What I learned from Making a Picnic Table

Not given to wood working of any kind last winter I got this idea in my head that I would commense to make my family a picnic table. Never mind that I have not taken one minute of shop class in my life, but I figured that I've been in the ministry for over 14 years - what can be so hard about a picnic table? I got these plans free online, so I ran them off. Next thing you know I'm at Lowes buying lumber, screws, nuts, and washers!

Well, Saturday came and away I went. Getting the first "A frame" going was not so easy, but I quickly got my head in the ball game after that and it was all down hill from there. This week I put the primer and white paint on and well...it looks great if I say so myself. A lot better than maybe even I had given myself credit for. I'm hoping to put that little white beauty out in the back yard once the pin oak tree starts leafing up a bit more. I can't wait for my kids to eat their popscicles on it, have my neighbors over for cookouts, have my family out and just have an all around good time around that table.

What I learned about building the table.
You can learn new techniques and skills in your mid 30's. 2) you can dream of doing something and even do it even if you've never done it before, 3) I should have taken a little shop in high school but at least I have good buddies at Westlake that don't laugh at me when I ask basic questions, 4) I kept envisioning my family and neighbors around that table. I think my hope was that some day many would even be involved in a discussion of faith around that table. I'm pretty sure that was a huge motivating factor to start and complete this table. 5) If I can build a table - who knows what I could make or build next! Yikes, that sound scarry! Well, maybe if you're reading this you could bring the dogs and patties - I'll provide the table. No you won't break it!

M7 thoughts

We had this thing in Kanasas City a couple of weeks ago called M7. That stands for Mission 2007 and is part of what the Church of the Nazarene considers to be a missionally minded conference for pastors, church leaders and laity. I did a workshop at the conference called "Reaching Families and Children in Your Community." I suppose there were about 62 in the room for that hour. It was a neat experience since I have really not had such a privilege to do such a thing before.

My key thoughts included some thoughts from Don Miller on 13 paradigm shifts when reaching a pagan culture and some simple yet effective ways to impact families and children in your neighborhood. Athough it doesn't seem to 'emergent' or 'postmodern' my feeling is that 1) listening still works in building friendships, 2) no hint of judgement should exude from conversations, 3) when in doubt - go with grace, 4) a plate of cookies still works, 5) keep it real.

While at the conference all I could think about were my neighbors and how much I want them to discover a personal relationship with Jesus as I have. IN all the fanfare, what the conference boiled down to for me was how could I continue a healthy dialog with my neighbors so they might someday know the Christ. We don't the churches permission or blessing to reach our world for Christ. A greater commission has already been given. So, that is about how I feel on reaching a world for Jesus and M7.

Also, I have begun a new company that I'll tell you more about later. I'm excited at the potential though. Stay tuned...and remember...Jesus called us to make disciples not clones.