Time away is a good thing

My wife (Lisa) and I got a chance this last week Thu, Fri, & Sat. It was a wonderful time. We had a chance to find 10 geocaches, enjoy some local food (click on picture to see a very short slide show), and got a lesson from God.

The geocaching was just fun and we were pretty tired after a full day of hunting around.

The food was nice and it was the place that God taught me a lesson.

The lesson was this - sometimes my righteous “spiritualness” isn't God's direction for me. We were eating and enjoy ourselves. We had a wonderful waitress and she took good care of us. Two gentlemen came after we were there and they ordered and started to talk with the waitress. In less than 2 minutes he had her "praying a pray" of acceptance of Jesus. I was not happy - "What was he thinking? does he care of this girl? does he know her? is this just another nonce in his spiritual belt?" I made the decision to talk with this young lady and find out a little more about her. I wanted to see if she has any connections to help her with this decision she just made. We got a chance to talk (she took a picture in the slide show for us) and I asked her about the decision she just made and if she had any "spiritual mentors" in her life? She said no and we were able to exchange email addresses. I walked out of there thinking - "There! Now that is how you share Christ with someone." But later as I was out geocahing with Lisa God gave me a quick smack in the face. "Would you have talked with her about her spiritual life if that gentlemen didn't have her pray that prayer?" Ouch! Lesson learned.

Book Report – Getting Things Done

It’s done finally. I’ve had this book in my office for almost a year. Started reading it, stopped to read others, started to read it again, stopped because I wanted to read it with my wife, and finally (with Lisa) finished it. Thou very easy to read this is a hard book and for me it is really a reference book more than a onetime read book. I will put a couple thoughts about this book here in my blog (my book report guideline is to only put two or three thoughts on my blog) but then I hope to slowly pull other ideas and keep changing the way I’m “Getting Things Done.”

The first take away is the “two-minute rule.” “If the next action can be done in two minutes or less, do it when you first pick the item up.” This is what David Allen (author of “Getting Things Done”) says is one of three ways to deal with your stuff. The other two ways is to delegate it or to defer it. I’ve done this somewhat with my emails for some time now but not as aggressively as Mr. Allen has encouraged readers to be. I’m looking forward to the chance to get through paper work on my desk, storage in my closets, and just stuff in my office and home using this rule.

The second take away is his diagram found on page 120 of his book or you can down load a pdf of it here. This diagram gives a simple but clear flow of how to use his system to get things done. I’ve had a copy of this flow diagram on my stick pin wall for some time and now I'm able to see more ways to use it.

This is a must read book for anyone who doesn’t like having stuff piled up everywhere and can’t figure out where the stuff one needs is at.

Book Report - They Like Jesus but not the Church

A few years ago I was in a video game store getting the video game Mario Party World 7 for the family (I know 8 is out already and we have that to) and over heard the store clerk talking with someone. They were talking about Christians and how much they hated them because of their pushiness and that “they are so stupid.” I was so struck by what they were saying that I decided to apologize to them for how my Christian brothers and sisters had treated them. I was surprised by their reaction. They accepted my apology and said they really liked talking about Jesus but they just wish they knew more Christian’s that they could talk intelligently and openly with about their questions. This conversation came to my mind so many times as I read this book “They Like Jesus but not the Church” by Dan Kimball.

There is a lot in hear I could talk about and I would encourage anyone who has a desire to share Christ with the lost to read it and take to heart what is shared. But to keep to my filter of only sharing two or three key thoughts and/or concerns I will limit this report to two big take a ways for me.

We are doing our fall series as a church here at New Covenant Bible Church and this year we are doing the “WHY>” series from pursuit.org. The first main why question we have talked about is – Why am I here? I took the middle school kids to the story of Jonah and talked about how God had placed him on the earth to go to Nineveh. But that Jonah decided not to follow God and even when he did follow God he really wanted Nineveh to get taken out. I walked through the idea that God has a plan for ever one of them and that they can decide if they want to do it or not but that God was going to use them for His purpose. Kimball says that, “People who focus so much on God’s wrath come across like they’re happy that people will suffer one day. Instead of having a broken and humble heart, they can come across with the attitude, ‘I’m glad I’m saved, and too bad you aren’t and will be punished.’” Jonah acted a lot like this. He wanted Nineveh to get it even if they were repented of their sins. I often can get this way. I have a desire to love people where they are but often I find myself wanting them to get “what they deserve.” I realize from Jonah’s story and some of Kimball’s thoughts that I really need to have a broken and humble heart for the lost and a deep desire to want them to be with the Father.

I’ve always thought of myself as a very simple man. In fact I have on my stick board in my office Maxwell Maltz statement, “Nothing is simpler than greatness: Indeed, to be simple is to be great.” And that is a motto of my life. But when I come across as unintelligent and blind to good thoughts then I really fail as a Christian. Kimball says, “we had better be ready to discuss intelligently and lovingly why we come to the conclusions we do.” And I so need to work on this in my life. As a middle school pastor I can sometimes think that my kids don’t have “major” theological thoughts and that I need to keep things simple. But I fail them when I let that totally control all that I do for them. I need to study, read, and be ready to give an answer to questions that might never come my way (but then again they might). On the other side of this is relationship. My kids are so important to me and I want to not only give them God’s truth but I want to have a relationship with them so that I can share His truth and they will receive it. “But before we can have such conversation with people, we have to build relationships with them and understand other faiths well enough that we can talk about them intelligently.” This is my job, to develop relationships and have intelligent thoughts when I talk with my kids. This is a pray that Kimball shared that I so agree to, “I will pray, recognizing that it’s not the homework but the Spirit of God that draws people to Jesus.” So let it be Lord.

“I hope that if you gained anything from reading this book it’s that it isn’t about the music or preaching or programs; it’s about having a missional heart, fully dependent on God’s Spirit, and not being afraid to make changes and take risks for the gospel.” I really enjoyed these read and I have more things to think about – Thx Dan Kimball.

Book Report – Confessions of a closet Catholic by Sarah Darer Littman

Lindsey my daughter brought this book home (you can click on the picture to see how to get it from amazon.com) and I asked her to give me a book report on it. Interesting little read. This is her book report:

This book is about a girl (Justine) who gives up being Jewish for lent and is Catholic. One day she got invited to her friend Mac's house for a sleepover and the next day she would go to the mass with Mac and her family. When she got back her mom was there and she was suppose to get there at lunch time. Then mom went up to her and said the Bubbe (her grandmother) had a stroke. Bubbe is the only one Justine can really talk to. All of Bubbe's parents and relatives had died. But Bubbe was mostly sad about Zadley(Bubbe's sister). When she was first at the hospital Bubbe was in serious care so she couldn't see her and neither could her brother. When she was able to see Bubbe she found out that Bubbe wanted to go back to her apartment but Justine was able to convince Bubbe to come to her house. When Bubbe came to her home for a while she didn't really get better. One day when Justine was at school her mom came and got her to tell her Bubbe had died. In Bubbe's will Justine is to get a necklace that was Bubbe. To help Justine with the sadness Shira (Justine's cousin) came to stay with them for a while. After some time Shira introduces Rob to Justine and they start liking each other. Unfortunately Justine does something clumsy and embraces herself and she runs to her room. Rob and Shira come to her room and cheer her up. Then when it is time for Rob and Shira to leave Rob gives Justine a kiss on the cheek. At the end Justine thinks about Bubbe and Zayde and thinking they must be looking down, smiling.

I asked Lindsey to write the book report because the title was interesting and she really was enjoying the book. When she found out that I would put it in my blog she was really excited. My wife Lisa is reading the book and says it is ok.

I do work

I was watching a funny video from saddle back jr hi ministry about what the jr hi staff does (or really doesn't do) during the regular week - funny stuff. But it did make me think about what I do on my days off. A lot of time I spend time with my boys (like last week) but I do get some things done around the house - like painting (see picture). It's important to me to be a blessing to my family and my days off I need to always be ready to serve them. Oh by the way I don't do anywhere near as much work as our middle flock Pastor Tye does - you go Tye.

Middle School/Jr Hi Pastor summit - key thoughts #1

This is the start of different thoughts I'm having about middle school ministry. The goal is to have stuff out there for people to read and comment if they want. This are just my thoughts that have come from my study of the notes from the summit.

#1 - My Key thoughts from Curriculum notes (so far):
1) I’m working on transitioning the Middle School kids, parents, and sponsors through the children's ministries character curriculum to the Sr Hi's “head, heart, hands” experiences how do I do that?
2) It is so much more than just covering certain “topics” or certain “texts.”
3) Starting plan - to go from the children's ministries character curriculum, to giving kids, parents, and sponsors experiences w/those character qualities, then go from those experiences to the sr hi's “head, heart, hands” – which is all experiences
4) Thought – what if we give to the sponsors (and parents) relational probing questions that they ask kids about that focus on the character qualities they have been exposed to?

Prayers this month - Sep 07

Another very interesting month to reflect back on my reading of God's Word (I read through the book of Mark). After "My Historic" day and the reading of Scott McKnight's book Jesus Creed I've been recording here in my blog my monthly prayers. I have been stunned, stung, and stabilized in my relationship with Christ because of this. May these simple prayers be a reminder for me to stay always guarded, humble, and focused on the One.

Lord, if it is time for me to be pushed then please do but if not that is fine to. Help me to continue with where you have me at.

Lord, I want this life you have given me to bring you glory and not a life that doesn't, help me Lord, PLS!

Lord, I must obey you no matter what. How do I do this when it comes to my family?

Lord use my life stories to impact kids.

Lord, help me, the middle school parents and sponsors to take our life stories to explain and share about Your truth.

Lord, may I share your truth and love with all of me.

Lord, open my eyes to keep things simple for others (even if it means more work for me). May I be welcoming and open to your spirits leading.

Lord, I need you to keep me from losing my focus on you and you alone. Open my eyes to see what I need to see to bring you glory.

Lord, I want to say your truth in a way that people "get it" - including myself. Help me Lord, PLS!

Lord, I need your wisdom in understand how to have total confidence in you and not ask "if" question.

Lord, help me to see and understand this even more. I want nothing but to be your servant.

Lord, "wipe my slate clean of sins" my I be all that you want me to be to bring You and You alone maximum glory.

Lord, I want to give all - what is all in my life? How do I give it? Where do I start? Have I started?

Lord, my I constantly be looking into my heart to honor you humbly. You deserve my constant devotion, use me Lord for Your will, PLS!

Lord, I don't want to be a time waster and just someone "doing stuff." I want to be all that You want me to be, help me to understand that better about myself.

Lord, my I never give you "mock worship" in my life - ever. Lord, in my heart I know you are "I AM."