Hanging On and Letting Go

The world is full of mixed messages. Like when I ask my wife, Stephanie, where she wants to go for lunch on my day off. Most times she will say, “Wherever you want.” So my response is “Ok, how about In and Out” (a local burger joint). She may say the word “fine,” but I have learned over the years that when a wife says “fine,” it does not always mean “fine” as the word “fine” is actually defined. I learned this the hard way, several times in fact. The world is full of mixed messages and the … [Read more...]

The Balance of Action and Faith

Usually on Wednesday you would see the MTP podcast, but not today. Actually, we did record this week’s episode, but to be honest, I was still so bothered by the horrific display of evil in Newtown, Connecticut that I couldn't stay mentally focused on what we were doing. That episode felt out of place to me because I was so off track. My heart hurts so badly for those families and at the same time I feel angry, angry at the enemy. So I want to change gears a little bit. In the next several MTP … [Read more...]

Where Are You Going?

What is the one common denominator in all our lives regardless of where you live, the size and scope of your ministry or your family situation? We are all BUSY! Almost everyone I know is “busy.” Even if they really aren’t busy, they feel compelled to say they are busy because everyone else is. We all agree life is just a little more complicated than it used to be and it does not seem to be letting up. But no matter what demands or expectations are placed on my shoulders, the stewardship of … [Read more...]

PODCAST – Episode 15

We see a lot of kids from divorced families and it is a reality we all have to work with. Most of us do not have a lot of training in this area either. In this podcast, we talk about how to communicate and support the child whose parent has died or their parents are getting a divorce. Resources (Books We're Reading Right Now) The Two Sides of Love by Gary Smalley and John Trent Restoring Joy-Ordering Your Private World by Gordan McDonald Practicing Greatness by Reggie … [Read more...]

Norm!

This weekend I visited our Irvine campus and saw something so simple but surprisingly effective. I was standing at the check in center and could hear a constant stream of voices. Our Irvine Children’s Director, Kecia, said “you should go check out what our 5th and 6th grade leader is doing.” So I walked around the corner and watched the action. Here is what I saw. As each pre-teen came into the room, our volunteer would greet them by name and then do something very interesting. She would … [Read more...]

How Many Kids Are in Your Ministry?

In the last MTP podcast, I mentioned one of the most common questions asked at conferences. I bet you have heard the question, “how many kids are in your ministry?” Now there is nothing wrong with the question itself, but I think there are some negative unintended consequences of consistently asking that question. Here are a few of those unintended consequences: We tend to place higher value and significance to larger ministries assuming they are more effective because they have more … [Read more...]

PODCAST – Episode 14

Children’s Ministry is more than just kids! It is about the parents, our volunteers and the kids. To have an effective ministry, there should be a balance between them all. Are you attending a children’s ministry conference in 2013? If not, check out CPC in Orlando, FL and San Diego, CA. Please try to find me at either the Orlando or San Diego conferences as I would like to say hi to you. At any conference you attend this year, when you are asked how many kids you have in your ministry, ask … [Read more...]

Watching Others Do What You Do

This past weekend, the Saddleback Kids team from our San Clemente campus came to the main campus in Lake Forest to observe and connect with other volunteers who do what they do. We gathered together after the service for dinner and some training with the team. It was very interesting. I had several people say this to me…“I’ve never thought about doing it like that before.” It is a simple fact, getting out of your regular ministry environment and watching someone else do what you do is … [Read more...]