Todd Rhoades posted an article (http://u.mavrev.com/ymwl) yesterday quoting USA Today as blaming the megachurch on the demise of outdoor baptisms. Amazing.

if my history serves me right the outdoor baptism actually started taking a dive with indoor plumbing in the 1940’s and 1950’s. well before most megachurches were ever conceived.

secondly, this megachurch has conducted several baptismal services outside. now i have to admit that was before we built this fancy building with indoor plumbing and all.

thirdly, we help plant a lot of churches and some of them still go “down to the river” for baptism.

fourthly, what a ridiculous thing to complain about.

well folks, it seems the megachurch has found another thing that destroys our society. shame on us!

i guess if you weren’t baptized outside then it didn’t take. for all of you who need to be rebaptized the correct way i think Oakleaf Church is baptizing on the Etowah River soon i bet Michael will help make you right. amazing!

interesting verse, “if an ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.” how many times have i treated ministry or any job to do for that matter with the attitude, “if i just work harder, it will all work out.” over the years i have discovered, painfully at times, there are some things i just can’t do.

growing up and playing a lot of sports, i discovered i would definitely never be an nba player because i was the one they made that movie about, “white men can’t jump.” then it was tough to realize i would never make the majors in baseball because although i could hit the fastball a mile and could throw you out from the outfield, i could never hit the good curve ball. then i realized i just wasn’t aggressive enough to make the nfl. i think i had the skills but i didn’t have the edge.

so, do i quit, because i will never be a superstar? do i never get on a ballfield again? i still love to play ball, one of my biggest regrets of my past injuries is that i could no longer compete on the athletic field, when the knee just won’t hold up. but every year the staff is gracious and lets me jog up and down the basketball court for the student fund raiser.

i think it is the same way in ministry. it is not enough to work harder, we must learn to work smarter. hone your skills at what you are good at, improve at what you struggle with, but those things you can’t do – learn to give ministry away. don’t take a dull axe to cut down a tree, take someone that knows what they are doing. in the ministry you can learn skills that will improve your ministry. find places to do that. find coaching, study after study indicates coaching works for church planters (pastors too). www.launchandlead.com is being led by Michael Lukaszewski. He will help you get to the next level. the school of church planting at WRC has proven successful for many if you want to launch a church right.

whatever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord. some wise guy said that. still is true. learn, practice, execute, and delegate what you can’t do. recipe for success.

when a pastor i got tired of people wanting you to visit them when they were having a corn removed. here is a funny ministry story from years ago. i was being trained as a hospital chaplain. at the time i was considering this as a profession. anyway…i was on duty one night at the hospital and the nurse called me about 11:30 p.m. and asked me to come and talk to this gentleman. when i got to the room the nurse said, “he won’t sign his release form for the surgery in the morning. and we can’t do surgery without it. please try to get him to sign the form.”

i entered the room and the gentleman was probably in the late 60’s in age. i sat down and started the conversation and just got to know him a little bit. after a short while i finally asked him about the form and why he didn’t want to sign it. he told me, “that form says that the hospital is not responsible if i die.” i began to explain that this was standard hospital protocol and tried to assure him that the hospital had a wonderful surgery department and that he should not be afraid. at which time the old guy says, “you don’t understand rev. akins, i’m having a corn removed, if i die it is their fault!” we both got a great laugh and he eventually signed the form…but i digress.

i am not one of those people that want to be at the hospital for minor stuff or run to the familie’s home when little suzy has tonsilitis. but there are times when you have to walk through difficult times with people. it is not necessarily what you say at those times, but it is your presence. are you willing to be present in the difficult times? life threatening illness, accidents, job loss, divorce, affairs, jail.

a little known fact about me is that when i was 16, a pastor signed for me and got me out of jail. for a year he proved God’s abounding love. because of him i am a believer today. there are times when you gotta be there. are you ready?