Cynthia and I neither had real stable family lives as we trudged through teen years. I was from a divorced family where both parents grabbed me by the arm to pull me to their side. My parents were much more concerned with their lives than they could possibly be with mine. But if that was the case for me, then Cynthia’s parents were 10 times more concerned with themselves than they were with Cynthia. And then there was Betty. She was that neighbor who always had time. She lived a quiet, unassuming, diciplined life. She was satisfied with her life and wasn’t like most adults of that time, selling out for whatever was new or hip. You’d think teenagers would be drawn to adults trying to look like and be teenagers, but we weren’t. My wife and I spent hours in Betty’s modest home just talking and receiving direct and sometimes bitting advice from Betty. Looking back on that time now, I found so much grounding from this unassuming woman.

Here’s what I learned at Betty Boyd’s house.
Being comfortable in your own skin is more important than what people think of you.
Listening doesn’t require formulating a response. Sometimes you just need to listen to someone.
Joy is not found in stuff or the pursuit of stuff, but it is found in genuine relationships.
Teenagers need stability more than they need promises.
Being willing to show up is a gift all unto itself.
Saying no does not mean I don’t love you.
Telling someone their actions are wrong usually is motivated by love.
You never know where God’s grace is going to come from, even from your friend’s mother.

I didn’t get to go the Betty Boyd’s funeral, so I am taking this time to say to anyone who will listen, she was a great person and most of the world wouldn’t have noticed. They wouldn’t have noticed because they would be too busy searching for quick and easy solutions to life. Well, I can testify that often in life you find blessing in the simplest of things.

I will miss you Miss Betty, but I better for having known you!

Let’s be honest, I wouldn’t be writing the blog and the news wouldn’t be camped out at Penn State, if this didn’t effect football. I ask myself where is my outrage for these chidren every single day? Is 300,000 abuse cases tolerable but boy if it gets to 300,001/year then I’m going to start screaming about this then. The Lord said, where your treasure is so there is your heart. I guess the daily outrage for us Christian Americans is we’ve had enough of the government taking our money and we’re not going to take it anymore!! People are camping out and showing their outrage about Wall streets greed and the governments mis-use of our money. I guest that says something about our treasure in America. When did money replace our children as our treasure? Jesus also said, “woe to those who are a stumbling block to these little one’s.” God have mercy on us!! Our outrage is centered in keeping more of our money, while more and more Americans have slipped below the poverty level than ever before. We scream “No new taxes,” but we are on the edge of saying to our elderly fend for yourself the money you paid for medicair and medicaid is not going to be available to you now because it causes us dis-comfort. 60,000 children are abused monthly but God forbid Penn State’s football program gets a black eye. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

We had a small camp this year, 25 campers; it is late in the Summer with school about to begin in two weeks. I seem to always question my involvement when the numbers are small like this. Is this a good use of my time? The Conference’s money or my church’s good will? I was reminded by a couple of my staff today that this small group gave us a unique opportunity to do some really effective ministry with a great counselor to student ratio. I was great fun! Driving home today I wondered will I do this again? How many more years do I have (at my age). Can I muster up the energy needed to hang with 11 year olds from 7am to 11pm for a week?

All these questions really shrink in comparison to the good that happens when loving adults devote their time to model the Gospel to the young. It was really a good camp and the children were engaged from minute one until their parents drug their suitcases to the cars. And they get it, as much as an 11 year old can get it, they get it. Their minds are open and their spirits are eager to be challenged by the gospel. But more important than adding more knowledge to these eager minds, it is the fact that they stand in so much need for the healing of the gospel at their age.

Each year as I trudge up the mountain one more time to explain that the Mt. Wesley tradition is to carry a rock from the bottom of the hill to place it at the top of the hill on the Bolivian Cross. It is done to symbolize laying our burdens down at the cross. And you may think the burdens of the 11 year olds are small like their age, but without giving away confidence I will tell you they have large burdens for their age. I am always brought to tears by the litany of pain, suffering and abuse these children have already experienced. I leave each camp thinking, how can I do more to alleviate their suffering. And then it is their sweet sincerity and willingness to trust that keeps me coming back. So I guess 61 can go back for 11 a few more times, because I’m convinced we made a difference in some lives this week. I had re-affirmed to me that our children are lacking trustworthy-loving adult interaction these days. So I guess I’ve got at least one more trip to Mt.Wesley in me.

My day went on in my new appointment at First United Methodist Church of San Angelo. There is much to do and many new details to learn. Most of my day was uneventful until late in the day I received a call on my cell phone from a number I didn’t recognize. It was the young man from Whataburger, he asked if I remembered him. Little did he know I would probably never forget him. He told me that after I left he met the manager of the Whataburger who told him he had a full staff now but would hire him in July. He went on to detail his day; he said he went directrly from there to the Texas Workforce office and within 10 minutes was referred to a job he began today workng for a company distributing motorized wheelchairs. When we called his wife to tell her the good news she said Sonic had called to offer him a job immediately. Mr. Deaton, he said, after your prayer I not only got a job, I got two and a promise of a third. Thank you for following the leading of the Spirit, he said. I have not had any luck getting a job at all until you came and prayed.

O.K. God I get it. You want us to offer blessings to people in your name and you want us to be ready to do so at any time and anywhere. Thanks for blessing me today God, I’m learning have patience with me.

Like most I guess I say that I trust in God but if I’m examined real close my actions don’t say I trust God very well. When things go as I plan God and I are really tight. Right now things are not going really well and I find myself doubting my decisions so much. The decision that is most doubted by me right now is a decision for Bulverde United Methodist church to begin a new congregation. Now I didn’t make this decision alone, but it was my vision that others have trusted. This decision now impacts the lives of the young pastor selected to lead the new church and his family. It affects the other members of the launch team and their families. 100′s of people have made related decisions based on my connection with God on this matter. I’ve been doubting my connection with God so much lately.

The evidence for my doubt comes from the incredible amount of stress and anxiety that surrounds me in every direction. The stress has permeated the mother church to the point that financial matters dominate the environment of this wonderful congregation. It has penetrated my home and my relationship with my wife, who is also a staff member of the mother church. Her job is now at risk. I sense the strain on the young new church pastor and staff. My staff has shown uncharacteristic tension in the last days, and key leaders of the church are feeling attacked. All of this weakens my determination.

But here is the twist to my story. I got a message from my God connection a few minutes ago. Here it is, “it’s not my determination that matters, it’s God’s!”. God gave me a message for all involved in this new church start, “God has determined to have Hope Arise through this new community of faith” God is determined to advance God’s kingdom and this new church advances God’s kingdom – period…….

Whether I doubt or not, God has determined this will happen. God did it years ago when God established The Great Commission and The Great Commandment! So the only question I or anyone else needs to ask about the start of Hope Arise is: does it follow the commandment and commission of God? The answer is absolutely YES. So bring me the doubt! Heap on the stress if you must! Divide my house if you think you can! But it will not stop the Kingdom of God from advancing, because God is determined to make it happen! Bring it on Satan because God stands by me.

Recently I was in Mexico at a high end resort and loved every minute of it. Mainly I loved it because I didn’t have to pay for it. But the great thing I loved about it was the genuine humble service I received and tremendous hospitality I was afforded. These humble Mexican people truly blessed me with their willingness to serve. As you know Mexico is not known for it’s numerous opportunities in employment. So some of the willingness to serve others comes their gratitude for having any job. But I think there is another reason for their humility. I believe their culture values a job well done. I believe they have a mature belief that the plumber can be equal to the philosopher if both produce good work. We Americans elevate people to high status often without waiting to see if their work will hold water! I appreciate a person who takes pride in their work, and I am growing to value those who humble themselves to serve others. I think Jesus taught about this often. Jesus, himself did not count himself as equal to God but humbled himself in obedience. Next time the latest greatest icon of our culture wants to sell you their hot new item ask yourself does this person serve me with humility, if not maybe you should wait to see if their plumbing holds water!

To be incarnational as I understand it is to take Christ along wherever we go. We are a representative of Christ at all times and all places. That re-defines what church is right there. The church is not a place to come to, or even an event, the church is a going body of believers who in the most natural of ways represents Christ to all. The trouble with the attractional model is that it has already worked on most of the people it is going to work on, according to McNeal. So now we must send people out to create missional communities, not congregations. I said this book would challenge our understandings and cause us to think again. Missional communities are person of like mind to have an affinity for gathering together. I will use the Church Under the Bridge teams as good examples of a missional community. The thing that gathers them together is a love for Christ and a passion for bringing Christ to the homeless. They become the church to persons on the street in downtown San Antonio. Missional communities can be oriented around almost anything that would bring glory to God! The incarnational church will create missional communities around things like, mentoring elementary school kids, studying, advocating for the aging, spiritual and personal growth, unwed teen mothers, you name it a group could form around these passions. I’m personally looking for a group who wants to work in our local elementary schools next Fall alieviating hunger on weekends through a back pack ministry. What is God calling you to impact? So look forward to a church that is much different in the future, one that may not even ever come together. Wow, how would we know who that belong too? Oh that’s right -Jesus! Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go.