Thank After I M&T Bank?

As a church planter one of my first lessons was fund raising. After all if you have $100 you can only do about $100 worth of ministry. I learned from the Chi Alpha ministry a great maxim, "Thank before you bank."

I made it an effort to send thank you notes to people and churches that donated even before I deposited the check.

On Thursday I received tickets to go see the Ravens play at M&T Bank Stadium. It all happened so fast that I didn't get the chance to "Thank before I M&T Bank" so to speak. So I wanted to take the opportunity in this outlet to share my sincere thanks. I'm not sure that the donor would want their name published, but when they read, I hope that accept my sincere thanks.

I love the Ravens. To me there is nothing like going to the stadium and watching them play. Even in pre-season, it is a great time. My friend Jay and I really enjoyed it.

--Ben

Back To Church Sunday

Back to Church Sunday is coming up. I sent an email two days ago with an invitation, and I sent a snail mail letter, so people can be watching for it. Just trying to get the word out about it.

See you there on September 14.

--Ben

Maryland State Fair

Yesterday I headed out to the MD State Fair. I think it was the first time I've ever been. I'll leave that open to the historians that read this site. It was a really good time. I'm typically not into the whole carnival scene, too many people, but this trip was nice.

It rained quite a bit, and I think that kept people away. So it was a trade off. It did stop raining long enough for the kids to get on some rides. And lucky enough, they used all their tickets before the electricity went out. That occurred just before we left, and made for a great reason to leave.

We had MD food, and saw MD animals. (Which incidentally will probably be the MD food next year.) The girls had a great time. I recommend it if you get the chance to head up to Timonium.

--Ben

All around us we see advertisements for Back to School sales happening in stores that you and I shop in. Retailers know that this time of year brings the routine back that we lose during our summer break. In our society there seems to be a rhythm to life; gear up in September and work through May. Then we rest June through August. You've probably enjoyed some rest this Summer. I've heard stories of people's trips camping, biking through the Blue Ridge, even a trip to the west coast for one family I know. The Summer is great for a break, but there is something comforting in the structure that this time of year brings back to us.

I'm writing to invite you Back To Church this fall. It's a new semester at Severn River Church, and if you have found yourself away from church, then I want you to know this is a great time to come back. On September 14, 2008 we'll be holding our Back To Church service at 10:00 a.m. at AACC. I'm preparing a special message to launch us into our fall semester, and I'm praying that God will use it to encourage your walk of faith. Please make plans to join us for this special day.

See You There,

Ben Rainey

Pastor, Severn River Church

God Doesn't Throw People Away

This morning I got to enjoy to fruit of working from home. I had breakfast with my family. Corie made waffles, and we all gathered up to enjoy breakfast.

During our meal Sydney added a running commentary about how her cup was old and marked up. It is a plastic cup, the inside is blue and the outside is clear. The two tone scheme really bothered her. It should both be blue in her mind. "And how do they stick together?", she wondered. Satisfied that she had finally berated the usefulness of this cup to its fullest degree she said, "We can keep this cup a couple days, and then we'll throw it away."

I was a bit sympathetic to the cup. I mean that cup is a bit ugly, but has always done the job it was supposed to do. I argued that we could keep the cup longer than a couple days. She strongly disagreed. It needed to be thrown away because it was old.

I touched her elbow and said, "Well, you're getting old. Is it ok if we throw you away?" She paused only for a moment and said, "No, because God doesn't throw people away!"

What a special revelation. We asked her who had taught her that, and she said that she just knew it. I for one am glad that God doesn't throw people away.

--Ben

Door Hanger Day

In addition to the door hangers we've been doing getting the word out about the church, I've invited 12 churches to send a group of people to help us distribute a large quantity highlighting our fall series, "Nothing Is Too Hard For God". On Saturday September 13 we're going to host these volunteers to distribute door hangers in communities surrounding the campus.

Mark you calendar now to come out and be part of it.

--Ben

Behind the Scenes

Last night I concluded my day by meeting Drew and Rob at Drew's house for a Website meeting. A number of us have been increasingly dissatisfied with our website, and Drew has taken on this new website design for the Fall. We expect it to be operational by the end of the year.

I took a moment last night as part of the meeting to express my gratitude for the first/current site. In the information age we tend to see things become obsolete, and with their obsolescence we relegate the obsolete item to the junk pile of yesterday. However, in this case I wanted to say that the site we originally built has been a good site. Better in some cases than many other church's have. Thank you Drew, for helping us.

That said, I'm very excited about the new site. Last night's meeting was full of questions, answers, assignments, etc. The thing that really stood out is that Drew is the code guy, and Rob is helping Drew, and I have little to no knowledge of how all this really works. I just get to be along for the ride and tell them if I like it or not. YES!

Anyway, a little advanced mention of things that are happening behind the scenes. I look forward in a couple months of inviting you to take a look at the new site. BTW, the new site design will be changing the look of my blog as well. Stay tuned!

--Ben

Last Night

Last night I had the privilege to speak to Eastern A/G church. They support us monthly with financial help, and have been very helpful to our work. I was invited to share our story and preach the Word. So I did.

Gotta say, it was such a release and refreshment. I find myself moved to tears when I get to worship in a place that I don't have to lead the singing. I can just focus on Jesus, and the miracle that it is that I even know him. We take it for granted, because we live in a nation with a Christian heritage. We figure everyone should know about Jesus, but 1 John 5 says that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. I think we sometimes don't consider how much effect Satan has on our world. We have power through the Spirit of God to break Satan's power.

I'm praying for a spiritual breakthrough, and for the move of God in an undeniable way. Please pray with me.

--Ben

The SRC Draft

Saturday was the SRC draft. I literally ran all day from here to there. I worked till two on the church's trailer installing new tie-downs for the new cart. I then went to a picnic held by Alma and Larry. It was a great time, and I really enjoyed the food and friendship. I left from there to go to the Fantasy Draft at Drew's house. Where I don't think I had a very good draft, and when it was over I went back home to finish the work on the trailer, so we could use it Sunday morning. Busy Day!

--Ben

Friday

It's Friday!!!!

Yesterday I got a call from a friend offering me 4 tickets to the O's game tonight. I'm very excited to be going. Corie and I are going back to the place of our first date, and we're taking some friends.

It's gonna be a good night, I'm looking forward to seeing Mike Mussina back in Baltimore, even if he is wearing pinstripes. As of this morning the O's hadn't selected a pitcher (probably not a good sign).

Go O's!

--Ben

FOUND POST FROM YESTERDAY

Last weekend I watched an iconic movie from my childhood, The Karate Kid. In the film Mr. Miyagi is training his protege how to do Karate. Daniel is interested in learning to punch. Mr. Miyagi says that he must, "first learn balance, then learn punch".

Mr. Miyagi knew something that is the key to success in our Christian faith, and I'd like to share it. But first I want to tell you a parable:

Man walk on right side of road, safe.
Man walk on left side of road, safe.
Man walk in middle, squish, just like grape.

Man walk with Christ, Yes, safe.
Man walk with Christ, No, eternally damned, but no worries here on earth.
Man walk with Christ "think so", squish, just like grape.

There is a balance to the Christian life of interior and exterior living. That is there are certain things/commitments that happen on the outside that we all have to do to live (i.e. marriage, parenting, vocation, family, etc.). These are the public things that are clearly visible to everyone in the world. It's like Daniel's punch. It's what you can see. It's what we look at and esteem power by.

However, without proper balance Daniel's punch would never be as effective. The power doesn't come from the punch (visible), it comes from the balance (internal/external).

I guess the reason that I've been thinking about this is that I see people who get knocked off balance in life, and the way they respond is by swinging more and more. The punch of their life gets weaker and weaker, because they don't balance their external efforts with the internal balance of life and peace in Christ. I think Christ's call to rest is a call to balance. The Spiritual Disciplines are a way of disciplining balance in our lives.

Otherwise, squish, just like grape.

--Ben

The Missing Posts

Apparently,
I have misplaced some posts. Yesterday's posts, aren't up. I'll look around for them, and see if I can publish them.

--Ben

Out To Hagerstown

Well, I'm headed out to Hagerstown. As you think of it, please pray for God to speak through my coach today.

--Ben

Family

My wife and daughters arrived home yesterday. It is so good to have them back. Unfortunately, while they were away, Corie's uncle side swiped her minivan. It is painful to see a vehicle so new get damaged. She's working out the insurance stuff to have it repaired.

Glad to see them, sad to see the damage, more glad to see them.

--Ben

Stuff

We got lots of stuff yesterday. A gracious church donated an entire sound system (speakers, monitors, cables, snake, board, amp, etc.), signs (like our parking signs), and a bunch of literature for our welcome table. It is so much in fact that it filled the bed of Big Red (our pickup truck). Mike Jones went with to help me pick it up. We decided that we needed to grab lunch at Qdoba then clean out the trailer. We emptied a truck bed full of trash, rearranged the stuff in the trailer, and added all the new stuff. PAG donated a metal cage on wheels that fits the entire sound system, I have to have tie downs installed in the trailer, but it will make packing and unpacking a lot easier.

So excited. Later today I'm returning the equipment we've been borrowing to our friends at the Mennonite church.

Grateful,
--Ben

Stuff

So excited to be picking up a donation of equipment today. A church in Hartford county has donated a complete sound system to us. So we're going to pick it up today. We'll switch it out with the equipment in the trailer, and return our current equipment to the church that loaned it to us when we got this whole thing started.

So thankful.

--Ben

Complicated

This morning while running I was thinking about my training. I am following a program called Couch to 5K, it is designed to get you ready for a 5k in 9 weeks. However, I'm now in my 7th week of training, and I'm only doing week three's program. It is taking me much longer than the program is written for.

So if someone asked me do I say I'm in my seventh week or third week? Obviously I've been training for seven, but I'm only up to third week workout, so, it's complicated.

I was then thinking, "If someone asked me how it was going, I guess I'll just say 'fine'." Even though I have a lot of frustration about my lack of progress. It is just too much to go into.

Here's the thing. I think our spiritual journey is much the same. We wrestle with things we should do, or know, or be. But we're not there yet, in fact, we're behind where we "ought" to be. It's complicated.

So if anyone were to ask we would say we're "fine". The troubling thing? We don't ask. I don't think we ask with sincere interest nearly enough. Because we're all living complicated lives. If I don't ask you about your journey, you won't ask about mine.

What should we do to open dialog to encourage one another on our journey?

--Ben

The Slow Trip Down

My wife headed away this week for a weekend away. She took the girls and headed to her Aunts with her mom. That leaves me for a weekend by myself. Not the happiest proposition for me. I always depress a little when she is away. I love my wife. She has a remarkable affect of balance for me. When she's gone, I'm just a little out of balance.

--Ben

Lunch With A Friend

I have friends who have diligently supported us over the months that our church has been open. They had started a church themselves in Hartford County. I have learned a lot from them as they've shared their experience with me. Today I'm going to have lunch with him. He is about to start a new chapter in life in a new ministry. I know he's excited about where God is leading him, and I know he is saddened to leave the church behind. I hope to be an encouragement today.

--Ben

Nothing's Too Hard For God

This fall our theme will be "Nothing's Too Hard For God". Our vision for the fall will be built around this theme. We'll be continuing CONTACT, and flowing right into this series. As always we focus on helping people experience God through large groups and small groups. So get ready because Nothing is too hard for God.

--Ben

Grad School

Yesterday I called my adviser, and got my plan together for finishing my degree. I have one class, one practicum, and one research project. I'll be doing the practicum, and class this fall. And I'll do my research project in the Spring.

I'll be contacting a professor from VFCC to proctor the practicum and the research project. If that works out, I'll be working on them right away.

--Ben

My girls are beautiful

I love to watch my girls. They are just beautiful. Just thought I'd mention that.

--Ben

Running

Last week while traveling, I wasn't able to do any running workouts. This commercial kinda sums up how I feel... It's why I was back on the trail this morning.

--Ben

Traffic

Yesterday I had the privilege of conducting a wedding for good friends Ryan and Meghan. They got married outside on a lovely little point on Royal Oak Creek, very near St. Michaels. The setting was gorgeous.

The traffic was not. A tragic accident took place on the Bay Bridge that closed down the eastbound span. The westbound span serviced the traffic, but it really slowed everything down. The kicker was that it was all because of rubbernecking. People had to look and see what had slowed them down for hours, meanwhile everyone else is being slowed by their nosiness.

The wedding was briefly delayed because of the traffic situation to enable the DJ and guests to arrive. When the ceremony started though it was beautiful and Meg and Ryan did a fantastic job. The reception was exceptional. I got to make some new friends too. So that was a great bonus, and worth the three hour drive home because traffic was backed up still from the bridge. It capped the end of a very long week. Today I've been relaxing a little bit, just taking care of some administrative odds and ends. Not a lot of brain work today.

--Ben

Rehearsal

Today is a busy one for me. I have a luncheon and wedding rehearsal. I'm so excited for the couple getting married tomorrow. It looks like it is going to be a beautiful day for their outdoor wedding.

We aren't able to rehearse at the sight of the wedding, so we're going to rehearse elsewhere. It should be fun!

--Ben

Digging Out

You know what those last couple days are like before you go on a trip? You're constantly thinking about packing, and remembering everything you need to take. You start thinking of your routine, and making sure bases are covered.

Our favorite practice is cleaning the house really good, so that when we come home it is to a neat house. I find that it relieves stress from travel to walk into a neat house.

So we work really hard on everything, except my desk. My desk is in the basement, so it really isn't part of the stress relief. In the days leading up to my trip, I am getting things ready for church services that I won't attend. Making sure everyone that is making our ministry happen while I'm away has everything they need, and in my frantic rush, the desk gets piled up with all kinds of stuff. This morning I'm digging out. It is an effort that will probably take me through Monday to complete. But it's good to be home.

--Ben

Home Sweet Home

We arrived back in town today. It was a horrible trip back. The four hour drive yesterday took six because of rain, and traffic. The four hour drive today took 5 because of traffic. Children under the age of three don't do traffic. Uggh.

Anyways, we're back. We didn't get to see any moose while we were up there, but the country up there is beautiful. I definately forsee a journey back through New England with a motorcycle one day.

Back at it,
--Ben

Today Is My Last

Today is my last at White River Camp. We'll be heading out actually in just a couple hours after I've completed my teaching this morning. We'll be stopping over in Stamford CT again. Really liked the way it split the trip, and the hotel was outstanding. Tomorrow I'll be back in town and working on some stuff in the afternoon.

I've got a very busy weekend with a wedding to cap it at the end. I'm really looking forward to it.

--Ben

It's Raining; It's Pouring

I think it has rained, at least a little, every day we've been traveling. Today, it is raining a lot. It's kinda nice in a way. There is just no feeling like laying in bed listening to rain fall steadily on the roof. Our cabin is unfinished with the studs bare. Just the clapboard siding keeps the rain out. But it also allows the cool air in and makes for a beautiful morning of drowsing in and out of consciousness and pulling the blanket a little higher.

--Ben

Sleeping Better

The first night the girls had a real problem with sleeping. Consequently, so did mom and dad. Last night was much better, they went down at normal bedtime, and slept through the night. It is a new experience for me, because I get to sleep with Ellie this week. I always get Sydney when we travel, but Corie needs a better night sleep than I do, so I get the little moose.

I have really enjoyed it.

--Ben

I Told Corie...

Yesterday I told Corie, around one o'clock, that SRC must not have had any guests today from door hangers. I was confident there would be some, but if there would have been someone would have called to let me know shortly after the service. So I experienced the let down for a couple hours, until I noticed some text messages on my phone at around 3p.m.

It was Rob letting me know that there were two guests. FANTASTIC! So proud of everyone. Apparently the only thing that the church needed to do to get visitors was send me out of town. :) and hand out 1300 door hangers.

A big thank you and celebration with everyone who has handed out a door hanger. We'll be getting a pack of 1500 in the mail this week; lots more opportunities!!!!

--Ben

The Weekend

Saturday we packed up the minivan and headed out on the road. We traveled up to Stamford, CT. Stamford is located just over the border and just outside of NYC. It also appeared to be the home of WWE Wrestling. I saw a building that was flying the Flag.

We used Hotwire.com to book the hotel. It is different from my other favorite, priceline, because though you can't name your price, you can see all the information about the hotel. When we travel we pick hotels with pools for the girls. We ended up in a Hilton. It was swank. Fantastic hotel. And after putting us in a room that was not made up, we were given complimentary breakfast for the family at the restaurant's buffet. Simply amazing breakfast.

On Sunday morning after breakfast we loaded up again and drove north into Vermont. We got a little nervous, because our navigation system said that the destination was in a region that did not provide turn by turn directions. However, when we got into town we were able to find our way alright.

--Ben

Heading North

Later today I'm packing up the kiddies and my wife, and we are heading to Vermont. I was invited several months ago to join a camp meeting that has met annually for the last century.

I'll be the Bible teacher for the week, and am presenting on 1 John. It is a different track than I've been using on Sunday's at SRC. Instead of verse by verse exposition, I'll be looking at the themes of 1 John.

I'm not sure if we'll have internet access, but as we do I'll check in. To my girls, any time we travel it is "bacation". So it should be a good week or ministry and rest.

--Ben

Door Hanger Success

Last night we had 5 people volunteering to hang Door Hangers. We covered over three hundred more homes. It was great. Ryan did a stretch of about 50 single family homes. Corie and I did a town home community. And Diane and Jessica did two hundred apartments. It was a great evening. So proud of everyone's effort. We were discussing at the end how worthwhile we feel this effort is. The fact is people need Jesus Christ. And we're doing something about it.

Very Proud,

--Ben

Assessment

The Assessment process for Church Planters is a long one. Yesterday our interviewee said, "I wondered how you were going to fill six hours with questions." But he found out.

We actually were able to finish in just over five hours.

It takes a long time, but offers a thorough review. It is based on the premise that past behaviors are the best indicators of future behaviors.

--Ben

Friday

It is Friday, and I'm glad for a break. A lot of work and pushing this week. Glad for a day of rest. It really has been on my mind lately that pre-covenant disciplines were modeled for us. Disciplines like Rest and Giving found their way into the law because they are part of God's Character, but they also find their way into Grace because they are part of God's Character. God doesn't need us to take a day of rest. He knows we need it. He doesn't need ten percent of our income. He knows we need to give it.

Glad to be resting.

--Ben