After church thoughts (7/12/09)

Posted on July 12, 2009 by paulpeterson

Today was the first day of Chapter Two.

What is “Chapter Two”? The first ten years of this church represent Chapter One. They represent the vision and hard work of Pastor Carl Morton.

Chapter Two represents what happens from this point forward.

Some highlights from this weekend:

  • Today was the first time I’ve ever preached here. Last Sunday was an interview, but today I preached. It’s great getting used to people and watching them get used to you.
  • Because we are focusing on the idea of “Simple”, we stripped the stage of everything. Nothing was up there but my table and stool. We stripped the walls. We sang accapella. We didn’t use technology. We were simple!
  • Today was the first day of our children’s ministry. My very pregnant bride stepped up to the plate and initiated a children’s ministry effort! Amy Hedstrom stepped up again helped with the kiddos! It was great to hear the music and “kid noise” coming from the kids area!
  • We ministered to 24 people today.
  • Ken Snyder is incredible! That dude was fixing breakers, running sound, taping wires down, finding batteries for headsets, and helping me remember people’s names! I’m glad Ken is part of our church!
  • Today’s sermon was “Simple Unity.” Essentially, we (the church) are a team with a job to do… a mission to accomplish. The best way to accomplish that mission is to have a unified, healthy, focused team. I taught three principles for achieving and maintaining unity in the church:
    • We act out of love
    • We run to problems
    • We forgive on another
  • This morning I shared with our church that last week I received an e-mail from someone who referred to my passion and then said, “I guess I should expect that from a 34 year old.” Here’s a little something you should know, I was referred to as passionate when I was 24, and by God’s grace I’m going to keep being passionate. I’m going to be the most passionate old dude you’ve EVER seen! Why? I’m passionate because I believe what I preach. I believe that Jesus Christ changes lives. He has changed mine and I want to tell the world. That’s why I’m passionate. No excuses. No apologies. No regrets. I am passionate because I’m living a new life!

Church, I want you to know this, we are called to help other people find God. We are going to do that. We will hear our halls ring with the sounds of children’s laughter. We are going to hear stories of marriages that have been reconciled, addicts that have been liberated, emotionally wounded people who have found hope again, angry people who have discovered peace, and on and on and on… We will watch in amazement as people acknowledge Jesus as their leader and are baptized as a public acknowledgement of their faith. We will worship as we see God working powerfully in our lives and in the lives of our family, friends, neighbors, and people around the world. We are a part of a great story that God is writing. We have what it takes and when we align our energy and resources with our mission… we’ll fall on our face and worship our great God as we see the things He brings to pass!

Filed under: After church thoughts (Rock Hill) | Leave a Comment »

Some waddup

Posted on July 8, 2009 by paulpeterson

Whew! It’s been a whirlwind three weeks, but we’re getting settled in and ready to get in the game!

A few things:

  • We found a home! We decided to go smaller and in the country so we could maintain financial margin rather than go with our preference (larger and closer to the city) and be financially maxed out and stressed! God is setting us up for some incredible life lessons in our new home/neighborhood, but that’s a post for another day.
  • The little stuff of getting settled in takes a LOT of time: open a new bank account, switch driver’s license, new insurance, setting up utilities, talking with new schools, finding new grocery stores… oh, and finding a new doctor, one who will deliver our FIFTH daughter!!!
  • We spent five days in a hotel! Six people (4 of them are children) in one room, and when we weren’t in the room we were in a van looking at houses. I learned a lesson – too much quantity time can diminish quality time. ;-)
  • I’m spending this week getting my bride and “The Ladies” settled in our home. Next week I’m going to begin turning my full attention to the church. Here’s my take on this: ministry happens best when there’s a healthy home base. Don’t forget it and don’t ignore it! Take care of your family!
  • This morning was my first “church” meeting. It went well! We spent some time discussing church life and finances, and also spent time rearranging the church in anticipation of the sermon series over the next three weeks. Our series is called “Simple.” I’m going to be teaching about simple unity; simple choice; and simple mission.
  • This last season of our lives has been one of the hardest ones ever AND YET we have come through it with stronger faith in Christ, a deeper determination to follow and risk for Him, a more mature love for one another, a renewed sense of priorities, and a more focused vision.

Well, that’s it for now… I’ve gotta go hang some pictures for my bride!

Filed under: My life | 2 Comments »

After church thoughts (7/5/09)

Posted on July 6, 2009 by paulpeterson

We started our ministry at the Rock Hill church today! We’re looking forward to what God has in store for this church.

Highlights from today:

  • We met a number of new friends! It’s always exciting to meet new people and we met some great ones! I had my Moleskin notebook out writing down names and little tips to help me remember them (e.g. “Barbara is the hugger”)!
  • Today was a bit different than normal. We had an interview format in which we answered questions that had been submitted and took questions from the people of the church. It was a “get to know you” time.
  • Following the morning, we had a pitch-in lunch together.
  • We have an older congregation. I shared my thoughts on senior saints in the church… you are one of the most valuable groups in the church for at least three reasons:
    1. Your life experience. Many seniors in the church have been following Christ longer, married longer, and certainly living longer than a lot of new Christians! You have a lot to teach! There is no reason for you to be on the sideline! We need  you “in the game!”  By the way, there is a Biblical precedent for this – Titus 2:3-5.
    2. You are more likely to have financial margin and therefore a greater capacity to fund the vision of helping people discover the life Jesus promised. Seniors are more likely to have more $ flex than a family with small children! Seniors, you’re strategically positioned to be “game-changers” in this regard!
    3. You are more likely to have time to invest in service. I know you’re not just “sitting around” and that there will be scheduling adjustments you may have to make, BUT it’s not likely that you have children crying or an employer calling! You have time! When you invest that time in ministry activities you position yourself and your church to achieve maximum life-changing impact!

The crazy thing for our seniors is that in order to make the greatest impact, you will need to give up the most. The music, the style of dress, the format of the service, etc. may not be what you prefer, but in order to achieve maximum ministry effectiveness we have to adapt our approach. I celebrate our seniors because you have already demonstrated that you are willing to make adjustments! Way to go!

A few “High Fives”:

  • Amy! Thanks for taking the little people today!
  • Janet! Thanks for putting together the lunch!
  • Bud! Thanks for “interviewing” us!
  • Tommy! Thanks for getting there early and staying late to answer questions and show me around!
  • To the rest of you, thanks for welcoming our family and starting day #1 off on a good foot!

Over the next few weeks the plan is to meet with every family in our church and have the following conversation:

  • Tell me your story. What has God created you to do?
  • What do you hope/dream for our church? What do you believe God can do through a fully-surrendered group of people? I want you to dream!
  • I’m going to share what I believe God has called the church to be/do. It’s simply this – help people discover the life Jesus promised. (Check out how St. Paul said he fully served God)
  • Then I’m going to ask you this question, “How can you help?”

    Church, God has been writing several stories over the last several years. He has been writing the story of your life. He has been writing the story of the Rock Hill church, and He has been writing the story of my and my family’s life. Now He is bringing all of those stories together! I can’t wait to see how the “Master Storyteller” writes this next chapter!

    Filed under: After church thoughts (Rock Hill) | 2 Comments »

    The nature of real power

    Posted on July 2, 2009 by paulpeterson

    Much has been written about “Power.”

    Today in reading the Bible (Colossians 1:9-14), St. Paul throws his definition of power on the table:

    We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.  10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,  11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully  12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.  13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,  14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:9-14 NIV)

    Typically when we think about “power”, we think of the ability to change things. Paul, however, speaks of power as the ability to endure all things!

    I think that Paul’s definition is a greater “power” than our typical understanding. Here’s why:

    • There are some things that we can never change no matter how “powerful” we are (e.g. death, natural disasters).
    • BUT there is nothing we cannot endure if we have God’s power working within us!

    So, while we cannot change everything, we can endure anything if we have the strength of God’s power!

    These verses are particularly helpful for me today as I sit in the lobby of the Comfort Inn in Rock Hill, SC. Everything that I own is in a Penske truck and all that I love is in a hotel room. Today we continue our search for a house. At this point we’ve looked at close to 50 homes! I may not be able to change our current circumstance but baby… I can endure it with patience, and even joy!

    How about you, would you rather have the “power” to change things or the power to endure things?

    What’s going on in your life that you need power to endure with patience?

    Filed under: Bible Encounters, My life, Spiritual growth, leadership | 2 Comments »

    Some personal waddup

    Posted on June 30, 2009 by paulpeterson

    Sitting on our back deck for the last time. In a few hours we will be leaving Cincinnati to start the next chapter of our lives in Rock Hill, SC. We’re excited!

    Some reflections:

    • This is the third summer in a row that we’ve moved. It must be the last for a long time!
    • Sherri is 7 months pregnant! Every time we move she ends up pregnant! We beat the system this time… we did it BEFORE we moved!
    • “The Ladies” have been awesome these last couple of weeks! It’s been crazy for them! Basically we eat breakfast and then they go out and play in the backyard all day! I can’t wait to get back to normal.
    • Last night we had some great friends help us pack up the ‘ole Penske truck. Thanks to each of you wonderful people!
    • I had a goal that when we left this home, our “landlord” would say, “This is the best condition we’ve ever had one of our rentals left in.” Yesterday his property manager walked in the house. She said, “Wow! I wish all of our renters would leave their properties like this!” Close enough.
    • The things we learned through our church planting residency at churchplanters.com and throughout this last year of working on a church plant will shape the way we do ministry forever.
    • To our friends in Cincinnati, thanks for taking a step of faith with us! It did not work out like we thought it would BUT what has happened in our hearts and lives AND even in the lives of those around us has been greater and more significant than what we could have imagined! Stay in the game! Keep trusting God! Keep taking risks! Keep following Christ and pointing others in His direction!
    • To our new friends in Rock Hill, we can’t wait to begin the journey with you! God has been writing a story in your lives, in the local church, in the Rock Hill community, and in our lives! This Sunday those four stories come together! We are looking forward to expanding the influence of Jesus and seeing lives changed as a result of faith in Christ!

    Alrighty, there’s a big yellow truck with 5 wonderful ladies waiting for me! I’m outa here!

    Peace!

    Filed under: My life | 1 Comment »

    Give ‘em an address!

    Posted on June 29, 2009 by paulpeterson

    “It’s hard to be excited when you don’t know where you’re going.”

    Those words tumbled from my mouth this morning as Sherri and I were talking about our last day in Cincinnati.

    Oh don’t get me wrong, we’re excited to move to South Carolina. We’re excited to serve God, love people, and lead the church in a new context. We’re excited to get back into the swing of ministry! There are a ton of things we’re excited about!

    So what were we talking about that is “less than exciting”? Our house. The Penske truck will be pulling out of our driveway tomorrow with all of our stuff in it. We are headed to South Carolina… to stay in a Comfort Inn… until we find a house. We had “House A” and “House B.” Both fell through. And now, eight hours away from our new location, we have decided to pack, move, and locate our new home once we’re on the ground. Not ideal for sure, but it is what it is.

    We were talking about the move and our current home, but when the conversation shifted to our new home, the atmosphere kind of changed. Why? Because we don’t know where we’re going! We don’t have any idea what it will look like… we just know we’re moving.

    AND THEN IT HIT ME… LEADERS DO THIS ALL THE TIME!

    We call people on a journey! We tell them it’s gonna be GREAT! We are excited! We are determined! We’ll spend money, invest time, make sacrices and take risks to get where we’re going… but the people aren’t always so excited.

    They’ve heard the vision, “We’re gonna be…” or “We’re gonna do…”. They like the idea. They’re capable of spending money, investing time, making sacrifice, and taking risk… just like the leader. BUT they don’t know what the leader knows. They haven’t seen what the leader has seen. AND THIS IS WHY “VISION CASTING” IS SO IMPORTANT!

    If Sherri and I knew what our new house looked like there would be nothing but excitement today! The truth is there is a bit of apprehension. Oh we’re moving. We’re taking risk. We’re going… but the journey would be so much more fun and the steps would be so much more confident if we had an address!

    Leader! It’s not enough to tell the people “We’re moving to South Carolina!” They need an address! They need a picture! They need to know how many rooms there are in the new house! They need to know… and when they know it’s probable that their energy and excitement levels will begin moving right up the scale… just like yours!

    A couple of ideas for giving people an address (i.e. helping them see the vision):

    • Time: they have to trust you! Sherri would not make this move if she didn’t trust me and your people won’t follow you if they don’t trust you! The best way to achieve trust is time! Spend time with your leaders. Listen to their heart and dreams! Show them you care about them by the time you invest in them! The investment of time will yield trust and when they trust you, they will follow you.
    • Sight: help them see what you see! Give them books that have shaped your vision. Take them on field-trips to the places that have helped shape your vision. Connect them with people who’s lives have been changed by a similar vision! Give them as much detail as possible about the destination! Leave as little as possible to the imagination
    • Action: Vision without implementation is hallucination! After a few hallucinations people will weary of your excitement and ideas. At some point you’ve gotta get started! Put the boxes in the truck and miles on the wheels! When people know the address enthusiasm for the destination increases as you leave the old and get closer to the new!

    Give them an address and the journey will be a lot more fun!

    What have you learned?

    How have you successfully led people to a new destination?

    If you had to do a leadership experience over again, what would it be and how would you do it differently?

    Filed under: leadership | 1 Comment »

    It started with e-mail…

    Posted on June 25, 2009 by paulpeterson

    Yesterday the news broke that South Carolina’s governor, Mark Sanford, has been having an affair.

    During the press conference in which he shared this news, this caught my attention:

    so the bottom line is this, I — I’ve been unfaithful to my wife. I developed a relationship with a — which started out as a dear, dear friend from Argentina. It began very innocently, as I suspect many of these things do, in just a casual e-mail back and forth, in advice on one’s life there and advice here. But here recently over this last year it developed into something much more than that. (You can read the whole transcript here or watch it here)

    The other day Sherri and I were talking about how marriages fall apart. She asked, “How do two people reach a point where they take their clothes off in front of one another and go through the act of sex without thinking about the consequences?”

    I think Sanford answered this question… “It began very innocently.” He simply wanted to help! Look at how Sanford says it got started:

    …there’s a certain irony to this. This person at the time was separated, and we ended up in this incredibly serious conversation about why she ought to get back with her husband for the sake of her two boys; that not only was it part of God’s law, but ultimately those two boys would be better off for it.

    And we had this incredibly earnest conversation and at the end of it, I said, “Could I get your e-mail?” We swapped e-mails, whatever. And it began just on a very casual basis — “Hey, I’ve got this issue that’s come up with my life,” or vice versa, “What do you think?” Because when you live in the zone of politics, you can’t ever let your guard down. You can’t ever say, “what do you think” or “what do you think,” because it could be a front page story or this story or that story.

    And so there was this zone of protectiveness, and she — she lives thousands of miles away and I was up here and you could throw an idea out or vice versa. And we developed a remarkable friendship over those eight years. And then, as I said, about a year ago, it sparked into something more than that.

    It started small… it ended huge. It started as blessing… it ended in destruction.

    Pastors, leaders, etc. please learn from this!

    A few ideas:

    • Your spouse should be aware of every relationship you have with the opposite sex.
    • Your spouse should possess the right to “trump” and/or to establish guidelines for your relationship with the opposite sex.
    • Correspondence with the opposite sex must have limits. If you are in a work relationship with a member of the opposite sex (see rule #1) and that relationship is a good one, so good that your families want to hang out together, make sure that two things happen: 1) the dudes like the dudes and the ladies like the ladies, and 2) make sure that both spouses are comfortable with this “outside the workplace” relationship (you can tell by body language, etc. if they are). If either of these is out of line… take corrective action immediately.
    • When the professional/private line becomes blurred… take corrective action immediately! Gov. Sanford’s downfall started when he started counseling a single mom about her marriage. At that point the professional/private line became blurred. The more counsel he offered, the deeper engaged he became in her life. The deeper engaged he became, the more she respected/cared for him, and the more he felt responsible towards/for her. He did not take corrective action and yesterday we saw the result.

    Few things in this life are more important than the integrity of your relationships. The marriage relationship in particular is fundamentally important not only to the immediate family but also to our society as a whole. It must be protected, loved, and cared for with the greatest of care!

    It’s time for men and women to recommit to marriage and integrity. The ideas I’ve listed above seem to be a good starting point for refreshing and maintaining marital integrity.

    So how about you? How are you protecting your marriage and preserving your integrity?

    Filed under: Marriage, leadership, relationships | 6 Comments »

    Who is God?

    Posted on June 23, 2009 by paulpeterson

    Reading “A Portrait of Calvin” (download it here for free).

    I came across a great quote from “The Theologian”:

    “Men’s conceptions of God are formed, not according to the representations He gives of Himself, but by the inventions of their own presumptuous imaginations. . . . They worship, not God, but a figment of their own brains in His stead.”

    Perhaps not as theologically astute as Calvin, and maybe even coming from a different angle, AC DC makes a similar statement:

    Who made who, who made you?
    Who made who, ain’t nobody told you?
    Who made who, who made you?
    If you made them and they made you
    Who begot the devil, and who made who?
    Who made who, who turned the screw?

    The point is that people from all theologies and walks of life are grappling (intentionally or otherwise) with this question, “Who is God?”

    So here’s a question for you, who is the God you worship? Is he/she/it who you want him/her/it to be? Something you’ve created? Something you hope he/she/it will be?

    OR is your God one who tells you who he/she/it is and you humbly accept that for what it is and worship?

    (BTW, I’ve put the he/she/it in this equation so as to be as unbiased in this discussion as possible. My theological bias is… He.)

    Bottom line, how do you know who God is?

    For what it’s worth, here’s how Calvin determined who God was:

    For all his capabilities, man is a puzzled, groping creature, surrounded by that which is mysterious to him. He not only does not understand God, nor does he understand the world in which he lives, but he does not even understand himself—from where he has come, why he lives, or to where he goes. If help does not come to him from without, he will never know God or find His kingdom. But God, in His loving concern for man, reaches right to him, where he is wandering imprisoned in the labyrinth, and gives him the guidance of the Holy Scriptures, which are like a thread, leading him through this maze of ignorance to the knowledge of God. “The light of the Divine countenance, which the Apostle himself says ‘no man can approach unto,’ is like an inexplicable labyrinth to us, unless we are directed by the thread of the Word.”

    Filed under: Blogs I regularly read | Leave a Comment »

    Pray for our President

    Posted on June 22, 2009 by paulpeterson

    The three top headlines from the Drudge Report this morning:

    Iran Revolutionary Guard threatens protesters...
    NKorea threatens to harm USA if attacked...
    Al Qaeda says would use Pakistani nukes on USA...

    If you are a Christian you have a responsibility:

    I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, for he wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4 NLT)

    A prayer for our President:

    Strong God, we pray that today you will grant our leader wisdom, courage, and strength. Our enemies are rising up against us. They hate what we represent. They want to destroy us. They want to harm people all around the world. It could be that the one force that stops all of this is our nation, and the leadership of that nation rests largely on the shoulders of one man, President Barack Obama. God, break through partisanship, ideologies, and self-interests and give our leaders and our leader the best wisdom, unwavering courage, and towering strength as they and he lead our nation into the future.

    And in all things Lord, may we honor you.

    Amen.

    Filed under: Spiritual practices, politics, social issues | 1 Comment »

    Ten fatal flaws that derail leaders

    Posted on June 22, 2009 by paulpeterson

    Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman recently did a study in which they identified the “Ten fatal flaws that derail leaders.”

    Great reading for leaders who want to improve!

    failing leadership

    The worst leaders:

    Lack energy and enthusiasm They see new initiatives as a burden, rarely volunteer, and fear being overwhelmed. One such leader was described as having the ability to “suck all the energy out of any room.”

    Accept their own mediocre performance They overstate the difficulty of reaching targets so that they look good when they achieve them. They live by the mantra “Underpromise and overdeliver.”

    Lack clear vision and direction They believe their only job is to execute. Like a hiker who sticks close to the trail, they’re fine until they come to a fork.

    Have poor judgment They make decisions that colleagues and subordinates consider to be not in the organization’s best interests.

    Don’t collaborate They avoid peers, act independently, and view other leaders as competitors. As a result, they are set adrift by the very people whose insights and support they need.

    Don’t walk the talk They set standards of behavior or expectations of performance and then violate them. They’re perceived as lacking integrity.

    Resist new ideas They reject suggestions from subordinates and peers. Good ideas aren’t implemented, and the organization gets stuck.

    Don’t learn from mistakes They may make no more mistakes than their peers, but they fail to use setbacks as opportunities for improvement, hiding their errors and brooding about them instead.

    Lack interpersonal skills They make sins of both commission (they’re abrasive and bullying) and omission (they’re aloof, unavailable, and reluctant to praise).

    Fail to develop others They focus on themselves to the exclusion of developing subordinates, causing individuals and teams to disengage.

    Filed under: leadership | Leave a Comment »

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