Ben Eige's blog

Moving to Wordpress

2007-06-12T13:11:00.000-07:00

Moving the blog over to Wordpress, it'll give me a little more freedom as to how I set up the blog. beneige.wordpress.com.

See you there!

test

2007-06-11T08:07:00.001-07:00

Getting on Technorati

2007-06-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

Everyone else is doing it...
Technorati Profile

Terry Storch

2007-05-29T20:20:00.001-07:00

Okay, for the 2.5 people who read this blog go to Terry Storch's blog and read it on a regular basis. He's the Digerati guru at LifeChurch. Holy cow, he and the team there are right out on the edge of ministry and where we should all be heading. Completely strategizing how to leverage everything technology has to offer to show people Jesus. Then at the same time, he doesn't live in this tech-induced smugness. His blog also covers the realities of life and the joys and stress of ministry. Thanks Terry for impacting me, and we've never even met (although we did talk on the phone once.)

Back to the city

2007-05-29T19:54:00.000-07:00

Well after really wrestling with where God was calling us to plant in and/or around Charlotte, NC, we really are feeling called into the city. This was something we prayed through a little over a year ago, but didn't feel released then to it. Over the last few weeks, some opportunities and many great conversations have happened leading my thoughts and prayers back to Uptown Charlotte and the surrounding neighborhoods. I brought those thoughts to Casey and we began to pray again, this time we believe God is leading us there. My heart is breaking for the people down there. Young professionals are moving into the area in droves, remodeling and new housing is exploding, completely revitalizing the area and creating a need for new churches on several levels. One, this is a new generation of people from all around the country and new style of church will be needed to reach them, second these are the people who impact the culture and flow of the entire Charlotte metro area. Imagine a move for Christ in these people and the impact that ultimately makes throughout the region, a region of over 2 million! I realized a year ago, my desire was to plant a cool, trendy, hip Uptown church, this time it's about the people, honestly and truly. Once again God had things to work in me to prepare for HIS plans to happen. Casey and I spent the last 2 days in and around Uptown. What a cool place. So many people, so many neat areas, what a place that needs Jesus.

This is going to be scary. I could fake my way through planting a church in the suburbs, but no such illusions here. It's God or nothing, cause I can't do this thing on my own. How obvious, isn't that what God wants? But how often do we do "God's work" solely on our own abilities. I could go on and on. I'm so excited about this, excited in a way I haven't felt before. I don't know how it's all going to happen, so many different things need to happen. We were at a church planter's training tonight and Dean, a church planter from Ft. Mill, sitting next to us, said he saw a picture of us working a puzzle and there were pieces coming together and the image was clear in those parts, but there were parts of the puzzle with pieces missing and we didn't know how it would fit together. But God was standing at the table holding the missing pieces in His hand, because He is working with us and knows how the pieces will fit. That so truly spoke to me, because there are many elements of this whole deal that I don't know how they will fit together, but I've felt God does. And it wasn't a throwaway thought like, "Oh well, God knows how it will all work out." I felt honestly that God knows, and Dean's word tonight was confirming that.

CRAZY STUFF!!! What an adventure ahead...

Elevation Church

2007-05-23T13:36:00.001-07:00

Had lunch with Larry Brey from Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC today. Wow...that pretty well sums things up. Larry was great to spend time with me and share their lessons, vision and passion. God is certainly doing something phenomenal in that they launched early last year and this past weekend had nearly 2000 in attendance. Holy crap! Great eye-openers and some confirmation for some of what God has been doing in us. They're a church that loves Jesus and wants other folks to know. I also really appreciated their willingness to resource and be available.

Conversation

2007-05-22T19:30:00.001-07:00

Had an awesome opportunity to spend some time in the Seattle area last week, namely Everett at New Life Foursquare. Dan Laurenzo and Jim Crosby hosted several of us and it gave us opportunity for awesome conversation. This whole trip was full of great conversations on many levels. I love talking church and ministry and hearing fresh thoughts and getting challenged. Take advantage of your peers and get into conversation on a regular basis. It's huge.

Oh and Seattle is an unbelievable, beautiful city, beautiful mountains. Everything a great place needs!

Stirring

2007-05-22T11:33:00.000-07:00

Before you ask, no I'm not going in a completely new direction. Still feel called to Charlotte and church planting, but God is wanting something different than I've always thought. Not sure what. Holy cow what's He doing?! You ever ask that question? So pray for His revelation to come...

I finally went to Mars Hill Church

2007-05-14T00:31:00.001-07:00

Today I made it to Mars Hill Church in Seattle. After several years of reading the books and listening to Mark Driscoll's podcasts, I made it there. But wouldn't you know Mark was taking the week off and wasn't preaching, topped off with the fact that my trip to Mt. Rainier was in total cloud cover and I didn't even see the mountain. All the more reason to come back next year and climb it! Anyway, even though Mark Driscoll wasn't preaching it was still a pretty cool experience. The church is set up very cool, they take it a direction I'd like to go. It was wild to see the group of people there. All young people, an entire church of young people. Good stuff…

Somewhere over the Western US

2007-05-13T01:01:00.001-07:00

On the way to Seattle on the third plane of the day, because storms suck when you're trying to fly. Had good conversation about church and what brings people to church and what causes churches to grow, plateau and decline. There's so many factors and since I'm not working on a doctoral thesis I'm not going to do any research anytime soon. All opinion and anecdotal, but it seems worship style certainly is a big influencer to people's opinion of church. Why is that? Church is about so many things, worship being only one, but it influences people in such a powerful way. Is it selfishness, immaturity, whining? Or is it legitimate that individuals' taste in how they express their love for God must be recognized and acknowledged as integral to how they engage church? I've never really thought about it that way…hmmm. One thing I do know is I get excited talking and thinking about this stuff. Alright, we're heading down so time to shut the computer down. My first blog entry from a plane…cool. Oh and going to see Rainier for the first time tomorrow, at least from the ground…good stuff.

I got called up

2007-05-09T10:51:00.000-07:00

Found out yesterday, I'm speaking in all 3 services at our church on July 22nd. Come on out and watch the mayhem!

Thanks Brian

2007-05-09T10:45:00.000-07:00

Do any of you have those friends that are there for life? There really aren't many of those running around. Our society moves and goes through so many life transitions that I think it is a rare thing that a friend stays really and truly close for the long haul. You may still talk and catch up, but a comradeship that may have been there during one season of your life perhaps is not quite the same as the years go by. Brian's one of those that keeps on sticking on. He and I went to high school and college together and then went of into the world, both of us moving around different parts of the country, then, strangely we both randomly (seemingly) end up in the Charlotte area. Well anyway, Brian knows me well, has known me a long time and it's good to have him around. I'm in this crazy new season of trying to plant a church, a somewhat megalomaniacal undertaking in itself, and I needed somewhere to go and talk struggles and frustrations and fears, and Brian was there. He doesn't go to my current church, lives on the other side of the city, but he's close enough to have been there for me this morning. Thanks Brian, and Go Gators!

I've made it to the platform

2007-05-02T14:19:00.000-07:00

I'll be opening our 11am service this weekend, my first official duty from the platform! I'll be doing water baptisms at our 9 and 11 am services on May 20th and communion at all 3 services on June 3rd. So good times there!

God's a good God...in case you were wondering

2007-05-02T12:29:00.000-07:00

You know how no matter how much God does you always come back to that place of wondering if He is still working? Why do we suck so bad at trusting? Anyway, God spoke to me through several folks over the last week. I'm plugged in to a men's class here at church and I was talking with one of the guys, and he was asking how things were. And I said pretty good, but it's overwhelming sometimes thinking about what's ahead. He pointed me to Ephesians 2.10, "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in ADVANCE for us to do." That was the key, God already has it taken care of. That's powerful stuff really. I'm teaching in that class tonight on faith, and we talk about, we give it lip service, but do we really trust God that He has prepared everything in ADVANCE?
Then on Sunday I was in the Single Adult class, one of my duties during this year. I'll be honest and say I've really been leaning on God about that responsibility. The group is typically a bit older than I am, and I have not really experienced singleness like they have, so the question is there of my viability for the role. God has certainly been working in me and working in them throughout the process. I know I have so much I can learn and gain from all of it. Then on Sunday one of the leaders made a point that she felt God really wanted to make clear that they all come around me during this season to help me better understand single adults and also help me prepare for planting a church. It was powerful! Then another individual said let's pray now! So they came around me, laid hands on me and began to pray. Very cool stuff. God has prepared in advance...He knew where I was and where I am going. Afterward the two leaders came up and shared that they felt like God had told them "what a privilege" to be a part of my ministry now and my preparation for what is ahead. She compared it to Billy Graham's 3rd grade Sunday School teacher seeing what he would become later on. Oh man that's crazy stuff! Anyway, writing to share and also writing to help remind me of God doing His thing and being faithful.

A Blog I had to comment on.

2007-04-27T08:28:00.000-07:00

Commented at Out of Ur. This blog discusses a lot of things "postmodern." I read the post/excerpt linked above and had to respond. My comment should be posted with the blog entry. You can check out the original entry here.

Here is my comment that was posted in response:

Once again we get a "my way or the highway" bash from the Emergent movement. You complain of a "one-size-fits-all" mentality among the modern church, yet you are calling for a similar move within the Emergent church. Strict, CEO-like leadership is not a good thing in the Church, but neither is a haphazard, let 'em feed where they like attitude. People are creative, and in today's society, fluid. They take advantage of "time-shifting" and "content-shifting" in ways never seen before. But the bible still calls pastors and leaders to LEAD! Leadership must be open to creativity, fresh ideas and relevance certainly. But leadership that subsists on the whims of everyone will never succeed. This is not leadership. It's some kum bi ya utopianism that ultimately cannot function. God recognized this when He gave Israel kings. He didn't want them to need a king-leader, but they failed in what should have been a more positive theocratic structure, in the biblical sense, not the modern-day sense. "Sheep without a shepherd" a wise man once lamented.... Thanks for the dialogue and the interesting points, but in your attempt to be more open and forward-thinking, I'm afraid the Church will get lost in a mire of leaderless communities wandering which ever way seems nice at the time. Culture is changing, postmodernism's hold on life is unmistakable, we must change to impact people where the are today, but the Bible must remain the supreme source of our guidance as we lead.

Pick up this book

2007-04-24T19:54:00.001-07:00

Confessions of a Reformission Rev. by Mark Driscoll. I've only read the first chapter, but it's worth the price of the book just for that. It's Chapter 0, which an administrative friend of mine has trouble with, but yes it's the first chapter of the book. I've been a fan of Mark Driscoll for a few years now. I first ran across him in a book from Relevant Media called the Relevant Church. I was at a point in my youth ministry where I saw things changing and couldn't put my finger on it. I began to explore the postmodern church movement and was intrigued. It seemed to answer some questions that I had, and gave me insight into some of the directions I saw young people, and ultimately the church, traveling in. But it was missing something. There was a check that I had, I was reading Brian McLaren and others of that ilk but I wasn't convinced they were totally on track. The more I searched the more I became uncomfortable with their theology. It seemed at the end of the day the full, unblemished truth of Jesus, our sin, His death, our complete need for Him, and the unquestioned validity of all the bible had to say was missing. It had become more of a philosophical movement rather than a bible-based faith movement. At this same time I began feeling the call to plant a church and was looking for a basis for this struggle I was experiencing and how it would relate to a future church. I knew culture and the views of people toward Jesus and faith were changing, but I was struggling to bring it all to a coherent whole as I explored my fundamental values of what church should be. Then I read Mark Driscoll's chapter in the Relevant Church. He nailed it. He was reaching the current generations and cultural expressions effectively, and Jesus was at the core of it all. I remember telling Casey, "he nailed it!" So, I began listening to his podcasts. Devoured his first book. And am finally diving into his latest. He's not for everyone. He's brash. Sometimes he says things that maybe he shouldn't, but you know people are getting saved at his church like crazy. He's impacting the ENTIRE culture of Seattle. An entire city is being affected by this church. How many other churches can truly claim that?

We have to get outside of our traditions. Not in a crazy, tattoo-everything-and-pierce-what's-left-over kind of way, but in a way that engages culture where it is now. Not where it was before, not where it was when we saw our greatest successes, not where we think it should be, not in a way that glosses over the "sticky" parts, but where it is NOW. People want real. Our culture is real. It's right there in your face. Jesus was right there in the faces of the cultural giants of the time He walked the earth. Revelation presents a Jesus who will return and get right in the face of the world, riding a giant horse, carrying a giant sword ready to kick some tail. Why shouldn't we follow that example?

You know I started this entry to be quick, just a short recommendation of the book, but it stirred something. I'm fired up, I'm ready to go preach!

Leaders...

2007-04-24T11:43:00.000-07:00

As I jump into this church plant process with both feet all I can think about is leaders. I NEED THEM!!! If you've ever done church ministry without leaders around you and then done ministry with leaders on board you know where my need comes from. I'm not going to provide principles of leadership or write a new book, I just know how important leaders are. Quality, passionate, creative, visionary, loving leaders. I need 'em, the more the merrier. If you know where I can find them, please let me know. I want a team church. How much more excitement is there when you are moving forward as part of a team of motivated people. Pushing each other farther, building on each other's strengths. Doing things you never thought possible. It's a ride. The more I look at my planning and strategy, the more I realize I want to have happen and the more I realize I can't do this on my own. I need the folks who want to see the lost and hopeless find Jesus and aren't afraid to do whatever it takes to see that happen.

Here's my goals for the year

2007-04-23T13:40:00.000-07:00

Successful Church Plants

There are ten common factors that successful church plants share, according to the results of a study released by the Center for Missional Research, a division of the North American Mission Board. The following factors proved to be the best predictors for higher worship attendance, as reported by christianpost.com:

Location. Church plants that start in school facilities show a distinct advantage in term of visibility, parking and low costs. In the longer term, churches that meet in movie theaters also exhibit higher attendance.

Reaching children. Special children's events along with outreaches around holidays, and at other times, attract crowds and help churches sustain attendance.

Promotion of the church. Church plants with high attendance mail invitations for services, programs and events and to keep community awareness high.

Training new members. Successful church plants provide training and clearly communicate that the new members participate and find a place to serve.

Mandatory church covenant for new members. New members are required to sign a church covenant as a sign that they take their commitment to the church seriously.

Intentional financial stewardship. The pastors receive financial compensation as well as health insurance, allowing them time to focus on the church's growth and not their own basic needs.

The staff factor. The most successful church plants do not start out under-staffed and their planters are full-time. They have also assessed staff for their suitability and have multiple staff members from the start.

Not just focusing on their own needs. Successful church plants start at least one church within three years of their own plant and those who are sent out to start a new church are replaced and even more are added.

Building leadership. Church plants with higher attendance conduct leadership training, build their leadership base and delegate leadership roles to church members on an ongoing basis.

The achievement factor. Church planters have a vision of what God wants to do and remain focused on accomplishing that.

That sure sums it up. Now I've got a year to get to it...come along for the ride!

Just coming home

2007-04-22T04:55:00.000-07:00

Just got home at almost 2am this morning from FDIC in Indianapolis. You know I couldn't even tell you what "FDIC" stands for, but it was a trade show/training for firemen, literally from all over the world. Was there doing "my other job," trying to sell radios. It was long, tiring, and mostly boring, but I always find it interesting to get into the world of other folks a little bit. One of the things I love about firemen, is they are passionate about what they do. It really is more than a job for them. There's purpose and meaning, and risk and tragedy and they get after it. Too few people get real passionate about what they do. They make work hard, and work well, but is there passion? To many folks are content to collect a paycheck and go home. God needs passion. We have to work to find it. We have to fight to keep it. So yeah, go thank a fireman. Ask them about what they do, you'll see what I'm talking about.

Letter to the Praying folks

2007-04-16T13:36:00.001-07:00

April 16, 2007

Prayer Team,

First and foremost let me say thank you for your willingness to support us in this endeavor. God is doing amazing things, and I am so excited that all of you are a part. Just writing this letter is an exciting event for me, as it is, in many ways, the first tangible step on this process to launching a new church. God has taken Casey and me on such a journey since we first spoke to our pastor in California, Stan Wilson, about this nearly 4 years ago. So many trials that I would have never imagined or hoped for, but now, looking back, God's hand is so evident in it all. I had so much that needed to be worked through in me, and God, in His wisdom and timing, took the time to do that. As I write this, I feel the need to share some of what God has done in us over these last few years. We left California on top of the world. We were sent out with such love and support anything seemed possible, and I was sure it was all going to happen spectacularly and fast! God knew that wasn't to be. He took me through a time of humbling, discovering true brokenness and cleaning out a lot of pride that I had let creep into my heart. He also reminded me of the depth of truth in Job's cry "the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
I used to sing the song by Matt Redman in which he takes this very verse and uses it as a source of worship, and I didn't like it at all. I used to think about how depressing it was (how small of me!). Then God took me into the valley after our move to North Carolina. It was in that valley that God revealed the source of this verse, and He allowed me to learn how to worship Him from that place. It's all His, we have to learn to worship Him where ever we find ourselves. What a place of freedom! I'm still learning this lesson, and most likely will be all of my life, but it sure works wonders on the pride! Throughout this time God also had to allow me to learn to stand on His promises. We knew we were called to the Charlotte area, but I so often allowed myself to doubt and worry that nothing was ever going to move forward. Through some good teaching and some good prayer (thanks Pastor Farrell, George and MeMaw) I was led to the story of the Israelite spies in the Promised Land. They lost sight of God's promise that the land would be theirs in the sight of obstacles that seemed impossible to overcome, and God punished them for it. I was guilty of the same thing. I needed to repent of that doubt and move forward on God's promise and His call to this city. What was so interesting through all of this, something I didn't fully grasp until recently, God had slowed many of the thoughts and the drive to get this church plant off the ground. He didn't take the call away, but He put it on the back burner of my mind and heart while He worked in these other areas. Then, as you know, I was recently given this opportunity to come on staff at Grace Covenant to begin to put my full effort into launching a new church. With that opportunity, God has released again the passion and drive for this new church. My mind's racing again about ministry and vision! I didn't realize God had slowed that part of me until it came back recently full force! How exciting God is!

So there is a little back story on where God has brought Casey and me, me especially, along this journey. Now, we are working very intentionally toward getting this new church off the ground. Which leads me to this letter, I told you at the beginning that this was the first tangible step in the process of this church plant. My first goal is to surround myself with a team of prayer warriors. That's why you are receiving this letter. I know this thing will fall exceedingly flat if not covered in prayer. I know God wants to blow the doors off this thing, and I know I can't do that through my own strength. Ephesians 3.20 said God can do more than we can think or imagine. I'll be honest, I can imagine quite a bit! But God wants bigger, and if I limit this whole process to my imagination I've missed God on so many levels. I want an Ephesians 3.20 church! I want God to blow us all away with what He wants to accomplish in the Charlotte region! I need your prayer!! I hope you hear my heart. I want God all over this thing. I want me NOT all over this thing. I want to be used by Him as completely as He wants. I want this new church to be completely His. So that's why I've asked you to come alongside Casey and me in prayer. You may never set foot in this new church, some of you are on the other side of the country, but we desire your prayers desperately and continually. So I'm asking you to commit to praying for Casey and our family and for this new church on a regular, fervent basis.

I would like to continually update all of you on needs and the progress as we move forward. I would prefer to do this via email, as I'm a technology junkie and can get the word out much more quickly and efficiently that way. If I haven't already asked you, can you please send me your email address. My goal is to send out updates on a monthly basis at the minimum and more often as the need arises. Please feel free to share these updates with others you pray with; I would love to expand the network of our Intercessors.

Casey and I are praying for each of you, and we can't begin to express our thanks for your part in what God is doing here.

By His Power,

Ben Eige

A fresh start

2007-04-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

Well, the blog's gotta a new name (just simpler) and a new direction. I'm moving fully into this church planting thing and Grace Covenant Church has given me a job to do just that. Cool stuff. The next post is a letter to my potential Intercessory Team. It gives a good background on where God has taken me these last months and where I see Him taking us in the days ahead. I hope to now use this blog to document this ride He's starting us on. Thanks for reading...

Lessons from a neo-Samaritan

2006-05-16T16:21:00.000-07:00

I read this last night in National Geographic Adventure magazine, and it really struck me. Read the whole thing and search yourself and your willingness to be the unemployed coal miner who would give up his lunch. I messed my back up pretty good and have been on the couch most of the last two days. Today I was talking to a neighbor about it and how I was wanting to mow the grass but it was going to have to wait. We talked a while longer and I went inside to set up camp on the couch. A little later I heard a lawn mower and thought "who's mowing their grass?" as most folks were at work. Then I saw my neighbor out my window and realized he was mowing my yard. That was cool. Then I had to ask myself would I have done the same thing? Are we really showing Jesus or are we just waiting on the sidelines for a booming sign from above? Time to be ready and open to just give and to just care for our fellow man.

The incredible things God has allowed me to be a part of

2006-05-07T19:14:00.000-07:00

This list isn't a "hey look at me" list, but a pondering on all the unbelievable things I've been blessed to be a part of. You probably know the last 9 months have been a crazy roller coaster ride of emotions for me. God is working, but it's been hard for me to see sometimes. I'm alone a lot at work and that gets dangerous as I just sit and think and fume and get frustrated with where I am right now. And then God kicks me around a little bit and I get back to learning the lessons he has for me. So the other day he reminded me of all the incredible things that have happened in my life...

I've asked Jesus into my life
I've met and married the love of my life
I've been father to the most incredbile little man in the world and number two is on the way!
I've traveled the country...north to south and east to west
I've been to the top of mountains and the bottom of oceans
I've been to the edge of canyons
I've been to the bottom of valleys
I've had a bear in my car
I've played Playstation with the bass player of a platinum selling rock band
I've been to Disney World and Disneyland
I've been in the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico
I watched my son being born
I've been to London, I've been to Paris and I've been to Tijuana!
I've led someone to Jesus
I know how to snowboard
I've slept in the woods
I can drive stick
I've been humbled
I've made huge mistakes
I've been forgiven
I've spoken in front of a thousand people
I've been in the navy
I've camped out for football tickets
I've walked in the snow in shorts and sandals
I've led an incredible team
I've been led by incredbile leaders
I've watched young people stand up for what's right
I've built a house
I've worn camo and run around in the woods
I know how to scuba dive
I've been rock climbing
I've seen a bear take a nap in the woods
I've swam with sharks
I've been to the highest peak on the West Coast and the East Coast
I remember where I was when the World Trade Center fell
I've been on TV
I've had the best job in the world
I've owned an iPod
I've driven to the beach at 3am to see the sunrise
I've been made to feel exceptionally appreciated
I've earned enough frequent flier miles to get a free ticket
I've auditioned for a movie
I've danced to a live band on a subway
I've been to as many National Parks as I can
I've taken a road trip with my dad
I know how to surf
I've smoked a Cuban cigar
I've played Xbox with a bunch of guys all night long
I saw a Wal-mart commercial being filmed in Picadilly Circus
I've seen the Mona Lisa
I've seen Los Angeles on a clear day
I've tried to grab the fin of a dolphin to catch a ride
I've seen the Pacific Ocean, the Hollywood sign, the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, the Mississippi River, the Atlantic Ocean and the White House all on the same day
I've received a check in the mail at exactly the right time
I've had incredible friends and incredible conversations
I've been to a drive in movie
I've done most of these things with the love of my life
I've been voted most likely to succeed, and while those who voted may not agree, they were the most prophetic words I've ever been give. I have succeeded. I have succeeded in every way that is important. I have succeeded in discovering God has the best plan for my life, and although I may not always see it, I know it to be true. I'll be 30 in a few weeks and tonight my wife and I talked about our 6th wedding anniversary coming up and spoke of how unreal the next 6, 10, 50 are going to be. Man do we focus on the negative stuff, and forget to relish in the incredible stuff. God directed the Israelites to build an altar every time a miracle occurred so they would remember what He did for them. We need those altars in our lives to remember what He has done for us and allowed us to be a part of. Life is good.

Excuses

2006-05-07T18:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, I send out this message basically begging folks to read my blog and then I don't blog! What crazy loser am I!! Well here's my list of excuses...we are now in our new house. It seems as if it's a forever process to get fully moved in but it's been great. Kind of scary, a mortgage and all that, but cool. I actually enjoyed mowing the grass for the first time, sure that won't last. Cool blessings cause we got the lawnmower for free and we got a vacuum for $4. Yeehaw. I've finally left Blue Bell. Good thing but still a little scary. I'm now in the even more glamorous industry of pavement cleaning. I drive a big truck that sprays water out the bottom. Hey it pays better and I don't have to wake up at 3:30. Other than that it's just been a lot of wondering about where God is taking us, but I'm through that season now. One of my last days in the Blue Bell truck I got over my frustrations (again) and began to ponder the unbelievable opportunities I've had in my life...so read on to my next blog.

Coming Soon

2006-04-30T18:11:00.000-07:00

A new post is coming this week I promise!!

Why??

2006-03-18T21:27:00.000-08:00

You ever wonder why God doesn't just give us a clear picture of what he wants us to do? I know, I know he's teaching us, building us up, building character, I agree, I know that to be true without a doubt, but there's those times where you just want to have a clear idea of what he wants us to do next. There's huge decisions out there and you just need to know what to do. I know God has a plan, I know it's perfect, I know all things work for good for those called according to his purpose, it's just that there's those times where you just want it to be obvious.

Of course the flip side of that is that as soon as I started getting frustrated with God he comes through and I look stupid and once AGAIN have to humble myself...man can you imagine life without him?

Some new thoughts

2006-03-08T12:13:00.000-08:00

Well, you read in the last post (at least the one person who looks at this!) that we were praying about a church plant in downtown (Uptown) Charlotte. We spent several weeks praying through it all and spent some more time down there and feel like God is not calling us there at this point. But we definitely have a real heart and see a real need to impact that area, so anything we're a part of in the future will always be with an eye to how we can impact Uptown Charlotte, and in the future who knows. It would have been exciting and dangerous for sure, but we're confident it's not the place for us to go now.

Something else happened in the last few weeks that got me thinking though. My family and I were going to Target and parked next to a car that looked just like ours and the family was getting out of it at the same time and made a comment about "nice car." We got to talking with them, about our age with a son about our age and it was cool. We told them what we did and our plans for a church and our connection with an existing church in town. At the end of the conversation the man asked for my phone number in case he "had questions about the church." Cool! I thought, I gave him my mobile number and we went on our way. My wife and I were excited about the whole thing cause we got to talk to someone new about church and perhaps it was the start of a relationship.

The next day he gives me a call, I didn't get it, but soon called him back and he proceeded to tell me how we thought I seemed like a sharp guy and wanted to talk to me about a "consulting" opportunity. MAN!!! It was multi level marketing if I ever saw it!!!! What a crock! I thought we were building cool relationships in the community and they were just using us to get us into their scheme! I set up a meeting with him out of courtesy, but then was a total chump and blew it off. I felt pretty bad, cause I'm not that way, but figured I'd probably never hear from them again anyway. Then he calls a couple days later wondering what happened, in my guilt I agree to meet again and all my fears were confirmed, it was a scheme and he couldn't give me the details unless I went to another meeting...yada, yada, yada....

But here's what really got me thinking. I felt used and ticked. I thought they wanted to be friends, but in the end I felt used and taken advantage, BUT how much different are we oftentimes as Christians trying to get someone to go to our church? To be honest, that's what my wife and I were thinking about after talking to them and during talking to them. We wanted to get them into our little "scheme." Now granted, our "scheme" has vastly more important and eternal ramifications, BUT is it fair to just talk to people with the intent to get them to church or should our focus first be authentic relationship? That's a scary thought, but I think a very real thought we need to wrestle with. Are we building real relationships with people first? Do we really care about the individual or are we trying to get our "Invited Someone to Church" merit badge? People see schemes, just like I saw his scheme long before I met with him. It's too important to turn people away from the church and the possible relationship with Jesus, cause we're working our scheme.

Here's a kink

2006-01-21T20:00:00.000-08:00

Like I've written previously I've been listening a lot to Mark Driscoll in Seattle. Recently he was speaking on the church in Corinth and relating it to his church in Seattle. His main theme was the city is the center of culture. If you want to affect culture reach the city. Media, business, trends all flow from the city. Paul went to the cities and from there Christianity flowed out. It got me thinking about our future church launch. We had been looking at growing, suburban areas around Charlotte, identifying several possibilities. Then as I listened to this message I began to give it deeper thought. The downtown (Uptown) area of Charlotte is booming. Condominiums are shooting up everywhere, the south end is becoming an incredibly chic area, so many people with so much influence. So my wife and I drove down there today, and there is so much there. There are a few churches down there moving in the same direction so we wouldn't be exactly groundbreaking, but I don't know. It's a scary thought. To be honest, a church in the burbs, while certainly challenging, doesn't scare me like the thought of an uptown church. Where do we start, will we connect, will we succeed? Is that where God is calling us to be? What a radical concept. Aren't all successful megachurches in some upwardly mobile suburb on the outskirts of town safely removed from the unplanned fluidity of a large urban center? I don't know, it's late, I'm tired, but we're definitely going to be praying about this. A church that affects the city from the inside out. Seems like a no-brainer, but all our churches are on the outside looking in, or ignoring the in. hmmmm.

Some videos I did

2006-01-10T18:36:00.000-08:00

Here's a couple videos I did for a new young adult ministry at the church I'm attending. It's my first foray into animated graphics. Check it out.

http://g8rben.zippyvideos.com/

Good Stuff

2006-01-10T17:17:00.000-08:00

I'm listening to a lot of speaking from Mark Driscoll. He's the pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington. I read some of his writing in a compilation from Relevant Books, creatively called The Relevant Church... A good read but Driscoll's essay was the only one that really caught me. He laid out the true nature of a "postmodern" or equally cliche, "emerging" church. I use quotes because it's gotten too trendy within the modern generation of church leaders. If you throw around the right phrases and words you show yourself to be cutting edge and beyond the understanding of mere mortal pastors. I heard a tech guy talking about this last week within the computer world. You toss out these acronyms and phrases to show you're on the inside whilst making those on the outside feel like ding dongs. Anyway, obviously I've hit my own nerve on this issue. Going back, I say he hit the real issue, because he laid out a truly biblical basis for a modern, missional, relevant church. No pomo mumbo-jumbo. I told my wife as soon as I read it that he got it. It was foundational, more importantly it was biblical. That seems so simple, but my HUGE issue with a lot of the emerging church movement is it's tendency to lose sight of Scripture in search of psuedo-spirituality, that often leaves the fundamental truths of our sin and the absolute necessity of Jesus' death on the cross as a sort-off optional thing. Driscoll doesn't do that. I began getting the podcast of his sermons. His church is reaching my demographic. It's one of the fastest growing in the country and you know what he does? Gets deep, talks theology, talks scripture and people are coming to Jesus. Good stuff. That's the model. I knew it was, I was never convinced of all that postmodern Christianity was trying to be, and Driscoll clarified my thoughts, he's doing what I've been thinking, but could never quite get my brain around. It was kind of what we were moving towards at my previous youth group. Going beyond the seeker model and digging into God, but Driscoll has taken it to the next level. He's taken hold of where God wants His church to go. At least in my opinion. Go to his web site or get on iTunes and subscribe to his podcast. Good stuff...

Church as town

2005-12-15T09:41:00.000-08:00

Here's something I started a few weeks back. Actually forgot about it, but had it saved. Good thing, cause I really like the idea of it and now it's out there for me to remember. It's one of those long term vision things. Basically it's the idea that church should be like a town. Provide what a town provides only with a much more eternal purpose. I originally began to think on this when I was living in SoCal. My wife and I were driving through the Valley and saw this huge park and people doing all kinds of things, picnics, rollerblading, sports and I thought why can't a church provide those things. Then a few weeks ago I was thinking about it again and thought why can't a church be not only the local park, but the local town. Maybe not police and fire, but all the other aspects of living in a community. I bulleted a few of the ideas below. Now all I need is to get the King of Town and the PoopSmith in on this...

provides basic services
provides direction
works of limited source of funds
some flourish and grow, others wither and die
-security
-education
-social programs
-sports programs
-convention center
-get as involved as you desire
-some never leave, others leave and come back, others move away
-provides healing
-sense of identity
-community involvement
-community

God spoke part 2

2005-11-29T17:58:00.000-08:00

Pride...the beast from within. It's been a part of my life forever. I had friends, did well in school, got complimented, accomplished goals, I was the man. Ministry was the same, I had success, started new programs, worked well in front of people, I was still the man, and I knew cause everything always just fell into place, without ever really trying. So I'm going to go launch this church, it'll rock, I'll be the church world superstar that I always knew I would be and then the flaming chariot will come down from heaven and me and Elijah will kick it. Till recently, remember that screeching halt? So that's when God spoke today. He said "Ben, remember this time when things are going good." I believe God has incredible plans in store, you know Ephesians 3.20 kind of stuff. But I realized if he just dropped in my lap again I'd never learn, my pride would take over and the long term issues would be devastating. How many people have been destroyed by pride? I've known this was an issue in my life for a long time, had gotten better, but deep inside I always knew how good I really was. I knew I was the man.
Till now. I've been humbled. Taken to the bottom. I never knew what this was like. I didn't understand brokenness. I didn't understand Job 1.21 before. Maybe I got a little bit better grasp now. It's not a vengeful or wrathful thing, although he's certainly capable of that, it's love, instruction, a needed kick in the anus. That's what I hear God say to me today. He's in control, not me, he makes it happen not me. I'm not all that, not even close. I'm just a poor schlub God has for some reason decided to use. He gives, he takes away. It's on his time. What was I thinking! That I deserved everything I wanted, right when I wanted it? I deserve hell. That's the bottom line. Harsh, but reality. So for those of you that know me, keep me accountable. When God starts releasing new blessings, I can't forget this lesson. It's gotta stay at the forefront. I've been to the bottom, God keeps me from going there again, if I let him, cause I can take myself right there again. I'm excited, I'm nervous, I'm ecstatic to feel God's presence again. Yeah, God spoke man was it good to hear his voice again...

God spoke part 1

2005-11-29T17:18:00.000-08:00

Something happened today. I sensed God's presence. Maybe that shouldn't seem strange, but I gotta be honest, it's been a while since that's happened. It's been rough recently, just figuring out where I stand, why we're in the place we're in, and through it all I've felt like God wasn't around. That's a pretty rough place to be. I've never been there like I was the last few weeks. I've prayed, yelled, cried, been in denial and nothing seemed to happen. Opportunities that seemed to be from God and answers to prayer have fallen through. What's going on?! Why?! It was about as close to rock bottom as I've felt, ever. Scary. So today, I'm driving in my truck listening to podcasts and then turned it off for a while to spend time with God, which has been kind of one-sided lately, and that's when it happened. I heard him. This is where it got unexpected, I felt like God was saying "You need to remember this time when things are going well."
It got me thinking. I've been in ministry for the last 7 and half years. I started working with students while I was still in college, a great opportunity just fell in my lap (God ordered my steps) at a time in my life where I wasn't walking with him, but he was still there for me. At every stage of my life since, he's been there providing an unbelievable wife, unbelievable family and tremendous ministry opportunities I would never have imagined. Literally just falling into my lap. Recently I was in California at an unbelievable church with tremendous leaders, students and a senior pastor who taught and released and supported. Then we felt like God was calling us to give it up and come to Charlotte to start a church. It was a huge leap for us. Everything to this point had just come to us, now we were stepping out taking a huge chance. Going on faith, something I was great at talking about, you know the lip service preacher talk on faith, but had never really had to live out. You know Indiana Jones stepping of the cliff kind of living it out. So everything actually goes well with the transition and move to NC, really well, God must be with us! Then everything comes to a screeching halt. The nails on the chalkboard kind of screeching, Lloyd's most annoying sound in the world kind of screeching...you get the idea. That's when it seemed like God was gone. Silence. Nothing. What happened? Life was perfect, I was on the fast track, I was going to have this successful church, reach the community, change lives, write books, be famous...you see where this is going?

Auto glass

2005-11-26T12:27:00.000-08:00

I was driving in my truck today, cause that's what I do to pay the bills, and I saw an auto glass business. It was a small shop with someone's name in the title so I figured someone started the business and grew it to a respectable size as they had a nice facility and several bays to presumably install glass in cars. It got me thinking about starting a business. Why can't I start a business? Which I immediately answered (I know I had this conversation with myself, so I'm a freak) "cause I don't know enough about anything to start." How do you get into your own business? How do you decide what the business is going to be? I remember talking to a guy that was an assistant manager at a fast food place once and he and his wife were going to open a craft store. Now that's nice, but this was a small town and where is a craft store really going to go? You gotta have something that's going to grow, expand, take off, like Best Buy or Wal-mart for that matter, and those are already taken. Then I realized what I know is church. And I have this nut job idea that I can start one. I guess there's plenty of people out there who think that's pretty crazy, I've had a few say so. But still thinking about it made me feel a little better. I am entrepeneurial! Ha! It's not an ego thing, but it gave me an understanding of small business owners. They know something, a market, and they figure out a way to service that market. Isn't that what a church plant is? People are afraid to relate church to business because that's heresy or something, but come on. Business is about profit. If you're going to make a profit you're going to do all that you can to promote your business. You're going to strive to be the best there is, to promote what you do, to convince people they need what you have. Now the flip side of that is lot's of business is based on crap people don't need to have and that's where I think people get afraid of equating church with business. But at it's essence they're the same, but not quite. I had this point made to me by a good friend who is fairly successful at what he does and is passionate about doing better all the time. I was telling him how I could understand his passion for what he does and he told me, "Yeah, but what you do is so much more important. You're about people's eternity, heaven and hell. That's way beyond anything any business ever does."
So yeah I'm going to start a small business some day soon. I'm going to be an entrepeneur. But I'm trusting God, not market trends for my success. Everyone needs Jesus, and I know I have a responsibilty to be the best I can at showing them and guiding them to the truth of the cross. It's going to take investment, creativity, ingenuity, excellence, diligence, hard work, but how much more important is that compared to auto glass?

The valley sucks

2005-11-23T12:59:00.000-08:00

You know, "ye though I walk through the valley..." Wanted to clarify for my West Coast friends, although that Valley is pretty frickin hot most of the time. Anyway. A while back a close friend who has the most amazing gift of knowledge from God prayed for my wife and I. He said we're not where we expected to be right now, we're in the valley, but God is with us. As I drove around in my truck today I got to thinking about that. The valley sucks. I mean that's alright, it's not supposed to be a place of joy and expectation. It's a place of brokenness and anticipation of the end of the valley. I've always been the one to nod and give that reassuring, pastoral hug when someone says they're being broken or their in the "valley" but never really understood the concept. You know you go through down times in your life and think you're being "broken" cause that's a good Christian word/excuse for when life isn't all puppy dogs and BMW's. And towards the end of that period you think wow I've been broken by God I'm ready to move forward now! And soon you are and the puppy dogs begin to frolic again. Now I'm getting a little bit better idea of brokenness. Just totally crapped out, that's brokenness. A sense of isolation and wonder if things will ever move the other way. Don't get me wrong, I'm not in some pyscho-funk or anything, just realizing this is a new place for me and it's tough. Every little thing seems magnified. It's so easy to follow God and "hear his voice" and "be in his will" when you're on the mountaintop, but the valley sucks. But you know Moses tended sheep in a baking desert for 40 years, David lived in caves and watched Saul take a dump, Jesus got tempted face to face by Satan himself. I guess my valley's not so bad...

We'll see...

2005-11-22T20:26:00.000-08:00

Going to see where this leads...how can you be an unemployed pastor? You can't really, but you sure have a lot of thoughts swirl around in your head all day doing your other job. I have a feeling this is going to take a while to become something, but there is something there. Something's going to come...at least that's what I tell myself all day at my other job. It's funny cause the other day I had this cool way to start this thing off in my mind and of course it would turn into a book deal and Zondervan would offer me money and I'd going on the Willow_Saddleback_North Point_Lakewood_Mars Hill speaking circuit and I wouldn't be unemployed anymore, but now that I'm sitting here writing this I can't for the life of me remember what it was. Hmmm. Life sure seems perfect when you're driving in your truck (my other job). Anyway, don't now if your on board or not, I guess you kind of are if you're reading this, but stick around, we'll see where this thing goes.