Helpful and not so...
by bob hyatt
From Driscoll's Confessions...
(editors note: great post by bob ... and good insight on his part)
Helpful:
"I hit a particularly low point one day when a young couple knocked on the door of our home... We considered them friends until they came over to tell us they had left the church. They complained that since the church had grown a bit bigger and things were a bit busier, my wife and I had become less available to them...
We were stunned. We needed couples like this to help the church survive, not jump ship just because my wife could not drop everything to take this woman out to tea whenever was convenient for her. The odd thing was that they transferred to a megachurch in the suburbs, which made no sense because they would get no closer to that pastor and his wife than they had to Grace and me. Yet they knocked on our door unannounced to tell us we were not doing enough for them. It seemed obvious that they wanted us to bend over backward and promise to do anything to make them happy in order to keep them in the church...
In retrospect, this was a hard lesson, one that I have had to learn many times in the various seasons of our church. As a church grows, it also changes. And as a church changes, so does the accesibility of the pastor and his family. As the pastor gets busier with new people and responsibilities, some people are displaced and are not as close to the pastor as they had been. Displaced people are prone to expect the pastor to ensure that their access to him and his family will never change. If the pastor agrees to these demands, he will keep the disgruntled people but not reach any new people because the mission will shift from reaching the new people to pleasing the old people."
A good differentiation to keep in mind, I think...
Not so helpful:
"We continued to meet on Sunday nights until Christmas, when some of the arty types started complaining that there was a preaching monologue instead of an open dialogue, as would become popular with some emerging pastors a few years later. This forced me to think through my theology of preaching, spiritual authority, and the authority of Scripture. I did an intense study of the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament commans regarding preaching and teaching. In the end, I decided not to back off from a preaching monologue but instead work hard at becoming a solid long-winded, old-school Bible preacher that focused on Jesus. My people needed to hear from God's Word and not from each other in collective ignorance like some dumb chat room."
There are so many false antitheses here, I hardly know where to start. How about a quote from DA Carson, well-known critic of the emerging church? What was it he said? Oh yeah... "Damn all false antitheses to hell, for they generate false gods, they perpetuate idols, they twist and distort our souls, they launch the church into violent pendulum swings whose oscillations succeed only in dividing brothers and sisters in Christ."
Preach it D.A.!
Let me say this strongly-
Continue reading "Helpful and not so..." »
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Emerging/Reforming/Missional
by Tony @ church plant my eye
(editors note: here's another Texas church planter, planting near Austin Texas -- great post)
There seems to be so much going back and forth about what kind of church is or is not Biblically healthy. Currently, there is this intense discussion about whether or not the emerging church is of value, has Biblical accuracy, or if it is simply watering everything down and making it seem to easy to get into Heaven. I realize this is a discussion that needs to be had by some very influential people and who no doubt have some right and authority to speak into this kind of debate.
In my limited view of 20th & 21st century church history, these things always make me a bit uneasy. It’s not the discussion itself that makes me uneasy, but rather it is the wide open discussion. It seems that whenever the church puts its laundry out on the line for everyone to see, it never makes the discussion easy. Maybe this is the only way it can get resolved. Maybe it’s the only way people will entertain the discussion. Then again, is it the role of people to make assessments on whether or not some aspects of how people reach people are good enough? I totally agree that anything that diminishes the Word of God or negates its instruction needs to be knocked down. But I think my point is that when we start knocking on people’s doors and telling them that their way of doing church isn’t the right way, perhaps it is more telling about our own methods and the possibility that they are out of order.
Case in point – Jimmy Swaggart and James Bakker. It was Swaggart who wagged his finger at Bakker in the midst of revelations of his affair. Yet a few short years later, it was Swaggart looking at the wagging fingers in his face. Both ministries took a huge tumble. They probably needed to. But the publicity killed a lot of other great ministries simply by association of the public viewing.
Case in point – The Kansas City Prophets shootout. Several years ago, there were two prophetic camps at war with each other, each denouncing the other. It got so heated that Charisma picked it up. And, in the end, much damage was done, including a lot of wounding and bitterness.
So what’s my point? I think my point is that we must lead where God has put us into leadership. I don’t think I fall in the Emerging church category. And I am not the leader of the Emerging church movement. Therefore, I am not empowered or qualified to speak about their ministry unless it steps outside of Biblical accuracy. And even then, I wouldn’t do it in a public forum. I am not 100% reformed, as is the Acts 29 movement, nor am I in leadership in that organization. I can speak about what I personally am not comfortable with. But to take them to task publicly is a bit dangerous, in my opinion. There is a lot of volleying going on between Doug Padgett, Driscoll, Calvary Chapel, et al., in a very public way. And this is forcing people to decide, weigh in, and pick their side. Where can it end and how will it help the body?
Whenever I see something that really bugs me about someone else, I eventually get to this question “What in me is messed up that causes me to take a dim view of someone else?” What I fear the most here is that the measure that people take issues public is the same measure their issues will be taken public if there are any and they are found out or called out. Maybe my final question is “How is God going to get glory out of this and how do we help it to that end?”
Finally, I realize I am no expert here and the history and scope of this issue is beyond me. I am simply putting a few thoughts down to challenge myself and hopefully others in our handling and processing of other peoples’ stuff.
by Tony @ church plant my eye
(editors note: here's another Texas church planter, planting near Austin Texas -- great post)
There seems to be so much going back and forth about what kind of church is or is not Biblically healthy. Currently, there is this intense discussion about whether or not the emerging church is of value, has Biblical accuracy, or if it is simply watering everything down and making it seem to easy to get into Heaven. I realize this is a discussion that needs to be had by some very influential people and who no doubt have some right and authority to speak into this kind of debate.
In my limited view of 20th & 21st century church history, these things always make me a bit uneasy. It’s not the discussion itself that makes me uneasy, but rather it is the wide open discussion. It seems that whenever the church puts its laundry out on the line for everyone to see, it never makes the discussion easy. Maybe this is the only way it can get resolved. Maybe it’s the only way people will entertain the discussion. Then again, is it the role of people to make assessments on whether or not some aspects of how people reach people are good enough? I totally agree that anything that diminishes the Word of God or negates its instruction needs to be knocked down. But I think my point is that when we start knocking on people’s doors and telling them that their way of doing church isn’t the right way, perhaps it is more telling about our own methods and the possibility that they are out of order.
Case in point – Jimmy Swaggart and James Bakker. It was Swaggart who wagged his finger at Bakker in the midst of revelations of his affair. Yet a few short years later, it was Swaggart looking at the wagging fingers in his face. Both ministries took a huge tumble. They probably needed to. But the publicity killed a lot of other great ministries simply by association of the public viewing.
Case in point – The Kansas City Prophets shootout. Several years ago, there were two prophetic camps at war with each other, each denouncing the other. It got so heated that Charisma picked it up. And, in the end, much damage was done, including a lot of wounding and bitterness.
So what’s my point? I think my point is that we must lead where God has put us into leadership. I don’t think I fall in the Emerging church category. And I am not the leader of the Emerging church movement. Therefore, I am not empowered or qualified to speak about their ministry unless it steps outside of Biblical accuracy. And even then, I wouldn’t do it in a public forum. I am not 100% reformed, as is the Acts 29 movement, nor am I in leadership in that organization. I can speak about what I personally am not comfortable with. But to take them to task publicly is a bit dangerous, in my opinion. There is a lot of volleying going on between Doug Padgett, Driscoll, Calvary Chapel, et al., in a very public way. And this is forcing people to decide, weigh in, and pick their side. Where can it end and how will it help the body?
Whenever I see something that really bugs me about someone else, I eventually get to this question “What in me is messed up that causes me to take a dim view of someone else?” What I fear the most here is that the measure that people take issues public is the same measure their issues will be taken public if there are any and they are found out or called out. Maybe my final question is “How is God going to get glory out of this and how do we help it to that end?”
Finally, I realize I am no expert here and the history and scope of this issue is beyond me. I am simply putting a few thoughts down to challenge myself and hopefully others in our handling and processing of other peoples’ stuff.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
W.T.
from gary lamb
(editors note: this is so funny ... I thought I was the only one who used WT)
W.T. is a little phrase we use around the office. It means White Trash. :) I am about to venture out into my yard and cut my grass. It is literally to my knees in length. My neighbors are not happy and to be honest, I don't blame them. I have been so stinking busy that to be honest I didn't have time to think about it.
I'm actually embarrassed to go out there and cut it for fear someone will see me it is so high.
Yep, I'm W.T. :)
papas house
wayne gooden
church
kaleonetwork
gary lamb
from gary lamb
(editors note: this is so funny ... I thought I was the only one who used WT)
W.T. is a little phrase we use around the office. It means White Trash. :) I am about to venture out into my yard and cut my grass. It is literally to my knees in length. My neighbors are not happy and to be honest, I don't blame them. I have been so stinking busy that to be honest I didn't have time to think about it.
I'm actually embarrassed to go out there and cut it for fear someone will see me it is so high.
Yep, I'm W.T. :)
papas house
wayne gooden
church
kaleonetwork
gary lamb
Monday, July 24, 2006
Getting Closer to Launch
by Scott Whitaker
(editors note: is it me ... or are there about a dozen church starts going on in Georgia ... cool, go for it)
StonePoint Church is about to launch! We've been having monthly services for the past three months and having different social events in between. The monthly strategy has worked for us. With each monthly service we've had more first time families than the prior service. Our goal through the summer has been to touch as many families as possible before we launch. We've touched well over 100 families and we haven't even launched yet.
Another benefit of the monthly strategy is we've built up anticipation so much that people are telling us that they're ready! That's huge. I saw a family today that told us they can't wait. Not only that the wife asked, "When are WE going to start a second service because WE are already running out of space?" I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who has noticed. I am praying that we launch and double our attendance from our monthly services!
The plans are already under way for a second service. Here is a resource from Nelson Searcy titled Starting a Second Service. Nelson is a great strategist and leader. Nelson is the Pastor and planter of The Journey Church.
I believe our strategy is working but more than strategy, I believe it is because God is working in our community. I know with every bit of my being that God is launching StonePoint and I have the joy being a part of it and inviting others to do the same. My prayer is constantly, God don't let me screw this thing up.
by Scott Whitaker
(editors note: is it me ... or are there about a dozen church starts going on in Georgia ... cool, go for it)
StonePoint Church is about to launch! We've been having monthly services for the past three months and having different social events in between. The monthly strategy has worked for us. With each monthly service we've had more first time families than the prior service. Our goal through the summer has been to touch as many families as possible before we launch. We've touched well over 100 families and we haven't even launched yet.
Another benefit of the monthly strategy is we've built up anticipation so much that people are telling us that they're ready! That's huge. I saw a family today that told us they can't wait. Not only that the wife asked, "When are WE going to start a second service because WE are already running out of space?" I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who has noticed. I am praying that we launch and double our attendance from our monthly services!
The plans are already under way for a second service. Here is a resource from Nelson Searcy titled Starting a Second Service. Nelson is a great strategist and leader. Nelson is the Pastor and planter of The Journey Church.
I believe our strategy is working but more than strategy, I believe it is because God is working in our community. I know with every bit of my being that God is launching StonePoint and I have the joy being a part of it and inviting others to do the same. My prayer is constantly, God don't let me screw this thing up.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Hiring Staff
by Gary Lamb
One of the areas that I felt very unprepared for in planting a church that has grown rather quickly was in the area of hiring staff. Matter of fact I would go as far to say I did a very lousy job at it in the early days. God has blessed us with some great hires but I have made my share of mistakes. I currently have 5 full time staff and 2 part time staff (25+ hours) and myself on our staff. However since we have started I have parted ways with three staff people due to bad decisions on my part. Hiring staff is a great blessing and I believe it is a wonderful for a church. I am a believer in being overstaffed. However the wrong hire can hurt you in many ways. I have learned this valuable lesson: No matter how bad the staff person you hire, there will be people who love them and are loyal to them.
So with that in mind, I thought I would share with you some random thoughts I have learned when it comes to hiring staff.
1.) Ask Questions!
There is no such thing as asking too many questions. Ask about doctrine, ask about standards, ask about philosophy, ask about their spiritual life, ask about their family life, ask, ask, and ask! My lack of asking questions has hurt me in the past.
2.) Ask their references for references
No one is going to give you a bad reference. So they only question I ask a reference is if they can give me another reference. I have found if you go two and three deep, you begin to find out the truth about people
3.) Lay out clear expectations
Make it very clear what you expect of them. Let them know goals, leadership style, ministry style, etc. Don’t be afraid to scare them off. It is better for them to be scared and not take the job, then take it and quit later.
4.) Talk to the spouse
We expect no more of our staff spouses then we do of our regular church members. However we make sure their vision is the same as the staff person and that they are supportive of going into the ministry.
5.) When possible, hire people you know
I have only made one hire of someone I didn’t know. The rest of our staff I knew firsthand or knew someone who knew them. This has been a huge help.
6.) When hiring friends, let them know things are about to change
I have hired friends and it was hard for them and me to become the boss. It was hard to turn the friendship on and off. Let them know beforehand that there will be times when you have to be the boss and not their friend.
7.) Only give someone their first chance if they are from your church and already doing the job
I am all for giving people their first shot at ministry. However in the future I will only do that if they are in our church and already doing the job as a lay person.
8.) Burst their bubble about ministry
Those who have never been in ministry before think it is something that it isn’t. I want them to know beforehand that when they come to work there will not be angels standing at the entrance singing “Amazing Grace.” They need to know there will be conflicts, arguments, and disagreements. There is a huge myth about being in ministry.
9.) Share your vision
God gave you the vision as the pastor or planter. Make sure they line up with the vision you have for your church. We have a certain vision at RSC and we don’t think you are wrong if you have another type of vision, however we aren’t compromising on ours.
10.) Learn from your mistakes
You are gong to make bad choices. Learn from them.
I could go on and on with thoughts but those should get you started.
Obviously before any of the above things, you need to pray and seek God’s wisdom. But I wanted to give you some practical things I have learned.
by Gary Lamb
One of the areas that I felt very unprepared for in planting a church that has grown rather quickly was in the area of hiring staff. Matter of fact I would go as far to say I did a very lousy job at it in the early days. God has blessed us with some great hires but I have made my share of mistakes. I currently have 5 full time staff and 2 part time staff (25+ hours) and myself on our staff. However since we have started I have parted ways with three staff people due to bad decisions on my part. Hiring staff is a great blessing and I believe it is a wonderful for a church. I am a believer in being overstaffed. However the wrong hire can hurt you in many ways. I have learned this valuable lesson: No matter how bad the staff person you hire, there will be people who love them and are loyal to them.
So with that in mind, I thought I would share with you some random thoughts I have learned when it comes to hiring staff.
1.) Ask Questions!
There is no such thing as asking too many questions. Ask about doctrine, ask about standards, ask about philosophy, ask about their spiritual life, ask about their family life, ask, ask, and ask! My lack of asking questions has hurt me in the past.
2.) Ask their references for references
No one is going to give you a bad reference. So they only question I ask a reference is if they can give me another reference. I have found if you go two and three deep, you begin to find out the truth about people
3.) Lay out clear expectations
Make it very clear what you expect of them. Let them know goals, leadership style, ministry style, etc. Don’t be afraid to scare them off. It is better for them to be scared and not take the job, then take it and quit later.
4.) Talk to the spouse
We expect no more of our staff spouses then we do of our regular church members. However we make sure their vision is the same as the staff person and that they are supportive of going into the ministry.
5.) When possible, hire people you know
I have only made one hire of someone I didn’t know. The rest of our staff I knew firsthand or knew someone who knew them. This has been a huge help.
6.) When hiring friends, let them know things are about to change
I have hired friends and it was hard for them and me to become the boss. It was hard to turn the friendship on and off. Let them know beforehand that there will be times when you have to be the boss and not their friend.
7.) Only give someone their first chance if they are from your church and already doing the job
I am all for giving people their first shot at ministry. However in the future I will only do that if they are in our church and already doing the job as a lay person.
8.) Burst their bubble about ministry
Those who have never been in ministry before think it is something that it isn’t. I want them to know beforehand that when they come to work there will not be angels standing at the entrance singing “Amazing Grace.” They need to know there will be conflicts, arguments, and disagreements. There is a huge myth about being in ministry.
9.) Share your vision
God gave you the vision as the pastor or planter. Make sure they line up with the vision you have for your church. We have a certain vision at RSC and we don’t think you are wrong if you have another type of vision, however we aren’t compromising on ours.
10.) Learn from your mistakes
You are gong to make bad choices. Learn from them.
I could go on and on with thoughts but those should get you started.
Obviously before any of the above things, you need to pray and seek God’s wisdom. But I wanted to give you some practical things I have learned.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Ok ... I think this is pretty funny and pretty cool. I was having a cup of java this morning ... like I do most mornings. Then I googled ... coffee and church planting ... because I am thinking that no one could plant a church without a good cup of joe. It's just my own assumption. I'm sure that the 6 people that read this blog will probably agree.
So here is what I got ... it is unique. It is from churchwebsites.com ... no need to thank me guys for the free plug ... since I do websites too. It's from Mission Coffee Roasters and their link as well. And you know what ... I may just buy some of their coffee.
Mission Coffee Roasters
Mission Coffee Roasters was started to financially support Christian missionaries, missionaries-in-training, and other Christ-based ministries through the sale of fresh roasted coffee. We have over ten years of experience with specialty coffee. Our passion for quality developed while working for a family with three generations in the trade. They grew coffee in Guatemala, manufacture roasting equipment, and operate coffee houses throughout the Western United States. We spent five years working with them and are grateful for the knowledge and love of coffee they imparted.
We are dedicated to providing our customers with the freshest coffee possible at a fair price while helping to extend Christ's love to the nations. Mission Coffee Roasters ... really good coffee with a mission.
So here is what I got ... it is unique. It is from churchwebsites.com ... no need to thank me guys for the free plug ... since I do websites too. It's from Mission Coffee Roasters and their link as well. And you know what ... I may just buy some of their coffee.
Mission Coffee Roasters
Mission Coffee Roasters was started to financially support Christian missionaries, missionaries-in-training, and other Christ-based ministries through the sale of fresh roasted coffee. We have over ten years of experience with specialty coffee. Our passion for quality developed while working for a family with three generations in the trade. They grew coffee in Guatemala, manufacture roasting equipment, and operate coffee houses throughout the Western United States. We spent five years working with them and are grateful for the knowledge and love of coffee they imparted.
We are dedicated to providing our customers with the freshest coffee possible at a fair price while helping to extend Christ's love to the nations. Mission Coffee Roasters ... really good coffee with a mission.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Reading the mind of a church planter
post on Steve Addison's blog
(This comes from a book by Bob Logan and Steve Ogne: Church Platers Toolkit. This is good stuff)
Church planters typically hate explaining themselves. That’s because if they know what to do they can’t understand why everybody else can’t read their minds, and if they don’t know what to do they can’t understand why everyone else can’t just trust their instinct.
So if you’re supervising a church planter, or worse being led by one, or even worse, married to one, you may find these questions helpful.
A word of warning. Don’t give them the full list. It will be too overwhelming. Try the drip feed method. Ask one question a day and let them talk for while. Once you get through all seven questions wait a few weeks and then begin the process again. Why? Because the answers may have changed!
Good luck and God’s grace. Seven questions to help you read the mind of a church planter:
1. Why start a new church?
Demonstrates a clear call
Communicates an exciting vision
Identifies reasons for good church planting
Demonstrates an understanding of the need for new churches
2. Who is the ministry focus group?
Describes the ministry focus group
Understands the communities needs
Includes appropriate demographics
Identifies the proposed location
3. What kind of church are we trying to plant?
Clearly states your core values
States and expands your mission statement
Describes the church’s ministry style
Defines a ministry model
Includes a ministry flow chart
4. With whom will this church be planted?
Describes the proposed launch team
Includes a profile of any confirmed ministry partners
Defines the specific roles to fill
Clearly identifies team members needed
5. How and when will this church be planted?
Outlines a comprehensive strategic plan
Includes a detailed time line for the first 18-36 months
Provides a detailed explanation of how the core group will be gathered
6. How much will it cost?
Proposes a realistic start-up budget
Includes a realistic cash flow projection
Defines a realistic funding strategy
7. How can people be involved?
Prayer needs
Volunteer needs
Potential contacts
Equipment needs
Financial needs
Church Planters’ Toolkit, Bob Logan and Steve Ogne
post on Steve Addison's blog
(This comes from a book by Bob Logan and Steve Ogne: Church Platers Toolkit. This is good stuff)
Church planters typically hate explaining themselves. That’s because if they know what to do they can’t understand why everybody else can’t read their minds, and if they don’t know what to do they can’t understand why everyone else can’t just trust their instinct.
So if you’re supervising a church planter, or worse being led by one, or even worse, married to one, you may find these questions helpful.
A word of warning. Don’t give them the full list. It will be too overwhelming. Try the drip feed method. Ask one question a day and let them talk for while. Once you get through all seven questions wait a few weeks and then begin the process again. Why? Because the answers may have changed!
Good luck and God’s grace. Seven questions to help you read the mind of a church planter:
1. Why start a new church?
Demonstrates a clear call
Communicates an exciting vision
Identifies reasons for good church planting
Demonstrates an understanding of the need for new churches
2. Who is the ministry focus group?
Describes the ministry focus group
Understands the communities needs
Includes appropriate demographics
Identifies the proposed location
3. What kind of church are we trying to plant?
Clearly states your core values
States and expands your mission statement
Describes the church’s ministry style
Defines a ministry model
Includes a ministry flow chart
4. With whom will this church be planted?
Describes the proposed launch team
Includes a profile of any confirmed ministry partners
Defines the specific roles to fill
Clearly identifies team members needed
5. How and when will this church be planted?
Outlines a comprehensive strategic plan
Includes a detailed time line for the first 18-36 months
Provides a detailed explanation of how the core group will be gathered
6. How much will it cost?
Proposes a realistic start-up budget
Includes a realistic cash flow projection
Defines a realistic funding strategy
7. How can people be involved?
Prayer needs
Volunteer needs
Potential contacts
Equipment needs
Financial needs
Church Planters’ Toolkit, Bob Logan and Steve Ogne
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Kyle's Last Sunday
Kyle Sears
(Sunday was Kyle's last Sunday at GM as he leaves to plant a new church in the Austin area ... take care Kyle -- wg)
Sunday was my last day at Genesis Metro. In two weeks, I’ll be moving to Hutto to officially begin Resonate Community Church. I had the opportunity to speak one last time, and I shared about the simplicity of Kingdom Pursuits. Feel free to leave any of your thoughts or reactions in the comments.
UPDATE: I know, I know. I sound like a chipmunk. I’m working on it (any Audacity users out there?). In the meantime, enjoy a full-length sermon in half the time!
Kyle Sears
(Sunday was Kyle's last Sunday at GM as he leaves to plant a new church in the Austin area ... take care Kyle -- wg)
Sunday was my last day at Genesis Metro. In two weeks, I’ll be moving to Hutto to officially begin Resonate Community Church. I had the opportunity to speak one last time, and I shared about the simplicity of Kingdom Pursuits. Feel free to leave any of your thoughts or reactions in the comments.
UPDATE: I know, I know. I sound like a chipmunk. I’m working on it (any Audacity users out there?). In the meantime, enjoy a full-length sermon in half the time!
Monday, July 17, 2006
Quteable Monday 7/17/06
by pastorjon
To believe in spontaneous biogenesis is like believing you can have a tornado go through a junk yard and leave a 747 behind. -- Unknown
"True servanthood is caught, not taught." -- Unknown
The church will only be able to be an effective witness for God when it returns to the foundation of the five solas that defined the Reformation (Scripture alone, Christ alone, grace alone, faith alone, glory to God alone). -- Unknown
Billy Sunday said, "One reason that sin flourishes is that we treat it like a cream puff instead of a rattlesnake."
This week’s quote of the week:
"If you are swept off your feet, it's time to get on your knees." – Unknown
by pastorjon
To believe in spontaneous biogenesis is like believing you can have a tornado go through a junk yard and leave a 747 behind. -- Unknown
"True servanthood is caught, not taught." -- Unknown
The church will only be able to be an effective witness for God when it returns to the foundation of the five solas that defined the Reformation (Scripture alone, Christ alone, grace alone, faith alone, glory to God alone). -- Unknown
Billy Sunday said, "One reason that sin flourishes is that we treat it like a cream puff instead of a rattlesnake."
This week’s quote of the week:
"If you are swept off your feet, it's time to get on your knees." – Unknown
Friday, July 14, 2006
Truth in Advertising
By Danny Carlisle
Chickasha, OK
(great post by Danny)
We had seen posters, fliers, advertisements, etc all around town for the circus that was coming. We planned to take our daughter and her friend last night...so we loaded them up, went out to eat first, then headed to the circus. Oh what a surprise it was! And not a good surprise either!!
We pulled up to the fairgrounds only to find a guy standing next to a pickup directing traffic around the fairgrounds and telling us to follow the signs to where the circus was now being held. We went round and round until we finally got there...only to pull up and see what was being billed as a circus. The had a moon bounce, one clown, a trampoline, and a ring the size of my living room. They let the kids in free...but it cost $8 each for me and my wife to get in. They should have given me $8 to have to sit through that joke of a circus. I am almost sure the ringmaster was drunk! He had a bit of trouble walking and talking. They had two guys that did everything. They'd go behind the curtain and put on a new mask then come back out with a new name and do another trick or two. The best part was the 3 little dogs that did a couple of tricks.
I sat there and wondered about how they could knowingly advertise to be one thing...only to be something completely different. Then it hit me that I know of MANY churches who do the exact same thing. They say they're accepting, loving, growing, vibrant, etc, etc, etc...only to find out that they are none of those things unless you fit their mold of what a Christian should be. Why can't we just say what we are? Wouldn't it make everything easier if we just labeled ourselves according to what we are? People would know what to expect and we would attract people that are looking for that type of experience/environment.
Figure out what you are...and slap that label on yourselves. It's going to be much better for you than having people show up expecting one thing...
By Danny Carlisle
Chickasha, OK
(great post by Danny)
We had seen posters, fliers, advertisements, etc all around town for the circus that was coming. We planned to take our daughter and her friend last night...so we loaded them up, went out to eat first, then headed to the circus. Oh what a surprise it was! And not a good surprise either!!
We pulled up to the fairgrounds only to find a guy standing next to a pickup directing traffic around the fairgrounds and telling us to follow the signs to where the circus was now being held. We went round and round until we finally got there...only to pull up and see what was being billed as a circus. The had a moon bounce, one clown, a trampoline, and a ring the size of my living room. They let the kids in free...but it cost $8 each for me and my wife to get in. They should have given me $8 to have to sit through that joke of a circus. I am almost sure the ringmaster was drunk! He had a bit of trouble walking and talking. They had two guys that did everything. They'd go behind the curtain and put on a new mask then come back out with a new name and do another trick or two. The best part was the 3 little dogs that did a couple of tricks.
I sat there and wondered about how they could knowingly advertise to be one thing...only to be something completely different. Then it hit me that I know of MANY churches who do the exact same thing. They say they're accepting, loving, growing, vibrant, etc, etc, etc...only to find out that they are none of those things unless you fit their mold of what a Christian should be. Why can't we just say what we are? Wouldn't it make everything easier if we just labeled ourselves according to what we are? People would know what to expect and we would attract people that are looking for that type of experience/environment.
Figure out what you are...and slap that label on yourselves. It's going to be much better for you than having people show up expecting one thing...
Thursday, July 13, 2006
He found God in the world, not apart from it
from Marc Bushor's Blog
It's not about philosophy, but actions; following, not believing:
Nowhere do we find him (Jesus) specuating on the nature of being, and abstracting "essential" truths from historical events. He makes no philosophical formulas or introduces no abstracted ideas of God. His religion was relational and not philosophical. His "ethic" if he had one at all in the way we mean it, was action oriented and always pointed to concrete actions. He found God in the world, not apart from it. There is no hint of the dualism that later plagued Christendom throughout the ages. His way is the way of wisdom--an earthly, life-affirming wisdom that people could relate to. more
(the journey still remains one of my favorite daily reads)
from Marc Bushor's Blog
It's not about philosophy, but actions; following, not believing:
Nowhere do we find him (Jesus) specuating on the nature of being, and abstracting "essential" truths from historical events. He makes no philosophical formulas or introduces no abstracted ideas of God. His religion was relational and not philosophical. His "ethic" if he had one at all in the way we mean it, was action oriented and always pointed to concrete actions. He found God in the world, not apart from it. There is no hint of the dualism that later plagued Christendom throughout the ages. His way is the way of wisdom--an earthly, life-affirming wisdom that people could relate to. more
(the journey still remains one of my favorite daily reads)
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Maxwell on Spurgeon
by Barry Maxwell
Copperas Cove, TX
(the last paragraph of a great post)
So, with Spurgeon I plead with my church family: Brethren, pray for me. You deserve a passionate tour guide, who doesn't simply point out the Living Water to you. But, with the Living Water dribbling down his chin, he grabs your hand and races with you to the well for more. And once there, he climbs in first that you can follow him to where the Water tastes the sweetest. more
by Barry Maxwell
Copperas Cove, TX
(the last paragraph of a great post)
So, with Spurgeon I plead with my church family: Brethren, pray for me. You deserve a passionate tour guide, who doesn't simply point out the Living Water to you. But, with the Living Water dribbling down his chin, he grabs your hand and races with you to the well for more. And once there, he climbs in first that you can follow him to where the Water tastes the sweetest. more
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Why Dreams Die
by Bill Huffhine
I've been giving a lot of thought lately to dreams. Not so much the dreams that we have in our sleep (although I did again have my re-occurring tornado dream the other night) but instead, the dreams that occupy our minds and hearts as we go about life doing the things that we wish we didn't have to do so we could do the things we really want to be doing - all along fearing that time will pass so quickly that we'll suddenly wake up and realize that the entirety of our life has passed and we never lived the dreams we dreamed. (rest of blog)
(a great post from Bill .. a must read)
by Bill Huffhine
I've been giving a lot of thought lately to dreams. Not so much the dreams that we have in our sleep (although I did again have my re-occurring tornado dream the other night) but instead, the dreams that occupy our minds and hearts as we go about life doing the things that we wish we didn't have to do so we could do the things we really want to be doing - all along fearing that time will pass so quickly that we'll suddenly wake up and realize that the entirety of our life has passed and we never lived the dreams we dreamed. (rest of blog)
(a great post from Bill .. a must read)
Monday, July 10, 2006
If you disappeared
by Pastor Tony
The question I continually ask myself as I plant this church is “What would happen to our community if our church disappeared?” I really think a church is to be involved in the community. There should be some marked and positive effect on the community because we are there. It may not be huge. It might be subtle. But something good should come from the church existing. Each church, I think, has specific God-given objectives, some objectives are universal to all churches, and some are specific for each church individually. But ultimately, the church should have an impact. And if that church disappeared, there would be some obvious vacuum. For instance, if a church has a dynamic homeless ministry, if that church disappeared, there would be a huge hole in that area of ministry. If a church provides financial assistance to a crisis pregnancy center, the disappearance of that church would be felt by that ministry.
My point to all this is, what is that void that we are called to fill? And how will we fill it?
by Pastor Tony
The question I continually ask myself as I plant this church is “What would happen to our community if our church disappeared?” I really think a church is to be involved in the community. There should be some marked and positive effect on the community because we are there. It may not be huge. It might be subtle. But something good should come from the church existing. Each church, I think, has specific God-given objectives, some objectives are universal to all churches, and some are specific for each church individually. But ultimately, the church should have an impact. And if that church disappeared, there would be some obvious vacuum. For instance, if a church has a dynamic homeless ministry, if that church disappeared, there would be a huge hole in that area of ministry. If a church provides financial assistance to a crisis pregnancy center, the disappearance of that church would be felt by that ministry.
My point to all this is, what is that void that we are called to fill? And how will we fill it?
Quotable Monday
from pastor jon
The only people you should try to get even with are those who helped you. --Unknown
Satan's number one weapon is pride. God's number one defense is humility. -- Larry Burkett
God's gift to us is who we are and our gift to God is who we become. -- Unknown
The people of God are not merely to mark time, waiting for God to step in and set right all that is wrong. Rather, they are to model the new heaven and new earth, and by so doing awaken longings for what God will someday bring to pass. -- Philip Yancey
This week’s quote of the week:
"Jesus' message is not to be good boys and girls so that when you die you can go to heaven. The message of Jesus is 'I love you. I love you so deeply it kills me.'" -- Rich Mullins
from pastor jon
The only people you should try to get even with are those who helped you. --Unknown
Satan's number one weapon is pride. God's number one defense is humility. -- Larry Burkett
God's gift to us is who we are and our gift to God is who we become. -- Unknown
The people of God are not merely to mark time, waiting for God to step in and set right all that is wrong. Rather, they are to model the new heaven and new earth, and by so doing awaken longings for what God will someday bring to pass. -- Philip Yancey
This week’s quote of the week:
"Jesus' message is not to be good boys and girls so that when you die you can go to heaven. The message of Jesus is 'I love you. I love you so deeply it kills me.'" -- Rich Mullins
Sunday, July 09, 2006
I was just over at Oak Leaf's website or really Michael's blog and viewed their video from their first preview service ... it was awesome. Remember Michael and the folks at Oak Leaf in Georgia today as we advance the kingdom through planting churches.
wg/pax
wg/pax
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Friday, July 07, 2006
The 'Long Tail' of planting missional churches
by Chad Canipe
The 'Long Tail' of planting missional churches
In a recent post to his blog, marketing guru Seth Godin, riffs about "the long tail" theory and how it plays into success in just about any venture, whether it be building a small business, making it as a musician, or spreading an important idea. It spurred my thinking that we might add to this list: planting missional churches.
While it may be clear that the corporate/business mentality has seeped into the warp and woof of evangelical church culture, particularly its leadership ethos and its definitions of "success," there is thankfully a corrective, grassroots revolution brewing. I'm not talking about macro-level issues in the church; this is about you and me on the micro-level. My relational network is interwoven with folks who are trying to live out the missional nature of the Kingdom of God within the context of their homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, "third places," and so on.
We are finding that when you swim upstream it can be slow-going and tiring. That's why we need each other, why we need to remind one another that we are not completely off our rocker. And that is why we need to understand the concept of The Long Tail...I've assembled a few Long Tail links for you to explore, but before you do, read these excerpts from Seth Godin's blog and see if you aren't encouraged by how his words are so applicable for planting missional churches: more
by Chad Canipe
The 'Long Tail' of planting missional churches
In a recent post to his blog, marketing guru Seth Godin, riffs about "the long tail" theory and how it plays into success in just about any venture, whether it be building a small business, making it as a musician, or spreading an important idea. It spurred my thinking that we might add to this list: planting missional churches.
While it may be clear that the corporate/business mentality has seeped into the warp and woof of evangelical church culture, particularly its leadership ethos and its definitions of "success," there is thankfully a corrective, grassroots revolution brewing. I'm not talking about macro-level issues in the church; this is about you and me on the micro-level. My relational network is interwoven with folks who are trying to live out the missional nature of the Kingdom of God within the context of their homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, "third places," and so on.
We are finding that when you swim upstream it can be slow-going and tiring. That's why we need each other, why we need to remind one another that we are not completely off our rocker. And that is why we need to understand the concept of The Long Tail...I've assembled a few Long Tail links for you to explore, but before you do, read these excerpts from Seth Godin's blog and see if you aren't encouraged by how his words are so applicable for planting missional churches: more
Thursday, July 06, 2006
urban impact ny
by Richard Harris
BI-VOCATIONAL CHURCH PLANTING is as ancient as the Old Testament, as Biblical as the New Testament and as current as the 21st century. Approximately 1/3 of Southern Baptist new church plants last year were started with bi-vocational ministers. The trend of our day is focusing toward bi-vocational/lay church planting. In order to reach our nation with the gospel of Christ it will take ALL our members actively engaged in ministry. Many are being called into intentional bi-vocational ministry and I affirm this avenue as ONE of God's means of reaching our nation. It is Biblical - we see Paul as a Tentmaker encouraging others to travel in the same avenue if possible as they begin New Testament congregations even in their homes. more
by Richard Harris
BI-VOCATIONAL CHURCH PLANTING is as ancient as the Old Testament, as Biblical as the New Testament and as current as the 21st century. Approximately 1/3 of Southern Baptist new church plants last year were started with bi-vocational ministers. The trend of our day is focusing toward bi-vocational/lay church planting. In order to reach our nation with the gospel of Christ it will take ALL our members actively engaged in ministry. Many are being called into intentional bi-vocational ministry and I affirm this avenue as ONE of God's means of reaching our nation. It is Biblical - we see Paul as a Tentmaker encouraging others to travel in the same avenue if possible as they begin New Testament congregations even in their homes. more
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Ok ... starting over. I started kaleo network mostly out of frustration. There are lots of associations out there ... but most end up costing you a fee or a requirement to attend a conference or to adhere to a strict theological view. I just wanted some friends to walk through this crazy time of planting a church! Kaleo Network will be what it will be ... we may have a conference or two ... but that's not my main focus. Connecting with folks on this journey and helping each other when we can. I hope to have other authors who can post ... so it's not just me. You can join simply by desire. I have already included a few guys I have met through blogging and personal contact ... if you have a blog that talks about church planting ... let me know and I will put you in the list. For now ... have a happy 4th.
pax/wg
pax/wg
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