Big Is The New Small

Let’s talk about one of those Big Pink Elephant in the Room subjects that no one wants to talk about; yes I’m talking about Sex Offenders and the church.  I worked with an exclusive sex offender population for many years during my career in corrections.  It was during those years that I realized that Sex Offenders were one of the few populations that were treated differently; both behind the walls of a prison and on the streets of society.   Let’s be honest sex offenders are definitely not treated nice in prison and they can be treated equally as bad by their neighbors/society when they are released.     

The real question is should sex offenders be treated differently by the church and faith communities.  There is overwhelming research that sex offenders have the propensity to re-offend, which puts everyone on red alert.  That’s why Sex Offenders are all in a national database and are required to register upon their release.  There are over a half million registered sex offenders in the U.S.; Texas leads the nation with well over 51,000 registered sex offenders and Florida is a close second.  If you put a truth serum in most Christians they will tell you that they are uncomfortable around and even scared of sex offenders; especially when it comes to their children.  Let’s face it, insurance companies even have exclusionary clauses for churches that hire or allow sex offenders to volunteer; in other words no coverage. 

The church must play a critical role in helping sex offenders develop a relationship with Christ; in order for them to restore their lives, rebuild relationships and have freedom from certain thoughts/behaviors.  Hmmmmm, this same process applies to each of us and our sinful nature! 

Should Sex Offenders be allowed to be on staff, volunteer or be in a role that officially represents a church?  Is it appropriate for Sex Offenders to volunteer w/ children? Share your thoughts!

RANDOM BULLETS   

LifeChurch.tv:

• I am looking forward to a great weekend!
• Anne Jackson is joining the LifeChurch.tv team!
• Bobby G. talks about the environment! 

Life:

• My son’s are both in swimming lessons and “I Can’t Swim!”
• My wife and I are going to Denver on vacation next week!
• My hotel reservations are jacked and Denver is sold out

 The Choice is Yours:

• Hillary Clinton or Rudy Giuliani
• Crushed Ice or Cubed Ice
• Hawaii or Jamaica
• NIV or The Message
• OU Sooners or LSU Tigers
• Read a Book or Watch a Movie

Questions:

• Outside of family or a spouse; is it acceptable to give some of the opposite sex a front hug, or should it only be a side hug?
• What are you reading? I need some new books to read!

• Why don’t we pray more often?
• Why are there 97 casinos in Oklahoma?
• Why are angels white and demons black?
• Why do people pay $5 for a cup of coffee?
• Why did the chicken cross the road, seriously?
• Why is blogging and reading blogs so addictive?
• Why doesn’t glue stick to the inside of the bottle?
• Why can we swear on the Bible in court, but can’t pray in school?
• Why is it not over until the fat lady sings, and who is she anyway?
• Why is there a church on every corner and not fruit on all the trees?

Share your own “Why” questions, or share your thoughts on any of the above.

Yesterday we talked about, “It’s All About the Numbers” and there were some great comments and feedback.  My man David Turner wrote the following comment: “Many people don’t invite because they aren’t really plugged in themselves.  When you catch the vision of what God is doing at your church, you are more motivated to extend an invitation.”  The getting plugged in and catching the vision is critical; once you get individuals through the doors.  Some of the important areas to “get plugged into” include but are not limited to:

• Biblical Community, Small Groups
• Serving within the local church
• Giving cheerfully of money and resources
• Serving within the community
• To “Go” on missions and “Be” a missionary
• Go into all the world and share Christ’s Love

We must understand that each of these things happen at different rates, for different people and I think it’s OK to be patient.  It is equally as important to understand that we will not have the opportunity to do many of the above, if we don’t get people through the doors.  If we succeed at getting people catch the vision and get plugged in, then we are able to lead them to “GO” in to “All The World.”  Last time I checked evangelism was defined as: a zealous enthusiasm for a cause.  I can’t think of a more important cause to have a zeal and enthusiasm for, than leading people to become fully devoted followers of Christ, which more times than not will happen through God’s chosen vessel “The Church.”  Remember that every number represents a name of an individual who will have the opportunity to be confronted with the Gospel.  If we do our part to get those numbers through the doors, God will change their lives.  Aren’t we talking about eternal life and eternal death?   

Should every weekend be a “Bring A Friend” weekend, and is your church “All About The Numbers?”  What are some other positives/negatives about being “All About The Numbers?”  Share Your Thoughts!

What I am going to share might not be popular, sexy, or politically correct; however I am going to say it anyway “It’s All About the Numbers.”  Yes, I am referring to the number of people that attend our church and your church each and every weekend.  The reason that “It’s All About the Numbers” is because behind each and every one of those numbers is a name.  About six years ago my family and I were simply some numbers that walked through the doors of LifeChurch.tv and some years later we represent Scott, LaKendria, Wesley and Jayden who’s lives are continuing to be changed.  Many of you have the exact same story or know someone with a story similar to mine; a number that walked through the doors of a church, which now represents a fully engaged partner of a church.  Here are some stats to gnaw on:

• 195 million non-churched people in America
• Only China, India and Indonesia have more lost people
• Each year 3,500 to 4,000 churches close their doors forever
• Each year only 1,100 to 1,500 new churches are started

On the Swerve blog, Craig is posting a series titled the “Future of the Church.”  In his post today (read it here) he discussed some of the changes churches made to be more “seeker sensitive.”   Although we are making some progress, in my opinion of the nearly 400,000 churches in America, there is far too many that:

• Assume everyone is a believer when they come to church.
• Assume everyone knows the language, has a Bible, or even cares about Christ.
• Are more inward-focused.

Yes, some churches need to change the way they think; however it’s time for us to get off of our politically correct, lazy, comfortable, and scared to say the wrong thing behinds and bring people through our doors.  Remember that every number represents a name!  

When was the last time you invited someone to church?  Is it all about the numbers?  Share your thoughts!

THAT’S RIGHT, I’M TALKING ABOUT A HANDSHAKE! 

As a father, one of the things that I teach my boys is to look someone in the eyes and give them a firm handshake.  I know some people probably think that a handshake does not really matter; however I would like to disagree.  Just think of the last time that you shook someone’s hand and either got a sweaty, limp, firm or bone-crushing shake; and the subconscious impressions that you made about that person.  There are some handshakes that you definitely don’t forget! 

When I worked in corrections the inmates and I had an understanding that I would not shake their hands but rather give them dap (meeting our fists together).  I didn’t choose to not shake their hand to be rude; however we had a mutual understanding that they had a lot of idle alone-time (grin) and there was not a lot of hand washing in prison.  While working in politics I would go with the bone-crushing shake; people would never forget who I was.  BTW-I really like for women to have a firm shake, even a bone-crushing shake; however my wife has not totally bought in to this concept.  Since I have been in ministry I have downgraded to a moderately firm shake, because early on I figured out that it wasn’t cool that the pastor was crushing hands.  At the end of the day, I prefer a simple firm handshake; no matter the gender and if you’re a guy and we have not seen one another in awhile, we can do what I call the one-handed-grip-hug. If you want your handshake to display self-confidence in the United States, the proper shake should include:

• Make eye contact and stand if you are seated        
• Give a firm handshake for about 3 seconds 
•  Shake a couple of times and release 

Is a handshake really that important?  What type of handshake do you give/prefer and does gender matter?  Whose hand would you like to shake?  Share your thoughts and handshaking stories!

RANDOM BULLETS   

Increase Your Blog Traffic:  Go to the BlogRush widget at the bottom right of my blog and click on the “Add You Blog Posts- Free.”  It will increase your blog traffic!

Quotes:

• The ear of the leader must ring with the voices of the people- Woodrow Wilson

• We tend to become what the most important person in our life thinks we will become- Author Unknown
• I act knowing someday this job will end, life is finite not infinite- Movie The Kingdom

Blogs and Sites to Check out:

• Blessed By Burdens- A site providing opportunities for people to be a blessing to others…..
• Robin Meadows- A home school mom w/ seven kids and good insight
• Ragamuffinsoul- Cool worship pastor recently featured on LA Ink

LifeChurch.tv:

• Supernatural series starts this weekend, it’s going to be awesome!
• Baptism Bash this weekend
• Craig gave an amazing talk at All Staff Yesterday, “I still have a headache from the talk!”

Life:

• My oldest son Wesley asked me, why I made my youngest son Jayden’s birthday before his. LOL
• My 4 yr. old son Jayden scored like four goals in one soccer game
• I am currently in a good season!

Questions:

• Do you know your neighbors names?
• Why do Home Depot/Lowes and Walgreens/CVS build stores across from one another?
• Did you and do your kids trick-or-treat?
• Who’s going to win the College Football National Championship?

My Sooners have a big game this weekend and you have a great weekend!

I need a fix, that’s right I said I need a fix; and I am not talking about getting spayed or neutered.  I always thought it was interesting to hear inmates and drug addicts that I worked with in the the past, tell me that they did ______, because they needed a fix.  We all “Need A Fix,” and we all get our fix in different ways.  For some it’s alcohol, drugs, Starbucks, cigarettes, relationships…….  I need a fix daily and I want to share some of the ways that I get my fix:

• Relationships- God, Wife, Kids, Family….
• Energy Drinks-  Amp, 180, Vault
• Reading- (3 B’s) Bible, Blogs, Books
• Thinking- Praying, Writing, Strategizing,  
• My First Time- I like to tread new waters and blaze new trails!

How do you get your fix?  Share your thoughts!

BTW- I got a fix last night when I took my wife on a date.  We went to see Tyler Perry’s gospel stage play “What’s Done In The Dark” and afterwards we went to a local pancake house.  It was a great time!   Tyler Perry’s movie “Why Did I Get Married” comes out tomorrow, it looks like a good one.

I would really like to get some comments and feedback on this one question.  All of you RSS readers, please chime in and share your thoughts as well!  OK, here is the question:

Should Pastors be able to drink alcohol in public?  Why or why not?  Is this a situational question?  Share your thoughts, share scripture…just sound off on this subject; you all have an opinion, and we want to hear them!

I remember when I got my first job as a warden of an adult penitentiary.  I was actually replacing a guy who had been a warden for many years and had that “Old School” warden mentality.  An “Old School” warden would basically sit behind their desk and give directions and not spend much time walking the yard and talking; similar to some “Old School” pastors.  My first week on the job, I asked the current Warden if we could walk the yard/units together; and I was amazed at the responses that we got from the inmates.  Many were yelling and saying “We have not seen that guy walk through here in over a year.”  I had some successful experience operating juvenile correctional facilities; however this was my first adult corrections leadership opportunity.  My philosophy was to always walk the yard, walk the units and talk to the inmates, while empowering my staff to do the same; you would be amazed at the difference that it makes. 

I would walk the units every day and field a bunch of complaints and begin to build relationships.  As the weeks went by the complaints were down, inmates began to respond differently to one another; as well as being more respectful of the guards.  Incidents and behavioral problems began to decline and there was an awkwardly comfortable feeling.  What was happening!  Could it be the fact that people are beginning to care about people; as well as accepting their role?  Could it be that the inmates are being respectful, because they are being respected?  Could it be that the correctional staff began to realize that it is OK to be firm and still treat people with dignity?  Could it be that the “Old School” doesn’t always work and we can learn something from the “New School?”  Could it be that loving your neighbor as yourself, might just have some positive implications?

What are some situations where the “Old School” method didn’t or doesn’t work?  What “New School” methods in your church, business, or life are working?  Could it be………?