Simply Christmas

Doing a sermon series leading up to Christmas. Here are the Upcoming sermons ...

The Family Tree

The Word becoming Flesh

Two Births announced

The King's Birth

Twelve Words of Christmas

Jesus - The Early Years

Currently Reading: Why Churches Die.

What are you reading?

Pray for your Church's Missionaries.

In the November 10th, 2013 issue of The Lookout Magazine they give 4 ways in which to pray for missionaries.

1. Get a list of the people your church supports.

2. Make a daily, weekly, monthly schedule so you have time to pray for each one listed.

3. List topics you want to address when you pray for each:
Their family: pray for their marriage, pray for their children by name.
Health: pray for protection and rest.
Ministry: find out specific activities they're involved with or need they have.
Their field: pray for the unique challenges of the pace where they live and work.
And more.

4. Send the missionaries a note after you've prayed for them.

A Tale of Two Churches ..In God's timing.

Looking back at ministry and the "What of, could ofs" in it .... there is a variety of factors. Mistakes, decisions ... and issues but ultimately I believe God is in control.

From lessons of a young youth minister in Ohio to learning in Indiana to being close to family in Virginia and being a leader and servant in NC to what it means to be a preacher in Maryland to God's timing to being lead to Bonnie Brae.

Looking back I've had some great friends, challenges, and lessons along the way.

Back in 2004-2005 there were talks of two churches, two staffs, and a possible "Merger" of sorts ..... It was a fun, prayerful dream but who knew God had other plans.

Capital City and Cary Christian (The church were I served) were in the mix. Needless to say it didn't materialize other than the staff talking. Years later all the staff is gone and moved on. Capital City did merge with a church, called Lifepointe. And I'm told in 2014 Cary Christian will be no longer or rather will merge with THE Pointe and be the Cary campus. Kind of cool how God pulled this off. Two churches ....that merged elsewhere and God is using their resources partnering with Kingdom Growth. Prayerfully keep these ventures in mind and how God continues to be in the midst of it all. Seems that the Vision was cast, but it was in God's timing.

Currently Reading

Vertical Church - James MacDonald

I must like fellow Canadian pastors. James MacDonald comes hard hitting reality into what the church should be doing. This book is a wake up call. A good resource and wealth of information. I had to go back and re-read several chapters. It is so simple, foundational, and yet challenging.

One of the last chapters almost could of been the First. A Vertical Church is a praying church. One of the foundations of the church needs to be bathed in prayer. I appreciates James' heart for ministry and for the church to grow and give God glory.

Personally every church leader needs this book. I am glad a friend recommended it to me. I'm using it as a great tool and resource that where I serve may be the church God calls us to be and not anyone else.

what does the Church say?

Mega church
small church
Church in a box.
Denominational church

What does the church say?

Ignoring issues, social club, Business plans, traditional Blub,

Depending on Self, slinging mud on the Bride.

IS this for which Christ died?

The Church and Christ - such a mystery (See Ephesians 5:32 you'll see)

We are His only Plan ...Disciples making to be.

What does the Church Say?

Hopefully it is to be Jesus' hands and feet ....

Loving God and others the way things should be.

Just Think

A Card I received last month had the following message:

Just think

you're here not by chance,
but by God's choosing,
His hand formed you
and made you the person you are:

He compares you to no one else-
you are one of a kind.
You lack nothing that
His grace can't give you.

He has allowed you to be here
at this time in history
to fulfill His special purpose
for this generation.

Just Think

You are God's servant
in God's place
at God's perfect time.

-Roy Lessin

He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature. - 2 Peter 1:4 NIV

The Art of the Sermon

What does the Coffee say?

Water goes Blub.

Milk goes pour.

Sugar gets dropped.

Stir sticks goes round N Round.

But there is one thing that some people know ...

What does the coffee say?

ahhaahhahahhahahhahah

what does the coffee say?

Coffee such a mystery with your little beabs ,,,

And whatever its starbucks, dunkins, hortons, oh those little tidbits ....

The mystery of the coffee: Maxwell House or Folgers ....

What does the coffee say? do I drink it dark, double double or use that Keirig thing?

What does the Coffee say ....

(Everyone now with your mugs in the air like you really don't care ....)

The New Racism: Being PC isn't what it is cracked up to be.

Names change. Words change. Words are powerful. The color of one's skin isn't what defines the person - their character is.

I didn't grow up in the South. The only "Racism" I knew was the language "wars" of French versus English .... and the slang for those that spoke French from Quebec. Sure people were upset and some disliked the "Natives" I grew up not far from the Six Nations Reserve and was honored to have friends from Cayuga and even those across from different cultures, and different backgrounds. Hockey was King.

Somehow I ended up in college in NC. Asking questions on why people wore white hoods? The friction of some racism in Virginia. Learning more about the Civil War. Dr. King, Jackie Robinson, the Numbers 24, 42 meant something. The study of history, and respect for culture are huge things. The African-American League in baseball had legends. Yet there is still racism. Today we not only fight against "Colours" of skin but want to define what words, and lifestyles qualify hate and "Racism." A very slippery slope and a dangerous comparison to those that have fought for equality and to be treated for their character and not the colour of their skin.

So today we say "Redskins" is demeaning. Who decides this? We call a lifestyle choice, and sinfulness a "right" and the next "Civil Rights" movement for equality in marriage and the work place for same-sex. How far down this slope do we go? Would Vikings, Chiefs, Braves, and even Canadians (Afterall they just play hockey and fight right? and who wants that other than those fighting in the Washington DC?)

How far do we take the political correctness?

Next thing you know Christians will be not allowed to pray in Jesus' name. Not allowed to preach against homosexuality. And there will be some "Churches" accepting behaviour that isn't that godly.

What we need is less on being PC and more people wanting to be godly ...than our World will be turned upside down. Then it wouldn't matter the colour of one's skin but Who you are a follower of.

#Notafan

From a Church Perspective dealing with Businesses.

So recently our church has had some issues with some businesses ....

1. A website company that we wanted to change our site, and update it. Webmaster no response after emails, phone calls, and months waiting ... (I mean months like 4) So we move on ... get a new domain, 100% control .... and are currently having our website as a work in progress. Question is how does one stay in business if they deal with people that way? (We're just letting our old domain run out ...SAD)

2. Business to help do our windows, several calls, no response ...after a few months - we move on to the next bid and they start within the week ...and the first business finally responded but told we already moved on ... And again how do businesses stay in business if they want people to hire them?

3. Big chain "Office Supply" place .... We design a business card and have them print them ...500 business cards. First set not what we had designed - sent back to update ... This is back in September ..... Still waiting on the business cards.

Here is the lessons I believe we've learned in each of these situations.


I. Not every Business wants your business. SAD really.

II. Be patient - even if you don't want to be.

III. There are times to move on and get someone else to do it.

IV. Treat people as you would like to be treated. The Golden Rule. Apparently the above haven't learned that Sunday School lesson yet.

V. Pray.

VI. Your Reputation is everything. Sure there are times when mistakes are made ... and you blow it ...learn to correct move on ...and do the best you can.

VII. You set the example. Be firm. Be bold. And say "We're moving on ..."

VIII. Once you have a plan for moving on ...those handling the next phase ...treat them with Respect, Give responsible, and Be the best you can.

IX. Not all businesses are Christ-liek, but that doesn't mean you don't have to be. Let's be Jesus to those that need it.

X. Dealing with the "Business" aspect of ministry isn't always easy; but as you use these things as "tools" you get to point people to well, Jesus.