never been here before

So last year I took this really long leadership test here: http://www.rightpath.com/ for my Leadership and Administration in the Church class. According to this company, there are 16 different types of leaders, and I (story of my life) am the rarest one: the Adaptor. The Adaptor leader steps into a situation and adaptors to whatever is needed. If the church is failing at Communication, I'll see it and try to fix it. If they need a better Children's ministry program, I'll build it up and get it going again. If I'm sitting in a meeting where everyone is talking, I'll be quiet (even if I have something to say.) If we need a confrontational leader, I'll be the one to do it. Some of the other leadership types are: Director, Motivator. Stylish innovator, the Harmonizer... and many others. When I first took the test, my professor told me he'd never met a true adaptor. There are two parts to the test and usually he could tell from the second part where someone wh...

During my time in seminary, I found myself growing frustrated at something the church is pretty good at failing at: ministering to those who are single. I think most people view a ministry to single people means creating a program where singles can gather together. Okay, that's fine I guess. I've never much cared for these kinds of"programs" and while in St. Louis I avoided my church's "singles ministry" like the plague. And then after a while I noticed how many different sermons I'd hear on marriage (this was after about a year and a half at this church). Most of these sermons were structured to talk about the difficulties of marriage and the blessings, too. That's something I simply can't relate to. While it may be interesting information, it's not relevant to me. And after I realized I'd heard 5 sermons in the last year and a half on marriage, I asked myself, "Have I heard any on being single?" No, I hadn't. I ...

I was driving through town the other day, running a few errands. That always take a bit longer when you are getting to know a new city. And this city is kinds of a strange one... it's very spread out with lots of small locally owned places. So a quick glance at signs doesn't necessarily tell me much. Once again, I am finding myself starting over. Didn't I JUST do this ? Having to find new things of nearly everything, like a hairdresser, a mechanic, a bank, a mary kay lady. Blech.(At least I don't have to go church shopping. *Ba-dum-bum*) "...and he also gave them provisions for their journey. - Gen. 45:21" I never tire of reminding myself that 'God's work done God's way will never lack God's supply'. The mode I feel I am in right now, though, is "survival". I often feel as though I am moving from deadline to deadline, program to program, event to event, and am unable to work on the theory of building a good support system, of tra...

Photo courtesy of the Jacob's Well website. I've been itching to visit Jacob's Well church in Kansas City since I first heard about it a couple of years ago. It's often linked with the "emerging church" movement, and according to this article the pastor and founder is considered one of the "founding members" of this movement. It's connection to it is one of the reasons I wanted to go - the chance to see a church that defines itself as one in action. But I also heard the words "lovely and creative worship" from someone or somewhere (I can't recall). And I'm always looking for something inspiring and creative to incorporate into our worship time. I got something cool: a surprise. It's a funny thing to visit a church when you are so used to being at your own. When you're a staff member of a church it's hard to get away on weekends, so when the opportunity arises to get away I try to visit a church I can learn and be i...

Updated 4/4/08. Carlos over at Ragamuffin Soul is asking people to blog about a recent creative idea we've used in a worship service. I'm bumping this up per his request. _________________________________________________________________________ Originally posted 3/20/08 In my effort to build a Good Friday service with the theme of "by his stripes we are healed", I have hit a dilemma. Here is my order of service: Video “Resurrection” Reading of Isaiah 53 Crimson (Vocal Solo) Reading: John 18: 1-18 #302 Lamb of God 1, 2 Reading John 18: 19-40 #323 Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed 1, 2, 3, 5 Reading: John 19: 1-16 Love Song (Vocal Solo) Reading John 19: 17-42 #324 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross 1, 3, 4 Video “A Better Way” Cross Painting/Communion Prayer All of the readings have music in the background, mostly stuff from "The Passion" to create a mood of sorrow and awe at the same time. Both vocal solos are focused on Jesus very intentionally, as are the videos...

Kinetic Church in Charlotte, NC had something interesting happen. 75% of their church gear was stolen, gear that was inside a trailer. These are all around town, with different words, but similar to this one... but this is what really intrigues me:

In my effort to build a Good Friday service with the theme of "by his stripes we are healed", I have hit a dilemma. Here is my order of service: Video “Resurrection” Reading of Isaiah 53 Crimson (Vocal Solo) Reading: John 18: 1-18 #302 Lamb of God 1, 2 Reading John 18: 19-40 #323 Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed 1, 2, 3, 5 Reading: John 19: 1-16 Love Song (Vocal Solo) Reading John 19: 17-42 #324 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross 1, 3, 4 Video “A Better Way” Cross Painting/Communion Prayer All of the readings have music in the background, mostly stuff from "The Passion" to create a mood of sorrow and awe at the same time. Both vocal solos are focused on Jesus very intentionally, as are the videos. For communion, my idea is to have a small bucket of paint sitting at the foot of the cross. As we all come forward for communion, we will have the chance to paint a stripe on the cross, to remind us of the price Jesus paid, the "stripes" if you will. During that ti...

We are tackling the tough text of Matthew 19 a week from this Sunday. What's better song to include than the great Derek Webb song Rich Young Ruler ? Here's a video I made to show at the service.

Courtesy of Tony over at don't call me veronica , I found this interesting post: What to Expect? Intrigued by his questions, I thought I'd make a post of it and see what came out. The questions I have for you seasoned and experienced (or fresh out of the box)church workers are: what am I getting myself into? what makes ministry worth it? should I EXPECT junk or take it as it comes? I've been a church worker for nine years, seven 1/2 as a [paid] part-time employee. There's are some things in the inner workings of the church I'm not privy to because I'm only a part-timer, but I know more than many because of my working relationship with the senior pastor. I'm sure he says things to me he wouldn't say to others, because he trusts me - and the same goes for me trusting him. I'm lucky to have the relationship with him I do. So many church workers don't and I realize what a hug...

Tonight I got a small glimpse into my life if am able to go into full-time ministry. And it was good. Wednesday has been church night for me for as long as I can remember. AWANA, youth group, praise team rehearsals, you name it I've done it. Tonight I was there for three reasons: the typical - praise team rehearsal. We meet at 8:15 once youth group is over because our drummer is still in high school. I was also there because the AWANA commander asked if I would lead "counsel time" tonight, which is a short 10 minutes lesson for the kids. Then I was working with some high school students on a sketch they are doing (see the bottom video on my side bar - we are re-creating that). Counsel time was fun. I did a simple lesson about God's word being a lamp unto our feet and a light until our path by cutting stones out of paper and making a pathway. I talked about how we don't always know which stones to step on because they can be wet and slippery. Then we turned the li...

I struggle with the idea of the prosperity gospel. Thankfully, I didn't grow-up with it; I've only encountered it as an adult and old enough to understand the premise. John Piper has a great sermon on it you can listen to at the University Christian Fellowship blog in the November 2005 archives . Joel Osteen's ministry is reported to spend over 20 million dollars ALONE buying television time. I feel sick to my stomach when I hear a number like this. I know in my heart it's wrong, and maybe my head just hasn't caught up with it all yet. Do I think God has a better plan for me? Yes. Do I think I deserve it? No. Do I think that if I pray God will make me rich he will? No. I'm not into believing that God will change his mind just because I ask him to. What more could I get that I don't already have? I have salvation in Christ. I am his co-heir in heaven. It doesn't get any better than that. A Little More (anyone know the artist?) Turn Your eyes from on th...

Kansas Bob discovered this before me. No Super Bowl in Church I find this situation very irritating.

Ex-pastor called 'wolf in sheep's clothing' This makes me sad.

When a high-profile evangelical Christain leader has a high-profile failure, we all respond differently. I've been reading about Jay Bakker, son of the Jim and Tammy Faye, who's the pastor of a church called Revolution . It's a small church that holds a casual service in a Brooklyn bar. He started filming a reality show called One Punk Under God airing on the Sundance Channel. His show and his views are another post... but as I read a little about his father's problems back in the 80s, I was reminded of other famous scandels in the evangelical community. Jimmy Swaggart, Oral Roberts... and more recently Ted Haggard and Paul Barnes, these are leaders of large organizations and churches who in one way or another, were exposed for fraud, cheating, etc. And don't even get me started on Falwell or Robertson. The list goes on... leaders in the evangelical community fall. So do I. So do you. But this post isn't about those leaders. It's not really even about ...

Haggard Resigns from New Life Church I am surprised. But at the same time I'm not. Nothing much surprises me anymore. We live in a world where anything and everythings happens to anyone and everyone. I think I would be more shocked if Donald Rumsfeld did something like this... okay, maybe not. Timing is everything, isn't it? Should it make me question the escort's motivation with election day 3 days away with a ban on gay marriage on the Colorado State ballot? It does, a little. But at the same time, I see his point. If Haggard was outspoken in his support of the ban and if Haggard did what the escort claims, it would make me want to come forward too. I've been to New Life Church. It was one of the first churches I tried out when I moved to Colorado Springs. Strangely, I remember liking the church, but not liking Haggard and his preaching style. The church is huge - and I really felt out of place and overwhelmed. So I kept looking for a church. I might feel different ab...

My aunt and I spoke for quite a while more - an opportunity I'd been praying for since we decided to go on this trip together. Thankfully it was given to me: the chance to share with her God's never-ending love no matter the sin. The love that spurs me to gratefulness - away from sin not towards it. I shared with her from Galatians 3 "Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." I even told her about Martin Luther, the 95 Theses , the birth of the reformation and told her that reading Roman...

...a step in the right direction. Pope Benedict XVI is expected to cast aside the concept of limbo. . Maybe those old Catholics can change after all. :)

My denomination is going through the process of revising the Statement of Faith. As with anything in the church, it's been a long and complicated process, with everyone putting their two cents in about the first and second drafts changes they've made thus far. Click here if you'd like to see more of this discussion happening online. #1 Statement in the current SOF: We Believe: The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men and the Divine and final authority for Christian faith and life. _______________________________________________ Here is the proposed revision: We Believe: 1. God's gospel originate in and demonstrates the holy love of the eternal, triune God - We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three uqually divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy ...

A little over a week ago I made brief mention of Saddleback Church's new rules for maintaining moral integrity. Part 1 . Perhaps the 15 rules set by Saddleback really is about removing temptation from the staff, and if so, you got to do what you got to do. If it's needed for their church, I'm glad something's being done. My main concern is that this list is somehow about what people's perception may be about the interactions mentioned in this list. Perception. It sometimes becomes synonymous with the word gossip . A while back a Sunday school teacher I knew was asked to step down from her position. (No, it wasn't the famous one). She was asked to step down because some people in the community saw her playing golf with a man who was not her husband. She and her husband are separated (and were at the time all this happened) and a rumor began that she was cheating on him. The only foundation for the rumor was the golfing incident. This Sunday school teach had a rig...

In an effort to curb sexual temptation among the staff at Saddleback and other churches, Rick Warren established 15 rules for Saddleback staff standards in order to maintain moral integrity: - Thou shalt not go to lunch alone with the opposite sex.* - Thou shalt not have the opposite sex pick you up or drive you places when it is just the two of you.* - Thou shalt not kiss any attender of the opposite sex or show affection that could be questioned.* - Thou shalt not visit the opposite sex alone at home. - Thou shalt not counsel the opposite sex alone at the office, and thou shalt not counsel the opposite sex more than once without that person’s mate. Refer them. - Thou shalt not discuss detailed sexual problems with the opposite sex in counseling. Refer them. - Thou shalt not discuss your marriage problems with an attender of the opposite sex. - Thou shalt be careful in answering emails, instant messages, chatrooms, cards, or letters from the opposite sex. - Thou shalt make your secret...