Entries categorized as ‘Uncategorized’
I’m in way over my head by doing something I’ve never done before. I’m co-coaching a team of five boys in U6 soccer.
I’m a healthy guy- I watch what I eat, exercise regularly, and get a solid night’s sleep. At practice tonight we did a drill (we call them “games”) where a couple of the boys chased me around and tried to take the ball from me. Those little rug rats ran me silly. I was panting, sweating, and pulse thumping in my temples.
When I came home and Kristen asked how it was, all I could tell her was that it was a blast. It was fun. I could see one boy was aggressive, another was a great defender, and another who could see the field and lead the team.
Kristen poked fun at me and asked how I could coach when I have literally never stepped foot on a soccer field before. Honestly, it was a big step out of my comfort zone. My comfort zone is teaching the Bible and thinking big picture thoughts about the church. This was uncharted, scary waters. The saving grace is that my co-coach grew up in Europe playing soccer.
One great way to grow in your faith is to step out of your comfort zone. Sometimes we use “spiritual gifts” as an excuse to not go where we can grow. If you are stagnating in your faith, step out into uncharted territory that will demand you rely on Jesus and other godly leaders. Serve wholeheartedly in an area that is totally for God and not just for your enjoyment or gifting.
Ephesians 6:7, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men…”
So who needs to step out? Who needs to make a call to their pastor? Men, which one of you is going to lead the way for your family to grow by stepping out? Let’s hear from you! Inspire us all.
Categories: Church · Orangology · Uncategorized
February 18, 2009 · 1 Comment
I just wanted to let you all know that I’m taking a little break from blogging for a while here at OrangeFamilies.
I’m taking a break because I want to make sure I’m on target with the original vision of what OF was suppose to be. The intent was to partner with parents to lead their families. I plan on spending some time thinking and praying if that original vision of the blog should continue to guide us in the future. Vision drift is easy. It requires constant corrections.
I’m also taking a break because I want to make sure I’m creating conversation and community here. I want to steer clear of this being a one-sided monologue. I need to look at whether or not I’m posting comment/ discussion worthy ideas. My dad told me that it you expect IT to happen, then you must evaluate IT. It’s time to evaluate.
So I’ll be back later. In the mean time, hop over to TWITTER and we can follow each other (aflynt) or hook up with me on Facebook. I want to keep the relationship going.
If you want to chime in on the future of OF, leave a comment. I’m not abandoning ship. I’ll still get them and would appreciate the in put.
Categories: Uncategorized
So I got up at 3:30am because American Airlines moved my flight earlier-ouch.
We got to the airport and paid to check my bags- scam.
I paid $9.42 for two cups of coffee- rip.
The plane is now delayed because a baggage truck hit and dented the plane – someone’s fired.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHILE DELAYED WITH KIDS?
Categories: Uncategorized
February 13, 2009 · 1 Comment
… Generocity?
Kristen’s parents gave us an unexpected and very thoughtful gift today. Inside I was overwhelmed. Kristen shed a tear or two. It made me wonder if my lack of showed emotion sent a signal that I was less thankful than I really was.
Are you good at receiving a gift? When someone does something totally unearned, how do you react?
Being thankful, graciuos receipients is part of being a follower of Jesus. After all, everyrhing he is and everything he does is grace- free love.
Categories: Uncategorized
I just finished a project that has been in the works for a while. I’m excited to see the actual final product in hand soon.
I have spent years as a pastor seeing individuals and parents feel unequipped and unprepared to help their families grow in their relationship with God. Kristen and I have felt this way as parents, too. It happens because we don’t know where to start. It happens because we don’t have good resources. It happens because many resources often don’t seem relevant or applicable.
This book walks readers through events that took place during the last week of Jesus’ life. Each section includes an brief introduction, scripture to study, questions to think about or discuss, activities for the whole family to do together, and even a special section just for students. It is designed to engage people and families during the week before Easter.
I am praying that this is a way for the church to partner with individuals and families. We’re going to be giving them out at our church a few weeks before Easter. If you want to see a sample of the cover, introduction, and one chapter, you can email me. If you want the full deal for your church, email me, and I can get you as many as you need.
Categories: Books · Orangology · Uncategorized
I’m reading through the Psalms right now- one a day- and I am loving them. I think I came across some serious insanity or some hardcore reality today that is making me scratch my head wondering, “Am I missing something here?”
In Psalm 25, David (of Goliath, King David, warrior, Bathsheba fame) talks like he is absolutely perfect, blameless, sinless, Mr. I’ve-never-done-wrong. But all you have to do is gloss over the story of his life to know that isn’t true.
So what’s the deal with David? Is he insane and completely out of his mind to be oblivious to what he did in his life? Is he not the sharpest tool in the shed, forgetting some pretty major episodes in his life? Is he riding a little too high on his horse from being called “a man after God’s own heart”? I don’t want to be blasphemous or too rough on the guy, but come on, what’s the deal?
Then it hit me, how often do I walk around thinking I’m so perfect that I’ve never done anything wrong? How frequently do I forget that being forgiven doesn’t mean I’ve never sinned? I wonder if people look at me and wonder if I’m off my rocker because I think, act, or speak like I’m blameless.
I don’t need to relive my past that God has forgiven. But I don’t need to walk around acting like I don’t have or haven’t had anything in my life to be forgiven of. How would those far from God if I acted less like David in Psalm 25? I also have to think a little bit about what God thinks about David and I acting like Psalm 25.
Categories: Bible · Uncategorized
Relational ministry is hard because it rejects the “cult-of-personality-everything-hinges-on-one-dynamic-youth-leader-that-every-kid-loves” model of ministry. Instead, it places ministry on the shoulders of a team to relate to people like Jesus did.
It doesn’t mean there isn’t a role for staff. In fact, it takes a very unique type of staff person. Ephesians 4:11-12 and Exodus 18:13-26 unlock many of the keys to this type of staff person.
Ephesians is clear that pastors are equippers, leaders of leaders. Somehow we adopted a notion that pastors are to be the executers of ministry, the doers. It turned churches into places where people consumed services provided by the staff. But biblically, pastors or staff have the mandate to make sure that all people of God have the tools to do what they are called to do. A pastor should lead, serve, direct, support, cast vision, and resource that vision.
Jethro in Exodus 18 helps Moses see that ministry is a shared experience in following God, and that ministry centered on one person is a recipe for wearing everyone out- ineffective ministry.
It wears out the leader because it makes it dependent on one, fallible person. That’s a ton of pressure, too much. It’s why student pastors leave churches on an average of every 18 months. We put unrealistic expectations on them. We ask them to do what Jesus didn’t do. We inflate their egos and then punish them when they don’t meet expectations.
It wears out those who come because of the one leader. Eventually their needs aren’t met because one person can only do so much. They feel unloved and uncared for by the one staff, they get burned, and eventually may leave the church, associating bad systems with God. Studies show an individual can know about 100 names and have meaningful relationships with about 12-15 people. How then can ministry-by-one be effective in the long term?
It also wears out everyone else who could have and wanted to be a part of the ministry. Gifted people will leave a ministry if their gifts aren’t used. If the ministry hinges on one person, that ministry will generally attract a limited number of similar attendees. But if you increase the leadership base, growth becomes exponential, not just additional. Not serving is actually a tiring thing and wears you out.
So what is the answer? Let the staff equip the leaders. Let multiple leaders be relational, creating more ways to engage more people.
Categories: Uncategorized
This is why I don’t surf at the pier any more…
Categories: Uncategorized
The Catalyst Conference starts today. You can check back here for my thoughts and comments throughout the next few days. Better yet, checkout Conference Channel to watch live interviews with speakers and video of what is happening.
Categories: Uncategorized
