CONFESSION TIME

First, I have this really annoying habit of buying lots of books, reading 1 or 2 chapters, then piling them on top of each other, and going on to another book. So, I have about 10 half read books on my desk. Eventually, I'll finish the ones I like or feel are valuable. But the challenge, if they don't grab me, I don't bother...

Yesterday, I cracked open one that's been waiting to be read, The Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley. Laura was out with some ladies and the girls were in bed, so, with some alone time, I sat down to read. Right off the bat- wow!

Now, for my confession. I love the quote and have made it a core value at Lifehouse Church: Pray like everything depends on God, work like everything depends on you (Martin Luther). My tendency is to pray, then work, and if that's not enough, I'll work harder and harder. So, I'll put in too many hours.

I know that I must train leaders, give away ministry responsibilities, and I'm doing that to the best of my ability. However, while reading the first chapter, Stanley challenges the reader to evaluate what 2 or 3 things you are good at and are passionate about doing and do that. Give everything else away to others!

I thought I'd already done this, but it's time to re-evaluate. My new mission is to evaluate better what I'm currently doing, narrow down my scope of ministry to only a few things, then develop other leaders to do what they love doing and trust them with ministry.

Here's my list of things I'm passionate about and will focus my energy on at Lifehouse:

1. Preaching- to relevantly and creatively communicate the Truth of the Bible,
2. Vision casting- to lead Lifehouse in toward our God-given Cause and to inspire as many people as possible to join us in fulfilling this cause,
   
3. Leadership development- to raise up new leaders as pastors, ministry leaders, and influencers; also, to develop new church planter.

Stanley states that if leaders will do what they're best at, we will be most effective and the whole church will grow and be significantly more impactful.

So, here's what we need:

• pastor or leader of pastoral care- counseling, pre-marriage counseling, visitation, hospital visits, personal mentoring, etc.
• administrative assistant/ book-keeper.
  

Valentine's Day

I get the quite the privileged Valentine's Day (actually we're going out on Friday)- take several ladies out for Valentine's and come home with all of them. Laura and I have decided that Valentine's is a great opportunity to model love to our girls. So, I ask each one of them if they'll be my date and my Valentine, then we all go out to the Olive Garden. Looking forward to wearing my tie this evening. I wasn't even sure if I had one left... ha!


This is also an opportunity to honor my bride. Here's what I think of Laura:

After 15 Valentine's Days, we actually have perspective of life to look back on, and here's what I've learned about Laura. I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for her.

She's believed in God and me against impossible odds and without actually seeing the dreams herself. That takes great faith. It's one thing when God speaks to YOU, to believe and follow. It's another thing altogether, for God to lead your husband and you still believe and follow.

I wouldn't be the person, the leader, the pastor, the husband or the father I am without my wife. She's offered strength when I wanted to give up, hope when I despaired, perspective when I had tunnel vision, laughter when I was to serious, wisdom when I was blind, tenderness when I was hurting, and a model of gentle power.

Oh, some people meet Laura and think that she's quiet and mild-natured. That's true... partially. Laura is very strong, capable, and full of will-power. She doesn't give up easily and rarely is shaken. It takes a very strong woman to temper my passionate approach to life.

Thank you Laura for being my bride, wife, best friend, and partner in life and the adventures of ministry!!

A Full Week

Normally when I say something about having a full week, I'm talking about doing what I love in ministry for about... ah, say... 60 or so hours. Sometimes I wonder if I can actually call pastoring, especially leading Lifehouse Church, work. I mean, I love it and am having fun most of the time. It's a pretty cool thing when you can work passionately doing what you love and were created to do.

But... that's not the point of this entry.

So, this week (Tues the 12th) included Laura's (30th- don't tell her I told you) birthday. We had a blast, and I was able to surprises her by getting the house in order, making a full 4-course meal with a gourmet salad, hours de vours, Chicken Marsala, and cake. We had candles, flowers, all kinds of pretty stuff like a thing called a "runner" that has tassels on it that goes in the middle of the table... So, when Laura arrived home with our girls- SURPRISE! It was great. Laura loves enjoying time with me and the girls, and they enjoyed the "posh" dinner together. I even let them stay up late (as in 'til 7:30) so they could eat ice cream cake with mommy.

Next on the docket... Valentine's Day. It's a lot of pressure for the average guy who's dating or married anyway. Add to that the growing expectations of my daughters, and wow! I feel an unbelievable burden to be romantic, creative, and both the knight in shining armor and the sweep-you-off-your-feet-so-no-boys-will-ever-impress-you dad. Two nights ago, Carissa asked me if I'll wear a tie when I take them all out to the Olive Garden to celebrate. Now that takes love and devotion... I mean me and a tie. That's like water and oil. So, of course, in my leadership/ pastoral voice I said, "of course, Sweetheart. Would you like me to wear suspenders and a sport coat as well."

An Afternoon with Rick Warren

I had the privilege of going down to Capitol Hill, DC yesterday to sit in a pastor's forum to listen to Rick Warren speak. He pastors Saddleback Church and authored Purpose Driven Life.

I'll be honest, I initial was hesitate to expect too much from him, you know, not believing all the press and hype. Then, I learned while listening to him, there's a reason he's gained the influence he has. God has entrusted him because he's faithful and has a great heart for people. He doesn't take himself all that seriously, and even stated, "see, I'm not that much to look at... but neither are you. That's right, God uses humans!"

I took four pages of notes, most I'll share with my leaders. So, here are a few nuggets:

• never confuse significance with prominence- our nose may be prominent, but our heart is significant,
• how would history be different if we said "no" when God asked us to obey?
  
• focus on growing people, not building churches,
  
• there are seasons to life, learn to respond appropriately during the seasons of life,
• spiritual growth doesn't happen by accident. We grow through commitment, not before commitment- we commit to something, then grow up,
• humility isn't denying our strengths; it's being honest about our weaknesses,
• "A rising tide raises all the boats in the harbor"- when we grow, we bring others with us.

Good stuff. It's great when, as a pastor, you get pastored. Yesterday afternoon, a group of us pastors got pastored by Rick Warren. That was refreshing!