chaos herder.

One Last Reminder of Domain Change.

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:09:00 +0000

Hey all! Don't forget that I moved to WORDPRESS...

So you need to click HERE for a new RSS feed right off the top of the page.

And the E-Mail sign-up for the blog delivered to your inbox is a the bottom of the same page.

Thanks for moving with me!

THIS LINK WILL TAKE YOU TO THE NEW SITE: www.chazzdaddy.com

CHANGING HOSTING SITE TO WORDPRESS...

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 07:01:00 +0000

It took me years to switch to a mac, and now to wordpress. [insert cheers and I told you so here.]

Click here to see me over there, and catch the new feed to your RSS and you must RE-SIGN UP FOR E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS to my blog.

Announcing The Sticks Coaching Network

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:31:00 +0000

GO HERE FOR THE STICKS COACHING NETWORK POST.

Just moved to wordpress...and yes I can hear you saying: "TOLD YOU SO!"

Successful Church Planter = Great Leader? Ummm, No.

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 03:44:00 +0000

I coach a few crazy guys in the church planting world...[by the way, I have a couple more spots out of 5 available for a one on one coaching network that I haven't announced yet if you want to hit me...or did I just do announce it?] And by the way, I have THREE coaches of my own!

Anyway, we were talking about something that I have noticed in church planters around the country and that includes myself in this group.

Great church planters are not always great leaders.

They might be catalysts. They migh be vision casters. They might have the ability to pull off a service.
They might preach a great sermon or write great systems and strategies.

But to go to the next level time and time again in our ministry and leadership requires raising our leadership lid time and time again. You will never go beyond that level. If you want to become a a top level leader it requires more than just learned skills.

Not all church planters are great leaders, even if their plant is "successful". [Been there, done that.]

But just as you can learn the skills to become a great church planter...you truly can learn the skills to become a great leader if you are disciplined and willing to suck it up and go there with God's grace, blessing and help!

Are you willing to do whatever it takes? It is usually a matter of control, pride and ego that hold us back.

What say you?

Butt Tape Saves Lives...But How About Airplanes?

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Yep. No joke here. We were sitting on a Southwest Flight last week [I will ONLY fly Southwest unless it is a really bad day, so SOUTHWEST AIRLINES rules in my book no matter this story]...and the captain said we were delayed for a few for maintenance issues.

That's when I spy this maintenance guy walking toward our plane with DUCT TAPE and a CROW BAR thing. Sure enough, the DUCT TAPE was for the fix. [That is how you do anything in THE STICKS right?] So glad he boarded the plane and fixed a seat in the back and we were off and it wasn't to hold the engine on or something.

I made the comment several times at our first church plant in Ohio that we were held together by bubble gum, bailing twine and duct tape. And that was no joke. Doing big things for God with people and ministries that are barely held together was our mantra! [Me being the poster child for brokenness and butt tape :]

You do what you have to do when you are called to the middle of nowhere! When God sends a vision, you make it happen in HIS power, with HIS people, and HIS timing. A little bubble gum, bailing twine and duct tape will help though for those moments when you are ready to lose it all. [and yeah...that crow bar comes in real handy too at times...]

Oh yeah, imagine the dudes pain in the pic when he had to remove that mess from his hiney...sounds a whole lot like church to me.

WHY?

It is so cool that as we are barely held together like that seat on our flight to remember that it isn't just about the details or the outside that matter, it's the people inside and the destination we are helping them head to.
_______________________________

**Would you consider sending the gift of some duct tape, bubble gum, bailing twine and anything else to MISSION WEST this Christmas? Our destination of helping to put churches in 22+ cities without 1 church in them in UTAH needs YOU! Consider an on-going or 1 time gift to help us reach people for Christ. You can get the deets and E-Give HERE. Thank you. For real....Thank you.

Just Writing This Post is Dangerous.

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 07:01:00 +0000

My parents held a Christmas gathering last weekend in a country where you can be arrested, jailed or killed for your faith and for gatherings such as these.

Over 120 people showed up and they don't even speak the native language. That's bigger than many American churches last weekend. Please pray for them, especially as they look for native leadership that will succeed them when they are called away.

I love that my parents and my family at New Hope were bold enough to believe in the Great Commission and carry it out. We are not only called to go into our communities, but into all the world!

...And we didn't think it was an option that was affected by the economy or any other excuses we could muster.

[I love you Mom and Dad and your boldness inspires me to the core. Your obedience had a big impact on our decision to launch out as well when God tapped our souls.]

This is Real Ice...

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 06:16:00 +0000

Most Top Level Leaders Have This 1 Thing in Common.

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:32:00 +0000

In my limited experience, one of the greatest things that strong leaders I know have in common is this:

THEY ARE GREAT COMMUNICATORS.

I am not talking about speaking communication from a stage, etc. I am talking about communicating across the hundreds of needs, requests, and demands they are swamped with.

1. I am amazed that people cannot return or reply to simple e-mail. [I generally return an e-mail the same day and believe we should all strive for that courtesy. If non-urgent, within 24 hours.]

2. I am amazed that people cannot reply to a twitter or facebook thread. [How hard is it to hit REPLY? I work hard on twitter and facebook to not "selectively" reply. If you are that important, get a fan page:]

3. I am amazed people cannot return phone calls and/or texts. I now use google voice to have my voicemails transcribed to e-mail and sent to my inbox. [Are we that important and is the person that non- important?]

4. I am amazed at the lack of thanks offered. [Cards, calls, verbal, etc.]

I am not saying we need to put our prayer, study, family and other things ahead of communication [Mark Batterson talks well of e-mail addiction, and I used to have a very hard time with it as well], but if you want to be a top level leader, you will figure this piece out and keep it healthy. And I am not saying I am 100% on this either, but dang, we have to address this mess.

**I have a habit to keep my inbox clear at all times. If I have an e-mail that is a task, I assign it or put it into my gmail task list.

**When I head out for a drive, I take my call list.

**I check e-mail during different times of the day, I make calls during the afternoon only unless urgent, and I generally check twitter and facebook in the morning and evening, sometimes more often when I need a little "break" during the day. That can be an addiction as well. And I don't do applications, games, etc. I actually block those because of time constraints.

**If all else fails, hire someone to HELP YOU! But don't be so important that you can't sign your own cards of thanks! We know when you assistant signs your cards, etc. and that is tacky.

The busiest of the top leaders are busy for a reason, and they have their hands in a million things, but this one characteristic seems very consistent across the board.

The same holds true of those who are not as top-level [but you can be disciplined to get there...key word: discipline]. They seem to not be as concerned with communicating, which I believe is a top key to any relationship, vision or mission. Nothing is more frustrating than lack of communication.

If you want to go to this next level as a leader, these things you must do.

Have you noticed the same in whatever career God has placed you?

Spiritual Disciplines Message.

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:26:00 +0000

I spoke a couple of weeks ago at the church I am a serving at here in Utah. If you would like to hear the message on SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES, check it out HERE.

Simply click on the SOUTH CAMPUS TAB and I am the 2nd message down in the list. It is audio. I thank God for the opportunity to share HIS truth whenever I can! K2 has been a tremendous blessing to our family and our team. Thanks everyone for welcoming us with open arms!

This 1 Thing Will Change Our Lives...

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:16:00 +0000

"So the king asked me, 'Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.'

I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, 'May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?'
The king said to me, 'What is it you want?'

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, 'If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.'"[Nehemiah 2.2-5]

This is one of my favorite prayer passages in all of Scripture. Nehemiah shot up a quick one before answering the King to the one who controlled the outcome...that is LIVING in an ATTITUDE of PRAYER! And when we live this way with God as the focus 100% of the time in ALL that we do...we will be led by HIS SPIRIT and HE WILL DIRECT OUR PATHS! [Proverbs 3.5-6]

“Let us not be content to pray morning and evening, but let us live in prayer all day long.” --F. Fenelon

Making Love...Last. [sermon from Crosspoint]

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:46:00 +0000

I had the amazing honor and privilege to preach at Crosspoint Church in Alabama [where they play some football too...] a few weeks ago. Crosspoint has been an amazing supporter of Mission West and for some reason liked me enough to invite me back!

Dave Anderson is doing something that I don't know of anyone else doing...he is partnering with God to plant a church that meets in a movie theater as a bi-vocational pastor and blowing it up. From 275 to almost 600 people in the last year or so and they are set to do even greater things as God leads.

A HUGE shout out to my family in Bama land...and a big ROOOOLLLLL TIDE!!!!! Dave, Dana and the Crosspoint crew: LOVE YOU ALL BEYOND WORDS!

Here is the sermon I was blessed to give. And yes, I do say something about the male anatomy in this teaching. Be forewarned.

Making Love Last - Week 3 from Crosspoint Community Church on Vimeo.

It's Official...We Are INSANE.

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:06:00 +0000

JFK once said: "We choose to go to the moon...because it is hard!"

Can I re-direct and agree? "We choose to do the impossible...because we can't do it on our own."

Our team is praying about something SO INSANE that I can't even write it here yet. [not to mention that we are talking with those in authority over us to get ~~buy-in~~ the assurance that they will not abandon us and send us away for counseling].

In the past 2 months, we have begun hearing something INSANE from God, and when GOD speaks, it must become a burning passion that we must be OBEDIENT, no matter what the outcome, the cost or the ridicule.

What is God doing right now that seems impossible in your life?

Pray for us. It's going to be hard.

^"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" [Matthew 19.26.niv]

Pastors Are Committing Suicide and are Depressed and It's Growing.

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:51:00 +0000

Are you hurting as a Pastor? [or not?] Please know that we are there to help if you need someone to talk to. CONTACT ME ANYTIME. [e-mail: chazzdaddy17@gmail.com or cell: 419.496.1192]

Read THIS ARTICLE, and let me know what you think.

It is my prayer that HIS POWER rests on those who struggle with depression and loneliness.

NOC Session 2 -- Efrem Smith

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:10:00 +0000

NOC Session 2 -- Ephraim Smith

NOC Session 1 -- ED STETZER

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:18:00 +0000

NOC--Session 1: Ed Stetzer

Worship Wars on My Blog...

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:54:00 +0000

So people are hitting me with different versions of REVELATION SONG after I posted another amazing version earlier this week. So, I tracked this suggested one down, and DANG. WOW. SMACK. I keep listening over and over in this coffee shop and I know people must think I am weird as I am bobbing all around with my mac on my lap.

If you need a lift toward the throne this Friday...turn the lights down, center yourself on Christ, CRANK UP THE VOLUME and sing like you are freaking saved while in the shower with no one around but Jesus.

If you have others that will make me tear up which is a VERY RARE thing...just being real with you...hit me. We'll put 'em to the test.

this will give you chills...

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:01:00 +0000

Love me some REVOLUTION SONG. Totally about my GOD. The amazing team @ New Spring might have pulled it off better than anyone. Great video and audio for this beast. I just keep playing it over and over. HOLY, HOLY, HOLY...is the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!

are you scum?

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:28:00 +0000

“ If you don’t need the Gospel more than the people you’re sharing it with, you ought not be sharing it with them."

Dan Allender, Professor of Counseling Psychology, Mars Hill Graduate School

[ht/http://www.blainehogan.com/]

Clerk Shares Her Faith and Prays with Robber. This is Faith Lived Out.

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:28:00 +0000

Did you see this? I don't even want to say what fully happens...but MY JAW FLIPPING DROPPED several times during this report.

As a former cop...I would have busted a cap in someone pointing a gun at me...BUT THIS IS TRUE FAITH IN ACTION!

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." [john 13.34-35.niv]

Spill Your Seed.

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:13:00 +0000

Got this message on Facebook this week.

Lesson here in advance: YOU MAY NEVER KNOW WHAT FRUIT YOU ARE BEARING...SO KEEP CASTING SEED!

No matter if you have started a campus or just a conversation with someone at work...your SEED matters, and rarely will you get an e-mail or letter about it. But one day...you will receive your inheritance for your faithfulness.

It is amazing to get a glimpse of this while on earth. This person who sent this to me lives out of state, which makes it even more amazing to me:

__________________________________

Hey Charles... get this!

___________, my 15 yr old niece is going through "stuff" as only 15 yrs olds can. She's starting to show interest in spiritual things and asked her mom if they could find a church.

Yep. And they went yesterday...to New Hope in Wooster. ;)

_________ loved it and __________ [her Mom] said she'll take her every Sunday she wants to go.

Pray with me, wouldja'? This could be the start of some real hope that's been missing for a long time: a first for my niece and renewal for my sis.

Your efforts are bearing fruit...even after you've gone. How cool is that?

Just a reminder that what you're doing matters. Thanks for bringin' it home. :)

____________________________________

Update on Pastor Dave Anderson and XPT Church.

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:26:00 +0000

If you did not read this FIRST REPORT, please do so.
Pastor Dave is out of the procedure room and was found to have no major blockage. He is resting comfortably with Dana and should be released home sometime late today.

We PRAISE GOD for this report and for answering our prayers the way we wanted them answered! Please allow Dave and Dana time to rest and recover by not texting, e-mailing, twittering, facebooking, etc. They know they are loved deeply, and we don't want a bunch of work for them when they arrive home.

Cards would be the perfect thing right now, so go old school and buy one and use the real mail with a real stamp and get on it right now!

There will probably be no other major updates until this weekend. See you at XPT this weekend with your friends...I'm telling you, people will be trusting Christ this weekend! Be there!

Special Announcement for Crosspoint Church and Dave and Dana Anderson Fans:)

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0000

You might be asking, why is Chazzdaddy making a special announcement on his blog about Crosspoint?

It's simple...Pastor Dave is not able to right now and he has asked me to keep the church informed. I would post this on his blog, but he is more secure than the pentagon. So here we go...

A ton of amazing things have happened at Crosspoint this past year or two. Growth from around 200 people to over 500+ every week. An amazing building project that is being completed FULL THROTTLE as we speak [it's under water, but once it dries...the steel is heading up!]. Revolt Student ministries killing it for Jesus. Wells being drilled in Africa [don't forget this weekend to bring your bottles!] Tons SAVED, BAPTIZED and LIVES ARE BEING CHANGED! This will continue, and THE BEST IS YET TO COME.

Here is the issue. Dave has been working 2-3 jobs to support the biggest bi-vocational church in the country that we know of. This has taken it's toll physically. Dave has had numerous physical issues this year and in the past that have led to even greater stress on his hunk of a sexy body. Back to serious...Dave was scheduled for a heart catheterization today in Decatur. The Dr's. have found some abnormal results and seek to take a closer look at why he is having chest pain.

Last night, while doing his best to take the staff out on a Christmas get-away he scheduled long ago, he suffered chest pains and difficulty breathing while in Memphis. Dave was taken by ambulance to the hospital in Memphis, TN with Dana and the staff at his side. All heart attack tests were negative, and he was admitted last night and they are performing the heart cath to see if there is anything wrong as we speak. I just got off the phone praying with Dana and we are awaiting the results in a few hours.

Before all of this happened yesterday, Dave called me on Tuesday and at his request I was asked to gather some of his pastor friends to walk alongside the staff in any way possible in the short-term to help Dave and Crosspoint to continue to go to the next level and at the same time allow Dave to get the much needed physical rest that he must have to meet the demands of a growing church.

By his Dr's. orders, his pastor friends nagging him, the staff knowing this rest is needed and himself, Dave realizes that he needs to take a time of sabbatical to rest physically and to seek the Lord spiritually for the next steps at XPT. He's such a tough dude that he would just walk right back in, and that is not a good idea per Dr.'s orders.

I had already been asked to come in this weekend by Dave and as I did last summer, to advise and work with the staff to develop a plan while Dave is out on sabbatical for an unknown amount of time. The amazing XPT staff will carry the load as they do so wonderfully every week! Myself and some od Dave's friends will help in any way possible as well! We love Dave and XPT! Dave simply needs some time to heal up. Nothing more. No juicy stories, no grievous sin, nothing of the sort. Just rest.

Dave MUST rest to overcome this season and as many of us [myself included] a sabbatical is a season that is necessary for the Sr. Leader every 4-5 years. Dave is way overdue and if Crosspoint is going to welcome the hundreds that WILL come to the HOUSE OF ROCK this year, then he must be at the top of his game and in step with the Lord along with the staff. God rested a full day. Jesus got alone all the time. In this crazy, hectic world of Dave working too many jobs, it's time to get alone!

And yes, plans were being made between Dave and the financial team that oversees the church finances [The Change Group/Casey Graham] for Dave to go full time next year and to add a much needed Teaching/Assimilation Pastor to the team to handle all of the growth that WILL BE COMING and ALREADY IS! I know that I am excited as I know how much this addition to New Hope helped myself and the church soar to new heights!

Dave's pastor friends will be working with the staff to plan and program the church over the time that Dave is on sabbatical. The Crosspoint staff and the volunteers are some of the most outstanding people that I have ever been around, and if you were not, we could not help assist you from afar. THANK YOU for stepping up and being the radical people of God that you are.

Dave could go on vacation for 2 months and it is not the same as allowing him to go on sabbatical where he can focus on physical and spiritual well-being. A time where EVERYTHING is taken off his plate and he can hear from God as he heals up.

The load has been lifted from Dave and Dana and after my time off following a very similar physical issue, I came back and led New Hope bigger, better, stronger and wiser after the time I spent away with the Lord. A SABBATICAL IS A NORMAL THING FOR ALL KICK-BUTT LEAD PASTORS. We just wish it didn't take a physical issue to give Dave some time off to seek the Lord and to physically get well.

Here is the skinny: I will be coming to Crosspoint under Dave's and the staff's request to work with the church and staff to prepare for this sabbatical. I will be there this weekend to speak to you all and work with the staff during Dave's time off. This weekend's service is going to be off the hook...trust me. We transplanted Yankees can get it done as you well know:) So don't miss it! We will talk about Dave and Crosspoint a little bit and Jesus a lot.

DAVE WILL BE BACK! Better than ever. Ready to take the next mountain as he takes some time to get well and spend time on the mountaintop with Jesus. We will be providing teaching pastors every week until Dave returns and Crosspoint will be better than ever! The staff and I have been in dialogue for 2 straight days and the external Sr. Pastor team who do this every day are well aware and have been in this situation before. We know what it takes to see this through and we will be there for you all each step of the way until Dave returns! I praise God for the team of staff and leaders outside Crosspoint that love Dave, Dana and each of you beyond belief!

XPT is not about 1 person, 1 ministry, 1 vision. It's God's church, and the leader he put in place whom I love with all of my heart [and his amazing wife Dana who needs our prayers] needs to step back for some time of healing.

People will be saved, baptized, join the church, be set free, the list goes on and on...we are not stopping this assault on Northern Alabama! Jesus is alive and his heart is still working just fine. It's HIS church! Nothing will change! Dave and Dana are 2 of the most amazing leaders I know ANYWHERE, and this is NOT a sign of weakness, this is a sign of God needing to take XPT to a new level through Dave being alone and being with God as he heals up! Satan doesn't mess with people who aren't making much of a difference and Dave, Dana and you at XPT are making a huge difference!

It is up to us right now. We can cower and question and wonder and whisper. Or we can carry on as Dave and our Lord would want! This did not take God by surprise. Are you in? Really? Come on...let's get it done. From Perry Noble to Mark Batterson to Bill Hybels, Rick Warren and myself [yes, I don't belong in that list:] every one of them had a point where we learned that when we are physically drained, it's time to take a sabbatical. All of us came back knowing how to not get to that point again, and better leaders than ever taking our churches to new heights! So, Dave is in great company.

I am excited to see you all this weekend and will be praying about those who will come that need Jesus this weekend as we bring it. Also, next weekend [December 27th] don't forget there are NO WORSHIP SERVICES as we are honoring the XPT volunteers and staff. You will have the chance to worship with your family at home...amazing stuff!

January 3rd, we have the privilege of having Michael Lukaszweski from Oak Leaf Church preach at XPT! I just saw his outline this AM and it is going to be quite a day! He is a dynamic lead pastor who is killing it in Georgia and a great friend of Dave's. Every week you will be rocked by God's Word and those who we will bring in to teach. If I could be there the whole time I would, but you will see me 1-2 times at least and we will be providing teachers to carry the load and the staff will keep bringing it as they always do. What a chance to experience a variety of voices speaking into your lives!

XPT will not stop rocking it for Jesus...and we must respect Dave and Dana during this time of rest. Please try to allow them to rest by not sending e-mail, twitter, texts, etc. Dave and Dana need to rest. Feel free to drop them a card, I know they would welcome that right now. [SO GO GET ONE AND FREAKING SEND IT OLD SCHOOL]...anyway. If your need is urgent, please contact Jack Alford, Kevin Burns, Becky Alexander or myself and we will relay the urgent need to Dave if necessary.

NOW...LET'S PRAY! No, don't grab your cell to call someone, stop right now and pray for them both and for XPT as we seek to see many saved this weekend! If we can pirate his blog passwords we will update you on his blog if we can, or here again if we have not cracked that hackers codes yet. Watch twitter and facebook for updates from any of the staff or myself.

Here is all we need to know to close:

SATAN SUCKS...JESUS WINS. EVERY TIME. The end.

"You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world!" [1 john 4.4.nasb]

Throwing the Book of Mormon on the ground.

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:05:00 +0000

Are you serious? This is what I was talking about on twitter/facebook last week during the LDS General Conference and the reason why those outside the faith lend us an ear and take us seriously.

While I do not agree with LDS doctrine, nor the Book of Mormon...is this really an effective way to spread the love of Jesus?

In response to how "the others" go about their business as you will see below: Next year our team is going to go to the LDS General Conference [THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of people are there...] And SERVE our LDS friends. Many of those attending are our friends, neighbors, co-workers and school mates to our kids here in Utah. Real people with real lives, who really are a part of our lives.

I would venture to say that this man doesn't know 1 LDS person in "real life" in an "real relationship."

We hope to hand out free drinks, etc. and just show the love of Jesus while other idiots are showing their "love" like the below video. [click here for video if not below.]

We will also make signs to stand by people like this that say:

We are sorry for this --------------------->
"You will know them by their LOVE." --Jesus

And NO, I am not joking. Wow.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Are we doing the right thing? What is happening in YOUR culture to turn off people to listening to the radical love of Jesus where YOU are called to be salt and light?

The WORST, BEST thing has ever happened to us as a family.

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:01:00 +0000

Just to throw this out: When God asks you to do something, it usually comes with a price. If it doesn't...you probably aren't doing much for His kingdom.

So as we are approaching month 10 of this calling, I wanted to give you a brief review of what has transpired the last 10 months. It can be described like this famous line: "It was the best of times...it was the worst of times."

1. We left our best, dearest, closest friends and family to answer the call to go to...where was that? Utah? Really? We left an amazing church that God allowed us to be a part of starting. A place that will forever be near and dear to our hearts. We may never pastor a church like that again. We love and miss you ALL at NH and in our community!

I can't even describe how hard it is to talk about what God us from...it was the worst, best thing that has happened to us as a family...and we STILL trusting that HE knows best! We miss and love you all with all of our hearts. You will never be forgotten.

2. Somehow between our move to where God was leading us, we ended up in a very surreal place called Decatur, Alabama. Thankfully they tolerate Yankees now and we survived the stay:) Once again, we fell in love with some amazing people at an amazing church that is kicking butt big time. No really, they are. And they were like a sweet balm to our souls as we were grieving our loss.

They took us in as family, and those are not just words. Thanks Dave and Dana and our XPT family! We learned so much while there...and made some friendships that will last a lifetime! We also found out they had a pretty good football team too! ROLLLLL TIDE! We love and miss you too!

3. After another sad goodbye following our 4 month interim in Alabama, we packed with one goal in mind. See next pic. It was on. NO turning back.

4. After a really, really, really long road trip...we made it to that place described in Genesis 22: "Take your [family] and go to one of the mountains I will tell you about...don't worry, you will know it when you see it."

Little did we know at this time last year that we would be leaving all we know and love to head to a foreign place outside of Salt Lake City, UT! So we did what were were getting used to...we unpacked again in a strange place.

5. As our family [that's their shadow heads] marched up a mountain to overlook the Salt Lake City area and beyond that we were called to...this "dark night" began to lift and we began to see more clearly what our mission was all about.

Partnerships with great churches like K2, and beginning to get out into the community [the pic below is the girls U10 Softball team that I coach...and this Saturday we will take home the crown...mark my words.] There are some great people here, and many who need Jesus.

5. There were even some people as CRAZY as we were who heard the call to join us in the calling to Utah. There are still some who are not with us yet...and our family will grow over the next few months...we wait for you!

We are in it to win it...for "no one who puts His hand to the plow and looks back is worthy of the Kingdom of God..." --Jesus

THANKS brothers and sisters for becoming a family to answer the call on our hearts. Words can't express what you all mean to me. Those here, and those who will be here soon.

Oh yeah, and we even started battling enemies like Rocky the Bull Moose.

Rocky does not like Church Planters...as you can see by his charging of us. Not sure who was dumb enough to stop for that photo op as we ran pretty fast in the opposite direction.

Good thing we have a leader who is as powerful as King David and he took care of the situation. [Yes that is really a dead moose. It just might not be Rocky. That might have been a stretch.]

6. Our staff hiked up into the mountains to chart the beginning of our journey for our first "lead team meeting". I shut my mouth and listened, learned and together we formed some foundation for what God was asking us to become.

We then carved a memorial into a tree to mark the day. [I hope that is legal in a National Forest...good thing we were a ways off the beaten path.] These guys get it, and we truly love one another. Something great is once again forming.

7. I am loving life as I am networking, raising prayer and financial support and serving our community as much as I can.

I also am still loving training other church planters like in this pic I took a top the Space Needle in Seattle recently. I am also jacked about the team of leaders we have running THE STICKS ministry. Such a needed gathering in our world today.

I am learning and growing through being coached myself, and coaching others not to make the same mistakes I have made. I am loving the calling God has placed on my life.

8. I owe so much to my amazing wife and kids...who have been a part of this calling and who gave their support since day 1. I wouldn't choose to do it without any other group of people in the world.

Thanks guys...I love you more than this calling.

Yep...we have a huge challenge ahead of us as we write the next chapters of this story God has called us to. 22+ cities out here do not have 1 NON-LDS CHURCH in them [no disrespect to our LDS friends]. That blows my mind. But that is why we and our team are here. That's why we were called to join the work out here and leave it all behind.

Thank you for being a part of this. You say...how am I a part?

Want to know how? WE NEED YOU IN MANY WAYS! Go HERE to learn more. SIGN-UP for our newsletter that will continue to chronicle our journey. We are 17 people away from 1,000 people on our Mission West newsletter update list. The 1,000th person to sign up gets something special from us...so go there now and sign up!

Thank for your prayers and for OBEYING the CALLING THAT GOD HAS ON YOUR LIFE wherever you are, and wherever you are headed. It's a big calling for you and for us...and don't forget that satan will not be happy with your OBEDIENCE. So when you feel down...do what I do and look at this picture and tell satan what he can kiss:

If we figure this one thing out...we will change the world.

noreply@blogger.com (chazzdaddy) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

No matter what state I have lived in [Indiana/Georgia/Ohio/Florida/Michigan/Alabama/Utah]...it is elusive.

"...that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." --Jesus in John 17.21

But we are to BEWARE OF FALSE TEACHERS. RIGHT????

They USE DRUMS. They LAY HANDS ON EACH OTHER. They READ HARRY POTTER. They don't HAVE COMMUNION EVERY WEEK. They SPEAK IN TONGUES. They DON'T SPEAK IN TONGUES. They PEE STANDING UP [inside joke for some of you].

Did Jesus come for those things...or to usher in HIS KINGDOM? To SEEK and SAVE the lost. Sorry...I might not see eye to eye on many things, but if you are in the business of SEEKING AND SAVING THE LOST...who am I? [many of you will cringe at that...] And yes, I believe in good theology, but good theology to me is what good theology is to you. Follow?

When we fight. When we compete. When we snicker. When we talk. When we write letters to the editor. When we post signs in front of our church about another church. [ummm, yes, even the last 2 happened to us at New Hope]...nobody wins.

It looks a lot like this video below to the world...and they stand back...chug a beer, laugh and cheer us on BECAUSE WE ARE KILLING OURSELVES RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR EYES!