Open Mike

Working "On" in addition to "In": Our Staff Retreat Agenda

A helpful way to reconceptualize planning for me is "to spend time working ON your life instead of just IN your life."  That way I don't think of it as work, or business, or something only geeky or smart people do.

I first ran across the concept in a book on church planting - the fact that yes a pastor needs to do stuff pastors do by loving people, preaching the Word, etc.  But a pastor also needs to spend time working ON the church - where are we going, what's working well/not well, etc.  That's true for every worker, every owner, every person. 

"Those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness."  Proverbs 14:22

Sunday's message applied these and similar Proverbs to our personal lives.  This week, I took some of our church staff away to a mountain house to do the same for our church.  We set aside two days of time to work on the church, not in it.  Planning is hard work - everyone came home tired.  Even though we essentially sat in a circle in a big room with a beautiful view and talked/discussed/argued/prayed/laughed while eating snacks for 24 hours.  This staff team has reached a refreshingly unified and productive stage of working and being together, and it showed this week.

(here's a picture of some staff women 'hashtagging' - the lasting goofy memory of this planning retreat - naming the twitter hashtag that would be most appropriate to each funny/ridiculous/inappropriate comment made during our meetings)

We followed up the plan for 2012 ministry that we set last August by adding detail to the rest of this year, and addressed a few specific decisions to be made (most of our time was around September-December sermon series and related ministry, so that we are leading the church with the Word in the worship of the people of God). We already have the dates set for two days in August when we will seek the Spirit of God, in leadership community, for our 2013 plans.

Have you set aside a bit of time in your week, or month, or year to work ON your life? ON your business or ministry?  Here is a copy of our retreat agenda, i thought you might like to see it:

LFC Strategy and Planning Retreat  March 19-20, 2012   The Snider Shack, Boone NC

Agenda:

1. Before we shape the church, reflect on how God is shaping you:     Isaiah 49:2    How is the LORD using events of the past 12 months to sharpen you for ministry?What target has God sharpened you to most uniquely hit in ministry?

2.  Future thoughts – a look at our 3-5 year goals, where we’ve come from and where we’re going - to inform current year ministry

3. Evaluate first quarter of our 2012 Strategic Ministry Plan (sermon series, leadership weekend, building-opening Farris concert, House of Blues kickoff attached to building opening, practical life series to connect new spiritual seekers)

4. “ Teach Team”  Sermon series plan rest of 2012.  Bare bones plans were made last August; relook at current plan that’s been filled out by the pastors:

    a. where do we want to synchronize all lfc content (like HOB)?    Where can we take a creative zig or zag with this plan?

    b. FOCUSED planning/brainstorming on fall missio dei series:  goal is an Attractional (high attendance) series that is around ‘Loving the Poor Missio Dei’ – Gospel impact through extension of Missio Dei publicly in LKN, further discipleship of LFC Ministry Partners in missio dei biblical themes

5. Inform/Discuss/Calendar ministry plans rest of year.               

  i. September and January Lake Forest leadership weekend date and content    ii.  Each ministry

5. Transition to Jesse as Executive Director on staff, a case study:  Mike’s sabbatical.

  a..Here’s what I see, my expectations for summer sabbatical (“When I return August 1, if X has happened, it would mean success for…ministry…XD transition”)

  b.. Working sabbatical plan for LFC – review.  What do you see – concerns, rough spots, ideas etc to be planned for?

 6. Decision to be made: 

1. All LFC celebration outdoor Sunday worship at end of Celebrate series?  or mid-summer for momentum factor?  Where/how?
2. Other

It's What We Do (Size Doesn't Matter)

Ever feel sorry for yourself when you have to go back to work after a holiday or vacation?  I do, or I did I should say, last Sunday. Yep, Sunday Jan. 1.  It's New Year's Day and I'm going to work at 6:30am.  Me, and the kid who delivers our newspaper.

On top of that, I'm thinking about my specific work: "It's New Year's Day - not many people will come to church, should we really be going through the whole rigamarole for staff, elders, and Ministry Partners to serve on a holiday, when not many people will come anyway?"

And then the people of God worshipped the living God, through Jesus Christ, together.  And it was good.  And I remembered.

Worship is what we do.  Its the primary business the church is in.  Not just when its convenient (because life is not about me and my schedule), not just when the biggest crowd possible will be there (because church is not about crowds/success/failure/momentum).  But when God says to do it.  Every seven days. 

The church exists for many reasons, but its first privileged duty is to give witness to the centrality of Jesus Christ by worshipping him weekly.  Whether its thousands in a cathedral, or two families in an underground house church in China - our gathering is a witness, a solid proclamation of eternity in the midst of cultures and people who may or may not notice. 

Genesis 1 (supported by the 10 commandments and the rest of Scripture) teaches us that God created the entire world to run rhythmically on a seven day cycle.  And the seventh day is for rest and worship.  No matter where that day should fall in the vicissitudes of human culture, calendars and schedules.  Every church's pastors, staff, and members have been set aside by God for this high and holy purpose.  Weekly. (FYI we allowed our Saturday Christmas Eve worship to 'count' for weekly worship the week before, because we do not live under law).

This aspect of weekly worship really is more about faithfulness than fruitfulness.  Although fruit matters  too.  After our second service on New Year's (and yes, it was a small crowd), one of my favorite couples, Sue and Thom came up to me with tears in their eyes.  Sue said 'today is our 2nd anniversary of coming to Lake Forest and to the Lord, its about the only New Year's resolution we've ever kept together - that we would attend church the first Sunday of the year - and we've never left, and are so in love with Christ.'  Thom said something like 'after 70 years of living for myself, I'm now living for Christ - because I was drawn here by love, not coercion or people convincing me of something.'

I'm glad we worshipped the Sunday of New Year's two years ago so we were HERE bearing witness to the centrality of Christ, at the same time the Spirit of Christ was leading Thom and Pam to seek him first in the New Year.  And I'm glad we worshipped this Jan 1 as well.

May you faithfully carry on your service to God and worship of Him this year, week in week out, including the every-seven-days rhythm of worship.

Ridiculously Exciting Things in 2012: House of Blues, Don Miller, Mike Farris, and a Sabbatical

There are some things I'm excited about for 2012 - Dylan's high school graduation and college choice, hiring new Student Ministry and Executive Directors to our solidified staff team, opening new worship and student/children's space at church to serve more people, Austin playing football, pastor Flake's wedding, and some sermon series that already peak my interest ('Who You are in Christ,' 'Leadership' from Titus, 'Missio Dei,' and 'Faith & Politics' all have me thinking and salivating way ahead).

There are also two things I'm RIDICULOUSLY excited about coming in 2012:

1. On the last weekend of January, the return of our church's sweet spot with our 'Hope in a House of Blues: Grief and Loss' series, four weeks to be kicked off by Donald Miller (author of Blue Like Jazz) and Mike Farris (well known blues/gospel artist, fave of LFC people). DUDE i can't wait!  Blues worship and the Bible, focused on bringing our large and small losses to Christ.  The four sermons Michael and I are working on are titled: Hurt, Hate, Heal, Hope.

2. Sabbatical Summer.  Per our church's generous policy to care for their pastors (because of the high rate of burnout and depression among pastors, and the high cost to congregations when that happens), after the last seven years I am eligible to take a sabbatical away from work this coming year.  I know, I know, you don't get a sabbatical every seven years where you work, and I'm sorry that you work at a suckier place than I do.  Really, I am.  Because I love where I work.  So please, try to be happy for me - and note how good it is for our church when I return ready to lead with renewed vigor and vision (which happened in spades the last time).  My time away will last three months, it will take place over the summer, and LFC-H will be well-supplied with internal and external excellent preaching during that time. 

I also want to announce something to my friends in this blog - my sabbatical, and the special activities/speakers at LFC while I'm away, will be funded by an outside source.  It won't cost LFC a dime, and I get to do some RIDICULOUSLY wonderful things we could otherwise never afford. I applied for (me and some ministry leaders at LFC), and won, a major grant for this purpose.  It's called the National Clergy Renewal Program, and is funded by the Lilly Endowment.   To my pastor friends, check out the link below and please apply some time in the future.  I'd love to help you form a successful proposal.

The purposes of a sabbatical are personal and professional growth, as well as renewal of health. My sabbatical theme is church planting (since I did it, I coach church planters, we are going to start more new churches in the future, and I teach it and am serving to help our denomination turn into a church planting movement). The activities will include: 

    Renewal. Of vision and inspiration. I will re-visit Ireland, the home of my historical and most inspiritng mentor St. Patrick, and study the missional spread of the Gospel in the generation after Patrick, while I spend time on spiritual retreat at one of my favorite monasteries.

    Rewind. To the first church planting movement. With my family, we will tour the missionary journeys of Paul in Turkey and Greece, focused on understanding the history and archaeology better.  Both of our boys are actually history geeks, but we'll try to have some fun on the Greek islands to be sure its a great trip for all.  This trip will wind up in Rome, where Paul did.

    Fast Forward. To current church plants in post-Christian Europe. I hope to visit/do interviews at two current church plants in European capitals, which are measurably reaching post-Christian adults with the good news of Jesus. The US is decades behind Europe in this regard, but may also now be termed post-Christian.  Our American churches must focus on mission to that growing population, instead of thinking we are 'succeeding' while only re-churching lapsed Christians.

    Rest, Reflect. The family will get lots of time together after the Greece trip, some of that in Italy.

Like I said, ridiculous.  Ridiculous generosity of our church that gives sabbaticals every seven years to director-level pastors and staff (Mitch and Kyle have been given one in the past).  Ridiculous generosity of the Lilly Foundation to invest in the health of American clergy this way.  Ridiculous excitement I have to be re-tooled to be more effective as a pastor for the future of our church together.

I hope you have something to be excited for in 2012, and maybe even one thing to be ridiculously excited about.  If you'd like to read the press release and description of the grant I was awarded (who are the recipients, how much money is involved, why, etc.), here you go! Download Press_Release_-_National_Clergy_Renewal_Winners_2011[1]

Practical Generosity - Jean Valjean, a homeless success story, and the church benevolence fund

A large portion of the offering taken during our Christmas Eve services will go to fill up our Benevolence Fund for 2012.  The Christian church has a grand tradition of being available and hospitable for people's emergency needs.  The origin of the word 'hospital' is 'hospitality' (duh, Mike!), and early historic provision of food and care for travelers and the poor was massively expanded when Christianity began to spread.  My favorite example of how deeply rooted the practice of benevolence is in the church and culture's understanding of the church is literary.  In Victor Hugo's novel "Les Miserables" (and Liam Neeson's movie adaptation), the priests sheltering of vagabond Jean Valjean overnight, and priceless gift of a silver candlestick, changes Valjean's story forever because of the grace of the gift, and the God behind the grace.

So, at Lake Forest we give assitance in people's time of emergency need throughout the year - groceries, power bill, diapers, baby formula, gas cards, etc.  Application must normally be made, then reviewed by our Benevolence Team (facilitated by the ever-able, always compassionate Suzanne Powell).  We give no huge gifts, and satisfy no recurring obligations (like a mortgage).  For ongoing needs we partner with agencies more equipped than us.  Most help is given to LFC folks and friends.  In the name of Jesus, expecting nothing in return (including church attendance), just praying that a practical act of love may open someone's story up wider to the possibility they are loved by Love Himself, Jesus Christ.

Since the offering will be primarily for that on Christmas Eve (if you want to be sure all of your gift goes to this fund, you may designate it), I thought you should hear one story this month from a recipient. Before you read this - know that we cannot meet every need in full and sometimes have to do the hard work of saying 'no' - this is our most recent 'yes'. Here is the original application:

Mike, not sure you remember me.  My name is ______. I was homeless in 07 and your church helped me get on my feet after I stayed in the building. Two of your members helped me find a place to live, and I have had my own place now for almost 2 years (interjection by Mike - way to go, Chris and Gail!!). I have been working at FedEx for almost 4 years. My father passed this year, and I had to go to St.Louis and I ended up in the hospital. I haven't worked since Sept.17 and have gotton behind on my bills. My landlord and Crisis Assistance is helping with rent and power bills, but I can't find anyone that helps with car insurance and car payments and if I lose my car I won't be able to go back to work. I should be able to go back to work Jan.14. My insurance is due now it's 95 dollars and my car is past due two payments but they will take one payment of 325.00 and let me catch up when I'm back at work. I can make payments to pay back when I get back to work if you or if you know anyone that can help.
            Thank You,  ___________

Lake Forest, because of your generosity throughout the year, we were able to meet this person's need - to bridge so he/she could continue to live independtly until getting back to work.  Here's a thank you we received:

Hi Lake Forest Benevolence Team,

Thanks for helping me out! Thank you so much, I'm in tears right now cause you just took some of my worries away. I try not to worry about everything cause I know it's all in God's hands and this blessing just goes to show me God is looking out for me, man I love him. Thanks again, __________

Frugality and Extravagance in the New Economy

I've seen the two extreme realities of the new post-great-recession economics this week in the kingdom of God.

1. Here was the first reality.  We recently approved the 2012 ministry and mission budget for Lake Forest.  It represents plans, strategies and provision for what I pray is a year of effective and creative disciple-making for Jesus Christ (most exciting, bringing back a sermon series with the word 'blues' in it).  Including tithing-plus-offering the first 12.5% right back out the door.  10% to local and international missions, and (new this year) 2.5% toward church planting and multiplication outside of Lake Forest-Huntersville and Davidson.  The rest of it goes to proclaim the good news of Jesus to ourselves and the Lake Norman area in all the ways we do life together as a church. 

But this budget involves some painful right-sizing of programmatic, administrative, and staffing levels.  We must do ministry and 'shine our light' in ways that are financially congruent with the realities of our culture and our congregation.  In our staff meeting Tuesday, I shared this quote from a Mecklenburg County Commissioner, that was on the front page of the newspaper two weeks ago: "I hear some of my fellow Commissioners asking 'is this the year we can return to normal in our budgets, taxation, and staffing levels.'  I'm telling you, this is the year we adjust to the new-normal economy that requires we do more with less."  I have heard this repeatedly from business owners and managers in our church, and to hear it from a local elected official really sunk in. 

As I passed this perpsective along to our staff, so we don't live and work out of touch with the realities and people around us, I tried to make clear - this doesn't mean we just work more hours and burn people out.  It means we constantly refocus jobs and ministries to focus on ever-more sharp priorities, and cut out the things of lesser importance.  In this way, do more with less by doing a few things well.  In church work, as well as in your business/education/government work, its important in this new economy to be vigilant on behalf of co-workers whom we love to apply this principle in order to keep a healthy home and spiritual life outside of work.  If you are in a situation that is under-staffed or under-resourced, compared to the financial boom days of a few short years ago, what can you stop doing right now, in order to concentrate a higher percentage of your efforts on your highest (or, for those in business, your most profitable) priority?

2. The second reality has to do with generosity. In the new economy, we must adjust to these realities while we ALSO refuse to live and work in a scarcity mentality.  Entitlement thinking and behavior has taken over if we carry around a perspective of 'what I used to have' or 'what I could have.'  Relative to all of human history to this point, we all have a ridiculous amount of resources for life and work and ministry even after the recession.  its just a bit scaled down relative to recent boom times.  SO its important to examine this from both attitude and action.  I think the attitude aspect is about focusing on mission, at least for us in the church.  What are we trying to ask God to accomplish through us?  How? Let's go do that.  Level of resources have never, ever, ever changed or dampened the urgency of the mission to love the world with the good news of Jesus Christ.

The action aspect is reflected in generosity.  That's the opposite of living in a scarcity mentality.  Financial generosity tells God we are thankful for what is given to us, and we will worship him with proportional giving, regardless of amount.  And WOW do I see people at Lake Forest Church asking God to give them a healthy attitude BY worshipping him with generous giving:

-A large, large check given to us last week "to help any families you know in true need this time of year."

-A huge five-figure check given to propel our LOVE 10 vision last week "grateful for the ministry of our church family in my life, excited about where we are headed."

-A virtual peloton of bicycles in our worship center right now given by so many of you for our Christmas Village Toy Store project to serve the financially challenged right in our towns (you know, that big huge pack of bikes on teeny tiny mountain roads during the tour de france, isn't that a peloton?).

-Week after week faithful, generous worship-through-giving by so so many people who love Jesus

I could go on,  But wow.  Those are people focused on worshipping Jesus and propelling the mission of Jesus with the money they have.  Those are people who, regardless of the limiting effects of the world economy on their work, income, horizons, are rejecting an entitlement or scarcity mentality and embracing the mission of Jesus right now, by worshipping Jesus fully with their generosity.  I'm one of those people, and I like how the Spirit of God keeps my attitude toward money (and work budgets) healthy as we give generously.

I pray you live thoughtfully and faithfully according to your financial reality next year, thankful to God in little and in much.  Matthew 6:33  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.