July 27th, 2010
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Remember when people would actually talk to people? Remember the days, before facebook allowed people to throw jabs at each other…jabs that they would never have the courage to say to your face? Ahhh, those were the days! Let’s bring ‘em back. Stop with all the facebook drama, heres how:
- Think BEFORE you post
- Don’t click the “share” or “comment” button if you’re angry. It may sound like fun at the time, but you’ll probably regret it later.
- Stop posting for the world to see what is really meant for just one person! Have the courage and the guts to say it to their face and speak with them directly (goes for emails and texts too!).
- Don’t be afraid to “hide” someone. If what they are saying is bringing you down, is causing you to gossip, or is evoking anger in you…hide them. Dropping them might cause more drama than facebook has ever seen, so simply “hide”. You’ll feel better when you don’t see the immaturity.
- GET OVER YOURSELF. The song isn’t about you, and that status update probably wasn’t about you either. Don’t assume the worst.
- STOP trying to convince people you are in love, you are so happy, and everything is great. Just be in love, be happy and be great. The more you try to convince us, the more I wonder if it’s really real.
- Use facebook to encourage others, not argue with others.
- Show some discernment with what friend requests you accept.
- Grow up.
- Spend WAY less time on facebook.
These things just might change the world! If they don’t, they would probably change your world. I know I need to do better with some of these. Rooting for you to do better too!
July 23rd, 2010
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Number 4: Focused Too Much On The Wrong People
I’m not saying to give up on anyone, but we have to be stewards of our leadership and our investment. There simply isn’t enough time in anyones day to do it all. Too many times I focused way too much on those who weren’t there AND in turn almost completely ignored those who WERE there.
My heart breaks for those who aren’t there. For those who are making stupid decisions over and over again. HOWEVER, someone IS there and their heart is breaking AND they are ready to take their next step with Jesus. Don’t miss the opportunity to impact their life and lead them to Jesus because you are too focused on the one who made the decision NOT to show up or take their next step.
Don’t focus so much on the one who is leaving, that you miss those who are staying. Don’t focus so much on the one that doesn’t get the vision that you miss those that are in love with the vision. Don’t focus so much on those who ignore the principles being taught from God’s word on Sunday that you miss the people who are living out what God is doing.
There’s always one. Don’t miss the many who want to take the next step because of frustration over the one who isn’t ready.
Here is something I posted in January. Seems like I have to constantly keep going back to it just as a reminder. If there’s one thing that I have learned in church planting, it’s the concept that…some will, some won’t.
- Some will be fired up about the vision of your church…some won’t
- Some will be extremely committed…some won’t
- Some will sacrificially give…some won’t
- Some will make a decision to follow Christ…some won’t
- Some will tough it out through thick and thin…some won’t
- Some will have your back no matter what…some won’t
- Some will still be at your church 1 year from now…some won’t
- The tendency is to allow yourself to focus so much on the some won’ts that it overshadows the some will’s.
- Church planting is hard work…ministry is hard work. Remember…some will, some won’t. Always encourage the won’ts to be will’s, but if they won’t, then move on to someone that will.
July 22nd, 2010
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I read Proverbs 22:3 today, “A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.”
Why do some people seem to have so much of life figured out, while others continue on the same path towards mediocrity and destruction? Why does it seem like the craziest things CONTINUALLY happen to some of the same people over and over again?
I think it comes down to the verse above. The Message translates it like this…”A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.” That, unfortunately sounds like many people I know…CLOBBERED in their finances, in their marriage, in their parenthood, in life.
Thankfully God provides hope for those of us continually being clobbered by the consequences of our decisions. James 1:5 tells us, “If ANY of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who GIVES GENEROUSLY TO ALL without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” We live in a generation that lacks wisdom, and many suffer the consequences over and over. It’s time to change all that. It’s time to start making wise choices. It’s time to stop being clobbered over the head. It’s time to plug into THE power source!
If you feel like you are constantly being clobbered over the head, would you commit to opening Gods Word every day for the next 30 days? I believe it will change everything. You’ll start making wise decisions, and you’ll start honoring God. Who wants to be clobbered anyway?!?! Im rooting for you to pick up God’s Word everyday for the next 30 days!
July 20th, 2010
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Number 3: Spent More Time On Marketing Than Connections
If I could do it all over again, I would spend less time with marketing and outreach AND I would spend more time nailing down a plan for EVERY person that walks through the doors of Catalyst Church. I spent a lot of time planning and strategizing how to reach people and let them know Catalyst exists. I thought we had a good plan to help people get connected at Catalyst Church. Turns out, not so much.
It is currently way too confusing for people to take their Next Step. It has to be simple, strategic, and obvious. We have had over 300 first time guests and 50 decisions to follow Jesus in our first 10 months. That is great, however the question that haunts me is, have they connected to God and to the local church? I know that not everyone will connect at Catalyst, and I’m completely okay with that. It takes all kinds of churches to reach all kinds of people. However, there are some who could have and would have connected if Catalyst had a better system in place from day one. We had ideas and goals, but I dropped the ball on exactly how these ideas and goals would be implemented…AND it was simply because I didn’t spend enough time planning and working a plan.
Lesson: Manage the vision and/or raise up leaders who will manage the vision of seeing people connect in relationships and in responsibility at Catalyst Church.
July 19th, 2010
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Number 2: Starting A Ministry WITHOUT A Leader
This one has also caused a lot of pain and frustration for some great people. Don’t hear me wrong, I’m okay with trying and failing. We have tried several things, some of which do fail. However, when a ministry fails because there was really no leader to lead, the result is usually serious hurt to people AND harm to the kingdom of God. Not to mention a huge hit to our credibility. I am learning that it is better to wait for God to raise up a leader than it is to try to start a ministry without one.
July 15th, 2010
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Over the next couple days, I am going to roll out 5 of the bigger mistakes I’ve made in church planting. I could probably write at least 500, so I’m not even sure these are the top 5 mistakes I’ve made. They are just the ones that stand out most right now. Hope they help someone!
Number 1: Hiring/Appointing too quickly and firing/removing too slowly.
I have a huge heart for people and I see what could be and what should be. I often see what they could be one day. I see and believe in the potential of the people I am leading. However, I am learning, that because everyone will spend eternity somewhere and because I will be accountable for how I lead Catalyst, I cannot hire/appoint based on the potential of what one day could be.
Planned outreaches have been canceled and ministries have been less than effective all because I appointed someone to lead too quickly.
Church planters have the tendency to say, “If you have a pulse, you’re hired”. This can bring a lot of pain to people. The wrong person, at the wrong time, in the wrong place of ministry can hurt team morale, lower the bar for the whole church, cause hurt and pain to the people we are trying to minister to, and negatively impact our chances of reaching those in our community who are far from Jesus. I believe everyone is a minister, but I’m also seeing that it is completely critical to start people with small opportunities to prove themselves faithful before appointing them to leadership.
Here is the big thing I’m learning: People don’t rise to the appointment, they are appointed because they’ve proved they’ll rise to the occasion.
July 14th, 2010
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UPDATE: We did it! We will now be able to give away 300 Guest Packages that will help people connect to our great God and in our great church!!! If you feel left out and really wanted to donate towards the Guest Packages, be sure to check out our website for more information on the final goal remaining!
We have accomplished 3 of the 5 goals! Today we roll out goal #4
We have been incredibly blessed since our start almost 10 months ago. We have seen over 300 first time guests, and over 50 decisions for Jesus. That blows me away! And, at the same time it challenges and convicts me. We’ve been called to do more than introduce people to Jesus, we’ve been called to disciple and connect others to the heart of Jesus.
To help people connect with Catalyst, connect with God, and discover their best next step…we want to give EVERY first time guest a Guest Package. This package will include some neat things they can use everyday and it will include really awesome booklets and printed materials to help guide and excite guest to take their next step in following God.
Would you help us place these great guest packages and resources in the hands of every guest who comes to Catalyst? We need to raise $750 dollars to make this a reality. Summer is coming to a close, and we need to start rolling out Goal #5. Would you help us complete Goal #4 so that we can quickly move to Goal #5?
Some of us have been lurking in the shadows. Now is the time to step up. I have no idea how we are going to accomplish this goal. And I really have no idea how we are going to do it in time to effectively run with Goal #5. Maybe the answer to that question is everyone giving their best gift now…for some that may be $5 and for some that may be $50. The issue isn’t what we do or don’t have, the real question is will we place what we do have in the hands of Jesus and watch him do the impossible! Don’t delay…let’s get this done this week!!!
Thanks to the generosity of great people, this goal has been reached!
OUR GOAL HAS BEEN REACHED!
Through 6 donations, we will now be able to give away 300 Guest Packages!!!
July 13th, 2010
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Here is an email I received yesterday…
I wanted to thank you for taking a chance that Sunday that you were supposed to show the Dave Ramsey segment and instead spoke about deserts. For a long time I was living my life for myself. I had my beliefs but was using excuses not to find a church because I knew I would have to change who I was. Over the past few years I have changed alot and have realized that I needed to get things right with God. I never realized how much I had lost out on by doing things for myself. My life was a struggle, I was fighting to stay somewhere that I knew that I shouldn’t be. On that Sunday God really spoke to me and showed me what I had missed out on by living my life for myself. It was truly heartbreaking and I spent alot of time mourning the loss of times I will never get back. It was a bittersweet experience. Going through that process has really made me strive to be where I need to be and open myself up to God in a way I hadn’t before.
I have spent most of my life in churches and I have to say that Catalyst is the first place I have ever felt at home. I have never felt God speak to me in the ways that he has here. I want to thank you for everything that you and your family have sacrificed to make Catalyst possible.
Here is a reality that you may not be aware of, a lot of pastors want to quit EVERY Monday. We carry a huge burden EVERY Sunday. We have a huge desire to see people set free by the life giving and life changing message of Jesus Christ’s atoning work on the cross. We feel like we have to have something fresh/relevant/funny/engaging/powerful and life giving EVERY single week. On top of Sunday, there are all of the other details that go into making church possible (finances, volunteers, follow-up, assimilation, evangelism, etc). There are many weeks that Sunday will come and go, and many pastors feel a sense of inadequacy and failure. Monday we often wonder if it’s even worth it. We want so badly for people to be set free, but we see them struggling with the same issues week after week.
So, to receive and hear this story this past Monday was a HUGE blessing! It has filled me once again with a renewed passion. It has encouraged and strengthened my resolve. Stories are powerful! You should share yours someday. Who knows, it may inspire others to even greater steps of faith. Tune in tomorrow, we will help you share your story of God’s work in your life.
