Economy hits home today

Had a great day today - went to an all day pastor's prayer day. Nothing like spending the day in prayer to lift the spirits! We had 48 signed up! 38 came.

The economy has hit home. This week my eight year old lost her two favorite playmates. A family down the street is moving in April. The other playmate's father (who goes to our church) was laid off at Ford Credit today. My daughter asks me, "Daddy, who am I going to play with now?" It's a hard thing for a little girl to understand.

So far, I am disappointed in "The Associate" by John Grisham. A real yawner. I have about a third of the book to go. Hope it has a great ending. Grisham usually doesn't have an ending, much less a good one.

Lent

My wife 'lent' me an idea for Lent. Instead of abstaining from some kind of food, like I have in the past, she suggested that I abstain from negativity. Nothing negative for 40 days.

No complaining about anyone or anything. Nada. Zippo. Nothing.

I have taken the challenge. She has given me an insight that, while not flattering, is honest. Isn't that a quality we all want in our marriages? (In my friendships, too!)

So today I begin a journey on not being negative. I don't want to become 'a grumpy old man'.

I do find that being negative comes fairly easily for me. It must be my default setting. Today, we begin the process of rewiring my hard drive.

I'll keep you up do date on my progress. See, I'm being positive already!

Lent me an idea?

Halfway through "The Associate" by John Grisham. Is it me, or is Grisham loosing his magic? Gotta find a great book to read.

Looking forward to a day off today. Hope to watch last night's "24". Get some lunch at Famous Dave's with a good friend Scott Warren. Nothing better than sharing good barbeque with a good friend. Maybe even a tall glass of sweet tea to boot!

Lent begins to tomorrow. I need to decide what to give up for 40 days. I've got lots of choices - red meat, diet coke, fried foods, fast foods, eating out, -- why are there so many things that aren't good for me that I really love? Can you lent me an idea?

Do you "do" lent? Why or why not?

One more preaching point

One more thing I do in order to balance my preaching. I keep track of several age groups within the congregation: children, teens, young adults, middle age, senior saints. I make sure that one sermon out of six is for them. I'll say this again: good preaching is hard work!

The best compliments I get are from those under 10 who say - "that was a cool sermon Mr. Randy!" I live for those moments.

A Great book that have helped my preaching: Communicating for a Change by Andy Stanley. A must read for all preachers!

Do you have a book that has made a difference in your preaching? Pass it on!

Movies, Books, hamburgers

Finally, got some time today to catch up on "24" and "LOST". Both are having great seasons. "The Amazing Race" and "Survivor" are off to good starts as well.

Have no major plans for the weekend. I'm way behind in my movie watching, too.

I just began reading "The Associate" by John Grisham. Grisham usually has a great book until the ending. The man just can't write a good ending. In that respect, David Baldacci writes a much better book in my humble but correct opinon.

In and Out just announced they will open six stores in the Salt Lake City area! One will be about 200 yards from my house. Whoa, baby! They hope to open in about 4 to 6 months. Oh, I can't wait! Oh, life is so good!

Have a great weekend.

Preaching to the WHOLE congreagtion

I believe that good preaching is hard work. Good preaching is preaching that reaches the whole congregation, not just one segment of it.

Each month I try to preach in different "channels". Some people are thinkers - the analytical types. Some are feelers - they are very emotional people. See are visual -- they have to be stimulated with pictures. Some love a good story. Some are practical - tell me how to practically deepen my walk with Christ.

Each month to six weeks, I try and look back. Did I reach the thinkers? Did I have a sermon that touched us on an emotional level? Did I tell a good story? Did I present a solid, practical challenge to deepen our walk with Christ? Did we "feel" the impact of the gospel? Did we dig deep into the Word?

I have my natural channel. I have to be very intentional to change my channel every Sunday so I can reach the whole congregation in the way they learn and grow.

Gary Thomas discusses this in his book "Sacred Pathways". We each have our "path" to God.

What is your 'path"? How does your church celebrate the "different" paths to God? Or do they?

Preaching Calendar

Using an idea from the book "24 Innovative Ideas" by Ed Young and Andy Stanley, our worship planning team is working on a preaching calendar. The idea is to look at the entire year, and to intentionally plan the preaching calander. Thought is given to balance (Old Testament, NT, etc.) and "timing" (a series on the family that you announce at Easter for example). We're starting with six months, with the next six months penciled in. I love the idea! I'll let you know how it works and the calendar we come up with.

I'm just tired of planning week to week or month to month. Another idea that we're incorporating is the "big idea" for a Sunday. You revampt the bulletin to fit that theme. You decorate the building with posters and bananers to reinforce the theme. We've done on a limited basis but we hope now to put this idea in full force.

How do you (or your church) your preaching calendar?

On Wednesday I'll discuss what I do to balance my preaching every month.

Movies, Sermons & Declining Growth

I've had a lot of people to tell me to go and see "Slumdog Millionaire". The thing is, I have a rule about R rated movies. I try and not see them. Although, I did see "Passion of the Christ." (Even rented a theater!) Even a lot of "PG 13" movies would have been "R" a few years ago -- all the "rules" about movies often gets muddled (a get that).

If you have seen it please pass on your review. I also want to see "Defiance" (it's also "R"), and "Gran Torino" (rated "R") as well.

Preaching on "The Blessings of a Church That Prays." Its the second installment a four part series.

I was encouraged to see that in Utah (along with Rhode Island) the churches of Christ show at least a 5% growth. What was really discouraging was to see the churches of Christ declining in most areas of the country. What is it doing in your neck of the woods? Is your church growing? Maintianing? Declining? and why?

Books on heaven

I'm trying to figure out where "LOST" is going. I confess to being, uh, lost most of the time. I have given up on "Heroes". Just got too confusing. "24" is off to a great start!

I've been challenged by the thoughts Randy Alcorn expressed in his best seller "Heaven". I will now read "Surprised by Hope" by N.T. Wright. I'm teaching a class on heaven this spring at Southside. If you know of a good book concerning heaven, please pass it on. I would love to read it for preparing for this class. I've been surprised by the lack of books on this wonderful subject.

I will say this - my traditional understanding of heaven has been challenged! I've got a mouthful of wonderful thoughts to chew on.

back home

I'm back home after spending nine days in Dallas with my mother. I went for her fourth chemo treatment. We went to the hospital for the treatment. She couldn't have it; her blood wasn't clotting good enough. Instead of flying home, I still spent the time with her. I figured God was giving me soon good time just to be with her. We watched a lot of Hallmark movies (she tapes all the movies on the Hallmark Channel. She is wearing her DVR out!) We shopped. We ate some great Tex-Mex, enjoyed good ole Texas BBQ, - just had a great time!

Just read in the ne Christian Chronicle that only two states report the church (of Christ) growing - Utah and Rhode Island. While that is sobering news, I am encouraged that the church in Utah is growing! And it is! (The growth indicator was an increase of at least 5%).

It's good to be home! Looking forward to sleeping in my own bed.