JCISONLINE

I’m confused about the term pre-conference. That’s what we are attending today at the Gwinnett Center in GA. I don’t know how something is determined to be pre-conference but I am excited to see what it is about.

here’s a list of cool things that have happened thus far:

• The Varsity- incredible place to eat you must check it out if you are in Atlanta.
• Diet Coke with Lime and Milano cookies- great combination of snacks for me.
• They printed our name tags and labels so incredibly fast and they only used iMacs
• Internet access means I’m still connected to the world from my hotel room.
• Breakfast at the hotel.

Let me first lead with this. I love golf. I can’t wait til the next time that I can play a little bit. If you are in the Greenville, SC area and you like playing golf, drop me a line and hopefully we can play 9 some time.

I think golf is alot like where I’m at right now in my life. I have the tools that I need and I think I am growing and getting better, but I learn something new that I can’t do every shot that I take. This is a weird analogy so try to follow me.

Most people don’t golf for a couple of reasons:

1. They refuse to do something that they might fail at. (afraid of trying new things)
2. They refuse to do something unless they know that they can be perfect and won’t put in the effort to just be ok. (perfectionist)
3. Or it simply requires too much of an investment (time, money, etc.) (poor stewards)

• I didn’t have the “credentials” for ministry so I figured it wasn’t time for me to start
• I wanted more schooling and experience to start in my ministry career even though I had a calling on my life from God.
• I knew that ministry isn’t the most lucrative position and knowing that I was about to get married I would much rather not have to worry about finances.

But God completely changed my priorities through no effort of my own. He made a way where I thought there was no way, and the way I thought there was, was my own way and not His. And as far as the being just ok part. I don’t won’t to be ok, but when God calls you are ready whether you think that you are or not. So don’t think that I am telling or encouraging anyone to be just ok but instead to be content and understand that God can use you where you are at. You don’t have to be a finished work to come before God (thank you Jesus! )

Often in an evangelistic setting the production is the main focus. That is not necessarily a bad thing. We want people to come and hear Jesus for the first time and hopefully make a decision for Christ led by the Holy Spirit. I think that sometimes discipleship is like the linemen of the church. 

Its the long term solution to a lot of the churches problems. When we teach our people on a consistent basis and build a relationship with them, that is what changes people. As my children’s pastor says “People leave a job much faster than they leave a relationship”

I guess this fact of discipleship is even more important in children’s ministry. As Proverbs says “Teach a child when he is young and he will not depart from those ways” (J.C. paraphrase). We must make it a priority to let our teachers know and understand how significant their efforts are to the kingdom of Christ. What is your view on discipleship?

Just reading in my b-i-b-l-e this morning about Samuel and just seeing how the people of Israel had asked for a king selfishly even though God had appointed Samuel and that God was their king. Even though Israel had done so many crazy things Samuel had this word from God:

22 For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. (1 Samuel 12:22)

I am so glad that God will not reject his people. But we also learn in that chapter that God will raise his hand up against His people if they disobey. But again I am thankful that our God will not deny us. He claims us as His own and will not reject us for the sake of His name. How awesome is that?

I found myself thinking last night about the ramifications of certain ways of thinking theologically yesterday. I visited a sight that I do not go to very often. I won’t tell you the name because that is not what my blog is about. But all I found was a discussion on who was right or wrong and then it ended in a political discussion on who should be leading the SBC. 

I was thinking to myself, “Self, why if theology is their main point of discussion must they rip and tear other people to shreds talking about their personal lives and their ministries as if they alone are judge?”

I admit to not being very knowledgeable about many theological issues. But I can’t help but think about the Sanhedrin. (This is funny because they talked about on their website how someone they were bashing was so much like the Sanhedrin. )   Why are they bashing so many people on such a public stage? Why is their job to determine who is right and wrong?

I just have a problem with people like this. Our job is to build others and in order to do that you do need to tell them the direction they are following is wrong sometimes. But you need to push them closer to Christ in the process not just away from people. I don’t see how this particular part is edifying the body of Christ. But I might be missing the boat, it wouldn’t be the first time.

out

out

As most of you children’s workers out there know, summer time is a big time for children’s ministry. From camp, to VBS (or whatever you call it), and ending with another big recruiting pitch to volunteers. For the first time I get to be in on the ground floor. 

Before I go any further, I have said for the first time about 50 times now in this blog over the past two weeks so I will try to pull back a bit. Anyway

I, being mostly involved with the tech side of the programming in the Children’s ministry, get to be in on the creative meetings, the ideas and brainstorming that makes everything move forward. From graphics to materials and most importantly people, there is alot of work that goes into our programming. I wanted to know from you guys: What is your creative process? Does it come from a meeting or random emailing, teleconferences or what? Do you free write or discuss potential ideas? I want to know what gets your creative juices flowing.