Monthly Archives: November 2008

Be My Guest! – An Experiment in Blogging

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I’m going back to Indonesia early next week for an adventurous trek into a UPG. As you may remember last time I went to Indonesia I did a series called, “He Who Sees” where I talked about those who have influenced me over the course of my life.

This time, something new… Inspired by my friend Chris Rhodenhizer “guest blogging on Jonathan Falwell’s Innovate Church blog. I have invited 14 people to be guest bloggers. There blogs will post, one a day, for the time that I will be in Indonesia. The guests were asked to write in response to one of the questions below.

  • What would you say to president elect Obama if you were invited to advise him on spiritual matters in the oval office?
  • What are your three main concerns with the current methodology of church ministry and or church planting?
  • What age and experience are necessary for a young man who’s aspiration is to plant churches and is it acceptable for him to stay single if he is qualified in other areas?
  • What is the primary purpose of the Sunday worship service? Is it for believers or more for the seeker?
  • What is your favorite experience with Clint?
  • If the government were to decide to do away with three local, state or national tax funded organizations which ones should go and why?
  • What is your opinion about church’s that use signs such as “God Answers Knee Mail” or “Sign Broke… Message Inside”?
  • If you don’t believe Christians should use birth control please write a defense of your position.
  • What do you think about pastor Ed Young jr’s seven day sex challenge?

The great thing about this is that I will be deep in the bush while these posts are being made and won’t have the opportunity to see them until I return!

I Surrender

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colby-clintIt happened in IHOP one cold March day in the winter of 2002. My new boss, “Wild Bill,” arranged the meeting like a barbaric marriage ceremony. He believed, naively, that an omelet with my new associate would solve what the Civil War did not. I slid in, waving off the hostess before scanning the room for a skinny low life in a blue uniform. Our meeting was on his turf, just north of the Rappahannock but I wasn’t intimidated! He was from the north, a Yank! and I – from these Confederate states of America. Ahhh… there he was. I spotted him… alone there like a sitting duck among the reeds. I marched to the padded blue pleather booth with my finger floating anxiously above my trigger. He spoke first, “Hi, I’m Colby” – what, ah… the nerve! How dare him be friendly after all the gunfire, all the lives lost, all the families torn apart by the spoils of war! Two could play this game. “Hi, I’m Clint”, I said. The excessive friendliness continued  through the meeting and to this day.

So as I sit in my chair and look to my Rebel banner hung high upon the wall I am forced to wonder how far my adversary will take this excessive kindness… this overflowing fellowship before he makes his final fatal move. Today a book arrived off of my amazon wish list… who could have done it, maybe my lover, maybe my family, certainly a fellow confederate. But no, its from the friendliest foe I have ever known.

I surrender, I am a tired warrior against a patient opponent and I surrender.

Ode to My First Born

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dsc_4348Seven years ago my life took a drastic turn for the better with the birth of Noah McKade. The morning of his birthday (Saturday) he woke me up by tapping on my shoulder and asking, “Dad… its my birthday, do you have anything to say to me?” I told Noah what he wanted to hear, “Happy Birthday son”… But here are seven other things about Sir Noah that I want to say.

  1. He is the perfect forgery of his mother – No wonder I am so happy to love him.
  2. He is loyal – Naturally God has given Noah a loyal heart that pipes up in a time of need. He is quick to return to the familiar when things get scary.
  3. He is smart – Have you ever seen Forrest Gump?… when he was born I asked Jennifer, “Is he smart or is he… like me?”
  4. He is joyful – He’s a really happy kid… God has given him passion that overflows.
  5. He is Brave – Even now he is facing his fears instead of running from them.
  6. He follows – even at his young age I am proud of his belief in God and his love for Jesus.
  7. He is a fighter – Noah doesn’t give up, he gets creative, he asks questions in new ways, he looks for new opportunities but he rarely gives up.

Got Another Book…

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img_0111_2Well my mother-in-law becomes second in the list outstanding Christians who exchange some of their monetary treasure to store up heavenly treasure in my brain.

I’ve only had the book for one day and already it’s compelling me to be a better follower of Jesus… consider this quote from chapter 4…

The greatest proof for Christianity is not how far a man can logically analyze his reason for believing, but how far in practice he will stake his life on his belief. – T.S. Eliot

I cut my father-in-law out of the picture because I didn’t see his name on the invoice…

Blaze Spirit Blaze

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bonfire-site

From the mind of our ultra creative worship leader, Amanda Long, comes our another venture into the unknown. This year Pillar will be holding a Christmas bonfire at a local Ranch. The event is complete with farm animals, coffee and hot chocolate, live music and of course… a big fire. The night will give me a platform to tell those who attend about the incarnation of Jesus.

Check out christmasbonfire.com

A note of rationale:

I don’t believe Christ is honored when we use attraction as bait for the Gospel. Let me give you an example… I know of a church who’s name happens to be the same name as a popular automobile. Lets call this church, Accord Community Church. Each year in order to attract thousands to their services they advertise that they will give away a Honda Accord. There church swarms with the needy and the greedy hoping that the God of this church will have favor on them and deliver a shiny new ride. Each year thousands leave convinced that the God of Accord Community Church has once again forgotten them. While one person leaves thoroughly convinced that God has shown special favor on them.

I believe the Gospel is the power of God for salvation and must be the only product we peddle. I do however believe that being a gospel witness in our community is vital therefore I want our church to involve itself in the community that surrounds us. We have decided to offer free events to our community and to use those gatherings to proclaim the Gospel to those who attend. I want to use the opportunities that exist to tell people who listen that Jesus awesome and that God is trustworthy.

I encourage you to share your thoughts about attractional ministry and take a stab at rather you believe the church has any business holding community events.

Here are a few standards we use that help us to stay balanced.

  • We don’t charge for the events.
  • We verbally preach the Gospel to everyone in attendance.
  • We give Bibles to every family that attends.
  • We collect contact information and respond to those who indicate spiritual needs.

How far is the hatch?

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So my brother-in-law, Jonathan, is stationed with the US Army in Hawaii. He is on the Island where Lost is filmed. There is a particular Starbucks near by that John Locke frequents. As if that’s not enough – the other day he’s taking a stroll down the beach and sees the the campsite of the survivors of Oceanic flight 815! He snapped some pics on his iphone and sent them to us. I just pray that Alvar Hanso doesn’t find out he was there!

“You All Everybody”, By Driveshaft

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The Pelt Family

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Jason and Tracee Pelt have once again proven their outstanding commitment to the total gospilization of the United States of America by providing one of the books off of my amazon wish list.

I arrived home today after meeting with a church member to find this an amazon box of blessings. Thank you Pelts for your contributuin to my ongoing education. I pray that many more follow your outstanding example of generousity!

New Series

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I am starting a new series this Sunday called, “All Authority” Jesus claimed to have all authority in heaven and earth, Paul tells us to submit to our authorities. When we work and speak for Christ we do so in His authority. It seems we spend our entire lives under the authority of others and much of our lives as authorities over others.

God gives us authority not to suppress us but to protect us. Like someone escaping a storm under the shelter of their home (hence the roof in the above image), the authority we are placed under serve as a protection from the Satan. We are going to talk about layers of authority starting with parental authority and working our way up to the Authority of God over all he has made. It’s gunna be fun!

My New Career as a Itinerate Preacher

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I rarely take the opportunity to preach outside of our group of churches but this weekend I preached at Image Church. Image is lead by Chris Rhodenhizer, a Northern Virginia native and a second generation clergyman.  A few months ago Image Church made a 20 mile migration south to occupy a warehouse about a mile from where Pillar meets. Image is a pretty unique congregation with just above 200 in attendance. The Christians at Image were impressive, genuinely friendly and very dedicated to pleasing Christ. They asked me to share with them about church planting because they are in the midst of a series called, “It’s Not An Option” (the great commission.) I shared some of the things that compel me to lead our church to be so aggressive about starting new churches. The day was great and I am elated to have another church preaching Jesus in our community!