Good Weekend Surgeons!

Here are a few announcements...

We're closing out our Toxic series today, with a message on "Toxic Religion."  Our special music will be a cover of the Foo Fighters, "Walk."

- Today is the last day to sign up for the upcoming El Salvador Missions Trip - please contact Selma Nunes if interested!

- Save the date for upcoming events in February:

1) We're starting our At the Movies series next Sunday, ending on Oscar Sunday...
2) Watch parties for the upcoming movies series are being scheduled, primarily through our small groups - but contact me or Dwaine if you're interested and we'll get you information!
3) Second Sunday, we'll be doing our after church lunch at Mary Bevard's place and we're hearing rumblings of lasagna and pasta... 
4) Third Saturday, is our ongoing concert series with SAW, beginning at 8pm at the Barn.
5) Fourth Saturday, we'll be having another men's breakfast... yesterday we had blackened pancakes and a great time...

Next week will be our first At the Movies offering, with the Dark Knight Rises!  So grab some popcorn and a cape and we'll see you soon!

Peace,
~The Surge

Good morning Surgeons...

You are wise and good looking, just in case no one has told you yet today!

Here are some announcements...

- We are continuing our Toxic series, this morning is Toxic Words, so brace for impact.

- Special music is "Little Talks" by Of Monsters and Men

- SAW concert last night was a blast, we had Mars Rodeo and Aisha performing with a Grammy nominated guitarist - these evenings are really good music!  Third Saturdays at 8pm - save the date.

- Next Saturday we'll be doing a men's breakfast at Terry Forrester's house, talk to him for directions, or check your email next week!  We'll be snacking on delicious Moose Cakes.  If you don't know what those are - come and find out.

- Last Sunday we did a three chili lunch as an after church get together.  It was a wonderful time and we'll do it again, second Sunday of the month, Feb 10th if you're keeping score at home.

- Giving statements have gone out... with some information on our budget for next year - please let us know if you have any questions.

- We're partnering on a missions trip to El Salvador and still need a few people to go!  Talk to Selma after the service - and here is a cool video about the trip from last year!

Thanks and we'll se

I recently had the incredible honor to perform my first wedding ceremony for two close friends, (now) Sarah and Josh Buckley.

Sarah and Josh are the unlikely couple that are perfect for each other when you think about it for a minute.  Hey, yeah, that's a great idea - they should totally be together.  My prediction... they'll be wonderful - for each other and everyone they meet.

The only problem was, and it was me, I admit it... is my strange affliction.  I have a rare form of Tourette's syndrome, that instead of uncontrollably shouting profanity, I think the most sarcastic and inappropriate thing possible inside my head.  That hasn't been correctly diagnosed by a medical professional yet, but I still have time.  The couple actually getting married is in an incredibly emotional and vulnerable moment - what they are hearing for the most part, is a loud buzzing in their ears.

What better time to mess with them than that?  It's just an amazing opportunity.

Fortunately, God in His Grace spared me from my worst instincts, but here is a top ten list of things I was tempted to do before the ceremony that no one actually got to see or hear :)

Top Ten Things I Refrained from Doing at Josh and Sarah's Wedding:

10. Buy a giant foam pope hat and put it on as people were watching the bridal procession (suggested by my friend Dave).
9. Random Johnny Cash lyrics... i.e., "Dearly Beloved, love is a burning flame.  And it makes... a fiery ring..."
8. Swap out the actual Emily Dickinson poem with, "Because I could not stop for death."  Just imagine... as a blessing over this couple today, we wanted to read this poem.... (in my best Peppermint Patty voice to Chuck) "BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH, HE KINDLY STOPPED FOR ME..."
7. The obligatory, "Mawwiage!  That Bwessed Awwangement..."
6. To grab wildly for Sarah's ring and yell, "I FOUNDS IT! THE PRECIOUS!!" while dancing around crazily.
5. Ask the bride to pick a card, any card. 
4. Read the introduction to the Magna Carta as a prelude.
3. At some point, say something completely incoherent then nod to Josh and say, "dude, go ahead." And just wait.
2. To do my best gravelly Batman voice for the entire event.
1. Three supersoakers filled with the "holy waters of matrimony" that the bride, groom and I would use to hose down the crowd.

Only three of those thing actually happened, so it went pretty well.

Thanks guys for allowing me to be a part of an incredible and holy moment.  My heart is with you as you start this journey together...

Hello Surgeons! 

Here are some announcements and delicious housekeeping details...

- We are continuing our Toxic Series, this morning the message is on Toxic Relationships... so if you have questionable friends or acquaintances, bring them with you!

- Our special music today will be Gotye, "Somebody That I Used to Know"

- After church today, we will be meeting at 1:30 for a delicious chili lunch, no need to bring anything - everything is covered.  We're meeting at Tracie Moulton's... Where: 1754 Wexford Way, Vienna, VA 22182


- Next Saturday night, our monthly SAW concert will be meeting at the Barn, starting at 7pm.  Coffee, cheesecake, friends and great music - come out for an extremely enjoyable evening.

- Small groups are starting back up, so if you're not already going - you should plug in.  We have the most exciting small group process for Bible Study we've every seen.  It's simple and profoundly life changing.

- We'll be hosting a Men's Breakfast, Jan 26th, Saturday morning at 8:30 am at Terry Forrester's house.  Bring a pancake.

- The ladies are organizing a big game hunt to serve as a ladies retreat, so load up on camping supplies and ammunition - more details to come very soon!

- Next week, we're continuing our Toxic series, with topic, Toxic Words.  Sticks and stones and well, you should come :)

Take care all!
~The Surge

In The Statesman, our friend Plato explores what true leadership looks like.  The players are Socrates, and another Socrates (younger guy), Theodorus (a mathematician) and The Stranger (an anonymous philosopher from a neighboring city).  Their method becomes one of division... as they take every possible combination of things and divide them into two groups, eliminate one of them, then divide the remaining group into two again, eliminating one... then again... and again... and again.  Seeking through elimination to land on the single idea that is just right.

As always with Plato, the nature of the people in the dialogue become a subtext for the topic at hand.  In this case, there are shades of naming that seem the same but aren't (i.e., Socrates does not equal Socrates, there are two!) and two of the characters physically resemble each other, but with different names.  The Stranger doesn't have a name at all and Theodorus is a wonderful foil.  At a really, really simple level - just because someone has the title of leader, doesn't mean they are one... and even though they may say the "right" things, it doesn't mean anything will be accomplished.  Conversely, a title-less person in the persona of stranger actually leads the discussion effectively and this layer is a paper in itself.

Remember that they are looking for the best kind of leader - through division.

It is a curious and sometimes cumbersome method of investigation... and becomes all the more interesting when they have a couple of false starts that don't bear philosophical fruit - so they start again.

They begin to investigate the notion of human activity and noble work.  Seeking to identify a craft or artisan that would be the best picture of what the ideal leader should look like.  Know what they come up with?

A weaver.  

If you're still here, stay with me just a bit longer :)

That may seem odd to our modern ears, but it works.  The primary task of the weaver is to combine the threads in perpendicular directions to create out of individual threads a cohesive and useful whole.  The threads going one way are called the woof (the threads running across)... the other direction are called the warp (threads running the length).  Put together they make cloth which at it's best is both beautiful and useful - so there you go.

Here we find a resurgence of a theme explored by Plato in the Republic, in the notion of the Philosopher King.

The idea is that the warp aspect is the ability of our leader to have wisdom, or know the truth and virtue that is good.  The woof is the power to actually implement what is known.  And only when they are put together do you have a true statesman.  That rings true doesn't it?  That knowledge without power is an interesting theory but is academically toothless to actually do any good.  And power without wisdom and virtue leads to abuse quickly enough - examples of that are easy to find.

Yet when both are in play, we have the perfect blend of leadership.  The one who can push us in directions we wouldn't have gone without their influence... that ultimately end up being good for us.  Perfect wisdom + Perfect power and weaving them together to create a cloth of justice and goodness = Statesman.  Wouldn't it be cool if we could somehow find that guy and put him in charge?

As an orthodox Christian, it occurs to me (like it did to Aquinas and fathers of our faith through the ages) that there does, in fact, exist someone who combines the best of both worlds for a method of ruling truly and effectively.

His name is Jesus.

So for a new year, here are three things to humbly consider as we start a new chapter in the action adventure book of love that we call our lives:

One: Jesus is a great leader.  True power was woven together with true wisdom and goodness to become someone that is trustworthy as our Example.  The love we see in the Son of God is not just a good idea, or a clever pie in the sky dream sequence.  He is real and that is perhaps the best of things.  

Two: We all have leaders big and small in our lives.  From our boss, to Congress, to our President, to the CEO of our company if we have one... to the one coordinating our book club, etc...  And we can inspire leaders to lead.  Honor them and encourage them to be all they can be in wisdom and in authority.  Pray for the people who are over us that they would serve the interests of our various and cobbled communities nobly and well.  That they would find virtue and the courage to make a decision for the good - even if that decision might not poll well.

Three: We all have changes we want to make in life.  Maybe we want to be healthier in this way or that.  Maybe we are looking for an opportunity to grow in a particular way, to become better parents, spouses,employees or friends.  Maybe we are at the cusp of a new thing and feel the heightened awareness that comes when a chapter is closing to give way to the new.

Look for wisdom.  Find people who know more than you do and buy them a tasty beverage!  Look for power and the ability to actually accomplish the good idea... take a real step to make the dream in your heart real. Don't be afraid to take some people with you, it will be a great ride.

Never doubt that a small group of committed people can step into courage and change the world.  

It's the only thing that ever has.

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.  ~Revelation 1:12-18

Good morning Surgeons!

We are continuing our Toxic series, this morning with the subject Toxic Influences... with poison, chemistry and Animaniacs!

Our special music today will be, "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty.

Our first monthly after church lunch is on it's way!

When: Jan 13th, starting about 1:30, hosted by Tracie Moulton!
Where: 1754 Wexford Way, Vienna, VA 22182

This will be an informal get together, but we'll be talking through overal Surge updates, our 2013 budget and we'll be available to answer any questions that arise!

• Our next SAW concert at the Barn is happening on Jan 19th, starting at 7pm.

• Men's breakfast will be happening Saturday, Jan 26 - details coming soon!

• Our next series is At the Movies, and we'll be coordinating watch parties (and popcorn!)


Thanks and have a great week!
~The Surge