GOSPEL :: FAMILY :: MISSION
My daughter, Faith, is a music lover. Well our entire family is full of music lovers. My dad is a drummer and he actually has his own radio program that broadcasts a mix of bluegrass across the world daily. My mom loved country, rock and roll and blues music so I was raised on the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimmy Hendrix, The Doors, Janice Joplin, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.
Last week as we studied John 4:1 – 15, we outlined 4 different barriers to becoming a Christ encountering people. We learned that barriers like the barrier of place, or the barrier of person, or the barrier of resource, or the barrier of thirst can all be hindrances to becoming a people who encounter Christ.
Right now as I write, one of my daughters’ cars is sitting in our driveway broken. A few days ago we realized the rear break pads were bad and needed repaired. And what began as a routine maintenance repair in the driveway quickly snowballed into finding more broken things under the broken things. The break pads were shot. The rotors were bad. The emergency break inside the rotors were falling apart. And now a caliper needs replaced too. The parts we need are back-ordered and the funds needed to make further repairs are running low. And so we wait. I detest the word “wait”.
This is a historical day for us. Exactly five years ago on this day, Christy and I gathered together with 4 other adults on a park bench here in Hastings to begin planting The Well. We had no church name, no church building, no discipleship strategy and no money in the bank. We didn’t even have a bank account yet!
Right off the bat I have to admit that I’m not the best with rest. I’m a worker and an extrovert and my emotional position or identity within my family growing up was developed within a hard working, perfectionistic, survival mode of operation.
In his book “Pastor: A Memoir” Eugene Peterson says that “Not much transfers from other vocational roles to who we are, what we do.” The book as a whole really resonated with me but this line from the afterword especially caught my attention as he masterfully described the uniqueness of the role of pastor and I must admit that I often struggle with recognizing when I am slipping into an identity crisis. When I am slipping into being formed more by what’s on the outside rather than what’s on the inside.
Old westerns are some of my favorite movies (along with mob movies but that’s another post). From a very young age my mom helped me to develop a love for Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, Roy Rogers, The Lone Ranger, Big Valley, Wagon Train… and the list is endless because there is a million mile long collection of good old westerns to pick from.
My dad has always been Papa to me. Ever since I can remember, my sister and I always called him Papa. I’m not sure if that’s because we’re Italian or not but it’s just how I’ve always known my dad.
I have a deep affection for mafia movies. I’m sure someone will take issue with this. A pastor who has a deep appreciation for mob movies? This just can’t be right. Right? Nevertheless… part of the reason I enjoy mob movies is because I’m part Italian, I’m the only grandson to carry the Italian family name forward to the next generation and because my grandfather introduced me to mob movies at a young age telling me that this was a good way to understand part of my heritage.
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