The title says it all. If you need perspective…check out this short story. Thanks to Mike Foster and the POTSC blog.
Check out the story HERE.
Archive for October, 2010|Monthly archive page
Why I Stopped Doing What Perry Noble is Doing.
In Uncategorized, vision on October 25, 2010 at 5:00 amBecause I am not in Anderson, SC. BTW: I LOVE PERRY NOBLE and I LOVE WHAT HE IS DOING and have learned so much from he and his church. And I will continue to learn, grow and even copy, yes, copy from them.
But if I try to do everything Perry does, I am destined to fail. So fill in the blank here:
I need to stop doing what ____________ tells me to do and instead do what GOD is doing in my context!
In Ohio where I was, I avoided religious garb, shirts, crosses, etc. like the plague. I was in a religious culture where people wore religious stuff and the unchurched could have cared less about your TURN OR BURN bumper sticker.
In Utah, wearing a cross [in LDS culture] is not seen as a good thing. It’s actually seen as an evil thing to do. So to identify as someone of a different faith…yep…I have a cool cross trio necklace from the Buckle and I rock it when I can and wear it proud. It’s really a way for people to say: I am a Christian. I still leave the shirts and bumper stickers on the curb.
Another example: I never had a drink in my former town [OK: I had 2 sips off my neighbor once in a while...sips, for real, not even a full gulp.] We had a ton of alcohol problems and in our small town, it was something that we were called NOT to do.
In Utah, we are joining the Wine Tasting Club in our neighborhood. Why? Because it is guaranteed to be 100% non-LDS people there. [And BTW: I LOVE MORMONS! Just had to say that, but we are out here to reach those who do not have any faith background and to share Jesus with anyone who will listen.]
So to all of those who want to start the infamous Beer and Bible clubs…REALLY? Is it for you? Is GOD really calling you? Or is it just a cool idea that allows and give you permission to drink when God is calling you not to in your context.
This applies to all kinds of vision and other strategies in the church. Be who God called you to be…not someone else. Copy where you can and apply it, but listen to God…He’s pretty original.
THOUGHTS?
Why I am Not Teaching My Team to Share Jesus.
In Uncategorized on October 19, 2010 at 9:30 amI’m not. [At this point.]
I am trying to get them [and my family] to just have dinner 1-2 times a month with their neighbors or co-workers and not even have to talk about Jesus.
That would be a bigger win right now than teaching them to share the 4 spiritual laws.
Actually, that would be a HUGE win for our church planting team AND the Kingdom.
I am trying to bring the TANGIBLE KINGDOM PRIMER to life in our part of the Kingdom with our launch team. Thoughts?
Small town confession. Many of you feel this way too.
In Uncategorized on October 13, 2010 at 11:46 amThis is probably the only blog post today not trying to relate the Chilean mine rescue to our lives…but hey, what the heck.
Many of you feel this way…trapped, but you won’t talk about it. I received this e-mail recently and have changed details to protect their identity:
______________________________
“Just wanted to let you know that I recently found your blog and have
visited The Sticks website and have been really encouraged by it. We (our
team) planted a church in _________ (smaller community of 65K in the middle of nowhere) ____ yrs ago. Although we’ve had some amazing God stories, our team has really been struggling lately because we just can’t seem to gain momentum in terms of numerical growth. In fact, we just sent out ________ mailers and had 1 person respond
(that’s a 0.01% response rate). Ouch.
Anyway, I love what you guys are doing. Sometimes I fantasize about
planting a church in ____________, where I often think it
would be a little easier to at least attract folks. But the reality is
that I feel called to plant churches in the ___________, where it’s
tougher to grow churches.
I guess I’m ranting, but I would be interested in your network and such.
Let me know what that might look like, other than The Sticks Conference,
which I’ve already researched online.
______________________________
If you want to know why we at THE STICKS do what we do…it is because we talk to pastors like this. This is not a commercial out of someone’s pain…but if you are in a small town or hard to reach place…you have to join us on November 9-10.
We still have a few free tickets donated. Use PROMO CODE [OK] @ www.thesticks.tv Or if you are interested in our coaching network, e-mail me: charles@onecommunity.tv
And please…don’t give up. Don’t give in. Don’t listen to the lie. Please pray for this pastor who is our brother and his team. I know how they feel, and so do many of you. We hurt with you, and one day will rejoice with you just the same! We too have gone where no one else would dare to go, to do what no one else would dare to do.
Jesus chose Nazareth…a podunk, small town. Guess we are in good company.
Freeze Your Butt Off or Come See This.
In Uncategorized on October 11, 2010 at 4:08 pmIt’s that time again. One of the best line-ups on the face of the planet and amazing sessions that are outside the norm. And that is just the start of it.
BTW: The big “Secret” of the NOC is that it is not ONLY OUTREACH! It is so diverse…but of course OUTREACH is the passion and heartbeat behind what happens!
And one more for free: All of the display/sponsors…yeah, you know what I mean…those hawkers and gawkers. This is not your Mother’s convention.
They make it a TRUE CONVENTION where networking and learning about the latest and greatest is a best kept secret. You hate most conferences where the sponsors lure you in like a kid with candy and free Starbucks cards…this convention is for real and the exhibit hall is worth the price of admission! I took away more ideas from that one space than I did all year probably!
I am doing THIS TALK…and I am beyond excited to present it. I will be talking about steps to capture the RELEVANCE and REVIVAL needed to radically change communities that God has called us to…with a focus on smaller communities. Come on over and see me.
I am also leading the church planting discussion group for you silly planters who want to set the world on fire.
I am humbled, blessed and honored to partner with NOC this year. They have an amazing team top to bottom! Lindy Lowry [world record interview], Kim Levings…the entire gang love Jesus and make you feel loved. So proud to say they are friends! Come on out and say hey in beautiful San Diego in November! [Or freeze your butt off in Fargo. Your choice.]
BOOBS.
In Church Leadership, Church Leadership; Discipleship; Growth in Christ, Family, sex, spiritual battle, Uncategorized on October 1, 2010 at 8:04 amYes, the title alone was enough to draw you here. But for those of you who are Christ-followers [men, you will get this, ladies, you will send me nasty replies]…then you need to hear this.
Just heard about another church planter/leader/pastor who has an affair with another leader/staff person. This was the youth pastor and lead campus guy’s wife. I am TIRED of hearing the same story every month. And I mean every month, sometimes more than once a month.
It took just 1 glance to knock King David down.
What if the team around him held him accountable? No, they sent for the lady as King David asked and said nothing about it.
Last week I had the privilege and honor to spent a few days with the church that is our largest supporter here in Utah: Flamingo Road Church. Pastor Troy, Stephanie and the entire team were beyond belief with how they encouraged us and blessed our hearts beyond measure. BTW: Pastor Troy and FRC is the most unheard of mega-church who does so much with so little! They are twice the size they were a few years ago…WITH LESS STAFF! And that’s just 1 highlight! Thanks PT, Steph, Pastor Raul and the entire team…you blessed us beyond belief!
They put us up right on South Beach in Miami while we were there with them [and yes, they paid for everything, and I mean everything, so don't stop sending your support thinking we are on luxury vacations...I rarely ever pay for travel, almost never :].
One of the pastors said the beach was amazing, but not everyone wears clothes at times, so watch out! Being from the sticks, I thought…hmmm, really? Nah…can’t be.
Day 1. Minute 1. Glance 1. 1 word:
BOOBS.
Boobs everywhere. And not wrapped in teeny-bikini’s, but out there for the world to behold.
Ladies trounced around like 3 year-old-little girls who did not realize that not wearing your top was not-optional. At 3, I get it. At 23, not so much.
What a struggle I had! I tried to look at the ocean…we moved our chairs out of certain lines of sight, I focused on worship songs ["God of Wonders" is not one to sing while fighting lust...just saying.] But dang, my flesh was all over me sending me glancing in many directions sub-consciously!
Not everyone was topless and butt-covering-less, but there was enough. Dudes were diverting from their walk by the water all the way up to the ladies laying out to not just casually stare, but to totally stare. Dudes were taking pictures, videos, you name it.
Guys and ladies…we hold the commission to build the Kingdom. 39% of you pastors are hooked on porn, and that is just the PASTORS!
Many others struggle with the flesh and other sin.
1 question: WHO DO YOU HAVE AROUND YOU? [BTW: NO EXCUSES FOR EVERYONE IN THE WORLD TO NOT HAVE A www.XXXCHURCH.com porn filter on every computer you own...and your Iphones!] The FRC staff are there pushing each other hard…I saw it. Not that they are perfect, but they are real and transparent and there for one another.
Do you have people holding you accountable? Do you truly have a team of brothers [or sisters] who hold you to your glances, whatever they may be? From finances, your marriage, sexually, how you spend your time, your sabbath, on and on? AND THIS IS NOT JUST FOR CHURCH STAFF/PASTORS!
If you think you are too strong to have a great band of brothers or sisters to be open and vulnerable with…then you are one glance from falling and adding your name to the wrecking ball that is the church when a pastor/leader falls as we seek to advance the kingdom. Stop being lazy…go get some peeps and live it out.
My wife was my accountability for those days [and yes, I failed on occasion and had victory as well], and we truly enjoyed the trip once we got over the we-are-really-from-a-small-city shock of what South Beach was. THANKS FRC for being a light in the darkness!
“Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.” Proverbs 11.14 [nlt]
