The Changing Church and It's Success

Ministry is an evolving thing. Look at churches today compared to just 10, 20 years ago. The structure, sound, and look has changed. We are Chris Tomlin instead of John Newton…we are Matt Redman instead of Avalon...we are guitars, small groups, and videos instead of organs, Sunday Schools, and power point. There is nothing wrong with this, but over the years a lot of things have changed. I think about youth ministry back when I was just in 9th grade (which was not too long ago if you are polite). It was filled with lock-ins, corny (but fun) games, and many trips to the bowling alley. It was enough to get us to come and experience fellowship in a Christian setting. The messages were decent enough and full of obvious biblical truths. I guess I’m trying to say I heard the truth (it got me here to this point in my life), but I cannot point to particular life-changing message. Today’s youth ministry is no longer called “youth ministry”. We call it Student Ministry. We have catchy names, themes, and slogans. Our services are video filled and we “student pastors” are always looking for the new “attention grabber” to get this ADD generation to consider us. Please know I’m not downing any of these changes because our services at Southern Heights are also filled with video illustrations, proper mood-setting lighting, and series messages. I have talked to 40 student ministers in the past two years that refuse, and make it known upon hiring, to become an event driven ministry. A ministry that is full of bowling alley trips, laser tag, and putt-putt. The “event” driven ministry looks a lot like our past youth ministries that serve the purpose of getting kids in church just for the sake of getting them to come. I’m not saying that those lives were never changed because it is obvious a lot were, but I am saying we called ourselves a successful youth ministry if we had 50 students go bowling. I think we still today have a horrible success “scale”. We base success on our Sunday School numbers, people who showed up at the last social, and the number of ministries we have. When are we going to start counting success on the number of students who continue to go to church when they enter college. Or how about how many students we have go on mission trips on their own and not because all of their friends are going. Or how about how many students who learn to feed themselves spiritual truths and develop personal biblical disciplines. Or how about how many senior adults continue to serve without excuse to the best of their ability. The church is changing, and I hope the ministry at Southern Heights changes more than just visually. I hope and pray God uses us to change lives. My goal for our Student Ministry is not to have 200 students, but for the students we have that they’ll become godly, spiritual believers that love Jesus and have truly given their LIVES to Him

DM Demolition

Going to Alabama today. I’m in the airport right now, and before I get the books out and start knocking down some philosophy I thought I give you a quick recap of last night. We didn’t have our student services, but we went to First Assembly to the concert my buddy Wes put together. Listen this dude is a pro…a seasoned student ministry vet. He brought in Leyden from Hot Springs, a quality band with quality hearts for worship. I’m not sure how many students all together there were (the seasoned youth pastor did forget to count) but we brought 24. Let me give you a run down of last night. The band was definitely quality. Their originals were really good, they communicated well with the students during the concert, and afterwards spent some time just getting to know everyone. That is always a sign of a true band. If you bring in a group to do whatever…lead worship, concert, or speak and the only time you see them is when they are doing what they were called to do, don’t bring them back. People with real hearts for the ministry always communicate with students before and after their “show”. I really appreciated that about Leyden. I would rather have an average band or speaker who spends time with my students than a captivating one that never communicates before or afterwards. Ministry is personal, and to be successful the students or whoever must know you are real off and on the stage. That’s why I love Wes and if God did call us somewhere, he is one I would definitely bring in to speak. The guy is genuine. I got some good posts for you guys while I’m gone. God has been really moving in me and how I personally do ministry and I’m going to guess that it is applicable to a lot of you guys. Keep checking in.

The Chiefest

I am a sinner. I have fallen.
I deserve hell. I deserve the worst.
He came. He suffered.
He was beaten. He was spit on.
He was flogged. He was mocked.
His flesh was ripped off. He was stripped naked.
They nailed His hands. They nailed His feet.
He never cursed. He never regretted.
His blood dripped. His side pierced.
He breathed His last. He gave His Spirit to His Father.
He obeyed. He was rewarded.
He rose. He lives.
Savior. Propitiation. Satisfaction.
I am a sinner. He is a Savior.
I have fallen. He was raised up.
I deserve hell. He satisfied God's wrath.
I deserve the worst. He experienced separation from God.
I see grace. I see mercy.
I see love. I see Him.
I see my rewards. I see His work.
I see my filthy rags. I see His blood.
I see my sin. God sees His Son.
I try to make things better. I mess things up more.
I try. I fail.
I work. I push Jesus away.
I see the point. I see why I am so wrong.
I long for self-control. He longs for me to be Christ-controlled.
I long for recognition. He longs for glory.
I see me. I need to see Him.
I am so weak. He is strong.
He doesn't need me. He wants me.
I want to be closer. He is drawing me to himself.
I'm crying for Him. He is crying for me.
I am screaming for Him. He is gently knocking at the door of my heart.
I am broken. He begins to smile.
I surrender. I hear Him sigh with relief.
I raise my hands. He takes hold.
He places His hands on my face. I can't look at Him.
I'm unworthy. He is my worth.
I'm unrighteous. He is my righteousness.
I'm dirty. He washed me.
I have a new name. He calls me son.
I owed a debt I could not pay. My Father paid it for me.
He paid with a life. The life of his Son.
I was so far away. I placed the world in between us.
He moved mountains to get to me. He never lost sight of me.
I don't understand. He is the Author.
I give Him my life. He uses me.

All By Myself

Yesterday I dropped my family off at the airport to fly to Alabama for a couple of weeks. I'll be leaving Thursday to meet them (I can't be gone as long as they can). So until that day comes I'm alone. So in the spirit of blogging, and since I am incapable of writing in paragraph form, I decided to make two top five lists. One to give you my top five things I plan to do while my family is gone, and the other top five things I'll miss about my family. Here it is:

5 Things I Will Do
5. Finish my Philosophy work
4. Leave dirty clothes in the middle of the floor...which I accomplished in 10 minutes
3. Spend some time alone in the Word in my recliner
2. Play a lot of basketball
and the number one thing...
1. Untuck the covers at the bottom of the bed on both sides and sleep diagonal with a smile on my face knowing that Megan would be cringing knowing that covers were not tucked in:)


5 Things I'll Miss The Most
5. Rocking JP before he goes to sleep
4. Watching Megan play rock band and getting frustrated because she can't beat me
3. Megan taking care of me even when I'm in a bad mood
2. Good night kisses from both JP and Megan
and the number one thing...
1. Well, umm...I'm not quite sure how to say this. You know...what married people do:)
Arguing (get your mind out of the gutter, you bunch of dirty minded people)

Saturday's 7

• Me and Nolan went to Eureka to play basketball this morning. It was HOT!! I was dead after two trips down the floor.
• We went to Branson and saw Prince Caspian last night. A lot better than the first one for a couple different reasons:1. Not near as mythical 2. The fight scenes were really good.
• We are going to First Assembly for the end of school concert my man Wes is doing next Wed. It should be amazing.
• JP is growing up really fast. It is so weird for him to carry on a conversation with me.
• I really want to go floating.
• I have been eating a lot of Cinnamon Toast Crunch lately. It's pretty much the best cereal ever.
• I'm calling the Lakers to win it all this year. I know what happened after I guaranteed North Carolina to win it all, but this is completely different. I don't even like the Lakers....there just that good

DM Demolition

Last night was really good. I had a little Mark Driscoll breakdown, but besides all of that everything was amazing. It was so amazing in fact, that we had two teenage students make professions of faith. You can't see the joy in my heart through a blog but nights like last night...someone coming to know Christ...is the greatest joy giver ever. We had 20 students looking deep into the Word, asking God for help. It was so good. I'll go and see a couple of them in the next few days and I'm really excited about sitting down and answering questions they may have, and then teaching them how to grow deeper in their faith. Jesus, thank you. Thank you for being our substition in taking our penalty that we deserve. Thank you for grace and offering salvation, something we don't deserve. Thank you for loving us.

I'm Such a Whiner

I'm not feeling well at all today. I didn't sleep that great last night, and my throat has never been so itchy in all of my existence. So I proceeded to write a post telling you guys things I just can't stand. For instance:

• Allergies
• The inability not to sneeze
• diarrhea
• surface Christianity
• ulcers in my mouth
• gas...prices

And the list pretty much went on for 30 pages. I almost hit the publish button down below when God asked me a simple question: "What are you speaking on tonight?" I automatically thought about the garden after Adam and Eve sinned. God was walking around calling there name asking them where they were. God knew exactly where they were, He just wanted them to come out and embrace repentance and grace. God knew exactly what I was going to talk to our kids about tonight. He just wanted me to say it repent and experience grace. Tonight's message is on Moses and the Exodus. We are going to go through the story and see exactly the hearts of the Israelites that were...complaining (I know, Can you believe this??) We were then going to flip over to Phil. 2:14 were Paul tells us to do everything...without complaining (I'm feeling like a big poop head right now) for the sake of the church. God is so faithful in showing me things in my life I need to get right. I read a post by Andy Blankenship (this guy is hardcore...he is one of my heroes) about repentance. Repentance is not just a one time thing that happens at a church service, but a season we go through of God just cleaning house. I pray that God will bring me to a point where daily I'm falling on my face before our Holy God...repenting. And then, experience grace.