Assimilating the Missing in Action

Posted by on Aug 16, 2010 in Pastoral, Strategy | 0 comments I love a good war movie or book.  A common theme is that you don’t leave a fellow soldier behind.  The US Army Ranger’s creed states in the fifth verse: Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to...
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Pastoring the Prayer Team

Posted by on May 4, 2010 in Church Planting, Discipleship, Pastoral, Prayer | 0 comments One of the early milestones that any church planter must accomplish is developing a prayer support team.  I’ve seen hundreds of prayer updates over the years from church planters.  The majority of them all sound about the same.  Most include prayer for more funding, the right facility, an upcoming event and prayers for people to come.  Notice a theme?  The prayers are primarily...
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Church Planting: Members or No Members

Posted by on May 11, 2009 in Church Planting, Discipleship, Pastoral | 0 comments With many church planters, talking about membership in the church is almost a dirty conversation.  Membership has been done poorly over the years and left a bad tast for many young pastors.  Membership implies there is a commitment of some sort required.  It implies an application, expectations, dues, and a sense of belonging.  Without membership the church is left full of customers. ...
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A Garden Analogy

Posted by on May 10, 2009 in Church Planting, Discipleship, Pastoral | 0 comments After much anticipation I was able to get my garden planted this week.  There had been so much rain in April that it had been to wet to till the ground.  By the time the ground was dry enough, the weeds had already settled in.  As I slowly tilled the ground I had a lot of time to think.  Here was on thought God put on my mind.  The conditions are just right for a growth.  The soil is...
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Why Is God So Quiet?

Posted by on May 4, 2009 in Discipleship, Pastoral | 1 comment A couple nights ago my son, Will (3 years old), couldn’t sleep.  I went in his room to talk to him and said that when I can’t sleep sometimes I’ll pray to God and ask for his help.  So we prayed together.  We covered lots of three year old topics thanking God for everything from the walls to his blanket as well as asking for help to sleep.  When we finished, Will promptly...
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Exponential 09 – Larry Osborne – How to Plant a Church and Still Have a Life

Posted by on Apr 21, 2009 in Church Planting, Pastoral | 0 comments Last session of the day at Exponential 09 was a great one.  Larry Osborne spoke during the pre-launch track on how to plant a church and still have a life.  This message was full of great pearls of wisdom Larry has learned alone the way. I enjoyed that Larry covered the real stuff church planters deal with.  Too often we hear the superstar stories and leave feeling inadequate a week later when...
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