Monthly Archives: February 2009
To-Read List
Thought I would post a list of books I want to read this year. So in no particular order here it goes.
It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It by Craig Groeschel
Sticky Church (Leadership Network Innovation Series) by Larry Osborne
Essential Church?: Reclaiming a Generation of Dropouts by Thom S. Rainer and Sam S. Rainer
Back Home
I will be heading back home to Rock Hill today to prepare for the family get together we have every year for the twins birthday. While I am there tonight I will get the chance to reunite with some good friends.
Tim Fowler was the pastor at the first pastor I actually worked under as a full fledged staff member. Under him I learned and grew and developed aspects of my ministry that have been extremely helpful. He taught me to never back down, to never take things at face value and to continuously grow myself as a minister and as a leader. Later after I moved from his church he and his wife became great outlets that I could unload on when the ministry was getting hard and burdensome. We have not seen each other since May and I am excited to share with him all the things that have been happening and to hear what God has been doing in his life and ministry as well.
Also if you are cruising blogs check his out on my blogroll…
6 years
Six years ago today my wife gave birth to two beautiful children, one boy one girl. We named them Kelsey and Isaac. For some reason we always call Kelsey’s name first even though Isaac was born a minute sooner. I don’t know why. Over the last 6 years we have had many ups and downs. From financial troubles to working two jobs with a wife in school to Kelsey’s terrible threes when she would through huge screaming fits in the car when she didn’t get her way, to being out of work and looking for a new place to call home for my ministry to big moves and new experiences. The last six years have been a series of major changes, changes I would not trade for the world.
It is bittersweet to arrive at this point my firstborn are no longer babies or tots they are children , growing smarter and more adventurous every day. I miss them being little I do not miss them having temper tantrums. I love them with all my heart and pray for them every day. I wonder what they will become I hope that they will make great choices. I wan to hold them here in this moment for forever….but alas I cannot.
Kelsey and Isaac I love you and Happy Birthday!!
Changes
If you are a casual reader of my blog ( I pretty sure I have no avid readers) you may notice the changes going on around here. I have long wanted to invest some time and get this thing looking the way I wanted and this is one step in the right direction. Tell me what you think. I would love some feedback on any additions or changes I could make that would make this a better site
Preaching
I am getting a little burned out this week. Tomorrow will be my twin’s, Isaac and Kelsey, 6 birthday. I will be taking the rest of the week off and be getting ready for their party this weekend. So with this shortened week also comes the realization that I have three sermons to prepare for. With our pastor out of town this weekend I have in addition to my normal Wednesday night,I also have Sunday morning and night. It is quite stressful. But here is what I have so far.
Wednesday Night: I am talking on faith. We are doing a series called “What to Wear” a series covering each aspect of the full armor of God and tonight is the shield of faith.
Sunday Morning: I am taking a look at the story of Healing the Blind Man in John 9:1-7 we will look at
The Misunderstood Motivation of the Question that the Disciples Posed
The Situation of the Blind Man
The Sovereignty of God in the Life and Work of Christ
The Desperation of the Blind Man
Sunday Night: I will be looking at the call on the Church related to 1 Peter 2:5,9. I am using Revolution in Leadership by Reggie McNeal as a source. We will look at how we are called to be the priesthood to the world spreading the ministry of Christ. We will compare
Being a Refuge Church vs Mission Church
Being a “Come and Get It” Church vs a “Go Get Them” Church
Being a Church of Avoidance vs a Church of Loving Relationship
and
Shifting from
A Top Down Church to a Flat-line Church
An Inside Church to Inside Out Church
An Outside Church to Outside in Church
I am excited about it but expect to be well worn out when Sunday ends.
Feel free to share your thoughts on these
Myths
Found this over at a website I frequent. It makes some very good points. Being a youth pastor brings all sorts of challenges and many of them are unnecessary. Great stuff all in all and I think all church going people should read it.
Giving Made Public
Since there are no names I don’t see who this hurts. I think that many people do not tithe thinking that the church gets enough money or that someone else is tithing enough. This shows the church that the overwhelming majority is only giving a few dollars. I think it can be a wake up call. It also shows the church is not raking in the dough. Too many people think that churches are overflowing with money I cannot count how many people call the church and get angry when I tell them we have no money for hand-outs. Problem is we have bills too. Most churches are in heavy debt and are crippled by it. Add in power and heating costs that are ever increasing and staff salaries and decreasing giving money is tight.
What do you think..
THis is Amazing
Ran across this over on the Creative side of StevenFurtick.com. I think it is absolutely stunning. I wish I could find someone that good to do our youth room
In It to Win It.
I am going to be honest. My work situation isn’t the ideal one. For those that know me I am a cutting edge kinda guy. I am a visionary and always looking forward. So it came as a surprise to some that I would take a ministry position in a old, rural, traditional church. I will admit that I was reluctant at first but I saw God’s hand moving and I simply came along for the ride.
Not everything has been easy over the last nine months. Recently it seems I have been running into more walls than through. After sharing some of my challenges some of my peers from other churches have even told me they would be looking elsewhere if they were in my shoes. But here is the thing, I believe that that would be incredibly short sighted.
Fundamentally I see promise in the established church. I see experience, wisdom, perseverance and great faith. I see love and commitment and those are qualities that are becoming. Of course there are imperfections and short comings, but as a pastor is it not my job to help people realize their shortcomings? And for all the hard head stubborn people with all the wrong priorities are there those who are struggling to find something beyond the status quo. Who will reach them?
I have purposed this in my heart. That I am in it to win it. I will not bail out because of naysayers. I will not cut and run because of selfish people. I will stand my ground and see it through. When God is done I will be done and until that moment I will push forward ever stronger.
I love this quote
Jesus promised his disciples three things – that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy and in constant trouble.-G. K. Chesterton
Even the disciples were constantly finding themselves in trouble. So why would I expect anything less for my ministry.
Ultimately I just refuse to be defeated. I serve a God who is a victorious God. I serve to make His name renowned. As Paul says, I will press towards the prize.
Back from a short Hiatus.
It has been a few days since I last blogged. To be honest it has been such a whirlwind around here I haven’t had the time to think about it.
We are re-working our children’s church. We went with Group’s Kid’s Own Worship package back in the fall and it is working out well. Unfortunately I am having miscommunication between my leaders and their volunteers and things are not up to the standard that I like. So coming soon I will have a session with them detailing how everything should go.
One of the things I will emphasize is the need to accomplish five aspects in each service.
In every service we will give our children-
The opportunity to worship
The opportunity to give
The opportunity to learn
The opportunity to create
The opportunity to respond
These five things will build on each other and amount to a solid time of ministry. One where the kids can be interactive and learn on their level but will also be in a structured environment that will ease their transition into adult worship.
What are your thoughts?
