check out these videos if you have a few minutes – they’re short, challenging and encouraging – if you don’t have a few minutes, watch these tomorrow at work instead of checking your stocks.
http://www.t4g.org/promo/

Help a out a friend. One of my best friends is a pastor in NC. His student pastor is a great guy. Take a second and help him out by voting for him for some podcast compettion. – His name is Jason Underwood. Just vote for him, it’ll only take a second. Seriously, click the link and vote for Jason. Thanks. http://www.simplyyouthministry.com/livepodcastcontest.html

Allow me to rant…
Every church planter I meet says they are starting their church to reach those that are disconnected from God. Many of them grew up in church, became Christians at a early age, and don’t even have a relationship with someone far from God, but they are going to reach those far from God. I listen to a lot of podcasts, watch a lot of videos from other churches, and it breaks my heart to know they are doing a lot of things and a lot of things well, but reaching those far from God is NOT one of them.
I have learned that most church planters REALLY don’t want to reach those far from God, they really want to do church in a cool way. There is a difference. Just because you have great video, loud music, dress casual, and use movie clips doesn’t mean you are reaching those far from God.
I honestly believe most planters would freak out if they started having to deal with the issues that come from reaching truly unchurched people. It is messy, ugly, scary, and actually can keep you from growing because it scares the hell out of those who grew up in church.
We had a person on our staff a couple of years ago who came here because he wanted to be part of a church that reached unchurched people. The first time his wife sat next to a couple of lesbians, he was rethinking that. This guy was a nice guy, but he couldn’t handle the ugliness that comes with reaching those that are far from God. He literally walked around the church on Sundays with a look of terror in his eyes. He didn’t want to reach lost people, he wanted a church where he could come and wear whatever he wanted and impress other Christians because he was at an church with a little edge. It wasn’t long before he was running for the hills. He couldn’t handle the messiness of reaching those with problems. The sad thing is he isn’t alone. Most guys can’t handle it.
When I say it is messy, I don’t think most guys understand what I mean, so allow me to walk you through my week that just got done. This is a pretty typical week at Revolution and the side 99% never see.
I have a bottle of pain pills worth about $400 on the streets sitting in my desk that one of our people’s spouse brought me after finding them. The name on the prescription isn’t the name of the person who brought them because they were bought on the street.
I had another one of our people lose their job for stealing thousands of dollars from the company they work for.
I have a addict in our church who has relapsed and in the process is about to lose EVERYTHING and he doesn’t even know it.
I set up an intervention for an addict that will take place this week. This is his last chance and he doesn’t even know it.
Last night I was at the ER until 3 in the morning because one of our people took a razor blade and slit both his wrists, his neck, and took around 80 sleeping pills. He’s alive, but I have to say it was the most horrific thing I have ever seen in my life.
All of that was just from this week. That is the life of reaching those disconnected from God. None of those people care how “cool” our church will be tomorrow. All they care about is we have created a place where they can come with all their crap and feel loved and connected.
I’ll be honest and tell you that there are times when pastoring Revolution freaks me out. There are times when I think it would be easier to do what most guys do and plant a church that really is a place for other Christians to come hang out and talk about how we are reaching unchurched people instead of doing it. I think that would be easier, but we would not be charging the gates of hell with that mindset. There are enough guys around doing that and doing it well.
Canton didn’t need another church. Canton didn’t need another church with loud music, casual dress, and “relevant” teaching. Neither do most of the towns where guys are planting. However, Canton did need a place that was loving the unlovable. It needed a place that was willing to get it’s hands dirty and deal with the messy crap that takes place in the lives of those far from God.
When a guy wants to tell me they are starting a church to reach the disconnected, I always ask them if they are sure they want to do that. I don’t think they understand the cost that comes with it. It literally can almost kill you at times.
BUT, if they do understand the cost, they will realize it is nothing compared to the reward of seeing lives changed with the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is worth whatever cost there is. I would put everything on the line to continue to do what we do because the payoff is so huge.
Most guys won’t.
end rant.

As my friend Drew Jowers would say…. “true that.”

I had a real encouraging lunch with Jeremy Blythe yesterday. He’s a friend who is currently leading a church-plant on the Northside of Jacksonville. He’s also coordinating missions for Hibernia. Jeremy is a guy full of God, and really knows His word. He’s one of the smartest people I know. Jeremy went with us on a mission trip to Trinidad in 1995 when he was still in school. He’s always been an encouragement to me and has turned me on to some great resources when it comes to church planting. I tried to share some helpful stuff I have learned in this process as well.

Last week, Scott was telling me that someone once told him that you should share every spiritual thought you have, because when you do that, it will either confirm the idea as true, or expose it as false. I really think that you haven’t really grasped or bought into an idea until you’ve shared it with someone else. Paul thought this was important too.

2 Tim. 2:1-2 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Romans 10:13-14 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

God doesn’t teach you truth so you can keep it to yourself, share what you’ve learned with someone today. Share about life, about God, about your business, your favorite hobby, whatever, you’ll find your own understanding and passion for the subject grows each time you give away what you’ve learned.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=3223569

Pride goes before something….what was that?

I just heard champagne corks popping in retirement comunities around South Florida. The ’72 Dolphins are still the only undefeated team in NFL history.

Plax is all choked up! this is pretty cool.

Most importantly, I’m trying to decide between the Baby E-Trade Commercials and the Tide talking stain commercial for my favorite.

I also liked our breakout session that dealt with husband wife relationships. Bro. David talked about “mini-moons” or date nights, which I’m a BIG proponent of, and how we should be fiercely loyal to our spouse. One of the worst things you can do is tear your spouse down or make fun of them in front of others. That betrays a serious lack of respect, honor, and loyalty. He also said that there should be no area of our lives that is “off-limits” to our spouse. Our calendar, every relationship we have, every area of our computer, should be wide-open to them. Those of us who are married shouldn’t have two lives, but one, with one woman, (or man if you’re a woman.)

It was a really good night, it went a little long, but I’m really glad I went. I know I needed it. From what I can tell, the guys who went with me got a lot out of it too.