Owner: simplemindedpreacher URL:www.simplemindedpreacher.wordpress.com Join Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 14:34:34 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: identity, vision and purpose for a new generation of Calvary Chapel Pastors Site statistics:Click here
Why pastor’s can’t really blog 2007-06-14 11:19:10 Some people live in the blogosphere. They live to read, live to write, live to comment, or all three. If there were enough that was of interest to me (and I’m sure there is, more than enough), I could be a reader or even a commenter. But I couldn’t really be a die hard writer. Why? Because, I’m a pastor.
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Two JW’s Came To Nick’s Door… 2007-06-12 19:21:16 I was amazed by the way the Lord spoke to my friend Nick yesterday.
First off, let me give you the picture. Nick is a big, tattoo covered biker type. He ministers in the jails and pastored a little rural church here for several years. (more&hellip
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Attributes of Successful Ministry Formula 2007-06-19 04:44:25 (updated: 6/19 - 7:59 am EST)
(updated: 6/19 - 8:04 am EST)
To fully understand where I’m (we’re… I’m adding points suggested by others too) coming from, you should read the 3 previous posts. “Is This Stuff Real?” “Why Is This Stuff Real?” and “Formula
Shmormula“ If you don’t read those, this will still make sense, but the logic pyramid has been building over the past few days off of the launching post of “Is This Stuff Real?”
I think the key to ministry success is to not think about it. If we start asking about ministry success, we will inevitably want to define that ministry success and run the dire and almost certain risk of creating false and possibly inappropriate expectations.
Are you successful because your church breaks the 300 mark?
Are you successful because you have additional pastors on staff?
Are you successful because you have held large scale evangelical outreaches?
I hope not. Read more:Attributes
, Ministry
Forumla Shm-ormula!? 2007-06-18 15:13:54 OK, bad title so give me a break. It’s only my second post and I’ve seen Chad make up a few words that have yet to grace the pages of a Merriam-Webster dictionary… I digress…
Something from the previous post struck me in a comment that Bill Walden shared. His point: There’s no formula that necessarily dictates success. Upon reading that I immediately say, “Amen!” We must be led by the Spirit and from what I’ve seen He’s a pretty creative Guy.
However, I am also aware that there are most certainly some things that I can do that could mess things up… a “Formula for Failure” so to speak.
So the question then is this: Are there really no formulas for success? I don’t think there are any “silver bullets,” but I do think that there are some things that we can do to provide a place for things to happen.
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Why Is This Stuff Real? 2007-06-17 06:37:27 My wife and I were discussing the stats from the previous post last night. We have both known and worked with people who, in the different venues of ministry we’ve been part of, have said with fervor and confidence that: “God has called me to this work.” In the 5 years that we did residential child care, we saw over 30 couples come and go very quickly, most of whom make the “God calling” proclamation early on.
When I was 16, I made a public commitment before 1500 of my peers to give my life to full time ministry. My wife made the same kind of proclamation when she was 18. Last night, she shared with me, that that commitment is like a marriage vow. We consider our marriage as if divorce is not an option. She told me, that she considers ministry the same way.
There in lies one of the big reasons why those stats are so dire. (more…)
Is This Stuff Real??? 2007-06-16 09:09:50 I was looking at other blog posts (tag surging) and found these stats. They were given at one of those resurgence conferences. The stats claim to have been gathered by Barna and Focus on the Family. If this is real, I’m a hair bit shocked.
Pastors
Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches.
Fifty percent of pastors’ marriages will end in divorce.
Eighty percent of pastors and eighty-four percent of their spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastors.
Fifty percent of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.
Eighty percent of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.
Seventy percent of pastors constantly fight depression.
Almost forty percent polled said they have had an extra-marital affair since beginning their ministry.
S
Why Do They Identify With The Emerging Church? 2007-06-21 21:32:06 well.. why do I identify with Calvary Chapel???
I started to respond to a comment, and decided to make it a post. The comment said this:
“Why do some leaders who appear to be very solid from a doctrinal standpoint feel the need to label or identify themselves as emerging? I just don’t get why someone would want to identify with a movement that has been so influenced by Brian McLaren who teaches totally heretical doctrine.”
Some in Calvary Chapel feel the same way as you. This past year a pastor in Washington state removed his fellowship from CC. It also just happened with a few churches in N.Y.
http://www.koinoniafellowship.com/independent.htm
Interesting thought. Guess it goes both ways. (more…)
Read more:Church
How Will You Build? 2007-06-21 15:26:14 Building a church, how will you do it? I guess maybe it all depends on whether or not you want to build a church or build the church. Do you want a church made by man, or one where God adds daily those who are being saved?
I ask these questions, because I have this picture in my mind, of where the church is at. In my picture, I see lands, which are separated by a river bed. It’s not exactly a flowing river, no it’s more like a mud pit then a river. On the left bank of this mud pit, there is a group building a church. It’s a church where people have strived to attain and, as Chuck says, are now having to strive to maintain. There are programs of all shapes and sizes. Programs made to fit what anyone would want or even need. This church is built on personality, popularity, and show. Whatever it takes to bring people in and to keep them there is done. A little compromise here, there, and everywhere, has led to corruption, It has led to a place where t Read more:Build
Are we against others, or for the truth? Part 2 2007-06-20 10:51:09 As noted at the beginning of part one, this topic was spawned from a discussion at a meeting of pastors. Actually, I started to write an email to the pastor that brought it up and it turned into yesterdays blog. I have followed up with him. Most of this post is going to be his words with some of my comments thrown in at the end. Here is his response.
I’m thinking that the new breed of brothers, some so-called “church growth” experts (maybe even some of the blogger types I asked you about at the men’s conference) are redefining our most treasured beliefs having made a commitment to “engage the culture”. Heres an example from my recent blog-lurking…
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Are we against others, or for the truth? 2007-06-19 11:14:35 At the last Seattle area pastors powwow something occurred to me during a discussion about criticism coming from the outside. In the end it was agreed that we as CCs don’t want to be known for what we are against
, but for what we are pro - teaching the word and grace. That wasn’t the first time I had heard that. In fact I think that sentiment is close to Chuck’s heart. But I have a problem with it.
Understand that I’m not saying we should have a detailed published list of stuff we are against. “Calvary Chapel: we hate others.” Not at all. But here’s the thing. More, and more, and more of Christianity is moving away from the Bible. Grace is being twisted into tolerance. In fact, the words “Christianity” and “Christian” are being poo pooed by the modern hip church. The more that we as CC pastors stand up for the word, teach it seriously, and keep the fact that sin is the reason for grace in the first place, the more we are
Affiliation Conversation 2007-06-24 22:32:56 After reviewing SMP’s post of “Why Do They Identify With the Emerging Church,” I have a question that bends around the point of desiring fellowship… As his post points out, each movement will have it’s own baggage… Pluses and Minuses. But considering one of the the seemingly main pluses, “Fellowship,” what do you do when there’s agreement on say, Philosophy of Ministry, but that’s where the “fellowship” ends? Where I’m coming from on this question is looking at the whole CC Affiliation thing.
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Read more:Conversation
The Answer To Measuring Growth 2007-06-23 10:57:15 Going hand in hand with Corby’s previous post.. this comment showed up on the thread giving us an incredible answer to the things which merit success.
What determines success?
Great victory? Yes. Great suffering and loss? Yes.
In case you didn’t catch this comment on the previous post.. here it is again.. You NEED to read this: (more…)
Read more:Measuring
, Growth
Formula for measuring growth? 2007-06-23 01:27:25 In some of the recent threads I noticed a pattern in some (no, not all) of the comments about how to gauge whether or not something was of the Lord. I’m not trying to repeat the Formula
Shmormula post because that had to do with formulas to achieve success. I’m talking about formulas to measure the success (or failure). And I don’t know that I’m looking for a conclusive answer, it’s just something I’ve been pondering. How do you know when your success is from the Lord or from the flesh? How do you know your lack of success is from the Lord not wanting you to be successful in that particular endeavor (for a variety of reasons), or you’re operating in the flesh? (more…)
Loose Lips Sink Ships 2007-06-28 11:00:18 “Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.” (Prov. 17:28)
or
“Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.” (NLT)
As we all know the tongue is a powerful tool for both edification and destruction…as pastors our tongues are our greatest asset but they can also be our biggest challenge. (more…)
Read more:Loose
Saved by the cell 2007-06-28 01:35:05 OK. Not everyone is going to care about this. In fact, some people will think it’s plain old stupid to even discuss what with the dollar amounts we’re talking about. That’s only because we live in different worlds. Some people have to worry about hookers on the corner. Others have to worry about tumbleweeds. Some people live in the silicon forest. Others can’t even spell DSL.
I happen to live in one of Intel’s many backyards in Oregon, so it’s a pretty high tech place. (lucky me!) I noticed at the pastor’s conference that many/most guys had some pretty high-tech cell phone/PDA thingies (even some of our own SMPs). One of the transitional elements of my stepping into this church has been what to do about a phone be it land line, cell, or otherwise. And I got to thinking…
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The 3 C’s of Ministry 2007-06-27 10:14:34 Callused, Comfortable or Cutting Edge?
Peter-John left a great quote that read, “Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” The quote was from Steve Jobs, a very “cutting edge” and innovative person. This really got me to thinking - Stay hungry… Am I still hungry to see God move and work amazingly, allowing Him to break me out of “the Typical” (if you’re a MuteMath fan)? If so, how hungry am I? Hungry enough to do something nuts, something that may seem foolish from man’s perspective, or go against the “that’s-not-the-way-we-do-things” line of reasoning? “Foolish” enough to realize that I don’t have it all figured out?
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Read more:Ministry
New Page 2007-06-26 16:19:00 New Page: “Pastoral Support”check it out!
The “D” Word (Talkin’ ‘Bout Denominations) 2007-06-26 14:00:24 The “D” word… Denomination. As a Movement, we don’t want to be one, and I think that’s great. But I wonder, are we shooting ourselves in the foot by trying SO HARD to not look like a denomination that we have moved away from making some great or rational decisions because we are “Denoma-phobic?”
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A Con is a Pro 2007-06-26 10:13:48 Over the last couple of years now I have been confused by the comments made around Calvary Chapel. I’d like to list some of them and give a reason why I’m confused and maybe, just maybe, you guys can help me sort through them and not be so confused. Good Luck on that feat.
1. Who will take over for Chuck when He is gone? (more…)
Re-think Tank Part next: What is community? 2007-06-29 20:32:47 I’ve been putting out these half-sheet thingies under the umbrella of a re-think
tank. I’m hoping to get people to re-think churchy things that have been taken for granted. Today’s installment is called “What is community
?”
One of the most basic definitions of a community could be this; a group of people that share something in common. Not “have” something in common, but “share” something in common. What’s the difference? A very significant one, actually. (more…)
Marriage 2007-07-05 18:56:05 Marriage problems in the congregation here in Cheyenne are by far my biggest burden at this time. It seems to be a never ending flood of abuse, separation, remarriage, and divorce. I receive at least three phone calls a week from a couple that is struggling in their marriage (and the other pastors are receiving many as well). Usually by the time I have heard from them they are already discussing divorce, and I am a last ditch effort to fix everything. Each case is complex and not simple to deal with. The only obvious connections in each case is sinfulness, lack of repentance, and unforgiveness. (more…)
No Sweat! 2007-07-03 11:11:10 I just finished teaching through Ezekiel a few weeks ago and I came across an interesting commandment God gave to the guys serving in the Millennial Temple. In Ezek. 44:18,19 God states these priests are to dress in light apparel so that they don’t sweat while serving Him and then they are to leave those garments behind when they leave the temple and go out to mix with God’s people. I found it very interesting, taught it and moved on…
Then came last Sunday… 4 hours of sleep, conflict at the church, two services, air conditioning not working well and then leaving immediately to go house hunting with the family, still knowing I’d need to return and prepare for Sunday night. As I went out “house hunting” I was using a guy I know that God has put in my life to “drip on” and lead to Christ. Well, I did a very poor job that day. If I were a priest in the Millennial Temple I’d be wearing Eskimo furs, drenched in sweat. I really let Read more:Sweat
100,000 2007-07-13 16:38:31 will the insignificant number to the right go to 100,000 by Monday?
Pokemon vs. the Holy Spirit 2007-07-12 11:20:43 As I may have said in other posts, one of my earliest memories is seeing the original Star Wars in 1977 (before it was referred to as Episode 4). I was 4 years old. For most of the next six years of my life I wanted to be Luke Skywalker. I wanted to be a Jedi. I wanted to be able to move stuff with my brain, my will. I wanted that world to be real. I wasn’t raised in a Christian home so it was no big deal.
Now I have two boys that are home schooled. My wife and I have always tried to protect (not shelter, there is a difference) our kids from most of the crap that passes as entertainment for kids. Some of is is mostly harmless. Some of it is outright demonic. We only recently let them investigate the world of one of these chains, mostly because one of their video games features some of these characters. We let them read the books and get the videos from the library, all for about one week. By the end of the week one of my sons came to me at the breakfast nook/home office with one Read more:Pokemon
Little Country Church - Groovy 2007-07-11 18:06:59 I sent this out to our church email list today. So I thought I’d share it here as well.
Music has a way of connecting you to a time, a place, an experience, even if you didn’t have any personal experience with that time, place, or experience. I’m sure we all have songs that do this in one way or another. The song that does that for me when it comes to ministry is called “Little CountryChurch
”. It was written during the early years of the Jesus People/Calvary Chapel movement in the 60s by a hippie band called Lovesong. I’m not a huge fan of this genre of music, but the spirit, love, and purpose this song captures reminds me of why I want to be in ministry and the kind of ministry I want to be involved in. The words go like this. (more…)
Read more:Groovy
Be Real. 2007-07-11 10:39:34
“Why in the world would anyone want to become the president?” It was the 4th of July, I was in my hometown, Bill and Hillary had just walked by and Mitt Romney was a few blocks down the street. I couldn’t think of more “thankless” job than the presidency. Instead of respecting the office, we as the citizens of America, have turned it into a straw-man of scrutiny.
Sure, to their faces they get a lot of smiles and friendliness. (more…)
Compartmentalize This! 2007-07-16 23:10:19 I used to be real good at it. When some hard hitting emotional thing would come along I could box it up, move it away from all my sensitivity nerves and move on. This practice was a necessity in my childhood. Some would say it’s a necessity in ministry also. I don’t think it is anymore.
If I’m going to love people for real, I can’t hide behind my stoic armor and flippantly deflect the arrows of; rejection, disagreement, accusation, bitterness, jealousy and abandonment.
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Simply Because 2007-07-16 22:19:06 I found a quote from Eugene Peterson tonight while I was reading that I thought I would post here.
“The pastors of America have metamorphosed into a company of shopkeepers, and the shops they keep are churches. They are preoccupied with shopkeepers’ concerns – how to keep the customers happy, how to lure customers away from competitors down the street, how to package the goods so that the customers will lay out more money.” (more…)
Chad’s getting productive, I’m getting creative. 2007-07-18 21:38:43 YouTube. MySpace. Some Christians call these places the dregs of the internet. I call them fields to be harvested. And now that the iPhone has YouTube built in, hundreds of thousands of people are out there to be reached. We can get right into their phones for crying out loud!
That, combined with some other circumstantial Holy Spirit inspiration, led me to create this first video. I hope it’s cool that I posted it here. If not I will just put a link to it on my own blog. Enjoy!
Read more:productive
, creative
More Productive Pastoral Coaching 2007-07-17 20:29:30 I need you guys to think about the stuff that I can’t think about. I’m currently working on a tool that will hopefully make some of my/our pastoral meetings and coaching-type gatherings more productive.
Up until now, when I meet together with other pastors, (especially those from our local church plants), I don’t feel like we are making the best use of our time and talents to deal with the issues that really need attention. For the most part, we say things like, “So, how’s it going?”, and we get responses like, “Oh, it’s all right.” Occasionally we deal with an issue up front and sometimes the needs that are requiring attention go un-addressed.
So here’s what I propose.
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