Ministry books line Christian bookstore shelves. Some are worth the read; some are not. just a fact of life.
This one, by Marshall and Payne, is one that is worth the read. The authors provide a superb visual that stays with the reader throughout the book.
This is the current book we are reading together as a Parent and Family Discipleship team – I have loved reading books with my teammates, co-laborers, friends. Each person brings a new set of eyes and experiences to the reading of the book and discussion. I would recommend this practice to those of you who serve on ministry teams. It is very worthwhile.
Here are 5 of my thoughts on this book and then I’m offering some of the questions I’ll raise to our team here when we discuss it in a few weeks:
1. If I could sum up this book in two words, those two would be: decentralized ministry. Marshall and Payne focus on training and making disciple-makers out of disciples. It is not just about the staff ministry team whose names are on the bulletin or on the church marquee sign. It is about the people in the church who sit in the pews, rock babies, play foosball at youth lock-ins. It is about the grandmother who brings her 8-year old to church with her and the single dad who rushes home from work in order to bring his two middle schoolers to youth group.
2. This book is repetitive. While that is a good thing – to drive home the argument or premise – this book could be quite a bit shorter if written more succinctly.
3. The authors do a great job of keeping the goal/vision of this book in front of them at all times. You don’t wonder what they are aiming toward – see number 2.
4. Throughout the book, you get a sense that the lay people in your church are important. Not just the elders or the deacons, but those that do the grunt work in volunteering. But, you also get a direction in which to take these people – from just stacking chairs on Sunday morning or filming the service – to pouring the Bible into others and making disciples of their neighbors or co-workers.
5. I love their use of Scripture and historical references (think Baxter and Luther). This isn’t just some new-fangled idea that the authors came up with one night at a retreat. They have sought the perfect Word of God on this (thankful for the ministry of Paul and the disciples in the New Testament). They prove that opinions in ministry are a dime-a-dozen, but the Word of God should compel us in how we do ministry.
6. So often we get stuck in our denominational circles. This book doesn’t. We read of Presbyterians, non-denominational ministries, and SBCers. Shows that one denomination isn’t the only one there is. We all can learn something from our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world.
7. They don’t think they have cornered the market on ministry application. These two men show great humility toward the end of the book when they say what we have written in here isn’t prescription – see what works for you. Its more the idea of team work and disciple making than it is about a prescribed step-by-step plan.

Here are some of the questions I’ll pose to our team when we have our book discussion:
1. Which type of ministry do you thrive in (or tend to work in): the trellis or the vine?
2. Do we run our ministries in an 80/20 mentality? Are we so focused on a few people who those few people are doing most of the ministry in our churches. Are we exhausting those people without allowing so many more to participate?
3. What do you think would happen if we expected more out of our leaders and volunteers? Why are we afraid to ask more of them?
4. How are you being a good steward of the ministry you’ve been assigned to (probably the most convicting question for me)?

I would recommend this book. It may not be the BEST book I’ve ever read on ministry – but it should be read, digested, and put into practice.

Downtown Asheville is known for its restaurants. So many to choose from. As I was walking, I came across this place and since we needed a place for birthday cupcakes – we chose this one.

Highlights:
1. The chocolate ganache frosting on the devils food cake chocolate cupcakes. So yummy and messy.

2. The sign on the wall of the restaurant.

3. The prices. 2.25 for a cupcake isn’t bad relatively speaking to other cupcake desserteries.
4. The look of the other eateries – creamed horns looked fabulous.

Lowlights:
1. The cream in my whoopie pie was a dry.

2. The folks there. It wasn’t a very kid friendly space – very small. But, they were insistent that a 3 year not put his hands on the glass – they had just cleaned it. How rude is that? Anyway…cupcakes were enjoyed by all.

Are you a vegan, vegetarian, or only eat organic foods? This place is definitely for you! This place would definitely fit into Chapel Hill or Louisville – but it is nestled on Broadway in the downtown district of Asheville. Right on the corner – it is easy to find.
I went there this past weekend for a birthday dinner. The place wasn’t slammed for an early Saturday night mainly due to the Bele Chere festival that was right outside its doors. But, the good thing was the windows so we could sit inside in the air conditioning and watch all the festivities.
I ordered the black bean burger with sweet potato fries. My two dates ordered the burger and sweet potato fries and the green sage breakfast platter. I can only speak for what I had: the bun and the tomato (so juicy and perfectly ripe) were the best part of my plate. I heard rave reviews about the breakfast platter though.

Highlights:
1. The price. All were under 10$ that we saw which is unusual for an organic place.
2. The folks. Very friendly and happy to help or answer questions.
3. The tea. Plenty to choose from and so good iced on a hot day (loose leaf teas).
4. The cafe-type atmosphere. If we had this place in Raleigh – I would go.

Lowlights:
1. Food wasn’t the best.

My grandmother nor my Dad lives in Cleveland, TN. But, I felt like I had been to a little with a little bit of both when I ate there last week.
The daily specials were meatloaf, chili, ribs, steak sandwich. I chose wisely with the ribs. Two fat ribs smothered in bbq sauce, fork tender, moist, and oh so delicious. My sides were mac and cheese and pinto beans, with a side of a corn muffin. We looked over at the couple through the window and saw they were enjoying the blackberry cobbler – looked equally as delicious. I tried some of my friends meatloaf and that was probably the best restaurant meatloaf I’ve ever had.
Highlights:
1. The price. All that for 5.99.
2. Quick service – especially if you ordered one of the daily specials.
3. The atmosphere. Pictures of Earnhardt and Jesus on the wall. Old men piling in their Camry to come out and shoot the breeze and drink sweet tea and eat burgers on a Friday night.
4. The ribs.
5. The meatloaf.

Lowlights:
1. The service. I think our waitress was just having a bad night. She wasn’t very friendly and she got my order wrong (I wanted the green beans).
2. The health factor – country cooking isn’t good for the cholesterol or the waistline.

Greetings. I just returned from vacation. I usually don’t use this blog to talk about day to day stuff anymore, but please humor me. There is some good stuff in here (at least I think so). I used this vacation not really as a vacation – but as a hang out and see lots of people and puts tons of miles on my car and extra weight on my body time.
Here goes:
Wednesday I left early, fighting traffic in RTP (thanking God aloud that I don’t have to fight with 40 West bound am rush hour traffic everyday), and had as my destination Cleveland, TN. I made a short stop in Asheville for some Goodwill shopping (leaving with nothing) and a Wendy’s lunch break. Made it to my destination right on time, shortly after my friend arrived home from work. Tasya (a fellow cheerleader from LCS days and recently reconnected back on FB a few years ago) graciously opened her new-to-her home up to me for a few days. (Thank you Tasya). We spent Wednesday night up at Camp Cherokee by the Ocoee River at a bluegrass concert with some exceptional adults and their ministry at First Cleveland. The bluegrass was great and the Quiznos was delicious. Scenery was very pretty and I always enjoy any time to get on a lake and ride a pontoon boat. It gave me a chance to remember back to one of the first things I did after arriving at Providence back in April and that was to participate in Joy Prom – what a joy it was seeing so many smiles that night. Still, I understand how uncomfortable it is for me and how God has graced Tasya with a willing and happy spirit to work with adults with special needs. We went up to Chilhowee Falls for a scenic overlook at sunset – gorgeous. God is so gracious to us to give us the mountains at sunset in East Tennessee.
Thursday – I awoke early, yet tired. I had a busy traveling day ahead of me. I headed out to see my best friend from high school who lives in Murfreesboro (home of the Blue Raiders and a Publix) with her deputiy husband and their newborn son, Tanner. Such a cutie especially when wearing a Gator onesie. It was so good to hear that God has blessed them in the past 6 weeks with family in town helping Lisa and Matt adjust to having a newborn son. Then I headed to Brentwood to have lunch with a ministry friend. Thankful for other women in ministry that can offer wisdom and laughter and a listening ear – and know what you are talking about. We enjoyed Thai food and talked about curriculum and mission trips. She was able to offer many tips for the curriculum I am writing (I know, this is vacation right?) Then I headed to Tullahoma to briefly visit with a former co-worker at Southern. Lorrie and Stephen moved there for him to take a ministry position and shortly after moving gave birth to Elijah. Such a cutie! It was neat to see how ministry at Providence makes its way to East Tennessee. God is so faithful.
Driving over the Tennessee River, watching a great storm roll by, listening to the radio, I was just overwhelmed with loneliness and wanting to have someone to love so much. I had been around friends all day and was praying to God and reading the Bible, yet still had that deep down longing to experience life with a husband. God is my satisfaction. Soon after I heard Barlow Girls’ Enough and text my friend to pray. She is good to pray and I have a faithful God.
Had dinner in Chattanooga with 2 SEBTS friends (from different eras). It was very encouraging to hear of the work being done in Las Vegas and the desperate need for the gospel there and also the desperate need in women’s lives of the gospel in Chattanooga. That was necessary to hear that night to refocus my mind on the importance of the gospel and not my personal happiness – although I do I hope I get married so to be able to have a phenomenal married for and by the gospel. Maybe – still praying. Not worth settling and God is very good to me.
Friday – I went to Dayton to touch base with a high school teacher of mine who had such a great impact on me in 2 years of history classes that I wanted to become a teacher. And although I am not a teacher per se now, I know the result of his impact on my life has been far reaching. Thank you Mr. Morgan. Ate at a great little diner and just chilled around Cleveland the rest of the afternoon. Do you know how hard it is for me to do nothing when I am used to being so busy? Very.
Tasya and I spent Friday night taking pictures around downtown Cleveland, taking pictures of an old homestead of a friend, eating at a local Cracker-Barrel type place which was much better and cheaper. Then we got some Froyo and watched Definitely, Maybe (very good chikflic, though not many Christian morals in it), but better than most chikflics with limited Christian morals.
Saturday we conquered much in a short amount of time. We went to a mennonite farm where we got sorghum cookies, corn, tomatoes, and took pictures of sunflowers (lots of them). Drove then to a winery down the road and had a lovely conversation with the owners. Then on to an apple orchard and picked up some ginger gold apples to start the season off right! Then we went back downtown to eat at a diner and enjoyed a great falafel wrap. So yummy.
Then I headed back to NC – stopping in Asheville to have a birthday dinner with friends from SEBTS and their kids. I enjoy so much spending time with Christina and Marcus but it is never enough.
The point of this whole thing is this:
1. I love friends. Lisa has been a friend since I was in 2nd grade. Bekah is the newest friend and I’ve known her about 1.5 years. Friends are a wonderful gift from God.
2. I love food, movies, and enjoying new places. Food can be dangerous. I ate too many sweets.
3. Vacation – eh, I can sleep when I get back. Now, not every vacation is like this – but this one was tiring and good.
Thankful for a great job to come back to, a church I love, my own bed, and not hours of driving (even though I enjoy it), and the tomatoes I bought are yummy!

Next real vacation is in October to Colorado. Can’t wait.

Downtown Cleveland is mostly old churches and legal offices…but there are a few nice cafes that are open on the weekends. There needs to be more. But, Gardner’s Market is a great little place, speciality grocery store, mostly sandwiches place that is inexpensive and fantastic.
1. The prices were great. I got a falafel wrap for 4.99 – apple juice and sugar cookie was extra, but well-worth it.
2. Made to order by guy #2 in the restaurant.
3. Friendly service.
4. Specialty grocery store – very helpful since Cleveland doesn’t have a Whole Foods.
5. They are also open for breakfast. May need to hit that my next time visiting Cleveland.

Needs work: they need a website.