As I think about ‘08, I’m grateful for all that God’s done. This year was much better than ‘07 or ‘06. Those two years I was at war, but in ‘08 I’ve gotten to live what seeing God win that war looks like. As I anticipate all the things God will do in ‘09, I’m wrapping up this year having learned so many things - a few are:
- The greatest blessings in life are not things, they are the people who make life richer and more meaningful.
- My bride and kids mean more to me than ever. I pray God helps me become the husband and Dad they deserve.
- The difference in sustaining an institution and building a movement.
- Unity comes with a price. Many churches are unified in their attempts at nothing, in their satisfaction of stagnancy, and in their “dislike” of others who are really doing something. ‘08 is the greatest year of ministry I’ve ever lived. I’m grateful that I lead a growing church that is passionate and unified about loving God and loving others and actually doing something to impact lives. I’m grateful that our church is unified about reaching “others” not about trying to re-live a re-written past.
- I’m learning that when you really love people, and sacrifice to show them, they are open to knowing the God who changed you to be that way.
- For the church, a struggling economy doesn’t have to be a deficiency, it can be a huge opportunity.
- When you begin to live what you were born to do and pursue Christ hard, those who aren’t will try to stop you… but they can only stop you if you let them.
- I’ve see God change more lives and develop more people in ‘08 than I’ve ever seen in ministry… with no permanent buildings, tons to set up each week, and less financial resources than when we were an “established church.“ We’re seeing more with less b/c we’re not distracted by churchy mess.
- I believe God has big plans for those who believe in a big God. To think that almost a year ago we had half the people we had last Sunday really humbles me. Growing a church is not hard but it is difficult.
There’s so much more - maybe I’ll hit this again after the 1st of the year. For now, this is enough. This was a year that God moved, God blessed and lives were changed and I’m so much more than grateful. I love Jesus and what he’s asked me to do, and we’re going to see more in ‘09 than can be imagined. In this one life I get to relentlessly pursue Jesus and him making a difference - the best is yet to come.
Published in C3 Church,
Church,
Faith,
Family,
Friends,
Future,
Leadership,
Life,
Past,
Random,
Thankful,
Thoughts,
Vision,
bride,
church leadership,
finances,
questions and
transitioning church .
Today we were wrapping up stuff from the weekend, then trying to finish Christmas stuff. This year Christmas seems to be flyin at me, but for some reason I’m just not wigged out about it.
Yesterday at C3 Church we had record attendance at our weekend gatherings. We’ve now completed our first year meeting at Regal Cinemas. Our average attendance before moving to Regal was about 400… yesterday we had almost 800 (our highest attendance). God really is “connecting the community with Christ” through C3. We also saw 20 adults become Christ-followers yesterday! Think about that… 20 more people will experience heaven in eternity, and knowing Jesus in this life as well, just because you cared, prayed and invited.
C3 - you made a huge difference in lives. Thank yo so much for your sacrifice of time, your faithfulness in giving, and your heart to love God and love others - obviously it’s more than just a saying. I can’t wait for Jan. 4, ‘09 as we talk about what God’s done, and what’s next! Loving God and loving others really does change people.
Published in C3 Church,
Christmas,
Faith,
Friends,
Future,
Leadership,
Life,
Past,
Random,
Sunday,
Thankful,
Thoughts,
Vision,
feed the children,
finances,
love,
portable church,
prayer and
transitioning church .
It’s late and I don’t have much left - this day has worn me out. While I’m dead tired, my mind is still racing from this morning. I’m just overwhelmed with gratitude. As I reflect on this morning, and wrapping up our first year in meeting in the theaters I’m grateful for:
- Our amazing God who continues to blow my mind with how much he loves us.
- The movement that is C3. C3 Church you stepped up big-time. Not only did you deliver the food and supplies, but in many cases you added to it. For people who needed help you paid utility bills, rent, and mortgages. You helped people with Dr’s for checkups and tests. Some of you even helped people who were unemployed find a job. Then, you invited people to experience C3 with you today, and as a result they experienced God. You even provided their kids with Christmas gifts. You’ve made loving God and loving others have traction in people’s lives. Your love for God and others is contagious and you’ll roll through Christmas this week knowing you’ve made someones life better.
- January 4, 2009 - that’s right, I’m already grateful for it. Even though it hasn’t happened yet, I know what we’re planning and I believe God’s going to use it to change even more lives. Remember, next weekend we have no gatherings so be ready Jan. 4 and bring people with you!
In the midst of deep gratitude I’m also burdened. I’d like to ask you to pray for a couple of needs I’m aware of. One of the families we’ve been helping is scheduled to be evicted Christmas Eve. Please pray that God provides the necessary funds for them. Also, another one of the families we’ve been helping experienced a tragedy this week. The Mom in this family ended her own life. For her husband and three kids Christmas will be very different now. There are constant reminders all around us that people desperately need Christ - and to know his deep love. Let’s share that love this week.
Published in C3 Church,
Christmas,
Faith,
Family,
Friends,
Future,
Life,
Random,
Sunday,
Thankful,
Thoughts,
Vision,
feed the children,
love,
my thoughts,
prayer and
transitioning church .
After a number of conversations with pastors lately, I’m wrestling with some things I’m noticing. Here are just a few thoughts.
Pastor, your primary job is to please God. That’s done by serving him, passionately reaching people, and relentlessly pursuing the vision he’s given you for your life/church/ministry. I’m over pastors who work so hard to impress other pastors. Rather than “networking” to build a resume, what if we spent our time loving God and loving others - what if we bragged on Jesus more than on ourselves, our numbers, and our plans.
If you’re considering being a pastor - please understand there’s nothing like it in the world. You’ll have the privilege of stepping into peoples lives to help them by pointing them to Christ. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Make sure this is what you were born to do, not just something you think would be cool.
- Let God define your vision - don’t just take one from somebody else. Seriously, I think so many churches are in trouble b/c so many pastors are either lazy or impatient. Laziness means I don’t want to do the hard work of finding out what God wants from me/my church. Impatient means I want to “arrive” so others will notice me, so I don’t want to take the time to search God and his plan, I’ll just jump on another train and pretend it’s mine. If you’re “lazy” or “impatient” (as defined above) - do us all a favor and don’t become a pastor.
- No matter what you do now, you can’t fully understand the role of, pressure of, joy of, or burden of a Senior Pastor until you are one. Just b/c you’ve run a business doesn’t mean you have a clue about how to run a church. Just b/c you sit at the table on a staff, doesn’t mean you have any idea what it is to sit in “that” chair. I’ve been a Student Pastor, Senior Associate Pastor and Interim Pastor and guess what - none of them are the Senior Pastor… not even close. The temptation is to look at that role and think “I could do that“ - maybe… but only if God’s called you, not if you think you’ve got “what it takes“. If your pastor makes it look easy it’s b/c he’s either passionately following God and has a confidence in Christ from which he leads, or he’s lazy and doing nothing. You’ll never know in a month what he lives in a moment.
- Finally, this one’s huge - listen and be teachable. It blows my mind the guys who want to talk to me who really just want to talk at me. Recently I talked with two guys - they were worlds apart. One pastors a church in FL and drove over to check out C3 - this guy is the real deal. He’s older and wiser than I am and leading a church with record growth, but he wanted to learn whatever little bit he could learn from C3. We’re not growing as much as he has, he has much more experience in effective leadership and yet he’s still hungry to learn. I was blessed just to talk with him. The other guy I talked with… well really he hasn’t done much but try hard to make others think he’s got it all figured out. In our discussion I didn’t tell him anything he didn’t already know. He is phenom at one thing - self promotion… and it wore me out. Please, no matter how big and bad you get, please always be hungry to learn and more passionate about the movement you lead than impressing us.
I think I feel better… for now. Seriously, I communicate with tons of pastors each month. Many want to know how we transitioned a church or what it’s like to be portable, or why we sold a 20 acre campus to become portable - I love these discussions. If you want to connect and talk through these and other issues - I would absolutely love it. Just know two things - I’m probably going to ask you more questions than you ask me (I have a deep hunger to learn from you) and… if you already have all the answers and you just want to impress me… I’m busy getting my hair done.
Published in C3 Church,
Church,
Faith,
Future,
Leadership,
Life,
Life Lessons,
Random,
Thoughts,
Vision,
church leadership,
pastors,
questions and
transitioning church .
It’s been a crazy busy day and still flyin. Today:
- Took Ang for some tests today (not educational
).
- Our creative team talked through C3’s weekend experiences. After “Christmas Vacation” we’re having a kickin service on January 4, then launching “Mosaic” on January 11 (you’ll hear more soon).
- I’m really pumped about what I’m going to be sharing this weekend at C3 - this message has huge potential for major impact in our lives as we look at another element of Christmas Vacation.
- Accepted speaking engagements for a couple of conferences in ‘09 - one in LA and the other in DC. I love connecting with pastors who want to make a difference doing what they were born to do - this will be a blast.
- Still decorating more… still.
All that is about to slow down, because our family is about to have a “manger moment.” Tonight, here’s what we’re discussing from C3’s Noisy Night devo:
Jeremiah 29:11 tells us “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’” The reality of this verse can get lost in all our busyness. Give each member of your family an opportunity to share what the primary source of stress is in their lives.
C3 - Sunday’s going to be awesome… invite like crazy to get those you care about there!
