I heard Ben Arment talk about “The Big Ask” one time…. The big ask is when you ask for something that you have no right to ask for from someone who has no obligation to give it to you. Tomorrow I will make the biggest ask since the day I asked my father in Law to give his daughter to me. I’m feeling a little like this right now.
Monthly Archives: January 2009
Annonomous Deeds
To the annonomous friend who sent me the book, “Everyone in the Bible” from my Amazon Wish list… I say thank you. THIS IS FOR YOU
Were You Born in a Barn?
At Pillar Church we have a bit of a back door issue. What I mean is, the vast majority of those who visit Pillar Church never return. For example, in 2008 we only retained around 20% of those who visited. This is up slightly from 15% in 2007. In an attempt to close the door we have created a good follow up system, improved our Sunday morning environment, enhanced our childrens ministry and started a youth group. We got better coffee and placed smiling greeters at the door. Still, our back door is standing open.
I have created an anonymous survey that is emailed to those who attended only once then didn’t return for a month. Hopefully this will help us to understand why our door is floppin’ in the wind. Take a look at it and feel free to comment your thoughts. I ask that you refrain from actually taking the survey (unless you are one of the people who visited and chose not to return) this will help us keep our results pure.
Books = Love
My big sister sent me a box packed with three gems off of my Amazon wishlist! Now my sister, Shawn is her name, is the worship leader at this great church in Illinois. The pastor left his job at a mega church to revitalize a church that was about to close it’s doors. It’s been like 8 years and the church is now running over 1000 each weekend! She has an outrageous gifting musically and after years of volunteering as the worship ministry director the church hired her. She has assembled a top shelf worship department at this once lifeless church is now oozing with life. I’m really proud of how God is using her to magnify Christ! Her is a pic of us when I was 3 and she was 12.
I Have No Words!?!?
The Post-Rapture Post is a website that lets you send cards to your friends and family members who are left behind during the rapture of the church. The creators of the website are atheists so, in the event that the rapture actually occurs, they agree to send a card on your behalf. Particularly sad is the FAQ page on their website. Here are a few of the products that you can purchase on the site.
- “Chin Up” Card — Tells a friend or loved one who has been left behind to keep their head held high during the end times.
- “Told You So” Card — What most Christians would really want to say when their fantasies are vindicated.
- Damned Soul Card — A simple reminder of what happens to those who, either through sinful living or apathy, reject God’s laws.
- hand-scribed message (!) on medieval style parchment sheets, and rolled and wrapped with a fine Italian ribbon.
Who Is The Rich Man?
I’m teaching through the book of James right now and he makes this comment about rich people…
Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. James 1:9-11
So it begs the question?? Am I a rich man?
When we think of the rich, we generally think of as those who live in mansions, have butlers and spread Grey Poupon on their lunch meat. But don’t be deceived; in a world where 10 million children die each year from hunger and malnutrition, we are very rich men.
There are actually two answers to this question. Both place the majority of American citizens squarely in the affirmative. First, every American is a rich man. A 2006 Panorama study published by The Nielsen Company says that approximately 90% Americans claim to own at least one automobile. This is compared to 8% auto ownership worldwide. Additionally, two-thirds of American homes built today have a two-car garage. The majority of those garages are insufficient to park the number of automobiles owned by those who live in the home. By anyone’s standards, Americans are among the richest, most prosperous humans that have ever inhabited planet Earth. In this right, as Americans, we must consider ourselves in the category of the “rich”. So when James warns the rich man in verse 10, he warns the American. The American Christian would be foolish to flippantly dismiss himself from the James’ warning.
Second, even by American standards most of us are considered middle and upper class. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publishes its annual poverty guidelines. In 2008 the U.S. government proposed the following as standards of poverty for all Americans.
Family Size Poverty Line
1 10,400
2 14,000
3 17,600
4 22,200
5 24,800
6 28,400
7 32,000
8 35,600
New Neighbors
1) Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2) Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. – Romans 13:1-2
1) I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2) for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3) This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4) who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
13) Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14) or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. -1 Peter 2:13-14
Sponsor a Baby
I am a big fan of planting churches under the authority of another local church. Some call this sponsor church, parent church, mother church… whatever floats your boat. Their has been this trend in planting to center everything around the man who serves as the planter. I have to agree that the church planter plays a key role in the church planting process and choosing a man of character and quality will be directly proportionate to the character and quality of the church.
On the other side of that coin I think we have underemphasis on the role of the sponsoring church. I have posted about this issue before HERE but feel the need to mention this again.
Let me list a few of the ongoing benefits Pillar Church experiences because of our relationship with the church that sent us out these are in order of importance:
- They help us to remain doctrinally pure and missionaly focused - The folks at our sponsoring church still very much care about us even though the original team left more than 4 years ago. I have an ongoing relationship with the pastor and most of the church leaders that allows them to serve as advisers to us as we go about the process of church planting.
- They serve as church leaders and wise council until you have your own - Until Pillar had committed church leaders who were qualified and capable of caring for the congregation, Stafford Baptist provided that support. They helped keep me on track as a first time pastor and helped steer me back on course when I was vering.
- They serve as a partner we can trust – We have been able to align with Stafford BC for projects that we could never have pulled off on our own. A few years ago we did a marriage seminar, we have done international mission trips, we sent a missionary to Iceland, we planted two other local churches. All of these things have happened because we maintained a close relationship.
- They celebrate our first steps – Each time we have made a major step over the past several years Stafford has been there to celebrate with us. A few months ago we finished our constitution and had a constitution service. Some of SBC’s members and their pastor were there to support us and cheer us on. Every time God gives us a victory they are celebrating in the background.
- They create margins for us – I can’t count the times when we have been in a jam and SBC has had to bail us out. Sometimes this is financial, sometimes it is equipment, sometimes it is people…. it seems like we are constantly leaning on them for something.
- They model biblical generousity to us – Stafford’s outstanding job as our sponsoring church has given me a desire to be the same kind of church to those who we sponsor. Before this experience I would have had no Idea how significant a sponsoring church could be.
This list could go on but to conclude my point… Pillar has had an office at SBC since day one. This has helped us to maintain our relationship with Stafford Baptist and has been a huge blessing to us. Otherwise, my office would be in my home or we would be renting a very expensive space.
This week, one of SBC’s leaders, Dave Fauth, bought me some books to just to remind me that they love me! If you are a planter and you are thinking of doing this on your own, without parents… please reconsider.
New Blog Alert: Torah Lovin’ Tim
Family man, math master, church elder & Torah lover, Tim Long has launched his rocket into the Blogosphere. Tim was the guy that encouraged me to start blogging more than a year ago. He’s been a great friend and huge encouragement to me since we met about 5 years ago. Click over to his new blog MAYBE I SHOULD RUN.
Tim’s wife, Amanda, is the worship leader at Pillar Church and has been a guest blogger on dirtyclint.com… although Tim never has been. Still bitter over this fact tim is continuing my, “Be My Guest” series over on his new blog.
What do you do all day anyway?
You know those websites like about.com that tell you how everything works so you don’t look like a doof in an otherwise intelligent conversation. Well, I spend a of time on those sites. Anyway, I noticed that ehow.com had an article to answer the question, “How Does a Southern Baptist Pastor Spend a Workday? My interest was instantly peaked because I have gotten dozens of variations of this very question asked to me over the course of ministry. Inevitably, when someone asks me this question I look like a cow staring at a new gate. I try to answer… we’ll I pray, I read my bible, I read other books, I call people on the phone, I check my email, I meet people for coffee, sometimes I hang out with people when they are having a really bad day…The look I get in return tells me that my answer has solidified their hunch… I play computer solitaire and google myself all day.
So what does ehow say the SBC pastor does all day… Maybe I’ll finally get a grip on what I’m supposed to be doing.
- Prayer and Devotion – Check
- Hospital and Home Visits – Check
- Sermon Preparation – Check
- Staff and Committee Meetings – Check
- Call Visitors and Absentees – Check
- Counseling Sessions – Check
- Personal Study Time – Check
- Family Time – Check
Then there’s the Bible…
2) So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3) Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4) and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” 5) This proposal pleased the whole group. Acts 6:2-5
So… Let me ask you… What’s missing from the list? What’s on the list that shouldn’t be there?
