Atlanta Emergent Cohort

I attended a meeting of the Atlanta Emergent Cohort last night. I encourage all our readers in the Atlanta area to participate in this group if they can. It seems like it will have a good conversational focus to it. The more voices get involved, the better.

I'm also currently listening to the David Crowder Band's new album, "A Collision." Sounds good. I can't believe I was lucky enough to get to hear them play every Sunday during my days as a member of UBC.

Girls Retreat

This weekend we had our first ever Girls Retreat. I do not often post about my youth stuff, but the weekend went so well I had to show some pics as well as brag a little. They were so focused, excited and most of all worshipful. Robin Humphreys led our worship times with much depth and suscess. Our theme, Integrity: Who Am I?, came off with great conversations from the girls as well. The last night we led a Taize service for the girls. Brad Landry led the music and Robin the prayers. It was one of the most beautiful times I have ever experienced with my youth. The last morning they took their mosaic crosses they made and offered them as a broken sacrifice to God. It was an incredible weekend that I am sure none of us will soon forget.
Pax
Stephen

Which Saint Are You

I came across this site, "Which Saint Are You?" on a Blog I often visit called The Blog of the Greatful Bear. I took it and came out as St. Francis. It would be interesting for all of our readership, all three of you,and post who you came out as. Just some fun.
You are Saint Francis of Assisi! You don't care
what you look like (or smell like) as long as
you can live simply and help the poor. You
should be receiving your stigmata any day now.


Which Saint Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Pax
Stephen

Don't call it a sabbath, I've just been lazy

It has been seventeen days since my last post. I'd like to apologize to Paul, Patrick and Tim (our readers) for my laziness. I have had much to do, but that's no excuse. Since my last post I've gone on a Labor Day Retreat with my church, attended Dr. Claypool's memorial service at Second Ponce, our church has changed interim pastors, I've started teaching Senior High Sunday school, Jana and I have put together an armoire(sp?) and a love seat for our living room... there's much I could blog about.

I think mostly I've been thinking about the youth and parents of my church. Specifically I'm trying to figure out what role they should play in shaping the overall vision and goals of my EPC's youth ministry. I'm often told by the parents to "ask the kids what the want," and the only response I get is "We want time to hang out." But I'm not just a baby sitter, and I know the parents want me to more, and there is the simple fact that we are a church and not a social club. The kids complain about everything we do, so I don't know when to take their feedback seriously. I guess this is just me wishing that the kids and the parents would trust me more that I know what I'm doing and that I do hear their concerns but I have good reasons for some of the choices I've made. I think every youth minister probably feels this way.

BTW, check out the RLP's latest post. Follow the link on the right. "You just had to be there," is often the best way I can think of to explain my faith in God.

The Home Stretch or My 9th Month Prayer

We are rounding third and we have the plate in our sight. Yes, this is an inadequate analogy for the final leg of our pregnancy, but I am a guy, and its all Ive got. I find myself worrying, I worry about little things, weither its Mary Liz cramping (which is common at this point) or Mary Clare is moving too much or too little. I worry about her growing up, providing her every oppertunity while at the same time not feeding her with a silver spoon. I want to show her the love I have for God but at the same time let her find her own faith apart from mine. I want her to like Alabama Football but be able to wear pretty pink dresses. I want a world that I will never be able to give her. Ultimately I want her life to be fulfilled, her days to be partly cloudy to partly sunny, I want her to be able to laugh without care and cry with compassion, I want her to live a life as beautiful as she is.
Pax
Stephen

All Wrapped Up and No Where to Go

So we finished our effort at our physical facility this past Sunday. In 10 days we, the Henry county community, were able to serve over 16,000 displaced citizens from Hurricane Katrina. It was an amazing effort for whom all were involved can be very proud, everyone that is except the Red Cross. From the beginning to the end the Red Cross was poorly organized, ineffective and a disgrace to the entire idea of Disaister Relief. On the day before the Displaced Citizens arrived, Thursday, the Red Cross was scheduled to meet with us at the church to organize the facility and take a tour to understand their new Command Post. They never showed, never called. Friday morning we arrive at the church with over 60 evacuees waiting at our front door. When we asked how they knew how to get here, they said the Red Cross is sending everyone here.Two and a half days later the Red Cross finally shows up at our facility.
On Sunday afternoon they came in and told the ones who had been running the show for the past 3 days that all of their lists and data base would have to be thrown away. This means that all of the people who have been waiting for three days on Red Cross assistance would have to get back in line and reregister. We had been giving them shelter, food and supplying them with food and toiletries and now they were gonig to have to start all over. Through the week the Red Cross people were very rude not only to the victims but also to the non Red Cross Volunteers, of which there were a couple of hundred.
Thursday afternoon the Red Cross packed up, after much bad press, and announced only to the director of our facility, they were moving out and starting a new facility. This would make sense if our opperation was ineffecient, poorly organized or nearing completion, but it was not. When asked what about the hundreds of people who had registered and were waiting with their numbers to be called, the Red Cross told us they would have to come to their new center and reregister. They Left, Luckily Governer Perdue arrived that afternoon to some very angry volnuteers and Hurricane Victims. He got on the phone with the National Red Cross office and told them to get back and finish the job they left.
After all was moved out, we still had literally tons of supplies. We tried to give them to the Red Cross but they told us they were not taking them because they were not giving food, meals, clothing, Toiletries or toys out at their new "Super Centers". They were only giving out $2,000 checks. All of that food and supplies were distributed to local ministries and not the victims for which they were intended. All wrapped up and no where to go, gifts given in love and squandered by our beloved Red Cross.
Words cannot express my anger, sadness and absolute amazment at the lack of character shown by one of our most trusted organizations. I will never again support the Red Cross and I encourage you to do the same, find local agencies aiding in the relief and support them, dont waste your money on a buracrecy driven political junk pile.
Pax
Stephen

The Poo V/S Perdue

So I am elbow deep in the shiz again today around the church in our 7th day of Hurricane Relief. I am coming down the main hall to get some more supplies and as usual there is congestion. I get with in sight of the main office and I see several SWAT officers blocking up the hall. I stop next to an older man and say under my breath, "Good Grief what is it now?" The man just looks at me and and turns back to looking forward. Then out of no where the guy who is running the relief effort in our center comes up leans into the man next to me and says to him, "Alright Mr. Governor you can follow me", I look behind me and the man and see over 25 media and politicians all lined up behind us. So that is my first story about literally rubbing shoulders with Governor Perdue.
The second story addresses the Title of this post. He then proceeded into our ministers office which is located through the work room. All of the sudden SWAT blocks off the corridor and will let no one through. I approach them because I have 2 women's toilets running over and show them my staff badge and ask if I can get through to my area in the office that contains the sanitation products. No, they say "the Governors in there, it is a security risk" I look at the SWAT guy and tell him I work here and I have a lot of crap to clean up in the bathroom, and that is a really important thing. He looked down shook his head and waved me through. From that point on I had priviledged access to where ever Governor Perdue was. Poo 1 Perdue 0.
On a more serious note the Governor whipped the red cross' ass into shape while he was there, and it was greatly appreciated. I will write more about the worthless agencies known as the Red Cross and FEMA.
Pax
Stephen

Hurrican Relief at McDonough Presbyterian pt. II

Today we saw over 3000 people from the Southern Gulf coast area.  We saw more people today from places like southern Mississippi but the majority were still from New Orleans.  I spent the day once again knee deep in shiz , the bathrooms were a total job in themselves.  Once again I am blown away by these peoples stories and even more so their attitudes.  Here are a few of their faces.
Pax
Stephen  

Hurricane Relief at McDonough Presbyterian

These are just a few pictures taken today at my church. We are the welcoming and distribution hub for Greater Atlanta for the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. Since Friday we have seen over 1200 people per day. Today we saw over 2400 people It is an amazing thing to see so many of our volunteers working beside the Red Cross and volunteers from the Henry County community. We are looking at a 3-5 week time frame for occupancy of the building. If any of you have any volunteers, donations, food, or support please contact the church 770- 957-9890 and we can connect the donations with the people.
It is a heart wrenching situation to see so many people displaced, hurting and in need. I heard stories of total devistation and horror. One woman told us of her sister being raped in the Superdome and no one being able to do anything about it. If you have anything you can do, please give us a call. Thanks
Pax
Stephen

The Life and Death of a Saint

In some ways I feel silly writing a post this intimate about a man who I knew for such a short time. When my friend Larkin called me Saturday morning and told me of Dr. Claypools passing, I found myself hanging up the phone with tears running down my cheeks. I sat in the cabin unable to express emotion in any other way than gentle sobs. This is a man I have only known for a year, and it felt like I was loosing a mentor, pastor and long time friend. That is what type of man John Claypool was. Meekness and Humility resonated in everything he said and more importantly everything he did. When I would preach sermons in his class, my feelings of inadequacy and trivialness were always overcome with his encouragement and smile. Although tired and often sick from his treatments he always made time after class, not just to answer questions but more so to ask them. He was ever a student, not just of homiletics and theology but more so a student of humanity. He was personal, he wanted to know who you are and what you love. He made, in the year that I had the privelage of knowing him, one of the deepest marks in my soul of anyone I have ever encountered.
In his last days of class he talked to us about death a lot. He knew death was coming soon and he had no problems greeting it when it did. I remember the last thing he said to us at lunch on our last day with him. He said the only thing that scares him about death is having to leave his friends, us. He spoke of his wife Ann, his students and the countless people whose lives have brushed against his, and he said not being with you all is what I fear. Once again I feel completely inadequate writing about a man with whom I spent such a short time. I feel though, I have to add my voice to thousands of others in tribute and thankfulness to the life of this saint. Thank you God of peace, thank you for this special gift to our world. Thank you for his example of grace, trust and love that we had the privelage to experience. Thank you for his ability to take away any excuse of bitterness one could carry in life, and replace it with love and humility. Thank you for the gift of your Saint, John Claypool. Amen

John Claypool

The world is now missing one of God's most faithful servants. Dr. John Claypool lost his battle with cancer yesterday. I may write more later, but now I can only say that I'm grieving.

I Love the Mountains

I am writing this post from the comfort of a beautiful new log cabin located at 4000 ft in a small town just west of Asheville, NC. It belongs to the parents our best friends Brad and Liz, actually its Liz's parents. The back deck looks out over a small town. I was in the town yesterday, it was hot busy and crowded. From up here the town looks peaceful and quaint. I am totally disconnected from that world. I do not think God lives on the mountain, not mount Olympus or thesky mount of Heaven. No, althogh it is peaceful and beautiful, I believe God is in the muck, the heat and the crowded world we all live in everyday. God made the mountain, I just do not believe she lives on it.
Pax
Stephen