When Mighty Church Crushes Mighty Men!

There's a lot of criticism, crazy expectations, and foolish demands of ministers/pastors today, and pressure is mounting. What are you doing different to minister to your minister? What makes you think its any better at your church then the next? Do his wife and kids a favor and let him, and them have time for relationships - NOT AROUND A MEETING TABLE.

"Somehow the leaders of the good news have become bad news to their spouses and children" Hugh Halter (Tangible kingdom)

Higher than average rates of depression, and higher rates of church drop out for pastors kids.

"When you don't have all the "stuff", you're left with a lot of time to spend with people." Hugh Halter in Tangible Kingdom"

Church, your "stuff" is killing people, and they are tired weary and worn.
If you don't believe me ask them.
There are simpler ways, follow them, please.

Wimpy Jesus Or Wimpy us?

"We have taken the infinitely glorious Son of God, who endured the infinitely terrible wrath of God and who now reigns as the infinitely worthy Lord of all, and we have reduced him to a poor, puny Savior who is just begging for us to accept him.
Accept him? Do we really think Jesus needs our acceptance? Don't we need him?"
(Radical, David Platt)

Church Planting or Raising Missionaries!

Which comes first? The more people live the missional life, the more churches will be planted.

"The goal of our missional life is not to grow churches. The goal of the church is to grow missionaries."

(Tangible Kingdom. Hugh Halter, pg 168 2008, Jossey-Bass)

Scraps!

"What would happen if together we stopped giving our scraps to the poor and started giving surplus?"(Radical, David Platt)

Lesser Dreams

"It's a foundational truth: God creates, blesses, and saves each of us for a radically global purpose. But if we are not careful, we will be tempted to make exceptions. We will be tempted to adopt spiritual smoke screens and embrace national comforts that excuse us from the global plan of Christ. And in the process we will find ourselves settling for lesser plans that the culture around us--and even the church around us--deems more admirable, more manageable, and more comfortable."

(radical, David Platt,kindle line 1018)

I'd Rather Stare at the Back of your Head?

I guess we must be much brighter today, and require more gimmicks to "Attract" people. In the old days it worked through building simple genuine relationships in the community. Conversation, interaction, and involvement with people's lives. Now it takes a guitar, sitting in the pew staring at someones head in front of you I guess. Thrills me to do that for sure..., I'm sure it thrills you too. It has to be about relationships and connecting, in his name. Nothing wrong with doing things well, but don't make juggling the stuff , for the people, the main thing, instead of time with the people.

"We have to remember that the ancient faith communities that set a course to change the history of the world did so without church programs, without paid staff, without Web sites, and without brochures, blogs, or buildings. They were lean! The point of going without all the stuff is simple but profound. When you don't have all the 'stuff' you're left with a lot of time to spend with people."

(Hugh Halter "Tangible Kingdom" Jossey-Bass 2008, pg 25

Remember who....?

"History admires the wise, but it elevates the brave."

Edmund Morris

Humm!

African Proverbs

"When a needle falls into a deep well, many people will look into the well,
but few will be ready to go down after it."

"When a lizard decides to wear pants, one should not ask him what we will do with his tail."

"It is not what you are called, but what you answer to."

African Proverb: "When a head is too big it cannot avoid punches."