ChurchPlanters.com "Giving You Permission"

Part 4 of 5: Why Am I Here?

I love to write.  I don't write books because it cool or I'm good at it.  I write books because there is something intrinsically in me that drags my thoughts out on paper in the  form of words.  A few years back I heard Len Sweet make a comment that the movement of God is like a tornado...in that it touches down randomly...here...here...here...he went on to say that we would see a huge impact if we could only figure out how to connect the dots.  I remember thinking I want to spend the rest of my life connecting dots.  That's exactly what I try to do through my writing.   

Writing is part of the answer to the question "Why Am I Here?"'  However it is not writing for writing sake...Writing for me has been a journey...and it is becoming even more of a journey...When I wrote Breaking the Missional Code with my friend Ed Stetzer, God began to show me something about my heart.  As a result I just finished a second book that will be out in May call Breaking the Discipleship Code: Becoming a Missional Follower of Jesus.  It is a sequel to the first.  If Missional Code helped you as a leader then Discipleship Code is going to be the book you want to put in the people you lead hands. 

Something happened to me when I was writing the Discipleship Code.  I broke the discipleship code for me.  That's right...God spoke to me...He continues to do so....he showed me that  breaking the discipleship code is about losing my religion and finding the Jesus way.  Something I will be working on the rest of my life. 

I'm now on a new journey...I am working devotionally through a new book that is designed to serve as a sort of detox for the overly religious...I really want to invite others to join me in the journey of rediscovering the centrality and simplicity of the Jesus way.  I believe we've made this thing way to complicated. 

That's why I write...it is how God works in my life...it's part of "Why I am Here?"' We all have a story.  We all are living out our book.  We will all have a final chapter.  Some of us write, while others speak.  While other chose to remain silent.

I write....Just like right now...I wrote this for me.  I hope it helps you...david

Part 3 of 5: Why Am I Here?

I want to take this opportunity to talk about church planting and ChurchPlanters.com.  Church planting is a huge part of why I am here.  It is a calling.  It doesn't go away.  Early on I was a church planter and now I help church planters.  Just over three years ago a left a major church planting organization where I was very involved in working with church planters to join the the ministry team of a three year old church plant and founded ChurchPlanters.com with Shawn Lovejoy.  I just can't get it out of my system. 

This past week we had 17 teams come to our campus where we spent 24 hours pouring into them through one of our Best Practices Practicums.  It was awesome.  I was overwhelmed by the fact that we were able to help these guys at some point.  I know God spoke loud into their lives.  That's why we exist.  When they go back and experience a breakthrough, we succeed.  Over half of them signed up for our next Coaching Network which means we are going to have the opportunity to journey with these guys over the next six months.  I love this because over an extended period of time together we will see life changing results.  These guys are going to be encouraged, there churches are going to be more focused, disconnected people are going to be reached, and God's Kingdom is going to be advanced.  What an honor. 

Our mission is simple at ChurchPlanters.com...to give you permission to do what it takes.  We really believe that there are a lot of things and people that kick us and keep us down.  What we really need is someone who says "go for it...you can do it."  We believe that the best thing we can do is help you with perspective and then give you permission.  The rules of engagement has changed...when this happens in the battle field there is often confusion.  We want to bring clarity and be the guys who encourage you to take the hill. 

Our Strategy is simple....

1) The Conference - Once a year we have a large gathering of church planters and church planting leaders at Mountain Lake Church.  This year we will have some 600 or so church planters.  We have a really neat line up of leaders and it is going to be awesome.  It is here that we build relationships, encourage church planters, and get all fired up about the mission of reaching those who are disconnected from Christ and the church.  You can check it out or register for this years conference at www.churchplanters.com.  It will happen on February 18-19, 2008 and will include guys like Steven Furtick, Bil Cornelius, Mark Batterson, Darrin Patrick, Gabe Lyons, Devin Hudson, Shawn Lovejoy and many more.  It is going to be awesome.

2) Best Practice Practicums -  A couple of times a year we offer a Best Practice Practicum for guys who we connect with and they want to go to the next level of relationship and information.  Our Practicums are designed to give them our Best Practices and help them drill into their own ministries and make ministry changing applications. 

3) Coaching Networks - For those guys who are really serious about a relationship and want support, encouragement, perspective, coaching, and resourcing on an on-going bases we have our coaching networks.  Our networks are design for 8 to 12 lead church planters and meet over six months for once a month. 

4) Church Planting Residency - Because we are local church based we are able to offer a residency program right out of Mountain Lake Church.  The Residency consist of guys who are willing to spend a year with us before they launch there church plants.  Through the residency ministry we look for high impact leaders who will take what they learn and over time turn it into a movement. 

5) Church Planting Networks - Realizing that none of us can do everything God has put in our hearts we are forming a network for launching new churches.  We use our conferencing and coaching to fund our ministry in order that we might put 100% of any funds committed to supporting church planters into their church planting ministry.  It pretty cool to create an organization that no only resources church planters, but also allows other to contribute and partner together for planting churches in a way that 100% of there dollars gets to the field.   If you are looking for a church planter to support or a network to parter with in making a huge difference then we can help.  We are currently building networks to support two new church plants in Cincinnati, Ohio and Columbus, Georgia.

Why am I here?  Well here is one of the four reasons, I exit to come along side of church planters.  What an awesome privilege to do what you were created for and to do it in a way to advance His Kingdom. 

Part 2: Family Man First and Foremost

I am so stoked...my son is coming home tomorrow...that's right he called last night at 2:00 AM to let me know that he would be arriving in HOT ATL Saturday at 7:20 am.  He will be home for the next 18 days.  My daughter will be arriving today around 4:00 pm.  Let the party begin...kill the fatted calf...get the robe and don't forget the ring. 

Here is we I'm going to do over the next eighteen days...

1) According to my wife be at the airport tomorrow by like 4:00 am.  She doesn't want to be late. 

2) Go to I-Hop first thing Sunday Morning.  My son plans on eating at every fast food place and I-Hop every morning. 

3) Help lead a Best Practice Practicum.  Dang it...been on the calendar a long time...however it is going to be awesome and it at MLC so I don't have to leave town.  I hope I can get my son to come by and hang out with us a little. 

4) Shop for motorcycles.  Dave is planning on ordering a Harley Night Rider so we want to go check them out and I'm looking for something so I can cruise the country with him once he gets back.

5) Watch movies and play a lot of playstation. 

6) Go fishing...since he doesn't want to camp...we will go catch some good size bass. 

7) Have a big party on November 3rd.  We have all of our family coming in from out of town and a bunch of friends coming over.  I think we have nearly a hundred people confirmed.

8) Attend church together as a family.  Since I am taking a lot of time off it will be neat just to go to church together.

9) Maybe take a road trip or two. 

With all this said...please remember to pray for our troops...my son spent his last two days in Afghanistan in the Hospital visiting 12 guys from the 82nd Airborne 3rd Platoon that got caught in an ambush.  One of them lost his leg...another got hit in the groan area...all of them were cut up with shrapnel and shot up.  These are the guys he served with.  He called me and asked me to pray for them.  I asked him how he was doing with it and he told me he was mad and wanted to go back and take care of business.  Coming home is hard on these soldiers...they are so committed to each other. 

When you worship this weekend thank God for your religious freedoms and pray for our troops...pray for peace on earth and good will toward all men.  Thanks.....david

Part 1 of 5: Why Am I Here

During the Catalyst Conference I picked up a book by Reggie McNeal, Get A Life! It is All About You.  I'm not sure this title is my favorite, but I get what Reggie is saying.  Reggie is a friend that goes back a long way.  There was a time in my ministry that he encouraged me and saved my ministry...probably my life and family.  I owe Reggie a lot.  He is a great leader and even better missionary to the North American church.  Anything Reggie writes is worth the read. 

I picked up the book because it is interactive and I am talking with a publisher about writing a book that allows for a lot of interaction and processing.  I thought it would be good to see how Reggie did it. 

As I read through the book it hit me that  it would do be well to refocus my life on why I am here.  I don't feel that I have lost my way.  In many ways I am more focused and have more purpose then ever.  However, I do realize more everyday I have limited time here on earth.  I am 48 years old...now I must confess a very young 48...as my son said, "the new 24". 

As I've reflected on Reggie's book I realize there are four areas that I am incredibly called to and passionate about.  Here is how I see it:

1) I am a family man first and foremost.  I have the privilege of spending the rest of my life investing in wife and two children.  Matter of fact my son will arrive home for 18 days this weekend from Afghanistan.  It will be the first time we have seen him in nearly a year.  We can't wait.  At the end of the 18 days he will return to the front lines of the War on Terror.  You better believe that we will spend everyday as if it is our last.  I can't wait.  It is going to be so good to hang out as with my wife and two children. 

2) I am a pastor.  God has called me to the local church.  The local church is our front lines on the War on Sin.  Jesus tells us that "the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy.  I have come that you might have life and have it to the full".  John 10:10  The local church is the context in which the rest of my life is informed. 

3)  I am a missionary.  That's right a missionary.  I really thing we all are or at least should be.  I am a missionary to the North American church.  God has called me to work toward the re-planting and the renewal of the North American Church.  All of my ministry has been about helping the church become relevant to North America and the way you become relevant is to become like Jesus.  This is where ChurchPlanters.com comes in.  It is the means in which I relate and connect with other young leaders and churches.  I will tell you more in my next few blogs. 

4) I am a writer.  I don't know why I am a writer, but I have always wanted to write.  It is just something that God has put in me that has to find some kind of expression.  I have always been good at figuring things out, connecting the dots.  I'm about to start on book four and five.  I will write one of them with my ministry partner, Shawn Lovejoy and the other will be a follow up on Breaking the Discipleship Code.  I really believe both will be helpful to a lot of people. 

Over the next couple of weeks I am going to flesh out how all four are these areas are key to me living out my life and mission.  I'm doing this for me.  Sort of a reminder of why on earth I am here.  I don't want to ever forget...but I hope it will encourage you as well.  I hope you will be reminded that God has a very special plan for your life and you too are important to the kingdom... 

Family, Family, Family...

In eight days my son will start home from Afghanistan for an 18 day leave from the US Army.  We are going to have a blast...we are going to do whatever my son wants to do...Here is what he has communicated he wants to do:

1.  Sleep in a bed...when I suggested we go camping he said he thought he might pass since he has spent the majority of the pass ten months under the stars.

2.  Eat fast food everyday...currently he eats one MRE a day when he's out and enjoys the Mess Hall when he's not on mission. 

3.  Take lots of showers...he has gone as long as three weeks without a shower and uses a complete bar of soap when he comes in and takes his first shower. 

4.  Shop for a Harley...his mom is concern that driving a bike can be dangerous...I don't think I will talk with him about danger considering he has been hit by and IED, and been shot at regularly by terrorist.

5.  Talk about life and all kinds of stuff...because of security and what he does much of our conversations have responses like "top secret" or we will talk later due to security issues over the phone and internet. 

6.  Party, Party, Party....On November 3 we are going to throw a big party for him.  His birthday is the 4th so it will be great to be able to celebrate his birth and his service as an All American Hero.  Each moment he is home we are going to celebrate and party. 

Most of these things we take for granted....thanks to all of our troops who pay such an incredible price....as you approach life today...celebrate it and say a pray for our troops. 

Best Practices of Church Planters Practicum

October 22-23, 2007

The Practicum is a workshop designed for new churches that are getting ready to launch their weekend ministries or have launched their weekend ministries and are now faced with the challenges of growing a healthy missional church.  In this workshop we focus on the following Best Practices that through God MLC has been using to impact the world in just 7 short years.         
                   

• Nurturing Vitality
• Being Mean about the Vision
• Financing the Mission
• Thinking Team
• Redefining Discipleship

Sessions are lead by Shawn Lovejoy, David Putman, Chad Ward, and Casey Graham...all part of the Mountain Lake Church Team.

October 22-23, 2007 The Practicum will begin at 12:00 pm and end at 12:00 pm on the following day.

Cost:    $150.00 per person (includes 2 additional ministry team members, 3 staff members and beyond are $50.00 additional per person).

Bring your team and spend two days with the Mountain Lake Ministry Team.  Register while there is still time. 

new iPhone

I'm waiting for my wife and thought I would use my new iPhone to blog with. Pretty cool...best phone I ever had. If you haven't taken time go to the ChurchPlanters website and sign up for our Best Practices Praticum. We are approaching 20 teams so I cutting off soon. Visit our event page for details.

Catalyst Conference, etc...

Yesterday was an awesome day...I spent it at the Catalyst Conference with a lot of really cool people.  Shawn and I co-sponsored the Church Planting Lab with Passion for Planting, New Thing Network, Emerging Leadership Initiative just to name a few.  My hats off to Todd Wilson who put it all together and Ed Stetzer, Dave Ferguson, Darrin Patrick, and Shawn Lovejoy who either led one of the sessions or served on our panel. 

Bottom line I love church planters...talking about revival...these guys are modern day revivalist. I believe God is really doing a neat work in his body and specifically in the church planting movement as it relates to calling us back to the centrality of Jesus. 

I just finished a book on this, Breaking the Discipleship Code; Becoming a Missional Follower of Jesus.  It will be out May 2008.  Like most forward thinkers I've move on to my next project that really gets me fired up.  I am currently working on Losing my Religion...Finding the Jesus Way; Detox for the Overly Religious. 

Make plans now to drop by the our ChurchPlanters.com booth at the Catalyst Conference over the next two days. 

Best Practice Practicum

A number of you have asked if we have any room left in our Best Practice Practicum.  We have about five more spots.  We have limited the number of teams that can participate.  So if you are interested it is first come first serve.  The Practicum will be hosted at Mountain Lake Church on October 22-23, 2008.  You can register by visiting our website at www.churchplanters.com.  Here's the link to the event.

ChurchPlanters.com Evolve Conference

Also check out next years ChurchPlanters.com Conference February 18-19, 2008.  It is going to be awesome.  We have Steven Furtick, Bil Cornelus, Darrin Patrick, Mark Batterson, Gabe Lyons, Gary Lamb just to name a few coming.  You can register here today. 

Catalyst Conference

Guys, If you are at the Catalyst Conference Labs...stop by the main main registration table today for a free ticket for supper co-sponsored by ChurchPlanters.com from 5:00 to 7:30 today October 3.  Our guest panel will include: Ed Stetzer, Dave Ferguson, Shawn Lovejoy, and Darrin Patrick. 

Getting Shot At!

My son got in today from a ten day mission and gave me a call.  It is really amazing to me how God keeps showing up in the details.  Tami and I both have really been concerned for him over the past few months.  If you pay attention to our world you know things have really heated up in Afghanistan.  The picture on the right represents the Humvee my son was in about two months ago when they were hit by a IED (Improvised Explosive Devise). All four of them walked away...nothing less than a miracle. 

Unfortunately he can is very limited to what he can say.  I do know that over the past 10 days they found a rather large number of IED's...6 of them exploded...they lost a brand new Humvee...they are mourning the death of a fellow soldier who was kill in action...they were constantly under fire...and they caught a large number of Taliban in the act of planting an IED...let's just say they skipped the introductions and took care of business. 

I tell you about this for a number of reasons...1) It allows me to get it off of my chest...it is my greatest burden.  Often it is all consuming to me.  2) I really do appreciate your prayers and hope this encourages you to pray for my son and all the troops.  3) I'm really proud of my son and I want you to know how much of a man he is.  4) I want you to realize that there is a lot of stuff going on in this world it is so much bigger then you or me. 

Back to my son...he told me as soon as he got off the phone he was going to take his first shower in ten days and get some sleep.  His routine on the mission was to sleep 3 stand guard 1.5.  He will be sent out on his next mission some time between 18 and 48 hours.  He was hoping for 48 because it would give him 6 good meals.  When he is on mission he eats one MRE a day. 

This should be his final mission before he comes home for an 18 day leave.  This will be the first time I've seen him in 10 months. 

Next time you take a shot at somebody...think about those who are really getting shot at.  Please pray for my son and all the troops....david