It's been awhile

It has been a week since I last blogged. Why? I had nothing to say. No really, I had lots to say but I just couldn’t bring myself to saying it. It has been revealing week. God has been pushing on my resolve and character. Here are some thoughts
• I have learned to live with a resilient optimism. God is my hope
• Family matters and family is more than just my kinfolks
• God is always ahead of us in His provision. Today’s bread is baked in God’s bakery last night!
• God will allow me to contend with Him but He will not be ignored
• My emotional responses influence everyone around me for good and bad
• If I am defeated them my family is defeated
• I will not surrender Tallahassee and the vision God has for this city
• Doing church makes me sick but being the church brings God’s hope to the world
That’s enough! Fellowship of the Hills turns 1 this Sunday and we are having a fish fry to celebrate. If you are in Tallahassee don’t miss this. We also start a new series called Sport Center. In the south football is king but Jesus is Lord! See you Sunday!

Tara is on the Mend

Tara had surgery yesterday to fix her broken hand. Dr. Wong put 4 pins into her broken fingers and he said she would be fine. The whole ordeal lasted about 6 hours. I took her home and began the healing process. I am very grateful that Tara will be fine but right now she is in much pain and discomfort. Throughout this season I am seeing spiritual lessons. Here are a few thoughts …
• Many times the cure to our brokenness hurts worse that the break!
• Suffering is always worse at night. Satan loves to invade our minds when we are trying to rest. Tara’s pain is really bad at night and so is our spiritual struggle.
• When a loved one hurts we all hurt, at least we should.
• When someone is struggling spiritually they need community. Our tendency is to withdraw especially when we are struggling because of some sin. The church exists to bring hope not condemnation. As Tara is recovering I must stay connected and care for her the same goes for those who are struggling spiritually. I am disturbed that the North American church is more about playing the “I’ve got it all together game” than really loving each other. You need a small group!
• Pain will bring you closer if you embrace it and not become bitter.
• Because I have experienced the same kind of pain I can help Tara in her current struggle. God never waste a hurt! Your past pain is to help someone in their current pain.
• Suffering reveals true friendships. When you are hurting true friends step up and help. We should not wait for an invitation to help but see a need and met a need.
• As I watch Tara go through this season of suffering I love her more. God has compassion and deep love for us when we struggle and He wants us to have that same compassion. God is kind!
That’s enough for now. Thanks for your prayers and support. The three Weatherfords who live in Tallahassee have all had surgery in the last 8 months. I hope this season is over!

Tara Broke Her Hand!

Tara had a car accident yesterday. She broke her hand in two places. Other than that she is fine, a little shaken but fine. She was headed home to give Caleb some money and was in a bit of a hurry when a car darted in front of her. It was an accident and I am so thankful she wasn’t hurt any worse.
Here is the strange thing, last Sunday night I was speaking at a sister church and said that this year had been a tough one. My back went out and had to have surgery, Caleb had his appendix removed, and I said “Tara, I guess you are next”. Well, she was next. I don’t understand why this is happening to our family other than it is. I have to believe that God is in control and we are most likely being protected from things that are far worse.
As I was praying this morning I could not help but think that Satan really doesn’t want us in Tallahassee. I know that God does. He is our provider and protector. We will trust in Him!

Some thoughts

There are a few things roaming around my head this morning that I want to share with you. The first is on the loss of influence.
Starting this church has placed me in a position that I am not comfortable with but has taught me much. When I was the pastor of Parkway Church I had a certain level of “clout” and influence because of the size and scope of the ministry there. God did some amazing things in, for, and through me as a leader during those 15 years. When I moved to Florida, by the call of God, I lost all that clout and influence. I jokingly say that I once was somebody. The amazing thing is that I am still the same guy. In fact I have grown more this last year than I have in years. The biggest revelation to me is my pompous attitude. I have declared that I want to make Jesus famous but the reality is that I want some fame as well. That is called pride and pride made the devil the devil.
Another thought running through my head is partnerships. Not everyone who says they are in with you are in with you. I have discovered some real friends during my transition. Leaders like Hal Mayer, Ted Cunningham, Mike Hurt, Bil Cornelius, Gary Smalley, and others have poured life into me. I have also been disappointed, oh well.
The last for today is on funding. Tara and I took a huge risk leaving the established church to start over. We knew it was God’s will so it was God’s bill. We have two kids in college. This was not the best time to be leaving everything. God has displayed His ability to meet our needs in a real way. No risk no reward has been our motto. God is good and able. Tara is starting her own business and once again we are out on God’s limb.
I did a lot of whining in my time with God this morning and writing these thoughts down for you has helped me to regain clarity. Let me ask you, “What would you do for God if you knew you could not fail?”

My Dad

This week-end is father’s day. This will be the first one without my dad. Dad went to be with the Lord in September of 2007. The days since his passing have been filled with tears, pain, and a deep sense of lose. My dad was my Hero. I don’t say that in some sappy sentimental way but with the true sense of what that word means and conveys.
What makes my dad a hero? Here are a few things …
• He loved my mother, they were married 58 years
• He told his stories, he opened his life to me
• He prayed for me
• He lead me to Jesus
• He set an example of sacrifice and service
• He lived out his faith not just on Sundays
• He treated all of us children differently but loved us the same
• He inspires me to be a hero for Tara, Caleb, and Calah
I could go on; in fact I have in a book about his life. Happy Father’s day dad, enjoy it with The Father!

Burn Baby Burn

The king builds a statue and demands worship. All of this was about the king’s ego. Most of the great manmade disasters of life start with someone’s ego. To push the ego button harder the king built a furnace. He said “worship or burn, you choose”. The king was calling for a commitment. There is no worship without commitment. Now the king’s commitment was a forced one but one none the less.
The problem was there were three guys living in the God culture. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down to the king’s statue. I found it interesting that the Bible calls them by their Hebrew names here. These guys had made a decision to live facing God in spite of the circumstances.
The decision to live in the God culture always comes before the crisis of belief. In our day the culture is always building furnaces that will push us into conformity. What we have learned in the church is to retreat into the Christian sub culture and not face the culture. Of if we do face the culture we face it with aggression. What God wants is for us to have the resolve of these three and live facing Him while in the culture. The three faced the king with respect, love and resolve a good guide for us! More later…

I am back!

I just rolled in from a week at Saddleback with Rick Warren. Pastor Rick is one of the most outstanding minds in God’s service. The week with him was a refreshment and a reminder. I am thankful to God for the opportunity to know and learn from such a leader.
While there God reinforced my call to Tallahassee to build lives. I was reminded that God has called me to build people and he will build his church. The next years of my life will be given to just that, building people.
Many things catch our eyes but few catch our hearts. Tallahassee has caught my heart. More later!
Guys, FOTH frat starts next Thursday at Beef’s on Thomasville rd. 11:45. It is rush week at the FOTH frat! Bring a friend and let’s have some fun. Oh yea, it is Dutch treat!

Kill my wife?

This morning while reading Ezekiel 24 I read once again about Ezekiel’s wife’s death. This passage disturbs me like none other. As I read I understood that God allows his wife to die as an example. God told Ezekiel that He would remove his delight and not to morn, not to cover his face, not to eat the food his friends would bring by the house. God’s purpose was to show the Israelite people His glory and power and how they will react when he brings judgment on them.
I just don’t understand. Why would God kill Ezekiel’s wife? This poor guy served God with passion and zeal. He never gave up even though the people didn’t listen nor respond. He was a man who followed God completely. It seems unfair for him to suffer this kind of loss for a sermon illustration.
As I prayed through this several things came to my mind. First, I am an example for the Lord to use. He has the rights over my life and my relationships. God is not mean or cruel. Even when I don’t understand what He is doing I still must trust His character. Ezekiel became real to me. So many times I read the bible and miss the people of the bible. I read to understand academically or for some hidden truth and I miss the real people who contented with a Holy God. My pursuit of God become real when I see the lives of those who went before me.
Other than these reflections I have no answers. All I really understand is that life is hard and God is good. What do you think?

the last of Nehemiah

Things left in their natural order can go from bad to worse. The negative critical spirit displayed by the three godless leaders went from words to plots. It is interesting how God revealed to Nehemiah the plots of the three. When we stay close to the Lord we learn to heed his promptings. Nehemiah didn’t even grace these guys with a meeting. His only response was that he was busy doing God’s work. This is a great leadership lesson. We should never feel compelled to give openly critical people our time. Meeting with critics is a waste of time. I have never seen an openly negative person convinced or converted. I am not saying that God can’t redeem the person; I’ve just never seen it. Let me press this further, even when I have given a critic my time and had some success in answering their criticism it was never long term. The sooner you expose their division and move on the better. As pastors we are trained to be compassionate and loving. Remember, you can’t pet a rattlesnake!

Critics don’t give up easily. Nehemiah had to keep saying no to their attempts to meet with him. Leaders must be tough!

The last ditch efforts of Nehemiah’s critics was to make him look rebellious and arrogant. Don’t be surprised when this happens to you. Their efforts were self serving. They wanted to make themselves look better than they were. This is a classic critic move! Critics will do what ever it takes to discourage you and slow the work of God. The sad truth is that the church has been held captive these unredeemed folks. Expose them! Critics will try to gain a following and create a “tempest in a tea pot”. Trust God, inform the people and press on. Leading renewal is worth your life

Some more ....

Nehemiah took a hard stand about those who were taking advantage of others. The spirit of spiritual renewal is the spirit of self sacrifice. As a leader Nehemiah knew that the bond of relationships would lead people to be tender toward others and not take advantage of under resourced folks. Renewal starts with personal renewal which leads to relational renewal!

Nehemiah displayed publicly his distain for usury by tearing his robes. This is a big time Jewish display of discontent! The clothing of a man represented the covering of God so when he torn his robes he was declaring that God would “uncover” you if you took advantage of others. In the south we would say “God would slap you naked”.

Nehemiah worked right along with everyone else. His leadership example was contagious in that the other officials worked as well. Leaders should not expect their followers to do anything they would not do. There is a pattern to leadership. Lead by example, lead by modeling, lead by equipping, and by releasing.

Nehemiah expected God to be one who met his needs. God is the great provider and as a leader we can never lose sight of that core truth.

Something more for a Wed.

I am traveling tomorrow so I thought I should put this up tonight!
Theses godless leaders created disunity among the people. Until this point the people had a mind to work and then they shifted to whining and complaining. This is why you can’t allow disunity.

Nehemiah had a plan to have families protect each other displaying the value of connectedness in leadership. We must remember that leading renewal is relational first and foremost.

Nehemiah reminded the people of God’s power, his provision, and his promises. Leaders must remind those they lead that it is God who started this and that God will finish this. Vision should be cast to folks often. Nehemiah remained the people of God’s plan every 28 days. Learn to cast vision and do it often. One of the most powerful vision casting tools is stories. Tell stories of life change. The next most powerful tool is slogans and short sayings. This might sound “cheesy” but it works. The only folks who will complain about vision casting are those who really don’t get it or want it. Don’t cater to complainers.

Nehemiah led the movement of God by example. As a leader Nehemiah had every right to demand that his personal needs be met, but he didn’t. This leadership lesson is all about self sacrifice. Throughout scripture God says that a leader/pastor should be paid so the point here is not that leaders should go with out. The point here is that Nehemiah knew this was about God and not personal gain! Pastors don’t have a job, we have a calling! If you are leading a church as a vocation please quit!

Dealing with Oppression

The oppression gets worse. This should come as no surprise the move when God moves the harder Satan will try to derail things. There is a classic pattern to the disunity of the three godless leaders, they mocked the Jewish people along with their leader, they mocked the quality of the work, and they mocked God. In the church mockers might not be so brash as to mock God but they will do the other two. Leaders who dare lead renewal can expect personal attack. These attacks will be based on some truth so it will sting. Things will be said about personal ambition, about lack of training, about being rebellious, about personal ego, and much more. Get ready. That is why you make sure that it is God not you who is leading renewal.. Even when you know that what you are leading is of God personal attacks will sting. We don’t know how Nehemiah handled all of this we just know he prayed to God and made a plan for families to protect families. Nehemiah had gotten to the place that he could not nor would not give up. The front to personal attack is to stay close to the truth of God’s call and to stay connected to others who share the call. Satan’s greatest tool is isolation. If he can make the leader believe that he is alone then he has won. Pride keeps leaders from reaching out. We think that we can handle the pressure but we can’t. The lie we believe is that true leaders need no one. Leaders must lead from a position where the biggest influence is God but they need others to keep the vision clear. We know that Nehemiah had a team; we know he pulled other leaders into the vision, so we would assume that he made others aware of the attacks.

Nehemiah asked God to deal with those who created disunity. This is not a kind prayer but a straight forward prayer asking God to bring their disunity “back on their heads.” This is a great leadership insight. Disunity is serious and should not be allowed to go on. Leaders who confront disunity must not shrink back from taking a hard stand. This prayer Nehemiah prayed was a public prayer! When leaders pray with that holy boldness those who follow see the seriousness of the calling. In Jewish tradition there was the belief that words had a life of their own. Once this prayer was prayed it had the power and authority of God to come about. This is big stuff.

It is about relationships

Nehemiah had families build the wall as families and to rebuild the walls in front of their own homes. This is a great leadership move in that there was ownership of the project. Leaders often fail to get ownership of the process because they fail to connect the movement of God relationally. God is all about people and renewal is not about the church doing better or growing or whatever. Renewal is about people connecting with God and each other. Families building together created opportunities for conservations, care and deeper connectedness. Remember the process of renewal it is personal renewal then relational. Maybe the key to renewal of the North American church is found in the renewal of families. if the church functioned as a family and the family was an extension of the church then relational renewal would be natural and normal. Remember God was rebuilding a people, the walls were secondary to what God was doing. So often we get caught up in the task of doing chruch that we forget to be the church and the church is a family.


God used all kinds of people to get the wall rebuilt. God does not care about training or background. He cares about heart, attitude, and willingness. In the process of renewal He will use everyone who is willing, not just pastors. Remember Nehemiah was a cup barer to the King. He was not trained in leadership. God equipped him and used him when he gave his life to the cause of God. The most powerful prayer we can pray is "Jesus, I am yours". When we surrender to the Lordship of Christ everything changes.

Moving with the Movers!

The movement of God was lead by the priest! Wow! When God moves in a leader He then will move in the hearts of other likeminded leaders. I love how the scripture says that Eliashib the High Priest and other priest started rebuilding the wall. Everything we lead is spiritual even wall building. They caught God’s vision and made a construction project a spiritual project by dedicating the work as they went. Nehemiah was not a priest but he had a friend named Ezra who was. I am not sure how Ezra influenced the other priest but he did. Here is a big take away; God puts people together for His purposes. With whom has God connected you?


The leaders of Tekoa refused to help! This is disturbing. What impressed me here is that even some godly folks will not get in with God’s plan. The people helped but the leaders missed out. It doesn’t appear that Nehemiah tried to persuade them to get on board. The leadership lesson here is to move with the movers. Don’t waste your time trying to convince leaders to join you, move with the ones God has given you. I have discovered this in the recent church planting experience. There were folks I just knew would buy into the vision and get on board only to have them do nothing. I can’t give time to them I must invest in those who are moving with me and moving with God.

Rebel with a cause

Nehemiah reminded the dissenters that God was in control. Nehemiah reminded the dissenters that they had no claim in the things God was doing. By doing this Nehemiah reminded himself and those he lead about the benefits of joining God. Notice that the three ungodly leaders accused Nehemiah of rebellion. If you are going to lead renewal you will be accused of being a rebel! So what! Pastors should be rebellious for God’s glory. Rebels are folks who are tired of things the way they are! Nehemiah was not a safe man. He was a rebel and leveraged his whole life in leading people to live in open rebellion against the brokenness of that day. Some how we have a concept that pastors are to be safe, passive men; I believe that God wants us dangerous and untamed. God wants us to lead a rebellion against sin, brokenness, and complacency. When people accuse you of of being a rebel, thank them you are like Jesus the true rebel.
One thought, Nehemiah's rebellion was against what was wrong. Make sure your rebellion is not just for the sake of rebellion. We need to be rebels with the cause of Christ not just crazy!

Dealing with disunity...

This was a spiritual experience for all involved and attacks followed. We should never be surprised that unspiritual people will attack the work of God following a spiritual high. Satan is not creative but persistent. I have discovered that attacks always follow a spiritual movement. Why, because Satan wants to bring doubt and discouragement. The root of doubt and discouragement is self-centeredness. If we begin to doubt God and become discouraged we focus on ourselves and not on God and His power.

There is a deeper lesson here. Satan is always looking for people to bring discouragement. He has a pattern. He will start with division in the leader’s mind. If he can get the leader to doubt God’s call or God’s provision he has won. If he can’t win there he will try to divide the leader and his or her closest relationships. Most often that relationship is the spouse. If he can’t succeed there he will move to the children then to other leaders in the church family. Satan is looking to bring disunity and division. The sad truth is that in every congregation Satan as willing folks. Most pastors are tormented by just a few of the same folks. If pastors and other spiritual leaders would rise up, speak the truth in love and disallow division the work of God will progress. We will see later how Nehemiah refused to even meet or talk with the dissenters. That is a great leadership lesson. In the church I recently lead we had great unity of vision but the same folks complained about anything we felt God leading us to do. I so often prayed that someone would stand up to them and shut their mouths. I now realize I was that somebody. The work of God is too important to be surrendered to ungodly people. One more thought, ungodly people can be godly folks who are being influenced by others. Pastors must walk with God and He will reveal the source of disunity. Remember to give people an opportunity to repent and get with God. When confronting disunity be tender but firm. Never let disunity be about what folks like about you or if they like you. You don’t matter. Make disunity about God and His movement. Only a fool will stand against God!

It's all about God's vision

This is so cool. God has leaders ready to help when they are lead by a leader who has the call of God. Most people in the church will respond to renewal when lead by God’s man! There is a leadership lesson here, Nehemiah cast the vision of rebuilding, he had a plan, and he had the correct motivation. When a leader cast vision coupled with a plan, others follow. Many times leaders see what should be and declare it without a clear path. If the path to the vision is vague in the leader’s mind it is a mess in the minds of others. Most visionary leaders are not strategic planners. The scripture doesn’t reveal how Nehemiah arrives at the plan of action but he was surrounded by a trusted team. Maybe there was a meeting we didn’t see. Maybe Nehemiah got the guys together who rode with him that night and they devised a plan.

When Nehemiah cast vision to the officials he did so in a way that was spiritual. What he said brought glory to God. People in the church are not looking for the next cleaver plan they are looking for the movement of God. Nehemiah made sure that the officials knew that God was in this. God got the glory not the leader. Nehemiah knew that renewal follows a set path. He was personally renewed by God’s vision, he led others to be renewed through connecting relationships, then together they renewed their mission, and then the structure of renewal was revealed. Most leaders see the need and want to fix the structure. God never works this way. He renews people then the process!

More good stuff ....

Nehemiah kept the call of God to himself until he knew it was God. This might sound strange after all he had gone through to get to this place of assessment. When God reveals a great assignment a leader is well served to keep the call between himself and God until it is oblivious that it is God not the leader’s personal ambition. We must remember that God will not share His glory. The rebuilding of the walls was about God and His restoration of His people. During my recent decision to follow the call of God in my life I found that I must keep the call secret until I knew it was God and not me. Even when I knew it was God’s call I still dealt with a haunting insecurity. I am sure Nehemiah faced such a daunting task that he kept it to himself until he knew that he knew that it was God. This truth took the pressure off Nehemiah. If it is God’s doing then God is the one on the “hook” not the leader. As a leader I have learned to trust God and not me. Nehemiah kept the call secret and let God take the pressure.

Nehemiah found things were worst than thought. Most leaders underestimate the challenges of renewal. It is harder and will take longer than you thought. The biggest barrier is emotional. What I mean by emotional is that the work on the heart of the leader is much more demanding than the physical labor of rebuilding the wall. A task the size of Nehemiah’s might lead a leader to give up. Because Nehemiah made sure it was God’s doing and not his he refused to be overwhelmed. In starting this new church I get overwhelmed by the size and pace of the task. Even though I have done this before and have led others to plant churches I had forgotten the emotional uncertainty and spiritual intensity of this task. As I prayed over the city I am called to reach and began to build the infrastructure needed for the church I get crazy with the scope and difficulty of the task. Nehemiah was too far into it to give up thus forged ahead and found God’s amazing provision. God’s will is always revealed in the hindsight of obedience.

Nehemiah chapter two ...

The answer to our needs is always God. If God doesn’t move then it doesn’t matter. Nehemiah was in a place that if God didn’t come through then he was doomed. God comes through. One of the greatest lessons a leader must learn is that their lives are an example for others to follow. How we react and how desperate for God we become sets an example for others to follow. Nehemiah’s call was still in his heart alone but his dependence on God in the secret of his call became an example of us to follow today.

When we set out to being renewal to people then opposition will come. Three godless leaders emerge to stand against Nehemiah. These leaders were not worshippers of God and had no interest in seeing the walls rebuilt. In fact the rebuilding of the walls would erode their personal power. Even though they were a part of the community of those living in Jerusalem they were not apart of the community of faith. Through this passage I felt God speaking to me about leaders who might be a part of the church but are really not saved. If a leader is to lead renewal then only the redeemed will respond. If a leader knows that the call of God in his life is based on God’s revelation through his word then those who stand against it might not really be saved. I have seen so many pastors stop leading because of church leaders who are churched but not saved. Resistance to the movement of God is a sign of lost ness or carnality. Expect opposition!

Back in Nehemiah

Let's pick up our reflections back in chapter one .... having fun?

Nehemiah had a broken concern for the state of his people. Most likely Nehemiah had never seen nor lived in Jerusalem so his motivation was not for his home per say. Being Jewish he knew that God dwelled among His people so the state of the people reflected the glory of God. Nehemiah was broken hearted that his God was shamed by the state of the place, the people, and the view of God in the world. Jerusalem was the center place of Jewish worship so the state of the city reflected the spiritual condition of the people. The people were in ruins as was the city. So true for the many churches today, the spiritual condition and lack of cultural influence of the church cast a negative reflection on the glory of God. A leader’s first focus in bring renewal most be on God and His glory not church growth.

When Nehemiah felt the prompting of God regarding the great task he first looked at his own spiritual condition. Personal renewal starts at the heart of the leader. Unless the leader is renewed then the movement of God is thwarted. When a leader encounters God he is changed and from that change God leverages the leader’s heart. God put Nehemiah in a humble place of brokenness so God would get the glory for the assignment God had for him. We must remember that God is always more interested in what He does in us than what we do for Him.

Let's have some fun...

It seems that every leader has written a book based on Nehemiah. Why, because the book of Nehemiah speaks so clearly to the process of leadership. Over the next few day I will follow that well worn path and share with you some reflections I have gathered from reading Nehemiah. I encourage you to read along with me and comment back about what you are gathering. Let's have some fun!
Let’s start with chapter one …
Spiritual renewal always starts with the heart of God. Men do not look for God apart of the Holy Spirit’s prompting. The key was that Nehemiah was seeking God before the call came to rebuild the walls. He had the practice of spiritual disciplines. He was not moved to action outside the previous devotion. Too many leaders think that God will ready them for the task after the call but God uses those who have been seeking a vital relationship with Him all along. This is not the case throughout scripture for we know that God will use anyone for His glory regardless of their personal devotion or belief. This example from Nehemiah is so important for leaders who claim to already be devoted to God. Because Nehemiah was in the habit of listening to God, God could readily speak to him. We know that Nehemiah was a part of a spiritual culture founded by Daniel and his companions. Pastors must remember that we too are a part of a spiritual culture. We stand on the shoulders of godly men who have gone before us. Often pastors forget that we are called to be holy men first and foremost.