Hospitality Team

Part of my new job is hospitality. Specifically, how do we get people who visit our church for the first time on a Sunday to keep coming? We believe in the vision God has given us so we want more people to be a part of that.

I'm in the early stages of developing a 3-tier approach:

*Front-Door Greeters

*Internal Information Center

*1st and 2nd Time visitor follow-ups

We will see how this works out.

Happy Un-anniversary!!

I almost got married 8 years ago yesterday. I'm glad it didn't work out. I don't know where she is but am sure whoever she is with is better than me. I wasn't ready.

Even more so I have found somebody that is better for me too.

I really think that though it was the most painful time in my life it was also the time that God's grace was most evident. And I thank HIM for this.

Entertaining Angels or just a con-man

Our church is in a very poor part of town. We always get people coming in (almost daily) to ask for food, money, or just basic help. Yesterday at about 8:00am in the first service a couple with a 4 year old son wondered into our church. The dad came to me declaring that it was his time to submit to Jesus and be born-again. His exact words were, "I came here today to proclaim that I want to be saved." Now what I found particularly disturbing about this is the fact that he wanted to come to our church building to be saved. As if our church carpet has extra Jesus fibers to save people. If you have seen our building you will know that there is nothing godly about this building. In fact it's awfully ugly. I highly doubt the architect was a persevering saint. Upon explaining that he wanted to be saved he fell to his knees at my feet and started to cry. His wife started to screaming "Praise Jesus" and dancing. I quietly reminded them of our open but cautious stance on the gifts and asked them to follow me to my office.

In my office they told me that they left their apartment because they feared for their lives (I believed this). They told me the sad story of their life for the last year and I honestly believed them. What I was unsure of was their motive. I told them they needed to hear the word and they assured me that this is what they wanted and nothing else.

After I was done praying with them the wife told me she was excited to get into our service that morning. The husband looked at her and said "But baby I am so hungry." She said I am hungry for the word. He said but baby I need food. After a few more minutes of their arguing I said "you need money for breakfast don't you?" He eagerly looked at me (with a look of mission accomplished) and said yes. I gave them some cash from the church and they never came back to the other three services we had that day.

Honestly, if this couple came to me and said, "We hate your church" and "We just want some food to fill our bellies" I would have been more eager to give them money. I struggle to know what to do in these situations. I try to always land on the side of helping not knowing for sure whether I am helping a con artist (who needs Jesus) or a saint (who needs Jesus).

Community Groups

I am now leading Community Groups in our church. I'm fearful yet excited to see how this goes. I think my greatest insecurity as a leader is knowing I am young and look even younger and yet I'm asking wiser, smarter, older more experienced people to follow me. We had our first CG leader meeting this last Tuesday. I was encouraged because as the meeting went on I could tell the leaders were more encouraged. My friends Tammy and Neville were especially encouraging.

Here is a list of what I want to have accomplished by this summer for our Fall relaunch:

*Leader's manuel

*Visible presence in the church building

*Add 4 more groups

*Member's manuel

*Kick-off Video

*Training Sessions (at least 2)

I need God's grace to do this. I am a poor leader without him.

New Responsibilites

I'm very excited about my new job. June 1 I am moving out of Youth Ministry for the first time in years and going into adult ministries. I will be in charge of Community Groups, Assimilation, Weekend Hospitality and Deacons. I pray God will give me the energy, vision and direction to make His church better.

Ruby Update

If it weren't for the unending need to eat everything in sight she would be the perfect dog. For a while I thought something was wrong with her because of her calm quiet nature but then I realized it was her disposition.

Revelation?

I can honestly say that nothing has frustrated me more than studying Revelation. It is so confusing, unclear (to me) and seemingly inconsistent. I naturally question everything. I question why God even added this to the Bible.

Regardless, I have never been so impressed to rely on God for help. I find myself in a Spirit of prayer like nothing else I have studied. Maybe that is why God inspired seemingly difficult texts?

Tiger Woods

I find this new Nike commercial about Tiger Woods interesting. I want to know what is Nike's point?

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5066319&categoryid=2378529

I think what kills me is that I know the answer for Tiger.

My Girlfriend Kati

Altar Calls

I can't think of many things more useless than the altar call. I blame Charles Finney.

Jr. High Ministry

High School and Jr. High Ministry is a world of difference. I may be a rarity but I think Jr. High is much easier than High School. Most people despise Jr. Highers (mainly because it seems like they are hooked up to an endless supply of Monster) but I love them. I love that they still want to tackle me in the hallway. I love that they laugh at my ultra corny jokes. I love that they are still innocent enough to accept the gospel. Sadly, most don't stay that way.

I love High Schoolers because even though they are too cool for pretty much anything they are hungry and desperate for God and community. They are honest with their shortfalls and needs. Ministry is highly rewarding and I can't believe I get paid for this.

Go Texas!!

I can't believe I am saying this but I will be cheering for Texas tonight in the National Championship. I am doing so mainly because I like the Longhorn's coach Mack Brown. I read an article on ESPN describing Mack Brown the person. Apparently, upon winning the National Championship in 2005 Brown made his players promise that would not be the greatest day of their lives. I love that!

Hail to the Redskins?

Doug Gottlieb on ESPN radio this morning said that the new Redskins hires are the perfect storm. Don't we hear this every year? Regardless, I will die loving my skins.

New Years Resolution

Interesting thoughts for the New Year from Kevin DeYoung here.

Bible Reading

My walk with Christ has been highly impacted by the Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan from NavPress. I am impressed and amazed by the continuity of the Bible (and more importantly loving Jesus more). It takes you through the Bible in a year with each day having a portion of the OT History, OT Poetry, NT Letters and the Gospels.

I've also noticed that my emotional health is affected when I am not in God's Word. Hopefully, reading God's Word will never be work but rather response and desperation for Him.