Archive for March, 2009

Why Nickelodeon Needs a Kick in the Pants

I like to toss a rant-bomb into tween pop-culture now and then and it always makes people mad.  I really should stop myself, but I can’t help it.  I have a daughter that is racing at a screaming (or, I should say, squealing) pace into tweendom so my opinions run a little stronger in this department.

So here I go again, rant-bomb incoming…

Dear Nickelodeon,

I would like to make an appointment with whoever programmed the lineup for your recent “Kids Choice Awards” show.  This appointment would have one singular action item on the agenda:  me kicking you in the pants repeatedly until you promise to NEVER have the Pussycat Dolls perform on your stage ever again.

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1032 days ago 8

Stuff No One Told Me Before I Became a Pastor

hindsightSo I’m almost 2 years into this gig and I figure I’ve got +20 more to go.  I only have 2 years of hindsight under my belt, but those two years have been packed with learning some things the hard way.  No one has called me “the new pastor” in a while so I figure that means I’m out of the honeymoon stage and can no longer be called a “newlywed”.

I suppose now I can look forward to the stage where I can’t blame my blunders on being “the new guy”, nor can I fall back on my “many years of experience” as a bona-fide.  It’s kind of like turning 25.  No one calls you “kid” or “young man” any more, but no one respects your age either!

What have I learned that no one told me before I signed the dotted line?

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1037 days ago 6

Grumbling and Gossip – Leperosy is a Drag

gossip-webI was on a retreat most of last week, so I had Vic Spencer fill in for me.  He did an outstanding job.  He talked about the Israelites and their propensity for grumbling, complaining, and divisive talk.  More specifically, how those things really rub God the wrong way… in a “earth-opens-up-and-swallows-you” kind of way.  Unfortunately, this is a touchy subject for most people because it touches on issues concerning authority and submission.  Those two topics make everyone nervous because no one likes getting hurt and most leaders are afraid of being perceived as a proud overlord.

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1052 days ago 2