Rule of Life

As a licensed minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) I have an educational component that I have to complete each year. This year that educational piece was spiritual formation. It was taught by Dr. Tim Hessel-Robinson from Brite divinity school at TCU.

It has been a very good class this year and has challenged me as well as convicted me. I had 3 books to read. Soul Feast, Thirsty for God and Practicing our Faith. As I read them in many ways I felt so insufficient in my spiritual walk. A few years ago as a lay person I was very devoted to reading the bible and doing bible studies and had a rich, full prayer life. As my plate became more full as a part-time pastor I began reading other spiritual books but my bible reading stopped. My prayer life was still there but not as strong.

As time went on and some work challenges increased my reading came to a halt and my prayer life became more random. I've really not been very focused spiritually over the last couple of years.. Throw in a Disciples history class with a ton of reading last year and my spiritual disciplines came to a halt...

Enter spiritual formation class. I knew it was something I needed but my life had a bad routine and it was not something that was going to be easy to get back in to. I didn't even get the first book read before the first class.

This discussions in class were very good. I enjoyed how Tim led each class like a worship service. It made it different and cast a completely different atmosphere over the situation had he not done so. We had 3 classes through the year. The first one focusing on personal spirituality, the second on community (church/SS etc), and the third focused on social engagement (justice etc).

As we moved through the class I was really feeling my spirit drawn back to a set of spiritual disciplines like I used to hang on to a few years ago..but I just wouldn't make the jump.

The last session began with some awesome discussions on earth care. It is to much to discuss here (may blog on it more later) but it gets my heart beating thinking about it again right now. Here are some links..

http://www.greenfaith.org/
http://www.webofcreation.org/
http://www.earthministry.org/
http://renewalproject.org/

So then we go in to the afternoon session and we go back to that first book that I never finished.. called Soul Feast.. and we go to the end and Tim begins discussing a Rule of Life. They discuss it in Chapter 9 of the book. "A rule of life is a pattern of spiritual disciplines that provides structure and direction for growth in holiness."Marjorie Thompson (author) has some examples of rules of life different people have had. Different things that they do. Tim then asks us to put together our own rule of life to begin on Monday..

Dang.. just what I needed and just what I was not prepared to do on my own. Groups of us at tables put together our own rules and discussed them with each other and then we discussed them in the class for all to hear.

This is what I came up with.

Rule of Life for Artie

Daily
Morning
Get up and walk for 30-45 minutes
15 minutes of prayer
15 minutes of reading
clean up and go to work
be sure and listen to some spiritual music during the day.

Evening
30 minutes of reflection/meditation/prayer

Weekly- Some kind of recreation -softball, racquetball, dancing, biking, bowling, hiking, whatever but something that moves and is fun.

Quarterly-
24 hours of silence and fasting
serve at cisc, love inc., or other charitable organization
find something I can change about my life to make it more green and do it daily.

Annually-
Emmaus walk or other spiritual retreat
Mission trip

Tim told us to type it up with fancy letters on nice paper and frame it and post it someplace where we would see it daily...in our office, home etc. He also told us to not make it a burden.. it is a framework to live in to create a rhythm for living and spiritual growth.

He also told us that we should try what we put down for a couple of weeks then tweak it and make sure it works for us.

Well I've been at it for a week so far. It has been hard getting up at 5:00 a.m. and beginning my walk.. I've had some late nights and I've hit the snooze and put me a little behind. I've traded a few minutes of sleep for a few minutes of prayer/meditation a couple of mornings but I know I can also do that on the road with God as well.

The toughest part has been the evening time of reflection/meditation and prayer. Too much going on around the house and too much going on in my life it seems. I may have to re-think this part.. either that or just make it a little shorter but I'm going to work on it for another couple of weeks before I adjust.

I've also got to give myself a little time to get over my jet lag or whatever you want to call it. I get in to a sleepy funk every time we do a time change so this has been much like this.. so it hasn't been easy...but I guess if it was, everyone would do it. Well that sounded kind of arrogant..didn't mean for it too. How about this.. If it were easy it really wouldn't be a sacrifice.

So overall, living in to the rule has been good so far and I'm looking forward to my quarterly activities. I really appreciate the fact that Dr. Hessel-Robinson came and taught our licensed minister classes this year. It was a real blessing. He did a lot to enrich my life and the lives of others in the class.

It also got me walking more...7 1/2 miles last week. Big change from weeks before. Kinda holistic I think.. thanks Tim!! Very much!!

Sunday Morning Worship 5/10/09

Mother's day service.

10:45 Celebration Service
Gathering Music-Revolutionary Love
Enter the Light of Christ

Welcome and Announcements



Praise Music-

Choral Anthem- Simple Praise

My Hope is You
Forever


Prayer Time and Lord's Prayer
Prayer Response



Children's Sermon
Greeting

Worship Music
Handbells

Open the Eyes of My Heart


Scripture Reading-1 John 3: 1-7
Sermon-Only a Mother could Love



Call to Communion
Prayer for Elements
Communion and Offering

Communion Music - Unashamed Love


Invitation to Respond
Invitation Music- Open the Eyes of My Heart

Going Out Music- Revolutionary Love

This is a part of Fred McKinnon's Sunday Set Lists

Sunday Setlist 4/19/09 Youth Sunday

This was a Sunday that was not without it's struggles.. I was out of town during the week so no weekday practice.. It was youth Sunday so youth singing and leading worship..some tech issues with sound.. regular sound guy was cooking fish for the fish fry luncheon we have after every Youth Sunday event.. We had a drummer for the first time in weeks... a new one...trying to blend all that together was a little tenuous... but it all worked well.

Cool thing was my daughter Hannah brought the message. You can see all this at our church website here eventually once it is archived. I was very proud of her..

Below you can see the flow of the service. It was a great day.. our youth did a wonderful job!! You can see how others worshiped our risen Lord here at FredMckinnon.com

Yes...I know there is lots of Crowder... it's OK.. I promise...

Gathering Music (Glory of it All- Crowder)

Enter the Light of Christ (Tyler Day)

Welcome and Announcements (Cory)

Greeting

Children’s Sermon (Lauren Skelton)

Praise Music (PT & youth singers)

O Praise Him(Crowder)

How Great Thou Art(Hine/Baloche)

Call to Communion (Shelby Garcia)

Prayer for Elements (Mariah Melvin)

Communion and Offering

Communion Music (Never Let Go-Crowder)

Worship Music (PT & youth singers)

A Beautiful Collision(Crowder)

Here I Am Lord(Schutte)

Prayer Time and Lord’s Prayer (Scott Skelton)

Scripture (Dylan Goodier)

Sermon (Hannah Anderson)

Invitation to Respond

Invitation Music (Surely We Can Change, Megan Yeager(Crowder))

Benediction/Prayer for Food (Brax Turner)

Going Out Music (How Great Thou Art)

Song set April 12th Easter Sunday!!

Handbells were awesome today.. The choir's arrangement of "He Arose" was great..festive. We had 4 baptisms, the praise team rocked "Here is our King" and " Better is One Day"..it was just a Spirit filled wonderful morning...here's how it went..

Easter Sunday

10:45 AM Celebration Service

Gathering Music – True Religion (Brenton Brown)(Praise Team)

Enter the Light of Christ

Choral Anthem-He Arose

Call to Worship

Welcome and Announcements

Praise Music

Jesus Messiah-(Tomlin, Carson, Reeves, Cash)

Wonderful Cross-(Reeves, Tomlin, Walt, Watts, Mason)

Children’s Sermon (Cory)

Greeting

Worship Song – Here is our King-(David Crowder)

Act of Christian Baptism

Through baptism, we are buried with Christ, that we, like Him, may be raised from the dead to walk in newness of life.

Worship Song – Better is One Day-(Matt Redman)

Prayer Time and Lord’s Prayer (Artie)

Prayer Response (Handbells)

Call to Communion (Mike)

Prayer for Elements

Communion and Offering

New Members’ First Communion

Scripture (Cory)

Sermon (Mike)

Invitation to Respond

Invitation Music – Jesus Messiah

Going Out Music – Jesus Messiah

See how others worshiped our risen Lord here

Song set April 5th, 2009..Palm Sunday

10:45 AM Celebration Service

Gathering Music (King of Glory, Praise Team)(Carr/Avery/Powell/Lee/Anderson)

Enter the Light of Christ

Opening Music (Handbells)

Welcome and Announcements (Artie)

Praise Music

He is Exalted-(Paris)

Sing Alleluia-(Stassen)

Procession of the Palms (Sing Alleluia) – FCC Children

Children’s Sermon (Kathy)

Greeting

Worship Music

King of Glory- (Tomlin/Reeves)

You Alone-(Crowder)

Prayer Time and Lord’s Prayer (Artie)

Prayer Response (possible choral anthem)

Call to Communion (Cory)

Prayer for Elements

Communion and Offering

Sermon (Mike)

Invitation to Respond

Invitation Music - You Alone (Crowder)

Going Out Music -King of Glory (Tomlin/Reeves)

See what other people did for worship here

Sunday Setlist 3/29/09

March 29

Gathering Music (announcements on screen; lighting of candles)

Wholly Yours - Crowder



Welcome to FCC



Teaser (dramatic reading/monologue of portions of Psalms 51 & 32.)



Choral Anthem: "Create in Me a Clean Heart"



Praise Music

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)Tomlin/Giglio/Excell/Reese

Change My Heart, O God-Espinosa

Here I Am, Lord-Schutte



Children's Sermon (Kathy)

Greeting



Worship Music

Open the Eyes of My Heart-Baloche

Pure Heart-Caraway



Prayer (Cory)



Communion/Offering (Kathy - meditation)



Communion Music - Take My Life-Powell, Carr, Avery, Lee, Anderson



Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34 (Artie)



Sermon (Mike)



Invitation - Here I Am, Lord



Postlude - Pure Heart


See other cool Sunday sets here

Sunday Setlist 3/22/09

March 22: Restoration

Prelude (announcements on screen) - Restored (Camp) -Artie Anderson

Enter the Light of Christ

Opening Song- Everything Glorious (Crowder)

Welcome to FCC/Announcements

Youth Ski Trip Video

Praise Music- Take my Life (Holiness) (Underwood)

Enough (Tomlin)

Children’s Sermon (Kathy)

Greeting

Worship Music- Better is One Day (Redman)

- Empty Me (Way/Comer)

Prayer Time & LP (Mike)

Prayer Response

Communion/Offering (choir - It is Well) (Artie at Table)

Sermon– Cory w/Youth (scripture embedded: 2 Samuel 7:1-16)

Invitation- Enough

Going Forth- Everything Glorious

Check out other cool Sunday Setlists done today here

CC (DOC) NEA CYF/Chi Rho Mid Winter..

Just some memories of CC(DOC) NEA CYF Chi Rho Mid Winter Audio sucks but I hope you can pick up the energy... we had a great time leading the kids but I also had a great time worshiping with them and the band.. It was so free and open and uplifting. It was so much fun and so much a sabbath.. as little sleep as we got (the band) it was great just hanging out and visiting. What a great weekend. I look forward to doing it again someday!!

Worship Confessional 10/19/08

CYLS last update..

some insight t0 my morning routine while I was at camp...

One of my video's evaporated..There was one more that would have been at the beginning of this video but it was just showing my phone as it goes off in the morning @ 6 and that explains the odd commentary at the beginning of this video.. Overall it was a great week. I was so blessed to be there and I hope that I was a blessing to others..

CYLS Region Rep Installation

Friday night Hannah was installed as a region rep for the Southwest Region of Christian Youth Leadership Council in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).. I like typing all of that.

Anyway.. it's an awesome honor to be called to such a leadership role.. servant leadership role.

This has been a huge..magnificent week spiritually and this really capped it off. Wonderful. Video isn't the greatest but it's all I had..

CYLS Installment 3-a Hannah eats cereal..

Hannah eats cereal at CYLS Tuesday morning.

CYLS Installment#2-b

Yesterday morning the council asked the campers to take a post-it note and do a spiritual doodle in regards to where they saw God or just how the spirit spoke to them..

In the afternoon they turned in their post it notes.

Last night in worship we sang In the Secret, O Praise Him and Rain Down...

Rev. Verzola law brought a wonderful message building on the Phillipians 3 message. We needed to get past our weaknesses and our brokenness and realize what we an do. We then transitioned in to an anointing with mud..yes a cross was placed on our foreheads in mud in that we are of the dirt and God will take what we are and who we are and do wonderful things.



We closed with "You're Everything" by Crowder and this was unveiled.. beautiful...

CYLS Installment #2-a..And what is was was

Randomball

CYLS installment #1..

This week I'm at CYLS.. as I stated earlier. It's Tuesday morning as I type this..almost lunch time.

The video stuff has been driving me nuts trying to get Family Reunion stuff edited and uploaded and to also video stuff from camp... but it's time to give you all an update.

We arrived late Sunday evening to meet with all the leaders that planned and arranged all the activities for this event. We went to eat and Humphrey Pete's and it was some good food but we were there a loooooooong time. After all day at family reunion on Saturday and then up bright and early for church on Sunday it was wearing me down...so thenwe went to Wal-Mart to get stuff.

Then we came together and had a brief meeting to get spiritually focused and ready for the next day..then to bed.

Monday was a day of set up for all, making posters, doing decorations, setting up sound, lights, AV etc. it was a good day.. not gremlins...yet.

All the students started arriving and registration was done then there were opening ceremonies some activities and evening worship.

Opening rocked.. these kids were pumped and getting after "No One Like You" and "Every Move".

When we came back for worship we re-visited No One Like You, then did Not to us.. not as well received but still rocked out pretty well and then Revolutionary Love.. the kids blew me away.. they sang it like they loved it.. I guess there are a few Crowder Heads here.

We then had a responsive reading that was focused on challenging us to be the church that we were meant to be...a brief prayer lead by a student leader and we went it to "A Beautiful Collision".. they loved it.. got great feedback later on how much they loved it..they were in to it.. I spoke of Christ's arrival on this earth was the collision of His perfection and love with our sin and weakness... then transitioned it to the fact that God loves us how we are and for who we are but he does not want us to remain languishing in our weakness and we have to seek that out and turn them over to him.. then lead it to "Search and Know" by Todd Wright... and Todd, they sung it like they loved it. Either they all have your CD or the could just feel it. I think that leads back to something I said about the CD a long time ago.. it feels good.. it feels comfortable.. they picked it up immediately and were pouring it out. It was awesome. I transitioned straight in to "Lay it Down" by Dave Lubbin. They were in to it.. all the way.

The keynote speaker is Rev Verzola Law and let me just say she transitioned in to some pretty spiritual and energetic prayer with the end of that song..hands raised.. hearts open..she was praying.. I was playing and singing.. Oh my.. it will me a moment I will remember forever. It was awesome. The word was brought.. students were giving an opportunity to lay down their burdens in sand.. to wash their hands.. and to receive communion before going in to a night of silence... Wow..

I was spent and overjoyed at the same time. We had a brief meeting with some powerful prayer then off to bed.

This morning started with students pouring out their feelings via sidewalk chalk drawings.. then breakfast then morning session...It was mostly fun and energetic songs and camp "energizers".. Star Trekkin.. .look it up.
Announcemenets...

Rain Down by Crowder and Pick it Up by PlanetShakers.. pretty fun.

Rev Law brought a message that was challenging and eye opening.. and then on to..In the Secret.. it was perfect for the Phillipians message.. then off to take pics.. its time for workshops and planning and I have some down time to do this..

A snippit of Disciple History..

DISCIPLES NEWS SERVICE: In 1807 Thomas Campbell had immigrated to America. He left his eldest son, Alexander, in charge of the rest of the family and all their belongings. Once Thomas was settled, the family was to follow the next year.
And that is just what they attempted to do. In 1808, Alexander, all the Campbell family, and all their 'stuff' boarded a ship bound for the land of freedom. The journey lasted only ten days before the ship, caught in a storm, ran into the rocky coast off Scotland and wrecked. Alexander fished his family, his books, and himself out of the cold salty water and made his way to shore.
But, what at first seemed like a set-back was another of God's blessings in disguise. Since winter was setting in, it was now impossible for the Campbells to make the trek to America. Instead, they spent about one year in Scotland where Alexander was able to continue his education (entering the University of Glasgow) and to continue his personal pilgrimage of faith.
He had been started well on his theological journey by tutelage from his father Thomas. Now, he had the opportunity to intensely study the scriptures and to inquire of the great minds of history, and the University, on exactly how to interpret what God intended for us to hear in the sacred pages.
Interestingly, 1809 proved a banner year for both Thomas and Alexander. Separated by an ocean, the two were knitted together in thought and revelation. Thomas would pen his "Declaration and Address," showing that Christ's Church is a unified whole and realize he was reaching the end of his walk with Presbyterians. Alexander, among other things, would discover that he, too, had come to the end of his journey among Presbyterians.

In those days, on Sundays when Presbyterians were to celebrate communion (for it was not an every Sunday event), each communicant was examined by an elder to make sure that he or she was sinless enough to receive the meal from Christ's table. Once the elder was satisfied, a little silver token was given that could be exchanged for the elements during the Lord's Supper.
On that Sunday in 1809, in Glasgow, 21 year old Alexander Campbell was absolutely sure that God did not require that little token. So, he came to the table, dropped the silver piece down, and turned and walked away. In that moment, he abandoned one faith journey in order to start another. The journey of a Disciple. It was a journey he remained on for the rest of his life. And a journey that we are on still.

ME: I just got this in today.. I thought it would be cool to share this snippit of my church's history with you. No doubt, it took great bravery to step away in that moment. To make that decision and express it in such a way at a place that is so treasured by our church today. The table... which is open to all believers. I know we are not the only open table... but it is the centerpiece of our worship every week. It is a joy to celebrate it each week. Not doubt the story above is an igniting spark of what would become the Stone-Campbell movement. The origin of our church (and others).

Stewardship Stimulus Package

I received an email from The Disciples News service... it's news about things going on my church as a whole.. That would be the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

It was a real kick in the head for me.... more later...

I know everyone has been talking about what they were going to do with their "George Bush" money. Some are buying new cool things (I'm pretty sure that was the main point of the whole deal right?) Flat screen TV's, Tires, Gas, etc. etc. I know some that are just getting rid of the debt that they have built up over time trying to get their budgets back in line because of the new wacked out fuel costs we are all dealing with.

Me? Ever since I've known about the economic stimulus package coming out I have known that I was going to buy oldfart's Larrivee' guitar. He hasn't played it much and it is in beautiful condition. It is so much easier to play than my Takamine and sounds infinitely better. It's a cutaway too..ooohhh that's cool.. not that I ever go that far down on the neck.. Every now and then I do but I'm such a "basic" guitar player most of my chords are played within the first 3 frets.... Anyway.. beautiful guitar... that's where a chunk of my George Bush money is going. What is oldfart doing with my GW money? Paying off bills.

I've also got to pay for an air condition repair job that was done at the house.. Now that's sexy isn't it?? Yawn yawn. Boring, boring, boring... I came I saw I bored.. paying for home repairs.

There's still a little left. I was going to pay off a bill or something. Probably will put some of that money on a credit card but then....

The kick in the head.....

In the email from the Disciples News Service it talks about the Stewardship Stimulus Package... Several ways to put a portion of our GW money to good work stimulating the economy of those that have nothing.. or very little. Or perhaps helping with new church plants, helping your own church with needed purchases or help pay for a pastor to go to pastors week.

The article talks about how DOC's all across America would be receiving in total around $450,000,000 in stimulus $$$ That would amount to $45,000,000 if members of the DOC church would tithe that GW money.

I was convicted.. I will be giving 10% to do God's work in this world. I will probably direct it to new church starts. I see it as the best way to reach the unchurched and I still hope to participate in another church start some day.

So, what are you going to do? I'm not asking you to funnel your GW money through my church. I am challenging you to put a little of this economic stimulus package to work for others in need....

So.... what are you doing with your GW $$$? Let me know.