242 I'm Back

Well it's official, April and I are going to be back at 242 full-time. A month or so ago Craig asked if 'd be willing to come back and help him and the church out as an Administrative Pastor. After a little prayer and talking things over with April we've agreed that it was a door that God was opening and a need that needed filled so we've said yes and will be back starting next weekend. I'll be helping out with project management, handling a lot of the churches communication and web presence, a host of other things I can work on from home, and handling some of the Sunday morning teaching duties. So, you'll just have to get used to more of my crazy stories.

I had been thinking it was time to take a season off from ministry and help April as she gets started in Law School. But, since the vast majority of the work involved is from home, over the computer, and over the phone it's a perfect fit allowing me to serve as God wired me and allowing April to focus on school.

Looking forward to seeing everyone soon :)

Graduation

So, tomorrow we'll head over to the Stanahan for my boy's graduation ceremony. Now, I have to admit, there have been plenty of times over the last four years I wondered if this day would come. Jake is brilliant when it comes to music but just never cared to put much into his school work if it wasn't something that interested him. Music has always been his thing, I wish I had half the talent the boy has when it comes to music...

Jake's got a couple of months to enjoy being a graduate then it's off to college. Let's hope and pray that his love and interest in music moves him through the college ranks and into the work world as a producer....

I'm Still Here...

So, the rapture of the church that was supposed to happen today has failed to materialize. I have restrained myself from the poking and picking that I have seen so many on the web do over the last few days. Don't get me wrong, a large part of me wanted to make fun of the notion just to make myself seem "not crazy" to my non-believing friends. I never for a second believed today was the day, not that it couldn't have been, because that's up to God. In fact, I hadn't really given the whole "rapture is May 21st" much thought at all until two days ago. That's when it hit me.....what if it is???

Now, I don't want to sound crazy because I didn't believe it was the day at all....but I just felt this overwhelming burden that said what if it is? Over the last two days, I felt the Holy Spirit begin to lay on my heart the faces and names of all the people I know that haven't yet met Jesus. Honestly, I've felt an overwhelming sense of sadness for them. What if it was today? How many family members would have missed out? How many of my friends would have missed out? What about my students? My children? I mean they accepted Christ when they were younger but are they really his?

I can say this, I don't want to make fun of the crazies that predicted the end of the world as we know it. I do however, want to use their foolish mistakes as a reminder that sometime, someday he'll come and until that day I want to reach as many people with God's love as possible. I want to be about my fathers business.

Without Him I can do nothing....with Him all things are possible.

Sunday Mind Dump (Monday Edition)

Still nothing to blog about ministry wise so I am going to take a minute to talk about a great message in church yesterday. The church we've been hanging out at had a missionary from Poland in and he gave a killer message. It was all about not being afraid to go after what God is calling you to go after. One of his points was "If you're waiting for perfect conditions before you act, you'll be dead before you act." How true!

God calls us to do things in his time and for his purpose. We move based on that and not our ideal circumstances. How fitting. Whether the move is personal as in I need to do something or corporate meaning the church needs to do something....we move when he calls us, not when we're ready.

So let's dump about this principle a little:

• Maybe God is calling you to step up into a ministry role and you are waiting for somethinto happen first....stop waiting and do it.
• Maybe God is calling you to change careers, stop waiting for the perfect situation and do it.
• Perhaps God is calling your church to take new ground but your afraid finances are going to hold you back....take a step of faith and do what he's calling you to do and trust he'll provide.
• Maybe you've had a longing to start a family but you're waiting for the perfect job first, or building up more money...you'll never have enough of it...so just do it.

I could go on and on but the point is still the same....whatever it is step out in faith and go for it!

I'm getting there.

So, I have been taking classes over the last year to complete my Ed.S. degree. It looks like I'll be done in the fall! I couldn't be happier, these classes are really starting to cut into my lying around time!

Ok, all jokes aside, the classes have been a little rougher this semester. I just seem to have no motivation to write or work on them. Perhaps I'll feel more like it in the summer but who knows....at least for now it's good to be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'll have 3 classes and an internship that consists of me writing a handbook for professional development this summer. Then 2 classes in the fall and my merry go round of classes should be over. I think I am done now....I am not doing anything else...and YOU CAN"T MAKE ME! LOL.

Sunday Mind Dump

Now that I am back on a ministry break I don't have much ministry wise to blog about personally so I am going to take this opportunity to cheer for others in the trenches. This morning was the official launch of 242. What a big day for them...so let's dump about that:

• 242 has been up and running a little under a year. It launched this morning. Simply awesome!
• Over the last year, they've lost a pastor and yet God provided.
  
• They are running well ahead of the average in terms of attendance and giving in the midst of a sluggish economy. God provides.
• The new pastor has become a friend of mine and I call it a privilege to be able to coach him and work behind the scenes helping the church in whatever way God allows.
• Even though we are not at 242 every week anymore I am still praying for you guys regularly.
  
• They are doing a killer job of getting people connected in meaningful ministry positions and the church really looks great on Sunday mornings.
• Loved seeing new faces this morning. For those who haven't been a part of a church plant before understand it takes time, lots of time, to grow a church. It's not normal to grow rapidly, in fact, most churches couldn't handle it anyway....you grow slow and steady....with some spurts in there for good measure.
• Loved seeing the kids ministry taking steps forward. Looking really good!
• Stay humble and listening to God and good things are going to happen @ 242!
  

Sunday Mind Dump (Monday Edition)

April and I went to SC for a friends wedding this past weekend. What a long trip! It was a nice wedding and we're glad we we able to get away for a few days to be there to celebrate with my friend Tiff!

So let's dump!

• Since we were in SC over the weekend we took the opportunity to visit Newspring Church (Perry Noble's Church.) Here are a few things I learned from going there.
• Hands down the best worship team I have ever seen or heard. They sounded incredible. It was amazing to hear them completely rocking out and yet seeing 2500 people worshiping along with them. Loved it!
• Getting into and out of Newspring isn't easy. So many people coming and going its like being at an amusement park at opening time. Anyway, its a chore. It demonstrates that when a church has momentum and God is moving in a place people will do whatever they have to do to get theirs butts in a seat.
  
• Literally every seat was taken and they had ushers helping squeeze people into any open seats. How many churches have that problem?
  
• Perry breaks the mold when it comes to preaching. Yesterdays message ran about 45 minutes. Everything I've read says a pastor should speak no more than 30 minutes. If you're good, all the rules can go bye bye.
• Enjoyed our visit. But, glad to be home!