Aaron Reddin onLife, Liberty, and Pursuit of Jesusness

If you haven’t seen this, you need to!!  Microsoft is donating 8 MEALS for every free download of Internet Explorer 8.  Donations will be made to Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity.  This is a FREE, and easy way for you to get something while giving a lot!! 

To take advantage of this sweet deal, click HERE.

This past Friday I was able to get a little snapshot created of what it’s like when we hit the streets with cold water.  Our cargo van has gone to be with Jesus, so Antioch Missionary Baptist stepped in and helped us get out there.  If you are interested in helping out with this amazing outreach opportunity, please contact me!  Enjoy!

American, Christopher Leggett, has been killed for his efforts to convert Muslims to Christianity.   It appears that Al-Qaida’s North African branch has claimed ownership of this horrible act, as was reported by Al-Jazeera TV.   Read more, by The Huffington Post HERE.

You may be shocked by many of the similarities in the spirituality of homosexuals and people who are straight.  Furthermore, those who would boast the banner of “evangelical” might be surprised by a recent Barna study that shows just how NOT different those “different” people are. 

George Barna had this to say about the findings, “People who portray gay adults as godless, hedonistic, Christian bashers are not working with the facts.  A substantial majority of gays cite their faith as a central facet of their life, consider themselves to be Christian, and claim to have some type of meaningful personal commitment to Jesus Christ active in their life today.

You can read plenty more on this study HERE.

As someone who works in full-time outreach ministry, I was more than anxious to read this book.  Those of us who work in this type of ministry tend to see the world a little different than most.  That’s why I wanted to know what Richard Stearns would have to say about the gospel, especially if he thought we had a hole in it. 

Let me tell you now that if you don’t already have a sense that something isn’t right with “our gospel”, then this book may not make a whole lot of sense to you.  Or, it may very well rock your entire theology.  I think the latter is more the goal. 

The author does a great job of showing the complacency of the American church, the need of the world, and letting us know exactly what the scripture has to say about both. 

My only drawbacks are the length of the book.  I think it could have been condensed a little to keep our levels of attention and passion high through it’s entirety. 

Other than that, READ THIS BOOK!  If you want to know the real Jesus, read this book. 

Included in the book is a Chinese proverb that nails it, “The one who says it can’t be done should get out of the way of the one who is doing it.”

We have a sister Rescue Mission in Los Angeles that coincidentally is also named the Union Rescue Mission.  We aren’t directly affiliated, but they do such a great work that I always watch them to see if I can learn anything.

I always can.  As you can imagine, there is much more need for outreach on Skid Row than there is in Little Rock, AR.  I keep up with their blog, and here is one reason why:

Brenden Foster, their original Hero for Hope…….

Everyone needs someone in their corner, cheering them on!!!

Would you agree with the statement that “addicts are a breed of their own”?  Would you say that the typical addict has issues that are compounded?  That the addict has different needs and different issues contributing to their current position in life? 

Did you know that 50% of addicts suffer some type of mental illness, and that 50% of those with mental illness suffer some type of addiction?  If you knew that already, you are in the minority. 

In my (somewhat limited) interaction with most pastors, I find that they unaware of this major issue that plagues the very bodies of their churches.  How can this be?

I’ve had people ask me if it was even the pastor’s business to be involved in areas such as this.  I must say, that YES it is thier business.  When your business is people, then addictions is your business. 

No I’m not saying that every pastor must be an expert, but I am saying that church leadership (in general) needs to better equip itself to either help or find help for those in the midst of a life-sucking bondage. 

Who’s shoulders does this ultimately fall on?  Since the number of persons who are either in the drug-abuser and the drug-addict category is on the rise, doesn’t someone need to step up? 

I think it goes both ways.  I believe it’s critical for church leaders to gain basic education related to alcohol and other drug abuse/addiction problems.  This is much easier than you think.  I don’t think folks are aware of the amount of FREE continuing education that is available in our local communities. 

I also don’t think that we (those in the addiction field, be it treatment or prevention) do enough to inform/educate the faith-based community about the severity of the problem, nor the educational opportunities that are out there. 

I think some of the best leaders/pastors out there are the ones that are willing to admit that they don’t know the best way to help someone, but then help find the ones who do. 

This may have been a somewhat incoherent post, but maybe it turned a gear or two for you.

As you all may know, my heart is so broken for the metro Tampa area.  It has been since last summer when I spent some time on the streets of downtown Tampa with the homeless population there.  Read more about that HERE.

With the metro area facing so much poverty and homelessness, there is a chance the homeless population could be increased soon.  Holy Ground Homeless Shelter is struggling financially and may end up having to shut it’s doors if things don’t turn around. 

If you live in or around the Tampa, FL area then please make it a point to watch this video and help out any way you can.

If we don’t know where we are, how can we ever get to where we are going?  If we are unaware of our position on things, then how will we ever be able to effectively explain our faith to anyone?  We won’t. 

To that end, it stands that we must explore ourselves and determine why we do what we do.  Whether it be the movies we see, the TV shows that we watch, or even the sports that we play, it all adds up to create our relation to pop culture. 

Christianity Today did an awesome job throughout this book, of assisting me to see my life in relation to pop culture.  I’m a huge believer in the fact that we have to strive for awareness in our every moment. 

This book is a quick and very easy “study” tool.  You won’t gain a ton of knowledge, but you will explore your very own life and make a determination about where you stand on what many would call the most important issues that this generation faces. 

It personally challanged me to think about the things that I’m doing.  Something I don’t normally do!

It’s much easier for a pastoral staff of a rather small church to meet the personal needs of the member’s of their church body.  Common logic will quickly lead you to the understanding that churches with much higher attendance, would leave a pastoral staff much more occupied, and less able to meet those same needs. 

This doesn’t mean that they are less willing by any means.  Simply put, the more members of the church, the more work there is for a pastoral staff.  More work means “less time”.  When you find yourself with more and more to do, with increasingly less time, you tend to steer clear of those tasks that are the most time consuming.  If that is not you, then you must wear a cape to work. 

When pastors find themselves in this predicament, the obvious options are:

1.  hire help

2.  work more

3.  delegate

4.  raise up leaders and volunteers

If I missed any other options here, feel free to educate me. 

Addressing option number 1.  This is not always an option.  Do you know how often I dream of hiring more staff?  Every single day.  Guess what?  If the funds aren’t there to increase payroll, “X” that one out.   

Option number 2.  If you don’t know how many hours the typical pastor/minister/ministry leader already works, then I double dog dare you to ask one.  I can tell you that I could easily work 80 hours a week, and still have things that I could do to improve our ministry.  I tried it for the first year or so that I was at the URM.  I almost worked myself right out of ministry.  Here’s the kicker; I’m a single man.  I will be married in July and if I tried to work that much, my bride-to-be would not “be” with me long.  Just because someone is in vocational ministry, doesn’t mean they should have to ruin their own lives to make it happen. 

How about #3?  Sounds pretty good, right?  I mean, the more you can get others to do then the less you have to do yourself!  Bad call.  I can tell you now that the people that work under me, work much harder than I do already.  Almost every good organization has a few good “point” people, with all the hard workers backing them up.  I never realized how true this is until I began talking with our Organizational Pastor, Shannon Wood.  Thing is, if you work your help to death, you’re left facing inevitable death all alone. 

Number four, logically then, appears to be the best and most effective route.  Here are a couple reasons why:

1.  Those who have been there, need an area in which they are comfortable and willing to “plug-in” and serve. 

2.  Those who are there now, feel they can relate to those mentioned in #1.  If you have been there, then you know how I’m feeling!

3.  After you have met those 2 needs mentioned above, you’re meeting some of your own because this method is affordable, keeps your workload down, and gives added support to your staff. 

We all have an obligation to share the work of the Lord in our own lives.  This enables people to do that, with people who are eager to hear their stories.  People want to hear what God has brought them out of.  It gives hope.  It drives out doubt and fear.  It kills the sense of isolation.  And it trains leaders. 

“Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life.  And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.” 1 Peter 3:15

I once read great peice of advice.  It said “To raise up followers, you delegate responsibility; to raise up leaders, you delegate authority.”  I don’t know who first said that, but it’s so true.  It took me a long time to really learn that, but I’m seeing it’s truth even now.

Until next time, ponder this:  Are those that are giving their time, being trained effectively?

Almost every church you see now is displaying the banner of some type of program for people with “hang-ups”.  Be it, CR or AA.  NA or the likes.  With CR (Celebrate Recovery) being probably the most common. 

Here is what I ponder.  Is it good for so many churches to have these programs going on?  I mean, let’s look at this thing.  I would love some input on this in the form of comments. 

Without these “frozen dinner” programs to push people through, would church leaders REALLY know how to handle folks with addictions?

Would church leaders know how to appropriately counsel them, or even where to refer them for further treatment?

Do most church leaders even know how they personally feel about addictions?  Whether it’s a disease.  If it’s curable.  If it lasts a lifetime.  Do they really have any convictions about these topics? 

Most importantly, do church leaders know what the Bible has to say about addictions?

Are people getting the help, guidance, counsel, and support they need when they are pawned off into “that” program for “those” people?

Over the next couple of weeks I plan to tackle some of these very pointed, but necessary issues head on.  Please post your thoughts, beliefs, and opinions below and contribute to the discussion.  Thanks!

I have great reason as to why the blog has been lacking a new post for several days.  The biggest reason being is that I saw the earth lose a major portion of the love that it had been holding. 

Friday afternoon I said goodbye to my “Grammy”.  My grandmother on my mother’s side.  She was the closest thing to love that a human could get. 

The epitome of compassion; she embraced every singe person exactly as they were, a creation of God.  

For me personally, she was instrumental in equipping me to overcome addiction to methamphetamine.  She never spoke criticism, or a harsh word.  She only spoke love to me, when I needed it the most. 

My now, most treasured possession is a Narcotics Anonymous book that I’ve never even read.  But that book will forever sit on my desk.  The contents of it never meant a thing to me, except for the inside cover which reads:

“Feb 3, 2001

Near the beginning of your sobriety.  My Birthday wish is that you enjoy continued sobriety for the remainder of your days upon this earth.  You are the only one that can keep that wish from becoming a reality.  

Love you Much Much Much   

Grammy“

Because of her love, and the love that she passed on and taught to my mother, I’m now in my 8^th

year of that birthday wish!!”

I was honored to have spoken her funeral; but at the same time, it was without a doubt one of the hardest days that I will ever face in ministry. 

Even the difficulty that I faced personally, was no match for having to watch my mother go through the agony of losing her mother.  My mom is the strongest woman I have ever known. 

She overcame breast cancer just last year, and then had to go through the journey of seeing her husband overcome polymyositis; a rare disease that deteriorates your muscles.  All the while, my mom was taking care of Grammy who had been fighting Alzheimer’s for years now. 

To say that my mom deserves an award would be the biggest understatement ever told.  She deserves some major recognition.  Not to mention the years of trying to raise a crazed, meth-addict son.  Wow!  What a woman!! 

If I can grow into half the person my mother is, then I will inevitably be a wonderful husband and father.  Thank you, mom.  Thank you for your courage and strength.  Thank you for taking all the love that Grammy instilled in you, and giving it to your children selflessly. 

And thank you Grammy.  For living Jesus, and being light in the midst of all the darkness.  I miss you “Much Much Much”.