An Epic Journey » faith

In Prayer

epic — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:43:05 +0000

I was just spending some time praying today and really felt a strong compulsion to ask God to lead Epic. You see, I’m afraid that as a leader I can work on systems, creativity, relavancy, and so many other things and never let God lead. It is my hearts one desire that God would be the one who leads, that Christ would be the one who is glorified. That as leaders we would take on the humility and gentleness of Christ as we follow Him. It’s so easy to get this all switched around and miss the boat – so I’m going to do my best to keep my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. How bout you?

The Great Depression Part 2?

epic — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:54:15 +0000

It seems like I know more and more people who are asking the question, “how much worse can it get?” I personally don’t know, and am not really qualified to even comment on our current economic status. I do know that my wife and I have felt the pinch just like a lot of our friends are feeling it. One of my chief concerns in times like these is that the church does not over spiritualize circumstances, but that we would neither downplay the significance of being spiritual and only focus on the physical needs. This is a crucial moment in our history. We will forge a future, the question is, will it be one that it is forged on fear or on hope?
I say we have a hope that is greater than the movement in the dow jones, we have a calling that is deeper than the recession – as Hebrews 10:39 says, “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.” My faith is not in the economic, political, scientific system. My faith is in the creator of the universe, who with one swift breath could breathe mud into a man (see the beginning of Genesis).

Happy Thanksgiving!

epic — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 16:30:56 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving to one and to all!

Here are just a few things I’m thankful for this year:

God’s immense love – no joke, I know it sounds corny, but lately I have thought a lot about where I would be if God had not brought me into a relationship with Him.
Jenni – I am not that great of a husband and she is so loving, forgiving and able to push me just right.
Peter – baby smiles, need I say more.
Our friends and family.
Those folks who are supporting Epic Church through prayer and finances. Jenni and I have been taking stock of just how many people are making this thing happen. It’s incredible!
My Grandma for letting Jenni and I live with her for the past 6 months or so.
Pecan pie!
Bible Christian Church – for being so faithful and allowing us to make this move into church planting with their blessing!
Disposable diapers (You know you’re secretly thankful too).
Our youth at BCC – they are honestly the best teens I know!

Anyway, that’s some of what I’m thankful for this year. How bout you?

The Fundraising Struggle

epic — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:21:43 +0000

It is not an easy thing to raise money. Hah, I know this revelation probably finds you with your mouth wide open and scratching your head, but it’s true. Raising money is a hard thing to do, especially when the only thing you have to offer is a vision of what the future will look like. At the end of the day, what people are investing in is you, not the idea. Sure, they love the idea – or else they wouldn’t even consider it – but at the end of the day you are the one who has to execute the vision.

I have been blessed by so many friends, family and organizations who have placed their trust in Jenni and I and our ability to follow God as He unfolds His work in Andover. I realize that the struggle I face is one they face as well. We are partners in this mission to see people reached who are far from God. I hope that each person who is financially backing Epic Church knows that I will do whatever it takes to reach those people – I will become all things to all men that I might reach them!

The struggle is not really one of finances or selling your vision. The struggle is really to be a person of integrity and honesty – to be trustworthy. I want for people to look at me and say, “I believe that he is invested enough in the Kingdom that he will really pull this off!”

So, the questions I have to ask myself:

Are you hungering for the word of God?
Are you spending real time in the word?
Are you being faithful to your wife?
Are you being a great dad to your children?
Are you making friends with people who are far from God?
Who are you investing in?
Who is investing in you?

Answering these questions right will continue to turn me into the kind of man people will want to give to and support.

Well, that knocked my socks off…

epic — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:27:17 +0000

I just got back from a lunch with a good friend at BCC. I was telling him how the funding that we had been hoping to get had fallen through, see this post, and how bummed out I was.

He started to tell me how his kids had decided, after my last sermon, that they wanted to support Epic Church. I was blown away. To have kids dig deep and give to the Kingdom like that is truly one of those awe inspiring things – and entirely humbling. He then proceeds to tell me that he and his wife have been talking too. They had just yesterday, found out about a sum of money that they had attained from an investment – a rather significant amount of money. They decided to give it to Epic in a lump sum. I just about started crying right then and there.

I had been so bummed by the funding we had lost the day before – it was significant enough that I wasn’t sure how we could even make it. On the same day we lose it, God moved my friends to give their significant amount. I honestly am tearing up thinking about it. God has used so many people on this journey to encourage us to continue the fight.

Another good friend told me yesterday afternoon that he is going to be supporting us on a monthly basis at a really significant level and not only that, but that he would add Jenni and I to their cell phone plan so we wouldn’t have to worry about a cell phone bill.

All of this right after we had some pretty crushing news.

I’m telling you, I believe more firmly than ever that God is the one who provides our needs – He is faithful, even when we are not! Praise God!

Friends

epic — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:10:51 +0000

Jenni and I got to spend the weekend with a bunch of teenagers from Bible Christian Church. It was our last youth group trip as the youth ministers here. The whole trip was tinged with sadness for me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited about our church plant – I am confident that we have been called, but I am sad to leave these teens. They are all good friends of mine and I can’t wait to see the great things God is going to do in their lives!

We got to see our friends Dennis and Tonda on this trip, they let us stay with them and it was such a great time! Plus, they have an amazing house!

My only regrets from the trip are that the bowling ball didn’t break more when we dropped it from the spill way and that I forgot to call Dan and Sarah – doh! (Sorry guys, I’m dumb).

I think the next month or so is going to be a constant mix of sadness and excitement frosted with the need for complete trust and faithfullness to God!

The Little Things

epic — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:04:46 +0000

Lately I have been thinking about the little things and how much they matter. My personality tends to be all about the BIG THINGS. Big things matter and are important, but I am finding more and more that without the little things, big things fall short. Paul has been convicting me of this. I’ve been reading 1 & 2 Timothy over and over again recently (felt a need to learn from the master pastor on what I should be as a spiritual leader). Much of what Paul says to Timothy is about the day to day dreary spiritual disciplines that a pastor must attend to. The honest truth for me, is that it is much easier to be in front of a crowd working my magic than to attend to little matters of integrity, faithfulness, relationship, etc. It’s much easier for me to be a good husband in front of people than it is when I need to be cleaning up after myself or doing some laundry to help out my beautiful wife.

I am beginning to realize that great leadership does not start on the stage, but it starts in the laundry basket and in the way I use my speech. Great leadership starts in the little things and builds from there. I want so badly to be anchored by and in the little things!

You’ve Gotta Friend in Me – Connect with People – Part 2

epic — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:53:11 +0000

Hebrews 10:24

Just like you need other people in your life to help you grow and connect with God, other people need you.

You have a wealth of wisdom and life experience that is the key to unlocking an issue or problem in another person’s life. You have a distinct gift that God has given you in order to encourage another person in their faith. Connecting with other people is really less about you and me and really more about other people, how we can help them grow, how we can add value to their life!

We believe and know that God honors that kind of commitment to people – really, when we give ourselves in such a manner, we are living out the example of Jesus in our own lives!

So, what can I do for you?

Excited!

epic — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:55:03 +0000

So next week Jenni and I are meeting some folks from Andover who have been looking for a church and haven’t really found a home! We are really looking forward to meeting them. I love how God connects people. Honestly, I feel like every time we take a step of faith, we find that God has already been there. I guess that shouldn’t be a surprise, He’s God after all…

Whacked…

epic — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:34:03 +0000

Sometimes you just need a good whack!

Jenni and I have really been wrestling with where the exact location of Epic Church is going to rest. We have been looking over demographics and cost of living, where our strategy would fit best, etc. It really has been a little bit frustrating if I were totally honest. We are convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has called us into Church Planting, but don’t know where that is going to be lived out.

Yesterday, I was talking about this with Justin from The Heartland Project, and he gave me the whack I needed. Justin asked me to quit worrying about all of the details and to ask one simple question, this is my paraphrase of the question, “Who are the people that God is burning a whole in your heart to reach? Where do they live?” Honestly, I was a little blown away – in a good way. I needed someone to knock me out of my state of worry and into a state of anticipation. I am fasting the next couple of days seeking God on this issue. I need you to be praying with Jenni and I about this. We honestly have some great opportunities in front of us, each is coupled with it’s own difficulty. I am confident of this: I need a fire for a people lit in my bones. I need to want to serve the community we land in, not as a strategy, but as an overflow of the passion God has placed in my heart for those people.

This is where it all begins…

This is where we hit the ground running… would you pray over the next couple of days with Jenni and I – would you even consider fasting with me? This is the biggest decision we have made in our adult lives, everything will be altered by this and there are no guarantees, only faith that God has lit a fire!