Daylight Savings Time

You wouldn’t believe how excited I am about getting an extra hour of sleep this weekend.

Can someone back me up on that?

The K.I.S.S. Method

Anyone who has ever worked with engineers know that we are not perfect.  Despite the perception put out there by society and other groups, we don’t always know the answer and we don’t always solve the problem on the first try (hardly ever, really.)  With that being said, there is a problem solving method that many may have heard of.  It’s called the K.I.S.S. method and it is an acronym for “Keep It Simple, Stupid.”  The last word was probably thrown in there due to the author’s frustration or something like it, I’m sure.

In my secular career, I have learned the hard way that a ’complex’ approach to problem solving doesn’t always equal the ‘correct’ solution.  In fact, in most cases complexity makes a bigger mess of things.  Apply this K.I.S.S. method anywhere.  Use it in your job, your marriage, and YES, even your relationship with the Lord.  God doesn’t want to blow your mind with complex spiritual ’stuff’.  Most of us wouldn’t be capable of processing it anyway.  All He wants is a love relationship and for all of us love and serve one another.  How complex is that?  Just keep it simple.

Skeletons

It’s the Halloween season again.  Many of us will be with our children this week participating in the tradition of freely giving of treats and candy.  Some will decorate their homes and have parties encouraging their friends to wear ridiculous costumes.  One decoration that you see quite often is the old skeleton hanging from the porch or fixed to the front door.  For me, the picture of a skeleton always makes me think of the old phrase ’skeletons in the closet’.

I just recently had a conversation with a church friend.  We spoke of things that we had each done in the past…things we regret and wished we could forget.  Many of us go through periods of digging up the past and uncovering old wounds.  The perverbial ’skeletons in the closet’ are hard to forget sometimes.  My friend is new to being a Christ follower and I think in some ways he is still trying to grasp the concept of God’s forgiveness.  Dwelling on the past and feeling shameful about it doesn’t do one much good if he or she is truly forgiven.  Why should we continue to worry about things that are null and void in the eyes of God?  In 2 Peter 1:5-9, God’s word explains that if we continue to increase our faith in Him, we will not be nearsighted and blind and we will recognize that forgiven sins are just that.  Think of it this way, when you are forgiven of any sin, it is simply dead…period.  It has no significance to God anymore…it’s gone…see ya…buh-bye. 

So you might say to yourself that “hey, maybe its fitting that you could say that forgiven sins are like skeletons.”  Well, possibly, but I disagree.  When God forgives, I believe that the closet is clean from top to bottom, inside and out and boy does it smell good, too…meaning no skeletons anywhere.  Skeletons are what we hang on to, not God.  So focus on God and his plan for you, understand His grace.  Understand what forgiveness is really about.  Then, read 2 Peter 1 and start to move forward.  I would like to think that God put eyes only on the front of our head for a reason.  Eyes in the back of our head would probably keep us from getting anything accomplished.

Out of the Routine

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks.  Julie was travelling on business for four days and then I followed with a three day trip of my own.  Finally, we spent an additional four days in Chattanooga with family this past weekend.  It’s been crazy not having a routine during this period.  I’m the type of guy that performs much better in a structured environment.  So needless to say it actually feels good to be back at work this week.  It’s really true in a twisted sort of way.  It’s also great to be back home with the family enjoying ‘normal’ life again.

By the way, after keeping Jacob by myself for several days, I truly appreciate the job of a single parent.  It was absolute work, non-stop.

Fall is finally here!!! Camping anyone?

It’s been a pretty long summer season in the middle Tennessee area.  I don’t recall it being so dry and hot in years.  That type of weather tends to have a negative impact on hobbies that I am so passionate about.  Those main hobbies are camping, hiking, and fishing.  If the weather is not good enough, I really don’t want to suffer in an attempt to enjoy myself.  There is nothing more discouraging than sleeping in your own sweaty clothes at night because it’s 80 degrees with 50% humidity inside your tent.

The high for today should not exceed 67 degrees and the low for tonight is a cool 40.  SWEET!!!  Its time to break out the gear and head off to the woods for a couple of days and nights…that’s if I can fit it in my schedule.  Anyone care to go with me? 

One of my favorite places in the recent past has been Big South Fork National Park in east Tennessee.  I have taken several trips there with family and friends.  There have been many great memories created there.  However, I’m now looking to the future and trips with Jacob.  Plus, there are so many other places that I would like to go…places like Yellowstone, Yosimite, Grand Tetons and even other places outside the country as well.

Keeping Focus is Key

In reading the blog of Worship Pastor today, what he wrote about something very similar to what has been on my mind lately.  I have been convicted that I am not playing a big enough part in the lives of others.  What I mean is that I have been focused on getting my weekly tasks done for the church.  This involves the financials, weekly reporting, grabbing the mail, planning and preparing for trips, etc.  There is also the personal spiritual growth I want to maintain as a church leader.  These are all important things, but I have lacked in focusing on ”people” as much as Jesus does.  I look at it as being kind of selfish.  So tonight, we’re starting a new Connect Group at our house.  I think this is going to be a great way in helping to remedy my problem above.  I have been involved in these groups in the past and they can make a world of difference to those in need of relationships.

The Five Love Languages

Well, after seven years of being married, I finally got the book authored by Dr. Gary Chapman and read it while Julie was out of town last week.  Its a book filled with common sense and great advice on how to make your marriage successful.  I found myself saying “umm hmm” and quietly agreeing many, many times.  I have learned more about my spouse as well as myself by reading this.  The book reminded me of what my father said to me years ago before taking the plunge and that was that a good marriage takes work and effort.  I wouldn’t call myself a bad husband, but I know that I can be doing better to make my relationship with Julie soar. 

Like I said in yesterdays post, success doesn’t just happen by chance, even in marriage.

‘On the Job’ Training

Okay, so it’s been a while since my last post and I apologize to those who do check in regularly, but today I have something cool to share.

For those of you who lead or volunteer somewhere in ministry and also have a full time career, family, etc., I commend you for working what I consider “double time”.  This is because I don’t consider work in the ministry part time.  So there an inner conflict at work in some of us in trying to maintain a successful balance.  What can we do to devote specific time to all of those different parts of our life?  My schedule is very tight like some and I don’t feel like I’m very good at doing many things simultaneously.  Luckily, I feel that God has been further training me for ministry through my secular job.  What do I mean by this?  Well, we had a meeting a work a short while ago discussing what makes a great leader.  The five area are listed below.  As we sat and discussed these in the meeting, I felt as if God were wanting me to pay attention.  In retrospect, He has been trying to teach me a lot lately, but I haven’t been so receptive.  Read each area below as well as my thoughts on applying them to the church and our own spiritual lives.

Challenge the Process.  At UpRising Church, we are driven by trying to connect the disconnected to God.  That’s our goal.  To reach that goal, there must be a process and a plan or basically what we do and how we do it.  Success doesn’t just happen by chance.  Occasionally, we must take a step back and evaluate the process.  Are we being successful?  Are we achieving our goal?  What needs to be done to our process of winning people to Christ to make it more successful?  As leaders, we have to be aware of this.

Vision and Inspiration.  You always have to know where your going in order to get there.  That’s vision.  As a group of people acting as the body of Christ, not only knowing the vision is important, but pursuing it together is important as well.  Can you imagine an army and how it fights it’s enemy?  How effective would an army be fighting it’s enemy if all soldiers were doing there own thing?  There is a system of leadership from the General all the way down to a Private that is following orders and working together to be successful.  Our general is our Senior Pastor and he will always be casting the vision and inspiring us to pursue it together.  This applies to you no matter what part of the body God has called you to be.  If we recognize and do this, the kingdom of God will grow.

Enabling Others to Act.  We must get others involved in the ministry of the church.  First of all, if you are a Christ follower, you should be serving in the church.  Not only does it benefit others, but it benefits you as well.  Did Jesus personally come in contact with every person alive in His time?  No.  He enabled the disciples and sent them out.  That perpetuated and many people came to know and believe in Him.  This is still occurring today.  The enabling of others has not stopped moving and growing around the world.  See what kind of impact this process has? 

Modeling the Way.  This one is a no brain-er and doesn’t require much explanation.  Basically, as Christ followers we must practice what we preach and “just do it” with others around us seeing us do it.  Apply this to servant-hood, discipleship, etc.  I think this is vital to a leader’s credibility.

Encouraging the Heart.  We have to encourage each other and build each other up.  “Iron sharpens iron”.  We must spend time in each others lives and encourage and support each other spiritually.  Investing in each other can have an eternal affect on so many and it can be so rewarding.  I think we grow more when we grow together.  Get involved in a connect group and see what this is all about.

Now here are deep, though provoking questions.  Do you think these are leadership principles that were contrived by the secular world that can be applied to you and your spiritual life?  Or do you think that these are principles contrived by the Lord in which we have successfully applied to the business world?  Personally, I believe the latter.  He did create everything so why not?  Yes, God is a pretty creative dude.  I am reminded that there is nowhere He can’t go and nothing He can’t do in order to spend time with us and continue to shape us in His image…especially in places where we’re not looking for Him to do so.

Have a great day!