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Archive for October, 2008

Halloween Questions?

In halloween on October 31, 2008 at 2:23 pm

I bet you have heard it all about Halloween, and if you are a new Christian, then you will hear it eventually. Is it Satan’s night or just fun? Is it something to avoid, or something to re-claim? Where did it really start?

Halloween is a toss-up for me and this friend of mine who makes this great POST and comments that follow. Read it please.

Can it be “re-claimed” for the gospel? The early church believed it could. Are we at the Hill house? Yes. We will have more harvest type food items tonight and will be talking about some of the heroes of the Christian faith (otherwise known in the Catholic tradition as Saints).

As you know, I am a huge fan of redeeming what Satan intended for evil and making it an effort of light and truth for the Kingdom of God. We do this all the time in our services and outreach.

Here are some other discussions if you are interested.

A Catholic View (they re-claimed it first!)
A Protestant View (The origins are flawed and it is not as evil as some might think.)
A Christian View that it is Evil (you should read #2 and 3 as they have TOTALLY different “facts”).

I can say this. There is a great outpouring of evil on Halloween. Because not only have Christians “re-claimed” it and the secular world “embraced it for fun” but satanic rituals are at an all time high tonight. Child sacrifice and other horrible incidents occur each Halloween. Property destruction is rampant, etc.

But Satan and evil runs rampant every night. We must rise up and remember that “Greater is He that is IN us, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4.4)

In the end…we have the victory. Let’s teach our families to at least rise up for Jesus tonight (and every night for that matter!) whether we lean towards the “Halloween is fun” argument, the “harvest party” event, or the we refrain from all things “evil” event. We can invite friends and have parties (to the level we seek to engage) and use it as a tool to REACH people for CHRIST and redeem the day for the one who created it and EVERY OTHER DAY!

Don’t refrain from raising HIS banner high!

Ever been hurt by the church?

In hurt by the church on October 31, 2008 at 4:01 am

Have you ever been hurt, walked on, misunderstood, wounded, offended or felt good-old-fashioned JUDGED by the church? Maybe you have even felt this way at NEW HOPE. I pray not. But you have. If not, you will.

Many of you have felt this way in your experience throughout your “church life” whether old or new to the faith.

I know I have. In my past and current “church” experience. As a matter of fact, it happens frequently via a “Godly, Biblical” e-mail or blog comment. Pastors are wounded as much or more than any others I know. Grow thick skin? Run away? Stop fighting? Maybe this will help. Pray for those who are your pastors and leaders, they need it more than you might understand.

And pray for those who I meet all the time who have been “wounded and hurt” by the church, that they will come back to the source of all love. God himself! And He laid His life down for an IMPERFECT bride, His Church.

Here is a great message by my friend JUD WILHITE from CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH in Las Vegas baby…that will bring healing and sweet water to your soul.

Judged Message 10/19/2008 from David Tate on Vimeo.

And don’t miss this weekend at NEW HOPE where I and our team will be on trial answering your MARRIAGE/RELATIONSHIP/SEX questions. They will be LIVE and unfiltered! Come ready to ask your questions that have been raised during this series. Can’t wait to see what will happen and what we will LEARN and how I will be STRETCHED as well!

Don’t forget SATURDAY NIGHT to set the clocks back an hour!

blessings and peace.

The greatest challenges in small town ministry. Part 5

In leadership in a small to medium sized town on October 30, 2008 at 4:01 am

Continuing to look at the unique challenges of ministry in a small town:

#5 — It can be very lonely trying to have BIG IMPACT in a SMALL TOWN.

If you are in a small town and you are trying to initiate change, if you are trying to do new things, be cutting-edge, you will be met with huge resistance. And then as I said earlier, these people who resist you also are a huge part of your life because small towns are one big, inter-connected family. That can make it really, really lonely. Even when things are going great.

We planted New Hope, so it was totally a cake walk compared to those of you called to TRANSITION a church. Wow…there is an extra special place in heaven for you guys. Two of the best people I have seen do this in a small town are DWIGHT MASON and SHANNON O’DELL. They will both be featured speakers at THE STICKS. Blessings to those saints and to those of you called to do that.

But even in a church plant, things like the decision to go multi-site or start a new service is twice as hard because you are the only one for MILES AND MILES talking such non-sense. As far as I know, we might have more multi-sites than any other church in OHIO. Not trying to impress, just saying…I don’t know anyone else who is operating as many sites…so the talk of this stuff was major radical here. Some people still think that “Shout to the Lord” is a little too modern.

So when we bust out Coldplay, Seether, etc. that really causes some hearing aides to feed back. Which is one cool thing…and I mean that. When I see a ton of silver hair, I know we are onto something! More to come on that next week when I talk about the amazing things that being in a small town can bring to ministry.

Until then…be encouraged in your calling. It is tough all the way around when you are out on the leading edge for the cause of Christ. I just found out that 7 of the churches in the city where our multi-site in China is located were shut down and the leaders arrested. Sounds like the New Testament. And those of us sitting on our fat American a@%#$ will never understand that completely. I know I don’t. It’s so easy when compared to that story. Crap.

But that still doesn’t always battle the loneliness bug and the feeling that we want to give up. There must be more…right? Yes. Let’s connect. Let’s form a community. Let’s be there for one another. Let’s make a statement. Let’s love one another and press on even when we feel we don’t have another ounce to give.

Live out your calling. Fight the good fight. Stop dreaming about bigger and better, and live out a life of obedience right where HE has you! You might never write a book or speak at a conference or have followers on a blog…but the LIVES CHANGED FOR ETERNITY IS ALL THAT MATTERS! Really…it is.

Blessings and peace!
______________________

Doing ministry in a small town? Check out the sticks conference coming in just 2 weeks!

a sneak peak at what we are doing this CHRISTMAS @ NEW HOPE.

In christmas on October 29, 2008 at 10:04 pm

We are doing a series that will bring GIVING GIFTS back into perspective. Not only will we be giving to the water project but local projects as well.

As a staff we decided that this is the time the CHURCH needs to stand up the TALLEST. Not cower. Tis the season!

ht: [aj]

The greatest challenges in small town ministry. Part 4

In leadership in a small to medium sized town on October 29, 2008 at 4:01 am

Continuing to look at the unique challenges of ministry in a small town:

#4 — The Economy Stinks Here

So…if you thought that the economy was bad in your bigger town. Ouch. The small town economy suffers even worse. Take for instance that we had one factory leave town and it impacted our towns budget base by 40-60% was the word. Double ouch.

When you lose your job around here, it is much harder to fall into anything else, and if you do, it is much less on the pay scale.

When you run a larger church in a small town, you have to be extra wise, crafty and creative when it comes to all things budget. I remember in the early days that people had a really hard time grasping the total budget with plenty of zeroes on the end. It is not the norm for our smaller communities. We have scaled back the budget several times and are in need of much more staff and funds to operate in a large church way, not retreat. This is where extreme creativity comes in.

For instance…we employ plenty of people who are 1/4 time and most of them do work way beyond their pay grade. Not that I want 1/4 people working full-time hours, but when you find someone who is outstanding in an area, let them run wild within healthy boundaries. I used to assume everyone needed to be full time to be effective.

We have become the masters of making things look really expensive and classy when they really are not. Take for instance the set design that is in this set of head shots they were doing with me. You will see this set at the sticks (it is much more ornate than this too, this is only a small part of it). It looks like it cost $2,000, but it was really $300. We also choose to keep our sets up much longer, as we used to change every series, now we just make some tweaks to it, and let it roll longer. I could go on…

This fall we are doing a joint mailer with another great church in the area to save capital. It’s all about being obedient and creative. I have staff who would like to see us withdraw and huddle up in this horrible economy. I choose to be creative, to continue building HIS KINGDOM, which ultimately is OBEDIENCE. There are still people who don’t know Christ who are counting on us to reach out to them despite the messy economy. I will continue to be crafty and wise at the same time.

No excuses. Let’s get it done!

Blessings and peace!
______________________

Doing ministry in a small town? Check out the sticks conference coming in just 2 weeks!

The greatest challenges in small town ministry. Part 3

In leadership in a small to medium sized town on October 28, 2008 at 4:01 am

Continuing to look at the unique challenges of ministry in a small town:

#3 — Most people do not desire to come to Mayberry.

Crap…it doesn’t matter that you are a large church doing cutting-edge things. When they see where you are, it might as well be Siberia.

Seriously, unless there is a connection here or in one of our multi-site towns, people just don’t want to come to smallsville. Come on, we have stoplights (4 to be exact).

The feeling that bigger is better is rampant. And while there are benefits to being in a metro area…I bet you can’t leave your car running and unlocked to go into the store, and if you have a heart attack while inside, the car will still be there, just out of gas when you go back to pick it up.

What have we done to combat this? We are working really hard to raise up and train leaders from the inside. It is working so far…we are having many people commit and step up, and some of these people I would put up next to anyone in America! It takes time and patience to develop from within. Be prepared!

Some of our staff struggle at times due to lack of experience and leadership skills in a larger organization(as do I:), but we are making progress every year…slowly but surely. All farm team here…very few free agents! Since we are growing and doing some cool stuff, I have had a few friends come or desire to come join our team, but again, there was a connection.

As a matter of fact…I am heading to a mentoring session right now with a guy who was far from Christ a year and a half ago, whose talents are off the charts and will be on our team one day…stay tuned, more to come tomorrow.

Blessings and peace!
______________________

Doing ministry in a small town? Check out the sticks conference coming in just 2 weeks!

I saw what God did.

In Spiritual Growth on October 27, 2008 at 8:58 pm

Crazy pain yesterday.
Went to neighbors to hang and vent.
Watched a funny thing happen with neighbors kid. Laughed.
Next Day:
Daughter goes to neighbors to play this morning.
Neighbor calls to send daughter home a few hours later.
I answer the phone which is rare.
I tell mother the story of what her son did yesterday.
Said goodbye and she sent my daughter home.
Opened door to watch her cross the street.
Watching her cross the street when a hurting man walks by my house at the same exact time.
Ask man, how are you doing? He starts crying.
Talked about hating God, suicide last week and all Hell is breaking loose.
Tears shed, prayers and hugs given.
He will be in church around a new tribe this weekend.
New man walks away with a new stride.
That’s the mystery of how God works in split seconds. You can’t script that.
So glad he put all us right where He wanted to at exactly the right split second.
We are ALL involved in HIS STORY whether we know it or not.

The greatest challenges in small town ministry. Part 2

In leadership in a small to medium sized town on October 27, 2008 at 4:01 am

Continuing to look at the unique challenges of ministry in a small town:

#2–Everyone Knows Your Crap.

They really do. When you do actually crap, the neighborhood knows it as all our sewers are connected.

When you and your wife are having a higher volume conversation, a crowd gathers and it goes on You Tube. Make sure your windows are down, cause church people don’t know that pastor’s and wives are normal people who use normal language at times.

When someone leaves your church. You see them everywhere…and they just give you that scowl. Not that you haven’t given your all to lay it on the alter…they don’t like that high impact ministry takes vision, heart, finances and excellence, and some will never get that…so they just gossip and scowl at you and their kids punch your kids at recess.

And when you have to make a tough call and let someone go from the staff…wow, front page news complete with severance package details, and the pastor is now contributing to the demise of yet another family. As if we cut all our high performing staff for the fun of it.

Small town loyalty you say…not all the time. Maybe it is a bit better, but people are just as stubborn and prideful here. Not that I am perfect by any means…but that’s why we have a great team to help when decisions get tough.

And lastly…you can’t go ANYWHERE! The store, a ball game, school…it is a 3 hour tour! Not that I always mind it as I love our people and am a people person, but at times it gets tiring. And I am not joking…my wife doesn’t let me go out to the store or places like that often as it will really take forever to get out of there. More tomorrow!

Blessings and peace!
______________________

Doing ministry in a small town? Check out the sticks conference coming in just 2 weeks!

we need to forgive the church.

In Devotional on October 27, 2008 at 3:43 am

I know that at times when people wound me (the church can be one of the most un-safe places on earth, but I still can’t stop running to the place that Christ laid down HIS life for!). Not sure where I picked this up recently…but it runs heart deep.

“When we have been wounded by the Church, our temptation is to reject it. But when we reject the Church it becomes very hard for us to keep in touch with the living Christ. When we say, “I love Jesus, but I hate the Church,” we end up losing not only the Church but Jesus too.


The challenge is to forgive the Church.


This challenge is especially great because the Church seldom asks us for forgiveness, at least not officially. But the Church as an often fallible human organization needs our forgiveness, while the Church as the living Christ among us continues to offer us forgiveness.

It is important to think about the Church not as “over there” but as a community of struggling, weak people of whom we are part and in whom we meet our Lord and Redeemer.” — Henry Nouwen


The greatest challenges in small town ministry. Part 1

In leadership in a small to medium sized town on October 26, 2008 at 9:00 am

I will be writing this week about the greatest challenges doing ministry in small towns. My first attempt at the multiple day format thing. So all you small town crazy pastors who follow this thing…share this with your fellow crazies! Come on…link to this thing or e-mail it on. Let the conversation begin!

#1–Very few people talk about small town ministry.

When is the last time that a major conference, article, story, or list included those in small towns? Not that I am bitter…not at all. Just stating the facts.

Big church, big town ministry while providing many principals that have driven our thinking and models, there are huge obstacles to many of the methods they use in small towns.

I did have the opportunity to share at the Leadership Network Multi-Site conference this year @ Seacoast church. I think they were shocked and pleased that as many people came to the “doing multi-site in the sticks” break-out.

The sad thing is that most people just find that small towns are irrelevant. (And sadly, we don’t present the best images in many of our small town churches.)

That is why we started THE STICKS gathering. To learn, grow and network with each other. Stop making excuses, change your schedule, ask daddy big bucks for a few hundred bucks and come on out. Let’s do this thing together.

Why am I passionate about this: I believe it takes twice the leadership to have an impacting ministry in a small town as it does in a bigger town. We’ll keep talking about why the rest of this week!

Blessings and peace!
______________________

Doing ministry in a small town? Check out the sticks conference coming in just 2 weeks!

Winning Monopoly Pieces @ McDonalds.

In New Hope Stuff; Teaching Series on October 25, 2008 at 2:24 pm

Nope…I don’t eat at McDonald’s much. As a kid though, when I saw the golden arches my parents said I went psychotic.

Today, I am an Egg McMuffin fan and a sweet tea addict not to mention the southern style chicken sandwich and hot fudge sundaes. Enough already.

Tired of those Monopoly pieces stacking up? Here is the complete list of the actual winning pieces needed for the 2008 edition. And yes, McDonald’s is the only fast food burger joint we have out here in the STICKS.

Speaking of winning…this weekends installment of FIXmySPOUSE is going to be intense. I will be talking about the most IMPORTANT thing that will sustain and save your marriage that you need to engage in TOGETHER with your spouse. And it’s not sex…that was last week.

See you this weekend. I promise that this weekends gathering will be very different. Trust me. And if you peel a Boardwalk game piece off a Big Mac…please help pay off the building fund.

I still struggle with this…how about you?

In Christ and Culture on October 24, 2008 at 12:58 pm

Somehow OUR (you are a part of this) blog was selected with other large bloggers (?–huh) to be a part of a blog tour for THE FINE LINE, a book that is a must read for anyone who walks THE FINE LINE of Christ and Culture.

I will be doing a podcast with the author, Kary Oberbrunner on December 2nd, a few days before the book launches. Can’t wait to dig deeper and mess with Kary a bit. Trust me, no one gets off easy on a podcast with me. Don’t miss it!

So…Why am I excited about this book? Because I grew up in a church environment that withdrew fully from culture to the extreme (not Amish extreme, but extreme). Even STEVE GREEN and the group ACCAPELLA was a “sin.” No, seriously… and yes…the group Accapella was 100% accapella music. I wouldn’t lie to you.

I then found churches of GRACE that seemed to go the other way with culture. Amazing grace took on a new STRUGGLE for me. I was greatly confused and still have issues when I walk THE FINE LINE of “being in the world, but not of it!” How about you?

Kary does an amazing job of summarizing this issue that is so FUZZY to many in this day and age of confusion. So…you can pre-order and check out the book HERE (sample chapter included).

Check out the trailer at the end…amazing video work, and then take a moment to listen to Kary’s heart on this issue. Great stuff!

The Fine Line of Christ and Culture (HD) from josh franer on Vimeo.

Kary Oberbrunner Speaks Out from josh franer on Vimeo.

how can YOU help?

In Uncategorized on October 23, 2008 at 12:38 pm

So…after yesterday’s post about a tired economy and how that is effecting not just our church, but churches everywhere…I have a question for you all.

What are some suggestions for helping the church weather this economic storm?

And here are the ground rules:

1. Don’t be mean. Don’t say stuff like: Fire the Pastor. You might want to, but refrain =)

2. Don’t cut into the vision. ie: Stop making our services cutting edge and just burn 1 candle and go acoustic. Or sell our video equipment on E-bay, or stop advertising (we rarely do anymore). Make sense?

3. Let’s stick with stuff that you have authority and insight on that we aren’t thinking about: Ideas: Turn off the lights during the day, cut the thermostat, teach more on giving, have a prayer meeting about this, etc.

4. I can assure you that for 5 out of 6 years we have been the leanest, meanest, get it done for little money staff and budget out there. Our staff has worked with authority in their field and have only spent on necessary items. Sure there were a few excesses and shots we took, but for the most part, we were lean. Our budget (almost 3 years ago now) was not much below where we are today. We have had 3 years of lean increases in the budget by God’s grace!

Thanks for ANY and ALL help as you are led by the LORD! He WILL prevail. He is in charge!

Ready, set, GO!

What and Why?

In leadership in a small to medium sized town on October 22, 2008 at 6:00 pm

Yes…I get that a lot. Especially when people ask about our ministry in a small town. IT CAN BE DONE! IT can be TRANSFORMING to an entire community! It can also be very tough.

We just launched another multi-site in ASHLAND, OH 4 weeks ago. 1 mailer, 1 news article, 2 billboard and a few ads. We are averaging 220 people in 4 weeks and many have come to Christ! The stories from our other campuses through this marriage and relationships series are blowing me away…wait until I post a few.

All of this during the worst economic crisis in our lives. God is not moved during down times. Did you realize that? Keep pressing on! He is in control! He knows our every move. Is it tough? Heck yes! Does He care? Of course He does.

My personal budget is messed up right now with increasing costs. Not to mention we have HUGE medical bills…sound familiar? Just being real with you.

Our church is pressed on all sides as well and are having to cut some hours and pay. We might even have to cut a full time person or 2…all this when we are already very SHORT-STAFFED! We need to add 4-5 more staff so we don’t die by the age of 40, not take away. And it has little to do with our multi-sites (this had ALWAYS been an issue). Each campus is supposed to be self-budgeted and funded, though we are 1 large budget.

God knows. He doesn’t just know, He HURTS. He hurts for you, and for me. Why?

God taught us to SAVE and not use BAD credit. Big difference. He asked us to be wise and not frivolous. Now we as a country are paying the price.

And we as a church are as well. Just when we think we get ahead…boom, something happens! (At New Hope we have had our best year EVER in our GENERAL FUND [thank you] but our BUILDING FUND is -$33,000 [let's do something about that]…hard to save when that happens!). Ouch. So for those of you in other churches…we feel your pain too!

2 years ago we didn’t raise our budget, last year we raised it minimally. We saw this coming. We desired to put money into savings for 2 months operational expenses…but have been forced to limp on. And if we don’t have a massive turn-around in the next 2 weeks, we will have to make some really tough decisions, despite barely raising our budget in what will now be the last 3 years! Guess what…GOD KNOWS! He CARES, He is LISTENING! And I choose to let HIM be in control.

Does it make me really nervous? To be honest, it used too…

But seriously…I actually started believing that HE is in control, He is on the throne, He is really the one who said, “I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH AND THE GATES OF HELL WILL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT!” And it is NOT UP TO ME TO SOLVE IT.

In my HOME and my CHURCH, I will be obedient. I will give my time, talent and treasure. I will TRUST in Him. I will wait for HIS provision and HIS promise. How about you? He is listening. Go to Him. Right now. Whatever your pain…go to HIM. Let it go, give it away, make the dump, puke it out, see ya vile spirit…giving it over to the Lord…right now, right here, right away, with no delay. Bye.

“Cast your (worries, anxieties, fears and cares) on HIM…for HE cares about YOU!” (-God through Peter in 1st Peter 5.7) And I choose to believe and claim this.

sexxx, questions and text.

In New Hope News on October 21, 2008 at 11:39 pm

Wow is all I can say. Just put the word “sex” in the blog post and people flock to it. If you didn’t catch the message on how to have hot sex (yes, that’s what GOD invented and intended INSIDE the bounds of marriage) then check out the message HERE (Title: FIX my SEX).

Just called an audible: We will be adding a Q and A for all marriage questions in 2 weekends. No topic is off limits and after last weekend, I am a bit squeamish, but I will survive. We will be doing it LIVE via text messaging in all the services. Can’t wait…especially for the rowdies we deal with every week.

Speaking of text messaging…send me one RIGHT NOW…check out the new widget on the right…sweet stuff huh?

i need your sex…answers that is.

In New Hope News on October 15, 2008 at 10:34 pm

FIXmySPOUSE is kicking it big time as we venture into the taboo topic of sex this weekend. Not sure why it is taboo, since the BIBLE tells us all about it straight from the inventor. Anyway… And I need your help! Seriously…HELP ME!!! Help me—help you. Come on.

There are 5 questions in polls set up to the RIGHT on the blog (RSS peeps go HERE) it will take seconds to finish. One is a for women, one is for men, first one is for ALL. Some you can have more than 1 answer if you want, some not. Please only take the poll if you are married or were married with the exception of the “when did you lose your virginity” question which is open to all.

They are all ANONYMOUS and can’t be tracked…so there ya go. Help me with the teaching this weekend. And then please ask your spouse to do the same. I really need to track some real time data.

10.22.08 update: BLOG POLL IS CLOSED AND REMOVED. WILL GET THE STATS POSTED HERE SOON. Thanks to all for helping me out!

blessings, peace, love, and happy sex if you are married!

back when i had hair.

In Devotional on October 15, 2008 at 12:45 pm

This was too much…threw on the computer cam to capture my daughter Joi asking about “who is this man in this picture.” She didn’t remember me like the picture showed. I HAD HAIR. Watch this 1 minute clip…too funny.

Aren’t you glad that there are some people who “don’t remember you like that”…and I am not talking about your looks! Aren’t you glad that God never remembers our sins when we boldly confess them to Him?

I got a “correction” letter from someone in the congregation who didn’t like that I “shared my personal life with the people in the sermon this past weekend.” I did not share that I didn’t have hair, but that I was a dirty, rotten, sinner in need of God’s saving grace.

“Are you promoting this type of behavior?” They asked. Ummmm…yes. The behavior that: AMAZING GRACE HOW SWEET THE SOUND, THAT SAVED A WRETCH LIKE ME! I will promote that and speak about my wins and my losses and be real with the struggles I have had and currently have.

They said “I should just stick to the gospel.” I did…I think The gospel was all about failure and RESTORATION…from prostitutes to tax collectors to everyday fishermen! I pray this person (their name given at the end was Thank You) will be willing to open up to their failures and the forgiveness of His radical grace, and journey with people who are the same.

Sometimes though, I need to remember them. So glad for those who have forgiven me over the years for all I have done “big and small.” And that God has forgotten and forgiven my sin completely as he “removes my sin as far as the east is from the west.” (Psalm 103:12)

blessings, peace, grace, forgiveness, and always keep it real.

small town comments.

In Big Church-Small Town Church Leadership on October 14, 2008 at 12:36 pm

Trent Kirkland recently commented to a blog post that I wrote with this:

“We are ministering in a town of 5000, but try not to act like it!”

Couldn’t have said it better myself. If God can do big things in big places, why can’t He do big things in small places??? May this ENCOURAGE those of you called to do BIG things in small places!

blessings and peace.

can you believe this?

In evangelism, wake up on October 11, 2008 at 3:44 pm

I can. I don’t normally get into the news, but this STORY (6 State Trooper Chaplains forced to resign because they aren’t allowed to pray “In Jesus Name”) about how we are slipping further and further in our Christian values and rights in America. I am all for inclusion (especially what I believe :) , but EXCLUSION of Christianity has to go. READ IT HERE.

Other stories catching my attention are (to generalize some more popular ones right now) about gay rights or other inclusive groups that seek to destroy the Christian values and heritage we share in America (like at CHRISTmas time) or evolution versus intelligent design. I am not opposed to teaching gay rights or other views in schools. They are public schools after all. But what about TRADITIONAL rights of the Husband/Wife Judaeo-Christian mongomous role in the home?

If we teach about secular humanism (we do this by excluding any reference to a supreme diety) then what is so harmful about teaching other points of view? Teach evolution, which is a THEORY, but why are you so afraid to reference the THEORY of intelligent design? Or some other THEORY that has gained prominence.

Would I teach about gay right, abortion, etc. if it were MY school? I would inform (you know…educate, hense the reason we are to learn) but I would not do it at the sake of the values our country was founded upon. In other words, I would teach them ALL because that is what America was built upon. (And I know we were founded on freedom of religion, not as a per se– Christian nation as some like to rant about). Should a teacher or government agency like the Viriginia State Highway Patrol express for the masses their opinion…NO!!!!!
What are they afraid of whether in the schools or in the government? If someone wants to pray in Jesus name…then let them! If someone desires to chaplain for a different cause, then let them. This is what made our country great. When you take that AWAY, you take AWAY our same RIGHTS afforded by the constitution, and you become a DICTATOR. And the part I don’t like is the same thing that atheists don’t like…that they don’t agree with a particular stance, so let’s get rid of the whole conversation.

Fine…I don’t agree with your views either, but you have the right to express them. That is our FREEDOM under the CONSTITUTION.

And while I am ranting…WHY DO I NOT GET INVOLVED IN POLITICS? Because they DIVIDE and they are NOT a part of the GREAT COMMISSION anywhere. I thank God for Christian politicians…by the way if you are one or aspire to be one. But I am a Pastor, not a politician. I believe change happens in the HEART as scripture says, not in a law. So, no I will not be publically endorsing anybody. You can privately ask and I will explain my OPINION to you.

I normally don’t do posts such as these, but I am getting more weary and weary hearing all this non-sense. I pray that we will figure this out before it is too late.

By the way on a happier note…this weekend is going to melt some faces off as we continue our series, FIXmySPOUSE. I am bringing a very special guest to help with the teachings this weekend that will rock your world. I promise you don’t want to miss this one. Bring some peeps with ya.

How does our teaching team speak at 4 places each weekend?

In multi-sites on October 9, 2008 at 12:09 pm

As I continue to unpack how we do our multi-site at New Hope, a question I get a lot is how I (or one of our teaching team) can teach in 4 places at one time? Easy…we don’t, well not really.

Saturday Night I teach live at our Loudonville Campus. We run video streams of 2 shots. An IMAG and a static center stage shot that is always live and I am 6-1/2 foot tall or so…my dream fulfilled! We also make 2 copies and sync them in case one dies, we can go to the other on a dime. We have only had 1 case of a DVD going bad, but back-up is a must! I am willing to expand to 3-5 Saturday night services as our campuses grow. I am willing to teach live 2-3 times max as my body allows. Right now, one of our campuses might be there by Christmas.

Sunday Morning is the fun part. I start at our Loudonville Campus @ 9 live. (We usually use this video as it is my second shot at the message, it is usully much more consice and always shorter).

I then have a driver take me to our Wooster Campus where I teach live the majority of the time…their service starts @ 10:14 am.

I then have driver take me to either Loudonville’s or Ashland’s 11:22 am service. Whichever one I am not at gets the video teaching driven and delivered to them usually of the 9 am service as I mentioned. We alternate where I am live between the campuses. As Ashlnd just launched 2 weeks ago, I started live there for 2 weeks to get a pulse of the campus. This weekend I am back at Loudonville and will return to Ashland on a rotation.

Future expansion of multiple services at one of our campuses might be 2 months at best away, at which point, we will alternate live and video at both our 9 am and 11:22 am services at Loudonville. Eventually we will be able to produce or LIVE STREAM from ANY CAMPUS to another campus so we will mix up what will be a possibility of 9 weekend services each weekend and that is with only 3 local campuses. Currently we have 5 weekend services, soon to be 6.

The goal is to teach live at at least 1 service at each campus per weekend, and since Loudonville has 3 services, I will usually always be live 2 out of 3 services. Why? If someone really can’t get over the video, they have a live option, but the GREATEST REASON is that I want to stay connected with the campuses in my spirit and flesh.

Our Ashland campus is currently the only campus equipped with true technology the way we desire it, and Loudonville is next in line since I am live the majority of the time in Wooster, but they will also get the technology this year Lord-willing.

Of course in China, we don’t make the trip every week. We send DVD’s over and they are around 1-2 weeks behind our series. (They just had to move to a bigger CONDO to accomodate the people coming! God is so good!)

There is a HUGE difference between video on 2 side screens versus the 20 foot drop down middle screen with the 2 outside IMAG shots. It is night and day to the other version.

Does it work? People who have been at our video venues LOVE IT. Is it as good as live? I guess if you are about the MISSION, then it doesn’t matter if it is LIVE or VIDEO. Lives are being changed. In the New Testament, there was no video. It was a stand up READER who read the letters.

God is using this in a huge way. Lives are being changed. People’s eternities are being changed forever. Is this hard? Heck yeah!

I teach 3-4 weekends on and have to take 2 weekends off or I will literally kill myself and my doctor’s can attest to that! And not seeing the family most of those weekends will take a toll on them as well. Family first.

But 2 weeks ago New Hope grew by almost 300 people, and when I look at all these people each week at every campus, it truly motivates me to keep pushing on. I love this place! WE WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION!

did your student ministry do this too?

In student ministries on October 9, 2008 at 2:45 am

Hundreds of students, parents and guests.

Students sharing their faith boldly. Did I mention boldly?

Let TOTALLY by the STUDENTS. One school brought a bus load.

Out on the public football fields.

It was simply amazing. In the pic, the circle was almost endzone to endzone.

Got to pray with several students afterwards. May the FIRE never die.

It rocked my world. And the faith was free flowing with power.

How about you next year? Start the fire right now.

Great work STUDENTS and shout out to TOM and others who made it happen.

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[thanks to dr. matt beachy for taking the pic since i forgot my phone...see him for all your chiropractic needs. call now, operators are standing by! (419) 886-7007] and no…i did that for free bro. since you will be going skiing with me out west this year. Dr. Nate…you gotta hook me up and i will give you blog love too.

Pros and Cons of small town multi-site @ New Hope.

In multi-sites on October 8, 2008 at 12:49 pm

OK…we took a HUGE GOD-SIZED risk when we decided to go multi-site a few years go. And yes, it took us a few years to get it done, and done right. Here is why we did it:

1. God called us to. (super spiritual answer, but true.)

2. We wanted to fulfill the mandate to go into ALL the world to reach people for CHRIST!

3. We needed space in our new facility and wanted to curtail growth. We are in 3 services that were packed last Spring to the point where there were only a few seats at times. People were driving from those cities, so we decided to go to them instead of building a bigger building we couldn’t afford. (by the way, it is working so far…our numbers are DOWN, and we actually rejoice in that…room to grow the original campus now!)

4. We needed additional staff. Our campus pastors and other staff serve across multiple jobs and campuses at times to help the WHOLE. We don’t isolate them on an island. This has been HUGE for us!
These are a few of the reasons we went multi-site. Here were some obstacles:

1. Money (God provided…it was hard, but He did, and every penny was OUTSIDE our normal operating budget which was already on edge).

2. Staff (it has been painful at times, but we have a great team who stepped up)

3. VIDEO…in small towns? (IT WORKS! The stories from all of our campuses have been amazing!) [We mix live with video if you were wondering...will talk more about that later.]

4. VIDEO…at your first campus that is funding the whole thing. Will people like it? Will people at your biggest campus leave? (Not everyone liked it, but when a disgruntled Christian leaves who doesn’t get the mission, you can fill that seat with someone who does, especially someone who needs to know the LORD!) But for the most part, almost all of our people BELIEVE WE HAVE A MANDATE to fulfill the GREAT COMMISSION, and will do WHATEVER IT TAKES TO ACCOMPLISH IT!

The payoff? Our church has grown by 245 people on average the last 2 weeks, and people have come to Christ and they are JACKED to begin serving already after only 2 weeks! GOD SIZED RISKS ALWAYS PAY-OFF when you are OBEDIENT!

deeper level communication.

In Church Leadership on October 7, 2008 at 10:00 pm

We talked about communication last week during our FIXmySPOUSE series…

Perry Noble a pastor I resonate with greatly offers to pastors, staffers and leaders who sometimes get blasted “always in love” and “by the Spirit’s leading” with what people are really saying when they say certain “church phrases.” I know no one at New Hope has ever thought this or said this, but for those of you who are not perfect like our people at New Hope are…READ THIS QUICK POST.

Really…go on…you know you wanna.

do you have the balls?

In happiness, love on October 7, 2008 at 9:00 am

My friends over at DEADLY VIPER BLOG have an interesting thought that should shake us. Yep, see the title or the pic and no, it is not a typo. It’s the real deal. Man style, tough talk, to the point…it’s that throw down line that men have been using for years to push other men (or women at that!) to their limits, to the places they wouldn’t have gone on their own.

They write this: “Love Takes Balls” is about discovering the limits of our own love and then learning to throw away those limits.

It’s about redefining love using God’s example – boundless, with no quid-pro-quos. Expecting–and sometimes getting–nothing back in return. It takes courage, strength, and total commitment to love like this” READ THE REST OF THE BRIEF STORY HERE.

So…do you have the balls? Love their style!

you won’t want to skip this.

In Ashland Campus, New Hope News, multi-sites on October 5, 2008 at 11:17 pm

Amazing is all I can say. As I drove to 3 of our 4 campuses (We are trying to figure out teleporting to China)…I was a bit overwhelmed as the issues began piling up at our campuses. Sometimes it doesn’t seem worth it.

It is hard being a leader of a big church in a small town. It is hard to be in a place where the economy is tougher and the growth is slower. It is hard to be criticized and gossiped about. It is hard for us to have a huge passion to REACH THE WORLD because we believe that Jesus told us to go into ALL of it. It is hard to then TEACH them to OBEY EVERYTHING that Christ commanded that they might grow. It is hard work. It is hard for our staff and leaders to do this craziness every week. It is hard for our volunteers to give their all week in and week out, service in and service out. It is hard for all of us @ NH to give of our time, talents and treasure when there is so much competition for our time, talents and treasure. It is hard to change from 1 pastor in 1 building to multiple pastors in many buildings in many towns and a loss of connection. It is hard to make radical switches like video and multi-sites, which is virtually unheard of out here in the sticks. It is hard to try to connect over a thousand people with each other in true community. It is hard ____________________. (You fill it in).

But today, our Campus Pastor in Ashland saw his father who had driven 2 hours to be there, raise his hand to trust Christ. Then his step-mother did the same. Pastor Bud embraced me in the lobby in a moment I will never forget and said: “If this is the whole reason we did all this…no matter where this thing goes…it was worth it all today.” As tears welled in his eyes and my heart leaped like never before…all of the sudden it became quite easy again. And I am sure there were a hundred other stories this weekend…

Thank you God. Keep pushing us where we need to be. I know it is never easy. And it never will be.

I am the WORLD’S BEST BOSS.

In New Hope News, money on October 4, 2008 at 3:49 pm

And this pic proves it. Got it from a staff member (and if you don’t love the show THE OFFICE, you won’t get this:) for Pastor Appreciation Month…whatever that is. But if you are wondering…I love to take my wife out to eat, so gift certificates work really well for us. Not that I would ever suggest anything…

On a more serious note…read this AMAZING POST on the economy from friend of mine Tim Stevens (who will be speaking at THE STICKS, by the way). It will blow you away, that in 1999, economists predicted this whole collapse. It will open your eyes big time. Small towns have felt this for a long time coming…how about YOUR TOWN?

See you this weekend!

fix me.

In New Hope News on October 3, 2008 at 2:48 pm

Lot’s of FIXING going on this weekend. I am jacked about the start of our new series FIXmySPOUSE.tv. We had amazing feedback from last weekend as we talked about true commitment. This week we will explore how to COMMUNICATE in ways and deeper levels we have never experienced before in our marriages and relationships.

And as promised, we will be learning just as much about GOD as we will marriage…so, Who are YOU bringing? Seriously!

Almost 300 at our Ashland Campus Launch…and we are expecting a great return crowd! The best part: at least 1 person trusted Christ last weekend. It was worth it all.

Christian’s wrist FIX surgery went well this AM. Lots of nervous peeps as you would expect when they take your child back to the great unknown…praise God for His faithfulness. His wrist was much worse than we thought…several breaks and a growth plate break, but NO PINS required! Thanks for your prayers!

And I need to get FIXED. No…really. Any suggestions as to who is the nicest, most gentle doctor for that in our area? And if you don’t know what I am talking about…ask your Mama.

Enough FIXING for now…Can’t wait to see everyone this weekend.

blessings and peace!

responding to anonymous.

In Church Leadership on October 2, 2008 at 6:00 pm

Warning: longer post today:

Had to make a chazzdaddy change today. Have been getting a few of those “anonymous” comments. You know the kind I mean. Those comments who try to bring you down, and no name is left. Come on…and I will write this in all HUMILITY.

Example: Someone was ripping me for not being around all summer at New Hope (not sure if they didn’t think I was working my tail off to spread the gospel?) And wondering why I would take a few days with my staff and actually strategically plan out where God is leading us? (Especially with the crazy launch we had in Ashland?)

Man…that is totally my job now or this thing that is getting quite large will go down in a blaze of glory. Apparently, they thought I had been gone enough for the year, even though it was to be a Mon-Thurs type thing as I am scheduled to teach like the first 6 weeks of this series. Not sure if the person loves me and wants me around, or was just throwing stones.

So since I don’t want to get into blog debates (I responded to anonymous comments lately and though we need to dialogue, a public blog is not where I choose to do this). So anonymous comments are turned off. At least e-mail me with a fake address so I can reply to YOU and not make my case to the world, and I doubt I have time to reply to criticism as the amazing things that God is doing through all of us at New Hope and beyond CONSUME my every minute. Leaders will always be criticized, but the fruit they bear should be the record. We have amazing leaders here, so no doubt critics will arise (and we love the critics and frank discussion by the way, as WE who are Sr. Leaders are OUR biggest CRITICS!!! Trust me!!!) I do believe that in love we can talk and work things out, but not by hiding behind a cyber-world anonymous badge).

In case you were wondering as another leader who reads…I have developed a teaching team and teach 3-4 weeks on, and take 2 weeks off. WHY? So I live to see 40. Working 50+ hours a week including teaching 4+ times each weekend absolutely KILLS our teaching team. And people need to hear other voices. It is healthy, Biblical and keeps us from one influence. So glad the Holy Spirit moved through VARIOUS speakers to share the word of God with us.

My goal is to teach around 70% of the time or less so I can be devoted to leadership, mentoring others and equipping other churches and leaders in small towns. I desire that my (our) influence far reaches my expectations and geography.

Blessings and peace! I love this place and I know you do too!

Signed: Charles

people are still talking about this?

In questions on October 2, 2008 at 2:23 am

I am baffled that people still are talking about this question that I received in an e-mail tonight from someone @ NH (the person talking to him was not from NH).

Charles: I was confronted today by the way I dress when I go to worship a Holy and Pure God. I wore shorts, polo shirt, and sandals. How do you respond to people when they say something about that? I just wondered.

So…how would YOU answer this person?

p.s.: I wonder if the T-Shirt in the picture would be allowable. Great way to combine T-Shirt and proper holy church attire.

blessings and peace!

Briefs from New Hope.

In New Hope News on October 1, 2008 at 1:31 pm

Or boxers?

  • Amazing launch Sunday at our Ashland Campus. Can’t say enough about the team and our passion at New Hope to go into all the world and take huge risks.
  • Flied out sunday to the multi-site exposed conference. This was my first chance to speak at a national conference. It was way different. Didn’t even think about standing before other Sr. Pastors and having to talk. Felt very unworthy. It was amazing. Affirmed them, affirmed me, affirmed that there is a HUGE hole missing in talking about smaller places where 48% of the population lives! Loved connecting with everyone there from small to big towns. Small churches to large ones. That’s my favorite thing about conferences, to get to hang with crazies like me. So proud that our church is able to help encourage other churches around the world, especially those in smaller towns!
  • Great start to the FIXmySPOUSE series. I heard great feedback on the message. The series is centered on this thought: “Everything we need to know about relationships/marriage can be found by looking at God.” So we are looking at the “communicable” attributes of God and seeing how they work and then applying them to oiur marriages. Wow…I feel scholarly after that.
  • See you at the FAIR. The fair is one of our biggest marketing pushes. No, really it is.
  • Can’t wait to get back at it this week. Some tidy work to do and some vision and future planning needs done.
  • Thinking about getting away for 3-4 days for some more strategic planning soon.
  • Glad to be out of the rush of this crazy season, and back into a flow…just in time to roll out THE STICKS! (By the way…tix are still flying…so you better hurry!)
  • Glad to be home…not glad with the weather change from Charleston to Loudonville. Reality.

Blessings and peace!