Our Students have given over $800 to The Big Give Initiative to help needy families at Christmas.
FUEL will be mobile this coming week. We'll start here in the Upper Room at South Harriman Baptist Church, then we're going to Walmart to purchase toys, shoes, clothing etc. for families this Christmas. It's going to be fun showing the Love of Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas to people this year.
If you still would like to be involved in this project send me an e-mail HERE.
Merry Christmas,
- Brad
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
The Big Give
I hate to admit this, but every now and then I get inspired by something Oprah does. I was espeacially inspired when she did "Oprah's Big Give". It birthed the seeds of a vision for The Big Give in our Student Ministry here at South Harriman Baptist Church. Come along with me for a few seconds on a journey to show Big Love to needy children this Christmas.
We are partnering with a local elementary school to make this Christmas season the best ever for some local children.
Here's the plan: We want to raise $500.00 to take a family, specifically the kids to Walmart for a Christmas shopping spree. Imagine the look and emotions of a needy child running through Walmart picking out what they want for Christmas. We want to capture it on video, and make it a memory to last forever.
How can you help? Would you be willing to sacrifice to make this the best Christmas ever for some needy families? We know it's not about the gifts, but the love of Christ shining through us.
Would you be willing to partner with us for $10, $20, $50 or even a $100?
How many people can we bless this year? It's up to us. If you would like to donate to this cause please send a check made out to: South Harriman Baptist Church by December 9th, with the notation "Big Give" in the memo portion of the check. You can mail the check to:
South Harriman Baptist Church
626 Ruritan Rd.
Harriman, TN 37748
I hope you'll be a part of "The Big Give" Check back often for details, and the video!
- Brad
We are partnering with a local elementary school to make this Christmas season the best ever for some local children.Here's the plan: We want to raise $500.00 to take a family, specifically the kids to Walmart for a Christmas shopping spree. Imagine the look and emotions of a needy child running through Walmart picking out what they want for Christmas. We want to capture it on video, and make it a memory to last forever.
How can you help? Would you be willing to sacrifice to make this the best Christmas ever for some needy families? We know it's not about the gifts, but the love of Christ shining through us.
Would you be willing to partner with us for $10, $20, $50 or even a $100?
How many people can we bless this year? It's up to us. If you would like to donate to this cause please send a check made out to: South Harriman Baptist Church by December 9th, with the notation "Big Give" in the memo portion of the check. You can mail the check to:
South Harriman Baptist Church
626 Ruritan Rd.
Harriman, TN 37748
I hope you'll be a part of "The Big Give" Check back often for details, and the video!
- Brad
Friday, November 06, 2009
Tips to Guarantee Failure
1. Always try to do what is fair.
It is amazing how many bad decisions, or non-decisions are made based on the merits of what is 'fair'. It can seem at times that being fair has become the ultimate virtue. Only problem is - doing what is fair isn't always the same as doing what is right. Too many times we get locked in this box of trying to be fair, instead of just doing the right thing. Employers don't want to give a high performing employee a bigger raise than under performing employees because - "It's not fair". I don't know who come up with the idea that - What you can't do for all, don't do for anyone - but it's idiotic. What you can do for one, do for one.
If you always try to be fair, failure is sure to be achieved. Do what is right.
2. Never hurt any one's feelings.
Do you or your organization often find yourself making decisions based on what will do the least harm to people's feeling instead of what will do the most good to the cause? If so, failure is all but assured. I'm not suggesting that we should be insensitive to people's feelings, but that we should choose the best path, not the path of least resistance. I've counseled many people who allow inappropriate conduct to go on with with the opposite sex in the workplace because they didn't want to 'offend' their co-worker. Offend better to offend? Your spouse and kids or the flirt?
If you're the boss and you allow a poor employee to hurt the company because you don't want to 'hurt feelings', then you need to fire yourself.
Bill Cosby said, "I don't know what the key to success is, but I know that the key to failure is to try to make everyone happy."
3. Appoint people with position and entitlement to be the decision makers.
If you don't have the best leaders and most discerning people around you, you are sure to fail. Yes, it's a paradigm shift, but get over it. If you're a church and the people who've been there the longest to be the only voices that get heard, say hello to failure. Get the best, brightest, most skilled, wisest people in decision making positions - not necessarily the most liked, longest tenured, loudest, well funded people.
4. Compromise the mission to get everyone on board.
Unity is sometimes best achieved by subtraction. There is only power in numbers if everyone is going the same direction.
- Brad
Monday, November 02, 2009
Perry Noble on the Churches future...
Perry Noble, Senior Pastor of NewSpring Church in South Carolina recently posted this article on Why he thinks the best days of the Church are ahead.
I Agree! Amen, Perry!
As I survey the landscape of church in America I am not buying into to the “doom and gloom” that some people seem to take joy in declaring…
IN FACT, I believe the opposite…I seriously believe the churches best days are ahead of her.
Acts 2 wasn’t something that happened that we are supposed “to get back to,” it was where we STARTED FROM…and should be FOUNDATIONAL and not just some ideal we strive for…
And I’m seeing that!
I see leaders stepping up and leading with CONVICTION and PASSION…and begging God for HIS permission instead of begging committees for their approval!
I see Jesus being preached and repentance being demanded…and people RESPONDING in droves because THE GOSPEL, not some non-eternal agenda, has taken center stage.
I see churches being planted and video campuses getting started by people who are more interested in seeing birth given to babies rather than trying to resurrect the dead.
To read more, and I encourage you too see his full post HERE.
- Brad
I Agree! Amen, Perry!
As I survey the landscape of church in America I am not buying into to the “doom and gloom” that some people seem to take joy in declaring…
IN FACT, I believe the opposite…I seriously believe the churches best days are ahead of her.
Acts 2 wasn’t something that happened that we are supposed “to get back to,” it was where we STARTED FROM…and should be FOUNDATIONAL and not just some ideal we strive for…
And I’m seeing that!
I see leaders stepping up and leading with CONVICTION and PASSION…and begging God for HIS permission instead of begging committees for their approval!
I see Jesus being preached and repentance being demanded…and people RESPONDING in droves because THE GOSPEL, not some non-eternal agenda, has taken center stage.
I see churches being planted and video campuses getting started by people who are more interested in seeing birth given to babies rather than trying to resurrect the dead.
To read more, and I encourage you too see his full post HERE.
- Brad
Friday, October 30, 2009
Before there was Twitter...
There was the pithy public bathroom stall inscriptions usually tallying 140 characters or less. Not to totally disgust you right now, but I had to visit a Walmart public restroom this week and found myself starring at this little work of graffiti. As you can see it reads, "Jesus died for you...What can you do for Him?...John 3:16."
The answer that initially came to my mind was, "We can quit vandalizing other people's property!" After all at some point there will be a man or woman who has to clean or repair this door because of some one's really poor attempt at spreading the gospel message - what will their thoughts be?
Maybe the problem in the church today isn't a lack of spreading the message that Jesus saves, but how we do it.
- Brad
The answer that initially came to my mind was, "We can quit vandalizing other people's property!" After all at some point there will be a man or woman who has to clean or repair this door because of some one's really poor attempt at spreading the gospel message - what will their thoughts be?
Maybe the problem in the church today isn't a lack of spreading the message that Jesus saves, but how we do it.
- Brad
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Great Deal at Bed Bath & Beyond!
I found this cute little girl on sale for $39.99 at Bed Bath and Beyond. I couldn't resist, so I bought her and brought her home!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Why Churches Fail
Found this very stimulating article on why churches fail. I've seen this very pattern happen many times.
Why We Fail…Don Dudley
First reason: Vision.
Regardless of who you are or what books you have read, if you attend a church, they have a vision. I don’t care if they are a house church, mega-church, mainline, or inter-denominational; at one point, there was a vision. If it is / was a good vision, it starts with the Gospel and transformation. Everything else (aesthetics, methods, music style, etc.) comes secondary.
It’s all down hill from here.
The problem is, most people do not pick out what church they go to based on vision. Instead, they pick through secondary things. Very few people research what the church stands for before they go. They research the style and MAYBE the doctrinal stances.
This leads to dissension.
When we jump into a church with both feet only to find we, ourselves, do not align with the vision, we burn out quickly. We think of all the activities as pointless. The outreach events are not our idea of a “good,” so we dislike it (our pride comes into play here too). Soon we start bashing the church: “You know, I like the people, and the music is good, but it is too….[you fill in the blank].”
Often, we are left with only a few people who still see the vision and chase it. The rest are just consumers. Arguments flair up between those who have completely bought into the vision, and the rest. People get upset and leave the church.
Then the church panics.
Once people start their exodus to another church (which they will probably not like), we adapt our vision into marketing so we can fill the newly vacated seats. Instead of reaching the ones we originally were called to reach, we start reaching those who will give us committed attendance. Then the cycle starts over again. On average I would say most people spend about a year at a church before it becomes boring to them and they move on. After many cycles, most churches will fall apart and close their doors. Others will just continue to go through the motions as long as the people will let them. Anyone who still clings to the vision is looked at as an odd ball and “old fashioned.” The pastor is no longer regarded as the one who leads the vision (even if it was his in the first place) but as the “face” of the church for marketing purposes.
JUST STOP DOING IT.
Really. Stop jumping from church to church because of their style and methodology. Instead of going to the churches website to find out what the church looks and feels like, go and look at the vision. Go for something other than secondary things. Does the vision hold true to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)? Do they do it in a way that seems to emphasis your current gifting? Do you feel you could be a beneficial part of their mission? If you answer no to any of these, either the church is not good (because it lacks the element of spreading the Gospel), or you are not good for it.
If you are looking for a social club or just similar demographics, church is the worst place to find them. All you will be doing is ruining the ability to accomplish the vision. You will become the “problem” with the church. Instead of helping them do what God has called them to do, you will become an advocate for the enemy and a hindrance.
Think long and hard before you join arms with a church.
You really have to ask the question: “Why am I going there?”
-----
- Brad
Why We Fail…Don Dudley
First reason: Vision.
Regardless of who you are or what books you have read, if you attend a church, they have a vision. I don’t care if they are a house church, mega-church, mainline, or inter-denominational; at one point, there was a vision. If it is / was a good vision, it starts with the Gospel and transformation. Everything else (aesthetics, methods, music style, etc.) comes secondary.
It’s all down hill from here.
The problem is, most people do not pick out what church they go to based on vision. Instead, they pick through secondary things. Very few people research what the church stands for before they go. They research the style and MAYBE the doctrinal stances.
This leads to dissension.
When we jump into a church with both feet only to find we, ourselves, do not align with the vision, we burn out quickly. We think of all the activities as pointless. The outreach events are not our idea of a “good,” so we dislike it (our pride comes into play here too). Soon we start bashing the church: “You know, I like the people, and the music is good, but it is too….[you fill in the blank].”
Often, we are left with only a few people who still see the vision and chase it. The rest are just consumers. Arguments flair up between those who have completely bought into the vision, and the rest. People get upset and leave the church.
Then the church panics.
Once people start their exodus to another church (which they will probably not like), we adapt our vision into marketing so we can fill the newly vacated seats. Instead of reaching the ones we originally were called to reach, we start reaching those who will give us committed attendance. Then the cycle starts over again. On average I would say most people spend about a year at a church before it becomes boring to them and they move on. After many cycles, most churches will fall apart and close their doors. Others will just continue to go through the motions as long as the people will let them. Anyone who still clings to the vision is looked at as an odd ball and “old fashioned.” The pastor is no longer regarded as the one who leads the vision (even if it was his in the first place) but as the “face” of the church for marketing purposes.
JUST STOP DOING IT.
Really. Stop jumping from church to church because of their style and methodology. Instead of going to the churches website to find out what the church looks and feels like, go and look at the vision. Go for something other than secondary things. Does the vision hold true to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)? Do they do it in a way that seems to emphasis your current gifting? Do you feel you could be a beneficial part of their mission? If you answer no to any of these, either the church is not good (because it lacks the element of spreading the Gospel), or you are not good for it.
If you are looking for a social club or just similar demographics, church is the worst place to find them. All you will be doing is ruining the ability to accomplish the vision. You will become the “problem” with the church. Instead of helping them do what God has called them to do, you will become an advocate for the enemy and a hindrance.
Think long and hard before you join arms with a church.
You really have to ask the question: “Why am I going there?”
-----
- Brad
Friday, October 09, 2009
Think Big!
Ever heard the expression, "That's good enough"?I sure have...truth is I've used it before. Lately I've been forcing myself and encouraging others to ask another question..."Good enough for who?"
Good enough for Brad, or good enough for Jesus Christ? I believe many times it is easy for us to become complacent with "good enough."
God deserves better though. Especially when it comes to how his body, the church, goes about it's mission to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. It's time we stop accepting, embracing and even celebrating mediocrity. It's time to strive to make a BIG impact on our culture.
This Sunday at South Harriman Baptist we're launching a new series titled "Think Big." Let me encourage you to be there at 11 am.
It's time to do away with "good enough" and begin Thinking BIG!
- Brad
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