Ministry Success

We had a ministry event the other day that totally bombed. I was expecting 70, 100 maybe even 200 people to show up. 

I think 16 showed up. 

That's counting me, the band, the sound guy, janitor, and me again. You know it's bad when you pad the numbers by counting everyone in the room, and then go ahead and count yourself again because you couldn't remember if you started by counting yourself or the person next to you. And of course you don't want to do a recount- since counting 16 people takes soooo long...

And, as every good pastor does,  you round up to the nearest 10.

Let me start over.

We had a ministry event that bombed. About 20 showed up. Now I feel a little better about myself

Truth be told, it's probably the best thing that happened to me all week.

"Successful" would be an appropriate word to describe the ministry I've inherited.

But what, after all, is ministry success?

Was the event with 16 people unsuccessful? If 300 had shown up, would it have been a success? What about the implications for the minister(s)? If more people are coming, does that mean God is more pleased?

I don't think God and I shared the same view of that event. It wasn't a bomb. The only thing that made it unsuccessful was my failure to see the kingdom of God that night. What I didn't tell you about was a particular girl who came. She was not a part of a church, and was clearly looking for relational connection. I totally overlooked her, because I was focused on the wrong things. 

I was stepping on an orphan, as it were, while complaining to God about not giving me more orphans to look after.

So my conclusion in the matter is this....

God's pleasure is not in:

- Our ability to get people to show up at our stuff

- The fact that we are a part of a dynamic ministry

- How many people liked our sermon, or small group discussion, or worship set, or ______

Rather, it's based on something much deeper. As deep as the motives that drive us.

Was I doing this for my glory or His?

Was I driven by the approval of man or God?

Was I faithful?

Did I love God's people?

I still hope more people show up next week.

Happy B-Day Makai

Makai turned two today. 

We went and picked strawberries this morning. He was a big help.

I don't think he managed to get a single strawberry in his bucket.
Happy Birthday "Kai-Boy"!

A Really Bad Day by Cameron

Cameron is my little six year old artist. He wrote this fiction story yesterday (see below).

I was bad. I had a bad day. I slept with my gum in my mouth now i'ts in my hair. and when I woke up I put away my clothes. tripped and fell on my skateboard. the END

Here's a Larry Boy picture he sketched the other day...

Bless You, Prison

I was listening to Ed Noble's podcast and I haven't been able to get this quote out of my mind. I have copied it from John Piper's blog (Click here for Piper's whole post on that quote):

It was granted to me to carry away from my prison years on my bent back, which nearly broke beneath its load, this essential experience: how a human being becomes evil and how good. In the intoxication of youthful successes I had felt myself to be infallible, and I was therefore cruel. In the surfeit of power I was a murderer and an oppressor. In my most evil moments I was convinced that I was doing good, and I was well supplied with systematic arguments. It was only when I lay there on rotting prison straw that I sensed within myself the first stirrings of good. Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either—but right through every human heart—and through all human hearts.... That is why I turn back to the years of my imprisonment and say, sometimes to the astonishment of those about me: “Bless you, prison!” I...have served enough time there. I nourished my soul there, and I say without hesitation: “Bless you, prison, for having been in my life!” (The Gulag Archipelago: 1918-1956, Vol. 2, 615-617)

There's a sense in which all of us need to have a "Bless you, prison" moment. Otherwise we would not be awakened to grace. 

It's not the time for a post on supralapsarianism (click here), but it's amazing how our sin has brought out the fullest expression of God's love, "expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2)

In our prison of sin and bondage comes awakening, repentance and rebirth.

"Bless you, prison, for having been in my life."

Bugs Life

For those of you who aren't parents yet, brace yourself for this kind of conversation:

Ava, Cameron, Beck, Makai (in unison): "Dad!!!!! Get out here!!!!!"

Ava: "It's a praying Mantis"

Cameron: "No they're not" acknowleding these are 2 distinct creatures

Beck: "Dad, why are their butts stuck together?"

Me: "What do you kids think they're doing?"

Cameron: "I think they're making more bugs"

Me: "Yes, Cameron, I think these bugs are having sex."

Four hours later...

Beck: "The bugs still have their butts stuck together. Should we smash them?"

Sanctification Tool: The Rubber Band

Last week some of our TSC staff team went to our annual ministry training meeting in Des Moines.

On the way down I gave the "rubber band" motivational speech. It goes like this...

"In 2002 I went to a conference with Troy Nesbitt. Our friend Jeff Dart happened to be at the conference. I usually would speak for myself, but I'll speak for both of us (Troy and me)- Dart is more like Jesus than us. We sit down at the first session and Troy notices Dart wearing a rubber band on his wrist...

Troy: What's that for?

Dart: Nothing, really.

Troy: You're lying. What is it?

Dart [long pause]: Well, it's a reminder to be teachable and not critical of this conference.

Troy: Oh.

It doesn't take long for Troy to come up with great ways to mock people. So we immediately made a trip to the store, where Troy bought a whole bag of rubber bands. Before the next session, Troy must've put 100 rubber bands on his arm- covering not only his wrist but his whole forearm. It was hilarious.

We did end up keeping one rubber band on our wrists, but the rubber bands merely turned into a weapon to snap each other when we made critical comments.

It's easier to be critical than teachable.

So I was left staring at the rubber band on one wrist, thinking, "Why did I have to give the rubber band speech?!!!!"

...And a watch on the other, "Only 2:09! You can do it, Mark."

Stuff you see in a baptist office...
A boom box from 1982. Apparently the CD hadn't been invented yet when this dude came into existence.

On a serious note.

I was doing my best to be teachable, while still retaining enough pride to make Nebuchadnezzar look humble, when to my shame these men leading this seminar began to serve me. 

One pulled me aside and said, "Mark, whatever you need, let me know, and I'll make sure you get it." He went on to talk about how TSC is the most amazing college ministry he's seen. This guy oversees a lot of campus ministries and has seen a lot in his day. Another of the leaders told me, "Mark, we are not the gifted ones like you guys in ministry. Let us deal with the bureaucracy and paperwork so you don't have to. We are here to serve you."

Woa.

I was (and still am) ashamed about my critical and proud spirit. The rubber band reminds me that by God's grace I will become a humble and teachable man someday.