addition vs. multiplication

I'm reading a great book entitled, "Viral Churches" that is challenging my thinking. Do we have an addition mentality or a multiplication mentality? Addition to the Kingdom of God is good, but multiplication is better. Right now people come to C3 and are loved to the LifeChanging power of Jesus Christ. That is great! BUT, how many people are we having then go out and lead someone else to Jesus and walk with them as they are discipled? I wish I could say a lot, but I can't. We must become a church that raises up disciple makers who raise up disciple makers who raise up disciple makers. My job as a pastor, is to raise up other pastors who do the same thing. Our job as a church is to reproduce other churches. My job as a disciple of Jesus, is to raise up other disciples of Jesus. Cause truly, you are not mature, until you are able to reproduce.....man....I need to go pray.

response

"It's not your situation that gets you down, but your response to it." - Rick Warren
This statement is so true. Our response is key to how we live our lives. I've seen 2 people walk through the same things and one let's it drag them down, while the other rises higher. It all comes down to response. Situations in life are like a wedge that either drives us up or down. The choice again is ours. Do you let situations or other peoples actions control your emotions and feelings? Just remember, you control YOUR RESPONSE.

nerf wars

My kids are on Spring Break this whole week, so I decided to take advantage of that. Last night we made our living room, dining room, and foyer a giant NERF war zone. Then we turned all the lights out and played. It was awesome! My kids are getting sneaky. This was another great memory that I will have with my kids. I want to be intentional as they grow up to create memories together that we can remember forever.

the problem

This morning while praying, God began downloading vision of the future into my heart and spirit. I'm about to come unglued! It's so much bigger than me or C3 Pickerington. One statement yesterday by Brian Bolt from Pittsburg Outreach, just keeps echoing in my head. He said, "Money is not the problem, it's leaders." In other words, God owns "a cattle on a thousand hills" (Biblical reference to God owns all the resources in the world) but He has called me to raise up disciples. A disciple of Jesus is someone who does what Jesus did and that is lead people to the Father. I am working through ways of how best to train up leaders to plant churches and then trust that in the right time, God will send the money and resources to accomplish His Will. But how can I ask God to pour into something that I have not yet prepared?

farm league

Today, C3 hosted a "Church Multiplication Gathering" of likeminded church planters and leaders. I came back to my office charged up. Brian Bolt, of Pittsburg Outreach came and shared. He has a huge heart and is tearing it up by planting Recovery homes that turn into church plants. He talked about how he has a "farm league" for developing pastors and leaders. They have a path of trusting them with more and more, the whole time pouring into them. I am thinking through forming our own "farm league" for C3 and it would look like this:
- become a small group leader
- lead a ministry or serving opportunity
- become an associate pastor on staff
- plant a church or site

Children's Director

We are looking to hire a full-time Children's Director at C3. If you are interested or know someone who is, the job description is on our website at www.myC3church.com. From there, you can send a resume if you think you fit the bill.

Last week we had over 150 kids between the 2 services. We just finished renovating our kids space and everything is brand new. Our church is growing and will soon be expanding with other campuses in the future. We have an amazing team that works, plays and prays hard.

start and stop

What do you need to start doing? What is it that if you started doing would help you grow or make you more effective.

What do you need to stop doing? What is it that if you removed, would make you more effective or take you closer to Jesus or your family?

Try to come up with one of each.

More madness

This past weekend was crazy. Friday night I spoke in Kinsman Ohio at a youth rally and then my family and I stayed the night at my parents house. On Saturday night I spoke for my dad's churches "Volunteer Appreciation Night." We drove home late Saturday night and got up early for Sunday morning where I didn't speak but did lead worship. Then later that day I did pre-marriage counseling, a baptism class and led a prayer service. Then took Monday and spent the day with my wife and then when the kids got out of school I took them on an adventure through the woods.
I love to live life and ministry in high gear, but I am also learning how to rest well. Just like my running, I have easy days, so I can run faster. I used to feel guilty about taking a day-off. Now I feel guilty if I don't. Life is all about ebb and flow. I'm learning to find my rhythm and stay there.

the madness has begun

I love this time of the year! When the NCAA big dance has begun. I set my brackets and smile and grimace all at the same time. I love the passion these college teams play with. It is an all or nothing, leave it all on the field, play big or go home, tournament. It is a time for smaller schools to have the game of their lives and where the big boys at times are tripped up by the little guys. History is waiting....who will be the Cinderella story of this year? Time will tell.

Be a man

Reading this morning where David is giving some powerful words to his son and soon to be King, Solomon. In the version I read today, one of the things he said was a "be a man." I love it! God has given men strength for a reason. Our world shows men using their strength for personal gain, by degrading woman, abandoning children and living selfishly. That is not a "real man." A real man uses his strength to fight for the weak. A real man, cherishes his wife, loves his children and won't abandon them when things get tough. He is the one that when the whole world may be caving in around them, that says, "no matter what happens, we will make it through this." A real man can laugh, cry, and put his foot down when needed. His word is his bond, he gives honor to those who are deserving and lives a life that is worthy of honor himself. He can admit when he is wrong and apologize when needed. As a man and father, my role now is to model and instill in my sons what it means to be a man. That is a heavy responsibility, and I pray for God's wisdom.

tension

Throughout life, we deal with many problems and tensions. There is difference between the two. Andy Stanley says, "Problems are to be solved and tensions are to be managed." If we are trying to solve tensions and manage problems, it will be a tough go. Tension is natural and sometimes it can even be good, if it's healthy.

Pain

Watched a video message today that Craig Groeschel spoke at the Forum at Southeastern University on "pain."
He made a statement that as a Pastor I could relate with when he said, "If your not hurting, then you are not leading." In leadership, you are trying to rally people around a certain goal. This is very difficult when everyone wants to go in different directions and many times will do things that are hurtful to others, to either get their way or fulfill a need in their own lives. All that to say, the greater responsibility of leadership you have, the greater the stakes, the harder the decisions and the greater the pain.

winning

"It's not whether they think you've won, but if you think you've won."
There are times I have won first place in something, but deep in my heart, I know I did not give it my best. Other times, I didn't win the trophy, but I gave it every ounce of all I had. In my head, I won. Just like I tell my kids, "What's most important is, did you give it your very best?"

me

I read a quote today in the book by Bob Biehl: "What is it in me, that keeps me, from being a better me? I am wrestling to find the answers for myself. All of us has hang ups and personal obstacles, but seldom dig deep enough to find them. For those that do find them, very few have the courage to change.
God give me the wisdom and insight to see my flaws and the courage and strength to overcome them!

who

Whose life will be better, because you lived? Whose life can be better, by me focusing mine? What if you could focus part of your life on making another's life better? What difference could you make? When our lives are all said and done, the real difference we leave on this Earth, will be our influence in the hearts and minds of others.

love what Jesus loves

In the book "Viral Churches" it says, "Too many Christians love Jesus but not His bride or His mission. We're naive enough to believe that you can't love Jesus and neglect His wife."
When we love Jesus, we should love what He loves and that is His bride, the Church and his mission, the lost.

trust needs honesty

Trust thrives on honesty. When we live honest lives of integrity, we allow others to trust us. Without honesty, there is no real trust, but rather suspicion. I want to to live a life of honesty, even in the small areas of my life and ministry.

response

"It's not our situation that gets us down, it's our response to it." The truth is, life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it. All that to say.....it's OUR CHOICE. Situations are a wedge that will either drive us down or up, we choose which direction.

maturity

I read today in the book "Viral Churches" that you know when a church is spiritually mature when it reproduces itself. I believe that this is the same for us as believers. We are not truly spiritually mature if we are not able to reproduce disciples. Jesus Himself gave us a very clear command when He said, "Go into all the world and make disciples." The question is, are we? Am I? Are you?

everything

Is God everything to you? If you were to take everything else away, whether possessions, health, even your family, is God truly everything to you? I want to get to the place, where I live as if God is truly everything in my life.