The President of The United States of America
Ok, it is no great secret that I didn’t vote for our current President. This isn’t a post to blast him on any policy though. I was sitting here thinking about his job. Each day, he can be hit with news that makes the rest of us cry or get angry, but he has to deal with it. He can’t just sit there and think, ((Oh those poor people.)) When hurricanes hit, he has to be on Airforce One to go be a calming and reassuring face in the midst of chaos. When terrorists attack, he must be on TV giving a press conference while even with the wealth of all the intelligence gathering at his fingertips, he still may not know exactly what happened any more than the rest of us. So much of his job puts him each day between a rock and a hard place, I am sure he often feels like he is one of those WV coal miners stuck in a collapsed mine with the rocks crushing in on him. Keep our president in your prayers. He isn’t God, he is just a man. We can disagree on his policy and I often do…but I don’t want to walk ten feet in his shoes, much less a mile! He needs strength that only God can give him each and every day.
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!
Accountability…
When I resigned from being the connections pastor at my previous church, one of the ministries that I worked with was helping men overcome addiction to pornography. After leaving, I found that the built in accountability I had there faded away. Tonight, I am meeting with a man who would like to start a new group at NewSpring on their Greenville campus. We aren’t meeting to plan a new group. We are meeting to be accountability partners for each other. If something bigger comes of this, I will be thrilled. More importantly, it encourages me to remind others that accountability is VERY important in the ministry, and even for those of us who are no longer “in the ministry”.
Phone Calls…
This afternoon, I was sitting here watching an episode of Eureka on fancast when the phone rang. It was a youth pastor from a town a little south of here just calling to pick my brains a little for ideas he could use for his youth group. It surprised me since I am simply a blogger, no longer in the trenches of church leadership. It reminds me that each of us has something to offer. Each pastor and even former pastor can be a help to others. This is the very reason for the “In Search of the Great Pastor Conference” coming up in February 2011. Pastors can help each other. I pray that if you are a senior pastor, you will consider lending your expertise to this conference and learn from your cohorts in the process.
Friends are Friends Forever…Moving Pianos!
Filed under: Church Revitalization, Random Thoughts, church growth
This morning, I am a little sore…no, not upset or miffed, just physically, some of my muscles are complaining. Two days ago, a friend wanted some help moving a piano. Now, for those of you who move pianos all the time, this is no big deal, but to myself who am a teacher for a living, lifting a 1/2 ton piano was more than I am used to lifting in the average day. Are we like that as a church? Are we so not used to doing the “heavy lifting” in this world that when it does happen, it causes pain? When we have to reach out to others in our community, is that so out of the ordinary that it makes the church groan a bit? If so, there is a solution, just like my own situation. Just like I can decide to either stay out of shape or hit the gym so that I won’t feel this weak next time someone needs my arms to help move a piano, the church can sit back and say “We won’t do that again.” or get the congregation used to stepping out of the comfort zone until it becomes natural and normal…then you have to up the workout!
New Logo for In Search of The Great Pastor Conference!
I want to thank you for reading my blog! Here is the new logo for the In Search of the Great Pastor Conference coming up on February 25-26th!
If you are a senior pastor I hope you are making plans to come! If you aren’t a senior pastor, I hope you are encouraging your pastor to grow by attending a conference where he can both help others and help your himself and your church!
What is the secret to reviving a dead church?
Filed under: Church Revitalization, Encouragement, Random Thoughts, church growth
The secret to reviving a dead church at the base level is simple. People must fall in love with God to the point that their love is contagious! Have you ever noticed how on a personal level, there are people that you like to be around? They inspire you to be a better you. There are also people that make you cringe when you see them coming. Admit it, there are those negative people that inspire you to be a better you by getting out of there as quickly as possible. Churches are the same. Is your church one that inspires people to live and love like Jesus? Or is it more the discouraging church that drives people away? Before I get any hate mail, I am not talking about watering down the gospel so as not to offend people. If the WORD OF GOD offends people, they need to be offended, but when the church offends them, then the church has a problem to fix. Beg God that your church can be one that is making a difference in your community through the contagious love of Jesus Christ! When that is taking place, you will no longer be a dead church!
Why do Missions?
I have been in many different denominations in my life and one of the huge differences I have seen is that some put an emphasis on missions, and others don’t. The usual reason given by those who don’t give money to or send foreign missionaries is that there are too many people here in the USA who need the Lord to spend money in other countries. I am offering a third option. Missions is wherever you are! If that is in small town USA, then that is your mission field. If you are in a urban setting..that is your mission field. If you are outside the USA, then that is your mission field! So what about giving to “missions”? We are the richest country in the world…at least until we collapse. I make more in a month than most people in the world make in a year! Even though I make less than the “average American”. People taking the Gospel to those outside the USA don’t have the luxury of working a side job to make ends meet. Many times due to visa restrictions, they are not allowed to work. We then have a choice to make. Live in our luxury and make excused, or give to those who are working to take the Gospel to their mission field! (Please do not confuse this with the idea of giving to those who don’t work and want to live off of others.) I have never had to miss a meal because I gave too much and then didn’t have money to buy food. God encourages us to test HIM in this…HE will make up the difference!
Prosperity Doctrine???
Lately, I have read a few great books by authors not writing from a biblical or christian world view. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom by Suze Orman. Each of these books bring out an interesting point, especially since they are not written for the “Christian” market. That point is that giving is an important part of wealth. As Americans we are wealthy. If you feel poor see my previous post about this. By giving more, we open up our lives to receive wealth in many forms. There is something about not trying so hard to hold on to money that the rich understand well. Solomon, the richest man to ever live, the man who has tried every pleasure and found them meaningless, knew what it was to give lavishly. He built the temple of our Almighty God! Does this mean that if we write a big check to the church this week that next week we will be millionaires? No, it doesn’t, but a lifestyle of giving does lead to being happy, successful and even possibly wealthy. Try giving more to see if God doesn’t make up the difference. Each of these “secular” authors found this biblical truth to be true. I think that while being a follower of Christ in no way guarantees riches, following God’s plans concerning money are the best financial plans that one can follow.
Paris and Back in three days!
Tuesday afternoon, I took off for Paris…in my truck. While I had a great time working with my father in law in Paris, Tennessee – No one there speaks french. Paris,TN isn’t really trying to be Paris, France, but it does have a replica Eiffel tower. Is your church like that? Are you trying to be just a sort of imitation of another church. Did you just put in new carpet to look like another ministry? Each church should be part of THE CHURCH – The body of Christ. Thus each body of believers need to seek God to find out HIS plan for that congregation. It will never be just a cheap copy of another church.
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