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Archive for October, 2009|Monthly archive page

When HELL jumps on your back.

In Devotional, prayer, spiritual battle, Watch This on October 10, 2009 at 3:28 pm

Many times we don’t even know, think, BELIEVE that HELL is all around us, ready to take us out. 



We are in a BATTLE. We are in a WAR for our hearts and the hearts of our families. Many times we are on fire and don’t even realize it. We are caught up in attack, caught up in a slippery slope, or just immersed in sin totally unaware or aware and we are OK with it.

That’s why we must stay connected TIGHT with our Savior. That’s why we need a team around us. That’s why we need accountability. That’s why we need a BAND OF BROTHERS or SISTERS. To have our backs, to point out sin, to steer us in the right direction so that when EVIL ATTACKS, God can do what HE PROMISES and use it FOR GOOD!

“11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” [Ephesians 6.11-13.niv]

 ”22 Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.” [Proverbs 15.22.nlt]

We still need some WARRIORS for this LIFE AND DEATH team. ARE YOU IN?

Breaking Church Planting Rules–Part 4

In church planting journey, Spiritual Growth on October 8, 2009 at 6:01 am

We will focus on BUILDING LITTLE CHURCHES more than BUILDING THE BIG CHURCH.

This is going to be one of my favorite rules to break. At my first church plant we had a “ton of people” for a small town in 4 campuses. But one thing we fought from day 1 [contrary to popular opinion] is the SPIRITUAL GROWTH PROCESS. The hard thing that hinders this is that “big church” came with regularity every 5 days [we had Sat. night services]. And people EXPECT to be “fed” and “engaged” and well, “entertained” in their public worship.

We never quite formulated that “killer plan” for growth. We tried a ton of things, with varied “success.” From classes to retreats to seminars to plans to small groups. Why is it that creative arts/worship/programming people are a dime a dozen these days, but the equippers, the thinkers, the spiritual developers are as scarce as a Bengals playoff victory [just wait :].

I was at Kensington Community Church when I was introduced to Alan Hirsch, an amazing “thinker” and “provoker”. It was for a “small groups conference.” He said 1 line that set off a nuclear explosion in my mind. He said we must look at small groups as “little churches.” Those 2 words were all that I needed.

And when they operate that way TOWARD EACH OTHER [love, care, prayer, giving, growing, outreach, serving, etc.] the church will explode as she did in Acts 2.

Equipping our leaders to be “pastors” of their “little churches” will forever change what I am called to do [Ephesians 4]. Why have a “meals ministry” and a pastoral “care team” and a big church “serving day”. Why are PEOPLE not caring, praying, serving and taking meals to EACH OTHER? Because we are used to professionally doing this through the TRAINED CLERGY PROGRAM.

Explosive growth happened at the GRASS ROOTS LEVEL. With the COMMON MAN and WOMAN. The gospel has spread for centuries and even in communist China through EQUIPPING LITTLE CHURCHES. Equipping the saints. Each one of us becoming a united FORCE in OUR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE and not just for an hour on Sunday.

That is what we are going to do as we kick off this thing in Utah. Starting with ALPHA GROUPS, they will morph into “mission communities” or “little churches.” Instead of planting “A” church, we are going to plant hundreds hopefully. From pubs to cafes to libraries to parks to wherever we can find a crowd of people who are hungry to seek the truth…we will engage with a “little church.”

And don’t worry…we have not forgotten how well people can worship and learn about Jesus in “BIG CHURCH.” You can’t have one without the other…but that’s a different post and I don’t want to tick off all the house church people that I got really excited with the first 75% of this post.

“BIG CHURCH” just can’t be our every focus or one day you will look back and see Christians that are tossed and blown by every wave that comes as James tells us. The hard work of equipping must begin from the top down. We must model it and live it. [We held our first group this past Sunday night...it was amazing...true friends who actually love and care for one another in community.]

So next time you ask me about light boards, stage trussing and marketing…don’t be surprised if I ask you about “little churches” and truly structuring everything we do around them and letting BIG CHURCH flow out of LITTLE CHURCH. That’s mobilization…that’s power…that’s Christ-followership that will STAND THE TEST OF TIME.

And  stop being a HATER. I know what some of you are thinking…I’VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR YEARS! Well, the moment we are dominated by a mentality of spiritual growth is the path to CHANGE THE WORLD, we stop caring about those around us who are going to HELL and we are right back to SQUARE 1.

I could find many pastors and elder’s and seminary prof’s and some very deep people who have probably led no one to Jesus in YEARS. Where’s the love? Where’s the balance? There is NO SUBSTITUTE for the GREAT COMMISSION that includes both: REACHING and TEACHING!


“We can only live changes: we cannot think our way to humanity. Every one of us, every group, must become the model of that which we desire to create.” –Ivan Illich in The Forgotten Ways

Breaking Church Planting Rules–Part 3

In church planting journey, community on October 7, 2009 at 4:01 am

We will focus on LOVE and RELATIONSHIP more than TASKS.

At some of my previous ministries, we were so focused on TASK, that RELATIONSHIP was relegated to 2nd priority. No time for that stuff. Work is work, and we are working for the KINGDOM AFTER ALL…right?

But you aren’t supposed to be FRIENDS and INTIMATE with staff, members, etc. Right? Keep it professional? [the great debate...]

The way I see it now is that you will more than likely get CRAPPED ON by both anyway, so go ahead and RISK the INTIMACY. It will pay off in the end, at least that’s what Scripture says [see verse to follow at end]::

I have built safe guards around my heart after being burned in the past. That’s Satan’s plan. To scar us so that we don’t allow TRUE COMMUNITY/INTIMACY to reign and rule. To have an atmosphere of FEAR instead of FREEDOM. That starts with the leader being vulnerable and creating a culture of TRUST, and your team and congregation following. I’ve not always done the greatest job at that, just to be real.

Our current team has VOWED to become a BAND OF BROTHERS and SISTERS at ALL COSTS. Professionals won’t come to your rescue when you have been attacked. Trust me on that one. A BAND OF BROTHERS will.

I am willing to take that risk. Why? I believe that not only is this Biblical community, but it is a line to tap into God’s power. Devotion to one another ushered in God’s power.

[They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.] Acts 2.42-43

Breaking Church Planting Rules–Part 2

In church planting journey, fear of man, Spiritual Growth on October 6, 2009 at 4:01 am

We are going to FEAR GOD more than we FEAR MAN.

And that begins with ME. Most people think I am a cut-throat, type A, take no prisoner’s personality. The simple answer is that I can be when I need to be, but I am not at heart. Don’t mistake preaching passion for personality.

I am stuck with this diagnosed PEOPLE-PLEASER tag. That has gotten me into a ton of trouble as a leader in the past and has cost me some serious heart-ache.

I always want to keep everyone happy, and keep all sides equalized. I see the glass as half-full. I see staff members who need to move onto a different calling as a work in progress that of course I can help change. I see dissenters as people who will see the light eventually.

That has cost me and the ministries that I have been a part of over the years, big time.

Instead of getting down to business…which I can do with the best of them…I prefer to keep the false peace and pray for the best. Not a good thing, and after all, almost 100% of the time, the TOUGH call I/we had to make was the RIGHT call. You can see it months or years later.

We know what GOD wants us to do. If not, you shouldn’t be the leader. Step down.

As leaders, we have to accept that some people will take us off their Christmas gift list, un-friend us on Facebook and speak bad evil about us being the anti-Christ and/or power-mongering, control-freaks.

So what. Do what God asks you to do. Jesus was loved so much He was hung on cross.

[The fear of GOD is the beginning of WISDOM.] Proverbs 1.7

Breaking Church Planting Rules–Part 1.

In church planting journey, prayer, spiritual battle, Spiritual Growth on October 5, 2009 at 9:04 pm

We are going to focus on PRAYER as much as we focus on PROGRAMMING.

Admit it…you need to as well.

I certainly have had staff complain about too many staff meetings, how long they are, how much work they have to do…but I can’t remember 1 person who made a big deal about the amount of time we spent in PRAYER. Or asking for their load to be lifted so they could pray more.

Should we have to “make time” to pray?

I’m guilty. I want to ATTACK THE LIST every morning when I wake up.

I know first hand that our lives are much less powerful when we do that…living in an attitude of constant prayer as we live our daily lives is POWERFUL and our days are EFFECTIVE.

Our team is committed that we are going to give it our best to SHATTER THIS RULE.

[The prayer of a righteous person is POWERFUL and EFFECTIVE.] James 5.16

We’re Going to Break Some Church Planting Rules…and My Liver.

In church planting journey, prayer, spiritual battle on October 4, 2009 at 12:13 am


*I do not recommend this series for everybody…so think hard before being adopting blindly.

Correction: PRAY and LISTEN and OBEY hard before adopting. Plan to crank out a 5 part series on how God is leading us to break some church planting rules in Jesus name.

**Still room on this TEAM if you are brave enough. We need a few more warriors.

Thanks for all the prayers for our families and myself this week. 8/9 of our household [Hills/Stakes] were down with the flu, and I got it severely where it affected my liver and I had to be hospitalized for 2 days. Out now and back at it, resting well [don't worry...I'm fine :]

***p.s. // Do you think it is a coincidence that the exact day I started getting very ill, was the EXACT day that I posted the request for INTERCESSORY PRAYER TEAM MEMBERS?

A few years ago we started a PRAYER SERIES @ New Hope, and I went into the hospital, and this amazing pastor who took the reigns that weekend preaching was carted off by the squad. You make the call.

After further review :: // We’re in a battle. And we will win, but none the less, we fight.

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