Clergy Appreciation Month

October was clergy appreciation month. I must be getting old - I find these kind of things artifical. People feel like that "have to" appreciate the pastor because its "cleargy appreciation month". Do we really need that? I have heard somewhere that most ministers resign and go somewhere else just to feel appreciated by the congregation they are leaving. I know pastors are, for the most part, overworked and underappreciated. Like coaches - we don't get too credit for when it goes well; and too much of the blame for when it goes bad.

Just seems to be that if we are living out kingdom values that we don't need specific days to be told to appreciate someone. We'll do it day by day without having to buy a card or a present. A kind word. A handwritten note of appreciation. A thank you. Take them out for lunch just to say that you appreciate them. Have them over to your house for a night of fellowship. Spend a week praying for them by name, then send them a note to let them know that you were praying for them. Goodness, I think of a thousand ways - but the most important thing is to build others up according to their needs!

Okay, enough of that. I'm sounding like a grouchy old man. The Hogs keep on rolling. We've got a tough road game at South Carolina on Saturday. It's a national telecast by ESPN at 5:30 p.m. mountian time.

Had a meeting with our contractor on Friday night. Our simple building will cost 2.5 million dollars. We have roughly 1.2 as a downpayment. Our 6 acres of land is paid for. Question: at point are we putting too much into buildings? Is there a magic percentage that you should spend or not spend? Should we do as Barna suggests and just meet in homes?

Redeeming Love

Seems like I've been recommending a lot of books lately. My latest is that you read "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. It is a retelling of Hosea and Gomer in a western setting. Very well written. Most men don't like to read "romance" novels; however, this one is different. If may just end up having a deeper appreciation for the Biblical narrative while being entertained at the same time. If you have an older teenage daughter it would make a great Christmas gift.

Most of the books that I read come recommended by someone else, so if you have read a great book lately - pass it on!

Go Cardinals! However, we were reminded last night the last time St. Louis was leading 3-1 in the World Series, they lost 4-3. We can't declare victory just yet.

My Hogs play LA Monroe in the "Rock" on Saturday. Should be a scrimmage for the Razorbacks. After this game the schedule gets tougher - South Carolina in Columbia, then Tennessee (at Fayetteville), followed by what should be a breather (Miss. State) - then wrap up the regular season in "the Rock" with LSU. Can the Hogs win out? Or will there be one or two losses in there? I haven't been this excited about Razorback football in a long time.

Hope your tribe has a great day with the Lord on Sunday. Don't forget to set your clocks back one hour! Love that extra hour of sermon prep - oh, I mean sleep.

Communicating For a Change

Just in the past few weeks I've had a lot of comments like "Your preaching some seems really focused of late . ." or "man, I don't know what it is but your last few sermons have been awesome." Well, I'm going to give you the secret -

I've changed the way I preach. I was trained do to expository preaching. Three points and all that stuff. (Not that I have thrown that out; we still need to have balance!).

Just read the fantastic book "Communicating for a Change" by Andy Stanley. He teaches that we should have one point. One point! He outlines a sermon with: Me-We-God-You-Me. Then, ask five questions: What do they need to know? (Information) Why do they need to know it? (Movitvation) What do they need to do? (Application) Why do they need to do it? Inspiration How can I help them remember? (Reiteration).

Since I've been using this model for my sermons, the reaction has been amazing. AND, it made creating the sermon more challenging, yet rewarding when I've seen the results!

Now, I won't use it exclusively, but it will be a major tool in the tool box. I still believe that we need balance in our preaching and teaching.

Check this book out! It will help you see preaching in a whole new way by a man that I believe has a real gift in communicating to the present culture.

Get Service a huge hit!

Just started reading "Our Iceberg is Melting" - with the sub title "Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions" by John Kotter. Looks interesting. Also, a friend of mine, Tamera Alexander, has had her second novel published by Bethany House. Go and pick up a copy of "Revealed".

Facing the Giants still hasn't come to Salt Lake. In just 100 theaters, it has made a little over 3 million dollars! We may have to wait until the DVD.

The Hogs rolled again against Ole Miss. We should go into Columbia, South Calorina 7-1 and beat the Gamecocks - then, host Tennessee at Fayetteville a strong 8-1. I love the wrinkles new offensive coordinator Guz Mulzhan has installed. GHG!

The clip I used Sunday from sermonspice, "Get Service" was a huge hit!! I used it to illustrate how Jesus viewed Zaccheaus (is that spelled right?).

I preach this Sunday for our church plant in Murray,Utah. Looking forward to that.

Dave, thanks for the website idea! Looks great.

TGIF

Way to go Cards! Although the Mets put up a good fight, my red birds flew away to the World's Series. I must confess, I love the idea of the Tigers being there as well. Should be a great series. Hope it goes down to a seventh game.

Hope you had a chance to check out sermonspice website. Great stuff. Just started reading "Just Walk Across the Room" by Bill Hybels. I just love anything by Hybels. If you want to get challanged, go the the Willow Creek web site and order the DVD entitled "Leadership Test". He did the talk at one of their Leadership Summits a few years ago. He'll ask you some pretty tough questions that every leader needs to hear.

The Hogs are playing Ole Miss Saturday. Love the nickname they've given the Razorbacks backfield of Jones and McFadden, "Thunder and Lightening". GHG! (Go Hogs, Go!).

Hope your tribe has a great day Sunday! Let me know what God is doing in your midst.
BTW, anyone who wants my sermon notes and slides from our Starbucks Sunday, just give me your email address and I'll send it to you. Just go to www.southsidechurchutah.org , send me and email and I'll get it to you. Have your own Starbucks Sunday!

With God's Best, Randy

GREAT ministry resource

I've got a great worship resource for you! Since I was just put in charge of our new worship planning team (which, to be honest, I really asked for the job!). I am on the lookout for resources to help make our worship fresh. Contemporary. You know - up to date.

Well, found a tremendous resource yesterday. It's called Sermonspice. (just go to
www. sermonspice.com) Watch the video called "suppertime". We're going to use that very soon at Southside!

It seems that God gives me just want I need for a sermon at just the right time every week. Know what I mean? This week I was really struggling with how to make Zacchaeus fresh - a new slant; a new insight. Then, I found this web site through another pastor here in town, and there it was - a great little four minute video on how we see people. Man, I just love it when God does that!

Enjoy the resource. I hope it's helpful. If you know of some resources, please pass them on! It's nice to share.

Monday Morning rambling

Did anyone see the movie "One Night With The King" over the weekend? I'm thinking of going to see it - I would love to have a review. "Facing the Giants" hasn't come to Salt Lake yet. Can't wait to see it.

The Hogs are now ranked 13th! If we don't over look Ole Miss the Saturday, we'll be 7-1 heading into a game with Tennessee. Can anyone, and I don't care who, please beat USC?

Been reading "You Don't Have To Have A Title To Be A Leader" by Mark Sandborn. Great little book. Also reading "The Creative Leader" by Ed Young. (So far a disappointment but maybe it will get better). On my list to read: Uprising; Shaping of Things To Come; Just Walk Across the Room; Doing Church in Teams. What's on your list?

John Grisham's new book is out. Can't wait till I get my copy from the Salt Lake County Library. We have the best library system in the world. Love any Grisham novel.


Our worship planning team is meeting this Sunday to plan a "creative calendar" for the next six months. Looking forward to having our assemblies planned out a year in advance but we'll start with six months and see how that goes.

Questions: Can the Cards pull it out? Are the Raiders the worst team in the NFL? Can anyone beat USC? Will Peterson return for his senior season with OU? Can the Hogs win the SEC West? Does anyone care about professional soccer? Why is Friday Night Lights on Tuesday night? (The best new show on TV!)

A Third Place

If you like to read books on leadership, you've got to read "Pour Your Heart Into It" by Howard Schultz. It is the story of Starbucks as told by CEO of Starbucks. You will be inspired by Schultz's vision. A few weeks ago we had a "Starbucks Sunday" - I preached on "What the Church Can Learn From Starbucks" while serving 10 gall0ns of Starbucks in the foyer. We had the most visitors we've ever had for a invite your neighbor day! (Starbucks was wonderful to work with).

Schultz calls Starbucks is a "third place" - he says that we have work and home; we need a third place to be community (Schultz's own words). His definition of a third place: "a place where titles and status are checked at the door. A place where we just 'are'." Shouldn't the church be that third place? That was the theme of my sermon that day. Anyway, read the book. You will be inspired and fired up by Schultz's vision and boldness.

I'm in dire need of a good novel to read. Any suggestions?

N-N-Notes From Randy

Had a GREAT weekend!! Went to a Beth Moore Conference with my wife. That woman can preach, my goodness. Good to see 5,000 women (well, 4995 women and five men) gather in the E Center in Salt Lake for a Christian event. We took a group of 70 from Southside.

Then, went home to watch the Hogs destroy Auburn, 27-10. Great game. Probably saved Houston Nutt's job. Our freshman quarterback, Mitch Mustain, did an outstanding job of handing off to America's best backfield - Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. Now we are ranked for the first time since 2003. GHG! (Go hogs, Go!).

Now, I realize that I forgot to explain why I've titled the blog "n-n-notes from Randy". I have a slight stutter. (okay, that might be generous). Back when I was a youth minister in El Paso, that's what I called my space in the church bulletin. I thought it was kinda clever. Good story -- there was a church in New Mexico that copied all our artwork from our bulletin in their bulletin. Every week. When I started calling my column "n-n-notes" -- sure 'nough. In their bulletin the next week, in their church announcements, was "n-n-notes" (they had cutt off the "Randy"). Bet they had some 'splaining to do!

And oh, the Cardinals laid the Padres to rest to go to the NLCS. Go Red Birds!

Thanks Greg for sending the preview to "Facing the Giants" movie. Can't wait until it comes to Salt Lake.

A New Look!

As you can tell, it's been a while since I've written a post! Went on a two week trip to Alaska in August. Wow! Alaska was amazing! The best vacation I've ever been on. Then, two weeks became a month, a month became two . . . and before you know it - it's October 5!

I thought I would give the blog a new look. Hope you like it.

So, where do I start? There is so much to catch up on, my goodness. The Razorbacks are 3-1. But we play Auburn on Saturday, so that will be the end of that. Won't win many games in the SEC with a freshman quarterback. BUT - when Mustain gets some experience, watch out! He will be a Heisman candidate before it's all over. We will just have to take some lumkps in the meantime.

A lot of new shows I like! Friday Night Lights and Standoff my be my two favorite new shows. Still like Prison Break, Amazing Race, Survivor, Home Makeover. You have any new favorites?

Haven't been to a theater in about a month. I really want to see Facing the Giants. Isn't showing in Salt Lake yet. Anyone seen it?

I did rent "Broken Trail" a few weeks ago. Loved it. In fact, watching that encouraged me to down my DVD of Lonesome Dove. I had forgotten how good that show was. Love Robert Devull in western!

Well, it's good to be back in the swing of blogging.