The Garden

Months and months of worry, mashing of teeth, bitter commentary, etc, and the decision to “save our church” was to make our garden bigger to feed the hungry. Which of the freaking ten “questions” lead to that answer? When I asked a staff person what was being done to address my concerns they so desperately wanted to hear the staff persons answer was prayer. When I asked how the church was going to cover a $150K+ deficit between October and December in 2008 or 2009 the answer was prayer. I am reminded about a movie. I think it was the movie War of the Worlds. The old one. While everyone was in the church praying, the alien blasted them and they were gone. Horrible horrible. But who says ones outside the church tackling the aliens weren’t praying too. Those working to save the church and the community were taking more action than prayer. It’s like living in a hippie communion. Pray, peace, love, and grow a freaking garden. Where in the hell is Home Depot? Where in the hell is H.E.B? I really have no right to write anything at this point. I’ve been defeated. Only a hand full of folks see what I see and I don’t even attend church as much as I would like. I am not being feed and a garden of any size will not feed me or the members that won’t come or the visitors that will not stay. “Oh but Steve you must participate”. I have participated. Oh Steve you must see the good in our missions”. I do and I have. This is Mission Klein. This is Keeping Klein. Well the heart and soul that made Klein has left me. It is long gone and NOBODY working at that church has the means or know how to fix it. Prove me wrong!! Oh yea, I just read as some of y'all may have also from Harold Wilson (?) "He who rejects change is the archtect of decay. The only human instituion which rejects progress is the cemetery."

I retained my job. I was at a low point in my life. You folks who greet me at church who hug me, shake my hand, smile when I was down carried me through. I am so grateful. I am not liking God at the moment. I have lost my purpose. I don't understand what His plan is. It's been so clear in the past. But as of late I just don't know. If anything I feel the need to be patient. Dear God I've been patient a very long time.

Post September 16 meeting comments

I am not sure about yesterday’s meeting at the church. I am not sure about a “discernment committee”. I have a cautious wait and see attitude. I can’t help but believe something is up a sleeve and all of this was window dressing. “Steve, stop being a pessimist: negative, negative, negative”. I’ve have very good reasons. Several very good reasons. I will say I did have fun last night. I said all I intended to say. And I am not alone. A charter member said we needed to stop the bleeding. She had no clue who I was or what I was going to do.
Six question were asked in 20 small groups. I did respond to most of the questions. Here is my response to the first three.

Question #1 What is Klein good at?

Simple, missions. The children’s programs are much much better than they have been over the past two years. On the second floor last Sunday where the choir room is, there were several children. I was a very great feeling. We are getting there. Most of the parts are in place and time will only tell. “What do you mean Steve”. I just remember going back when the entire week day ministries suite was filled to capacity and we had trouble find Sunday School teachers. I remember Wesley Hall full wall to wall kids that did not what to leave kid's church.

Question #2 What does it mean, “To go out to be God’s people in the world”?

It is to be the best example of Christ that I can be. Oh boy do I fall short. But that means to smile and greet a stranger. You might be the only person in that person’s day. To show my kid’s I am an example of a person of faith, and a believer. Oh boy do I fall short. But I want my kids to understand it has been a long difficult journey to know Christ. It is like any relationship. It is a commitment. All relationships have difficulties but don’t dwell on them. All relationship have to be maintained. A well maintained relationship is so worth the reward.

Question #3 What is the most radical idea would you have for KUMC?

I was a trustee. During some meetings, we would tour the buildings. During the tour, one trustee asked a participate, “What would you do to make KUMC better?” The answer was, “Tear it down”. And I said, “Amen”. I didn’t look up after I said it. We are driving a Model T. I would like a 2013 model. “But Steve we started here in a pasture 35 years go?” Champion Forest Baptists church did it. Windwood Presbyterian moved. It is not an uncommon practice. Build to a size we can sustain today. Grow as needed. How much is that land worth to Home Depot, H.E.B, Target? It kills me to see other churches in the area expand as we dwindle. New dynamic plans and architecture. The flip side is we are in the best place on the block. If you go to a town and are hungry, are you going to Chilies where 10 cars are parked or to the “dive” where there’s no parking to be found because they are full, at 3:00 in the afternoon?

Next very important meeting, as I understand, check your bulletin at the church, is the church council meeting this Monday, September 24. Let's put 240 people in the room.

More to come... Pass this web address along. Also Facebook "Keeping Klein". Share the ideas. All may comment. Prove me wrong somebody. Pray hard and live free in God's loving arms.

Church Meeting KUMC September 16

September 16 there is a meeting at the church. All are invited for "your voice to be heard". I will be there. My son will probably be at a ball game in Conroe where I am the "official scorer" but I will fore go that game to be at this meeting. I do not plan to say anything. If you believe I am going to speak up you are wrong. I've been heard. I've been disregarded. If you have something to say I will standup and applaud. I will shout out in agreement. I will only speak out if asked. You can ask me. I am also reposting my blog from June 5.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012
My own idea

1. Klein does great in the area of missions. I get it. I hear ya. I hear we do more in missions than most larger churches. The thing about missions is if Klein goes away for whatever reason, missions will continue in another form. Klein has to address the church itself. Not everyone can participate in a mission. Most folks want a church just to attend, feel comfortable, worship.

2. Klein needs to be more dynamic. As Dr. Waddleton said in the forum, we have about 3 minutes to make an impression. One of the things I remember he said was music. I love Lee but we have to be more dynamic. This is where I say a traditional blend would work. I am not talking about loud electric guitars and drums. I am talking about a powerful piano or acoustic guitar. I contemporary solo verses a hymnal. For the most part Klein has done the same type of service for the past 30 years and folks are leaving. I get bored in church. I go because I am supposed to go. Years ago when my age group was there, my friends were there, I wanted to go and needed to go. Now its dragging myself to church to be the example in my family.

3. Dynamic. The one thing my friends at other churches tell me is how their kids hated to go to church (Klein). Now their kids wake them up to go to church. I would like to experience that. Those same friend talk about how their kids talk to them about what they learn in church without having to be asked. They hear their kids in the backseat or in their bedrooms talking about church. I would love to experience that.

4. Move the children’s Sunday school downstairs. It seems that since we moved the kids upstairs our church seems to be lifeless. If I was new and saw the dark coroners of an upstairs classroom or the brightly lit dynamic classroom of a newer church, guess where I might go? Where would my kid feel more comfortable?

5. Leadership. One person making a decision from the top. Church by committee is STUPID!! Check with that committee for that, check with that committee for this and to top it off that committee meets once a month and not over the summer time hours. Just do it. We have several years of clergy and staff experience put there and hired to do a job. They should know what works and does not work. Whatever is being decided at Klein IS NOT WORKING!! Think outside the box. Set goals. Reward goals. Construct, adjust. Move on or move them out. You’re going to offend people. Pacifying the establishment or lose members and new members is the biggest decision I believe Klein has to make.

6. My church plan.
=> We need to have a traditional service at 8:30 Sunday School at 9:45 to 10:40
=> A quick service at 10:00 to 10:30
=> A Contemporary service at 11:00 in the CLC
=> A traditional blend at 11:00 in the sanctuary.
=> A 5:00 PM Saturday Service at least once a month to start.
=> A new cultural service in Wesley Hall at 11:15.

A rant

Carol you are the best. Folks. Read the comments on her posting. I did not hear about the prayer service until the 11:00 service today. CAN YOU HEAR KUMC. NOBODY KNEW. COMMUNICATION. COMMUNICATION. COMMUNICATION. And that's not just from me even tho I will only speak for me.  There is a huge difference between feeling what is right, knowing what is right, and thinking what is right. Something ain't right. I've been ranting for weeks/months and NOTHING has changed. Am I to blame. Sure. Inaction.  But the powers that be who run the church know there is a problem & have done nothing. What are you waiting for? Why do I have the charge?  Because I complain the most & the loudest?  I've heard it too many times. "We know there's a problem". Then fix it. I've posted several items. Fixes and needs.  Folks where do I go from here?  What is my next step? Tell Steve me what to do where to go and help me push me push them. The answers are clear.  This is an open forum. But if you don't think Klein doesn't have a problem then you are part of the problem. I'll see scriptures and I'll see how wrong I am and all the things that go negative when rants like this come from me. Well save them and tell them to my face because I want you to prove me wrong. Remember that from way way back? Prove me wrong. Well nobody has.  Folks I don't like doing this. I've lost several FB friends. Don't care. It's not about me. This church is starving for leadership.  It cant come from me.  I am NOT in charge.   One funny but serious thing. Folks think that I hate Klein and against God. That I should just move on. Come on? Really? Just move me out and hush me up will solve the problems.  Two more things.  Mission => keep it going. Youth => keep it happening.  Speaking just for me. This is Mission Klein. 

Complacency.  I am guilty as charged.  Where does complacency come from?  It come from a false sense of security.  Families, marriages, corporations, and countries have sarcoma to oppression and even death by a thousand cuts. Where are you?  “Geez that’s kind of heavy”? Yep. And so what.  Prove me wrong.  Silence speaks volumes.  

Where do I go from here? Help me. My ears are my best teacher.

My own idea

1. Klein does great in the area of missions. I get it. I hear ya. I hear we do more in missions than most larger churches. The thing about missions is if Klein goes away for whatever reason, missions will continue in another form. Klein has to address the church itself. Not everyone can participate in a mission. Most folks want a church just to attend, feel comfortable, worship.