Thoughts About A New Year Under Way

I have been thinking so much about the direction of the world and my place within it since the election of November 2006. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a strict Republican or Democrat. I'm a conservative by choice, but a moderate-liberal by necessity. That doesn't make sense to my conservative relatives, but in my mind there's no real alternatives left. I mean, there are no real conservatives anymore.

Those who claim to be conservatives are too cowardly to make the sacrifices necessary or needed in order to do what is necessary. That leaves a throng of pundits who are only conservative in name but lack the spine to do what necessity demands of them as citizens. Those who are liberal, who in fact appeal to the electorate, lack the moral courage to do what is necessary to protect those who are in their care as representative elected officials.

What is left for those of us who are patriotic and want to see, that which has made our country great, allow us rise to the top of leadership within our world? Not much of anything really? Must we drop out, like Timothy Leary admonished his devotees? Do we wait for other revolutionists, like Washington, Jefferson and Adams of old? What are we to do?

That question may haunt our dreams and visions of tomorrow. But, at some point, it should rally that which is deep within to get involved and make a difference while there is still time. It's not too late, but it could be before we know it. Do something now...

Almost Famous

Almost Famous is one of my absolute favorite movies. Not because of Kate Hudson, though she is fabulous in her breakout role of Penny Lane. The movie centers around a turbulent summer tour of the fictitional band Stillwater. In the movie the band is reaching for super-stardom but find it seems just beyond their grasp, but they're right there along side some of the biggest names in business.

For the past 8 years or so, I've been friends with Raymond and Bobby McDonald. Raymond is now the pastor of our church. Bobby is the worship/music pastor. In the time I've known them, I've heard all kinds of stories about their time in Los Angeles and all the musicians they came in contact with. I enjoy hearing those stories. It's also cool to actually meet some of those people they talk about.

Last night, Bobby and I went to the Meridian in Houston to see Frank Black (of the Pixies) in concert. I'm not much of a Pixies fan. Neither is Bobby. However, Bobby is good friends with the guitar player in Black's band. His name is Duane Jarvis. Duane is as versatile as they come in the pro music scene, or so I had been told. Last night I got to see for myself, up close and personal.

Bobby had been told about the upcoming show and Duane asked him to show up. Bobby was put on the guest list and asked me to come along. We showed up and the guy at the door told Bobby "they were looking for you before the show," referring to the band. When we walked in, the band was in the middle of their opening song. We grabbed a couple of beers and I followed Bobby as he made his way around to Duane's side of the stage. Bobby worked his way up front and caught Duane's attention. He jumped in surprise and mouthed "it's great to see you." We watched the entire show and were asked to come backstage. I got to meet Duane, as well as Frank Black (his "real name" is Charles Thompson) and the other members of the band. I must say I've been a lot of places and done a lot of things, but walking into the Meridian and enjoying the show like we did had to be one of the coolest experiences of my life.

On the way home, Bobby and I talked about the show and recalled some of his favorite experiences from when he and Duane used to play and tour together. He also told me that Dwight Yoakum is coming to town and his guitar player is another good friend of Bobby's. "You wanna go? I should be on the guest list."

Gee Bobby, I'm beginning to wonder who you don't know at this point.

Age Is Just A Number, Right?

3 days from today, I will be 38 years old. I don't feel like 38, whatever it's supposed to feel like. I'm not sure I even look 38, whatever it's supposed to look like, either.

As it says on my profile, had I any inkling that my life would go on past 21, I would have taken much better care of myself back when it counted. No silly, rickety bike ramps (now, there's a funny story). I would do a lot more looking before I leaped. I would have walked instead of running when my knee, ankle or whatever else started hurting. I also would have told the coach my arm hurt when he asked me instead of saying "no" so I could stay in the game. 18 and 19 year-olds don't think about being hobbled by injuries on up the road. 30-somethings have to live with what they did to their bodies back in the day. Still, for being almost 38 - a few days and a couple of years shy of the big "4-0" - I still feel pretty good, most of the time.

Since I started writing this blog, I take time to think about milestones, special events and even the mundane and routine in ways I never used to before. Specifically, in regard to getting one year older for instance, how should a 38 year-old act? What are 38 year-olds supposed to do? These are all questions I hope to explore over the next year.

I've Been Remiss...

I'm a little under the gun here.

My brother-in-law wrote in his blog about his anniversary just a few days ago. My own anniversary was the next day. Needless to say, I've heard about it from the only lady who really counts - my wife ("Aaron blogged about Jenee, but you..."). Of course now it probably won't have the same impact as it would have - had I remembered to blog about our anniversary on our anniversary, especially since it was a big one. But, considering the fact that I do nearly all of my blogging during breaks at work, I can honestly say that at that point in time, I was completely and utterly swamped!

Back to the point at hand...on September 14, my wife and I celebrated 15 years of marriage - to each other. That's quite an accomplishment these days. I'd call it wedded bliss, but if I did, I'd be lying. My wife knows it, too. It's been 15 years of surprises, mistakes, miserable failures, heartaches, bumps and bruises, not to mention financial troubles, employment problems, yadda, yadda, yadda. Had either of us known what we were getting into 15 years ago, we probably wouldn't have gone through with it.

Before I'm mistaken for being the biggest jerk on the planet, I should explain a little. From where I stand (or sit, in this case), I married very well. I'd stack my woman up against anybody. I've never met somebody who can do so much with so little, make any old place feel like a home and keep going - even after a mountain of setbacks have come her way. She doesn't give herself nearly enough credit. She says she's not creative at all, yet can pull some of the neatest surprises out of mid-air that anyone has ever seen.

We once lived in a house that shouldn't have been lived in - period. It was an old, dingy pier-and-beam job that had settled badly and had uneven floors throughout. It hadn't been lived in for years and the leaders of a church thought it would be a great place for their youth pastor and his family to live. Fortunately, we weren't the first of their youth pastors to live there. We heard stories (after we had already moved out) about rats running in the attic, thick dust on the floors, on and on. (Those folks had it rough). Still, we had a toddler and an infant to bring into that hole. We did have an incident of a mouse running around the kitchen and our dog catching a rat the size of a small cat. Still, she never batted an eye (that I saw) and was hard at work - from the time we arrived until we left 15 months later. She made that place a home for our family. She would later make our home in the same house with my parents. (We now look back on that time as one of the better times, believe it or not.)

I've made a LOT of bad decisions along the way, many of which have affected us directly, a few of them for a LONG period of time. These were the sort of things that most people don't come back from - not as a couple, nor as individuals. Somehow, we did and our family is still intact. I've tried an awful lot of things over the past 15 years. I've held several jobs - with only 1 lasting more than 5 years. The rest have been a year or two here or there - or less.

I've changed career paths quite a few times, as well. When she met me, I wanted to be a preacher, got my license to preach and took off only to crash and burn within 5 years. The 10 years since has been an attempt to recover from the wreckage early on. Now, after 10 years of wandering between various careers, I'm actually thinking it may be time to return to work in the church. Everybody run for your lives!

But, if I ever did anything right in these past 15 years, I picked a winner of a girl. I've told her a few times - but not nearly enough - that I'm a better man because of her. I truly wouldn't and couldn't be who I am today without her. I am truly thankful to God for her. I know for a fact that He was responsible for bringing us - and keeping us - together.

I'm looking forward to many, many more anniversaries with this same lady. Hopefully we'll both live a long, long time.

I Could Get Killed For This

The world is going crazy. Nobody knows what to do with Muslims.

Depending on where one gets their news and information, that statement may or may not have any meaning to you. If the major source is mainstream, network news - probably not. However, if one reads blogs and message boards - you're on board.

The Pope made a speech regarding Islam and now muslims everywhere are going nuts. According to another source, the muslims didn't start acting out until they had attended their Friday prayer services.

We've been misled about the "Religion of Peace." History records Islam as being a religion of the sword. In the address scientists on the role of faith and reason in human experience, the Pope recounts a debate between a Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus and an "educated Persian." Here I quote directly from his address :

Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul. "God", he [the Byzantine emperor] says, "is not pleased by blood - and not acting reasonably is contrary to God's nature. Faith is born of the soul, not the body. Whoever would lead someone to faith needs the ability to speak well and to reason properly, without violence and threats... To convince a reasonable soul, one does not need a strong arm, or weapons of any kind, or any other means of threatening a person with death...".

The attacks of 9/11 forced them to showed militant muslims for who they are - murderers. I understand that there are supposedly millions of muslims who are not militant. But, I echo the sentiments of others who say if Islam is really a peaceful religion, why don't the peaceful ones rise up and condemn the extremists? Why won't they? Because they know that the Koran says that those who do not convert to Islam are its enemy. That an infidel (anyone who is not a muslim) must die. That doesn't sound very peaceful to me.

So, at this rate, if anyone dares to say anything negative about the Islamic religion they could be putting their lives on the line. I guess I am now a target. Woo-hoo!

5 Years After 9/11

Five years ago, I was administrative assistant working for Kerr-McGee Oil and Gas Company, listening to the radio while I was working on a sunny Tuesday morning. I wasn't really paying attention to the radio until I heard the host talking about a plane that had flown into one of the Twin Towers in lower Manhattan. "There was something like this during world war II, when a plane hit the Empire State Building, but it was a small, single-engine plane. We'll be monitoring this for you through out the morning." I went on about my business.

Barely a few minutes later, there was an urgent announcement "a second passenger plane has flown into the other World Trade Center tower." I don't remember hearing anything else. I got up and went to our conference room and turned on the television just in time to see the replay of the second crash. I then alerted my coworkers to the situation.

I was working in the Environmental Health and Safety Department and it was our responsibility to take in account the safety of our office complex in light of what we were seeing unfold. Several safety announcements within the first several hours spread even more fear and panic within our city. Eventually, our entire office was allowed to leave for the remainder of the day while our department worked out a safety plan for the coming days. Over the next 72 hours, with the restricitions enacted nation-wide in regard to air travel, our department would be responsible for getting some 200 employees back home, who had been stranded in various places across the country and around the world. This would be a process that would last for another week after 9/11.

Our complex was within 5 miles of the Houston Interncontinental Airport and the sound of air traffic was a daily part of life. I remember walking outside to my car late that afternoon and noticing the eerie quiet in the sky overhead. When air traffic finally resumed, there was such an infrequency of overhead flights for several weeks. It seemed everyone would look up to watch each plane go overhead during those first few days.

That night, when I was finally able to return home, I went in and hugged each of my children and kissed my wife. I told them all that I loved them. I knew full well that hundreds, possibly thousands would never get the opportunity to do the same with their loved ones ever again. In a day that started just like any other, we all were faced with the brutal and ultimate reality that the world had been changed forever - right before our eyes.

We must never forget what happened on September 11, 2001. It wasn't some horrible accident. We were attacked for being who we are: Americans.

What Has God Been Doing In Your Life?

That might be a strange question for some. "God? Doing something in MY life? " Actually, it may not be as strange or crazy as one might think.

Too often we dismiss good things that happen in our lives as being good luck, because of this or that - which was either part of our regular routine or a result of doing things a bit differently or just the upswing in association with the yin and yang. It also could be the work of God. Whatever the case, it's all fine. We're entitled to our opinions. But, what if we're discounting the possibility that such things happening to us is because God is wanting to work in us through such things?

In my experience, most people who deny the existence of God do so for a lot of reasons, but ultimately it comes down to their disappointment in God and/or the church. I know it's simplistic to say such a thing. Give it some thought though. It's usually one or the other.

In regard to the matter of disappointment with God, I've got to say that - if we're honest - we've all been there at least once in our lives. We pray and the answer we get isn't what we want. Whether it's for someone to be healed or to get something we really wanted. When it doesn't happen, it hurts and as a result God gets all the blame. It's sad, but God's big enough to take it. Many are unable to take it themselves and they walk away.

I can't tell you how many times I've wished I could do something about such a thing. Unfortunately, because someone decides to ignore God or begin to say He doesn't exist, He doesn't go away. But those people pass off those little miracles that God pulls off each and every day. One can only hope and pray that somehow God is able to somehow get through all the hurt and touch such a person where they are.

As for being hurt by the church, most of the time people are just people and they don't mean to offend. It doesn't change the fact that they do. It's just the fact that we're all pretty much ignorant. We don't realize that we did something that totally devastated somebody else. Sometimes we don't get the chance to make it right. Other times we just hope that the other person will be big enough to not be offended by our ignorance. Talk about irresponsible! The fact is we need to be a lot more sensitive to those who are new and young in the faith. Often we're bullies and just don't realize it.

So, I'm back to the original question: "What has God been doing in YOUR life?" Don't be in a hurry. Take some time. You just might suprise yourself.

Rest In Peace, Big Guy

Last February, I took my daughter to see the legendary Maynard Ferguson at the local high school. Today, I learned that the legend himself passed away at the ripe, old age of 78. All I can say is I'm glad I saw him when I did. What an inspiration he was!

Maybe It Was Just Me...

Last night, my family and sat down to watch the premier of the acclaimed HBO special "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in 4 Acts." (Part 1 aired last night. Part 2 is on tap tonight.) I've always liked documentaries. They fascinate me. To me, it's neat to see a chronological account of a particular event. No matter how much one knows about what happened, there's always something new in there somewhere. I guess as a result, my family likes them, too.

In this case, I'm not sure what I expected to see last night, whether I would learn something or what. I was up later than I really wanted to be watching this piece. When it was over, I could only wonder if it was worth it. After thinking about it for most of the day, I thought I could do a little better with it if I wrote about it. So, here I am.

Now, in defense of the film - or whatever it is - there was some really interesting footage that must have been gathered from everywhere. And, as expected, director Spike Lee did a masterful job piecing the entire event together from the piles of footage. As a result, it seemed like the events from that fateful week were being relived right before our eyes. For the first hour, no one in our living room moved. We all felt the weight of the tragedy and couldn't believe that it had only happened within the last year.

As the film progressed, the mood began to shift from sadness and despair to frustration and rage as, one by one, each victim applied blame for the tradgedy to the official of choice. After an hour of one complaint after another, I was ready for the first half to end. It was getting harder and harder to feel sorry for people recounting their experiences. Regardless of what I felt or what anyone's opinion is on this tragedy, I think this is truly a situation that none of us, who watched from afar, will ever understand.

For instance, I've been to New Orleans a handful of times. None of my experiences there were that memorable. I just thought it was old and dirty. I do like Cajun Food, but I don't think I just have to eat it in the Big Easy. That's just me. I wasn't raised there. I'm sure it would be different if I were. But, I guarantee you this, whether I was raised there or not, whether I was told one day or one week before a storm the size of Katrina was on its way to my town, if I had to walk, crawl or beg, I'd get out of there. Who cares if the storm didn't turn out as expected! Me and mine would all be okay. End of story.

Of course, that isn't what happened. Hundreds died and thousands were displaced. I understand there were poor and impoverished people who were at the mercy of the government. But, really, who's fault is that? Would anyone really put their lives in the hands of any federal, state or local entity? In essence, when those people ignored the warnings of their city government to evacuate, they took their lives in their own hands, all the while thinking the government would be there for them when it all was over.

If anything, the most pathetic part of this tradgedy is the fact that it didn't have to happen. Of course it did. Tons and tons of TV footage tell us so.

My, How Time Flies!

I've had way too much time on my hands at work lately (I hope my boss doesn't see that!) and I went back to look at some of the previous 80-some-odd posts over the last year. I started this blog in August 2005. Since that time a lot has transpired, as could be expected with any given year. Specifically, last August was when Hurricane Katrina decimated New Orleans. It was also when my wife and I finally enrolled our children in our local school district.

Everybody was scared last August - especially myself. Nobody knew what to expect. After just a few days it was clear that everybody was going to be fine. Now, we're gearing up to do it all again. The kids are all a year older now, moderately bigger, taller, etc., going to the next grade up. They're all so excited - as are their parents!

Do You Really Want To Be A Millionaire?

Who hasn't thought about what it would be like to win the lottery? I know I have. I've thought about it a lot actually. That doesn't mean that I've gone to the extent of buying a lottery ticket. No surprise that I've not won. I don't see the point on one hand. Then again, I wonder why I shouldn't allocate a portion of my paycheck to play regularly. Afterall, at the heart of the Texas Lottery Commission is the promise that it supports Texas education. Yeah, now there's a good cause!

There are too many stories of people who literally strike it rich only to blow it all without bettering their lives one bit with the big payday. That brings me to an article I read today in the Houston Chronicle. A Jourdanton, Texas man won the lottery almost 6 years ago only to regret that he ever won the prize. The old addage "money can't buy happiness" falls painfully short. According to the article, this man isn't alone in his troubles. How ironic! In a culture that idolizes wealth, society says a rich person should be happier than everyone else. Yet in talking to just a few of those who became instantly rich, they're more miserable than they were - before their windfall! Simply amazing.

It reminds me of the old proverb:

An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end. Proverbs 20:21

I don't have anything against rich people or people getting rich. I think I'd like to try my hand at it one of these days. However, that fortune may cost a lot more than the price of a lottery ticket at the local convenience store.

Winds Of Change

There's not a good way to explain it. Everything feels different, better than before. Hope is in the air - literally. I can't get into specifics right now, but things are looking up.

Now, what can I be talking about?

The lyrics from one of my all-time favorite songs can fill in the blanks for now:

The Winds of Change
Danny Tate/Danny Wilde
Performed by Russ Taff

Well, I've seen my chances come and go
And come back round again
But everytime they took me by surprise

There was a day I used to want
the things I did not have
But it's never better on the other side.

Well, I've never gone so far that I've
forgotten my way home
The best things always bring you back again
over and over

(chorus)
The Hands of Time
Go Round and Round
They don't slow down when you lose your way
At every turn
The things you learn
You wear them proud like you wear your name
And as you go
On Down that road
Don't let the dust get in your eyes
It blows in the winds of change.

Hunger is no stranger
I've sat with him before
And everything I've done has not been good

As I've tried to make my stand
I've had to learn to fall
And maybe I've seen more than I should

But I've never gone so far that I've
Forgotten my way home
The best things always bring you back again
over and over

And I held on to my life
And I kept my dream alive
And the dream ain't over
Over and over

I hope to chronicle what takes place from here on this blog in the days and months to come.

God is good!

Observations On The Latest Middle East Crisis

I'm not much for politics these days. Call me burned out, a drop-out or whatever. I've been so frustrated with both sides within our political system for longer than I care to add up. Too many broken promises, hidden agendas, conflicts of interest, yadda-yadda. I'm jaded. Politics and politicians won't save any of us from any of the hundreds of thousands of threats that we face as a nation each and every day. With the latest trouble in the middle east, it's hard to believe that anything a talking head has to say will have any bearing on what is currently happening. The same rhetoric is just that - empty, meaningless talk.

Yesterday, during my drive home, I tuned into the Savage Nation, a radio show hosted by Michael Savage. (This radio show has been labeled ultra-conservative by various pundits mainly because Savage regularly spouts a lot of radically conservative ideas. I personally tune in to hear the man rant and rave. There's nothing like hearing a New York yankee lose his cool.) Instead of the normal talk about the Bush Administration or a guest from Washington, Savage was interviewing Pastor John Hagee, from San Antonio, Texas during the first hour of the show. Hagee, a TV preacher and a regular teacher of "End-Time" events, was talking about various prophecies from the Old Testament and their relevance to the current fighting in the Middle East. Savage, along with much of his radio audience, was stunned. "There are such striking similarities to what's going on today." No kidding. "You won't hear this interpretation on the nightly news, my friends." Yeah, you got that right. You know things are getting serious when people resort to consulting the Bible to interpret events of the day.

I grew up in a church tradition where preachers talked a lot about the 2nd Coming of Christ and sought to interpret current events to show everyone just how close His return is. There's not a lot of interpretation needed these days. Sure, there are more than enough cooks and goofballs around that could serve to turn anyone off. But, despite all the craziness and weirdos, I think the entire world is about to see the climax of time unfold before our eyes.

So what does all this mean? Well, I think if you believe what the Bible says, then you should get ready and start looking up. If not, the events of the world might yet make a believer out of you.

So, I Cut My Hair...

After almost a year of trying to grow it out, I again cut my hair. Yeah, I know. Everybody else in the world was telling me to continue growing it. The one person who wanted me to cut it mattered the most: my wife. Yep. Nobody said anything about it at work. My mom even was leaving me alone about it. But, Danelle hated it - with a passion. Stupid me. I thought I could convince her that it was cool. Nope. She wouldn't buy it.

So, a couple of weeks ago while she was getting her hair cut, she made an appointment for me, too. The girl used a "magic comb," which was a comb with a hair razor in it. Probably the coolest thing I've ever seen. It made mince meat of my mane within a matter of minutes, leaving clumps of hair 6 to 10 inches long on the floor. What a waste!

The truth is I really like being married. I guess it means I'll be keeping my hair short for the rest of my life. I guess there are worse things, though I'm not able to think of any right now.

I still like being married, though. I really, REALLY do. Which is exactly why I cut my hair in the first place.

Completely Amazing

This video is completely amazing. According to the story, the DPS trooper was shot 23 times and survived. Click here to see the report.

Bigfoot Might Be in East Texas

Can it be? See for yourself!

Remember What I Said About Christian Community?

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about a friend's decision to walk away from our little, cloistered faith community and pursue a possibly destructive relationship. There's been an update to the story. A few nights ago, she came back.

Unfortunately for her, when she left, she did a lot of things that were hurtful to the very people who had been so supportive over the last year. But, instead of being scorned or chastised, she received the same love that she had been accustomed to before she left.

I have no idea what went on in her head while she was gone or on the night she returned. I'm sure she had already thought about what she might need to say or do to make things right with everyone - much like the prodigal son in Jesus' New Testament parable. I guess the best part is that she didn't have to or wasn't expected to. That's not to say it was easy to receive her back again. I'm sure it wasn't. Still it was the right thing to do.

As difficult as it is to forgive, it is what Christians are called to do - right out of the box. It's the willingness to forgive that sets Christian Community apart in this world. It's what people crave - to be forgiven when they mess things up. It's the kind of thing that might bring a prodigal back home - to stay.

I'm Feeling Pretty Stupid Right About Now

In my previous post, I wrote about the eye-opening blog that I discovered, thanks to my co-worker - one cube over. I got all wrapped up in the story and told each of my two blog readers about it as well as my wife early this morning. It now appears that it's all a hoax, part of a clever marketing campaign for a billboard sign company.

I'll admit that I'm the gullible sort. I take things at face value - which can leave me open to the occasional kick in the gut, pants or wherever. In this case it's almost disappointing. I guess I was hoping it would be real instead of the TV reality that most of us have become accustomed to. Had I not discovered the revelation this morning, I probably would have been suprised by the video posted today on the blog. I'm supposed to believe the video to be the work of a private investigator. If that's the case, shouldn't he be a little farther away. At least they are on TV. I'd like to think I would notice a guy with a video camera right across the table or up the sidewalk from me. Then again, I don't know what I'd do.

If this is in fact a hoax, I have only one question...where in the hell can I sign up for a job like that? Getting paid for making up a storyline like this one? I'll bet people would be standing in line. Wouldn't you?

Now, For Something Completely Different

Reader Caution: The links below contain some graphic language at times. Reader discretion strongly advised.


For those of you who get your news via the world-wide-web, you may have seen this today. Whether you have - or haven't - it's still worth a second look. A coworker sent me the link for the blog That Girl Emily. It's a blog about a woman, her self- discovery and the subsequent disclosure of her husband's affair with her best friend, Laura. Frightenly fresh, Emily's account covers barely 18 days leading up to her heartbreaking discovery - just days ago. No story here. This is real life. (Eat your heart out reality TV)

As the old saying goes, "hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn," or in this case, a woman scorned. Take a look at her plan to unleash 14 Days of Wrath on her unfaithful husband. Not to be outdone, day 2 is simply another magnificent reprisal. One can only imagine what the next 12 days hold for Steven. I say "you go, girl!"

As I read this account, I could only laugh. Had this story taken place in another part of New Jersey or a different family, Emily's brother probably would have gotten together with some of his buddies and taken Steven out in the woods. No one would have heard from him again - ever. That is if Emily hadn't already shot him first.

Of course now, in this post-modern, hi-tech information age, possibly half the world knows the mischief that Steven's been up to, as well as his shortcomings.

No pun intended.

How Valuable Is Christian Community?

A friend told me today that a mutual friend had decided to leave our church community to pursue a likely destructive relationship with someone she met not long ago. This girl came to us in a broken state and we've all witnessed her healing and transformation as a person. To hear now that she decided to leave the community who loves her to venture out on her own is heartbreaking.

A little over 5 years ago, my family embarqued on an adventure with several friends who wanted to see a new church in the city of Conroe, Texas. Many of us were from the mother church, the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Spring. We were joined by others from the surrounding area around Conroe. Within no time - it seems anyway - we were a thriving church. Five years later I pause to look back and I'm amazed by what we've seen together. In telling our story to people outside of our church, many have made the comment "it sounds like you've joined a cult."

One of the biggest lessons I've learned while being yoked with this group of people has been the value of Christian Community. I've been in the church my entire life. I've seen the good, bad and ugly that church life can afford. Over the last year or so, I've even seen a lot of ugly within my own life and within my family. Still somehow, I find myself hanging around, wanting to be part of this thing. It's so strange. It's possibly the only thing that made me want to hang on when things seemed their worst. I know I've not experienced the same bond in other circles that I've been part of.

From the beginning of our experiment (as I like to call it), our pastor talked about the necessity of community. It's been the emphasis of our parent organization, the Vineyard Association of Churches for nearly as long as our church has existed. In today's world, people are looking to be connected to someone or something that is bigger than themselves. Whether it's an extended family, membership in some sort of organization or club - or even a gang - people want to belong somewhere. Now, after hearing this message for the last 5 years, I think it's finally taken hold. I can't imagine my life outside of our church. The rest of my family feels the same. We've shared a lot with this group of people. Like most things, the shared experiences serve to bind everyone even closer together.

Many of us live down the street and around the corner from each other. As I understand, we have some 30 or so families within 5 miles of our church. That's pretty close by anyone's standards. Of course, building such a tight-knit community means people get to know each others' secrets, weaknesses and very often failures too. At times, such a thing can be over- whelming. We all want our space and our privacy. The trouble is that we can waste away in secrecy. Community, in its truest sense, doesn't seek to exploit weakness but protect it and apply healing there. The skeptic might not believe that he can be healed by such an ordinary instrument as the community around him. As one who's been wounded and is now on the mend, it's simply a wonder to behold.

Now that I'm on my way to the "other side" from the "being healed" to joining the ranks of the "wounded healers," my mind continually goes to my friend. She is dearly loved and will be truly missed within our community. What can we do for her now? What are we supposed to do? You see, it's not about laying blame or giving correction anymore. No. It's about rescuing one of our own. It's doing something that Jesus did and would do. Community isn't just a cup of coffee, as we've often said around our church. This is where the rubber meets the road. Community is like an extended family and family doesn't give up on each other.

So, how valuable is community? Or what is community worth? It's invaluable in my estimation. In times like these, we can show how valuable it is for the benefit of everyone else.