Loving the MINISTRY

A shout out to Pastor Steve and Connie Caronna!! Thirteen yrs. at Living Word Family Church and they have seen it grow from 116 at his first service to the place where they average over 1000 every weekend. Lives are being changed. I love hanging out with these people. They challenge me, charge me and in general just make me want to be better in the ministry. Amazingly enough I am allowed the privilege of ministering to their flock and their leaders. This is humbling and I am grateful. I pray that I encouraged them as much as they encourage me. www.lwfc.org

More in Love with Jesus today?
Ed

Renewing my MIND

I know this is an old subject but always a worth while one to deal with. Why? We are ALL bombarded daily with images, messages, and agendas that are not good for us. Come on now admit it you struggle with your thought life just like I do . . . I know that I am not the only one that deals with this. I am not just talking about all the "evil" stuff (porn, drugs, etc.) but this includes stuff like "nobody likes me," "I am no good and the world would be a better place with out me," "I can't do this." You get the idea. So here goes, I have been meditating on these keys to thinking correctly.

1. Entertain It - hang out with it.

2. Examine It - This is always done underneath the bright lights of the Word of God.

3. Embrace or Embarrass It - which ever category it fits in depends on what you do with it. Embrace it so you can keep it. Embarrass it so it will run away.

4. Incorporate It - If your thought has survived this far then it must be a worthy thought so we must get it working and moving in our own life.

5. Express It - There is major power in your words to bring that thought to life.

Taken from my journal notes over the last two weeks. I am pretty sure that most of you can flesh out the Bible verses that go with these ideas. I have been writing them down but I felt for the purposes of this blog that you could have a little homework if you thought it was a worthy task.

But then again maybe this was just good spiritual therapy for me. I would be interested in your feedback.

Moving with Him,

Ed

Longevity . . . A GREAT QUESTION.

I have been at Christ For The Nations (where I went to school) for an ALUMNI/FMC CONF. I was asked to speak for little bit in a third year class at Youth For The Nations. This was done along with Ron & Judy Radachy from the The Oasis in Hollywood. We talked and told our stories of youth ministry and then came the question and answer time. The teacher asked us how we have stayed in youth ministry so long. Hence the title. I cannot get this question off of my mind so I thought I would write out my answer.

1. Know that you know you are called by God. (not grandma, or even the need).
- The call of God does not guarantee ease of ministry it just guarantees that He will see you through all the tough times.
- NEVER LOSE YOUR FIRST LOVE. We were all Christians way before we were ever Pastors, lets think, love, and act like Christ followers.

2. Marry the right person.
- Can you do ministry single? of course. There are too many challenges in this to talk about here but know it is still possible.
- Since these thoughts are about longevity the comparison to marriage really works.
- The right person for a life partner makes or breaks a lot of ministry.
- It is tough to always be torn in ministry. Ministry or my wife (husband)?? It is not a questions of which one. The right answer is both.
- Marry the right one.

3. Decide to stay in the game.
- Quitting cannot be in your vocabulary. Notice I did not say in your mind.
- Make the decision to stay in the game daily and the decision will make you.

4. Get coached, mentored, discipled . . . which ever term floats your boat.
- This is the Jesus way.
- Learn from others mistakes
“Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes.” Oscar Wilde
- This is more than just getting the latest and greatest idea from someone or even going to conferences.

5. Be followable. (I know that is not a word)
- Check out 1 Corinthians 11:1)
- Of course this is more than just getting people to follow you. (that is good)
- Have the kind of character that others would want to copy.

WE TEACH WHAT WE KNOW, BUT WE REPRODUCE WHO WE ARE.

6. Have the right kind of thinking about numbers. (COUNTING AND MONEY).
- Always look at growth in percentages. Think and speak percentages publicly and privately think and speak faith number.
- God is into numbers (whole book in the Bible) so know that growth is what He wants.
- Be comfortable with money and those who have it.
- INTEGRITY, INTEGRITY, INTEGRITY

Longevity is what makes the most impact.
Ed