Tim's Tangents

Penn State Prayers

2011-11-09T18:47:00.000-08:00

I graduated from the Pennsylvania State University in May of 1997. My memories of college skip from football games to classrooms to parties to friendships forged there. The atrocities committed by one of the former football coaches have left me incredibly sad. I'm not looking for explanations or excuses, but rather I'm saddened by the continual state of sin that pervades an otherwise perfect world. I have Penn State pride, because I was part of something that was institutional, and full of power--and it was on a massive scale. Everything, from the cheers at Beaver Stadium, to the challenges of scheduling the right classes, to the connectivity that has been created by that University--everything happened en masse. You never did anything alone, and so with such a scale always at your fingertips, both the victory and the defeat happened with intensity--and it affected everyone.

I lived in Pittsburgh, PA for 7 years, marveling at the hold the Steelers had (and continue to have) on that entire Western Pennsylvania culture. If you want to have a conversation with another person in that part of the world, you'd better be able to speak football--at least a little bit. Passion was defined by your proximity to the game--whether it was a High School Friday Night rivalry, a college noon-day kick-off, or a Sunday afternoon game with the NFL. And make no mistake about it--whether it's a good season or a throw-away record, when the Steelers lose, the entire town plunges into depression on Monday morning. The grey sky that shields the sun for months at a time doesn't help the mood.

I do love football, as well as many other sports that distract us from the realities of everyday life that are not so pretty to watch. So when those everyday realities collide with our escapism, the mix is really distressing. How can I watch Penn State play football without this awful association now? How do I enjoy all of the blue and white and the pride it stirs within, without the association that those who have been paid to represent those color combinations have really betrayed so many people, whether out of naivete or simple fear of the consequences? The ties we have to football, and especially to college football, run much deeper than they probably should. Just like our professional athletes, these public figures have thrust upon them expectations of behavior that are, quite frankly, unfair--unfair only because they are expectations that negate the possibility of human error. But as my wife always says, "perception is reality", and so whether the expectations are deserved or not, they become reality. And that's what makes the pain so much more real--not only that these things were committed by such public figures, but that they all had direct associations with our university, and with our football team.

I have to say that another feeling that accompanies this for me, is that of being alone--if you count being alone with 40,000 within a student body and with nearly 600,000 living alumni. Unless this was your school, it doesn't have the same association. While I don't know who wrote it, this letter shows real class from a similar school that went through recent scandal of a very different kind. In a way that only exists through playful rivalry, I have a new respect for Ohio State after reading this letter of commiseration.

Ultimately, it's only football, and it is just a game. But the players in that game--and in the University settings which can offer so much and take away just as much--they are people who strive for their best and who can fall down just as hard. While nothing has come to trial yet, the pain that is yet to be experienced seems inevitable. I pray for Jerry Sandusky and his illness--inhuman though it seems--a problem that plagues our society in ways we cannot truly know, because so much of the crime is so screamingly silent. Maybe the the public nature of this scandal will remind us of the deep, deep pain that is spread by pedophilia and sexual predation. I'll pray for Joe Paterno, Graham Spanier, Tim Curley and Gary Schultz, among others who have probably acted out of panic and fear, hoping that such a horrible situation might just go away. It never goes away--especially for the victims, as well as for those who have lied to themselves about the crimes they have committed. I'll pray for the families and the abused, who will never have the opportunity to live the lives they led before they were abused, and who must face their own memories each moment. These things are not easily remedied.

And I hope that, somehow, my school will recover and learn from the revelation that has come in to the light. Just as it is within the imperfect body called the Church, we do not cease to be Penn State--we still are. . .warts and all. We just might not be cheering quite so loudly for awhile.

Stupid things that mean the world . . .

2011-03-23T18:16:00.000-07:00

The day after my wife posted a wonderful blog about our son, Liam, wanting a doll, I encountered a scene that concluded with a great deal of frustration. Upon returning home from a church meeting with both boys in tow, I discovered that our separation anxiety-ridden dog had dismantled Liam's Buzz Lightyear doll to the point of unrecognizable mutilation. I do hope, for those of you into the CSI shows, that Buzz had dental records. As my boys sifted through the polyester insulation that once filled Buzz, it was like watching a horror flick where the tantalizing lure of the stuffing helped them see right past the present reality. Poor Liam never even saw the carcass.

My response was less playful. And I must apologize to my dog, Heinz. He was obviously frustrated that we had left him all day and were home for a quick dinner and then left him again. But through my rage, I wasn't seeing things from his wounded perspective. I was fightin' mad. And I'm confident Jesus says, in a number of ways, don't take revenge, but he had hit me where it hurt. And I don't care, quite frankly, whether it's a doll or anything else--Liam loved that stupid thing--and my stupid dog took that stupid thing away from him and I was as enraged as I can ever remember. The worst part was thatt the dog did not know why. Human logic would tell me that his cowering at my rage was because he knew why he was bad, but Cesar Millan will tell you that dogs just aren't that good at putting the sequence together. They respond to our emotions. Well, Cesar, I agree--but why was he cowering before I even stepped in the room?

Needless to say, if there is a realm called Infinity, Buzz is finally beyond it. Because we love our children and because we continue to try and show this love to them in tangible, meaningful ways, we won't succumb to the temptation to go out and buy every single gift we think we should. But this one, because of the need for healing, will likely be replaced in the near future. As Liam was placed into his crib he started to say, "Buzz. . .Buzz. . . " Thanks, son. Break my heart a bit more, please. I had to tell him that I was going to look for him and see if I could find him. I knew where to look. . .somewhere beyond infinity.

We love you, Liam. And we will always do what we can to show you so. As for you, Heinz? Not so much right now. Talk to me in the morning.

AND I PAID RETAIL!!!!

Blessed Christmas

2010-12-23T17:40:00.000-08:00

Joy amidst some sadness characterizes the start of this Christmas season in 2010. It has been an overwhelming year, and on this night before the Eve of Christmas, I'm feeling every bit of it. Parenthood is exhausting. Ministry is exhausting. Family struggles are exhausting. Roller-coaster days of emotion, the stress of culminating events, the schedule that doesn't yield--it can all be draining. Yet, I am not discouraged. I'm not burnt-out (not even remotely). I'm not unhappy (quite the contrary). I'm not in disbelief (I believe more strongly than ever before).

The best part of my life these days continues to be my family. Kelly, now happy in a new job, provides amazing support for me in the relentless call that God places on those who work in the church. The fact that she also works in a church makes this much easier. My boys bring me more joy than I can find words to express. It's not that every moment is bliss--hardly true. When they are tired, they wear me out. And I've lost my patience too many times with them. . .even today. But they are such wonderful additions to my life that they have become part of what defines me. I would do anything for them.

Our ministry has proven challenging this past year, more than I ever expected. There are no regrets, but we've tackled a building project--something that will try the most tested pastor. Yet, we are on our way and the process is full of hope. We've changed many staff people, we have endeavored into new areas of mission, and we have pushed the limits as we know them. And in this final week of Advent, we have said goodbye to four people within our church community. Death is especially hard this time of year, while we are so focused on preparing for new life. Yet, there is no better time to proclaim the gospel than at the Advent of Jesus.

There is so much for which to be grateful, and even amidst the sorrow of death, divorce, broken relationships, of lost faith, of vengeful spirits, of hopeless cynics--even when we are dog-tired, I'm full of joy today. I think tomorrow looks just as good.

Take Me By the Heart

2010-09-11T07:47:00.000-07:00

My brother wrote a song in honor of our wedding called "By Heart". It starts with the lyrics, "Take me by the heart, then we can start our lives together". . .I had no idea how much the heart would be part of my past week's experiences. All in all, everything is fine, but a trip to the ER and then even (one) night's stay in a hospital is enough to give one perspective. I'm at the hospital all the time, and I probably visit Brandon Regional more than any. It is 1/2 mile from the church, and I've been to all sections of it. It didn't occur to me that I might at some point be there as a patient.

After a few days fighting what was diagnosed as strep throat (and I believe it was), I began to feel some pressure in my chest, shoulders, neck, head and arms. If it was coming and going, I probably would have done nothing about it, but it was not subsiding, so I drove myself to an urgent care place. But it was after 10pm and few of them are open late. So it was off to the ER. When you mention anything with the word "chest" you have a golden ticket to the front of the line. EKG, chest x-ray, start the IV (thanks--"Dusty the paramedic"), some children's aspirin, then eventually some morphine, some nitro paste, and something to help the nausea. I must have met 15-20 different people through my stay, all very nice and caring. Our local hospital doesn't always get the best reputation compared to some neighboring care centers, but they've done well by us with two children born, and now an overnight stay by yours truly.

With elevated troponins (heart enzymes), the signs pointed to heart attack, but I wasn't a candidate with history, age, etc. Other things can cause these high levels, which essentially show that the heart is in distress. In my case it was the ongoing fight against strep that had started to affect this lower area of my upper body. I had a heart catheterization at 9 am and it revealed healthy arteries. A Echocardiogram revealed no fluid buildup. Pericarditis (inflamation of the sac surrounding the heart) was the diagnosis, attributed to my strep infection. Treatment includes some ibuprofen to control the inflamation. I don't know if my body was so run-down that I was more susceptible to this infection than usual, but it really did attack more severely than I thought it had. I'm grateful for those who took care of me, and especially for Kelly, who managed to balance the need to be a mother and a wife all at the same time.

On this day when we are remembering the events of 9/11, with swirling escapades of Koran burning, in a world that has both become smaller and more divided, my gratitude is a bit closer to the heart today--for health, family, and as I'm interrupted in finishing this--for little boys who take the initiative to poop on the potty. We have to go to McDonald's. Gotta love it!

Strep by Strep

2010-09-08T08:34:00.000-07:00

So, I had every intention of a wonderful Labor Day weekend. I was going to fly to Pittsburgh, reunite with my family, surprise my friends as Kelly and I joined them for a few nights in remote Pennsylvania, and then some family time over the holiday before we all returned to Florida together. What happened instead was that I left the church early on Thursday because I wasn't feeling well. I prepared to leave, got the house closed off, dogs boarded, headed to the airport, and through two flights really started to feel worse. I reunited with the family, had dinner, and Kelly and I headed off to surprise my friends. Still feeling worse.

When we got there I just wanted to crawl in bed, and so I did. Got up for about 3 hours on Saturday, and after lunch went back to bed as my friends sat in the other room laughing and reminiscing. I felt very far away. That afternoon, after realizing that I had spent the past 21 out of 24 hours in bed, Kelly asked if we should head back. I reluctantly said we should. So I bade farewell to my buddies, got in the car and headed back to her parents house. That night I was up every two hours, shivering and never getting even close to comfortable. I didn't sleep, and I didn't feel very well. I really wasn't enjoying Labor Day weekend at all. I almost felt as though I shouldn't have come.

Sunday I got myself to a walk-in and even though the quick-strep test came back negative, the PA thought I was in the margin of error. Amoxicillin, lots of liquids, and rest. I was starting to feel well enough for a 6 hour day with the boys and family, enough to salvage some of the dream weekend. I think my Labors were catching up with me. Kelly was disappointed, I was distraught, and we just felt an opportunity missed. Only now am I thankful for the chance to get away and see my family again, or that I really did relish seeing my friends, even for a few minutes. I trust there will be other opportunities and better times.

Grief

2010-08-26T09:49:00.000-07:00

My article from September #1 edition of The Happenings--FPC newsletter.

Dear Friends,
Back to school again! As we move into the Fall season, and as I notice the lack of Fall weather we are used to in the north, it’s refreshing to see these new beginnings of a school year. As usual, it sneaks up on us and causes us to utter those words, “Back to school already?” I’m still recovering from the Spring. What happened to Summer? Ah, the cycle of life continues.

Today, as I write this, my little baby is turning 3 years old. At the same time, I’m grieving a very sad loss of some of our Pittsburgh friends. Their son died in the middle of the night over the weekend, due to a freak health problem that no one could have foreseen. He was 7 years old. As a parent, I am feeling the gut-wrenching response in a whole new way. And the more I watch my own children grow, the more painful news like this seems to hit me. I cannot imagine the position of those parents, but I can see the pain that might be inflicted if it were my own that were taken from me at such an age. Death is not easy, it is not ever expected, and even when we know the time has come—rarely is it experienced with grace. As a pastor I get to watch families go through that process—a privilege to be able to stand alongside the dying and those they leave behind. But no level of preparation, solid theology, or counseling can make the emotions change. People need to grieve, they need closure, they need acceptance. Ignoring these realities is not helpful, but often saying words that are meant to comfort are not helpful either. And as I think about the response that we have as social, relational beings, the best we can hope to do for those who grieve is simply be present.

In the moments of death and the moments that follow, I think the greatest need of those who are grieving is to know that they are not alone. It is a state of loneliness, a time of vulnerability, a place of huge questions. But in the state that most find themselves, no answers will suffice. It is emotion that demands the response and the emotion does not seek a rational answer. The emotion of grief only wants to know that it is not alone.
In the benchmarks that are reached by each person as he/she grows up, moments of the past must die, just as moments of the present and future are born. Today is also the first day of school for many around here. Parents are both joyful and grieving. Their little ones are beginning kindergarten, but their baby-hood has come to a close. A world of emotions once again floods the life cycle. But when we baptize our little ones we are acknowledging that they really aren’t ours. We are recognizing that they are God’s more so than any possession we might keep. And maybe it’s a way to let go, or a way to cope when they are suddenly taken from this life, but it’s also entrusting to God’s care the ones who mean so very much to us. And we don’t have to live without faith in the darkest times because we have acknowledged that we have not only entrusted, but we have also trusted. God will take care, God knows more than we can know, and it really is going to be okay. God’s peace for the journey. . .

Peace, Love, Hope and Joy,
Tim

New floors

2010-06-10T19:08:00.000-07:00

. . . but here's a look at some of our new flooring and many hours of work to give our home a new, functional feel. We're really pleased with what we've done and even though there's still some finishing work remaining, and even though I'm not taking this on as a new career, it was a great learning experience, we saved a lot of money, and we love the result.

Reformergents. . . UNTIE!

2010-04-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

I was able to have a blog posted on the Presbymergent website yesterday. Give it a read and let me know what you're thinking. . .

Building For The Future

2010-03-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

This message was the last before we dedicate our gifts and pledges for our Building For The Future campaign at church. We'll combine our worship services this coming Sunday (a logistical bad dream--not quite a nightmare) and pack the house for a unique worship service. Even in the midst of the present economic fears, it has been exciting to see a church who is forging ahead with courage--not recklessly, but faithfully.

True Love or False Start?

2010-02-16T10:11:00.000-08:00

Here's my latest message from First Presbyterian. Enjoy!

Bald is beautiful!

2010-02-10T06:14:00.000-08:00

When Kelly decided to shave her head in support of her good friend, Harmony, we really didn't think about the impact this would have on so many people. Reactions have gone from incredible support, to concern for Kelly's health, to prayers for her friend and everything in between. Since Micah had more hair than the rest of us put together, we got him to join us in our bald look and we had some portraits taken to commemorate the moment. We were pleasantly surprised at how much we enjoyed our own family picture, so here's a glimpse of our session. The boys were momentarily cooperative, and I'm still amazed at those who can photograph children and get that split second where everything looks joyful. The moments in between were not! We're loving life and feeling the chill in the air a bit more!

Spiritual Teething

2010-01-12T07:27:00.000-08:00

Here's my latest message from the pulpit at First Presbyterian Church of Brandon. Thanks!

Love, Love, Love

2009-12-22T11:46:00.000-08:00

Here's my latest sermon from First Pres. for the fourth Sunday in Advent.

Get in the Way!

2009-11-30T06:48:00.000-08:00

Here's my latest sermon from First Presbyterian on the first Sunday of Advent. Peace!

The Lost One

2009-11-29T19:25:00.000-08:00

It's hard to come to grips with such terrible events as the one we experienced this past day-after-Thanksgiving. Kelly already blogged about it, and it was a significant part of my sermon this morning. When we learned that a two and a half year old boy went missing in our neighborhood, we were overcome with feelings of empathy. We immediately (if innocently) put the face of our own two year old on the one who had disappeared. It was because of our connection as parents of two young children that we felt such responsibility to help find this young child, Luis. The result on Saturday was not what we wanted to hear, that he had fallen through a septic tank cover that had not been properly sealed.
As people reflected on the message this morning on their way out the door, many were asking the questions that I am not interested in asking. The "whys" of these kinds of events don't usually satisfy our human need to rationalize the results. Rather, I want to know how God is going to walk through our tragic moments with us. Suffering, as it's been presented to me, is a universal human experience. How we deal with it--how God helps us deal with it, is something that goes beyond our human ability.
The other part of my sermon today dealt with Harmony and her testimony about hope, having been through a terrible car accident and speaking into the amazing truth that retribution is not ours--forgiving the drunk driver, finding her faith even stronger because of her gratitude--not bitter for having her life forever altered. What grace and promise we can find if we look for
God, even through the tragic. I'm filled with sorrow, suffering and hope--all at the same time today. Only God could fill me with such complexities. And I'm grateful. Peace be with you all.

You. . .Complete Me!!!

2009-10-25T13:18:00.000-07:00

Here's Tim's latest sermon, preached at First Presbyterian on October 25th.

Baseball and the divine

2009-10-13T07:48:00.001-07:00

I get excited by watching baseball. Most of my friends, who tend to like football (which I also enjoy) think baseball is boring and dull. I suppose that more accurately describes my personality and I wonder if this is why I gravitate towards this particular sport. It doesn't move quickly and it is not full of hard hits and bloody carnage. But it is more a test of the mind, the body, and the spirit, I think. There is strategy, patience (inherent in the game itself) and stamina. I also don't think many realize how difficult it really is to hit a round ball with a round bat. So, it is something I enjoy. And I really love my Phillies. Last year was wonderful, after struggling to stick with them for 28 years, they finally won another World Series. And while this is exciting for me, I often wonder why so many of us get so concerned about sports. It is a chance, I suppose, to live vicarious lives. It's akin to the virtual community that allows us to escape, be someone else, not have to deal with the reality of everyday struggles. Does God really care about our sporting? As was said to me once, "Maybe it's a better outlet for our barbaric tendencies than killing each other in hand-to-hand combat." I would have to agree. Anyway, I'll continue to relish the chance to root for my team and cheer them on--whatever that is supposed to mean.

The Passing of the Peace

2009-09-30T06:21:00.000-07:00

Ever heard a college fight song used as part of a sermon? Well, wait no more. This is my latest message at First Presbyterian, based on Genesis 15:7-21. Click here to listen.

Back into the Swing

2009-09-11T08:12:00.001-07:00

We just returned home last evening from a 10 day vacation to the north (Pennsylvania) and enjoyed some wonderful weather, time with family and friends, and both of our boys. It was not restful, but it was enjoyable. It seems that parenting never takes a vacation. Even with the help of family, additional grandparents, aunts, uncles, and surrogates, we found that our boys needed a great deal of attention. It isn't possible to just sit around and rest anymore. So, as the saying goes, we need a vacation from vacation. We're glad to return home to the familiar surroundings, but there is something familiar about our destination each time we're in Pittsburgh. It's not our immediate home, but it will always be "home", for what it's worth. Roots are there, friends are still there, and even though some new buildings go up and old ones fall down, the city is quite familiar to us.
The differences are the present place in life we find ourselves--while we were in PA, Kelly and I celebrated 7 years of our first date, which seems like yesterday and also so many life changes ago. We have been married over 5 years, have two children and some great learning in between. We are so grateful that our home will always be where we happen to be, yet we are also thankful for our past and the ways it has brought us into the present.

Camp is Fun!

2009-08-07T15:14:00.000-07:00

I've just spent this past week leading worship for a bunch of campers at Cedarkirk Camp and Conference Center in Lithia, Florida. At the same time, I'm missing my old TYC (Trinity Youth Conference) community up in Schellsburg, PA, who are also meeting this week. TYC was where my faith was not so much formed, as it was refined. So, this is the 4th time I've led worship at Cedarkirk, and each time I don't actually stay at the camp, but rather drive out each evening because it's only 15 miles from our home. In the past, I wanted to sleep in my own bed, be with Kelly and the dogs, and then Micah and Liam came along, so I'm even more inclined to be at home. But this week, I'm really glad I didn't stay. The whole camp has been battling an outbreak of swine flu. Thirty-some campers left early, and it's put a bit of a damper on the week for those that have remained. But God is still here and we're still worshiping as we are called to. Prayers go out for those who have been suffering with the high fevers and ickyness. I'm hopeful that all recover well. In the meantime, I'll return to my family and enjoy (hopefully without the flu) the weekend. Liam gets baptized this Sunday, so that will be a celebration. I hope he doesn't cry.

Unmaking of a Part Time Christian

2009-07-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

I'd like to promote my friend, Derek's, latest book today. Derek has a great gift for articulating the faith, turning complexities into simplicities, and most of all, challenging us to think. I've appreciated his partnership in ministry and wish for him that his writings continue to find a new audience. Please check out the book if you have the means.

Emerging Worship

2009-07-24T20:19:00.000-07:00

I've been working with a small group to begin planning a new worship service at our church. The rules are---there are no rules! The more we study and think and try to be good, headstrong Presbyterians, the more we realize that we don't have to worry about this so much. While using our minds and our spirits and our hearts and our strength to serve the Lord, there is so much that we don't seem to know about the folks who aren't church-goers. The unchurched, dechurched, rechurched among us are the folks we would love to reach through a very different gathering time, but the orderly, linear way of doing all things Presbyterian isn't the way to go about it. In fact, the Presbyterians are starting to realize, I think, that we've been so worried about being in order for so long, that we haven't let the Spirit have its way with us to the fullest extent. So, what are we going to do? I hope to continue to reflect on that in the next few months ahead.

2009-07-24T08:43:00.001-07:00

Baking @ WDW w/the fam.

2009-07-23T13:57:00.001-07:00

Getting ready to head home.

2009-07-23T13:54:00.001-07:00

Heading home.

2009-07-23T10:40:00.001-07:00

Getting ready for a worship meeting.

Social Notworking!

2009-07-22T13:08:00.000-07:00

It's always interesting to see what kind of toys are out there. I realized that I don't have to "update my status" every 2 minutes, and even less importantly, I don't have to do it on every different outlet I've created. I didn't realize how many different ways to touch base there were. I'm hoping that I can find an easy way to post my bi-weekly newsletter article, my blog, my status and my Tim-centric perspective. For as much as this technology is about the "ME", I suppose it can also be about the "WE" and the opportunities we have for relationship, if only by e-lationship. Lord, show us how to be in this ever-growing new world!

2009-07-22T12:49:00.001-07:00

Pong!

2009-07-22T11:57:00.001-07:00

Trying to ping. . . "PING!!!"

Managing my virtual life

2009-07-09T14:26:00.000-07:00

I'm realizing, that keeping up with facebook, twitter, blogger, website updates for the church, and all the peripheral stuff can be quite a full time job in and of itself. I'm not sure, in our desire to be connected, how much time to spend and justify, but it has become a sort of ministry for those of us who are online a good bit of the time. I'm grateful that technology allows for it, but not always sure of the best way to utilize it. I hope I can sort this out!

Tim's latest sermons

2009-07-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

Here are Tim's messages from the last three weeks:

June 21st, Father's Day: "A Father's Forgiveness"

June 28th: "What Does a Sheep Say?"

July 5th: "Finding Our Coin"

Surgery pics of Liam

2009-05-22T18:55:00.000-07:00

Dad ready for surgery observation and moral support.Dr. Den Haese on the right performing the C-Section.Liam's head emerges.And the rest of him follows suit.All the way out, with Dr. Den Haese getting ready to cut the cord.Daddy gets to cut the rest!

The Mystery of What We'll Become

2009-05-07T12:54:00.000-07:00

Here's Tim's latest sermon preached on April 26th, 2009. Click here to download.

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

2009-03-31T12:47:00.000-07:00

Here's Tim's latest sermon from March 29th, 2009 at First Presbyterian Church of Brandon.

Street Smarts

2009-03-10T13:14:00.000-07:00

Click Here to listen to this sermon.

Ash Wednesday Message--"It's All About (Name)"

2009-03-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

Click Here to hear the sermon.

A Blog for Every Season

2009-03-05T13:49:00.000-08:00

It is Lent. We're in the midst of this time of self-examination and exploration of the depths of our spirits. It can get messy. It can get ugly. It is part of the purification of our 'selves' that needs to happen to let God come in and fill us.
I hope that this Lent we can learn to depend even more on God for all that we need. Too many times we seem to try to fend for ourselves and this is not how God created us. Yet, I'm guilty of it as much as anyone. Finding a way to lean on God more and more means we have to give up more and more. In this time of economic crisis, we seem to give up things only when we absolutely have to, and because people are out of money, out of housing, out of employment--giving up is starting to happen more frequently. But this giving up should actually lead us to greater happiness. I hope the lesson learned from this day and age is not lost in despair, but an invitation to hope again.

Jesus Added You as a Friend on Facebook

2009-02-10T13:23:00.000-08:00

CLICK HERE to hear this sermon from February 8, 2009 at First Presbyterian Church of Brandon, Florida.

Emerging in May

2008-05-01T11:56:00.000-07:00

Gee, I'm just not very good at blogging on a regular basis. Maybe I need to just try for once a week, but that's hard with my erratic schedule. There's a real need to do this, though. Much of what's keeping me going right now is what I've learned and reflected upon through Brian McClaren's latest book, "Everything Must Change". It's challenging me in how I look at the world, others within it, and all such things. I'm grateful for the ways McClaren has given voice to a re-emerging church and the reclaiming of Jesus for those of us interested in truly following. It's not easy, but Jesus never said this would be easy.

Not too good at blogging yet

2008-04-04T09:37:00.001-07:00

It's hard to get in to this flow, but I need to make a point of getting this up to date. I just discovered Facebook recently (http://www.facebook.com/) and it was a great way to reconnect with many people I had forgotten about. Micah is a daily joy, we've had both grandfathers visit in the past two weeks, and though we're exhausted it was fun to have them pass through. We're looking forward to the Johnsons visiting this weekend and hope that the rain is not too dampening on their time with us. This is really just a post to get me back into the swing of doing this. More of actual substance will come later. For now, a picture of my boy!

Micah and the Great Pumpkin

2007-11-02T12:15:00.000-07:00

We've been enjoying Micah's moments all along, from a quick visit from the grandparents, to a pose in a pumpkin. He's really starting to smile a bit more, which is always fun to see. He is an even-tempered baby for the most part, so I'm thrilled with how he's "been", even when he's hungry and fussing. We are truly enjoying having him around.

Phailing Phillies

2007-10-11T10:54:00.000-07:00

As some might know, I'm a big baseball phan (I mean, fan), and I'm still lamenting the rise and phall of the Phillies this year. Their historic comeback to overtake the NY Mets in the final weekend was truly remarkable and gave the city spirit that it hasn't seen in some time. And yet, their run was ended in just as dramatic a fashion, getting swept by the Rockies in three games. They forgot how to hit and their pitching, which was good, wasn't good enough. And after watching two of the other three division series end in sweeps, I didn't feel quite so bad. Yet, it's hard seeing them phalter. I guess there's always next year.

Blogging at last, blogging at last. . .

2007-10-10T16:06:00.000-07:00

. . .Seems like I've been saving up all my thoughts and keeping them to myself instead of publishing them for the world to read, but I've been intrigued by all the blogging out there and some of the bloggologians (web-logging for Jesus). Thought I'd add to the mix and start to develop something to see where it leads. I already write a column every other week for our newsletter at the church, called Tim's Tangents, so that gives me a regular place to start. And since we just had a son, who has already developed (or at least Kelly developed) two of his own websites, I was already behind. He can be found in two places (www.babysites.com/sites/kellyannblack) and (http://www.blackfamilybloggers.blogspot.com/). He's a good looker and we love him very much. All for now. Off to think of more tangents.