We may have an opportunity to play in a battle of the bands in November at a bar downtown. That should be very interesting. It will definately be a way to show people that we can have a blast as we worship God with our music. Music that points to Him...that will be the challenge. People coming there to be "entertained" will most likely be disappointed when they see that we aren't there for them as much as we are there to worship God in what we do.

I am anxious to see how this might unfold and how we will be able to use this sphere of influence in a way that could be considered highly controversial by the religous establishment....a worship band playing in a bar? How dare we.....

Poker was fun...I hope for more opportunities to interact in a relaxed social setting with people outside of my usual circles. Not only that but I came out ahead 85 cents!!! You can't beat that for a rookie. Now I just need to begin to see these interactions as normal life instead of "special opportunities" to show people a little bit about who Jesus is. Since when is a "special event" or "scheduled appointment" needed for me to be like Jesus to the people I am with. That's the craziest thing I've ever heard of, yet I have lived that way for so many years... it's pathetic...


Not much happening today on the beat...just a couple of cars with their lights left on...just had to radio those in...no tackling involved...well, there's always tomorrow.

I heard a song this morning that cut through to me and the way I have been feeling for the past several months.

If we are the body,
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
If we are the body,
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing that He is the way

Hard words for those who profess to be the body of Christ. What are we really doing?...anything?
My friend Eric had some things to say along the same lines.

The Poker night is now tomorrow afternoon. I am looking forward to it. I don't really like to waste my own spending money on stuff like that, but I suppose if it means being able to spend some time with guys that need Jesus and do that outside of work, I can give up a 5 spot for that. I just keep telling myself it isn't any different than going out and spending $10-20 on 2 hours of golf for entertainment. I guess it is equivilent. Playing cards is fun...but it's supposed to be free!!!!!!
Anyway....pray that I have some opportunities for them to see that I am not just a "religious fanatic" but that I am one of them and happen to know Jesus personally.

When I woke up this morning I thought it was just going to be another Friday at school....and then it all changed......
While I am on my parking lot duty I see a kid coming out of the bus garage being chased by a cop. I am thinking...uh oh...we have trouble in Naptown. So I hear the cop say,"You are under arrest for disorderly conduct, STOP." Obviously the kid doesn't stop and the cop looks to be out of breath and falling back even though the persuit just started.
So I do what any upstanding citizen and teacher of these fine students would do...I gave chase. After jogging beside the student for several yards I notice the cop isn't getting any closer so finally he says, "go ahead and take him." So there it was....I had to do it. A few mud and grass stains later and I was holding down the perp waiting for the cop to get there and cuff him. What a rush. All is calm in Naptown...just another day at work...
A pair of grass stained pants......$15
A pair of scuffed up shoes...........$30
Mud all over my arm and brand new watch.....kinda cool
Permission to tackle a kid in the open field.......priceless!

And some people say teaching isn't rewarding....

I've been reading McManus again in An Unstoppable Force, I forgot how dead-on he is with so much of what he says.

"When relationships become stagnant and the community of Christ closes itself to the outside world, the result is an institution rather than a movement."

An easy statement for me to read and type on a blog; however, very difficult to pin point what steps to take to correct it.
He goes on to say... "You cannot wash the feet of a dirty world if you refuse to touch it."

Being real enough to touch the world and yet not roll in the dirt with it is a tough balancing act. I have the opportunity to hang with some guys I work with playing poker. I am normally not invited to such games because they know that I just don't get into the drinking/card playing "fun". I personally don't care for gambling or social drinking, but I know I don't have to participate in everything they do to be real enough to touch them where THEY are. Do we really expect them to come into our "world" without us ever setting foot in theirs? Am I so pious that I can't let myself be seen with the "world" for fear of how I will look? I hope not. I'm pretty confident that being secluded from the world for our own pious selfrighteous ambitions sucks.

I had an old friend from high school drop in this weekend for a few hours. He is now a Baptist pastor and always gets those shocked looks when he tells people, that new him in high school, what he does now. It was great to see he and his family. In the course of our catching up we talked about the relevence of the church and how meeting the needs of our neighbors was going to define how people see us as the church. Cool...it seems that everyone I talk to has this same burning passion in their hearts. People are tired of the Sunday morning show. They want real relationships, genuine worship, a meaningful place in their community. It just continues to reinforce to me that a cataclysmic shift in priority is beginning to hit the western church. If we embrace it as the Holy Spirit leads it, we(and our communities) will never be the same.