Twelve-Year-Old Trip

Several years ago, someone gave Gail and me an idea: taking grandchildren on a 12-year-old trip.

We have taken each grandchild on a trip by himself or herself when they are twelve. We have been with Elizabeth and Whitney Barber and Brittan and Braden Parsons. We have Dalton and Wyatt Houston Barber to go. They get to choose the place (within 300 miles of Nashville). They choose where we will eat and what we will do on the trip.

We give them some money: half to spend on themselves and half to spend on gifts for their family.

This has been a delight. I am reminded that we will never know how much good we do and when. I don’t remember who shared with us this idea. Whoever it was has blessed our life greatly.

Perhaps this will be a “mustard seed” that someone else may plant and reap a joyful harvest.

Shepherds Shepherding Shepherds

One of many encouraging events since coming to work with Hendersonville happened Friday, November 14. One of the elders, John Kester, invited the elders and staff to his home. After a delicious meal, we spent the remainder of the night talking about a book, They Smell Like Sheep, Volume 2, by Lynn Anderson. The focus of our time was how we could be more effective as leaders and helpers. We discussed many good ideas from the book and from each other.

However, what was powerful for me was the fact that these people took five hours to be together. Prior to this, several hours were invested in reading the book. There was a commitment of time and energy to grow, encourage, and be encouraged.

One of the quotes I liked: "While all Christians need nurture and sustenance, the active Christian leader who encounters spiritual and emotional stress daily has special, urgent needs. If the shepherd is not fed along with the sheep, that inner hunger and fatigue, those unhealed hurts, can cause the shepherd to go great unconscious harm to those within his or her care" – Flora Slosson Wuellner (They Smell Like Sheep, Volume 2, page 116).

I like to say, "When shepherds shepherd shepherds, shepherds will better shepherd the sheep. When shepherds don’t shepherd shepherds, shepherds probably won’t shepherd the sheep."

I was encouraged Friday, November 14, when I saw and experienced shepherds shepherding sheperds.

Next Interim

We made joint announcements yesterday that I will be working with the church in Hendersonville, Tennessee, as an interim. Keith Parker has done a great work there for the last sixteen years. The congregation has doubled during his ministry. Keith will preach there through the rest of 2008. Starting in 2009, he will be doing something he has dreamed about and planned for several years – spending more time in evangelistic meetings and campaigns. He plans to hold twenty to twenty-five meetings a year. Some of these will involve members of the Hendersonville congregation in personal work before the meeting and follow-up after the meeting.

I will begin working part time the first of October. The first of January, I will begin full time including preaching as well as other ministerial duties.

Next Sunday is our last day at Eddyville. Our funeral is going well. We have had families into our home to talk about our time together and discuss how they can encourage their next preacher, Jeff Finch.

I will not be preaching at Hendersonville during the fall. I have several weekends available to do short meetings or workshops. I will also be available on Wednesday nights.

Eddyville Has Selected a New Preacher

In a family meeting Sunday night, July 6, Randell O’Bryan announced that Jeff Finch would be the next preacher at Eddyville, starting Sunday, August 24. Randell thanked the congregation for their involvement and comments. Our last Sunday at Eddyville will be Sunday, August 10. We want to spend this month finishing our work and preparing for the next preacher.

Recently, I read Roy Oswald’s book, Running through the Thistles. He observed that the way a preacher leaves a congregation will be the way he dies. He suggested that if you do not like the way you leave groups, you might want to consider and change.

In another place, I read that there are five steps in dying:
1. “Forgive me.”
2. “I forgive you.”
3. “Thank you.”
4. “I love you.”
5. “Good-bye.”

We are inviting families into our home to evaluate our work together and to say “good-bye.”

I have been given the opportunity to work with another congregation after we finish here. We will announce that congregation in a few weeks.

For the next two to four months, I will have some Sundays available to preach if I am needed at other congregations.

The elders and congregation at Eddyville have been supportive and encouraging for the past year and three months. I could not think of a better place to start interim work. We have enjoyed living in the community. I have been strengthened by the association with preachers in this area of West Kentucky.

We had graduation for our second Learning to Love my Friend(s) class Sunday night, June 22. You can see the picture and names of the participants at the bottom of the page > Interim at Eddyville > .

The outlines of this class are on line with the material to teach: notebook cover and spine, lessons, and graduation certificate > Leadership Classes > .

If you would like to ask questions about this class, please contact me .

Leadership Class Graduation

We completed our God's Great Servants Leadership class with graduation Sunday night.
You can see the graduation picture and names of participants at the bottom of the page > Interim at Eddyville > .

The outlines are now on line with the supplemental materials such as invitation letter, notebook cover and spine, and other material to print books and lead the class: > Leadership Classes > .

If you have an interest in leading this type of training in your congregation, I will be glad to answer any questions you have and advise in any way I can. Please feel free to contact me by phone, e-mail, or in person. > Contact Me > .

I continue to enjoy the work here. The brethren are very cooperative and encouraging. They are actively looking for a preacher. I will be available when they select a preacher -- by November 1 or before.

Leadership Prayers: Prayers for Leaders

1. What kind of petitions are we to give to God for civil leaders? 1 Timothy 2:1
2. Why should we pray for civil leaders and what blessing should we request? 1 Timothy 2:2
3. What is the relationship between my family leadership and the effectiveness of my prayers? 1 Peter 3:7-12
4. What did Paul want included in prayers for him? Colossians 4:2-4
5. What petitions did Paul request in the prayer of the Thessalonians and what would he include in his prayers for them? 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
6. What prayers would you like to see answered for your leaders (government, family, church, business)?
7. What prayers would you like to see answered for you as a leader (of yourself and others)?
8. Bring to God supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks for leaders.

For the complete lesson outline (9 pages) > Session 10