Posts by Scott Shoopman

29 Years of Grace

Posted by Scott Shoopman on Aug 11, 2010 | 3 comments

It still amazes me. I guess because I know me, the real me, the self-centered me. But after 29 years, I think she probably knows me too. Marianne Rudy Shoopman – my wife, my partner, my helpmate, my completer, my best friend, my lover, my children’s mother, and Charlotte’s “Nan”!!

29 years ago this Sunday we were married in a church without air conditioning in a summer much like the one we are experiencing this year – it was HOT! Our  marriage ceremony was a full mass, not a simple 15 minute affair. We  had a great time at our reception, forgot our suitcases and had to turn around after we left, stopped at a Shoney’s to eat on our way out of town and then headed to my grandparents homes in Oklahoma for our “honeymoon!”

Our marriage has been filled with ups and downs, with me causing most of the downs. Marianne has followed me all over the country, packing and unpacking, mothering our children who were to move to another town and another school – again. She followed me here, not wanting to leave our last church, friends, jobs, home, etc. to help  start The Bridge. BUT, she followed. And when times were not “better” but had gotten “worse” – she never even hinted at a complaint. Grace.

My wife loves me. I don’t always  understand why, but I always know she does. Grace.

I work part-time now at a warehouse  in Franklin for World Vision and during devotions(with some really young people – in comparison to me!) the topic moved to “unconditional love”. Someone posed a question to the group almost rhetorically, “are we really capable of unconditional love?” After some silence, I answered  something to the effect of, the closest we will ever get is the love we have for our children. I would like to amend that statement – I think my wife has blessed me with unconditional love for 29 years and because of her example, I can get a little closer to loving others unconditionally.

Voting?

Posted by Scott Shoopman on Aug 4, 2010 | Comments Off

I received a phone call today from Dave Hall and one of the things we talked about was voting. Dave is from California and is used to a much more active state roll in informing the citizens about the elections. Sadly, I had little information for Dave – so he did some research that I am going to pass on to you in this blog.

No matter your stripes – Dem, Rep or Indy, one thing is certain, you are an American and if you are reading this, probably a Tennessean. I personally spend way too much energy complaining for a guy that only votes in the “major” elections and have probably missed a couple of non-presidential elections. The things we take for granted…

In our last church-wide study, Timothy Keller quotes a passage from Jeremiah where God is directing the Israelites to engage their new-found city of Babylon. Not to adopt the culture, but to prosper and be good citizens – as we like to say “bloom where God plants ya”… Not too much of a stretch for us to consider voting as a way to engage our culture without having to adopt all the “stuff” of the world around us. We can be a part of society and let our lives be so different while we walk the same streets, work the same jobs and vote in the same elections, that the world around us wants what we have.

Here are two websites that Dave found that will take some of the guess work out of the process and hopefully begin the research for you so you can vote as an informed citizen.

First find out your voting info: click here

Then one site that can begin your research: click here (This site leans a bit Republican)

Here is the Democratic Party site: click here

I really don’t want to open this blog and comments for party specific ideas and comments, so please refrain if possible. Just  do the right thing and research as much as possible before you vote. Hopefully these links will help you get started, they have helped me…

Second Coming

Posted by Scott Shoopman on Jul 28, 2010 | 6 comments

As the Connections Pastor, I have an interesting role in attempting to connect the people God has entrusted to us. That seemingly simple process has eluded many church leaders – evident from the varied approaches, teachings and blog posts. The one clear message – God wants his church to be connected. Jesus’ prayer for us in John 17 is a clear indication, but the logistics were not in John 18!!

God has given each of us a gift or possibly multiple gifts to use to advance his work here. Uncovering these gifts and finding the right place of service and nourishment for each person is our goal. To become a disciple we must participate in both and Jesus’ mandate, and our goal as a church, is to “make disciples”. Again, the “how to” is what we are working on, what some are diving into, and what others are searching for. But, it all has to start somewhere. In the beginning…

Often when a person visits The Bridge and I have the opportunity to talk with them, I will ask them a simple question – “How did you hear about The Bridge?” This is a great way to find out what we are doing that attracts people, but there has to be more. We know that we will not be THE church for everyone and that’s OK. But for those that chose to come back, we need to know more – so I am asking a new question to everyone that reads this post – even if you have been here for 6 years!

“What made you decide to come back – the second time?” (now the title makes some sense)

This will help me evaluate. From here we will continue to develop a framework – a trellis – to attract people, make it comfortable for them to return, provide tools and resources to help them find a home-base from which they can grow as disciples and serve as disciples.

So, “What made you decide to come back – the second time?”

The Desert

Posted by Scott Shoopman on Jul 21, 2010 | Comments Off

One of the songs we sang in The Gathering this week really stuck with me. Songs have a way of doing that with me, but also with many people. Lyrics put to music have a way of moving into the memory – deep into the memory. Josh hit that well this week when he spoke of marinating our mind with the things of God – His Word…

I think what touched my soul first were the last two lines of the song, “I know I’m filled to be emptied again The seed I’ve recieved I will sow”. That caused me to write down those two lines and then search the lyrics out on the web. Looking at the rest of the song has now pulled together some wonderful truths – “All of my life In every season You are still God”.

That makes the desert, fire, battle and harvest bearable and by praising Him, we glorify Him.

The Desert Song – Hillsong
Verse 1:
This is my prayer in the desert
And all that’s within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides

Verse 2:
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

Chorus:
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

Verse 3:
And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it’s way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I’ll stand

Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

Verse 4:
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I’m filled to be empited again
The seed I’ve recieved I will sow

Simple Life?

Posted by Scott Shoopman on Jul 14, 2010 | 1 comment

I wonder what that phrase really encompasses. Simple Life. There is at least one book by that title by Thom and Art Rainer that outlines some great strategies for living a simple life, but I didn’t have the time to finish reading the book. That  could be a problem…

I think I know at least some of the things that keep me from living a Simple Life, or at least keep me from the peace God speaks of in his Word.

• No Sabbath rest – consistently
• No clear “business” times – my doors (phone, text and email) are always open
• Too often, too busy and don’t schedule time for communing with God through his Word, prayer and simple meditation on the truths of his Word.
• Living out the financial dream of too many Americans – debt!
• Too much focus on maintaining the “stuff” in my life and not enough on the people

Interestingly enough, I have created each of these problems or hinderances. Now that I am deep in the middle of much of it, I want out!! I remember a phrase that my parents used to say “Stop the world, I wanna get off!”. There are times I feel the same way – but I can’t. Even though I have seen the light, repented of my sin, and desparately want to make a change – I still have the consequences of my decisions to work through.

God has forgiven, redeemed, sanctified, saved, loved, provided, comforted, guarded, nurtured, taught, taught again, corrected, revealed, and probably even cried (when I just didn’t get it!). Josh pierced through so much confusion this past week when he carefully taught about God’s will(s) (Listen here). God’s will of decree and His will of desire are both at work. I am learning to “rest” in the knowledge of HIm and am grateful that He allows me to fail so He can pick me up again… and I will glorify Him more every time!!

Read Psalm 103