possibly pointless posting

I wish I had something to say. In fact, there's much I would love to spill out, but I just can't. Not that I'm not willing to share what's on my mind, but I just can't. For some reason I can't sort everything out tonight and voice my thoughts, feelings, and opinions in coherent ways.
My mind is a jumble and my heart is a wreck. I feel like a cluttered mass of insecurity, confusion, pride, loneliness, joy, sorrow, delight, clarity, faith, doubt, pain, passion, and apathy... just to spit out a few descriptors.
I'm a walking, sitting, breathing oxymoron right now. I feel as if there should be an emphasis on the "moron." Why? I haven't the slightest clue. I just feel like a mess.
I'm sorry to say that I haven't anything useful to say. All I have to offer right now is the sputtering of some words. I guess I feel like it's somehow important for me to write this stuff out. Maybe it's only valuable for my own faith and well-being. I don't know. I struggle. A lot. But despite my thoughts and feelings, I know that I am loved and redeemed by Jesus Christ. When I feel like I am of no value, I hear his voice speak purpose into my life.

That's all.

theodoctridenominationalogicalism

I just want to get right down to what is stirring and rooting around in my heart. Where is the line that separates theology and doctrine? Doctrine from denominationalism? Why do we teach what we do and believe what we believe?

Are you asking these questions?
When is the last time you did?

Friends, we are living in the last days... still. It is later in those last days than ever before. Don't you think it's time to understand what you believe and why?

After a message delivered at our conference this week "the spirit of religion" has been at the forefront of my mind. Keep in mind that this spirit is not one we want lingering about in our churches- for this spirit is marked by self-righteous piety, condemnation, and legalism.

What teachings can a man stand on without engaging in legalism? Are there any? Is it really as simple as the difference between theological stances and doctrinal stances? I must ask... is the difference between theology and doctrine really that one is God-given and the other is man-delivered?

I engaged in a long conversation on these matters on our drive back to Eastern Missouri from the conference center in Nebraska. From my seat it wasn't an easy conversation. I will make clear however that hard can indeed be good... as it was in this situation.
I'm not certain there were many matters resolved other than continued respect, support, and love for one another. I simply... or, perhaps not-so simply... find myself with a lot of questions to take to the throne of God. I seek the wisdom of the Father.

How do we remain faithful to the Scriptures of our Lord AND avoid petty self-righteous religious legalism?

conference

I just came back from District Conference. I knew that I wanted to write about my experience, but have been struggling with what to write.

First off, I should say that I always thoroughly enjoy District Conference. Perhaps I've been blessed with favorable districts thus far. I can only speculate as to how painful some of the business meetings can be across the C&MA in the US of A.
I have enjoyed the networking opportunities and the conversations, the teaching and the worship, and the fellowship... the genuine fellowship which is far beyond the simple matter of banter over dinner. Fellowship is such a strong tool fro the rejuvenation of the soul.

Now with that all said, I must say that for as much as I enjoyed this Conference it was a difficult one for me as well. Please keep in mind that difficult does not equal bad. A man grows in character and in spirit through the difficulty of this simply complex life.
Frankly speaking I had a deep longing to be with the men and women who are in the service of God back in Wisconsin. The past couple of years I had the pleasure of sharing and learning with these servant leaders at their District Conference. My being was certainly in Nebraska City for my conference, but there was a part of me that wandered back home.

Please don't get me wrong. Do not hear what I am not saying. I delighted in my time at the conference in my current district residence and enjoyed deeply the opportunities to meet new men and women serving God in their ways. My heart is full with the the pleasure of worship with my brethren... (and sisteren?)

The teaching I received during conference was and is immeasurably valuable. I am grateful for the messages delivered. Oh the conviction in my soul. Conviction can be a difficult pill to swallow. There's that word again... difficult... see, difficult can be good! I told you so.
When the Spirit communes with my spirit it can be a beautiful and painful event. How I rejoice in its blessing.

I haven't much more to say.
Thank you to ThriveNet (MidAmerica District) ... I hope to see you in Florida.

what a mess

I can hardly believe how frustrating it can be dealing with people from day to day. Whether it's at the church, in the community, or at Bridgeway Counseling I am constantly encountering people that have some serious issues. The junk that we have to wade through in order to get to the heart of spiritual matters seems endless. Lives on every side are absolute messes. I have found myself longing to be in a church where the people are pulled together and the most troubling problems to face are about finding more volunteers to work in children's ministry or what color the cushions should be on the new chairs for the sanctuary. But here's what God has shown me...

I am a messy person. I am an utter mess. My life isn't all in order. I've got serious issues- mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I am doing everything possible to try to keep my exterior in order in hopes that nobody penetrates my thin candy coating to see the disarray within. As Casting Crowns puts it in one of their songs, I am continuing on with the "stained glass masquerade." It really sucks admitting to this, but what is the point of spiritual life if I can't be truly transparent?
Here's the thing, I'm in the process of change. Part of that process is taking seriously the passages in Scripture that tell us to confess our sins one to another and to seek to make amends with my brother when I have wronged him.

I am a messy person. I know you are too. And I'm not really sorry at all about blowing your cover. It's time that we all fess up to our shortcomings. Through the Twelve Steps of A.A. the men and women in recovery are instructed to realize their wrongs, confess them, and seek to make amends. These Twelve Steps are derived from steadfast Biblical principles. I have begun to see first hand the importance of theses men and women confessing their shortcomings one-on-one and in group settings. Why does it help? There are no secrets. No more shame, guilt, darkness, or skeletons. They are speaking in a safe environment with no fear of condemnation. They know that the person sitting next to them is as screwed up as they are.

The Bible tells us to confess verbally our sins... not only to God, but to others. We have grown to really love ignoring this fundamental principle and discipline of Christian life. We have come to have a mentality that suggests that I am okay not being the first to cast a stone, but I'll hold in ready in my hand just in case I get "found out." Brothers... Sisters... this can not be any longer! We are making a mockery of the word of God through this sin of exclusion!

I have come to realize through prayer, the exploration of the Scriptures, and the experience of life that I will not find a church that has everything all buttoned up and in order. When I find that I am convinced I will also find a body of people in straightforward denial. These people will be judgmental and fearful. They will be anxiety stricken and disobedient to God's word. They will be cold, calloused, and... worst of all, unloving. I would not want to be involved in that church. I do, however, pity them. My heart goes out to them because they need to experience the grace and mercy of our loving God in a way that will permit them to be vulnerable and let their mess show.

Every person in the Bible is messy. The heroes of our faith are adulterers, murderers, cheats, liars, drunks, bigots, and so on... There is only one who was not a mess, but he chose to get dirty. Jesus came to get his hands dirty. Ministry is filthy. A potter can not form clay without sticking his hands in and getting messy. In my experience, the clay has a tendency to be strewn about the whole of the potter. The potter gets muck all over him... and that's what makes it great! The potter becomes a part of the pot and the pot becomes a part of the potter. So it is with ministry.

Someone reading this right now is thinking, "Fat chance of that every happening in my church. I could never actually tell someone about my sins." Maybe you're thinking that you have too much at risk and that if anyone found out your shortcomings that it would ruin your career. I've dealt with this too. There are a ton of these fears that register in the mind. What finally convinced me to take the leap of confession was a simple question. Would I rather have false security in sin or have assurance of forgiveness in truth? Confession is a matter of obedience to God with real spiritual consequences. If we live our lives hiding behind the thin veneer of saying the "Christian" things and doing the "Christian" things and listening to "Christian" music and etc... we degrade our faith to a works-based salvation. But it is by grace that we are saved, through faith. We must trust God to work all things out for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purposes. Try believing God when he tells you it is good for you to confess your sins. I'm not promising there won't be pain, but I can assure you that God will provide the healing of the soul that comes with response to his will. And that is a beautiful thing.

Go ahead. Be yourself. Be messy. The way I am seeing things now is that I really wouldn't want it any other way. So watch out... there might be stains on the carpet and mud on those new cushions, but there will be restoration in the heart. I'm willing to make that trade.

can you hear me? please?

I go to Bridgeway and sit down with a man. His eyes have a difficult time focusing and he can't keep his hands from shaking- typical withdrawal symptoms, really. I introduce myself and ask him how things are going so far. He forces a smile and utters a positive response clearly tinged with cynicism. He asks, "Are you the new guy?" "No," I say, "It looks like you are." I can't help but smile at this exchange because of its frequency. I don't mind. I get a kick out of it and it really helps to break tension.

"I'm Gregg and do you mind if I request to be your spiritual advisor while you're at Bridgeway?"

There is a clear hesitation, but he decides to permit my request.
A week goes by without being able to meet with him. Why? He's taken a serious turn in his withdrawal. "He's still in medical detox." This is the answer I receive when I ask to start a session with him. Then, quite suddenly he is back at Bridgeway. Looking better... still not great. The eyes are clearer, but the twitching hands become more noticeable in his attempts to hide them.
He comes to our Celebrate Recovery meeting for inpatient clients and listens patiently.
At the end he politely approaches me to inform me that he intends to cease in his attendance of the group.

"Is there something wrong?"
"Yeah, it's just that I'm Jewish and I know how Christians think of Jews. I just won't be able to come back."
"Would you still be willing to sit down with me and talk? One-on-one. We'll talk about how your faith will direct your recovery process, okay?"
"Mmmm. Okay. Yeah, I'll meet with you."
"Thanks. See you tomorrow."

So I meet with this gentleman. I ask him to tell me his story and to share with me about his faith. I assure him of my respect for the Jewish people and affirm that I appreciate the culture. The rest takes care of itself. The conversation flows and so do the tears. He spills it all. His hurts and his hangups strewn across the lines of communication. His addictions and vices displayed for me to see. I listen. He tells me of his disorders and his relapses and his broken relationships. I listen. He tells me of his faith and life in attendance of temple. He tells me of his respect for his Rabbi. I listen. More tears flow as he recounts the loss of his brother and his mother. He repeats, "I just can't help this. I'm just so raw! I can't keep it in!" His expletives add a painful emphasis on his brokenness. I listen. He asks what I think of this mess. I tell him that I can see and hear the pain that he feels. I reassure him that I will make no judgment upon him. I ask him to tell me more. He does. He again asks my opinion. I share with him from the Psalms and from the prophets. He nods in appreciation. He talks some more. Our hour goes easily past as this frail and emotionally ruined man sits before me and spills the shards of his heart out on the floor.
I ask him if I could give him a hug. He looks up at me for the first time in many minutes. Through tear-filled eyes I can see the smallest measure of confusion as he admits that he really needed one at that moment. We hug and this wisp of a body trembles. Then, something amazing happens. He asks if I would meet with him again.

"Absolutely."

During our second meeting he disclosed more and displayed measure of trust that likely shocked his own being. We talked and shared. We laughed. He cried more, but admitted that a healing was taking place in his heart. He declared that he thinks he may be really coming to believe God again. He confessed sins to me and confessed that he didn't understand why he had such a desire to do so. He told me that he was feeling great in his sobriety, but was feeling frenzied at the same time. He asked if I understood and wondered if I knew what he was looking for. I nodded and God gave me the word. "Shalom." "You desire serenity, peace, justice... Shalom. It only comes from God." He looked at me with a smile and wide eyes in recognition and clarity. "You just told me what I've been looking for. You explained to me my heart!" He shared more of his pain and his struggles, then shared a song with me as he finger-picked the old strings on his far older guitar. He hadn't played in years, but he played me a song.
I listened.

I guess I couldn't really have conceived what would happen next. He looked at me and told me that he thinks he's going to return to his synagogue and that he wants to visit my church too. I smiled and told him that he was more than welcome anytime he wanted.
I don't know what the future holds for this man, but I am certain that God loves him. God loves him and desires to heal him. He wants to show love and mercy and grace to him. So be it.

Listening. That's all it really takes to reach into the heart of the hurting and help address the wound. To listen... and to hear... to understand and acknowledge before trying to solve the "problem." I think healing occurs as we listen to others, but miracles occur as we listen to God.

Shalom.

perceptions

As I have engaged in this internship in the St. Louis area I have learned a great deal about myself. I see the ways he works in the lives of people all around me. I see the ways he delivers people from the darkness of their past. I see the deliverance from addiction. I see the dynamics of church life and leadership... and the many struggles that come along with the territory. All this I see, but the brightest spotlight has been shown upon my own life and my own heart.

I came to St. Charles anticipating personal development and training for church planting. I somehow permitted myself to harbor a feeling in my heart that I would receive some training that would boost my credibility in some way and that I would simply return to Wisconsin and plant a church. Simple. Okay, let's all get on board and get it done. But... it seems that this plan (of mine) may not be exactly why God brought me to this land west of the M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I. (Just in case you have difficulty with that one in the spelling bee... )

As it seems to be turning out, there just aren't churches in my home district that are moving in the direction of mothering a church at this point. I'm sure that there are many reasons why this is the situation and I'm not exactly sure what they are. I don't desire to make any judgments about this. I will simply say that I am disappointed in this perceived resistance toward church multiplication. There are churches throughout our nation, and yes, in my home district, that are so very pregnant that it is almost a painful sight to behold. I pray that God will move in the hearts of church leaders and permit them to seize this vision of church multiplication.

(To any pastors reading this, please be assured that I mean no disrespect, but do encourage you to pray that our Lord show you how He desires to use you... and your church... in advancing the movement of the Kingdom through church planting and emerging leadership development. If you think that you are doing all that a church can do in your community you may have lost sight of the heart and vision of Christ... you may have also forgotten what a mighty God we serve. Please, go before God in honesty and openness seeking his will. There is no room for excuses before the throne of the Almighty. Just pray and permit God to show you what he will.)

Here's the thing about all of this. To some measure I am thankful that God has prevented me from already being placed within the setting of a church plant. He does know what I need far better than I do after all. This really should come as no surprise. Through this internship I have already discovered personal traits that would make planting very difficult for me. I have the heart and the desire and the vision, but may not have all of the skills... or the personality that would be necessities in such a ministry environment. I sometimes have a difficult time initiating conversation with people I run into around town. I can do this, but it isn't natural for me. As I have hit the streets... and the coffee houses... and the campus... and the gym... and etc... I've found myself in conversations fairly regularly, but have found that those conversations bear little fruit. I've also realized that I was constantly wishing that I had a "wing man" with me. I have come to understand that I am much more able to initiate cold-start conversations if I am accompanied by someone I can "play off of" or work with. These traits have been recognized and affirmed as well by my current leadership through this internship. It is of God that I have been experiencing and realizing these things. In my opinion, this is a pretty significant aspect of personality, life, and ministry to discover before dropping into a community to start a church. Does this mean that I will never be involved in a church plant? My thought is that it simply identifies a weakness in my skill set or gifting in regard to effective planting. So, I can work in a team planting setting. Great! I like that idea better than a solo parachute drop anyway! Maybe I won't be a lead planter. So what? I don't care if I'm the lead or associate or assistant or anything- as long as I am being faithful to the call of God in my life and working to share His Gospel with the people He loves and longs to have relationship with.

As I have previously written, I have seen greater definition of my skills and affirmation of my spiritual gifts. I am developing new talents and realizing my areas of weakness. For all of these lessons learned (and the lessons I am in the process of learning) I am deeply grateful. I thank God for providing me this opportunity to grow, learn, and mature in ways that I may not have had I remained in Wisconsin. I am thoroughly and abundantly appreciative toward my leadership from my home district. If not for Dave, Gary, Fred, the Multiplication team, and DEXCOM taking the step of faith in approving this internship I know I would not be experiencing all that I am. As such, I would not be progressing as I am. There is no doubt some skepticism about sending me to St. Louis for training as an emerging leader. Please allow me to assure you that the Spirit of God is doing a great work in my life. I am becoming a fully different man than I once was. I had previously spent the majority of my time doing the work of church and reading that which would provide the knowledge necessary for effective vocational ministry. With these aspects of my life in tact, God has used my history as a springboard to ripen the heart within me. At this time I am receiving the sort of experience in ministry that no school could have taught me. And I am being molded by God in ways that I have not experienced in years. Thank you for trusting God to work in the life of an emerging leader... even if that path may not wind its ways through a Bible college or a seminary. The Spirit moves in mysterious ways. Who are we to regulate the movement of God?
Thank you also to Rodger and the district I am currently working with for developing this internship and being loving enough to sometimes speak the difficult truth into my life. I praise God for that as I receive affirmation of what I have been feeling and praying about.

With this all said, I am now more aware of who I am in Christ and who Christ is in me than I was prior to my experiences here. God has revealed to me truths about my character, personality, giftedness, and ministry that have been often bittersweet. My heart for the multiplication of church bodies has not diminished. On the contrary, the revelation of some of God's particulars in my life has only intensified my belief that we must do all that is possible (and maybe some that is impossible) to rekindle the flame of this radical movement called Christianity.

I'm a lover, not a filer!

There are skills that come naturally to us. For each person this skill set is different. And when we toss into the mix the variety of ways that God mixes and matches our personalities and calling and spiritual gifts... well, all of us are different.

Donald Trump is a business mastermind.
Bill Gates brilliantly sabotaged Steve Jobs with that whole Windows thing (I will not make any judgments about Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mac or Microsoft at this time. I state only that he made a whole lot of a bunch of money n the tech industry... moving on.)
Vinnie VanGogh set the world art world ablaze with one "Starry Night."

What is that thing that makes my head pop up off my pillow with anticipation? What brings my gifts and talents and calling into a spiritually harmonious amalgamation? I thank God that He has revealed to me ever so clearly that I am made to love Him. Through loving Him I am so moved to love others and seek that they would find their life's fulfillment in loving God as well.

My God has called me to be a pastor. This is not just a job or a vocation to me. This is how God has made me.
There are a ton of details I must still discover about how this calling, the Spirit's empowerment of me, my abilities and skills, my personal history, and my anticipated future all meld together. But I know that I am called to be a pastor. Sometimes this calling freaks me out, but in all ways I know that there is nothing else in this world that I would rather do with my life.

I'm not a tremendous business mind. I'm not a tech wizard. It's not likely that I'll paint a masterpiece. I can't even keep files organized in an office. But I know that I am made to worship. I can love people. I can seek after God and teach others about him. What more can I ask for in life?

rough work

Whoa.... momma. The last few days have been a bit tough mentally and otherwise. I've stepped into a role with the church as a Church Ministries Coordinator. As a part of my training (and as a part of the development of this church) I am sitting down with the ministry leaders on all fronts and working to bring harmony between them. Administration has never been my strongest suit and this has already been a real stretcher for me. But administrative responsibilities are not what are taxing me. Rather, there are always matters of church discipline (if you want to call it that) that must be handled. This is where the real wear and tear happens on my nerves.

I love... truly love serving the people of God through the teaching of the word and pastoral care. The tough thing is when the pastor has to step in and inform a sheep that he has strayed from the direction of the flock. Sometimes it is a matter of differing perspectives on ministry and other times there is a spiritual/moral issue that needs to be addressed. Either way- this is not an aspect of pastoral ministry that I take any measure of joy in. I don't have much else to say about this really. Sometimes things must be said or done for the benefit of the church and the spiritual welfare of all who are involved. This can be painful, but the hope is that it isn't. Regardless, all we say must be truth spoken in love.

Soli Deo Gloria

get out of the way

A few weeks ago I taught a lesson for our inpatient Celebrate Recovery meeting at Bridgeway. Generally we march right through an "official" Celebrate Recovery lesson and attempt to urge the men into conversation. With a constant client turn-over, some weeks bring forth more conversation than others... it all depends on the personalities.

That night God moved.

In previous sessions of Celebrate Recovery I worked so hard to try to relate to the men through recovery principles. I tried to find some way to identify with the guys and their experiences. I tried to use their slang and to talk to them in a style like their counselors do. I tried to be a part of their world as they see it at Bridgeway. You may notice that there is a lot of "I" in the previous text. I tried. I did.

That day as I prepared a lesson for the meeting I prayed for God's direction. Immediately he directed me to Jonah. I said to God, "God... Jonah doesn't have anything to do with recovery." After all, I know far more about God's word that than He does. But I said to God that he must have been mistaken. He clearly wanted to use the text that I had prepared for teaching.
Again, God directed me to Jonah. So I read it. It jumped at me. The word came to life and the life infected my mind. I read of the word and new meaning was illumined by the Spirit. Suddenly there was more than what I had seen before.

God knew what he was talking about. Come to think of it, God kind of always knows what he's talking about. It is as if... well, it is as if... he's God. Huh.

That evening as I shared the message that God had prepared for me I could see the look of recognition as the attendees leaned forward in their seats and scribbled notes along with our exploration of the Scriptures. At the end of our time, when the men are usually unruly and ready to hit the door for the hourly smoke break, many of the men lingered to talk more about the grace and love of God. There were a few small pairings that felt the urge to stop and pray before continuing on with the night. God moved.

I know that this all doesn't sound that spectacular. Perhaps there wasn't any message spoken in tongues, no prophecy, no people slayed in the Spirit- whatever that is, but there was healing that took place. There was healing not of body, but of spirit. There was encouragement. There was growth of fledgling faith. I am fully convinced that none of this would have occurred had I continued on and used the lesson I had originally prepared. I thank the Lord God Almighty for the ways He reaches into the mind and heart of the follower- even when the follower isn't very receptive. God cut through my static and said, "Just teach the Word."

Just teach the Word. The Word of God truly is sharper than any two-edged sword. It is sharp enough even to cut through the white noise of daily life. It is truly amazing what God will do when we move out of His way and let Him fulfill the plans He has.

quality time

So I've been busy lately. I would rather find myself with my plate full as opposed to having nothing to do other than write blog posts. I think that preference for having my plate full carries through in truth to many aspects in my life. Take for instance the fact that I enjoy food. I'd rather have my plate full, but then again... if my plate is empty maybe I've just finished eating. Hmmm. Anyway, I digress.

I've be spending more time at Bridgeway lately. I haven't necessarily been spending any more time counseling, but just being with the guys more. I like these men. A year ago I don't think that I could have foreseen that I would be enjoying spending quality time with men who have such obviously sordid pasts. Really, what it comes down to is that my focus in ministry was never on involving myself in the lives of people who were "not like me." (Like me meaning... white upper middle class and Christian.) As I write this I find myself saddened by my lack of perception of the heart of Christ. Jesus got his hands dirty. He went to where people are. Jesus didn't go where everyone was nice and clean and where everything was in place. The truth of the matter was that he confronted people and situations that resembled that. He called them out and tried to help them see his heart. Christ went to the outcasts and the people who realized they needed him. I mean they really needed him. These people hit bottom and needed him to get them out.

How sad it is when we sit in our churches next to the same people every week singing the same songs and hearing the same three-point sermons with the same clever acrostics and stories. We sit in our padded seats... Because we're so modern we wouldn't dare use pews for fear of putting off a newcomer... and we play Christianity. We sit and go through the motions and don't pay any attention to the fact that "church-going people like me" are still sinners with sordid pasts of our own who are still in need of God's grace as much today as we did when we first heard his call.

Before anyone gets ticked at Greggy-boy here I must remind you that I am using inclusive terminology. I include me into this accusation. I... we... have neglected to believe that we (I) need Christ. We say the words and we have intellectual support as a basis of our affirmation of this doctrine, but we don't live like we need him.

This is what Christianity has been and will be, if we don't decide to hear the voice and heart of our Savior. We must heed his call and go out to the lost. We must bring the light into the vast darkness that has invaded and overcome our society. We must love people even if they are adulterous or spiteful or white collar or strung-out or in prison or Buddhist or homeless or gay or poor or gluttonous or black or... "like me." Now, I don't want to be accused of being "just some bleeding heart liberal" or something- I want to make clear that I am speaking of love. Love that extends beyond condition. I am speaking of a love that changes people when they experience it and let it into their lives. This is the love that Christ showed me; it is the love that didn't leave me lonely, depressed, and addicted to porn. Christ changed me. He likely changed you too. And may God have mercy enough to redirect us if we ever start to forget the depth of sin and darkness that we once lived in. We dare not forget, for if we do we become self-righteous pigs who wallow in false piety.

If I lose sight of who I am and what I've been delivered from I insult God. I can not look in the mirror and turn away to forget what I look like. (There seems to be more in James 1:22-24 than what I had previously understood.) I am spending more time with the men at Bridgeway because I can not be an effective minister of the Gospel there through doing drop-in evangelism. I must get my hands dirty. I must make myself vulnerable. I must get involved. I must love them. This takes more than an hour per week. And this is what love is. How can I expect one man to trust me or hear a word that is said from my mouth if I'm not able to show him that he is loved? I must show him he is a priority. I must show him that I'm willing to put my life on pause to help him experience God... because that message of God is just that important. It is that important. It takes precedence over my meals and my sleep and my finances and my $4 coffee and my desire to see Taylor Hicks perform on American Idol. God is that important and so are the people he loves.

Do something about it. Isn't this what faith is? Live your belief.

greenhouse effect

I've been pretty busy this past week preparing for a wedding ceremony this weekend. It's only the second wedding that I've been involved with in a pastoral role. I won't beat around the bush... I was nervous as I could be. The wedding ceremony was held in The Jewel Box at Forrest Park in St. Louis. The place is pretty impressive. It is essentially a large greenhouse. This makes for beautiful pictures, but on a sunny day (such as yesterday) it gets might hot as well. The ceremony is strictly limited to only a half an hour with a half hour before and after for arrival and departure of guests. I just wanted everything to go well for the couple.

Everything indeed went smoothly. The couple got hitched and I didn't stumble over too many of my words. One mistake though... After asking the guests to rise for the bridal march, I forgot to request that they be seated after she was at the front. The assembly remained standing throughout the ceremony. I didn't even notice. The good thing about this is that the ceremony lasted only 15-20 minutes. I had one gal tell me, "I'm Catholic, I'm used to standing a lot longer than that honey."

I'm blaming the mistake on the heat... yeah, it was the heat. I couldn't think while all that sweat was glistening on my bald head. Well, I have a feeling that I won't forget that aspect of the ceremony ever again!