Serving Your Leader

The key to success in ministry is learning how to serve. Jesus spoke these words to his first disciples and they are still true for His disciples today!   Mark 10:43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

Even leaders must be willing to serve. If you’ve ever read one of my books or articles or listened to one of my Leadership Club lessons you’ve most likely heard me say that the best job description for what we do as Children’s Pastors is found in 1 Peter 5:2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers --not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve. Yes we are feeders, care givers, and overseers but if we are going to be effective we must be eager to serve. You gain those you serve!

All of us understand that God has called us to serve children. Matthew 10:42 tells us… “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward. If there is a reward for water for kids imagine the reward for Goldfish Crackers.

I learned from one of my hero’s Tommy Barnett that every great city needs a great
Church. I added that every great church needs a great children’s ministry.  I believe you get a great children’s ministry the same way Brother Tommy says you build a great church, that is find a need and meet it, find a hurt and heal it.

God has also called us to serve our helpers. Jesus served those who helped him. In John 13:12-17. Jesus washed his disciples feet he told them now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. Those are still wise words for us to follow. Jesus also coached those under him. We see in the word that He spent lots of time with those he was leading. He allowed them to ask questions. He involved them in doing the work of the ministry. He made corrections when they needed it. He constantly stretched them and taught them as He duplicated himself in them.

We understand these two groups we were called to serve but a third person that all of us who serve in the church must serve is our leader. 

More to come...

Update on me and my blog...

Since my last post I have put on a youth camp in Pigeon Forge, TN, held our #kidmin Orientation meetings for the new school year, celebrated my oldest daughter's birthday, had a great Sr. High Youth Service, went to visit my Mom in Alabama, attended a funeral of a wonderful man, attended 5 weekend services, and water baptism classes for kids , youth and adults. Talked with 5 kidmin folks by phone and met with 3 college kids helping them with life choices, worked on an upcoming sermon for big church and worked on putting the finishing touches of the Student Ministry Policy and Procedure Manual. Since my vacation in June I have been taking more time off, turning down most outside ministry invitations and blogging less. It has been wonderful. I need to record a Club lesson but will not have a night semi-off to do it until Wednesday. Monday night is college ministry, Tuesday night I have a daughter/ Daddy date night with Yancy to a concert that was part of my Father's day. Wednesday I play bass at our JV infinity Service, Thursday I have a Barn Party for our High School Ministry and Friday night Whitney my youngest daughter and I have a Daughter/Daddy Date Night to another concert. Then Saturday morning Julie and I have a date to the Farmer's Market.  It sure seems that simplifying life is harder than ever so I don't think I'll be blogging any more this week. Any blogging time will be spend in prayer, Bible study and cardio time. So there you have it, there's an update on me and why I'm not blogging as much. What things in your life are more important than blogs, email and other social media time absorbers. Take back your time, reaccessed your priorities and do what you know God values. I'll re-evaluate next week and post about my health if I have time.

Why I'm Excited about Camp

I have been going to as well as planning and doing Camps and Retreats for kids and teens most of my life. I don't do them because I've always done them or because that's what we do... (like many churches do VBS) but I do them because of the fruit I've seen consistently over the years. Here's a few reasons why I like camps.
1. There's something special about getting away and devoting a few days to God's purposes.
2. I like the relationship building opportunities it gives with other students, leaders and with the Lord.
3. I like the expectations that students and leaders bring to the event that God is going to do something big
4. I like spending time with the people I serve. (I do like the work of the ministry but I love spending time with people most of all)
5. I like having more time devoted to God's purposes in our lives.
6. It's one of the few times people unplug from the voices of the media and other electronic stimuli.
7. It always sparks something in our group when we get back. It's a new platform we can swing from toward God's next level for us as a ministry.


Pray for me and the students and leaders of HSinfinity this weekend. We are headed to camp and God is going to do some amazing things as we seek Him.

The Last Two Days of Vacation

On Thursday I finally got to do what I came on this Macation to do and that was to visit "The Big House" The Allman Brothers Band Museum. While I waited for it to open I headed over to the H & H Mama Louise's Soul Food Kitchen for breakfast. It was great plus all the pictures, posters and ABB gold records and collectibles made it the perfect way to start this tribute to my favorite band. After breakfast I headed over to see where the Capricorn Recording Studio was. Some great music was made there in the 70's. It was there in the alley that the album cover for "Live at Filmore East" was photographed. After I snapped a few pictures myself I headed over to "The Big House" it was a dream come true for me. After a few hundred pictures I headed over to Duane's accident site. It was the ultimate Allman Brothers Band fan day.  I headed back to the hotel and tried to process all that I saw. 

As I thought about my life I couldn't help but think how God had a better plan for me than I ever had for myself. I am so blessed in every way. I also saw God was giving me a renewed desire to want His plan for the rest of my life and to trust Him for His direction. That night I got all ready to go home. I was more relaxed, more rested and more encouraged that I was on the right path for the rest of my life and that I needed to concentrate on hearing God's voice for new direction. This was the first vacation that had more exercise, worship and quiet time than eatting time. It was a huge breakthrough for me.

The next morning I loaded the truck and headed back to Tennessee. One by one I called some of the Young Guns God has placed in my life. Each one seemed to reaffirm what God had been showing me over the last few days. By the time I got home I knew that my first order of business was to lead my family and to concentrate on my health. Second I needed to focus and devote myself to my local church and what He was doing there. Third was to focus on infuse and writing the  books He would direct me to write. God had showed up big time this week and I was going to be more effective during my new season because of this special vacation.

Hello Again- Part 2

Wednesday was the first day of my trip that had an agenda. I was scheduled to have lunch with a local young Children's Pastor who I had met online. He was another one of those I had placed on my "Young Guns" to watch list. It was a great lunch which means he had some great questions for me. As we talked he re-confirmed some of the things I had been thinking about and hearing from God about. I really enjoyed getting to know him better and was thankful for the connection. It was a good time.


The rest of the day was spent going to see Andersonville National Historic Site. I love history especially Civil War history. This was the site of the largest Conferate Prison we had. As I took it all in I started asking God to reveal areas of my thinking that has in prisoned me. It was a powerful time of focus plus I got to take some great pictures.


I came on back that evening before dark so I could visit Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon. It was a spooky old place from 1840. I took some cool pictures and also visited the graves of Duane Allman and Barry Oakley from my favorite band "The Allman Brothers" I have always wanted to come here and there was something very healing about checking 2 more items off my "Things I want to see list". I couldn't help think about how God had blessed my life and gave me a better life than I could have ever dreamed of. My choices are a big part of seeing God's plans for me complete. Once again I was reminded about choices I needed to make. It was here God showed me rather than worrying about all the things I needed to say no to,  I needed to choose to say yes to His invitations and ways.


That night I went back to my hotel and played my guitar and worshiped the Lord for the good things He had done for me. It was a very humbling day. 


More to come...