It is a chilly, rainy Monday around this area. Today looks to be a good day to settle down in some research or one of the many books on the “to read” list. Days like this are so relaxing. I never consider them gloomy, but a time to relax and review what is important.
Below are a few short thoughts help you keep moving on this Monday morning.
Journaling Idea: Write about your most productive day and learn what steps you took to make it the most productive day.
Five Things I Learned Last Week
1 – Relax – Some days it is good to relax and do nothing. It is good to take a break and spend some time in relaxation and refreshment. For you, this might mean stepping away from the computer, email or Facebook. It might mean turning on some relaxing music and just drinking a cup of coffee. Here is an article from the Mayo Clinic on relaxation techniques and the benefits. Read more here. By the way, have you ever noticed how much Jesus withdrew Himself to be alone?
2 – A simple card does wonders – For the past several years, our Sunday morning adult Bible class has been sending cards to people. Some of the recipients are members of our congregation and some are not. Some are local friends and some are distant. Some are people that most know, others are people have one or two know. Each week, I pass a card at the beginning of Bible class and it is passed along for everyone to sign. Doing this not only helps the receiver, but many in our congregation find encouragement in being able to encourage others. Who are you encouraging?
3 – Audiobooks are worth the price – Some of you might be ones who like a good hardcover book in your hands and others might like reading on a Kindle or other device, but there is something to be said regarding audiobooks. I have listened to several audiobooks over the years and recently I have discovered the audio narration option on a few of the Kindle books in my digital library. With audiobooks, you can listen in your car, while you exercise, in your office and just about anywhere.
4 – More clothes than I need – Do you have a closest for of clothes? So do I. I probably have more clothes now that I have had in a long time. In fact, I probably have more stuff now than I have had in a long time. Have you ever seen the “My 100 Thing Challenge”? It is an interesting read. I am not agreeing with everything, but there is a benefit in living simpler. Soon, I will be doing away with at least 50% of my clothes. Simpler should be better.
5 – Doing the same thing, gets the same results – I forget the old quote but the definition of insanity is said to be doing the same things over and over and expecting the same results. As people, we like the comfortable an stable. We like doing the same things because they are comfortable. However, the same actions get the same results. If we want to grow, we need to step up our actions and thoughts and change the input to change the output. Do not change for the sake of change, but change because it is necessary. (Personal Note: Some things do not need to changes, just our actions toward them. We might need to examine our hearts and mind, along with our motivation and purpose.)
#MondayMotivation
There are people who need a little more motivation on a Monday. Here is a video from Michael Jr. I bet you have never thought of what it was like to be the younger brother of Jesus, but Michael Jr. did. Enjoy.
Several years ago, my family and I took a month sabbatical from ministry for refreshment and relaxation. The purpose of the sabbatical was to step away from ministry and spend time in the word gaining a much-needed refreshment.
As a minister, you spend your time teaching and helping others and rarely do you get time to be taught and helped. The sabbatical was my time, and my family’s time, to step away from the “Preacher and his Family” and find rejuvenation.
During the sabbatical, my family and I traveled attended six congregations in four weeks. When we visited other congregations, I only told two of the preachers I would be showing up. I told them I wanted to be treated like everyone else and not to inform people I was the minister somewhere else.
I wanted to full visitor experience.
I wanted to know what it was like to walk in a congregation and be treated normally. I wanted to know what it was like to be a typical family and walk into a church building for the first time.
Preachers are usually treated a little different when we walk into a church building; especially where people know us. The tendency is to be sure to talk to the preacher, along with his family, and to be sure they receive a friendly welcome. It is almost as if ministers are on a different plain; typically, we think they are.
Gaining an average visitor experience has helped me as I see visitors around our congregation. Many visitors are not nervous when they arrive, just a little out of touch. They are not out of contact with church services; they are just not connected with your congregation services. They are there for the first time, and they are not sure what to expect.
Warning: Some of the words I write are not complimentary, but challenging. Take no offense to the words, but learn from my experience. I have not, nor will I name congregations or the area we visited. This is to be sure that they remain anonymous and everyone learns from the overall experience.
Let the words challenge you and make you uncomfortable. If they anger you, get up and do something about them. If you think they are right, get up and change the way your congregation is seen in your community.
I have summarized our experience into six different statements. Each statement is my thought based on my experience and also from hearing the words of others.
“Six Concerns I Have About Your Congregation”
1 – “When I visited, you asked me to full out a visitor card, talked about how much you appreciate visitors, but no one spoke to me.”
Hearing words spoken from the pulpit need to be backed up with action from the leadership and members.
Just because you talk about appreciating visitors does not mean you are following through with those actions.
Showing visitors you appreciate them is more than just giving them a card. It is having a conversation with them about them.
Ask your visitors about them? Most visitors are happy to ask about your congregation when you start the conversation asking them about them.
Conversation Tip: It is a good idea not to make fun of the state, city or location where people are from at your first discussion. It leaves a wrong impression.
2 – “I saw no joy in your congregation. As the church sang ‘To Canaan’s Land’ no one was smiling and they sang like a funeral. I thought living for Jesus was a joy, not a bore.”
Visitors notice the atmosphere of the congregation. Most visitors will compare your congregation with the congregation they attend. Their congregation becomes their standard they hold every other congregation too.
Ask yourself this question, “Do you smile when you sing “Sing and Be Happy?”
Most visitors notice the singing among every other aspect of worship. Maybe singing takes a priority because so many songs are sung during the worship? The singing service can set the tempo of a worship service.
As Christians, we do remember the death of Christ in communion every Sunday as a solemn occasion, but too many congregations leave Him in the tomb and do not celebrate the resurrection.
3 – “I saw a Bible, but I never saw Bibles. I thought Christians were people who studied the book not talked about studying the book.”
As mentioned previously, visitors are paying attention. They look around and see what is going on in worship, who is paying attention and what it means to everyone.
Church buildings need to have open Bibles and, the preacher needs to give us scriptures to open too. It is a two-way street.
There is a difference in talking about studying and studying. There is nothing wrong with exploring a workbook, but Bibles need to be opened along with the workbook.
4 – “Your services talked about being lights in a dark world, but I never heard of your congregation before today. You said your church has been around for 50+ years and I grew up here and never knew you.”
Wow! A statement like that reflects on the outreach of the congregation; both passive outreach and active outreach.
Passive outreach consists of areas like yellow page ads (yes, some people still use them), Facebook pages, websites, billboards, etc.. Passive outreach is placing information about the congregation in a way people can find it, stumble across it or search for it.
Active outreach consists of areas like door-0knocking, inviting others, handing out correspondence courses, etc.
For someone to grow up in an area and never hear of your congregation can mean a few things: (1) You are in a large city like Atlanta, etc. (2) You are a new congregation, or (3) there is no outreach.
5 – “I felt awkward because I had to sit on the second row because all of your members sat in the back and on the aisle seat. They seemed glued to their chairs.”
I have heard others say that “God’s presence must be strongest in the back five rows of our church buildings” and I can believe it. Many of the last rows of a church building and full, leaving the front rows for visitors.
Have you ever visited a church worship services and found nowhere to sit but the front row? So have I. In fact, I have attended other congregations where people have been unwilling to let me in their row. Seriously.
There needs to be some open space for visitors to come in the assembly and find a place to sit instead of having to walk all the way down to the front.
It is handy to have an area toward the back where visitors with small children can sit as opposed towards the front.
6 – “You saw that I had children and no one helped me find a Bible class for my children. There were no signs on the doors to help along the way.”
Information. Information. Information. Visitors need information, but not an overload of information.
Some congregations have a guide to show where classes are held, where the bathrooms are and other relevant information for visitors.
It is always nice to have several ushers (men and women) help the visitors find their way.
After service, be sure you assist the visitors in any way. Visitors might be looking for directions, a place to eat or other information that you can provide.
Final Thoughts:
Engaging visitors, when they arrive at your congregation, is a significant show of your hospitality. However, be sure not to overdo it out of show. Everything must be done sincerely. Visitors can distinguish between genuine hospitality and dramatized hospitality.
The relationship you have with the visitors attending your Bible studies or worship services should be built on the grace and mercy of Christ. Not every visitors will have a religious background, nor will they understand the “church words.”
While worship is typically designed for Christians, we must understand that in our culture, many will visit the worship service before any Bible study. It is important that we welcome them as we would like greeted. Think the Golden Rule.
Visitors need to know they are appreciated and loved just as anyone should be in an assembly of Christians. For a visitors to show up at your building, opens the door for a wide range of possibilities – from Bible study to conversion even to a new friendship. Take advantage of the time you have with visitors.
Each week, preachers face a daunting task of speaking to people of every age and background seeking to assist each one of them in following Jesus better than they had the previous week. It is a job of encouragement, correcting and motivating to keep pressing on in the world. Upon the responsibility, tack on the other factors of visiting, outreach, hospital visits, church errands and the like and the week for a preacher might draw to a close faster than he wishes.
Below are some “starter outlines” to assist you in developing lessons and classes. Some will be able to take these outlines and preach them as they are, but I ask you to develop these outlines yourself.
Anyway, here you go…
Outline #1 – Attitude Determines Altitude
Why is Attitude Important?
Attitudes are always forming
Attitudes are formed when we are young
Attitude problems are the result of heart problems
What must My Attitude be?
Not as the rich young ruler.
The Attitude of Christ
We need an attitude of “Yes! We can!”
How is your attitude?
Is it Christ-like?
Since attitude problems are heart problems, where is your heart?
Have you learned to be content?
Outline #2 – Do Not Mumble or Grumble
The Dangerous Attitude of Complaining
How can we be blameless and shining as lights in the world, if we complain?
Complainers bring others down.
The Dangerous Attitude of Disputing
Some people try to dispute, stir up anger and arguments
“All that is needed to make a mountain out of a molehill is a little dirt.”
Our Attitudes and Words
Do words affect people?
Replace complaining and disputing with good things (i.e. – thankfulness, faith, kindness, etc)
What will your words do today
Outline #3 – Taking it all in and letting none of it out
The Most Followed command?
Matthew 8:4 – “See that you tell no one…”
Why did Jesus say that phrase?
Do many people follow it today?
Why do many follow those words today?
Fear
Specifically, fear of rejection
Some are afraid they will be wrong
What is the solution?
We need to get off our “buts.” (ex. – I really know I should but…)
Isaiah 6:8 – “Here am I, send me”
Outline #4 – Simply Trusting God
Simply trusting God means you are like Joseph
Remember Joseph’s words to his brothers? (Genesis 45:5)
Joseph kept confidence by relying on God’s providence
Simply trusting in God means you are like Daniel
Daniel was a man of principles
He refused the kings food.
He refused not to pray.
God admires principles. (Psalm 15:1-5)
Outline #5 – Christian Repentance
Why would a Christian need to repent?
Sin
Isaiah 1:18
Christians can stray away
Demas (2 Timothy 4:10)
Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:13; 18-23)
What is your reaction to sin?
Do you deny it?
Do you try to cover it up?
Do you justify it?
Do you take responsibility?
You must live a life of action
“Faith without works is dead.”
You are salt and light
Christian’s Change
They change as they grow
Psalm 51
Outline #6 – “Lord I believe. Help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:34)
The situation: the disciples were not able to cast out a spirit of a boy, so the Father appealed to Jesus.
“Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.”
Note the verse is not a contradiction.
It may be better rendered, “Lord, I believe. Help my unfaithfulness.”
Do you believe but lack faith?
Are you in need of an increase of faith?
The father had belief, but he needed more faith.
How can you increase your faith?
Romans 10:17
Start now. (Matthew 4:18-20)
Attend uplifting events. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Find contentment and joy in God. (Philippians 4)
When in doubt, pray. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Once again, these are just starter outlines. Do your due diligence to make these a complete outline for your sermon or your personal study.
Since the football season and the Super Bowl is now past, I thought I would share with you how one particular Super Bowl changed my passion for life.
My passion changed because God was gracious.
In 2002, I sat in the cardiac critical care unit of the Jackson-Madison County Hospital in Jackson, Tennessee watching the Super Bowl. There were about a million other places I would like to have been, but I could not. I had to be at the hospital.
To make a long story short, by the time the Super Bowl had begun I had been at the hospital for about 17 hours watching numbers bounce around on monitors – my monitors.
When I first came to the hospital, I was diagnosed with a heart attack, and the severity of the diagnosis was only made more significant with the doctor’s choice of words,
“Mr. Gallagher, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being a massive heart attack, you have had an 8.5.”
With those words, I looked at Carrie, my bride of five years, and my daughter Alexis, one and a half years old. I felt my world come crashing to a halt with one sentence. Nothing else mattered except the two people sitting in front of me.
From that moment until seventeen hours later, everything was as smooth sailing as the heart attack diagnosis would allow. Then it happened!
As I was watching the Super Bowl, a laser-sharp pain drove itself into my chest. Despite all the blood thinners, morphine and needles jammed into my arm and stomach, along with whatever else the nurses were throwing at me, the pain grew stronger.
Finally, the room began to draw dark. It was the blackness of tunnel vision I had read about before.
While the room faded to black, I said my prayer, asked God to take of my family and turned my thoughts to Carrie and Alexis. As I closed my eyes, I waited.
I waited to see someone from the other side of life, but I never did. When my eyes finally closed shut and milliseconds had passed, I heard the words I dreaded (but needed) to hear, “Get the cart!”
I knew what “the cart” meant, and that was all I needed. I was going to be subjected to the power of two electric paddles jolting through my body to bring my back to life. Upon hearing two words, “the cart,” my thoughts were, “ABSOLUTELY NOT!”
The next few moments are hidden deep where only God knows; maybe I blacked out, maybe my heart stopped beating, or maybe I have simply forgotten, but my mind is blank. All I remember is hearing a nurse say my name, pull on my big toe and ask me if I was still around. I casually said, “Yes.”
When opened my eyes, I saw it – the cart. It was sitting at the side of the bed with the power levels on full. Seconds more and I would have been shocked, but God was good!
The next day brought a heart catheterization followed by the good and bad news:
Good news: No blockage, no damage, nothing. My arteries were clean.
Bad news: The doctors could not explain what happened, but I was informed that if I had not been in the hospital my life would have ended.
Well, I could explain what happened, prayer! The Bible says the “effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” Believe me, it does!
I knew there was someone higher than my doctors that day. The One who made my heart was holding it together.
I was sent home with a diagnosis of pericarditis and/or myocarditis. If you Google those words, you will see how fortunate I am after 16 years.
After a barrage of test over a six month period, I had my diagnosis, “We don’t know. It might have been a heart attack. It might have been a virus. We do not know.”
Comforting, huh?
I was told to come back in a year and go through more tests. I left the doctor’s office with two orders:
Do not get sick
Get the flu shot
I told them I would do the second and try my best for the first one.
After a year, I came back and went through tests again. Guess what? They still did not know. I was told that I was “normal” and to keep living. Comforting, huh?
In 2005, we moved to South Carolina and our new family doctor, and I had a chat about my 2002 heart attack incident. After examing all of my records, our new family doctor told me that I did not have a heart attack, but probably “viral cardiomyopathy.”
Did you notice that? Not for sure, but probably. There is a big difference in those words.
While I do not know the “whys,” the “hows,” or much else regarding that Super Bowl Sunday, I do know this: God was there, and He blessed me when I deserved no blessing.
My passion changed that day!
My passion for my work grew stronger.
My passion to see my family after this life abounds more and more each day.
My desire to assist others to achieve success grew stronger. The intensity to aid others in living better each day became a purpose.
It is odd how life changes events affect your future. I left a hospital and several doctor’s offices without any answer. I am content no to have an answer and even more content with what it could have been; viral cardiomyopathy.
My passion changed from everything to one thing – HOPE!
There is hope even when we see no hope! Many times, hope will appear when you are not looking. Hope is not a word for wishing; it is expecting confidently what you cannot see.
The present reality is nothing to be compared to the boundless hope of future opportunities. The end which awaits is greater than the present beginning.
Spiritually speaking, your changing life will be met by a changeless hope, because of a changeless God.
The hope of a better life is met with the opportunity for it to be better – all you have to do is look!
Look not at yourself in a mirror, but see the reflection of God. The sunrise reveals his overnight work. The sunset gives light to the day’s hidden stars and their desire to shine.
“The heaven’s declare the glory of God…” (Psalm 19.1)
Look at people around you!
God created each one and placed eternity in your heart. (Ecclesiastes 3.11) Each one is created as he saw fit; there is no “normal.” The only “normal” we should see is the image of the invisible God. (Genesis 1.26)
We have been provided by our Creator with abilities and inabilities given to us to take advantage of the opportunities He provides. God has hardwired each of us with the free will to make choices, goals, and dreams.
Even though our outward appearance remains different, the inner man is renewed day by day if we look set our affection on things above. (2 Corinthians 4.16; Colossians 3.2)
Normal is not found in the physical, but in the spiritual. The spiritual promise of God is success through Him.
My friends, my passion changed because of a stark reality – there is something greater than this world. I knew it for years, preached it countless times, but until God truly took control, things would never be where they are.
My faith and trust in Him became the beat of my heart. The countless hours of wonder brought renewed vigor and faith because He cares.
He cares for you too.
His care reaches the untouchable part of our souls and reaches to the top of our heads. His hands are at work in our lives providing us opportunities and strength, through His Only Son – Jesus.
Many have asked why I want to share a message of hope in a hopeless world, well, now you know!
Find your passion through the God who offers His care and see what your life can become!
For the record, my permanent record shows heart attack. I have taken a few tests since then, and my heart is very healthy. Doctors have told me there is no lasting damage, no sign I ever had a heart attack, and the muscle looks great.
I have been blessed.
I am thankful to many for their visits, calls, cards, food, prayers and so much more during that troubling time of 2002. It is an experience I remember way too often, but I am glad I can remember it.
Anyway, this is one reason I am so insistent on why living life matters.
It’s Monday again. Some love it; some hate it. Some enjoy starting their work week and others are ready to get it over with quickly. I guess it all depends on attitude, your view of work and the life you are living. I happen to enjoy Mondays for a variety of reasons. Monday are my day of reflection. Every week, I quickly reflect on last week and try to learn from the previous experiences. We learn from our experiences and in that education, we can share our wisdom with others. While we all make mistakes, it is learning from them where our wisdom begins.
Journaling Idea: If you journal, an idea for writing is to end every week writing what you learned and the wisdom you gained.
Five Things I Learned Last Week
1 – There are people with knowledge and there are people who think they have knowledge. There is a drastic difference between the two. You have probably heard the old adage, “They think they know so much, but they know very little.” It always helps to consider the person speaking to you and their experience. Today’s “you-have-to-hear-my-opinion” age should be remembered when everyone starts sharing their “knowledge.”
2 – For me, reading the Bible is better when I think. When I read the Bible, I try to get away from reading the chapters and verses and read about the situation. For instance, in the book of Esther, Haman built gallows 75 feet high. When you read this passage, you keep reading. However, take a moment and consider what 75-foot gallows look like. Think of how long it took to build them? Think outside the verse for a moment to the time period and the situation. The story of the gallows is amazing.
3 – There are people who listen to care and then there are people who do not care to listen; be the first group. Have you ever been speaking with someone and you can tell by the look in their eyes they already have their response ready? We all have and it is annoying. Do not be that person. Make it a point to listen to the other person’s words, clarify what they said and then develop your response. Fully listen to what the other person is saying before developing your response. The reason: sometimes what we think we hear is not what you should be hearing.
4 – Your past does not define you; your past enables you. Many people live in the past. Their focus is on high school, past sports or even a past success; but remember, those are in the past. What future are you creating? Your past is just that, your past. Your past should not define you because every day is a new day. While the past is part of our life, it should not be the defining factor. Use your past as an educational tool. Each of us should learn from our past, but not live in it.
5 – This quote says a lot, “Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.’ —Mark Twain
What did you learn last week?
Monday Morning Motivation
Getting up on a Sunday morning and getting your family ready to attend services can be a reality show, even for the best families. I love this story from Ken Davis regarding “Children fighting on the way to Church.” Sit back and laugh as you hear Ken’s story and see if you experienced it as well.
I am sure each one understands this, but communication is important. Whether it is verbal or non-verbal, communication affects everything. For a Christian, our communication is not only towards our brothers and sisters, but it is toward God. Christians have what many consider to be a vertical communication style (our communication with God) and a horizontal communication style ( our communication with each other).
In the end, we know that your communication with God affects all of our other relationships. So, to improve our other areas of communication, we need to first start with our communication with God.
Below is the PowerPoint from Sunday evening. Take a moment and feel free to view it and see what you think.
Thank you for stopping by and seeing the newest Powerpoint lesson. Stop by each week for more.
