I’m asking this question because this weekend Kelly and I had a great friend Sarah and her husband Adam visit our house for a night.  In this family were three little kids. Olivia, Isaac, and Caleb.  Those three with Sage were a blast to be around for the day or so that the Harrison’s were in town.  But more than that we learned that Isaac, LOVED firetrucks.  This is normal for a young child, right normal for a 2 1/2 year old boy no doubt.  I can remember how fun it was to see them, what am I talking about I am totally excited now when I think about driving one, don’t lie you are too… (no I don’t drive them but how much fun would that be, anyways back to the topic) That night my sister Ruth did a really awesome thing, she called some of her friends and made it happen.  She asked them to bring a firetruck to our house,,,, you know to surprise the kids especially Isaac.  So dinner is ready, we are about to sit down and to be honest the kids were already sitting and eating, but then it happened.  A firetruck is coming down our drive way with lights on and the siren blasting and the kids were excited, no doubt scared at first but then when that left excited about the firetruck, lights and sounds.  Yes, yes people called, and no our house was not on fire but thats not the point. Isaac got up in the truck with his mom Sarah and started pulling the horn (now in big trucks its this string from the roof that needs to be pulled for the horn to sound) .  I can’t imagine what the kids must have been feeling, having that much excitement that its not just a firetruck in the fire house but one that close to them.    

The point is how close were Isaac’s dreams that day, how big was his future.  You know the fact that he loved those trucks so much and then got to see them in a none dangerous/fire house kind of way, they came to him.  He was able to get inside and sit and play and dream….. Where did that go in you, where did that go in us, where did dreaming go?  God didn’t design us to conform but to dream, to be creative, to think outside the box, wait forget the box outside this world.  I was reminded this weekend through the eyes of Isaac, Olivia, Caleb, and Sage when they got to see that first hand how we should NEVER stop dreaming.  

What is it you want to be when you grow up? What is it you wanted to be when you were little?

The second and most important reason I’m writing about “Not Sure” is that I feel and I could be wrong (been there before, it was 1992 and I was, okay its a long story I will save it for later)  But I feel that most people who attend church are “Not Sure” of where to get plugged in, or should I even say it because if you attend church long enough you should know, but they may be “Not Sure” that the church even needs them,, ouch! That hurts because WE NEED THEM!  WE WANT THEM! WE WANT YOU!  I’m not going to make this about a constant problem that all churches have ( if you don’t have a volunteer problem, call me man, I want to know how you do it?) but most churches have the problem of lack of leaders.  I’m not even going to make this about our AMAZING leaders at New Life (specifically) our children’s ministry because truth be told without each one of them, we would be doomed!  No, not gonna talk about those issues, but I will talk about how God has created everyone, as a separate body part, All to work together in an amazing rendition of the greatest song yet to be played. (listen, don’t laugh, just listen ) that was  a great song, but it can’t be played if people don’t step up and get to work with what God has already given them!

Not Sure you say?  Well I say you already know what God has given you, what passions He has placed in your life.  I don’t believe that all people are called to Children’s ministry (Lord knows I don’t want all of you scary people) but God has given a lot of you the gift of influence, the gift of teaching, the gift of friendship, the gift of Jesus with skin on (should be all of you) and you have yet to give it back! ouch! I hope that hurts you, because if the heats not on no one is moving.  Not Sure?  Try something, anything, see what clicks, see what ignites that burning desire inside of you for something more, something different (trust me, its in there look deep inside)  Get up, get going, change something!

My perspective is simple, “BE GREAT”!  God made us that way, so just be it.  I love that today is a new day because my mistakes of yesterday stink! Thank God today is new, now its time to continue to BE GREAT, What are you doing for God?  Not Sure? Try something!

Today I’m writing about YOUR past struggles and you might wonder how I know, geez thats simple, I’m on staff at church, which sometimes I wonder if you really even need to be on staff but plenty of people tell me things I don’t need to know, just in case I needed something to pray about. (truthfully that is just a stereotype and not true, I don’t really hear what you have done, well not as much as you think) wow I think I heard that collective sigh of relief.  but the “SO WHAT” is about your past sin and why the crap are you still holding on to it????

Really “SO WHAT” that you failed in the area or fell short doing this or that, move on, keep going, allow God to come in with His amazing grace and mercy and clean you, but don’t stand in your own mess and not take the step out, complaining you can’t because you did.  I can’t do this because I did that, or I can’t do that because I have done this.  STOP IT, wait I’m sorry if I’m using all caps it should be “SO WHAT”  God’s plans did not stop for you the moment you messed up, are you telling me that the creator of the universe who knew you before you existed, was surprised by your sin and rearranged what He had planned for you.  (I don’t want to get into a theology debate with anyone b/c I would win, okay just kidding, I would lose and no need to debate)

It’s Monday, now step outside of what you have done, and move on.  Allow God to come in, clean you and keep going to further the Kingdom of God!… Thats just my perspective but I think we all need this kind of kick in the butt some times,,,,,, “SO WHAT”. (thats seven if your counting)

The question is, is this a good thing?  Is this something you want to do?  Well I’m reading a book by Craig Groeschel and its called “IT”.  This book is actually showing me some insight on what I thought was already imporant but in a sense to scared to follow through on.  The last chapter I read was all about how church’s that have “it” ( you know that one substance you can’t tell what “it” is but you know, that you know that the church has “it”) do less programing and less ministries to focus on what they do GREAT! What does this mean, well I’m glad you asked now you can put your hand down ( see I’m a kids pastor and even after the kids ask their questions they still have their hand up, crazy right, I know ha ha)  This means that by doing less you are actually doing more!  What a great thought.  I have from year one of full time ministry always asked leaders not to stretch themselves for the fact that you are able to impact more when you give yourselves to ONE thing rather than TEN things.  Such as, if you have a dollar to spend and you spend it all in one place you are able to give/gain something of more value then if you take that same dollar and split it up to 10 dimes and spend it in 10 different places, you have not made the same impact.  Whats the danger to this?  Well one that I have experienced, is that people will automatically think that you are doing nothing, scary right?  Thats why we try to put so much on our plates, thats why we try to stay busy and work, and work, and work so that people around us will think we are hard workings, that we accomplish a lot (when we know again that the more we do, the less we do) and we build our own selfish empire that has no foundation and for that matter very little anything else other than the dust we are stirring up from running around.

What am I trying to say? I know this post has been a little more random but don’t you dream of being GREAT, is’nt that everyones desire, don’t we all want to be stinken awesome at ONE thing.  I know I do, and I know that I’m good at a lot of things (thats not prideful settle down) but I don’t want to be good at a lot of things, man I want to be Great for Jesus number one, I want to be Great for my wife, and Great for my kids (just Sage right now ) and then I want to be Great in ministry!  Nope, not there yet but that is what I’m working towards.  What are you working towards and the biggest question yet, What do you need to drop, so that you can be “caught empty handed”.  Thats just my perspective, enjoy it, and if you didn’t, I don’t want to hear about it j/k leave some comments!  Enjoy your Day!

Okay so last night was a terrible night, dogs barking, dogs not sleeping in the house and acting crazy and all of this leads to NO sleep.  moving on not that bad but when we woke up we realized there are not baby wipes.  This may not seem like a big deal to you but for a parent who KNOWS they need to wipe their child, um its a BIG deal.  Why did I just tell you that silly stuff well you know as well as I do that on Monday’s it does not take much to set us off to a point were the day is ruined and maybe even the week.  I know your shaking your head, now just say it “I agree with you PJ”.

This day however has turned around, and I believe its all about FOCUS.  I love that word because it could be used for so many different things but its the truth in life and in ANY situation.  What you focus on is what you will see, kinda goes a long the lines of that “old” song wherever you are, there you will be.  Yeah I said old and if you remember that song YOUR old! its time to face it, come clean with yourself.  You all know exactly what I mean though, no not about the song, lets move on but about the fact that what ever you focus on is what you will see, is what your mind will be on, is where your LIFE will be.  Wow I hope that hurt,,,,,,, enough to move.  You see I had a choice, think about the crappy day that started my monday or move on and be thankful for so many other things and its not hard.  This weekend we will have our biggest Easter Egg hunt ever! I’m so excited. (side note. pray for no rain).  We as a church have so many AMAZING people and leaders in Children’s ministry it almost makes me feel bad for other church’s HA.. no really like we have some of the best leaders  and last but not least, have you seen what my heavenly father has done for me lately or wait, any of us.  How much are we loved.. wow

Where is your focus today?  Where has it been?  Are you over looking all the many blessings that God has brought into your life so that you can complain about the ONE thing that has gone wrong.  Wait, I’m not trying to say what your going through is not legit or even real.  What I’m saying is in the light of Gods grace, mercy and love,  what do we really have to be down about.  Where is your focus?

We get into the mode that we just need to keep on keeping on, that we need to just hang in there and what we are doing is good enough to get by.  SHUT UP.  Is it really good enough, are our lives really good enough just to get by, was the price that was paid for our lives just good enough?  Why do we live in a world, a society where we believe b/c we press the like button on facebook that someone knows we serve God and love them?  THATS NOT THE CASE!  You know what happens when you press the like button.  NOTHING!  Its been long enough that we have used cover ups and make shift fox holes so that we can pull the pin out of a grenade and throw it in any direction and hope for the best.  Don’t just keep lighting sparks around people but lets set some spiritual forest fires.  We would much rather not make waves in the pool so that we don’t disturb people.  Jesus didn’t call people to stay the same, He called them from their normal, He called them from their way of doing life and He gave them life more abundantly.

No i’m not sure where all of this is coming from, but you know the moment I’m talking about when that sun peeks out behind the clouds and your attitude changes almost instantly.  yeah I got that glimmer of hope going on.  Catch it, do something with it, stop wasting it.

I want to finish with this, I know my post today seems kind of random and that your not sure what the answer is and the answer is DO. I mean just DO it.  Stop waiting for someone else, stop looking for the best way just Go for it and bust open some doors.  I know what your thinking its just that 4 shot espresso cookies and cream that I’m drinking, well that helps but the truth is that you know and not so deep down do you have to look to find that I’m right. God made you for something AMAZING, why are you settling for OKAY? for Hanging in there? STOP IT!  Go get it and DO it for the Lord.

Just my Perspective!

PJ

Other than the fact that I never blog but desire to do so much more, there are other things in my life that I fall short of my own dreams and desires which makes me think and wonder how many times we do that to God.  I mean seriously our best dreams for our life don’t compare to Gods by any stretch of our imagination but when we don’t follow His will or simply do what he asks of us to do we fall, we fail and we slow down the process or even stop it all together.  I’m not writing this assuming that we should all be perfect and never fail God, and of course we all know what assuming will do for us “listen, you were thinking it”.  but what I am pondering is that We should not be okay with failure, yes it happens but don’t you want more, don’t I want more for what God has for my life.  I know, I know we are going to fall short of the glory of God, but it doesn’t say when you fall short be okay with it and learn to live with it.  I suggest we run from the natural feeling to be “okay” with it and run toward God’s vision for our life.

I’m reading a book by Steven Furtick right now called “Sun Stand Still”. I know if you have heard me reference it before your not going to be surprised by me doing it again, this book is amazing!  I don’t plan on planting a church like Steven did but what I do plan on is dreaming a dream so big that it scares the mess out of me.  I want to be intimidated by the vision God has for my life and walk that vision out knowing that without God, I CAN’T accomplish it!

So today I say “hey, you fallen, GOOD now get off your butt and keep moving”.  Don’t get comfortable on the ground and pick up the pace so next time you fall its not in that same spot.  Dream big so that you CAN’T accomplish the vision on your own! wow Nike had it right when they phrased “Just Do It”.  Get it to it people

Okay this is seriously what is happening, I’m sitting at my PC, okay don’t hate my mac is at home today but I’m sitting here thinking of something to blog about because well its been since July, surly I have something.

This year has been amazing, first with my family, my amazing wife and my daughter is my every day reminder of time, she is growing up so fast!  Second with ministry, Kidmin really is the only place to be.  We have gone from a day at Chuck E Cheese to a missions trip to South Dakota and every where in between.  AMAZING.

I do have a thought to share and its something that I deal with even if you perfect people do not .

What you FOCUS on, you will ALWAYS find.

You know what I mean, yes you in the 3rd row with the red hat, you know.  I’m talking about our perspective literally being our reality.  Our mind set is our emotional landscape.  We are going to lean on our own feelings and emotions regardless of our surroundings and possible reality.   When I’m in a good mood, wow life is amazing and things couldn’t be better.  How ever when I’m in a bad mood, people don’t like me go ahead take a moment to reflect on those moments.  Okay now stop.  No really stop it.  I am not that bad!  FOCUS.

But it goes in other ways too, like when I want to find something wrong with something, guess what, I can.  Its not hard.  When I want to find the good in something, again, I can.

This is basic people.  wait why are you taking notes, its not that difficult.  Here is the lesson, SHARPEN YOUR FOCUS.  What is it that you are focusing on?

FOCUS

WARNING! TRANSPARENCY AHEAD!

I HATE asking for help because people already do so much!  See I’m stuck with fireworks this year, but I’m not stuck in the manner of I wish I was not doing it.  I love selling them and I’m really excited about the possibilities that they bring Children’s ministry.

I HATE asking for help because people feel guilted into saying YES and then they regret it and build bitterness towards you!

I HATE asking for help because I want to be there, and working hard along side of them.

I HATE asking for help because leaders have JOBS, yes I said it they already work full time and do so much for their families.

I HATE asking for help because it means I CAN’T DO IT myself!

I should LOVE to ask for help because it spreads ownership through out the leaders.

I should LOVE to ask for help because what God has given me in ministry is NOT MINE ALONE!

I should LOVE to ask for help because it builds a team.

I should LOVE to ask for help because it gives people something to believe in!

There are many other reasons I should LOVE to ask for help but these are just a couple.  So remember when I say that I HATE asking for help its not because someone has let me down but its because of my guilty conscience, and me worrying that I will put someone out!

I am reminded constantly that I LOVE all of Children’s ministry leaders and helpers and would not trade them for anyone else!

That is just my perspective, take it or leave it

We found out that on day 3 that orange peels in mouths are a very photogenic.  Those are great pictures.

Our sports are rockin it right now, Basketball though the AC is broke in the gym they are having a great time and the prek-kindergarden group really loved their new goals.

Soccer is going amazing as well our only group outside and they are loving it, with plenty of water breaks they are learning some great stuff.

Cheerleading is our lone group that has AC but thats okay they are working hard and enjoying it.  They have closed out our rally’s the last two nights with cheers and I am stunned at how awesome they are doing.

THE LEADERS are AMAZING.  They have worked really, really hard and it shows.  This is the best Mega Sports Camp that we have done and its because of all of them from the Head coaches all the way to the huddle coaches, the refreshment coaches, registration coaches.  I honestly do not have enough room on this blog to write about how grateful I am for ALL of their hard work.

We discussed 2 more key focus’

1.  Plans take time to develop

2.  God is always in control of the plan.

Alicia Moseley just said “Don’t be tardy for the party”

See you tonight, 5pm-8:30pm