Sep/070
What I’ve Learned Along the Way
Tonight, for some unknown reason I started thinking about the little lessons of life I’ve learned along the way. Some of them are obvious – alright most of them. You can create a nice list of the things you’ve learned. However, when that list of things you have learned really impact your life, you truly have LEARNED them. I hope that these are a few of the things that I have learned or I am learning along the way.
- Along the way, I’ve learned that true relationship are invaluable. Relationships come and go. However, there are those true, lasting relationships that carry you through good and bad. They aren’t necessarily the people that you spend lots of time with and hang out with every weekend, but they are the ones that have been loyal and have stood by you in times of joy and sorrow. Thank you to my loyal friends.
- Along the way, I’ve learned that you will always have those that criticize what you’re doing if you’re really doing something that has an eternal impact. If you aren’t causing waves, then nothing is moving. Even in the last week, I’ve come to realize that as long as humans are human, everyone won’t like me or what I do. That’s ok.
- Along the way, I’ve learned as stated in Proverbs 18:22 that a man who finds a wife is highly favored. I have come to realize that there are few women, if any other than Charlene, that could or would stand by me and make me complete. She is truly a treasure.
- Along the way, I’ve learned that kids are a blessing. So much could be said on this topic. It’s an amazing thing to pour life into your children and see them finally “get it.” It’s amazing to try to teach kids to be worshipers and then to look down from the stage and see them really going after God. It’s amazing that when you need to laugh the most, they can do the craziest things to break right through. I could go on . . .
- Along the way, I’ve learned that not everyone has a pastoral staff like ours. I am amazed at the horror stories that I read about and hear about, and they seem so foreign. I have grown to realize that a pastor that supports you and releases you to do what God has called you to do a rare and unique gift that should NEVER be taken for granted. Pastor Ron & Dr. Pastor, you two are a treasure.
- Along the way, I’ve learned to not stress over the little things. (Those of you that have known me for some time HOPEFULLY can see that I am growing in this area.) When I get to the “stress point” is when I have learned and am learning that it’s at that point that I am out of control and need someone else to be in control. In those times, it reminds me to get out of the driver’s seat and allow God to lead and for me to follow. I am still learning and when I do this, life is much more pleasant.
- Along the way, I’ve learned that I really LOVE Apple products. OK . . . I digress but it was getting a bit heavy!!! Seriously, I HAVE learned that. I used to be the biggest critic of Mac users and now I’m Apple’s biggest marketing member. I should get a paycheck from them because I’m always sneezing over them. (If you don’t know what sneezing is, I’ll have to explain it in a later post.) I have completely left the PC world for the exciting world of Apple products.
- Along the way, I’ve learned the incredible blessing of Godly parents. More and more I realize that Charlene and I are both INCREDIBLY blessed to have been raised by Godly parents who still love God and each other. Many of the issues that we see in so many people have never been issue for us because of this incredible blessing. We are blessed. Thank you Mom & Dad and Mom & Dad Shively.
- Along the way, I’ve learned following God’s instructions are not always easy or popular, but the long term result of obedience is blessing. WOW – I could write a book on this one. On several occasions, God has asked me to make some very unpopular and touch decisions. Many of them have been related to the direction of worship at Living Stones. In the midst of those times, the decisions weren’t always the most popular. Yet, looking back on those times, I can see the incredible fruit of obedience. Worship is at an unprecedented place at Living Stones. We have experienced an increased level of freedom in the last six to nine months. It’s exciting to see where God will take us from here . . .
- Along the way, I’ve learned that I care more what God thinks about me than what man thinks about me. I think I’m still learning this and will be tested on it from time to time. But, as JC would say, “at the end of the day,” I would much rather have pleased my Father than have pleased man. My choice would be to do both but I’ve also learned that that’s not usually possible!What have you learned or are you learning “along the way?” Leave a comment; that’s what makes this blog more fun!
Sep/070
It’s Been Awhile
Well, it has been awhile since I’ve sat down and written an actual post. Quite frankly, it’s not that there’s nothing to write about. The exact opposite is the case – there is SO MUCH to write about. And then at the end of the day there is so much running through my brain I can’t even process it. Today is the first day in awhile that I’ve actually had some down time for just me. I am enjoying a nice quiet lunch at Go Roma utilizing their free Wi-Fi. So I thought I would just jot down a few random thoughts about what’s been happening in life & ministry.
For the first time ever, we’ve actually formally auditioned people for the worship team. We have eight incredible people who have joined the team as as instrumentalists and singers. They’rea already being incorporated into the schedule. It’s amazing how well they are “fitting in” to the team. Great job you guys!
- Plus, we now have a rotating team of four worship leaders. It’s really awesome to see them walk further into the anointing that God has for them. I call them “my three sons.” If you’re young, you probably don’t remember that show. (I must confess that I’m really too young to remember it as well, but I do remember the reruns.)
- The reason we’ve been doing all the expanding is because we’re about to launch our first multi-site Living Stones location in Gary. Our first service (still on the Crown Point campus) was August 19 with our first official Sunday at the Genesis Center being October 21. This is very stretching yet incredibly EXCITING. This has been confirmed and reconfirmed through prophetic word after prophetic word.
- The School of Worship Arts is off and running again. We have more instructors than ever and 114 students! We are so stinkin’ excited about raising up the next generation of worshipers!
- God blessed me incredibly at the end of July by sending John to me to assist me in the worship arts area. The timing could not have been more God. Quite honestly, I don’t know what I would have done without his help in the last couple of months. God really MUST know what He is doing!!
- This next week we should be ordering all of the sound and video equipment for the new launch in Gary.
- In January, we’re starting the Living Stones School of Ministry. We have a special concentration on Worship Arts. If you’re interested, visit the Living Stones website for the details.
Aug/070
Is the MUSIC too loud?
I regularly read Perry Noble‘s blog. He’s a pastor or a booming church, NewSpring, in South Carolina. I love his honesty and real down-to-earth feel. Well, I could so relate to yesterday’s blog post and loved it! Loved it, loved it! I’m passing it along to all of you as well.
Jul/070
A Lesson from My Mom & Mary Kay
I just returned from visiting my family last night and today. My girls were visiting Grandpa & Grandma for a week along with Uncle Jeff & Aunt Amanda. We went yesterday to pick them up and freeze some homegrown sweet corn! There is nothing better! Anyway, in the middle of today, my mom took off to go and get her diamond ring. We’re not talking about any ordinary diamond ring – it’s a huge star with one big rock right in the middle and smaller diamonds surround it. She went to meet her Mary Kay director to receive the rock. She’s been selling for a couple of years and this year has done so well that she was awarded the Queen’s Court of Sales. The prize was a diamond ring.We stopped on our way home at the hometown pizza joint where they were meeting to say goodbye (ok, really – we wanted to see the thing on her finger!). Tonight I called to get the whole story and Dad’s take on the deal. In our conversation we started talking about sales and how she’s really got a handle on selling the product, but now she just needs to get others to sell it as well to move along in the company. I said something along the lines that that’s the true test of a good salesman – not only are you convinced that the product is good and that it’s good enough for others to purchase, but also that you so convince others that they need to share the product with everyone that they know. Immediately I had the thought and opened my mouth and said, “It’s just like the Gospel.” We talked briefly about that, and I continued to ponder that thought after hanging up.
Some of us are so convinced that the Gospel of Jesus is “Good News” that we share with others about it. However, if we’re really convinced that it’s good news, our life’s ambition is to enlist others to share the good news with others. So, as born-again, believing Christians, we fall into one of three categories.
- We are consumers of the Good News – we enjoy the benefits of salvation but use it only for our personal consumption.
- We are salesmen & women of the Good News – we have so enjoyed the benefits ourselves that we MUST tell others about the Good News and enlist them as consumers themselves.
- We are directors in the company – we enjoy the benefits personally, have enlisted others to become consumers, and are NOW training our disciples to disciple others.
Which are you? Are you satisfied with your personal relationship with Jesus and just keep it to yourself? Or are you sharing the incredible product – Jesus Christ – with others? Or are you a radical sales director – discipling others to disciple others??
Comments anyone?
Jul/070
Thursday Night Thoughts
I just finished another GREAT night with my cell. For the record, I have the best cell at Living Stones. Actually, I have the best guys in my cell. I think every cell leader would probably say the same thing. That’s actually good – we all should think we have the best cell going! That means we are loving God and enjoying one another! Sorry, I digressed. What I started to say was that there were a lot of great insights that we got as we studied the introduction to our latest series, The Fear of the Lord. One was a great paraphrase of Psalm 24:12-14. You see many (but not all) of my guys are members of the Living Stones worship team. And the ones that aren’t worship team members are worshipers to the core! So here’s what The Message Bible had to say:
My question: What are God-worshipers like? Your answer: Arrows aimed at God’s bull’s-eye. They settle down in a promising place; Their kids inherit a prosperous farm. God-friendship is for God-worshipers; They are the ones he confides in. They are the ones he confides in.
We are God-worshipers, and we are aimed at God’s bull’s eye! If you are a Living Stoner, then you can say a hearty AMEN! Yes, we are God-worshipers. And, yes, we are aimed at God’s bull’s eye. God friendship is for us! We are the ones the HE confides in. Why? Because we are beginning to understand the FEAR OF THE LORD.
Jun/070
Never & Always
Here are some really great lines to live by. I read it from one of the blogs that I read quite often (PerryNoble.com). These really embrace what life is all about and what we embrace at Living Stones.
- NEVER be satisfied with where we are!
- ALWAYS be thankful for what God has done!
- NEVER limit what God can do!
- ALWAYS dream big…and take bold steps!
- NEVER stop reaching people for Christ!
- ALWAYS spend money on ministry!
- NEVER let the critics and skeptics silence us!
- ALWAYS be willing to make NOISE for Christ!
- NEVER forget where we came from!
- ALWAYS celebrate where we are going!
- NEVER allow creativity to trump Scripture!
- ALWAYS show the world how relevant the Gospel is!
- NEVER lift up a personality!
- ALWAYS lift up the name of Jesus!
Pastor Jon Plotner
