jeffslater.net
Archive for October, 2006
Strange Internet Searches
Oct 27th
Occasionally I check my stats to see how people arrived at my Web Site. Most people simply type in the address, or click a link from another site. But some people come here through a web search (usually Google or Yahoo!). Here are some of the searches the brought people in my site:
“Bob Seger CD”
“Jeff Gordon joke coffee cup”
“American International iPod nucleus”
“How to complain about a church”
But I think my favorite has to be this one:
“I love Jeff Slater”
That was from someone in New Jersey. Obviously someone with a thing for tall, handsome, dynamic, middle-aged preachers. Either that, or someone in mental hospital.
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Well, the Tigers lost a tough one last night. A game they should have won. But the Series is not over yet, despite what the “experts” at ESPN might be saying. Remember 1968!!! Go Tigers!!!
Bring on the Cardinals!
Oct 20th
Here we go!
Congrats to the Cards for winning the National League Pennant last night. What a great game! It’s good to see two teams from the midwest in the series.
No predictions here. I will simply be rooting hard for the Detroit Tigers! I will likely be too nervous to watch the games, so I will tape them to watch later. I know that’s silly, but it’s just how I am.
Bless You Boys! Bring The World Series trophy back to Motown!
Worthy of Honor?
Oct 19th
Since October is Pastor Appreciation Month, let me share an article my wife wrote for Wineskins Magazine a few years ago. It deals with the work of a Minister. My wife is certainly qualified to talk about this, being both a Minster’s wife AND a Minister’s daughter.
Read the article Here.
World Series Bound!
Oct 14th
YES!!! Magglio Ordonez hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, winning the game and completing the sweep of the Oakland A’s. The Tigers win the American League Pennant and advance to the World Series!
I’ve been a Tigers fan since I was a little boy, and I can’t tell you how exciting this is! Chew ‘Em Up, Tigers! And don’t stop until the World Championship is yours!
October is Pastor Appreciation Month
Oct 11th
For those of you who are not aware, October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Don’t know what to do for your Pastor or Minister? Here are some suggestions from the Pastors Retreat Network:
12 Ways to Appreciate Your Minister
When we look at our minister what do we see? A spiritual giant? Someone who can go it alone? Someone who works a day and a half a week? A servant of the congregation? Someone who does it all?
The truth is that ministers are real people with real families, dreams, needs, desires and gifts. And like all of us, they shine best in situations where they are appreciated and supported. Here are a dozen ways you can bring out the best in your minister:
- Write a note of appreciation.
- Pray for your minister regularly.
- Stop the rumor mill.
- Invite him out to lunch, golfing, or some other shared interest, without an agenda.
- Offer to babysit the kids so your minister and his spouse can have an evening together, even better, offer them a gift certificate to a restaurant they enjoy.
- Honor his day off – allow time for rest, personal renewal and family time.
- In times of loss, offer sympathy, care and practical help.
- Consider holidays and other family days – if the minister is far from their family of origin, invite them to your celebration – no strings attached.
- Ask him how you can help and then follow through.
- Tell him what you’ve learned from their sermon.
- Go to http://parsonage.org/cam/index.cfm for ideas on how to celebrate your minister during Pastor Appreciation Month.
- Consider a sabbatical time for your minister and find a way to provide one as needed.
Attention Preachers!
Oct 9th
I just finished reading Communicating For a Change by Andy Stanley — an excellent book on preaching/speaking and sermon prep. I’ve been preaching full-time for almost 13 years, and this book has changed the way I prepare and deliver my sermons (well, I should say that I am beginning to put the principles into practice — it won’t happen overnight). This old dog is trying to learn some new tricks.
The basic premise is that we preachers put too many points in our sermons and try to cover too much ground. Stanley suggests that you focus your entire sermon on one point, and hammer that over and over again. The people listening to you are much more likely to remember what you said if you focus on one point than if you gave them 5 points (alliterated, of course). There is much more to it, but that’s a quick overview.
The first half of the book is just a story illustrating how one preacher learned the system. I found this section to be little more than filler — and you won’t miss anything if you skip it. But the second half of the book explains the process, and is very practical. I wish this book had been available when I was in college, or at least when I began preaching.
If you want to be more effective in your preaching and speaking, get this book. I give it my highest recommendation.
Bring on the A’s!
Oct 7th
Behind a brilliant pitching performance by Jeremy Bonderman, the Tigers finished off the Yankees today, and will move on to the American League Championship Series. Not many people gave the Tigers a chance against the highly-regarded boys in pinstripes. Including me. When the Tigers lost game one, I thought it was over. I was just hoping they could avoid the sweep.
The Tigers and their fans had quite a celebration for just winning the A.L.D.S. But I think it was justified. The folks in Detroit (and those of us from Detroit who now live elsewhere) love their baseball team, and there was a lot of pent-up frustration after so many years of losing.
The series with Oakland will be tough. But I have renewed confidence in the boys who wear the old English ‘D’. I won’t doubt them again.
GO TIGERS!!!
Jeff Slater
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