Church « Journeyman Journal

What Now?

Monday, January 4th, 2010

I vividly remember the first day we brought Lindsay home from the hospital. We set her down in her car seat (she was still asleep)…we looked at eat other and thought/said, “What now?” We were new, young parents with the awesome responsibility of caring for and raising another human being (you have to pass a test to drive a car, but not a parent?). There was a mix of emotions ranging from excitement to terror at what lay ahead. Could we do this? What were we supposed to do now? What had we gotten ourselves into? Where are the Doritos?

As I sit here in the church during my first day I am struck by the similarities. The responsibility is not quite the same magnitude, but it’s awesome none-the-less. The same questions are running through my head. I want to do this right…I want to focus on the right things and not just be about programs and curriculum. I want God to lead the way, not the other way around. I have a list, but is it God’s list?

My prayer is truly to be about God’s business and not my own. I want Him to take the lead and I want to follow. I know I can’t do this in my own power. I need Him.

The similarities don’t stop with the questions and the doubts…

We need God to help us raise our kids…it’s not a solo job.

I need God to help me do this “job” (there has to be a better word than that)…it’s not a solo flight either.

I’m excited about what lies ahead. Today has already been a good day and the calendar is starting to fill up…meeting with the people who are doing the real work in the trenches and starting to build the framework of support for our growth (spiritually and numerically).

We figured most of it out with Lindsay (we’re still in the process)…I’ll figure it out here. Because I’m not alone. Thank God!

04.01.2010 Church, Ministry, New Pastor Journal 2 Comments

Expectant Worship

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008

There is something about this morning that has me looking forward to worshiping God in community more than usual.

I am expectant. I am excited. And I can’t really explain why.

Being ready for and excited about Sunday morning is nothing new or unusual for me…I love our church and the people and the music and the pastors…you get the picture. But this morning holds even more expectation and inner-stirring than normal.

God will be there (of course He’s here too…but it’s different among a group of people who love Him and are praising Him together). So I will get up, spend some personally time with God and then go be part of His church. I think this is how God wants us to feel heading into worship (corporate and personal).

It is going to be a great day!

How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the Lord.
With my whole being, body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God.
Psalm 84:1-2, NLT

23.11.2008 Church, Spiritual Musings No Comments

For People Who Don’t Like to Go Church

Thursday, July 17th, 2008

This is how Michael Yaconelli described his church in Messy Spirituality: ”‘our church is a church ‘for people who don’t like to go church’” (p. 63). There is something about that description that I like. It’s a church I would at least try out once. I think it’s the church Jesus started too.

Church and being a Christ follower isn’t about religion (in the usual use of the term). It’s about getting to know Christ better and becoming a better disciple by becoming more like Him. And we become more like Him by spending time with Him…by “abiding in Him”. For several days now God has had me in one passage of Scripture (which is a little different for me as I tend to like to move on once I’ve read something).

What have I learned? Not enough, I’m sure. But for me, the point has been that I need to slow down and spend time with God…and even enjoy the journey. I need to “abide in Him” and let Him abide in me…I need to spend time with Him and let Him rub off on me. Here’s the passage for you to munch on too…

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.

There is obviously a lot here to mull over (I am still finding new stuff). But God’s primary message for out of this passage is to “Remain in me…Remain in my love”. I’m trying…but it’s always been hard for me to stay still.

P.S.: I actually don’t mind going to church anymore…but that hasn’t always been the case.

17.07.2008 God's Love, Jesus, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Band of Brothers & Daniel

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008

I need to brag a little on my Band of Brothers today. Tuesday nights is the night a bunch of us guys (lately 10-12) get together in a local fire station to hassle one another, share what’s going on in our lives, pray for one another, and open up God’s Word together. I absolutely love every Tuesday as I learn and am encouraged by this group of men. I’m not sure what I did before I had this group supporting and teaching me every week.

Last night was especially good. We have been walking through the book of Daniel for the past two months and I have learned a lot. Daniel is full of great stories and visions. Sometimes the application is simple and sometimes it makes your head hurt, but it’s a great book to study.

Last night our focus was on Daniel Chapter 9…probably my favorite chapter in the book. It has nothing to do with a lion’s den or a fiery furnace. It’s much more mundane than that, but just as powerful. Daniel is at the end of his life (around 65 years old) around the time he got thrown into the lion’s den and he is reading Zechariah’s prophesy about Israel’s 70 year captivity in Babylon (which started when Daniel was a boy and was still going on). A light bulb goes on in Daniel’s head and realizes that he and all of Israel have sinned against God so he prays…hard…for God to forgive them. Then Gabriel shows up to tell Daniel that his prayers have moved heaven (and then he gives Daniel a prophesy about the Messiah). That’s a lot on one chapter and we came up with the following three lessons (submitted for your consideration):

We need to be praying for our nation (Daniel 9:1-19): Daniel recognized very quickly that Israel had sinned against God and was paying the price. He immediately started paying for his nation and we should follow his example.
Our prayers have impact (Daniel 9:23): Gabriel tells Daniel that as soon as his prayer start that a command was issued in heaven regarding the Messiah! Now that’s a powerful prayer (and it wasn’t even what Daniel was praying about). Daniel’s heart, words, and actions had an effect…God responded. Our prayers are promised to have the same effect.
Our hearts should be in heaven, not on earth (Daniel 9:20): This one isn’t so obvious, but you’ll notice in this verse that Daniel is praying for the sins of Israel and for his own sins. What did Daniel do wrong? He was a man of integrity and passed every test put before him. It wasn’t his fault they were in captivity. BUT…as an Israelite his heart was supposed to be set on Jerusalem, on God’s temple, where God’s presence was. Daniel had become comfortable in Babylon. That is what Daniel repents of. And we have the same danger. We are supposed to store up treasures in heaven, where our heart is, but too often our hearts are comfortable right where it is…in the here and now.

It was another great night with a great group of men. They inspire me. They encourage me. I thank God for every one an pray for them often! Thanks men!