Loud & Clear

Clovis Hills: a redeeming church

We say it alot around here. There’s a church for everyone. No matter your dress style, worship preference, beverage necessity or preferred baptism method, there’s a church somewhere that fits you.

But what about Clovis Hills? Who do we fit? What’s our uniqueness?

Pastor Steve and I had a telephone interview this week with the Willow Creek Association. As we talked about our history, defining moments, biggest failures and most important learnings, one thing kept coming around.  We are a redeeming church.

I can tell you story after story of people who’ve come to Clovis Hills wounded, a jerk, abandoned, burned out, a snob or disconnected. We’ve seen marriages fall apart and end in divorce, yet both continue to attend here. We seen folks with huge abuses in their past come to health and be restored to life and ministry. We’ve had guys who were the meanest, nastiest guys you’d ever run into transform into the nicest, loving-est guys you could imagine. Totally different people! I still can’t believe it sometimes the transformation that happens around here.

Pastor Steve even once started a special growth group he called the X-Min (similar to the comic name) that was made up of about a dozen ex-pastors attending Clovis Hills. Some had simply burned out. Others made personal mistakes that cost them their positions.

I’ve always wondered where these guys went after they stepped down from ministry, especially those in disgrace. Apparently, they come to Clovis Hills. Here they are anonymous, just themselves and rediscover God’s love, grace and purpose for their lives. They’re in growth groups, in ministry teams (some are greeters!), and other areas. It’s amazing to me.

On September 7, we’re starting a message series called Redeeming Grace. One of these pastors is going to co-teach with Steve for two of those weeks, sharing his own story about his fall and his restoration. It’s going to be an amazing series!

Pastor Steve has said from the beginning Clovis Hills is about Changed Lives. And while some staff including myself, and perhaps even you, have managed to create some image in our own minds of what we think Clovis Hills should look like and be, and have wondered sometimes at why we aren’t everything we wished, Clovis Hills is still a place where life change happens.

So who are we? What’s our identity, vision and uniqueness?  We’re the place the broken, the bruised and the battered find refuge, God’s grace and purpose for their lives. What an awesome place to be!

Now let me clarify. Some will think that this shouldn’t qualify as a uniqueness. After all, isn’t that every church’s mission? Well, yes and no. My parents church is a missional church. Seekers don’t go to their church really. But they are constantly doing community projects, sending missionaries, equipping leaders. That’s their uniqueness. Other churches are discipling churches. Or worshipping churches. God seems to gift churches as uniquely as he does people.

Every believer and church should follow the Great Commandment (love God & people) and the Great Commission (teach them to follow Jesus). HOW they accomplish that exactly is part of their uniqueness.

If Clovis Hills isn’t your church home, what is your church’s uniqueness?

life, uncensored

I had an interesting conversation with a friend of mine a couple weeks ago. He’s somewhere in the seeker/early believer stage. One of the things he’s struggling with is the lack of transparency in church people, staff folks in particular.

I understand where he’s coming from. A lot is riding on what we do - people’s eternity. The Bible gives us clear instruction (Paul in particular) to live spotless lives, to make sure that how we live causes no one to stumble in their faith journey. When you take that with how judgmental folks are of Christians, leadership, celebrity, etc., it’s easy to get drawn above the water line and live on the surface, hiding all the dark secrets of your sin and struggle. It’s not just the world either. Church people can be the worst offenders of the bunch.

Our culture demands us to be real, true authenticity and transparency. (Jesus too, by the way) On the other hand, it crucifies anyone who makes a mistake. An odd mix.

But I understand. Let me confess: I’m no different than our culture. I totally believe in transparency. Ask my friends, I’m always the guy that says “more than he should” when it comes to self disclosure. I just am who I am. I crave that in my relationships. But there’s always that line of how much can you share and still remain safe. I don’t always know. But I’d rather opt for transparency. My only other option is to begin to live only for other’s perceptions. And that’s a dark and lonely road.

So I’m here to confess: I feel tired, insecure, and stressed out. For reason of brevity, I won’t go into all why my week was junk. I tried and this post got way too long. Here’s the sum up. My son’s really sick, I’m suffering for lack of sleep, my wife’s out of town, work is crazy with innovation and obstacles and I feel like crap.

Not that I feel like you’re only being real when you share your junk. It just tends to be what we hide the most.

How’s it going in your world? Really?

what we do in our off time

So, I know you’re wondering- what does the tech team do on their off time, when they’re not serving at weekend services?  They do this. And when you’re married to their leader, so do you.

pre-service run through

Here’s Paul and the gang getting ready for tonights service. Taken and posted from my phone (not an iPhone).

…in a pinch

As I mentioned last week, my friend Brent Riffel transitioned off our staff. He leaves a pretty big whole to fill, as he lead a critical team- the Discipleship Connection team.

Now, this may not be a team you’re even familiar with, but these guys cover pretty much everything from the first time you drop of Response Card to helping people move into ministry and missions. Eventually, there’s plans in the works also to develop the LEAD portion of our growth process.

As I said, a big whole to fill. Now, because of the “recession” (are we allowed to call it that yet?) we’ve had to cut our budgets back and put a freeze on hiring. That means one of our current staff has to fill in. Who will temporarily fill this big role you ask? Kimberly MacNeill.

Paul’s been here over a year and doing the best job anyone ever has with our Music Team (I include myself in that) and the team is cruising right along. Not that means she has extra time, just that she has a kickin’ team that can help her do the impossible - lead two big teams.

It’s not gossip to say that spirits are high about this. Kimberly has always had a passion for discipleship. The DC team is in the best spot it’s ever been with help from Brent and excited about the future.

As always, keep the staff in prayer as we work along side you (we’re all ministers according to Jesus, paid or not) to become what God has in store for us at Clovis Hills. And thanks to KMac for stepping up in a pinch.

solitude retreat

I’m headed out this morning for a solitude retreat with much of the Worship & Arts teams. I’ve really been looking forward to going. Solitude is one of those disciplines I appreciate greatly when I actually do it, but am just not disciplined enough yet to schedule time for it.

I’ve a list of things on my agenda for this retreat:

There’s some life focus issues God and I have been trying to work though, along the lines of 7 Habits if you’re familiar with Stephen Covey at all. I’m tired of wasting life. You can call it time if you want to, but the older I get, the more I want to maximize everything I do with intention and focus. I feel God calling me to a higher level of personal accountability in every area of my life.

Also on the agenda is some songwriting with Paul Haugen. It’s been a long time since I’ve taken the time to write but as I’ve pulled my guitar out of the closet, it feels good to get those creative juices flowing again.

Finally, we’re beginning to work on our department budgets for the next fiscal year. I want to spend some time listening for God to make sure what I come up with is on his page, not just mine. It’s his church after all, I just get to play here.

I’ll fill you in on how it goes when I get back. If you’re interested in how it’s going, keep an eye on my twitter roll to the right.

farewell, my friend

It’s a little misleading of a title, since he’s not actually “leaving” Clovis Hills, but this week my good friend and co-worker Brent Riffel is stepping down from his role as Pastor of Discipleship Connections.

In the year or so Brent’s be on staff, he’s accomplished a huge amount, establishing a discipleship process that will be with us for a long, long time. Connect, Grow, Serve, Lead- this is the legacy he’s leaving behind.

What an awesome process this has been. I’ve never experienced a transition filled with this much prayer, faith, trust and expectation of what God has in store on both sides. The attitude in the office is awesome even if sad.

I’ll miss seeing you in the office, Brent. Your big handshake and bigger smile. Thanks for all you’ve done and I’m so glad I’ll get to continue to get you see you on weekends. I continue to pray for your family and what God has in store. Love you, bud.