Category Archives: Reflecting
Heaven’s Heroes
Got the chance to meet some amazing people recently that I just can’t get out of my mind. They spent 30+ years in a foreign country as missionaries. Then, moved home to pastor a church in a forgotten small town. Lost everything during Hurricane Katrina. Stayed. Have led the small church in the forgotten small town to rebuild & continue reaching out to a now broken population. As I talked with them, I notice how freely they laugh, I hear their heart for their community. She talks about the back yard Bible Clubs they have planned for EVERY Tuesday during the summer in an area housing development. He breaks away to talk with a young passerby about faith. I’m trying to listen as she’s telling me about Block Parties planned & the unwed mothers in town that need mentoring. They’re hungry for leaders to share the load with, BUT they’re not waiting. They’re missionaries.
I think these will be heaven’s heroes. We don’t know their names. They’re so common we wouldn’t remember them anyway. They’re in forgotten towns & villages that others deem as too hard or too small. They step out of a rice field to take the gospel to the next village. They walk 15 miles one way to teach a new congregation about life in Christ. They talk openly about faith in Christ & intentionally teach others to live for Him. They see all of life – home, work, play, even retirement – as an opportunity to glorify & witness for God. They see needs & they do all they can to meet them in the name of Christ. They would like to have more resources for the mission, BUT they’re not waiting or complaining. They’re missionaries. They’ll be heaven’s heroes.
In amazement at this couple that could say we’re too old, we’ve already served so much, we don’t have enough people, or a dozen other excuses, I say something to her like, “Thank you for the work y’all are doing. And for not just retiring.”
She says, “We can’t just sit here and do nothing!”
But many times I do. I make excuses. I wait for “the right time.” Or for “God’s call,” as if I haven’t heard it already. I complain about lack of resources. Or I put my time & energy & resources into personal pleasure more than in the mission of God.
O God, forgive me & give me the strength & passion of these Your heroes.
My Boys
a few fav pics from a weekend getaway…
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’cause “the glory of children is their fathers” http://bible.us/prov17.6.esv
Good Reads in 2011, part 2
I started a blog in 2006, because I enjoyed writing and creating and as a bit of a personal journal. I also saw it as a great way to put the stuff I couldn’t get out of the trunk in the sermon writing and delivering process. I thought I’d post sermon illustrations and stories I didn’t use, that people responded well to, and study helps that I utilized. It’s still a personal journal of sorts and I’m glad a few people choose to read it. And my mom doesn’t even have a computer, so I know it’s not her over and over again :)). So for what it’s worth…
- Discipleship and Choice - ”American Christianity has become about choices … And these choices are for the most part self-focused… The question is, How does this square with the New Testament picture of a disciple or follower of Christ?”
- Warning! Do Not Let This Person Join Your Church! I’ve had a few pastors tell me they put this on the agenda at their monthly business meeting :)).
- Put Your Faith in Action! Why? - 20 Reasons for putting your faith in action.
- 12 Things I’m Thankful for After 12 Years of Marriage
- Can Baptist Dance? and Other Recent Questions
- Distinguishing Marks of a Quarrelsome Person
- How Can My Church Get Involved in Church Planting and Multiplication?
- Are You A Church Curmudgeon?
- Ode to Mommy - My youngest son’s first original song.
- Assessing the Need for New Churches – Why do we need new churches when we have so many already?
Good Reads in 2011
- On the Verge: A Journey Into the Apostolic Future of the Church by Dave Ferguson and Alan Hirsch. Hirsch plays the theorists and Ferguson plays the practicioner. Great look into the changing nature of ministry and disciple-making and how to transition our churches to reach people in today’s shifting cultural sands.
- Barefoot Church: Serving the Least in a Consumer Culture by Brandon Hatmaker. As a leader of a church that’s focusing 90% of our energy outward, this book was a huge encouragement. Great ideas and inspiration for creating a culture of ministry and service.
- Cracking Your Church’s Culture: Seven Keys to Unleashing Vision and Inspiration by Samuel Chand. “Culture – not vision or strategy – is the most powerful factor in any organization.” I’ve learned this the hard way as a leader. Great book on shaping the culture of a church or organization. Here’s my brief review.
- Real-Life Discipleship: Building Churches that Make Disciples by Jim Putman. The real call of Christ is to make disciples and this is one of the most practical tools for how to do it, since Disciples Are Made, Not Born. And get the 12-week Training Manual. If the church is going to be good at something it should be disciple-making. This helps. Here’s an overview.
- Journey’s to Significance: Charting a Leadership Course from the Life of Paul by Neil Cole. An interpretive biography on Paul. Really hoping this is the beginning of a series by Cole.
- Truth that Sticks: How to Communicate Velcro Truth in a Teflon World by Avery Willis and Mark Snowden. Avery Willis’ last book as he passed away earlier this year. About bringing Bible-storying to the North American context. Very compelling book demonstrating the need for the lost art of story telling.
A few in process and that I’m looking forward to reading in 2012:
- Xealots: Defying the Gravity of Normality by Dave Gibbons.
- Thirty Years that Changed the World: The Book of Acts for Today by Michael Green.
- Missional Communities: The Rise of the Post-Congregational Church by Reggie McNeal.
- Outspoken: Conversations on Church Communication by Tim Schraeder.
- Sacrilege: Finding Life in the Unorthodox Ways of Jesus by Hugh Halter.
What else should I add to my list?
My Treasure
“The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD” http://bible.us/Prov18.22.NLT
Happy birthday to my incredible wife! She makes me better than I am. Constantly amazes me with her wisdom and discernment. Challenges me to grow. I’m blessed to do life with Heather Corley. Happy Birthday Babe!
In the picture are my two competitors for here attention. They’re winning! But that’s OK.
Persistent Modification
Always think of this great list from Will Mancini as I look toward a new year and new endeavors:
What can I:
- combine?
- subtract?
- double?
- adapt?
- reduce?
- reinvent?
- cage?
- tweak?
- add?
- eliminate?
- amplify?
- modify?
- cut?
- accelerate?
- concentrate?
- stop?
From Church Uniqe: How Missional Leaders Cast Vision, Capture Culture, and Create Movement. Get the Visual Summary free here.
Reflecting on World AIDS Day
This afternoon I passed a road-side Fruit Stand in my community and remembered the booming road side business I saw in Zimbabwe, Africa a few years ago: coffins/caskets. Praying today for a country where the life expectancy is 42 and 25% of the population is made up of orphans, due in large part to the World AIDS crisis. Glad to see the numbers going the other way, but remembering names and faces of friends, brother and sisters that are VERY close to this crisis. A few personal pics:
Widows gathered for prayer at Mbare Christian Fellowship in Harrare.
Kids at a Zim Orphanage receiving gifts from our community.
See my pasts post about work and partners in Zimbabwe.
Thanksgiving Weekend
“Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings. Soul, you’ve been rescued from death; Eye, you’ve been rescued from tears; And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling.” http://bible.us/Ps116.7.MSG
Enjoyed a restful Thanksgiving with family in Central Louisiana, including many of my 30+ first cousins getting together for our annual turkey feast & a change of pace BBQ dinner with Heather’s family in Pineville. Also, enjoyed a fruitful hunting trip with my boys and of course a fruitful Black Friday experience to get us way ahead for Christmas.
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A few Favs from last week:
- The Pastor Driven Church – “The Pastor Driven Church sacrifices bold preaching and personal disciple making forpowerless people pleasing.”
- What is Neighboring – “From the City’s perspective, there’s not a lot of difference between how Christians and non-Christians neighbor” ~ local city-manager.
- 10 Ways to Help Your Church Reach Out through Social Media -
- Are you Creating or Consuming? – “when it comes to creating versus consuming, how much balance do you have in your life?”
- Francis Chan: From Mega-Church Pastor to Multi-Housing Church Planter -
- DaveRamsey Behind every successful man is a great woman and a surprised mother-in-law.
- NationsBeGlad ”The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless.” – Billy Graham
- brandonhatmaker “The more you scatter your people for mission, the more meaning your gathering will have.” @hughhalter #leadnet #LNLive
- RealEricGeiger Everyone is a disciple of someone, but not everyone is transformed. Only 1 Leader brings transformation to His disciples.
- CMAResources You don’t graduate from learning until there’s a flatline on the screen next to your bed. #LNlive #leadnet
- drboblogan Don’t start churches to make disciples. Start churches by making disciples. @davedv
- darrinpatrick Instead of leaving the church because it doesn’t offer your pet program, consider staying and starting it. #forthecity
