This thought occurred to me yesterday as I was driving home from Atlanta. When Jesus began calling the first disciples into ministry, he used this phrase:

“Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”

For whatever reason, I started thinking about what Jesus didn’t say to those first disciples.

He didn’t say: “Come, follow me, and I will teach you spiritual insights!”

He didn’t say: “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to worship together!”

He didn’t say: “Come, follow me, and I will gather you together in a home group!”

He didn’t say: “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to pray!”

He didn’t say: “Come, follow me, and I will make you members of the church!”

I think we can all agree that Jesus was a fairly insightful guy, so I think it’s interesting of all the things he could have said, he chose to put the focus on ministry to reach other people.

And, of course, that got me thinking about how we “disciple” people in the Church today. Rather than putting the focus on ministry to reach people, we prioritize different things. Not that the other things are wrong. I just wonder if there’s something significant about the initial vision that Jesus shared with these first disciples.

In other words, maybe discipleship is really more about helping people serve God by serving others. Maybe it’s more about disciples making disciples. Maybe what we really need to do is unlearn how we do discipleship in the church.

How would the Church look different if we approached the discipleship process on “fishing for people?”

Let me introduce you to YouVersion.com. It’s unlike any online Bible reader out there in that it provides an opportunity for us to build community and engage a conversation about what we’re reading and studying together in God’s Word. I’ve been dabbling with YouVersion.com since it launched. In December, I committed to it fully. It’s been my primary Bible for reading and study Scripture. As an example, it’s what I’m currently using to read through the entire Bible in a year.

Last week, YouVersion.com came out of beta with some great new features. Here’s a partial list of what you’ll find in the new version:

• A new and improved UI
• Movable widgets for contributions, daily reading, and your journal
• Tag, bookmark, and link without leaving the reader
• Optional parallel readers let you read two different versions on the same page
• My page features your friends’ contributions, likes and bookmarks
• Community page shows the entire YouVersion community feed
• Mobile Pages for more information and download links

I’d encourage you to check out YouVersion.com. And, if you’re daring, you can follow me and join my current journey through the Bible.

Emily and I have had this running joke through the years of all the jobs I might consider doing if I wasn’t in ministry (and previously if I wasn’t a city manager). The list is long. But, given my current circumstances, Emily and spent a few moments on the plane the other day narrowing all of the possibilities to this list. Just so you know, we were a little giddy at the time.

With that, here are the:

10 Jobs I’d Consider Taking Now that I Don’t Work at a Church

1. Used car salesman
2. Hotel manager
3. Coffee barista
4. Ryan Seacrest’s role as host of American Idol
5. White House Chief-of-Staff
6. Chaplain for the PGA
7. College professor
8. Radio talk show host
9. Ghost writer
10. Advertising executive

Yes, the list is a little bit far-fetched. But, sadly enough, there’s a little bit of me in every one of those roles. So, if you can do a little psychoanalysis and tell me what the combination of those roles means for my future, I’d really appreciate it.

Just out of curiosity, what role would you consider if you didn’t work for a church?

First of all, I just want to thank everyone who has contacted me in recent days and offered their prayers for my family and me. I really appreciate that.

Based on the communications I’ve received, I thought I would answer some of the FAQs from recent days. If your question isn’t listed below, let me know and I’ll try to address it.

1. What’s next?

I seriously have no idea. I’m a strategic guy, but I’m without a strategy here. I’m praying with Emily and my kids. I’m seeking counsel from some friends I respect and trust. I’m waiting for God to tell me what to do next. I’m not sure if that will be a role in a specific church or not. All I know is I’m pretty confident God wants me to provide for my family, use the gifts he gave me and experience joy doing it.

2. Will you stay connected to NewSpring?

We have every intention of staying plugged in at NewSpring Church as long as we’re in Anderson. That’s where we see God moving. That’s where our friends are. Seems silly that we would even consider giving that up.

3. What’s the real story?

The real story is what Perry and I blogged about last week. That’s the story. Maybe I should have made up something else, though, that was a little bit tawdrier. I’m thinking I could have gotten more blog traffic with a scandalous story. Seriously, if you want a little dirt, one area that Perry and I don’t see eye-to-eye is the fact that he really doesn’t believe professional wrestling is fake.

4. Will you plant a church?

Nope. If I’m called to do that, God has not told me yet. Not that I have anything against church planters. I have huge respect for them…though not as much respect as I have for the guys that are trying to transition traditional churches. Those are the real heroes in my book.

5. Will you keep writing?

That’s the one thing I’m quite sure will continue. I’ve been writing since before you knew me. I was the editor of my high school newspaper. I took creative writing classes in college. I had magazine articles published when people still read magazines. I love writing. So, with a little unplanned extra time now, don’t be surprised if you see a little more of it.

6. What about your blog?

The blog will certainly continue. It’ll probably take on a little bit of a different flavor. Since I’m not working at NewSpring anymore, you’ll probably notice less NewSpring news and more content being generated based on what’s happening at other churches. And, since I’ll have more time to write, hopefully the content will add more value to your leadership and life.

7. Are you available for consulting?

I’ve received several requests in recent days for coaching or consulting. While I have some free time, I’d love to be able to help out. Based on my experiences in ministry, I might be able to assist you with coaching/consulting in the areas of ministry strategy, staffing and structure, leadership development, volunteer strategies, guest experiences, creative arts programming, communications, web strategy and online social media. And, if I can’t help you, I may know others who can. If you are interested in either short-term or long-term coaching/consulting relationships, just complete this initial online form to start the conversation.

Hope that helps. Let me know if you have other questions. Thanks for joining me on this new adventure.

If you have cockroaches, you have several choices to get rid of them. You can call Orkin. You could follow the instructions I write about in my new book. Or, you could purchase whatever they’re selling in this Japanese commercial for killing cockroaches:

WARNING: If you are Baptist, please don’t watch this video as it involves dancing. And, for everyone else, I don’t personally endorse the use of the dance move he’s using while in public.

p.s.  The YouTube label says “Korean” but I’m pretty confident it’s Japanese. Someone can correct me if I’m wrong.

While I was in SoCal this week, I ran into an acquaintance who I’ve known for a couple of years. He used to be very successful in the television industry, and then found himself living on the streets. He was homeless.

In recent years, God has used the ministry of others to help him find a new start. Now, he’s helping to tell the story of other homeless people. Check out the videos on InvisiblePeople.tv. They are the real stories of real people. I’m guessing they’ll shatter your perception of who is homeless.

Here’s one example:

Willy from invisiblepeople.tv on Vimeo.

I hope you’ll take the time to watch some of these stories. There are people behind those faces. Then, if you will, please share the InvisiblePeople.tv link with others.

Carrie Prejean, Miss California and Miss USA’s first runner up, will appear at the Rock Church during services on Sunday April 26th. Prejean is a member of the Rock Church and actively serves in church outreach ministries.

During the Q&A portion of last Sunday’s Miss USA pageant, Prejean expressed her belief that marriage should be between a man and a woman, touching off a firestorm of widely publicized criticism from pageant judge and nationally known celebrity blogger, Perez Hilton. In subsequent appearances, Prejean has stood fast in her morals and biblical truths, refusing to compromise her faith.

Sunday’s services will feature a discussion with the Rock’s Senior Pastor Miles McPherson, who spent time with Prejean following the pageant. They will share the story behind the controversy.

If you happen to be in the San Diego area, you can attend one of the services in person on Sunday. If not, a live stream of tomorrow’s services will be available online at 10am and 12pm PST.

• 8:38 PM tonymorganlive - Perry started talking about the other speakers. It was funny. You missed it.
• 8:40 PM tonymorganlive - “On the third situp I parted her hair.”
• 8:42 PM tonymorganlive - “Hey man, have you seen my Twitter?”
• 8:43 PM tonymorganlive - “The size of the vision God will give me is directly related to the amount of pain and discomfort I’m willing to endure.”
• 8:45 PM tonymorganlive - “The reason we experience pain is to understand his provision.”
• 8:46 PM tonymorganlive - “Trust him.”
• 8:48 PM tonymorganlive - “If you’ve been called to ministry, God’s hand is on you.”
• 8:50 PM tonymorganlive - “If you walked up to me and said ‘I like you but your wife is ugly,’ I’d punch you in the throat.”
• 8:51 PM tonymorganlive - (Perry just did his TV evangelist impersonation.)
• 8:52 PM tonymorganlive - “God said, ‘I don’t like those people either, Perry.’”
• 8:52 PM tonymorganlive - “I got to go to my first deacons meeting.”
• 8:53 PM tonymorganlive - “Dryness will always lead to desperation.”
• 8:54 PM tonymorganlive - “The Savior is trying to teach you and me who he is.”
• 8:57 PM tonymorganlive - “I don’t want to preach nice sermons.”
• 8:57 PM tonymorganlive - “Believe him.”
• 9:01 PM tonymorganlive - “God said, ‘I need you to feel what I feel, so you can do what I need you to do.’”
• 9:03 PM tonymorganlive - “Why do leaders run from big vision from God?”
• 9:03 PM tonymorganlive - “Leaders, we don’t have a hard time teaching on the sovereignty of God. We just have a hard time believing it.”
• 9:04 PM tonymorganlive - “There are people who are obsessed with discovery rather than development.”
• 9:05 PM tonymorganlive - “You feel stuck because you’re not ready for the next level.”
• 9:05 PM tonymorganlive - “Leadership is as easy as listening to God.”
• 9:06 PM tonymorganlive - “We don’t know what we’re doing?”
• 9:06 PM tonymorganlive - “Moses didn’t have a 40-year strategic plan.”
• 9:07 PM tonymorganlive - “God led Moses one step at a time.”
• 9:08 PM tonymorganlive - “If we got more concerned with repentance rather than attendance, revival would sweep our nation.”
• 9:08 PM tonymorganlive - “If you haven’t had a sleepless night about vision, you haven’t heard from God.”
• 9:08 PM tonymorganlive - “Cheese biscuits bring you closer to God.”
• 9:09 PM tonymorganlive - “What would you be willing to attempt for God if you knew you couldn’t fail?”
• 9:10 PM tonymorganlive - “Only when we surrender do we experience the supernatural.”
• 9:10 PM tonymorganlive - “I believe that God still heals people.”
• 9:10 PM tonymorganlive - “I dropped out of cemetary. I didn’t even finish.”
• 9:13 PM tonymorganlive - “We just consistently obeyed Jesus and, when we were ready for it, he blew our freakin’ minds.”
• 9:13 PM tonymorganlive - “We’re the church that’s known as the place where the ‘sinners’ go.”
• 9:14 PM tonymorganlive - “The kid said, ‘I want to go back to the damn church.’ I said, ‘Get his name because he’s going to be on staff someday.’”
• 9:15 PM tonymorganlive - “Do you believe God has spoken a vision into your life?”
• 9:15 PM tonymorganlive - “Honor him.”
• 9:15 PM tonymorganlive - “Finish what you started.”
• 9:18 PM tonymorganlive - “She just stood there waiting for something to happen.”
• 9:18 PM tonymorganlive - “Don’t give up.”
• 9:20 PM tonymorganlive - “Don’t you dare give up on the God that’s never given up on you.”

• 3:54 PM tonymorganlive - Jud is introducing Craig from LifeChurch.tv.
• 3:55 PM tonymorganlive - (Just in case you didn’t know, Craig is the most handsome pastor in America.)
• 3:55 PM tonymorganlive - “I was taught and I thought” that’s the name of the talk.
• 3:57 PM tonymorganlive - “What believe determines what we do.”
• 3:58 PM tonymorganlive - “Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of the American church.”
• 3:59 PM tonymorganlive - “I was taught the church should be a safe place, but I’m learning the church should be dangerous again.”
• 4:00 PM tonymorganlive - “We’ve been inviting people to a very safe God.”
• 4:02 PM tonymorganlive - “You are called by God to preach a very dangerous message.”
• 4:02 PM tonymorganlive - “Preach Christ.”
• 4:05 PM tonymorganlive - “He was different in the presence of God.”
• 4:05 PM tonymorganlive - “Don’t trust the package. Trust the power of the Gospel.”
• 4:07 PM tonymorganlive - “Practical Athiests = People who believe in God, but act like he doesn’t exist.”
• 4:07 PM tonymorganlive - “Lukewarm pastors build lukewarm churches.”
• 4:09 PM tonymorganlive - “I was taught was to build my church, but I’ve learned my highest calling is to build His Kingdom.”
• 4:11 PM tonymorganlive - “My pastor says your pastor doesn’t preach the Truth.”
• 4:12 PM tonymorganlive - “I was competitive with churches in my community.”
• 4:12 PM tonymorganlive - “I was building my own little kingdom more than I was building His Kingdom.”
• 4:13 PM tonymorganlive - “Build your church on what you’re about and not what you’re not about.”
• 4:13 PM tonymorganlive - “Don’t put others down.”
• 4:14 PM tonymorganlive - “One of my important missions in life is to unite the Church.”
• 4:15 PM tonymorganlive - (LifeChurch.tv offers all of their resources for free.)
• 4:16 PM tonymorganlive - “We can do more together.”
• 4:18 PM tonymorganlive - “I was taught that success is only found in the big numbers, but I’m learning that the scorecard is changing.”
• 4:18 PM tonymorganlive - “You can offer free beer and draw a crowd.”
• 4:19 PM tonymorganlive - “I was driven by the numbers.”
• 4:20 PM tonymorganlive - “Don’t blame yourself the declines, or you might be tempted to take credit for the increases.”
• 4:20 PM tonymorganlive - “Find your identity in Christ.”
• 4:21 PM tonymorganlive - “Otherwise, you’ll be preaching to bring people in rather than to glorify God.”
• 4:21 PM tonymorganlive - “We have to redefine the win.”
• 4:22 PM tonymorganlive - “There are 4 billion people who need Christ. How can we claim to be a megachurch? We are a small church with a megavision.”
• 4:23 PM tonymorganlive - “People want to join a big mission.”
• 4:25 PM tonymorganlive - “You may agree or disagree. I don’t really care a whole lot.”
• 4:26 PM tonymorganlive - Line 1 = “I believe in the Gospel enough to benefit from it.”
• 4:27 PM tonymorganlive - Line 2 = “I believe in the Gospel enough to contribute comfortably.”
• 4:27 PM tonymorganlive - Line 3 = “I believe in the Gospel enough to give my life to it.”
• 4:28 PM tonymorganlive - “What kind of message am I preaching and living?”
• 4:29 PM tonymorganlive - “If you stay the same, maybe you don’t really know Him.”
• 4:30 PM tonymorganlive - (Craig just did the worm.)
• 4:30 PM tonymorganlive - (That was a pretty powerful message.)

• 1:43 PM tonymorganlive - Erwin just took the platform. He has an interesting suspender thing happening with his wardrobe.
• 1:45 PM tonymorganlive - “There has never been one ordinary child born on this planet.”
• 1:45 PM tonymorganlive - “Why is it that so many of us end up leading ordinary lives?”
• 1:46 PM tonymorganlive - “We’re supposed to be unleashing people to do good.”
• 1:46 PM tonymorganlive - “The church has become more of a prison than a portal.”
• 1:50 PM tonymorganlive - (There’s a dance team performing right now. I think I should be on a dance team.)
• 1:54 PM tonymorganlive - “We can awaken God-given dreams inside others.”
• 1:56 PM tonymorganlive - “There are a lot of people who are pursuing dreams that don’t fit their lives.”
• 1:56 PM tonymorganlive - “There are other people who aren’t pursuing dreams that do fit their lives.”
• 1:57 PM tonymorganlive - “Is there a dream inside of you that’s waiting to come to life?”
• 1:58 PM tonymorganlive - (He just took a shot at the Cleveland Browns. That’s not right.)
• 2:04 PM tonymorganlive - “All of us have dreams inside of us that will never come to fruition unless we come together in community.”
• 2:06 PM tonymorganlive - “There was nothing wrong with me physically. I was just soul sick.”
• 2:18 PM tonymorganlive - (There’s power in story.)
• 2:18 PM tonymorganlive - “What would happen if all of us chose to live heroic lives?”
• 2:20 PM tonymorganlive - “I love when it looks dangerous but it’s not.”
• 2:24 PM tonymorganlive - “We must jump and step into that moment of fear and trust God.”
• 2:25 PM tonymorganlive - “In small packages, there are great dreams.”