-May 5--My precious son was born. Being there for the birth was one of the greatest spiritual experiences of my life.-San Fran and Yosemite. I love traveling with my wife.
-Got to hang out with Troy and Bonnie twice. They are no longer best friends; they are family.
-Great family vacation to Lake Conroe. My family draws me closer to Jesus every time I am with them.
-Kayci keynoted the West Texas Girls Conference AGAIN--her 3rd time. This time, I was there. (Graves, I'm still trying to get her to allow me to send out that DVD)
-I was honored to speak at some great events--retreats, youth rally's, ACU, an interdenominational conference, Wednesday nights, a gospel meeting, and some Sunday mornings. I was the one that was fed!
-We took a trip to San Antonio with a few of our best friends here in H-Town. Watching Truitt and Reese together was adorable.
-The Zoe Conference was one of the best confereneces I've been to in a while. Great speakers. Awesome worship.
-Luke and Lindsay continue to be two of our greatest friends.
-BST and I grow closer every week. Glad to have you as a friend.
-Josh and Kara Graves are two people that Kayci and I want more time with. We loved hanging with them at Zoe. If we didn't live so far away--H-Town to Detroit!
-Kevin and Sarah have been an amazing gift to us. There is never a dull moment when we're together.
-Sarge and Chel's are great partners in ministry.
-The Cornhuskers...ummm...
-The Mavs...ummm...
-How about them Cowboys!
-I continue to love my work at SWC! Many challenges, but God is present with us in evident ways. Thank you, SWC, for letting me join you on this journey.
-The 30th year anniversary of the Sandifer's at SWC was memorable. They have been a mighty, steadfast rock in this church.
-We buried over a dozen people from SWC this year. We will continue to be a church in mourning, yet we hang our hats on the empty tomb.
-In 2007, I have fallen in love with Nelson Mandela & Desmond Tutu.
-My boy, Will Smith, continues to put out great movies.
-I am grateful for professors that are now my good friends--Jack, Chainsaw Charlie, David Wray, and Randy. My mentor, Cope, continues to inspire me.
This list could go on, but I'll stop there.
Blessings to all!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Saturday, December 29, 2007
West Houston Church of Christ
Tomorrow I am preaching at West Houston Church of Christ. Their preacher, Matt Soper, is on a vacation with his family in NY. Immediately following the 2nd service, I will jump in my car, set the cruise on 75, and make my way back up to Decatur. I miss my wife and son. I don't do well without them.
I am preaching on Luke 4-5. Over the past 3 years, these 2 chapters have shaped me, challenged me, and have compelled me in my faith more than any other piece of Scripture. (More to come on these 3 stories later)
The basic gist of the message is this--if we were to truly embrace the LIFE of Jesus, is it really good news?
I am preaching on Luke 4-5. Over the past 3 years, these 2 chapters have shaped me, challenged me, and have compelled me in my faith more than any other piece of Scripture. (More to come on these 3 stories later)
The basic gist of the message is this--if we were to truly embrace the LIFE of Jesus, is it really good news?
Friday, December 28, 2007
Pepperdine University
I have the privilege of speaking at the Pepperdine lectures next May. I've always wanted to go to Pepperdine, but it has never worked out. As a student, the lectures were always during finals week. Last year, the conference was held May 1-3; Truitt came on the 5th. I thought it would be best to stay at home with Kayci. :)
My title is, "Jesus--The Great Companion and the Annoying Nuisance." Throughout the past 3 years, I have danced numerous dances with Jesus in the gospel of Luke. Every chapter draws me into a deeper love. At the same time, there are many moments when I don't "like" Jesus. I love him, but I don't like him. He bids me to follow him into places I am not sure I want to go.
The title of the 4 gospels should be--"Enter at Your Own Risk!"
My title is, "Jesus--The Great Companion and the Annoying Nuisance." Throughout the past 3 years, I have danced numerous dances with Jesus in the gospel of Luke. Every chapter draws me into a deeper love. At the same time, there are many moments when I don't "like" Jesus. I love him, but I don't like him. He bids me to follow him into places I am not sure I want to go.
The title of the 4 gospels should be--"Enter at Your Own Risk!"
Thursday, December 27, 2007
From Family Life to Bachelor
Life as minister has its challenges. One of the greatest challenges is spending time with family. A commitment that I have made is that Kayci and Truitt will always be my first church. They deserve the best of me. Truitt is my mission field. So much of how he will think about Jesus, faith, and life will come from Kayci and me. I'm grateful to be on this faith journey with a woman that is so committed to following Jesus.
A greater challenge that I face is being in a family that is full of ministers. My dad is entering into his 20th year of preaching. My little bro is a full-time worship minister. It is hard enough for 1 minister to find a weekend to worship with his family. It is rare for 3 ministers to find the same Sunday to take off. Well, this past Sunday evening, we were all at church together: dad, mom, older sis, her husband and kid, little bro, his wife and kid, Kayci and Truitt. It was the first time that we have all been at church together since January 2005.
The last few days have been fantastic.
Now, I am back in Houston as a Bachelor for a few days. Kayci and Truitt are still with my parents. I have to work today and tomorrow, and then I preach at West Houston Church of Christ on Sunday morning. Over the next 3 days I plan to read, write, watch the Godfather (I still haven't seen it), and play a game or two of X-Box. As for food...umm...
A greater challenge that I face is being in a family that is full of ministers. My dad is entering into his 20th year of preaching. My little bro is a full-time worship minister. It is hard enough for 1 minister to find a weekend to worship with his family. It is rare for 3 ministers to find the same Sunday to take off. Well, this past Sunday evening, we were all at church together: dad, mom, older sis, her husband and kid, little bro, his wife and kid, Kayci and Truitt. It was the first time that we have all been at church together since January 2005.
The last few days have been fantastic.
Now, I am back in Houston as a Bachelor for a few days. Kayci and Truitt are still with my parents. I have to work today and tomorrow, and then I preach at West Houston Church of Christ on Sunday morning. Over the next 3 days I plan to read, write, watch the Godfather (I still haven't seen it), and play a game or two of X-Box. As for food...umm...
Monday, December 24, 2007
God-in-Flesh
He came into a world of pain, fever, disease, betrayal, and sin. He came to change existence. And...he continues to come!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
The Table
In Churches of Christ, we are more like a brotherhood than a franchise (to steal the image from my partner Steve Sandifer). This wasn't true 30+ years ago. If you were miles away on a vacation, but needed your 6:00pm-service-fix, you could step into a C of C and everything would look just like the home church--2 songs...prayer (which you could almost quote verbatum)...song...sermon...then, the Lord's Table was taken either one of two ways:
1) People were asked to raise their hand if they weren't there to participate at the am service. These were the hunters and "immature" Christians. How sad was the evening if you were the only one? A person would pray and bring the bread. Another would pray and bring the cup. Then, another prayer by the same person that prayed for the bread (because the rhythm of 1-2-1 is better than 1-2-2) who would bless the offering. You felt obligated to at least put in a dollar or two.
2) Or, those that weren't there in the morning were asked to exit the auditorium where they would be led to Room C. Again, the eyes would glaze over the not-so-serious-Christians.
In January, I plan to begin a sermon series on The Lord's Table. I have been heavily influenced by John Mark Hick's book Come to the Table.
It is common for bloggers to ask for feedback, but today I am passionately requesting your stories. Feel free to respond here or email me at joshross@swcentral.org. Here is what I want to know:
-What would be the ideal way to participate in the Lord's Table? Silence? Conversation? Home? Church? (There is no wrong answer. I am asking for your preference.)
-Is there an experience around the table that has greatly impacted you? Please share.
-If you have studied this formative topic--what books, articles, or sermons would you suggest?
1) People were asked to raise their hand if they weren't there to participate at the am service. These were the hunters and "immature" Christians. How sad was the evening if you were the only one? A person would pray and bring the bread. Another would pray and bring the cup. Then, another prayer by the same person that prayed for the bread (because the rhythm of 1-2-1 is better than 1-2-2) who would bless the offering. You felt obligated to at least put in a dollar or two.
2) Or, those that weren't there in the morning were asked to exit the auditorium where they would be led to Room C. Again, the eyes would glaze over the not-so-serious-Christians.
In January, I plan to begin a sermon series on The Lord's Table. I have been heavily influenced by John Mark Hick's book Come to the Table.
It is common for bloggers to ask for feedback, but today I am passionately requesting your stories. Feel free to respond here or email me at joshross@swcentral.org. Here is what I want to know:
-What would be the ideal way to participate in the Lord's Table? Silence? Conversation? Home? Church? (There is no wrong answer. I am asking for your preference.)
-Is there an experience around the table that has greatly impacted you? Please share.
-If you have studied this formative topic--what books, articles, or sermons would you suggest?
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Lord's Supper and Sex
Below is a story about a couple that attends Farmers Branch Church. I first heard this story while listening to Charlton Taylor's lecture on baptism at the ACU lectures. (Listen to it! Charlton explodes the idea of how baptism transforms our daily existence.) Last week, Chris Seidman, the Senior Minister at Farmers Branch (The Branch), called me at my office, and later in the conversation I asked if this story was true. He said, "Every bit of it." Below is what he wrote and shared with his faith community.
I know of a couple here at the Branch who faced the greatest challenge to their marriage earlier this year. He was an influential executive working for a corporation who had to travel out of town for a week on business. The corporation sent a new female executive with him.
They wound up working late into the evening alone and as often happens in that kind of context their relationship quickly became personal. They wound up embracing before he got a hold of himself and the situation and quickly retreated. The woman was embarrassed herself and quickly left.
It was a sleepless night for the man who was under great conviction and guilt for what had happened. The next morning he called his wife and confessed, breaking her heart. He then quickly called some of her closest sisters in Christ simply telling them his wife needed them right now. Later his wife called and said, “Finish your work and get home as soon as you can.”
After he flew into DFW, he went to the parking garage to get his car and as he was pulling out of the garage there was his wife and their small children standing at the exit of that parking garage. The kids were holding a sign – “Welcome home daddy.” Needless to say, he was completely broken by that.
They went to a restaurant and had a family meal. Then after coming home and putting the kids down, she said they needed to talk, obviously. When he came into the living room there was wine and bread set out by his wife. She told him how hurt she was and that they had some work to do on their relationship, but that after all that God had forgiven her of, how could she not forgive him. They prayed, wept, took communion together, and then she took him into the marriage bed that night.
I know of a couple here at the Branch who faced the greatest challenge to their marriage earlier this year. He was an influential executive working for a corporation who had to travel out of town for a week on business. The corporation sent a new female executive with him.
They wound up working late into the evening alone and as often happens in that kind of context their relationship quickly became personal. They wound up embracing before he got a hold of himself and the situation and quickly retreated. The woman was embarrassed herself and quickly left.
It was a sleepless night for the man who was under great conviction and guilt for what had happened. The next morning he called his wife and confessed, breaking her heart. He then quickly called some of her closest sisters in Christ simply telling them his wife needed them right now. Later his wife called and said, “Finish your work and get home as soon as you can.”
After he flew into DFW, he went to the parking garage to get his car and as he was pulling out of the garage there was his wife and their small children standing at the exit of that parking garage. The kids were holding a sign – “Welcome home daddy.” Needless to say, he was completely broken by that.
They went to a restaurant and had a family meal. Then after coming home and putting the kids down, she said they needed to talk, obviously. When he came into the living room there was wine and bread set out by his wife. She told him how hurt she was and that they had some work to do on their relationship, but that after all that God had forgiven her of, how could she not forgive him. They prayed, wept, took communion together, and then she took him into the marriage bed that night.
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