Question: When was the last time you heard any form of the word "INTENTION?" I would guess, in the vast majority of cases, the last time any of us heard (or spoke) of "intention" it was explaining a negative experience (i.e. "I had good intentions...I didn't do it intentionally"). The negative connotation is too bad because almost NOTHING in our lives happens without intention! Did you wake up this morning and "accidentally" take a shower, trip over the tub and spontaneously brush your teeth on the way to the floor? I seriously doubt it! You probably, just like I did, intentionally took a shower and purposefully brushed your teeth. You walked to your car, intending to drive it to work and arrived at work on purpose!
On the other hand, what would your day look like if you show up at work with body odor, bad breath, walking in 2 hours late and try to explain to your boss your good intentions. "I intended to take a shower, brush my teeth and drive to work on time! Honestly I did! But, I didn't!" Do that too many times and you'll be looking for a job!
I am discovering that intentionality is equally as necessary for the disciplines of the Christian life. We don't witness, worship or walk closely with Jesus on accident. We have to be intentional about it! I deeply want to see people come to Christ, but if I am not intentional about my witnessing there is very little chance that I will EVER lead anyone to Jesus! I want to have a handle on Apologetics and be able to sufficiently defend my faith, but if I never get intentional about the books I'm reading or the classes I'm taking there is no way I'll achieve my goal!
Church Ministry MUST BE INTENTIONAL!!!!!! Here are the 2 major areas we, at Calvary Cross-link, are going to be intentional...
1) In Reaching People - We'll be constantly sharing Jesus, Preaching Jesus, Singing about Jesus, Inviting people to hear about Jesus, Showing Jesus to people, Bringing people to Jesus and Talking about Jesus! It's all about People meeting Jesus! This INTENTIONALLY happens in Sunday Morning Worship, Sunday School Classes, Organized Outreach and Special Events. This valley is not going to be reached ACCIDENTALLY, we must be INTENTIONAL!
2) In Discipling People - We'll be mentoring people and modeling Jesus before them. Discipleship is "LIFE ON LIFE", not book on book, sermon on sermon or class on class. Our focus is to SHOW people, more than we TELL them what a disciple of Jesus Christ looks like. New believers won't be discipled ACCIDENTALLY, we must be INTENTIONAL!
Final Note: The major reason most Christians intentionally brush their teeth EVERY DAY, yet don't reach and disciple people every day is NOT because they don't care! It IS because they have been intentionally brushing their teeth since they were 2 years old and have formed a POWERFUL LIFE CHANGING HABIT!!! I want to lead our church to be so consistently intentional about Reaching and Discipling People that it become habitual...second nature...routine...you get the picture!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Optimism
As a believer in Jesus Christ, I am eternally optimistic because of Psalms 24:1 "...the earth is the Lord's and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein." Since my optimism is based on my personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, then there is no reason for pessimism!!!
However, I am especially optimistic about the ministry at Calvary Cross-link for very specific reasons! Let me share a few with you...
1) God has removed all major obstacles for growth out of our way! The only thing we need now, is PEOPLE!!! We cannot get caught in the quagmire of thinking "if I only had _______, then I could grow my ministry!" This thinking will prevent you from greatness!!! As we reach people, teach people and minister to people, God will continue to provide the necessary tools for that ministry, I am confident!
2) New people are beginning to step up and serve in strategic areas around our church body! I'm thinking of specific people who have felt the leadership of the Holy Spirit in their lives to serve in much-needed capacities throughout this family. I can't help but think of Matthew 9:37-38 where Jesus pointed out the OPPORTUNITY (the Harvest) to His disciples, but followed it up by pointing out the DEFICIENCY (the lack of laborers). I think if Jesus had a word for Calvary Cross-link, it would be that the time of "wait and see" is over and it is time to "get to work!" I am optimistic about our ministry because I see people, all over our dear church, catching that concept every single week!
3) The Sunday School is coming together with great efficiency! Our small group Bible study plan is the reaching, teaching body of the church and our people are starting to catch that vision! We now have a class for every age group and these classes are being taught by capable and anointed men who feel a calling to that ministry! As individual classes grow by addition, then the church as a whole will grow by multiplication!!!
4) Opportunities abound! In the coming months, we will have many opportunities to become a better equipped, more motivated and therefore more effective church! There will be a Sunday School Workshop on January 30th for people who might be interested (now or in the future) in serving the church through our small groups. Also, we will be launching our Sunday School initiative: "We've made a spot for YOU!" campaign on Sunday February, 21st. Later on in the spring, there will be a block party for our neighborhood to join us on our campus for an exciting time of food, fun and games! This summer, we'll plan to host a city-wide 4th of July party complete with Fireworks display! This fall, we'll be having another Harvest Crusade, but this time it will be hosted by Calvary Baptist Church in Staunton. Many, many, many more opportunities exist and they will be designed to reach, teach and minister to people in our area!
5) Finally, it is clear to this preacher that the mighty "Wind of God" is at our backs! Many times, especially in church ministry, everything is a struggle! Every decision is met with opposition, every effort gets blindsided by challenges that distract from the purpose for which it was started. At this point, in our ministry, the direction we're headed and the efforts we're making are being super-naturally guarded by Almighty God!!! Just as a sailor loves to have a "tail wind", pushing them in the desired direction, so I rejoice in the "Wind of God" that is at our backs right now!
No question, there is reason for optimism! I cannot tell you how excited I am about 2010 and all it will hold! Take care and God bless.
However, I am especially optimistic about the ministry at Calvary Cross-link for very specific reasons! Let me share a few with you...
1) God has removed all major obstacles for growth out of our way! The only thing we need now, is PEOPLE!!! We cannot get caught in the quagmire of thinking "if I only had _______, then I could grow my ministry!" This thinking will prevent you from greatness!!! As we reach people, teach people and minister to people, God will continue to provide the necessary tools for that ministry, I am confident!
2) New people are beginning to step up and serve in strategic areas around our church body! I'm thinking of specific people who have felt the leadership of the Holy Spirit in their lives to serve in much-needed capacities throughout this family. I can't help but think of Matthew 9:37-38 where Jesus pointed out the OPPORTUNITY (the Harvest) to His disciples, but followed it up by pointing out the DEFICIENCY (the lack of laborers). I think if Jesus had a word for Calvary Cross-link, it would be that the time of "wait and see" is over and it is time to "get to work!" I am optimistic about our ministry because I see people, all over our dear church, catching that concept every single week!
3) The Sunday School is coming together with great efficiency! Our small group Bible study plan is the reaching, teaching body of the church and our people are starting to catch that vision! We now have a class for every age group and these classes are being taught by capable and anointed men who feel a calling to that ministry! As individual classes grow by addition, then the church as a whole will grow by multiplication!!!
4) Opportunities abound! In the coming months, we will have many opportunities to become a better equipped, more motivated and therefore more effective church! There will be a Sunday School Workshop on January 30th for people who might be interested (now or in the future) in serving the church through our small groups. Also, we will be launching our Sunday School initiative: "We've made a spot for YOU!" campaign on Sunday February, 21st. Later on in the spring, there will be a block party for our neighborhood to join us on our campus for an exciting time of food, fun and games! This summer, we'll plan to host a city-wide 4th of July party complete with Fireworks display! This fall, we'll be having another Harvest Crusade, but this time it will be hosted by Calvary Baptist Church in Staunton. Many, many, many more opportunities exist and they will be designed to reach, teach and minister to people in our area!
5) Finally, it is clear to this preacher that the mighty "Wind of God" is at our backs! Many times, especially in church ministry, everything is a struggle! Every decision is met with opposition, every effort gets blindsided by challenges that distract from the purpose for which it was started. At this point, in our ministry, the direction we're headed and the efforts we're making are being super-naturally guarded by Almighty God!!! Just as a sailor loves to have a "tail wind", pushing them in the desired direction, so I rejoice in the "Wind of God" that is at our backs right now!
No question, there is reason for optimism! I cannot tell you how excited I am about 2010 and all it will hold! Take care and God bless.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Time Away...
So, I've only been "on the field" here in Harrisonburg for 3 months and, believe me, it has felt like only 3 weeks. However, I promised my family (all 20 of them) that I would take a week in Gatlinburg, TN. I really am looking forward to some time away, but after hosting a local camera crew last Sunday and having some fantastic publicity last weekend (See the clip: http://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/80546832.html), I really hate to leave right now! But, I am finding that there is NEVER a good time to take a vacation in the life of a pastor! So, off to ole Rocky Top we go!!!
I've been reading Han Finzel's "Top 10 Mistakes Leaders Make" and it is a fantastic book. I would say that I am "enjoying" it, but since I keep seeing more of myself the more I read, the operative word might just be "enlightening!" He points out that delegating work is important, but in order to effectively lead, one must delegate authority. This is a challenge for me, because I tend to want to make the final call, but in order to succeed as a leader that must change in my life! Our unique set of challenges at CCL preclude me from being able to hire staff to carry out certain ministries, therefore I am in a situation where I must cultivate volunteer leaders to fill roles that would, typically, require full-time staff. I am blessed to have amazing people surrounding me at CCL whose comittment to Christ permeates every fiber of their being! They have, and continue to step up to meet the challenges we face! Praise the Lord for the challenges we face! "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh no ashamed for the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us!" - Romans 5:3-5
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