Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Timothy 4:15,16)
Please click on the link below to listen and download our latest “Ponder Cast” – #3 “Diligence and Perseverance”.
Also please share, and subscribe! Thanks!
Podcast Link:
http://scottstrissel.podomatic.com/entry/2015-04-30T10_51_44-07_00
There is something to be said about working smarter not harder.
That doesn’t mean that we don’t work, mind you…it just means that perhaps there’s a smarter, more effective way.
Today on Pastorsponderings.org, I would like to explore some of the tips and tricks of ministry.
I would caution you though that these are simply tools of ministry and that these elements ought never take the place of person/pastoral studies as well as hard work and scholarly thought.
I remember in seminary (College For Officer’s Training) instructors expressing the need to have ministry files and preaching calendars. These elements, if prepared ahead of time, can save pastors from rushing around on the weekend or when a crisis hits they have spare messages and/or bible studies to reach for. Preparation is key!
1. Prepare!
This is the first tip to ministry. Don’t get blinded sided by how busy the life of a pastor can be. Work ahead of schedule, stockpile thoughts and ideas. Prepare to be bombarded, at times, by the “hecticness” of life. The Boy Scouts were right…”Be Prepared”…if you plan ahead, the late night cramming session won’t be necessary.
2. Dropbox/Cloud Storage.
I am sort of a tech-head. I use technology when it suits me. It has saved me at times when my computer has frozen up or crashed. Saving my sermons and other such pertinent information on a cloud based server can help preserve needed information in the future. It may seem tedious saving it twice…but it doesn’t hurt to have a backup, especially if the information pertains to finances, sermon prep and other administrative documents.
Make sure you pick a cloud device that has lots of free space, and if desired you can always purchase additional gig space in the future if the need arises. Most of the time, however, the start-up free space offered is more than sufficient. There are numerous platforms by which you can use these cloud based sites and applications for both android, windows and apple.
Save onto the cloud, make sure your password is complicated enough but not too complicated to forget…and save often!
3. CCLI/Songselect Subscription
For just over a $100 a year, you will have access to a plethora of worship songs both old and new.
There are other subscription based worship groups out there but none are linked like Songselect is to CCLI…and since there are the occasional audits from CCLI anyway, it doesn’t hurt to have an inventory of your songs already available to you. There are a couple of subscription options to choose from. Since I’m predominantly a guitar player, I utilize the basic membership which includes unlimited guitar chords to thousands of worship songs as well as traditional hymns. The beauty of this subscription is that you can link it to other software that perhaps your church already has such as MediaShout, ProPresenter…etc.
4. MediaShout 
There are numerous song/scripture/lyric presenters out there for Sunday worship that do a far better job than the traditional Powerpoint software. I have used some, but admittedly not all. I cannot comment on the ones I haven’t personally used, but the ones I have used I can say that it can make life a lot easier. Again it comes back to the principle of thinking smarter not harder. Having software like this at your church can ease the load of having to build worship sets from scratch every week. I cannot tell you how great it feels to have a library of worship songs that are ready for me to choose from, and if it’s not there yet I can link my Songselect account to MediaShout and pull up that new song I need for the up and coming Sunday. Some might consider the cost of this software to be too much, and I certainly don’t work for this company or others I’ve mentioned, but I can tell you that they do certainly pay for themselves in the amount of use I get out of them.
I know that there are many other such software companies that offer similar services and I would imagine most of these would work just as well within your ministry.
5. Tablet For Ministry
Again, don’t get tempted to lean too much on technology, but don’t be afraid of it either. Take a risk from time to time…these modern devices can help to improve your ministry or provide you resources at the touch of a finger or two.
I personally use my iPad to preach from. I bought an app about two years back called ‘Documents to Go’ (before Microsoft Word was available on an Apple device). I usually write my sermons from my computer, save it to Dropbox and upload it into Documents to Go. I find it easy to use, it stays lit when I am preaching and I potentially can go paperless while still maintaining a library of my written sermons on my device or on the cloud.
I do have Bible Apps on my tablet, but honestly, I still use my personal Bible for study and while I’m preaching on Sundays…somethings won’t ever change for me. Perhaps you already feel comfortable using these devices, perhaps not. If you think you can use it, then give it a shot…if not, don’t sweat it. These are just a few suggestions to help you in your ministry.
How About You?
Do you have any other “Tech” Tips and Tricks for ministry that you can offer us today?
Leave your comments below…share, and join in the conversation. I promise to post your suggestions in the future, and I will have other tech tips and tricks in the coming weeks that perhaps can aid you in your ministry right now.
Something more to Ponder today.
God Bless!
I write this pondering today because it is personal.
This is something that often weighs on me.
I have four beautiful children.
I don’t just say that, but if you were to ask me about them, I might just gush about the things they do that make me laugh, and how talented they are and how proud I am of them. In case you couldn’t tell, I love my kids. For those of you out there reading this who have children too, I am sure that you love your children as well!
Ministry and Kids:
Growing up in the Army had its ups and downs, it’s joys and its not-joys…but my parents were very keen on the need to instruct and love their children in the midst of the busyness of officership.
They carved out time.
They made sure we were not left behind.
We did ministry together at times.
We helped during hectic Christmas seasons (though honestly we hated it sometimes).
We led songs. Sang solos. Played in the band. Helped out with youth programs…and yes we were “the example” to other kids (although we often chaffed at that). In and through it all we were not left behind.
The Dangers of Ministry:
We can get lost in the deep waters of savings souls.
We can thrive upon our “success rate”.
We can puff ourselves up with importance in the roles and positions we are appointed to.
The waters of ministry are as vast as they are deep.
I have heard of officers who put in 50-60 hours a week in the office while their families never see them.
I have seen these over-worked soldiers of our army face to face. They are good people. At times I have caught myself in this trap as well. I am certainly not saying “don’t work”…but I am saying be careful not to get lost in “the work”. Be aware of the burnout cycle of soldiers, and signs that accompany it. Take time away. Take your days off. Spend quality time with your families. Do what is necessary. Help the hurting first…let the paperwork and reports wait til last if you have to.
Secondly, don’t get buried by the crashing wave of performance and approval. This danger caters to our need to make others happy. We can easily become people-pleasers all of the time. We might waste valuable quality time with our families because we are so concerned about making sure leaders, soldiers and others all happy with us and our work. Beware of this danger.
“I saved souls but I lost my children!” 
I would forever live a life of regret if this became my response to the Lord when I see Him face to face.
Can feel the anguish and pain in attempting to say this?
Sure some will argue that it’s not a parent’s duty to save their children, no, but it is a parent’s duty to “train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it“. (Proverbs 22:6) Just because we put on our uniforms and walk out into the “mission field” doesn’t mean that we no longer have this first mission field to care for.
Our first mission field IS OUR CHILDREN!
I really don’t care what others say about this.
If your opinion differs from mine then so be it.
If we have the capacity to procreate in this world, then it is our responsibility are parents to train our children and to teach them.
Will there be others there to help teach them? Of course.
Will we need help? Absolutely!
Will there be difficult days? Naturally.
BUT…We bring our children along with us in this ministry!
Don’t leave them behind.
Don’t neglect them.
Things to consider (and please don’t get discouraged):
There are some officer’s kids and soldier’s kids who are growing up hating the Army because they never see their parents.
There are some officer’s kids and soldier’s kids who, once grown, will never darken the doors of a corps building ever again.
We only get so many years with our children and then they grow up and leave our homes, make those years count!
Sometimes it is necessary to be parents first and soldiers/officers second.
Sometimes that priority list has to take a back seat to the home life.
Questions:
How can I be a better parent? (There is always room for improvement, but don’t beat yourself up!)
How can we incorporate our families into our ministry more efficiently?
When my soldier/officer priorities need to take a backseat to my family will I show up and be present to them?
What are the needs of my family right now?
Am I fervently praying for my children, my spouse, my family?
Do I show my love to my family enough or do I need to be more intentional in this display?
Something more for our Army to ponder today!
To God be the glory!
What Is The Truth?
My son (age 3) came to me in tears the other day. He was distraught because my daughter (age 5), in a moment of frustration, told him, “I’m not your sister anymore!”
There’s a line my wife would often use in instances like this, and given her absence at the moment, I decided to try it out. “Mitchell, what’s the truth? Is she your sister?”
“Yes. But she said she’s not!”
“Mitchell, no matter what she says, she will always be your sister. That is the truth.”
I love how quickly a 3-year-old can be receptive to statements like that. As soon as we had finished that conversation, my kids were back playing together as if the entire ordeal had never even happened. A hurtful lie was meant to tear them apart, but truth, love, and forgiveness brought them back together.
Within the past few months, I’ve learned all too well that someone somewhere is lying about you. Until this past June, I had always lived in the kind of cultures where people, for the most part, kept to their own business. Gossip was generally relegated to the latest celebrity news.
But then, I moved to a small town of just over 8,000 people.
I had only been in this appointment for just about two months when I started hearing rumblings around town. Rumblings about Salvation Army business. Rumblings about my employees. Rumblings about me personally. If it was just one or two people saying something occasionally, I don’t think it would have bothered me as much. But when it got to the point where I was hearing things from people in restaurants and stores, or when my own employees were telling me everything they were hearing regularly from the community, then I had a much harder time dealing with it.
And it bugged me for a long time. But then a question popped into my head.
“What is the truth?”
People are going to talk. Sometimes because they believe what they’ve heard. Sometimes because they’ve convinced themselves of something. And yes, unfortunately, sometimes they genuinely have malicious intent. But ultimately, none of that matters in the end. When I was able to focus on the truth of what I was doing here, and what the Army was doing here, I became more able to tune out the rumors and just live. No matter what people are saying or believing, if I don’t give into the hype, then eventually the negativity will dissipate from being disproven. In the end, the truth will win.
Rotary International begins their “4-Way Test of the Things We Think, Say, or Do” with, “Is it the truth?” It’s often said that there are three sides to any story – what the accuser says, what the accused says, and the truth. Jesus Christ Himself, to those who held to His teachings, said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32, NIV)
So what is the truth? Are we allowing truth to run the way we think, or are we perpetuating the rumors and mentalities of negativity that are so blatantly poised around us? Let’s ignore the lies, rumors, and deception. It’s time we stepped away from their bondage and rooted our hearts, minds, words, and actions in the freedom that comes only from the truth.
Brian Williams has been suspended from NBC this week.
Longtime NBC anchorman was challenged by others within the media world as to the substance of his “encounters” while reporting on the Iraq war in 2003. His “misremembering” of specific details has left some scratching their heads while others calling for his immediate termination. Whether intentional or not, the fallout of “misremembering” at the journalistic level will undoubtedly have consequences.
Similarly, within the Christian world “misremembering” and/or inconsistencies of witness will also undoubtedly have consequences! Like those who report the news nationally and internationally, Christians leaders are looked up to. They provide other Christians and would-be believers vital information, sources of hope, and godly direction. Integrity and honesty should be a given, although there have been some who have fallen from grace over the years. 
The witness of Christians can become greatly devalued when inconsistencies and misremembering takes place. What good is it to speak of love and grace and even Jesus when suddenly we misremember how we are to treat other people? What good are these Christian qualities when our actions and attitudes do not resemble our words? Worse yet, what good is it to go to church and sing all the right songs and pray all the right prayers only to walk out of those doors and resemble anything but a Christ follower in our unhealthy habits, speech and actions?
Do we run the risk of running empty on integrity when we misremember how we are to be as Christians? You bet we do! The unfortunate consequences of lack of integrity as people of faith is that we will lead people away from God. Why would people want to seek out Christ when His very own followers do not practice what they preach?
Two things happen when we live within the “misremembered” and dishonest walk of “faith”
1. Our Christian witness is compromised, phony and detremental to others who are ACTUALLY living as God has called the faithful to live. We are not only ruining the chances of potential new believers coming to the faith, but we are making it even harder on other believers who are living lives of integrity. It only takes a few rotten apples to ruin the whole bunch. When others look at the church they will mostly likely first see the rotten ones. We must be aware of our witness to others…it matters THAT much!
2. Our personal faith and growth will be stunted. 
“…from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.” (James 3:10-12)
Living a dishonest life within the realms of faith will inevitably shortchange our potential maturity and growth. We cannot live this way. As James puts it “this ought not be this way“. We jeopardize not only the Christian witness to others, but we tarnish our own paths and limit what God can do through us by living this way. Living a “misremembered” life that lacks integrity is cheap and unfortunately more common than not. Dare I say that Christ has called us to live the uncommon life that is full of integrity, love and obedience!
Let’s face it, Brian Williams isn’t the only one who has “misremembered” things, he was just caught.
Many are just as guilty of this same character flaw. Brian Williams just happened to be in the public eye reporting the news. Will there be more who will fall from grace? Of course…but you and I do not have to be included in this statistic if we are mindful of this trap! Integrity is a valuable, often tarnished commodity that many lack today. As people of faith, we ought to make it our goal to strive to live integrity in all that we do and all that we are!
Let’s stop the “misremembering” madness in our own lives and start practicing honesty, sincerity and truth both in word and deed.
Something more to ponder today!
I just received a copy of this book.
I have been asked to write a review on it, and I look forward to posting that here in the next week or so.
Please stay tuned!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! 
“Recapture a piece of the mystery!”
Photo by Scott E. Strissel
I wonder beneath
All of the glint
And glitter
Underneath the wrappings
and freshly fallen snow
Buried deep in
smoking chimneys
and lights flickering
for repetitive attention…
beneath all of this
does Christmas
still exist?
Beneath stars
Burned out brightly
flares in the night
beacons of eternity
if we only took the
Time every so often
to look up.
Does Christmas
still exist here?
Is it lost?
Buried deep?
Are our eyes
blinded
have we stopped
Looking up?
Does Christmas
still
truly exist?
I used to point fingers.
I would scoff and some people.
I judged them.
Criticized them…
until last night.
I joined them.
spent money.
wandered not one, but TWO crowded stores.
Actually stood in line…outside…in freezing temperatures
But…
at the same time, I found commonality.
I found a crowded, yet civil kind of people…I was shocked.
I must admit that I was a hypocrite…before this experience.
I was not among a bunch of crazed shoppers…I was NOT a crazed shopper either.
I was surrounded amongst families who couldn’t afford much and THIS day had the best deals.
I was surrounded my Moms and Dads and kids doing their Christmas shopping.
This wasn’t destroying “family” time.
This wasn’t some sort of desecration of a holiday that some have said it to be.
For me, it was a kind of social experiment.
For me, I came away surprised.
I had stood shoulder to shoulder with other people and had not experienced the greed, the craziness, the insanity…
I’m not saying it doesn’t exist somewhere.
I’m not saying there aren’t “crazies” out there…but they weren’t in the store with me last night.
One thing I discovered…
We still preemptively judge people, at least I did.
I’m sure that I’m not the only one.
If my judgement of others exists, then other kinds of judgments still exist too.
Perhaps I learned something last night.
Perhaps we could all learn something from these kinds of social situations.
I don’t know.
But perhaps I won’t be so quick to judge other people again.
Pastor's Ponderings 