Journey Through John Day #2 (John 2)

Read - John 2

My Key Verse - John 2:5 She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, "Whatever he tells you, do it."

My Reflection - Jesus' mother told the servants to "do whatever He told them to do." What would life look like if every follower of Christ did what He told them to do? What kind of choices would we make? What kind of impact would we have? The essence of being a follower of Christ is in obedience. Far too often many people want their lives forgiven but yet want to live life the way they want to. Sometimes I fall in that category as well. If we all would live with an ear to what He is saying, our lives would be lived out with the fullness of what He has designed for us. Choose today to do whatever he tells you.

My Prayer - Lord, help me to listen to the still small voice and follow and obey your every desire for my life.

Inspired

Inspired by this and this...SO...I'm game. Let's see what happens. Anyone else in.

Still Here

Hadn't disappeared everyone...just introducing you to some of my friends in the blog world. I think next week I'm digging into a quote...by...Walt Disney. I'm also probably taking up the challenge of going through the book of John over the next 21 days and posting on it each day. We'll see.

The Birthday Blog-Secrets To Healthy Aging

Today's guest post is by Randy Reed. Randy is the Lead Pastor of LifePointe Church in Coralville, Iowa. Lifepointe had it's first meeting in September of '07 and has quickly grown as a new and radical church in their area. As well as being a personal friend of mine for many years Randy writes some creative posts at his blog The Confession Stand.

Today is November 7th, 2007. Today is my Birthday! Today I just turned 40 something. The rest of the something really is none of your business or anyone else’s. I have a young wife that keeps reminding about that "something" part all the time. In addition she watches daily my financial assets wrapped up in a hefty life insurance plan that looks extremely good on paper. I am just glad that she believes the longer I stay alive the better my antique value soars. I pray her way of thinking continues as long as it can. I am relieved she is yet to prance around our house singing the here today gone tomorrow song with meaning and enthusiasm.

So let's just get one thing straight--I am old--no let me rephrase that--I am older than my wife and a few other people that I know, like my 3 year old and five year old sons, Joshua and Deaven. Outside of that I am not older than dirt and I don't need a Kirby vacuum cleaner to prove my manhood--as in needing help to blow out my candles. And those of you that are out there in Cyber-space who know where I live and who know my real age--well--keep your big mouths shut. No I really mean it. My wife and a few friends have already hurt my feelings enough today.
So here are a few secrets to healthy aging--

1. Keep reminding yourself that there is always somebody else in front of you in the ARP line. Someone already beat you to the senior discounts! So take your time in getting there.

2. If you never grow up (get older) you never know what it will be like to get rid of diapers--of course for some of you I know what you may be thinking--THAT DEPENDS!

3. You get to smirk at those younger than you since you have already obtained knowledge of what is around the corner--things like Preparation H, Rogaine, Geritol, and Meals on Wheels, and Bingo night at the old folk’s home. Never tell someone younger than you what to expect. When they finally experience this stuff--then sit in your rockin’ chair and laugh your head off.

4. Aging is priceless--wrinkle crème companies pay older folk 2 cents on the dollar to become lavatory guinea pigs. Don't bend over for those pennies on the ground--have companies hand them to you. Saves the ole back by the way!

5. During retirement--the option to become a bag boy/girl or smiling greeter at Wal-Mart is always available for consideration. If you can't read or fill out the application on your own--take a younger friend with you who can. No one will ever know the difference except you.

So there you have it. My secrets to healthy aging.

I would have shared a few more but I just can't seem to remember any.......
Oh and if you are planning to be a difference maker in this life, in your world, on your job, in your church, and in "your" ministry. I have some old timers’ news for you. I don't care how good you think you are doing things in the name of God-- now or in the future--none of it will matter if you end up selling your soul in losing your health, your mind or your family. The priorities of a difference maker begin at home and they stay at home. If you think you are growing things for God and the growth of your marriage is stunted shame on you. If you find yourself making a difference in the lives of other families and in the lives of other kids and not your own. Shame on you! Difference making should be home spun and home done. There are no excuses otherwise!

I have seen too many, too often, pour too much, into someone else’s world, life, and projects. There are way too many difference makers riding off into the sunset and arriving back home with nothing left to give. And of course this is called godly and necessary--and servant hood. Tell that one to God on judgment day. The difference maker who does not take care of his loved ones becomes worse than an infidel. I read that somewhere in the difference makers handbook--or was it the difference makers Bible. I told you my memory has been slipping gears lately.

I may be getting old--I mean older, but there is one thing I have learned while spending frivolous time on the Christian merry-go-round of being a difference maker. I have gotten off the merry-go-round and have no plans to get back on it. The greatest difference I can be making begins at home and stays at home the majority of the time. I refuse to raise someone else’s kids. I refuse to be married to someone else’s wife. I refuse to spend more time with the guys and forget the girl. I refuse to listen to someone else’s problems more than listening to the voices where I live.
I refuse to give and give and give. I refuse to be a difference maker--unless my difference making begins and ends at home.

Do I sound like a cranky old man? I promise you that I'm not. They say the older we get the wiser we should get. So if you want some wise advice--as a difference maker--spends more time making a difference in the lives of those close to you. Save the leftovers for someone else!

Recruiting Volunteers

Our next guest blogger this week is Bill Reichart. Bill is the Pastor of "Doing Life Together" which involves Small Groups and Connecting at Big Creek Church in Forsyth County, GA. Prior to coming to Big Creek, Bill worked on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ for over 16 years. Be sure to read more of Bill's thoughts at http://www.provocativechurch.blogspot.com

I have been thinking a lot about volunteers recently, particularly since everyone in my ministry down-line happens to be a volunteer. In churches, the work of ministry happens because of volunteers. Since volunteers make up 95% of the ministry workforce, the question that we need to grapple with is, how do we lead and recruit volunteers? Here are just a couple of my thoughts...feel free to comment and add your own.

1. Vision is their paycheck. A volunteer isn't motivated and driven by a paycheck (hence the label volunteer :-) ), so what gets a volunteer to step up to the plate? Vision. Vision, that is compelling and communicated often, is key for volunteers. They want to know how their service in their corner of the church fits into the overarching mosaic of the church's vision, mission and purpose. Vision not only keeps volunteers motivated but it is the essence of recruiting volunteers. You want people to join your ministry team? Share the vision. People respond more to communicating "vision" rather than just merely sharing "need".

2. You need to give people volunteering on-ramps. How do people connect with volunteering opportunities in your church? What is the process? Is it simple? Is it clear? At Big Creek Church we are working on clear and simply on-ramps giving people the opportunity to serve. (read Simple Church by Rainer - this book has been challenging us big time the last 8 months). Very often people want to serve - they just need to know how. We currently use our Taste of Big Creek (a.k.a. monthly newcomers lunch) and our Big Creek Inquirers (membership event) as two major on-ramps to help connect people with serving opportunities.

3. Volunteers need to be celebrated. It is true that most people volunteer because they want to use their gifts and make a difference. They are not overtly looking for praise and recognition, but that doesn't mean that they don't deserve it. Whether it be big, huge volunteer appreciation gatherings or simply walking in the nursery and thanking the lady who is holding a crying baby - volunteers did to be celebrated.

4. Volunteers often times will only rise to the level of your expectations. There are some volunteers who will go well beyond the call of duty, but most volunteers will serve up to the bar that you set. So set the bar high. Too often we are afraid to ask a lot from our volunteers - that is a mistake. Ask boldly, ask big! You will be surprised how motivated volunteers are willing to serve.

5. Volunteers will only work under leaders. People that are serving in your church need clear direction. You need to lead them. Make sure that you do your due diligence in planning and preparation as a leader. At the same time, don't worry if your don't have all the answers. As a leader you should concentrate about being clear with your volunteers even if you are not certain about every detail (via Andy Stanley)

6. Volunteers recruit other volunteers. One of the biggest issues for leaders is recruitment. As a leader, you have tapped into our sphere of relationships and may now feel tapped out. As a leader, you don't and shouldn't be the key recruiter. Encourage your volunteers to recruit their friends. People love to serve with their friends and they have a circle of friends and relationships that you probably don't have.

What are some of your thoughts about leading volunteers in your ministry context?

Do They Even Care What You Know?

Today's guest post is by Tyler Madison. Tyler is a middle school computer teacher, who is also the youth director at Northridge Assembly of God in Grand Island, Nebraska. He has a great interest in developing people and young people especially. Tyler has some great inspiring thoughts you can read on his blog at realyouthoughts.blogspot.com

Have you ever taken a moment to think about whether the people whose lives you are trying to impact even care what you have to say? Many of us get so concerned with what we are trying to get across, that we can forget about the actual people. I often catch myself focusing more on the content than the person.

This blog is called Making Difference Makers, and if that is what we plan on doing, we need to watch where our focus is.

I can tell you, in my main area of ministry, I will lose my kids, if they aren't made aware of how important they are to me. We've all heard it before, but it's worth repeating: They won't care what you know, until they know that you care.

As you go throughout you next few days, be purposeful about letting the people's lives you are trying to impact know how important they are to you. Don't give up your influence by neglecting to share that you care.

Tyler Madison
http://realyouthoughts.blogspot.com

My Budding Thespians

My creative daughters....doing Romeo and Juliet.



And I had nothing to do with it.

My New Job

Well it's been a week and I thought it was about time I let everyone in on the new job I have.

Here is how it went down:

Thursday, Oct. 25th - I see an add in the paper for teacher at a Charter School here in Corpus. I email my resume.

Friday, Oct. 26th - I get an email to come in that day for an interview. I go and the interview goes great. I get the vibe that it's a done deal.

Monday, Oct. 29th - I get an email I got it and to come in and do paperwork.

Tuesday, Oct. 30th - I start my first day.

I am now officially the new biology/health/family and career development/p.e. teacher at a Charter School that reaches out to at-risk students in the Corpus Christi Area. Now, don't get an ideas this is no easy job. I have my work cut out for me. But it is a great opportunity to work with teens who our society has given up on. Most of these teens have been kicked out of several schools, have troubled backgrounds, history of gangs, drug use, etc...there are some that have chosen to come to get caught up and get credits.

It is for me an opportunity to be fully immersed in these teens world and see life from their perspective. I also hope to give a few take-aways I see about how the church is failing in reaching them along the way.

Acts 1:8 Church Blog Series

This past week was a whole series on my take of Acts 1:8 from the perspective of what principles could be drag out of it on what a church should be doing. Top three take-aways were: Holy Spirit Led, Evangelistic, Reproducing.

I had some great comments that really challenged me to think through my posts again. I may try to go through them again in the future and re-flesh the thoughts out...especially on evangelistic. If you missed the series below are the links for you to get caught up.

Acts 1:8 Church Part 1
Acts 1:8 Church Part 2
Acts 1:8 Church Part 3
Acts 1:8 Church Part 4

Hey make sure you join the conversation by leaving your thoughts. I really want to hear from you.

Guest Bloggers

Will be coming at you next week...I wanted a little fresh perspective and introduce you to some friends I follow in the blog world.

I am pumped to hear what they are going to say. All next week the topic is on "Making Difference Makers." So honestly, I'm going to be reading and hearing what they are saying probably more than anyone who reads.

I hope you enjoy.