I need to finish my Ordination Paper. This is a written statement of what I believe about major categories of theology. It is a requirement for ordination as a Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Pastor (FEB)Pastor. Ordination, to me, is a really special process of the local church blessing me with the subjective affirmation of being a called and competent minister as well as a legal credential from our religious order for acting as an agent of the Ontario government during weddings. Once the paper is done, a council will evaluate me on everything and hopefully set a date for an Ordination Service in late June. I have seen a few ordination services in the last years and they are special events! Once I have a date, I will invite you to celebrate God’s goodness at HPBC! Please pray for the meaningful culmination of this beautiful and challenging process.

This summer, I look forward with hope to my Ordination, Conferences and a Sabbatical so I am ready to embrace my role in the exciting stuff God has planned for many people during this coming fall ministry season in the Parkdale-High Park neighbourhoods and the precious city of Toronto!

Related articles

• My Present, Personal, Pastoral Perspective on HPBC Possibilities. (adamrumball.com)
• My Sabbatical Adventure (gobeyondblog.com)
• High Park + Westminster? 7 pictures of prospective ministry partners praying together. (adamrumball.com)
• I’m Taking A Sabbatical From My Blog (stevensawyer.wordpress.com)
• Pastor’s Conference 2012 (tgcatlanticcanada.com)

During personal distress of work changes, moving house, relational conflict, physical and mental illness it is comforting to know that God the Father (Matthew 6) will soothe our souls with his love, as a mother nurses and protects her children.  Mother’s can relate to this imagery.  The Bible uses the analogy of motherhood to describe God the Father’s love for us during distress so we learn about the character of God and motherhood.

Here are 4 passages that I shared with the church on Mother’s Day:

1. Psalm 131:2. David’s soul was like a weened child in prayer relationship with God.
2. Isaiah 66:7-12. God promises the hope of satisfying abundance for his distressed people like a child who is nursed, carried n Mom’s hip and bounced on her knee. Read the imagery of verse 11-12!
3. Matthew 23:37-39. Jesus longs to protect and shelter God’s people, as a mother hen gather’s her chicks.  Now Jesus is not a hen, but it is an analogy of God’s the Father’s motherly heart through the ministry of God the Son.
4. 1 Thessalonians 2:7. God’s ministry to the church, through the Apostle Paul, was like the motherly gentleness of a nursing mother. In verse 11-12 of the same chapter, Paul’s ministry is balanced by the characterization of fatherly guidance.

On Mother’s Day, my Mom was present for the sermon and we went out for brunch at a nostalgic restaurant.  In both settings, I was grateful to have the opportunity to thank my Mom for her love over the years. She has given me the experiences over time that enables me to better understand this side of God’s character.  Good mothers glorify God’s character in words and deeds! Thanks for your comfort over the years Mom.

If you are reading this an wonder whether God’s arms of love are open for you to recieve his love, then you need only to look to Jesus on the cross.  There he spread his arms wide for all to see that God’s love is available to any who come to him and seek refuge there. He quiets the greatest distress of sin’s guilt through making an atoning sacrifice for us.  What a comfort to know he died and rose again for me.  Jesus’ arms are open wide for us.  Will we find solace there?  I hope and pray that the motherly love of God the Father becomes a deep comfort to your soul during your distress.

Related articles

• God’s Motherly Love (artofsabbath.wordpress.com)
• God – our Father and Mother (chrisjacksononline.net)
• Mother’s Day (deaconcast.com)

Funerals are important times to aid the processes of grieving and teaching.

I tried to be brief (7-10 mins not my normal 45-55min) and clear to benefit the audience and occasion.

I started by suggesting that on this occasion, they may be wondering, “What will happen to me after I die?”

I stated that my intention was to explaining the Christian hope as the resurrection of believers to eternal life with God, modelled by Jesus himself and offered to them.

I read and explained John 11:25-27:

John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. – 1 Corinthians 15:22-23

…knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. – 2 Corinthians 4:14

Do you believe this? Martha and I do. I hope the whole congregation and all of you do too!

Do you know what will happen to you after you die? I hope you share the Christian hope of resurrection to eternal life!

Cheming and Marion led HPBC in a great outreach day!

Today was a great day of stepping out in faith to bless our neighbourhood through service and conversation then reflecting on the experiences as a group. Cheming is our Food and Clothing Bank Director. Marion is our Intercultural Initiaves Director. They are a dynamic ministry couple whom God has used to help churches overcome barriers in the way of them fulfilling their God-given desire in reaching out. They have been residents of this local Roncesvalles area for over 28 years!

Schedule of Activities:

10am-12pm: 9 people walked 2 out of 4 planned prayer routes around our neighbourhoods. The goal was to lovingly connect with our neighbours through conversation, service and general visual observation. We prayed for neighbours we met as we picked up garbage and prayer walked the planned routes. It was fun to be active outside together for a good goal!

12-1pm: When we returned to the church, we swaped stories and initial impressions over lunch. My mom and I picked up lunch from Village Bakery, one local donor of food to our Food and Clothing Bank. It was nice to eat with the people who had just reached out together. There was a sense of team solidarity as we shared meal after serving together in the cold spring weather.

1-3pm: 15 people joined the discussion time to de-brief the experience and discuss personal “burdens and barriers” to personally extending Christ’s freeing love to the spiritually hungry. We reflected on biblical passages, personal stories and guided reflection questions. The numerous questions and passages could be blog posts in and of themselves.

My personal highlights were 1. my direct conversations with numerous neighbours on Dundas and in Sorauren Park as well as 2. knowing that our church was stepping out in faith together in order to bless our neighbours. I believe we pleased God with these steps of love and faith together.

Tomorrow 10:30am: Join us at 1030am tomorrow for an outreach training message from John 4 followed by more discussion groups afterwards.

This was a soul-satisfying day of integrity for me and many others because we extended Christ’s freeing love to the spiritually hungry.

May God give us many more resources and opportunities do impact lives in High Park neighbourhoods.

An electoral map of our neighbourhoods.

4 prayer walk route maps plus garbage bags and gloves to pick up garbage.

9 High Parkers planning our 4 prayer walk routes. This means asking God's spiritual and practical blessing on people we see in our 'hoods.

Picking up garbage and chatting with neighbours behind the Sorauren Dog Park, near the train track fence.

Marion leading us in discussion and reflection on our individual and group learning experiences of the day.

Cheming is telling a personal story about overcoming barriers to friendships.

Group discussions about personal barriers and burdens to reaching out.

Related articles

• When and How to Pray for Spiritual Strength from Ephesians 3:14-21. The POP method. (adamrumball.com)

Dear RumBloggers,

As I have posted on previously, High Park Baptist Church (HPBC) is exploring options, including a merquisition with Westminster Chapel (WC). Norm and I made up the combo-term “merquisition”.

Here is a photoblog update on what it looked like as the boards and staffs of HPBC and WC bowed their heads in reverence for Jesus and spoke their hearts to the Father in the unity and power of the Holy Spirit.   The event included name tags for a meet and greet, building tour for vision casting and deeply meaningful prayer together (as pictured below).  Initial impressions from tonight’s event were strong and positive. The purpose was to explore the possibility of merging churches for greater gospel impact here in Toronto, centred at 9 Hewitt Ave.  In due course, this may prove to have be an important event is a historic process of merging two faith families in to one blended family.  There are many pros and cons. Many opportunities and challenges to be realistically assessed and prayerfully discerned.  If there are circumstances that could be negotiated in which we can be better for God together than we could be apart, then super.  If not, we want to perceive that ahead of time. Change is part of growth! Pray for us we reflect and seek God’s vision together. There were observational comments made that indicate perception of natural chemistry, good will, sincere faith and dynamic hope.

This process is teaching me leadership lessons about unity.  One is that it is important to have united, respectful and honest communication among all interested parties, at appropriate levels and times in the process.  Reflective conversation (with God and each other) helps maximize the collaborative power of respect and reduces destructive conflict potential.  The sentiment is represented by what Dr. David Robinson prayed last night from Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers (AND SISTERS) dwell in unity!”.

Related articles

• My Present, Personal, Pastoral Perspective on HPBC Possibilities. (adamrumball.com)
• Exciting News on Future Possibilities for High Park Baptist Church. (adamrumball.com)
• Early Spring in High Park (hangkit.wordpress.com)
• High Park Zoo could be saved by last-minute mystery donation (thestar.com)
• 2 Pictures of HPBC and WC leaders praying together (highparkbaptist.org)

What is important to us? Our church views this intersection and building to be central to our identity. We desire for God to fill this building through our personal evangelism and outreach to the area. We desire to disciple those whom God brings our way. We have ministry departments that reflect our sensitivity to our environment’s demographics. We are a loyal and kind people, like a family. The long term members and central staff (paid and unpaid) are highly esteemed and very involved in the decisions we make on important matters. We know these present decisions are to be made with great reverence for our past and future. We want continuity and comfort, yet are willing to step out in faith if it is the will of God. God is clear in Scripture that our greatest joy comes from stepping out in faith and trusting his promises.  We can experience great things, which he has planned to have happen if we work in the Spirit for the fame of his name.

At present, I believe the leaders and congregation may be leaning towards a merger with Westminster Chapel’s mission, staff, resources and congregation. Having said that, we have only begun to explore and there is much research to be done.  To use a hockey analogy: that is not a final score, but a report after the first period of play. Discernment experiences remain for us (board, staff, members, congregation) to be had before we can bring you a motion to formally and legal negotiate an action plan on an option. Please continue to uphold in prayer the long term, best interests of the Lord Jesus’ Kingdom, our precious congregation, the unique city of Toronto and these lovely local neighbours.  Change is a sign of health, but it will bring personal price to be paid. God’s dream for us will involve discomfort, like trying to cross your arms a different way. It will not be easy or automatic.  Faith adventures never are.  We need to count the costs and weigh the options then make a decision in faith for his fame. It will be very exciting to walk by faith together into the future God has in mind! As always, we need God’s wisdom for decision making. We need wisdom from God to know what he wants us to do so that we can walk by faith into his dreams for us, our church and our city so that the nations and generations to come may be blessed by the gospel ministry we are entrusted with.

Our Mission, Values and Goals are clear.  Together, we now seek God’s vision for how it will look and the resources to accomplish what he has already called us to do and be.  Will it be a developer or a partner or we just get a revival internally?  Only God knows, so we ask him to lead us in unity into his preferred future.

Related articles

• Exciting News on Future Possibilities for High Park Baptist Church. (adamrumball.com)
• Join us in seeking God’s wisdom for our church’s future possibilities (highparkbaptist.org)

My retreat in Dallas was delightful!  Sporting events and concert, seminary retreat and research, sun burns in 80 degrees heat and soul-comfort-food in southern hospitality!  I went with my good friend Brian, who had a conference for the Canadian branch of Compassion International in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.  While he was at his Compassion conference, I took in classes and chapels at Dallas Theological Seminary.  The teaching, the weather, the food, the people: they all worked together to refresh my mind.  In the evenings we took in sporting events and Texan foods. Here are some pics, reflections and video from one chapel.

1. Upgraded Spiritual Retreat at Dallas Theological Seminary.

I took in an upgraded serving of excellent teaching through the classes and chapels at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS).  I thank God for the opportunity to listen to and talk with Dr. Bock, Dr. Bingham, Dr. Warren as well as many current and prospective students (Patrick, Jonathan and Jessica, et al.) and staff (Marnie, Josiah, Emily, et al.).  At Friday’s chapel, Chuck Swindoll talked about the importance of cultivating close friendships to survive the loneliness and sorrow of success.  Please watch the embedded video link below.  Many of Chuck’s ideas apply to my life and might do to yours as well.  I appreciate the loyal love of my family, close friends and a few fellow Christians on mission.  You know who you are! I am so thankful to friends who have double my joy and divided my grief.  Brian was a great friend to me during this week.  We had many great talks.  Thanks Brian! I am thankful to my best friend, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for my sin and rose again to give me eternal life now and forever.  I trust him as my rock and refuge during despair and lament seasons of the past and future.  Jesus is the ultimate friend.

Click here for Swindoll on Friendship: http://media.dts.edu/i/?MediaItemID=bce7b454-89ec-41d3-9368-d76aca64cfeb

2.  Upgraded Sporting Events at American Airlines Centre and Cowboy Stadium.

One of the themes of our trip was upgrades. We got upgraded seats at the Dallas Mavericks game (18 rows back from the court) and Stars’ game.  Upgraded seats to the Rodeo at Cowboy Stadium so that we were close enough to get dirt kicked on us by the bulls.  We got upgraded field passes for the Dierks Bentley concert. We got an upgraded hotel room.  We got an upgraded rental car.  Everything is upgraded bigger in Texas!  I hope this won’t be “Dallas” time I get to the Lone Star State. Yehaw, that was refreshing fun!

You are faint-hearted from sufferings of serving the Lord (Ephesians 3:13).

The darkness of doubt closes in on your emotions.

You feel powerless to change circumstances.

How do you pray for strength? Here is the POP method I invented.

1. Pick it. Select a passage on prayer or a topic you are experiencing.  You can find these using the tools found in the back of most translations or from experience with previous readings that you have recorded.  For example, look at a passage I preached on recently: Ephesians 3:14-21 copied below from the English Standard Version.
2. Observe it. Read it with an eye for attributes of the Triune God (Father, Son, Spirit) and the promises in the passages.
3. Pray it. Ask that those promises become actualized and those attributes are recognized in your life.

Prayer for Spiritual Strength (Ephesians 3:14-21)

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

What response does that beautiful prayer evoke from your soul?

Here are some responses of mine.  Please pray them for me too, in support of God’s work in me and others.

• Heavenly Father, I know you hear me as I kneel and pray.
• Heavenly Father, help me comprehend of the expansive love of Christ, which is like an ocean, enveloping me.
• Christ, teach me your love for me so that your way of love can overflow from my heart.
• Holy Spirit, fill me and empower me.
• Heavenly Father, strengthen me by the Holy Spirit, in my inner being because this is consistent with your rich glory.
• Heavenly Father, root me and ground me in Christ’s love so I can be filled to your fullness of character.
• Heavenly Father, I believe that you are abundantly able to do more than we can ask, dream, think, plan or imagine.
• Heavenly Father, use Christ in me as an instrument of your glory in the church for generations.
• Triune God, give me spiritual strength to know your love and power at work in me when I am discouraged, faint-hearted, doubting or powerless.

Next time you need spiritual strength POP a passage on prayer, like Ephesians 3:14-21!

Related articles

• Here’s a Prayer That Will Change Your Day – Ephesians 3:16-21 (dianneguthmuller.com)
• Women in the Word Wednesday ~ Ephesians week 2 (bonesinmyheart.wordpress.com)
• Praying through Ephesians 3 (veritasmizzou.wordpress.com)
• Praying “Enough” (beamuses.com)

This past Sunday I talked about “calling”.  In Christianity, the word is used often, but requires definition.  The root word is the same root as voice.  We get vocation from the root word. I define a calling as a distinct and personal divine invitation to redemptive faith action that couldn’t be clearer if it was a text message or phone call.  I asked the congregation if they have discerned what God was calling them to do?  I explained the Apostle Paul’s calling to reveal the mystery of God in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the unreached Gentiles. Read about it in Ephesians 3:1-2 & 7-10.  One piece of supporting material I used was from John Polhill‘s chapter in Preparing for Christian Ministry called “Towards a Biblical View of Call”.  It it he lists 6 types of call after the general call to salvation.

The Call: Some Biblical Examples – by John Polhill

1. The Dramatic Call: Exodus 3:1-6, Isaiah 6:1-8, Ezekiel 1, Acts 22:6-21, Luke 1:26-38
2. The Reluctant Call: Jeremiah 20:7-10, 14-18, Jonah, Exodus 4:1-17, Isaiah 6:6-7, 1 Corinthians 15:9-11, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
3. The Family-Influenced Call: 1 Samuel 1-3, Luke 1:5-23 & 67-80; Mark 3:21, John 7:5
4. The Community Call: 1 Timothy 4:14, 2 Timothy 1:5, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 & 14:32
5. The Redefined Call: Acts 6:1-6
6. The Misdirected Call: Mark 5:1-20

Do you know what God is calling you to do?  When he invites you to join him, go for it.  Jesus said, “Follow Me!” first salvation and then into ministry.  I hope you hear his voice invite you to join him in a special role of redemptive action.  May you experience joy and fruitfulness in your calling.  May God use you as a custom made tool in his kingdom work.

• What is your calling?
• How did/will you discern it?
• Has it developed over time?
• Have you ever prayed, asking God to call you into ministry?
• Ask someone about your calling!

Related articles

• A Call to Ministry (hillsbiblechurch.org)
• My Top 10 personal devotional themes with Bible verses from 2011 plus a prayer verse for 2012. (adamrumball.com)

What are the new opportunities at High Park?

Well, recent facts from my workplace circumstances have the potential to impact this city of Toronto and local neighbourhoods of Parkdale-High Park for generations and on into eternity. It is an exciting time to be a leader seeking to move people onto God’s agenda!

Please read, share, pray and advocate.  Thank you.

HPBC’s Mandate to Prayerfully Explore All Future Vision Possibilities.

Related articles

• 1 Mission, 4 Values, 15 Goals: Laying our strategic plan tracks at High Park Baptist Church (adamrumball.com)

Jan 14 Toronto Star Article: http://www.thestar.com/sports/football/nfl/article/1115341–denver-broncos-tim-tebow-inspires-toronto-pastor

15 Things I like about Tebow: http://adamrumball.com/2012/01/11/15-things-i-like-about-tim-tebow-ideas-for-torontonians-about-faith-life-workplace-and-celebrities/

Jan 15th Tebow Talk: http://www.highparkbaptist.org/?p=1173

Mentions:

India Times: http://oneclick.indiatimes.com/article/03XB87k80ze4c

Black Christian News: http://www.blackchristiannews.com/canada/2012/01/toronto-pastor-inspired-by-tim-tebow-will-preach-courage-challenge-on-sunday.html

Here are some conversation starters worth exploring with colleagues:

• Does your worldview impact your workplace? Should it?
• Where are the boundaries between public life and private belief?
• How important is value integrity and tolerance at work?
• Where is the obnoxious or annoying line at work?
• What does religious discrimination look like in your workplace?

Torontonians may feel too sophisticated to learn anything from the cliche of a religious sports celebrity.  However, Tim Tebow has used recent fame to draw attention to his faith and that raises important issues for all of us about the role of worldview in the workplace.  Gaga is against bullying.  Tebow is for prayer.  What are you for?

I like Tim Tebow.

It may be because I am a Christian leader with football background, but I think there is more to it then just surface affiliation.  I listed 15 ways that I like how Tim Tebow makes us think about the place of faith life realm of workplace.

15 Things I like about Tim Tebow:

1. His faith impacts his job performance.  Love him or hate him, what he believes matters to how he works!

2. He thanks his mother for not aborting him.  Abortion is a touchy subject, but he has a personal position.

3. He leverages the opportunity present by secular media for redemptive purposes today. Obnoxious or opportunist.

4. He harnesses the team to get results (game wins) despite being young and unorthodox for his position.

5.  He talks about finding joy in the journey of everyday life, not just the destination he hopes for. He knows why he is here.

6.  He is confident is his personal relationship with Jesus Christ and let’s the social consequences of annoying people or coming across as obnoxious be what they may!  This might be at the heart of the matter.  He is not ashamed of the Gospel of God.

7.  He is a physically strong person with skills and courage.

8.  He is an athlete who honours the name “Jesus Christ” instead of using it as a swear word.

My Tebow "Te-bow" after playing touch football with U of Toronto Athletes In Action at King's College Circle.

9.  He prays in public, and I assume privately too.

10.  He handles criticisms from colleagues and clowns with dignity.

11.  He wins the trust of management, fans and teammates through strong effort.

12.  He puts Bible verses on his face paint at U o Florida. (ex. Phil 4:13, John 3:16)

13.  He is dating a beautiful girl with self-control.

14. He remembers where he came from.

15.  He knows where he is going.

Celebrity Christians

Good examples are powerful, yet there is something off track about using celebrities to sell Christianity as cool.  That is not what I am doing above.  What I am doing is getting you thinking about issues in your life precipitated by current events.  You should become a Christian because you want to follow Jesus as your Leader and Redeemer, not because of celebrity product placement.  However, we all need human examples to interact with, be they in our family, friends, neighbourhoods or professional football games.

For more on strategies for living faith in a sports context, read these sites.

www.athletesinaction.com – Athletes In Action

www.fca.org – Fellowship of Christian Athletes

80+ players praying on the field after Queens U vs U of Toronto!

Related articles

• My thoughts on Tim Tebow (shawnmwilson.com)
• Tim Tebow makes lukewarm Christians feel bad via UsneakydevilU (pumabydesign001.com)
• An Atheist Who Supports Tim Tebow (patheos.com)
• My Problem With Tim Tebow. ~ Jeff Fulmer (elephantjournal.com)
• Tim Tebow’s 316 yards inspire ‘John 3:16′ searches (bayintegratedmarketing.wordpress.com)
• Tim Tebow Got a $250,000 Bonus for Beating the Steelers (celebritynetworth.com)
• Why I Love Tim Tebow (yeldaba.wordpress.com)
• One Christian Blogger’s confession: I’m Embarrassed by Tim Tebow (rabbittrails.net)
• 15 Things I like about Tim Tebow: Ideas for Torontonians about faith life, workplace and celebrities. (adamrumball.com)
• Tebow Time: 10 Thoughts and a Cloud of Dust. (Nathan Busenitz on Jan 12)

We Negotiate agreements in many areas: family schedules, budget allocation, service contracts, work project triangles, neighbourly needs, dating developments, job descriptions, organizational mergers, social jusctice activism and property sales.

As leaders, we need to negotiate agreements with integrity and tolerance in order to have better relationships and results.

I suggest that you read or re-read Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In.

Here is the skeleton of their method:

1. Seperate People from Problems.

2. Focus on Interests, Not Positions.

3. Invent Options for Mutual Gain.

4.  Insist on using Objective Criteria.

I appreciate the tables, diagrams and stories they use too.

Here are my keys to integrity and tolerance in negotiating a winning deal.  I have collected these after my years of good and bad experience in negotiating deals and navigating change:

1. Clarity: Knowing what is important to you and why.  Know your “deal breakers”.  Have a perspective.

2. Diversity: Consider that what is important to you may not be important to others. Compassion assertiveness.

3. Ecology: Accept the reality of finite resources for wise stewardship (time, energy, money, language and knowledge).

I hope this post helps you and yours to negotiate agreements with integrity and tolerance in order to have better relationships and results.

Related articles

• 3 Things I Learned from “Getting to Yes” by Fisher & Ury (fictionfromthefuture.wordpress.com)
• How do I negotiate a better salary? (career-advice.monster.co.uk)
• Negotiating Skills (morenewsfromafar.wordpress.com)
• Tuesday’s Tip: Five Cloud/SaaS Contract Negotiation Tips For 2012 (forbes.com)
• The Top M&A Fallacies to Avoid Deceptions (joyante.wordpress.com)

I know what it feels like to be anxious – ex. heart rate goes up and I talk too much or too soon.  I know what it feels like to have God’s peace – ex. heart rate goes down, I listen patiently and speak wisely.  I prefer the later, but I learn the hard way.  I know how to worry myself sick.  I experienced ‘panic attacks’ in the past. I know more now about how to practice the peace of God.  I have have had ‘waves of peace’ in the past and present.

Here are some principles and passages that make a difference for me, if or when I practice them in my faith life. I hope they help you and yours to secure a state of God’s peace next time anxiety flares up.  Here is some perspective.

6 Leadership Lessons on securing God’s peace during my anxious moods:

1. Working definition of ”God’s Peace” is a state of wholeness and rest resulting from an active trust in the character of the Triune God revealed in the Bible.

2  Turning my “problem list” into a “prayer list” helps.

3. Working on God’s priorities for today always beats worrying about my problems with tomorrow.

4. God’s Peace is the presence of the Lord, not simply the absence of distress.  ex – Loving Enemies.

5. If anxiety is a fruit of fear, then peace is a fruit of faith.

6. Personal preparation is the key to performance in the moment.

*Read the points underneath the passages for additional detailed.

Here are 4 Bible passages that have helped me experience the secure Peace of God in place of anxious, fearful and low-faith times.

Romans 5:1

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 26:3-4:

3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Philippians 4:4-9:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Matthew 6:25-34:

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Next time you get anxious, I hope you experience God’s peace.  Try these ideas for practicing faith in Jesus:

1.  Praying your problems to your Provider of Peace (Phil 4:7-8 & Matt 6). Make a list of your worries and petition God for help!

2.  Practice the Father God’s Kingdom principles in the present (Phil 4:6 & Matt 6:33-34). Do what he asks today!

3.  Ponder the pleasant and positive things of God (Phil 4:8, Matthew 6:26-32b). Mediate on special/Biblical and general/natural revelation!

4.  Pick “Peace of God” people to imitate (Phil 4:9). Interview or read biographies of peace who show peace with God!

Here is a special resource for Pastors like me:

“Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times: Being Calm and Courageous No Matter What” by Peter L. Steinke

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 7,200 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 6 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Lake Scugog, Christmas 2011. Scenic views of nature help me reflect on biblical ideas for my life.

Christmas and New Years week is a natural time for looking back and reflecting on 2011 as well as projecting and planning for 2012.  It feels like our lives come under the microscope of analysis as we do things like see family and friends at reunions, read and make “top ten” lists and/or resolutions.  At this time of year, we naturally evaluate how we used the 365 days and what look for gems of what profited us in our most valued relationships.  For me 2011 was an especially steep and taxing year of growth and learning through tests and trials.  I know I will learn a lot in 2012 as well, but I hope for a smoother road and protective grace to buffer my heart and mind.  I’m an ironic mix of tired and enthusiastic these days.  I hope and pray that 2012 to be my best year ever, personally and professionally.  You probably do too.  So, in order to fuel your seasonal reflection, here are some Bible verses that God has used this past year of 2011 to set me in the right direction of heart and mind for a fruitful 2012!  Perhaps you might want to look at this list as you plan 2012.  Perhaps you have some key verses from 2011 to share in the comment section.  Maybe you want to memorize one of these for 2012.

In 2011, God used these verses to teach me about my calling:

1. Contentment:

Philippians 3:8 - Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.

1 Timothy 6:6 - But godliness with contentment is great gain,..

2.  Effectiveness:

John 15:5 - I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Micah 6:8 - He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

3. Opposition:

Hebrews 12:3 – Consider him (Jesus Christ) who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

4. Interpersonal Attitudes:

Colossians 3:12-13 - Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

5. Teaching:

2 Timothy 2:1-2, 22-26

1-2 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

22-26 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

6. Progress:

1 Timothy 4:15-16 - Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 - But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;…

7. Temptation:

1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1 Timothy 6:9 – But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

8. Joy:

Nehemiah 8:10 - Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

9. Mindfulness and Though Life.

Romans 12:2  - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2 Corinthians 10:5 – We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,…

10.  Heaven:

Revelation 22:3-5 - No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.  They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

My encouragement prayer for everyone of you readers in 2012 is from this verse, which has been massively encouraging to me during tough times of this year:

Colossians 1:11-12 - 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Image via CrunchBase

Image via CrunchBase

Image via CrunchBase

At a recent public speaking event, I was introduced by the vibrant Emcee to the curious audience as a “Baptist Pastor and Social Media strategist“.  Those are not two phrases you would expect to hear describing the same person, right?  Those terms have incongruity initially, but I think they are a match for a man with a message who wants to improve his impact in 2012.  Perhaps you share that ambition?

My 150th blog post is about my use of social media past, present and future.

1.  How did you get so involved in social media?

In the last few years, I have had seismic shifts in the tectonic plates beneath my life.  People, places and things that were central to my life changed entirely.  Like an earthquake, the changes happened dramatically and in a short period of time.   These life changes opened windows of opportunity for rebuilding with innovative communication.   I wanted to find ways of communicating ”who I was becoming” and “what I was doing” in my new life, city and job to the dispersed and diverse range of old and new relationships so that I could find and foster a new community for the future.  That was my goal: connecting.  I adapted to my surroundings in many ways to ensure my survival, success and service in my new life as a thirty-something single Pastor in Toronto.  Social media tools aided me in the quest for communication and community building. A turning point occurred during three pivotal conversations with colleagues. They tipped me into action by modelling and training me in some basic use skills that were enough to get me out there are sharing my life and ministry.  It has been very successful so far: Web savvy neighbours have joined the church, local leaders learn about what a pastor does, ideas for event involvement have been promoted, teaching is archived, friends and family feel connected to me.  I have creative outlets for sharing my exciting life and ministry adventures.  That is the why and how of my social media involvement. At present, I am active with Facebook and Twitter accounts plus WordPress websites.  I am not on Google+ or LinkedIn yet. I am a Mac.

2. How do I plan to utilize social media tools in 2012?

The purpose has progressed from the initial stage of transitioning my personal and professional life into the Toronto chapter (described above).  Now, I want to use it to improve and expand my personal and professional impact for this chapter and the next.   I am now a Toronto Christian teacher and leader with some street credibility.  I want to take it up a notch this year!  Statistical and anecdotal evidence indicates that my main readers are leaders.  I want to communicate, by example and principle, leadership lessons from my life to service minded people around the city, province and country.  They may be interested in politics, religion, education, finance, the arts, sports, health care, law, business, mercy & justice works.  I will try to publish events and ideas that others may learn from.  The goal has evolved from connecting into impact.  Tools that best serve that purpose need evaluation.  I think I will focus more on my websites as the content source and use twitter and facebook to drive or draw viewers there.  There may be greater future value in that strategy.  I am currently contemplating how to optimize my employment of these tools and maybe add more video with VideoPress or You Tube.  I am evaluating other media tools for the tool belt in 2012.

3.  What is the biggest challenge to your impact improvement through social media.

First, the discipline of editing content that I have created.  Second, knowing how and when to use each tool for the optimum impact.  In a nut shell, the challenge is consistently sharing the right content through the right tool at the right time for the right result.  Each tool has a different place in the timeline of events and target audience that helps me communicate ideas among various people.  Email sends correspondence for record keeping, fact exchanges and behavioural directives.  Books are a for extended manifestos, stories or “how-to” manuals.  Wordpress is like a magazine article forum for essays, reflections or report style updates (like this).  YouTube is a video clip sharing database (VideoPress compares).  Twitter is an information stream about personal and corporate brands in various markets.  Facebook is a social relationship network.   The biggest challenges to improving my impact are wisely packaging and shipping the content I create.  Threats to improving impact are me sharing too much, sharing too often, sharing too little, targeting the wrong people, using the wrong tools, publishing to early or too late.

Strategy Summary:  My impact may improve in 2012 with wise packaging and publishing of leadership lessons and involvement ideas from my life and ministry experiences through optimized social media tools.

Discussion Question:  What is your social media strategy for 2012?

Related Articles:

• How to Automate Your Social Media Marketing Like the Pros (hubspot.com)
• 5 New Year’s Resolutions for the Social Media Professional (socialmediatoday.com)
• 10 Fundamental Tips for Social Media Community Managers (hubspot.com)
• YouTube Gets Way More Social With Facebook, Google+ Integration (hubspot.com)

Building our church’s strategic plan (outlined below) reminds me of the work and reasons for laying these TTC Streetcar tracks (picture above).  Both are parallel in a slow construction process that results in securing effective and efficient service to citizens.  The Roncesvalles Renewed program included laying new tracks for streetcars.  Our strategic plan involved laying new “tracks” for our ministries.  Solid as steel, straight as an arrow.  For the last few years, our church, like neighbourhood has been under renewal and reconstruction.  Just as the new street car tracks were laid, so our ministry leaders have laid new tracks for our church to progress. Ding, Ding…ALL ABOARD!!!

Dear RumBloggers,

It has been a busy fall season and I apologize for not writing to you sooner.  This blog is a way for me to express some of my life and work so I thought you might be interested in knowing one of the major things I have been working on implementing this year.  This is our church’s strategic plan.  This document is what our board, members and ministry department leaders are aligning their efforts with.  These are our Street Car tracks.  It is the fruit of patient and humble consultation, Scriptural reflection and prayerful alignment.  The process was stretching and strengthening! As a church, we owe much to Robin Pifer and Gary V Carter for the consultation and coaching they provided throughout.  I am proud of the progress we have made to get into this and optimistic about our future in fulfilling it!  Read it, pray it through and give your time treasures and talents to making it happen!

Our Mission, as High Park Baptist Church, is to be “followers of Jesus Christ impacting lives in High Park Neighbourhoods”.  High Park neighbourhoods are those located in the Parkdale-High Park riding of Toronto.

We are motivated by Great Collective Calling to live out the Great Commandment and Great Commission in our Great Community (Matthew 22, Matthew 25, Matthew 28, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:42)

Here are the 15 Goals for our 4 Values : Worship, Serving, Outreach, Equipping.

Value 1: Worship – A prayerful community worshipping Jesus Christ passionately in Spirit and in Truth.

Goal 1:  Worship using Bible and prayer in all meetings.

Goal 2: “Service design team” energizes Sunday with diversity and harmony.

Goal 3:  Whole group obedience the Great Commission & Great
Commandment by asking for recommitments in public at important
seasonal transitions.

Goal 4: Rediscover spaces and aligning use with the mission by
Building Improvement Group (BIG) which has a ‘BIG inside’ and ‘BIG
outside’.

Value 2: Service – Serving and encouraging with trust, compassion and care.

Goal 5: Develop and display a clear discipleship process of enfolding.
Ex. Root Group Strategy.

Goal 6: Create and communicate a simple process of decision making to
assure decisions are made and implemented as intended. Ex.
Organizational Chart.

Value 3: Outreach – Extending Christ’s freeing love to the Spiritually hungry.

Goal 7: Expect and work toward a 5-10% conversion growth rate for each
of the next 5 years.  This requires an attitude shift and presents a
measurement challenge.

Goal 8: Identify and equip an “evangelist team” to develop connecting
points in High Park neighbourhoods.  Specialists for effective
leveraging of local events.

Goal 9: Equip and train everyone to be part of the “outreach team”.
Corporate responsibility and fairness demands that we share the work
load. Opportunities to minister belong to all believers.

Goal 10: Assemble teams to pray in strategic places in High Park
neighbourhoods; to notice and describe the categories of people here,
as well as needs and opportunities for creative outreach.

Goal 11: Conduct two outreach training opportunities and three
outreaches to bless the community. Leveraging local events better. 2
handed approach to Christmas and Easter events.

Value 4: Equipping – Empowering followers of Christ to maturity in ministry.

Goal 12:  Equip every member to be a passionate, optimally placed
minister, ready to “pay a price” as an effective steward (Time,
Talents, Treasure) pursuing the vision of the church to glorify
Christ.  Support and steer those who seek service.

Goal 13:  Write and evaluate ministry descriptions for any and all
programs. Develop a new culture of excellence, responsibility and
accountability.

Goal 14:  Evaluate each staff member (paid and volunteer), as well as
all programs and ministry systems, then make adjustments.  Attitude
shift required.

Goal 15: Effectively manage the clear leadership structure.

Reflection Questions:

1. How does this compare to the plan at your church or organization?

2. What can you do to help achieve these goals?

During this weekend’s Roncesvalles Polish Festival, High Park Baptist Church had an outreach and awareness tent outside our front door.  It was located between the CanadianArmy recruiting display and a beer tent. I had a blast reaching out for two straight days to our neighbourhood during this lively community event.  The music, food and weather conspired to make a great opportunity to “extend Christ’s freeing love to the spiritually hungry” and meet some new and old friends from the neighbourhoods in the process. I hope you enjoy these 23 pictures.

Excellent Canadian Forces band music. Banner says, "Thank you Canadian & Polish Forces"

Saturday the church was a beehive of activity: Dance studio registration signage and bag pipers in our parking lot. 

Former City Councillor Chris Korwin-Kuczynski aka "KK"

The crowd fills Roncesvalles

Cortney Pasternak, Liberal MPP Candidate w Ryan Hobson

MPP Cheri DiNovo, NDP and MP Peggy Nash, NDP.

Parade started just south of us

Polish Festivalers made these clothing donations between 12-2pm on Sunday. Thank you neighbours.

2 guys in the outreach tent raising awareness for HPBC's Food & Clothing Ministry. We offered free prayer & New Testaments. Our church would like to have a tent with our name on it. This was a loaner.

You see: Our Daily Bread, ESV New Testaments, contact cards, food & clothing donation signs

Presentation board by Food & Clothing Ministry. The bottles are gourmet cooking oils and wine vinegars for donations.

A good view of our neighbours from the tent.

Our neighbours, the Army Reserves. Nice guys!

Workers building the chapel pause to show off they space to a local family

Cheming is the Director of the HPBC Food and CLothing Ministry. Please say "hi and thank you", if you see him around the neighbourhoods.

Twirling skirt. I loved catching this couple's care free dancing around the streets as Polish music played! Great action shot!

Feeding our troops!

More excellent Canadian Forces band music.

It is an "Adam Bomb"...haha..actually, it is a Howitzer shell.

Related articles

• Roncesvalles renewal a relief for neighbourhood (cbc.ca)
• Toronto Pride Parade: My take on Rob Ford, Brian Burke, Peggy Nash, Cheri DiNovo plus my vision for a new “Pride Parade”. (adamrumball.com)
• Get ready for weekend without DVP, Yonge subway (thestar.com)
• Layton’s death did not diminish NDP love in Quebec: poll (canada.com)