Just want to let the world know that we had one of the best staff meetings we've ever had today. What made it so good? We had a group of passionate Christ-followers who are all dedicated to seeing Jesus be famous in our valley discuss and debate the best possible ways we could move ahead in our ministry as a church family.
And the best part: we didn't agree on everything!! We pushed, we pulled, we wrestled, we even had tears. I don't want to make anyone nervous, it all ended very well, but we got somewhere because people were vulnerable, open, honest and willing to speak and listen.
If you are a church member reading this (FBC or any church), understand this: we are called to love each other, not pretend to love while secretly fighting in our hearts or being passively aggressive. Far better to risk honesty and speak the truth in love like the Bible demands than to sit back, silently disagree, then work to undermine or worse, live in total apathy. Hot or cold, not luke warm, that's puke!!
If you are a church leader reading this (FBC or any church), understand this: you owe it to the God who called you to your leadership position to be open, honest, clear and loving when you approach difficult decisions and/or conversations. If you 'bull in a china closet' everthing, eventually no one will listen to you, and if you tell a 'go along to get along' lie, it's still a lie. Step up and have the hard conversations, because the Kingdom will benefit from it.
If you are a pastor of a church, understand this: the hardest thing you will ever do is chose between saying a hard thing and biting your toungue. Find a way to say the hard truth with the real love. Push for honesty, push for trasparency, then reward it when it happens. Don't let someone who opens themselves up and shares their heart get smacked for it. Honor it, encourage it, then make sure it's clear that you will take those moments seriously. They are precious.
When churches have real people and real relationships, there will be messy stuff. Get used to it, because that's how it's supposed to work. Jesus had to have talks with his disciples about who's going to be first, how to have faith, when to call down fire on a city or not, and lots of other difficult topcs. Keep truth and love together with open, honest communication and you'll get further faster.
And to my staff: I LOVE YOU, THANK YOU, AND KEEP IT UP, JESUS IS SMILING!!!
2.25.2009
2.23.2009
Good Mondays are a Gift from God!!
Monday is not my favorite day of the week, but today is a good one, so here's a handful of issues I'm excited about, and two I'm asking for prayer about:
- I'm so glad to see folks move from the 11 am service to the 9 am. That shows a willingness to sacrifice and make room for others at the service where new folks are most likely to come for the first time. Thank you to all of you who have done that 'servant switch.'
- And way to go after the services! We asked for folks to give room to the Guest Services area and to allow the first timers to have first dibs on talking to me after the service and (for the most part) that was very effective! I got to talk to more guests and first timers than I have in a LONG time, many with really good questions about the message and God's plan for dealing with anger. It was HUGE that I got to help these folks a little extra, and that our church family gave me space to do that. Way to Go FBC!!
- The overall response to the message was very good. I know that talking about anger can make people... mad, and I think there was plenty of folks processing to get this area of their life under God's control.
- The rest of this series will be just as helpful for folks, so keep inviting your friends!!
- The next series will be ridiculous! God is already moving, and we haven't even started yet!
- Pray for: God to use the Toxic Emotion series to help people, and pray for the Easter series to get a foothold in our community.
- Also, pray for out Connection Group ministry - we want to thank Chris Schnitzler for his service to God and our church family in this area as he steps down from directing our Connection Group ministry. Chris has stepped away because of all the changes going on in his life and family - new job, new baby, new shifts at the new job, etc... - and needs to make this healthy choice right now. There' s more ministry coming in his life down the road, but for now, we need to pray for someone to take on this very important ministry area in our church family. Pray for the right person, the right timing and the right team to go around them to gel.
2.19.2009
I Wish I Was Better At Stuff
Alex Rodriguez is a rich man. He's paid millions of dollars a year to play a game, he is handsome (or so I'm told), and from the time he was a teenager, he was told he was a great ballplayer. He's a member of the greatest team in American pro sports, and he's always been mentioned in the same sentence as the greatest that have ever played baseball.
Now we know that just because he was good, even great, he wasn't satisfied. He wanted to be better. Not that bad of a thing; there's a certain wisdom to being a good steward of your life and wanting to make the most of every ounce of talent, energy, experience and opportunity you have. It's not wrong to want to be better than you are.
But it's wrong to take that desire to be the best you can be and use it as an excuse to do what is wrong. I don't care if it wasn't against the rules of baseball - I'm pretty sure that murder is not forbidden by name in the Baseball rule book - it was against the law, it was against common sense, and it was wrong. Getting help, be it from coaches, trainers, nutritionists, counselors or any other legitimate source, makes sense, but shooting 'unknown' substances into your butt cheeks is dumb, and if he did know what it was (that's my guess), then he knew it was wrong.
I want to be better at stuff in my life. I want to be a better husband, a better father, a better pastor, a better friend. I want to follow Jesus more closely, to pray more and more effectively, to serve with what I have in the best way I can. Nothing wrong with trying to get better - I read books, I use Internet resources, I listen to sermons, I go to conferences, I get coaching, I get advice - but I reach the place where it feels like I can go further, faster, get stronger and better sooner, if I'll just cut a corner here, or skip a step there. Everyone who wants to succeed at what God has given them to do will feel that tug once in a while, if not more often.
Here's what I know - God has given me more than I can do on my own. It puts me in the position to need other people, and it reminds me that I need God. I can't do this on my own. I can't do it without the great people God has put in the Body of Christ around me, with their gifts and talents that compliment and sharpen my own. And I can't do it without regular 'injections' of Jesus in my life. I have nothing without Him, and nothing I do will matter without His power at work in my life. There are more opportunities than I can accomplish, more people to share Christ with than I can talk to, more to do that I have time, energy or talent to match. So I don't do steroids any more (chemo joke!), but I do have to make sure to take the time to connect to Jesus every day and hear from Him in His Word. I need to ask for the strength and energy to do what I can do through Him, and the wisdom to know where the boundaries are.
Pray for A-Rod, he needs Jesus. Pray for me, because I do, too.
Now we know that just because he was good, even great, he wasn't satisfied. He wanted to be better. Not that bad of a thing; there's a certain wisdom to being a good steward of your life and wanting to make the most of every ounce of talent, energy, experience and opportunity you have. It's not wrong to want to be better than you are.
But it's wrong to take that desire to be the best you can be and use it as an excuse to do what is wrong. I don't care if it wasn't against the rules of baseball - I'm pretty sure that murder is not forbidden by name in the Baseball rule book - it was against the law, it was against common sense, and it was wrong. Getting help, be it from coaches, trainers, nutritionists, counselors or any other legitimate source, makes sense, but shooting 'unknown' substances into your butt cheeks is dumb, and if he did know what it was (that's my guess), then he knew it was wrong.
I want to be better at stuff in my life. I want to be a better husband, a better father, a better pastor, a better friend. I want to follow Jesus more closely, to pray more and more effectively, to serve with what I have in the best way I can. Nothing wrong with trying to get better - I read books, I use Internet resources, I listen to sermons, I go to conferences, I get coaching, I get advice - but I reach the place where it feels like I can go further, faster, get stronger and better sooner, if I'll just cut a corner here, or skip a step there. Everyone who wants to succeed at what God has given them to do will feel that tug once in a while, if not more often.
Here's what I know - God has given me more than I can do on my own. It puts me in the position to need other people, and it reminds me that I need God. I can't do this on my own. I can't do it without the great people God has put in the Body of Christ around me, with their gifts and talents that compliment and sharpen my own. And I can't do it without regular 'injections' of Jesus in my life. I have nothing without Him, and nothing I do will matter without His power at work in my life. There are more opportunities than I can accomplish, more people to share Christ with than I can talk to, more to do that I have time, energy or talent to match. So I don't do steroids any more (chemo joke!), but I do have to make sure to take the time to connect to Jesus every day and hear from Him in His Word. I need to ask for the strength and energy to do what I can do through Him, and the wisdom to know where the boundaries are.
Pray for A-Rod, he needs Jesus. Pray for me, because I do, too.
2.16.2009
President's Day Post
Some thoughts as the week starts:
- Worship on Sunday was intense. It seemed like there were lots of new faces even when numbers were down on a holiday weekend. I loved the fact that first service had more people than second service, the first time that's happened in a long time! The 'different' kind of sermon seemed to land on folks, and I'm excited to see the feedback. Yes, there was tension, but it was good tension.
- The two best moments of the message each service: when I said, "I think it's a travesty for Christians to stand in the shadow of a blood stained cross and argue over 10%," you could hear the Spirit land on folks. And when I asked people to put a third box on the card and write, "I will rob God," the nervous laughter in first service and the deathly silence in second were evidence that folks were listening. God is challenging us, and I'm glad; it's always the beginning of good stuff when He does!
- We had 60 responses to the Tithing Challenge! There were a few who made up their own box to check, but for the most part, people were willing to say they are stepping up to the plate on this. I can't wait to see what God does in the lives of His people when they take Him at His Word! For the rest of you, it's not too late! Wrestle this to the ground and test God, He's told you to!
- I was once again reminded that we need to get better at communication. It's a struggle right now to get the right info to the right people at the right time. Pray for us as a church family to continue to get better in this area. Thanks for reading this blog, and pray for us to have the resources we need to use this and other tools more effectively.
- The video going out to the Connection Groups. One tool we're experimenting with is the occasional video announcement to the Connection Groups, so I was glad to see leaders getting the newest one for their group. Make sure you get a look at it this week, then visit the website, it's up and running now. (If you don't know what website I'm talking about, get to a C-group!)
- Can't wait to get started on this next series! There are so many folks in our valley that struggle with the fallout of difficult emotions, and taking a look at what God's Word says about handling anger, bitterness, envy and pride is going to make a difference in the lives of people. Bring a friend with you and come to the Toxic Emotions series the next four weeks. It will change lives, and it has the potential to save a life. Don't miss this!
2.12.2009
Coming Soon to a Church Near You
Spent some time this week getting the bugs worked out on the Easter series. I can't tell you too much right now, but if you're in a Connection Group, we shot a video announcement for you that we'll have for you soon to let you in on the idea, so look for that. Suffice it to say, we're about to try something that not only we have never tried before, but as far as we can tell, NO CHURCH IN TOWN HAS TRIED THIS BEFORE!!!
Now, that's not why we're doing it. We're trying to do something that will get the attention of our community and put the Good News of Jesus out there for them to hear. Because there are a lot of people in our town that won't darken the door of a church unless they are more intrigued than they are turned off. So we want to raise the question, we want to challenge the thinking, the assumptions, the preconceived ideas people have about church.
Lot's of people in our culture like Jesus, but they don't like the church. It may not be the right way to think, but it's they way they think, and we can't change their thinking without challenging it first. So that's what we're going to do. Pray now, because once this all goes live, we have no idea where it's going to take us. I promise, when we get closer, I'll tell you everything else you need to know, but for now, pray, and get excited!
I'm also jacked up about the next series we're going to start on Feb. 22. Toxic Emotions: Handle With Care will be a time we talk about the emotional toxins in our lives. We all get angry, but if we let it sit in our hearts, it turns to poison and kills relationships, crushes self esteem and cuts off our ability to hear from God. There are other emotions that can build up and cause damage, so we're going to talk about how we can take God's wisdom and apply it to our emotional health. Let me say this: GUYS, DON'T YOU DARE MISS THIS SERIES!! For your ability to understand the emotions of the women in your life as well as your own emotions, you can't afford to miss this.
Last thing: this Sunday, the message will contain more scripture than any message I've ever given. I'm excited, I'm nervous, and I'm praying like never before. I hope you'll come. Be ready to hear from God in His word. God's word will not disappoint.
Now, that's not why we're doing it. We're trying to do something that will get the attention of our community and put the Good News of Jesus out there for them to hear. Because there are a lot of people in our town that won't darken the door of a church unless they are more intrigued than they are turned off. So we want to raise the question, we want to challenge the thinking, the assumptions, the preconceived ideas people have about church.
Lot's of people in our culture like Jesus, but they don't like the church. It may not be the right way to think, but it's they way they think, and we can't change their thinking without challenging it first. So that's what we're going to do. Pray now, because once this all goes live, we have no idea where it's going to take us. I promise, when we get closer, I'll tell you everything else you need to know, but for now, pray, and get excited!
I'm also jacked up about the next series we're going to start on Feb. 22. Toxic Emotions: Handle With Care will be a time we talk about the emotional toxins in our lives. We all get angry, but if we let it sit in our hearts, it turns to poison and kills relationships, crushes self esteem and cuts off our ability to hear from God. There are other emotions that can build up and cause damage, so we're going to talk about how we can take God's wisdom and apply it to our emotional health. Let me say this: GUYS, DON'T YOU DARE MISS THIS SERIES!! For your ability to understand the emotions of the women in your life as well as your own emotions, you can't afford to miss this.
Last thing: this Sunday, the message will contain more scripture than any message I've ever given. I'm excited, I'm nervous, and I'm praying like never before. I hope you'll come. Be ready to hear from God in His word. God's word will not disappoint.
2.09.2009
Moving The Ball Down The Field
Yes, football season is over, so this will be the last football reference for awhile, but here are some places I've seen lately where God is moving people to move the ball down the field for His sake:
- Another baptism on Sunday! Props to Jo Jo Nelson (someone that I got to baptize, back in the day), and props to the Children's Ministry Team for all their work to disciple children. It's not just babysitting in the basement, those folks are working to make disciples of our children, WAY TO GO!
- A great Sunday! God was in the house, there were new faces, enthusiastic responses, a new song being written on the spot, people talking to me about baptism after the service, and a great spirit all morning long. One more day to say, "I love my JOB!"
- Speaking of new faces - someone that I invited to church a few months ago has been coming pretty consistently lately, and in the last few weeks has herself invited friends to come with her. Just this Sunday she had her roommate with her. To hear a message about money. In church. Wow!
- Speaking of money - the financial workshop after the second service was a great event, with more people than we've ever had come before! Much love to Coop and Penny for their work to get that together, and props to all the folks who made the effort to get some help with this sensitive area. If you went to the workshop to stock up on wisdom, way to GO!
- The Youth, The Youth, The Youth are on FIRE! Chris Boblit had a parent meeting AND a service night AT THE SAME TIME!! God is doing great things in the Student Ministry, check out Chris' blog here.
- This Sunday will be special. Like I said yesterday, we're going from Genesis to Revelation to see God's Way of being generous with us to teach us to be generous. My hope is that all of us will be challenged by this, and all of us will have the chance to check our hearts against God's heart. Start praying now for hearts to be open. Should be awesome!
- The next message series will help people. I'm jacked about the next series, because God will use His Word to help people, and to help people to help other people. We'll be talking about Toxic Emotions, the ones that kill people spiritually, emotionally and physically.
- The Easter series is rounding into shape. I'm asking everyone to pray, because what God has been leading us to is going to be off the chain, and I think God is going to use us in a big way in the weeks leading up to Easter. I'll tell you more about this right here later this week, so check back.
2.05.2009
Why It Matters What Jesus Says About Money
We're halfway through a series on finances, and I'm actually excited to say that the feedback so far has been very good. People are apparently very interested to hear about what God's word says about money and possessions in the face of all the news about the economy, lay-offs, and the stock market. People are hungry to hear wisdom from God and sick of feeling bad about finances.
Let me underscore why it is so important for a Christ follower to get this particular area of their life straight. Because Jesus said so much about this one subject, more than He did about faith, prayer, Heaven, Hell, serving or any other single topic. Almost half of all of Jesus' parables were about money and possessions, and if you were to do a topical study of the entire Bible, there is only one issue that is discussed in it's pages more than money and possessions, and that is idolatry. Funny how that works out, since much of our cultural obsession about money and material stuff either borders on idolatry or it crosses the border.
So it's not a giant leap of logic to conclude that if someone is going to claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ, but be unwilling to allow what He said about the financial arena of their life to penetrate and make a change, there's a huge problem. The bondage that most people feel about financial issues makes it hard for them to surrender their lives to Christ completely. And since Jesus talked so much about the issue, to ignore what He said and try to do it the way we think best, or the way we see our culture chase it, makes no sense.
If you don't believe me, let me ask this question: what would be your response if I asked you today if you would be willing to go anywhere for two weeks and serve God if you knew it would make and eternal difference in the lives of people and bring you closer to God in the process? Could you make a commitment to do that in the next 3 months if you had to pay your own way? Could you afford to take the time off? Could you take that trip with the confidence that whatever expenses you ran into that would further God's work wherever you went, would you pay for it and do it without grumbling, worrying, or stressing out?
As followers of Jesus Christ, we need to make sure that our whole being and everything we are is being conformed to the image of Christ, including our time, our talent AND our treasure. We can't pretend to follow Christ and leave this area of our lives untouched by His wisdom, His plan and His love for us. God loves us too much for us to shut Him out of our financial dealings.
So in the next two Sundays, as we finish up this series and get ready for what God has coming next (the next series will help some people, I'm getting fired up about it, too), keep praying that we as a community of believers, as a church family together will be able to push back on the culture and allow the wisdom and understanding of God to bring our finances under His Lordship and control. There's too much at stake if we don't.
Let me underscore why it is so important for a Christ follower to get this particular area of their life straight. Because Jesus said so much about this one subject, more than He did about faith, prayer, Heaven, Hell, serving or any other single topic. Almost half of all of Jesus' parables were about money and possessions, and if you were to do a topical study of the entire Bible, there is only one issue that is discussed in it's pages more than money and possessions, and that is idolatry. Funny how that works out, since much of our cultural obsession about money and material stuff either borders on idolatry or it crosses the border.
So it's not a giant leap of logic to conclude that if someone is going to claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ, but be unwilling to allow what He said about the financial arena of their life to penetrate and make a change, there's a huge problem. The bondage that most people feel about financial issues makes it hard for them to surrender their lives to Christ completely. And since Jesus talked so much about the issue, to ignore what He said and try to do it the way we think best, or the way we see our culture chase it, makes no sense.
If you don't believe me, let me ask this question: what would be your response if I asked you today if you would be willing to go anywhere for two weeks and serve God if you knew it would make and eternal difference in the lives of people and bring you closer to God in the process? Could you make a commitment to do that in the next 3 months if you had to pay your own way? Could you afford to take the time off? Could you take that trip with the confidence that whatever expenses you ran into that would further God's work wherever you went, would you pay for it and do it without grumbling, worrying, or stressing out?
As followers of Jesus Christ, we need to make sure that our whole being and everything we are is being conformed to the image of Christ, including our time, our talent AND our treasure. We can't pretend to follow Christ and leave this area of our lives untouched by His wisdom, His plan and His love for us. God loves us too much for us to shut Him out of our financial dealings.
So in the next two Sundays, as we finish up this series and get ready for what God has coming next (the next series will help some people, I'm getting fired up about it, too), keep praying that we as a community of believers, as a church family together will be able to push back on the culture and allow the wisdom and understanding of God to bring our finances under His Lordship and control. There's too much at stake if we don't.
2.02.2009
An Open Letter To My FBC Family
I'm bagging the 'church bus' idea, it just doesn't seem all that important right now. Maybe I'll try it again later, but for now, skip it and let's do something important instead. For all my readers in Tennessee, Oregon, California, London, Edmonton and other parts of the globe, please allow me to get something off my chest a little closer to home:
Dear First Baptist Family,
You rock. Last week was the hardest week we've seen around here in a long time, and there have been many issues that most of you don't even know about and may not ever know. But in the places you could step up, you did. When ReNee Perry passed away Monday morning, the love and care started spreading across our community. People stepped up to make phone calls, deliver food and coffee, and offer comfort and love to people who were hurting, from Lance and the kids to just about anyone you could think of. Everywhere I looked, there you were, helping, crying, hugging, sharing. Nice job.
Then, through the week, you continued to offer help. People from far and wide who used to be a part of this family called, encouraged, prayed, offered help in any way they could, and I'm thrilled by all of that, but here at home, you consistently offered assistance, expertise, encouragement and prayer. I personally was the recipient of a lot of encouragement, including much prayer. As your pastor, you didn't expect me to some how become Superman and have it all together. Many of you showed genuine concern for my mental and emotional states. The staff made sure that I knew that I didn't have to preach on Sunday if I didn't have it in me. As my bandwidth filled up, folks took notice and did whatever they could to help. This may not come out right, but I mean this in the best possible way: not every church has a clue how to take care of their pastor, and you showed that not only can you do that, but you can make sure that I don't run myself off a cliff trying to be someone I'm not. I'm so blessed to be a part of a church that can and will take care of their own, even the pastor.
An Thursday was one of the most amazing days of ministry ever. We filled the worship center with people, then put 98 folks in the Family Room for the video version of overflow. Then we filled both places with worship of our loving, grace filled God. Thank you to everyone who used the overflow room, and I'm sorry for wearing a white shirt. I won't do that again. But we made room for everyone who needed to be there, and then we showed them that a funeral could be a celebration of life. I am so proud of you. Words fail. You came through so big for Lance, Susie, Glen, Joni, Garth, Laura and Kyrol, and you came through so big on behalf of Jesus.
We turned the Family Room from overflow to dining room in record time, fed dozens of people, and made sure that there was love enough for everyone. There was even apple pie.
So in conclusion, I love you. You are the most amazing church family I have ever been associated with - I love you, and I am proud of you. And I'm pretty sure that Jesus is proud of you. I know He loves you.
Humbled by your love,
Bill
Dear First Baptist Family,
You rock. Last week was the hardest week we've seen around here in a long time, and there have been many issues that most of you don't even know about and may not ever know. But in the places you could step up, you did. When ReNee Perry passed away Monday morning, the love and care started spreading across our community. People stepped up to make phone calls, deliver food and coffee, and offer comfort and love to people who were hurting, from Lance and the kids to just about anyone you could think of. Everywhere I looked, there you were, helping, crying, hugging, sharing. Nice job.
Then, through the week, you continued to offer help. People from far and wide who used to be a part of this family called, encouraged, prayed, offered help in any way they could, and I'm thrilled by all of that, but here at home, you consistently offered assistance, expertise, encouragement and prayer. I personally was the recipient of a lot of encouragement, including much prayer. As your pastor, you didn't expect me to some how become Superman and have it all together. Many of you showed genuine concern for my mental and emotional states. The staff made sure that I knew that I didn't have to preach on Sunday if I didn't have it in me. As my bandwidth filled up, folks took notice and did whatever they could to help. This may not come out right, but I mean this in the best possible way: not every church has a clue how to take care of their pastor, and you showed that not only can you do that, but you can make sure that I don't run myself off a cliff trying to be someone I'm not. I'm so blessed to be a part of a church that can and will take care of their own, even the pastor.
An Thursday was one of the most amazing days of ministry ever. We filled the worship center with people, then put 98 folks in the Family Room for the video version of overflow. Then we filled both places with worship of our loving, grace filled God. Thank you to everyone who used the overflow room, and I'm sorry for wearing a white shirt. I won't do that again. But we made room for everyone who needed to be there, and then we showed them that a funeral could be a celebration of life. I am so proud of you. Words fail. You came through so big for Lance, Susie, Glen, Joni, Garth, Laura and Kyrol, and you came through so big on behalf of Jesus.
We turned the Family Room from overflow to dining room in record time, fed dozens of people, and made sure that there was love enough for everyone. There was even apple pie.
So in conclusion, I love you. You are the most amazing church family I have ever been associated with - I love you, and I am proud of you. And I'm pretty sure that Jesus is proud of you. I know He loves you.
Humbled by your love,
Bill
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