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Can anyone else believe we are almost 9 months into this? Where has the first year gone?

• Family Dedication today for the very first time. I loved it. Hope the families did! For me it felt like one of those moments that affirms that church is about people, not programs.
• Great worship set today. All songs were either by Chris Tomlin or John Mayer…perfect. Ha.
• Today’s message was difficult for me. There’s not much to say about broken relationships other than God wants us to fix them. It’s all about application, not information.
• Very fast teardown because Lakeway YoungLife is using some of our stuff for their banquet on Monday night. If you live in Morristown (or even if you don’t), you should consider supporting their ministry. They reach a ton of students for Christ.
• Behind the scenes, we are really drilling down on details for the structure and health for the long-term at Arrowhead. I’d appreciate your prayers. There’s much to do this week along those lines. Can’t wait to start talking about some of these things on Sundays.

Have a great week!

I would normally not post this since it might be perceived as a pity party for pastors, but the science of this stuff is so clear and it is so true that I wanted any pastor who would stumble across my blog to have the benefit of reading it. Clayton King has written 2 posts (with 1 more to come) about the science of Sundays and their effect on a pastor. Here are links if you haven’t read them:

Post 1

Post 2

Incredible Sunday once again. There is so much energy right now at Arrowhead.

• On Saturday night as I was praying God just reminded me that there are so many people in Morristown who have heard of the church and are planning to visit eventually but just haven’t yet and that He can direct them our way at any time. This was a big deal because I felt so strongly that He wanted to use this week’s message in a big way. Sunday morning someone shared with me that they had the same thought over the weekend (unprompted). I love it when God unites the thoughts of His people under a common idea.
• He did not disappoint us on Sunday! We are really beginning to worship Him as His church. Songs included You Are (Todd Fields), Let the Praises Ring (Lincoln Brewster), Better is One Day (Passion), and Your Name - sung by Hank Sweet. Seriously…who doesn’t love Hank?
• Several first-time guests. Happens every week but I never want to take it for granted.
• Message was from Philippians 3 - many of us operate with a false view of who God is. That throws everything off. 1 - God is more concerned with our future than our past. 2 - God doesn’t hold unrealistic standards over our heads. 3 - God is concerned with our appetites. 4 - God doesn’t expect us to feel at home on earth.
• 56 people in ArrowheadKids yesterday. I don’t talk about our numbers as a church very much and never publicly on the blog, but I will about kids because I want to brag on the job my wife and so many INCREDIBLE volunteers do every week!
• I love seeing so many college students volunteering every week as well. Yesterday setup and teardown could not have happened without college students who got there at 7:30 and stayed until 1:00. That’s not normal! Thanks guys.
• Next week we’re doing family dedication for the first time. If you’re interested, it’s not too late. Email us at info@arrowheadchurch.com or call us at 307-0998.
• Tuesday morning 6:30 a.m. - Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study. Called AM630 (Arrowhead Men @ 6:30…so creative…ha).

There is so much going on behind the scenes right now that we are so excited to unveil in the weeks ahead. Ready to attack this week! Have a great one.

Great to be back today. I really missed being gone last week.

• Today was a relational day. Good times to interact and great Newcomer Lunch. Thankful for lots of new folks getting plugged in to groups and to volunteering. And, on a side note, the food got a whole lot better when I got out of the way and let somebody else handle it!
• Week 6 of 30 Days to Live Today: I’d Develop a Growth Plan (Philippians 3:1-11). Paul says he grow in his faith by: A decision to value Christ more than anything else, a refusal to try to prove himself to God, a determination to get to know Him, and a willingness to leverage suffering.
• Setup was really fast today. We’re getting back into a groove.
• Small groups start this week! Last chance to register before week 1 is today! Do it here.
• Excited about Family Dedication in 2 weeks. Our chance to commit together as a church and as families to raise kids with all our power to love and walk with Jesus. Register by emailing us at info@arrowheadchurch.com or give us a call at the office (307-0998).
• So excited for Rodney Arnold and the launch of OneLife Church today.
• Vacation was awesome last week and has left a pile of work on my desk for this week. Ready to get after it. Have a great week!

Bible translation is a sensitive issue to many people in this part of the country. I understand that. People have memories and traditions that are tied to the translation that starts with K and ends with V! It’s important to know that nearly every modern Bible translation is an attempt to translate the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic that the Bible was written in into English. There are many translations that are great attempts to do so. Some take more liberty to speak in today’s terms than others. Some are more closely tied to the original language in form and structure.

I have primarily taught throughout most of my ministry from the New International Version. I believe it best seeks to bridge those two worlds. It’s very readable but doesn’t sacrifice much of the literal understanding of the original languages. If you are just beginning in Bible study, it’s what I’d recommend, and so that’s what we usually use on Sundays.

I also will from time to time teach from the English Standard Version. A large portion of the greatest scholars in our country have made the switch from what they previously used to the ESV. I eventually may do the same if I ever begin to think of myself as a “scholar!” (If I do think of myself that way, somebody shake me or slap me and wake me up!) I really love the ESV. It’s a little more literal but still very readable. I use it most of the time in my personal Bible study. If you’re looking for a change from the KJV, NIV, New King James or New American Standard, I highly recommend it.

All of those translations I just mentioned are great. Other good ones include the New Living Translation and the Holman Christian Standard Bible. A modern paraphrase of Scripture that is very helpful is The Message, but we have to be careful to remember that The Message is a paraphrase and not the original translation of God’s Word.

Hope that helps.

Yes. Early in 2010, we will officially install church leadership. Up until this point, our sending church has provided oversight in financial and personnel areas. And, a team of financial minds from Arrowhead oversees our spending and giving.

This fall you will begin to hear us talk about partnership and leadership. Partnership is our term for membership. Why the shift in terminology? Church is not just something you gain benefits from. It’s something you sacrifice for. (I’m not saying that churches who use the term membership, which is nearly all of them, use it to imply gaining benefits. But, I think “partnership” says it clearer.) Under certain guidelines and covenants, we will be asking people to make the commitment to join Arrowhead as partners. That will become official in January 2010.

This fall you will also begin to hear us talk about church leadership. There will be a group of men who are chosen and approved based on the qualifications of elder in 1 Timothy and Titus. The church staff will guide the day to day operations of the church but these men will provide oversight and accountability.

We chose to take our time on these issues through 2009 because of the time that it takes to really get to know each other. I believe there is wisdom in waiting and watching, and so far I’m very glad we’ve taken this road.

Hands down, this is the question we get asked more than anything else. As soon as I began to make public the idea of starting a church, the most common question was where the building was. Fun conversations ensued!

Me: Uh, we don’t have one. We don’t even have people. Them: Huh? Me: Yep.

Really, the only answer to this question is that we don’t mind being portable. Sure, it’s not the most convenient way to do church, but the most convenient ways aren’t necessarily the best. We love the idea that the church isn’t a building; it’s people, and it’s a movement of people. One thing we’re not short on is movement!

That said, we don’t expect to be portable forever. Beyond that, timing is really up in the air. We’re always on the lookout for potential locations to renovate, build, rent, buy, any of the above. I don’t mind being asked if I’ve considered a potential spot because I’m surely not omnipresent nor always thinking about church locations when I drive by a spot, so don’t hesitate asking. Just know that you probably won’t get a great answer!

The clearest answer is that when God provides a place and a plan that we can afford, by faith, to put an agreement on, we’ll do it! Pray often for that location!

So strange to be gone today! Sara, Eli & I are enjoying some time with family this weekend. Tim Miller continued our 30 Days series with “I’d Invest in the Next Generation.” Heard he did an awesome job, not surprised. Here’s a video with a few announcements (and to intro Tim at the end). Have a great week!

Sept. 13 Announcements from Arrowhead Church on Vimeo.

Next week I’m going to answer some of the common questions that I get asked about Arrowhead Church. There are definitely more, but here are the 3 I’m planning for next week:

1. How long do you expect to stay at Rose Center?

2. Will you have elders or deacons or some other form of leadership? When will that be?

3. What translation of the Bible do you use?

Leave me a comment if you’d like to hear the answer to another.

Small groups begin the week of September 13! If you’re not signed up for a group yet, here are some links:

-Sign up here.

-Learn more here.

If you’re wondering what your options are, here’s the lowdown:

Weekly Community Groups: Meet for 90 minutes to spend time together, pray together, and discuss the Sunday sermon.

Couples: Tuesday night / Leaders: Michael & Laura Hill

Ladies: Wednesday morning / Leader: Sara Shoun
This group meets with young kids for a play date, to care for one another, to prepare for kids’ ministry elements that take place on Sundays, and for sermon application as time allows.

Ladies: Wednesday night / Leader: Chrissy Johnson

Couples: Wednesday night: / Leaders: Tyler & Emily Rhoton

Couples: Thursday night / Leaders: Kyle & Lisa Biery

Couples: Night TBD / Leaders: Josh & Ashley McDowell

College: Multiple groups throughout the week for men & for women.

Interest Groups: Meet for the appropriate time to gather around a particular shared interest or hobby.

Couples: Monthly Friday Dinner Group / Leaders: Ron & Susan Melcher

Bi-Weekly Men’s Breakfast: Meets every-other-week on Tuesdays from 6:30-7:30 a.m. at the church office for breakfast, Bible-study led by Ben Shoun, and discussion. Begins 9/22.