Swapping Sheep

I've noticed lately that we're planting churches by filling up our plants with churched people. And, in case we've missed the memo, church planting is NOT about "swapping sheep" from the Kingdom fold. Church planting is about seeing goats (lost souls) converted into sheep (saved souls). The reality of this hit me as I began to examine how little our new churches are transforming and impacting culture. Recently I talked to a church planter from a southern state who was quick (and proud) to tell me that one of their church plants, which is only three years old, was running 1500 in attendance. He then began to relay the fact that this church plant was thriving and growing in a community of only 7-8000 people. As he shared this my first sarcastic reaction was of elation. I told him that it must be awesome to see this whole community turned upside down by all of those
people coming to faith in Christ. I then asked him if the crime, divorce, and abuse rates have declined drastically with such a phenomenal movement of God in this community. When the reality hit him that the growth of this plant wasn't really about transformational growth, but rather through sheep swapping, he quickly changed the subject. Now I'm sure the growth of the plant wasn't ALL from churched people, but it probably was the majority of the growth.

So where does "sheep swapping" get us today in impacting our culture with the good news of Jesus Christ? No where! As we produce more and more plants (3-4 per day), and as existing churches die (8-10 per day), what is spiritually taking place in our culture as it relates to transforming lives with the gospel of Jesus Christ? Not much at all! You see; it is much harder, time consuming, and bears limited success (numbers) for church planters to go after and focus all their energies on reaching the lost. Plainly said, it just easier to open the doors and let the disgruntled and disenfranchised "Christians" fill up the plant.  But, is easier really producing the results needed to change and impact the culture?

Where they find out about you

Today a church planter shared an amazing statistic that merits me sharing to you. In a recent media blitz of billboards, radio and TV ads, door hangers, etc. only 5% of recent visitors to his church plant responded to this type of invitation to the church. He communicated to me that 95% of his recent visitors over the last 6 weeks attended his church plant because they found their website on-line. Through conversations and relationships people chose to check out the church via their website before they attended the service. Amazing results for utilizing a simple tool. So, if you want to get your name out and let people know you exist make sure that one tool you have in your arsenal is a website; a usable, friendly, and inviting website. Matter of fact, I'd suggest you pay the money to create a good and functional website before you sent mailers, put up billboards, or paid for public advertising.

Please remember that a website isn't the end to all means in reaching out to people; relationships move and draw people. However, we now understand more than ever that people drawn into your church through relationships are now telling others to check out your church plant via your website. Church websites today are fastly becoming a necessary means to help draw and connect people into a relationship with you and the church plant. So, in today's economy if you want to let people know you exist, and help them understand what you're all about, creating a great website is a must.

Final thought. Everyone who has created their own website thinks that their site is good. I haven't heard one planter admit that their website looks like garbage; although some in my opinion do. Please take the time to first market your website through various generations of people, and then take their feedback and do something with what they give you. Most of the time church planters websites are nominal at best, and they do not motivate or encourage anyone to take the next step to checking you out. Remember, in today's world the web is a place "where they find out about you." If your website looks shabby and amateur, they will reserve the right to think that's really describes who and what you really are. And, who would blame them if they never bothered to check you out.

Cultural Christianity

One of the challenges a planter deals with in today's world is with cultural Christians. You know the one's. . .they're the one's who pull Jesus out of their box on Sunday and live the other 6 days the way that they think is best. They're the one's who want to be entertained and taught theology even though they have no intention to use what they've learned. They're the one's that show up to church plants and re-direct and mutilate a church planters vision. They're the one's that give enough money to cause a church planter to compromise his values and mission that God called him to fill. They're the one's giving Christianity a bad name because they do not look anything like Christ.

What is a planter to do with such people when they show up at your plant? Here are some suggestions:

1. Don't coddle them, teach them to grow up.

2. Don't promise anything to them (you'll regret it later).

3. Don't give them a ministry or assignment until they prove their serious about serving Christ.

4. Give them the truth, and do not apologize when they pout about how mean and unpastoral your being because you're giving them the truth.

5. Preach the gospel to them, a lot of them aren't even saved.

6. Don't accept gifts from them, they'll only want something in return from you later.

7. Teach them that Christianity is to be lived 7 days a week, and give them the opportunities to make this happen.

8. When they don't put up or they give up, move on and let them make their move to the next place that satisfies their itch.

Why am I writing this today? So many guys I've worked with in church planting are under constant stress and are being drained by these "so called" Christians. The worst thing a planter can do is to divert his ministry and energy trying to get these people to embrace and support the work within a new church plant. So, if you find yourself dealing with this element within your plant, I'd encourage to implement some of these suggestions and continue to put your effort and energy into impacting the lost around you. My feeling is let them go their way, I'm pretty sure that is what Jesus did, He didn't let them spoil his calling or mission, why should you.

Remember these warnings from God's Word:

2 Tim 3: 1-7 -- "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."

2 Tim 4:3 -- "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."

One life can make a difference

I like this day. . . St. Patricks Day. As many choose to where green, eat Corn Beef and Cabbage and drink their favorite Irish Beer ( I prefer Root Beer), I enjoy thinking of the man to whom this day is set aside to honor, St. Patrick (Maewyn Succat). St. Patrick was a church planting machine, it is said that he was responsible for starting over 200 churches. His ministry to the Pagans of Ireland is a remarkable story of forgiveness and faithfulness. At the age of 16 he was sold into slavery to Irish Raiders. He remained a slave until he escaped at the age of 22. After his conversion he was compelled by God to return to the people who once held him as a slave. Through his life and work one of the greatest Spiritual Awakenings took place in the world. In George Hunter's book; "The Celtic Way of Evangelism", it is noted that perhaps several million people within 5 countries were touched by the gospel because of the influence of Maewyn Succat's ministry. Historians tell us that he baptized over 100,000 new Christians himself, I cannot even imagine doing that today (you''d need a strong back, but I would love to have the opportunity). His methodology for reaching people with the gospel was very unorthodox during his time. The Roman Church's method of reaching people was to convince people to believe in Christ in order to be accepted in the church. Maewyn Succat's approach was to provide venues and places for people to see and experience Christ. He believed that if pagans could see and be touched by the genuine love of Christ they would be convinced of their need to make a commitment to Christ as well. So, Patrick created monasteries that allowed the people to hang out with God's people. What he essentially did was provide people who were disconnected from Christ the opportunity to rub shoulders and experience Christianity before they ever made a commitment to follow Christ. The results were explosive, and unfortunately became a threat to the established Roman Church of that day.

St. Patrick I believe, was used mightily by God because he believed that people's lives needed to be transformed with gospel of Christ. He obviously saw the value of making sure he modeled (along with others) what a life transformed by Christ looks like. The modeling of genuine love and devotion created an explosion of new disciples being born again into God's Kingdom.

I wonder today if it is possible for God to use this same approach to reaching people in a culture that is turning more and more pagan everyday? And, is it possible that God can still use one man (or woman) to begin a fire that burns the chaff of religion and opens the door of helping people transform their lives as they connect to Christ? I know the answer and I'm sure you do as well. To quote our new President; "Yes He can!"

So, if you ever wonder if your life could make a "huge" difference in changing a culture for Christ, look at St. Patrick and believe that "all things are possible through Christ." Maewyn Succat obviously did!

BTW: Why is the Shamrock so big on this day? Legend has it that Maewyn Succat used the "three leaf" clover to communicate the Trinity.

Storms

I've learned lately that storms in life can be very good. I was at my
dentist yesterday and we were reviewing my latest surgical procedure that I endured. When he asked me how I was doing I told him great, the whole situation turned out to be the "perfect storm" in my life. Although I hated having a surgical procedure done on me, the outcome couldn't have been any better. Going through this season and enduring this storm has almost ended up in perfection. First, let me say I'm grateful to God for all He has done the last 6 weeks of my life; He has been gracious to me. Why I chose to call this a "perfect storm" is because of the bunch of good things has happened since I was diagnosed with a large cyst that had to be removed from my jaw. Through recovery, a changed diet (very soft), exercising, and developing better eating habits I've been able to lose 23 pounds and gain some extraordinary energy that I didn't know existed. And, I'm praying that as a result of weight loss, dieting, and exercise I may be able to throw away the dreaded cholesterol medicine that I've been on for 7 years. In January I didn't know what good was going to come out of all that I was going to face, but today I recognize and praise God for His promise that "all things work together for good to those who love God (Rom. 8:28)." I now see the value of a perfect storm blowing in and out of our lives. Sometimes we need something to take place to sail us on to a new and refreshing destination in life.

What I learned from this in the last 6 weeks is this; when things look bad (and you're feeling bad) it doesn't always mean that it is going to last or get worse. Actually it may be the opposite. Sometimes something has to be purged or pruned to give new energy and life. My experience has brought this to me at this time. When it all took place, I couldn't see the horizon because I was in the midst of the storm. But as I rode out the storm with God, He moved me into a position that allowed me to experience refreshment, vigor, and a new perspective on life. So, here is some advice. When it all feels like it is tumbling in around you, hold on to the promises that God has given you, ride it out with Him to the end. If you do, you might experience the "perfect storm" your life needs at that time. Storms aren't bad at all, they are many times useful to blow in new and fresh things. I pray the next time you're caught in a storm, you'll hold on and wait for the Master to show you a new horizon in your life.

New Wine

I'm back after a time of recovering from having surgery on my jaw, and it is good to be back. God is good and faithful!

I've been thinking a lot lately how Jesus admonished his followers not to place anything new into anything old. He communicated these words to His followers; "Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." (Matt. 9:17). His words were interesting because they came after He was asked a question about why His own disciples were not practicing a religious ritual. As I pondered His response to the religious zealots of His day, I was quickly reminded how much church planters and pastors face this same type of question each and every day (well, some church planters and pastors, especially those who are committed to changing and transforming lives with the gospel). Jesus in this encounter heralded a biblical principle that still stands today; you cannot put something new from God into a vessel that is unable and unwilling to be used by God. He further explained that when you violate this biblical principle, the results will be waste and devastation. In my journey in ministry I've seen this happen more than I can count. So many times we as Christians are constantly trying to place some new thing into something that is unwilling and unable to absorb it. And, when we attempt to do this I'm afraid we stand in the midst of being disobedient to the very principle Jesus shared for us to be careful of doing. In the midst of our disobedience the results are wasteful and many times devastating. So, what is a church planter to do with this principle, and why am I bringing this up today?

Church plants and church planters are "new wine." God's call to a church planter is to provide something fresh and new to a community that is disconnected from Him. He calls you because He was wanting you to do something fresh and new that hasn't been done before. He isn't calling you to clone and practice what you already know and are comfortable with, He's calling you to be fresh, new, and alive with His ideas and tools to engage people who have and will not be engaged by a religious community. Many times a church planter loses heart quickly because they do not see immediately and tangible results for trying to engage people in a fresh and new way. I've learned over the years that you need to be very careful and cautious when someone or something is persuading you to move to a place that is comfortable and ideal for them. God's work is fresh and alive! When His principles and methods are used according to His design, the result will always be His preservation. His preservation means that He is in control of the circumstances, using it for His benefit and glory.

So. the reason I felt compelled to write this today is because God has shown me what is the greatest challenge and temptation in church planting. Failing to be new wine in a new wine skin is the biggest reason church plants do not transform communities and fail. Today, in America we see this happening by the thousands. Many church plants are framing their ministry into something that is old, antiquated, and dying. What we've basically done is tell people were new while we "tweak" the methods of old, the methods that the culture has rejected as something they do not want or need. Church planters have sold themselves short of having all of God's best for the sake of preaching behind a "pulpit", in a "church building", to a bunch of dysfunctional and disenfranchised Christians. Shame on us! Shame on us from hiding behind this religious cloak when are Lord told us to be "new wine" in "new wineskins." I pray that if you're a church planter or pastor that you will fully embrace the fact that God has called you to be "new wine" in "new wineskins." If you found this to be offensive and uncomfortable to read today, that's good. I'm sure God is more offended by our compromising than I ever will be. May God help us to be "new wine" in "new wineskins" so that through Him we might be used as a preservative in the world today.

The planters menace, part 2

Another menace the church planter faces is dealing with the challenge of Christian people compartmentalizing their Christian lives. What do I mean by compartmentalizing their lives? Through religion (see previous menace), Christians have been taught that their Christian faith is separate to every other part of their lives. As the old saying goes; Christians are great at "doing church" on Sunday, and even greater at "practicing carnality" all the rest of the week. Recently I ran across a church planter that was frustrated to how people were not picking up and living the principles of discipleship. I raised this menace factor to him by explaining how people in the church have been taught through religion how to compartmentalize their lives. I further explained that the church over the last 50 years taught people how to save themselves from "hell-fire and damnation," but never really expounded on the fact that the complete salvation experience means that we die to self so that we can live for Christ. When people learned (through preaching and teaching) that all they needed was to be saved, they logically understood that they were covered from going to hell. And, as this is true, it is also is an incomplete message. Jesus said, "if anyone chooses to come after me, they must deny themselves, and take up their cross and follow Him." The result of this incomplete message is an incomplete group of saved people. Christianity at this point of incompletion is very much self-serving, which gives way for the "Christian" not to incorporate Christ in all aspects of their lives. Their marriages, homes, work place, recreation, education, and sometimes ethics are separated from the reality that "Christ is all and in all."

So, what is a planter to do with this menace that surrounds them? Do what Paul said; "preach and teach the whole counsel of God." Tell and show Christians how to allow and incorporate Christ into each segment of their lives. Guide them to experience Christianity at its fullest. If you will do this you will find more people becoming disciplined in their walk with Christ. These people will find that their "personal faith" is to be intertwined into every arena of their lives. Plan your sermons and Bible studies to help people to completely incorporate Jesus into every part of their lives. If your going to let people live out of religion, your bi-product will be Jesus for one day a week. If you guide people to dive wholeheartedly into Jesus, your bi-product will be a life that is surrendered seven days a week. My prayer for you today is that you will commit yourself to helping people break out of their religious and carnal compartments, by helping guide them to a full understanding of what it means to follow Christ.

Warning: Breaking Christians from religious and carnal habits takes time and is never easy. The odds of a mega- church being produced from this philosophy of ministry is between slim and none. The probability of experiencing real life transformation in marriages, families, and communities are great.

The planters menace

What would you consider to be the biggest menace to church planting? Many planters deal with difficult people, limited finances, and un-satisfactory meeting places just to name a few. But have you considered that the biggest menace to church planting may be what we call -- religion. Most church planters think that there are a bunch of elements that are limiting to the success and growth of a church plant. Usually our biggest menace becomes our unwillingness to depart from living and acting out of our own religion. In reality many church plants are masking themselves behind a fresher and livelier religion. Good performances, excellent ministries, phenomenal story-telling, and Cadillac technology are some of the masks that many church plants hide behind these days. When you begin to unveil the "stuff" what you begin to see is another form of "good old religion." How do we know this? Check out who is really attending the church plant! Most church plants in our land are not connecting and reaching people who are outside of church life. Most of the people that are baptized ususally come from somewhat of a churched background. We've also grown accustom to making fun of the "old time" churches, saying that they are irrelevant and inadequate in reaching people. What we really mean to say is that they aren't reaching out anymore to the "church hoppers" that we're accustomed to reeling in. So, what is the solution? Quit repackaging grandma's church and start acting like the church in Acts. Start behaving like the Christian character Paul describes in Romans 12, and stop mimicking the character of the Corinthian and Revelation churches. The character of the Christians that Paul described in Romans 12 revealed the significance of living and functioning in relationships that we encounter in the world. He (Paul) spoke on how to rightly relate to God, the world, ourselves, other believers, and un-believers in the world. It makes sense to me that if we mimicked Romans 12 rather than the church that we've known in the western world for hundreds of years, we might find ourselves reaching and relating to people who live in our neighborhoods and communities. Let's face reality; religion will not reach people. Relationships on the other hand is the true essence of how we can and should reach out to people who need Christ. So, as we begin 2009 I would challenge you to do everything you can as a church planter to bury the habits of practicing religion. Try commiting to living like a Romans 12 follower of Christ (this is what I've committed to do myself). I would further challenge you to do everything you can to reach out and build relationships with lost people. If you haven't figured this out yet, let me remind you that "they (un-churched people) are not going to show up to your church plant." What reaches people are people; not religion, things, gimmicks, and shows. People building and living out of genuine relationships reach people. My prayer is you'll earnestly try this approach this year. What do you have to lose if you do? Oh yeah, that old menace called RELIGION!

Aim small, miss small

One of my favorite lines in the movie "The Patriot" is the one where the father (mel gibson) tells his two sons to "aim small, miss small" when shooting at their targets. When one uses this phrase it always raises an eyebrow to "what does that really mean?" The line was communicated to raise the awareness that if you going to hit a target, the best way to insure a direct hit on the target, is to aim at something specific rather than at something large. Good soldiers know that if you try to shoot your gun at the whole man, rather than at something on the man, your odds of missing your target are extremely higher. But, if you aim for the button on the coat of the man, there is a greater chance for a direct hit.

This is the dilemma many church planters have in starting a new church. They think if you aim at the masses you're bound to hit something. And, in reality they do. The problem is when they focus their aim at reaching the masses, their usual targets are not what they were aiming at in the first place. Meaning, when you aim and shoot at the mass in church planting, what you normally get is dysfunctional and disenfranchised "Christians." If many church planters would adopt the mentality of going after more individuals rather than the crowd, they might find out in time that what they were aiming for is actually what they are getting in return. The philosophy of "aim small, miss small" doesn't just apply in war and hunting, it also applies to reaching men and women for Christ. If church planters would take the time to aim more intentionally at people who are outside of a relationship Christ, and zero in on reaching them, then perhaps our church plants would be filled more with people who have been outside of Christ. What I see is this -- what we put in our sights is what we get. If you put a mass of people in your sights, and then pull the trigger, what you get from the mass is usually a mess. If you target going after one person at a time, you'll probably end up with the type of people you were trying to reach in the first place. So, the choice is yours and mine. We can aim for the crowd, and bag what we get. Or, we can be more intentional at what we're aiming at and zero in on people whom God puts in our path. One is easier and doesn't take as much time, and the results usually are unappealing and regretful. The other is harder and takes time, and the results are always fresh and rewarding. I don't know what your aiming at as a church planter today, but my prayer is that you "aim small so that you miss small" and you bag what God wanted you to go after in the first place.

What it's all about

A reminder for church planters during this Christmas season:

"The beginning of the story is wonderful and great, but it's the ending that can save you and that's why we celebrate. It's about the cross!"

I came across this video that I believe will help you and I to remind people what this season is really all about. Let me know what you think!

When in Rome. . .

The old saying; "when in Rome do as the Romans do" is good practical advice for a church planter. If there is one thing a church planter needs to do well it is to live and become a part of the culture where they are planting a church. I was reminded of this today as I watched the extreme focus that the media was placing on the first day of Deer Hunting in Pennsylvania. In PA. deer hunting is a religion and holiday. On the first day schools are closed, the TV stations are stationed on the roadsides to interview hunters going in and coming out of the woods, and the neighborhoods are looking and listening to find out who got the big Buck. For a planter to be successful in this area of the country they must get connected somehow to this yearly phenomenon that takes place on the first Monday after Thanksgiving. The ability to relationally connect with men (and some women) may totally land on whether or not a planter invests some of his time, energy, and resources in engaging in this sport. When a planter takes the time to "exegete" his culture he will quickly find what makes the people in his arena of life "tick." When they've found that "tick" and invest themselves in participating in the interest of the people all kinds of relational doors quickly open. When they are lazy and can care less about what makes people tick, their approaching them to share the gospel will probably just "tick them off." So, here's some advice from a seasoned planter, "when in Rome you better learn and do what the Romans do." In PA. that means getting a gun and a hunting licence and getting out there with the majority of men who are passionate about one thing; killing deer. Learn to exegete the culture. Learn it, live it, and love it; this may be the very entry point into people's lives that you've been praying for.

Holiday downtime

Holidays are an excellent time for a church planter to recoup his energy and spend valuable time with his family. If you're church planting I would encourage to downshift your energies during this time. After the holidays come and go, the demands of ministering and planting in the winter don't get easier, they get harder. In my church planting experience I noticed as long as people were preoccupied with the festivities of the holidays they were not focused on themselves and their issues. But, once January 2nd came, this quickly changed. The antidote for this annual occurrence for me was to slow down and take it easy over the holidays. When I did this it helped give me the energy that I needed to deal with the "winter blues" that quickly enveloped people. So, slow it down a bit over the next month, spend some time with the family, and get some rest. . . January will be here before you know it.

E & Voice Mail Overload

Have you ever felt like you were on E-mail and Voice Mail overload? All these messages coming are coming at you and you really have no time to address them because of your schedule, family, and other responsibilities. Church planters often have this challenge, especially those guys who are bi-vocational as they are planting a church. So, what is the answer? How do you address the constant influx of those E and V mails that are always coming in? Try, scheduling a time of day that you will respond to these messages. Set aside a specific time for addressing e-mails, and a specific time for answering and responding to voice mail calls. For example; try using a half hour either in the morning or evening to answer your e-mails. . . use your commuting time to respond to voice mails. Then, let those around you know that this is what you do, communicate your schedule to those who are wanting your time to respond to them. There is nothing worse than trying to work on a sermon or bible study only to have a e-mail message pop-up or your cell phone ring as your contemplating what God is wanting you to share with people. Guard your time, lay out a specific time each day that you will reply to those who are trying to get a hold of you. We are told that good electronic etiquette is responding within 24 hours to those who have contacted you. I think it's only fair that those who are trying to contact you should respect the parameters you've established for answering their inquiries. So, set those parameters up, and see if this will eliminate the stress of always feeling like you have to return that call and answer that e-mail right away. I'm sure if you do you, your wife and family will be glad that you did!

Kingdom vs. Church

Kingdom vs. the Church, which one do you choose? This is a tough question! Which one is your priority? Can they be separated? Why is there more focus on building the church than on the Kingdom of God? As I ponder these question myself I remember, reflect, and rely on the Scriptures from the gospels to help me see the priority. 116 times the Kingdom is referred to in the Gospels; the church is referred to but twice. Jesus came on the scene preaching the Kingdom, and His last words to His followers in the 40 days between the resurrection and the ascension were focused on the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). Since Jesus' focus and priority was on the Kingdom, is it possible that this may be the dysfunctional dilemma that the western church faces today? Do we spend more time talking about church and its growth than we do about God's Kingdom? I'm not a theologian nor do I pretend to act like one, I have a pastors heart who likes to take Scripture at face value. Common sense tells me that Jesus modeled what should be our main focus, the proclamation of good news of the Kingdom of God (Luke 4:43). It also tells me that the church was established to help people see, find, and embrace the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ. Is it possible that we have our priorities all "screwed up?" Now hear me, I'm not bashing the church, I'm only challenging what I believe matters most based upon what Christ said and focused on while He ministered here on the earth. Why am I writing this now? A few days ago I witnessed a preacher sharing a message on the Kingdom of God to nearly 7,000 students at a Christian University. What an awesome and inspiring message! As he challenged students to realize the significance of the Kingdom and to embrace putting God's Kingdom first, hardly a stir nor a word was moving from the crowd that filled the arena. This made me realize that if we miss the significance of promoting the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, then we may as well close up shop. Oh!, wait a minute, is that what's happening already? My point is this; if we proclaim and live the gospel of the Kingdom of God (like Jesus did),then perhaps we will receive more of the promise that God provides to those who do (Matt. 6:33). One might ask what is the Kingdom of God actually? Henry Blackaby defines it as "the rule and reign of God in our hearts." Now I've been around a while, so I will leave those who would challenge my thoughts with these Scriptures to ponder (Mark 1:15; Matt. 6:33; Luke 4:43; Luke 9:2; Luke 9:11; Luke 9:60; Luke 18:17; Matt. 24:14; 1 Cor. 4:20). I'll write more about this later.

Dealing with the Blues

Today is a reminder in the Northeast US that winter will not be too far around the corner. Some areas in my locale received nearly 8 inches of snow today, and more is on the way overnight. When the weather changes in the northeast, so does the mindset of the people. Cold windy days and nights, snowy and icy days, and limited daylight quickly change the attitude and mindset of the people. The energy people once had over the Spring, Summer, and early Fall is quickly eroded as the first snowflake flies in the air. Today, I was reminded as a church planter of the energy that is needed to combat the onslaught of the "winter blues." As a planter you cannot change the blues from setting in, but you can prepare for how you can react to this yearly phenomenon. So, here's some advice. In dealing with these blues over many winter seasons in the Northeast, I learned to do several things:

1. Try to find ways to exercise your body and mind. Going to a gym and forcing yourself to get outdoors will give you more energy to cope with the "winter blues." Exercise also fuels the mind.

2. Don't over exert your own energy by trying to increase others. Many times I was guilty of burning "extra" energy just to try to keep people up and moving.

3. Maintain a healthy diet. More fat creates the tendency to be lazy. When you lay around in "the cabin" eating, you get "cabin fever."

4. Laugh, joke, and laugh some more (but don't joke about someone else's depression). I wished I had done more of that, this is a prescription for your sanity.

5. Guard yourself from those who want to pull you into their pool of misery and depression.

6. Create positive messages that inspire and create energy, not contribute to the draining that is already going on.

7. Get "out of dodge" towards the end of winter, and if you can't do it make sure your spouse gets some reprieve from fighting the "winter blues." When Spring hits, your people will quickly bounce back with energy. If you waste all of yours trying to keep them going over the winter you will not have any when Spring arrives. Been there done that!

8. Yield to the fact that the "winter blues" comes with the territory. You can't change it, but you can to deal with it. Learn to cope with this element within the culture.

There is probably more that I can share about dealing with this yearly challenge that church planters and pastors face in the Northeast, but at this moment this is all I have. So, if you have any ideas that you can pass along on how to deal with the "winter blues", drop a comment or two. And, if you're from the southern end of the ministerial spectrum, please don't laugh; we don't laugh at you when you get your share of blues (from tornadoes, hurricanes, droughts, and scorching 100 degree days). Instead pray for your brothers and sisters who deal with this yearly phenomenon in the NE US. I'll probably write more about this topic in a couple of months, but in the meantime, get yourself prepared to "deal with the blues."

Legacy

How important is a legacy? What legacy are you leaving behind? I was reminded this week of something that had been handed down through generations in my family -- faith. I found out that a man who sailed with William Penn (the founder of PA) in 1682 on the ship "Welcome", 9 generations before I was born, was my great x8 grandfather, Thomas Fitzwater. Thomas came by faith to America to help establish (birth) a colony where religious freedom would be established and given to every person who has lived in Pennsylvania up until now. In his quest to follow this call he sacrificed much. Thomas Fitzwater lost his wife (Mary) and 2 children to small pox on the 2 month journey from England. And, even in through these losses, he persevered to establish a town (Fitzwatertown), become a writer to the Frame of Government of PA (the document that declared PA. a colony), start-up a Limestone Kiln business (which is quite probable that his product was used to build Independence Hall), serve as a member of the 1st Assembly (House) of Pennsylvania, and also serve his community as a minister to his fellow Quakers. Through receiving this information I realized that he not only did this for his family, but for the future for all that would follow after him. His legacy left an indelible impact in PA. and throughout his family for generations to come. I realized in hearing about this man that the DNA of our family as it started life in the new America, was forged and built on faith and freedom in Christ. Today this legacy helps inspire me to build on that which was provided for me 9 generations ago. It's now my turn, and that of my children, to pass on to the next generation this same legacy of faith and freedom in Christ. I can only believe that my grandfather (9 generations ago) experienced persecution for his faith and beliefs as he tried to raise a family under the watch of the Crown and the State Church of England. This perhaps was the defining moment that led him to pursue a new life, and to build a life of faith and freedom that could be passed down for generations to come. I am a product of his faith, and I've found the freedom in Christ that he sacrificed much for. What about you? What are you leaving behind, or better yet, what has been left behind that you now must carry the torch for those who come behind you? Thomas Fitzwater's legacy is still felt today; hundreds if not thousands of his own family have come to faith in Christ, and an elementary school (Thomas Fitzwater Elementary School) in Bucks County PA is named after this noble, faithful, and godly man. If you haven't thought about your legacy, I'd encourage you to think about it, the faith of generations that follow you may be determined by what you leave behind.

Trust

A word for the tough time we're all enduring today -- TRUST. Psalm 20:7 says; "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." For to long now people within our society have trusted in themselves, government, and Wall Street. The election in a few weeks in my mind is a barometer of who people in our country will place their trust in. You know as I do, that the Bible is clear to where we are to place our trust. Psalm 33:12 says; "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD...". As America (and the world) falls from their pride and self-sufficiency, this creates an awesome platform for churches to lovingly guide people to direct their lives to the only One whom they can trust the most -- God. A good quality every church planter should have is knowing how to address the issues that are permeating the culture. Learn to seize opportunities like we are facing in our culture today. Let it be that edge to speak into the lives of people who are seeing their own worldly foundations slipping away. As I watched TV last night I was amazed to see that both presidential candidates were being challenged by "angry people" over the state of affairs that are country currently finds itself in. They are demanding answers to fix the dilemma that has rocked their world. We are now living in an era of mistrust or distrust. Pastors and church planters cannot fix bank accounts or 401K's, but we can help fix the moral and spiritual dilemma within our country by sharing the message of Jesus Christ. When it comes down to it, that is what this is really all about; moral and spiritual decay. When it comes to what we need to do in such a time as this, it's to share the reliable message of real prosperity; TRUST in GOD! My prayer for you and other preachers throughout the land is that you will herald the cry from our Creator; "TRUST in the Lord with all your heart, and don't rely on your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right path (Prov. 3:5-6)."

Stepping up to challenges

One of the neat things about challenges is that it always gives you the opportunity to step up to a place that you may have never journeyed before. My challenge today was creating a Facebook page. After being challenged by a peer to set-up a page, I thought I'd give it a try. It's amazing how many friends I connected with in a very short time. In my arena of ministry, having the best communication tools are critical. I've already noticed that Facebook may give me another resource in the recruiting of church planters. After getting started with Facebook I was curious to how much church planters could benefit from this tool. My recent searches regarding church planting connected me to many networks and individuals who are out there plugging away in this arena. I've also noticed how many exisiting churches have created pages and networks to help communicate with their parishoners. I may be a little late in getting connected to Facebook, but it has already shown me that the 3 hour challenge of getting the page created, may pay great dividends down the road. So, if your a church planter, and you haven't created a Facebook page, I would highly recommend you take a few hours to create and connect to this amazing technological tool. Step up to the challenge, you may be amazed to who connects with you!

Feel the pulse

Our culture is sick (morally), but still alive. People everyday are struggling with real life challenges, and they are searching for answers to deal with these issues. We all know that the issues of Wall Street are pressing down on the people who live on Main Street. In times like these church planters have a open door to readily address cultural issues and challenges. They can do this by learning to "feel the pulse" of their community and people. When people struggle (economically, emotionally, spiritually) in life; I believe every church planter, pastor, and missionary has the opportunity to distribute an antidote to what is ailing the people. I.E.; the recent developments of Wall Street have created an upwelling of anxiety and fear within our society. If a church planter/pastor would speak on the issue of trust (something that is absent in our culture today), and where people can find and rely on something (or Someone) whom they can trust, can you imagine the results and the potential for community transformation? Biblically we have examples of how individuals knew how to "feel the pulse" of their culture. The Lord Jesus and the Apostle Paul are two examples of individuals that knew how to address the issues that people were dealing with on an everyday basis. Their antidote was always God's truth and love.

In 2001 I remember addressing a crowd of over 2,000 people that had gathered in a small town park in Western New York. The crowd gathered to pray for our country as we were dealing with the biggest crisis to hit the mainland of the United States; the Terrorist attack on 9/11. As I was asked to speak and to offer prayer at this rally, I realized (sensed) that the biggest need of that moment was to address the fear that was gripping the hearts of people in our community. On that day I learned that when challenges arise in our culture, this becomes a prime opportunity for Christianity to rise above those challenges with God's message of love, hope, and peace. I remembered sharing that when calamity comes upon us in times like 9/11, that there is One who is greater than our fears, enemies, and circumstances. God used this moment in that park to speak to both Christians and non-Christians. Several people engaged our church plant because of this moment, and some of those people ended up coming to faith in Christ. I learned through that event that the greatest thing that I could do as a communicator of the gospel was to listen, understand, and "feel the pulse" of our culture. Why? Sin is prevalent, crisis will always come, and people will search for some form of rescue and relief. We are then given these types of opportunities because we know what offers people real rescue and relief in life. The question I have for church planters today is; "do you have a feel on the pulse" of your community? And, are your ready and open to offer them the antidote to their moral, emotional, spiritual, and economic dilemma's when they come? It was in a time of crisis that I learned the valuable lesson of "feeling the pulse" of my community. We again are facing challenges within are society today. It's your turn now to grab a stethoscope and "feel the pulse" of our day. It's your time to deliver the antidote in their time of crisis.

Antidote -- A remedy or other agent used to neutralize or counteract the effects of a poison.

Disconnected

I think we've underestimated how disconnected the church is from our society. Some experts are now telling us that only 20-25% of the US population is attending church on any given weekend. These numbers are rapidly catching up with what is happening in the United Kingdom and Canada. Only 4 to 6% of their people attend church. So, if every two years we lose 5%, then in 10 years we could mirror our "mother land" and Canada. How accurate is this prediction? Just 10 years ago we were told that 40% of Americans attended church. So, what is the disconnect? I think it lies in the churches effort to still try and "attract" people into the church instead of being more "incarnational" and going after people in the communities in which we live. I'm concerned that a large number of church planters are still pursuing the "attractional" approach to reaching people, when our culture is showing us they are not interested in being wooed into a church. This approach (attractional) in church planting only seems successful as many planters use tens of thousands of dollars to successfully launch a church. What I see is many church planters becoming more and more frustrated because they do not have and cannot find the resources that some have used to "launch" new churches. This approach, while once the most popular, seems to be successful in swapping Christians from one church to another. It is not showing much success in engaging those who are "disconnected" from Christ. Until the church wakes up and realizes that real transformation (in individuals and communities) only takes place through incarnational ministry, the results will always be the same. More and more Christians moving from church to church, and many more lost people refusing to be wooed by the "attractional" tactics of the church.
The answer I believe lies in the US church's willingness to abandon its 20th century philosophy of "doing" church. We need church planters and pastors who are willing to mobilize its people to engage and penetrate the culture with the gospel. Go after them, build relationships with them, and wait patiently on the Holy Spirit to transform them with the "good news." What does this look like? Probably more Christians actively serving in the "streets" and less Christians just "hanging out" at church buildings. It probably means that congregations will be more lean and mean in its effort in "making disciples." That's probably the trade off; more mobilized Christ-followers and less consumers within the church. And, it probably means we would have more churches running around 50-60 with bi-vocational pastors. The bigger our "attractional" churches get, the less impact it seems we have on changing the culture. The Eastern church (the other side of the world) has proven that "lean and mean" is more effective than what we've been producing. I think its time we stopped building what we like and know and start connecting with "disconnected" people in our culture, what do you think?