Tag Archive - ministry
19

You’re Not All That

I’m often surprised when I talk with someone or get replies on twitter about my honesty when I admit I struggle with a certain area of Christianity.

I guess people think because I work at a church or have the word ‘pastor’ in my title that I don’t struggle everyday with the same things everyone else does.
Or, maybe they’re more surprised with my willingness to admit that I don’t have it all together.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Christ, I just struggle sometimes…

  • I’m impatient
  • I struggle with faith
  • I try to make things happen my way instead of relying on God
  • I go through dry periods in my relationship with God

To be honest, I think more people should admit their weakness.

I think more church leaders should admit it.

It’s in admitting it that they can begin to deal with it.
It’s in admitting it that people begin to feel a connection with someone that’s a lot like them.

Dont act like you have it all together.
You don’t.
I don’t.

Admit it father.
Admit it pastor.
Admit it student.
Admit it church leader.
Admit it mom.

It may help someone else too.


Written by on June 13, 2011 and categorized under Blog, Church Ministry, Life

23

LEGALISM: My Recovery From This Addiction

I don’t know when it started, I just remember when God spoke directly to me and told me it was wrong.

You see, I’m a recovering legalist.

There was a time in my life when I used to think it was up to me to do all the right things. To have more check marks than x marks on my list of do’s.

I’d even see people who were doing things and think about how much better I was because I wasn’t doing them.

It wasn’t like I didn’t have issues. It was just that mine weren’t as easy to see, weren’t as easy to point out. I’d see someone doing something in public that I thought was wrong and think about how much better I was because no one saw my junk.

What I came to realize is that many of these things weren’t undeniably wrong, they were just my way of judging and getting a leg up on others.

It took me some time, but I finally came to realize that God isn’t keeping score to see if He loves me or not, that’s already a given.

What He does care about is that I’m surrendered to Him, that I seek hard after Him.

Ultimately, I had to realize that God just wants me. Not my deeds, not my perfection, just me.

It’s freed me beyond explanation. What I do now, instead of trying to see another’s sins, I seek to be like Jesus.

The actions will come with it.

I’m Jonathan and im a recovering legalist.

Are you?


Written by on June 2, 2011 and categorized under Blog, Encouragement, Life

10

Division is Easier: 1 Step to Change the World

I read a lot of the same blogs, web sites, and articles that you do.

We engage in the same kind of conversations centered around Christianity, the church, and methodology.

What breaks my heart about reading these things and engaging in these conversations is what often happens after they’re published or said.

Instead of reading and leaving with a new thought or having a conversation and focusing on how we can agree with the other person, many people try to find what they don’t like about what was written or said… What they disagreed with on the subject.

I understand that we come from different backgrounds and bring different ideas and life experiences into everything we do. What I don’t understand is why the very topics (Christ and the Church) that should bring unity to the people included brings disunity instead.

What would happen if we came together and focused on what we do have in common…. Focused on the essentials that we agree on rather than the debatables that we may never know for certain? What would happen if we knew our enemy and realized it wasn’t each other, but evil and the one that brings it?

I think we’d be busy fighting a spiritual battle with the Enemy and have less time to fight amongst ourselves.

I think it’d change the world.

That’s what’s on my mind today.

What do you think?


Written by on May 23, 2011 and categorized under Blog, Church Ministry

21

3 Things Young Leaders Need to Hear

I have a great leader in Artie Davis. In the time that I’ve known him, I’ve grown incredibly as a young leader. I’ve learned some valuable lessons along the way and realized that young leaders need to hear these 3 things…

1. “I believe in you.”

Everyone needs to know that someone else believes in them. It’s no different as a young leader. As a young leader myself, I often wonder if I’m the only one that believes that I can make a real difference in the world. I get discouraged when I feel like I’m stuck or lack the ability to lead effectively. It’s important that every young leader hears that someone believes in them. There’s something empowering about hearing that someone who has been in more battles and leads successfully believes in you. Let your young leaders know that they’re not just projects, but powerful people.

2. “Make it happen.”

I love hearing this as a young leader. I know I can’t do it without God leading me through it, but I love knowing that a project, a plan, or a process is in my hands. I like the feeling of being trusted with something enough that my leader decides to leave it in my hands. It makes me determined to be successful. Trust your young leaders.

3. “It’s OK.”

Even though I believe in God’s anointing in my life and listen to God, I still mess it up on occasion. I drop the ball or say something that I shouldn’t have. I like hearing the words, “It’s OK.” See, ultimately the mistake a young leader makes isn’t near as big as the impact they’ll one day make. Believe in them. Trust them. Let them fail.

If you’re a leader, what do you need to hear?


Written by on May 12, 2011 and categorized under Blog, Leadership

23

3 Lessons From American Idol

1. Not everyone has the same gifts.

If you’ve ever watched the first few episodes if an American Idol season, you know that some people try out for American Idol that absolutely can’t sing. Trying to do something you’re not gifted to do only hurts you and the people around you. By trying to do something out of the limits of our giftedness, we steal a blessing from the people who are gifted to do it.

2. Know who’s opinion matters.

During American Idol, the judges critique every performance, but they don’t get to decide who stays and who goes each week… That’s left up to America’s votes. So, instead of singing to please a particular judge, contestants sing to please the voters. I’m constantly learning that my life must be lived to please God, not some guy on the sidelines judging me as I go. If I seek to be a God pleaser, the rewards are eternal. People pleasing does nothing but take my eyes off of what really matters.

3. Give it all you’ve got, always.

Week after week, American Idol contestants are sent packing because they didn’t get the votes to stay. It is important that the contestants give it all they have every time. We must too. Life is short, the window for us to impact the world is small… We must give it all we have… We will NEVER get to the end of our lives and think, “Man, I wish I would’ve cared less.”

Those are my 3…

What else ya got?


Written by on May 5, 2011 and categorized under Blog, Life

19

How to Not Be Average

What separates the successful people from the average people is the gap between dreaming and doing.

The successful person closes the gap.
The average person ignores the gap.

The successful person takes the chance.
The average person plays it safe.

Average people…

  • Talk about what needs to be changed.
  • Have self proclaimed solutions to problems.
  • Can tell others how to fix what’s wrong.
  • Figure out solutions to issues that they see.
  • Dream about what could be if they ever had enough _____.

Successful people…

  • Dream up solutions and do everything they can to see it happen.
  • See a problem and fix it themselves.
  • Sit in a meeting, leave, and do something with what they’ve envisioned.
  • Don’t criticize how others are doing something because they’re busy doing what they do.
  • Use their passion to make a difference.

Which are you?


Written by on April 25, 2011 and categorized under Blog, Leadership, Life

8

How to Make Your Life Count… Beyond Your SS#

I talk a lot about “turning the world UPSIDE down.”

It’s something that I believe in.

It’s something that I truly believe God has called us to do.

It’s something that seems so irrational and bold,
but really only requires us living out the life God’s called us to.

It requires God living through us.

I thought I’d give you a few simple ways God has shown me to turn the world UPSIDE down since I began seeing it as a passion and calling on my life.

In order to turn the world UPSIDE down…

  • We must GO against the norm.
  • We must LOVE at all times.
  • We must STAND for what we know is right.
  • We must GUARD our integrity in the face of it being tested.
  • We must BUILD relationships and grow them with purpose.
  • We must be BOLD.
  • We must be UNIFIED around the essential.
  • We must be IMPATIENT. – our time is EXTREMELY limited.
  • We must be PATIENT. – God works beyond time.
  • We must DESIRE MORE. – we are never done!

How do you turn the world UPSIDE down?


Written by on April 19, 2011 and categorized under Blog, Church Ministry, Encouragement

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