I’m slowly learning that talent is overrated.  God has given me a few talents and I take way too much pride or put way too much stock in them.  I think what I’m learning is something I read somewhere – success is showing up tomorrow (over and over).  Sticking with something or someone through thick and thin.  The world is full of talented super stars with failed personal lives – and therefore probably hurting someone’s life in the wake (kids, employees, friends, etc).  The boring dad who is kind and shows up EVERYDAY is far superior to the super cool dad who makes a lot of money and doesn’t.  FAR SUPERIOR.  The insurance guy who doesn’t always remember the numbers but shows up everyday will go further.  The teacher who isn’t the funniest, or smartest, or most creative BUT loves the kids, is lovingly firm with them, and stays in one school or town for a lot of tomorrows will leave a legacy.

An email I sent to a friend today in response to “is your family well?”

I’m in Augusta right now in a La Quinta hotel (pronounced “lah-kwinna” if you’re from GA).  We’re here for David Ruis conf.  Good stuff.  Talked with him today at lunch about all the “tensions” we live with:
New folks
Churched, unchurched, dechurched, prechurched, over churched..ughh

Teaching how to worship
How to “outflow”
How to be a human:  ie pay bills, love your spouse, kids, etc and not be a jerk

All that and be “newcomer friendly”

Lovely

I’m living my rock-star job.  But it’s still work.  Imagine that.  There is no other occupation that fits my vocation like this and yet my health insurance sucks.  Hahaha.

But my kid is cool and is learning how to love people with more than words.  “handing out water” is in my job description according to my daughter – “like presents to tell people Jesus loves them.”  Ahhh, those are the golden moments.

Questions:  What’s your “rock star” job?  Do you mind hard work?  How are you translating your values to your kids or the next generation in some other form?  Are you loving people w/ more than words?

the following is my weekly email from 11.3.08 (if you’d like to be on the Vineyard Church of Savannah weekly email list just email me at kent@vineyardsavannah.or

Hey Vineyard folks,

I’m writing my weekly email a little early this week, well…because there’s a lot happening tomorrow with the Big Election and all.  Of course some of you have already voted like I should have but, oh well, most of us haven’t.  If you noticed, I didn’t say one word about the election yesterday at church.
a.  I’ve already said my piece.
b.  You’re mind is probably already made up.

Let me just say this:  Jesus following people are split on the two leading candidates for different reasons.  Each side has folks that don’t understand how the others can possibly vote the way they are and vice versa.  Unfortunately Jesus is not on the ballot – not that He would be anyway.  If Jesus were with us in bodily form today He would not take sides – He’d simply take over.  But until that day…we sludge through the muck of human existence – politics, economics, bills, dirty diapers, relationships and all.

So while you’re in line waiting to vote (I assume you’ll vote):  be courteous, don’t sneer at anyone who’s wearing a _____ pin or sticker, fight the urge to scratch out bumper stickers, bring mints or MnM’s to share with those in line, take a deep breath and know that if your choice wins or loses the sky will not fall, God will still be in charge, and we will still have LOTS of work to do.

I love each one of you and I don’t want our life of following Jesus to be adopted by any candidate or political party – vote your heart, do your part, and roll up your sleeves to continue the work of loving God and loving others.

I am voting…I have chosen a candidate…no, I’m not telling anyone but my wife who that is…and no, I’m not completely happy with everything they stand for but not voting is choosing not to participate.

put that in your hanging chad and smoke it…

Kent

noisech2itallstartedwithyou

The link above is chapter 2 of Noise.  Probably the hardest one to write for me.  Enjoy and thanks for reading.

The link below is a Word Doc for a booklet I’ve written. Each chapter will be approximately 8-12 pages and each has a specific topic. Enjoy and thanks for reading. This is the prologue and chapter 1.

Noise the CD

noise-the-book

I’ve been thinking a lot about satisfaction, contentment and options.  We tend to find things we don’t like about our situation (ie job, house/apt, spouse, money, etc) if we have other options – or think we do.  On one hand, we can make a commitment via vows or contracts that self-limit our options.  Once we do that there are no other options (unless we want to break a vow or contract – which would make us a liar or contract breaker or adulterer, pick your title).  With divorce not being an option in my case (vow, self-limiting choice) the best thing I can do is find all the good things about Janna b/c finding all the bad would just make me miserable and ironically a poorer husband.  Why dwell on the negative if I have no other options?  Again…by choice…my marriage is great thank you very much.  On the other hand, if we are limited by outside circumstances and have no options (we cannot afford a better house, we can’t get a higher paying job due to lack of education, etc) the same should apply.  We should look for the good in our situation b/c well…we have no other options.  If you have to share a house with your parents or friends for a while b/c you lost a job or the economy went south and it’s just better to split rent/mortgage with another family or friends then that’s the way it is.  You’ll actually probably find some good things about the situation…and well…why not?  You have no other options.  The tension comes when we find ourselves in a less than optimal place but we DO have options (we CAN afford a better house, we COULD get a better job, etc…).  So do we grumble or do we make a choice and go for the better one?  Or do we stay content and stay where we are?  Have you ever found yourself in a place with no options so you made the best of it?  Have you ever been discontent but were afraid to act on options you really had?  Have you ever had mirage options (ones that you saw but weren’t real?)  That’s called delusional by the way.  I think America has a delusional complex right now.

Kent

Men’s retreats can be too macho or too “I finally got to cry like a little boy.”  I’m pretty sure this one starting today will be leaning just enough to the macho side to be comfortable (haha).  On the other hand, there’s nothing like hearing a room full of good ole guys singing Amazing Grace with powerful voices.

Iron sharpens Iron and I hope we sharpen each other to go back out and be good dads, husbands, workers, etc

So I’ve started a Trash Log.  What is that?  I keep a pen and paper next to my trash can and everytime I throw something away I write down what it is.  Why?  Because I’m sick and tired of throwing away so much trash and I need to know what it is so that I can consciously lower something.  I live in a household w/ 3 adults and one child.  There’s no way I should be throwing away about one bag (13 gal) per day.  Savannah is supposed to bring curbside recycling in January.  I’m not holding my breath but this shou

trash love

ld help.  Of course I could recycle at centers now…but that would require effort on my part (note: self-deprecating sarcasm).  Also, the biggest issue is probably food packaging.  Is it possible to buy cheese crackers or sliced ham w/o packaging?  Probably not in today’s day and age.  We’ll see.

Kent

Funny thing about relaxing vacations and breaks in routine…they can sometimes lull you or dislodge your inertia to a point where you feel like you have to get the ball rolling all over again.  That is not the way it’s supposed to work.  A relaxing vacation should give you the energy to jump back on it but maybe I just haven’t figured out how that works yet.  Or maybe I have too much going on in my personal life – Savannah heat + twisted ankle (healed now) + twisted back (also healed now) + daughter entering Kindergarten (be still my heart) + changing schools (don’t get me started) = ugh.  But…now…I feel like my metaphorical fire is re-lit under my metaphorical backside.  That feels good and not in an SnM way.  I’m ready to get some pistons pumping and go after it. 

I’m really excited about the Southeast Vineyard conference this week.  Sure it has speakers and meetings and workshops but most of us treat it as a family reunion.  It’s great to re-connect with old staff members, friends, and others who do the same thing week in and week out that we do.  It’s good to worship, eat and laugh together.  It’ll be in Atlanta this year which isn’t too far for us.

Kent

website for the Atlanta Vineyard Church who is hosting the conference