Mental Musings

This past weekend was a major example of the variable attendance rates at churches. On Christmas Eve we had only one service at our campus this year and one service at the church plant. We were filled to capacity at the church and even had reports of a few families that left because they could not find a place to sit (although we still had some room left in the balcony and up front). Our church plant reportedly had a good crowd with just over 100 people for their first ever worship service. If the church plant had not had a service we could not have fit everyone in at the church. Then just two days later we have our normal three Sunday morning worship services with less than half of the number who came out for Christmas Eve. We could have put everyone into one service even if we doubled the total attendance. So why was there such a large variable in attendance? Several factors could have played a role: since it was the day after Christmas and families may have been traveling to visit w...

I wrote this a few years ago and just came across it tonight. Thought you might enjoy it even though it is the night before Christmas instead of a week before. ‘Twas the week before Christmas, just look up and down People are planning their trip out of town Children all wait for that last bell to ring And everywhere you hear those carols we sing Parties are ending as workers hearts turn Toward trips to feel the old home fires burn But suddenly there rose a voice quiet and still Coming to us from atop an old hill The voice is from old, the message still new Proclaiming the birth of a Savior for you He was born in a manger and slept in the hay He died on a cross and rose the third day “Born to die, new life to bring” This is the news the angels sing People pass this voice and slow Something is here that they should know Their hearts are heavy, they seem lost in thought And suddenly remember a present they forgot The voice continues, though no one can hear The reason for Christmas is so v...

Well, I think the final performance wore me out completely. I even asked Kevin Smallwood to fill in for me in the third service so I could rest up before it, but by the time I got home I was ready for bed. Soooo, this update is a little late in getting posted. Once again we had some very positive comments and only a couple who simply wrote "Bring back the tree" with nothing else and no name on the cards. Maybe we should have announced ahead of time that if your only opinion is that we should bring back the tree, then you can leave your comment with our "Sign-up for helping with next year's program" committee in the foyer. Here is a sampling of the comments from the Sunday matinee performance: Awesome job everyone. It is very generous of the church and its people to present this play to the community. Thank you so much. Been coming for many year. Very good. Interesting start on a new venture for a "professional" group. What a blessing. Keep telling othe...

Generally I prefer darkness at night. I don't like bright lights. Even when I am reading I do not want lots of lights on because it hurts my eyes. If I am watching a movie, I like to have all of the lights out. But there is something about this time of year when I do not get irritated by some extra light shining around me. It is nice to sit in a darkened room and look at the beautiful lights on the Christmas tree, the little lights shining from inside the snow covered ceramic houses underneath the tree, or the angel on the mantle with the sparkling and every changing lights on her wings and dress. Christmas is a time of light. It is wonderful to drive around at night and see the decorative yards and houses bedecked in hundreds or thousands of twinkling bulbs of festive joy. It makes me feel like a child when I see home or business that has gone overboard to the point of looking gaudy. But there is a sense of excitement and anticipation that comes with viewing the almost ludicrous d...

Again we had an overwhelming number of positive comments. Only one person mentioned that they wished we had done the Tree instead. Interesting that almost all of those who have said that do not put their name on the comment card. Because if they did I would call them to get them involved in the Tree next time we do it. One thing I forget to mention about the earlier nights is that we do get people who indicate they do not belong to any church as well as people who have accepted Christ or rededicated their lives. In total we have had over 100 re-dedications and about four who have accepted Christ as a result of the program. Here is a sampling of the comments: Great acting and a wonderful presentation. Thoroughly enjoyed the program. The show was great! Fabulous! You all did a great job! I loved it! The bells were the best I have ever heard them. The play was wonderful. Full of truisms and humor. The singers and songs were terrific. A most memorable play. Great play. Really touching expl...

Another great night with some very encouraging comments shared. We had one (1) person indicate that they accepted Christ as Lord and over forty (40) indicate that they had rededicated their loves to Christ. We again had five (5) people indicate that they wanted us to bring the Tree back, but only one person signed theirs and they also said they thought the musical was wonderful. Here are some samples of the comments: We have always enjoyed the Living Christmas Tree. This new tradition was wonderfully done. Awesome performance. Such amazing talent you have in your congregation. What a wonderful way to spread God's promise-One Bethlehem Night is beautifully done. The program was absolutely wonderful. Thank you. Awesome, but mostly God honoring. I loved it as much as the Living Christmas Tree. Good way to spend my night. I like the show. I thank you for having us here from Perry Point VA and taking the time to make the show for us to enjoy. The show as an inspirational experience for ...

Well, we finished our first performance. There were a few little mishaps, but nothing major. Everyone did a wonderful job. Based on the attendance/comment cards turned in: we had three (3) people accept Christ as their Lord and forty (40) plus people rededicate their lives to Christ. We did not have any negative comments. We did have three comments from people who liked the program but wished we would do our Living Christmas Tree again and two comments from people who wanted to hear the Oak Grove Quartet. Guess you cannot please everyone. Here is a sampling of comments: Tonight's performance was beautifully done and has touched my heart. It has prepared me for the holiday season and is the main reason we celebrate Christmas. I have been to everyone of [your] programs. I have loved every one of them. It was the best show ever. It was awesome. I loved it. Great performance. Enjoyed very much. Wonderful show. Thanks for the blessing. May God continue to bless the ministry here at Oak ...

Tonight is the first of four performances of our Christmas musical, "One Bethlehem Night." This is a major change for our church which has had a tradition for the past 25 years of doing a Living Christmas Tree for eleven performances each December. We have been practicing since July, preparing tech-notes and multimedia needs since August, building sets since September, we distributed about 3200 tickets back in October, we decorated and put up our sets in November, held dress rehearsals in December, and now we have finally reached the actual first performance night. I am extremely proud of the many volunteers who have helped and will be helping during the next week and a half. We have had many people help who have not been involved in our Christmas ministry in the past and we have had many return to help in some vitally important areas. I am especially proud of our cast who stepped up to the task of learning a full-scale Broadway-style musical. And I am excited to watch my own...

I am not sure if grumpiness is hereditary or not, but it certainly seems to run in my family. There were many times when my father was grumpy and we knew instinctively to leave him alone. There were many times when my sister was grumpy and my brother and I took advantage of it by tormenting her even more. I have known for years that I am at my worst when I am sick, stressed or just plain tired, and it is at those times that my grumpiness comes out. I remember how shortly after I was married that my grumpiness was brought to my attention. Wendy and I used to love to play cards together. That was before children, the Internet and cable TV. We also enjoyed having friends over to play cards. I have never been a very good winner. When I win, I like to rub it in everyone’s face. But I always thought of myself as a good loser, because I could lose with grace. However, when I played cards alone with Wendy I would always get grumpy if I lost to her. After some friends left one evening Wendy loo...

What if Jesus had been a worship pastor? What if His twelve disciples had been singers or instrumentalists that helped in His ministry? One day Jesus went out on a hill to teach His disciples. After reaching the appointed place, Jesus looked toward His disciples and said, “Let us rehearse Psalm 91.” Peter cried out, “Lord, we have not yet done our vocalise.” Matthew asked, “Can we not afford some newer music?” Thaddeus called out loudly, “What Psalm did He say?” Phillip asked, “Good Rabbi, is this song not intended only to be sung on Shabbat?” Andrew who was seated with his legs crossed and eating some fish and bread wondered allowed, “Will we have to memorize this, Lord, or may we use our scrolls?” James and John, sons of Zebedee, began to argue as to which would be better suited for the descant. James, the son of Alphaeus, interrupted the continuing argument because he was convinced that the other James had once again mistakenly picked up his scroll of the Psalms. Judas walked up to ...

I was at a funeral today of a man who was around 80 years old when he died. His children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were at the funeral and most of them have lived near him all of their lives. It made me think about my own family. I never knew either of my grandfathers. We visited each of my grandmother's homes about once a year. We always lived at least a days drive away. On a few occasions we had an extended visit with them. We had even less contact with my aunts, uncles and cousins. I can remember one time as a child when all of my dad's brothers and his sister got together for a day. There were several people there that I had never met and have never seen since. While my own children are fortunate enough to have both grandmothers and grandfathers still living, they only get to see them about two weeks out of each year. With the exception of Ashton's first year, we have never lived close to either set of parents. And our boys rarely get to see their aunts, un...