Don't Miss Sunday!

I can't wait for Sunday!

We're going out on a limb: first we're going to teach/preach on baptism and then we're actually going to DO BAPTISMS! I know...CRAZY!

And still - it's the way it's always done in scripture. Believe, accept Jesus as LORD of your life, then make a public proclamation about it. That was a HUGE step and sacrifice for people in Jesus' time...not so much for us today, sadly.

If you know someone who needs to meet Jesus, and we ALL do, invite them this Sunday to hear about His grace and His way of life. Don't try to win them over if they won't listen yet...just plant the seed with the invite and let's see what God does.

Like I said in the previous post, God won't let me forget this idea. So we're gonna go with HIS plan and see what happens.

Hope to see you and your unsaved friends there at 9 or 11.

Out On A Limb!

We're going to start this new year off with a teaching series called "Signs of Life" which will include baptism, communion, service and membership.

This coming Sunday, 1/3, I am preaching/teaching on what Jesus says about baptism. (We just baptized 4 in December which was awesome!)

But here's the deal. We still have people who know they need to be baptized and haven't taken the plunge (no pun intended). So here's what I want to do this Sunday -
So here's where the limb comes in: I'm gonna have Vern fill the tank for this Sunday (both services) and invite folks to make their public proclamation as to who is LORD of their lives. (We'll have some extra shorts and tops and towels - all you need to do is bring an obedient heart.)

Jesus commanded that if we believe in Him then we must be baptized (Mark 16:16). And if you look at the times in scripture where folks made their profession they WENT AND WERE BAPTIZED. They didn't wait around for a class or seminar. They BOLDLY stepped into the waters to express their obedience to Christ. It is this outward expression of our inward faith that makes a loud, confident statement to a watching world that we are not ashamed of who is leading our lives.

SO...if you're one of those folks who just hasn't made this step yet, we'd love to walk you through it. We'll walk folks through it to make sure they know just what they're doing, so don't worry about that. I will be asking our Elders and other leaders to step up and talk with folks as they come forward to take this step.

I have NO IDEA what to expect from this. I have tried and tried to ignore this, but the more I study and pray about this message, I feel like God is saying, "Do this."

So, I'd rather do what He says than ignore Him.

See ya Sunday...

Update To Earlier Blog

I posted a video blog here a couple of weeks ago regarding the need to feed people in our part of the valley. Since then, we have received some additional food that has allowed us to help folks out. BUT WE STILL NEED MORE!
I even had someone chime in and issue a challenge of their own, saying that they would give their tithe AND tithe (10%) part of their grocery bill. They then issued that challenge to anyone reading about this. WOW!

Yes, there is a REAL NEED to help people all year long, not just now. If you are in a position to do something, then PRAY about it and LISTEN to God.

Again, you do what GOD TELLS YOU TO DO! Don't be pressured by someone else, including me.

Then do what HE tells you to do.

I would much rather have you be obedient to HIM than to man. (There's something about that in a book I read a lot!!!)

How else do you think we can feed AND help the hungry in our community? Drop me a note here or at karl@fbcpoky.com.

ALSO - this Sunday, December 13, we are BAPTIZING 4 new believers!!! All will be at the 2ND service, so come early to get a spot to celebrate with everyone. Snow or no snow, there's gonna be a party in heaven - and at FBC Pocatello!

See ya in church...

"Heisman" Leading

We will soon learn who the next Heisman trophy winner will be. This is THE coveted prize of players on every college team in the country, carrying with it hopes of making it in the NFL.

What has caught my attention about this trophy recently is the pose. It is one of a player with the ball under one arm and the other arm straight out in front, in preparation of a stiff arm to an on-coming player. The idea of the stiff arm is to push the defensive player out of the path of the offensive player in hopes of gaining extra yardage on the field. A tactic that works well when executed properly.

Have you ever noticed that we, as leaders, sometimes lead from the Heisman position? We say we're leading, but we're pushing people out of the way in hopes of gaining some extra ground somewhere. The problem is that we leave people in our wake bruised, reeling and confused.

We don't do it on purpose, but we do it nonetheless:
* We get 'protective' of our areas of leadership and sometimes frustrated when we get challenged on something.
* We push too hard in one direction sometimes, not knowing or even caring what impact it might have on others. We know it's the 'right thing to do' and so we do it - not realizing that people are being hurt in our 'pursuit' of that right thing.
* My favorite word is head-strong. Mom calls it stubborn. She's right. We don't realize that we need to hear a different perspective at times.
* For us in ministry, this is hard to swallow, but we sometimes will 'hide' behind what we are certain is a God-directed move. We don't seek good counsel, we don't have people we can bounce it off of, and we end up missing what God really intended because of our pride. I'm not saying this happens all the time, but we need to stop and look at our motives.

When God gives direction, I've found that people will be 'on the same page' to some degree when I present a thought or an idea. When it takes a ton of convincing, I have to step back and ask, "Am I leading from a self promoting position or a serve the King position?" What is my posture of leading in that moment?

As a leader, surround yourself with people who won't be afraid to tell you when you're leading from the Heisman position. Invite people that you trust to point out the times when you do it, and then seek suggestions on how NOT to continue to do it. It's never comfortable. But I've found it's ALWAYS beneficial for being the leader that I've been called to be.

See ya in church...

Christmas Season Hopes...

I told someone a couple of weeks ago that I wasn't remotely ready for Thanksgiving, let alone Christmas. And yet...here we are! I guess there's no sense in whining about it now, is there?

So here's what I'm hoping for during this Christmas season for us as a church:

1. That people would connect with the message series, focusing on the gifts of the Magi and what they mean for us today.
2. That people who don't know Christ would come to call Him King!
3. That we would have at least one Sunday where we celebrate baptism in December!
4. That our hearts, as a whole, would be broken for those who are worse off than we are, no matter our situation. If God is for us, NO ONE can stand against us, right?
5. That we would fully understand that He came to serve, not be served. And that we would realize we are here for the same purpose - to serve others!
6. I pray that we can let the Spirit work in our hearts during this season and direct our energy, attention and passion toward the things that move the Kingdom of God forward.

I look forward to seeing how God uses the artists', the technicians, the teachers, the greeters, the leaders in various positions to grow the Kingdom for His purpose and His glory in our little corner of the state.

See ya in church...and if you need a place to plug in and serve, drop me a note and I'll get you connected with the right folks!

Can't get this out of my head!!

Blessed To Be A Blessing from Karl Pettit on Vimeo.

Give Your Gift!

God gives us gifts to be used for His glory, to draw attention NOT to us as artists', but for us to point others to Him. When we use our gifts to honor Him it is a beautiful thing - a beautiful offering. What we feel on the inside is often times indescribable. When I'm in that place there is a genuine sense of knowing that I am doing and being who God created me to be! Humbling.

Where can artists' share their gift if they don't have a regular place to share it? How about giving it away as a gift to others this Christmas?

We get so caught up in trying to find the right gift for someone and get sucked into the materialistic side of the universe. "Has to be this...has to be that...I have to spend this much or it won't be..."

Create something from your heart to give to someone and include a verse that spoke to your heart as you were working on it. If you sculpt, create a piece and use Ephesians 2:10 which speaks about being His workmanship (masterpiece). If you write, create a piece that reflects the heart of what you were saying in your piece. If you write/craft music, pick a Psalm that references the idea of singing a new song to the Lord.

Whatever you do, find a way to share your gift with others AND share with them that you understand where and who your gift comes from. Let's not, as artists', get caught up in the worldly view of artistry and allow our ego to be fed lies about how great we can become through our gifts. Instead, going against the world, let's give our gift away!

Have a blessed and merry Christmas!

A Growing Opportunity

Recently I heard a story about an issue that is growing at an alarming rate in our country. At first I wondered if and how it would impact us here in Pocatello, of all places. We are not a huge city, nor are we a small town. We're rather average and have less than average issues as a city. Or so some of our leaders think.

We have the same problems and challenges that most cities across the country have - gang issues, homelessness, crime (which is relatively low), abuse, etc.

The one that is catching my eye and my heart at an alarming rate now, as confirmed by this news story, is hunger. We have people in our own town, in our own CHURCH, who are lucky to get one meal a day, let alone more than one a week. Nationally, there has been an increase in people visiting food banks, shelters, etc. because of job loss, health issues and addictions.

Here's my question: if we've been blessed - and we have - why would we allow this in our own town, let alone our own country? How can we sit down to eat a meal and not be even the least bit concerned about the family sleeping in their car, going without food? YES, this is happening in Pocatello and every other city in the country. So what are we going to do about it?

For those of us who live here in Poky, let me throw out a challenge to you. I know many folks have lost jobs or have had hours cut, so take this challenge ONLY IF YOU ARE ABLE.
EVERY week you go to the store to buy groceries, pick up ONE CASE of some canned food item- tuna, soup, chili, Dinty Moore stew, etc. - and donate that to the Idaho Food bank, to the food pantry at here at FBC, or to some other agency that you know helps people out in our town. This is not just a seasonal thing to do. This is where people live EVERYDAY, right now! They need our help.

As Christ followers, we're called to be a blessing, to show God's love to anyone who has need. I think this qualifies, don't you? Let's make a difference in the community by being obedient to what God has called us to do!

Got to go now...heading to the store to grab some groceries - and a case of food.

See ya in church...

Leading...a Lonely But Worthy Task

Someone once asked me why I wouldn't let them 'get closer' as a friend, why I would only allow people to get so close to me and then I would back away. It's a tricky spot, and one that I've chosen to be in because of my make up and leadership style.

My comment to them was simple - "One day, I'm going to have to be your pastor and not your friend and you're not going to like it. This is who God has called me to be and how He has shaped me to serve in this body." That didn't settle well, unfortunately for them. We're still friends. But only as far as I feel it's safe to be. I take what I do as a pastor very seriously because I believe it is a very serious calling.

Does that mean that I don't have any close friends? No. They just may not be a part of this church family, but I have them. I've watched too many leaders fall because they allowed people they work with to get too close. When the time came to be the leader, it caused more conflict than was necessary. There has to be some boundaries that, as a leader, we can't compromise on. There are many people in the ministry who don't buy into this logic, and that's okay. They're entitled to their opinion and I respect that. This works for me and it's how I roll.

As we lead in today's church, we need to pay attention to who we allow to be 'close' in our lives. We have to keep an eye toward the future, knowing that someday we'll have to be a pastor to this same person who wants to be our friend. We had a similar situation here not too long ago where someone wanted to see their friend, NOT their pastor. Sorry...can't separate the two.

It may sound lonely, and at times it is. But I do this for the one who called me and for no one else. I love what I do - most of the time - and thank God that He has me where I am today for what He wants me to do.

Lead out of the things you love with the gifts He has given You - and enjoy the ride!

See ya in church...

"Aunt Bea" Has Gone Home

For those of you connected to FBC, Pocatello, we have lost a long time member, Bernice Feldsted. She passed away Sunday at the age of 96.

Just met with the family today for service planning and have some info to pass on to you.

We will have a service THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5th at 11 a.m. here at First Baptist. There will be a time of greeting friends at 10 a.m. There will be a graveside service as well and that information will be available at the service.

We are also providing a meal for the family following the graveside service, at roughly 1 p.m. If you would like to provide something for that or you would like to serve, please contact Stacy at the church office as soon as possible, 232-6305.

Please continue to keep the family in your prayers. Loss is never easy, no matter who has gone. But we can take comfort in knowing that our strength and our comfort comes from the One who knows our pain in a very intimate way.

See ya soon...

Fever-Boy Speaks!

I cannot be held responsible for the somberness, the apparent sense of "I don't care" attitude, or any other resemblance of NOT me. I am still fighting fevers daily which has impacted my thought processing and reasoning. In fact, the only reason I put it to video is so I could remember!
Listen to my heart...(cue s0ng)

Being Real

I could use your prayers.
NO, I'm not going anywhere...I'm not having marital problems or kid problems...I'm not in trouble with the law...

And NO, I'm not writing this to get pats on the back or be told how I'm doing...so please don't!

I just feel like I'm hitting my head against a wall in the church and in my ministry. There has been this sense that something is just about to break - it's coming - it's almost here...and still we're waiting. I feel like some of us are expecting God to do the next big thing, and there are many others standing/sitting on the sidelines just watching to see what happens. There's a BIG difference.
When you expect something, you look for it. When you watch to see what happens, you're usually waiting for the crash! (Anyone ever watch NASCAR?)

We sing a song at times in worship titled "Come Expecting Jesus" by Don Moen.

I come expecting Jesus to meet me in this place.
I come expecting to receive His mercy and His grace.
When I eat the bread and drink the wine, it will be a holy moment in time.
I come expecting Jesus to meet me in this place.

Folks, that's my prayer EVERY Sunday as we get ready for worship. I want us all to encounter this Great, Awesome God of ours and let Him change our lives miraculously! I say it and I mean it with all I am that I don't want us to leave the same as we came in. I WANT GOD TO WRECK OUR LIVES IN A GOOD WAY!

But I'm not so sure many of us - in FBC Pocatello and beyond - are really expecting anything. Is it a faith issue? Is it a communication issue? Is it a leadership issue? Is it a heart issue?

It gets very frustrating at times when we hear God telling us to do something and there's this buzz, this excitement at first of people saying YES! But when it comes to crunch time, people let us down. Actually, I believe that people let God down.

So, I'm asking for your prayers - wisdom as I direct my leaders; clear communication from all of the staff and leaders about what's coming; a rising up of people who will say, "I will go, serve and be Christ to this community/school/office/home."
Pray also that I would stand strong against discouragement. That is a tool that Satan likes to use to tell me how much of a failure I am or how much of a disappointment I've been to the church.
I know it's a lie...I just need to be reminded at times.

By the way, I'll be here in Post Falls with some of the staff at the annual Pastor's Retreat and will be posting some key points from the sessions. Should be great and the timing couldn't be better.

Hmmmm...wonder who set that up?

Worship Wars Rage On!

I hope that, at some point in my lifetime, I'll get to see the end of what has become known as the "Worship Wars". This is that battle that has raged on and on and on and on and on...you get the point. Churches fighting over, you guessed it - music.
"It has to be traditional, with an organ...It has to be contemporary, with drums...It has to be ancient...It has to be blended...It has to be (something)" It drives me absolutely NUTS!

Truth be told, it really breaks my heart. Too many churches have split, and will continue to split, over something that should be an awesome, incredible event in our lives. At the root of it all - every time without exception - is selfishness. Every conversation is laden with "I want" comments.
Very seldom does anyone stop to consider what it is that God, the audience to whom our worship is supposed to be for, would want or expect out of our worship.

And the whole time we fight, Satan is having a field day watching the church act just like the world. He wins - God loses. How is that even right? We are supposed to be the change agent for the world, not the other way around. Yes, I am saying that way too many times the world has the influence on the church in a very negative way.
And I'd even say that many of you who are fighting in this battle have allowed the idea of what worship should be for you to become the idol of your worship. You've lost sight of what it's all about and whom! You have a worship style idol! Burn it...cut it up...get rid of it now or it will consume you and it will cost you greatly.

In about a month, I'll be doing a workshop to help churches with their worship transitions, going from one style to a different one and do so effectively for the body as well as their community. You have an opinion on this that I would love to hear. So what do you think our worship should be? What do you think would honor God?

Shoot me a comment here or at my email karl@fbcpoky.com...

Take God Seriously!

I get the privilege of teaching for chapel at one of our Christian schools here in town tomorrow to a group of junior highers. Pray for me!

Seriously, it will be fun to share with them about worship and what it means from God's perspective. They have a theme verse that I think will just help move the conversation in the right direction in Micah 6:8 - "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

In short, live your life as a daily, committed act of worship to your Creator. God's Word is not a secret on what to do, how to live and where to go for advice. It's as simple as black and white.

Lately, I'm getting more and more disgusted with churches that are fighting over music, historical traditions, preferences and the like because these people think it's all about them and what they want. Sorry. Wrong answer. It's all about what God wants and what God desires. When we, the church, get caught up in all that crap, tell me how that helps us to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God. Don't see it.

Whenever we, the church, let stuff get in the way of what He desires for us, we fall short. We put us ahead of Him and that is the same as sinning. Micah said it nicely, but one way to take the last part of verse 8 is this - stop taking yourself so seriously and TAKE GOD SERIOUSLY! He's already made it clear as day how to live, so go do it! Live for the King - make a difference for the Kingdom!

See ya in church...

So, What's Your Idol?

As I was reading in Acts today, I got slammed with something that Stephen called the church on.

In Acts 8:39-42 he references the struggle the Israelites had in Exodus 32 about idols. They had gotten tired of waiting for Moses who had gone up on the mountain to hear from God. In their impatience they wanted idols that they could see so they could worship them. So, they made golden images and worshiped them instead of the living God. We remember how that worked out for them. (Moses came down and 3000 people literally lost their lives.)

The whole point of Stephens message in Acts is to call the 'church' of his day on the carpet. They had forgotten - like their ancestors - how incredibly blessed their lives have been because of God in their lives. They had gotten sloppy (my word) in the way of living as Christ followers. And I believe he was calling out the people in his day who had done the same thing. Just look at their reaction to his challenge - it cost him his life.

It hit me hard - we are in the same boat today! We don't call them idols, but that's exactly what they are and they have taken the place of God in our day to day lives.

Idol - (Websters) an image that is worshiped; something that is blindly adored.

Today's idols are much more subtle. MY toys, MY success, MY money, MY career, MY family (yes, some do worship their families above God). While we may say we don't worship 'it', when God takes the back seat to something, then that something has become what you worship, period.

And I know that people say they can't find God in 'church'. As much as that statement may hurt, it is very true. If people can't see God in the people who claim to worship Him, then why should they waste their time? (I'm not saying that FBC Pocatello sends the wrong message so don't start writing letters just yet.) The BODY OF CHRIST - the people who claim to be Christ followers - we have made that statement utter-able simply because we aren't living like followers beyond Sunday.

Stephen's call to the church in his time applies to the church in our time today even more. What have we allowed to take God's place in our lives? What gets more attention, more devotion, more worship, more love than God? When you name it, that's what you worship. So, what's your idol and can you lay it down at the feet of Jesus and live for Him?

I'll be praying...

In the Quiet - Selah

I've been doing some intense reading and study on worship recently. Looking at the old and new of worship and the different 'ways' that we have classified worship over the course of history.

As I was reading Worship Old and New by Robert Webber, I was reminded of something about our worship that I have allowed to let slip away. It wasn't intentional by any means, but I am guilty of it nonetheless.

It's the selah of worship - the silence of worship. There has been much debate about this word since we could read. Does it mean silence? Does it mean make a loud, joyful noise? Does it mean something else? In the footnotes of the NIV you'll find the statement that the meaning is unknown, possibly a musical term.

I subscribe to the idea that it means to take a moment to be still, to be silent, to reflect.

As I put this in the context of worship, both corporate and private, I see where I've gotten away from allowing the times of silence to be truly silent. I fill my study/quiet time with music. I fill the prayer time in our worship service with a nice pad or guitar background to 'set the mood' for reflection.

And then it hit me - the voices of people in churches, past and present, who have said, "I can't focus when I hear music playing while I'm praying!" (I ask for feedback and then I forget it?!)

It's not the same for everybody, I get that. But, as the lead worshipper, my job in the service is to build in time for people to be able to reflect, confess, surrender and hear from God. I don't have the option of doing anything less!

If you're a lead worshipper in your church, I challenge you to look at your order of service and see where you can build time in, where you can allow folks to be uncomfortable in the presence of a mighty God, so they can get right with Him.

What are your thoughts?

The Core of Worship

Tricky subject - worship.
We get so confused as to what it is, what it should be, how it should be done, what makes it up...
We write books, go to conferences and seminars, listen to others speak on it...

But how often do we go to the source of worship? How often do we go to the Word of God for direction, insight, guidance? I'm a worship leader and I don't feel I do it enough...can't imagine what the 'average' church goer/Christian might feel like.

I've been doing a lot of study of late on this subject, some because of an upcoming workshop I'm teaching on, but mostly because I have a real desire to do worship from the right place, with the right motives and bring as many people along with me as I can. I know I'm not going to be able to meet EVERY need. That would be foolish to think I could.

I want people who worship with us to wrestle with what God has to say about the subject - not what I have to say. I share what God has written and let the words resonate in our heads and in our hearts - then out of that I hope we can worship.

Over the next couple of weeks in our worship time, we're going to reflect on some things about worship that we, the church, have seem to gotten away from lately. Things that should help us get back to the 'core' of our worship. It's not about the music, the preaching or the other elements IN the worship that concern me. It's always been what we bring TO the worship - so we're going to 'unpack' some of this during the Beautiful series.

Hold onto something cause' it's gonna get bumpy!

See ya in church...

Priorities

No one likes them. But we need them - priorities.

We did a brief study last night on the importance of us, as worship 'ministers', to have our own priorities in the proper order, so that we can glorify God with all we have and all we are.

If we call ourselves Christians, then this issue of putting the proper order of who goes where in our lives has to get more attention than it has in the past.

We say we love God - but our lives don't show it, our words don't reflect it, and our commitments don't support it.

We say we have faith in God - but when the chips are down, we don't ask Him for help, we don't trust Him with the unknown, and then we complain that we aren't hearing from God. Actions like this tell Him you don't really care for His opinion unless it's convenient for you.

We say our families are important - but when we don't agree we find reasons to leave them, we toss them out when they aren't doing what we want, and we even disown them because of something they did to us. So much for forgiveness.

I know, these are harsh words. But listen, we are called to relationships and we are called to reconcile when and wherever we have the opportunity. The ONLY way to do this is to have things in proper order in our lives:
1. Relationship with God is rock solid and THE MOST IMPORTANT one in our lives.
2. Relationship with our spouse is grounded in Christ and is the one we treasure most in this world.
3. Relationship with our family - WE DON'T ABANDON THEM! Especially in the tough times, we love, nurture and pray for and with them so we can experience all that God intends for us.

THEN, you start focusing on getting things right with your physical body, your job and your ministry. BUT, NONE of this will work right unless you put these others in place FIRST!

Trust me, I've tried all kinds of variations to this theme. NOT ONE OF THEM WORKED! The ONLY ONE that does is God, spouse, family - at least for me.

What are your thoughts?

Service IS Worship!

Father, use my life to worship You.

Use my mouth to point others to You...to encourage the broken...to comfort the hurting...to bring a smile to a face...may my words worship You in all I do.

Use my hands to help someone up...to fix something that needs repair...to hold a crying child...to fix a special meal or treat for someone just because...may my hands honor You.

Use my feet to take me to the lost and broken...to go sit with someone who needs it...to stand in the gap for whoever needs it...to carry someone who has fallen...may my feet take me to places that You would go and where You would be praised.

Use my resources - gifts, finances, possessions, etc. - to be a blessing to those who need help...to send someone to other parts of the country/world so that You may be taught...to bless the local church I call home, so that ministry can happen when it needs to...to provide shelter for someone who has lost their home...may I realize that all I have is Yours, to be used for Your glory.

Father, may my life worship You in all areas. It doesn't have to be hard to let go, but for some of us it is. Give us strength to trust you, Lord. As the disciples prayed, "Increase our faith." As we serve You, our God, may we worship You in ALL we say, ALL we do, ALL the places we go and with ALL we have. You are worthy!

Let's worship Him!

Sunday Recap

WOW! What a day! I was tired when I finally got home, and all for good reason!

• It was a hard message, because in my head it sounded like I was whining. "We don't have enough people helping....we can't do ministry unless YOU do ministry..." Unfortunately for the church - those are all true statements! God called the CHURCH BODY to be involved in serving God, the body and the un-churched. He didn't call pastors to do ALL the work. That's why we looked so long at the passages from Ephesians 4:1-16 yesterday!
• "As each part does its work..." was a good tie-in to the movie, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. If they each hadn't done what only they could do, Ellie would have been lost along with baby Peaches. (You may have to go see the movie to understand that one!)
• When this church family does 'the parts' that each one of us has to do, it's a beautiful thing! Just look at 4th of July parade, RecoveryFest, Friend Zone, and other events like it.
• We know we have to get better at communicating what we need, so that's what I did yesterday. Including asking people who have the gift of communicating in various forms to step up and get involved!
  
• So far, we have had 30+ people talk to various leaders yesterday to begin serving. COOL! That means that more people will have the opportunity to be blessed by God as they serve Him with their gifts, abilities and skills.
  
• Several people approached me with ideas that God has been calling them to pursue, but they didn't really know how or where. It's AWESOME that we get to help point people to places where they can process and pray about what it is that God has called them to do. Keep your eyes and ears open in the future...there may be some new opportunities coming!
• We had one couple hear God's message yesterday and they both signed up to get plugged in serving Him. Why is that significant? This is only their SECOND WEEK! They found something they were interested in and got connected.
• Someone brought up the question, "What if I serve outside the church during the week, and those people are coming to church? Does that count as service?" Yes, it does. I will challenge those folks to find some place IN THE CHURCH to serve, even if it's once a month for 15 minutes. Service is connected to membership (my words).
• SEVERAL of our Middle School and High School students stepped up to serve, especially in the children's area. COOL!

WHEW! I know that we have not heard from everyone yet that heard the call to step up and serve Him. Can't wait to hear more! I had one of our leaders tell me last week that she could really use 8 new people on her team, that it would give her the depth she needed. After second service, she had 8 CARDS! You can't script this stuff! God is faithful to His people!

Get ready for some incredible stuff this fall. Don't have a clue what it is...just that it is.

See ya in church...
Karl

Worship As a Family

The one point I didn't jump on yesterday was a key point - whenever you can, one of the best ways to teach our kids about life is to spend time as a family in worship together.

Worship is NOT just music. It's the time you spend giving Him your worship and honor, praising Him through prayer, speaking the word, music, confessing and asking for His hand to guide your life. It is focused time and energy given to The King and no one else.

Teach your family to make God a priority EVERY day, to seek Him.

We, as a church, also have the responsibility to teach the body about worship as well as how to lead your families.

There is a great resource coming in September that I want to encourage as many people as possible to take advantage of. "5 Keys to Christian Parenting" will begin September 20th. (Registration begins August 23rd in the Family Room.)

You can check out cost and other information in the August issue of @FBC. You can pick up a copy at the church office.

Just a reminder that the family does have responsibilities. Parents - provide a safe place to fail, teach life lessons and model healthy relationships. Students/Kids - obey your parents, honor them both in front of them and around your friends. NIKE! Extended family - take care of your family, step in where you know you need to so that you can keep them pointed toward God.
Church family - welcome in those who don't have family left. "God places the lonely in families..." (psalm 68:6). Sometimes that family is the body of Christ. What an honor and joy it is to know that God trusts us with those who are in need!

Let's do our part - as individual families and as a church family - to build a legacy of Christ followers for generations to come!

See ya in church...

Lessons from the Chinchilla

If you were here last week you heard me talk about Kia's chinchilla, Sir Patsy Sweetpants. (Hey...I didn't name the rodent!)

Anyway, he gave me a great picture last Saturday night right before I went to bed. He got on his little wheel and just ran. He was partly angry because I wouldn't let him out. I wanted to go to bed so he stayed in his cage.

Running.

In circles. FOREVER!

That's when I got the picture of us going through life without God directing our lives. We think we're getting somewhere...we think we're accomplishing 'life goals'...
But if we're not going in the direction that God designed our lives to go, doing those things that ONLY WE can do, we're on the Chinchilla wheel - just running in circles.

My point last week, and the challenge, was to step out and let God direct every step, every decision we make in life. That may include a career change - yes you may be called to leave your steady job. Do you trust Him? It may require a relationship change - is the relationship you're in honoring to God or have you asked Him about it? If there is anything that may be taking our focus OFF of God and putting it on what we want instead then He is not directing our lives - we are.

Folks, take a chance on God. We have fallen so far into the trappings of this world that God is getting lost. He's not lost, but we sure are. Step out in faith and see what our Great God wants to do for you. "For I know the plans I have for You, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you HOPE AND A FUTURE." Jeremiah 29:11

He is our Living Hope. Do you trust Him?

Yeah...it's scary. But trust me - WOW! what a ride!

Keep listening for the chinchilla...

Family Is...

We all have different views on what family is supposed to be. We all come from different backgrounds and experiences and that helps to shape/form our view of what family should be.

In preparing for the message this week (July 26), I'd like your input on this topic. In 50 words or less, tell me how you would complete this statement - Family is...

Post it here or you can email it to karl@fbcpoky.com

Thanks for contributing...I'll share a snapshot of what we learn when we're done.

See ya in church...

Back, Just Not Talkative!

WOW! I just realized that I've not posted since July 1st. Took a week off - really only a couple of days, but who's counting?

Went to Yellowstone with my bride and saw some of God's most incredible creation. We haven't been there for over 20 years...still amazing.

EXCEPT the @#$%#@ roads. 30 minute delays in parts, rough and gravel in other parts. That is NOT my idea of vacation. At least the company was incredibly hot!

And right now, since I've been back this week, I'm just not real sure what I need to say. I'm in one of those 'spots' where I need to be still and quiet for a time. I really need for God to show me what I need to share. It's tough. I don't like not knowing and I don't dare run ahead of Him and 'do it on my own.' Been there - hated that!

So, I'll post next week (maybe) and see what God wants to share...

Have a great weekend...and take time to appreciate, celebrate and enjoy His creation all around us. Especially here in Idaho ---- WOW!

See ya in church.

Worship and The House Project

We, as a church family, have been doing a major house remodel for a member of our church family who was in a spot. The body - over half of them - stepped up and cleaned, scraped, tore out walls and floors, re-wired, and is getting very close to doing the final painting and flooring stuff before we install bathroom fixtures and other stuff.
IT HAS BEEN AMAZING to be a part of this family in this process!

It turned out, because of what I do and my availability, I've spent a LOT of time as the 'leader' of the project, coordinating dates, supplies, contractors, and the ever loving inspector. It's been fun and interesting at the same time.

What I have really enjoyed is watching this group of people come and share with this family and do so with such amazing hearts. The word excitement rings through every conversation in this house. The level of compassion to get this family back into their home is incredible. The level of worship that is happening in this setting is mind blowing.

People are serving God by loving this family. People are praising God by using their gifts and abilities and skills to minister to someone who was and is in need. In short, they are worshiping God through their actions.

What do my actions look like during the week when I'm not in the office? Does my life, my conduct, my actions reflect an attitude of worship to God? Am I loving the people around me with the level of compassion that Jesus would? Or am I too cool and too busy to even think about them that way?

My prayer is that, especially in this project, people will see me and the love I have for someone in need - a child of God - and NOT an opportunity for Karl to get some notice. (That's why I surround myself with people who will 'pop that bubble' if it even begins to grow!)

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out." Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)

Go rock your world for God - and worship Him the whole time you do!

Days When I Want To Quit...

Let's be honest - we all have days in our work where we just feel like, "Today is my last day. I'm done. I don't want to do this anymore. It's pointless, thankless, tedious, sometimes menial work and I'm just done with it."

Even in the ministry - especially in the ministry - these days pop up. They are not fun days. They are usually spurred by some comment, event or people that just pushed the right buttons. Those are the days that suck big time! And I have them just like the rest of the world.

What's different about working in a church is that you get to hear the other good news that most folks who work outside the church don't hear until much later. Like today...
My buddy and co-worker Vern (and wife Carol) called today to bring me up to date on Carol's brother, Chuck. Last week, to the day, Vern received a call that said Chuck was in bad shape and the doctors only gave him 5-10 days to live. They hurried down last Thursday to be with him and to talk with him about his future. On Friday he prayed to receive Christ and gave his life to Him. WAY COOL! But wait...
I got another call from Vern this afternoon to tell me that Chuck was being sent home - he is getting stronger and the dialysis is working. That, folks, is what you would call a miracle! WOW!

I don't do what I do because I love music. That is just a bonus that God has given me. I do what I do because people matter to God, so they matter to me. Yes, some require more grace than others. But Jesus' command was very clear when He said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind...Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matt 22:37-39)

On the days when I want to quit, I stop to remember the many people that God is using to make a difference in this valley for the Kingdom of God. I remember the people that God has chosen to bless in many different ways. I remember the people that we get to help here with the Food Pantry, Stephens and Samaritans Ministry, and the other service ministries that help meet real needs.

God has each of us where we are for a purpose. If we quit, we will miss out on all the other blessings that He already has in place for us.
Don't hang it up just yet...keep your eyes open to all that God is doing around you and be prepared for some WOW! moments! Meet God in those moments and thank Him for giving you the opportunity to see and hear it.

Sure changes the focus of the day!

Worship Thought

Every once in a while God just reminds me of the basic, simple stuff of life.
Yes, a lot of the time life here is complicated and it seems like we just can't handle one more thing to be piled up on us. My good friend and co-worker, Vern, is going through one of those seasons with his wife, Carol, right now. I won't go into all the details, but it just seems that they have had more than their fair share of struggles, battles, issues, etc. I had the honor of praying with and encouraging him before they left this week for another situation in their lives.

Sometimes it never seems to be enough to say that God is in control, that God knows what is best for us and our loved ones in times like these. We want to know that all is going to be okay. The hard part about that is we are looking for what we want instead of what God wants. That's a hard concept to grasp - His will over mine - especially in times of life and death situations.

As I study His Word, I find it interesting and encouraging that whenever one of God's people was in a situation (King David, Abraham, Moses, Peter, Paul, etc.), they worshipped. I don't just mean they went out and sang a song - that is a PART of worship, not all of it. They went to God and prayed, sang, cried out to Him - they worshipped the One who was in control. Then they talked to God about the stuff they were dealing with and needing guidance in. It's interesting how worry never really played a part!

Worship or worry - the choice is ours every day and in every situation. When you're faced with uncertainty for a job, a health 'scare', a relationship struggle, legal stuff, depression - whatever it might be, next time stop and praise God for who He is in your life - Redeemer, Savior, hope, comforter and friend, true source of strength. Thank Him for what you DO have, for who you have in your life and the provisions He has already given you. THEN, bring your concern, request as scripture calls it, to Him and ask for His will to be done. Trust me, I know it's not always (or ever!) easy to ask for His will over ours. But that's a part of genuine worship. It's all for Him and to Him.

Find a place and simply worship Him. Then let the love, grace and peace of God fill you to overflowing! Know that I am praying for you...

Helping Those In Need!

Most of you know that FBC Pocatello has a food pantry that is stocked by donations from the church family and a few local food places. On average, we are seeing on a weekly basis more than 50 people come in. That equates to roughly 15+ families per week that we get to help with food and some basic household items.
You can see here how we have just about run completely out of everything as of today! (The rest of the pantry looks the same or worse!)

Because of this increase, we need to adjust how we distribute food, schedule volunteers, etc. so that we can be more effective in meeting this very real need.

We will be CLOSING the Food Pantry until JULY 1st in order to restock the pantry and get the new process/system in place.

Quickly, here are the major changes to the process as well as a list of items that we need to continue to meet this need:
All of these changes will be effective July 1st.

NEW - Hours of operation will be Tuesday through Thursday from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.
This will give us time on Monday to restock as needed, as well as assemble boxes for distribution during the week. (Yes, we will meet needs if someone comes in at 'off hour' times!)

Food/Toiletries List - will be posted in the Food Pantry as well as available in the church office.
Canned meats (chicken, beef, tuna, etc.) Canned stew Soups Ramen Noodles
Pasta Rice Ravioli Canned/Bottled Juice Canned Fruits Canned Vegetables
Evaporated/Powdered Milk Mac-n-Cheese Hamburger Helper Chili Refried Beans
Toothpaste Toothbrushes Shaving Cream Razors Dental Floss Shampoo/Conditioner
Deodorants Toilet Paper Dish Soap Diapers (all sizes)

Look for more info in church as we get closer. If you would like to be a part of the team that organizes the pantry, makes up boxes, or distributes the food during hours please call Stacy at the office or find her or myself on Sunday. This is one of the coolest things we do here, in my opinion. The look on faces, the hope that they get and the love - genuine Christ like love - they feel from the volunteers is incredible!
Whenever I get the privilege to give one away, I ALWAYS feel like I'm the one who was blessed!

See ya in church...

What It Is...

acw13 asks a great question: how do you define a break?
We all have differing opinions on what this will be, but let me try to (as briefly as I can) define what I'm talking about here.

There will be times in your service that you will have to step back from serving because of scheduling conflicts, family obligations, and the like. These are, mostly, unavoidable situations which require a re-thinking of how to continue to serve God. I get that.

There will be times in your service that you 'hit a wall' and just don't feel like you can keep on serving for this reason or that. People like to call that burn out. Hate that term, mostly because it's a choice we make. There are many thing's that can be done to avoid burn out in ministry/service such as clear communication, clear commitment guidelines, not over-scheduling other areas, etc. We have to chose to make what we are doing a priority and not let burn out win.

I'm not talking about any of these, or the ones that I haven't mentioned. These two are the most common ones I hear and deal with.
What I'm referring to is the idea of not serving in the body, the local church, all together, mostly because we don't agree on something. We will NEVER all agree about stuff. That's insane to think we will.
But the body of Christ is a living, breathing organism made up of imperfect people. When we don't agree on stuff we need to be working to move toward unity "...so that body of Christ may be built up." (Eph. 4:12)

That requires work on both ends - the end that got 'hurt' and the end that did the 'hurting'. We won't always get it taken care of in one or two conversations. It may take several conversations to find 'common' ground. Working toward unity is the goal we all need to be striving for. The biblical word is reconciliation - the idea that we restore what was broken or damaged.
As leaders, we have to do our part to make sure we hear what's being said. As those who were hurt, we have to make sure we communicate clearly - with specifics - what the issue is. And then the tables get reversed and we move the process forward.
You don't do this by distancing yourself from the issue/situation. Running away doesn't help solve the problem, doesn't help anyone learn anything and just keeps the stuff hanging out there longer than it needs to.

If - when - we get hurt in church life, we have to chose to make it a priority to walk and talk through reconciliation. It may not be easy. In fact it may be downright painful. BUT, as a follower of Christ we are obligated to love one another through it all. (Read Ephesians 4 to get a picture of this idea.) And our witness to the rest of the world will tell them one of two things:
1. You, as a Christ follower, are a different person because of Him.
2. You, claiming to be a Christ follower, are no different from me, regardless of Him.
Ouch, I know. But how we respond to stuff really says a lot about who we claim to be.

I want to learn how to do what I do better, not just from a music or administration standpoint. That would also be way cool...but how I can grow as a leader for God's people, THAT'S where I want to grow. And when I screw up, the only way I learn is if people will tell me and help me.
So don't go take a break without taking a minute (or more!) to speak the truth in love to me SO THAT the body of Christ in Pocatello may be built up!

See ya in church...

God Never Quits

I am really getting a lot out of the dialogue that has been happening here and via email. I can honestly say that I am learning and growing in this process.

There is one area that I've been studying that I cannot find any Biblical basis for. This is NOT in any way directed at one person or group of people. This is an issue I've had with church folks since before I came on staff at FBC Pocatello. And, this idea has been around churches for many years, yet no one has ever been able to justify it to me - at least not from God's perspective.

People will tell me - and other church staff - that they feel it's time to 'take a break' and evaluate where they are and what they need to be doing. First of all, I understand the need to take a break from people. They wear us out, use us up, toss us aside and then tomorrow comes and it starts all over! We all get tired of people.

But when it comes to serving God, nowhere do I see that it's okay to take a break from Him. He never took a break from us, and He expects the same in return if we claim to be His.

Somehow we've forgotten that the church is a body that is here to support, encourage, hold accountable, console, pray for and with, celebrate and mourn with, and so much more. We aren't supposed to isolate ourselves when things don't work out. Isolation leads to more depression, anxiety and confusion. I think that's why scripture has over 50 verses related to 'one another' - serve, accept, forgive, greet, bear with, be devoted to, honor, teach, submit, encourage - just to name a few.

We are NOT always going to agree on stuff. That would be insane! But we have to learn how to work through issues when we don't agree. Searching scripture for truth, for direction and for wisdom, spending time in prayer - all should be done together.

To complicate the matter, our service to God CANNOT stop just because we can't get agree with someone or something. When we do that, we put God on a shelf and tell Him to wait for us to figure stuff out. Again, can't find a scriptural basis for this being okay. The only word I have found to describe this is disobedience. When we stop serving (doesn't matter what capacity), knowing that we are called to serve, we are choosing to disobey God, not man. In this case, man wins and God loses out. OUCH!

I'm asking folks to genuinely seek God when it's time to 'break'. Identify what the root of the matter really is, what the underlying cause is. Usually it's not the 'out front' issue that is the issue. Search your heart, seek God, study His Word and make time to talk through stuff.

I'd much rather see God win than man. Seems His way is much better!

Struggling right along side you...

The Next 'Stage'

Over the last few weeks our worship team has been studying and praying about our role.
What is our goal? Are we in the place that God wants us individually to be? Is our worship honoring Him each time we lead?
Several different questions helping us to, hopefully, draw closer to Him using the skills and talents that He has given us.

Aaron and I were talking this morning and neither of us really know what to expect for this coming Sunday. Except - that we expect to meet God here!

One thing I do know: when we spend time seeking HARD after God, we find Him (rather He finds us). And God will bless each one that does this kind of searching. "Seek and you will find...knock and the door will be opened..." That's not just a song lyric, it's a promise from our Father that clearly cries out, "I want you to find me, to find what it is I have for YOU! All you have to do is ask."

I believe that each of us need to take time - more often than we realize - to seek God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. If we truly want to know what He has for us...if we truly want to know how to live a life that is REAL...if we want to live on the edge everyday of our lives - then we need to know Him intimately and commit all we have to Him. And that's a daily call, not just a once a week, whenever I remember it call. DAILY!

I hope some of you will take the challenge that Bill put out last week - "30 seconds first thing in the morning and ask God, 'What do you want me to do today?'. And then go do that." Pray that for 30 days and keep track of what God does - it will blow you away!!!

See ya in church...

Why? - The God Question

When I get to heaven, I want to ask God a question. It's not a tough one, just one that comes up whenever we have to do a funeral for someone.

Why?
He was only 47 years old, just getting things going in his life with a new home - sort of a new beginning.

Why?
He was just getting some family relationships resolved and mended. They were heading in the right direction and getting better.

Why?
Only God has the answer. It's what I tell families all the time, but it doesn't bring comfort any faster. We don't know why God calls people home in their prime, just as life begins, or just before something major in their life happens.

However, I do know this. God has a plan and a purpose for everything in life. How I deal with those events and things that happen reflect what I truly believe about my God. I still want to know why - but I certainly cannot dwell on it while I'm here, because there is more work for me to do for my God. He knows our hurt and will heal us - if we let Him.

I'm saddened for the loss of my friend, John Fraire, this week. I'm glad because he is with my God right now and not in pain. To be honest, I'm jealous! He's with Dad!

Don't spend too much time asking the "Why?" question when life throws you a curve ball. Remember that you have a purpose and a job to do for the Kingdom. Ask God to show you the next step and get after it. I promise, He will bless you like crazy!!!

See ya in church...

The "Empty" Stage

This week, I announced that our worship team will be taking a break for a couple/few weeks. Before I continue, let me assure you that there is not an 'issue' with the staff, the team or the congregation. This is intentional time to reflect, reconnect with God, and refresh ourselves.

I take my role as Creative Arts/Worship Pastor very seriously. I know that God has called me to this church for this ministry and this season of the life of the church. The reason I know this is that I spend time with Him, seeking Him and trying to live to honor Him.

And I expect nothing less from my teams. I want them to wrestle with God, to seek hard after Him and to live lives that honor Him.

I'm also a realist. I do this for a living. However, with the exception of Aaron, everyone else is volunteer and has another life outside these four walls. They have jobs, family, hobbies, etc. that compete for their time. Add to that weekly rehearsals and practice time along with 2 services each week - time becomes a precious commodity.

So I've asked our team to take some time to rest. Instead of rehearsing and 'working' the music, we'll take some time to pray, seek God and perhaps even fast (as needed). Our goal is to ignite the passion that we have for worshiping God, and allow us to take our worship to another level. It's not about how we sound, how we look or how well we play together. That is a by product of a committed team that loves God and wants to use the skills, gifts and abilities that He has given them to bring honor to Him.
I am more interested in the heart of the team and who gets first place in their lives. It has to be God - period! Anything less is missing the mark. And if we're ALL honest, we can say that there are times when God is not where He needs to be in our lives.

We're going to take some time to talk with Him about where He is in our own lives. Then we're going to ask Him if we're doing what He has called us to do - are we in the right place for this season of our lives? It will be fun, interesting and anxious all at the same time.

Pray for us to hear God and hear His plan/will for our lives. Pray for me to know that the direction He is calling me to lead this ministry is indeed His plan and His will.

I'll see you in church, from the empty stage - for now!

Always Learning

We all make mistakes. Sometimes, there are those that are not seen, and it's between us and God. Other times the family sees/hears it and it's just between us and them.

And then there are times when our mistakes make it into the public eye. For some, the public eye is work, the classroom, etc. For others - like me - mistakes are very public because I sometimes have an open mic!

I've learned over my life that you have to own up to what you do and say, especially when it hurts or offends someone else. That's not always easy - but I believe it's always right.

I've had to own up and apologize here lately, not only to the congregation but also to individuals. In every situation, and I mean EVERY situation, I've been blessed with learning something in those encounters. Whether it's something about me or the person I'm speaking with, I truly consider that to be a blessing.

If we all looked at confronting others about mistakes or offenses that have impacted others as a blessing, I wonder how much more we could learn about them and about our amazing God. I know, for many people it is extremely uncomfortable and even scary to sit down with someone and have that conversation. I know that God gave me the strength and courage to do it when I was that way, and now today I actually look forward to having these conversations. (I know...I'm not really right in the head!)

God has shown me how to learn in all of these situations. And it's the same thing with my family. When I have to have the tough conversations with Sue or our adult kids, I learn something! (It's usually that I'm wrong and Sue was right.)

Someone emailed me last week and hit this on the head. They were saying that they didn't want to continue talking about an issue around me or behind my back as that would be divisive and/or gossip. That doesn't help anyone. I appreciate that. It sums up what we all should be doing. Going and dealing - no matter the outcome. We just need to go, be heard and let God do what He will do with our conversation.

Oh yeah, and we might learn something along the way!

Technology Fast

Over the past couple of days I've taken time away from technology to pray, seek God and process some very helpful feedback that I've received via email and the blog.

Let me say that I will never accept this form of medium as ever solving issues that people have with each other. Face to face is my first and preferred method of conflict resolution.

That being said, I appreciate the dialogue that is taking place, even if it is under these circumstances. I need to get better at communicating my heart and passion in a way that honors God, the body and the people we are trying to reach. And I am glad to have people who care enough to say something when I step 'over the line'.
I had the privilege of sitting with a couple last week to talk - face to face - about my words and the direction they feel that we, FBC, are going in. It was good, honest and challenging discussion that helped me to see some things from a different perspective. AND, I was able to understand the tone, the meaning of the words, and ask for clarification when I needed to. (Can't really do that on a blog or email.)
I also took the opportunity to apologize for my choice of words and how it offended them. I have and will continue to do that. [I won't apologize for the passion - that would be saying that God made a mistake in how He wired me.]

As for deleting the post, there was a part that was targeted at the leadership of FBC, not just me. This blog is not for/about the leadership. I didn't feel it appropriate to have an open debate here about that. As for the place/venue, I'm working on that with the leadership so that you will have someplace to make your voice known.

(I am confused that some people say that we don't listen and that the only way to hear the voice is to make an appointment. If you have an issue or concern with your health you go to the doctor. If your child has a problem at school, you go see the teacher or administrator. That is the best way to handle whatever it is you're up against. Why should church be any different?) So, we're going to try to figure out just how to help our FBC people do that.

Trying to follow Him!
Karl

When I'm Gone...

In ministry, we do more funerals than most people will do in their lifetime. It comes with the job and it's something I take very seriously.

At each funeral, whether for the saved or unsaved, I listen to people speak of the impact that the person had on their life. And it sometimes is echoed in more than one persons comments.
But I attended a funeral of someone who was, I think, a believer. The highlight of the memories and stories revolved around her card playing ability and her lingerie shopping sprees (hey, I can't make this stuff up!)
And I sat there thinking, "Really...is this the summation of this woman's life? Cards and bras? Is there nothing more to that in her life?" It crushed me - and made me think:

What will they say about me when I'm gone?

What will my legacy be for my son, for my daughter? What will my brothers remember about me (and be willing to share!)? How will others know that my life made an impact for the Kingdom? Will they know how much I loved Jesus? Will there be fruit?

I've been hit with this reality lately:
Live each day as if it were my last!

Who in my life needs to hear about Jesus? Who in my life needs to surrender their life, career, family, bank accounts - everything to Jesus? Am I telling them or am I just blogging about it?
If we have the truth - and we do - then we have a responsibility to share it. We are NOT promised tomorrow, so are we taking the opportunity to live like it for Jesus?
I'm working on it in my life, and some days it's just ridiculously hard! Other days, WOW! I see Jesus moving and directing around and in my life.

So, if you were gone tomorrow, what would they say about you? Will your life confidently point people to Jesus - or not?

Just thoughts at 11 clock on a Wednesday night...

Sunday Thoughts...

We serve an amazing God! He never ceases to amaze me - never.

As I got ready to deliver the message that God had given me this week, He allowed me to have an encounter that would clarify what the message was that I needed to bring. It was a simple encounter, one that involved listening, prayer and an open spirit to allow God to work so that I could love like Jesus.

• We have to love people like Jesus loved people - period. We don't get to chose who deserves it. He said to love God, others, neighbors AND our enemies. Whose left?
• Married couples - love each other the way that Christ loved the church. DON'T EVER GIVE UP - DON'T EVER QUIT ON EACH OTHER!
• Yes, I did say "It pisses me off when Satan wins the divorce battle in our families." I'm tired of people being 'okay' with that.
  
• And yes, I did say the men, "Grow a pair and fight for your marriage. Loving like Jesus doesn't involve being a coward or a quitter."
• Challenged people to love Jesus by sharing their successes and failure in the area of marriage and parenting.
• Had close to 15 "marriage coaches", 4 "newlywed coaches" and 2 "parent coaches" sign up.
• I have NO IDEA where this is going - but God calls us to love others with the gifts, skills, abilities and experiences we have. So we'll see where He leads us!
• WOW! Over 20 people signed up to help meet real, practical needs. Grocery shopping, prescription shopping, cleaning, reading/visiting - these are the simple acts of love that people were willing to do for COMPLETE STRANGERS! Oh wait, that would be neighbors!
• We have a couple of decent sized crews converging on the project house, including an electrician that can help us determine what we REALLY need to do next!
  

FBC Pocatello - you are rockin' it for the Kingdom of God here in the Portneuf Valley. Can' t wait to see what God is going to do next.

See ya in church...

Corporate Worship Songs NOT To Use

Lessons From the Geese

It's good to be home!

I've been away at a worship leaders summit in St. Louis this week and did not have access to my stuff online. Thanks to a stupid computer problem, I wasn't able to email or to blog and it just about killed me!

On the other hand, it was also good to not have the distraction and go quiet for a while so that I could hear what God had for me!

The place we were at, Sojourn Christian Retreat, was in a nice setting and was very comfortable in every aspect. In the middle of the complex they have this serene, gentle lake with a few geese.

As I sat outside my room one morning, I watched these two adult geese 'herd' their 7 little munchkins around. You could see they weren't very old and just trying to figure out this new, giant and fascinating world.
I watched one little guy begin to venture out further and further from mom and dad. Curious, confident, daring, eager, wondering what might be out there that he hasn't explored just yet.
Just as he gets a little too far, he looks back to see that mom and dad didn't go with him - he's alone (sort of). As soon as he realizes this, he runs hard back to the safety of the family - safe, secure and loving.

As I sat there and watched this unfold, I realized that I am that little gosling. I get so far out in front sometimes with curiosity, eagerness, wonder and confidence that I forget to check in with Dad. I 'get it' sometimes and think I need to be ahead of what God is doing. Sometimes so much that He gets left out of the mix completely. And then I realize it and come running back to Him, usually crawling back to Him in shame and embarrassment for what I've done.

I know that God is ALWAYS with me. I know that God is ALWAYS leading me. I just need to remember that He is leading me, not the other way around.

• Need to stay true to who He called me to be.
• Need to stay true to what He called me to do.
• Need to stay true to the ministry He has blessed me with.
• Need to stay true to the leader under who He has placed me.
  

I need to stay in His presence - always. And I need to be always running hard after Him!

See ya in church...by the way - hang onto your shorts for this Sunday. God's up to something BIG and AWESOME!

Trust-N-Seek!

As a kid growing up, much like many of us, I played many games of hide-n-seek. In the yard, in the house, in the church - anywhere that was accessible to good hiding spaces. I was pretty good at it as a kid. I was almost always the last or one of the last ones to be found. I hid well!

As an adult, I still sometimes play this game, only not in the sense that I did as a kid. I play it with God. I screw up and go hide until a) He convicts me and I come out of hiding, or b) I pull my head out and come crawling to Him begging for forgiveness for being so stupid.

We all do this. We don't like it, but we do it and it hurts our Father when we do. The silly part about it is He is always there waiting for us. Psalm 9:10,
"Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you."

We have to trust in Him to take care of our screw ups and our mistakes. We don't run and hide when things go wrong. We have to be constantly seeking Him in all aspects of our lives, no matter what they are, and we have to truly TRUST that He knows what's best and let Him do it.

So you're not doing well financially. Are you talking to Him about it or trying to fix it on your own (another form of hiding)? You don't have the relationship you want with your family, friends or others. Are you bringing it to Him so He can bless the situation? Are you struggling with something in your life but not willing to talk with Him about it?

Remember the verse - those who KNOW His name will TRUST in Him and will SEEK Him! Don't run from God. Run hard to Him and let Him bless you and take care of you the way He wants to.

Hiding never helps. It just keeps us in the dark longer!

Chasing hard after Him...

Idaho Workshop POSTPONED

As much as I hated to do it, I had to call our friends today and postpone the Worship Workshop. We just weren't getting enough registrations and were actually getting more "I'd love to bring the team, but we just can't that weekend. We'll come later."

So, that's what I had to do. We'll try our best to keep the cost at/around the current $45. We are shooting for a late August or mid to late October. I will update the site as soon as the team gets a date that works for them.

FOR THE IDAHO/UTAH/MONTANA PEOPLE THAT READ THIS BLOG - help me out. Is this something that you would bring your teams to? Is training for your teams a value that you would invest time and money into? Our desire is to be a help to churches, so whatever input you can give us would be GREATLY helpful. Shoot me an email at karl@fbcpoky.com or post a comment here. Let's put together an event that will help equip, encourage and grow the worship ministry of the local church.

Keep living for the King!

Post Easter!

What a weekend!

• 4 services that rocked it for Jesus.
• At least 3 decisions for Jesus - does that EVER get old?
• TONS of new faces.
• An excitement about the right things and the right person!
• An Easter meal that left me full, happy and very content!

My prayer is that we, as a church, will look at our lives and see where we need to stop making it about us and more about Him. I know that in my life there are areas where I get in the way of who He is and what He needs to do in my life. The longer I make it about me, and less about Him, the longer I miss out on His plan and blessing for my life.

John said that "He must increase, and I must decrease." (John 3:30) That requires obedience to His will, commitment to His way of life and a boldness to follow through no matter what. I strive for that every day, but don't always make it. Thankfully I serve a God who loves me, forgives me and picks me up so I can get after it again the next day. More of Him, less of me.

Hope you start to decrease this week as well...

Take The Poll!

I have found a really cool FREE site to mess around with. PollDaddy.com is free site where you can create unlimited polls and surveys.

For as long as I can remember, churches have had issues with getting people to serve, to do something for the Kingdom of God. While we are growing, we are seeing a better than average number of people serving, but still a large number who are not. The national trend is still around 20-25% of the people doing the majority of the work, not including staff members.

No WONDER the church isn't effective. It's full of selfish people who don't think they have the time or energy to serve! How would we feel if the God we serve didn't have the time or energy to send His Son to die for our sins? He's just too busy, just too tired...

Service can be as simple as opening a door, folding bulletins, cleaning the bathrooms or, yes, even teaching kids about Jesus. The opportunities are endless in the church as well as outside.

Take a minute to answer for you or perhaps share the answers you hear from your church. Just want to try and get a handle on it so we can help other churches, as well as ours, be more effective for the Kingdom of God.

See ya in church...

Battle Cry!

One of my favorite movies is Mel Gibson's "We Were Soldiers". If you haven't seen it, find a copy and watch it. It really is a great story. As he is preparing his troops for their deployment to Vietnam, he gives an incredible speech - one filled with candor, conviction and sincerity.
There is a line that could be taken directly from 2 Corinthians 10:3 - "...we go into battle against a tough and determined enemy..."

I love how scripture paints a picture of war for us in this chapter. Though we live in the world, Paul reminds us, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world...they have divine power to demolish strongholds! WOW! The weapons we use can demolish strongholds - it can take them out completely!

It's interesting that Paul begins this chapter speaking about timidity and boldness in being Christ to the world, and then speaks about the power at our disposal to destroy strongholds. Hmmmmm....

• Churches - are you being bold in being Christ to your community? Are you confident in the knowledge that God is our refuge, our strength and our rock? Do you believe it and does your life reflect that you believe it?
• Individuals - same question!

You have to start with knowing what strongholds are keeping you from being who God intended you to be. Satan is, as Gibson's character stated, a "tough and determined enemy." Kind of goes without saying that he will use whatever he can to win - no mater the cost.
What does he use to deter you? Perhaps you are timid, afraid of the response of people. Perhaps you have an issue with material things and can't find a way to give so others may come to know Him. Perhaps you have an addiction that you don't feel God could ever forgive.

Listen, if you believe that He CAN destroy strongholds - start living like it! Don't rely on human ability and understanding to help you with your problem. We're only human! HE is divine! Trust Him to help you win the battle.

Knowing that you have at your disposal this incredible power, and we're fast approaching an awesome weekend, what do you need to do to tap into that power?

I would gladly stand with you. I would gladly fight beside you. Are you ready to see what kind of God we serve?

Hope to see you in church...

Easter Sacrifice!

This coming weekend is Easter...I know, it's a shocker to hear that!

Seriously, if you are coming this weekend, who are you going to bring with you? We have four service times - Saturday at 5 and 7 p.m and Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m. - so you can stop making excuses as to why you can't make the Sunday services!

What's it going to take for you to invite someone this weekend? You've all heard the statistics - 80-85% of people asked would COME TO CHURCH IF THEY WERE ASKED! Pastor Bill reminded us of this yesterday, stating that it would take you up to 10 people to invite before you got 1 and a half NO responses!

So, what's it gonna take? Will you have to sacrifice your 'rep' to invite someone? Will you have to sacrifice some event or quality time to invite someone?

Keep in mind that God only sacrificed His Son to make it possible for you to have an eternity with Him.
Seriously, what excuse can you possibly have to NOT invite someone? Get over yourself and get inviting. People need to meet Jesus and let Him change their lives. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that?

See ya in church..

Worship For Whom?

I was in my quiet time today and was hit hard by a simple verse that I've read a bunch of times. It's found in Joshua 24:15, but let me back up to verse 14:

"Now fear the Lord and serve him with all your faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

As I'm reading this, I'm getting smacked in the head about how I lead here in His church. What would the 'gods of our forefathers' look like today in the church? Do I, as the leader of the worship ministry, lead and serve from a place of total and complete surrender to Him and what He wants? Do I consciously chose to serve God? Or do I fall into the trap of trying to please people more than Him, thus making what they want the focus of worship?

This happens more than any of us care to admit in most of our churches. How? We call it a nice thing (and hide behind it) - tradition. In the music end of things, traditional music/services.

We tend to 'worship' a particular service over another, because that's the way it's always been done and that's what works for us. Good, if you never want to connect with the people outside your church. That also means you won't accept/allow art to be used in worship, cause you never did it that way before. You'll never allow dance or drama or readings either, cause you never did it that way before. That's what your 'forefathers' did before you. That worked for them in their time. But ask yourself this question - how's it working for you now?

• Is it drawing people in so that they can meet Christ?
• Is what you're doing more pleasing to a group of people more than it is to God?

If you said yes to the last one, you're not interested in or have a desire to please the Lord, not according to this verse. You are more concerned about what you want instead of what God intended the church to be for. It was NEVER meant to be a 'country club' kind of place, where we let only the 'right people' in. The other less desirable people can just go find another place. The church is here to 'serve us' instead of here for service. That's a selfish, self-serving mindset that I want nothing do to with.

That is why I push back so hard when people try to get me to paint our worship in a neat little box. It doesn't happen that way. If we, the church, really want to impact our communities for the Kingdom of God, then we need to:

• Provide a place where broken, hurting people can come and get the help and encouragement they need - not the crap we THINK they need. The real, tangible kind of help such as food, shelter, good Christian counseling/coaching.
• Provide an environment where the message makes sense in TODAY'S language, not something from 50 years ago. Contemporary sounds DONE WELL, in an environment that reflects the CURRENT AGE, with people who love Jesus!
• Be willing to be uncomfortable for the sake of the lost. We were NEVER called to a comfortable Christianity. I've read the book - no where does it say it is to be comfy! In fact, it's promised that it's gonna be TOUGH! Bring it on!
• Decide WHO you're doing church for in the first place. Seriously, if you want to do church for you the way that YOU want with no regard for anyone else, CLOSE THE DOORS! Post the sign on the front door that says, "Closed due to selfishness. Everyone else can go to hell! Have a nice day." That's what your saying, so don't mince words. Just be honest!

On the other hand, if you decide to serve God and do church for Him, then you're going to have to make some changes and answer some tough questions. What kind of music would connect best with the people we're trying to reach? What type of service would relate best to those same people? How can we use the music and service to communicate the radical love of Jesus to them? What will we need to do to make it happen?
Tough questions that lead to radical change for the Kingdom. It's worth every battle, and worth every loss if even just one soul finds Jesus. So, what's holding you back? Who will you do your worship for? Chose this day whom you will serve...

K

How To Kill Worship

What a title, huh? But this is what happens so often in our churches week after week after week.

We just get so caught up in what WE want and what WE expect that no one thinks about the impact on those that we're trying to reach. How does THAT make sense?

Here's how to kill (or continue to kill) worship in your church (the short list):

1. Keep doing the same things today that you did 10-20 years ago. Jesus never changed, so we shouldn't either, right?
2. Put un-gifted leaders in front of the congregation. Hey, they have 'a heart to worship the Lord,' so we should let them lead. Hear it all the time - doesn't make it right!
3. Have the Senior Pastor lead all the worship music, including the practice time. Hey, he doesn't have enough on his plate. What are we paying him for?
4. DON'T spend money on hiring someone to lead the worship ministry team. We should spend that money on the youth director, because THAT'S our future!
   

Okay, now that the fun part is out of the way, let's get real.

1. You CANNOT effectively keep doing what you did 10-20 years ago and expect to attract the younger, upcoming generations. It was old and dreary then, and that will not draw people in to connect with God, no matter how good the preaching is. GET NEW MUSIC in your church TODAY! Jesus NEVER changed - but His methods to reach people DID!
   
2. Just because you have a gifted singer does not make them a gifted leader. And just because you have a gifted leader does not make them the leader for worship. The right HEART has to be connected with the right GIFTS and the ABILITY to lead others UNDER THE DIRECTION of a Senior Pastor - that's your fit! Yes, they are out there - be diligent!
3. This is how to kill not only the worship, but your Senior Pastor as well. Do you really think you know what he does, what his day looks like? If you do, stop lying to yourself and go ask him. You have NO IDEA what he has to endure as the leader in your church.
4. Help your Senior Pastor out by finding someone to take this leadership position in your church BEFORE you hire a youth or children's person. Stop and think about the flow to your church - where do people come FIRST when they visit? Youth department? Children's ministry? NO - they come to a worship service. Perhaps we should invest not only our finances but our BEST EFFORTS in this area first and then fill the others. If mom and dad can't enjoy worship, chances are they're not going to be bringing the kids back for anything - period.

If you like YOUR church the way it is now, then you need to have your greeters add a phrase to their morning greeting. "Welcome to (our church). We like it the way it is here now, so we're not letting anyone else in. Thanks for coming but you'll just have to go to hell. Have a nice day."
That is what we're saying when we WON'T change. We're slamming the door to heaven in their face and saying that we don't care.

I don't know about you, but I don't want to be held accountable for that when I meet Jesus face to face. Change for KINGDOM sake is always the right change. What will it take for you?

Don't kill worship...

Why YOU Should Attend Worship Workshop!

Okay, so there's a bunch of options out there for us, as artists, to attend and learn more about our craft. So what is the big deal about this Worship Workshop Idaho? Why should I come and bring my team with me? What's in it for us?

Allow me:

1. Price and location. First of all, this is affordable. It's low priced on purpose so we can get our teams to attend. $45 is a steal! Trust me, Carl, Leann and Ed are worth a whole lot more, but understand that small(er) churches cannot afford the $150 - $350 price tags PER PERSON to go to a bigger event. And, most of us can get to Burley in less than a day. In fact, most of us can be there in under 4 hours.
2. Refresh and equip. You will be encouraged, challenged and reminded of your calling as a worship musician on Friday night. Sometimes we just need to be reminded and encouraged about this from someone OUTSIDE our home church. To know that we're in this together is a huge encouragement. We'll also leave Saturday with real, practical, applicable tools to take back to our church and put into practice IMMEDIATELY!
   
3. Kingdom impact. What would happen if you came to this event and learned nothing else except how to play together (better) as a team? The impact on your team, first of all, would be incredible. Confidence, connection, fluidity and a new found love for the team. Second, that flows over into your corporate time. Less distractions musically, more intensity for the right reasons, better sound, and the list goes on.
   
4. Your church NEEDS you to come! Seriously, the only way you can really learn is to GET OUT OF YOUR OWN ENVIRONMENT and go be around others who are struggling with similar issues, having success in other areas, and who are striving to be the church that God has called them to be.
   

So no more excuses! Get on the website TODAY and get your team signed up. Even if your team is JUST YOU, come. You will be glad you did!

When IT is Just Not There

Some days we lead out from a place of commitment and expectancy. Not necessarily to God, but to the position we've been called to.

Yesterday was one of those days for me, sadly. And I couldn't put my finger on what exactly the distraction was. I may have still been thinking of my 19 year old dog I had to put down Friday. I may have been thinking about the impact the billboards are having in our community and in our church family. I may have been concentrating too much on the new/former drummer that was playing for the first time in 3 years.

Either way, I was not all together there. And I didn't know it until I really got into the worship set. Just couldn't 'feel' IT. (IT is that sense that you're connecting to God, the body, the team, and everything is pointing to real worship of the King! Everything just seems to make sense and work to create a place of true, genuine worsihp.)

So what do you do in those moments? How do you still lead when IT is not where you want it to be?

You let your team lead and you let the congregation lead you.

Your Team:

• You spend hours and hours teaching and developing your teams each month. If we, as the lead worshippers, don't allow our teams to take the point once in a while, it will become more about YOU leading the worship instead of the team leading worship. If it ever becomes 'Karl' focused worship, that will be my last day. Our team did a great job yesterday of taking the point, even without them knowing they did. But because we practice leading out in different segments and in different ways, it was natural and comfortable for them to do it.

The congregation:

• Let them sing out and lead YOU once in a while. As the lead worshipper, you don't always have to sing for or to them. Let them take the lead and worship from their hearts. It's an amazing feeling and sound when the congregation grabs hold of a song and raises the roof in praise and worship to the King! Encourage them to do it. They know how...so let them! When we don't have the IT factor going on for whatever reason, let them minister to you and thank God that you have a church family that can bring it for the King.

I don't know when I'll fully understand what the issue(s) was on Sunday. I'll talk with Dad about it and hopefully, if it's His will, He'll let me know. I am just thankful that I am surrounded by some incredibly talented, gifted and humble people who know how to keep the worship moving in the right direction - even if I'm off a bit.

Keep leading and keep learning for Him...and tell your teams that you appreciate them and all they do for God each and every week. That's what I'll be doing today!

See ya in church...

Some Days Are Just Harder...

Today was one of those tough days we all have. The only difference on this one is I actually planned for one very tough spot in my day. The rest of the day really was pretty good.

But this afternoon, I had to do one of the most difficult things that any dog owner/lover will ever have to do. I had to say goodbye to our dog, Mindy, of 19 years. She was a black lab mix that thought she was a puppy until the very end. She had started to deteriorate more than a year ago, but she kept coming back with energy and strength. (We have two golden retrievers that are total dorks and full of energy - they helped keep her young.) And we kept saying, "Okay, maybe it's just her adjusting to something and she'll get stronger and be okay." Actually, it was me not wanting to let go.

I consider myself to be a man's man...but when I walked out of the room I cried like a baby. A part of our family is gone. I know that I'll be looking for her again this weekend until it finally settles in that she's not here. That will suck every time!

I know that one day I'll be able to say that it was the right thing to do at the right time. I have to face the fact that her quality of life wasn't what I would want for her. Her future didn't look bright either, knowing that each day was getting harder and harder. But it still sucks.

I made the comment to my wife that it's a good thing we don't treat our human families this way. I can just see Austin and Kia coming home one day and hearing, "Well, dad's pooped and peed on himself again, and his legs don't work. Better put him down!" (Don't judge me...I'm processing!)

I wonder...how many hard days does God have? How many tough choices does He have to make every day? How often does He weep over us and our choices? We don't do the things that He has planned for us, and we complain that it's just too hard. All the while He's thinking, "Trust me, I've got this. I know you're hurting, and I know your pain. Just trust me!"

I guess we don't always believe Philippians 4:13 when it says we can do ALL things... Just because I'm having a hard day doesn't mean I'm going to stop serving my King. And I'm not going to blame Him either. He doesn't give up on me, so there is NO WAY I'm going to give up on Him!

I'm not going to let myself be drawn into the depths of despair and away from the grace of God. My hope is you won't either. Stay close to the King!

See ya in church...