Connect for Life

The past six weeks have been filled with travel, great churches and people, speaking night after night, opening a new facility for a great church and starting some new projects with some tremendous churches. It has also been filled with challenges related to being away from my family for longer periods of time than normal. To be honest, I am a homebody and being gone more than a few days in a row, without my family, is the pits. All of what I have been involved in was necessary and to help build healthy churches. However, the truth is, I count on my family much more than they know and without their daily connection in my life, I feel less than my best.

As a ministry coach and leader, one of the things I am the most passionate about is helping churches and staff connect with guests, volunteers and members in a greater way. During the past couple months I have had the opportunity to personally connect with literally hundreds of new people. While it has been a very inspiring time, it has also been challenging to be so disconnected from day to day experiences with my family. We all have challenging seasons in which we have to rely upon distant connections to sustain us. This has been one of those times for me personally.

For those of us who are committed Believers, we can always count on our connection with Christ to sustain us. Oddly enough,
most leaders struggle with natural connections and have to really focus on it; even with Christ. Being out front can be a lonely place even when you are serving the Lord. It is important to take a few moment and refresh your connection with the Lord as you serve Him and expand His kingdom.

Seek, Serve, Sit & Share

Don.

Jay Leno names a Pastor Jackass of the Month

How far will you go to reach people?  Other than moral limits, how far is too far?   This question has been asked, challenged, debated and fought over since pre-New Testament days.  It is inspiring to see men and women in the church take risks and try new things.  Would you ride a motorcycle into a church service?  Some work out better than others (as noted in the video).  A good friend of mine was attempting something out of the ordinary and is still limping on the repercussions (several knee surgeries). 

Congratulations David Few on being featured in Jackass of the Month by Jay Leno!



Church & State - A School Prays for Help?

In recent days a local church has been praised, and come under fire by some, for their involvement with a local elementary school.  It seams the church has “partnered” with a low income elementary school and there are many questions surrounding the relationship.  According to reports, the church has provided $5,000.00 worth of supplies for children and teachers, sponsored some special events for the teachers and gone so far as providing shoes for needy children.  What has the church received in return?  Quoting Associate Pastor, Dave McClamma in an article in the Wall Street Journal, "We have inroads into public schools that we had not had before." "By befriending the students, we have the opportunity to visit homes to talk to parents about Jesus Christ."  According to the Fox News Interview with Pastor McClamma, the church has no agenda other than to further the agenda of the teachers and administration at the school.

Depending on which article you read or which interview you watch, your opinion on the subject may be swayed one way or the other.  Is the issue separation of church and state?  Is the issue the access to families of the school children?  Or is the issue, the needs of the school are simply greater than the response of the school system?  What do you think?  Inspired?

Invite Inspiration

The challenge of life is often simply being willing to invite inspiration in one's life.  All too often, we seek to live out our days in limited ways and experiences.  I had the good fortune to be led by Walter Guillaume early in my ministry.  Each week he asked, "What did you do for the first time this week?"  It was a challenging question; One that has been with me every week for the past 15 years.

As we complete the new website, I am starting over with my blog for the first time.  A fresh start; focusing on what inspires me and I am interested in what inspires you.  Joing me in becoming a person who invites inspiration in my daily life.