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So long 2010

2010 has been a great year for The Journey and for us as a family.  It has felt like the whole year was a year of transition on both the church and personal fronts.

On the home front, we spent the better part of the first 1/2 of the year, getting our house ready to sell and then purchasing a new (for us) house.  We feel blessed to live where we live and to make the move that we did.  But, so much of the first 1/2 of the year was spent cleaning, fixing, painting, packing, unpacking, adjusting after 12 years in the same house.

At The Journey we saw some significant growth in the early spring and were learning to function effectively in that new reality.  We continued to try and define our roles and establish a new way forward as we led a larger church.  In May we launched Vision 2010, and kicked it off by paying off the debt on our building!  Awesome!

The summer always brings a more relaxed state, and this summer was AWESOME in West Michigan.  Maybe the best summer weather in our 13 years here along the lakeshore.  We also spent 10 days as a family, with Jen's family in South Carolina. 

At The Journey the pace slows as far as weekly ministry, but we do a TON of planning in the summer.  We plan out the next 9-10 months of series', we have our Staff Retreat, we gear up for fall ministry, and we evaluate where we are and where we need to go.

This fall we moved into a new season of greater and greater impact in our local community, spearheaded by our Journey Groups.  We also were preparing to launch the 5 pm gathering, with a group of dedicated launch team members.  As fall headed into the closing months of 2010, we continued our Youth Pastor search, added Shanna Retzlaff to our team as our first "full-time" admin. person (we don't pay her full-time).  We embarked on the largest Christmas Project we've ever done, we explored new ways to partner with the House of Hope Home in Kenya, and we began the process of adjusting some staff positions and roles.

And, with all that, I get the sense that 2011 will bring even more growth, change, transition, excitement, impact.

leadership lessons

I looked back on some notes the other day from a leadership weekend that I spent in Washington D.C. about 3 years ago.  One of the guys leading was an amazing leader and communicator named Jud Wilhite.  Here were just a couple things he said, that as I looked back and read through my notes, struck me.

1.  Structure (your organization/church/etc.) for growth more than for control.  You can't do both, it will be messy, and it is okay.

2.  Structure for effectiveness more than excellence.  Here's what he said, "You can be 70-80% excellent and be just as effective as if you were at 85-100% excellence".  But, what it will take you (in time, money, energy) to try and get that extra 10-15% excellence, is not generally worth it.

3.  Recognize the blessing of financial constraint.  I hear this from churches all the time, and honestly, I can feel it too.  "If only we had a budget as large as that church, just think of all the stuff we could do!".  Jud said this quote "There is no financial lids, only leadership lids".  That's a great line! 

4.  "Success is the enemy of future success".  We tend to rest on our successes.  We're doing something well, so lets just keep doing it, until it becomes something that we couldn't get rid of if we tried, or we begin thinking that because it worked for a while, it always works.

Christmas Services, tickets, ugly sweaters, and offerings

We did something unique this year at The Journey.  We are having Christmas services spread over two days:  3:30 and 5 pm on Christmas Eve, and 11 am on Sun. December 26.  They are all identical services.  And, we gave away free tickets to each of the services.  We did that so we could know if we needed to do all three services, and to ensure that everyone could have a seat.

Here's what we found - 3:30 service tickets went FAST!!  We almost didn't do a 3:30 service.  We were thinking 5 and 11 pm at one time.  We weren't sure if anyone would want to come on Sunday, but there were a lot more tickets for Sunday taken than we expected.  We didn't give away 100% capacity because a. we want people to still be able to invite friends and family last minute.  b. we always have people just calling the church, checking out the website, etc. and showing up for the Christmas Eve gatherings. 

We have "sold" around 700 tickets for the Christmas Eve gatherings, and are expecting more than that to show up.  It should be a great night, and we're anticipating our highest weekend attendance EVER at The Journey.

It will be interesting to see, but I'm anticipating that our offering is going to take a large hit this month.  With people giving to the GO Christmas project, and then with only doing one Sunday service, a lot of people that will come on Christmas Eve aren't thinking about the offering, and certainly not thinking about how they aren't going to be there on Sunday to give.  You always want to end December strong, but we'll see.

The Tale of the Ugly Sweater is our Christmas Eve theme, and I'm guessing, there are very few churches that are running with that one for their service planning!  It will be fun, different, and impactful.

Next year, with Christmas day on Sunday, will be even more unique. 

Christmas Eve & beyond

Hey Journeyers, a couple quick thoughts . . . Christmas Services will be awesome.  If for some reason you lose your tickets . . . come anyway - we'll let you in.  If you run into someone and want to invite them to join you, we'll let them in.  We'll make space, somehow for everyone.

We've got a great service planned.  Funny.  Meaningful.  Unique.

Park Far, Sit Near.  The place will be full this weekend, so come early, leave the best parking spots for guests, and sit close, so guests can have the best seats.  Thanks for serving others at a time when people are more open and receptive to hearing about God.

We're making progress on our GO Christmas Project.  We've already DOUBLED our largest Christmas project ever, but we have set our sights BIG this year.  There's still time to participate AND, even though all gifts need to be in by December 27 to The Journey, you can give online at www.thejourneycc.com, all next week & it will count toward the GO project.  You just need to print out your own emailed receipt.

Our first couple of series in the new year are going to be really, really good and impactful!  I'm already looking forward to them.

Have a great Christmas everyone!  Take some time this week to experience the Prince of peace, and to bring peace to others.

I'll just do it myself

We've got a great staff team at The Journey!  They work hard, are gifted, have ability, and plain just "get-r-done".  I'm guessing they each work about 50-55 hours a week.  We say "work hard, play hard".

But, there can be a danger when you have people with aptitude and skill.  We can become reliant on our own abilities and hard work to accomplish great things.  Which sounds like that's how it should be, right?  I mean everything we've ever been taught is to "work hard, and good things will happen". 

And, yet, there is a, seemingly, competing thought in the Bible.  The Bible tells us that without Jesus working in us, we can't do anything.  The Bible talks over and over and over again about the humble person, about the person of lowly position, about the person who serves (Philippians 2 - the same attitude as Jesus). 

We are dependent on God, and His Spirit working in and through us.  Every good and perfect gift comes from Him.  He draws people to Himself and into relationship.  YET, He gives us a role and asks us to play our part.  To work hard for Him. 

So, it's both/and.  We work hard, but depend on God to do the heavy lifting.  The problem is, that too often, we can simply just work hard, and not place ourselves in a place of dependence on God.  Listening to Him, taking time to discern what He is saying or what He wants us to do.  We don't surrender our plans to Him (because His plans might be different). 

When you have talent and ability, you can still work in such a way that you will make an impact, by the sheer nature of your fortitude and ability.  But, it won't be close to the impact of a heart surrendered fully to God, dependent on Him.  I want to make sure that I, and our team at The Journey, never forgets that "apart from Christ, we can do nothing".  Any lasting, eternal, powerful impact will come from our dependence on Him.

How are you depending on God this week?  Are you listening to Him?  Are you surrendering yourself to Him?  And, then, as He speaks, work hard at it!

Twas the week before Christmas . . .

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the church,

not a staff member was sleeping . . .

this is a busy season for us at The Journey.  Christmas Eve services, less time to plan, finalizing year end stuff, giving, etc., plus Christmas giving projects add up.  Beyond the normal busyness of the Christmas season, this year we're also wrestling with future staffing issues, a youth pastor search, planning for our next location, wrestling with some new endeavors for us as a church, getting Financial Peace up and running, and quite a bit more.

It is one of the busiest seasons in my 15 years in church ministry.  I love it.  But, I also never want my "job" to be just a "job", or for that job to cause me to neglect my family.  We put pretty strong boundaries on our family time.  I'm looking forward to spending some added time this Christmas season as well.  Like it is in many of your jobs, the time off is nice, but the work doesn't stop and you still have to get the same amount of stuff done, just in less time.

That can bring a lot of stress.  This weekend we're talking about finding peace this Christmas season.  If you're in need of a little peace, this would be a great Sunday to be at The Journey.

By the way, I'm so proud to work along side of such a great staff.  They all work extremely hard, and yet they also make sure and focus on their family and keep well balanced.

If you're a long-time Christian, how do you not get THIS?

For too many long-time Christians, we have developed a consumer mentality when it comes to the church.  If you're a long-time Christian, how do you not get that the Church is not there to meet your needs.  It's not there to just feed you, to meet your friendship needs, to just care for you, to provide meals for you when you're sick, to provide opportunities for you to have something to do, to isolate you and protect you from the big, bad world.

Now, I fully believe that the Church does accomplish some of those things, simply by the people living out their faith.  BUT, the church was never called to be a country club for people to belong to - it was designed as a rescue station for people to be equipped and inspired to go out into the world and make a difference.  We're not called to be sucked in to a bizarre sub-culture of religiosity, but to be "sent" ones out into our world.  We're not so much members as we are missionaries. 

The church is to gather people around a shared vision and mission, because we can do more together than we can apart.  We encourage, cheerlead, send out, and help make sure we're all moving in the same direction.  We're the only organization that exists for it's non-members.

YET, so many long-time Christians have made church about their preferences.  "I'm not getting fed", "I don't feel cared for", "I don't know everyone", "I don't like the music", "I want more . . . whatever".  That's all about "I".  THAT is not The Church.  Jen and I have often said that when we're old, we want to go to a church where we most likely will hate the music, and not understand fully why they do the message the way that they are, but they are reaching people far from God and setting people on mission.  And, we want to be the biggest cheerleaders of that church.

If you're a long-time Christian, do you agree or disagree?  How does it happen that personal preference trumps purpose?

Program-driven vs. People-development

The traditional church is most often program-driven.  Youth ministry, Women's ministry, this group, that event, this program.  Events are planned in hoping that a one-size-fits-all approach will hit some and help people to grow.  The problem is that it doesn't hit many people and often times maturity and growth is viewed as involvement and knowledge.  But, we all know that involvement doesn't necessarily mean growth, and knowledge doesn't mean growth either.  We've never been a program-driven church at The Journey. 

But, how do we make sure we're a people-development church?  We're asking core questions right now at The Journey like "how do people grow?", "how do they change?", "what's been most influential in people changing at The Journey?"  Those are people-development questions.  The people-development approach is more individualized.  It takes into account a person's past, their story.  The people-development approach is relationship heavy. 

What the people-development approach isn't . . . is "me-centered".  It might sound like it at first blush, but it is developing people spiritually, relationally, financially, emotionally SO THAT they can be who God has called them to be.  And that person is a person who is others-centered, who is mission-minded, who is willing to surrender their plans for God's plans.

We want to set people free to be all that God wants them to be.  To tackle the dreams that God has placed in their hearts. 

This all seems like the better way to us.  It certainly seemed to be Jesus' way.  So, I wonder why 90% of churches in America are program-driven?

If you're a long time Christian, how do you not get this??

Whenever I do this kind of post, people think I must be mad at someone and am taking it out online.  That's not the case.  And, I'm not generalizing about everyone.  BUT . . . if you're a long time Christian, I want to ask a question.  How do so many long-time Christians not get the giving thing??  Yes, we can talk about how finances are tight and how we will give one day.  We can talk about giving our time in service.  We can talk about giving our abilities to be used for God's kingdom, and that's great too.

BUT, how do you get away from the fact that God talks a lot about money and He talks about our need to be generous with it, and our need to use it for His Kingdom impact, including the local church??  Not only is it simply (in my mind) an obedience issue if we're truly following Jesus.  But, the Bible also clearly says that when we're generous, God's generous with us.  He is our provider.  His heart is moved by generosity.  

Seriously, this isn't rocket science.  How does a long time Christian justify keeping all their money to themselves?

Jen and I have committed, as a goal to give away 30% of our income.  We are climbing our way there, and are easily over 20%.  I don't say that to brag.  If I was, God says that our reward has already been received - and I certainly want the rewards that He promises in Heaven.  But, I say that to say - we don't make a ton of money although we're doing okay - Jen has been a stay at home mom for years, and yet somehow we make it.  I'm guessing you can too.  So, how can people give only 2% to charities on average in America???

By the way, in case you think I'm just after your money (if you attend The Journey) - that is SO not the case.  I do want each of us to experience God's best for us and part of that is by living generous lives.  Listen, we're never going to be a rich church at The Journey.  Our area, our commitment to give away, a young congregation, and a congregation that wasn't going to church before means we will always have to be careful with money and finances will probably always be tight.  If I (or our staff) was in it for the money - 1.  we'd just go get a job somewhere.  2.  we could serve in a traditional church in another area of the country that would be a lot cushier (is that a word?).  But, God has called us here, and I wouldn't want to be any place else.

So, long-time Christian . . . am I wrong?  What don't I get?

Monday morning reflections

The Lions win!  The Lions win! Or, maybe, after a game like that, it's better put:  The Lions didn't lose!  I think weathermen and women are simply fear mongers!  They scare everyone into watching their broadcasts, and thinking the end of the world is coming.  Sadly, I think Journeyers are listening - we had about 40% less people there than the week before. 

Our 3:30 and 5 pm Christmas Gathering tickets are gone!  You can still get free tickets for Sunday, December 26 at 11 am.  We also saved a few seats for those that invite friends last minute to come with them to a service.  It's going to be good and it looks like a lot of people are planning on making The Journey part of their Christmas plans.

We've been talking and strategizing as a staff team about the next phase in the life of The Journey.  I believe it will potentially cause us to have a much greater and wider influence in our community and beyond, and while growing larger, grow smaller and more impactful as well.  Stay tuned.

Amazing Race finale last night.  It's fun to watch my wife - Jen gets so tense toward the end of the race, that she just wants it to be over.  It would be incredible to actually watch her ON the Race.

We've been watching bits and pieces of the first three Indiana Jones movies this weekend.  They're all good.

Love the heart and generosity of Journeyers!  You guys are awesome, in the way you serve and look to make a difference in the world around you.