There is a show that I watch called Human Target, which is a pretty good show by the way. The recent episode was about the Princess of Wales. There was a negative twist in the plot, but one of the lines said was, “I am protecting the crown.” There was anger over some things the princess was doing and the thought was that she was disgracing the crown. The premise behind protecting the crown is that there is a reputation there that must be maintained at all costs. This is an idea that does not just stay in the monarchy, but makes its way into several sectors. In the mafia or La Cosa Nostra there is an ideology that no one is above the family. What each person has to do us uphold the family. In New Jack City it was said that “No man is above the crew.” This is what it is all about. It is the responsibility of each person to do whatever possible to uphold, uplift and maintain the rep of the crew, gang, mafia, monarchy or family.
As beleivers we have the exact same responsiblity. Everyday and in everything we need to do what is withn our powers to porect the crown. The crown that was worn as Jesus died on the cross and the crown that He wears as king. If we wake up every morning with it on our minds that we are protecting the crown I wonder how our actions, thoughts and words would vary and change. There has to be an understanding that we are representing a kingdom. With this in mind we understand that it is not about us as individuals. Most time our decisions are all about us rather than the crown that we are protecting. This needs to change. This is something I remind myself of everyday because I want to do a good job for the crown.
Posted by Pastor D | Posted on 16-03-2010
Category : Formation, Lessons, Uncategorized, how ya' livin'
First let me start by saying, “Sheesh! I have not blogged in about a month. What is wrong with me?” Okay, now let’s get back on topic. I live in the South right now, but I am a Cali boy at heart. That being said I enjoy an occasional game of dominoes. How about you? When people are new to dominoes they make immature plays just to get on the board. They make panic plays when they are pressed into a corner. Can you see where I am going? Maybe now, let’s continue. 
We all know that the scoring in dominoes is by 5′s. With this in mind the lowest you can score is, you guessed it ~ FIVE. Many times the immature players will try to score quickly and all the time. All they want to do is score. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with scoring. You need to if you are going to win, but dominoes more than scoring is a game of strategyas well. I remember the early days of playing dominoes I would try to score quickly and small and one of the other players would say to me, “All money ain’t good money.”
Here is my point… Many times in life we go for the easy way out because we are backed into a corner or we do not clearly see all of our options. What we end up doing is opting for a temporary or easy solution. It is harder to wait for and strategize for the good money so instead we shoot for the easy money. Remember, according to what are called dominologists“all money, ain’t good money.” Our lives should be strategized and patient. What are the fruits of taking the easy money? There are get rich quick schemes, lotteries, gambling and one night stands. It is easier to pull a lever and spend a few dollars than it is to work, save, sow and invest. It is easier to pick someone up at the club and have sex than it is to court them, get married and have your life partner with lots of days of sex. Can you hear me now? Good…
Let’s live our lives out with strategy and patience and not chasing after the next hot thing. Hot things become cold. I’ll see you at the domino table.
Posted by Pastor D | Posted on 10-02-2010
Category : Church Planting, Church Stuff, Uncategorized, how ya' livin'
Let me warn you… This is a little bit of a rant for a Wednesday afternoon. I was driving by a church recently and saw a huge billboard with a picture of the pastor and the church slogan. Not even the church name, just a huge picture of the pastor. The picture took up over 80% of the entire billboard. I know, I know, that was a little extensive right there, but it speaks to my point. It seems that many times we lose out on what the focus of the church should be. The church becomes hugely person and personality driven. Do not get me wrong, I understand that the church many times is a reflection the personality of its pastor, but it is not supposed to be about the pastor. So with all of this my question becomes, “Who is being promoted in your ministry?” It is this kind of promotion that causes the people to be scattered when a moral falling happens. The people were zeroed in on the pastor and not Jesus. Do I sound a little dogmatic? Maybe. However, I think over the last few years many of my ideas about the church have evolved. I have gone to some church websites where you have to search to find a picture of the pastor. In my estimation the focus is being intentionally focused on the church and the Jesus of the church. I am not going to go on for a long time, but I just want us to check our intention as pastors when it comes to who is being promoted. Peace!
Posted by Pastor D | Posted on 22-01-2010
Category : Amazing things, Community, Connections, Cultural Relevance, Formation, Lessons, Lifestyle, Uncategorized, evangelism, example, how ya' livin', random acts of kindness, witness
What can I say? Everyone loves a hero. Would you agree? I hope so. The heroes that we have today are not the ones we see featured on the image above. No tights, capes, superhuman strength or underground caves with bats as friends. No, the heroes we have today deal with larger hurts and crisis situations and their response is no less awesome. It is even more awesome. The help they gives does not come by way of super power, but they come by way of love, a concern for people and relationships. If I had to point to a hero for the here and now (totally subjective, you may choose someone else) it would be my buddy Pastor Shaun King. He is the lead pastor of Courageous Churchin downtown Atlanta. They recently celebrated their one year anniversary. In that one year they did far more than several churches that I know of with more members and bigger budgets. There is a heart that beats within Pastor Shaun that aches and breaks for God’s people. Here is a quick rundown of some of the major things Pastor Shaun and Courageous Church have done within the year.
- Supplied toys and school uniforms for the children of Stanton Elementary School (2 Christmases in a row)
- Started Hope ATL to assist with supplies, money, shelter, demolition and etc for the 2009 Atlanta flood
- Positioned Courageous Church and those within his reach to respond huge to the Haiti Earthquake
This has shown itself by way of money, sending neurosurgeons, coordinating rescues and numerous other things.
Do not get me wrong. I am not necessarily promoting a man or doing any kind of idol worship. However, I do recognize the calling on his life and appreciate his heart for God’s creation. Truth be told when we see things on television happening in other countries or even on our own street corners we get very apathetic. Sometimes we shed a tear and sometimes we do not even do that. In the final analysis we do not do anything. There should be something in us that jumps when we see tragedy whether it is over the seas or across the street. God created us to have a concern and a desire to help people who are in need. I so admire this hunger, thirst and yearning to help “the least of these.” If you were to ask Pastor Shaun he would not make a big deal of it because these heroics (and this is what they are) are commonplace to him. This is who he is. What he does, how he leads and how he loves inspires me. It calls be to be a better church planter, pastor and believer.
If you want more info on Pastor Shaun and Courageous Church, check out the following;
www.courageous.tv
www.shauninthecity.com
www.hopeatl.com
www.theywilldie.org
