Here is the next video for the Resurrection Fast. Keep going!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Resurrection Fast Day 12 -- March 26, 2010
Here is the video for Day 12 of the Resurrection Fast...sorry for the bad audio.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Resurrection Fast Day 9 -- March 23, 2010
Here is the video for Day 9 of the Resurrection Fast. Remember, when Jesus does it, it's done RIGHT!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Resurrection Fast Day 7 -- March 21, 2010
Here is the video for Day #7 of the Resurrection Fast. Sorry for the bounciness of the camera...it was a windy day.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Resurrection Fast Day 4 -- March 18, 2010
Here is the video for Day 4 of the Resurrection Fast. Stay strong!!!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Resurrection Fast -- Day 2; March 16, 2010
Here is the video for Day #2. Let's keep this journey going!!!
Resurrection Fast -- Day 1; Monday; March 15, 2010
Here is the video for the next day of our journey! Let's do this!!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Ten Things You May Not Know About Your Pastor
It’s been a little while since I have posted a blog; so, I thought I would share some personal thoughts. Ever wonder about that pastor of yours? What makes him tick? What makes him ticked?
Well, for your reading enjoyment, let me give you 10 things you may or may not know about your pastor. Enjoy reading:
1. We feel called to this…we are not in this position because we can’t do anything else. We do this because we feel God told us to do so. And, believe me, that’s what keeps us in this game---knowing ultimately that God wants us where we are and we dare not disappoint Him.
2. We are not perfect…Wow, are we not perfect! We have our strengths and our weaknesses. We have our good moments and our no-so-good moments. We WILL make some bad decisions. There are things we are REALLY good at in this job and there are things we are NOT good at. We admit that. We don’t like that; but, it’s the reality of this pastor-thing. That doesn’t make us bad pastors! It makes us a lot like you…imperfect. We know we can’t be superheroes; but, we sure try to be. Sometimes, we bump into some Kryptonite.
3. We are normal people just like you…we like to fish. We watch football, American Idol and ’24.’ We have bills to pay. We have to fix our own cars. We argue with our family members. We have to discipline our kiddos. We like to win. We get mad at things. We become sad at things. We wanna be there to watch our kid’s musical at school. We want to be involved in such things as PTA’s, sports leagues and kids programs. We have to have medical tests that scare us if the results don’t turn out the way we hope and pray they do. We have strong opinions and beliefs. {just like you}
4. We can’t do everything…We really wish we could. But, we need help in making this church-thing happen. If there is a part of this ministry that you notice is not getting done, we may be looking for someone like you to help fulfill that role!
5. We love our spouses…Being the spouse of a pastor is an amazing existence. Sometimes the expectations are unrealistic and sometimes the fishbowl in which she lives in is one no one else would dare allow themselves to live in. In response to that, we often try to protect our wives. I work hard at letting her know I love her more than I do the ministry. I fight hard to make sure she knows I love her as Christ loved the Church.
6. We love our kids…We cannot sacrifice our spouses and kids on the altar of any church’s expectations---we just can’t! I only have my son in my home for 18 years or so. He needs his daddy. So, I may miss your phone call because I am watching him play soccer. I may not be able to meet you until after I take him to school. Don’t take that personally! If my own house is strong, I believe the church-house will be as well.
7. We need your prayers more than your criticism…We can handle constructive criticism from a heart of love. But, becoming the subject of a critical diatribe between ‘Christian’ people does nothing for us…in fact, it kinda stings. OK, it really hurts. Rather, we could really use your prayers. That will do more for us that you will ever realize. And when you tell us you are praying for us??? WOW, you just made our day!!!
8. It hurts us when you leave…We will rarely, if EVER, dust off our hands and say, “Oh well” when you leave our congregations. We LOVE you. We consider you family! If you ‘silently disappear’ from the church, then we just don’t know what to think. Why haven’t you told us? Did we do something wrong? If we call you {and if you take our calls} how will you receive us? There is a void left, not only in the place where you would normally sit on Sunday; but, in our hearts when we don’t see you anymore. We are told to never take it personally…most of us do. If you feel you must leave, can we at least talk about it first? No finger-pointing, no accusations…just talking and praying together. We won’t burn any bridges---we promise!
9. Very few of us will lead a mega-church…In fact, a HUGE majority of us will never pastor a church of over 200 people. That doesn’t mean we are not working hard. It doesn’t mean your pastor is a failure. In fact, many mega-church pastors would have a really hard time pastoring in a ‘smaller’ setting of 50, 100, or 150 people. Your pastor’s effectiveness is not always defined by his Sunday morning attendance.
10. We often know the ‘other’ side of the story…and we usually won’t share it with you. In fact, if you were to know everything we know, it would devastate you. It might make you sick. If you answered the phone calls and read the emails we receive, you would be blown away. In one day, we can learn of someone’s addiction, another’s affair, someone else’s promotion and another person’s victory. We will hear things in our offices that TV could only dream of writing. We deal with emotional nausea on a weekly basis. We get lied to, cried on, yelled at and confessed to. You have no idea how challenging it is to process all of that. And we often shield you from all of it…because we love you.
That’s just a short list. But I hope it speaks to you. You may have already known this stuff. Maybe some of it surprises you. What are your thoughts?
Well, for your reading enjoyment, let me give you 10 things you may or may not know about your pastor. Enjoy reading:
1. We feel called to this…we are not in this position because we can’t do anything else. We do this because we feel God told us to do so. And, believe me, that’s what keeps us in this game---knowing ultimately that God wants us where we are and we dare not disappoint Him.
2. We are not perfect…Wow, are we not perfect! We have our strengths and our weaknesses. We have our good moments and our no-so-good moments. We WILL make some bad decisions. There are things we are REALLY good at in this job and there are things we are NOT good at. We admit that. We don’t like that; but, it’s the reality of this pastor-thing. That doesn’t make us bad pastors! It makes us a lot like you…imperfect. We know we can’t be superheroes; but, we sure try to be. Sometimes, we bump into some Kryptonite.
3. We are normal people just like you…we like to fish. We watch football, American Idol and ’24.’ We have bills to pay. We have to fix our own cars. We argue with our family members. We have to discipline our kiddos. We like to win. We get mad at things. We become sad at things. We wanna be there to watch our kid’s musical at school. We want to be involved in such things as PTA’s, sports leagues and kids programs. We have to have medical tests that scare us if the results don’t turn out the way we hope and pray they do. We have strong opinions and beliefs. {just like you}
4. We can’t do everything…We really wish we could. But, we need help in making this church-thing happen. If there is a part of this ministry that you notice is not getting done, we may be looking for someone like you to help fulfill that role!
5. We love our spouses…Being the spouse of a pastor is an amazing existence. Sometimes the expectations are unrealistic and sometimes the fishbowl in which she lives in is one no one else would dare allow themselves to live in. In response to that, we often try to protect our wives. I work hard at letting her know I love her more than I do the ministry. I fight hard to make sure she knows I love her as Christ loved the Church.
6. We love our kids…We cannot sacrifice our spouses and kids on the altar of any church’s expectations---we just can’t! I only have my son in my home for 18 years or so. He needs his daddy. So, I may miss your phone call because I am watching him play soccer. I may not be able to meet you until after I take him to school. Don’t take that personally! If my own house is strong, I believe the church-house will be as well.
7. We need your prayers more than your criticism…We can handle constructive criticism from a heart of love. But, becoming the subject of a critical diatribe between ‘Christian’ people does nothing for us…in fact, it kinda stings. OK, it really hurts. Rather, we could really use your prayers. That will do more for us that you will ever realize. And when you tell us you are praying for us??? WOW, you just made our day!!!
8. It hurts us when you leave…We will rarely, if EVER, dust off our hands and say, “Oh well” when you leave our congregations. We LOVE you. We consider you family! If you ‘silently disappear’ from the church, then we just don’t know what to think. Why haven’t you told us? Did we do something wrong? If we call you {and if you take our calls} how will you receive us? There is a void left, not only in the place where you would normally sit on Sunday; but, in our hearts when we don’t see you anymore. We are told to never take it personally…most of us do. If you feel you must leave, can we at least talk about it first? No finger-pointing, no accusations…just talking and praying together. We won’t burn any bridges---we promise!
9. Very few of us will lead a mega-church…In fact, a HUGE majority of us will never pastor a church of over 200 people. That doesn’t mean we are not working hard. It doesn’t mean your pastor is a failure. In fact, many mega-church pastors would have a really hard time pastoring in a ‘smaller’ setting of 50, 100, or 150 people. Your pastor’s effectiveness is not always defined by his Sunday morning attendance.
10. We often know the ‘other’ side of the story…and we usually won’t share it with you. In fact, if you were to know everything we know, it would devastate you. It might make you sick. If you answered the phone calls and read the emails we receive, you would be blown away. In one day, we can learn of someone’s addiction, another’s affair, someone else’s promotion and another person’s victory. We will hear things in our offices that TV could only dream of writing. We deal with emotional nausea on a weekly basis. We get lied to, cried on, yelled at and confessed to. You have no idea how challenging it is to process all of that. And we often shield you from all of it…because we love you.
That’s just a short list. But I hope it speaks to you. You may have already known this stuff. Maybe some of it surprises you. What are your thoughts?
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