ChurchPlanters.com "Giving You Permission"

2008 Things I'm Pumped About!!!!!!!!!

Here are some not so random thoughts about things I'm really pumped about in 2008...

1.  My Family will be back together...My son will be home from Afghanistan after 15 months and way to many close calls as a Fire Support Specialist with the 82nd Airborne, 4th Brigade, 73rd Cavalry Recon...we are planning a trip to Destin Florida together as a family...a bike ride to somewhere cool..a crazy unbelievable Christmas next year...I can't wait!

2.  I just spent the day with my mom at Barnes and Nobles and I bought three books I can't wait to read.  Nothing new just books that interest me because of where I'm living....they are Tuesday with Morrie by Mitch Albom...a really cool book about a dying professor.  I really think you got to know how to die in order to live.  Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig...this book is twenty-five years old, but it seems especially relevant to me since it is a narration of a summer motorcycle trip taken by a father and son.  Cool huh!!! I can't wait to take a similar trip with my son.  The 8th Habit by Stephen Covey..don't bother to e-mail me and tell me he is Mormon or that Zen is not Christianity I already know that.  Believe me I love Jesus and his way... it's my single focus in life...Anyway the 8th Habit caught my attention because it talks about significance...that's where I'm at...it's not about success, it's about significance.  I want my life to count.

3. I looking forward speaking into the lives of a lot of different leaders...my mission is to help others rediscover the simplicity of Jesus and his ways!!!  I've got a bunch of opportunities to speak into others lives and I can't wait...I feel like I'm overflowing.

4. I'm pumped about our ChurchPlanters.com Evolve Conference, February 18-19, 2008.  We will be speaking into the lives of about 500 leaders on one of our Best Practices; Nurture Vitality.  You won't want to miss Shawn Lovejoy, Darin Patrick, Bil Cornelius, Steven Furtick, Mark Batterson, Gabe Lyons, Mel McGowen, Eric Bramlett...just to name a few.

5. I'm excited about my new book being released May 1...Breaking the Discipleship Code: Becoming a Missional Follower of Jesus!

6. It is going to be really cool watching what God does at Mountain Lake Church through our new campus...we had our last preview on Christmas Eve with 654 people attending.  It is going to be an amazing year of life change at MLC.

7. I'm going to keep working on my health...my blood pressure went crazy this year...the doc said something about stress...imagine that....anyway I'm going to keep dropping a few pounds and exercising...I've got to practice what I preach (nurture vitality). 

8. I've got two more books I'm going to work on....one with my co-partner in crime Shawn Lovejoy on our Best Practices and another really cool devotionally oriented book on the simplicity of Jesus. 

9. I pumped about being more positive, believing in others more, being more of an encourager, giving more of myself and my resources to others then ever before...I'm going to pay a lot of attention to the positive people in life and less attention to the glass half empty folks.

10. Finally, I going to love the love of my life more (Tami).  She is awesome and I want her to know that in spite of all the craziness in my life she is number 1.

• I am so grateful for the life Jesus has given me....God's Peace and Happy New Year!!!!

Milestones or Calendar?

I will never forget my conversation with Lyle Schaller on a summer day back in 1996.  Dr. Schaller is one of the early adapters in what was then the Church Growth Movement.  Since that time this movement has given way to the Church Health Movement and now the Missional Church Movement.  At the time I was working with a major church planting organization and I asked him to critique our church planting strategies.  He was ready for the challenge... He said something like this..."Dave you guys (church planter types) are all driven by calendars.  I mean you are going to start your church on a certain day like Easter regardless if you are ready to plant or not.  When that happens you often plant your church prematurely  which leads to poor health in your church for years to come.  What you really need to do is start  your church based on MILESTONES."  For the next five hours we talked about milestones and thus began my journey of developing milestones. As far as I know that is where the concept of Milestones derives it's beginning for us church planters.  Since that time many of us have adapted a milestone approach to planning our church launch.  If you haven't you should.

When you reach a milestone it signals the achievement of a series of activities and events that indicate that you are now ready to move on.  When it comes to church planting there are a number of milestones that you must achieve if you are to move on in the planting of a healthy missional church.  Here are the ones I most often talk about...

1. Determine your church planting readiness - As a church planter you have to be absolutely ready to plant a church.  As a leader you have to lead yourself before you can lead others.  Spending time focusing on your own leadership and preparedness is a must.
2. Develop an intercessory prayer team - Church planting is above everything else spiritual in nature.  When a church is planted strongholds are broken down and what was once enemy territory is retaken. 
3. Select and define your church planting context - The right planter with the right place makes all the difference.  Choosing where you plant is crucial to your success.  Understanding that context is even more critical when planting a missional church.
4. Arrange financial support - Avoiding church planters bankruptcy is crucial to the mission.  As a church planter it is your responsibility to finance the mission. 
5. Develop a church planting team - Church planting is a team sport.  Going out planting all alone can be suicidal when it comes to church planting. Choosing your first staff member prior to planting is essential to success.
6. Discover a shared vision - Vision clarity is essential in church planting.  Every church planter must answer the following questions:  What is God calling us to do (Vision)?  What are the non-negotiable (Values)?  How are we going to do it (Mission)?  What are steps for accomplishing it (Systems)? 
7. Gathering a group of investors - Who are the 30 to 40 individuals who are going to help you get the church started?  They may be new followers, mature followers, or people who are still trying to figure out who Jesus is...but they are invested in the church plant and become the hands and feet to make it happen on a weekly bases.
8. Establish a community presence - What niche are we filling in the community?  What are we about?  Why should people show up on the weekend?  These are all the questions that must be answered prior to launching your public worship services?  How are you utilizing media to get the word out?
   
9. Launch public worship - There are hundred of logistical details related to launching public worship.  Are all these details handled?  Are they reproducible?  Are we ready to do this each and every week?
10. Assimilate attenders and multiply followers of Jesus - Have we develop simple steps for getting people to stick?  Are there means for involving people in volunteerism? Are their small group structures in place? 

Here are ten milestones I use for organizing the development process of a new church.  Make plans now to attend our pre-conference session of our February 18-19, 2008 ChurchPlanters.com Evolve conference.  It is going to be awesome and I will be presenting these milestone. 

In addition you will want to hear from guys like Shawn Lovejoy, Darrin Patrick, Steven Furtick, Bil Cornelius, Mark Batterson, Gabe Lyons, Gary Lamb just to name a few.  It is going to be awesome.

Check out our conference at our www.churchplanters.com today.

I Love That Guy!!!!!!!!!!!

It's crazy, but I watched an ambush my son was in on www.Youtube.com.  It was shot from the Humvee in front of them.  It begins something like this, "They been hit!  We have got to go back!!!"  Lots of 50 Cal machine gun fire.  The rest of the video is fill with colorful language, gun fire and a young 19 or 20 year old shouting our commands.  I don't think he is in charge, but he certainly took charge.  You really can't see anything, but chaos.  However, you hear it all.  When the video ends you see two Humvees; one in the road the other in a field.  The one in the field had been hit by a RPG.  My son was in that one.  On the other side of the Humvee he is in a defensive position between the driver and the ambush, the driver is injured and on the ground, the medic (another hero) is busy saving another life.   

I talked to my son about this guy today.  I told him how much I respected, appreciate, and like this guy.  My son told me that when the chips were down this was the guy that would take the fight to the enemy.  There is no question that he's the kind of guy that has your back.  What was already bad could have been worst if it hadn't been for this guy.  He could have kept going.  He could have hesitated.  He could have gotten confused.  But instead he took charge and took the fight to the enemy.  When these brave warriors get home I'm going to buy this guy a big steak...I can't wait to look him in the eye and say "Son, you are a hero!" 

When it comes to church planting we are in a war...in that war are many battles...much is at stake.  Each time a church is planted with missional impact ground is taken, strongholds are broken, and people are set free.  With such a clear objective we need that guy and we can be that guy.   As leaders we must have the backs of those we lead...As one that follows we must have the back of those who lead us.  It's this kind of back to back that produces trust.  Trust is the glue that not only holds teams together, but galvanizes them. 

Make a commitment today...or a re-commitment to be that guy.  "We have got to go back...we have got to go back".  I love that guy.    

Church Planting Conference

EVOLVE, our church planting conference is fast approaching! If you haven't registered yet, here's the cool part. This year our Ministry Partners have been so generous that we are going to be able to extend our "Early Bird" conference rate of $99 all the way through February 1! We'll raise it it at that point just to keep you from procrastinating and help us plan effectively. But, now, thru February, you can register for $99! Don't forget church planting spouses are already free! Steven Furtick, Mark Batterson, Bil Cornelius, and Darrin Patrick will all be here, not to mention TONS of practical breakouts by David Putman, Gary Lamb, Devin Hudson, Gabe Lyons, Eric Bramlett, and others! Don't miss it! Register NOW!                                                                  

EVOLVE, our church planting conference is fast approaching! If you haven't registered yet, here's the cool part. This year our Ministry Partners have been so generous that we are going to be able to extend our "Early Bird" conference rate of $99 all the way through February 1! We'll raise it it at that point just to keep you from procrastinating and help us plan effectively. But, now, thru February, you can register for $99! Don't forget church planting spouses are already free! Steven Furtick, Mark Batterson, Bil Cornelius, and Darrin Patrick will all be here, not to mention TONS of practical breakouts by David Putman, Gary Lamb, Devin Hudson, Gabe Lyons, Eric Bramlett, and others! Don't miss it! Register NOW!                                                                  

Miracles - Don't Miss The Details!

Miracles: Everybody needs one is more then a sermon series, but a reality.  Every day I wake up with the reality that I need a miracle.  As I interact with others along the way I am aware that I am not alone.  We all need a miracle. 

When my son called to let me know that they had been in an ambush this week I immediately knew he was a walking miracle.  While the driver of his Humvee will be going home due to his injuries and it is questionable whether or not the machine gunner will return it is still a miracle.  At the end of the day they all walk away.  They have been through the valley of the shadow of death referred to as the kill zone in military terms and they have survived.  As I talked to my son on the phone I quickly told him that he had experienced a miracle.  I can't explain how a RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) goes off in your Humvee and you don't receive even a scratch.  The fact that the others lived to see another day in spite of their injuries is a miracle. as well.

I don't understand miracles.  I don't understand why some people get their miracle and others don't.  I don't understand why this time we got a miracle, next time we may not. 

At the same time I'm finally OK with not understanding miracles.  As Henry Blackaby often says, "God is God and I'm not."  Last night our Teaching Pastor Rodney Anderson preached an awesome message on this very subject reminding us that there is a far bigger story in pay out there and we are yet to see the final chapter.

In our ministry team meeting this week I raise the question what if we are missing it when it comes to miracles.  I mean we are so reserved and conservative when it comes to this kid of stuff.  What if God really does want to take over our lives and provide a miracle for us.  What if he wants to heal our illness, restore our marriage, restore our children, repair our finances, comfort our loneliness, bring peace to our depression, see us through our education, give us that job, build our churches, and glorify His name. 

What if when we get to heaven we discover that there was so much more that God wanted to do in and through us if we had only believed. 

All I know is this past week we received another miracle.  While I am still struggle with my doubts I am more a believer this week in miracles then I was last week.  It's all part of the journey.  Do you need a miracle?  Why not ask God and expect to receive one.   

One Decision At A Time!

I had the opportunity this week to ride up to B & H Publishers to meet with them about the marketing of my new book Breaking the Discipleship Code and about a couple of future books.  It was an encouraging experience.  My hat's off to Robin, Tom, Lisa, Debra, and David for making my time there so worthwhile.

One of the highlights of my trip was traveling with Casey Graham.  Casey is one of the best young leaders I know and he is one of our pastors at MLC and serves as our Chief Financial Officer.  Casey is great with discipline when it comes to things like finances, exercise, diet, time, etc.  You get the picture. 

As we traveled every time we had to make a decision about what we were going to eat he would remind me that it was "one decision at a time".  I can still hear that nagging voice as I step up to McDonald's with every intent of ordering a Mac Rib Value Meal complete with super sizing it, one decision at a time. I changed my order.  "Could you change that please to a grill chicken club?  Please substitute the fries for a side salad.  No, just give me water."  You get the point!  ONE DECISION AT A TIME. 

I love it...that is the idea of one decision at a time.  I can do this and so can you.  I love it because I am beginning a new journey toward a more discipline life.  After a bout in the hospital I'm working toward a healthier lifestyle.  Sometimes I feel overwhelmed.  My goals seem so far out there.  On certain day and certain times I feel weak.  At time when I get ready to order I want to say, "Give me one of everything".  At other times I want to blow off the exercise thing.  But I can do this...ONE DECISION AT A TIME!

The good new is so can you.  Life is a collection of decisions we make one at a time.  Today I am what I am because of those millions and millions of decision I've made one at a time. 

When it comes to church planting one of the Best Practices that Shawn and I talk about all the time is Nurture Vitality.  As we have talked with and related to successful leaders and church planters all over North America we have discovered over and over again that are serious about their vitality.  Sure there exceptions.  Sure you can cheat for a while.  The reality is you, like me will end up in the hospital if you don't take care of yourself. 

As church planters we are consumed with our mission.  It is a worthy cause. A friend once told me, "Dave this thing is going to consume you."  I thought he had lost his mind.  He was right. 

nurturing vitality means paying attention to your spiritual, physical, emotional, relational, and financial health.  It means making one decision at a time.  It means saying no to the good stuff in order to say yes to the best stuff. 

Make plans now to join us for our February 18th - 19th ChurchPlanters.com Evolve Conference.  All of our main sessions will focus on the leader and the leader's vitality.  As the church planter goes so does the church plant.  Sign up today at www.churchplanters.com

Defensive Position

I got a phone call from my son yesterday.  It was another one of those that began with I'm OK but...you know the kind...unfortunately we all get them.  He had been in an intense ambush.  They were on a regular patrol when they were hit from both sides.  The Taliban has gotten better over time.  An RPG round smashed through the driver side door of his vehicle and exploded in the engine box throwing shrapnel throughout the cab of his Humvee.  The driver took a lot of shrapnel and was immediately out.  Two others in the cab took shrapnel as well.  In addition to the shrapnel the gunner took a machine gun round in the finger. 

Somehow my son escape without even a scratch...We are doing a series on Miracles at Mountain Lake Church...you better know that I believe in them.  We get them every day in the Putman's household. 

Back to the ambush...my son and the other troops were immediately out of the Humvee with their weapons blazing.  The ambush was spoiled.  The medic took care of the injured driver as my son positioned himself between them and the ambush in a defensive position.  I can't tell you how proud I am of my son. 

God's son Jesus also took a defensive position for us.  It was on a cross where he was nail to a tree guarding us from the gates of Hell.  He too was proud..."This is my beloved son, in who I am well pleased". 

I thank God this morning for the safety of my son.  I pray for the driver and the other two that was flown to a nearby base for medical care.  I am so grateful of our miracle.  I am once again reminded of Jesus great sacrifice and what Christmas is all about.