What I Learned from Cancer

Three years ago today I had my left kidney removed. I had been diagnosed a couple of months earlier. Before I could deal with the cancer I ended up having two open heart surgeries. The three major surgeries I had in 2007 have become a defining moment in my life. In no particular order here are some of the things I’ve learned:
I am loved. Don’t get me wrong, I knew that before I got sick. The late Tony Snow once said the great thing about getting sick is “you find out how many people love you.” I experienced the same thing in spades. I heard from people in every church I served, colleagues and friends from all across the country. My family was (and is) amazing. Friends, ministry partners and our incredible church family performed countless acts of love to me and our family.
Prayer is important. My prayer time became precious to me. When you spend 35 days and nights in a five month period in the hospital you have plenty of time to talk to God. At times it was tough. I was frustrated, mad, lonely and had a “why me” moments. At other times, my time with the Lord was tender, comforting and assuring. The depth of my prayer life was never better.
The breath of prayer astounded me. My family and I heard from friends and churches from California to Florida. Friends sent us notes and cards from all over the world. We heard from a friend studying at Oxford and a colleague of my wife had my name added to a Vatican Prayer Service. Friends called and prayed with us over the phone. It was precious to us and is something I’ll never forget.
Make everyday count. No more wasted days doing nothing. I’m not talking about never resting, in fact since those trying days three years ago I’ve learned the importance of the daily power nap. What I mean is the importance of investing my life in the right things. The things that really matter: Family. Friends. Relationships. Churches. Leaders. I’m going to invest every day God gives me to those things that truly matter.
My friend David and I met when we got sick. We both went to Baylor and even to the same church but didn’t meet until we were both in the same hospital. By God’s grace I made it through. David didn’t. Last year we celebrated his homecoming. I don’t know why God brought me and not David. But I do know this: Every day is a gift. And I am determined to make it count.
I’ll see David soon enough.

We Remember Anne

Today, my mother-in-law Katherine Anne Mayhigh Pittman (1930-2003) would have been eighty years young. It's appropriate to remember her on her birthday the same week the Southern Baptist Convention met in Orlando. For seventeen years she served as church hostess for the First Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia. Once she "retired" she served as a volunteer at the International Mission Board offices. For many years she served more hours per year than any other volunteer. One of her many duties was hosting the hospitality room at the SBC annual meeting every year. She fed missionaries, denominational leaders, and trustees. As a seminarian and pastor of a small church, my buddies and I always knew where we could get a quick bit at the convention on our small budgets. She was a gracious hostess.

She was also one of the most courageous persons I have ever known. She fought a 25-year battle with cancer with courage and grace. She left us with a legacy of ministry and service. She lived out her faith every day faithfully. thanks Anne for your love, faith, service and example......We'll see you soon.

SBC Convention: some positive news!

Yesterday the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Orlando, Flordia passed by a wide margin a new strategy for the denomination. The recommendations of the Great Commission Task Force were approved with language inserted to strengthen support for the Cooperative Program. I believe it is a great NEXT step to great missional effectiveness. Going forward the most critical aspect of the recommendations is the redesign of the North American Mission Board (NAMB)and its relationship with state conventions. I pray that the NAMB trustees find the right leader and then allow him to be part of the redesign for that mission organization.

In other positive news at the SBC was the election of Bryant Wright, pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in metro Atlanta as the new SBC president. Bryant represents a new wave of leadership for the SBC and I believe this to be a very positive development. He deserves our support and prayer.

Now we must continue to keep our focus on making disciples.

High Expectations for Adult Class members Part II

What expectations should your church have for members of an adult Sunday School or Bible study class? Let’s continue our top ten expectations:
6. Follow up with guests and ministry opportunities. You’re not exempt from the Great Commission! Work with your church and class leaders and help them follow up with Sunday morning guests. Invite them to sit with you in the worship service or invite them to eat with you afterwards. Drop a note or an email latter in the week and thank them for coming.
Follow up on ministry opportunities. Take the initiative to prepare a meal for a grieving family; send flowers to someone in the hospital or make quick call to someone in need of encouragement.
7. Be vulnerable share your life. As you faithfully and consistently study God’s word together every week share with fellow members what God has done in your life. This doesn’t mean you should share a (dirty) laundry list of personal sins with other class members. In fact the Bible says, “confess your sins one to another.” Share what God and has taught and is teaching you.
8. Build community in your class: 24/7/365. It’s not just a Sunday morning thang! Hang out together. Do stuff….or nothing at all….together! Connect with others in your class who share interests, activities and hobbies. Love and Laugh….together!
9. Find someone to serve in your church and community. Find someone to minister to in your church or community. Be intentional about it. The class I’m a member in plans at least one mission project every quarter. We also have a monthly rotation of members who visit a senior adult in our community. Recently, nearly two dozen class members spent an entire morning cleaning her home, garage, yard and automobile. The need is great. People are out there. Discover and do!
10. Invite and bring others. A personal invitation is the best and more effective tool you have. Put it to good use. Think about the people you know who need to be in a Bible study. Make a list. Begin to pray for them. Begin to invite them. See what God does. He won’t disappoint.
How are you measuring up? God has expectations for all of us. Let’s begin to meet them and see what he does.

High Expectations for Adult Bible Study class members, part 1

The theme for fall 2010 Southern Baptist Sunday School/Bible study launch is “High Expectations.” Those of us who lead, teach and serve understand the need for “high expectations.” But what are the expectations for the class members and attendees who are also in the classroom or small group? I am convinced there are expectations for those as well. Here are ten expectations for adult bible study class members:
1. Be prayed up and ready to hear God speak to you. Pray for your teacher, class and yourself. This shouldn’t happen in the car on Sunday morning. It should be a part of your every day spiritual discipline.
2. Greet class members and guests. Of course this assumes that you are on time so you won’t interrupt your teacher. All of us have had the “bad restaurant” experience where we’ve been stuck in a corner and ignored. Nobody will help us or talk to us! Unfortunately, that happened across the country every Sunday morning!
3. Be willing to step up and serve. Serve your class, as a greeter, outreach leader, or another position on your class leadership team. Serve by helping start another class. God’s math is multiplication not division! New classes reach people faster. Finally, set up and serve in another age group during Bible study. Right now across the country church staff’s and nominating committees are gearing up for the fall by enlisting people to serve. The only place to find those new workers is in adult Bible study classes.
4. Come with comments and questions. Don’t be afraid to interrupt or ask questions. This means being prepared. Read beforehand the lesson passage and church provided curriculum aid.
5. Support your church leadership on issues related to Bible study ministry. These issues may be related to scheduling, facilities or church approved curriculum.

One disturbing trend I’ve observed over the past few years is a movement by many adult Bible study classes to “do their own thing” in the area of Bible study curriculum. There are a couple of problems with that approach. First, it makes it extremely difficult for church leaders to get everyone on board, going in the right direction. Alignment is a powerful tool. Second, I believe this occurs when teachers forget that teaching is a right not a privilege. Teaching also comes with responsibility and accountability. Using a church approved curriculum or Bible study plan achieves both accountability and responsibility where it should be: on church leaders trained and called to provide leadership and oversight. Finally, this particular approach works nowhere else in adult education. My wife teaches at the Louise Herrington School of Nursing at Baylor University. Every semester her Dean tells her what she’ll teach and when she’ll teach it. Your pastor or minister of education is the dean for Christian education for your church.

Later this week we finish this topic.

What your Adult Bible Study Teach Should Expect from You

Lost Cities

A couple things came to my attention this week regarding the health of churches in our cities. First, on Monday the New York Times published an article on the struggling churches of Harlem. As older residents die or move to Florida in retirement many of the historic black churches in Harlem are struggling to stay open. The newer residents who are moving in are younger and different.The same thing is happening in cities all over the USA and indeed, the world. The dual challenge of globalization and urbanization are two of the great challenges and opportunities the 21st century church faces. The challenge is not just in North America. This leads me to the second thing that brought this challenge to my mind this week. Ed Stetzer a former colleague, sent out a tweet this week stating that only 1% of the population of Paris (France) are evangelicals. It reminded me that people in great urban centers around the world need to know Jesus. The North American Mission Board Strategic Focus Cities is a good start. We must do more to plant and re-plant churches in these great urban areas. We can give. We can go. We must pray. What else can we do to reach these cities? What are your ideas? Let the conversation begin.

RIP: Art Linkletter, CBS radio & TV personality died this week at age 97. I met Mr. Linkletter, 8-9 years ago at a community wide prayer breakfast. He was a complete Christian gentleman and gave a great speech on the power of prayer. I know I'll show my age with this but Mr. Linkletter you were right: Kid's Say the Darndest Things.

They Said It: Quotes for Preaching, Teaching & Leading

In our mission to encourage, equip and empower church leaders we offer these words of wisdom:

You can’t do today’s job with yesterday’s tools---Ron Lewis

Four things never come back----the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life and the neglected opportunity---Arabian proverb

An empty vessel makes the greatest sound----William Shakespeare

If we could have half our wishes, we would double our troubles---Benjamin Franklin

The Law tells me how crooked I am; Grace comes along and straightens me out---D.L. Moody

Stewardship is a person does after he says, “I believe.” ---W. H. Greever

First we practice sin, then defend it, then boast of it. ---Thomas Manton

The church exists by mission, as fore exists by burning.----Emil Brunner

The future comes one day at a time. ---Dean Acheson

We learn from experience that people never learn from experience. ---George Bernard Shaw

The key to flexibility is indecision. ---Anonymous

You do not need references to borrow trouble. - Unknown

The Church and the Stockdale Paradox

In his classic book, Good to Great, Jim Collins recalls a conversation he had with Admiral Jim Stockdale, the highest ranking US military officer in the “Hanoi Hilton” prisoner-of-war camp during the Vietnam War. During his eight years in captivity, Stockdale was repeated tortured and beaten. He once even beat himself with a stool, so his captors could not display him as a “well-treated prisoner.” After his release he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

During the conversation, Collins asked him, “How did you make it out?” Stockdale replied, “I never lost faith in the end of the story….I never doubted not only that I would get out, but that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which in retrospect, I would not trade….”

Stockdale had articulated what Collins called “The Stockdale Paradox.” In wrestling with life’s challenges the “Stockdale Paradox” states you must retain faith that you will prevail in the end and you must also confront the brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.

Collins recalls walking silently with the admiral around the beautiful Stanford campus for a few minutes. Then Collins asked him, “Who didn’t make it out?” And Stockdale replied, “Oh, that’s the optimists.” According to Stockdale the optimist said, “We’ll be home by Christmas!” Then Christmas would come and the optimist said “we’ll be home by Easter.” Easter would come and go. And finally they would say Thanksgiving….and eventually they would die of a broken heart.

Leaders embrace and live out the “Stockdale Paradox.” They combine the unconquerable faith of prevailing no matter how difficult things seem while also being relentlessly disciplined at confronting the brutal facts of their current reality. They reject triumphalism, optimism and sentimentality.

The North American church has much to learn from the "Stockdale Paradox.” The first aspect of the church's “Stockdale Paradox” is a theological affirmation: God’s church will triumph with Him. I believe that to be true. I’ll go to my grave believing it to be so. But the second half is what we need help dealing with: facing the brutal facts. And within the SBC there are just a few brutal facts we must face honestly:

• 80-85% of our churches have either plateaued or declined in growth & members.
• We have millions on our church rolls, some of whom FedEx couldn’t even track down.
• Only 3-4% of our churches are truly effective evangelistically.
• Mission giving and sending has not kept up with previous generations.
• Many of our churches have turned inward and are perceived as ‘cranky’ to their own communities.

A couple of years ago I heard one of my denominational leaders publicly yearn for a return to the 1950’s except without racism or sexism. How tragic I thought. The 1950’s are gone for good. Families aren’t like the Cleavers anymore. Yet in too many churches our programs and ministries would make you think otherwise. We curse the darkness and yearn for the good old days. Want to know what our culture will look like in 15-20 years? Look at Europe, then pray, take a deep breath and assess your own reality. Pastor, church leader, what is it that’s holding your church back? Assess. Get real. And go to God for help.

A Thank You to the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force

The Great Commission Resurgence (GCR) Task Force has issued its final report before it is to be presented at the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando next month. While I am still digesting the report, praying and listening to all sides of the debate, here is what I know:

• Our denomination must do something to revitalize our existing churches and a vision for planting many, many more.
• The recommendations are a good start.
• The committee members and its chairman Ronnie Floyd deserve our thanks and our support wherever we can give it.
• The structure, methodology and mission of NAMB must be reengineered to meet the needs of the 21st century.
• The Cooperative Program is still the best vehicle for denominational missional support I know of anywhere.
• Everyone should be heard. As far as I can tell everyone has.
• The challenge for every single Southern Baptist, every church, association, state convention, agency, and institution is simply this: BE MISSIONAL OR BE GONE!
• My prayer for myself and Southern Baptists is simply this:

Lord, send a revival, renewal and resurgence… and let it begin in me!

Classic Books Series: #1

The Seven-Day-a-Week Church by Lyle Schaller.

Lyle Schaller has been a mentor of mine for many years. Through his many books I’ve learned a great deal about church healthy and local church leadership. I had the privilege years ago to talk to him one-on-one for twenty minutes. In my mind his two most influential books are The Interventionist, about church consulting, and The Seven-Day-a-Week Church his book on mega-churches. First published in 1992 it holds up well and is still timely in its wisdom. Schaller foresaw the explosion of what he labeled 7 day-a-week churches offering multiple services and ministries designed to meet needs and reach people seven days a week. According to Schaller these churches would offer several services each week. He believed their key would be the strength and vitality of the senior teaching pastor.

Although Schaller did not predict the use of technology in churches or the growing multi-site movement. He did predict the rise of these mega churches and the two keys to their growth: worship & programming. He decries the lack of passion and emphasis on the transformational gospel in American mainline churches that drove its conservative members into evangelical churches. In a striking phrase he calls effective worship “good theater.”

Programming however was the other key ingredient in the growth of the seven-day-a-week church. Schaller was one of the first observers in the North American church to talk about the role of executive pastors. He identified the qualities of an effective Executive Pastor:

• An unreserved Christian commitment
• Character
• Loyalty
• Confidentiality
• Administrative skills
• Ability to oversee staff
• Competence in church finances
• Compatibility with church & community context
• Productivity
• Accountability
• Ability to implement goals
• Credibility (earned)
• Strong but not necessarily big, ego.

Not only is this classic worth a second look, it should be on your bookshelf.

My Dream Home and Churches

Recently my wife and I purchased our dream home. We had been looking for a couple of years but the timing hadn’t been right. Suddenly things moved quickly----like God often does when things are right: tax incentives for new homes made the market a once in a lifetime opportunity, my father-in-law at nearly 82 expressed a readiness to live with us and then we found the right house at the right price. So we made an offer, negotiated and closed on the loan. We’ve been in the house for a month now. And there are at least two things I have learned through this that can aid churches and their leaders:

The first is when we moved from our old house (we’d lived there nearly eight years) we de-cluttered. As we packed for the move of just four miles, we threw away, gave away and made numerous trips to the city dump. We gave away clothes, toys, sports equipment and a couch. We lightened our load. We got rid of stuff we didn’t need any more. During the moving process I thought churches need to do the same. How many programs and ministries don’t work effectively now? How many are just hanging on? It’s time to bury some things in our churches that don’t work any longer. They consume resources and energy that could be channeled into ministries that reach and disciple people. I am reminded of what Jesus said, “be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16). Where does your church need to de-clutter?

The second lesson learned is that we upgraded. Formica countertops were standard in kitchens fifteen years ago: now granite and custom cabinets are the norm. My wife told me the border in the bathroom needed to go. We also needed an electrician to do some work to make our new home more computer friendly. So we hired a contractor and upgraded our new home. We’re not done yet. In fact we may never be. But we’re off to a good start. Churches need to upgrade facilities, ministries and programs. For several years I visited a couple of hundred churches in west Texas for a Christian publisher and I can say that nearly every church I visited need to upgrade something. Whether it was property related, a struggling ministry or an upgraded ministry approach. At Noble Leadership Ministries we’re taking a fresh look at our ministry, services and products. I’m making my list. What’s on your list? What does your church or ministry need to upgrade? Let me know. Email me at mike@nobleleadershipministries.com. Let the conversation begin!

What I Learned from the Church Lady

Well, no she wasn’t really the church lady from the ‘80s Saturday Night Live skit but she did remind me of the Dana Carvey character. We recently bought a new home and one morning, while working from home an older lady knocked on our door. When I opened the door, she walked right in, saying, “Hi, I’m ____ and I’ve been visiting new residents for 25 years!” Before I could explain to her that we’d lived here eight years she was into her well-honed and well rehearsed speech. She gave me information about the best doctors and dentist in our area. Before I could get a word in edgewise, I was learning all about our local symphony and museums. She had her speech down and nothing, including me was going to slow her down.

After she was done, the longest fifteen minutes of my life, I finally got her out the door. Later I learned that she worked for a group of doctors, dentists and local businesses to promote them to newcomers. And nothing is wrong with that practice. It’s called direct marketing.

At dinner that night I retold the incident to my wife. We had a good laugh about my encounter with the woman and how she reminded me of the church lady. Funny thing about the church lady is that she was clueless. She had her views. She wouldn’t listen. She had her speech down and nobody was going to stop her.

Reflecting on those lost fifteen minutes I was reminded of how my denomination has done evangelism training. Starting out in ministry in the 1980’s I’ve been through “The Four Spiritual Laws,” Evangelism Explosion and Continuous Witness Training (CWT). Each time I learned a new gospel presentation it was awkward. It felt canned. It felt like a speech. It was not until I had personalized and internalized the material, without compromising it, that I could share my faith naturally. Unfortunately some don’t get it. They continue to peddle their message whether it’s about local doctors or heaven forbid the Gospel. Please don’t misunderstand me, I am thankful for the training in evangelism I have received. But don’t just learn it----internalize and personalize it-----and most important----share it NOW!

Is the Age of 'Possibility Thinking' Over ?

According to several press reports the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California is tens of millions of dollars in debt and maybe on the verge of bankruptcy. The founding pastor, Robert H. Schuller Sr. is 83 years old and well-known for his books on possibility thinking and the television program, “The Hour of Power.” And these bankruptcy reports are only the latest in a series of negative events impacting the church over the last few years.

A couple of years ago Schuller, in essence, fired his son, Robert Schuller Jr. as pastor and his self-appointed successor. The Southern California megachurch’s current leader is Shiela Schuller Coleman, daughter of Robert H. Schuller Sr., the founding pastor. Earlier this year the church closed a church campus in Rancho Capistrano. And in recent weeks it has put various properties up for sale, laid off employees, and cancelled its Easter pageant. The church has also scaled back its “Hour of Power” broadcasts, which are viewed by millions worldwide.

According to the Orange County Register the church is behind on payments to nearly 200 vendors. A lawsuit by three businesses including an equipment financing company and two television stations claim the church owes them more than $2 million for services rendered. In a meeting with its creditors the church asked for 90 days to resolve the financial issues. The meeting by all reports was civil and a committee was formed by vendors and creditors to “insure each creditor is treated equally when funds become available.”

The church is at a tipping point. Can it solve its current problems? Can it continue? And if so on what scale? These are the questions that many church leaders around the country are asking. But they are the wrong questions.

The right question, one that every church in America should ask, is “How did it get to this?” The answers are legion: changing demographics, entrenched ministries, etc. etc. The answer is obvious: a failed transition at the top. We don’t know what truly transpired between father and son. But whatever it was didn’t work. And that is why every church should go to school on how things play out at the Crystal Cathedral.

Pastor, is your church ready to effectively continue on after you’re no longer their leader? Are the people and processes in place to carry on? It’s an important question. Several well known churches in my denomination (Southern Baptist) have struggled over the issue (First Baptist Dallas and Bellvue in Memphis just to name two). The struggle for survival and solvency at the Crystal Cathedral is worth watching and worth learning from.

Last year as part of a national research project I met a west Texas pastor twenty years into a church ministry he started. Although he was on the north side of fifty five he was still active, fit and still had the fire in the belly. Yet a part of our conversation was about his planned transition from senior pastor to another less visible role. He knew they needed to do it, for himself and the church. He and his elder board were beginning the process. God Bless them for it. And may God bless the Crystal Cathedral as they struggle through it.

Learning from Sandra Bullock

As I watched the Oscars last night I was struck by the acceptance speeches not of the superstars, but the film editors, sound technicians and the other essential personnel who are also honored by the Hollywood community on that special night once a year. For many it is a once in a lifetime event. A lifetime of work by those who work behind the scenes, receiving ‘uber appreciation’ in one night. There were emotional moments, tears often intermingled with laughter. For some it is a race to thank as many people as possible before the orchestra music signals it is time to move on. Others took a moment to thank a select few.

And when Sandra Bullock accepted the Oscar for best actress she spoke directly to the four other women nominated. She didn’t have to do that but she did it just the same. She thanked LeAnn Tuoy (who was present in the hall) whom she played in the movie, The Blind Side. But when she thanked her mother it was a special moment.

Most of us will never have a moment like Sandra Bullock and the other Oscar winners had last night. But suppose for just a moment you did have just an opportunity. What would you say? To whom would you say it? Who would you thank?

Although we might never have an Oscar opportunity, why not say it now? Why wait? Tell them today.

What’s keeping ya?

Until next time.

Living in the Zone: A book review

Living in the Zone: a 40 Day Spiritual Game Plan for Men is a new resource from Thomas Nelson Publishers. The authors are Kyle Rote Jr. and Dr. Joe Pettigrew. Rote is a former professional soccer player, a three time champion of ABC-TV Super Stars and a retired CEO of a sports management firm. Pettigrew is founder of Leaderpoint, an author, speaker and busy consultant to numerous Fortune 500 companies.

The format of the book is simple: it is 40-days of devotional for men emphasizing our relationship with God, wife, children, friends, work, and the future. Each daily devotional is an easy read of 5-7 pages with a section of questions for individual or group discussion, a brief daily assignment and a place for prayer requests and praise. Each daily section uses scripture and inspirational stories from the likes of Kurt Warner, Tony Dungy, Allan Houston and John Wooden.

Former head football coach Tom Osborne of the Nebraska Cornhuskers describes Living in the Zone: applying spiritual truths to the dilemma of balancing career and family in today’s culture….it draws on athletic metaphors to illustrate the importance of doing things God’s way rather than our way.

I highly recommend Living in the Zone to church leaders wanting to take the men in their congregation to a deeper level of discipleship.

The Life that Pleases God Matthew 5:3-6

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus describes the criteria for fitness in His Kingdom. The Neatitudes are Jesus' own specifications for what every believer ought to be. Providentially, the Beatitudes follow the same pattern as the Ten Commandments: just like the Commandments the first four beatitudes describe a life that pleases God, the last four describes a life lived for others.

What kind of life pleases God?

Jesus said: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (v. 3 ESV).

What does it mean to be "poor in spirit?" It does not mean to be economically destitute, cowardly or without the Holy Spirit. The life that pleases God begins with admitting our own spiritual bankruptcy. "We are all beggars" declared Martin Luther. The gospel does not work for the proud and self-sufficient, but for those who own up to their own sinfulness and who cast themselves on the grace and mercy of God. As Charles Spurgeon noted: "The first link between my soul and Christ is not my goodness but my badness, not my merit but my misery, not my riches bit my need."

The life that pleases God? The first step is to acknowledge our spiritual bankruptcy.

Jesus continues: " Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." (v. 4 ESV).

What does it mean to mourn? In a word: grief. Its the kind of grief we experience when we see a person who has wasted their life, or a frined who is whithering away from cancer and is too young to be this sick. The Bible applies this to our own sinfulness: "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death!" (Romans 7:24 ESV).

Jesus promise to those who please God in this way " shall be comforted." The life that pleases God grieves over the way the world truly is and will ultimately see God set things right!

In Matthew 5:5 Jesus declares: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." In our culture "meekness" suggests we become someone's doormat....sort of a cross between wimp and a wallflower. This is a tragic distortion of what Jesus taught. In Jesus day meekness was described in several ways:

a wild horse that had been broken and brought under control was to be "meek or gentle."

ointment that drew fever and pain out of a wound was "meek medicine"

people who were polite, treating others with dignity, courtesy and tact were called "meek"

Jesus calls us to live another way of life. Eric Liddell, the missionary and Olympic gold medalist, whose life is told in the film Chariots of Fire was described as "ridiculously humble in victory and utterly generous in defeat." That's the life that pleases God. The reward for the "meek: is that they shall "inherit the earth." This means that every need we have will be met. The greedy grab and lose, while the meek inherit and gain.

Finally Jesus says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." (Matt. 5:6 ESV). People who live a life that pleases God have spiritual passion, an insatiable hunger to know God intimately and model His ways. This more than just acquiring biblical and theological information. It is much more. jesus is describing about a life aligned with God's character: His holiness, truth, goodness and righteousness.

Our reward is to be "satisfied." Instead of being perpetual victims of spiritual starvation, never getting sufficient nourishment to grow grow strong we shall be satisfied. here is the hope of this promise: we will become spiritually satisfied, able to handle harsh conditions and endure uncomfortable circumstances. God's pantry never runs low. His well never runs dry!

That's the life God blesses----the life that pleases Him.

Cell Groups plus Sunday School? Why the answer is No

Just last week I had a conversation with a church leader who wanted to add home based cell groups alongside their Sunday School strategy. I began to ask him questions: they had room to start new units, the church was open to multiple Sunday school hours and they were growing at a healthy rate.

The bottom line is he thought adding home=based cell groups would be a growth accelerator. Can't fault him for that, in fact its commendable. The problem is that off-site cell groups and sunday school can't coexist. For several years I was part of a group of consultants who related to some the largest and fastest growing churches in the country. As a group we could not find a single church that did both cell groups and sunday school well. They are two entirely different DNA's.

If you know of a church that is doing well let me know. It'll be a first

Is Your Church a Good Neighbor?

Someone once said, "Good fences make good neighbors." The meaning is obvious. Fences help us maintain proper boundaries. The is true for churches. Most pastors I know want to be good neighbors. Sometimes that can be a challenge. Years ago Prestonwood Baptist Church was growing so fast they filled their onsite parking every week. As their growth continued many people began parking in a strip mall parking lot across the street. Obvious the business owners in the mall were upset, believing the church members were taking spots that should have been used by customers. The issue finally resolved itself when a group of businessmen who attended Prestonwood bought the strip mall! Not many churches can do that!

I thought about that a few weeks ago as I drove by the Village Church near my home one Sunday. The Village Church is one of the fastest growing churches in the country. Their pastor is Matt Chandler a dynamic preacher and visionary pastor. Many of you know he is battling cancer. The first Sunday of December Village Church held their first service in their new worship center, located in a shopping center in a former grocery superstore.

As I drove past one Sunday morning recently on tyhe way to my church, I noticed the Village Church parking crew helping worshippers park that morning. What stood out to me was their obvious effort to protect the parking spaces of a local Mexican restaraunt. They were doing there best to be good neighbors. I should confess: it was important to me because it's my family's favorite place and we eat their almost every Sunday. Never get between a sixth generation Texan and their favorite Tex-Mex place, but I digress. Way to go Village Church!

Is your church a good neighbor? Your church may not be located in a shopping center, but that's OK, you can still be a good neighbor. Here's three areas to consider:

1. The public school nearest your church. How do they feel about your church? How often are your members and staff on campus. It's important you know and follow their rules for access. Increase your visibility. before you can be an agent of change they must know you care. Ninety percent of life is just showing up. Quit bellyaching about the state of our public schools, roll up your sleeves and get to work. Imagine what would happen if every church in America adopted and commiitted to serve the school nearest to them!

2. Restaraunts. Do you and your staff patronize eating establishments near your church? How well do you know the managers and staff? Build good relationships with them. Get to know them. Look for opportunities to minister to them.

3. Open your facility for community events. Let your buildings and property work for you. The best marketing tool your church has is the community grapevine. When you allow your community access to your property to get goodwill and that's something no marketing plan can pay for.

Good fences make good neighbors. But for churches it's not fences to build but bridges to your community that's criticical.