I’m unemployed.

For the second time in my life I quit a job without having a clear plan for what’s next lined up.

This time I know I will be starting and leading a new church, the timeline and location just changed. So don’t get me wrong I know thousands upon thousands have it worse than I do, but I’d be lying if I said the waiting wasn’t a challenge.

So all that to say I am not receiving a paycheck and I’m learning a lot about what to do in this time and what not to do. I’ve shared some thoughts on thinking about leaving and how to leave well. This is my attempt to cover how to practically survive an unexpected “sabbatical“.

1. What I Miss
2. Church Detox
3. Starbucks Pastor
4. Get Over Yourself
5. Serve
6. Good Habits
7. Always Say Yes
8. Keep a Routine
9. Borrow an Xbox
10. Be Ready

As each post is published I’ll update them here with the appropriate link.

Feel free to catch up on pervious updates #1, #2, #3, and #4.

Last week I was at Boot Camp.

No this isn’t a career change. It’s the tongue in cheek nickname for a week of training for church planters put on by Stadia.

Had an incredible week learning some best practices and being encouraged that I’m not the first one to go down this path, nor do I have to go it alone. The best part of the conference was the balance struck between the fire hose of content that is overwhelming and equipping us for whatever stage of the pre-launch stage we find ourselves.

Along with the content I got to meet a lot of incredible men and women just as excited and bold as I am trying to be.

Want to share a quick story about one guy in particular. Matt McGue has already done this, and he is doing it again. With one church plant that he graciously handed off to someone he raised up in his back pocket, he’s starting fresh. Months away from being an empty nester Matt and his wife are headed to Jackson, Mississippi to start a new church.

He’s going through some of the processes of assessment and training that he went through about a decade ago because he wants to follow God’s call to advance the Kingdom. He is leaning on his past experiences, even though he could.

I got to spend some time with Matt and one thing kept coming through, his humility.

Continue Reading…

My buddy Cameron sent this to me yesterday knowing how appropriate it is for me at the moment.

I haven’t talked at length about this here, but I am currently in my last week as a Student/Groups Pastor at an incredible church. After that I am a church planter.

For the last six months I have been working towards a specific goal. We had a strong sense of calling, place, and time. Those around us were affirming us to act, healthy organizations are standing with us. Everything seemed to be lining up perfectly.

Until it didn’t.

Obstacle after obstacle has presented itself, and in the end we aren’t going to be able pursue the specific area on our planned timeline.

That’s the diplomatic way to put it, because when it first became clear it felt like a punch in the face.

Continue Reading…

• In the winter of 1993 I faked being sick to miss school for the first time (not the last) to stay home and watch Clinton’s first inauguration. I remember hearing that this was historic and I wanted to watch it. Sorry Mom.
• This morning I was able to stay home and watch part of another one, lots of pomp and circumstance but it does make me proud of our democratic process.
• Was very disappointed by this though.
• The Napster movie trailer.
• Some prominent Evangelicals are disassociating themselves from the Political Right.
• The perfect church member.
• Perkins on wasting time and says shame on us.
• Don’t send the first draft.
• Who is to blame for the lazy church staff?
• Tony Campolo on the coming split in the Evangelical world.
• Looking for millennial worshippers. And in general always watch Ministry Briefing with Todd and Matt.
• Email mistakes and how to fix them.
• Godin says hire or get these two people around you.
• Matthew Paul Turner of Jesus Needs New PR interviews Shane Hipps.

This is part of a larger series using an article from Fast Company as inspiration. Check out the Landing Page for all the updates.

when we weren’t hot any more, the tenor of the press changed. I said: ‘Hey there are still 20 million people playing Draw Something. Instead of focusing on writers and bloggers let’s focus on the people who love our game’”.

- Dan Porter, Draw Something

I talk a lot about dealing with critics on this blog. Probably because I have dealt with my fair share, ministry has a way of attracting them.

However immature leaders also have a way of focusing on them.

How many times have you let one comment, email, post ruin your day? You come in Monday morning or come home after camp with students and the one critic who has your email address or phone number destroys whatever momentum and joy you have.

Don’t let them do this to you.

You aren’t going to win everyone over. You will make mistakes.

Don’t ignore the 100 cheerleaders for the 1 axe grinder. 

About a year ago copies of Fast Company started showing up at my door.

I hadn’t subscribed. Hadn’t even heard of the magazine before they started showing up, but I think Tom Haverford was one of the first subscribers. Some of the content is really challenging and I always flip through it, but I have no idea why they keep showing up in my mailbox.

96 Lessons for 2013 splashed across the cover of the latest issue. Inside you had short thoughts from business and thought leaders from various industries with some wisdom. I immediately saw ministry application in some.

Now sure there are some that don’t really connect but on the whole there was plenty that got me thinking. And for some of you this will bring up past (and current) arguments about the influence of business on the church. There are valid concerns but I often see a critique from my generation to the church growth crowd for employing corporate models, while my generation idolizes the entrepreneur and start up. You can’t have one without the other.

There is an online version of the article available, but it varies from the print piece. I will be using the print version, but of course go check out the article and give Fast Company some traffic as they put this together.

So for the next couple of months you will periodically see a new post examining one of these statements and how I see a connection to ministry. This page will serve as a landing page that will be updated as things are posted.

1. Anger Equals Engagement
2. Be Ready for your Critics
3. CEO’s Need Advice Too
4. During Tough Times, Stay Strong
5. Weigh Your Priorities
6. Celebrate Each Step
7. Focus on the 20 Million Positives
8. Even Old Organizations Can Innovate
9. You’ll Never be Finished
10. Be Different
11. Lead With Purpose
12. Even All-Stars Need Structure
13. Rethink Expertise
14. Rewrite the Rules
15. Don’t Overcommit
16. Assemble a Dedicated Team with a Shared Vision
17. Don’t be an Autocrat
18. You Can’t Please Everybody
19. Good Sleep is Good Business
20. Meet Outside the Box

This is part of a blog series that has 30 practical tips for the pastor looking to start or restart well. You can get the entire series as a Kindle book. The landing page will be updated with each new post.

Now What? You learn patience.

You don’t have this figured out and most likely you are woefully under-qualified for what you are doing. This is a good thing.

Ministry is a wild and hard ride that is an incredible challenge, but when done with God, you see glimpses of how things should be. As a leader you have to realize your own for leadership.

Follow Christ first. You will hear this over and over again but if you aren’t following Christ your ministry will drive you to destruction. Which isn’t a big deal until you realize the destruction you will inflict on others.

Follow those you respect. Find other leaders that you connect with and get around them: read their books, buy them lunch, sit in their office and ask them questions.

Follow those you disagree with. Don’t be afraid and don’t stop thinking.

Finally don’t be afraid to go back. I’ve been in ministry for about 10 years and as I look at the list I just put together for your first 30 days I see a lot that I need to do today. I haven’t arrived and I never will. Neither will you, but we aren’t supposed to.