Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts from an Amazing Day...

• Worship was great today, really enjoyed the choir taking part in our worship.
• The message this morning was great - the 3 most important days in history, I really appreciated the thoughts regarding the Saturday between good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. 
• I really like having communion at the end of our worship, it really caps off the worship.
• I did miss the opportunity to preach on Resurrection Sunday, first time in 13 years, however I was glad to be at FCC Kissimmee this morning.
• I really wish churches would put the same amount of effort in every Sunday as they do Resurrection Sunday. Why do we only pull out all the stops 1 Sunday a year?
• If the resurrection is true, and I believe it is, how can you not be excited about the power of the cross?
• Two verses that really tell us how Jesus was able to face the cross 1 Peter 2:21-23 & Hebrews 12:1-3. 
• Florida Christian College prepares to say good bye to 48 graduates this week, can't wait to see the impact this group makes on the kingdom in the next few years.
• How often do you think of Heaven?
• I had a friend share with me the other day that music is the language of the heart, maybe that is why hymns carry such a power message.
• Although I really enjoy my new role at FCC, I discovered today, I really miss some good friends in PB/Melb.
• I have been thinking about this strange paradox lately; if we want to keep the faith, we must give it away.
• Something to chew on; The real leader has no need to lead--he is content to point the way.
  Henry Miller  

Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts From an Amazing Day...

• Preached at Okeechobee Christian Church today, great spirit in the church. The people were very gracious.
• One thing to be noted about this church, they are very purposeful in making sure their children are learning the scriptures. Nothing fancy, just purposeful!
• Spoke on the topic of making ripples, remember everyone you come in contact with you have the potential of having either a positive or negative ripple in their life.
• The focus of the message was on an obscure man from the book of Philippians; Epaphroditus.
• What was amazing about the ministry of Epaphroditus he was able to make a ripple in people's lives not because of talents, skill or resources, but because he decided to make a difference in the lives of others.
• I do love preaching - there is something about speaking for God that energizes every preacher!
• We sang one of my favorite songs this morning "Shout to the Lord", while the song is a little older, the words and tune really strike a chord - pardon the pun!
• Capped off the day at FCC Kissimmee with a concert by the Florida Christian College Choral Society - We heard a great variety of music, from Mozart to Hymns; good stuff.
• Speaking of Florida Christian College, if you are an elder or aspire to be an elder, you need to attend the elder's conference coming up May 20-21 at the college campus. 
• Remember leaders are learners!
• While I enjoyed being at Okeechobee CC this morning I missed attending church with my family this morning.
• Something to chew on; every organization needs a critical mass of people for success, unfortunately too many organizations have a  mass of critical people.  

Loss Prevention

Tonight, Kathy and I were at a store in Kissimmee when we came across a two employees with a unique titles on their name badges. They were called "loss prevention". Now I have heard of greeters, cashiers, stock boys and managers, but I have never heard the title loss prevention. Apparently these employees make sure the store does not suffer any losses from shoplifters. This got me thinking about the church, do we have anyone on our staff to ensure loss prevention, no I am not talking about church shoplifters, no I am talking about a group of people who make sure those who attend do not simply walk out the door and get lost in the crowd. Most churches struggle with the idea of keeping the back door of their church closed. In other words people come into the front door, become involved in ministry, but busyness, and the stuff of life begin to choke out their vibrant faith and soon they exit the back door and we ask ourselves what happened to Mr. and Mrs Jones? 

Now if stores understand this principle and hire a team known as loss prevention, how much more should the church have a team of loss prevention, for we are more valuable than any merchandise that is sold in a store. 

Growing churches have "loss preventers" on staff or have "loss preventers" as volunteers. They are people who notice others when they are missing. They have a shepherds heart and genuine care for others. They understand that ever person is valuable so when a person is missing they swing into action trying to prevent a loss of a person. I hope the church you serve has a loss prevention department, it may be one of the best investments a church can make as they continue to grow the kingdom for Christ.

  

Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts from an Amazing Day

• Great worship today, good mix of praise and hymns
• Ross continued his series of Jesus and the "In" people, today's topic, the Insignificant.
• The insignificant this morning is found in Mark 5:25-34
• When it comes to faith, this woman had a hunch Jesus could heal her and a hope that he would heal her.
• Important takeaway from this morning; the more hopeless your situation, the more rewarding your salvation.
• How many insignificant people do you pass by everyday?
• Insignificant people are all around us - but do we see them.
• Here is some good advice from 2 Timothy 2.
• My prayer this week, Lord help to see the insignificant people who cross my path.
• Our family united with the First Christian Church of Kissimmee this morning, I believe this church is just what our family needs.
• Poor priorities prevent powerful purposes.  
• Officiated at a funeral this week of a man  who saw Bart Starr play and Vince Lombardi coach, his joy for life made his funeral a celebration of a life well lived!
• I am thankful that I get to see the power of prayer evident every day.
• Something to chew on - If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.~John Quincy Adams

Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts From an Amazing Day...

• Again we worshiped at FCC Kissimmee, good people, good worship.
• Ross began a new series, "Jesus and the "IN" people: Today's topic, Jesus and the Inflexible people.
• Inflexible people can become modern day Pharisees.
• You might be a modern day pharisee if... You set yourself up as a spiritual authority.
• You might be a modern day pharisee if... You make rules you cannot keep yourself.
• Inflexibility can be a death nail to a local church.
• Last week I was at a church that is one of the most flexible churches in the state of Florida and they are making a difference in the kingdom!
• Over the last few weeks I've heard of some amazing plans churches are doing to prepare for Easter, what is your church doing to prepare for one of the biggest days of the year?
• Friday night was a great night for Florida Christian College.
• I am excited for a couple of friends who are going to have a family reunion Tuesday, I am hoping their reunion will be permanent. 
• I am surrounded by gracious people.
• I have some good friends coming to visit us in June and I can't wait to see them!
• The Apple store amazes me - if you do not think the world is changing rapidly, then you have not been to an Apple store.
• Something to chew on... “A leader must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.”

Observations from my new job

For those who do not know I started a new job recently. I am the Director of Alumni at Florida Christian College. The last couple of weeks have been an adjustment to say the least. My responsibilities include reconnecting the alumni to the college. We are doing this through communications, visits and events to help the alumni remain connected to the college. This is a change of pace from leading a local church, but I must say it I am enjoying this change of pace. Looking back over the last few weeks I would like to share a few observations thus far...

1. Just like working in the local church no two days are the same. Every day brings new opportunities and challenges. With both the challenges and opportunities, I am amazed at the flexibility of the staff of the college to meet whatever each day brings.

2. I have a great deal of admiration for the people on staff at the college. They understand they are part of kingdom building and they have a, "do whatever it takes" attitude. They also enjoy being with one another. There is a real camaraderie on the college campus, which I believe is a tribute to our president's leadership.

3. There are some exciting things happening in the churches around the state, to date I have been in 18 churches. Most have been along I-95, but I have discovered many of the churches are involved in life changing ministry, impacting their communities for Christ. What is comforting is many of these churches are using different methods and approaches to ministry. Reminding me there is no one formula for ministry in our ever changing culture.

4. Our alumni are a diverse group. Not everyone who graduates from FCC goes into fulltime vocational ministry, but many of them serve in the ministry of the kingdom. In just the last couple of weeks, I have had conversations with a police officer, a mechanic, a nursing home administrator and a prison chaplain, just to name a few. Their diversity of ministry is exciting and it reminds me we are all part of the body of Christ, each with different gifts and different opportunities to reach this world for Christ.

These are just a few observations I have witnessed over the last couple of days, needless to say I am thrilled to be a part of the staff at Florida Christian College. I look forward to sharing with you more about what is happening at FCC in the coming weeks.

Life in a 26' Truck

Our family recently made the move from Palm Bay, Florida to Kissimmee, Florida, the distance was approximately 50 miles. To transport our possessions to Kissimmee we used a 26' U-Haul  truck. As we placed the last items on the truck and closed the door, I could not help but think - there was our life, in a 26' truck. Think about it; 31 years of marriage, 3 children and it all fits in a 26' truck. It is kind of sobering when you realize everything that you own can fit in a 26' truck.

If we allow our possessions to define us we can get a little depressed when we realize everything we own can fit in one truck. After all we have been told the more possessions we have the greater our influence and stature is in the eyes of the world. However, Jesus reminds us our possessions are not the mark of success. Remember his penatrating question; What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Jesus does not define us by our possessions, He defines us by who we are in His kingdom. To Jesus we are valuable not because of what we own, but because of who we are as children of God.

I heard a preacher say, "The only thing Jesus is going to save from this planet is people". We can take comfort that our possessions are not what makes us who we are but our unique personhood of being created in the image of God gives us our worth and freinds that will never fit in a 26' truck.