Not a Fan...some random thoughts from a recent book

I just returned home from Destination Church's first mission trip and come back with some heavy thoughts. Heavy isn't always a bad thing, just heavy if that makes any sense.

Anytime you head on a mission trip, you go with the mindset that you are there to work. And work we did. That being said, on my trip home, I picked up a book that has been causing some sparks to fly in my soul. Not a Fan, by Kyle Idleman, has been a book that takes a very real look at Jesus' call to discipleship. His original followers were called to follow and in so doing, they began to realize that it would cost them something. Not money, not sweat, not even tears. At some point, it was going to cost them their very lives.

This morning, after meeting with my small group, I came upon a synonymous verse to the one, Kyle Idleman draws our attention to: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny HIMSELF and take up HIS cross and follow ME."

Many Christ followers are nothing more than fans and the specific difference is cost. What will it cost? We ask this question in so many things in our lives, but not in regards to following Jesus. Why not? Why not ask him what it will cost us to truly sacrifice and live for him? Probably because as soon as we are specific about it, we have to be specific about spending. If we leave our sacrifices vague or grey, we don't really have to buy. Maybe we can rent. Maybe we can see what the return policy is. To put it into the author's terms, have you ever had the DTR talk? (Determine the Relationship)

So, this was random, but just some thoughts as I let Jesus' original call to discipleship simmer in me. I like what it's doing, it's just uncomfortable as I see areas I haven't denied myself of or taken up in my following of Jesus.

Regardless, whether you have been a follower for some time or have never trusted Jesus, I highly encourage getting into this book and let it work on you for a bit.

If it's for the Kingdom, it's worth it.

So, Destination Church officially launches this Sunday and we are pumped! This last week we had a preview service which went really well. Being new, there are definitely some kinks to be worked out, but we had a little over 100 people, they liked the coffee and rumors have it that we had 1 person commit their life to Christ. Crazy!

We've got a busy week and I believe there isn't a day where there is something every day I've got to do, but it is worth it. A line I've been reminding myself throughout the week has been: "If it's for the Kingdom, it's worth it." In launching a new church, just like a business or any organization, it's tons of work. It takes time, and sometimes you lose a little bit of sleep over it.

For set up, Rebecca and I wake up at about 5 am on sundays. We do this so we can get ready, pack the car and head to Dunkin' Donuts to pick up everything and be at the theater at 7 am. Then we get to set up everything with a team of about 25-30 people to have church by 9:30 am.

Sometimes you ask questions about why we do this or why we do that. Simply put, our mission in setup is to create a space where people can experience and respond to God. I believe that mission determines why. If you have no purpose for getting up and moving giant rolling boxes and setting up gallons of coffee and orange juice, then it doesn't make sense, but what if you do have a mission? With the correct mission, there is distance too far. No cost to great.

"If it's for God's Kingdom-Whatever the Cost to you-Pay it. It's worth any cost to you to live within the will of God."

Where You Are Going Matters

In august of 2010, Rebecca and I committed to be part of a vision God had for the Colonial Heights, Tri-cities area and it left us wondering many things, but in a lot of ways, fulfilled a huge dream of ours that we had been simmering on over the last couple of years.

This dream and vision is: Destination Church. There are many churches in our area and many well meaning people, but when looking at statistics of Chesterfield County and surrounding areas, it appears there are more people than ever, wandering about spiritually, unsure of their final Destination.

The launch date for this new church is February 20th and the date is approaching quickly. When a dream is far off, it is often easy to forget or sit back and wait. After all, in a lot of ways, you are merely saving the date. When the new year hit, it became incredibly obvious, we have a lot of work to do. From raising up leaders, to finding the perfect coffee and donut vendors, to equalizing the perfect sound system that the gospel will be proclaimed through time and time again, many man hours are put into this dream with one assumption in mind.

This is not just my dream. Or yours. Or even Bryan Briggs, lead pastor of Destination Church. This is God's vision for our area. His vision to see countless people to come to know Christ in a real and personal way. This is God's vision for soldiers and college students and 20-somethings to not just acquire a little fire insurance but to become fully devoted followers of Christ. After all, the great commission had one specific goal in mind. Make disciples.

Like a newborn baby, we are all anxious to see it. The birth of a new church. With a new church, fresh bopes, fresh dreams. It will be tons of work, no question, but the eternal dividends it will pay off will be far worth the investments made. And like a baby, it's worth losing a little sleep over. If you have a moment, as you read this, just stop and say a prayer for us, as we are taking back some of the enemies' stomping grounds.

We believe that where you are going matters. How you get there will be determined by what direction you are headed now.

I just don't have enough to give

Within the last week, for some reason, my reading of God's word has drawn me to Matthew and I had the opportunity to read the account of the feeding of 5,000 plus people by Jesus and his 12 disciples. It's simply baffling that this was an actual event in history, but this is reported to be the only miracle that is recorded in all 4 gospels and it made a mark on the disciples that I believe had to be shared.

As I read the account this time, I could not help but be drawn to feelings I often have when doing ministry. Jesus asked his disciples to feed the people. He didn't want them to go to other sources or towns or restaurants, even though it was getting late, he wanted them to feed his sheep. There have been many times when I have felt like I haven't had enough to give and felt inadequate to feed or counsel or minister to a friend or stranger or situation and said the same to Jesus. I only have 5 loaves and 2 fish. I don't just have 5 pieces of bread, they are barley at that!

But in these moments, at it gets me every time I listen to God's Spirit whispering, I'm reminded that it is not my position to multiply the bread. That's Jesus' job. He knows it. I need to remember it. What he does ask me to do is to bring what little I have to the table as a sacrifice for the purpose of influencing people from him.

After the breaking of the bread, Jesus commands his disciples to give the bread to the crowds. This is yours and my task, to then spread the words of God's love and healing and mercy. There is no question in my mind that there were more than 5,000 present if you add women and children into the mix of this account. This was still, even though Christ multiplied the bread, an exhausting task. They had to walk from group to group and hand out a lot of stinking food. As the account closes, Jesus has a promise that he wants to remind his disciples. There are leftovers.

As exhausting as it is to pour your lives into people, Jesus asks us to do it every day without regard to whether or not we will see an outcome to the ministry. His promise, I believe in this account is that there will always be left overs for us. There will always be enough grace to go around and come back to you.

I'm sure the disciples towards the end were wondering if there would be enough after all this work for them, but sure enough as they gathered what was left over, 12 baskets, full. You know Peter was thinking, "Sweet! I get to eat now!" But it is important for those who want to invest in others, you need to know that your live of give, give, give is worth every minute and that God wants to always make sure you have enough for you as well.

A word of encouragement. Make your lives about people. It will hurt and it will leave a mark (aka. there will be scars). Don't focus on your inadequecies, but focus on your savior who pours into your life time and time again without regard to your past failures.

New Years Resolution

So it has been too long. Last year I had made 2 actual resolutions but carried out only one. My resolution to begin blogging ended with 7 total blog entries for the entire year. Of course tons has happened that I have to talk about, but gotta get this one out of the way first. The second resolution to read 12 total books, 1 book a month did very well and I ended up reading a total of 24 books. Crazy!

This next years resolution since I obiously cannot multitask. I want to commit to 1 blog a week and we'll see how it goes. I will begin the first week of January.

In general, we all miss the mark. Whether it's with goals, or direction, it's important to set the bar high because we rise and fall to meet expectations. The higher the expectations, the higher the actual performance or something like that.

Good Friday

good friday
such a strange name for such a dark day
unusual, yes
cruel, yes
good, hardly
and yet there is something so disturbingly kind.

for through his act
we see he has made his mercy his crown
not merely his justice.

very rarely has anyone truly sacrificed for us.
what he did for me
more often than not
we have bailed
as other have on us.

yet he drank deeply
the cup of suffering
for you
for me

and this is very good news
his victory we'd experience later
but for now
his atonement is more than enough.

You Are Worth It

I was laying in bed last night saying goodnight to my girl when it struck me. No, I don't think it was the audible voice of God, but sometimes a word from God comes and it's for someone. It's as if you are the post office or UPS and your "soul" purpose is to deliver the message. So in the dark, I told Rebecca that this might sound a little crazy, but that I thought she needed to hear it.

God wants you to know that you are worth it.
You are worth the nights and days he has spent dreaming about you.
You are worth the time and energy he has invested in you.
You are worth the hopes and dreams he has for you.

He is anxious to see you discover his hopes and dreams for you.

You are worth it Rebecca. God wants you to know it.

They seem like simple words, and each word is like a seed, either having an opportunity to grow or not. One thing is for sure, If I had held those little seeds of truth in, I would have done a terrible service to my God and to my wife who deserves reminders like that.