• U.S. Church Demographics
I ran across this interesting demographic research of the distribution of denominations. This research was produced by the Glenmary Research Center (a Catholic group). The fine print indicates that the County designations are based on the total number of adherents reported by each church body divided by the county population in 2000. Majority counties are areas in which the leading church body claims 50 percent or more of the population. I thought this was very interesting. (if you double click a couple times on the map, it will enlarge)
What would be some of the implications of this research in your opinion?
• A Fragile Jury System?
On the occasion of my recent Jury Duty experience this week, I observed once again just how fragile our justice system can be. I have been called upon over the years to perform my just and right obligation to serve my community. In the early years with four children and being the only provider of my family, it was a considerable hardship to serve. As the sole provider, I had many reasons for not serving. However, in more recent years, with grown children, these reasons no longer exist.
So now, annually, it seems, or at least the last five or six years, being “summoned” has become a regular thing. In all these years, I have been seated two times, and in both cases, after being seated in the courtroom, they immediately took a recess and the attorney’s conferred in chambers and settled out of court. So I have never served on a Jury to adjudicate either the misdomeaner or a criminal case.
• Confessions of a Stuck Leader
After forty, plus, years in the ministry experience, I must confess I have been “stuck” many times. “Stuck” is a kind of quagmire experience that I can “wallow in” that basically renders me immobile to forward progress. It comes when I am over committed to big events and I try to recover by being too busy with missed maintenance of my routines. It is kind of like treading water, going through all the motions, but not making any real forward motion. I think “quicksand” is a good image, because it is easy to neglect moving, appropriately for a while, and then discover the danger and the guilt when I neglect my support systems, like my wife, children, staff, or supporters.
For years, I have unsuccessfully fought…
• A Church with Closed Doors?
That’s Right! Whittier Area Community Church closed it’s doors this weekend. The doors are closed because it is Serve Weekend. This is now the third annual Serve Weekend where the whole congregation is encouraged to show love and compassion to others by practical service projects in our communities.
The mission of Serve Weekend is to reach out in the name of Jesus to encourage and uplift the community in which we live. On March 29 and 30, 2008, we closed the doors of Whittier Area Community Church and worshipped God by serving others. WACC attempted to meet the tangible needs in our community by serving in over 100 different projects of need.
So over 100 projects were organized…
• Moving Forward, & Backing Up
Would you believe it? I am making progress one step at a time? This reminds me of the dance lessons my wife and I had to take so we could dance at the weddings of our children. Progressing around the room with deliberate steps forward and back. In early February, I went to the Apple Store and purchased my first back-up hard drive to finally back up my data. I was able to solve this problem with a reasonable cost (much cheaper than I anticipated). So recently, I happily backed up all my 12 GB of data, photos and writing projects. I used Time Machine for the first time and learned more about how it worked. This opened another door to discover just what else my My MacBook Pro could do.
I have more than one friend who have been prevailing upon me to “back up.”
• La Mesa Jail Blitz Team
Just thought you would like to see the New Combo Photo from our last Kid Mission in Tijuana, Mexico. All these photos come from the Jail Team, who came to minister and make a difference in just one visit. I am continue to be amazed at all that God accomplishes in just a few hours. This is definitely an amazing work. It feels like how it might have been in the Book of Acts. It is a lot of work to be prepared and the preparation is working. However, this is just one team, there three others. All together, there were 120 of us in three buses, representing nearly a dozen churches. Our next Baja-Kid Mission will be May 17-18.
• Pondering the Greatness
Having a place to go, just to rest, reflect, write and have some time alone, has been a great blessing for me. Being able to travel to Palm Springs and walk on green paths like this has been really calming, on the one hand, and challenging, on the other. In my early ministry this was never the case. Having no place to go, no opportunity to get away, life was just too busy then. Now, I am realizing the power of trysting, cogitating, pondering, and rehearsing, if you will, the greatness of God. I am greatly preoccupied with children’s ministry related thoughts. However, here I am learning to think His thoughts, after Him. To take some time out to learn of His ways and consider what He is teaching me and what I need to be learning. My March Writing Retreat was another productive time, for reflection and writing. I am so thankful to be able to walk down green paths like this one and have a place to be still, quiet and alone, for awhile.
• Easter EGGstravaganza
Children love an Easter Egg Hunt. Colored hard bowled eggs are obviously placed around a lawn, so even the youngest could not miss them. It is almost an Easter Tradition in the States. Even the President hosts such an event on the White House Lawns. How does the Christian convert this secular holiday tradition to make some spiritual meaning, or better yet, teach what the real meaning of Easter is all about?
Many children’s ministries add some cleaver names and revamp what happens at the event. One church calls it Lamb and Eggs, still others have called it Easter EGGstravanganza. Typically, these hybrid children’s events feature…
• Kidology Coaching Update
This is Eric Ward, my first on-line Kidology Coaching protege with Karl Bastian, the Executive Director of Kidology, Inc. Karl was invited to conduct children’s meetings at Eric’s church, William’s Lake Church of the Nazarene, in Waterford, MI. Karl tells me that Eric was quick to display his new Kidology Coaching Manual to the “head honcho.” And Karl was happy to send me this photo, so I could share it with you.
News Flash: A Kidology Coaching Update: We now have two more Protege’s! We have six on-line students now. This is becoming so exciting for me, never thought I would ever be doing on-line coaching, but I am really enjoying the process. In some ways it is like meddling in someone’s else life, working on their vision, their goals and helping them to be successful. They have been so responsive and I am really enjoying the process. Welcome to Sharon Hattaway, a Professor of Children’s Ministry at Tennessee Temple University and she overseas the Mission Center there. And welcome to Ron Rudd, the Pastor of Family and Children’s Ministries at Metropolitan Bible Church from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Please join me in praying for their ministries. Thanks!
• Kids Hear Gospel in Jail
Are you serious? What do you mean kids hear the gospel in jail? That’s right, one team went to the Tijuana Jail to share with the inmates. About 250 men showed up for our services. The doctors came and set up shop, with their own medicines, ready to treat any who needed help. Food Crew set up to provide a hot meal for all who were with us. Then there were the children, not incarcerated, but there, none the less. You see, they come with their mothers to see their incarcerated fathers for a Saturday “Family Day” visitation.
We had a group of 120 traveling to Tijuana in three buses. We split up into four teams and went to five places. One team went to the La Mesa Jail, and the Camino Church, which was my team, composed of Doctors, nurses, speakers, musicians, food crew, and a children’s ministry team.
