I am so happy that we will be able to host our first Christmas Eve Service at Pebble Creek. As a new church, being able to minister to a community the size of Pebble Creek is a tremendous privilege—and we don’t take it lightly. I am praying that our Christmas Eve service, at 4:00 PM in the Tuscany Ball Room, will be an incredible blessing to everyone who attends.
The latest Rasmussen poll on the season says that 72% of Americans like saying, “Merry Christmas,” while just 22% prefer the greeting “Happy Holidays.” Despite this, political correctness seems to reign with most merchants today.
I personally am not one for boycotting someone because they do not use the word “Christmas.” I have always felt that Christians are known too much for what we are against, rather than what we are for.
However, I make a point of specifically saying, “Merry Christmas,” when I greet people in the month of December. It can be a tremendous springboard to talk about what that really means.
Jesus was not born so we could sing “Let it snow,” or “Let us shop.” He was born so we, like those wise men of old, could say, “We have come to worship Him.”
So “Merry Christmas!”
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
WHY PLANT A NEW CHURCH?
As I walk down the streets of Pebble Creek, I do two things; pray and talk to anyone who will talk to me. The most common question I'm asked is "Why are you starting a new church? Aren't there enough?" Believe it or not, I LOVE that question. It gives me an opportunity to tell the truth. Here are the facts;
Fact #1:There are about 200 million non-churched people in America, making America one of the four largest “unchurched” nations in the world.
Fact #2:Each year about 3,500 churches close their doors permanently.
Fact #3:Today, of the approximately 350,000 churches in America, four out of five are either plateaued or declining.
Fact #4:One American denomination recently found that 80% of its converts came to Christ in churches less than two years old.
Each church has her weaknesses—and strengths. In planting new churches, we pray not for replications of already existing churches with all their weaknesses, but more and more of incarnations of biblical vision and gospel theology without the same limitations and imperfections. What the world needs is not the multiplication of our imperfections and limitations but new sets of imperfections and limitations. Multiplying churches with different strengths and weaknesses means coming closer to meeting the crying needs of the world.
Mark this well: Jesus does not promise that he will build his school, or that he will build his co-op, or build his medical clinic, or build his university, or build his social service agency—as good as those are. He promises with absolute authority: "I will build my church."
As I walk down the streets of Pebble Creek, I do two things; pray and talk to anyone who will talk to me. The most common question I'm asked is "Why are you starting a new church? Aren't there enough?" Believe it or not, I LOVE that question. It gives me an opportunity to tell the truth. Here are the facts;
Fact #1:There are about 200 million non-churched people in America, making America one of the four largest “unchurched” nations in the world.
Fact #2:Each year about 3,500 churches close their doors permanently.
Fact #3:Today, of the approximately 350,000 churches in America, four out of five are either plateaued or declining.
Fact #4:One American denomination recently found that 80% of its converts came to Christ in churches less than two years old.
Each church has her weaknesses—and strengths. In planting new churches, we pray not for replications of already existing churches with all their weaknesses, but more and more of incarnations of biblical vision and gospel theology without the same limitations and imperfections. What the world needs is not the multiplication of our imperfections and limitations but new sets of imperfections and limitations. Multiplying churches with different strengths and weaknesses means coming closer to meeting the crying needs of the world.
Mark this well: Jesus does not promise that he will build his school, or that he will build his co-op, or build his medical clinic, or build his university, or build his social service agency—as good as those are. He promises with absolute authority: "I will build my church."
I once heard a story about a man who was shipwrecked on an uninhabited island. Seeing that rescue might not happen for a long time, he painstakingly built a little hut to provide himself protection from the elements and a place to store the few items he had managed to salvage from the wreck. Every day he would prayerfully scan the horizon, hoping for the approach of a ship. But he saw nothing.
Then one evening, after he had been out and about on the island, searching for food, he came back to see that his hut was in flames. He tried to put out the fire, but it was too late. Everything he owned in this world had gone up in smoke. He went to sleep that night listening to the pounding of the surf, stunned by his own misfortune.
The next morning he awoke to find a ship anchored off the island—the first ship he had seen since he had been marooned. Still trying to believe his eyes, he heard footsteps, and then a human voice, saying, “We saw your smoke signal and we came to rescue you.”
That’s how it happens sometimes. In divine sovereignty and grace, the worst-case scenario somehow becomes the best-case scenario.
Disasters can turn out to be great opportunities for God to work in your life. The Lord is always present with us, always intimately acquainted with our circumstances, and He specializes in taking “impossible” situations and turning them around, for His glory and our benefit.
Then one evening, after he had been out and about on the island, searching for food, he came back to see that his hut was in flames. He tried to put out the fire, but it was too late. Everything he owned in this world had gone up in smoke. He went to sleep that night listening to the pounding of the surf, stunned by his own misfortune.
The next morning he awoke to find a ship anchored off the island—the first ship he had seen since he had been marooned. Still trying to believe his eyes, he heard footsteps, and then a human voice, saying, “We saw your smoke signal and we came to rescue you.”
That’s how it happens sometimes. In divine sovereignty and grace, the worst-case scenario somehow becomes the best-case scenario.
Disasters can turn out to be great opportunities for God to work in your life. The Lord is always present with us, always intimately acquainted with our circumstances, and He specializes in taking “impossible” situations and turning them around, for His glory and our benefit.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
PREACHING THAT REACHES PEOPLE
The prevailing theme among those who are considered experts in reaching people today states, we have to make our sermons simple, practical and relevant. While I agree that all three qualities are important, we must never forget they all must be biblical to change lives! When people come to church today, I believe they truly want to know what the Bible says. There seems to be a genuine hunger for God’s Word. Even if a curious non-Christian attends church, most want to hear a biblical message rather than a self-help and feel-good sermonette. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what people want. If sin separates people from God, we can’t be afraid to preach about sin, the cross and the resurrection. God has promised to bless that kind of preaching.
The prevailing theme among those who are considered experts in reaching people today states, we have to make our sermons simple, practical and relevant. While I agree that all three qualities are important, we must never forget they all must be biblical to change lives! When people come to church today, I believe they truly want to know what the Bible says. There seems to be a genuine hunger for God’s Word. Even if a curious non-Christian attends church, most want to hear a biblical message rather than a self-help and feel-good sermonette. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what people want. If sin separates people from God, we can’t be afraid to preach about sin, the cross and the resurrection. God has promised to bless that kind of preaching.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
HALF TIME
About 15 years ago, I made a mistake—I read Bob Buford’s best seller, Halftime: Changing Your Game Plan from Success to Significance. I say mistake because it totally changed the way I approached the “second” half of my life. I was 48 at the time and planning on spending the rest of my ministry pastoring and retiring from a mega-church. However, that was not God’s plan and Buford’s book helped me to realize it (if you haven’t read the book, I recommend it.)
It wasn’t so much the content of the book that did the trick, it was the concept that caused me to ask God, “Is this all there is?” Pastoring and retiring from a mega-church—is this all there is? From there, God started me on a journey that continues to this day.
For the past 14 years, I pastored a small church in the Bay area of San Francisco. And while it was a terrific blessing, it was also a training ground for our new assignment. After being gone for twenty-one years, God has led us back to Phoenix to plant a new church in a 55+ adult resort community (probably the hardest thing I’ve ever attempted.) At a time when most men my age are thinking about gearing down, God has said, “I want you to keep it in gear and plant a new church.”
I write this because I want to ask you the same question I dealt with 15 years ago. I think it’s important to ask adults questions that get them thinking about the second-half of life. Even if they don’t have an answer the first time I ask, just posing the question will get them thinking.
In addition to the question above, “What are your dreams for the second-half of life?” I might also ask: What are you passionate about? What do you like to stay up late at night talking about? What do you want to be doing in 10 years? What is something you have always wanted to do but have never had the opportunity? If money and time were no object, what would you want to do for God’s Kingdom?
Think about it. These questions are just a few suggestions. It’s really all about taking the time to get to know what God has in store for you.
About 15 years ago, I made a mistake—I read Bob Buford’s best seller, Halftime: Changing Your Game Plan from Success to Significance. I say mistake because it totally changed the way I approached the “second” half of my life. I was 48 at the time and planning on spending the rest of my ministry pastoring and retiring from a mega-church. However, that was not God’s plan and Buford’s book helped me to realize it (if you haven’t read the book, I recommend it.)
It wasn’t so much the content of the book that did the trick, it was the concept that caused me to ask God, “Is this all there is?” Pastoring and retiring from a mega-church—is this all there is? From there, God started me on a journey that continues to this day.
For the past 14 years, I pastored a small church in the Bay area of San Francisco. And while it was a terrific blessing, it was also a training ground for our new assignment. After being gone for twenty-one years, God has led us back to Phoenix to plant a new church in a 55+ adult resort community (probably the hardest thing I’ve ever attempted.) At a time when most men my age are thinking about gearing down, God has said, “I want you to keep it in gear and plant a new church.”
I write this because I want to ask you the same question I dealt with 15 years ago. I think it’s important to ask adults questions that get them thinking about the second-half of life. Even if they don’t have an answer the first time I ask, just posing the question will get them thinking.
In addition to the question above, “What are your dreams for the second-half of life?” I might also ask: What are you passionate about? What do you like to stay up late at night talking about? What do you want to be doing in 10 years? What is something you have always wanted to do but have never had the opportunity? If money and time were no object, what would you want to do for God’s Kingdom?
Think about it. These questions are just a few suggestions. It’s really all about taking the time to get to know what God has in store for you.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Pastor Rick Warren has often said that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and an ounce of pretense is worth a pound of manure.” Fake faith is a pet peeve of mine, and it is certainly an issue God addresses rather directly in Scripture. I believe God is serious about it because ultimately, Christianity with pretense hurts the reputation of the gospel. So, it’s a huge relief when someone comes clean and speaks with brutal honesty about the Christian life.
Brutal honesty, plus hilarious anecdotes and some inspiring stories of redemption at work changing lives is what I encountered when I read Ir-rev-rend: Christianity Without the Pretense. Faith Without the Facade. by Greg Surratt.
As a church planter who is trying to figure things out on a week-by-week basis, I loved Greg’s opening chapters in which he relayed plenty of advice about how NOT to plant a church, all learned in the laboratory of his own experiences planting Seacoast Church in the Carolinas. Greg would almost have us believe that the church came into being in spite of his ministry there. Nothing could be further from the truth, of course, but Greg is that brutally honest about how he learned things the hard way.
Ir-rev-rend is not just a book for ministry leaders, though. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to put into the hands of people who have a problem with the faith. We live in a skeptical culture and we’re handing people plenty of ammunition against the authenticity of our faith. Greg doesn’t dodge any questions. He tackles perceptions about our legalistic tendencies, our hypocrisy, and our sometimes meaningless traditions. On numerous fronts, Greg re-directs us back to a simple, understandable, and very biblical faith.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it to you.
Check out my about.me profile!
Brutal honesty, plus hilarious anecdotes and some inspiring stories of redemption at work changing lives is what I encountered when I read Ir-rev-rend: Christianity Without the Pretense. Faith Without the Facade. by Greg Surratt.
As a church planter who is trying to figure things out on a week-by-week basis, I loved Greg’s opening chapters in which he relayed plenty of advice about how NOT to plant a church, all learned in the laboratory of his own experiences planting Seacoast Church in the Carolinas. Greg would almost have us believe that the church came into being in spite of his ministry there. Nothing could be further from the truth, of course, but Greg is that brutally honest about how he learned things the hard way.
Ir-rev-rend is not just a book for ministry leaders, though. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to put into the hands of people who have a problem with the faith. We live in a skeptical culture and we’re handing people plenty of ammunition against the authenticity of our faith. Greg doesn’t dodge any questions. He tackles perceptions about our legalistic tendencies, our hypocrisy, and our sometimes meaningless traditions. On numerous fronts, Greg re-directs us back to a simple, understandable, and very biblical faith.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it to you.
Check out my about.me profile!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
You may be very surprised to know that I, for once, agree with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg regarding his decision to bar "clergy" from participating in the tenth anniversary memorial of the September 11th attacks. In the past, I have found myself in total disagreement with the mayor on many issues; chief among them is his support of the building of the Cordoba Mosque at Ground Zero.
But when it comes to not having any "clergy" at the tenth commemoration of that day of infamy, I believe Mayor Bloomberg did the right thing even though I am sure he did it for all the wrong reasons.
However, the way I and many other faithful Christians see it is as an act of mercy – sparing us the spectacle of bundling all religions together as if they are worshipping one god or as if all these gods are equal. I can still remember Mayor Rudy Giuliani's "Prayer for America" memorial service, held 12 days after the 9/11 attacks, and how extremely painful it was for Christians who watched. It gave the impression that all gods are equal to the one true God – the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Every conceivable group, from Hindus, Buddhists and other non-monotheistic groups (unknown to most Americans) to different Muslim sects, Sikhs, Jewish groups, and Christian denominations of all stripes, was given an opportunity to "pray." Tragically, every representative of a Christian denomination, but one, judiciously avoided mentioning the unmentionable – Jesus Christ – out of political correctness. There was only one elderly Armenian Orthodox bishop who dared to utter the name of our Savior, the Son of the living God.
From the very beginning in Sinai, our heavenly Father warned Moses before entering the Promised Land that His people must not fall into syncretism by bundling and muddling their worship with the Canaanites, who worshiped all sorts of gods that were not gods at all. Yet God's people just couldn't help themselves and kept on mixing Yahweh with all of the "non-God" gods. Year after year, the prophets continuously warned them against that travesty, until finally, when they did not heed the warning, judgment came in the form of the Babylonian exile.
Sadly, America is committing the same abomination of syncretism – mixing the God of the Founding Fathers with all those other "non–God"-gods. Could judgment be around the corner? Perhaps.
But for now, special thanks to Mayor Bloomberg for sparing the faithful Christians from seeing and watching a syncretistic fest on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy.
But when it comes to not having any "clergy" at the tenth commemoration of that day of infamy, I believe Mayor Bloomberg did the right thing even though I am sure he did it for all the wrong reasons.
However, the way I and many other faithful Christians see it is as an act of mercy – sparing us the spectacle of bundling all religions together as if they are worshipping one god or as if all these gods are equal. I can still remember Mayor Rudy Giuliani's "Prayer for America" memorial service, held 12 days after the 9/11 attacks, and how extremely painful it was for Christians who watched. It gave the impression that all gods are equal to the one true God – the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Every conceivable group, from Hindus, Buddhists and other non-monotheistic groups (unknown to most Americans) to different Muslim sects, Sikhs, Jewish groups, and Christian denominations of all stripes, was given an opportunity to "pray." Tragically, every representative of a Christian denomination, but one, judiciously avoided mentioning the unmentionable – Jesus Christ – out of political correctness. There was only one elderly Armenian Orthodox bishop who dared to utter the name of our Savior, the Son of the living God.
From the very beginning in Sinai, our heavenly Father warned Moses before entering the Promised Land that His people must not fall into syncretism by bundling and muddling their worship with the Canaanites, who worshiped all sorts of gods that were not gods at all. Yet God's people just couldn't help themselves and kept on mixing Yahweh with all of the "non-God" gods. Year after year, the prophets continuously warned them against that travesty, until finally, when they did not heed the warning, judgment came in the form of the Babylonian exile.
Sadly, America is committing the same abomination of syncretism – mixing the God of the Founding Fathers with all those other "non–God"-gods. Could judgment be around the corner? Perhaps.
But for now, special thanks to Mayor Bloomberg for sparing the faithful Christians from seeing and watching a syncretistic fest on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy.
Friday, September 09, 2011
I was recently asked to explain the doctrine of election. And once again, at the conclusion of my explanation, people looked at me as if I were speaking Swahili. That’s the way it always is when I am asked to explain the infinite mind of God. So then I was asked, “Why didn’t God choose everyone to be saved?” And once again I reached into my deep reservoir of wisdom and replied, “I don’t know. But I do know this— He got more glory for His own name by doing it the way He did it.”
I went on to say, “Let me ask you something—does God ever make a mistake? Is God ever wrong? Of course, not. So, whatever He does fits into his character. And if it’s hard for us to understand, that’s our problem, not God's!”
You may be wondering why God did it the way He did. I wish I could explain it once and for all so that all of us could get the picture. All I know is that all humanity born in Adam are born with the sin nature and doomed to an eternity in hell. This is where the grace of God intercedes and some are saved and some are not.
Herein lies the rub—salvation is by the elect, predestined, purpose of God. Damnation is by the unbelief of men. Now you may ask, “Holland, how do you resolve that?” and my answer is, “I don’t resolve that! I can’t resolve that. But, I know God is perfect and He resolves it perfectly and that’s the best we can do with it.”
I went on to say, “Let me ask you something—does God ever make a mistake? Is God ever wrong? Of course, not. So, whatever He does fits into his character. And if it’s hard for us to understand, that’s our problem, not God's!”
You may be wondering why God did it the way He did. I wish I could explain it once and for all so that all of us could get the picture. All I know is that all humanity born in Adam are born with the sin nature and doomed to an eternity in hell. This is where the grace of God intercedes and some are saved and some are not.
Herein lies the rub—salvation is by the elect, predestined, purpose of God. Damnation is by the unbelief of men. Now you may ask, “Holland, how do you resolve that?” and my answer is, “I don’t resolve that! I can’t resolve that. But, I know God is perfect and He resolves it perfectly and that’s the best we can do with it.”
Thursday, September 08, 2011
I recently heard a person say, "The church is not relevant to today." Now I may not be the sharpest tool in the box, but I am an expert on the subject of "church." And I'm here to tell you that the church has never been MORE relevant than it is today.
I love the church. I love to be with the church. I love to talk about the church. I love to study the history of the church. Get it? I love the church!
Unfortunately, a high proportion of people who "go to church" have forgotten what it is all for. Week by week they attend services in a special building and go through their particular, time-honored routines, but give little thought to the purpose of what they are doing. The Bible calls the church "the bride of Christ" but the many congregations today seem more like a ragged Cinderella. There needs to be a reaffirmation to the nonnegotiable, essential elements for which God designed the church.
It thrills me beyond measure to think that I get to serve God through pastoring His church. Although I am also involved in some other ministry activities, I wouldn't trade my ministry in the church for all of them combined. The church takes first place in my ministry priorities, and everything else grows out of my commitment to the church.
For that reason, when God told me to plant a new church in the Robson resort community of Pebble Creek (west Phoenix, Arizona valley) I responded immediately. Within the gated-walls of Pebble Creek, more than 13,000 people reside—and there are no churches available to them. We want to change that.
Almost 200 people pray for us every day. Could I count on you to pray for us as well?
I love the church. I love to be with the church. I love to talk about the church. I love to study the history of the church. Get it? I love the church!
Unfortunately, a high proportion of people who "go to church" have forgotten what it is all for. Week by week they attend services in a special building and go through their particular, time-honored routines, but give little thought to the purpose of what they are doing. The Bible calls the church "the bride of Christ" but the many congregations today seem more like a ragged Cinderella. There needs to be a reaffirmation to the nonnegotiable, essential elements for which God designed the church.
It thrills me beyond measure to think that I get to serve God through pastoring His church. Although I am also involved in some other ministry activities, I wouldn't trade my ministry in the church for all of them combined. The church takes first place in my ministry priorities, and everything else grows out of my commitment to the church.
For that reason, when God told me to plant a new church in the Robson resort community of Pebble Creek (west Phoenix, Arizona valley) I responded immediately. Within the gated-walls of Pebble Creek, more than 13,000 people reside—and there are no churches available to them. We want to change that.
Almost 200 people pray for us every day. Could I count on you to pray for us as well?
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
I would propose that the church has something to learn from Dunkin’ Donuts.
The reason we have something to learn is that we have tried to be Starbucks. We’ve tried to be slick, trendy, and hip. We’ve tried to be a place that is non-threatening and easy to come to. And when you walk in, you see beautiful people in holey jeans and black glasses, all looking very intellectual and hair-frosty.
Additionally, we have tried to make church a low-demand environment, much in the same way Starbucks is. It’s low demand in that even though the basic premise of the store is selling coffee, some people don’t even go there for coffee at all. And nobody’s going to pressure them about the coffee. That sounds familiar, too.
But guess what?
People like Dunkin’ Donuts. They like that it’s not trendy. They like that it’s not hip. They like that it’s not cool. You know why they like it?
Because it’s simple: It’s good coffee at a reasonable price.
The reason we have something to learn is that we have tried to be Starbucks. We’ve tried to be slick, trendy, and hip. We’ve tried to be a place that is non-threatening and easy to come to. And when you walk in, you see beautiful people in holey jeans and black glasses, all looking very intellectual and hair-frosty.
Additionally, we have tried to make church a low-demand environment, much in the same way Starbucks is. It’s low demand in that even though the basic premise of the store is selling coffee, some people don’t even go there for coffee at all. And nobody’s going to pressure them about the coffee. That sounds familiar, too.
But guess what?
People like Dunkin’ Donuts. They like that it’s not trendy. They like that it’s not hip. They like that it’s not cool. You know why they like it?
Because it’s simple: It’s good coffee at a reasonable price.
Sunday, September 04, 2011
I'm Back
I didn’t think my break from writing would be this long—but I’m back. Much has happened since I last blogged, so I’ll do my best to summarize. After 13 ½ years as pastor of Gatetree Church in Danville, CA, I resigned August 7th to become a North American Mission Board church planter. When most men my age are thinking about gearing down, God told me to “keep it in gear” and plant GracePointe Church, a 55+ adult church in the Robson Resort community of Pebble Creek in Goodyear, AZ. (a suburb of Phoenix.) I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited about any ministry assignment as I am with this one.
Paul said, “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
God is not obligated to validate when He calls—but when He does, it’s wonderful beyond words. Again and again, He has supplied for our needs in ways that are so obviously “God” that even I can recognize it! The result is a deep sense of awe, humility, and an overwhelming feeling of unworthiness.
I don’t know how often I’ll write. Some guys do it every day—that amazes me. It’s not often that I have profound thoughts, but when I do, I’ll write them down for you.
Blessings.
Paul said, “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
God is not obligated to validate when He calls—but when He does, it’s wonderful beyond words. Again and again, He has supplied for our needs in ways that are so obviously “God” that even I can recognize it! The result is a deep sense of awe, humility, and an overwhelming feeling of unworthiness.
I don’t know how often I’ll write. Some guys do it every day—that amazes me. It’s not often that I have profound thoughts, but when I do, I’ll write them down for you.
Blessings.
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