Buy Your Own Presents

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An elderly widow decided it was too much trouble to get all of her kids and grandkids Christmas presents, so she decided to send them a card with a check in it. A few days after she mailed all the cards, she discovered she forgot to include the checks in the cards. Imagine all those kids opening a card from Grandma with a note inside that said, “Buy your own presents.”

It pays to be properly prepared...especially at Christmas. I am preaching tomorrow about preparing our hearts for Christmas. This is super important at a time of the year that we prepare so much other stuff...our homes, our traditions, our favorite foods, our decorations, our schedules...what can we do to prepare our hearts? I will use the short joke/story above as an intro to draw folks in.

The Capital

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Every month at the church, we publish a newsletter called "The Capital." Some of you may want to check out what we are up to at CCF this month. If you are a part of CCF, I'll see you there! If not, enjoy seeing what we are up to. Click the link below to connect to December's edition. I will likely post this every month. The Capital includes loads of cool stuff. Enjoy. Click below:

December Capital

A Classic

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This one is a classic. It's Friday, so I am on baby duty...or shall I say Baby privilege. This morning I decided that I would pack Davis up and we would go get the Emission Inspection done on Tricia's Sienna minivan. We headed out and drove all the way to Annapolis to the inspection station. It was when we pulled in that I realized...WE WERE IN MY AVALON!! Tricia was at work WITH HER MINIVAN!! Kinda hard to get an emissions test done on a vehicle I don't have with me.

I love useless trips to Annapolis...especially with gas prices so low!

Arlington

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Participated in the burial service for Jaye's father today. It was held at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. It was my first time there and it was an astounding sight and neat experience. All of the stones are identical except for the words printed on them. As we walked through the snow to the graveside area, I read some of the date ranges engraved on the headstones. One of them read "1981-2007". One of them read "1905-2007"! Aren't they both moving in their own right? The level of respect and honor for the family, the 21 gun salute, taps being played in the distance and the layer of snow across the field all added to the emotion of the experience. It was moving to see the value that they communicated to the family.

I was glad to be able to be there to support Jaye. My brother came along and we were able to grab lunch with a buddy in Northern Virginia before heading back to the hood. It is not too often that I am down that way.

Upon arriving back to the church, I was able to meet some nice folks here in the building. An Amish family. They are here setting up for an Amish wedding taking place here at CCF tomorrow. They are sweet people! One of the men was outside shoveling the remaining snow and ice on our property when we pulled up. Servants!

Anyway, I will wave to you on TV from my seats near the field at the Redskins game tonight! Yeah, baby! Headed to the game in a few hours! Skins vs. Bears.

Communication

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  • Most important thing in a marriage: communication
  • Number one cause of divorce: communication
  • Most difficult thing to live out in relationships: communication
  • Thing that pays the most dividends in relationships: communication
  • How to win and keep friends: communication
  • How to keep your congregation happy and committed: communication
  • How to keep you board unified and functioning well: communication

I am happy to report that this week has been a week of increased listening and learning. It began at the Business Meeting Sunday and continues. Tonight, the board landed on some excellent ways that we can increase communication to each other and the congregation.

Encouraged!

It's Snowing!!!

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I know of people that read my blog in Florida, California and even China. Not everyone is local. So, you may find it fun to know that IT IS SNOWING!! We are receiving our first significant snowfall of the season. And yes, for Washington DC 1 inch of snow is significant! It's pretty out there. The only thing better than this is when it snows bad enough for everything to shut down....we would have only needed 2-3 more inches for that to happen.

Love!

(Off-site today doing message; Burial at Arlington tomorrow for Jaye's Dad)

If you don't have something nice to say...

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If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't day anything at all. That is my theme for the day. I guess I should mind that advice and not say anything at all.

Have had a few losses recently. Actually had a few big wins today...too complex to get into right now.

You win some, you lose some and some get rained out. But know this...God is good! He is good when you win one. He is still good when you lose one. And he is certainly good when one gets rained out, cause you never know...that may have been the one that you would have got injured in! :-)

An Early Morning Word...continued

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More about the word on my heart yesterday morning...

"If you will be here for ME, I will be here for you!!"

There are lots of reasons that people choose to affiliate with the local church. Allow me to share a few:

  • The people are friendly.
  • My family goes there.
  • My friends go there.
  • It's close to my house.
  • I like the music.
  • I like the kid's ministry and youth ministry.
  • There are good looking women at that church. ...or men.
  • I like the preaching.
  • I like the Pastor.
  • They are not money hungry.

And you can think of many other reasons... After a while of being at a particular church, many of us begin to really feel attached to the people or the leaders. Slowly, we can begin to go for reasons that won't stand forever.

I sensed that the Lord wanted me to encourage our community that we are not here for Pastor TC. We are not here for Pastor Noah. We are not here for any of the other things that I mentioned above. WE ARE FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!

I thank God for the promise that JESUS will build his church and the even the gates of hell will not prevail against it. No change in a community and no Pastor leaving of arriving will ever interrupt what God is doing in His church. I have always been comforted by the fact that if the gates of hell can't prevail against the church , then we sure as hell can't either. I told the youth the other night, that they are not here for TC, they are here for God and he is never resigning!

If we will be here for HIM. HE will be here for us...regardless of the loss, regardless of the transition, regardless of the storm. He will be in the boat as he was in Mark 4:35-41 and He will get up and say to any challenge..."Be Still. Be Calm" and it will obey.

A Resignation impacts a Community

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While, I am really enjoying blogging, sometimes it is really frustrating because there are things that I cannot write for the world to see. Sometimes those confidential things are the things that I need to process out and think through the most. Anyway, one of those things have unfolded over the last several weeks. For several weeks now, I have been processing a BIG change at the church. Our fantastic Youth Pastor, TC submitted his resignation to me. TC senses God's call to affect inner city un-churched people through other creative channels. We announced it to the church yesterday. (Not before lots of tears, questions, sharing it with the Pastoral Team, sharing it with the Board, and sharing it with the youth this past Wednesday.) After communicating the announcement in our services yesterday, TC and I preached a message about transition. I sensed that it really helped the community swallow more easily the news of an upcoming transition that none of us are happy about. I am going to deeply miss working with Pastor TC. Our entire church is going to miss him so much as well.

As I was preparing for the official announcement over the last week, I found myself laboring over it. How do you say it? When do you say it? When does it fit best in the service? How do I bring a sense of security to the community? What is the balance between celebrating TC and being hopeful for the next leader? Well, THEY DON'T TEACH YOU THIS IS SCHOOL! I have never had to do anything like this before. Where is the book on this one? It was so difficult, regardless of how it may have looked to those who were there. It was one of the harder things I have ever had to do.

My sense was that God was as we know Him to be...faithful, present, and speaking to us as a church. It seems as though the church did a good job of accepting the news and the encouragements that TC and I shared about the realities of transition in our message. We have a strong church, for which I am thankful. The presence of God made all the difference yesterday. The Lord has a future for TC and CCF that is as bright as the promises of God!

CCF is Hiring! If you know anyone that would be a good Youth Pastor to an urban youth Ministry, encourage them to send their resume to me at noahkaye@capitalchristian.org.

Last-Minute Hospitality

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Every year, Tricia's work Christmas party is at her Principal's home. This year he had planned to host it again, but just last week realized that he would not be able to. Instead of it being canceled, Tricia really wanted to do it here (we do love to entertain). Well, it's tonight. Tricia and Davis are back from NY, the house is decked out for the Holidays, the Christmas music is playing, we've prepared some games, the candles are lit and we are ready to host about 30 people in our home tonight (Teachers and their spouses). Everyone brings something, but we have prepared lots of stuff as well...you know how that goes. It should be fun. I got my list done and Tricia seems to have everything under control since she got home. Rock on!

Now, if I can just have a good time tonight and keep my mind off of tomorrow morning. We have a difficult announcement to share with the congregation, I am team teaching with Pastor TC (and don't feel as ready as I would like to feel), and a business meeting that one just never feels prepared enough for. Thanks to the Lord for a great Board Chair (Hal Smith), Treasurer (Ruth Yoder) and others who have worked so hard to get us ready for tomorrow. I know I am worrying for nothing.

Anyway, on to our "last-minute hospitality!!!"

A Weird Day

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Today was weird. With Tricia and Davis being gone, I kept thinking I was forgetting or missing something. I kept thinking Davis was down for a nap and I needed to get him or pick him up or something. Fridays I am usually with him. Instead, I hung out, ran errands, chilled with my brother and parents, and just did whatever I felt like doing. My brother and I did one of our favorite past times...RV shopping...as if we could ever afford one! Oh, and here is the best part. Even with her whirlwind trip out the door this morning, Tricia managed to leave me a list...and I got it done! It was a good day, but I always feel like something is missing without my babies.

And just like that they're gone!

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Tricia woke me up at midnight (after I just fell asleep at the end of the Packer/Cowboys game) because she had just spoke with her Mom in NY. Terry, my mother-in-law, was diagnosed with cancer just after losing her husband in June. When she talked to Tricia last night she sounded bad, was very weak, and quite discouraged. She said to Tricia (as she often does) "I wish you were here." Well, my wife "felt in her heart" that she needed to catch the next flight to Albany. At almost 1am she bought a ticket to leave at 7am (yes, THIS MORNING). We were up at 5 and I just returned from dropping Tricia and Davis at BWI. They will fly back tomorrow. When my wife, who is very rational and planned, tells me that she feels something "in her heart and in her spirit," we listen. I will miss them, but they will be back soon! ...just like that there gone...baby and all!

Team Teaching

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I am really looking forward to Sunday's message. Pastor TC and I are team teaching. We spent the afternoon and early evening completing preparation. It is always a challenge to prepare a sermon with someone else and to be in sync with what the Lord is saying and how we will share in communicating it. It always ends up being fun and since it is different, people listen intently, because people like different.

The title of our message is "The Trouble with Transition." One of the truths that I look forward to sharing this Sunday is this...Our human nature regarding transition is such that we love and relish the old and the familiar because it is comfortable. We also usually end up loving the new because it is fresh and different and it promises impact. It's the transition...the in-between time that we aren't so comfortable with.

There's your sneak peak. This should be fun!

Divine Counsel

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Here is something that you may or may not know about me. I love people. I believe that other people are on of God's top 3 ways that He speaks to us (His word, His Holy Spirit, His children). I love to be in relationship and counsel with people about my leadership and about my life. I do not know where I would be today had it not been for leaders that I have put myself around. Call them mentors, call them coaches, call them friends...God has placed some of His choice servants in my life and I praise him for that today. People like my wife, my parents, my siblings, my friends, my professors, my Bishop, The staff I work with every day, and many pastors and leaders that are both local and out of state.

One of the things that I really treasure is my relationship with a few Pastors with gray (or white) hair who have been at this for many, many years and they have already led through whatever might be staring me in the face. There is one particular influencer in my life over the last few years that has been worth a million. Every time I leave the lunch table after being with him, all I can think is "how was counsel worth so much just given for free." I reckon he probably wouldn't mind a check in the mail though, smile. Have you ever had that feeling? The feeling that you should be paying BIG bucks for counsel that fresh!

Well, yesterday, a good friend and coach handed me a napkin with 7 passages of scripture written on it. He told me that these verses needed to me my quiet time this morning. I carried that napkin in my pocket all day yesterday. When I went to bed last night, I laid it on top of my wallet and whispered "Lord, speak to me in the morning." Even as I said those words, I felt the Holy Spirit near. Well, He answered and He spoke! The passages that I dwelled in (and wept over) this morning were a series of passages from II Corinthians. Maybe you want to share in them as well. I will share with you the passages that impacted me the most this morning (click on them to link to them). I plan to sit with them a lot more in the next few days.

II Corinthians 1:12
II Corinthians 3:1-3
II Corinthians 7:1-4

You know a good friend or counselor when they point you in the direction of the divine counsel of God through His word. That voice, those words, impact me more deeply than any person ever can!

A Davis Update

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If you are a parent, then maybe you can relate to this...I feel like there are some days that I just want to stare at my son and wonder how he's ours? Some days he looks so cool, so cute in his outfit, and so much like a miracle of God. Well, this evening, Tricia and Davis and I really enjoyed some well needed family time, just us! Dinner, play time, laughing, bath and bedtime routine. Here is a very cute recent bath picture that is appropriate for the Internet. Look at this kid! He can now stand on his own for about 5-10 seconds and walk very well while we hold his hand. He can also climb the entire set of steps (13 of them) in our home. Yes, I was standing behind him. No, I do not want to be responsible for another ambulance ride to Children's Hospital.

Oh, and Tricia dressed Davis in his Redskins outfit today in honor of Sean Taylor. We woke up this morning to learn that this young Redskins Safety was shot and killed. My heart and prayers have gone out several times today to his family, friends and the Redskins Club. Thanks to the Lord that the Head Coach, Joe Gibbs is a Christian and so are several of the other players. My friend Matt Gary interned with the Skins this year and met some super guys that love the Lord. I pray that God will somehow use them during this time to impact this team for Christ.

Remaining Faithful

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Remain faithful! Those are the words on my heart today! REMAIN FAITHFUL, NOAH! Remaining faithful means a lot of things. For me, today, it means pressing into the Lord in prayer for wisdom, instead of leaning on my own or anyone else's understanding. It means believing God with hope instead of looking to the enemy in unbelief. Remaining faithful for me, today, means speaking the heart and mind of the Lord Jesus Christ and not my own flesh and will. It means remembering my call and who God has crafted me and commissioned me to be. I thank the Lord today that his plan ALWAYS WINS because he is ALWAYS FAITHFUL!!!

Psalm 146:6 "...The Lord remains faithful forever!"

I pray that you, my faithful God,will teach me today how to remain faithful. I love you, Lord and I thank you for your example of perfect faithfulness!

Christmas at CCF! Mark your Calendars!

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With the exception of a few meetings, I have spent the majority of my morning tending to the many leadership and planning details of our various Christmas events at CCF! It's almost like we have to get through one holiday to start thinking about the next. We finalize the December Capital this Wednesday, so it is full speed planning so we can publish all the details! In the process of thinking through all of this, I got super excited about the approaching holidays together as a church. Good memories always get made. So that you can begin getting excited with me, here are the main events for this Christmas month (get your calendar out!):

  • This Sunday, December 2nd- Decorate the church for Christmas at about 1:30pm (after the Business Meeting-- insert plug for business meeting here!)
  • Saturday, December 8th- Ladies Brunch & Cookie Exchange at 9:30am.
  • Friday, December 14th- Annual Evening Christmas Party. A group is already at work on this and it is gonna be super!
  • Sunday, December 16th- REAL Teens Holiday Service Project to the Elderly in our community!
  • Thursday, December 20th at 7:00pm-Christmas Caroling at Local Nursing Homes.
  • Sunday Morning, December 23rd- Special Christmas Program/Service
  • Monday, December 24th at 6pm- Christmas Eve Service
  • AND...We are doing Angel Tree again. Get your Angel this Sunday!

I am really looking forward to a great month with you all!

Love!

The ups and the downs

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I really hesitate as to whether to write this or not. I take some risk in doing it, but it is worth taking a risk for gaining your prayer support. I am human and this my blog...a place to share my heart. The top of your screen says "on my heart today", right? Well, let me tell you what is on my heart.

I feel discouraged today. I cannot go into detail, but lots of things are going on at the church, much of which is confidential (in addition we have an important Executive Board Meeting tomorrow night, a Business Meeting next Sunday and a LOT to do to be ready for them). There are those times in ministry that you feel like everything is great and other times when it is not so easy or so fun. Some of the things you have to know and stuff you have to deal with can be pretty tough and draining. I am guessing that I am not the only Pastor in the world that wishes they could evade a Sunday morning a couple times throughout their ministry. I will take the downs and thank God for the many ups.