Tadd is running a "Biggest Loser" competition for the men in his launch team.
This brings up something we don't really like to talk about in the ministry. Staying in shape. I sound like a lot of guys on their staff. Certainly not grossly overweight, but I could definitely stand to slim down a little.
I'd like to say I'd lose weight for the chance to win an iPod video. However, the justification I gave myself for buying an iPod shuffle was that I would use it to work out. I use the iPod a lot. For working out? Not so much.
Considering ministry involves lots of hours, little sleep and massive amounts of stress, how do you cope with your health?
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Guard your heart
Steven Furtick has a great post about guarding your heart.
The quote that got me was: "Be careful who you share your dreams with. Their negativity can contaminate the possibility before it ever has a chance to become a reality."
This is incredibly important. God's call on your life can often seem (even to you) like a crazy thing. God has called me to do some things in the ministry that most people around me would think are crazy. As a result, they will try to discourage me before I ever have a chance to work through it with God. When God gives you a vision for your life, it is your vision. Guard it fiercley. Because it is your vision and not the vision of other people, they won't all understand it and may try to stand in the way. They may even be convinced they are doing you a favor.
This is also why it's so important to stay close to God every day. As Perry put it so well today, "There is a fine line between faith and stupidity."
Make sure you're close to God so you know the crazy vision he's given you is, in fact, from him and not that burrito you ate last night.
The quote that got me was: "Be careful who you share your dreams with. Their negativity can contaminate the possibility before it ever has a chance to become a reality."
This is incredibly important. God's call on your life can often seem (even to you) like a crazy thing. God has called me to do some things in the ministry that most people around me would think are crazy. As a result, they will try to discourage me before I ever have a chance to work through it with God. When God gives you a vision for your life, it is your vision. Guard it fiercley. Because it is your vision and not the vision of other people, they won't all understand it and may try to stand in the way. They may even be convinced they are doing you a favor.
This is also why it's so important to stay close to God every day. As Perry put it so well today, "There is a fine line between faith and stupidity."
Make sure you're close to God so you know the crazy vision he's given you is, in fact, from him and not that burrito you ate last night.
Perry via Tony
The Churchplanters.com conference is going on right now. I really wish I could have made it. Not only is it affordable, it's supposed to be really great.
Tony Morgan provides a great breakdown of Perry Noble's sessions here and here.
Some of the highlights:
1. God does not give visions to committees. God never gave a vision to a committee in the Bible.
2. Some people will ask, "When are we going to go deeper." You can go deeper right now. Open your Bible. There's some deep stuff in there. Read it.
3. Sometimes you just need to let people leave your church. The space shuttle, as an example, has to lose some of its parts in order to make it into orbit.
4. "The worst thing that can happen to us is if we start to believe we're good."
5. "Church planting is not safe. It's not easy. God always calls us to things that are unsafe. If you want to be safe, get out of ministry."
6. "If your vision is to be like someone else, that's not a vision. That's an admonition."
Good stuff. Maybe I'll make it out there next year.
Tony Morgan provides a great breakdown of Perry Noble's sessions here and here.
Some of the highlights:
1. God does not give visions to committees. God never gave a vision to a committee in the Bible.
2. Some people will ask, "When are we going to go deeper." You can go deeper right now. Open your Bible. There's some deep stuff in there. Read it.
3. Sometimes you just need to let people leave your church. The space shuttle, as an example, has to lose some of its parts in order to make it into orbit.
4. "The worst thing that can happen to us is if we start to believe we're good."
5. "Church planting is not safe. It's not easy. God always calls us to things that are unsafe. If you want to be safe, get out of ministry."
6. "If your vision is to be like someone else, that's not a vision. That's an admonition."
Good stuff. Maybe I'll make it out there next year.
Spiritual impotence
Perry has a great post today about spiritual impotence. Yeah, I know it's not what you would expect when it comes to a topic about church, but man he makes a great point.
From TD Jakes (via Perry) “Impotence is when you posses the equipment but you lack the passion to perform.”
I think we have so many tools for ministry today, but we sometimes sit back and tell God we want new ways to reach people. Reach them with what you have in your hand now. God layed out very clearly that if you are faithful with the small things, he will give you bigger things. If you've ever had the thought of "I just wish we had new people in church," you need to look at the people you have. What are you doing for them? How are you ministering into their lives? God is not going to send new people your way if you can't or won't take care of the ones you have.
It all comes down to letting God guide your vision. If he is truly in control, then he will show you what to do and when to do it. Then it's up to us to make use of the tools and talents he's given us to make it happen. With passion.
Note: I'll probably be linking to Perry most days. He's got a lot to say and does it with passion.
From TD Jakes (via Perry) “Impotence is when you posses the equipment but you lack the passion to perform.”
I think we have so many tools for ministry today, but we sometimes sit back and tell God we want new ways to reach people. Reach them with what you have in your hand now. God layed out very clearly that if you are faithful with the small things, he will give you bigger things. If you've ever had the thought of "I just wish we had new people in church," you need to look at the people you have. What are you doing for them? How are you ministering into their lives? God is not going to send new people your way if you can't or won't take care of the ones you have.
It all comes down to letting God guide your vision. If he is truly in control, then he will show you what to do and when to do it. Then it's up to us to make use of the tools and talents he's given us to make it happen. With passion.
Note: I'll probably be linking to Perry most days. He's got a lot to say and does it with passion.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Let's get it started
Yesterday, I was appointed to the position of associate pastor at New Beginnings. This blog is to keep everyone apprised of all the new things we'll have going and my views on church in general. I'll also feature links to the best stuff I can find around the internet. We've got a lot of work to do at church, and I'm looking forward to every bit of it.
My other blog for my business, Image Studios, can be found here. It's got everything else besides church stuff. I'm guessing there will be enough of that to fill this blog up.
Disclaimer: This blog in no way reflects the views of New Beginnings or any of it's staff or members. They are my opinions only and I am soley to blame for them.
My other blog for my business, Image Studios, can be found here. It's got everything else besides church stuff. I'm guessing there will be enough of that to fill this blog up.
Disclaimer: This blog in no way reflects the views of New Beginnings or any of it's staff or members. They are my opinions only and I am soley to blame for them.
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