I am reading Re-Create by Ron Luce. One great concept is what he calls leaning in. When you see your kid's heart being drawn away from your influence by friends and media you lean in. Spend more time with them and woo their hearts back.
I have always told couples I counsel that they need date nights. In a similar way your kids need special time with you, their parent. No one else will raise your kids for you. Make some time and lean into their lives. Lectures don't communicate love to your kids, time communicates love to your kids.
This morning has been time with Elizabeth.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Weekend Rewind
Today was missions sunday number 2 for 2010. Our theme for the year is, "Taking New Territory." Today we took a litle new territory with the largest one Sunday missions offering we have ever received, $950+.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Logical
I watched the news for the first time in several days. I have been working very hard on the house. The President got heckled during his speech to congress. It is only logical.
If we want a socialized health care system like England, then we need to have a legislature like England that shouts at one another while they are delivering speeches.
In some Rabbinic schools the students are taught to argue. They discuss their theological matter while yelling and being very forceful in their speech.
Our society is so dumbed down we really need it. People function on a Jerry Springer level in life. If our politicians don't get a little mad and do a little shouting the general public will not understand their argument because the general public does not argue civilly anymore.
We expect our leaders to act like stoics, while we act like hedonists. The hypocrisy (rudeness) of the public and media is a horrible as the hypocrisy of the elected officials. He shouted down the President, but you shouted down your spouse last week. He shouted down the President, but you watch Jerry Springer for enjoyment (a colossal waste of time).
If we want a socialized health care system like England, then we need to have a legislature like England that shouts at one another while they are delivering speeches.
In some Rabbinic schools the students are taught to argue. They discuss their theological matter while yelling and being very forceful in their speech.
Our society is so dumbed down we really need it. People function on a Jerry Springer level in life. If our politicians don't get a little mad and do a little shouting the general public will not understand their argument because the general public does not argue civilly anymore.
We expect our leaders to act like stoics, while we act like hedonists. The hypocrisy (rudeness) of the public and media is a horrible as the hypocrisy of the elected officials. He shouted down the President, but you shouted down your spouse last week. He shouted down the President, but you watch Jerry Springer for enjoyment (a colossal waste of time).
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Weekend Rewind
I hope you all had a great holiday weekend! Attendance has been good, at or above 140 since school started. Small Groups are all back in full swing.
We need to finish 2009 strong!!!
Usually our greatest growth and giving is in the January through April months of the the year. Let's see what we can do with September through December. If we stay on track we can have a record giving year with offerings of $172,000. But, if we finish strong we can do better. usually we have all our salivations in the spring. Let's lead some friends back to Jesus this fall.
My weekend was very full. I have been finishing some major remodeling at my house. Last night I sanded sheet rock till almost 9:00 p.m. There is still a lot to do. It seems that for me, Labor Day is always a day of labor.
We need to finish 2009 strong!!!
Usually our greatest growth and giving is in the January through April months of the the year. Let's see what we can do with September through December. If we stay on track we can have a record giving year with offerings of $172,000. But, if we finish strong we can do better. usually we have all our salivations in the spring. Let's lead some friends back to Jesus this fall.
My weekend was very full. I have been finishing some major remodeling at my house. Last night I sanded sheet rock till almost 9:00 p.m. There is still a lot to do. It seems that for me, Labor Day is always a day of labor.
Up, Up, and Away
In Judges chapter eight Gideon wins a decisive military battle and becomes the leader of Israel. The people are so elated with him that they push to make him king. He refuses. The Biblical principal is that God is king of Israel.
However, in the end of the chapter his son from a concubine is named, Abimelech. Keil and Delitzsch commentators tell us that the name means, "King's father." The indication is that Gideon named his son, "kings father." He refused the kingdom, but obviously rethought it later and began to think of ways to grab the power of the King's position.
Here is one the difficulties of our human race. Power and authority is gained, but seldom given back. Authority is shared in the beginning of an organization's life, but it slowly, often over a number of years or decades, begins to drift upward into the hands of a relatively small few. Resources then seem to do the same. Resources move upward, but increasingly fail to move back down to the lower levels, the entry levels of the organization.
There is seldom any way to correct this up, up, and away syndrome. It must be part of an organization's attitude and DNA from the beginning. Then it must be carefully and forcefully be protected.
Here are some examples.
--The United Sates increasingly is becoming a nation where the federal power and influence is increasing. Resources move toward the top, but seem to have a very hard time finding their way back to the individual citizens who need them.
--In the business world we have seen this through the bank bailouts and automotive bailouts. Money that is given directly to the top has a very tough time making its way down to the typical consumer. When it does it is often rewarding extremely bad behavior on the part of the consumer.
--In some situations the upward flow is not about money or resources, but about power, authority, and responsibility. Jobs, decisions, and authority moves upward to a few who are paid by the organization.
Human nature grabs power and authority, but it seldom releases that power, resources, or authority. The leader that stops the up, up, and away trend will face trouble. They will have to communicate more with those who share responsibility and authority. They will have to settle disputes more carefully. They will not likely be the name that is most popular and famous in historical terms. Fame follows authority, riches, and power. But, they may be the most loved by their peers in their day. Their ideas may have the greatest impact on the earth because they have shared and delegated well. The group name and concept will become global, but the leader may go somewhat unnoticed, unless he dies a grousome death for his followers and rises from the dead!
However, in the end of the chapter his son from a concubine is named, Abimelech. Keil and Delitzsch commentators tell us that the name means, "King's father." The indication is that Gideon named his son, "kings father." He refused the kingdom, but obviously rethought it later and began to think of ways to grab the power of the King's position.
Here is one the difficulties of our human race. Power and authority is gained, but seldom given back. Authority is shared in the beginning of an organization's life, but it slowly, often over a number of years or decades, begins to drift upward into the hands of a relatively small few. Resources then seem to do the same. Resources move upward, but increasingly fail to move back down to the lower levels, the entry levels of the organization.
There is seldom any way to correct this up, up, and away syndrome. It must be part of an organization's attitude and DNA from the beginning. Then it must be carefully and forcefully be protected.
Here are some examples.
--The United Sates increasingly is becoming a nation where the federal power and influence is increasing. Resources move toward the top, but seem to have a very hard time finding their way back to the individual citizens who need them.
--In the business world we have seen this through the bank bailouts and automotive bailouts. Money that is given directly to the top has a very tough time making its way down to the typical consumer. When it does it is often rewarding extremely bad behavior on the part of the consumer.
--In some situations the upward flow is not about money or resources, but about power, authority, and responsibility. Jobs, decisions, and authority moves upward to a few who are paid by the organization.
Human nature grabs power and authority, but it seldom releases that power, resources, or authority. The leader that stops the up, up, and away trend will face trouble. They will have to communicate more with those who share responsibility and authority. They will have to settle disputes more carefully. They will not likely be the name that is most popular and famous in historical terms. Fame follows authority, riches, and power. But, they may be the most loved by their peers in their day. Their ideas may have the greatest impact on the earth because they have shared and delegated well. The group name and concept will become global, but the leader may go somewhat unnoticed, unless he dies a grousome death for his followers and rises from the dead!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Mileage
This morning I mentioned that one study says that on average US residents drink 22 gallons of alcohol a year. Another study says that they walk 900 miles in year. That means we get 41 miles per gallon.
What does that mean for Christians who don't drink alcohol? One of our ladies figured it out (She is a math teacher). One ounce of communion juice monthly, and walking 900 miles gives Christians a 19,200 MPG rating.
What does that mean for Christians who don't drink alcohol? One of our ladies figured it out (She is a math teacher). One ounce of communion juice monthly, and walking 900 miles gives Christians a 19,200 MPG rating.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Blog Effectiveness
I have been thinking more about this blog being an effective tool for our church.
First, I need to blog more frequently and make some more effective links to and from it.
Second, I need to know what your experience with this blog has been like. Is it useful from your phone? Or, do you mainly check it from a computer? Do you want more church announcements or more devotional material.
Third, I have my blog entries showing up on my Facebook profile automatically. Thus, those who read it on Facebook are not counted by the stiemeter I use to count hits. When I put the blog on Facebook the meter went from 75 to 100 hits per week to 45 or 60. I assume it is because of the availability of Facebook. If you read it on Facebook rather than Blogger let me know.
Thanks,
First, I need to blog more frequently and make some more effective links to and from it.
Second, I need to know what your experience with this blog has been like. Is it useful from your phone? Or, do you mainly check it from a computer? Do you want more church announcements or more devotional material.
Third, I have my blog entries showing up on my Facebook profile automatically. Thus, those who read it on Facebook are not counted by the stiemeter I use to count hits. When I put the blog on Facebook the meter went from 75 to 100 hits per week to 45 or 60. I assume it is because of the availability of Facebook. If you read it on Facebook rather than Blogger let me know.
Thanks,
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
The Healthy Church
"The Healthy Church" is the title of the Wednesday night series of messages I am preaching. The concept is this, our church will accomplish its mission when the people in the church are spiritually healthy followers of Christ. Here are a few excerpts.
What the Church needs most is health. Spiritual health is measured by relationship with Christ.
--When a church has a few healthy believers it will be a little attractive.
--When a church has a lot of healthy believers it will be quite attractive.
--When a church has all healthy believers it will be irresistible!!!
"The church is a living organism and all living organisms grow. Living things either grow or die." (Rick Warren)
A church of healthy believers will be a growing church.
--A church with some healthy believers will grow some.
--A church with a lot of healthy believers will grow a lot.
--A church with all healthy believers will double quickly!!!
The church had been running 55 on Sunday mornings when I came to First AG Washington in 2003. In the last few weeks we have consistently had 134-136 on Sunday mornings. Our growth has been slow and consistent, about 12 or 15 added to our average attendance each year. Looking over our records, we have about 9 or 12 first-time salvation's each year, and some people returning to the faith too.
So, based on these numbers, we are a church of about 135 on Sunday's, but our healthy Christian core could be as few as one dozen. That is alarming! You can argue that there may not be a direct correlation between numeric growth and the number of healthy believers in a church, but I think there is.
I want to challenge every person in our church to begin thinking about their relationship with Christ. If you are faithful, you will be fruitful. Your fruitfulness is your faithfulness to Christ. If there is no fruit of harvest in your life, can you really say you are a faithful, saved, born again, follower of Jesus Christ? I know that is hard for some to swallow and most will rationalize it away. As your pastor, your spiritual life coach, it is my job to ask you the tough questions.
Please think about this. What must you change in your attitude and schedule to be a healthy, fruitful, follower of Jesus Christ? I love you all and want to help you. Please let me know what you think would assist you in your spiritual health. Perhaps some of the fault is mine, I am the Pastor! Give me a call some time soon and let me know what you perceive as the need or obstacle for growth in your fruitfulness. Now is a good time to communicate with me. I am arranging my preaching schedule for 2010 and your comments will help me pray.
What the Church needs most is health. Spiritual health is measured by relationship with Christ.
--When a church has a few healthy believers it will be a little attractive.
--When a church has a lot of healthy believers it will be quite attractive.
--When a church has all healthy believers it will be irresistible!!!
"The church is a living organism and all living organisms grow. Living things either grow or die." (Rick Warren)
A church of healthy believers will be a growing church.
--A church with some healthy believers will grow some.
--A church with a lot of healthy believers will grow a lot.
--A church with all healthy believers will double quickly!!!
The church had been running 55 on Sunday mornings when I came to First AG Washington in 2003. In the last few weeks we have consistently had 134-136 on Sunday mornings. Our growth has been slow and consistent, about 12 or 15 added to our average attendance each year. Looking over our records, we have about 9 or 12 first-time salvation's each year, and some people returning to the faith too.
So, based on these numbers, we are a church of about 135 on Sunday's, but our healthy Christian core could be as few as one dozen. That is alarming! You can argue that there may not be a direct correlation between numeric growth and the number of healthy believers in a church, but I think there is.
I want to challenge every person in our church to begin thinking about their relationship with Christ. If you are faithful, you will be fruitful. Your fruitfulness is your faithfulness to Christ. If there is no fruit of harvest in your life, can you really say you are a faithful, saved, born again, follower of Jesus Christ? I know that is hard for some to swallow and most will rationalize it away. As your pastor, your spiritual life coach, it is my job to ask you the tough questions.
Please think about this. What must you change in your attitude and schedule to be a healthy, fruitful, follower of Jesus Christ? I love you all and want to help you. Please let me know what you think would assist you in your spiritual health. Perhaps some of the fault is mine, I am the Pastor! Give me a call some time soon and let me know what you perceive as the need or obstacle for growth in your fruitfulness. Now is a good time to communicate with me. I am arranging my preaching schedule for 2010 and your comments will help me pray.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
If My People Will Pray
Sunday I started a new series of messages from 2 Chronicles 7:14. I want us to really focus on being healthy Christians in the next few weeks and months. If God is going to pour out a double portion of his Spirit on our church and we need to be healthy in prayer! Prayer simply put is communication with God. We need healthy communication with God.
Please keep up with these messages. I am going to work very hard to have each message posted on the church website. If you miss a week I really want you to catch up and get the podcast!
Again, I want to encourage you to begin praying for a double portion of God's spirit in your home, work, parenting, and ministry. Think it through for yourself. What would a double portion of God's spirit would look like in your life? Put everything on the table (altar before God) and find out what things need to be removed from life, what things need more attention, and what needs reorganization. A double portion of God's spirit is not measured by feelings, but by results. Organize your life for God's Spirit to create results for you.
III John 2
Please keep up with these messages. I am going to work very hard to have each message posted on the church website. If you miss a week I really want you to catch up and get the podcast!
Again, I want to encourage you to begin praying for a double portion of God's spirit in your home, work, parenting, and ministry. Think it through for yourself. What would a double portion of God's spirit would look like in your life? Put everything on the table (altar before God) and find out what things need to be removed from life, what things need more attention, and what needs reorganization. A double portion of God's spirit is not measured by feelings, but by results. Organize your life for God's Spirit to create results for you.
III John 2
Importance of Childrens Ministries
I found this great video by Dale Stringer, the Children's Pastor at Harvest Christian Center in Park Hills, MO. Go check it out. It will play automatically.
http://cmlu.org/
http://cmlu.org/
Monday, August 24, 2009
Dreaming
When I was in High School I had only been a Christian for six months when God directed and called me to be a Pastor. I spent a lot of time dreaming about what it would be like to be a Pastor in those days. One of my biggest questions was, "What will the people in the church I pastor be like?" I was willing to pastor any church, in any town God wanted, anywhere in the world.
Sunday was the annual picnic and it was the funnest picnic ever! Not the largest attendance ever, we were off by ten. But, it was the most fun, EVER! I had better help. We had better activities. We had more friendship making than ever at a picnic. It made me have a reoccurring thought.
Recently, I have had a reoccurring thought. All those years I dreamt and wondered about the people I would one day pastor. I prayed for the people I would one day pastor. I knew that when I was in High School there were a bunch of other High School kids in some other town that would be my board some day and so on. Today I have this reoccurring thought, these are the people I have prayed for. These are the people God has ordained for me to pastor and serve.
I am not a perfect Pastor. People in our church are not perfect people. But, I like them more and more all the time! Being a good pastor means some sacrifices along the way. But, what a great opportunity (and life) to be a pastor.
Sunday was the annual picnic and it was the funnest picnic ever! Not the largest attendance ever, we were off by ten. But, it was the most fun, EVER! I had better help. We had better activities. We had more friendship making than ever at a picnic. It made me have a reoccurring thought.
Recently, I have had a reoccurring thought. All those years I dreamt and wondered about the people I would one day pastor. I prayed for the people I would one day pastor. I knew that when I was in High School there were a bunch of other High School kids in some other town that would be my board some day and so on. Today I have this reoccurring thought, these are the people I have prayed for. These are the people God has ordained for me to pastor and serve.
I am not a perfect Pastor. People in our church are not perfect people. But, I like them more and more all the time! Being a good pastor means some sacrifices along the way. But, what a great opportunity (and life) to be a pastor.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Be Very Strong and Courageous
"Be Very Strong and Courageous." The Lord tells Joshua several times in Joshua chapter one that he should be strong and courageous in the invasion of Canaan. Then at the end of the chapter the community responds to Joshua telling them what the Lord has instructed them to do. Their response?
"Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go...Only be strong and courageous." Joshua 1:16-18
Can you imagine the power of a community of believers with this kind of dialogue in their hearts and mouths!
God gives clear direction.
The leader communicates it to the community.
The community responds positively.
Then, the community presses the leader to be strong and courageous and active.
In most churches today the Pastor gets a dream that is big and creative and for some reason it is the congregation's job to keep the Pastor from getting out of hand. What if the congregation's response was, "Pastor, that is a big vision! That road will be difficult and hard! Let's do it, but Pastor, don't be a whimp about it. Get busy and be strong and courageous!"
I write this blog entry today with tears in my eyes because our last board meeting was a beautiful picture of God giving direction, and the community then responding by pressing the leader to be immediate and forward moving on the vision.
I will post more about this later, but just to give you a glimpse, God has given me a theme for 2010. I will spend most of this fall preparing for the accomplishment of the 2010 vision and theme. If we will obey the Lord, and be strong and courageous, God is going to bless our sock off!
"Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go...Only be strong and courageous." Joshua 1:16-18
Can you imagine the power of a community of believers with this kind of dialogue in their hearts and mouths!
God gives clear direction.
The leader communicates it to the community.
The community responds positively.
Then, the community presses the leader to be strong and courageous and active.
In most churches today the Pastor gets a dream that is big and creative and for some reason it is the congregation's job to keep the Pastor from getting out of hand. What if the congregation's response was, "Pastor, that is a big vision! That road will be difficult and hard! Let's do it, but Pastor, don't be a whimp about it. Get busy and be strong and courageous!"
I write this blog entry today with tears in my eyes because our last board meeting was a beautiful picture of God giving direction, and the community then responding by pressing the leader to be immediate and forward moving on the vision.
I will post more about this later, but just to give you a glimpse, God has given me a theme for 2010. I will spend most of this fall preparing for the accomplishment of the 2010 vision and theme. If we will obey the Lord, and be strong and courageous, God is going to bless our sock off!
Monday, August 17, 2009
2010 Missions Trip
In 2009 we tried to get a team together to go to Equatorial Guinea for a missions trip with Carol Deal. That did not work out and the team would have been too small to be effective.
We are rescheduling that trip for 2010. I have put the dates January 30 through February 9th on my calender. We need to get moving on this one! We will be working with Africa Tabernacle Evangelism and the Deals to build Bible College buildings. Talk to me (Pastor Paul) ASAP to get you name added to the team.
We are rescheduling that trip for 2010. I have put the dates January 30 through February 9th on my calender. We need to get moving on this one! We will be working with Africa Tabernacle Evangelism and the Deals to build Bible College buildings. Talk to me (Pastor Paul) ASAP to get you name added to the team.
Weekend Rewind
Sunday was a very good day. Good to see some friends back at church following all the vacations and travel this year.
Worship was really great in both services. I love it when our church worships all together, and each person with all their heart. It really makes the way clear for good preaching and great prayer time following.
I believe that God did a lot of healing in both services. We talked about God's divine protection. But, that leads to the question, "Why did these other bad things happen to me if God protects his children?" It requires prayer, seeking God, and humility to accept his perspective to get the answer to that question for your particular situation. I hope that Sunday was the start of that journey with God to find the answer to your question. For others, I hope it was the conclusion of your journey that you have been on for a long time.
Worship was really great in both services. I love it when our church worships all together, and each person with all their heart. It really makes the way clear for good preaching and great prayer time following.
I believe that God did a lot of healing in both services. We talked about God's divine protection. But, that leads to the question, "Why did these other bad things happen to me if God protects his children?" It requires prayer, seeking God, and humility to accept his perspective to get the answer to that question for your particular situation. I hope that Sunday was the start of that journey with God to find the answer to your question. For others, I hope it was the conclusion of your journey that you have been on for a long time.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Moses
In my Bible reading I am finishing the Pentateuch. I am really struck this time through with the character of Moses. He was an amazing person. Raised in a palace, lived the middle of his adult life in exile, and the last third of his life he spent leading a nation out of slavery and into their own identity and property.
Here is what strikes me. In reading all the law of the first five books of the Bible you have to notice that Moses was quite unconventional in his politics. Often the law that is prescribed is prefaced or followed by something like, "do not do what the nations around you are doing."
I believe that the laws came from God. They were God's ideas. But, they were so different from what the Egyptians and Canaanites did that it must have taken great courage to enact the laws. The laws are not only to keep order, but to protect the human rights of justice, freedom, and economic opportunity.
It is amazing that Moses did not become the king. God set him up as the final authority, but he seems to submit to the priesthood that he formed under God's direction. How easy it would have been for Moses to take what God had given him and use it for his own pleasures. Moses actually give the next generation of authority to his brother Aaron's sons and to Joshua son of Nun, not his own children.
Can we modern day leaders be so altruistic and sacrificial in our church, school, business, and government? Do we make laws to protect our self interests, or the rights and interests of others and the least powerful in our realm of influence. Can we as leaders build an organization with structure and then have the discipline to live by our own rules? Can we build a structure through our leadership and then be willing to follow the leadership of our successor who is functioning under the same prerogatives that we enjoyed while we were in leadership?
The life of Moses really makes me think.
Here is what strikes me. In reading all the law of the first five books of the Bible you have to notice that Moses was quite unconventional in his politics. Often the law that is prescribed is prefaced or followed by something like, "do not do what the nations around you are doing."
I believe that the laws came from God. They were God's ideas. But, they were so different from what the Egyptians and Canaanites did that it must have taken great courage to enact the laws. The laws are not only to keep order, but to protect the human rights of justice, freedom, and economic opportunity.
It is amazing that Moses did not become the king. God set him up as the final authority, but he seems to submit to the priesthood that he formed under God's direction. How easy it would have been for Moses to take what God had given him and use it for his own pleasures. Moses actually give the next generation of authority to his brother Aaron's sons and to Joshua son of Nun, not his own children.
Can we modern day leaders be so altruistic and sacrificial in our church, school, business, and government? Do we make laws to protect our self interests, or the rights and interests of others and the least powerful in our realm of influence. Can we as leaders build an organization with structure and then have the discipline to live by our own rules? Can we build a structure through our leadership and then be willing to follow the leadership of our successor who is functioning under the same prerogatives that we enjoyed while we were in leadership?
The life of Moses really makes me think.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)