Curt Seaburg.com

Borders and Scooters and a World of Opportunities

This weekend, our kids (all 4) were out of town on our annual youth retreat with Pastor Chris & Shannon.  It was the first time we can remember that ALL our kids were away at one time.  Gave Pam & I some wonderful time together.  I'll spare you the details, but two significant things happened.

On Friday night, we decided on dinner and a movie.  Olive Garden was a 90 minute wait, so we decided to do Plan "B", movie and dinner.  So, we go the movies first cause we wanted to see Cloverfield*.  The 7:30PM show was sold out.  Now, to plan "C" back to dinner first, just a different location.  We decided to go to Scooter's to eat instead.  Only a 30 minute wait.  So we waited.  As we were talking in the waiting area.  We struck up a conversation with another couple who were here fresh off a move to Lancaster from Chicago.  We've been to the Chicago area several times, so we started talking about familiar landmarks.  One being the a HUGE mega-church in their area.  They never attended, but their friends and neighbors did.  I wonder why they never attended?  Did their friends ever invite them?  I regret that I never got the chance to ask that question.  We paid for their dinner, and invited them to Victory.  We hoped to see them on Sunday ... but we didn't.

Saturday night, we thought we'd try Olive Garden ... again (thanks for the gift cards.)  As we waited only 40 minutes this time, we strolled over to Border Bookstore (well within range of our pager.)  There, in the leadership section, a guy (we'll call Mark) asked me my opinion on leadership in the church.  We had great dialog and he began to share with me how he had a marvelous experience with God on a long term missions project in Africa.  When he returned to the states, he so wanted to share his story in his home church to his home pastor, but he kind of got the brush off.  Now he and his wife (we'll call Marie) are struggling to find a church where they can be a part.  A church that can get behind them and support their dreams and desires.  A church to hear them and keep them accountable.  Of course, I invited them to Victory (duh).  On Sunday morning, after the service, believe it or not, Mark & Marie came up to me.  I was pumped they came!  I think we'll get together again, I really want to hear more of Mark's calling.

Two couples, two nights ... that got me thinking.  One couple, in the shadow of a HUGE church, never made the connection.  Another couple IN the church, never making the connection.  What are we missing?  Do we make church too much about us and not about Jesus and others?  Do we attend just to "get" or should we attend to learn how to "give."  There are people like the couple that moved here from Chicago, in your neighborhood, at your workplace.  There are people like Mark and Marie in the row of the church YOU attend.  Are you reaching across the isle? 

Take some time, slow down, get to know people, invite them to church, invite them into your circle of friends.  Opportunity after opportunity lie before us EVERYDAY ... take advantage of the opportunity.  Live with NO REGRETS!

PS - Cloverfield was DUMB!  One camera that shook 95% of the time -- like Bourne Ultimatum (shaky camera) but on steroids.  Anyway, that's just my opinion.

True Leaders Are Not Helicopters

One thing I know about 'true blue leaders" is, leaders ARE NOT helicopters.  what I mean by that is, leaders don't 'hover" - they move ahead.  Leaders are more like airplanes.  If a plane decides to stop, it has one direction it is going, that's down.  As leaders, we need to always be moving ahead, learning, dreaming, growing, doing, trying, pushing, motivating.

As a pastor for the past 20 years, I've learned that I can't do this thing by myself.  I can't sit idly by and expect to be on my "A Game."  I need to be always learning as well.  I'm involved in a group called Men's Fraternity.  Awesome ministry started by Robert Lewis and we meet at Lancaster County Bible Church.  (struggling little church work of a few thousand!)  Men's Frat is a place where I can grow.  It's a place where about 50 of the men from our church go.  It's a place where I allow the Lord to deal with those hidden areas of my life that can get quickly run over in the business of life.  Here's some awesome things that I learned today:

Stages of Developing and Re-developing Dreams

• 0-5 years, you begin to develop dreams of super heroes
• 5-7 years, dreams are shattered because you now have to learn to "do life" away from mom & dad.
• 7-11 years, now you develop dreams again, but this time your heroes are sports figures and dads.
• 11-14 years, dreams are shattered because you have now entered the brutal years of middle school.
• 14-18 years, your dreams are developed again because now you begin to focus on job direction.
• 18-19 years, dreams are shattered because you realize college is not cheap and you now work and they don't give you summers off.
• 19-40 years, dreams are developed and shattered during this time.  Your focuses are Work/Life/Love.
• 40-45 years, your dreams are shattered because it is now that you recognize your own mortality.  Your body aches in the morning and you realize you're getting older.
• 45-60 years, dreams are again developed and shattered as you focus on Family/Work/Past.  (side-note here, this seems to be the age where Men's Frat works the best)
• 60-70 years, dreams are shattered because retirement is not what it's cracked up to be.
• 70 and beyond, dreams are shattered and developed as we learn more about Family/Health and as we learn and reflect on life love and loss.

In all stages, I want God to be at the very center of my life.  Keith Walker said, "One of the great marks of a hero is, the hero knows why he is here and he realizes he still has a great adventure to live."  I like that.

Never stop learning!

Leaders don't need a title - Reflections on this weekend

It was a busy weekend at Victory.  I was so proud of so many of our leaders ... I'm gonna brag on them here a little. 

1. On Friday, Steve Brubaker did a crazy good job leading our very first Personnel Finance Workshop at the church.  We had great attendance on Friday night and on Saturday morning.  I loved seeing the the faces of people that FINALLY felt like they were getting help.  People, finally feeling like someone not only understood, but had some resources and answers ... it was AWESOME!  Check out some forms and additional help off our website.
2. On Sunday morning, our entire leadership team (our Advisory Council) attends and participated in VCU.  Hey, if studying and learning the Bible is important to the 'upper crust' of leaders, I think everyone ought to be there!  be there, this Sunday at 8:45 AM  (mocha's and lattes made to order :-) )
3. We sent off two van loads of people on our first missions trip of 2008.  We have 2 more planned.  One to El Salvador and one to Mexico in the fall.  It was great to see a bunch of guys, heading to aid Katrina victims.  They are going to be a part of pouring concrete for foundations, drywall (a crowd favorite) and doing finish work.  We'll keep you updated throughout the week on their progress.
4. I finished up our series on "The Biggest Loser" and watched people respond to the Lord whose hearts had been cold.  Two guys, in particular, came up to me with tears in their eyes and asked if they could sit down with me this week.  I'm proud of those guys.
5. Our middle daughter, Kiersten, was asked to speak in youth this past Sunday night.  She is our 16 year old that is full of passion!  We're proud of her, too.

Today is a day off for our kids (Martin Luther King Jr. Day).  We'll stay close to home.

I Need You - You Need me

Remember the song that old Bill Withers song that had the lyrics that said, "we all need somebody to lean on."  How about Faith Hill & Tim McGraw on YouTube singing, "I need you."  Experts are calling our culture, "The Isolation Culture."  We live in our homes, have earbuds from ipods growing out of our heads, and as quick as we open our garage door, we shut it again ... subtle ways of saying, "I DO NOT need you."

Yesterday, I traveled to Gettysburg to be with Gerry Stoltzfoos at Freedom Valley Worship Center to speak to his leadership team of pitfalls we face if we choose to do life alone.  I was encouraged by the young men and women who were hungry to want to live right with God and with others.  After speaking, it was a quiet ride back to Lancaster.  I wrestled with questions like:

1. "Who is in my life that I can really open up to?"  I don't have the luxury of a "senior pastor" like I did for 17 years as a full time youth pastor. 
2. How do I open up to someone and not feel like I will be judged ... or shunned?
3. A lot of guys and gals who were in ministry once but are now out because of a secret sin, I wonder if I could've helped them had I not been so 'isolated.'   

At Victory Church, we don't want people to "do life alone."  We weren't designed that way, that's NOT in our DNA.  We were meant to do life together.  Some of the things that we are working toward (some are in place, others are in the works) at our church are:

1. Accountability groups for men & women.
2. Small Groups where people can start one or join one.
3. VCU (Victory Church University where friendships are made.)
4. Youth mentoring

My conclusion is, it's not going to just HAPPEN.  I must open up and trust the leading of the Lord.  We all need someone in front of us (who is helping us) and someone behind us (who we are pouring our life into) on the journey.

FASTING - Wanting To Hear From God

This past week, I have taken time to fast and pray.  I want to hear from the Lord for our church in a deeper way.  Fasting, for me, is about removing some of the silly ditractions that consume me.  Typically, my "hearing from God" runs a similar pattern.  Often my fasts are 3-day fasts.  I've gone longer and shorter.  I don't know what it is for you, but for me it normally goes like this:

• DAY 1 = I'm okay for a little while, then I get grumpy.  (must be the toxins leaving my system ... not sure, I'm not a doctor :-) )
• DAY 2 = I'm pretty good in the morning but in the afternoon, I wonder if this fast was worth it or not.  (Wierd, I know, but I always feel that way.) In the evening, I can't wait for bedtime becasue then I won't have to think of the fact that my body is hungry.
• DAY 3 = It always seems to hit me here.  I start to hear the still whispers of the voice of God.  Inevitably, when it comes to the evening time, the desire for food has long past and I am enjoying the closeness of my Savior.  I always question, "Should I go longer?"  Someimes I do, sometimes I don't. 

What's your fasting pattern?

Year End Reflections on church and family

What a very cool day.  It is so hard to believe that this is the last Sunday of 2007.  What an exciting year for our church.  Here's a couple of highlights from our year as a church:

• In March we moved into our warehouse facility.  No more unloading, setting up at 7AM and tearing down and reloading the truck by 12 noon.
• Taking in 176 partners (that's what we call "members")
• Over 40 men involved in mentor / protege relationships.  And our first ever Men's Retreat -- that was awesome!
• We hired a youth pastor - Rock on Pastor Chris & Shannon Wallace!
• Our cafe stepped it up and installed espresso machines.
• Many people stepped up to lead critical ministries!
• Sarah Kelly - Alvin Slaughter - Dennis Rogers showed up as quests!
• Raised money (on a whim) for a portable baptismal ... money came in quick!
• We honored one of our own as an "Everyday Hero" - Beth Thomson, you're amazing!
• A lot of new families came in this year.  We really seem to be attracting young families.

Family Highlights:

• Our oldest (Elissa) turned 18 --yikes!  She was accepted to Valley Forge Christian College - Yippee!
• My dad's mom, Grandma, & my brother-in-law, Rocky entered heaven (Two deaths in our family that brought us all closer together.)
• Drew (our 12 year old man child) won the superbowl and delivered a sack and a couple CRUSHING blows at the linebacker position in the Championship Game!
• My beautiful wife turned 40 (doesn't look it!)
• We sold our home and bought another one.  Thank God for great neighbors (Way to go Beaman's!!)

I look forward to the new year with a whole lot of excitement!  Buckle up -- we've only begun.