Everything has a Cost (To plant or not to plant)

Since January of this year, I have lost twenty pounds.  I feel better, have more energy, and like not having to squeeze into some of my pants.  But the weight loss has come at a cost.  I've given up money to pay for the use of a pool, I've purchased a swimsuit, I've sacrificed time to workout, I've said "no" to many food and drink items that I crave, and I'm going to be paying to have my belt shortened since the last hole now leaves the belt too loose.  The weight loss has been worth these costs, but there has been a cost nonetheless.

However, if I had chosen NOT to lose the weight, there would also be a cost.  I probably wouldn't be as content with my body.  I probably would be more self-conscious.  I probably wouldn't have the same energy level I currently do.  And I'd probably feel a small bit of embarrassment of not having the self-discipline to care for the only body God has given me.

Whether you realize it or not, EVERY decision has a cost:

• To ask the girl out has a cost - your emotional being is suddenly vulnerable.
• But to NOT ask the girl out also has a cost - you have no chance of getting a date!
• To stay up late finishing a gripping book has a cost - loss of sleep & lack of energy the next day.
• But to NOT finish the book has a cost - the suspense keeps you from getting to sleep and you sacrifice time later to complete the book.
• To watch TV comes with a cost - the time, the cable bill, the "a-muse"ment ("a" = "without" / "muse"=thought) which usually happens when the tube is on
• But to NOT watch the TV has a cost - you can't talk about the latest episode around the water cooler, and you have to find out the score of the game some other way.

I could go on.  There is a cost to pre-marital sex and a cost to abstaining.  There is a cost to drinking and a cost to not drink.  There is a cost to owning a home and a cost to renting.  There is a cost to speeding and a cost for not speeding.  There is a cost to mowing your lawn and a cost to ignore your yard.  There is a cost to everything.

This truth has hit me more powerfully these past few days concerning our adventure into church planting.  There is an enormous cost for my family - leaving an amazing staff, leaving a wonderful church family, leaving a reliable income, leaving great children's and youth ministries which have blessed my children, leaving a great neighborhood and great schools, and on and on the list goes.

But to NOT plant a church - to not obey God - to not go to Kansas City to be trained  - this also has a cost.  I would have to live with the "what if".  I would look back on my life with regret for not obeying.  And worst of all, I would risk losing the sweetness of hearing the inaudible voice of God and His Holy Spirit promptings.  While we are losing a TON by leaving New Covenant, I think I would be losing so much more if I didn't surrender my life to God in this area.  And that's a cost I'm just not willing to pay.

So how about you?  Every decision you make tomorrow will come with a cost.  Which costs are you willing to pay?

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My 1st Grader's first (and last) Bobcat Blast

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I Don't Want to be a Cover Band (Starting new churches in context)

While driving in my car this morning, I listened to the audio version of the above video.  In it, David Byrne highlights how different styles of music are better suited for different rooms.  Symphonies don't play in bars, bass-heavy rap works best in subwoofered cars, Gregorian chants need echoey cathedrals, and today's rock & pop are designed for personal MP3 players.  The context of the musical venue affects the music itself.

With my head swirling with prayers about planting a church to help non-church people go deeper in a spiritual journey with Jesus, I couldn't help think that some of the same principles of music apply to the church.  The context affects the local church.  A Crystal Cathedral probably wouldn't survive in Farragut, Iowa.  A small traditional country-style church probably isn't going to effectively reach young adults in Des Moines.  An Elevation Church probably wouldn't fly in a retirement community.  And yet each can be effective in the proper contexts.

I've heard several sources over the past couple years that talk about how followers of Jesus need to not only be able to effectively interpret the Scriptures, but we also need to be able to effectively interpret the culture. (Here's one article on the subject, and here's a book on it as well.)  If this is true, this means asking: what is the context we are in?

That's why I don't want to just plant a church that copies the model of another church.  (In other words, I don't want to just be a cover band.)  Most of the "famous" churches around the world are making beautiful music in their venue.  But I want to understand better the Iowa venue and the context of this state, and figure out how we can help those who won't go to the venues that already exist, and play "music" that might help them hear about Jesus more clearly.

And now I think I will go to iTunes and find some music appropriate for the venue of the office I'm sitting in...

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I'm speaking tonight at Coe College's Intervarsity Group tonight on "Sticky Situations." The opening activity was the Knot Game.

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I'm loving the launch of the 3 Strands ABF! Andrew Boone is rocking Acts 2 & casting vision.

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I'm loving the launch of the 3 Strands ABF @ncbconline! Andrew Boone is rocking Acts 2 & casting vision. #fb

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I'm loving the launch of the 3 Strands ABF @ncbconline! Andrew Boone is rocking Acts 2 & casting vision. #fb

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I am loving the launch of the 3 Strands ABF at @ncbconline. Andrew Boone is rocking Acts 2 & casting vision! #fb

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I am loving the launch of the 3 Strands ABF at @ncbconline. Andrew Boone is rocking Acts 2 & casting vision! #fb

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Crazy for God (or "Why My Family is Entering Church Planting")

For if we are out of our minds, it is for God... - 2 Corinthians 5:13 (NET)

Don't let the photo fool you.  My family is crazy.  As I write this, I feel like 2 Corinthians 5:13 applies to us, because today at New Covenant Bible Church, we announced my resignation as young adult pastor to go be trained how to start a new church.

New Covenant is an amazing church, with a wonderful future, with some amazing people, with fantastic opportunities ahead (especially with young adults), with a gifted staff, and so much more.  This church family has paid me a generous salary (which is such a blessing in this economy), have cared deeply for my family, have been some of my biggest fans and friends, and have been wonderful partners in the gospel.  So what would ever possess me and my family to leave all of this to go into the unknown future of starting a new church, having to raise our own funds, uproot my family, and have my sanity questioned?

The answer: Jesus.

Our Crazy Story
This decision, while insane, has been a 2-year journey for me (and LeAnn).  Two years ago (actually, the date was September 25, 2008), I felt a very clear call from God to go to Kansas City to participate in a "Leadership Residency" at Restore Community Church, which would prepare me to one day start a new church.  I wrestled with this idea intensely, not wanting to leave my wonderful church family.  Eventually, though, I felt that I needed to trust God with this crazy thought, so we began to look into the possibility.  During the process of investigation, we received advice to wait, but we sensed the "call" hadn't been lifted either.

So LeAnn and I found ourselves in "active waiting" mode, actively seeking to learn more about church planting and why God was calling us to this nutso idea as we continued to pour ourselves into the young adults of New Covenant.  We have read books, we have listened to podcasts, we have prayed together, we have sought advice, we have undergone assessment, and more.  And now the time has come for us to leave "waiting" mode and follow through on this crazy idea.

Timeline
While my resignation was announced this weekend, the elders are generously allowing me to stay on staff at New Covenant until the end of the year.  For the next 6 weeks I will be continuing and finishing my duties as young adult pastor.  And then for the remainder of the year, they are allowing me to give my full attention to fundraising and preparation for what's next.  When the Lord allows us to raise our full salary and ministry funds, we will then go to Kansas City for at least one year to be a part of Restore Community Church for the purpose of learning more about how to start a new church that will in turn start more new churches.

Over the next few blog posts, I'll be sharing more about our timeline, the vision I believe God has given me for this new church, our transition, thoughts on church planting, and more.  I will hopefully answer some of the questions I imagine you might have.

Reassurance

Before I end this post, let me reassure you of this:  Today, LeAnn and I stood on stage together with our Sr. Pastor (Bob Westfall) as the elders prayed for me because there is nothing to hide - I am not mad, I am not being fired, there is no sin that needs to be confessed, and there's no secret "scandal".  I am merely being obedient to my Master, saying "Here am I! Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8).  Unfortunately that obedience means crazily sacrificing ministry among the people of an amazingly great church.

LeAnn and I are kind of in grieving mode at knowing we are saying a goodbye to a great church.  We are excited about the future of New Covenant, and selfishly wish we could stay and be part of it.  But while we love New Covenant a ton, we love Jesus more, and because we are convinced He wants us to make this crazy next step, we will.

Yep, if we are out of our minds, it is definitely for God.

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Rapper Birds

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I needed this tonight! What a great Night of Worship at New Covenant!

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What an amazing evening w/my family! Roasting hotdogs over a fire w/the sun making it's evening descent over a river.

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This @redbox looks quite sad. His coloring just isn't right:

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My kid is preaching the gospel! #proudpastordad

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My 8th grader is giving a new definition to the term "Preacher Kid". :-)

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In Middle School Youth Group to watch my 8th Grader teach the lesson. This is definitely "controlled chaos!"

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