the G sides

Sunday, January 10
7.30 am – alarm goes off. Didn’t exactly sleep great last night. We had some dear friends come into town and spent the night with us. Nate & Cathy. They are going to be my ‘Secret Shoppers’ at Western Hills this morning. Kids are asleep. Amy is sort of asleep. I’m not sure if moms ever really sleep, sleep. But that’s another topic.

8.00 am – Poke head in kid’s rooms on way downstairs to make coffee and bagel. Praying for Bryan over at TBC, Joe at FBC, and Matt over at First Naz in Oakland. Check my phone real quick…got a text from Matt. He’s praying for me. Heading to church.

8.15 am – Forgot that the last time I was in my car, AC/DC was playing and the radio is REALLLLY loud when I crank it up. Turn off radio in route to church. I always drive to the church in silence. Pray for the churches I pass and our ministry team leaders.

8.30 am – Park in my traditional spot…furthest from the door. Rumors around the church are I park there because I’m forecasting a day when we run out of parking. Funny story, just not true. I blame Gene Wilkes and my father-in-law for this habit. Before Gene was the famous author and speaker, he was a pastor of transitioning church in Plano, Texas and I was an intern. Fixing bathrooms, ceiling tile, changing lights, and whatever else that needed to be fixed. As the church was growing, parking was scarce. To make sure guests and others had places to park, Gene and Tom started parking out on the street about a block away. It was a simple but profound statement of servant leadership to me. Been a habit ever since – find the furthest parking space and park there.

8.40 am – band is warming up. Rick is back. Randi and Charlie are here as well. This is my favorite time of the morning. Listening to the band, sitting in the back of the dark auditorium…it’s not practice for me. It really is worship. I enjoy this. Listening to the team fix, tweak, change at the last minute.

9.10 am – The worship team is in the back praying and once again I’m caught in the lobby. It’s not a huge deal – I love connecting with people and I know the importance of being available, touchable on Sunday morning. I’m talking with a 5th grader about the NFL Playoffs. I got the Ravens and the Cards. Going for the clean sweep of the weekend as I picked the Jets and Cowboys. He’s got the Ravens and the Packers. Is this really a significant conversation? Absolutely. At least I hope it is for the 5th grader. I’m not a rock star, I’m his pastor and friend that he can talk about life, spirituality and yes, even football with. If I hurry, I might be able to catch the team…

9.20 am – Shane is coming out of the prayer room. “You missed the prayer time. Don’t worry. We prayed for your salvation.” Big laughs follow. Rick and I do the man hug/hand shake thing before he goes out. Why? I’m not sure. It’s corny really but we do it almost every Sunday morning. I don’t think it makes service go any better…then again.

9.37 am – After opening song and welcome, show the art piece and introduce the artist of the morning. In both services, spontaneous applause erupts. First for the art piece then for the artist. What most folks don’t know about the artist – he’s walking through one of the hardest seasons of his life. I’ve known this kid for all of 5 months and in a single instant…when it registers on him that they are applauding him…I see joy in him.

The piece of art is incredible. There are nuances and details that I still find after staring at it for a few days. It’s the perfect illustration as to what makes us human – worship. We love to worship. We were created to worship. Yes, we get distracted and at times worship the wrong things but that is the reason we stand and applaud beauty and accomplishment. Worship.

11.00 am – Second service starts. Full house. Where are we going to put these people that keep showing up?

12.15 pm – Newcomer’s Brunch. Once again, Angie and Gary and that team have outdone themselves. Soup, sandwiches, cookies…great spread. Room is full. Introduce leaders and life group leaders. Watching folks connect with our life group leaders, passing out addresses and emails. 25 minutes later, the ‘program’ is done but people are still hanging around and connecting.

1.45 pm – late lunch with friends. Lots of laugh and get to hear from their perspective what a first time guest experiences at Western Hills. I’ll write more on this later. Much to think on but overall very positive experience.

3.15 pm – Home. Youth starts at 5.30, have some of our life group coming over at 6 pm. Officially we will start next week to get off the youth schedule. Before that — got to get a nap. Watch the opening quarter of Pats/Ravens game I DVR’d. Good night….go Ravens.

5.15 pm – Back to the church for youth open gym. David Manner shows up to help us set up the volleyball nets. Good thing because I’m not sure I’d ever gotten them up right without him. Good to see him finally.

6.10 pm – As usual, got talking at youth and now I’m late to my own house. Check phone — missed calls. Dang. On my way.

6.17 pm – We bust out Band Hero on the Wii. No one is brave enough to sing. Too bad.

7.45 pm – Amy and kids are back from youth. Cayden and Camber will now be the lead singers for our Life Group Band. It’s awesome.

9.30 pm – Last of the life group is leaving the house. One couple hangs around and we end up talking for another hour. This is church too. The life on life stuff that doesn’t happen in a building on Sunday morning. It can’t happen there. This is too vulnerable, risky. This kind of transparency and life change could only happen in a living room, a home.

10.35 pm – I’m pretty spent. Amy and I finish up an episode of Burn Notice. Talk about the day and the upcoming mission trip to Brazil.

A very good long Sunday.