Relative Truths

Ok, so I mentioned on Tuesday about reading on vacation.  Yesterday I talked about Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley.  Another book I read last week was Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands by Nancy Ortberg.  It was a really great read on leadership.

She mentions in the book that people are like rubber bands: if you stretch them too far, they break; if you don’t stretch them enough, they don’t actually perform the task they are designed to do.  She then gives great examples of stretching, empowering, and equipping leadership.

One thing she noted was about growing other leaders.  She mentioned that 3 things are vital for reproducing leaders on your staff.  You need to give them: Challenges, Responsibilities, and a Relationship.  So, it’s not enough to just challenge them if they have no actual authority.  And, you aren’t doing them any good if you don’t have a relationship where you can pour into them and encourage them.

I have been blessed to have some great staff at Connection Church.  Currently, I have a great worship leader, Dustin, and children’s coordinator AnnaKate.  Dustin is a rock star and AnnaKate is going to be amazing in ministry for a long time.  I feel really blessed to work with them and to take them with me to Suwanee.  I look forward to the new staff I will have there as well with Leah, Candy, Deborah, Don, and others.

My prayer as a pastor is that I will lead with integrity, humility, and a Christ-like attitude.  For my staff and volunteers, I want them to be the best “rubber bands” they can be.  So, with challenges, responsibilities, and a relationship, I pray that I will “stretch” them appropriately to help them live out the calling God has placed in their lives.  The truth is, I have had leaders that have stretched me with challenges, responsibilities, and relationships.  I wouldn’t be who I am without that.  Would you?

Ok,so yesterday I blogged about reading a few books on my vacation. I wanted to write about them the next two days. The first book I read was Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley. I’ve read several of his books (I still think Communicating for a Change is Teheran best book on preaching I have ever read, should be required in seminary), and I have heard a lot about this book. It was a last minute get when I realized the library had a copy. So glad that they did.

Basically, the Andy makes the point that every path is designed to lead somewhere. Whatever path you are on will lead you where it was designed to go. It kind of reminded me when I started driving down to Atlanta. Dad always told me to take the signs for Greenville on the way home, that way I’d always be on I-85 North and I could get home.

So, tangent over, back to the book. As I get ready to start at a new church with a very different setting and integrating my folks from Connection Church, the idea of the path really hit me. Not so much with the church. I don’t know the path that Suwanee First is on yet. I don’t know their story yet. However, what hit me is what path I am on I my life. What paths do I choose? Do I choose a path of study that brings me closer to God and strengthens my walk with Christ, or am I choosing paths that chip away at my integrity?

The truth is, I am about to be the pastor to two churches coming together. They need and deserve a pastor that is faithful to God’s calling and dedicated to walking in a way that honors Him. So, I am really looking at my path and praying that God will keep me on the straight path to true life and leadership. Probably more on that to come…

Ok, so if you follow me on twitter (@scwalters), you know I was on vacation last week.  After three consecutive blog posts the week before, I was off to the beach.  Man, I needed that week.  It was the longest vacation Rebekah and I have taken since we got back from our honeymoon 7 years ago (BTW, it was our anniversary last week which was the motivation for the vacation).  We spent Monday-Thursday sitting on the beach just reading books and watching (more coming this week on the books I read).  We went on some nature walks Wednesday and spent Friday-Sunday seeing some of her family.  Yesterday, I helped my Pop with his deck expansion project and we had dinner with my folks.  Good vacation.

Well, it was a little tricky getting back to it today.  I haven’t set an alarm since May 22.  It was very annoying to hear that this morning.  I haven’t had to get up, get ready, and head off that quickly in a week.  My list of tasks today is pretty large, and the email in my inbox was overflowing!  So, today has been an adjustment.

However, I realized something today.  I really love what I do.  Most of you know that Connection Church will be closing to join with Suwanee First UMC in late June.  I have tons of meetings to set-up and a ton of logistical stuff to do.  I have Sunday’s message to write and a new July series to think of (the one I had planned for Connection probably won’t work with the move).  But, all of this work is about spreading the good news of Jesus Christ and helping people realize the joy of a life and relationship with Him.  So, I love getting to do that.  The truth is, its a lot easier to come back from a vacation when you are coming back to something you love.  Now, if my job was to pick the lint from between people’s toes, my feelings might be different…

Ok, so I have done two blogs on my Catalyst experience.  For those that follow me (and God bless you), you know that I have been less than regular with my blogs.  There are more about Catalyst coming, but there will be a break for a few days.  So, don’t worry.

Anyway, you can read the last two blogs here and here.  Another thing that struck me was the importance of unity in the body of Christ.  One of the speakers at the conference was a man names Dr. John M Perkins.  I had never heard of him, but I think he is my new hero.  He is an African-American pastor who had to flee Mississippi as a teenager when his brother was killed.  After returning to Mississippi, following God’s call, he was arrested several times for trying to bring equal rights to African-Americans.  The thing that struck me was his desire for a unified body of Christ.

See, Jesus calls us to One Body.  I don’t think Jesus intended for “all nations” mentioned in Matthew 28 to be separated by color or culture.  I think he wanted all nations to worship together.  After all, didn’t something similar happen in Acts 2?  Anyway, Dr. Perkins made it clear that white churches, black churches, etc should worship God as one.  It is sad to me that Sunday at 11 am is still the most segregated hour in America.  Why do we have the same Lord, but not worship together?

Now, I know that some will say style or familiarity or community.  However, at Connection Church, race doesn’t seem to matter.  I have seen churches that are truly multi-racial do really amazing things.  I hate to think that Dr. Perkins has spent his life fighting to make us one body only for us to keep separating it.

I guess the truth in all of this is, are we one body?  I pray that we are and that we can come to a place where we can worship God as one.  The rapture might come at some point tonight (it is May 21), but before that, let’s come together.

Ok, so yesterday I mentioned going to Catalyst Dallas.  It was something I really wanted to attend a few months ago because I love leadership conferences and I have always wanted to go to Texas.  Anyway, after I registered, I found out that my ministry setting will be changing.  My faithful readers know that I started a church three years ago, Connection Church in Suwanee, GA.  In June, we will be closing to unite with Suwanee First UMC.  While I am a little nervous, it is very exciting to think what we will be able to do with the people at Suwanee First.

However, the nervous part is still there.  This conference really helped me with that.  Andy Stanley spoke first, and he spoke about three phases of courage: The courage to stay when everything else says leave, the courage to leave when everything else says stay, and the courage to ask for help when its easier to pretend that everything is ok.  The first thing really stuck with me.  For the last few months, we have been looking at a way to continue our ministry in Suwanee.  The idea of uniting with Suwanee First is exciting because it allows us to do that (and we don’t have to set-up a stage every week!).  However, it takes courage to do this.  For the people at Connection, they will have to make adjustments.  For the people at Suwanee First, they will have to make adjustments.  Obviously, I’ll make adjustments.  However, the people of both churches have decided to stay and do God’s work.  There is an excitement about his that is inspiring.

So, the truth is that my current and future church is modeling courage to me.  They are staying to do the work of God, and I cannot wait to get going on this with them.  Now, we have 5 Sundays left at the Middle School.  We are going to give God our best there before we head to Suwanee First.  That is what courage is all about.

Ok, so, I went to Catalyst Dallas last week in Dallas, TX. Growing up in Georgia, I have always wanted to visit a place that has mottos like, “Don’t Mess With Texas” and “Everything is Bigger in Texas!” I also have a great woman at my church from Texas. Because she will pull for UGA, I have found myself pulling for UT (Texas, never Tennessee!). Anyway, my experience there was pretty amazing.

I want to spend a few blogs talking about what happened there. One thing I noticed there was that things really are bigger. Everywhere I looked, I saw really big churches. The conference was held in a church that seated about 3,500 people. That’s big to me. However, right down the street was a church that made this one look a little small. I want to know what the churches in Dallas do to help grow!

Anyway, the thing that came to me last week was the impact that body of Christ can have when it takes courage (theme of the conference) and seeks to be a catalyst of change. God spoke a lot to me during the two days I was there. The first thing that hit me was, “Am I willing to be a catalyst?” The reality I notice is that many pastors, myself included, get into a mode of saying, if only I had this or that or more money, or a bigger building, or more people, or whatever, then we could really do effective ministry. The truth is that we have to decide to we want to be a catalyst for God. He can do whatever He wants with whatever He wants. He can use my little church, my little talent, my little resources, as long as I am willing to be used for His kingdom. So, yes, I want to be a catalyst. Come back later for more ways in which this truth was spoken to me last week!

Ok, so here is part 2 of a multi-part blog where I talk about my recent trip to Kenya through the 410Bridge organization.  The topic I want to address today is the notion of joy.  When we returned home, it hit me that we are in the midst of the Christmas season.  This was a little weird since I wasn’t around for Thanksgiving.  Anyway, I have heard Christmas described as a season of joy and often see stars and other items with the word “joy” on them as decoration during Christmas.

However, I don’t really notice a ton of joy at Christmas.  In fact, I notice a lot of anxiety from people trying to buy joy for them or their family.  What I have learned is that a lot of times we mix up joy for happiness.  We think if we purchase or possess enough, we’ll be happy and this will lead to joy.  Parents fight with each other in stores to get happiness for their kids.  Kids complain because their parents didn’t purchase enough happiness.  How many people will overspend and not be happy when the bills roll in during January?

No, we don’t seek joy.  Joy is contentment in what we have and joy is being thankful for the sacrifice that Christ has made for us.  When we lose our ability to be content, we lose our ability to find joy.  In Kenya, I met so many people who had nothing compared to our standards.  No HDTVs.  No high-speed anything.  No, gulp, Apple products.  However, they had joy.  They had family and friends that would care for them.  They had a community that was recognizing and responding to needs.  Most of all, they had a Savior who died for them.  They had joy.  It was inspiring, and I pray that in this Christmas Season, we can find joy in America.

Hey, join us this Sunday at Connection Church in Suwanee, GA as we start a new series called Advent Conspiracy.  We are going to see what Christmas was meant to be and what it has become.  Maybe, we can see how to find joy.

Ok, so I haven’t posted since my 30^th birthday.  I had intended for that to springboard me back into blogging.  The truth is I enjoy it.  Well, that obviously didn’t happen.

Well, I recently returned from a 10 day trip to Kenya.  My smokin’ hot wife, and our friends Andrew and Kristen were on the trip as well.  Some amazing things happened on this trip.  It has really changed my perspective on things.  I am going to do several posts over the next few weeks talking about somethings I learned from this trip.  In the meantime, here is a picture of our team and the leadership from Joska, the community where we worked.  So, just be ready, post some comments, and check out 410Bridge’s website for more information!

This is our team and the Joska leadership at the Komarock Shrine

Ok, so I haven’t blogged in while.  My good friend Melanie reminded me of this last week.  I have been trying to think of a good post to get me “back in the game.”  The truth is I really enjoyed blogging.  I just felt like I had nothing else to say.  Well, I plan to get back into it, so I thought I would kick off by talking about a milestone in my life.

Tomorrow, I turn the big 3-0.  That’s right, I’m no longer in my 20s.  As I hit this milestone and think that about a third of my life is completed (Rebekah told me I had to give her 80 years of marriage, so I’ll be living until at least 103), I think of what I have done.  I graduated UGA (Go Dawgs, who cares about 1 and 3) and Candler School of Theology.  I have been ordained as an Elder in the UMC.  I was married 6 years ago to the most smoking hot woman in the world.  I now have 7 nieces and nephews (8 if I count Gavyn).  I started my favorite church in the world, Connection Church in Suwanee, GA. In June, I ran a triathlon, and in 4 weeks I am doing a half-marathon with my smoking hot wife.  I have also been blessed to meet some great friends and work with some amazing people (even if they move to McDonough or Auburn).

I don’t say this to brag about anything I have done.  The truth is, as I get ready for my birthday I think of what God hasn’t done in my life yet.  I recently heard that “before God can do something great with you, He has to do something great in you.”  BTW, thanks Perry.  I look forward to the next 30 years and seeing what God will do with that.  I just pray that I am faithful enough to respond how He wants and to see some amazing things happen in His name.

Ok, so yesterday I saw an service van for a locksmith company.  The slogan they had on the side of the van said, “Old World Integrity, New World Technology.”  That was an interesting slogan and one that stayed with me all day.  I was thinking about how the world of being a locksmith must have changed over the years.  The locks we use are better today.  The ability to replace them has probably gotten faster and easier.  I would imagine getting locked out of your house isn’t as big of a deal as it once was.  Hey, I remember about 10 years ago driving to three different locksmiths before I found one that could make an extra car key for me.  I could have probably walked over to that van yesterday and they could have done it then and there.  So, they want people to know they have taken advantage of technology.

However, they want people to know they haven’t abandoned integrity.  When you hire a locksmith for something, you are placing trust in them.  Trust in a good product.  Trust in a completed project.  Trust that they aren’t setting you up for fraud or making extra keys to later steal from you.  You want to know that they have a history of integrity and are committed to maintaining that integrity.

Then, I started thinking about Connection Church.  When we started, I wanted to take advantage of new world technology: sound system, video displays, technology with the kids area, etc.  We wanted to present the best experience possible on a Sunday morning.  We want people to feel comfortable and think that what we do at Connection is relevant.  However, I want people to know that we are presenting a very old and time-tested truth: Jesus is Lord.  I want to be faithful to this 2000 year old message, and honor the people that have been before me.  So, while we seek to be relevant and “cutting-edge,” I still want the old message of Christ to come through.  After all, people are trusting us with their souls, a little more important than a spare key!

I thought this was fitting because on Sunday, our message is called Remembrance where we will examine the Lord’s Supper and celebrate communion together.  We’ll have video, new music, and a different way of doing things.  However, it will be the same meal that has been celebrated for centuries.  So, hopefully we’ll enjoy some old world integrity with some new world technology!