Hayward

Well, it has almost been a year since posting on this. I have missed it some, it seems relaxing to post on here...just to get some thoughts out of my head. Also, it is good for me to go back and read some of my old postings. Just to see what was going on in my life and how things have changed. Like right now, I use punctuation and capitalization...like a grown up or something. The changes are much more profound than that, probably...but that is the easiest to notice right away.

Well, if I am posting on here, something significant must have happened. And it did. My close friend and guru of all things emergent church has passed away. Hayward Barnett was almost 85 years old, and he went home to be with the Lord last Sunday evening. Here is his obituary, which he wrote himself. And if you knew him, you can definitely tell that he wrote that himself! It's less of a recount of his life, to me anyway, and more like a, "hey, remember me this way...a gentleman". But I will remember Hayward differently, I will remember him as someone that developed a friendship with me b/c we had so much in common. I mean, he had no family, he was 84 years old and lived by himself in a small apartment, he lived his life out as modestly as possible, no children, never married, took care of his mother his whole life, was a staunch supporter of the southern baptist convention, hated to eat meals outside of his apartment, the list goes on and on with similarities between Hayward and I. lol What we had in common was a passion and a love for seeing things the way they could be...and according to Christ, the way they should be. Hayward kept me accountable to my rhetoric, he was always quick to remind me about the things that I had said I wanted to do. Especially, when he could tell that I was not doing them! Hayward loved the thought of the local church of Jesus Christ changing the world. He thought the Church ought to be more than being about business as usual. He thought the idea of salvation meant something more than just now you do the "right thing" and and go to church all the time and you won't go to hell when you die.

Hayward was progressive in his thoughts, he had a young heart! I loved that about him! He was not cranky and bitter about the cards he had been dealt, he decided, later in life that he was going to pursue Christ, even it meant being uncomfortable and trying something new! At 80-81 years of age, Hayward started listening to contemporary Christian music and attending non-traditional baptist churches. He participated in blogs and forum discussions online, he read modern day theologians and emergent church leaders books, he read everything he could get his hands on! A ton of it, HE DID NOT AGREE WITH, but he didn't dismiss it just because he didn't agree with it! He would consider that their point and agree to disagree and go on to the next topic on which they might agree on.

I will miss him! I will miss our long conversations about such topics. I will miss coffee in the afternoon with Hayward when many times we just sat quietly and watched traffic go by on hwy 65. I will miss his way, his modesty, his gentleman like attitude towards life, his sense of humor and the way he got cracked up about things that I would not have thought twice about. Most of all I will miss him, how close we had become over the past 3 or 4 years and who will fill that void in my life. (selfish, i know...but i don't care) He prayed for me and my family...all the time. He held my feet to the fire when he thought I might have been out of line. He helped to keep my vision in check when I thought it was too easy to just see dollar signs. He was my friend...and I will miss him. Thank you Hayward, for being such a part of my life over the past couple of years!

quick post...

...a quick post.

-first, i know i have not posted my thoughts on the last post. i will, sooner or later...i will!

now, we decorated our Christmas tree yesterday. not to sound like a scrooge or anything...but, in the process of decorating. i realized and remembered, at the same time, i can't stand doing that! i get grumpy and short...not for sure why. i just do.

i love Christmas. i'm just not a detail guy. and when it comes to details, i get meticulous. i can not stop until i think it is just right...or at least what i think is just right. that leads to more problems...lol (husbands and wives know what i mean. :-) )

it's done, less than perfect. but it is ok...it is what it is. i love the holiday season, can't wait to get on with the rest of the year!

mid-day friday post

i don't think that i have posted many mid-day posts, or at least it has been a long time.
this is my mid-day rant...i hate the preperation work. i hate sitting in the office trying to make sure that every thing is ready for the actual work that has to be done. i hate getting everything lined up, straightened out, double checked...i hate it all. your like...'dude, that's a lot of hate!' ...'yes it is!' , because that is how much i dis-like what i classify as "busy work".

i have a new account that is going on-line tomorrow. so, things have to be right and ready!

although i hate the prep work, it is absolutely necessary that it is done and done right. otherwise, when the "real work" happens...we have the potential to look like idiots. so, i procrastinate and i complain while i am doing the prep work.

i think this is my life most times. i am a big picture guy. get me at the front of the deal, center of the program and i am happy, comfortable and successful. or let me throw out 50 ideas of how things ought to be and cast a compelling vision. just don't ask me to dabble in the minutia of details. unfortunately or fortunately...depending on how you look at it, i am learning that true success happens because of the details. not in spite of them.

back to work! have a great halloween weekend!

legacy

what will be my legacy? i dont know if i have asked my self that lately, but i have been thinking about legacy. i have been thinking about my actions among others that i have influence over. about, what matters in forming a legacy. is it self perception or being able to step outside of your self. or if you think about legacy, does it mean that you probably won't have much of one...?

i dont know. somehow i think that our disciplines will determine our legacy. mark batterson had a quote on fb the other day, 'your ultimate destiny will be determined by your daily disciplines'. i liked that a lot! and it kicked me in the junk a lot at the same time.

i have no idea what my legacy will be, i really don't know that i am concerned with it too much. about the here and the now of legacy, when we are gone...make sense? but i am concerned with my ultimate destiny and making my life count for what counts! and it comes down, so many times, to the simple things. the daily things.

i posted several weeks ago that i was thinking about legacy. this past sunday, a student who i had ministered to about 3 or 4 years ago, ran into me as i was coming out of church...he was walking in. when i first met him he did not have a bible and i really had no idea of his spiritual background. but sunday he held up a tattered bible and said to me, 'look what i still have!' it was a bible that i had given to him at an outreach event the very first time i met him...it felt so good to see him holding that bible! it was something i needed to see...it reminded me of what God had done through me. the Story that He has included me in. the fact that He isnt done with me.

i am thinking legacy has to do with obedience. suffering instead of status. selflessness instead of selfishness. maturity. following more than leading. remembering and looking forward at the same time.

thanks for allowing random thoughts to flow from me... 2 posts in one week! you gotta be kidding me! have a good weekend. see ya in a week or so...

baseball

if you know me very well, if you don't let me enlighten you, i did not grow up a baseball fan. in fact, after the 94-95 MLB strike, i said i would never watch it again. i did not play baseball growing up, ever! no little league, no jr. high, no wiffle ball, no soft ball, no nothing. i didn't like it, why would i play it?

well, it is funny how your kids can change you... eric played baseball all summer and i help coach. we went to springfield cardinal games, we went to st. louis cardinals games, we practiced two days a week and sometimes had two games a week. we started practicing in may and played games until the very end of august.

eric improved so much through out the year and i had a blast. i was like a kid learning how to play. (i didnt let the parents know about my baseball knowledge or skill level...lol) i helped to coach with a buddy of mine from HS and a friend from down the street. it was a blast!

but now, i am a fan. a cards fan. not much cheering after their weekend elimination from the ALDS. and i have to ask my self, how do life long fans handle the disappointment? like cubs fans, year after year... you lose. how do you get geared up for the next season? now, let me say, i love wrigley field. eric and i got to go there last summer with a HS friend of mine and his son...and it is awesome! so much history and tradition and such raving fans....how do they do it?

anyway, just some random thoughts... i have a goal of getting back to more regular blogging. no promises, we'll see how that goes.

hmm...

let's see if i remember how to do this...

thoughts on safety-

i am thinking that safety is an unattainable illusion. don't get me wrong, i want safety...for my family, for my life. i want it, i plan for it, i pray and hope for it. but at the end of the day, it is unattainable.

as americans, one of the most dangerous things that we most of us do IS.... drive a car! really?we pray and pray for safety. we plan for it, we hope for it...and then we get in the car and do not even consider that this is the most dangerous thing we are going to do in our whole little life is drive a car. not to mention when i text, email and look at facebook while i'm driving. (don't frown...i know some of you do too.)

the funny thing i have been thinking lately is that when i read the scriptures, i don't often read about people who were worried about their safety. think about it, especially after Jesus had ascended.

i have no conclusions...just thoughts. i spend a lot of time thinking about what it takes to get things done in our business. i don't like to rock the boat, it typically isn't good for business. i want things to be safe, little risk. i like my life like that too. problem is, it doesn't line up with scripture very well.

what have you risked lately? i dont want to simply be a "boring" car driver...i want to live a risky life.

thats all i got for now...see ya next sunday night, maybe sooner.

hello

been thinking about blogging a little lately. i have some ideas that are floating around in my head, stuff that i am wrestling with.

i am either too tired or too lazy to do it, blog that is.... maybe later this week.

topics to discuss (in no order of importance)

-safety

-baseball

-legacy

-balance

-maturity

hope to see you soon!

discipline, envy and honesty

ok, this thought has been going through my head lately..BUT, this is not a thought out post...make sense?

i am very envious of people who are highly disciplined.  that is the honesty part of it...people who work out, run...people who are organized, people who are task and goal orientated....people who are have strong spiritual disciplines.  i am envious of those people.  not the people who can for a season be disciplined...but the one's who set out for a life of disciplined action.

i am not one of those people, yet.  and, to be honest again,  it pisses me off !  i know what is good for me...we all do.  if not spiritually then at least health wise, why is it so hard to be disciplined.  spending money, managing time, setting priorities, spending time on the important things, spending time with the Lord.

anyway...i am envious.  i am thinking through this stuff right now.  how do i become more disciplined?  i am guessing it isn't just as easy as it sounds. if it were people would just react, i would just set a plan of actions and follow them.  the problem isn't the set of actions it is the motive behind the action.  i am guessing it goes deeper into another level.  or i might just be over thinking it...

What in the world is going on!

well, some have you been asking....what is going on with you Daniel!?  so, i thought i would give a short update...

i have not been blogging lately, because... i have tried to stop opening my laptop when i am at home and the kids are awake.  i have trying to be present...not just sit down in front of the tv and open the laptop and check out.  i have been working more lately, which is good, but it does take time away from home.  so, the last thing that i need is something to rob more time from my family.  

another reason, i havent felt like i have had much to say.  somewhat dry times spiritually.  i know the reasons why, i know how to fix it, and that is part of the problem.  i know the answers in my head, they just havent made it to my heart yet.

my laptop died!  big reason for nothing coming outta here.  so i got a new mac...transfering everything over from an old, dead mac is frustrating.  trying to get info off of your old iphone onto your new computer when you were not able to transfer your itunes acct from your old computer, that's frustrating!  so, when i did have my computer open...i didnt feel like spewing curse words on a blog that hopefully is somewhat inspiring at times. :-)

busy, busy, busy...not much of an excuse...but it is true.  priorities shift when your schedule becomes fuller.  eric has been playing ball, i am helping coach that...so proud of them boys!, lots of summer birthdays, parties, etc....  

do i need to put more on here?  

i will try to do better, but do not expect too much for the next couple of months or so.  and if you get more...just think, that's like getting something for free!  wait....all this is free...and unsolicited...so scratch that.  just enjoy if you get something more than very little!  

good bye for now, see ya soon.

where i have been

i have been in Austin, TX for the last few days.  i love this city.  i have never been here, but it is a challenging city for me.  it is very ... organic, in more than one sense of the word.  very local.  it has it's own personality...it isn't cookie cutter at all.  that is cool to me.  

i am here for Q.  you can read about it at the web site.  i can't write about it just yet.  my mind is reeling, but i will say this.  Q is the best conference i have ever been to.  there is such an authentic desire to further the gospel, to engage culture, to be authentic.  Gabe Lyons, founder of Q, said on the first day.  "There is not much difference between presenter and participant."  That seemed like just words to me, until I experienced intimate conversations with several of the presenters.   These are very real people, not super star pastors or super star business leaders...although some of them are.  they aren't.  

i'll try and post more later as some of this stuff later, as i hash it out in my head/heart.

forgetting

i forget lots of things!  eric cooper was walking out of the house the other day and had forgotten something that he needed to have.  in a moment of haste, i said,"buddy...why is it that you can remember so many little things about stuff that happened 4 years ago, but you cant remember to grab your back pack!?"  he said something like, "i don't know dad.  i guess i don't have a good memory."  he felt very dejected.  i felt like a jerk.  

i had to stop in that moment and remember that i do the EXACT same thing!  so, i told him.  "You know who else does that very same thing?  ME"  and we went on to have a great conversation and i am sure there were even doves flying around or something...maybe not the doves, but it could've happened.

anyway, i read a passage of scripture this morning that reminded me of my good, selective memory. 2 Peter 1:5-9 It is a pretty recognizable passage of scripture.  add faith to goodness, knowledge to self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.  we are supposed to make every effort to have these qualities.  because if you have these, they will keep you from being unproductive and ineffective.  BUT if you don't have them, i love what scripture says, "he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."

i have a selective memory AND i can be very nearsighted.  i am focused on things that happen today or even down to an exact moment.  i forget sometimes how i am.  sometimes it seems like i forget who i am.

then, i had to do an inventory of those qualities.  i had to remember that i am not who i was.  i had to remember i have been CLEANSED.  

maybe you need to remember that today as well...or maybe just me.

love/hate with flying

i am not a huge fan of flying.  it isnt probably a hate relationship...but i do get a little nervous at every take off. landing and any turbulence.  BUT i LOVE flying by myself and the reading time i have to my self.  it is like i have to shut down...no internet, no phone, i hate dragging my lap top out unless i have to...so i read.  

i get more reading done on a 2 hour flight than 2 weeks at home.  right now i am reading 5 dysfunction's of a team by Patrick Lencioni.  GREAT BOOK for anyone having to lead up forming a team, working with a team or leading a team!  and it isn't your typical 'leadership' book, it is a fable.  so it reads like a novel.  very cool!  i am about 2/3 of the way through it.  

so, hope you have had a good week!  talk to ya later!

am i a terrible person?

i have a small confession to make.  i would rather listen to secular radio stations over christian radio stations.  most days...i don't think christian radio stations are that good.  the dj's seem like they are either WAY out of touch with anybody who MIGHT not be a christian and actually listen for more than 20 seconds.  OR they just try way too hard to be some shock jock christian radio person or something...  

the music is ok from time to time and i do listen to worship style, contemporary christian music from time to time.  a lot of the time actually...but it is usually from a cd or on my ipod.  

i am in my car a lot.  i travel in my car for a living, so i listen to stations all over this area.  not just the greater springfield area...and almost inevitably, when channel surfing in a new area...i can tell if it is a christian radio station before they identify themselves as one.  the way they talk, the music, the commercials, them always asking for money...listener supported in their tag line.  so, by me saying i can identify them as a christian station, to me isn't really a positive...

anyway, dont know if i was feeling convicted or what...just thought i would confess my sins to the world wide web...lol  

is anyone with me or am i a terrible person all by myself?

random thoughts

here is some randomness that is going through my head right now.

- excited about small group meeting tonight!

- i have some great new friendships in my life, i am loving that.

- ready to get back to work today!

- i am tired from the gym this morning...i ate a little too much on vacation...oh well!

- really praying to be a good parent and family leader

- looking forward to hanging out with some old friends this afternoon! one of them is this guy.

- thankful for a good spring break vacation with some great friends.

- did i mention that i am ready to get back to work!

- got to see a really good friends new baby last night! 

- i am trusting in God to show me some things in my life.

- i am hoping i listen...

just a few things going through my head right now... back to work, or whatever you were doing...  

see ya soon!

vacation

vacation first morning in the condo from Daniel Scott on Vimeo.

vacation

tug o war from Daniel Scott on Vimeo.

vacation

i know i said i would post some, but that just has not been first priority on vacation.  so here is some, a little late but...oh, well.

my little rock star from Daniel Scott on Vimeo.

video blogging!

i got this new toy... decided to introduce it this way.  enjoy...see ya soon!

Intro to Video Blogging from Daniel Scott on Vimeo.

WWJD?

ok, since there is a lot of conversation on this topic on a previous post.  i thought i would make a post about this and clarify a little what i read.  a little background info...

i made the comment to fran that i was re-reading The Shack and in it, a comment was made by Jesus.  He said something like his life wasn't meant to be an example to follow.  I said that we had a great conversation about this in our small group, i thought it meant that we don't have to try to be perfect.

so, a few clarification points and a few discussion points about this.

i know The Shack is fiction.  fiction, by definition is; the class of literature comprising works of imaginative narration. (according to dictionary.com) so, would i base my theology, the study of my understanding of God, off of this book?  no, not really.  nor would i get worked up and say that the book is blasphemous! (a friend of ours said this about the book) 

i do think the book can be helpful in trying to portray God in a way that is different than most people think about Him.  for us, it is a great conversation starter!  it is a great way to open the scriptures and see if they really say that is how God is.

here is the quote i mentioned to fran.  

"You mean,"  Mack quipped, "that i can't just ask,  'What would Jesus do?'"Jesus chuckled, "Good intentions, bad idea.  Let me know how it works for you, if that's the way you choose to go."  He paused and grew sober.  "Seriously, my life was not meant to be an example to copy.  Being my follower is not trying to 'be like Jesus', it means your independence is killed.  I came to give you life, real life, my life.  We will come and live our life inside you, so that you begin to see with our eyes, and hear with our ears, and touch with our hands, and think like we do.  But we will never force that union on you.  If you want to do your thing, have at it.  Time is on our side."

From The Shack, chapter 10

Tara, I too have been taught that we ought to be holy just as Christ was holy and i thought that meant doing or NOT doing a bunch of stuff. it is 1 peter 1:15-16, it says... but just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "be holy, because i am holy."  my question would be, what makes you holy?  i have tried to be holy, and i fail really bad when i try to be holy.  i usually end up more holier than thou, than i do holy.  i think the conversation between mack and jesus portrays a clear direction with how to be holy.  

check out these verses...

Colossians 3:12 ...  Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  we are holy and dearly loved because he chose us!  then we are able to do the list that follows.  the list doesn't make us holy...

2 Timothy 1:9 ..  who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.  This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

Hebrews 10

you will have to read all of that, there is goodness in that chapter!

now, if we were to try and live our life perfect...following the mantra, WWJD.  we might end up feeling defeated when we fail.  but, IF we understand that we can not be made any more holy than we already are...  then the list becomes easier to accomplish.  we dont have to accomplish it by ourselves.  we realize that Jesus is inside of us, allowing us to see as they see, hear as they hear, act as they would act.  

i first heard it from louie giglio, "the key to christianity isn't trying, the key to christianity is dying..."  

does this change any of your thoughts?  what do you think?  are you a try-er or a die-er?

Happy Birthday Hayward!

Hayward is a friend of mine that I try to have coffee with 3 or 4 times a month.  He has a tremendous amount of insight and wisdom!  Yesterday he turned 83 years old!!!  That, in and of it self, is a huge mile stone!  But, it is minimal, when you consider his heart for young church leaders and the body of Christ!  

He reads this blog and is probably chuckling to himself right now as he is blushing...lol  He reads, I am guessing, but probably some where around 10-15 church leadership blogs.  He has read a ton of books on the emerging church movement and modern theologians.  He listens to contemporary worship music, so that he can be acquainted with the music and the message.  He has been a BSU director and still has an amazing heart for collegiate ministry and college students.  He is very insightful to the future of the church!  And God has used him in my life to challenge me and my thought processes about God.  He inspires me to keep on pressing on toward the goal of pursuing after Christ and his plan for my life.  And he inspires me that it isn't ever too late to make a huge contribution to so many in life!

Hayward, Happy Birthday!!  and Thank you for all you have been in my life and so many more that I know you have influenced over your long life span.  You are a great man of God!

See ya soon for some coffee...

ps...(hayward is a former teacher, so I thought i had better get my caps on... :-) )