Saturday mornings at Mimi's

I have a pastor friend who hates elder board meetings.  He's loving ministry, but those meetings are a killer!  I understand my friends dislike of such meetings but I actually look forward to them.  In fact, when I accepted the call to come to AR I asked that the elders agree to weekly meetings, complete with a signed covenant.  As a result our personal lives have bonded and our committment to God's work at AR has deepened. 

We often meet on Saturday mornings at Mimi's. The informal setting over breakfast and coffee encourages us to talk about our lives and leads into church business at hand.  Meeting weekly means that we can process life together and deal with church stuff as it comes up. This Saturday we discussed Acts 6:4 and our calling as elders to 'devote ourselves to prayer'.  We discussed prayer. Then we prayed for our church family - from personal needs to corporate needs - from worship to petitions for awakening, trust, patience & transformation.  We prayed that our church and our lives would be a 'bent pipe' not a 'stove pipe' reflecting God's glory.  Oh yeah, and we almost forgot that we had a matter of church business to discuss. Me thinks we had the balance right!  As we left I commented at how quickly 2 hours can go.  One of the guys responded, 'Two hours? More like three!'  I can't imagine a better way to spend a Saturday morning. 

Summer solstice

We met at the local coffee shop to discuss their participation in our church, in their church.  A job change loomed.  A degree needed to be earned.  ‘We’re stepping back from our responsibilities but we are planning on being at church every Sunday we can,’ he said.  And then as an afterthought - ‘No, we’re not leaving the church’ - with a smile.  ‘We’ve seen people leave that way and we want you to know that we are not. We like our church.’ How simple, how mature, how refreshing, went through my head and touched my heart. 

Just like the coming of the summer solstice (today!), seasons wax and wane.  The circumstances of our lives bring about new challenges and may change how we relate to our church. But our church is meant to outlive the seasons of our lives. ARC provides a deeper strength for the journey. It halves our grief in sorrow and doubles our joy in the good times. Together we are better.  We prayed together right there in that coffee shop. We prayed for their lives and dreams, and for our church.  Such sweet fellowship.   

To Parvomay and back

My friend Zhaco called me from Parvomay, Bulgaria.  I’ve known him since he helped move us into our house in Falcon, CO two summers ago.  He was just another guy moving boxes until he pulled me aside and in excellent english started talking about God. I discovered a wonderful brother from another culture.  I saw him the next summer but he won't be back this year. He calls me occasionally to talk and pray. He told me about how he started a youth group in his church. He told me of his mentor Dancho's daughter, Vanya, and her lymphoma and surgery in Germany. He asked for prayer and hesitantly for help defraying the costs. He said, ‘She prays all night for people in our church by name. The whole church is fasting and praying for her.’ I asked where he was working.  He said, ‘There are no jobs. When there are jobs you have to know people and I have only God.’  He joined me as we laughed out loud at the irony in - 'I have only God'. ‘I have a job interview June 20^th for an embassy job. Pray for me,’ he said.  He described his youth group. ‘Young people are praying, fasting, asking, and sacrificing because they love God. They want to know Him.’ Zhako enriches my life and raises my desire to know God. I pray with him; for Vanya, for his church, for my church, for his job and his youth group. I pray for God to do amazing things.  I am the long arm of Aspen Ridge Church and so are you!     

Little house on the prairie

One Tuesday night near Peyton. The 10 mile ride through the prairie was a promising start. The welcome greeting shouted from the porch as I arrived, brought a smile.  Slowly the small  room filled with laughter, warmth, and 12 souls.  The oldest was 65 and the youngest 16.   The topic was prayer, the Lord's - from Matthew 6:9-13. The fellowship was palpable.  Discussion was lively.  Lightness mixed with insight. Interaction with quietness. Prayer following the study was genuine, unhurried and meaningful. Some who spoke little prayed with wisdom and familiarity beyond their years. Outside, climbing aboard my bike, I am so thankful that I have come. God's presence is inescapable and refreshing.  It reminds me of last Sunday’s worship service.  So we gathered in a little house on the prairie on a Tuesday night and discovered God in the midst of a busy week, for a daily adventure called life. 

An endless display of energy

Round and round she went in an endless display of energy.  Her voice insisted that she be watched.  'Look at me Pastor Dean,' she shouted. So I did. I even picked up a skateboard and joined her.  Around we went. She threw back her head with abandon and laughed the laugh that only a 5 year old can laugh. I had interrupted her supper, a mighty fine supper, but she didn’t care. Half eaten steak, potatoes and green beans were carelessly strewn about her plate, forgotten in the house, forgotten in the moment. Right now life was meant to be celebrated on a skateboard.  

Beagle slipped into the house unnoticed and was soon discovered standing on the kitchen table wolfing down a neglected half eaten steak.  We all pretended to be angry with him, but nothing could spoil the moment.  Smoors were waiting to be melted over the coals of a small fire still burning brightly. Evening was young.  There was life to be squeezed out of each precious moment as bedtime loomed just around the corner. I think God is like that. Jesus is coming back. Maybe at bedtime! There is not a moment to spare! 

Don't want to miss the glory!

 I have no illusions (or delusions) about being cool.  I’ve read some cool guy pastor blogs. I’m not that. :) But I am compelled by two ideas. 

#1. We live in a God drenched world and that everything that happens comes from the hand of God for our good.  Watch with me for God’s hand - in the smile of a child, the thunder of a storm, the glory of a sunrise - and also in the sorrow of a broken heart and the angst of an insecure future.  When we watch for God's hand we live in the awareness of His care. Don't miss the glory. Magnify God in the ordinary with me.

#2. I am called by God to shepherd Aspen Ridge Church. Sometimes I feel like a broken record saying over and over - ‘You should be in church on Sunday.’ - or ‘We missed you at small group this week.’   I am torn between the prophetic and pastoral. But I want to do more encouraging and less admonishing.  So I am purposing to blog regularly, to use this medium to encourage connection in the living body of Christ called Aspen Ridge Church. You are the long arm of Aspen Ridge!  And we are better together.

Down but not out

Monday November 14^th was a down day.  Not sure why. Sometimes after a busy weekend I am emotionally flat.  Tuesday dawned bright and cool.  I rode my motorcycle down to the RnR.  After coffee and prayer with my pastor friend Mike I was feeling better.  Then as I motored down to Mardel’s, I caught a beautiful view of the mountains.  I figured ‘1,000gifts’ would get me in the mood for Thanksgiving! And can you believe it?  ‘1,000gifts’ was on sale! So I got two and two of Francis Chan’s ‘Erasing Hell’ the counter to Rob Bell’s ‘Love Wins’.  That and a $1 Bill Bennett book and things were getting better by the minute. I had Christmas gifts! I picked up some free Irish Cream coffee before exiting Mardel’s to sit on a bench and sip and preview my cool books.  A man driving a very old van stopped completely at the ‘in the middle of nowhere’ stop sign – I smiled.  Then a very pregnant woman with a very happy 3 year old came by. The little one was skipping with joy and unsuccessfully keeping her giggles inside out of the sheer happiness of being alive and out with mommy.  As I drove away, being careful to stop at that ‘in the middled of nowhere' stop sign, a mother and her toddler were meandering across the road in front of me.  The little man spotted me, broke into a big smile and raised a mighty arm to point me out.  My smile matched his.  Things were looking up as I looked forward to getting home and digging in to Ann Voscamp's ‘One Thousand Gifts’.  I walked into the house – the dog had pooped on the rug but it barely effected me.  I put three pieces of Sunday’s left over pizza in the microwave – even though I knew it would probably kill me & settled in.  I knew it was going to be a good Thanksgiving.