The REST of Good to Great

14 Jan

Ok, yesterday when I referred to Good to Great by Jim Collins, I talked about passion for the vision of an organization.  There were several other key elements of organizational greatness I left out.  I probably won’t remember them all, but there were a few that made a real impact on me.  Such as:

Get the right people on the bus!  Your organization needs the right people for it!  Those who fit.  Those who are apt to adapt and make a difference in your organization.

Get the wrong people off the bus!  Not typically something that would fit a church mind you, but in a business organization, if there are “right people” for your organization, then there must be “wrong people”.  Those who do not fit.  They need to go (according to Collins).

Get the right people into the right seats on the bus!  Another powerful strategy for any organization (and especially a church) is to make sure you have the right people playing the roles that suit them.  Playing the roles that fit their skill set and their calling!!  Having the right people on the bus is not enough … Having the wrong people in the wrong roles can damage an organization.

There is even MORE to the book that all of this.  It really is worth the read!!  However, just as I said yesterday, I hope the passion for what God has called you to do will light a fire in your heart, today and everyday!!!!

Today’s sermon: Good to Great

13 Jan

Good to Great from Ebenezer BC on Vimeo.

Not as easy as it looks

10 Jan

Over two decades ago, I answered a call to God.  Left a promising career in information technology to pursue whatever God called me to and wherever He called me to go.  It took this young family from Easley, SC, to Tigerville, SC, for nine months and then to New Orleans, LA, for three years.  CULTURE SHOCK!!  It would be bad enough to move from Easley to the Big Easy, but from TIGERVILLE???  Wow.  And that is an understatement.

God led us from North Greenville College (now UNIVERSITY) to the Gentilly area of New Orleans East and the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.  Any time I tell natives I lived in New Orleans East, they look twice at me and the respect level goes up!!  It was FAR from an “easy” place to be!!

Diana, Krissy, and I moved down there with little more than the promise that God was calling us down there and HE was in control.  And it was one of the greatest times in my life!!  We saw His hand working DAILY in our survival!!  Nothing will ever replace that experience.

Over the past few weeks (and especially the last two), circumstances have me and several other staff members working hard with the Youth Council to continue youth ministry.  We have been without a youth pastor since early October, and the natives are getting restless.  And so are all of us!!  I can assure you that all of this job is not as easy as it looks … and if you thought Justin, or Wes, or Sidney, or any other youth minister at Ebenezer in years past DID NOT work hard — YOU ARE WRONG.  And I am reminded of that RIGHT NOW.

But, with all of that written, there is one more truth to share in this blog entry:  I AM CONFIDENT that GOD has the PERFECT PERSON to be our next youth pastor.  And I am also confident that the best thing we can do is BE PATIENT and WAIT ON GOD.  Rest assured that we and the personnel team are working as hard as God will allow us to work on this!!    And we are dedicated to getting it right … not just putting a warm body in the job.

And I guess my time in New Orleans taught me this:  God WILL NOT FORSAKE US.  He has a plan.  Wait on Him.  Encourage your youth (if you have any) to do the same.  I promise if we wait on Him and get it right, it will be WELL WORTH the wait!!!

Today’s sermon: New Years Resolution

6 Jan

New Years Resolution from Ebenezer BC on Vimeo.

Pics and plans for the Headboard

31 Dec

Links to plans:

http://ana-white.com/2010/03/plans-mason-headboard-its-all-in-finish.html

Cut list for FULL sized bed which is what we built:

http://ana-white.com/2010/03/plans-reclaimed-wood-headboard-full-and.html


IMG_0995Just wood

An Open Letter to my Ebenezerites

31 Dec

Have I told you lately that I am proud of you??  I think that is allowed!!  In this day and age of economic stress YOU have been faithful to God and I am now able to write something that many pastors cannot write:  WE HAVE EXCEEDED OUR BUDGET IN GIVING FOR THE YEAR!!  And the fiscal year is not quite closed!!!

You are continuing to be faithful to God financially, spiritually, and physically in your service.  And, as your pastor, I am proud!!  Keep praying for our church and all that God is doing.  Keep seeking YOUR ROLE and doing it as well as you can!!  Don’t forget that Jesus Christ PROMISED to be with us in all things!  Do not fear, the Holy Spirit walks with you into every situation!!

All things considered, this is a great way to end the calendar year!!!  Have a great and safe New Year!!

A Gentle Reminder

30 Dec

At the end of each worship service today I did two things:  I thanked Paige Self for her hard work, serving as a youth intern with us since March.  During our youth ministry vacancy, she has filled many gaps to keep things going.  We are thankful for her and commit to pray for her and (after THIS Saturday) her HUSBAND Patrick McCabe as they move to Wake Forest, NC, where Patrick is enrolled at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Marriage is never easy, and seminary presents an entirely different set of stressers for them.  So pray for them!!!!

SECOND, PRAY FOR OUR YOUTH PASTOR SEARCH!!  God has the right person out there for us.  Already chosen by His hand.  Our personnel team is working as hard as we can, but God will do this in HIS timing and not ours.  Many people are starting to get antsy … Honestly, I am the antsiest of all!!  But we MUST allow God to do this in His timing.  Not ours.  We don’t need to hire someone … We need to FIND GOD’S CHOSEN ONE FOR THIS MOST IMPORTANT ROLE!!

Today’s sermon: Filling the Gaps

30 Dec

Filling the Gaps from Ebenezer BC on Vimeo.

A Difficult Christmas

28 Dec

Christmas has always been a time of the year filled with wonder for me.  Always a time when the little kid in me can still feel that spark of magic if you will … NOT taking away from the real meaning of Christmas in this, but there is something about gathering with family.  Being home in Easley.  Never knowing what Santa was going to do.  Enjoying time with family, especially with my mom and dad.  I basically left their home a little over 25 years ago to start a new home with my beautiful young bride, and Christmas has always been a time of coming back to that solid relationship with my parents and family.  And I have always loved it.

This year, however, was different.  It was good that both of my sisters and their families were home this Christmas. First time that has happened since 2003.  The population of mom and dad’s house went from 2 to 12 people, and no dogs to three.  Honestly, this year I never felt like we were too crowded or getting tired of being around all of those people.  Those people are my family and it was great!  But, that was only a bright spot in all of this.

This year was different.  Every time I go home I can see changes in Dad.  Not only is his memory going down, but his general awareness of where he is and who is there with him is quickly fading.  I see it in his eyes and hear it in our conversations.  I worry about Mom because I also see the toll this is taking on her.  She is overworked, yet very protective of her role … so much so that offering help is often met with a “no thank you.”

All of this has made for the most melancholy Christmas I’ve ever experienced.  I guess I’ve realized Christmas will never be the same again… Thought about that a lot as I drove yesterday.  We left Easley a little after 12, drove to Clemson to have lunch with Amy Williams and go by Krissy’s apartment so she could pick up a couple of things.  Then we drove to Charlotte to visit IKEA.  Then we tried to go to a Carrabbas in downtown Charlotte, and didn’t realize the Belk Bowl was going on in Charlotte (which Duke TANKED in the last minute and a half).  So we headed on down I-77, only to find bumper-to-bumper traffic at the state line due to a wreck.  We FINALLY made it to Carrabbas at Spring Valley, ate a great supper, and got home a little before 10pm.  It was the longest trip from Easley to Florence I’ve ever had.  A lot of driving time, maybe too much time to think.  At one point I was thinking “I can see how the Grinch got his start…”  Then I realized green is just not my color, so THAT is not an option even though Bailey would make a great “Max.”

All in all, I’ve got to get my head on straight concerning all of this.  This is where life has placed us …  It will be as miserable or peaceful as we allow it to be.  I KNOW my God will walk every step of this with me and my family.  Just didn’t expect it quite so soon, and quite like this.

Today’s sermon

23 Dec

All I want for Christmas from Ebenezer BC on Vimeo.

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