charlieDEAN’S Blog

I thought you wanted to buy a Mac for your home computer?

Yeah, I did, but our computer got fried on Sunday and we needed something now.

And your point is?

Two things really, first off, it would have cost more money for the Mac — money we don’t have right now — I wasn’t really planning on buying a computer for another year. And secondly, my wife wasn’t convinced about the whole Mac thing. She hasn’t been enlightened yet.

So are you happy with the Dell or not?

I’m really ambivelent. I did order a much-upgraded machine from the one we had (it was four years old), so I’m glad about that, but I really had my heart set on a Mac. So hopefully in 3 years…sigh…it sends me back to a real spiritual struggle I have with money — and the fact that I want more of it. I’ve been noticing this recently, that I kinda have an obsession about money and wanting more of it. This can’t be helpful or good for my soul.

Have you talked to anyone about it?

In tangential ways, but I’ve never really straight out said it. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve started to put a name to it, and it’s hard. I don’t like looking in the mirror and saying, I’ve got a problem with envy. It doesn’t feel very spriritual or “pastoral.” I mean pastors are supposed to be fulfilled by the doing of “God’s work,” they aren’t supposed to want to be rich.

So, you’re saying that pastors aren’t supposed to struggle with tempatations?

I’m not saying that, but I am saying that this temptation feels weak.

Have you prayed about it, surrendered it, confessed it?

I’m in the process…but I’m feeling like this won’t go away overnight — it’s going to take some hard work of surrender.

All right, I’ve already said too much, and probably bared more of my soul than I intended to in a casual post about getting a new computer.

By the way, did I mention that I ordered it (the new computer) on Wednesday afternoon and it looks like it will be here Monday?

No, you didn’t mention it.

Well I’m mentioning it now. It’s pretty impressive. This will make me sound old, but I remember back in the days where you ordered computers and it took a couple weeks. That makes me sound old. I need to go now.

I had a desert day yesterday and finished off a couple books. Here are some quick takes on 3 books and 1 CD…

Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church: Understanding a Movement and Its Implications — This is the first well-reasoned response to Emergent movement that I’ve read. Of course, full-blooded “emergent types” wouldn’t like it, but D.A. Carson, does a thorough, and in my perspective, fair job of taking postmodern Christians to task. Of course I’m don’t agree with everything Carson says, but it really stimulated my thinking.

To Become One — I planned to read at least one book on marriage this year, I got this one free from RELEVANT. I hated it. In fact, I didn’t even finish. It felt cliched and I had a hard time following the train of thought. It felt disjointed to me.

The Five Temptations of a CEO — I am officially now a Patrick Lencioni disciple. I’ve read all of his leadership fables. I’m a big fan of Patrick — plus he’s doing some consulting with our church, and so I’ve had some interaction, and I really like him.

B Collision [David Crowder Band] — this is a lot like The Lime CD — with some live stuff, some rethought stuff, some remixes etc., except this one is heavy on the bluegrass. Or maybe it’s bluegrass-meets-techno-meets-rock-meets…I don’t know. My recommendation? Borrow it first — you’ll either love it or hate it.

I thought you wanted to buy a Mac for your home computer?

Yeah, I did, but our computer got fried on Sunday and we needed something now.

And your point is?

Two things really, first off, it would have cost more money for the Mac — money we don’t have right now — I wasn’t really planning on buying a computer for another year. And secondly, my wife wasn’t convinced about the whole Mac thing. She hasn’t been enlightened yet.

So are you happy with the Dell or not?

I’m really ambivelent. I did order a much-upgraded machine from the one we had (it was four years old), so I’m glad about that, but I really had my heart set on a Mac. So hopefully in 3 years…sigh…it sends me back to a real spiritual struggle I have with money — and the fact that I want more of it. I’ve been noticing this recently, that I kinda have an obsession about money and wanting more of it. This can’t be helpful or good for my soul.

Have you talked to anyone about it?

In tangential ways, but I’ve never really straight out said it. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve started to put a name to it, and it’s hard. I don’t like looking in the mirror and saying, I’ve got a problem with envy. It doesn’t feel very spriritual or “pastoral.” I mean pastors are supposed to be fulfilled by the doing of “God’s work,” they aren’t supposed to want to be rich.

So, you’re saying that pastors aren’t supposed to struggle with tempatations?

I’m not saying that, but I am saying that this temptation feels weak.

Have you prayed about it, surrendered it, confessed it?

I’m in the process…but I’m feeling like this won’t go away overnight — it’s going to take some hard work of surrender.

All right, I’ve already said too much, and probably bared more of my soul than I intended to in a casual post about getting a new computer.

By the way, did I mention that I ordered it (the new computer) on Wednesday afternoon and it looks like it will be here Monday?

No, you didn’t mention it.

Well I’m mentioning it now. It’s pretty impressive. This will make me sound old, but I remember back in the days where you ordered computers and it took a couple weeks. That makes me sound old. I need to go now.

I had a desert day yesterday and finished off a couple books. Here are some quick takes on 3 books and 1 CD…

Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church: Understanding a Movement and Its Implications — This is the first well-reasoned response to Emergent movement that I’ve read. Of course, full-blooded “emergent types” wouldn’t like it, but D.A. Carson, does a thorough, and in my perspective, fair job of taking postmodern Christians to task. Of course I’m don’t agree with everything Carson says, but it really stimulated my thinking.

To Become One — I planned to read at least one book on marriage this year, I got this one free from RELEVANT. I hated it. In fact, I didn’t even finish. It felt cliched and I had a hard time following the train of thought. It felt disjointed to me.

The Five Temptations of a CEO — I am officially now a Patrick Lencioni disciple. I’ve read all of his leadership fables. I’m a big fan of Patrick — plus he’s doing some consulting with our church, and so I’ve had some interaction, and I really like him.

B Collision [David Crowder Band] — this is a lot like The Lime CD — with some live stuff, some rethought stuff, some remixes etc., except this one is heavy on the bluegrass. Or maybe it’s bluegrass-meets-techno-meets-rock-meets…I don’t know. My recommendation? Borrow it first — you’ll either love it or hate it.

…between aiming in my ministry at the crowds or at the few.

This book title intrigues me: The Wisdom of Crowds: Why the many are smarter than the few and how collective wisdom shapes business, economies, societies and nations.

There’s an undercurrent to the twentysomething generation that seems to insist that everything be niche (of course, MY niche, please), and that if an organization (or church) targets the masses that there are “selling out.”

And yet, shouldn’t I be aiming at the largest target possible?

I know that some will say, “churches shouldn’t be targeting anyone,” but I just don’t buy it. Whether you’re intentional or not, you target someone by how you dress, what time you meet, the music you play, etc. There is no neutral.

Yesterday I went golfing in Pekin with my Dad, Uncle and Chris (back nine only).

Lick Creek is a hard course.

It reminded me that I SUCK!

I stopped keeping score.

(The picture is of #6 — regularly ranked as one of the toughest holes in Central Illinois — it’s a 533 yard par 5 off the whites. Off the blues it’s 586, I think. It’s brutal.)

Usually, one of my favorite things about Relevant Magazine is Cameron Strang’s column First Word. Cameron is the president and founder of Relevant. Anyway, his article in the most recent issue (July_August 2006) is spot on (as the English prefer to say). Here’s just a taste…

After reading the feedback that poured in surrounding a discussion on a recent RELEVANT Podcast, I realized something about our generation that is truly amazing. Did you know we have a gift that has literally bypassed every other generation? One that is so significant, so unique, it affects many of our thoughts and action on a daily basis.

In a nutshell, we’re faultless.

It’s really a wonderful thing being perfect. We know so much more than everyone else, we’re able to spot flaws in almost everything. And, being good stewards of this gift, we make it a point to let others know what we think. Continually.

Several faces of people I’ve encountered came to mind — people who always have an opinion, that is to say, they always feel the need to voice an opinion — often with no mind towards being helpful, useful or constructive.

And then I realized that this is ME — a lot of the time — I’m so quick to judge, quick to point out other people’s faults, quick to question their motives.

And so I apologize. I apologize for being arrogant, for assuming that my way of seeing the world is the best way, of being quick to criticize and slow contribute in meaningful ways.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. Foor in the same say you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Mt. 7:1,2 – TNIV)

…between aiming in my ministry at the crowds or at the few.

This book title intrigues me: The Wisdom of Crowds: Why the many are smarter than the few and how collective wisdom shapes business, economies, societies and nations.

There’s an undercurrent to the twentysomething generation that seems to insist that everything be niche (of course, MY niche, please), and that if an organization (or church) targets the masses that there are “selling out.”

And yet, shouldn’t I be aiming at the largest target possible?

I know that some will say, “churches shouldn’t be targeting anyone,” but I just don’t buy it. Whether you’re intentional or not, you target someone by how you dress, what time you meet, the music you play, etc. There is no neutral.

Yesterday I went golfing in Pekin with my Dad, Uncle and Chris (back nine only).

Lick Creek is a hard course.

It reminded me that I SUCK!

I stopped keeping score.

(The picture is of #6 — regularly ranked as one of the toughest holes in Central Illinois — it’s a 533 yard par 5 off the whites. Off the blues it’s 586, I think. It’s brutal.)

Usually, one of my favorite things about Relevant Magazine is Cameron Strang’s column First Word. Cameron is the president and founder of Relevant. Anyway, his article in the most recent issue (July_August 2006) is spot on (as the English prefer to say). Here’s just a taste…

After reading the feedback that poured in surrounding a discussion on a recent RELEVANT Podcast, I realized something about our generation that is truly amazing. Did you know we have a gift that has literally bypassed every other generation? One that is so significant, so unique, it affects many of our thoughts and action on a daily basis.

In a nutshell, we’re faultless.

It’s really a wonderful thing being perfect. We know so much more than everyone else, we’re able to spot flaws in almost everything. And, being good stewards of this gift, we make it a point to let others know what we think. Continually.

Several faces of people I’ve encountered came to mind — people who always have an opinion, that is to say, they always feel the need to voice an opinion — often with no mind towards being helpful, useful or constructive.

And then I realized that this is ME — a lot of the time — I’m so quick to judge, quick to point out other people’s faults, quick to question their motives.

And so I apologize. I apologize for being arrogant, for assuming that my way of seeing the world is the best way, of being quick to criticize and slow contribute in meaningful ways.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. Foor in the same say you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Mt. 7:1,2 – TNIV)