You Can Know God

Busy and Fun Weekend Ahead

This weekend is going to be crazy busy and fun. Just so you know...

1.  Tonight, we have the date night for the Date in a Can.  The staff is watching kids.  This means that I will eat popcorn and play some kind of Disney movie.  Tonight after that is over, I'll drive around town and put out a bunch of Easter @ the Movies signs.

2.  Later tonight, John Evans and his family are coming in town. John is speaking Sunday at The Leaf.  We're all hanging out at the house where I will continue to pressure him to move to Cartersville.

3.  Saturday, John and I are going to the Final Four in Atlanta.  I am rooting for three of the four teams.  Somebody please beat Florida.

4.  Sunday is Oak Leaf day.  It will be a good Sunday and I hope you're there.  We're gearing up for Easter.

5.  Monday I am going to play golf.  I have played two times since moving to Georgia and I'm trying to get back in the swing of it.  (terrible joke I realize).

6.  Monday night is the National Championship game.  Ever since I couldn't go to the superbowl when I had a free ticket a few years ago, I am making it a mini-mission to attend all of the major sport championship games.  Except for Nascar.  I don't think that's a sport.  Neither is cheerleading. 

7.  Tuesday night, I am meeting with the newly formed KidVenture Lead Team.  Six people who are going to lead our children's ministry.  We're looking for a full time staff person now, but we have some great volunteers who will help us grow.  Dana has recruited some great people to help over there, and that's a testament to her influence.

In addition to all of that, I will probably rise the Pollen off my Jeep at least a dozen times.   So, there you go.  That's my weekend.

Kidmo vs. Elevate

We may be making a change with our elementary curriculum.

Kidmo.  5 weeks.  $249.  We've used this for 6 different times.
Elevate.  8 weeks.  $149.  Just ordered a copy to check out and maybe use this summer.

Both look pretty similar in format, quality and content.  Anybody have any experience with either or both?

Biblical Church

In college and seminary, I was forced to write papers according to the Chicago Manual of Style or some joker named Turabian.  I had to format my papers correctly, footnote properly and write the title page neatly.  I was told exactly how to write the paper, but the content was supposed to be mine.  In the church world, it's exactly the opposite...we're given the content, but we're not told how to write the paper.  That's because the Bible is not a style book.  It's a Truth story, not a detailed description of how to organize, lead or plan out church in the 21st century.

I've been thinking a bit about Biblical church...reading through the book of Acts and such. Our church looks a little different from some of the other churches in town.  And there are some websites out there designed to point out how unBiblical we (and others like us) are.  We often get accused of doing things to bend to culture, therefore ignoring the Biblical way of doing things.  The more I think about it, the more I realize that so much of what we do in churches - all churches - isn't Biblical.

As far as I can tell, the early church:

• Never held a Vacation Bible School, but so many churches from so many traditions do it. 
• Didn't sit in pews.  Pews aren't Biblical!
  
• Didn't even have a real church building.  Early Christians hung out at synagogues and in homes...they didn't build giant church buildings.
• Didn't form denominations.  No where in Scripture do you see denominations.  They aren't Biblical.
• I can't find out what style of music Jesus liked. As far as I can tell, the first church didn't have big gatherings that
  had corporate singing.  Hymnals didn't arrive until later.
• Make committees of deacons.  Deacon boards aren't Biblical.  Deacons were servants who served food, not decided carpet color.
• Have members.

I am not saying that these things are unBiblical.  They just aren't prescribed in Scripture.  We may do some things as a church that might be foreign to you, but there isn't a church around that doesn't do things differently from church described in the Bible.  Just because the first Christians did it a certain way doesn't mean we have to copy that same thing.  The Bible isn't a style book or a command to do church a certain way.  I heard Andy Stanley say once that, when it comes to church structure (and I'd add style) the Bible is prescriptive, it's descriptive.

You have freedom to sing hymns or rock out.  Or rock out to hymns.  You can be elder led, deacon led or staff led.  You can have church on Thursday if you want. Have VBS or a fall festival.  Or cancel it.  Wear a suit, a robe or jeans.  None of these things are Biblical.   Because the Bible is not  the Zion Manual of Style.

Leadership Lessons

I am processing through teamwork and leadership within our church staff.  Thought I would let you in on a little something I am working on for our staff.

One of your greatest values to this organization is owning your job description.  When you own your responsibilities and assume all liability for them, you’re freeing everyone else to devote that same attention to their area.  Every important thing that must be done in our church is reflected on someone’s job description.

These are the things that we're going to hold you accountable to accomplish.  Your job description is how you’ll be evaluated.  It’s what you’re paid to do.  And it's what we all need you to do in order to help our church fulfill it's mission.

Teamwork is not being involved in everyone’s business.  It's not knowing the intricacies of every ministry and being a part of every decision.   It’s bringing things to the table and talking about what’s needed.  At the end of the day, one person implements and leads.  Teamwork is sharing ideas – it’s valuing one another’s opinion, not completing tasks that naturally fall under someone else’s umbrella of responsibility.  We collaborate when needed, but we don’t do one another’s jobs.  We are all leaders in this church and we all feel responsible for the overall growth and health of the church, but the main way that is accomplished is by taking care of every detail relating to our area.

You owning your things means I can own mine.

Comcast still stinks

Since my internet has been out for four days now, I made an appointment for a tech to come out today between 9-1.  I'm out of town but my wife has been waiting at home.   Apparently, they tried to call my cell phone this morning to verify the appointment.  I had it off since I was speaking this morning.  And since they couldn't reach me to verify the appointment, they just canceled it.  Nice.  Could they look for any more opportunities not to do work? They rescheduled for tomorrow with my wife, meaning they want her to sit around and wait for four more hours.

I called them back and they told me verifying the appointment was their policy.  Never mind the fact that they didn't tell me this before.  What good is a policy if the customer doesn't know about it!!!  I wanted to tell them that I have a policy not to pay my bill until I receive a copy in Morse Code.  I wanted to tell them I have a policy not to do business with companies that can't seem to tie their shoes.  Instead, I told them that if they couldn't send a tech out to my house today, then tomorrow I would call to cancel, and sign up for DSL.  I will watch tv with tin foil and a paperclip before giving these yahoos any more money.

To top matters off, I still have not received my refund from the January and February payments that were lost when Adelphia was bought by Comcast.  Apparently, faxed confirmations from Bank of America are not good enough.  They must have a policy to rip people off.

Seriously, Comcast...you are a worthless company that cannot take care of customers.  Anybody giving you money for anything should seriously consider.  I think I may start a petition. Or a boycott.  Or I'll start forwarding them all the spam e-mails I get.

18 away

Just realized that we're just a few comments away from 1,000 comments.  I now offer a fantastic prize to the 1,000th commenter...an all expense Hawaii vacation! (or a copy of Everyday Jesus.)  Whichever I prefer.  Just leave a witty comment or an intelligent statement and you may be on you way.

Even a Kid Can Invite

My five year old asked me if she could take some of our Easter @ the Movies invite cards and give them out to her class.  I didn't prompt or beg her to do it at all.  So she invited all her class to come to church, and she's asked for more of the oval shaped invites to invite the other teachers she knows.

This past Sunday, one of the little boys in her class and his parents visited Oak Leaf and my little girl was so excited.  She came running up to her mom saying, "He's here!"  I told her that I was very proud of her for inviting her class, and inside my heart, I can't wait until she goes to public school Kindergarten next year so she can invite even more people.

Listen...if a child can invite her classmates to church, then you can invite someone.  Easter is coming up and it's a great opportunity for you to bring someone with you.  Go find the biggest pagan you can find.  Go ask the person you are sure will say no.  Invite the neighbors....just go over to their house and knock on their door and ask.  Don't say no FOR people...just ask them and leave it up to God.  When someone that you do invite decides to come, you'll be just as excited as my little girl.

Spiderman 3

The final trailer is here.  This is one of the movies I'm looking forward to seeing this summer.  I like movies a lot.  I have several autographed movie posters at my house and in my office. 

Poker Table Help

Anyone in Cartersville, or surrounding areas know where we could borrow a real poker table for one day.  I know I could rent a cheesy one, but we'd really like to borrow a really nice looking one as a prop for an upcoming message? 

Thanks Dana

Dana Sutton has been directing KidVenture for us since our launch team days over a year ago.  When we started, there were about 25 children - all kids of launch team people.  Then, starting with our Grand Opening last August, the number of children in Kidventure has grown dramatically.  Every week, there are about 100 children over there.  And there are 62 adult volunteers that help out with that ministry on a weekly basis.  It's clearly no longer a part time job for a mother of four children.

Dana has officially resigned from our staff, and yesterday in the service, we thanked her.  I told our church and I reiterate that we would not be where we are without Dana and her leadership.  I know lots of people share that belief.   Her husband Jonathan has also helped us out in a big way.  From security, to outreach, to creative stuff...you name it.  Jonathan has a heart for ministry....He's a good dad and husband. 

We're now on a search for a full time Children's or Family Pastor.  If you know a sharp leader, let me know.  We need someone to build on the foundation that Dana has laid down.   So thank you Dana and Jonathan for all you've done, and I know God will continue to bless you guys.