I am in Lynchburg, VA today spending time with the leadership of Thomas Road Baptist Church, so I won't be around to comment much. But, here are an unusually long Friday is for Friends update.

Dave Ramsey

Michael Edwards, a friend and my most recent commenter here on the blog, invited me to come speak to the staff of the Financial Peace University folks. I was surprised at just how many people they employ. I guess I knew Dave Ramsey was famous, but I did not know they had such a large ministry. I had the chance to talk with Dave and was impressed with his (and their) focus on using finances as a "bridge" to share the gospel. I think they are onto something-- and appreciate their ministry.

Mark Dever

I interviewed each of the speakers at the recent Whiteboard Conference. It was a good group with some interesting dialogue.

However, I have been (pleasantly) surprised by the response to my interview with Mark Dever. As of now, almost 2500 people have downloaded the video, more than all the other interviews from Whiteboard combined.

The video shot up when the king-of-all-Reformed-bloggers, Justin Taylor posts it with commentary including:

This is a great interview of Mark Dever by Ed Stetzer, who asks great questions. They cover worship (Capitol Hill and Sovereign Grace), contextualization (MacArthur, Driscoll, Mahaney), the seeker-sensitive movement, partnership with those you disagree with, whether the gospel is too big (Dever admits he was being provocative at T4G, that some qualifications are needed, and that euangelion is semantically larger than the God-man-Christ-response scheme), and whether working for Habitat for Humanity is necessarily kingdom work.

In the spirit of keeping my humble, you will notice that Justin does not know how to spell my name (in the title). :-)

You can watch the interview in two parts: part one // part two

Let me also encourage you Reformed folks that it is OK to watch (and even glean some nuggets of wisdom from) the other interviews as well. Dever did not come to the conference just to talk, he also stayed and listed to the other speakers. And, watching his kind interaction and learning spirit with the other speakers would be a good example and something many could emulate. (Click here for the conference channel videos.)

And, one more thought. As one who speaks in a lot of different settings, I believe that conversations like these are essential. There is much we can learn from each other. There is only one body of Christ... and we need each other.

Michael Kelley and The Tough Sayings of Jesus II

Check out the interview with Michael Kelly, the author of a new curriculum through Lifeway called, The Tough Sayings of Jesus II. In the interview Kelly explains why he wrote the material.

We like a picture of Jesus where among other things, He's "nice.�? So we gravitate towards those passages. But that leaves us with an incomplete and mishapen view of Jesus and doesn't allow us to examine the fullness of what He taught and lived. So I wanted to write something that engaged people at a lot of levels - emotionally, intellectually, as well as spiritually.

Be sure to stop by the website to see all you get with the Leader's Kit and download a sample. Michael has become a friend at LifeWay and I think he has much to say.

OneMission.tv

A few years ago I was privileged to plant a new church north of Atlanta with some very good friends. One of those was Doug Keesey, a media guy I had worked with in the past. Doug and his team have just launched a new website that offers a unique variety of video resources for the local church. The website, www.OneMission.tv, is almost a "one-stop video shop�? for nearly every church video need. They have a growing library of high quality videos for worship, including a number of creative video sermon illustrations, countdowns and motion backgrounds. They also offer 55 downloadable TV & radio spots, something I've not seen anywhere else on the web. All of the spots are customizable and very affordable. And finally, the guys at OneMission.tv have partnered with several Southern Baptist entities to deliver downloadable missions videos free to the local church. Although the site is less than a month old, it's worth a bookmark to watch as the list of video resources grows.

Paul Chitwood and the International Mission Board

My friend Paul Chitwood is the Chairman of Trustees at the International Mission Board (the largest Protestant mission board in the history of the world with over 5000 missionaries). In a great article he recently reminded me and my fellow denominationalists that God is at work around the world. Yes, we may have slipped into decline in the states, but there is powerful news from around the world.

Paul shares:

The work of the IMB is the primary thing that brings us together. While the statistical analysis -- and the analysis of the analysis -- of the current state of the Southern Baptist Convention continues, I fear the most important statistics are escaping.

Is there any good news to tell concerning the work that brought us, and yet holds us, together? Indeed there is.

The number of Southern Baptist missionaries serving overseas is 5,359. Our most recent statistical analysis reveals overseas baptism totals at an all-time high of 609,968. The number of new believers being discipled overseas totaled 567,413, another all-time high. Last year's new churches overseas totaled 25,497. You guessed it -- an all-time high.

When it comes to missions, the sky is not falling. It is exploding -- with opportunity.

So get on a plane, take to the skies and help spread the Gospel among the nations. It's still a good day to be a Southern Baptist. In fact, analyzing the statistics, it's the best day to be a Southern Baptist.

Please note his important comment, "The work of the IMB is the primary thing that brings us together."

Let us not forget that our convention was once defined by missions... and I believe it is a uniting around missions and evangelism that will unite us again. I am Southern Baptist because of missions-- starting as a Home Mission Board Mission Service Corp church planter in the inner city of Buffalo. NY to today working part-time for the IMB.

Paul and I dialogued a bit about the article and he reminded me that the first thing the SBC did was found what is now called the International Mission Board. What a great idea. Perhaps the first thing we need to do this year at the SBC in Indy is to get excited about God's global mission.

Thanks, Paul, for that reminder.

David Dockery and The Future of the SBC

Over the last few years, David Dockery has become a friend. I have blogged on him before (link) and look forward to preaching in Union University's chapel this Fall.

David has a new and thoughtful book out with some solutions to get Southern Baptists to the "other side" of our denominational challenges. I read the book on the plane yesterday on my way to Lynchburg.

The book is a good read and points to a bright potential future for our convention. You might want to check out an interview with David via the InSight Podcast of the North Carolina Baptist State Association.

Denny Burk also gives a brief word about the book here.

David shared this with me via email:

My new book, SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONSENSUS AND RENEWAL: A BIBLICAL, HISTORICAL, AND THEOLOGICAL PROPOSAL, will be released by B&H Publishing Group in May (2008). I am grateful that B&H will initially make the book available for $9.99 to help provide a wide circulation for the book. I am hopeful that the book might help move us forward as a Convention in our work, witness, as well as in our cooperative efforts.

SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONSENSUS AND RENEWAL does not attempt to deal with every issue or wrestle with every intramural squabble that can be named among us as Southern Baptists at this time. Instead, by reflecting on our history and our heritage, particularly our theological heritage, we call for renewed commitments to our shared cooperation around the truthfulness of Holy Scripture and the uniqueness of the Gospel message. We then look for avenues that point us toward a new consensus, with a focus on overarching issues like missions, worship, education, and leadership. Other key theological and ethical issues are addressed along the way, together with a reminder of our Baptist distinctives and identity. The proposal for a consensus is grounded in a biblical, historical, and theological framework.

Outline for SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONSENSUS AND RENEWAL

INTRODUCTION: Southern Baptists: Past, Present, and Future

CHAPTER ONE: Renewing Markers of Southern Baptist Identity: Scripture, Global Missions, and Cooperation

CHAPTER TWO: Focusing on the Gospel: Toward a Southern Baptist Consensus

CHAPTER THREE: Giving Glory to God: Baptist Worship Then and Now

CHAPTER FOUR: Serving Church and Society: A Vision for Baptist Education

CHAPTER FIVE: Rediscovering Our Theological Heritage: Learning from the Past as We Look to the Future

CHAPTER SIX: Praying for Church and Convention Leaders: Character, Conviction, and Cooperation

Just about everyone seems to have endorsed the book:

A recent study by Lifeway Research demonstrates the differing perspectives on current events and hot button issues between Joe Public and Southern Baptist pastors. From global warming, to physician-assisted suicide, to embryonic stem-cell research church leaders are seeing things differently than average American.

Be sure to check out a summary of the study and the presentation. The research also shows who our pastors are likely to vote for in the upcoming presidential election. Can you guess?

Barna Research recently completed two studies ( here and here) related to Protestant churches and the use of technology. For example, "two-thirds of Protestant churches (65%) now have a large screen projection system in their church that they use for services and other events." From the use of video clips during worship to websites and podcasts our churches continue to explore the relevance and usefulness of technology.

Of note in Barna's research is that a church's size and theology seems to be related to its use of technology. Simply put, smaller churches tend to use less tech than larger churches, and theologically liberal churches tend to use less tech than the more theologically conservative. Interesting.

Every church accomplishes its mission with the aid of technology. Even if a church is completely off the grid and avoids all forms of electricity it is technology that gives that church its printed Bibles. Churches are not fighting over the use of tech in general, but as new forms of technology are developed many churches are too quick to adopt or reject such cultural artifacts without much thought. There is no virtue in being the cool, high-tech church, or in being the low-tech, minimalistic church. It would do us well to ask ourselves a series of questions when it comes to the use of technology in our churches. For example:

• Does the tech help to magnify the gospel, or does it become the focus?
• Does the tech help develop real community (shared lives) or help create an artificial one?
• Does the tech help overcome natural, or cultural barriers that can interfere with worship and church life?
• Does the tech serve a real purpose, or is it just for show?

David Kinnaman, lead researcher on the technology study of social networking said,

Church leaders have to strike the delicate balance between the spiritual and cultural potential of tech tools without surrendering to the false promise of these tools. Having the means of reaching the masses - for instance, through podcasting - is a good thing. Yet, nothing matches the potency of life-on-life discipleship. In this respect, social networking and blogs can be effective tools to intimately connect with a small, natural network of relationships. The key is using the technology in a way that is consistent with your calling and purpose, not just an addictive self-indulgence.

Look, I love technology. If you've been to a conference with me you've probably seen me thumbing away at my Blackberry. Technology is (mostly) a good thing. But we must be thoughtful about it. It is unwise to blindly dismiss or accept the implementation of technology in our ministries. We must determine if and how these new innovations will assist us in fulfilling the mission of God. Again, Kinnaman said,

...technology can empower and engage people, across generations, socio-economic segments, and physical boundaries. Young people, for instance, think of themselves as creators of content, not merely consumers of it. Technology, in essence, gives them a voice and fuels their search for calling. Whether or not you welcome it, technology creates an entirely new calculus of influence and independence. The stewardship of technology as a force for good in culture is an important role for technologists, entrepreneurs, educators, and Christian leaders.

[image courtesy of Nancy Wombat.]

This morning I spoke at New Life Christian Church. You probably have never heard of the church, but I think it is probably one of the five most influential churches in North American church planting. It was number 13 on our "Top 25 Multiplying Churches" list (see the article here).

New Life Christian is an Independent Christian Church. I have blogged about their group before after a lunch with a key leader from the movement.

They have three campuses, Mclean, Haymarket, and Centreville. The church was founded in 1993 and the Centreville congretation meets weekly for two services in the Westfield High School auditorium. I spoke in Centreville on Psalm 1 looking at God's definition of prosperity and success.

The pastor, Brett Andrews, is just a great guy with a great passion for church and church multiplication. The church so influential in church planting partly because it is the sponsor of Passion for Planting. (This is the organzation that runs my website www.newchurches.com.) And, Passtion for Planting is the main force behind the National New Church Conference.

I got to know Passion for Planting while I was working at NAMB. (NAMB recommends them here along with some other helpful service providers.) Todd Wilson is the leader of Passion for Planting and a person I have learned to appreciate and trust.

Todd has become a good friend. (We grilled out on Saturday night.) Although Todd may be the most significant church planting leader in America today, he works hard to stay behind the scenes... and I could not find a picture of him. His heart is church planting, but he is one of the least ego-driven people I know. (Since I cannot find a picture you will have to trust me that he looks just like George Costanza from Seinfeld--even his mother sometimes gets them confused on the television.)

I always enjoy being in a new church setting. First, they tend to meet in places that are a challenge to set up... like a high school. Here is a photo of me and the girls about to go into the high school being transformed into a church.

You can usually spot them by the trailer. (It is in that trailer that everything gets stored and transported.)

Everything is portable. From the equipment:

To the children's registration:

To the worship equipment (in this case, including a harp):

And it has to be hauled in...

Then hauled out every week...

New Life does a great job being a portable church... which is not an easy task. I wrote about the challenge of "rental fatigue" in a past book. When you think of new churches, pray that God will use their extra efforts to keep people engage in God's mission.

Here is what I wrote on rental fatigue:

Rental fatigue

New churches normally rent facilities for a limited period of time. At first, they usually rent for Sunday morning worship only. These rented facilities are dramatically different from traditional church buildings whose furnishings remain in place from service to service. When renting space, "rental fatigue�? develops. This describes the weariness experienced by the core group from having to set up and tear down week in and week out over a long period of time. This challenge may not sound ominous, but finding volunteers willing to get up at 5:00 or 6:00 every Sunday morning for two to three hours of setup wears people out quickly. Unless specific church members sense such activity as their calling and receive great satisfaction from doing it, fatigue can erode enthusiasm quickly.

Value of portability. Overcoming rental fatigue is challenging but not impossible. The planter's first step might be to commend portability by various means of communication--from the pulpit, through newsletters, and if possible, by the testimony of laypersons who have experienced its value personally. The planter may want to underscore the importance of portability because the church is still in formation. Bill Easum and Pete Theodore's new book, The Nomadic Church, provides helpful direction on how to cast a compelling vision for building-less churches. In the same way that Israel utilized a portable tabernacle during the forty wilderness years and well after, so the new congregation can be a portable church.

Good stewardship. The planter can help church members understand portability as good stewardship. Many people benefit from pastoral reminders to invest money in church staff members and in efforts to reach the unchurched, rather than in building or buying a facility. Refocusing members on priorities for reaching the community through stewardship of resources will help members center on such priorities for many years to come. By the time the church does build, members will have matured to the point where they view the building as a tool for ministry.

Call out workers. Many people cannot teach or lead in worship, but they can set up chairs or the audio system--and will enjoy doing so. Involving them in set-up efforts is important not only to make everything ready for worship, but also to cultivate their participation and their faithfulness in service. Although the pastors or core group leaders could perform the task, involving others who have no other church job enables them to feel that they are making a valuable contribution. Leaders should praise these people publicly and privately for their faithfulness in this important ministry. Such persons are "body parts�? in Christ who, though seemingly of lesser value, actually become more valuable through their service to the kingdom.

Nomad churches

Although the thought surprises our building-centered values, some congregations actually find a "nomadic�? existence--moving to new meeting sites as needs change--a way of life. This approach to church planting has become increasingly popular, particularly in expensive urban settings. The reasons for such developments are understandable.

No available acreage. Land in some urban settings is prohibitively expensive. In other areas, churches find that purchasing land on which to build is legally impossible because very old--occasionally even dilapidated--buildings have received civil protection as historic landmarks. This most frequently occurs in the northeastern United States, where many communities guard their colonial heritage. Some open land in urban areas is off-limits to development for houses and churches as a matter of wildlife protection. In still other places, religious, political, or social pressures may prevent a new congregation from purchasing land or from putting up a building.

Available but insufficient. Even if land is available, it may not be large enough to meet needs. Generally, since churches need one acre for every 150 persons, a projected congregation of fifteen hundred will need ten acres of land. Manhattan Island, in the heart of New York City, contains no available tracts that size. (Redeemer Presbyterian meets on the campus of Hunter College in Manhattan.) Northern Virginia offers virtually no land for purchase today. Even if available, land costs may soar to a price of millions of dollars for one acre.

New paradigms for new times. If evangelicals are to be successful in reaching North American urban centers in church planting, we must abandon the thinking that ten acres of land and a brick building are essential in order to be successful. A true New Testament church can meet on the sixteenth floor of a high-rise building just as surely as any First Presbyterian Church can meet on the county seat town square. With the birth of the twenty-first century and the changes it has ushered in, we must redefine good stewardship in the context of land purchase and buildings. We need new paradigms for new times. For those who are not called or convinced by a house church model, we still have to abandon a building centered model if we are to reach this new reality.

And, one last picture.

Since today is the annual "Rolling Thunder" parade, I jumped on my Harley and joined the fray (and if you look closely, there is no key, I did not lift the kickstand, and I am not sure it was even a Harley... grin).

It was great to be with friends at New Life... I am grateful for their work and ministry... and honored they would have me share in their church today.

Facebook for Pastors

My friend Chris Forbes from MinistryMarketingCoach.com has put together a handy guide to "Facebook for Pastors" you might like to check out. Download the pdf (E-book page, direct link here). The 31 page e-book makes a case for why pastors should consider using the social networking site in their ministry and has tips and ideas for making the most of having a profile on Facebook. Chris is a ministry media strategist and marketing consultant based in Oklahoma who works globally with missionaries, churches, and ministries in reaching people of all kinds.

Robert Morgan and The Promise

Robert J. Morgan is pastor of The Donelson Fellowship in Nashville where the stated goal is simply "to become disciples." His new book from my friends at B&H Publishing Group is called The Promise, and its goal is to show readers how God guarantees goodness to come from even the toughest situations. If you, or someone you know, need a reminder of God's good intentions for his people this book could be a great resource. You can download it for free here.

Piper and Negative Calvinism

Does becoming a Calvinist make you angry? John Piper recently shared his thoughts concerning the negative tone among many Calvinists.

So the intellectual appeal of the system of Calvinism draws a certain kind of intellectual person, and that type of person doesn't tend to be the most warm, fuzzy, and tender. Therefore this type of person has a greater danger of being hostile, gruff, abrupt, insensitive or intellectualistic.

I'll just confess that. It's a sad and terrible thing that that's the case. Some of this type aren't even Christians, I think. You can embrace a system of theology and not even be born again.

Sobering words. John gives a two more reasons Calvinists have, or are perceived as having, a negative tone. Be sure to check it out.

ABWE

I enjoyed my time with the people at ABWE, and this photographer can follow me around anywhere if he can always make me look this cool. (I have no idea how me made the halo appear around "ABWE.")

I am worn out after a long day at Whiteboard Sessions. Since I knew most of the speakers, they asked me to interview them... which was rewarding and exhausting at the same time. You can watch the interviews here.

Later, here at the blog, I will post the interviews individually with some commentary... they were very different from one another and said some, well, different things.

But tomorrow is a short church planting event in the morning (the event goes longer, I just speak in the morning, see here). Then, I am off, gone, outa' here to spend the weekend with my daughters in Washington D.C.

In the tragic loss of their daughter, Maria. The news is here. Please pray for comfort and strength for the family in this incredibly difficult time.

Preaching is on my mind. We are about to begin some preaching research at LifeWay Research.

Last week, I had lunch with Michael Dudiut from Preaching Magazine and we talked about preaching. Earlier, he had interviewed me for one of their podcasts. So, I have preaching on the brain.

Preaching has become a polarizing topic in evangelicalism. There are so many people yelling that their form of preaching is the only right way: because it is biblical, or because it is relevant, or because it is - whatever.

In the midst of all of this there has been a growing concern about plagiarism in churches. It even made the cover of the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. Some preachers have been fired for passing off the sermons of others as their own work. Justin Taylor brings his usual keen insight here.

I had an interesting and exciting week last week at two mission boards.

First, it was good to connect with theologically conservative and biblically driven people who care about contextualization-- at the International Mission Board and the Association of Baptists for Worldwide Evangelism.

Alvin Reid Wins an Award

Congratulations to my friend Alvin Reid whose new book was recently honored. Kregel announced:

Outreach Magazine announced the finalists for their Outreach Resource Awards in February of this year... and this year's finalists included... Join the Movement: God Is Calling You to Change the World by Alvin L. Reid (Kregel 2007) in the Youth Outreach category.

Congrats to Alvin.

Joe Thorn Needs to Learn Boundaries

Ergun Caner, of Liberty University, called last Friday and we talked about the Evangelical Manifesto. It seemed a bit odd to see his name on the document considering he taught at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University. We talked again today.

Whatever you think of the manifesto, Ergun's name sticks out like Joel Osteen at a John MacArthur's Shepherd Conference.

Last week, I had the opportunity to spend some time with Assemblies of God pastors in the Michigan District. We had a great time.

One of my favorite moments was when they prayed for new church planters (there were several others out of the picture). My friend Steve Bradshaw, director of church planting for the district, is introducing them here:

This week, I will be speaking at two global mission boards.

The IMB

The International Mission Board is my own denominational international mission agency. On Monday, I join with Jerry Rankin to end the evening session talking about how pastors can be involved in global missions.

One of the favorite parts of my job is working with the International Mission Board. When I was praying about coming to LifeWay, it was my dinner with Jerry Rankin that finalized the decision. Odd, I know, but it went like this.

I recently wrote about the Evangelical Manifesto.

On the morning it released, I received a call from one of the key people behind the manifesto, Darrell Bock. Darrell is Research Professor of New Testament Studies and Professor of Spiritual Development and Culture at Dallas Theological Seminary. He was quoted in my local paper this morning.

This morning, I had a nice talk with Darrell about his intent (and the intent of the document).

I have read the document and find it compelling in many ways. Would I change some things? Of course. Does it say some important things? Definitely.

As I mentioned in the USAToday story, I was concerned it would be "spun" to say Christians should not be involved in politics. That was not the intent of the signers, but some have tried to spin it that way.

Darrell mentioned his radio dialogue with Denny Burk. Denny has just posted links to the interviews here. Their focus is on what some call "single issue" politics.

Darrell shared the following with me that addresses some of the intent of the document. He will soon release to other blogs but gave me permission to share it with you:

The Multiplying Church
Bob Roberts is blogging his new book, The Multiplying Church, at glocal.net. Check it out.

Mark Reynolds and the Redeemer Fellows Program
Mark Reynolds from Redeemer Presbyterian Church sent along his presentation from the Best Practices Forum at the Exponential Conference (you can download the other presentations here). He tells about the Redeemer Fellows Program, one of the leading church planting internship programs in the country. Download a pdf of the presentation here.

Richard Land on Responsible Religious Freedom
I was on the phone with Richard Land earlier this week and we talked at length about his recent editorial in the Wall Street Journal. Be sure to check out the full article here.

Some excerpts:

The new issue of Outreach Magazine gives their reader-submitted "Resources of the Year" in several categories. What came in at the number one spot for Leadership Training Resource of the Year may surprise some of you (and it greatly disappointed three authors who co-wrote a certain book that was a runner-up).

Danny Akin sent out an email yesterday to the faculty and students at Southeastern indicating I was joining their faculty. So, I thought I better make that official (or as official as a blog can make anything)!

I am joining the faculty of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary as Visiting Research Professor of Missiology.

Should Christians be involved in politics? Yes.

Are Evangelicals too identified as a partisan political bloc? Yes.

Can Christians still be involved in politics and social action and yet more clearly articulate a gospel message? I hope and believe we can.

As a matter of fact, the growing evangelical understanding of the Kingdom reminds us that we must be involved. (See Russell Moore's helpful, The Kingdom of Christ: The New Evangelical Perspective, for a helpful analysis. Or, Carl Henry's Uneasy Conscience, for an earlier perspective.)

Today, USA Today weighs in on the subject. This story was tied to the publication of an Evangelical Manifesto, a document I am assuming I will like (based on who is endorsing and the theme). The website is here.

We had just completed some research (to be released on the LifeWay Research website today) on the involvement of Christians in politics, so we ended up in the story. I don't speak much of politics, but the research connected well, so here are a few of the comments I made to USA Today (they cited some of them):

The data tells us that a minority of Americans, and a smaller minority of Christians, are concerned that Christians are "too involved�? in politics. The more liberal and secular one is, the more concerned you are--which is not surprising. But, the majority of Americans (and a large majority of Christians) do not share the concern that Christians are too involved in politics.

I am one who agrees that evangelicals need to be known for what we are for--showing and sharing the good news of Christ, not only just what we are against. But, in regards to public policy, it is a both/and, not either/or.

You cannot stand for justice and be told you cannot speak of Jesus, nor can you love God and His word and not care for unborn children, the abused, and social justice.

Christians need to speak prophetically to all parties, not be beholden to one. If evangelicals are seen as a voting bloc of the Republican Party, I am concerned. If Christians are told to leave their faith outside the public square, I am more concerned.

Religion will always be an issue in politics. However, as evangelicals we need to not try to moralize the unconverted-- our primary mission is to convert the immoral-- other sinners like us.

Simply put, you cannot have a proper view of the Kingdom of God and not care about society. And, part of caring about society involves advocating for social policy that protects those needing protection and promotes the public good. Maybe part of the problem is that we have been known for advocating polices rather than serving the hurting in the name of Jesus.

We need both.

Update: I have read the document (and talked to some of the Charter Signatories), and I am impressed.

A few posts back Chris Norman posted a question in the comments that I thought I would explore a bit as a blog post. His question was for Alan Hirsch, Neil Cole and me and resulted in a brief email dialog. The issue revolves around the full-time pay of pastoral leadership. Is a church healthier with, or wthout paid staff? Is such a concept even biblical? My response in the comments was:

Candidates include (in order they were announced):
1. Bill Waggner.
2. Frank Cox.
3. and Avery Willis makes three (posted with his permission).
...and watch for Johnny Hunt's forthcoming nomination from Ted Traylor (also posted here with permission). (Updated: Here is the official announcement for Johnny Hunt.)

It should be a good year with so many godly men interested in leading this convention through challenging times. Pray for God's direction and guidance. I believe that God can bring us together and focus us on His mission.

Yesterday, I finished up my series through James. I promised to include some accountability question list examples here. These lists are from Cultivating a Life for God (Church Smart Resources 1999 pp.125-131).

I had an awkward situation yesterday. My doctor prescribed a sleep study (part of some health tests I am doing in preparation for my forthcoming new health regimen).

The tech called me to arrange the details. She did not seem to have many details about the clinic, so I asked some questions. One of which was the setting-- in this case it was an office building with several faux bedrooms where they would wire me up and measure me sleeping.

I asked about the staff, and she was "it."

Then came that awkward moment. I knew she would not understand it, but I expalined, "I can't come if it is just you and me in the building." It was awkward and I am guessing few ever said such a thing. So, I skipped out on my study (and will probably have to pay the no-show charge).

With Friends at Dwell

I had a great time at the Dwell Conference in New York City. I also had the chance to meet uber blogger Darryl Dash, who snapped these photos. Darryl is an always thoughtful blogger and all around good guy, except that he left early to go to the David Letterman show.

Darryl's pictures show a bit of the venue. It was an interesting space, to say the least.

Here is Abe asking me another hard question:

Joel Rainey, whom I've known for a few years now, has written a book called Planting Churches in the Real World. I wrote an endorsement for it, which appears on the front cover.

I think the angle of this book will be very helpful. Most of the books on church planting are written by guys who have planted mega-churches, which often leaves would-be planters thinking that theirs will be the next mega-church. But most new churches don't break 100 in average worship attendance until after the fourth year, and Joel writes his book with this majority group in mind.