I just got a piece of mail. It's from a wonderful local organization that is putting together a day of events for kids that are going back to school. They are going to literally GIVE AWAY over 1000 backpacks, school supplies, hair cuts, dental demonstrations, medical screenings, and other services. They call it a "Back To School Kids Fair". They do this so kids can return to school with the tools that they need to be successful. They're going to TEACH these kids how to be healthy and how to keep their teeth healthy as they give away medical and dental care to those who can't afford to see a doctor or dentist.

The letter starts out, "Do you remember the excitement of returning to school with your new backpack and assortment of school supplies? For many children in this county, new backpacks and supplies are out of their reach." It's a GREAT letter and a GREAT event. But you know what? It ANGERS me and BREAKS my heart all at the same time. You know why? Because I want to know where the CHURCH is and why there isn't a CHURCH that is having a back to school fair for kids that can't afford the tools that they need to be successful in life. I am BROKEN because it's the CHURCH's job to make sure that kids have what they need to be successful and it is FAILING and because it is failing, other secular organizations have to step up to the plate. And you know what? When those kids that go to that fair grow up and want to be a part of something bigger than themself, they will go be a part of a secular organization that meets kids needs instead of becoming a part of the church that is SUPPOSED to meet people's needs. The church is losing ground and losing more and more credibility every day that we fail these kids and their families.

If THE CHURCH simply MET PEOPLE'S NEEDS instead of sitting in their pews/seats and judging their community and arguing over the color of the carpet they would AUTOMATICALLY gain credibility with people. The problem is not that people aren't interested in Christ today. The problem is that the body of Christ (the CHURCH) is no longer appealing because we have made it ugly by our judgement and lack of love for our neighbors. No wonder most of the people around me don't go to church. If I didn't know Jesus already, I probably wouldn't want to be a part of the church either. The problem is, every kid that a secular organization helps become successful is one that the church failed and lost the opportunity to share the love of Christ. It makes me down right angry...and it breaks my heart...all at the same time.

Really THINK about this. It's good stuff!

"A quick, undeveloped thought for today:
The more we have, the more we have to lose.
The less we have, the less we have to lose. The less we have to lose, the freer we are to live/minister/serve/sacrifice like we have nothing to lose.
After all, isn’t the most important thing to us something we can’t lose?"

- Scott McClellan on Collide Magazine's blog today

Great post from one of the blogs that I read daily -

Growing as a Leader
from Jenni Catron by Jenni Catron

If I know anything about leadership, it’s that it doesn’t come easy.
Yes, some people have a natural gift toward leadership, however growing and developing as a leader is hard work. It won’t just happen. A position of authority won’t miraculously make you a good leader. Being called a leader doesn’t make you a good leader. Going to leadership conferences won’t make you a good leader.

You will become a good leader when you become dedicated to being one. It has to be intentional. You have to work at, pray for and seek it EVERY day. You have to read, listen, study EVERY day.

Here are some of my suggestions for things you can do to grow as a leader EVERY day:

Make praying for leadership wisdom a part of every day
Read 30 min to an hour from a leadership book every day (including the Bible - there is great leadership stuff in there!)
Study other leaders around you and journal your observations
Find a peer who sees your leadership in action and can give you honest, candid feedback
Seek out a seasoned leader to meet with occasionally who will coach and mentor you (this could be one person or many)

The bottom line is you’ve got to work at it.

You’ve got to be a student of it.

You’ve got to be committed to it.

So let me ask you, what are you doing today to grow as a leader?

Copied this quote from another blog today. I've heard it before and it ALWAYS chokes me when I read it.

“I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot . . . and missed. And I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why . . . I succeed.” - Michael Jordan

I can relate to that because I was a basketball player. I've been on the losing team on the basketball court, I've been the person to miss the game winning shot. I know how that feels. It feels like failure....and it hurts. BUT...

If the opposite of failure is success, what defines success? I think success is getting back up and trying again when you fail....because if you never make that effort again, you'll always be a loser.

What do you need to get back up and try to do again even though it hurt the first time?

A Quote from Mark Batterson on his blog today -

"I have a little formula: change of pace + change of place = change of perspective. Works like a charm! We have to disrupt our routine so we can think new thoughts."

What do we need to do to disrupt our routine so we can think new thoughts?

I read a blog by Jenni Catron daily...This was part of today's....

Just thought I would share today’s verse:

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”Philippians 1:6

Commentary:God is doing something in you. If the going is tough, keep pressing forward. One way or other, the work He’s doing is going to get done, so your cooperation and willingness to play ball will only add to your joy and the end result according to His perfect design. Embrace the journey!

You can sign up for The Daily Verse HERE!

Are you impatient with the process right now? Is God doing something in you that you wish would just be finished? Hang on and enjoy the ride!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a GREAT song... Love the words...

New Creation Video Content from Pace Hartfield on Vimeo.

Ya know...for years I have heard the alarming statistics about how people age 18-29 view the church as irrelevant, judgemental, old-fashioned, out-of-touch with reality, insensitive, hypocritical, boring, etc... They're just overall disenchanted with the church, and it alarms everyone. There is a key point to the statements though...they all pertain to THE CHURCH. They have no problem with GOD or JESUS, but they have a problem with His FOLLOWERS and how those followers ACT. This used to alarm me, but even more so, it made me sad. It made my heart HURT because there was a gap between the people my age and Jesus because THE CHURCH is supposed to fill that gap. It is supposed to be the connector...and it is FAILING.



Well, today I was working and had a revelation. For the first time in my life I realized that I AM ONE of those statistics.

The only difference between me and most of those numbers...is the fact that I am trying to change the face of the church. I am trying to make the church more relevant, realistic, and accepting. I didn't run away from it. I am trying to help it fulfill it's mission of being the bridge between people and Jesus.....but I am still "disenchanted" with it. The overall church of today, I believe is irrelevant, hypocritical, unaccepting, and judgemental...so I feel JUST LIKE the people in those surveys. I just responded different.

There is a gap between what the church is doing and what Jesus created it to do. I'm trying to bridge it. I make mistakes... and I fix them. I fail, but I fail forward. I fall down, but Jesus lifts me up.

There's a gap....What are you gonna do about it?

Lots of info....

Now...whatchu gonna do with it...?

Or better yet....

What are WE gonna do with it...???

THIS IS SOOOOOO US!!!

CHEERS!

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!