Hello Church,
Creativity has never been a strength of mine. In most circumstances I am okay with that. Artistic avenues such as painting, drawing, sculpting, etc; are hobbies that I don't strive for in any case. I am impressed with my stick figures easily enough.
Writing is just about the only artistic area in which I feel I am adequate. I also have some musical talent, but that is an area I am not so passionate about (as opposed to the rest of my family). But writing hits the spot for me.
One lacking area that does bother me a lot is in the area of new ministry ideas. I recognize the need to think outside the box, especially these days. Churches that find new ways to say the same old message tend to thrive and attract new people, young and old. I, however, often feel stuck in the box. I never feel like I have an innovative enough mind to create new excitement on a new idea.
Case in point, our light bulb ministry. Long story, short: one of our ministry teams came up with the idea of replacing the burned-out bulbs in the sanctuary with new bulbs. To help supplement the cost of these bulbs, an idea was hatched to allow individuals to write messages on the base of the bulbs... messages that would be read by the intended receiver whenever the new bulb burns out... hopefully 10-15 years from now (at least that is what the package says).
This unique, creative idea that has worked wasn't mine. I promised I wouldn't embarrass the person who came up with the idea. Suffice it to say, I admit a little jealousy. Why can't I come up with good ideas?
Someone once told me--several times-- that I can't be good or gifted for everything. Also, humility is good for the human spirit. Another lesson is this: leaning on the church to fill your voids can be a fulfilling experience. I took the light bulb idea and presented it to the congregation through the writing and preaching I do on Sunday mornings. I have leaned on the ministry team for creativity and the ministry team has leaned on me to present it. It seems to work and both of us are glad.
You can't be good at everything. Truth is, you might be good at only a few things. However, community is a place where people can scratch each others' backs and we can feel good about what we can get done together. Be in community with one another. It can make everyone a more fulfilled person.
God is Good,
Pastor Joe
Monday, February 24, 2020
Monday, February 17, 2020
Toxic People And How We Treat Ourselves
Hello Church,
We are taught to love one another. Jesus says so. We are also taught to love ourselves. Jesus says so. So what happens when the first is seemingly in conflict with the second?
It can be extremely difficult to love certain people. So difficult, in fact, that it can test our own health--spiritual, physical and mental. We can become resentful and bitter and very discouraged as we try to do what Jesus says....... love someone who, at times, just isn't lovable.
People with toxic behaviors are dangerous to invest in. The following link is a article that I think hits it on the head.
Toxic Behaviors in others
Investing in such people can cause strain in how you view yourself and in your attitude in general. In extreme situations, it can drive you to the point that forces you to make a decision:
Do I continue to invest in a relationship with this person? Or do I decide to love myself?
In the Christian community, we are taught at a very early age to be selfless. To give of ourselves until it hurts. Money, time, energy, etc; are all the things we should give, give give.
Yet one of the big lessons that we lack in our Sunday Schools and churches today is this understanding of what it means to love ourselves. This can be just as difficult we have come to think such a concept can be selfish.
The love you have to offer is only as valuable as the love you offer yourself. If you allow yourself to be mistreated by toxic behaviors, it is a form of abuse. In allowing such, you minimize your ability to show love to others. Resentful, bitter, discouraged people don't love very well. And those who think bad of themselves don't have the energy to love very well.
Think on this. Personal experience has taught me how and when to distance myself from toxic behaviors. I believe it has made me a more loving person and a more optimistic person. I also don't believe it puts me in conflict with Jesus' teachings. I can only love my neighbor as I love myself.
God is Good,
Pastor Joe
We are taught to love one another. Jesus says so. We are also taught to love ourselves. Jesus says so. So what happens when the first is seemingly in conflict with the second?
It can be extremely difficult to love certain people. So difficult, in fact, that it can test our own health--spiritual, physical and mental. We can become resentful and bitter and very discouraged as we try to do what Jesus says....... love someone who, at times, just isn't lovable.
People with toxic behaviors are dangerous to invest in. The following link is a article that I think hits it on the head.
Toxic Behaviors in others
Investing in such people can cause strain in how you view yourself and in your attitude in general. In extreme situations, it can drive you to the point that forces you to make a decision:
Do I continue to invest in a relationship with this person? Or do I decide to love myself?
In the Christian community, we are taught at a very early age to be selfless. To give of ourselves until it hurts. Money, time, energy, etc; are all the things we should give, give give.
Yet one of the big lessons that we lack in our Sunday Schools and churches today is this understanding of what it means to love ourselves. This can be just as difficult we have come to think such a concept can be selfish.
The love you have to offer is only as valuable as the love you offer yourself. If you allow yourself to be mistreated by toxic behaviors, it is a form of abuse. In allowing such, you minimize your ability to show love to others. Resentful, bitter, discouraged people don't love very well. And those who think bad of themselves don't have the energy to love very well.
Think on this. Personal experience has taught me how and when to distance myself from toxic behaviors. I believe it has made me a more loving person and a more optimistic person. I also don't believe it puts me in conflict with Jesus' teachings. I can only love my neighbor as I love myself.
God is Good,
Pastor Joe
Monday, February 3, 2020
Do You Like Yummy?
Hello Church,
It has started. Emmanuel is doing a church-wide fundraiser to help the ministry teams do more! Over the past 60 years the UMW has sold these yummy homemade chocolate Easter Eggs. This year the whole church is in on the action. Over the next month the goal is to sell 3,000 of them!
Why?
Creative ministry can be enhanced in a few ways: good leadership; new ideas; people implementing those ideas; good planning; and plenty of resources.
This Easter Egg project does a couple of things for the church and it is more than just making money. For sure, it does help our resource issue. Small churches every year find themselves discussing the 'lack of' when it comes to ministry ideas.... money, people, energy, time, etc. However, there is another dynamic that happens here and it has to do with what I'll call 'spiritual morale'.
Like any other organization or team, when success is experienced, it opens the door to more energy and optimistic outlooks. The church is no different. Emmanuel is on the same page in it's goal to 'make disciples of Jesus' and part of that goal is to encourage its 4 ministry teams to continue the good work.
Sometime later this year we will see the effects of resourcing these ministry teams. Youth will be sent to conferences; group studies will be taught; community outreach will be done; people will be helped; mission trips will be completed; fellowship will be enhanced; special music will be sung; children will be invested in; and the church as a whole will feel good about all the work that was able to get done because we had the people, energy and resources to get it done.
This dynamic creates momentum and people are attracted to momentum. People want to be a part of a church that has momentum. The good spiritual morale creates a spiritual magnet. In short, the church becomes yummy......and people like yummy.
So I invite you to buy an egg...or 2... or 3....and, if you want, sell an egg... or 2 .. or 3... Look for detailed information coming real soon on Facebook and through our church emails. We want to have a yummy church.
God is Good,
Pastor Joe
It has started. Emmanuel is doing a church-wide fundraiser to help the ministry teams do more! Over the past 60 years the UMW has sold these yummy homemade chocolate Easter Eggs. This year the whole church is in on the action. Over the next month the goal is to sell 3,000 of them!
Why?
Creative ministry can be enhanced in a few ways: good leadership; new ideas; people implementing those ideas; good planning; and plenty of resources.
This Easter Egg project does a couple of things for the church and it is more than just making money. For sure, it does help our resource issue. Small churches every year find themselves discussing the 'lack of' when it comes to ministry ideas.... money, people, energy, time, etc. However, there is another dynamic that happens here and it has to do with what I'll call 'spiritual morale'.
Like any other organization or team, when success is experienced, it opens the door to more energy and optimistic outlooks. The church is no different. Emmanuel is on the same page in it's goal to 'make disciples of Jesus' and part of that goal is to encourage its 4 ministry teams to continue the good work.
Sometime later this year we will see the effects of resourcing these ministry teams. Youth will be sent to conferences; group studies will be taught; community outreach will be done; people will be helped; mission trips will be completed; fellowship will be enhanced; special music will be sung; children will be invested in; and the church as a whole will feel good about all the work that was able to get done because we had the people, energy and resources to get it done.
This dynamic creates momentum and people are attracted to momentum. People want to be a part of a church that has momentum. The good spiritual morale creates a spiritual magnet. In short, the church becomes yummy......and people like yummy.
So I invite you to buy an egg...or 2... or 3....and, if you want, sell an egg... or 2 .. or 3... Look for detailed information coming real soon on Facebook and through our church emails. We want to have a yummy church.
God is Good,
Pastor Joe
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)