I know that most of us usually have busy weeks, so I'm probably preaching to the choir here.......
Spent a couple of days in Phoenix attending Convention Council meetings for the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention. It is fun to get to see what we are doing here in Az.
Also got to spend an afternoon with a couple of friends - one old friend, the younger one, and a new friend, the older of the two. The discussions were very helpful and encouraging. I just want to know why Pat waited until we were about 10 minutes from his house to call home only to find out that he did not have to come home....... perhaps his cell service doesn't work outside a couple of mile radius of his home.
Tonight is the last night of bus driving school (I hope). Should be done with that phase - I've driven big rigs and coaches cross country before, although I'm not certified on school bus yet. Three additional nights away from home in the last week is not fun, but hopefully the results will be worth the effort.
My lovely bride and I went to Phoenix by ourselves this week - I highly recommend it to any man who is married. Take your wife away for a couple of days without the kids and the normal stuff that life throws at her.
15 September 2005
08 September 2005
Why not, Preachers only work 1 day a week don't they?
I've been struggling with a couple of concepts for the past year or so. They have to do with the role of the church, a pastor, and individual Christians in their communities.
I have been a Southern Baptist since before I was born. I've always attended SB churches. I have observed quite a few pastors, SB and others, who spend most, if not all, their time in the church office, dealing with church people. Very few have been involved in community life (that I have observed). Now, I am a pastor - for the grand total of a little more than a year and a half.
Most churches of which I have been a part, have not been involved in community activities, other than "outreach" programs. I have been involved with the very infrequent Youth activities - Mission trips, helping at the local Food Banks, etc. Most times, the attitude of the church has been "Y'all come, we'll help fix you up!"
Most Christians that I have been around are committed to attending weekend worship service(s). Most desire to live their lives based on Biblical principles. Most are not involved in their communities in a significant way.
I've read several books in the past year that present a very differnt outlook on the role of Christians - churches, pastors, and individuals. One asked the question - "If you were to die or move away, would the community care?" Others presented statistics indicating that the number of professing Christians in each generation in the U.S. decreased by about 1/2 the total percentage of the previous generation, to the point that the most recent generation professes to be around 10% Christian. It's pretty obvious that churches, pastors, and individual Christians need to approach life very differently now than we have in the past.
I mentioned here about a Conference I recently attended. I sat with a good friend of mine (Pat), who is also a pastor, who had been asked by his son's track coach to become a coach on the track team. He had been trying to figure out what he should do. I had been asked by one of our church members, who works at our local school district, if I would be interested in driving a bus for the schools. I have the basic license that would allow me to do drive a school bus (although I need some more specific training - an "S" endorsement).
During the conference, Reggie McNeal called attention to the concept that God is looking at history from the end, not the beginning. We have the talents, tools, etc, right now in order to do what He wants because of what He has caused us to go through in the past. I'm not sure Pat or I wanted to hear it, because both of us afterwards commented that looking at the situation from that viewpoint made our decisions a little more clear.
I talked with the Superintendent of Schools, a fellow Rotarian last week about the possibility of being a substitute bus driver. Before the conversation was over, we discussed the possibility of being a substitute teacher in the school system. I have more degrees than sense anyway, so why not?
I started the Bus Driving School last night. It should last 4 nights, then will have to go through additional training by the School District once the background checks are completed. My Substitute Teacher certification will be submitted to the State Dept of Education after the background checks also.
Does that mean that some things at church will change? Probably. How will church members respond? I have no idea. Doing this has nothing to do with money. The church pays a decent salary. One thing I miss by being a pastor is being around people who are not involved in church. I'm missing something by being around church people all the time, or spending most of my time in the office.
Will this solve the concerns I have with the roles of churches, a pastor, and individual Christians in their communities? Don't know for sure, but one thing is for sure - I am going to find out.
I have been a Southern Baptist since before I was born. I've always attended SB churches. I have observed quite a few pastors, SB and others, who spend most, if not all, their time in the church office, dealing with church people. Very few have been involved in community life (that I have observed). Now, I am a pastor - for the grand total of a little more than a year and a half.
Most churches of which I have been a part, have not been involved in community activities, other than "outreach" programs. I have been involved with the very infrequent Youth activities - Mission trips, helping at the local Food Banks, etc. Most times, the attitude of the church has been "Y'all come, we'll help fix you up!"
Most Christians that I have been around are committed to attending weekend worship service(s). Most desire to live their lives based on Biblical principles. Most are not involved in their communities in a significant way.
I've read several books in the past year that present a very differnt outlook on the role of Christians - churches, pastors, and individuals. One asked the question - "If you were to die or move away, would the community care?" Others presented statistics indicating that the number of professing Christians in each generation in the U.S. decreased by about 1/2 the total percentage of the previous generation, to the point that the most recent generation professes to be around 10% Christian. It's pretty obvious that churches, pastors, and individual Christians need to approach life very differently now than we have in the past.
I mentioned here about a Conference I recently attended. I sat with a good friend of mine (Pat), who is also a pastor, who had been asked by his son's track coach to become a coach on the track team. He had been trying to figure out what he should do. I had been asked by one of our church members, who works at our local school district, if I would be interested in driving a bus for the schools. I have the basic license that would allow me to do drive a school bus (although I need some more specific training - an "S" endorsement).
During the conference, Reggie McNeal called attention to the concept that God is looking at history from the end, not the beginning. We have the talents, tools, etc, right now in order to do what He wants because of what He has caused us to go through in the past. I'm not sure Pat or I wanted to hear it, because both of us afterwards commented that looking at the situation from that viewpoint made our decisions a little more clear.
I talked with the Superintendent of Schools, a fellow Rotarian last week about the possibility of being a substitute bus driver. Before the conversation was over, we discussed the possibility of being a substitute teacher in the school system. I have more degrees than sense anyway, so why not?
I started the Bus Driving School last night. It should last 4 nights, then will have to go through additional training by the School District once the background checks are completed. My Substitute Teacher certification will be submitted to the State Dept of Education after the background checks also.
Does that mean that some things at church will change? Probably. How will church members respond? I have no idea. Doing this has nothing to do with money. The church pays a decent salary. One thing I miss by being a pastor is being around people who are not involved in church. I'm missing something by being around church people all the time, or spending most of my time in the office.
Will this solve the concerns I have with the roles of churches, a pastor, and individual Christians in their communities? Don't know for sure, but one thing is for sure - I am going to find out.
06 September 2005
Down and Dirty Evangelism
Joe Thorn wrote this earlier this year. Ran across it this past weekend when I was preparing for Sunday's sermon. I thought the sermon was ready on Thursday, but upon reviewing it Saturday night, I realized that I would miss a great opportunity to speak to the events of the week, specifically Katrina and God's Judgement. Started looking around, reading others thoughts, and began developing another sermon.
This post fit quite well with what Shaylyn and I did on Friday and Saturday also.
This post fit quite well with what Shaylyn and I did on Friday and Saturday also.
Shaylyn & I did something helpful!!!!
This past week on Friday and Saturday, Shaylyn - #3 daughter, and I went to help at our local food bank. It was quite different from other experiences we have had in other places.
Shaylyn did a great job! She's 12, and can get it done! Not long after we started on Friday morning, filling boxes with the different items, she was telling me what she needed, and was filling 5 or 6 boxes at the same time.... We worked with the other people from the food bank for most of the morning, and finished around noontime. Met a lot of people, got to practicar espanol and learned quite a bit about our community.
On Saturday morning, we started around 8:00, this time we had some help from Virginia and Sam. Between all 4 of us, we had around 20 more food boxes filled and ready within about 20 minutes. People started showing up, and the fun times started. Virginia and Sam had burritos to make for the Softball League they are in, so they took off after the heavy stuff was done.
Shaylyn helped Bobbie, the director, all morning doing the hard stuff - putting candy in the boxes. She also helped people carry their items to their cars, and got to go help Sophie carry her food into her house - up a really steep path on a mountain.
We are going to make this a regular habit. Shaylyn wants to help more, so we are going to see if she can volunteer during the week occasionally helping Bobbie. Bobbie is an amazing lady. She has been running the food bank since right after it started in 1982. She has an amazing story.
I'm glad we had the opportunity to serve other people in our community. I'm glad Virginia and Sam got to help. I'm glad we got to know Bobbie better. I'm glad Shaylyn and I got to do something helpful - together.
Shaylyn did a great job! She's 12, and can get it done! Not long after we started on Friday morning, filling boxes with the different items, she was telling me what she needed, and was filling 5 or 6 boxes at the same time.... We worked with the other people from the food bank for most of the morning, and finished around noontime. Met a lot of people, got to practicar espanol and learned quite a bit about our community.
On Saturday morning, we started around 8:00, this time we had some help from Virginia and Sam. Between all 4 of us, we had around 20 more food boxes filled and ready within about 20 minutes. People started showing up, and the fun times started. Virginia and Sam had burritos to make for the Softball League they are in, so they took off after the heavy stuff was done.
Shaylyn helped Bobbie, the director, all morning doing the hard stuff - putting candy in the boxes. She also helped people carry their items to their cars, and got to go help Sophie carry her food into her house - up a really steep path on a mountain.
We are going to make this a regular habit. Shaylyn wants to help more, so we are going to see if she can volunteer during the week occasionally helping Bobbie. Bobbie is an amazing lady. She has been running the food bank since right after it started in 1982. She has an amazing story.
I'm glad we had the opportunity to serve other people in our community. I'm glad Virginia and Sam got to help. I'm glad we got to know Bobbie better. I'm glad Shaylyn and I got to do something helpful - together.
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