Rough times call for bold moves

Some churches create programs that are innovative and attractive. Then, there are other times that church leaders simply follow a spontaneous calling and make a bold move. This week, Leadership Network reported on one church making a bold statement and action to meet needs--or at least bring attention to meeting needs in these tough economic times. Here is the lead-in to the story. Click on the link below to read the entire article and download the economic report by the excellent writer and researcher for LN, Warren Bird.

From Leadership Network Advance:
On Friday, February 27, 2009, the stock market hit its lowest mark in more than a decade. That same weekend, during worship services at Cross Timbers Community Church (Argyle, TX), Pastor Toby Slough made the following announcement: "If you need money today to feed or house your family, please take money out of the offering plate, rather than putting money in." In response to his bold and generous words, the people of the church gave their biggest offering ever.
http://www.pursuantgroup.com/leadnet/advance/apr09s2a.htm

Thoughts on Following Closely

In my red letters study, in John 1:47, Jesus is calling more disciples to follow him. He says this of Nathanael, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"

Made me wonder what Jesus would say OF me.

Like most people, I do care what others think and say of me. Do I care what Jesus thinks and says of me? What do I want Jesus to say of me? I'm not sure I've given enough thought to the conversation between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit about my life, my choices, my actions (or my inaction). Am I giving them something to talk about?

I like where to conversation goes from there between Nathanael and Jesus. When Nathanael decides to go all and become a follower, Jesus says, "You ain't seen nothing yet!" OK, I'm paraphrasing a bit there, but it is essentially what Jesus promises to Nathanael. Jesus actually said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

What happens next? Jesus does his first miracle: turning water into wine.

Am I following Jesus closely enough to see his miracles? Miracles are happening around us everyday. Not sure miracles happen today? I'm not so sure they happen in the church, either. But I do know they happen outside of the church walls every day. Follow Jesus closely into places of poverty and injustice. Follow Jesus closely as he cares for today's widows and orphans. He LOVES to reveal himself in those places with those people. You'll see miracles there.

Maybe you are a late adopter...someone else needs to tell you about these modern-day miracles before you go and see for yourself. (Some of the disciples needed that kind of convincing). I highly recommend reading Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. It's all about a modern miracles, restoration, and sacrifice--in Fort Worth, Texas.

Skimming by Pete Scazzero

A friend sent this to a friend who sent this to me. I tracked down the source from Leadership Journal March edition. This is an excellent article that really stopped me in my leadership, mom, wife, daughter and sister tracks. Here's just a taste of this thought-provoking leadership article by Pastor Pete Scazzerro. Click on the link below to read the entire article at Christianity Today.

After twenty years as senior pastor, I finally had to admit I'd been "skimming" in my leadership. Skimming is the way many of us cope with multiple demands, constant pressure, and overloaded schedules. We cover a lot of ground superficially without being fully engaged. Like skimming a book, this can produce the impression that everything is covered, but in reality, you aren't completely there. How do you know you're skimming?

• When you go from meeting to meeting without awareness of God.
  
• When you say “yes” to new commitments and expansions without properly following through on what you are already doing.
  
• When it is Friday and you realize you have not had enough time to allow the truth of what you are preaching to transform your own walk with Christ.
  
• When you avoid difficult decisions and truths because someone will be upset.
  
• When you muddle your way through a meeting because you have not clearly determined your goals and agenda.
  
• When you make a pastoral phone call or visit – resentfully.
  
• When you cannot stop thinking about the unfinished work at church when you are with your family.
  
• When you are too busy to reflect on your own heart or cultivate your own personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
  
• When you are not investing in your own personal growth and marriage.
  
• When you measure your success based on what other people say rather than your own internal values before God.
  

Many times skimming is a "defensive mechanism" of denial that blocks us from growing up spiritually and emotionally. It's a way of avoiding aspects of ministry that stir up anxiety or pain. It can work for a while, but eventually it catches up with us, and there's a price to pay. Here's how it caught up with me....click here to read the entire article by Pete.

Red Letters

I started a new morning devotional book today. The RED letters, edited by Timothy J. Beals. It is simply the saying and teaching of Jesus from the English Standard Version. I'm reading one phrase and reflecting on it at a time. I may not take time to record all my thoughts, but I think I will record a few. If anyone gets use out of these thoughts that's great, but mostly this blogging is for me. I type better than I write and I'd like to keep record of Jesus' words to me as I go on this journey with him every morning.

Today: Why where you looking for me? Did you not know I must be in my Father's house? Luke 2:49

Wow. The first words recorded from Jesus were questions. I've been amazed at the power of good questions lately. I find that it is easier to give answers than to ask good questions, but asking good questions is more powerful. I'd like to ask more questions.

Had Mary and Joseph already forgotten who Jesus was? Did you forget who I am? Imagine your whole life having to remind people who you are, even your mom? Remember me. Jesus doesn't force us to remember him, he wants us to choose to remember who he is.

I go to church. I lead ministries. I am married to a minister. I write about Jesus. I write about his church. Have a forgotten who you really are? Have I forgotten all that you are?

Rough Day on the Soul

Have you ever had one of those? I'm sure you have. Today was a doozy. Steve and I have come face to face with child abuse, sexual abuse, sexual addiction, sexual harrassment, and poverty among six different families in the last 48 hours alone. Ugly. It's almost too much to comprehend. I've never liked "doom and gloom" thinking, but today really did feel like the world went to hell in a handbasket. I was ready for this tornado to sweep me to Oz

All this brokenness, however, reminds me that God is a God of restoration and healing. Without brokenness being exposed for the ugliness that it is, the beautiful work of restoration can never begin. The exposing of it is so hard to hear, see, and feel.

So, today, I will be thankful for brokenness that leads to healing--even when it hurts my soul. God, I pray that you HEAL THIS LAND...

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. - 2Chronicles 7:14

My Favorite Church People

Just before Dan Kimball released his book, They like Jesus but not the Church, I heard him speak at a conference workshop. I was on staff at a church and I left the workshop totally agreeing with Dan. I, too, like Jesus--love him in fact. And, I don't like the church. Crap.

But, over the last several years God has graciously expanded my small view of church to a larger vision of HIS Church. All these interviews with church leaders are starting to change me and I think I like the church now, too! I'm starting a list of my favorite church people. These are not renegades who follow the beat of a different drummer. These are church people--people who have grown up in church, who work in or with churches and who graciously serve God with their lives in their cities. They haven't written books, made movies and aren't all celebrities like Hybels, Graham or Warren. They are rarely keynote speakers at all the big "churchy" conferences, but they have so enriched my walk of faith with their stories of transformation, brokenness, and restoration. I thank them for giving me the opportunity to join their company and fellowship for a while during interviews over the phone or chats over coffee.

My Favorite Church People
Don Simmons, Creative Potential, Fresno, CA
Tricia Richardson, Columbia, SC
Eli Morris, Hope Pres, Memphis, TN
Laurie Beshore, Mariners Church, Irvine, CA
Mark Stearns, PCA, Hunstville, AL
Omar Reyes,Northwood Church, Keller, TX

I have every confidence that God will continue to lengthen this list over the years and I will passionately love Jesus and His Church.

It's been a great year!

It's been a long time since I've posted to this blog! There is a good reason! I've been busy starting a new adventure in North Carolina. Our family moved here a year ago and my husband is the family minister for Concord Christian Church (and doing a fabulous job, by the way!). My new adventure has been starting a new organization for churches and nonprofits called Backyard Impact. Tricia Richardson (former Communty Involvement Director at LifeBridge) moved to South Carolina about 1 year before we moved to NC. We aligned our heads and hearts and believe God's purpose for us is to continue advancing externally focused ministry.

We have led a number of church teams in 2008 and 2009 through strategic learning and planning for equipping volunteers and externally focused ministry. Here's who we've worked with so far:

• First Baptist Church Concord, Knoxville, TN
• First Presbyterian Church, Fort Collins, CO
• Westminister Pres. Church, Rock Hill, SC
• Concord Christian Church, Concord, NC
• North East Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC
• Gastonia Faith Network, Gastonia, NC
• Perimeter Church, Atlanta, GA
• Faith Promise Church, Knoxville, TN
• St. Andrews Evangelical Church, Columbia, SC
• North Trenholm Baptist Church, Columbia, SC
• Christian Fellowship Church, Ashburn, VA
• Charity Tracker & Simon Solutions, Florence, AL (REALLY Cool tools! Check them out! http://www.charitytracker.com/ )

It's been a phenominal journey this far. We've coached churches alongside Dr. Eric Swanson, Dr. Don Simmons, Dr. Chris Hardy and Keith Young. If you are interested in learing more about Backyard Impact's strategy sessions for your church team, check us out at http://www.backyardimpact.com/ or call me at 704-795-8631. God Bless!