10 Things Pastors Want to Say To The Church

1.     Just being at church is an encouragement.

2.     Right before I preach don’t hit me up. I’m trying to focus.

3.     Read your announcement sheet/bulletin.

4.     Invite your friends to church.

5.     The nursery is an important part of our ministry. Please teach our nursery children.

6.     Tithe. Not so my salary can grow but so your blessings can.

7.     Go to a small group. Sunday School and/or a LIFEgroup.

8.     Take a meal to those who are healing from loss or health issues.

9.     Do something. This is your church. Make it better.

10. Watch your tongue. Don’t gossip and/or always be negative.  

BIGGER vs BETTER

There are areas in our life that we want to be bigger. A BIGGER church, a BIGGER Sunday School, a BIGGER LIFEgroup, a BIGGER worship team, a BIGGER budget, a BIGGER business, a BIGGER client lists, BIGGER profits, BIGGER sales, BIGGER influence etc. Two things I would want you to know. 

1. BIGGER is not necessarily BETTER. You can get big too quick. Sometimes we just need to be faithful in the small. Don't measure yourself by size. 
2. BETTER leads to BIGGER. Chic-Fil-A at one point was seeking to get bigger at a rapid rate. Truett Cathy (the oldest man in the room) said "If we do what we do better, the customers will demand the bigger". So whatever you do, DO IT BETTER and BIGGER will come. 

OITM

The greatest part of what I do as a minister is to remind people. I do not declare new things. I remind of things already been said. So, with that said I feel that I must remind you to OITM. It is easy to try to figure out exactly what the story of our life is going to look like. If we focus on making the story work out the way we want it to we are most likely going to mess the story up. OITM and the story will be wonderful. It will be a story so big that you would not have even imagined it. You may be asking what OITM means. Obey In The Moment. Just do what God tells you to do in the moment. The story will be great.

What is it you must do right now?

Will You Join Me?

I was saved in a very legalistic (many rules to keep) environment. I felt like as a Christian one had to read their bible daily, go to church every time the doors were open, etc. Now, those are good things but you can do that and be a lousy Christian or maybe not even one at all. I guess I am a recovering Pharisee. I still struggle mainly with other people’s shortcomings (Pharisees usually fail to see their own). See that is what a Pharisee does. He measures people. Usually people he does not even really know.

I now want to give GRACE & JESUS.

I will seek to lead my life toward those that are hurting. Some will not understand. I cannot help them all but I can do something.

Will you join me? Please leave a comment to let me know. 

Can You Handle This?

It is 4:39/3:39 central time. I have not slept. Here is why.

As I sat in the Catalyst conference yesterday God was speaking to me in diverse ways about diverse topics. Everybody at Catalyst that tweets puts the hash tag #cat10 so anyone can see tweets that reference what is happening at Catalyst 2010. As I checked Twitter, I saw a tweet where a good, strong church is beginning it's search for a new lead pastor and I was intrigued. I have not sent a resume to a church since the early 1990's so I thought about putting a resume together and sending it to see what happened. Sometimes a fresh start is appealing. Then later in the day it crossed my mind to just start a new church and as people joined we would make it clear what the expectations were.

The first day of the conference was finally over and it was time for supper, a stop at Barnes and Noble for a little reading of THE MESH, then to the hotel for some sleep. A long day lay ahead on Thursday starting at 6/5 central and going until about 9/8 central. Well, I don't think I slept a wink. Either the Pumpkin Spice Latte, some one prayed foe rocks in my bed, God or me kept me awake. I have spent this night praying for my wife, Blake, Kristine, Luke (and his future spouse), Hannah (and her future spouse) and many members of Harvest Church. I spent time forgiving people who have hurt me. I have wrestled with God. I have laid stuff at the foot of the cross and picked it back up and laid it back down again. I hope I can leave it there. But here is the deal.

God began to give me visions. Vivid visions. Visions of what could be. Visions of what should be. Visions of people taking ownership of God's call on their life. Visions of people excited about their commitment to the Body of Christ. People excited about bringing a community to Jesus. A community without financial bondage. A community without grumbling and complaints. A community where everyone plays a part. A community of believers that allows God to use them. A community that surrenders to God and His plan for their life. I wrestled with God.

The part God made clear was all of these visions were for Harvest Church. They were not for another church or for a new church start. They were for Harvest Church. I cannot pour what I have seen into your mind. I am not sure I can even articulate all God has shown me. But I can say God has a plan for Harvest Church. It is not an easy plan in our strength but it is doable in His strength. I don't see where God called people to easy in the Bible. He called them to obedience.

It is my prayer that God gets a hold on the hearts of the faith family called Harvest Church and we would become a mighty army of Jesus Christ in the church and in the streets. I pray that every member of our faith family and those who have been our guest would wrestle with God and get His vision for their life and live it. I wish you a sleepless night with God.

What do you think?

Catalyst 2010

I love to learn. I have become a book addict and seek to grow in my knowledge so that I might more fully execute God's call on my life. This week I will be attending Catalyst 2010. This is a conference for young leaders. The oldest person there last year was 72 so I guess I am still young at 47. I believe our young leaders have much to teach us and I love their passion. This is always a refreshing week and a great time to soak up great leadership lessons. If you are on Twitter you can get some good quotes this week by checking out hash tag #cat10. 

What Do We Have to Offer?

Mary Anne and I had a refreshing time at the beach last week and are encouraged to come back to continue God’s call on our lives. As we left the beach we stopped by the donut shop at about 10:45 on Sunday. As I surveyed the people there were those who appeared to be coming by after/before church and those who did not appear to have church on the agenda. I realize there is certain risk in trying to make that distinction by how someone looks/dresses, but I did. This question crossed my mind, “What does the church have to offer that is worth all the trouble?” I think I have just three simple answers: Jesus, a faith family and eternal hope. Therefore, should we not make Jesus, our faith family and eternal hope our priorities? We have nothing to offer greater than Jesus. A faith family that really cares is always special. Hope is missing in so many lives so let us have eternity on the brain. Fall in love today with Jesus, your faith family and let us all look to our eternal prize with great hope. 

2 Cor 11:3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.