Archive for the 'Random' CategoryPage 2 of 9

Congratulations Ryan!

Published
by
Evan Doyle
on May 19, 2008
in Events and Random
. 3 Comments

Hey, this is Evan! Something very exciting happened yesterday: Ryan celebrated 10 years of full time ministry at our home church, Liberty Baptist. All along, his wife Beth has been serving with him in ministry. To show him the church’s appreciation, we threw a surprise party for Ryan and Beth yesterday during the evening service. It was an exciting night as we looked back over the 10 years Ryan has been at Liberty full time. And even more exciting, we were reminded of how thankful we are that the fashion from the late 90s is over!

Ryan means a lot to our church, as well as to many of you. So if you have a funny story, thank you, or anything else you would like us to share with Ryan, just leave a comment on below! This is our little way of showing Ryan how much his church family and his online family care!

Now, what Ryan didn’t know was that behind his back I sent an email to several of our Way We See It subscribers and asked for their comments to share with him. Here a just a few of them I’ve received:

“As children’s pastors, in networks of children’s pastors, we are learning, sharing, growing, and spreading God’s love in new and creative ways because kidz matter. You may never see or meet all the lives impacted this side of heaven, but heaven will be different because of your investment in the lives of leaders in the here and now. Your investment in the kids you minister to each week has ripple effects as you challenge, grow and stretch each of us. Thanks for allowing God to use you to make a difference in the Kingdom for kids, families, teachers, and leaders.” Susan Hoak

“Thank you, Ryan, for allowing God to use you to touch the lives of so many kids and those who minister to kids. It is easy to see that kids really do matter to you. I have been blessed through your ministry. Keep pressing on!” Melinda Autry

“Please add me to the count of Children’s Pastors that is so appreciative of Ryan and Beth for the support they provide through their friendship, Kidzmatter.com, the Blog, as well as the workshops Ryan leads. May God continue to use Ryan for the advancement of His kingdom at Liberty Baptist and throughout the world!” Deana Hayes

“I’ve always appreciated Pastor Ryan and Beth’s drive for the Lord. Whenever I think of Pastor Ryan and Beth I think of hard work, enthusiasm for God’s work, and most of all, integrity. Both Ryan and Beth are vital members of our congregation and the body of Christ as a whole. We, at Liberty, are so blessed to call them family!” Briana Pickering

Say yes to no

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on May 10, 2008
in Encouragement, Leadership and Random
. 0 Comments

Good reasons to say no
1. There simply aren’t enough hours in a day to work on it, even if I get to work early and stay late.
Just say no!
2. You are booked
Just say no!
3. My other work will suffer if I take on this assignment.
Just say no!
4. I don’t have the necessary skills to complete this project and I will not be able to attain them in
time.
Just say no!

Ok it’s your turn again. Know any reasons to say yes to no?
jw

Say no to no…

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on May 9, 2008
in Encouragement, Leadership and Random
. 1 Comment

Bad reasons to say no
1. The project looks too difficult. Don’t say no to an opportunity to grow and learn.
2. It isn’t part of my job description. Never let these words come out of your mouth
3. I’m in the middle of planning my wedding and can’t focus on anything
right now. What? This was told to me by a leader once, life never stops, learn to balance personal stuff and your ministry. There will always be something going on at the same time as something you need to do for ministry. Both life and church must go on.

How about you? Know any bad reasons to say no?
jw

Reasons you might want to say no!

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on May 8, 2008
in Encouragement, Leadership and Random
. 1 Comment

Here are 6 questions to ask before saying no for no sake.
1. Am I already working on several important assignments that leave me no time for this one?
If so maybe no is the right answer.
2. Can I delegate some of my other work to make room for this assignment?
If no maybe no is the right answer.
3. Can I put some of my other assignments on the back burner while I work on this one?
If not maybe no is the right answer.
4. Will taking on this assignment cause harm to my other work?
If so maybe no is the right answer.
5. Do I absolutely lack the skills necessary to complete this assignment?
If yes maybe no is the right answer.
6. Am I the only person who can successfully complete this assignment?
If no maybe no is the right answer.

more to come…

Jesus said no…

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on May 4, 2008
in Encouragement, Leadership and Random
. 2 Comments

Let’s look at our example (JESUS) Here are eight times Jesus said no..
1. He said no to the devil (Luke 4)
2. He said no to religious people and their doctrines & traditions (Luke 5 & 6)
3. He said no to family (Luke 8:19-21)
4. He said no to a man who wanted Jesus to act as a judge between an inheritance dispute
with his brother (Luke 12:14)
5. He said no to miracles because of the lack of faith of people in their hometown (Mark 6:5)
6. He said no to his disciples when they asked him to send the people away so they could buy
themselves food. He said no, you give them something to eat (Mark 6:36 & 37)
7. Said no to the Syrian Phoenician woman because she didn’t have a covenant (Mark 7:26)
8. He said no to ministry (Matt. 8:18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.)
Notice he didn’t say no to all these situations all the time but what these verse give me is permission to say no to even good things as well as bad things. It also let’s me know that sometimes no is the best answer.

The Art of Saying No

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on May 1, 2008
in Encouragement, Leadership and Random
. 1 Comment

Most people work on their strengths and ignore their weaknesses. I believe it’s good to know your strengths and develop them to their fullest. I get a lot done, I do, time management fascinates me.
I have a true confession: “My greatest strength also covers up my biggest weakness!” I’ve always been a sucker for “it can’t be done.” I’ve also had a hard time passing up the challenge, “no one can do this.” I don’t think I’m a workaholic. Sure I enjoy what I do. My wife says I have the gift to turn hobbies into work. Over the past year I have learned to separate my self-worth from my performance. I have been called driven and maybe I am. I sometimes have unrealistic expectations for myself and others. I have been known to enjoy the high of success although the pressure can be too much some time. The truth is I have a hard time saying no! Okay I said it!

I struggle with when. I struggle with how. I struggle with why. I’m having to work on walking out the fact of “just because I am asked to do something that it doesn’t mean it’s God’s will for my life!”
more to come…

A lot has happen in a year

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on April 30, 2008
in Leadership and Random
. 2 Comments

It has been exactly a year since I talked to my pastor of 17 years for the first time about my departure from the staff there. I never thought I would leave but it was God that I did. What a year this has been! It’s been amazing to watch the Father’s care for me and my family. It’s wild how a step of obedience can be both the best of times and the worst of times. Peace and faith went head to head against wonder and unknown and won. If you had told me this time last year that I would be on staff at a new church, I would be living in Tennessee, giving my leadership club away free to children’s pasters under 30 years old and I would be seeing another dream of mine coming true, launching a 12 month mentoring service, I would have said….naw. It’s been the greatest year of learning, reflecting, evaluation, dreaming, and change I’ve experienced in years. I’ve prayed more, laughed more, cried more, repented more, traveled more and ate more than I should have but it’s been a great year! I’m healthier, happier, and less stressfull. I’ve found myself asking people “How are you doing?” more than “What have you been doing? or “What’s going on?” As I think about the question “What will I be writing in a year?” I don’t have a clue what the new year holds but I know it’s going to be good. I choose to have only 2 kinds of days…good days and better days! And I am committed to spend the rest of my life pouring into the next generation of leaders. Thanks for your prayers and coming with me on the journey.

Why the teacher should never leave the room

Published
by
Ryan Frank
on April 18, 2008
in Random
. 0 Comments

Tonight I was browsing the Cold Water Cafe and found this picture. Enjoy!


Click to enlarge.

Seuss and the Bible: Horton Hears a Who!

Published
by
Evan Doyle
on April 11, 2008
in Culture, Leadership and Random
. 4 Comments

Last week, I went and saw “Horton Hears a Who!” in the theatre. I was reminded how much Dr. Seuss reminds me of Biblical themes. So, over the next few weeks, I’ll be writing about the Seuss series and some of the things we can learn from it.

We’re going to start with Horton Hears a Who. We’re going to use quotes to make our points.

1. Children matter, just like adults.
“A person’s a person, no matter how small.”

OK, I know I’m kind of preaching to the choir on this one, but it’s something important to never forget. Every child from the youngest baby to the oldest preteen are just as important as the “grownups”. While we can’t use the same approaches with kids as we do adults, they have an amazing ability to understand God and who he is. Remember that they aren’t stupid! Continue reading ‘Seuss and the Bible: Horton Hears a Who!’

The most awesome birthday cake ever!

Published
by
Evan Doyle
on April 8, 2008
in Random
. 1 Comment

I have a lovely aunt who makes WONDERFUL cakes.  For my birthday I wanted a Macintosh shaped cake.  She lives in Arkansas, however, so I didn’t get my cake until we came down on Spring Break this week.  However, as you’ll see in the first picture, she tortured me with a less impressive decoy cake with a real apple on top.  The real cake was much better though!  Check out the pictures below:

Now, don’t you wish you had my aunt?