Our Little Puggle Graduates

Isaac, our two year old, will graduate from Puggles tonight.  Puggles is the 2 year old program for Awana.  There is going to be an awards night and everything. 

I was terribly emotional when he started Puggles back in August because it was his first “official” Bible program.  Now that he is finished with Puggles and ready to move to Cubbies in the fall, I am even more emotional.  He is just growing up too fast.

For those who don’t know, a Puggle is a baby platypus.

Puppy & a Freight Car

I have been watching the PBS series called “Carrier.”  This is a 9 part documentary about life on the USS Nimitz. 

There was a hilarious statement last night by one of the commanding officers.  It made me laugh out loud and I have been thinking about it all day.  I just had to share.

The commanding officer is giving instructions to his young sailors and he says,

“If I tell you a puppy can pull a freight car, don’t ask me how, just hook him up.”

Alexander & Rufus, the Sons of Simon

In my devotional time on Thursday, I was reading in Mark 15 about Jesus carrying his cross to Calvary.  The passages says, “And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. ” (Mark 15:21)

Cyrene was a city in North Africa in modern day Libya.  A “passerby” from Libya is called upon to carry Jesus’ cross.  But what struck me more than that was the naming of the two sons, Alexander & Rufus.  Alexander, a name no were else mentioned in the Scriptures.  But Rufus is found again in Romans 16:13 “Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.”

It seems that Simon, his unnamed wife, Alexander, and Rufus, all became Christians and were known in the Christian community of Rome.  How extraordinary did this “passerby” moment impact the lives of this whole family.

What did the boys think when their dad was called upon to carry Jesus’ cross?  Were they scared?  Were they confused?  They understood the cross was meant for punishment and death.  What had their father done to deserve this humiliation?  Did they think their father was being punished?  Did they understand who this Jesus’ was anyway?  The two sons watched their father bear a cross upon his back for the Lord. 

Here is the application the Lord laid on my heart: Do my two sons, Isaac and Ethan, see their father bearing my cross for the Lord?  Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)

Lord, please let my sons see me take up my cross daily and allow that to impact their lives as it did Alexander and Rufus.

T4G – Together for the Gospel Recap

Together for the Gospel was an amazing experience.  5500 pastors from all over the US and around the world met to be challenged and encouraged in our ministry and preaching.

If you would like to listen to any of the 8 messages, you can find them at www.t4g.org.  I would highly recommend the message from John Piper on Christian Suffering and CJ Mahaney’s message on the Pastor’s Soul.  Definitely my two favorites.

Personally, the three days of worship and Bible study left my heart burdened for the lost.  The Gospel must be preached to every soul we come into contact with.  The Gospel has the power to change lives, saving souls, and bringing new birth.  It is the only message of hope we can hold fast to.

Secondly, I came home being extremely grateful for my pastor, Pastor Robert Franklin. 

What a man of God we have at Main Street to lead us into God’s truth.  I am thankful for his humble submission to God and his willingness to walk fervently with our Lord.  I have learned so much from him over the past 5 years we served together.

Did you know that Pastor Bob and I shared an office my first year on staff at Main Street.  He even gave me the majority of his office furniture so I could have a place to work.  I am not sure how we got much done that first year, we talked all the time. 

I am deeply loyal to this man.  He has been a mentor, a teacher, a guide, and a prayer partner to me.  I will always be indebted to him for his investment in my life, both as a man and a pastor.

Thank you Pastor.

Brothers Playing Nicely

Some cute pics of our boys playing nicely together.  I know this will change as they get older, but it is always nice to see.

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Playing

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A Big Boy Bed

Our 2 year old is no longer in a crib or a toddler bed.  He has transitioned into a Big Boy Bed.  A Big Boy Bed from IKEA nonetheless.   This is a pretty big step for him.  More room to toss and turn.  Higher off the ground.  More wood to crack his head on.

But we are really proud of Isaac and this Big step for him.  Now if Jennifer and I could just figure out how to get him to sleep with less animals.  We needed the Big Boy Bed because there were too many creatures in the toddler bed with him.

Bedtime roll call:
Little Georgie
Big George
Puppy
Minny (blanket)
Sparky
Marcus
Blue Bear
Thomas Blanket

Reds Clergy Pass — Part 3

Pastor Calvin A. Perry and I officiated a funeral together on Saturday morning.  A dear, sweet man named Charles (Chuck) Trapp went to be with the Lord.  He was one of three remaining charter members of Main Street Church.  You can read about Chuck’s service-filled life here.

Before the funeral began, Pastor Calvin asked me if I had read the article in the newspaper about him.  I said Yes.  He asked if I thought he was going to tell the paper where he got his season ticket. 

I told him that I got worried that he was going to “out” me to the press for stealing his clergy pass.  His words, “Nah, people on the outside don’t need to know where we get our season tickets.  There are certain things we should never tell.”   Well, I guess I have blown that cause I have told everyone how I got my ticket. 

He and I hope to catch a few games together this season.  This little stunt has been way too much fun.

Reds Clergy Pass — Part 2

Well there is more to the Reds Clergy Pass saga between me and Pastor Calvin A. Perry.  Pastor Calvin called me this morning about an upcoming funeral that he is officiating.  Here is the transcript of the conversation.

Pastor Calvin:  Brother Shane, how are you young man?
SG:  Doin’ well Pastor Calvin, how are you?
PC:  I’m doing great.  Did you get that Clergy Pass?
SG:  Yes, sir, I did.
PC:  I got mine too.
SG:  How did you do that? (smiling from ear to ear)
PC:  Different vineyard son, different vineyard.
SG:  Well done, sir, well done.

Pastor Calvin has been the interim pastor at Fort Thomas Baptist Church.  Apparently he got the clergy pass as the pastor of that congregation.  A different vineyard indeed.

You can’t out-fox a man like Calvin A. Perry.  No young punk like me is going to keep him from his beloved Reds baseball.

Well done, sir, well done.  I tip my hat to you.

T4G – Together for the Gospel

One week away from the 2nd Together for the Gospel conference.  I will be joining thousands of other pastors for 3 days of intense worship, discipleship, and preaching.  I am so excited.  I just can’t wait. 

I went to the 2006 T4G conference with my pastor Robert Franklin and my best friend Brandon Carrier.  This year it will be me, Brandon, Andrew Dyer (pastor of Pioneer), Dave Crowe (pastor of Bruner’s Chapel) and JJ (student at Campbellsville Univ. and one of Brandon’s college students).  It should be a great time to learn, reflect and hear God’s Word broken with power and freshness.

On the conference platform:  Mark Dever, Al Mohler, CJ Mahaney, John Piper, John MacArthur, RC Sproul, Ligon Duncan and Thabiti Anyabwile.  Check out more information at www.t4g.org

6 Years Down, 60 More to Go

Jennifer and I celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary yesterday (April 6, 2002).  For some that may not seem like a huge milestone, but we were pretty pumped.  Each year has gotten better than the one before.  This past year has seen the second addition to our family (Ethan Cade), me getting through my doctoral seminars (yipey), and Jennifer transitioning to being a full time stay-at-home mom (with a little side job on Friday’s). 

Even with all the change, we have grown stronger together in the Lord and in our relationship to each other.

To celebrate this joyous occassion, we hired a sitter, had dinner at Guenther’s Steak House and went to IKEA in West Chester, OH.  It was totally cool. 

I had been to an IKEA in Naples, Italy two summers ago, but didn’t get the full experience.  This time we strolled the isles, sat on beds, looked at the greatest furniture, had dessert and coffee, and only spent $30 (which I considered a huge feat of pure financial discipline).

It was a great anniversary date.  To Guenthers and IKEA, and especially to my dear sweet Rose…I raise a toast to 6 years down and 60 more to go.

Library Daydreaming

I spend a lot of time in the library.  I mean a lot of time.  About 6 hours today.  Need to do another 20 hours this week.

I find the longer I sit in the library, the more I stare out into space.  Could it be that libraries by their design and environment are not better for study skills and writing, but are actually more conducive to daydreaming?

Does the library architecture make you more inspired to study, write, and think?  Or does the plain colors, lack of noise, and hard chairs make you bored stiff?

As you can tell from the meaningless contents of this post, I am in the library.  And yes, I am daydreaming.  Must get back to work…must stay focused…must finish strong!

The CRC & Dr. Ted Taylor

I get the privilege to serve on a advisory committee for Campbellsville University called the “Church Relations Council.”  The CRC is a group of men and women from all over the US who are active in church leadership and have some affiliation with Campbellsville.

As a former alum and current associate pastor, they invited me to participate.  Actually, I ask them if I could join…and they said “yes.”  I have served on the CRC for four years.

One special treat for this CRC meeting is hearing my mentor, Dr. Ted Taylor, give a presentation on the FIRST CLASS leadership institute.  Dr. Taylor was the professor who really introduced me to Christian ministry and how to live out my calling from God.  He taught me to think critically about the practice of ministry and how to keep the message the same, but to use new methods.  He is the one that led me down a path toward this calling in Christian education.  Without him, I would not be where I am today.

He invested in my life outside of the classroom as well.  I have spent hours talking with Dr. Taylor over the years, seeking his council and insight.  He probably has written more letters of reference for me than anyone else.  He even wrote one recommendation letter to someone saying “Garrison wants my job and I would give it to him.”

I am one of the thousands of students he has impacted over the years.  I will forever be indebted to Dr. Taylor for his godly, Christian influence in my life. 

Taylor…thank you.

Pastor Calvin Perry & the Reds

Many might remember my post about the Reds Clergy Pass.  Well, here is the beloved pastor I stole it from.  The link is an article about Pastor Calvin in the Alexandria Community Recorder.  He is a die hard Reds fan, so they did a story on him for Opening Day.

http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/C2/20080326/NEWS01/303260001/1041/obits

Coffee Mug or Something Else?

As a principal of an elementary school, I get a special opportunity each morning to be the “traffic cop.”  I wear a bright orange vest and make sure children are safe getting into the building.  I also wave at all the parents in the drop-off line.  It is kind of like being the school greeter, like those smiling faces who stand in the entrances of Walmart.

The last couple weeks it has kind of been cold at 7:45 AM, so I have been drinking my morning coffee outside.  A nice, tall, hot mug of caffienated goodness.

One mom asked her kindergarten son, “What do you think Pastor Shane is doing out there?

His innocent reply, “Havin’ a beer.”  Apparently my coffee mug looks like a beer stine.

I promise it is coffee…only coffee!