumb hydrothermal features were a couple of miles down the road, we visited them. These pools of hot to boiling water are the strangest sights in the park, and something to see at least once in your life. That evening we enjoyed a Ranger talk at the visitor center.

Summer Vacation 2010 Part 1

2010-07-12T10:30:00.002-06:00

Day 1:

After a wonderful 4th of July service at our church, Justin, Faith, and I, hit the road. Leslie was to join us later, as she was flying up to meet us. We made it to Lubbock, where we tent camped next to a local lake. The problem was that our neighbor thought it was important to play loud, blaring music all night. So at 11:30 p.m. I told Justin and Faith that it was time to go find a hotel, which we did! We had to get our sleep because we had a long drive ahead of us.

Day 2:

We made it to Estes Park, CO, where we tent camped at their KOA. We got pretty cold that evening, even though our sleeping bags are rated to withstand the cold. It was nice to finally be in the mountains.

Day 3:

Began the day by driving through Rocky Mountain National Park. Justin drove the whole way, and I didn't even pass out. Saw some elk in the park. The highest point in the park was about 12,500 feet above sea level! Saw some Amish people too. But they live in lower altitudes, as well. After leaving the park, we were on our way to Dubois, WY, where we stayed in another KOA. But this time we stayed in one of their little cabins because the weather report said it was going down to 38 degrees during the night.

Day 4:

Made it to our first destination about 10 a.m: Grand Teton National Park. Justin, Faith, and I went to Jenny Lake and hiked up to Inspiration Point. This was the first of a couple of hikes we took up there. And it was beautiful! Next we went to Jackson Hole Airport to pick Leslie up from her flight. While waiting for Leslie, U.S. Senator Harry Reid walked by with a small entourage of secret service men. They were all in suits. Now if the senator wanted to enjoy the Tetons, he needed to dress down a bit. There's no way I would go on a hike while wearing a suit and tie.

We were very happy to have Leslie join us. After picking her up, we drove down to Jackson Hole, ate at a nice restaurant, and drove back to the park, where we enjoyed a night at the Jackson Lake Lodge.

More to come in Part 2 of our Summer Vacation.

You Were Meant For More

2009-11-24T22:28:00.006-06:00

You Were Meant For More is the title of a Nov. 23rd blog post by pastor William Vanderbloemen. Here's his post:

Chances are, God has a higher view of you than you do. Here’s what He says about you:
You are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. (1 Peter 2:9-10, The Message)

Do you ever find yourself thinking you’re just a face in the crowd. That you’re in a rut that won’t ever end? Ever wonder if you will ever amount to anything?

It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that you are just a face in the crowd, a number in the masses, or a wisp of air. Today’s “First Thought” comes out of some pretty jarring words from Peter’s first letter in the New Testament. Let those words sink in. Let them make a difference in the way you view yourself.

You are a difference maker. You have been called to be a contributor to the greatest movement the world has ever known. God wants to use you to change the world, one life at a time. How? by telling those you see what a difference God has made in your life.

In the season leading up to Christmas, people around you are more ready than you know to hear that God loves them, that God matters, and that their lives can change.

Who can you talk to? What can you tell them about the difference God has made in your life?

It will mean more than can imagine.
To read more encouraging words from Pastor Vanderbloemen, check out his blog here: http://williamvanderbloemen.com/

Clark Howard's Advice on How Long to Keep Records

2009-10-10T16:02:00.002-06:00

I found the following helpful. Maybe you will too. Do you agree with his advice? For example, I always thought we should keep bills for at least one year. According to Clark, that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Read on:

The amount of records you should keep is actually more limited than you think. Here is Clark's advice on what to keep and for how long, and what to get rid of...

What records to keep:

Tax returns, keep forever
Tax return documentation, for six years
Contracts, forever
Real estate records, forever
Last pay stub of a job if you leave that job
Last pay stub of the year for your current job
All mortgage payment checks (statements), until mortgage is paid off
All student loan payments, until loan is paid off
Car loan payment stubs, until the car is paid off
Cancelled checks, for 7 years
Bank deposit slips, for 7 years
Bank statements, for 7 years
Home improvement records, ownership period plus 7 years
Investment records, ownership period plus 7 years

What records to toss:
Credit card statements that are more than three years old
Past insurance statement
Old utility bills, except the most recent one from your old address if you've moved
Recently paid bills (statements), once you have something saying they've been paid

Van & Mary Vee Keese

2009-08-21T08:43:00.007-06:00

There's an amazing couple in our church: Van and Mary Vee Keese. Van was a B17 pilot in WWII. I would like to repost a blog entry here, having to do with his service in the war. It was written by B.K. Blackwell, and you can read the original post here. The pictures I post here are from Mr. Blackwell's blog.

I'm writing this on June 14, 2009, for reference. About a year ago, I received an email from Larry Keese who is the son of the Buckeye Babe's Pilot, Van Keese. Larry had been Google searching for information about his (and my) Dad's B-17 bomber, the Buckeye Babe, and discovered this website. In his email Larry informed me his Dad was still alive, 89 years old and living in Wimberley, Texas with his Wife (and Larry's Mom) Mary. I was like, "What an amazing coincidence!" I wanted to hop in the car and go to Wimberley right away but circumstances, a hurricane (Ike) and surgery (mine) stood in the way. Finally, a few weeks ago, Judith and I had the chance to go to Austin for a visit with her Sister & Husband. Wimberley is just down the road from Austin so I went for it :) Judith couldn't accompany me so my Cousin, Chip, came along. We both grew up in Illinois but are now transplanted Texans. Chip and I traveled to Wimberley on a beautiful day and arrived to a very sweet and poignant reception. Van and Mary were so happy to meet us and offered us a very warm welcome. Van is the last living member of the Buckeye Babe's crew. It is a miracle that anyone in the 8th Air force survived the War. That Van's piloting skills brought both he and his crew home alive is nothing short of a miracle. Plus, neither my Brother nor I would be alive today if it weren't for Van (and his crew's) heroic efforts to survive their missions. I got a photo of Van and Mary the day we visited and am very grateful to have the opportunity to share their happy faces with the whole world. God bless them both!

PopZ

2009-08-10T15:32:00.002-06:00

This morning I visited Al Brinkley (PopZ) and his family at the hospital. Al went home to be with the Lord about an hour after I left. He and his wife, Mary Helen (MomZ), have raised a family of singers. It was my pleasure to sing with them today--four sisters and a brother--as we all sang hymns and gospel songs together--in perfect harmony, I might add! I know Al was comforted by the singing. I told the family that every person in a hospital bed should be so blessed to have a family of wonderful singers who are singing songs about our heavenly home.

In my prayer with the family I said how truly blessed I was to sing and visit with this wonderful family. It really is true that when you seek to be a blessing to others, that you end up being the one who is blessed. And besides comfort and blessing, there was quite a bit of worship going on too.

PopZ was loved by so many people. Besides MomZ and the kids, their good friends, Ann and Betty were there. The room was filled with a lot of love and wonderful memories. I thank the Lord that I was there to share in this sacred moment. My prayers are with the family.

"Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20).

Speicher and the Lost Sheep

2009-08-02T20:57:00.004-06:00

Today the news announced that the remains of Lt. Cdr. Scott Speicher had been positively identified. His plane went down at the beginning of the Gulf War in 1991. After 18 years, this is incredible news. It underscores the military's commitment to search for its comrades, both living and fallen. After hearing the story this morning on the news, I was glad that his family finally has some closure.

I was also reminded of the story Jesus told of the lost sheep in Luke 15:

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

I thank God that he searches for people until He finds them. I would give up, but He never does. I would become discouraged, but God, out of His matchless love, stays on the hunt! And when He finds the lost sheep, all the neighbors and frends are called to rejoice with Him. I confess that I've given up on people before, but my prayer today is that I will be able to see with God's eyes just how valuable people are. I pray that God gives me the ability to encourage people in their walk with the Lord, and invite others to join in on the journey of faith that leads to Christ, the Good Shepherd who never gives up on us!

William Vanderbloemen's Thoughts on Hope

2009-07-17T22:03:00.003-06:00

Where can you find hope?

I have hope for the future. God has hope for your future. He has promised it. And so I believe you should enter today choosing to hope.

But what does that mean? Where do we find hope?

Sometimes, people think that hope can be secured by living well enough. The thinking goes like this, “If I invest well, my future will be secure.” Or, “If I follow the rules, if I keep my nose clean, if I do what is right, then I have a reason to hope.”

But if you have read the news at all, you know we cannot invest well enough to secure a hope. If you have lived long enough, you have probably realized that none of us are able to keep all the commandments, or live well enough to secure our hope.

This week, I studied and found that the word hope does not occur in the Bible until the book of Ruth. That may not sound important, but a little reflection brought me to an important realization. The word hope cannot be found in the first five books of the Bible, the books that our faith has called “The Law.” My realization,

You will not find hope in the Law.

You will not find hope in your behavior. Nor will you find it in what you know. You will find it in a different kind of relationship with God, one that is based on a heart to heart connection.

Maybe you have been trying too hard to build your own future, or secure your own hope. Let today be a day that is committed to a new kind of hope, one that is based on a heartfelt connection to God. When you do, behavior will flow out it. And hope will flow through your life.

Hopeful,

William

*Read more of Pastor William Vanderbloemen's blog posts here.

A Prayer of St. Augustine

2009-07-17T21:52:00.006-06:00

“O Lord, who has warned us that you will require much of those to whom much is given; grant that we whose lot is cast in so godly a heritage may strive together the more abundantly by prayer, by almsgiving, by fasting, and by every other appointed means, to extend to others what we so richly enjoy; and as we have entered into the labors of other men, so to labor that in their turn other men may enter into ours, to the fulfillment of your holy will, and our own everlasting salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
– Augustine of Hippo (354-430)
By the way, I'm finding these prayers on a great blog, the Missional Church Network.

Africa by Toto performed a capella. Incredible!

2009-07-15T08:47:00.002-06:00

A good friend just sent this to me. I was a huge Toto fan in the 80s and 90s. I know the song well. This a capella group starts by simulating rain, then performs the song, with all the nuance of the original, but with no instruments. Wonderful stuff. Thank you, Liz, for sending this to me!

A Prayer of Thomas Aquinas

2009-07-09T18:41:00.001-06:00

“Most merciful God, order my day so that I may know what you want me to do, and then help me do it. Let me not be elated by success or depressed by failure. I want only to take pleasure in what pleases you, and only to grieve at what displeases you.

For the sake of your love I would willingly forgo all temporal comforts. May all the joys in which you have no part weary me. May all the work which you do not prompt be tedious to me. Let my thoughts frequently turn to you, that I may be obedient to you without complaint, patient without dejection, and serious without solemnity. Let me hold you in awe without feeling terrified of you, and let me be an example to others without any trace of pride.”

- Thomas Aquinas (1225 - 1274)

Drought Conditions

2009-07-08T15:14:00.005-06:00

Well, we all knew the drought conditions here in Texas were bad. This data from LCRA confirms it. See those dark red areas? That's where the conditions are the worst. Guess where we live. Pray, pray, pray for rain!

A Prayer of St. Benedict

2009-07-06T22:49:00.002-06:00

At the Missional Church Network blog, I read the following prayer by St. Benedict (480-547):

Gracious and Holy Father,
give us wisdom to perceive You,
intelligence to understand You,
diligence to seek You,
patience to wait for You,
eyes to behold You,
hearts to meditate upon You,
and a life to proclaim You,
through the power of the Holy Spirit of Christ our Lord.

What a prayer. It encompasses so much! I need to pray it daily. Thank you, Lord, for inspiring people like St. Benedict to put into writing what so many of us need to be expressing in our own prayer life.

July 5th Patriotic Service

2009-07-06T22:43:00.001-06:00

We had a wonderful worship service on July 5th. I wrote about it over at the FBC Wimberley Music Ministry blog. Of course, I think it's worth your time, so click here to read it.

A prayer for the close of the day

2009-06-29T20:37:00.002-06:00

The following is a post on Pastor Rich Kannwischer's blog. I came across it the other day. It helped me. Maybe it can help someone else.

A friend over lunch recently shared with me his struggle with taking work home at the end of the day. He may not have a lot in the briefcase, but the tensions and work seems incomplete, following him to his family. I agreed that as a pastor the work seems never done. There is always another phone call to make, another tweak of the sermon or lesson, another new relationship to build. These are wonderful problems to have, but it does make it hard to feel a sense of completion at the end of a day.
So I shared with him a prayer that I keep near my computer at the office. It is a prayer I regularly say at the close of a day's work.

"Gracious Father, you have kept me this day even without my knowing. As the shadows now lengthen and the evening comes, hush the busyness of this world and calm the troubled waters of my heart. My work is not yet done, but it is time for rest. I thank you, God, for all the good we did this day and for all that has given me joy. Forgive me for when I have strayed from your will and your way. Take from me my worries, my pains, my complaints and my fears. May evil no longer have power over me. Let your servant now depart with peace to join those I love to celebrate and bless with your humble kindness. Amen."
Now, if you aren't already, go home and rest.

We're All In This Together Movie Preview

2009-06-27T17:30:00.000-06:00

Trend Spotting

2009-06-08T10:35:00.002-06:00

Here's an interesting article from Marian Salzman. Check it out. It's eye-opening to see the future trends that Salzman talks about.

My Fair Lady begins this weekend!

2009-05-31T19:43:00.004-06:00

My Fair Lady is starting this weekend at the EmilyAnn Theatre in Wimberley. If you want to order tickets, go to http://emilyann.org/musicals.htm. Dates for the show are June 5,6,7,12,13,14,19,20,21. You'll see some actors from our church, including Gary Yowell, David McCall, Sarah Bryan, and myself.

Juli Dearrington is playing Eliza and Carl Galante is playing Professor Higgins. It's a must-see! The EmilyAnn Theatre just completed a great run of the 60's Sensations Musical Revue. Angie Lassetter directed that one, as well as My Fair Lady.

Dan workin' the crowds!

2009-05-07T16:45:00.003-06:00

Here's a picture of me singing something from My Fair Lady. The Starlight Symphony is accompanying, and other cast members are there with me.

Interesting article about the kindle and the book industry

2009-04-20T14:30:00.002-06:00

I was reading a Wall Street Journal article about eBooks vs. real books, the kindle, and the way everything is changing in the information age. Read the article for yourself. It's enlightening.

Easter 2009

2009-04-12T17:00:00.004-06:00

We had two wonderful Easter services this morning at church. And then our family enjoyed lunch with my parents and Leslie's parents, as well as Chris Richardson, long-time friend of Leslie's family. After lunch, I was curious about the condition of Capt. Richard Phillips who was being held by Somali pirates, so I turned on the television, and was very happy to learn that he had been rescued from captivity after Navy seals took out 3 of the 4 pirates. I'm happy for the captain and his family. They will never forget this Easter.

In the spiritual realm, I'm thankful for Jesus Christ, who releases us from our "captivity." Of course, a lot of people don't even think in terms of being held "captive." But when you think of trying to face life's challenges in your own strength, you have to realize that you will run out of power eventually. So it just makes sense to let God lead you.

Consider this passage from 2nd Corinthians 5. It speaks to the subject of Easter, and really sums up what I'm trying to say:

¹⁴ For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
¹⁶ So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Christ died for our sin, and was resurrected on the third day! Because of this we can be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. This is the message of Easter. When I was 11, I prayed to receive Christ as my Savior, and have enjoyed the journey ever since! I prayed something like this:

Dear God,

I'm sorry for my sin. Thank you for dying on the cross in my place, so that I could be forgiven and reconciled to You. Please come into my life to be my Lord and Savior. I want to live my life for You here on this earth and be with You forever in Heaven. Based no the promises in Your Word, I thank You for saving me and giving me eternal life!

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

I pray that some of you reading this blog post would think this over. If you haven't trusted Christ as your Savior, it would be a privilege to talk to you, or even discuss this over email.

Reggie McNeal Lecture to Reformed Church Leaders Part 2

2009-03-17T20:58:00.001-06:00

Reggie McNeal Lecture to Reformed Church Leaders Part 1

2009-03-17T20:55:00.001-06:00

Thoughts on the First Worship Service

2009-03-02T17:51:00.004-06:00

...in our new auditorium. I wrote this article for our church's newsletter the week after our first worship service in our new auditorium.

We are finally there! But “there” is “here” now. What I’m trying to say is “we are finally at our new site!” All of us have longed for this day. Something very magnificent took place on our first Sunday in the new auditorium. It’s a day that will remain in our memories for quite some time. I’ll bet Pastor Mark is also mentioning our first Sunday in his newsletter article. But I just had to share my thoughts on it too!

I started the day, like many of you, at our 501 Old Kyle Rd. location at 9:30 a.m. The night before, a couple of people discovered there was a carillon. The controls are in a closet in the hallway between the stage and choir room. Because of their technical backgrounds, they were able to get it functioning again. So at the 9:30 service, we were drawn to the old sanctuary with the beautiful sounds of the carillon ringing in our ears.

We had a glorious service there at the old location. I was overcome with emotion as I led a few hymns from the piano. So I just turned the mic toward the audience and let them sing. Then we saw a DVD that reminded us of our history and heritage, as well as the impact we’ve had on the community and the world (i.e. The Kenya mission trip). The DVD was so good we had to show it again at the opening service at our new location. We also heard from Bro. Young, Marsha Niedecken, and Pastor Mark.

When we came to the new location, it was like the glory of the Lord fell on the congregation. As the minister of music, I just have to say that you sang so well! We truly “made a joyful noise” to the Lord. Many of you who have volunteered your precious time in preparation for this momentous occasion were exhausted by the time our first service came around. I was too! But God blessed us with the strength we needed for the day.

Please continue to pray for Pastor Mark and staff here at FBC. We feel the strength of your prayers. And pray that our church will continue to be a beacon in this community to the glory of God! We are so excited to see what God has planned for this congregation. “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11)!

Check out this Video: 40 Inspirational Speeches

2009-03-02T17:42:00.004-06:00

I saw this today. Thought it was pretty funny. Enjoy!

Wall Street Journal Radio

2009-01-17T17:43:00.003-06:00

I want everyone to know that I've been downloading and listening to the Wall Street Journal This Morning podcast. I guess I like the show because of its tone. It's not political, yet it covers business, the arts, cultural trends, and generally interesting stories. The show's hosts, Gordon Deal and Gina Cervetti, have a lot of fun in their reporting too. So give it a listen and tell me what you think. I also recommend NPR's Marketplace podcast, which is a similar format.

King Tut - A Must See!

2009-01-10T16:22:00.004-06:00

I'm in Dallas today at the Dallas Museum of Art. My main reason for being in Dallas is so that my family can see and experience the King Tut exhibit. If you haven't seen this, it's really a "must see" event. An added bonus is just being able to see the rest of the museum's exhibits when you've been through the King Tut portion.

Anyway, King Tut, the boy king, was about 9 years old when he ascended to the throne, and was about 19 when he died. The cause of death is a mystery to this day. Tonight, we're going to a church service at Fellowship Church in Grapevine. If you ever get a chance to see one of their services, you'll understand why they are known for their creativity.

Our family is having a great time up here in "Big D." We'll be headed home tomorrow. Our good friends, the Cottles, are with us, and they're enjoying it too. I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted anything! I'll try to do better.

Christmas Lights

2008-11-30T22:58:00.003-06:00

Christmas Lights
Originally uploaded by jonathanpenney11

Last Friday I hung Christmas lights on the front of my house. It's a nice tradition that takes about 3 hours. I always do this the day after Thanksgiving. For a long time, Christmas has been one of my favorite times of the year. I don't care for the hectic schedule. But I don't see any other way around it. I am steeped in preparations for our church's Christmas musical/drama. But, you know, I've been preparing church choirs and orchestras for Christmas programs for 26 years. So I know the pace. Anyway, I hope we all get a chance to slow down a little this season, downplay the hustle and bustle of the shopping malls, and have a chance to think about, perhaps even meditate on, the deep Truth of Christmas: Emmanual - God with us.

A Gospel Presention for our Time Part 2

2008-11-30T16:55:00.006-06:00

Here is the 2nd part to the video I posted the other day. It completes the story. So check it out.

A Gospel Presentation for our Time Part 1

2008-11-27T22:14:00.007-06:00

I was looking through Christianity Today's RSS Feed and found an article about James Chuong to be interesting. He's come up with a gospel presentation that he writes out on napkins. The hook was set, so I checked out his website. I intend to buy his book called True Story: A Christianity Worth Believing In. Anyway, check out his website, the book, and the cool video above, and let me know what you think. A book reviewer from LA, known as Icarus on Amazon.com, had this to say about the book:

Choung starts out with a simple goal - to describe a new way to communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ. What makes his book so good is that he recognizes the complex questions people have about the gospel. He retains the central truths that we are separated by sin from the God we were created to be in perfect fellowship with and that the finished work of Christ is the only way to restore that fellowship. He adds on to those truths some others that were previously seen as "Christian history" (what was God like before Creation was created? how did sin enter the world?) and some others that were seen as "Christian Living" (if I'm saved by grace, why should I go to the trouble of doing good? what should I/the church do about Sudan, the environment, or human trafficking?). He sees that individual sin leads to corrupted relationships and communities, and he communicates a gospel of salvation for individuals and healing for relationships and communities. Other writers in this genre (McLaren and Claiborne come to mind) go too far promoting the corporate aspects of sin and salvation to the detriment of the individual responsibility for sin and need for salvation. As I read Choung's book, I didn't feel like the gospel I love was being changed, diminished, or diluted - I felt like it was being strengthened by showing the big picture of why the gospel is truly good news for individual humans and the whole world.

Christmas at FBC Wimberley

2008-11-22T15:52:00.006-06:00

Christmas is a wonderful time here at FBC Wimberley. Make plans to attend our Christmas musical events happening the first two weekends of December.

STOMP and Joyful Noise to Perform
1st Sunday in December

Our Children's Choir, STOMP, has been working diligently on their Christmas musical, The Mystery of the Manger. This is a delightful celebration of Christmas, featuring great music, solos, and drama. Invite your friends to come and see this heartwarming Christmas event to open the season.

Sunday, Dec. 7th 6:00 p.m.

***************************************************************

Sanctuary Choir, Orchestra, and Drama Troupe
to perform 2nd Weekend of December

This year's Christmas music and drama presentation, presented by the music and drama ministries of our church, is called The Word is Alive. It features a 44 voice choir, 18 piece orchestra, drama troupe, solos, and narration. The music is a great blending of contemporary and traditional Christmas songs. Be sure to make this event part of your Christmas traditions this year.

Saturday, December 13, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 14, 6:00 p.m.

*Childcare is available.

***************************************************************

Christmas Caroling on 3rd Sunday
of the Month

On December 21st, our church family is invited to go Christmas Caroling to some of our homebound church members. They always enjoy it when they hear us singing Christmas carols at their doorstep. Following this event, we will be having refreshments in the fellowship hall.

Eureka Springs Trip

2008-10-08T08:19:00.007-06:00

After a 13 hour bus ride, including a few stops, we arrived at Eureka Springs, AK at 7 pm last Monday night. There are 45 people on this trip, including the bus driver. After arriving, it was off to the pool and hot tub, where we watched the late 20^th century movie What About Bob? We watched Evan Almighty on the way to Eureka Springs. Our bus is equipped with a DVD player. Yes, this great movie, starring Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss, was being shown on a screen in front of the pool. Sounds like fun, huh? And by the way, we got to see the more recent movie

But enough about the movies. Tuesday morning, after a filling breakfast at the hotel, I enjoyed a 30 minute walk. Then our group convened to go into town, where we got on a tram. The tram took us on a tour of Eureka Springs. It was very informative, as well as entertaining. I find this area of the country similar to Wimberley, except for the presence of tall pine trees, and thicker forests.

Our first stop on the tram tour was the Thorncrown Chapel. This chapel, completed in the 1980s, is an architectural wonder built in the tradition of Frank Lloyd Wright. As a matter of fact, the architect that designed the chapel was a student of Wright. The chapel’s music minister was there. She and I sang two verses of “Amazing Grace” together, which will be one of my best memories of the trip.

Another stop on the tour was the Crescent Hotel, built in 1886. Look it up on the internet. It’s supposedly one of the top 10 haunted places in America. Go figure. I will let you know if I see anything funny there when we eat dinner in the hotel’s dining room Wednesday night.

After the town tour Tuesday morning, we went to the Passion Play grounds. This is a huge production! You can spend a whole day here, visiting the New Holy Land, where Biblical actors interact with the visitors. Also there’s the very tall Christ of the Ozarks statue. It looks as large as the one in Brazil, but is not as tall. If they had built it taller, it would have had to have a blinking red light on the top of his head for planes to see. Somehow, people around here didn't think that was quite right. Additionally, there is a Sacred Arts Museum and Bible Museum.

The Bible museum has over 10,000 Bibles, including a page from a Gutenberg bible, several English bibles, and German bibles translated by Martin Luther. In this museum, I was reminded of those who translated the Bible into English hundreds of years ago. John Wycliffe did so in the 1300s. He wasn’t martyred, but his bones were dug up later and burned publicly to discourage others fr

om following in his footsteps. Then there was a translation by William Tyndale. This great man of the faith was burned at the stake as a result of his translating work. The Word of God is powerful indeed.

The Passion Play was as wonderful as I remembered it a few years ago. It seems like the whole community gets behind this thing to insure its continued success. There's a huge set, a very large cast of characters, and plenty of lighting with a few special effects. Definitely worth the effort to come and see this show. But I would recommend the summer time, as it was pretty chilly last night when we saw it!

Today is a free day where people can take the tram to town and shop until they drop. We’ll all get together again for dinner at the “haunted” Crescent hotel, followed by a music program at night – some kind of hoe down comedy show. Everyone is having a great time. We’re blessed that no one has gotten sick on this trip. Our bus driver, Thomas Martinez, has taken good care of us, as well as Harvey Reed, who organized this trip. I enjoy going on these trips because it gives me a great opportunity to fellowship with our church folks. It also gets me out of my usual routine, which is a good thing. That’s all for now.

The Greatness of God

2008-09-08T07:13:00.003-06:00

I got this quote from reading Chip Stam's website Worship Quote of the Week. This is a thought-provoking website on all things related to Christian worship. In his research, Chip considers both historical practice and contemporary trends.

Today, vast stress is laid on the thought that God is PERSONAL, but this truth is so stated as to leave the impression that God is a person of the same sort as we are--weak, inadequate, ineffective, a little pathetic. But this is not the God of the Bible! Our personal life is a finite thing; it is limited in every direction, in space, in time, in knowledge, in power. But God is not so limited. He is eternal, infinite, and almighty. He has us in His hands; but we never have Him in ours. Like us, He is personal, but unlike us He is GREAT. In all its constant stress on the reality of God's personal concern for His people, and on the gentleness, tenderness, sympathy, patience, and yearning compassion that He shows towards them, the Bible never lets us lose sight of His majesty, and His unlimited dominion over all His creatures.

— J. I. Packer, KNOWING GOD. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1973, p. 74.

Port Aransas Vacation

2008-08-31T09:55:00.005-06:00

If you read my last post, and watched the videos, you know I'm at a family reunion in Port Aransas, Texas. We've been blessed with good weather here and are safe from the path of Hurricane Gustav, unlike those East of us.

Yesterday, Leslie and I went on an 18 mile bike ride. One of the great things about riding bikes out here (or jogging, for that matter), is that everything is flat! So, we put our bikes in one gear and took off. Of course, the humidity is pretty high. But everyone who lives here is used to it.

Last night, we went fishing at a dock in Rockport; Leslie caught some kind of snapper and a few speckle.d trout, along with a dogfish and a catfish (Yes, there is something called a "dogfish." And they're very ugly-looking.). My brother-in-law, Randy, caught a slapjack, and a few others. Slapjacks are those fish you see jumping around in the ocean any time you visit this region.

Later today, Leslie and I are going on a deep sea fishing trip. This should be a lot of fun! I'll have to let you know how it goes in a later post.

Justin and Faith are having a lot of fun, along with their cousin Patrick. I wish Justin could enjoy the trip more, but he's still hurting from getting braces on his teeth last Wednesday. Mamaw and Grandad are just having fun being around family. Randy and Holly are enjoying themselves, as well. They didn't have far to travel for this trip, since they live in Corpus Christi.

We're at the Coast!

2008-08-30T09:40:00.006-06:00

Are we crazy or what? It's hurricane season. And we're at the coast. Anyway, Justin filmed me in another couple of "moment" videos. One of them is a lot like all the rest we've taken. The other one is a little different. Enjoy!

Cousins Camp 2008 2nd Report

2008-08-09T09:27:00.011-06:00

This morning we're in Midland, Texas. We are here for the outdoor Christian music festival called Rock the Desert. Last night we saw two bands, Family Force 5 and the Newsboys. Illusionist Brock Gill was also there. Tonight we'll be seeing Hawk Nelson, Red, and Switchfoot. Wow! That's a lot of music! My personal editorial is this: Newsboys can still rock the house after all these years! Last Thursday we all took an awesome train ride and enjoyed a picnic and swim up in Austin! Along the way, we visited a bike shop.

Enjoy these pics from Cousins Camp. By the way, there's a couple of people in the picture above that aren't one of the cousins, but they're like family anyway--our friends, Samantha and Emily Hall. Darby and Adam Rollins, are here at festival too, along with their parents, Don and Cindy. It's my first time to be at Rock the Desert, but several of the people mentioned above are veteran attendees to this awesome festival, including Leslie, Justin, Faith.

Cousins Camp 2008 1st Report

2008-08-03T19:45:00.008-06:00

Well, it's the beginning of Cousins Camp 2008 here at the Stephens House. Two cousins, Hannah and Sarah, arrived today. Two more, Claire and Jack Henry, are coming tomorrow. We're looking forward to a fun-filled week.

Big Bend 2008 Vacation Day Three

2008-07-24T13:33:00.006-06:00

Yesterday evening Leslie and I hiked part of the way down to Mule Ears Peak. Check out the picture and you'll be able to see why it's named so. It's so serene out here. This morning I hiked a trail on the desert floor, and was amazed at the plant life. I'll bet it's a real sight to see when the plants are blooming in the spring.

The big story today is that Leslie went on a 30 mile bike ride down one of the main roads here in the park! Both of us left early this morning, Leslie for her bike ride (read "marathon") and me for my wimpy 3 mile hike in the desert. You have it all here at Big Bend: mountains, desert, and river. This is our third time to come to the region.

It looks like we're in for a lot of rain later today, but that's fine. I heard Austin had some rain today. I hope Wimberley got some too. Tomorrow morning we will begin our trek home. We'll arrive home in time to pick up our kids from church. They've been at Student Life Camp in Shawnee, Oklahoma all week.

Big Bend 2008 Vacation Day Two

2008-07-23T16:39:00.010-06:00

This morning Leslie and I went on a 16 mile bike ride along a long stretch of relatively flat road. It's amazing to look out at the vast expanse of desert that makes up a lot of this national park. For the first half of the ride, we had the wind against us, with the mountains in the background. Obviously, the ride back was more pleasant. Last night we hiked some more, bringing the total to 6 miles of hiking on the first day.

Later this evening, we'll go and explore a different section of the park, taking in some new views. We'll do a little more hiking and biking. What else do you do at Big Bend? Besides the bear, we've seen a rattlesnake, some javelina, deer, rabbits, skunks, and some of the biggest insects you can imagine! Are there any entomologists who can identify this creepy insect? I took a picture of this interesting 3.5 - 4 inch bug yesterday afternoon. Actually, I wanted to get in front of it to take the picture, but was afraid it might attack me! Hey, I'm no fool.

The weather has been warm, but pleasant, especially in the mountains of Big Bend where we are staying. During the summer, it's smart to do your outdoor activities in the early morning or evening before dusk. We're doing just that! Hope everyone back home is doing well.

Big Bend Vacation 2008 Day One

2008-07-22T14:10:00.008-06:00

It’s Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008. Leslie and I are at Big Bend National Park, and having a wonderful time! Yesterday, at 2:30 a.m. our kids left for Student Life Camp in Shawnee, Oklahoma. I got to pray for everyone on the bus right before they left. Then I went home and went back to sleep. About 10:30 a.m., after packing the van, Leslie and I were off to Big Bend. It took us about 10 hours to arrive here, including the stops along the way.

It’s funny. I thought Leslie might enjoy going to the Dallas/Fort Worth area for something different this year, so I suggested just it as a vacation idea. We never go to the DFW Metroplex for vacation. It’s usually for some conference. But Leslie wanted to go to a quiet spot where we could get some hiking and biking in, and reconnect. We’ve had such a busy summer already, and have been meeting each other coming and going. So I was happy that she wanted to do this. Truth is I’d rather be in Big Bend than Dallas/Fort Worth any day of the week!

It’s in the middle of the afternoon, and we just got back from a 4.5 mile hike on the Window Trail here in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend. Now when you go on a hike in a state or national park, you always hope to see some wildlife. Well, today certainly did not disappoint. On the way down to “the Window” we saw black bear scat right in the middle of the trail; and it was fresh! We just continued on down the trail.

Once we came to the large opening in the rocks called “the Window,” we encountered a group of college-aged students. They were members of the Environmental Corps, which is an extension of Ameri-Corps. They were here to do improvements on some of trails here in the park. Thank God for people like this who take care of these park and wilderness areas.

On the way back to the trailhead, we noticed the Environmental Corps members standing in the trail, looking up in a tree. The leader of their group pointed up to the branches. There was a beautiful black bear with her two cubs! We must have been 25-30 feet away. It was pretty exciting. I’ve included a picture of the momma bear here. I’ll check in either later today or tomorrow. Thanks for reading.

Being in The Gospel Accordin' To Texas

2008-07-14T21:51:00.007-06:00

Last Saturday evening LeRoy and Maggie Nienow held the awards ceremony for for those who participated in the 2008 production of LeRoy's musical The Gospel Accordin' To Texas, with additional music by John Pound. It was a lot of fun, and a relaxing recap to one of the most challenging things I've ever done. In fact, to borrow a line from the musical, "It was the toughest job I ever loved."

Back in the fall of 2007, when I played the role of the Padre in another musical directed by LeRoy, Man of La Mancha, LeRoy asked me to pray about auditioning for the role of Jesus Davidson in GAT. I said "yes." So after Christmas, I began to memorize the lines, not even knowing if I would get the part, since open auditions were to be held in February 2008.

Toward the end of February, maybe early March, LeRoy informed me that I got the part of Jesus. What a privilege and an honor to play the role of God the Son, as if the gospel story had occurred in Texas, circa the 1950s to the present. As I told the other cast members at the awards ceremony, I would have been happy to play any of the roles in this great musical. I had already heard how God had blessed this production in the past, and eagerly anticipated how He would use this present production.

It was held on weekends during the month of June. The stage was the beautiful outdoor venue known as the Emily Ann Theatre in Wimberley, Texas. We had a total of 12 performances, in addition to the Pastor Preview held a week before opening. Record crowds showed up to see GAT. And according to reports, several people left blessed and encouraged. To which I say "Amen." I truly hope and pray that I was able to act/sing in such a way as to draw attention to the real Jesus Christ and His gospel message.

I may never know how many people were blessed and somehow changed by seeing GAT, but I think it definitely had a positive effect on several of us who were in the production itself. I believe we're all better off for having been a part of this mammoth-sized retelling of the gospel message.

I thank God for the opportunity to play His Son, Jesus, as well as for the blessing of friendship with so many in the cast and crew. I'm also thankful for the encouragement received from others during the many hours of rehearsal. I tried to return the encouragement along the way. I'm especially grateful for an understanding wife, and children, who supported me so much during the rehearsals and shows. About 90 folks from my church and several friends from out of town, we're also able to come.

LeRoy is an outstanding director and actor. So it was a privilege to be directed by him. He says that much of the inspiration for GAT came from his having lived in Wimberley for eight years. After Man of La Mancha and The Gospel Accordin' to Texas, I wonder what he might direct next. Whatever it is, folks around here know that it's going to be top-notch! For an extensive slide show of GAT, click here.

The Gospel According to Texas

2008-05-18T13:28:00.006-06:00

Here are some publicity shots of me and some of the disciples who will be performing in the upcoming "Gospel According to Texas," a musical that will be performed each weekend in June at the Emily Ann Theatre, a beautiful outdoor venue here in Wimberley, Texas. The musical was written by LeRoy Nienow, along with musical collaborator John Pounds. Thanks to assistant director Angie Lassetter for the photos.

Reaping the Harvest - Galatians 6:9

2008-04-07T07:48:00.003-06:00

It's a very exciting time in our church, and it's an honor to be serving as minister of music and senior adults, especially at the present time. Galatians 6:9 tells us to not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Although there have been times I've been "tired of doing good," I feel like our church is presently "reaping a harvest of blessing," as the verse says. Just look around and see all that God is doing in our midst! To Him be the glory.

I love being with our team of ministers and staff! Sure, I get to do my part each week in preparing the music for the worship services, and in organizing and carrying out senior adult activities. But some of the most fulfilling times for me are when I get to do things with our staff, like this past week, when we fed the teachers and staff at Scudder. They received a blessing, and we did too!

Music Ministry

In music ministry, I ask you to pray that I continue to be guided by the Holy Spirit when choosing music for the worship services. I'm very thankful for the team of musicians that we have here at FBC! At the same time, please pray that the Lord would continue to draw people with musical gifts to our church. I would love for them to get plugged into the music ministry and use their talents to honor the Lord in our worship services.

Just think about all the music groups and soloists that we have right now, and thank God with me, for their active participation in using their skills to honor God each and every week: Sanctuary Choir, Praise Team, Orchestra, Bells of Praise, STOMP, Men's Choir, Joyful Noise, and the Ukeladies.

Kris Raven does a great job leading the Praise Team for our 10:45 a.m. service; Robin Williams has been blessing the church for so long as leader of the STOMP Children's Choir. Recently, David McCall has taken on the responsibility of leading the Men's Choir. And he's doing great with them! Neal Mallard is a "right hand person kind of guy" that organizes and distributes all the orchestra music for our 9:15 service. Each Wednesday Kathy Reno and Dorothy Martin work hard in the music library. These are the wonderful people that I simply couldn't do without! I also encourage you to read the blog entry below, where I mention the tech crew that works tirelessly in the audio/visual booth of our auditorium.

Senior Adult Ministry

Our senior adult committee continues to do a wonderful job planning and carrying out activities for our seniors. Pray that all senior adults in our church would see their place in God's big picture for FBC Wimberley! They are such a wonderful asset to our church in countless ways! I want all of them to have a connection with God each and every Sunday as they worship in our services, and a connection with each other, as they strive to encourage one another and build each other up in the faith. When opportunities come up to serve, pray that God moves their hearts with the realization that He is definitely not through with them yet!

It Takes a Village

2008-04-07T07:44:00.003-06:00

Don't let the title of my article fool you. I'm not promoting a book here. However, I do want to tell you about some very important people in our church. These folks get to look at the backs of your heads every Sunday. But we would have a difficult time doing our worship services without them, I assure you. I'm referring to the Audio Visual / Media Team. They are Brian Daugherty, who runs sound and video, and his assistant, Matt Dragowitz; They are also Hannah Bryan, Lynn Johnson, Julia Williams, and Robert French, Jr., who run the media computer. These people see what they do as a ministry, and it's all for the glory of God!

This team is so crucial to the flow of our services that their value should never be underestimated! I can remember (I'm dating myself a little) when I could walk up to the pulpit, flip a couple of switches, and have sound. We had choir mics, a pulpit and piano mic. The instruments were piano and organ. We used hymnals. I'm still for the use of hymnals, by the way, especially for all you music readers out there. We didn't have a video projector or screen, either.

With our changing times and culture, we've added the necessary technologies to enhance our corporate worship experiences. And I wouldn't have it any other way. With all the technological advances, however, it's been necessary to form teams who know how to operate the computer programs, and sound reinforcement systems. That's why I'm so thankful for the people I mentioned above. So you see, it really doesn't take a village. But it does take a great team of people like the one we have! Next time you're walking out of the auditorium, please take a minute to thank them for all they do.

This Picture Pretty Well Sums It Up

2008-03-26T21:19:00.006-06:00

Simply Christian

2008-03-23T14:48:00.007-06:00

I'm reading a book called Simply Christian by N.T. Wright. It's been compared to C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity, and receives praise from people such as Anne Rice, and J.I. Packer. On the front flap, it says:

Simply Christian walks the reader through the Christian faith step by step and question by question. With simple yet exciting and accessible prose, Wright challenges skeptics by offering explanations for even the toughest doubt-filled dilemmas, leaving believers with a reason for renewed faith. For anyone who wants to travel beyond the controversies that can obscure what the Christian faith really stands for, this simple book is the perfect vehicle for that journey.

If anyone has read this book, let me know what you think. I would also like to wish everyone a Happy Easter!

Funny Cartoon

2008-03-18T07:50:00.008-06:00

It's the Easter season. Lots of people will be dying eggs for this coming Sunday. Anyway, I thought this cartoon was pretty funny.

One in Four Adults (18-29 year olds) Claim no Religious Affiliation

2008-03-17T21:49:00.015-06:00

I read this blog tonight. It's by Mike Slaughter, Senior Pastor of Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio. I agree with the gist of his article. Read it for yourself.

Christians who are Scaring the Heaven out of People

CNN released the results of a survey this week that revealed more than a quarter of adult Americans have left their childhood faith for another religion or no religion. One in four adults in the 18-29 year old range claim no religious affiliation. The United Methodist Church, of which I am a part, continues to lose members at a rate of 80,000 per year. Only 4.7% of UMC clergy are age 35 or younger.

Why are a growing number of younger Americans finding the Christian faith to be irrelevant? Could it be that many who claim the way of Jesus are literally scaring the heaven out of people? So many who claim to be the prophets of Jesus come close to scaring the heaven out of me, like the self-righteous prophets who equate the Prince of Peace with a vindictive terrorist god who creates hurricanes of destruction as judgment against homosexuals or abortion advocates....

Many in the name of Jesus have connected Christian faith with conservative partisan politics that defend the rights of the unborn but seem indifferent to the plight of the poor, the inequities in the availability of health care for the masses, hospitality toward the alien, and the wellbeing of the planet. Jesus is neither right nor left. Christian politics must always be prophetic and never partisan (Italics mine). Christians must act as the moral conscience for both sides of the aisle, always advocating for peace with justice and the orphan and the widow. The Gospel is good news for the poor. If it doesn’t cover the poor, it is not the Gospel!

Why are a growing number of Americans finding the Christian faith to be irrelevant? I won’t even begin to try to explain those creative Christians who see the image of Jesus on such things as cinnamon rolls!

God bless...

Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on Feb 26, 2008 10:00AM

*Read this blog in its original context here.

New Worship Schedule

2008-03-16T20:08:00.006-06:00

Today we began our new worship schedule. FBC Wimberley is now holding 3 morning worship services each Sunday, along with 3 Sunday Schools! Pastor Mark and I talked after the 3rd service, and agreed that we weren't feeling too run down. I'm confident this new schedule is going to be great for our church, and will open up some potential growth areas. Praise the Lord for how He's working in the life of our church. The baptismal waters keep getting stirred, sometimes two or three Sundays in a row!

Focus Weekend 2008

2008-02-11T11:20:00.000-06:00

The youth of our church just finished their annual "Focus" weekend. This is a time of intense discipleship and Bible study. Congratulations go out to Craig Yates and Kris Raven for their hard work in organizing the event. We were one of the host homes, and held the record for the most youth in one house. We had 17 middle school girls in our home for two nights! I have to admit that for a time on Saturday I "escaped" to Austin, but Leslie was there to keep things under control. Jamie Lowry was very brave to lead all those girls in Bible study, and she did a great job!

On Sunday morning, Gary Henderson, who hosted some of the high school girls, shared a wonderful testimony of how the students went over to the new church property and worked hard to clear what he called "old world growth" - cedar trees, etc. This "growth" was impeding progress on building the church parking lot. Anyway, I think what he said went a long way in encouraging our church members about our students, who are the future of our church and community.

Juenke Family Christmas Picture

2008-01-14T18:15:00.000-06:00

Here's a picture of the Juenke family at the Hunt House, where we celebrated Christmas. It was wonderful to have everybody together again. Pita gave a short speech telling us how thankful he was to have made it through this year! In a previous post, I mentioned that he's in complete remission. We're all thankful for that!

Man of La Mancha

2008-01-13T23:21:00.000-06:00

Here's the cast photo from the Wimberley Players production of Man of La Mancha. Last night my family joined some friends from the cast for dinner. We had a great time and shared some nice memories.

Successful Hunting Trip

2008-01-06T20:52:00.000-06:00

Here are pictures from the recent hunting trip. Leslie and Justin both got does. Looks like we'll be having venison for awhile! Thanks to our friend Robert for allowing us to hunt at his ranch. Justin's going to try to get one more hunt in this weekend.

On Vacation

2007-12-31T09:14:00.000-06:00

After a very busy Christmas season, we're on vacation this week in Hunt, Texas. Well, mostly in Hunt. Presently Faith and I are at my parent's house in San Antonio. Leslie and Justin are hunting in the San Saba area. Leslie killed her first deer yesterday evening. Justin's giving it a try this morning. I'm sure I'll hear from them a little later. Anyway, here are a couple of pictures. One is of Leslie and me before a bike ride in Hunt. I'm on the bike that Leslie bought me for Christmas. I bought Leslie one for her last birthday.

There's quite a story associated with how I came to acquire this bike. To locate it, my loving family took me on a wild hunt on Christmas Eve. Leslie gave me someone's garage door opener, and told me three neighborhoods that the bike could possibly be in. The bike was in the garage of a senior adult that we know well enough that he/she would allow Leslie to hide the bike in their garage. Well, if you only knew how many senior adults I know in these neighborhoods, you'd see how daunting of a task this was. She said that if I didn't find it in five tries, that she would reveal its location. So, to make a long story short, the bike was in the 5th garage we came to. But you should have seen me pointing this garage door opener at all these garages. It was pretty humorous. Once, Justin even said "drumroll, please." I thought that was a hint. But he was just bluffing. It wasn't that particular garage.

The other picture is me in front of the Dam Store in Ingram, which is between Kerrville and Hunt. This convenience store is across the street from the Ingram Dam, which is on the Guadalupe River. Leslie and I had a similar picture made several years ago in front of the same Dam Store. Anyway, if you ever get to visit that Dam Store, it's a good one.

Christmas Day 2007

2007-12-25T11:29:00.001-06:00

It's Christmas Day. Whew! It's been a very busy season, as usual. Last night we had two Christmas Eve services at our church. Thanks to all who came, and thanks especially to those on the program who had to be at both services. Last Thursday night, there was the Las Posadas Christmas program at St. Stephens where my daughter goes to school. Here's a picture of my daughter Faith with her friends Caitlyn and Callie. Oh, and that's me with the lamb ears on. Yes, while the children played a variety of roles, like shepherds, angels, and wisemen, I was a little lamb. A guy has to be pretty confident in his manhood to wear such an outfit!

When I say it has been a busy season, I think about the second and third weeks of December. After a couple of back to back dress rehearsals our sanctuary choir, orchestra, and drama troupe gave two great performances of a musical called "There is Peace in the World Tonight." Here's how the rest of the week went down: Monday evening I went to the middle school band concert. Tuesday night was the high school band concert. Wednesday night we had a party for all those in the church Christmas musical. It was at our house. Thursday night I had a dress rehearsal for the Starlight Symphony Orchestra, in which I play percussion and timpani. Friday I went with several from our church to "Mainstreet Bethlehem" in Burnett, Texas. Got home pretty late. Saturday evening the SSO had a concert in Blanco. Sunday afternoon, they had a concert in Wimberley. Sunday evening, our church went caroling. We had a "breather" week; and then it was back to work with planning the Christmas Eve services. As I've always said, the Christmas season is one of the busiest times of year for musicians!

Anyway, our family is going on vacation now, and looking forward to some time to ourselves, where the calendar is not controlling our lives. There's a lot of joy in this season of the year. My family hopes all of you are experiencing this same joy as we all reflect on the real meaning of Christmas - The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14 NIV).

Twelve Drummers Drumming

2007-12-20T15:21:00.000-06:00

Well, not really. But there are definitely three of us. That's Sharon Miller and Tom Haddon with me at the Starlight Symphony Concert, which was held at the Wimberley Community Center. Thanks to my wife Leslie for taking the picture. If anyone wants to know about future concerts of the Starlight Symphony Orchestra, click here.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2007-12-20T10:13:00.001-06:00

Thanks to Billy Graham (not "the"), one of our church members, for taking this photo. It was taken at Emily Ann Theatre in Wimberley. If you haven't been out to Emily Ann yet, you're really missing out. They've been hosting the "Trail of Lights" for the past few years during the holiday season. So go and check it out.

Peace in the World Tonight

2007-12-07T23:20:00.000-06:00

This weekend our music and drama ministry is presenting a new Christmas musical by Randy Vader and Jay Rouse called "There is Peace in the World Tonight." It has some great musical moments, and a dramatic play that weaves in and out of the music. It's been a lot of fun to prepare. Here's a picture of the choir, orchestra, and cast of the production.

Some Thoughts on Being at FBC Wimberley for Ten Years

2007-11-12T06:55:00.001-06:00

This month marks my ten year anniversary at First Baptist Church, Wimberley. It was around the summer of 1997 that I began praying earnestly for God to move me to another church, one where I could be a full time minister of music, rather than continuing in the combination position of music and youth minister, which I had done for 13 years. There was a 2 year period in which I taught middle school and served as a part-time music minister, but if I had continued doing that I would have probably suffered a nervous breakdown, not because of the church work, but because I was never called to teach in a middle school environment. Leslie knew it too, but she let me experience it to find out for myself that full time ministry was God's ultimate call on my life.

Anyone who knows me very well realizes that I love living in central Texas and wouldn't desire to live anywhere else. As a matter of fact, there was a time when I served on the mission field. Well, it was at a church in Wichita Falls, but it felt like a mission field, because I was over 300 miles away from the family and friends that I knew in central Texas. Ten years ago, Leslie's parents and my parents lived in San Antonio, but I also had relatives in Austin; so I prayed that God would move me to a church either in San Antonio or Austin, where I could be close to home. I never would have imagined that God would have planted me right in between these two great cities! But this is exactly what happened. I'm reminded of the scripture verse many of us know by memory. But I really like how the New Living Translation puts it:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

There was a path that God wanted me to take, and it led right to First Baptist, Wimberley. What a wonderful journey it has been. When I came to the church, we were having two traditional Sunday services. And now we have two very different services, contemporary and traditional, or whatever labels you want to put on them. The beautiful thing is that we worship the same true and living God in both settings, and that we are one in the Spirit.

Eight or nine years ago, a friend asked me what I thought God had in store for me in the future. I simply told him I would like to remain at First Baptist Wimberley as long as possible, loving the people here, and growing with them. He just said "that's awesome." The friend I'm referring to is Cole Phillips, former student minister here, who is now the pastor of the Connection Church in Kyle.

In my ten years here I can remember being the sole ministerial staff member twice. They were short times, to be sure, but challenging. You see, I've never thought of myself as a great leader. I'm much more comfortable in the 2nd or 3rd chair position of church leadership. And let me say that I am so happy to be working alongside the wonderful staff that we now have here at FBC! Our pastor is a man with a lot of vision, and a lot of great ideas for this church. It's a pleasure to work under his leadership. And what a great time to be celebrating ten years, because didn't we just break ground at the corner of Ranch Road 12 and Winters Mill Parkway!

There are a lot of volunteers in this church who help me, in both the music and senior adult ministries. And if I tried to name them, I would surely leave some people out. So let me just say that there's no way I could have ever stayed here this long without their support and encouragement. I feel that way about our congregation, as well. I have been overwhelmed at the love and encouragement that this church family has extended to my family through the years. Earlier this year you allowed me to take a two month sabattical, for which I'm grateful. It was such a blessing to be able to worship the Lord in many different congregations, without having to be the one in charge of planning the services.

Finally, let me say thanks for putting up with me all this time. It's been an honor to serve here. And I want to thank my faithful and supportive wife, Leslie, who has traveled with me on this wonderful journey. Our children were very young when we moved here. This has been a wonderful community to raise a family. As for our church, it's the desire of my heart that we continue to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18), and that we strive to always be making a difference in the community and in the world. I echo the words of the German music composer, Johann Sebastian Bach, who used to sign his manuscripts "Soli Deo Gloria" - "To God alone be the Glory."

King's Fair 2007

2007-11-02T22:17:00.000-06:00

Every year our children's ministry puts on a community-wide event called King's Fair, which is a Halloween alternative. Everyone had a wonderful time. I was Robin Hood, and, for the record, I wasn't wearing tights. These pictures show myself, as well as Justin, Faith, and some of their friends.

It seemed like people from all over the community were at the King's Fair. It was very well organized by our children's minister, Amy Wagner, and KDO Director, Amber Messenger. So congratulations to these two wonderful people on our church staff. The rest of our staff was there too.

It's wonderful to see how a lot of our church members come together for this event every year. It takes a lot of people to put this on. So, a big thank you goes out to all of you who helped. My wife says I like to play "dress up." So, as you can see, I was in my element.

Science lovers poke fun at reckoning of Earth's age

2007-10-22T21:49:00.000-06:00

I read an article in the Austin American Statesman today. Here's a link to it on the web. The first few lines immediately caught my attention:

They drank a blue-green concoction called Noah's Floodwaters Punch. They ate a Flat Earth Cake, a gentle poke at the Bible's description of the planet's shape. They listened to scienfific talks about the age of the earth.

Just who were these people? It was a gathering at Bookpeople, one of the local Austin bookstores. This meeting was held by the Center for Inquiry, a nonreligious organization that has had an Austin chapter for nearly a year.

This event was

an opportunity for those who disagree with creationism to have their say. In the always controversial process of deciding what Texas' science textbooks say, he said, "A lot of people representing the science view don't always have a forum."

Alright, is anyone going to correct the Austin American Statesman? It's one thing to report about events like this, but let's be accurate. The article says that the people at this meeting were eating a Flat Earth Cake, poking fun at just how "non-scientific" the Bible is in describing the earth. But just where does the Bible describe the earth as being flat?

From the website clarifyingchristianity.com, we learn that

The Bible described the shape of the earth centuries before people thought that the earth was spherical.

Isaiah 40:22
It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

The word translated “circle” here is the Hebrew word chuwg which is also translated “circuit,” or “compass” (depending on the context). That is, it indicates something spherical, rounded, or arched—not something that is flat or square.

The book of Isaiah was written sometime between 740 and 680 BC. This is at least 300 years before Aristotle suggested that the earth might be a sphere in his book On the Heavens.

This brings up an important historical note related to this topic. Many people are aware of the conflict between Galileo and the Roman Catholic Pope, Paul V. After publishing A Dialogue on the Two Principal Systems of the World, Galileo was summoned to Rome, where he was forced to renounce his findings. (At that time, “theologians” of the Roman Catholic Church maintained that the Earth was the center of the universe, and to assert otherwise was deemed heretical.)

We could not find any place in the Bible that claims that the Earth is flat, or that it is the center of the universe. History shows that this conflict, which took place at the time of the Inquisition, was part of a power struggle. As a result, scientific and biblical knowledge became casualties—an effect we still feel to this day.

The article also says they were celebrating Earth's birthday, a satire on the belief held by some creationists that the Earth was created on Oct. 23, 4004 B.C., an idea attributed to the 17th-century Anglican Archbishop James Ussher.

It's true James Ussher came worked out a system in which he "figured out" the age of the earth, based on his reckoning of the time statements in the Bible. But this was one man's view. I can't think of anyone who actually takes his dating of the earth seriously, Creationist or otherwise. And people need to know that among Creationists, there are those who are "old earthers" and "young earther," depending on whether they believe the days of Genesis 1 are literal 24 hour periods, or epochs of time.

I don't usually talk about science vs religion kinds of things in this blog, but the article caught my attention. Therefore, I felt compelled to write.

Man of La Mancha

2007-10-17T08:50:00.000-06:00

Recently I played the part of the Padre in the Broadway Musical Man of La Mancha. The play ran from September 21 through October 14 at the Wimberley Playhouse, the theater of the Wimberley Players. This was my first production with them, and it was a lot of fun. The director, LeRoy Nienow, of Austin, Texas, is definitely a pro. I was impressed how he thought through every detail with great precision. He was able to get a large cast and crew of people to work together for the common goal of accomplishing something wonderful for our community and surrounding area. David Bisett (on the right in the picture) played Don Quixote. It was a joy to work him and all the others in this cast and crew. Click here to see some backstage photos.

The Daily Audio Bible

2007-10-08T21:42:00.000-06:00

I have to recommend something I found out about recently. It's Brian Hardin's Daily Audio Bible. Brian is a Nashville, TN, based record producer, photographer, graphic designer and author. You know, one of those Renaissance men of our own time. Anyway, for the last couple of years, he's recorded the entire Bible on a daily podcast. You can either listen online, or download the entire year to iTunes. Each day has about 25 minutes of a Bible reading, as well as some comments and prayers by Brian himself. Interestingly, he varies his reading by switching between various English Bible translations on a weekly basis. So if you're used to reading one translation of the Bible, as I am with the NIV, it's a fresh experience to hear Holy Scripture in different versions.

At the end of several of the podcasts, he will feature a spoken testimony from someone who has called in. Some of the comments are quite beautiful because they're made by broken people who came across the podcast, gave it a listen, and were greatly encouraged, as a result of listening. Anyone can call the phone number listed on his website to offer a comment or make a prayer request. Think about it: Making a prayer request on this website, or calling one in, insures that potentially tens of thousands of people will pray for your specific requests. Wow! That's a lot of prayer.

So give the Daily Audio Bible a listen. Click here and start listening! It will strengthen you and your walk with Christ.

A Block of Salt

2007-10-02T22:44:00.000-06:00

The following is a Children's Devotional I have prepared to give in couple of days as part of the chapel service at St. Stephens Episcopal School:

Does anyone know what I have here? That’s right, it’s a saltshaker, which reminds of a story in the Bible. In Genesis 19, God sends two angels to warn Lot and his family to get out of the city of Sodom, for God was about to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The people of these cities were very wicked, and God’s judgment was about to fall on them.

The instructions the angels gave Lot were clear: “Run for your lives! Don’t even look back.” At first, Lot just stood there. As wicked as the city was, he was still strangely attached to it. But the Bible says that “the Lord wanted to save Him. So the angels took Lot, his wife, and his two daughters by the hand and led them out of the city.

When they were safely out of the city, “the Lord sent burning sulfur down like rain on Sodom and Gomorrah. He destroyed those cities and everyone who lived in them, as well as their land and trees and grass that grew there.” And then something horrible happened. Lot’s wife looked back at the city and “was turned into a block of salt.”

Remember the instructions the angels gave: “Run for you lives! Don’t even look back.” When God says something, he means it. Let Lot’s wife serve as an example for us. When you have left a lifestyle of sin and unrighteousness, don’t look back, as enticing as it might seem. Keep going forward with God, with eyes of faith to follow Him, no matter where He leads.

God will bless your faith and trust in Him. Why would we want to held back by something the book of Hebrews calls “the sin that so easily besets us?” On one occasion, Jesus told a woman to “go and leave your life of sin.” But Jesus would never ask us to leave something unless He fills that empty place with something that is so much greater: a life of joy, purpose, and fulfillment, which is rooted in Him, the source of eternal life.

West Texas Trip

2007-09-24T08:13:00.000-06:00

Recently I took a group of senior adults to West Texas. How exciting is that!!?? When you say "West Texas" that "covers a lot of ground." But we visited one of the most beautiful regions in the entire state. I'm speaking of the Fort Davis/Big Bend area. We had about 25 people in our group, including our church members and their friends and relatives. OK, I have to be honest for a moment. I took this group of seniors out to this region because I went with my family a few years ago and loved it. I figured if we had such a wonderful time out there, why shouldn't others?

The most memorable part of the trip was probably the Star Party we attended at the McDonald Observatory. If you've never been to the Observatory, let me encourage you to go as soon as you can. It's a guided tour through the night sky. And the people directing the tour are thorough experts. The following day we went back for a solar viewing to see what was happening on our nearest star, the Sun. Of course, we were watching a live telescope view of the sun that was filtered and showing on a screen in an auditorium. Afterall, we weren't stupid enough to actually look at the sun!

We also viewed the Marfa lights. These are strange and defy description. But no trip to this region would be complete without a viewing of these mysterious lights! We arrived just before sunset and it took about 45 minutes before their was any activity. But then the lights "came on." Unfortunately, a haze in the sky prevented us from seeing them more brightly. For history, we visited the Fort Davis National Historic Site. Buffalo soldiers figured prominently here in the latter part of the 19th century. They protected settlers from Apache and Comanche raids.

Visiting Big Bend National Park was an optional side trip. Ten of us went there one afternoon. I guided them straight to the Chisos Mountain Basin, where they were treated to some of the most scenic views in all of Texas. The mountains out there, rising from the desert, are majestic and awe-inspiring.

We stayed three nights at the Indian Lodge in Davis Mountains State Park, taking up 13 rooms. The Indian Lodge is a unique structure that was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) of the Roosevelt administration, as part of the "New Deal." Since it was built, several additional rooms have been constructed. But the additions were built to look like the original hotel. All of our state parks owe a great deal of thanks to members of the CCC for building the original state park buildings and structures that we have come to love and admire today.

Leslie had to work during this trip, but I was glad my children could go. It was particulary gratifying to hear the seniors commenting on how well behaved and friendly my children were. So, all in all, we had a wonderful time out in West Texas. I know I organized this trip for a large group of people, but gosh, it kinda felt like a vacation too!

A Prayer in Remembrance of 9-11

2007-09-08T21:00:00.000-06:00

It's only a few days until we remember the anniversary of 9-11. I wrote the following prayer to read in church on Sunday, Sept. 9th:

Almighty God, today we pause to remember the national tragedy of 9-11. This senseless act of terrorism that brought America to her knees just a few years ago reminds us that evil is very much a part of the world we live in. But you have told us to take courage, and that you have overcome the world, and to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Make us stand strong today.

Holy Father, you are the Prince of Peace. When other world religions tell us that they stand for peace, let your people remember that true peace comes only through a right relationship with God, through Jesus Christ. We ask you to bring peace to this world. It can happen. Our pastor reminded us a couple of weeks ago of your promise that all things are possible with God.

Comforting Savior, let your mercy be upon all those who suffered the most on that fateful day, that is, those who lost loved ones and close friends. Some of them are still reeling in despair to this day. I pray that they would receive peace that passes all understanding. Now, Lord, teach us to pray like you once taught your disciples.

Our Father, which art in Heaven,

Hallowed be thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

in earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive them that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory,

Forever and ever. Amen.

Is He Baptist or Episcopalian?

2007-08-24T20:33:00.000-06:00

You be the judge! Here I am standing with Father Patrick Gahan, pastor of St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Wimberley and Bishop Earl McArthur (Ret., West Texas Diocese). We had just held the Saint Stephen's Opening Convocation on the first day of school. Father Gahan preached a wonderful sermon, I read from the Gospel of Luke and prayed, while the Bishop gave the final blessing to the school, students, faculty, and staff.

A Big Bend Moment

2007-08-19T20:16:00.004-06:00

This moment was obviously filmed at Big Bend National Park.

A Civil War "What's in the Cup?" Moment

2007-08-19T20:04:00.002-06:00

Well, here's another moment video that my son filmed. We were at Fort Davis National Historic Site in West Texas. Enjoy!

Shaenyn Alyse Yates

2007-08-11T22:01:00.000-06:00

Here's the beautiful baby Shaenyn Alyse. This is our student minister and his wife's baby girl, born last Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. She was 6 lb. 15 oz. and 19 1/2 inches. Mom and Baby are fine! Congratulations to the Yates family!

Yellowjackets Music Video - "Wildlife" from 1988

2007-08-10T23:07:00.000-06:00

Leslie and Classmates of her Motorcycle Class

2007-08-09T21:43:00.000-06:00

Here's a picture of Leslie and some of her classmates who participated in the Javelina Harley-Davidson Riders-Edge class. It was earlier this month.

Paul's Letter to FBC Wimberley

2007-08-04T11:38:00.000-06:00

Here's a letter written by the hand of the Apostle Paul to our church. OK, it was actually written by one of our church members, Jay McDonald. He wrote it when Harold O'Chester was our interim pastor. Some of you recall the healing that our church needed to go through when Harold was here. Harold and Barbara's ministry were just what our church needed at the time. Anyway, I was going through some old emails, and came across this letter. So here it is. It's as timely now as it was then:

Greetings to the First Baptist Church at Wimberley

I, Paul, have decided to write to you and offer some words of encouragement, correction, and love.

There is, and always will be, diversity among humans. Our God started this when he created Eve, rather than leave Adam alone. The first two children born of this union were tragically different. God does not use a cookie cutter.

You members of this church are joined to serve God. There is a common, holy truth among you – belief in Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior.

The very fact that you are all different can be, and should be, a great asset -- gathering strength from each other. These collective strengths can be marshaled into accomplishing amazing things under God’s leadership. So, use these differences as a plus, not fretful of them, but mindful of, and grateful for God’s unerring wisdom.

Remember that as you serve Him, in this body, that the overall goals and needs of His church are far greater than any one person’s preference or agenda.

So, don’t stir up trouble! Not only will you ultimately be punished, but, tragically, God’s work in your community, and even around the world will be hampered. If one part of a body is weak, damaged or wrong, then it is without question that the entire body suffers.

I am certain that God’s love permeates your body of believers. When God created us, He gave us first the ability to love Him – but also to love others. Why did He do this? I don’t question God’s unfailing wisdom, but in wonderment, what if He had left the last part out?

My partial answer to you is that the world is made infinitely more pleasing to us all when we give and receive love! I strongly believe that of all the abilities God gave us, love is the best of all!
So, practice God’s love in your midst. How infinitely beneficial this will be!

Paul

Yellowjackets Music Video

2007-08-02T21:05:00.000-06:00

This is Yellowjackets, my favorite modern jazz quartet, performing Invisible People. Give it a click and listen. They're incredible!

Mood Lighting is so Overrated

2007-07-27T22:10:00.000-06:00

I don't know what came over me today, but I decided to fix a light switch by myself. Those of you who know me realize I would normally call up a friend who is an electrician. I don't normally do this kind of thing. But I fixed it all by myself! I have a book from Home Depot that showed me exactly what to do.

A little background might be needed here. We've lived in our house for 9 years, and this particular light switch has needed to be changed the whole time. It's a traditional switch, but with a dimmer slide on the right. It powers the chandelier above our dining room table. The problem was that when you turned the light on, with the dimmer all the way up, the faceplate would get warm, very warm. So, I've always been a little afraid of accidentally leaving the house with that light switch on. Maybe it would be the cause of a fire.

I fixed the problem by installing a normal switch without a dimmer. Now when you turn the light switch on, the chandelier just shines bright. No more of that mood lighting, where you can dim or brighten the lights at will. No, now the mood is always bright! And the face plate doesn't get warm anymore! I fixed it. I really did.

I still don't know how to wash the clothes. But my next project is going to be to flush out our two water heaters. Some of you call them "hot water heaters." But why in the world would you call them "hot water heaters." Don't you think that's a little redundant, like "ATM machine?"

Thank You, God!

2007-07-10T18:51:00.000-06:00

Today we got some great news about my father-in-law, Henry. He is in complete remission! Our family, our church, and all our friends are so excited about the answered prayers. Thank you, God!

An Alaskan Moment

2007-07-01T19:41:00.003-06:00

The Inside Passage from Seattle, Washington to Skagway, Alaska

2007-07-01T15:27:00.000-06:00

Alaskan Cruise, Inside Passage, June 21-30

Last Friday our family took off for an Alaskan Cruise out of Seattle. We are on the ship Vision of the Seas, which is one of the Royal Caribbean Fleet. I find the ship to be very similar to Rhapsody of the Seas, which we took out of Galveston on the occasion of my wife and my 20^th anniversary. This time we’re celebrating my parent’s 50^th anniversary.

I’m very grateful to my parents because they gave my family, along with my sister-in-law’s family, this cruise as a gift. You see, it was important for us to be with them on their 50^th, and what better way to celebrate the occasion! Including my parents, there are 10 of us total.

One of the hardest things to get used to is the abundance of daylight up in these northern parts. The sun doesn’t really go down until we’re in bed for the night. Then it rises at something like 4:30 a.m. However, it’s a small price to pay for the fun and relaxation of the cruise.

Seattle, June 21-22

After arriving in Seattle, Leslie and I got in touch with Blake Edwards, who served as student minister at our church in the recent past. It was great to see Blake and his wife Karla! We became good friends when they lived in Wimberley. Karla had to work on Friday, but Blake showed our family around the city. It was better than any guided tour we could have bought!

Of course we had to see the original Starbuck’s. But we were able to see many other interesting places, as well, including Amazon.com. Did you know that Amazon.com is a real place? I didn’t! Anyway, we saw the main headquarters, which was formerly a hospital.

In the early afternoon, we boarded the cruise ship in Seattle. It never ceases to amaze me how huge these floating cities are. One of the officers of the ship told a group of us that future ships will be able to carry more than twice as many people, and have things like roller coasters! From Seattle, we headed straight for Juneau, which was quite a distance to travel by ship. But the scenery was breathtaking!

On June 23^rd, we were at sea all day. That evening we enjoyed a formal meal with all ten of us present. This was the captain’s dinner. This ship, like several other cruise ships, follows customs from way back, one of which is dressing up fancy for certain occasions. Anyway, we enjoyed a really nice dinner and wonderful conversation. It’s rare that all ten of us sit together and eat a meal, so it was a very special moment.

Juneau, June 24

At 11 a.m. June 24^th we arrived in Juneau. While there, Justin, Leslie and I rode mountain bikes for 9½ miles, where one of the highlights was visiting Mendenhall Glacier. Pieces of the glacier had fallen off and were floating in the lake at the foot of the glacier. We also saw some American bald eagles in flight and perched in tall trees.

Although Juneau is the capital of Alaska, it’s strange in that you can’t get to it by any road or highway, or even by train. One arrives in Juneau by sea or by air. They have an air strip, but the only planes I observed coming and going were the kind that land on water. I loved seeing these planes taking off and landing in the same waterways that the ships were using.

Leslie and I were pleased to run into Matthew Ward and his sister Annie Herring, while in Juneau. These two, along with their sister, formed the Christian music group Second Chapter of Acts who were very popular in the 70s and early 80s. Matthew told me they were performing on another ship, along with some other artists who were popular in those days, Dallas Holm being one of them.

After a full day we boarded the ship again. By this time Justin had discovered the glass elevators, which he’s been enjoying ever since. Faith has been doing all kinds of fun activities with other 9-11 year olds up on deck 10. With everybody going separate directions, we do manage to see each other quite a bit, meeting for meals, etc.

Skagway, June 25

We docked in Skagway at 7 a.m., so when we woke up, we were there. I really enjoyed this town. This was the northernmost place our cruise visited. Along with Juneau, Skagway figures heavily in the gold rush days of the late 1890s. I read the history of these brave people who risked their lives in pursuit of the gold.

The Canadian government required them to pack enough food for a whole year when they traveled further north, toward Dawson City, to stake out their claim. This surely kept a great many people from starving to death. It’s just that several trips were required to get the food packed in. You’ve all seen old photos of people climbing the Chilcoot Trail, with supplies on their backs, trudging up a snowy “staircase,” while holding onto a cable that ran from the top to the bottom of a mountain.

The town, though larger, still maintains the charm of the 1890s, with period architecture and wooden sidewalks. After walking through the downtown area, I met Justin and Leslie back at the ship. We went on a 3.6 mile hike around lower Dewey Lake. This is funny because to get to Lower Dewey Lake you have to climb a pretty steep trail. Once you’re at this mountain lake, you can hike around it. Leslie took a picture of me drinking from a mountain stream up there. I haven’t gotten sick yet, so I guess the water was OK.

My parents took a 3 hour train ride into the Alaskan countryside. They had a great time. Randy and Holly, Jordan and Patrick enjoyed a musher’s camp and sled dog experience. They were pulled by the dogs for a mile through the backcountry of a historic Gold Rush site.

Tracy Arm Fjord, June 26

It’s a funny name for a place, but this was some of the most beautiful country we’ve seen so far. One of the cruise publications says that traveling up this inlet is “like going back through geologic history. The fjord’s dramatic walls lose their vegetation until they become bare shining rock, shaped and ground smooth by the ice. In many places the mountains plunge vertically into the water, which is more than a thousand feet deep.”

There are two large glaciers in this fjord, dropping a lot of their ice into the inlet. For this reason, the ship was traveling slowly through the area. There were small ice bergs all over the place. I took so many pictures in this area, bringing the total so far to over 250! And there are still many others to take. Before we turned around to head back to the main passage, I saw a seal playing in the water. Later I saw one on a berg.

This afternoon we saw several whales in the ocean, spouting and jumping out of the water, as if they knew it was time to perform for the tourists! This day has been the most beautiful and sunny day we’ve enjoyed since leaving Seattle.

Leslie has been busy walking around the ship today. I even walked two miles with her today around the top of the ship. Did you know that if you go seven times around the track up on deck 9, you will have gone two miles? I mentioned to Leslie today how cool it would have been if they allowed her to bike around up on the top of the ship! Oh well.

Prince Rupert, June 27

Today we arrived at the British Columbia Port of Prince Rupert. I haven’t read much about this little town, but enjoyed our visit nonetheless. We chose not to go on an excursion here, choosing rather to walk around the town. We did see a few American bald eagles. One of them just kept circling above us. I have no idea what it was looking for, but it was putting on quite a show for those of us from the lower 48.

I went to a museum near the port. It showcased the cultures of Pacific Indian. These Indians are known for their totem poles, which are quite tall and beautiful. Later in the day I managed to find the public library in Prince Rupert, where I was able to connect to the internet and check email, etc. I’m too cheap to buy minutes for internet usage on the ship.

By the way, I heard that the American bald eagles are going to be taken off the endangered species list this week. However, it will still be illegal to hunt them. We left Prince Rupert about 5:30 p.m. and continue to see beautiful sights along the inside passage!

At dinner this evening, another formal occasion, we celebrated my parent’s 50^th anniversary. The waiters came and sang to them, which was to their surprise. Later my dad took part in karaoke night, where he sang George Strait’s “Ocean Front Property.” A great time was had by all.

At Sea, June 27

We’ve been at sea all day today, having left the port of Prince Rupert yesterday evening. This has been the day for everyone on the ship (over 2100) to do the things they’ve wanted to do all week. I’m not really into the whole spa thing, but I did go to something called the relaxation room. I just read from some books, etc. The room does have a nice view. And it’s very quiet. That’s another thing. There are many lounge areas on this ship, but they think their needs to be constant music playing. Don’t get me wrong. The music is very good, but just being in a quiet space is pretty nice.

We’ve gone through some pretty narrow passages today, and have viewed beautiful homes along the shore. I’ve also enjoyed seeing the occasional lighthouse. Once today when I was taking pictures in the front part of the ship, the ship’s horn blew a long blast. This blast was so loud, that if I had been holding my camera out over the rail of the ship, I probably would have dropped it in the ocean! Man it was loud.

Tomorrow we arrive in Seattle, where the cruise began. It’s been a wonderful trip. Don’t know if we’ll ever come this way again. But if not, it’s been one of the greatest vacations ever! God’s majestic handiwork is everywhere around us, and it’s a pleasure just to be a speck out here in all this beauty! Thanks again to mom and dad for making this whole trip possible.

Dan in Jail?

2007-06-13T19:00:00.000-06:00

Not really. But thanks to my friend Holly Bollinger for "improving" this profile picture of me!

Anybody up for some Texas Hold 'Em?

2007-06-12T19:05:00.000-06:00

Here's Justin, his friend Chase, and me playing a little Texas Hold 'Em.

Cousins Camp 2007

2007-06-12T18:59:00.000-06:00

Every year we have cousins camp here at the Stephens house. It's going on right now. Here's a picture of Justin and Faith's cousins, Hannah and Sarah. Faith and I are in the shot too. Justin was taking the picture.

The Village Church and Park Cities Baptist Church

2007-06-12T10:00:00.000-06:00

I visited two very different churches on the weekend of June 9-10. On Saturday evening I went to the Village Church in the Highland Village area of northwest Dallas. Of course, I thought of Hilary's book "It Takes a Village." Anyway, the Village Church meets corporately every weekend, and in several small groups during the week.

During the sermon, Pastor Matt Chandler talked about a recent Denton Baptist Association meeting he attended. And then he chuckled when he said something like "some of you are finding out for the first time that we're a Baptist church!" I thought, "Wow." A lot of young families are coming to this church, and don't even realize that it's Baptist. This is not a bad thing, really, because the people seem to know what the church and the gospel is all about. Matt emphasized some mission activities they were involved in during the past week. So they are definitely displaying the love of Christ in their community.

The music was wonderful: The praise team started with a country set of a couple of standard hymns that most everyone knew. The education minister made a funny comment at welcome time: Talking to their worship leader, he said, "Hey, that was country. We're going to have a talk this week." Everyone had a good laugh. After the welcome and announcements, they sang some slower worshipful songs, much like the second slow music sets we have in our early service. Following that, the sermon on Matthew 25 had the theme of using our talents: how much are we using our talents (skills, etc.) for the Lord? No invitation was given, but the pastor closed in a benediction prayer.

Lots of young families and students were here, along with several in their 40s and 50s. After the service, we all exited and were served coffee and a bag of chips. This wasn't your typical church coffee. This stuff was really good!

The next day I went to Park Cities Baptist Church. This congregation has been around since 1939, and is a well-established church. It reminded me of First Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, in its magnificent architecture. Also like FPC San Antonio, they had more morning traditional services than contemporary. Park Cities BC has two morning traditional services, and one contemporary service, while FPC San Antonio has three traditional services and one contemporary on Sunday mornings.

Anyway, Park Cities contemporary service looked and sounded very professional. It was in the "Great Hall" of the church; maybe that's their big fellowship hall. I don't know. Senior Pastor Jim Denison preached at this service, although he doesn't do so normally. Next, I went to their traditional service. They had a choir of about 40 people, along with an orchestra of about 18, including strings. This service is one of those "if it ain't in the hymnal, we ain't singing it" kind of services. Their choir anthem was lively and enjoyable; but the congregational singing was pretty slow. Those who know me understand that I like the tempos to be lively in the first music set of our traditional service. The offering was taken at the end, in response to the worship that took place, with a classical trumpet duet, accompanied by their wonderful-sounding pipe organ. Then we were dismissed in prayer.

I am so thankful that my church allows me to visit these congregations. I'm learning a lot and it's refreshing to be a participant, rather than the one who plans the service. And I'm so thankful for all the fine people who are doing the things I normally do back at my home church, FBC Wimberley!

More Thoughts on Blended or Separate Services

2007-06-08T22:49:00.001-06:00

If anyone didn't know how I felt about the issue of blended vs. separate a.m. services, I think they know now after reading the last blog entry. Nevertheless, however our church decides to go on this issue, I will put my support there. People are offering different opinions to our pastor. So I pray for him to be able to work through the issue. I'm confident that he will, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, lead our church to make the right decision regarding this issue.

I told someone today that people are concerned about keeping our two services separate because, when we move into our new auditorium, the sheer size of it will make our church look small if we keep meeting separately. So, to keep this from happening, it seems natural to join the two services, so that we have a good crowd that comes closer to filling up the auditorium. My friend offered a possible solution:

He said that we might think about roping off the back sections of the auditorium, and lighting only the front part that contains the people. This way people aren't spread all over the place. As we grow we can gradually remove the ropes, etc.

Another thing that might be good is actually joining the two services for a month, or so, just to celebrate the new facilities. Then we could go back to our normal schedule. Any other ideas? I invite them. Also, if anyone can think of a blended service of 600 to 1000 people that is working well, and is in Texas, let me know. The Directors of Mission that I talked to (check out my last entry) couldn't think of any. So if you can think of one, please let me know. I really want to keep an open mind about this.

Blended Worship or Separate Worship Services

2007-06-08T21:28:00.000-06:00

I talked to two Baptist Directors of Mission today. I told them I would be in Dallas this weekend, and asked if they would recommend a church to visit that had a successful blended service, one that was running 600 to 1000 members, or slightly more, in worship. They could not think of a single one. They knew of some smaller congregations that were trying to do a blended service, but were not having much success.

Both of these men agreed that it would be a step backward to join our two a.m. services (traditional and contemporary) into one that is blended. They said our culture demands that we have choices. Ultimately, they thought that people would not be happy with that arrangement because of their varying musical preferences.

I have talked with members of our church who have different opinions as to whether we should try to put our two very different services together. Some say that because of our two Bible Studies that happen concurrently with these two services, our church actually feels like two churches meeting in the same location. These folks complain that they don't know everyone in the church anymore.

Then there are others who, like the directors of mission I mentioned above, say that it would be a mistake to join the two services, and that it would possibly stunt the growth of our church. At the same time, they emphasized that music style is just one component among others that have to work together, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to produce numerical growth.

I have tried to remain neutral on this subject, but it's becoming more difficult. Right now we have a 10:30 service that was very traditional at one time, but is slowly becoming more blended in style. We also offer a contemporary service. As far as the number of people who actually attend these a.m. services, they are about the same in each service. This arrangement seems to be working well at the present time.

As for wanting to know everyone in the church, one director of missions told me that studies have shown that you really can't get to know more than 30 or 40 people anyway. So if we want to grow, we need to stop being concerned about knowing everyone. And is that really a prerequisite of church life, that we all know each other? What is the largest Baptist church you can think of? Now is there any possible way the members could all know each other?

To address this concern, we should probably offer more opportunities for fellowship in which everyone can participate, while still maintaining separate services. Maybe a "dinner on the grounds" every now and then would be nice, or a picnic away from the church some Sunday. It would be interesting to see what happens. I'll bet that people in general would go to the people they already know; i.e. the people who attend their worship service! Oops. I probably should tone it down a bit.

A long time ago I came to the conclusion that people just have different musical tastes. This is not a bad thing at all. We should celebrate our diversity. But to blend traditional and contemporary music into one service, all the while expecting everyone to like the two different kinds of music may not be very realistic. Some seniors, long time members of our church, already feel our traditional service is getting too contemporary for their tastes. And someof those who attend our contemporary service probably wish it were more "edgy" in the music. So I have to ask, why in the world we would want to try and meld these groups together.

I love all of these people who prefer one musical style over another. And I don't think they're being narrow minded just because they don't like certain types of music. I simply recognize that they are individuals who are more comfortable in their worship of Almighty God when they are surrounded with music that moves them, be it contemporary, traditional, or any other style you could imagine.

Finally, let me say that we need to see ourselves as one local church, regardless of the different kinds of worship services we have. Second Baptist Church in Houston is huge, offering 4 or 5 different styles of worship, meeting on multiple sites, and no one thinks of them as being more than one church. Let us just be thankful that we have different kinds of people in our church, and that we have the ability to offer a "palate" of styles when it comes to worshiping the Lord through music.

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26-28, TNIV).

I would appreciate you comments, but you will have to set up a blogger account to be able to leave them. This doesn't mean you have to become a big time blogger; it just means you have to do a few keystrokes to be able to leave comments. You can also email at danstephensmm@yahoo.com. As always, thanks for reading!

Gateway Community Church, Austin, TX

2007-06-03T21:03:00.001-06:00

That's where I was today. Gateway Community Church is a seeker church in Austin, Texas. I have a cousin that attends church here. He was raised in the baptist denomination, but enjoys going to church here because of the emphasis on authenticity he finds here. Their Sunday morning services are very intentional about reaching skeptics and seekers in the Austin area. You can tell in the music and the preaching, where the lyrics aren't very theologically deep, and the messages invite people to investigate the claims of Christ.

My cousin Robert told me about some of the changed lives who go to this church, including an atheist who came to know Christ as a result of people ministering to him from this church. The service began with a band singing 3 songs, leading the congregation in worship. It was a high energy experience with a lot of participation. Then the children's pastor shared some announcements, asking for 75 volunteers to help in children's activities this summer. Next, a guy shared a testimony about being real. This was from the heart. He asked some hard hitting questions about authenticity. Next was an offering, with the band playing "Welcome Back," from the 70s television hit "Welcome Back, Cotter." After this a soloist came to the mic and sang a song that led right into the message. The pastor, John Burke, even referenced the song at the end of the sermon.

Even though it was a seeker service, the pastor referenced several verses from the gospels. At the end of the service, there was no invitation, but the pastor closed in prayer. Oh, and I forgot to mention earlier, that announcements were displayed on the screen during the offertory - "Welcome Back." And as the children's pastor was sharing announcements even earlier in the service, specific slides would come up as he shared about the upcoming events.

The church has a great bookstore and coffee shop. This is a very inviting area, where people can visit before and after the service. Here's their weekly schedule:

Each Sunday:
•	Three identical services every Sunday at 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. We have plenty of room at the 9:30 and 12:30 services.
•	Exciting age-appropriate kids programs available for children birth through grade 4 at all three services.
•	Junior High (6th - 8th grade) meets Sunday mornings at 12:30 p.m.
•	High School meets every Wednesday night at 7:15 p.m.
•	Deaf interpretation available during 9:30 a.m. service.

Another cool thing is the blog that people are invited to check out after the messages. At this blog, called "Second Helpings," is a list of discussion questions from the sermon. People can go over the questions by themselves, or in small groups. This particular day, the pastor was beginning a new series called "God in Sandals: What we know about the Heart of God from the life of Jesus." The church's website goes on to describe the series, even giving the titles to the upcoming messages:

Jesus lived among real people with real problems, just like you and me. We can learn much about who God is by looking at how Jesus interacted, responded and lived life among us. Over the next six weeks we’ll take a look at His wisdom, forgiveness, masculinity, creativity, friendship and truth-speaking.

Date	Message
June 3:	Wisdom - John Burke
June 10:	Forgiveness - John Burke
June 17:	Masculinity - John Burke
June 24:	Creativity - John Burke
July 1:	Friendship - Betty Blake Churchill
July 8:	Truth-Speaking - Rick Shurtz

It was a great day of worship. If you are in touch with a skeptic, this is a great church for them to visit. They come in contact with people just like them. The people in this congregation represent people who are at different stages in their walk with Christ, many who are just checking out Christianity for the first time, even those who are struggling with addictions. This church welcomes all kinds of people. Love and grace are felt here. The pastor's brand new book, "No Perfect People Allowed" could be the theme of this congregation.

Where was Dan on May 20th?

2007-05-21T19:17:00.000-06:00

Well..., I was visiting a couple of churches in Houston. I started out at First United Methodist in Pearland, a southern suburb of Houston, and then went to the contemporary service at Second Baptist Church.

The Methodist Church is being creative with the styles of worship they are using. I went to what's called the Informal Service, which was at 8:30 a.m. There was a choir, handbell choir, and an organist/pianist, depending on what the piece called for. It was pretty traditional, but definitely informal. For one thing, their senior pastor wears a suit rather than a robe at this service. Also, there are not the usual scripture readings and liturgical prayers.

FUMC Pearland also has a contemporary service at 9:40 a.m. and a traditional service at 11:00 a.m. Their traditional service includes the normal liturgical moments you might expect in a methodist congregation.

On Saturday evenings, there is a worship service for women only! Can you believe it? It's "designed to inspire and encourage women by connecting them to a greater life in Christ" (from their website).

And how about this: They have a Sunday evening service that's called "Country Gospel Gathering." It begins at 6 p.m., but dancing starts at 5:30 p.m.! Read what their pastor says about this service:

The room we gather in will be set up like a bar. I’ve always considered the word “bar” to be a word that stands for “broken and real”. We will come to this gathering as a people broken by and in a real world, but also a people redeemed by God’s great love in Jesus Christ. I guess it all boils down to what we bring to God’s throne as we come to worship. In this service we will intentionally face the reality of our brokenness in light of the reality of God’s healing and love.
Dr. Jerry Pennington

Now here's a church that is trying to reach people with different needs. Apparently, they're not afraid to try anything if there's a possibility to reach people with the gospel of Christ.

After the service, I was off to see the 11:11 service at 2nd Baptist Houston. Ed Young is the senior pastor of this church, but his son Ben preaches at this 11:11 service, which is a contemporary service.

As I expected, this was a well-crafted service: The music was loud and inviting, yet I could always understand the lyrics. The on stage band had a male and female vocalist. They sang strictly contemporary music at this service, without mixing in any hymns. But a couple of their selections had to be 8 or 9 years old. I recognized all but one of the songs, having sung them in our own congregation at one time or another.

When the music part was over, the lights went out. I knew Ben was walking on stage at this time. This is a pretty cool transition. I'd like to be able to do that. But you need an auditorium that is totally enclosed without outside light.

The lights came up and there was Ben Young preaching a very relevant message, part one in a three part series on the spirit-filled life. He's let his hair grow out and has a striking resemblance to his older brother, Ed Young, Jr. Anyway, the preaching seemed extemporaneous, but I could still see the outline, hidden as it was.

What was striking was the end of the service. This is the first service I've visited during my sabbatical where an invitation was given at the end. 10 or 12 people walked forward and were met by counselors at the front of the stage. Ben affirmed them coming forward; then they were led off to some rooms in the back in order to ascertain the decisions they made in the service.

After the invitation, an offering was taken up, while the female vocalist sang, accompanied by the band. They closed with a couple of announcements, spoken by Ben, and the service was over. I like Ben's preaching. The music was riveting too. I worshiped the Holy One.

Here's the worship schedule for 2nd Baptist Church (and this is just their main campus on Woodway). The descriptions of the services are taken directly from their website:

Saturday

Saturday at Six is characterized by a casual and intimate feel, combined with challenging message from God’s Word by Dr. Young. The music for the service features a praise team and a band that is comfortable playing a variety of styles such as jazz, southern gospel, or traditional hymns. Come as you are and enjoy this refreshing time of worship.

Sunday

The 9:30 AM worship service at Woodway seeks to exalt the greatness of God through powerful music and preaching. The service features a three hundred member choir and live orchestra that lead the congregation in a worship experience which combines traditional hymns and worship choruses with powerful anthems and solos. In addition to these musical elements, the weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism prepare the worshiper to hear Dr. Young preach a dynamic word from God.

The 11:11 AM service was born in January 2001 with a vision to reach young adults through a participatory worship service with a modern rock sound. Ben Young seeks to communicate God’s Word in a creative and relevant way, and the 11:11 Band creates an atmosphere that connects with modern culture while exalting God through worship. If you enjoy electric guitars, creative video, and a casual atmosphere the 11:11 service is for you.

Sunday 6:00 PM Service

Second Family Reunion meets in the Old Sanctuary. This traditional service combines the classic preaching of Dr. Jim Deloach and Wallace Henley with inspirational and uplifting music.

Sunday 7:00 PM Service

Logos meets in the C-Gym. Logos is an opportunity to come and reflect on God’s grace and truth in an “unplugged” worship setting. The service features live acoustic music, responsive readings, corporate prayer, and a challenging message from God’s Word. This casual service is a great way to start your week by connecting with God and others.

In my church people sometimes say that we're really two churches meeting at the same location, because of our two different morning services, and two different Sunday Schools. But I disagree. I've just written about two different churches, one Methodist and one Baptist. These churches have different styles of worship to address the different kinds of people in our culture. And yet, I doubt anyone says of 2nd Baptist Houston that they are really 4 or 5 different churches meeting on the same campus.

What I'm saying is that we should celebrate our diversity and be as creative as we can when it comes to our worship services. This might just involve different kinds of worship experiences. We should remain open to this, although we have a number of people in our church who want to combine our two services into one. This is definitely something that needs to be prayed through, regardless of the fact that we are moving into a new facility in the near future.

One more thing: I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express on Saturday night, so I felt really special. If you don't get what I just said, then you don't watch a lot of commercials.

Church Visited on May 13

2007-05-13T18:25:00.000-06:00

Today I attended Solid Rock Church in San Marcos, Texas. This is a Baptist church in doctrine only. They chose a long time ago not to have "Baptist" in the name, as so many new church plants are doing today. It was a treat to go here today because my good friend D.J. Castilleja was preaching. He's the associate pastor of the church. This church has one morning service on Sunday mornings, preceded by Bible Study times for various age groups.

I first attended the praise team rehearsal that began at 9:00 a.m. Their rehearsal began with Bible study, so in effect, they go to "Sunday School" together as a team. I think this is a great idea - worship pastor and team meeting together to study the Word. Following their Bible study time, which was very conversational, meaning that several people on the team offered input into the discussion, they held rehearsal for the day's worship music.

Their worship time consisted of 6 songs, only 3 or 4 of which were familiar to me. One song they sang was written by a couple of the band members. It was upbeat, and obviously well known to the congregation. No hymns were sung this Sunday, but the songs definitely were theologically sound, with moving lyrics and melodies. I sensed that God was truly "inhabiting the praises of His people."

Several people made me feel welcome. The ages are mixed in the congregation, which is also true of the praise team. The team was well rehearsed and did a great job. Following the music, D.J. walked to the front and invited the children to come up for a children's sermon time. The theme was the 5th commandment: Obey your parents in the Lord. He then talked about motherhood, using II Timothy 1:5 -

I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

In a few minutes he confessed he really didn't know much about motherhood, and invited a panel of six women to the front. The PPT slide on the screen said "The View: Mother's Day Edition." D.J. then asked them all a series of 6 or 7 questions. Each of them answered the questions clearly, providing their own insights into what it means to be a mother. There were humorous moments, as well as emotional moments during this exchange. Doing this involved some creativity and risk taking, because D.J. had no idea how they would respond. But the risk paid off. It was a very good idea - something I'd never seen as part of a Mothers Day sermon.

Following the message, which was really given by D.J. and the ladies on the panel, there was a moving video clip about motherhood. The praise team then led us all in a song, and the service was concluded.

Like the other churches I've visited so far, this one didn't offer a public invitation. However, there were clear instructions in the worship bulletin, with suggestions for contacting staff members if interested in learning more about Christ, or in accepting Christ as Savior, or in joining the church. There were wooden boxes in the back for the offerings, with envelopes in a cubby attached to the boxes.

Besides the chairs, there were a couple of couches in the back, as well as round tables. People could sit on the couches, or at the tables for the entire service, if they felt like it. Overall, it was a very nice atmosphere for worship. I was blessed to have been there.

Churches Visited on May 6

2007-05-07T20:20:00.000-06:00

I attended the a.m. worship services of First Presbyterian Church in San Antonio on May 6. They have an 8:30 traditional service, a 9:30 traditional service, a 10:45 contemporary service and another 11:05 traditional service. Somehow, their pastor, Richard Kannwischer, manages to preach at all 4 services. They obviously lean toward the traditional side of things, but their contemporary service is beginning to outgrow all the others. This service is held in another meeting room, something that looks like the fellowship hall.

This church is very outward focused, always thinking of how to reach people. One way their doing it is in being creative with their children's Sunday school time. For about 4 years, they've been having 5 week lessons on one Bible story. 5 weeks to study, for example, the story of Jonah. One week, the kids go to a drama room and act it out; the next week they go to a computer room, and do computer activities related to the story. There are about 12 computers in the room; the following week might be an arts and crafts room; then they go to a video room, videotape themselves acting out the story, and then see themselves on the screen. There's another room, but I can't remember what they do there.

Another ministry the church focuses on is Habitat for Humanity. It reminds me of our own Carpenter's Helpers. If I were to go to their church next week, I'd see a big container for receiving diapers. The church family is buying diapers for mothers who cannot afford them. These are just a few of the things they do to reach their community.

In the contemporary service, I witnessed a moving Lord's Supper. I love how they do it at this church and others like it. They have congregants break off a piece of a loaf of bread, dip it in some grape juice, and eat the soaked bread. A couple of deacons or elders administer the elements. And when the pastor talked about how Christ's body was broken for you, he tore the bread in half - a very vivid picture of Christ's sacrifice for our sins.

In the evening, I went to Austin Stone, a contemporary church in, well, Austin - nondenominational and conservative. Mostly college age students and young families attend here. And every Sunday there's a lot of setting up and tearing down, because the service takes place in a high school gym. Once they arrange everything, they have 3 mostly identical worship services at 10:45, 5:00, and 7:00.

The worship had a concert feel. Hands were raising everywhere. It was a mixture of contemporary songs and arrangements of hymns. Everyone in the band was 20 something. The pastor, Matt Carter, who might be as much as 30 years old, was beginning a series on the 7 last sayings of Jesus from the cross. Each week of the series will focus on one of the sayings. The worship was led by Andy Melvin this week, although Chris Tomlin leads when he's in town.

Sadly, I remember only one person greeting me at Austin Stone, whereas I was greeted several times at the Presbyterian church. People say that FBC Wimberley is a friendly church. I hope everyone who visits our church goes away with that same impression.

Observations:

The Presbyterian church's traditional service was "high church" to the max. You would not hear any Gaither music here. The choir, accompanied by a very accomplished pipe organist, sang "The Heavens are Telling" from Haydn's Creation Oratorio, which is over 200 years old. Prayers were offered at various times in the service, along with the reciting of the Apostle's Creed. The prayers were read, but they were beautiful and eloquent, well thought-out responses to God's grace. After some of the prayers would be a choral response.

For all the tradition we experienced up to this point, the pastor's sermon that followed was very contemporary and relevant. The service flowed well from beginning to end. Then the pastor dismissed us with a heartfelt benediction. Hear me on this next point: As traditional as this service was, I believe as much worship of God was going on here than at the Austin Stone church I attended on Sunday evening. I don't want to offer much more commentary at this point. Suffice it to say that it was a wonderful Sunday of worship all around! God is good. His love endures forever! Amen.

I look forward to meeting with a couple of worship pastors this week, or at least talking with them by phone. I also will work on goals for music ministry in our own church. I'll be thinking deeply about all things related to music and worship this week. So I would appreciate you lifting me up in prayer.

The People You Meet Part II

2007-05-04T22:10:00.000-06:00

After I left Cypress Creek Cafe, I visited some of the local businesses. I met L-----. He managed one of the shops. We talked about some spiritual things. He started by telling me about some Egyptian Sarcophagi that he had seen recently. I told him "that's cool. But do you know what an ossuary is?" "Yes," he said. "What about the recent Discovery Channel special on the ossuary that supposedly contained the bones of Jesus and some of his family?" I asked. He told me he didn't believe in all that mess, and that he's been a Christian for years.

I was glad to hear he's a Christian. At that point, a friend of his, D------, walked in. I introduced myself to him as the minister of music at FBC Wimberley. He asked me if I sang well. "I think so," I said. He said he'd like to come hear me at church one day. You see, he's not in the best of health, and he's planning his funeral. He'd like for me to sing at it, but he's going to listen to me first. Fine. He should.

Then D------ proceeded to tell me about how his mom and dad are buried on the same plot of ground, and that L---- will be buried there too. So R------ and T---- are probably relatives, I surmized. But after talking with them further, I put two and two together. "Do you guys live together?" I asked. In fact, they do. They are two gay men living in the same house. Now some Christians I know would have ended the conversation pretty quickly after that. Not me.

D------- said he'd accepted Christ as His Savior a long time ago. He is also convinced that he was born gay. He's not too fond of what he calls "preachers who bash people about the sin of homosexuality." I don't blame him. But I also told him that I believe the full Word of God. It's plain about the sin of homosexuality. So I'm not going to try to "suger coat" what it actually says. After having said that, I told him I was not there to judge him. After all, look at the kind of people Jesus hung around!

But what if these two guys actually walked in the doors of our church. And they just might, especially if one of them wants to hear me sing. What's going to happen? Will people greet them? I wonder. I want them to change their lifestyle. I can only pray that they do. But would our church be ready for a visit from them? Lord, help us to see people as you see them. And you know what, I probably will sing at this guy's funeral.

The People You Meet Part I

2007-05-04T21:54:00.000-06:00

This morning after I took the kids to school I went to Cypress Creek Cafe for some breakfast. As I was walking out I met S---- (I'm protecting names here because I haven't asked his permission to write about him.). I've known S---- a long time, but today we talked about spiritual things. We got on the subject of suicide because a common friend of ours committed suicide a few years back. He asked me if I thought you'd go to heaven if you committed suicide.

What a question! I told him that, while the Bible doesn't teach that you'd go to hell for this, it does teach us to value human life. I continued to tell him that it's a pretty horrific thing to do, considering the loved ones left behind. He wasn't too sure about my answer and said he might have to study the Bible for himself on this subject. That's good. He'll find out that what I said was true. I said the most important question to ask is "what am I going to do with Jesus?"

I happen to know that my friend works all the time. I asked him to consider having a Bible study with me, on another day other than Sunday. I certainly couldn't meet with him on Sunday, and he works a lot on Sunday too. He said he might be interested in that, but also that he'd be interested in continuing the present discussion sometime in the near future. "Good," I said. I hope we get a chance to do so.

What about these people who work every Sunday? What about those who work on Wednesday nights? Could our church provide Bible study opportunities for these people. Or are we going to convey to them, that if they're really interested in our church, they're going to have to switch jobs so that they could join us for worship on Sundays. I got to thinking about this after Reggie McNeal of leadnet.org, discussed this topic at a recent conference. I hope we can soon reach out to those who work on Sundays.

My friend also told me about how he has studied many belief systems, including Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses. This might be why he wasn't sure about my answer concerning suicide. Anway, I hope we do get a chance to talk again soon.

Hyde Park Baptist Church

2007-05-03T13:54:00.000-06:00

I visited a choir rehearsal at Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin last night. I discovered that no matter what size the choir, the same issues seem to come up: For example, trouble working syncopated rhythms, and "Texan" vowels. This was the sanctuary choir I was observing. 88 were in attendance.

As I walked into the rehearsal room, I was greeted by the music ministry assistant, with a name tag, and a card to fill out. Their music minister, Fred McNab, knows that I'm on sabbatical and will contact me soon for a lunch visit where we can discuss several things. I was handed a rehearsal schedule, and music which was in the same order.

Fred played voice parts from the piano for the first piece they rehearsed - "God of Wonders." This piece, along with the rest of the anthems rehearsed that night, just confirm that choral music in the church is getting more and more contemporary in rhythms and harmonies.

After that first piece, Fred stepped to the podium, where he conducted as two pianists accompanied. I'm not sure if one was playing the voice parts, and the other the piano part. But I thought it was interesting. The choir sang out very well; if anything, they sang out because they knew they wouldn't be heard individually. I'm afraid some people in our church choir are afraid to sing out too much because they're concerned they would be heard above the others.

The rehearsal continued with a fast pace; he did a great job of keeping everyone singing and on track. Unlike me, he did not go over any congregational music. By the way, the orchestra practices simultaneously in the sanctuary, while the choir rehearses in the music room. There was plenty of good humor in the room throughout the rehearsal. At the end Fred presented the college students of his choir a care package for their final exams - pencils, pens, paper, candies, etc. What a great way to recognize them and their efforts.

The choir Vice-President read prayer requests at the end of the rehearsal. Choir members picked up prayer request cards on the way into rehearsal. Individual requests were not taken at the end of rehearsal. The VP closed the rehearsal in a heartfelt prayer for the people mentioned on the cards, continuing with praise to God for inspiring the writers of the great music and lyrics they all just rehearsed.

The rehearsal lasted an hour and a half, with the end result that six different anthems were rehearsed. Also, he played a rehearsal CD on about 4 of the pieces, letting the choir sing along with it. In turn, they rehearsed without the CDs. The time went by quickly, and I look forward to meeting with Fred in the near future.

By the way, they have a very interesting Sunday schedule:

8:30 a.m. Traditional Service, in the Worship Center
8:30 a.m. Contemporary Service, in the Chapel
11:00 a.m. Blended Service, in the Worship Center

*I assume they have one Sunday School time in the middle, but I'll find out later from Fred.

They have a music staff of 10 people. Their music ensembles are:

Exaltation Choir (11:00 Blended)
Praise and Worship Team (8:30 Contemporary)
Orchestra (11:00 Blended)
Handbells Ensemble
Chapel Choir (8:30 Traditional)*
Reflections Choir (Periodic in Blended and Traditional Services)**
6 Different Children's Choirs (Periodically on Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings, as well as seasonal musicals.)***

*Interestingly, this choir is made up of high school students.
**This is their junior high choir.
***These choirs are based on age in school.

Maybe I can visit their two diferent styled worship services soon.

Sabbatical

2007-05-02T12:02:00.000-06:00

As many of you know, I'm officially on sabbatical as of Tuesday of this week. Last week was a scramble to get ready for this extended period of study and reflection. This morning for 2 hours I went through piles of stuff from my office. Doing this kind of thing helps clear the mind. Also, I called Lake Hills Church in Austin to arrange a time to meet with their worship pastor. Like all of the worship pastors I meet with, I invited him to lunch in order to pick his brain about various things related to music ministry and the church in general. I'm waiting to hear back from him. I'll spend the rest of the day constructing a list of questions to ask the people I meet with. Most questions are my own; others are from our pastor, Mark Bryant.

I'm also reading books about how to do church in the new millennium. This includes not only music, but all aspects of church life. Mark and I have been talking a lot about this recently. So it will be very interesting to see how our church will to meet the challenges before us. Of course, this kind of stuff is on our minds right now for many reasons, not the least of which is that our church will be breaking ground very soon on a new campus! Yeah!

Back from Branson

2007-04-20T08:35:00.000-06:00

I'm back from Branson, MO. Went there with some senior adults from our church. Everyone had a great time. And during the long 26 hours on the bus to and from, a lot of nice conversation took place. Sorry, I don't have any pictures because I forgot my camera, but I have to tell you that the Pierce Arrow Theater show was about the best I've ever seen in Branson. I highly recommend it.

Biking in Austin

2007-04-14T18:58:00.000-06:00

Had a lot of fun today. Our family went to Austin and biked about 8 miles around Town Lake. It was pretty cold and windy, but I look forward to the warmer weather, when we can take more of these bike rides. There was an area off the trail where we noticed people flying kites. I told my son, "What a shame. Those people could be home checking their email, surfing the internet, keeping their eyeballs glued to their computer screens. Just look at them! Instead, they're out here flying kites in the sunshine. What is this world coming to?!"