Self-Evaluation

Have you heard the saying "you are your worst critic?"

Taking an honest look at how we perform certain tasks or the quality we are able to produce is important in our growth process...not easy...but important.

I started this blog with the verse in mind,

"So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step."

1 Corinthians 9:26

What is the purpose of doing such an evaluation?

• to grow in your profession
• to grow spiritually
• to grasp where you honestly are in relation to your goals
• honest analysis

If you walk away from a self-evaluation feeling beat up, you have missed the purpose. Yes, we need to be 'brutally honest' with where we are, but that is for the purpose of charting the next step in your growth process. Too many people get stuck in the 'brutally honest' stage and live there without taking the next step of change.

Remember...to continue to do the same thing over and over and expect different results is the definition of insanity!

Why this post? I video taped our service at Camden County the last Sunday. The church is a great place to be right now. There is excitement and growth, but I wanted to get an honest look at how our services run. I also wanted to hear my sermon.

I have to admit parts of it were rough to see (especially a few spots in my sermon...I didn't know I used my hands so much!) I printed out a few snapshots from the video and showed it to the leadership team. This is a group of leaders that want to grow. They saw the pictures and said what can we do to make this a more comfortable place to worship God. We took it as an opportunity to learn, grow, and take action. It has turned into a great experience!

Camden County Update

God is doing great things at our Camden County campus. I am excited to be a part of it!

If you don't know, last Sunday (Aug 5) marked the first Sunday of me serving that campus on a weekly basis. Carrie and I will be with them each week through the end of this year. After that we will take time to evaluate what is going on and what the next step is.

This week we had 66 people! Considering they have been formally meeting since Easter this is great! That represents the most they have had in any service yet.

Keep praying for this dedicated group. It can be very tiring working a full time job, having a family, and volunteering countless hours leading a new ministry. I am honored to work with these men and women.

My role at our main campus running youth sports will not be changing. Add in the weekly duties of this new role and a master's level class I am taking, it will be a busy fall. Pray for me to be wise with my time. I know I can fulfill all of my duties with excellence, but it will take a planned effort. Pray that I don't get to wrapped up in other stuff that I put Carrie on the back-burner. I want to be the best husband I can be.

Another Milestone

Today I celebrated another milestone in my process of becoming totally what God wants of me.

There is a process...which I believe is a great one...to being ordained for full time ministry at Christ's Church. This standard was established by the Elders of our church in conjunction with our senior pastor and executive pastor. One of those standards is obtaining a degree from a Christian college/university in religion. With my undergrad in business management I do not, at this time, meet that requirement.

To help non-traditional folks like myself who desire to fulfill their calling to full time ministry, they created a 'commissioning' process. Basically, it is an ordination that is renewed each year by our Elders upon their review of my progress towards goals we established up front. For me that means obtaining my Master's degree.

I am starting that process this month through Cincinnatti Christian Seminary. It is a Master of Arts in Religion and Pastoral Leadership.

All of that said, this morning during our monthly all-staff meeting I was commissioned into fulltime ministry at Christ's Church. The process involved our church leadership team laying their hands on me and the pastor praying for me. While I knew this was in the works, I had know idea it was going to happen today or what it would involve. (Thanks, Cameron, for taking the picture on your camera-phone!)

It may not seem like a big deal, but it is a vote of confidence by my church and a sign of my personal growth. I know I still have a long way to go.

A Camden County Update...

I wanted to post this earlier, but it has been a crazy week.

Last Sunday I preached at our Camden County campus again. These guys are awesome! They are always loving and encouraging when I am with them.

I continue to be amazed and impressed by their commitment to getting this campus started.

We had at least 5 first time visitors last week (not counting the couples from my small group that went) and some came wanting to know what they needed to do to be baptized!! How awesome is that!!

Keep praying for the leaders of this campus. I am already looking forward to being up there again on June 24.