Pastor John Atkinson

The Power of a Team

One of the things I've been reminded about as I have taken on the leadership role over the Multi Site Ministry, is the power of "Team." Nowhere in the Bible does God tell us to go it alone. Sure God sent a few people out into the desert alone, but He didn't leave them there. I don't know how, or if it's even  possible, to grow a church without an amazing team.

Taking on the Multi Site Ministry at BAF has been a huge, yet awesome journey. Starting two new c

Campuses last year stretched my leadership, my skill set, my time, and my family. But in spite of all the obstacles we faced, and there were plenty, we have two new churches that both have around 250 people who attend regularly and call them their church. Since July of 08 almost 200 people have entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ a these two campuses. This doesn't happen without the amazing Multi Site team.

At our 5 Points Campus God blessed us with an amazing campus pastor named Jason Curlee who came to us with tons of experience. There is no way I could have pulled off the huge construction project we undertook out there without him by my side. Then on top of having an amazing campus pastor, God blessed us with some amazing families that stepped up and sacrificed in a huge way to get BAF 5 Points up and running. Night after night for four months the place was full of men, women, students, and children, all working like crazy to build their church. This project doesn't happen without this amazing team.

I doubt if we would have even got started out on Padre Island if Pastor Dave, our Hometeams Pastor, hadn't stepped up to take the lead so I could focus on the 5 Points build out. Pastor Dave leads a Hometeam ministry with a couple of hundred small groups in it, yet he took this on because he's a team player. Padre Island is doing great because Dave surrounded himself with an amazing team. There is an awesome group of people out there who selflessly left the main church campus that they loved so much, because they want to reach their own community for Jesus Christ. Most of these people have been attending the Corpus Campus for many years so this wasn't a small sacrifice.

One of the key factors in these two campuses being up and running, is the willingness of Pastor Rudy and the Kingsville team to allow themselves to be put on the back burner for a long time so we could focus on the two new sites. Kingsville has been up and running for a couple of years, so for most of the year Pastor Rudy and his team have pretty much been on their own. They have done it, and done it with a smile, because they're part of a team.

As a member of the Management Staff here at BAF, I have watched each one of the Management Staff Pastors step up and support this project with their unique expertise in their own areas. They've done so, because were a team.

Then comes the people of BAF. They have stepped up to support the Multi Site Ministry by showing up to work, bringing food for those working, praying for us like crazy, and helping us pay for them.

And last but certainly not least is Pastor Bil, who has supported this with every ounce of his heart. He didn't just speak the vision from the stage, he has stepped up to make sure it happens, and to make sure we had everything we needed to be successful.

I knew I couldn't do this alone so I surrounded myself with a great team. If you want to change the world for Jesus Christ, surround yourself with a great team, and you'll be blown away by what God can do through them.

John

Taking New Ground

Recently I received and email from a concerned Christian in the 5 Points area where we are starting a new BAF Church. She was concerned that we were just going to take Christians away from the existing churches. I do understand how she might feel that way, but I want her, and anyone else, to know that BAF has never been about moving Christians from one church to another. I've heard some similar things from some folks on the Island.

The amazing growth at BAF has not come from stealing Christians from other churches, it has come through a focused plan to reach the unchurched. Everything we do is designed to reach people who do not know Jesus Christ as their savior, or have left the church and don't attend anywhere. In pursuit of that vision, of course there are some Christians who leave a church and come to ours, but it's clearly not our goal to take people away from other churches. The fact is that a very high percentage of the people who left their church to come to ours, end up leaving us sooner or later too because they realized our worship style never really fit them very well.

Studies show that 50% of the people in most communities in the US have no church affiliation what so ever . We did some population studies in the 5 Points area for example, those studies showed that there is approximately 50,000 people in the surrounding zip codes. That means there is somewhere in the neighborhood of 25,000 unchurched, and maybe unsaved people, that need Jesus Christ, none of which are attending any church in the area. Our church's specific thumb print is to reach these folks. God uses different churches for different roles in the Body, our unique role is to reach the unchurched, and that's who were hoping to reach at these two new sites.

We are not moving into Padre Island and 5 Points to compete with other churches, were moving in to join an already existing team of awesome churches to reach all of God's people. We want to join other pastors and churches not as competitors, but as teammates serving the same awesome God. I hope to build some great relationships with some awesome pastors in both of these areas.

Were moving to these two locations to take new ground for Jesus Christ. New ground means people who are on the path to spending eternity apart from God. Reaching lost people is what drives us every one of us, and our multi site ministry is about taking our unique thumbprint to new locations all over South Texas and beyond.

John

Legacy

Each time we transition presidents there's always talk about what legacy the outgoing president will leave. I guess if you're the president you may actually leave a significant legacy that history will remember, but how many of us will really make an impact so big that the world will remember us long after we're gone. This got me thinking, if that's the case, what will my legacy be?

For the most part, I don't spend a lot of time thinking about how the world will remember me, but like most people I do want my life to have had some kind of meaning. So for me, I guess I hope I'm remembered as a pastor who was able to see potential in people who didn't see it in themselves and was able to help a few find that. Maybe a few people might remember me as a person who tried his best to love people the way Jesus teaches us to in Matthew 22:39, especially those that were the hardest to love. I hope my family would remember me as a good husband, father, and I hope someday Grandpa, and maybe a few people might remember me as a good friend. But here's the reality, when I leave this earth, the world will go on and my memory will fade. Thinking about this led me to ask myself this question; when I'm gone, will be my legacy be, what I left in this world, or who I left in this world?

When it's all said and done, I hope my legacy will be leaving this world with three amazingly Godly young men who will hopefully accomplish a thousand times more for the cause of Jesus Christ than I did. Leaving Godly men in this world to carry on what I hope I have passed on to them, and for them to pass it on to future generations of our family and the Church, is really the only legacy that matters to me. 

Last night I was talking to my Mom and in our conversation she said that in her discussions with God recently she had been questioning Him about what her purpose was, and she said she came away feeling like God said her purpose was to have me because of the plan He has for my life. She has no idea how much that affected me! I'm humbled beyond words that the greatest Mom to ever step foot on this planet, yes I'm biased, feels like I'm her legacy. The cool thing about it is, if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't get to feel the same way about the three legacies I'm getting to leave behind too.

What do you hope your legacy will be? I'm curios to hear how others see this. 

John

Praying With Purpose

If you're a Christian chances are you pray, and in those prayers you more than likely ask God for certain things. So heres two questions I want you to ask yourself. Do you ever pray prayers, that if you're completely honest, you don't really think will ever be answered? And second, have you ever prayed prayers asking God to bless something even though you know you need to do something first so He can bless it ? I'll be honest and say yes, I don't always pray as expectantly as I should, and sometimes I ask God to bless something even though I haven't done all I can do first.

I'm not talking about our selfish prayers, like the Harley Davidson Heritage Softail Classic I've been praying for, or the call from Dana White asking me to be the Pastor to the UFC! I'm talking about prayers that would be considered in line with the heart of God. Come to think of it, me being the Pastor to the UFC could actually be in line with the heart of God! If anyone knows Dana White tell him I'm available?

But on a serious note, is it possible that sometimes we may not get to see just how big our God is, because one, we aren't pray expectantly, or two, because we aren't doing the things we should be doing prior to asking God to do what only he can do?

Here's some examples of both:

1) Say you've been praying for a car, maybe not the million dollar Ferrari of your childhood dreams, but a good car that will get your family around and get you to work. Do you already have a set of fuzzy dice hanging in the garage so they can hit your mirror when God delivers that car? No I don't have fuzzy dice hanging from my mirror but hopefully you get that the point is to pray expectantly.

2) Let's say you're a pastor of a church and you're praying like crazy for God to bless you with more people; would you be ready for them if they showed up? Maybe they haven't come because God knows that while you want them, you're not really ready for them yet.

3) Say you've been praying for God to bless a new business you're trying to start; are you already taking big steps of faith and doing some things now, so there's actually something for God to bless? Goes back to asking God to do all the work for you.

4) Say you're praying and asking God for wealth; what have you done with your life prior to asking God for wealth that would make Him think you would use it to honor Him? God doesn't bless the desire to give, He blesses givers.

The point is, we need to be careful that our lack of faith, action, or both, isn't the missing key to getting answers to the prayers we're praying. Honestly I'm as guilty of this as anyone else on this, so I'm writing this, to remind me!

John

The High's and Low's of Ministry

I can't believe it's been two weeks since I've had a chance to post, and for some crazy reason you all keep checking in to see whats up on the blog. I apologize for it being so long, but I honestly think I'm the busiest I've ever been since coming on staff six years ago. Not complaining though, this multi site ministry has me pumped like I haven't been in a long time. I love what Pastor Bil told me the other day at the ground breaking for Padre Island, "this taking new ground." I love taking new ground for Jesus!!!

Yesterday was a crazy day because it was a day of great highs and extreme lows. We had our first official service at BAF Padre Island in our temporary location at the Sea Shore Learning Center. We moved from the planning stage to the actual church stage and it was awesome. We expected it to be crazy, and we thought we'd probably look back and wonder how we got through it, but the service went off flawlessly and everyone loved it. We had 65 people show up to our first service and no one but us even knew we were starting. We were really just doing a dress rehearsal of sorts and we didn't even have worship yet, and no one cared. The prevailing comment was, "this feels right." We actually had about four people show up who were not even part of the core group. Children's was great, hospitality was great, Greeting and Parking were great, and not one person complained about the message being on video. In fact they were clapping and amening Bil.

Later last night the low hit when I found out that one of our long time faithful members passed away. She had some problems with her medications and they think she got sick and aspirated. From an amazing high to a very sad low. Jeanie De La Garza and her husband Juan have been a part of the BAF family for a long time. One of their daughters and her family have attend BAF almost since the beginning, and her other daughters husband served on our staff for many years. We love all these awesome people and have each and every one of them in our prayers. Last night I watched two churches come together as one to serve this family, which is awesome, because there's really only one church anyway.

The reality is that ministry, like life, is it's about highs and lows. You relish the highs so you can get through the lows. I'm so thankful that God is who He says He is, because He is big enough to hold you up during the lows. I know the families will feel God holding them up during this difficult time because they all love Him deeply.

My brother who doesn't believe in God, once asked me something to the effect of what would I do with my God if one of my boys died, I remembering answering him by saying, " if one of my boys died, I can't imagine what I would do without my God." I'm thankful that Jeanie's family won't have to worry about going through this tough time without their God. And I'm even more thankful to know that Jeanie is with that same God now.

John

Team: The Key To a Great Church

What makes a great church? In my opinion, it's a great team!

Let's first go ahead and accept that clearly the Church is Jesus' bride, and no church can be healthy apart from Him, but past that, I believe what makes a great church, is a team of great people leading it. People coming together with different gifts all focused on the same vision and goals.

Team has always been something I believe in deeply, but recently it has taken on fresh meaning. As I have been blessed to take over the Multi Site Ministry here at BAF I have once again been reminded how much I love and appreciate the team God has blessed us with. Starting two churches from scratch has reminded me how little I know about Media, Lighting, Children's Ministry, Student Ministry, and construction, and that's just the ones I can think of right now. It has also reminded me that it's not really necessary for me to know all those things, because I'm surrounded by a great team of people who do know how to do this stuff and are willing to step up to help because they believe in TEAM too.

I wonder how many churches never move forward because there's so sense of team? I say that because I've gotten to know a lot of pastors over the years and many of them say they don't feel like they're a part of a team. That's hard for me to understand because Jesus gave us the example of teamwork when He surrounded himself with His Disciples. Even Jesus, the son of God, didn't try to go it alone. He built a team around him because He knew he had a limited time here on earth, and that if the Gospel was to spread across the world it had to be taken there by others. That team started with 12, shrunk to 11, and has grown to hundreds of millions. That to me is a pretty good example of Team Building.

I'm thankful Jesus taught us about TEAM, because I would be in a world of trouble right now without the team He's blessed us with here.

John

The Joys of Parenthood

Normally I write about church stuff. I love the church and everything about it, but sometimes you need to step back and enjoy the little things in life, like parenthood. Let me warn you because I'm going to use a word some of you will probably find offensive. This horrible word is "poop." So if this word bothers you, first get a life, then click the X on the top right corner of your screen and go to some smart pastors blog. If you thought you were already at a smart pastors blog, you would have just ended up disappointed and left anyway.

I have a three year old little boy named Caleb. Caleb is the love of all our lives, but he's also one seriously stubborn little dude, must get that from his Mom, lol. So Caleb hasn't had any desire to potty train. He's got #1 thing down, that's my best pastor description, but he's not been interested in the #2 thing. Last Thursday he was #1ing by himself, apparently when it comes to #1 he's a big boy and we're not welcome in the bathroom any longer, during that event he makes a very small #2. Of course were thrilled, way tired of dirty diapers, so we celebrated this act as if it was the Berlin Wall coming down so he would be encouraged to do it again, hasn't happened but that's another story.

The next morning we go to My Favorite Muffin for breakfast. There were two very nice ladies next to us who struck up a conversation with Caleb. Actually he struck up a conversation with them. In the midst of this discussion he decided to tell them, and everyone else in the place, that he "pooped in the potty." You could have heard a pin drop in that room as the food each person was getting ready to eat stopped short of it's destination. Remember the the EF Hutton commercials where they say, when EF Hutton speaks people listen and everyone stops what their doing and turns to listen, well, that was an EF Hutton moment, not for Caleb, he couldn't have cared less, but for April and I.

The ladies next to us lost it and started laughing and telling him how proud of him they were and the whole place, thankfully, went back to eating. Here's the best thing that came from that. Those moments remind me that when I look at my role as Pastor, it pales in comparison to my role as Daddy and Husband. I would trade everything I have ever worked for here at BAF to see my sons become amazing men of God, and to have my marriage continue to thrive and grow. These kinds of things remind me that I need to remember that April and the boys must alway take precedent over my role as pastor, and if they don't, those things won't happen.

It never ceases to amaze me how the small things in life like this remind me that the big things in life are not at work.

John

One of the things that truly saddens me is Christians who think they have figured out God in His entirety. None of us have it completely right because we all bring our own sin to the translation of God's Word, and last time I checked, were all sinners. Let me humbly say, I'm not even close to having God figured out, and it bothers me when people think they do.

This week I received a comment from my post "Leading Alongside the Holy Spirit." Normally I would have just hit delete because of it's negativity and judgmental nature, but I actually think it's worth discussing because of it's premise. Here's what the commenter said, sadly it was done anonymously, which normally would have instantly killed it's credibility and sent it to the delete file, but I thought it would make for a good discussion. It begins with a quote from my post.

"I began asking God to help me understand, and to know, the Holy Spirit in the same way I know Jesus."
I find this to be a very odd statement for a pastor. The business of the Holy Spirit is to get you to know Christ in all his fullness. The more you understand and know Jesus the more you understand God. That is the the role, as laid out in the scriptures, of the Holy Spirit.

No, the Holy Spirit has not been given the responsibility of making our dreams come to pass. His role, again, is to glorify Christ. God is bigger than our puny man-centered dreams. The Holy Spirit is not our personal genie.

So here's where I stand on this comment. Please hear my heart before I answer these comments. I'm not angry, nor am I responding to an attack, I just see this as a great opportunity for a blog post. So here we go!

1) Yes I'm a Pastor, but no, I don't have my walk with God all figured out. Pastors are no more or less human than anyone else, and those that begin to think we are, generally get a fairly substantial humbling from God. Yes, I know I will be held to a higher standard of accountability, but my journey with God is the same as everyone else's because I'm a pastor, not Jesus. My walk with God is a long distance race not a sprint, therefore I'm always learning. Every day is a new day on my journey to become more like Christ, but sadly, I usually fall well short of Him. For me personally, learning to walk in the Spirit in a new way, is helping me become a better husband, father, and pastor. The commenter says the Holy Spirits job is to glorify Christ not make dreams come true, and to that I say, Christ is most glorified by his people living out their dreams, in concert with His leading through the Holy Spirit.

2) I believe God does care about my "puny man centered dreams." I believe He cares because my dreams glorify Him. I dream night and day about building an amazing multi site ministry that will be a catalyst for God to transform lives throughout South Texas and beyond. I dream of my sons becoming men of God who live their lives for Christ, and raise their children to do the same. I have a dream for a business that will be successful beyond my wildest dreams, because I want it to be a part of a church planting movement that will counter the staggering number of churches (2500) that are closing their doors each year in this country. And I've already poured my heart and soul into a life changing small groups ministry that has exploded, and it was nothing more than a dream six years ago. I dream often, and I dream big, and I believe God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit, all care about my dreams, and I don't believe they see them as puny.

What makes me sad about this comment is it reminds me that there are Christians out there who have quit dreaming. Instead of dreaming and trying to change the world for Christ, they're focused on criticizing other Christians who are simply trying to make their way down the road to eternity that passes through a broken world. I'm not just talking about this commenter or my blog, I'm talking about every blogging pastor I know who is regularly blasted by others that are supposed to be a part of one church, the Body of Christ.

But here's the deal with me; I will never quit dreaming because I believe God changes the world through dreamers who have the faith to put action with them. Every successful pastor or leader I know, or know of, dreams big dreams for God. I will keep dreaming, and I will continue to ask the Holy Spirit to be my guide in pursuing those dreams, that does not however, have anything to do with asking the Holy Spirit to be my genie.

A genie would lead me where I want to go, The Spirit will lead me where God wants me to go.

So what do you think about all this?

John 

Leading Alongside the Holy Spirit

Recently I was at a funeral where I had a discussion with an awesome pastor who was telling me how he was trying to learn to walk daily with the Holy Spirit in a new way. In the discussion he was talking about himself, but it quickly became clear, the Holy Spirit was talking to me too.

This began a journey in my life. I'm trying to learn how to live my life in sync with the Holy Spirit in a new and more personal way. I began asking God to help me understand, and to know, the Holy Spirit in the same way I know Jesus. This prayer led me to a book that really spoke to me. Recently I attended a conference in Dallas where Pastor Tommy Barnett spoke. Pastor Barnett is the Senior Pastor of Phoenix First.  He and his son Matthew also started the Dream Center in downtown LA which is an amazing ministry that reaches people on the fringes of society in that area. Several of our pastors have visited the Dream Center were completey blown away. I was so moved as I sat and listened to this amazing man of God speak on leadership from his 53 years of ministry experience. When I got back I ordered some books and one of them was Reaching Your Dreams: 7 Steps for Turning Dreams into Reality by Pastor Tommy Barnett. 

As I began reading the book, I was wondering what God was trying to teach me because I've read many books on following your dreams. About half way through the book, it began to overwhelm me as I realized why I was led to this book. Pastor Barnett began to talk about the beginning of his journey, in his 40's and well into his ministry, to get to know the Holy Spirit in a new way.  I was moved because of the journey I was already on. From that point on I couldn't put this book down because I realized some of my prayers were being answered.  God was teaching me about my journey to know the Holy Spirit through Pastor Barnett. In his book Pastor Barnett says to make the Holy Spirit my every moment, of every day, partner in life and ministry, not just a one time salvation experience you get when you do know you feel the Holy Spirit. Not that those moments aren't real, I've had many, but to take the Holy Spirit with me every moment of every day. Here are some things Pastor Barnett said about walking with the Holy Spirit.

1. The Holy Spirit is a person.

2. We should walk and talk with him more than any other person.

3. He has been given the responsibility of making our dreams come to pass.

4. Invite the Holy Spirit into your prayers.

5. Invite the Holy Spirit into you dreams.

6. Consult the Holy Spirit before approaching the throne of God so you don't go with selfish requests.

7. Ask the Holy Spirit to approach God with your request prior to you asking.

There is so much good stuff in this book that I can't begin to get in all in here, so just go buy the book. This journey into understanding the Holy Spirit in a new and fresh way is one of the greatest things that have ever happened to me. I am seeing things with a new clarity. If you are feeling stagnant in your walk, your prayer life, your job, your family, or any part of your life, ask God to reintroduce you to the Holy Spirit.

Be careful though, this journey to a new and very personal relationship with the Holy Spirit is already kicking me out of my comfort zone. My sense is you will probably get kicked out of yours too!

John

Multi Site at BAF

As many of you know we started our second location in Kingsville Texas about two years ago. The church is doing great, but we had to step back from multi site vision because it took everything, and everyone we had to get moved into the new facility that were in now. Preparing and moving overwhelmed us for the better part of two years. Were in the new building and moving forward now, and with that, the Multi Site vision is back on, and I've been given the responsibility of leading it.

I am beyond pumped about this challenge! I feel like I did when I first came on staff six years ago to take over a Hometeams ministry of 8 groups in a church of 500 that was growing like crazy. I remember my first day on staff sitting down at my desk, that was actually on wheels because there wasn't an office for me, and wondering what the heck I had gotten myself in to. I knew I didn't have the training or experience for this, so with nothing but my calling, I started moving and trusting God, and He always came through. It's amazing how things seem to go full circle because, the mountain in front of me is huge, I'm in way over my head, I don't have the staff I need, or the money I need to pull this off, but just like six years ago, I have the only things I do need, a really big God.

I'm loving this because by nature I'm a fighter, and no one has told me I can't do something, or criticized what it is I am doing, in a long time, and this may sound really crazy, but I miss it. Yea I know I'm nuts!

Last week we had our first official core group meeting with the people from Padre Island, Flour Bluff, and Port Aransas, that want to help us plant a BAF Padre Island. The leadership and experience that showed up at that meeting was off the charts. God is already moving on the Island! He is going to provide what everyone said wasn't possible, a place to have a great church on Padre Island, at a price we can afford.

This Friday I will meet with the core group that will start BAF Five Points. God has already provided an awesome leader for that group. His name is Jason Curlee and he's a leadership machine. We are truly blessed to have him. He has already assembled a group of 25 or so people who will be the core of the team that will lead an awesome church in the Five Points area.

Both of these churches are going to be awesome and I can't wait to see where God is going with the multi site ministry. Up next is Alice and Orange Grove. If you're from either place, email me and I will start building a core group list. We have a few names and I look forward to adding more.

This week is going to be nuts as we are having a Revival. Yes, you heard it right, a REVIVAL at Bay Area Fellowship. God is moving in some amazing ways right now and we're just trying to move with Him.

John

Are You Holding on Too Tight

Pastor Dave (BAF Hometeams Pastor) was reading in Joshua 7 last week and we were talking about what he got out of the scripture below.

Joshua 7:20-21 Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. ²¹ Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest.” Joshua 7:20-

Achan coveted these things so much that it led him to steal them. What hit Dave was how much more Achan must have coveted the silver because he intentionally buried it deeper than the rest of the stuff. Dave was saying how he must have buried it deeper because he saw something more to be gained from the silver than the other stuff. His point was that sometimes things draw us so powerfully, that were willing to ignore what God says about them because we don't want to give them up. The unwillingness to unbury our coveted things can lead to sin, and in Achans case, his death by stoning.

So here's what hit me in our discussion on this scripture. Clearly when we covet things like Achan did it brings sin into our lives. Coveting things of that nature will slowly draw us away from God, and towards the world, which is a dangerous path. But here's what hit me, about this scripture. Are there things we should covet, or bury deeper if you will, that do honor God? What things of this world should we treat like Achans 200 silver coins?

Here's some things that hit me. Maybe we should covet our marriages the way Achan coveted the 200 silver coins. Maybe if we coveted the Word of God with the same zeal that Achan coveted the 200 coins, we might see blessings the size of the curse of death that Achan got from coveting wealth. I wonder how blessed our lives would be if we coveted our time in service to our church's, God's hurting and lost people, our communities, and the world? What would happen if we coveted our prayer time with God like we covet our money? Can you imagine?

Tough question; are there things in your life that you're coveting that are like Achans 200 silver coins? Could be almost anything so don't just think money here. When I read the rest of Joshua 7, it makes me want to be sure I'm coveting those things that are worth coveting, and letting go of the rest.

John

What's Wrong with Us (Christians)

This morning in devotional something was shared from Illustrations Unlimited that, in my mind, speaks worlds to the problems the church in America is facing.

One Sunday Morning a preacher in Virginia; began his sermon: "There are three points I want to make today: First: Because we're not really hearing the Word of God, the whole world is in danger of annihilation. Second: Most people don't give a damn about that! Third: You are more worried aout the fact that I just used the word damn than you are about the world being in danger of annihilation."

Maybe if we could get off our holy high horses, some of us might actually remember what we were like before Christ changed us, and the rest of us might realize that while Christ is changing us, the job is not even close to being done.

Perhaps we should care more about the people speaking the words, than the words people are speaking.

John

Faith Lesson at the End of a Gun Barrel #2

If you're reading this for the first time it won't make much sense so read the previous post first.

Many things happen to you when you look down the barrel of a gun in the hands of someone who just told you he was going to kill you. Moving past it I have asked God what He was trying to teach me through it. Today I'm going to share Faith Lesson #2.

When that gun was in my face and the man holding told me he was going to kill me, I had an unexplainable peace. I'm not trying to sound like a cowboy here folks, but I was never afraid. Sounds crazy doesn't it. At that moment I knew God was in control, and more importantly, if that was to be my last day, I knew where I was going, and I was ready. Now don't get me wrong here, I'm very very glad that gun didn't go off, but because I love Jesus with all my heart, I'm prepared to come home when He says my time is up.

I want to share what God has showed me through this from two view points:

1) If you're reading this and you're a convinced non believer, I want to ask you honestly if you think you can look down the barrel of a gun, at a drunk angry man who says he is going to "blow your blanking brains out," without wondering somewhere down deep whether you might possibly be wrong about God. I also want to challenge you here if you said yes, until you've experienced what I did last week, you can't really answer that question honestly. If this has you wondering if you're as convinced as you've always said you are, please start trying to find out now instead of when it's too late. There would not have been time for me to ask Christ into my heart in that moment, so I am so thankful I had already done it. If you're wondering where my peace came from, It's  not that I'm super human or fearless, I'm simply a sold out follower of Jesus Christ, and He gave me the peace I could never have summoned up on my own. I turned my life around at 38 so I know where you are in your non belief, but what I've learned is that Jesus loves you and all you have to do is begin an open minded search for the truth. Please don't wait until it's too late.

2) What about those of us who call ourselves believers? James 2:14-17 says this,¹⁴ What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? ¹⁵ Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, ¹⁶ and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? ¹⁷ So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

The scripture is basically saying that going to church isn't enough to make you a true follower of Jesus. Our faith must show itself through our actions in how we serve, how we give, how we love, how we care, and how our faith is a witness. Summed up it comes down to whether our lives are a living sacrifice to God.

If you were to look down the barrel of a gun today, would you be ready to go before Jesus and answer for how you've lived out your faith? I'm clearly a sinner, and I'm not even close to perfect, but I can say that I am living out a life that is sold out to Jesus. I am so thankful in that moment that I knew I was ready because it would have been too late. Below is a scripture that should challenge you to ask yourself that if you were to face the situation I did last week, are you ready to answer to Jesus. Don't let age fool you folks, today could be your day.

Check this out as you see what Jesus will say to some who thought they were ready! Matthew 7:21-23  ²¹ “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. ²² On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ ²³ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

Maybe my experience will challenge you to ask yourself if you're really ready. While I clearly did not want to go yet because I still have a family to take care of and boys to raise, spiritually I was ready. Again, I can't say how thankful I am for that because at that moment, it would have been too late. My prayers are that this event in my life will challenge someone to either pursue a relationship with Christ, or renew a relationship with Christ.

John

Faith Lessons at the End of a Gun Barrel

This will be long so please just bear with me. This is worth the read because it's freak of nature crazy story.

Last Wednesday we had Lincoln Brewster come in and do a free concert for our church and the community. It was an awesome concert, but more importantly, it was done by some awesome guys. Lincoln and his team are some of the nicest, most down to earth guys you have ever met. We ended up becoming friends with these guys.

So after the concert a group of us take them to Water Street Oyster Bar for dinner. It was me, Pastors Bil and Paul and their wives, my twin fifteen year old boys, Lincoln and his band. We had a great time hanging out and chowing down with some Godly and awesome guys.

So about midnight we all head to the parking lot to leave. As we are walking towards my suburban we see a guy and a girl leaning on the passenger side of my truck making out. The people on that side of my truck, as well as all of those getting in Paul's vehicle on that side,  politely excuse themselves and begin to get in both vehicles. On the other side I get in the drivers seat and fire up my suburban and Mike the drummer gets in behind me. As this happens this guy begins to scream at us to get out of the vehicle because in his extremely drunken state he thinks this is his vehicle.

This goes on and on and people are freaking out and scrambling. The guy then opens the back seat passenger side door and begins to scream at me to get out of my truck. If you know me you know I don't take to kindly to someone cussing at me and telling me to get out of my own truck. So I begin telling him this is my truck not his. He continues to scream some serious obscenities at me telling me to get out of my truck.

After about the third time I tell him this is my truck, he pulls a gun from his pants, crawls in the back passengers seat opposite of me, sticks the gun in my face, and tells me he is going to blow my blanking brains out! I'm in the front seat with my door closed and an automatic pistol in my face. I have shot guns my entire life so I know how easy a mistake can happen with an automatic pistol so I'm not moving because I don't want to startle him and because the whole thing is so surreal. About that same time the woman he was with hits her panic button on her keys and a van four spaces down and on the other side of the lot begins to honk repeatedly.

Obviously at this point the woman realizes that they have made a big mistake and begins to yank on the dude with a gun in my face trying to get him out of my truck. All I can think of is, woman quit yanking in this dude he's got a gun in my face in case you haven't noticed.  Finally I guess he realizes something is wrong and the gun comes down. At that moment I got out of the truck and immediately started looking for my sons, which was all I could think about throughout the whole ordeal. I was more concerned about my boys than I was the gun in my face and was freaking out because I didn't know where they were. Fortunately they had booked like rabbits. As the guy is trying to get away we almost ran flat over the top of each other because I was looking for my boys. As he's getting in the honking van I follow him and get the license plate and we call the cops. They miss him because we called the van white and it may have been light silver. They are assigning a detective to this but when it was all said and done, no one got hurt, which is all that matters.

When something like that happens I immediately begin trying to figure out what God is teaching me through the experience. There are several things God is teaching me through this and I want to talk about them this week, but the first and most important one is this; If God has control over life and death, then why do we sweat the small things so much. The only reason that gun didn't go off in my face is because God didn't allow it to, and it's just that simple. The enemy would have gotten immense glory had the gun gone off because first, my sons would have seen their Dad get killed which would have been horrible, my family would have been devastated, Lincoln and his team would have been devastated, the church would have been devastated, and it would have been horrible for the community. Yet it didn't happen even though I'm sure the enemy wanted it to, because God is in control not the Enemy.

My hopes are that if you read this and there's something big going on in your life that you're not sure God has control of, I'm here to tell you from my personal experience, that once you've stared down the barrel of a gun, it gives you a new perspective on many things. It has made some big things I'm facing seem really really small. I'll elaborate on some things that came from this experience later this week because God continues to speak to me about this.

I'm writing about this because I hope my experience will help some of you.

Gotta run, got some life to go live!!!!!

John

Let God Go Before You!

As I look back over the last eight years here at BAF there are many many things I've learned from my pastor Bil Cornelius, but there's one thing that stands out as what I feel is the best gift he has given me though his leadership and teaching. Bil has taught me to believe that God is much bigger than I ever thought he could be.

Bil is a man of huge faith and he has taught us that if we will just let God go before us, then we can accomplish anything, regardless of the challenges that might come before us. That is a practice I'm putting in place as we speak. I have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams to lead our multi site vision here at BAF. This weekend we asked people to come see us after each service if they live in one of three small communities in our area and would like to be a part of building a core group that will become a church.

After the weekend it was clear that God had an order He wanted us to follow. That first direction is Padre Island. We had over forty people sign up that want to be a part of a BAF Padre Island Church. When we saw God moving in that direction I knew instantly who I wanted to lead this church. I made a call to Kirby and Sunny Reed and they began to pray about it. In a very short time they said yes because God had already been preparing them for this. This couple is awesome beyond words and I know God is going to do an amazing work on Padre Island through them.

So here's what I mean when I say that God will go before us. Everyone keeps telling me that there isn't anyplace on the Island that would be big enough for us, or that we could afford. I understand their thinking because the Island is very expensive, and very small, so there not a lot out there. So here's where the lessons in faith I have learned from Bil will be so valuable; were moving forward building this core group not knowing for sure what buildings, if any, will be available when we need a space for the new BAF Padre Island. But that doesn't matter because God made it clear He wants a church on Padre Island, so I'll let Him go before us and figure out where it will be. In the meantime we will be doing our part by building the team and praying our brains out. I believe God is working on that as we speak. Something I would never have been able to do without Bil's leadership because by nature, I'm way to nuts and bolts.

Leaders with big faith don't do crazy things for God without fear and doubt folks, they just move forward in spite of their fears and doubt. What move do you feel like God is asking you to do, and you're not moving because you don't have the money, you don't have the people, or you don't think you have what it takes to pull it off? If God put it in you, He will provide the people and the money, and He wouldn't have laid it on your heart if He hadn't already equipped you with what it will take to pull it off.

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 NLT 

John

Spiritual No Mans Land

Recently I read a book called No Mans Land; What to Do When Your Company is Too Big to be Small but too Small to be Big. Great book with some amazing business principles that can be easily applied to the church. But what came from this for me personally was the realization that I was in my own, "Spiritual No Mans Land."

The book really hit me personally as I realized God was doing something big in my life that will require change, and letting go of some things I've held tight to. The tough part about this time for me has been not knowing what God is trying to teach me. TD Jakes put me on my knees last week when I swear he looked right straight at me, I'm sure others felt the same way too, and said, "Pastor, God's not done with you."

Over the last eight years I have accomplished so many of the dreams and goals that God put in my heart. The Hometeams Ministry has exploded from a couple of groups to almost 200, we have the healthiest Women's and Men's Ministries we've ever had, our Kingsville church is in a good place and ready to explode, and a fantastic care system has been put in place here at the church. What has put me in "No Mans Land" is that the things that used to consume my every thought are doing so well, and it's been confusing. I still love the seven ministries I oversee, but my spiritual gift is leadership, and for the last six years I've poured my life into a leadership team that is freaking off the charts. I'm am so stinking proud of this team, but recently it has felt like I've led myself out of a job. This group of leaders is strong, and they've been empowered to lead, and they're doing just that, in fact they do it so well that I've found myself wondering what the heck I'm supposed to do.

I think I'm a pretty good manager, but deep down in my heart I know what I really am is a builder. I need something to build, something to fail at, something that gets broken and needs fixing, some critical people telling me I can't do something, and a God sized goal that I have no idea how to reach. I thrive where things aren't that clear and I'm not sure how to make something work. I love that place because it's where I've been able to see God at his very best. I knew almost nothing about small groups when I accepted the role of Hometeams Pastor so I had to really rely on God, and I love that place. Not being there has left a bit of a void in my heart.

This no mans land has been a struggle and honestly until just recently, I had begun to wonder if God was done with me or if He was taking me someplace else. Then God gives me this idea to present to Bil about multisite, and Bil loved it because the whole multisite thing has been on his heart for a long time. In fact, in Bil's prayer time, God expanded it well beyond what I presented. This is making me feel alive again because it gives me a job I've never done, I don't really know how to do it, I don't have all the people I need, and I sure the heck don't have the budget to pull it off. And as crazy as this might sound to some, I'm stoked about the challenge.

A lot of people would freak out in this situation, but for me, it has released me from my "No Mans Land," and I can't wait to jump in head first and see how many problems I can create. I thoroughly intend to drive Pastor Bil crazy with the problem of paying for a whole mess of new churches. The cool thing is, he love these kinds of problems because they represent people. I'll still probably drive him crazy though!

If you're feeling like your in your own "No Mans Land," let me tell you what TD Jakes said to me at C3 last week, "God's Not Done With You!" If you're still breathing, God still has more for you to do.

John

Embracing Change

In the last year or so God has been taking me in a whole new direction. For seven years I poured my life into building a healthy and multiplying small groups ministry. The BAF Hometeams Ministry has been like my baby because I poured my life into it for some many years. I'm very proud of what it has become, and nothing will ever change my love for it, but God has been teaching me to embrace change. Not to accept it, but to embrace it!

Had I not been willing to completely hand off the Hometeams ministry, I would not have been available to lead the Multi Site Ministry, which has me more excited than anything I've ever done in ministry!

Here is what God is teaching me:

1. Embracing change means going where God leads me, regardless of the cost!

2. One of those costs, is being willing to let go of things I love, so God can redirect me.

3. Accepting God's redirection, is the path to a something even better than what you're holding on to.

Is God speaking into your heart about something new and you haven't been able to move forward because your fear change, or because you aren't willing to let some things go because you're too emotionally tied to them?

I challenge you to embrace change because, "ALL GROWTH IS OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE." I'm stepping out of mine, why don't you join me.

John

Humiliation Time at Evolve

Yesterday I got a call from Casey Graham with Mountain Lake Church in Cumming Georgia. Mountain Lake is where the Church Planters Conference is going to be held next month. Casey asked me to sit on a small groups panel with him and one of his pastors, and also to do a Break Out session, both of which I am excited and humbled by. I'm really looking forward to joining Casey and his team to hopefully help some small group pastors from around the country.

Then the second and more painful ask came! Casey asked me to join seven other bloggers in a Guitar Hero contest. Here's the kickers; I've never played Guitar Hero one time in my entire life, and my sons XBox is in the shop in McAllen Texas and has been for over two weeks. Not sure why I said yes other than I clearly suffer from Ministry Onset Brain Damage. Hey Guys, can we change it to a cage fighting match or some shooting skills of some kind. Hey I'm pushing 50, how about a wheelchair race?

While this is likely to be completely humiliating for me, it's a stroke of luck for Chris Elrod as he's been blessed to have me as his first round opponent. Chris, you must be living right bro! In golf people are given handicaps to keep things even, any chance for some mulligan's or strokes? I won't count on them.

Heres a list of the guys involved.

Gary Lamb- Revolution Church

Tadd Grandstaff- Pine Ridge Church

Dave Anderson- Crosspoint Community Church

Chris Elrod- Compass Point Church

Devin Hudson- Grace Point Church

Eric Bramlett- Community Christian Church

Paul Peterson- Getting ready to launch a new church in Ohio.

I'm sure all these young church planters will take it easy on a pre video game era pastor like myself! YEA RIGHT!

Bring it on boys, with age comes great wisdom! No idea how that has anything at all to do with Guitar Hero, but it's all I got.

Lamb says he has this thing won already, surely one of you can make him eat those words! I'm counting on someone to come through so we don't have to listen to him pound us for two days.

John

Appreciating Volunteers

If you read this blog you know I talk a lot about the issues unique to leading a volunteer organization. In my opinion, nothing is more important than making sure your volunteers feel appreciated. Here are some things to think about when leading volunteers in the church.

1. They don't have to be there. The church is not their livelihood so you can't lead them the same way you would lead employees.

2. If you want Volunteers to follow you off the side of a cliff for God, make sure they know you care about them.

3. Oh by the way, the caring part can not be faked. A lack of sincerity will be seen from a mile away.

4. You can't say "thank you" enough.

5. You can't tell someone what a great job their doing too often. Everyone wants to believe that what their doing is making a difference. So tell them when it is.

6. A small token of your gratitude, is not small to the person receiving it.

7. Be there for your leaders when things are going great, but also be there when they're not.

8. If you lead with grace, grace will be there for you when you need it. And you will need it.

9. Listen to your leadership. Listening shows that you value what they have to say.

10. Treat your leadership team like family, and they will stand loyally at your side no matter what the enemy throws at you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Pastor Dave, Mary Ann, Pastor Brian, Pastor Ed, Tom, Doyle, Cheryl, Scott, Kainee, Brett, Nanette,John, Kyrah, Brandon, Dee Dee,  Robert, Rudy, Herlinda, and last but certainly not least my wife and best friend April. I love each of you with all my heart, and I feel like the most blessed pastor on earth to be doing ministry with this amazing team. I would be nothing without your love, your support, and your tireless work for God.

Appreciate your volunteers, and they will appreciate you.

John

Relational Leadership

Leading a volunteer organization is tough because unlike in the corporate world, you can't hold a paycheck or a career over peoples heads to get them to do what needs to be done. So how do you lead an organization whose people are only there because they love the Lord? In my opinion, you lead them with love.

Here's how that looks in the BAF Multi Site Ministry.

1. I have made my life an open book to a group of strong leaders. They are there for me when things are going great, and they are there for me when they're not. They hold me accountable, they minister to me, they care for me, and sometimes they have to confront me. But most importantly, they love me.

2. I take the love that I have been given and I pass it down to my leadership team, which includes my Campus Pastors, my Worship Director, and our Multi Site Ministry Assistant. So what does relational leadership look like? It looks like this; I know what is going on in the personal lives of everyone on my team and I committed to being there for them no matter what. This is not surface level commitment,this is real commitment! but what going on with their families, their marriages, and their hearts. I'm there for them when they succeed, and I'm there when they fail. I trust them, and they trust me, because I have invested my life into them. Because of these relationships, none of these people are collecting a check, they are on this team because they love God and the vision to change lives through the Multi Site Ministry.

3. These Coordinators then model the same system based on love to their Hometeam Leaders. They care for them, support them, are there for them when things are going well, and there when they're not. They visit their groups, and they have their leaders in their homes because that's what it takes to build real relationships. They love and care for their leaders and the leaders feel it.

4. Hometeam Leaders that are loved, cared for, and supported, are ready to be used as life change vessels of God. The support and love they are receiving prepares them to love the people who come to their groups.

From the top to the bottom the BAF Hometeams Ministry is based on this motto, "relationships not rules." When people are cared for, supported, and loved, it creates an atmosphere were lives are changed, real Christian community is taking place, and groups multiply.

They do this because a system that is based on loving people as the Bible teaches us, creates organisms instead of organizations.

John

Spending Time with Other Leaders

I have often wondered why church leaders don't act more like the one Body we were created to be. As Pastors and Leaders, why don't we spend more time caring for one another, and sharing the lessons we've learned with other fellow ministry struggler's?

Just today I had an awesome opportunity to spend a little time with a local pastor I had never met, and it was awesome. This wasn't scheduled or planned, he just showed up and we had a great talk. I say it wasn't scheduled, but the truth is, it probably was scheduled, just not by us! I hope that today was the beginning of a new friendship.

What can we as leaders do to serve other leaders:

1. No matter what size your church is, there is always other pastors who aspire to be where you are, and they can learn a lot from your journey, if you'll make time for them.

2. No matter what size your church is, if you stay humble, you'll also learn something from them too. I always do.

3. Sometimes all another pastor needs is someone to talk to about their struggles, when you make time for them, I believe, you honor God.

4. When you take to time to go visit another pastors church and share your story and your journey with their leaders, I believe, you honor God.

5. When you share the resources God has blessed your church with with visiting pastors and leaders, I believe, you honor God. Today I gave the visiting pastor two books that I think will really help him on his journey. I've already read them so they weren't doing me any good on my shelf.

I came into ministry knowing absolutely nothing about being a pastor, so every single thing I've learned, has come from God, and I believe God wants me to share both the good and bad of it with other leaders.

How about you? When was the last time you poured your life into another leader in God's Kingdom? When was the last time you made time to share the victories and failures that have made you the leader you are today with another pastor or leader who would be blessed by spending time with you?

Yes, I know were all busy, I'm busy too, but nothing makes me feel more like I'm in the center of God's will than when I make time for another man or woman who has committed themselves to leading in the local church. Make some time for a leader in your community and I think you'll feel like that too, because giving up that time for another leader, honors God.

John

Trying to Live Out God's Word

I have a passion for God's Word, and the more I read it, the more I want to intimately understand it. Every once in a while a scripture will hit me hard because I can't completely understand it. James 2:14-20 is an example of scripture that is really challenging me right now. Don't get mad at me here folks, God said this, I didn't.

¹⁴ What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? ¹⁵ Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, ¹⁶ and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

  ¹⁷ So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

   ¹⁸ Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”

   ¹⁹ You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. ²⁰ How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? James 2:14-20 NLT

Here is some key questions this scripture brings to my mind:

1. Is is possible that many Christians think believing in God is enough? Satan believes in God and it's definitely not going to turn out well for him long term.

2. Is it possible that the faith many of us have, in God's eyes, is considered Dead Faith! Read verse 17!

3. Could we have great theology without really knowing God? I'm believe the answer to this one can be yes.

4. Is it possible to have the kind of faith God is talking about in this scripture by just going to church on weekends, or talking about God a lot, or watching pastors on TV, or praying at meals, or being vocal about our faith etc.? I can't speak for God so I'll let Him speak for himself, "Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?"

5. Is it possible that some of us might not find out until it's too late that what we thought was faith, wasn't? Below is how God answers this in Matthew 7:21-23 below.

There's plenty of pastors who are far better teachers than I am on this so find one of them if you want to have a theological debate because I'm not interested, but when I read this scripture it makes we want to look at myself to make sure I'm doing more than just saying I'm a Christian, it makes me want to be sure that I'm living out my faith the way the Bible tells me to.

I know a lot of people who claim to be a Christian but don't show the fruit of their faith that this scripture says we must show, that scares me.

If this scripture doesn't get your attention maybe Matthew 7:21-23 will. When I read this scripture, especially after I read James 2:14-20, it gets my attention.

²¹ “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. ²² On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ ²³ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

I'm not judging anyone here, I'm just sharing what God is teaching me straight from His Word. I know this, nothing makes me sicker than the thought of going before God on my judgment day and having him say this to me, "I never knew you," so I'm just going to try my best to live out the scripture exactly as God teaches them, not as I want them to be.

John

Learning to Pray from My Three Year Old

I was praying with my three year old last week and it struck me how much I could learn from how he prays. When he prays he begins by saying "dear Jesus," and follows it up with, "thank you Jesus for," and then begins thanking Jesus for everything no matter how small it seems.

We try not to laugh when he prays because it's so cute, but we always smile because he thanks Jesus for his pizza, his french fries, his toys, his friends, his Dash shirt, his Thomas jammies, his Thomas trains (there are many to be thankful for), his new shoes that are really hand me downs but he doesn't care because they're his now, and on and on.

For some reason a prayer last week hit me differently. I found myself not laughing but feeling a little shameful because I wonder if I'm as thankful for every single thing in my life like Caleb is. Why do we as adults take so many things for granted? Why don't I thank God more often for the shirt on my back, for my french fries and my pizza? Sure we pray at meal time but the difference is, little Caleb is truly thankful for those things, and if I'm completely honest, I often take the small things for granted.

More and more I have begun to understand why Jesus so loved the little children. Instead of growing up and acting like adults, I sometimes wonder if Jesus would really rather us act more like our kids.

John

Order

Life is about order. In fact lives lived without order, are generally lives without purpose. So if order is so important then where did it come from? There are four scriptures in Matthew that, in my mind, define order as God would have us understand it. Getting this order right in your life is the key to everything in your future. Below is Matthew 22:36-40 and here is why I think this scripture may be the most important scripture in the Bible.

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” ³⁷ Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

This scripture puts order in our lives by telling us that loving God comes before everything else, period, and it tell us that loving each other as ourselves comes next. There is absolute order in this scripture. Here's how, I believe, it affects our lives.

1) The Bible is God's Word and therefore it is without fault, but your life will never be completely changed by it without first living out steps one and two.

2) You will not find the love of your life and live an amazing God centered marriage until you get steps one and two done.

3) You may never find the career your heart has dreamed of until you get steps one and two taken care of. Maybe you already have that job and can't see it because you missed steps one and two.

4) The key to repairing your finances begins with getting step one and two done first.

5) The key to repairing past broken relationship comes after steps one and two.

6) The key to fulfilling a life long dream comes after steps one and two.

7) The key to becoming a great leader comes after steps one and two.

8) The key to building a great ministry comes after steps one and two.

9) The key to building a great company comes after steps one and two.

10) The key to forgiveness is in steps one and two.

11) The key to hope in your life is in steps one and two.

I could go on and on but hopefully you get the point. To have order in our lives we must first follow God's order for getting there. It's easy to look at people who have wealth, fame, power, and success and think they have it all, but those things are deceiving because they are the Worlds Order. Having God's order in your life brings peace, forgiveness, love, grace, kindness and purpose.

I am certainly not a rich man by the worlds standard, but when I look at my wife, my boys, my family, my career, my home, our health, and the incredible peace and hope we all share, I know I am truly a blessed man. I wouldn't trade one of those things for everything Bill Gates has.

Can you imagine how many lives would be changed if all the Bill Gates of world understood this order!

John

The Tolls of Ministry

Have you ever wondered why pastors burn out and leave the ministry, or bounce from church to church so often? The reason pastors do this is because ministry takes a toll on your emotional, spiritual, relational, and physical life. Some leave the ministry and some just leave their church hoping to find some peace somewhere else.

Here are some examples of things that are taking a toll on your pastors.

1) If your church has it's doors open on weekends, your pastors are being criticized. If your church is making a huge impact on the Kingdom, your pastors are being hammered. Yes, being criticized is part of the job and we all know it, however, it still takes a toll.

2) The more successful you become, the more criticized you'll be. I wrote a book last year called Go Big with Small Groups: Eleven Steps to an Explosive Small Groups Ministry. Trust me, there's been plenty of people who aren't shy about telling the world what an idiot I am, there might actually be some truth there but they don't know that, and how the system that grew the BAF Hometeams Ministry from six groups to 200 in three years simply won't work. 

3) Leading a volunteer organization is a tough gig. Pastors don't get to go to their people and tell them if they can't do the job they'll find someone that can, nor can they hold a paycheck over their heads. We're supposed to love the unlovable and show grace when we'd rather scream and yell at people who don't stick to their commitments. Leading a volunteer organization takes a toll on your pastors.

4) We don't have a product to sell so there is no income in most of our churches that doesn't come directly from the people. I don't know of one church that has all the money they need. Having to constantly worry about and ask for money, takes a toll on your pastors.

5) Growing a church takes a toll on your pastors. Having more people than you have room for is a great problem to have, but it's still a problem, and constantly finding the answers to solve growth problems takes a toll. It takes a toll because the answer almost always involves asking for more money and building, two things that take a huge toll. On the other side, not seeing your church grow when you feel like you've done everything God has asked you to do, also takes a toll. 

6) Finding God's will for the next level of your church is a huge burden. Your Senior Pastors carry a heavy load because every one is looking at them for all the answers. Carrying that burden, even though it comes with the job, takes a toll. 

7) The decisions of leadership take a toll. One of my favorite blogging pastors is a guy named Craig Groeschel  who leads Lifechurch.tv, a church of twenty or so thousand. Craig wrote a book called Confessions of a Pastor. In it he says something to the affect of, "I'm always afraid the next decision I make will destroy everything we've accomplished to this point." Your pastors worry alot, are afraid to fail, and sometimes wonder what in the heck God was thinking when He picked them. All of that takes a toll.

6) The work of the church tries it's best to replace pastors spouses and families. Everyone and every thing wants your pastors time, and they want it now. That takes a huge toll on your pastors and their families.

7) Newsflash!!!! Your pastors are sinners. Yes, your pastors have struggles just like you do yet they're held to a higher standard. Yes, the Bible does hold Pastors to a higher standard, as it should, but that standard still takes a toll.

So am I just complaining about the job God has called me to? Absolutely not, what I'm trying to tell you is that your pastors carry a huge burden and it takes a toll on their emotional, spiritual, relational, and physical life. Sometimes they just need to know what they're doing is making a difference so a kind word, a short note, a gift card for the family, and offer to babysit for a date night, or anything else you can think of means more than you will ever know. Take a moment to tell these men and women when something they have done has made a difference in your life. It's in those notes, letters, emails or discussions that we're often reminded why we do what we do. I'm not complaining, I just hope you'll better understand the toll ministry takes on pastors and families.

If anyone is feeling exceptionally bad for me, a couple of front row tickets to the next UFC fights in Vegas along with plane tickets and a motel for me and my wife, would do a WORLD of good for the toll ministry is taking on me. Sorry just kidding, well of course unless you're completely loaded and want to take pity on a poor pastor who loves the UFC. Of course you might just go ahead and try to accomplish world peace because it would be easier than getting front row seats at a UFC event. Yes I'm a pastor, yes it's a violent sport, but I love it so too bad.

John