View from the Porch

What do you see when you look out your front door? One of my favorite views is the one out our front door. On a sunny spring day we see pastures of grass, our two horses and my Mom and Dads house which is about 400 yards away. We also see across the tree tops and sometimes our neighbors dog Lucy walking up our gravel driveway for a visit. On a snowy winter day the view from our front porch looks like a postcard or a Merle Norman painting. My Mom has even commented that she likes the view from our front porch. To the east the sun rises above the mountains and then makes it's way across until it sets in the west disappearing over the Blue Ridge mountains. If you wanted to you could sit on a rocking chair on our front porch and watch this scene unfold right before your eyes.

Ephesians 3:17 and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love,

God watches us from his heavenly home through starry skies and the vastness of space. From His creation seemingly endless stars and galaxies He looks at you and I through the eyes of His son Jesus. Just as there are days when the view from my porch is filled with clouds which diffuse the sun and rain turns a gravel drive into mud. It is still a sight to see because I know the clouds will part and the land will soak up the water and use it to grow lush green grass for our horses to eat. Our Heavenly father sees the times when darkness fills our lives and the daily challenges over power us we strain beneath the weight. Yet He knows our potential and watches and guides us to make sure we have strong roots that allow us to with-stand the wind, rain and snow.

One of my favorite views is a half acre of mature white pines that stand in a parcel all by themselves. I've watched a hawk sit for an hour on the highest limb and then dive as if he's falling to the ground and them pick his prey out of the pasture beneath him with ease. On a windy day the sound is like a freight train and the wind blows through the limbs and the pines sway in unison. I like to stand under one of the trees and watch it bend as it is pressed by gusts, yet it never yields completely it merely bends as if to pay respect and let it pass.

In life when the storms come do we yield to the distraction of the opposing force or just yield as gail blows knowing it will pass, knowing all the-while that our strength is build on a solid foundation, with deep roots. Those deep roots come from knowing the truth about who God is and who he made you and I to be. Children of the most High God.

Jesus said in Mark 4:39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

In great strength comes great peace. Jesus was able to command the wind while the men in the boat along with him only saw turmoil. The fishermen feared the storm yet in their presents was the wind maker the creator of life in their midst yet they couldn't see it.

We must learn who to place our strength in even in the darkest times. Gods strength is enough for all us who depend on him yet in order to tap that power we must have a daily relationship with him and that relationship comes through his son Jesus. Storms will come and go, place your trust in the one who has the power to command the wind and waves as well as the power to forgive. Place your trust in Christ.

Church Grower or Church Goer

Since my wife and I began our path as church planters one thing has been consistent, opposition from other church goers. Now I don't think it is on purpose or malicious for the most part but as much as we have made it a point to reach the unchurched those that attend a traditional church have provided little or no support. Most of the people we meet and talk to about our church planting efforts are kind and supportive in word only. And that's ok with me. However it should be pointed out that a few denominations are on church planting sprees. If you go to a State Convention meeting or regional ministry association gathering you will probably hear them applaud someone who has started a church. (I think the applause is a nervous response of "glad it's not me") The only problem with this process is that this message hasn't got to the local congregations, the individual in the pew. Local church congregations and pastors talk about supporting missions overseas yet, America is slowly falling into a secular nation mind set.

The small church planter is strong and focused. He may not have a huge church backing him but never-the-less is called to grow the body of Christ. I think to my own experiences to planting in Western North Carolina. A church on every corner and yet the majority of them only have a handful of members left and the church membership is aging with hardly any young families. That's the WNC area. Our first year here we spent going and visiting with churches and various people that we thought wanted to be part of a church plant and to put it mildly it has fallen flat on it's face. And to be quit honest it has left me frustrated and feeling ill about the whole process. The blame is all mine. Even though I trust in God to guild me I have let my feelings get the best of me at times. This area even started a Church Planting Network but to be a part of the Network you had to pay a coaching fee which I thought was a bit corporate for my taste. Again this came from a very large church that had members putting money into church planting efforts that they picked not what was being planted. That has beed some of my experiences.

A church grower has a different mindset than that of the typical church goer. The church grower takes the task of spreading the gospel literally. The bible commands us to go make disciples. In 2011 the church is going to have to change to reach the young families of this generation. This will hit alot of nerves and make some that read this think who is he to say these things!? All you have to do is look on the bookshelf at the local Christian bookstore and look at the church starting section and you will see volumes of covers sharing the latest greatest church planting strategies. And even on Sunday morning it preached from the pulpit but the hearts of the congregations are not available or willing to support church planting. I'm not talking about money. Yes, it takes cold hard cash to start a church but even more important is the maturity of the Christ follower to help grow and reach the next generation.

The church goer may show up on Sunday sit in a Sunday School class and then occupy a seat during the preaching. Beyond that it may not go any further. If you are still reading take time right now and pray about your relationship with your heavenly Father and your own worship. Most preachers I've heard speak usually say at some point that we are not meant to merely occupy a pew. Yet, he would lose his job if he actually preached about the lack of vision and apathy in the congregation.

The Church Grower is a visionary. He is focused on the equipment it will take to get it off the ground. Lets just take for granted that the church planter has spent hours on his knees seeking Gods will and countless pages of study reading the bible for guidance. It takes getting people together finding equipment and letting the community around you know where you are. Although it can't be done by one person it usually is, the pastor/planter and his wife. Talk about burn out. There are no church planting support groups that can understand what he goes through to plant and start a church. One things for sure the people that need to read this won't ever see it. If they do please call me I will suggest how to help.

This post isn't for the weak hearted or those who don't like confrontation, ugh. It's for the one with a vision and a heart for adventure. Gods great adventure.