Obadiah 1 - 21

This weekend's sermon focuses on Obadiah. The Tale of 2 Brothers - Edom - Israel. Jacob and Esau and ultimately our struggle with the Spirit and the Flesh.

It is Part 4 of our Minor Prophet Series.

My Questions for the Commish of the NHL

I. will the NHL ever allow a 7th Team in Canada?

II. Can we have more advance notice what the next Winter Classic would be? Like a year and not just 6mths?

III. Considering the love - hate relationship people have of you. (They either love you or hate you) What do you see to improve that image and the image of the NHL overall? (Especially given some of the PR of the NHL in the past. Example: Phoenix, Avery, lockout, No NHL players in Olympics after 2010? The next CBA, NHLPA etc.)

Anyways - just some questions I had.

The Wussification of God's People: The 3 Bs.

We, as the Church, sometimes get our focus wrong. Don't worry, it happens. Our focus sometimes ends up on the tools rather than the Toolmaker. Sometimes we focus on 3 Bs in ministry - Buildings, Bodies, and Budgets.

Are these 3 Bs bad? No. But if that is the only focus of your ministry, you are missing the point, or rather nothing more than a social club or business rather than focusing on Jesus.

You see Buildings can be a tool for leading people to Jesus but shouldn't be the sole focus.

Bodies are important as well. Souls are valuable and we are to Go and make disciples. And numbers for numbers' sake doesn't do anyone any good. It is about transformation and helping people be disciples, of well, Jesus.

What about the budget? Well the focus doesn't need to be solely on budgets - otherwise you drive yourself crazy. Are we to be good stewards with what God has given us? Sure. The focus isn't on these 3 things but on Jesus. Can these 3Bs help you in focusing on Jesus? sure. But in and of themselves should not replace nor compete with that of Simply Being the Church God has called us to be.

So how has this been the wussification of God's people? Well we focus on these 3Bs so much that it takes the focus off of Jesus and His Bride. Let's get back on task. We can use these tools, but recognize what they are: tools and not the Chief Focus.

How about you? do you focus on the 3Bs? worry about them? Taking your focus off Christ?

I know I have at times.

Amos 3 - Listen to What God Says.

The sermon this week looks at Amos 3 and God calling.

God calling.

I. Israel.

II. Amos.

III. Witnesses

IV. For Judgment.

Goodbye Flames Hello Mustangs!

My alma mater recently changed logos with the whole name change from RBC Flames to MACU Mustangs!

The Chair - by the Skit guys!

Quit the Whining!

I appreciate so much guys like Doug Fields, Marko and what they have done for Youth Ministry. One of the things I've noticed lately though in both regional and even local church is that there are a lot of whiners out there.

We pick on Mr. Mega Church. We pick on Mr. Mega Speaker.

And if we don't do that we pick on Mr. small church and ask why aren't you growing?

Why don't you have this or that?

Or why am I not being feed? What's in it for me?

The problem with that statement is it becomes all about YOU rather than about God.

I think sometimes the church has alot of whiners in it. Let's grow up and move onto the Spiritual meat! I'm ready - How about you?

The church is the Bride of Christ ... my prayer is I treat her that way.

The "O" Knows - The 3 Os in Ministry.

Wanna know what ministry is about?

It is about the One Thing. I'm thinking it is about the "O" Factor. (Basically Jesus)

But here are 3 Os ... I'm going to try to live by (And no it isn't survivor to Outwit, outlast, outplay my fellow survivors)

It is about:

I. Outlove. God calls us to love another. Love our enemies. I John reminds us where love comes from. They will know we are Christians by our love. Imagine how the world will view us if we just loved people. Loved sinners, love those different from you, and loved even those that we just can't stand. Too often I hear about the people of the "Church" ("Christians") sling mud on the Bride of Christ. We need to stop this. Taking people from where they are. Listening, caring, being active. Discipleship takes time.

II. Out fruit. As a result of our love - people will see our Actions. They will know we are Christian not because of what we are againts, but because of how we live. So often the word "Christian" brings up images of wrongdoing, of hatred etc. Why not change that? I'm trying to do that. Trying not to be so hyprocritical in my own actions and lining up to what God wants me to be.

III. Outlive. Hang in there. Tough times will come. I've been through many fires in ministry - youth ministry especially. I have many friends have too. Learn to deal with criticism. Outlive your critics. Prove them wrong. Be nice to them. It is like heaping hot coals on their head. I hear alot of whiners in ministry ... I want it this way, oh the preacher didn't greet me, your church is too small, your church is too big, you don't have this program like Mr. Walmart McChurch down the street does. (I'm thinking so why don't you do something about it or goto McChurch before I just choke slam you into this floor - then remember I have to show them Grace and love too - see I told you it wasn't easy for me)

One of my friends, Bud Yoder, who has been in ministry for a long time reminded me "We are called to preach the Gospel." I think more leaders and myself need to hear that. Sure there are some good programs; things to do - but ultimately I'm called to preach. Whether it be that sermon in shoes or the one on Sunday morning.

How about you? How are you livng the 3 Os in your life?

Incredible Goal by a Nine yr old!

God is God. We are Not. Exploring the book of Joel.

This week as we study the book of Joel, we’re confronted with 2 things.

I.Watching the Day of the Lord.

II. Expecting the Day of the Lord.

Looking forward to preaching through the book of Joel this week.

Ten Stupid Things That Keep Churches from Growing

Just finished reading this book. In fact I really couldn't put it down. I've done about 8 out of the 10 - one of the biggest lessons I'm learning is I can't do it all, and God created me to be me. Great encouragement of a book. The advice of getting a mentor is well worth the price of the book. Probably one of the many reasons I enjoy my monthly Fusion group.

Hosea: The Prophet of a Broken Heart!

So this past Sunday we looked at the book of Hosea (The week before was the Intro to the 12) And basically was three points from Hosea.

I. God is Gracious.

II. God is Holy.

III. God is Love.

This upcoming Sunday is on the book of Joel.

The 10 Dumbest Things Christians Do - Mark Attebery: A Review.

So I just finished, Mark Atteberry's book. Here are the 10 moves:

Dumb Move #1: Slinging Mud on the Bride of Christ
Dumb Move #2: Winning People to the Church Rather Than to the LORD
Dumb Move #3: Living Below the Level of Our Beliefs
Dumb Move #4: Speaking Above the Level of Our Knowledge
Dumb Move #5: Hopping from Church to Church
Dumb Move #6: Fighting Among Ourselves
Dumb Move #7: Missing Golden Opportunities
Dumb Move #8: Settling for Mediocrity
Dumb Move #9: Allowing Wolves to Live Among the Sheep
Dumb Move #10: Accepting the Unacceptable

This book would almost make a great start into a sermon series. I've done some of these moves. I see them in the church. I've cited some. The fact is I've been guilty of Move #1 in my own way of making fun of the church - and all the Jesus Junk that is out there. My focus needs to be on presenting Jesus, not worrying about what this church, or that, or what he or she says but rather what God says.

Atteberry cites 2 Chronicles 25:2 towards the end of his book (pg. 198) "Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight, but not wholeheartedly."

I think that is what allows (As Atteberry does) for these dumb moves to happen is that it isn't done with wholehearted "Christians." We can learn from our dumb moves, correct them and use them as a wake up call to present Jesus.

A Review: Leadership From the Inside out - Kevin Harney

Our Fusion Group (Group of local Church leaders) are reading this book for the month of October as part of our monthly study.

Kevin Harney gives some great insight, as church leaders, to examine ourselves in ministry to keep ourselves on task and focus. From our heart, mind, ears, mind, mouth, hands, funny bone to that of being pure.

This leadership book is a great insight on how one can be more accountable and encourage and equip leaders to be better leaders. The discussion questions at the back make it ideal for small group ministry as well.

One of the disappointing things I felt like one of the chapters spent too little on the dangers of sexual desires and seemed rather rushed to finish the book and might of expounded more.

This book is a good start into the role of self examination. There is always room for improvement. I know I need to improve all the time. I'm looking forward to seeing what my peers will discuss the next time we meet and their opinions and self examination in context to what Harney is trying to convey.

Blogging Rules, FTC, Reviews and Me!

My friend, Patti Gibbons, has a great post on New FTC Rules for blogging


I've been online for over 12 years. Blogging here for over 6yrs. Done tons of Reviews ...

Here are some rules I follow:

1. Link Back. Cite the Source.

2. Most reviews I bought the book, myself, rarely are books or product given to me until recently by Thomas Nelson (Which I've done only one review for them: Notes from the Tilt a Whirl and getting ready to do Doug Field's latest book)

3. I have beta tested and helped edited material. (YS had some of the ole Forum Mods test some of the CD rom Ideas library, and Talksheets and I even helped out with Doug Fields' Videos That Teach Vol. 2 - and who said I hated Doug?)

4. Honesty is the best policy. Do I make mistakes? Sure. Do I mean to be mean spirited and not like Jesus? Absolutely not.

5. Know that I blog about life, Jesus, hockey and whatever else.

6. I love people who read my blog but my blog is about me, my ministry, and what God is doing. Sometimes I get criticized - and that's ok too.

Thanks to Adam
for helping me clarify more.

Top 10 Things for Minister Appreciation Month (October)

Top 10 Things you can give for Minister Appreciation Month

By Gerrard R. Fess

October is Pastor or Clergy or Minister Appreciation Month. The following are some suggestions to help show your leadership that you care. As a fellow minister some of these suggestions were given to me and helped encourage and show that I was valued as a member of the church body.

1. Gift cards – cards from local grocery store, home value places, blockbuster, I-tunes etc. Be creative. I just got one this week from one of our families just to say Thank you for a local Ice Cream place – and plan on taking my family.

2. Groceries. Get what their grocery list is or what they usually buy. Some churches in the South I’m told do what is called a “Pounding” and basically what a pounding is a challenge to fill the cupboards and fridge to the brim with stocks of food. Imagine saving $$$ on groceries. Very practical idea.

3. Free babysitting and complimentary funds for a date night.

4. Money – always works. Sometimes you don’t know what the family’s bills, struggles or what they need – it might be they need more clothes for the kids but the budget is tight so some extra funds come in handy.

5. A hand written card. Nothing says Thank You like getting the personal touch of someone saying thanks. Even an e-card would do too.

6. Subscription services to magazines (Leadership, Rev, Journal of Student Ministries, Group), online services and websites, podcasts. There are some online services like preachingtoday.com that have a subscription and might help with their ministry. Maybe get a wish list here of magazines or online services they’d dream of subscribing to.

7. Gadgets. Help the leadership maybe update their software, laptops, PDAs, cell phones. Maybe even have several families go in to help purchase some of this higher dollar items. This not only shows love but an investment in their ministry. It is only a matter of time that some leaders have to quit using Windows 2000 and eventually go MAC or Vista. Some of my students recently got me an I-pod. (I would not owned one otherwise).

8. Books – get a wish list of books you church leader has (note the favorite authors) or would like to buy. A good leader is a lifelong learner and always could use more reading resources and books.Consult their spouse for suggestions. Personally I’m reading more in leadership development than in youth ministry.

9. Extra Vacation days. Help organize more time off or see that they can get renewed by having their own personal retreat. Perhaps there is someone in your congregation who has a vacation home to offer, or see what your local camp ministry offers or other resources. One of the best times I had was when a family just invited us to go with them to the beach for the day.

10. Help send them to that seminar or convention that they always wanted to go to. Conventions can be expensive. Making sure they get there, have all the funds and don’t have to worry about how this affects their own personal budget or the church’s – set them at ease. There are many pastor, youth leader, marriage, conventions out there.

Honorable Mention:

-Do any of the above and more on any other day other than Pastor Appreciation Month will go a long ways too.

-Specifically pray for your church leaders. Ask them for prayer requests. Send them a note telling them that you are praying for them.

-Have a special ceremony to recognize them in front of the church body.
I still have my framed certificate that says “You are Appreciated” on the wall in my office from a few years ago.

-Celebrate those holidays, birthdays, anniversaries. Recognize the anniversary of the number of years that they been at the church. Promote and celebrate longevity.

-Take them out. Treat them to dinner, lunch, a fun activity. Sometimes it is the little things that say a lot. Be creative and have fun with showing love.
I know when I got some Jesus bandages and potty mouth gum for my birthday I was loved. (The gum was not for me, by the way, but for some of my students.)
Some resources:
National Clergy Appreciation

8 Ways to Encourage your pastor

Clergy Appreciation Planning Guide

Appreciation Ideas


Books:
Genuine Ministers – Marshall Leggett
Becoming Your Favorite Church – HB London, Neil Wiseman.

The 3Ms

The seems to be 3Ms to those serving in Ministry.

I. Ministering. Know you are not alone. Ministering to people isn't easy. It is part of the discipleship process. Taking people to where they are, to where they need to be. On the journey. Ministering takes effort, time, and patience.

II. Multiplying. It is about making more disciples and better disciples. Does it happen over night? Nope. It is equipping those who have ministered to - to continue to minister to others. They are to be equipped and be discipling others as well.

III. Mobilizing. It is about pooling our resources. Seeing what we can use to help others to continually be ministering and multiplying. Giving them hope and encouragement. Imagine if some of our larger churches - helped the smaller - or some of our smaller churches helped each other out? How much more would this benefit the we are in this together and the Kingdom of God is bigger than any one church.

I see this as Jesus taught his disciples to minister, they multipled and mobilized the resources they had. Just like Paul had Timothy .... We also need that Barnabus in our lives to encourage us.

Thoughts?

Here's An Idea For your Ministry: Personalize M&Ms.

Info here


Sounds like a great idea! Promote your group!

Can we stop the Blaming?

Recently The Restoration Herald
had a great article on "Can we Stop the Bleeding?" on the abuse that happens to ministers and staff alike in a church setting by elders.

I do think we need to be aware that there is some of this going on. I was even involved in efforts to help fellow youthworkers who are hurt by the church. (Which is very common but resources are rare for youth workers). There are lots of resources out there for ministers hurt and in pain by the church. I was there. I've been hurt, and probably have hurt the church itself.

But can we stop the blaming? Sure it might be someone else's fault, some who does this to you; we need to move on. Forgive. Extend forgiveness as it has been given to us. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

I've heard many a preacher grip and complain about his elders; and even vice versa. The thing to me is we're a team. This is Kingdom mentality. We have alot more at stake than our egos. Let's not blame each other or dwell on that past ministry or that one "Elder" that has hurt us. For every bad apple ... I've had a lot of good men I have worked with. Godly men who wanted to do what is right.

Rare is the article that sticks up for the godly elders. This should not be so. We, as ministers, need to be supportive of our elders. Hang in there. Pray for them. Point out the flaws. I've had my share of mistakes in ministry, if it wasn't for some of the elders I had ... I think I would of been gone along time ago. They allowed me to fail, learn, pick up the pieces. It was a learning process. Still is. When we start blaming .... we also cause some wounds to open up again ... and make the bride of Christ look bad.

My prayer is not only can we stop blaming each other; but support one another as Christ supports and forgives us.

Questions to ask:

1. How is your staff and leadership? A team? Conflict? some wounds there?

2. Why is it easier to blame others, than look at one's self?

3. What resources have you found to not only stop bleeding but the blaming?

4. Who do you have in your life that is a great example of a Christian leader?

onetimeblind - The Stool

Lost and Found Here

Here is a Message I got from Lost and Found ... You can order there CD Here


Hey Everybody!

Our new CD is Here. You may have received an email from us about Something Different in the past, but the current note is to let you know that our new CD is Here. We had great intentions a couple of years ago to send a note about our last CD Pronto, once it was available, but time passed and it did not seem so urgent after a bit.

Now, however, with our new CD Here for you to listen to--and for you to print out the pdfs on the disc with lyrics and chords so you can play the songs yourself--we thought it time to send a note to Everybody.

We hope you will get the new CD Here. LOST AND FOUND And, we hope you will come to a concert and request some of the songs after you have heard them. We hope you will print the lyrics and chords and play the songs yourself.

Here, finally, is a CD with songs that can be used. Once you hear the songs, you'll see what we mean. Sure, the songs can be just listened to--and if your tastes fall anywhere within the range between The Ramones and John Denver, we think you'll like them--but they are songs meant to be sung and played, performed before a live audience.

We hope to see you at a concert soon; but in the meantime, Here’s to you,

Michael and George
LOST AND FOUND