Thursday, August 19, 2010

Mennos Ride Again




The Third Annual Mennonite Church BC Motorcycle Ride took place last weekend. It was a long time putting it together. Commitments came early, but then lots of coming and going took place in the last week, even the last day. We planned it as a 2 day ride, in the end we had 12 bikes with 3 going double, so 15 riders (12 men and 3 women). Then, we had a group of 5 bikes from South Abbotsford MB Church decide to start at 6 am on Sunday and make it all the way around in one day. They met us in Lytton, and from there we were 17 bikes and 20 riders. Hence the impressive photo at the viewpoint on the Summit of Jackass Mountain in the middle of the Fraser Canyon. Our route was the Duffey Lake Road (heading up through Squamish to Whistler, Pemberton and staying the night in Lillooet; then to Cache Creek and down through the Fraser Canyon, back to the Lower Mainland and home).

Pray for Wendell Martens. He was committed to come, but 2 days before the ride he had a motorcycle accident and is pretty banged up.

To see more photos, go to picasaweb.google.com/117168908545129289254, click on the first photo, then all the rest of the photos will appear. Double click on any photo and you can scroll through them manually, clicking on the arrow buttons above the photos, OR, click on the first photo, then click on Slideshow, and watch. The album is growing as more riders add their photos.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Kids Getting Married

What, we have had 2 days of rain this summer, yeah, that's right - last weekend ... the weekend of our son Mark's wedding. Look at the weather today and the forecast for this weekend - clear, sunny and hot.

You know what, since we prayed long and hard for a beautiful weekend for the wedding, we have to look at where the real beauty was. It was a marvellous wedding, beautiful in absolutely every way (except for the weather)! Even the gift opening on Sunday afternoon was a wonderful time (except for the weather) of at least 35 people over at our townhouse. Actually, the weather dried up Sunday afternoon, winding down the only 2 days of rain all summer.

Yes, Mark and Lisa's wedding was a wonderful time. A lot of work went into preparing for it, and the preparations were all worth it. I had the special privilege of actually marrying them. Their pastor, Adam Wiggins (from Pacific Church in Yaletown), did the message. He had some great words for Mark and Lisa - and for all of us in attendance.

I'll put up a few photos, but we left most of the picture taking to the professsionals - to be seen later. You'll see that we hosted the guys as they got ready.

Mark's on the right.


Jonathan is on the left.



I love the 1967 Camaro SS - owned by a friend of the bestman.



The head table


Mark & Lisa with Grandpa & Grandma Falk. The cake topper was from their wedding, 57 years ago.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Thinking about our Young Adults

What is it that today's young adults are needing in a church experience? My biggest concern is that while young adults are looking for the right fit, they may lose connection. I'm thinking about early 20's people who have grown up in our churches - churches that have tried to be the church for all generations. I would like to start a conversation. This conversation is not to be about reaching unchurched and unbelieving young adults, but about being a church that feels like home for the adult children of those who are often giving leadership in these churches. Even new church plants that are filled with young couples in their late 20's and early 30's are not the community that the early 20's are finding to be the right fit.

One of the things I am learning is the importance of quality - especially in the music, but also in the whole experience of the worship event. Secondly ... authenticity. I would say that there is an interesting line between these two. Authenticity can be understood by some as going with the people that we have, and if they try to do their best, then everyone will appreciate the experience. Well, for many of these people, this is just not going to cut it. I would say that "trying to do our best" and "striving for excellence" are not the same. I think authenticity has to do with being yourself and not being pretentious, but also not being lame - in other words, striving for excellence. I invite responses to this definition.

Trying to do our best may end up very much short of our best, because not enough time has been put into planning, preparation and practice. When it comes time to lead, the response may be, "Oh well, it's good enough." As soon as someone begins to call for excellence, there may well be a push back of resistance. I remember a person in a worship team a number of years ago saying that our calling is to give our absolute best for God, and to prepare ourselves so as to be able to do that. This mindset did receive some resistance and criticism for trying to be too professional.

Striving for excellence includes a commitment to work well in advance so as to give ample time to plan well, and to practice long and hard. After leading, the group meets to discuss what could be done better next time. In striving for excellence, I am not suggesting hiring professional musicians; I still see this as working with the people you have. Although, having an associate pastor with a good portion of time given to working with worship, has its merit. Looking for and drawing people in with the right gifts is a constant commitment.

I invite any responses to my thoughts. It might be a good idea to set up a Facebook group discussion of things that are working; what do you think? I have just touched on this conversation. There are many angles to it. I invite them all.

My concern is that we be authentic, and that we know our people so that everyone feels they belong. But, my concern is also that once our young adults leave the home church in pursuit of a better fit, they may drift into an individualised "me and God" situation. Once you slip out of regular involvement in a particular church, the drive to be in Christian community every week can weaken pretty quickly.

Many, many years ago, Bono wrote the song, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." This song was a response to a challenge for one of U2's producers, Daniel Lanois. Lanois told Bono that he had not written a Gospel song. He reminded Bono that he had written many songs that spoke about God in various ways, but not one that expressed the Good News of the Gospel. This song was Bono's response to that invitation. When I first heard what was behind this song, I was cut to the heart. Bono was saying that, while he loves Jesus and is seeking to follow him, this world doesn't show enough evidence of God's people living out the Good News. There is way too much hatred, greed and injustice, and so he was saying that he is not satisfied with these conditions, and that he will long for and strive towards the inbreaking of the Good News into these situations.