Tough Times

I started studying a new book of the Bible this morning - Jeremiah. This guy had one of the most difficult assignments ever given by God. The thing is, he was obedient to the call, no matter what the circumstance that he was in. He went through some of the most tough times ever. His response was always, whatever God wants.

The Bible I use to do my early morning Bible study has this in it...

Jeremiah endured several occasions to practice the law of sacrifice
1. He was called to a ministry of opposition (1:18, 19)
2. He was not permitted to marry (16:1, 2)
3. He was beaten and put into stocks (20:1-3)
4. He was publicly disgraced to depict the judgment of Israel (27:1-3)
5. He was imprisoned in a dungeon (38:1-6)

Then the Bible commentator asks this question, "Do you suddenly feel a little better about your plight as a leader? Jeremiah faced horrible odds, yet never walked away from his message or his call from God."

I know there are some people at Charter Oak Church who are going through a very difficult assignment from God right now. I know you are struggling. I know you are questioning God.

Here is what I want you to hear...don't give up. God is at work in your life. God is on your side. He is cheering you on. He is pouring into you. God loves you. God is doing a work in you right now that you may not understand, but your role is to be obedient to him in all things.

Keep looking to God!

Breathe

A couple of notes from worship this past weekend, especially for those of you who attended Saturday night and didn't get the PowerPoint because of a little technical problem that I take responsibility for, sorry about that.

Exodus 3:1-5
Exodus 3:13-15

LORD - Yahweh - YHVH

Breathing - Yod Heh Vav Heh
If the name of God is the sound of breathing,
how does that change the way you view your prayer life?

First breath - Genesis 2:7
Last breath - Mark 15:37

The way we expect God to show up in our lives is not always in line with God
1 Kings 19:11

Never, ever forget the promise of Romans 8:34

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

Final message in the series next week. Stay tuned...

A Great Night

Last night our family spent a few hours with some friends of ours who are missionaries in Australia. They are only able to get back to the States about once every five years. I am blown away by the fact that we can only see them that often and yet because we have the same DNA as followers of Jesus, we can re-connect with them as though we just saw them last week.

I loved sitting out in the yard, cooking on the open flame, and hearing Chris talk about what he does with Youth with a Mission. He is an incredible leader and servant of God. As I listened to him talk, I was pumped up. This guys is on fire for the Kingdom of God. He has given his life to raising up leaders that will be sent all over the world to proclaim the Good News of Jesus. As we sat there talking, without even knowing it, he poured energy and passion into me. I love being a part of something that is bigger than I can ever comprehend. It bring Kelli and me such joy to partner with these great friends.

As we were preparing to leave, I gave them a check from our congregation that was a nice chunk of change. I told him that it was just for him and his family to have fun with. He said that so often when people and/or churches send him support money it really has chains attached to it. Rarely does someone give them money for fun. I loved it when Kelli told them to go on a date. The look on Gina's face was priceless. I could tell it had been a very long time since that had happened.

I can't express how awesome it is to be at a church that gets it when it comes to missions. I knew I didn't need to take a special offering or to ask permission to do this. I knew I could confidently bless this family with the complete backing of our congregation.

Book #12 - The Elephant in the Boardroom

I just finished reading The Elephant in the Boardroom: Speaking the Unspoken about Pastoral Transitions by Carolyn Weese and J. Russell Crabtree. The point of this book is to think about and create a strategic plan for the church as it goes through pastoral transition. The book tries to be for every church in every situation and size. This is not a book you should just read from cover to cover. You have to find out what kind of church you are a part of and then follow the line of thinking in the book. Interesting book - I didn't necessarily track with everything in the book, but it did make me think.

Perry Called to Today

I never thought I would ever say those words...Perry called today. But that is what happened. I'm not bragging or name dropping. I am totally sold out to learning. I want to learn from the best. I want to learn from those who have been there and done that, because that is the level that I want to go to and I believe God is leading Charter Oak Church. Why should I make mistakes that others made and are willing to share with me?

Perry is the real deal. I want to talk to leaders, not people who are going to try to say the right thing but not say anything at all. I have been thinking and praying about some really tough issues lately and he just out right said what to do and I didn't even have to ask about it. He knew it was coming. What great insight!

Here are a couple of big things he said to me...
1. Lead at the next level. We are at 750, start making decisions now for what it's going to be like at 1,500.
2. Once you get to 1,000 get a personal, executive assistant. I'm not smart enough to do this without someone "handling" me.
3. Develop leaders - be a leader of leaders - pour into those who are going to take Charter Oak Church to the next level.
4. Hedgehog Concept - be the best at what you can be the best at, the rest is just a distraction.
5. Don't listen to criticism - the bigger you get the louder it will become and it will come from people who are in the Church (the big "C" Church) that just don't get it.

There were a ton of other things too that I can't share here, but I can tell you the time I spent with Perry took me up a level in my leadership. It was awesome.

Thanks Perry for taking the time to pour into me. I know you are an extremely busy guy. You not only get the leading the local church thing, you get the Kingdom building part too! You're the best!

Son Force Kids

We kicked off our Vacation Bible School yesterday. I have never seen such an incredible work of creativity for a children's ministry in my life. Our volunteers hit it out of the park. We had over two hundred kids who heard about the love of Jesus. We had tons of moms and dads that were blown away by all of the hard work done by Maxine and her staff. Way to go!

One of the new things we did this year was provide an adults only cafe in our Common Ground. Coffee, specialty drinks, and a variety of finger foods were provided free of charge for parents (mostly moms) to hang out and build some community.

I am reminded once again of how awesome it is to work at Charter Oak Church. I have never been a part of a church whose total focus, energy, and passion is on pointing people to Jesus like it is here!

7 Barriers to Prayer

This past weekend I shared seven barriers to prayer. I thought I would share them here so that if anyone didn't get a chance to write all seven down could get caught up.

1. Prayerlessness (James 4:2)
2. Unconfessed Sin (Isaiah 59:2)
3. Unresolved Relational Conflict (1 John 2:9)
4. Selfishness (James 4:3)
5. Uncaring Attitude (Proverbs 21:13)
6. Inadequate Faith (James 1:5-7)
7. Busyness (Luke 10:38-42)

What are some other barriers you can think of and what is the related scripture to it?

Book #11 - The Imperfect Board Member

I just finished reading my eleventh book of the year - The Imperfect Board Member: Discovering the Seven Disciplines of Governance Excellence by Jim Brown. The book is written in the same format as Patrick Lencioni's books. There is a story that has the point of the book woven throughout it. Then at the end of the book is the explanation of the point. As I am working with the Church Council at Charter Oak Church this book is invaluable. It gave me a completely different understanding of what my role is and what the role of Church Council is. I am thinking about purchasing a copy for everyone on our Council.

One of the real values of this book is that there is a website that goes along with it. The conversation doesn't end at the end of the book. The author is seeking to continue the work that was started. I love that. I can continue to learn. When I have a specific question or issue, I can go directly to the website and find some direction.

If you read this book from a church's perspective, every time you read CEO, replace it with pastor. Every time you read board of directors, replace it with Church Council. I think this book will add incredible value into any pastor's leadership development.

May at a Glance

May 5/6 - Dave preached
747 in worship (21.3% increase from 2006)
241 in Sunday school (13.6% decrease from 2006)

May 12/13 - I preached
755 in worship (19.5% increase from 2006)
241 in Sunday school (6.2% increase from 2006)

May 19/20 - I preached
775 in worship (32.5% increase from 2006)
242 in Sunday school (15.2% increase from 2006)

May 26/27 - I preached
662 in worship (29.3% increase from 2006)
191 in Sunday school (15.8% increase from 2006)

Book #10 - They Like Jesus but not the Church

I just finished reading Dan Kimball's new book They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations. I always enjoy reading Dan's books because he challenges me to think in ways that I typically don't. He really brings the cultural perspective to the table. Because he is in a very unchurched area of California with tons of young adults he is able to write about the emerging generation like no one else.

The region that Charter Oak Church is in doesn't have the kind of culture around it like Dan's church does. However, there is a growing population of young people in this region who are beginning to be influenced by the culture out west.

Dan comes to many of the same conclusions that I do about the future of the church. We probably disagree on how we get there or why we get there, but the end result is the same. If you want a very thorough look at how the unchurched look at your church, this is a good book to pick up.

Orderly Worship

Devotions for June 5, 2007

Proverbs 5
1 Corinthians 14

Scripture
"But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way." (1 Corinthians 14:40)

Observation
The disunity that Paul was writing about earlier in the letter now comes out again in the context of worship. The followers of Jesus were using the gifts of the Holy Spirit to promote themselves instead of God. They were lifting up speaking in tongues as a way of proving they were more spiritually mature than others who could not.

The focus of their worship became all about what they could do. It was causing division among believers and it was causing unbelievers to think they were crazy. Paul teaches that it's all about God and helping people to follow him. Therefore, preaching in a way that everyone could understand was much better than speaking in tongues. As Paul is teaching about the disruption of the worship service due to speaking in tongues, he also turns to women and tells them to remain silent. Paul concludes the chapter writing that all that he has given them is so that their worship may honor God.

Application
I wonder what the unbelievers thought about the worship services at Corinth? It was obvious that their worship wasn't about God or pointing people toward a relationship with God through Jesus (which Paul says is the point). It makes me wonder about our worship services. What do unbelievers think when they come in and experience worship at Charter Oak Church?

The point of this chapter seems to be that Paul wants to make sure that the focus of worship is upon God and helping unbelievers hear about who God is so they can follow him. Paul wants to remove any barriers to that focus. So he wants the emphasis to be on preaching and not on speaking in tongues. He wants the focus to be on God and not on those who think they are spiritually mature.

Then Paul brings up women in worship. This has caused some major problems for people. If we read this in context it seems obvious to me that Paul is continuing to address distractions in worship and he is not teaching about women's role in churches. Paul is addressing specific issues within the Corinthian church so he must be doing that here as well. There must have been something that was occurring within the context of worship that was disrupting the worship and he wanted it to stop. It shouldn't matter who it is that is causing the disruption of worship, they should be told about it.

The point of our worship must be God and pointing people to a relationship with God through Jesus.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, forgive us when we take the focus of our worship off of you and place it on ourselves or anything else. Help us to create worship gatherings that honor you and place you on the throne of our lives. Send those who do not believe to us so that we may point them to you. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

The End of the Series

This weekend completed the series on Intimacy. I learned a great deal leading up to and during this series. I had seven weeks to prepare, study, and pray over this series. I wrote a forty page study guide. It was the most preparation I have ever put into a message series before.

Here are some things that I learned or I was reminded of:

• Preparation is everything. I was more relaxed going into each weekend because I knew all the work was already done. I just needed to review it.
• Preparation is one of those things that only I can do. I do a lot of different things around here, but the one thing only I can do, is prepare for my messages. I need to remember to focus the majority of my time on only what I can do and then hand off the rest so others can do only what they can do.
• Criticism is louder than praise. I received a couple of critical emails/letters during the series. I also received a ton of praise emails/letters. Which did I focus on? The criticism.
• The total package of the worship service can make me look really good or not. The whole arts package around this series has been fantastic.
• What I get to do around here on the weekends is priceless. But it isn't about me, it's all about God and he deserves all of the praise and glory for what is happening here.

Well, one week off from preaching so I can go to Annual Conference and then I am back for a four week series called - Can You Hear Me Now?

Love in Action

Devotions for June 4, 2007

Proverbs 4
1 Corinthians 13

Scripture
"Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:8)

Observation
Paul turns from telling the people of Corinth of how far they have fallen short in their attitude towards their gifting to explaining the most excellent way - love. He points out that we can do all kinds of things, but if it is void of love then it is all for nothing. Instead he teaches what love truly is - love is action. It is not emotional. It is living out the life of Jesus.

Paul acknowledges that we really don't have the full picture yet. We haven't reached perfection, but one day we will, then everything will be revealed. Until that time, the characteristics of faith, hope, and love should be our goals in life. Love being the most important.

Application
This passage is read so much at weddings. It is not merely a chapter for husbands and wives, it is for the Church. We get caught up in so many things that distract us from the mission of God. One of the last characteristics we put on is love. We are not so different from the Corinthians.

We need to capture verses 4-8 and live them out 24/7/365. It should be the cry of our heart to make sure that we are putting on the character of love as demonstrated by Jesus. The Church would be a very different place if we choose to love as Paul teaches.

Prayer
Almighty God, forgive me when I do not love. I know that all too often I am the antithesis of what Paul is writing in 1 Corinthians 13. I want to put on the fullness of the love of Jesus in my life. Help me to choose to love.

I pray that the people of Charter Oak Church will be known for our love for each other, the people in this region, and the people around the world. I pray that we will live love loud for the sake of Jesus. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

Incredible

This past weekend was just plain incredible for me. We had our all time highest attendance on a Memorial Day weekend - 150 more people than last year! The drama was great. The special music was right on the mark. I had the privilege of talking to husbands and wives about their relationship with God and with each other. Man, it was a good weekend.

I know I promised to blog about the "big event" at the 11am worship service. I wanted to include pictures and video, but since I was gone for a couple of days that just isn't going to happen this week - maybe next week.

So what happened? We did our first adult immersion baptisms! Three people who have recently given their lives to Jesus went under, died to their old selves, and were brought up brand new! They were so excited. When I asked who wanted to go first, Angela practically dove into the pool.

I have to tell you, my heart was racing so fast. Sunday was one of those moments that just defines why I do what I do. The look on each one of those people's faces as they came up out of the water was perfect.

I'm telling you, if you are part of Charter Oak Church this should absolutely set your hair on fire for Jesus. There is nothing more important that we can be doing than helping people find their way back to God through a relationship with Jesus. There are 31,000 people with a five mile radius of Charter Oak Church that do not attend church any where!!! God loves these people. God wants to spend eternity with these people. I believe God is asking the people of Charter Oak Church to step up and love God and love these people so much that we can't help but build relationships with them so we can show them who Jesus truly is.

I love my job!

It's All about Leadership

Pastor Dave and I spent all day Tuesday with two members of the Senior Management Team at Granger Community Church. We could pretty much ask them anything and they did their best to answer all of our questions. I very quickly realized that the reason that GCC is growing and making such a huge difference for Jesus is because of the leadership of the people on their Senior Management Team. These guys are the real deal.

GCC is much, much larger than Charter Oak Church so we are not going to be doing the same things that they are doing. That wasn't the point of our time together. I really wanted to take away the "why" behind what they are doing. What it comes down to is strong, godly leadership. They are more interested in doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason than anything else. They think strategically. They have very, very high expectations of every person on their staff and in their congregation that is a member.

I took a couple of hours yesterday and typed up the notes that I took and I also took the time to reflect on some of the bigger ideas that they shared about why they do things. When I finished I had nine pages of notes that I know I will read and re-read many times. The principles and leadership elements that I learned from Tim and Mark will help shape me for a very long time.

I give thanks to God for people who he has raised up as great leaders who are willing to take time and pour into me so that I can pour into others for the building of the Kingdom of God.

Attitude Toward Worship

Devotions for May 31, 2007

Proverbs 31
1 Corinthians 11
I Stand Amazed by Chris Tomlin

Scripture
"If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God." (1 Corinthians 11:16)

Observation
Paul begins a section on public worship. It seems that the real point of Paul's teaching here is about attitude in worship. He writes about covering your head if you are a woman and not covering it if you are a man. He writes about the authority of God. He writes about what he hears is happening when the Corinthians sit down at the Lord's Table.

The Corinthians are more interested in doing whatever they want to do in worship. They don't consider anyone else. Because of this attitude in worship it is causing some to not be able to worship and others not to even follow Jesus. In essence Paul is teaching that it is not about you. It's about making sure that everyone who wants to worship God can do so.

Application
I wonder how many times people in the church create barriers for others to worship God? When do we put our own created expectations into our worship that just keeps others out? We do it when we use language that is only familiar to us. We do it when we use music that is outdated and has nothing to do with authenticity. We do it when we make it about us.

The Church is the one organization that was created for those outside its membership, but we bring an attitude in worship that it is all about me. At Charter Oak Church we seek to create an openness to the moving of the Holy Spirit as we turn our full attention to God in all we do and say. Yes, we all bring our expectations, but I hope that we ultimately bring an attitude to worship the King of kings and the Lord of lords and nothing else and no one else. He is on the throne and we are not.

Prayer
Almighty God, forgive us when we choose to make worship about us. Forgive us when we put our expectations and wants above you. It's all about you God. We worship you for who you are.

I pray that we will authentically worship you all of the time, not just on weekends. Give us hearts that hunger and thirst after an intimate relationship with you through Jesus. God, I love you. I praise you. I glorify your holy name. In Jesus Christ's name I pray. Amen.

On the Road with PD

Pastor Dave and I left for the state of Indiana yesterday. I have never seen so many state troopers in my entire life! Jim G. - I am very happy to tell you that we didn't get pulled over! I love you man, great job behind the drums on Sunday!

We are spending the day with some pretty incredible people from Granger Community Church today. I listed Tim Stevens as one of those guys I would love to be mentored by. Well, I took a chance, sent him an email, and now we are going to meet with him and Mark Waltz this morning and maybe some others on their staff this afternoon. How cool is that?

Granger Community Church is a mentoring church for Charter Oak Church. We have been sending people to their Innovative Church Conference since it first began. Thanks to the time, energy, and passion the people of this church has poured into leaders we have brought from Charter Oak Church we have been able to grow in a much healthier way.

Today we get to have one-on-one time with these incredible leaders. I am stoked up!

If you are checking here for an update from Sunday morning. You will have to wait a couple of more days. Sorry about that. But let me just say, it was better than I thought it would have been. I am blown away by the awesome privilege to serve the people of Charter Oak Church.

11:00am Worship this Sunday

Don't miss it.

I'm telling you if you can be at the 11:00am worship service this Sunday, be there. This may be one of the most powerful worship services I have ever been a part of in my entire life.

I'm not going to spoil the surprise, but you will absolutely want to be there. It will be different than all of the rest of our worship services. Be there. Don't miss it. Lock it into your calendar. Write it on the tablet of your brain.

I'm pumped!!

Marriage

Devotions for May 24, 2007

Proverbs 24
1 Corinthians 7

Scripture
"The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband." (1 Corinthians 7:3)

Observation
Paul makes a change of style in his letter at chapter 7. He now begins to answer questions that the church at Corinth obviously sent him. He begins with marriage. Paul would rather men and women did not get married. He would like them to spend the energy, passion, and devotion on Jesus than on their husband or wife. However, Paul admits that the sexual pull on us is very strong and would rather people get married than to live in sin. Not that sexual pressure is the right reason to get married, but it is better to marry the right person than to burn with passion.

Paul also addresses divorce. Paul strongly cautions against divorce. If two believers are married and living out the character of Jesus there is no reason why they would end their marriage. Paul goes so far as to tell husbands and wives that if their spouse is an unbeliever, it may be their witness that turns them to Jesus, so with that hope and prayer, stay married to them.

Application
The whole point of Paul's call not to get married is about a commitment to Jesus. He wants to remind his readers that the point of our existence on earth is to do life with Jesus. He knows the reality of marriage and how easy it is for our attention to be focused on our families first and then God.

The best scenario is to love our spouse with the love of Jesus so that in every aspect of our marriage God is present. When the point of our marriage is to please God then we will have the most incredible marriage possible. When we choose not to be self-centered, but Christ-centered both the husband and the wife win and God is honored.

I know that there are marriages at Charter Oak Church that are on the brink of disaster and there are marriages that are one with God. My hope and prayer is that every marriage will be centered in Jesus. I want my marriage to Kelli to be the absolute best that it possibly can be. I honor her by deepening my relationship with Jesus. I fall more and more in love with her and my intimacy with God is enriched. I am more in love with Kelli than I have ever been in our almost 16 years of marriage. Every moment, every day, every week, every year gets better - and it was pretty awesome before today. The reason it just keeps getting better and better is because I am more devoted and obedient to God than I have ever been. Every marriage finds its strength in Jesus.

Prayer
Thank you God for the gift of marriage. I pray that my focus in my own marriage will be centered on Jesus first and foremost. I pray that I will choose the character of Jesus for my life and that will overflow into my marriage with Kelli. I pray you will give me eyes that are only on you and her. She is your beautiful bride long before she was mine. I pray that I will always give myself to you fully that I may give myself to her out of that relationship.

I pray almighty God for the marriages of the couples at Charter Oak Church. I pray that you will encourage those who are going through difficult times. I pray that they will put on your grace and forgiveness so that reconciliation may occur.

I pray for those marriages that are strong in you. Continue to fan the flame of commitment to you and to each other in them.

I pray for those who are married to an unbeliever. I ask that you will soften the heart of that spouse who needs you. I pray that you will give them a glimpse of your love through their spouse. Please help that believing spouse to have the patience to wait for their spouse to turn to you and give their life to Jesus.

God I love you, I praise you, I glorify your holy name. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

It Ends Tonight

My favorite show ends tonight. Lost is by far my favorite. 24 is a close second, but Lost takes first place. It's too bad so many people stopped watching, but I have stayed faithful throughout the season.

One of the students at Charter Oak Church put together this video to say goodbye to the season. Check it out here. I think she is one of the most talented video producers I know.

When Problems Arise

Devotions for May 23, 2007

Proverbs 23
1 Corinthians 6

Scripture
"You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:11)

Observation
Paul jumps from disunity right into the belly of lawsuits among believers. Obviously there were a bunch of lawsuits being brought against fellow followers of Jesus. I love how Paul asks how believers can ask unbelievers in Jesus to make judgments about their disputes. How can followers of Jesus expect those outside the faith to have the same biblical worldview? He says we can't expect that, so don't take your disputes there. In fact, if you truly are a believer and you are arguing with another believer then the power of the Holy Spirit should allow you to reconcile your differences.

Paul gives us a list of immoral behaviors that are unacceptable. But he also reminds us that all sin is equal and this list of higher profile sins should not be called out with any more fervency than any other sin. We are all sinners. We have all come from the same beginning. But as followers of Jesus we have been washed in the blood of the sacrificial lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. We should live into that redemption.

However, just because Jesus died for our sins doesn't mean that you can do anything you want. The freedom that Jesus brought was to bring us to true life based on the character of Jesus not the character of sin. The sins that Paul listed are flesh oriented. So he reminds us that our bodies are not our own, they are the temple of God. I love the analogy of the end result of what is really happening when someone has sex with a prostitute. It's not just an act of the body, but of the soul as well. When we choose to live outside God's design with our actions, it also has ramifications on our souls. Jesus died to set us free from this kind of living.

Application
I know we want to categorize sin. We have our top ten list of the worst sins. And yet, we choose to turn a blind eye to other "lessor" sins like over-eating, greed, and self-centeredness. I don't know how that happened, but it has the same affect on the bride of Christ as a groom sleeping with a prostitute on his wedding night. It all breaks God's heart and it separates us from him.

I need to work on my interaction with fellow followers of Jesus who I disagree with. I need to man up and put on the love of Jesus and go to the person I am in disagreement with and have the character of Jesus as I interact with that person. I have a very strong anger streak that I hate. It often keeps me from doing what I need to do to be in community with others. However, I want to be a witness to this region that the love of Jesus compels me to be in unity with others, no matter how difficult that may be, so that we can be one together with Christ.

Prayer
O God, I confess that I fall very short of your desire for me to live into the character of Jesus. I categorize sin and often times don't even know it. I am a sinner in need of grace and forgiveness. Help me to look at every person I meet as a child of God who is no different than me.

I pray that when disputes happen in the relationship between people at Charter Oak Church that they will put on humility and grace. I pray that they will seek reconciliation as quickly as possible. I pray that our congregation will be known for their love for those outside our walls. I pray that we will be known for what we stand for than what we stand against. I pray we will remember that we have been justified and sanctified in the name of Jesus Christ by the Spirit of our God.

Book #9 - Spiritual Leadership

I just finished reading Spiritual Leadership: Moving People on to God's Agenda by Henry & Richard Blackaby. This was the third time I have read this book. I have read it once at each of my appointments to churches in Western PA. This time the book grabbed me in more powerful, convicting ways than before. I took tons of notes. I started blogging my journal of my Bible study. I am being more disciplined about my daily spiritual habits. God has used this book in incredible ways to challenge me to step up my commitment to be a true spiritual leader at Charter Oak Church.

I think this book also scared me a little bit, honestly, maybe a lot. As the Blackabys taught on leadership practices, they also gave the dark side of not practicing these principles. I don't want to go down that road. I don't want to be on the long list of pastors and spiritual leaders who have failed.

I want to be right in the middle of God's will and I want to partner with the people of Charter Oak Church to help them to get on to God's agenda for their lives. This book went a long way to helping me to zero in my focus with laser beam intensity.

Discipline Among Believers

Devotions for May 22, 2007

Proverbs 22
1 Corinthians 5

Scripture
"But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat." ( 1 Corinthians 5:11)

Observation
First Paul dealt with the problem of disunity that was occurring because of the divided following of different spiritual leaders. Now, Paul turns to an even more difficult teaching on how to bring discipline among believers. There obviously was a problem with incest and no one was willing to do anything about it. As a matter of fact, people were boasting about it. Paul says kick those people out of the church. No questions asked. No mercy talked about. Just kick them out.

The reason Paul gives for this hard line is that when unrepentant sin continues within a community of believers, it will grow in other areas. He writes that Jesus didn't go to the cross for this. He was sacrificed to bring us new life, not death through sin.

Finally, Paul writes that he is clearly teaching about believers. He is not condemning those outside of the faith. His finger is pointing at followers of Jesus who choose to continue to walk in sin. No matter what the sin is, if it is an ongoing, unrepentant sin, kick the person out.

Application
This is some really tough teaching from Paul. None of us are perfect. All of us sin. But here's the thing, I believe we are more interested in being liked by other believers than truly loving them. So we don't speak the truth in love. We see someone who is walking in an ongoing, unrepentant sin, but we don't say anything because we don't want to look like we are judging them or being closed mind. Paul says that it is our responsibility to judge that behavior and call each other on it.

If we don't step up our call and emphasis on personal holiness then that sin will begin to grow, it will spread into other areas. The point of our community of faith will no longer be obedience to God, but our own pleasure.

This is an incredibly difficult road to follow. But the reality is, this discipline among believers is all about love and obedience to God. This is a powerful teaching that we need to find a healthy way to embrace in the Church today.

Prayer
Holy and Everlasting God, I know you are perfect in every way. I realize that you cannot have sin near you because of your perfection and holiness. I admit that calling sin a sin in someone else's life is extremely difficult. Help me to see my own sin and repent of it. Help me to love the people of Charter Oak Church so much that I am willing to speak the truth in love to each one of them. Give all of us a teachable and humble heart that will allow us to hear what you want in our lives. I love you more than I love my bent for personal pleasure. I want to be obedient to you in all aspects of my life, down to the last detail. Send your Holy Spirit to guide and direct me according to your ways. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Observations from This Past Weekend

Saturday night before worship I was pacing around. I was nervous. I have been nervous for both of the messages in this series so far. The first week because I knew that what I was going to say would be very emotional and I knew that what I would be saying had been the culmination of weeks of prayer and study. The nervousness I felt the first week was more excitement for what I believed God would do through that message.

This week I was nervous because I was stepping into people's living rooms and asking them what influence the media that entered their homes was having on their children, on their marriage, on the way they do life with Jesus. Most people don't want you to mess with their TV.

I have to admit that I was blown away by the way that people responded. I expected to see arms crossed, people drawing on their worship folders, or just getting up and leaving. I couldn't believe it, but just about everyone was totally dialed in to what I was saying.

I didn't tell people to go throw away their TV sets, or to never go to the movies again, or to cancel their Internet subscription. Instead, I challenged the people of Charter Oak Church to start thinking theologically about what they were allowing in to their homes. What is it doing to the way that their daughters look at themselves? What is it doing to the way their sons will look at their dates? What is it doing to the depth of love between husbands and wives?

I hope and pray that the message this past weekend will lead to some great conversations between parents and kids about what they are watching and how it is influencing them.

Servants of Jesus

Devotions for May 21, 2007

Proverbs 21
1 Corinthians 4
Our God Reigns - Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall, David Crowder

Scripture
"Men ought to regard us as servants of Christ." (1 Corinthians 4:1)

Observation
Let's just put it all on the line here - Paul calls himself a servant. He calls Peter, Apollos, any one who is in spiritual leadership a servant of Jesus. When Paul makes this statement it removes all doubt about the whole argument that was going on in Corinth about those spiritual leaders that people were following and wanting to put on a pedestal. Paul makes it crystal clear that those leaders are to serve the people but to be obedient to God. The Corinthians no longer need to boast about which spiritual leader brought them to Jesus. The point is Jesus, not the spiritual leader.

I love the way Paul sets Timothy up here. He has spent the last few chapters telling the Corinthians where they have gone astray and it has brought division. Now Paul is sending Timothy, a young pastor, who will speak and teach on his behalf. He in essence says that when Timothy speaks, he speaks for me. This is a great way to introduce a new leader.

Application
Since there are three pastors at Charter Oak Church it can become very easy for us to fall into the same trap that the Corinthians did. Pastor Dave has been here for fourteen or fifteen years. I have been here for almost two years. Pastor Mark has been here for a year and a half. Each of us have brought people to Jesus. We each have our own style of leadership and pastoring.

Here's the thing, all three of us are called to be servants of Jesus. We love the people of Charter Oak Church. Our joy comes from seeing people "get it" and follow Jesus. I don't want any credit. I don't want people to tell me that they like me better than anyone else. I want us as the spiritual leaders of this church to help people to find their way back to God and love him with all of their heart, all of their mind, all of their soul, and all of their strength.

The main thing is pointing people to Jesus, not who gets the credit.

Prayer
My God and King, forgive me when I make it about me instead of you. I don't want any credit. I want to boast in Jesus and in him alone. I pray that the people of Charter Oak Church will see me as an obedient servant of Jesus and that will draw them into a deeper, more intimate relationship with you. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Spiritual Growth

Devotions for May 20, 2007

Proverbs 20
1 Corinthians 3

Scripture
"Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? "

Observation
Paul had no problem sharing his disappointment with the church in Corinth. His expectation was that the followers of Jesus there would have started the spiritual growth process of becoming more like Jesus. However, there is great division within the church. The people are more oriented to the human leaders than they are toward God. Paul reminds them that the human leaders are nothing compared to God. It is God that is the author of all.

Paul uses a great analogy about building - the use of poor building materials that creates an unstable temple. The wood, hay, and straw are metaphors for the immaturity and vulnerability to wrong doctrine that describe people of Corinth. The building is only as strong as its foundation. Jesus is the only foundation that will last for eternity.

Application
I often feel that we get distracted by all the wrong things. It is easy to argue over controversial issues. Followers of Jesus will get so caught up in these arguments that we miss out on what it is that we are supposed to be doing - making disciples of Jesus.

Our goal is maturity - to become more like Jesus in every aspect of our lives. We don't need division. We need unity. I don't want any credit for the growth at Charter Oak Church. I want God to receive all the praise and glory, for it is he who makes us grow. I am God's fellow worker. I want us to be mature, open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and sold out to the teaching of Jesus.

Prayer
Almighty God, you are the author of life. You are the one who sent Jesus to give us true life. We have traded true living for trivial arguments and inferior building materials. Help us to set the world's way aside and place you at the very center of everything we do and say. Forgive us when we long for milk instead of solid food.

I pray that the people of Charter Oak Church will mature in a healthy development of following after Jesus. Help us to keep the main thing the main thing. Help us to be a church that plays for an audience of one. Give us all servant hearts that it will never be about any of us, but always all about you, God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

God's Secret Wisdom

Devotions for May 19, 2007

Proverbs 19
1 Corinthians 2

Scripture
"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power." (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)

Observation
Paul continues the conversation that was started in chapter 1 about the distinct difference between what people bring to the table versus what God brings. The Corinthians obviously placed the wisdom and power of man as most important to them. It was all about power, self-reliance, and prestige, not so different from today. Paul stands in stark contrast and declares that it is only God who reveals true wisdom.

The wisdom of God is foolishness to the world. Those who are not of God cannot possibly understand the things that come from the Spirit of God. Paul calls us to put on the mind of Christ.

Application
How do we put on the mind of Christ? I think it is a dedication to practicing the spiritual disciplines. We cannot possibly know the things that come from the Spirit of God if we do not know the Holy Spirit. We must develop an intimate relationship with God through Jesus. We do that through studying the Bible, prayer, time alone with God - listening, and through worship.

I want to be disciplined to practice the presence of God. I want my drive for a relationship with God through Jesus to be stronger than any other pursuit in my life. I want to have the mind of Christ.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I know that often times I value the standards of this world over the foolishness of the cross. Please forgive me. Help me to hunger and thirst for the wisdom that you seek to pour out into those who love you and follow hard after you. Help me to put on the mind of Christ.

Open the minds and the hearts of the people of Charter Oak Church so they too may see that the wisdom of this world is nothing compared to your great love through Jesus. I pray that each person will choose to be in your presence and learn from you each day. We want more of you. We want the fullness of your glory revealed in and through us. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

It's About Jesus

Devotions for May 18, 2007

Proverbs 18
1 Corinthians 1
Center by Charlie Hall

Scripture
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Observation
I love the way Paul begins this letter to the church he founded. He knows that there are some problems going on in the church, especially with the leaders. He doesn't jump right into the confrontation, he begins with affirmation. Paul finds the good that God is doing in and through the people of Corinth. He shows his pastor's heart and love for these people, his brothers and sisters in Christ.

Paul then turns his attention to the division within the church. Some people are committed to Paul, others follow Peter, and some follow Apollos. I love Paul's statement - it's not about any of these men - it's all about Jesus. Paul didn't come to baptize, but to preach the gospel. He knows what it is that God has called and gifted him to do.

Then Paul turns to one of my favorite parts of all of his letters as he writes about the foolishness of the cross. I love verses 18-31. Every thing that Jesus did flies in the face of what was expected. Jesus didn't fit into any box that tradition created. Jesus came for sinners - to bring eternal life to those who would follow him - our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Let him who boasts boast in the Lord!

Application
We all need accountability. It is very easy to focus in on the confrontation first and miss the opportunity to bring affirmation. We need to celebrate the good things that are happening in our families, at work, at school, and at Charter Oak Church. We also have to speak the truth in love about the things that divide us and take our attention and devotion away from Jesus.

I want to be obedient to Jesus. I don't care if that looks foolish to those on the outside. I want to love Jesus with all of my heart, all of my mind, all of my soul, and all of my strength. More than anything else I want to boast in the Lord. It's all about Him.

Prayer
Father, I give you praise and honor. You choose a sinner like me, the weak and lowly of this world, to shame the world. I am in awe of you. I stand amazed at your glory. I pray that I will never make my work here about me. I ask that I will always have a humble heart and spirit. Help me to always make everything I do and say to be about Jesus. Please bring unity to Charter Oak Church. I love your bride. May I present her to you spotless and blameless for your glory, honor, and praise. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Thoughts from This Weekend

This past weekend was incredible for me. We launched a brand new series called Intimacy: A Look Beyond the Covers. I started by talking about Intimacy with God. I have spent a ton of time, energy, and passion putting this series together. I wrote a study guide to accompany the series. I have spent countless hours in prayer. The payoff was incredible - at least for me.

As I looked into the faces of each person from Charter Oak Church as I talked about loving God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, I couldn't help but get emotional. I saw people whom I love and for whom I feel extremely honored to serve beside. As Mark sang Give Me Jesus, I closed my eyes and imagined what it would be like if our entire congregation lived out those words. I imagined what it would look like in our community if we decided we were really going to love Jesus with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength.

As I sit here today, I think about the impact we could have in this community and around the world if we lived out our love. I can only imagine what it would be like if the people of Charter Oak Church decided to love God and build a relationship with God through Jesus that permeated every aspect of your life.

Here's what I think will happen - the 31,000 people in a five mile radius of our church who are do not attend worship with any kind of regularity will see Jesus in us and will be drawn to him. That's my biggest prayer right now. The people of Charter Oak Church will live their love for Jesus so loud and so authentically that the people who don't know Jesus or who have stepped away from him will be compelled to seek him.

God has strategically placed us on this hill, in this location, at this time for a reason. God has placed a huge call upon the people of this congregation to reach these 31,000 people. I am pumped up about what I know God is doing in our people and what he is going to do in even greater measure in the future. The best is yet to come!

Summer at Charter Oak Church Just Got Better!!

Discussion Guide Available

As we prepare for the beginning of Intimacy: A Look Beyond the Covers, I want you to know that I have written a Study Guide to accompany the series. The Study Guide is a small bound booklet that has the sermon notes, scripture references, and discussion questions. It is written for small groups, couples, families, and/or individuals to work on throughout this four week series. You will be able to pick one up free of charge at the ipod this weekend. My hope and prayer is that the Study Guide will help you take your next step in your development as a follower of Jesus.

Intimacy Series Kick-Off

This weekend I launch a brand new series called Intimacy: A Look Beyond the Covers. I know a ton of pastors are talking about sex or have recently done a series on sex. Some of them have been incredibly successful.

I will be honest with you, I strongly considered doing a sex series too. After spending time in prayer, I began to sense from God that I needed to speak about intimacy with God. There are so many couples at Charter Oak Church and couples in our circles of influence that are struggling with their marriage right now. Most of them have decided in one shape or another to not have a Jesus centered marriage. There are other relationships in our lives that are in the same place.

The point of this series is to love God first - to love Him passionately. When we love God with that kind of intensity it will overflow into our other relationships. If you know someone in our community who needs to hear about how to have phenomenal relationships, invite them starting this weekend as we begin with Intimacy with God.

Who Would Be Your Mentor

I was asked earlier this week if I could meet a couple of times a year with someone as a mentor, who would it be? Wow! The names of so many people ran through my mind. Here are some names and why I would choose each one:

• Tim Stevens - He is the executive pastor at Granger Community Church. I read his blog daily. I learn so much from him. Dave and I get to spend a full day with him and Mark Waltz at the end of the month, just the four of us. I can't wait.
• Andy Stanley - He is the senior pastor at North Point Community Church. He is the best communicator I have ever heard.
• Perry Noble - He is the senior pastor at New Spring Community Church. This guy is not afraid to do what God is calling him to do. He is sold out to making disciples of Jesus.
• Dave Ferguson - He is the senior pastor at Community Christian Church. He is the leader in going to multiple sites as a church. He is the big idea guy.
• Aubrey Daniels - He is a leadership guru.
• Rob Bell - He is the pastor at Mars Hill. He is an author and creator of the Nooma series.
• Jim Collins - Author of Good to Great.

Who would you pick if you could be mentored by anyone in your field?

Thoughts on Expectations

I just posted the attendance for the month of April. We are four months into 2007. Our average attendance for April was 795 people up from 591 last year. That's 204 more people or a 26% increase. Our average attendance for the year is now 744, up from 576 last year. That is 168 more people or a 22.5% increase.

I am excited to see so many new people becoming followers of Jesus. The momentum is growing. Last night at our Leadership and Servant Training, I asked Andi Farrell to share some emails we have received from people who are new to Charter Oak Church. The stories were awesome! Lives changed. I may post some of those quotes Andi shared later this week.

I have shared with the Senior Management Team and the leadership of Charter Oak Church that I believe we have the potential to have 1,000 people in worship by the end of this year. I thought we would hit the 800 mark in September. We nearly hit it in April. I am blown away by what God is doing in the lives of the people He is bringing here. I am so thankful that I have the awesome privilege of being here.

I hope and pray that God will not stack the odds in our favor, but that we will have to rely on Him and only Him for our future. I pray that God will do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine to build His Kingdom in this region.

Roll up your sleeves, put patches on the knees of your jeans, and get ready for what God is going to do this summer at Charter Oak Church.

April at a Glance

March 31/April 1 - Mark preached
792 in worship (34.5% increase from 2006)
313 in Sunday school (34.9% increase from 2006)

April 7/8 - Dave preached
1127 in worship (37.6% increase from 2006)
180 in Sunday school (12.5% increase from 2006)

April 14/15 - Dave preached
669 in worship (7.6% increase from 2006)
229 in Sunday school (9.9% decrease from 2006)

April 21/22 - Dave preached
717 in worship (20.6% decrease from 2006)
251 in Sunday school (88.7% increase from 2006)

April 28/29 - Dave preached
672 in worship (40% increase from 2006)
270 in Sunday school (16.4% increase from 2006)

Thoughts I Shared with Staff Yesterday

2 Samuel 23:20-21, “There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two of Moab’s mightiest warriors. Another time he chased a lion down into a pit. Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, he caught the lion and killed it. Another time, armed only with a club, he killed a great Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it.”

It’s easy to read verses like this in the comfortable confines of your home or office and totally miss the monumental acts of courage displayed by Benaiah. Have you ever heard of someone chasing a lion? Scripture doesn’t tell us what Benaiah was doing or where he was going when he encountered this lion. But Scripture does reveal his gut reaction. And it was gutsy. It ranks as one of the most improbable reactions recorded in Scripture. Normal people run away from lions. Benaiah chased the lion.

I am convinced that God is in the business of strategically placing us in the right place at the right time for the right reasons. But here’s the kicker – the right place often seems like the wrong place, and the right time often seems like the wrong time, and the right reason often seems like the wrong reason – at least to us.

2 Samuel 23:23, “David put Benaiah in charge of his bodyguard.” Benaiah wasn’t just chasing a lion; he was chasing the opportunity to be put into a position in King David’s administration. Here’s the point: God is always using past experiences to prepare us for future opportunities. But those God-given opportunities often come disguised as man-eating lions. And how we react when we encounter those lions will determine our destiny. We can cower in fear and run away from our greatest challenges. Or we can chase our God-ordained destiny by seizing the God-ordained opportunity.

As I look back on my own life, I recognize this simple truth: The greatest opportunities were the scariest lions. Part of me has wanted to play it safe, but I’ve learned that taking no risks is the greatest risk of all. When I was in college the safe option for me was to get a job in computers making very good money, instead I went to Duke. It was one of the most dangerous decisions I had made to that point in my life in following God’s will to go into ministry. In my first appointment out of seminary I challenged my churches to chase after the biggest lion they ever saw in their lives and they did for a while, but then they noticed the high walls in the pit, the snow falling all around them, and the size of the teeth of the lion – so they ran back to safety.

I think my biggest fear as a follower of Jesus is to seek safety. There is a hymn that says something like “safe and secure from all alarms.” I don’t want that. Yes, I want to be in the arms of Jesus, but desperately holding on because I can’t do it myself. I want my drive to be out where God does His best work to be stronger in me than my desire to please people and seek safety. It’s not my job to make people happy; it’s my job to be obedient and to get the people of Charter Oak Church on to God’s agenda for their lives – that will mean chasing after lions.

There is a pattern repeated throughout Scripture: Sometimes God won’t intervene until something is humanly impossible. God loves impossible odds. Let me tell you something – God wants and deserves full credit. Too often our prayers revolve around asking God to reduce the odds in our lives. We want everything in our favor. But maybe God wants to stack the odds against us so we can experience a miracle of divine proportions.

I don’t want us as a staff to go into the summer months and press cruise control. I don’t want my handicap on the golf course to get better. I don’t want to improve my tan. I want to be a part of something this summer that is humanly impossible. I want each of you to have the odds stacked against you so that you can experience a miracle of divine proportion. I want you to live and pray prayers that are outside of our comprehension.

2 Kings 6:4-7, Can you have the mindset that would believe an ax would float? Are you ready to pray this kind of prayer?

If you work like it depends on you and pray like it depends on God, there is no telling what God will do here, as the odds are stacked against us, as we are driven to our knees in desperation, and we get out into the open water where God does his best work. I want this to be a monumental summer at Charter Oak Church!

Book #9 - In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day

At the beginning of this year I challenged the people of Charter Oak Church to get out into the open water where God does His best work. It is the place where we are most uncomfortable. It is the place where we have the least amount of strength and ability. It's when God has to take over or we will fail. I forgot about that vision for a little while. In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson reminded me of where God really wants me.

I have been comfortable for too long. I have not done anything that for it to happen it would only be by the grace of God. If you are in need of a red-hot shot of faith pumping adrenaline, then read this book. If you worship and serve a comfortable, safe god then forget it.

She's Back

After a four day absence, Kelli is safely back home. All is right at the Whitehead household again. I tell you, single parents are the most incredible people that walk this earth! I knew that Kelli was coming home. I knew I only had to hold it together for four days. Single parents do this every day! If you are a single parent, let me just say this - "you are awesome!" I'm sure your kids under appreciate you. I'm sure your co-workers have no clue what it takes to do what you do at work and at home. I caught a little glimpse. You guys rock!

A New Appreciation

I haven't posted anything for the last two weeks because I was in North Carolina with 40 guys playing golf all last week. It was totally awesome. We played 36 holes each day. I have never played that much golf in one week in my entire life. I think I played more golf last week than I did all of last year.

So I returned this week and I have been trying to "catch up" after being gone all of the week before.

I am experiencing something that is very different for me this weekend. I am usually the one in my family that travels, whether it is for business or pleasure. My wife, Kelli, rarely goes any where for an extended period of time. However, she is on holiday with her college roommates at Lake Placid, New York for four days. Yikes!

She has been gone for 24 hours and I already have a new appreciation for what she does to make our family what it is. Let me just say, she rocks!

Here's something else that I have a new appreciation for - seekers. In the last 24 hours there has been a void in my life and in the lives of my two kids. There is obviously someone missing from our lives. I can feel it very clearly, and I know my kids can as well.

This has created in me a realization of how people who don't have a relationship with Jesus walk around every day of their lives. There is someone obviously missing. The way I have compensated for this person missing in our lives is to fill our time with busyness. We have a very full weekend planned. I think the same is true for people who don't know Jesus or who have, for whatever reason, walked away from a relationship with Jesus. They fill their time with so much busyness and so much other stuff that they don't have the time or the energy to realize that void in them is because Jesus isn't there.

When I sat down this morning with my kids before school to pray for the day and for Kelli, we had the time to think about the void in our lives because she isn't here. All three of us began to cry. It hurts to have that void. If we hurt because of the void left because Kelli isn't here, then the pain in people's lives because the void they have is because Jesus isn't there is huge.

There are 31,000 unchurched people around Charter Oak Church. 31,000 people who are going through their ordinary, everyday life with a void. We need to let people in this region know that they matter to God and can have a relationship with Jesus that will fill the void that they have right now.

Influence Lived Out

I have always read that leadership is about influence. When a leader is able to gain buy-in to the vision, to be sold out to the mission, and to live out the values, then that leader has influence.

Later today I am going to be a part of the funeral service of someone from our congregation that I have been close to for most of my life. I looked at her as my second mom. This is not going to be easy for me.

As I have been preparing, I have received emails from all over the world. Emails from Japan, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, South Africa, Israel, and Estonia. All of these emails talk about the influence this woman and her hasband had on their lives. Hundreds of people will be here for the service. All paying tribute for this precious life that touched so many people.

I don't know if anyone would have pointed out that Teddie was an leader in the sense that books and journals are written. However, if those same books and journals are correct that leadership is influence, then Teddie definitely was a leader in her own right.

I give thanks to God today because of the way Teddie influenced me. I hope that I can have a portion of the influence that she and her husband Dave have had on people around the world.

Buzz

Within the Christian blogging world there is a great deal being written about "Buzz." Churches want to create a buzz about what is going on there. I am one of those people who wants people in our region to know about Charter Oak Church and the God size things that are happening here. I want people to know about it, because I want them to become infected with the love of Jesus. I don't want buzz just for the sake of calling attention to our church. That happened when we were on the news twice in the last year. First, when we were still in the construction phase and we had some things stolen from the site. Second, when the pipe froze and broke, dumping hundreds of gallons of water in our chapel and in the classrooms below it. I can certainly do without that kind of buzz in the community.

The kind of buzz I want to see created around Charter Oak Church isn't actually about us. It's about what God is doing here - in and through our people. As I was doing my morning Bible study today I read this quote from Romans 1:8, "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world."

Now that is buzz. What would it look like for our faith to be spoken of throughout this region? What would it look like for our faith to be spoken of throughout Western PA? What would it look like for our faith to be spoken of throughout the world?

Here's the thing...if the point of our existence is to be spoken of, then it's pointless. It's never about the buzz. It's never about getting noticed. It's all about obedience to God. Let's keep it real. Let's keep the main thing, the main thing.

Easter Celebration

Yesterday was a glorious day for God! It has to please God to see so many join heart and voice together in praise and worship of the risen Savior. The Super Bowl has nothing on Easter!

It was a great day at Charter Oak Church. Yesterday was the first time I haven't preached on Easter Sunday since I started into the ministry 13 years ago. I didn't need to preach. It was awesome to be here and watch God at work. Here are some of my observations:

• Pastor Dave's message had something in it for everyone. It didn't matter if you have been a faithful follower of Jesus everyday of your life, if you are an occasional attendee, if you are a Christmas and Easter attendee, or if yesterday was your first time inside of a church - there was a message of truth, of love, and of salvation offered. Great job Dave!
• Emails are coming in from people who prayed one of the prayers of re-dedication or of salvation and I know will continue to come in this week.
• Our leadership rocks in so many ways.
• I asked our leadership to park off campus yesterday. I was hoping to free up 50 more parking places for our guests. Because of a late day Friday issue with the off campus parking lot we were going to use, I had to ask our leaders to park even further away. Our leaders responded beyond anything I expected!
• On Easter Sunday we had more people serving in the First Impression ministry than I have ever seen. They were here earlier and they stayed later than usual.
• Our Sunday school teachers hit it out of the park with the large group experience and then in the small group setting. Those kids won't forget Easter 2007.
• The band, the choir, the soloists - all of the music was stellar!
• There were people who gave up going to worship so that they could be in the nursery - two rooms full of our smallest guests!

I have never been a part of a church that lives beyond themselves like the people of Charter Oak Church. Right now as I type this, there are a dozen people pulling food off of a truck, at our back door, in order to distribute later this week to families in Westmoreland County. The church is officially "closed" but we never really close.

Here's what I believe we said this weekend to the people of this region.

1. You matter to God!
2. The way to spend eternity with God is a relationship with Jesus.
3. We will do whatever we can to make these first two as obvious as possible.

My wife had a conversation with a family after Sunday school that was a perfect representation of what we tried to do this weekend. They commented that there were parking places available and they couldn't believe it. Kelli shared with them that we asked the leadership to park off campus and they did so others could have a place to park. They were stunned.

Oh, by the way, the chair team set up every worship chair that we own so that everyone would have a seat.

Here's what we said to our guests, there is room here for you. There is a parking place, there is a seat, there are classrooms for your children, and caregivers for your babies. Our restrooms are very clean and smell great. There is absolutely no reason you shouldn't come back. We want to partner with you to help you find your way back to God and have a great relationship with him through Jesus. Over 1,100 people heard and saw that this weekend.

All praise and glory to God on high! He is risen, indeed!

Book #8 - [Re]Understanding Prayer

As I am preparing for a series I am doing on prayer this summer, I picked up Kyle Lake's book [Re]Understanding Prayer: A Fresh Approach to Conversation with God. I wasn't looking for a "how to" book or a "7 easy steps to prayer" kind of book. I wanted something that authentically speaks into what people are seeking to do as they pray. This book definitely fulfilled that search. The honesty Kyle brings to this book on his own prayer life made it easier for me to admit that my own prayer life isn't always what I know it should be. But at the same time, Kyle makes it very clear that prayer isn't everything that so many people want to put on it.

I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone who isn't a Pharisee.

March Worship at a Glance

March 3/4 - I preached
675 in worship (29.1% increase from 2006)
283 in Sunday school (8.4% increase from 2006)

March 10/11 - I preached
622 in worship (11.3% increase from 2006)
258 in Sunday school (0% increase from 2006)

March 17/18 - I preached
696 in worship (17.8% increase from 2006)
273 in Sunday school (15.7% increase from 2006)

March 24/25 - Pastor Dave preached & Youth Musical
997 in worship (70.7% increase from 2006)
275 in Sunday school (11.3% increase from 2006)

Incredible Quote

This weekend I started reading Kyle Lake's book [Re]Understanding Prayer. I just have to share with you what I just read...

Why would God make Himself known to us on a personal level? Would it not be to speak truthfully to us about ourselves and the world in which we live - for our good and the good of the world? That is, there is a transformative dimension to conversation with God and a missional one as well. A transformative dimension to prayer in which God affects change in us, and a missional dimension to prayer in which God affects change through us. No doubt, at times transformative prayer takes the shape of simple wordless enjoyment of the Divine, yet we still leave changed.

Two Perspectives

This weekend I heard two totally different perspectives about Charter Oak Church. One was from a relatively new member and one was from a pastor in our community.

One of our members was talking to me about the need for courageous leadership in the Church and in our denomination today. Because of some things that are happening in our annual conference right now, he is very distressed with the direction some of our leaders at the conference level appear to be taking us. He said that he wished that those leaders would have the courage to speak the truth of the gospel as it is spoken from the platform on weekends at Charter Oak Church. I was thankful that he recognized our desire to obediently teach the truth, whether it is popular or not.

Then later in the weekend I had a conversation that revealed that there is a pastor in our community that is telling people that anyone who attends Charter Oak Church is going to hell because we don't teach the Good News of Jesus Christ. This pastor has never been in our church. This pastor doesn't know Dave, Mark, or me. He just made a blanket statement about where we are theologically.

I am struck at the difference of these two perspectives. One from someone who is from within Charter Oak Church and one that is from outside. We had nearly 800 people in worship this past weekend who heard in a very clear and concise manner the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I also know what Pastor Dave is going to teach on Easter Sunday - it will be a clear presentation of the Gospel.

One person I talked to this weekend was praising God for His work at Charter Oak Church and another person is trashing the work of God at Charter Oak Church. Why can't we all work together for the building up of the Kingdom of God?

Quiet Time

My usual routine in the morning is to get into the office at least an hour to and hour and half before anyone else. This morning I was listening to Leeland while doing some leadership development work.

That quiet time for me is so valuable. As I was in that "zone" I felt a new appreciation for those times that are described in the Bible when Jesus would get away early in the morning for some quiet time with his Dad.

That quiet, alone time I have each morning gives me the passion and energy for the rest of the day. If you are a leader, I think you need to get this discipline into your schedule. Would you be willing to do something that would increase your productivity during the day by 50-100%? I'm telling you, that my quiet time adds that much more to my day.

Book #7 - Measure of a Leader

Last week I finished reading my seventh book of the year. I haven't read a book this slowly in a very long time. The author was recommended to be by my dad. He suggested another book by Aubrey Daniels, but Barnes and Noble only had this book by him. I am so glad that they did. I am already reading it a second time. There is so much good material for leadership development in this book. It's not a difficult read. There is just so much in it that carries over into the leadership of a growing church with a growing staff like at Charter Oak Church.

The quote I posted earlier has all kind of biblical applications. Think about all of the times Jesus said "you have heard it said...but I say to you..." Jesus was talking about the difference between leading with "don't do this" versus "this is the kind of lifestyle that people who are his follower live daily."

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is leading people and want to get a lot better at it.

It's All About Behavior

"The average organization's leadership emphasizes behavior that the organization doesn't want rather than those that the organization does want. Focusing on reducing errors is almost always inefficient because it takes the focus away from the behavior that is critical to the desired performance."
Measure of a Leader, Daniels & Daniels

Email & Website Down

If you are trying to get in contact with me or with anyone on staff at Charter Oak Church, you can't do it right now through email. We lost our domain name and we are trying to get it back. You will actually have to pick up the phone and give us a call if you want to get information to us or ask a question. Sorry about the inconvenience. Hopefully, we will be back on line tomorrow.

Prolific Writers

I am totally amazed by the ability of some pastors to continually publish books, articles, blogs, etc. and still lead their congregation. I have taken a 2 week break from blogging in order to be able to do some of the things asked of me around here. I had to stop writing in order to really concentrate on some very important work.

Now I am starting to write my first curriculum for an upcoming sermon series. My next series is called Intimacy: A Look Beyond the Covers. I am in the process of writing a study guide for small groups. We are going to publish it in-house and offer it to anyone in the congregation who would like to study the material along with the sermons each week.

As I am working on this project, it makes me all the more aware of what it takes to write a book. I am hoping that this small project will teach me the discipline I will need in the future to continue to write and maybe some day, I will become a prolific writer.

Accountability

I called my accountability partner yesterday to check in with him, he has a major deal that is happening in his life right now. I wanted to encourage him and let him know I am praying for him. Even though he lives in Texas, thanks to technology, we can stay close.

In just a few minutes of conversation I walked away feeling blessed and closer to God thanks to this very good friend of mine. If you don't have someone in your life that will tell you the last 10% of what is going on in your life, then you need to find one.

People are already running from the church because of the character issues of so many followers of Jesus. This is too important to put off. You are very vulnerable if you think that you could never have a failure occur in your life. That's just plain arrogant!

Find someone who truly loves Jesus and loves you so he/she will tell you what you need to hear, even when you don't want to hear it.

Thanks, Mark. You're the best!

Leadership and Servant Training - Last Night

Last night at our Leadership and Servnant Taining gathering, I shared "five fundamentals" to a vital church that will be released very soon by a United Methodist bishop as a book. We had some great discussion over these issues. I love the leaders of Charter Oak Church. They are willing to open up and tackle tough issues in a way that helps me and I believe our church to be the very best that God has to offer. Here are the five fundamentals:

1. Radical Hospitality
2. Passionate Worship
3. Intentional Faith Development
4. Risk-Taking Mission and Service
5. Extravagant Generosity

The adjectives that are used are very specific and led us to really root down to where we are here at Charter Oak Church and where it is that God is leading us into the future. It also exposed some pre-conceived ideas. It was an awesome night that added great value into my life. You guys rock!

Politics and the Pulpit

I was recently asked to sign a political petition. I had to think about what the implications were for me to put my signature on that piece of paper. I have really bad handwriting so no one would really know it was me, but I would know.

I quickly decided that I wasn't going to sign the petition. But since then I have thought a great deal about the role of a pastor in the life of the congregation when it comes to politics. I remember from my church history class in seminary of how the church pulpit was a very powerful platform for putting across a political view point. Politicians would join the "right" church so they could have the backing and influence of that church. I also remember reading about pastors who used the pulpit to put across their political agenda to their congregation. I realize that it isn't just church hisory, it still happens today.

In today's society, there is a very strong push to keep the separation of church and state far apart. However, it does seem that the African American church has a greater acceptance. Last week I saw a church pulpit used in a very powerful way by a presidential candidate.

I vote at every election - local and national. No matter how big or small, I'm there. I am just not about doing the political thing from my position of leadership in the church. I want to preach Christ crucified and his grace is enough for people like you and me. I want to help people get on to God's agenda for their lives and to live authentically into that. For me that also means that people make their own political decisions without me trying to manipulate them. Because that's what it comes down to for me - manipulation, when it comes from the pulpit.

What do you think?

Book #6 - The Deity Formerly Known as God

I just finished reading Jarrett Stevens new book The Deity Formerly Known as God. The book is a spin off of J.B Phillips book Your God Is Too Small. Stevens takes on the destructive images we place upon God in the first half of the book. Ideas like "Cop around the Corner," "Sweet Old Man," and my favorite "All-You-Can-Eat Buffet." The second half of the book is dedicated to bringing to light constructive images of God that should shape our view of God. Great topics like "Late-Night Neighbor," "Single-Minded Shepherd," and "Lord of the Boardroom."

I liked Stevens' style and the conversational tone of the book. He opens his life up to the reader and we get an inside look at the life of someone who used to be on staff at Willow Creek Community Church, but has recently moved to North Point Community Church just north of Atlanta, Georgia.

Counting and Discipline

There were two great comments left on my last post on counting people. I wrote that we count people because people matter to God. The first comment talked about measuring spiritual growth. The second comment was about keeping the counting motivation pure.

The first thing I would say is to read Jim Collins book Good to Great and the Social Sectors. What Collins writes is that non-profits, such as the church, cannot measure success the same way a business can. Businesses ultimately measure success based on how much money they make. For the church we still must measure. The measuring becomes much more difficult, so we must do it with greater discipline.

Here is where I believe most churches fail at measuring. It is easy to just count how many people are on a membership roll, how many show up for worship, and how much is given each week. All of these things are very easy to measure. Most churches stop here. They will pronounce their statistics and leave it at that. I posted the statistics for February. But I didn't do it until I posted about a woman who had the opportunity to share her faith at work. I shared in my weekly email to our leadership even more stories similar to this one.

So we count people, but we don't stop there. We have to be disciplined in how we determine success. I have growth indicators that I am tracking for our church that have numbers behind them, but even deeper than that I look behind those numbers at the people they represent. I seek to connect with those people to find out what their story is and where they are in their journey to do life with Jesus in a transformational way.

The way I try to keep counting motivation pure is to always connect the numbers with people. I can be very excited about growing by 23% in the last year, but if I'm not meeting those people and hearing their stories and the stories of the people who are inviting them, then it's just about the numbers. I don't ever want to just be about the numbers. I am all about the people behind the numbers. I want to celebrate people coming into the Kingdom. I want the people of Charter Oak Church to know that the risks they are taking on the people in their circle of influence is worth it.

The increased level of discipline then means that we aren't just counting, but ultimately looking for spiritual growth. Spiritual growth to me is people who are being obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual maturity isn't just about praying, but it's about praying when the Spirit says pray. It's about sharing your faith when the Holy Spirit opens an opportunity for a spiritual conversation with someone in your circle of influence. If I just count people, then I won't know the stories behind those people. I love it when I receive an email or a phone call from someone who "just has to tell me what just happened" when they were faithful to what God was prompting them to do.

Worship and Sunday School Stats

After publishing the attendance statistics in my last post, I thought it would be good to share with you what the year to date figures are.

2007 worship - 709 YTD
2006 worship - 573 YTD

2007 Sunday school - 264 YTD
2006 Sunday school - 236 YTD

God is at work in this place. People are learning about the love and grace of Jesus Christ. Remember, we count people because people matter to God.

February Worship at a Glance

February 3/4 - Pastor Dave preached
661 in worship (11.8% increase from 2006)
248 in Sunday school (31.9% increase from 2006)

February 10/11 - I preached
607 in worship (17.4% increase from 2006)
279 in Sunday school (16.3% increase from 2006)

February 17/18 - I preached (Snow storm)
564 in worship (4.1% increase from 2006)
255 in Sunday school (1.2% decrease from 2006)

February 24/25 - I preached (Ice storm)
631 in worship (1.8% increase from 2006)
172 in Sunday school (8.6% decrease from 2006)