confessions of a church planter

you what pda is, don't you?  pda stands for public displays of affection.  i don't mind it all that much, except when it's nauseating and you're trying to get work done.  like just a second ago.  i'm sitting here at starbucks trying to finish the message for sunday, and there's this couple outside the window.  no big deal, right?  except they started making out.  yep.  she sits in his lap and they start kissing.  not the pecking, but the really into kind.  alright, now you're grossing out just like me.  i probably wouldn't mind it normally, but the only thing protecting me from saliva is the window separating us.  i've officiated a zillion weddings with no glass, but never felt as awkward as this.  but it got me thinking!

my ear buds are in and i'm listening to "our God reigns" by chris tomlin.  it's ridiculous.  goose bumps.  eyes closed.  almost teary b/c i'm preaching the parable of the prodigal son this week.  i realized that in that moment, i was affectionate towards God.  it's a display as i fold my hands, close my eyes, have hairs standing on my arms and neck,  bob the head, pound the feet into the ground, and mouth the words to "our God reigns.  our God reigns.  forever Your kingdom reigns."  and, oh yeh, it's in public.  what if?  just, what if we lived our lives constantly, publically, displaying our affection for Jesus Christ in a way that the world around us takes notice.  they see it and they want it.  they're not disgusted by it, but want something like that too. 

need to confess?

sampson and skunks really don't have anything in common except that they both begin with the letter "s."  i don't have anything to say about skunks except that there seem to be a lot of skunks in our area, and they stink.  i really don't have anything to say about sampson except his story is found in the book of Judges.  on tuesday mornings i meet with a few guys to do Bible study on individuals who showed exceptional leadership qualities.  we're studying the book of Judges.  one of the things that seems to continually amaze our group is how the nation of Israel kept messing things up.  in preparation for yet another season where Israel was disobedient, the thought hit me: we're all like that at some level.  most of us can easily point to things of this world or of the flesh that we fall back into.  the cycle works like this: we repent, we're on fire for God, we cruise, we stumble, we repent, we're on fire for God, we cruise, we stumble.  btw, like skunks that stinks too!  it really makes me question if it's true repentence in the first place.  it really makes me question whether we understand how grace conquers sin.  it really makes me question living in the fullness of the Holy Spirit if the cycle just repeats itself over and over.  i was reminded this week of a friend who told me that once upon a time, a very famous athlete in the state of GA said, "i'm a Christian, but i be sinnin'."  excuse me?  uhh...you might be forgiven, but that's hardly the attitude and the heart of Christ.  we're not talking about someone who recognizes a continual need for the grace of God, but someone who uses the continual grace of God as an all-inclusive pass to do whatever he wants with whomever he wants.  confesses:  i exploit grace too sometimes.  i think many people do, and b/c of that the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to ask this question:  "should i continue to sin so that grace may abound?  by no means!"  did you like that-"by no means!"  i think that was the old school, jewish way of saying, "heck no!"  i used to study about revivals.  one of the first marks of the beginnings of revival was a deeper conviction of sin on a personal level and a broken heart for the sin in the community.  until we are broken b/c of our sin, we'll never be revived.  i invite you to repent and say, "i'm a Christian, and i ain't sinning."  i invite you to say, "God, convict me afresh of the sin in my heart."  i invite you to say, "God, bring this community to recognize their need for your forgiveness and leadership available in Jesus Christ."  and oh, btw, did i mention that our sin stinks like a skunk's spray to God?

need to confess?

confession: my daughter made me proud yesterday.  we went the park for the dreaded phase 1 of my wife's 10 year class reunion (read yesterday's blog).  we bought a whole loaf of bread for my son and daughter to feed the ducks.  when we started round 2 of duck feeding, some of the local kids huddled around and wanted slices.  i'm usually pretty generous.  so, i gave the first girl to ask a slice, but instead of feeding the ducks, she fed herself.  i was shocked at first.  was she hungry or did she just like white bread?  well, then the feeding frenzy began.  i got more requests than i could keep up with, and to be honest, i felt pretty overwhelmed.  i just wanted to my kids to be able to experience the pleasure of feeding ducks!  to make a long story short: after i dished out about 6-8 slices, i was down to just 2 slices.  one for brayden and one for laney.  there was this one kid who was lingering around begging for a piece of bread.  i was torn b/c i wanted my kids to have them.  so, while i'm debating in my mind what to do with this, my 3 yr. old daughter, laney, starts offering him pieces of her last slice.  finally, she says, "here's the last piece!"  it wasn't regretful, but excited.  all those times we told her to share with her brother, and now she's sharing with a complete stranger.  it's amazing the example that children can offer.  what she did was one of the best sermons i've ever heard. 

need to confess?

confession: i don't like class reunions.  can i get an amen?  come on, somebody.  yep, today i suffered through phase 1 of my wife's 10 year class reunion.  fortunately, she didn't want to spend the $150 to go to phase 2 of the reunion.  phase 1 involved us going to the park in our hometown and hanging with her classmates.  it's not the classmates that i don't like.  in fact, i'm not really sure what it is that i don't like.  i guess reunions aren't a natural way for people to get together.  what's weird is that all the people who came, except for 4 people, we were already pretty tight with.  the other four were great to be around and my wife spoke favorably of her time with them in high school.  it's not natural for a group of relative strangers (which they were for me) to get together in a social setting when they've been absent from each other for so long.  it was easier in high school and college, but i'm 12 years removed from an opportunity to have a social setting like that.  that brings me to this point: we all need social settings.  it's a part of our culture that starts missing once we graduate college.  however, the desire is never absent.  that's where the community of the church comes in. 

right after we left phase 1, we went the baby/house-warming shower for our worship pastor and his family, the hamptons.  walked in and i felt like Norm from "cheers".  people never shouted "dave," but there were hugs, handshakes, and a few pounds from my boys.  it was good.  it was social.  it wasn't forced.  that's the way it should be-community where you're welcomed and loved.  i thank JC for the community of The Vine.  it's truly a place of love for all.  if you don't have a place to belong, we'd love to have you.

need to confess?

confession:  the best way to motivate me is to challenge me.  telling me that i don't do something well or telling me that something can't be done is like putting lighter fluid on a small spark for me.  i'm the small spark, btw.  the only problem is that i often think that's the best way to motivate others.  i learned the hard way with my wife that not all people are motivated the same.  after we were married, she was complaining about something that i've heard women complain about (weight).  i thought i'd try some reverse psychology.  i told her she couldn't lose it.  somebody smack me.  she got upset, and told me that she needed me to believe in her.  that's when i tired to explain that i did believe in her, and that's why i said what i said.  needless to say, it took a lot of digging to get out of that one.

i was recently reminded of different motivational styles when i sent a challenging word to one of our staff members.  immediately after i sent it, i sent another email with a multiple choice test.  it was one question:  how do you like to be motivated.  it had these options:  a. being told you can't do something  b. being told that you can do something better  c. none of the above, david is awful at motivation, here's how i'd like to be motivated.  the great thing was that this person stepped up and challenged me through reverse psychology, which is why i'm blogging at this moment.  so, i'd like to know from you:  how do you like to be motivated?

need to confess? 

so, early this morning i got an email from gemma.  she and her husband, nick, attend The Vine.  she forwarded me an email.  typically, i'm skeptical about forwarded emails.  (if you're one of those people, and you know who you are, shame-shame.)  however, i decided i'd read this email b/c she's never sent one before.  it was linked to one of the most amazing dance/dramas i've ever seen.  here's the link if you want to check it out, but finish reading this before you do.  confession:  i cried like a baby.  that's right, men, i cried.  i'm not proud, but i'm not afraid to say it.  in fact, i dare any man to watch this and try not to cry.  now, check out the link, and then check back with me later to read my take on the video.

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=ee73e63418003b47d7d5

need to confess?

confession:  i drank too much caffeine today.  normally, i don't have an issue with my caffeine intake, but today was different.  i had my weekly meeting with my administrative assistant this morning, which required coffee.  i then met a church planter friend in atlanta to exchange notes.  he invited me for coffee after lunch.  then i met a former co-worker at starbucks, which required more caffeine.  i know, i could've opted for ethos water, but i felt entitled to all that caffeine.  i'm not sure why.  maybe it's because we had an incredible worship experience yesterday.  we had a largest non-launch crowd yesterday.  people keep giving us feedback about the difference that The Vine is making in their faith journeys and homes.  one mom bragged about the kid's ministry, kidzu.  she said that her daughter came out of kidzu and proclaimed, "i had fu-un."  that's a two syllable pronounciation for those that don't know.  her mom said that she's never said that about church before, and that not too many things are "fu-un."  kudos to kidzu.  church yesterday was one of those moments where you walk out of church and say, "i felt God."  another confession:  i love feeling God.  i'm not a "feelings" guy, but i love it when i do.  more importantly, i love it when others feel God.  a new church attender came up to me yesterday after worship and told me with tears in her eyes that her husband felt God for the first time.  now, that's what i'm talking about.  now, that i think about it, caffeine probably wasn't needed today.

need to confess?

confession:  i haven't blogged since july 14th.  if any of you are still checking in, you already know this.  not that it's an excuse, but things have been insanely busy.  the week after my last blog, i preached at lawrenceville first umc's camp meeting.  camp meeting is an old school tradition in the south, but still relevant b/c of the spiritual focus for the week.  i preached 9 times in six days.  the theme was "follow the call."  it couldn't have been more appropriate and God showed up in a big way.  there were some people who gave their lives to Jesus.  others who recommitted their lives to Jesus.  others who were baptized.  others who received healing and deliverance.  i know there was one who was completely worn out from the week-me!  then, the following week, my wife starting having consistent contractions that sent us into frantic mode.  however, those contractions were deemed as "nuisance contractions". it wasn't until last friday that our baby was born.  so, that too has prevented me from blogging.  but, i'm back. 

here are some things going on that i'm excited about: we've made some environment changes at the vine.  they've made a significant difference in vibe and visual ability.  i'm jacked about the combination we have of presentation and product.  our serve teams are doing a great job with all their responsibilities.  our cluster groups are about to kick off and we're going to have about twice as many participants in small groups than we did last year.  here's the deal:  God's about to blow things up at the vine.  you're invited to participate in what God is and going to do.