Tag Archive - church

The Other Side of the Fence

January 18, 2012 in Ministry with 0 Comments

I’ve had the opportunity in the past two years to visit many other churches and see and hear how they are doing ministry in their local church family.  Along with those opportunities, I’ve had the privilege to sit and talk with many children and student leaders on a local church level about the things they are doing (attempting) in their churches.  In all of the conversations, I can’t help but filter all that I see and hear through the lens of what I am involved with here at my church home.  That has helped me be a better leader.

When processing, listening, observing, and critiquing what others are doing; I’m really setting myself up to view my own space in a new way.  I’m using new eyes to look at what have become old things.

Here are the things I’m learning through the process:

  • I’m so much more blessed to be where I am than I give myself credit for.  There ain’t nothin’ like eating some of that grass on the other side of the fence to know how good your own grass is!
  •  Everything is a season.  When I talk to people on either side of where I’m currently working, I can see the story being weaved where I am.  I’ve been where some people are, and I’m looking forward to being where other people are now!
  •  Things need to change.  There are times that I hear and see what others are doing, and immediately know that I need to get our team to play catch-up real, real, real quick.  You may call it inspiration, I call it conviction.
  • I need to champion my team more.  Spending time with other leaders (and no offense, please) makes me appreciate the team I work with.  I work with some real all-stars, and hearing from others always help me see that.  Then I need to bring that gratefulness home and share it!
  •  It feels good to share.  I love sharing what I’ve done and am doing, and I’m so grateful that others are willing to share with me where they are.  I always walk away from conversations with other leaders encouraged .

What in your area do you need to look at with some new eyes?  Are there things you read online that help you to see the old as if it were new again?  What is your conviction…or inspiration to change?

Reboot for 2012

January 9, 2012 in Bible, Personal with 0 Comments

Years ago I managed an IT department on a university campus, and every conversation we had with end-users (those are the ones with problems) began something like this, “Have you rebooted your machine?”  I swear back in the 90′s this would fix 90% of the problems on a Windows 95 machine.

January is official reboot your life month, right?  You might prefer the word resolutions, quick-fixes, or get better ideas for 2012.  I personally like the idea of rebooting things. Well at this time of year, let me ask you…

“Have you rebooted your resolutions and goals this year?”

Here are 5 ways to take the time to push the reboot button on 2011, and amp up for 2012.

1. Quit pretending everything went perfect in 2011.  What went wrong?  Define it, meditate on it, look into why it didn’t go your way in these areas, and then bury it.

2. Quit pretending everything was terrible in 2011.  What went right?  Some of you might have to look hard, but I can guarantee you that you’ve done something noble and honorable this year.  Define it, meditate on it, look into why it went your way, and then bury it.

3. What challenged you this year?  Notice I used the word “challenge”, not the word “troubled.”  What was hard for you to do this year?  Why was it harder than you thought?

4. What do you want to do this year?  <Insert Dream Here>

5. Pray.  Work through these top 4 and then pray.  But why pray?  Well the Bible tells us so!

Psalm 107:28-30 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven

Matthew 7:7  ”Ask, and it will be given to you seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Matthew 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Mark 9:29  And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

Mark 11:24  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

John 14:13-14 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it

Acts 9:40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.

Ephesians 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

James 5:14-16 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another,that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

My Favorites from 2011

January 3, 2012 in Links, Personal with 3 Comments

Every year I post a top 10 list, based on traffic that came to the website over a 12 month period.  You can go read that top 10 list if you’d like, but today I wanted to share a top list of my own personal favorites.

My favorites from this year, and in no particular order:

Small Group Leading Tips // The best post content-wise my website has ever seen, and it came courtesy of the 3rd grade boys small group leader at our church.  I also sleep with her and have fathered her three children.  She is my wife.

I Hate Sam Luce // When detailing all the reasons I really hate Sam, I also added a dumb little image of him with horns.  The best part of the posts, was the lady that came up to me at the Kidmin Conference in Chicago and said, “I just can’t see Sam without seeing those horns you added to his picture!”  Greatest thing ever.

Wanna know what my family did this year?  Check out any of these post.

Doing Hard Things and you can see a sermon I gave this year on the topic as well.

On Being a Foster Parent (another guest post from Starr)

Certainty is Overrated

I personally loved writing about Navigating Staff Relationships.  It’s been a big part of my church-life this year, and something I’m still learning to be better at.  Here are the post related  to this series:

What do you Want?

Time to Move

Practice Accountability

Assume the Best

And finally, one of the most exciting things I did this year on the blog was the video interview with David Platt.  I was totally blown away by his presentation at the D6 Conference in September, and was privileged to talk with him some more afterwards about parenting, life, and ministering to our families.

My interview with Pastor David Platt from the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, AL and the author of “Radical: Taking back our faith from the American Dream.”

 

Would it be too presumption to ask?  What was a post you loved this year?  Not just on this blog, but anywhere.

Trinity Loves the Family

December 15, 2011 in Ministry, Personal with 0 Comments

I love a church that loves families.  Living in Lubbock, there is one overriding observation that comes out to you quickly: Lubbock is a family town!  Trinity Church fits well right where we are, because we are a true reflection of our community.  For almost 50 years, Trinity Church has had great ministry to children, teenagers, college students and young families.  Many of those oldest in our church, have raised their families and grandkids right here at Trinity.  In fact, it’s something that is often bragged about by those older.  You’ll hear them say, “I used to bring my kids here to Trinity, and now my grandkids attend here too!”

While the past is great, it’s the future commitment to families that has me most excited.  In 2012 we truly and officially will break ground on a building that’s primary impact will be on those younger than 12 years old.  I believe that the Beyond Project will help make Trinity the place for families to be in West Texas. We’ve also undergone an extensive staffing transition over the past year that equips us to reach the family in new and creative ways.  From the size of our budget monies, to excellent quality of staff, to the long-term commitment demonstrated over the years; there is no doubt we are a church that values children, teenagers, and families!

 

Trinity Leads with Integrity

December 14, 2011 in Ministry, Personal with 0 Comments

I love my church.  I love how Trinity does everything with the highest levels of Integrity.

Let me list for you the ways:

  • We are one of the only churches in Lubbock that submits to extensive financial auditing by an outside financial agency.  I’m not kidding.  Every year we open the books, provide office space, and let the auditors share our work space to make sure that we are continuing to operate in a responsible and legal way.
  •  We are fully accredited by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), and publicly make all relevant financial data available for members and the Lubbock community.
  •  We hold every individual ministry responsible to a stringent set of values, and yearly goals.  I’ve never heard of a church that spends such massive amounts of time making sure that we are continuing to stay relevant to our community and church members.  We critique, praise, change, and evaluate all areas of ministries yearly.  We are committed to make the best use of our time, and make sure that we are doing all things to fit the Vision, Mission, and Values of our church.
  • We give pastors and senior leaders in our church sabbatical at specific intervals of their employment time.  It’s built into the employee handbook!

Probably the most important part of our church culture maintaining a high level of Integrity is attributed to our Senior Pastor, Carl Toti.  Pastor Toti has a unbelievably high level of integrity, and provides my family with a great shelter of protection from all that would seek to destroy the work of the Lord that we are doing here in Lubbock.  In his 10 years at Trinity, he as guided this church to new levels and is continuing to push us to new and exciting places for the future.  There are few men in this world more worthy of being followed than my Pastor.  Most of our integrity as a church begins and ends with this man and his family; and he has proven to be a steady hand to lead us forward.

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