BLeach

Leave Something Under the Pulpit

I spend Tuesday and Wednesday mornings preparing my message for Sunday.  These are some of my favorite moments of the week.

Tim Dilena challenged me with something a few years ago that still guides my preparation process.  You should always have more under the pulpit than on it.  In other words, if you're studying well, you should be producing more content than you could possibly share in one sermon. 

There's no way I'll be able to say everything this weekend that the Holy Spirit is sharing with me this week.  But that's a good thing.  It brings a depth to our preaching.  And it leaves plenty of left-overs for my own personal growth!

Autobots Unite!

Found my old Optimus Prime Transformer in my parent's basement tonight. He's a little rusty after 20 years.

A Word to Pastors: Joyfully Prepare to do it Again

I had several conversations after my message yesterday that reminded me of the burdens people carry into our "family gatherings" each weekend.  Maybe it was the topic that inspired more of them to surface (God as Father), but I was reminded of how necessary it is for me to decrease so that Jesus can increase.  So many people need deep healing.

The local church is a hospital for broken people, and every Sunday a unique mixture of them file in.  Seekers.  Mourners.  Doubters.  Others.  Some are expecting an encounter with God.  Some don't have the faith to expect anymore.  Some are afraid to expect because hope has been overloaded by disappointment.  Not everyone wants the same thing.  But everyone needs it--a transformational encounter with the God of all comfort.

Pastors, I don't you think you should feel pressured by this thought.  After all, it's not in your power to heal anyone.  But you should be carrying a burden.

This morning I resonated with something Wayne Cordeiro wrote in his book, Leading on Empty.  Pastoring is like giving birth on Sunday, only to find out on Monday morning that you're pregnant again.

Pastor, I'm praying for you today.  May you carry the burden well.  Feel it deeply enough that your preaching is infused with compassion.  But share it with God so that you can do it again next week--with joy.

It's Not Too Late

Regret.

A sense of loss and longing for someone gone. Distress over a desire unfulfilled or an action performed or not performed. An expression of disappointment or grief.

It's a powerful emotion.

Sin is the cause of some regrets. If you feel disappointment because something happened that should never happen again, then drink deep of God's forgiveness and live differently.

But I think there are other regrets that could be transformed into a catalyst for action.

I shouldn't have let her get away.
I wish I would have finished school.
If only I hadn't given up on that ministry.
I can't believe I left that church.

Some regrets can still be resolved. If that's the case for you, I hope this post will inspire you to forward motion.

Give her a call and ask for forgiveness.
Show your transcript to an admission's counselor and register for a class.
Share the dream with some friends and see if it might take shape again.
Go back to a service this Sunday. I bet people will be thrilled that you're back.

Don't allow regret to cause you to regress. Instead, let it be the motor that propels you forward. Let it be a sunrise instead of a sunset.

I just feel like someone needs to read this today. Is it you?  If so, I'd like to speak this into your spirit:

It's not too late!

Gabby's Diapers and God's Love

So far this week, as far as I can tell, Gabby has done five things:

• Cry
• Sleep
• Stare
• Poop
• Eat

Occasionally she smiles, but according to our pediatrician it's just an accidental arrangement of facial muscles.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. She also spit up a few times.

But here's the interesting thing.  I love her.  I really do.  And while I hope my love for her grows, I honestly can't imagine it being any bigger than it is right now.

She hasn't done anything outstanding to merit my love.  She's hardly done anything at all.

I've often doubted God's love because I didn't feel like I was doing enough for him.  But now, when I change Gabby's diaper, I know better.

Abba

I've had the past three weekends off from preaching.  Enjoyed the break, especially the opportunity to spend more time with Leah and Gabby.

This morning I'm studying for a new series this weekend exploring the picture of God as Father.  A few weeks ago I started studying Jesus' interaction with the Father from his baptism to Gethsemane.  From start to finish, his entire ministry flowed out of an intimate relationship with the God He called Abba.

I love these study days--the insights, the growing burden, the vision for impacted lives, the joy of God's Word which is always alive!  And of course, this series gives me a great opportunity to reflect on this new season of my life.  I've learned so much about God since becoming a father.

Big Church

Yesterday our kid's leaders led "Big Church."  We included our kids in the adult worship gathering as they simulated the experience of one of their regular services.  It was a blast!

As everyone arrived the men received a green bracelet and the women got an orange one.  I considered putting a green bracelet on Gabby but Leah wouldn't hear of it.

P82, our kid's band, led worship.  We even had some messy games that loosened the adults up a bit. 

Pastor JT did an awesome job with the teaching.  A car horn would blow periodically throughout the service, at which time everyone had to stand up and repeat the service big idea: If your load is heavy and you feel stressed, give it to Jesus and He'll give you rest.

It was a fun, energetic way to celebrate the holiday weekend as a church.  And it turned out to be a great way to emphasize the importance of children's ministry.

We don't see children's ministry as a way to baby-sit people's kids while they attend a service.  For us it's a comprehensive approach to building young disciples of Jesus.  And our leaders are doing an amazing job.  I'm so proud of you guys!

And our kids inspired me!  Let's face it.  If we're not careful, "Big Church" can become a place for "big spiritual egos" coupled with "small doses of passion."  Our kids reminded us that we're better off when we enjoy our time together as God's people, and approach him reverently without taking ourselves too seriously.

That's why every adult in "Big Church" can receive from the even BIGGER hearts of a child.

Gabby's First Fireworks

Now I know if I get in a gun fight she won't wake up!

She's Melting My Heart

She Hates Us Right Now