This is actually going to happen...

There's nothing like the Christmas story to remind you of the excitement of church planting.  Actually everytime I look at Camden and realize how much she is growing, and everytime I notice another lady who is awaiting a date in the not too distant future for her own child to arrive, it reminds me of the intricacies and complexities of starting a new church.  We're now in month number three of this 12 month gestation period.  We've moved past the conception stage (God putting this unlikely dream into our hearts and challenging us to go for it.)  I think now we're actually beginning to move past that first two months of panic as well.  (What in the world have we gotten ourselves into?  Who thought this was a good idea?  Wouldn't it have been less painful to "adopt?" [Lead a pre-existing church])

But now we're at month three.  And though this "baby" isn't actually kicking just yet, we know there's a lot of incredible stuff beginning to form inside of us, and others are starting to get excited, too.  We recognize that our new church may not engage everyone within a five mile radius of us.  (Actually, we're pretty sure that some people are put off by us forming another faith community)  But for some people, this church is going to fuel the hope in their life and the connection with God and with others they've been longing for for a long time.  It's amazing how in one week you begin to realize that this is really going to happen.  God is really going to bring this delivery about.  And even though you think often about how many other things have to get formed in the next nine months (pretty much all of the external stuff, the launch team, picking out a name, finding a place to meet, letting everyone know what you're doing and where to find you, figuring out who's the team who'll be pouring themselves out with you, etc.) you know that it's going to be okay.  Has God gotten you through the tough part?  I think through is stretching it maybe, but you realize He's in the tough part with you right now, giving you just what you need at just the right time.  (Like people who are willing to say "we're with you," like the best church name that really encapsulates what you're trying to accomplish, or even like just an extra boost of energy to get some of the extras accomplished while staying focused on the main thing, this church plant.)

We're working through an important decision and I really need your help on this one.  It's actually about church names.  It's funny, picking out a church name is a lot like picking out a child's name.  There are lots of choices, most of them don't sound like "your" kid at all, and you have to think that whatever you choose your "kid" is going to have to deal with for the rest of its life.  No pressure there, right.  (At least you hope your church name won't be made fun of by immature 3rd grade boys, but that remains to be seen I guess)

So I want to roll out three names for you.  As a faithful reader, I value your input, and this is a decision that in all seriousness we need to get made pretty soon.  A note first about exit14.  Some people have been a bit disappointed when they heard we might not stick with that name.  It's fresh and unique I think, but it's also not completely inclusive.  For instance, our hope is to reach people who live in all directions from where we end up meeting.  While we want them to connect with us, they may not live near exit14.  Also, and if you've been to or by our house you already know this.  There's pretty much no place to meet exactly at Exit 14.  There will be in five years.  But because we really can't wait that long...we probably need a different name now!

Okay, so here's the deal.  I want to give you three potential church names.  I am not saying that our final choice WILL be one of these three, but this is where we're leaning right now.  I'm not going to tell you why I chose these, what they're supposed to mean, or my own personal ranking of the names.  So I want your thoughts, what is your initial response to each (positive, negative) what thoughts our emotions or pictures in your mind do the names evoke.  Does it sound like a church name?  Be as open and honest as you can.  You absolutely will not hurt my feelings because I'm not committed to one more than the others.  

Centerpoint Church.

Evident Church.

New Heights Church.

You can post your thoughts by hitting the comment link at the end of this blog post.  In this format, others can read your thoughts although they may not recognize your signin name.  Or, if you want something more private, you can email your thoughts directly to me at chris@exit14church.org    .  THis will be a HUGE help for us, so if you can think about these names, give me your initial thoughts, and then maybe in a couple days, after they've lingered with you a bit, give me your updated thoughts.

Thanks everyone, for your prayers, your support, your encouragement as you read this blog.  Hey thanks for reading this blog.  One more post before Christmas.  In it, I hope to share some of the name conversation (no names or direct quotes, so never fear) and let you know where we may be headed with this important decision.

One last thing.  Camden is really growing and she is excited about Christmas.  She's met Santa twice and gotten her nine month pictures taken.  Here's a link to some pictures of her if you are interested.  

Partners

Last Thursday I met with Dr. Guy Brewer, the director of Theological Field Education for the Anderson University School of Theology.  I anticipated getting to meet a nice guy who might help me partner with some SOT students interested in church planting.  As usual, God had plans bigger than my anticipation.  Not only did we talk about potential partnership, but I also found out that Dr. Brewer is himself a former church planter.  As we talked, he helped me to flesh out my passions and vision in a way much more succinct than I'd been able to before.  He talked about making sure our partnership was to be mutually beneficial to the students and to Exit14church.  He prayed over me and for my family and our new work.  It was one of the great hours of blessing in my life.  And so, in late January we will be sitting down with some students who have shown interest in our plant and in planting themselves, and will see how we can gear up together for the work of God in our area.  Exciting.

Last week was very forming for me in terms of vision.  We had dinner with some new friends from our neighborhood, the Davis family.  They've lived here for almost 6 years I think.  One of the resonating needs in my mind has been contributing toward individual and family health.  They helped me to look a step deeper.  

When we lived in LaGrange, I would anticipate that there were maybe 3k-4k people who actually lived within the town limits.  I had no delusions of grandeur that we would know everyone who lived in town, but I truly hoped that the number of people we would have some connection with would continue to grow, and that the church there could be a healing place and a home to as many of those people as possible.  When we moved here, I knew that this was a large neighborhood.  843 homes approximately.  Here's the connect I never made.  This place probably houses close to the same number of people who live in the TOWN OF LAGRANGE.  Now I know it's not exactly the same number, but here's the point.  In a small town, lots of people know each other because they grew up together or their parents knew each other or worked together or something.  They have a history together that kinda unites them.  It's why lots of people stay generation after generation in the same area, and that's a great thing.  What if you lived in a town where no one had a history together?  Even the people who've lived here the longest have only been around 6 years maybe.  Many of them have small children, so their kids haven't gone to school together, at least not for long.  We don't have a grocery store or a Walmart or even lots of restaurants in our immediate vicinity (less than 2-3 miles) yet!  So some people shop in Fishers, and some in Noblesville and some in Pendleton (town) and some...wherever.  But we don't have those places where people get together regularly just yet.  Even our homeowners quarterly meetings draw 25-40 people, in a neighborhood of 800+ homes.  So before we can really help each other grow in health, we've got to actually get to know each other.  And so one of the hallmarks of Exit14church I hope will be a place where you can get to know the cool people who live across the street from you.  If we can be a catalyst for relationships within our town (I mean neighborhood) we will have made a huge mark for good on the community.  And if we don't...then who or what will?  I don't want to live in a neighborhood of 843 castles where the families inside don't know the owners of the neighboring "kingdom."  And I have to believe these are normal people, our neighbors, with family issues and life circumstances similar to my own.  If we open ourselves to knowing our neighbors, maybe the results will be a renaissance...or a revival.  

Next post

In my next post, look for an update about some potential ministry partners we are meeting and a potential partnership with the AUSOT.  We're also processing church names, waiting to hear about financial partners, and processing about 20 other things right now.  And I don't know if everyone knows this yet, but it also seems that there's this holiday coming up in a few weeks, kind of a big deal.  So we'll post more about that stuff in the days ahead.  

Subtle heroes

Last Friday I got to spend time with my grandfather.  Some of you have met him, perhaps many have not.  You may not know about my grandfather that he was also a church planter.  In fact, when I think about church planting in his day in comparison to in our day, it always makes me shudder at the differences in our circumstances, and yet there are some incredible similarities in our journey as well.  

My grandfather left a stable, decent paying job at an atomic plant in Hamilton, Ohio in the early 1960's I think, to return to his hometown of Monticello, Kentucky.  He also left a stable, healthy church where he held a leadership position and was being mentored as a young pastor.  He packed up his wife, four kids and not much else and went to a place where most people were leaving to find jobs elsewhere.  Oh, and by the way, he had NO financial support from the state of Kentucky, or anyone else for that matter.  Here's what he had; a call from God, a supporting spouse, and a few connections in the area.

He would go on to pastor a church, which didn't exist before his arrival, for over 25 years, through a building project, ran a daycare ministry, and for most of that time also had a side/part time job that helped take care of the family's financial needs.

He always tells me how much he believes in me.  He always tells me things like "well I didn't have the education or skills that you have now."  When we talked about this the other day, I could still see in his eyes the "we were going to plant this church or die trying" passion it takes to launch a new church start.  He now attends that church as a church member (wishing the pastor would use him more to help their ministry grow, but kinda being rebuffed on a regular basis) and he is still as passionate about reaching people with the love and grace of Jesus as he's ever been.  While physically he's slowing down, the fight for the redemption of people's souls is still as serious and evident in him as its ever been.  And while he told me a few things he wishes he'd done differently down through the years, I just wonder how many people will be in heaven someday (and whose lives have been radically changed by Christ through him in the hear and now) because of his all or nothing spirit.  And he's still all in!  

If the Holy Spirit will give me only a double blessing of the planting spirit of my grandfather, exit14church will be okay.  I asked him if he ever had days when he wanted to quit, days where he was seriously discouraged.  He basically said he knew that this calling was so written on his soul that he couldn't have quit if he'd wanted to.  Now my grandfather's story will most likely never be on bookshelves at Barne's and Noble's.  And his church is not some megachurch that has grown into the thousands.  But there are always the innovators in this world who actually do things without systems in place and succeed, and then the systems are put in place to boost what they did purely on faith and ingenuity.  I know we wouldn't be doing what we're doing now if it weren't for people like him who blazed the trail years ago.  I also know that I'm glad he and my grandma are praying for us right now, because when you've been in the same trench, you know the bullets that fly at those who will follow you.  I've felt a few of those bullets in the last few days.  And Kermit Wilson, who is my coach; and my grandfather both affirmed me with the thought that Satan doesn't want this church planted.  He doesn't want the Kingdom of God to grow and advance.  And he will do whatever it takes to discourage, defeat and destroy us and the ministry God is working out in us.  My papaw said, "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world."  And it's His church.  So we journey on, full of more new ideas, more new friends and potential partners, and more hope that there will be many people in heaven and whose lives are changed even now because of this ministry God is leading us to begin.  In other words, we're just continuing down the trail that was blazed before us.

Generational blessings

One of the most interesting verses in the bible I think is in Exodus 20.  Part of the 1o commandments, it says, ""You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.

One of the core goals of my life right now is to continue to grow in being a better husband and better parent.  I know the greatest calling of my life will be in how I loved my wife and how I raise Camden.  Part of the core vision of Exit14church is the calling to raise up healthy individuals and healthy families.  We can change the world as God restores and brings out in us the desires He has for us as individuals, as friends, as husbands/wives, and as parents.  

I was reading the story of Samson this morning.  I think that story is a cool and exciting and bizarre one, but like most stories, it's one that I've missed important details about everytime I've read it.  Perhaps you have as well.  Let me share a couple.  

One.  The initial part of the story of Samson is a conversation God has through an angel with Samson's mother.  She was the one who was given instructions about Samson's hair.  She had to accept responsibility for his future obedience to God.  I always thought that Samson was the one who was to avoid strong drink and eat only the proper foods.  But in the story, it's actually his MOTHER who is told to avoid strong drink and eat the proper foods during her pregnancy (interestingly, she'd been unable to get pregnant before.   Maybe this was a hint that mom's, even before their kids are born, are to take responsibility for their health?  As if this is some idea that just came about in the last 20 years.)  Now, I don't think this is a statement about whether spiritual people should or shouldn't drink.  It's a statement that often the blessing of the children is directly attached to the obedience of the parents.  In other words, if I want Camden to experience all of the blessing God has in mind for her, I better not short-circuit that by my own disobedience to God.  I need to pray for her, for her future, for God's blessing and calling on her life.  But I also need to be obedient and connected and faithful to God not just for my own sake, but for the sake of the generations that follow.  

Two--I always thought that Samson kinda had this physical power on demand because of his hair.  But what I noticed is that Samson only had incredible power in the moments when "the Spirit of the Lord moved powerfully upon Him."  Samson was a normal guy with a calling on his life and a physical mark demonstrating that call.  But the power with which he fought the Philistines and and the Lion and tore down Dagon's temple wasn't just his to whip up when he chose.  Samson was a normal guy who became supernatural as a channel of God's power.  

That's a good word for me as we begin this new church.  I'm a normal guy who looking back can openly acknowledge that anything of significance in my life has happened as a result of God's supernatural power in me.  And as you can imagine, we're in need of a whole heap of God's supernatural work in us in order to see this vision come to fruition.  So will you pray for us that the same supernatural power of the Holy Spirit that invaded a normal guy named Samson on a periodic basis will invade our lives as well, just a couple of called, normal people who accepted the call and now are waiting for the Spirit of the Lord to move in power in us whenever and wherever and with whomever He sees fit?

Minimalist

I've decided.  If I can be anything better than I am right now, it will be as a minimalist.  I've begun listening to how long it takes me to tell a story (and to all of you who have had to listen to my stories, I apologize, haha).  I've looked around my life to see the necessities and to determine the extras.  (And boy are there lots of extras)  

I've also come to realize that when we communicate, we should say as little as possible while still communicating clearly and effectively.  My friends at Crosspoint do this well.  All their series basically are built around one word.  

I've been wrestling a lot with who exit14church will be.  (And where we'll be, if that will be the name, just lots of wrestling pretty much all the time.)  Last night I was reading in the book, Church Unique.  In the context of talking about your church's mission, he likened mission to really be better explained by the term Mandate.  This is the "must do" of your church.  It's not the hows, it's not the whys, or the whens or the wheres.  That comes later.  

I've thought about our working vision statement.  It basically is that we want to become a community of healthy individuals and families who live out the way of Jesus and are a force for good in the community and the world.  If that's what we want to become, how will we do that?  As I was laying in bed about to fall asleep, three words came to my mind.  I don't know all of what they mean just yet, but I had to get up and write them down because, as I posted before, I don't remember as clearly as I used to like since Feb. 22nd, 2008, Camden's birthday.  (that's what sleep deprivation will do to you)  Here are the words:

Demonstrate Jesus everyday.

As a church, if we demonstrate Jesus, it will make us healthy.  As individuals, if we demonstrate Jesus everyday, it will make us better people, wiser people, healthier family members.  If we demonstrate Jesus everyday, by default we will begin to live the kind of life he lived.  If we demonstrate Jesus daily, we will be a force for good in the community and the world.  

I know this point may be debatable, but go with me here.  I think even people who don't believe Jesus is the messiah could benefit from doing in their lives what He did.  So if a group of people held themselves to living out the example of the One God sent as His Savior for the world but also His example of how to live while IN the world...and we actually began to do that, could that change the face of a neighborhood?  A community?  Is it easily evaluatory?  (Can I ask myself at the end of the day how I did in the demonstrating that day?  Can I ask my church to ponder how we did in the demonstrating on a regular basis?  Could they give an objective response?  Could I?)

And most importantly, isn't that a big part of what we were put on this planet for?  I'd love to hear your thoughts, agreements, disagreements, about this concise little mission statement.  You can post comments here on the blog page, or if you'd like to send those directly to me (so that the rest of the world can't read your thoughts, which is totally okay, too) you can email me at chris@exit14church.org

Consistency

My friend Steve is a great mentor to me, because he often reminds me of great and important things without even saying them to me directly.  Some are more general issues, others more specific.  He reminded me a few days ago about the old story of if you want to get the most rocks in the jar, you have to start with the big rocks first.  The point is that the little projects for which we have responsibility are often easier, we think take less time, and so we put them into our world first.  When we do that, we prevent some of the most important things from ever fitting into a packed schedule.

He also reminded me yesterday that if you don't blog regularly, your regulars will quit reading your posts because they don't see something new consistently.  So....my goal is to ratchet back up the consistency on posting.

I'll also attempt to keep this rather short.  In the last two weeks, we've lost a family member (Carlotta's grandfather, Don) and a close family friend (Juli Heller, from LaGrange FCOG) to death.  We've also heard about friends near to our hearts (our friends the Steffens, also through the LaGrange church) who are grieving a tremendous loss now.  In some ways, some of our church plant stuff has been put on hold as we've travelled for these last couple of weeks.  Ironically, it's also been during these last two weeks when some of the best strategic words from the Lord have come our way.  We've also begun conversations with some strategic people who really resonate with what we're doing (some of them have even done the same thing in the area in the somewhat recent past) who are just pouring encouragement and mentoring into me faster than I can take it in sometimes.  I probably need to start carrying a recorder or something, because I know God is speaking prophetically through these people.  We're learning.  We're finding a groove.  Our house is inching (there's still a lot of paint to be put on a lot of walls, but we're moving forward) toward a level of completion we can accept.  

Camden is growing.  I'm working toward improving some disciplines as it relates to time and basic spiritual practices like study and journaling.  So, while I would not say we are finding a normal just yet (that day is a long way down the road), we're getting there.

I want to say two thank you's really quick.  One, thank you to our life group.  None of you may ever read this, but it seems like in some unique way each week, you "save" us.  You pour the little encouragement, or laughter or hunger into our lives that just give us the strength to get to Tuesday.  I can't tell you how you have made our lives better just by being with you.  

Second, thanks to the LaGrange church.  We were there this past Sunday/Monday for Juli's funeral.  You let me come in and just kinda act like I still worked there.  We laughed and talked and for a moment, all the natural feeling of our time together (almost 10 years) came rushing back.  And when we left there wasn't this sadness that we were driving away again.  Instead, there really was joy because we know that our relationship is not based on proximity.  There's a deep love and affection we have for one another that no distance could ever diminish.  Someday, there will be a church in this area that we lead.  My hope is that that kind of love and fondness would permeate our new place here in a measure similar to that of our friends at LaGrange.  

Will we pray as much???

Just a short thought tonight as we watch the election results come in.  As I've played my presidential thoughts a little more close to the vest lately, because I have friends who are almost visceral in their passions on both sides of the ticket, one question has come to the forefront in my mind.  I have read many derogatory emails disparaging both sides that are shrouded under the pretext of devout spirituality (and I am not questioning the spirituality of my friends who forwarded/sent those)  And so to my question...will the people who prayed so fervently for their candidate to win tonight still be praying for the opponent tomorrow if their candidate doesn't tonight?  You know maybe, just maybe, God would be deeply pleased if we would pray for Kings, leaders and those in authority like He commands in Romans 13 (authority which He granted in the first place) as fervently after the election as before.  If anger wins the day tomorrow rather than prayer and trusting God even over and above our political leaders, then the enemy wins (and the enemy is neither red nor blue.)  And so today we vote our conscience, and then tomorrow, whether our vote was one that led someone to victory or simply was one for a leader who still will have opportunity to contribute to our country's leadership (remember, both of these presidential and vice presidential candidates still have day jobs in the US Senate or the Governors office), keep in mind that God is still in His heaven, and no amount of electoral votes can change that.  And who knows, maybe we'll all be reminded that even more than casting a vote, we should spend more time in the next four years casting our cares on the One who can really do something about our cares, One who always keeps His promises, One who knows what we need before we even ask.

October is gone, November is here

There's this subtle ticking in my head.  Somedays it's very loud.  Somedays you barely hear it.  But it never completely goes away.  My guess is most of you reading this can't hear it at all.  It's the sound of October 4th, 2009, ticking slowly away.  Now for you, that date may not mean a whole lot.  But for me, it means two things.  One, it's my sisters birthday.  But two, it's our targeted official launch weekend.  And so with every Sunday that passes, that clock starts ticking a little louder.  Who will show up that Sunday?  Where will they show up at?  Who will be on stage with me and who will be welcoming the hundreds of people who will show up and who will take care of their kids and will they come back for week two and will there be any money to buy all the equipment needed to take care of them and the worship and the children's ministry?  I haven't even mentioned that...at some point we'll need to figure out what we're going to teach and sing and how we're going to get them involved in a church that doesn't exist!  Now...it's a good thing that I don't hear that ticking so loudly all the time, otherwise this might be the first church ever planted in an mental institution.  (I wonder what kind of projector you use for a rubber room?)  

All in all, things are going well for us.  We are getting established in the community here, and we've already met some really great friends from Crosspoint and CATC.  We miss our LaGrange friends a lot, but that clock in my head keeps me from having time to get down about not seeing the people we care about so much.  

I still get a lot of people who ask me, "so how's this going to work?"  Do you have a church building to meet in?"  The answer of course is, "No."  But we don't have a group of people to need to have a place to meet in anyway, so for right now, no space is the best thing in the world.

Well the clock is ticking loudly now, so I better hit the ground running on a few tasks for the day.  Only 335 days til launch, and that's if you don't count the preview weekends!!!!!  Now I'm really freaking out!

A new focus

One of the things we thought would be immediately different in our new venture from our experience in LaGrange was a decreased number of friends in our home.  I mean that was our life, especially on Sundays for the last 4 years in LaGrange.  What we've since learned is that hospitality is going to be the cornerstones of our life here, too.  We've had more family/friend visitors than I'd expected in the first month of living here.  This is a good thing.  We love it.  I guess I thought we'd have more of our house completely in place before many of our guests arrived.  I thought wrong!  And we are always open to visitors from points north or south (just if you want to stay the night you may want to call about vacancy first)

The past few weeks have given me more opportunity to think about what this new church will look like, what its passions and dreams and foundations will be.  It's looking more like we won't be named Restoration Church, but that's okay (and btw it's still our business name, so if you're sending donations, please put that on the donation because otherwise the bank will not take it, haha)  I think restoration will always be our purpose, our desired end.  Right now we're going a little more bland.  We are Exit14church.  I love it.  When you see that exit sign on the interstate, you may know a few options that are on that new stretch of road, but there's pretty much limitless possibilities on that exit.  Anything could be out there as you drive towards the horizon.  I feel that way about our church plant right now.

For now, here's what I know.  Here's who God is revealing us to be, and as God forms us into something else, something more, that horizon will be reached down the road.

• God is calling us to be a Community of healthy individuals and families (spiritually, physically, emotionally, financially, relationally)
  
• Who live out the way of Jesus (as His disciples, committed to His saving grace as well as his living/dying example)
• As a movement for good in the world. (We are an active part as followers of Jesus in restoring the world to the way God intended it from the beginning. We aren't perfect, but we are being perfected and should extend that work into the world)

Please note we are not watering down the gospel, forsaking evangelism or mainlining toward some liberal theology.  Rather, the essence of the scriptures I think boil down to these ideologies.  Interrelationships.  Holistic health.  Practiced discipleship.  Serving and giving of ourselves.  So these are the "who"s, who we are being called to be.  Some of the "why"s are self-evident, they just need to be put into clear language that is easily readable/speakable.  It's the "how"s that we aim to ingest and experience and then disseminate into the community that will gather with us.  I hope that you are praying even now for the men, women and children this will include.  I hope that in some ways, our church will be the simplest in the community, that we will strip away and resist everything that doesn't contribute to this mission of living out the example of Jesus in our lives and in our church.  I sense that God is beginning to laser in our focus and our purpose, and we are pleading with Him to make His desires a reality in and through us.

Another reminder...another task

Yesterday it was as if the Lord blessed us with yet another reminder of the excitement, the necessity and the reward that comes in interrupting your life when you sense He's redirecting Your path.  At Crosspoint it was Baptism Sunday yesterday.  And just like usual, in the midst of a group of mostly strangers where I didn't know anyone who was getting baptized, there I was in tears.  Some people cry at weddings (okay I sometimes do this, too); I cry at baptisms.  How can your soul not be stirred when someone stands before their family and friends and says, "Jesus has saved me and changed my life.  So I'm gonna follow Him and live out His ways for the rest of my journey on this earth, and I'm gonna invite people who don't know Jesus to join me on this journey!"  I guess the expression of that (applause, tears, hugs for the person being baptized) may be expressed differently by different people.  But it will never, ever get old, seeing that public demonstration of what Christ is doing in a person's life.  And honestly, if we could baptize 1 or 10 or 100 people in that first year, that first 3 years of ministry, it will be one of the high points of my life.

Now that we are kinda getting settled in in Pendleton (I know "settled" is so relative) it's really time for me to start doing a lot of the logistical tasks related to a church plant.  So this week the task of putting fund raising requests in the mail needs to be completed.  I think the blessing of being in these two churches for the last few weeks, (as well as being in LaGrange for almost 10 years) is that I am now less hesitant than ever asking people to partner with us in this endeavor.  When I remember, many if not all of those people yesterday wouldn't have been making that public statement of faith if other people hadn't given faithfully and sacrificially, I ask myself, "what's more worth giving to?"  As I write my own personal giving check to this new church, I do it with joy, because I know that God is going to multiply that money and use us to change the world through this new church.  And that is what this is all about isn't it?  God changing all of our worlds and redeeming His world through followers of His Son Jesus.  

So...even if you don't get a letter asking you personally to be part of what we're doing here, if you'd like to give a gift that will truly change a life, please feel free to do so.  You will bless us but even more than that, I know there will be people who come to live in God's Kingdom both here and now and when this life is over because you sacrificed for His purposes.

A few things to keep in mind.

1. Please note that any gift you give should not be deducted from what you are giving to your own local church (if you are doing so).  This is an above and beyond kinda thing.

2.  Please note that all gifts are tax deductible.  You will receive a statement of giving for tax purposes.

3.  Please note that the money you give to this ministry doesn't go toward paying our salaries.  Those funds have already been provided through our partner churches and Indiana Ministries.  The dollars you give will go directly toward all the other costs associated with starting a new ministry from scratch.  (Approximately $30k per year for the first three years)

4.  Any gifts can be sent to:

Restoration Church (that's our name for now)

c/o Indiana Ministries of the Church of God

13300 Olio Rd. Suite 303

Fishers, IN  46037

At some point, these postings will get shorter, but if you know me, I've been known to talk a little bit and so I guess writing a little bit extra is par for the course.

We ask for your prayers as we step out to contact potential financial partners.  It shouldn't, but talking about money often complicates relationships.  Sometimes that's a good thing.  I'm praying that this is one of those sometimes.

Grace and Peace

Greater Things...

It's amazing how music written by someone you've never met can stir your soul in a way that says, "Yeah, that's what I feel, that's what I believe, that's what we want to be and do."  "That's why God put us on this earth."  

I want to post a bit about two songs that have been stirring in my soul for the last days.  Actually, when I feel a little down, a little discouraged, a little uncertain if this jump we've made is really what God has called us to, I think about these two songs, and they just align my mind with razor focus about what our lives are really about right now.  

This past Sunday, I heard a song called "Why not trust God?"  (I think this was the title at least, sorry David from CATC if I got it a little off)  It was just a reminder that God is still in control of His universe, and when my life feels a little topsy-turvy, a little out of control, it's never out of His control.  

And the previous Sunday, we sang a song at Crosspoint that, and I must be honest here, is one of those songs for me right now that I can just listen to over and over and over and it never gets old.  It's called "God of this City" by Chris Tomlin.  Here's a link if you want to take a listen...http://www.christomlin.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7&Itemid=46

Here are the lyrics:

You're the god of this city, You're the king of these people
You're the lord of this nation,You are

You're the light in the darkness, 

You're the hope to the hopeless

You're the peace to the restless, You are 
There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God 

Chorus:

For greater things have yet to come 
greater things are still to be done in this city 
Greater things have yet to come 
greater things are still to be done in this city

For greater things have yet to come 
greater things are still to be done in this city 
Greater things have yet to come 
greater things are still to be done here

And so because these words are so true, "not because of any acts of righteousness that we have done, but because of his great mercy, by which He has saved and redeemed us (Titus 3:5)" I'll get up early in the morning, work late into the night, listen intently for His voice, and do whatever, whenever, and wherever He prompts in order to see His Kingdom advanced.  I'll meet strangers, ask people I love for money, ponder a million names for this church, and everyone of the million things on the list of how to start a church, because He has greater things, things I can't ponder or imagine, in mind for this city and these people He loves.  Every great movie, tv show, even sports teams, have a theme song that resonates with its fans.  And I think now we have ours.  And interestingly, so do you.  Because you see God has greater things to be done in your city, and among the people He loves who live in your own house, and in your neighbor's house, and in every house in whatever place you call home.  

There is no one like our God...and I can't wait to be part of the greater things He has for tomorrow.  Right now, I think I'll listen to that song one more time tonight.  Maybe you should, too.

 

A short update

Sorry we haven't posted in a while.   The hard work and the pace of trying to setup our house and do what we've come here to do has made me already understand why God gave Sabbath to people.  And someday soon, we're going to try our best to exercise that.  All kidding aside, last night and tonight seem like the first nights that we've taken the foot off the accelerator.  We've kinda felt like an out of control roller coaster with no breaks.  You pay an absorbitant price for what you think is the thrill of your life, and it is, it's just you also feel like throwing up in your mouth a little bit sometimes.  

I left LaGrange with the first load of our stuff last Tuesday at 5:30 am to be at the Church at the Crossing (CATC from here on) at 9 am.  It took about one day to realize that no one gets anywhere quickly in the city.  And you better know what lane to be in very early.  

The CATC staff made me feel right at home from the first moments.  We celebrated with Luci her change in Visa status (from student to a workers visa).   Our house closing went well.  We left straight from the closing and dove into the cleanup of our house.  Lowes smiles everytime we go there, because they know we're going to a) buy obscure paint colors they don't get to mix often, and b) we're hitting triple digits on the old cash register.  

And so we painted...and we want to publicly thank Carlotta's sisters Jennifer and Caroline (who painted til there arms almost fell off) as well as Fred Goode, Daron Cupp and Coral and Amber Snyder (as well as Madonna for riding down with them).

This week we were back at Crosspoint Church with Curt and the great people there.  It's great to know that we have three great home churches (because part of us will always be at LaGrange) who lovingly support us even when we're not even with them each week. 

We both kinda started our jobs this week, Carlotta at Pleasant View Elementary School and me...well, pretty much wherever we go.  I've already learned that the best way to do what we need to do is just to keep my eyes and ears open.  I'm working hard to put names with faces of strangers in the community, not with an agenda of even inviting them to church, but just to hopefully help them feel the blessing of the Spirit in our interaction.  We met two nice servers at the Waffle House down the road, Coral and Victoria.  Kris took care of me at the gas station yesterday morning.  And I bought gas today for $3.25 a gallon in Fishers.  I wasn't sure I'd ever live to see this day.

So the fun begins tomorrow as we have to come back to LaGrange to pick up our furniture and have our hearts break a little bit once again.  I'm not sure, but somehow I get the feeling this weekend may be the most emotional one we've had yet.  So pray for us if you think about it...and if you're not busy and don't have back problems and want to stop by Thursday or Friday, that'd be great, too.

A Great but tiring weekend...

We spent our first official weekend with the folks at Indianapolis Church at the Crossing.  I got to hang out with 130 or so great guys at their men's retreat, and then we were part of all 4 of their weekend services.  I had said before that this would be the most difficult weekend of my life in a long time.  It's now been three Sundays since we've been at the LaGrange Church.  I'm so thankful for all the great people at CATC.  They made a difficult weekend into a blessing.  It was great to spend time with a group of guys who made me feel at home even though I'd never met 99% of them before this weekend.  I know that my time with them will be enriched by God and that I will be a better follower of Christ and leader of this new church because of the time we'll get to spend with them.  We were guests of the Broyles family (Tim is the Pastor of Outreach and Missions at CATC) last evening, which was a cool blessing as well.

If you haven't heard, we do finally get to close on our house on Tuesday.  And so begins what will be a week of renovation, cleaning, painting, appliance delivery, family wedding, another weekend at Crosspoint, and then next weekend (10th-11th) the final big move.  I have felt a little more distant from LaGrange lately, but today perhaps more than any other, I miss my friends.  Maybe it's the sad music that's playing as Carlotta watches what is probably the saddest ER Episode of all time (Last Thursday's), but I'm really fighting it tonight.  It's not so much regret about our decision to follow God in this endeavor, just the heartbreak of not being with the people I love so much.  My friends Hector and Justin stopped by to pick up some furniture we were giving Hector and his wife Kellie.  For a few moments, it was just like old times.  When they drove away, I walked up the steps and just said to Carlotta, "I miss those guys."  It was a microcosm of just how I'm feeling right now.  I knew the HS Guys were upstairs at the church.  It took every ounce of self-discipline I had to keep from going up to join them, even though I know that would have done more harm than good.

This is the night I have to remind myself, we're not dead, we're just moving.  It's only 2.5 hours away.  And some of the extra emotion is coming from fatigue.  I also have to keep in mind why we're doing this.  We're doing this for Joe.  Joe is my new next door neighbor.  We met for the first time today as he got out of his monster truck with the American flag waving from a pole on the tailgate.  I don't know his story, his life, or anything more at this moment than he has two big dogs, is taking his daughter to Colorado this week, and Bud Light is his beer of choice.  There is one thing I know though.  No matter where he is on his journey of faith, I know God has more to redeem in both his and my life than is currently done.  And so, my hope is that Joe and I can figure out life together a little bit on his front porch and kinda experience more of God's redemption because of one another.  

That's all for tonight.  I think that's about all I have left to post in this writing.  

Blessings

   

The update is...there's no update

Which I find rather frustrating.  I'm not mad at anyone, (except the person who for some reason refuses to do a property tax assessment on my new home because then I could actually move into it) it's just a matter of being patient.  I never realized how draining trying to move can be.  And I kinda haven't felt well the last few days either, so...

It's starting to sink in...slowly...I don't work here anymore!  It's odd because I still live here (in LaGrange I mean) but today I emptied my office.  I had a few tech questions to answer, and had one kinda unexpected situation last night, but all in all our lives seem to slowly be detaching from the place we've called home.  You know that "man without a country" feeling?   That's kinda where I am right now.  It's like we don't fit here anymore, but yet we can't move to our new place, and (although closing will probably happen sometime next week) because of the indefinite nature of our life right now, it's even hard to get super motivated to pack, knowing that it may be 2-3 weeks before most of our furniture makes the jump to our new house.  

I hope no one takes this post as a rant, a depressive statement, a cry for help, or anything more than just the passing on of some information.  We're okay (a little frustrated but not even close to discouraged) and we're waiting patiently for the next steps of our lives to take shape.

Shouldn't it at least feel like church...

I know that when you say the word church, the definition of what that means is different for different people.  Quite honestly, even as a minister, some of the things that get lumped together under the heading of church I have to believe make Jesus cringe.  (Cue the zealots of Westboro Baptist Church here)  But I also believe that for all her imperfections, the Church is Jesus' chosen manner of revealing Himself and His redemption to the world.  Shouldn't that experience and be at least a little different than say...I don't know...a typical prime time TV Show.

As this was our first weekend away from LaGrange FCOG, Carlotta and I attended another pretty well known church in the area.  I've been to a lot of large churches, churches with professional level music staff, tech staff, etc.  I've never been to a church where I walked out feeling like I hadn't been in a worship experience, or at least that was the church's intent.  This weekend however made me feel more like that I had stopped by at a friends house to watch Saturday Night Live, with a little Christian music playing in the background.  So here's my question, and I'm certainly open for comments here.  You will not find anyone more interested in engaging the culture with the gospel than me.  But shouldn't our worship experience with Jesus feel at least a little different than sitting down in front of the television for some overproduced entertainment?  Where is that line?  The scriptures were taught clearly and from an orthodox viewpoint, but somehow I just felt like what happened could just as easily have taken place at Jefferson Pointe Mall or rather at NBC studios at Rockafeller Center.  What do you think??? 

The "Wish it'd been that ways"

Stepping away from the "responsibilities" of my role here in LaGrange has afforded me the opportunity to do some of those "I wish I'd made it be that way before now" experiences.  Dinners with friends that I haven't shared a meal with in quite some time.  The opportunity to thank the people I've worked with out loud and in their presence instead of just kinda in smaller, out of the way manners.  The value that these last few Sunday nights have had with our high school students.  

This morning I read the passage from Luke 14 where Jesus told the story of the Great Banquet.  Here was an opportunity for honored guests to be in the presence of the King as well as to experience the blessing of friends gathered together in celebration.  And yet many of the invited guests passed on the King's invitation because they were too busy.  Busy with things that, although they had some value, in the scheme of a lifetime, could have been put off, or in one case, could have been an opportunity to bring someone along to experience the pageantry of the King's banquet.

I wonder how many times I have missed out on being in the presence of Jesus just because I didn't take the time to accept a friends offer of sharing a dinner table.  I wonder how many Sunday nights that I missed the blessing of the Lord's presence because, even though the students were at our house, I didn't see what Jesus was doing for me and in me because they were there.  I wonder how many times the Lord would have been honored if I'd taken the time to just say to the people around me what Jesus has done in me because of our shared time at work, at practice, at conferences together, or whatever.  

See, Jesus blesses us when we are in His presence.  There can be the direct blessing of just being with Him.  But there is also the indirect blessing that comes from Him through others.  And I just think that now more than ever I want to be that conduit of His blessing to others as we meet new people in our neighborhood and community.  I want to make sure that the busyness of life doesn't sabotage the meetings with the King that Jesus wants me to have with others.

And for those who we've missed those gatherings with over the years, I'm doubly sorry.  I'm sorry for the time we didn't get to spend together.  And I'm even more sorry because I know you would have been the conduit of the presence of Jesus into my life, and I didn't give you that opportunity.  

New Church name...

  One last thing, and I'd love your thoughts on this.  (For anyone who reads this I guess)  We're already needing to begin thoughts about a church name.  I've been thinking about what this church should be, what it's overriding mission in the community and the world will be.  Here is the thought that keeps spinning over and over in my mind.  We want to be a movement of people experiencing and extending God's redemption in all its facets to our community and our world.   We want to see God restore everything that is broken and disconnected from Him in people's lives.  We want them to be saved, and that their souls would be restored.  But we also want families to be restored, and finances to be restored and spiritual maturity to be cultivated and that their lives will be part of God's restoration in their friends and families and also that they'll be part of the restoration process for people all over the world.  

So, (and I want your most honest thoughts on this), what about Restoration Church?  (I've already checked and there's no one in our new area with this name.)  Post your comments and critiques and I'll review and consider every one of them.  Thanks!   You know my heart, you know now a part of what God is working in us to be and do in this community.  Our church name is such a huge part of that first impression people have. So let me know your first impressions.  Is Restoration Church (by its name and its general description above) a place where you could see yourself at least excited by its mission?

All In, Part 2

One of the things that I was reminded again this week about the all in life is that "All in" is not a one time decision.  In hold'em, the all in goes round by round.  If you make it through that hand, that doesn't mean game over.  It means you live to play on for another hand.  This week had three distinct all ins for us.  The first was our house situation.  Now we understand that there are lots of houses available in the neighborhood we are moving to.  And we understand that if God's desire was for us to live somewhere else, then He'd make that known and we'd abide by that.  But we felt like the house that we had made the offer on was one that was going to give us the best potential investment, the best use of space, and the best possible timeframe (i.e. occupancy at Closing)  We also knew that it was very likely that if we didn't get this house, we might be moving...somewhere, but most of our furniture wasn't going anywhere at least til mid-November.  So when we made our final offer on Friday of last week, and then had to wait through the holiday weekend, and then had to wait half of Tuesday morning, that built a lot of patience and trust into us.  When our realtor called and said, they rejected....my heart sunk.  But it's always important to let people finish before we freak out, because he said, they rejected the other competing offer, and the house is yours for ____ if you want it.   Needless to say, our all in faith that God would provide if it was right was affirmed once again.  

It was in those moments that I was talking with God about life and all its complexities, including what was going to happen if we didn't get the house, that God impressed a second all in on my soul.  There was a person I was supposed to call and ask about being baptized this Sunday.  Now while I have often felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to be part of the dialogue with people that leads them to take their next step in their journey of faith, I have never felt compelled to specifically call one person and specifically ask them to take this step this Sunday.  I know it was important for that person, and I sensed that God must be working in them this week as well.  But more than that, for me, this was a challenge from the Lord.  It was as if He was saying, "Look, if you can't make the ask of something this important to a close friend, how are you going to ask total strangers to join you on this new church endeavor?!"  How are you going to invite people you barely know into relationship with me if you won't do so with your closest friends?  And so....I did.  I felt so incredibly honored that God would direct me in such a way, and whatever the outcome of this encounter is, I feel like I went all in again and the cards have already come up a winner.  

I am learning to trust the Lord and be challenged by Him in these past few weeks more than I have in a long time.  And I think the encouraging words I'm hearing from people as I shared last weekend are proof that God is really working and prompting and challenging lots of other people through our experience.

God has also provided Carlotta with a job.  She interviewed Tuesday, and wowed them so much that they called to offer her the position we'd been praying and searching for on Thursday.  She will be working part-time in a school about 25 miles from home, but will only make the trip a couple days a week.  They will still pay into her teacher retirement and I think it's going to be a great ministry opportunity for her.  It always is it seems when you are seeking to live your life in all ways in the grace of God and want to extend that.  

All in!

Today I taught my last message (at least for a while) at LaGrange FCOG.  I taught a message called All In!  It's funny, I shared three personal stories that have taken place as part of our transition to Pendleton.  One of the stories, I told three times, and I was overcome with emotion each time.  It's the story of the day we finally made the decision that we couldn't "not" begin this new church in the Pendleton area.  I was prompted that day by the story in Mark 10:28 when Peter says to Jesus, "Lord, we've left everything to follow you."  Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, whatever you have left behind will be given back to you in greater measure, and eternal life in the age to come.  IN that moment, that day we made this decision, I knew exactly what Peter felt when he made this statement to Jesus.  

Long story short, it was an incredible experience for me, this opportunity to share with our church the why's of what we're embarking on.  And I also think we were able to ask other people to inquire of God what His "all in" for them is.  I gave everyone who came this morning a poker chip, probably a first for our church.  But my hope is that everytime they see World Series of Poker on ESPN as they flip through the channels, or everytime they hear about someone playing cards, or every day they carry that chip in their pocket, it will be an ongoing reminder that God is always asking to know and follow through on whatever our all in is right now!  

We also had our second to last youth night tonight.  I don't know if this makes sense or not, but I truly am beginning to hate Sunday nights, because I love them so much.  Sunday nights have been a joy for me for the past few years, one of the best experiences of my life.  There have been weeks when the students were not here, but usually those have only been a weekend at a time.  So I'm sure the first weekend we don't have high school students at our house will be a little odd, but not that bad.  The 2nd weekend I will be a train wreck.  I just love being with these guys and ladies so much, and the thought of not being a regular part of their lives is something I just can't think about tonight without really losing it.  I can't express how blessed these guys have made me feel over these last months and years.  I guess I won't fully understand it until it's gone! 

Waiting

The scriptures tell us that those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.  They shall mount up on wings like eagles.  They shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not grow faint.  

These last few days and these weeks to come really ought to be strength renewers.  We wait to hear about our house offer we made on Friday.  We wait to see if Carlotta will find a job, and if she should find a job even for a while.  We wait to see when we're going to move.  We wait to see who's the next family member to call worried that we're going to be homeless or destitute.  (Thanks for your concern though)  

When you're a doer, waiting is some of the hardest stuff of your life.  But... they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.  So as we wait, we ask for God's patience.  This all is a part of just building our trust in Him and suprisingly, I'm not feeling stressed about it.  I've rather decided to just try and enjoy it.  Enjoy the shaping, and the molding and the waiting.  

When was the last time you enjoyed the waiting? 

Decisions, Decisions

I think sometimes we all think that even though certain things happen in certain patterns for I don't know... centuries, that somehow we'll be the ones who beat the system.  Now back in reality world, we recognize the same things that happen to everyone else will probably inevitably happen to us.  As it relates to moving... somehow I guess we thought it would be easier because we're so excited about where God is guiding our journey.  I forgot how nuts things get when people move.  It was that way 9+ years ago when we moved to LaGrange.  It was that way 7+ years ago when we moved across town.  Now, we're buying a house in a market that is very difficult for most, but a complete blessing for us.  We don't have a house to sell, and it's a complete buyers market right now.  So we have lots of options.  I think just like our relationship with God, sometimes we want to feel like there is only one right path in the whole universe and so we just have to figure out that one and things are okay.  But in reality, I think God is big enough and complex enough and broad enough that He can lead us to great good down multiple roads, just so long as we know those roads don't lead toward sin.  I have a feeling that's how this house thing is going to shake out.  None of these houses is sinful.  They're just different.  And they cost different amounts.  So, while we're seeking God's ultimate best decision in this matter, I have to hope and believe that the Kingdom of God doesn't rest completely at a tipping point based solely on this decision. 

In other "they said it would be this way news" I have yet to step one foot into our new location as a "local."  (It's all been drive in experiences at this point.) And yet I find myself being so busy just thinking about everything that needs to be done.  I've heard people say you'll never be busier in life than starting a church.  And I think you're never more busy in life than when you leave a church you've been at for a long time.  So... 1+1 equals a little mental chaos right now.  Which is why (just like my predecessors have coached us) that prayer team is the first team you begin to recruit.  

I'm sure I'll post more later (and part of this exercise is to get me more into the journaling habit) but for right now somehow, even in the midst of the nuttiness that's swirling around us, I still feel pretty peaceful in my soul that God is still in heaven and the world is not coming apart this afternoon.  Tomorrow.... well we'll just have to let that take care of itself.  These moments however continue to affirm that Jesus speaks the words of truth that carry us in a way no other possibly could.

The Promise of Isaiah 60

Anytime you feel the Holy Spirit directing you to obscure passages, take special note.  When we ask God to calm our souls, to take control of situations that in our own strength will crush us under their weight, I know He takes those prayers seriously.  And so as I ponder everything about a new church start that wakes me up early (okay early is relative but earlier than usual for me) I read the words this morning of Isaiah 60.  I know this is a passage where God promises to restore Jerusalem, not literally just the city, but restoring the place where His presence will be felt among His people.  In essence, the place where His presence was not, now was becoming again a place where God was going to take up residence among the people.  This taking up residence was more than just Him hanging out with them.  The blessings of God's presence among these people was going to initiate the outpouring of other tangible blessings such as they had not seen since they were exiled.

Here is what God is going to bring to them.  (I believe God is saying this for us as we start a new faith community in Pendleton)  

1. I will bring you people.  (verse 4)  God is prompting people to gather together in the place where He will dwell among them.

2. I will bring you resources (verse 5)  God will give us what we need to accomplish the building of a community where His presence will be made real.

3. I will adorn my glorious temple (verse 7)  This isn't just a gathering of people; when we gather in His name for His purposes, He will be there among us.

4. In favor He will show compassion (verse 10)  This one we claim most, for it's God's mercy and His compassion that we want to extend, but it's also His mercy and His compassion on us that even allows us to consider, much less be successful, in an endeavor this huge.

5. Your gates will always stand open (verse 11)  The opportunities for ministry will be continual, and so we should be prepared as a community to always be prepared to live out the way of Jesus for those who need all that He has to offer.

6. We will radiate the light of Christ that is within us.  (verse 19)

7. All your people will be righteous (verse 21)  We are made righteous as Christ who holds Lordship over our hearts is given ever increasing Lordship over every area of our lives.  We become more and more like Him in our actions, not just in our desires.

8.  They are the shoot I have planted; the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor (verse 21)  This is God's thing.  Everything we do is to display His glory and His work in our lives.

9. The least of you will become a thousand...I am the Lord: in it's time I will do this swiftly.   (verse 22)  I'm not sure how to take this verse, so I'm going to let this one linger with me for a while. 

I know these are just some connections I made with this passage as it relates to what's going on in my own life.  But I also believe that God hears our prayers, and He knows what's been stirring in my soul this morning.  One of the things this verse has reminded me is that this is God's thing, and we're His partners.  I have to keep reminding myself of this everyday.  This is NOT MY THING!  God says all through the Scriptures that He will build His church.  My role is to be God's steward and to partner with Him, to be His hands and feet and mouth in the world where He prompts me.  You see all along I think I thought this was just going to be about starting a new church.  When in reality, God's working out a lot of stuff in me, and I think He's just asking us to invite a new community on the journey with us.

Slowly it's all starting to set in...

With every conversation about the new direction  our lives are taking, the reality of the hugeness of this thing sinks in a little more.  Never has a blank canvas seemed so exciting, and so intimidating.  It's getting easier to tell the people that we love about the dramatic shift in our lives, but the hardest conversations are still to come.  I told someone today that these next few days and weeks will indicate just how much people have gotten what we've been trying to say with our words and our lives for these past nine years.  The Kingdom of God is bigger than just you, and it's bigger than just LaGrange.  We hear that and we all nod in agreement, but do we really believe this?  Well, when you tell people that have been part of your everyday lives for so long that you're no longer going to be part of each other's every day lives, because you're moving, and that you still will love them the same and want to still be friends, you just believe God is directing you into something new and faith-stretching and unbelievably exciting, their response tells you (not immediate response but over the next few weeks) whether they really believe that the Kingdom of God is bigger than them and bigger than LaGrange, Indiana.  

I often wonder if the great master artists of history were ever intimidated by a blank canvas.  When you look at a blank canvas, it's potential is limitless.  Somehow you have to get started.  How did Rembrandt create his masterpieces?  I guess they started with the first stroke obviously.  Sometimes, infinite potential makes me very excited.  Sometimes it makes me very nervous.  Right now I'm still a lot of both.  We have to find a place to live.  I've never bought a house before!  We have to setup a budget (30% of the funds for which we don't have yet) for a brand new church.  I don't know how much it costs to start a church.  I mean all the big things and little things.  I guess the next year is going to be filled with a lot of prayers, some educated (by the Holy Spirit) guesses, and right now...I'm not sure what all else.  It'll also be interesting to experience the process of making a whole additional set of friends with people that...at this moment, we've never even met before.

I think this first post would not be complete without telling whoever reads these words that my wife Carlotta is unbelievable.  It's bad enough that I'm crazy enough to follow this calling, but I've always been the crazy one of the two of us.  (She tells our little Camden this all the time, about how crazy her daddy is)  But of all the leadings God has ever given us, she's more excited and crazy about this idea even than I am.  I would never feel God is leading us into something that she didn't confirm, because in most cases, I think that's how God works.  He calls both people in a marriage partnership.  And so even though we go into this with some fear...actually, we're also in this completely together.  And so no matter what happens from this moment forward, that's the greatest blessing God could give me.  

Now, back to some of those hard "we're moving" conversations.  Two down, 300 more to go!