Been a while...

Once again, I have managed to neglect the old blog. It's been one of those months. I am preparing to leave my current appointment, Travis Park UMC on October 14th and start a new appointment at Argyle UMC (in Argyle, Texas, and yes, I do know you have no idea where it is!). The decision to take the appointment was a tough choice for many reasons, which I'll go into another post. I am very excited about the new opportunities in Argyle and sad to leave Travis Park. Well, I just finished writing some devotionals for The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts and I've got to head to the Apple Store to get some things taken care of on the mac and to get a power adaptor so I better hit the road!
Later!

Liturgy for this past Sunday

Scripture Passage: 2 Timothy 1:1-14
Sermon Title: "Rekindle the Gift"
Some original liturgy for ya from Joe...


Call to Worship
Leader: God, in the mists of life our fire for you can often be extingushed.
People: We have come together to worship you and to have the gift of living faith rekindled in our lives in in our community of faith.
Leader: We worship through words and song,
People: Though acts of love, reconciliation, and justice,
People: May our worship of you, O God, give you honor and glory and may the gift of living faith be re-kindled in our lives!

Opening Prayer:
Loving God, who works for good in all things, we give thanks for this day. Open our hearts, ears, and our minds this morning that we might recieve the gift of living faith in our souls and in our church so that we may re-present your Son, Jesus Christ, to the world in new and powerful ways. Amen.

Confession:
Gracious God, you know us and you know our hearts. Forgive us, when we've used our doubts as an excuse to keep from doing and saying what you ahve shown us to be true. Strengthen us when we lose the fire of living faith and continue to grant us opporutnities to demonstrate your lvoe to our neighbors as we grow in our connection with you. Amen.

The Joy's of Choir Retreat

Today I led our adult sanctuary choir in our annual fall retreat. We rehearsed for several hours, fellowshiped over good coffee, donuts and a wonderful lunch (created by the incredible Connie Marshall) and then ended the day with a dedication and commiunion service.
After the retreat I offciated at a wedding at Travis Park. The wedding went really well and the couple was blessed! All in all, a good day!

New and, so far, Good Music!

Yesterday I made a pilgrimage to the Christian music store, which is always hit or miss. O.K., it's usually a miss. Yesterday, however, was different! Israel and New Breed dropped a new album yesterday, Live from a Deeper Level, which I had to pick up! We do a ton of his stuff at Travis Park and so whenever he comes out with something new it's more a matter of responsibility for me to get it!!!
What makes his latest project so potentially impactful for me, however, is that it's a justice themed album! One of the biggest challenges I face at TPUMC is finding music that grooves, that's singable, and that matches up theologically with what our preachers (myself included) preach. The last point, of matching musical texts with the themes is pretty difficult. There's lots of social justice themed music out there but it's usually of the 60's folk genere (1960's, naturally) and our second service does primarily contemporary gospel. A fun challenge, but a challenge none-the-less.
All in all, I'm hopeful for this album to yeild useful fruit for TPUMC. I only had the chance to check out two cuts last night so we'll see what it has to offer soon!
I did experince a nice suprise at the Christian music store yesterday: a new Cademon's Call album that has Derek Webb reunited with his old bandmates! I've been out of that scene for a while but I really love Webb's current direction and focus so I'm looking forward to checking that out as well!
Love the first Tuesday of the month! Next Tuesday, kanye's new album comes out, so that will be interesting for sure (probably not as useful for church!).

New and Good books!

Thank goodness things have slowed down a bit! I love having lots of gigs and work but I'm finding I'm really good at overextending myself! Lately, though, I've had a chance to read a bit more, which has been refreshing for the mind and the soul!
I'm in process on Dick Staub's latest book (which has a really long title) about the Christians can influence pop culture in an age (and I love this) of "Christianity-lite." Some good stuff! Martin Marty suggests in his review that Staub has a "rather worked-out worldview" which is certainly true but at least it's interesting! More thoughts on that as I get through it.
I'm also in process on Leonard Sweet's "The Gospel According to Starbucks": the title is frigthenting to me even though I love St. Arbucks coffee. Much like Staub, Sweet has something to say and a compelling way to say it! Plus, he always documents things very well. The statistics of the worlds use of coffee from the introduction is great! Did you know the world consumes four hundred billion cups of coffee a year? FOUR HUNDRED BILLION CUPS!!!! Good stuff! (I'm on my third this morning, so I'm doing my part, are you?)
Finally, I just finished Tony Dungy's memoir "Quiet Strength." I loved it! Even though he and I are in different spots theologically, I have incredible respect for him, from what I've seen and heard of him and now read, and the way he leads, lives his life, and conducts himself. A classy, classy, guy who truly has his priorities right. I learned a lot from this book about how to prioritize in one's life (faith, family, and work), how to priortize for success and also picked up many good quotes. After I read the introduction (provided by Denzel Washington) I got my pencil out and began to underline quotes and I intend to go back tonight and type up the salient points. I haven't done that since seminary and I've read lots of good books in the past four years!
Once I get through Sweet's book I am looking forward to begin Anne Lamott's new book "Grace Eventually" and finishing "Golf in the Kingdom." I've also recently picked up a collection of Christian Mystic writings that I look forward to diving into! Sermons from mystics with coffee: no better way to start the morning!
After I get done with those I think I'll check out Clinton's new book.
Happy reading!!!

Been a while!

Wow! It's been over a month since I last posted! It's been a very crazy month, to say the least. What's new?!?!?! Since the post from Greensboro I've been to Fort Worth, St. Louis, Spokane, Dallas and finally, back in San Antonio. Not too bad for a month. Ellie and Sarah and I are glad to be back at home, at least for a little bit! This weekend I'm a clergy leader on a Walk to Emmaus, which will be interesting. In the mean time, I'm trying to prepare for the fall and all that will be coming! I'll post more soon, I hope!

Time to call it!

Well, it's 1:30 in the morning and the posts keep getting worse! I was taking a break from some work but now I think it's time to call it a night! May God grant you all a peaceful day tomorrow and deep rest tonight!

Golf at The Quarry

What a great day!

Wow, not the guy I thought I'd be in high school!

You know, ministry is a great privelage and a wonderful calling, but every now and then, certain moments are jarring. I expereinced this recently when I put on the collar for an "official clerical visit" and the sight of it was cause for much commentary.

Processing at a wedding!

Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to co-officiate a wedding of a friend of mine. Here's a picture of the processional!

Greetings from the Road!

Grace and peace to you from St. Louis! I write to you today (early Thursday morning) from my hotel room at the Millinuem Hotel in St. Louis, on the Mississippi River just 3-wood away from the arch. I'm in St. Louis for this week's 2007 National Convocation of The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts (better known as FUMMWA). It's been a great convocation this year, we've had lots of wonderful worship opportunities from jazz in a cathedral to an outstanding organ recital in the St. Louis basillica with organist Felix Hell. (Yes, you read the name right. As it turns out, 'Hell' in German means "bright light" sort of like the sun, he says.) I even got to play in a worship service this time around! I played in a little soprano sax in a small combo. The prelude music was done by Mark Hayes. The preaching has been good and there's been some really great clinicians. This week has been a blessing so far!

A busy summer continues

Whoa, what a summer so far! July looks to finish with a full travel schedule for me! On Thursday, I leave to catch up with the Travis Park Youth at SPLAT 2007 in Greensboro, NC, where I will return late Sunday night in order for church. The following Monday I head out to St. Louis to attend/work/play the sax at the 207 FUMMWA convention which will be great! From there I will head to Dallas for a day and a half before heading out TCU to teach a class on youth choir for the 2007 ADM convention and then I will head to Norther Idaho for two and a half days off!
Sweet!

A sweet picture of Ellie

Sorry about not titling the last post, it's a beautiful picture of Ellie, my daughter! I think she's the coolest!

Vader

Here's one quick shot of one of my Jack Russell's, Vader!

Choir Tour Pictures!
I hope this works!

The Evan Jones Invitational Golf Tournament

Today the seond annual Evan Jones Invitational Golf Tournament was held, and what a tournament it was! This year's event was held at The Quarry Golf Club in San Antonio, Texas. Perhaps the most hyped course in San Antonio (the course has its own billboards around town and in the airport) the Quarry lived up to the hype! The course was beautiful and was in excellent condition. The Quarry is tough but fair. The front nine is a links layout while the back nine is set within an abanondend rock quarry.
Mr. Jones was an outstanding host: all of the arrangements taken care of (carts with names on them, range balls, free gifts and prizes) in style! What a gentleman!
I look forward to next year's tournament.

The National Urban Academy

TPUMC is gearing up to host The National Urban Academy of The United Methodist Church. The Academy is a two year program desinged to help urban churches revitalize themselves through a seven-point plan known as The Holy Boldness Project. I am excited about the possibilities the Academy can offer to TPUMC and the urban churches of The Southwest Texas Conference.

Welcome to the Rev. Fred Kandeler

Travis Park UMC is blessed to welcome our interim pastor, the Rev. Fred Kandeler! Fred has served in the Texas, Southwest Texas, North Texas and Centeral Texas Conferences of The United Methodist Church. He spent the majority of his time in ministry in the North Texas Conference where he served on the staff at Highland Park UMC, served as the senior pastor of University Park UMC, and founded Christ UMC in Plano. My wife, Sarah, grew up at Christ Church and that is where we were married! Fred is on the advisory board of the group The Methodist Federation for Social Action. He was also one of the leading opponents of the drive to put the Bush Library at SMU.
Fred's first day was today and was amazing! I am very excited about learning from him and I know the church will be blessed by his excellent leadership.

It's hard to get ready to say goodbye...

My friend and colleauge, Evan Jones, announced to the church yesterday that he has accepted a position at another church. Evan serves as our minister to youth, program director, and media guru. The youth naturally took it very hard. I am working through the grieving process myself. Evan and his wife Jana, and I and my wife Sarah have become very good friends. While we are excited for their new opportunity, we are sad to see them go. The opportunity that he has is really exceptional, however. He is headed to Suncreek UMC, where the pastor is the amazing Rev. Kathleen Baskin-Ball. You can check out the church at www.suncreekumc.org
Godspeed, bruh!