Reflections from a Trip to Disney, part 3

Disney does things right!

The attention to detail was amazing.
The facilities were immaculate.
Everything was larger than life.

The real thing they do right is to go over and above your expectations.

Unlike so many other parks that let their "classic" rides get rundown, Disney keeps improving on the old.
Pirates of the Caribbean has been updated.
It's a Small World was clean and bright.
The Magic Kingdom was a magic as ever with new rides, parades and shows.

How many churches find the routine for their services and programs, then just let them run their course? When do churches decide that their worship is just right and then set it on "repeat" mode until eternity? Their contentment with mediocrity and the lack of creativity drives me nuts. At Disney they make every day special. They make every year different. They continue to grow and develop their vision.

And even that's not enough. On our third day, our last day, we were at Animal Kingdom. Definitely my favorite park. It was getting late, we were getting tired, the crowd was thinning out, but we had one more ride to hit- Dinosaur!

Just when you think you've seen it all, they take it to the next level.
A woman spotted us heading to the line (which was very short by now). She smiled and whispered to to the girls (and winked at me), "Please follow me."
The girls didn't know if they were in trouble or what was happening- I was loving it, because I knew this lady was up to something.
She gave us the royal treatment- little dinosaur toys, special certificates, a gift for Justin who was too small for the ride. Then a "time travel ship" of our very own- just the three of us in our own private car!

This woman saw the opportunity to make our trip that much more memorable- and she seized it.

I want to create a church environment where that attention to detail, and to people, consistent happens so that expectations are exceeded.

Reflections From a Trip to Disney, Part 2

Here's my second observation/reflection upon returning to work after my Holiday to Disney:

My calling to plant and lead Connections is not my entire life.

• First is being faithful to God.
• Second is being faithful to my wife and kids.
• Third is being faithful to the work of pastoring Connections.

We should all have the joy have putting a lot of our identity into what we do. I wish everyone would have the blessing of loving what they do, of feeling called to their vocation. Work is too important in God's kingdom and in our lives to be a drag. It really needs to be a joy.

Some people have none of their identity invested in what they do. They are punching the clock and working for the weekend. That's a hard life, and that's not how it's supposed to be. We should all do our work for the glory of God. We should take pleasure in the works of our hands (see the entire book of Ecclesiastes).

But others have too much of their identity wrapped up in their work (Pastors are notorious for this.) They have no other outlets. Their enjoyment of life is totally dependent on how things are at work, at the firm, in the office.

When I started this mission I came up with a motto that would guide me each day:

"Failure is not an option... I must be prepared to fail."

Each day I work as if failure is not an option-
We will launch the service.
We will improve the service.
We will grow the church.
We will take this to the next level.
I will take a bullet for this mission and will not let it be hijacked or thwarted...

But in the back of my head and heart I remind myself of this- if I fail, if this turns out to be a giant lesson in handling disappointment, if this is my ultimate life lesson in humility, if someone comes along who is better cut out for this and called to this, if the bottom falls out, if I have to step aside, I must be prepared.

Statistically more than 80% of new churches fold within a few years.

Holidays with my family help me prepare because where I CANNOT fail is in being faithful to God, faithful to my wife, and faithful to my children. If I am faithful in these areas I will be successful in the eyes of God.

And that helps me keep this all in perspective, even though I know we are in 20%!

Reflections From a Trip To Disney World, 2

Here's my second observation/reflection upon returning to work after my Holiday to Disney:

My calling to plant and lead Connections is not my entire life.

• First is being faithful to God.
• Second is being faithful to my wife and kids.
• Third is being faithful to the work of pastoring Connections.

We should all have the joy have putting a lot of our identity into what we do. I wish everyone would have the blessing of loving what they do, of feeling called to their vocation. Work is too important in God's kingdom and in our lives to be a drag. It really needs to be a joy.

Some people have none of their identity invested in what they do. They are punching the clock and working for the weekend. That's a hard life, and that's not how it's supposed to be. We should all do our work for the glory of God. We should take pleasure in the works of our hands (see the entire book of Ecclesiastes).

But others have too much of their identity wrapped up in their work (Pastors are notorious for this.) They have no other outlets. Their enjoyment of life is totally dependent on how things are at work, at the firm, in the office.

When I started this mission I came up with a motto that would guide me each day:

"Failure is not an option... I must be prepared to fail."

Each day I work as if failure is not an option-
We will launch the service.
We will improve the service.
We will grow the church.
We will take this to the next level.
I will take a bullet for this mission and will not let it be hijacked or thwarted...

But in the back of my head and heart I remind myself of this- if I fail, if this turns out to be a giant lesson in handling disappointment, if this is my ultimate life lesson in humility, if someone comes along who is better cut out for this and called to this, if the bottom falls out, if I have to step aside, I must be prepared.

Statistically more than 80% of new churches fold within a few years.

Holidays with my family help me prepare because where I CANNOT fail is in being faithful to God, faithful to my wife, and faithful to my children. If I am faithful in these areas I will be successful in the eyes of God.

And that helps me keep this all in perspective, even though I know we are in 20%!

Reflections From a Trip To Disney World

In case anyone been wondering why I haven't blogged for a week- this is why.
After Easter (the proverbial Superbowl of church services) I took my kids to Disney World.
Yeah, I'm that great a being a Dad!
Here we are watching the parade at the magic kingdom. Take note of the Steelers sweatshirt on Justin- and it was even his 4th birthday!

Actually, I can't take credit for Disney. We had made our arrangements to go to Florida to visit my parents as we do every winter. They called to ask if we though the kids were ready for the full-on Disney experience.
Were they?
Is Mickey a mouse?
Is Donald a duck?
Oh yeah!

So what does this have to do with the church?

Only this- going back to "work" today was one of the hardest moments of my life in recent history. It wasn't fun to try to explain to Justin why, after 7 days of begin together almost constantly, daddy had to go. It was easier for Eden and Karis, as they understand the ways of the world a little better than their brother. There is NOTHING better than simply being with my kids. There is nothing more important for me as a father to be with my kids. Not even church planting, which is my passion and a dream come true.

It makes me examine several things which I'll reflect on the next few days. Thus, I give to you,

Reflections From a Trip To Disney World

First, how do I explain my "work" to the kids? When will they start to understand this calling? Is there a line between my work as a pastor and the church?
Some pastors say they are going to the "office" to separate work and church. I don't. I boldly tell them I'm going to help build God's kingdom and his church. I tell them I have the greatest privilege and responsibility in the world- I get to be the pastor of a church just being born. And while I have some healthy boundaries on my life (like going to Florida and NOT checking email or phone messages), I DO NOT put my calling to plant and lead Connections in a box. I DO NOT talk about it like it's just some job.

It is my passion. But I'm just doing my part of the work. I'm not the one in charge. Holidays are a necessary reminder that Christ will build His church, not me. I just do my part faithfully.

Then when I come back and find out that things went great without me I can celebrate and give God all the glory! It's great to bear the responsibility of leading Connections, but it's better to know I don't carry all the weight.

Doubt