I'm in between meetings right now (surfing free WiFi @ SBux) and just got around to hunting down the article that I wrote on church planting for the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware per their request back in August. For reasons that I explain in the article, I dodged writing it for about a year. When the opportunity came back around, I wrote it. I would appreciate your thoughts/comments on the article. You can post them here or directly on the site.

You can find the article HERE.

I got a bike a few weeks ago (Trek 7.2FX hybrid). Kim had been begging me to get a bike for the last 6 years so that we can ride together, and I finally made the plunge. Last weekend we rode from our house to the Bean Hollow together--a 12 mile round trip. I have also biked to the Hollow myself a few times and to my new favorite Catonsville dive: El Nayar (cheap, GOOD Mexican!!).

Biking has provided me with a good way of getting a solid cardio workout while I commute. Of course, chowing down on an "everything" bagel with cream cheese at the coffee shop in between commutes probably negates that.

I suppose that I am also saving some money by not using gas. But, given the cost for the bike and the meager amount of gas I am saving on such short commutes, I doubt I will see any difference in my wallet for a few more months.

The greatest benefit has been s-l-o-w-i-n-g down. It naturally takes longer to get from point A to point B than it does in a car. It is also much more quiet and contemplative since the temptation of radio, iPod and CD player are not easily accessible.

Finding small ways to slow down and to pull away from the temptation (medication?) of noise is a great way of incorporating a listening posture to your daily routine. So many voices, so many noises, all competing for your time. And, yet, God is talking all the time... if you just listen.

How do you intentionally slow down? How do you intentionally shut out the noise? How do you listen?

This summer Metanoia is walking through Colossians. Two weeks ago I preached through Col. 1.24-2.7 and talked about the call to be a pastor/elder. In the sermon I affirmed that there are many callings and many ministries, and that the call to be a pastor/elder is to equip others to fulfill their callings and ministries.

I also talked about how hard pastoring is. In the text, Paul refers to his work as toil. In Greek the word is agonizomai--the root word we get "agony" from in English. Not many people realize how agonizing pastoring is. Expectations and pressures abound from within the pastor's own heart for the church community that he serves. In the US, many expect the pastor to be an amazing public speaker, a jack-of-all-trades and capable of making everyone happy. Pressure within and pressure from the community that ought to be lovingly supporting the man God has called to serve them is compounded by pressure from our common enemies: Satan, flesh and the world. No wonder 4 out of 5 seminary graduates are no longer serving in full time ministry within 5 years of graduating!

Yet, amidst the agonizomai, there is the sweet promise that God works powerfully in the pastor's ministry. There is the joy of shepherding and guiding Jesus' people through His strength. There is the excitement of leading the only counter-cultural movement the world has ever seen--and the thrill of danger around every corner. There are friendships--statistically few, unfortunately--where the pastor is known and loved as a person and not an "office." There is the hope of one day hearing, "Well done my good and faithful servant."

If you are a pastor and need a word of encouragement, I hope this has been a breath of fresh air for you from someone else in a foxhole just down the trail. If you are not a pastor and want to know how to practically support your pastor, here's the mp3 of my sermon. Download it and pray for the man God has called to equip you for your calling and ministry.

Today my beautiful wife and I celebrate our fifth anniversary! Yesterday we had a little date while Bubbie and Papa watched Abby. It was fun to reminisce on what we were doing "this day 5 years ago" (the day before our wedding). We talked about the stressful things getting ready for the rehearsal and wedding, as well as the funny stories of our bachelorette and bachelor parties. Then, in the quiet afternoon, I spent some time alone thanking Jesus for the amazing gift of marriage and asked his blessing on many more years with Kim.

I love you, babe!

I'm sitting next to my wife in a coffee shop. We both have our laptops out and are working. I love being in coffee shops with Kim--we met in one six years ago! This Friday we celebrate our fifth anniversary. My, my, my... time flies!

Disappointment.

I began my Doctor of Ministry (DMin) studies a few months ago, and in late May traveled to the seminary (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) in Hamilton, MA for a two week residency. Kim and Abigail came up to meet me in Boston over the weekend. Our game plan was to "do" Boston as a family.

Saturday began with a long walk along the Freedom Trail. Walking the Freedom Trail made every history book about the Revolution that I have read come to life! We then spent time walking through the farmers market and ate a wonderful dinner in Little Italy.

Then, around 11:30pm, Kim and I were awakened by Abigail struggling to breathe.

An over-night, sleepless trip to the ER gave the result: croup. Many of you who have children may remember the first time your son or daughter struggled with croup, so you can imagine how scary it was for us to deal with this over 450 miles away from our home in Baltimore! Kim and I were together, but we had no social network to support us. So everyone back home did what they could do--they prayed. We got lots of loving text messages from folks throughout the night.

Needless to say, our Boston trip was for the most part scrapped. But, thank God, Abigail's health returned and she is healthy today.

Disappointment. How do you respond to it? We are all experience disappointment in varying degrees. Recently, my spiritual director challenged me to see disappointment as God's invitation to deeper, more meaningful communion with Him. For, it is in disappointment that we see the truth of our independence our lack of humility juxtaposed against the goodness and mercy of our Father.

Disappointment--from two root words "miss" and "appointment" show us how we miss the mark living our lives as worship to God. Whether the "miss" "appointment" comes from the result of our hands, the hands of others or forces beyond the control of our hands, they are doors to step deeper into communion with Christ.

May you, today, experience the peace of Christ as you let his grace work wonders in your soul. Invite him into your "miss" "appointment."

I'm sorry for the profound silence on my blog over the past month. I took a bit of a hiatus as I prepared for my first residency of DMin studies at G-CTS. Loads of reading, two papers and two weeks of on-site residency in Boston have kept me out of the loop of pretty much everything. Once I get settled this week, I'll return again to some regular posting.

Cheers!

A couple of weeks ago I shared with you that Kim received the honor of "Teacher of the Year" for her high school. Earlier this morning the Superintendent of the Howard County Public School System showed up in her classroom with an entourage of administrators and photographers to let her know in person that she is being honored as the "Teacher of the Year" for the entire county!

Congratulations, Kim!

If you know my wife, you know that this is not something she sought after. She isn't the kind of person who is driven by awards and recognition, and has never made it her ambition to receive such recognition during a school year.

I am so proud of you, Kim! I am so grateful that Father has allowed you and OMHS to be honored in this way. I love you!