The Good Ole Days…

May 18th, 10 / Comments Off

They were the good ole days… filled with many blog posts, pontifications, and inspiring situations.  I think the only thing that has changed for the recent season I am in is the blog.  I still haven’t figured out what I want to do with it.  I have never wanted it to be a mirror to other sites, simply posting or re-posting good thoughts (though I love to point people in good directions).  I have also never wanted it to be a place where I share my expertise, of which I’m not sure I have any.  And this really isn’t a place where I want to share announcements, commercials, updates, etc via the ministry where God has me.

I am in a quandary trying to figure out which steps to take, if any.  This past year has been one of the busiest years in ministry I have had.  In fact, I have had to cut out some of the things I enjoy most (like traveling and speaking) in order to not be too overwhelmed.  So, here is too good intentions.  Here is to hopes that this spot may be inspiration for someone and cathartic for the author.  When I needed an outlet before, I found one online – maybe that will happen again.

A team of inspiration…

May 18th, 10 / Comments Off

I hope I’m not the most instrumental person in a students life.

Ok, to be honest, I’d be honored to be that person – but by that statement I mean that if I am seeking to be that ‘one’ person in their life, I feel as if I may have failed at my job.  It’s not that I am attempting to be un-influential; but more to do with building a team of inspiration.

Team ministry is much more difficult, and I’m not quite sure I have even reached a point where I would feel comfortable saying I am there.  Most great leaders realize that they cannot be a great leader on their own, it takes a strong team of leaders together working for a common goal. My prayer for my ministry is that small group leaders and equipped parents are easily counted some of the most influential influences in the lives of the students who come through.  I hope to play  a part, but I’d be limiting my own ministry to try and be ‘the one’.

A daily prayer of mine is that I will have the humility and wisdom it takes to lead a team committed to Jesus and leading students to a closer walk with Him.  I guess time will tell.

A Little More About Me

Mar 27th, 10 / 1 Comment

There are a few things you may not know about me.  I thought I’d share a few.

  • I own every Bond movie made – even the ones not a part of the official canon.  (and yes, even the Pierce Brosnan ones)  Somehow, I still find them difficult to turn off if they are on tv.
  • I enjoy reading, but don’t get to do it enough.
  • If I had to choose between the beach or the mountains, I’d choose the beach every time.  Or I’d visit California and take both!
  • I love to travel… a lot.
  • The greatest love of my life is my relationship with my Savior.
  • One of my favorite things in the world is hearing my son scream “daddy” when I come home.
  • I always wanted a pet turtle growing up.  As a seminary student I got one — it’s not all the glitz and glamour one might think.
  • One of the items on my bucket list is to shoot a .50 caliber (preferably a Barrett sniper rifle) off of a helicopter.  I have done neither separately.
  • I married WAY up!
  • I started working on a book about a year ago.  I need to pick it back up, but I had the best title.  I called it “touche” since my son’s name is Shay – and it’s kind of a long letter to him about growing up and taking risks.  Now that we are expecting a daughter, I feel bad not putting her name in the title.
  • Nobody will ever  buy my book, but one day I hope to finish it for my own benefit.
  • I plan to get a Doctorate of Ministry one day — once I find a good way to pay for it!
  • I love music too much.  I am convinced God hasn’t given me the talents in music I wish I had because I’d struggle with following my calling if I did.
  • I am a night owl.  I mean, it’s bad.  The thing that stinks is that I am much more efficient and ‘with it’ at night.
  • I wish I was taller sometimes.
  • I really enjoy British humor.
  • If I had one superficial wish to come true, it would be that I could sing.
  • If I had 2, I would also have cool hair.
  • I am an unashamed geek.
  • I talk (and apparently write) entirely too much. I need to work on being a listener.

Wow, that was much more than I intended. I hope it was as fun to read as it was to type.

“No” is all you need

Mar 27th, 10 / Comments Off

There are a lot of good things in the world.  There are also a lot of good things that you could be doing right now.  But instead of spending every moment of your day attempting to do one more good thing, most of us are pretty content in finding hope and sacrifice in just a few great things… hopefully.  It’s probably one reason I’ve pretty much abandoned this blog – it was just one more thing that isn’t high on my list of priorities.

In life and ministry, one of the hardest things to live and teach is the beauty of saying “no”.  Unfortunately I’ve learned this lesson the hard way – and almost daily continue to struggle with this very thing.  Honestly, there are a ton of great ministries to be a part of. There are plenty of missions and missionaries that need help.  But we can only do so much.  I’m sure I could spend every minute of the day in the office, planning an event each week; but ultimately I’d prefer to do a few things great.

The saddest part is the choice I see teenagers and families make almost every day.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with sports, music, or any other extra-curricular activities – the question isn’t are these things good (because most likely they are), but are they great?  Or an even better question, ‘Is this the best way for God to get glory from my life?’ What’s sad isn’t their choice to become active in many of these endeavors; the sad part is that they choose these things in spite of their walk with Christ.

Before I get labeled, let me quickly mention that this is not a blanket statement covering all students.  There are many who leverage their influence and talents for God’s glory already – but the problem lies in the intention of involvement.  Quite simply, sometimes the best thing a student can do to pursue Christ is to simply say “no” if it keeps them from growing with God and displaying His glory.  In other words, if anyone is involved in an activity for any reason apart from using it for God, they need to say no.  Especially when that activity they are choosing to be a part of limits their growth with other believers.

When we spread ourselves thin, not only are less effective at the things we are already involved in, but we limit ourselves from really experiencing greatness.  Sometimes, “no” is all you need.  Learn your limits and pick your priorities wisely.

Too many coaches in the stands

Sep 30th, 09 / Comments Off

If you live anywhere close to a college town – you know the fever that happens in the Fall.  This is my first football season living in Athens, and I’m already learning the ropes; don’t try to get downtown on a Saturday, don’t rely on the data service for my iPhone (I guess the towers overload), and you can get away with wearing pretty much anything you want as long as it’s red and black.  You can’t not like football in a town like Athens, where it is not uncommon to see grown men bark like dogs.

But something changes when the game starts.  Half of the fans turn into coaches. (The other half of us just have to listen to this mindless ‘coaching’)  What was once a rabid expression of fan-dom for one of the greatest schools in history (yes, I’m biased) is now a critique of every play and call.  I always love sitting next to the guy who is watching from home, but yells and screams as if he is on the sidelines and getting paid to be the head guy.

While football is not necessarily rocket science – it is absolutely not easy to be the coach on the field.  Most of us don’t realize how many things a college football coach has to be proficient at to do his job with excellence.  Instead, we seem to be happy with our own critiques.

It seems that we carry this same attitude to many other areas of life. I’ve been in ministry long enough to know that there will always be coaches in the stands at our churches.  It is an unfortunate reality. Many of us ‘coach’ from the stands, making clear what we would or would not do if we found ourselves in the same position.  In all reality, by critiquing we are often undermining the authority God has placed over us as well as helping strip that same authority from others lives.  We may not always agree with every ‘call’ or ‘decision’, but it is not our responsibility to make those calls or decisions. Submission to leadership doesn’t mean you can’t have an opinion, but it means that when it is all said and done with- the team (or in this case the kingdom) is much more important than my opinion.

So, slow down the coaching from the stands and start getting excited when you see victories and help rally when it seems like we’re behind.  The best thing we can do is to stop coaching from the stands and start getting in the game and making a difference.

Patrick Gillen Ministries International

Aug 8th, 09 / 1 Comment

I really haven’t made an intentional break from blogging, but I’ll admit it has been nice.  While I have never considered myself to be much of an expert – I have always enjoyed the process of blogging, helping me flesh out ideas and thoughts.  Nonetheless, it is quite possible I will pick back up my regular routine – but equally as plausible that I will simply enjoy ministry and family too much to invest too much time into updating.  Either way, here are a few words for tonight:

When you serve in ministry, you often hear people refer to what they do as ‘my’ ministry.  It’s not an incorrect form of ownership and responsibility; but I’ve become more and more disheartened by the lack of interest in doing what God has called us to do as pastors.  The very word itself is expressed with the intention of being ‘Shepherds”.  I haven’t known that many shepherds in my life, but I imagine it is not exactly how we like to picture them.

For some reason, many of us picture David sitting under a tree in a clean robe playing his harp with his hair flowing with the wind.  As I said, I haven’t been around too many shepherds, but I have seen sheep.  They are commonly referred to as dumb animals; but beyond their incompetence, they are also nasty.  Being a shepherd isn’t clean, neat and easy.  In fact, it seems quite the opposite.  Not only that, most shepherds are hired help — in other words, it’s not their sheep that they’re watching.

This may be why I have a distaste for the ownership in ministry.  It is quite an honor to be a pastor, but it is also easy to get lost in whom it is we are serving.  Typically speaking, our tendency is to either place ourselves or the ones we serve as the primary recipient of our interest.

It seems what we miss is that when God has called us into a vocational ministry to pastor, He has called us to HIS ministry.  It’s no longer “MY” anything, and it is certainly not someone else’s ministry.  Ultimately, my primary responsibility is not to my own idealism or innovation – but in my surrender to following through with WHATEVER God has asked of me.

This is something I am still learning, but I love that God is not through with me yet!  I can’t wait to see how He will teach me more about what it takes to surrender my goals to His own.

Post from my iphone

Jul 11th, 09 / Comments Off

Just testing out my WordPress app from my iPhone.

Family or Ministry?

Jul 7th, 09 / Comments Off

Family or Ministry?  Honestly, my answer is both.  It’s hard to have a ministry w/out a family and it’s hard for your family to really be separated from your ministry.  However, if it comes down to the hard question of which one will you choose over the other… my answer 10 times out of 10 will be my family.  Growing up, I was instilled with almost a mafia-type appreciation for my family.  (The word ‘respect’ was mentioned pretty often)  We’ve all heard the phrase Blood is thicker than water, and I learned at an early age that this was truth.  We may not always get along the best, but I know that when I really need them, my family is always there for me and will go to great lengths to help me out.  So, I put family first – and for a variety of reasons:

1.  You lose your family, you will most likely lose your ministry anyway. The other way doesn’t necessarily always play out – if you lose your ministry, your family is still there.  So it goes to show that the most effort should probably be put in your family as it is a driving force behind your ministry in the first place.

2.  God instituted the family first. Before the church, God instituted the family.  Our families deserve a much higher priority than we often give them.  My first priority as a dad is to make sure that I am discipling my children.  If I can’t disciple my own children, how can I expect to disciple anyone else?!

3.  By placing family first we model an example. When we make our family a priority, it shows other people that they need to do the same.  Often times people put jobs or hobbies above the ones closest to them.

4.  When all else fades, family remains. You are stuck with your family whether you like them or not. :) And when careers come and go, homes fade, cars rust, and technology goes obsolete – what you have left is your investment in your family.

One day we will all hit that golden age when we retire.  All of the ‘fame’ we have hoped to generate with our names will be forgotten by then.  It’s a hard reality to understand that we are all replaceable.  However, in the end, I am the only one that can be my sons dad.  There are simply some relationships in my family that are not replaceable.  So I want to be the best that I can be.

Hiatus Over?

Jun 30th, 09 / Comments Off

It seems at least once a year I take an unintentional hiatus from blogging.  Honestly, it’s difficult to get back into the habit of blogging when you’ve taken a break.

In the past 3 months I have started at a new church, moved houses, been to Barbados and now I’m nursing a sinus infection.  It seems there has always been ‘something’ to keep me from having any free time to blog.  Even now I am a tad overwhelmed with everything – and to be honest, I cannot wait to be finally moved fully into our new house.

So let me tell you about a little bit of what God has been doing in our lives:

I spent the beginning of the year anticipating a change in ministry- and God brought us to Prince Avenue Baptist Church near Athens, GA.  It is a GREAT church that God is doing so much in!  I have followed a guy who was here for 29 years (which is almost unheard of in any circles whether pastor or youth pastor) and there are some big shoes to fill.  I welcome the challenge and am enjoying it.  In fact, last sunday we voted in a Middle School Pastor – so I am looking forward to that partnership as well.

I commuted for 6 weeks to work – which is about an hour and 15 minute drive.  It could’ve been much worse, but with everything going on around here, it kept me pretty busy!  I would return home only to help Melanie pack a few things up in boxes and spend a few precious minutes with Shay.

I was THRILLED to sell my home, however our buyer picked a closing date that made our lives a little stressful (though not as stressful as not selling our home!) – by setting our closing date 3 days before we left for Barbados.  That got pushed back to 2 days, which pushed our closing on our new house to the day before we left on our mission trip!  We closed on Wednesday morning on our new home, moved all day wednesday, had youth group wednesday night and left the house at 6:30am for Barbados on Thursday!  It was CRAZY!

I was the Project Coordinator for an International World Changers event in Barbados.  Actually, more specifically I was the PC for the first ever Powerplant International which worked through IWC.  We had 67 participants and saw God do some amazing things that week!

We arrived home to a house full of boxes to unpack.  It’s not the worst scenario in the world, but when you’re looking forward to relaxing on the couch – first you have to find the couch, then clear it, then lay down. :)  If all we had were boxes it would be one thing, but that next week we had c3 camp  and VBS here at church.  I helped a little with C3 and Mel helped with VBS.

Last Saturday, Mel left for her families vacation.  I am hoping to catch up with them on Wednesday night and stay until Saturday so I can be back for church – but now it turns out I have a sinus infection.  I think I’m just ready to get back ‘in the groove’.

So, needless to say – while I have taken a hiatus, I have really just been trying to stay on top of things.  I think when you do blog (or simply write) relatively often, you start thinking in blog form.  It’s like when I’m able to Twitter (no data on my phone for the past 2 months has kept me from twittering as much) frequently, I start thinking in 140 characters or less. :)

One thing is certain in the midst of the craziness starting out this year – I am thrilled to be exactly where God wants me at a wonderful church.  I have thankful (beyond measure) for an incredible family who has stuck through so much and stayed strong.  I am blessed to be in an incredible house – that is definitely one of the nicest places I have ever lived.  I am looking forward to many great years ahead!

3 Kinds of Churches

Jun 26th, 09 / Comments Off

I’m sure there are more, but in my short experience I have noticed at least 3 different types of churches.  Often times these churches reflect their pastors, but in reality their culture can be so ingrained that it would take many years for a pastor to ‘undo’ or ‘redo’ anything that needs a little bit of a change.  It is another reason why it is so imperative that a church hire a pastor that they can follow and trust – because it is difficult to move forward without a leader.

My names are pretty lame, but you get the idea nonetheless.

1.  The Dead-in-the-water Church. This is the church that hasn’t seen ‘life’ in a long time.  They are doing the same thing they did 50 years ago with no results.  The church is shrinking because the congregation is dying out.  They have no desire to change and are otherwise ignorant to the fact that they are largely ineffective not just in reaching their community, but in reaching their own congregants.  This type of church is happy not making waves and their primary goal is to stay afloat and pay the bills.

2.  The Struggling-to-breathe Church. This church has seen better days, and often speaks of those days with fondness.  There is sometimes a desire to break out of their shell and other times a willingness to do whatever it takes.  Often the struggling church struggles because everybody isn’t on board with the same vision.  There is a tension because there is a desire to grow, but not a desire to change in order to reach that growth.  Many don’t understand that changing in methods is not a change in theology or philosophy in ministry.  Another version of this church could be ‘the fluff’ church.  One that may be growing numerically, but they aren’t grounded and solid in the Word.  It’s not just enough to get warm bodies in the door – it’s a matter of what we DO that defines our direction here.

3.  The Solid and Growing Church. Probably the least common (unfortunately) church is the solid and growing church.  This is a church that trusts their leadership, that is faithful to the task of fulfilling the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.  They are often the ones found doing the ministry, and not just talking about it.  This church is not to be confused with a fluff church – as often they appear to be solid and growing but truthfully it’s built on the fame of the pastor, methods, or something beyond the Gospel.  While it’s easy to measure a church by it’s tangible growth, a solid church will also have intangible growth as more and more people become disciples and further commit to following Christ.

Just a few thoughts I’ve had lately that probably aren’t worth much!