On September 15 we are having a "Serve Fernley" day. That is simply where we get out and serve the community of Fernley. We give out free, ice cold bottles of water, wash cars, recognize our law enforcement and fire protection people, do a work project at a local elementary school and generally try to be a blessing in someone's life.
We do this and we have a couple rules.
1. Smile. People need others to smile at them so it will help make them smile.
2. We DO NOT mention Journey. This IS NOT about getting people to come to our church or to think our church is so special. Nope, we just want to bless some people's day. That is our sole motivation.
3. People will offer you money for the car wash or bottle of water...DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, TAKE THAT MONEY! If they feel like they need to give back, tell them to go bless someone's life.
4. Be prepared to be blessed. I know that this is a nice thing to do for the community...but it is amazing how God blesses your soul on a "Serve Fernley" day.
I hope that other churches will join us someday. I would love to have 3 or 4 churches doing this together. Not to gain members but to bless people...that is it.
Take care,
Rod
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
Don't take things so personal
In my 30+ years of adult life I have worked in both the "church" world in full time ministry and in the "secular" world in sales and management. I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly of both scenes.
I will not bore you with the secular world too much. Suffice it to say there are people who need Jesus and business practices that need to be changed.
One of the practices that took place in my mind as I would sit in board rooms and discuss marketing, sales and profit and loss was that I would often think: "Man if the church would do things this way we would get a lot more accomplished for the kingdom." or "If we would do what the church does in these type of situations, we would be much more successful." There were things in both worlds that could be used in the other world to be more effective.
But truthfully, there was a lot of conflict in the world of business. We had a lot of disagreement and arguments over ways of doing things and expectations of the results. But the thing I liked about business was that business was not personal. We could sit in a conference room and have intense disagreement but afterward be standing on the first tee box laughing together. Why? Because if you are going to get anything accomplished in business, you can't take things personally. You have to move on.
Well, I'm not sitting in those board rooms anymore. Being in full time ministry I now discuss things like worship, outreach, budgets, and the like. When I sit down with others now, it's usually about marriages, addictions, or salvation. I think the church has the "leg-up" on the business world on many facets of life. We care about the individual often more than the results. I like that. The Spirit is prevalent and active in the life of the church.
But there is one thing I think the church could really improve on. We take ourselves WAY TOO seriously. We get offended and take so many things so personal it hinders and even stops what we are supposed to be about. Glorifying God and Kingdom building. Why do we get so offended so easily in the church? Then we have even rationalized it and made it a spiritual responsibility. We walk on eggshells in the church because Joe or Mabel (names have been changed to protect the innocent, if your name is Joe or Mabel its merely a coincidence) get so offended so easily. I am amazed at people who are supposed to be so like minded instead are so stinkin' sensitive.
My suggestion: Relax! Chill! Quit taking yourself so seriously! It's okay, we are going to be alright! Let's start living the way we are supposed to live. Let's stop getting so easily ticked off and burnt. Stop putting that responsibility on everyone else in our lives and start taking responsibility to be loving, forgiving and relaxed. Don't take things so personal. It's okay to disagree but I am not sure it's okay to be disagreeable.
I have learned a few things in my years in ministry and one thing I for sure have learned is that I am going to do things that some just won't like. I don't mean anything personal by it. And guess what? Some people in the church where I serve do things I don't like. I can't take that personal.
Let's stop being so touchy that we think we are untouchable.
Ephesians 4:2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.
RELAX!
Take care,
Rod
I will not bore you with the secular world too much. Suffice it to say there are people who need Jesus and business practices that need to be changed.
One of the practices that took place in my mind as I would sit in board rooms and discuss marketing, sales and profit and loss was that I would often think: "Man if the church would do things this way we would get a lot more accomplished for the kingdom." or "If we would do what the church does in these type of situations, we would be much more successful." There were things in both worlds that could be used in the other world to be more effective.
But truthfully, there was a lot of conflict in the world of business. We had a lot of disagreement and arguments over ways of doing things and expectations of the results. But the thing I liked about business was that business was not personal. We could sit in a conference room and have intense disagreement but afterward be standing on the first tee box laughing together. Why? Because if you are going to get anything accomplished in business, you can't take things personally. You have to move on.
Well, I'm not sitting in those board rooms anymore. Being in full time ministry I now discuss things like worship, outreach, budgets, and the like. When I sit down with others now, it's usually about marriages, addictions, or salvation. I think the church has the "leg-up" on the business world on many facets of life. We care about the individual often more than the results. I like that. The Spirit is prevalent and active in the life of the church.
But there is one thing I think the church could really improve on. We take ourselves WAY TOO seriously. We get offended and take so many things so personal it hinders and even stops what we are supposed to be about. Glorifying God and Kingdom building. Why do we get so offended so easily in the church? Then we have even rationalized it and made it a spiritual responsibility. We walk on eggshells in the church because Joe or Mabel (names have been changed to protect the innocent, if your name is Joe or Mabel its merely a coincidence) get so offended so easily. I am amazed at people who are supposed to be so like minded instead are so stinkin' sensitive.
My suggestion: Relax! Chill! Quit taking yourself so seriously! It's okay, we are going to be alright! Let's start living the way we are supposed to live. Let's stop getting so easily ticked off and burnt. Stop putting that responsibility on everyone else in our lives and start taking responsibility to be loving, forgiving and relaxed. Don't take things so personal. It's okay to disagree but I am not sure it's okay to be disagreeable.
I have learned a few things in my years in ministry and one thing I for sure have learned is that I am going to do things that some just won't like. I don't mean anything personal by it. And guess what? Some people in the church where I serve do things I don't like. I can't take that personal.
Let's stop being so touchy that we think we are untouchable.
Ephesians 4:2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.
RELAX!
Take care,
Rod
Thursday, August 23, 2012
When faith and fears collide
There are times in our walk of faith in Christ that it seems like faith and fears collide head on. I have experienced this on numerous occasions as a Pastor and as a Person of Faith.
I have heard a Doctors diagnosis and the future did not seem long for someone. It was right then that my faith and my fears collided. Now understand, fears can be good, I believe that fears can help you through perilous times. Fears can be there as guardrails to our behavior and decision making process. But here's the key point: They are "guard" rails not "guide" rails.
When I have fears in leading a church or in my own personal life, I understand then and there, that the only way to deal with my fear is with my faith. If I allow fear to go unchecked by my faith, fear takes over. And you know what I found out about fear? Fear is a bully. When we are GUIDED by fear, we pray without faith, we worship without awe, we serve without joy, we suffer without hope, and the result is a life of stagnation and no vision. Fear causes us to withhold and not be a generous giver. It causes us to trust only in what we see and not in God's promises. When we fear, we have an inability to persevere and see it through.
I have heard a Doctors diagnosis and the future did not seem long for someone. It was right then that my faith and my fears collided. Now understand, fears can be good, I believe that fears can help you through perilous times. Fears can be there as guardrails to our behavior and decision making process. But here's the key point: They are "guard" rails not "guide" rails.
When I have fears in leading a church or in my own personal life, I understand then and there, that the only way to deal with my fear is with my faith. If I allow fear to go unchecked by my faith, fear takes over. And you know what I found out about fear? Fear is a bully. When we are GUIDED by fear, we pray without faith, we worship without awe, we serve without joy, we suffer without hope, and the result is a life of stagnation and no vision. Fear causes us to withhold and not be a generous giver. It causes us to trust only in what we see and not in God's promises. When we fear, we have an inability to persevere and see it through.
Fear is a big
bully. It pushes us around, tells
us how to act, how to live and what we can and cannot do. I find that many people choose to live
in fear. Many churches do too.
When a church is GUIDED by fear instead of GUARDED by fear it shrinks back. In fact, it shrinks God. We start living and worshiping a small, unattached, inept God.
Fear is good when placed and used in right way. Fear is never to guide our paths. It is only serving to God's will when it guards us from foolishness.
Take care,
Rod
Fear is good when placed and used in right way. Fear is never to guide our paths. It is only serving to God's will when it guards us from foolishness.
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. 2 Timothy 1: 7
In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear). Ephesians 3: 12
So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? Hebrews 13: 6
Rod
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Things I've learned on my time off
I have been on sabbatical for the month of July and had a great time of refreshing and visiting family. Over that time I have learned some things that I want to share with you.
1. Family: I had time with my dad and mom in the month. It was great to see them and spend some time with them both. I played golf with my dad often and together we did projects around their house, ate some meals together, and spent a lot of time visiting with each other. I didn't need the reminder, but it was good to spend time with the people that mean the most to me. My mom and dad have been a great support to me and also to the work of Journey. It's sometimes tough to see your parents growing older and slowing down a bit, however it was so good to see that they are still very much in love with each other and with the Lord. I hope to be like them and I especially hope to make them proud with my life.
2. Political campaigns: Well, I am going to be honest here. I HATE the campaign commercials. Not because they come so often or that I don't believe them. ( although both of those are true). I get tired of both presidential candidates so involved in attacking each other and not speaking of a vision they have for America. I think America lacks vision. The Bible tells us that "...where there is no vision, the people perish." I don't like what has been going on for the last 40+ months in our country, but I do pray for our president. I wish he would stop blaming the past and being almost embarrassed by being an American. I also, wish that the challenger would stop pointing out the obvious that our country is in deep trouble and tell us what he believes America COULD be by him being in office.
3. Chik-Fil-A: Man what an uproar that was created by a man who spoke of his convictions. God forbid we should speak of our own convictions if it disagrees with the "minority" of American Citizens. Yes, that is right, the MAJORITY of Americans believe as Mr. Cathy believes. Marriage is between a MAN and a WOMAN. But you know that doesn't mean anything really. What's IMPORTANT is not what you and I think or desire. Rather it's all about what GOD thinks or desires. You can disagree with me, but all you have to do is read your Bible. You just need to decide if your life is going to please God or yourself. To quote Joshua 24:15 "As for me and my house, we will serve (please) the Lord."
4. The OLYMPICS: I love the olympics and I root for the American's whether they are rowing a boat, swimming in a pool, or shooting baskets. I love to root for all the Americans. But I love to see athletes from all around the world displaying their incredible talents. The only part of the olympics I don't like was the opening ceremony and the dishonesty displayed in the boxing ring and the all important badminton court. Shame on those referees and coaches and players who choose to try to cheat at such a prestigious event.
5. AURORA COLORADO: What a terrible tragedy that took place at the movie theater in Aurora, CO. The Idle family used to live there in Aurora, so it held a little more weight with us. Sad to see a young man with such hope and promise, resort to violence and selfishness. Everything within me wants to put this guy away for good. But I also care about his soul. He obviously doesn't know God or has forgotten Him. I hope he finds Jesus and the real hope that can come in calling upon Christ. Also, the only way healing, true healing can come to the families and the community of Aurora, is that Christ is allowed into the situation.
6. JOURNEY: Well, as always, while I truly loved my time off, I really missed being at Journey. I love the family at Journey God has allowed me to serve. July is always a tough month for most churches. Attendance is usually down and the offerings are usually low as well. That makes it tough for a church to continue to do it's work. Journey has experienced some REAL difficulty this month. The staff lost their health insurance and were not paid this past pay period. I had to walk down the street to my landlord and tell them I couldn't pay my rent on the house I live in. Fortunately they showed understanding. All of this is because we have forgotten our church and the call of God. While vacations are important and summer activities are great for our life. We CANNOT forget that our tithes and offerings are VITAL to the success of the church.
Well, I am not sure that is ALL I have learned over the last month, but just about covers it. I hope that through all of these trials and troubles it helps us turn our eyes toward Christ. It would be such a terrible waste and tragedy of a spiritual kind, if we ourselves forgot that God is still in control and He holds the answers we so desperately seek in times like these.
Take care,
Rod
1. Family: I had time with my dad and mom in the month. It was great to see them and spend some time with them both. I played golf with my dad often and together we did projects around their house, ate some meals together, and spent a lot of time visiting with each other. I didn't need the reminder, but it was good to spend time with the people that mean the most to me. My mom and dad have been a great support to me and also to the work of Journey. It's sometimes tough to see your parents growing older and slowing down a bit, however it was so good to see that they are still very much in love with each other and with the Lord. I hope to be like them and I especially hope to make them proud with my life.
2. Political campaigns: Well, I am going to be honest here. I HATE the campaign commercials. Not because they come so often or that I don't believe them. ( although both of those are true). I get tired of both presidential candidates so involved in attacking each other and not speaking of a vision they have for America. I think America lacks vision. The Bible tells us that "...where there is no vision, the people perish." I don't like what has been going on for the last 40+ months in our country, but I do pray for our president. I wish he would stop blaming the past and being almost embarrassed by being an American. I also, wish that the challenger would stop pointing out the obvious that our country is in deep trouble and tell us what he believes America COULD be by him being in office.
3. Chik-Fil-A: Man what an uproar that was created by a man who spoke of his convictions. God forbid we should speak of our own convictions if it disagrees with the "minority" of American Citizens. Yes, that is right, the MAJORITY of Americans believe as Mr. Cathy believes. Marriage is between a MAN and a WOMAN. But you know that doesn't mean anything really. What's IMPORTANT is not what you and I think or desire. Rather it's all about what GOD thinks or desires. You can disagree with me, but all you have to do is read your Bible. You just need to decide if your life is going to please God or yourself. To quote Joshua 24:15 "As for me and my house, we will serve (please) the Lord."
4. The OLYMPICS: I love the olympics and I root for the American's whether they are rowing a boat, swimming in a pool, or shooting baskets. I love to root for all the Americans. But I love to see athletes from all around the world displaying their incredible talents. The only part of the olympics I don't like was the opening ceremony and the dishonesty displayed in the boxing ring and the all important badminton court. Shame on those referees and coaches and players who choose to try to cheat at such a prestigious event.
5. AURORA COLORADO: What a terrible tragedy that took place at the movie theater in Aurora, CO. The Idle family used to live there in Aurora, so it held a little more weight with us. Sad to see a young man with such hope and promise, resort to violence and selfishness. Everything within me wants to put this guy away for good. But I also care about his soul. He obviously doesn't know God or has forgotten Him. I hope he finds Jesus and the real hope that can come in calling upon Christ. Also, the only way healing, true healing can come to the families and the community of Aurora, is that Christ is allowed into the situation.
6. JOURNEY: Well, as always, while I truly loved my time off, I really missed being at Journey. I love the family at Journey God has allowed me to serve. July is always a tough month for most churches. Attendance is usually down and the offerings are usually low as well. That makes it tough for a church to continue to do it's work. Journey has experienced some REAL difficulty this month. The staff lost their health insurance and were not paid this past pay period. I had to walk down the street to my landlord and tell them I couldn't pay my rent on the house I live in. Fortunately they showed understanding. All of this is because we have forgotten our church and the call of God. While vacations are important and summer activities are great for our life. We CANNOT forget that our tithes and offerings are VITAL to the success of the church.
Well, I am not sure that is ALL I have learned over the last month, but just about covers it. I hope that through all of these trials and troubles it helps us turn our eyes toward Christ. It would be such a terrible waste and tragedy of a spiritual kind, if we ourselves forgot that God is still in control and He holds the answers we so desperately seek in times like these.
Take care,
Rod
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