Deep Thoughts by Mr. G

We, all have HMs in ministry. You know the people who are very high maintenance. They consume your time. Drain your energy. At times you might even think they are demon possessed and want to run in the other direction. So how does one handle the HMs they have in ministry? 1. Pray for them. 2. Don't allow them to monopolize your time. 3. Set boundaries. Things like "I love to talk more but I have this amount of time to do so ...." 4. Be kind to them. (It is like heaping hot coals ....see Romans 12:19-21) 5. Love them. 6. Encourage them to get involved in ministry. (So they quit bothering you ..j/k) 7. Send them a note. 8. Listen to their stories. 9. See it from their perspective - perhaps there is a reason for their being an HM and maybe help them get the help they need. 10. Show them how they can be effective. (Introduce them to this thing called Social networking ... that way they would be busy bothering other people ....J/k) What other suggestions would you have to help

PSSTTT ... Want to know a Secret? The Secret in Ministry? It isn't how great your lessons are. It isn't even how great your messages are. It isn't even those great brochures, letters, and direct mailing you do. One of the most important things you can do in your ministry doesn't involve gimmicks, technology, nor anything at all but some time and effort. Wanna know what it is? Follow-up and show people you care. Showing people you care is showing the love of Jesus. Serve, get in people's lives. It speaks in volumes more than anything else you can do. Spend time with people. Listen to their stories. Serve, be involved. Afterall, this isn't really a secret but what we must be doing to be the church God called us to be.

Got this tract in my door this weekend. The other side basically gave their version of plan of salvation and the local Fundamentalist church. (They actually have fundamental in their name) Now my questions are: 1. How many people actually are going to respond to something like this? 2. Why waste time and paper? 3. Like I'm really convicted over this? 4. This is almost "Junk" The way to present Jesus is to be Jesus to people; not this "Hey do you know where you end up if you were to die tonite?" Fact is Jesus doesn't say "If you were to die tonite would you be ready?" He says: Repent, Follow, deny. Weird that an obsolete method seems so cutting edge for some people. SAD thing is I saw teens passing these out! Am I off my rocker? Do you think tracts work?

What does your Church for First Impressions? I've seen cookie delivery, mugs etc. Gimmicks. Greet at the door etc. One of the things we have is a Visitor's packet and a follow-up plan to our visitors. We, even, include a postcard of First Impressions. It states: "Our church wants to do the best job possible of welcoming guest like you feel welcome. Would you please tell us what you think? 1. What did you First notice? 2. What did you like best? 3. What can we do better? --------------------------------------------------- I just got one back that usually states the usually liked the friendliness, sense of family, casual atmosphere. The what can we do better answer was classic: "Keep doing what you're doing." WOW

I used this illustration to show the life cycle of a Church yesterday (Heard the illustration from Cam Huxford - a preacher in GA) Sermon here Some good stuff. Unless we're willing to change and grow and rebirth; we'll continually be battling entitlement and dying.