Is Your Ministry Drudgery? Part 2

"A vision without a task is but a dream;

a task without a vision is drudgery;

a vision and a task are the hope of the world."

- seen at a 17th century church in Sussex, England

 Why do you do the ministry you do?Have you thought about this?  

Why do you count the offering each Sunday for your church?  "Cause someone has to do it."  Or is it because you realize that you are an important step in your churches ministry and mission as that money is used to impact others with the good news of Jesus Christ?

Why do you stand at the door each Sunday and hand someone a sermon outline?  "I need to be doing something."   Or is it because you realize that your friendly smile and warm welcome may be the key factor that causes a "seeker" to return again and ultimately hear how God's Word can radically change their lives? 

Why do you teach little children every week?  "If I don't nobody else will."  Or is it because you realize that you are having a major spiritual impact in the life of a child, you are helping to teach children who God is and that they can have a relationship with him?

Why do you change diapers and hold babies each week in the nursery?  "Someone has to do it, and I have baby sitting skills."  Or is it because you realize the importance you play in ministry as you take care of these little ones, keeping them safe and secure, their parents and other adults can worship God and hear the message without distraction.  You realize that as you hold that crying baby that someone may be hearing and responding to God moving in their life.

Why do you minister in your church?  Do you serve in your church?

Lesson I've learned from Nate, Tricia and baby Rose (Bump)

Gwyneth is home!

This the post I wrote when I returned home from Duke after Gwyneth, "baby Rose" around our house, made her entrance into the world.  Gwyneth's birth and the circumstances around the events of that day was pretty much one of the most intense situations I've been around in my life.  Watching God's plan unfold in the life of Tricia, Gwyneth and Nathan has had an impact on my life.  I pray you will know that God has a plan for your life and that every day miracles happen around us.

I'm sure I speak for everyone in the world that has been following this story that I'm am truly amazed and blown away.  This morning I'm trying to unpack my thoughts on all of this.  Understand I have ADD so my thoughts are super sporatic.  I've learned or have been reminded of some important lessons from watching the lives of Tricia and Nathan and now baby Rose.

>Obedience to God comes first even when life is in the balance.

>We don't know how strong our faith is until it is truly tested

>My problems and worries in life aren't jack squat compared to what others in this world are going through.

>I whine and complain too much

>A mother's love for her baby is truly an amazing thing to watch 

>Even more amazing is God's love for that little baby, even before the baby enters our world

>My prayer life has pretty much stunk.  I prayed everyday but like most people I think prayer became more important in my life when the stakes were high

>Why don't I pray like that everyday?

>God uses the weak to confuse the "strong"

>Even though someone is young they could very well be more spiritually mature than someone that has been around a long time.  (we've got  a lot of Christians living the same first year over and over and over, time to grow up boys and girls)

>Emotions and feelings are from God

>Emotions and feelings need to be under the control of the Holy Spirit.

>God uses our lives to impact other lives

>The Ripple Effect can be felt around the world.

>Life, no matter how small and tiny, is powerful and amazing

>God is doing miracles all around us and most of the time we don't even recognize it.

So those are some of my thoughts this morning as I think about the amazing lives of my nephew, niece and great-niece.

Now I will attempt to get through the day without being glued to a blog. :)

Pray without ceasing!  My eyes saw a miracle.

Tonight at Contagious

The Gas Station Tacos were a smash.  I cut one boy off at 7!

Now to Contagious lesson:

HABITS

DEVELOPING HABITS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Part 4: Involving yourself in the church

THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH

They stood there amazed and perplexed. "What can this mean?" they asked each other. But others in the crowd were mocking. "They're drunk, that's all!" they said. Acts 2:12-13

WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE?

GETTING INVOLVED IN THE CHURCH BODY

 1. Commit to God’s plan for the CHURCH

[Jesus said] "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Jesus said] "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God's very own children, adopted into his family-- calling him "Father, dear Father." Romans 8:15

2. Refuse to confuse ATTENDANCE for spiritual growth

3. Find your ROLE in the Church Body

Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4: 15-16

One last thought:             The church isn’t PERFECT… but, God’s power is AMAZING. Will you mock and walk or be in awe and be drawn to Christ’s Body?

Parent/Teen Discussion:

Do any of your friends have a pre-concieved idea of what church is like?

What do they think Church is?

What about the  lesson tonight changed any of your ideas about church? 

Do you go to church on Sunday mornings?  Why? Or  Why not?

Why is it important to have this HABIT in your life?

What could you be doing in service at church?

Is Your Ministry Drudgery? Part 1

"A vision without a task is but a dream;

a task without a vision is drudgery;

a vision and a task are the hope of the world."

- seen at a 17th century church in Sussex, England

"A task without vision is drudgery"

Why do you do what you do in ministry?  Is there a vision for why you do what you do?  I think many get burnt out in ministry because they don't see the big picture or ultimately that what they are doing as a ministry team member in their church as vital or important.  Perhaps they have never had the vision set before them.

First of all do you consider yourself a "volunteer" in your church or do you consider yourself as a minister?  If you are doing ministry you are a minister.  You shouldn't be a "volunteer".  Sure you are giving of your time, but isn't that what all of us as believers should be doing?  Shouldn't every believer be serving in their church?  If this is what God expects from us then is it "volunteering" or is it obediently following as a believer?   We are called to be ministers.  God has placed each of us in the body of Christ.  Our churches are full of "body parts" that have a function which is part of God's plan and purpose.

So back to the question of "Why?".  Have you thought about this?  

American Idol

This is from a blog I posted weeks ago:

"4. Brooke

3. Jason

3. Syesha

2. David A.

1. David C."

I wonder if American Idol should hire me to be a producer?

Building a Youth Ministry Network

I'm part of a group of youth leaders/pastors that meet the second Tuesday each month.  We usually have a short devotional from one of the leaders.  We eat lunch, I like that,  it's a bring your own lunch event.   We share ideas and discuss youth ministry.  We also share prayer requests.   Every youth leader should be part of some sort of network with other youth leaders. The support and encouragement is great as well as getting good ideas.

Barriers to forming a network:

1.  Territorial or turf wars

2.  Disagreements in theology or doctrine

3.  "too busy"

4.  Don't know where to start

How the Outer Banks Youth Ministry Network formed:   A few of us got together and said, "hey, let's get together every month and do lunch".  From there the network has grown, we are always inviting churches to join us.  We are a mix of paid staff and volunteers.   Our purpose is not to plan youth group events together.  Our purpose is mainly to encourage each other and help each other with ideas.  We don't get wrapped up in debate (at the table today there were 5 denominations represented).  NHC is going to reach students that another church won't reach and they will reach students we won't reach.  

How to start a network:

1.  Contact youth workers from other churches

2.  Plan a time to meet

3.  Come up with a purpose for your network

4.  Brainstorm on some topics to discuss at your meetings

5.  Stick to your purpose and topics

6.  Don't let the network become a whining session

Monday is Weigh Day

I have been hovering around 207 and 208 for about two weeks.  I'm going to buckle down on my portions this week and try to be at 205 next Monday.  I have lost a total of 16 pounds so far.

Goal by the end of May 199lbs.

Today I ate a weight watchers recipe, leftovers I put in the food saver bag and reheated, chili beef tacos.  Very good, 6 points for two tacos, then I threw in a half cup of spanish rice and a half cup of refried beans.  Let me just say that meal is about half of what I would have eaten about a month ago.  

Tomorrow I'm going lite as possible, shredded wheat for breakfast, veggie wrap for lunch, salad for dinner.  Time to buckle down and drop some pounds.

Good Book on Teams

If you are on a team,  at work or on a ministry team in your church, I suggest you read,  The Five Dysfunctions Of A Team, written by Patrick Lencioni.

Here are the 5 Dysfunctions:

My Three Favorite Moms

If it had not been for my mom I would not be here today.

My mom makes the best biscuits in the world.  Let me run with this one:

>Mom would bake me biscuits in the morning and then melt cheddar cheese on them

>Mom's biscuits are perfect for sopping up gravy

>Mom's biscuits are incredible with apple butter on them, especially real apple butter

>Mom's biscuits are not dinner rolls.  How do people confuse dinner rolls with biscuits?  Ain't they have been in the south? Great time a day!

>Mom's biscuits are great piping hot, sliced in half, butter melted all over them

>Grape jelly is the bomb diggity on my mom's biscuits

>Mom's biscuits are great with roast beef, especially with the gravy poured all over them

>Did I mention that mom's biscuits are great with gravy

Finally let me say this:

My momma's biscuits are so good that if you put a plate of them on top of your head your tongue would slap your brains out trying to get them.

  

And I love my mom for more than just her biscuits (those are just a side bonus).

My niece, Tricia, makes my favorite mom list.  She's the toughest mom on the face of the planet and she fought hard to bring baby Rose into this world.  Her faith and strength are incredible.  

My favorite mom is my wife.  Misha is the best mom on the face of the planet.  She is the momma bear.  Don't believe me?  Better think twice before going near her cub.  One of the favorite words I hear in my house is my 3 year old genius saying, "Momma".   I bet he says "Momma" 457 times a day.  He loves his momma, and so do I.  Just a few years ago we wondered if we would ever hear a little voice say, "Momma!"  God gave us a blessing and I think we were waiting  until the perfect time for the perfect son.  Misha, she's the best in the world!

Happy Mother's Day to all you fantastic mommas out there.  Let's keep the biscuits rollin'.

Growth Spiritually

Growth Numerically  - this year at The Call's youth worker round table we weren't able to tackle all the issues we wanted to talk about the first issue was numerical growth.  The second issue was...

Growth Spiritually is something that every youth leader wants to see in the students they lead.  How do we help students grow spiritually?

1.  Supply  - Give parents access to resources, web sites, family devotionals.  Parental involvement in their teenager's faith walk is a key factor to the student's spiritual growth.

2.  Teach - Each year at Contagious we go through the HABITS that students will need to grow spiritually and feed themselves.  Teach on discipleship annually, a 7th grader will have heard a discipleship series on the tools they need to feed themselves from the Bible 6 years in a row by the time they graduate.  Provide the opportunity for them to put these HABITS into practice.

3.  Model - Students need to see us as leaders modeling spiritual growth for them.  Are we spending time daily in God's Word (beside preparing for a lesson)?  Are we memorizing scripture?  Are we involved in our church?  Do we give back to God by tithing?  Do we share with the students what we are learning in our own personal quiet time with God?

4.  Pray - Don't ever underestimate the power of prayer.   Pray that God will draw our students into a deep faith walk with Him.

Remember, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.  You can do all of the above but ultimately it is up to the student to take the steps necessary for their own spiritual growth.  If you are supplying, teaching, modeling and praying you are doing all you can do, the rest is up to them.

Contagious Last Night

Last night at Contagious....

>much weeping over the broken ping pong table

>missing students who were at school functions

>football on the front lawn (I think I saw Ramon out there playing, some lessons are never learned)

>some girls who started two weeks ago have now been three weeks straight.  I feel a magnet dance comin on.

>new girl showed up even though she knew her two friends would not be there.  Super cool!

>22 students took key tag verses home, committing to memorize a verse a week.

>adult leaders must memorize a verse this week or a students can challenge the leader and if the leader can't quote the verse they owe the kid $5.  Zoiks!

Here is our outline from last night:

DEVELOPING HABITS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Part 3: Planting God’s Word in your life

Question:  What do you have committed to memory?

What occupies the most space in your memory?

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11

Some promises from God’s Word…

·      God’s Word GUIDES me                       

Key word: direction

 Colossians 3:16

·      God’s Word FEEDS me                        

Key word: growth

Jeremiah 15:16 (NIV)

·      God’s Word STRENGTHENS me                  

Key word: temptation

 Psalm 119:9-11

Some goals for a growing Christian and God’s Word…

DESIRE it ►►► DELIGHT in it ►►► DEVOUR it ►►► DISPLAY it

Jesus said, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13:17

Some ideas for developing the habit of Bible memorization…

1. Determine if the benefits are worth the EFFORT

2. Gather some verses to MEMORIZE

Verses that: challenge/protect/guide/promise/encourage/instruct

3. Commit to a plan to develop the HABIT of memorizing Scriptures

 Joshua 1:8

If you want to use HABITS in your youth group check out Simply Youth Ministry  for this series and the tools to give students to help them establish the necessary HABITS in their lives.

So we have tackled H - hang time with God; A - accountability, B - Bible memorization.  Next week is I.

Parent/Teen Discussion:

Why is it important to memorize scripture verses?

How can scripture memorization help your life?  Change your life?

Tell your teen your favorite memory verse.

Take the $5 challenge with your teen.  Give yourselves a week and if you don't memorize a verse you owe them $5 and if your teen doesn't memorize a verse they owe you an hour worth of hard labor around the house. ;)

Next Week: