Planning Matters!
Yesterday, I built a deck…the platform part went well. Then I started to put up the shelter on top of the deck. I had an idea in my head, but hadn’t really thought out the exact measurments for the trusses, or how much stability would be needed to hold up a roof…ooops! After working for about 4 hours and being quite happy with myself and the construction job I was doing…suddenly, the whole thing fell over into a pile of boards! I spent the next hour pulling twisted nails out…then I got to start the whole job over. The second time, I had a plan, and it is coming along smoothly today! The point here is that often in the church world, we have a great idea and we jump into it…without a plan. Sometimes that works, but then there are the times when the whole thing comes crashing down. While it would be better to have the plan the first time. Like my shelter, we can learn from our mistakes, pick up the pieces and try again…but not the same way. We get a new plan that will have a better chance of success! Have fun trying new thing…just don’t forget to have a plan!
Doing it right!
If you have ever heard the expression, “Good enough for church work” in regards to something being done halfway right, how does that make you feel? Solomon, when he built God’s temple used the best materials and the best craftsmen that money could buy. He spared no expense! When the priest’s clothes were made, God gave very specific guidelines about how they should be made. Do we take that same reverence for God into our lives today? Yes, God is our father, friend, comforter…yet at the same time, HE is also ALMIGHTY, THE CREATOR, KING OF kings, LORD OF lords, WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE! Let us not forget those attributes of God!
Linchpin Audio by Seth Godin
Hey, if you want a chance to hear a great lesson on taking risks and chances, Seth Godin does a great job in this free audio link.
If the link doesn’t work, cut and paste this link in: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/files/linchpinsessionsethgodinapril.mp3
In Search of the Great Pastor Conference Update.
We now have a date! February 25th-26th! Mark your calendars! For more information about the In Search of the Great Pastor Conference click here.
Guest Blogging on Church Life
If you are a Church Life reader, and have an idea you think would be perfect for this audience, I can’t promise to post it, but if I do, you will get full credit for it. Keep posts under 500 words. Send them as a Microsoft Word Document or include the complete text in an email sent to burl@burlwalker.com
Zac Smith’s Story
Zac Smith is a guy in my church. He isn’t a friend, the truth is, I don’t really know him. (Large church) His story is compelling as he shares his faith in the Lord in the middle of his fight with Cancer. Here is the link to the Video.
Great Blog Post!
Just read this post, and while it was written months ago, I found it inspiring!
The original URL is: http://daniellwalker.blogspot.com/2009/12/looking-back-to-obamas-election.html
Shutting down…
I have decided to shut down this blog for a while. I hope you have enjoyed it over the last couple years. Sometimes, it is better to shut something down than let it limp along with no vision. I see that as a problem in many churches today. Maybe this last blog is more influencing than others. We as Christians are called to reach out and love people like Jesus did. If all we are doing is going through the motions, then we need new vision! If that describes a whole church, then either new vision must be found, or maybe, find a crazy for Jesus church plant in the area and give them a real blessing by just giving them the building that your church is currently occupying. Noone wants to think that their church is dead…but take a good look…are you alive? Anyway, my blog wasn’t flowing from passion anymore, so I am saying goodbye for now. Not saying I will never blog again, but not for a while. Thanks to all of you who read faithfully! Hopefully I encouraged you in some way in your area of church leadership.
Signing out,
Burl
Business and Christianity
I am not a business person, a Spanish teacher by trade, so selling some of that furniture I mentioned in an earlier post has been a new challenge in my life. Joy of making a sale is part of it, but also the people who promise you they will come, who then don’t show up remind me that patience is a virtue. God has a perfect plan for all of us, but often, we promise to follow it, but then when the going gets tough, we don’t. I have to remember that more important than selling a couch or wardrobe is that the people I deal with see the love of Jesus in my life and actions when they deal with me. Yes, I want to get them a great deal on some used furniture, but it is more important that they have a great place to stay for eternity, than a soft place to sit while they watch TV in their living room.
Easter Egg Drop…
Filed under: Body of Christ, Events, Family, Marketing, Service, Uncategorized, church growth, community, creativity, evangelism, small groups
You may be thinking, (((Dude, its July! What are you doing posting on Easter))) Well, I am happy to say that Dean Herman and I went to talk with Greg Powell of the Easley, SC Department of Parks & Recreation and we have locked in the date of March 27th 2010 for the next Easley Egg Drop. I am excited about this as we have been back and forth with them since April 7th or so about getting this date reserved. Sometimes, planning big events takes some time. I am thankful that we can now start working on some of the othe details…like getting 200,000 plastic eggs stuffed with candy, a helicopter, enough hotdogs, cotton candy, snowcones, popcorn etc. to get 10,000 kids and their parents on a good sugar high! Golf carts to shuttle people from parking, a band to play, inflatables for the kids to play on…you get the picture…still a lot to do!
So why do this stuff? Because guys like my friend Aaron bring their families to it because it is free and open to the public. And then after being shown the love of Jesus through a crazy event like this, he decides to take his family to check out that church that gave all that stuff away free. And then his wife up and gave her heart to Jesus! And a couple weeks later, so did Aaron! Then they got baptized together! Then they got involved in my Home TEAM(Small group)! They got involved in reaching out to other people and are now volunteering to help with other events! That is why we do it.
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