It may be time to reevaluate the current budget and make some changes. That means you need to articulate the philosophy of financial management for both the youth ministry and the larger organization. Your budget should reflect the philosophies, not drive them.
Allocation of ministry money is directly linked to your values and goals. When you develop the budget, you and your team determine where to allocate money by answering questions like the following.
Hope I help!!
gw
1. What does the church value?
• Where does the church invest its resources? (Find out by browsing the last few annual reports.)
• What is the church’s spending philosophy? Do they buy the best of a particular item knowing that it will last a long time, or do they get the cheapest possible item that will do the job because they don’t have a lot of cash on hand? Is youth ministry spending in line with the philosophy of the larger organization?
• Is youth ministry a critical part of the church or is it a small part? (Find out by examining the percent of the total budget dedicated to youth ministry. If it’s less than the funeral flower fund, you’re likely to be in for a struggle if you wish to increase your budget.)
• What has the financial committee approved in the past for youth ministry programs and equipment? You’ll get an idea of how flexible they are—how open to ideas new to the church.
2. What does the youth ministry value?
• Of all the good things on which we can spend ministry money, which things, programs, and people do we value most? How will our spending reflect those values?
• How important is "atmosphere" to your ministry? Do you need to appropriate funds to make your ministry area more student-friendly and inviting?
• How important is staff and staff development?
• Do you have experienced staff, or do they need a lot of training and development?
• Do your staff members need a lot of encouragement? A lot of resources?
3. What is the financial history of the youth ministry?
• What was the annual budget last year?
• Where does that money come from?
• Where has the majority of money gone (outreach events, small group materials, van rentals, retreats, fun times, fundraising)?
•What brought in the most money (fundraisers, mission trips, service or work projects)?
• Are there any annual events you need to finance—denominational gatherings, the annual junior high/senior citizen putt-putt golf tournament?
4. What are the mechanics of the financial process?
• Does your church tell you to get what you need when you need it, or does it require you to work the purchase into next year’s budget and to make do with what you have for this year?
• Are there predetermined vendors for curriculum, sound equipment, retreat sites? Or do you determine from whom to purchase?
• Do you get parental financial support, or are you solely dependent on money allocated from the church general budget? What role do your ministry fundraisers play?
• When do you need to turn in your budget proposal to the administration?
5. When is the budget decided, and are midyear changes allowed? If so, what’s the procedure?
• Can you raise additional funds if needed? Do you need approval for that?
6. What financial standards are in harmony with your community?
• In what socioeconomic area is the church located and in what way is that population reflected in your group? (If your church is primarily populated by upper middle-class members, you can probably request a bigger budget. If your congregation is financially strapped, you will have less available financing resources. Study how your church’s socioeconomic makeup affects your ministry finances.)
• Do you have transportation available to you for ministry outings, or do you have to rent vehicles?
7. What needs upgrading over the course of the next year for student safety?
• What do you need to make the ministry student-friendly?
• What items need to be purchased in order for you to continue the development of your ministry? List in order of priority and find out the approximate cost of each item.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Symptoms of Disorganization
It’s easy to do, and it’s hard to get back in control of. The nature of demands you have on your life can so paralyze you that you literally do not know where to begin. Unfortunately, when you don’t know where to begin, it’s a challenge to start. I believe the key is not “getting” organized, but rather, STAYING organized. We all get off on the wrong tract from time to time, but that is no excuse for taking a different course or worse, hitting the “kill switch” on your leadership and coasting for a while. You have people counting on you knowing where THEY are supposed to be going. So, I believe your best bet is to cut away disorganization when you detect symptoms.
Here are 8 Symptoms; I see when I am getting disorganized
1- Cluttered desk
a. Say that you know where everything is if you want. But you know and I know when our work area is chaos, it usually means so are we.
2- Dirty Car – inside and out
a. If we don’t have time to clean, it usually means something of little importance is zapping our time. A car is your “mode of transportation.” When what’s taking you somewhere isn’t getting your attention then I wonder how important your destination is.
3- Insecurity – you worry about someone finding out who you truly are on the inside
a. The lack of confidence in who we are is a tremendous indicator we are are not comfortable with what we are doing.
4- Series of forgotten appointments or deadlines – we become liars to save face
a. You can’t remember every appointment detail. This is why you have to make sure to pre-plan for the meeting, have the meeting, and then debrief yourself of the meeting. Once those are done, you will know how to proceed. BTW, if a meeting is not worth planning for or debriefing after, I recommend not having that meeting ever again. It’s a waste of time and there is no value for your organization. In other words, it’s called fellowship!!
5- Invest a lot more time and energy into unimportant tasks
a. If Facebook is your vice, if you are a master solitaire player, or an incredible golfer, you may not be the BEST leader you can be. Do an inventory of how you spend your day. We all have “down moments” to catch our breath. But your day should be filled with exciting visioneering where you know you are creating your student ministry’s future!!
6- Feel poor about the tasks you are completing
a. If you don’t have Godly Pride in what you’re about to do, you haven’t completely prepared.
7- Rarely enjoy intimacy with God
a. Don’t be so busy doing the “work of the Lord” that you neglect the Lord working in you!!
8- Quality of my personal relationships reveal weaknesses
a. Frustration spills over to close relationships. I have a “fussing bush” in my yard. I go there and get out everything; I refuse to take in my home. If you come in and “Veg” more than you contribute to the family relationships you have, you are all out of wack.
If you find yourself trending towards one or more of these often, I recommend you stop, drop, and roll!!
1. STOP – take an inventory of what it is that’s throwing you off track
2. DROP – eliminate time wasters and remove the “busy work” that’s killing your drive.
3. ROLL – get back on track and create a future that generations will love you for!!
Hope I helped!!
pg
Here are 8 Symptoms; I see when I am getting disorganized
1- Cluttered desk
a. Say that you know where everything is if you want. But you know and I know when our work area is chaos, it usually means so are we.
2- Dirty Car – inside and out
a. If we don’t have time to clean, it usually means something of little importance is zapping our time. A car is your “mode of transportation.” When what’s taking you somewhere isn’t getting your attention then I wonder how important your destination is.
3- Insecurity – you worry about someone finding out who you truly are on the inside
a. The lack of confidence in who we are is a tremendous indicator we are are not comfortable with what we are doing.
4- Series of forgotten appointments or deadlines – we become liars to save face
a. You can’t remember every appointment detail. This is why you have to make sure to pre-plan for the meeting, have the meeting, and then debrief yourself of the meeting. Once those are done, you will know how to proceed. BTW, if a meeting is not worth planning for or debriefing after, I recommend not having that meeting ever again. It’s a waste of time and there is no value for your organization. In other words, it’s called fellowship!!
5- Invest a lot more time and energy into unimportant tasks
a. If Facebook is your vice, if you are a master solitaire player, or an incredible golfer, you may not be the BEST leader you can be. Do an inventory of how you spend your day. We all have “down moments” to catch our breath. But your day should be filled with exciting visioneering where you know you are creating your student ministry’s future!!
6- Feel poor about the tasks you are completing
a. If you don’t have Godly Pride in what you’re about to do, you haven’t completely prepared.
7- Rarely enjoy intimacy with God
a. Don’t be so busy doing the “work of the Lord” that you neglect the Lord working in you!!
8- Quality of my personal relationships reveal weaknesses
a. Frustration spills over to close relationships. I have a “fussing bush” in my yard. I go there and get out everything; I refuse to take in my home. If you come in and “Veg” more than you contribute to the family relationships you have, you are all out of wack.
If you find yourself trending towards one or more of these often, I recommend you stop, drop, and roll!!
1. STOP – take an inventory of what it is that’s throwing you off track
2. DROP – eliminate time wasters and remove the “busy work” that’s killing your drive.
3. ROLL – get back on track and create a future that generations will love you for!!
Hope I helped!!
pg
Monday, February 1, 2010
Leaders MUST BE "Led"
How many times have you wondered how effective you are as a leader? There may be no "I" in TEAM, but there are 2 "I"s in WINNING!! Below are my notes from a recent leadership workshop i did. Enjoy.
Hope this helps!! gw
------------------------------
Leaders must be “Led”
The Principle: To continually experience the ecstasy of effective leadership you must experience consistently the stabilizing of selfless servant hood.
Keys to Effective Leadership
Key #1: Growth Is Demanded
Personal Motto: “If you do not “grow”, you will not “go.”
Illustration: Baby stages of development
Application: Develop a Personal Growth Discipline that challenges who you are and where you are verses who and where you want to be.
Key #2: Be a “Timothy” and a “Paul”
Timothy
Poor Leaders are people who are not “poured” into.
“Always sit at the feet of great men.” DLK
Applications:
1. Find someone who is where you want to be.
2. To be an effective leader, you must be a constant reader
Paul
Adequate leaders are people who do not add to others what they’ve learned, themselves.
Let others learn from the price you paid for your education.
Key #3: The Two I’s
“There may not be an I in TEAM, but there are 2 I’s in WINNING.” gw
A. I = Initiative
The secret to success: to tend unflinchingly towards a goal.
Notice I did not say unfailingly!
“To fail is not to lose, but rather, its research for your next win” Chris Hill
“Before I found the 1 way to create the light bulb, I first found one million ways not too.” Thomas Edison
Trust me: You will always pay for your education, but you will never learn from that teaching moment without a passion/drive to do so.
Crucial Point:
You can be taught how to “take” initiative.
You can not be taught how to “have” initiative.
As a leader with initiative, you must initiate.
Defined: To begin or originate.
To introduce a new field, skill, activity, or interest.
Iows: “if it is to be, it’s up to me.”
Applications for the “Leader”:
#1: You have to decide what it is God wants you to want.
#2: You have to live moving towards it.
#3: You have to see it and define what it looks like.
#4: You have to a cast vision so compelling that others want it with you and for you.
A Favorite quote of mine:
“Greatness is not where we stand, but in what direction we’re moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against it- But sail we must, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.” Oliver Wendell Holmes
B. I = Instinct - Initiative cannot be utilized without instinct to do so.
Defined: An inner pattern of behavior that is not leaned.
A powerful motivation or impulse.
A natural capability or aptitude
You are always searching for what can work better, even in the moment.
“You gotta know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away……” the gambler
A Great Leader’s plan is always negotiable in the moment.
“You have to make room to adlib, because some ideas sound good but are just stupid.”
Hope this helps!! gw
------------------------------
Leaders must be “Led”
The Principle: To continually experience the ecstasy of effective leadership you must experience consistently the stabilizing of selfless servant hood.
Keys to Effective Leadership
Key #1: Growth Is Demanded
Personal Motto: “If you do not “grow”, you will not “go.”
Illustration: Baby stages of development
Application: Develop a Personal Growth Discipline that challenges who you are and where you are verses who and where you want to be.
Key #2: Be a “Timothy” and a “Paul”
Timothy
Poor Leaders are people who are not “poured” into.
“Always sit at the feet of great men.” DLK
Applications:
1. Find someone who is where you want to be.
2. To be an effective leader, you must be a constant reader
Paul
Adequate leaders are people who do not add to others what they’ve learned, themselves.
Let others learn from the price you paid for your education.
Key #3: The Two I’s
“There may not be an I in TEAM, but there are 2 I’s in WINNING.” gw
A. I = Initiative
The secret to success: to tend unflinchingly towards a goal.
Notice I did not say unfailingly!
“To fail is not to lose, but rather, its research for your next win” Chris Hill
“Before I found the 1 way to create the light bulb, I first found one million ways not too.” Thomas Edison
Trust me: You will always pay for your education, but you will never learn from that teaching moment without a passion/drive to do so.
Crucial Point:
You can be taught how to “take” initiative.
You can not be taught how to “have” initiative.
As a leader with initiative, you must initiate.
Defined: To begin or originate.
To introduce a new field, skill, activity, or interest.
Iows: “if it is to be, it’s up to me.”
Applications for the “Leader”:
#1: You have to decide what it is God wants you to want.
#2: You have to live moving towards it.
#3: You have to see it and define what it looks like.
#4: You have to a cast vision so compelling that others want it with you and for you.
A Favorite quote of mine:
“Greatness is not where we stand, but in what direction we’re moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against it- But sail we must, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.” Oliver Wendell Holmes
B. I = Instinct - Initiative cannot be utilized without instinct to do so.
Defined: An inner pattern of behavior that is not leaned.
A powerful motivation or impulse.
A natural capability or aptitude
You are always searching for what can work better, even in the moment.
“You gotta know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away……” the gambler
A Great Leader’s plan is always negotiable in the moment.
“You have to make room to adlib, because some ideas sound good but are just stupid.”
Thursday, January 28, 2010
10 Desires for A Volunteer Staff Member on My TEAM
There are some things that I desire from all staff members in my student ministry. Here are ten principles I desire (not necessarily in any order) for every staff member (volunteer or paid) to live by as they serve in our student ministry.
My desire is for you to:
1. Love God. I want a person who authentically loves God every day. There is not a need for an extremely gifted person who seems to only live a life of religious routine. This may sound harsh, but I want you to truly know and love God and love working with the teens, God has entrusted us with.
2. Live a life of faith. I want you, as you are working with our students, to model walking with the Lord in true faith, by stepping out in ways that don’t always make sense to our human minds.
3. Be a true spiritual leader. In the church, we call ourselves “spiritual leaders,” so I want you to actually lead in spiritual things. Teens don’t need police officers to watch them and making sure they behave correctly. They and I need you to be spiritually focused and spirit led in interacting with them.
4. Know and love Scripture. I want you to be in Scripture regularly, interacting with it, and seeking to know it better. Our entire Christian faith stems from the truths of Scripture, and youth staff should seek to know it for themselves and for the teens you are leading spiritually.
5. Avoid behavior management. I desire you to be more concerned about the spiritual condition of our kids than them having proper or improper behavior. I want you to witness, regularly, when their heart’s right, the behavioral aspects come naturally.
6. Hang with kids. Relationships are started at youth group, but built outside of that time. I desire you to spend as much time with kids outside of weekly gatherings as possible, without compromising your family or personal time often.
7. Know the big picture. I want you, regardless of the age-stage you are working with, to realize that your branch in this ministry, as vital as it may be, is just a part of a life-long discipleship process of the individuals you are leading. Our ministry isn’t the end, but simply a means to a much greater end (Philippians 1:6) for every student we lead.
8. Integrate into families. Having relationships with kids is great, but getting to know and love their families is far better. We are assistant coaches. I want you to find ways we can positively reinforce what mom and dad is trying to instill at home.
9. Force thought. I desire you to force our kids to think, not just give them the answers. Far too many high school grads have been spoon-fed their entire lives, never being forced to think through their faith on their own. This is detrimental, and a major cause of grads detaching from church. Encourage them to challenge the process and base their answer off the truth that is the Word of God.
10. Be teachable. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to teach someone who is unteachable. I define a teacher as a constant student who has learned a lesson worth passing on. I need you to understand that this is the means by which the Lord brings us all to maturity (1 Peter 5:1-2; Ephesians 4:11-16).
Hope I helped!!
pg
My desire is for you to:
1. Love God. I want a person who authentically loves God every day. There is not a need for an extremely gifted person who seems to only live a life of religious routine. This may sound harsh, but I want you to truly know and love God and love working with the teens, God has entrusted us with.
2. Live a life of faith. I want you, as you are working with our students, to model walking with the Lord in true faith, by stepping out in ways that don’t always make sense to our human minds.
3. Be a true spiritual leader. In the church, we call ourselves “spiritual leaders,” so I want you to actually lead in spiritual things. Teens don’t need police officers to watch them and making sure they behave correctly. They and I need you to be spiritually focused and spirit led in interacting with them.
4. Know and love Scripture. I want you to be in Scripture regularly, interacting with it, and seeking to know it better. Our entire Christian faith stems from the truths of Scripture, and youth staff should seek to know it for themselves and for the teens you are leading spiritually.
5. Avoid behavior management. I desire you to be more concerned about the spiritual condition of our kids than them having proper or improper behavior. I want you to witness, regularly, when their heart’s right, the behavioral aspects come naturally.
6. Hang with kids. Relationships are started at youth group, but built outside of that time. I desire you to spend as much time with kids outside of weekly gatherings as possible, without compromising your family or personal time often.
7. Know the big picture. I want you, regardless of the age-stage you are working with, to realize that your branch in this ministry, as vital as it may be, is just a part of a life-long discipleship process of the individuals you are leading. Our ministry isn’t the end, but simply a means to a much greater end (Philippians 1:6) for every student we lead.
8. Integrate into families. Having relationships with kids is great, but getting to know and love their families is far better. We are assistant coaches. I want you to find ways we can positively reinforce what mom and dad is trying to instill at home.
9. Force thought. I desire you to force our kids to think, not just give them the answers. Far too many high school grads have been spoon-fed their entire lives, never being forced to think through their faith on their own. This is detrimental, and a major cause of grads detaching from church. Encourage them to challenge the process and base their answer off the truth that is the Word of God.
10. Be teachable. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to teach someone who is unteachable. I define a teacher as a constant student who has learned a lesson worth passing on. I need you to understand that this is the means by which the Lord brings us all to maturity (1 Peter 5:1-2; Ephesians 4:11-16).
Hope I helped!!
pg
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
6 Mistakes A Youth Leader Must Never Make
Let's face it. Youth Leaders can make some pretty dumb decisions. Dumb decisions, in a lot of ways, is precisely why most senior pastors see the youth pastor/leader role as a liability verses an asset. The way I am percieved after 12 years at the same church is much different than the way I was looked at in the 1st 5 years. Why? Simply because I stopped making mistakes that could potentially undermine the entire organization. Some mistakes are fairly easy to forgive and excuse, while others can absolutely turn your ministry up-side down. The following are mistakes to stay away from, forever!!
1) Never counsel the opposite sex privately. It could be your word against theirs. Pick a place that is wide open, so you can easily be interupted.
2) Never lie to protect your ministry or reputation. The truth finds a way out. It's better to do something dumb and "man up" then to do something even more dumb by lying about it or blame shifting.
3) Never cause division in your church, even if you think you’re right. This is a biggie! Your opinion matters to a lot of people. That's why you are in leadership. However, be very aware of the fact that people will warp your words to fit their agenda when they communicate it to others. It's human nature.
4) Never challenge or rebuke your Pastor publicly or privately. Maintain a humble and teachable heart. It's okay to challenge the process. But NEVER challenge the LEADER. You won't last long. Oh, and by the way, consider that he/she may actually know a little more than you do. Just because you don't agree, doesn't mean you're right!!
5) Never make money your primary factor in decision making. It will cost you your character and your future. Money follows ministry, not the other way around.
6) Never compromise your standards and qualifications for your leadership team. It will come back and bite you soon enough. I've heard it said, "It's better to have some body than nobody." That's just stupid!! Coming from experience, It's better to count on noone than to have someone you can't count on. People like being a part of something that's making a difference. Most of the time, the difference making positions are ones you have to get hired on to and could be fired from!! Have high expectations. It brings the best up to the challenge.
Hope i helped!!
pg
1) Never counsel the opposite sex privately. It could be your word against theirs. Pick a place that is wide open, so you can easily be interupted.
2) Never lie to protect your ministry or reputation. The truth finds a way out. It's better to do something dumb and "man up" then to do something even more dumb by lying about it or blame shifting.
3) Never cause division in your church, even if you think you’re right. This is a biggie! Your opinion matters to a lot of people. That's why you are in leadership. However, be very aware of the fact that people will warp your words to fit their agenda when they communicate it to others. It's human nature.
4) Never challenge or rebuke your Pastor publicly or privately. Maintain a humble and teachable heart. It's okay to challenge the process. But NEVER challenge the LEADER. You won't last long. Oh, and by the way, consider that he/she may actually know a little more than you do. Just because you don't agree, doesn't mean you're right!!
5) Never make money your primary factor in decision making. It will cost you your character and your future. Money follows ministry, not the other way around.
6) Never compromise your standards and qualifications for your leadership team. It will come back and bite you soon enough. I've heard it said, "It's better to have some body than nobody." That's just stupid!! Coming from experience, It's better to count on noone than to have someone you can't count on. People like being a part of something that's making a difference. Most of the time, the difference making positions are ones you have to get hired on to and could be fired from!! Have high expectations. It brings the best up to the challenge.
Hope i helped!!
pg
Thursday, November 12, 2009
The "Sound" of Being Stretched
Ps 92:12
2 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
My pastor makes this remark often from the pulpit, “Pain is a great motivator.” You have to understand, I’m not one for this type of motivation. Offer me a dollar, dangle a gooey spoonful of an Oreo Cookie Blast from Sagebrush in front of my mouth, entice me with sweet kisses from my incredibly gorgeous wife, but please do not try and motivate me to action with Pain! Yet, more often than not, God uses a painful technique to prepare us for the good things He brings into our lives. Paul says, “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces… (Romans 5:3NIV). Please understand, God does not use pain for punishment, He uses pain to stretch us or limber us to the point where we can produce the goodness He is bringing into our lives. God is more interested in developing your productivity for Him than making you pay for wrong doings. His purpose is to produce more capacity in your life to hold all the promises He has for your life.
My wife and I recently celebrated our 10 year Anniversary in August. Since 10 years is a major milestone in today’s society, we decided we would do something really special for ourselves. So, we left our son, Noah (5), and our daughter, MeKendyn (2), with their Nana and we decided to spend a few days in Cancun, Mexico. Now before you get the wrong idea about the salaries of youth pastors these days, we agreed to a “90 minute - Timeshare” presentation. We never would have been able to afford going to Cancun without this “Timeshare” promotion. You must know I hate sales pitches. I loathe high pressure situations when it comes to making a purchase. I believe that when Satan fell from Heaven, all of the angels that fell with him became “Timeshare” sales persons! My wife, Emily, and I knew, in order for us to enjoy paradise, we must suffer through the pain of a 90 minute presentation. What made the pain of the presentation bearable? Simple, Em and I knew the clear blue waters of the Atlantic and the white sands of Mexico were just minutes away. The “pain” of the presentation was bearable because we knew paradise was just ahead.
While touring this incredible resort, our host showed us a 13 story condominium complex that stood right next to their resort. Out of curiosity, I asked, “How much will those cost when the construction is completed?” Our host said, with a smirk of pride on his face, “$1 million per condo. And by the way there are 7 condos per floor.” Basically, this complex was worth over $90 million dollars. I asked him, “When will this new construction be finished?” He said, with broken English, “This would have already been finished, if the hurricane from 2 years ago would not have destroyed the infrastructure.” As he was sharing this information with me, we were standing right beside a palm tree that looked to have been there for decades. Being from the “Palmetto” state, I can identify a baby palm tree from an older more mature one. They’re smaller! Through the whipping branches of a vibrant palm tree, I stood there gazing at an intimidating condominium complex that was unfinished because of a storm. I want you to know, it does not matter how much someone says you’re worth. You prove your value based upon how you are after a storm has hit. I realized the same storm that destroyed this complex was the same storm this palm tree faced. Yet the tree was still standing. The same mountain-like waves that plundered a $90 million dollar complex thrashed this palm tree. The same devastating wind gusts that sent window frames, furniture, and shingles flying, whipped this palm tree. Like professional football players playing tug of war against preschoolers, the yanking of the currents that toppled a $90 million dollar building, was withstood by this palm tree. What was it about a palm tree that could withstand a storm that a $90 million dollar complex could not?
When I arrived back in South Carolina, I began to research the components of a palm tree. I found that a palm tree has elasticity, or the ability to be stretched. A palm tree in a severe storm will bend and stretch with a storm. I saw pictures on the internet of palm trees that were stretched to the point its branches on top were touching the ground. Some palm trees were stretched so much I thought, “Surely it had to have snapped under the pressure.” But it did not. The palm tree had the ability to be stretched. While being bent, a strange thing happened to this palm tree. It actually grew. It became taller. The trunk of the palm tree became strengthened by the storm, instead of weakened. The hurricane that weakened the infrastructure of a $90 million dollar complex strengthened this palm tree. Why? The palm allowed the pain of going through the storm to stretch it.
What about you? Can you identify more with the Condo or the palm tree? Do you fight to stand your ground in the storm more than allowing God to stretch you through it? In my line of work, I see so many people who look just like this condominium complex. From a distance they look incredible, but the closer you get, the more of a wreck you see they are. It’s all based upon your ability to be stretched or not. I know some of you are asking, “Well, how do I know for sure, which one I am?” Well, it’s determined by the sound you make while you’re being stretched.
For Christmas this past year, I bought Noah a beginner’s guitar. Late Christmas Eve, Em and I were helping Santa get MeKendyn and Noah’s gifts ready. So being the all-knowing “super dad” I am, I tried to get the guitar ready for a 5 year old to be excited about. As Em brought out the guitar she reminded me that the bass player for our youth praise team had already tuned the guitar. In order to have a string “tuned” it has to connect at the top and the bottom of the guitar. Yet, just being, “connected” is not good enough. Just having it “connected” does not produce a note. It takes the player twisting a knob that stretched the string in order to get the guitar to sound a melodic note. My 5 year old would have been happy just making a sound. Being musically inclined, I am interested in it making the “right” sound. There is a specific note each string is suppose to make in order to be in tune with everything else going on. Your Father sees you as an invaluable instrument in His tender hands. But know He is not interested in you just making any sound; He wants you to make the “right” sound. In order to get you “in tune” with what He is trying to do in your life, He has to stretch you. And it’s what sound you make that determines how much stretching you need!
New strings on a guitar are very temperamental. They are stiff and fall out of tune very easy to begin with. I tuned my son’s guitar and within minutes, it fell back out of tune. Tuned it again, the same result. Again, the same result. Even to this day, months later, I still have to stretch those strings in order to produce the right sound.
What if I snap? What if I just lose it all together and buckle underneath all the pressure? Then I would question whose hands you are in. Your Father is a master musician. He knows what sound you were created to make. He knows exactly how to handle you with care. And He knows just how far to stretch you to produce what He is trying to produce in your life.
Pain is inevitable. Pain is necessary. Pain does, in fact, motivate. Your ability to be stretched is what gets you past the pain. Maybe you are suffering through the worst presentation of your life, right now. Doctors are presenting sickness. Children are presenting rebellion and disrespect. Your marriage is presenting disaster. Your job is presenting unemployment. Your inner-being is presenting hopelessness. Look out the window, paradise lies just ahead! Stretch. Limber up. Grow through this process, because after it’s over, it’s over. Maybe you feel like a hurricane is coming your way. Stand big and proud and hope you last, or stretch with the storm and grow taller and stronger than you would have without the hurricane’s blows. Maybe you feel like an out-of-tune guitar. When pressure comes, you always seem to make the wrong sound. Children get the brunt of your pressure. Your spouse gets the left-overs of your life. You find yourself complaining to yourself, about yourself. Or worse, you begin complaining to God about how BIG all your problems are and how tired you are of always feeling stretched. Let me encourage you to remember “all things work together for the good (benefit) of those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) God is more acquainted with your future than you are your past. Every stretch is for your benefit, so He can produce His purpose in you. So make the right sound. My wife says, “Stop telling God how big your problem is, and start telling your problem how big your God is.”
By the way, the palm tree in front of the resort was filled with coconuts. Not only was it still standing, but it was still producing fruit. There is just something about a person who can stretch through disastrous conditions, and still bare fruit. That is a person willing to be stretched toward his/her purpose. That is a person who is “flourishing (producing) like a palm tree.” That person can be you.
2 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
My pastor makes this remark often from the pulpit, “Pain is a great motivator.” You have to understand, I’m not one for this type of motivation. Offer me a dollar, dangle a gooey spoonful of an Oreo Cookie Blast from Sagebrush in front of my mouth, entice me with sweet kisses from my incredibly gorgeous wife, but please do not try and motivate me to action with Pain! Yet, more often than not, God uses a painful technique to prepare us for the good things He brings into our lives. Paul says, “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces… (Romans 5:3NIV). Please understand, God does not use pain for punishment, He uses pain to stretch us or limber us to the point where we can produce the goodness He is bringing into our lives. God is more interested in developing your productivity for Him than making you pay for wrong doings. His purpose is to produce more capacity in your life to hold all the promises He has for your life.
My wife and I recently celebrated our 10 year Anniversary in August. Since 10 years is a major milestone in today’s society, we decided we would do something really special for ourselves. So, we left our son, Noah (5), and our daughter, MeKendyn (2), with their Nana and we decided to spend a few days in Cancun, Mexico. Now before you get the wrong idea about the salaries of youth pastors these days, we agreed to a “90 minute - Timeshare” presentation. We never would have been able to afford going to Cancun without this “Timeshare” promotion. You must know I hate sales pitches. I loathe high pressure situations when it comes to making a purchase. I believe that when Satan fell from Heaven, all of the angels that fell with him became “Timeshare” sales persons! My wife, Emily, and I knew, in order for us to enjoy paradise, we must suffer through the pain of a 90 minute presentation. What made the pain of the presentation bearable? Simple, Em and I knew the clear blue waters of the Atlantic and the white sands of Mexico were just minutes away. The “pain” of the presentation was bearable because we knew paradise was just ahead.
While touring this incredible resort, our host showed us a 13 story condominium complex that stood right next to their resort. Out of curiosity, I asked, “How much will those cost when the construction is completed?” Our host said, with a smirk of pride on his face, “$1 million per condo. And by the way there are 7 condos per floor.” Basically, this complex was worth over $90 million dollars. I asked him, “When will this new construction be finished?” He said, with broken English, “This would have already been finished, if the hurricane from 2 years ago would not have destroyed the infrastructure.” As he was sharing this information with me, we were standing right beside a palm tree that looked to have been there for decades. Being from the “Palmetto” state, I can identify a baby palm tree from an older more mature one. They’re smaller! Through the whipping branches of a vibrant palm tree, I stood there gazing at an intimidating condominium complex that was unfinished because of a storm. I want you to know, it does not matter how much someone says you’re worth. You prove your value based upon how you are after a storm has hit. I realized the same storm that destroyed this complex was the same storm this palm tree faced. Yet the tree was still standing. The same mountain-like waves that plundered a $90 million dollar complex thrashed this palm tree. The same devastating wind gusts that sent window frames, furniture, and shingles flying, whipped this palm tree. Like professional football players playing tug of war against preschoolers, the yanking of the currents that toppled a $90 million dollar building, was withstood by this palm tree. What was it about a palm tree that could withstand a storm that a $90 million dollar complex could not?
When I arrived back in South Carolina, I began to research the components of a palm tree. I found that a palm tree has elasticity, or the ability to be stretched. A palm tree in a severe storm will bend and stretch with a storm. I saw pictures on the internet of palm trees that were stretched to the point its branches on top were touching the ground. Some palm trees were stretched so much I thought, “Surely it had to have snapped under the pressure.” But it did not. The palm tree had the ability to be stretched. While being bent, a strange thing happened to this palm tree. It actually grew. It became taller. The trunk of the palm tree became strengthened by the storm, instead of weakened. The hurricane that weakened the infrastructure of a $90 million dollar complex strengthened this palm tree. Why? The palm allowed the pain of going through the storm to stretch it.
What about you? Can you identify more with the Condo or the palm tree? Do you fight to stand your ground in the storm more than allowing God to stretch you through it? In my line of work, I see so many people who look just like this condominium complex. From a distance they look incredible, but the closer you get, the more of a wreck you see they are. It’s all based upon your ability to be stretched or not. I know some of you are asking, “Well, how do I know for sure, which one I am?” Well, it’s determined by the sound you make while you’re being stretched.
For Christmas this past year, I bought Noah a beginner’s guitar. Late Christmas Eve, Em and I were helping Santa get MeKendyn and Noah’s gifts ready. So being the all-knowing “super dad” I am, I tried to get the guitar ready for a 5 year old to be excited about. As Em brought out the guitar she reminded me that the bass player for our youth praise team had already tuned the guitar. In order to have a string “tuned” it has to connect at the top and the bottom of the guitar. Yet, just being, “connected” is not good enough. Just having it “connected” does not produce a note. It takes the player twisting a knob that stretched the string in order to get the guitar to sound a melodic note. My 5 year old would have been happy just making a sound. Being musically inclined, I am interested in it making the “right” sound. There is a specific note each string is suppose to make in order to be in tune with everything else going on. Your Father sees you as an invaluable instrument in His tender hands. But know He is not interested in you just making any sound; He wants you to make the “right” sound. In order to get you “in tune” with what He is trying to do in your life, He has to stretch you. And it’s what sound you make that determines how much stretching you need!
New strings on a guitar are very temperamental. They are stiff and fall out of tune very easy to begin with. I tuned my son’s guitar and within minutes, it fell back out of tune. Tuned it again, the same result. Again, the same result. Even to this day, months later, I still have to stretch those strings in order to produce the right sound.
What if I snap? What if I just lose it all together and buckle underneath all the pressure? Then I would question whose hands you are in. Your Father is a master musician. He knows what sound you were created to make. He knows exactly how to handle you with care. And He knows just how far to stretch you to produce what He is trying to produce in your life.
Pain is inevitable. Pain is necessary. Pain does, in fact, motivate. Your ability to be stretched is what gets you past the pain. Maybe you are suffering through the worst presentation of your life, right now. Doctors are presenting sickness. Children are presenting rebellion and disrespect. Your marriage is presenting disaster. Your job is presenting unemployment. Your inner-being is presenting hopelessness. Look out the window, paradise lies just ahead! Stretch. Limber up. Grow through this process, because after it’s over, it’s over. Maybe you feel like a hurricane is coming your way. Stand big and proud and hope you last, or stretch with the storm and grow taller and stronger than you would have without the hurricane’s blows. Maybe you feel like an out-of-tune guitar. When pressure comes, you always seem to make the wrong sound. Children get the brunt of your pressure. Your spouse gets the left-overs of your life. You find yourself complaining to yourself, about yourself. Or worse, you begin complaining to God about how BIG all your problems are and how tired you are of always feeling stretched. Let me encourage you to remember “all things work together for the good (benefit) of those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) God is more acquainted with your future than you are your past. Every stretch is for your benefit, so He can produce His purpose in you. So make the right sound. My wife says, “Stop telling God how big your problem is, and start telling your problem how big your God is.”
By the way, the palm tree in front of the resort was filled with coconuts. Not only was it still standing, but it was still producing fruit. There is just something about a person who can stretch through disastrous conditions, and still bare fruit. That is a person willing to be stretched toward his/her purpose. That is a person who is “flourishing (producing) like a palm tree.” That person can be you.
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