What's Worse?

I have been in Lubbock for pretty much exactly a year now. I haven't really had the time to blog the way I should. I really should make it priority and just make time for it. I find time for so many other things. I was praying this morning and was really struck by something we studied with the kids a couple weeks ago. 

In Numbers 13 and 14, you find the story of the 12 spies sent into Canaan. They went looking for a land of milk and honey. They went looking for a great promise that God had made them. They went looking for a place they could call home after leaving generations of slavery and oppression. God had told him his will was for them to go take the land. These 12 spies went in and found exactly that, a land that lived up to its promise. They also found super fortified cities. They found giants and armies. They found a road that was going to be difficult. The spies came back with their report and only two said, "Hey, let's take the land!" The other ten came back and said, "We can't attack those people, they are stronger than we are" (Numbers 13:31). Then the rest of the country sided with the ten and forced the hand of Moses to not go into the promised land. They decided to not follow God's will. 

These people made the choice to not follow God's will and it cost them God's promise. They ended up wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. They didn't see what God had given them for 2080 weeks. They were lost for 14,560 days. For 349,440 hours they missed out on the blessings that were promised. A generation was lost for 20,966,400 minutes. The punishment for this sin, not following God's will lasted 1,257,984,000 seconds. Such a hefty cost for a simple thing. 

I am willing to say, not following God's will is a huge sin. I mean we don't think of it as a sin usually. When you look at the scale of sins though, you know even though we all know sin is sin and will get you sent to the same place. Yet, we all have this scale of sins in our head. You start with the big 10. Then, depending on where you are in history and culture will create this weighted system of which sin is the worst. I think though, if you look at the punishment the Hebrew people faced, not following God's will has to be ranked pretty high. 

These people weren't sleeping around in homosexual communes. They weren't strung out on crack. They didn't go around murdering each other for fun. They didn't lie without ceasing. They just didn't go where God told them to. They didn't trust God to provide for them. They didn't believe they were God's chosen people. 

What does all this say about us when God tells us to share our faith? What kind of punishment are we looking at when we don't give something God has given us to give? Where does it have us when we do what we think is best and not what God thinks is best? 

I hope and pray that I am following God's will in all the things that I do. I hope and pray that I listen when I have the Holy Spirit telling me to share. I don't want to spend my time wandering in the desert. I don't want to find myself in sin because I was to busy. 

All the Small Things

Last week, we drove about an hour to the TCS football game. Got there toward the middle of the 1st quarter. The game was nothing special. Horrible officiating. We got beat. It was something that happened about 5 minutes after we got there. I didn't see anyone we knew when we first got up in the stands. Walked our family up to an open spot in the stands and found  seat. A couple minutes later a couple Jr High age girls showed up and looked at Scout (my very introvert daughter) and invited her to sit with them. She looked at us. We nodded go. We were able to watch as she sat and talked and laughed for most of the game. Made Marge and I feel wonderful. We knew sending her to a small Christian school would be good for her. She can't get lost in the crowd. "Our plan was working." It was a small thing but big in our eyes. 

I think as a parent and a leader, you have to find wins in the small things. (insert appropriate short joke here.) Small things turn into Big Things.  It wasn't that Scout didn't have friends when we lived in SanAntonio. She had great friends that will probably remain her friends throughout her life. She is a kid who makes good grades but when we would ask about a bad grade her teachers would say she is fine it is just one bad grade. Well, what caused that one bad grade? I am concerned about the small things. Because small things turn into big things. When I asked her who she hung out with at school, it was usually one or two kids that I never met. When we asked her if she wanted to have kids over she would say no. She just always blended in. We saw kids reaching out to her as a win. She is doing great at her new school. I still don't see her as a socialite but she is making friends. We can celebrate that. 

The other thing is we need to stick to the plan. In our first couple of weeks at school Coop was testing us and out teachers trying to figure out this new school thing. Let's just say, he lost some privileges. I will be honest, I thought maybe this Christian School thing is not the best idea. I am just saying, I was reminded by this little thing, "Stick to the Plan". As a parent or a leader, you will go through rough stretches but if you make a plan and it makes sense, don't let small bumps get you off of what you know is the right thing to do. I talked with his teacher this week, and she said he has gotten his act together. Scout is making friends and Coop is doing well. We just have to stick to the plan. 

Celebrate the small things and stick to the plan. When you do those things in your life you will find success in leadership and parenting. It is not going to always be easy but you can get it done. 

Creating Creativity

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

It drives me nuts when someone says, "I can't be creative". I mean, it isn't like it is a special spiritual gift. Being creative to me, falls under the whole, "made in God's image" statement. God is a creator. He made us to be also. Is it harder for some people, maybe. Can it be accomplished by anyone? I think so. I have made a simple equation to teach all you not creative people how to be creative. Here is my simple mathematic equation for creativity:

A + B or C = Creativity

A= God 

All creativity begins with God. In the beginning God created... He is the greatest creator. He is the source to start with and for all purposes he helps with everything else. It's okay to ask God for help being creative. I think just about every pastor and creative team for every church does it. Does he care about little things we are needing to be creative about. Sure he does. He cares enough to count the hairs on our head. 

B= Life Experience

Be open to try new things. I find that people that are excessively creative are people that do stuff. It is important that we get out of our comfort zones at times. Meet new people. I know introverts will kill me for saying that. I live with one. We can gain understanding of other things when we talk with others. Try new stuff. Sitting at home watching TV or looking on Facebook what others are doing will never help you be creative. It is always fun what God shows you through adventures. Go new places. You don't understand that the Grand Canyon really looks like a painting until you go and see it.  Creativity blossoms when you have life experience. 

C= Imagination

When you are a child imagination is promoted. When you are an adult, not so much. Dream about things. Creativity can be driven by imagination. The question "What if?" should never be taboo. It should be a regular occurrence for us as adults. Use your imagination. Let the Holy Spirit guide it. It isn't a bad thing.

God wants you to be creative in your life. He wants you to be creative in ministry, parenting, our work, and in many aspects of our lives. Don't be afraid of being creative or creative people (even when they do seam a little strange). You are a creative person. You were made in the image of the greatest creator. 

Own It!

I have been a children's pastor at churches for a good chunk of my adult life at this point. It is always an interesting dynamic going into a new church. (This past week has been great, I am just running on information overload.) You never know what it is you are coming into honestly. I have been to places where people have thought you were trying to take over the church because you asked them to improve on weaknesses. I have been places where people were so excited you were there that you wonder how bad it was before. You see God may have called me to lead a children's ministry but I am not there to own it. God may have called a pastor to a church to  

shepherd it, but he is not there to own it. As far as the chain of ownership goes in the church, both pastors and associate pastors are low on the organizational chart as far as ownership.

I worked for one pastor who truly thought he owned the church. He would never have admitted it. He struggled with many different things. It was usually about him. It was usually about how he wanted to do stuff. I don't remember once him saying "let’s pray and find out what God would have us do". It wasn't even that he was a micromanager (some people would have and did call him that) but it felt a lot like he made it about him. He would tell the staff on a regular basis we were not there for our careers but just to serve him. It really was hard because I am totally on board with serving my pastor. I love the Elisha and Elijah principle from 2 Kings 2. Elisha would not leave Elijah's side. He wanted to be there for his pastor or mentor. He wouldn't leave him. Pastor's that make it about them don't get this principle because it is about them. Pastors lead the church they don't own the church. It isn't about them. 

Really, truthfully, only God owns a church. It all has to come from him. You want to follow the vision placed into the pastor’s heart by the Holy Spirit. As a kid's pastor, I want to lead that ministry of the church to follow that vision. Yet, even when the pastor has a vision instilled in his heart, he doesn't own the church. He shouldn't even be second on that list. Truthfully, the Pastor is there to lead and serve not own. 

The owners of the church are the people God has put in that body. A church can never hire enough staff to run a church with paid volunteers. Paid Volunteers?  That makes NO sense. Just like anything that you own, you have to work it. It is part of owning it. Yeah, you hire the pastors to keep it but that's like buying a restaurant and never washing a dish. It is like buying a new car and never changing the oil. It is like joining a co-op and never being a part of the op. If it is your church, you have to own it. You need to take care of it too. Be a part of the system. Teach something. Serve somewhere or someone. Invite people to be a part. Lead a ministry. It is your church. You need to own it. 

I know the idea of people owning the church may not set well with people. God has called us to be the Bride of Christ. I don't know about you but my wife has just as much ownership of my stuff as I do. Paul goes into this in Ephesians 5. So yes, you own the church. I tell kids all the time, "You know so many more kids than I could ever meet". You can jump in and do so much more than one pastor if everyone did something. Own it. God has given you a talent, use it. It really is your church given to you by God. Don't let it go to waste. 

I've been blessed

Well, yesterday was my official last day as the Kid's Pastor at First Assembly of God in SanAntonio, TX. I am moving on to be the Children's Pastor at Trinity Church in Lubbock. We have had a great 5 1/2 years in SanAntonio. We have seen kid's get saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, and called into ministry. We have made life long friends that we will always consider family. I have seen my own kids grow in every way possible. It has been a great place for us. I am looking forward to what God is going to do with us in Lubbock but it has been a great time to celebrate what we did here.  Over the years, I have left a couple of jobs. I have never felt as special leaving a place as I have this time. 

We have partied (2 different ones). We have been honored (allowed to share in "Big Church"  a couple times about what God is doing). I have cried (mostly when I talked with my leadership team and friends). I have smiled reminiscing. I have played golf (A couple different times too). I have been asked to dinner by numerous people. Visited my favorite donut place in Austin with my closest friends. My family has been treated well. My Pastor, Wayne Clark said, "This is something we should celebrate". So, we have celebrated. 

How often do staff pastors leave a church? It is probably more often than what it should be but in instances where God is truly moving someone away it should be celebrated. I think too often we take things personally when it really isn't about us. My pastor could have taken this move as an insult that another church would talk to me or that I have would even want to leave.  He could have just said, "Thanks for your service, you got a week". He didn't. He has been gracious and truly excited about our opportunity. I have had pastors act in different ways depending on the situation. 

When God does something in our lives that creates transition it should be celebrated. It means God is doing something new. I think about the Angels that first Christmas, they knew something new was happening and let the world know about it.  I think about how Jesus started his ministry with changing water into wine at a party. I think about all the times that God did something in the Bible and it was during a celebration time for his people. We have to realize that it isn't always about us. 

When transitions happen it is hard because change is hard. It helps when we celebrate those transitions though. It helps when we realize God is in control and has a plan. Sometimes we have to be reminded it isn't all about us. Thanks Pastor Clark for understanding this, teaching this, and living this. 

Keep Your Joy, Don't Punch Your Cousin!

Periodically in Kid's ministry, you think of a personal story that totally fits the lesson that you are trying to teach. You tell it to the kids, and they only remember the funny parts of the story. I know some kids heard the main idea. I know some missed it but it was a message that I needed to be reminded of and a message many kids need to hear and learn. I felt like I needed to blog about it this week.

As a kid, I had to be 9 or 10 years old, we would go to my grandparents farm in East Texas for holidays. It was and still is one of my favorite places to visit. I am truly blessed to have grandparents still alive and able to be examples for us and my kids. Like any kid, we have cousins that we treat like our siblings. Sometimes, even with our siblings, you can only handle them in doses. I am sure their are people in my family that feel this way about me too. Well, this cousin of mine was just being annoying for the entire week of Christmas. As I remember, she tattled on me for stuff. She was always bragging about how stuff she had was better than what I had. It was non stop for the entire time I was there. As a kid, you really have no way to just get away. There was no, let me get in the car and drive away. I don't remember what the straw was that broke the camel's back but I do remember the result. I walked into my Grandmother's formal living room. Held my hands behind my back. I said, "guess what, I have a present for you". She walked close and I turned and laid a right hook across her left cheek. It was the only time in my life, I ever sucker punched anyone. It was the only time I ever hit a girl, other than one of my sisters. All I knew, was craziness ensued. My Aunt ran to her daughter as she yelled at me. She said something about previous health problems. My grandmother just chuckled because she had seen my patience wearing thin. My mom gave me the don't hit girls speech. It was the first time I ever got in trouble but not really. It was a crazy event in my life. 

I told the kids that I had 3 things they needed to learn from that story. First, never hit a girl. Second, never sucker punch anyone.  Several of the kids only remembered that I punched my cousin in the face. The point was the third thing I talked about. The third thing had to do with shepherds and joy and Christmas. Well,  Luke 2 retells the night of the first Christmas and the great scene the shepherds experienced. They got done and they were not going to let anything keep them from experiencing the joy of seeing Jesus that night. How often do we let things through the holidays take away our joy. Family members that we get to much of, busy-ness of the season, or different strained circumstances can keep us from being joyful. As a kid,  I let my aggravation with my cousin get to me and I lost my cool and my joy that holiday. This year, don't do that. Jesus is good news that brings great joy. It is a joy that is bigger than your annoying family members. It is bigger than the guy that just cut you off trying to find a parking spot at the mall. It is a joy that everyone needs. Don't miss it because you are watching sheep. Don't miss it because someone takes it from you. Don't miss Christ's joy for anything. 

Kid's Church Altar Times

We started our series in Kid's Church yesterday on Thanksgiving. We talked about being thankful before God did something. Told the story in Daniel 2. We talked about how we control our decisions but God controls our situations. I told them we can trust God in all situations because he is in control. We need to thank God because he is always going to do us right. Then, I asked the kids if they had something they were praying for like a unsaved family member or friend. I had them respond for prayer to give thanks for things they believed God was going to do. We had 20-25 kids respond. They came filing out of the bleachers and I told the rest of the kids if they had friends down they could come pray for them too. We had about 40 kids in the altar praying for the next 20 minutes. There is something special seeing kids praying for other kids. I know in many situations, "Altar" time is lost because of time or small groups or many other reasons. Altar times are important to the spiritual growth of kids and the church in general. 

Salvation, healing, baptism in the Holy Spirit, forgiveness, and any number of other supernatural things can happen in an altar setting. I see it happen at camp every year. I see it in our kids church all the time. Altar times teach kids three major things though. 

1. It is okay to pray for someone. 

I try and specifically tell kids that worship time is between them and God. So often, kids will start hanging or hugging on each other during worship songs. We tell them all the time that isn't the time for that. That time is designed for them to sing to God themselves corporately. If we don't create altar times for kids then they never understand the importance of laying hands on someone as they pray for somebody. 

2. It creates a community.

It is impossible to get mad at someone when you have to turn around and pray for them. We want to create communities inside our church. Altar times where kids pray for kids can create that. Many times, kids will let barriers down to pray for others. Kid's that may have thought no one cares about them will completely change their minds when someone prays for them. 

3. It teaches intercession. 

It is important to create times where kids are not rushed through a prayer. Times to cry. Times to wait on the Lord. Create times to sit in the Lord's presence. Way to often our prayers for meals and even in service for offering or service opening become robotic. Intercession becomes lost on kids in this instant gratification society. 

Many times pastors are bad about saying something is important to them but never take valuable time to put toward it. I believe kids innately understand this. My own kids understand they are important because I take time for them. The kids in our kids church will pick up on that too. We must find times to allow the altar time for kids or it will be lost on this generation and that would be a shame.