Monthly Archives: June 2016

How To Have An Awesome Monday After Sunday Church

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blogpic lightshow

Monday is here! For me as a pastor, the end of Sunday church results in a sigh of relief. I can only tell you about me because everyone is different, but after spending many hours during the week researching, studying, thinking, praying, typing, reading, editing, reading, and editing some more. Preaching the sermon is the absolute climax of my week.

When someone thanks me for the sermon on the way out I usually respond by thanking the Lord that He spoke to that person’s heart and also say, “I’m just glad it’s over.”

Maybe my stress comes from knowing God’s stringent requirements for those who teach His Word. The apostle James wrote that teachers will be judged more strictly than others (James 3:1 CEV). It also happens soon after I’m done speaking that I go through a range of emotions from discouragement to inadequacy (welcome to the pastor’s life). I even apologize to Lord for anything I said or did that didn’t please Him.

Maybe other preachers don’t go through what I go through, maybe it’s just weird me.

So, can pastors have an awesome Monday after Sunday church? For that matter, can Christians do the same? I think so. The following ideas can prove to be helpful to you as they’ve been to me.

On Monday…

1. Take a break from studying.

On Monday morning our church cleaning team shows up. They are a group of volunteers that vacuum, mop, clean mirrors and windows, do bathrooms and make them smell pretty, arrange pew Bibles, pens, and offering envelopes, etc. This small group of servants are amazing. They love the Lord and His church.

On Monday mornings we chat a while and when everyone gets to work I strap on a backpack vacuum cleaner and help out. I actually look like a Ghostbuster. You may be thinking, “Don’t you have something ministry related to do with your time?” Answer: Yes. But I rather not…if I can help it.

I get to pray while I vacuum (by the way, my buddy Johnny does most of the vacuuming, I just chip in) and sweat and joke around with my peeps. It’s a great break from what I do every day.

If you find yourself stressed out during your week, take a part of one day to do something out of the ordinary.

People who don’t tend to relax tend to break down. Remember that you can only stretch a rubber band so far before it snaps. (Tweet that)

2. Leave the results of your preaching (or what you do) to God.

Whatever you do (job, caring for others, leisure), when you do your best for the Lord, know that it is Him who will make you both productive and successful.

3. Remember that God handsomely rewards faithfulness.

You don’t have to be a preacher to think about this one. He is faithful and will compensate His own for their faith efforts.

4. Keep next Sunday sermon in the back of your mind.

My friend Dwight, an evangelist turned pastor, says, “The worst thing about being a pastor is that Sundays keep coming.”

On Mondays pastors need to keep their thoughts for next Sunday in the back of their mind, waaay back there somewhere.

5. Read some.

Take time out to read on Mondays. It’s relaxing plus reading/learning keeps you fresh. Dr. Howard Hendricks once said, “Read and learn so you can feed your people from a living stream, not from a stagnant pond.”

Mondays can be tough, but we must find creative ways to make them awesome.

What has worked for you? How do you make Mondays after Sunday church great? Please leave me a comment.

 

 

 

 

5 Reasons why you want to appreciate the value of others

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Preacher precious moments

The other day I walked and found a tall stack of greeting cards wrapped in a bundle on my desk.

I asked myself, “What is this? It’s not my birthday or my anniversary.” So I quickly tore open one of those cards. It was from a church member. He was thanking me for being who I am. I ripped open a second one, it was from a family expressing their love for me. The rest of the cards had similar caring messages some going into specifics about how that person felt I had made a difference in his/her life.

I was blindsided by appreciation and overcome with emotion. I had to pull my seat back and cry.

Sadly many of us have settled into society’s mold where criticism and disapproval is the norm. We are quick to dish out our dissatisfaction with someone at a moment’s notice. (Please refer back to the preacher’s head on the picture above…someone obviously threw a raw egg at him in displeasure)

Seldom do we take time to actually thank and support those who make our lives worth living.

How about making ‘Don’t Hate, Appreciate‘ your daily personal slogan?

If you’re a leader understand the power of appreciation. Recognizing and thanking people makes you approachable. I’ve met leaders, even pastors, with the personality of a sandpaper. Their people are afraid of engaging them.

Appreciating others opens a door to connection and communication that would have remained closed otherwise.

Appreciation also builds a team mentality. It reminds you and your people that you all are working together for one common goal.

Pastors and leaders in any field often tend to be Lone Rangers thinking that they ought to do everything themselves. But that should not be how we operate. Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto!

We all need each other and appreciation is a great way of showing it.

Gratitude and recognition of others need to be part of your ministry manifesto. Besides, people who are often recognized tend to work hard and do their best at all times. It is a fact that people who feel appreciated are more productive and effective than those who don’t.

Appreciation is a way of building morale in your company.

The owner of the Orlando Magic and founder of Amway products is a billionaire by the name of Rich DeVoss. He wrote a book called Ten Powerful Phrases for Positive People. Seven out of the ten phrases have to do with appreciation:

“You can do it” – that’s empowering

“I believe in you” – that’s encouraging

“I’m proud of you” – that’s ego-building

“Thank you” – that’s edifying

“I need you” – that’s endearing

“I trust you” – that’s epic

“I respect you” – that’s enriching

How about showing your appreciation for someone today?

One more thought, making a big deal about what others do not only blesses them but also keeps before you how amazing people are.

Remember that the bottom line of what you’re trying to accomplish is never as important as the people who help get you there. Recognize them. High five them. Fist bump them. Thank them.

Those greeting cards on my desk made such a difference in me on that day and that week. It is still making an impact in me. My people had taken the apostle Paul’s words to heart: “So encourage each other and build each other up.” 1Thessalonians 5:11. To them I say, “Thank you! You are the best!”

Is appreciation easy for you to do or hard? Have you applied this leadership principle in your career? What were the results? Please feel free to leave me a comment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How To Find Ultimate Peace In Your Life Storm

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storm

In the Gulf Coast of Florida furious storms form in a hurry! The deep thunder rolls in the distance, winds pick up in a hurry, waves crash on shore, the lightning show becomes visible, and you look for cover. When this happens there’s an intense desire in me to capture some intense pics but better judgment often prevails and I stay safe indoors until it all passes by.

About an hour and a half from where this picture was taken a seriously bad storm formed in the city of Orlando, Florida, at Pulse Nightclub. And the light show  was not the electrical kind but one coming from the weapons of an assassin.

Terror ensued as people ran for safety but it was not to be for all, 49 died (not counting the gunman) and 53 were wounded. The worse massacre in America history.

All of a sudden and out of nowhere the worst storm of life unleashed on many as family members received the dreaded news that their loved ones were dead. My eyes filled with tears; my heart totally broke for those facing the storm. Then it dawned on me that people I know and love could have been there that night and part of the body count.

I thank the Lord that those I love are safe today but wonder how anyone can overcome the pain that comes from the whirlwind of events from that night at Pulse Nightclub.

I learned a long time ago that when appropriate human words are missing the perfect Word of God can make all the difference in the world to someone facing a furious life-storm.

God’s thoughts in the Bible supernaturally fill the void in our souls that have been left there by heartache and loss. (Tweet that)

Maybe your storm that has nothing to do with someone’s sudden death but you are still hurting and wondering what’s next for you.

My dad’s favorite Bible is one I encourage you to internalize, digest, and make a part of your daily life. Write it down on a sticky and place it somewhere visible to you throughout your day:

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)

I may not understand why bad things happen to good people but I understand that there’s a promise here, a promise of God’s loving presence and power when we need Him most. He will lift us when we are fallen and breathe courage in us when the wind’s been taken off our sails and the rug’s been pulled from under our feet.

Gandhi once said:

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it–always.” (Quotes about Victory; http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/victory)

History has also taught us that Jesus Christ is the embodiment of Truth and Love. (John 14:6)

In your storm turn to Him in faith. Know that the Lord is so close to you that if you could you see Him, His shadow would be on you.

God wants to wipe your tears, let Him. Talk to Him. Hang on to Him with every bit of emotional strength you have left.

Orlando our prayers are with you!

 

 

 

How to effectively handle the death of a loved friend

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blog sundown

I recently had the honor of being present when a dear friend went to heaven. If you’ve ever had that rare privilege you know all too well the mix of emotions involved: tears, times of silence and prayer, and even though rare, light moments of laughter when a fun memory of the deceased is shared by those present.

There’s nothing like a death to remind us of the reality of our own mortality. All of a sudden what the wise man wrote makes lots of sense,

“It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone;
the living should take this to heart.” Ecclesiastes 7:2 (NIV)

Of course we like partying more than sadness and as a result many live as if they will never have to face eternity.

The one inevitable fact of life is that all of us are going to meet our Maker one day. We each need to be ready for that moment.

The only good thing about this bad thing called death is that it gives us access to an afterlife in heaven.

Maybe we ought to look at dying as one of those necessary evils we all must go through in order to enter and enjoy the amazing world God has created for those who love Him.

And by all accounts of the imagination heaven is an incredible place!

The worst day in heaven will be a thousand times better than the greatest day on earth. (Feel free to Tweet that).

Why have a limited view of the eternal place our limitless God has prepared? (I devote an entire chapter to heaven in my new book Hecklers In Your Choir: Silencing The Voices That Hold You Back – yet to be published)

The only way to face the death of someone you love is with faith that this life is not all there is and that you’re going to see your friend again one day. That’s the kind of hope that keeps us going.

My friend was a faithful believer in Jesus Christ and that made his passing much easier to handle.

As his family and friends gathered around him one last time I was struck with the thought that I have to really make spending time with my loved ones a priority.

In over thirty years of ministry and dealing with people not once have I heard someone at the end of life say, “I wish I would have spent more time at the office.” No! What people regret most is the time they wasted on the unimportant.

YOLO! (You Only Live Once) Be intentional about squeezing the juice out of every moment you have with those you love.

Leonardo da Vinci had this amazing insight into life. He said that the average human looks without seeing, listens without hearing, touches without feeling, eats without tasting, moves without physical awareness, inhales without awareness of odor or fragrance, and talks without thinking.

That can be me, oblivious to everything other than what I am focused on. What’s your heart fixed on? Your work? The here and now? Profit?

How about, beginning today, you start making God and family your absolute priority?

Make your moments count! Call, text, send a random pic, email someone you love and live knowing there’s a heaven to gain one day.

So, what do you think? How do you handle the death of people you love? Please leave me a comment.