i have to quit

I made a very important decision today: I have to quit! I just can't keep living like this! I cannot keep it up any longer! It is going to kill me! It is going to burn me up and out! What am I talking about?

• My job at LCC, NO!
• My D-group leadership, NO!
• My Minister's Group, NO!
• Being a husband, NO!
• Being a father, NO!
• My coffee meetings, NO!
• Being a Friend, NO!
• Blogging, NO!

Then what is it? I am glad you asked. It is really very simple - I have to quit playing the game called: Church competition and church growth success. Otherwise known as MINISTRY in AMERICAN CHURCHES!

For a long time I have measured success in ministry within the local church by numbers, programs, building size, number of active ministries and if we were "beating" the other churches in our area. It has to STOP! Afterall, How do you actually win? What is the prize? Who actually receives the glory? How do you stop the jealousy? It is a no-win situation. While I have known this in my head, it finally has found my heart.

The reality is: There will always be a bigger church than LCC. Someone will always have better programs than LCC. There will always be a cooler, bigger more functunal church building than we can afford at LCC. People will always find a church that has more ministries than LCC.

I realized today that I just can't live by this unBiblical standard of success(mostly self-afflicted). The standard that is determined by how many we had in worship Sunday as compared to last year, or even more prevelant, how many less we had than Christ Church at Mason, RiverHills, Northstar Vineyard, Eastside Christian or New Hope Baptist (add any church) had in worship on Sunday. I know there is a place for numbers (God has a whole book dedicated to it). I also know that "what doesn't get tracked, doesn't get done". I am not suggesting that we get rid of all numbers, I just need to stop using it to measure success and failure.

Since I need to quit (not sure it is going to be easy for me, because I have always been competetive and a numbers person) I need to fill my heart with something else. I need to redefine or rediscover what is truly success in ministry. Any ideas...

Here is a novel idea, I could gauge daily success in ministry by answering some of these questions...

• Did I practice "loved to love" in my life?
• Did I take the time to share in community?
• Did I pray for my church family, friends and our community?
• Did I take opportunity to share Christ with people put in my path?
• Did I put my family above anything else?
• Did I enjoy personal quality time with Christ?
• Did I shut up and settle down long enough to let Christ talk to me?

I could actually measure the success of our Sunday experience by answering some of these questions:

• Did I pray with anyone this morning?
• Did I allow God to use me as a miracle in someone's life?
• Did I pray & preach HIS WORDS?
• Was someone touched by God at LCC today?
• Were we ready and did God send us people who needed something today?
• Did I love?
• Did I appreciate the people serving at LCC?
• Did GOD SHOW UP?

Honestly, this could get me fired. I mean, there is nothing in there about growing the church, or is there? My heart is just backwards. I have put the "cart before the horse". God wants to grow the church, God wants to see LCC doing more than we could even dream of. He just has a different way of determining success.

What woke me up? Lots of things, but the biggest "slap" was the fact that we have only had 1 baptism in 6 months at LCC and nobody even really noticed, including ME!

B. OUT!!

Easter Review

Hi everyone. It has been a while since I have blogged. Following Easter services at LCC and a nice buffet lunch at the Oasis in Loveland, the Richard family headed for Indianapolis for a couple days away. I will blog about that and include some pics in the next couple of days. For now, I wanted to give a few of my perspectives on Easter at LCC.

First of all it was energetic! The choir was really excited. The band was playing their hearts out. Jared was leading with passion. All of these folks really wanted to be there and it showed, even though, many of them were at church from 7am on. We offered 4 services on Easter and found out we could of managed with 3. The 8 am service was not well attended to say the least, but the cool thing was that everyone participating gave 100% and the low attendance did not quench the Spirit whatsoever. In fact, my strongest sermon was delivered during that service. From the first note at 8 am through the final one at 12:15 there was an amazing energy level! I could tell that we were celebrating that CHRIST WAS ALIVE.

Secondly it was God-lead! We never just throw sermon's or services together. Jared and I try hard to work together well in advance to make sure that what is experienced is meaningful and purposeful. However, everything we do is girded with prayer and lead by God's Spirit. For some time now, we have been lead toward a less "traditional" type of service. The sermon was not your typical Easter message and the style/selection/format of the service was not what you would expect on Easter. Here is the cool thing, it was exactly what we needed and exactly what God wanted. You see, only God knew who would be there on Sunday, what everyone would need and what would be the perfect songs and message! WOW! It is so cool to serve a living God.

Finally, it was NOT record-breaking! Is that a good thing? Well, I would of loved a record crowd. Last year we had 470, the highest one Sunday attendance in our history. Two years prior we had 403! This year, 379. Here is the cool part...God sent us a ton of folks that need healing and need a church home. Every FTA (first time attender) is actually looking for a church and some are wanting to find Christ. We didn't have the normal "Easter Christians" just looking to go to church on Easter, because that is what you have to do. I am very excited about those who came to LCC. Guys, it really is NOT about the numbers! God is still teaching me this!

Thanks Lord for an amazing energetic, God-lead and non record breaking Easter!! You are going to do something amazing through it! Thank you for everyone who gave so much toward this very special 4-service Sunday. Thanks for the message that showed us your desire for us to be willing and then surrender whatever it takes to fulfill your mission and to give someone in our life an eternal outlook with you. It was an amazing day. The cool thing is, we have not seen anything yet! In Christ, AMEN!

B OUT!!

P.S. Don't miss the start of our new series "PEEPS" this Sunday at 8:45, 10 or 11:15 am

beat up by an 8-year old!!

It is hard to admit, but oh so true. Last evening we were invited to the Pachta's home for an amazing enchilada dinner and some great fun. Little did I know that they had recently purchased a Wii! It was my first time playing, but I AM HOOKED! Yes, I want one now! I know, I know, FINANCIAL PEACE! Anyway, I started with bowling, that wasn't too bad.

I then moved to the home run derby on baseball and didn't do as well. Finally, I opened my trap (which I tend to do often) and told Shayla Pachta (8-years old) that I could beat her in boxing. Now, not only has she done this game a lot, but she has beat everyone she has faced. Why would I think that I could put her on the mat and beat her? I can't understand how my brain works most of the time.

Anyway, the rest is history. I almost had a heart attack trying to box her and I don't know if I ever laid a hand on her. She was amazing. Before I knew it, I was on the mat. My character got up and then WHAM I was on the mat again. I don't know what my character was thinking but once again I was fighting and before I knew it, WHAM, stars, lights out, ON THE MAT! Shayla, you are amazing! Pachta's we had a blast, THANK YOU! Cadigan's, having you there with us made the evening a truly wonderful event. SHAYLA, I will practice, I will get better, I will get in shape and then... :o)

LCC Easter Egg Hunt!

The egg hunt was such a blast it left Samantha speechless...

Thanks to Jared and Patty Pachta (and family) for all the hard work in preparation as well and pulling the event off this morning.

There were a ton of kids and even more easter eggs. They decided during the near blizzard last weekend that the event would be held inside and all I can say is "great decision"! My kids (me and jen too) had a blast! It is so great to get together and have fun with the family of God. I know many times it goes unsaid, so I want to make sure that this time it is said... You guys did a great job, we are blessed to have your family at LCC and we appreciate and love you!!

Enjoy the pics...

Michala Riggle Bracelet Distribution Center North

We have opened. "We" is me, "have opened" means that I am selling bracelets from the Cincy area! Bottom line, can I sell you a bracelet? The bracelets are $3 a piece and the money goes toward Michala's goal of 3 hundred million dollars to build an autism research center. BEADING TO BEAT AUTISM! Make sure to see my February 26th blog entry to learn much more about Michala and her ministry. Okay, so let me share how the first sales of the DISTRIBUTION CENTER NORTH started this week...

I received about 200 bracelets in the mail from Louisville on Wednesday and I headed to Union Savings Bank in Loveland. They had seen my bracelets and told me that they wanted to purchase a few. When I arrived, there were only 2 tellers working but between them they purchased and donated $36 worth. Thanks Phyllis and Barbara. I will be back to US soon.

Today I was invited to the office where Donna Julliard (a lady from LCC) works. I was blown away by the response. I sold almost 100 bracelets to about 15 people. One lady bought $177 worth. Praise the Lord. Thanks Donna, way to go!

They are already sending me another shipment from Louisville to sell up here in the cincy area. If you would like to purchase a bracelet or two or ?? please comment here or e-mail me and we can work something out. My eyes are now set on the North American Christian Convention here in Cincy in July. We have purchased booth space and hope to sell thousands. God is blessing the NORTH DISTRIBUTION CENTER and the ministry or Michala Riggle.

I am so excited!

B Out!!

great sunday

Hey all! I must admit my lack of faith. When we left for our ONE service on Sunday, we pulled onto Montgomery road and all was good. Then we turned on Columbia and it was completely covered in snow. I turned to Jen and said "my guess is 20 for today!" She looked at me and said, "no, I think 50!" We were talking about the people that would show up at church and boy were we WRONG! What a Sunday! It was one of the best services we have had in a year. The band was ON! The singing was incredible! People were excited to be there! All our kids ministries went on and didn't miss a beat! The sidewalk was shoveled (thanks to everyone)! The drive was clean! We had bulletins (although not folded)! The worship center was full! People were parking on the sides of the entrance drive! God blessed us with 170 excited folks! I even heard there were 30 kids at NP-3, WOW! You could tell that everyone made a sacrifice to get there and they were glad they came. It showed in the laughter, the singing, the hugs and the smiles.

No judgement here, but I know that some folks around the cincinnati area (not any LCC peeps) took the day "off" to just rest and used the snow as an excuse from getting to church. Many others just couldn't get out and many didn't want to risk it. I totally understand. We are all adults and make our own decisions. If I wasn't the preacher, we may of stayed home also. But in this case, I am so glad we didn't, I would not of wanted to miss a moment of what God did at LCC. Bottom line... IT WAS AN AMAZING SUNDAY! WE LOVE YOU! WE MISSED YOU! WE CAN'T WAIT TO WORSHIP WITH YOU ON SUDNAY! One other thing, if you missed the service and would like a copy of the sermon, please call the church office or e-mail me! It was the second sermon in this series and most likely the strongest message in the series!

THEN came PERFECT SOUTH SLOPES! Let me explain. We have a great sledding hill at our house and I offered a free day of enjoyment to EVERYONE at church on Sunday. I didn't think many would actually come (my lack of faith again)! Well, I was wrong again (I am batting .1000). We had almost 40 people come by to enjoy a March afternoon on the slopes. Snowmen, Snow forts, Snowball fights, sledding, laughter, friendship and fun! WHAT A DAY! Thanks to everyone who came over to enjoy this gift God has given us! The whole day was just another reason I just love the family of God! I am so blessed to be your pastor! Enjoy the pics...

Blizzard 08'

It began with predictions on Thursday night...

It started to snow around 8 am on Friday...

It snowed harder and faster than most thought, by 11:30 it was really snowing and schools were sending kids home...

Decided to take the kids out and play around 2:30. Man, it was coming down and we had about 5 inches or so. Jen shoveled our walk and I took that snow, packed it into our recycling bin and made a snow fort frontage. Avery (our neighbor) helped out too. Caleb and Lauren also went down the hill on their first sled ride of the year. We finally went in, had some hot chocolate and ordered Domino's pizza for dinner.

If you didn't know, I am a weather geek and I LOVE what Rich Appuzo has done with http://www.skyeyeweather.com/ make sure to check the site out ASAP. He has a forum also and so around 10 pm, I settled into the basement with my computer, cameras, glass or water and girl scout cookies. Watched the heavy snow bands setting up, took some pictures, talked on the forum and then finally went to bed about 2:30 am with about 7 inches on the ground...

Woke up around 6:30 am to 11 inches of snow! :o) Was happy with that, figured maybe a little more, but since a dry slot was forming, that might be all. Well... the dry slot filled in quickly and before we knew it the snow was falling again. We were all out playing in the snow again around 9:30 am and by 10:30 we were in "white out" conditions. I mean the snow was really coming down in buckets, the wind was gusting to over 30 mph and it was awesome. Enjoy these pics...

Finally, it was over around 4:00 pm! We finished with around 14 inches of snow, actually more when you consider that so much blew off and drifted. The highest drift I found was 18 inches. Plan to sled and play a lot more tomorrow after church. Thank you God, this was a great present! :o)

Now the snow has all but stopped and the sun is out! How beautiful the whole thing was. If you don't live near here, I sure hope you enjoyed the "blogger" version of the blizzard of 2008.

B Out!!