When Media Attacks

Interesting writeup at Church Marketing Sucks about ways churches can deal with potentially troubling reports cropping up in mainstream media.

It specifically addressed the recent issues faced by Ed Young and Fellowship Church. A local news station did an exclusive report which detailed what it considered excess on the part of Pastor Young and Fellowship.

Now, in the interest of fair disclosure, I like Ed Young, and not just because of the wonderful marital challenges he puts out from time to time *deep smile*. No, I truly, honestly believe he is a committed kingdom worker.

From a personal standpoint, I like the way he and church leadership decided to deal with the issue.

Now, I think it is important to understand that the media is not to blame here. Well, not necessarily. Yep, we know sometimes the headline is juicier than the truth, but there is nothing wrong with a little public oversight. I think when we, as churches, truly work to line up our ethics with God's expectations, we'll be above reproach. Mistakes do happen, and it is never fun to see you or your church beaten up in the news, but I think the proper response (seeking God's face, coming to ensure financial fidelity, reporting to your congregation, etc.) can go a long, long way.

One more thing... I always smile when I see folks to potshots at church works and their wealth. I won't discount true issues of shameless excess, but, as I posted in the comments, lavishness is relative.

Just sayin'.

BTW, Check out Church Marketing Sucks... awesome informational blog that I love to visit.

When Media Attacks

Heroes: David Benke

Since I work with middle school and high school students, any and all stories of school violence hit close to my heart.

So, when reports surfaced today about a man going on a shooting rampage in a middle school just three miles away from the tragic Columbine school shooting, my heart skipped a beat.

Pray for our young people. Pray for our "older" people.

Thank God for David Benke.

Heroes: David Benke

Weekend

What a weekend.

Since somebody decided to leave me with two of the kids this weekend, I had a taste of despair.

I tried the "popular dad" routine to kick things off. You know... saying yes to everything. That lasted roughly 15 minutes, right after my son loudly proclaimed the joy of freeing his nether regions from an invading peice of clothing to the patrons of a packed Chik-fil-A. Talk about embarrassed.

Then it was off to dinner with friends, and I didn't make it back home till past midnight. I figured they'd be tired. But no.

"Daddy, can we watch cartoons?"

"No," I yelled. What was wrong with these jokers? It was already "tomorrow."

"Pleeeease?"

Okay. Fine. Whatever.

Suffice to say, since I had a game to coach at Boiling Springs the next day (70 miles away), followed by a second one 60 miles from the first, we were in for a burner.

I am proud to say we got to Boiling Springs early. So early, in fact, that I found out that I had driven there in error. The Boiling Springs game was not till the next day.

I had driven an hour and change for nothing. Plus, I had two "are-we-there-yet" kids that I now had to drive back to get to a game that was fairly close to home in Charlotte. Goodness.

"This would never have happened with Mommy," opined by daughter sagely.

"I bet Mommy would never leave you on the side of the road either, would she?" I shot back in a mature manner.

Anyway... I coached my 96s (U-13s) and we tied the game with 10 players. The U-11 game did not and as well, and we lost badly.

I had two games Sunday, so we left for Boiling Springs. Again. Now that game, we lost. Again we played with 10 players. As always, my Torsion girls are my heroes. They never, ever quit.

My U-11s made it all worth it it in our second game.

We played a team I truly liked. Nice coach, nice young ladies, nice club. They had beaten us last year, and in this game, we were missing some key players due to conflicts.

Keep in mind we had not won a game as a team. We went up 3-0, and prevailed in what turned out to be a nail-biter 3-2.

Really, really proud of you, Samba Elite!

The wife and baby returned on Sunday, and all is right in my world...

Weekend

Don't Call me Pastor!

Okay, this is a tickler from my dear friend Pastor Hey Man Dude Derek.

I am seriously thinking of referring to my father-in-law as "Dude Sam." Pray for me.

Don't Call me Pastor!

Retrusting God

A few weeks ago, I was coasting on a high. Things were really looking up; everything was pretty much lining up. More and more doors seemed to be opening simultaneously.

Then, the floor dropped out.

My nephew Nate, one of the sweetest kids you could ever hope to know, was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his brain. All this while going to hospital for something else

I have four nephews, all of whom I love dearly, and Nate is the youngest. Same age, in fact, as my son. The two of them are road dawgs; whenever they are together, you can count on joint operations of a destructive kind. We (the parents) always wondered how two 3-yr-olds could wreak so much havoc.

When the tumor was found, I went numb, and wrapped myself in the supposedly proper male facade of silent strength. My wife was devastated, and holding her while she cried allowed me to hide the condensation that immediately formed in my own eyes.

I prayed. We prayed. But somehow, the lump in my throat would not leave. At night, I cried. And the cycle repeated every day. Public prayer, and private tears, followed by more prayer and a few more tears

And then I became angry. I had reason to be, right? Forget the stuff I taught my youth for a quick second; I could divest myself of faith for a little bit... right? Right?!

Why did my nephew have to go through this? What did his parents do? Why did my boy have to have this dangerous mass pressing into his brain? WHY? Tell me... why. I have EVERY right to be angry and mad and infuriated. And helpless. And a little bit lower than optimal on the faith-o-meter.

No.

I'm gonna see this one through. I am gonna see my nephew win this. I am gonna be able to hold him again. I am gonna see him go through chemo, and probably get tired, maybe nauseous... but I am gonna see him beat this. Because I know, I believe that there is power in prayer, and that the God we serve is a God that still makes miracles happen. And every tear shed (like the ones dripping now) are just precursors to the tears of joy we'll be shedding on the other side of trial.

I am going to retrust God. I admit it may have to do with the fact that I have nothing else, but now that I am on this path, I'm in all the way.

Pray for my nephew, please. You'll be doing yourself a favor; you will want to know that you were part of this miracle, so get to it.

Love ya, nephew!

Retrusting God

WIB (repost)

So, we talked about what you need to do as a minority person trying to fit in a new age, predominantly white church. As promised, I will examine the other side.

Now, now... don't trick yourself into thinking that this scenario is impossible. What happens if you get called to speak at a black church? Or, even worse, you are asked to keynote a (gasp!) Black History Month symposium? (BHM is in February, BTW).

So, because I am the nice guy I claim to be, I have created a cheat sheet for those who need an empirical reference when faced with such scary situations.

1) The Entry/Welcome: Jeans? Please tell me you are kidding. If you don't have a suit, don't attend. Dress for church as you would a funeral. Think of the Boy Scouts motto.

2) Welcome pt II: When elderly Sister Johnson tells you to come give her sugar immediately "or else" you better go give her sugar. She will swat you. Hard

3) You see those paper fans that have MLK Jr's likeness on them? Leave them alone. They are for parents with kids. And Sister Johnson. See above.

4) Careful with the Amens. Don't be too loud. Don't be too soft. Definitely don't scream. A double Amen means no other Amens should follow. And please don't pump your fist in the air. That could be misconstrued if you were not at the Olympics in the 1960s. If in doubt, study a Kirk Franklin outro for examples of correct refrains (like "preach, preacher!").

5) Praise and worship: If the choir and congregation break into an old Negro Spiritual, I highly advise you not to join in. In fact, that would be a great time to use the bathroom. If restrained, just nod with understanding and shut up.

6) Yes, that is portrait of a Black Jesus. And? Let it go. Don't stare. Let sleeping dogs lie.

7) Remember what I said about no fist bumps? Same applies here. No daps, hood hugs or anything that you saw on BET or the WB.

8) Eat a HEAVY breakfast. There won't be donuts. Service will be LONG. You will be hungry.

9) Offering: The offering plate does not come to you; you get up and go to it. Nuff said. The seeker-friendly movement will arrive eventually.

10) You saw right... that was a modesty blanket, and yes, they are used on men as well.

Sent via my BlackBerry.

WIB (repost)

Church Super Bowl Ad

Interesting blurb... we might see a megachurch run a Super Bowl ad. Funnily enough, it's one of the finalists in a spoof contest.

Culturally, this is big; as the article notes, it would be a huge platform. Christ in prime time? This is even bigger than that concept.

Church Super Bowl Ad