What I Learned at Exponential 08

As I sit in my home this morning reflecting on all the things I have head throughout the week, I wanted to write a ton of information to impress you on what I had learned - but that's not going to happen. The biggest thing I learned, or was convicted about, is that I have been a judgemental fool!

I just don't think I fit into the church planter mold and as a result have been critical of church planters. I have never really said anything to anyone, but inside since I was insecure I separated myself from this group of guys. Could go on here, but want to confess not air my dirty laundry.

After spending a week with church planters and convention and association staff, I have realized that these are an incredible group of guys that simply love the Lord. I have also realized that I am church planter material, because of God, not me. To compare and even envy these guys, and even worse to judge them because of my insecurities - well let's just call it what it really is SIN. Let me apologize for my self-serving attitude and say thank you to a fantastic group of guys who opened themselves up and let me see into their lives and hearts.

By the way, if you want the notes of what I learned, go to www.jayhardwick.com He does a great job of getting the info out there.

Thoughts for the Day

So I am still in Orlando at the Exponential Church Planting Conference and a theme has emerged to me. This afternoon I heard John Burke from Gateway Church in Austin, Texas and Darrin Patrick from the Journey in St. Louis (love the name of the church).

Anyway, both of these guys hit the idea that the mission of planting the church must not be my focus, my focus must be Jesus. Check this statement out: focus on the Lord of the work rather than the work for the Lord. Now that is something to think about!

How many times do I focus on the work rather than the development of my relationship with God. I have to say if I get nothing else, this is for me. Talk about conviction, I am asking God to forgive me for letting my focus shift off of Him. Another example of a good thing taking my focus away from the best thing.

Just a question for you: where is your focus. It is on doing or being? Is it on what Jesus wants you to do, or who Jesus wants you to be? Is it on the work, or on the Lord? Questions we must all deal with to become disciples that make disciples.

Looking forward to getting home and staying there for a little while. Anyway, got another session to attend.

Exponential Conference

Ok, so I am in Orlando attending a church planting conference. In fact, I am sitting in a session right now. I kind of feel like I am in college again hoping the professor does not catch me not paying attention to his seminar. Anyway, just thought I would shoot off a quick blog about what I am learning so far.

I just heard Andy Stanley do an amazing job of communicating the importance of a clear vision for a church. I can also take the things he said and apply it to my life. Here are questions he posed that I am making personal: What am I doing? What do I hope to accomplish? If I were not hear, would people notice? Questions that I would like to take time to process personally and then for The Journey.

Well, the speaker keeps looking at me, so think I'll quit before I get busted. Hope to continue processing some more tomorrow, but during free time - maybe.

Guess What I Got?

I spent two days in a conference with the guys from Real Life Ministries, a church in Idaho. God is doing amazing things with them, but is was not the stories that encouraged me - it was how they do church. Everything they do focuses on training disciples to make disciples. I am usually sceptical at conferences, but this one was different.

Maybe it was different because for two years God has been changing my desires from just gathering people to developing disciples to go and make other disciples. I have struggled in my attempts and grown discouraged because while I had the heart, I could not figure out how to do it. For two days I sat and put flesh on the skeleton of my vision. I felt encouraged seeing that there was someone else who shared my passion.

Now the work begins. I cannot copy what they do, but take the principles and apply them in the context of my community. Needless to say, today I am pumped!

Hey guess what I got? Remember when I told you that I stayed in bed with my sick girls last week. Well, I am the one now in bed sick. If only we could spread the gospel like we spread a cold. Anyway, looks like a bed day for me. I think the girls want to return the favor and stay in bed with me and watch movies rather than school, but don't think it will happen - maybe this afternoon,

Feelings of a Church Planter - Why Me?

Although I am early in the church planting experience I am discovering emotions that are rather new to me. In my previous life as a pastor I did not have to experience too many new emotions. While it was a great position and an awesome privilege to pastor, it was a safe position. It already had a faithful following (the church), a steady paycheck, and built in leaders. It was safe. Now I find myself in a world that contains very few guarantees.

Although I have read a ton of stuff about how to plant churches, I have not found too much about how church planters feel. Therefore, this week I want to share with you some of the feelings that I have been experiencing lately. I know not all of you are church planters, but maybe you will identify.

This feeling that I had first and still continues on a daily basis is the question, "Why me?" I mean come on God, "don't you know I have Multiple Sclerosis? Don't you know that stress and fatigue are absolutely horrible for someone with MS? By the way God, I don't think I am creative enough to be a church planter. I don't have enough education, I haven't even finished seminary yet! Besides that, why send me to Greenville - Woodruff Road on top of that! I don't like traffic and I get lost easily." By the way God, "have you considered sending someone else more qualified?"

There are days that I wonder if I jumped when I should have stayed in my safe position. There are days when I wonder what if I have made a mistake. There are days when I just want to stay in bed. I have been told that as a leader I should not share such things and put on a good face and show my strength. I believe that leaders need to show they are on the journey just like everyone else. So there it is, my frustrating, nagging feeling of "Why Me?"

I am not focusing on how to battle the feeling, maybe we can deal with that next week. I am just putting it out there. Do you battle with this, or am I the only person? Give me some feedback here, what do you do to battle against this feeling? It is not hard to comment on this blog site and I encourage you to become more than a reader of the blog, but a participant. We can only grow from one another when we are willing to put ourselves out there with one another. Look forward to hearing from you!

Where is Discipleship?

Sunday our family went to worship with our friends Ken and Jeremy at Crosspoint Clemson. What an incredible service! Their student minister Matt preached an incredible sermon on discipleship. Maybe I enjoyed it so much because he said so wonderfully what I have been awkwardly speaking about the past year. Our thoughts are so close that half way during the sermon my wife leaned over and asked if we shared the same brain. Seriously, it was good. It is not available online yet, but when it is I will let you know because you have got to hear it.

Anyway, as Matt discussed discipleship, he pointed out the fact that true discipleship is tough work because it is based in relationships. It is easier to gather people together, give them the gospel, let them respond, and send them home. But true discipleship involves evangelism in a one on one relationship.

I sure want to The Journey to be a discipleship centered church. But when I say that I must fight my desire to be a success in the eyes of others. Building relationships takes time; therefore, The Journey will not be an overnight sensation. In fact, it may not make anyone's preferred blogsite, it probably won't be put up as a model of success, and I probably will not be asked to speak at a church planting conference. But, is it enough to know that one by one I am investing my life into others who desperately need the gospel and need to know how to live in their new life. I think so!

So thanks Matt for the sermon to just help me remember why I began this journey and to keep my eyes in tune with the vision God has placed upon my heart. I want to make a difference, it may not be to the world, but it will be to anyone who I come in contact with.