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Real Men of Genius Video II…

Real Men Of Genius Promo II from Mountain Lake Church on Vimeo.

P90X One year Review…

Should I have Tech Thursday?

OK…Anyone that knows me well,  knows I’m somewhat of a geek. I love technology and utilize it extensively in my life and ministry. I am NOT the most cutting edge guy in the world, don’t get me wrong. However, I’m ALWAYS looking for ways to become more productive and efficient in the ministry God has given me and our team here at Mountain Lake.

So I was thinking (that’s usually dangerous)  about doing a weekly post called Tech Thursday, highlighting the technology, both that I use, and I’m familiar with. I might even share some ideas  I have about future technology! I was thinking and hoping that I might be able to help Pastors, their ministry teams, their churches, and even business people become more productive and efficient by leveraging basic technologies that are out there you may not even be aware of. SO give me your feedback. What do you think? Will you tune in? Could this help?

The way a Pastor falls into sin…

Pastors have a HUGE spiritual bulls-eye on our backsides! We are targets of the enemy. Strike the shepherd. Scatter the sheep.  That’s the enemy’s strategy.

That’s why, more than ever before, I’m convinced that to protect ourselves as Pastors, we must NUTURE VITALITY. It’s the #1 Best Practice we talk about in  our churchplanters.com ministry and coaching network. To NURTURE, means to care for; pay attention to; attend to; feed…our VITALITY: our spiritual, emotional, spiritual, and relational strength! 

Below is just a simple list of practical ways to keep ourselves from being picked off by the enemy as Pastors. These are simple. But easier to KNOW and PREACH; than DO.  Here are a few (OK, more than a few):

• Read your Bible daily, and read portions of Scripture that have NOTHING to do with this week’s message.
• Take your off day Religiously. Burnout leads to spiritual failure and dropout.
• If you don’t rest, you will burn out. Period. You are not exempt.
• Tell you congregation you will NOT be out more than 2-3 nights a week.
• Keep office hours. Go home at 5 or 5:30 PM. People have to see their doctor, their dentist, their lawyer, and their counselor from 8-5. Spiritual counsel should be no different. You MUST have a life at night with your family.
• Don’t open your laptop after you get home.
• Don’t answer your cell phone after you get home.
• When you walk in the house after work, don’t be on the cell phone.
• Spend less time on Twitter and facebook.  Spend more time communicating with your family.
• Get secure in your own skin. The desire for attention or pleasing people is a flag that will get you in trouble.
• Confess your temptations or addictions to a trusted friend NOT in your church.
• Schedule a date night with you spouse ATLEAST once a month. If you don’t have the money, ask the church to pay for it. (my church doesn’t, BTW) Your church will, though,  if you ask them.
• Tell your congregation that the best gift you have to offer them is NOT a close relationship with every one of  them, but a close relationship with God and a close relationship with your spouse.
• Don’t just talk about ministry with your spouse. Start a hobby TOGETHER!
• Exercise! Flabby body=flabby mind=flabby spirit.
• Take walks with God early in the morning when you can talk out loud to Him and share your hurts, pains, struggles, and dreams.
• Get your spouse out of that ministry they feel tied to because no one else will do it. You’re burning them out.
• Have a family night regularly where you allow your kids to set the agenda.
• Have a hobby you enjoy by yourself.
• Tell your spouse you love them EVERY DAY!
• Speak positively of your spouse from the stage.
• Listen to friends that raise flags about your behavior.
• Don’t ever be in the car, or your office, or ANY PLACE alone with opposite sex with the door shut.  NEVER. NEVER. NEVER.
• Make the above policy for every Pastor on your Team.
• Don’t flirt, including online, or in emails! If you’re flirted with (and you will be), don’t respond, and immediately tell your spouse.
• Think about the consequences of your sin if carried out and found out. Who and how many will get hurt?
• Remember, pride goes before a fall, and you can not stand too close to a fire and not get burned.
• Make Nurturing Vitality the most important part of your job description.

Why I've been MIA the last couple of weeks...

 You may or may not have noticed that I have been MIA for the last couple of weeks: I haven't blogged, twittered, facebooked or CB radioed, answered my phone, responded to emails as often! I have been taking some time away from the offices, to renew, reflect, and re-tool. I've spent come good quality time with the family, but I also have take a ton of time to BE STILL and know that He is God! Each morning, I have spent some quiet hours just seeking and listening to the voice of God! I really do think most of us under=estimate the impact that an overcrowded life has on our ability to hear from God! I have learned over the last few years that relentless pace, if not followed by relentless rest silences the voice of God in my life. But out of everyone in my church is is a MUST that I HEAR FROM GOD! So I am learning to release ministry. Trust our Team. Empower. Delegate. Focus, not on what I ENJOY the most, but what this church NEEDS the most: A clear word from God through the Sr. Pastor! SO I've been MIA a little MORE the last few weeks to listen to the voice of God. And He HAS spoken. I'm still listening and processing. However, I'm ready to come down from the mountain and share what God has placed on my heart! Can't wait to be back at Mountain Lake this Sunday and begin to do just that!

What my kids are thankful for…

Many of you know by now, that my family just got back from the beach. On the way home,  we brainstormed about all the things we were thankful for, regarding our vacation. Here’s what the kids had to say:

• “I’m thankful that Jesus gave Daddy a job that pays enough money that allows us to go on a Dolphin Cruise on the Sea Blaster.”
• “I’m thankful that God gave my daddy a couple of days off so we could take a break together before school starts back.”
• I’m thankful that we got to ride on a boat and swim on the ocean.”
• “I’m thankful that we got to see our Grandparents.”
• “ I’m thankful for getting the opportunity to get to ride go-carts”.
• “I’m  thankful for getting to go to THE TRACK”.
• “I’m thankful for Mimi and Pawpaw letting us use their pool.”
• “I’m thankful for getting to spend some family time”. (It really was mentioned this late in the conversation).
• “I’m thankful that Jesus gave us the money to buy stuff” (Most of Madison’s thankfulness was about money).
• “I’m thankful for having a great time.”
• “I’m thankful for a good drive home.”
• “I’m thankful for getting to see dolphins while standing on the deck of our condo.”
• “I’m thankful for great weather at the beach.”
• “I’m thankful there was a sandbar every day on the ocean.”
• “I’m thankful Jesus let the sea shells come up on the beach every day.”
• “I’m just thankful we got to take a vacation.”
• “I love you” (OK, this has nothing to do with their thankfulness, but a lot to do with mine).

What God’s really looking for…

What is it God is really looking for from you and me? What really brings a smile to His face? Here it is:

“I don’t need the bulls you sacrifice; I don’t need the blood of goats. What I want instead is your true thanks to God; I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High.  Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” Psalm 50:13-15 (NLT) .

In this passage, God lets the Israelites know that all their religious activity is great, but what He’s really looking for is the heart BEHIND all the religious activity they’re involving themselves in.  There are two things in particular God is looking for when we seek to worship Him. God said: “What I want instead is your true thanks to God; I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High.” In other words, what God is REALLY looking for from us is a grateful heart; and an obedient heart! God just wants me to be thankful for all He’s done and doing for me; and obey what I already KNOW He’s called me to be and do!

Obedience and Gratitude. The sacrifices God is REALLY looking for. If you want to make God smile today, just start telling him all the things you’re thankful for. Then tell Him that it’s your desire to take Him at His Word and do What He says in in His Word! If you will…even though you may not see it…He’ll be smiling…

Exponential…

Pray for our  church planting team: me, David Putman, Will Henderson, and Marie Lindelli, as we head out to Orlando for the nation’s largest church planting conference in Orlando. About 3000 pastors and ministry leaders will be there! David Putman and I both will be hosting and speaking at the “Post-Launch Track” and I really believe BOTH of our talks are going to give church planters a lot of permission! Also, Efrem Smith, Gary Lamb, Scott Hodge, Troy McMahon, Michael Lukaszewski, and Matt Chandler will all be speaking at our track!

 

Can’t wait to give church planters permission to do what it takes to lead a church that changes the way people think about church!  Yes, I’ll be back by Sunday, and Yes, I’m teaching! Get ready to discover more of your potential when I get back!

Our new church sign!

 

yes, our new church signs are in! I need some input on our new church signs, though: To express our desire to open up our campus to the community even MORE after we move in our new building, we’re literally thinking of placing another sign at the bottom of our new sign that also says:

“Home of N. Georgia Conference Center.”

What do you think?

Where I’m speaking next…

I’m gearing up to teach at two upcoming Pastors’ conferences in the next two months: First, next month, I’ll be speaking at the EXPONENTIAL Conference, in Orlando, FL. Exponential is the nation’s largest church planting conference, and David Putman and I are honored to be hosting the post-launch track, as well as speaking. I’ll have the opportunity to encourage and influence HUNDREDS of church planters on this day! Pray for me! If you’re a church planters, and you’re attending the conference,  drop me a line and we’ll try to connect while we’re there! 

Then on Monday, May 11, Mountain Lake will be HOSTING the Regional one day Sticky Church Conference, in collaboration with Northcoast Church, in San Diego, CA.  I’ll be speaking on this day, as well, to several hundred pastors!

Pray for these events, and if you’re pastor, crawl out of your ivory tower and get out there and learn and be inspired to be everything God wants you to be so your church can, too!