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Is God real?

Dec 30

Posted by Clayton Bell in Church, Leadership, Reader Feedback, Spiritual Insights, Tallahassee | 5 Comments

If He is than we should be able to clearly testify to what He’s doing in our lives.

This past Sunday at our church in Tallahassee we took the day to share stories of what God’s done in the lives of a few members of our spiritual family. Do you know what’s he done in yours?

Can you list five things God’s done in your life? Five ways He’s challenged you, changed you, moved you, broken you, healed you, loved you?

Here’s mine:

  1. Brought me back to vocational ministry
  2. Brought a wonderful daughter into my life
  3. Brought me to the end of myself multiple times, only to find He was there waiting for me
  4. Miraculously sold our home so we could be debt-free and give more to His kingdom
  5. Broke, shaped, molded, challenged and transformed me to be a better husband

Can you name five, FIVE, ways God moved in your life in 2008?

Be honest. Christmas Eve is coming.

Dec 22

Posted by Clayton Bell in Church, Reader Feedback, Spiritual Insights, Tallahassee | 2 Comments

I love Christmas Eve services. Well, I love the idealized, personalized one I’d like to attend that mainly exists in my mind.

But what about you?

A “different kind” of Christmas Eve service?

A carol-filled candlelight service.

Pick one.

Go ahead. Ask. You know you want to.

Dec 16

Posted by Clayton Bell in Church, Cultural Commentary, Our Family, Reader Feedback, Resources, Spiritual Insights, Tallahassee, Youth | 27 Comments

I like you guys and gals.

I ask you questions, you provide great answers.

But I don’t want it to be one-sided. I want you to have your chance to grill me.

So go ahead. Ask away. Serious or silly. Personal or public.

The short questions I’ll answer in comments. The long ones I’ll save for an entire blog.

So, what would you like to know?

Does size matter?

Dec 8

Posted by Clayton Bell in Church, Leadership, Reader Feedback, Spiritual Insights, Tallahassee | 3 Comments

Yeah, yeah, I know it’s not all about numbers. And I know numbers are people. So let’s not get fussy over that whole debate.

How big is your church on average on Sunday morning?

Growing, shrinking, plateau?

Is it too big or too small?

How long have you been there?

Does the size matter?

What’s your Sunday order of service?

Nov 12

Posted by Clayton Bell in Church, Reader Feedback, Tallahassee | 18 Comments

On a typical Sunday morning what’s the order of service for your church? And which element of it do you feel is the most shoe-horned in, the most awkward part of it?

Here’s a typical Sunday for Every Nation, Tallahassee:

  • Pre-service: Music playing though the sound system
  • Worship leader welcomes everyone, leads 20 or so minutes of worship
  • Pastor, usually senior, comes up to close worship with a prayer, greets everyone, releases everyone to greeting time. (Most kids are already in children’s church by now, but if not this is when they are brought over.) Greeting time is 2 minutes.
  • 1st and 2nd time guests are welcomed
  • Announcements
  • Tithe and offering, followed by an offering song while the bags are passed
  • Sermon
  • Response to message, usually an alter invitation of some sort. Prayer ministers are available almost every week in the front for prayer regarding the message or anything else people want prayer for.
  • Post-service: music played through the sound system

I tend to think announcement and tithe are the most awkward part, though I dont know if they are to anyone who doesn’t think about this stuff as much as I do.

What about you and your church?

Who ARE you!??!

Oct 25

Posted by Clayton Bell in Reader Feedback | 21 Comments

No, seriously.

Who are you, and why do you read this blog?

Who’d you like to start blogging?

Oct 11

Posted by Clayton Bell in Reader Feedback | 4 Comments

A few days ago I mentioned three blogs I thought you needed to know about. Today, I’d like to ask about the non-bloggers, the lurkers, the techno-phobs. Who’s out there without a blog that you’d like to see fire one up?

Famous or friend, there’s no limit on this question. Here’s who comes to mind for me:

  • Jon Ownes- Great songwriter, great worship leader, married to a great blogger…seems to have all the makings of a great blogger himself. But will we ever find out if he is?
  • Adrian Crawford- I guess this falls into the category of “guy who’s started blogging 45 times and never makes it past the 3 month mark.” He’s good when he does blog, I just don’t know if he still does!
  • Amanda Fliger- Former co-worker, she’s the female pop culture version of me. She’s funny and pulls more quotes from more places to the point that even I’M stumped! She’s Twittering, but I’d like to see more…
  • Jed Walker- Former campus minister, used to run a school for campus minsters, and is one of the few people who knows as much about TV as me. He’s another backslidden blogger, but a brilliant writer…
  • And finally…My wife- I just love my wife and wish she’s throw out some of her awesome ideas, stories and insights for the rest of you to read. Plus, she’s just so incredibly amazing and hot. What else could I want in life?

Who would you like to see start blogging, famous or a friend?

Reader Music Feedback!

Oct 4

Posted by Clayton Bell in Reader Feedback | 3 Comments

I’m not saying The Hot Links are dead on Saturday, I’m just saying my cholesterol is a little high and I’m cutting back for a while. So I’m switching it up for a little while, and would like to ask:

What’s the one song (non-worship) you’d want to listen to before you died?

I’m torn between Covered in Rain by John Mayer and Empty by Ray LaMontange.

You?