the trap of technique

Now that I've finished that pesky ordination exam, I'm back to reading and studying stuff I really enjoy reading. I'm on "Planting Missional Churches" by Ed Stetzer. I pulled a great quote out this morning.

“If new churches can avoid the trap of technique, they can engage the changing culture effectively with the unchanging gospel of Jesus.” - Ed Stetzer

This may feel particularly poignant to me because I've fallen into the trap of technique before, at great cost to the people and ministry I was leading at the time. However, I feel a big pull among the American church - at least the leaders whose circles I frequent - from technique-driven ministry to relationship-driven and Spirit-lead ministry.

I know this is a "duh" kind of statement to make, but if you're in church leadership, you know the tremendous temptation to take what a "successful" church in another city is doing and try and replicate it in yours. For those of us who are wired for success, whatever that means in church, it's a huge temptation.

Thankfully, as I enter a season of coaching church planters, God has settled my spirit down to know (and teach others) that the Holy Spirit loves a given community or people group much more than we and will always guide us toward how to share the gospel effectively with said people. It's not about growing churches and church for the sake of growth, but looking for ways to help the Holy Spirit do what He's doing anyway.

quote of the day

The tragedy in life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach - Benjamin Mays

prayer

Tomorrow morning at 11am, I'll be taking a written exam to be an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God . I'd appreciate your prayers if you think of it. Thanks much.

I miss this

I'm up this morning doing some reading and now even blogging. I miss this stuff in the morning. I renewed my efforts to get my body into shape a couple weeks ago and I've been using most of my time in the mornings to go to the gym. I love it, but the saying, "When you say yes to one thing you say no to another" is so true. Couple my increased time at the gym with my ordination exam coming up tomorrow and I've hardly read anyone's blog and just barely kept up with e-mail over the last two weeks - any open time during the day has been studying for the exam.

I don't regret how I've managed my time over the last two weeks. I've done exactly what I decided to do. Nothing is out of control and I don't feel like my life is running me, but I guess I'm just a little frustrated. I'd like a little more time to read. I'd like a little more time to blog. I'd like to be more caught up on e-mail. Of course I could do all these today, but then I would be lamenting about never getting any exercise or not enough time with my kids. The stewardship of the time God has given me is a true balancing act I've not yet figured out adequately, but I'm getting better here and there. Overall, I'm improving. And I'll take painful improvement over comfortable stagnation any day of the week.

recommended reading

I read "In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day" and it was good, but "Wild Goose Chase" is about 10x better, in my opinion. I've not been this inspired by a book in a while. If you have a vision in your gut and you're afraid, check this book out asap. I'm not even finished yet, but I'm already recommending it!

exam

I'm not a big fan of exams, but I have a big one coming up next week. I'll be taking my exam to up my level of ministerial credentials with the AG from licensed to ordained. I've been studying for a few hours this afternoon and it's really draining on me. I'm not much of a theology guy, but I do get the importance. My exam is next Friday at 11am, so I'd appreciate your prayers. I have several large blocks of time in the next week set aside to study, so I guess I better get used to this feeling I have today. Bring on the coffee.

On a more exciting note, I just got a couple great nuggets regarding church planting process from my friend Nick Poole at APC in Pittsburgh. Well, almost time to go home.

almost back

I'm back from Houston and in a normal routine again. It's amazing how difficult it is to get back on track after a trip like that. My e-mail inbox is way overcrowded and my head's spinning just a bit with all kinds of new possibilities and old problems to solve. I'm looking forward to being with our South Hanover youth ministry team tonight. I also think that a ministry team from North Carolina Masters Commission is coming it tonight as well. Can't wait to meet all those great people.