How you doin’?

I realized that I haven’t written in a while, so I thought I’d update all of my faithful blog readers (you know who you are) on what’s happening in my world.

- On the home front: The Goods had a nice vacation that ended a couple weeks ago.  It was not nearly long enough.  We are already making plans for next year to get away to Gatlinburg, or Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.   Going to rent a cabin and chill for a week.   That should be nice.   I’d actually like to do that twice a year: Once in the Summer, and once the week between Christmas and New Years Day.   We shall see.

- On the church front: We just wrapped up the ONE PRAYER series.  It was great!   The sermon videos went off without a hitch.  Video teaching was well received.   The kids component went really well - so well that we are going to start using the ELEVATE resources from Fellowship Church in Dallas, Texas.

The bad thing is we are definitely in a summer slump attendance wise, and that will probably not improve until August.

- On the personal front: I decided to pursue a Master’s Degree.  I am enrolled online at Capella University to puruse a MS in Human Services/Counseling Studies degree.   Once I prove my academic abilities (Lord, Help Me!) I will transition into a Marital, Couples and Family Counseling/Therapist specilization.   My goal is to be licensed in the state of Indiana as a Marital, Couples and Family Therapist.

Unlike most pastors I know, I actually enjoy counseling people.  It is one of the things (along with preaching/teaching) that makes me feel most “pastoral.”   Furthering my education will definitely help me to be a better pastor, enable me to have an avenue of interaction with lost people as a licensed therapist, and  also provide me an opportunity to better secure my financial future with a better income than I would have just being a pastor.   I can still pastor, but also hang a shingle and have my own counseling practice outside of the church.

If all goes well, my goal beyond that is to go after a PhD in Counseling.  That would make me Rev. Dr. Art Good.  Sweet!

Well, that’s it for now.  Once I start my coursework in August, I’ll keep you all updated on my online learning experience.  Should be fun!

Moving blog… maybe?

I am thinking about moving my blog to a page on our church’s website (www.westsideworshipcenter.com). The simple reason being that I don’t generate enough traffic on my stand alone blog. So, since our church’s website address is on our sign, invite cards, and any mailings we send out, I think I may just have a “Pastor’s Blog” page on the church’ site.

Any thoughts? Pros/Cons blog stand alone vs. blog on church website?

ED YOUNG speaking @ Westside!

Well… by video, that is. ONE PRAYER has enabled us to have some of the greatest preachers/teachers/communicators in the WORLD speaking a timely message to us by video. It is quite nearly a once in a lifetime opportunity.

I am excited to hear the message that Ed is going to share, and excited for Westside as we take this big step into video teaching. Video teaching allows us to hear from great speakers that we couldn’t ever ask to come in person, and gives me the freedom to preach even when I can’t/won’t be at Westside on a Sunday.

It also frees my family up to take an occasional Sunday away for the very, very rare chance of getting a vacation. Now, I don’t have to feel guilty about not preaching - I just preach the message in front of a video camera earlier in the week, and then it is shown on Sunday.

I think I’m going to love it!

Home for the Summer.

School’s out. Summer is upon us. Fun times await! Right?

Once again I will spend most of the summer working from home so that I am able to watch my son (the Kindergarten Graduate!) and save us a boat-load of money in childcare. As a pastor, my job is flexible enough to make this happen. We run into some snags now and then, but for the most part I can swing it.

For a while, the thought of this caused me a great deal of stress.

“What would the church think?”

“Would they think I’m not doing my job, or that I’m lazy?”

“Would they understand?”

These thoughts filled my mind day and night, night and day. However, I’m over it. I simply don’t care anymore what people think. I was looking for a job when I found this one.

Several reasons:

1. I don’t care what people think. I work hard. I rarely have a full day off. I haven’t had a REAL vacation in 11 years of full-time ministry. The health, survival, prosperity and future of our church is on my mind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 364 days a year (I think I finally let it go on Christmas… I love Christmas!).

2. I am saving the church money. Why? Because I have been here over a year and I haven’t yet made a stink about wanting a raise, and I won’t. I don’t ask for money. I trust God.

3. It keeps me from having to work another job just to pay for childcare (how stupid would that be?). That makes me more accessible to the congregation, even if it means I drag my six year old around with me.

4. In a real CRISIS (which there really are few REAL crises in ministry - most are false, perceived crises) Priscilla (my wife) has enough time in on her job that if she needs to leave early, or call-in for a day, she can do it without any major repercussions. She does the job of 3 people where she works. They NEED her.

So, what will this summer bring: FUN! I am going to enjoy every minute I get with my son. I do this because I, for many years, had no father. No one to play catch with. No one to take me to the park. No one to run through the sprinkler with on a hot summer day. I will take advantage of every ounce of this that I can - and I refuse to feel guilty for it. I deserve a break. My son deserves my time. I deserve time with him.

If anyone doesn’t like it… they can take a long walk off a short pier!

Blessings!

His Strength is Perfect…

I have always been a fan of Steven Curtis Chapman and his music.   I have every album/tape/CD he has every put out.  I have been to his concerts.  I sang his song “I Will Be Here” to my wife on our wedding day.   His efforts for the cause of adoption have inspired me to consider adopting a child sometime in the future.

All of that makes me feel that much sadder about the untimely death of one of his adoptive daughters.  One of the first songs I ever sang in church as a soloist was “His Strength Is Perfect.”  My prayer is that Steven, Mary Beth, and the rest of the Chapman family can feel the strength of the Lord in this difficult hour.

____________________________________________________________________________

MARIA SUE CHAPMAN, DAUGHTER OF STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN, DIES IN ACCIDENT AT FAMILY HOME

NASHVILLE, TN…5/21/08… At approximately 5pm on the afternoon of Wednesday May 21st, Maria Sue Chapman, 5 years old and the youngest daughter to Steven and Mary Beth Chapman was struck in the driveway of the Chapman home in Franklin, TN. Maria was rushed to Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital in Nashville, transported by LifeFlight, but died of her injuries there. Maria is one of the close knit family’s six children and one of their three adopted daughters.

More than five years ago, Chapman and his wife MaryBeth founded The Shaohannah’s Hope Ministry after bringing their first adopted daughter, Shaohannah, home from China. The ministry’s goal is to help families reduce the financial barrier of adoption, and has provided grants to over 1700 families wishing to adopt orphans from around the world. Chapman is a five-time GRAMMY ® winner and 54-time Dove Award winning artist who has sold over 10 million albums and garnered 44 No. 1 singles.

The Chapman family is so grateful for the incredible outpouring of love and support at this difficult time.

• If you’d like to meet Maria and express your condolences click here
• By mail, send to PO Box 150156 Nashville, TN  37215.
• In lieu of flowers, the Chapmans request any gifts be directed to Shaohannah’s Hope.

Great Quote!

Just heard this great, great, GREAT quote by Ed Stetzer:

“PEOPLE NEVER CHANGE UNTIL THE PAIN OF STAYING THE SAME GROWS GREATER THAN THE PAIN OF CHANGE.”

God, make us hurt so that we may change.

Ouch!

Gas prices.  Ouch!

Just passed a 7-11 on my way home and gas was $3.65 a gallon for Regular.  Ouch!

I am seriously considering our family going from two cars to one.   That would mean either I would take Ethan to school, and then Priscilla to work, and then I’d go to work, OR Priscilla would take Ethan to school, go to work, and I would stay home and work from home.   I could realistically see us doing some kind of rotation like this from now on.   One less car means less money paid out for gas, and less money paid out for car insurance.

Would it be a hassle?  Yep. No more conferences or seminars for me unless I rented a vehicle.  Less running errands for home/church.   I would be unavailable for any kinds of crisis involving parishioners on days Priscilla had the car.

We actually lived this way once, but Priscilla wasn’t working.  It worked great then.

MY FAVORITE COOKIES!!!!

While in Indianapolis this weekend for a conference, I stopped by Starbucks and found Mini Black & White Cookies!  I am originally from New York, and one of the things I remember were Black & White Cookies.  Absolutely to die for.
If any NY readers want to send me some, I’d happily accept!

For the next guy…

Since I am now pastoring my second established church (not a new church plant that I have started), I realize full well that I will probably not be here forever.  I stayed six years in my last pastorate, and hope to match that here.  If it is God’s will, I would be content to pastor THIS church until I die.   However, I also have a desire to plant a church some day, so we’ll see what happens.

Knowing that someday, near or far, this church will be turned over to another pastor, I want to prepare this congregation to take care of him and his family in a way that HONORS God.  With that in mind, I encourage you to read this post by Clatyon King.   He says everything I would like to say, but am not eloquent enough to put into words.

So, if not for me, then for the next guy.

Rest

I had my first Sunday off in nearly a year yesterday (not counting Sunday December 16th when we canceled due to snow). That is way too long a span between Sundays off. I need those “Sunday Breaks” for several reasons:

1. The responsibility of coming up with TWO SERMONS (many pastors only have to prepare ONE sermon a week nowadays… you know, in the 21st century) is taxing. I barely have time to think about anything else from week to week.

2. I need time AWAY with my family. With my wife working full-time Monday through Friday, and our son in school, the weekends are the only real concentrated time we get to spend together, and the only opportunity we have to get outta Dodge.

3. I need time to visit other churches and see what God is doing. I can tend to get “tunnel vision” if I don’t see what God is doing elsewhere. Besides that, I am not very creative, so I gain tremendous help seeing the creative and innovative things God is doing elsewhere, AND it gives me encouragement to seek God for what He wants to do HERE.

4. The congregation needs to hear other voices besides mine from time to time. What is that old saying about “familiarity breeds contempt?” Yeah, same thing happens when a pastor preaches week after week after week…

There are probably more reasons, but that’s all I can come up with for now.  Trust me when I say that 2 or 3 (better yet 3 or 4) Sundays away a year is not unreasonable.   The church won’t fall apart if I’m gone.  Actually, it should be consistently strong in my absence if I’m doing my job right.