Many people have said, “Ministry would be fun if it weren”t for people.” I find that so true. I was on the plane going to Salt Lake City on Sunday and engaged a man in conversation. He was a Doctor from Oregon that had attended a board meeting in ATL for a medical lab company for which he sits on the board. Obviously a mover and shaker in the medical world. He politely asked about my work. I started to give him some bull about helping entrepeneurs start businesses. But I decided to fess up as to what I did (although I did hit a little pride and tell him I have a D.Min )  I guess I thought that might put on sumewhat equal footing (yeah right). Anyway he started asking questions about why to start churches. I gave him the usual spill about providing places to reach people, reaching new generations, providing leadership, blah, blah, blah.

He remarked one time, “Isn’t that tough. ” To which I replied, “Yeah church people can be pretty rough.” We both laughed, but that is the truth. The most unforgiving people I know are church people. It is like they forget what “grace” means once they receive it. The other thing I notice is that we are pretty good at extending grace sometimes to unbelievers but attack one another like piranhas. I confess this is one of the issues I deal with. I’m pretty good with unbelievers and new believers, but give me a break if you have been a believer for 50 years and still complaining about music, carpet, the way people dress, what people eat or drink. Perhaps you need to read Acts 10 again.

So to all you people who have gotten on my nerves this week: GRACE!

Spent some time in Utah, Sunday – Tuesday this week. It was cold and I don’t mean let’s snuggle up with a blanket and eat popcorn cold I mean light a fire and throw yourself in it cold. Waiting on the bus at 20 degrees with a windchill factor of 7 is not fun. But the meeting went well. I was asked to meet with the SBC guy for church planting because I have a lot of SBC connections (not many that still talk to me ) and another guy that is knocking it out of the park with a church plant called K2 that we met at Vision360 events, David Nelson is playing in the Devil’s backyard in Salt Lake City and winning. K2 is running about 1400 in SLC which is incredible after just 3 years, incredible period but especially with 3 years.

Anyway Derek our church planter out there has been given all the material we teach at our church planting school and he wants to cross all the barriers of denom and non-denom life and since WRC has been fairly successful at that Derek wanted me to meet with the guys  and help him bridge the gap. I believe just about everyone is on board, several denom types of varying kinds, and non-denoms also.

Here is one sad thing, David Nelson has started the biggest non-mormon, non-catholic church in Salt Lake City and he told us, “One of my biggest disappointments is that church planters DON’T call me.”  You’ve got to be kidding, the most successful church launch probably in the history of the city and no one calls. I would be knocking down his door trying to find out what worked for him. What’s the matter with you church planters? Pride? Fear? Find the successful guys around you and pay for their lunch they’ll talk to you. But go with questions, don’t dominate the conversation listen to their story, they were the success and you want to be LISTEN.

Doug Garvin kicked it off in Savannah yesterday and 2 guests entered the Kingdom for the first time! That ladies and gentlemen is what it’s all about. Look forward to hearing more of Canvas’ story soon. I believe there will be a lot of others in the Kingdom before Doug and the crew are finished. Great job Doug.

Can’t believe I have another post for the day. I got to spend some time in the coffee shop just reading this afternoon after another meeting was canceled. Had to share this. Reading Organic Church, Neil Cole. He writes about the parable of the seed and soil. Neil compares the good soil and some other parables of Jesus. He says that in the other parables Jesus warned us who bad soil was: Intellectuals, I Cor 1:26, Good Moral People, Luke 5:31-32, and Wealthy People, Luke 18:24-25.

He says that you can win people in these categories but, “You will be hard-pressed to find a church planting movement started among wealthy, educated people. But it is easy to find them among poor, working-class people.” That is powerful. I see guys starting great churches in the suburbs but not movements. That is a WOW realization for me. I have always wondered why you can read Garrison’s “Church Planting Movements” and not read anything about movements in America. Here it is, we are too comfortable, too intellectual, and too “good” for our own good.

I like the next page though. If you are going to start a church in the ‘burbs and you want to win people Cole lists four things you can do: 1. Ride along with the sheriff or police and see the need; 2.Search the papers for bankruptcies or foreclosures, call them and tell them you are praying for them!; 3. find out where the local 12 step programs meet (probably need to be in recovery yourself); 4. be available at a crisis pregnancy center, abortion clinic to pray and listen without your protest sign.

I don’t think I could ever “do” church the way Neil Cole does church, but this book challenges me. I encourage you to read it.

We are in the midst of staff evaluations. As I write this I am waiting to be evaluated by Pastor Brian. I hate evaluations, not so much to receive them. I actually like to know where I stand, but I hate doing them because I hate conflict. I want everyone to love me and when I have to confront someone, I fear, as do most people, that they  may not like me anymore. Now I can’t imagine why someone would not like lovable old me. I actually explained to someone not long ago that I realize I am not mister hugable. I am not a touchy feely kind of guy. One of the larger complaints I get from my wife. but i stray…

Anyway evaluations are essential. People need to know where they stand. I hate not knowing whether people think I’m doing a good job or not. If I’m doing a good job let me know and encourage me, if I’m not train me, direct me, or fire me so we both can move on. (Although not today Brian my house payment is due in a couple of weeks.) But see, that is the point, if you let me know how I am doing, or I let you know how you are doing then I can plan or you can plan and prepare for the future.

That’s also true in ministries. Evaluate every ministry periodically. The established church for the most part has so many unproductive ministries sapping the budget that real ministry often goes lacking. These ministries might have worked well in former years, for instance,  my in-laws have never forgiven my wife and I that we go to a church that doesn’t have a youth choir and do yearly youth choir mission trips. Isn’t that what effective youth ministries do? It is what worked at one time, believe it or not I became a believer after one such trip (I went because my girlfriend was going). But today, not so much. Yet, I still know churches that do youth choir trips. Maybe fun for the kids (although probably embarrassing to all dress alike) but how effective are they? Kids today are building or repairing houses and schools, meeting people in nursing homes and orphanages in Jamaica, digging wells in Africa, feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, serving the least of these not singing for churches that don’t even invite their friends. I’ll get off the soapbox now.

The issue is evaluate. It will make things run smoother and help you and your people be more effective in ministry.

Haven’t specifically mentioned church planting in at least a week so I feel a need. This week Doug Garvin is kicking off Canvas Church in Savannah. Great place to start a church, 1. not a lot happening there as relates to church plants, 2. not a lot happening there with churches in general, and 3. a huge need in unchurched people. Trust that God is going to bless Doug and his crew this weekend.

I also sent out an email today saying that another guy is kicking off, turns out I was wrong, darn my first mistake of the year and it’s only January 22, oops January 21, number 2. Anyway as I told him, “you need the prayer and I need the practice.”  

This is my reminder from the class I teach on church planting. So many church planters put all their eggs and energy into the launch basket and don’t prepare for the day after. If you aren’t prepared to follow up on the people that show up don’t start up. (after Joseph Lowery’s prayer yesterday just wanted to do a cool rhyme) This is a critical step in growing a church. Statistically follow-up within the first 24 hours is critical. And here’s a clue, although people want to hear from the pastor, a lay person is much more effective. You know pastors they want to hear from someone who is not paid to be good but is good for nothing. (I’m on a roll)

What is your system and plan for outreach after the fact? Email letters, Phone calls, Snail Mail, Guest reception after the service, a small gift of some kind, how will you show people you care that they were there?

Systems are another blog. Have good ones. I comment on what good ones are some day, but if you can find it Andy Stanley said it better at Catalyst a couple of years ago.

When I was a young boy, I think I was 6 or 7, (1959 or 1960) my family was not poor, but we certainly were not rich. We didn’t own a car. My oldest sister supported my family of 8 that still lived at home on her job as a secretary. She was at work one day when she was talking with some friends and said that we would love to take a vacation but didn’t have a car to get anywhere. An African American gentleman that worked with her offered to pick our family up on a Saturday and take our family camping and return the next week to pick us up and deliver us home. So we made plans and this gentleman picked us up. It must have been a sight to see all of us in one car, some of the older ones had to stay home, but the car was packed. We headed out early that Saturday. After driving about an hour we stopped for breakfast in a small town. We entered the restaurant and sat down. We sat for several minutes before a waitress finally came to our table and speaking to my mother said, “Ma’am we will take your order but we will not serve the n______.” My mom said, “he is with us.” The waitress left and soon came back and said, “We will feed the n_______ out at the back door.” My mom said, “if you feed us, you feed him.” About 10 minutes later a truck load of men pulled up to the restaurant and all got out holding guns. We got the message. We got up, got back in the car and left. The truck followed us to the county line. Now my mother was old south. I’ve heard her use the n word more than once herself. But this man was doing us a kindness and she was not going to allow him to be mistreated. Honestly, I have used it, not proud of it, but I have used it.

I will never forget that experience. Today sitting at lunch and watching the inaugaration ceremonies that incident came to my mind. How far have we come in my lifetime. I was watching the faces of elderly African American men and women, some of them with the Tuskegee Airman hats on. I cannot imagine fighting and defending a country that treated them as they were treated for many years in this country. And I have African American friends that describe similar treatment in the North as they received in the South, it just wasn’t codified in law. So in a sense the entire country was responsible. Now, I disagree with many of the campaign promises of President Obama but I’m telling you if you have any empathy at all for your fellow human beings, how could you not have felt something, seeing those old faces that most all could recount for you some line about discrimination and understand their pride that one of their own was now President.

I was proud of Rick Warren. He is a Southern Baptist, I am one loosely. I am proud that the SBC was the FIRST denomination to apologize for slavery. I am proud that Warren’s church is one of the most active churches in the world in responding to the AIDS crisis around the world. I am proud that Warren did not bow to the ecumenism of our generation and ended his prayer not only in the name of Jesus but in the name of Jesus in several languages.

I pray for President Obama. I trust God’s Word that no one rules without Him knowing it and allowing it. I have already heard many of the pundits on the radio tearing apart the speech, but I tell you I have never heard a more articulate politician ever. The presentation was the best. I hope his ideas and his actions are as splendid as his oratory. God Bless You, President Obama.

I’m back in the office today for the first full day since before Christmas. I promise I will never run that kind of schedule again. Right after the holidays we had several planning days for the new year here at WRC and then I headed off to Baltimore for a partner’s meeting with Gallery Church which also afforded me time to see my daughter. The time wasn’t wasted but it did put me waaaayyy behind at least in my communication.

So today I’ve been trying to return telephone calls and with all the emails and other stuff,  well some of you have not received your calls, sorry. I’ll try again on Wednesday since Tuesday is a full day of meetings at WRC.

Setting priorities on stuff that should have been done a week ago is tough. Procrastination is not one of my best traits. I put off till tomorrow what I should do today and wait until the last minute and complain because I’m always in a hurry. Here’s a lesson for you don’t do it like me. I also have big dates on my calendar and the small stuff just happens. I know guys that have every minute of every day planned. I could not (probably should try) work like that. I need some play in the day so that I do not get bored with routine. I don’t miss much but have to admit I miss more than I used to. But I did not promise nor resolve to be more efficient in 2009 so I am not feeling guilty.

Oh yeah, another meeting tonite after hours so I gotta go… 

Been a week in Baltimore with Gallery Church, Ellis Prince hosted the partnership meeting this past Tuesday. Saturday was different than most anything you’d see around here. Ellis and the GC hosted a Raven’s Playoff Party at the Pub where the church meets upstairs. GC provided free wings and fries for all attendees and had some baked goods for dessert. Plan was to have an introductory worship service at halftime. The place was packed. Lot of drinking goin’ on. If you follow the Food Network, one of my favorite shows is from Baltimore, Ace of Cakes. One of the stars Mary Alice was there with her husband and one of his friends. Got a chance to meet her, very friendly and personable. Halftime didn’t last very long and not many folks made the trip upstairs but Ellis got some good feedback, one guy even asked him about doing pre-marriage counseling so a seed was planted.

It was also cold in Baltimore. I couldn’t live where the temperature as like that all the time. My daughter has just moved into a new row house apartment and is on her own now. From a dad’s perspective I’m not sure I like thinking about her roaming the streets of Baltimore late at night. They walk everywhere up there, which is another disincentive for me living there . But I know she is in God’s hands. Ellis has created some great partnerships and his plans for the next several years are exciting.

I have had some dental work done this morning. Better than three hours with someone’s hands in my mouth. 1. that’s uncomfortable, and 2. that is painful. The shots are just wearing off and I am now on a general pain killer. I feel a little like a return to the 1960″s, head floating, thoughts running, and hoping I’m making sense (like trying to answer a question in history class after having a …well if you lived through it you know what I mean  ).

Glad to be home. I’ll be returning all those calls I have missed in the last two weeks and thinking happy thoughts while the pills are working. If you called, wrote, or emailed I promise I’ll get back to you.  

My daughter gave me a devotional book about men in the Bible. Obviously they begin with Adam. Here’s something I might have considered but if I had it has been a looooonnnnnggggg timmmeeee. After God breathed life into Adam, what were his first thoughts? What am I? Who am I? Where am I? What are the sounds I’m hearing? What are all these strange looking things around me? Imagine waking from a sleep and stretching out your limbs and wondering what these limbs are? How self aware was he? Like in SNL, “what were his Deep Thoughts?” And “What is this presence that I feel? What? Who? is this voice I keep hearing? And what is a voice?

Just imagine the questions? And before Eve, “Where’d he get the answers? Oh yeah, Prensence. This is a pretty interesting thought process. And not only that but Adam had a chance to truly craft his present and his future, more than any of the rest of us. Imagine having only one limitation – don’t eat from one tree.

Now what would you do with a church plant that had only one limitation? In essence, you are the only limitation to your church plant. Do you believe that? Yes we have to deal with other entitiies, but obstacles stretch you as a leader, they don’t limit God’s Kingdom and His church. If God has called you, He has promised to supply you: “my God shall supply all your needs, He has promised to equip you: …for every good work, He has promised never leave you…

So now imagine God has wiped the slate clean…what will you do with a new slate? You awake each day with a new slate, a new beginning, what will you do with the new world in which God has placed you?

Today is planning day! Not really, I hate it. 17 people in the same room working on a plan for the next 6 months. “I’ve got that date,” No, I had it first” “Can we work something out” “I just need a little space” “This is gonna take the entire building” “What’s our priorities?” Doesn’t it sound like fun?

Not fun, but necessary. If a church staff is going to function like a team and create fellowship we all have to be on the same page. Remember the FCA definition of fellowship (at least in my day this is what they taught me) “Fellowship is a bunch of fellows (and ladies) in the same ship rowing in the same direction.” Calendar should not be dictated or controlled by one individual. The larger you get the more that is true.

We’ll laugh, we’ll complain (someone will anyway), we’ll negotiate and when we leave we’ll have a plan. Some wise guy once said, “man makes his plans, but God directs his steps.” Direct our steps today is my prayer.