Relative Truths

Ok, so I finished 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner, and Lane Jones last night.  It was a GREAT book.  It was written with a church context in mind, but this is a great book for any context.  If you are reading this and you have your own business or are in charge in any environment, read this book.  It contains 7 practices that are beneficial to any system. 

The point of this post isn’t really anything fancy.  This was a great book and the truth is that what it contains is important.  I am sure that I don’t agree with everything at Northpoint, but I cold not agree more with these 7 practices.  I loved practice 7: Work on It.  The point is that we need to carve out time for evaluation and celebration.  Any organization needs to be able to pull away and examine what it is doing and how that might be improved.  That is a given.  What struck me was the part about celebrating.  The book mentions that they take time to celebrate the victories they have.  They want to hear about the success in their minsitry areas.  Too often we only concern ourselves with what is wrong.  We are often way too negative.  If something is going well, enjoy and promote it.  In your context, have a meeting where you do nothing but talk about the successes you have had.  We all need to be reminded of why we do what we do.  The truth is that nothing will remind you of that more than when you can celebrate a victory. 

Ok, so I went to my favorite hamburger joint today (not Red Robin, but I had that Monday).  I went to Five Guys.  I love Five Guys for a couple of reasons.  One, they are really good hamburgers.  Two, I think the church can learn a lot from their business strategy.  I did a post a few months back on how I liked their simple approach.  You can read it here.  Anyway, I learned another lesson today: thank people when they allow you to serve them.

When I took my cup to get my water, I noticed a sign they had posted above the soda fountain.  The sign was thanking the customer for coming in today.  It reminded the guest that Five Guys had the opportunity to serve them today, not the other way around.  That Five Guys was here to please the customer and make them happy, not for the customer to please the restaurant.  It was refreshing to read that, especially in a culture where “customer service” is more of an oxymoron than a reality.  I actually felt appreciated that I ordered that cheeseburger (I know I enjoyed eating it).

I think the church can take a lot from that.  We are called to serve the world, not the reverse.  When I write to our first time visitors, I thank them for allowing us the honor of worshipping with them.  Most people think that church is cold, irrelevant, and hostile.  Well, if we were intentional about thanking people and remind them of the great honor we have to worship with and to serve them and with them, then maybe people who are not in a relationship with Christ because of their opinion of the church would actually feel welcome in God’s house.  Then, maybe we can help connect them to Christ.  Just a thought.  What’s yours? 

Ok, so it is a week after Thanksgiving.  I think we have eaten up all of the leftovers, so I have no clue what is for dinner tonight.  Anyway, it has been an interesting week.  Last week was weird not having normal hours.  I got to preach on Sunday, so it was a good week (at least for me, maybe not everyone that listened to me).  This week, it is back to “normalcy.”  You know, back to the office, back to the routine, etc.  I must confess, I miss not having to prepare a sermon for Sunday. 

Maybe it is an interesting week because of the normalcy.  I don’t think that I like routine all that much.  I think I like stuff changing around.  I like to go to an office one day and then work at home or Panera or another place.  I like a little shift here and there.  It keeps things refreshing and avoids a temptation to keep things the same.

See, the truth is that we all need to seek changes that are necessary.  When all we do is work to keep things the same, we lose creativity and purpose.  It doesn’t matter if you are in the church world, the business world, or the family world, you still need to change things up every now and then.  Keep things fresh.  When we get too still, we become stagnant and stale.  That only leads to bad things.  Find ways to improve and ways to move.  Trust me, it will always help. 

Ok, so yesterday was Thanksgiving.  I am at Panera tightening up Sunday’s sermon (yes I am preaching at FUMC Sunday, so come on at 8, 9:30, or 11).  While sitting here, I have been reflecting on the last couple of days.  I thought I would just jot down a few thoughts.  Not really truths, but feel free to find any in what I write.

We had my wife’s side of the family over yesterday for Thanksgiving.  It was a lot of work.  I love to see them, so it was totally worth it.  Plus, my wife made the best dressing ever.  However, it was a lot of work.  Isn’t it true that often the things that are most enjoyable take a lot of work?  Think about it, what was the last easy thing you did that was memorable?  Now, think about the last thing you put a lot of work and love into.  You enjoyed it didn’t you? 

Rebekah and I are thinking about getting a plasma TV for Christmas.  I was looking at all of the “Black Friday” deals and considering getting up at 4 to be at Bestbuy at 5 to look at TVs.  It struck me that I will complain about getting up early for church or to exercise, or to go see family, or to go to work.  However, I seriously considered getting up at 4 and had no problem or complaints.  What’s up with that?  If that doesn’t make me want to re-examine my priorities, I don’t know what will. 

We saw “American Gangsters” yesterday.  It was an interesting movie with a cool plot line and cool action.  The acting was ok, but not Denzel’s best.  The problem was there was too much nudity in it.  After the movie, my wife pointed out that I had become so numb to sex in culture that I didn’t realize how wrong it was.  I need to think about the movies I see and the movies I recommend.  If Christ truly makes my life different, then it should be reflected in where I find entertainment.  More on this Sunday.

I guess that is all the reflections for now.  I need to finish up this sermon so I can prepare for more turkey and dressing at Mamma’s tonight.  Yum.  Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and God bless.

Ok, so someone told me I suck because I don’t blog that often.  When I started the blog, my intention was everyday.  When they feel apart three days into the venture, I wanted 3-4 times a week.  Lately, once a week would be good.  The truth is that things get in the way, and I forget to blog, or I want to post something really good that I wait too long.  Of course then the build-up for the long awaited post exceeds the actual truth being communicated.

I hope that I am the only one who has ever let anything fall through.  For all of you reading this, I hope that you have never dropped the ball on anything.  I mean that sincerely.  There is nothing worse than realizing you have let someone down, not followed through on something, or just plain forgot.  I hate when I have to admit that.  I want to make sure everything is perfect and I want people to know they can depend on me.  When I have to admit that I dropped the ball, I hate it.

Well, the truth is that we all drop the ball sometimes.  We are, in fact human.  None of us are capable of being perfect (Rebekah is darn close).  I believe that as followers of Christ, we are called to be excellent.  For example, if you lead worship, make it excellent.  If you preach, speak and work, and make sure it is excellent.  If you are going to blog, make your posts excellent.  However, do not get caught up being perfect.  We will never achieve that.  If we could, Christ would not have come.  Don’t let that detail keep you from doing the things you are called to do.  And if you drop the ball every now and then, it’s ok.  Jesus didn’t and He still died for you.   Just be who God made you and seek excellence in it.  The truth is that is all you need to do. 

Ok, so it has been awhile since I blogged.  The reason is because it has been a little weird for me lately.  My brother has a blog called “Confessions of a Church Planter” (www.davidwalters.blog.com).  This blog allows people to confess anything they are struggling with, especially in regards to David’s topic of the day.  Well, I would like to take a little time to confess here.  The truth is, we all have things we need to express.  I have been a little stressed lately.  I have a couple of big things coming up at church, and that is a little stressful.  I also have some personal things I have been dealing with.  Rebekah’s car has been to a body shop repeatedly, and still isn’t fixed.  It is very frustrating and I don’t understand why it is taking so long.  We have also been getting our house painted, so things are out of whack at home.  I have some other anxious things in my life right now.  These are things that aren’t too big of a deal, but when you add them up, they stress me out.  As a result, I haven’t slept well in a couple of weeks, and I just don’t feel normal or excited.

Ok, the whining part is over.  The truth is I shouldn’t let that stuff get to me like it does.  I have so many blessings in life.  I have a nephew who goes nuts when he sees me.  I have three nieces who can’t help but make me smile.  I have some great friends who do whatever they can to help me.  I have a beautiful wife.  I am healthy (relatively speaking, I know I need to drop a couple of pounds).  I get to serve an amazing and awesome God and watch people’s lives change!  I have too much to let myself be stressed out over minor details when that stress prevents me from enjoying God’s blessings, or worse, prevents me from serving faithfully.  Truthfully, I know that God is in control.  I know that my relationship with Christ is stronger than any opposition.  My confession is that I haven’t let that truth override my human insecurities.  So, I am stopping that.  That’s my confession, and that is the truth.  What’s yours?