Author: Nick

Tomorrow Pastor Kerry will present his first sermon as Interim Pastor. It will be a significant day in the life of Amana. I don’t have a draft of the sermon like the news agencies seem to get in advance of the State of the Union Address. I don’t know what Pastor Kerry plans to say; but I do have some advice on listening. The toughest job  in any arena is a job as the “interim” anything. An “interim” has the burden of moving an organization forward, but not forever. An “interim” faces the problem that if he proposes something unpopular, folks will just wait for the “permanent” pastor to show up. An “interim” often has all the responsibility but none of the authority. It’s tough to be an “interim.” I always felt bad for the guy who coached the Alabama football team after “Bear” Bryant. I don’t even remember his name. I once served in a church that never was quite the same when the founding pastor moved on. Every pastor after the first got compared to the “original.” Following a superstar is tough. Amana has more ex-pastors than any church I’ve ever been involved in. That’s a tremendous […]

My church is going through a leadership transition so focus is on the church . But every church is in need of some help. Yesterday I saw this article: Five Ways You Can Help Your Church My thoughts follow:  If you believe your church could be better, the mirror is a good place to look for improvement. It’s easy to criticize leadership, but you’re not likely to directly affect that, even if it is the problem. That doesn’t matter because the real health of a church is best measured by the condition of those in the pews. Another potential area of improvement is in “theology.” Most of us believe that the church we belong to could sharpen it’s “theology.” Usually that means my brothers and sisters could and, in fact, should, believe a bit more like me. That’s not happening any time soon either, so let’s put that aside. Of course it would be great if we served as a one person admissions committee that could decide who got to attend our church. That’s not happening either. So what are we left with? Basically, what can I do better. These are factors we can change, so the potential for improvement is […]

When we consider our life mission statement we are inclined to two mistakes: looking too far and looking too close. It’s not just a case of being like Goldilocks and looking “just right.” We look too far because we tend to dream long distance. When we think of life mission, we have thoughts of overseas missionary service in Africa or the Far East. God may give us such a call. But we need to look at what is in front of us.  I had a grandson who was miserable in school. I had never considered myself an elementary school teacher.  I much prefer the thought of teaching pretty college girls while donned in a jacket with patches on the elbows in a college with lots of ancient oaks and a decent football team. Sometimes I forget my wife reads this. . . sometimes. Nevertheless I find myself a fourth grade school teacher with a class of one. I am being thoroughly blessed with the experience. I always enjoyed teaching and preaching to a packed house. In this environment you get instant feedback and can adjust accordingly. Instead, I find myself preparing a daily blog which disappears into the blackness […]

Yesterday I was discouraged. The specific reasons are not important.   I’m not sure I could identify the reasons for my discouragement. Today, I’m encouraged. That’s the important point. The issue? What transferred me from the state of discouragement to the right realm of the encouraged children of God? What changed me from thinking I can’t do it anymore to being sure I can? Two things made the difference: Time with my Lord and time with my friends. I spent some time with God. David Jeremiah’s teaching this morning which I listen to each Wednesday morning was about the Giant of Discouragement. Isn’t it wonderful how the Lord will provide just the word you need at the times you need them. But Satan tried to keep me from that help. I overslept this morning and was late heading to my Wednesday morning men’s meeting. So I missed the teaching. But my friends pointed it out and I listened to it later.  I also spent time with my friends. I can’t emphasize enough the important of spending quality time with fellow believers. Not just sitting in a crowd, but sitting around a table, praying and listening and talking. I found out […]

 I read a quote this morning that noted that nothing can hinder your life mission like a bad relationship. i immediately started reviewing my relationships; but then go to thinking about my life mission. What is my life mission? What’s a mission statement? Organizations have mission statements. It defines their purpose and provides a standard to guide decision making. I found a web site, Missionstatements.com that you might find helpful. It describes personal mission statements: A personal mission statement provides clarity and gives you a sense of purpose. It defines who you are and how you will live. it’s amazing how life just grabs us and pulls us along. We move from day to day doing what seems necessary, but with only vague direction and purpose. Is it any wonder that we feel confused and out of control? Why not take some time and visit the missionstatements.com site? Review some of the example mission statements. Try to draft one of you own.  I will. I’m not sure how long it will take or what I will come up with but i believe it will be a useful exercise. I would love to hear what you come up with. Then […]

The Christian life is often compared to a race, but it’s not exactly like the races with which we, as sport’s fans, are familiar. For example, in track and field the most important thing is to get a good start. But in the Christian life, the focus is on the strong finish.  Typically, the purpose of the race is to finish first. The Christian goal is to finish well. We are to finish strong, but we are also to know when it’s time to pass the baton to the next runner. For Christians, finishing first isn’t the purpose. It’s running with love. That’s how the great crowd of spectators knows who you are, because of your love. The whole purpose is for others to know who your coach is and to join His team. Yesterday, we closed a segment of Debbie and Terrell Reed’s race. Well done. Terrell loved to talk about his life before Jesus. He didn’t start well. He finished strong. He and Debbie knew when it was time to pass the baton. But most importantly they knew the purpose of the race was to run in love. When my son died suddenly a few years ago, […]

I can across an article yesterday entitled, “Five Signs you are part of an unhealthy church.” Seemed to be to be an unhealthy point of view. We all could be healthier. So I have taken the points from that article and changed them to a more positive approach. 1. A Clear Vision. Proverbs 29:18 states, “Where there is  no vision, the people perish.” In my history with churches I get a little uncomfortable when “vision” is discussed.  Besides, isn’t the mission of the church obvious? Well maybe it isn’t. Some people see church as a spiritual hospital where the walking wounded come to be made whole.  That’s certainly a necessary ministry. Others take the great commission literally and think church is there to spread the gospel. Kind of hard to argue with that. If you go to Amanacf.org in its new form (what a blatant plug. I’m ashamed of myself.) You will find the vision of Amana: Connect up with us as we build relationships with Jesus first and then one another, house to house, city to city, nation to nation.  That’s a great vision. Putting it into practice is a great challenge. If we start with relationship with Jesus […]

 There is a magnificent evergreen tree on the road to our house. It seems completely out of place in the swamp like terrain of our neighborhood.  It towers above the small house near it and stands adjacent to a sugar cane field. I don’t know the species, but it looks like it belongs in the Rocky Mountains and not just outside of Broussard. My wife says it has been there for years. She insists it was Christmas tree size many of the twenty plus years we have been passing it by, but in recent years has shot up to its current height.It’s so like we should be. We want our world to be more Christian, but the truth of it is that we are suppose to live in a world where we are dramatically different and stand apart. Folks should be saying “What is that?” When they pass us by.Our growth should be like the tree as well. We may sit planted for years, but in God’s good time, he puts all the elements in place for a dramatic spiritual growth spurt. Maybe suddenly we experience more Son shine.  Maybe our life experience suddenly catches up with us and […]