Archive for Networking
Want A Second Chance? December 4, 2009
Ever wish you could go back and do it all over again?
Ever wish you could undo what you did?
Ever wish God would bless you with a giant eraser and let you go through and eliminate seasons of your life?
I am sure we would all say yes! Everyone of us live with pain, regret and frustration over what we did at some point in our livcs.
BUT…what if I told you that even though you made that “mistake,” God doesn’t want you to live in a state of regret and feeling like a failure!!!
If you don’t let your past die…it won’t let you live!!! If we want to achieve what God wants for us NOW…we have GOT to let go of “then!”
That is why I am SO PUMPED up about Jud and Mike’s new initiative called “People of the Second Chance.” (HERE is the website…and HERE is where you can find them on Facebook.)
Seeing Mike and Jud embrace this ministry is exciting…because, as someone who struggles with a past that is LESS than stellar…I believe it is ESSENTIAL for followers of Jesus to discover the RADICAL GRACE of God that sets us free…including from the past.
I would encourage you to take some time to check out the website, follow Jud and Mike on twitter…and follow this movement closely. If children of God ever discover how loved we are by the Father…we will become both dangerous and unstoppable.
New Coaching Network Opportunity November 27, 2009
One of the questions often asked of me by other pastors is, “How do you transition the church you are in from something that got lost in time to where you really feel the Lord wants you to take it?”
My answer is always the same…
“I don’t know!”
The best I could EVER offer to pastors in this situation are some untested philosophies and wild ideas…because…I didn’t transition a church, I planted one.
However, I do think that God has called some pastors not just to plant…but to transition existing churches as well…and EVERY time someone asks me about how to transition a church…I always point them to the same person–Scott Hodge.
SO…when I saw that Scott is beginning a coaching network for pastors who really have a desire to transition a church I almost yelled out loud! Seriously, I am SO excited about what Jesus had led Scott to do…and would encourage ANY pastor who has a desire to transition their church to get in on his new network ASAP!
Here is the video he did explaining why he is launching this network!
Scott is the real deal…I can’t tell you how much of a WIN I believe this is for the Kingdom!!!
Travel Highlights From Day One… May 19, 2008
So here was my day today (Monday!)
- Got up at 3:45, had an incredible quiet time and then did a 30 minute workout.
- Tony was at my house at 5:45 so we could head to GSP to catch a plane.
- Plane was delayed flying out of GSP…but we still made our connecting flight in ATL
- This guy sat two rows in front of me.
- Took forever to get my luggage. (Tony took his on board with him…I can’t…if I pack one pair of shoes it requires an extra large suitcase. I wear a 14!)
- Met with a really cool agent and his sons (who are also agents) & discussed a potential book deal for four hours…I’m VERY excited.
- Tony and I got lost…IN THE PARKING GARAGE! We literally could not find our rental car and I had to keep hitting the panic button on the key chain so that it would make noise.
- Tomorrow I get to go to this church and participate in a conference that Rick is putting on. They’ve asked me to be on a panel & help participate in a discussion. Here is a list of the participants…I am WAY over my head.
- I am really looking forward to hearing Rick speak!
That’s it–good night!!!!
Where Are You From? July 11, 2007
OK blog world–I’ve got to know–where are you from?
The lady who handles all of the e-mail from this site AND for our church is awesome–her name is Jenn and she was actually one of the original 15 people who God used to start NewSpring.
I walked into her cube the other day and she had up a map of the United States AND of the world with pins in it. When I asked her what that was she said, “The pins are places where people have e-mailed from across the US and around the world that have connected to us through your blog and/or the church website.”
It was amazing to see where people have connected with us from. (On a side note–I think we are getting closer and closer to seeing the entire world reached for Christ!))
SO…I told her I would ask the question on this site…where are you reading from? NOW…seriously, if you are reading from anywhere in the upstate then there is no need to e-mail in…we’ve already got a “pin” on the upstate.
However, if you are connecting with us from somewhere in the US OR around the world…shoot us an e-mail with your name and where you are from…Jenn will put a pin in that place…and then I will try to put a picture on this site of her maps.
Send away… and say hey to Jenn! :-)
Here–take it, it’s free! June 26, 2007
I said last week that a big announcement would be coming on this site this week–well, I can’t say it any better than Tony said it! This pumps me up!
Learn All That You Can February 6, 2007
Have you ever gotten to the place where you feel completely over your head? (If not then take some risks!) I would say that “over my head” has been the best way to describe the way I feel in regards to NewSpring for the past seven years.
Keep something in mind…NewSpring is the ONLY church that I have ever served as the senior pastor. People come by and see what God is doing here and say, “I am amazed.” I ALWAYS say the same thing–no one is more amazed by this than me!!!
SO…how does a leader lead in situations like this? It’s very simple–we’ve GOT to be students for the rest of our lives and LEARN all that we can…whatever that takes!!!
As I look back over the past 17 years of my life as a Christ Follower/minister I have noticed a pattern in me…and I am just being honest here…I have always sought to get around other people and places that are successful and seek to learn as much as I can. I understand that when God was passing out wisdom He skipped right over me…and so I have to “get” as much as I can from other people!!!
I will admit that there are times when I have been tempted to back away from “learning” and just focus on leading…but the Holy Spirit will not allow me to do that. Back in November I was struggling with whether or not to attend a conference in December…I was just about to say “no” until God rocked my world with Proverbs 2:1-5 and Proverbs 4:7. Learning takes WORK…and God has been very clear to me that the day I stop growing is the day I HURT the church that I am leading.
Learning costs both money and time…but it is worth every minute and every dime. (Hey–that rhymed!) I have met people who say, “I would never pay that much money for a book or to attend a conference!” My response is always the same, “I can tell!!!”
You know who is an EXCELLENT example of someone who is a freak about learning? Bill Hybels!!! Seriously, that dude has forgotten more about leadership than I will ever know. YET at the A2 conference this year hosted by Willow he went on and on about this new leadership book he was reading, the people he was meeting with and getting mentored by…and on and on. I had this thought, “If ANYONE doesn’t ever need to read another leadership book it’s Bill.” And then I realized that one of THE reasons for Willow’s success is a leader who has a passion for learning.
I understand that I lack wisdom in SO MANY areas…and so in order to do that I have to place myself in environments where I can learn. Saying all of that–here are three things on my radar for the next couple of months that I know will help me out in this area.
#1 – The C3 Conference At Fellowship Church
I remember the first time I attended this conference back in 2002…it ROCKED my world. That conference gave me permission to THINK BIG. It was there that I really understood that God’s vision for the church was WAY bigger than my vision…and I left both changed and challenged.
I will be there this year, along with five other staff members. AND…if you are still considering whether or not you should go or not–GO!!! Believe me…this conference is worth skipping meals for. And the speakers that Ed has brought in this year–DANG!!! Trust me…you will walk away challenged…and your vision will be bigger than it has ever been!!!
#2 – The Churchplanters Conference At Mountain Lake Church
I first met Sean Lovejoy (I love his name…it sounds so happy!!!) several months ago and discovered that this guy is SERIOUS about reaching people for Christ. He told me about this conference that he was putting on…and then he asked me to speak! (Poor guy!)
Yes, I am speaking…but that isn’t the reason I am excited! I’m excited because I always learn in environments like that!!! There is nothing like being in a room with church planters and pastors who have a raw passion to see lives changed…and are determined to make it happen. I LOVE THAT–IT FIRES ME UP!!! And I always walk away learning MORE than I tried to teach!
#3 – The Unleash Conference At NewSpring Church
OK…I am biased…but I really do think this is going to be a great conference. Believe me when I say that we don’t know a lot of the RIGHT things to do…but we definitely know many of the WRONG things. One of the things we will be focusing on during this conference is NOT just telling you about our success, but telling you about the mess ups we have had along the way as well. We figure if we have already made the mistake…there is no need for you to do the same!!!
Leaders–we have GOT to read…got to ask questions…got to attend conferences…because if we STOP then, once again, we jeopardize our church!!! (I was really challenged when I read this the other day…I want to be a leader who asks questions!!!)
Oh yeah, NewSpringers…don’t forget First Wednesday tomorrow night…we will be talking about how to hear God’s voice. Can’t wait!!!
A Few Quick Things… January 19, 2007
#1 – I Ain’t As Good As I Once Was!!!
I spoke at Clemson’s FCA last night…and I had a blast. I love college students…I always have–and their FCA is one of my favorite environments to speak in…HOWEVER…
I didn’t get home until after 11:00. DANG!!! I am not used to that! Literally…I am usually in bed no later than 9:30…and from time to time I will live on the wild side and go to bed at 10:00. :-)
It made me think of the days when I would stay up until one or two…whew…THAT is a thing of the past!
#2 – Church Is Going To Rock On Sunday!
Lee and I had the privilege of working together on a video for this weekend that will be fun for all to see! AND…if it does sleet or snow…yes, we will have church!!! :-)
#3 – We Do Not Know Yet.
I posted earlier in the week that we might find out if we are having a girl or boy this week…but it looks like it will be another two weeks…I promise I will keep you posted. And yes, we are telling what the sex of the baby is…I had to keep the fact that ‘Cretia was pregnant a secret for months…but I have been given permission to tell everyone this news! :-)
#4 – God Is Rocking My World!
Uh…yeah…God has slapped my face this week…in an awesome way. It is so awesome that He is so real in the way He speaks and communicates through His Word, His Spirit…and other people…and how it all flows together. I will post more on this next week…let’s just say it has been so cool!!! And for those who pray for me…please pray that He will continue to do this!!!
#5 – Pastors and Church Leaders–MARCH 15th Is THE DAY!!!
Mark your schedules now…and plan on bringing tons of people with you to NewSpring that day as we do our one day mini-conference. I will talk more about this next week…but I can say this…I love the way we have structured this thing. It is less about “theory” and more about answering the questions that YOU may have about church!!!
That’s about it…got to go hit the gym…and then tonight is date night–WOO HOO!!!