The Success of Programming at Churches

          Why will the Children and Youth Ministries Programs here be successful?  It's nothing that I am doing, but it is because many of our adults and youth are assisting to make this a viable ministry and a community where we love God, and we love one another.  We have an amazing ministry leadership team: Julie Wakefield, Joyce Claussen, Bonnie Joseph, Sarah Fast, Jessica Sanchez, Ashton Conner, Susan Simpson, Meg Murray, Dorothy Utter, Julie Roney, Jodi Roney, Packy & Lynne McFarland, Sandy Wilson, Donna Nelson, Sylvia Coussa, Bob & Cindy Wilson, Augusta Gohil, Sushma Corbin, and Yvonne Moffitt.  That's not including the group of parents that help us behind the scenes!
          Teamwork, as in many sports, is a vital part of life in the body of Christ.  God's work involves many different individuals with a variety of gifts, talents and abilities.  There are no superstars in this task, only team members performing their own unique roles.  We can only become useful members of God's team if we are prepared to set aside any desire to receive glory for what we do.  We should never seek or encourage the praise that comes from people.  The praise of humankind is always short lived and of no real or lasting value.  Instead, we should always seek approval from God.
          God has given the Church an enormous responsibility, to make disciples in every nation (Matthew 28:18-20).  This involves preaching, teaching, healing, nurturing, giving, administering, building and many other tasks.  If we had to fulfill this command as individuals, we may as well give up without even trying, it would be impossible.  But God calls us as members of His body.  Some of us can do one task; some can do another.  Together, we can serve God more fully than any one of us could ever do alone.  It is a human tendency to overestimate what we can do individually and to underestimate what we can do as a team!  As the body of Christ, we can accomplish more together than we could ever dream possible, working alone.  Working together, the church can express the fullness of Christ.  And together, our children and our youth can do great things!
         We frequently underestimate people and don't challenge them with our dreams for God's work in the world.  I want our youth to begin to understand that they can be world changers.  I want to challenge our youth to always keep an eye out for friends they can reach out for our youth program.  When God plants an idea in your mind to accomplish something for him, share it with others and trust the Holy Spirit to impress them with similar thoughts.  Don't regard yourself as the only one through whom God is working.  Often God uses one person to express the vision and others to turn it into reality.  When you encourage and inspire others, you put teamwork into action to accomplish God's goals.  I want our youth to challenge and inspire one another!
         Definitely something to be learned in ministry is that if we are faithful, and good stewards of what God has given us (gifts/talents), then whatever happens, God will take the burden on his shoulders, and in that process, our faith will grow still.  God will give our youth the confidence and the words to use to share the love of God with their friends.
         Youth pastors do take great pride in seeing the faith and knowledge that our teens are taught being put into practice.  God desires for us to put our faith into action.  We are doing an injustice if we just hold onto the knowledge we learn, and do nothing. I'm excited about the potential of this place here at First United Methodist Church of Orange, and to see where God takes our children's and youth programs.  Our youth are embarking on an Sierra Service Project journey to work on a Native American Reservation next summer in Arizona.  I hope that the lives of our teenagers are transformed.

Until next time,
Grace and Peace,
Peter



P.S.  So glad that my favorite show finally won an Emmy for Best Drama Series on TV.  Way to Go Breaking Bad!  If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend you catch the old seasons on Netflix now!  You won't be disappointed!

LISTENING TO GOD

It's been a few years since I last preached (3 to be precise), but I am excited to be preaching on Sunday, September 1st for the first time here at First United Methodist Church of Orange.  I will be talking about stopping to listen to God's voice, then responding boldly to that voice!  We can only walk out boldly in faith if we stop and listen.

"Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or to the left" (Isaiah 30:21)

There are many voices that speak to us in our world today, telling us where we should go, what we should do, and how.  As Christians we know we’re“supposed” to listen to God for this kind of direction.  However, many of us are either so confused by the many other voices around us that we can’t discern God’s voice, or we may not really have an idea of how to recognize His voice in the first place.

So how exactly do we “listen to God”?  How can we recognize His voice in the midst of so many competing voices around us?  I’ve learned to use at least five basic filters to help me determine which things I’m hearing are from God or not.  I offer them to you now: 

1) Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17): Is what we’re “hearing” consistent with God’s word? The “voice of God” will never contradict holy scripture.

2) “Gentle Impressions” of the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 8:10-11):  Sometimes we sense certain “nudges” or “impressions” in our inner heart/spirit that are an indicator of the voice or calling of God.  With practice using the other filters (along with our own experience), we’ll increasingly come to recognize the ones that are from God vs. the ones coming merely from us.

3) Godly counsel from others (Proverbs 11:14):  Sometimes God’s voice speaks through the wisdom and advice of others.  What are others telling you about God’s voice?

4) A sense of God’s peace (Colossians 3:15):  The voice of God can often be determined “after the fact” by a sense of “peace” about a decision or direction that you’ve “stepped out on faith” to take.

5) “Coincidental” confirmation through circumstances (Matthew 18:16 and Acts 18:1-3):  Sometimes things just “happen” to us at the right time -- timing that seems fortuitous and very coincidental.  In my experience, the eyes of faith help us see that there are really no “coincidences” -- that God works through all things that happen to us in life (even the things that He didn’t cause), and often these seeming “coincidences” are God’s way of confirming our direction; of saying “this is the way; walk in it!”

Of course, it hopefully goes without saying that all of these filters are merely tools that need to be used in conjunction with PRAYER -- intentional time to both talk to God and space to listen for God.  As we practice these more and more, we’ll come to increasingly be able to correctly discern the voice of God in our lives.  Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

I hope this has been helpful...it has been for me, and I have been meditating on this as I prepare my sermon for Youth Sunday.

Until next time,

Grace and Peace,

Peter

THE MILLENNIALS AND THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

I highly recommend reading the blog below.  There have been many books written lately on why young adults are leaving the 'church'.  This is an important facet to look closely at since churches are not getting any younger.  Even though I don't agree 100% with Rachel Evans, upon reading it, I begin to see that she's characterizing the United Methodist denomination in many ways without saying it. I think the most important ministry of the church today is to sit down with our young adults to truly see where they are at, and what would feed them spiritually---that is if we care about getting any younger.

Why millennials are leaving the church

By Rachel Held Evans, Special to CNN

(CNN) – At 32, I barely qualify as a millennial.

I wrote my first essay with a pen and paper, but by the time I graduated from college, I owned a cell phone and used Google as a verb.

I still remember the home phone numbers of my old high school friends, but don’t ask me to recite my husband’s without checking my contacts first.

I own mix tapes that include selections from Nirvana and Pearl Jam, but I’ve never planned a trip without Travelocity.

Despite having one foot in Generation X, I tend to identify most strongly with the attitudes and the ethos of the millennial generation, and because of this, I’m often asked to speak to my fellow evangelical leaders about why millennials are leaving the church.

Armed with the latest surveys, along with personal testimonies from friends and readers, I explain how young adults perceive evangelical Christianity to be too political, too exclusive, old-fashioned, unconcerned with social justice and hostile to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

I point to research that shows young evangelicals often feel they have to choose between their intellectual integrity and their faith, between science and Christianity, between compassion and holiness.

I talk about how the evangelical obsession with sex can make Christian living seem like little more than sticking to a list of rules, and how millennials long for faith communities in which they are safe asking tough questions and wrestling with doubt.

Invariably, after I’ve finished my presentation and opened the floor to questions, a pastor raises his hand and says, “So what you’re saying is we need hipper worship bands. …”

And I proceed to bang my head against the podium.

Time and again, the assumption among Christian leaders, and evangelical leaders in particular, is that the key to drawing twenty-somethings back to church is simply to make a few style updates – edgier music, more casual services, a coffee shop in the fellowship hall, a pastor who wears skinny jeans, an updated Web site that includes online giving.

But here’s the thing: Having been advertised to our whole lives, we millennials have highly sensitive BS meters, and we’re not easily impressed with consumerism or performances.

In fact, I would argue that church-as-performance is just one more thing driving us away from the church, and evangelicalism in particular.

Many of us, myself included, are finding ourselves increasingly drawn to high church traditions – Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, the Episcopal Church, etc. –precisely because the ancient forms of liturgy seem so unpretentious, so unconcerned with being “cool,” and we find that refreshingly authentic.

What millennials really want from the church is not a change in style but a change in substance.

We want an end to the culture wars. We want a truce between science and faith. We want to be known for what we stand for, not what we are against.

We want to ask questions that don’t have predetermined answers.

We want churches that emphasize an allegiance to the kingdom of God over an allegiance to a single political party or a single nation.

We want our LGBT friends to feel truly welcome in our faith communities.

We want to be challenged to live lives of holiness, not only when it comes to sex, but also when it comes to living simply, caring for the poor and oppressed, pursuing reconciliation, engaging in creation care and becoming peacemakers.

You can’t hand us a latte and then go about business as usual and expect us to stick around. We’re not leaving the church because we don’t find the cool factor there; we’re leaving the church because we don’t find Jesus there.

Like every generation before ours and every generation after, deep down, we long for Jesus.

Now these trends are obviously true not only for millennials but also for many folks from other generations. Whenever I write about this topic, I hear from forty-somethings and grandmothers, Generation Xers and retirees, who send me messages in all caps that read “ME TOO!” So I don’t want to portray the divide as wider than it is.

But I would encourage church leaders eager to win millennials back to sit down and really talk with them about what they’re looking for and what they would like to contribute to a faith community.

Their answers might surprise you.

Please leave comments or questions below.

Until next time,

Grace and Peace,

Peter

ROYAL BABY? REALLY? WHAT'S ALL THE HOOPLA?!?

First, I'll be refraining from basketball terms until the new NBA season begins in October, so I hope that doesn't confuse you all.  I'll be using somewhat normal blog titles for my posts.

Now that the madness of VBS is done (#fumcovbs), I can get back to blogging.  However, I do have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the madness of Vacation Bible School.  This is the first VBS that I have led on my own, and we had 77 children, the most we have ever had here at our church (https://www.facebook.com/UMCOrange). The joy I found was that our children were excited to come back after the 1st day of VBS, and through our amazing VBS volunteer team, our children drew closer to God from this experience!  To me, that is news!  We are making a difference in our children's lives!  What isn't news to me is. . .

. . .There’s the #RoyalBaby that popped out earlier yesterday.  Turn on a news channel and they kept coming back to it.  Reporting news that wasn’t actually news at all.  BBC News was still reporting it as ‘breaking news’ long after lunch.  And by the time the news actually had something to say, it felt like we’d be waiting for yonks before we found out.  Though from beginning to end, it took less than a day.  (My wife’s delighted, but I still don't see what the big deal is)

We’re often not good with waiting, are we?  A day feels long, a few years since the last heatwave, or the last day of rain, and it’s presented as a lifetime.  So when we have to wait for God, we’re not very practiced.  We know what we want, and when we want it, but, if you’re anything like me, we find it frustrating when God doesn’t agree.

There are various things I’m waiting for…  Wisdom … direction … sleep … Mundane stuff and big stuff.  But plenty of waiting.  And it can be hard.

What about you?

Is there something you’re waiting for?

Is there someone you could help through a time of waiting?

Until next time. . .

Grace and Peace,

Peter Joseph

P.S.   I wanted to wish my beautiful bride a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!  

A BREAK FROM BASKETBALL TERMINOLOGY. . .

20 THINGS EVERY PARENT SHOULD HEAR!

Today, I want to share some words on parenting.

1.  You are a hero for your kids.  You are.  You're a go-the-distance, fight-the-dragon, face-the-challenges hero for your kids.  Taking a beating makes that more true.  Not less.

2.  We all struggle.  Every parent.  Everywhere.  We all second-guess ourselves.  And we all want to quit sometimes.  Hold the good times close, and when things are tough, remember "this, too, shall pass."

3.  Finding the funny might not save your soul, but it will save your sanity.  Or maybe it's the other way around.  Either way, look for the humor and embrace the crazy.  Laughter is a lifeline.

4.  Every day, you will feel like you have mishandled something.  Like you've been impatient.  Like you've misjudged.  Like you've been too harsh.  Like you've been too lenient.  You may be right.  Apologize if you need to and then, whatever.  Seriously.  Just whatever.  Let it go.

5.  The crazy, the crying, the cuddles.  The screaming, the sacred, the scared.  The minutes, the magic, the mess.  It's all part of it.  And it's all worth it.

6.  Family is the best.  Even when it's not perfect.  And it's never perfect.  Ever.

7.  At the end of organization, at the end of patience, at the end of perfection, we die to ourselves.  And then love rises from the ashes.  It sucks.  And then it gets better.  And then it sucks again.  Still, love rises.

8.  You will never regret parenting.  Except for the teeny, tiny tons of times when you secretly wonder if you maybe regret it just a little.  But, overall, never.  And overall is what counts in the end.

9.  Parenting is like climbing the big mountain.  Look for the base camp.  That's where you rest, meet other climbers, take in oxygen and acclimatize.  Base camp is what makes summiting possible.

10.  You are not alone in this strange, vast, parenting ocean.  Even in the dark of night.  You are not alone.  You're not!

11.  Kids know the way to magical and they'll give you a free pass to come along. Breathe in the magic as long as you can because that same kid is going to poop her pants in just a minute.

12.  There's a very fine line between enjoying the chaos and barely surviving.  Actually, there's no line at all.  It's all mixed up together.  That "fine line" thing is a lie.

13.  If you pay attention, kids will teach you how to laugh loudly, how to love deeply and how to live fully.  They will also ruin all your stuff.

14.  Any number of kids is a lot of kids.

15.  Look for joy.  You'll find it in the middle of the busy.  Or under the ridiculous.  Or hanging from the overwhelmed in its underpants.  Joy's like that.  It's in the middle of everything.  It's completely unpredictable.  And it will surprise you when you're not expecting it.  Like vomit and diarrhea, except good.

16.  You will fall apart and do it all wrong.  Forgive yourself.  Ask your kids to forgive you.  Set an example of resilient fallibility.  Set an example of practicing the art of love----both loving yourself and loving others.  No one does this parenting gig right the first time.  Or the last time.  Or the times in between.  Showing your kids how to keep going after getting it wrong is a wonderful gift to them.

17.  Kids are difficult, gross, confusing, and awesome.  So are you.

18.  Parenting will bring you face to face with yourself.  It may be terrifying.  It may break you.  But it will also rebuild you, and you will be stronger than you ever thought possible.

19.  Balance is a myth.  Parenting isn't a tight-rope walk; it's a dance.  Strive for rhythm instead of balance, and trust yourself to move to the ever-changing beat.

20.  Yes, you will have days where you wonder where the hell the capable and organized you went. Yes, you will sit on the floor of the main aisle at Target by the check-out area with a child who is thrashing, screaming and calling you names.  Yes, you will have to tell your child that the dog is not a napkin, and to put down the urinal cake.  If you do not do all those things literally, then you will do them figuratively.  And yes, you will also hold that child and rock back and forth and tell her you love her, and tell her she's safe and tell her you're not leaving even though she will someday leave you.  This is parenting.  It is tragic and triumphant.  Messy and magical.  Sacred and spectacular.  And it is, always, fiercely worthwhile.


Happy 3rd Birthday, my beautiful baby girl!

Until next time!

Grace and Peace,
Peter

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT?

In any sport, when we practice, we get better, and our skills increase.  Even when we put our minds to something outside of sports, we need to study, and practice continuously, so that we become better at it---whether it's taking exams, learning a new job, or even becoming more fit.  Improvement will never happen unless we keep at it, and stay on task.

Currently, the two best teams in the NBA are duking it out in the Finals---the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs.  Many of these current players not only played for 9 months, but also played last summer in the Olympics.  How are they able to sustain such a long season?  By practicing, and exercising, and weight lifting each day---the players also would rejuvenate by eating healthy, and by resting.  Did they do this alone?  Of course not...not only would they get support from their teammates, but each player has a personal trainer.  I'll get to this later on in this blog.

Often, we as Christians diligently avoid outward sins---and rightfully so.  Sin leads to death and estranges us from God.  But how often do we actively seek godly lives and good works?  While we avoid sin with our mouths through gossip, lying or unkind words, we are slow to speak encouragement or to voice gratitude.

Such failures are subtle.  As "good Christians," we understand and abide by clear rules like "don't steal" or "don't commit adultery."  But commands for goodness, generosity, and service seem subjective.  Satisfied that we have shunned the evil deeds, we might even give ourselves more leeway when it comes to doing good works---quietly setting them aside as we fill ourselves with the pride of being saint-like.

In Titus 2:1, Paul commands Titus to "teach what accords with sound doctrine," listing examples like self-controlled speech and temperance to or reverence and kindness.  Before instructing Titus on positive or negative actions, he gives the purpose of the good works: "so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior" (2:10).  Our godliness gives credence and attractiveness to doctrine.  Conversely, a life of sin skews doctrine and maligns God's nature.

Paul's words offer hope.  God's grace trains---a word that brings marathon runners and body builders to mind (Titus 2:12).  While training is slow, hard work that requires practice and perseverance, it makes a weak body strong.  And just as an athlete would not prepare for an event without a trainer, we are not expected to live upright lives on our own.  Paul declares that Jesus Christ is the one who purifies us for these good works.  The grace that gave us new life also trains and sustains us through the hard work of godliness.

                                                     Painting Titled 'You can't do it alone'

Until next time,
Grace and Peace,
Peter

BUZZER BEATER!

This will be short and sweet.  I do feel that I just hit a buzzer beater to win the game.

In basketball, a buzzer beater is a shot taken just before the game clock of a period expires, when the buzzer sounds. The term is normally reserved for baskets that win or tie the game, but also refers to shots that beat an end-of-quarter or halftime buzzer. If a player releases the ball, "beating" the buzzer, so that it sounds while the ball is in mid-air, the shot still counts if it goes in. Often, a buzzer-beating shot will be released from long range (even from beyond half court), making for a spectacular play if it connects.


Our family feels blessed to be here at First United Methodist Church of Orange, and it's only been a little bit over a month.  I was honored to be asked to speak at the United Methodist Women's Group here at the church, and was asked to share my life stories.

This experience, as well as many others in the past 6 weeks, have solidified in me that this is where God has called our family.  Things have been laid out perfectly, and all I can say is.....THANK YOU.

Julia's 3rd Birthday

United Methodist Women's Group

FLOPPERS

This is a term in the NBA that has actually been getting a lot of attention during the Eastern Conference Finals between the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers.  Players were being fined left and right for their 'flopping'.  

In basketball, a flop is an intentional fall by a player after little or no physical contact by an opposing player in order to draw a personal foul call by an official against the opponent.^[1] The move is sometimes called acting, as in "acting as if he was fouled". Because it is inherently designed to deceive the official, flopping is generally considered to beunsportsmanlike. Nonetheless, it is widely practiced and even perfected by many great professional players.  (From Wikipedia).

So a player is basically trying to sell a call to a ref by faking, or acting.  When someone is doing that, they aren't being truthful to oneself, or to others.  It is like being hypocritical. . .

Why am I talking about this?  One of my fears is being in full time ministry with youth and children, and being a parent at the same time.  You always hear horror stories of PK Kids (Pastor's Kids) turning out rebellious, because they often feel neglected, or not a priority in the parent's life.

Our children see all of our faults, and all of our weaknesses.  The article below by Kara Powell and Brad Griffin from Fuller Theological Seminary lays out a framework of parents in full time ministry being real with their own children.  Why do this?  Because if we don't, our children are smart enough to see right through our 'phoniness'.  

Grace and Peace,

Peter

“I am better with other people’s kids than I am my own.”

We’ll never forget the first time we heard this honest, gut-wrenching confession from a successful youth pastor. This sharp, thoughtful leader was honestly sharing his own struggles with being a parent in ministry. When he articulated the words above, you could hear a collective resonance in the room as leaders from around the country agreed: Yes, this is an issue for us too.

Maybe you can relate. It’s one thing to have conversations with students in our ministries about everything from scripture to school to sex. It’s quite another thing to have those same conversations with our own kids. Especially during seasons when they are beginning to stretch the boundaries of our relationships beyond the limits we imagined we’d be stretched. Especially when we have to talk about curfew, math homework, and violin rehearsal in the same space and time. Especially when we walk past the bedroom we’ve asked them to clean up at least twelve times in the past two days.

Yeah, those young people who live under our roofs can be hard to talk with about faith.

They’re also the same young people, by the way, who see all of our inconsistencies, failures, and flaws. Not only do they see them, but they also feel personally impacted by them in ways the rest of the youth ministry never will.

So what about those kids?

Here are three practical tips for youth workers who double as parents of teenagers:

1. Admit your own struggles. We leaders often struggle with handling the tension between being models to others while being fully aware of our own struggles, flaws, and sin. Imagine being a youth leader’s kid and seeing that tension played out every day in your parent! Use your struggles as an opportunity to talk about how much you need Jesus’ grace to rescue and strengthen you every day. If your struggle affected your own child, apologize and ask for their forgiveness.

2. Share your own faith. According to our Sticky Faith research, not only does it matter for parents to ask their kids questions about the kids’ faith, but it also matters when parents share stories and insights about their own faith. In other words, rather than just interrogating your kids about what they learned in youth group or Bible study, we can take little and big opportunities to share what we’ve been learning in our small group, what we’ve been praying about lately, or how we’ve seen God showing up in our lives.

3. Share your testimony. One youth pastor friend asked twenty different students—all of whose parents were actively involved in the congregation—if they knew their parents’ testimony. Want to guess how many students knew their parents’ story of faith? Zero. Even if your testimony involves a less-than-ideal past, if you have a teenager in your home it’s likely time they knew more about Christ’s work in you across the seasons of life so far. And not only your testimony, but also that of your spouse, other relatives, and trusted adult friends. Start sharing stories and you might be surprised how much teenagers want to hear.

We’d love to hear the ways you’ve tried to foster faith conversations in your own family, and what other structures or boundaries you’ve put in place to nurture faith in your home, not just your youth ministry. Leave a comment below with your ideas!

'SOFT' DEFENSE

Our basketball terminology for this week is no defense, or 'soft' defense.  We do make fun of the teams and harp on those teams that seem to have no defense in their playbook.  Teams in the NBA that have no defense, or have a soft defense, get pummeled by other teams day in and day out.  They have no answer to stop the barrage of scoring that is happening upon them.

I know it's been a few weeks since the tragedy happened in Oklahoma City, but this is a tragic situation.  Many lives, including small children, had no way to defend against this horrific tornado.  Many lives were lost, and the question we always ask is, why?

This week, in the midst of preparing for VBS that brings little children to us, I am mindful of the many families that are still grieving of children that have passed, because of this phenomenon that happened in nature.  Tornadoes.  

A situation where sometimes no defense is the only defense.  This beast comes out of nowhere destroying lives, leaving shelters demolished in their wake.  This is nothing to harp about---sometimes it is impossible to be ready for something like this.

Unfortunately, there are awkward responses to tragedies like these.

There was an awkward interview.

I understand it. When tragedy strikes, we want to better understand why. So we look for someone to blame for the horror or someone to thank when that horror is escaped. And while God seems like the perfect scapegoat or hero, I can’t help but wonder if that’s not the most helpful way to deal with these situations.

If God sent the storm as punishment, then that seems both arbitrary and non-helpful. What is the lesson? That God hates school? That God is not a fan of family homes? Most parents will agree that if you need to discipline a child as we have disciplined Julia, that lesson needs to apply to what the child has done wrong. The most effective lessons tend to be those that are directly linked with the undesired behavior. Throwing something out and seeing if it sticks is a poor way to parent. If I am to believe that God is a good parent, then how does this random display point to that?

But God as hero does not do much for me either, if I’m completely honest. Though I am not an atheist like the woman interviewed by Wolf Blitzer, I don’t know if I could thank God for sparing me and my child from the storm that may have injured or killed my neighbors. If, as a father, I randomly rewarded one child while simultaneously bringing pain to another, I believe my child would recognize that as abusive.

I don’t believe that God is not involved in these situations. However, I believe that involvement may be seen in ways that are less flashy.

In Matthew 5:43-48 Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters,[a] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (NRSV)

The sun, the rain. Nourishing, life-giving things, provided for all. 

We often shake our heads at the childish notion of God living in Heaven, up in the clouds. We smile and sigh and explain that no, God isn’t “up there,” God is here in the midst of us. And yet, this past week, we have behaved as though the idea of a God in the clouds is truth.

But we should not look for God in the clouds, because that is not where God is found. Not in a haphazard punishment given without warning and without explanation, but in a kind act offered to someone who drives the car with the bumper sticker that ticks you off the other days of the year. Not in a random sparing of life or property, but in the intentional giving up of a treasured toy to offer comfort to someone who has lost everything.

In compassion and sacrifice and service.

Courage is doing the right thing even if it's the hardest thing.....I leave you with this video with my hope that it inspires you to go out and change the world....help those in need whenever you can!  Be the hands and feet of Christ this week!

Grace and Peace,

Peter

RELOCATING FRANCHISES PART 2

No, I'm not a franchise per se (far from it), but our family has relocated once again to First United Methodist Church of Orange.  We feel so blessed at how this opportunity and this door opened up for us.

Let me back up, and explain what has transpired in the past 6 months.  First Presbyterian Church of San Diego had to cut $200K from personnel, and my position was eliminated.  So in November 2012, our family had to look for where God was calling us next.  I felt in my prayer time that God was calling me back to the United Methodist denomination, so I saw a job opening at First United Methodist Church of Escondido.  I went ahead and interviewed with them.  I got the job,. but unfortunately, it was a part time job with no hope of becoming a full time job.  I knew though that God wanted me there for a season.  Our family continued to pray that God would open doors, and that we would be sensitive to God's Spirit leading. 

In March 2013, I interviewed with 2 churches, and both churches were well on the way of offering the position to me.  These were both great opportunities for me, and we began discerning which position was going to be better for me.  The month before, I had seen a job offering at First United Methodist Church of Orange (FUMCO) for the Director of Children and Youth Ministries.  I inquired about it, but hadn't heard back, so I had thought they had found someone.  In late March/early April, I heard from Rev. Steph from FUMCO that they would like to interview me for the position.  So I set up the interview, but at the same time, these other 2 churches wanted a response from me, and I felt that they would be a good fit.  So the morning of my interview with FUMCO, I thought maybe I should pass on it, since these other 2 places seemed like a sure thing.  As I prayed that morning, I felt God nudging me to go, so I went and interviewed for the position.  I really liked the search committee, and felt after the interview that this was actually a perfect fit for our family, and my passions.

We got the call that same day, and was offered the position at FUMCO.  Our family was so excited that God opened this door for us, a door that we didn't know was in our pathway until God brought it to our attention.  Sometimes we just need to listen intently to God's voice, and BE PATIENT, so that we don't pass over the doors God wants us to open.

So we are glad to call this place home. . .

 

Until next time, Grace and Peace,

Peter

RELOCATING FRANCHISES

Yes, the statistics are out there....not only  is church attendance in decline, but less people are connecting to a religious affiliation.  Churches are sadly closing down, because the numbers don't justify maintaining a building of a certain size.  

When NBA teams do this, usually another owner buys the team, and then relocates the team to a new location hoping to attract fans in a better market (aka the Sacramento Kings, staying or going to Seattle?).  Churches cannot go down this route.  It's easy to plant new churches...it's not easy to keep a dying church open.

Let's look at some of the causes of church decline. . .

Just as we received more bad news about church health in America, the analysts have found a positive spin.

The Association of Religion Data Archives released the latest downward data in the U.S. Congregational Life Survey, citing “stark evidence of the aging and shrinking of many congregations.”

But the organization’s news release carried the headline: “Five Hopeful Signs for U.S. Congregations.”

The headline puzzled me after I read the opening paragraph: “The number of Americans with no religious affiliation continues to rise. Fewer young people are going to church. And the effects of recession have placed greater burdens on religious institutions in a time of shrinking resources.”

What’s “hopeful” about that? Well, here’s what the researchers cited (followed by a few of my questions).

1. “More caring activities.” Worshipers are more likely to be involved in social service or advocacy groups outside the congregation, and contributed to charitable groups other than the church. (Is this a sign the church is becoming more outward-focused, or a sign the church’s inward focus requires members to look outside for opportunities to serve?)

2. “Climbing the academic ladder.” More worshipers (47 percent) have a college degree. (How should we interpret the finding that as congregations become more academically inclined they also report a shrinking excitement about the congregation’s future?)

3. “Keeping up with the technological times.” The share of congregations with websites has risen from 43 to 77 percent. And 74 percent of churches use email. (What does this tell us about congregations’ success with connecting technology to spiritual growth?)

4. “More diverse leadership.” The proportion of female pastors in mainline churches has grown to 28 percent. (How much has male clergy dominance contributed to church decline?)

5. “Happy people in the pews.” Most members say they’re satisfied with their spiritual life and their worship services. (Does contentment with the status quo help or hurt a shrinking church’s willingness to change in order to reach the majority?)

I’m not sure I’d characterize all these observations as “hopeful signs” of church decline.

But, aside from these signs, I do see some encouraging byproducts coming from the current challenges facing the church. Here’s my list:

1. The heightened pain of decline causes more church leaders and members to seriously evaluate their mission, ministries, and methodologies. That’s a good thing. The willingness to consider healthy change becomes more tangible as pain and loss increase.

2. Diminishing budgets lead to staff cuts. Fewer paid staff means a de-professionalizing of ministry. That’s a good thing, sort of.  I would be considered a professional minister, but at the same time, many churches can operate with fewer full time staff members if the congregation is equipped properly. Part of what’s killing the church today is the congregation’s assumption that ministry is something that paid professionals do.  I know from doing years of youth ministry that volunteers are essential to any successful program at a church. Increasingly, as paid staffs shrink, members will realize that the ministry of the church is their responsibility.

3. The older members who currently fund many churches are dying. The old endowments are draining away at a quickening pace. It’s increasingly difficult to pay for and maintain empty church buildings. That’s a good thing. More people will realize the church is not a building, and that churches need to get younger.

4. As congregations get smaller, more people will recognize the forgotten benefits of small. People know one another. People notice when someone’s missing. People care for one another. These are good things.

5. More churches in town will see the need and the value in cooperating and sharing resources. That’s a good thing.

Most importantly, whenever our human efforts begin to stall, fail and crumble, we’re compelled to admit we’re ultimately not in control. That’s a good thing. Sometimes God has a way of reminding us of his supremacy. He wants his church to rely more on him than on glib speakers, sprawling “campuses,” clever marketing, showy theatrics, fat bank accounts, or throngs of fans.

Let's all begin to rethink church!

Grace and Peace until next time,

Peter

BALL HOG (Archive from 11/08/2011)

Yes, yes, it has been a very long time since I last blogged.  Hopefully I will be back to the routine. . .

I honestly can’t believe I just typed that title for this article, but yes, I do need to be more of a ball hog.

A ball hog is a derisive term in basketball for a player who tends to handle the ball so exclusively that his or her behavior is damaging to their team. For this reason, “ball-hogging” is generally considered unacceptable playing behavior at all levels of basketball competition, especially by the player’s teammates and coach. However, ball-hogging is not a violation of the rules of basketball.

The main behavior associated with being a ball hog is excessive shooting, including frequent attempts at difficult shots (especially when passing to an open player would’ve made the chances of a successful shot to the basket much greater). Passing to teammates is something that ball hogs tend to overlook. Ball hogs attempt to monopolize their play of the ball, frequently dribbling excessively and infrequently passing the ball to a teammate.

What I’m basically saying is that I need to take better care of myself.  I’m afraid my inbox will now be flooded with people’s advice on how to fix me and about the joys of sabbath, rest, boundaries, and the value of saying no.  I’m sure they will give me the names of retreats I can go to and books I can read and rhythms they’ve found replenshing to their souls.  Somone will likely remind me of the slow and lazy pace of Jesus’ life, and how my life pattern is proof of something unholy.  I’m sure the seminary class I took on spiritual formation should change all of that.

In the end, that slew of well-intentioned advice might even be right.  The honest truth is, it all just feels like more to read, more to do, and another paper to write.

I have a deeply rooted desire not to screw up being a husband, a dad, or a youth pastor.  But the demands on all three of those roles at this stage of my life are huge.  I don’t want to become another statistic of a youth pastor who put family last or who loved the church more than his wife.  I have one kid: a 17 month old daughter.  I strive to be active in her life (just wait till we have more kids) and let her know she comes first.  But I do have a church that provides me with a paycheck that I also use to provide for my family, and thus my job comes with an endless list of needs and demands on my time.  The truth is, the hardest person to keep on the list of priorities is not my wife, or family, or the church.  It’s myself.

Everytime I’ve read and taught on the two greatest commandments, I’ve focused on 2 things: Love God and love others.  Numerous churches have boiled their mission statements down to just that.  I’ve told students that it is essentially the whole Bible in four words.  It’s the primal creed of the Christian life.  I’ve both challenged them and tried to live it out, believing that as long as we keep the order right and love God with all we are first, then we can live out St. Augustine’s “Love God and do as you please” with great freedom.  If we love God, we can love others.  Period.

I lead a senior high guys small group, and we share with each other joys and concerns.  One of the struggles and disciplines that come up is that I don’t take enough time out to pray in solitude or do things to reenergize my own faith walk.  This is an important task as I lead and minister to our own youth, who also don’t take time out to re-energize themselves.  Youth today are so bombarded with homework, chores, extracurricular activities, and college applications that take away their precious time of being youth!  Yes, even our youth need time out for themselves—-how are we to function at our best if we aren’t taking care of ourselves?!?

This might sound selfish—-hence the phrase ‘ball hog’—but even on a team, a ball hog could be a good thing.  When a team is down, and in trouble, a superstar needs to take it upon him or herself to become a ball hog, and lead the team to victory.  Of course, then the word ‘ball hog’ becomes ‘star player’, right?  God doesn’t want us to neglect ourselves—God wants us to flourish, and if that means taking time out for ourselves, then so be it!

If Jesus has called me to love others like I love myself, I have some self love to work on.  I need to understand that saying no isn’t just a way to gain more time in my day.  It’s a way to take care of myself so I can rightly love others.  I need to love my own heart and soul and mind and body so that I have a right heart and soul and mind and body from which to love others.

Grace and Peace,

Peter Joseph