In the Game

October 17, 2007

simple-church.jpgOur staff is reading and discussing the book entitled Simple Church. The basis of the book is to not get so wrapped in programming that people are forgotten about. We are preparing for the move into the new facility in March ‘08 and are using principles from the book to assist in fine tuning our mission.

This book and our discussions has really pushed me into some deep thought and personal evaluation and yesterday I pushed back from my desk and looked around and realized that I had become a Director of Children’s Ministry. For months now I have been managing programs. My “title” is Children’s Pastor and I have always viewed “Pastor” as a person among people. Don’t get me wrong I know that administration is part of our dance in ministry and it is vital for excellence and structure.
I got into this ministry thing because of people…to help people (especially children).  People are in every part of our life and these people are extremely important to God. I find that when I’m engaging in “people” or personal touch ministry I am most fulfilled. Whether it’s in large group, small group, mission work in Ecuador or training leaders it is in those times of personal connection that I feel I am part of the Great Commission Team.

It is when I am in the game, not planning for it, that I see what Jesus meant by His coming to live here on earth among people.

Beyond administrative actions, how do you stay “in the game?”

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Posted by phil b

Just Get in the Car!

October 17, 2007

TransformersI went to see the movie Transformers this week (at the $1 theatre…love it). Now let me first of all say, this is not a resounding endorsement for all aspects of the movie… but I REALLY liked it! The action sequences were amazing and there was surprisingly good acting. (John Turturro owned me as the Sector 7 Agent! Hilarious!) The movie had some great lines as well. One of my favorites was a bit cheesy, but I still love it: “In fifty years, don’t you want to be able to say you had the courage to get in the car?”

It was a line that hit home for me. Earlier this year there was a new challenge placed before me and my family that we believe was truly God’s leading. However, deciding to accept the challenge would mean leaving a place that over the past 8 years had become home. We were surrounded by people who loved us and it was an incredible place to serve. But after much prayer and seeking of wise counsel, I decided to lead my family into a new chapter of our lives.

This cheesy line from this fantasy movie was a reminder why we did it. A reminder to not settle for a comfortable, easy-living life. A reminder to take the step of faith in the midst of uncertainty. A reminder to seek God’s Face and follow His leading… no matter what. As years are added to my life, I still yearn to be like that kid in the movie. And fifty years from now, when I look back on my life, I want to be able to say, “I’m glad I was willing to get in the car!”

So far it’s been a crazy ride, but I’m lovin’ it!

1 Comment | encouragement, leadership | Permalink
Posted by phil h

Touch It, Feel It

October 16, 2007

MadisonJoy and I had the opportunity to spend the day at the Georgia Aquarium this past weekend. For her birthday, and to celebrate Madison’s 2nd birthday, Joy asked that we do this. It was a great time to see Madison run from tank to tank to see the thousands of fish as they swam in the water. Green fish. Purple fish. Yellow fish. All kinds of fish. Sea otters and sea lions. Sharks. Whales. I felt like I was in the middle of the Dr. Seuss book. What a treat! But back to Madison…She’s at the stage that when she sees something she has to touch it, feel it, experience it. If she saw a seahorse, she wanted to touch it. The Sea Dragons-she wanted to touch them. The turtle-’touch it, grandpa’. Over and over again, she repeated her desire. Fortunately, she seemed content by just touching the glass when the fish swam by.

As we endeavor to impact kids, I hope that our children and grandchildren will be able to experience and encounter God in the same way I did as a child. I hope we never get beyond some of the emotional encounters that we experience when we find ourselves in the presence of God. I pray that Madison will see Christ followers who demonstrate their love for God in the worship service. I noticed her on Sunday morning at the church, where her dad serves as Student Ministries Pastor. When the praise and worship team was singing, she had her hand up in the air. I’m glad that her parents had her in the sanctuary so she could see and experience and be involved in the worship with the rest of the family of God. Let’s make it our business to make sure that our kids touch God and that God touches them! Yes, let’s raise a generation of kids who worship! Wasn’t it a child who went and sat on Jesus’ lap? Maybe that child just needed to touch him!

6 Comments | encouragement, leadership, misc | Permalink
Posted by tony l

Tony Dungy Puts God First

October 12, 2007

quiet_strength2.jpgIn his New York Times bestseller Quiet Strength, Tony Dungy writes about growing up in a Christian home and knowing he was going to heaven. However, he had never “fully engaged God” and let Him direct his life until after college. As children’s pastors, we’re laying a foundation of Biblical truth and setting kids up for a life-long journey of following God. Yet, a time will come in a kid’s life when they have to ‘own’ their faith for themselves. During this time they must move past what they’ve been taught and through trials and testing embrace what they know.

This is a natural maturation of our faith. For some it happens early in life. For others, like Dungy, it may come later. What we do know is that God’s promise is true: ”Train a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not turn from it.” – Proverbs 22:6

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Posted by phil h

The Calling

October 9, 2007

By Roger Fields

I am a minister.

I minister to the largest mission field in the world. My calling is sure; my challenge is big; my vision is clear; my desire is strong; my influence is eternal; my impact is critical; my values are solid; my faith is tough; my mission is urgent; my purpose is unmistakable; my direction is forward; my heart is genuine; my strength is supernatural; my reward is promised; and my God is real.

In a world of cynicism, I offer hope. In a world of confusion, I offer truth. In a world of immorality, I offer values. In a world of neglect, I offer attention. In a world of abuse, I offer safety. In a world of ridicule, I offer affirmation. In a world of division, I offer reconciliation. In a world of bitterness, I offer forgiveness. In a world of sin, I offer salvation. In a world of hate, I offer God’s love.

I refuse to be dismayed, disengaged, disgruntled, discouraged, or distracted. Neither will I look back, stand back, fall back, go back, or sit back. I do not need applause, flattery, adulation, prestige, stature, or veneration. I do not have time for business as usual, mediocre standards, small thinking, outdated methods, normal expectations, average results, ordinary ideas, petty disputes, or low vision. I will not give up, give in, bail out, lie down, turn over, quit, or surrender.

I will pray when things look bad. I will pray when things look good. I will move forward when others stand still. I will trust God when obstacles arise. I will work when the task is overwhelming. I will get up when I fall down. My calling is to reach boys and girls for God. It is too serious to be taken lightly, too urgent to be postponed, too vital to be ignored, too relevant to be overlooked, too significant to be trivialized, too eternal to be fleeting, and too passionate to be quenched.

I know my mission. I know my challenge. I also know my limitations, my weaknesses, my fears, and my problems. And I know my God. Let others get the praise. Let the church get the blessing. Let God get the glory.

I am a minister. I minister to children. This is who I am. This is what I do.

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Posted by steve b

Fighting for See You At The Pole

October 9, 2007

As you may know See You at the Pole – a student-led, nationwide prayer event help at the school’s flagpole before the school day begins – was held on Sept. 26th. Although it is primarily for middle and high school students, many elementary school students are joining in this event. A couple of students from my church came and asked me to help them organize and publicize the event they were having at their school. I was more than happy to accommodate them and whipped out some flyers for them to hand out before and after school to their classmates. Something as simple as a flyer caused a bit of a stir in our quiet litte south Georgia town.

I got a call from a student-leader’s parent who said that the flyer had been confiscated by his teacher as he passed them out to his classmates before school started. They were then sent to the principal’s office where she said that the flyers were not approved and could not be passed out in school. Well, after some quick research, a call to the American Center for Law and Justice, and with the Carmen song “Our Turn Now” as my anthem, I made a call to the principal.

It was a civil discussion, but I did stand my ground and inform her that students have every legal right to share the gospel on school grounds before and after school. She assured me that it was a misunderstanding and that the student could indeed pass out the flyers the next day. The happy ending is that at our local elementary school, more than 65 parents and students came to See You at the Pole (that’s more that was at the some of the local high schools and middle schools). Even better…one of the attendees was the principal.

2 Comments | culture, encouragement, leadership, misc | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by daniel b

Francis Chan is bringin’ IT!

October 8, 2007

Francis Chan is a pastor in Simi Valley, California. He is brining the Word to his flock and Christians around the world in a unique way and with a fresh voice. Recently, he led his church to forgo building a multi-million dollar worship center and instead to start plans to build an amphitheater. The outdoor facility will be completed for a fraction of the price and the money they save will help fund ministries that feed hungry children around the world. What a vision!

His sermons are transparent and deeply challenging. You can watch one of his sermons by clicking here. He challenges his church to a renewed passion for God while living in a lukewarm society.

1 Comment | encouragement, leadership | Permalink
Posted by phil h

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