Chris Bishop

So I have begun to read a book called “it–how churches and leaders can get it and keep it.”  The author is the founder of lifechurch.tv which has some really awesome resources.  I was interested in this text because this guy was a United Methodist pastor with Methodist roots.

I really resonate with a ton of what he has said in the frost 40 pages or so.  I think that there is something “it” that some churches have and others don’t.  I would be quick to say that a couple of the ingredients that go into “it” are authenticity, passion and an overwhelming love for Christ.

I have been wondering if my church has it or not and the thing that I keep coming to is that we have people that come to our ministries and it is in some ways infectious.  I don’t know what we do but there is something that draws people to MUMC.  I think that we can do a ton better but I do think that we do have something special.  I am interested in seeing where he goes with the book.  Check it out with the link from my side bar.

Shovels, bulldozers and oil drilling
When you study scripture how do you go about it?
Shovel Slinger: Fling open your Bible, put a finger on a verse (get a scoop of dirt), read it, pray a bit done. You might wonder why God wasn’t very visible in the story that you read about the suffering of Job and his friends. Over time you have a pile of random scoops.
The Oil driller: Find a story in mind, read it, read the study notes about the story, read and research more about it. Drill down to the deep theological meaning. Dredge up the goodness form that story. Then move on to the next thing that you have. (This is what pastors do for Sermons)
The Bulldozer: This is a larger approach to studying the scriptures. This is where you will slowly read, interoperate, digest the scripture layer by layer. Like a bulldozer takes out layer by layer, we read and understand the larger picture and gradually move deeper and deeper.
*Sorry for the not so eco-friendly visuals, but I think that they work on a purely visual level. Rest assured I would have something else to say if we were talking stewardship*

So Katie and I were invited to go to a church plant workshop this week.  There are a number of people from all around the east coast UMC.  We are of about 8 or so from our conference.  We had no idea about what to expect during our time at Richmond.  In fact that was one of the things that I have been looking forward to.

So, we begin the seminar and the presenter begins talking about church planting and all of the wonderful things that happens when church plants happen.

AND THEN SOMETHING HAPPEND…

This guy began to make since.  Oh, no this could be the worst thing that could happen.  I am actually buying in, foreseeing a possibility, and even getting excited about the possibility that I could plant a church.

Not only that, but he said that the best way to start a church was with HIGH SCOOL YOUTH!?!?!?!? WHAT (I am in ministry with high school youth).

So we end the day and my head is spinning because I am feeling like this might just be in the cards…YIKES! Hopefully today will stink and it will calm me down a little bit j/k we will see.

Fun times in VA and some great learning too.

On Sunday I met Katie and Eden for lunch at McDonald’s for a very fancy meal (oh yeah big spenders). We sat down, ate and watched people play with the giant slide puzzle (you can see a guy with camo on playing with it in the pic).

We had a delightful meal and then Katie went to a meeting and Eden and I finished our food, but not before something struck me.  Eden was eating only her bun with Ketchup on it. This is
not something that is very strange I guess but it got me thinking. Katie loves Ketchup sandwiches. I was mesmerized but the fact that Eden was chomping down on a Ketchup soaked piece of bread.

I had just read a passage from Deutoeronmy 6 the day before where the people of Israel are being told how to pass on their faith to the next generation. Here is what it says:

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Originally uploaded by pastorchrisbishop

last friday katie and I allong with a bunch of other young adult clergy went to manadokin for a day to talk about…being young clergy SHOCKER. but the best part was bering able to go on the zip line and having fun exploring the camp. this was something that i always wanted to do when i was in camp but never got to. it was a fun time, and i even snaped a picture of katie as she crossed over to the zip.

Today, I am at Wesley for a workshop to talk about Paul and plan for Advent worship.

I just finished with some time with Craig Hill talking about Paul.  It was so fun to have some time with Craig who talked to us about Paul.  It is so great to see someone who is so learned and so passionate about teaching that it makes me want to break out my old seminary books from my New Testament class.

It is a refreshing thing slide back into the academic mind for a little while (not that being a pastor is not academic, but there is a changing of gears that happened to some extent). The downside to this is that we did take a trip (or two) to cokesbury and purchase a number of books to fuel our academic fires.

Now I am realizing that clapping to songs is about at the breaking point of my musical gifts. But I am getting better about planning the music and arts of services. And when I plan music I am able to respect and have a heart to the other song clappers (like me) in the church.

This is a fun day to just get away…and it’s educational

eden in her cape

Originally uploaded by pastorchrisbishop

So i am listening to an audio book called Eldest, it is kind of like a lord of the rings series. So i thought that it would be fun to dress eden in her cape instead of her big brown coat today. I thought that she was hind of like my little elf. I thought that this was a fun picture of her going to PTO today. something just for fun

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Originally uploaded by pastorchrisbishop

at pen station waiting on our bus. it was a great time with aunt maggie.
now it is time to go back to kronk and all of maryland.

Central park and more

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went to central park zoo, F A O SCHWARTZ, and even saw the apple store.
took the subway and got lot in brooklin. tons more fun is on the way for sure.

fun on the water

Originally uploaded by pastorchrisbishop

just went on a water taxi tour of NYC and saw many fun things. eden didn’t really care for the statue of liberty. oh well on to the next adventure.