Keeping It New!

Mark Driscoll book talks a lot about change and keeping things new He says that newness creates chaos and that intrigues people to get involved because of the buzz.When you get to the management stage the next step is decline. It is important to manage but get it settled and then start over again with the chaos. So you can continue to grow stay new and keep people on their toes.

Blessed with Rain

Our God is humorous!Yesterday at the Rockmart High School Graduation it was really nice and the weather was warm with a slight overcast. When the graduates started to speak it got crazy the wind picked up and the bottom fell out of the sky everybody umbrella or not was soaked from head to toe.People were running to take cover. To the credit of the faculty and staff the graduation went on. It did seem that right after the last words the storm stopped and a rainbow appeared. God telling us once again that He is in control of it all!

Launch Team

I believe God has blessed us with the best launch team ever. Many people are willing to take on as many jobs as possible to get Gods church off the ground running. Our people are unbelievable as they give financial resource and are always full of words of encouragement and love. I can't wait to see the people we reach because this group will love them to the cross. Launch Team I thank God for your all!

American Idol

Man!I am so glad Taylor won on American Idol.Kat could sing good
but Taylor put on a show.I think I am going to do a "Who's Your Idol?"Series
Let all the pastors sing and vote via the cell phone.Oh! I forgot we don't
do congregation voting,but it still sounds like a good series.

Check Your Attitude !

The Leader's Influence

1. Spiritual Leaders Pray.

2. Spiritual Leaders Work Hard.

3. Spiritual Leaders Communicate.

4. Spiritual Leaders Serve.

5. Spiritual Leaders Maintain Positive Attitudes.

Leaders should pay close attention to their attitudes, for these serve as barometers to the condition of their hearts. When leaders become pessimistic, cynical or critical, they need to evaluate their causes. Perhaps they have been focusing on what people are doing rather than what God has promised. Maybe pride is corrupting their thoughts, or insecurity is causing them to be overly defensive. Whatever the reason, a wise leader will recognize these attitudes as the symptoms of a unhealthy relationship with God.

Who's Your MaMa?

I can not tell you how blessed we have been to have a mother church. West Ridge Church will always be one of the ministry experiences I will never forget. Hands down I don't think there is another church in America that has a passion for church planting like West Ridge www.westridgechurch.com. From Bryan and Matt to Jim Akins they all have a heart to support what God has called church planters to do. I have learned a ton from the church planting school and look forward to continue to work with the West Ridge Network. West Ridge Works because I believe that they are obedient to God. If you are a church planter and have not launched or have a partnering church you need to attend their school. You will not regret it. GO WEST RIDGE!!!!!, GO GOD!!!!!!!

Charge Hell Wide Open!!!

Why do so many churches look at each other as competition. The only thing I have ever heard that was against Gods work was things that are not of God. So many time we treat each other as if we were presenting Christ in a different way. Do you teach the only way to heaven is through a relationship with Jesus Christ the Savior that came lived as a man never sinned, and yet died on a cross to pay the cost of our SIN. Do you teach that on the third day that He conquered death and rose from the grave. Do you teach that Jesus gives the free gift of eternal life. I wonder if this even makes a difference to you or not. So many times I feel like people try to take the place of God in telling you what side of town you can minister too or what your territory is. Check this out YOU ARE NOT GOD! This is not your world! To some of you this may get you a little heated but lets think about it.........hum..........You don't produce vision, He does..........hum..........You don't call ministers, He does. It's not about supporting the new pastor or his church. It's about supporting GOD's work. Now if you can't support that then I will question what you teach because my bibles NIV, KJV, NKJV, and the NLT says in Romans 12;5 so in Christ we who are many form one body and each member belongs to all the others. SO WHAT DO YOU GOT TO SAY ABOUT THAT! Pastors quit trying to fight it REPENT of this sin, and move on and grab the hand of a fellow church and lets charge the gates of hell wide open.

Church Relevance

7 Startling Facts About American Church Attendance
Christianity Today highlighted a fascinating article from Outreach magazine that presents seven startling facts facing attendance in America’s churches. Want to know what they were?
Less than 20% of Americans regularly attend church—half of what the pollsters report.
American church attendance is steadily declining.
Only one state (Hawaii) is outpacing its population growth.
Mid-sized churches are shrinking; the smallest and largest churches are growing.
Established churches—40 to 190 years old—are, on average, declining.
The increase in churches is only 1/4 of what’s needed to keep up with population growth. It is estimated that 10,000 more churches are needed to keep up with the U.S. population growth.
In 2050, the percentage of the U.S. population attending church will be almost half of what it was in 1990.
It is a very well-written article that discusses each fact in depth and even presents contradicting research. You can read the full text at ChristianityToday.com. The article also gives some interesting insights from prominent church leaders.
“I believe churches that are seeing a decline in attendance need a new vision—one that is clear and purposeful.” - Bill Hybels
“But for any local church, the real competition today is television, the Internet, shopping malls and other social options. The culture offers so many alternatives. Culture—not the ‘church across town’—is the local church’s primary competitor.” - Kirbyjon Caldwell
“We must intentionally identify, predict and meet the needs of people—or else decline.” - Kirbyjon Caldwell
“We’re living in a time where spirituality and faith are hot. But it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re deep.” - George Barna
“I believe we have to get serious about what God has called us to do—and be seen as a place that’s doing, not just saying.” - Bob Coy
“Unfortunately, most American churches today don’t know how to reach outside one culture. We really haven’t taught people in our congregations how to do multicultural evangelism.” - David Anderson
There are plenty of more great insights throughout the article. Times have changed. What are you doing to reach the lost?

Why Staff ?

I can't believe what a difference it makes to have people around you while you make decisions and charge the path of making a difference in church planting. I don't have it all figured out but I know one thing. As a staff we can make better decisions because we all come from different walks of life and have different experiences. We also pray, and encourage one another. It's just better to build a team. Their are challenges to finding the right people let God help PRAY!! Many pastors don't want staff because it takes some of the spotlight off them. So if your reading this and your a pastor and you don't want to share the spotlight become a comedian so you can stand alone don't make the church suffer.

Getting It Done On A Shoe String

So many times as we start a church we go out the area we are planting and get events going that will attract people to our message. We put a lot of money into getting the event off the ground with promotion and signs we have not even started calculated the price for the event itself. Now I know it is important to have events but as a churchplant save your resources and join with something that is already going on. I have been in Rockmart for less than a year and these are some of the events we have done or community involvement. I am part of the Polk County leadership team which has given me the opportunity to share the vision of the church with leaders in the community. We have been an active servant with the FCA at the highschool. We partnered with a Car Show, Relay for life, and the High School Graduation just this month. These are the kind of events have got the word out. The Polk County children services meeting have been beneficial to meet all kinds of community leaders. I guess you really can't take my advice until I launch but here it is anyway.

Getting The Word Out!

Yesterday was a great day of getting the word out about CrossView. First I was invited t be a part of the Polk County Council for Youth and I agreed to participate in planning a strategy to keep them off the streets and add value to there lives by encouraging mentoring and community involvement. The Boys and Girls Club, Girl Scouts, Family and Children Services, The Newspaper, The alteritive school director, The School council, and many more where a part of this group. So many leaders expressed an interest in the new church. We are also donating the use of our staging to the graduation this year it's going to look great and also helps us get the word out about the new church. Bottom line! The more you serve others the more the message you are teaching are the words that you are saying get heard. When stop serving you may as well hand out ear plugs when your talking.

What Do You Trust?

Hebrews 11:17-19

People put their trust in different things. Some place faith in the Lord; others trust in themselves or another person. Faith can even be placed in relationships, money, or politics. Anytime we put absolute trust in something, we demonstrate faith in it. Faith gives feet to belief and that is how faith is lived out. How does your faith walk? How do you look at God? Do you see him as a man sitting in the background of your thoughts with no real concern of what happends in your life or as the refresher of your daily walk like gatorade to a thirsty basketball player. God will refresh you, you can sense his presence beside working through you.

Why Should Leaders Pray?

So many time Leaders have an internal wiring where they wake up ready to lead each morning. This can lead to trouble if you don't watch it. So many times leaders choose to lead on there own because the way God has gifted them instead of getting guidance from the ULTIMATE LEADER OF THE WORLD, GOD! Your choice, lead empty or full! Here are a few reasons I pray, 1. Prayer is an MUST activity of leadership. 2. Prayer reveals God's agenda. 3. Prayer brings God's wisdom. 4.Prayer accesses God's power. 5.Prayer bring the filling of the Holy Spirit. 6.Prayer relieves STRESS! This morning if your reading this and you started off the day without prayer stop for a minute and pray.

Save the Postage!

So many times as a church planter when it comes time to launch you have purchased equipment, rented a location, and paid for printing. So many times people don't calculate the postage. This is most likely the bigger expenses that you will take on. Faced with the high price of postage challenge we approached the local newspaper that will send out 32oo mailers for less than $130. What an amazing deal! So before you pay the price of high postage call your local newspaper and ask about insert pricing.

Getting Connected !

Relay for Life ! What a great event not only for our church but to support those fighting cancer. It was great to see the people come out in droves to walk for a good cause. This event was also great for our church. We had great opportunities to connect with people. God has really blessed us by sending people to us that have great influence in the community. Our tent stayed busy all day and night long. As I stood back and watched our group of people I was absolutely amazed to say the least at the way they started conversations and took the lead to give information about the church. By far this was the best event of theyear. I am sure that we have gained several new families just by being out in the community. We had a neighbor from another church watching the excitement all day and ask me for one of our church T-shirts. I told him I was not there to recruit from other churches but he insisted that he would fit in better with our group because he didn't have gray hair yet. I didn't recruit him but he continued to watch and talk to us all day. He said he was going to invite me to talk to the brotherhood at his church so I could tell them my take on why we don't sing out of the red book. It was an amazing day and I feel that we connected with a lot of people.

Run for Life!

Run Forest Run! Today we will have the opportunity to raise money for cancer and get information out about the new churchplant Cross View Community Church at the Relay for Life. We are excited because everybody in town is suppose to be there. We will be selling ice cream and specialty deserts. Can't wait to see the results from the people we meet.

Change!

So many churches these days fight about change. Well here is some food for thought.
* What if you never changed your oil?
* What if you never changed your tooth brush?
* What if you never changed printer ink cartridge?
* What if you never changed your clothes
or your bath water?

Thats pretty nasty! Well this is what is happening in many churches today. They don't stay fresh and new they get stuck in the same old way of doing things and never change. Like an old pair of unchanged socks they begin to stink! God has really convicted my heart on the values of change and being new, but lets face it this world needs to hear about what Jesus did for them on the cross and the free gift of eternal life through the sacrifice that HE made. Does it really matter the style we sing it in, or that we are singing about what He has done for us. The gospel never changes but the way we reach the world must change Paul said so we may reach some!

Is He enough?

Man! churchplanting is a challenge who would have every thought there would be so much to do before you ever have your first service. Like building a launch team, planning a budget, building a staff of unpaid Pastors and directors, finding a location, Getting the word out, and raising your own support so you will not have to be bi-vocational. Man it's tough but IS HE ENOUGH?

God really has taught me a lot this year as we have been preparing to launch His church. I've spent a lot of time in prayer this year and God has continued to reveal himself to me. Philippians 4;19 says, "My God shall provide all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

I have contently leaned on this that HE IS ENOUGH!!!! and He will build HIS church. So if you are following God and the calling that He placed on your life HE WILL PROVIDE ENOUGH. If He leads you to He will see you through.

Starbucks & Chick-fil-a

This morning we served breakfast to Rockmart High's Staff and delivered biscuits to the middle school. Starbucks Coffee and Chick-fil-a complimented with fruit trays and orange juice was an awesome way to show the school staff that we care for the work that they do. We didn't even have to mention that we were Crossview Church. The buzz was already going around. It was nice to see how impressed the teachers were. I truly believe that this was one of the best outreach events that we have done this year. Front line work is always the best!

God Is Above Our Cicumstances!

Circumstances can be confusing! Events can occur that seem to
knock you off track for what God has planned for you. Don't give
up hope because God will finish the work he has started. Take a look at Joseph he had a vision from God. His brothers sold him into slavery, Potipher jailed him,and he was abandoned and forgotten but nevertheless,Joseph understood every circumstance of his life from the outlook of Gods perfect will. Challenge; Stay confident that God is in control no matter where life may take you. God will see you through but remember His will and not our own.

Welcome to the Car Show! Man today was awesome and the weather was great. Today there was two events in the community that we had he possibility in attending The March for the 10 Commandments and The Community Car Show. We figured that with the Car Show that we could reach out to more of the unchurched. We still support the march and the values that are being fought for. The Car Show was a great place to give people information about the church. We had a great response and one of our launch team families won a trophy for having a nice ride. Great day of fellowship with the launch team even though we all got sun burned.Oh yea, we also got some free advertising with the children at the show with the balloons with our logo without breaking any child labor laws.

Welcome to the Woods. Yesterday was th National Day of Prayer and I was invited as one of the Pastors to Pray on the steps of the courthouse for our nation. It was a great thing to see all different denominations praying to Jesus for revival and for endurance. I prayed that the church would come hand in hand as the Body of Christ and start to be outward focused opposed to inward focused. We all cryed out to God for revival. I really feel God is screaming back to us "It Starts With YOU!!!!"We can cry out for help when we need it but we also have to have our ears open and willing to hear what God is telling us. One Pastor said "We can pray to God for the hungry child with a growling stomach but we also got to be part of the solution by filling a need." God has called all that believe in him to be on a mission to fill needs in His Name.