I had the iTunes on shuffle just now and Third Day’s song Wire came on. For some reason that is a song I have always been able to really relate to as a pastor.

You ever felt that way?

I love pastoring Ridge Stone Church. Seriously, there is no other place in the world I would rather be then right here in Canton, Georgia. DeAnna is gone tonight so I have been just reflecting on what I love about this place and one thought that keeps popping in my mind is that our people never say something can’t be done.

I LOVE THAT!

I get around most church planters and man, they will depress you. It is nothing but excuses on why they CAN’T do something.

“We can’t do this because we don’t have the money”
“We can’t do this because we don’t have the workers”
“We can’t do this because we are portable”
“Well, we aren’t North Point or Fellowship”

I love our people because I never hear this. Trust me, I can come up with some crazy ideas that should not be attempted in a portable church but instead of saying something can’t be done, our people ALWAYS think it can be done and they will NOT quit until they figure out how to do it.

I love that about them.

Most guys come up with an idea and instantly they figure they can’t pull it off. Our people come up with an idea, figure out how they can make it harder and bigger, then figure out how they can make it happen.

We don’t have the talent or resources of some of the larger churches but I have never shown our people something where they didn’t figure out some way to rig it up.

I often joke that if people saw how ghetto our stuff was behind the scenes they would die.

Thank God for chicken wire and duct tape.

I want “yes” people when it comes to big ideas.
I want little engines who could.
I want people who lead with a YES.
I want people who literally think someone will die and go to hell if we can’t figure out a way to build a waterfall and moot under the bridge that will be connecting our stage which will be divided in two pieces in the theater for Easter.
I want people who think can’t never could.

We have those people and I thank God for them…

99% of the time I meet with a church planter on Friday mornings. We get calls practically every week from a church planter who has heard the good, bad, or ugly of The Stone. I always tell them they I am afraid they are going to be greatly disappointed after they meet with me but if they are willing to drive here, I am willing to buy breakfast and tell them every thing we have done wrong.

It kind of makes me laugh because I can tell you the questions they are going to ask before we get started and I feel bad as I look at their faces turn very quickly to being unimpressed.

Questions every one asks and my answers that leave them unimpressed:

1.) What was your budget the first year?

We didn’t have one. Matter of fact, we still don’t. We have thought about getting one but we just haven’t yet. I think it is good to have some guidelines but in the first 2 years, I knew we had a lot of stuff we needed and knew we had to be flexible and be ready to spend when we found good deals. To be honest, a budget was something we thought about. We didn’t how much was going to come in so when it came in, we spent it. 18 months in, we are still doing this. We will probably put one together before we turn 2.

2.) Seriously, how did you pay your bills? You had to have a budget of some kind?

We paid our bills when the money came in and seriously we don’t have a budget. Can I get a witness Tadd?

3.) How did you pay to have staff?

We didn’t. They worked for free. They raised their own support and quit their jobs and lived by faith.

4.) How many mailers have you done?

None. We didn’t have the money when we started and we have just never done one.

5.) How did you raise so much money?

Good question. We didn’t. We raised about $7,000 and I borrowed $25,000.

6.) What is your assimilation plan?

Another good question. Ain’t got one. What do you guys do?

7.) What is your small group structure?

Hmmmm…well…really….it changes about every month and we are not sure but we have a bunch of people in them.

By this time they are so unimpressed that they are looking at me like I’m an idiot. I normally can sense their frustration by this time so I then look them in the face and tell them something along the lines of this: “Listen, I am sorry I haven’t been more help. But I want to tell you that if you have a passion for lost people and you can relate to them, God will use you to build a church. AND if God can use me and my staff, then you should be encouraged because He can without a doubt use you.”

I hope it helps them but if not, at least they got a good breakfast.

After 18 months and much frustration, we seemed to have hit our stride in small groups. There is a buzz and the ones we have are going strong. I started a new one (my 4th) tonight and I think I am gonig to dig it. Every small group I have led has been a long way from where we live, this one is in my neighborhood so I am down with that.

Anyone who knows me, knows I am not a big fan of small groups but I DO understand the vital role they play in the church and I understand the importance of them. So I am excited we have found our niche and things seem to be rocking in this area.

Yeah I know there is some type of big football game this Sunday but that isn’t what I am talking about. This Sunday is fake football. However for real football, the season started today with the National Signing Day. For those keeping track (no names but you know who you are) that is THE Georgia Bulldogs with the #4 class.

Thank you very much.

I’m not mentioning any names but a certain executive pastor at a former church I worked at sent me this e-mail. To understand the context, after 8 years and an average attendance of 3,000, the moved into their new building a month ago.

After the typical moving pains he sent me these verses from the Bible.

1 Corinthians 7

1Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a CHURCH PLANTER not to
BUILD.

8Now to the CHURCH PLANTS WHO RENT I say: It is good for them to NOT BUILD,
as I am. 9But if they cannot control themselves, they should BUILD, for it
is better to BUILD than to burn with JEALOUSY.

25Now about RENTERS: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment
as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26Because of the present
crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. 27 Are you
RENTING? Do not look TO BUILD. 28But if you do BUILD, you have not sinned;
and if a CHURCH PLANTER BUILDS, he has not sinned. But those who BUILD will
face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

29What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who
have BUILDINGS should live as if they had none; 30those who mourn, as if
they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy
something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31those who use the things of
the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form
is passing away.

32I would like you to be free from concern. A RENTER is concerned about the
Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33But a BUILDING OWNER is
concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his BUILDING—
34and his interests are divided. A RENTER is concerned about the Lord’s
affairs: His aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a
BUILDING OWNER is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can
please his CONGREGATION. 35I am saying this for your own good, not to
restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to
the Lord.