ChurchPlanters.com "Giving You Permission"

Where Does Time Go?

It seems like only yesterday that I planted my first church.  My son was five and my daughter was three.  Today I am on the staff of my third church plant and my son is 23 and my daughter is 19.  it's hard to believe that someone can look so young and be so good looking at my age (I'm only kidding). 

In reality it is hard to believe that time flies so fast.  In less then three weeks my daughter will be back at college and my son will be deployed to Afghanistan. While we will see our daughter several times over the next few months, our son won't return until February or March of 2008.  Now that's hard to believe. 

I tell you this for two reasons.  First, church planting is hard and it hard on our families.  If you are a church planter don't forget your first calling to your family and more often then not your children are the real heros.  Second, it's amazing how fast time flies.  One moment you are playing army with your son and the next moment he is headed off to serve on the frontlines of the War on Terror. 

Do me a favor church planters...hold your children tight this Christmas, I certainly am...david

Criticized

Have you been criticized by anyone lately? If not, I am going to suggest that you aren’t doing much for God. I’m just being honest. Check the Bible. The more people were used by God in the Bible, the more they were criticized by people: Noah; Moses; Joseph; David; Isaiah; Jesus; and the disciples! Our church (Mountain Lake Church) has been criticized for everything: We are not deep enough; We don’t care for the people enough; We’re not discipling our people; We’re too loud; We’re not preaching the Gospel; We don’t have any crosses in our building; We sing songs that no one knows; the preacher is a sex symbol (OK, I made that one up!). I ran across this verse the other day, and it verified a lot: “But when the Jewish leaders saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said” (Acts 13:45). Sound familiar? If so, you are in good company. So go stir up some good criticism. If you will, you’ll probably be right where God wants you to be! ...shawn

Vegging Out is Spiritual

     A lot of times when you’re flying Mach 5 like most of us pastors do, you don’t realize how TIRED we are. Something else I’m finding to be true is the fact that MOST pastors don’t guard their day off like they should and don’t take enough vacation. I have increased my vacation time this year to take over six weeks of vacation, and I do not feel guilty. I have learned that the best gift I can give my church is a fully rested body and a fully restored mind. I have found that the more I work with less time off, the LESS effective I am! The more time I take off, the more I hear God speaking to me, and the more energy I have when I AM working.

            I actually DO work on ministry while I’m on vacation, in case you’re wondering: My teaching calendar for the next 6 months (this energizes me); Our upcoming Stewardship Campaign theme (I’ve been spending time with God asking Him to reveal the heart behind Why we’re doing what we’re going to do and HOW and WHAT it’s going to take for it to happen); and glancing at the subject material for my next few messages. This kind of work revitalizes me and keeps me from being behind when I get back.

            Another thing I am finding is the great value that comes from taking two weeks off in a row, versus one week at a time. I have found that I am so driven that it usually takes a week for me to decompress and get all of my overdo “honey-do’s” done. The second week is really when I get the benefits of a real vacation. To do this, I have to take some real risks on my other communicators. How do I pull off two weeks off? First of all, by coming to realization that I am not near as good as I think I am. The church can run and function effectively for two weeks without me. Second of all, by being intentional about THE TIME OF THE YEAR TAKE OFF. This year, I am missing Thanksgiving (I don’t know the numbers, but I bet we had very few guests other than family members who live out of town); and the week (not weekend) after. Third, by securing good teaching in my absence. This takes some work, but can be done. This year, I am having another one of my pastors who IS gifted at teaching teach two weeks in a row. I was not there this past Thanksgiving weekend at all, but I will show up in time for church next weekend, welcome everyone, announce the next message series, and be there to greet people afterward.

     Therefore, I don’t feel guilty for resting. You shouldn’t be either! Do it. Rest. It is part of your work. There. I just gave you permission...shawn

Choosing To Cheat

I'm reading Andy Stanley's, ChoosingTo Cheat.  I know it has been out for a while, but I think psychologically I run from this kind of book.  At the same time the title of the book makes an emotional connection with a deep inner need in my life.  As I sit here I must push through the emotion and confront the brutal facts, I need to choose to cheat.  In the next 60 days my son will leave for Afghanistan for a year.  He will be jumping at the end of the month, If I choose to cheat I can go to Fort Bragg and watch him jump out of an airplane.  Pretty cool, but I must choose to cheat.  Something will have to go, or he will call me and say something like, "It was awesome, I sure wish you could have seen me jump".  My daughter will begin her second year of collegiate tennis.  This fall I had to say "no" several times to her because I chose to cheat.  The only problem was I chose to cheat her. 

Over the next six months I will help lead a growing church, finish writing Best Practices of Church Planters (70 percent done), finishing writing Breaking the Discipleship Code (25 percent done), put on our annual ChurchPlanters.com Conference, host the post-launch track of the National New Church Conference, and God only knows what else!   I love this stuff!  I am living my dream!   At the same time there are jumps to watch, letters to write, tennis matches to watch, coaching tips to offer, long conversations with my wonderful wife Tami, chores around the house, meals to prepare, exercises to do, rest to get, and vacations to take.  There is a lot of life rolled up into the next six months.

Chances are if you are a church planter, either getting ready to plant or in the middle of a new church plant, you feel the tension.  Choosing to cheat is challenging, but necessary.  Two years ago I was sitting with my good friend Jonathan who gave me the book, Choosing to Cheat, (sorry... lent me the book, Jonathan!)  We were preparing to go to Egypt.  (Oh, I forgot about that, I am also supposed to spend 10 days in Egypt and 3 days in New York  during the next 6 months too...I can feel the tension, something has got to go.)  Anyway, we were talking about our families.  He was really feeling the tension of getting it right with two young boys.  He said something like "I've got 18 years".  At the time I had 21 days until my daughter graduated from high school, and it hit me...I've got 21 days. Wow!  You have got to choose to cheat.

By the way, did I tell you I'm cheating right now?  I mean, I know I'm writing, but I'm off for the week.  No, it's not vacation, I'm just cheating.  I'm still writing and working on stuff, but only when no one is around and if and when I want to.   Last night we had an extra long supper with my daughter and her boy friend, they had just gotten in from college.  We laughed and talked about movies we wanted to see.  Right now Tami is kicked back reading Purpose-Driven Life for the 10th time and Amanda is catching up on her sleep.  It's going to be a great holiday.  Tomorrow we will take a three hour trip to see my parents for a little turkey, I mean alot of turkey.  I'm cheating tomorrow, my diet that is, and then it's back to the bike. 

Anyway have an awesome holiday.... you deserve it...david