30% have been in youth work for less than 5 years. So 70% have been involved in this work for longer.  27% for 10-20 years.

70.3% consider their shepherds highly committed to youth ministry, while only 1 of the 112 believed the elders saw youth ministry with suspicion.  That’s pretty great.

59.5% are highly committed to youth ministry and plan on doing it the rest of their lives.  That is actually an amazing statistic. Twenty years ago I imagine in our brotherhood less than 10% of those in youth ministry were in it for the long haul. Only 3 of the total responders want to leave youth ministry now. So I’d say to one of the comments that it is not true that most are miserable and want out.

Now of the meaty stat: 73.2% of those who completed the survey responded: I have a good relationship with my minister – I consider him a trusted friend. While only 4 replied that their mutual relationship is dysfunctional.

There were two questions that called for comments that I think many of our readers will appreciate just seeing and maybe harvesting some of the ideas.

We asked: “What could be done to improve the relationship between you and the pulpit minister?”  I took out the numerous ones that basically said the relationship is good and those that are essentially duplicates I only included one time.  I also “cleaned” the responses so no one could figure out who said what (and I don’t know unless they put a name in the response themselves. Like a couple who mentioned their city or congregation name):

Don’t see how it could improve. Maybe if our families vacation together?…which could happen someday. GREAT relationship. We have an incredibly great relationship.

spend more time together outside of the office, getting to know each other better away from the church building.

More time on the golf course

Compassion and understanding.

More intentional cooperation in ministry.

Communication

staff meetings.

more time together out of office & in prayer

Not much. We speak daily. We officially “meet” once a week. We pray together. We eat together. We share fun stuff and serious stuff.

He is pretty overbearing sometimes, micro manages….although I am older /w more experiance. (dj note: yes the word “experience” was misspelled, so, naturally I had to leave it that way as that seemed ironic).

mentoring time together.

I get frustrated because I think after his __+ years at the pulpit, he has no passion, vision, etc. There are no rhyme or reason to his sermons. He rushes through staff devotionals and prayers. The most improvement would be made if he moved on. But I think he needs to be a better listener and more humble in his opinions.

Im not sure what he could do, but it would be nice to be seen as an equal in the sight of the elders.

Inclusion in planning of events like summer series and special days. Often feel like I don’t get to be a part of anything in church expect the youth group.

Possibly go on more visiting trips together and maybe participating in more hands on benevolence in the community.

A closer relationship triangle with the eldership.

Less micromanagement and more understanding of the amount of hours put in and the stress it brings to my family.

Better understanding of generational differences.

Not much. He is a former YM so I feel that he is able to relate and allows me to grow in my ministry. We don’t always share the same viewpoints but can usually discuss our differences without me feeling pressured or pushed.

If we could see eye to eye on more things. We have a few differences in our key beliefs, therefore making it hard to discuss certain things and deeper issues.

Pray together weekly has helped our relationship, but we will then fall out of habit and drift. We have also read the same book and reported monthly to each other to drink coffee and review our likes and dislikes of it.

I guess we both could put in a little extra effort to building our relationship. The truth is I think that he is the one who should be the initiator since he has been at our church longer than me and he is older. He sort of does his own thing and considers a piece of advice every now and then “mentoring.” I would like fewer snippets of advice and more of a real relationship. I hope I remember this when I am in his position.

Share the workload. It seems if there is a project for the church that I am placed with the task of completing most of the workload. Also, he is very negative at times and that is very frustrating to me.

Get people to quit comparing.

Communicate on a regular basis; jointly plan events/programs

If he would trust that I know a little about what I am doing. Plus if he would try to quit doing my job.

Not a lot. We speak daily (usually more than once), confer with each other about plans, biblical issues, etc. I’m at his house and he’s at mine quit frequently. Our wives are great friends and there is a high amount of trust with each other.

He really is like a second dad to me. I love him.

simply getting to know each other better away from the work of ministry. Personal Bible Study together.

I just hope to learn as much as possible from him. Seriously, I love the guy.

More personal time spent together (eating together, etc.) I would also like him to be more involved with the youth, but he often feels disconnected or uninterested.

We are BFF. Nothing. (dj note: I just thought that one was too sweet to leave out ).

A better understanding of what youth ministry is about, its challenges, struggles, and signs of success.

Not much where I am at right now. ____ and I have a great working relationship. He treats me as an equal, respects the work I do, constantly speaks well of the Youth ministry from the pulpit, and is always available. We have a great working relationship as I try to motivate the teens to get to know him, spend time picking his brain as he is a wise man, and ask for his input on ideas for Youth Ministry and how they might affect that church. He is a true man of God.

Not with my relationship with the preacher I work with, but somethings I have noticed…1. A lot of preachers call the youth minister “My youth minister”. That conveys an attitude of superiority rather than co-worker-ship. 2. I also think preachers who speak positively of the youth minister from the pulpit every now and then helps. 3. The youth minister needs to have a respect for what the preacher does. Just because everyone tells him he is a great preacher when he preaches 10 times a year does not reflect that the preachers work is easy or the youth minister is better at it than the preacher. 4. I think the youth minister needs to help by presenting himself in a respectable way. Not just dress, but that he hakes what he does serious enough to be respectful.

Sometimes his “pace” is slower than I’d like. He has a lot of the same goals, but thinks it is better to make a process of everything and take it slow. It feels like we are “too afraid” of what people are going to say or how they will react at times.

Actual sit-down, “how to” time. We do a great job brainstorming together, talking about families, etc. But we rarely have the time for him to walk me through helpful advice (how to handle certain situations/topics, etc.).

The other survey point that we might learn some things from was “The one thing my congregation could do to help me feel appreciated would be…” Most of these could be done relatively simply.  Don’t ask them what can be done – just do something that shows you love and appreciate them.  In another unscientific survey I did over a year ago I was shocked to learn how little most, even longer tenured youth ministers make. It is not surprising many leave early – they feel they can’t stay there and fulfill 1 Timothy 5:8.  Remember I’m just the messenger. I just left these as there were – other than cleaning any personal names or location names off:

They already do it. Um…maybe a giant bonus check? I mean…$5000 would make me feel appreciated!! Besides that, it’s already happening.

Offer opinions on things for the future… not things that are over and done with.

Show more interst in my ministry. I am constantly struggling to recruit volunteers.

Not just encourage the ministry, but be actively engaged in it.

Show up.

My congregation does a great job making me feel appreciated. If I could say one that that would encourage me more in my ministry it would be more consistency in attendance from families.

Help when it is needed a little more and we need Bible class teachers – more of them!

Higher salary

Recognize the accomplishment in the ministry more frequently.

notice what i do

More consistent in cost-of-living raises

Just continue to look for ways to love & care for my family.

join in the work more

Be willing to sit down and talk “vision” with me.

Say thanks more

Raise

Christmas Bonus

I am blessed. They already do so much to pour encouragement and support into my ministry and my family.

Nothing. I feel totally appreciated. Would love for them to grow in their passion for raising their children in the faith more than anything else.

I feel completely appreciated and loved. I am blessed beyond belief. I just wish I was closer to blood-family

stop by and take me out to lunch. stop by and pray with me. I want to feel like a member of the family, not so dispensable.

To express their appreciation

Be more active in youth program.

provide insurance for me

My congregation does a great job at this. I can’t think of anything else they could do.

I’m not in a position where I feel unappreciated. I work with a very strong group of people where the youth are the main mission of the church.

I would like for the parents to be more involved.

indepently work to promote the youth ministry. By that I mean looking at the youth calendar/bulletin and announcing the events, pulpit minister and elders talking about events in front of the congregation, mentoring youth, etc. If they would take the initiative and promote the youth ministry without me scripting it for them I would feel appreciated.

two one things. 1. Have a clearer communication of expectations and 2. ASK or TELL me to take some non-vacation time off sometimes.

Add benefits to salary

Better understanding of hours it takes to do job and less micromanagement.

volunteer

Be more involved.

Overall I feel very appreciated. There are a few people (elders included) who treat me like a child who doesn’t really know how things work and so being treated like an adult by them would be awesome. Otherwise perhaps provided benefits or a raise is the one thing my congregation could do to help me feel appreciated.

Communicate it to me in simple ways

Be invested in each other while working as a team on our behalf.

The congregation fully investing in the youth and family ministry. The elders are fully invested. The youth deacon is invested. The preaching minister is fully supportive. But several older members do not fully invest. Would be nice.

Bigger youth emphasis

Attend more!!!

Understand that it is a ministry and not a job!

Participate in more events when needed.

treat me as if youth ministry is not just a neccesary evil, but as a ministry just like a family ministry in the church.

Show more interest in my wife

They do a fantastic job already, but I’d say get more connected to the program and the work of the Church in general.

Understand that I am hired to devote my life to the youth. I may not make every church event planned but know that I must take time to rear my own family.

I feel very appreciated by my congregation. The best thing they do to encourage me is to simply tell me in a way that I know is genuine.

Be more vocally supportive.

not criticize every small thing.

Write occasional notes of appreciation.

Members verbally stand up for me when others say something negative.

For parents to join in with the same passion for the souls of our young people that I have. To see them support this ministry with an encouragement for their families to be there. I would also appreciate being encouraged to take time to grow and to develop as a professional . To have those relationships that are concerned about my spiritual health too.

For parents to join in with the same passion for the souls of our young people that I have. To see them support this ministry with an encouragement for their families to be there. I would also appreciate being encouraged to take time to grow and to develop as a professional . To have those relationships that are concerned about my spiritual health too.

Respect

Free Vacation!!!! Lol. Umm I feel fairly appreciated usually, but the thing i always want to see more of is people getting what we are doing so that it changes their lives. I have it about as good as i ever have. There was a reason i came to ______ at my age with kids and there is a reason i am in no hurry to leave. I could nitpick but things are good

Keep doing what they’re doing.

To get involved in the ministry of youth instead of sitting back and saying, ” dad gum teenagers.

The one thing my congregation could do to help me feel appreciated would be to help out. They appreciate me and the work I do. I even feel appreciated. However, they expect me to do all of the work and continue to do it for just a pat on the back.

I don’t seek appreciation, I seek to implant strong commitment and leadership into the parents so that they most of the positive spiritual encouragement comes from them and not me

Travel with us on trips more.

Be understanding and patient!

just the little things help. I receive cards often and lately people have given me places to stay on vacation and such. Those things make me feel appreciated.

Come to me when they have ideas or questions about the youth ministry here and stop going to the preacher.

Show as much interest and dedication in their kids youth ministry as I put into it. Too many put ball practice and every other thing that comes up ahead of the ministry.

I feel appreciated. Happy and Blessed to be where I am

They do a very good job at this and I have nothing to add

Nothing. We have a great support system at our current work.

Stand up for me when I take a stance against ungodly media amongst our teens.

Thank me every now and then and realize that the plans I make aren’t simply done without thought or prayer.

They already do a great job.

Constant word of encouragement from Elders.

Tell me they appreciate me. Let me gave opportunities to be in front of whole church more often and not sequestered to the youth group.

Keep up with the calendar and pay attention to the at least one of the many methods I use to spread information about the youth group.

They’re great. I have no complaints.

Communicate with me better. Let me know what went good or if something could be sharpened. I always want someone to come and talk with me and work on things together.

Volunteer and help out more

Get more involved and volunteer when we need help. Not make us have to BEG for help!

Nothing. I feel that I am appreciated by the congregation for the most part, just not the elders and a couple of deacons.

Volunteer to teach!!!! I am in children’s ministry and that is my biggest challenge – finding enough teachers for our large population of children.

Say thank you more

Two things: 1) Respect my time. When I am working 50-80 hours a week and they still expect me to do more it makes me feel like they do no appreciate the effort I am putting into things. 2) And I know this is picky but… Treat me like (and call me) a youth MINISTER. Not a youth director or “the guy who works with our young people.” I put a great deal of pride in the fact that our youth program is not just a way to keep out teens busy. My focus is making disciples. It is a ministry. I went on a cruise and after meeting the cruise director I began to understand why people use the phrase youth “director” to describe some youth ministers. The cruise director’s job was to make sure we had a good time, and that describes many youth ministers. We don’t introduce our pulpit minister “the guy who talks to us on Sundays” but about half the time I am introduced as “the guy who works with our young people.” I know this is a small thing, but I feel like it is the perception of some of our people. And it is a perception I want to change.

To stop treating my position as a secondary position.

give a sabbatical every once and a while

They just did it… They got behind my family during the hardest time in our lives. Couldn’t ask for more!

Bring there kids to stuff and quit making excuses!!!!

This is a hard one…they do a good job of making me feel appreciated…only thing I can think of is maybe a little more money….

They do make me feel appreciated, very often. It’s wonderful. However, I, like all other ministers, wish people would come directly to me with problems instead of marching to an Elder or Deacon who knows nothing of the problem. But I suppose that’s a problem everywhere.

Nothing. I feel very appreciated by the congregation as a whole (if not always by the shepherds or pulpit minister).

More parental involvement in ministry.

Stop complaining

At this time, I don’t really know how to answer that question because I am made to feel very appreciated. From the older members, to the parents, even to the teens, they are constantly expressing appreciation.

Have all members fully invested within youth program. Young and old alike.

I have a great congregation that is very supportive of my work. However, there is a need felt by several members to be “spoon-fed” what their role is, rather than seeking to find a place to serve. More proactivity from the congregation would help me feel appreciated

to encourage me when i make mistakes instead of telling me how I must do better or else….Thats never a good thing to hear from anyone.

To not criticize the little details I might forget from time to time but be more relaxed with the little things.

Raise my salary.

Communicate to the Elders the things they like and appreciate about the youth minister, not just complaints.

To fully recognize the impact youth ministry has had and the high rate of growth both numerically and spiritually. I believe that if We integrate more of this style of ministry (being in people’s lives, socially relevant, etc.) the church will grow in the way God intended.

To get more involved. Volunteer for youth events.

Plan/pay for vacation (nothing extravagant). They tell us it’s important to take one somewhere away from here every year, but it can be difficult to justify the cost sometimes.

__ Two closing notes:

1. The survey is still up in case you are a youth worker who did not take it: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/C6BJQMK

2. Special thanks to Scott Bond, JR (who I’m blessed to work with here at Spring Meadows) and to Joey Sparks (who I’m blessed to work with on the Exposure board) for giving a free digital copy of their ebook to all who completed the survey.

Here are the audio files we have from the BETTER! Conference.  These are the best of them. The quality is not great but it is at least something.  Thanks to Eric Gray who has done the work to get these ready.  If others get cleaned up enough we will post them here.

The Biblical idea of contentment is vastly different that the idea of contentment that pervades our society. The word content itself only occurs five times in our Bibles, and the  word contentment occurs only once. In First Timothy 6:6 Paul says, “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.” The word Paul uses here is, “autarkeia.” It literally means, “a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed.” It is a reminder that we have the sufficiency of the necessities of life. In Paul’s letter to Timothy it is used subjectively to refer to the contentment of our minds.

Paul is trying to teach his young protege and all of us that when our lives are characterized by godliness and contentment we will live full, joyous lives. So the question is, how can we find this elusive mindset? What can we do to be certain that we have contentment as a part of who we are?

While these suggestions are certainly not all-inclusive, our prayer is that they will be of some help as you search for this Heavenly contentment.

COMMUNE OFTEN WITH OUR LORD. There are three primary ways we can commune with our Lord. First, we can commune with our Lord through the study of His Word. Our Lord has chosen to speak to us today through His Word. God speaks to us through His Son (Hebrews 1:1), and we have the recorded Word of His Son, as well as those His Son commissioned in our New Testaments. Every time we read or study our Bibles we are listening to God speak.

Paul admonished Christians that we are not to “…be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the Will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) One of the ways we can renew our minds is through study. Every time we open the Word of God we learn more about the “unfathomable riches of Christ (Ephesians 3:8).

Another means of communing with our Lord is through prayer. Just as studying the Word is God’s way of speaking to us, He has provided prayer as a means for us to communicate to Him.

A while ago Laura and I had the privilege of visiting with one of our dear sisters at Lewisville who was 96 years of age. It was just a few days before she passed away. At the time her mind was still sharp and I asked her if she had a favorite Bible passage. With very little thought she said, “Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

During her funeral I used her Bible and was amazed at how many notes she had made about prayer. Here is a godly woman who had survived the loss of a husband and two sons to cancer. Even with all that she suffered she seemed amazingly content with life. It was without a doubt due in large part to her life of prayer.

After all, the God who hears us is called, “The God of all comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:3) Knowing we have His comfort as well as the “peace of God which passes all comprehension…” (Philippians 4:7) will help us to live lives of contentment.

Third, we can also commune with our Lord through worship. Jesus promised His disciples that He would commune with them in His Father’s Kingdom (Matthew 26:29). Whenever we are gathered in worship our Savior is present. We can be content in knowing that He is with us when we partake of His feast, when we pray to the Father through Him, and when we bring glory to Him through our worship.

The late beloved brother Hugo McCord told about meeting a man in Scotland who walked to church three miles every Sunday. He would worship and then walk the three miles back to his home. The brother was aging and did not enjoy the greatest health. Brother McCord said that he asked the brother why he put himself through this ordeal. HIs response was, “My Savior died for me and I would never miss the opportunity to commune with HIm on Sunday!” What a wonderful example of a heart filled with contentment.

COMPARE OURSELVES ONLY WITH CHRIST. Comparing is one of the favorite sports of Americans. We compare houses, cars, bank accounts, electronics, children, grand children, and just about everything else. When we are always comparing we will never be content.

The lesson Paul is attempting to teach us here is that comparing ourselves with others will always create a feeling of discontent. We should only compare our lives with Christ. He is our standard. He is our model. He “left us an example that we should follow in His steps.” (1 Peter 2:21) We are to do everything possible to develop His mind (Philippians 2:5). Our goal is to become more like Him (Philippians 3:12-21).

Rather than gaining more stuff we should work to simplify our lives. Jesus said, “for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”  (Luke 12:15) In a world where obtaining more stuff is the norm, Christians should work to be content with what we have. Our affections must not be set on the “things that are on the earth,” but rather on things that are of eternal significance (Colossians 3:1-2). We must not store up for ourselves treasures on this earth, but we should store up for ourselves treasures in Heaven. (Matthew 6:19-20).

In our text Paul says, “If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.” (1 Corinthians 6:8) There are a number of statements in this section of Scripture to which we would loudly say, “AMEN.” I don’t remember ever hearing anyone say “amen,” when this verse is read. Most Christians in America would not likely be content if all we had was food and clothing.

CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS. A great help in the preceding suggestion would be to spend a majority of time with people who have similar goals, dreams, and aspirations. It is true that we become like the people we spend time with, and the wrong type of associations can corrupt us (1 Corinthians 15:33).

We cannot leave this world or refuse to associate with non-Christians (John 17),  because we must do our part in taking the Gospel to the world (1 Peter 2:12). However, we must never place ourselves under the influence of people who do not follow Christ.

Those of us who have children should allow them to be influenced by other godly men and women. Paul said, “Be imitators of me as I am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1) He also said, “…Join in following my example.” (Philippians 3:17-18) The Psalmist said that our children are gifts from God and they are like arrows in the hand of a mighty warrior (Psalm 127:4). We are responsible for aiming our children in the right direction and when we do we can be content with the fact that we have done our job well.

CONCENTRATE ON THE JOYS OF BEING A CHRISTIAN. Our world is filled with sorrow, sickness, suffering, and sin. If we are not careful we will fall into the trap of living depressed and dejected lives.

Jesus came to this world, in part to bring us the abundant life (John 10:10).

Only followers of Christ can truly understand this abundant living. We can rejoice always (Philippians 4:4). There’s an old hymn that says, “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. All His wonderful passion and purity…”

When we allow our lights to shine before men they will see the beauty of Jesus and they will glorify our Father who is in Heaven (Matthew 5:16). Paul said to the Galatians that his prayer was that Jesus might be “formed” in them (Galatians 4:19). The joy that comes from knowing Jesus should shine in our hearts (2 Corinthians 4:6). When our focus in life is on the joy of Christian living we will not only reach those around us, we will also be content throughout our lives.

Contentment from an eternal perspective will be ours when we commune regularly with our Lord, when we compare ourselves only to Christ, when we create opportunities for fellowship with other Christians, and when we concentrate on the joys of living the Christian life. May God help us to live every day with contentment from an eternal perspective.

Dear Father in Heaven, we pray that we will become more content as we grow closer to You. Help us to commune often with You, help us to quit comparing ourselves to others, help us dear God to create opportunities to fellowship with other Christians, and help us to concentrate on the joy we have in Christ. Thank You dear God for making is possible for us to live this life with an eternal perspective. In the Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

The way she stood up for Dad and always supported him.

Seafood & Chicken Box.

The way she stood up for her children and always supported us.

Shoney’s strawberry pie.

Her unfailing concern for people who were hurting.

Watergate Salad.

Hosting more preachers in our home than I can remember.

Strawberry Cake (that she made every year for my birthday!)

Reading the Bible to us when Dad was away.

Roast & Potatoes.

Making sure we always completed our Sunday school lessons.

Never missing a game.

Her trying to climb the fence when I separated my shoulder during my Junior year.

Knowing that every night mom prayed for us!

Locking us in her room with bolt lock, chain lock and sliding the dresser up against the door when Dad was gone!

The way she always opened our home to our friends. Our house was always filled with people.

Her love for Crimson Tide Football (Mom would try to hide behind the TV when there was a big play because she didn’t want to watch)!!

Mom’s love for the Lord.

Mom’s love for the Lord’s Church.

Mom’s love for life.

Mom’s love for all people.

Mom’s love for her family.

Mom’s special love for her grandchildren. She loved them all and she was proud!

Knowing that mom was a Proverbs 31 woman.

“Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” (Proverbs 1:8)

“…Do not forsake the teaching of your mother.” (Proverbs 6:20)

Dear Father, thank You so much for giving us our mothers. Thank You for the life they gave us, the joys they shared with us, and the sacrifices they made for us. Help us Father, never to forget how they cared for us, nurtured us, and taught us. In the Name of our Savior we pray, Amen.

1. Letting go: I may need counseling for this. I can’t. I can’t let go of my writing. I have written more than I will ever publish – the only way I can “put a project to bed” is with a hard deadline. I can’t let go of sermons. How many Saturday nights have I been up at 2 or 3 still working – not cause it wasn’t ready but because I can’t let go? I’ll still be crossing out, adding to, minutes before I step into the pulpit.  How much better would I be if I just let go! I can’t let go of people. I want to be right with people – not bragging – it is a headache. Sometimes people need for their own spiritual health to move on. It is more painful than a trip to the dentist for me. I remember every person at every church I’ve ever preached for who left. I’m never cynical. I always believe that if we’d just give it another chance things would get better. On the up side, I am always ready to give others another chance.  But I need to learn to let go.  
2. Being consistent: This could just be a sign that I’m human. If so, I’m very human: diet, conducting personal Bible studies, sleep, running. I suppose they are vices.  It is frustrating being in this flesh. I don’t give in – even in my inconsistencies I am constantly striving to improve. To do better.  
3. Visiting sick people: I know it is not my job as a preacher but I also know it is expected. And I know that while it is not my “job” as a preacher, it is my job as a loving brother to those who are hurting.  Now, I’m pretty good at visiting the hospital. I’ll drive a hundred miles or more to make that visit.  But it’s long term sickness.  It starts innocently enough. I don’t want to bother people.  But then I find myself adding their name to a list each week of people I need to stop by and see. Then I find myself feeling guilty for not having seen them and I hate to see them because it’s been too long.  And I’ll go a time or two but then I find myself unsure of what to say when I’m there.  Do they even want me there – I who have been so negligent. I just stink at it! I wish I didn’t.  I vow to do better and do for a while but I’ll never win any awards for this area of ministry.
4. Shutting up: My old friend Ronnie said “I’m wordy.” He was and is correct.  In one way I suppose it can be seen as a blessing. Rarely do I let a moment pass when someone needs to speak up and no one does.  The downside of it all is that I talk too much. In meetings, on boards, in groups. How often have I left a meeting and called to apologize to the guy in charge for saying too much?  Sometimes I overstep my bounds and sometimes I’m sure I come across as a jerk or a know-it-all.  I pray about this often.  Melanie used to be in Mary Kay and she learned that you ask a question and then just wait and whoever talks first loses.  The upside to this is that it’s hard for me not to express appreciation or give honor or let something that needs to be challenged slip by.  
5. Staying: For the life of me I can’t figure this one out!  My dad preached for two churches full time in his 50 years of full time ministry.  My father-in-law has been with one congregation now for 54 years – yup.  But I’m good for about 7-10 years (and good may be an overstatement). I want to stay but never to overstay so I get inside my own head. Anytime I’ve left it’s been my decision BUT it’s always been when I felt someone else could do more than I could – that it was time for someone else to come in and help the church go forward.  I read that most churches do better with longer tenured ministries. Now there may be more reasons than just length of ministry but that does seem to be part of it.

“Unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3). 

“…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

“And you were dead…But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:1-5; cf Colossians 2:13).

“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Life! Christianity is all about life!  Jesus most provocative miracle was giving life back to people like Lazarus and His most amazing one today is giving life back to people like YOU!  Life. 

The two most celebrated events of all time were and are His birth (life) and His rebirth (resurrection).  Life!

So, what are you waiting on? Live. Live life. Stop living little.  Stop “living dead.”  Stop playing with death (sin). Stop majoring in the dark, ugly, gossipy, critic laden life of the dead one.  Live for Him who is alive and makes us alive.

Live life!

One more thing: Any minister who sends us his elders email addresses can receive a $5 discount on their registration.

In his book Epic, John Eldredge says that in those moments, movies, books, works of music or art that move us it is because we see something of the Savior in them.

Maybe that’s why I love “Undercover Boss.”  Jesus is sort of an “Undercover Savior.” “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). He stepped out of the ultimate penthouse and into the poverty of this world.  And we don’t know how often after a mighty work He would tell those who saw it “tell no man…” (Matthew 8:4; 16:20; Mark 7:36; 8:30; 9:9; Luke 5:14; cf: John 21:25).

“Glory” took on unnoticeable flesh.  Isaiah said it this way: “…he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2).

Some “looked” close enough to figure out who He really was (Matthew 26:13; 16:16).

At any time He could have gone back (Matthew 4:6).

In “Undercover Boss” there comes that grand moment (my favorite) when the big boss puts back on the suit, sits in an office, invites in one by one those he has interacted with and says “I’m Dan Dizio and I’m the CEO, CFO, founder, owner…etc.”  Most often then he does something that is huge in that person’s life.  Yesterday one of the people had a son with cancer and the boss committed the company to paying any costs medical or incidental that insurance would not. Another was given a career advancement they probably would have never gotten. Sometimes he painfully sends them away…tells them he can’t have such a person in their organization.  It’s a powerful moment.

Then, just as in “Undercover Boss” there will come the big reveal (Revelation 1:7; Philippians 2:11).  He has put His glory back on. And soon will come that moment when he will return with all His angels, in His glory and all the nations of the earth will be gathered and He will reward those who have been faithful and send away those who were not (Matthew 25; Romans 10:14).

I had seen dad August 29-30 at Polishing the Pulpit in Pigeon Forge.  He was moving a little slower than normal and when he spoke he spoke on “What I’d Tell Younger Preachers” – it was basic, simple. It was dad.  I called Jeff afterward and commented that he seemed tired.  Dad didn’t get tired – or at least he didn’t show it.

This sermon is 18 minutes and 14 seconds long (a little short for him).  It is beautiful to me.  Dad at his best. When he starts his voice sounds raspy but before long he sounds like he sounded to me his whole life.  The lesson is very straight forward, teaching people how to live, a few classic lines. But overall it is just dad – the Bible is true and it says live this way so you should. Kind, tender, but powerful and persuasive. It has a Barclay quote in it – which is awesomely classic in dad’s sermon. I imagine I heard dad say over a thousand times “the liberal British scholar William Barclay…” He loved Barclays Daily Study Bible commentaries. They were brief, made sense and illustrated the Word well.  And of course, it has a little humor in it.  In an interesting twist some of it is from a sermon I got from someone else and shared with him years ago.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did…but that would be hard.

2010-09-19 AM Religion That Is Not Vain