It's God's Church Stupid

Every now and then, in the midst of planning for the future of the ministry, tweaking budgets, and scores of other Sr. Pastor responsibilities, I'm reminded that this is God's church!  Now that has several implications:

1. Our Job is Not Worrying, but Working!  If God truly called us to this work, why should we ever be worried about what abilities or money we don't have?  This is God's business and He will supply every tool we need for every ministry endeavor He desires us to accomplish, to bring glory to His Name!
2. Keep your Sign Pointed in the Right Direction!  The ultimate purpose of highways is to get people to their destination.  Can you imagine a highway with no exit signs or exit arrows?  One would ask "what's the purpose of this highway?"  In ministry, our purpose is to point people to God's redemptive work through Jesus Christ, and to a lifestyle of obedience to God's word.  Therefore it's imperative that in everything we do, people are pointed in that direction.  Strive to be a Pastor or Christian that is guilty of pointing people "God-ward."  Otherwise, we're useless highways!  Remember, "It's God's Church Stupid."  It's fine to pray for people, but be sure to teach them that the power is from God, not you.  It's fine for people to respect you, but teach them to reverence God above all.
3. It Won't Work Without the Battery!  Ever tried operating your cell phone without the battery?  You can have a 4G iPhone with 1,000's of apps, and it be useless, without the battery!  That's what a church is like without God empowering it.  No ministry, no matter how slick the marketing strategy can be successful without God directing and empowering the church.
4. One Day We'll Have to Turn in our Work!  Leased cars never belong to us.  We just get to drive them.  One day they have to be turned in.  Be sure to lead your ministry that way.  Remember, "It's God's Church Stupid."  One day God will inspect the work that we've done, if I'm interpreting Colossians 1:28 correctly.  Also, be sure to drive the car in a way that takes into consideration that there may be a new driver after you.  We can't Pastor these churches forever.  In relation to time, it'll only be a little while.

Remember, "It's God's Church Stupid!"

2 Weeks to Go!

Two weeks from now, I will deliver a sermon for the first time as pastor of Proviso Community Church. I don't think I've really been able to wrap my mind fully around the implications of this, nevertheless I'm excited. I think my excitement is mostly centered around finally getting started. The planting process has not been a long one, relatively speaking, but it has been a bit difficult lingering in the middle.

My entire team has been going through what I would call "life" over the past few weeks, and amazingly God has begun giving me insight and discernment to see what I wouldn't ordinarily see. I guess this is part of the pastoral transformation that God is taking me through. My wife and I have begun intereceeding on behalf of so many, and our hope is that many are interceeding for us.

What transformations have you been experiencing in life lately? What new season has God been preparing you for? Are you ready? You may only have weeks to go!

One is Worth it!

One of the challenges of being what I call "Second Generation Mega Church" is the ability to easily get caught up in numbers. For the last 11 years I've consistently attended services where seating capacity was a major issue, and where thousands of worshipers gathered week after week for fellowship, worship, and to hear a Word from the LORD. However, as I get ever closer to the launch date of the new local church plant, the question that looms over me is, "what if no one shows up?" The space that we're renting has a seating capacity of close to 1,500. It takes a lot of bodies to make that space not look empty! But in reality it's not about the numbers. But then again there's a wonderful feeling that I get when I'm preaching to a crowd of 1,000 high energy worshippers.

I think the sum of the truth is this, if the whole church plant is for one soul to be saved, it's all worth it. If one individual walks through those doors as a sinner with a gaping hole in his/her life that only God's love and redemptive power can fill, and he/her leaves that place with an authentic relationship with God, it's worth it!

Indeed, my prayer is that God would send masses of people, but I'm thankful for the opportunity to preach to just one. In fact, to preach at all! Paul said that we have these treasures in earthen vessels. I count it as a privilege for God to entrust me to carry this treasure despite the simplicity and frailness of my vessel.

Not How? Who?

As I really avail myself for the necessary preparation involved with the local church plant, I find myself facing tough questions. The common denominator of most of the questions is the word "how." Over and over again I've come up with another question within my mind involving the word "how." As of this date I have nothing but a vision and an incredible call and burden that God has placed upon my heart to plant a local church in Maywoood, IL. I need the auditorium at our local high school as a worship facility, I need financial resources, musicians, and countless other individuals willing to serve. In addition to these needs, there's a possibility that I may have to step down from my job as CMO at my current church, which could significantly affect my family's budget. My prayer is that God allows me to maintain this position and salary until the new church is financially stable.

As I stare at this mountain of needs, which I feel inadequately equipped to scale, the question that looms is, "how?" How can I afford to bring this vision to fruition? How will I be able to obtain the resources needed? How, how, how?

But then again I realize that it's not "how?" It's "who?" Who will make it happen? Who will provide? If I can just throw 3 words back as a volley against every "how" in my head and heart, they would be:

God is Able!

"Now unto Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or think according to the power that works in us." Eph. 3:20 (paraphrase)

Trying to Find Balance

One of the most difficult things for me to accomplish in ministry is, balance. Constantly I'm finding myself overworked and neglecting one thing or another. Below is a list of the things which I'm responsible for currently:

• CMO (Chief Ministry Officer) - Victory Cathedral Worship Ctr.
• Exec. Director- SmokieNorful Ministries
• CEO- "45 Company" an upscale custom tailoring and alterations boutique
• Chairman & President- ProvisoPromise NFP
• Interim Youth Pastor- Victory Cathedral Worship Ctr.

In addition to these things I'm actively involved in various initiatives within my community, I believe God is leading me to plant a church this summer, and last but certainly not least, I'm a newlywed.

So to say the least, "balance" is a major issue for me!

I definitely need to learn to say NO to some things, but that's easier said than done. How do you create balance in your life? What measures have you had to take? How do you learn to JUST SAY NO?