Morgan (my wife) and I are very goal oriented people. Each year we sit down to make goals for the year about where we hope to be at years end. We seek the Lords guidance on what we should pray/ strive for and then go on a date to talk about what we feel God leading us to go after. At the beginning of this year we sat down with 4 clear prayers/goals on our hearts.
1)Start a family
2) Buy a house
3) Morgan find a job using her college degree
4) The Church to double
To make it clear to you, these were not easy attainable goals in our minds. We financially had budgeted well, but had given to the Church to an extent that we did not have any savings. Morgan has a passion for kids, but no doors were opening for her to really use her degree out here in our first year in Bakersfield. Starting a family was something we wanted to do, but we wanted to make sure we had prepared for parenthood (I understand your never fully ready yatta yatta yatta).
After a few weeks I was reading in Luke 18 about the rich young ruler. I have read this story hundreds of times, but this time it was difference. As I finished reading I felt the Holy Spirit telling me to give every dime Morgan and I had to the Church. It was an all in moment. I immediately assumed that I was hearing God wrong, but began praying that if God wanted me to do something so outrageous as give every dime we had that He would confirm it in Morgans heart as well.
When Morgan came home for lunch I asked her what the Lord was telling her to do that day. Without batting an eye she looked at me and said, "Give a lot of money to the Church." I immediately said "How much," which she followed with "All of it."
My heart started racing, and we felt the Holy Spirit rush into the room. We pulled out our check book, looked up our bank account info, and wrote a check to the cent for what we had. After doing so Morgan and I got on our knees and prayed the goals we felt God leading us toward over that check. It was our way of saying to God, we trust you, and your ability to provide over our own.
After a few days crazy things started to happen. We came home one day to find a grocery card on our door. Another day someone had left a gas card at our door.
By May the Church had more than doubled, and we had seen 8 weeks in a row where we saw people give their lives to Christ.
By April we found out that we were pregnant! Then in June we had purchased a house (There is so much to that miracle that it deserves its own post). Finally early this fall Morgan found out that she was one class away from being able to be a director of a preschool. Today she finished her last homework assignment for that class. Following our daughter (Macie Leigh Chambers) arrival this December she will be starting a director position at Heir Force academy.
To say this year has been a Wow God year is an understatement. We have learned that God is more real than we believed. We are so grateful for what Jesus has done, and coming up on this thanksgiving I thought that we should share this story with you.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
3 Churches I wanna learn from in 2012
I am big into learning from other Pastors and churches. I am just as big of a fan for my staff to learn from them, so while making 2012 plans today I decided to share the 3 Churches I want to learn from in 2012.
1) Element Church in Cheyenne Wyoming. I got to meet Pastor Jeff in a coaching network last year. Element Church began meeting in 2007 and I think that our staff and myself could learn a ton from them. Here is to hoping we can get out to see them sometime in 2012.
2) Transformation Church in Charlotte, NC. Pastor Derwin Grey is someone I first met in college. He is a former NFL player, but he is an incredible Pastor and communicator. I especially value how multi-ethnic his Church is. I know that it will be a bank buster to get our staff out to TC, but I know it will be worth it. If you live in the south you should definitely go and learn from Pastor Derwin.
3) Gateway Church in Dallas, Tx. Pastor Robert Morris' book "The blessed life" has radically changed my wife and my life. We have given every person who took the tithe challenge with our Church a copy of the book this fall, and we are already seeing peoples hearts being changed in our Church. Hopefully we can get some of our staff out to their Church conference in 2012.
We (Hingepoint Church) will always spend money to learn from people who are running hard after Jesus. I don't worship them, or what Jesus has done at their Churches, but I do value the wisdom He has given them.
Proverbs 4:7
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
1) Element Church in Cheyenne Wyoming. I got to meet Pastor Jeff in a coaching network last year. Element Church began meeting in 2007 and I think that our staff and myself could learn a ton from them. Here is to hoping we can get out to see them sometime in 2012.
2) Transformation Church in Charlotte, NC. Pastor Derwin Grey is someone I first met in college. He is a former NFL player, but he is an incredible Pastor and communicator. I especially value how multi-ethnic his Church is. I know that it will be a bank buster to get our staff out to TC, but I know it will be worth it. If you live in the south you should definitely go and learn from Pastor Derwin.
3) Gateway Church in Dallas, Tx. Pastor Robert Morris' book "The blessed life" has radically changed my wife and my life. We have given every person who took the tithe challenge with our Church a copy of the book this fall, and we are already seeing peoples hearts being changed in our Church. Hopefully we can get some of our staff out to their Church conference in 2012.
We (Hingepoint Church) will always spend money to learn from people who are running hard after Jesus. I don't worship them, or what Jesus has done at their Churches, but I do value the wisdom He has given them.
Proverbs 4:7
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Expose the sin
Psalm 32:3-5 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah Then i acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord"-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah Sin wants to hide.
Sin is a burrower.
It clothes itself with darkness, and it desires to remain hidden deep within.
Its ultimate goal is death, death to your body and death to your spirit.
John 1:4-5 says that "In Him (Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of men.The light shines in the darkenss, but the darkness has not understood it."
Jesus exposes sin.
Jesus leaves it naked, vulnerable, and powerless.
Expose the sin. Don't allow it to clothe itself with darkness.
In doing so, I promise you will find freedom.
Sin is a burrower.
It clothes itself with darkness, and it desires to remain hidden deep within.
Its ultimate goal is death, death to your body and death to your spirit.
John 1:4-5 says that "In Him (Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of men.The light shines in the darkenss, but the darkness has not understood it."
Jesus exposes sin.
Jesus leaves it naked, vulnerable, and powerless.
Expose the sin. Don't allow it to clothe itself with darkness.
In doing so, I promise you will find freedom.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Integrity
Integrity is huge in life period.
Lack of it can cut the legs out from any company, team, or organization.
We have read stories in the news where integrity was neglected privately in leaders lives which has resulted in public scandal.
I personally have always recognized the need for integrity, especially in ministry. I have read books about it (Cloud "Integrity" great read) and in my estimation I personally believed that integrity was about not doing bad stupid things.
I rationalized out that the reason guys like Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Perry Noble, and so on had successful ministries was because of the great measure of integrity guys like them lived out both publicly and privately.
AND THIS I BELIEVE TO BE TRUE.
But somewhere in my thinking I began to think that being a man of integrity was about always being perfect. I would do my best to be the perfect leader for everyone around me. I made sure to not touch certain "unpardonable" sins. Publicly I put my best foot forward, because I desired/desire to be a man that lives the Gospel.
Some where in these thoughts I bought into a lie. The lie was "Being a man of integrity, is being a perfect man."
Last night I felt like the Holy Spirit exposed this lie through my executive staff.
At the end of the meeting our operations pastor looked me in the eye and said "You are leading us with great integrity."
That statement freaked me out because I believed that men of integrity were perfect.
I AM NOT.
In that moment I looked at the floor, feeling horrible about my imperfections.
And then through the Holy Spirit I realized something I had never thought of when it comes to leading with integrity.
My imperfection does not DQ me from being a man of integrity, its what I do when I mess up that points out integrity or lack there of.
We are going to make mistakes, but men of integrity confess there sin, faults, and errors. We learn from them and continue to move forward.
On the flip-side the Holy Spirit revealed to me that lack of integrity is sinning and hiding it. (Check out the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5)
Now this is the point of the blog where I have to insert the line that says this does not mean you can sin all you want, confess it publicly, and expect no repercussions. But you have to realize that no man (other than Jesus) is perfect.
We are being made perfect in Jesus. My boast and hope is in Jesus righteousness in me, not my own.
So with that I encourage you not to allow your mistakes to clothe themselves in darkness. Bring them to light, repent, apologize, admit your imperfections and mistakes.
And in doing so may you realize that this is what it actually means to be men of integrity.
Lack of it can cut the legs out from any company, team, or organization.
We have read stories in the news where integrity was neglected privately in leaders lives which has resulted in public scandal.
I personally have always recognized the need for integrity, especially in ministry. I have read books about it (Cloud "Integrity" great read) and in my estimation I personally believed that integrity was about not doing bad stupid things.
I rationalized out that the reason guys like Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Perry Noble, and so on had successful ministries was because of the great measure of integrity guys like them lived out both publicly and privately.
AND THIS I BELIEVE TO BE TRUE.
But somewhere in my thinking I began to think that being a man of integrity was about always being perfect. I would do my best to be the perfect leader for everyone around me. I made sure to not touch certain "unpardonable" sins. Publicly I put my best foot forward, because I desired/desire to be a man that lives the Gospel.
Some where in these thoughts I bought into a lie. The lie was "Being a man of integrity, is being a perfect man."
Last night I felt like the Holy Spirit exposed this lie through my executive staff.
At the end of the meeting our operations pastor looked me in the eye and said "You are leading us with great integrity."
That statement freaked me out because I believed that men of integrity were perfect.
I AM NOT.
In that moment I looked at the floor, feeling horrible about my imperfections.
And then through the Holy Spirit I realized something I had never thought of when it comes to leading with integrity.
My imperfection does not DQ me from being a man of integrity, its what I do when I mess up that points out integrity or lack there of.
We are going to make mistakes, but men of integrity confess there sin, faults, and errors. We learn from them and continue to move forward.
On the flip-side the Holy Spirit revealed to me that lack of integrity is sinning and hiding it. (Check out the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5)
Now this is the point of the blog where I have to insert the line that says this does not mean you can sin all you want, confess it publicly, and expect no repercussions. But you have to realize that no man (other than Jesus) is perfect.
We are being made perfect in Jesus. My boast and hope is in Jesus righteousness in me, not my own.
So with that I encourage you not to allow your mistakes to clothe themselves in darkness. Bring them to light, repent, apologize, admit your imperfections and mistakes.
And in doing so may you realize that this is what it actually means to be men of integrity.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Church planting encouragement
Today I had an awesome conversation with a buddy who is in the process of a Church start. I shot him a text message after our conversation to encourage him, and I felt like I should post it to encourage any other pastors/church leaders out there.
Keep your head up. The call to ministry is a blessing and a gift. You aren't going to pastor for eternity (on the other side faith will be made sight, and Jesus wont need our messages to describe Him)
So be RISKY. Don't be afraid to shake it up.
From what I am learning there are no rules in Church planting other than listening to Jesus and doing what he says. The measure you will be judged is by that.
Did you listen?
Did you do what Jesus said to do?
Thats all that matters.
He (Jesus) grows his Church. Jesus changes lives. We are attendees along for the ride.
So just be BALLSY obedient even when it disappoints people, causes them to leave, or whatever else people may do.
The same power that raised Jesus from the grave is alive in you...
Don't ever forget it.
Keep your head up. The call to ministry is a blessing and a gift. You aren't going to pastor for eternity (on the other side faith will be made sight, and Jesus wont need our messages to describe Him)
So be RISKY. Don't be afraid to shake it up.
From what I am learning there are no rules in Church planting other than listening to Jesus and doing what he says. The measure you will be judged is by that.
Did you listen?
Did you do what Jesus said to do?
Thats all that matters.
He (Jesus) grows his Church. Jesus changes lives. We are attendees along for the ride.
So just be BALLSY obedient even when it disappoints people, causes them to leave, or whatever else people may do.
The same power that raised Jesus from the grave is alive in you...
Don't ever forget it.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
4 Months and a day
Morgan, I, and eight people moved from SC last fall with the conviction that Jesus was calling us to be apart of a new Church He was starting in Bakersfield, Ca. When we arrived in August we knew two people (and we weren't sure if they even wanted to help start the Church).
After two months of rallying up a core group of people (around 25 total) we introduced Hingepoint Church to Bakersfield California January 10th 2010!
At launch 53 people showed up to hear the Gospel.
Weeks have turned into months and today is four months and a day from Jan. 10. With that there is a ton to celebrate.
Since our launch 33,000 dollars has been tithed to Hingepoint!
Of that 33,000, 12,255 has gone straight back out the door to meet needs all over Bakersfield!
Over the past two weeks we have given our people 10,380 dollars to go out into the city to meet the needs of mom's and anyone the Holy Spirit lead them to! (More information coming about this on our website www.hingepoint.cc and via Hingepoint's facebook page)
Sunday May 2nd 75 people showed up to worship at Hingepoint.
Last Sunday May 9th 119 attended Hingepoint's worship experiences.
Thats 40% growth in one week!
To top it all off in our first four months of being a Church we have seen 30 people give their lives to Jesus! This is what the bottom line is all about.
Three weeks ago 10 people went public with that decision at our first Baptism service!
Jesus is changing lives.
Single mom's lives, kids lives, teenagers lives, and my life.
These past four months have totally changed me. I am in awe of Jesus, and so thankful that He has invited me to this party.
After two months of rallying up a core group of people (around 25 total) we introduced Hingepoint Church to Bakersfield California January 10th 2010!
At launch 53 people showed up to hear the Gospel.
Weeks have turned into months and today is four months and a day from Jan. 10. With that there is a ton to celebrate.
Since our launch 33,000 dollars has been tithed to Hingepoint!
Of that 33,000, 12,255 has gone straight back out the door to meet needs all over Bakersfield!
Over the past two weeks we have given our people 10,380 dollars to go out into the city to meet the needs of mom's and anyone the Holy Spirit lead them to! (More information coming about this on our website www.hingepoint.cc and via Hingepoint's facebook page)
Sunday May 2nd 75 people showed up to worship at Hingepoint.
Last Sunday May 9th 119 attended Hingepoint's worship experiences.
Thats 40% growth in one week!
To top it all off in our first four months of being a Church we have seen 30 people give their lives to Jesus! This is what the bottom line is all about.
Three weeks ago 10 people went public with that decision at our first Baptism service!
Jesus is changing lives.
Single mom's lives, kids lives, teenagers lives, and my life.
These past four months have totally changed me. I am in awe of Jesus, and so thankful that He has invited me to this party.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Family
My cousin Shane lives in Columbia South Carolina. We talk frequently about life, Jesus, football, and our family.
We have a great family. We have always been close, and weekly growing up we spent time sharing meals and backyard football games together.
The other night Shane told me something that I had never known about our Granddad(Allen Smith). My Granddad told him that when he had his first son (Rick) he began stopping and praying for him every night before he would go to bed. He continued this practice when my Grandmother and him had my mom (Karen), and then the same when they had my uncle (Steve).
Every night he stopped,
got on his knees
and prayed.
Pretty amazing huh. Every night of his kids life (he made sure to let Shane know he had never missed one) Granddad prayed/ prays for his kids by name.
If that were the whole story it would be incredible in itself.
But it doesn't
Every day since each of his 5 Grand kids had been born, he has every night prayed for us by name!
But it gets even better
Now Granddad has 7 great grands. Every night he prays for them by name as well!
It absolutely blew me away to hear that I have a Granddad like him.
I teared up that night on the phone, and still tear up thinking about how blessed I am to have a Granddad that prays for me daily by name.
We have a great family. We have always been close, and weekly growing up we spent time sharing meals and backyard football games together.
The other night Shane told me something that I had never known about our Granddad(Allen Smith). My Granddad told him that when he had his first son (Rick) he began stopping and praying for him every night before he would go to bed. He continued this practice when my Grandmother and him had my mom (Karen), and then the same when they had my uncle (Steve).
Every night he stopped,
got on his knees
and prayed.
Pretty amazing huh. Every night of his kids life (he made sure to let Shane know he had never missed one) Granddad prayed/ prays for his kids by name.
If that were the whole story it would be incredible in itself.
But it doesn't
Every day since each of his 5 Grand kids had been born, he has every night prayed for us by name!
But it gets even better
Now Granddad has 7 great grands. Every night he prays for them by name as well!
It absolutely blew me away to hear that I have a Granddad like him.
I teared up that night on the phone, and still tear up thinking about how blessed I am to have a Granddad that prays for me daily by name.
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