I can agree. And I am sure that I will have heck to pay for admitting it…

You’ll think I’m crazy—sometimes I think I’m crazy—but as I dream of my life over the next decade or two I really hope my life will mirror offscreen the qualities I saw in this fictional man onscreen.

• He and his wife are very much in love and prone to public displays of affection.  They model a loving, trusting relationship that sets an example.
• He and his family are guided by faith, but the common theme is acceptance, not exclusion or judgment.
• He helps various congregation members and townspeople with their problems.  He’s not afraid to get involved and really is a pillar of the community.  It’s hard to imagine the town surviving without him.
• He boldly and passionately modeled the example of the Good Samaritan
• He could save everyone he came in contact with, within three episodes.
• He was articulate, soft-spoken, and direct.
• He listened as much as, if not more than, he spoke.
• He had a large family who (while not always got along) always loved each other.
• His children didn’t always agree with him, but they respected him.  He and his wife raised them with a strict but loving hand.  That shows a long-term level of commitment to one’s children and above average parenting skills.
• He was always helping others, but he was always there for his kids.  He was a dad first and a minister second. He was involved in his kid’s lives.
• He did not raise the stereotypical pastor’s family, nor were they all uptight sticks in the mud.
• He was not the dumb one in the household. he was communicative and responsible.
• He said things like, “We can justify our actions, but it doesn’t make it right” and people actually listened.
• He wasn’t perfect.  That was part of the beauty of the show in a way.  But you could always count on him to do the right thing in a pinch.  As such he inspired people.
• He had a really good sense of humor.  Rarely sarcastic and never cutting… his wit was understated and well-timed.
• He took life at a decent (relatively slow) pace, taking life in a calm and relaxed spirit.

“So what is your vision for the future of the music ministry?”

Six months ago our Music Minister told me he was leaving.  It was a late summer evening and we were in the building alone.

“I know.” 

The surprise was clearly evident on his face.  He had tried so hard to keep it under cover but ultimately had failed.  I’d actually known for months.  The reality is, most people have a hard time hiding a job search from employers and coworkers.  He’d done admirably, but like most of us, the truth soon catches up to us.  It would be nice in church work if we could be more honest and open about these things, but the reality is that typical church climate doesn’t really allow for such unabashed honesty… so we hide such things for as long as we can. 

This event catapulted our church into a nationwide search for God’s next man. 

And here I was, several months later, interviewing the young man we’d chosen out of an overwhelming number of applicants as the most promising candidate.  The question hung loosely in the air between us.

“So what is your vision for the future of the music ministry?”

It was one of the easiest questions I’ve answered in a long time.  I’d been asked that question a lot lately by those with a vested interest in our music search, and it is a great question.  It drives directly to the core issues that need considered in a staff search such as this.  While staff transitions offer an opportunity to make changes to the status quo, it also opens a church up to the possibility of straying from morings that should instead be held fast.

Often, it is the best of times and the worst of times.

Yet, I dream…

I dream of a music ministry that is less interested in leading in worship and more interested in being lead worshippers.  I dream of music that creates a vibrancy in the church, drawing all those who hear it closer to the God who can be known.  I dream of a music minister who’s references speak of his character and heart above all else.  I dream of music that is both cutting edge yet rooted in the rich history of church tradition.  I dream of a worship experience where I lose myself in the message of Christ and the overwhelming love of the father, a place where the prodigal is always welcome and the older brother is softened to repentance.  I dream of a music ministry that doesn’t take itself too seriously but is willing to open itself up for guidance and direction.  I dream of a music ministry understands it is ‘one of many’ in the ministries of the church.  I dream of a music ministry that other churches look to and long to model themselves after.

In short, I dream of a church music experience led by those who would rather follow, but allow God to use their talents to be a part of crafted worship experiences that bring people closer to the transcendant Father in Heaven who is always seeking to redeem and repair his fallen creation, drawing them ever closer unto Himself.

THAT is my dream.

So I broke the silence with the young man who would soon accept the offer we were about to make, “Funny you should ask that question… I’ve been getting it a lot lately…”

I assumed that the press and blogosphere would be abuzz over this social gaffe.  Not so.

Last night, Senator Biden employed the same tactic multiple times in reference to McCain.  One can only assume that the democratic advisors assumed that if it worked once, it would work again.  And work it did, serving to demean McCain.

I never liked it when my republican counterparts referred to President Clinton as simply “Clinton” or just “Bill” during his term in office and I don’t like it now.

Come on people, let’s show some respect.

How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights
In cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.

In five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure
A year in the life?

A year ago we began planning and working towards a new online presence for Mountaintop Community Church, the progressive church where I serve as Minister of Creative Media.  We occasionally measured the year-long journey in miles and laughter.  But typically, it was inches and strife.

We had thought the process would take a couple of months.  We were grossly naive.  Fall turned to Winter and we had rejected our first round of designs from the vendor.  Winter turned to Spring and we’d passed rounds two and three.  As Spring gave way to Summer we’d said no to a fourth round and all communication had broken down. 

Seeing no light at the end of the tunnel, we took the bull by the horns (as they say in Texas) and set out to design the site ourselves.  I became the design firm and my pastor became the client.  During a week of hashing out the design during a retreat to the mountains (about which I care not to speak), we finally came to the design you see today.  If we had tried to do the design ourselves a year ago, I don’t believe we would have ended up with as good a design as we did.

Now, as Summer turns again to Autumn, the site is live and we are moving on with finishing smaller elements of the site such as podcasting, video archives, live streaming, an online store, etc.

Some things I’ve learned:

1. Make sure you are comfortable with both the back-end updating software and the front-end design capabilities your vendor is offering.
2. Find great examples of great work from other great designers and churches.  It will help you communicate your ideas.
3. Form follows function.  While the design needs to be eye-catching and engaging, the ultimate test is functionality.  Is it usable and easily navigable?
4. Everyone that sees a ‘design comp’ will have an opinion, and every opinion will be markedly different.  While they are all important, the job of the designer or project manager is to communicate well using excellent design principles.
5. Opinions will change. As the project drew out, our goals and aesthetic preferences changed several times.  Keep good notes and document everything.
6. Bring your staff and congregation along throughout the process.  Keep them updated well and often.
7. No matter how much time you have, it’s never enough. 
8. A project is never finished, only abandoned.
9. There are worse projects to spend a year of your life doing.

Dr. E.G. Robertson has been a part of my life since before I had life.

He was Pastor of my home church (Connersville Baptist Temple) the year I was born. In fact, he had officiated my parents wedding five years earlier. Though God’s plan diverted our paths for many years, he eventually returned to Baptist Temple to become it’s Pastor again.

Through High School and College he mentored me, providing both advice and direction. He helped me see my calling and encouraged my move to Texas for Seminary. He flew across the country three years later to see me accept a Master’s degree. Three years after that he officiated my wedding and… I’m sorry to say, that day was the last I saw him alive this side of Heaven.

Dr. Robertson passed away an hour or so ago.

An Evangelist. A Preacher. A Pastor with a true heart of a shepherd.

My mentor.

He urged me to pursue Cedarville.
He encouraged me to continue a degree track involving ministry.
He gave me my first real opportunity to preach.
He took me on my first hospital visit.
He took me to breakfast every time I was in town.
He counseled me during family difficulties.
He helped confirm my call to ministry.
He urged me to follow my heart to Seminary.
He connected me with his family in Texas, so I might have family.
He attended my Seminary graduation.
He gave a significant portion of his library to me, including some of his most treasured books.
He performed my wedding ceremony alongside my father-in-law.

Sometime in years gone by he began referring to me as his “Timothy”… and surely I’ve never had, and never will have, another “Paul” quite like Pastor Robertson.

The world has lost the greatest Pastor/Shepherd I’ve ever known… and I’ve lost a friend.

As I passed the Bradford Pears this morning I could not help but think of my Pastor… the blinding whiteness of their flowering blooms a sharp reminder of the joy that I’ve experienced because he cared. And their short life span, a reminder that we all must walk the same road someday. Will I be remembered as fondly as those who knew E.G. will remember him?

I can only hope.

Heaven grew just a little bit sweeter to me today.

__________________________________________________

FROM DR. ROBERTSON – AUGUST 5, 2003

“To My Timothy – Kevin Young”

“Tonight, one night after presenting my resignation, as Pastor of Connersville Baptist Temple, I am sitting at my desk, in my study, entertained by the many blessed thoughts and memories that I have of you. Among my thoughts, are those that remind me of how blessed I have been, by being the pastor of a young man, whom I have watched grow, both physically and spiritually. While on the journey, I served as witness of this young man’s dedication to his Lord and Saviour, as he would go to Cedarville University, graduate and then attend Dallas Theological Seminary, in Dallas, Texas. I remember, the night he graduated, as he walked across the platform, to receive his master’s degree, he made me feel so proud and soblessed that God allowed me to be just a small part of his life.

“Kevin, I have never heard you preach, when God didn’t touch my heart. Not only have I been blessed through the messages that you have preached, but I have also been blessed by the message of your life, as you have served as clay, in the hands in of the Great Potter, molded and fitted for service as a mere vessel, but a vessel indeed, that has watered my soul, and warmed my heart, while your senior of many years.

“I do not have the slightest idea about what God’s plan is for you, but I do know that whatever it is, as long as you continue to be that committed young man that is so evident by your character and love for God… God has great and mighty things in store for you. As you pray and seek His guidance, be assured that He is leaning over the edge of Heaven to catch every word. He concerns himslef with every point of interest and intimate detail of your life. He will direct you, encourage you and give you strength for the journey, as He has mine. Quite possibly through a young ‘Timothy’, such as you have been to me.

“Kevin, you have honored me with the great privilege of being your pastor. I am a proud pastor of a great young man!

“I love you!

Pastor E.G. Robertson

8.5.2003

Proverbs 10:17 says that kind of attitude is wrong.  It says “he who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.”  In effect, not only is it wrong to lose my temper when Godly people correct me, but it also causes other to stumble.  The only way to true happiness as a Christian is to pay attention to God’s discipline and make the necessary changes in life.

————————————————-

We’ve come to the end of this “From the Station Manager” series, written for radio while I was in college.  While most of it is simple basic truth, even I need often reminders of the lessons.  I think I’ll pull these out and read them more regularly than once every 7 years.

Proverbs 3:5&6 tells us how to stay on the straight and narrow, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”  According to Proverbs, a life under control is one where God is smoothing out the path.  When you trust God with your life and daily seek to better know Him, God Himself will literally cut a straight path for you.

In speaking on how to live, Proverbs 3:6 says to “In all your ways acknowledge Him.”  Or in other words, in everything you do… “know” Him.  Know Him deeply.  Know Him intimately.  Know Him personally.  Stop trying to use God as your life insurance policy and let Him become your life.  In everything you do, strive to ‘know’ Him.  Knowing God is more important than knowing God’s will. 

Know God better, and ‘His will’ will find you.

I’ve asked that question hundreds of times.  Or maybe you’ve asked why God only gives you a lamp for your feet when a floodlight would be more helpful.  The answer is simple: He wants you and I to trust Him.

Proverbs 3:5 tells you to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.”  Trust Him with all of your problems, all of your shortcomings, and with your future.  When you trust in God with all of your heart, you are putting a secure confidence in His control of your life… it is putting all of your eggs in God’s basket.  You see, God isn’t going to give you a roadmap that outlines your future.  God wants you to trust in Him, not a map.  Don’t worry about the future.  Trust means walking with God… even in the dark.

Proverbs 27:17 puts it by saying that just “as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”  The next time you have a choice between going to bed early or spending time talking with the guys in your dorm, choose the guys.  There will never be another four-year period in your life where you will be surrounded by people who are sharpening you so intellectually and spiritually.