Leading The Way

Last weekend I was driving north on I-69 when I found myself behind a vehicle traveling 55 miles per hour in a 60 mile per hour zone. 

I didn't realize that we were traveling below the speed limit right away. Thinking back on the situation, it seems as though I was in a sort of semi-zombie trans where I was not fully processing my speed and not fully considering my surroundings.

I became aware of my decreased speed when another vehicle, one that had been behind us for some time, passed me as well as the vehicle I was following. 

As I was being passed, I thought one thing; "I could have - and should have - passed this car a while ago".

Then it occurred to me how the car that was passing me at the moment was leading the way. Not only was this vehicle reminding me of my decreased speed and of my ability and opportunity to pass, the driver was leading the way by giving me an example to follow.

Leadership is not only needed on the interstate, taking an initiative and leading by example is needed everyday. 

I wonder how often people around us are operating in a sort of semi-zombie trans where they are not fully processing their thoughts and not fully considering their surroundings. 

I wonder how often people around us are waiting for someone to lead the way. 

I wonder how often people around us are waiting for someone to remind them of their abilities and their opportunities. 

I wonder how often people around us are waiting for someone to give them an example to follow.

So, who are you leading? 

And, who will you lead? 

Rest In His Love

Every night, when it is time to turn in for the night, my wife and I go through a series of routines; taking the dog out, locking up the house, taking kids to the bathroom one last time, and much more. Often I take this opportunity to pray over each of our children one last time before the day concludes. 

Tonight the words of Zephaniah 3:17 came to my mind as I prayed over each of my children. Zephaniah writes, "The Lord will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." 

 

As I stand next to the beds of each of my children - praying for them, delighting in them, rejoicing over them - I am struck with the awareness that God is doing the same in my life. 

And, tonight it occurs to me that God does this often with no thankfulness from us - often with no awareness that He is taking the time and the energy to love us. 

Why does God take great delight in us? 

Why does God comfort and quiet us?

Why does God rejoice over us in song?

Why does God do any of this? Because He loves us more than we can ever hope to understand and more than we will ever be able to love him back. 

What an amazing God we serve!

Let us rest tonight knowing that God loves us for who we are - who He has created us to be. 

Opportunities

Opportunities to share the Gospel message - the truth of Jesus - the love of Christ - are all around us every day. 

Freely Justified To Be Righteous

Romans 3:21-24: But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

RESET: heart

Several nights ago I sat in my living room and God began to move in my heart. He moved me to a new level of passion for His Church and for His Kingdom. He stirred within me the desire to see His Church conquer new ground and to move throughout communities like never before. He stirred within me the hunger to see His Kingdom come on earth. 

Several nights ago I sat in my living room and God began to speak to my mind. He spoke a clear vision to instruct and commission His Church in new ways. He spoke a simple method for directing His Church in ways that enable His Spirit to move and His will to be done. 

Several nights ago I sat in my living room and God gave me a word; "RESET".

 

After God gave me this word - although I did not fully comprehend what He was directing me to - I began to write and dream

I began to write and dream. 

Today, several days later - still struggling to comprehend the magnitude of what God has called me to share - I want to share the first stage of "RESET". 

I am confident that God is not moving in and speaking to me alone. I believe that the hearts and minds of many others are being moved in the same direction. I believe that this movement of God's Spirit is going to transcend denominational, political, racial, and cultural lines. God is about to move through His Church in a powerful way and I believe that He is calling for you and I to join together to accomplish His call. 

This is not a local church ministry. 

This is not a program or an initiative.

This is not a community activity.

This is not a outreach event.

This is a movement of God. 

For those who have a shared passion for Christ's Church and for God's Kingdom, I want to invite you to join me. 

The call to you is simple and clear, a heart for the call. More specifically - the words shared with me - a "missional heart". 

Who is in?

More to come...

Joy of Proclaiming the Gospel

There is great joy in proclaiming the Gospel message - the truth of Jesus Christ. 

Whether we be in the church building, a grocery store, our home, or simply walking down the street, let us proclaim the Gospel with great joy 

RESET

Some days I want to hit the "RESET" button.

Some days, things seem to overly complicated and I find myself overburdened and struggling to fix the mess that surrounds me. 

Other days, things just aren't going right and I want to go back to the beginning of the day and start over. 

Have you ever wanted to hit the "RESET" button? 

Often I look at The Church in America and I want to hit the "RESET" button. 

Some days I look at the operation of The Church and I can't help but recognize that we have overly complicated the call - we are overburdened and struggling and we need to fix the mess. Other times I look at the ministry of The Church and I can't help but wonder if we need to start over in order to remember the mission that we have been called to. 

Often I look at The Church in America and I want to hit the "RESET" button. 

Let me introduce "RESET". A mission to refocus The Church on the call.

 

Watch for more soon. And watch for your opportunity to join me on this mission.