An Epic Journey » People

Chill – finding a liveable pace at Christmas

epic — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:25:12 +0000

Our December message series is “Chill”, I’m excited about trying to help people find some margin in their life at the Holidays. It seems like our lives are already busy, basketball practice to drop kids off at, games to go to, meetings for work that run late, Doctors appointments, homework, finals, and a million other things that occupy our attention. The problem is, if you are trying to follow Jesus but all of your time is consumed by other things – it’s easy to forget and leave behind God. This Christmas, that’s all changing!

A Few Follow Up Tips From Sunday

epic — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:47:59 +0000

Yesterday we talked about how to get right side up with our finances. I laid out a simple strategy of Deciding to do away with debt, Starting to specifically set aside savings, and to Purposefully plan.
I have a few side notes that I want to leave with you – just a couple of tips.

1. When you begin to pay off credit cards or loans you will pay them off much faster if you begin with smaller ones and focus your excess income on paying just one credit card or loan off first. Jenni and I did this and as we would pay one off, we would transfer the money we were already used to paying on that credit card to the next – it was like a snowball effect.

2. Get rid of services you don’t need. Ask yourself tough questions. Do you need a home phone? If so, could you go a creative route like using a Magic Jack – $40 one time fee and then $20/YEAR for phone service.

Do you need cable? Jenni and I use an antenna on our house, and receive 20 channels in HD (most people don’t realize that HD is being sent over antenna’s for free) and we save bundles every month. Most TV’s also allow you to hook your computer up to them now and most TV networks are putting their shows online (www.Fancast.com is a great place to catch up on your shows for free, with less commercials and when YOU want to watch them)!

3. Plan ahead for meals. One thing Jenni and I are doing to try and cut back on how much we eat out is to plan out a monthly calendar. This helps us curb how much we spend eating out monthly and also helps cut down the grocery bill by not wasting food (if we are buying a head of lettuce for tacos one night we might do a salad the next).

4.� Be sure to check out Epic Churches Budget resource by visiting epic4life.com/budget. �This will be very helpful to you as you try to plan!

these are simple ideas that could help you cut several hundred dollars out of your monthly expenses right away! You can do it, it just takes some discipline! Can’t wait to hear the creative ways you are finding to cut costs, save money, pay off debt and use your money to fund the Kingdom of God!

Garage Sale Fun

epic — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:47:18 +0000

Jenni and I are having a garage sale today and tomorrow (if you need any little boy clothes from newborn to 4T – don’t look anywhere else). Anyway, it makes me think of all the stuff in my life that is just junking it up and how badly I need a good spring (or fall) cleaning. Pastors have just as many issues as normal people, we are just good at hiding them! Hah. My hope is to not hide but to expose and to clean house. I want to know Christ better than I do, I want to get rid of my anger and hurtful attitudes. I want to really follow Jesus wholeheartedly.

PS – if you want to stop by and see Jenni and I we would love to have some visitors, here’s the directions to our house:

Go North on Andover Rd. just past 21st Street (Look for signs). There is a new housing addition called Cornerstone. You turn Left into this entrance (if you go past it you’ll be on your way into the country). Turn right when you see the model homes (They have white fence in front of them), stay on this road, it will wind and curve, it will eventually turn into Slate St. Our house is towards the end on the right (802 W. Slate, Andover, KS. 67002).

Jenni’s B-Day!!!

epic — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:56:48 +0000

In life I generally have an unlucky streak. If I was walking down a hill and a group of people were watching me, I would inevitably sprain my ankle. I learned to use this unlucky streak to my advantage in life, if in a doctors office and the wait was getting to long, I would pick up a magazine, begin reading and find that the moment I became truly interested, I would be called to the window (that’s a long sentence).

Well, I have been lucky once in my life, and that was the day Jenni (at the time) Fitzgerald said yes to marry me! She is so perfect for me and I am so proud to be her husband and to stand beside her!

I love you Jenni, happy birthday baby!

PS – Jenni loves chocolate (you should shower her with some)!

Tailgate Party

epic — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:12:09 +0000

Yesterday after church we had a tailgate party and it was an absolute blast! I love the people at Epic! Man, it’s so fun getting to watch God bring all the right people on board to make a difference in this city!!!

Lunch

epic — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:03:38 +0000

Today I had lunch with Pastor Mark Hoover from New Spring on the east side of Wichita. I was really impressed with Marks humility and sense of call and direction to reach people who are disconnected from God! It is so good to be surrounded by churches who get it! I can’t wait to see how God forms a bond between New Spring and Epic! In case you didn’t know, we’re on the same team!

Sermon Thought of the Week

epic — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:27:56 +0000

As I’ve been preparing for this weeks sermon I’ve been thinking a lot about the things other people try to place on us that work for them but might not work for you. The passage I’m preaching from is in 1 Samuel and it’s about David fighting Goliath (a giant). At one point, Saul try’s to make David wear his armor and take his weapons. The problem is that the gear doesn’t fit David. Without over spiritualizing the text too much, I think there are a lot of people who will tell you what type of “Armor” you need to be wearing, when all along, God has uniquely designed you for the circumstances you are going through. David, it ends up, didn’t need the armor of Saul, he needed his reliance in God. Perhaps if Saul had relied more on God he wouldn’t have needed the armor as much either. Just a thought…

Great Day

epic — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:43:37 +0000

Today I attended the Willow Creek Leadership Summit and am getting some really good insight.
This evening we had our first training session for our volunteers and it went great! I can’t tell you how excited I am about the people God has brought on board to serve at Epic!
To top off the day I just spent time with Jenni reading Peter a story out of the bible and praying with him. He’s so funny and getting a great personality. I’m not sure if parenting is supposed to be like this, but I just wanted to keep him up way past his bed time and play with him, I don’t want to miss a minute of him!
(personal mushy gushy note to wife below, don’t read if you get squeamish from those kinds of things.)
Love you Jenni! You’re the best mom and wife!

Children’s Ministry

epic — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:25:06 +0000

We have been getting all things ready for our children’s ministry at Epic, and I have to tell you, I’m excited! God has brought the right people on board with us, and I think we are going to have a world class experience for your kids!

Andover Kansas Library – Nothing but the best!

epic — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:07:14 +0000

We have been so lucky to get to partner with the Andover Library in doing our Summer Fun Day Events! Every week on Tuesday’s and now Thursday’s from 11am-Noon we are setting our moon bounce up out front of the Library and giving out free Popsicles! It’s been fun seeing all the kids come out and have a blast, and getting a chance to meet some of the parents! Andover has such great people!
See you at the Library!