Merry Christmas

I know it's the day after, but to be honest, getting on my blog was the last thing on my mind. I had such a good day. My daughters were delightful to watch.

I hope you and yours had a great Holy day, and enjoy these days that follow. My family and I are headed south today to the mountains in North Carolina. We're looking forward to a break, and getting away.

Confession: When we travel my body goes with my family, but my mind is at the community college. Saturdays and Sundays are spent wondering if the trailer arrived, if anyone showed up to setup, if the Speaker came, if anyone showed up to hear the Speaker. It takes me away from vacation from midday on Saturday to midday on Sunday. However, this week we are closed, so I'm looking forward to actually getting "away". It will be a good disconnection.

SRC -- there are two opportunities for a good meal coming up on the next two Sundays. Check your email to see the details.

Peace Out!
--Ben

Eavesdropping

A couple days ago I responded to a question about Rick Warren, and even enjoyed a short comment conversation about it. Well, this week I had the opportunity to eavesdrop on Rick Warren's message to Saddleback church. He addresses a number of things related to the issue. Does a fantastic job. He is a brilliant guy, no doubt.

It's about 20 minutes long, but if you have the time it is worth a watch:

http://www.saddlebackfamily.com/blogs/newsandviews/index.html?contentid=1723

--Ben

Last Minute?

Someone accused me of waiting till the last minute for Christmas shopping today. I informed her that the last minute would be tomorrow night, I'm still way ahead of the game.

--Ben

Ed Rainey

Tomorrow is the Christmas Eve service at PAG, and I'll mention again that all are welcome. It is a combined service between Pasadena A/G church and Severn River Church. It was listed in the local newspaper, The Gazette, and someone started calling me Ed on Saturday. Apparently in the paper the service is listed as including Phil Foster and Ed Rainey.

Oh well...

--Ben

A Flurry Of Comments

I want to encourage my readers to check out the comments on the posts below. There has been quite the flurry of comments in the last two days. I enjoy it, especially the ones that I don't necessarily agree with. It fuels discussion which I love. Thanks to all the color commentators at BenjaminRainey.com.

--Ben

Cold

Did I mention it is cold outside? It is so cold that the locks on the SRC trailer were frozen shut. I had to use a butane lighter to melt the ice holding them locked in place. But alas I was successful.

The trailer is on its way out today to the lettering company to have the decals put on. Should look nice when we roll back onto campus on January 11th.

--Ben

Website Update

It is nearing completion! Can't wait to unveil the new site. Drew has outdone himself. You'll really enjoy it. We will have a public release in early January, and it is likely that my blog users will have a first crack at it. Many of you use SRC.com as a portal to this blog, and others of you come directly through BenjaminRainey.com. Either way you'll bump into the new site. When it's up I invite you to use the comment section of my blog as a place to offer accolades to Drew for the hard work he's put into this great new site.

Coming soon...

--Ben

BTW, Drew used our website to fulfill requirements for a Graduate Class. He earned an A for the project. Good job, Drew!

The Next Generation

For years Presidents have been sworn in accompanied by a prayer offered by a minister. Billy Graham has served the Presidents of my lifetime. This election has brought about a changing of the guard. Rick Warren, pastor and best selling author, has been asked to offer the prayer at the inauguration.

Many have been up-in-arms about this decision. Our country is politically centrist which is why we see an ongoing shift back and forth in power. We as a nation don't let either party exercise political power too long, before we oust them for the other party. But I think the people of each party believe that the nation has gone "their way" when "their guy" gets into office.

In this case the political left believe that the nation is a left-wing, liberal country put into power because of their ideology. I don't think they're right, but they do. That is why so many are hot and bothered about the selection of a Bible-believing, Christ-centered, and for Rick's sake Purpose-Driven [:-)] Christian Pastor to pray at the inauguration. He stands against homosexuality, abortion, and a number of other sins that they believe are rights. Many had likely hoped there would be no prayer at all, or at best perhaps an inclusive figure like Rev. Jeremiah Wright would offer the prayer.

I am glad that there will be a prayer offered. I am glad that a figure like Rick Warren is filling the shoes of a great Christian leader like Billy Graham. It is a reasonable response to the heritage of Christian faith that our country was built on. Psalm 33:12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord..."

--Ben

Wanna Go See The Other Ones?

Today we had another showing of our house. The folks arrived 15 minutes early, so I was still getting ready to head out. That meant that I was in the house while they visited (awkward). They only stayed a couple minutes. The agent came to explain that the gentleman had a back issue that prevented him from seeing the basement. As she explained I heard him say to his wife, "Wanna go see the other ones?"

Such, it seems, is the destiny of my house sale for now. Things are so mixed up with the economy that people rarely come around, and when they do there is a plethora of options on the market for them to see.

--Ben

Hagerstown

Today was my monthly trip out to meet with my coach. It was a good meeting. We spent the time looking ahead to 2009 and the things that God has been speaking to me about for the next year. There were several goals that I had listed that were not quantified. He pushed me on each of them. I had to settle on a number for the purpose of measuring our effectiveness. The goals included not only organizational goals, but also personal goals.

It's in line with the old maxim, "If it can't be measured, it can't be managed."

Of course the hardest ones were those that I had already set a number for, that he told me were too low. There are several that I have scratched out and replaced (along with his name next to them). He said my faith was too small.

I think there is a fine balance that must be struck when dealing with goal setting. That line between reality and faith is sometimes hard to navigate. But so far, my modus operandi is to err on the side of faith. After all, we are in a fundamentally supernatural business.

--Ben

Keep Your Laws Off My Body

I know this may seem a little heavy to jump back in on after a few days off, but this is something I've been thinking about, so I thought I'd bring it up.

Recently I saw a scene on TV where a girl uttered the famous line of the feminist agenda, "Keep your laws off my body." It has been bandied about as a means of defending personal choice especially in the area of abortion, the sad practice of taking the life of an unborn child. This begs the question of the rights of the baby and the forming body within the mother's womb, but that is a much longer discussion.

For today I'll simply throw out what has been on my mind. Here it is -- does Jesus ever say, "Keep your laws off my body."

Several years ago I dealt with an issue in the church, a matter of confidentiality, with a minor who became an "adult" (18 yrs old) within just days of the matter. It was something that should have been discussed with the teen's parents, but those involved (and I was included) bought into the thinking that since the teen was now an adult, we shouldn't bring it up. The matter was eventually found out (as matters of sin always are). Then I had to apologize to the parent for not talking with them in advance of some problems that arose.

This week, again, I heard about a situation where young people were doing what they were legally allowed, but doing it in secrecy and bringing division to their families. All the while rationalizing with the law that makes them "old enough".

I think that the body of Christ should submit to the laws of our land, pray for those in authority, and live quiet and peacable lives. However, the family of God should also recognize that those laws do not supercede the law of Christ which is no respector of person, gender, or age.

I can hear Jesus saying, "Keep your laws off my Body."

--Ben

A New Notch

I got a new notch on my belt. For the first time I reformatted my hard drive by myself. Not that big a deal I guess, but for me it was big. I'm back on now. I'm almost entirely back up and running.

--Ben

Still Disconnected

Sorry, I know I promised some thoughts from the message that got cut out, but I just have limited access right now. Thanks for your patience.

--Ben

Disconnected

Dear friends,
I am currently unable to access the interweb from my machine, so posting is difficult. I will post as I can, and hope to soon nuke my machine into submission. Thanks for checking back to see when I've fully arrived on the net in the next couple days.

The time is drawing closer when we'll launch the new website for the church. As part of the redesign we'll be unvieling the new blog look as well. Nothing will change per se abou the content, but the look will be fully integrated into www.Severnriverchurch.com. You'll still be able to access it though that site, benjaminrainey.com, or the actual blogspot address. All roads lead to my site, so no worries. Just wanted to alert you about the change that will be coming.

Thanks,
--Ben

Home Stretch

Our new website is in the home stretch. Only a couple more fixes, and it'll be ready to go live. Our site is being submitted for a grade by our webmaster, Drew Harrah, so we'll have to wait till it gets through that before it will go live.

I can tell you that I'm sick of the old site. I remember when I thought it was not a bad site, but when you see the new site you'll quickly understand why for the last three months my stomach turns to look at it. The new site is far superior. In fact I believe it would stand in the top 10% of websites churches are using these days. Can't wait.

--Ben

Dear Dallas

I don't know who you are, I only see a blip on a map that tells me someone from Dallas, Tx. checks in on the blog regularly. I want you to know I appreciate it, it is an encouragement to me.

God Bless,
--Ben

Who Me?

Monday night I told you that I sat with Troy Hart at the Christmas banquet I attended. After dinner Troy asked if we could get together so that I could offer him resources and advise him on leading his church. The overwhelming question in my mind was "Who me?".

But truth be told, I love talking with other leaders and giving my best to help them be their best. I believe that the Kingdom of God needs all of us to offer what we have to others. This is true of pastors and laity alike. We are responsible to lead people to the degree we have been led. Imagine a scale of 1-10. If you have been discipled to an 8, then you are responsible to lead 2s, 3s, and 5s. If you are a 2 you're responsible to lead the 1s.

I love the view that Bill Hybels puts on it. He uses the idea of the compass to say we should lead North, South, East-West. He calls it 360 degree leadership. That means we lead people who lead us. We do our best to influence the leaders that are leading us. Then we lead those behind us, the most common view of leadership. East-West leadership means that we lead peers. That's what today's meeting is about. I'm not going to offer Troy much that he doesn't already know or hasn't already been exposed to, but I'm going to spur him on a little further as a peer.

--Ben

Feeling Better

This morning I woke up feeling much better. Thanks to everyone who said a prayer for me yesterday.

--Ben

Sick Sick Sick

Since yesterday afternoon I've been dealing with a virus that has been going around, and finally made it to my stomach. Who am I to be spared, I guess. Anyway, today's been a sick day for me, and I would appreciate your prayers. Corie and Ellie have also had it and Sydney hasn't yet, but they'd appreciate your prayers too.

Because of illness there will be NO PRAYER GROUP tonight.

Thanks,
--Ben

Badge Of Honor

Last week I posted about my truck and the junky car club. Well, I wanted to fill you in on some developments. You may recall that the door would not latch, and that I had to drive with the window down to hold the door shut with my arm.

It was bad, no doubt. In fact, one faithful reader of this blog told me it was time to get a new car. That is what most people would have done.

But I am not most people. Instead I'll unveil here and now my badge of honor. Saturday my father-in-law and I went to a local junkyard, and came away with this beauty. Yes, while most would have given up, my Jeep lived to drive another day.

My wife rolls her eyes, is embarrassed, and calls me a redneck, but this has given me time to reflect on materialism, and simplicity. Here is a philosophical question, "What is the purpose of a car?"

My car gets me where I want to go, and she's not ready to be put out to pasture just yet.

--Ben

Christmas Party

Last night I attended the Eastern Section Christmas Party hosted at Trinity A/G in Lutherville. It was a delightful evening. We had a fantastic meal, surf and turf. The pastors of our section have a great spirit of camaraderie, so the crowd games were a lot of fun.

I got to sit at a table with Troy Hart. Troy is the pastor at Hereford A/G and is leading his church through a period of change. The church, prior to his coming, went through a number of difficult transitions. Troy is working with a group of people from different church backgrounds, that are now a church with an identity crisis. They are starting the work of prayer to determine God's identity in them for their future.

Troy's a great guy, and I look forward to meeting with him in the next week or so to give him some resources I've picked up over my years in ministry.

--Ben

Ten Turkeys

We were able to contribute ten turkeys to the Teen Challenge cause yesterday. I had the privilege of seeing the center up close and personally yesterday. The center gave almost 100 turkeys to neighbors that visited, and were able to share what the center was all about. There were probably 35 volunteers from area churches that served to help administrate the event. I look forward to showing a video of the center and what happened on Sunday. Another church had someone shooting film, and they're going to send it to us for this weekend.

I just want to say thanks to everyone that participated in giving. They think we're the greatest because of the way we've given to them already. They think that because we're a small church we're less likely to give. I say, "They don't know Severn River Church." We're destined to become the most generous church ever.

--Ben

Working From Home

When I work, I am most often at my desk in my basement. I've really worked over the last couple months to make my current setting an efficient one. I dress in this cold months in layers so that I maintain warmth in the unheated portion of my home, and I manage it pretty well. I have even set boundaries in place about how I treat this area of my home. When I'm here at this table, I'm working, and if I'm not working I go upstairs to spend time with my family. Therefore I have "on" time and "off" time.

But then there are mornings like this when I am up a little later than usual watching a brilliant Raven victory, and the next morning I am just a little off. My computer was upstairs so it was convenient to check my email first thing. And I was off to the races.

I started working from my living room couch, and placed phone calls, and by the time I got in the shower it was 10:00 a.m., and my morning has just been pushed back. Days like this I have to really fight against the flow, and make my schedule work for me not against me.

--Ben

My Eye Reminds Me, My Heart Forgets

I am coming through one of the busiest seasons of my life with work and school, but that is behind me for now, and this week I spent a lot of time disciplining myself to rest. Yesterday morning I woke up before the alarm (normal for me) for the first time all week. And not only did I wake up, but I woke up with an overwhelming desire to preach this weekend. God spoke to me there in the bed about what I should share, and then it was down to my desk to type it into the computer so I wouldn't forget it like so many dreams I have at that time of the morning. This was important.

So important that I never forgot it, instead it has been working in my spirit for the last 24 hours. I feel renewed and energized by it. So much energy in fact that I forget I'm still recovering. When I get fatigued my eye spasms, I don't know if that happens to everyone, but it does to me. So my eye reminds me that I'm still not quite all the way back physically, but my heart has forgotten.

See you this morning at Severn River Church.

--Ben

Back Online

It was a nice break. I was off the net for 24 hours or so. I had just been so connected lately, I just needed to disconnect. I was on my computer constantly for two weeks finishing up my class. So I just needed a break.

I feel renewed today. Spent yesterday in meetings with pastors in the morning and afternoon.

--Ben

An E-Holiday

Tomorrow (Thursday), I'm taking an e-holiday. I'll be off the computer and out of cyberville all day. I'll re-wire on Friday morning.

If you need to reach me you're welcome to call my cell.

Thanks,

--Ben

It Has Hit

Two weeks of round the clock work with Thanksgiving sandwiched in between has taken its toll, and today it hit me. I had a great meeting this morning with a new friend, and the rest of the day was down hill. Not that bad stuff happened, but my energy level has been sapped. The next few days I will be trying to gauge as much rest as possible in preparation for Sunday.

Sunday is Friend day at SRC, we're looking forward to meeting new friends and maybe seeing some of you that we haven't seen in a while. Here's the reminder...

Send Away For Another A

Last night was the culmination. About forty pages of papers were sent via internet to my professor to fulfill the requirements for my last class. At least, I think they did. I sent my largest project (22 pages) to an editor and a smaller project (3 pages) so that I could make it a round dollar amount. It really helped out because I had a rehearsal last night and didn't have time to do all the proof-reading myself.

I got a call after rehearsal saying that my editor had edited the papers but had lost them, and couldn't retrieve them after the edits. So at close to 10:00 she was starting again. We arranged that after she was finished she would send them on, but I have no confirmation that they met the deadline.

We'll see...

--Ben

Junky Car Club

There is a great site you should visit called JunkyCarClub.com. It was started by Mike Foster who sold his loaded sports car to buy a 1993 Camry. That way he could give more to help the needs of others.

Today I'm considering joining. Today I realized I give away more than two car payments a month to the church and missions efforts around the world. And this is what I drive:

• 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee (13 years old)
• The onboard computer display doesn't work.
• The interior light covers that you push to turn them on are broken out.
• 170,000 miles.
• CD player doesn't work.
• Radio works FM only, and is picks up 95.1 at 93.5 so whatever the difference is there.
• An odd tire.
• One leather driver seat that can only be adjusted by hooking up my jumper cables to the battery and doing a little MacGyver action.
• No interior panel on the hatch. (Removed because the latch doesn't work so well anymore).
• Antenna doesn't work. (Every time the radio is turned on the motor makes a sound, but the antenna doesn't go up.)
• The intermittent wipers stopped working 4 years ago. Instead I had to turn them to the medium speed and time when I turned them off so they would be in the down position. Yesterday only the high speed works.
• One headlight has been replaced after an accident a couple years ago. It is clear. The other is original it is yellow.
• The door latch doesn't work right because the door started drooping 2 years ago. My father-in-law and I did some customized welding to fix it. Today my door flew open at 25 miles an hour around a curve. The assembly is totally blown out now.
  

This is the vehicle I drive that allows me to give. Not sure I can join the club, because if and when I have the opportunity to get a newer car I will. But it made me reflect on what I drive now.

How about you? Any other junkers in the audience?

--Ben

Wrapping up the marathon

Today I'm finishing. My school work is due today, so I'm closing out all five papers I've got going right now. It'll be nice to get it off my plate, and meet my family again. During these courses it is them that take the biggest loss. I look forward to spending a little extra time this week with each of them.

-Ben