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• We did not come out here to start “services” but our previews are a way to add people to our launch teams and invite people into community. Just wanted to clarify that. “Church” is more than corporate worship…now the hard work on the “back-side” part of discipleship, building community, house churches, and our launch team.
• Are you kidding me? We had 4 weeks to go from literally NOTHING to a full “service”. Our team literally worked round the clock to see it happen [and our family moved in the midst of this.] ONLY GOD! Think about that: 4 weeks from 0 to full throttle. If you are an experienced planter, you know our inexperienced team had a miracle from God to do that.
• We borrowed everything almost. Our 10×20 foot screen we do own  made of paper [remember, I am the "how to do a lot with a little guy"...you just have to make it happen...no excuses]…well, it fell apart so we stretched painters cloth across the brass frame, and it worked well enough to get us going! Thanks to the other churches who let us borrow their gear and people!!! [K2, South Mountain, The Journey, New Hope West Valley and Early Light Academy for their gym!]
• It’s still true…there are 25+ cities in our immediate areas  [maybe 200 or so in the entire state] without 1 church. Imagine that? We have a lot of work to do. And still need 150 partners at $25 a month minimum to launch full time this fall or early winter. Go HERE, and make it happen: We are listed under MISSION WEST.
• For a first service: I have NO IDEA how we borrowed gear from a church that packed up their gear at 3ish and we somehow got our last trailer moved into place at 5:30 and still pulled off a 6pm service? Again, only God. No one really knew what we were doing, we just did it. Planters…just make it happen, no matter what!
• Practice services were EASY this week…all our gear was ready to roll. When we have our own gear, we will set-up on Saturday AM and walk in on Sunday AM ready to roll [nice perk of being in our school who also lets us store gear there and only charger $13 an hour!!], but until then, we had maybe 1 hour and 45 minutes to set-up someone else’s gear? Thank you Jesus is all I can say.
• I have NEVER worked harder in my life than I have the last 4 weeks. And I am a pretty hard worker. With a small team, we all had to do some very heavy lifting. I found myself creating logo’s, doing graphics work and a website…all of which I really have never done or barely did 9 years ago when New Hope started. [Our graphics person puked out on me at the last minute] Really miss a full staff at this point, but wouldn’t trade the experience for the world! Thanks Aaron Floyd for filling some of the gap for us this past week!
• Our team was simply brilliant! Many of them have NEVER experienced anything like this…and our tech/worship/set-up bro [Mike Stake] just got an e-mail address a couple years back…yeah, that’s what we are rolling with, and we love it!
• Our team deserves so much credit. We needed every single hand, and the hands of a few churches who came from all over the valley to help us. Thanks guys for working long nights and long weeks to make this happen. YOU made this happen in HIS power. THANK YOU!
• So, the deets of the night?
• 110-125+ [not sure...didn't even get a real count yet...our operations person will fill me in I am sure] were with us. We had many well-wishers of course from the campus we serve at K2, so we will see who shows back up next week. That will be the true test. It was also a holiday weekend [don't try this at home]. Pioneer day [July 24th, when the Mormon Pioneers entered the valley is bigger than the 4th of July holiday here]. Still had people show up!
• Here is the kicker: when I gave the challenge to trust Christ, I was so unsure of what would happen [we were just happy people showed up]…I couldn’t believe what I saw: at least 15 people or more responded to trust Christ. [Thanks to Pastor Josh Gonzales, my good friend for tracking that one.] Hands went up everywhere.
• Now stop…you are thinking: wow, that is amazing, and I have seen that before. No, seriously. When 7 or 8 out your 10 neighbors are of a different faith background that is dominating this area and you are lucky to have 1 person show up to anything you do…this was a TRUE MIRACLE! I am not usually blown away by things, but I was blown away at the response. [Side note: The air was broken in our brand new building...it was 83 degrees after the 1 hour and 50 minute service, and people stayed and were so gracious...they loved it!]
• Best part of the night: the stories.
• I baptized my 9year-old, little girl Grace. No better way to kick off ministry in our new home. Doctor’s told us she might have downs syndrome and abortion was a possibility. Are your freaking kidding me? We wanted her however God gave her to us. She was born healthy…and her name is Grace. What a night!
• Mike and I baptized his Wife, Kym. They are true brothers and sisters to us. What an honor to see her make her decision public to trust Jesus.
• In this perfect slice of the world [it really is a leave it to beaver place]… tattoos and piercing’s were in abundance. And that is what we were hoping for. A church for people that no one else wants! No Perfect People Allowed! Our mailers said: “THIS IS NOT YOUR MOTHER’S CHURCH.” And it wasn’t! [Still not sure if or how many mailers went out...another story.]
• One lady told me afterwards that she is in “limbo” with this Christianity thing and wants to go deeper. Her husband had tears in his eyes as she was talking. Found out they live right around the corner on our street!
• Follow-up/Community? We are offering ALPHA, HOUSE CHURCHES [which meet right now as our launch team], and DINNER WITH THE TEAM [dinner with some of out launch team to get to know people better.] Again, we didn’t just come out here to launch public worship services, but to build disciples. [The GATHERED AND SCATTERED CHURCH!]
• Love this one: A younger girl had tears in her eyes as she said: “I was looking for churches on-line last week knowing I need to connect with God, but couldn’t find anything [yep, that is why we are here...]. The next day I got a door hanger from you guys. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? She trusted Christ last night. Thanks to David Bradford and Celebration Church for hanging almost 4,000 door hangers and coming all the way from Alabama to help us out! They are warriors!
• Well…time to chill out. My Mom is in from China [not planned, just happened, ONLY GOD!]. My little sis comes in today to visit from Ohio, and we are planning a very relaxed week…well, until next weekend rolls around again. One more preview to go. PRAY FOR PEOPLE TO JUMP ON BOARD WITH WHAT GOD IS DOING OUT HERE! Thanks for your prayers and support…we could not have done this without you!
• In the midst of pure chaos, I went alone on the mountain-side to pray HERE. Then I ran a quick 5K to clear my mind. It’s not about DOING, but BEING, right?
• I am a health nut now you know, but what they heck? I celebrated with a 20 piece Mcnugget at Midnight with my bride and my Mom watching Sports Center rejoicing at all that God had done!
• Will be blogging for you church planters and leaders who are wondering how in the world this could have happened. Let me start here: ONLY GOD!

Need some encouragement today?

We have been through one of the darkest years of our lives. So glad God knows what he is doing. [Not that my faith always believes that fully, but I try my best!]

We had 4 weeks to: move and also start preview services from scratch. We didn’t have a logo, a pro-presenter, a light, a mic. We only had Jesus. So since Jesus would have used pro-presenter and sent out a mailer:)…we have been furiously working to let people know about Jesus.

We started with a cooler, a box of pens and a guitar. COME ON STICKS PEEPS! We are in this together! No staff, no money, no momentum, set-back after set-back…I am there with you right now!

We are still pushing as hard as ever to not only be IN the community to show them the LOVE of Jesus [Sunday morning outreaches have happened and are planned. When else are you going to reach unsaved and non-LDS people?] We desire to be in the community FIRST, but also to draw a launch team through our preview gatherings on July 25th and August 1st. So we are pushing hard on that end this past month.

There is some momentum, but dang it has been a long year and a half! THANK YOU for those who support us in PRAYER and FINANCIALLY. We would be sunk without you. You encourage us and keep us pushing on!

Oh yeah, the CURE FOR DISCOURAGEMENT I promised:

The Lord sent me these 2 words this morning. It is 2 words that will truly burn a fire in your soul, so here they are:

HEBREWS 11

Read it. And may you be encouraged wherever you find yourself at this very minute! I promise these 2 little words [that lead to a few more words] will cure whatever GIANT you are facing right now.

I have been reading amazing posts like this from Mark Driscoll and Perry Noble, et al. [Read them...they will blow your mind].

I find it amazing that in our era of “post-modern” thoughts, preaching and leadership that the concept of “team” which is of utmost importance has trumped the concept of “leader.” If you did not understand this yet, leadership is a gift given by God [Romans 12]. It is to be exercised rightly.

In this era where many leaders do not exercise this gift rightly, we have formed teams, committees and boards. So glad Jesus didn’t operate that way. He led. He appointed leaders. The leaders appointed other leaders, and the gospel spread. Or look at the structure that Moses and Jethro crafted.

For those who are on staff or lay leaders at local churches, you will never know the burden that senior leaders carry. You can throw stones such as: Our leader is not under accountability [not true if there are a board of overseers, elders, denomination, external board, etc. over them.] Even if you have a rogue leader, that leader is still under authority from God who can take him or her out in a heartbeat.

“Well, the board and staff do whatever he or she wants.” Then that board/staff needs to grow some stones and learn to not be dysfunctional. If you don’t speak up, then you won’t be heard, so shut your mouth unless you are behind closed doors.

You can throw stones behind closed doors, but you better walk out in unity or you are destined to fail as a church. This is satan’s favorite tactic.

The leader also has responsibility to understand that he is not the end all. He is not always right. He is not the best at everything. But he does receive the vision, which should then be refined and owned in true, loving, biblical community.

Moses was not always right. But if the people had their way, they would have turned around and gone back to captivity. People grumbled at Moses. They thought he was nuts. They probably thought they could do a better job, so they set out to be church planters [tongue in cheek.]

Until you have sat in the senior chair, you better support your leader with all of your heart or grow a pair and leave. Stop milking the system and taking a paycheck for it until your dream job and dream leader comes along. Won’t happen.

If you are a senior leader who is not under the proper accountability and leading a bit rogue, come off your high horse and exercise your gift rightly.

Team is team. Leadership is leadership. They are 2 different concepts that must operate at times independently, and other times in community. What do you think?

A plane blew up that forever changed my family forever. You might have never heard about it in the news.

McFadden Moise volunteered to fly a plane for his buddy whose wife was having a baby in Chicago and needed a replacement so that he could go be with his wife as she gave birth. He was a Navy test pilot and was working toward being an astronaut. The jet blew up on take-off when my Mom was only 6 months-old.

My dear Mama will never know her first Daddy who died when she was 6 months-old. I look forward to the day when they will meet in Heaven for the first time. I can’t wait until she can wrap her arms around her earthly father and her heavenly father, 2 men she loves deeply with all of her heart.

That’s Memorial Day. Not beer, brats, and racing.

In Loudonville, Ohio, something I will miss greatly is that all of the youth baseball teams started their season on Memorial Day. But first we all marched to the cemetery through downtown to hear vets with voices that cracked as they remembered those who gave it all so that we might play ball and worship in freedom.

That’s Memorial Day.

Thank you to those who will honor my Grandfather and others you will never know whose Memorial Day’s won’t be filled with as much laughter this year because someone volunteered to give up their life if duty called so that we might have the right to march through downtown, play baseball, cook-out and worship without fear.

One thing I am growing weary of is “big name” pastors that everyone thinks we must follow in word and DEED. I love “big name” pastors, don’t worry. They speak at our STICKS CONFERENCES and are an honor to follow and learn from.

But we take it a bit too far at times. When it was vogue to be seeker, many went seeker. When it was vogue to small group, every went small group. When it was vogue to be missional, everyone drank a beer and talked about the evils of mega churches. When it was time to be compassionate, we drilled wells, et al. LOVE IT! So did we!

Now it seems it is vogue to focus on poor, inner-city areas. I applaud that! Yes! Amen! Praise Jesus! Pastors are leaving mega churches and going to the inner-city. Leaders are encouraging us to leave the “rich” and move to the “poor.” Yes! Amen, etc.

This recent article was too much for me to handle. While I agree 100% that we need to be Jesus to people, isn’t our specific calling more important? I am afraid many pastors will jump on this bandwagon and jump hard. If we are called to jump…then JUMP! But let’s not do it because it is the cool, hip thing to do.

I have sat in messages at conferences and read blog posts and they make me feel guilty for my calling and I start re-thinking the area I am in. More on my area later. If that is happening to me, I bet it is happening to you!

I read last night of a pastor at a growing church that read “The Forgotten Ways” a book I LOVE by the way. He then quit his growing church to go be “missional.” I don’t think that is what Alan Hirsch had in mind when he wrote the book. That church is now in a tail spin.

What ever happened to just being obedient to our calling? We were called to RURAL AMERICA, and not that we are special, but we obeyed. Leaders wanted us to go to the 13th fastest-growing county in the country in Ohio and plant. But we had a higher calling.

Then we were ripped from there and God has called us to the fringes of Salt Lake County, Utah. We are 35-40 minutes from downtown in an area that has NO OUTWARD suffering. Everything is perfect. It’s leave it to Beaver city.

But talking with a police officer the other day…we have a HUGE domestic violence problem with this very high LDS [Mormon] population. We are near tops in the country for teen/young adult suicide. in Utah. We are #1 in plastic surgery per capita. We are # 1 for internet pornography! Our perfect LDS neighbor husband just left his wife.

But we also live in nice houses, with manicured lawns that sprinkle at 6am every morning. Our kids are in charter schools, we work out regularly, our kids play on nice ball fields, on and on. No outward suffering, but we are dying from the inside out!

There is also not 1 church in one of the towns we are reaching into. What is wrong with reaching people we are called by God too? NOTHING!

Many people feel “guilty” about their calling as if “suffering” as Shane puts it [I love Shane by the way] is only found by the poor, outcast, drug infused segments of society. We have just as much suffering in suburbia, but it is a very different kind. Young people will head to the inner-cities by the droves to reach a post-modern, suffering generation. GREAT! It’s needed!

But what about the small towns. The rural areas. The so-called “rich” places. The other places that are not getting any press these days? Because trust me…our family has suffered a ton this year and we are living in a nice, quaint little area.

Stop feeling guilty about your calling. Stop trying to be all things to all people.

Be obedient!

If you are called to the inner-city to “suffer” than so be it. If you are called to journey with those who are “suffering silently”…then live it to the fullest and hold your head high. Don’t jump on the latest trends or bandwagon. Jump on obedience.

Be obedient! There is a lot of world to go around that needs Jesus.

I’ve said my peace.

We have no equipment, very little money, very few people, and are in an area where up to 80% claim a different religious background. We have had friends abandon us over our choice to move to Utah. We lost all our funding.

Many people SAY they love what we are doing, and they will pray for us [a nice way to say that they won't be giving, but that they like our mission, and I do hope they PRAY!!!]

I could go on and on…but I won’t cry. I just won’t. I will state some facts, but we won’t cry. Sorry. No excuses.

Our team WILL host preview services in 8 weeks. Not sure how it will all happen. But one thing I know is that it WILL HAPPEN, because we are here for a reason. We are answering the call of obedience. We will WAIT and PUSH and SIT and allow HIM to do the rest.

One thing we do have is Jesus, and that is all we need. We are not crying. We are not waiting on a bunch of people to drop some cash on us. We aren’t waiting on the perfect set-up or perfect team, or for someone to make it happen for us. We have learned that won’t happen. Most people don’t care about what you or I are doing.

I am so glad that Jesus does. Rest in that. He will never leave you or forsake you. He will meet all of your needs. Stop waiting for people to make it happen, and ask HIM to make it happen! Rest in that. Truly rest in that.

By the way, we did not move across America to launch services…we moved out here to help transform this community and heaven, 1 person at a time. Preview services will help us extract the few that are running around that are curious and seeking after Jesus who are not yet connected to our small network.

We have nothing except Jesus, each other and some marching orders just like the early church. Jesus called us to follow HIM and it wasn’t a pretty path. Why do we expect more? “In this world you WILL have trouble…” [John 16.33a]

If 11 scared dudes can change the world with nothing except Jesus…then how ’bout it? Who cares about the 10% of churches who seem to have it all [I was once one of those pastors]? It was not the “church” of Jesus day that did jack…it was the humble, willing 11 who lived out the marching orders come hell or high water, come no finances, no staff, no moving lights or smoke machines.

No books on “incarnational” ministry to be “missional” in their contexts. No conferences, no coaching, no buildings, or strategy. They just did what the Spirit said to do and they made NO EXCUSES for getting it done.

So…what’s your excuse? Let’s get it done in Jesus name. [And yes, it is much easier to write this than to live it, so know we are on the same journey.]

________________________________

*Want to learn more about how to find a place where relevance meets revival? Want to network with those who do a lot with a little? Join us in November. www.thesticks.tv

Some of us are borderline “ADD” as Christians. We blame our lack of focus on being “ADD.”

Maybe what we mean to say is this 1 short sentence that WRECKED me to the core from my journal:

“When you are praying for what YOU REALLY WANT you will not be distracted.”  –Herbert McCabe

Ouch. Do I really desire what GOD wants? Am I praying according to HIS will? Am I really begging HIM to SHOW UP?

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”   [James 5.16]

I am always drawn to a headline like this. How can I get a lot for a little? [By the way, THE STICKS conference is all about that, but that's another post].

People have been asking me: “What are you going to do after losing your support?” If you don’t know why we did, check out the story here. So what to do? It’s simple: We are going to pray and trust God and keep doing what we were called to do. We believe it was a GIFT from God, and He always gives perfect gifts.

God has placed this challenge on my heart…can I share it with you?

1. We are 8 weeks away from launching our preview services, and we have very little to show for it financially as we prepare to launch.

2. There are 25+ cities without 1 church in them just in our area! We believe there are 100+ maybe double that state-wide. We seek to start by impacting the 25 cities and areas around us. Finances or not!

3. We are actively recruiting planters and staff to spend time with our team and then go out and launch in this rocky soil that has such major potential. Today we meet with our first recruit who flew in to check out the area and see what God will do. It is beginning to happen even without funding! Only God!!

4. Simple: We are asking people to personally consider donating $1 for each city to help change eternity. $25 a month [minimum] for 25 cities. We need 200 people to jump on this train. Now that is an amazing deal that doesn’t put something in our houses or into our lives to make it cooler or better, but an investment that will truly change people’s eternities!

5. Many people have asked about other ways to help. Here are a few suggestions: Join our prayer team, sending a missions team for a week this summer, send some equipment, this is all needed badly.

Please don’t think that others will jump on board. Someone else WON’T do it.

If you believe in what God is doing here, would you be a part of changing eternity? Don’t wait. Don’t put it off if God is leading you. We are the body of Christ, and I am making a bold ask. I wish it were free to plant churches. It would make our jobs so much easier!

Go to www.missionwest.tv and click on E-GIVE to join us. Or if you prefer to send a physical check to our treasurer:

Mission West
5575 W Roe Deer Lane #5-101
c/o: Kym Stake/Treasurer
Herriman, UT. 84096

Words cannot express our gratitude for the partnerships that will form as we all step up and make this happen in Jesus name. Thank you! 200 and counting down to change lives for eternity!

This is no April 26th’s fools. And I am not too proud to ask for some help right now.

AND HEAR ME CLEAR: I am writing this not to bash anyone. I am writing it in desperation that God will have his way and move in the hearts of his people. This happened 19 days ago, and I and our family and team who moved here have sat on this to make sure I wrote out of a pure heart and with proper motives. [And no, I won't release the name of the group who did this...sorry!]

So yes, a very-long 19 days ago I lost $280K in funding [that's most of our funding to this point...we just sent out our individual support packets this week...] for doing our Beer and Bible ministry [bible study and 2 beer...3.2% at that...limit] and for actually sipping on 1/2 of a beer. There is no other back-story. I did nothing wrong. It was not my 3rd strike. It wasn’t even my first strike. I have been a good planter with a clean record. Part of that funding was also for THE STICKS [the ministry we engage in to those in small towns and hard to reach places.]

We simply went to where the people were and shared His Word. I was given permission by my boss to do this ministry [his hands were tied as they took all power from him in this he explained to me...], that is why we are dumbfounded over this. And yes, I did drink 1/2 of a beer [3.2 beer at that], which seemed to be the “seal the deal” reason for termination.

As many of you know, I don’t even like to drink much at all, so this is very ironic to those who know me well. I even sent a letter of apology for not recognizing that this would be an issue, asked for forgiveness and said I would not drink again if that would suffice, and I meant it. And again, I had permission to engage in this.

Not that I believe drinking per se is “wrong” but I was not going to die on that hill [and if that was such a strong issue for them, I would easily comply]. No way is that something for me to fight the status quo about since I could care less about having regular drinks [my father was an alcoholic pre-Christ, so I am already on edge with the issue]. If I was told that I could not go back into this pub and do ministry, that would have been a different issue.

The worst part is that I have not received 1 phone call, 1 e-mail, 1 letter from the decision making group, whomever that was, outside of my boss who delivered the news. They read the national article on our ministry, and then within a matter of about 3 days of back door conversations and e-mails, I was fired. The letter of apology fell on deaf ears it seems without any conversation.

The other sad part is that I had to use my contract wording or I would have been in deep trouble as the contract states they have to give me 60 days notice of separation. So yes, in about 6 weeks, without us both finding miracle jobs, we are in a world of hurt.

So yes, I, our family, and the families that moved across country were just going to be dumped high and dry, had it not been for that provision. Our family and team feels as if we were stranded in the middle of Utah 5 months pre-launch, because…well…we were.

Some have asked me to clarify that this group did not move us to Utah. I was recruited to this new group after we were already here on the ground. But this group is and was our main source of support once we joined their team. My boss recruited me out of another denomination, which was our teams decision, and this new group became our lifeblood.

So why do I say all of this? It’s pretty simple. WE NEED YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT desperately.

Would you help us make connections to those who want to reach 25 cities without 1 church in them? We have to make up some serious funding in the next 5 months or we will not be launching. Not to mention that in 6 weeks I have no salary at all and making up my salary in the costly west region we are in is pretty tough.

Might I come to your church and present the desperate need for church planting in Utah? Do you have connections with donors? Do you have other pastors friends and leaders you might contact on our behalf to help fund this mission or allow myself to come and present the need?

I am making a plea to the body of Christ to rise up and to help us answer the call to the 25 cities without light in this place that we have grown to love with all of our hearts. Ministry here is so tough, so rocky, so other-worldly, that it in itself is a full-time challenge. But losing all of your funding is a completely different assault from the pit of hell itself. Satan is ticked that we are here. The battle is full-on, and this is only a small part of the story that has led us here.

Thank you for your prayers and your action. Words can’t express my thanks in advance for how many of you will step up for us. Satan will not win, our GOD REIGNS!

I post a picture of my family just so you know that we are a real family with real needs. We were called as a family, and we are in this to win it, and we won’t give up. We will fight as a family and as a team to the bitter end.

And YES, your e-mails, tweets, and calls of support will be greatly appreciated…but we need everyone to step up in a big way with their resources and influence as well…so thank you for taking action in a tangible way.

25 cities without 1 non-LDS church [and btw: we love our LDS friends and neighbors, so no offense to them with that comment] need the love of Jesus.  Our family and our team who moved to Utah left everything in obedience to move here and accomplish this mission. We hold our heads high and push on in victory!

My contact info: [chazzdaddy17@gmail.com]  and go to: www.missionwest.tv to donate.

Charles, Tiffany, Christian, Grace and Joi.

Dang…we need to wake up and read our Bibles. And yes, I am calling rebuke down, no matter your age, your degree, your position, or your experience.

Read this clip below [full story HERE] at least 3 times:

The five major complaints that LifeWay Christian Resources found among the unchurched that it had interviewed previously included Christians treating other Christians poorly; Christians having “holier-than-thou” attitudes; believers talking more than they listen; Christians refusing to get involved in the lives of the unchurched; and Christians saying they believe but do not attend church.

“The unchurched really want to see a Christian live incarnationally,” commented Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.

And BTW, if that fires you up…it’s old news. Jesus preached this 2,000+ years ago and the Bible says it way better than this news report. Have YOU [we] [I] read the Bible lately? If so, why in the [HELL] are we not living it out?

Am I mad at something you ask? Yes, somewhat [I am human too...] but mainly I am disappointed that the above is being lived out time and time again.

And I am also mad at myself for doing the same while the world around me goes to HELL while I make “proper leadership decisions” instead of acting and living like Jesus.

I believe that God has called each of us to a specific place, at a specific time, for a specific reason. Are you being obedient?

I don’t say that because we uprooted our family and moved to Utah away from our church, all of our family and all of our friends. I say that because OBEDIENCE must trump COMFORT. And I am certainly not obedient in every area, so hold your Amen’s.

If our love of Jesus isn’t more than family, friends, and geography, we are destined to fail. It has been one huge struggle after another for us in our move, but we KNOW God has called us here…to live and move and have our being.

And of course we are big fans of GOING WHERE NO ONE ELSE WANTS TO GO. That’s why we created and gather for THE STICKS. Read this:

^“26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. ²⁷God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ²⁸‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” Acts 17.26-28 [niv]

Are you living where you should be living? Are you comfortable? Or are you scared to step out in faith?

_____________________________

[thanks to an intercessor on my prayer team for sending me this passage in faith.]

At least that is what Satan is whispering to you and the lie that you are beginning to believe. Statistics indicate as few as 10% of those in ministry will finish well.

Are you facing adversity right now? I know I am [more to come on that later]. It’s been a year+ of horrible adversity for myself and our family.

But this one thing keeps me going time and time again:

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

I want to appear before God with this tattooed on my heart. Jesus finished well, and I am still not up on a cross after a tremendous beat-down having to keep the faith. I am still not having to hide like my parents and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in China and other parts of the world for their faith.

Ministry/following Christ is harder than anything YOU WILL EVER DO [including waging war daily as an inner-city Police Officer like I did back in the day...that was a cake walk]…SO KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE!

But many of you will believe the lie.

If you are there right now, call me: I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU.

419-496-1192 [my personal cell]

Jesus Model:       CROWD —> 12 —> 3 —> 1

So, if this was Jesus model, and most of us agree that the BEST way to pour into people’s lives is through 1 on 1 pouring/discipleship [see last week], whatever you want to call it…why do we not do it?

Who are you 1 on 1 with right now?

What does your church have in place for 1 on 1 discipleship?

Do we really care about the one? Jesus did, but I know there have been times where I say I care about the 1, and I do, but not as much as the bigger.

This past Easter weekend when you had record crowds [I pray], would you be content if you did all of that “work,” prayer and ministry and when you asked for people to trust Christ, only 1 person responded?

I know the last Easter that we celebrated with New Hope in 2008, we had over 1,300 at our original campus alone. Had 1 hand went up, I would have been devastated.

But in Heaven there would have been a party.

Do we really get that, and if so, what are we doing it about it, 1 life at a time? In our bigger is better church world [and yes, 3,000 saved in 1 day is still a dream I have], we have lost beauty of the ONE.

The base level is 1 on 1…and we have to re-gain this. Where are you on this?

It might be debateable, but these have to be up there high on our lists…after all, these 3 little words secured our eternity:

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. [John 19.30]

Yep…and the same power that went on to conquer the grave 3 days later lives in ME and YOU! [All authority on heaven and on earth is given to YOU...now GO!...]

I guess this series is starting to stir some emotions a bit.  GREAT! That will help us all grow and be stretched as we look to write a new manifesto for church planting.

Don’t forget where we started this series: I still believe that Jesus was a man of the “and“. Both the crowd and the smaller groups of people gathered and scattered.

So, if life change happens “best” in small groups, would Jesus agree? I don’t think Jesus would buy into that mantra.

I have listed this many times now [for those who think one way or the other is superior or more Biblical]:

This was Jesus Model:       CROWD —> 12 —> 3 —> 1

So answer one thing for me: IF YOU COULD SPEND TIME WITH JESUS LEARNING FROM HIM…how would you rather spend that time?

With the [CROWD —> 12 —> 3 —> 1]

With a crowd of people?: Good, but not as personal. [What would you pay to attend that conference?] And yes, many of you need to stop knocking the weekend gathering.

With the 12: You know you will get that talker or 2 who won’t shut their pie holes, but this would be better than the crowd level. And no, I am still not knocking “small groups”…explanation later.

How about the 3? Now you are getting scared because you can hide in a group of 12 can’t you? Can’t do that with 3, but 3 is better yet than 12 right?

How about 1 on 1? What kind of money would you pay to learn 1 on 1 with Jesus? [BTW: You can do that everyday, but that's another post.]

Yep, I think life change happens best 1 on 1 too. Discipleship is simply spending time with the Master, so if you think 1 on 200, 1 on 20, 1 on 12, 1 on 3, whatever you insert is “better”…then go for it. If it were up to me, I would hang 1 on 1.

When I travel the country and ask this question, most respond that it was someone [or a collection of someone‘s who made the biggest impact on them spiritually, and rarely is it in a group format [as good as they might be, they probably aren’t “best.”.

And don’t worry, we will get into talking deeper about “small groups/the 12″ later. But this point had to be made first.

And you…??

As we continue the church planting manifesto of change…it’s that time to jump into the “12″.   This was Jesus Model:       CROWD —> 12 —> 3 —> 1

Both/And remember? So, let’s introduce the level of the “12″

We were taught: “Life change happens best in small groups”? Do you agree?

Groups of 8-12 centered around the mission and ministry of the church. It sound[ed] good at the time and we bought into it.

In my humble opinion, life-change does NOT happen best in small groups. It happens, but I don’t believe “best.” This is why we need to stop “doing” small groups the way that we have always administered and operated them and start a new paradigm with how Jesus used this “12″ level.

Let’s talk this week about where “life change happens best” and where we should be putting our emphasis when planting churches. We will be tearing apart this “12″ idea and see where it goes.

Kick it off…What are your thoughts?

Ummmm, FAIL.  It doesn’t.

The Great Commission calls us to be a church of the “AND”. Both to build the crowds and build the core through discipleship.

Where do you stand? Here is a simple test:

Look at your staffing and structures.

At New Hope, we had 4-5 people pouring into the crowds [programming] and 1/2 pouring into the core. Literally, it was 1/2 of someone’s job description. EPIC FAIL.

I know of another large church and out of 200 employees, 6% of them are responsible for discipleship. Wow.

Jesus Model:       CROWD —> 12 —> 3 —> 1

But this would require that we leave our cushy offices and do the tough work of discipleship. It is much harder to disciple than it is to minister to the crowd.

It is easy to program services, but to push people takes times, effort and heart.

That’s what is on the agenda this week as we continue to modify the thoughts, bust some myths and get back to a Biblical discussion of Church Planting. Hit me.

Let’s chat about how to regain the Jesus of the Bible that the crowds couldn’t get enough of. Where people flocked to him for what he had to offer. What has happened today that people don’t flock to Jesus? He told us that he gave us the AUTHORITY and the POWER [Matthew 28/Acts 1]. Is Jesus impotent today?

I don’t mean in that way. Impotent is a 14th century word defined as: lacking in strength, power and vigor.

In the seeker-infused world of the American church, we have lost His authority and power that he gave to us. I love being sensitive to those seeking [and we have found a great balance here], but didn’t the seekers of the 1st century and previous centuries flock to Yahweh and then Yahweh in the flesh because they were truly GOD?

We have lost the power, the wonder, the mystery, the incarnation in many of our gatherings where we present Jesus.

I am not saying to not program services. Shoot, I would put the teams I have served with up against any in the country on that front. It’s the fact that we have begun limiting him to a formula, a set schedule, and to a clock.

I watch churches [from seeker-targeted to charismatic] run right past the mystery, the awe, the beauty, the reverence, the power of allowing God incarnate to work through us and the power he has given to us to accomplish the great commission.

I grow weary of being told when I preach out that it needs to be 30 minutes and not the 40 that God might have planned. And when/if it goes overtime, we skip the power. OK…sorry, we kept you for 75 minutes, let’s just all go home since we are short on time. No invitation, no prayer ministry, no chance to respond. Just the formula [and again, I believe there must be balance and not excess either way!]. This is just one example.

Dang…the day that we stop scheduling “revival services” and start scheduling the “power of God” to show up, and we expect Him to show up…crowds will follow. And crowds are great. If you don’t like crowds, it’s because you have either not read the New Testament, or you don’t believe that the world needs to come to him, or you have never seen his power poured out on a crowd.

Crowds are a main group that Jesus hung with, and so should we, and we should NEVER be afraid to say that we want 1 million people in our church. Are you going to bash that? I want people to stay out of HELL!

My deepest desire is to see the WORLD come to Jesus. And if that is in 27 billion house churches or an assortment of mega-churches, or 100 million churches of 100, I don’t care! I just want to fulfill the great commission in HIS power!

So, where has the power gone? Revival will come to your church when you allow the power and authority that are yours to rise us and spread like the fire that fell in Acts 2. [How much do we really listen? How much of a connection do we really have with the Spirit?]

People ask me…what did you do to see such power in a small community? Simple: We asked God what to do and we did it. NO EXCUSES! But my heart still hurt because in our community in Ohio 40K people were un-churched!

Power/mystery/awe/miracles/healings/ministry come when we submit to the Spirit and not the formula. And no, I don’t come from a charismatic background. I am just young and dumb enough to believe what I read in the Bible and ask God to do that through all of us. I believe!

This generation is crying out for something real, not programmed. Stop being afraid of the power that God gave to us through his Son and operating through his Spirit.Bring back HIS power without going to the excess, which is just as deadly.

So…hit me. What do you think?

Let’s break it down. Yesterday we talked about what it seemed Jesus did when He walked this earth. He seemed to walk with this in mind: CROWD —> 12 —> 3 —> 1.

Let’s breakdown the first one in detail today:

What has happened to the crowd? Was Jesus just a passing fad? What happened to 3,000 coming to know Him in 1 day? Why do the stats get worse and worse every year in America and almost non-existent in other areas? Why does it seem that in other parts of the world [China, South America, Africa, etc.] does it seem that the crowds are alive and well?

Do we need more and better programming/presentations?
I love programming amazing presentations of the gospel, but Jesus didn’t just do that.

Do we need more staff?
Jesus had 12 he counted on. At least 1 had a bad heart and the others were shaky at best.

Do we need more resources?
Jesus had nowhere to lay His head.

Do we need to be more sensitive to the needs of the people?
Jesus certainly was. But at times he blasted them and got angry.

Do we need to be more “missional” and “incarnational”?
Jesus certainly got with the people, but he also spent a lot of time alone with the Father and with the 12.

Let’s get at it: What were the crowds drawn to?
Jesus. They were drawn to Jesus. Period.

Jesus was love, forgiveness, freedom, and against the norm. He was radical and powerful, yet down to earth and humble. He made common sense, yet there was this profound mystery about him.

Here is my take: We have lost the Jesus of the Bible with our crowds. [Services/outreaches/gatherings/talks/experiences, whatever clever name we want to give them].

We go from fad to fad to fad. New idea to new idea. Program to program. I am not against any of these by the way. People call me to consult and coach them to new arenas of thought so that they might go to new levels, etc. I use “programs” and love new ideas.

Simply put: We need to regain and live out the Jesus of the Bible and the crowds will follow. Church plants, established churches, in our personal lives, wherever you find yourself today. We have to bring him back.

What does this look like to you? How do we do this today? What do you think?

Tomorrow: My thoughts with how I think we can regain this Jesus to the crowds, who was not just a passing fad, but we certainly have made him that in many circles today.

So here we go. If you missed the intro [I Held The Dying Bride in My Arms], catch it here.

We had almost half our town in church, Easter, 2008. We had 3 campuses regionally and 1 in China when we left New Hope, but there was always something that seemed like it was missing at the deepest levels.

That’s what I want to write about. How God is leading us to change everything. Not because we want to be “anti-attractional” and embrace the “missional model” [because it is the trendy thing to do right now, church-bash] but because the Bible tells us to. It tells us we have to live in both worlds. Living in just one or the other are epic fails in my mind.

Day 1: How Did Jesus Really “Do Ministry”?
After reading books in every camp, I decided to reflect a little more on Scripture as a whole. Always a good thing.

It’s simple to me. I see Jesus with 4 distinct “groups” of people. If you want a good paradigm for ministry, here it is:

1. THE CROWDS
Yep, He drew them. And we should too in His power. 12 people sitting in your house for the next 12 years will not accomplish the great commission.

2. THE 12
Jesus did spend his life pouring into the 12 though as well. Then 11 men [and their clans] went on to not just change Jerusalem, but the world. Something to be said here. But it wasn’t 12 people who came together at a “mixer” to study Jesus latest teaching. It was communitas. Do you have “small groups” or “house churches” living a dangerous mission together?

3. THE 3
He then poured a little extra into the chosen 3 with intense mentorship [mentoring is very different from discipleship]. Who are you pouring into? Jesus did this. Do you? You are probably too busy like I was programming services and talks because Sunday comes with regularity every 6 days without fail [or in our case every 5, with Saturday nights].

4. THE 1
The disciples got ticked when Jesus wanted to stop and be with the 1, remember that story? [Women with issue of blood.] Come on, the super-star had ministry to do, and can’t be burdened by the 1, especially this lady. But time and time again, we see Jesus 1 on 1.

And yes, 1 on 1 is and has always been the best way to pour into people. Do you do this form of discipleship? Small groups don’t accomplish this fully. Do you have a strong 1 on 1 push?

This is what Jesus did. He didn’t sit around with the 12, and he didn’t just prepare for the mega-crowds. If you want a peak into where this is all going, check this read out by my new friend Hugh that I met recently at a conference we were speaking at. He shares the same desire and is way more eloquent than I.

[more tomorrow...and please, WHAT DO YOU THINK? Light up my comments either way, good or bad].

I have been engaged in “vocational” ministry for over a decade now. I have read the church growth, church health, theology, polity, simple church, mega church, church history and church future books to name a few. But it wasn’t until I held the dying bride in my arms that everything changed for me.

God blessed our first plant in the middle of nowhere, cornfield, rural, small-town [2,800 people] Ohio. Our last Easter there, we saw 1,500 people just at our first campus, and we had 2 other regional campuses and 1 in China. Yes, God blessed beyond our wildest dreams despite our stupidity. [By the way, if you are called to the middle of nowhere, you might want to check out this gathering of radicals who are called to the same thing at THE STICKS gatherings.]

God has called us to do that all over again, this time in the fastest-growing state in the country…UTAH [not a typo], through MISSION WEST. There are 24+ cities just in the upper 1/3 of Utah found by leaving the main interstate by only 20 minutes in either direction that we have found without ONE CHURCH in them [non-Mormon of course]. And yes, that is UTAH, USA, not Pakistan or some other out-of-the-way place. And in cities as large as 22,000! I dread doing the rest of the research.

So why not? Let’s roll. We did it once [actually several times through multi-sites] through God’s power, let’s rock it again. We have the experience, we have the tools. Let’s roll this thing. Same thing, new location right? Until I held the dying bride in my arms.

You know all of those alarmist books that calls those of us in America to wake-up, to take notice, to understand that the future of the church is and will look much different, and we need to take notice NOW so we can prepare for it? I had read those, but working in the mid-west and the Bible-belt for a time, where cutting-edge music, graphics, programming, lights, cameras, action is still so new, hip, sheik and still working well to draw people to the Savior? Crap, we had half the town in church that last Easter, but something still felt wrong. Because I didn’t really get it until I held the dying bride in my arms.

January, 2010: I held the dying bride in my arms. On a vision/learning trip to London and surrounding areas, it happened. To my friends working in the UK/Europe, I honor your efforts [and many of you are KILLING it in Jesus name, and I salute you!] In just 1 generation, everything has changed in the UK you told me. 1 generation. And for those in the bible-belt, it’s happening here in the USA just as fast. You, like me just haven’t experienced it yet.

I now not only have read about it, spoken about it, theorized about it, but I have held it. And as a church planting coach, consultant, speaker, and planter myself…everything has to change, and it has to change not just to be trendy, not just to be hip, and not just to use “missional living” as the next big “program”.

Everything. You are like, no kidding Charles, how is this innovative? Where have you been? Awfully late to the party aren’t you? This is old stuff.

Oh, no, trust me…I’m not late. I travel the country right now a ton, and people might say they are living this out, but they are still stuck in one of several “forms” of ministry that are leading us to record decrease in the US, not an increase. [And many are still stuck in the good old days of yester-year, but that's a totally different story.]

We are 1 generation from being a very post-Christian nation such as they are in the UK and Europe. Matter of fact, we are easily on our way as I type this. But many of you, like me, have refused to change everything. Not just tinker with a few thing here and there. But radically overhaul everything. But that might cost you some givers, some momentum, might even cost you your job. You might not even know where to start. But you, like me, know something is wrong with this picture, no matter how “small or large” your church is.

This week I will be sharing my thoughts on how, why and what we must change immediately, now that I have held the dying bride in my arms. I believe we can turn this ship around in the name of Jesus!

I would love to learn with and from you this week as we discuss what needs to happen here in the blogosphere this week and beyond. Thanks for lending your voice. Also a big thanks to my good friend Greg Atkinson for allowing me to guest post this on his canvas.

Yep…plenty of discussion on beer and bible [www.beerandbible.tv], but this one took me by surprise, and made me blush a little bit.

I’ve heard about the whole ONE FLESH thing, but this might be taking “come as you are” a little too far. These dudes look like they should come to THIS EVENT.

What do you think about this “outreach”?? I definitely recommend grape juice and a separate children’s ministry:) And by the looks of them, I don’t think I would have much of a lust issue, so would I be sinning?…Just asking.

I don’t have the readership that Tim Stevens does…so I would love for you all to push back hard or offer words of support for the outreach(s) we are doing to reach this place for Jesus. We are offering www.beerandbible.tv as a chance to connect with common people at the common gathering space.

Yes, we are also doing Alpha [www.whyamihere.tv] as well, but that gets no pub of course. And the only pub we desire is on the ground out here…the blogosphere only gets a bunch of Christian response, which is great, but not why we did this. On the ground pub out here in this area is what we desire for HIS honor and Glory!

Help shape us, mold us, and make us like Jesus. That is where our heart is. Period.

We never did this to be cool, hip, trendy, or edgy. We did this because that is where the non-LDS people are hanging out and that is who we are trying to reach for Jesus. There and Alpha at community centers, cafe’s, wherever we can host them! No one seems to mind us in coffee shops. Isn’t that a drug? Oh well.

So head over to TIM’S BLOG and read the comments and respond either way [or start a conversation here if you wish,] then PRAY FOR US.

It’s all for JESUS!

OK…there are a few places that you will find non-LDS folks here in Utah. And by the way, that is our target. Well, actually we came to share Jesus with anyone who will listen. But for those Baptist warriors who think we came out to defeat the…blah, blah, blah…ummm, no.

Back to point…a couple places to meet non-religious common people here in sin city:

1. Places Where People are Drinking Coffee as a Main Beverage.

2. Places Where People are Drinking Fermented Beverage as a Main Attraction.

Since up to 80% of our area might be LDS [Latter Day Saints] we will go to where the non-religious crowd is gathered and build relationship and talk about Jesus. Kind of sounds like someone else I know who adopted this mission…[see Luke 19.10] of hanging out with those on the “fringes.” Darn non-conformists.

So we are running some studies where common people are in pubs, bars, community centers, maybe a coffee shop or 2 in the near future. The first one is called BEER AND BIBLE. Yep, you read right. The second one is for those who want BIBLE, but aren’t into BEER. It’s called ALPHA. A 10 week gathering that involves a meal, fellowship and discussion of what Christians believe in a very non-threatening way.

You can check out our campaigns here: www.whyamihere.tv & www.beerandbible.tv

Pray for us!!!!! We are advertising, networking, facebooking and sharing with whoever will listen and hear in the next few weeks. Pray that we will be Jesus to those who need HIM so desperately.

We are also allowing anyone in the valley to jump on our advertising and campaign and we will list your groups on our sites…if you want to run this, we will train you, market it with you and make this thing happen together. Hit me: chazzdaddy17@gmail.com

This is my passion…it really is.

My goal is to encourage those who dare to go where no one else wants to go. That is my heartbeat, my passion, my life. Call it as Jesus might: “to the uttermost part of the world.”

I like, LOVE the uttermost. Another way to translate that word is: the “remotest” part of the world. [NASB]

Rural places, small to medium-sized towns, out-of-the-way and hard to reach places. That’s our tribe. Those who choose to go where it makes no sense at all. Where demographics are stacked big time against you. You don’t flipping care.

That’s why we started THE STICKS. To fill this void. To encourage this tribe. To stand in the gap between the small, yet significant churches and the big boys that everyone knows. We’re all significant…He loves us all the same. His calling is just as strong to booming cities and places that are left out of the conversation.

Let’s go where no one else wants to…together.

Someone out there is ready to QUIT. You are BEAT-DOWN, you feel ABANDONED, ABUSED, USED and you are SICK and *&^%*&^%$*%^**# tired of it. You have been called a LIAR, LACKING INTEGRITY, AN IDIOT, A SINNER, and other names that I can’t print here.

And these are supposed to be the PEOPLE OF GOD?

Yeah.

Don’t be one of the 90% who wuss out unless GOD tells you to move on. GOD, not MAN!

I have heard that only 10% fight the good fight and finish the race. Yep, 90% of those who start in “vocational ministry” QUIT for various reasons.

I am one of those fighting some of those fights, those thoughts, those fears with you, that come from those “Men and Women of God.” Not that I am perfect or have been right all of the time either.

But I am determined to be one of the 10% of the WARRIORS who cross the finish line.

After all…My SAVIOR got the smack down of death by THE PEOPLE OF GOD and finished as a WARRIOR. He knows it worse that we ever will.

So who am I to complain? Let’s suffer well for HIS KINGDOM TOGETHER. You are either going to be a WARRIOR or a QUITTER. What will it be?

Hang in there fellow warrior. The Kingdom of God was given to us to expand by HIS power. Receive it, walk in it, drink it in to the depths of your soul and tell the DEVIL TO GO BACK TO HELL WHERE HE BELONGS in JESUS NAME.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” [2 Timothy 4.7]

Dang, many of you have been asking about the latest gossip. Well here it is:

1. I am preaching at K2 this weekend. Way excited about our partnership that is emerging.

2. Working on developing our launch team here in the SW valley. PRAY FOR US!!! Prayer is the weapon that will unleash the most chaos on this land.

3. Praying for our launch team in Ohio and other partners who are moving here and joining us to plant churches in the 22+ cities without 1 church in them. The other cities are way behind too. [and that's just the tip of the iceberg].

4. Working through new thoughts and models of ministry after viewing first hand a post-christian UK and where America is headed. Thanks to this amazing man of God for being our host. He is BRILLIANT, and made us official EVERTON football fans. That trip messed me up. Looking forward to blogging about it when I can wrap my mind around all of it.

5. We are developing sites to hold Alpha Type groups to reach out and dialogue with those who are unsure of their faith if they have a faith walk at all. Thanks Mikey for your work on this. And no, we won’t be in churches. Think: bars, pubs, cafe’s and community centers. We pray that this is the basis for our launch team, not just Christians who leave our mother church to help plant. [nothing against Christians of course:]

6. Still working on that name for our local church tribe name. Probably freaking Patrick out since he has to figure it all out once it gets a name from above. I think God is speaking. I like the following names…

7. Working on raising funds beginning big time this month. It’s time. If you know me, you will probably get an ask, so just pray now, and give something. Anything. Every bit counts. They aren’t planting churches for free any more for some reason Thanks to Patrick and Kym for all of their work on this.

8. THE STICKS is heading to ChurchPlanters.com VELOCITY CONFERENCE in February. Let’s meet up at the pre-conference that we are doing. We are also totally re-doing the website and blog to make it a place for INSPIRATION, ENCOURAGEMENT, EQUIPPING and NETWORKING. Look for the start of this in late February. Again, thanks to Patrick [and his amazing wife Leah for letting him] for the lead work on the re-design and our Sticks team for the content. Patience please.

Lastly, gatherings are planned for November 9-10, 2010 [Southeast--HERE, and yes Perry Noble is confirmed to be there along with our STICKS TEAM], Winter, 2011 [Midwest] and Spring, 2011 [West--HERE]. Want to host a STICKS CONFERENCE? Hit me. Yep…it’s on. And yes, we still have some spots left in our coaching network…shot me an e-mail me if you want a spot.

9. THE STICKS board [dang, we are getting organized] is meeting in a secret location for top secret meetings on top secret things. Well, not really, but we do hope to see the sun where we meet up for the first time face to face instead of all the phone meetings. Great group of leaders who care about small towns and hard to reach places and doing big things with little resources, leadership, vision, etc. Thanks to THIS GROUP for the grant that they gave to THE STICKS. We couldn’t do it without you.

10. Hanging with my family is still my top priority and passion. I have learned to fall in love more with them than my mistress, the church over the past 3-4 years. It’s a freeing feeling. Sitting right now in a coffee shop with my bride while she is looking at the latest fashions in a mag, I am typing this out as we get some QT together. I pray I never go back by God’s grace. I really love them more than ministry. And my marriage is stronger right now than at any other time in our life. It really is. How ’bout it?

11. And yep…we deeply miss all of our friends and family at New Hope…don’t think there hasn’t been the frequent thought of: Let’s just go back and end this struggle we face here. But while some of you might be happy [us included] our boss might not. Don’t give up on your calling friends.

12. Yes, that boss is God. Who were you thinking?

13. While we have that ever tangled web of partners that is hard to keep straight, even for us, we welcome our latest partner that will be our lead supporter as an organization. Dr. Stephen Gray is a man after my own heart, or is it the other way around? Either way, I am beyond excited to be partnering with them to plant churches here in Utah and around the world. You can check them out HERE. They will also be handling our central funding as we kick off our fund raising surge this month, so if you were sending funds or want to send us some jack, start sending it here as of this week:

National Missions   c/o: Mission West Church Planting    100 Stinson, Dr.    Poplar Bluff, MO   63901

14. And yes, with fund-raising trips, speaking events, learning events, life has been crazy. I am blessed that I get to travel all over and learn, serve and grow and almost every time others get to pay for it. Free travel, learning and networking…not a bad gig most of the time, considering the economics of a church planter!!!! God is blessing as I am learning, serving, growing and hopefully giving back at the same time.

14-1/2: I have something SO BIG to announce that if God is not in it, we are destined to fail, but since we are still working through it, I figured I would just whet your appetite. It’s not from us, it’s not our plans, we aren’t this dumb and crazy. We’ll see if it come to fruition…standby.

15. Ending here since my wife just looked at her watch and gave me the eye…we are loving building relationships here and just getting to know our new community. That is our main job, to learn this community as we seek to bring the glory of God and His salvation to a desperate place. To love this community. To serve this community. To do life in this community. It’s not about just “planting a church” This is what it’s all about:

The Barista who works here at this coffee shop is coming to church for the first time this weekend. That’s all the gossip that you need. It’s on…

You might complain, avoid, loathe, love, wish you could change, despise or shut out your family, but there is 1 thing that they can do that is life changing if you will listen and allow them.

If you are humble enough to chew on this 1 thing and spit out the fat that is inevitably there, this 1 thing just might change your life. This 1 thing will humble you, beat you down, anger you, and all out insult you. But it will shape and grow you if you will let it and if it is done in love [or even when it's not if you will listen closely]. By now you are saying…give it to me. My point exactly.

If there is 1 thing that your family can do that most others cannot do, it is to speak truth into your life, many times whether you want it or not. You know…those statements that you despise, that are 80-90% of the time spot-on truth?

Give it a go sometime…ask you family to all out lay down the truth [in love, if that is possible.] Why is that? Because they will always be your family and they have more than likely seen you naked in more ways than one. They know you better than most. Even if you have not seen them in years, they still know you better than what you might think. [By the way, that is why you don't like being around them for too long:]

When I live life with my family, they could care less how important I think I am, what accomplishments I have made that month, what book I am working on or what conference I have spoken at. They don’t really care about that. They know all of my past fault as well as my future potential. They have seen me at my worst and at my best and they still love me. [I think:] They aren’t afraid of being demoted, fired, or tossed aside, because we will always be family.

And sometimes they are the best ones to put a beat-down on you if you are willing to listen. I know there will be dysfunction if some of this, but hearing them out will show you many things that others are not willing to say to you.

Go ahead, give it a try. It’s free. No fill in the box tests, sofas to lay on, quarterly reviews, insurance cards or co-pay required. Thanks to my family for being real with me, and allowing me to be real with you.

It’s very frequent that my birthday falls on Martin Luther King Jr. birthday. Growing up Lutheran as a child, I always had a white man in mind on this day. It took me a few years to know that they are 2 very different people, but with 2 very similar attitudes.

I pray that I share a little bit of their pioneering legacy and am very proud to share this day in a tiny way with Dr. King, a pioneer like no other.

Leaders, if you are serious about casting a God honoring vision, then you must read THIS blog post by Michael Hyatt. Listen to the speech again on his site. Learn, soak it up, be inspired, and prepare for change.

Tonight my family will sit together and listen to this speech and discuss it in detail.

If you listen to the Spirit of God and receive HIS vision, and then learn to cast it like THIS, Look out. Because this is vision that changed not just a church, or a city, but a nation and the world.