Wednesday, February 28
"You can do that..."
I got home from the ChurchPlanters.com last night in time to mock American Idol with my daughter, but not earlier enough to catch any of my son’s soccer game…(I tried, but I couldn’t go any faster through the mountains)Overall, the conference was good (not great)…It was good to have a little sabbath time in the car and at the hotel and it was good to spend a little time with Troy McMahon and Dave Ferguson from CCC in Naperville. They’re always so encouraging and genuinely interested in ‘how we’re doing’.
Dave spoke at the conference and began with a story about his dream of doing multi-site many years ago. The abbreviated version of the story ends with his friend looking at his dream drawn out on a napkin and said, “You can do that.” (spoken as “of course you can”, “why not”, “it makes total sense”, “a no brainer”)
I realized as I was listening to Dave speak that it was that attitude and that insight from Dave, his brother Jon, Pat Masek and many others at CCC that was a main impetus that led to Monica and I signing up for this church planting gig in the first place. Something for which I am forever grateful.
Mark Nelson at 7:52 AM 9comments
9 Comments
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at 7:33 AM
said... Just out of curiosity, what would have made it great?
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at 8:49 AM
said...
maybe you just weren't that hungry. i mean, you've been to a lot of conferences and workshops and meetings in preparation for crossings launch. after a point, even eli's cheesecake is good (not great).
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at 4:26 PM
Rob said... I say this in complete humility to have even been in the same room as some of these amazing men for the past couple of days.
I would have to agree with Mark's statement. This is only the second "church" conference I have been to. I don't think you need to take his comments personally. It was good, but it wasn't great. It felt very "business" like at times, even a bit over polished. I felt the emphasis was a little bit much on the what "I" did, or what "my" vision is. I wanted to hear more of what I heard from Ed Setzer and Matt Carter (keeping the focus on Christ first and foremost).
Matt Carter, "God has a resolve to fulfill HIS vision in us!"
How do we communicate the Gospel both clearly and creatively? How do we become men of Unction? How do we keep Jesus the most important thing in our life, even on the days when we want to quit? What can we do to not get stuck in our own theological huddle?
Oh well, just some thoughts.-
at 8:16 AM
said...
I'm sure your comments about the conference would be greatly appreciated by the folks who ran it and they would be available for feedback. Remember though, your blog is a public website that anyone can access- so making this statement on your blog might not be the best idea. Just a thought.
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at 9:54 AM
The Adkins Family said...
As an uninvolved observer who knows nothing about this conference, let me interject:
If you're offering any kind of correction / advice in the comments of a blog, it is proper form to not do so anonymously.
- Greg-
at 10:23 AM
said...
Yeah, Anonymous comments suck.
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at 3:57 PM
Gary Lamb said...
Nice meeting you dude.
I agree it was a good conference. To be honest I am not sure I have ever been to a great one. There are elements I enjoy and elements I don't enjoy. I guess that is the beauty of the body, we are all different.
I read Moffetman's comments and to be honest the things he didn't like were the things I did like and the things he did like are the things I didn't.
Neither is right or wrong, it is just different.
Anyway, nice meeting you and I pray you guys keep rocking it out there in Crossings.-
at 4:44 PM
Mark Nelson said...
Wow...just that little phrase, 'Good (not great)...Hmmm, that's all I needed to do to get people to post comments, huh...
Let me attempt some clarification...
Good is simply that. Solid, good main session speakers, one of the workshops I went to was good (that was yours Gary) the other one was a little mis-labeled, not a big deal.
Great would be that it changed my life. (see, my definition of great is different than some)
What would have made it great for me...? I'm not sure I could define that. If I could I'd probably bottle it.
Gary, it was good to me you as well (or should I say 'great') I so appreciate you telling me how your staff has been praying for us at Crossings, that was pretty powerful. I look forward to crossing paths down the road... Orlando?
Moffettman...good to reconnect with you...
Greg...how 'bout some disc golf tomorrow?
Anonymous #2...come on now, Eli's Cheesecake is always great...-
at 12:53 PM
said...
Wow, I was just really curious about your comment (I'm anonomous#1)...I really did not mean to stir things up, or get into a discussion on what was "bad" about a conference, which might eventually get back to them and cause a lot of hurt feelings. I just wondered what would have made a difference, not sure why I asked, so sorry...p.s. reason I'm anonomous is that I think I've been banned from posting comments or something..it won't let me sign in. Liz P.