Renovate – to restore to good condition; to make new or as if new again; to repair. to reinvigorate; refresh; to revive. (from www.Dictionary.com)

The name of my new and improved blog is, Renovate Your Life, because I think it's catchy. Seriously, and much more importantly, I believe that it's the best description of what my calling is: to help people become more like Christ in every sphere of their lives... personally, in their marriages, as parents, as church members, as employees or employers, as neighbors, etc., etc. . This blog is about the best that  I can do to represent my "real life" ministry in an online format.

I believe that God has called me to help the people entrusted to my care to renovate (restore, renew, repair, refresh, revive, and reinvigorate) their lives so that they might become more and more conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ (for the purpose of glorifying God and bearing much, good, and lasting fruit in every sphere of their lives for the sake of Christ and his Kingdom). (Yikes, that was a long sentence!)

The primary ways I seek to fulfill this calling at Southside are in and through...

• Teaching (Bible studies, small groups, etc.)
• Discipling (one-to-one or in small groups with the men of my church)
• Counseling (individuals, premarital, marriage, etc.)
• Coaching (one-to-one with the men of my church)
• Mentoring (one-to-one with the men of my church)
• Spiritually Directing (men and women in a variety of settings)
• Leading (and developing folks to lead small groups, Bible studies, as well as various committees of our church family)
• Writing (devotionals, sermons, articles, blog posts, Twitter, Facebook, newsletters, etc.)

All of this continues to be a work in progress, but this is presently how I understand God's call in my life. Those are the ways of ministry by which I seek to serve. My primary emphases in those ministry settings are:

• Bible Study
• Men's Issues
• Marriage Issues
• Family Issues
• Parenting Issues
• Christian Living (Sanctification)
• Spiritual Formation
• Counseling Issues
• Coaching Issues
• And lots of "etc" that I'm still working out. If you have any questions or suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact me at DaleTedder@yahoo.com. (I need all the help I can get.)

About My Blog

The short answer to, "What is the purpose of this blog?" would be to say: "Everything I just wrote above about my calling is what I'm trying to put in blog-form." I greatly desire to educate, equip, encourage, enrich, edify, and empower any and everyone  who reads the posts on my blog. I truly pray that many things on the blog will be found helpful, whether it's learning how to trust God in daily life, overcoming anger, gaining an insight about how to disciple a new believer in Christ,  learning a new parenting idea, how to exercise a particular spiritual discipline, or how to be a faithful Christian at work (just to name a few). Christ wants every sphere of our lives. He wants all of us. Therefore, we need a total renovation.

First Things First: How to Become a Christian

The first step to renovating your life is God's work. That is, through the person and finished work of his Son Jesus Christ, and by the power of his Holy Spirit, God redeems and recreates us. This is essential. Any personal development, counseling, coaching, etc., that does not include this as the top priority is simply external window dressing. It's temporal and fleeting change at best, and thus, will lead to a life of frustation, and an eternity of utter ruin and misery. Your part in that first step of renovating your life is to take the trust you have in yourself and place it in Christ alone for what he has already done for you. But that's just the beginning. The rest of your life is one of humility, gratitude, and joyful obedience fueled by the power and guidance of God's Spirit which, with your participation, will enable you to have the life that you desire and that God desires for you – one that glorifies God and one that leads you to look more like the Lord Jesus Christ. This is our ultimate renovation.

Well, that's about it. If you would like to check out my blog, Renovate Your LIfe, you may click here. (The new and improved blog will be launched on Monday, January 4, 2010.)

PS - If you would like to learn more about why pastors ought to blog, I offer this this excellent article by Pastor Mark Roberts, regarding the value of "blogging pastors." See also: Six Reasons Pastors Should Blog by Abraham Piper

Blessings,
Pastor Dale