Archive for February, 2008
· Categories Church, Personal
I just got to Cleveland, TN for Engage 21. This is a conference being put on by the Church of God, unlike any they have done before. It is described as a gathering of visionary leaders who seek to dialogue about the tension between what the church looks like and what Jesus intended it to look like. Tomorrow we will hear from Ed Stetzer. The sessions will present information and opportunities for dialogue about relevant ministry in the 21st century. Whether or not, that’s what we get, remains to be seen, but I’m excited about the fact that the COG is attempting something new.
The other thing that makes these 2 days fun is that Markus, our Middle School Pastor, is with me. He’s sitting on his bed here at the hotel looking up the cost to take Vinyl to CD…
It should be fun!
February 28, 2008
· Categories Humor
Do you ever do anything just to be mean? I’m sure you don’t, because you’re holier than I am.
Yesterday, I was in a meeting with my Pastor about an upcoming Sunday message and we were looking for a word of origin in the Greek (because we are super spiritual). We didn’t have a Keyword Bible or commentaries with us so I just went next door to David Lewis’s office to borrow some books. He runs half of the church. He oversees Adult Ministries, Community Development, Sports, and hundreds of other ministries. It’s also rumored that his budget is larger than everyone else’s combined.
He wasn’t there so I grabbed what I needed, and we used them. Then when I returned them, I got really mean. He’s extremely OCD about certain things. For example, he straightens this one picture every time he walks by it at the church. So as I’m putting his books back, I put them upside down, backwards, and out of order. I’m going to stop by in a little while, and just see if he’s noticed. Chances are, he’s rearranged the whole bookshelf.
David just looks OCD doesn’t he?
February 28, 2008
· Categories Link
Tony talks about being mocked or being average…HERE
Raul has a great quote from TD Jakes at C3 about leaders and conflict…HERE
Shawn talks about Futile Ministry…HERE
Alden shares a story about letting your guard down…HERE
Mark gave some great tips for better meetings…HERE
Chad has A TON of links to posts relating to Student Ministry…HERE
Mark Beeson challenges us about playing it safe…HERE
February 28, 2008
· Categories Blog, Christianity, Link, Spirituality
Ben wrote this on his blog yesterday in a post about a new book club entry from Oprah that appears to belittle Christ and any idea of absolute truth…
Last night, I told a longtime friend who is not a believer that I had stepped down as pastor of RCC. She replied, “Well it’s hard to have a church that teaches what you believe. Most people aren’t so narrow.” [dagger in the heart] Jesus is indeed more appealing when he’s not the way, the truth and the life. But any other Jesus is a whole other religion.
You can read the entire post HERE.
February 28, 2008
· Categories Leadership
Mark Batterson presents the idea of “zooming out” in order to see our problems, trials, etc for what they may be…God moments.
Yesterday in our staff meeting I was reminded of this idea, and how it might relate to leadership. Currently, we are facing some battles. Not life and death, but serious student situations, leadership struggles, and personality conflicts. In every one of these instances it is easy for us to get bogged down and eventually overwhelmed in the minute details.
What I encouraged our staff to do was “zoom out”. Let’s step out of these situations and see if the different perspective helps us see what’s really at play. It could be that we identify a solution. We might be able to navigate the interactions more effectively. No matter what happens, it can’t hurt. We just need to adjust our perspective.
It’s the idea that while my house is larger than I am, if I were to fly over it in an airplane, it would seem small. It’s size hasn’t changed, my perspective has.
When I was a boy my dad used to talk about his understanding when someone would say “Let’s magnify the Lord” during a worship service. How can you make God bigger? You don’t. But like a magnifying glass the more you focus on one object, the larger it appears and the smaller the things around it become. When I focus on the Lord and talk about how great He is, my problems seem smaller. They haven’t changed…my perspective has!
February 27, 2008
· Categories Movies
Corrie and I went on a psuedo-date last night. It was interrupted once, but that’s a different story. We used a gift card for dinner at Red Lobster, and then went to see Vantage Point.
I was really looking forward to this movie from the previews, and it was a good movie. It is a little different than the previews let on, but it’s still entertaining. I think the thing I like about it the most is that it was unique. The story line causes it to have to be shot a little differently. It’s not linear, so that was cool. It was weird seeing Jack from LOST in a different role…don’t know how I felt about that. I don’t think you’ll buy the DVD, but it’s worth seeing at the theatre or renting. Rating: B
February 27, 2008
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