Things we allow to estrange us from God

 You may remember that in January I attended a couple of conferences.  In clearing out a "stack of stuff" today, I found the notebook.  As I thumbed through the conference notebook, I came across one of the main session notes I took.  The speaker / preacher was Britt Merrick .  I am obviously paraphrasing but read some of his points from that day---- I pray you are encouraged and challenged.

• We are valuable because we are loved by the Supreme One! 
• In Ezekiel - we see idols estrange people from God....... we are estranged by much lesser things. 
• Ask yourself- is He enough? 
• Anywhere we find more joy than God it will estrange us.  
• Christ is not a means to heaven but a treasure! 

I looked up the word estrange.  According to Webster's this verb means ....

  1.  to remove from customary environment or associations

  2.  to arouse especially mutual enmity or indifference in where there had formerly been love, affection,  or                  friendliness

The Synonym for estrange is alienate.  

Wow, am I saddened to think of the ways I let crazy, silly, stupid things estrange me from experiencing the fullness of God's love and grace.  May I allow the things to never alienate from all God wants me to experience until I receive my "treasure".  I remind you the treasure for one who has trusted Christ is HEAVEN!

 

Staff Leadership Development

Yes the setting for the Children's Pastor's Conference was gorgeous. Coronado Springs was beautiful. As I sat outside during a break the above picture was the view.
As I headed back inside- here are the three I passed. I will never cease to be amazed at the handiwork of Disney cast members. One of the sessions I attended was by Alan Nelson. It was on leadership development. You can go to his website and actually download the power point he shared with our class here!
Here are some of the things I took away and just reviewed tonight. It was a good review in light of the fact I am in the midst of praying through putting together some leadership teams for summer ministries.

• Just because someone has a passion for ministry doesn't mean they can lead. Team them someone who can lead.

Wow- isn't this true. I think this is true of myself sometime. Some of the things I am passionate about I need help with someone who can help me get it accomplished. This makes me think of a conference session I listened to years ago from a Fellowship Church conference - Elevate. It talked of dreamers, developers and doers. Each team needs some of each.

He also spoke of Other People's Influence. He encouraged us to think about the following and reminded us we all need people with influence in our corner.

• Power is a resource, tap it!
• ID (identify) influencers.
• Develop them! - Create a booster team! Empower them to cast a vision! Unleash them to run interference.
• Get to know the gatekeepers.

Just think of those who influence others in your church. The people who motivate others and those who others follow. Find who they are and let them champion Children's Ministry. I love the thought of making them cheerleaders- I am thankful for these individuals in my own church who champion the area of ministries I am responsible for- what a blessing!

Here are his TEN COMMANDMENTS OF TEAM BUILDERS

1. Thou Shalt empower leadership.
2. Thou Shalt ID others with influence gifts.
3. Thou Shalt clearly define tasks and talents.
4. Thou Shalt not micro-manage.
5. Thou Shalt lead up (that thy ministry might be blessed).
6. Thou Shalt do everything in teams.
7. Thou Shalt not pursue trivia.
8. Thou Shalt facilitate leadership training.
9. Thou Shalt manage by wandering around.
10. Thou Shalt not neglect thy soul.

Wow what great stuff!

I encourage you to check out conference websites, seminar speakers, etc. Often just because you can not attend the conference doesn't mean you can find session downloads, MP3s etc. Sometimes you can find these free or for a small fee. Personally I could be a conference junkie- I love conferences- the networking, the learning and the dreaming.
I also encourage you to network in your area with other Children's Ministers - you can share resources from conferences this way too! I am thankful for the Cleveland Children's Ministry Network - glad I can attend this month's lunch. If you don't have a network in your area- find an area that does or pray about beginning one in your area! I'm so thankful that Jonnie Shumate felt led to begin one in Cleveland. I'm also looking forward to attending the group in nearby Chattanooga when I can.
Have a blessed week as you look for those influencers, leaders and those with a passion at your place of ministry!

Inspiring Creativity

One of the sessions I was blessed to be able to attend while at the Children's Pastor's Conference while in Orlando was the Disney Institute called INSPIRING CREATIVITY.

This is me and our instructor, Austin Brock. She did an amazing job of applying the class topic for Children's ministers. This is one thought she shared on creativity.....

When they are researching a new idea they gather lots of cast members together. They include people from many different departments. They all get in the same room and begin to dream. They think about how to touch all the senses. At Disney they want to submerge guests into the Disney magic and make it real. Guess what? In the church we want to submerge children into God's word. We want to make it real. What a challenge for the church!
I'll share more in the days ahead of things I learned from this one session. But I'll leave you with a quote from Walt Disney-
"Every child is born blessed with a vivid imagination. But just as muscle grows flabby with disuse, so the bright imagination of a child pales in later years if he ceases to exercise it."

I encourage parents to provide many opportunities for your children to imagine!

I am alive.................

I realized, while sitting here at the airport, that I posted about the excitement I felt as I prepared to attend the Children's Pastor's Conference in Orlando. And then I kinda left you hanging.......... Well I went non stop on the full days at the conference and on the one day that wasn't full I had to go make sure Mickey wasn't missing me too much!

Well and when that conference ended another one began- Rec Lab. Many of you know I have have attended this conference since seminary (this was my 16th Rec Lab). It was filled with incredible fellowship, sessions and worship and sermons that seemed to be tailor made just for me. Isn't it awesome when God does that?

I stayed over a day - when you fly the cheap airline you have to fly on days they do (Monday and Friday). I will tell you more about Allegiant Airline in another post- if possible I will not fly out of Chattanooga on another airline but Allegiant.

I have missed Mike something terrible. I have done a lot of people watching and talking to myself- yes out loud. It is just what you do when you are by yourself this many days. Funny thing I was to the point of starting to talk back -oops- so great thing I am departing today, huh!

I will begin to post next week on what all I learned, saw, experience and some of the things God whispered to me while I was away. I will also share some of the people God used so I could learn, see, experience and hear from him.

In the mean time............. I hope to see you at the Family Swim Party tomorrow night at the YMCA if you leave in Cleveland or close to Cleveland.

Guess what I just heard??? It is possible there is more snow coming to my little town next week and the next. Oh WOW! I may never flush ice again (you know that is suppose to help it snow! )

Children's Pastor's Conference

Well it is finally here. I have wanted to attend CPC for a while - several years- but it has just never worked out. I am excited but also a little nervous. Not sure what to expect but anxious to find out. I have heard so many great things about this conference. What am I looking forward to? Here are few things....................

1. Worship
2. Conferences that give me new ideas
3. Conferences that help me strengthen areas of weakness for me personally and professionally
4. Resource / Vendor area
5. Seeing people I know
6. Making new friends
7. my first conference held at DISNEY

Well that is a lot and I could keep going but I won't. Needless to say I can't wait. I am about to eat lunch and head out. I want to get checked in and look over the schedule and classes. Well I have done that a zillion times based on the stuff online but I know it can change. I am also going to attend the first time attendee orientation. We start with a general session, eat dinner together and well since I am at Disney............. I will probably stop by a park as I leave. Oh yes, the Resource Area opens this afternoon too. So I will definitely stop by there. I hope I am not disappointed but I will be honest I have high expectations.

Well folks...............I had better get my bag ready (packed with my video camera and my camera)- yes I am a nerd! :0 But hey, there is nothing like seeing things and experiencing them through the eyes / lens as a first time attendee. I can't wait to tell you if it was all I thought it was going to be! I would appreciate your prayers in that these few days will be life changing, they will bring me closer to God, I will hear clearly what He desires for me to hear and I will go back home with a clear vision for FBC Childhood Ministries!