ChurchPlanters.com "Giving You Permission"

davidputmanlive.com launched today!

Thank you for reading my blog.  My new blog site launched today, hope you check it out!  This blog has permanently moved to www.davidputmanlive.com. 

Thank you,

David Putman

David Putman Interview - Part 1

Check out Part 1 of 2 of an interview I did with the guys at Exponential Conference in April.

Making Disciples in Malawi

I'm fired up!  God has given us a clear vision for my World Care project...We are going to adopt a village in Malawi and put a well and irrigation system in it.  Two weeks ago we took up a huge offering at MLC that has paved the way for this project.  We couldn't do it without the leadership of Shawn Lovejoy and the commitment of the people at MLC to live like Jesus, love like Jesus, and leave what Jesus left behind.  That's right we are going to change the world one village at a time. 

Here is what I'm fired up about...I'm looking for twelve men to go with me to Malawi the first two weeks of September.  I was having breakfast with my good friend and brand new passionate follower of Jesus Don Short the other day.  He told me something that hit home...he said the reason he first went to Malawi was because I was going.  That was six months ago...now Don is leading the way...he wants to spend two months of each year in Malawi...living, loving, and leaving. 

It hit me during this conversation that I can't get complacent about investing my life in men.  I must practice what I preach and write about...so here's the deal...

1) On May 30th Don and I are going to host a men's breakfast at his place...we are going to share the vision for what God wants to do in and through us and invite some of our friends to go to Malawi with us.

2) Through out the summer we are going to meet a number of different times to go over my book Breaking the Discipleship Code, prepare for our upcoming trip, and really connect with one another...it is going to be awesome...

All you have to do to qualify is be a risk taker and willing to be used by God to change the world. 

If you are interested contact me at [email protected].

A Tribute to Mom

My mom with my dad and Dave at Dave's airborne graduation doing what mom's do best...loving!

What can I say tomorrow is Mother's Day and I have been blessed with the best mom in the world.  I'm not kidding...I really feel that way.  I am so thankful for her.  I've included an excerpt from my new book Breaking the Discipleship Code that my mom wrote.  Let me set it up...The third part of the book answers the question, "What does a missional follower of Jesus look like in...?"  My mom has been through a lot including an ongoing life threatening illness.  Recently she has been part of a clinical trial that is kicking the backside of her disease and bringing about a cure for all.  As I wrote about being missional in the context of suffering I included this as a missional snapshot at the end of the chapter.  Take a moment to read it and take a longer moment to celebrate your mom. 

Tomorrow I will get to see her for a few moments and I will give a copy of the book...I can't wait. 

(Patricia Putman – awesome mom, artist, school teacher, pastor’s wife, and cancer survivor.)

      My husband and I just returned home from Houston,Texas last night marking the second anniversary of my treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center. I was diagnosed in 1992 with Polycythemia. From 1992 until 2005 my red cell blood count would rise until I would have to undergo a phlebotomy. I was constantly fatigue and iron deficient from the treatments. In 2005 the doctor indicated that I was coming up on a day that I would enter into the spent phase of my disease where my bone morrow would stop making cells and then I would die.
    For a brief time I was depressed but it wasn't long before I was on the internet searching for a clinical trial. No doubt the Lord led me to the MD Anderson website where there was a clinical trials open for Polycythemia Vera and other Mmyeloproliferative disorders. Through a series of communication and referrals I became part of the trial.  I am now in complete remission, and my doctor has assured me that this trial is about a cure for PV. I believe that it is only a matter of time before I am cured.
    It has not been easy. At one point I really wanted to quit. As time passed and I grew stronger I began to realize that I had to see the trial through to the finish. I came to understand that not only my life depended on the research, but those in the future that would become sick with Polycythemia Vera were depending on me and the others in the trial. Now they won't have to fear a disease that had at one time carried a death sentence.

Go Make Disciples

        Our Bikes Sitting Outside Starbucks

When Jesus said, "Go make disciples" It was for everybody.  If it was for everybody then what he had in mind was something that every follower of Jesus could very easily and naturally do.  Which means we have made it way to complex and complicated.  I believe that we have actually made a religion out of making disciples when Jesus was inviting us into natural relationships where his ways are caught more than taught. 

Here's my challenge for us...go make disciples!  We did it last night.  Four of us guys from my small group went and did life.  We started at Roosters (great wing place) and ended up at Starbucks.  We talked a lot of capitalizing investments and equity ratios on venture capital which I know nothing about. Out of that we talked about giving back...our dreams...and our struggles...now that I understand. 

Before the night began my friend Dan met me at my house on his Harley...I pulled my son's Harley out of my garage and we headed down the road.  I usually ride the Honda VTX, but there are certain occasions when I get on the head turner.  This was it.  This time he let me lead.  It was a first...usually he leads.  Dan has been riding for years and it is new to me.  Dan is discipling me on how to ride since I am fairly new at it.  He keeps telling me that there nothing like saddle time.  He is also the guy who got me into it.  He may have saved my life.  You see how it works.  It's the same for our faith. 

Here's my suggestions...pick up a copy of my book Breaking the Discipleship Code read a chapter every day or two during your quiet time...meet once a week with a friend or two and discuss your biggest take away from your reading...get really honest and real...agree...disagree with the book...who cares...just use it as a spring board for real life...There's seventeen chapters...by the time you get through you should be on your way to a real relationship...real relationship equal real discipleship.   Be careful not to miss it...discipleship  isn't always what you think.   Get a little saddle time.

Full Day...Full Life...Fullness

"I've come that you might have life and have it to the full."  These are the word of Jesus.  I can really relate.  I haven't always been able to...some days I still struggle...other days life throws me a curve...another day there will be suffering...such is life...at the same time my life is full.  I'm not sure that I would call yesterday typical, but here's what it looked like for me...

It started at 6:00 am with a prayer time at MLC for National Day of Prayer.  It was good.  A great reminder to pray more for our country.

After prayer I got to hang out with Todd Nichols our worship pastor.  Todd is awesome and I've spent very little time with him since he joined our team six months ago...it was a good time to catch up, check in, and connect.  Thanks Todd for your time.

Later morning I met with our IT guy and worked on an outsource contract for all of our computer and communication needs. 

Had a conference call with Chip Riggs from Hope Baptist in Las Vegas.  We are working on our partnership in the middle east where we will be training 100 pastors and 30 young leaders in December.

Spent the balance of the morning working on lots of different administrative stuff. 

MY wife called about noon and wanted to go to Bon Jovi Concert...not my thing...but my wife is...We picked up a couple of really cheap tickets in the nose bleed section.

Drove down to Catalyst headquarters for a podcast with Brad Lomenick.  We talked a lot about my life, ministry and new book...Breaking the Discipleship Code.

Did all this on my motorcycle which is like a vacation every time I get on it.

Went home and took a 15 minute nap...I'm not sure if it was a power nap or not.

Had a second prayer time at 6:00 pm for National Day of Prayer.

Went to Bon Jova concert and got back home by Midnight. 

Heard from a old friend David Langford via e-mail.  Second reconnect from my high school days in two days.  Really cool. 

Did I say anything about a full life...Today is my day off so I am going to ride my bike with a friend and tonight Tami and I will catch a movie, hang  out at Barnes and Nobel's, and have some dinner...wonder who I will hear from or connect with today?

Have a great day and don't forget to live.   

Humble Reminder

I got a call on Monday from an old fiend I went to High School with back in the late seventies.  I graduated in 1977.  One of the last times I saw Jay he was strung out on drugs.  Most of us were in the seventies.  I had found Jesus and was serving as a 21 year old pastor in a church.  I was having a tough time because I kept bringing people of different races and people like Jay, who used a few drugs, to church and the folks were sort of hacked off about me ruining their country club.  Anyway, that's another story for another time.  I took care of Jay one weekend and took him to rehab at the first of the week...I think Jay was in and out of rehab, jail, prison, etc. for the next few years. 

When he called on Monday I knew he was doing good. I could hear it in his voice.  Turns out he has been sober since 1997!  Four years ago he and his dad reconciled.  A Big deal  - Jay had not had a relationship with his dad since High School.  Jay is attending a new church plant that is running over 600 people (after two years) and working with at-risk teens. 

If that's not good enough, he has a Harley Night Train...I can't wait to go riding with him.  God is good...never give up...and I can't wait to get to heaven and see a whole lot of Jay's I don't know about or have forgotten along the way....keep living the Jesus way!

PS. Did I say their will be Harley's in heaven?  I wonder what kind Jesus will drive...cruiser or touring?

Perfect Day

What can I say...this is my biker chick.  Tami and I spent the day cruising the mountains of  North Georgia.  It was awesome. This Picture was taken at Woody Gap a trail-head for the Appalachian trail on the scenic GA 60 Highway.  After a couple of hours of cruising we stopped here where I laid on a concrete picnic table and listened to the sounds of nature and enjoyed the cool breeze.  Somehow we managed to miss the rain all day...however I don't think it would have really mattered.  We ended the day sitting on our patio enjoying the sounds of our small waterfall and welcoming the darkness as it descended on us.  In a few months we will celebrate 29 wonderful years together.  Man I love this women.  I am so grateful for the life God has given us.   

Rick Warren and Breaking the Discipleship Code

No...Rick didn't write Breaking the Discipleship Code, but he has a signed copy of it. 

Alright...here is how it went down.  I'm at a meeting at the Exponential Conference when I get a phone call from Ed Stetzer.  Ed is sitting with Rick and says "Rick wants you to come up here and sign your book".

I know Rick from about ten years ago when we (rick, ed, and me) were attempting to get a Purpose Driven Church Planting Track in all the SBC Seminaries.  It was during those years that God began speaking to Rick about the PEACE Plan and he redirected his attention to the World.

Anyway when I got to the table Rick has the book open to a heading on purpose...he has signed his name over that heading.  We took a couple of pictures, chat a little about the good old days and I signed his book.

By the way I love Rick Warren...I mean I love what God is doing in and through his life.  Rick is a disciple...he really is.  He can say...follow me as I follow Him. 

Think about it...I signed a copy of my book for the guy who wrote the number one selling book of all times with the exception of the Bible and I serve the God who wrote the number one best seller of all time.  Pretty cool huh!!!  Check out Breaking the Discipleship Code here.

My New Book Has Arrived!

My new book has arrived!  I don't mean arrived.  I mean it is here.  I'm not really sure what arrived means.  When I arrived home on Thursday night from our Green Ramp celebration with my son and it was.  You talk about timing the dedication in the front of the book reads, "This book is dedicated to my son Dave, who recently spent fifteen months in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne.  Welcome home!"

Check it out at amazon here!

Each week we have a "Belong and Become" time in our ministry team meeting at Mountain Lake and I was able to present it to our team and share a little of my heart for each one.

Friday night I will see my daughter Amanda, and will be able to present her with a copy of it with a special note or blessing written in it.

Anyway the book is here and I hope it will be a blessing to you and many others.  Take a moment to check it out and pick up a copy. 

While you read this one...I will begin my work on the next.  I spoke with my publisher two days ago and my marketing person yesterday and they are really fired up about the next one.  I really appreciate everyone who participated in the project.  A special thanks to the guys at B&H, Mountain Lake, Beth Nelson, and my family.

I'll  write a little tomorrow about what God did in me in the process of writing this book so don't miss it....