Glad We Did That

Prayer Labs were last night, and despite cold temps and wind (what happened to fall?), we had nearly 40 people participate in the prayer times at locations around the city. It's a risk to ask people to pray in a public place, and I wasn't sure if anyone would show up, but thank you to all who did! Our prayer time at Highland High was good, even if we punctuated each request with a sniffle.

When we got back, I felt like we needed to share what, if anything, God might have said to us while we were praying. I was really glad I asked, because there were several important messages people received about prayer. Praying for the government more often, praying on location more regularly, just lots of encouraging messages about prayer.

Praying for the Church in the Portneuf Valley and for FBC in particular was also very good, a reminder that we are not alone in our mission here, and that we need to pray for the other churches and their effectiveness right along with ours.

Lastly, praying for the team going to New Orleans was a blessing. I know there is an adventure waiting for us down there, and I'm glad there are people praying, both now and during the trip, for our success in ministry and our safe return.

I'm glad we took the time to pray. It's important that we do it, and important that we do it together as a church family. Again, thanks to all who participated, and if you missed it, we'll do it again sometime.

See y'all when I get back from New Orleans!!

PRAYER LABS TONIGHT!!!

Don't forget that we're meeting around the city to pray at 6:00 tonight, then gathering back at FBC for prayer together at 6:45.

The meet sights are:

• Alameda Center
• Highland High School
• Irving Middle School
• ISU SUB - Canoe Room
• School District Offices
• Indian Hills Elementary School
• Pine Ridge Mall - Inside in front of Party Palace

Hope to see you there!!

Trying To Tie Up Loose Ends

So things have been a little complicated around here lately, and I'm feeling like I need to communicate a little harder, so here are a few issues I want to make sure everyone is up on:

• Prayer Labs are THIS THURSDAY NIGHT!! We are meeting at locations all over town for a time of prayer, then meeting back a the worship center to pray together for our valley, and to pray for our team going to New Orleans next week.
• The meeting locations for the Prayer Labs are - Highland High School, Irving Middle School, the Alameda Center, The School District Offices, Indian Hills Elementary School, The ISU SUB (meet at the Canoe Room), and the Pine Ridge Mall (meet inside in front of Party Palace). We'll gather at 6:00 pm for prayer, then head to the church at 6:45.
• Yes, the New Orleans trip is a go. Smaller crowd than we had planned, but still a gung ho group of Christ followers going down to help people in need. The word is we're going to be helping build a ramp for someone in a wheel chair and other such stuff. Sounds like fun!
• The 40 Days of Prayer series is going well. People are responding, and the questions and conversations are about deep stuff in people's lives. I can't wait to see what God does the rest of the way with this. Keep praying for God's will to be done, and for us as a church family to do it!
• Just got done planning the Christmas series, it should be amazing! "Thoughtful Gifts" will focus on the three gifts of the Magi and what they meant at the time, and what they mean today. You are going to want to bring friends to hear this series!!

Just trying to keep the lines of communication open!!

What A Pastor Learns From Coaching Football - Part 2

I started this idea last month, and the crazy has kept me from finishing, so here's the next installment. For those who don' t know, I finished my four year commitment to coaching youth football for my son's team. From Mac's fifth grade year until this his eighth grade year, I've coached the defense and special teams. It was quite an adventure, with some huge ups and downs. Along the way, as in everything in my life, I try to keep track of the lessons God tries to teach me. Let me share another:

• You can lead a linebacker to the running back, but you can't make him tackle.

Coaching defense is about two things - putting players in position to succeed, and teaching them what to do when they get there. I spent hours on the field running them through drills on how to tackle, how to defend a pass, how to rush the passer, how to defeat blocks, etc... all the concepts they needed to know to be successful when the play unfolded in the game. And I developed schemes and game plans that would allow for our players to play in positions and situations that would give them the greatest chance to succeed.

Those things I could do as a coach, I did. But in the heat of the moment in the game, I could do nothing to make a player use what he knew. I could encourage or instruct them to line up in the right place, but I couldn't make them do it. If they didn't want to tackle, they would not tackle.

More than once in the last four seasons, a player was in perfect position to make a game changing tackle, and pulled up rather than put the other man on the ground. It was painful for me as a coach to see them get in position to succeed, knowing they had the knowledge and the skill to succeed, and watch them chose not to succeed.

As a pastor, it's very similar. I can use all the gifts God has given me, I can teach and instruct, challenge and encourage, model and envision what God has said to do and how to do it. But at the end of the day, I cannot make anyone serve. I cannot make anyone pray. I cannot make anyone give, or stop gossiping, or give their heart to Jesus. I have no power to control people, no matter what anyone thinks. I've watched friends in pastoral ministry pull out their hair over people who have all the knowledge they need to be successful in their life and walk and service for Jesus, and then watch helplessly as they make choices to shipwreck their lives, their walk, and their church.

Sometimes pastors (and I'm guilty of this) and coaches (me again!) will take these moments personally. And yes, there are times when as a coach and as a pastor, I didn't prepare my people for the challenge they found themselves facing. At those moments, I have to own my part, and work my tail off to be better prepared to prepare those under my care. But sometimes, the information, the knowledge and experience are there, on board the person in position to 'make a play' in their life, and they pull up short instead of stepping up. At that moment, I can encourage, I can remind, I can recast the vision, but I can't make them do what they already know is right. It's not possible. I can't handcuff them to the chair to keep them from getting drunk, I can't tape their mouth shut to keep them from saying something damaging to their spouse. I can't hack into their bank account and preset their giving to God's work. None of that is possible.

As a pastor, that's painful to admit. I am powerless against the forces of choice in the lives of people in my care. If everyone decided to stay home this Sunday, I'd be in a worship service by myself.

But here's where I have a choice to make myself: as a coach, I don't get to play, so my choices for myself don't make it to the field. But as a pastor, I'm still able to make choices for my own life that end up on the 'field' of ministry. I can give. I can show up for worship. I can serve. I can bring my gifts to ministry. I can invite people to come experience Jesus. I can make my choices.

Pastors - YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE, EVEN IF YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE!! If no one else worships, you choose to worship. If no one else gives, you give. You don't have to make up for everyone else's giving, but you do have a choice to give. You can serve, so do it. If no one joins you, you will still be honoring your commitment to God and to His larger team, the Church, even if people in your church are choosing poorly. PASTOR - YOU CANNOT BLAME YOUR CHOICES ON YOUR PEOPLE!!

Those of you who are not pastors - YOU CANNOT BLAME YOUR PASTOR FOR YOUR CHOICES. Even if your pastor is not perfect, you cannot put your spiritual choices on hold because you don't like what they are saying/doing/thinking. If your pastor is in sin, point it out to him/her. If they are leading in a direction you don't like, talk to them about it, but remember that God puts leaders in our lives to challenge us as well as comfort and teach us. But your responsibility to the Body of Christ, His Bride, HIS CHURCH does not end because you have a problem with a pastor. You are charged to do your part, so do it. Serve, not because your pastor says, but because Jesus said. Give, not because your pastor needs you to, but because God commands it. Worship, not because you like the music or the message, but because worship is a choice you make in your heart and it honors God.

The Bible teaches personal responsibility. I need to fulfill my role and my part of the Body. Each of us does. And I have a choice whether I will or not. All of us does.

I'm trying to do my part with all my heart. What are you trying to do?

Listening To Andy

I have a number of pastor types that I respect and listen to, and one was speaking to me so loudly today, I have to share.

I'm trying to get myself back in the habit of working out after taking time off to get a bum knee back in line. So today, I was out for a walk with my IPod and Andy Stanley in my ears. Andy has a fantastically effective church in the North Atlanta suburbs, and he's a leadership and ministry guru. His podcast was about leading in uncertain times. Pretty easy to see why I was interested...

So Andy is talking, and he said a couple things I wanted to share with the staff, so I played it for them today in staff meeting. Times are uncertain at FBC, with the finances being down, the flu taking people out of weekend services and serving opportunities, and some general unrest and dis-ease. So the message was clearly for us, and the points got home: be clear about the vision, and be flexible with the plans.

Clarity will help people to make sure that we stay on track in spite of the changing atmosphere, circumstances, economy, culture, etc... Clarity of purpose, clarity of mission, clarity of values, and the clear communication of how those all connect to what's going on and what's next. Coming back to the places where God has been clear with us, and celebrating each and every memory of God's faithfulness and call helps us to stay focused on the right things, and to not panic when a plan fails, but stay true to the ultimate vision of God's preferred future.

The flexibility part was also very helpful. Plans will fail, and if we get ourselves tied to our plans, then we'll think the vision has failed just because the plans did. Plans fail for a number of reasons, and smart leaders have to pay attention to the changes in the atmosphere and surroundings that are not what was assumed when the plan was put together. We planned to be growing and adding staff by now, but the circumstances changed, so we need to get off the old plan and start a new one.

So there was a lot of excitement here today as we started to think about the core of the vision and how it has remained constant, but also how some of the pieces have moved in the last 10 years. The conversation began (and will continue over the next few weeks) about recasting and reconnecting the vision God has for this church with what is the current reality. Plans will change, they always do. We can't own the plans, they have to remain flexible, but we have to own the vision and be stubborn (Andy's word) about holding tightly to the ultimate outcome.

Good stuff to remember as God is busy shaping, forming, breaking, molding, pushing and teaching all of us in this season.

Any thoughts?

Quick Hits

Some things in the air:

• The Lions (3-3) finished their season on a sour note, losing their final game to Blackfoot 37-18. Mac played with a serious cold, having run a fever the two days before, and still had 12 tackles and two passes defended. He was a trooper. Proud dad moment.
• That said, football is over at the McCready house (except for some watching, of course), and just as the schedule starts to slow down, Rachel starts basketball practice TONIGHT!!
• Good feedback from the first message in the 40 Days Of Prayer series. People needed to know or be reminded that God is a loving Father and Friend, so we can be real and relational when we pray. Hope that it will change people's prayers to remember that.
• I stuck my head in on the Student Ministries Leader meeting - THERE WERE 12 PEOPLE THERE!!! God is up to something big in our church when there are a dozen people who want to be a part of changing the lives of teens. LOVE IT!!
  
• Stayed home with a sick girl Monday and Tuesday - Rae was running a fever, so no school for her. She's better today, and fired up for her first practice tonight.
• Had an amazing staff meeting today. I love this staff! They are dedicated to Jesus Christ, to this church family, to each other and to the work that God has called them to accomplish.
  
• Because giving is not keeping up with our expenses, there are going to be some hard things happen in the life of our church family. Please pray for people's hearts to be moved toward giving, and that the blockage about finances in this church would be removed.
• There will be a direct discussion of the finances this Sunday before the message. I hope it will be heard, and I hope it will not take away people's attention from the message on prayer.
  
• Sunday's message will be life changing for someone, perhaps you. My world is being rocked by the thought of praying to a holy, holy, holy God. GOD IS BIGGER THAN MY PROBLEMS, AND HE'S BIGGER THAN YOUR PROBLEMS, TOO!!
• Getting the final details nailed down for the New Orleans trip. Looks like 5 of us going, and I can't wait! Wish I was there now...
  

Stay tuned for more on any and all of the above, but I wanted to get you caught up.

Off To A Great Start!

Our opening event for the 40 Days Of Prayer last night was amazing! We had a nice turn out, and a lot of good energy toward this campaign from the jump. We've given out over 175 Journals so far, and we've had a bunch of new folks jump into Community Groups for the series, so we're getting set up to see God move in a big way.

Big thanks to Aaron for leading a great worship time, and for teaching us a cool new song.

I'm excited for the potential this campaign has to help us throw off the guilt that gets attached to the issue of prayer for most Christians, and at the same time, blow up some myths about prayer that some folks might have. It doesn't have to be complicated, it doesn't have to be 'perfect,' and it doesn't have to be 'right' to be prayer. God just wants to hear from you because He loves you!

I'm working to finish the message for Sunday, and it's going to be a great first step on the journey after Paul Austin showed us the way forward last week. Bring a friend and get a journal for this 40 Days Of Prayer, it's going to be a great ride!

Seasons Rolling Along

The weather has certainly made a statement the last few days, and the calendar at my house is saying the same thing: the seasons are changing. Mac has his last regular season football game this Saturday (still in it for the playoffs, GO LIONS!!), and I just signed Rachel up for basketball that starts in a week or two. I'm looking in my closet for sweaters, and the kids were both telling me that they need new snow boots. There is change in the air.

The season of focusing on prayer in the life of our FBC family has begun. Paul Austin did a great job of leading off our 40 Days Of Prayer campaign with his message on Sunday, and the Kick Off event will be Wednesday night at 7 in the Worship Center. I am looking forward to this campaign for lots of reasons, but mostly, because I have felt God calling us to reach to the next level as a church, and no matter what that looks like in the ministry we do, it will be dependent on God moving, and God moves when His people pray. So the logical place to start is prayer.

I will put this out for you to prayerfully test - God wants to do more than we can imagine, He loves us and the people of our valley more than we can imagine, and He wants to work in and through us more than we can imagine, so one place where we need to see God begin to shape the future in us is in our imagination. What do you imagine God doing in your life in the next 6 months? What do you imagine Him doing in your Community Group during that time? Between now and Easter, what do you imagine God doing in our church family? In the Portneuf Valley?

As we start into the 40 Days Of Prayer, I'm asking you to pray for God to expand your imagination and mine. If God can help us to imagine a better future for ourselves, our church and our community, then He can begin to work in and through us to make that future into our present. Pray for big imaginations, big dreams, big and powerful hope to take over and lead us to where a big God wants to take us. Pray big prayers, and lets see what a Big God can do.

See you Wednesday night!!

An Amazing Week

Just got done with two great events: the annual Pastor's Conference at Post Falls was tremendous, a great time of learning and hanging out with other pastors across the Northwest. Great time to hang with friends, and Gary McIntosh, author and professor, and Tom Lipsey, a pastor from a great church in Ohio made this another winner of an event. So glad that Aaron, Stacy, Karl and Sue got to go, and of course, there was the annual trip to Brody Mack's for some shopping.

Then, after all that good stuff, I got to hang out for two more days of Mentor Training, including three more hours with Gary McIntosh (amazing!!), and a time of prayer that was powerful, humbling, and really just great. God showed up, and that's really enough!

What a way to get ready for the 40 Days Of Prayer! I can't wait to see where God takes all of this. Hope you're planning to be a part of it. Don't miss the pre-campaign message this week by Paul Austin, it will set the tone for the rest of the adventure.

Focus In A Busy Season

Today is Saturday. I'm in the office early because we have a Community Group Leader training, and I'm going to be introducing our 40 Days Of Prayer material to the group leaders. I'm really fired up about it, and I think that the campaign will be a help to people who are looking for a deeper connection to Christ right now.

Later, Mac and I have a football game in Fort Hall. The Lions need a win, and today is a good day to go get one.

Later, I have to pack for a retreat in Post Falls with some of the staff. Gary McIntosh, an author and speaker is the main presenter, and I'm expecting to learn a lot.

Later, I have to finish my message for Sunday. It's the last one in the Beautiful series, and I think it's going to have a huge impact on both women and men in our congregation. It's about being ready for God to move in your life, and I think God is getting ready to do a big move in our church, so it's a timely message for all of us.

Later, I have a surprise Birthday party to go to. I can't tell you who, when or where, because it's a surprise. :)

Later, I have to sleep so I can get up and share God's message on Sunday, then get in a car and drive to Post Falls.

So, in order to keep focus on the right things with an agenda that is pushing the limits of full, RIGHT NOW I NEED TO PRAY! Right now is the time to get my head right, to listen to what He has to say to me, and to dedicate my day to His glory, not mine. My day may not include a 20 minute window for prayer, but it may include 20 windows of 3 minutes each, and I need to take every one of them. When I'm 'too busy' in my life, I have to make sure I'm not too busy to pray.

What about you? What do you do to maintain a connection to God during the busy seasons of your life?

Today Is A Day To Get Excited!!

I'm fired up today, which for a Tuesday, is a special feeling! Here's why:

• Sunday was an amazing worship day! Baptisms are always a great time at FBC, and our two candidates were excited, nervous, and blessed! Their friends and family that they invited were able to see them go public with their faith, and we as their church family got to welcome them with cheering into the family! Can't wait for the next one! (Thank you to everyone who serves, prays and gives to the ministry at FBC, we see the hand of God moving, and it's because of your faithfulness!)
• The message was a tough one for some folks, bringing up some of the struggles and brokenness in some people's lives, but pointing them toward God's grace and healing. Celebrating the forgiveness of Jesus in the elements of communion was a holy moment, especially for those who were connecting that their sexual past is something that God wants to forgive. It was tremendously powerful.
• Monday was an amazing ministry day. Aaron and Janaye Floyd welcomed their brand new son, Issac, into the world, and I got to go see them at the hospital and hold their blessing in my arms for a moment. Love that new baby smell! Big brother Micah has his work cut out for him. It was fun to see both sets of his grandparents in the room and think about the spiritual legacy that Issac will inherit. Generations of Christ followers loving, teaching, modeling and praying for him.
  
• I also had the privilege of standing with a family that Beth and I know as they said goodbye to their husband/brother/friend. A long battle with cancer finally took the life of a warrior. But Jesus was there, the Holy Spirit bringing comfort, and God the Father taking Shane by the hand.
• I'm fired up today with the opportunity to work on my message for Sunday. Finishing up the Beautiful series strong and setting up the next series - 40 Days of Prayer that starts October 4. God has been working through the messages and the conversations that they have sparked. Praise God for the women in the church, and for the women in my life.
  
• The bonus of today is that the staff is having lunch with our Senior Saints! Just a relaxed, no agenda, sit down and touch base conversation at a local restaurant. (Seniors: If you can make it, give the office a call and let us know you're coming before noon. If you can't make it, we'll do it again soon!)

God is working in our midst, and the fruit is getting ripe! Fall is the time of harvest, and we're starting to see some. Can't wait to see where this is all going!!

Why You Should Bring a Friend This Sunday

The deal with church is as simple as it gets: people are more willing to come with someone than they are to come alone, and survey after survey tells us that people would attend church if someone they ALREADY KNOW invited them to come. So if you're fired up about what God is doing in your life, or if you're fired up about what God is doing in our church family, or if you are fired up about the people in your life finding forgiveness and a fresh start from Jesus, here's three reasons why you should target this Sunday to invite a friend and bring them with you to FBC:

1. Baptisms - We have three people lined up to get baptized this Sunday!! Three people who have found Jesus and are going public with their faith, three people who have been nurtured and encouraged by our church family, and three people that are ready to celebrate the life change that God is bring in their lives right now! As a church, we do and AWESOME job of celebrating people stepping from death to life, and this Sunday will be no different. Bring a friend to come see the celebration of changed lives!!
2. Grace - the message will be about grace. God's grace in our lives, the amazing, wonderful, powerful, life changing grace of Jesus for all of us who have ever blown it in our lives. The message will be clearly about the forgiveness and restoration that Jesus wants to bring in the lives of people, and your friends who need to know that God loves them and wants to forgive them NEED TO HEAR THIS MESSAGE!! Especially the woman who has something in her past that is haunting her today. God wants to set some people free from the guilt of their past this week. Bring a friend to hear a message of freedom!
3. Jesus will be there!! The truth is, none of the 'events' of the day are more important than the presence of Jesus. The music, the message, even the baptisms are nothing without the living presence of God in the room. And He has promised to be there!! Your friend that needs hope, help or healing in their life needs a touch from Jesus, and the Bible promises that Jesus is there when we gather in His name.
   

I'm fired up about this Sunday! I'm fired up about the lives God is changing, the work He is doing in my life and the lives of others, and whatever surprises He has in store for us along the way. Bring a friend and let them see and hear the truth of God's grace this Sunday. You won't regret it, and maybe someday soon, you'll be the one lighting a candle for them (or even getting to do the dunking!) when Jesus changes their life forever!!

See you Sunday!!

What A Pastor Learns From Coaching Football

This is the fourth year of my football coaching career, and after a long, busy weekend of football and church, I have finally been able to put into words what I think I've learned about being a pastor by coaching youth football. Could be more later, but for now, lets go with these:

• I can't do it all. As a football coach, I'm on the sidelines, I'm at practice, I'm calling plays and sometimes time outs. I'm making substitutions, and putting players in position to succeed the best I can, BUT I NEVER MAKE A TACKLE! I don't do the work; I can't. Even if I could, I'm just one guy, and it would take 10 more to make the defense work. I have to do my work through others in football. It's the same in church! I can't do all the ministry, and I've tried very hard the last few years to learn how to minister through others to reach more and more people. I'm always trying to put people in position to succeed, and trying to get the 'plays' called so that we have the best chance to win.
  
• You can't win them all. I wish I could say that there was a formula to guarantee success in sports, but there's not. Sometimes, you work hard, you get the right people in the right places, and you still come up short. Bad bounce, bad breaks, or superior opponents, even illness or injury can change the outcome of a game. You try to do your best, give your all, but sometimes you come up short. I tell the players on the team to win with class and lose with dignity. Good advice in church, too. We don't always win. Ideas don't always pan out, but instead of getting upset, blowing up, pouting or other unhelpful responses, going forward with dignity and a posture of learning from defeat makes more sense.
• Winning feels good! Yeah, this is a 'duh' statement, but it's true. When we win a football game, all the work, all the effort, all the conditioning and practice feels worth it. It feels GOOD! When the church wins, we all can celebrate and NEED TO REJOICE! We can and should feel good about the wins we see in the church, whenever God's kingdom moves forward. We have a great opportunity to see some of that this weekend with baptisms, so don't miss it, and don't forget to clap and cheer!!
• There's more than one way to win. Seeing a player grow from an uncoordinated 5th grader into a young man with speed and agility in the 8th grade is an amazing experience. There are a handful of kids who've been with us for the full four years, and measuring their growth in their understanding of the game, their ability and skills, and most importantly, their character, has been the best part of this experience. I wouldn't trade that for anything. The same is true of some of the people in my church. Watching men decide to follow Jesus, then lead their families, or watching someone who was afraid to pray in front of a small group of their friends turn into a person of prayer and a leader in the church, those experiences are priceless. I love being a pastor for moments like that.

If I think of any more before the Lions finish the season this year, I'll pass them on. Meantime, we're 1-2 after this weekend, with a road game at Aberdeen on Saturday night. Feel free to pray for Coach Bill to do his best to coach the kids and represent Jesus.

Could NOT have said it better...

Mark Driscol, Pastor at Mars Hill Church in Seattle. I love this guy, he challenges me, he pushes me, and...

he's funny.

Enjoy!

Silence...

The pressure of football practice and our first game last week (a two point loss for the Lions, revenge will come in the playoffs!!), and getting things in shape for the 40 Days of Prayer campaign coming in October have left me little time to blog, so sorry if you've been looking and not finding here. I'm hoping that after this weekend, I'll be able to get back to regular. Plus I'm still trying to 'debug' the book reviews from Study Leave, I'm having HTML problems of unknown origin. Soon!

Today I'm having the first relaxing day off in a couple months that doesn't involve a long drive or flight, so I'm chilling out and recharging the batteries. Don't underestimate the power of rest in our hurried world. I can't hear from God if I'm too tired to listen.

I will post some more on the Beautiful series (so far, lots of good stuff God is getting done in the lives of women AND men in this series!), and let you know what has me fired up about 40 Days of Prayer when the dust settles next week. Meantime, pray for me, we have a game Saturday night in Bear Lake (90 minutes south of here), and that's going to make for a long weekend. I think the Lions have a great chance to win, and Mac will get the start at both tight end and safety, so pray for him to stay healthy and have enough gas in the tank to go both ways for the full game.

Yes, I promised not too much of 8th grade football on this blog, but this one is important! :)