chazzdaddy

Archive for February, 2008

does $$$$$ buy happiness?

In Devotional, happiness, money on February 28, 2008 at 7:18 pm

Percentage of people, by family income 2004, answering the question “Taken all together, how would you say things are these days — would you say that you are very happy, pretty happy, or not too happy?”

RESPONSE Under $20,000 $20,000-$49,999 $50,000-$89,999 $90,000 and over
Not too happy 17.2% 13.0% 7.7% 5.3%
Pretty happy 60.5% 56.8% 50.3% 51.8%
Very happy 22.2% 30.2% 41.9% 42.9%
Source: Science

Most of us have figured out I hope that happiness can’t be purchased. Looking at how well people manage their money might just be a better question as to happiness in regards to finances.

Of course the CHURCH answer is Jesus will bring complete happiness, but I know a bunch of Christians and they are some of the most unhappy people I have met.

I think it is this simple: OBEDIENCE = HAPPINESS

Let’s converse about that this weekend as we continue our series…WHY?

blessings and peace, and please, can the kids actually go to school sometime this week? (for you tropical people…the snow finally came).

about to throw an exception…

In Big Church-Small Town;, Church Leadership, Devotional on February 27, 2008 at 11:12 pm

I get this stupid error message all the time because I am still a PC user:

Pure Viral Function: About to throw an exception.

I have no idea what it means…but it struck me as a great mission statement for the church, especially after reading the STATS on the church Monday.

I pray the church of Christ and its people will wake up and starts throwing exceptions. The world is waiting…well, they really aren’t waiting on us, really, they are not. Most could care less.

We must be VIRAL in taking and living out JESUS to them. Are you dreaming GOD’S dreams…and even better, are you willing to make them a reality?

We will be digging even deeper into that question this week.

blessings and peace.

latest survey on American religious views

In Church Leadership, wake up on February 25, 2008 at 9:50 pm

The LATEST NUMBERS ARE IN….drum roll please…they are getting WORSE for Christianity in America…shocking I know. While people who desire SPIRITUALITY is said to be increasing (according to some research), those who claim to be CHRISTIANS (called religious) are dropping.

Many are leaving the faiths of their childhood to switch to other faiths or abandoning all together. I wonder how much the CHURCH has to do with that? We are still getting freakin’ criticized for trying to help people find the SAVIOR and grow in HIM. While some churches throw stones, we are out actually fighting the battle…trying to introduce people to the SAVIOR. Not just build attendance.

If churches in AMERICA (and elsewhere) keep hiding out and building bigger sheep pens and keep flinging sheep dung at those outside the pen…we are in a WORLD of hurt… well, we already are. WE HAVE GOT TO WAKE UP. WE HAVE GOT TO JOIN TOGETHER IN JESUS NAME.

Ghandi said it best (something like this)…”I like your CHRIST, it’s your CHRISTIANS I don’t like.” Is your CHURCH and is NEW HOPE doing all we can to reverse this trend? God help us be like you. We want to look like you. That’s our cry.

blessings and peace.

blogs for pastor’s wives???

In pastor's wives on February 25, 2008 at 5:39 pm

Does anyone know of any good Pastor’s Wives blogs that will minister to Pastor’s Wives, especially larger church’s?

Keep the vision burning.

blessings and peace this week.

clear vision…

In Church Leadership, New Hope Stuff on February 25, 2008 at 12:20 am

Wow, what a weekend at New Hope. I truly feel that we are prepared to make the huge vision that God has given us a reality. Are YOU dreaming GOD’S dreams? But way more than that…are you going to help make them a reality? (Listen to the part in the message where I almost punched out the group of Pastor’s sitting behind me…really, it is worth the listen.) Yes, I am fanatical about making HIS name FAMOUS all over the WORLD!

We are going to make a huge IMPACT in 2008 in our church, community and everywhere in the WORLD. After all, Acts 1:8 commissions us to go everywhere…even to the ends of the earth, and we are crazy enough to believe that and then accomplish it. No matter a town of 2,899 or 2.8 million. How about your church?

If you missed last weekend…catch up on-line or we will be giving the DVD’s away next weekend. It’s too important a message to miss…I will outline what NH is doing soon.

The coolest part was seeing the passion in 2, soon to be 4 campuses, including the CHINA campus that will be opening. YES, I did say CHINA. We will be opening a campus in CHINA. Did I mention CHINA? Only God. And we truly have the craziest, most passionate church anywhere.

Pray for our contacts that are forming a launch team that will take New Hope to CHINA. Wow. Our vision is clear, and I pray it’s the same. What were your thoughts from this weekend?

blessings and peace.

pic: http://flickr.com/photos/won7ders/231260732/

monster news

In New Hope Stuff on February 22, 2008 at 4:29 pm

I am not a huge NBA fan anymore, but I do love ballin’. I am jacked though about the Cavs latest TRADE. Wow. Finally some testosterone in the middle and in the front office.

And this guys knows his football teams and is accurately predicting next year’s Super Bowl team. If you are a pastor, read this ARTICLE on the new Super Bowl Party regulations. About stinkin’ time…are you kidding me?

And you thought that was the MONSTER NEWS…no, I can’t release it now, but I received a phone call this morning about something we will be talking about this weekend as we cast a MONSTER VISION for 2008 and beyond that will BLOW YOUR MIND as to how awesome our God is and how HIS mission involved each of us. And sure, I will share it with the online community later this week…I love it when a plan comes together…See ya at one of our CAMPUSES.

blessings and peace.

pic: http://flickr.com/photos/neatocoolville/105423345/

wow.

In ancient-future worship; New Hope Stuff on February 21, 2008 at 9:47 pm

The title sums up what happened last night at our 3rd Wednesday service. I have not had that kind of worship experience in a group format in quite some time.

We celebrated ASH WEDNESDAY. I know, 2 weeks late. We also were led in a unique prayer time by Pastor Jeff that I cannot even describe. And Dan really led us well in “worship.” Wow. If you miss 3rd Wednesday…you are missing out on some of the most powerful experiences ever.

Back to the ash thing…there is something about being physical in our worship. As I touched the large group that was in my line and marked them with ashes in the sign of the cross, there was some sort of peace and presence that touched my soul in a new and really fresh way. “Remember from dust you came and to dust you will return, so now being dead to sins you are made alive in Christ Jesus.”

Kind of ticked that my church experience (besides my early Lutheran days that I don’t remember much of) never included some tradition that was worth implementing. What were they afraid of? That we would all jump ship for liturgy and the high church experience? No, really they thought it was cultish. Wow. So Happy LENT, (can I say that?) I know it’s a time of repentance and penance, but oh well.

Don’t miss this weekend. We will be sharing MONSTER VISION. It will rock your world. No, really. We are taking big risks for the Kingdom. You don’t want to miss it as we continue our SERIES.

blessings, peace and new life.

pic: http://flickr.com/photos/kellyj2777/

the last 10% or 2%

In Church Leadership, Devotional on February 20, 2008 at 1:27 am

One of the keys of leadership and relationship is being able to say the LAST 10% or some say the last 2% even. What’s that? It is the fact that we always stop talking about a problem at 90-98% of the conversation while AVOIDING the real issue or heart of the problem. I first heard this discussed @ Willow…

I love being around people who say the last 10% without being asked. It is extremely healthy and will promote extreme growth in any organization or relationship due to the nature of getting down to the heart of the problem.

After all, the heart of the problem is the problem, and you will never solve anything until it is unearthed. You will just cover it up again until the other 90% backs up again.

We had a great “last 10% meeting” with our executive team today. How refreshing that we have an amazing team where this can be encouraged. We moved the ministry forward by MONTHS, maybe YEARS by this practice.

“…You will know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” –Jesus in John 8.32

blessings and peace!

making it count…

In Church Leadership, Family, time management on February 18, 2008 at 1:21 pm

I hate wasting time or feeling like my time is wasted. I have too much vision for myself, my family, and our ministry to have too much wasted time. Now don’t get me wrong…I love having many mind-numbing hours in the day because when you are a strong type-A driven person, you need at least 3 hours of nothingness at night or you won’t sleep. I love escaping into other worlds like music, movies, books, etc. to get away.

Do you use all your minutes well? I pray in the shower (and yes, other places), catch the news when I am ironing in the morning, make a ton of calls (please be careful, and use a blue tooth at least) in my car when I travel, I always try to take staff places or involved them in issues that I am involved in for those quick leadership moments, and I am a master of making lists and getting them done so that every day I feel like I accomplished a ton. Any other secrets to saving minutes out there? Comments please…

It start with a great plan each day and sticking to it. Then you have to be a hawk about what steals your time or you won’t get anything done.

Speaking of making it count…Monday’s off have a small advantage like when my kids are off from school. Today is a family day and I am pumped. We are building a fire in the fireplace for breakfast (and roasting marshmallows on it for smores later), playing chess, watching a movie probably, talking about the Bible and life together…and Christian is picking out some “Dangerous Boy” stuff from his book to do with Dad…will be a great day. Maybe will hit the slopes late…

blessings and peace.

bold outreach

In Watch This on February 15, 2008 at 9:10 pm

click here if over the age of 12

any comments? come on…let ‘em rip. this is some great stuff.

btw: You can vote for more than ONE in the PRESIDENTIAL POLL below…so come one, help me win my own poll…please?

why…not?

In New Hope Stuff; Teaching Series on February 15, 2008 at 4:15 pm

I am overly excited about the series we are about to embark upon. WHY? Why not.

If you are still longing to find a dream of how you fit into God’s story, this series will be RAW for you. How do our DREAMS fit into GOD’S DREAMS? How do we know what we are to dream about? How do we know what PART we PLAY in the grand master STORY?

WHY? Let’s pull back the surface layers and unwrap this dream that GOD has instilled in all of HIS CREATION. Because GOD DOESN’T DREAM SMALL DREAMS…and neither should you.

See you and a friend or 12 this weekend at whatever campus you call home. As I study today, I am getting JACKED UP about what God is doing…and what He will be doing @ New Hope.

blessings and peace.

valentines every day

In Devotional, Family on February 14, 2008 at 4:28 pm

Why do we only do this one time a year? For Hallmark of course. Oh, and of course because I LOVE MY WIFE…Read PERRY NOBLE today. Ouch. GREAT RELATIONSHIP INFO THERE, so please read it, really…And thanks to SCOTT’S BLOG for the pic I borrowed, or well, stole.

May we love each other with the kind of Song of Solomon love EVERY DAY (unless you aren’t married yet…) then love each other with a HOLY love until you are married.

I am giving my wife something different this year. Something that will last the whole year as an expression of love instead of dying in a week…and we are going to a HOT RESTAURANT tomorrow night. (Yes, she reads my blog so much I can put this on today with NO worries of ruining the surprise. She might read it sometime next week…)

Oh…and I LOVE YOU TIFFANY! and Christian, Grace, Joi, my entire family, the New Hope Family…well, let’s just take it to the whole world.

And thanks for bumping me in the Presidential Race. CNN is calling now for an interview…gotta run.

blessings, peace and love.

is that all you got?

In Big Church-Small Town;, Watch This on February 12, 2008 at 10:33 pm

Not much of a STORM so far…we’ll see what tonight brings. We got maybe 6 inches, but the freezing rain is coming. A storm to me is when you can’t get out yo’ drive.

Excited about the 4 hour meeting today with Dwight @ NEWPOINTE about the conference we are hosting this Fall. He has a huge passion for this as well. Help us form a shorter name…come on, please…:”HOW TO CHANGE TO WORLD RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE”. No matter the size, staff, budget, location, you can change the world right where you are…Help us shorten that and if you really help us, we will send you a fabulous parting gift…no really, we will.

Last week we put together a killer assimilation plan at our Executive Staff Retreat. I will let you in on it soon, and whether it is really killer or not will have to wait for a year or so…

WATCH THIS…it will make you roll…especially if you are are a gassy male.

blessings and peace.

i heart snoooooooooooooow.

In Big Church-Small Town;, Church Leadership, New Hope Stuff on February 12, 2008 at 1:09 am

– I love snow storms…no really I do. FAMILY NIGHT TONIGHT!!! We are playing games, watching a movie, and making smores (we have a fireplace, but instead of using a firestarter log since I ran out, I used a chimney sweeping log…so needless to say we will now have to use the stove to roast them…that was amazing planning on my part…). We anticipate a SNOW DAY tomorrow (Up to a foot possible and a 1/4 inch of ice…)! And I am as excited as the kids…especially if they cancel Seminary tomorrow night so I can go skiing…

- I talked to my MOM and her friends in CHINA today. One of them quoted John 3:16 in Manderin to our family as we watched them on the screen, it was one of hte most beautiful things I have ever heard. What must God hear when eveyr tribe and tongue launches praise upwards? Thank the Lord for technology! They also watch my sermon DVD’s over there, which just blows my mind. My MOM AND DAD are beginning to get a good foothold on this mission God has called them too.

- Will be planning our next SERIES…”WHY” this week and tomorrow will be meeting with DWIGHT as we lay the ground work for our nameless conference this fall. You can still WIN something if you come up with the name.

- And come on ASHLAND…Wooster is killing you guys on the blog hits…so let’s get it rollin’.

- Before you go, please vote for your Presidential choice. I am a SUPER DELEGATE this year and your vote will stand as to who I vote for at the convention. Hopefully it is me. I can see it on the networks now…and Charles Hill, with 1 delegate…who the hades is Charles Hill? Back to you live in the studio…

may the blessings and peace of God warm your heart and soul.

i’m happy and hurtin…

In Church Leadership, New Hope Stuff on February 8, 2008 at 5:18 pm

HAPPY:)

– My family is awesome. Gone a lot this month, in class for my Master’s, starting a new campus…all that is my spare time. Glad to re-connect and be out of that busy swing and back with them. It’s all about balance. You have to make it happen, no one else will.

-Amazing Staff Pastor’s Planning Retreat. Soul-searching and Vision-casting at its best. We will do this every 6 months… We have a GREAT STAFF. A great retreat with your staff should be soul-stirring, personal, and vision oriented. If its all business or all community, we lack fundamental leadership balance. I went with open ears and an open heart…

- MARK BATTERSON said YES…NO really, he did. Shoring up the details. This will be an amazing conference with a different format and emphasis on conversation and practicality while merging various models of ministry. Pastors in small to medium sized towns have got to stop making excuses for not being places of impact…we had no money, no staff, no equipment…but a bunch of faith and leadership and passion. We want to increase that level across the country.

- Pastor Tim (our Wooster Campus Pastor) did a great job teaching last weekend. At least he says he did…No really, lots of great comments. I still haven’t watched it yet, so… :)

- I am jacked about the change in our next series…it is called WHY? We will be looking at the huge vision and DNA surrounding this place and WHY we do it and WHY we are all called to do something off the hook for Christ together in community with each other and Christ.

- I am jacked up that we have been running around 1,000+ between our 2 campuses and the weather has been horrible. But if we didn’t mind a little weather change…why pick OHIO?

- Our ASHLAND LAUNCH TEAM is getting bigger all the time. And they are pumped up beyond belief about taking NEW HOPE to ASHLAND! And part 2…no, I am still not leaving New Hope to go to Ashland. This crazy rumor won’t die. I am the Lead Pastor at all 3 places…

- Some family from Ft. Myers, FL were with us for 18 days recently…It was really cool. Pray for them as they work through some issues. My cousin who had never seen snow in person was doing big air jumps with me by the time he left…and yes, I still despise the FLORIDA GATORS.

HURTIN’:(

- My WIRELESS card died. So posts have been down. I post a lot away from the office, and now I can’t for awhile. But we have 2 of the best COMPUTER TECHS (volunteer) in the world right here at the Loudonville Campus…I am sure they will figure it out.

- I need some TACO BELL, and they closed ours in Loudonville last year. Anybody want to go in with me on starting a new one?

See ya this weekend. So glad God blesses us in the HAPPY and HURTIN’ areas of our lives.

blessings and peace.

back in the blogosphere…

In Big Church-Small Town;, Church Leadership, New Hope Stuff on February 3, 2008 at 5:46 pm

Wow…just came from church with my family online (and my neighbor who let me use his laptop since I left mine in Tom’s car…) @ lifechurch.tv–they do an amazing job and have a huge vision.

We decided to stay in today after being gone for a week in cold, cold Florida…well, OK, it wasn’t cold, but I didn’t want you to experience the sin of envy…cause we are now back to reality. What a refreshing time connecting with other Large Church Pastors who can network and bounce new ideas and talk about the future of the church. It was one of the most profitable times as a Pastor I have had in a long time. And yes, our kids were really ticked…the magic for them will have to wait until the magic of our budget gets a boost @ home.

I am really pumped about the HUGE VISION that we are praying about at New Hope for the next 5 years. All I can say is that it is HUGE. Did I mention it was pretty big?

It is so HUGE that we are changing our next series to reflect the need to talk about all the vision and life change the Lord is calling us to as a ministry. I can tell you that what we feel led to do is rare and it is only by the hand of God will we be able to accomplish it. But then again…what other vision would you want to follow after? Stay tuned for some of the details.

We will be having a NH Pastor’s retreat this week to put shape on the whole thing and to assess, strategize, pray and fellowship as a group of Pator’s dedicated to our God, our families, each other and this mission. Pray for our time Wednesday-Thursday if you could…

Also…just a little heads up on something else HUGE…Mark Batterson is considering joining us for our Big Church, Small Town conference this fall. Man…that would be way cool. Still kicking around a name…ANY SUGGESTIONS? I have considered re:gurge (but that is kind of gross). Leave comments if you have a cool name and if we use it…I will send you an amazing gift. NO, really…I will…if you come up with the winning name.

i pray blessings and peace to you all this week.