My little brother Wesley turned 17 years old last week. When he was little we called him Weezer. He has always been a loving, affectionate, generous guy. I love him very much. The Lord has given him a message to share. He calls himself Weeza, it’s a bit of a pen-name I guess. He even has a tag-line KSHGB which is an acronym for “Keep Shinin’ His Glory Bright”. That is Wesley’s desire. He wants to live out Matthew 5:16 as an example to the world. He is creatively writing lyrics centered on Jesus Christ in the Hip-Hop genre. Here is one of his newest. You can follow him on Youtube, Facebook and Twitter.
real ministry
November 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Recently I’ve heard my dad say something interesting. He has talked about the moments of his ministry that he feels had the most impact on the Kingdom. The times he has been part of “real” ministry that has been most effective. Each of those moments involve telling people that don’t know Jesus about Him. Sharing The Story with those who don’t know it yet.
Dad coached my brothers little league team two decades ago. Out of those relationships he gathered a small group of families that didn’t know Jesus and along with another believing family met for six weeks and explained the Bible. At the end of the six weeks the believing family shared their testimony. I helped watch the kids in the basement while Dad poured his heart out to those people. I often remember as we backed out of that driveway and aimed our car toward home, Dad saying, “that is real ministry son, that is what it’s all about”. He would say it in a way that was like he had just won the championship game and his heart was still racing.
There are many things involved in “doing church”. There are millions of books written on what “doing church” ought to look like, but, at it’s core church should be simple. Love people that don’t know Jesus, tell them about Him, watch them accept Christ and grow. Then, inspire others to do the same thing. That’s real ministry.
ginormous pulpits
October 3, 2008 By 10 Comments
There is a trend that has swept the globe among evangelical churches. It started in the early nineties and is essentially history now. In the church where I am on staff we followed this trend many years ago, but it was official on Thursday. The trend that I am talking about is the removal of the ginormous pulpit from the platform. You know those pulpits that are the size of an SUV? The pulpits so big the elderly woman singing special music disappears behind? The pulpits that have wings on them? They were a landmark of the average church during the years of my childhood. Now in most churches a simple music stand or modern looking podium that doesn’t hide the drum set has taken its place.
I am in my third year as youth pastor at Grace Church. It wasn’t long after I began my ministry here that I discovered the baptistery restroom. It’s closer to my office and the paper towel dispenser actually gives me enough towel to dry my hands so that is my restroom of choice. Since before I began here at Grace our “ginormous pulpit” has been a doorstop for the men’s baptistery restroom. I’m not sure when it left it’s place of prominence at center stage and became the men’s restroom doorstop, but I have heard rumors it was late last century.
Thursday our big pulpit went in the dumpster. It was official. Gone are the days of the ginormous pulpit here at Grace.
As I thought more on the occasion I could not help but spiritualize the situation. I wondered how many of the churches that followed this trend in the last two decades had gotten rid of more than just the big pulpit. How many had replaced the message also? In its place is a message that is smaller and more modern looking, one that moves easily if need be. I am thankful to be on staff in a church were the message has not changed even though it comes from behind one of those modern looking podiums.
It is my desire to preach the unchanging message of the Word until I leave this earth. I hope that someday I get my own pulpit to preach from and when I do I want it to be a ginormous pulpit made of solid oak.
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