I love this one, another one of my favorites. It makes me think of how we treat first time guests when they come to our church.
1. Do we make sense? Are we speaking in jargon, insider language?
2. Do do things on Sunday morning out of tradition that have no function.
3. Do people feel comfortable
4. Do people want to comeback again.
Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have recieved, and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.” -
Mother Teresa
One of the things that I in my old age have grown to love is reading books from people who I disagree with. I think it helps me separate what I really believe from what I believe because I have heard it talked about enough.
Why I liked this book. It further cemented in my mind that as a Christ follower I am not to be ignorant of what is going on in the world around me.
I like how this book made me realize that Al Gore and the democrats are accusing the Republicans of doing many of the very same things that the republicans accuse the democrats of doing.
This book made me realize afresh that many Christians waste to much time thinking politics will change our nation, it will not. We all must vote, yes. In my opinion Christians including myself have looked to politics far to much to solve the ills of society that only Christ can fix.
I liked this book because Al Gore had some excellent points and perspective I would have missed out on had I not read his book. His points about money and power corrupting our system where very good. His points on the affects of visual communication vs. written communication we fantastic.
There were a few things I didn’t like but I will not go into all of those. Al Gore considers himself a Christ follower and as one I felt he was borderline bitter in his tone and repeated dissent against this current administration.
I would definitely recommend this book. I learned a heap. Lastly just so you know my two favorite Presidents are Lincoln and Reagan, it’s a shame there aren’t more Republicans and Democrats like them.
Today is my wife’s birthday. There is so much that I appreciate about her. She is such a blessing to my life and to our family. I thank God for special days like birthdays because they help to refocus us on the things that really matter. I appreciate all the time and energy my wife puts into the spirtual and physical wellbeing of our boys. I appreciate the selflessness in which she serves them. I appreciate he unique sense of style. I love that she is always trying to improve. I remember one time she made 4 different sets of brownies because she wanted them to be just right. She is Martha Stewart with a good personality and lack of criminal record. She is the best mom ever. I love her.
All of that aside what I love most about my wife is how much she loves me dispite my failings she loves me just how I am. I am so blessed to have her in my life. Baby I love you more today!
There are certain people and certain things in life that just make you laugh, cry, and get warm fuzzies. When I grew up I watched In Living Color on a regular basis. Jim Carey was so funny in every skit he did from Vera Demilo to Fire Marshall Bill.
This video makes me laugh every time I see it. I have seen it plenty and still laugh every time I love it. What makes it funny is if you understand who Jim Carey is acting like. You appreciate the subtleties of his humor so much more when you understand the context.
Context is a powerful thing. How many times have you said “Oh so thats what they meant”. Relevance is a huge buzzword in church culture today. If people don’t understand were you are coming from and you don’t understand where they are, relevance will never happen.
How can we apply the power of God’s word to someones life in a way that is significant to them and by no means compromises the message of Christ? We need to understand their context and preach the word in a way that they can understand it’s context.
Anyway here are two very funny videos. They are both funny the first one is for context.
That was the real juice man: Jay Kordich. This next one is Jim Carey.
M. Scott Peck:There can be no vulnerability without risk; there can be no community without vulnerability; there can be no peace, and ultimately no life, without community.
Community we all need it! Whether we realize it or not.
The first book I read on vacation was how full is your bucket. It was a very simple book based on a very simple but powerful principle.
The more you fill the bucket of those around you the more your bucket is filled.
What I took away?
1. My praise of others needs to be more spacific and more personal.
2. I need to actually use the thank you cards in my desk
3. I need to stop assuming that people know how I feel and tell them.
4. We reproduce who we are. I want to be surrounded by people who see the best in me despite my failings so I learned I need to fill the buckets of others.
5. I very often do this more in my head. I think wow so-and-so when above and beyond. It doesn’t help anyone if I don’t verbalize it in a specific personal way.
To sum it all up it was a very good book. I like how easy it was to read how well he illistrated his points and you left with a specific plan of what you can do this week to implement what you learned. This book had a huge application up side. Many books are theory some are practical but the really good ones, the ones that make a difference are applicable.
Had a great weekend in children’s ministry. I got a chance to meet a great couple from Cornwall Canada. We had quite a few fantastic conversations about children’s ministry. I am very excited for them because they are starting from the ground up. They have the privilege to lay the foundation for the ministry to children at their church.
In talking to this couple I was reminded of the importance of revisiting where you have come from and the importance of starting off right.
I begin thinking what would I have wanted someone to tell me when I first started?
So here goes……
1. Vision – vision attracts volunteers more than need.
2. People Matter to God – never forget that God left the 99 to reach the 1.
3. Instruct, Model, and Inspect. -You get what you are. Model, Model, Model.
4. Mature yourself. – You need to spend time reading, listening, praying, and networking. Many children’s pastors aren’t able to be in service. Making maturity a priority is essential.
5. Be specific – People want to know what you want. Tell them and be specific. When you aren’t specific people have no choice but to fill in the blanks, created by your lack of specificity.
6. Have Fun – Kids church needs to be fun. So make it fun.
7. Life Transformation – Our goal in all we do is life transformation in children’s lives, in our volunteers and in our families.
8. The Pipeline works – You need to work well with the Pre-school ministry and the youth ministry.
9. Budget or No Budget Trust God.
10. Don’t get cynical. – Children’s ministry is so often out of sight out of mind. Do blame God don’t blame others. Children’s ministry today is where youth ministry used to be 15years ago. I believe children’s ministry is changing. People are seeing the importance of reaching kids. I believe that things are going to change. We need to be ready for the change!
Where would we be without YouTube. YouTube is another reason why I love the web. You can find anything you want on YouTube. The opening to ALF the 80′s TV show. Various clips of your favorite actors or shows. Great stuff for sermon illustrations and general office fodder.
So to celebrate all that is great about YouTube I’ll share some of my favorite YouTube videos with you so you can laugh, cry, whatever is appropriate at the moment.
This one is from King of the Hill they talk about church from a perspective that is valuable to any Christian. How we do church matters!
Just read a great post by Craig Groeschel. It is invaluable for leader but especially children’s workers. In children’s ministry you need so many volunteers to accomplish everything and if you don’t learn how to give up control you will never survive and you will never thrive. Make sure you read Craig’s blog post on control it’s excellent.
I know when I first started working in children’s ministry I did everything. It didn’t take long before I realized the power of team. We need to give up what we think we have to do for the cause of Christ. I have done a children’s worker take on Craig’s post.
1. Do you teach each week? – Give it up
2. Is it easier to do everything yourself then explain it to others? – Give it up
3. Are you to busy doing that you have no time to inspect what is going on? – Give it up
4. What are you doing that someone else can do? – Give it up.
5. If you left today would your ministry survive? If the the answer is no than you need to give up more control for the sake of Christ. What we do is more important than who we are.
Give it up! For Christ’s sake.
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