Another Perspective

Have you ever had to make one of those decisions that you dreaded - more because you feared the reaction of other people? I did recently. Our church has been in existence for almost 90 years - and really has a great history. I have been watching Sunday night attendance for some time and determined that if on 10 to 15 percent of the Sunday morning crowd is returning, it didn't make much sense to continue. I presented cancelling Sunday night to my board, and they unanimously agreed with me. I was fearful about what the congregation would say, and 99 percent of the response was positive. So . . . I feared a reaction that never materialized. Oops.

I feel like doing this will actually open up ministry for our church. Sometimes in our churches we just do what we've always done, never stopping to evaluate our effectiveness. A rut is just a grave with the ends kicked out. Oh God, get us out of our rut, and smack dab into the middle of those who so desperately need You!

The Panera Experience

On my list of favorite places to hang out with other pastors or just by myself is Panera Bread. Not just because they've got great food and fresh coffee, but the atmosphere is conducive to relationships, meetings, and generally just to getting that work done that you struggle to because of the distractions of the office. Just now I finished my bagel and first cup of decaf - and am going to begin to work on the rough draft of the mission, vision, and values statement for the church. After unloading on God this morning, I'm praying that as I work on this, He'll unload on me. As I look around the restaurant and see professionals having brief meetings, families getting together for lunch, and friends just hanging out - what a place to develop the statement of the church's existence and forward thrust.
And by the way, shouldn't the church be a place that is conducive to relationships just as Panera is?

What a week

These past two weeks have been busy ones. Being the solo guy (praying that won't stay that way for long), the hats I wear are many, but am learning to delegate. Last week we had VBS every night - and we got a chance to minister to some parents - in our neck of the woods, they usually drop them off and run. And we got some more kids coming to Mpact Girls and Royal Rangers - which God is really blessing.

Sunday was a long one with my piano player on vaca (meaning I have to play), VBS follow up meeting, practice for Fine Arts (for Indy), and then a great man in our town died and I was asked to do the funeral. Couple that with a board meeting (BTW, God has blessed me with a great board), pre-marital counseling, Wednesday night Bible study, . . . cough, cough - can I come up for air now?

Not griping - because I know so many guys in the same shoes. Just needing to vent. But I wouldn't want to do anything else - I love ministering to people. And God has put a God-sized Dream in my heart - and I'm just watching Him make it happen! Praise God!

Make It Stop!

Have you ever been on a ride that you couldn't wait until it was over? I hate rides that go in tight circles - barf-o-matic - that's what I call them! Don't you just want to yell, "Make it stop!" Once in a while life gets a little crazy and ministry makes more demands on your time and energy than you have in reserve, and you just want to scream, "Make it stop," but you know that you have obligations and things that just have to happen. So what does one do? Well, you and you alone have to make the decision to do what needs to be done, and leave the rest. Life will go on, the end of the world will not occur because you didn't finish that last detail, and God will not be less pleased with you if you don't clock in one more minute in your day.

So tomorrow stop by the Dairy Queen, buy yourself a Blizzard, and smile because whatever you are going through, this too shall pass!

Stepping Out

Anytime you really want to do something for God, it will require you stepping out what you think you are able to do (I hate the term "comfort zone"). I'm reading a great book by John Ortberg titled "If You Want To Walk On Water, You've Got To Get Out Of the Boat." Sometimes we don't pray in faith, because we're afraid God won't honor His Word. Sometimes we don't try something because it is not something we've ever done, or it seems so crazy that God couldn't possibly have asked us to do that. If we were able to "do" the ministry ourselves, then why would we need God anyway? He want our total reliance on Him - and that will make your ministry a success.

Being the Solo Guy

I'm sure I'm not alone in being a solo pastor. Many others walk in the same shoes I do. No paid staff, desperately working to see the church grow - not only in number, but in depth - and seeing the church moving forward, but not getting out of first gear. Don't get me wrong - I'm not painting a grim picture - just a real one. I have to hold on to the Scripture - Don't become weary in doing good; at the right time we will reap if we don't faint!

I firmly believe that what will cause the church to grow the way Christ wants it to grow is to flesh out the book of Acts day by day - and God will add to the church daily such as should be saved!