There are some churches that have “discovered” the best way for them to “do church,” and they continue to do this same method, practice, style, etc.. until today. The problem with this inflexibility is that this way of doing church may stretch back fifty or more years. Many look to the church and a worship service to be a place that changes very little over time, and this gives them a sense of comfort.

I have talked with many people over the years who may go to church a half dozen times a year, and they expect it to be exactly the same every time, or it’s not really “church.” I even talked with one gentleman who literally argued with me about how churches should have a cross in their logo, or they were “sell outs.” After more discussion with this I guy I learned that he did not even go to church and had not, nor would not, for some time.

The world has some whacked out views about what a church experience should be like. They also have some healthy and fair expectations of what a church experience should be like. We know that bad experiences with less than credulous Christians greatly impacts a persons desire to attend a local congregation.

So in an effort to show the world how relevant and “real” we are we try to different things to seek to bridge this cultural gap. Change is a healthy and natural part of relating to the world around us – but it has to be within the bounds of what the Bible teaches. In many ways appearance and perception is foundational, and of extreme importance. If people think you are crazy, unapproachable, judgmental, or irrelevant then why would they ever want to set foot in your church services.

Which brings us to this video – they are seeking to blend some things in which you just need to make a choice (dance or no dance, dress or casual, modern music or 80’s, etc…) I believe that when the world sees this mixed up mess (or other things like it), they laugh and are reassured that their choice to sleep in on Sunday has been the right choice. The main problem that I see with this fandango group is that they aren’t willing to let go of tradition but are trying to add modernity to what they have already been doing. Churches have to be willing to learn from the past, treasure tradition, but let go of it in order to move into the future. When you try to do both at the same time it just comes across as comical. Remember culture changes (who still has a 8-track in their car?) but the Bible and it's truths never change. We are to tell the never changing story in ever changing new ways.

As of late, there is within me a strong desire to be alone in the wilderness. To just have time to clear my head and to seek the face of God. I am reminded in Scripture that Moses' and Paul's time in the wilderness transformed them into great leaders, but my times away are stolen fading moments. These men were both transformed by their isolation in a remote wilderness.

Donald Whitney in his book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, says "When we think with balance we realize that it would be neither right nor desirable to be cloistered from our God given responsibilities involving other people. Biblically reality call us to family, fellowship, evangelism, and ministry for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom. And yet through the Holy Spirit, "deep calls to deep" (Psalm 42:7) in such a way that there is a part that craves silence and solitude."

So one has to find balance in these dual pulls in life. In order to have power and strength, wisdom and direction in service to the multitudes, you have to spend time away from them and with the Father. This is the spiritual discipline of silence and solitude. So I go to the mountain (or Gathland State Park), which is only a couple of miles from my home. I carry a Gideon New Testament and hike. I'll stop and read, pray and mediate -- then hike some more. Some times I'll go for miles, other times less than a mile.

There are several biblical examples of this practice. Elijah went to Mt. Horeb to hear the whisper of God (1 Kings 19:11-13), Habakkuk stood guard alone to see what God would say to him, and Paul went to Arabia after his conversion so he could be alone with God (Galatians 1:17).

It is sometimes stressing to be alone with your own thoughts. How many times do we drown them out with noise so that we won't have to listen? So not only do I go to the mountain to converse and listen for God's voice but I also try to put my own thoughts in order. For a guy, this is easier if you are physically doing something -- I know the Bible says "be still and know I am God," but sometimes I just need to move (in silence) in order to be still later. I just need to get some things out of my system.

Whitney gives several reasons why a Christian should practice solitude and silence:
to follow Jesus' example,
to hear the voice of God better,
to express worship to God,
to express faith in God,
to seek the salvation of the Lord,
to be physically and spiritually restored
to regain a spiritual perspective,
to seek the will of God, to learn to control the tongue

For me it's to be physically and spiritually restored, and even though I haven't been doing it for very long, I can feel the difference. Why don't you try it, and let me know how it went?

Today was our Tiger Scouts first "Go See It" -- this is where the boys get to experience something and experience something new. We went to Daybreak's Respite ministry held at Grace Community Church in Adamstown, MD. The boys did a great job helping where they could. They pushed kids in wheelchairs, swept up hair, and served lunch. They served for about an hour and afterwards had some pizza and hung out. There was a video game room where most of the guys stayed.

We had a member of our church coordinate letting us borrow several new video game programs (playstation, x-box, etc..) -- if I had more time I would have been all over that.

So at the end of the day I believe it was good to get them exposed to kids who may be a little different than they are, to serve the community, and to have a great time. Way to go Tiger Cubs!

This is Hannah, she's a rookie. She worked very hard today and without new people like her willing to give it a try we can't reach and help new families. We had several community groups today that enable us to expand -- so thanks for all of you volunteers!

This is Kim L. she helps Kim R. (I know "the Kims") to organize the monster we call Respite.

This is Kim R. and she's the Director of Rooftop Ministries. Over eight years ago she approached the pastor of Daybreak and myself about starting this ministry and it has grown from a handful of kids to the hundreds that we have today. It takes an amazing amount of organizing to pull a Respite off -- and they do a great job every time.

In case you are wondering (from the video) the green tape on her shoulder means that she "floats" or is a person who is available to help if you need someone. That sums Kim R. up in a nutshell -- always ready to help!

Today was another Daybreak Respite. It was from 9:30am to 2:30pm with an hour clean up on the back end. So I am tired. It was a flurry of the normal energy and movement with only a little administrative drama. For the most part it was all about serving our community in a way that really made an impact.

I have several video and picture posting from today’s event so I will spread them out over several posts. If you served at a Respite then you know what I’m talking about, and if you haven’t – sign up for next time.

Two Sundays ago Daybreak Community Church launched Children’s Worship. Parents can drop their children off at 9:45 where their kids will be provided a breakfast and some “hang out” time. Around 10:05 the kids are encouraged to gather on two large rugs and our Children’s Worship begins. They sing songs (which my kids sing through out the week), listen to an engaging skit, and various other fun activities. It has added so much to our children’s ministry. We are able to focus on the main point of the day, teach our kids about missions (they support a Compassion Child), and have educational fun! It is only going to get better – so check it out one Sunday.

What would you have done?

There are four groups of people and four different philosophies for life, they all came to me the other day when I got away and just went into the woods and followed the Appalachian Trail (just me this time).

1. Those that never dare to enter; like those that coach from the sidelines this group never know what it is like to set foot on the journey. Yes, they never twist and ankle or are chased by a bear, but they never know how to push on through pain or think while on the run. This group of people don’t like to take risks and see this kind of stuff as a waste of money. Their focus is safety, comfort, and security. It’s hard to live a fun life from the inside of a insulated cocoon.

2. Those that travel only a short way; they have the assumption and knowledge that you can’t hike the whole trail in a single afternoon, so they only go into where the shadows begin and just enjoy where they are, thinking this is far enough. They think they are enjoying the moment more because they don’t have to take as much stuff, it’s not as difficult, and you don’t sweat much. But from this vantage point there are no spectacular views, you can still hear the construction worker’s hammers and the swish of traffic. You don’t really get an appreciation for the “woods” because you are still very close, too close.

Every group has “posers.” These are the people who stand close the adventurers and want to be considered one of them because they wear the same kind of shoes, or know the vernacular. But in the end their uniforms are bleach white because they have never been in the game. They are close to the action, but never in the action.

3. Those that walk to a point and turn back; This group has responsibilities and their burdens are heavier than the pack they carry. They know the joy of the journey but can only go so far in an afternoon. Their joy is what is to come (perhaps next time), and they push around one more bend in the trail, and push for a few more minutes. They dream of a day when they will be able to finish, when they will see it all. But it will have to wait until another day, work calls like the call of the wild and they go back.

The trail for them is a medicine that allows them to get away from it all and immerse themselves in things that are foreign to their everyday life. They can climb rock faces, sleep in a hammock, journal, or carve a stick – just because they want to. This is a medicine for them that allows them to clear their head of the fog that is pushing down all around them.

4. Those that venture and traverse the whole trail; they see every overlook and endure the load of their pack for month after month until they see it all. These people are few in number because few can step away for such a long time (on average it takes 6 months), and have the ability to pay for this trip (on average it takes 3-6 thousand), or are willing to endure this way of life for such a long time. At the end they get a cheap patch (which I doubt many wear), but their character is stronger and they have faced down a giant. They are the courageous, the young at heart – the zealous.

Which one are you?

Get out there; today go a little further than you did last time. It’s worth it. I’m in the third group. I love the trail, but I have responsibilities that come first. As my kids grow, we will go further and further and perhaps when they are older we will travel the entire length together (one can dream can’t he)?