Revitalize Your Church

St. Ignatius Loyola suggested the best times to consider making vocational change: 1)  When our will is moved to a point where no hesitation is possible. 2)  When we find light and information through reflection on our experiences of desolation (darkness, turmoil, sloth, tepidness, etc.) and consolation (movements tending towards faith, hope, love, peace, etc.) 3)  In a period of calm, when the soul is not agitated by diverse spirits and exercises its natural faculties freely and tranquilly. He recommended imagining yourself at your point of death, then asking what path would you wish you had taken.  Also, how would you advise another honest seeker in the same situation if they were seeking your counsel?

This past weekend, I had the privilege of reading Hometown Prophet, a fascinating novel by Nashville author, Jeff Fulmer. It's the story Peter Quill, an unemployed, aimless, young man who moves back home with his overbearing mother -- and begins to have vivid dreams that come true.  Quite a buzz follows, as Peter's dreams increase in number and scope, and events unfold just as he predicted. When Peter's prophecies go a different direction than expected, challenging the bias of people in the community, he finds himself in a firestorm of controversy. In some ways, one could say this book is a critique of the evangelical subculture, written from the balcony.  It gave me a fresh perspective and good food for thought. Within the first few pages, the book drew me in, and I couldn't put it down -- a sign of good authorship.  .I stayed up late Sunday night, and ignored the Olympics, just to see how our hero, Peter, was going to la...

Every human being experiences negative emotions. That’s a part of what it means to be a person. We can’t help it. Bad feelings come to all of us.   We DO have a choice, however, in what we do with them when they come. Some suppose that every negative emotion requires a negative reaction – but that is not the case. Through prayer, attitude adjustment, and self discipline, we can respond positively to negative feelings. If you don’t decide, you’ll merely react – and the decision needs to come before you’re in a funk. One helpful practice I’ve used for many years is spiritual breathing. I imagine exhaling the negative stuff, and then inhale deeply with a positive replacement. It helps. Today, I challenge you to choose responding rather than reacting: When you’re frustrated with someone – choose kindness. When you’re in a hurry – choose patience. When you’re stressed out – choose peace. When you’re angry – choose calmness...

I borrowed this from one of my favorite bloggers, Paul Wilkinson who borrowed it from St. Thomas the Doubter Church

Faith mighty faith the promise sees and looks to God alone, Laughs at impossibilities and cries it shall be done. And cries it shall, it shall be done, And cries it shall, it shall be done, Laughs at impossibilities and cries it shall be done. -- C. T. Studd

Last Sunday's sermon, in light of recent events in the nation (Aurora shooting) and our community (LCO arson fires) I departed from the scheduled sermon topic and preached from Ephesians 6:13, When the Day of Evil Comes. The Day of Evil (trouble, adversity, injustice, sin, accusation) will come to everybody sooner or later, but it is only temporary -- and is a test.  Character is not made in times of crisis.  It is displayed.  Who we really are comes out when the pressure is on.  How can we be prepared to face this dark day when it comes?

How do you know you are on the path to success? It’s uphill all the way! Nobody coasts to their desired destination. Anything worthwhile requires overcoming significant difficulties and obstacles. It’s simply a part of the territory. When you’ve given your best and failed, it’s tempting to throw in the towel and give up. Sadly, many people would have achieved the goal if they would have hung on just a little longer. Don’t quit too soon. You may be inches away from the breakthrough! Refuse to cave into discouragement. Looking back, I’ve regretted almost every decision I’ve made from discouragement. Humans were made to hope, and that means believing in a better tomorrow. I have always been inspired by this poem by an unknown author. May it bring encouragement to your heart: When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smil...

Margaret Feinberg is giving away three free copies of my book,   Filled Up, Poured Out: How God's Spirit Can Revive Your Passion and Purpose.  Details on how to enter the drawing are here at her facebook page.   Drawing will be Friday, July 27.

But yield who will to their separation, My object in living is to unite My avocation and my vocation As my two eyes make one in sight. Only where love and need are one, And the work is play for mortal stakes, Is the deed ever really done For Heaven and the future's sakes. --  Robert Frost, "Two Tramps in Mud Time"

Here's a fascinating interview by Chris Yaw on Churchnext with Kenda Creasy Dean, professor of Youth, Church and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary. Dean says we often not need look further than parents. An abundance of research points to an astonishing link between religiously active adults and religiously active children – so the best place to start – is with parents. Spiritual development is not like soccer -- where the parents' job is to drop the kids off and stand on the sideline.  Rather, the parents need to get in the game, and play along with them! In this interview, Professor Dean tells us why young people look for less play time and more passion in church, and how we might begin to provide it.

I teach one online Spiritual Formation course per semester for Wesley Seminary. It's been a great experience, and I think I've learned at least as much as my cohort of students. The conversation is invigorating and enlightening. We challenge, inspire and encourage each other. It's a fascinating forum for active learning, with instant application. My friend, Ken Schenck, dean of Wesley Seminary, has written a great blog post reviewing Mark Edmonson's NY Times Op-Ed regarding online education. I agree with Schenck.

Whatever your ability -- use it to make beautiful music in God's symphony. 

A fantastic ministry resource -- a little book packed with lots of practical wisdom by Greg Atkinson:  Church Leadership 101

Several pastors and leaders of local congregations have asked if I could post our Sabbatical Policy at Hayward Wesleyan Church.  We explored many different sabbatical policies, and landed on the best one we could find as outlined in "Ministerial Sabbaticals" by Richard Shockey .  We drew largely from this document, tweaking it to fit our context, and adding bits and pieces from a hodgepodge of other resources:   Pastoral Sabbatical Policy Rationale: When a minister serves a congregation for seven years or longer, it is time for a sabbatical. An extended time away for the purpose of study, enrichment, vision casting, travel, rest, prayer and/or visiting different cultures provides the needed respite that is pivotal in helping assure continued healthy leadership. Congregations  may be strengthened by offering a pastor or an associate a sabbatical—time to briefly step away from the cyclical, unending demands of daily parish life. A sabbatical is n...

Just received word today that my book, Filled Up, Poured Out: How God's Spirit Can Revive Your Passion and Purpose , in now available at The Wesleyan Publishing House E-Book Store . This version will also be available shortly at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.

I mail, I text, I tweet, I blog, I built a Facebook for my dog,  I speak no words, I shake no hands,  I am at last a modern man.” ~ Allan Fallow (HT Frank Viola)

Several weeks ago, I was interviewed on the Good Morning Show with David and Rache l -- a Christian radio talk program in Nashville.  The interview was captured on Ustream, and can be heard here.

Paul Wilkinson, a highly regarded faith blogger, shared the following review of Filled Up, Poured Out:   Refreshment When the Well Runs Dry Wilson has put everything in this book except the kitchen sink. It’s an encouragement collection of stories, quips, analogies, adages, and many scripture references. I hesitate to introduce comparisons, but I would think of this as a large glass of water for someone engaged in Christian service who finds themselves running dry; or an energy bar for the person whose strength feels depleted.

An insightful post by Brian Harris at Jesus Creed on the value of quiet leadership .  Good food for thought. He writes: If you have ever ruled yourself out as a leader because you aren’t a dynamic, upfront person, you might find (Joseph) Badaracco’s  Leading Quietly  liberating. Badaracco has made a study of quiet leadership where he argues that the leadership qualities that result in long term success don’t revolve around charisma, but are more directly related to perseverance, tenacity and other centeredness, as well as a willingness to nudge rather than gallop ahead, and to arrive at appropriate compromises.

My friend, Heath Mullikin, an outstanding pastor in South Carolina, is in high demand as a youth camp speaker.  I think his post, Four Keys to Speaking at Youth Camp hits the nail on the head.  Good thoughts here for Sunday morning preachers as well.

Up in the north county, some folks consider air conditioning an unnecessary luxury. Many homes go without it.  Only last summer, after twenty years of Hayward living, did we finally install it in our home.  In our BC days (before conditioning) we relied on open windows, fans, ice tea and dips in the lake to stay cool. This summer's spate of heat waves confirmed that we made a good decision.   A week ago, early in the morning, with  the mercury already soaring, I snuggled comfortably in a blanket, sipped hot coffee and smiled. One recent afternoon, I entered the house, and was met with a blast of Arctic air.   It was like stepping from a sauna into Antarctica --  downright cold -- reminding me of my father's moniker for an air conditioner:  "the deep freeze." The deep freeze was certainly working overtime that day.   I shivered and wonde...

"Four hundred devils cannot stand before the man who makes it the rule of his life to get up early to praise the Lord and plead for God's blessing on his own soul and on the world.  The devils will flee away." --  Samuel Brengle

Fascinating map from Floating Sheep , comparing Tweets containing the word "Beer" vs those containing the word "Church."  Blue = Beer, Red = Church. HT Todd Rhoades

A great interview on healthy church leadership at Churchnext with Lance Witt, author of the wonderful book which every church leader should read -- Replenish .  "The fire burns better when there's space between the logs."  "Live well to lead well."

My son, Wes, is now famous after being featured in the Sonshine Promotional Poster. 

A few days ago, Light From the Word used the following excerpt from my book, Filled Up, Poured Out: How God's Spirit Can Revive Your Passion and Purpose, as a devotional: I have learned the secret of being content. . . . I can do all this through [Christ]. (Phil. 4:12-13) A frazzled mother continually complained about her stress level. "I just need some peace and quiet!" she groaned. So, for Mother's Day, her daughter Jessica went to the florist shop and returned proudly carrying the perfect gift for her mother. The arrangement included a pink bow inscribed, "Rest in Peace." Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola, in their groundbreaking book Jesus Manifesto, said, "Knowing Christ as your rest' and allowing Him to live His life through you is one of the most freeing things you can know as a Christian" They continue, "Resting in Christ doesn't mean being passive. It means allowing the Lord to do the heaving lifting." My favorite B...

John Grisham is my favorite fiction author.  I've read every book he's written, and usually the read takes less than two days. Grisham's latest book, Calico Joe , departs from his normal lawyer-suspense genre, and explores the world of professional baseball, combined with a complex, abusive father-son relationship (or non-relationship might be a better description.) Calico Joe Castle is a rookie with the Chicago Cubs who dazzles fans, teammates, and opponents alike with a hitting streak for the record books -- until a tragic incident ends his stellar career.  The story is told through the eyes of Paul Tracey, son of hard-throwing, hard-living New York Mets pitcher, Warren Tracey.  The elder Tracey proves less than heroic by all accounts, especially at home -- while his son longs desperately for his father's affection and positive attention.  Calico Joe becomes the hero Paul Tracey could never find in his dad. Warren's violen...

A few weeks ago, a friend passed away before I had the opportunity to visit her.  I felt terrible about missing this important ministry moment, especially as, in hindsight, the things that kept me from it, though urgent, were not nearly as important.  To top it off, I was leaving town to attend General Conference at the time of her funeral and unable to officiate.  I felt so bad about letting this precious family down. Experiences like this strengthen my resolve to be more aware and present for others, as much as possible, in their time of need.  Excuses don't cut it.  We need to admit our shortcomings, and work on improving them. However, when we drop the ball, we need to give ourselves some grace.  After all, isn't grace and mercy at the heart of the Gospel?  Sometimes we ministers of the Gospel are good at extending grace to others, while, simultaneously beating ourselves up.  After expressin...

"Away in foreign lands they wondered how Their simple word had power! At home the Christians, two or three, had met To pray an hour!" (From The Undefeatable Praying Minority , a pamphlet published by the Praying Band Department of World Gospel Mission)

Terrell Boettcher, of the Sawyer County Record, snapped this shot of my daughter, Hannah, pulling a bluegill from Shue's Pond during Musky Fest. Here's a Sawyer County Record video , which includes Hannah in the watermelon eating contest:  she won!

As a part of my early morning quiet times the past couple of weeks, I read (a chapter per day) a delightful book, Mondays with My Old Pastor , by Jose' Luis Navajo. This book is a narrative guide to pastoral replenishment and recalibration.  It relates the story of a 46 year old pastor in the throes of frustration and ministry burnout, who seeks advice from his elderly former pastor. The old shepherd invites the younger pastor into a weekly mentoring relationship (every Monday), where he shares principles for healthy, vibrant long-haul ministry, spicing each principle with pithy quotes, and fascinating little stories that pack a punch.  The stories remind me of those told by my country preacher father, Andy Wilson. The stories, alone, are worth the purchase of the book, and make good grist for sermon illustrations. The principles are outstanding -- simple, yet profound: Principle One:  Everything begins with loving God. Principle ...

Todd Rhoades shares his Two Pet Peaves About Ministry People : 1) Taking everything WAY too seriously. 2) Not taking the most important things seriously enough.