Tuesday, December 28, 2010
God can...
and God can weaken.
God can build up,
and God can tear down.
God can protect,
and God can expose.
God can infuse life,
and God can bring death.
God can provide,
and God can withhold.
God can do as He pleases,
but He always does what is right
and best
and perfect
for His children.
So if you need it
whether you realize it or not,
whether you want it or not,
God can...
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Announcing The RiverTree Project (our church planting organization)
It's finally here! I'd like to introduce you to The RiverTree Project!
And to do just that, I'm going to invite you to peruse the new website and read the first blog post. While at the site, feel free to sign-up for our quarterly newsletters and/or "semi-weekly" prayer emails. And join us in celebrating the next step in this church planting journey!
Announcing The RiverTree Project (our church planting organization)
It's finally here! I'd like to introduce you to The RiverTree Project!
And to do just that, I'm going to invite you to peruse the new website and read the first blog post. While at the site, feel free to sign-up for our quarterly newsletters and/or "semi-weekly" prayer emails. And join us in celebrating the next step in this church planting journey!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Monday, December 06, 2010
The Butterfly Circus: A powerful short film about grace, redemption, & design.
I encourage you to find 20 minutes to watch the touching short film above. Absolutely amazing! I'm a sucker for movies about grace, redemption, second chances, and learning that the image of God in us means we've been designed for a purpose.
May you be inspired as you watch it.
Saturday, December 04, 2010
Thursday, December 02, 2010
A Snail Race in January (Faithless Waiting)
Case in point: Yesterday morning, I overheard LeAnn telling Tsion that it was Dec. 1. As I heard the words "today" and "December" combined in a sentence, my heart sunk.
In that moment:
- "December" meant I have been "unemployed" for 6 weeks.
- "December" reminded me that we still didn't have our nonprofit organization set-up, which we had naively assumed would be done 6 weeks ago.
- "December" teased that we still have a ton of work to do on the house to get it ready for sale.
- "December" reminded me we still have some big financial decisions to make concerning the promotion of our nonprofit.
- "December" taunted that we haven't raised a dime of salary, and my New Covenant salary ends Dec. 31.
- But most of all, "December" mocked the prospect of us moving to Kansas City in January.
I took my tea, breakfast, and pity party upstairs to my "office" to begin my day in God's Word. As I sat down with the Scriptures to read Nahum & Habakkuk, God's words through these Old Testament prophets began to spank my faith-less spirit. Habakkuk 2:3 particularly stuck out:
For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;it will surely come; it will not delay. (ESV)
This ministry move feels like a snail-race in January. We are working so hard to move ahead and obey God. Yet despite all of our activity, we have been feeling like we are stuck on a treadmill.
But as Hab. 2:3 jumped off the page at me, I sensed God say "wait for it". Just as the prophet Habakkuk and his listeners wondered when the Babylonians would attack (many thought "never"), we have had our moments wondering when this "vision" from God to go to Kansas City will happen. But God says to us, just as He said to the Jews of Habakkuk's time, "it will surely come; it will not delay."
So I proceeded into my work day with that on my mind. Then during the course of the day:
- we got our logo for our nonprofit!
- I made tremendous progress on a website for our nonprofit as well as knocked out several long-awaiting to-dos!
- and best of all: we finally got the articles of incorporation establishing our nonprofit! (Which we'll roll out to you really, really soon!)
A few months ago, as we knew we were going to be raising funds in the "near" future to follow God into this vision to start a new church to lead people deeper in their spiritual journey with Jesus, we started praying that God would raise the funds in such a way that He would get all the glory. Perhaps this time of waiting is actually part of the answer to that prayer.
Then when the funds actually come in, the move actually happens, and a new church is actually birthed, it will be evident to all that I didn't do this in my own power. Instead, God picked me up and moved me to the finish line. Because I'm just a snail, working as hard as I can, and He knows I can't finish this race on my own.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
An "Out of this World" Birthday Party
My "S-man" turned 7-years-old today. And to celebrate, we had a fun "friend" party with a space theme. The boys got to wear "uniforms", eat "moon cake", and visit another planet (the basement redone in blacklight!) while undergoing "space cadet training." It was a wonderful day celebrating our son. We are so thankful God has put him in our lives. He has such a positive attitude, he's extremely bright, he is incredibly kind, and he is a wonderful part of our family! Happy Birthday, S!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Why I love the Mac community
It's not a secret - I'm an Apple fan. But sometimes (okay, many times) Apple makes decisions that I don't necessarily agree with.
But the Mac community takes Apple's former slogan and "thinks different" to finds ways to overcome Apple's "closed" system, allowing me to have the experience I want.
So instead of:
- Being stuck with gray, color-less icons in iTunes 10, I was able to restore the color thanks to Shaun R.
- Being stuck with Mail's "top/bottom" look, I get the 3-column "widescreen" look I prefer with Letterbox.
And as part of the Mac community, I hope that by posting these links, one of these two improvements will improve your Mac experience as well.
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
This is not my story, yet it is...
The video above is not my story. It is not about the church I hope the Lord allows me to start in Iowa.
Yet so much of it feels like my story.
I had the chance to meet the Plant Ventura team at a conference in June. What a great team! I can just tell the Lord is going to write a great story through them.
And I pray He also writes a great story through me, my family, and a yet-to-be-seen team as we also seek to start a new church.
Inheritance
Today I read chapters 43-46 in Ezekiel. Verse 28 in chapter 44 really stuck out to me:
"This will be [the priests'] inheritance: I am their inheritance, and you must give them no property in Israel; I am their property." (Ezekiel 44:28 (NET), emphasis mine)
At first thought, it seems like the priests get the short end. All the other tribes of Israel get land and possessions for themselves, but the priests get nothing. Yeah, the verses following verse 28 indicate that God will provide everything the priests need (grain, meat, breads, clothing, etc.), but verse 28 makes it clear that their inheritance, their portion, their possession, wasn't things of this earth - it was the Lord Himself.
But that's just it. When you have God, you have everything. But when you don't have God, you have nothing.
As I pondered this thought, it struck me:
"[Y]ou are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9 (NET), emphasis mine)
I've heard some people share the gospel with additives:
- "Come to Jesus, and He'll fix your financial problems!"
- "If you have Jesus, He'll repair your broken relationships!"
- "When you have enough faith in Christ, all your health problems will be gone!"
- "Give your life totally to Jesus, and He'll give you a new job!"
But if the combination of Ezekiel 44:28 and 1 Peter 2:9 is true, then if you are a follower of Christ, you are part of a priesthood of believers, which means that when you come to Jesus, you get Jesus! He is your inheritance. And He is more than enough.
Is there anything in your life that needs to change to reflect this truth?
- Are you living for an earthly inheritance, trying to gain more earthly wealth, possessions, and position through your job, relationships, and pursuits?
- Or is Christ enough for you, and you are simply trusting Him, just as the priests had to trust, that He will provide everything you need on this earth?
As my family prepares to move into life without an "earned income" and relying solely upon the generosity and contributions of others, I needed this reminder that if I have Christ, I have everything I need.
I'm a priest - and He is my inheritance.
Monday, November 08, 2010
Church Planter by Darrin Patrick (Book Review) (tag: Book Review, Church Planting))
I just finished Darrin Patrick's first book Church Planter moments ago. And the one-word that comes to my mind after reading it is "affirmed." Which is exactly what I needed after internal lingering doubts have plagued me from time to time in recent weeks.
But I'm not here to review me... Let me review Darrin's book:
Just as the subtitle indicates, Church Planter is broken up into three sections: The Man, the Message, and the Mission. The chapters are more brief than I would have expected (which is a good thing), and Darrin handles deep concepts quickly, yet thoroughly. I wish I had his gift of brevity while not feeling like I skimped on something. So let me attempt to be brief about each section...
The Man
Section 1 is about the church planter. Darrin explains in his introduction that he holds to a complementation view of the role of men and women in church (egalitarians hold that women can be pastors, complementarians hold that only men can serve as elders/shepherds/overseers/pastors). But even if you are egalitarian, this book is worth reading. "The Man" is about the character qualifications that are needed to lead a church.
In all honesty, I think this book should just be entitled "Pastor." While I, as a future church planter, needed to read Darrin's exhortations, many times I found myself thinking that all pastors need to read this book. Darrin works through the Scriptures of what it means to shepherd God's people, and whether you pastor a 1-year-old church or a 100-year-old church, all pastors need to understand their role and calling.
The Message
The middle section of Church Planter is all about the gospel message. I found this wonderfully refreshing and invigorating theologically and intellectually. Something I've been learning over the past several years is that the good news of the gospel isn't just for our salvation, but for our sanctification as well. This idea has changed the way I counsel people, the way I preach, and the way I pray. So it was encouraging to see Darrin encouraging church planters and pastors to apply the gospel to all areas of life. But before you can apply it, you have to understand it, which is what Darrin aims to help his readers do.
The Mission
The final section is about the mission of the church. It was so refreshing to read from someone so committed to the teaching of the Word, yet wanting to see the church tack from the Word and live it out in their communities with compassion. Having tired of seeing churches that get caught up in social justice that they lose sight of Jesus, as well as seeing churches get so wrapped up in their knowledge of Scripture they lose sight of a lost and dying world around them, I was thrilled to see someone striking a Christ-like balance of pursuing God wholeheartedly while seeking the benefit of the city.
The Conclusion
If you are a church planter, whether in the pre-launch stages or years 1-5, you will definitely want to pick up or borrow a copy of Darrin's first book. It will encourage you, challenge you, and remind you of your calling.
If you are a pastor, I recommend you also find a way to grab a chance to read Church Planter. Darrin's style is easy enough to read it won't take you too terribly long to work through the book, and you'll be glad you gave it a few hours.
I made a New Year's resolution to not buy any books in 2010 (I had decided I should read more of the books I already had than keep collecting books I may never read). I have managed to hold to that resolution all year long (except once when the Marion Library was selling off some books really, really cheap!), which means passing on some books I am eager to read. I figured Church Planter would end up on the "some day" list. I am grateful my friend, Jason Poling, purchased me a copy as a gift to encourage me as my family embarks on this church planting adventure.
I foresee myself being like Jason and giving this book to church planters and pastors I interact with. And as someone who rarely ever re-reads a book, I expect I'll be opening the cover (which by the way, I absolutely hate! Looks like the poster for a movie about a serial killer...) once again to be reminded of what God has called me to.
Rating: 4.5 sickles out of 5
Sunday, November 07, 2010
I Want To Be a Spiritual Photographer (A Church-Planting Desire)
Talented photographers capture a moment that draws the viewer into the picture. The image burns into the memory of the admirer, while the thought of the photographer fades. While the photographer might temporarily get in the way to get the perfect photo, the photo remains, outlasting the photographer.
Through this yet-to-be-started new church, I hope to capture images and stories of God's work in the lives of people. I want to photograph moments of Christ's work that get burned into memories. In our culture, I know some people's attention will be on me as the pastor, but what I truly want is for all people to see the image of God, knowing I will fade with time. I want my life to be like the New Testament prophet John the Baptizer, who said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30 (ESV)
In other words, I want to be a spiritual photographer.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
3 Degrees of Iowa Separation (Tapping into Relational Networks)
Today's journey took me to Ottumwa to meet Marty Schmidt, lead/planting pastor of thebridge. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing his church planting story over some delicious barbecue. Then he showed me the homeless shelter thebridge helped build/renovate, the offices their church staff uses, and even the incredible Bridge View Center they get to use each Sunday.
While in their offices, I met their Community Pastor, Cy McMahon. In typical American-fashion, Cy asked me where I was from. I gave my standard reply to this standard question: "Southwest Iowa." When he said, "Really?!?" his tone revealed he was from the same area. Turns out, he was from Farragut, Iowa, which is only about a 15-minute country drive from my hometown of Shenandoah. My mom taught in the Farragut district for almost 20 years alongside Cy's mother. In addition, a few years ago Cy lived in Pella, where my parents now live, and he ran into "Mrs. Bird" there and remembered her from her Farragut days.
In each of my church-planting appointments, I have had similar "Iowa" moments like I had with Cy. But that's not the only time; I also have these Iowa connections at weddings, at social gatherings, and at random times. If Kevin Bacon believes there are six degrees of separation in the world, I would estimate there are about 3˚ in Iowa. (To make non-Iowans reading this feel more at ease - Iowans aren't all related, just relationally connected. There's no in-breeding here, so let's just keeping moving along...)
What this means to me is that when one person in Iowa has their life changed by Christ, they have a built in network of family and friends that probably spreads all across this state. And if those people were to see the change of Christ in that individual's life, it might draw them to a relationship with Jesus as well. This means that when one person believes upon the cross of Christ, the ripples of that belief don't just change their one life, but could potentially affect lives all across a state.
While Iowa is made fun of by the rest of the nation as "flyover country", I instead see wonderfully connected people in need of the beautiful news of Jesus. That's why I want to start a church that will help start other churches all around this state to help Iowans find the one connection that really matters.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Trick or Treat? (Reactions to New Churches)
Tonight we held our "2nd annual 5-minute Trick or Treat Party" in our garage. Instead of just handing costumed-kids candy at the door, we made them earn their sugar. Games included a bean bag toss, a "fishing" pond, and a duck pond where kids could receive gum, candy, or toys. And parents could warm up with hot apple cider, apple cake, and popcorn.
Because a "5-minute party" is rather unusual and not normal for the culture, it is kind of fun watching the reactions of "customers" (as my 6-year-old son called them!). Reactions varied widely, from the middle school boys who "didn't have time" to play games, to the middle school girls who wanted to stand around chatting while munching on their "winnings." But my favorite reactions were of some parents.
One father walked up to the garage entrance tonight and peered skeptically in while 4 late elementary/early middle school girls stood behind them. Even with my reassurance, he still wasn't sure if he should step in our not. After the girls with him played a couple of games, I could see him visibly soften toward the idea of being in a stranger's garage while his kids had fun. Five minutes later as they prepared to exit to go pilfer other homes of candy, this father turned to me with a slight smile and said "thanks."
Contrast this to the couple who walked in with 3 little ones about half-way through the evening. As their children buzzed from game to game, the mom could not stop smiling. She thanked me approximately 3.23 times, and the dad echoed her almost each instance. They even said to themselves "this is such a wonderful idea!"
As the happy family made their way out, leaving our garage empty for a short time before the next set of "customers" descended upon us, I turned to my oldest daughter and said, "that's how it is going to be with our new church - reactions will be all over the place."
Like the dad with 4 girls, some people will be extremely skeptical of a new church. They'll think we are a cult. They'll think we won't make it past the first year. They'll think we are weird or not legitimate. For a variety of reasons, they'll be wary about joining us to worship God.
Others will be like the couple with three young ones. They'll be overjoyed at the idea of this new church. They'll eagerly jump in. They'll comment to themselves how much they like this new church. It won't bug them one bit that they are part of a church family that uses rented facilities and has to set-up and tear-down each Sunday.
And yet others will be like the middle school boys and be too busy for this new church, while some will be like the middle school girls and just enjoy what the church has to offer without ever really becoming part of it.
Yep, I can't guarantee much of anything about this yet-to-be-seen church, but I can guarantee this: reactions will be all over the place.
You're Invited to our 5-Minute Trick or Treat Party!
Like last year, we are hosting a Trick or Treat Party for those who are going around the neighborhood trick-or-treating. Instead of just getting candy at the door, we are inviting people into our cleaned out garage to play a few games, enjoy some apple cake, and have some hot apple cider.
So if you are in Cedar Rapids, feel free to stop by for a few minutes, enjoy the festivities, meet someone new, and then carry on pillaging the neighborhood of sugary treats.
And for those who need directions, click here.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Color Outside the Lines
Below is the first every "guest post" on my blog. My friend, Nate Collins, wrote this as a short devotional that he included with the weekly prayer requests for one of the Adult Bible Fellowships at New Covenant. I hope it encourages you as much as it encouraged me.
----
If I was to hand you a box of crayons and a coloring book would you second-guess yourself on your choice of colors? Would you decide to stay within “the lines”?
Now think back as a kid when you did have the crayons in your hand and you didn’t care what anyone thought. You simply experimented, and whatever you wanted that picture to look like, that’s what it would look like. You also did not care whether you were inside the lines or not.
How about if I were to hand you a blank sheet of paper? How long would you have to think before your crayon hits the paper? Put the same crayons in the hands of a little kid and almost immediately the crayon makes contact with the paper.
As we got older, all of a sudden, staying “within the lines” was the rule. Grass is supposed to be green, the sky is supposed to be blue. Yes, there is nothing wrong to perceive the world as it really is, and staying within the lines can make a “good looking” picture.
But how many times have we seen masterpieces of art from the greats and kids who let their imagination free?
God gave us a mind that is capable of extraordinary things.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see”
Dictionary: the faculty of imagining, or of forming mental images or concepts of what is not actually present to the senses.
Faith and imagination. Think about it. And don’t be afraid to color outside the lines.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
A Tale of Two Weddings (aka The Need for Different Churches)
Today, I officiated two weddings. (That's right TWO in ONE day! Second time I've done it, too.) Both ceremonies were VERY beautiful, and I was so honored to get to be part of both of them. God is definitely at work in both couples' lives, and it was so cool to be there at the moment they were created as Mr. & Mrs.
But these weddings were so different!
- Wedding #1 lasted an hour and a half (one of the longest I've ever officiated).
- Wedding #2 only went 35 minutes.
- Wedding #1 had LOTS of creative moments: three worship songs, four Scripture readings, a video testimony, a family prayer time, a Salt Ceremony (not a Unity Candle or Sand), and more.
- Wedding #2 had no special music other than during the pouring of colored sand, no elaborate decorations, no major elements, just a simple, off-the-cuff heartfelt message from me, the exchange of vows and rings, and a recessional.
- Wedding #1's rehearsal on Friday night was more formal in attire, and took two hours.
- Wedding #2's rehearsal attire was jeans and Hawkeye shirts, and took just over an hour.
Without a doubt, these weddings were very different - and yet the same thing happened at both; a couple got married! Even though these ceremonies were opposite in many ways, they both glorified God, both had the gospel shared, both were incredibly beautiful in their own right, and they both had a married couple walk out the back doors of the sanctuary.
And of course, this got me thinking about church planting.
I have had a few people ask me why I feel the call to plant a new church. Don't we already have enough churches?
Just as today's weddings were different, yet accomplished the same thing, I think there need to be different churches to do the same thing: glorify God by making disciples. But that goal can be accomplished through a variety of ways:
- One church has a liturgical rhythm.
- Another is more unscripted.
- One church has traditional music with organs and choir.
- One has a blended style of hymns and modern songs.
- And yet another has mood lights and crunching guitars.
- One church has the kids in the service with the adults.
- Another has children's programs on Sunday mornings.
- And another has a hybrid of the two.
- One church the members feel comfortable in suits and dresses.
- Another church's members feel more comfortable in business casual.
- And yet another church just down the street might have more denim than slack in the pews.
- One church builds community through small groups
- One builds community through mid-sized groups
- One builds community through serving groups
- And yet another builds community through all of the above!
And on and on I could go. The differences between churches are as wide as the differences in people. Yet each local body should be striving for the same biblical mandate.
It doesn't matter how you get the job done, as long as you are accomplish the goal in a manner that glorifies God. Because at the end of the day, all followers of Jesus comprise the Bride of Christ. And THAT is going to be the most beautiful wedding any of us have ever witnessed!
The Most Amazing Wife in the World
As I am preparing to lead two weddings today (yes, you read that right - TWO!), I find myself being reflective upon my own marriage. And I am convinced I am married to the most amazing woman on the planet. Why do I say that?
Let the evidence speak for itself...
When I told her two years ago I felt God was calling us to leave the church we love to go plant a church, she said "okay, let's do it!" Her support of me and this church planting dream is unrivaled.
She is the most faithful person I have ever known.
She sacrifices so much to serve our family. For instance...
She graduated valedictorian in her high school class of 400+ seniors with a 4.0+ GPA, had a full-ride scholarship to college, was routinely told by math students in Venezuela she was the best teacher they had ever had, and yet she gladly gave up the accomplishments and accolades she could have had in the marketplace or education for the promotion of being a full-time at-home mom.
She is a whiz at managing numbers and finances. Her attention to details is beyond compare.
The grace she extends to ALL people is inspiring! She likes everyone she meets and treats all people equally with kindness.
When I am my biggest critic, feeling insecure, and incapable of planting, leading, and pastoring a church, she is my biggest supporter, speaking truth into my life.
She doesn't play head games.
She is incredibly forgiving. She forgives me so quickly and deeply, it truly humbles me, making me desire to have the same trait.
She truly appreciates each of our children for who they are as unique individuals, and she parents them as is best for each of them.
Her love language is quality time – and she gives it generously to whoever needs it... whether that is me, or one of the children, or a female friend in need of conversation and prayer.
She has a heart and passion for Christ that is awe-inspiring. She truly embraces faith.
She is modest in so many areas - perception of self, fashion, the future, abilities, and more.
She is consistent. It is so comforting to know I can truly rely on my wife.
She doesn't waste money - I never have to worry when she goes shopping.
She operates our household with aplomb. She is without a doubt a Proverbs 31 woman.
And on and on I could go...
As our home is in a bit of disarray and chaos because of boxes, transition, an unknown future, a busy schedule, and more, I realize that in the middle of all this is a woman who shines forth. I am so grateful for her, and decided I needed to publicly declare what an amazing woman I am connected to. God must really love me to make me one flesh with such an incredible woman!
(Just in case you, my reader, are wondering - I am not in the doghouse as I type this! :o)
LeAnn, I love you. And I would exchange vows with you all over again.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
It is Finished...
It took much longer than anticipated, but my office is finally cleaned out (although the dust on the shelves and desk betray the phrase "cleaned out"). But as I loaded up the last box, I was surprised as a wave of emotion and memories flooded over me and a prayer of thankfulness came to my lips.
I thought of the hundreds of people I have counseled on that couch, meekly imparting God's truth to them and praying for them. I thought of the countless mornings I sat on the couch next to the window with my Bible, allowing God to shape me, especially these past two years as I prayed and sorted through His crazy call on my life to go plant a church that will hopefully plant other churches. I thought of the great moments when members of the staff family would stop by my office with a quick "hi" or a question. Those moments were usually filled with laughter!
I thought of the teetering tower of books that used to make my little bookshelf smile under the weight.
And then I remembered it was in my office chair, sitting at my desk making a routine check of email on a nondescript Thursday in September of 2008 that I heard my "call" to leave this office, these people, this place, this church I love to go start a new church to reach people who need to hear about Jesus and be invited to go deeper in their spiritual journey with Him.
As the tears flowed as I silently prayed, I uttered words of gratefulness for all that took place over the past several years in this office. And it is my ongoing prayer that the ministry that happened here would be duplicated and even increased as my family and I follow God by faith into this unknown future.
So don't let that photo, nor my title fool you. The office may be empty, but the memories are full. And my duties at New Covenant may be finished, but the ministry God has for me in the future is far from over.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Church Fighting revealed on camera!
<begin joke>
Now that I am officially no longer the young adult pastor at New Covenant, I felt the truth could be revealed. The reason I left New Covenant is because of all the fighting! While it appeared we all got along so well on the staff, behind closed doors it was a completely different story. I just couldn't handle the constant fighting, which even turned violent at times. Why else would Mark Eades, the Middle School Pastor, work so hard at getting his black belt in Tae-Kwan-Do? Or Mark Forstrom, the High School Pastor, start kickboxing?
Don't believe me? Here's the evidence...
<end joke>
In all truth, I never thought a church staff could get along this well. The staff of New Covenant have become my family, and "losing" them has been one of the hardest things about obeying God into this call of church planting. My prayer is that one day I will be working along a staff that will honor Christ like this team has the past 8 1/2 years I've been with them, seek to keep unity in the Spirit, and have fun doing it!
Church Fighting revealed on camera!
<begin joke>
Now that I am officially no longer the young adult pastor at New Covenant, I felt the truth could be revealed. The reason I left New Covenant is because of all the fighting! While it appeared we all got along so well on the staff, behind closed doors it was a completely different story. I just couldn't handle the constant fighting, which even turned violent at times. Why else would Mark Eades, the Middle School Pastor, work so hard at getting his black belt in Tae-Kwan-Do? Or Mark Forstrom, the High School Pastor, start kickboxing?
Don't believe me? Here's the evidence...
<end joke>
In all truth, I never thought a church staff could get along this well. The staff of New Covenant have become my family, and "losing" them has been one of the hardest things about obeying God into this call of church planting. My prayer is that one day I will be working along a staff that will honor Christ like this team has the past 8 1/2 years I've been with, seek to keep unity, and have fun doing it!
----
Erin Bird
Twitter: erinbbird
Blog: erinbird.posterous.com
Temptation (I'm still going to plant a church...)
So it comes as no surprise that the week my duties as young adult pastor at New Covenant end because of a significant spiritual decision to obey God and go learn how to start a new church (which means leaving a good salary to go fundraise my own salary), I receive two contacts from friends about job openings at their churches.
Because I am absolutely certain I am doing what God has called me to do, the temptation to inquire about these positions is pretty much nil. But maybe they would be tempting to you or someone you know. So let me pass these on to you...
- My college church, Siloam Springs Bible Church, is looking for a new senior pastor. To inquire for more info, email pastorsearch@siloambible.org.
- A high school friend told me his church is looking for a youth/young adult pastor. (Update: The church isn't quite ready to publicize the position.)
Monday, October 18, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Top 10 Rejected Mid-Sized Groups
So for some laughs, here are Kim's "Top 10 Rejected High Tech ABF Ideas"
10. RSS Feed ABF – Subscribe to all your favorite Bible teachers, podcasts and websites.
9. Blogger ABF – The best Bible lessons that no one ever reads!
8. E-mail ABF – Are you kidding me! E-mail is so yesterday! If you wish to unsubscribe from this ABF, reply to this e-mail with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
7. iABF – There’s an app for that!
6. Texting ABF – G2CU! GRWG! GTG. =) (Translation: Good to see you! Get right with God! Got to go.)
5. Satellite Dish ABF – For $19.95 per month you get the All ABF Channel with discipleship 24 hours a day!
4. Chat Room ABF – Share prayer requests with someone named ChurchLady584
3. Fantasy Team ABF – Draft your teacher, leadership team and fellow class members from the web-based church directory!
2. Facebook ABF – Send an invite to 1200 of your closest friends.
1. Twitter ABF – Tweet deep theological truths 140 characters at a time.
Here's hoping most of these don't catch on...
Friday, October 15, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
I want to be a tree (not a shrub)
The Lord says,
“I will put a curse on people
who trust in mere human beings,
who depend on mere flesh and blood for their strength,
and whose hearts have turned away from the Lord.
They will be like a shrub in the desert.
They will not experience good things even when they happen.
It will be as though they were growing in the desert,
in a salt land where no one can live.
“I will put a curse on people
who trust in mere human beings,
who depend on mere flesh and blood for their strength,
and whose hearts have turned away from the Lord.
They will be like a shrub in the desert.
They will not experience good things even when they happen.
It will be as though they were growing in the desert,
in a salt land where no one can live.
My blessing is on those people who trust in me,
who put their confidence in me.
They will be like a tree planted near a stream
whose roots spread out toward the water.
It has nothing to fear when the heat comes.
Its leaves are always green.
It has no need to be concerned in a year of drought.
It does not stop bearing fruit.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Garage Saling on Thursdays - Church Planting on Assumptions (Understanding the Culture)
Our garage sale (or rather Our-Sale-To-Sell-Stuff-Which-Happened-To-Be-Held-In-Our-Garage Sale) went over extremely well this past week. We were very pleased with the amount of stuff we were able to get rid of, er, I mean, sell and bless others with. ;o)
But our sale would never have been as successful had we gone with our original plan. Not being avid garage salers ourselves, we just assumed these temporary residential storefronts were a weekend thing. Sure, we notice some sales were on Thursday or even Wednesday, but we just assumed the biggest day would be a Saturday.
An experienced garage-saling friend suggested we move our sale up from Friday-Saturday to Thursday-Friday. Wow, was she ever right! Thursday was by far our best day. Thursday was probably three times busier, and we sold three times more. Our friend knew the culture and her insight into the ways of rabid garage salers helped us be far more successful had we merely operated on pre-conceived assumptions.
I wonder how much of "church" is done based upon pre-conception. We just assume "church" should be done a certain way, like a Saturday garage sale. But the culture has changed, and the church should start doing Thursday sales to be most effective at reaching those who don't have a relationship with Christ yet.
What assumptions do you think the American church has been running on that need to be adjusted? What is a "Saturday" thing that needs to be switched to a "Thursday"?
The Latest (and Last?) Issue of The Connection
And because I was the originator of The Connection as a tool to help connect young adults to God, each other, and New Covenant, I have no idea what the future plans will be with the newsletter. There is a possibility the Young Adult Pastor Search Committee will do another issue around January to keep you updated with their progress in finding God's man for the position. Perhaps the new young adult pastor will want to keep The Connection as a vehicle to communicate with the young adult flock at NCBC. Or perhaps, the newsletter will simply end at the nice round number of ten.
Issue 10 should hit mailboxes this week. Until then (or if you aren't a young adult at New Covenant), enjoy the PDF.
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Garage Sale Time!
In preparation for moving and selling our home in the next few months, my family is having a Garage Sale tomorrow and Friday from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. (Okay, truthfully, we are not selling the garage, we are just selling stuff in the garage (I say that for any English Language Legalists reading this...). If you are in Cedar Rapids and interested in what stuff will be for sale in our garage, go to the Craigslist page we set up.
And when it comes time to get rid of the garage, we've decided we'll give it FREE to whoever buys our house. So if you actually do want our garage, feel free to make us an offer on the house...
To find our Garage:
<br /><small>View Larger Map</small>
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
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?
Monday, September 20, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
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...
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
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.
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.
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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