Like you, I did a lot of important things this week. 

When all is said and done, it will be interesting to find out what was the most important.

It may have been preaching at church today, that was full with a total attendance of 298!  But I doubt it.

Perhaps it was finally getting down to 200 pounds and getting results from my doctor that all of my cholesterol and glucose and all of my blood chemistry is now healthy.  But I don’t think that is it either.

I performed a wedding this Saturday for a lovely couple, Larry and Shawna Jump.  That was very important, but a great wedding does not a great marriage make.  God bless them as they start life together.

I think the most important thing I did was to take my son Conner to breakfast.  During the school year we try to make it once a week, usually Friday, and have breakfast together. 

When all is said and done, I think that will matter the most, and will be what I will miss most.  Breakfast with my son.

With the back to school thing in full swing, I again realized today how great it is pastor in a college town, even if it costs me a good parking spot at Wal-Mart.

Here is a spur of the moment list of what I am feeling thankful for:

1. A wife I trust
2. A flexible, forward thinking congregation to pastor
3. A son who likes attending the church I pastor
4. Great staff
5. A full time salary
6. Two running cars
7. Previous ministerial investment poured into me
8. A healthy town to live in
9. The love of God
10. An undeserved life, reconciled through Christ crucified

Below is the statement I placed on our church’s blog concerning a major financial windfall.

_____________

When Family Life started in October 1993 they had no resources. 

The core of 20 people had been removed from their previous church through incorrect use of church discipline. 

The Assemblies of God district leadership asked this core to start a new church, indicating their disapproval of the previous church’s disciplinary measures.

Most of this 20 person core had invested for decades their heart and finances into the previous church they had been removed from.  They now found themselves scrounging by on the meager resources they had on hand.

In 2009 the former church they had been removed from closed.  As the assets were being liquidated district leadership found it proper to direct much of the remaining assets to Family Life to help fund our new building efforts.

Announced today, Family Life received earlier this summer two checks equaling $90,000 of assets remaining from the previous church.

These funds, separate from the $300,000 the current congregation pledged to give over the next 3 years in the Building Tomorrow Together Campaign, have been deposited and will be used for Phase 2 building needs.

We thank God for the graciousness of the Kansas Assemblies of God District Leadership and God’s hand in the timing of this financial event.

Notably, these resources and the decisions accompanying them did not occur until Family Life made efforts to step out in faith to raise $300,000.

If God can get it through you, He can get it to you.

Can you spot a rare once in a lifetime opportunity?

If you could, would you take it?

Below is the video I opened my message with this morning.  The message I spoke was from the Parable of the Hidden Treasure. 

If you could find amazing priceless beauty, and could buy it, would you? 

Christ is that wonder, He is affordable, though it will cost you everything.  Good news:  All you have is always enough for God, but the price is rarely lowered.

The amazing Washington Post article explaining the video is here.

Remember:  You must take advantage of the opportunity of a lifetime during the lifetime of the opportunity.

This past Wednesday marked 20 years of marriage. 

We celebrated with a really nice dinner in Wichita.  (see pic)

We then had a two day training for “coaching” to help pastors become better pastors.  Sounds romantic, huh?

Well, maybe that is why we are still married.  If both can stay tuned to Christ, we can stay tuned to each other. 

We ended our mini trip with a great weekend at visiting pastor friends and the church’s they pastor.

So glad that I have no concerns whether my wife will follow Christ and lead my son to follow Christ if I were to pass away, or the Indians win the World Series, whichever may come first.

Yesterday was a full day at the church with an outdoor water baptism service at the park, a picnic, and a golf tournament.

Weather was amazing, attendance was great, and I actually won the golf tournament!

Highlight is the Water Baptism Service.  Quick thoughts:

So cool to . . .

• . . . baptize a daughter when you can remember baptizing their parents.
• . . . baptize an adult son whose dad is your biggest supporter and a board member.
• . . . hear the testimonies/thank you’s of those being baptized.
• . . . see the pics of family members waiting to hug them afterwards.
• . . . witness the fruit of seeds our church had sown years ago.
• . . . realize that their faith is in Christ, their thanks is to those who invited them, and I get to be a close observer.

There are upsides and downsides to every job.  I saw this as a busboy, waiter, UPS loader, and a Computer tech. 

As a UPS loader I have the downside of blowing cardboard boogers but had the upside of benefits while a part time employee.

What about in ministry? 

Many is the minister who can gripe about the downsides.  Working every Sunday.  Not even NFL quarterbacks do that! 

(For a balanced look at the pressures, not the gripes, of being in ministry, click here.)

But there are upsides.  Perks.  Little things that are a “thank you” when you feel ineffective or under appreciated.  Like borrowing the church Rug Doctor to clean your car.  (see pic)

In no particular order, and not trying to be super-spiritual, here are a few more.

1. Using the church van to pick up bed mattresses from Sam’s Club.
2. Having an office with a door on it.
3. Unlimited grape (communion) juice.
4. People are thankful when you knock off 10 minutes early (preaching time) on Sunday.
5. Off on Monday.  Andy Griffith on at noon.
6. No one ever took a love offering for me at any other job!
7. People genuinely love and encourage you.
8. Animal crackers in the nursery.  (Chocolate are the best)
9. The feeling of being valuable, necessary, and effective.
10. Respect.
11. Leftovers at potlucks.  (We should have more of these)

I usually blog Sunday evening after I am drained from Sunday morning ministry.

Things are fully ready, I am listening to Keith Green on YouTube for inspiration and making sure all my t’s are crossed and i’s dotted.

Here is what is going through my mind:

1. I hope God shows up
2. I wonder if so-and-so who has been coming for 2-3 weeks will be here?
3. So much of the success this morning is soooo not dependent upon me and my efforts.  Without key volunteers this thing falls flat on it’s face.
4. Much of the success this morning is dependent upon the key leaders and their effectiveness and relationships.  I happen to be the main key leader.
5. I wonder who else cares as much as I do about the message this morning?
6. Psalm 141.3-4

When you hand out (with a bunch of great volunteers) 2,500 bottles of water in a span of about 30 hours you meet a lot of people. 

Some were in town for a day, some have lived here for their entire life.  Many I know casually after living in town for 10 years. 

Other’s that I hopefully expect will be people that will someday make a decision to visit our church.

Here are some of the people I met, and had the chance to sow seed into their lives:

1. Single people who 3-4 years ago were married
2. People who used to attend our church and moved
3. Kids I coached in soccer teams
4. A church planting pastor from Colorado
5. People who used to attend our church and left on less than good terms
6. Tino, a t-shirt vendor who used to go to an AG church in Florida, now living in KC
7. A great neighbor who visited our church and is serving God at another local church
8. People in wheelchairs my wife knows as patients
9. Parents who don’t attend our church who have teens who attend the church
10. Many who had enjoyed too much adult beverage and needed some water

Sarah and I have just completed 10 years in serving as the Pastors of Family Life Assembly of God in Pittsburg, Kansas.

A lot has changed:

1. Location of church (new building)
2. Location of Lehman’s (bought a new house)
3. Height of Conner
4. # of Ohio State University (football) and Kansas University (not football) national championships
5. Facial hair of Mark (goatee to soul patch)
6. Debt load (debt free except for house!)
7. Amount of staff at church (we have some now!)
8. Dress code at church (from suits to jeans)
9. # of women my wife influences
10. Size of God’s kingdom in Pittsburg