I ain't gonna be here much no more ....

After over a year and a half of great memories here on Xanga I have decided to make my very own website and blog, where I am the one in control of what you see, etc..  I am still in the "beta test version" but I am really pretty excited about the possibilities. I'll keep this place alive for memories and whatever, but I won't be updating anymore and I am sure, soon it will die. 

So come over often, keep making fun comments, bring your friends, update your RSS feeds and let's keep on having fun!

Click that big link above and come on over, I am brewing up some all new musings and mutterings!

Thanks for the memories, it's time for me to make my grand

Signing off from Xanga,

The Mattchews

If this guy can get married ...

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words ...

"Uphold me according to thy promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope!"
Psalms 119:116

P.S.:  Just in case you were wondering, NO, this picture has not been altered! This guy is "allegedly" a moonshiner from the hills above Knox-vegas and a successful one at that.  And you thought the days of shine and stills were over.

Signing Off for now,

THE MATTCHEWS

Authentically Powerful

So the good folks over at ChurchMarketingSucks  have been doing a pretty interesting "semi-series" on leaving and finding a church home.   With all the stuff going on in the lives of my friends and church family, I found this whole series pretty fascinating and the third installment, posted last week, really hit me square between the eyes and got me thinking. C.M.S. took a poll on what keeps people coming back to a church.  Per their findings:

• 32% said overall authenticity of everyone involved
• 27% said their decision would be based on the preaching of the Pastor
• 15% said they would come back based on the membership
• 12% said solid worship music
• 5% said they focus on what the church does for their kids
• 2% were concerned with programs
• 7% said "Something Else"
  
  You can read the full article at C.M.S. by going here.

32% of decisions are made based solely on the attitudes and mindsets of the people that come in contact during the visiting experience. All I have to say is Whoa!  It shakes the core of fundamental thought on how to interact and engage visitors. Just imagine what an impact a truly authentic congreation of 500 could make on a community!

I am relucntantly helping in the worship ministry team at my place of worship during a transition between leaders.   It has been a trying and difficult endeavor to say the very least.   If the Lord were not so gracious and the people I serve alongside so good at what they did, it would be nearly impossible to do what we do each week.   I've been on stage doing the "leader talk" for two weeks. It is not a place I enjoy being despite my love of the stage.   I am not a professional. So often I am fearful. I prefer being silly, hiding as a made up character, or standing with the rest of the choir.  For now, I don't have that luxury. Despite all of my shortcomings, both weeks people have come up to me and thanked me. I want to ask them why thank me? I am greatful for their thoughts but seriously, I am just a guy using my talents to praise the Lord and help my church family. Don't thank me, find your place and plug in. Make a difference wherever you are. That is what I want to say. I might just start doing it.

That get's me back to my point.  It's not the music, the sermons, the color of the carpet or the specific programs that keep people coming to church.   Yes, to be perfectly honest that is often a reason why they make the first step in the door but it will not keep them there.  It is authenticity and the preaching of truth that will get over 59% of folks to return to your church and get them engaged as long term disciples.   If you are plugging in and letting God work with your gifts then you are going to be authentic and that very authenticity will help you be a living witness to the powerful goodness of Jesus whom you are serving.

Authenticity is not easy. I know this first hand.  Day by day, I learn to keep the masks off and to live my life openly by the guidance of my Lord Jesus.   Ironically, It is hardest to keep the mask off when standing before his people and leading them in praise.  It is a vulnerable place to be authentic on a stage before others – it can be tender, frightening and humiliating at times.   Like most things our Savior calls us to, it so often hurts but it is so worth it.  I may sing the tenor part perfect on every song for a year of Sundays but if I am disingenuous it will only be a performance.   

Without authenticity it is all just another show. With authenticity lives can be changed and a focus on the Christ can be ushered into a life.  When one life is touched, then all the pain and all the fear is worth it.  That is why we must keep being authentic about who He is, who we are in Him and what He says must be done to come to him.   If we get those three thoughts down, then we'll be well on our way to figuring the rest of life out.

Signing Off For Now,

THE MATTCHEWS

Golfin' Hillbilly Style

So y'all probably remember that on Thursday I was suppose to go see the synchronized fireflies (or lightning bugs if you like).  Well as I said the park ranger told us that the entire park was full by 7:15 PM, several hours before dark.  We got to the park entrance at around 8:45 and were told to turn back. Well, that was a bummer no doubt, because we kind of had our hearts set on synchronized fireflies and that did not work out.  However, when you are with a group of six fun people you are bound to have fun no matter what you do.

We headed back down to Gatlinburg's historic Hillbilly Golf.  This place has been around all my life. I remember it from my very first trip to Gatlinburg.  The residents had the idea to take a steep hill - basically unusable real estate, build 2 18 course putt-putt courses, build a cable tractor to pull visitors up to the top and then charge $9/person. You may call them hillbillies, but I can them geniuses.

Because the course was built around an already established set of trees - almost a forest, the entire coarse is well shaded and well lit.  These hillbillies take great pride in their courses and really the entire 18 holes were well tended and groomed. I had a great time even though I came in dead last. I don't really have the patience or skill for putt putt but at least this time I had fun.

I know you want pictures, so here we go:

 
"The Crew" in the cart
Back row (L to R): Gomer, Lady Em & The Hottie
Front row (L to R): Dr.K, Yours Truly & Sassy

The cart is actually an old cable car run by a tractor engine
which pulls you up to the top of the courses
like an old mine shaft it is a bit creepy but adds character.

Once up top you get to play 18 holes riddled with obstacles such as:

A covered wagon,

Barrels filled with homemade brew from the nearby distilleries,

And cautions signs! 

Oh come on! You saw it coming didn't you? 

As the pictures show, I had a great time making the best out of a less than perfect situation. I even enjoyed playing a game I truly loathe. So there you go. Fun times in Gatlinburg that I felt like sharing with all of you. I hope you enjoyed, kiddies!

Signing Off For Now,

THE MATTCHEWS

Faith of Our Fathers

In my opinion, there is no human to human relationship as important to a boy as the relationship between him and his father (or step-father, grandfather, uncle, etc.).  The process of learning while under the guidance of an older, wiser male adult is vital to the male child’s understanding of who he is, who he is suppose to be, what it is he is expected to do, etc.  I’m certainly thinking about this because of Father’s Day but also because of a few discussions I’ve had with friends of mine regarding their relationships with their fathers over the past few months. 

We all come from different backgrounds and have different comfort levels and as I hear these stories and look at these men, men who are making a difference and an impact, I am struck with how much the father relationship still is ingrained in them.  It’s not fair to compare the relationships of my friends and their fathers with my relationship with my Dad, but I cannot really help from doing so.  But more than that it reminds me of how lucky I am to have the relationship I do with my Dad and to be as close to him as I am.  He is my hero in so many ways.  He and Mom led me to the Lord.  He fought in Vietnam.  He risked loving again and married my Mom.  He provided and cared for my brother and I.  He taught in public and private schools teaching biblical principles in an increasing secular place. He is my buddy. He makes me laugh. He is my Dad. 

My father is where I get so much of my personality, more particularly the insane Mattchews-ish personality. He is a fun guy but he is also a tremendous source of calm and strength for me.  When I got in my first car accident my Mom was hysterical but my Dad was calm. I thought he would yell and scream, we are vocal people us Mattchewses, but instead just said he was glad everything was ok and that no one was hurt and that he would be there as quick as he could to get me.  When it was time to go to college he packed up his van and followed me down to Knox-Vegas and helped me.  When my parents left me for the first time that August, he let everyone walk down the hall towards the van and just bear-hugged me and told me to have fun, learn and make the most of this time.  When I wanted to get a condo he helped me. When I wanted to put the condo in my name he helped me.  When I talk about moving and getting an MBA and doctorate and teaching business – he supports me and listens to me.  When I get worried and afraid he reminds me to trust in the Lord he led me to trust.  When I just feel like being silly and cracking jokes he is always right there ready to play along.

I came mighty close to losing my Dad in the summer of 2003 as his brain hemorrhaged and bled.  He was thousands of miles away in Texas and I was in Knox-Vegas, on my knees.  I know how lucky we are to still have him with us and I just can’t forget it.  I guess that thankfulness just needed a place to pour out and today it poured out on my blog.

To all you Dads out there, thanks for what you are doing for your kids. I promise you are making impacts that you will never realize. Seriously:

On a sad note, I did not get to see the Fireflies. The park was packed to Maximum capacity as of 7:15 PM last night.  My friends and I played “Hillbilly Golf” instead and we had a good time.  Pictures will make their way as soon as I get them.

Also, I purchased THEMATTCHEWS.com yesterday evening.  Things are still getting initialized and I am way over my head with all the programming to make it look like a blog, but step one is finished.  Thanks for your input and as soon as THEMATTCHEWS.com is up and running I will let everyone know.

That’s all for now. Thanks for entertaining my Dad musings and I hope you have a great one!

Signing off for now,

The Mattchews