Galen Scott

The last few weeks have been an interesting time in ministry. After consulting my team and the church family, I lead the church down a new path of programming that in most instances would have been a big mistake. I sought counsel from various sources and spent a lot of time in prayer. Finally we launched and it has been a wonderful experience. Our decision has proven to be God's will. The Holy Spirit gave us the wisdom and confirmation through a renewed enthusiasm, powerful worship and people coming to Christ. I'm learning to consult better, trust more and to act on spiritual "gut" instincts.

When I have exhausted every resource, read every article, researched every website and have come up empty, I'm learning to tap into the source of wisdom that God has made available 24 hours a day to me, His Holy Spirit.

Paul, in writing to the church at Ephesus, prayed that they would remember to do this more often. In chapter 1:17, Paul prays the following; "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him."

"Lean On Me" is a great song. I need to hear it more often .......

I just finished reading Tim Steven's blog from the Catalyst Conference. Really good stuff.

Five Things Andy Stanley is Thinking About
Andy Stanley closed the last session of Catalyst talking about stuff that is on his mind...
1) To reach people no one else is reaching, we have to do things no one else is doing (Craig Groeschel)
- we have 175,000 people within 10 miles of Northpoint, and we aren't reaching them. We aren't going to reach them by building another church building. We have to do something no one else is doing.
Become preoccupied with those you want to reach rather than those you are trying to keep.

2) The best idea for reaching the next generation isn't going to come from the existing generation, it's going to come from the next generation.
If you are over 45 years old, you aren't going to have any good ideas. It's your job to recognize the good ideas.
Don't do to the next generation what the previous generation did to you.
Be a student, not a critic.

3) I'm looking for what can't be done in church, but if it could be done would fundamentally change the church.
It always used to drive me nuts that the communicator and the leader had to be the same thing.
Multi-site solved this. Now the great leader doesn't have to be the teacher.
Like that, you may be the one to crack the code on something no one else has figured out that will fundamentally change our "business."
Pay attention to people who are breaking the rules. It's the rule-breakers who are oftentimes the problem solvers.

4) If we got kicked out by our board, and they hired a new guy, what would the new guy change or do different? Let's walk out the door and walk back in, and make those changes.
The problem with ministry is that we've fallen in love with the way we've done ministry.
It's not "no pain, no gain" -- it's "no pain, no change." Without pain, there typically isn't any change.
Ask: "Where are we manufacturing energy?" The things we aren't very excited about, it takes energy to get it done, but the results aren't stellar.
Acknowledge what's not working. Own up to it. And own up to why you aren't willing to do anything about it. What is it you fear? You need to deal with that. It is a leadership lid for you.

5) When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near. You look back with smiles and lots to celebrate, but you don't have a lot to work forward to.
Are you willing to be involved in the future more than the present?
Don't let success overshadow your vision.
Success breeds complacency and complacency breeds failure.
October 10, 2008 Permalink

This week I've had the occasional moment of real reflection. Looking back over 30 plus years of ministry there have been defining moments that have shaped my personal walk and philosophy.
It seems each decade in my life had major events that rocked my belief system and changed the course of my life. This is precisely why I so look forward to the next step, the next event that God has for me. I just returned from a fantastic time with our staff team at Granger Community Church and what I noticed was that so much emphasis was placed on the "now" of life. The past pointed out lessons we learned from and the future is truthfully just a guess. Only heaven is for sure. The "now" is what we all have and today's experiences are so incredibly important. They build bridges of growth and maturity, no matter how frustrating, discouraging and totally lost we feel we are. Here are some of mine:
My 20's: (1970 - 1980)
I found Christ, Tandy and took my first scary steps in ministry. My intern years, my college years and the beginning of a family.
Defining moments: Bill Stewart taking a chance on me and Bill Yeager teaching me about forgiveness. The Jesus Movement.

My 30's: (1980-1988)
I left the nest, moved my family completely across the United States. My musical production years, my development as a husband and dad and experiencing God's love by the body of Christ.
Defining moments: Discovering Praise and Worship in Texas and the saddest departure from one ministry to another.

My 40's: (1990-1998)
I ventured into a ground-breaking church movement that re-defined church. 8 Years of spontaneous programming, creative development and at the same time, the death of a vision. My true desert experience.
Defining moments: I learned what total dependence was on Christ with my career, my family and my personal walk. Contentment was hard to come by until God "pushed" me off the cliff. The miracle of Sunset Bay Chapel.

My 50's: 1998 - present
Becoming content with who I am in Christ, grateful that God didn't allow me to give up, witness to my biggest miracle yet - our new church home. Renewed energy for the things of God.
Defining moments: Those that I thought would never come to a personal relationship with Christ now worship with Tandy and I every week. It blows my mine .....

Every 'now" moment could be a defining moment again. I encourage you to journal your defining moments and experiences. Next year I start my "60's" and I don't want to miss out on what God has in store. Less hair allows me to move quicker and faster ... It get's gooder and gooder ....

Love, Galen

What an incredible day at the Chapel. new folks showed up, we worshipped and God's Word was disclosed. And then the baptism was fantastic. Here are some notes from today's message:

ARMOR FOR LIVING - A Study in the Book of Ephesians

Background:

• This book is different from the other epistles. No personal greetings, no messages to individuals
• No specific problems dealt with
• Letter meant to be a circular letter, a "chain letter" so to speak, to be passed on to other churches. This is why it's not specific.
• This church is closely linked with the church in Colossae. Possibly a church plant of Ephesus
• Paul is the author

Central points:

• Ephesians 1:1-2
• Paul couldn't escape the "compulsion" he had to spread the gospel 1 Corinthians 9:16
• "Apostle" means messenger. It was an official title given only to the 12 disciples who were eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ.
• Acts 4:20 The apostles were all under "compulsion"
• "... to the saints ..." Saints are holy ones, hagioi, set-apart for the service of God. Set-apart for a special purpose just as we are today. Hebrews 10:14-17
• We have been set-apart by Christ, our sin has been set-apart by Christ so that we can go a different way, on a different journey, a different road to travel. Isaiah 35:8
• The staying set-apart wholly depends on our faith in Christ Jesus.

Illustration of The Ermine

Conclusion:

1 Peter 2:9 (The Message)

"But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do His work and speak out for Him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference He made in you - from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted."

I just finished a great day of studying preparing for this weekend. As I was sitting and thinking back over the weekend, I was reminded of the many reasons God blesses the Chapel. Here are a few important ones called your Pastoral Staff:

Julie Siefert... Do you know anyone who has a greater passion for Christ? She's amazing.
Pastor Buster Rayburn ... A real man of God with a huge heart for the lost. He's highly valued.
Pastor Nic Williams ... I love this guy and his love for students. Deeply dependable and my friend.
Kelli Phillips ... The Spirit of God shines on her face and she loves numbers. I thank God for her!
Pastor Bill and Jan Stewart ... He's fighting his way back. That's one reason why I follow him. A modern-day Joshua.
Gloria Sumner ... She stepped up and loves our children. She's a precious gift to Sunset.
Sunset Bay Leadership .... No matter what the challenge - they stick and stay and stay and stay ...

And finally ...
The Sunset Family .... They have embraced the vision and they truly own it. 80% of all members and regular attenders serve in some ministry role. That's not a Galen thing or a staff thing. It's a full Big Mac passion for Jesus!

Sunday our church celebrated 10 years of existence and it was wonderful. I have never worked so hard to pull off a party in my life yet every minute was worth it. The church family, new and old , came together to not only remember what God has done but to celebrate what He is doing at the Chapel. Pastor Nic Williams pulled off light sticks and an interactive survey that wowed the crowd. Martha York and her team dressed up the house like I've never seen it. James Weinberger, my stage Manager, spent 8 hours hanging lights - under a doctor's care! But what I will remember the most was the time alone I had with the Lord sitting in the sanctuary 9:00 PM later that night. I had time to reflect what I mostly appreciated about Sunset Bay Chapel. Church plants are the toughest way to go in churchworld and Tandy, my wife and I have survived. God's protective love has been there in the best of times and in the worst. Churchworld, especially as a ministry couple, requires 24/7 emotional, spiritual attention. Every day of your life. Every day for 10 years. We survived. Most Pastors don't get the chance to stay put for 10 years. But because we surrounded ourselves with the greatest friends, staff and church family - we survived. Lastly, here is a thought that my mom taught me about the ministry. God never promises us a safe journey, just a safe arrival. The journey is the challenge and the journey is a joy. But what is most satisfying is the arrival at a milestone waypoint that has Jesus saying, "well done" and to know that with joy in our soul - we survived ...

Here are my notes from last Sunday's message "Trends and New Horizons". Several have asked that I post these so here goes:

• Future Pull will bring NEW SIGNS AND WONDERS
• Future Pull will bring NEW DEMONSTRATIONS OF FAITH
• The results will overwhelm us with new arrivals seeking the living God!
• Read Matthew 12:1-7 from The Message
• It's critical we know who we are at Sunset Bay Chapel. This is our DNA at The Chapel:

full of God's Spirit - practical - experience driven - fun - Word based - happy - not spooky - continuously CURRENT WITH THE CULTURE!

• Now read Matthew 4:18-25 in The Message
• How do we send a message of HOPE into the world around us?
• 1. Stay current!
• 2. Major on the Majors! 3 ways:

Re-invigorate Worship - Build Student Life at Sunset Bay Chapel - Make Children a priority!

• 3. Launch the Vision over and over and over .....
• God has put us smack in the middle of the FishHawk neighborhood.
• Closing: John 1:14 in The Message

"Christ became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood!"

In conclusion ....I can't wait until this weekend when we celebrate 10 years at Sunset Bay Chapel. What a time it has been and what a time is ahead! Thank you Staff team for your love and support. Thank you church for your love for Jesus.

Love, Galen