4-27-2010 - Weekend Review

April 20, 2010 - WEEKEND REVIEW

X3 WATCH

SAFE EYES

X3 PURE

April 12, 2010

IM BACK!

Im back. I am going to try to do something different. VIDEO BLOGGING! "Most every" ;'} Tuesday I will recap the weekends topics. See Ya Soon!!!!!

What keeps them in Church?

Here is the area where most churches fail.
WHAT DO WE DO NOW THAT WE HAVE THEM?

Top 6 Things that Keep the Formerly Unchurched Active in the Church
(research conducted by Ranier)

1. 62% - Ministry Involvement
2. 55% - Sunday School
3. 54% - Obedience to God
4. 49% - Fellowship of Members
5. 38% - Pastor/Preaching
6. 14% - Worship Services

Adrenaline, zeal, excitement are important parts of church involvement. We all know that if anything is going to last deeper issues apply. Things like involvement, ownership, obedience is key. I believe you must consistently have a mixture of both ends of the spectrum.

By viewing the last blogs survey and comparing it to this weeks survey we can come to some useful conclusions.

• Preaching/Teaching will always play a crucial role, however long term maturity through involvement should be the goal.
  
• Fellowship (friendship-community) plays a bigger part than most Church's think it does.
• Same thing goes for youth and children also.

MISSION POSSIBLE:
I know that there has got to be stories out there on how or why you picked and chose Cowboy Junction Church. Now is the time to inspire and "Light a Fire". There could be someone at CJC who doubts if his/her volunteerism is needed. Brag on someone. Use their name. Give a little credit to someone used by God.

Statistics on reaching the Lost.

In recent years, there have been several research studies hoping to discover what motivates church attendance.

Top 13 Reasons that Unchurched People Choose a Church
(research conducted by Ranier)

1. 90% - Pastor/Preaching
2. 88% - Doctrines
3. 49% - Friendliness of Members
4. 42% - Other Issues
5. 41% - Someone Church Witnessed to Me
6. 38% - Family Member
7. 37% - Sensed God’s Presence/Atmosphere of Church
8. 25% - Relationship Other than Family Member
9. 25% - Sunday School Class
10. 25% - Children’s/Youth Ministry
11. 12% - Other Groups/Ministries
12. 11% - Worship Style/Music
13. 7% - Location

The statistics speak for themselves. Overall, doctrine, the pastor and his preaching, and the friendliness and fellowship of the congregation are the most influential qualities. A lot can be said about personal witnessing to people.

What's your thoughts?

For Discussion:
What do you think are the top reasons why people stay or connect with a church?
I HAVE THE STATISTICS FOR THAT TOO.
Next time... You might be surprised!!!!

Volunteers - 3 of 3

3. Servants need to be reminded - constantly - that what they're doing is not in vain.

Volunteers should be reminded again and again, that they're valued. The role they are playing is not insignificant; that God treasures every task they perform. every hour of service they render.

Matthew 6:4
Your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. Nothing that we do "as unto the Lord" goes unnoticed by our Lord. Every smile, every coffee pot filled, every greeting, every lesson taught, every note played, nothing goes unnoticed by our Lord. Volunteers need to reminded constantly that they are not crazy.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Cowboy Junction Church Volunteers: you are not crazy. CJC could not make it without you. Even more important than that, the Kingdom of God counts on you. You are a minister of the Gospel. Know this, If we could pay you we would. Your that important! Let this blog be a reminder to you that our staff and leaders constantly remind ourselves about how awesome our volunteers are.

HANG IN THERE! YOUR DOING A GREAT JOB!

Volunteers - 2 of 3

OK, here is my second blog on the "volunteer" theme. Remember, I am not an expert. I am only blogging on "volunteers" because I am learning also. Personally I found this next one important for the staff of CJC.

The easiest way to defeat a volunteer is to waste his/her time.


Here's how it happens. A pastor teaches about serving, creatively communicates needs, and extends personal invitations. People sign up to serve. In best-case scenarios, they're even directed into their areas of giftedness and passion.
The volunteer leaves work early and gets a babysitter, drives forty-five minutes, and shows up ready to serve-- then discovers that he/she is not needed. There are a million scenarios that this could apply to...(there is not enough of work, the skills they thought were needed actually are not, the project does not start on time, the project is not ready). The volunteer stands around for twenty minutes waiting for someone to show up with letters he/she is supposed to stuff into envelopes. Waisting volunteer's time is the best way to assure that he/she will never show up again.

Volunteers- 1 of 3

Pasturing is who I am, not what I do. Sometimes most of my day, to some, is non-productive. In actuality it's exactly what I should be doing. Today I am studying. I am preparing for staff meeting tomorrow. We are discussing several things, but one of them I thought you would be interested in. "VOLUNTEERS".

You might be one. You might be thinking of being one. Which ever one you are know this, we are constantly improving on how we relate, communicate and build community with our volunteers. Volunteers are the oil in the motor, the cords in our parachute, the "getter" in our "getter done". HA HA "That was funny, I don't care who you are."

Here is the first of three lessons we have researched lately.

* A NEW VOLUNTEER IS A FRAGILE VOLUNTEER.

An experienced volunteer can handle an occasional mishap. But a new volunteer is extremely vulnerable to discouragement and disillusionment. That first volunteers experience could become that persons ministry experience for the rest of his/her life.

ANSWER: We need to build communication bridges with our volunteers. Ask Q's like, "How do you feel? Did it breath life into you? Do you want to do it again? How's it going?" The more we communicate the more we can help each other.

Here is your responsibility: Now you know CJC's Staffs heart. Don't shut down. Don't turn introvert. Don't quit. Communicate with us. Were human too. Your to valuable to the Kingdom of God!

I LIVE FOR THIS STUFF!!! More to come.

It's fun to go to work.

How would you like to go to work every morning and have fun, work with great and creative people, think outside the box and so it all for Jesus? I do everyday. Camp Cross Fire is coming up and with it comes fun and funny things like this video.

We got this idea from two places. First is, of course, from the movie "Risky Business" with Tom Cruse. The theme from our camp "Unleash your inner Rock Star" came from a game we are going to play at camp. We are going to have a battle of the bands, on Guitar Hero. For those that don't know, Guitar Hero is a video game. On Guitar Hero's TV advertisement the chose professional athletes to promote their video, to the theme of "Risky Business". Click HERE to see that commercial. Soooo, we did a commercial of our own. You will see a lot of similarities.

Stay tuned for next week surprise! Another commercial is on the way. This could out do the the one you just watched.

OH, by the way, our Guitar Hero Band is , Cigi Allen - Guitar, Clay Hardin - Drums, Abby Jeronimus on Guitar. Way to go guys. HAHAHAHAHAH!

Improving the Arts!!!!

I love Art. This series, " The Forgotten Arts", is about the forgotten arts of the heart.

I was inspired by a Bruce Lee movie late one night. I watched how Bruce was able to do amazing things physically. I thought of his kicks and mine. There was a little difference. OK, a big difference. His kicks could be defined as a "Martial Art". My kicks looked more like a leg lift.

The same thing is true for arts of the heart. We covered, in our first week, "The Thank You". Anyone can say thank you. It takes a real discipline to know the heart behind it.

This weekend the second message will be on "The Apology". You will be blessed. See you Sunday or Monday. BRING A FRIEND!!!!!!

If I had not seen it...

If I had not seen it, I would not have believed it. The therapist came into mom's room today and said, "Lets try the new hip out." Mom got out of bed and with the help of a walker, walked 200 yards today. 24 hours after her surgery my mom is cruising the halls. I asked if it hurt? She said the hip does not hurt, but the stitches do.

Thanks to all the people who have called and sent flowers. The plans are to let her go on Friday.

Maggie Bean's Hip Replacement

The "Magoo" is doing great after her hip replacement.
*She came out of surgery in great spirits and no pain.
*The doctor said the hip was worse than he thought. She had wore a hole through her hip and the doctor had to rebuild her hip with a bone graph.
*Thanks to Janie Cockrel and Jereen Fanning. They are great friend to mom. They stayed there for the entire day.

I just got off the phone with mom this morning and she could not get comfortable for most the night. She also is frustrated with the cotton mouth taste that is a side effect from the pain killers.

We are getting dressed and then we are out of here to go be with her today.

Today:
*The therapist is going to require her to take her first steps on the "new" hip.
*We are going to spend the night in Roswell. We'll be back tomorrow.

Mom is at the Eastern New Mexico Medical Center.
Cya when we get home - Keep her in your prayer.

Weekend Reflection

*This Mothers day celebration was a great success. Heather did a fantastic job putting the Mothers day decorations together. Great Job Honey. I hope all the Mothers had a fun time.
*DID YOU HEAR ABBY WHALE ON THE NEW SONG "DESERT SONG"!!!!!!!!!
*We did have some hick ups on the technical side of things. That was Cigi and I's fault. Mike did the best he could with what we gave him. In the end He was patient with Us and we are ALL learning together.
*The softball team is coming together. Now that our team is coming together, I have this funny feeling that the Hobbs Softball Assn. is starting the season TUESDAY. We will see.
*I talked to a visitor that had come to our church today. He said that he and his family loved church. What really did it for them was when they went to pickup their son from kids church, there son was ecstatic. HE HAD A BLAST!!! They are coming back, and feel like they have found a home church.
*Great Sunday attendance. The visitors are flooding in. These are exciting times at Cowboy Junction Church.

The Kick Off of "Junction City Kids Church"

Blog Break!!!

Today is the start of Spring Break. No one is more excited than me. Because of the wonderful time of year Heather and I are loading up the family and going on vacation. We have big plans and will fill you in when we get back.

I am also going to take a break from blogging. I know you will understand.
See you when we get back.

Weekend Reflection

I am doing this weekend reflection on a Wednesday. I should do this Tuesday morning, but the staff of CJC has been working hard on the new Junction City Kids Church. There was some awesome things that happened this weekend, soooo here we gooooo!

• The video "How Great is our God" with Louie Giglio, was worth the time out. From time to time CJC has been known to think outside the box. I decided to postpone what I had planned and obey the conviction in my heart. I decided to move the illustrated sermon "Perspective" to next week and play this video. To make a long story short, 13 people accepted Jesus as their personal savior. Also countless more rededicated their faith and confidence in our God that is bigger than the economy.
  
• Would you like to own the video? CJC purchased many DVDs and they will be on sale this Sunday and Monday. If you can't wait or are wondering what I am talking about click here.
• The goal of this weekend was to build our faith in a world that is shaky, uncertain and depressing. This was the second message that is intended to restore our faith, boost our confidence in the calling of God on our lives and remind us that God is both infinite and minuscule, our life is in control.
• The worship Monday was one of the highlights of the weekend. Thanks Fabian, Leslie, Abbie, Nora, Adam, Cigi, Dimitra, Mike and Ray D. You guys sounded wonderful.
• I THOUGHT THE KIDS CHURCH SKIT WAS HILARIOUS! Way to go Elizabeth (Abby) and Cowgirl Pearl (Cril). Can't wait for kickoff April.

I may not be Blogging as much as I had. This week I will be working on Sundays message and Spring Break is next week. So, lets see how things progress.

An inside look at the new Junction City Kids Church

If its not broke, break it and fix it!

I have pet peeves just like anyone else. One of the ones I hear a lot is this statement,

"IF it is not broke, don't fix it."

I realize that most people who make this statement mean it in the most innocent way possible. However, this statement is also the reason why most people never become great at whatever it is they are called to do.

If we had lived by this statement we would still have prop planes instead of jets. Today we would be talking on 5 lbs. cell phones instead of the one that is in my shirt pocket. The model T that Ford first manufactured would have been what I went to work today in, instead of my air conditioned, stereo, cruise controlled, F-150 4x4. Notice that all of these things transformed the way the world did things, but there is always ways of doing them better.

Evolution is a word that has not been welcome in churches. Evolution is what every church, ministry and mission needs to embrace. It is simply finding a better way of doing something. The Church needs to reevaluate, tweak and refocus on a continuous basis.

Here are some thoughts that should be asked about "Church".

• Are we reaching people?
• Do we know who we are reaching?
• After we reach someone, what do we do with them?
• How could we do this more efficient?
• How could we do this better?
• Is our vision Crystal clear?
• Has our vision changed?
  
• Are we doing it the same way as five years ago? Why?
  
• What are the pink elephants in the room? (Things everyone is thinking, but everyone is ignoring)
• Can technology improve the way we do it?
• Can Volunteers have more of a responsibility, so leaders can free up and dream more?
• Can paid staff improve how we are doing things?
• Can we merge these ministries, thus doubling staff, resources and volunteers?
• Should this be taken out of its misery?
• Lets ask the right people the right questions and get the right answers.
• Is the wrong person in charge.

I am a fan of evolution in the church. I have been blessed with a first hand experience of the post modern evolution in the 21st century church. My life has been blessed because of the pastors who choose to be cutting edge in the world we live in. I am a product of church evolution. My spiritual growth is due to the passion of my spiritual leaders who choose to make the church a fascinating, technological, revolution where I have experienced revelation, anointing and fascination from the Call of God in my life. I choose to be a leader the way I was led, by asking one simple question, "How can I do this better?"

Rachel Jackson in Concert

Rachel Jackson and Band will be our guests This Sunday (10:00 am) and Monday (6:30pm)

Rachel's concert will be great. Invite a friend.