 
Pastor Joel Osteen in Houston has close to 30,000 people attend services each weekend. Ed Young in Dallas has 20,000 and Andy Stanley in Atlanta is pushing close to the same number. If anyone of these men resigned and you were chosen to take their spot as senior pastor what changes or adjustments would you instantly make in your personal life and character? If you answered, "Absolutely nothing, I'm ready," then you don't need the rest of this article. But how many of you would see some areas of your life that you could fine tune or tweak? How many of you could sharpen your leadership, communication, and people skills?
Most of us will likely never lead a ministry as large as the men I mentioned. But we will lead a ministry that is larger than where we are right now. There are so many ministers that want to grow their youth groups and churches but they are not willing to grow themselves. What is the latest greatest book you read? What is the current area in your life the Holy Spirit is fine tuning and challenging you to grow into? When is the last time you ask individuals around you for their input on how you could improve as a person, believer, and minister? Who is the last youth pastor or pastor that you have interviewed to gain insight and wisdom? It is crucial that we are always growing and developing ourselves as leaders. When you start living your life at a greater level of leadership you will find you opened the door for God to entrust you with more!
Quench the Thirst of Your Family!
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Itinerary
AUGUST
17-19 - Youth and College Convention, Joel Kitsemble Ministries, Wisconsin Dells, WI 608-663-4975
NOVEMBER
10-11 - Youth Fall Retreat, Burchfield Ministries, Columbus, TX 979-732-9200
12 - Sunday morning adult services, Family Life Church, Lake Jackson, TX 979-297-2811
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 A man comes into the ER and yells, "My wife's going to have her baby in the cab!" I grabbed my stuff, rushed out to the cab, lifted the lady's dress, and began to take off her underwear. Suddenly I noticed that there were several cabs - and I was in the wrong one.
Dr. Mark MacDonald, San Antonio, TX
One day I had to be the bearer of bad news when I told a wife that her husband had died of a massive myocardial infarct. Not more than five minutes later, I heard her reporting to the rest of the family that he had died of a "massive internal fart."
Dr. Susan Steinberg, Manitoba, Canada
I was performing a complete physical, including the visual acuity test. I placed the patient twenty feet from the chart and began, "Cover your right eye with your hand." He read the 20/20 line perfectly. "Now your left." Again, a flawless read. "Now both," I requested. There was silence. He couldn't even read the large E on the top line. I turned and discovered that he had done exactly what I had asked; he was standing there with both his eyes covered. I was laughing too hard to finish the exam.
Dr. Matthew Theodropolous, Worcester, MA
During a patient's two week follow-up appointment with his cardiologist, he informed me, his doctor, that he was having trouble with one of his medications. "Which one?" I asked. "The patch. The nurse told me to put on a new one every six hours and now I'm running out of places to put it!" I had him quickly undress and discovered what I hoped I wouldn't see. Yes, the man had over fifty patches on his body! Now, the instructions include removal of the old patch before applying a new one.
Dr. Rebecca St. Clair, Norfolk, VA
I was caring for a woman in the hospital and asked, "So how was your breakfast this morning?" "It's very good, except for the Kentucky Jelly. I can't seem to get used to the taste," the patient replied. I then asked to see the jelly and the woman produced a foil packet labeled "KY Jelly."
Dr. Leonard Kransdorf, Detroit, MI
 
This is a statement that was read over the PA system at the football game at Roane County High School, Kingston, Tennessee, by school Principal, Jody McLoud.
"It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to honor God and Country. Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law. As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it "an alternate lifestyle," and if someone is offended, that's OK.
I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms and calling it, "safe sex." If someone is offended, that's OK. I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a "viable means of birth control." If someone is offended, no problem...
I can designate a school day as "Earth Day" and involve students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess "Mother Earth" and call it "ecology." I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depict people with strong, traditional Christian convictions as "simple minded" and "ignorant" and call it "enlightenment."
However, if anyone uses this facility to honor God and to ask Him to bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then Federal Case Law is violated. This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical. Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone, except God and His Commandments. Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical... I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.
For this reason, I shall "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's," and refrain from praying at this time. "However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank God and ask Him, in the name of Jesus, to bless this event, please feel free to do so. As far as I know, that's not against the law----yet."
One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another and began to pray. They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the Announcer's Box! The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America - the Seat of "Justice" in the "one nation, under God."
Dean Hawk Ministries | PO Box 63355 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | 80962
888-WATER-88 | 888-928-3788 | 719-481-3089
info@deanhawk.com
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3. Guard It. One of my greatest learning experiences in ministry was the six months prior to starting our church plant. Every weekend I was in town my family would visit a different church. No matter how good the speaker was I continually found my sermon endurance level to be around 30 minutes. Winston Churchill said, "When I have 30 minutes to speak I prepare for 3 days. When I have an hour, I don't prepare." You can get your point across if you are precise and your message is focused. Too many ministers are stuck on themselves and like to hear their preaching more than the people do. I hear and see guys still preaching for over an hour. Are you really that good? Look at the growing successful churches and you will find a shorter than longer message. For years I have had my soundman use large numbers to count me down to 30 minutes; 15, 10, 5, 2, and then the big "X" - you're done! We would rather people leave wanting more than wishing you had quit.
"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this... They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"