What Am I Doing Here?
March 29, 2007 by pistolpete
I’m having a lot of fun with this blog. It’s great to hear from so many people who are having fun with it as well. Today, however, I want to share with you some of the “method of my madness.”
As some of you have figured out, I serve as a pastor of a church on Long Island. Apart from my pastoral work, the thing I most enjoy is writing and being read. Through the magic of the Internet, I’ve lately discovered that the two can come together in an effort to “do church” in a new way. E-communication allows us to tell “the old,old story of Jesus and His love” in a new way so people today can understand and respond. I’m not the first to discover this, of course. There are many more bloggers than I am doing ”cyber-ministry” (and doing it much better than me).
Perhaps what is somewhat unique about my approach is that I’m also drawing from my experience of being in recovery from addiction and treatment within group and individual therapy. I’ve found that I can be most authentic when I look at my struggles/sins first in a quasi-confidential manner (hence, “Pistol Pete”). Then, in God’s own time, “come out”. I consider this an extension of step #12 in recovery - “Having had a spiritual awakening, we seek to carry these principles to others in all our affairs.”
If Christianity is going to survive (and even thrive), it must first self-reflective, then ”speak the truth in love” in a wide range of ways (including humor). Professor N.T. Wright says in his article “The Bible For the Post-Modern World” –
“…. the leading edge of the whole culture, articulating in story and music and art and philosophy and education and poetry and politics and theology and even, heaven help us, biblical studies, a worldview which will mount the historically rooted Christian challenge to both modernity and postmodernity, leading the way into the post-postmodern world with joy and humour and gentleness and good judgment and true wisdom.”
That about sums it up. I’m trying to have fun as a saint who is a sinner in the hands of an angry and forgiving God. That, and I’m a self-serving blogger looking for hits to feed my ego.
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more about blogging…
“A Divine Scribe Comes to Therapy”
Here’s a hit for ya :)
Even on my break from writing/reading blogs, yours is one that I can’t seem to stay away from.
Keep it going, bro!
The Pistol fires back: That really means a lot, Barbara. Enjoy your semi-respite.
you wrote, “…I’m a self-serving blogger looking for hits to feed my ego….”
aren’t we all?
The Pistol fires back: Yeah, but my ego is bigger than your ego. So there!
Ok, here’s one hit for your ego. Enjoy your writings Pistol - maybe I’ll get over to your church when I’m in Manhatten in May.
His peace.
B~
The Pistol fires back: We’d love to have you.
Pistol: Who would you rather have councel (sp?) you? Someone who has never been down the road you are travelling or someone who has? It would be rather like all the so called child care experts who have no children of their own. I think I might be glad I found you.
The Pistol fires back: Thank you for the compliment. I’m certainly not an expert in anything - just doing my best to walk with Christ and help others do the same.
Thank you for sharing this with us. Funny, this week what has been very much on my mind is Paul, Gal 4: 13-14
“Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
“And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus.”
I’ve been discussing this with a couple of friends over the past few days.
Again Thanks,
Dr. X
The Pistol fires back: Wow! Another sign of the Holy Spirit. That was the exact text that inspired me to “come out” to my congregation as a recovering addict. Don’t you just wonder what Paul’s temptation was?
Thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog!
I’ve read a bunch of your previous posts and I really like your humor and your writing. Even though this post was “serious” your honesty and your voice really shine through.
:)
The Pistol fires back: Thank you for reading. And, keep swimming. Have you ever tried swimming in the Hudson River?
I agree, blogs can be a lot of fun, as well as therapeutic.
While it’s still emerging, many churches are finding ways to use the Internet as a resource to attract different audiences. The jury is still out as to the impact it can have, but there is promise.
Had to laugh at the “feed my ego” line. Sometimes I get so caught up in what I am writing that it becomes less about glorifying God and more about writing something others will think is “cool.”
The Pistol fires back: I know what you mean. There is a danger in confusing personal “inspiration” (which is really just an adrenaline rush) with Divine inspiration. Making the distinction is what I think the Bible talks about when it says, “test the spirits”.
Well, we seem to be thinking many of the same things.
Thanks for stopping by at my neglected blog- the giraffe. The old sayings are still the best. Enjoy your blogging
i would also love to visit your church. how cool you are :)
The Pistol fires back: We worship every Sunday, beginning at 10:30 a.m.. Directions are on http://god4today.blogspot.com
I just have to warn you. I’m not that good looking in person.