There is no way I could do the things my wife Erin does with the kids. She puts countless hours in with them during the day and in the middle of the night. She always seems to be there to help with homework, to offer correction, do the laundry, and cook a meal often all at the same time. She is amazing. Juggling the needs of 5 children and a husband that sometimes acts like a child, has to be a struggle. Erin really does deal with a lot...working with the kids behavioral issues while trying to accomplish all the other tasks that require her focus and participation. Often her days are filled with running the children to various counseling, doctors, and school appointments only to have to rush home to meet the rest of the kids after they get off of the bus.
It gets me to wonder how many of us do the thankless things that always seem to be behind the scenes where nobody can see them? This is probably what amazes me the most. Erin is lucky to get a thank you from me about once or twice a week. I am working on sharing my appreciation more with her and letting her know how good a job she does with everything in her life. Not only does she do well with the kids but she really supports me and all the work we do at the church. Her involvement in the past year has really been incredible as God is using her to change lives at OFC. What a partner I have in life. I thank God for her everyday.
I often think of all that my mom did for me and how she raised me in the name of Jesus Christ. She worked hard to instill values in me and guided me towards making healthy choices. She held me to a high standard that I had to strive to live up to. It stretched me and made me the man I am today. When I was looking for my future wife a lot of the characteristics my mother had were ones I was looking for. I was looking for someone with confidence, who believed in me and my pursuits. I was looking for someone who was caring yet was able to challenge and put me in my place. One more thing. I was looking for someone who would be a great mother to my children as my mom had been to me. Erin has been all of those things and so much more. She is this family's biggest supporter and cheerleader and spurs everyone one. I am thankful.
Don't get me wrong we have our struggles and disagreements. There are times where we get on each others nerves, but God has really done a special thing bringing us together. I am thankful for her and I am thankful for all the women God has brought in my life...my mom, daughters, Grandmothers, and especially Erin. I pray that today gives you a great perspective on just how important the ladies in your life are. Men let's not forget what they mean to us and to many others. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
The power of encouragement
Man it sure is uplifting to have people encourage you. I have had several instances in the past few days where people have said a positive word to me about something they saw me doing well. I have had people come to me for prayer wanting to lift me up and my family. Something like that just makes my entire day. My worries leave me, blood pressure goes down, and my outlook on life improves all because of someone's kind words. What a difference it makes in our life.
It always amazes me how much we thirst for a positive word from someone. We are all desperate for someone to say something kind or to affirm us in what we are doing. Those things are so vital to who we are and our confidence in moving forward. The funny thing is realizing how much we appreciate it, we very seldom think of giving it. Think about it for a moment. If we long for these kinds of words so much, then wouldn't we be spending much of our day lifting people up with our positive words. It would seem that way but sadly we do not take many opportunities to do this. We all have good intentions but seldom do we make a habit of positive encouragement. What if everyone did? What would that do for a community or even a church? I am certain it would change lives.
I think in my own experience it is always easier to find something wrong with a situation or to be able to quickly point out another's faults. Those things seem to come naturally to us. We are able to easily nit pick and notice someone's flaws in an instance. But, when it comes to positive affirmation we have to work at it...and so often we just don't bother. How about you? When was the last time you just decided that you are going to spend an entire day finding something positive to say to everyone you encounter? I challenge you to do this.
Maybe the hardest thing to do is to find something positive to say to someone you struggle to get along with. What kind of impact do you think it would have if you chose to compliment an enemy or a person you do not get along with well? You might just blow there socks off! Let me encourage you to live with Ephesians 4:29. I will let you look that up. I believe in you. I know you can do it and I believe God wants to use you to change lives. Lets give people our positive words and affirmation and in the process change the world together. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
It always amazes me how much we thirst for a positive word from someone. We are all desperate for someone to say something kind or to affirm us in what we are doing. Those things are so vital to who we are and our confidence in moving forward. The funny thing is realizing how much we appreciate it, we very seldom think of giving it. Think about it for a moment. If we long for these kinds of words so much, then wouldn't we be spending much of our day lifting people up with our positive words. It would seem that way but sadly we do not take many opportunities to do this. We all have good intentions but seldom do we make a habit of positive encouragement. What if everyone did? What would that do for a community or even a church? I am certain it would change lives.
I think in my own experience it is always easier to find something wrong with a situation or to be able to quickly point out another's faults. Those things seem to come naturally to us. We are able to easily nit pick and notice someone's flaws in an instance. But, when it comes to positive affirmation we have to work at it...and so often we just don't bother. How about you? When was the last time you just decided that you are going to spend an entire day finding something positive to say to everyone you encounter? I challenge you to do this.
Maybe the hardest thing to do is to find something positive to say to someone you struggle to get along with. What kind of impact do you think it would have if you chose to compliment an enemy or a person you do not get along with well? You might just blow there socks off! Let me encourage you to live with Ephesians 4:29. I will let you look that up. I believe in you. I know you can do it and I believe God wants to use you to change lives. Lets give people our positive words and affirmation and in the process change the world together. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
Monday, May 5, 2008
Welcoming children into our churches
We don’t really want kids in our church, do we?
Wow what a kick off to our new parenting series, The Parent Trap on Sunday at OFC! I have been reminded how important our job is as a church to nurture children. I bet if I took a show of hands in our church almost everyone would agree with me. However, what if in that same moment I asked you to keep your hands raised if you have served in the nursery in the last 6 months, taught a children’s class, pitched in on Wed. nights, or even helped at one of our children’s events? Sadly there wouldn’t be very many hands raised. Doesn’t this bother you?
Our words say one thing and our actions say another. We are filled with good excuses. Trust me I have heard them all. Pastor John, ”I have my own kids and they wear me out. I would rather not spend more time with kids.” Pastor, “my kids are out of the house. I’ve done my “time” at church serving children.” Pastor, “our Sunday morning routine is already crazy enough, we just don’t have the time or energy.” Pastor, ”I am already serving somewhere else in the church.” Pastor, “children’s ministry seems to be in Chaos and the leadership is struggling.” Did I miss any?
Every single one of us is responsible to the children at OFC and have a part to play. Let me help you live beyond the excuses. We offer 3 worship services on Sunday mornings. Attend one and serve at another. Realize everyone is busy, tired and many have children of their own too. We have 5 kids and Erin is able to manage serving at 9:45 in Kid Mo. Just because you are serving elsewhere or are not “gifted” to work with kids doesn’t mean you can’t serve in the nursery once every eight weeks. Should there ever be a time where we become old enough that we think it is OK to not serve others? Moses was well over 100 years old and still leading the Children of Israel and I know we don’t have anyone of that age in our church.
I am well aware of the struggles of children’s ministry. There is new leadership in place and a new team to come alongside Kerry. Things are turning around. Though there will always be struggles when there aren’t enough people willing to serve. It is so easy for us to point fingers, complain about things, and criticize. Instead, let’s offer solutions. Let’s offer to help our leadership and serve rather than criticize them from a distance. It amazes me how we are critical, we want children coming to our church, but yet don’t want to be a part of a good solution. Let me ask you, what are you personally going to do about the following verse…
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." –Mathew 19:14 NIV
Jesus was a busy man with many other commitments. Yet found time to make children a priority. He names two types of people in the local church. There are those that welcome little children with their actions and those that hinder little children with their inactions. Which one are you? There is no in between. If you have been at OFC for over a year there is no good excuse. Let’s all step it up and welcome children into this place. God is doing many good things at OFC and there is so much more that He wants to do through us. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
Wow what a kick off to our new parenting series, The Parent Trap on Sunday at OFC! I have been reminded how important our job is as a church to nurture children. I bet if I took a show of hands in our church almost everyone would agree with me. However, what if in that same moment I asked you to keep your hands raised if you have served in the nursery in the last 6 months, taught a children’s class, pitched in on Wed. nights, or even helped at one of our children’s events? Sadly there wouldn’t be very many hands raised. Doesn’t this bother you?
Our words say one thing and our actions say another. We are filled with good excuses. Trust me I have heard them all. Pastor John, ”I have my own kids and they wear me out. I would rather not spend more time with kids.” Pastor, “my kids are out of the house. I’ve done my “time” at church serving children.” Pastor, “our Sunday morning routine is already crazy enough, we just don’t have the time or energy.” Pastor, ”I am already serving somewhere else in the church.” Pastor, “children’s ministry seems to be in Chaos and the leadership is struggling.” Did I miss any?
Every single one of us is responsible to the children at OFC and have a part to play. Let me help you live beyond the excuses. We offer 3 worship services on Sunday mornings. Attend one and serve at another. Realize everyone is busy, tired and many have children of their own too. We have 5 kids and Erin is able to manage serving at 9:45 in Kid Mo. Just because you are serving elsewhere or are not “gifted” to work with kids doesn’t mean you can’t serve in the nursery once every eight weeks. Should there ever be a time where we become old enough that we think it is OK to not serve others? Moses was well over 100 years old and still leading the Children of Israel and I know we don’t have anyone of that age in our church.
I am well aware of the struggles of children’s ministry. There is new leadership in place and a new team to come alongside Kerry. Things are turning around. Though there will always be struggles when there aren’t enough people willing to serve. It is so easy for us to point fingers, complain about things, and criticize. Instead, let’s offer solutions. Let’s offer to help our leadership and serve rather than criticize them from a distance. It amazes me how we are critical, we want children coming to our church, but yet don’t want to be a part of a good solution. Let me ask you, what are you personally going to do about the following verse…
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." –Mathew 19:14 NIV
Jesus was a busy man with many other commitments. Yet found time to make children a priority. He names two types of people in the local church. There are those that welcome little children with their actions and those that hinder little children with their inactions. Which one are you? There is no in between. If you have been at OFC for over a year there is no good excuse. Let’s all step it up and welcome children into this place. God is doing many good things at OFC and there is so much more that He wants to do through us. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
You are not alone!
That was a message I gave to someone in my office recenlty and it brought them to tears to know they were not alone in their struggles. Today I was the one in tears as God reminded me of the same thing.
If you have been reading my blog at all you know that our family struggles are well documented. This has been even a tougher week as we prepare for our sermon series on parenting. I have been challenged from every direction. This morning I was talking to God and just having a particularly difficult morning and week for that matter. I was lifting up my family, my kids, and my marriage. I was just really really sad and heartbroken. I felt so lonely and I just asked God for his presence. I was just feeling like I needed someone to pray with me. After that prayer time I read some scripture and began my work for the day.
Not 30 minutes later Kathy Oliver comes walking in the door of my office and told me that God placed it on her heart that she wanted to pray for me. Guess what...without my prompting she prayed for me, my children, my wife. She prayed for my parenting and my marriage. WOW! All I could do was listen to her prayer and shed tears. All that was running through my mind at that moment was how good God is and that we are not alone in our struggles. That God will let us know He is there and present ever-working in our life. He reminded me that all we have to do is ask and we shall receive. I sensed nothing other than the presence and work of God as we prayed together. It is amazing how God shows Himself to us when we aren't even expecting it. My God is a personal loving God. He cares about my day to day stuff. He longs for me to share what is on my heart with Him and He works to surround me with the people and relationships I need to make it through everyday living. He is an awesome God!
I ask that each of you keep praying for me. I have felt so inadequate preparing for this sermon series. I have failed in so many ways as a parent and as a husband. At times I have gotten it all wrong. But by the grace of God there are times where we have gotten it right and have trusted God's work in our family. It is so easy to let the voices of Satan and our Giants overwhelm us. We start to believe that we are no good, that we can't make a difference, that we can't teach on this stuff because we have struggles with it and aren't perfect. I have been spending this week chasing away those voices of negativity and learning to trust God's presence and to recognize His voice. His voice tells me to keep going and that He is going to show up big in this series if I only trust Him to. Today He showed up big-time and reminded me He is the one with the power not Satan, not my Giant sized struggles, not even me. He is the King of Glory! Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
If you have been reading my blog at all you know that our family struggles are well documented. This has been even a tougher week as we prepare for our sermon series on parenting. I have been challenged from every direction. This morning I was talking to God and just having a particularly difficult morning and week for that matter. I was lifting up my family, my kids, and my marriage. I was just really really sad and heartbroken. I felt so lonely and I just asked God for his presence. I was just feeling like I needed someone to pray with me. After that prayer time I read some scripture and began my work for the day.
Not 30 minutes later Kathy Oliver comes walking in the door of my office and told me that God placed it on her heart that she wanted to pray for me. Guess what...without my prompting she prayed for me, my children, my wife. She prayed for my parenting and my marriage. WOW! All I could do was listen to her prayer and shed tears. All that was running through my mind at that moment was how good God is and that we are not alone in our struggles. That God will let us know He is there and present ever-working in our life. He reminded me that all we have to do is ask and we shall receive. I sensed nothing other than the presence and work of God as we prayed together. It is amazing how God shows Himself to us when we aren't even expecting it. My God is a personal loving God. He cares about my day to day stuff. He longs for me to share what is on my heart with Him and He works to surround me with the people and relationships I need to make it through everyday living. He is an awesome God!
I ask that each of you keep praying for me. I have felt so inadequate preparing for this sermon series. I have failed in so many ways as a parent and as a husband. At times I have gotten it all wrong. But by the grace of God there are times where we have gotten it right and have trusted God's work in our family. It is so easy to let the voices of Satan and our Giants overwhelm us. We start to believe that we are no good, that we can't make a difference, that we can't teach on this stuff because we have struggles with it and aren't perfect. I have been spending this week chasing away those voices of negativity and learning to trust God's presence and to recognize His voice. His voice tells me to keep going and that He is going to show up big in this series if I only trust Him to. Today He showed up big-time and reminded me He is the one with the power not Satan, not my Giant sized struggles, not even me. He is the King of Glory! Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
Monday, April 28, 2008
Constantly challenged and growing...
You ever met someone who kind of thought they had arrived? You could kind of sense that this person figures they just don't have any more growing to do. How about you. Are you always open to getting better, taking on new challenges, willing to hear how you can grow? It is this very quality that allows God to still have an effective voice in our life. Without it we are destined to live our own definition of life and at best it will be mediocre.
One of the things I appreciate most about me (sounds kind of conceited...but go with me on this) is that I feel like I am always learning and listening. One of my greatest passions in life is to always get better at who I am and what I do. Now being a pastor this kind of comes easy to me because I spend my life and lively hood challenging people to live a better life walking closer to God everyday. The hard part is making sure that my life lines up as best I can with the life I call others to live. Recently I have been working on this parenting series and I am already working on the second message. I should however rephrase that. The message are actually working on me. I have come to not like myself several times in the last week as a parent. This series (and I haven't even preached a single message yet) has made me a little uncomfortable with my own attitudes and actions in the parenting realm.
I know that in many cases that I often...too often lack patience with my kids. I yell way to much and get frustrated at too may small things. I have become very selfish with my time lately and could be giving more of it to my kids. God is doing a real work on my heart and I am asking Him in these last few weeks to make me a better parent. It's one of those nagging things in my life right now that I just can't let go of. God is constantly there challenging me in this area not letting me go. I am taking some real steps in a better direction. I hopefully have calmed down a little lately. I haven't yelled as much. I have purposely found ways to compliment my kids and praise them when they do well. I have seen a difference in me already but mainly I have sensed a difference in them as well. Tawna and I haven't been getting on each others nerves as much and we have had some really good conversations. Last night she and I sat down and played UNO together and had a great time. Normally I would be off goofing on the computer or watching TV.
Yesterday we had our Dad and Hailey vs. Tawna and Austin baseball game in our backyard. We had a decent time together. This was one of the first times I didn't have to walk off in disgust because of the way the kids were acting or have to really yell at any of them. It was refreshing.
Tonight is Austin's Bear badge ceremony for cub scouts and i am really looking forward to it. Not to say int he past I wouldn't but honestly sometimes I would go to these things out of duty and not desire. So glad I am letting God change me. How about you. Is God changing you in any way. Are you the same person you were last year or the year before? How would your family answer that question about you? Are you still growing in your relationship with God? Are you getting better? Let's all be open to God doing a new thing in our life. I pray he does in mine and in yours as well. I know I have blogged on this topic a few times already but I ask you to continue to pray for me as we embark on this new series together. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
One of the things I appreciate most about me (sounds kind of conceited...but go with me on this) is that I feel like I am always learning and listening. One of my greatest passions in life is to always get better at who I am and what I do. Now being a pastor this kind of comes easy to me because I spend my life and lively hood challenging people to live a better life walking closer to God everyday. The hard part is making sure that my life lines up as best I can with the life I call others to live. Recently I have been working on this parenting series and I am already working on the second message. I should however rephrase that. The message are actually working on me. I have come to not like myself several times in the last week as a parent. This series (and I haven't even preached a single message yet) has made me a little uncomfortable with my own attitudes and actions in the parenting realm.
I know that in many cases that I often...too often lack patience with my kids. I yell way to much and get frustrated at too may small things. I have become very selfish with my time lately and could be giving more of it to my kids. God is doing a real work on my heart and I am asking Him in these last few weeks to make me a better parent. It's one of those nagging things in my life right now that I just can't let go of. God is constantly there challenging me in this area not letting me go. I am taking some real steps in a better direction. I hopefully have calmed down a little lately. I haven't yelled as much. I have purposely found ways to compliment my kids and praise them when they do well. I have seen a difference in me already but mainly I have sensed a difference in them as well. Tawna and I haven't been getting on each others nerves as much and we have had some really good conversations. Last night she and I sat down and played UNO together and had a great time. Normally I would be off goofing on the computer or watching TV.
Yesterday we had our Dad and Hailey vs. Tawna and Austin baseball game in our backyard. We had a decent time together. This was one of the first times I didn't have to walk off in disgust because of the way the kids were acting or have to really yell at any of them. It was refreshing.
Tonight is Austin's Bear badge ceremony for cub scouts and i am really looking forward to it. Not to say int he past I wouldn't but honestly sometimes I would go to these things out of duty and not desire. So glad I am letting God change me. How about you. Is God changing you in any way. Are you the same person you were last year or the year before? How would your family answer that question about you? Are you still growing in your relationship with God? Are you getting better? Let's all be open to God doing a new thing in our life. I pray he does in mine and in yours as well. I know I have blogged on this topic a few times already but I ask you to continue to pray for me as we embark on this new series together. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Taking Risks
We are starting a new series next week on parenting called "The Parent Trap." We have promoted it rather well in the last week in local schools and the news paper. I know there are a lot of parents out there that are dealing with huge struggles with their children in many different areas. I feel like God has brought so many challenges into my family's life so that we might be able to help others with their struggles. Our struggles as parents are well documented. I have written about it often in my blog and preached about it on Sunday morning. I have been very open and honest as Erin and I journey through the jungle of parenting. We don't always get it right and we feel like we have more questions than answers.
It is risky for us to start this series. It is risky anytime you open up your life and share what is really going on behind closed doors. Especially the things you aren't proud of. I beleive God is going to use this risk as a step of faith. I hope and pray that it helps someone struggling...that it gives hope or even just a sense that others are not alone when it comes to parenting challenges. I ask you to pray for me and for my family. I have no doubt that these next few weeks are going to escalate issues in our household. I know anytime I am preaching on something that area becomes a test and I feel pushed more than ever there. Please keep our family in your prayers for protection, patience, and provision in the coming month as we take the risk of leading this parenting series.
This is also risky in other ways. Our church has never really done a series like this before. We have had a single sermon on parenting before but never an entire series. There are people in our congregation that are not currently parents or have older children that are out of the house. I know for them this will be a stretch. However, You will never change unless you try something new. That's what we are doing in this series. Trying something new that we think will reach new people with a different topic than many churches will usually deal with. I pray that people from all over the area will hear about it and come check things out. I pray that our people at OFC will invest and invite new people to the church so that their lives may be blessed.
Make no mistake about it this series is risky in so many ways. Then again I feel alive and excited that we are doing this. It feels good to know we are living out on the edge. There is a certain faithfulness attached when you feel like you are sticking your neck out for Jesus. I pray that in some way shape or form you are trying something new from the routine of life in order to see God work in a new way. I pray you have a great week. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
It is risky for us to start this series. It is risky anytime you open up your life and share what is really going on behind closed doors. Especially the things you aren't proud of. I beleive God is going to use this risk as a step of faith. I hope and pray that it helps someone struggling...that it gives hope or even just a sense that others are not alone when it comes to parenting challenges. I ask you to pray for me and for my family. I have no doubt that these next few weeks are going to escalate issues in our household. I know anytime I am preaching on something that area becomes a test and I feel pushed more than ever there. Please keep our family in your prayers for protection, patience, and provision in the coming month as we take the risk of leading this parenting series.
This is also risky in other ways. Our church has never really done a series like this before. We have had a single sermon on parenting before but never an entire series. There are people in our congregation that are not currently parents or have older children that are out of the house. I know for them this will be a stretch. However, You will never change unless you try something new. That's what we are doing in this series. Trying something new that we think will reach new people with a different topic than many churches will usually deal with. I pray that people from all over the area will hear about it and come check things out. I pray that our people at OFC will invest and invite new people to the church so that their lives may be blessed.
Make no mistake about it this series is risky in so many ways. Then again I feel alive and excited that we are doing this. It feels good to know we are living out on the edge. There is a certain faithfulness attached when you feel like you are sticking your neck out for Jesus. I pray that in some way shape or form you are trying something new from the routine of life in order to see God work in a new way. I pray you have a great week. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Getting a fresh perspective
Today we took our staff to another prevailing church in the area to meet up with their staff. We didn't really have an agenda other then to spend some time with people who do the same typed of work in a different church. This church was about twice our size. So in many ways they are where we want to be. Each of our staff members shadowed their counterpart for an hour or so to just talk about ministry.
It was so refreshing to hear from someone else that can relate to the struggles and challenges we have. So often one can feel so lonely in ministry. Today was a chance for all of us to be encouraged and challenged as well. We realized we are not alone in our struggles but we were also able to hear things and experience things in a different way. This automatically forces us to think differently than we normally do. I am a firm believer that if you stare at a problem or an issue long enough pretty soon you don't see it as that anymore. You just kind of ignore it or think that it is normal. When you hear from someone else however it sheds new light on the things you do. It causes you to ask more questions about how you do things. It forces you to evaluate how you are doing. Basically a fresh perspective is something that is good for all of us.
To often we are afraid to venture out of our normal routine and let outsiders evaluate us. This is because we are easily intimidated or don't really want to have a light shine on our issues. We would rather just stay in the dark and keep doing the same thing never questioning what it is we are doing. If we do we might not like what we see. At least we have the comfort or our routine. However, I am glad for today. It was great to gain insight on what we are doing and to ask why we are doing it. The only way we will ever grow is to let others help us point out the steps we can't see for ourselves. I challenge all of us to seek other people's insights and trust the fresh perspectives we gain from those moments. We will all be better because of it. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
It was so refreshing to hear from someone else that can relate to the struggles and challenges we have. So often one can feel so lonely in ministry. Today was a chance for all of us to be encouraged and challenged as well. We realized we are not alone in our struggles but we were also able to hear things and experience things in a different way. This automatically forces us to think differently than we normally do. I am a firm believer that if you stare at a problem or an issue long enough pretty soon you don't see it as that anymore. You just kind of ignore it or think that it is normal. When you hear from someone else however it sheds new light on the things you do. It causes you to ask more questions about how you do things. It forces you to evaluate how you are doing. Basically a fresh perspective is something that is good for all of us.
To often we are afraid to venture out of our normal routine and let outsiders evaluate us. This is because we are easily intimidated or don't really want to have a light shine on our issues. We would rather just stay in the dark and keep doing the same thing never questioning what it is we are doing. If we do we might not like what we see. At least we have the comfort or our routine. However, I am glad for today. It was great to gain insight on what we are doing and to ask why we are doing it. The only way we will ever grow is to let others help us point out the steps we can't see for ourselves. I challenge all of us to seek other people's insights and trust the fresh perspectives we gain from those moments. We will all be better because of it. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
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