July, 2013

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Addendum

Wednesday, July 31st, 2013

An addendum is defined as “an addition to a completed written document.”  Sort of like a real estate document that is finished, but a few more items need to be added.

My definition: “I didn’t say all I wanted to say about Vision in the last post so I thought I would use one more post to add-to-it.”   🙂

I have often heard it said, “Dream something so great that unless God is in it, it is doomed to fail.”  That has some value to it.  But it can also raise some serious questions.  You and I have seen the temples built as a monument to man’s ego (called churches by the world), only to watch them fall apart when time, money, failure, or something else gets in the way.  No names need mentioned.  When the bubble burst recently, one of the most repossessed properties were church buildings built during the dot.com heyday.   In many cases, one man had a vision alright.  But when the “if you build it they will come” did not materialize, it was a bust.  Sadly, we got the cart before the horse and it devastated many churches.

Now…don’t get me wrong. There is certainly nothing wrong with dreaming.  Every year millions of people visit two place-one in Florida and one in California-built by a man who was stoked by a vision of a kingdom.   Going against the advice of architects and construction managers, Walt Disney said, “Build the castle first.”  Why?  He never wanted the crews to lose sight of what his dream was all about.

My oldest daughter, Tami, began dreaming of better health and a new way of life. After health issues started in earnest over 4 years ago, she had enough of listening to the conflicting advice of others and a little over a year ago she decided to investigate and take matters in her own hands.  One year later she is healthier; 30 pounds lighter; running 5Ks and others (when she was barely able to walk without pain); and is pursuing a health/life coach degree so she can help others.

THE POWER OF A DREAM CANNOT BE DENIED.

But when it comes to the church, the dream must…AND HAS TO BE TEMPERED WITH…God’s leading and direction.  When it all comes down to it, all the gurus; all the formulas; all the planning meetings; and all the finagling to present it correctly so it grips others, is all for naught if it is NOT GOD’S DREAM FOR THAT PARTICULAR CHURCH COMMUNITY.   Jay is right in his comment. (Go seven down).  It is absolutely essential that we spend time with our dream/vision and make sure it is NOT ours, but God’s!  Discernment is key.

Okay…so here is the million dollar question: how do you determine if the dream is God’s or if you are just hoping it is? 

 

 

Posted in Book Discussion, Church, Just Wondering, Leadership | 24 Responses »

Future

Tuesday, July 30th, 2013

If you have been following me for very long then you know my favorite movie of all time is Back to the Future.  To create the right approach for this post, please take a few minutes to watch this clip.

There seems to be a “fancy” among some people to wonder about the future.  The “prophecy nuts” (as they are called) spend a whole lot of (unnecessary) time looking at all the signs trying to figure out what’s coming.  Books abound with predictions.  Who can forget the “88 Reasons Jesus will come in 1988”?   Yeah, I think he missed that one by a long shot.  I must admit a love/hate feeling toward knowing the future.  Part of me wants to know; then again, part of me says, “No way.”  Granted if it was all good…bring it on!  But if it is something life-sucking…save it.  The truth is none of us is blessed with knowledge of future events.

But as a leader there is one indispensable quality.  You guessed it…

VISION!

According the Pat Williams- “Leadership is about the future, so all true leadership begins with vision. ”  Down through history there have been some true visionaries.  We wouldn’t have the modern conveniences we do if someone did not have a vision for an invention.  A visionary can see an empty plot of land and “see” something there.  I have always struggled with the 1-3-5-10 year plans so many say is a true mark of a leader/visionary.  I’m good enough if I can remember what to wear for the day.  🙂    Down through the years, as the primary leader (Lead Pastor), I was told by outside sources, i.e. leadership gurus, that I was responsible for the vision and direction of the church.  I sank deeper into a hole as I realized that I was woefully inadequate in doing that.  Some of it was the church structure I found myself in. But a lot of it was the inability to delineate what the difference was between Mission and Vision.  I finally came to some peace about it a couple of years ago.  Simply put:

Mission- what we are supposed to be doing.

Vision- how we plan to accomplish it.

You may can disagree with that.  I’m okay with that. Whatever works for you.  To see how we have fleshed it out check here.  The purpose of Vision is three-fold:

Vision keeps you focused.

Vision keeps you fueled.

Vision helps you finish. 

(found on pages 37-42)

Here’s my take: When you seem to be wandering aimlessly, vision keeps you dialed in.  When you feel like you are running out of gas, vision puts fuel in the tank.  When you feel like “what’s the use?” vision keeps you going.  I am most certainly not an expert in this (or in leadership for that matter), but after 60 years, I may finally be getting a handle on it.  🙂

I’d like to hear your thoughts.  For more, check out Leadership Excellence by Pat Williams.   I’d really like to hear your thoughts.

Posted in Book Discussion, Church, Leadership | 24 Responses »

Torn

Monday, July 29th, 2013

I had planned on doing a series of posts on leadership based on Pat Williams’ book Leadership Excellence.  But you know what they say about plans: “The best laid plans of mice and men go down the tubes (my words not the original).”  🙂  I feel a deep “leading” to at least hold off a day and write about something else.

There is a saying we have probably all heard: “Nothing is sure but death and taxes.”  I don’t want to get into the theological elements of that statement because that is not my purpose.  However, if you read the comments from yesterday’s post,  you will notice a comment made by me a good part of the way down.  Let me explain:

I was in my office and was writing in my journal when I received a text from a lady whose grandmother had just gone to be with Jesus at 6:05 a.m. My return text was “Good 4 her. Sry  4 u.”  I went to the health campus where she had  been for 10 years and spent some time with the family.  Irene was 94 years old and had been in very failing healthy recently.    I received a text last night that she had begun the “death rattle” and it could be any time. I fully expected a call during the night to go to the campus, but it never came.  While sad, the family was also rejoicing that Irene was with Jesus.  Her last word was “Hallelujah.”  (There is a story behind that).  I left about an hour and a half later after praying with them.

On my way back to the office, I received another phone call.  Only this one was shocking.  A cycling friend (who quit cycling with me because I slowed him down… 🙂 ) was killed in an accident on the way to work.  “Was I available to go with the police officer to tell her? ” With my insides shaking like a leaf and nervous breaths, I made my way there.  It was obvious she already knew. His work had called.  Duane was in his early 50s, and while we didn’t ride together over the past couple of years, we were still friends and would speak to each other.  Our last time was about 3 weeks ago when he was riding one way and I was going the other way.  He turned around and rode a bit with me. We stopped and talked about 10 minutes, then he and his friend took off (leaving me in the dust).  Duane was with me when the dog took me down in ’09.   He knew the dog was headed for him and I took the punishment instead.  😀  Lynne has lost her soul mate way too soon.

High to low.  Mountain to valley.  That was the way of my morning.  That is also the way of life.  None escapes.  I would like to ask you to pray for Irene’s family and Duane’s family.  It would mean a lot.  Thanks.

Posted in Family, Friendship, Prayer | 17 Responses »

Laughter

Sunday, July 28th, 2013

My plan for this week is to take a look at leadership, so I thought today I would give you a lighter side of me before I do.  Several items have come before me this past week that made me laugh, and since I love the gift of laughter, and love to share it, I thought I would begin your week with a chance to join me.

WARNING: IF YOU DON’T LIKE TO LAUGH AND HAVE A GOOD TIME, THEN EITHER SKIP THIS POST OR GO TO THE END WHERE I SHARE SOME “REDEEMING” IDEAS.    😛

Every Friday, Sele Mitchell posts a funny video.  In the past it has been Tim Hawkins (that dude is downright hilarious); Michael Jr. (who is also funny).  This past Friday he posted one I had never heard of.  I had my headphones on and thought I was just chuckling to myself, but you know how headphones deceive the person using them.  Jo could hear me in another part of the house.  Check out his post here that has the link to the video.  I promise you won’t be disappointed.  If you play it to the end you will have a chance to view more clean comedy.

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I received a text message from someone in the church about the following video.  I had them send it to my email since I don’t have Adobe Flash Player on my phone.  I’m glad I did because I can now link it to you.  When you get there watch the one on the right first.  It sets the stage for the second.  If you can’t tap your foot and smile a lot, then I do think you may need your funny bone examined. Check it out here.

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Did you know Harry Truman understood the paralysis of analysis?  He once said he was looking  for a one-armed adviser because he was sick of Washington sharpies telling him, “On the other hand…”

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Have you heard about the time Billy Graham entered a town and asked a young boy how to get to the post office?  The little boy told him and then Billy said, “If you come to the Baptist church tonight, you can hear me telling everyone how to get to heaven.”  The boy said, “I don’t think I’ll be there.  You don’t even know your way to the post office.”

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Some redemption to this post:  Relationships we need to establish (a positive look at Proverbs 6:6-19)

  1. People who have a humble and teachable spirit.
  2. People who tell the truth.
  3. People who are sensitive, tender-hearted and full of mercy.
  4. People who have integrity.
  5. People who can keep confidences.
  6. People who will lead us to a deeper intimacy with Jesus.

That’s all I have room for today.  Hope you enjoyed the fun & had a laugh or two along the way.  Have a great week.   Any you have to share that will make me/us laugh?  Link it in your comment.

Posted in Little Bit of Fun, Miscellaneous, Sunday Meanderings | 25 Responses »

Radioactive

Thursday, July 25th, 2013

soul_reconstruction

Friendships are touchy things.  Some last. Some don’t.  My best male friend, Doug, and I have been friends for over 40 years.  Others run through “friends” like water runs through a sieve.   Jay Kesler, the former president of Youth for Christ, once said, “One of my goals in life is to wind up with eight men who are willing to carry one of my handles.”   🙂

One of the most enduring friendships was the one between Jack Benny and George Burns.  George was asked about it and he said, “Jack and I had a wonderful friendship for nearly 55 years.  Jack never walked out on me when I sang a song, and I never walked out on him when he played the violin.  We laughed together, we played together, we worked together, we ate together.  I suppose that for many of those years we talked every single day.”   You don’t hear much like that any more do you?

Friendships have the ability to pull us up or tear us down.  Frankly, no matter how much we talk about acceptance, there are times we need to be a tad bit more discerning toward who we hang around with.  The Apostle Paul knew that: “Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals.”  I Cor.15:33   George Washington knew it: “Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.”

There are some people we ought to avoid or stop associating with.  I plan to talk about those people Sunday morning:

  • The Chronic Critic
  • The Controller
  • The Tempter

I also plan on spending some time in Proverbs 6:16-19. But I don’t plan on doing that in a negative way, but in a positive light.  And if I may so bold, that is an assignment I’d like to ask you to work on.  Taking those characteristics listed, how would you put a positive spin on them when it comes to people with whom to associate?

I’d like to hear you thoughts.  I’d also like to know how you discern whether you will stay in a friendship with someone or cut it off. 

 

Posted in Friendship, Preaching, Scripture look, Sermon Series/Topic | 30 Responses »

Refreshing

Wednesday, July 24th, 2013

I had a refreshing lunch today. 

But first let me tell you about my lunch yesterday.  No?  Too bad. 🙂  I had planned to ride at 11:00 so I could be done earlier than normal to take care of some things, and also because I anticipated getting a phone call for an afternoon appointment.  At 10:50 that supposed phone call just showed up. Fortunately for me the secretary was still here.  Anyway, the person left about an hour later (and we made arrangements for a possible baptism Sunday after church).  Even though it was later than planned,  I decided to go for a ride.  I should have looked at the radar. TWC said we have 0% chance of rain.  Yeah…right. Since when can the weatherman predict the weather?   HUGE MISTAKE!  I was about 7 miles into my ride when I felt a plop plop on my helmet. At first I thought I was going so fast it was bugs, 🙂  but the frequency of them clued me in to something worse.  A storm was coming.  I booked it to the shelter I have used before, and even though my heart monitor said I was above my level, I still got wet.   I watched, then waited as the storm rolled through in buckets.  I got wet from spray.  I moved (and got wetter) to a more secure spot and waited some more.  Finally I saw my window.  I took a short way back to the office.  Total miles: 10.7.  Total time out: 2:30.  Total riding time: :45.  You read that right!  45 minutes of a 2:30 minutes excursion was spent riding.  The other was spent hunkering down.  I felt like Gilligan.

Today’s lunch was much different and even more refreshing.  I chose to eat lunch with someone instead of ride (and it was an absolutely gorgeous day).

We have a lady who loves her grandchildren.  She only gets them here and there, but this grandson, Xavier (I call him X-Man), has spent a month with grandma.  I told him I wanted to take him to lunch some day while he is here.  Today was that day.  I took him to Chicago’s Pizza.  X-Man is 11 and fascinated with science and dinosaurs.  I heard what dino was the biggest of all.  I heard about a dino that can eat sperm whales.  I also heard about giant squids, octopus, sharks and others.  I also heard about how the American Godzilla should never have been made.  It was horrible!!   🙂  So says X-Man.  I’ll take his word for it.   He also drank 1 1/2 glasses of Sierra Mist and ate 2 1/2 fairly large pieces of pizza.  (For the record: 2 salads and 2 pieces of pizza with 2 glasses of Diet Dr Pepper…just in case you were wondering).

No counseling.  No serious talk.  No behavior issues.  Just a good old relaxing, refreshing lunch with an interesting young man.  Sometimes his grandma reads my blog. Thanks Roberta for letting me take X-Man to lunch.  He made my day.  🙂

Unexpected pleasures.  Don’t you just love them?  Have you had one lately?

Posted in Friendship, Just Wondering, Miscellaneous | 16 Responses »

Teaching

Tuesday, July 23rd, 2013

It has taken me more years than I care to count to realize I have done a lousy job in the past of teaching/mentoring others. Not from the pulpit.  As a pastor/teacher I felt that was a major venue for me.  But I have been really poor in the “take-the-men-aside-and-teach-them” mode.  As I get older (Ahem), I know my time is shorter and I need to redeem the time.  I have a young man as a youth pastor who is an eager learner and so it really behooves me to get busy.  In Pat Williams’ book, Leadership Excellence, I read the following quote last week.  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wrote this in tribute to John Wooden:

“Thirty-five years ago, I walked into John Wooden’s office at UCLA and began a special relationship that enriched my life…He was soft-spoken and serious…more a teacher than a coach.  He broke basketball down to its basic elements.  He always told us basketball was a simple game, but his ability to make the game simple was part of his genius.

I never remember him yelling on the court, but there was no need because he never had trouble getting his point across.  I remember a close game in my sophomore year against Colorado State. During timeouts, his instructions were clear and precise.  I had never doubted him before, but when the game ended, it was obvious he had been thinking three moves ahead of us, calm and cool as always.” (p.196)

LEADERSHIP IS TEACHING.

No matter what we do-pastor, superintendent, coach, school teacher, whatever- we are teachers.  My job as a pastor is to take the complex and make it simple.  (Not hard to do when you tend to be a fairly simple person).  But what also hit me last week was this:

Teaching is at the heart of leading.  In fact, it is through teaching that leaders lead others.  Leading is not dictating specific behavior.  It is not issuing orders and commanding compliance.  Leading is getting others to see a situation as it really is and to understand what responses need to be taken…Simply put, if you aren’t teaching you aren’t leading.  (p.199)

We lead  by mouth. We lead (perhaps even better) by example.  I know I need to do better in the “mouth” department.  So I have suggested to Ryan that we meet every other Wednesday away from the office for a specific teaching/discussion time.  We are actually going to start with Love Works.

What suggestions might you make?  What have you/are you doing to teach others?  Were you ever mentored?

Posted in Church, Just Wondering, Leadership | 33 Responses »

Graceful

Monday, July 22nd, 2013

After over 700 miles of driving…

(after at least an hour rain delay) watching my Pirates lose by an agonizing one run (with bases loaded in both the 8th and 9th innings)…

arriving in Columbus, OH Saturday night well past my bedtime…

arriving late to join my sister-in-law in church…

driving home today (Monday) in sometimes torrential downpours and watching many drivers without their lights on (a real pet peeve of mine)…

Jo & I arrived home late afternoon.

We had some good times though…

spending time with our daughter, son-in-law, and the ever-energetic grandson…

eating at Toft’s Ice Cream in Sandusky, OH  (Mine was Bullpen Chocolate and Rasberry Bugaboo Fudge).  Translated: heaven

hearing Braden sing “White Flag” when it was on.

hearing good news from back home about Sunday worship.

But I would have to say the highlight of my weekend was the main reason we made our way to Sandusky: visiting an old friend.  Before I left Sandusky to pastor OVCF,  Dorothea had asked me to do her funeral whenever the time came.  20 years ago she fought cancer and then shortly before I left it was found again.  She has been told her cancer would eventually go to her optic nerve and immediately blind her.  She wanted to “see” me for the last time in June when we were there for vacation, but I was unable to swing that.  So she wrote me a “Dear John” letter (she called it) releasing me from my promise to conduct her funeral.  But she still wanted to “see” me.   Here is where God stepped in and the story becomes really interesting.

That letter was received on Thursday and I told Jo I would love to go, but…  On Monday I wrote in my journal about wanting to go, but money was an issue and God would have to provide if I was to go. That afternoon I received a call from the local funeral home asking me if I was available to do a funeral for someone who died in Florida, but was to be buried here.  I have lived here almost 9 years and this is the first time he has ever called!!  Then a family’s mother passed away and when  a family member could not do the funeral, they asked me. All in the same week!

YEAH.  IT WAS A GOD-THING.

Argue with that if you want.  My mind won’t change. I don’t believe in luck. Coincidence. Chance.  Not in my life I don’t.

Anyway, I had a chance to visit with Dorothea and, at 90, she is still as beautiful as ever.   Graceful is the word I would use.  She & her late husband raised a daughter whose mind is about 1st-3rd grade.  Linda is older than me.  But Dorothea faces death with as much grace as she always has.  She’s not there yet…least at this writing.  🙂  But plans are made.  Dreams of heaven and reunions thrill her with hope & excitement.

And get this: she even recanted her “Dear John” letter…unless I have a commitment that keeps me here.  😛   If not, I get to write and send a eulogy.  I WIN EITHER WAY!!

Sorry this post is longer than normal.  I had much to share.  Feedly tells me I have 41 posts waiting for me from many of you.  Please forgive me if I fail to comment.

Do you have a story of someone living/dying with grace?

Posted in Friendship, Just Wondering, Miscellaneous | 13 Responses »

Reason

Thursday, July 18th, 2013

I was working Thursday morning on a future sermon planned for this Fall on the church.  My original idea of the 7 churches in Revelation didn’t sit with me well and while riding Wednesday it hit me: You don’t want to do that.

So…back to the drawing board.

I still want to do a series on the church since the church I pastor celebrates its 9th year in October.   We also plan to begin two services the first Sunday of October and I feel a good prep will help the transition.  As I studied I ran across a series of questions that piqued my interest.  Since I will be gone this weekend (tell you later), I thought I would use this post to get your thoughts.  Here is your question:

THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH IS…..???????

And here are some suggestions:

  1. To present the gospel to the lost.
  2. To have an opportunity for regular worship and instruction.
  3. To bring hope to the hurting.
  4. To amass a large number of weekly attendees or participants.
  5. To build an impressive physical plant with a large campus and beautiful buildings and landscaping.
  6. To conform to the most popular style of worship.
  7. To make sure that at least 20% of the annual budget goes to missions.
  8. To engage in politics by endorsing candidates and/or marching in demonstrations.
  9. To picket controversial events.
  10. To pray and read the Bible.
  11. To talk about eschatology in order to scare people.
  12. None of the above.

YOUR ANSWER IS?

#12 to be exact.  That being said, what is our purpose?  Check out this verse.  Simplest terms: the church’s primary purpose is to glorify the Lord.  In all things.  This verse in Psalms also tells us more.   In this “keeping up with the church Jones’ ” age in which we live, we have got to never forget this.  Part of OVCF’s vision is to Exalt Christ.  Put another way we want to bring fame to the Name of Jesus.

Do you agree with this?  Do you feel one of the list of 11 is a better description of the purpose of the church?  I’d like to hear your thoughts.   While your thinking of your answer (if you are), how about giving this a listen.

For Father’s Day, my daughter, son-in-law and grandson bought tickets to see the Pirates (Yeah!) play the Reds (Who?) in Cincinnati this Saturday afternoon.  So I am taking the whole weekend off and will be back Monday afternoon.  I’ll see you Tuesday (unless I get inspired and find time to write).  I doubt that since our grandson will be with us from after game through Monday.  Oxygen please!  🙂

Please say a prayer for Ryan as he preaches this week on Anger.

 

Posted in Christian living, Church, God, Just Wondering, Opinion | 37 Responses »

Finishing

Wednesday, July 17th, 2013

I AM NOT A QUITTER! 

I AM NOT A QUITTER! 

I AM NOT A QUITTER! 

I hope you noticed that each one got darker, and therefore, louder.  No one likes to be known as a  quitter.  In anything.  As an athlete it is something ingrained into the brain…never quit.  “The game is not over until the fat lady sings.”  (Comic relief)  Games have been won with seemingly impossible last second shots.  Baseball teams down by gobs of runs with two out in the ninth inning have rallied to score and win.  Since I watch the Tour de France (I may be the only one of my readers who does), I have watched cyclists refuse to quit on the toughest climbs.  The Tour isn’t over until they are in Paris.

I was reading Tony Dungy’s book when he mentioned a runner named Derek Redmond and his Barcelona experience.  So out of curiosity I went to YouTube and found the story.  Derek was an Olympic athlete who had one goal: win the gold medal in the 400 meter sprint.   Rather than me tell you the story, watch it here.

Victory is not for the swiftest, the sharpest dresser, the popular one.  Victory is reserved for those, no matter who they are, who finish the race. (The tortoise and the hare come to mind for example).  In life, there are a whole lot of people who are smarter than me, wiser than me, more gregarious than me, wealthier than me, even more spiritual than me, but what matters is none of those.  What matters to me and for me is finishing the race.  The Apostle Paul wrote, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”  2 Timothy 4:7-8   Paul knew the important thing was finishing well.

I don’t need to preach here.  You probably know the application so rather than take up a lot of your time, I’ll just ask you to watch/listen to this video.  It is my favorite Christian song of all time by one of my all-time favorite groups.

How are you doing in the finishing department?  Feel like giving up?  Don’t!!  Keep running.  It is, after all, a long distance run.

Posted in Christian living, Just Wondering, Miscellaneous, Pick me Up, Story | 20 Responses »

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