Attendance was a little low today; a few families were out with sickness, and a large number were out related to a recent death which affected several families.
Service was real good. The band nailed it. The singers excelled. The ushers were on top of their game. The age-level ministry departments were on-task, and hospitality rolled out the carpet.
Okay, the message was different. It was a family chat about the state of our church, the state of our finances, and the action steps we must take for 2011. My feelings were transparent.
I rewrote this message four times this week! I started it on Tuesday and finished it on Wednesday. I rewrote it on Thursday. Even though we took off work on Friday, I spent most of the day at home rewriting it again. And if that wasn’t enough, I went back to the office Saturday and rewrote it again!
I wanted to get it just right, and took extra caution to frame my words carefully.
Preaching and teaching (as well as pastoring) is “all consuming.” Literally.
After both services a lot of people came to me who were very supportive and encouraging. I really appreciated it. I’m sure that not everyone enjoyed the message, and there were probably a few conversations out in the parking lot or over lunch about it.
One man (Brad H.) said something very encouraging to me. He said, “I really appreciate you telling us this today, because if you don’t tell us it is invisible. But by letting us know what is going on behind the scenes, it makes us feel like we are a real part of the church.”
I heard it loud and clear.
Another lady asked to speak to me in my office after service. Cheryl R. said to me, “I want you to know the message was very timely for me. A lot of what you spoke about is exactly what is going on in my life right now.” Then she added this, which I thought was most insightful, “I’m not very demonstrative, but I want you to know that I am ‘absorbing’ every week.” Loved hearing that!
There are a lot of good comments on Facebook too.
Terri F. says, I thought it was fantastic, Ron. Brilliantly said, and you ended on a positive note with anticipation for the new year. It was a much needed talk, and I loved that you called it the 'family chat'. We are all part of this family, and it's important to remember that it takes effort to keep a family functioning cohesively. Thank you for making the tough decisions and holding us together.
Ann L. says, Ron, I agree with Terri. Sometimes, it takes courage to speak so honestly but in leadership, it has to be done. Not doing so creates a barrier for peace within yourself and within our church. My experience is that obedience usually produces affirming results. Excited for you and PCC.
Sharon P. says, Yes, it was a much needed "family talk." It feels good to have an idea of where we are headed. I am looking forward to a great year with my PCC "Family." I thank God for our leaders at PCC and their willingness to work for the Lord.
Ronald B. says, Pastor Ron, The message this morning hit home with Carole and I, it's a message that lots of us didn't really like to hear but you put it in a way that showed us that we are a family and we all have responsibilities to that family. Carole and I discussed it and we have always gave finanicially to the church but never truely tithed. We will start working toward tithing and make the adjustmens in our budget as necessary just like the church has to. Loooking forward to 2011 at PCC!!!
Wow!
Service was real good. The band nailed it. The singers excelled. The ushers were on top of their game. The age-level ministry departments were on-task, and hospitality rolled out the carpet.
Okay, the message was different. It was a family chat about the state of our church, the state of our finances, and the action steps we must take for 2011. My feelings were transparent.
I rewrote this message four times this week! I started it on Tuesday and finished it on Wednesday. I rewrote it on Thursday. Even though we took off work on Friday, I spent most of the day at home rewriting it again. And if that wasn’t enough, I went back to the office Saturday and rewrote it again!
I wanted to get it just right, and took extra caution to frame my words carefully.
Preaching and teaching (as well as pastoring) is “all consuming.” Literally.
After both services a lot of people came to me who were very supportive and encouraging. I really appreciated it. I’m sure that not everyone enjoyed the message, and there were probably a few conversations out in the parking lot or over lunch about it.
One man (Brad H.) said something very encouraging to me. He said, “I really appreciate you telling us this today, because if you don’t tell us it is invisible. But by letting us know what is going on behind the scenes, it makes us feel like we are a real part of the church.”
I heard it loud and clear.
Another lady asked to speak to me in my office after service. Cheryl R. said to me, “I want you to know the message was very timely for me. A lot of what you spoke about is exactly what is going on in my life right now.” Then she added this, which I thought was most insightful, “I’m not very demonstrative, but I want you to know that I am ‘absorbing’ every week.” Loved hearing that!
There are a lot of good comments on Facebook too.
Terri F. says, I thought it was fantastic, Ron. Brilliantly said, and you ended on a positive note with anticipation for the new year. It was a much needed talk, and I loved that you called it the 'family chat'. We are all part of this family, and it's important to remember that it takes effort to keep a family functioning cohesively. Thank you for making the tough decisions and holding us together.
Ann L. says, Ron, I agree with Terri. Sometimes, it takes courage to speak so honestly but in leadership, it has to be done. Not doing so creates a barrier for peace within yourself and within our church. My experience is that obedience usually produces affirming results. Excited for you and PCC.
Sharon P. says, Yes, it was a much needed "family talk." It feels good to have an idea of where we are headed. I am looking forward to a great year with my PCC "Family." I thank God for our leaders at PCC and their willingness to work for the Lord.
Ronald B. says, Pastor Ron, The message this morning hit home with Carole and I, it's a message that lots of us didn't really like to hear but you put it in a way that showed us that we are a family and we all have responsibilities to that family. Carole and I discussed it and we have always gave finanicially to the church but never truely tithed. We will start working toward tithing and make the adjustmens in our budget as necessary just like the church has to. Loooking forward to 2011 at PCC!!!
Wow!
Brian Y. says, I agree wholeheartedly with the 'family chat' approach. Maybe in the wake of this sermon more will step up to take a more robust role in the ownership in their church.
Robert H. says, Family chats can be difficult sometimes, especially when it comes to finances, but you can't fix it if you don't talk about it. 2011 is going to be a great year at PCC I can just feel it and I am going to do a lot of praying about it.
Sidney G. says, I'm glad you had the "chat". PCC is our home, and we are all responsible for the care of our home...especially the utilities (power, etc). I think sometimes people forget that the church has bills, too.
Jewel C. says, The "family chat" @ PCC this a.m. was an opener for everyone that was there...churches have to pay their bills & they are not EXEMPT from INFLATION either...God commanded His people to tithe & that is non-negotiable...Someone once said, "A Christian shows what they are by what they do with what they have."
Renae C. says, I'm just grateful we don't have as many "family chats" at church as we do in our home... just sayin'. (But EVERY family chat is so worth the pain of having it ... it DOES produce results).
Beverly J. says, Service was so good! "Don't get stuck between chapters", "We all have "Defining Moments" in our life, When 1 chapter closes... Recognize when a chapter has closed, turn the page and move on." It's a brand new year and a brand new day!!
Mary S. says, Great day at PCC. Good solid preaching by Pastor Ron. We all have a tendency to resist change. We should live our lives by Godly principles instead of self-centered preferences. We need to hear and face brutal facts. Wake-up calls are a good thing, for without them we would never move forward. Quote of the day: Our feelings should always take a backseat to God's will-keep the focus vertical!
Bill B. says, So glad you didn’t have to break any thumbs. Thanks for giving all, including the options. I love it when you speak to all of us in love.
My favorite quote of the days was, “It’s your church too….”
Although I didn’t say it this morning, I’ll post it here. I am baffled at the number of people who love this church so little that they would be willing to watch it go under before they would invest as much as a buffalo nickel in it.
It’s a good thing we are not depending on such people.
I’m beyond worrying about what such people think about me too.
Instead of appealing to the people who represent the “lowest common denominator” in our church, I’m appealing to those who represent the highest. These are the movers and shakers of PCC.
There are at least two families who have already stepped up notifying me that they are ready and willing to testify in a Sunday service in coordination with a message series on financial stewardship. Their individual stories are just amazing.
I feel like a huge burden was lifted from off my shoulders, and I am now as hopeful about the future of PCC as I have been in a long time. Know why? I don’t feel so alone; it’s like a lot of others are willing to help bear the burden.
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). That is excatly what so many of you have already offered to do.
I've got a feeling that we are going to be busting wide open this year.
For anyone and everyone who missed today’s service, you may pick up a free CD next Sunday. You need to know what’s going on.
Thank you friends of Pace Community Church for making my job possible.
2 comments:
Ron,
I don't have facebook, but I liked your approach with the service today. People often forget that when it comes to tithing God specifically said that if we don't tithe we are robbers of God. He then goes onto to challenge us to test him in this and he will throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessings that we will not have enough room for it. Malachi 3:7-12. Just prior to what I wrote above at the end of Malachi 3:7 it states: "Return to me, and I will return to you," says the Lord Almighty. I started tithing many years ago based on Chapter 3 of Malachi and God has never let us down when it comes to our finances.
My family and I support you and the staff 100% and will do whatever we can to help in 2011.
Thank you Louie! I believe that PCC will turn a signifcant corner this year with your help and the help of so many other like-minded people.
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