Revitalize Your Church

I won't be posting for a couple of days, because I'll be at our District's Ministers & Mates Retreat at the Kalahari in the Dells. I'll be back online Wednesday.

It seems to me, the Nigerians enjoy their worship services more than we Americans. This is a picture of an ordination service connected with MCMA Africa. It looks a lot more exciting than the service when I was ordained. Nobody tossed me in the air. We just bowed our heads. While the Nigerians are taking the world for Christ, American Christians are fussing over how much we should hide from the world. A Rockford, IL church decided to declare themselves as anti-entertainment. I understand what they are trying to say, but I seriously doubt that this approach would go over very well with the Nigerians.

The pastor wants his gun back! This article brought to mind a thought Dean Brown , shared recently on his blog: "Ministry failure most often centers around issues of character, as opposed to skill." It also reminds me of a pastor I knew in California who came to his first church board meeting packing a .357 Magnum. He laid it on the conference room table and said, " I'm in charge here. Any questions?" As I recall, he didn't last too long in that pastorate. I'm also reminded of the independent Baptist preacher, J. Frank Norris, who pastored First Baptist Church of Fort Worth. It was a megachurch before the day of megachurches -- and definitely NOT seeker sensitive! One day Rev. Norris shot a guy in his office. It was an argument about Catholicism gone awry. (The fellow had threatened him, and thus Norris was acquitted.) People thought twice about going to the preacher with a bad attitude after that! Maybe pastors should leave gun packing to others.

What is the common denominator in the following locations? * Nigeria *Zimbabwe * Kenya * Jamaica * Tanzania * Ukraine * Ghana * England Answer: The largest church in these nations is pastored by a Nigerian! Perhaps the American Church could learn a lesson or two from our brothers and sisters in Nigeria about the meaning of Acts 1:8. O.K. -- they're all Word of Faith Pentecostal -- and those in the broader evangelical camp will likely look down their noses and "dis" (disapprove with disrespect) their inadequate theology and excessive practices. That reminds me of D.L. Moody's critic who said, "I don't like your method of evangelism." "Oh," Moody replied, "and what is your method of evangelism?" "I don't have one." said the critic. "I like mine better than yours." Moody responded. Instead of carping and criticizing, we should learn a thing or two from the Nigerians about evangelism, revival, and reaching the mas...

My good friend, Steve Gerich, often sends me quotes from the motivational guru, Brian Tracy. This week, he sent me one I liked so much, I posted it on my Leadership and Church Management Blog. It ties in with my last post on how to initiate change.

I've figured out the difference between good ideas and bad ideas! Good ideas are the ones we create. Bad ideas are the ones other people come up with and expect us to accept! In other words, if it's my idea -- IT'S GRAND! If it's your idea -- it's bland. At least, that's what we think! "Nobody likes change," said Mark Twain, "except a baby in dirty diapers." Maybe we should add, "unless it's their idea!" So, how do you implement change in your family, community, church or workplace? Start by listening! Listen to other people's good ideas and then agree with them! Realize that you don't have the corner on the insight market. If you're the ONLY one thinking something should be done, you are either a visionary or wrong. If you are a visionary, then others will join the bandwagon before too long -- and it will be their idea also. It's amazing what can be accomplished if you don't care who gets the credit. If you...

Canyons were carved. Oceans were dug. Mountains erupted. Stars were flung. A universe sparkled. God's creation became pregnant with wonder. -- Max Lucado

Tony Engle, a student in my Church Leadership Class (FLAME), shared a good small town story with me yesterday: As I was recently traveling home from South Carolina, a headlight went out on my truck. It was about 7:30 at night and it was dark. This is not a good idea for traveling through the mountains and around tight turns in the deep woods. I pulled into a small town auto store that was in the middle of nowhere. The store closed a half hour ago. There was a man inside actually leaving with the bank bag in hand as I ran to the door. I explained my situation and he sold me a headlight. The main point is this… As I apologized for messing the books up and for keeping him there even later than he wanted he said, “I need the sale anyway.” I replied, “business that bad?” “Nope. This is how a small town business operates.” I think that the church needs to pay attention and learn from the small business owners of this country. They genuinely care to help.

During Al Lindner's talk last Saturday night, he spoke about the difference between the average and very good fishermen. He said there are four things that make the difference. As I listened, I thought there are some direct applications for pastors who are "fishing for people!" An excellent fisherman. . . 1. Really Knows the Target Species of Fish. They understand the subtle differences. For instance, muskies and northern are both pikes, and are similar in many ways, but there are also some major differences. The good fishermen recognize these differences, and approach them accordingly. * In your ministry, do you really know and understand your target species? * Are you sensitive to the needs, hopes and desires of various kinds of people? 2. Has a Good Understanding of Basic Seasonal Movements. These are somewhat predictable. * What are the basic seasonal movements in your community? In the life cycle? * How can you use this to maximize impact? 3.. Knows the Key to Succ...

The Tiger Woods of fishing, Al Lindner , came to Hayward Wesleyan Church last Saturday to speak for our fourth annual Fishing Expo! Unchurched men swarmed to the event -- even those who said the roof would collapse if they entered the building. (I told them not to worry. We put in special reinforced beams just in case they showed up!) Al is a committed believer in Jesus Christ, and he challenged the men to take care of business spiritually. Many of them joined him in a prayer of commitment at the end of his talk, opening their lives up to Jesus. It was a wonderful evening all the way around. There were seminars of fly fishing, muskie fishing, Chippewa Flowage walleyes, and tying flies and jigs. Here's the best part: the guys came to learn about fishing -- and we were fishing for them!!

Prayer is the act by which we divest ourselves of all false belongings and become free to belong to God and God alone. -- Henri Nouwen

The arctic night air left my windshield glazed over with thick ice. So, in the early morning, before the sun rose, I found myself trying to carve a hole. Someone had borrowed my sraper, so I improvised by using a cd case, which hardly seemed sufficient. I struggled hard against the elements. As soon as I would scrape the ice away, it would just frost over again. After a half hour of scratching and scraping, I finally had a peep hole big enough to see while driving. At lunchtime, the same day, I went to my car and was surprised to discover all of my windows were clear -- not a patch of ice on them! The sun had risen and melted it all away! I thought, "There's a lesson on how to deal with relationship problems. Love is like the sun. When it rises, its warming beams melt away all the resentments, bitterness, and misunderstanding" Chiselling and hammering will result only in futility and uninspired frustration. Perhaps, if you are having relationship problems with someone, yo...

On second thought -- concerning my last post, the Eccentric Old Testament -- I was convicted of my attitude this morning. If the whole Bible is God's Word, then I should trust Him with the parts I don't understand. If there's a communication gap between the Old Testament and me -- who's responsible for that? Could the problem be ME instead of the Old Testament? In the big picture, maybe I'm the eccentric Aunt Suzie, and the Old Testament is the normal one.

As 2006 is the Year of the Bible for the Wesleyan Church , I have challenged my congregation to read it through -- from Genesis to Revelation! Many have risen to the challenge, and it's exciting to hear the buzz. I seriously doubt that more than 2% have read it entirely through before. Some are jogging right along with me. Others are huffing and puffing about three hills behind. I keep calling back to them -- keep moving! Don't sit down! The view is spectacular for the next hill! I'm preaching from the previous week's readings -- which creates a whole batch of homiletic challenges. Last Sunday, for instance, I attempted to cover Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Tithing all in one sermon (January has always been our Stewardship Month! Abraham was a tither! -- and you ought to be one too!) Usually, when people shake my hand after church, they say, "Good sermon, Pastor", much like they would compliment the waitress after eating pie at Norske Nook. Last Sunday, it was mo...

Charles Dickens, encountering American Shakers, observed: "we walked into a grim room, where several grim hats were hanging on grim pegs, and the time was grimly told by a grim clock, which uttered every tick with a kind of struggle, as if it broke the grim silence reluctantly, and under protest. Ranged against the wall were six or eight stiff high-backed chairs, and they partook so strongly of the general grimness, that one would much rather have sat on the floor than incurred the smallest obligation to any of them. Presently, there stalked into this apartment, a grim old Shaker, with eyes as hard, and dull, and cold, as the great round metal buttons on his coat and waistcoat; a sort of calm goblin." (Dickens, American Notes for General Circulation ) Note: Come to think of it, I've experienced a few church services like that myself! In Defense of the Shakers: They were the first ones who put seeds in evelopes to sell across the country. What would today's gardeners d...

Rednecks Movin' Up the Ladder! You Might Be a Redneck Arminian If. . .

Monday morning -- Pastor's Day Off -- or, as Arch Hart calls it, Adrenaline Letdown Day. A busy schedule combined with a bad chest cold leaves me drained and tired. Digging around in my office today, I found notes from a talk I gave on fatigue two or three years ago. When You're Weary 1. Problems seem bigger. 2. Irritations are more annoying. 3. Blessings are less inspiring. Sometimes, the most spiritual thing you can do is go home and take a nap! * Every obligation shirked is a source of guilt. * Guilt consumes energy * It takes more energy to avoid something than to go ahead and face it. * Fatigue opens us up to spiritual attack. Key Question: Is it possible to do all the things I'm trying to do in the time I have? The art of getting things done is the noble art of leving things undone.

Come, O Thou Traveler unknown . Whom still I hold, but cannot see; Ny company before is gone, And I am left alone with Thee; With Thee all night I mean to stay, And wrestle till the break of day. I need not tell Thee who I am. My sin and misery declare; Thyself hast called me by my name -- Look on Thy hands, and read it there; But who, I ask Thee, who are Thou? Tell me Thy Name, and tell me now. Yield to me now, for I am weak. But confidence in self despair; Speak to my heart, in blessing speak; Be conquered by my instant prayer; Speak, or Thou never hence shalt move, And tell me if Thy Name be Love. Tis Love! Tis Love! Thou diedst for me! I hear Thy whisper in my heart; The morning breaks, the shadows flee; Pure, universal love Thou art; To me, to all Thy mercies move; Thy nature and Thy Name is Love. -- Charles Wesley

"Harrumph!" "What's the matter with you?" "I just got up on the wrong side of the bed this monrning." "Oh, that's too bad. And now you're stuck in a foul mood for the entire day? How unfortunate!" "Yeah, I'm in a grumpy mood, so stay outta my way." "Say, I have an idea." "Whazzat?" "Go home, walk into your bedroom., change into your jammies and climb back into bed. Pull the covers over your head and say a prayer like this, 'God, I don't want to be a grouch. Put a song in my heart and help me to be thankful for all my blessings.' "Then, think of ten things you're thankful for -- and once you've done that, climb out on the other side of the bed!" "Now, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard! Do you think it will work?" "It's certainly worth a try -- and it beats sitting around here grousing all day."

The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter is one of my favorite texts. Baxter pastored 19 years in Kidderminster , before he was forced from the pulpit by the Act of Uniformity. During his tenure at Kidderminster, he gave himself to the cure of souls. He said to his congregation, "I was sent into the world especially for the service of your souls." "In a word, when I came thither first, there was about one family in a street that worshipped God and called on his holy name; and when I came away, there were some streets where there was not more than one family in the side of a street that did not so." Oh, how I long for this to be true in Hayward! Ihat's what I call a purpose driven pastor!

Are you an obsessive Calvinist? Here are the 25 Warning signs , thanks to Mark Heinrich, of Minnetonka, Minnesota. There's still a cure, if detected early enough!

Keith Drury's recent "Open Letter to Emergents" is outstanding. I love his perspective. For a guy who decided to become an old man this year, he is forever young! I feel younger, just reading his stuff!

Some people have a JOB in the church; others involve themselves in a MINISTRY. What's the difference? If you are doing it because not one else will, it's a JOB. If you are doing it to serve the Lord, it's a MINISTRY. If you quit because somebody criticized you, it was a JOB. If you keep on serving, it's a MINISTRY. If you quit because no one praised you or thanked you, it was a JOB. If you stay with it even though nobody recognized your efforts, it's a MINISTRY. If you do it only as long as it does not interfere with your other activities, it''s a JOB. If you are committed to staying with it even when it means letting go of other things, it's a MINISTRY. The average church is filled with people doing JOBS. A great church is filled with people inolved in MINISTRY. If God calls you to MINISTRY, don't treat it like a JOB. If you have a JOB, consider giving it up to find MINISTRY. God wants people who are excited and faithful to Him in MINISTRY. -- My fr...

Don Francisco , the Christian recording artist ("He's Alive"), wrote this delightful article: Pharisaitis! O Lord, from Pharisaitis, deliver us!

"And here in dust and dirt, O here, The lilies of his love appear." -- Henry Vaughn

The Wittenberg Door has obtained The 700 Club's Emergency Script to Be Used in A Time of National Crisis. Perhaps Brother Pat should send prayers and flowers to Mr. Sharon, rather than " God gotcha's."

"In God's sight, there are no little places." Francis Schaeffer Here is a great article by Warren Wiersbe concerning the splendor of small things.

Are you going through life looking down, just looking at dirt as you shuffle around? Are you "down" on other people, and "down" on yourself? Do you only see the "down" side of the situation? Are you "down" on new ideas? If so, do you realize you are bringing everybody else down right along with you? Maybe it's time for a face lift! (or better yet, a faith lift!) It's time to stop looking down and start looking up! You will see a blue sky with limitless opportunities, when you look up! You will believe the best of others, possess a high degree of confidence, and make the most of each day, when you look up! You will focus on what's right rather than what's wrong, when you look up! Look down and you will see the hardened ground. Look up and you will see the smile of God. What a difference looking up makes in our faith and perspective! Our attitude towards life largely determines what we can accomplish. If you frown, look down and say...

Don beamed as he entered my office yesterday. "Pastor, I have some fresh venison for you. Where would you like me to put it?" "How about out front of the church?" I answered, "There's plenty of snow to keep it cold. I'm taking my son out to lunch today. We can put it in our car and bring it home from there." "O.K.," said Don, "Could you help me get it out of my truck?" It was only when I had put on my coat and went out to Don's truck, that I realized this fresh venison was REALLY fresh! It still had it's hide on! "Yep," said Don, "All you'll have to do is process it and you'll have some tasty meat." I thanked Don and we hefted the dead deer out of his trunk to the sidewalk in front of the church. Now, what would I do? I'm not an accomplished deer butcher. I only tried it once before, and that was a disaster! This was when I made a foolish mistake. I decided to leave it there and de...

Bad News: Rick Warren did not buy the New Orleans Saints -- although that's a fantastic and funny idea! Good News: He does know how to delegate. It's better to equip the Saints than to own them!

Yesterday morning, for some perplexing reason, I was feeling blue -- a heaviness of spirit. Perhaps, it was a mood such as this that caused Charles Spurgeon to pen " The Minister's Fainting Fits." I sat in our empty sanctuary and prayed and asked God to send me a word of encouragement -- refreshing rain for my drooping spirit. Returning to my office, I checked my e-mail, and found this beautiful poem written by my friend, Naomi Cochran. It was the answer to my prayer and just what I needed to chase the blues away! Somewhere in Michigan There were blueberries, too many, Where we slept in the woods. So we made pancakes, And ate with the whippoorwills. Along the riverbanks Blue flags bloom in the current, and Forget-me-nots bring me To my knees, wholly, As blue herons float above. Once, at Pansy Landing, A robin' egg blue enamel pan Was lifted from a life Long gone: now mine, full Of pansies, zinnias, summer. There was a blue blanket Laid soft in my arms, my new son Safe...

"Safe? Who said anything about safe? Course he isn't safe!" but some of his churches are!"

Watching King Kong with my sons last night, I was struck by the stupidity of blind enthusiasm. It almost always takes folks the wrong direction -- towards destruction and misunderstanding -- even if it is re-labeled "faith". Blind, brainless enthusiasm usually leads to frustration and failure. Once a valiant knight knelt before his king and announced, " Your Majesty, we have just attacked and plundered all of your enemies to the west!" To this the king responded, "What? We don't have any enemies to the west!" "We do now!" the enthusiastic knight replied. "Zeal without knowledge," said Thomas Fuller, "is like fire without light."

Rev Magazine published a great article on how to develop a plan for personal growth. It's written by Kent Hunter, the Church Doctor I found it really helpful.

You may have tangible wealth untold: Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be— I had a Mother who read to me. -- Strickland Gillilan

An irate subscriber stormed into a newspaper office waving the current edition, asking to see "whoever wrote the obituary column". When referred to a young reporter, he ranted, "You can see I'm very much alive, and you've put me in the obituary column! I demand a retraction!" Replied the reporter, "I never retract a story. But I tell you what I'll do. I'll put you in the birth column and give you a fresh start." (from CyberSalt )