List of Theological Seminars

There are over 200 seminaries in the United States.  That can be overwhelming to have to work through which one is the right one if you’ve chosen to go that right to further your education.

Hopefully this will help you!

Go here for complete list!

So Many Reality Shows!

I watch reality shows!

I feel like that’s more of a confessional than a statement.  I don’t watch a lot of them and because of my schedule, I’m not really able to watch them consistently, but there’s a few that have piqued my interest.  Sometimes its the funny (corny) humor.  Sometimes its the foolish drama.  Sometimes its the cliffhanger.  Sometimes its the mindless nature of watching somebody else’s life unfold. Sometimes there are leadership and wisdom lessons it (preachers always look for illustrations!).

One thing is true for me with regards to reality shows – I don’t have to think hard while watching them!  I don’t have to figure out the strategy with it.  I don’t have to worry about costs, the ethical implications, or even the long-term outcomes.

But, as I was watching one of the current reality shows, I couldn’t help but wonder, why do we have so many reality television shows?  After a quick search, there appears to be upwards of 1400 reality shows currently on television in the US. Whew! That’s ALOT of reality!

Why? Why do we have so MANY?

There seems to be a larger life point here…that I’m not very sure about…

Do the kinds of shows speak to the real lives of people in our culture?  Is there an deeper need that these shows are filling?  Is this healthy? Doesn’t even matter? Is it even this serious?

I know that they are cheaper to produce that sitcoms and other more produced shows, which means more money for the production companies.  I also understand that many in our culture today, love to see the ‘drama’ in the lives of our superstars.

But I’m really intrigued…why do we have so many?  What are your thoughts?

8 Meetings Every Church Should Be Having

From all accounts, in today’s culture, people are tired of meetings. According to INFOCOMM, 11 million meetings occur in the U.S. every day. That’s a lot of meetings! Unnecessary meetings cost our companies productivity dollars, drains employee focus, creates frustration, causes malaise on staff teams, and can bog projects down.  All of this causes us to develop a negative approach to meetings and often work to avoid them.  This immediately puts us in a defensive mode when meetings are scheduled and suggested.  Some would humorously argue that most of those happen in and around churches. Churches host lots of meetings.  While some meetings are unnecessary, there are some that are warranted and needed. 

Without a doubt, some of these meetings are huge time wasters and amount to busy work.  But there are clearly some meetings that every church should host on a regular basis.  I’d like to suggest 8 meetings that every church, regardless of size, should regularly commit to.  Each meeting should be clear on who needs to be at the table and what the end result should be.

1. Strategy Meetings: Without clear strategies, systems, and effective execution, church vision’s become nightmares.  Every church must identify the gathering place for those that are committed to working on ministry strategy and planning.  These big picture conversations should be thought-out and approached in a way that is structured, yet fluid.  These meetings are also important to help clarify what to say ‘Yes’ to on our calendar and activities and also what to say ‘No’ to. The recommended frequency of these meetings should be monthly.
2. Budget Meetings: Facts are your friend and numbers don’t lie.  Vision is awesome, but without the funds it becomes a daydream. How you allocate, save, and direct your dollars and resources speaks to your values, priorities, and ministry philosophies. It’ll be important to review your budget to determine what you done, but also what you have room to do. For every program and activity that becomes a yes in your ministry, there are some programs and activities that will become “stop doing” because of your budget. These meetings should happen weekly.
3. Development Meetings: People love a church where they are not just being asked to give something, but also being developed as people.  If you have leaders, how do you regularly develop your leaders? If you have entrepreneurs, how are you helping to develop your entrepreneurs? If you have musicians, how are you helping to develop your musicians? These meetings could include training sessions, seminars, Bible studies, video tutorials, roundtable and panel discussions, and a host of other approaches.  The point is that you commit to a plan to regularly develop your multiple communities. These meetings should be planned throughout the year based on budget and calendar events.
4. Technology Meetings: Technology has become a major cornerstone of our society and it has not left the church untouched.  Websites, blogs, social media, building wiring, Wifi, AV needs, television broadcasts, radio spots, video announcements, printing needs, telephone and voicemail approaches, and the list goes on.  If there is no planning around technology for your church you will be on either one extreme of being severely behind the trends or you will attempt to stay on top of the changes that you’ll be spending too loosely and unwisely. In either case, there should be regular conversations with your staff, consultants, and/or business professionals who direct these efforts for you. These meetings should happen quarterly.
5. Celebrating/Fun Meetings: Everyone needs times to let their hair down. Do you have regular times where you, your ministry leaders, and members gather just to enjoy life? If we believe John 10:10, we must believe that we must approach our member with organizational fun. This can include church-wide picnics, Drive-In Movies, Date Nights For Couples, Dance Classes, and the like. These meeting should be planned minimally four to six times a year.
6. Vision Sharing Meetings: There’s a clear reason why the federal government launched the concept the State of the Union address.  They understood that there needed to be multiple times where the leader (The President) shares vision and direction for the next few months.  In the church’s case, there must be consistent times where the Pastor and Leadership share vision and clarify direction for the church. It’s better to clearly state it than to have members guessing about it. These meetings should be held in a way in which the vision, mission, core values, and strategic approaches for the ministry overall are shared and communicated. These meetings should happen minimally twice a year.
7. Networking/Connection Meetings: Although social media has infiltrated every aspect of our lives, we are still people who crave personal connection. Face-to-face contact and interaction is a must for a healthy ministry.  Every member represents a story and unique experiences that should be shared with others.  This encourages faith, builds community, and expands everyone’s reach.  Further, it is only when personal connections are made that accountability is established, gifts are determined, and growth is probable. These gatherings should happen as frequently as your calendar with allow.
8. Evaluation Meetings: Whatever your ministry evaluates stands a greater chance of improving.  Anything that is not evaluated becomes a recurring phenomenon that may or may not be working to its highest capacity. This includes evaluating programs, people, and processes. Without a clear process of evaluation, there becomes a standard of assumptions that may not be accurate.  Evaluation confirms or denies whatever those assumptions may be. The recommended frequency of these meetings should be quarterly.

Ministries that minimally offer these gatherings and meetings afford themselves the opportunity to be a balanced ministry, by promoting biblical growth at every level of their ministry. The ministry will have effective buy-in throughout the organization, and will have great clarity and enthusiasm about what God is doing in the life of His body. You’re free now to start planning. You’ve got meetings to organize!

After The Sermon Blues

If you’re a preacher and you’ve preached more than 2 sermons – you’ve at some point experienced that ‘lull’ and emotional valley that sometimes happens after your preach a sermon. A few days ago a few preacher friend of mine and I had conversation about this.  I was further inspired to write about it.

While most people are ready to eat after a church service, there are many preachers across the country that immediately begin to mentally evaluate ‘how was the message?’.  This mental sparring match that goes on sometimes is quick and painless.  And yet other times, it can last for days and be physically and emotionally (and spiritually) draining!

I haven’t met a preacher yet, including myself, that at some point after you’ve preached a message – you’re faced with all kinds of emotions, thoughts, and physical ‘reactions’ to what can happen to people that live in a physical body that wage war in the spirit.

That last point gives us a clue about one aspect of this.  Preaching done right, is without a doubt, spiritual warfare.  Preaching ought to be – in whatever delivery style- solid teaching of God’s Word.  When God’s Word is taught, people that receive it are able to be empowered, encouraged, and life transformation genuinely happens.

If this is the result of good preaching (teaching) – you better believe that satan does not enjoy it one bit.

I know that every preacher has their own rhymthm and “mojo” when it comes to preaching and what they do after preaching, but I’ve spoken to enough people in the past few years that I wanted to offer some real simple and practical things that I do many times after I preach.

Much of what I do, I’ve learned by observing some keys things in 1 Kings 17, 18, and 19 after Elijah accomplished some great things for God.

1.  I rest! - Simply put, your body needs some time and space to recharge.  I made an observation a few years ago that I sometimes have to repeatedly remind myself of.  I’ve even had some to disagree with me, but up until this point…I’ve found it to be true that: “You can never be spiritual strong when you’re physically weak!”  This rest may not only include sleep, but sometimes it includes having my attention diverted to non-ministry things.  Sometimes this includes settling in to a good movie that has nothing to do with church, sometimes it means playing with my kids, sometimes its picking up a good book, sometimes it may be a date with my wife.  Whatever it is, it should recharge your batteries. (I thank God for a wife that on many Sunday afternoons gives me space to do this!)

2.  I eat! - I believe this is a part of the recharging process.  I’m no scientists, but I’ve read scores of research and I know that its been documented on the physical ‘workout’ that ensues when one preaches.  I don’t want to quote anything specific, but I can only imagine the calories that are burned in a 30-40 minute sermon.  A good healthy, balanced meal helps replenish the energy that’s released (Notice I said a good, balanced healthy meal).

3.  I reflect! - Normally, we preachers can be our own worst critics.  There ARE times that we BOMB a message.  No doubt!  I’m not sugar-coating it or trying to make it sound good.  Sometimes we drop the ball.  But there are many times that its not as bad as we imagined. The key here is to be honest and forthright. Sometimes, you’ve got to simply say to yourself – you’ll have another opportunity.  Not only that (I’m not trying to be too spiritual here), you’ve got to remember that you’re only human, and yet preaching is a spiritual act of worship that must be submitted to God.  Which means, there are some results from your message that only God can bring. 

4.  I Listen!  It never, ever hurts you to have people around you that will tell you the truth!  I know many preachers who have surrounded themselves with “Yes” people who only rubber stamp anything that they do.  This isn’t healthy in the least bit.  I think its more healthy for you to have a few people around you who won’t disrespect you, but be willing to tell you the truth.  Most of this process requires you to empower people to do that.  Sometimes this can be family, sometimes it can be friends, and sometimes it can be parishioners.  Whoever it is – make sure they are mature enough – to handle giving positive feedback without having a critical spirit (there’s a difference).

I believe if you employ these aspects for your sermon delivery. It will enable you to further develop your ministry gift and empower you to be further submitted to God.  After all, its His gift anyway.

P.S. - If you’re not a preacher and you’re reading this, instead of running so fast on Sundays to get to the chicken, sometimes take a minute and encourage your preacher.  Many times, a honest moment of feedback, will go a long with to you getting a better message in the future.  (Honest feedback isn’t always a one-liner.  Tell them how you’ve applied the Word to your life!)