The More You Know...

A Wade's World PSA.

Sell Out...

From Ben Arment's blog:

I've gone through life hearing people say, "Well, you've got to pay the bills," as a resignation from their calling. But I wonder if what they're really saying is, "I don't want to sacrifice my standard of living for my God-given purpose."

Just thinking out loud.

What has God called me to do? Or maybe the question we should ask ourselves is: "If I could do anything and knew that I wouldn't fail, what would I do for God?"

After all... who wants to be a sell out?

15 Signs Your Church is in Trouble...

I read this at Perry Noble's blog today. Thought I would share it with you and then ask you two questions.

Question 1 - Would you add any other signs?
Question 2 - What signs are present in the church you are at?


Here is Perry's list...

#1 – When excuses are made about the way things are instead of embracing a willingness to roll up the sleeves and fix the problem.

#2 – When the church becomes content with merely receiving people that come rather than actually going out and finding them…in other words, they lose their passion for evangelism!

#3 – The focus of the church is to build a great church (complete with the pastors picture…and his wife’s…on everything) and not the Kingdom of God.

#4 – The leadership begins to settle for the natural rather than rely on the supernatural.

#5 – The church begins to view success/failure in regards to how they are viewed in the church world rather than whether or not they are actually fulfilling the Great Commission!

#6 – The leaders within the church cease to be coachable.

#7 – There is a loss of a sense of urgency! (Hell is no longer hot, sin is no longer wrong and the cross is no longer important!)

#8 – Scripture isn’t central in every decision that is made!

#9 – The church is reactive rather than proactive.

#10 – The people in the church lose sight of the next generation and refuse to fund ministry simply because they don’t understand “those young people.”

#11 – The goal of the church is to simply maintain the way things are…to NOT rock the boat and/or upset anyone…especially the big givers!

#12 – The church is no longer willing to take steps of faith because “there is just too much to lose.”

#13 – The church simply does not care about the obvious and immediate needs that exist in the community.

#14 – The people learn how to depend on one man to minister to everyone rather than everyone embracing their role in the body, thus allowing the body to care for itself.

#15 – When the leaders/staff refuse to go the extra mile in leading and serving because of how “inconvenient” doing so would be.

Swampy Steve Interview...

For all of my Central peeps... here is the 100th anniversary celebration interview we did with Swampy Steve.

Enjoy!!

Ministry Wisdom...

Chuck Swindoll was given the "legacy" award at the Catalyst leadership conference held recently in Atlanta.
Here are 10 lessons that he shared with the crowd that day:

1. It’s lonely to lead
2. It’s dangerous to succeed
3. It’s hardest at home
4. It’s essential to be real
5. It’s painful to obey
6. Brokenness and failure are necessary
7. Attitude overshadows actions
8. Integrity eclipses image
9. God’s way is always better than my way
10. Christlikeness begins and ends with humility

Things I can see from my desk chair...

I'm doing some cleaning in my office today.
Here are just a few things I can see from where I'm sitting:

• File cabinet
• Kleenex box
• Golf Driver
• Couch
• Amp Energy Drink can
• Books
• White board
• Tigger stuffed animal
• Printer
• Picture of my family
• A rubber ducky
• Central license plate
• Boomerang from Australia
• Tom & Jerry dvd
• Bible
• Glass frog from the Bahamas
• Ben Stein "Expelled" dvd
• M&M coffee mug

What do you see from where you are sitting?

Monday Musings...

I love having the extra hour of sleep when we turn our clocks back... but I always mismanage it!!

I preached on humility yesterday at church. Last Friday, I jokingly put on my facebook and twitter status that "I'm preaching on humility Sunday. I hope a large crowd shows up to hear my sermon."

Can you believe that we had the second largest attendance of the fall!?!? We were only 44 people shy of what our attendance was for our 100th anniversary celebration.

I must say that my sermon on humility was great. =) ha ha just kidding!!

Having pride in our relationships with other people demonstrates a lack of humility in our relationship with God.

I was given tickets to see Fee in concert this month down in Evansville. SWEET!!!!

Have a great Monday!!!

The Office Wedding...

I know it's been a couple weeks, but you gotta smile when you watch this. =)

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Sometimes it causes me to tremble...

I like church programs.

I want to go on record by saying that I have nothing personal against church programs.

But I have come to the conclusion that church programs can replace an authentic relationship with God. We think that as long as we continue to show up at the building, everything is fine between us and God.

Why do I think this?

Because it has happened to me.

Why is it that the church seems to be doing more and more and yet making less and less of an impact?

James talks about people demonstrating their faith (or relationship with God) by their deeds.

Maybe the trouble today is that we have deeds, but no faith. We have no foundation in God. We do not know who HE is.

James said that even the demons believe - and tremble!!

How often do I tremble at the thought of God?

Last Friday when I attended the leadership conference at Southeast Christian Church, there was a point in the worship service where I became terrified.

I had written on this blog previously that it was one of the most powerful worship services I've been to... but I hadn't revealed why. Basically, it was because...

I was afraid.

I was literally scared.

I knew my life has areas that are not submitted to Christ.

I knew that in the presence of a Holy God I was found to be severely lacking.

And I was afraid.

For too long I've focused on image management, rather than heart management. I have placed more concern or "fear" over what others might think than I have worried about what God might think. I have been focusing on deeds that pacify rather than searching out what I believe.

This is crucial because what I believe will truly determine what I do.

I think I need to tremble more...

Trunk or Treat

Last night we had a "Trunk or Treat" at Central.

It was a HUGE success!!!

Thanks to our youth minister, Jason Thomas, and his crew that pulled this event off.

"I've Seen It All" (video)

There are some days I really miss youth ministry... and there are other days I get down on my knees and praise God that I'm no longer a youth minister!!!!

I thought this music video was great... really gets to the heart of youth ministry.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MALACHI

It's hard to believe that one year ago today I became "Uncle Wade."


Normally I am nervous to hold kids at the hospital... but not with Khi!!


I am so glad to be an uncle to the coolest little guy in the world. =)


Chad and Megan are such great parents. I'm so happy for them and proud of them.


Happy birthday Khi!!!!

Music is not the issue...

Churches fight over going from no-music to the organ; then from organs to guitars; then from guitars to keyboards; then from keyboards back to organs---- because they're in again. Some are still trying to process percussion in "the sanctuary."

OK.

Here's the real deal: It is never about the music style, but about whether or not the church is focused on entertaining and pacifying Christians OR reaching its culture.

From Chris Farley