Yesterday was my last day at work for a whole week thanks to Spring Break. It was also Field Day which led to me getting my first sunburn of the year. So, here I sit, a funny shade of red with an entire week free from work coming up.I plan on doing nothing except working on my Easter sermon, getting a few things done for the church, and catching the Brand New concert on Thursday.
I've been going for almost a month now without a real day off. Between Church, weddings, and teaching I've been feeling really drained. I know it's not healthy, but I just kinda found myself stuck this way and the only thing to do is get through it.
I have a meeting this morning and then I have to touch up my message until this afternoon when I have a couple of weddings to perform. I'm just looking forward to six o'clock when I'll be back home and can just forget about everything except church for a little while.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Girly Men in the Pulpit
I read an article not to long ago about how most pastors come off femine and just plain girly to most unchurched men. I can see where they are coming from. I went to a Bible college and the ratio of girly guys to manly men was pretty extreme. I remember talking with guys who would say things like, "Not to sound gay or anything, but I just am so moved in my spirit whenever I watch the sunset."
In order to combat this trend I've made a rule that the pastoral staff at The Venue is not allowed to be girly, with the exception of Bekah for obvious reasons (Jason cries a bit more than I think is healthy, but he builds things out of wood with power tools so it all evens out). We've had to put some barriers in place to make this work but it's for the greater good.
Here are some things that the men of our staff are not allowed to publicly confess to enjoying:
1. Kittens
2. Rainbows
3. Unicorns
4. Bubble baths
5. A good cry
6. VW Jettas
7. Romantic movies
8. Cuddling
9. Madonna (Sorry Kenny)
10. Facials
11. Kenny G
12. Tulips
13. Herbal Tea
14. Talking about their feelings
15. Hugging
16. Tom Cruise
17. Oprah
18. Manicures (Even if it does have "man" in the name)
19. Ponies
20. Making out with other men.
In order to combat this trend I've made a rule that the pastoral staff at The Venue is not allowed to be girly, with the exception of Bekah for obvious reasons (Jason cries a bit more than I think is healthy, but he builds things out of wood with power tools so it all evens out). We've had to put some barriers in place to make this work but it's for the greater good.
Here are some things that the men of our staff are not allowed to publicly confess to enjoying:
1. Kittens
2. Rainbows
3. Unicorns
4. Bubble baths
5. A good cry
6. VW Jettas
7. Romantic movies
8. Cuddling
9. Madonna (Sorry Kenny)
10. Facials
11. Kenny G
12. Tulips
13. Herbal Tea
14. Talking about their feelings
15. Hugging
16. Tom Cruise
17. Oprah
18. Manicures (Even if it does have "man" in the name)
19. Ponies
20. Making out with other men.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Interviews
I got up at 4:45 this morning so I could be at my interview at 6:30 and I'm felling a bit tired right now which isn't a good thing because I have a sermon to work on. Whenever I try to write sermons without any sleep they always end up sounding a little funny come Sunday.
I think the interview went well. My potential employer seemed nice and there wasn't any of those questions that no one ever has a good answer for like, "Have you ever been arrested?" I think I might have a new job sometime next month, we'll just have to wait and see.
This interview went a lot better than an interview I had about a year ago. It went something like this:
Potential Boss: Come in Mister Bell and have a seat.
Me: Hi. Thanks for taking the time to have an interview with me.
Potential Boss: Not a problem, you look like you'd fit in good here but I just need to ask you a few questions.
Me: Sounds good.
Potential Boss: Mr. Bell has anyone ever told you that you have an incredible smile?
Me: Uh, a few people I guess...thanks.
Potential Boss: It looks like you work out. What do you lift?
Me: Um, could we maybe just go over my resume?
Potential Boss: I can think of some better ways to spend our time together.
Me: Please tell me you want to go over the dental plan.
Potential Boss: Take me in your strong arms now!
Me: Never! I'm a married man, you can keep your intern position Dr. Phil!
I'm glad I held out for something better. Oh, and by the way, half of our chairs came in today. The look pretty good, can't wait to fill them.
I think the interview went well. My potential employer seemed nice and there wasn't any of those questions that no one ever has a good answer for like, "Have you ever been arrested?" I think I might have a new job sometime next month, we'll just have to wait and see.
This interview went a lot better than an interview I had about a year ago. It went something like this:
Potential Boss: Come in Mister Bell and have a seat.
Me: Hi. Thanks for taking the time to have an interview with me.
Potential Boss: Not a problem, you look like you'd fit in good here but I just need to ask you a few questions.
Me: Sounds good.
Potential Boss: Mr. Bell has anyone ever told you that you have an incredible smile?
Me: Uh, a few people I guess...thanks.
Potential Boss: It looks like you work out. What do you lift?
Me: Um, could we maybe just go over my resume?
Potential Boss: I can think of some better ways to spend our time together.
Me: Please tell me you want to go over the dental plan.
Potential Boss: Take me in your strong arms now!
Me: Never! I'm a married man, you can keep your intern position Dr. Phil!
I'm glad I held out for something better. Oh, and by the way, half of our chairs came in today. The look pretty good, can't wait to fill them.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Tomorrow
Tomorrow I get up at the crack of dark to go to a job interview before work.
Tomorrow I should have the chairs for the church.
Tomorrow they start pouring the slab for my house. I found out today it should be done about the last week of July (The house not the slab).
Tomorrow I get paid.
Tomorrow is one day closer to my son being born.
Tomorrow might be the best Wednesday I've had in quite awhile.
Tomorrow I should have the chairs for the church.
Tomorrow they start pouring the slab for my house. I found out today it should be done about the last week of July (The house not the slab).
Tomorrow I get paid.
Tomorrow is one day closer to my son being born.
Tomorrow might be the best Wednesday I've had in quite awhile.
Monday, March 26, 2007
What Staff Meeting Should Look Like
Our staff video is now on Youtube. Check it out to see what Las Vegas church planting looks like . STAFF VID
Christian Bookstores
I do not like Christian bookstores, once in a great while there will be an item that I need right away and can't wait to have mailed to me and I'll be forced to enter into one of these dens of iniquity. I always come away feeling depressed.
Maybe there are some out there that are different (The Archives in Pasadena, CA are good folks in my book) but these are some of the reasons that make me feel the way I do:
The Books - Unless your genre of choice is leadership or Christian Living the selection is about as limited as your options at the dry cleaners. Expect to see large amounts of books that have a smiling dork on the cover and are basically his last major sermon series that he's selling to you for $19.99. As for Bibles, the same Bible you can find at Wal-mart miraculously becomes twice as expensive when placed within the sacred halls of these places.
The Music - I heard an interview with Bono from U2 where he said the reason why he never cared for Christian music is that it always came off like the artists were playing it safe and were afraid to talk about things that they were really feeling. I understand what he was saying, I think that Christian music has came a long way in the last ten years but in general most of it comes off musically sub-par in my ears. This leads me to wonder why I am asked to pay $22.99 for it at a Christian Bookstore, when at Best Buy Cds cost $14.99
The T-shirts - These things are just bad. If you own one I'm sorry. I once owned them too, it's never too late to get help.
The Jesus Junk - I was just saying how I needed pot holders with Bible verses on them, or maybe breath mints with crosses on them, or maybe toilet paper with fishes on every sheet.
What it basically comes down to is that these places charge me more because they have to in order stay open because not enough people shop at them. We are expected not to care about paying more because we are Christians supporting Christians. You don't come off very Christian to me though if you charge 20% more for everything you try to sell me. If you can't afford to keep the doors open while being normally priced then maybe you aren't called to run a business.
Anyway I'm off to buy more John the Baptist bug spray.
Maybe there are some out there that are different (The Archives in Pasadena, CA are good folks in my book) but these are some of the reasons that make me feel the way I do:
The Books - Unless your genre of choice is leadership or Christian Living the selection is about as limited as your options at the dry cleaners. Expect to see large amounts of books that have a smiling dork on the cover and are basically his last major sermon series that he's selling to you for $19.99. As for Bibles, the same Bible you can find at Wal-mart miraculously becomes twice as expensive when placed within the sacred halls of these places.
The Music - I heard an interview with Bono from U2 where he said the reason why he never cared for Christian music is that it always came off like the artists were playing it safe and were afraid to talk about things that they were really feeling. I understand what he was saying, I think that Christian music has came a long way in the last ten years but in general most of it comes off musically sub-par in my ears. This leads me to wonder why I am asked to pay $22.99 for it at a Christian Bookstore, when at Best Buy Cds cost $14.99
The T-shirts - These things are just bad. If you own one I'm sorry. I once owned them too, it's never too late to get help.
The Jesus Junk - I was just saying how I needed pot holders with Bible verses on them, or maybe breath mints with crosses on them, or maybe toilet paper with fishes on every sheet.
What it basically comes down to is that these places charge me more because they have to in order stay open because not enough people shop at them. We are expected not to care about paying more because we are Christians supporting Christians. You don't come off very Christian to me though if you charge 20% more for everything you try to sell me. If you can't afford to keep the doors open while being normally priced then maybe you aren't called to run a business.
Anyway I'm off to buy more John the Baptist bug spray.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
I Think We Can Do This Sunday Thing
Today was our second service in the elementary school and I think things are going well.
The mailers got to some people a bit earlier than we expected so we had some new people this week as well as some phone calls and website hits checking us out.
Worship was rough today, but nobody seemed to mind. We've had so many awesome weeks from the band they're allowed to have a off day every once and awhile.
Bekah's sermon was really good, she's going to be great to have for the weeks I don't preach.
Set up and tear down hasn't been that bad, summer is coming though.
We are still waiting on our chairs and projection screen, but we borrowed and jury rigged some things and all went well.
So far so good. Now all I have to do is get my Easter sermon series ready and we can do it all again next week.
The mailers got to some people a bit earlier than we expected so we had some new people this week as well as some phone calls and website hits checking us out.
Worship was rough today, but nobody seemed to mind. We've had so many awesome weeks from the band they're allowed to have a off day every once and awhile.
Bekah's sermon was really good, she's going to be great to have for the weeks I don't preach.
Set up and tear down hasn't been that bad, summer is coming though.
We are still waiting on our chairs and projection screen, but we borrowed and jury rigged some things and all went well.
So far so good. Now all I have to do is get my Easter sermon series ready and we can do it all again next week.
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