A Little ADD

Although never diagnosed, I wonder at times if I’m a little ADD.  As a kid I was easily distracted, even in the middle of a conversation.  As long as I have only a few things to focus on, I do very well.  It is in the plethora of activity that I can get lost.  Realizing this about myself is helping me to pare away the stuff that clutters my mind and life, and simplify. 

Pastoring is a career path that always presents itself with multitasking venues, and continually throws out more and more challenges.  It is easy to get lost in the multiplicity of tasks, and is imperative to remove the distractions in otder to gain focus.

Any ADD or OCD friends out there?

Binary Trap

Today at our Catalyst meeting at APC we discussed some of the things that are “bleeding sores” in our ministry and what we can do about them.  We really have to address those things that are hindering the growth of the churches we pastor.  Sometimes addressing those things can put us into a “binary trap” – either-or, yes-no, can-can’t – when what we really need is a creative solution to our issue(s).  It might mean a change in personnel, it might be a change of curriculum, it might be total revamping, or it may be a small adjustment – but we have to avoid the “binary trap” at all costs.

The Loser Who Won – Great Story

Once upon a time there was a little boy named Sparky. At least that’s what his classmates called him. He was given the nickname in honor of a comic strip horse named Spark Plug. Sparky hated the name. But name-calling was the least of his worries.

School was tough for Sparky. His favorite subjects were recess and lunch. He failed every single subject in eighth grade. High school was no better. He flunked algebra, English, Latin, and physics. In fact, to this day he holds the record for the lowest physics marks in his school. Sports weren’t much of an improvement. He made the school’s golf team, but his poor play ended up costing his team the championship.

Sparky was a loser when it came to friendships, too. No one seemed to notice him. He was astonished if a classmate said hello. Afraid of rejection, he never asked a girl out. Instead, he devoted himself to the one thing he really enjoyed: drawing cartoons. No one thought they were any good, but that didn’t stop him. He practiced on binders and scribblers, and by the time he was a senior in high school, he got up the nerve to submit some cartoons to the yearbook staff.

They were rejected.

After graduating from high school, Sparky wrote a letter to Walt Disney Studios inquiring about job opportunities. He received a form letter requesting samples of his artwork. The letter asked him to draw a funny cartoon of “a man repairing a clock by shoveling the springs and gears back inside it.” Sparky drew the cartoon and mailed it off with his fingers crossed. He waited anxiously for a reply. Finally it came. Another form letter spelling out rejection.

Sparky was disappointed but not surprised. He had always been a loser. This was just one more loss. Looking in the mirror one day, he smiled with the realization that in a weird sort of way, his life was funny. Almost like a cartoon character. Then a thought hit him. Why not tell his own story? Why not draw cartoons of the misadventures of a little boy loser, a chronic underachiever? He had no idea where his idea would take him.

This boy who failed the eighth grade, the young artist whose work was rejected by his own yearbook, was Charles Monroe “Sparky” Schultz – creator of the Peanuts comic strip and the little boy whose kite never quite flies.

You know him as Charlie Brown.

 

 

 

Hunger

It’s about 3:30 in the afternoon, and I could use a Snickers or something.  Or maybe a steak.  I don’t know about you, but when it gets to this time in the afternoon, I’m ready for some food!  But running across the street to the corner store or raiding the church refrigerator doesn’t seem like the best idea.  It’s easy as you get older to not take care of yourself and pack on a few extra pounds – and it is the refrigerator raids that do it to you!  I think I’ll grab a glass of tea to hold me off until I get home.

Anybody else get the afternoon hunger pangs?

Carpet Time

I like what Dave Thomas (not from Wendys) said last night here at the C3 Leaders Meeting.  How important it is that we spend “carpet time” – when we are on our faces before God – not seeking revival, but seeking Him.

Doesn’t the Word say – “If my people . . .” – then God will do great things (2 Chron. 7:14)?  Hungry people are the ones who get fed (Matthew 5:6) – and the Greek indicates to overflowing.

But alas, I’m preaching to the choir.  Let’s get a hold of God together!

I’m Baaack

For those of you who link to my blog and think I have fallen off of the planet, sorry for the lack of blog entries.  I wrote a post back in June about Twists and Turns - and the road certain has been that for a few months.  We are now adjusting to a new “normal” – and the waves are dying down a bit. 

In addition to these things, I have travelled alot on church stuff this past 5 weeks, and as I type am away again.  It is forcing to pare away the stuff that gobbles up my time and focus on what needs to be done. 

It is my aim to get back to regular blogging and hope to hear from all of you soon.

Born Leaders – I Don’t Think So

You have heard it said that some people are born leaders.  And perhaps throughout your life you have seen people that had no problem stepping in and taking on leadership roles.  Like in high school when a person what voted into class office – and then later on in your senior yearbook – they are voted most likely to succeed.  Yet, just because popular opinion says so, it doesn’t make you a leader.  And just because your personality profile indicates strengths in leadership, that doesn’t make you a leader either.

While I don’t want to set a negative tone and say what a leader is not, it is imperative that old notions are removed from our psyche in order to establish what makes a leader.  Yes, I said what “makes” a leader.  Born leaders – I don’t think so.

In order to become an effective leader, I believe there are several stages that one needs to go through.

1. Character development – you cannot be an effective leader without good, Godly character.  While some in pop culture say that your public and private life are separate and distinct, I believe that your private life dictates your public – that these are inseparable.  There is no substitute for integrity.
2. Integrity checks – situations will arise all through your development as a leader to check your integrity – opportunities to cut corners, chances to fail your convictions, you fill in the blank.  And passing these checks in intergral in your development as a leader.
3. Endurance tests – Challenges will come your way that will force you to question why you are in leadership at all.  Will you quit or will you hold on – that is the question in the middle of controversy or trouble.  Paul told Timothy – endure hard times as a good soldier – endurance is key.
4. Competency – there will be times in your leadership that you will not feel competent for the job.  And sometimes we can talk ourselves right out of leadership or ministry because we don’t “think” we are all that the job requires.  What you do in these times is critical – find someone who has been there and is committed to help you through – to mentor you.
5. Inadequacy – In some areas of leadership we shine, while we falter in others.  Some pastors are great administrators, but not so good with preaching.  Some are fantastic with people, and yet struggle with keeping appointments.  As you develop in your leadership, you find people to help you in the areas of inadequacy, and you continue to shine on in the areas of strength.

There is so much that could still be said about growing as a leader.  Don’t worry if you weren’t born a leader ~ none of us were!

Twists and Turns

Unexpected.  Surprising.  Never saw it coming.

Isn’t that the way life can be sometimes?  Smooth sailing with a few minor potholes, but all in all, pretty good.  And then “BAM”, something broadsides you and have to rearrange your life as a result.

A little over a month ago my mother-in-law ended up having to go to the hospital.  Through a series of events, and in and out of hospitals and nursing homes, she has come to live with us.  While it has presented some challenges, I am glad that we are able to be there for her. 

Needless to say, because of those changes, blogging has become a “C” list item.  Hopefully I can rework my time to at least get back to a “B” list.  My family covets your prayers.

 

Saturday Night Specials

I started series preaching about a year ago – and I love it.  It reduces the themes that people hear throughout the year, it brings focus to 12 to 18 issues or topics a year instead of 50, and it reduces the amount of stress involved in sermon prep.

However, during the last two weeks, I have had no series, and the harder I have tried to put one together, the more frustrated I became.  Friday came, no direction, no word, but lots of prayer.  And twice, as I laid my head on my pillow on Saturday night, God has dropped a word in my spirit about Sunday morning.  And the results have been amazing.  It’s awesome when you share the word God has given you and someone comes and says that you have been reading their mail.   And what a great opportunity to give glory to Jesus!

This is not my preferred method of preparation – a word on Saturday night with a Sunday morning press to put the notes together – but it certain causes me to lean on Him more.  I am preparing for some summer series preaching – but as always, God can interrupt those plans if He so desires.

Long Time, No Post

For all both of you that read my blog (sorry, a little self-deprecation  there), I am getting back to the blogosphere.  Went to MinistrieSummit – got some sort of kidney infection and was out of sorts for about a week.  Since then lots of stuff happening at church, home, you know.

I have been really pressing in to the presence of God lately, more so than ever – feeling that tug of the Holy Spirit to make sure that the Lord of the work takes precedence over the work of the Lord.  And as I have done so, I have been watching God do great things.  Checking your email, making phone calls, etc., should not take precedence over His presence.