Tom Squared

"Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I'll handle the works department." Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show my faith apart from my works… that seamless unity of believing and doing – what counted with God? The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse. (James 2.18, 2.25-26 - The Message ) I often think about doing community just to do community, with no ulterior motive. I still think we need to do community without any overt motive. People can see a motive a mile away and be turned off by it. But, maybe embracing your motive isn't such a bad thing… When I walk down the street and make friends with a stranger, there's no motive. It's simple care for the person I am meeting and a desire to get to know them better. Over time we can begin talking about faith, but my purpose is to express the love I hav...

Lately I've been wondering if it's possible to get a used car with incredibly good gas mileage. So far I doubt it. Between my drives to Maryland and back (about 3 hours a day) I have come up with one solid conclusion though. When it comes to companies which consistently report the best real-world miles per gallon from actual drivers, Volvo must lead this list, and not by a little bit. Bear with me and I'll explain. I've heard all growing up that by balancing your driving habits you'll get better gas mileage. That if you accelerate and decelerate quickly, you use more gas than if you just pick a speed and stick with it. You can also save gas by driving a little bit slower, with a sweet spot between 50 and 60mph. From driving for a bunch of years, and so you know it's exacting research which cannot be questioned, I can guaranty you a Volvo driver will be sitting in the middle or left lane of a freeway going 50 or 55mph. They get out into the road and make a...

Sometimes I just see stuff that brings me out of my own life and gets me thinking. I just have to wonder what was going through their heads. I wish I'd had a camera to really capture those moments. Going down Rt. 7 in Sterling there's a stretch of grass dividing the lanes. So you have 3 lanes of busy traffic, a grassy stretch, then another 3 lanes of traffic. If you aren't familiar with the area, it's pretty busy with cars whizzing past. In the middle of all these cars and hustle is one couple, standing in the median, looking at each-other and holding hands. Two people in their own island of tranquility, with the fast life surrounding them in front and behind. They may have been talking about how great their lives are or one may be telling the other that the relationship has to end. They may be living the rest of their lives together, enjoying the comfort of one-another, or they may be giving up and getting ready to jump in front of traffic together and end it all...

As I continue going through Hebrews, I came across this line. "Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out" Hebrews 10.22-25 (The Message) What struck me is that he didn't say, "Let's see how inventive we can be to convert people" or even "Let's see how inventive we can be to get the word of Jesus out." There's more of a missional focus where we need to encourage others to love one another, and we need to help out, in unique and inventive ways. Through being inventive and doing things differently from everyone else, with no agenda besides expressing our love for others, people will talk. We can spread His word through our actions. If the church is having a hard time brining in new people, I think it's a good sign that we aren't focusing on the right thing. We may have the best Worship service in the world, or even the best children's program. But unless we are spending out days out in the ...

I came across this quote by Mark Batterson . Most of us are educated way beyond our level of obedience . We don't need more information . We need more transformation . We need to stop explaining what people already understand . A little less explanation. A lot more exhortation . I have been reading the New Testament each day one message keeps coming up again and again. Live . Go out into the world and change lives through Christ. People know about God. People know about Christ. Our primary purpose isn't to educate. We're here to transform the people around us for the rest of their lives, both here on earth and afterward. Our purpose is to talk about how Christ has changed our lives, and bring his Love to everyone. Peace, +Tom

Here is one thing I heard tonight at the FCA meeting… From a teenager (and yes, he was talking to me). Hey kid, what's your name? I really do still look 16 I guess. Though my body sure doesn't agree right now. And in our house recently. Tom: Colin's eyes look like... Erin: An Alien? Tom: Haha, they do ! But I was going to say that psychotic Betazed on Voyager who was killing people until Tuvok's mind meld and he later saved the ship… Ensign Suitor I think. As a bit of explanation, when we mean Colin looks like an alien, I don't mean he's all green with a big head. But man, if you look at his eyes, they are just pitch black. That along with the wrinkled eyes and wrinkly face… We definitely have an alien on our hands. Back to the DNA test lab again! I kind of like these. What seems to be said in my life shows just how ridiculous it is. Man I'm blessed. Peace, +Tom

I just got back from an awesome night. I was honored to be asked to come to Park View and speak at their Fellowship of Christian Athletes group. These people are just amazing. Lauren, one of their sponsors is just great. All of the teens who showed up were outgoing and really ready to have fun. I'll step back for a second. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a bunch of people who are semi-interested in sports and just get together to huddle, talk, pray and just bond together. Every month they have a big "game" event. They invite people from all around, both Christian and not, to play a game and introduce them to FCA. I really hope they bring in some more people, though the core group seemed pretty amazing on their own. Apparently they were discussing this meeting and asked me to come speak. I haven't mentioned it before mainly because this is the first time I've talk to people outside of church and didn't want to sound like I was the only person w...

I tell you, this parenting stuff is exhausting. I completely understand why they give even fathers 10 some time off. I mean, just today: I was up in the middle of the night once to change Colin's diaper. Thankfully I could sleep in for about 40 minutes to make up for being up 5 minutes changing his diaper. I ended up playing Zelda for about 4 or 5 hours. I think my eyes are going to fall out of my head. Sheesh, how do parents handle this? Exhausting I say. Peace, +Tom

Here's something I've been thinking about a LOT over the past three or four months. I think that life, real life, happens in the margins (though I prefer calling them the fringes). Then I read about The Last to Believe in Easter , again by Willimon. He said: Here is a God who tends to work the margins rather than the center, who does not limit divine revelation to the "in crowd." I think this is going to become increasingly evident to the world. In this quote Willimon is referring to women in ministry, but I think the Margin is about more than just individuals. It applies to the way we live. When I spend my days following the common path, going along with the norm, the expected happens. Days move on, pretty much the same. Life is safe, you rarely get hurt and you feel comfortable. The problem is that living this way never allows you to grow. There's a family in our church who recently began spending every Easter morning by going to the sunrise service on th...

I can only think of one word to describe our Easter service at St. Matthew's today… RIDICULOUS I don't mean just a little out there, or even unbelievable. It was crazy ridiculous. Here are a few reasons: The energy of the music was crazy Fireworks during the sermon BUT (ridiculous, especially since the fireworks acted unexpectedly) The quality of the music was at about the same level of a concert 200 people clapping after every song Prayers of salvation and accepting Jesus Christ as our savior (ridiculous for us Episcopalians) Hundreds of Easter eggs hidden around the grounds Did I mention the music? Seriously, everything came together in what has to be the best church service I've ever attended. Simply… Ridiculous. I wish you could have shared it. For those of you who took part, you were absolutely amazing. HAPPY EASTER! The Lord Is Risen, Alleluia! +Tom

I've been reading more from William H. Willmon and have found two posts to be particularly moving today. The first is a relation of growth to the age of a church . Kirk Hadaway suggests that as young churches mature, they tend to "bottom out" and stop growing after about two decades of growth. In other words, even new congregations have a "window of opportunity" for significant growth that may last for 10 or 15 years. Why do new churches tend to grow more rapidly than older churches? It could be, Hadaway notes, that new churches are more flexible and open to change; growth-producing ideas can be put more quickly into practice; innovative leaders are allowed to lead; rapid adjustments can still be made to changing circumstances; and friendship networks have not yet solidified, allowing for easy acceptance of new members. Keeping this in mind, look at this other post about Maintenance or Mission . Some of the particular items that struck me were: 1. In measuring...

I wish I could say the best Website ever was my design. But it's not. Not yet anyway, though Erin is redesigning the church Website sometime, then it'll get awards from all over the globe! Anyway, I came across Miranda July's Web site, and I have to say, this thing is awesome. She has one thing to promote, and keeps you on a linear path that gives you a personal relationship with her. I think I WILL buy a yellow and a pink to color-co-ordinate! It's freakishly long, and somewhat slow loading. At the same time, it's so worth sticking through. And definitely go to the end, past the black page. Her main Web site is nice and clean too. Peace, +Tom

If you ever wondered whether God had a sense of humor, this past winter makes it clear that he must. I mean, even this past week, we left the hospital one day to find 85 degree weather. Today it's snowing. Seriously, God must know how to mess with someone's mind. Peace, +Tom

I was finally catching up on reading blogs (can you believe it, 170 posts in 4 days). I came across this story from William H. Willmon . A story: A man died. He had not lived the most worthy of lives, to tell the truth. In fact, he was somewhat of a scoundrel. He therefore found himself in Hell, after his departure from this life. His friends, concerned about his sad, though well-deserved fate, went down to Hell, and moved by the man's misery, rattled those iron gates, calling out to whomever might be listening, "Let him out! Let him out!" Alas, their entreaties accomplished nothing. The great iron doors remained locked shut. Distinguished dignitaries were summoned, powerful people, academics, intellectuals, prominent personalities. All of them stood at the gates and put forth various reasons why the man should be let out of his place of lonely torment. Some said that due process had not been followed in the man's eternal sentence. Others appealed to Satan's sens...

Today we brought Colin home. He's doing great! He's lost a bit of weight and was at 5 lbs. 10 oz. (losing about 8 ounces). They aren't too worried, but we'll be going to the pediatrician a day early. He's eating awesomely now, and I have to say I expect breastfeeding to rock (since I can't do it overnight, I get to sleep… Anyway, here are some things heard around the house today. Daddy: Baby Colin is going to come home with us today. He's going to be with us forever. Rachel: Forever?... … … Oh. Or, as Rachel was in her rocking chair: Grandma Candy: Has Rachel ever rocked so hard she's fallen backward? Erin: Nope. BANG Rachel goes falling backward in the chair. Don't worry though, she hopped right back up and rocked so hard she almost did it again. Then there was: Daddy: This morning Winnie went into Rachel's room and woke her up at 6:30. Mom: Ugh. Daddy: I can't wait until Rachel can turn the knob and leave the room, so we can close it ...

In case you're wondering, I'm moving the blog. For the time being I'm posting to both blogs, since Word makes this so simple. Blogger supports posting images where Wordpress strips something out and doesn't allow me to post images from Word nor let me add my own tracking or RSS feeds. While Wordpress has never been down, all the other limitations irk me enough, since Blogger has a far stronger user following and the new version hasn't been down yet. So, I'm switching back, but doing it intelligently…. I've finally gotten a domain name ( a few really). Check it out at http://www.tlbignerd.com/ . Peace, +Tom

Today has been one of those incredibly great days you remember for a very long time. This was one of those days where you get to see God working in the details. To be fair, yesterday God was sure working the details. Colin coming into the world was a miracle I'll never forget. Today was an awesome follow-on to that. Without going into too many details, a friend of my brothers' failed to pay rent, took $4,000 (this goes back to my surprise that you can cancel a certified check months later), neglected to pay back a loan and (possibly) stole from him. Being in the hole a bit we had no idea where help was going to come from. So… Jim won his court case. A friend of his convinced him to sue Aaron for the money they never paid him in rent and the loan they never paid back. He went onto the show Judge Joe Brown , and apparently Aaron and his girlfriend made complete asses of themselves (thankfully I can finally say asses without Rachel overhearing me). Apparently the judge wa...

I promised pictures of Colin , and they're up on Flickr. I hear I have more coming from family, but I can't seem to get at them yet. So here are a couple. Don't ask why they aren't included in this post, the short answer is that Wordpress is far, far, far too limiting unless you host it yourself and I'll be switching blog providers AGAIN soon. Peace, +Tom

For real this time! I have called (almost) everyone on my calling tree. Next on my list was Jess, but then my phone died (sorry Jess, but it keeps with the tradition of learning about the baby from the blog). To make it up to you, we'll give you final naming rights… Well, not really. So, here are all the details! Born around 4:10 (none of us are completely sure of the exact time. 6 pounds 1 ounce (btw, I won a bet on this, the OBGYN guessed 6 ½ lbs, Erin guessed 6lbs. 11oz. I guessed 6lbs. 6oz. Gutsy I know, guessing a size smaller than the birth mother's guess). 19 inches (no bets in this case, I guess everyone was afraid I'd put them to shame again). Beyond that, we are all very, very well. Erin was laughing and chatting afterward. Colin is eating semi-well (better than Rachel, but that's not saying much). Rachel came and couldn't get enough of holding Colin. She would "share" and let a family member who hadn't held her yet get Colin. Then...

Today's the day! We are about to head in and induce Colin. I have but one job left, to gather thing together so Erin and the rest of us have stuff to do during labor. Funniest thing that's already happened today? Erin mentioned we'll have a lot of family, so we should bring the camping chairs to make sure there are enough seats. I can't even imagine the looks we'll get walking in with camping chairs, but simply the suggestion shows how relaxed Erin is about all this. Man did I marry good. Peace, +Tom