Communicating for Change

It's been a while since I've had a substantial post on this blog, but I just had to get this out.

Two pastors recently recommended a book. If you've been a pastor for very long, then you realize that this is a common occurrence. But the subject matter was something that had been on my mind recently. While I usually just nod and go on, this time I felt led to order the book. I am glad I did.

The book is Communicating for Change by Andy Stanley and Lane Jones. The book challenges the reader to rethink their approach to sermon preparation and delivery. The book is divided into two parts. The first is a parable/story that hit me right in the soul. The second half is a more scholarly discussion of the seven imperatives and how they can be applied.

When the book arrived on Friday, I was already in the middle of a couple of things. When I picked it up later in the day, I intended to read the introduction and maybe the first chapter. I am by nature a slow reader. So imagine my surprise when I go so sucked in that I read the entire first half of the book in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down.

By the time I put it down, I wanted to go rework my sermon. Unfortunately, this weekend was my daughter's dance recital and the church's spring cleaning day, which meant there just wasn't time to rework the sermon and do the process justice. However, I did try to apply some of what the book talked about in terms of delivery.

So how did it go? It was an amazing experience. There was a sense of connection that was stronger than usual and I was able to leave my extensive notes untouched. What this book teaches is changing how I approach preaching (something I've done well for the last 14 years).

My thanks to Rev. J. Williams and Rev. R. Hendrix

Catching up

It has been nearly a month since I last posted, and I just wanted to take a few minutes to drop a few lines. I've been teaching on the Lord's prayer for the last five weeks, using material from one of my mentors and good friends. Since it was almost entirely someone else's material, I did not feel right about putting it up online.

I'll be posting my newsletter later this week, and hope to begin posting my sermons again next Monday.

Blessings.

Back from Vacation

I am back in the office after a week-long vacation. We took in some shopping, the Columbus Zoo, friends in Marion, Wooster, Columbus, New Philadelphia, and Cambridge, as well as a stop in Shreve for a Bible Study. We popped in on Rev. Walsh yesterday and enjoyed great worship and a powerful sermon, then went to lunch with some friends from the valley. It was a very full and refreshing time.

Still, it feels good to be back home. This week is our county fair, so I don't expect to be posting much before Sunday.

Apologies and Good Intentions

I know that it has been several weeks since I have posted. There were two weeks that I eitgher used an old sermon which was already up on my blog or did not preach, last week we had guests Sunday through Wednesday, and homecoming here in Adamsville (our community festival) Wednesday through Saturday. Sunday we kicked off our Vacation Bible School. God has been so gracious and so faithful to our prayers. Even though we traditionally average 70-80 children, we've been averaging just over 101. I also have to travel South today to conduct the funeral services for a dear friend. To top it off, all four of us (my wife and two kids) are physically under the weather. Hopefully, I'll kick this bug and get back to the keyboard with my sermons and other posts next week and if all goes well, I may post some of what I've missed!!

Thank you all for your patience, your prayers, and for reading the ramblings of this pastor.

God Bless

Tom

One Day Silence

In Remembrance

Catching up

It's been a very full two weeks! I apologize to those who read this blog regularly; it's been two weeks since I posted. I was on vacation for a couple of days, ending with a stop by my previous charge for calling hours. My family spent the night with a couple from that charge; he died unexpectedly the next day (Thur.) after an outpatient procedure on his shoulder. Friday morning I left with the church group for Battle Cry Detroit. It was an awesome event. We got home at 3 am on Sunday. Since it was UMW Sunday, I didn't preach, hence, no new post this week. Right after service, we drove back down to the valley for calling hours. The next day I was one of two pastors at the funeral, and I arrived home in time to leave for the church softball game (an 8:30 double-header every Monday night). I will be preaching this Sunday, so look for a new post Monday or Tuesday (4/23 or 4/24).

Peace and blessings

-Pastor Tom

Wild, Crazy Week

I just wanted to put up a short post to apologize for the lateness of this week's sermon. The last week has been a bit overwhelming. Thursday, my two-year old son came down with a high fever and by the weekend, no one here was feeling too well. I took Monday as my day off to get everyone back on their feet, so my normal Monday morning blogging was delayed, and with our quarterly Kid's Church program yesterday, I spent my time in the office getting things together for that. If you are a regular reader, look for the next post at the normal time on Monday.

Peace and blessings

Pastor Tom

Snowy Days and Mondays

Well, the first snow of the season is covering the ground and I am red-eyed and tired. I stayed up too late watching the Buckeyes lose badly to Florida’s Gators. While I could make excuses, the simple fact is that Ohio State didn’t block well on offense, didn’t tackle well on defense, and lost their superstar special teams player on the first offensive series of the game. Any one of these could easily lead to a loss, but all three combined to make the game a total blowout. All I can say is congratulations Florida. You earned the title of National Champions.

Regulars of this blog may notice that the link to New Realities has been taken off the side bar. The two pastors who created the blog have shut it down due to changes in their personal and professional lives. Both Pastor Jared and Pastor Ric are personal friends and you guys are free to post on Pulpit Perspectives anytime you feel the urge and blessings to you both.

Pastor Tom

One foot in, one foot out

This past week has been an emotional roller coaster for my family and myself. Sunday the 24^th, our move was announced to the two congregations. The shock, disbelief, and deep sadness that was expressed seemed to be overwhelming. At one church, my four-year old daughter leaned over to my wife and said, “Mommy, why aren’t they happy for us?”

This next month will likely be one of my most trying in ministry, as my family and I balance between old and new, that which is coming to an end and that which is about to begin. The process is not made any easier by the normal weekly grind, the pre-charge conference meetings, or the concerns of packing for the move.

I received an informational packet from my new SPRC chairperson, which I would really like to look over in greater detail. However, I have not yet let myself focus too much on the future until I have dealt with the “here-and-now.”

On one hand, I want to be learning more about where we are going. On the other hand, I am torn by having to leave the area and people that we have served over the past several years. This tearing away is made all the more difficult by the fact that the people here have made us feel like family.

It’s hard to be a “lame duck” pastor, but there’s also something empowering about it. The people know I won’t be here in a few weeks, but I feel freer than ever before to preach the Word without compromise, to speak boldly that which they most need to hear.

So here I am, with one foot in, one foot out. I hope to take some time the last week and really focus forward. Until then I am just plugging away in the midst of the growing stacks of cardboard, looking forward to the change to come.

(My thanks to Pastor Dave for this post's title. As I thought about your blog, it just seemed appropriate!)

Changing Perspective

It's been a busy two weeks. Monday morning (9/11) I was awakened by a ringing phone. It was my district superintendent, informing me that I would be receiving a call from another ds, to discuss a change of appointment. When the call came, we still had no idea where we might be moved to.

The next day, I had breakfast with that ds, and learned that I would be interviewing Sunday afternoon at a single-point charge (Hallelujah!!) :)

Sunday went well, and we are now anticipating a move that will be effective November 1. I would covet your prayers both for our new church and for our current churches. The last two weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster. The SPRC met Tuesday to begin the process of profiling for a new pastor, and the move was announced to the churches this morning (9/24).

I had considered whether or not I would continue this blog, but after some discussion with my wife and a few pastor friends, I will be. My new church is still in the area designated as Appalachian Ohio, and though the specific issues will change, the overall focus of the blog can continue. Maybe the fresh perspective will help bring more clarity to the issues.

I am starting to be surrounded by cardboard boxes and plastic totes, so it may be into November before I begin to post again on a regular basis. Just check in occasionally between now and then, as I may find a few spare minutes to throw on something.

Peace,

Pastor Tom.

Tagged

Pastor Jared (of New Reality) tagged me last week. Here are the answers to the nine questions. I don't read very many blogs, and those that I do have already been tagged, so I didn't tag anybody else. Blessings.

1. One book that changed your life: The Bible. There are other books I could list, but they all play second fiddle to the Scriptures.

2. One book that you have read more than once: J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. I picked it up in fourth grade and have worn out several copies over the years.

3. One book you'd want on a desert island: Anything by the early church fathers (and mothers). While I have read bits and pieces, I simply don’t have the time in my normal week to read and digest them like they need to be.

4. One book that made you laugh: Anything by Dave Barry; I’ve only read a couple of his books, but they always seem to pick up my mood.

5. One book that made you cry: Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz; it is a work of fiction, but the main character is so pure and simple that you can’t help but like him.

6. One book you wish had been written: Pastoral Ministry for Dummies. There are many days that I feel like I need it.

7. One book you wish had never been written: I don’t have one. I’ve read many very good books and some very bad ones, but ultimately it is up to the reader to discern what we keep and what we spit back out.

8. One book you are currently reading: Introducing the Uncommon Lectionary by Thomas Bandy. The appendix has been instrumental in my preaching for the last two months.

9. One book you have been meaning to read: There is a whole stack that I could list. One is Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster.

Tears from the Sycamores

Late Monday afternoon, the Sycamore trees in the valley were dripping with rain. It seemed as if the whole valley was crying. Larry was a miracle, who doctors said should have died days before he had the surgery. The heart valves that needed replaced where pretty routine, and the bypasses were too, but the hole in his heart had grown from a small tear to a gaping hole the size of an orange. That was not routine at all.

Larry came out of surgery on that Monday, two weeks ago, to the surprise of the doctors and the relief of friends and family. His prognosis was good, and we all thanked God for the miracle that He had provided us.

Two weeks passed, with little change. Larry lay in a hospital bed, sedated, fighting for his life with the same dogged determination that he brought to life. He had the patience born from a lifetime of farming—he still plowed, planted, cut, and gathered his harvest with the horses. But like the storm clouds that roll up into the valley, the signs did not look good.

Monday, after two weeks of fighting, Larry was ready to go home. He was a simple man who loved hunting with the dogs, spending time with the grandkids, and giving horse-drawn wagon rides at the harvest festival. When the family had said good-bye, he passed peacefully from this life into the next.

I know that I’m not alone in wondering why God would give us a miracle one Monday, only to allow Larry to come home so soon, but I know that God has a plan for our good. God is good . . . all the time.

What I do know is that when Larry stopped breathing on Monday afternoon, my wife was driving up the valley. And the sky broke open in great big drops of rain. The whole valley seemed to weep for the loss that will be felt for many years to come. Larry, we’ll miss you, and add our tears to those that fall in the valley from the sycamore trees.

Emerging Fellowship

This has been a busy week. We started VBS Sunday with over 30 kids. It has built each night, and the teachers, helpers, and other staff are really excited. God is doing great things.

The "young clergy" in the East Ohio Conference have a new blog. It's only been up about a week, so there aren't a lot of posts yet. Make sure to read the comments, as this is a forum for discussion among this group. It is called Emerging Fellowship. Check it out.

Peace and Blessings

Tom

Keeping Busy

First, I need to apologize for the lack of posts recently. Life has been really chaotic here. I may occasionally throw on a sermon, but I will most likely wait till Fall to start posting on a regular basis again.

There are several exciting things going on here. Next week is VBS, and my wife is coordinating. I'll be teaching the 5th and 6th grade class. We (my wife and I) were also asked by our DS (Rev. Wilson) to try to have a fellowship event for the young clergy. Keep this event in your prayers, as we are planning a meal and swim party (weather permitting). I am also planning a vacation to take our children to the zoo. This may sound like a simple day trip, but when you live in the middle of Southern Hills, it becomes a pretty major affair.

In the meantime, there is an exciting new blog up for the young clergy, and you can always find good stuff on New Reality . I'll ask Jared to post on New Reality when I get back up and running again.

Peace and Blessings

Tom