Just the Facts Please

I once had a pastor who told me he did not hire anyone that salted their food before tasting it. In my confusion, he went on to explain that he did not want to hire someone prone to making decisions without all the information. I doubt very seriously that my eating habits have little to do with my decision making processes, but I do see the point.

In our tech savvy age, people can open up a blog like this one and complain and twist stories and facts to rally people to their causes. It happens every day. I read one National Football League bloggers report on how he was not allowed to have a computer or phone on while in team facilities. My home state college team did not allow phone calls or texting during practices that were open to the public. People live in fear that facts will be skewed, information released that is private, or that an expose will be written that puts them in a negative light.

If there is ever a time for informed decision making, it is now. That is not to say that information will not be twisted. It will however allow for a clear conscience for the leader. I can know that regardless of the perception, I used the information at hand to make the proper decision. Sometimes the unpopular decision.

Competition or Lifestyle?

Right now I have a lot of friends and former students in Orlando competing in the National Fine Arts competition. I am at home holding down the fort because our group just didn't score high enough. That is another story for another day, because I feel like several entries should have qualified. Ask me, I'll tell you all about it. I'm not too worried about being politically correct. However, that is not the issue at hand.

As I spend time with other youth pastors, especially the veteran guys, I hear growing complaints about the FAF competition and all that is involved. Even in my own district I heard "why raise money to fly halfway across the country to impress people you don't know for five minutes?" One friend even blasted the event as teaching kids how to "play the ministry game". If those are truly the problems with the program, then it is no fault of the student as to the state of the event.

FAF serves as a means to mentor students in ministry, to give them a hands on opportunity to get involved and to try their hand at different aspects that could greatly enhance the ministry at their home church. I am sure the intent is not as much about competition, though I love to compete. It is about ministry. If students are "playing the game" it is the fault of the leadership at the individual church. If leaders do not continue to mentor and develop these students year round, it will be of no long term benefit.

Once again, the complaints of the masses usually boils down to someone "finding an easier way." I am amazed how many ministers want to carry a leadership position without doing any work. We have come a long way from when David refused to take some land for free, even for ministry. His sentiment was, "I will not give to God that which costs me nothing." All to often that is all we give to God. We want everything for nothing, in the name of ministry, of course. Need we remember that the land David was after was not for personal gain and that he could have simply claimed it because of the title he carried?

Though the title you carry may come with privileges, such as a week in Orlando ministering with students, you must be willing to make the sacrifice. Cheap and easy ministry produces cheap and easy parishioners. If we fail to connect these students into lifelong ministry is is ourselves we have to blame for the condition of the church. Find and develop talent. Never do ministry alone when you can take someone along with you. Besides, studies say you'll be gone soon anyway. Stay around a while and get something done.

Ministry is not an event or a competition, but a lifestyle, and FAF provides a training ground to critique and develop young talent.

Click on the streaming link below to view a short video on the Fine Arts Festival mentioned above.

Streaming

Easy Chair

If you noticed, I haven't posted in a few weeks. It's been fireworks season here in Arkansas, which means some of the most labor intensive, long hour days of my year. Honestly, it is brutal. Add to that the heat wave raising the south and you have a wonderful combination. With the heat raising over 100, and the heat index (which is what really matters) reaching 110, it was hard to get the necessary support staff to ease the situation. I know I have painted a pretty grim picture, but the truth is, it is tough. Through the whole process I hear of other leaders saying how they "hated doing fireworks", "it was so much work", and "we quit because it was too much!"

This is my response to those complainers who complain about doing the work, then complain about their budgets and missions giving.

Who called you to the easy chair?

Really. I mean, my calling was never to the path of least resistance. I wasn't called to the grey area of average. There is no entitlement card that comes with experience. After 16 years of student ministry, I was excited to inherit a project like our fireworks tent that was proven a success. in fact, we have set new sales record both years I have been in Malvern.

I constantly keep the project in front of our team and congregation to be held accountable in our efforts. We will not work half heartedly. We were short handed and over worked for over two weeks. Our families had to come see us for a few minutes each day just to keep in touch. On top of it all, we wore yellow shirts every day for two weeks!

We make the larger portion of our budget for the year, besides funding two great missions works with our efforts. We put on a giant fireworks show for our community drawing over 1000 people in our rural town.

Have fun in your easy chair. Just know, that is not where God called you to.

Link to the Malvern Daily Record Story about our group: http://www.malvern-online.com/content/view/159167/92/

Link to the Front Page Pic: http://www.malvern-online.com/content/view/159163/

Are we Robbing from the Future?

Days on end of Fireworks and making money for missionaries. As much as I love this, I wonder if it creates the lasting goal of developing a heart of missions giving in my students. I wonder if we have become so event driven that we have neglected the personal aspect of giving. In reading Scotty Gibbons book "Overflow" I question the plight of my, and many other leaders students. What happens when they graduate and move on? We already see an enormous drop off in church attendance in the transition years, so what about giving. Of those who stay true to their faith, do they continue to give?

I am sure that fundraising events are always going to be part of what I do, but it will not be all we do. Giving must be learned at the intimate level. I've failed there before. And there are still times I have to correct myself. But a giving lifestyle should just be part of the DNA of the believer.

Laughable?

PJ Productions is now somewhat official, at least to me it is anyway.  The PJ Productions site is now up (www.pjpro.org) and the first workshop has concluded with very positive and optimistic feedback.   I have to admit, I was really nervous going in and promoting this whole launch.  But this is the thing:  if I just keep doing the same thing, I'll always be doing the same thing.  (gee, I bet you are now wowed with my theological processes)  

I have always been known as the type that is up front, obnoxious, and probably not too serious. Truth is, some of that helps me deal with my insecurities.  But in turn, it does tend to create a stereotype.  Now, as I see and feel God moving me in certain directions, the stereotype has created some hurdles that I must clear.  Don't get me wrong.  People are not lining up to point fingers and make jokes, but there is a degree of trust that has to be earned.

Starting out in ministry, my wife and I both felt God placing some specific things in our heart. Not and agenda, but rather a destination.  Part of me wants to identify with Joseph, knowing something is coming that no one else sees.  Then, I begin to think that such thoughts are arrogant, misplaced, or just totally...laughable.  I have tried to protect my dream, only letting select people know so they can mentor and challenge me to make the changes necessary for the journey.  

In my dream, I am not seeing the haystacks bowing down or any of that.  (not sure what I would do with a bowing haystack)  I just have this renewed sense of urgency.  God is leaning on me to move out of my comfort zone, and kind of make myself vulnerable for people to...laugh.  I find it interesting how I have always used humor hide insecurities, but now I'm afraid people might laugh at me, not recognizing growth and depth that God is leading me in.  

You know, I believe God will still see this through as I do my part.  That is why I am choosing to be proactive.  No more sitting and waiting for God to do my part for me.  I'm putting myself out there.  

Defining Moments

I watched American Idol faithfully.  I was an AI stalker, and with good reason.  The guy that eventually won is from a small town in Arkansas and many college student from our church know him.  In fact, he sang at a wedding last year at our church, on our stage, with our awful sound system.  How cool is that.

Kris had his defining moment out there for the world to see.  We watched as the so called underdog knocked off the prodigy.  He even had the big inspirational song, pyrotechnics, and confetti to boot.  Now the season is over, his family back to rural america, and Kris and his very new bride are touring the planet.  Sounds kind of cool.  What a life changer.

On the very night that Kris had his defining moment, a young girl in our youth ministry had hers.  She comes from a broken family that is far from functional.  For some reason, I've just had a soft spot for this young lady, even though she has given me plenty or reasons not to.  (including theft while on a trip)  Shared my heart that night, and talked about depression, suicide and cutting.  (http://accelerateyourlife.org/Download3.html)  God was working in an amazing way that night.  Several student who were contemplating suicide found hope, cutters found healing, the those struggling with depression found new meaning.  It was a great night.  

One of the unique features was that several kids wanted to talk, up close, one on one.  This young lady was one.  She began to talk about home and the issues there, and about being expelled from school.  (mixing in a few colorful adjectives along the way)  At that moment I saw that young lady sitting in a wreck home, fatherless children, drugs and alcohol running rampant.  Then a second image appeared, and it was her, with a loving husband, beautiful kids, and she was speaking to other students.  I shared that with her, prayed, and let her know that I really believed in her and we were going to see her through it.  She looked up at me, with tears in her eyes and said, "I wish you were my dad."  Now I am sure that you have already jumped ahead to say this was her defining moment, but you would only be half right.  It was mine as well,

Friendliness vs. Relationship

It has been a bit since the last post for several reasons, but will not discuss all of that.  Over the last few weeks I have been developing an idea on relationship perspectives.  Where I am at now, people are genuinely friendly.  Sure, there are the church scabs, (people who refuse to heal from the past wounds) but for the most part, people are friendly.  In the south, we just refer to it as southern hospitality.  If you don't know what that is, just work for a yankee for a while.  Sorry DA, not throwing you under the bus here, because i think you get it, but southerners just know hospitality.  Love ya, bro.

The problem is this:  there are few quality relationships.  Relationship has been replaced with friendliness, and that is only a superficial connection.  It won't weather the storms and can be easily replaced.  Value is lessened.  Everyone is your postman.  They see you regularly, know you by what they can read on the outside, and are not interested in the dogs in your life.  

I have people with whom I have a genuine relationship.  We know each other well.  We know our faults, of which I have plenty, and they still hang around.  Even if my dog has bit them in the past, they heal the wound and come back.  Beyond that, I seek out new relationships.  Now I find myself connecting with a newer, younger generation of leaders because of the whole reverse mentoring paradigm.  (see previous posts)  Without the depth of relationship, we will remain superficial and self-centered.

This carries over to our spiritual life as well.  We have all heard the phrases thrown around in Christendom about a "relationship" with Christ, but seldom see it modeled.  I believe, in part, because relationship is personal and private.  We don't wear relationship on our sleeve.  I don't tell of my wife's secrets to the world.  It is part of our relationship.  It's the depth and value of who we are together.  When I pour out my insecurities and failures to God, He doesn't need to tell you.  That is relationship.  Friendliness is fantastic, but relationship is forever.