Archive - May, 2011

5 Things that Stress Me Out

May 31, 2011 in Ministry, Personal with 4 Comments

I was talking to someone the other day about job-related stress; and as I listened to them go on and on about how hard their job is and how stressful it was for them to work with certain people something dawned on me.  I realized that often when it comes to my role here at the church, I don’t really carry a ton of stress.  I’m not saying that church-work is stress free, but that I’ve learned to manage work related stress easier than other kinds of stress.

I can remember stressing out in a major way about big upcoming church events, or meeting with certain people on my staff and dreading every interaction and potential failure.  However, I really don’t stress about it too much anymore.  I would say that maybe I’ve learned that some things will work themselves out, and many of the dramas associated with church and ministry will work them selves out just fine without me stressing out over them.

So what do I stress out about? That’s a question I walked away from the above conversation thinking through… and here are 5 things I came up with:

  • My wife stresses me out.  Now hold your horses before you go jumping to conclusions, my wife is a terrific person and does nothing in and of herself to purposefully stress me out.  What I mean is that if things are not right between us, it stresses me out.  I need the two of us to be on the same page on 90% of what’s happening in our lives, or I will feel massive amounts of stress.
  • My kids super-stress me out.  Now here I’ll hold nothing back, plain and simply they stress me out.  They yell when they should be quiet, then don’t always do as they’re told, they leave little things on the floor for me to step on when I have my shoes off, and they rarely act considerate in any way.  But of course they’re kids, so what can they do about any of that?  I’m not saying it ruins my day, but if I don’t have the right perspective when I get home…my kids will stress me out.
  • My future stresses me out.  I don’t always like this “not knowing” part of life, and it can stress me out occasionally.
  • Money stresses me out.  Not the “how will I ever spend this much” kind of stress, but the “I need more of this” kind of money stress.  I’m getting better, but honestly it has a tendency to stress me out.
  • Work.  I know I said earlier that work doesn’t stress me out a ton, but I’d be lying if I said it NEVER stresses me out.  Particularly the part of managing a group of diverse individuals, and wanting God’s best for them while at the same time being held accountable to God’s best for my church.  This always stresses me out the most at my work part of life.

Anything you stress about?  Or am I the only person in the entire world that carries a little bit of stress around with me?  Do share in the comment section RIGHT NOW!

What My 9 Year Old is Teaching Me

May 26, 2011 in Personal with 0 Comments

Today my oldest child, Ryan, turns 9 years old. It also happens to be his last day of the 3rd grade, and he’s suffered through another entire year of being the youngest kid in his grade. Every year it’s the same thing, “You’re only turning 9? I turn 10 next month!” He’s always a year behind everyone, but if you know Ryan at all; you’d know that he’s not that far behind in many other areas.

Ryan Cliff – A 3rd Grade Self-Portrait

Here is a list of things I’m learning from my 9 year old:

  • He’s gifted to absorb and feel. He hears things going on that many of us don’t. We jokingly call him our “emotional sponge” but that really isn’t such a bad thing now, is it?
  • He’s always been the most thoughtful of kids. He will go out of his way to encourage someone, and many times we find out about what he’s done days and weeks later. I think he gets much of this from his entire family, but he’s a great representative of the Cliff Family home when he’s not in it. I never worry about him NOT saying thank you or failing to apologize when it’s called for.
  • He’s not boastful, which makes him different immediately from many of his 9 and 10 year old peers. He’s not secretive about what he’s good at, he’s just concerned that what comes easy to him will alienate those that aren’t good at the same things.
  • He listens first, and speaks second. I’m learning that this is oftentimes the best way to react and live.
  • He’s creative. Don’t believe me? Well, you should see the things he makes out of our trash. There are very few pieces of paper that haven’t been cut, folded, and painted into some sort of magical object (or weapon.)
  • He learns. I know everyone says that their kid ask tons of questions, and Ryan definitely does ask questions. However, he doesn’t ask to be cute or to prolong conversations anymore. He ask questions to learn. He’s always learning, evaluating, and preparing for something new and different.

I’m a proud parent of the qualities I see in my now 9 year old, and the thought that at 9 years old we’ve reached the 1/2 way point of his time under my roof is jarring. However, I’ve never been more excited for the future of my oldest kid than I am today. He’s well on his way to knowing Jesus in new and profound ways, and I’m glad that we still have the rest of our lives to watch him grow into the man of God that I’ve always prayed he would become.
Happy Birthday Ryan!

Kidmin Conference Reminder

May 20, 2011 in Links with 0 Comments

This October 7th through the 10th in Chicago, Illinois (there is no noise in Illinois); I’ll be gathering with an awesome collection of Kidmin leaders, thinkers, writers, and experts as we come together to learn from each other in a unique setting.  You do NOT want to miss the Kidmin Conference, and I’ve already told you a ton of reasons why I want to attend…and begged you already to make plans to attend.

On top of all that you have to plan to get to Chicago, I thought you should also know that there is a very important Early Bird rate coming up that you’ll want to know about.  If you register before May 21, 2011 then you can save $40 off the Regular Registration rate.

Before May 31, 2011
Before August 25, 2011
Type Early Bird Registration Advanced Registration Regular Registration
Individual Conference Rate $359.00 $379.00 $399.00
Group of 5+ $339.00 $359.00 $399.00
Spouse of Registered Attendee $289.00 $289.00 $399.00

Learning Forgiveness

May 18, 2011 in Ministry, Personal with 1 Comment

This past month I’ve been confronted with Forgiveness in a new and fresh way.  For starters, we are studying the Godly Virtue of Forgiveness in all our Elementary environments at Trinity, and then I get the chance to teach a Child Dedication class this past week where I share about the power of reminding your kids that you’ll always forgive.  And then in the same week that I’ve been forced to eat some crow and ask someone to forgive me, I’ve also been in the position to forgive what somebody did to me.

With our Children we define Forgiveness as “Deciding that someone who has wronged you doesn’t have to pay” and after the experiences of the past 3 weeks I’m going to back that up with a blog-worthy “AMEN!”

Here’s what I’m learning about Forgiveness this month:

  • When I choose to forgive, I’m empowering people to move on.
  • When I ask for forgiveness, I’m empowering people to move on.

 

  • When I choose to forgive my children, I’m demonstrating to them that I can be trusted.
  • When I ask my children to forgive me, I’m demonstrating to them that I can be trusted.

 

  • It’s good to ask for forgiveness, even if you don’t feel there is anything to pay.
  • It’s good to offer forgiveness, even if you don’t feel there is anything owed to you.

 

What do you know about this Forgiveness challenge?  Anything life has taught you about the power of forgiving?

The Rare Friday Bag

May 13, 2011 in Personal with 1 Comment

This Friday post is NOT undercooked.  It is however making a spot-start appearance, instead of a real deep spiritual post.  Who am I kidding?  Have I ever had a deep spiritual post?  Moving on…

What’s the what this week:

  • I talked my wife into sitting down and watching these two TED videos with me this week.  The first on on Music and Passion has been resonating with me for days now.  Do not miss the last 2 minutes of his inspiring talk!

  • This second one is a great discussion on the good that comes from being vulnerable and leaning into the hard times to gain what great joy can come from the land of pain.  You’ll love it!

  • I’m almost done with the 4th book in the Harry Potter series.  Don’t judge me.  I mean don’t judge me for reading devil books, or for waiting 10 years to finally see what’s so great about them.  And for this mini-book review: I freaking love them!
  • Sam Luce likes to boss worship leaders around. But it’s all great!  If you like this post, then you’ll also love what Michael Bayne wrote about how he bosses his worship leaders around.
  • This cartoon link is funny.  It is not what I do.  Promise.
  • Be sure to visit my Reading Tab, up there at the top to see what I’m reading right now.  I’m deep into a few books.
  • I’m currently keeping about a dozen secrets.  None of them are nasty, but are actually quite exciting.  I really hope my friends come clean soon and let the cat out of the bag.  You know who you are!
  • I bought 2 cases of Jesus StoryBook Bible’s yesterday for our Child Dedication gifts.  I found a great deal online, go HERE to get them for only $8.50 a book when you buy 20. This cheaper than buying them on Amazon or directly through Zondervan.

That is all.  Have a great weekend, and I’ll see you on the other side!

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