brent(inWorship)

I watched some of McCain’s speech tonight. It was as I suspected, a bit dull. Obama knows how to talk. But that kind of scares me as well

I am not one for the conventions. I am not into rhetoric and hype and both parties will be full of it during the conventions. (no pun intended)

We were watching CNN. I tried watching one of the big 3, but they wouldn’t quite talking. I turned it to CNN and no one was talking so I went with it.

Here’s where I am going. After the convention was over, I listened a little to the media’s opinion of the speech. I didn’t hear much I was surprised with. Eventually they started discussing what it will take for McCain to win. Then I heard this statement. 

“He will have to win the vote of both the Hockey Mom and the Walmart Mom.”

What?

These commentators went on to explain what the hockey mom was. They even pointed out where they live in this country. They clearly described the hockey mom’s as the higher income influential women in the country. The walmart mom’s were not given a description, but were still used to describe a group of women.

What? Did they just call high income women hockey mom’s and low income women walmart mom’s?

Am I missing something here? Did they just place women into two categories, rich and poor?

Does this bother you? It’s bugging the crap out of me.

When do we know we have done enough? Do you ever feel done?

I’ve felt this way in my position as a Worship Pastor. On one hand, ministry never ends. It’s never complete. It’s a journey. On the other hand, there are tasks I handle that have a deadline or a finished product.

I am a person that like to accomplish something. I loke to have a finished product. Yesterday and today I have been painting and moving into a new office. It feels good to near the end of this task. Although this task is quite insignificant.

Here’s where I have to balance. Ministry, is about the journey. It is about people. It is not about process. Sure, process and procedure is great, but only 1 part in loving God and loving people.

I need to continue, in every aspect of what I do, to evaluate. Am I only focused on getting the job done? Or am I enjoying the journey?

What do you think? Can you go through life without placing an expected accomplishment on your relationship with Christ?

My good friend Mandy has given us a challenge. An opportunity to take the month of September and “DO Something”. Watch the video and then head over to Mandy’s and get involved. You can also, at anytime, click on the “DO Something” badge in my sidebar and follow along.

watch from mandy thompson on Vimeo.

It’s School time! Crazy. The Summer flew by for me. Our kids are excited for Tuesday and the first day of school. Kota is starting Middle School and Kass is starting High School. That’s a bit weird.

We talked about families today at church. We talked about all the changes that come this time of year and the opportunity to consider it a new year and start fresh. We had fun bringing football into it. I really appreciated the thoughts on not becoming complacent. Things can sneak up on us and we should be aware of the life around us that God has given us to live. Keep our eyes set on Jesus and keep moving. Another reminder (especially with all my thoughts lately) to not get comfortable.

The band did a great job and as always, I am honored to play and lead with this group.

The highlight this AM during the music time was definitely Jesus Paid It All. We went into this song after coming out of communion. It meant so much more to me as I sang this right after taking communion. We did the Kristian Stanfill version and if you are looking for a great version, grab that one.

Here was the music today…

All Because Of Jesus by Steve Fee
You Never Let Go by Matt & Beth Redman
Mighty To Save by Ben Fielding and Reuben Morgan
My Jesus I Love Thee (Communion) by Adoniram Gordon and William Featherstone
Jesus Paid It All by Elvina Hall and John Grape (Kristian Stanfill Version)
Everlasting God by Brenton Brown and Ken Riley

This is a part of Sunday Setlist over at Fred mcKinnon’s blog

In our recent discussions regarding politics and preception, I was reminded of something. My own faults. I am not one to seek out the issues of others. I am most definitely not one to try and prove people wrong. But in the midst of discussion, their is inevitably the opportunity to defend myself and in doing so, I very often point fingers or make claims.

Yesterday, I read something on a great blog by Stephen Brewster. He said,

“There are times you just have to decide you are going to be a problem solver and figure it out. Are your actions solving problems or starting them? Are you committed to figuring things out or pointing them out (usually the problem).”

This statement nailed me. In wanting to be a solver, am I just becoming the problem?

A great reminder for me, hopefully a good for one for you as well.

There was Toast. The Cheetoh was cool. Of course, the stained image on the freeway brought a ton of attention.

But now I give you, Jesus, on a moth.