What's in a Name?

This post is nothing deep. Just some anecdotal thoughts. Something to think about on a lazy Wednesday in June.

Heard about a new church starting in our area of the country in the fall. How exciting! As a church planter it is always cool to see new works launch. There is so much that goes into a successful launch. I'll call it the 3 P's Prayer, Planning and Preparation. Part of those 3 P's is picking a name. Something that says who you are and what your vision and mission is. Something you want to be distinctly you. Something that will catch people's attention. In recent years there has been a move to be more creative and come up with shall I say less traditional names. As a result there's some pretty interesting names out there. Frankly I'm not sure where some of these names come from and who am I to say. We had some very specific reasons behind our name (see our website for those details) so this could be the case for others as well.

Anyway I have noticed over the years that in spite of trying to be unique, all of a sudden we have an abundance of similar church names. Thirty years ago it seemed every Assembly of God was First Assembly of God. Every Baptist was First Baptist. Now it seems every church is Journey, Cornerstone or Epic Church. (Do a google search). Gotta hand it to the Catholics. They have so many saints I don't think any two churches have the same name. Maybe if we want to be unique now we need to go back to First Assembly or First Baptist. Maybe church names are like fashion. Eventually they come back in style.

Whatever the name we should always remember the most important part of the church is Jesus. It exists for Him. No name no matter how creative replace the passion we need to have for Christ. That's what will make a successful church.

Until next time,

Pastor Paul

Anyone can be a Father,but it takes someone special to be a Dad

Many years ago my wife gave me a picture frame with that inscription. It still sits in my office today. Don't know who said it, but it's good.

Being a dad does take someone special. Because it takes time and sacrifice. You have to give up some stuff for your kids. To be there and to spend time with them doing the things they like to do, making memories and teaching them the skills they need for life. Playing catch, going swimming or fishing. Coaching their team or simply showing up for all the games. Buying their first car with them. Showing them how to write a check. Playing dolls with your daughter (Hey that won me a pie once) or when they are older taking them shopping at the mall without mom. ( I actually love this one) Doing homework, picking them up from school or work (It doesn't always have to be mom). Teach them to drive. (Yikes!) Listen to what bothers them. Be supportive in the difficult times. The list can go on and on but hopefully you get the picture. Perhaps the most important thing we can do as a dad is model Jesus. Let our children see his power lived out in us. Let them know that our great wisdom comes from His greater wisdom. These are the things a dad will do.

Dad we may not be able to do all these things all the time but we should do our best. Give up a day of golf, a little sleep. Don't stay so late at the office. Sure you have to provide but in the end your time spent with your kids will have greater and longer lasting value. Our children grow up so fast. Before you know it you will be looking back on what you once may have thought was a big hassle as now a wonderful memory. Too many fathers are absentee. And that includes the ones who live with their kids. Don't let that happen to you. It's a big responsibility. Rise up to it and give it your best effort.

Today will be my first Father's Day without my son Michael. I will miss him. It won't be the same. But I have the memories. The memories of going fishing, coaching his little league teams, watching and cheering him play football, listening to some of his crazy ideas and so much more. That took some time and sacrifice. I'm glad I did those things with him. I'm glad to have those memories. I'm glad I did those things with Matt and continue to do so even though he is an adult. I'm glad I do what I do with Bethany as well.

So dads don't stop doing what your doing even if you think it doesn't matter. Because it does. To them. They may say otherwise but they want you in the stands cheering. They're looking for you. They may shrug off the advice today but be back to thank you tomorrow. Keep making memories and handing out the advice. They need it and want it. Don't just be a father , be a dad.

Happy DADS Day Dad!

Until next time,

Pastor Paul

Coming or Going?

Recently I saw the Pastor of a very large local church being interview on church growth. This particular portion had to do with church marketing. He stated that he did everything he could to get people in the doors. That got me to thinking. Is that what we're really supposed to be doing? Don't misunderstand, I believe in marketing church....to an extent. A sign out in front, a newspaper ad, a website, facebook and twitter are all great ways to let people know you are out there. However many ministries go way beyond that, doing whatever they can, spending tens of thousands of dollars sometimes to get people to come. There are many different ways people come to Christ and a church service is definitely one way. But Jesus didn't say do what you can to have them come. He said "GO!" This is the great failure of the American church. We don't go like we should. Instead we wait for them to come. Try to pray them in. The more I think about it the more I know we need to change that and I have. Now I pray for people to come, but I pray for workers for the harvest. Jesus told us to do that in Matthew 9:38. I also pray for divine appointments for when I am out and about to share Jesus. I look for the opportunities he puts in our path. If every member of our churches were active in sharing their faith OUTSIDE of church, His kingdom would grow and so would our churches. There would be no need for us to do excessive marketing to bring them in.

What do you think?

Until next time,

Pastor Paul

Staying the Course

Recently I heard about another pastor who is leaving his church. First of all he is not leaving for anything bad. He feels lead of the spirit that his time is up. That's cool with me but it got me to thinking. More often than not pastors are leaving their church for all the wrong reasons. Here's two that seem to be common and they usually accompany pastoring a small church. They leave for a larger church in pursuit of a "better situation". Or they feel they have taken the church as far as they can and leave feeling somewhat of a failure. Many of these never return to ministry feeling frustrated and burned out. I have personally known men in both these situations. I will never question what God speaks to an individual but very often our flesh is the real reason behind it.

Unfortunately today success in ministry is measured in what one author stated as "The Three B's" Buildings, Budgets, and Butts in the seats. Numbers and size. A bigger building, higher attendance and a big balance in the checking account is the sign of a successful church and a great leader. Some have used this as the measure of a healthy church as well. Success or church health is not very often connected to the impact a church has. Lives that were changed. People being sent out as pastors or missionaries. Community reputation. Nope. Still the most common question a pastor is asked is "How many you running?" On top of that there are all these websites and seminars telling us what we have to do so we can "get more people to come and stay". Every year the speakers at these seminars are mega church pastors telling us how to make our small church big. All this can be a lot of pressure for any pastor to live up to but especially the pastor of the smaller church. And the truth is that most evangelical churches in America are 100 or under. They far outnumber the big churches.

With all this it's no wonder that so many pastors move on so quickly. Looking for relief or a better situation. But what about staying the course? Sticking it out. Not concerning yourself with what man thinks but what God thinks. You just may be surprised. I also heard of a pastor who was going to graduation parties for kids he saw grow up in his church. Now that's what I'm talking about. We will never know how many lives we really touch if we give up too easily.

I have wanted to quit many times. I pastor a small church. I wanted to quit when as a bivocational pastor I was laid off from my job. What was I going to do? Oh yeah go find a bigger church who could pay me a salary. No. We stayed the course and a year later God provided a salary. I wanted to quit many times when I thought I wasn't reaching anybody. Not making a difference. Then someone would tell me how a sermon touched them or give a testimony of what the church means to them. I could go on and on. I didn't quit. I stayed the course always reminded of the words from the parable of the talents. "Well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with little" What are we doing with what God has given us? Have we been faithful? Or are we having a pity party? Or looking for a bigger pay day? The next part of that verse says this, "Now I will put you in charge of much" (paraphrase). If we stay the course God will reward us. Maybe in this life, but definitely in the life to come.

Let me encourage you whoever you are, whatever you do to stay the course. Whether it's ministry, a job, a single mom don't quit. God will reward your faithfulness and obedience to Him.

Until next time,

Pastor Paul