Happy Birthday Sydney Girl

Heed the warning. Life experience is often the same for many people, and when others pass on advice it is definately something to take heed of.

Some pieces of advice:

--> Marriage: Going to bed mad is fine, just make sure you both go to the same bed. (BS)

--> Newborns: After they're born, you'll have trouble ever remembering life without them. (JM)

--> First birthdays: Glad I have a lazy eye, it helps me keep one eye on her present and one on her future. (BJ)

We all know the advice, "Enjoy it while you can they grow up so quickly." I used to think that had a starting point around kindergarten. I thought those years where they start leaving your house and parting ways were the days that seemed to slip by like sandcastles left on the beach overnight. But I've learned I was wrong. Each day glides past in a whir of color, excitement, new changes, and life. And what do I have now? Memories of a little girl that fit in both hands. Close my eyes and see her face as they carried her to the anteroom on her delivery. Drift away and remember listening to her mommy's tummy to try and hear her heartbeat, and she kicked me in the ear. (The first time she had kicked hard enough to feel it outside of mommy) Look at pictures, watch some video. She's one year old. Today we'll have a party for all of her...erm...I mean our friends. I'm sure they'll be her friends too someday.

What do I have now? I have a little girl, who sometimes doesn't seem so little. She walked down the hall to my bedroom door today and shrieked, "DA", beckoning me to get out of bed, and then ran away smiling.

What a great year. What a great life.

--DA

Ortho results

Well, here you go. Even though the Privacy Act protects my medical record, I suppose I'll share this deeply personal info.

Doc said that I have a chipped fibula (sp?) in the front of my ankle area, and that I've strained a ligament probably partially torn, not entirely torn. This causes tenderness along the inside of my foot 3/8ths in. above my arch.

3 weeks in the boot, then we'll start putting weight back on it. Thanks for your prayers and concern.

--Ben

DaMoney Code

Book Review:
The DaVinci Code

Have you seen the movie National Treasure? If you have, then you've seen a similar plot line(Much more family friendly) to the book that has sat atop the bestseller list, and is about to become a blockbuster movie.
Essentially Dan Brown, has built on the controversial foundations of Symbols, Art, Secret Societies, and Theology. His book is well written, with descriptions that make the characters and locations believable and amenable to the mental image evoked on each page.
The quest...the Holy Grail, oops, (sorry Harrison and Sean) it's not the Grail you think. But the quest that unfolds, as tradition holds, is one in which you don't find the Grail, the Grail finds you. And if you are a fan of the novel genre, then you'll be found turning pages.

Now, I'm a Pastor, and there is much controversy raised by this book for the church community or so we've been sold.....erm....I mean told.

Here's my perspective on the whole deal. Those of you who know me, know that I'm an optimist. Though this may sound synical it isn't at it's heart. I think this is less religious and more political. It's about capitalism. I believe that capitalism is the most successful foundation for government in the world today. Liberty and freedom that allows people to compete and achieve has shaped the world as we know it. Even countries that are not capitalistic have benefited by those nations that are. Enough politics.

I think Dan Browns editors were thrilled with his pitch when he brought them The DaVinci Code. The editor knew Controversy sells books. Since a main theme in the book relates to degrading Jesus' divinity, Christians will be up-in-arms. Since the Catholic Church has been reeling for years, Catholics and those who are skeptical of the Church will be tweaked. And everyone loves conspiracy theories, so all of us in alluminum foil hats are "in". It's about money.

And in this corner...The Church. There is a company that deals in production goods to market churches. They've been around for several years. They deal in mass mailing postcards, doorhangers, banners, etc. They really made a move a couple years ago with a movie called The Passion of The Christ. They got rights to produce bullitens with movie artwork, banners, and all the marketing materials you'd need to advertise anything from sermon series to reserved movie showings.
Then came The Chronicles of Narnia. Everything you'd need from another company (and the other one too) to promote the movie in your church. An interactive DVD includes the video clips, sermon notes and handouts you'll need for a 4 week prep course culminating with a trip to the theatre for everyone to see this great tribute to the philosopher Walt Disney....erm...I mean C. S. Lewis.
And now Lee Strobel, author of The Case for Faith and The Case for Christ (great books), has engaged the fictional attributions in The DaVinci Code. Marketing and teaching materials are available from a number of marketing comapnies. Why? Because Controversy sells books.

I see as much or as little problem with Strobel as I do Brown, or maybe more specifically Zondervan as Doubleday. It's all about the money.

I know 2 Christians; one who is vehemenantly opposed to the Code and one who told me it was a pretty good read as novels go. I told them in a mutual conversation that I saw both sides. If an author, let's call him Don Brawn, wrote a book called DaRainey Code and described an intelligent, good-looking, albeit overweight pastor, named Ben Rainey, Jr., who was secretly homosexual as proven by the cactus that grew on his Glen Burnie lawn, there would be multiple responses. That book might be pretty good depending on Don's ability to write, but those of you who know me, might fell greatly offended because you know me, and that I'm not Homosexual as proven by the lack of cacti on my lawn. For those of us who know Jesus, I'm not surprised that there is so much hurt brought about by this book. But it is still a well-written book.
*SPOILER* Note the following paragraph contains a plot spoiler. Read at own risk.

The book intertwines non-fictional elements like Jesus, the church, etc. with fictional elements like...come on...does anyone believe Mary Magdelenes bones are burried in front of the Louvre?

*Non-Spoiler*

The fact is that not everything in the book is true, and people who are looking for a reason to not believe in Jesus put their faith in fictional arguments all the time. This is not something to be scared of. Instead in Christian love I believe that we should be more excited about the release of The DaVinci Code than we were about The Passion of The Christ. Because the fiction raises more questions about what Truth is.

I think Socrates was in part of God's truth when he expressed, "The unexamined life is not worth living." We should be ready to engage in the questions raised. Humble enough to admit when we don't know. Having enough integrity to search for the answers, and honor the scripture that tells us to always be prepared to answer for the hope that we have within us. (Thanks Peter)

So anyway,

I know a shepherd and He is really good
He came to earth and gave me all He could
And all the lies that can be ever sold
Can't destroy the greatest story ever told
(* Iambic Pentameter)


--Ben

Praise the Lord

I just got a call from the District Office. They were making sure that I'm going to be attending the CE luncheon next week. They are going to be presenting me a check for a Video projector for SRC.

PTL!

Jumpin' fences, dodging trees, and trying to get away.

Well,
Last night I learned a lesson on human frailty. While working around my house, I borrowed a wheel barrel from my neighbor, and instead of walking all the way around the house, I decided to jump the fence. As my wife called to me, "You're not as young as you used to be!" I landed on a brick and CRACK!!! My ankle rolled, I heard cracking and was laying on the ground whispering, "Jesus, help me" over and over.
I crawled to the fence and helped myself up. I immidiately felt as though I might blackout. Corie brought me a chair and some water, and I concentrated on breathing.
I ended up in the emergency room for only 2.5hrs. (Way to go BWMC)

Anyway, one of the bones in my leg chipped. I have an orthopedist apt. on Thursday.

Elevate, Ice, wince.

Thanks for your prayers.

Youth Convention

What is youth convention? It is a place where Youth Convene.

Well, I'm headed out to Youth Convention today. I'm taking a group of 12. Sorry it's not more. I think Youth Convention is one of the top events in the year. I'm probably most excited about Roger Moore going.

Roger is the latest addition to The Quake. He is the newest and about the oldest member of the Q-Crew. Just ribbing him a bit because of his age. I love that he has such a heart for teens and is willing to serve anytime. I really believe that he has grown so much in the last 3 years. In those years he concluded his searching by coming to Christ, and has been part of small groups and regular worship. What growth! I've seen him go from knowing nothing about God's word to hearing him use God's word in encouragement to others.

I mention Roger just to illustrate what I love seeing God do in people's lives.

One other thing. Going into last week. Corie and I decided to give sacrificially for the FLC offering at PAG. We decided an amount and gave it. It was significant enough that there was a little bit of anxiety about it.

I began praying that as we were obedient to the Lord in giving, He would take care of us. Sunday after church I calculated my taxes, and my refund is exactly what we gave. Even though that money was due back before we gave money away, I do believe that it's illustrative of God. I know that's the first fruits of his blessing to us. And I know there will be more blessing. Not because God is obligated in anyway, but because I know Him. I know it's his character to out-give me every time.

--Ben
Have a great weekend.

One Day A Week

For years it has been a standing joke around the church-world that pastors only work one (1) day a week (i.e. Sunday).

Specifically, I've heard this statement from one man for the last 6 years. It is ussually followed by a cakle. This man is really the only person I know who actually cakles.

Since my father mentioned it in a recent comment (and I know he was joking) I thought I'd address it. Pasadena A/G has little or no time policy for employees. I have grown contemptable with policies anyway as they tend to be: 1. reactionary and thereby stricter than they should be written, 2. constructed by boards and not by people who are doing the jobs the policy inhibits, 3. largely unused. They often get filed away and rewritten when we react to a problem at hand. (I know the value of policy and especially a written record of understanding decisions that have been made. But for the sake of my polemistry...)

In my first year at PAG I asked if Pastor Phil would like a record of my time, but he said it wasn't neccessary. He had already seen my work ethic, and the amount of time I was putting in. And in the following years I've been on a journey of time management study to try and use my time wisely.

The greatest area that I think I still need to learn in is giving my time to my family. At first I was tempted to say investing my time, but that connotates an effort to get something back. I feel less interested in investing than simply giving. I have tracked my time and have approx. 40% of my weeks documented. I did this primarily so that I could see whether I was giving time to my wife and child or not.

I grew up in the home of a workaholic. I don't think this is a surprise to anyone who knows my father, and I'm thankful that in the past couple years I seem to notice a bit more of a refocus for him. Especially since my daughter has been born. He stays at the house longer and longer in the morning in order to see her come over. What? Ben Rainey late to work? (Anybody got ice skates? I just heard about this lake that's freezing over.)

Anyway, my father modeled for me a drive that puts you in the office early, and out of the office late, and whatever the project is, you spend time (whatever amount of time neccessary) to do it to the best of your ability. So for the first 5 years of my carreer my schedule, apart from about 35 office hours over 4 weekdays, went like this: Sunday-services a.m./p.m. Monday- Drama Club, Tuesday- Board Meetings, Wed.- Family Night (Don't be deceived. This is not a night to be with your family, rather a night to all split up from one another at church), Thurs. Date Night (This was my night off to be with Corie), Fri.- Youth group meeting (btw, 8 a.m.-11:00 p.m. no break to go home), Saturday- well, 35% of those had something going on with the church.

I started changing that schedule in 2004 and it has devolved over the last year and a half, to something much better. Everyone gets the same time pie, and what we get done only depends on how we slice it. Now I work about 50-55 hours a week but have Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights off. Well, that was until I started the Church plant. Those of you who have hosted me on those nights know that my weeks lately have been busy. But...So What.

Well, I started this blog so that you could know me. The questions that drives this blog are, "What if people could really know what their pastor thinks? Could we be more effective together?"

Here's something that you should know about me. My drive for working and overworking is built off a combination of Complusion to acheive and Narcisism that believes I'm the only one who gets it done right. I've done quite a bit of self-study and have concluded that when people say pastor's only work one day a week it simply drives me to work longer and harder. However, I've decided to temper myself against it and simply keep tracking my time. I have not figured out the best use of my time. But something I've noticed is that all the people credited for mastery of time are all much older than I am. I'm going to keep working to make sure I'm giving time to God each day in prayer, bible reading and meditation. I'm going to give time to my family; first to my wife, then to my daughter. I'm going to give time to myself by exercising and motorcycling. And I'll give adequate time to the church, depending less on myself and more on the Lord and those around me to carry the load. I was thinking about it this morning. I see pastoring as spiritual life coaching. I want to coach the people of Christ to fulfill the mission he's given them. My time focuses in pastoring focus on: Prayer, People, Planning, and Projects in that order for now.

Alas, here's my folly. I'm not a good writer. So I can't communicate this without probably sounding like I'm whining, or laying on a Dr.'s couch somewhere. It's entirely too long, and likely meaningless. But it's who I am and what I think about. Oh crap, look at the time...

-- Ben

Double Double

Well, yes we've broken Double digits twice. Thanks for the comments and wishes of a happy birthday.

-- ed.

PS. My links have been updated, some removed. Added is a link to Missionary Ariel Rainey. She is my sister and is serving the muslim population of France.

The Big Mo

Momentum is a great and terrible factor. When added, it makes everything look better, and when subtracted it makes everything look worse. We were hoping to generate some momentum for finishing the FLC at PAG. We wanted to take a Miracle Offering on Easter Sunday as part of our worship. I mention this because I know SRCers are still giving to support the vision of PAG as they should, and think it a blessing that we'll have givers as part of our launch team.

Here are the totals from the MO:

--> 29,000.00 cash in hand
--> 14,000.00 pledged over the next 3 months
--> 43,000.00 Total

That's half of the difference, leaving 43,000.00 to finish the building. This does exhaust all cash resources for PAG, but finishes the building. In addition to the 29,000.00 on Sunday about 6,000.00 additional monies came in for Tithes and offerings.

Awesome.

Double Digits

Hey we did it! We broke double digits on the comment line of the Logo post. Kudos to you. Response to One day of work for pastors upcoming!!!

-- ed.

Happy Easter

Hello everyone,
Happy Easter. It was a good weekend for me and my family. My daughter wore the cutest dress that my mom made for her. Everyone was taken with her all day, and of course that makes a daddy proud.

The Easter Service yesterday morning was exciting. It was great to see a large crowd of people and see so many visitors. I pray that the seed of God's word has been planted in the hearts of those who came and that the Holy Spirit will bring a harvest of souls into the kingdom of God.

PAG is going to have a fantastic building when it's complete. I think they ought to have a "Movie Night" from time to time. It would be great fun.

Weekends like this are killer on my body though. I'm exhausted and looking forward to 2 days off this week.

--Ben

Statement of Beliefs

This week I've been wrestling with a question regarding SRC's statement of beliefs. As a church we have a system of beliefs, obviously, but we don't think we have all the answers. But I feel that it is important to have a written statment of core beliefs. It's not a new idea I guess. Certainly the ancient church was held together by creeds that were oft repeated (i.e. the Apostles Creed).

We however are not a liturgical church (ex. Catholic) where creeds are repeated/rehearsed every week. But should we be? What value?

The real rub for me this week has been the question, "Is a statement of beliefs for believers, or unbelievers?"

Believers
Of course as stated earlier there is some value to repeating/rehearsing a system of beliefs. I guess, that is, so long as you really buy into them, and are not just quoting something that is meaningless to you. And probably we know "Christians" who seem to believe a lot (just ask them and they'll tell you), without really knowing what or why they believe it.

Unbelievers
Well, these are people I somewhat feel a statement of beliefs is for. I mean, we in the church should know what we believe. It's the seeker who is clicking on the "Beliefs" link on the website, right? Or would they even click? Probably not? I'm not really sure. I asked a guy at the coffee house this week, 5 times he told me that he didn't go to church, but I could never get his honest perspective.

One thing I've kinda decided was that instead of listing them as bulletted points, as though they're a legal document. I'd like to express them as story, narrative. The essential parts of the Christian faith...God, the Bible, Relationship broken, relationship offered again, relationship restored between God and us, and our expression as the church to those around us who need to hear this story.

Pointless ramblings of a Church planter

Logo Help

Hey take a look at these logo ideas and comment on your favorites.




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Logo 7

Recently I posted regarding Prayer Partners for SRC, and a commentor asked why the deliniation "Out Loud". The answer kept getting longer and longer, so I never published it. Let me sum up.
1. Jesus said, "if we don't praise, the rocks would cry out"(BRV)
2. God created us oral beings who articulate through speech more than any other creature in creation.
3. When God baptizes us in the Holy Spirit, He gives us a physical evidence...Speaking in tongues.
4. Jesus prayers and every other prayer in the Bible is recorded because they were spoken out loud.

Ultimately though it comes down to knowing myself. In college I found that when I would go to the cafeteria and "pray" over my meal, I would just drop my head and silently "pray". The problem was that I wasn't really doing anything but dropping my head. There was no prayer, no thought of God whatsoever. I realized it one day and realized that for my sake I had better change my prayer strategy.

Not every thought is a prayer, and I've heard many prayers which could've used a bit more thought, but bottom-line... I find praying by name out loud makes me live up to the petitioning part of prayer from Philipians 4. That's why I do it, and ask others to.

--Ben

SRC UPDATE

We're picking up momentum. Over the last couple days I've had personal interviews with 3 couples who are commiting to coming to SRC. Soon I'll be including them by name for prayer. I'm very excited by people who are coming with hearts for new opportunities in ministry. I've got some more coming up next week.

Treebeard

Well,

Great answers everyone. I would agree that it was God's will that they eat of any tree they wanted, so long as it wasn't the Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. Instead of worrying about whether we are doing what God prefers, I'd suggest that we remember that God's preference lies primarily in our being than our doing. What we do simply proves who we are. If we are doing in obedience then we're going to be fine.

Jazzy like the Blues
This week I sent to my first book reading, and first book signing. It was really cool. Donald Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz, spoke at Messiah College and a friend of mine got tickets for a foursome to go and listen. It was really interesting. There's something about hearing an author read with his own inflection that really gives the text a face. I really enjoyed it, and since I borrowed the book and ruined it slightly with the water that was spilled on it, I thought I ought to get it signed for the original owner. It was a great evening and well worth the trip. www.DonaldMillerWords.com

Archive Repost: The WIll Of God

Today I was talking with someone about discerning the “Will of God” (insert echo) –od –od. It is a common phenomenon among Christian decision making. While people who don’t follow Christ call it worry. Many Christians excuse their worry away as trying to “discern” God’s will.

I, too, am guilty. I have done it. I’ve fretted and wondered if I were stepping out of God’s will. But in my journey I’ve picked up a few tidbits that help me make my decisions.

The Fleece vs. The Peace

In the book of Judges we see the story of Gideon. A fantastic story of God using the little guy (wish I was one) to do something that he couldn’t do. But Gideon didn’t think as much of himself as God did. So Gideon tested God to see if it was really His will for Gideon to obey Him. (Of course the angel of the Lord had talked with him, told him what God wanted done, and toasted the lunch that Giddy brought by making it spontaneously combust.) But that wasn’t enough for Giddy, nope he needed a sign. Enter the fleece. Poor innocent fleece, but Gideon said, “If this is really God’s will make the ground wet and the fleece dry tomorrow morning.” (Judges 6:36-38 BRV) The next morning it was dry when the ground all around it was wet with dew. So Giddy said, “Tommorrow morning let the ground be dry and the fleece be wet if this is really, really, really Your will.” The next morning it was just that way, in fact the ground was bone dry and the fleece was so wet it filled up a bowl.

*Note this is a passage of scripture that is Descriptive not Prescriptive. Further discussed at another time.

Then we have Paul in Philippians give us instructions on how we are to worry about nothing, but in every decision turn to God in prayer, list our needs with thankful hearts and he will give us peace that passes understanding to guard our hearts and minds in Christ. (Philippians 4:6-7)

*Note this is a prescriptive passage.

So what’s the difference? Well, Gideon’s way was about who?

God… (buzzer) sorry that’s a wrong answer. It was about Gideon. Let me see it for myself. Let me understand what You’re calling me to do. Let me get You (God) to do tricks for me to prove to me that You really want me to do this thing You told me to do.

Paul’s prescription of what we should do is what? Turn to Him, pray to Him, thank Him, rest in Him and the peace that we’ll never understand anyway. And who makes it possible? Jesus Christ.

One more thought and I’m done. In fact, I’m going to play a little game with my readers. A riddle of sorts. Carol, Phil and Suzieq are disqualified for 24 hours. Here’s the question: WHICH TREE WAS IT GOD’S WILL FOR ADAM AND EVE TO EAT FROM WHEN THEY WERE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN?

Talk amongst yourselves in the comments and tomorrow I’ll finish the last thought I have on this.

--Ben

Curse the Time Change

When time is a constant in this universe that is slowly ticking toward entropy, why is it that we mortals feel that we can control the hands of our passing friend.

Or is it our enemy? I'm not sure I know; for in some moments it seems the delight of a day full of life, but in the next a cruel task-master driving us to harvest as much of its precious commodity, yet always leaving us ripped off and unsatisfied longing for more.

Time is a ponzi scheme that teaches us to measure each day not in an objective view, but rather comparatively to the measure we used yesterday or yesteryear. As children we took long drinks of the sweet days that seemed to never end. But each day grew shorter, and so the deception continued till the lot of time grows smaller ahead compared to the loss behind. And our children grow up faster, our taxes still need to be done, work is never quite complete, and we bemoan the lament, "if only there were a 25th hour in the day, or an 8th day in the week."

Or better yet, let's screw with the clocks and make-believe that time is subject to us. But we can't even get that right, because it robs us every spring. Curse the Time Change.