A must Read!

Chris Elrod has some pretty incredible stuff to say.  This post, is pretty incredible…  

Sometimes I read what other pastors are saying and doing, and I ask myself: “How in the world could I do all that stuff?”  Some of these guys make it seem like; coaching groups, books on business, books on finance, other books, seminars, conferences, hip worship bands, techno audio viz crap and stage props are necessary if you want to be a successful pastor.

Then, out of nowhere… a breath of fresh air:

When Vision Doesn’t Fit

What do you do when vision bounces off the walls of your universe?  What do you do when your ideas and your concepts don’t fit into the established system?

I have, what I consider to be a transforming idea for “church” ministry.  Actually, it’s one of the few times that I have tremendous confidence that God has brought this vision to my heart.  Since I’m not the most ambitious person in the world, I know that something bigger than me has caused this thing to resound for so long.  It’s been about 5 years.  This year, it appears as if the vision has all come together.  I’ve laid it out there, fully explained it, tested every facet of it and have actually visualized it as being a reality.  Now, don’t fuss at me for being all new-agish on the visualization thing.  Reality is… it seems so real, that I can actually see it as if it’s already happened.

communicate church

This topic has been on my mind a lot lately.  What kind of message is the church communicating to the world around it.  I’m not talking about the words that Church uses or the propaganda it pushes.  I’m just talking about the impressions that people receive as they consider “who” and “what” the church is.  We as individuals are called to live in a manner that is above reproach… avoiding the appearance of evil… not providing opportunity for accusation…  To do this, we need to present humility to the world around us.  To do this, we need to be sensitive to people’s preconceived notions.  To do this we need to be cautious with any deed or word that might be considered questionable.  Well, if we as individuals are striving to communicate love in every way, shouldn’t the church as a corporate body of believers do the same thing?  How do we do that?
Sunday morning is a great time and should always be done with excellence.  However, if we want to communicate “who” and “what” we are, we need to give the world an opportunity to interact with us on Monday – Saturday also.  The outward display of love by the church should be the grandest impression that onlookers gain.  Let Sunday morning be a side-note in comparison to the activities we engage in during the week.  Think about it:  Sunday morning is (for the most part) for the believers.  That’s our chance to get together, worship and study.  The stuff we do for ourselves (like Sunday morning), shouldn’t be our main communication to those who are on the outside.  To them, we should be a people who walk in love and humility in the “real world” of day to day living.  On a side note, we also get together and celebrate on Sundays.
The issue of communication should be a huge factor to consider when we strategize and plan.
I have tons more to say on this topic.  It will run in and out of many future threads as it has on many past threads from www.simplemindedpreacher.com   It might even end up being a book.

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Starting Over

Just in case you’re wondering…  I’m starting this blog all over.  I’ll still post pics from time to time.. but, for the most part, I’m going to talk about my life as a pastor, dad and imaginary fisherman.

Winding Up 2007

I just spent the last 2 days putting the budget proposal together for 2008.  While I performed this arduous task, I listened to a lot of rock n roll… including. The entire “Story Of The Clash Volume I” two times, Bruce Cockburn’s “Dart To The Heart” about 5 times, a bunch of Mutemath,  and a little bit of “Circle Slide” by The Choir.  I can’t listen to music when I study..  it totally distracts me.. but it had nice way of complimenting the accounting.  The music was fun, but the numbers weren’t.

It’s been another “good” year for us at Calvary Chapel.  We didn’t grow in numbers.  No, we shrunk.  We didn’t grow in finances…  nope.. about $40k less than 06.  We didn’t grow in fancy events and programs.  Nope..  actually did less…  and yet, I still account it as being a good year.  For me, 2006 was the year that my eyes opened to greater horizons in the areas of pastoring and church ministry.  It’s almost as if I’ve been standing in a door-way, looking into a room, then, one day, I turned around.  I still stood in that same door-way, but now looked outside to the far horizons.  Suddenly, the possibilities I was visually taking in increased exponentially. God is teaching me how to do my job in ways I never imagined.  He has me dreaming and thinking in ways that blow the “box” to pieces.  The year was quiet, but when it’s quiet, it’s easier to listen.

God is going to do something different and unique with us.  I’m not sure how, nor am I too sure when.. but I’m sure of it all the same.  We’re still holding to the rock solid truth, but there may be a change in the way we manifest that truth to the world around us.  My hope.. is that we can become “the church”.. and not just “a church”.  I hope that we can develop a mentality and a practice that causes us to live our lives.. 7 days a week, as those who communicate to the world around us.. that we are “the church”, a living organism of love and humility striving to represent Christ every day and in every way.  When will these dreams manifest into reality?  Who knows?  Maybe 2008.  Maybe 2009.  I’m just going to wait and see.