Livin between the blogs

I've been shown by a friend of mine another blog posting service...now, here's the deal: I'm just trying it out, seeing if I like it. Maybe I'll switch, maybe I wont. But in the meantime, all my posts will be directed to http://troyhooper.wordpress.com
So check it out over there and let me know your thoughts...


thanks,

Hoop

What’s goin’ on?

From the scandal with Ted Haggard, to the restructuring of Saddleback Church, this year is starting off with a bang. I echo what a colleague of mine said when he exclaimed, "This is a great time to be alive in ministry". He's right. There are changes afoot that sounds like no one anticipated. But there are probably a few out there saying, "I told everyone that this was going to happen." Still, as I read the Q & A section in Christianity Today, (February 2007, pg.21) I'm impressed with the humility of Rick Warren to announce that the greatest transition that Saddleback would face this year is getting out of the limelight and focusing on the church at home instead of the church abroad. Here's the quote as it appeared in CT:

How would you describe your most challenging setback in this past year?

The most challenging setback was the transitioning of the Purpose Driven [organization] back into Saddleback Church. God had to hit us with a hammer on that one and say, "I don't want you becoming an organization. I want this to be about my kingdom not about another parachurch organization." And he made that clear as he often does, through finances and through direction. (emphasize mine)

Yes, God has made it clear that what Pastor Warren has been preaching for years is true. And while he mentions that this is a challenging transition, I believe that Saddleback will make it through it just fine…and maybe another book will come from it. I've ate up those words over the years, "The church is an organism, not an organization". And now that Pastor Warren is in the midst of this change, he will be able to guide those who have become an organization back to the roots of why the church exists…back to it's purpose. J

 

I feel blogged

It’s the end of the year as we know it, and I feel fine.

Blogging has been a challenge for me. Why? Well, first off, I don’t always find the time to sit down and blog what is going on. Second, there are so many types of blogs out there now, it’s hard to keep up with all of them. From myspace to msn live, to iweb, it seems as everyone has jumped on the blogging bandwagon. Myself included. I have a page for my daughter (she doesn’t keep it up, and how could she? She’s only 18 months old) I have a blog space, and I have an iweb account as well. However, it’s the end of the year, and I figured that I’d better write something since many of you have threatened to stop reading my blog. And really, should that be a big deal? You see, the funny thing about blogging is that I’m publishing things about my life, that I’m guessing you would be interested in. What ever happened to calling someone up and telling them what’s going on? Anyway, life is good. 2006 saw a lot of things happen and I’m grateful that it didn’t go by too quickly. Christmas saw us being proud parents as our daughter opened gifts for the first time. Reconnecting with old friends was refreshing. And overall it’s easy for me to say I’m blessed. How about you?

Ok, first off let me say that whether you call yourself a patriot or just an American, the singing of our national anthem is something all Americans should join in and sing. Sometimes it seems it’s the only thing that we can all do together and have some sense of national pride. But more importantly, if you are an American, representing our country in one of the biggest sporting events known to mankind, it would be a good thing if you sang along while the anthem is played. Am I getting somewhere with this? Yes. While I watched our national team play against Italy this morning, I was disturbed at how many of our players (and coaches) did not sing along with the national anthem. Italy’s was first, and all of the players, the coaches and the fans for that matter, we’re singing their nations song. But us? Not so. What’s the deal? I’m not sure I have an answer for that so I’ll just leave it hanging for now.

Where I've been...

Well, I've lost contact with a few of you bloggers recently only to say to myself, "You know, you could post something?" Duh. Maybe I should. Things have been great...couldn't be better. We're minimizing at our house right now...you know, going through all the closets and asking those tough questions like, "Do we really need this?" Ok, I'm asking that...but my wife is being a trooper about it all. My daughter is walking now, and I actually have to start walking around the house trying to find her. She's really something...personality, cute...anyway...(proud daddy talking there for a moment) Got my 20 year reunion for High School coming up and I don't feel that old. Somethings weird about it. But, life goes on. So does blogging...which I'll try to catch up with here soon.

Hoop