Patrick O'Connell

Church Planter Assessment

I believe in the assessing church planters. For the second time in a year I've had the privilege of serving as an assessor. My role was to watch candidate planters in a series of exercises to help discern their strengths and weaknesses as planters.

I was assessed in the summer of 2007 along with the rest of the original Restore staff. The process wasn't easy but it helped me understand myself in the context of church planting. I can't imagine planting a church not knowing what I learned in that assessment.

Last weekend I travelled to Joplin, Missouri to help assess some candidates. While I am sworn to secrecy about the details of the assessment, I can't imagine a better way for a planter to begin experiencing the realities of launching a church.

If you feel God calling you to plant a church may I suggest you attend an assessment with your spouse.

 

TV Fast for Lent

I've decided to fast from television for Lent. My estimate is that will give me 3 to 4 hours back every week. I have nothing against TV. I am just trying to become more wise how I spend my time.

As I've grown older I am more sensitive to the finite nature of my time.  I am not interested in being more productive  with my extra time. I suspect I'll just read more. In fact, last week I sat down and read a book about the Civil War in Missouri. I would not have added that to my reading list unless I had the extra time.

If I am going to honor God with my life I must be willing to offer every part of it to him. My time is on the offering table.

Bailie's 17th Birthday

Today my daughter Bailie turns 17.

Thank you for her God.

Lent Begins Today

Lent begins today. It's one of the six seasons of the church calendar. Lent is an opportunity for the Christian to prepare his/her heard for Easter with reflection, repentance and prayer. During Lent Christians focus on human sin and God's grace as a solution. It's a somber season, one of devotion and introspection.

This Lent I am going to fast from television. I want to recapture some of my time and use it in more creative endeavors.

Jesus has done so much for me. I am not missing the opportunity.

Haunted By The Unsaid

Writers don't write to get published. If this is your motivation you're going to be disappointed. Writers write because they must write. They cannot NOT write.

Writers write for lots of reasons. But the first reason is that they are compelled to create. The only reason to write is because a writer must write. Writers write because they have something to say. Many people have something to say. But for a writer, they must say it. They must get the something into words.

The writer's only hope is to develop discipline around his or her craft. Otherwise there is going to be much left unsaid. And the unsaid words haunt the writer.

A writer must focus on what is before him or her. They cannot look back. Nor can they look forward. To write is to be present. This is hard--very hard.

Writing is valuable, if only to the writer. And that's enough. But on occasion, the words breakout and the writer has said something that resonates with the reader. 

When a writer writers only for an audience they have lost their reason for writing. Good writing is birthed from the deep places of the writer and it must come out and it doesn't matter if anyone reads it. This is writing.

Writing is hard. But not writing is harder.

Spiritual Retreat

We all need to hit the pause button from time to time. The fact is that life is relentless and there is much clutter to distract us from God.

I love the idea of retreating from the world for a time to regroup and refocus. To do this well I suggest you do a little planning to make your time rewarding. Here are some insights I hope will help:

What is a spiritual retreat?

Christians have been 'retreating' from the world to focus on God for centuries. It's a time to get away from the distractions of life and focus on God. The key is to simply your time by reducing distractions and focusing on God.

Why take a retreat?

• Focus on God and get closer to Him.
• Refocus on life and what's important.
• Take a break.
• Relax and rest.
• Review the past; examen the present; plan for the future.

Where should you take your retreat?

• The key is to find a place where you aren't going to be distracted by stuff in your life. Going away somewhere makes sense but I also know of a guy who would spend the day in his closet and call it a retreat. (Whatever works right?)

When should you retreat?

Most of the advice I have been given and what I've found in my research is to take a day at least once a quarter.

Who should you take a retreat with?

While groups of people can retreat together, I have always preferred a solo retreat. I am around people all of the time and while I love this fact, truth is we all need a break on occassion.

How should you take a retreat?

What you do during your retreat is really up to you. But the idea is to focus on God. I know some people who create a schedule for their retreat. This doesn't work for me. My goal is to get to a place where I can focus. That's why the following are part of my retreat day:

• Prayer
• Meditation
• Journaling
• Read books
• Bible reading
• Reflecting
• Planning
• Walking
• Ask some deep questions about yourself and your relationship with God and others.
• Wait on God to speak to you. 

If you've never taken a retreat, may I encourage you to take one soon. We all need time alone with God. The world is ruthless in this way. If you don't create the boundary of a retreat in your life, it will always have it's way with you.

I hope these tips and suggestions help you grow closer to God.

A Visit to New City Church

Last Sunday I visited New City Church in Shawnee, Kansas. Matt Miller is the lead pastor and a great friend. Chris Moix is Matt's right hand and together they are leading a great new church. God is truly opening doors for them.

They've had opportunities to serve apartments communities and public schools in the community. During these early weeks of the church they have laid clear vision that they are going to be a church that does everything they can to bless the community.

They believe that people experience community in small groups. During my visit, Matt spoke about connecting with each other in groups to experience life transformation.

All I can say is WoW! The Sunday I visited was awesome. David Gallagher led a powerful worship experience up front. Chris inspired the congregation to get into small groups and connect as a community. Matt spoke on love and that our love stories are still being written.

Matt finished a leadership residency with us at Restore almost a year ago. Since then he's been focused on planting and launching New City. I miss having Matt as part as our staff. But experiencing New City was my proof that God is doing a new work in Shawnee through him and his team.

 

 

Wholly Surrendered Today

I ask the same question everyday. "Am I going to live a wholly surrendered life today?" Yep--same question everyday.

As I see it, I have choices to make everyday about how I will live my life.

• Will I holdback parts of my life from God this day?
• Am I willing to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit? 
• Am I willing to place myself in a posture of dependency on the Spirit.

Jesus lived his life dependent on the Holy Spirit. This inspires me. One time he told his disciples:

He (the Holy Spirit) will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you (John 16:14).

Saying yes to surrendering my life to the Holy Spirit is to say yes to His power and presence in my life. It means I am saying yes to glorifying God in the person of Jesus. I want these things.

But some days I don't want to surrender to the Holy Spirit. Some days I want to hold on to all of the little bits of my life. Maybe I am selfish or afraid or both.

I know that whatever I don't surrender will become a burden to me. It will take my focus. It might even become a barrier between me and God. But some days it's just hard.

So tomorrow I will have the choice to make all over again. I am planning on saying yes once again to those questions, yes once again the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in my life.

On Selflessness

Selflessness will change the world around you. Jesus knew it. That's why I am interested in it. 

Selflessness is something many of us want more of in our lives. Yet, we find it hard.

Seth Godin offers some helpful insight here.

Valentine's Day 2012

Ahh Valentine's Day. Today my wife Nancy and I have been together for 25 Valentine Days. We met when we were teenagers and scrawled soupy love poems on cheap greeting cards and gave them to each others. Valentine's Day used to be about gifts and cards and chocolates and going out to eat.

But not anymore. These days, we spend quality time together. No chocolates or cards or gifts. We do eat dinner together (because we still have to eat) but mostly we eat at home.

Our lackadaisical attitude toward Valentine's Day isn't because we don't celebrate our love. In fact quite the opposite. When you're married to a woman like my wife you find an opportunity to celebrate whenever you can.

Happy Valentine's Day babe. I love you.