3 July 2007
Would this drive you crazy?
Occasionally I have shared with you all that I (as well as every pastor I respect who is reaching the unchurched) will sometimes here a faint splash in the waters surrounding the brook that has me somewhat concerned.
I don’t hear it often, but enough to know what it means…
‘Man overboard!’
Someone has jumped ship again due to the fact that they weren’t feeling like they were getting fed.
I say ‘feeling,’ by the way, because in reality they are spiritual porkers since they haven’t worked any of that excess spiritual weight off in years with good old fashioned application.
Nevertheless, they have this contradictory perception.
Maybe it’s a lack of spiritual fruits in their life.
I’ve heard low levels of fruit can lead to spiritual scurvy.
Here’s what happened the first time…
In the morning I received this email from a staff member,
Subject: interesting comment
I was meeting with Joe Shmoe (not his real name), pastor of First Church of none of your business. We were talking about preaching styles. In our conversation, he mentioned a comment from someone who is helping him start First Church, someone who used to attend Southbrook. The comment was not critical, simply an observation: “You’re preaching has shifted noticeably over the last year, from ’seeker’ to more Bible oriented. (not a bad thing, but the shift is noticeable). The comment was, “He used to do things to get people’s attention, like ride in on motorcycles, etc. While I still love the preaching, I miss the attention getters.
“I thought it was worth noting…
Later that same day I must have run into 5 or 6 relatively new to brand, spanking new families to Southbrook who are seeing God rock their world, but then there was that one…
It too wasn’t bad, just another contribution to the drive Rob to the funny farm crusade.
Here’s the gist of the second comment…
Oh, we don’t go anymore because we’ve noticed such a push for seekers that we just didn’t feel like we were getting fed enough anymore.
AAAaaaggghhh!!!
How is that even possible?!The 2 comments are polar opposites!
Everyone’s sitting at the same table where most are developing into spiritual Olympians yet others just keep watching the food pass them by as they drift from the category of ‘finicky eater’ all the way to having a spiritual eating disorder that threatens their very spiritual existence?!
Do they really want to hear me sing “Here comes the plane, open the hanger,” as I zoom the meat carrying fork in dangerous high G-force turns toward their gaping hole called a mouth?
I hope not, because I’m not going to do it.
So, you can probably see why I sometimes feel like its one step forward in shepherding people and two steps back.
Not so hard to see why I fear the whole thing’s driving me crazy…
Even scarier the more I realize that critical distance could probably be reached at this point with a short putt.
17 Comments currently posted.
Rob says:
JT says:
Dude:
Satan knows that these comments ‘drive you crazy’. Don’t sweat comments like that. People are people and we need to love them wherever they are. If they don’t want to come to Southbrook that is OK! You have to continue to preach what God lays on your heart. You have a family, staff and others around you that hold you accountable to make sure that you are not ‘lukewarm’.
People are getting saved and baptized and I’m sure other big things are happening in other peoples lives that we don’t hear about! Don’t go crazy man! Take a deep breath and pray for these people that have said these things. Pray that they come to understand that what you are preaching, comes from God and not from YOU.
Christopher Wall says:
You are not heeded to the funny farm Pastor Rob, you are already there along with everyone else in this world that seems to be expecting someone else to give them what they are looking for but they themselves are not even sure what that is.
It seems way to many people miss the fact that a relationship with God is not just an hour (+/- depending on if Pastor Paul or Pastor Rob are Preaching) on Sunday, or the 30-60 seconds spent in a prayer before you eat a meal.
Through Pastor Rob and the other leaders at Southbrook, God has built a modern Church that is inviting to non-believers & tire kickers, allows new believers to get started on the greatest experience they will ever have, and allows “seasoned” Christ-Followers to grow if they want to. They key to the third group is “if they want to”. How many Church member only show-up at 10:00 on Sunday. We should be needing to print Green shirts like crazy, have the lawn work done in an hour each Saturday, lead worship singers should have back-up singers, be looking to expand beyond the current Ministries we have, etc etc etc because so many people that call themselves part of the Southbrook Family want to be a part of something and grow personally in their walk with God beyond the weekly feeding……
Could it be that too many people look at Church as a modern day spiritual fast food restaurant. I need some spirituality, I expect you to super size it, it needs to be on the value menu because I do not want to spend my $$s here, and oh yes, I need it now so hurry up and FEED ME,,,,,,
Maybe Church should be looked at like a traditional farm where you need to be a part of the family that all work together, work the land, sow the seed, do the chores that must be done (fun or not fun), work together to solve problems, harvest the crop at the right time, prepare the meal with love and caring, then when the time comes, sit together give thanks to God for EVERYTHING he does in our lives, then and only then enjoy the fruits of our labors together.
Last I looked there was no drive-thru lane at Southbrook, no menu board to order from, and I hope there never is.
Being a Christ-Follower takes time, effort, and personal commitment. there is no express lane I am aware of…!
Mark "Smart-T-Pants" Cianciosa says:
I have to say that what you are hearing in these comments is satan trying to whisper in your ear. There is waaaaaay too much movement of the Holy Spirit going on at Southbrook for satan to ignore it … so just know that the Cianciosa Family will continue to lift you and the Church up in prayer so that we can continue to do a Great Work for the LORD.
As far as the whinners are concerned … last week my wife and I and our family had the blessing to eat at the Spiritual Banquet Table … and we were able to eat all we wanted till we could not eat any more … how did we do this you ask?
Well in the midst of moving last week my wife and I and our family got to volunteer for VBS and help teach kids about what GOD has done for us in creating this great planet and everything in it! Now most people would call us nuts for volunteering every night of the week at Church in the days leading up to our house move including the first day we were moving (Friday) … and now that I think about it … even I think it is nuts. BUT … we got such a huge blessing from what we did, that we felt like the LORD was feeding us … more than we could imagine …
The LORD’s blessing really is like a good meal … if you throw a frozen waffle in to he mocrowave and stuff it down while you leave for work you get something like food to eat that you forget about by the time you get on the freeway … but if you spend all deay making Sauce and Lasagna from scratch using the finest ingredients and taking the time to make sure that ever ingredient is used propoerly and then you take the time to sit with family and friends to eat … you get a GREAt meal that you will remember for a long time … The LORD’s blessings are the same … you want a great blessing then you need to put in the time with the LORD … and he will BLESS-YOUR -SOCKS-OFF at the banquet table!
If you do NOT give the LORD your time and effort … wello then we will just call you a Church-Hopper!
Tom Dwelley says:
Pastor Rob,
Reading this post made me think of the series Dating the church, I think so many people love the honeymoon period but when it comes down to the meat and potatoes part of the relationship they are not willing to make the commitment needed to grow the relationship. Then all you have to do is blame others for your lack of commitment. I think you have it right when you say the ones that aren’t being feed are those that are not serving. We need to stop thinking about SELF and focus on the Cross and others.
Frances says:
OK, here I am:blogger #5
“…USED to do things to get people’s attention” WHAT?! Has Mr.Smoe been attending the same Southbrook I have? The SB where hundreds of lives have not only been saved but transformed before our eyes? Is he a Nirvana promoter? (you know “here we are now entertain us”)
Just this week, a family new to SB was commenting how they loved that SB used different methods (mainly A/V) to get your attention and drive the message home. (sounds like they’re being fed if they walked away with the message….just sayin’)
Now onto comment #2:
What in the world would make anyone think they are not a ’seeker’ after they are saved?
Here’s what God says:
“Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.” 1Chronicles 16:11.
Did ya’ get the always part? And the verb seek, as in to go in search of : to make an attempt : TRY (the last part is straight out of Merriam Webster so take it up with the dictionary folks if you disagree)
This definitely deserves a “Whatcha talkin’ about Wilils?!”
Dee Langley says:
Rob you are not the only one who gets the slings and arrows! For those of us who served at VBS there was a post saying that “someone” who was serving was doing it for their own glory and not for God’s. I think that you HAD to be looking for that. I saw so many people serving and so many “Christ’s” walking around (you had to have been looking for it) to have seen the proverbial “clanging bell”.
From what I see Christopher has it right. You have to take part to in order to grow! You have to work to be fed! Hey doesn’t the bible say something about that! 2 Thessalonians 3:10
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”
How can anyone be in a church expect “to get fed” if they are willing to work!
I know that from my part that all I did was be willing to serve. God did the rest!
If you open yourself up to the Lord he will provide the rest. The key is being willing!! That means you have to put yourself out there!
Christine Malone says:
Satan Rob, need I say anymore.
I praise GOD everyday for Southbrooks way of thinking, for the way we reach our community. If people don’t understand your mission that is ok, just trust in what HE is directing you to do. Those rocks will keep coming, keep your focus on what you believe in don’t change a thing.
Elizabeth Flowers says:
Rob I believe that every posted comment tells its own story. And they are all right on target. What you are doing with God will determine Your personal Walk with Him. They need to be prayed for, the GONG needs to go off because they are missing the greatest gift in the world. Jesus.
If people are not being fed, why oh why are so many people being saved at Southbrook? Why are so many people devoting their lives to Christ at Southbrook? I continually see people change and grow for the Glory of God’s Kingdom, My family is! I have never felt such Love as I feel being in the midst of the family at Southbrook. I only wish I could do more for the family.
That should be the focus for everyone, thats the way we feed each other for the Glory of God..
Its not all about money or the hour we spend at Church to hear a message but what we do with the message is what is important.
As you have said many many times You are not God only his messenger!!! Keep up the Great Work!
Steve says:
I’m sorry but the only change I’ve seen Brother Rob is growth. Yes, the motorcycle was cool but so was Nehemiah. I’m like the other comments, I believe that Satan is afraid of the power of Jesus working at Southbrook and is doing what he can to attack all of the leaders and everyone in it that wants to reach as many souls as they can before our Saviours return. My prayers are with you all and the church. I don’t know about these other folks but I know my life has changed and I have a joy I have never known. No, I’m not where I should be but I’m “pointing my feet in the right direction!” I won’t forget that sermon and I won’t forget that no matter how tough things get in areas of my life, with the Lords help, I can slay those giants. I guess “we can’t please everyone so we gotta please the Lord.” Thanks for everything and I love you, Pastor.
Happy Independence Day! I’m goin’ giant hunting and make some noise!!!!!!
Heather Hoag says:
Rob… you are not calling me every morning and reading my quiet time passage to me!!!! You are not saying the grace over my breakfast, lunch ,and dinner!!! You are not teaching my children about God and reading them their bedtime Bible story…wwwwwaaaaaaaaaahhh wahhhh wwaaaaaaahhhhhh!
Sorry, these people make me want to VOMIT.
One word for them…. Serve. (and I’m not talking tennis)
Tracy K says:
Hi Rob! I’m with the rest of them. There are amazing things going on at Southbrook thanks to you and everyone else working there. I heard a preacher say once that if you are not
getting anything out of the service then the problem is with you and not the preacher.
It is everyone’s own responsibility to go deeper and deeper in their spiritual walk and not yours.
I always, always come away blessed (and full) from Southbrook Church! Thank you!
Steve says:
I’ll say it too– SERVE and your guts will hurt!
In our last leadership meeting we talked about the soakers and what we needed to do to get them off their duffs and serve. Come on guys you can soak, but don’t pickle.
mike mccoy says:
hey man… remember the muppets? quit paying attention to the 2 old men in the rafters heckling everybody else.
instead, know that satan doesn’t speak up unless he’s losing ground. Here, he’s losing ground entire familys, generations even, at a time so of course he’s speaking.
keep doing the Lord’s work and Satan’s voice here will be little more than a whisper at a Kiss concert.
Jay Foreman says:
Hey Hey Boo Boo, can ya BRING ME a pick-a-nik basket over here? With some water melon, and a few hand fulls of roasted almonds? And would you BRING ME a couple-a large doughnuts while you’re at it? Oh, hey hey Boo Boo, while your doing all this for me, could ya ask Mr. Ranger to GET ME a softer seat? A wider seat, a much wider seat because I like to sit and sit and sit and sit sit and sit and sit and sit sit and sit and sit and sit… while I ask and WATCH you BRING ME EVERYTHING.
Just another day in Yellowstone.
Weighted Down says:
If anyone should complain let them read this. I am spiritally coming out of my shell and it is all due to the works of this Church and all those working with Southbrook. I have a million problems and I am learning that although they are enormous, one by one I have been assisted through the LORD in conquering them. Only because I am being pushed proded and spoken too. This church has done more for me in the last six months than anyone ever has in my lifetime. I have be Baptized, come back to the Lord and restructured my life. This is the works of the LORD active and alive at Southbrook. Whatever you hear from others ignore it. I am proof your getting through and GOD is working very hard in this ministry.
Stand Strong, they will come. I did and it took a long time to get into my hard head.
Robsingleton.net » Southbrook Urban Legends, Part 2 says:
[...] actually wrote about this a little while back (read that post here), and some good friends have written on it more recently as well. You can find one of those posts [...]
The following VERY GOOD and accurate comment was accidentally erased, so I am retyping it here…
Sorry Alan.
“I have a theory…those who feel they aren’t getting fed are those who are not serving. I know it sounds backward but the more you give the more you get fed.
Can anyone prove me wrong?