Last Wednesday I attended the 8:30 AM session of the National Pastors Conference here in San Diego. Since this is my backyard and since Mark Driscoll is a friend, I wanted to check out the discussions taking place in this session over the latest book that dropped with Mark as a contributor.

Karen Ward, John Burke, Doug Pagitt and Mark Driscoll all sat on a panel answering various questions regarding the beliefs and practices of a variety of emerging contexts. I will be honest, I can’t stand the name “emerging” or “emergent.” It seems as soon as a label is slapped on something it gets reduced to a handful of poster boys (and girls) which have been chosen to represent it by various publishing firms and leadership groups. But, without a label you can’t really sell books. It makes sense, but this movement purposely shuns definitions that have fixed meanings (thanks are made to Derrida for those with such a postmodern hermaneutic). That’s a digression, but a necessary one. Read the rest of this entry »

Rodney Stark and other sociologists tell us there were 10 values of early Christians that stood in stark (no pun intended) contrast to the pluralistic pagan culture of Rome. Let’s prayferfully think through these values and match them to the witness of our own churches. Do we see the city existing for us or do we see our church and our lives existing for the city? Read the rest of this entry »

An recent article in Time Magazine discusses death, Calvinism, suffering, free will, and God’s sovereignty on the heels of Dr. Al Mohler’s near death from an embolism. I think it was well written with really good questions. Of course you would like more of the thought to be unpacked, but in a short little interview, it certainly was well done.

Here it is: A Calvinist Faces Death

We had three session today with Steve Childers which were all incredible. I really love Steve Childers and Bart Thompson. Those guys are great. Bold, ballsy, humble, direct, gentle, and other qualities that indicate they’ve spent some time soaking in the Gospel.

Ok, let me give you a summary of Steve’s first session with us on “Establishing a Church Planting Movement.” In the second session (which was a continuation of the same topic), my battery died on my laptop, so I aplogize for not having more to share. I jotted down some random quotes and thoughts that I hop you’re able to decipher. The third session was just with Steve and the A29 regional captains, so I can’t comment on that meeting, but let’s just say it went well and we’re excited about GCA. Read the rest of this entry »

Drew and I just left the lecture Steve Childers gave titled “Conflict Management.” Wow, wow, and more wow. I really am having a hard time discussing this because it was very convicting. I always know the gospel is provoking change because the incision is deep. There were several things that painfully gripped me. Things I know, but I don’t do. Things I’ve learned, but I don’t apply. Things that are in-step with the Gospel, when I am not. Let me give some personal reflection: Read the rest of this entry »

Had a great lunch at a Greek restaurant here in Orlando as we walked around a lake with white cranes and some kind of Egrets (thanks Luke). We spent our time with Larry Kirk, Senior Pastor of Christ Community in Daytona Beach. He and his associate pastor bought us lunch as we chatted about A29 and a little triperspectivalism (I just love saying it).

They were great guys. Very gospel-centered and Larry has faithfully been preaching and leading this church for the last 22 years. It was really sweet hearing what they’ve been through and are doing in Daytona. Please keep them in your prayers as they seek to transform the city with the Gospel.

We stopped in the “Mobilizing Church Planters” session which was taught by Dr. Steve Ogne with Church Resources Ministries. Again, his notes are quite helpful when considering how to raise up catalytic men to lead a movement to change a city. Read the rest of this entry »

I just left my session this morning with Steve Ogne entitled “Raising Leaders for Multiplication.” It was a good session as we are thinking through how to identify/recruit/develop/send leaders into San Diego to change the city.

Some things for Kaleo to think about:

In order for us to create a leadership farm system, we need:

1-Loving obedience to Jesus and His Word
2-Pro-active faith and prayer
3-Evangelism integrated with spiritual formation (evangelism and discipleship are never to be seen as two different things).
4-Mentoring in a life and ministry context
5-Step-by-step leadership progression
6-Simple and transferable strategies Read the rest of this entry »

…books and I can not lie! When it comes to church planting, size most definitely matters. 609 pages of missional love (spoken in my best Barry White voice).