2002

Everyone's doing the year-end thing. I won't too much - but I have to reflect a little on the year that has passed. 2002 has been one of those years that has been good, but I wouldn't want to repeat it. I've moved, and I've grown. That's not always the easiest process. At church, we've seem some massive changes. Not everyone's been happy; we've lost a lot of people, and gained a lot as well. Transition is tough on everyone. It's been stretching. We've made progress, but there's no question that 2002 was a tough year for our church. I heard someone say that I'm helping to transition a church, but we weren't quite there yet. That's probably a very accurate statement. Sometime this year, I got my second wind. Preaching had become tough for me. Now, I love it again. I've also been stretched by the whole modern/postmodern thing. I'm not sure if I fit neatly into one category, but some of the modern approaches and styles were frustrating me, but I couldn't see a better alternative. That's starting to change. That's been reflected a little in my preaching, a lot more in how I see church/spirituality. Family's been great. Even when it's hard, there's nothing that beats coming home to a 3-year-old son who can't wait to see you; an 8-year-old girl who can't wait to talk, and talk, and talk; a wife who still sometimes laughs at my jokes. We had two floods in our basement this year. A big hassle, a lot of disruption - but worth it in the end. New carpet, new tiles, etc. A lot like the year - a hassle, but worth it. Who knows how many floods 2003 may hold?

Comments

[Blaine]

I understand your chruch problems. Our chuch has been through a lot of pastors in the past 3 years or so.

[Darryl Dash]

I think almost every church is feeling stress right now. The ones that aren't, will be. One guy's theory is that the church is trying to make up for 30 years of change in just a few years since we got so far behind. I guess it's a lot better to stay fluid rather than locking ourselves in to a fixed form.