Shhhh…. we had church tonight

Really…. shhhh… don’t tell anyone. I don’t think Bobby and Tari read my blog, but we had church tonight with them and they don’t know it…. you probably shouldn’t tell them. They are new friends of ours and neighbors from across the street. They came over for dinner (I grilled us some steaks and Sarah made veggies) tonight and stayed till 10:00 playing guitar and talking. Good people. They’re Catholic and are part of Nativity (the parish in our neighborhood), but I don’t want to go stealing sheep or anything silly like that. Its just that…. well…. we had church. It just kinda happened. It wasn’t real intentional or anything. We just were followers of Jesus, members of his body, hanging out together, sharing a meal, singing some songs, sharing prayers, ideas, thoughts…. well…. you can see where this thing went! It wasn’t my fault. I didn’t plan on it being church. It just was.

Was this the beginnings of a church (of the simple/organic/house variety) in our neighborhood? I’m not sure. We’ll see. We’re hoping to go to a concert together at the 20th Century Theatre this Friday with them and we see them a lot. Cloey adores them both. So we’ll see. Definitely they are and will become even more so good friends and friends in Christ at that. Certainly part of the Church Universal the mystical body of Christ in this region. I’d truly be honored if they were led to be part of a local gathering of believers called a house church in our neighborhood. I didn’t feel like it was the time to ask them or even suggest it…. it just needs to sit. Let’s see what God has in store. No forcing, pushing, or administring. Just resting, waiting, listening……

Really, my point is not so much what will be as much as what is and what happened. I think my ecclesiology was tweaked a bit more tonight. Church – being the body of Christ – isn’t about making a meeting, even a house-based one. It isn’t about covering the litany of prescribed functions (sing, pray, bible, teach, eat, pray), its about being a people. Being people together…. drawn together for the sake of and because of Christ. Its about being family. Its slow forming and slow going. Its listening lots and being real, vulnerable, and silly with one another. Its about not caring if you’re called Pastor or even recognized as being one. Its about being a neighbor.

Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

Daily Nightly: Nightly News with Brian Williams – MSNBC.com

Daily Nightly – blog by Brian Williams of NBC Nightly News. The walls of professional isolationism are cracking. Or its the beginning of the Corporate take-over of the blogosphere.

Cisco CCNA 1 Class

This fall I’m teaching a computer networking class at CCS. The curriculum is provided through Cisco Networking Academy. We have gotten off to a great start with Nine 11th and 12th graders. One of the requirements for the class is that each student blog (or journal, but they all choose to blog). They can blog about whatever, as long as they post something about the class once a week.

I’m going to keep a seperate page for the class with info for students and their blog address – here. Here are the blogs I have so far:

Tori – http://www.intwoplaces.blogspot.com/
Ben – http://typingaimlessly.blogspot.com/
Aaron – http://aparker06.blogspot.com
Kyle – http://kylehsoccer.blogspot.com/
Tyler – http://ttott11.blogspot.com/
Matt J. – http://supermdjackson8806.blogspot.com/
Billy – http://spiesbloghq.blogspot.com/
Chad – http://chadsbighouse.blogspot.com
Matt S. – http://hawkinsman07.blogspot.com/

The Kingdom of God is among us….. (

Read: Put Me in Coach: Loaves and Fishes -

“Back near the beginning of the summer, my church gave 50 families each $50 as “seed” money for a “Kingdom Assignment”. The objective to prayerfully consider doing something for the Kingdom; there were no stated restrictions or guidelines. Our family prayed and discussed how we were going to use the money. In the end, we felt like we to use the money to help a child, and we were to involve the families living in our small neighborhood.”

test

CCNA1.html

post – Household Budget Worksheet, or I hate money part 3,296

I’m working on our Household Budget Worksheet, we’re NOT in overwhelming credit card debt (we have a little from my month of unemployment), we have a small student loan, no car loan, one consumer loan (water filter), and then the lovely mortgage…. that’s it. Not very typical American from what I understand, “The personal credit card debt carried by the average American is $8,562″ from here. We are well below that. Our credit score is excellent.

I work, essentially, 3 jobs. Sarah works and is about to start a different job that would be less hours (and stress). That is why I’m so pissed. I’m not going to say we’re “just scraping by”, but we’re really tight. So tight as to cause significant stress in our lives at the moment. Truthfully, we are rich Americans who live in opulence compared to the most of the world. I truly want to limit both our personal expenses as well as our “footprint” that we are leaving on the planet. But I’m having a really hard time at the moment.

I’m really frustrated. With Sarah switching jobs (less hours, closer to home, less stress) it means a pay cut AND finding childcare for Cloey during the day. This could cost us $600 per month!!! That’s about 1/2 of what Sarah will be making! And we need that other half in order to pay all the bills (debt and otherwise) and save a little (not much). This is SO irritating. I am really trying hard not to complain or be some spoiled white-middle class American. I don’t want that. I just want live a life that is free from financial stress…. especially ongoing financial stress. I don’t want to make lots of money. Sarah would prefer not to work or to maybe work part-time I think. But we just can’t afford it. I am so tired of living so tight. Why are we in such a low paying profession (education)! We both truly love it. I love my new job and would love to just do that for income…. not 2 others! I think Sarah will really like her new job – assisting a 5th grade autistic student. I see benefits to Cloey having time with other kids during the day. I guess what I’m saying… and this counts as a prayer – I want a break.

oh, please no comments about building character… patience… provision…. yada yada… I know God has and will provide. My faith-level may be low at the moment, but I know its true. I just would like to get out of this ongoing financial balancing act… not because of being overwhelmed by debt (the bit that we’re in would be good to get out of, of course), but just not making much money.

And so it begins

Cincinnati Christian Schools starts today. My new job is in full swing now. Students can be heard roaming the halls…. and I have a butt load of work to do.

+++ Lord, have mercy +++ Christ, have mercy +++ Lord, have mercy +++

TallSkinnyKiwi: George Barna's Revolution: A Review

Andrew Jones reviews George Barna’s Revolution. Good good stuff. Sounds like Barna’s feeling it.

The Phaith of St.Phransus :: Taize Religious Community Founder Slain Founder of a Christian ecumenical community stabbed to death at an evening prayer

“Brother Roger, the 90-year-old founder of an ecumenical religious community dedicated to peace and reconciliation, was knifed to death by a woman at an evening prayer service attended by 2,500 people, authorities said.

The slaying was deplored Wednesday by the pope and the head of the Anglican Church, who called the slain monk “one of the best-loved Christian leaders of our time.”

An all-night prayer vigil was held following the fatal attack Tuesday night in the church at Taize, in Burgundy.”

Lord, have mercy.

Demos Greenhouse: Ten lessons on leadership…

Demos Greenhouse: Ten lessons on leadership… – click and read. There’s a PDF of the paper too. Rather “academic”, but applicable to the church – even simple, missional communities I think.

Enjoy.