Archive for May, 2007
One of our core values is that everything is an experiment. The main reason is because we recognize that not everything works for everyone and we want room to change. We try to put this idea in everything we do. From the way we run our Sunday morning experiences to our volunteer positions. For instance we want our volunteers to be free to experiment with an area of service without feeling like they will be trapped there for the next 10 years. We have an easy in/easy out policy. Try out a position and if it doesn’t fit your skills, interests or calling then feel free to try something else. Just serve somewhere.
We are still working out how this all works but there definitely needs to be some guidelines for more performance based service positions such as the music team or the media team. If you are attending LifePoint, I just want to say feel free to experiment with what God is calling you to do and know that God will use you in some pretty awesome ways.
Any pastor can tell you that Sunday afternoons are very draining, worth it, but still draining. Add being portable and the drain is increased exponentially. I’m up at 4:30 am and I don’t stop moving until at least 1 pm. Now the point of this post is not to whine or complain but to thank the one who helps me recover week after week.
Growing up around the church Angela and I have both had some strange stereotypes of what the role of the pastor’s wife looks like. We decided from the very beginning that we would not worry about what church culture says the pastor’s wife should be and be more concerned with what God called our roles to be and that is working out great so far.
Yesterday I was reflecting on one of the things that Angela does that is so awesome and essential to my ability to avoid burnout. Every Sunday after the truck is loaded up and I am on my way with a small crew to put it back into storage she brings home a bunch of the things that I bring from home each week. She puts that stuff away and straightens up the rest of the house. When I get home there is nothing to do but eat some lunch, which she prepares, and relax my mind and body (nap).
These things may seem like no big deal but the fact that she works so hard to provide me with a relaxing Sunday afternoon environment means the world to me. She has been doing this for some time but I thought it was about time everyone else knew how much I appreciate my beautiful wife’s Sunday afternoon kindness. Thank you Angela, I love you.
I would have shared this yesterday but I was recovering.
Yesterday I went and had my hair cut. During my time there God showed me why I need both of the moments mentioned in the title of this post.
Haircuts
I love going to get my hair cut. It’s just a very relaxing experience for me. If I could stop by and have them wash my hair every morning I would. I am always in danger of falling asleep during this time. There is however one part of the experience I don’t like…the big mirror.
Some people might be shocked by this but I don’t actually like looking at myself. During my haircut I am forced to look at myself in the all revealing mirror. I saw something today that worried me. No it wasn’t gray hair; mine tends to fall out not change color. No it wasn’t wrinkles or blemishes. It was my smile or lack thereof.
As I stared in the mirror I realized that my resting/relaxed face looks like I am miserable. I am sick and not feeling well at all but I am far from miserable. Of course no one would know that by looking at me. My face was telling a story that I wasn’t living and all who read it were left to make their own assumptions about my life.
We all know people who are always negative. If there is something to bring everyone down they will not only think of it but voice it for the world to hear. It’s as if they feel they have some higher calling to crush optimism. Maybe you can relate to the friends of Debbie Downer.
My point is that I am doing that with my demeanor without even realizing it. I am not saying you have to be all smiles and giggles all the time but you shouldn’t be all misery and mourning either. My big mirror moment has caused me to recognize a little bit more the power of a smile. Join me in my decision to smile more often than not and see if it won’t tell Christ’s story a whole lot better and maybe even change the way you feel as well.
Quiet Time with God
Strangely enough my quiet time with God is a lot like my haircuts, sometimes even in frequency. I love my quiet time with God. It’s a very relaxing experience for me. I am always in danger of falling asleep during this time. There is however one part of the experience I don’t like…the big mirror.
Some people might be shocked by this but I don’t actually like looking at myself. At some point during my quiet time with God I am forced to look at myself in the all revealing mirror. I see something every time that I am embarrassed by. God is usually trying to cut it away but sometimes it takes longer than I like because I have let it grow so long.
Just like my haircut though, it is what is taken away from the experience that is important. Well trimmed hair, a new respect for a smile, a much needed character adjustment. Not too bad for just one simple appointment.
Every Sunday is about the same for, at least after service. I never know what to expect before or during. After the service I am so completely drained that many times I just go home and collapse. This Sunday was no different in that regard but we did have some different stuff going on for the service. So here I go with my reflections of the past Sunday.
- We had a full band for worship this Sunday. It has been about a month or so since we had the whole band together. It wasn’t great but it was pretty good. ;0) I really enjoyed the feel of having the full band sound again.
- Kevin played bass. This has been the first time he has played the bass in the last couple years but he did a great job.
- Dr. Ward taught in my place. It was great. I am really particular about who teaches on Sunday mornings, not that I’m the greatest, and Dr. Ward did a great job and I look forward to many Sunday’ s of his teaching in the future.
- We tried a different tear down process and got all loaded up about 30 min. earlier than usual. We also had a little extra help which is always awesome.
All in all it was a great Sunday. A special shout out to all our volunteers who make it happen every single Sunday. You guys are awesome. For those who are just getting started with us, it is always and adventure.
A couple months ago Steven Furtick, pastor of Elevation Church, announced their new blog for church planters and leaders called Access Elevation. They are covering topics that every church planter has questions about and offer information that is hard to find anywhere else. This is mostly because most information available is just sterile thoughts from unknown sources. I would much rather get my information from a church that not only is doing it but doing it well. That was the reason we started this blog. So that other church planters just starting out could read a play by play of how we have done things. In the spirit of full-disclosure, that means sharing even when things aren’t going as planned.
Anyway, Access Elevation shared a couple posts on print materials and where they get there stuff. You can read them here and here. I thought we would throw out a few places that we use that I think might save you even a bit more money for just as good if not better quality, at least as far as I have seen. Of course we don’t currently print all the various things that Elevation Church does currently but almost ever church can use what do up till now. I’ll list my two favorite places and what I order from them and few prices quotes that are available from them.
www.gotprint.net – Business cards, Postcards, Door hangers, CD jackets, etc.
Got Print’s quality is simply amazing. Their cards are extremely durable and the color is brilliant. I regularly use them for all the items mentioned above and much more. I have used a lot of companies for these types of things and they are by far inferior to Got Print on almost all counts. They are not terribly fast however. I would plan on submitting most projects about 2.5 weeks out. That guideline has made sure all of my projects have arrived on time. Here are a few samples of their prices. They offer some shorter print runs as well but for the price I almost always buy more than a 1,000.
- Business cards: 1,000 Full-color front and back for $29.98.
- Postcards: 1,000 5×7 Full-color front and back for $239.95.
- Brochures: 1,000 8 ½ x 11 Folded Full-color front and back for $225.00.
- CD Jackets & Tray cards: 1,000 Double panel Full-color front and back for $269.00.
www.pephoto.com – Posters of various sizes.
It seems strange to buy posters from a photo processing place but the quality is simple amazing and their ability to do simply one is awesome. There turnaround time is great as well. I have never ordered something from them on Monday that I did not receive by Friday. Simply the best! You can order any print in high gloss or matt finish as well. They may not be any cheaper than the place that Access Elevation suggests but they are extremely easy and have more options than you will most likely ever need. Here are some of the prices per size.
- 4×6: $.08
- 5×7: $.18
- 8×10: $1.24
- 16×20: $8.00
- 24×36: $11.45 ß what we use most often.
Well, there you have a couple of the places that we use here at LifePoint Church. I would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have and except any better option you may have found. Happy printing!
Every Sunday is a day of learning for me. From what works to what doesn’t. From what needs to be more organized to what needs to flow more freely. This Sunday was no different. Here are few points from this Sunday.
- I really enjoyed praise & worship. I don’t need to be leading it but I still enjoyed it regardless.
- Randy (He and his family started coming three weeks ago) played the congas and bongos and it was really cool. We need to rebuild and add to our current band so that we aren’t doing acoustic “every” week. Randy is a huge help in that direction.
- Still adjusting to the whole teaching team thing. Getting ahead of ourselves in the message prep process will assist in that.
- We were short handed and everyone did a great job of getting everything done.
- Our Mr. T tribute to our mothers is still cracking me up.
- God was there even though I am not so sure I was.
- I miss my Mom…
As many of you know we have been trying to streamline our church website for guests while still making it a frequently updated place for information about the church and so on. Well, yesterday I started writing a wordpress theme that would seamlessly integrate with our current website. This is the result of my tinkering. It is far from done and not nearly as robust as our previous one but it was good enough to put it up while I continue my tweaking.
Integrating a website and a blog seamlessly is not something I have seen before so I would love to have your thoughts on the concept or other examples you have seen of this being done.
As a new church we have some challenges to face. Most established churches are funded solely on the tithes & offerings of those that attend. This is not usually a problem since most people in established churches are aware that their giving is directly related to the work of that particular church. So what do you do if that is not the case?
One obvious solution is to educate people on the subject. This is a necessary step no doubt but if given only thirty minutes with someone who does not have a relationship with Christ, I can think of more important subjects to discuss. It does not mean that it is not talked about but that it takes a lot more time with little doses here and there.
The problem is what do you do until then? What do you do when your launch team is giving all they can but it still isn’t enough. The answer, I don’t know. Many have talked on the subject of fundraising and the like. Many have talked about trusting God. The truth is trusting God ought to be a given but it to many times is not. This would also be a good time to point out that you rarely should do one without the other.
LifePoint needs $3,000.00 a month to do what we have started doing. We are now in the process of raising sponsors who would like to give for a period of time to impact Cleveland, Tennessee and the world. These sponsors will pledge to give a specific amount for a period from 3 months to 2 years.
The real point is that LifePoint is looking for people who desire to impact people’s lives. If you feel like God has been pulling on you to give a little extra to His work and want to give where it will help start a life changing church, here is LifePoint. We haven’t figured everything out but we are determined to give God everything we have.
If you are interested in joining this awesome responsibility please click here.
I really appreciated Gary Lamb’s post about his service on the same day. As a young, new and terribly inexperienced church planter it can be very overwhelming to read all these awesome ministries just doing better and better, week after week. Don’t get me wrong, most of the time all it does is pump me up to accomplish my part in the great design but occasionally it can make you question yourself. Anyway, enough with that rant. Here are some observations from this Sunday.