6 Reasons Why We Are Starting a Sunday 5 PM Service

Our church is launching at 5 PM service on Sundays, starting this week. Here's why we are doing this, in increasing levels of importance: 

We Can't Grow Any More on Sunday Morning

It's not the case that literally every single seat is taken at every service on every Sunday, but it?is the case that our church is full on Sunday mornings. If we want to reach new people, we're going to have to do something new. And NOT reaching new people is NOT an option. Because: 

Like a Shark: If We Stay Still, We Will Die

Sharks have to keep moving in the water--they can't just stay still. Churches (and all other organizations) are the same: either you are growing,?or you are dying. There is no staying put. Businesses and churches fail when‘they decide to‘stay put and preserve the status quo. Why? Because decline is inevitable: people move, people die, etc. Do you know how many churches were FULL in 1960 and are empty today? I don't know either, but it's a lot. People like things to stay as they are, but if things stay as they are, things will inevitably change. Either you are growing, or you are dying: there is no staying put. 

It Is Not Possible to Be Good and NOT Grow

If what God is doing through our church is helpful and healing to folks, then new people will want to be a part of it. You can't have a great, non-busy restaurant: if your restaurant is good, business will grow. Healthy things grow. It is antithetical to the gospel to say, "Our church is great, but new people aren't welcome." 

There are THOUSANDS More People to Reach

Every single church in Dallas could be crammed full of people on Sunday mornings, and there would still be thousands upon thousands of people in our city without a church home. Jesus was very clear: the mission of the church is to go everywhere, seek everybody, and teach them everything that Jesus taught. It is a literal command from God. 

New Things Reach New People

If you want to reach new people, you have to do new things. We think Sundays at 5 PM is the right time to reach new folks in our neighborhood. Sunday evenings work for people who don't want to get up early on Sunday mornings, or have Sunday morning sports commitments; and unlike Saturday evenings, Sunday evenings also allows the college-football-tailgating/we-have-an-out-of-town-wedding/let's-drive-down-to-the-Hill-Country-to-see-the-bluebonnets crowd make it to church on the weekend. 

Being in Church Every Sunday Will Totally Change Your Life

I feel so strongly about the importance of being in church every Sunday that I want to make it as easy as possible for folks to join us at Munger. Sunday mornings work for you? Great. You are welcome at our church on Sunday mornings. But:Your kid plays soccer? Come in the evening. You will be out of town? See you Sunday at 5 PM. Getting up early on Sunday just isn't going to happen? Buddy, do we have a deal for you.Can't wait.  

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What This Picture Means to Me

From Tuesday evening through Wednesday afternoon, my website went down. I know you folks have been worried sick that the Russians got to me. Good news: I'm okay, and it appears we fixed the problem. The eagle will fly again.

---

Last night, we had a youth ministry volunteer vision dinner. I was really worried about it--would anybody show up, and if they did, would it even be worth it?We ended up having a great turnout and a great time, and we closed the evening by having folks circle up in small groups and pray for our students and our church. I took the photo above while folks were praying.I've been worried about taking over the leadership of our youth ministry this fall.

• Is the additional responsibility going to drive me into the ground? Will I be able to keep up my energy? Will this commitment hurt my family?
• Will anyone step up to help? Are we going to get buy-in from parents?
• Will any families show up at our kickoff? Will any students show up after that?
• Will any of this even work?

Seeing all those folks praying last night was a good reminder:Everything is going to be all right. We are so blessed.  

P.S. Note to my Subscribers

I'm still working out the kinks to the newsletter I want to send out. Right now, you'll still receive an email when I post an article, and I'm still planning on blogging daily through the Gospel of Matthew. Stay tuned.How to subscribe:

I‘ve written a very short whitepaper on a subject I care a lot about communication.Click HERE to subscribe to my newsletter and I’ll send it to you for free:The Simple Technique Anyone Can Immediately Use To Become a Better Communicator.(If you are already a subscriber, drop me a line and I’ll send you the whitepaper.)

Personal Update for Fall 2018

I've just returned with my family from 11 days in southwestern Colorado--our first time. It was the perfect place to be quiet and rest before the fall season begins, a season that involves some significant changes to my responsibilities, which I will explain below.Some friends in church had offered us the use of their house in the San Juan mountains in Colorado. We drove there and back--two days each way--with the long drive as part of the fun. From Dallas to Amarillo the landscape becomes increasingly dry and flat and lonely, with the road passing through little brittle communities with one blinking yellow stoplight and paint peeling from deserted furniture stores, until in the Texas Panhandle grain elevators dominate the horizon, which stretches for what seems forever. And then, suddenly, the ground gives way and the Palo Duro Canyon opens up its reddish brown mouth right in front of your feet.We took the time to drive down into the canyon and hike around for a bit. The Palo Duro Canyon isn't as grand as its famous Arizona cousin, but it is similar, with the same warning signs about how the desert heat is deadly to the unprepared.Our second day of driving took us north out of Santa Fe, from desert to high desert to an alpine landscape, passing through little clusters of houses in forsaken communities in the high desert, the kind of places where you drive past at 70 miles an hour and thank God you don't live there. And then you arrive in Colorado and secretly ask God if perhaps you?could live?there,?or if he could at least make Dallas a bit more like Colorado in the summer.The house we stayed in was expansive, with a huge second story balcony off the entire back of the place, and a cool basement totally underground. Our cell phones didn't work, but that to me was a feature of the place, and not a bug. We were there to celebrate my dad's retirement from pastoral ministry--43 years. My parents and my brothers and their families joined us.This time of year in that part of Colorado, the weather is perfect: upper 40's at dawn, lower 90's at noon. I'd get up every morning early to sit wrapped in a blanket on the back deck in the dark, waiting for the sun to rise. The deer and the wild turkeys and the hummingbirds paid me no attention, if I kept still enough. I would have stayed for a month, but my life is here in Dallas, and I have a lot to do this fall. We arrived back home last night. 

Changes to My Fall 2018 Responsibilities

Earlier this summer, our youth director accepted an invitation to return to his home church and take his old boss's job. We engaged a search firm to help us find his replacement, and on one of the phone calls with the founder (David), he asked, "What's your interim plan before you hire someone?" We didn't have a plan, but as soon as he asked the question, I thought to myself: "I think I'd like to do it."I got my start in full-time ministry by working with middle and high school students at a church in VA. I worked there for 5 years before I went to seminary, and I loved it--there was just something so obviously important and exciting about reaching kids that age with the gospel. Now at Munger I'm responsible for something much broader in scope than the youth ministry I led in Virginia, but I still haven't abandoned one of my core beliefs from that time: that the strength of a church is determined by how well it is raising up the next generation in the faith.At Munger, the area of the church's ministry I know the least is our youth ministry, and I've always regretted that I don't have more interactions with our 6th-12th graders and their parents. Although we are working hard to hire a new youth director, we just aren't in the position to make that hire by the time school begins, and so David's question on the phone caused me to think--could I personally offer some leadership to our youth ministry this fall? I'm ultimately responsible for the youth ministry whether we have someone in place or not, and I don't want to let our youth ministry languish while we are waiting to hire a director. What if I stepped in as the interim leader? I shopped the idea around to some people within and without the church who would have no problem telling me it was a bad idea, but no one did.

So, I'm going to be leading the Munger youth ministry this fall.

On the one hand, with the commitments and responsibilities I have, this may seem crazy.

• We have an average worship attendance of just over 1,000 people on Sunday mornings;
• A?budget of $3 million;
• And a staff of 10;

All of which I am ultimately responsible for. Behind those numbers are lots of people to love and lots of problems to solve.But, in addition to the above, this fall has some big things coming up, including:

• The unveiling of our master plan for future growth and ministry at a congregational meeting on Sunday, October 21 at 5 PM;
• And the launching of a 3rd worship service at 5 PM on Sundays, starting November 4.

Do I have time to lead the youth ministry? At first, it seems clear the answer is "No." But....Here's the honest truth: I have all the time I need for what's important, and I think the middle and high school students in our community are extremely important. So, yes, I have time to lead the Munger youth ministry...if I get some help. 

The Plan for Munger Youth This Fall

We're going to keep things simple. Our weekly programming will be on Wednesdays and will run from 7:00-8:30 PM. Middle and high school students will meet at the same time, but they will not meet together.High School?Wednesday?Schedule7:00-7:45 PM, high school worship in the youth basement with me and our band. (High school is 9th-12th grades.)7:45-8:30 PM, high school small groups and dinner/snacks on the 3rd floor.Middle School Wednesday Schedule7:00-7:45 PM, dinner/snacks, games, and small groups on the 3rd floor. (Middle school is 6th-8th grades.)7:45-8:30 PM, middle school worship in the youth basement with me and our band.Wednesday night youth will follow the above schedule from September 12 through December 12. We will NOT meet on November 21 (the day before Thanksgiving), though there is a Thanksgiving Eve worship service at the church that night. (Halloween is a Wednesday this year, so stay tuned for special programming on 10/31.)In addition to the above weekly programming, we are looking to line up Bible studies at other times, etc. Come to our kickoff on 9/5 to find out more. (Kickoff info below.)2018-2019 Confirmation ScheduleConfirmation is a year-long spiritual formation program for 6th graders. 6th grade is a transition period, and we want to do our best to prepare our young people spiritually to face the challenges of middle and high school, so they can own their faith as their own. At the end of the year-long Confirmation process, the students will be commissioned by me in worship to go forth and take their faith into the world.Confirmation will meet on Sundays this fall during our 11:00 AM worship service, September 9-December 16. Confirmation will NOT meet on November 25 (the Sunday after Thanksgiving). In Spring 2019, Confirmation will meet January 6-May 12. Confirmation will NOT meet on March 10 or 17 (spring break) or on April 21 (Easter Sunday!).Confirmation Sunday will be 11:00 AM on May 19.Confirmation students need to attend 2/3 of Confirmation classes (20 out of 30 possible Sundays) to complete the course.Please REGISTER your child for Confirmation HERE.More info to come at youth fall kickoff.2018 Youth Fall KickoffWe?re going to start the new school year off with a BANG on Wednesday, September 5 from 7:00-8:00 PM for our Fall Kickoff. All 6th to 12th graders AND their parents invited. Bring friends, even if they don‘t go to our church. The agenda: food trucks, live music, and then I will lay out the plan for the year ahead.My goal: a full house, so please move heaven and earth to attend with your family.

Munger Youth: What Will I Be Doing?

Each Wednesday, I'm going to give a talk on the topics that middle school and high school kids are asking about:

• How can we know there is a God?
• What about other religions?
• Where did the Bible come from?
• What about heaven and hell?
• If God already knows what's going to happen, why do we need to pray?
• If God is love, then why does he allow bad stuff to happen to people?
• Etc.

Every Wednesday, we'll have a brief, high energy worship service with a band led by Josh Mojica (the young guy with the crazy hair who plays with Kate on Sunday mornings), and I'll give a talk to our students trying to make the faith as clear, relevant, and attractive as possible. Then, adult volunteers will lead youth small groups broken up by grade and gender to talk over the week and see how the kids are doing.I can lead the ministry by providing vision and direction for our weekly gatherings and to our adult volunteers. That's what I'm good at. But, I can't do everything.... 

Munger Youth: What I Will NOT be Doing

I cannot serve as the Munger youth minister. I can't attend football games and concerts and recitals. I can't order the pizza or pay the trip deposits or lead the small groups. In other words, I can lead the ministry, but I can't?do the ministry.What I can do is recruit other adults who will do those things, and I'm going to need all the help I can get.If you signed up earlier this summer to volunteer in our youth ministry, you should have already been contacted by us. Thank you! But, if you haven't yet signed up or if you did but weren't contacted by us, please consider stepping up and signing up below. I particularly need parents of 6th to 12th graders to help me make this fall season happen. We need a team of folks to support our ministry, to lead our small groups, to be positive influences in our students' lives.Want to help me and our youth ministry this fall? Sign up HERE to be a youth?ministry?volunteer.We're going to have a Youth Volunteer Vision Dinner on Wednesday, August 29, from 6:30-9:00 PM at a home in Lakewood, so please mark that down if you sign up as a potential volunteer. 

A Final Word to Munger

I've been wondering if perhaps this transition period in our youth ministry is actually a gift from God, because it will both allow me to make some new relationships in our church and at the same time require other people to step up and and become involved in ministry. More than ever, I'm going to have to focus on the few things that I only I can do and do well and recruit other people to make our church's ministry happen. I've found that the Lord seems to prefer to place us in situations where there is a gap between what we need and what we have, and that he delights in providing for us. That's one of the things I'm excited about with regard to our new evening service--we currently have ZERO people showing up at 5:00 PM on Sundays, and we are going to have to pray and work like crazy to change that. In the same way, our youth ministry is lacking a permanent leader right now, which might actually be God's plan--he wants the rest of us to step up so he can show us something awesome.May Fall 2018 be our best fall yet.  

P.S. To My Dear Readers: Changes to this Blog

Starting Friday, August 24 through Monday, December 24, at Munger we are going to be reading through the New Testament. I'm planning on posting more frequently in this space, including regular (daily?) commentaries on what we're reading. Right now, subscribers get an email every time I post, but I don't want to fill up your Inbox, so next week I'm going to be switching to a weekly newsletter that will contain links to the previous week's posts, as well as some other original content from me not available anywhere else.If you are already a subscriber, you don't need to do anything else. (If you want to be sure and read each post as it comes out, subscribe to my blog's RSS feed. There are lots of tutorials online to explain how to do that.)If you are not a current subscriber, here's how to subscribe:

I‘ve written a very short whitepaper on a subject I care a lot about communication.Subscribe to my newsletter and I’ll send it to you for free:The Simple Technique Anyone Can Immediately Use To Become a Better Communicator.(If you are already a subscriber, drop me a line and I’ll send you the whitepaper.)

Nine Months

Nine months ago today, our baby daughter was born and my wife coded afterwards, an event which caused her to be hospitalized twice in the ICU and to undergo emergency, life-saving, life-altering surgery.This past Sunday was Christmas Commitment Sunday at our church. It's like our 21st century urban version of what used to be called Harvest Sunday in rural, agricultural churches: we thank God for his provision toward us in the 12 months past, and ask for his protection and provision in the year to come. Folks come forward and kneel and make a gift to finish strong in their current year giving toward the church, and make a commitment to give back a portion of God's blessings in the year to come. It's a powerful moment to see hundreds of households come forward and kneel and pray.When it was our family's turn, all four of us knelt and prayed and praised the Lord for his mercy toward our family these past 12 months and desperately asked God to be with us in the next 12 months. I find that I pray for God to protect us and prosper us almost constantly now; I am under no illusions regarding my utter dependence on the grace of God.The day before we were kneeling at the rail, we'd picked out a Christmas tree and were decorating it: my wife--completely healed--perched on a ladder stringing lights, and our little baby chirping and squeaking and scuttling underfoot like a some kind of huge, curious, terrestrial crab.As I look back over these past 12 months, I am overwhelmed: God has been‘so good?to us.A few weeks ago, Elaine and I made a brief video about some things we learned while she was in the hospital. (I've posted the video below.) Afterwards, of course, we thought of things we'd wished we said or said in a different way, and we share these thoughts humbly, knowing that this is our story, and your stories are different. Even so, we've seen the faithfulness of God firsthand and we feel as if we're supposed to tell other people about it.One day, of course, death will come for one or both us us, and for everyone we love. Maybe I will die first and leave Elaine behind, or maybe she will die first and leave me behind. But, even when that day comes, God is faithful, and Jesus is risen, so the words the angels shared with the shepherds are still meant for us today:Do not be afraid.[embed]https://vimeo.com/246001538[/embed]

Read the Bible With Me in 2017

Can I suggest a New Year's resolution for you? Make the commitment to read through the Bible with me in 2017. At Munger, 2017 is our Year of the Bible, and we're launching something called The Bible Project. Here are 3 reasons why I hope you'll join me in?reading through the Bible in 2017. 

The Bible is Difficult to Read Alone

Lots of folks struggle to understand the Bible, which shouldn't be surprising: the Bible is a collection of ancient documents, written by strange people in strange languages--of course it's difficult to read and understand all by yourself. Through the Bible Project (we've taken the name from some folks in Portland with whom we're partnering), however, we'll be updating our blog?every day with explanatory notes, videos, charts, etc. To give you an example of the kind of resources available, check out this great intro video to the Book of Genesis:[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOUV7mWDI34&index=1&list=PLH0Szn1yYNee8aedW_5aCpnzkxnV7VQ3K[/embed]The Bible is difficult to read alone--so don't. Read along with me.

The Last Time You Tried It, You Quit in February

Many of you have probably tried to read through the Bible in a year, only to abandon your resolution in February when you got to Leviticus (if you made it that far). You're much more likely to complete marathon training in a group, and in the same way you're much more likely to read through the Bible along with other people. I'm preaching through the Bible in 2017, we'll have a weekly Bible study, a daily blog, podcasts, etc. All these resources are to help you persevere. Good things come to those who persevere.

Nothing Has More Potential to Change Your Life

I guarantee you that 2017 holds unexpected challenges for you. How will you prepare? There is nothing you can do that will have greater potential to change your life and prepare you for the future than the daily discipline of spending time in silence and scripture.

So, Here's What to Do

If you are a Mungarian, pick up one of the?free One Year Bibles we're handing out at church; if you don't live in Dallas, get one of these from Amazon. (We're using the ESV translation, but they are currently out of print.) You could also use the Bible app on your smart phone and pick the One Year Bible reading plan, but I recommend using the hard copy.Follow along with our blog: bibleproject.mungerplace.org.Watch my sermons: http://www.mungerplace.org/sermon-library/.Start on Sunday morning.Of all the New Year's resolutions you could make, reading through the Bible is the most important.So, are you in? 

The fox knows many things;The hedgehog knows one big thing.Click?here‘to subscribe to regular updates from this blog.

I Cried When I Saw This Happen

I saw this happen this past Sunday morning as we celebrated our 6th birthday as a congregation at Munger Place Church. I know these people; I know their stories; they are my friends. As I watched them share their cardboard testimonies, I couldn't help it: tears ran down my face. (And I'm not a crier.)

2016 Munger Cardboard Testimonies [VIDEO]

As I watched these people share their stories, I kept thinking, "I am so grateful, God, that I get to be a part of this."2016 Munger Cardboard Testimonies from HPUMC on Vimeo. 

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I'm Hiring - Come Work With Me!

Want to work with me? I'm?hiring an executive assistant. See details below.

Job Description

I'm looking for an executive assistant who will protect my time and give me the space to do the work that?God created me to do.Location:??Munger Place Church, Dallas, TXEssential duties?include the following, plus other duties as required or assigned:

1. Calendar Management?(pastor and church): Maintain pastor‘s and church calendar, responding to all meeting requests, gathering relevant background materials. Confirm all appointments.
2. Email/Voicemail Management?(pastor and main church account): Open and screen incoming e-mail and listen to voicemail, respond on pastor‘s behalf when possible, and forward to others when appropriate.
3. Errands:?Run errands in own vehicle as needed/requested. This will include routinely picking up mail and copies from Highland Park UMC multiple times weekly.
4. Pastoral Office Management:? Provide administrative services such as preparing correspondence and reports for pastor, processing bills for payment, receiving and directing visitors, and procuring supplies for office.
5. Organization:? Organize, maintain and revamp as necessary church filing systems; maintain both hard and soft copies of marriage, baptism and other important records.
6. Meetings:?Assist pastor in preparing for meetings and events by providing agendas, support and background information. Attend designated meetings (with or in place of pastor), taking notes and minutes of relevant discussions, and as appropriate, interacting in ways that solve and prevent problems. Keep track of next actions as agreed in meetings, and follow up with others to ensure these items are accomplished.
7. Church Activities:? Assist as needed in church activities.
8. Other:

• Assist building services in keeping the church buildings uncluttered, organized, neat and orderly, bringing problems to attention of building technician.
• Be proactive within prescribed limits in foreseeing and resolving problems, as well as conducting business in ways that avoid issues.

Working Hours:??Usual hours will be Monday-Thursday 8:30-5, Friday 8:30-noon; however, these hours may be revised as needed when attendance is needed at church activities or events.We Require?a committed Christian who is comfortable working in a United Methodist Church environment, with the following qualifications:

• At least 3?years of responsible office experience required
• High school diploma required, college preferred
• Must be a self-starter who is responsive and has a high level of initiative and follow-through, who can anticipate needs and efficiently get things done, as well as a desire for constant improvement in performance and efficiency.
• Excellent oral and written communication and listening skills, as well as good spelling, grammar, punctuation abilities.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, capable of learning and using David Allen's GTD (Getting Things Done) system
• Excellent interpersonal and relational skills, including the ability to deal cordially and efficiently with others without being pulled into any issues or complaints they present.
• Professional attitude, appearance and demeanor, maintaining grace under pressure.
• High degree of discretion with confidential information.
• Excellent computer proficiency with MS Office Suite, email, and ability to learn and use Arena church database
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks and shift priorities as necessary, while maintaining a positive, can-do spirit.
• Capable of functioning both independently and as part of a team.
• Good driving record, current driver's license and own vehicle, for running errands
• Physical abilities to see, hear, speak, sit, stand, walk, lift/carry up to 10 lbs., fine motor skills and ability to move about as necessary.

We provide?competitive pay and full benefit package, generous holiday schedule, and a fun, supportive and collaborative work environment!TO APPLY, please email the following to?jobs@hpumc.org,‘specifying Exec.Asst. in subject line:

• Resume & cover letter/email
• Salary requirement
• Your religious/church affiliation (HPUMC or Munger Place membership not required)

No calls, please.

This Is Why I Love My Job

On Sunday, I was reminded how grateful I am that I get to do what I do. The congregation I serve in East Dallas celebrated our 5th birthday on Sunday, and I'll be the first to tell you that the sermon wasn't the best part of the service. No, it was what happened afterwards that everyone is talking about.

Who Knew Cardboard Could Make You Cry?

We had asked some folks from our congregation to share their "cardboard testimonies" immediately following my sermon. Nothing I could ever say could be as powerful as what those folks wrote on their cardboard signs:[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjpUm6ROR-0[/embed]I feel so grateful to get to be a part of a place like Munger and to see the saving power of God up close.Amen.  

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Happy Birthday Munger!

Five?years! The congregation I serve in East Dallas celebrated our 5th anniversary today, and my friend Lin Thomas--a great Mungarian!--blessed us with a birthday poem. Check out the 90 second video, below.

Lin's Birthday Poem

Lin, who is blind, is a faithful and generous member of our congregation. (You might remember that he shared a Thanksgiving prayer with us last November.) This morning, this is what he had to say to a packed house of Mungarians:[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs9-XMdy1jk[/embed]We are so blessed. 

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In Death's Dark Valley

Our community was shocked last week when we heard the evil news that an 18 year-old young woman named Zoe Hastings was found murdered. What do we do in the face of this kind of loss? I don't know the Hastings family personally and I don't presume to have any idea of the hell through which they are walking. But, I have been thinking about loss, and I humbly offer the following thoughts to anyone struggling with the question, "What do we do in the face of evil, death, and suffering?"

We Grieve

When we experience loss, we grieve. It is appropriate and necessary to be filled with anger or dread or numbness. It's okay to scream and cry. When someone you love is taken away, anything less than grief would be an obscenity. And, because grief comes in all different forms and in different ways and at different times for different people, whatever you are feeling is fine. Don't analyze it. Just grieve.

We Resist

When we experience evil and loss we want to scream out "Why?" When evil comes upon us, it is always inexplicable, but for some reason we still feel the need to offer an explanation. Don't. One of the wisest things I ever heard my father say: "Resist the urge the explain." We don't know why Zoe Hastings was murdered. No one knows. "Why?" is a useless question, and do not attempt to offer an explanation or a platitude--however well intentioned--to someone grieving. Resist the urge to explain: it won't do any good.

We Hope

I may not have an answer to the "Why?" questions, but there is something else that I do have. Please know that I mean no offense in sharing the following, as I am aware that not everyone reading this shares my faith. But, as a Christian, in the face of evil, pain, and loss, I have hope.Now, Christian hope is not wishful thinking. It is not a vague sense that we should think positively or put a sunny gloss on our grief. Wishful thinking has nothing to offer to those who grieve.No, Christian hope is?certainty. Christian hope is based on the fact that Jesus is risen; Christian hope knows that the?Resurrection proves that evil will not win and that everything sad will become untrue. Christian hope is the certainty that God will ultimately right every wrong.That is the hope I have.So, in the face of evil, death and suffering, we grieve. And we wait until the day when God will make everything new.And we hope.Lord, help our unbelief. 

P.S. One of My Favorite Bible Verses

Jesus says, I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

We're Hiring a Youth Minister

Want to come work with me and my team at our great church? Know someone who does? We are looking for a youth minister to lead our ministries to middle and high school students. Our church has been blessed with a lot of growth in the past year (our worship attendance is up 36%) and we're reorganizing our staff, which means we have a great opportunity for the right person to lead our youth ministry. Is that you? The job details are posted below. (Please note that job applications do not come to me; in fact, I'm not involved in the hiring process until the final interviews.)

Director of Youth Ministry - Munger

Responsible for all aspects of Munger Place Church's ministry to youth in grades 6-12, to?help families raise their middle school and high school students to love and follow Jesus Christ. This person will work within Munger Discipleship ministry and with a team of volunteers to plan, coordinate and execute the ministry.Location:??HPUMC's Munger Place Church in Old East DallasResponsibilities?include the following, with additional duties as required or assigned:

1. Pastoral:? Minister to youth and their families through Sunday school and other church programs, being present in their lives outside the church walls, available for common concerns and in crisis situations, and through pastoral care visits.
2. Leadership:? Recruit, training and nurture Youth Ministry and Confirmation volunteer teams; lead adult volunteer leadership meetings, trainings and retreats; participate in the research, design, and implementation of a ministry to parents of youth.
3. Administration:? Manage the planning process and coordinate all regular ministries to youth and their families, which includes youth Sunday mornings, Confirmation, special events, trips and retreats, parent meetings, etc.; update Munger Youth and Confirmation web pages.
4. Stewardship:? Ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of youth programs/events and reacting accordingly; manage youth ministry budget; collaborate with Confirmation and youth ministries at HPUMC.

The Director of Youth Ministry - Munger is expected to maintain high Christian values and professional integrity in order to provide an example for the youth and families of our community. This position will also encourage all youth and families of the community to strive for the same standards.HPUMC/Munger Place is a high-performing, fun and supportive environment where your work is appreciated!? We provide competitive pay, full benefit package and generous holiday schedule.WE REQUIRE?a Christian (preferably United Methodist) committed to living a life that reflects the Gospel who is comfortable working in a United Methodist church and has the following qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree; seminary or other formal religious education a plus
• At least 3 years experience in church ministry as staff or lay leader
• Ability to build, lead and empower volunteer teams
• Ability to implement a ministry vision
• Familiarity with United Methodist doctrine required; must be comfortable teaching it and representing the church
• Proficient computer skills?using applications such as MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, database, email, Internet and social media
• Supervisory experience preferred
• Ability to evaluate and adapt curriculum preferred
• Must have excellent organization, communication (verbal and written) and listening skills, with a high degree of initiative and accountability
• Exceptional interpersonal and relational skills required, with sensitivity to church members and visitors
• Understanding and enjoyment of youth and families and guiding their spiritual development
• Familiarity and comfort with diverse socioeconomic populations
• Good driving record; ability to drive church van with passengers
• Physical demands include sitting, standing, walking, seeing, hearing, lifting approx. 10 lbs.

To Apply,?please email all of the following to?jobs@hpumc.org, specifying Munger Youth in subject line:

1. Your resume and cover letter/email
2. Your pay requirement
3. Your religious/church affiliation & statement of faith
4. Your philosophy of youth ministry

No calls, please.- See more here.

Why Did God Permit the Charleston Murders?

We don't know. "We don't know" is the honest answer to any question about why God permitted Dylan Roof to murder the Charleston Nine. No one knows. But though we will never have a definitive answer this side of the grave, a strange parable Jesus tells does offer an interesting perspective on the perennial "Why?" we ask whenever innocent people suffer.

Today's Eat This Book Portion

The?Eat This Book campaign?at my church provides folks a scripture reading schedule to follow. Right now, we are reading through the Gospel of Matthew (about a half chapter a day), and today's reading comes from Matthew 13, one of my favorite passages in scripture. Reading the strange parable of the wheat and the weeds this morning has got me thinking about last week's murders in Charleston.

The Wheat and the Weeds

Surrounded by a crowd by the shore of the?Sea of Galilee one day, Jesus told the following parable:

??The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field;?but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away.So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well.And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from???He answered, An enemy has done this. The slaves said to him, Then do you want us to go and gather them???But he replied, No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them.Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn....??Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.?He answered, The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man;the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one,?and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers,?and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears?listen!'"

(Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)

Parables are meant to unsettle, to make you think. So go read this strange parable again, slowly. (In other words, don't scan the way you normally do on the Internet.)

Some Quick Observations

• Jesus points out that evil and good are so tightly mixed together in this world that no man or woman can perfectly separate one from another. I know this is true, because I know it is true in me.
• Jesus reminds us that, though evil seems to be growing stronger, so is good. This is an evil world, but evil is not stronger than good.
• Jesus says that, this side of Judgement Day, it is impossible to root up all the evil in the world without also destroying the good. For reasons only known to God, if there is to be good in the universe, there must also be the freedom for evil.
• Jesus makes it very clear that evil, though it seems strong today, will one day be utterly destroyed by God.

Let Me Know What You Think

I?find this parable strangely comforting. What about you? What do you think this parable is about, and how might it relate to the evil that was done in Charleston last week?  

Exactly One Year Ago

Exactly one year ago the bishop put his hands on my head and said:?David Andrew Forrest, take authority as an elderto preach the Word of God,to administer the Holy Sacraments,and to order the life of the Churchin the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.I was ordained on June 2, 2014. (I wrote about my ordination day here.) What follows are some quick thoughts on what's changed in the past year. 

It's Like Getting Married....

I've heard Hollywood couples‘say "We don't need a piece of paper to prove our love for each other; we love each other now, even though we're not legally 'married.'" At first, that statement makes sense--if you are already living together, sleeping together, and sharing finances, what difference would getting married make?Anyone who has ever been married, however, can attest: something does?change after you say "I Do." It's hard to explain, but you are different when you walk out of that church than you were when you walked in.It's the same with ordination. I was already serving as a pastor at Munger, but when I walked out of the service that humid June evening one year ago, I was different. It's hard to explain, but it's true.

The One Thing I Never Question

I feel secure in my calling. There are lots of things I question, but I?never wonder if the Lord has called me to be a pastor: I?know that I'm doing what I was created to do.

And One Thing I Was Wondering This Past Sunday

This past Sunday at my church was Confirmation Sunday, when our 6th graders step up and claim the Faith as their own. It was my great privilege as their pastor to baptize and confirm 45?of them. During my confirmation sermon at our 11 AM service, I gave an aside in which I spoke to the students and told them that if any one of them was feeling called by God to do what I do--be a pastor, i.e., a shepherd of people--that they should do it. I mentioned what an absolute privilege it is to be with people cradle to grave, to share their greatest joys and sorrows, to preach the Word in season and out.Later on, it was time for me to go along the line of kneeling 6th graders and place my hands on them and say:

[Name], the Holy Spirit work within you, that being born through water and the Spirit you may be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ."

As I moved down the line, the thought occurred to me that about 25 years ago (turns out it was 23 years ago--see below), a pastor put his hands on my head during my confirmation service at little Providence United Methodist Church in Dare, Virginia. I remember my confirmation as being a powerful moment--a "red letter day"--in my life.What if one of the 45‘students that I confirmed on Sunday were to find himself or herself in my place a quarter century from now? That would be too beautiful for words.May God make it so.

How My Friend Mike Found His Way Back

It's sad but true: "pain is God's megaphone to rouse a deaf world." What C.S. Lewis meant by that phrase is that it's often not until we are really hurting from self-inflicted wounds that we are ready to turn from running away from God to running to God, only to find that the God is there to welcome us home. My friend Mike's story of redemption and healing is one more example of this pattern. And it's a great story....On Highland Park United Methodist's website, Mike tells of his anguish after learning his marriage of 12 years was ending:

I was in the backyard with our three dogs (two of whom were about to move away) and I fell to my knees and starting howling like a wounded animal. Eventually, it resolved into something resembling words, 'Oh God, Oh God, Oh God?'"

God put great people in his life at exactly the time Mike needed them, and one of them invited Mike to both our church and his men's group. I remember well the first interaction I had with Mike, which he describes here:

I made arrangements to meet with Josh [Mike's friend and a member of my congregation] and he left me with one key takeaway: I should join him and Kimberly [Josh's wife] at Munger Place Church that Sunday. I wasn‘t particularly interested, but I was too weak to say no.I walked into Munger, my first steps into a church for the better part of 20 years. I was pleased to find that the music was incredible. I was further pleased and surprised to find that Rev. Andrew Forrest‘s sermon was both thoughtful and gracious towards those who weren‘t all-in. I agreed to come back for a second week.That second week, Rev. Forrest preached about a mishap in a river that led him to realize that swimming against the current is a fruitless and tiring exercise. It touched my heart and I felt better for the first time in a month. I wasn‘t ready to believe, but I?d at least see where the current would take me.I arranged to have breakfast with Rev. Forrest and nervously posited that I wanted to be a part of the community I saw growing at Munger. But, I wasn‘t sure that I believed. Was there still room for me? (In retrospect, I can almost see Rev. Forrest reeling the fishing line as he welcomed me.)"

(What Mike calls "reeling the fishing line" was really just the grace of God hooking and bringing him in!)

God Really Does Want Good Things for Us

Neither Mike nor I believe in the so-called prosperity gospel, i.e., the idea that God just wants to make us healthy, wealthy, and wise. After all, Christ was crucified, and sometimes the "prosperity" that God has in mind for us is cultivated in difficulty and suffering.But, I also don't believe that God wants us to suffer, and I definitely believe that God wants to bless us. In Mike's case the blessings that have resulted from him stumbling back to the Lord have been abundant:

Through my time in that group [a men's group to which he was invited], continued immersion at Munger, a little C.S. Lewis, and a lot of Tim Keller, within a couple months, I returned to the fold. I believed as I never had before. I prayed a lot. I started doing all I could to make up for lost time, joining in a mission trip with 28:1 and making room for Jesus in every day. I'm not one to subscribe to the so-called prosperity Gospel,?. But I found myself thriving in all areas of my life, including the launch of a successful new business venture that put me in a position to influence clients, employees and the public.I felt His hand in my life in a way I?d never imagined.You?ll remember there was a second name that God put in my head [after Mike's cry of desperation in his backyard]. That was Crystal Decker, a woman I?d never met. Somehow through business connections she?d wound up a Facebook friend. I recalled she and her husband handling their social media-age divorce as well as I thought it could be done.I met her and she quickly became my divorce coach, then a friend, then my best friend. She was a great advocate, but seemed pretty hard-boiled. So I was surprised when one Sunday she asked if she could go to Munger with me. She had avoided church for a long time too and thought Munger sounded like a place where 'thinking people of faith could be in a community without being talked down to every week.'Crystal and I married at Munger Place on October 5, 2013."

I was honored to officiate at Mike and Crystals' wedding. You should read Mike's entire (relatively brief) story here. It's a great story.Please read the whole thing.

One Result of This: A One Day Conference on Faith in Business

Mike would be the first to tell you that he's not perfect and doesn't have all the answers. But what he does have is faith in a God of grace and love and power, and Mike is doing the hard work of what it means to be an imperfect follower of Jesus. As a follower of Jesus and a successful digital entrepreneur, Mike finds himself asking, "What does it look like to be faithful at work?"As part of his attempt to answer that question, Mike and some other folks are putting on a conference called Faith in Business that we're hosting at my church on Friday, May 1. It's only $15, and that includes lunch! Mike Ullman, the longtime CEO of JC Penney, as well as other folks, will be there.We'd love to have you. More info here.

The Advent Conspiracy

After such a week, after such a year of violence, rape, murder, hate, falsehood, and war, J.D. Walt says what I want to say:

Come, Holy Spirit, and inaugurate Advent in our midst. Come and open up the book of a new year of our Lord. Lift our hearts to long for your coming and deepen our longing to imagine your kingdom.We confess? Advent, the season of holy anticipation, has become for us a sign of anxiety. Like Martha, we busy ourselves with so many things, preparing for a celebration of our own design. We confess? our attention has become distraction. Our hearts, minds, and souls are divided as we literally surf the channels of our?consumeristic culture. Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand? (Isa. 64: 8). Begin anew this Advent to shape us. Make us like Mary to sit at the feet of our Lord Jesus and discover the only necessary thing: your Presence. Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved. Shape these days of Advent into a season of undivided attention, of holy anticipation.As we sing of peace on Earth and goodwill to all people, open our ears to hear the mournful songs of a war-torn world: the unquenchable cries of ordinary families like our own whose losses are beyond our ability to comprehend. As we prepare to wrap the countless gifts our children will open on Christmas morning, open our hearts to the countless children for whom Christmas morning will be yet another day to survive. Lead us to respond to you in remembering those who will otherwise receive nothing, who are orphaned, whose parents are dead, distant, or imprisoned. Open our eyes to see those neighbors nearest to us who are lonely, afraid, sick, and suffering. We confess? our lifestyles have become enclaves of escape from the pain and suffering that surrounds us. Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand? (Isa . 64: 8). Let this year be different, Lord. Shape our attention in these days of Advent into a lifestyle of love for neighbor and the needy.?Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead [your people] like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth? (Ps. 80: 1). O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence? (Isa.64: 1). As we remember and celebrate the birth of the baby in Bethlehem, let us not forget that the King is returning. We confess? we have made ourselves at home in a world that is not our home. We know a time is coming when the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give us light, when the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. We know the Son of Man will come on the clouds with great power and glory and he will send out his angels to gather his elect from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven (see Mark 13: 24? 27). Stir in our hearts a holy anticipation for the world to come, and an undying urgency for the world that is passing away. By your Spirit, make us watchful and wakeful. For, O L ORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand? (Isa. 64: 8).Come, Holy Spirit, and inaugurate Advent in our midst. Come and open up the book of a new year of our Lord. Hear us as we pray:Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name,your kingdom come,your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.And forgive us our debts,as we also have forgiven our debtors.And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.(Matthew 6:9-13)"A prayer from from?Not Yet Christmas: It's Time for Advent, by J.D. Walt

Come, Lord Jesus

Here's what I want to say about Ferguson: Come, Lord Jesus.Here's what I want to say about Eric Garner: Come, Lord Jesus.Here's what I want to say about Syria: Come, Lord Jesus.Here's what I want to say about Ebola orphans: Come, Lord Jesus.Here's what I want to say about rape, about divorce, about broken families, about our epidemic of fatherlessness, about all the terrible, ugly things that are a part of our daily world: Come, Lord Jesus.

This Is Why Advent Matters

It's more important than buying the presents, attending the Christmas parties, sending out the Christmas cards, or decorating the Christmas tree. It's‘the only way to avoid getting caught up in the soul-destroying getting and spending of the season. And, if you have kids at home, it's a way you can be deliberately counter-cultural and push back against the messages of materialism to which our kids are incessantly subjected.What's more important than all those things is to prepare spiritually for Christmas by observing Advent. Advent is the time of the church year that leads up to Christmas. It's the way we remind ourselves of why we celebrate and what we truly need.And, in the midst of the heavy headlines these past few weeks, Advent gives voice to the deepest need we have: for a Savior. Liberals and conservatives; black and white; rich and poor--we may not agree on many things, but we can all agree on this: our world is a broken, hurting world. Come, Lord Jesus.

One Simple Way to Let Advent Shape Your Soul

At my church, we've selected a series of Advent readings to help you prepare for Christmas; one chapter of scripture a day, leading up to Christmas Eve, that tells the grand story of salvation, Genesis to Jesus. You can find the list of readings here and a family plan here.Read a chapter a day. If you have kids, you might want to read the chapter before opening that day's box on your Advent calendar.

It's Not Too Late to Catch Up

The reading plan started Monday, December 1, but you can catch up easily this weekend.

I'll Be Blogging About Each Day's Reading

I'll offer a short blog post each day to put the reading in context. Because I've already missed a few days, I've added them below. 

Genesis 1: Creation's Song

How things begin matters. We see God's intention for creation from the beginning: an integrated whole, in which all the parts are good and all the parts fit together to give glory to God. The Hebrew word for this is shalom: peace, wholeness, harmony.One other quick thought on Genesis 1. The author talks of days and nights from the very beginning, but the sun and the moon aren't created until the fourth day. Ancient peoples were more connected to sun and moon than we are, now that we have electricity and night doesn't mean dark. Ancient peoples certainly knew that the sun and the moon are required for their to be "days" and "nights." Here's the point: Genesis 1 is a beautiful theological treatise on creation, and for me, I don't see it contradicting physics and cosmology; I see physics and cosmology providing the fine details and Genesis 1 the broad strokes.The connection with Advent: God's purpose for creation is?shalom. That's what we're waiting for. 

Genesis 3: The Problem?Starts Here

Why does sin enter God's good creation?I don't know, and neither does anyone else. What we do know is that this creation that God created good is marred, every part of it. There are no problem-free situations. Sin has ruined everything. Because of sin there is racism, rape, war, divorce, cancer, etc.Note that sin means that deceit and blame are now a part of human relationships.The connection with Advent:?This is why we need a savior. This explains why the world is the way it is. 

Genesis 12: The Conspiracy Begins

It's the strangest plan in the world: the Lord's plan to redeem and heal all of creation begins with one lonely Mesopotamian nomad named Abraham. Through Abraham, the Lord will do something amazing: "in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:3b).One of the things I love about the Advent Conspiracy is how it begins so small: one man; one family; one manger.The?connection with Advent: This is where the conspiracy begins. 

Genesis 24: The Next Step

The plan won't work if the family line dies out. Abraham is miraculously blessed with a son named Isaac, and now Isaac meets his wife, Rebekah.The connection?with Advent: The conspiracy continues. 

Genesis 25: The Strangeness of the Conspiracy

Rebekah is pregnant with twins, and she receives a puzzling word from the Lord:"Two nations are in your womb,and two peoples born of you shall be divided;the one shall be stronger than the other,the elder shall serve the younger."? (Genesis 25:23)This strange conspiracy is overturning the way things work. Everyone knows that older brothers are more important than younger: this is how society works. And yet in this conspiracy, the elder shall serve the younger.The connection with Advent:?don't expect things to work the way you think they should. The Lord's ways are not our ways. Thank God. 

Genesis 37: The Conspiracy Begins to Unravel

That younger brother mentioned above is Jacob. Jacob fathers a whole bunch of kids (12 sons; 1 daughter) with four different women. You don't have to know much about human nature to know that this is going to be messy. The 2nd youngest son, and Jacob's favorite, is named Joseph. The family drama is so modern:

This is the account?of Jacob‘s family line.

Joseph,?a young man of seventeen,?was tending the flocks?with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah?and the sons of Zilpah,?his father‘s wives, and he brought their father a bad reportabout them.

Now Israel?loved Joseph more than any of his other sons,?because he had been born to him in his old age;?and he made an ornate?robe?for him.When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him?and could not speak a kind word to him."Genesis 37:2-4

Jacob's sons fake the death of Joseph and sell the boy into slavery. (You really should read the Bible--very interesting.)The?connection with Advent: Just because we can't see how the conspiracy is going to work, doesn't mean the Lord isn't working....

Come Work With Me

If you are looking for your dream job, look no further...Because your dream job doesn't exist. But, my church is hiring in our kids ministry: know anyone who'd be a good fit?*

Director of D6 Family Ministry

Munger Place Church is growing, and we are expanding our staff!? This full-time position is responsible for working with the Director of Discipleship and volunteer team to define, implement and oversee Christian education for children from birth through fifth grade, including Sunday morning programs, Vacation Bible School and much more. This position will also collaborate with other Munger staff on general Discipleship and churchwide programs and matters.D6 attendance on Sunday mornings currently averages about 175 children, with approximately 67 adults in D6 volunteer service.The Director of D6 Family Ministry is expected to maintain high Christian values and professional integrity in order to provide an example for the children and families of our community. His/her job is also to encourage all children and families of the community to strive for the same standards.Usual working hours?are Monday - Thursday 9 am - 5 pm, Sunday 8 am - 1 pm, an evening small group, and meetings/events at various times.Location:? Dallas, TXEssential Responsibilities include:Pastoral:? Influence and lead children and their families to Jesus Christ, being available to them in crisis situations and for concerns/questions, making pastoral care visits.Leadership:? Supervising, evaluating, recruiting, coordinating, training and supporting the D6 Ministry volunteer teams.? Selecting, supervising and directing paid, part-time nursery/childcare workers and art hour coordinator.? Attending/helping lead adult leadership retreats and meetings.? Participating in the research, design, and implementation of a ministry to the parents of children 0-18.Administration? Evaluating, planning, coordinating and overseeing all planning for regular ministries to children and their families, which includes D6 Sunday School, 4th and 5th grade ministry, childcare, Confirmation, family fight nights, parent classes/meetings, and any programming added to Children and Family Ministry.? Updating D6 webpages.? Helping plan and lead special children and/or family events (i.e. Back to School Sunday, 3rd Grade Bible Sunday, Christmas Eve Family Service, etc).? Planning and executing summer Vacation Bible School.Stewardship? Consistently evaluating the effectiveness of D6 programs and events and reacting accordingly.? Managing the D6 budget.? Collaborating with D6 and family ministries at HPUMC.Other? Attending church staff meetings, professional development/continuing education events and other meetings/events as necessary.WE REQUIRE a Christian (preferably United Methodist) committed to living a life that reflects the Gospel who is comfortable working in a United Methodist church and has the following qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field strongly preferred
• Seminary or other formal religious education preferred
• At least 3 years experience in church ministry as staff or lay leader
• Supervisory experience required
• Ability to build, lead and empower volunteer teams
• Ability to adapt and evaluate curriculum
• Ability to implement a ministry vision
• Proficient computer skills, using applications such as MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, database, email, Internet and social media. Should also be comfortable updating website pages.
• Excellent organization, communication (verbal and written) and listening skills, with a high degree of initiative and accountability
• Exceptional interpersonal and relational skills, with sensitivity to church members and visitors
• Familiarity with United Methodist doctrine; must be comfortable teaching it and representing the church
• Understanding and enjoyment of children and families and guiding their spiritual development
• Familiarity and comfort with special needs children and with diverse socioeconomic populations
• Physical demands include sitting, standing, walking, seeing, hearing, lifting approx. 10 lbs.

We provide?competitive pay and full benefit package, generous holiday schedule, and a fun, collaborative and supportive work environment!To apply, please email the following to?jobs@hpumc.org, specifying D6 Director/Munger in subject line:

• Resume & cover letter/email
• Your pay requirement
• Your religious/church affiliation

No calls, please. * For those of you Mungarians who are wondering, Amanda Grubbs is NOT going anywhere. Instead, she'll become Director of Discipleship at Munger and will be responsible for D6, youth, and adult discipleship, i.e., she'll be overseeing the aspects of ministry at Munger that do not involve worship. Amanda is a talented, faithful leader, and I think she'll be a rockstar in this new role.?If you see her around, be sure to tell her congratulations on her promotion (which is what this essentially is). I'm personally grateful to have her as a colleague.

You Need to Know the Background to This Prayer

My friend Lin Thomas is blind. He was diagnosed a few years ago with irreversible glaucoma; the doctor who evaluated him told him, "You'll never work again."Lin can't work, but he's busy. He rides up and down on the DART train in Dallas making connections with troubled young men who remind him of himself when he was younger. His disability has given him the time to do that sort of thing.Lin lives on a disability check. Even in straitened financial circumstances, he tithes--gives 10%--to our church.Last Sunday, Lin gave me a prayer he'd written, and I asked him to read it in church today. Here's his prayer (text below the video):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVzl2uDub-w&feature=youtu.be

Lin Thomas's Thanksgiving Prayer

(1 Thessalonians 5:18: Give Thanks Always)Father, thank you for the life that we live;Thank you for the love that you give;Thank you for the food that we eat;Thank you for a strong heartbeat;Thank you for the water we drink;Thank you for the thought we think;Thank you for the pleasure and pain;Thank you for the sunshine and rain;Thank you for a place here on Earth;Thank you for the grace of our birth.In Jesus' name, Amen.