Archive for January, 2008
Unleash Is Gathering Steam!!! January 24, 2008
Seriously…we’re anticipating awesome things this year.
Got an e-mail on Monday saying that registration is well over 600 people. (You can register here if you would like.)
Tony blogged about it here–and it has video testimony from last year–check it out!
I am SO looking forward to meeting tons of new pastors and church leaders.
Top Seven STUPID Financial Mistakes That I’ve Made–Part Two January 24, 2008
Following up from my last post on this…
#4 – Seeking to live the “minimum payment” lifestyle.
I remember my first credit card…after getting it I stopped at a sporting goods store and bought a gun. (Just like all pastors should!) It was $300…and when I got the bill in the mail the next month the payment was ONLY $15!!! (I didn’t know what 19% interest meant!) It was the beginning of a PAINFUL lesson for me–making the minimum payment is NOT a great financial plan!
Within four years I was carrying maxed out balances on around seven credit cards and “successfully” making the minimum payments every month…which was KILLING ME financially. I reasoned that if I continued to make the minimum payments that I would one day be out of debt…which WAS true…but “that day” would have been in the year 2900 at the rate I was going!
#5 – Transfering credit card balances
Don’t roll your eyes…some of you do this! I would get a “convenient” credit card offer in the mail and it would say, “transfer your balances today and get no interest for six months.” What the offer didn’t tell you is that the interest rate was an arm and a leg after that six months.
I always told myself that I could pay off the balance within six months–WHICH NEVER HAPPENED! I realized then that Proverbs 22:7 was/is true…in just four years of having a credit card (which was only going to be used in case of an “emergency”) I had DISCOVERED that my VISA to financial freedom wasn’t in obtaining more AMERICAN OBSESS but rather in turning over MASTER CARD to Jesus instead of the banks!
#6 – STUPID car decisions.
I used to be the guy who said, “I will always have a car payment.”
I used to be the guy that when a car needed a repair I would say, “Go get another one, you don’t want to sink money into that old thing.” (Which, by the way, is STUPID financial advice! Seriously! Spending $300 to fix a leak…or $45,000 on a new car–DUH!!!)
So…because of my desire to have a new car every year and a half (no, I am not making that up) I kept trading them in…and discovered what the term “upside down” means. (It means, “I am a stupid, materialistic person”–at least that’s what it meant to me!)
I once financed a car that was two years old for 84 months at a 12% interest rate…DUMB!!!
Today I own my cars…they do not own me…and that is a very freeing feeling. Most people I have talked to who are strapped financially could free themselves up so much if they would just sell their car…but their desire for status rather than financial freedom will prevent them from it most of the time.
#7 – Not having an emergency fund.
One of the things that Joe and Dave teach is that emergencies are going to happen, the car is going to break down, the kids are going to get sick, the tire is going to go flat…and that if money is set aside for these emergencies then they are less worrisome when they take place.
You CAN set aside an emergency fund…Joe will teach you how if you will sign up for his class…seriously, BE HERE!
How To Restore Joy In Ministry (And Life) January 23, 2008
Last Friday I posted about seven joy killers in ministry–today I want to share some ways that I believe joy can be restored…at least these are some things that work for me.
#1 – Have Fun!
I was in a conversation recently when a guy asked me, “So what do you do for fun?”
I had no answer!
THEN it dawned on me that I had become all work and no play! SO…this year…2008…I am going to start having some fun. If John 10:10 is true…I need to max out life.
One of the problem with every miserable person I know is that all of us have allowed ourselves to fall into the trap that having any kind of fun is a sin. We use the excuse, “Well, the devil never takes a day off,” never stopping to realize that we should not be attempting to imitate him!
What’s your plan for having fun this next month? Seriously! You won’t do it unless you plan it–so go for it! (I want to drive a race car. ride a snowmobile and go somewhere out west and kill some sort of innocent animal with a high powered rifle!!!)
#2 – Time Away!
One of the things that has made it on to my schedule for this next year are at least 12 days of solitude. One of the things I need is extended time away with God…that means no e-mail, no cell phone, no television…just me, a Bible, a journal…and peace and quiet. I have one of those days coming up…and every time I have one I leave feeling extremely refreshed.
By the way…these days do not magically appear on your calendar…they must be planned intentionally and guarded like crazy!
#3 – Be An Encourager
Usually when a pastor hears of another pastor or church being successful they REFUSE to rejoice with them. We all go into saying something like this, “Yeah–I heard about that church and what is going on over there is good…but did you know…” AND then we list the things we do not like and tear them apart.
God simply does not reward that type of behavior…He never has. The best thing we can do in ministry (and life) is to be an encourager.
#4 – Take Some Risks
There is NOTHING that will steal a pastors joy more than playing it safe. However, all too often we desire leading in such a way that will cost us nothing.
I have discovered that when I take risks…for some strange reason…I experience joy. Usually when I have not been willing to take risks it is because I am violating Ephesians 4:30…and ANYTIME anyone does this joy just seems to fly away!
What risk do you need to take? Is there a decision you are delaying? Scared? Good!!! If God said to do it then do it!!!
#5 – Understand That God Cares About Your Church More Than You Do!
God knew about NewSpring Church before the foundations of the world…He’s been caring about it for thousands of years. AND…after I am gone He will still care for it.
Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 that the church is HIS…that He would build it. He wants it to grow more than I do. He wants to see people come to faith in Him more than I do. He wants to see people set free more than I do.
Anytime I feel like I am the only one who desires good at NewSpring it robs me of my joy…but when I realize that this isn’t actually my church, that it belongs to Jesus and He CARES about it more than me…it brings me great joy just to think about the fact that He has allowed me to be involved…and that the best is yet to come!
Get People Here On Sunday January 22, 2008
NewSpringers…let me say this as clear as I can–do whatever it takes to get people here this coming Sunday as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper together.
I can promise two things…
#1 – This will be a very evangelistic presentation of the Gospel. If you have written someone’s name on the wall–get them here. If you have been praying for one of your family members or friends to receive Christ–get them here. I am not promising they will receive Christ–salvation is HIS, not mine–but I am promising that they will hear the Gospel in a very clear and compelling way.
#2 – If you are from a “churched” background–this will probably be one of the most challenging Lord’s Supper services you’ve ever sat through. Seriously, I really do believe it’s going to be intense.
Let me say one more thing…
Our 11:15 service is pretty much packed out…we’ve have nearly every seat taken in that service for two weeks now. If you ordinarily attend that service and there is ANY WAY you can attend one of our other three services (9:15 – 5:00 – 6:45) then PLEASE do so! We want to try to accommodate as many people as possible.
AND…pray…pray for this coming Sunday…I really believe God is going to do something HUGE!
Top Seven STUPID Financial Mistakes That I’ve Made–Part One January 22, 2008
Joe preached an awesome sermon this past Sunday…and I can honestly say that the dude is smokin’ what he’s sellin’. I began reflecting on his talk and about how he is very upfront about the fact he made some dumb mistakes with money…
SO DID I…and I wanted to share them with you…
#1 – I Did Not Place Jesus First In My Finances
OR…in other words…I did not tithe.
I used the excuse that I could not afford to tithe…and it was through some painful financial lessons that God actually showed me that I could not afford NOT to tithe. God kept bringing me back to Matthew 6:21 and Matthew 6:24 over and over again…and in the fall of 1999 I completely surrendered the 10%. (And I’ve never missed it!)
#2 – I treated tithing as the finish line.
When I began tithing I sort of expected God to strike up the heavenly marching band…and for about a year I was quite proud of my newly formed spiritual discipline…until…
In the summer of 2000 Jason Wilson, our Executive Pastor, was speaking at NewSpring Church and said, “We all know that Scripture says to tithe…what I want to ask tonight is what are you doing with the other 90% to advance His Kingdom; after all, He does own it all!”
That statement hit me in the face like a ton of bricks…Psalm 24:1 became more real to me than ever before…and that night I surrendered the other 90% to Jesus!
Tithing isn’t the finish line…it’s the starting point…God has called us to be generous givers–HE IS!!! (II Corinthians 9:15)
#3 – I thought I could NEVER get out of debt.
When Lucretia and I got married on April 8, 2000 we had over $100,000 worth of debt and DIDN’T EVEN OWN A HOME. It was all credit cards, student loans and ridiculous purchases (all made by me!)
I felt trapped–heck, I was trapped…and I had just about given up hope until I heard about this guy named Dave Ramsey. It was in one of his all day sessions that I began to understand that I could get out of debt…but it was going to take sacrifice, a lifestyle adjustment…but it COULD be done!
In November of 2007 Lucretia and I became debt free…we owe on nothing except for the house. Trust me–if we can do it–YOU CAN TOO!!!
(By the way…if you are making one of these mistakes…OR any of the next four that I will talk about later on this week…and you do not MAKE it a priority to get to Joe’s class this weekend…you’re passing on an incredible opportunity! Seriously, there is NO REASON for you to be in debt…when Jesus sets us free…WE ARE FREE, and yet so many Christians go and enslave themselves to debt! BREAK FREE THIS WEEKEND!!! BE HERE!)
Stay tuned for the other four…
My Bible Journey January 21, 2008
So we continue…
- Galatians 1:10 – This is one of the first verses I ever committed to memory…it asks and answers one of the most important questions in life.
- Galatians 2:11 – Paul opposed Peter to his face, talked to him one on one…he didn’t blog about him or share a “prayer request” with others…this is the way confrontation should be done.
- Galatians 2:20 – This verse has always gripped me…and my prayer is that it become more and more true inside of me.
- Galatians 4:6-7 – I do not fully understand how good I have it in Christ…I don’t think anyone does.
- Galatians 5:1 – I AM FREE!!!
- Galatians 5:12 – DANG, did Paul REALLY say that? WOW! I love it!!!
- Galatians 5:16 – I am trying to do this more and more…and someone is a lair if they say it is easy.
- Galatians 6:7-10 – This passage is not only a warning…but an encouragement as well…at least it is to me.
- Ephesians 1:13-14 – I am SO THANKFUL that my salvation isn’t based on how I act…but rather I am guaranteed an inheritance.
- Ephesians 1:16-17 – This is one of the most powerful prayers in Scripture.
- Ephesians 1:22-23 – This church is HIS!
- Ephesians 2:8-9 – God didn’t save me because I was “good enough,” I pretty much sucked as a human being…it was HIS GRACE!
- Ephesians 2:10 – Jesus did not save me so that I can sit around on my “blessed assurance” and do nothing…He has a purpose for me. (And for you as well!)
- Ephesians 2:19 – I am NOT who I used to be!
- Ephesians 3:10 – The church is supposed to be about making the name of Jesus famous!
- Ephesians 3:17-19 – I don’t think I will ever be able to wrap my mind around HIS love.
- Ephesians 3:20 – HE IS ABLE!!! DREAM BIG!!!
- Ephesians 4:11-12 – A pastors job is not to do all the work of the ministry but rather to train the people in the church to do the ministry.
- Ephesians 4:26-27 – THIS IS some of the BEST marriage advice in Scripture! SERIOUSLY!
- Ephesians 4:32 – Anytime I am tempted to not forgive I wind up at this verse…and am humbled.
- Ephesians 5:8 – I am to walk like I’ve been changed.
- Ephesians 5:15-16 – Great advice!
- Ephesians 5:24 – The church should submit to Christ in EVERYTHING!
- Ephesians 5:25-33 – I REALLY want to be this kind of husband!
- Ephesians 6:4 – Being a dad is THE most important discipleship opportunity I will ever have.
- Ephesians 6:12 – Spiritual warfare is REAL!
- Ephesians 6:19-20 – For those who pray for me…THIS is something you can pray for…I want this!!!
Sunday Night Reflections–it’s been a great week! January 20, 2008
Here are a few thoughts on a cold southern night…
- This week has been one of the most relaxing weeks I’ve had in about nine or ten months! Not preaching today was nice…and Joe did an incredible job. (For those who were here…seriously…you really need to come to his seminar this coming weekend.)
- Lucretia and I did our first “non-Charisse” get a way! We left town on Wednesday and didn’t come back until Friday afternoon–we did miss our little girl–BUT–it was nice to just spend time with my bride. I am crazier about her than I’ve ever been…and I STILL can’t believe she married me.
- We spent some time in Atlanta on Wednesday–went to the aquarium, the world of Coke–and we ate at Fogo!!! :-) YEAH!!! (It just happens to be my favorite restaurant!)
- Today’s message by Joe hit a nerve with me and has inspired some posts I will be doing later on this week about STUPID financial decisions that I’ve made in the past.
- If you are a speaker/communicator then you need to check out what Tony wrote over on his blog–one of the best things on communication I’ve ever read.
- Unleash registration is up…one church has 120 people coming already! I talked to Jonathan today who said he may be bringing a crew…Gary says he’s bringing at least 100 people–and only God knows how many Steven is going to bring!!!
- Next Sunday our Lord’s Supper service is going to be amazing! If you know anyone who doesn’t know Christ–GET THEM HERE!
- Remember–two weeks from today…FOR ONE WEEKEND ONLY…we will be switching Sunday night to Saturday night. We are NOT starting a Saturday night service…we’re only doing it for one weekend. Why? Duh…the Super Bowl commercials!
- Seriously, if you want to laugh (and cry if you’re a dude) then you have GOT to read this story. Talk about a BAD DAY! WOW!
- We are beginning a new series on February 10th entitled “Stuck” for everyone out there who feels like there HAS TO BE way more to life than what they are currently experiencing. I have met WAY TOO MANY people who have no idea why they are on this planet and, as a result, waste their lives pursuing meaningless things.
- In “Stuck” we are going to take several weeks in which we will discover that God has a purpose, we will examine where we are in life, ask questions as to how to begin to discover what God put us on the earth for AND there MAY be a message in there as to why we here at NewSpring do church the way we do. (Uh…the church is the LAST organization on the planet that should be “Stuck!”)
- Construction on our new youth building and children’s building should begin within the next two weeks–I can’t wait to see dirt moving.
- There are a few pictures on the Greenville blog of the construction over there.
- This coming week is going to be awesome…I am so ready to jump back in with both feet after being away for awhile.
That’s it–good night! (OR–good morning–depends on when you are reading this!)