Don't Be a Lone Ranger


A few weeks ago, I started to build our Evangel Egg Hunt website.  I’m not a web developer by any means, but I know enough to get around.  As I was putting the finishing touches on the site, I realized there was a problem.  The menus didn’t work like they were supposed too!  It wasn’t a big deal, but it made the site look amateurish. I googled and asked around.  The first person I asked  wasn’t able to solve the problem, but pointed me in the right direction.  Energized, I spent 5 hours of my day off with my family trying to solve the problem, I was no further along than when I started.  I was stuck and had to ask for help.  In a matter of a few short hours the site was fixed.

My story is a common one.  Change the names and the project, and we can all find ourselves there.  I call it being a Lone Ranger. It’s insisting on doing it on your own.  Lone Rangers take every task head on.  They are confident and competent.  They have been well trained and have a proven track record.  They also have an ego.  They don’t like to ask for help, and when they are forced to they have a hundred excuses as to why they can do it by themselves.

Don’t be a Lone Ranger.

The funny thing is The Lone Ranger wasn’t even alone.  He had Tonto.  We all need someone too.  Nehemiah knew this. He wasn’t afraid to ask for help from others and especially God.  He humbled himself and asked boldly of others. Then he let them serve in their gifts and resources, and he did something no one else in 100 years had been able to do.

Together everyone accomplishes more.

The next time you have a problem you just can’t work through, the next time you’re overwhelmed, the next time you’re stuck don’t be afraid to ask for help.  I leave you with these words from the wisest man who ever lived.

Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively.  If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it’s just too bad, because there is no one to help him.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (TEV)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

5 Volunteer Statements for Your Ministry

Image
Photo by jules a. on Unsplash I worked at Sam’s Club for a year and half while I was at my first church. Now when I go into any Sam’s and I need help, I can start dropping some jargon like it’s "in steel," or "it’s in that mixed pallet," or "it’s on the end cap or pod." Usually when I use their insider language, their eyes light up, and they're far more motivated to help me because we have something in common. No matter what job you do there are certain phrases and words that are specific to your culture. Most of these words and phrases develop naturally over time as a result of events, ministries, or your denomination. For example, I’m in the Assemblies of God. Here are just a few of the acronyms that any minister in the AG (see what I did there) will know. BGMC STL LFTL ACMR GC JBQ AGWM If you’re not in the AG, I’m sure you can come up with your own list of acronyms that mean something to you, but outsiders will have a no clue. But that’s just
Read more

When You Feel Like It's Time to Go and What to Do About It

Image
Photo by Jan Tinneberg on Unsplash I’ve served at 4 different churches and deciding when it’s time to go is never an easy decision. Serving in ministry, we feel called to the city, the church, the people, and now that time may be coming to an end. For some, it’s like being hit by a Mack truck, others it’s a slow burn or something in between. Whatever it is, for better or worse, there will come a time for you to say goodbye. We are all itinerant ministers. There was probably someone before you, and there will most likely be someone after you. Even if you serve for 50 years in the same place, time and people move on. But how do you know when it’s time to move on? How do you know it’s a prompting from God and not your emotions getting the better of you? There are no simple solutions, and every situation is different. I know because the reason I’ve moved from each church has been for vastly different reasons. The list I’m giving isn’t exhaustive, but rather created from personal
Read more

5 Things I Learned Switching from Group VBS to Orange VBS

Image
This summer I decided to make the switch from Group VBS to Orange VBS. I knew this was going to be a big change for everyone. I've done Group for almost 20 years. It's the only VBS I knew and the only one I've led. I even got to be a part of a focus group for Group a few years ago. A few years ago, I transitioned my children's ministry to the Orange curriculum. I loved the strategy, my small group leaders loved the simplicity of following the curriculum, and my kids loved all the fun they were having. When I started at my church almost 6 years ago, they held several VBS programs in the past but they were hit and miss over the past 10 years, so I had a clean slate and did what I knew by bringing Group VBS to them. Group helped us grow from a VBS of 100 kids to over 300. They were great to us. However, I wanted to be more strategic and I loved the fact that the Orange VBS theme lined up with the summer series. So, I casted vision, laid the groundwork,
Read more