Erwin McManus on the difference between character and skill in pastoral leadership

I was listening to the Catalyst Podcast a couple days ago and I heard this amazing quote by Erwin McManus:

“[Pastors must be careful to] run as fast as our character is deepening and not as fast as our talent is expanding…Run as fast as your character goes deep and not as a fast as your talent goes wide.”

This is a great quote because it reminds me that the most valuable thing I can do as a leader in the church is to spend regular time with my Savior. The people and business of church can, in a sense, use a pastor for their skills and talents without regard for the character development. On the same line, a pastor can easily become self-deceived and start to think that their worth is found in what they do…how many programs they have, how big the building is, how great of a preacher they are, how many people they successfully counsel, etc.

Thanks Erwin for, once again, reminding me what its all about.

fabulous friday night find on iTunes

While I was watching the kids last night I decided to check out iTunes to see if I could find any podcasts that I hadn’t been listening to. I found a few great ones that you should check out if you get a chance.

Menlo Park- John Ortberg
Mosaic Videocast- Erwin McManus
History Church- Ben Arment

DaVinci is DaBomb

I finished reading The DiVinci Code last night and I have to say that I honestly enjoyed the book. I don’t agree with the theology and Biblical understanding put forth in it but I am not threatened by it either. The book was exciting to read and I could hardly stop reading each night to sleep. I can’t wait to watch the movie.

Why are so many Christians afraid of this book…or any challenge to our beliefs? I think it is partly because of this:

We are so MTV’d out that we think learning Church history is boring. We want sermons that entertain and don’t teach. We get distracted in the classroom and stop learning. Then someone like Dan Brown comes along and raising some issues that we can’t answer. It makes us afraid.

Listen to the words of Paul and Peter:
Titus 1:9
He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

As followers of Jesus Christ we must be life long learners. We shouldn’t be afraid of the DiVinci code. We must be firmed rooted in Jesus Christ and the truth of his word so that, as Paul warns in Ephesians 4:14, 15
We will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

thoughts on humility

Humility is not something that a person can will themselves toward. Being humble is not something that you do, like ‘being quiet’ or ‘being kind.’ Humility is a condition of the heart. Humility grows out of a person’s profound centeredness in Jesus and a trust that he is pleased in them. To become more humble a person must place themselves in loving relationship with Christ, serving others as he served and listening regularly to the gentle voice of the Father who calls his children beloved.

my idle thoughts

In my humble and non-musical opinion Paula, Randy and Simon are all on crack! Katharine McPhee was awesome. Pickler was seriously sickler tonight and because of that high note she sang I now to replace three cracked windows. And honestly, come on Paula, crying for Elliot and then trying to get the crowd to cheer for Taylor so that Simon couldn’t talk…that was stupid.

PS- I know I spelled idol wrong…or did I?

ear candling is not normal

Have you ever heard of ear candling? It is this weird thing where you stick a wax paper candle into someone’s ear and light it on fire. As the candle burns down it sucks the ear wax out of a person’s ear. My wife did it last night and a big chunk of ear wax came out of her ear. Kind of gross but pretty cool at the same time.

Stephanie’s had a major ear pain for a couple days so please pray for her. Thanks.

helping people out when it rains

A couple months ago my wife and I visited Jared: The Galleria of Jewelry to look for a new wedding band. As we left I noticed they had a small rack of umbrellas sitting next to the door for customers to use if it was raining. “Wow,” I thought. That was a great service that I have mentioned to many people. Positive buzz for the jewelry company.

During the Easter season I delivered flowers to many churches in the MN metro. I noticed umbrella stands at a couple of churches. I think this is a great idea and a wonderful way to demonstrate Jesus love for people in a small way. Positive buzz for churches.

In fact, Granger Community Church started a ministry like this last year. You can read about it by, clicking here.

continuing the conversation

Wow, who could have imagined a greeting card with poor grammar could strike up such a debate. I love it. To read the original post and comments, click here.

I have been experiencing and rethinking much about church in the last couple months. It is becoming more and more clear that God uses all sorts of models of church and ‘Sundays’ to bring people into his kingdom.

I think that peoples’ God-given personality and temperament (especially leaders and pastors) have a lot to do with how a church is led, who will be attracted to that church and the type of culture that will develop within it’s walls. Organized people will be more drawn to God in organized churches. More go-with-the-flow types will feel more connected in other places. And this is just fine as a general rule.

I believe the church has a responsibility to do what it can to remove simple obstacles to faith for people, especially people who are not familiar with church/God/Jesus. No one has it perfect. And no one is expected to be.

We’re all in this revolutionary mission together, using whatever model God calls us to, in order to reach those far from God and develop and mature those who follow his Son.

Thanks Chris, JVD, and everyone else for joining the conversation.

Its a Girl!

I am suprised that my wife hasn’t done this yet. Tuesday night we found out that Baby Balvin #3 is going to be a girl. That is wonderful. The due date is August 30, which is the exact same date Jacob was due. Three kids is three years. Yeah our life will be busy. But it is also extremely blessed.

Let the naming game begin.

example of poor impressions management

Check out this card Stephanie and I received from a church we recently visited. I applaud the handwritten appreciate the effort but the text on of the note doesn’t make sense, and the business card stapled to the bottom is not even the card of the person who wrote the note.

This is the type of behavior that generates negative word-of-mouth. Nice idea, poor execution.