Debating Theological Issues

Is it pre-tribulation or post-tribulation? Are the gifts of the spirit for today? Is it once saved always saved? So many people today are arguing over these things AT THE NEGLECT OF HELPING PEOPLE GET SAVED. I have no interest in wasting my time debating these kinds of things (that doesn't mean I don't know what I believe and why I believe it - I just don't want to argue with people about it).

I love what Mark Batterson wrote recently:

I think the second kind of distractions we have to avoid in church circles are theological distractions. We need to study to show ourselves approved. We need to know what we believe and why we believe what we believe. But we can get so busy arguing about theological nuances that we lose sight of the Great Commandment and Great Commission. Sometimes, when a person is endlessly arguing theological nuances, I want to blurt out: people are going to hell. Let's get our theology straight. And we need to call blasphemy and heresy on the carpet. But let's get some perspective. In the words of Titus 3:9: "But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless." True theology doesn't just lead to endless arguments. True theology leads to action. Let's follow Jesus' example: "I must be about my Father's business."

I also like what Steven Furtick wrote:

I was at a gas station the other day and there were too many options. Do you want a car wash? Is this credit or debit? Enter your zip code. Enter your PIN. Do you want to donate money to a charitable organization? What kind of gas do you want? Do you want a receipt? I was so confused. All of this wasn’t what I came to do. After about six or seven options, I said, “I just want gas.” We sometimes do the same thing to people in the church. Are you a Calvinist or an Arminian? Baptism by immersion or sprinkling? Have you kissed dating goodbye? Or on the mouth? Do you believe in all the gifts of the Spirit or only 73% of them? And then we wonder why they’re confused. It’s probably because they’re thinking, “this isn’t what I came here for. I don’t know all that. I just want Jesus.” Right here is where we usually write them off by saying they don’t care about the Bible or theology. Possibly. But maybe they just don’t care about debating and taking stances on secondary issues at the expense of their primary desire: Jesus. This isn’t to say that these things don’t matter or that their inherent beliefs aren’t worth considering. There’s a place for them. Behind the bold, clear proclamation of Christ. If you’re going to err, err on the side of simply giving people Jesus. Because that’s simply what most people want.

I COULDN'T AGREE MORE!

Hunting for New Meeting Space

It's Friday night September 11th at 6:50pm. I'm at TGIF's in Enfield eating the $5 special with my family and Dan & Danielle Ramirez, and I get a call. The short version is that the new owners of the food services at the Crowne Plaza (now a Holiday Inn) want us to start paying over triple what we currently pay for rent each week effective immediately. The day before we got this call our staff met for our monthly strategic meeting to discuss (among other things) other possible meeting locations, because we're very close to having grown out of our current meeting space. So, having needed to move out, and facing a huge increase in what we pay, New Day is on the hunt for a new location.

Yesterday I set up an appointment with Eric (a realestate agent Lester Jarvis found), to look at a huge commercial space for lease behind the Gold's Gym on Route 5 in Enfield, only a couple miles from where we're at now. I meet with him on Wednesday at 9:30am.

I also stopped by Asnuntuck College and inquired about meeting there. Someone is looking into whether they would even consider it, and they are going to get back to me soon.

Rachel Axtmann hooked me up with her parents realestate agent and he collected all our info and is looking for spaces that fit the criteria.

Everyone in the church is praying. When I first sent out an email about all this, I received 53 emails back from people saying "We're praying." What a comfort to know this whole process is covered in prayer!

My brother is a realestate agent too and he's going to be helping me today to find space that would meet our needs. We're looking for 1) a good location, 2) an affordable location, 3) Sunday morning availability, 4) ample parking.

I crunch the numbers yesterday to determine what we could afford (I'm not going to post them here. Sorry!). We now know exactly what we can and cannot afford. I'm very encouraged by the story of my friend Scott Axtmann, a fellow church planter, who recently got a lease space for his portable church for only $3,000 (when they were asking $11,000). That's what God can do!

My favorite option of all the options we looked into was the Enfield High School. The location isn't far from where we're at now, it has enough seats and space so we could grow there for a while, there's plenty of kids classrooms, we'd never get bumped like we do now in the Crowne Plaza because nothing happens at the school on Sundays, there's tons of parking, it's affordable, etc. And whoever comes to our church now would only have to drive minutes farther to get there.

We also looked at the old Kia dealership on Route 5 in Enfield (very close to where we meet now). It's like 56,000 sq feet though! And we only need anywhere from 7,200 sq ft (double what we have now) to 10,800 sq ft (triple what we have now). We currently use 2,400 sq ft for our adults (that's 200 chairs max) and 1,200 sq ft for our three kids class rooms for a total of 3,600 sq ft.

Jon and Sarah Watson came with Kristin, me and kids yesterday since they were off work and helped us look around and investigate our options. It's so great not to be doing this by myself. I totally feel the support of everyone from our church. And it inspires me to continue working hard and to continue to trust God in this situation.

Remember, our theme is TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY! Historically, the church has GROWN through adversity. And we know that God works for the good in all situations for those who love him (Romans 8:28).

That's yesterday's progress. I thought since everyone's praying I keep you updated with a progress report! I've got to get going now. Lot's to do today! Lot's of new locations to consider! Please say a prayer for me!

My Week September 7 - 13

If you fail to plan you plan to fail! And if YOU don't schedule your week, SOMEONE ELSE will! Planning an effective week begins with asking the right questions...

Scheduling Questions:

1. When is date night?

2. When is my day off (family day)?

3. When will I work on my sermon this week?

4. When will I "work ON" the church by completing assignments in my senior pastor coaching network?

5. When will I work on developing growth groups this week?

6. When do I have meetings this week?

7. Who do I need to connect with this week?

Monday: off for Labor Day (picnic at Stanley Park)

Tuesday: date night, sectional meeting (9am-12:30pm), work on coaching network assignments: listen to The Stewardship Seminar (1-4:45pm)

Wenesday: sermon prep, finance meeting with Peter (12pm)

Thursday: develop growth groups: prepare for leaders training this Sunday, monthly strategic meeting (7-10pm)

Friday: day off (family day)

Saturday: 1/2 day of doing whatever is left to do, Fall Quest at Six Flags (going to Planet Shakers concert and getting back stage to meet them too!!!)

Sunday: Church in Bellagio Ballroom, kick off of Kids Church (ages 6-11), growth group leaders training (1pm-4pm), follow up with guests from service (1st & 2nd time guests, 1st time givers, people who requested info and/or prayer, etc.)

Big Rocks Go In First

Let me share a great story with you that I keep in mind when scheduling my week.

An expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget. As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz" and he pulled out a one-gallon, mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar.

When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?"

Everyone in the class yelled, "Yes."

The time management expert replied, "Really?"

He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. He then asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?"

By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of them answered.

"Good!" he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?"

"No!" the class shouted. Once again he said, "Good." Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?"

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!"

"No," the speaker replied, that's not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all.

What are the 'big rocks' in your life -- time with your loved ones, your faith, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching or mentoring others? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them in at all." So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the 'big rocks' in my life? Then, put those in your jar first. "