What is that Smell?

What is that smell?

In
2 Corinthians 2:15-16 it says:

New International Version (NIV)

"15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?"

For we are the aroma of Christ. We either smell like death or life. We either are sweet or we stink. There is no inbetween. What aroma of Christ (if any) are you giving to others? Are they smelling you and thinking, "Man, I don't want to be near you" or are they saying "There is something different and special about you." (To which you point them to Christ)


I've always like Pepe. I felt sorry for him. The problem is He is a romantic. He wants to be sweet, act sweet, but his aroma says otherwise. (Funny thing is we named our black cat we had, Pepe). Thar is the issue of some Christians - they want to be sweet, sometimes act it (We call them Fans of Jesus) but are far from Followers of Him.

The Sweet Aroma of Christ is summed up in the great commandment: Love God and love others. The ole saying "They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love ..." What you do daily, how you act, react, and treat others shows what you love or don't love. So let us press onward and show the love of Christ to all.

So what aroma do you have? My prayer is it doesn't stink.

"Self Promoting" Christian Blogs = Self Righteous?

Here is a pet peeve of mine ... Christian leaders that self promote their own blogs every day. In fact if it isn't every day it is every other day on other social media sites such as groups in Facebook. All they post is their blog ... don't contribute to the conversation ... and sometimes post their blog posts just to stir things up. It gets old. There are things as "Google Reader" to add people's blogs to one's reader or even an RSS feed. You can also have the posts emailed to you ... but no instead these authors and Christian leaders just post their blog posts on the site ... and it is like saying:

1. Hey look at my latest writing .... I'm cool.

2. I, know it all. How self-righteous of you.

3. Promotes this celebrity mentality.

4. Promotes sometimes disunity.


What do you think? am I off base? I know there are some good authors out there and probably don't mean it that way.

Maybe they can see ...check out my blog and add it to your Feed. Or post their blog posts they think contribute to the issue that is being discussed ... to just post your latest blog post and that is it ...adds nothing but self promotion and almost seems you are being arrogant and self righteous at the same time ...no matter how good or bad your writing is.

Online Resource Index for Hurting Church Leaders

One of the best resources for those hurting in ministry is parsonage.org Found here
for either ministers, youth ministers etc.

They have listings for Church conflict, counseling, retreat centers etc.

One of the Finest people that I consulted with while in transition with a few ministries I had.

25 Books for those Church Leaders that are Hurting.

One of my biggest passions and sympathy for is those that are ministers and have been hurt by the church. There are tons of stories out there .... Sheep that bite. Churches that have hurt some good preachers ... and of course preachers that have hurt churches too!! My hope is that the church improves. I love the Church. See the potential in her. See people that have abused her; and people that misuse "the Church and her leaders."

So this is to encourage my fellow workers in the ministry: Hang in there. Don't quit. The grass isn't always greener.

Through the years there have been some good books and resources that have encouraged in in the midst of down times.

Here they are:

1. Brothers We are Not Professionals - John Piper

2. Christian Minister - Sam Stone

3. Churches that Abuse - Ronald M. Enroth.

4. Dare to Drop the Pose- Craig Groeschel

5. Dear Preacher, Please Quit! Roy Branson. Jr.

6. Escape from Church, Inc. E. Glenn Wagner

7. Find Us Faithful - Bob Russell

8. Genuine Ministers - Marshall Leggett

9. How to be an Effective Church Leader - Sam Stone

10. I'd Rather See a Sermon - Dave Stone.

11. Keeping Your Head Above Water - Dave Stone

12. Leadership from the inside out - Kevin Harney

13. Leading on Empty - Wayne Cordeiro

14. Making Sense of the Ministry - Warren and David Wiersbe

15. Painful Side of Leadership - Jeff Iorg

16. Pastors in Pain - Gary Preston

17. Pastors at Greater Risk - HB London Jr, Neil B. Wiseman

18. Power of Loving Your Church - David Hansen

19. 10 Things Every Minister Needs to know - Ronnie Floyd

20. They Smell like Sheep - Lynn Anderson

21. Things They Never Taught You in Seminary - Deborah and James Bushfield

22. Tool box for Busy Pastors - Barry Campbell

23. Wounded Minister - Guy Greenfield

24. Who Stole My Church? - Gordon Macdonald

25. Pastors Handbook - John Bisagno.

I believe every preacher, leader, etc. Needs to have one or more of these books on their bookshelves to encourage them and when times get tough.


Honorable mention:

The Healthy Pastor - Dennis Bickers

The new Guidebook for Pastors - James Bryant and Mac Brunson

Moments for Pastors - Robert Strand.

Church Unique

In the midst of reading this book. A very interesting book. It is probably one of the books that should of been written years ago. It talks how one can cast vision and create a movement. One of the focuses it tends to focus on is how we as the church can be the church rather than the focus on programs but on setting things forward.

A Partnership That didn't Happen!

So I heard about a guy named Dudley Rutherford in CA whose church merged and helped out another and went on to be successful. I had a friend who went through having a partnership with another church and they combined resources and eventually became United Church in Richmond.

So this past Fall, I had a friend, who sent out an email looking for a church to help out their struggling congregation.

(A independent Church who came out of Lutheran background, and was meeting at a 7th Day Adventist Church where the church I serve use to met - coincidence??) So I responded and we met for lunch and showed his leaders our facility.

I didn't know where we stood - other than they were struggling financially and were seeking what the next steps were.

Either:

I. Use our facility and operate as a separate church.

II. Combine resources and merge

III. Say "Thanks but no thanks".

I was very upfront where we stood doctrinally. They saw our statement of faith and agreed with it. They came out of the Lutheran denomination due to liberalism .... (Female pastors and stand on homosexuality etc)
I told them about the Lord's Supper and Baptism.

So I didn't hear from them in months. Then a few weeks ago ... I get a call from their pastor. He'd like to have his leaders meet ours if willing. So it was decided to hold a meeting after church and just listen. Introductions were made and questions asked. (I was waiting for the ASK and facilited some of the dialogue which I assumed would be coming from the other congregation). The meeting itself was very cordial but seemed to focus on our differences and a step like putting the cart before the horse.

It was suggested maybe to meet as a smaller group. We had all closed in prayer.

Then people read too much into it. What if we merge? What is this doctrine was taught? What if?

We weren't even there yet. It seemed our differences on Infant Baptism, and Communion separated us. So afterwards, the other church decided to explore other options.

Here is the lesson I think we can learn from this.

I. Our Church needs Leaders. I can't do it alone.

II. We need to stand firm and courageous on God's Word.

III. We need to think outside the box in ministry opportunities and be praying more.

IV. The Kingdom of God is bigger than anyone church. We are Christians only, but not the ONLY Christians.

As I reflect on this ... I'm also learning who I "Fellowship" with and partner with matters. There is a group of "pastors" from the community that meet monthly I go to meet with that I learn from though they are theologically different ... they do bring some resources to knowing what is happening in our area.

Then there is a group I meet with monthly that I learn, partner, fellowship with that have a Kingdom mindset and appreciate the group as we continue to pray for each other.

The older I get, the more conservative I'm becoming. As I reflect back on all of this it seemed to be a learning process for all.

Be praying for Christ Community Church.

Church merger article


Church mergers

Getting in Shape.

I use to kid with people "I'm getting in shape. Round is a shape." But I've been convicted. 1 Cor. 6:19-20 talks about the temple ... I've been sick of the jokes I heard about preachers being overweight; fat' and eating chicken alot (Though that last part might be true). So I decided to do something about it. I weighed about less than two years at the most over 242 ....

I've had friends, (like Matthew McNutt who was on the Biggest Loser) who put me to shame. So I've decided to do something about my weight. Get rid of Mt. Dew (though drinking Pepsi isn't good either) I'm now done to drinking some coffee, and not as much snackie foods, water and exercising. (Biking alot ....at the Y) As of this week I'm down to 206. My goal is to get under 200 ...

So what goals do you have?

Are you getting in shape?