- General Conference has come and gone. We have restructured The Wesleyan Church to being led by one general superintendent and four major department leaders. Many of the changes are good. There are a couple of concerns as far as how some of them will impact overall effectiveness, but all in all, the denomination is leaner and meaner.
- I completed my online training for IWU and I passed! I'm still a bit nervous about that first online class when it gets assigned, but like anything new, you have to try it before you know if you will like it!
- I've lost about four pounds since implementing the "weight upon the Lord" plan. I only have a couple of others in the church doing it with me, but that's fine. By the end of the summer we'll be the envy (oops, can't have that) of the church. :)
Friday, June 22, 2012
Updates on previous posts
Well, I looked back and thought I better update some of my past posts.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Weight on The Lord
Yeah, it's corny, but I issued a challenge to our congregation a week ago that we need to be better stewards of our bodies. The Bible tells us to wait upon the Lord for strength. Well, if we exercise and watch what we eat, our weight will go down, our health will improve, and we will have more energy for our families and for serving the Lord. Part of the goal is for each participant to set a financial goal at the end of the next three months as a gift for a benevolence that we will be designating in the near future. The money isn't for the church. It will be given away to others.
My goal is to lose 15 pounds by the end of August. I've made my financial pledge. If any of my readers would like to sponsor a financial pledge in support of my goal, that would be awesome! Just let me know. As I said, the money will go to assist a person or persons in need. I have a couple of other people in the church who are also doing the challenge. I hope a few more will step up!
One of the reasons I am doing this is to be more accountable for my weight loss. My doctor says I need to take off more weight (and keep it off) in order to better combat my diabetes. If I hit some of his weight goals, I may actually be able to get off my medication (Metformin) and keep my diabetes under control with diet and exercise. When I was first diagnosed I weighed about 242. A week ago I was at 224. Today I was at 220. I may be able to lose more than my goal of 15 pounds. But that's the goal for the summer!
My goal is to lose 15 pounds by the end of August. I've made my financial pledge. If any of my readers would like to sponsor a financial pledge in support of my goal, that would be awesome! Just let me know. As I said, the money will go to assist a person or persons in need. I have a couple of other people in the church who are also doing the challenge. I hope a few more will step up!
One of the reasons I am doing this is to be more accountable for my weight loss. My doctor says I need to take off more weight (and keep it off) in order to better combat my diabetes. If I hit some of his weight goals, I may actually be able to get off my medication (Metformin) and keep my diabetes under control with diet and exercise. When I was first diagnosed I weighed about 242. A week ago I was at 224. Today I was at 220. I may be able to lose more than my goal of 15 pounds. But that's the goal for the summer!
Friday, June 8, 2012
In Over My Head
Have you ever had one of those experiences where you really wanted to do something, pushed hard to be able to do it, and then when you were granted permission you found out you were way over your head? Man, I've felt that way the past two weeks, but this week in particular.
I have been teaching for Indiana Wesleyan University for nearly 12 years. Due to the explosion in online education, our onsite program is struggling and the number of courses I am being offered to teach has dwindled from six to one a year. That's not good on the old family budget! I started asking to teach online about two years ago. I was always turned down and told, "You are too valuable to our onsite program and we don't want to lose you to online." I assured people that I would make onsite a priority, but I needed a couple of online classes a year. I was finally approved a couple of months ago and started my training two weeks ago.
Wow! The first week of training took up a bit of time (about 14 hours). This past week was supposed to take 18-22 hours - to give us a feel of what a real online class would be like. Right! I spent nearly 40 hours just on the program, doing my online assignments to learn how to use the program and grading fake papers that were all jacked up! I mean, I had one three page paper I graded with 35 errors!!!!
Next week is the third and final week of this training process. If I complete it without losing the rest of my mind, I might be "hired" by the online division. If not, I will continue teaching onsite in a very limited capacity.
To top it all off, I'm still working on my coaching certification for the Wesleyan Coaching Network! Anyway, I'm not really whining. Seriously. But I may have bitten off more than I can possibly chew, let alone eat!
I have been teaching for Indiana Wesleyan University for nearly 12 years. Due to the explosion in online education, our onsite program is struggling and the number of courses I am being offered to teach has dwindled from six to one a year. That's not good on the old family budget! I started asking to teach online about two years ago. I was always turned down and told, "You are too valuable to our onsite program and we don't want to lose you to online." I assured people that I would make onsite a priority, but I needed a couple of online classes a year. I was finally approved a couple of months ago and started my training two weeks ago.
Wow! The first week of training took up a bit of time (about 14 hours). This past week was supposed to take 18-22 hours - to give us a feel of what a real online class would be like. Right! I spent nearly 40 hours just on the program, doing my online assignments to learn how to use the program and grading fake papers that were all jacked up! I mean, I had one three page paper I graded with 35 errors!!!!
Next week is the third and final week of this training process. If I complete it without losing the rest of my mind, I might be "hired" by the online division. If not, I will continue teaching onsite in a very limited capacity.
To top it all off, I'm still working on my coaching certification for the Wesleyan Coaching Network! Anyway, I'm not really whining. Seriously. But I may have bitten off more than I can possibly chew, let alone eat!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Thinking About Summer
It's June. I'm looking at my schedule.
- I am just finishing week 1 of a three week training course with Indiana Wesleyan University to teach online. I've been teaching onsite for nearly 12 years. Next week will be killer!
- It's the end of the district conference year. Monthly, quarterly, and annual reports are due to the district and denomination. Before June 15!
- I am trying to get my coaching hours completed by the end of June for my coaching certification.
- Vacation isn't until July 5... Look out Dennis, I'm gonna win the fishing competition!
- Return from vacation July 16 or 17.
- Sarah, Adam and Micah arrive July 18.
- District conference - July 21
- Vacation Bible School - July 23-27
- Bekah has volleyball tryouts in early August.
Monday, May 14, 2012
The President is Wrong
Ok, I have to get this off my chest. The President of the United States is wrong! Same-sex marriage is a violation of biblical truth. His recent declaration that his view has evolved over the last few years is both misleading and untruthful. It is my opinion (yes, I'm issuing an opinion because I don't have "proof") that he is taking this stance in an effort to gain the gay vote in the upcoming election. He knows he is in trouble and could easily lose this fall. His voter base has been backing away from him, so he had to reach out to another segment of the population. His decision is not based on principle - it is based on lust for power and prestige.
For years our country has been headed down the path of other great cultures that have fallen over time. It is time for the Church to stand for what is right and for us to say "NO" to the cultural drift. But let me say that the change will not take place in the courts or in the legislature. It will take place if we get serious about our calling to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) in the spirit of the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37). The only way for our nation and our world to change will be for the Church to make disciples seriously. We have allowed the spiritual slippage that has taken place. Let's take back the territory that we have given up over time. Let the Church be the Church!
For years our country has been headed down the path of other great cultures that have fallen over time. It is time for the Church to stand for what is right and for us to say "NO" to the cultural drift. But let me say that the change will not take place in the courts or in the legislature. It will take place if we get serious about our calling to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) in the spirit of the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37). The only way for our nation and our world to change will be for the Church to make disciples seriously. We have allowed the spiritual slippage that has taken place. Let's take back the territory that we have given up over time. Let the Church be the Church!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Fasting
I'm ashamed to admit that I'm not very good at fasting. I'm reading "Spiritual Classics" by Richard Foster and ran across a section by Catherine Marshall. She wrote about fasting from criticizing. She mentioned how hard it was to be silent and not criticize anyone or anything for a 24 hour period.
As I thought about it, I started to realize that I can be very, very critical. I really felt the challenge of doing a 24 hour fast from criticizing - from both saying and thinking critical, harmful thoughts. I made the commitment and not five minutes later I found myself in a situation where all I wanted to do was complain and find fault with a person who didn't do what I thought they should have done. But the good thing was that I felt really convicted. I'm still in that 24 hour window. I'm trying to think carefully before I speak, and I'm asking God to help me keep from a critical mindset. I want to break the pattern.
Anyone else out there struggle with this?
As I thought about it, I started to realize that I can be very, very critical. I really felt the challenge of doing a 24 hour fast from criticizing - from both saying and thinking critical, harmful thoughts. I made the commitment and not five minutes later I found myself in a situation where all I wanted to do was complain and find fault with a person who didn't do what I thought they should have done. But the good thing was that I felt really convicted. I'm still in that 24 hour window. I'm trying to think carefully before I speak, and I'm asking God to help me keep from a critical mindset. I want to break the pattern.
Anyone else out there struggle with this?
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Change is Coming
This summer will be a time of change in The Wesleyan Church. Our denomination's general conference will be held in June. There will be a vote taken that would change the administrative structure of our organization. In fact, the change that is being voted on has been piloted for the past two years at our headquarters. The General Board of Administration (GBA) has given oversight to this process. The restructuring has been significant and many departments have experienced downsizing and responsibility shifts.
A big change administratively is in the office of General Superintendent. Until recently, we have had three GS's who have given direction to the general church. The new proposal calls for one GS. I recall suggesting years ago that we move in that direction so that we could have a singular voice that proclaims, "This is the direction that God has for us as a church" - a sort of "Thus saith the Lord" of the prophets. The pilot program we have run has had one of the three GS's serve as the lead GS with the other two serving as administrators over other departments. If the vote this summer ratifies the change, then we will have one GS, and fewer other general directors that would be a part of the administrative team. I know I've oversimplified the total picture, but I think you get the idea.
Ok, here is where I am struggling (even though I was championing something like this a few years ago!). The key (I think) to having one GS is for that person to truly possess apostolic gifts. The individual must be able to see the bigger picture of the church and be able to correctly discern the will of the Lord for the church as a whole. The person must be a respected leader who has a proven track record of empowering other leaders and unifying them in the mission of the church. The leader needs to be able to see that the purpose of the general church is to cast overall vision and direction, keeping the general church on task. At the same time the leader must recognize that the real strength of the church is at the local level - the front line of the battle for the souls of men.
Our delegates to the general conference have a major responsibility this summer. It may be our most significant general conference since the merger of The Wesleyan Methodist and Pilgrim Holiness churches in 1968 - the result of which is The Wesleyan Church. While much of our organization is board-run (there are those who would argue that the GBA has more authority than a GS), we desperately need a leader who will help us keep the main thing the main thing: fulfilling the Great Commission in the spirit of the Great Commandment. We must have a leader who is accountable to the whole (a role of the GBA) and yet be strong enough to lead and not be a puppet of a board or committee.
I have friends to say that it doesn't matter who the leader is in Indianapolis - that the real decision-makers and leaders are at the district level. I agree with that to a point. The strength of our denomination really is at the district level. But at the same time, someone will be elected this summer who will be the "face of the franchise" so to speak. This person will represent us on many levels. This person will network us with others who are of like persuasion to engage in cooperative efforts. This individual must be able to speak with authority on behalf of the church and to communicate our mission with clarity and conviction. Much like the early Church, we need a James or Peter or Paul who leads us boldly where no one has gone before! (Sorry for the obvious Star Trek reference - what do you want? Engage?)
I will be praying for our delegates to this conference. May politics give way to purpose, and may we gain direction and strength that comes from the work of the Holy Spirit. As John Wesley himself said, "You have nothing to do but win souls." I pray that will be the real focus of our denomination in the years to come!
A big change administratively is in the office of General Superintendent. Until recently, we have had three GS's who have given direction to the general church. The new proposal calls for one GS. I recall suggesting years ago that we move in that direction so that we could have a singular voice that proclaims, "This is the direction that God has for us as a church" - a sort of "Thus saith the Lord" of the prophets. The pilot program we have run has had one of the three GS's serve as the lead GS with the other two serving as administrators over other departments. If the vote this summer ratifies the change, then we will have one GS, and fewer other general directors that would be a part of the administrative team. I know I've oversimplified the total picture, but I think you get the idea.
Ok, here is where I am struggling (even though I was championing something like this a few years ago!). The key (I think) to having one GS is for that person to truly possess apostolic gifts. The individual must be able to see the bigger picture of the church and be able to correctly discern the will of the Lord for the church as a whole. The person must be a respected leader who has a proven track record of empowering other leaders and unifying them in the mission of the church. The leader needs to be able to see that the purpose of the general church is to cast overall vision and direction, keeping the general church on task. At the same time the leader must recognize that the real strength of the church is at the local level - the front line of the battle for the souls of men.
Our delegates to the general conference have a major responsibility this summer. It may be our most significant general conference since the merger of The Wesleyan Methodist and Pilgrim Holiness churches in 1968 - the result of which is The Wesleyan Church. While much of our organization is board-run (there are those who would argue that the GBA has more authority than a GS), we desperately need a leader who will help us keep the main thing the main thing: fulfilling the Great Commission in the spirit of the Great Commandment. We must have a leader who is accountable to the whole (a role of the GBA) and yet be strong enough to lead and not be a puppet of a board or committee.
I have friends to say that it doesn't matter who the leader is in Indianapolis - that the real decision-makers and leaders are at the district level. I agree with that to a point. The strength of our denomination really is at the district level. But at the same time, someone will be elected this summer who will be the "face of the franchise" so to speak. This person will represent us on many levels. This person will network us with others who are of like persuasion to engage in cooperative efforts. This individual must be able to speak with authority on behalf of the church and to communicate our mission with clarity and conviction. Much like the early Church, we need a James or Peter or Paul who leads us boldly where no one has gone before! (Sorry for the obvious Star Trek reference - what do you want? Engage?)
I will be praying for our delegates to this conference. May politics give way to purpose, and may we gain direction and strength that comes from the work of the Holy Spirit. As John Wesley himself said, "You have nothing to do but win souls." I pray that will be the real focus of our denomination in the years to come!
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