One of the first emotions of humankind... Fear.

"It's also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master's investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master's money.

"After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'
"The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master's investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'

"The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.'

"The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest. 'Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.'

That was Matthew 25:14-30 from The Message.

As I talked with my pastor last Friday and poured my dreams and visions of ministry, I realted to him that when I think about planting a church, I sometimes have fear of failure.
Can I tell you Im not perfect?

He reminded me of this story and told me that this guy hid his talents becasue he had fear. When the master came back, it did not go real well for him.
He then told me that I would fail. That was encouraging (Smile). It really was. Everyone in ministry has failed before one way or the other. You just have to get rid of this "play-it-safe" plan and go out on a limb with a plan.

We must understand that we must be like the first 2 servants. They went to work. Read it again.
My ESV translation says thatthey "went at once and traded with them"

So, in my churchplanting journey... I must go to work.
Instead of digging a hole and worrying about small irrelevant issues, I must go to work.
Instead of fleeing God's calling like Jonah and paying my own way, I must go to work.
Instead of not answering God's voice and hiding in the garden because of my fear like Adam, I must go to work.

Kaleo, A wedding and Small Groups.

A lot of things happened on Sunday.

-I visited a church that I had missed out on since February.
-A friend of mine, Danel Hernandez, decided to take the plunge and say, "I Do." Hehe. That was cool.
-I got to spend some time with a friend (pastor's kid) that is passionate about helping his father (pastor) with small groups at his church. I was impressed with the knowledge that this guy posessed on ministry.

But, let me focus on my visit to Kaleo Church.
At the beginning of this year (2008), I met with a pastor of a somewhat new church (3years old at the time). They will be celebrating their 4th anniversary this coming Sunday. I had breakfast with Bill at la Madeleine that February... and he asked me about my story and we talked about ministry. I made it a point to go to his church, but never ended up visiting until this past Sunday.

What a message! Bill started a new series based on teh first book of John and for a couple of weeks will be teaching from that book with the series title: Walking in the Light. It was a simple teaching but insightful. It was an awesome experience.

They currently meet in a YMCA gym and had a very organized service order. I think that they did everything with excellence. The people were friendly. I was so moved when a total stranger that I had never met before but is a brother in Christ nudged me and ask me if he could serve communion at the end of the service.

I am looking forward to talking with Bill some more. I believe that I can learn a lot from him in my churchplanting endeavors.

I'll visit again this Sunday and I believe that a good friend of mine will accompany me... so Im excited.

And may I add that the WHOLE service only lasted about 1 hour and 15 mins!
Short but effective. Hehe.

Random weather/prayer post

It was a beautiful morning today. There was a breeze in the air and the sun was not that strong. That was around 7 AM in the Northwest side of Houston. Fall is coming and although we (Houston) just get summer all year long, sometmes we feel hints of spring, fall and winter.

I found myself walking and thanking God for this day.
Have you ever done that?
Have you ever talked out loud to God when no one is around?

I am a quiet guy, my girfriend will differ.
But, really... If I'm alone, I just think hard and say things in my head.

But, I have found that it is liberating when you talk to God out loud.

Anyway, this post was random.
I am just greatful that I get to communicate with my Creator anytime, anywhere and anyway I want to.

Thanks Jesus.

Theology and Practical Evangelism.

I was at Ed Stetzer's blog catching up on some posts that he was writing and I came across an article that he wrote for Outreach Magazine...

Can I be transparent?
This is where I'm at.
I need to find a balance between these 2 forces...

Theology and Practical Evangelism.

Here is part of Ed's article:
"Theologically Preoccupied" vs. "Evangelistically Fixated"
Blogs seem to magnify an existing problem in the body of Christ: We don't do a very good job listening to and learning from one another.
It seems large numbers of the Theologi­cally Preoccupied scowl across the pages of their study Bibles at the Evangelistically Fixated and accuse them of being culturally adrift--in some cases rightfully so. Many of the Evangelistically Fixated chuckle when they see books on evangelism written by many of the Theologically Preoccupied who sometimes consider the smallness of their churches a sign of their faithfulness.
Let me propose a different way: Learn from one another and take the best from one another's approaches. Theologically deep believers with a passion for those far from Christ--I want both."

Wow... I too, want both.

Panera Bread.

Yep, that's where I spend a lot of time. I spend 4 hours in the evening at least 3 times a week in this place.

This is where I research Churchplants...
This is where I conect with churchplanters through emails and blogs.
This is where I write goals and expectations.

I am currently researching on Membership Courses for churches.
What goes into these classes?
What are some examples of doing membership at other churches?
When to do them?
How to do them?

Also, Ministry Job Descriptions, Launch Team curriculum, etc.

Preparation... preparation... preparation!

My lovely lady has urged me to go home and study there, but I just can't.
I think better here.
I read my books at home... mainly reading.

It might change though, because these sandwiches and soups are starting to hit me hard on the wallet... or maybe just the temptation. Hehe.

God wants His will done more than we do.

I have started to get momentum on what Jesus has called me to do... Since July 2007, I have seen the dream of a 16 year old in High School start to unfold. Thanks to my mother and father that taught me the ways of God when I was a kid. Since childhood, I have always thought I would be a pastor of a church. Disappointment filled my life after seeing ministries crumble... I still wanted to pursue the dream and vision that only Jesus could put in my heart.

This past year has been a wonderful time of learning and researching the world of Churchplanting. It is scary, though (and I only speak of what I feel). Sometimes, I think I have read so many books, prayed enough, researched enough data, interviewed countless churchplanters that I think I'm ready... But at times, I think to myself, What if I fail? A frightening thought.

A friend told me this week that God wants it more than we do. Thats true. I believe that God wants His will done more than we do.
All I know is that God's plan will succeed.

In these last 4 months of this year, I have committed myself to a period of what people may call "consecration." It will be a time of fasting, more praying, and since God speaks through His word, more Bible reading.

I don't want to start another church just to call it home.
I don't want to start another church just to have recycled christians come.
I don't want to start another church just to add another church to this city.
I do not want anther church just so it can be a burden and an eysore to the community.

I want a church that can teach the bible.
I want a church that can preach Jesus.
I want a church that embraces the community... even on the weekdays.
I want a church that produces life-change.

Elders And Leaders.

I was reding Ed Stetzers blog and he wrote a something that I wanted to share with you.

He was writing about Todd Bentley, the guy directing the LakeLand revival. "Now it appears Bentley is stepping down after filing for separation from his wife and admitting to an inappropiate relationship with another woman," Ed Stetzer writes.

Ed also says, "A prominent Pentecostal evangelist called me this week after Bentley's news hit the fan. He said to me: "I'm now convinced that a large segment of the charismatic church will follow the anti-Christ when he shows up because they have no discernment."

He continued saying that no one in ministry today should be out on their own, living in isolation without checks, balances and wise counsel.

Those are some pretty strong words.

I can honestly say that going into ministry is one of the most frightening things that a person can do... and lately it has been real easy to just say, "I am called of God, give me a mic and a pulpit." I am convinced that if we look in the bible we see qualifications for pastors (Elders) and most of the people inpultpits nowadays, are so disqualified.

The apostle Paul writes the quealifications for a pastor... the conduct of a leader, and I tell you I had to check myself.
If we will impact this generation, we have to have biblical leadership.

My friend, Daniel Rodriguez, recommended a book to me that I had hears another pastor talk about. So, I made a little field trip to Lifeway Christian Store and got me a book by Gene Getz, "Elders and Leaders- God's plan for Leading The Church"

I have read the first 10 chapters and it has been amazing!
I know that this book will have to be reread again and again.

It is a "Biblical, Historical, and Cultural Perspective on ChurchLeadership."

Go and get it.