Oops, We Did It Again.

Oops, we did it again. We thought we would like to stay in the Columbus area and be here for a long, long time, but my amazing bride and kids really want to be closer to Grandma and Grandpa, Nana and Papa [who are just back from China:] and their friends.

So…without further ado: I thank those of you who helped me with my job search. There are a few…you know who you are!

I recently accepted a job in Mansfield selling digital media/marking/advertising. So, if you want to learn how to get your business to the top in a Google or other search engine [since that is how most people will find you these days]…call me! Our company is 1 of only 15 certified Google AdWords re-sellers in the country, and we guarantee results or your money back. Small business is our focus. Wow…I sound like a salesman!

Anyway, we will more than likely be living in Wooster, OH. Why Wooster? We don’t feel like we can live in Ashland county so we won’t step on any toes in our backyard where we were a part of a great team who started 2 churches!

But didn’t you help start one in Wooster too? Well, yes, but we don’t have very many connections at all there as our Campus Pastor’s did a great job of establishing those.

We also have a love for downtown Wooster…amazing the change in 5 years! We also love the IB program at Wooster High School. I also first moved there when my Dad re-located us to Ohio in 1987, and we have always just loved the area and felt it was the right place for us.

Christian is going into 9th grade, Grace into 7th and Joi is entering 3rd grade next year. It was time for us to decide where to buy a house and where to settle down so they can have a normal life until they graduate from High School.

Also, we simply are not big city people [though we like visiting and love the stay, but wouldn't want to live there, right?]. We love smaller communities. We love being close to family and friends. We love that we will be around those who love us. Thank you.

Questions? Of yeah, we will not be starting a church, working at a church or being a significant part of a church. We are not hosting a small group, nor do we plan to do anything like this in the future.

Did something happen? No…we just feel that it is what and where we are at right now. We need some time to continue to de-compress from the past 4 years, and seeking spiritual things at home is what we will do for now.Thank you SOOOOOO much for asking me about this and for your love and kind words about what we have meant in your life. They don’t go unheard!

But eventually you will, right? We have a 0% plan to do this. Why so stern? We served well for over a decade and just need to follow a different path right now, and so far, we have enjoyed this greatly as time had taken its toll on us.

Many might be shocked that we “left” or are “leaving the ministry.” Well, that is where we are right now. Our marriage has never been better. Our family has never been closer. No, really…it has been awesome personally.

Professionally, another story…a huge challenge. As I mentioned at the 10 year at New Hope, I am certain I did my fair-share of hurting others and not always making the wisest choices and asked for forgiveness to those this happened to. Leaders are leaders, and their decisions have impact for good and for bad at times.

I will be honest, we still have some bitterness from some things that have transpired over the past 4 years, but who doesn’t in life? Welcome to the journey, right? The greatest thing we can do is to dust ourselves off, find support from family and friends, love on each other and those around us. We are the same people you used to know, don’t worry…we just have some different thoughts, experiences and paths to carve out for now.

And remember this one thing. If there is anything that I have come to realize is that this historical person called Jesus was different. Really different.

When someone slapped him, he loved them.

When someone was caught in sin, he chastised those who were judgmental.

If someone needed a jacket, he stripped naked.

I love that. And that I what I want to be about, whether inside or outside the “church.”

It’s not just about the size of your church…it’s about the size of your heart. Period. {And I have a looong way to go}

Though I want to spew venom and justify and defend myself and our family and all the BS [sorry, you know I am raw and real] we have endured…all I can say to those who have bumped into us in the journey is: if you ever need anything…anything at all, please ask. I truly would strip naked for any of you in need.

Love. Love. Love.

No, I didn’t practice this all the time, and the church has a hard time with it as well, this is why the church is losing ground faster than a businessman selling you a pay phones for your business. [Just my humble opinion.]

Thanks for respecting us in this decision as we are more than ready to be back close to “home.” Don’t be a stranger. And don’t forget to love one another when things are difficult. That is the truest test of one’s character.

Rejoice with us. For we are truly happy to the core right now.

Love, Charles, Tiffany and Family

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Stop Trying to “Grow” Your Church. Do This 1 Thing Instead.

ImageHang on for the “Do This 1 Thing Instead Part”. It is at the end of this brief news report from Grove City, Ohio; a quiet, middle-class suburb of Columbus.

A Grove City man fatally stabbed the mother of his three children yesterday when she arrived at his apartment to pick up two of them after a weekend visit, police said.

At his father’s request, according to the 911 recording, a 13-year-old boy called police just before 9 a.m. and told the dispatcher: “My dad just killed my mom. … She’s laying in the grass in front of our apartment.”

His 4-year-old sister could be heard squealing in the background.

Candice R. Roberts, 36, had arrived at Jeremy A. Roberts’ apartment at 3246 Townhouse Dr. in Grove City for a quick pickup — she left her car’s engine running.

She and her ex-husband had a brief argument before she was stabbed outside the apartment, police Capt. Jeff Pearson said. Neighbors said the weapon appeared to be a large kitchen knife. Roberts covered his ex-wife’s body with a blue sheet and left her in the yard.

The boy, after calling 911, handed the phone to his father. “We can discuss all the details when you get here,” Roberts calmly told the dispatcher.

During the five-minute call, Roberts, 38, can be heard talking to his son and daughter. According to birth records, the couple, who divorced in 2010 after 14 years of marriage, also have a 16-year-old daughter who was not at the home yesterday.

“Your sister is a good big sister … she’ll take care of you guys,” Roberts told his children. Roberts was taken into custody and will be charged with murder, police said.

At the end of the 911 call, when the dispatcher told Roberts to go to the front door and wait for police, he asked if he could kiss his kids goodbye.

“I love you guys,” he said. “Wait. One more hug. I love you guys.”

_________________

Wow.

This is our mission and message friends. A great church growth strategy would not have reached Jeremy Roberts. A great communicator, a great program, a great building, a great kids and youth ministry, being missional, incarnational, organic or 101-201-301-401. Nonsense.

What happens when we really get involved with God’s story and LOVE OTHERS in our CHURCH, COMMUNITY, SCHOOL, WORK and NEIGHBORHOOD? Not try to get them to church, but really get involved in their lives?

Well…I can tell you. Things like this would happen with much less regularity.

Want some help with direction on this? Check out Tangible Kingdom by my friend Hugh Halter…and then go invite your neighbor/co-worker over for some dinner and love on them. You neighbor/co-worker/whomever might have just been named Jeremy Roberts.

I am not trying to put myself on a pedestal, but last Friday night we dropped my daughter off at a slumber birthday party in our neighborhood. We took time just to say hey to the Mom and ask about her life, etc. By the time we left her back deck, we were praying for a Mom whose Husband left her with 3 kids and she has no idea what to do. She was crying and hugging complete strangers who were then laying hands on her and praying for her.

She almost begged us to come back and cook out with her and talk some more.

Little does she know that Tiffany and I are hanging on by a thread in our lives as well with all that has happened. Glad God will use anyone at any time. Who is God calling you to this week? Make the time. Listen to the Spirit. Understand that God has called you to your neighborhood, school, job, and community on purpose…so EMBRACE YOUR MISSION!

…Or add another program at your church for the already convinced.

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Why Jesus Hated the Church and Might Not Like Yours Either.

ImageIf you didn’t notice, Jesus didn’t like the church in his day and time. I know people rail against the modern church which has it’s problems no doubt…but why is it that He hated the church then and just might not like your church either?

Because they had turned ritual into relationship.

But we still do that today, don’t we? 

When I planted my first church, I loved and cared for people. I really did. But I cared more about the numbers of people than I did about the people themselves. Yes, I cared for their ETERNITIES but I cared more about their eternities than I did their here and now’s. Jesus found a way to do both. To preach to the masses and to STOP for the hurting. [Read this verse real quick. JESUS STOPPED!]

As a planter, are you looking to plant a church or looking to be the heart of Jesus? I think you can do both, but most planters don’t have this mindset. They either love a few, or build for thousands.

I know I have been guilty of loving the “church” more than the people.

Yeah…I know, they are the same. Therein lies the problem.

How can we both LOVE and CARE for people, yet REACH the many who need Jesus?

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After Yesterday’s Sucky News Post…Something Today to Make You Smile:)

Yesterday’s post was not fun. Today’s rocks socks. God truly does make His mercies new EVERY morning!

So…this is how you ask someone to marry you with style. I think I smiled the entire way through like a kid at Disney. For those of you who know my son Christian…this is something that he will dream up one day. May it bring you some joy.

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Where We Are Moving Next…The Updated Journey of a Called-Out Church Planting Family.

 

 

This will not be a short post, but I will try to be brief in what I write. There are a million questions surrounding what the heck has happened to us over the past 3-4 years and even more in the last 3-4 months. It is time I answer the questions people keep asking…so here we go.

First I want to say that I am writing this so that speculation and other stories can stop. I have always refrained from posting sketchy details as I feel that it honors God and others, but it also leaves room for people to make up stories to fill in the gaps, which some have done. [It is our human nature to do this].

I also know that for some reason, there are people who are Christ-followers who are hell-bent on spreading malicious talk about myself, my wife and our calling. You should be ashamed. No, really, you should be. I say that in all love. [And yes, I have made efforts to contact or try to contact these individuals. They have made no reverse effort.]

You have hurt and continue to hurt our family…so if you want to talk, please let me know. E-mail me and I will send you my cell phone number [Matthew 18].

So…with that being said…here is an update on what the heck is going on in our crazy God story. [ps. If your God story is always golden, easy, up and to the right, happy and cheery...then WAKE-UP, for you aren't living much!]

1. What Are You Doing Right Now?

Tiffany is working as an Optician [first outside job in 12 years...we need change her -StayAtHomeMom76- handle huh?]

I am still running the coaching/consulting network that we have. I am coaching several amazing planters and doing consultations for churches as they call and ask [Hit me up!! :]. As for a “main” job, I do not have one right now. Scary, yes. I am aggressively looking, praying and doing what many of you have done in the past few years and am filling out endless applications.

2. What Happened to Planting a Church in Columbus, OH?

A lot has happened since we were called out of New Hope in Ohio, then planted One Community Church in Utah, and turned it over as well after 3 years. We have battled with whether we are called to be planters forever and start and release or are called to something different, more permanent. We feel we are called to plant and stay with this next plant or accept a role in another ministry on a different level. At least for now that is what we feel called to! For now, I just need a job of any kind…ya feeling me?

We did not leave Utah expecting a church planting opportunity to fall in our laps, but it did and we felt it was from the Lord. Many are the plans in a man’s heart though, right? [Proverbs 19.21]

We were fully funded, with salary and benefits and were asked to pick a location. I/we felt a bit rushed, but we prayed, sought wise counsel, and drove a couple thousand miles praying and seeking God around Columbus. We were here in Columbus, maybe this is where we were being called after all? We began a Bible study at our home, we adopted a name, bought a website and began laying the ground work for a church to be birthed.

In a very unexpected turn of events, the support group laid off/terminated/not sure what to call it…3 of the 4 people in the church planting network including my boss who hired me. There was no wrong doing with anyone, myself included.

Someone from the group flew into town and without advance warning, gave me notice that our funding was being terminated and that in 3 days, we would receive our last paycheck. I never even heard from the groups leaders/founder. <—No, really. And some of you know that this is not the first time this sort of thing has happened to us. Please don’t do this to other people as followers of Christ. The church is not a business, it is the church of Jesus Christ [who left us the example of how to treat others] and we are real people and a real family. [Rant ends here, because I know I have hurt people over the years too].

I know we seem to find trouble [some of it by MY OWN doing] at several turns the past few years time and time again it seems…but 3 of the 4 of our group were laid off/terminated without true cause in our opinion. After a couple of months of sifting, it appears that the financial impact of moving too quickly with a new division of church planting with the group caused some sort of financial dilemma and decisions were made. We were the fall-out.

I am not going to talk badly about the group here, but the way it was handled was yes, very poor. My family and the other family involved have suffered tremendously as a result of the way it was handled. This impact could be far-reaching into the future before we personally pull out of it. So glad we are all sinners saved by grace and I am no better at times than they have been to us.

4. Why Stop Planting Just Because of Money? What about your “calling?”

Tiffany and I have battled depression ever since leaving our first calling in Ohio at New Hope Community Church in 2009. I have never dealt with depression before and I am pretty resilient, but even I have suffered greatly in the past 3-4 years. Even if things exploded in Utah and exploded in Columbus…no one will ever understand our love, commitment and passion for Ashland County and the surrounding areas. We trusted God as He called us out from there, and it has not been easy. We will go to our graves with that being our “home.” We miss and love you all more than you miss us, trust me. Wish God would have penned a different story.

There are times that I have despised God and grown very angry, even when things were going well. We were neighbors with some of our best friends all around us, family down the street and a church and community that our ENTIRE FAMILY [they get forgotten in the mix] loved and felt connected to.

I deal with this depression in myself on a regular basis and my wife has battled for years. At this point, I probably feel that Tiffany is doing better right now that I am! Praise God:)

As a result of getting kicked in the teeth yet again in our pursuit of what God has for us, we decided to put the brakes on planting and resume with the plan that we felt called to when we left Utah: To move to Ohio, sit, wait, pray and listen. 

This is what we are doing again. We never left One Community Church in Utah with the intent to plant. Of course that was an option, but we thought it was a very rare percentage.

I was looking more for an opportunity to join a team or to lead a new team, not plant a church. The opportunity really came out of left field and as quick as it was here, it was gone [6 weeks]. Combine this with the hurt we still feel from the past 4 years, and we just felt that we needed some time to re-group, pray and re-start the process as God allows. We have now been on this journey for almost 7 months [with the 6 week blip of church planting mentioned above].

We do not feel called to sit back for a couple of years and “take time off.” Our counselor said we were fully OK to engage in full-time ministry. Of course we have some un-healthy areas in our lives, but we are ready to resume ministry when God reveals the place. [This was November, 2011]. We are called to ministry and every day people see eternity for the 1st time, and we feel compelled to do something about helping them find Jesus.

5. What Now?

I can honestly say that we do not know. I daily am setting up meetings with pastors I know, love, respect and am asking God to continue to form potential opportunities and networking from these individuals. I am also exploring and meeting with new friends as we seek what is next. We are primed, prepared and ready to move to wherever and whatever crazy call God has. It might be to stay right here in Hilliard, OH on this street. It might be somewhere else in a small, out-of-the-way town. [We are pretty set in our calling to Ohio, but we are still hearing people who share stuff with us around the country.]

I do know that both Tiffany and I are doing much better in our soul and feel on the rebound. Once we find our calling and some stability, we will pull out of the funk we experience at times, our counselor told us. We are not whacked out, we are not on the edge, we are not needing some time away. I have not been in ministry now for almost 7 months now and though our hearts hurt mainly for our KIDS!!!!!!! [wouldn't yours?]…though we hurt for them and for us, we know that God is teaching molding, shaping and refining.

One thing I do know. God is faithful. It is painful to write that line with all that has happened in the past 4 years and again freshly in the past 4 months, but God really is faithful. Without Him, I would be lost. Though we have had some choice words with God and my soul and heart hurt, mourn and cry out, still I find that His mercies are new every morning.

My beautiful bride has stood by my side while many have left it, and our kids have done all this with a smile and faith in Jesus to lead. What more could a man ask for? Love you Tiffany and kids.

6. What Have You Learned?

Dang, if you are only reading this answer, it might be worth it all.

I have been beaten up over the fact that God needed to take me out to the wilderness to teach me many things. He is dealing with my humility, pride, ego, forgiveness, love, true character and calling just to name a few over these past almost 4 years.

Standing in a welfare line with no job in sight [our income was cut by about 50-60% this year and we lost all insurance...so things are very tight, rocky and a bit scary at the moment], no calling, no direction and only your family and Jesus will forever shape me in a positive way. Some of you have been there with me in the past and know the pain! Praise Him in the storm, right?

As far as forgiveness…I know I have wronged several people in the journey and have asked and am asking for forgiveness each step of the way with those God leads me too. I am also learning to forgive the people who have wronged me and my family as well. It is a two-way process and is not easy, and it takes time.

God has exposed aspects of my pride and arrogance, and thankfully, is still willing to use me, grow me, shape me, teach me and refine me. Praising God that 10+ hands went up yesterday in a church I preached at in Eastern Kentucky. Had an amazing consultation with a church in Texas as well on Saturday who benefited greatly from our time together. Glad God still uses sinners like me.

I am being shaped, challenged, molded and refined in ways that only God could do. I don’t feel punished, I don’t feel threatened or feel that we made bad decisions. Looking at scripture, I feel that the highs [which were many, many, over the years] and the lows [that we have experienced and are experiencing] put us in about every great story of Scripture. Thankful that their example rings true for us today! They had severe ups and downs, should we expect any less? Praise be to God.

7. In Closing

I don’t want to drag on and on. There is our account of what has transpired over the past 3-4 years and more recently. I have remained silent about it on purpose. I didn’t want to write in sin or in anger [and I read and edited this at least 5+ times], nor did I feel that I needed to vindicate or defend myself [I pray that there is no defense felt in this post, I pray it is only fact and a mild rant:] It was time to let others know where we were and what was happening because while some of you want juicy details, others of you truly do love us and pray for us. Thank you.

I am looking next for any kind of job. I have spent a couple of months applying for secular jobs and talking about some potential ministry options. There are 0 immediate plans unfortunately. We still believe that we are called to church planting, and dang, look around, the harvest field is great.

Waiting, watching, listening and praying is where we are right now. Listening to all opportunities and sitting back patiently waiting. If you want to talk about an opportunity, we are willing to listen and pray. We are not desperate, yet we are confidently waiting, watching, praying and seeking HIS direction.

THANK YOU to those who have supported us and know that we appreciate and love you to death. We have watched God provide in miraculous ways with food, needs and financial support coming at just the right time. We have learned to live with our daily bread and with needs, not wants. Somewhere that is kind of Scriptural and commanded. It is a hard way to learn it in real life though:)

This is but a passing moment, and I look forward to updating each of you with what is next! Something HUGE is on the horizon. We are holding on and waiting for it.

For those of you who read as friends including those in our coaching network and my pastor friends who haven’t dropped us in our darkest hours…thank you for your love, support, calls and DM’s these past 4 years and recent months.

To my family here in the states and in China…couldn’t and wouldn’t want to live without you. THANK YOU for your love and support. You are why I love living life.

For those who read as leaders of ministry in THE STICKS: Keep pressing on! Don’t be afraid to step out and lead courageously. We aren’t promised green pastures at every turn!

For those who read as church planters: I told you it was hard. Keep your nose on the grindstone of Jesus. We all have bad days, years, decades [just kidding, but you get the picture]. Call me if you need to, we can weep and celebrate together and I promise that I will do my best to encourage you! [E-mail me for my direct cell #: chazzdaddy17@gmail.com]

And to everyone including my God…I can’t wait to see what the next chapter is in serving our God. We are doing our best to hold on and at the same time to LET GO and fall into the faithful hands of our God.

PLEASE PRAY. We need it, welcome it and understand it’s power!  –the end.

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12 Resolutions I Wish I Would Have Made as a Young Church Planter — By: Steve Sjogren

I don’t repost a ton of things…but dang, I had to re-post this. Steve is a good friend and has been through it all. Pay close attention. I am in the middle of my journey in church planting and can tell you that this is spot on. Learn well. Thanks Steve.

1. Above every bit of counsel, do what the Holy Spirit is calling you to do.

2. Listen to your wife. She will often be the voice of the Holy Spirit. Listening will save a lot of wear and tear on your hide. Got it? Got it!

3. Grow some thick skin even with your own people. They will offer emotional appeals to certain directions that are not in the best interests of the church. They love you but they will likely never fully trust you. Americans, especially middle class white people, have gigantic trust issues with their leaders. As usual, smile, pat them on the back but don’t agree to anything without thoroughly thinking about it. All they are really asking for is an audience, not your capitulation.

4. Build LOTS of time to hang out with your kids while they are at home. No matter how much time you spend with your kids, later you will probably wish you had spent more time with them. If you don’t spend adequate time with them you’ll later kick yourself for your failure and will resent your church. Just sayin’.

5. If you are doing something outside the box, don’t take your denomination’s response overly seriously. If that’s you, face it, chances are you will never be understood very well. In the midst of my success as a planter, like a lot of other bloggers on this site, I was more or less tolerated by the leaders of my denomination because I broke the mold of how they thought churches were supposed to be planted. Denominational leaders are linear, systems people who play by the book – the book they wrote. They don’t know how to deal with innovators who are writing new books. They will admire your success, but they won’t know what to do with your methods. It’s best to just smile and flow with them as long as is possible.

Don’t be rebellious. Relish the wisdom they offer. Most of the time they are veterans who know their chops, but realize you are the one who is on site, not them. Don’t be a knucklehead and reject their wisdom, but on the other hand, don’t be an automaton and not weigh aspects of what they recommend.

6. Take on new projects realistically with the realization that your people will initially only do what you personally lead them into. They will do what you do, not what you say. They will build into their schedule what you build into your schedule. You can delegate the leadership of important issues to others, but if you don’t participate in those vital values others won’t take those things seriously either.

7. Do outreach perpetually. Stop mere chatter about outreach. Drop all the talk about missional this and that. If you’ve been caught up reading more and more books about the “M” word, it might be time to take a break from the world of theory. Swallow hard and actually start connecting people. “But I’m not wired to do that!” That’s okay. Few church planters are. That’s okay. I’m not either, but that hasn’t stopped me for the past couple of decades.

Fire up a couple of grills. Cook up one hundred hamburgers with a small team. Get others to put the buns together and wrap each one in a silver Wendy’s wrapper. Put these in a couple of Igloo coolers then go door to door in a lower middle class area of town. Knock on each door and say, “Hi, how many would you like?” “How many what would I like?” “Burgers! We made them just for you.” As they take a couple ask, “May we pray for you for ten seconds? Anything at all…” If they have no specific requests pray for comes to you at that moment. Make it quick. The Spirit will give you a prayer. Give them your connect card (KindnessResources.com) and go onto the next door. Bam! You are started. God will grab your heart.

8. Connect with the poor on a regular basis. Buy a few bags of groceries. Don’t think too much about it or you will talk yourself out of getting started. Don’t read any books or articles. Don’t call around to any agencies. Just drive around to where people who could use some help. Knock. Ask, “Do you know anyone who could use some food?”

Pray for a few others to go with you. Your life will be revolutionized as you reach out. Your church will be set on a course of being perpetually invigorated.

9. Model honoring. As much as possible, promote people who are worthy of visibility. This is especially true at milestones and even departures. Some will leave with a little bit of heat. Even then seek to bless them with all sincerity and positive emotion as they depart. Give them a gift that is paid for in their love language.

If you sow into this you will reap great benefits and will create a culture that will change your entire church and all you do inside and out.

10. Become famous for your generosity. Set up an initial budget that gives away 15% locally to others. That is not that difficult to do in the first couple of phases of your church’s history, but will become increasingly challenging as you add staff and facilities come into the picture. Agree among yourselves as leaders that that percentage is irrevocable. Consider writing that agreement into your constitution even! It will change the destiny of your church.

11. Walk in a spirit of prayer. Depend on him for your strength. Pray with that heart. If he shows up all will be well. If he doesn’t nothing will happen.

12. Develop an Andy Griffith persona when it comes to dealing with opposition. Watch episodes of his TV show as well as the movie No Time for Sergeants to get an idea about his friendly way of diffusing challenging encounters with knuckleheads. You will cross swords with plenty of them.
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For Those Pastors, Leaders and Followers of Christ Who are Going Through HELL Right Now…

This mornings devotion by Oswald Chambers, Luke 9:6 “Yes – But . . .” 

 Abba, I honor you for calling me to yourself, then into your ministry, and now out of my ‘safety zone,” to follow you  into what I consider unknown territory. Even now, I question myself, but I’m learning to trust you more and more each day. Help me to face the uncertain knowing you are there before I get there. You know what I’ll face, before I will, thank you for being my loving Father God. 
 
My questions center on “how,” or the means, you know and you provide when I can’t see ‘how.” THANK YOU!
 
So now as I wait before you, I pray your strength will be mine, courage to be different as you created me to be; but fully aware that what you are doing can’t always been seen, with the human eye. With faith in yourself I take that next step, (whatever that is,) in following you.  Thank you!
 
Thank you for making me as you have, I understand there are those who don’t “get me,” but I don’t get many of them either, but you love us all. Broken, wounded, angry, and yes selfish, I’m no better than others.
 
You however have chosen me for something and somewhere beyond what I thought and yes, expected. I thank you then for an unrestrained and adventurous spirit following as you lead, being misunderstood by some and disregarded by others, yet remembering I’m yours. 
 
What I am is your gift to me; what I become is an expression of my thanks to you for the love you’ve expressed in me; reaching beyond the world I know or even think possible.
 
Jesus, I’ve messed up at times, but you were there to pick me up, wash me again, wrap me in your loving arms and say to me, ” . . . no matter what you think, you’re mine!” But Jesus I’m, . . . there you put your finger to my lips and say, “be still, I love you!” Oh THANK YOU LORD!
 
Lord, if all that has been is a ‘set up’ for what you are about to do, AMEN! Even so, come Lord Jesus! You don’t live in the world of common sense, you challenge me to walk with you as Abraham, and men and women of old did, with nothing more than a promise, “I will . . .” My word to you my loving Abba is, YES!!! Come Holy Spirit do your best work as you will, where you will, AMEN!!!
 
This is 100% where I am right now…how about you? Thanks to Pastor T. Anthony Burns for sending this to me, for I believe that I am walking out of hell and I can now see the dawn coming. At least I pray that I am.
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I Promise that this 1 Thing Will Change Your Life Forever.

You MUST get some counseling. It changed our family, our marriage and our ministry forever. We all need it. If you don’t think that you do, then you need it most.

My only urge is that you do this with a CHRISTIAN counselor. How can you get a new framework for a new world without someone sharing the same Christian worldview?

For those Pastors, Pastor’s Wives, and Pastor’s Kids…this next part is for you. Why? Because being in ministry is one of the hardest if not hardest calling in this life. I would rather go back to being a cop getting bullets thrown my way in the inner-city any day. Ask my Wife…she said that was a walk in the park! If you are one, you understand this.

Blessing Ranch is the TOP week-long intensive counseling program for Pastors/Ministry Leaders in the COUNTRY if not the WORLD. Any sort of counseling from crisis intervention to helping determine next steps in your calling, this is your place. The best teachers and pastor’s deal with THEIR HEARTS first, then teach from the overflow.

For Pastor’s: Contact Dr. John Walker at the below information. He is the BEST IN THE COUNTRY/WORLD. Perry Noble and scores of others have sought wisdom and counseling from him.

For Single Women and Children. Listen to a story from Dr. Charity who counsels at Blessing Ranch:

Listening to the story of a young man named Timothy opened my eyes to the challenges that being part of a ministry family can bring. Timothy was one of those young kids everybody liked. Throughout his childhood he was always told, “You’re going to be a preacher just like your father.” Initially he took pride in that, but not so much in the ensuing years. Increasingly he thought being a preacher didn’t sound so good. He had observed the way his father was sometimes treated in the church, and it seemed so unfair.

Periodically he heard his mother and father talking about being so TIRED of the pettiness in ministry. He tried to talk to his mother one day about life in ministry, but all she could say was, “that’s just the way it is.” Then and there Timothy decided he would never be a preacher. He began to look and sound different from a “model PK.” No one ever asked what these changes were all about. Instead he, and his family, received criticism for his “uncontrolled behavior and bad attitude.” All this solidified Timothy’s decision to not ever be a preacher.

The more he felt controlled the angrier he got, towards the church, towards his family and even towards God. Today Timothy is in Afghanistan, in harm’s way, a long way from home and feeling a long way from God.

Young adults and children like Timothy need something to help them not only navigate the challenges that come with growing up in a ministry family, but they also need something to bring personal healing and growth. Having grown up as a “Pastor’s Kid” I have a special passion for caring for children, adolescents, and young adults of ministry and Missionary families.

As part of Blessing Ranch, Inc., a Colorado Nonprofit Corporation and Christian ministry, I seek to minister to Christian leaders and their families in need of restoration and renewal just like Timothy. Please contact Blessing Ranch for more information about how you can be served by this essential ministry, including other services for adult Christian leaders and women in ministry.

Dr. Charity Walker-Byers

B.A. in Psychology from Western State College of Colorado
M.A. in Psychology from University of Northern Colorado
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Denver [I added these degrees...not Charity. This is not a 2nd rate clinic:]

Contact:  Blessing Ranch, Inc.  // info@blessranch@org // 970-495-0920

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This 1 Thing You Must Do for Your Church the Day After Easter.

I have a dear friend who is celebrating his 50th year in ministry this year…so I take profound interest when he speaks [thank you brother for speaking wisdom often into my life].

Every Monday he writes to pastor’s to encourage and challenge them [e-mail him to get his once a week e-mail: [thobur1@gmail.com]. Today he is speaking through the Spirit to someone out there…not sure who…so read this well [I have taken just 1 section from his letter]:

Dear Lord…

Most of these men and women are involved in some form or type of ‘ministry,’ they are my fellow laborers, and I’m praying for them on the day after one of the two ‘biggest’ day on the Christian calendar.

Much of which they hoped for didn’t happen, and they (and I) blame myself. Someone is thinking or planning to resign as a result of what ‘think’ was a failure or defeat, Oh come Holy Spirit and gently but firmly encourage that heart.

May they put their pen or keyboard down and not write or submit a resignation letter or communication because of what they think was a ‘failure,’ yesterday or even recently. [Written By: Pastor T.A. Burns in Columbus, OH]

Here is the 1 thing you must do today: Don’t quit. Never. Ever. Never.

“I have fought the good fight, I have completed the race, I have remained faithful.” [2 Timothy 4.7]

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Butts and Boobs

I deviate from my church planting blogging to bring you a special post. It’s bold and raw, but what do you expect?

Warm weather has broken out and my eyes are already tired.

I am tired of seeing so many butts and boobs. From age 11 up…it is the trend. As a man…this is not good.

And I have tried to train my eyes to “bounce” as the “Every Man’s Battle” book teaches. Sometimes I win, sometimes I linger too long.

I know it is the style.

I know it is hard to find clothes for your precious little girls who need to fit in.

I know that they will fight you.

But men lusting after any women, much less teenagers [or younger] is not what you want.

But it is what happens. They are lusted after 98.9% of the time. The only boys that aren’t lusting are like 1st grade boys who think girls really do have cooties.

And for all of the sexual pedophiles out there…they are loving it when you dress your baby girls like that. Just letting you know this.

I am not trying to be crude. I am not trying to be legalistic. I don’t dress my girls in culottes.

A recent shopping trip with our girls at Easton Mall was not easy. If you work hard and don’t say yes to everything, it can be done. It takes hard work and good hearts of our girls to balance fashion and modesty.

I have seen many Moms though who push their kids to dress way ahead of their age and appropriateness! HUSBANDS…SPEAK UP…BE A MAN! You are actually a better filter than your wife normally on this stuff, because you know how visual YOU are.

Now picture everyone looking at your little girls…because everyone you and I gawk at is someone’s daughter, regardless of age!

**This could be part of the reason why every 2 minutes someone is sexually assaulted in the United States.  [I am in NO WAY blaming women for this either...please don't jump there. But lots of exposed flesh is not helping the cause]. I too was a victim of sexual abuse by a female babysitter when I was young, and I was fully clothed at the time just for the record.

How can we help change this?

Let’s start by not giving eye candy for free. Work hard to balance modesty and fashion. It’s a chore, I know. My kids are in the latest fashions, but we draw a line on how much flesh can be hanging out!

Keep the boobs and butts locked up as much as possible until the prince of her dreams gets the desires of HIS HEART ALONE in marriage.

So…are the shorts and shirts getting ridiculous to you or is it just me? 

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