Revitalize Your Church

"The whole cause of our ministry mut be carried on in a tender love for our people.  We must let them see that nothing pleases us more than what profits them.  We should show them that what does them good does us good also.  We should feel that nothing treoubles us more than what hurts them." -- Richard Baxter of Kidderminster

I devoured Gabe Lyons' book, The Next Christians: Seven Ways You Can Live the Gospel and Restore the World in two days.  An engaging text that describes an appealing, wholehearted approach to faith and mission.  Lyons describes what I believe about how Christians should engage culture. Instead of hunkering down in holy huddles, shaking fists in the fight for faith, or weak capitulation to culture, Lyons advocates another way -- the way modeled by Jesus -- bringing transformation through authenticity, understanding, integrity and love. The "Next Christians", as Lyons calls them, follow the Restoration path rather than Separatist (via fighting or fleeing) or Cultural (via capitulation or appeasement) Christianity.  This rising generation of believers brings a refreshing perspective.  While expressing their faith in genuine, practical ways, they are willing to face the world head-on, filled with compassion, and courageous ...

Frank Viola shares five reasons why he gave up striving to live the Christian life for Lent.

After several attempts at hold a District Board Meeting via Skype last evening, we gave up and went back to the land lines.  One malfunctioning computer brought too much static to the meeting, and we couldn't understand each other. Reflecting this morning, I think that's true of all meetings. One person, with a critical spirit, carries static that can shut down the entire communication process

“If you jump in the ring with 12 clowns to speak seriously, you won't be taken seriously, you will merely be considered the thirteenth clown.”  --  Keith Drury. For a few more witty maxims, check out his Tuesday Tweets.

One person with passion and conviction can accomplish more than one hundred with mere interest. You have to dream it in order to achieve it. Nothing can take the place of hard work - but smart work makes hard work go a lot further. All true leaders are readers. If you read a lot, you will automatically grow. Reaching a goal loses its fulfillment if you have to run over people in the process. People are more important than processes. Intentions never get the job done. Imitations never get the job done either. Jobs don't finish themselves. You have to finish the job! The joy is multiplied when you accomplish the dream as a team. It's amazing what can be achieved if you don't care who gets the credit. Sometimes plans should change - but not values. Write you plans in sand and your values in cement. You can accomplish a lot more than you think. Small changes make a big difference through the power of compound interest! If you never risk anything, you will never accomplish anyth...

If missions languish, it is because the whole life of godliness is feeble. The command to go everywhere and preach to everybody is un-obeyed, until the will is lost by self-surrender in the will of God. There is little right giving because there is little right living, and because of the lack of sympathetic contact with God in holiness of heart, there is a lack of effectual contact with him at the Throne of Grace. Living, praying, giving and going will always be found together, and a low standard in one means a general debility in the whole spiritual being. – Arthur T. Pierson

The dearest idol I have known, Whate'er that idol be, Help me to tear it from thy throne, A nd worship only Thee. -- William Cowper

Kudos to Pastor Dan Lemke, who understands that loving God ought to be translated into practical acts of kindness and community transformation.

Some interesting research from Gallup reveals that people who regularly go to church experience more positive emotions and fewer negative ones than those who attend less frequently or not at all.

Sometimes people have grown-up bodies, but they have never matured emotionally or relationally. How about you? Have you grown up yet? You just might be a baby. . . * if you throw a temper tantrum when you don't get your own way. * if you look for excuses to get out of work. * if you blame other people for your own mistakes. * if you wait to be "waited on". * if you mess up at the same point over and over again. * if you try to get your own way by pouting. * if you try to get your own way by shouting and stomping your feet. * if you can't think of five things you've done for others in the last week. * if you try to manipulate people to get what you want. * if you call people names. * if you "slug" your brother behind "Momma's" back. (i.e gossip) * if you love to make a mess, but refuse to clean it up. * if you fight over the trivial. * if you're too possessive and won't share ("Mine! Mine!) * if you have to be t...

Television pastor, Charles Stanley, age 79, shared a few thoughts about preaching with the Christian Post: Preach for impact, not to impress anybody You can't be thinking about yourself and impacting another person's life When preparing for sermons, think about the one thing you want listeners to walk away with Spend time in prayer during preparation Stanley chooses not to reveal what he'll preach on ahead of time to his congregation Make sure everything you preach is clear so when you get to the conclusion, the listeners will be there with you "On Sunday morning, I'm not nervous ... I can't wait to tell what God wants me to say." Stanley preaches from an outline, not a manuscript and he does not memorize anything – "You have looked at it and looked at it and changed it ... by the time it's time to preach, I just have to glance at it. When time comes to deliver it, I'm full of it." Every trial that comes, see it as coming fro...

After a powerful campmeeting sermon on repentance, L. H. Baker, the evangelist, called seekers forward for prayer.  A refined woman of high social standing responded to the invitation, but struggled to break through spiritually.  She had come forward to give, but not to receive. The great hymn writer, Mrs. C. H. Morris, quietly joined her at the altar, put her arm around the seeking woman's shoulder, and said, "Just now, your doubting give over." Hearing this, the campmeeting musician, H. L. Gilmour, chimed in, "Just now, reject Him no more!" Evangelist, L. H. Baker, added, "Just now, throw open the door!" Mrs. Morris followed up with, "Let Jesus come into your heart." The woman found spiritual victory, and a new hymn was birthed that night:  "Let Jesus Come Into Your Heart." If you are tired of the load of your sin, Let Jesus come into your heart; If you desire a new life to begin, Let Jesus come into your heart. ...

My book, Filled Up, Poured:  How God's Spirit Can Revive Your Passion and Purpose , will be arriving this week for all those who pre-ordered online. You can obtain a copy via Amazon , directly from the publisher (Wesleyan Publishing House), or pretty much any site that sells Christian books. Kindle, Nook, IBook will be available in two or three weeks. Most Christian bookstores will carry it. In Hayward, you can get a signed copy at the Book Release Reception next Sunday (March 25) in the Fireside Room of Hayward Wesleyan Church.  Copies will also be available at the Hayward Wesleyan Rent-a-Table Sale on March 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. In a few days, you will be able to check it out from the Hayward Library. Some have asked how to obtain a signed copy via mail.  Although I really don't want to get locked into the bookselling business, I do have a limited number of copies I'm willing to personally sign and send for $12.00 plus $3.00 shipping...

Olson and Horton, Go Head to Head Over Calvinism .

Some outstanding resources for missional church leadership teams can be found here.   Kudos to Tim Roehl on a job well done!

Paraprosdokian: "Figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in humorous situations."  i.e.  "Where there's a will, there are greedy relatives." Here are eight -- sent to me by my friend, Al Prentice: 1.  Do not argue with an idiot.  He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience. 2.  The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it's still on my list. 3.  Light travels faster than sound.  This is why some people appear bright until you hear them. 4.  If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong. 5.  Knowledge is in knowing that a tomato is a fruit.  Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad. 6.  Nostalgia isn't what it used to be. 7.  Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine. 8.  Evening news is where they begin with "Good Evening" and then proceed to tell you why it's not.

Here is a little video I did for the Game Plan Training Event held earlier this week, under the fine direction of ministry coach and church health director, Tim Roehl :

"Filled" with Inspiration, Pastor and Columnist "Pours Out" His First Book

My book, Filled Up, Poured Out , releases tomorrow! Order your copy today via Amazon , Wesleyan Publishing House , or if you live in Hayward, come get a copy from me, and I'll sign if for you! I am really excited about how God is going to use it.  So far, from those who have read preview copies, the response has been overwhelming.  I pray this book will be a source of refreshment and encouragment for all the readers -- especially those who serve in ministry. Here's a brief excerpt from my chapter on prayer:  Back when we had kids in diapers, Cathy lamented to our small group that she struggled to carve out time to pray. “No matter how early I rise, the baby gets up earlier. It’s non-stop until I collapse in bed, exhausted, with hardly a moment between bottles and battles. Finding time to pray is hard when your whole life is consumed with changing diapers.”  “Every diaper is a prayer, young lady,” John, a feisty grandpa, asserted. ...

Tony Morgan wrote a helpful post for church leaders --  Unstuck:  Eight Characteristics of Healthy Sytems: They empower leaders to accomplish ministry without always having to get permission. Without systems, every decision must go back to the senior pastor, the senior management team, the committee, etc. In his book Making Ideas Happen , Scott Belsky said it this way, “The more people who lie awake in bed thinking about your idea, the better. But people only obsess about ideas when they feel a sense of ownership.” Good systems will give leaders the freedom to make decisions within established boundaries. They are embraced and championed by the top leadership. It does absolutely no good for systems to be established that top leadership doesn’t support and encourage everyone to use. If the top leaders can’t endorse the system, you’re not ready to implement the system. They mobilize many people rather than leaning on a select handful of talented individuals. If...

Someday, your church is gonna die -- so what is the best way to invest a congregation's life?  Hint:  multiplication beats addition any day. Here are a couple of thought provoking posts from Geoff Surratt. regarding the natural life-cycle of congregations, which reminds us why church planting and ministry multiplication is so vitally important. Your Church Will Die Part One Your Church Will Die Part Two (HT Mark Gorveatte)

I was invited to make a couple of videos which will be shared at this week's Game Plan Training Camp for church planters and minsitry leaders in Indianapolis. Tim Roehl has put together a wonderful combination of practical information and personalized coaching.  He's an outstanding leader and ministry mentor.  All who attend this event will be blessed, energized and equipped for greater leadership effectiveness.

"God has humbled us through the events of May 21.  We must also openly acknowledge that we have no new evidence pointing to another date for the end of the world." --  Harold Camping

Some people live in black and white; others live in full color.  Moishe Rosen was a full color person -- and then some! Recently I had the privilege of reading his biography,   Called to Controversy ,  penned by his daughter, Ruth. Over the years, I've appreciated the ministry of Jews for Jesus -- but occasionally felt like like Rosen was "over-the-top" in his evangelistic style and techniques. This rare glimpse into Moishe's life, however, has shed new understanding and led to a fresh admiration for the man.  When one recognizes the huge adversities Moishe overcame, the exponetial reach and result of his ministry are nothing short of miraculous.  Only God could have done it! Ruth Rosen presents the unvarnished Moishe -- warts and all.  She writes with respect, yet admits her father's weaknesses and shortcomings, especially when dealing with people and leadership. My life has been enriched by reading this book. Purchase Here ...

As I make my slow pilgrimage through the world, a certain sense of beautiful mystery seems to gather and grow. -- A. C. Benson

There’s a huge difference between being large-minded and small-minded, and it doesn’t have anything to do with the size of one’s brain.  In fact, Albert Einstein’s brain, when measured after his death, was remarkably unremarkable.  It isn’t the size of your brain, but the size of your perspective and imagination that counts! Minds, like muscles, need stretching and exercise.  Without such mental workouts, we become flabby and lazy thinkers.  You’ll shrivel to small-mindedness if you fail to stretch that grey matter between your ears. Closed minds are often accompanied by open mouths.  Small-minded perspectives are usually the ones that are shouted loudest – especially on radio and tv talk shows.  This reminds me of an old proverb:  “He that thinketh by the inch and talketh by the mile, ought to be kickethed by the foot!” Small mindedness is marked by negativity and cynicism.  Unfortunately, some highly intelligent people wear it like ...

God gives grace to face the pace of the race -- either that, or He slows us down.

Speaking today and tomorrow for the Indiana South Wesleyan Pastors and spouses at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Bloomington.  I'm delighted to have this opportunity to share my heart with them -- and am praying that God will encourage and refresh their souls. Looking forward to seeing old friend, and meeting some new ones. "The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."  Isaiah 58:11

10. A man’s place is in the army. 9. The pastoral duties of men who have children might distract them from the responsibility of being a parent. 8. The physique of men indicates that they are more suited to such tasks as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be “unnatural” for them to do ministerial tasks. 7. Man was created before woman, obviously as a prototype. Thus, they represent an experiment rather than the crowning achievement of creation. 6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. Their conduct at football and basketball games demonstrates this. 5. Some men are handsome, and this will distract women worshipers. Read the last four reasons here at Tim Stafford's Blog   (List created by Paul Neeley)

A wise and thoughtful post by Jim Watkins for pastors who are struggling -- Wounded Shepherd: When is it Time to Leave the Flock?

Sadly, the Hayward Girls' Hockey Team fell 4-1 today to DC Everest in the WIAA State Quarterfinal.  Yet, we are truly proud of our team who had such a fantastic season.  Congratulations on making it all the way to State.  The entire Hayward community is proud of you.  

My dear friend, Nickie Kohler's delightful story of winning her 1974 Kortelopet trophy, was featured on Keetha Broyle's excellent blog, The Eclectic Company. Keetha and her husband, Greg, came to Hayward last weekend to experience Birkie Fever first-hand.  Some wonderful Birkebeiner pictures from Main Street are included if you scroll down a bit. Check it out!

"The power of Christ's dispensition is a fiery pulpit-- not a learned pulpit, not a popular pulpit, not an eloquent pulpit, but a pulpit on fire with the Holy Ghost... This power is not the mere power of iteration or reiteration of truth well learned or well told, but it is the enabling force to declare revealed truth with superhuman authority. The preacher must have the power given by direction connection with God." --E. M. Bounds

In my book, Filled Up, Poured Out , I include the lyrics to the following song, which was known as the Love Song of the 1904 Welsh Revival: