Directions 2.0

A couple weeks ago I went to Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, where Rob Bell is the teaching pastor.

If you’ve seen andy of the NOOMA videos, then you know who Rob Bell is.

Well, he preached the first in a six-part series called “Directions 2.0“. This series lays out the basic core values and directions that Mars Hill is going.

I was hooked.

Every Wednesday since I get online and jump to their site and listen to the newest message. Something you might want to do as well…

TobiasNeal.com

Well a trial run of my personal website is up and running at www.tobiasneal.com. I purchased the domain name yesterday, and eventually if I stick with it, want this site to be where my blog(s), art, family updates, etc are…you know, a personal website…check it out.

Bell’s Oberon Ale

“It Will Change Your Life” or so I was told. I had a chance to try some of Kalamazoo’s finest, and although it wasn’t exactly “life changing” it certainly was some of the best ale I have ever consumed! It is seasonally brewed by Kalamazoo Brewing Company.

On its own it is fantastic, and has a great taste that you have to experience for yourself to describe, but evidently when you add an orange twist…

(disclaimer: I am not promoting the use of an alcoholic beverage if it is against your conscience to use such. The usage of alcohol as a beverage is clearly Biblical, while cultural misgivings and personal background allow for abstenence, thus conscience can be affected one way or another. If you have questions about what I believe the Bible to say concerning this subject you can look through this blog (I have written on it many times), or you can e-mail me and ask. God bless, Toby)

RITA is Coming!

Guys, everything I am reading about H. Rita is BAD, BAD, BAD…!!!!

We need to PRAY!

If you’re reading this, STOP and PRAY for these people! God have mercy…

SOLD!

Well, just got the call today. The interested buyers have agreed to our counter offer, and so our house is about to be sold…awesome, scarry, weird, and great!

Inspections…

Title company closing stuff…

Yippy!

Now to the next leg of the adventure for us…what to do next?

Update on the House Selling Adventure

Went in yesterday to Bill Blaker’s Reality to put our counter offer in writing. Basically what’s going on is the people who put the offer in want the house, and I guess will buy when they see our counter offer in writing. They are accepting our counter offer, basically!

Wow.

There are at least 20 homes for sale in the Vanderbilt area. In a village of 500 people, that’s a lot. Our house isn’t the most desireable one, but it’s selling! Two Weeks After We Put it on the Market through Bill Blaker Reality!!

That’s a miracle.

Our plans are: renting something month by month in the area so we can get out easily if we find a house we want to buy or so we can get out in the spring so we can build (which would be ideal).

Stay tuned.

Offer on our house!

Hey we have an offer on our hourse! Sweet! We had it for sale “by owner”…

…wait, a sec, I have to tell you this: When I first moved to Texas, I saw this car for sale on the side of the road and the sign read (I kid you not):

FOUR SAL
ONE ONER

Seriously

Anyway, we had six calls, but no offers. We ended up going with a local realtor who is generous to pastors and willing to help us out (what realitor isn’t, right?). Two weeks later…an offer!

We are praying that this is God’s answer to our prayers.

We need to get into something better for Carrina to survive the winter this winter. Please don’t worry…we are looking for something local (Gaylord, Vanderbilt area) to rent. We are going to rent until spring or until the right house comes along. We might build in the spring.

So, be praying this sale goes through. We counter offered with an offer we think they will take. It’s in God’s hands (always has been).

A Safe Place

Sorry I haven’t been blogging with regularity these days (how many people are really concerned or care please raise your hand…none? Okay, good). I have been blogging on another site, though, so that has consumed some of my blogging creativity.

I have created a “safe place” for me to blog through some of my feelings, concerns, questions, doubts, fears and thoughts concerning the Scriptures, doctrine, church, etc. I believe this is more and more necessary for those in positions of leadership.

What? You didn’t think we had such things as concerns, feelings, questions, doubts, fears etc?

That’s is exactly why I needed to create this space. I know in the past I have offended some with things I have written from my heart. I don’t apologize for the offense, per se, because how can you look at a guy opening his heart and walk away offended – take it for what it is, please. But, I have learned that these things are better said elsewhere for the good of the whole.

This does not proclude you from still praying for me, etc. Nor will this keep from from talking about things that are near and dear to my heart. You know me to well to know that will happen!

What A Weekend!

Just got back from a great weekend in Grand Rapids/Muskeegon!

Here’s the quickie on how it went/what I did….

Sunday
- Left from Vandy around Oneish, stopped by my mom-in-law to drop off some things. Always nice to see her & Frank!

- Got to GR early (beat my bro there by about 30 minutes) so I went to Phil’s to hang out. Jim was there (cool) as was a lot of Pamie’s bro’s and sis’s. Visited for a few, and watched the season opener of the Lions. (Phil ended up coming with me to Mars Hill, traitor)

- Picked up my bro from his apt. and we went to Mars Hill Bible Church. Met the Keesh and Michael there (Keesh’s cool friend). The Ricker met us there as well.

My take on my experience at Mars Hill…WORSHIP wow

- Spoke to Rob Bell afterward about his book, Velvet Elvis, and I think I made a lasting impression on him (ask me about it, it was funny). Real good guy, and a guy that I think I would have a BLAST hanging out with – we’d have each other in stitches, no doubt!

- Back to Phil’s for Lion’s game. Krysta was supposed to tape it, which she did, but forgot to rewind it, so we missed the game (taped) and watched the Raven’s Colts game (still don’t know who won…) and plowed some cheap pizza.

- Stayed at my bro’s apt. We talked till 3 and got down to some nitty gritty about life, God, Jesus, our family, each other, it was…necessary, revealing, exciting, and helpful (one more…hopeful).

Monday
- Got woken up by a cell-call from Terry wanting to know where the conference was being held…conference, what conferen…oh, crap! I got up and got my rear in gear, made it about 30 minutes early and spent some good time with Terry before hand (which was providencial considering he had to leave afterward – we were supposed to go out for dinner and talk “church” stuff).
- Conference was a blast! “It was soooo reeal, and it added sooo much to the conversation…” (Corey is the only one who will appreciate how this is written – keep it real, bro!)

Conference Info
First Speaker – Brian McLaren, (author and teaching pastor)who walked us through the transition into postmodern thought and how it has affected the church. Sweet power point and presentation, very helpful in solidifying things I know and am learning.
Second Speaker – Michael Wittmer, (author and seminary instructor)who, although had an overall good and helpful critique of the Emerging Movement (?), was contradictory in parts, and mainly wanted to get to the end so he could defend everything with his Calvanistic pretisesors, who happened to be…Luther?
Lunch – Yes, it qualifies to be mentioned – Conerstone puts on a nice spread.
Third Speaker – Ed Dobson, (pastor) spoke on his view of pastoral ministry, how it was shaped, and how it played out in his 18 years of ministry (he is terminal ill and is resigning this Sunday). He could preach, too! Wow. Good message. Biased. Helpful reminders to “boxout” but you need more than “boxing out” to win a championship (ask me about my opinion on this sometime),
Fourth Speaker – Brian McLaren, who didn’t really get to speak to much because he was “generiously” dealing with all the crit and ?’s he got from the other two speakers, and I thought, did a great job of not saying, “I would love to respond but your inconsistences prevent me frombeing able to” (which is what I would have done). He truly is a gracious man, and I believe, is concerned about the questions, and wants to find out the answers.

Enough conference stuff…

- Corey and I went back to his place, he grilled ribs, Ricker came over (and almost got lost, again), and we ate like pigs…only, it was weird, because there was this vegetarian kid there, and he ate some salad with us while were were going “caveman” on the sweet ribs! It was funny. He laughed. Evidently, he’s already over come two stages of lukemia and some other form of cancer. Powerful story.

- Played some cards with Corey, Keelie, V, Ricker and Keith and Amy. I won. I kicked butt. Heads up between me and Corey. He went all in on a pair of 10’s, Ace high. I had King Queen suited (hearts). 10, Jack was on the table. All I need was a Q, K, A, or 9 to beat him. I had been luck once that night already. I called. 9 on the River…Game over.

- Watched the downfall of the mighty Eagles. Boooo

Tuesday
- Got up early (again) went to the Zondervan breakfast. Wasn’t as cool as I thought. Got 6 books free, though. Brian McLaren and Rob Bell spoke, answering questions about life, ministry and their books.

- Corey and I headed back to Muskeegon, encouraging each other by letting each other know how “ummm, rreeeal” we are, etc. We also had an awesome convo about some deeper things about us.

- Went to Barnes & Nobles and got some Starbucks, and walked around looking at history books (Corey point out several that would help me I have NO CLUE when it comes to history – example: “You should check out this book 1776 by …” “Why, what happened in 1776?”) We met the head of the Bible department in the Christian school Corey teaches at – Jerry was his name, nice guy, reads fantasy/sci-fi fiction (he has to be cool!).

- Went back to Corey’s to pack and head out. Keesh was there. We decided to hit some Subway before I left. We had a BLAST in Subway! Corey said to me latter that the next time I come down Carrina will have to come because I am to “unfiltered” without her around! What does that mean?

- Wasn’t paying attention when I hit GR and went the wrong way, had to turn around, which took some time off, but I made up for it…hit Judi & Franks on the way back through to pick up the tiller, tomatoes and a tent (how do you like those three “t”s?). Gonna till the garden up here soon, Carrina will be canning the matoes, and Joshua and I are going to spend one night here soon in the tent out in the back yard (awesome).

- When I got home we went out to eat – nope, not because my family was celebrating my return, but because we had a realitor showing our house around dinner time! Sweet! I told the Lord we’d love to have it sold right away before winter – knowing, he can arrainge for that to happen!

And that was my packed weekend. Got some needed shut-eye last night and am ready for this new day! It’s great to be home. Honestly, I have LOVED my times down in GR with my old friends and it has always been a refreshing getaway for me!

Neon Deion

Deion wants all pros to donate $1K to Katrina relief

The rich’s spare change should go a long way…

This, to me, ranks right up there with Patrick Ewing saying during the NBA hold-out in the 1998-99 season, “How do you expect us to live on 481,000$ per year?”

Why shouldn’t Deion ask all pros to donate 10K to Katrina relief? What’s 10K to Deion? Lebron James? Shaq’a only making 30M this year, Deion, you should ask him to 30K!

Hey, isn’t Deion retired…? No? Well, he needs to.

Open Letter to Pat Robertson

Dear Mr. Pat Robertson,

I am writing this to introduce you to a friend of mine that may be able to help you both to get out of the mess you have made and to never get in it again. He will probably help you help others not to make the mistakes you’ve made as well.

My friend’s name is Jesus.

No, not the Jesus you know; he’s different. Evidently, the Jesus you know would actually prompt you to say and do the things you say and do. Not the Jesus I want to introduce to you. He would never advice you say what you said. In fact, he would never want you to think such a thing. (He’s really into how you think, too!) See, my friend Jesus lives by this Creed, and wants others who know him to as well. His Creed: “Love God with all that you are, and love your neighbor just like you would yourself.” In fact, you follow Jesus by loving God and loving others.

See, Pat, that would mean a huge change in your thinking and actions, because the Jesus you know evidently wants you to love “God” and try to love others the way you wouldn’t want to be loved. The Jesus you know seems more concerned with reforming America back to its “Christian” roots that he is with following his own Creed.

That’s why I wanted you to meet the real Jesus. Well, actually, he wants to meet you. He knows the mess you have made, and how it’s given him, his Creed, and his followers a bad rap. He’s not thrilled with it, but he’s the bigger man, and knows people will get past it – even though it will be tough. In fact, he’s pretty good at cleaning up our messes.

Jesus wants to know you, and for you to know him, and for you to give up your agenda, assimilations, and assasinations, and follow his Creed: love God and love others by following him.

So, would you be willing to meet him? Soon? Give him a call – he’s always available to talk to people who want to know him.

Sincerely,

Toby Neal

First Day of School

Well, I just waved goodbye to my son. For good. He left for his first day of school. Tomorrow he will be graduating from high school. The next day he will be married. The next, I will be a grandparent. It’s over. Or is it just beginning….?

I didn’t cry, but I wanted to. Strange are the emotions of a parent. The love that you feel and know for your kids is amazing. I hope he does well. Okay, so it’s just pre-school, but still.

Happy Birthday Alaina!

My daughter is 3 today! Wow, hard to believe. Time goes so quickly it seems. (“Days go by”)

- This is Alaina when she was 1 year/4 months old.

This is Alaina when she was 2 years/4 months old!