Church Planting Strategy (the really short list)

Make sure your "grilled cheese" plan includes cheese.

Colossians 1:28
28 So everywhere we go, we tell everyone about Christ. We warn them and teach them with all the wisdom God has given us, for we want to present them to God, perfect [or mature] in their relationship to Christ. (NLT)

Mix with the short list.

Stir briskly and serve.

Dugout 2

Had a great time at "Dugout," yesterday! Grilling, kickball, hotdogs and a short service was the perfect formula for our holiday weekend at Compass. We had folks out of town, but we also had returning visitors, so I felt great about the day.

We've done many, many outdoor services along the way, but now they are a great reminder that we have a "permanent" home at the Rec Center. It makes events like "Dugout" more fresh and fun because they are a change of pace rather than the norm. After being "homeless" for so long as a church launch team, I am extremely thankful that God has blessed us with a great place to grow as a church!

Unlike the last "Dugout" back in September, there were no cool "Dugout Awards" bestowed because Ricky apparently didn't feel like pulling any muscles or "wiping out" on the kickball field this time around...

But I spilled ketchup and pickle relish down my shirt and carried the aroma of BBQ grill smoke around with me the rest of the day. Does that count?

Either way, we've kicked up some dust and Compass Summer has officially begun!

I Won A "Free Prize Inside"

Cool! I've signed in almost weekly to the free business book site, "Inbubblewrap.com" for the past four or five months....

Today I was notified that I am a winner.

Before long I should be receiving the marketing book by Seth Godin, encased in "bubble wrap," as it were. The book, not Seth.

But it's not just the book. It's the original version that comes in a cereal box. And for the winners of this offer, there's also a real free prize inside the "Free Prize Inside." What could it be? I'm hoping it's a "Mr. Of Vinci Magic Decoder Ring!"

Maybe I won because there were 250 winners today instead of their usual 25 or so. Maybe it's because it's been so long since I've been signed up but still haven't won anything. Maybe it's because I'm special.

Who cares? I'm a church planter.

I'll take whatever free wins I can get...

:-D

Church Planting Strategy (the short list)

Not one or the other:

Colossians 1:28-29
28 So everywhere we go, we tell everyone about Christ. We warn them and teach them with all the wisdom God has given us, for we want to present them to God, perfect [or mature] in their relationship to Christ.

29 I work very hard at this, as I depend on Christ's mighty power that works within me. (NLT)

"Work very hard..."
"Depend on Christ's mighty power..."

Both. At the same time.

If you only do one without the other, you'll never get anything done.

Ready or Not

So I'm sitting by the coffee pot at the orthodontist's office, totally engrossed in the "want ads" of the paper while looking for that second job to help make ends meet, fighting back a headache, juggling thoughts related to Compass Church's strategy for the summer, Leona's return from camp on Friday, the relatives I have to pick up from the airport tonight, when in the world I can meet with our Team this week, while trying to discover a way to write shorter opening sentences for blog posts, when my intense and focused world in a bubble is interrupted by the lady who is usually behind the desk but who is now making a fresh pot of coffee.

:-D

If that was a bit much to chew, listen to it here:



"How are you doing, today, Sir?" she asks, while going about her task.

Slightly dazed, it takes me a few seconds to realize that she's talking to me.

I slightly shift the "want ads" in my lap and respond with what sounds like the first words out of my mouth this morning. "I'm doing ok, how are you doing?"

"I'm fine," she responds.

I look back at the "want ads" and at the last lead I had written down: "Seeking key person to help grow our business," when she speaks again.

"So, do you have a lot of activities planned for this summer?" she asks, still working on the coffee.

"Activities? Summer?" I'm thinking. It takes another second or two for it to register that she is talking to me again.

"Always a lot of activities goin' on," I manage to mumble, immediately becoming consious of the fact that I need to clear my throat. My headache feels like it's allergy related.

I look back at the "want ads." "Seeking key person to help grow our business?" I read again and think, "Dude, I could have placed that ad!"

"Now, you're a minister, aren't you?" she asks.

Busted. I begin frantically trying to shift gears, becoming more and more self concious of how "dressed down" I am today, the gravel in my voice and the "want ads" in my lap.

She asks me the name of our church and where it is and I tell her the vital statistics, also mentioning that we are a "church plant." She doesn't know what that is, of course, because most people don't. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have even used that term.

"Brain not work. Me not think right. Must shift gears...1 Peter 3:15...Try to smile..."

I finally clear my throat and explain that it's a "start up" and she seems to understand. She then asks me what church that we, for lack of a better term, "spun off from."

"Oh, we're still spinning," I say with an awkward chuckle.

"I'm not selling this very well," I'm thinking. I place the "want ads" on the seat next to me and briefly explain how we are meeting at the Rec Center, serving in the community, building relationships, etc.

She responds with something like, "Well hang in there. These kinds of things really grow over time."

That's when I remember the business-card-sized "invite cards" that I have with me. I had encouraged everyone in our church to have some with them at all times for just such an occasion. Cool! Sermon illustration for later!

I turn to pull one out of my "Un-Wired-er Analog PDA Mind Map" (which doesn't work well as an acrostic, by the way) and turn back with card in hand when I discover that she has returned to the front desk...

The scene from the movie, "Groundhog Day" flashes across my frazzeled brain:

Phil: Did you really want to talk about the weather, or were you just making "chit chat?"
Mrs. McAllister: Just...chit chat.

Ah.

"Ok, this is bloggable," I think, and reach for my pen and start writing.

Way too many lessons to learn before 9 a.m....

This post scribbled in the "Un-Wired-er Analog PDA Mind Map" and later "digitally" transferred to this blog. Pun unapologetically intended. :-D

Mr. "of Vinci" and His Magic Decoder Ring

First, let me just say that his last name isn't "Da Vinci" any more than the Apostle Paul's last name is "of Tarsus."

He's Leonardo, "of" or "from" Vinci. It's a place.

Just to be clear, we're talking about this guy:
(Leonardo of Vinci)

Not this guy:
(Leonardo of DiCaprio)

or this guy:
(Leonardo of Ninja Turtle)


I believe that the best way to help those who have read the book and/or who will see the movie, to understand the sheer goofiness of the author's challenges to the Bible and authentic Christianity is simply to point them to secular sources like the History Channel, PBS, and the Discovery Channel. Those guys have done a pretty good job of ripping the story as being pretty much a work of total, not partial, fiction. Pretty fun, fast paced, thriller fiction, but fiction nonetheless.

But I know that there have been some who have responded to the "Of Vinci Code" with a statement like:

"Of course it's a work of fiction, but it does raise some interesting questions..."

So for these and for those who would have conversations with these, I offer the following links as a public service announcement. It's just for starters, because there are now officially one gazillion responses and to Mr. Brown's novel and upcoming movie....

• A variety of links from "Pastors.com"
  

• Great Article from the Dallas Morning News by Jeffery Weiss, but you need a free subscription to read it.
  

• "Breaking the DaVinci Code" in Christianity Today

• 5 Big Questions From The Da Vinci Code, also from Christianity Today
  

• Why I Can Trust The Bible - Faith Facts
  

• And if you're really into it and just can't get enough, I've heard great things about this book, "Breaking the Da Vinci Code" by Darrell L. Brock, Phd.

• And if you're still really into it and can't get enough, but don't want to buy a book, Midwestern Seminary has MP3's, PDF's and other letters and numbers that you can download here.
  

But please, if you are a Christ follower, don't freak out, boycott, or anything like that. Just see it as a great opportunity to grow more deeply in your faith and for helping other people understand the Truth.

As for the decoder ring?* I can't help but think of a cartoon I saw the other day that said, "These conspiracy theories are a smoke screen to hide the incredible truth!"

* There is no decoder ring in the "Da Vinci Code." You'll need to check your box of breakfast cereal for that.

The Sincerest Form of Flattery

It's inevitable.

We all imitate people we like and aspire to be like. It's not a bad thing.

But we're not talking about cheap imitations, here. Often it's just a style or way of saying or doing something more than it's just a direct copy.

Sometimes it is a conscious, intentional thing and sometimes we have no idea we are even doing it.

Singers/vocalists do it all the time (see American Idol).

And preachers do it also.

Every now and then I catch myself using a phrase or "accent" that sounds like one of the preachers I've been listening to lately. Maybe it's just the way I pronounce a word or punctuate a point, but to me it's obvious and a little embarassing. It usually cracks me up when I listen to the recording and realize why I said something in a way that I said it.

But hey, I like to think of it as having a multitude of top of the line preaching mentors. I'm learning from the masters! :)

And I'm not alone. I've heard "whispers" of famous preachers in the preaching styles of a lot of "not-so-famous" preachers, lately. Podcasting just has a way of messing us up like that! But again, it's generally in a good way.

Imitation of style is not really anything new. It used to be that preachers tried to sound like Billy Graham and his contemporaries. Now it's Ed Young, Erwin McManus, Andy Stanley, Louie Giglio and many other great communicators that we are emulating. And again, that's not a bad thing. It helps us to get into a groove and style that becomes uniquely our own over time. (
Sometimes it is weird, though, like when a preacher starts adding an "UH!" to the end of every phrase because they think that's what preachers are supposed to do in their setting.)

And it's a good reminder that creating a "derivative work" is better than just being a copycat.

But we are all influenced by someone.

And we all influence someone else, for better or worse. It's true with preaching, it's true with singing, and it's true with just about everything else in life. It doesn't matter who you are. Preachers, homemakers, computer systems analysts, teachers, administrators, fathers, mothers, friends, or...you get the idea.

The trick is to imitate the right people and be worthy of imitation.

It's sincere. It's flattering. And done in the right way, it's actually biblical. Really.

So, who are you imitating and who is imitating you? Are you living a life worthy of imitation?

Podcasting All Over The Place

Well, our "no brainer" podcast is now available. Although I must admit, it was a bit more of a "brainer" than I thought it would be to get it onto itunes! And of course, I used my brain delivering the message on Sunday. I suppose that could be open for debate, but I digress.

Such as it is, you can now hear Sunday's message from Compass Church in 4 ways. Download it from our website, download it from the new "Sunday Rewind Podcast" blog, subscribe to it via the "rss" feed there or subscribe to it through itunes.




It took a little effort up front, but now it will be very easy to update every week. We're not even a twinkle in a mega church's eye but now we do have a podcast that's available on itunes. I believe that's important for a lot of reasons, but I'll save those for another post.

And what about the second podcast I talked about in an earlier post? Still working on the name of that one, but it's on its way. I'm really leaning toward calling it the "Double Shot Podcast" of Compass Church. Podcast2 seems a little generic. :)

And yes, before long, the Poor Pastor's Pod Blip will be making an appearance on itunes as well. There are some great comedic possibilities there, and each post is only about a minute long. How could you not subscribe to that? :-D

****
Geek alert:
The following info may cause your eyes to glaze over. If so, please keep moving, there's nothing more to see here...
****

I'm pretty sure there are simpler ways to create podcasts and get them into itunes but here are the steps I took and the free programs I used ...

1. Create the Podcast from the audio recording of Sunday's message and save or export it as an "mp3" file. I used Audacity to do a quick edit.
2. Create a graphic to use with the podcast. (This isn't really necessary, but cool, nonetheless)
   
3. Publish the file to a host site; in our case, it's on our website.
4. Create a "subscribable" page to update with links to the "mp3" file. I created a free blog with blogger.
5. Create an "rss2.0" feed so that itunes can read it. (Blogger is apparently only making "atom" feeds, now.) I did this fairly simply by using feedburner. In the signup process, there is an option for podcasts that makes it really easy to sign up with itunes.
   
6. Submit the new "rss2.0" feed to itunes.
   
7. About a day later, the podcast is available in itunes.

Of course, you could just go to Odeo or a number of other free sites and upload a file you created using a microphone and a laptop....

Suggestions For Better Church Signs

This post is the followup to this one: Here's Your [Church] Sign. (Please feel free to continue posting goofy things you've seen on signs as well as any that you think are great examples of good, positive, and effective ways to use a church sign.)

A funny cartoon from a few years ago showed two guys watching a grumpy pastor change the letters on the church sign. The caption underneath said, "I can always tell when Rev. Jones needs a vacation..." The pastor was putting up the message: "This Sunday's Sermon: Just come and find out, meathead!"

The silly thing is, there are a lot of church signs out there that don't really come across much better than that on a week to week basis. I have no ax to grind but I do have a few suggestions for better church signs.

These are not exhaustive and they do not provide all of the answers, but if you have a church sign, please consider the following before pulling out the little black letters and posting that next witty and pithy homily...

The obvious:

• Update your church sign regularly.

• Keep your church sign clean.

• Keep your church sign maintained - change the bulbs when they go out on the day they go out, trim the weeds, etc.

• If your sign is faded and weathered looking (Unless that's part of the design) it's time to replace parts or it's time for a new sign.

The apparently not-so-obvious:

• Determine who your sign is for and write for them. (Hint - If it's for your church only, send them a newsletter instead.)

• Think of your sign as a 24/7 personal billboard for your church, because that is exactly what it is. It is a "front door" to the community that tells them what's "inside."
  

• Be sure it's part of your PR/Comumication Strategy so it's not simply relegated to the maintenance person to come up with "clever" sayings.

• Think through how you will be received/perceived/heard by the people driving by. Ask, "What do we want to communicate about our church? Will it attract? Will it help create interest in what's happening at your church?
  

• Do not use the internet to come up with clever sayings to put on your sign.

• Do not use a "church sign book" to come up with clever sayings to put on your sign.

• Come to think of it, do not use clever sayings at all...It's like the person who tries to tell a joke that's already been told a million times and wasn't really funny the first time. They are usually tired, worn out and corny. And really, do you want to be known as the "clever sayings" church, anyway?

• Do not "slam the evil doers" on your church sign. You'll just reinforce the negative, judgmental stereotype impression that most people have about churches, anyway.
  

• Assume that everyone who sees your church sign has never been to church before. You don't have to "dumb down" to do this, just leave out the words and phrases that only church people would understand.

• Plan ahead so you're not tempted to just "throw something up there."

• It's ok to be funny, but you'd better really be funny. Get lots of feedback on something you think is funny before you put it on your sign. Ask people who don't go to your church. Generally, humor that smashes stereotypes about church are better than things like, "CH_ _ CH - What's Missing? U. R."

• When in doubt, promote upcoming events and programs that appeal to the community. If you're still drawing a blank, communicate the values and vision of your church.

• Bottom Line: If you wouldn't print it in a letter to the community, put it on the front page of the newspaper or say it in a televised interview, don't put it on your sign.

I know that most of the time, churches do not intend to come across the way they often do. Churches care about people. They want people to know the love of Christ. I know this. I'm not intending to be mean and overly critical.

But if you have a church sign, you have a great opportunity to communicate with your community every single week. So what do you really want to communicate?

I love churches. We're good people. We have the best message in the world. Let's just not allow that message to be dismissed and never given a hearing because of a goofy line on our church sign...

Once again, a church sign can be a powerful thing. Please use your powers for good. :-)

Finding Margin

Several years ago I did a series called, "Finding Margin" that generally ate my lunch. If ever there was an area that has been a constant challenge for me it is in the area of "margin." It was tough to preach because it was so "where I live." But it was needed and on target.

I am excited that we are revisiting this series beginning next week, April 23rd. It's not really the same series, but a fresh and new take on the same issues. ...And it's still where I live.

I still need margin...breathing space.

To understand the difference between what I carry and what I can bear.

The ability to do and be well.

Over the next few weeks we will be examining 5 areas that are notorious for lacking margin: Clutter, Time, Work, Family and Money.

I'm breathing better just thinking about it...

Here's Your [Church] Sign...

It has been a busy week heading into the Easter weekend, so I thought I'd post something that's just been lying dormant in my red spiral notebook (Not to be confused with my Un-wired-er Analog PDA Mind Map, mind you) for months, now.

What's the deal with Church Signs? For some reason, some of the goofiest stuff in the world can be found on the signs of churches. But I wish it weren't so.

Here are a few actual Church signs that I have seen with my own eyes, some as recently as last week. I've added some commentary in parentheses.

• On a broken down looking church that was converted from an old house - "Miracle Revival Center" (Looks like it could use a little of that. Physician, heal thyself..)

• On a stencilled black and white sign with picture of Jesus wearing a crown of bloody thorns - "This blood's for you!" (Bleh.)
  

• "The only Ghost in this house is holy!" (So your church is holy haunted?)
  

• "Jesus is healing the sick! The blind see! The deaf hear! ...Next Exit." (Call Ticket master now to reserve your seat! Cotton candy and peanuts available but optional!)
  

• "Somebody call 911 cause this church is on fire!" (Somebody get some butter cause this church is full of corn!)
  

• On a giant sign with lights and an arrow that was almost bigger than the one room church building - "Here's the Church you've been looking for!" (I'm guessing that's because it was so small and was behind the giant sign...)

• And one Kim saw just the other day - "Jesus is coming. Resistence is Futile!" (Yes. We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Spare yourself the hassle later, and visit us with your family this Sunday!)
  

• And my personal favorite - "This is missions month. Come on in!" (I thought missions was about...go... uh, hello?)
  

Generally speaking, these signs and many like them might as well just say, "We're kind of weird and we're not very bright...And we wanted you to know about it!"

Ok, I probably shouldn't be so harsh, here because I really believe that most of these churches probably mean well. They may actually think they are being clever. So I'm not meaning to sound so critical, it's just that cheesy church signs just drive me crazy.

As a church plant that meets in rented space, we don't have the luxury of a "24-7 personal billboard" for our Church. But if you have a permanent Church Sign, that is exactly what you have.

A Church sign with changeable lettering is an opportunity to "connect with" or annoy or anger or "draw in" or "make eyes roll" or "create interest" or "demonstrate cluelessness"...it's really up to you.

So I have some tips/suggestions for churches with permanent signs that I'll share in another post. Think of it as a "Public Service Announcement" for Churches with signs. Because A church sign can actually be a powerful thing. And I want you to use your powers for good.

But right now, I'm heading to bed.

So what are some of the goofiest things you've seen on church signs?

Read part 2 here: Suggestions For Better Church Signs

Some Random Friday Stuff

Just some random Friday stuff today...

Team 100:
I want to say, "Thank You," to everyone who has been a part of our "Team 100!" We have now wrapped up the series, but we would love to have you continue to pray for us, and we would be honored to pray for you, as well. Does prayer make a difference? I believe that it makes and has made a huge difference, and I hope that you have also been blessed as you have prayed for us!

Buzz Conference:
I'm bummed out that I am unable to go to the Buzz Conference! I'm way too low on cash for the trip across the country, right now but if Drive was the conference I most wanted to attend last year, this is the conference I would be attending this year if I could.

I actually spent some time as a "summer missionary" in Washington D.C. MANY years ago, and would love to go back. Here's a hilarious picture to give you an idea of HOW long ago that was... What is up with the hair? Oh, wait, I actually had hair, then! :-D

Some of my favorite bloggers are going to be there, Ebenezers is now open (Hmm, imagine a Compass version of Ebenezers in old town Roanoke...) and I could have gotten to hang out with Ed Young.

But of course, since I live not too far from Ed, I can just call him up and hang out with him any time.... :-D (That was fun. I actually enjoyed saying that. Ok, now back to reality...)

This Weekend at Compass:
This Sunday I am looking forward to sharing about "The Point: More, Stronger and Closer Followers of Jesus Christ." More on this later!

But on Saturday, we are helping the city of Roanoke with the community Easter egg hunt and my lovely wife, Leona will once again frighten children as the Easter bunny.

Someone asked recently: "What does the Easter Bunny and eggs have to do with the Resurrected Christ?" My answer - Nothing. What's your point?

So why are we, as a church, helping the community with an event that involves an Easter Bunny Costume? Because we want to be good neighbors and we want to connect with the people in our community where they are. It provides an opportunity for us to crash stereotypes, meet needs, and meet people, so we can ultimately point them to Jesus.

The "Easter Bunny" is just a goofy secular thing akin to "Frosty the Snowman" at Christmas time. Hey, he doesn't scare me! Besides, I know what [s]he looks like under the mask, and there's nothing but cuteness going on there.

Sorry, I didn't mean to chase a rabbit..... Then again... ;-D ...Alright, I'll stop. :-D

And A Good Quote to wrap up your week:

Teddy Roosevelt said,

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never known neither victory nor defeat." [Quote via Mark]

Bully for that! Let's kick up some dust...

To the arena!

Blog Spring Cleaning

Had to freshen up the header. The row of cups was getting pretty dusty....

More blog "spring cleaning" ahead.

ZomboChurch

I couldn't resist.

It's that time of year when churches have a tendency to start "puffing up the promises" of what will happen when you visit their church. It can get a little silly. I know we all just want to reach people with the Good News, but I think sometimes we may be "overselling" ourselves a bit in our mailers and stuff. I know we've been slightly guilty of this at times...

Will all of people's wildest dreams really come true if they visit your church this Easter?!

:-D

This post makes makes more sense if you see the previous post, first...

Zombocom

I've been kind of serious here at the blog, lately.

Frankly, that's because I've been working through all that it is going to take for Compass Church to be all we are supposed to be and I have been a bit overwhelmed. Maybe I've just been weary.

But folks like Jason have cheered me up recently with his pod blip shout out and the weather today is 91 degrees and sunny. We also had a great time enjoying burgers from the grill at our friends' the Robisons, this afternoon and the kids have just pulled out the big blue "fillable" pool.

I've also been enjoying the fun of Zombocom. Some people think that it may actually be the future of Web 2.0. It was a little tricky for me at first, but soon the stress melted away and I realized that the only limit is myself...at zombocom! Enjoy.









If you really need it, there is a spoiler here.

Where God Guides, He Provides (Part 3)

This is the last in a 3-part series:

1. A Slippery Excuse
2. Where God Guides, He Provides (Part 2)

To sum up from parts one and two, sometimes where God guides, He provides immediately with financial resources. Sometimes He doesn’t. But the bottom line is that where He guides He does provide. I hit both sides of that concept in those posts, so now here a few “other ways” that God provides…

Sometimes God Provides :

• An Idea. In Nehemiah 7:5 , God gives Nehemiah an idea to deal with an issue on the way to fulfilling the vision. I think of Mark Batterson and his prayer for two million dollars to pay for the construction of their coffee shop, Ebenezers. Instead of giving him the money, Mark says that God gave him a "two million dollar" idea, instead. If you were waiting for cash, but God gave you an idea, would you take it?

• People. The apostle Paul was blessed by Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus who made up for the help the Corinthians couldn’t send. [1 Corinthians 16:17-18] Paul also sent Tychicus to the Ephesians. We could go on and on here. Maybe it's people with money. Or maybe it's people who have a better idea. Or maybe it's people who know many people who can help make what God is guiding into a reality.

• Stuff. Sometimes God just provides food for your stomach, a donkey for the road, or a room in the town. Instead of cash to pay for stuff, He just provides the stuff. For us it was free storage space at the Rec Center that was provided rather than money for a trailer…A much better deal. We've also received things like computers and nursery supplies rather than the money to purchase these things.
  

• A Training Ground. The Disciples couldn't cast out a certain demon, even though they were generally doing what Jesus had instructed them to do. [Mark 9:14-29]– The provision was an experience that helped them understand that "this kind can only be cast out by fasting and prayer." Their inability to accomplish the task provided the training ground for dealing with the situation in the future. They needed additional information that was deeply ingrained in them by the experience itself.
  

• A Lesson to Learn. Consequences of bad choices do not necessarily disqualify the mission or the “Guiding.” Jonah made mistakes and suffered for them, but the mission remained. He had to learn to go the right way. Moses, after throwing and smashing the tablets that had the 10 commandments inscribed on them by God, then had to go back up the mountain and chisel a new set the hard way.

• Strength and resourcefulness. Philippians 4:12-14 – Surely no one would doubt that God was guiding Paul even when the money ran out. God provided extra strength and an amazing ability for Paul to do the best he could with what he had.

• Wisdom. Ecclesiastes 10:10 - Sometimes God provides the "smarts" for making something work without having to buy a new ax to make it happen. "Sharper" is often better than "newer."
  

• A call to persistent prayer. Sometimes God simply calls us to keep asking, keep seeking and keep knocking. He intentionally withholds the provision for a time and provides a burden that will not go away until He satisfies it. [Luke 11:5-12] God knows what we need before we ask and He wants us to trust in Him more than His provision.

• An Invitation to Know Him More Deeply. [2 Thessalonians 3:1-5] He is our goal, more than any task He guides us to perform and more than the things that He gives us to accomplish it. Whenever and wherever God guides, He always provides an opportunity to know Him in a closer and stronger way. The lesser, more "tangible" provision always follows. [Matthew 6:33]

A Cool "Web 2.0" Tool

I meant to add this to the last post, but it was already getting a little long, and the post before that was a mini-book. :)

As we have been tracking the list for our Team 100, we have realized that some of our team members' friends have been a little shy about sending an email to the pastor they have never met. However, they haven't been shy about sending that same email to their friend.

A simple way to for us to keep track of those names without a ton of double emails has been to use the online word processor called writely.

According to their website (and my experience), here's some of what you can do with writely:

·	Share documents instantly & collaborate real-time.
	Pick exactly who can access your documents.
·	Edit your documents from anywhere.
	Nothing to download -- your browser is all you need.
·	Store your documents securely online.
	Offsite storage plus data backup every 10 seconds.
·	Easy to use.
	Clean, uncluttered screens with a familiar, desktop feel.

Back to me:

It's like a "write board" on steroids.

I've used it in a number of ways so far, and it is very cool.

I uploaded a document from "Microsoft Word" and even added pictures and it worked beautifully. For our Team 100 list, I invited some team members to "collaborate" and now when they have someone to add to the list, they just go to that page in writely and add it themselves. No need for an email. One document in one place. I was working in writely the other day, and noticed that my lovely wife, Leona was there working on the same document at the same time. Pretty fun.

Writely is now a part of Google, so reliability isn't a major concern. You can read about it and follow the blog here: Writely.blogspot.com

I kind of like having the world wide web as my "company network" and extra external drive. :)

And yes, it's free.

Yes, you have to have access to the web to access the files, but you can also download them and take them with you if you're planning to go camping with your laptop in the mountains. But that would be kind of sad, anyway, wouldn't it? Oh, the possibilities...

Update: Terry Storch has mentioned a similar online word processing program called ajaxwrite. Haven't seen or used it but it could be another alternative if you're looking for options.
Update 2: D'oh! Apparently, Writely has "closed off new registrations" until they have completed the move to Google. Sorry for the teaser, but I still recommend that you get on the list and try it out. Thanks Terry, for the info.

Team 100 Friday Update: [3/24/06]

We are halfway through the "ENGAGE" series, and interestingly, we are about halfway to our goal of 100 prayer partners.

We are now at 53 people outside of our Church who are praying for us on Team 100.

Actually, we have had a number of responses that added us to a "praying team" of their church, but we only counted them once, unless we were given a list of names. Also, we haven't included spouses in our count unless they are specifically listed in a response. If you are praying for us and your spouse is on board as well, please let me know if you haven't already done so.

So maybe we are already to 100... :)

It's not too late. For those of you who have been faithfully praying for us, could you rustle up one other person around you to pray for us? If each person enlisted one, we would reach our "Team 100" goal today!

Since the last update, we have added people from the following areas:

• Greenville, North Carolina
• Cedar Hill, Texas
• Oak Hill, Virginia
• Gillette, Wyoming
• Lufkin, Texas
• Texarkana, Texas
• Washington, D.C.
• Sapulpa Oklahoma

This "Prayer Team" thing is reciprocal, by the way. We'd love to pray for you as well. Send me an email to let me know how we can pray for you. Let's "unleash the power of prayer" together!

Thank you for praying for us. We have sensed your prayers in many ways as we have gone through this series! Very cool stuff.

God is teaching and growing us in so many ways and I am very excited about this weekend at Compass!

Where God Guides, He Provides (Part 2)

This post is a follow up to this one: "A Slippery Excuse."

Sometimes where God Guides, He actually provides with cold, hard cash. Just out of the blue. Here are two (of many) stories from my own journey where He did that very thing.

Story One:

When Leona and I first moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, it was because we knew that God was leading (or guiding) us to be here. He had guided us to a specific church and He had guided me to attend seminary. This was very clear to us. The provision for this to really work however, was not very evident. We moved anyway.

The "What" and the "Where" were settled in our hearts. It was now just a matter of "How."

Initially, I was paid a very humble part time salary. Leona, who is a teacher, had a hard time getting hired at first because we had moved in the middle of a school year. It was not long after our move before we were pretty much at the end, financially speaking. I had no idea how we were going to pay the rent. It was late, in fact.

We were where God had guided us, doing what God had guided us to do, but the provision was lacking. So we prayed.

Then it happened. Out of the blue.

A gentleman in our church approached me one afternoon and told me that God had impressed upon him and his wife to give us something. He then handed me an envelope. I thanked him for his kindness and generosity and after he left, I opened it, expecting to find cash for lunch or something like that. It stunned me to discover in that envelope ten crisp, new $100 bills. It was more than enough to pay (what seemed like a fortune at the time) our $415 rent, and then some. I was blown away.

Receiving that money caused a flashback . This “out of the blue” financial provision reminded me of another experience that I had had long ago as a teenager. It was the day I really learned to tithe and give with a generous heart, and it was the day my adventure with the “God Who Provides” really began.

Story Two:

I was sitting in a church service out of town and the speaker was talking about tithing and generosity. Up to that point, I had never really tithed or even given anything. I had only brought to church an envelope with a buck that my mom had put in it for me to give. I didn’t have any money of my own, so I never really had anything to give.

But by the time I was sitting in this service, I had recently earned a little cash. I had mowed some lawns and had amassed the great sum of around $40. But I hadn’t given any of it back to God. I hadn’t tithed at all.

During this worship service, I began to sense that God was guiding me to give. I also sensed that for some reason, I needed to give more than ten percent this first time around. So I began a silent “dialogue” with God. It went something like this:

Me: Ok, Lord, I get it. I know I need to give. I know You want me to give …So how much, Lord?

God: Ten dollars.

Me: No, really. I thought You said, “ten dollars.” Really, now. How much, Lord?

God: Ten dollars.

Me: I think I’m just saying this to myself. Maybe I’m trying too hard here. God, please tell me how much You really want me to give.

God: Ten dollars.

Me: So, You’re saying, “ten dollars.” That really is more than 10 percent, Lord.

God: …

Me: Really? Ten dollars? I only have forty. That’s more like 25 percent.

God: …

Me: Ten dollars. Ok, Lord. It’s Yours. (Foreshadowing of reality, here…) I don’t have it with me, but it’s on my desk at home. As soon as I get there, I’ll put it in an envelope, and bring it with me to church next Sunday.

This was all a very silent conversation with God. I wasn’t talking out loud, and I didn’t tell anyone what I was praying about. It felt great, though, knowing that I was clearly doing what God was guiding me to do, beyond the “letter of the law” and with generosity.

When the service ended a few moments later, I stood up and saw my sister in law, Debra, walking towards me from across the room. What happened next I will never forget as long as I live.

Debra said, “Johnny, during that last song, I really sensed God guiding me to give you this.”

She then handed me …ten…dollars.

My mouth slowly dropped open, and just as slowly I sat back down. Only God and I knew about the ten dollars. I had "goose bumps" as I realized that God was very, very close to me in that moment. Very, very real.

Unmistakably, powerfully and with little fanfare, God taught me that whenever He asked me to do anything, He would always provide what I needed to accomplish it. He would even provide what He asks me to give to Him, because He owns it all, anyway. He asked for ten dollars, then He gave me the ten dollars to give Him.

It was not so much a lesson about money and tithing (although that was clear), it was a lesson about trust. God wanted me to know that He is good, and that He is trustworthy. And as I have trusted Him, from that day till now, He has never ceased to be just that.

The Key

Sometimes God provides with cold, hard cash. But it’s not about the cash; it’s about Him. That’s why when God guides me to do something and the money doesn’t appear out of the blue, I still can trust Him.

Just to be clear, let me mention again that sometimes the lack of funds really is an indicator of God’s lack of guiding. God doesn’t provide it because He isn’t in it. Sometimes that is definitely the case. But again, it's not always the case.

This is why it is so vital to have a close, fresh, daily connection with God. To daily draw near to Him. [Hebrews 4:16, James 4:8] It’s the only way to make the distinction. A close connection with Christ helps us to see our circumstances more clearly and helps us to ask the right questions about provision and every thing else as we strive to follow His lead.

I love it when God provides “cash out of the blue.” I believe something like that will happen for Compass Church, very soon, in fact. "Instant" financial provision is incredible and necessary much of the time.

But I also love it when He provides in other ways. I’ll wrap up this "mini series" of posts with some of the other ways that "God provides" for "where He guides."

“Creative Podcasting” Addendum

When I first posted my creative podcasting ideas back in September, I was just thinking through ways that Compass Church could use podcasting to its fullest potential. I was surprised, however, when that post took on a small life all its own.

Here’s some of what’s happened to “the little post that could” since then:

• Terry Storch graciously mentioned it on Blogging Church, and the traffic to my blog and that post in particular, went way up.
  

• It has been quoted or talked about in blogs from California to Australia to England and parts in-between.

• It has become the #1 post on my blog, bringing new visitors weekly, even though the original post was made almost 6 months ago.

• As of today, if you search Google for “creative podcasting” (even without quotation marks) it’s the #2 listing, and #1 is a post about it that links to it.

• The post is included (along with Blogging Church) in an “internet in parish ministry” article in the online "Vincentian Encyclopedia" (A Catholic wiki devoted to material related to a 17th Century Priest and those who follow his example today. But no, I’m not Catholic, and I don’t know anything about this group.)

• Since the first post, I’ve added 2 more ideas, bringing the total to 21.

So all of this begs the questions:

• Have we implemented these ideas, yet? - No. Although we have made a few noble attempts. The guy trying to read his book at Starbucks who kept glaring at us over his glasses while we tried to do a little "live podcast" is still a funny memory. :) Oh, the hilarious, sweet irony.
  
• Are we going to? - That’s the plan.
• When? - Great question. We’re kind of “rolling out” features of Compass Church, right now. :) We’ll be trying each of these ideas at one time or another over the next year.

If that post has inspired you to actually implement any of the ideas, or you have any additional “creative podcasting” ideas, I’d love to hear about it.

How are you using podcasting in your church or ministry? Has anyone added the 2nd podcast?

Creative Podcasting Ideas

One More Podcasting Idea (or so…)