Here is a definition for tragedy I would like for you to consider. Tragedy is succeeding in life in the things that do not matter. Think about this for a minute. It is being successful in things that ultimately make no difference while neglecting the things that matter most. It is like climbing the ladder of success only to find that it is leaning against the wrong wall. We may reach the top, but for what purpose?
Over the years I have seen many ministers change churches supposedly climbing up the ministerial ladder. Most would not put it that way, but I've seen very few ministers actually move to a smaller church or one that paid less. Some have achieved very "prestigious" ministry positions, but I wonder, when they reach the end of their lives what they will see as the difference their ministry made. Instead of being shepherds who knew their sheep and ministered to each one according to their needs (like Jesus), they became excellent managers and skilled administrators. Some become highly respected church leaders with broken homes and families. They may travel the world speaking at church conferences but cannot win a hearing in their own homes.
Every so often we need to stop and look at how we are spending our time, our energy, and our financial resources. Are we investing those resources in the things that really matter? Are we focusing our efforts on things that will really make a difference in people's lives, or is our life a tragedy in the making? My prayer for myself, and for the readers of this blog, is that God will show us anytime we are focusing too much on the wrong things and bring us back to those things that really matter.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The love of God
I heard a Christian counselor say today that most men do not believe God loves them. He went on to say that this includes most pastors. He believes that because many men are so performance driven that we believe we must earn God's love by the things we do, and this is why many men, including pastors, can so easily become workaholics. No matter how much we do, it is never enough to earn the love of God we so deeply crave.
There is a big disconnect between what we say, and preach, and what we believe deep within our core. Nearly every preacher I've ever heard can preach a great sermon on the unconditional love of God, but I'm not sure all those preachers really believe it for themselves. Many of the ministers I encounter are trying so hard to earn something, whether it is God's love, the respect of others, or, in some cases, the approval of their fathers. We know in our minds that God loves us, but sometimes it can be hard to really believe it in our hearts. This is a heavy burden that many ministers carry.
Do you believe there is some truth in this? Do you really believe that God loves you unconditionally or do you believe there is some stuff in your life that make such love impossible? Do you find there are times you feel you have to prove your worth to God? What about the other men in your church? Are any of them struggling with receiving God's unconditional love? How can your church help them experience that love?
There is a big disconnect between what we say, and preach, and what we believe deep within our core. Nearly every preacher I've ever heard can preach a great sermon on the unconditional love of God, but I'm not sure all those preachers really believe it for themselves. Many of the ministers I encounter are trying so hard to earn something, whether it is God's love, the respect of others, or, in some cases, the approval of their fathers. We know in our minds that God loves us, but sometimes it can be hard to really believe it in our hearts. This is a heavy burden that many ministers carry.
Do you believe there is some truth in this? Do you really believe that God loves you unconditionally or do you believe there is some stuff in your life that make such love impossible? Do you find there are times you feel you have to prove your worth to God? What about the other men in your church? Are any of them struggling with receiving God's unconditional love? How can your church help them experience that love?
Monday, January 5, 2009
Church and the family
No doubt your church has had many discussions about how to reach new people and grow the church. You have probably also been considering new Bible studies for the upcoming year. But, what are you doing about growing healthy families? How is your church helping wounded people experience healing? How might doing that impact your church and community?
According to some studies one of every three girls and one of every five boys have been sexually violated by the age of 18 by someone who they trusted. Is it possible that any of these people, maybe now adults, are sitting in your congregation? It is also estimated by some that 43% of American women have had an abortion. Is it possible that some of these women are members of your church? 40% of American children are now growing up in a single parent household. Numerous studies have pointed out many problems these children may face. How is your church addressing the needs of these children and their parents?
It would seem that there is a major need for churches to begin to seriously address issues of the home and family. According to scriptures such as Dt. 6 the home should be the primary place where Christian discipleship occurs, but can discipleship happen in the dysfunctional situations described here? When people experience the kinds of pain mentioned here today it impacts the way they look at themselves, others, and God. Many find it very difficult to trust in God when their whole lives they have been taught they can't trust anyone.
Our churches need to begin speaking truth regarding family life, human sexuality, trust, and how to build healthy relationships with others. So much of our society is sending messages about all of these issues, but these messages often run counter to biblical teaching. If the church does not address these issues, then who will do so in a way that honors God and His plan for mankind.
As a pastor I often told our church that our primary responsibility was to win people to Jesus Christ and our second primary responsibility was to help develop healthy families. I still believe that. I would like to hear your opinion and what you are doing to do both. Maybe what you are doing would encourage other readers of this blog to attempt something similar in their church.
According to some studies one of every three girls and one of every five boys have been sexually violated by the age of 18 by someone who they trusted. Is it possible that any of these people, maybe now adults, are sitting in your congregation? It is also estimated by some that 43% of American women have had an abortion. Is it possible that some of these women are members of your church? 40% of American children are now growing up in a single parent household. Numerous studies have pointed out many problems these children may face. How is your church addressing the needs of these children and their parents?
It would seem that there is a major need for churches to begin to seriously address issues of the home and family. According to scriptures such as Dt. 6 the home should be the primary place where Christian discipleship occurs, but can discipleship happen in the dysfunctional situations described here? When people experience the kinds of pain mentioned here today it impacts the way they look at themselves, others, and God. Many find it very difficult to trust in God when their whole lives they have been taught they can't trust anyone.
Our churches need to begin speaking truth regarding family life, human sexuality, trust, and how to build healthy relationships with others. So much of our society is sending messages about all of these issues, but these messages often run counter to biblical teaching. If the church does not address these issues, then who will do so in a way that honors God and His plan for mankind.
As a pastor I often told our church that our primary responsibility was to win people to Jesus Christ and our second primary responsibility was to help develop healthy families. I still believe that. I would like to hear your opinion and what you are doing to do both. Maybe what you are doing would encourage other readers of this blog to attempt something similar in their church.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Favorite books for 2008
Here is a list of the five books I most enjoyed reading in 2008. I think they would be helpful to many bivocational ministers. They are presented in no particular order for your consideration.
- Greg Ogden, Unfinished Business: Returning the Ministry to the People of God (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003). This excellent book discusses how to return ministry to the people. Ministry was never intended to be done only by trained clergy but by the entire body of Christ. This book was first published in 1990 as The New Reformation and has been updated to include references to eight new movements in the church.
- Ravi Zacharias, Can Man Live Without God (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 1994). Anything written by Zacharias is worth reading. This book provides one of the most compelling apologetics for the Christian faith you will ever read. He also challenges the postmodern view that absolute truth doesn't exist by pointing to the One who said He was the truth.
- William P. Young, The Shack (Newbury Park, CA: Windblown Media, 2008). I seldom read more than one fiction book a year, and this was the one for this year. I found the book fascinating. It is a very controversial book that some people have called heresy. The book tells the story of a man racked by grief who encounters God, but he encounters God in ways that he never expected.
- Edward H. Hammett, Spiritual Leadership in a Secular Age: Building Bridges Instead of Barriers (St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2005). This excellent book explains how churches can build bridges that will reach out into their communities. I think I used an entire highlighter on this book.
- John Jackson, PastorPreneur (Friendswood, TX: Baxter Press, 2003). The author defines a pastorpreneur as an innovative leader, a creative dreamer who is willing to take great risks in church ministry with the hope of great gain for Christ and his kingdom. This book provides five strategies to help lead your church into the future. The strategies include (1) Grab the Community's Attention; (2) Build Strategic Partnerships; (3) Conduct Faith-Building Events; (4) Everyone's a 10-Get 'Em Moving; and (5) Multiply Your Impact.
Happy reading
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Goals vs resolutions
I stopped making new year's resolutions several years ago when I found I consistently broke most of them by noon on new year's day! However, I do set some goals at the beginning of each year, and I take these goals very seriously. A few years ago I began using a goal setting form that Zig Ziglar's company produces. Not only do you write out your goal, but you also write out why you've established this particular goal, a list of people you will need to help you achieve it, potential obstacles, and new things you may need to learn to achieve the goal. Finally, this form requires you to write out the action steps you need to take to achieve the goal. I like using this form because it forces you to think through the goal rather than just writing down something you might want to accomplish.
I develop goals for my personal life, my family life, and my ministry. These goals may include financial targets, vacation plans, educational goals, and anything else I want to accomplish in the new year. For instance, one of my goals for 2009 is to complete my DMin. In order to do this I need to take two more classes, which I will take in January and March, and write my thesis. Another goal for this year is for my wife and I to take at least one vacation by ourselves. When you have children and grandchildren living in different parts of the country it is easy to plan vacations to visit them, but this year I want to make sure my wife and I have a week to ourselves. We will sit down in the next few weeks and schedule a week for that vacation. I have several other goals as well for the new year.
I learned a long time ago that writing one's goals was the first step to achieving them. An unwritten goal is usually just wishful thinking. Something happens when that goal is put on paper. I keep the goals in front of me so I don't forget about them. A few years ago I spent some time every evening evaluating what I had done to accomplish my goals that day. I did this every day for four years until it became second nature to me. It really helps keep me focused on achieving them.
What about you? What are your goals for 2009? Do they include your family, your church, your personal development, and anything else that may be important to you right now? Are they written down? Do you have specific plans for how you'll achieve them? Do your goals include both short term and long term goals? I believe goal setting is one of the most effective things you can do to ensure a productive year. Without goals you're apt to just drift along hoping something good will happen, but with some clear goals in mind you can be working to make good things happen in your life. If you need help in setting your goals feel free to contact me.
I develop goals for my personal life, my family life, and my ministry. These goals may include financial targets, vacation plans, educational goals, and anything else I want to accomplish in the new year. For instance, one of my goals for 2009 is to complete my DMin. In order to do this I need to take two more classes, which I will take in January and March, and write my thesis. Another goal for this year is for my wife and I to take at least one vacation by ourselves. When you have children and grandchildren living in different parts of the country it is easy to plan vacations to visit them, but this year I want to make sure my wife and I have a week to ourselves. We will sit down in the next few weeks and schedule a week for that vacation. I have several other goals as well for the new year.
I learned a long time ago that writing one's goals was the first step to achieving them. An unwritten goal is usually just wishful thinking. Something happens when that goal is put on paper. I keep the goals in front of me so I don't forget about them. A few years ago I spent some time every evening evaluating what I had done to accomplish my goals that day. I did this every day for four years until it became second nature to me. It really helps keep me focused on achieving them.
What about you? What are your goals for 2009? Do they include your family, your church, your personal development, and anything else that may be important to you right now? Are they written down? Do you have specific plans for how you'll achieve them? Do your goals include both short term and long term goals? I believe goal setting is one of the most effective things you can do to ensure a productive year. Without goals you're apt to just drift along hoping something good will happen, but with some clear goals in mind you can be working to make good things happen in your life. If you need help in setting your goals feel free to contact me.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Caoching candidates
The response to my earlier blog about wanting bivocational ministers to coach had a large response. I needed five candidates and received multiple times that number of volunteers. I want to thank everyone who applied, and I will be making a decision soon who I will choose. Although I do not believe it will be a problem, I am hoping to hear a definite answer regarding the acceptance of the DMin project that will focus on coaching bivocational ministers. The DMin director has sent me an e-mail saying he likes the idea, but I have not had my proposal officially approved yet. After Christmas I will make the final decision regarding which five candidates to choose whether or not I have received official approval. Thanks to everyone who volunteered!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The gift of thankfulness
Like many of you, this is a very busy time of the year for me. In addition to Christmas shopping and preparing for the festivities of the season I've been very busy with a lot of ministry activities. I sent in my DMin thesis proposal this week and hope to hear soon that I can proceed with that project. I have a class the first week of January with six textbooks that I'm trying to read. Campbellsville University asked me to join some other folks in reviewing nearly 100 applications for a leadership scholarship they offer incoming students. Just as I concluded that task I received the author's proofs for my next book with a request that I review them and make any changes by December 29. This will be the last chance to get everything right before the book goes to the printer. Tonight I'm meeting with the leadership of a conflicted church in an effort to help them through this difficult time.
This morning I wrote out checks for some bills and set them aside to take to the mail box later. As I turned to my next task I suddenly felt overwhelmed with gratitude. Like most average Americans 2008 has been financially challenging for us. Our retirement accounts have taken about a 30% loss this year. My wife and I have drastically cut our spending trying to pay down some debt. We look for bargains when we do shop, and we're trying to make things last just a little bit longer before replacing them.
But as I thought about the checks I had just written I also thought about the thousands of people who have lost their jobs this year. I thought about the thousands whose homes have been lost in foreclosure and the many who have filed bankruptcy. Our bills are paid, we have a warm house in which to live, and a full pantry of food. I placed those bills in front of me, laid my hands on them, and just thanked God for His blessings.
Yesterday I was loading the dishwasher and running some water in the sink to rinse off some dishes. As I looked at that water I thought about the people all over the world who spend part of each day trying to find clean water to drink and often cannot. I was using more water rinsing off those dishes than some people have to use all day. It nearly overwhelmed me, and I stopped and gave God thanks for allowing me the privilege of being born in a country with clean, fresh water, a country that permits me to worship as I choose, and a country that allows me to do just about anything with my life that I want to.
As you run around this last week before Christmas trying to find the right gift for someone, I encourage you to stop and think about all the ways in which your life has been blessed. Perhaps the most important gift we could give this year would be the gift of thankfulness to God. I know I don't pause often enough to just thank Him for the blessings I have come to take for granted. The gift of thankfulness won't cost you anything to give, but I do believe it would please God to receive it.
May you have a very blessed Christmas!
This morning I wrote out checks for some bills and set them aside to take to the mail box later. As I turned to my next task I suddenly felt overwhelmed with gratitude. Like most average Americans 2008 has been financially challenging for us. Our retirement accounts have taken about a 30% loss this year. My wife and I have drastically cut our spending trying to pay down some debt. We look for bargains when we do shop, and we're trying to make things last just a little bit longer before replacing them.
But as I thought about the checks I had just written I also thought about the thousands of people who have lost their jobs this year. I thought about the thousands whose homes have been lost in foreclosure and the many who have filed bankruptcy. Our bills are paid, we have a warm house in which to live, and a full pantry of food. I placed those bills in front of me, laid my hands on them, and just thanked God for His blessings.
Yesterday I was loading the dishwasher and running some water in the sink to rinse off some dishes. As I looked at that water I thought about the people all over the world who spend part of each day trying to find clean water to drink and often cannot. I was using more water rinsing off those dishes than some people have to use all day. It nearly overwhelmed me, and I stopped and gave God thanks for allowing me the privilege of being born in a country with clean, fresh water, a country that permits me to worship as I choose, and a country that allows me to do just about anything with my life that I want to.
As you run around this last week before Christmas trying to find the right gift for someone, I encourage you to stop and think about all the ways in which your life has been blessed. Perhaps the most important gift we could give this year would be the gift of thankfulness to God. I know I don't pause often enough to just thank Him for the blessings I have come to take for granted. The gift of thankfulness won't cost you anything to give, but I do believe it would please God to receive it.
May you have a very blessed Christmas!
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