This morning I finally got an opportunity to do something that was so amazing, refreshing and restful... but before I tell you what I did, I need to explain my week so far...

Sunday morning I awoke bright and early as it seems I do every Sunday morning.  I spent some time relaxing and reading out of a couple books.  I went over to First Baptist Church because it seems that they can not get the hang of the AV equipment, spent some talking with the elders of the church and then off to Freshwater Church.  I tried to call a couple of friends I work with to see if they wanted to do breakfast, but it seems Sundays are a good day to sleep in for some people!  So off to church by myself.  After pulling myself away from an increadible group of people who are doing a great job at just loving God and loving people, I sped (sorry) over to Lawrence for an opportunity to tackle as many people as I could (and get tackled by a few myself) in an intense game of full-contact football!  I rushed from there to work and sat wondering why my body was so sore.  Then I remembered Saturdays physicaly demanding events that involved trying to remain standing while 6-8 middle schoolers were hanging on me like Christmas tree ornaments trying to pull me to the ground.  Then there was four hours of raking leaves, rake fights and basketball.  After all that, I decided it was time to climb the rock wall.  I realized how much I miss climbing--the heights, the burning of my hands and fingers, the rush of lunging for a hold that is out of your reach.  I was told that no one had ever gotten to the top and rung the bell, so I decided I would give it a go, but when I got up there, I quickly discovered why not--there was no little ringer in the bell!  Oh well... off to work (and back to my point).

I worked from 4pm to midnight Sunday, came home and finally fell asleep on the couch about 2:30AM.  I awoke a 6:30AM since I had an early morning meeting on the other side of Kalamazoo (which by the way was a very surreal experience).  Maybe sometime I can share them with you--I can only tell you that I felt like I was on and episode of Alias.  I came home to an open newspaper add and a mother asking me which computer she should buy.  After several hours of discussing, looking online and making phone calls, she asked me if I would just go pick one up--whatever I thought was best.  I brought the computer home turned it on for mom and ran out of the house to play basketball.  After basketball, I went directly to the Super8 to pull another 8hour shift...

At 8 AM, I finally got home and crashed until I was rudely awaken by an annoying beeping sound.  I jumped up about 11AM and go ready for an interview for another job (yes, I thought with all my spare time, I needed to do something with myself).  I proudly announce that I am now a Sales Rep. for Quality Lazer Products, you can find us online at qualitylazerproducts.com.  We sell and service copiers and printers.  We also have a great deal on all your ink and toner needs.  Just put the code: 1001 and receive 10% off your first order!

I had to do a few errands after the interview and found myself rushing home to change and go back to work at the Super8 to pull another all nighter (9PM to 7AM).  As I was walking in the door to work, I was checking my voicemail.  I had a message from Welch's asking me to come in the next morning to work from 8AM to 4PM, because one of the guards that was supposed to work was sick.  I couldn't bring myself to say no after they explained the situation.  So, I had the privalege of working 19hrs. straight after only about 3 hours of sleep (I felt like I was in youth ministry again).  I got home at 4PM, jumped in the bathtub and then went down and laid on the couch.  I reset the alarm for 6:30PM (I have been wanting to start attending a small group at Freshwater and something kept comming up every week, so I was determined not to miss).  After small group I spent some time on the phone and settled on the couch to watch the last few minutes of LOST and try to get some shut-eye.  To no avail, so I got up and got ready for work.  Another 8 hrs at the Super8.  So about the time I rolled into the driveway about 7:30AM, you can imagine what was going through my mind...  Nothing would deter me from what I was about to do--I knew it would be all that I needed...

...You may be asking yourself what did he do, the suspense is killing me!?  Well, I tell you, it was amazing, unlike anything I could remember in the recent past!  ...I slept in my bed--And I slept hard until 2PM!  WOW!

By the way--I want to share something that has given me a lot of strength and hope lately.  From a book I have been reading: 

     Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
       Who created all these?
       He who brings out the starry host one by one,
       and calls them each by name.
       Because of his great power and mighty strength,
       not one of them is missing.

     Why do you say, O Jacob,
       and complain, O Israel,
       "My way is hidden from the LORD;
       my cause is disregarded by my God"?

      Do you not know?
       Have you not heard?
       The LORD is the everlasting God,
       the Creator of the ends of the earth.
       He will not grow tired or weary,
       and his understanding no one can fathom.

      He gives strength to the weary
       and increases the power of the weak.

      Even youths grow tired and weary,
       and young men stumble and fall;

     but those who hope in the LORD
       will renew their strength.
       They will soar on wings like eagles;
       they will run and not grow weary,
       they will walk and not be faint.

Until Next time... Crashing Forward

Hey you all, I will be in a place where I will only have limited internet access, so I will not be posting regularly (as if I have been as of late).  I would appreciate your prayers as I will be going through some major transitions, but following the heart of Christ, living in obedience and walking by faith.  God bless you all...

Crashing Forward

I guess it has been a while since I have written here.  It has been a crazy last couple of weeks.  We are making preparations to bring 2 guys on staff.  We are so excited about what God will do in the near future.  I have been thinking a lot about a statement in "An Unstoppable Force" by Erwin McManus, that talks about the church keeping their traditions and losing thier children.  I cannot help but to wonder if we are any different than the generations before us?  Are we simply trying to create new or different traditions that we hope our children, or our children's children will embrace?  What can we do to keep from falling into the same trap as many who have gone on before us?  What safeguards can we set in place to see that our motives remain pure, our passion--advancing the Kingdom, and our love--for God and for others? I would appreciate your thoughts on this.

Our church is less than 50 average attendance.  We have chosen to bring on 2 additional staff members.  Though our congregation understands why, many people within the community do not.  I have begun simply telling people that we may not need the additional staff, but it's not for us--it's for our children and their children.  To many, it seems like a foolish risk, but we long to create create a movement, and unleash the dreams that God has placed within our hearts to impact generations to come, or die trying.  It is not enough for us to simply exist!  Until next time...

Crashing Forward

I would like to have some conversation concerning the requirements for being in the worship band.  The reason I bring this up is that I have seen some non-believers become passionate followers of Christ by doing being a part of the band.  I have found that in my experience allowing a non-believer (to this point it has been unintentional) to play an instrument--or be a backup singer has actually played a huge part in bringing that individual into a passionate relationship with Jesus.

I do believe that whoever is leading the band, as well as a majority of the band members should have a real, intimate and vibrant relationship with God.  Otherwise how could they lead the body into worship?  But the community that I have seen developed through a worship band would seem like a great, natural atmosphere to draw people to Christ.  In a sense, the non-believer is playing an instrument, or singing--the rest of the band, as well as the congregation is leading that individual into worship.

 I did not always think this way, until one day we unintentionally allowed a non-believer to play in the band.  We thought that he was a "Christian" because his parents went to church.  Within 6 months, he became a passionate follower of Christ.  Just before I came to this church, one of the young ladies that was singing (had been here about 6 months) accepted Christ.  Those were unintentional incidents that brought people to Christ through the ministry of the worship band.  I wonder what would happen if we made an intentional effort to reach out through the ministry of the worship band?

We as leadership have been praying and seeking God's direction concerning this for some time.  I know it is outside the box of what most of mainstream, (Civilized) Christianity would say--but we would love to hear some of your thoughts concerning this.

I will be out of the office and away from my computer until the 8th, but I look forward to your responses when I return.

Crashing Forward

    Thanks for the great discussion on the last post concerning community--let's continue our discussion today.  Paul writes in Romans 1:¹¹I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— ¹²that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.

I believe that Paul is writing about in this passage is an amazing picture of what real community looks like.  He understood the value (to be encouraged) as well as the interconnectness (you and I be mutually) of what they were experiencing.  I love the picture of it paints of what the church today is missing.  But I think it is important as well to realize that even within this context of beautiful community are individuals striving to live by faith.  He does not say "our faith".  Rather, he describes what happens when they as individuals lived by faith within the community.  It builds the strength of the individuals within the community--which in turn makes the community stronger.

I believe this is also what happened as Peter got out of the boat and began to walk toward Jesus.  Though they did not get out of the boat with him, they were encouraged to greater faith as a result of Peter's actions--because they lived in real community!  I do believe it was a faith building experience for all of them.  But it was a combined faith effort, rather it was a result of Peter's faith, which strengthened their own faith, that they were compelled to worship Jesus when the wind died down and everyone was back in the boat.  Comments???

Crashing Forward