Developing "People, Not Programs"

"Purpose driven churches focus on developing people not programs, on building character not cathedrals."
                                                                                                                                                                 Rick Warren, Tweet, March 28th 2012 
Does this mean they are man-centered?     You have to wonder.  And seriously, for someone who is not into building programs.. whose church is focused on developing people, not programs.., building character into people, not cathedrals," Rick sure has a lot of programs which he and his church staff and his partners not in the church have put together for you to implement.  He apparently wants to give you the impression though, that he is not about programs.  Apparently "Purpose Driven" churches with his trademark all over them are not about programs either, but they all have implemented some of Rick's.

The programs Rick offers churches are not cheap or free either.  His latest "Program," the NEW and "improved"  (the "Purpose Driven Life" book, with a new twist,)  What on Earth am I Here For,  has lots of stuff for you to buy in order to do the "program" at your church.... including:

What on Earth Am I Here For       Study Guide... $9.99 $6.99

What on Earth Am I Here For        Campaign (Program) Kit... $140.00  $69.99

What on Earth Am I Here For        Small Group DVD...$23.99  $14.99

What on Earth Am I Here For       Bookmarks  $9.99  $4.99
(This price is for a package of 25.  It's obviously designed for the church hosting the "Campaign." (program.)

            "Campaign" items for your church to purchase are available from  http://www.saddlebackresources.com/What-On-Earth-Am-I-Here-For

This is only one of many programs... or are they "campaigns"?

"I-I actually learned the idea of a campaign, from the communists." 

                                                                                                                                              Rick Warren, 2009 interview with George Wood 

But that's another story.

Visit "Campaign Central" here and here too!  There is also the "Campaign Store," here, where you will likely learn all the principles of "campaigning" here, just like Rick did!


Other Rick Warren "Campaigns" (otherwise known as "programs") that you could implement at your church (for several fees) include:

Forty Days in the Word   (Note the long list of "essential resources" for implementing this program.)

Forty Days of Community  (<---click church="church" font="font" from="from" highlighted="highlighted" learn="learn" more="more" on="on" saddleback="saddleback" these="these" titles="titles" to="to">

Forty Days of Love

Forty Days of Purpose

But wait!  There are more programs than just these!  There is:

S.H.A.P.E.

Celebrate Recovery

Besides campaign materials for your church to promote the program, you will need to implement the program using an organization manual, a DVD, a folder with eight sermons, a set of four participants using books, songs, a prayer card and a CD.  There are also many related articles to order.  You are supposed to "Nevermind" that it is merely a repackaged Alcololics Anonymous program.  There is nothing original on the part of Rick and friends, all this is is repackaged, (flavored with some scripture references specifically for Christian consumption of the 12 secular steps,) A.A.

                       See: http://www.ccclife.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=112742
                                       See: http://www.thebereancall.org/node/2568
                                       See: http://www.rejoicenow.nl/page/celebrate-recovery-heresy   
                                       See: http://www.saddlebackresources.com/Celebrate-Recovery-Support-Tools-C168.aspx

Oh, and you will need to purchase a Celebrate Recovery Bible too, because.... "it is the only Bible that directly corresponds to the Celebrate Recovery curriculum.  The Celebrate Recovery Bible has been designed to work with the resources developed and tested in the national and international ministry of Celebrate Recovery."
                                              http://www.celebraterecovery.com/about-2/usage-of-the-celebrate-recovery-name/

Life's Healing Choices  (An eight week "Celebrate Recovery-look-a-like program for those who likely would not attend your church's Celebrate Recovery (Rick's AA program for churches,) because they have no drug or alcohol addiction... but who still would benefit from the "step by step" instruction through this Christianized version of Alcoholics Anonymous' 12-Steps of recovery and self-discovery process. )

Managing Finances God's Way (a seven week small-group program you can purchase to learn from Rick)

The Daniel Plan -  a 52 week "program" for physical health and well-being whereby Rick teams up with three men who will teach participants what it means to be healthy.... doctors Daniel Amen, Mark Hymen and Mehmet Oz

Foundations  A program developed not by Rick, but by Tom Holladay and Rick's wife, Kay Warren.  It's a "24 session" program you can implement at your church to let them teach the "Essentials of the Christian Faith" to your small group or church congregation.... if you purchase the 6 CD program for $200.00.  It is said to be a"complete resource " all you will need to learning doctrines and that it provides the theological basis for living a "purpose driven life."  It's a program that they say is "ideal for Sunday Night or midweek series, Weekday bible Studies, Sunday school classes and study groups of any size."
                                                                                                                                            http://www.saddlebackresources.com/Seminar-C153.aspx
                                                                                                                                            http://www.saddlebackresources.com/Small-Group-Studies-C152.aspx

Celebration Station -  a program you can implement for your kids!

C.L.A.S.S. 101, 201, 301, 401

STAFF (This is a let-Rick-Train-your-church staff the "ten values that Saddleback was built-on" program. )

There's even a program for you, if you want to be a  healthy "leader" (instead of a dreary old undesireable "follower."  Don't you want to being out the hidden "leader" in you?)

But remember, just like all those other "healthy" "Purpose  Driven"(TM) churches, we do not want just any kind of "leader." At this leadership training,
"Apprentices will be engaged in at least 40-50 hours of weekly hands-on ministry leadership training and 2.5 hours of weekly classroom training centered on learning and developing healthy personal leadership habits, a healthy philosophy of ministry leadership, and healthy methods or ministry leadership. This combination of tacit and explicit learning combines to create a healthy leader, which is at the heart of a healthy church.""

Jesus said the healthy do not need a physician. (Mark 2:17;Matthew 9:12, Luke 5:31) Rick's solution, for the "unhealthy," is a Purpose Driven," Saddleback produced, dare we say, "program."

"Purpose driven churches focus on developing people not programs, on building character not cathedrals."

                                                                                                                                                                 Rick Warren, Tweet, March 28th 2012 

                                         

How to Host a Takeover

How Rick is able to influence so many churches...and make "purpose driven nations?"
            
Easy. He sells you his product and ideas!

Purposedriven.com 2006 ---  40 days of Purpose Campaign Group Study says,  

“The small group curriculum comes with two teaching options—a video of Rick Warren teaching the material, and a transcript of the video so that your teacher or host may prepare and teach the lessons themselves. The teaching video contains six videotaped sessions, including a “Leader Lifter” where the host is given coaching tips for the upcoming session, plus a 20-minute lesson taught by Rick Warren. Video-based curriculum equips your new hosts to lead a group even if its for the first time,” 

and continues saying (under a section titled, Host Home Strategy),

“whether in place of or in compliment to an existing Sunday school program. We’ll equip you to launch groups using the Host Home strategy – a simple plan which recruits “hosts” instead of “leaders.” We’ve found that equipping group hosts with video teaching sessions overcomes hesitation and will raise up new leaders you didn’t even know you had! Led by Rick Warren, each video lesson also includes weekly preparation suggestions and encouragement called, “Helps for Hosts.”

 "Video-based curriculum equips your new hosts to lead a group even if its for the first time," 

This is because they do not do uch of anything but provide snacks and video accomodations.

"Host Home strategy – a simple plan which recruits “hosts” instead of “leaders.” (But these soon become the "leaders"  ... for "equipping group hosts with video teaching sessions overcomes hesitation and will raise up new leaders you didn’t even know you had! " And do you know what?  They could be new to the church as well s not even have to be Christian, because they do not have to teach the course!.

"Led by Rick Warren, each video lesson also includes weekly preparation suggestions and encouragement called, “Helps for Hosts.”"

In place of or in compliment to... all you and you Sunday school classes need, is to listen to and be inspired by this new message God has given to Pastor Rick.

"With a Campaign Online Access Pass, you’ll get everything you’ll need to participate in your own campaign on any level, team training to resource planning, an exclusive campaign director’s website, creative idea exchange, coaching articles and team training.  You’ll never run short on key learning and creative ideas."  Saddlebackrescources.com

In other words,

all you have to do is buy into using all sorts of
Saddleback stuff...
invest in the sermons and conferences,
read the books, do the study guides on the books,
memorize the key verses,
do the workbooks,
attend the webcasts,
watch the lectures...
and you will be
purpose driven in no time!

Your  pastor can get all of Rick's emails from pastors.com, download  Rick's  Sermons and programs (like the Daniel Plan,) and use them to bring his brand of HEALTH to your church.  Pastors can even "feed" their congregation with highlighted information from Rick's pastors.com "Saddleback 6"
a daily dose of topics each week:..to help you and your congregations grow!

All you have to do is implement the Purpose Driven strategy..

and  your church can GROW... 

exponentially.

People will contractually tithe... 

as they come into community, 

and help you build
more purpose driven churches
and draw more members
into ministry, just like Rick.

All this, can be done simply, 

 stealthy. over time, 

with comittment to purpose

but in place of 

the simplicity of Christ
and the Good News he brings
 recorded for us in the Bible.
You see, n

 instead of Bible Study,
churches everywhere,
will listening to and repeating all they are learning
from, RICK.

And the next thing you know,
you
and your hearers,

your family,
your church, 

your children's ministry, 

your congregation, 

maybe even
your nation,
and ultimately

 the world, 

will be 

built 

upon  that one,
all impoirtant thing
people need in order
to be healthy....

Purpose!

JESUS SPEAKING:

And everyone that heareth these words of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand and the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell! and great was the fall of it.

Matthew 7:26

Healthy Church or "Hellthy"?-- The Daniel Plan.. with Rick, Amen, Hymen and Oz

Healthy Church or "Hellthy"?

The Daniel Plan is the latest phenomena to crest like a wave over Saddleback church, her "Christian"  affiliates and satellite churches.  Advertised as, "God's prescription for your health," the observer must wonder if it really is God's prescription, or just another fancy man-made wave to ride in order to look cool.  The reason Christians should inquire about such a thing is because the true prescription, given by God however, begins and ends with the great physician, Jesus Christ... the author and finisher of our faith.  With this new "plan" being announced, it is only appropriate that one give careful consideration to what this "Daniel Plan" is, and maybe more importantly what the Daniel Plan is not.

As far as health goes, people, Christian or not,  just might be healthy, they might have their act together, say and do all the correct things...but truth is, it is not the healthy who need a doctor.  IT's the sick, the weak, the lame, the blind, the deaf.  Physically speaking, it's also true that a lot of skinny, perfectly healthy people who reject the salvation offered by God in Jesus Christ are not healthy at all by God's standards. The Bible would even go so far as to suggest that these people are much more than merely ill, they are dead; dead in their trespasses and sins.  Until one comes to Christ Jesus in faith to be born again, to have their sins removed, forgiven, all people are, for lack of a better word, "hellthy;" but now Rick comes to the forefront to announce the Daniel Plan as "God's prescription."


"The Bible says that God wants you to be as healthy physically as you are spiritually," said Warren announcing the event to be known to the world as the "Daniel Plan" to his congregation.  Not giving a bible quotation or reference that says that, not mentioning where in the Bible he makes this inference from, except to say, the Old Testament book of "Daniel," Chapter One, Warren continued promoting his 2011 propaganda for purpose and health, saying, "The plan will help you feel better, look better, have more energy, get in shape, and use your body the way God wants you to."

Loosing undesirable weight is a healthy thing to do... using the example of an athlete in training to understand the Christian life is not un-biblical... Being healthy and "in shape" is good for a person's all -around well being, so it's, no doubt, a bit refreshing to Saddleback members that Rick, who always tells his followers to "get into S.H.A.P.E," is finally taking his own word acronym literally.  After being known for his own obesity, deciding that he, like so many other people, shouldn't be over weight, he is definitely making himself vulnerable as he publicly sets out to loose 90 pounds of excess weight this next year.  Not only that, he is planning to take his congregation with him as he plunges into fitness and exercise and living a healthier lifestyle.

In fact, Rick is not promoting a product like diet pills, and he is not suggesting it will be an easy fix, instead he is recommending some common sense eating, offering great diet recipes and ideas on his website and promoting a vivid concept of active living,  In addition, he is seeking counsel from what he believes to be the most knowledgeable men, who happen to be "doctors."  What could be wrong with this picture as he sets out ton this next Saddleback Plan?  The main problem is the usual problem when it comes to Rick.  It sounds like Bible, looks like Christian, tastes and smells spiritual, but at the root, it is just not biblical, and there is no Jesus in it.

.

Rick's Daniel Plan is not the Daniel-of-the-Bible's Plan at all.  Think about it.

Daniel didn't inquire of the wise men of the world; He inquired of God.  Daniel didn't refuse to eat the king's meat in order to loose weight or to be healthier.  Daniel refused the king's meat, or you might say, "Daniel "went vegetarian," because he refused in his heart to eat meat sacrificed to gods other than the true and living God.  He refused to eat meat sacrificed to idols. More importantly, Daniel didn't loose weight eating what he ate, he either remained the same as when he began or he gained it... IF he had lost any weight doing it, the king would not have viewed his diet as "healthy."

But lets talk about church health.  Will getting aboard the "Daniel Plan," as Rick calls it, be a matter of "health" or "hellth"? 

The church should know and understand the fundamental truth that without Jesus Christ as your Lord and God, you are not "healthy" at all; there is not life... no true light in you!  The harsh reality of life is that a place called hell waits for those who go through life "dissing" and dismissing the existence of God and trivializing sin, specifically their own sin, before one so holy as the God who made both the heavens and the Earth.

Meanwhile back in the Saddle, Rick Warren of Saddleback church, partners with his three friends, doctors Amen, Hymen and Oz, and puts them in charge of small groups at church announcing that these wise men will begin "personally over seeing your health plan for the next year." Unlike Daniel ,who believed God and sought out wisdom from God because he loved God with all his heart mind and strength, Rick is giving his church the wonderful wisdom of the world, (from modern-day television celebrities,) and we must mention, men who are not professing "believers" in Jesus Christ. 

There is something wrong with this picture!

Rick even composed a poem for the occasion, a sort of prayer.  Rick Warren's Daniel Plan poem:  originally posted at http://saddleback.com/thedanielplan/ 1-18-11, goes like this:

"Lord, grant me the strength that i may not fall
into the clutches of cholesterol

At polyunsaturates i'll never matter
for the road to hell is paved with butter

Whip cream is cursed and jelly is awful
yes, satan is hiding in every waffle

He appears to me as a cinnamon roll
Eager to fatten and clog my soul

So teach me the evils of hollandaise
Of ribs and pasta and mayonnaise

May I have the presence to realize
that evil lurks in in and out fries

And crispy fried chicken from the south
Lord if you love me, shut my mouth

--Rick Warren

Humorous?  Well, somewhat, in that we all know the temptation to be indulgent, but as a prayer, in this context, to joke about it, and make it look like it is someone else's fault, (like Satan's or God's ).... and not one's own?...  No. not humorous, not really. 

Open Note to Rick:

There are no "if's" about it Rick, ("Lord if you love me, ")  God does love you.... tubalard and all... every inch.  (Jesus died for you... and me... and anyone who would believe.  John 3:16!)

There is nothing you, or anyone else, can do physically to earn His favor.... all we have to do, (whatever our shape,) is come to Him, just as we are, knowing we need his grace and mercy and thus repenting of our sin. 

Believe in Jesus.

Why be Average?

"Pastor, you weren’t created for an “average” ministry."  Rick Warren, Dream Big Pastor @ pastors.com 10/20/10

It's amazing, really, that Rick posts such things at pastors/com for people like you (and I ) to read and believe.  He most particularly posts for pastors of churches, both in this  nation and worldwide, to read.  It is called, ministry toolbox; and it is called pastors.com.  Seems that he is  hoping they either are, or will be discontent with their ministry and their lives.  

He is perhaps hoping that as pastors of Christian churches, (as those who believe the Bible, teach from the Bible,)  get ridiculed "by the world" for not being superior, or the head of a large ministry on TV , (like some of the well known names you probably know,) that their ears will be tickled by his words.  Then, with a wave of his pen, (or a wag of his tongue,) he can steer all the little discontent people in the church into believing what he has to say, .."Pastor, you weren’t created for an “average” ministry."  He hopes you will think, that "average," (and contentment) is somehow a "bad word."  

Don't you want to have your head above the crowd?

"Many pastors try to drift through their ministry without goals or dreams. They just float with the crowd. And they’re content with being average." Rick Warren, Dream Big Pastor @ pastors.com 10/20/10




"While Jabez's friends were satisfied with being average, Jabez asked God to bless him and enlarge his territory. He didn't want to be ordinary."  Rick Warren, Dream Big Pastor @ pastors.com 10/20/10

Not only should you, dear Rick Reader, (after listening to Rick,) be discontent in your circumstance that you are currently in.... (that of being simply AVERAGE)  and be leaning towards the expectation of being better than everyone else... but additionally, since you are a "eader, standing our above the crowd and all, you need to now develop a  DREAM of your own... ( a really, really, BIG,"God-sized" dream) ...something you can believe in and work towards as your personal goal.

"You need a great dream. " 
Rick Warren, Dream Big Pastor @ pastors.com 10/20/10

Jeremiah 23: 25-28 reads thus:

"I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name,

saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. 

How long shall this be in the heart of the 

prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets 

of the deceit of their own heart; 

Which think to cause my people to forget my name 

by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, 

as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.  

The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; 

and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully.  "

"You need a God-sized dream for your ministry."
 Rick Warren, Dream Big Pastor @ pastors.com 10/20/10

"Those you lead will never dream bigger than you do."
Rick Warren, Dream Big Pastor @ pastors.com 10/20/10

 "Many pastors try to drift through their ministry without goals or dreams. They just float with the crowd. And they’re content with being average." 
 Rick Warren, Dream Big Pastor @ pastors.com 10/20/10 


_________________________________________________________

Content with being "Average" or just as big as God?

Rick talks about a "God-sized dream?" What is that?  It could mean many things... including one that mimics or pretends to be as big as God, one not beneath him... under his direction and his plan.

It's a little unclear at times, depending of course upon how you read what Rick has to say in print and in person, but sounds like it is referring to you having your own dream, your own BIG dream of, how "great thou really art."  (Or how great God thinks you are.... but that you do not get the recognition for being because you are simply, content with where you are and with being "average.")

If the "average" Christian reader becomes somehow discontent with their lot in life, with what God has given them, and if they, begin to see Rick Warren's "Purpose Driven" (TM) wisdom.. they will then buy his books.... follow Rick, and even read pastors.com daily to see what they should be doing with their individual lives and churches.  Then, soon, like Rick Warren, they will be considered great,  visionary and their churches will be like his... big, big big... and.... not unhealthy, but healthy and global and local.. you know,  "Purpose Driven."

But if you are reading this with one eye on Rick and one eye on the scripture... wondering who to believe, consider and believe the scripture which encourages you to learn to "be content in every circumstance,"(This includes being "Average"  and warns, not to "think higher of yourself than you ought."

Meanwhile, back on Saddleback ranch, Warren tells Christians "Why be average?" and teach them how to have their very own, " God-sized dream"

As for Rick... well, Christianity  Today Magazine, in 2002, said, was just a "Regular,"  (you know, "average") "Purpose -Driven Guy".... a "genius" in, "helping pastors see the obvious."

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/november18/1.42.html 

 

Obvious?

 

He is helping those pastors see the obvious.

Well, apparently all those "pastors" (for all those 2000 years of pastors upon pastors, stone upon stone.... all those churches built upon the teaching of the prophets and apostles, who building on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ, and teaching other to be content in every circumstance, (unlike that "genius," Rick,) are blind.  But Rick is helping them to see the obvious...

 

Pastors, on the other hand, should know exactly who it is, that gives sight to the blind.

 

John 9:41

JEsus Speaking-

" If ye were blind, 
ye should have no sin: 

but now ye say, 
We see; 

therefore

your sin 

remaineth."