I’m doing the funeral of a guy that committed suicide this week. A long history of sadness in his life. A lot of this comes from not taking care of yourself. I’m guilty. Brian reminded us in staff meeting today that we have paid time off and that we should use it. I noticed J.R. Lee on his blog recently mentioned that he has not had a vacation in over a year.

If you don’t take a Sabbath Rest, then you will eventually burn out from ministry. Ministry is hard. You (me) have to take care of yourself. I have even discovered that I tend to eat less when I am focused and rested.

Your church will still be there when you get home and you will still be pastor. Take a break. Take the wife, leave the kids with baby sitters, and go away even if for a night. Make love like newly weds and you (she) don’t have to make the bed or wash the dishes in the morning. Now make this a habit at least 4 times a year.

Rest!

Been keeping up with Bob Roberts posts about Global Movements. He says that he believes that the movement will come from the south and east instead of from the west. I agree because in the west we believe that money solves all of our problems.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve been comfortable (never rich) and I’ve been poor (by American standards) and comfortable is better. But comfortable is often the roadblock to my spiritual development. I wish it weren’t, but in reality when comfortable I begin to breathe easy and think I’ve made it. I think most church planters are like that some. There needs to be some uncomfortable times when if God doesn’t show up then whatever we are doing will not happen.

I believe it is called faith. The reason that movement is more likely to happen in the south and east is that they are more comfortable living by faith. They do not have a culture where “in Visa we trust” is more prevalent than “in God we trust.” That’s the reason I love to read about what God is doing in other parts of the world. I get convicted about getting out of my comfort zone even if only in my dreams.

“O, for faith to trust Him more.” (hows that for sneaking in an old hymn?)

I stumbled across a church that is in a mess. I won’t name any names or places so as not to give them press. But it was ridiculous. Members are suing the pastor. I think the pastor is suing the members. They tried to vote him out, not enough votes and he wouldn’t go. The church tried to kick the members out and not enough votes and the disgruntled members won’t go.

Pastor claims they are upset over a new worship style. The members claim he has misused money. Membership and Attendance is falling, SURPRISE, SURPRISE! Blogs, tv spots on the news, accusations in the newspaper and on the internet. Pastor says they are angry because they are no longer leaders. Members say pastor keeps bad records. Pastor says they don’t like staff led church. They agree. Over 20 years of ministry. Over 50 years of church history. One time a great church. Now it may never recover.

I don’t know which side is right. I just know that the devil has won this one. For that they all get the blame. What a shame to completely blow a churches witness because somebody didn’t get their way. In that city the devil has a party. And in the bars and streets people laugh as the angels cry.

Do the right things the right way. Protect your witness, protect the witness of the church, protect the name of Jesus. As Kenny Rogers says, “you gotta know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em. Somebody’s ego wouldn’t let them fold.

In the last two weeks I have met with a pastor that was struggling because of poor decisions over land. I have met with a pastor that is struggling with a traditional church that needs a chaplain not a leader. I have just heard that a friend has resigned without a place to go. I met with a leadership team from a church that grew from 280 to 40 and is struggling to survive.

Leadership is key in all of these situations. In the last one when I asked some very fundamental questions about how the church was run and who did what the answer was always the same, “Pastor ______ did that.” The biggest frustration is that this man went to training. Met with other great pastors but just could not let go of the reins of leadership and learn to lead leaders.

If you are going to grow a church you better become a leader of leaders. Otherwise you are holding back what God might want to do in your area. A rancher hires cowboys to ride the range. The rancher is constantly seeking new ground for his sheep to graze and for new sheep to build the flock. The rancher that wants to build the ranch doesn’t sit and watch sheep.

Guys, LEAD. If not, as my friend at lunch the other day indicated, find a church that needs a chaplain and go sit with the sheep and take care of the sheep you inherited. Nothing wrong with that there are churches that need pastors that will do just that, but it is not the job of a church planter.

 By the way, a shout out to Michael Lukaszewski at Oak Leaf Church. He’s written a book on launching a church based on his experience at Oak Leak and he is offering a pdf version for a donation to Oak Leaf so they can launch a second site. Look it up here: http://web.mac.com/mljr/Launching_a_Campus/Book.html

Good investment and he mentions me in the introduction.

LEAD!

Bob Roberts on his blog today says, “Right now, there are a lot of disgruntled people trying to reinvent the church. It will never work. The church has never been birthed from frustrated people trying to reinvent something that’s lost its punch.” Amen to that.

I get tired of meeting with people who want to start churches because they are mad. Mad at the church they are serving because the church won’t change. Mad at some deacon that controls the purse strings. Mad at the system. Mad at the denomination. Mad at lack of outreach. Mad at lack of respect for the pastor. Or a deacon, leader, or staff member that is Mad at the pastor. Mad because he can’t preach more often. Mad because no one gets HIS vision.

Start a church because YOU ARE CALLED. God needs to burn this on your heart.

Start a church because YOU KNOW A PLACE AND A PEOPLE THAT NEED JESUS!

Start a church because YOU INTENTIONALLY HAVE A DESIRE TO SHARE THE GOSPEL.

Start a church because YOU ARE PASSIONATELY IN LOVE WITH JESUS!

If you can’t meet those four foundational criteria, find another ministry position and thank God for that calling.

Technology blip the last couple of days. $%&(*#@.

 Had so much to say the last two days and now I’m blank.

I take off tomorrow morning to meet with Ellis Prince at the Gallery Church in Baltimore. We’re going to be looking at some meeting space. This is a critical decision for any church. Just an encouragement. When you go looking for space make sure it’s the right space to meet your needs, is right for the community, and gives the church the ability to expand and not tie you down.

 I met recently with a pastor that helped a church transition to a new location that the church had bought before his arrival. A lot of acreage but less than half of it was actually useable. The second encouragement is make sure you are using consultants that do not have a dog in the fight. In other words get a second opinion.

Land and space is critical and can limit you for years and years. Be careful.