Review of the book - PULL

The one particular thing I took note of is the idea of Facebook advertising.  That is something we have never tried before, but we will this spring.
Additionally, I really liked the idea of encouraging the congregation to use Facebook to invite friends & acquaintances.
That is free, which I especially like!
I’m also looking forward to seeing how the combination works—putting out paid ads while also encouraging our people to use it as a tool.

The Jezebel Spirit...

Church planting is a tough calling. The last thing you need is drama and division. Here are a couple articles on the Jezebel Spirit which I believe
is rampant in western churches. It's important to recognize this spirit within our local assemblies... and get it out.

 Introduction to the Jezebel Spirit 

The Dormant Jezebel Spirit

The Nature of our Enemy

Free E-book - Top Issues Church Planters Face

This report was prepared by the team at Exponential in partnership with Ed Stetzer.  We listened to leaders with over 500 years of cumulative experience planting and working with 100′s of planters with the over 30 national leaders involved in this project. Individual planter interviews, online surveys, and volumes of real world experience were also included in the discovery process. This information will help you plant or help you help others plant for the glory of God and the advancement of His Kingdom.

For your FREE download... click the link below!! (Courtesy of Exponential) 

When the odds are against you....

600lb vs 169lb MMA Mismatch - Watch More Funny Videos

I normally don't post sports videos on this blog. But then I ran across this video and thought about David and Goliath. My thoughts then went to the area of church start-ups and how this applies to those who are planting a church.

Planting a church is just plain tough! The odds are against us! By all natural signs, we should quit! I mean come on - it's time consuming, (and with little or no pay), then you carry the weight of  the ministry.  People are fighting with one another. People seem to major in the minor things :)

That is a lot to deal with on a regular basis. Here is the key though. God is with us! This is not something we do just for pay.... just for the experience.... just for our own whatever! We do this because He called us. That alone keeps us in the ministry. That alone is enough! 

As we see in this video: we can overcome large obstacles if we stay diligent! We can overcome anything the enemy throws at us! 

Zechariah 4:6 (The Message)

Then he said, “This is God’s Message to Zerubbabel: ‘You can’t force these things. They only come about through my Spirit,’ says God-of-the-Angel-Armies. ‘So, big mountain, who do you think you are? Next to Zerubbabel you’re nothing but a molehill. He’ll proceed to set the Cornerstone in place, accompanied by cheers: Yes! Yes! Do it!’” 

7 Tactics of the Enemy

Here are 7 way Satan tries to destroy a church:

1. Church conflict
2. Burnout
3. Rumors
4. Busyness .
5. Lies.
6. Scandal
7. Marriage and family disruptions

Thankfully, there is good news:

You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

To read the full article, please visit Rod Edmundson's blog www.ronedmondson.com

Mission Devoid of Discipleship = Failure

Every once in a while I find someone who writes or speaks the things that I'm thinking about. And to be honest I'm thinking and pondering these things and really wonder if I'm just being negative. I mean, who wants to be a glass half empty type person?

The word "missional" was something new and fresh a few years back. Many books and articles have been written about being missional both on a personal level as well as corporately. When a word is over-used, it tends to lose meaning and I find this true for the word "missional". Everyone and every church thinks they are "missional". Even their church programs are geared towards being "missional". The truth is... its just a word. Your programs are still just that...programs... sorry. Just sharing the truth in love :)

 Anyways, here is an article from Mike Breen which is entitled: Why The Missional Movement Will Fail. 

To read the article click here: Mike Breen / Verge

Jeff Vanderstelt - The Meaning of Missional

Jeff Vanderstelt // The Meaning of Missional from Newfrontiers USA on Vimeo.

Breaking Growth Barriers

Here is a excerpt from Rick Warrens blog on breaking church growth barriers.
You must change the primary role of the pastor from minister to leader.
What’s the difference? In leadership, you take the initiative; in ministry, you respond to the needs of others. When someone calls and you pick up the phone, that’s ministry. When you pick up the phone and call someone, that’s leadership. Typically, you learn ministry skills in seminary, but you learn leadership skills in seminars. Pastoring is a balance. Here are five skills you must learn if your church is going to grow:

• Learn to communicate your vision.
• Learn the ability to motivate through messages.
• Learn how to equip for ministry. If you don’t learn how to coach, you will not be able to equip. And, if you do not equip, you will burn out in ministry.
• Learn how to raise money. Those who write the agenda must also be able to underwrite it.
• Learn the skill of managing your time and energy.

For more info - go to Rick Warrens article - Pastors.com

Getting rid of distractions....

Our thoughts are often not our own - they are realy derived from someone else. Someone else thought them first ...spoke it and we caught wind of it.... ingested it and made them our own. Other people's voices often fill our minds. Think about all the influences around us that have access to your head:

• The people in your home
• Your co-workers
• Your extended family
• The TV
• Your friends
• The internet
• Video games
  

We need to consider the value of our own thoughts. Why let anyone tell you what to think? Why listen to people who don't even know you and don't understand your value system?

Consider the possibility that perhaps there are certain voices that need to be edited out. Some voices are persistently negative or just not helpful. Why not establish boundaries?

Could this be why we can hear so much clearly when we are on the mission field? What if we quited the voices and influences around us and simply asked God - What would You have me do?