chazzdaddy

Archive for June, 2008

the STICKS conference.

In the sticks conference on June 30, 2008 at 2:56 pm

We are almost there on launching THE STICKS conference website for SMALL to MEDIUM sized town Churches and Pastors…Read more HERE…(see the end of that post for more details.) I was told maybe even tomorrow I will have a beta version and Lord-willing the roll-out in phases including a blog that will start in the next 7 days.

Registration will begin as well! Don’t wait…only 400 spots will be available to help keep this event as a learning and networking event!

Are you in a small to medium sized town or hamlet (as we know most of them are really called)? Subscribe to re:gurge for all of the latest news and passion for small to medium sized towns and the churches and leaders that God has called to these challenging places.

blessings and peace.

LIVE BLOGGING FINAL SESSION from UNPLUGGED.

In unplugged conference on June 27, 2008 at 2:36 pm


Final Session of Unplugged to roll out @ 11:00 am. Send comments/questions if you have them and I will try to get them up. Blessings and peace!

LIVE BLOGGIN from UNPLUGGED in DC!

In unplugged conference on June 27, 2008 at 1:34 pm

Bear with me as I beta this thing…will figure it out here soon! Welcome! Chat with me…keep me fresh!

live bloggin tomorrow.

In unplugged conference on June 27, 2008 at 1:11 am

HT to DJ Chuang and ROEPKE whom I found and ripped off COVER IT LIVE 2.0 live blogging software.

Twitter seems to be down and overloaded as much as it is up, so I will LIVE BLOG the event right HERE.

And for those of you who I networked with lately about THE STICKS conference, NOVEMBER 11-12th @ New Hope for Small to Medium sized churches, we will have the site up in the next 2 weeks, so keep checking back.

Enjoy the fun tomorrow and JOIN THE CONVERSATION as you WHISTLE while you WORK.

Blessings and peace.

unplugged. cool pics of DC…you gotta follow this.

In Church Leadership, unplugged conference on June 26, 2008 at 2:38 pm

Hello to all the faithful! Myself and our new ASHLAND CAMPUS PASTOR Bud Stanton, (see story HERE)…are now at the famous Ebenezer’s Coffee House and National Community Church led by Mark Batterson who is an amazing leader and a great guy. He’s the real deal.

The other featured speaker is Jud Wilhite from Central Christian Church. Amazing story with this guy…check out their website it is killer.

Amazing to want to start a church in downtown DC with SKY HIGH costs (trust me, the hotel bill is a shock) and to be able to buy a coffee house (with the church meeting in the basement, which is where we are…) and to have multi-sites in theaters across DC in the METRO stops…brilliant. Only GOD could have birthed that deal.

Anyway, follow me HERE on TWITTER as I tweet away in brief words and photos (last night was cool…sorry the trail ended…phone died). Watch for nuggets of wisdom and well, other nuggets that are not so wise. Who knows what will show up, so link to it and have some fun and Lord-willing you will learn something and be inspired along the way.

pray for us. love and miss ya sweetie and kids:)

blessings and peace.

ashland, mohican and our new campus pastor.

In Ashland Campus, Church Leadership, Mohican Juvenile Correction Facility Campus, vision on June 25, 2008 at 12:11 pm

I am beyond excited about what God is going to do as we launch our next 2 campuses. Mohican Juvenile Campus should go on-line in mid-July and our Ashland Campus on September 28-29th. Yes…the plan is to launch with 2 services…I know we are nuts, no need to remind me.

Here are some pics from our site survey today with some of the team @ the ASHLAND SITE. So…some BIG NEWS:

Our new ASHLAND CAMPUS PASTOR is looking pretty Pastoral here while waiting to board our flight in Columbus. Do you know this mug? Welcome BUD STANTON with me to the team!! (Read more HERE). Bud has been with us for several years in lay leadership. Now he’s about to enter a new calling. I praise families who are willing to step out and take a HUGE RISK to answer the call of GOD in their lives. But then again, is OBEDIENCE A RISK?

I LOVE this part of the journey when all things are new, fresh and unknown. I love the challenge of setting up and designing something, and praying through it, and NOT KNOWING at all what will happen, except that you have HUGE GOD INSPIRED DREAMS that are ripping at your soul. And you know that you must make his VISION a REALITY. wow.
When we start in an empty space, all I can think is: WHAT WILL GO DO HERE as we surrender to HIM? We will plan, practice, prepare, and pray, then we will PLACE THIS IS HIS HANDS. Then is up to the MASTER VISION GIVER to do HIS work.

Did this little tour @ the MOHICAN CAMPUS last month and ASHLAND today. My HEART is pumping. Not because of another campus, but for the lives that will be CHANGED FOR ETERNITY right in this space. I never imagined 5-1/2 years ago the insanity that we are involved with. ONLY GOD could use a sinner like me (and you) to help redeem the world. wow.

THE POWER OF EVERYONE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN…yes YOU. ALL of you @ NEW HOPE are standing with us here. This is OUR vision given by GOD.

blessings!

lids and antique bird feathers.

In Big Church-Small Town;, Church Leadership on June 24, 2008 at 8:50 pm

Talked about John Maxwell’s LAW OF THE LID from 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadershiptoday @ STAFF MEETING. It goes like this: Leadership Ability Determines a Person’s Level of Effectiveness.

Points of the Principle
The Lid represents the limit of our leadership abilities. Hard work, efficient management, and knowledge can only bring us so far. If the lid of one’s leadership is low, then the potential for success is also low. The key, then, is not just to work hard on achieving success but to work hard on raising one’s level of leadership. The results: multiplied increase in effectiveness and higher potential for success for the leader as well as the organization. [http://www.bizsum.com/2page/b_The21IrrefutableLawsofLeadership.php]

I am ALWAYS seeking to raise my level of LEADERSHIP (lid) so that I/New Hope can go higher and higher. And not just at NH, but also with my FAMILY, SPIRITUALLY, intellectually, etc. YOU WILL NEVER GO HIGHER THAN YOUR LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP ABILITY and neither will whatever you are leading.

Where are your lids and how can you raise them? You will NEVER rise higher nor your life nor organization that the LID that you are bumping up next too.

Earlier this year I asked the ELDER’S to DOUBLE the conferences I attend this year so my LID could soar. I am also mentoring 3 men who are going into or will be entering STAFF POSITIONS at NEW HOPE in the future. One is entering now. I want to raise their LIDS as well, all for the GLORY and KINGDOM of GOD!

Heading to UNPLUGGED tomorrow after our first big meeting with the ASHLAND LAUNCH TEAM @ our campus location @ ASHLAND HIGH SCHOOL. Can’t wait to start opening the vision and raising lids. I pray my LIDS are opened as well as we continue to GROW. Pray for myself and BUD STANTON who will be tearing up DC with me. Lunch with W on Thursday. (Come on…probably would not pass the background check…they don’t like radical pastor’s it seems these days in politics).

SPEAKING OF RAISING YOUR LID–If you are in a SMALL to MEDIUM sized town and want to raise your lid…save NOVEMBER 11-12th and come to the inaugural THE STICKS conference where we will share about all we do@ New Hope and several other small town, big impact churches from across AMERICA. INSPIRE in the AM and TRUE LEARNING HADS-ON in the afternoon. Featured speakers are MARK BATTERSON and TIM STEVENS. Of course the other featured guys you haven’t heard much of because the small town get no props.

That will soon be changing.

We have a guy from a town of 480 with a church of 1,400+ and several campuses. We also have a guy planting 100 video venues in 100 rural towns in Oklahoma in the next 10 years through the LIFE CHURCH network. We have a guy who took a church from 200 to 2,000+ over 20 years and was in a town of 2,200. Limiting this event to ONLY 400 attendees…so when the site goes LIVE and VIRAL in the next 2 weeks…jump in FAST and tell your pals…Can’t wait. Save the date…More to come. Raise yo LID!

blessings and peace.
[no comments on the pic...it was a moment of weakness and will not happen again. Antique bird feathers make me sizzle)

current and future.

In Church Leadership; Discipleship; Growth in Christ on June 23, 2008 at 4:00 am

I don’t like it when people say that our KIDS/YOUTH are the FUTURE LEADERS of the church. I believe that they are both CURRENT and FUTURE leaders. They know, appreciate, and are trusted on their MISSION FIELDS way more than us OLD FOLKS.

What are we doing to raise them up? I feel like a failure many times…how about you?

I am trying to get into a rhythm of starting to do family devotions/spiritual time together at least twice a week. That is my goal. Do we reach it? Hardly, but that is why we press toward the goal. My #1 priority on earth is my family. What am I doing to train them up in the truth?

I love what MARK BATTERSON has been saying about his discipleship time with his son. It has inspired me to do the same when Christian gets to that age and I pray it inspires my wife to do the same with our two little divas.

Read his post HERE. It is amazing. (Mark will be a featured speaker at our the STICKS conference this FALL @ New Hope on November 11-12th)

blessings and peace.

how mountains are moved.

In Church Leadership, Devotional on June 20, 2008 at 3:27 pm

Every feel like you have to move a mountain? Even the thought makes me shutter at times.

I get quotes from a dear lady in the church every day. Today’s hit me:

“The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” – William Faulkner

Don’t try to conquer the world in one day. Take it from me. You will be anxious, nervous, restless, tired, hospitalized and on medication. Been there, done that. And ONLY YOU can control this. But you see, the problem is that we are involved, and while only we can control those feelings, we are frail and in need of HIS STRENGTH and WISDOM every day. New Hope almost crashed because I was trying to move the mountain in a short time all by myself...by trying to foolishly move the mountain.

What small stones lie before you? Start by making a goal to remove 3-5 stones a day, and schedule YOUR life (only you control YOUR schedule) and you will feel a major sense of accomplishment. I spend more time planning my day/week/month sometimes more than anything else.

Physically, spiritually, in your marriage with your finances…wherever God has YOU right now. Move something!

A week, month, and year from now you will see much PROGRESS. It starts by putting one foot in front of the other. And the peace that will follow will refresh you in ways you have never imagined. Consistently moving small stones is what most people refuse to do. They only see the mountain and don’t want to start because the task seems so daunting.

Move…I dare you. One stone at a time. Consistently. It’s up to you.

“Jesus replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’” (Matthew 17:20-niv)

p.s.: Don’t miss this weekend @ the Hope as Perry Noble rocks the house with a Word from God that pumped me up beyond belief. And I will be leading worship @ the Loudonville Campus and Snoop Timmy Tim is back in WOO-TOWN.

Blessings and Peace.

pic: http://flickr.com/photos/gms/109594718/

real men.

In New Hope Stuff, manfest on June 18, 2008 at 2:47 pm

Wow. What a weekend!

Men all over the place, which is an amazing site for any church. We had an awesome day with lots of food, cars, motorcycles, archery, and so many other amazing things to speak to the hearts and minds of the men of our communities.

The best part of the day…there were TONS of hands that went up both to TRUST CHRIST as SAVIOR and to RE-DEDICATE their lives to CHRIST.

Our best friends (she went through a divorce) had an amazing story happen. Her ex was going to be in town to pick up their daughter for the summer. I asked her if they were all coming to church and she said, no, that he had to leave Sunday AM…I reminded her that services were only on Saturday for MANLY MEN…

She was able to get him to come and what do you know…HE TRUSTED CHRIST! We are working on finding them a church back home now. How awesome is that?

That’s why we do what we do my friends. For the sake of the KINGDOM. We don’t do things like MANFEST to entertain, but to REACH OUT!

Are you doing ALL you can to REACH people in your MISSION FIELD?

Blessings.

p.s.–TOWN HALL MEETING tonight @ 7pm @ Loudonville in the X-Kidz space. PLEASE BE THERE…these conversations (come on…it’s a small part of your year) are BEYOND IMPORTANT to the MISSION here! See ya there (and the CHEESECAKE IS AMAZING!)

Underdogs, God and Golf.

In Devotional, golf on June 16, 2008 at 8:33 pm

OK…simple analogy.

I am ticked that Rocco Mediate didn’t pull it out in the US Open. It was GOLF HISTORY in the making if you are a GOLF fan like me. And having Monday’s off was a BLESSING for ONCE!

Anyway, TIGER WOODS was up big, then down, then tied, and in the 19th playoff hole, he came through with the win…just like everyone EXPECTED.

I have to sit here and think…what if we trusted GOD that much. That no matter who, what, where, when or WHAT we are going through, that we just KNOW that HE will COME THROUGH?

“…And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20–esv)

Anyway…I’m still ticked. I like TIGER, but I love the UNDERDOG. Glad my GOD does too.

Blessings and peace.

How We Go All Out to Reach Men.

In New Hope News, manfest on June 12, 2008 at 11:39 am

Today I have to figure out how to communicate an AMAZING BIBLICAL TRUTH in 15 minutes! Why? It’s our annual MANFEST services. (And I know you are thinking…no way can Charles do that.) Probably right, but I will keep trying.

We blow it out for MEN and DAD’S. Off the hook music, a service that resembles a Junior High locker room, way too many laughs and surprises, a HOG ROAST, stations set up after the service outside so you can spend time with your KIDS, a car and motorcycle show, and of coarse, AMAZING TALKS with some MEN who love JESUS at NEW HOPE in all phases of their journey. From beginners to not-so, from happily married for forever, to those who have suffered through divorce. AND SO MUCH MORE! There will be a ton of cool stuff this year…

MANFEST is your chance to bring every MAN and BOY you know to hear the DANGEROUS message of CHRIST in one of our SAFEST formats ever. WE DO THIS FOR THOSE WHO NEED CHRIST…so if you show up alone…well, you might get water hosed.

I promise that this years MANFEST is going to be OFF THE CHAIN…after our planning meeting finalized, I felt a HUGE SENSE of what will be an AMAZING MANFEST! Don’t forget, SATURDAY ONLY @ all campuses. See times HERE.

Will you step up and INVITE? It will change people’s ETERNITIES! PRAY for us all. And PRAY that PEOPLE will come to the SAVIOR…that’s why we do this stuff.

p.s. Women, you will love it too…and you will roll your eyes a few times like you know you do when MEN are being MEN…I mean BOYS.

p.s.s.: You will HAVE TO PARK IN OVERFLOW as our LOTS will ALL BE FULL with EVENTS…yes, we have a SHUTTLE every week! Start in the KETTERING BUILDING PLEASE!

your voice will help…

In one service, your voice on June 11, 2008 at 3:53 pm

So…what are your thoughts so far about the ONE PRAYER SERIES we are doing now and the ONE SERVICE event coming up?

We have lots of people coming to the blog here…let’s hear YOUR VOICE! (Click on COMMENTS tab below) Please…

“Saul recognized David’s voice and said, ‘Is this YOUR VOICE, my son David?’ And David said, ‘It is MY VOICE, my lord, O king.’” (1 Samuel 26.17–esv)

Blessings and peace.

http://flickr.com/photos/trans-formation/254159995/

campus pastor?

In campus pastors, multi-sites on June 10, 2008 at 3:32 pm

So…we are heading toward our 5 campuses by the end of this year, and possibly looking at launching into the Millersburg and Mt. Vernon areas next year or beyond as our 5 “hub campuses” along with Loudonville/Wooster/Ashland.

We are in need RIGHT NOW and BEYOND of CAMPUS PASTORS.

Do you need a degree in THEOLOGY? No.
Do you need a degree in BIBLE? No.
Will we TRAIN YOU? YES!

Click HERE for more details of what we are looking for in a CAMPUS PASTOR. If this is YOU, please e-mail me. We could use 2 of you NOW…and 3-4 more later.

Is God CALLING YOU or someone you know to something like this?

blessings and peace.

pic:http://flickr.com/photos/20939975@N04/2147047890/

you haven’t heard much like this ever.

In New Hope News, one prayer, one service on June 9, 2008 at 2:08 pm

OK…over 1,300 churches took part in a historical series that kicked off yesterday. See all the details and join the conversation HERE. Go read some of the amazing things and post your comments. Craig Groeschel knocked it out of the park. What a Word from GOD.

At NEW HOPE the spirit and feedback were AMAZING! What a joy and Biblical response to a world in DIVISION (especially in the church), than to show them the CHURCH UNIFIED through the GOSPEL of CHRIST and HIS MISSION.

Next weekend I will be bringing the ONE PRAYER message live at ALL CAMPUSES (Saturday Night only…spend Sunday with your Dad’s!…L-Ville: 2, 4, 6pm//Wooster 5pm). Too many things to post about the amazing day…see the WEBSITE for details. My ONE PRAYER for MEN is…Lord Make Us (like I would give it away). God will rock your world this weekend.

Here’s a story like you haven’t heard before…and PLEASE PASS THE WORD TO THE WORLD about what God has laid on our hearts so that there might be more moves of GOD like thisas well.

Before ONE PRAYER even was announced, God spoke clearly to my heart. We as the BODY are divided 52 weeks a year. What if this year during our OUTDOOR WORSHIP SERVICE (we hold one in the park every year, 1 service combined for our church). What if this year, we invite ALL CHURCHES who preach and live out the GOSPEL to join with us and partner together?

I was scared a bit, but I was obedient.

I sent out letters to every pastor in ASHLAND county, and what do you know? PASTORS were BOLD and shared the vision.

SO…on SUNDAY, July 27th, @ 11am both in Loudonville (on the square downtown Lord-willing) and in Ashland (at Community Stadium) we will join with SEVERAL other churches to hold the first ONE SERVICE combined worship service. Why is this unique?

We will be coming together not on an “off-time” but during PRIME TIME and will WORSHIP AS ONE this SUMMER together. There will be a FREE MEAL provided afterwards for fellowship and getting to know others across the BODY of CHRIST. (And Lord-willing, those who do not know CHRIST or have a church home!)

All I can say is WOW. Please PRAY for our informational meetings this THURSDAY night.

Is YOUR CHURCH coming if you are in ASHLAND COUNTY? Start the buzz.

God’s Spirit is truly up to something through ONE PRAYER and ONE SERVICE. Father…May they be ONE!

One last thing: please PRAY for my hometown of Columbus, Indiana, and other towns in Indiana. It was devastated by floods like no other. Some of my friends were impacted.

blessings and peace.

one.

In New Hope News, one prayer on June 5, 2008 at 4:01 am

Prayer. one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism. God calls us to unity and ONENESS.

This weekend we are part of history. We will be joining over 1,200 other churches in the ONE PRAYER series. It will be amazing. Teaching will be some of the biggest names in the church today, and they will be joining us via video as well as live teaching mixed into the series by yours truly.

Week 2 and MANFEST 2008 of course will be a HUGE highlight of the year. Just finished the programming meeting on this, and it will again be OFF THE HOOK. Who will you be bringing with you?

Week 3 I will be leading worship with some special twists at the Loudonville Campus…

And Week 5 will feature ED YOUNG JR…um, yes, preaching for our church.

Enjoy the pics from the set design team…they are hard at work and I can tell you that you have NEVER seen anything like what Allison, Dan and their crew have cooked up for this series. Thanks to all of them for what they are doing and to all of our crews at each campus for making this series a reality.

This week we will be hearing from one of the most innovative, creative and pioneering Pastor’s out there. Craig Groshel from LIFECHURCH.TV has helped launch multi-sites throughout the US and the WORLD through Life Church, and he will be kicking us off. This was their brainchild, and I can’t imagine the giddiness they feel right now as 1,200 (think about that) churches JOIN TOGETHER in the name of JESUS to proclaim…we are ONE in the GOSPEL of CHRIST!

Can’t wait…who ya bringing?

important news.

In New Hope News, purpose driven training on June 4, 2008 at 2:02 pm

It’s funny that I have to keep clarifying this, but that just means you all must LOVE ME:) Thanks!

By handing off to an Executive Pastor so I can focus on teaching, leading, ministry of the Word, prayer, and training leaders nationally and internationally, I am not going anywhere. I am the Lead/Sr. Pastor at NEW HOPE, one church, many locations.

My role has changed to where I cannot be the primary details and operational Pastor, nor the main Pastoral Care provider as the church has grown (to 5 campuses this year!)

We have been doing this for a few months, and nothing has changed on the surface, but internally it is very different. Some thought that my talking about 2-3 international trips per year (with many of YOU who will feel led) was saying I was going somewhere else to work. NO…my passion if right HERE!

We are making ripples about small to medium sized towns all over the country and now, we will be impacting those around the world in ways we could have never thought or imagined. WHY?

THE POWER OF ALL OF US living out the GREAT COMMISSION and investing our TIME, TALENTS and TREASURE!

So, with all of us playing huge roles (yes YOUR role is HUGE…without YOU, the BODY suffers!), we are helping to take the gospel to our church, community and the WORLD. Only God.

Keep dreaming, praying and laying your life down for the MISSION. There will be much more to come about our international Purpose Driven Training Conferences we will do next year. Watch here and the bulletin for details.

You all are amazing. And thanks for being concerned…but PLEASE, no more RUMORS! (Though we are happy to know we are loved). The pic is proof I am alive and well in my office…and isn’t that painting behind me AMAZING? Allison Haggerty gave it to me…it is sweet…needs a frame so I can not have to scoth tape it to the wall…but anyway…

blessings and peace!

the most important post i have posted in awhile.

In Church Leadership, prayer on June 3, 2008 at 7:14 pm

As the title implies…I like to re:gurge from time to time. I ran across a post today from PERRY NOBLE…I have to share it. Please do what it says. Whether for me or for YOUR PASTOR. This will change eternity!

Here ye be:

This Sunday NewSpring Church (along with nearly 1,000 other churches across the world) will begin our One Prayer series…and so, in recognition of this I would love to ask for everyone to commit to pray for their pastor every single day for the rest of this month.

I know, I know…seems a little self serving doesn’t it? Well…I make no apologies for that–we need your prayers. And yes, I know that every staff member needs prayer…but I will go ahead and say it…no one in the church–NO ONE–feels the spiritual, emotional and physical highs and lows like the senior pastor. Trust me!

With that in mind…let me share five things that I think all pastors need in regards to being prayed for…

#1 – Our Connection With God

Nothing is more important in a senior pastors life than his personal walk with God–nothing. This is where vision takes place–there is where God sets our hearts on fire like in Jeremiah 20:9. This is where PERSONAL conviction, correction and encouragement takes place…and the thing EVERYONE OF US NEED more than anything is to REMAIN IN HIM so that our ministry will be fruitful. (John 15:5)

#2 – Our Family

Going to be honest here…the pastors family goes through things that most pastors will not talk about in front of their church. There is usually constant pressure on the children. People expect his wife to be perfect. AND…what the family goes through spiritually is INTENSE. My wife usually has nightmares five or six nights a week. Charisse has often woke us up at night screaming. I could go on and on…but trust me on this one…if you want to BLESS your pastor–COVER his family in prayer!

#3 – His Relationship With The Staff

The elephant that exists in many churches is that the pastor and the staff don’t really like each other…or there are some serious jealousy issues in regards to the senior pastor, staff will think, “I do as much as he does…so why does he…” You get the picture.

Pray for the staff that he serves with to be loyal to the vision. Pray for the relationships he has…trust me, it is AWESOME to work in an environment where everyone loves each other. (By the way…I have that!) Pray for the staff to help lift up the pastors arms so the enemy can be defeated. (Exodus 17:8-16) Pray for there never to be any unresolved conflict so that ministry does not turn into a war zone.

#4 – His Battle With Spiritual Warfare

I alluded to this earlier…but let me say it again, you would not believe what a pastor faces in regards to spiritual warfare. There are things that have happened to me that I have never preached about (or blogged about) because, well, they are intense.

Most preachers I know have serious bouts with depression (especially on Sunday night and Monday morning.) Every time a critic attacks it takes a chunk out of his soul…whether he admits it or not. Preachers have SERIOUS struggles WHILE preaching messages…I have literally had thoughts like, “Hey idiot, these people hate you are aren’t listening to you–they all wish you were dead.” NO–I’m NOT making that up.

I could literally develop an entire post on this one area…trust me, the pastor goes through INTENSE spiritual warfare…so pray he would walk in victory, resist temptation, hear the voice of Jesus…and so on!

#5 – Rest

Most of us pastors are AWESOME hypocrites! We teach our churches to follow God’s Word–but then we often violate one of the top ten commandments by not taking a day of rest. (See Exodus 20:8-11, I wonder why God took more time to explain this command than the rest…maybe because it is IMPORTANT!)

It’s tough for some pastors because, well, they serve a lazy bunch of people who expect him to do it all while they sit on their butt and have meetings about how inefficient he is. (This is why the average stay for a pastor in America today is less than two years–churches KILL pastors!)

But, for others where the church does not expect him to do it all–he still can never truly disengage from what God has called him to do. Personally, I am always thinking about what’s next. I usually can’t shake the upcoming sermon from my thought pattern…and…I always feel like that I should be doing something.

Pray for us to get rest–the last thing the world needs is ONE MORE burned out pastor. Pray that he could have at least one day a week where he completely disengages from the ministry. And pray that he would have about four or five times a year where he can get away for at least three or four days to chill and relax.

(For the church member somewhere out there that just thought, “I don’t get that.” True…but you also don’t have to go to bed at night with the reality of Hebrews 13:17 hanging over you…so shut up and pray for your pastor!!!) :-)

By the way…I do this, take time to get away…and because of that my walk is stronger, my marriage is better, I am able to connect with my daughter more…and God ALWAYS fills me up with HUGE vision.

So there you have it. Please pray for your pastor. I know there are lots of people who visit this site from other churches…and I pray that you will use this as a means to get started praying for him. If you want to know how to pray for him more specifically–ASK HIM, seriously, I am sure he will let you know.

Thanks PERRY…for the awesome challenge…

and to all of you who read this: thanks for praying!

blessings and peace.

ps. I will be writing something tomorrow that you will NOT want to MISS.

pic:http://flickr.com/photos/bjurman/1846181877/