Bon Jovi...

You remember him...the 80's glam-rock star. He's still in the news occasionally, but a song of his came to mind recently while I was at a church service. Maybe you remember it..."You give love a bad name". Maybe you think (like I did), that's a really weird thing to be thinking about at church, but I couldn't help myself.

I found myself at the Lakeland Center on Monday night for a revival service with Todd Bentley. Great service - witnessed the supernatural and everything, but I think every weirdo within 500 square miles was there too. That's a little hard to say, as a Christian amongst a sea of 7000 or so others that called themselves Christians. What do I mean by weirdo you may be wondering? The 1970's outfit wearing, tambourine totting, bad t-shirt wearing "Christians" that can't clap on beat. They can act weird, dress weird and talk weird, but can't find a piece of clothing that doesn't have some corny Christian slogan or hand draw phase with glitter. It's people like this that give Christians a bad name. People see them and they just know sense the weirdness. Then they find out they are "Christians" and never want anything to do with church or even God for that matter.

So I decided to re-write the first verse and chorus of Bon Jovi's song in their honor:

An awkward style is what you sell
You promise yourself heaven but put me through hell
Your tambourine is distracting me
It may actually help if you could play it on beat

Whoa! You're not any fun!
Whoa! Your t-shirts are dumb!
No chance to change you, I think I’ll just run

Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
Darlin', you give God a bad name

Blogging is supposed to be consistent...

I was scolded this weekend by a friend that said blogging was supposed to be a regular thing and since my last post was in February, I wasn't really blogging. I'd like to thank Al for his honesty and I have committed to more regular and interesting posts.

At the event Al and I were both at this weekend, we had a great time...but I again encountered some very bizarre things. I love observing people and their behavior and it's always funny what kind of things I come away with from Christian events. I got to work with with some of the best people in our District over the weekend. Diane and I look forward to the Fine Arts festival every year and working with the District youth staff and the other pastors we work with for the event. Al, Darryl, Tammy, Tim, Tom and Shirley...you guys rock!

At fine arts, there are always funny things that happen. We see the best and the worst in people that call themselves a Christian. I don't really hold their frustration against them, but I have to relay what may be the most unreasonable excuse I have ever heard for trying to get scores and results quickly instead of waiting in a rather long line.

It was the end of the competition and a representative from each church is supposed to wait in a line to collect the results for each of the entries from their church. It was finally a moment to relax and another pastor and I were sitting in the registration room talking. Suddenly a masters commission student came in to relay a message. It seems a student sent word that their parent was dying - but they needed their score sheet before they left. Are you kidding me? We've heard a lot of excuses (from kids and pastors), but this is definitely in the top 10.

I guess the lesson in this is simple...live your life with integrity, honesty and honor as a Christian - in everything you do, say and even what you think. Remember this...whatever you compromise to gain - you will eventually lose.