Monday, July 24, 2006

Ministry that is Fun


The Fish Videos are a compelling story of how a local fish market that was struggling turned things around by creating an environment that is fun and still meets the purposes of what they are in business for. As I have spent hours watching these short vignettes I am drawn to how the wisdom of God is displayed in them. Having fun while being on purpose is what separates Great churches from ones that are just getting by. Why is excellent worship such a draw for people? Because it is fun! It's fun to praise God! It is inspiring to praise His name! Not all worship does this. But the worship that is fun to people.... draws them. Churches that intentionally try to be on purpose while having fun create an environment that is conducive to Life-change. Psychologists will tell you that you make your best decisions when you are feeling well. As I look back on my life I can speak with certainty that it is in the moments of life that I have been doing well
that I have made the greatest gains of growth. I have made some life altering and changing decisions when I have been at my lowest points, but it is when I have been inspired and enjoyed being in the prescence of God
that I have experienced great life-change.
The two biggest times for visitors and guests for most (if not all!) Churches, are the two times of celebration in the year namely, Christmas & Easter. These are both celebrations and times of fun where if you don't go to church all year you may happen to show up on these days. People invite people to celebrations. We invite people to that which is fun. You want people to come to your church if it is a happening place. What makes it happening, is that it is fun with a purpose. It's inspiring! Notice that we don't invite people to good Friday. That's not a fun day. It is not supposed to be. We need good Friday if we are really going to have something to celebrate on Easter Sunday. But make no mistake about it. Easter is the jump on point for people....not good Friday. I love good Friday and it's purpose, but if every Sunday was like that the Church would never have survived. Unfortunately many Churches act as if Easter Sunday never happened and it shows in their dwindling attendance and lack of inspiration. Easter Sunday is all about Divine Inspiration.
Not all fun creates life-change. I went to Disneyland a couple of years ago and let me tell you
Mickey did not change my life in any significant way. I am not more holier or in love with God because I had fun with Goofy. It is fun with a purpose that makes a difference. Having fun in the church can open us up to the deeper things of God. Fun can bring us to the place where we deal with the hurts and the things that are not fun. Fun gives us the time to go deeper and it is a gateway to the heart of God. When people don't have fun, they don't stick around and they miss out on going deeper. It's just a simple principle of human nature. So be on purpose and Have Fun!

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Leading the Way


So this weekend I am leading a "Leadership Weekend" with the Canopy. Our objective is to discover the thematic goal or "rallying cry" for the church so that we can plan the next few months of ministry. The church is at a significant crossroads of its development and has some significant decisions to make. This fall could be a very crucial time in their development and needs to be mapped out clearly. Over the last few months I have felt that God wants me to take a hand in helping the church focus itself. Please pray for me over this weekend and for the leadership of the Canopy as plan and discover their future. Ask God to lead the way......

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Princess

So we have moved into the realm of being cat-owners. Everyone this is Princess. She is a very small cat who is supposedly a short haired cat but my furniture disagrees! Princess is very skittish and weighs practically nothing. She is just like Meghan!
Unfortunately she doesn't like other cats (Sorry Mika) but she gets along with our bunny Lulu. Oma just loves the cat and always wants her to come over. We love her and she is becomming a part of our family.

Surreal Life



So last night I had a surreal life experience in that I went to my 20 year High School Grad Reunion. I saw many people that I have not seen in many years. It was indeed surreal. Out of a grad class of 300 there was about 120 people there. It was great to connect and see where people have gone. Let me give some highlights. Richard Holland has 5 kids. Tim Schwabenbauer lives in Sherwood Park and is married. I used to regularily get him kicked out of class. It was a game we played. Curt Geake lives there as well and has an acreage.Dave Schlacter moved to Vancouver Island and is selling Tractors! Debbie Yackel the girl I walked up with used to work at CRA where I now work and knows many of the same people I am just getting to know. Rick Woolsey is finally getting married this year! Oh ya, I am doing it!
Many people have come and gone. Many did not recognize me without my mop of curly hair. They could not believe it was me. Some people still look the same. It was very surreal. I highly encourage you to make the effort to go to any of your reunions. It was a blast. The picture is from the party and these are my two friends Rick and Brad whom I have known for over 25 years.

Monday, July 03, 2006

Summer Fun


So, if you don't live in Alberta I forgive you for not knowing but this first long weekend of summer has been fabulous! I am loving this weather. It has been 30 c for the last week it seems. The girls and I along with the Sim clan travelled to Allan Beach and had a grand olde time! It was like our first family holiday together. We all travelled in my van and that was quite the experience. a little bit tense at first but everything was cool. We swam ate good food and madsome new friends. We hung out with 4 other families that Vanessa has gone with over the past couple of July long weekends! It looks like this could be our new tradition as well. Many thanks to Michelle D. who planned the weekend and did a lot to organize everything! It was great! I am a little burned, a little tired, and a lot rested if that makes any sense at all!