Thoughts from the verge....

So I've had a few days to ponder anew, what the verge conference can do.. or has done in my head and heart. I haven't had much time to process, but here are a few things I'm chewing on:

• The 'church' is a collection of Christ-followers who gather on a regular basis to worship, pray, take communion, baptize new (and I emphasize NEW) believers & learn the scriptures... not a building.. so I'm not sure we should even have our own buildings.. it confuses Christ followers. They forget they are the 'church'.
  

• I'm moving to Haiti. Well not really, but the focus on the poor, the orphans, widows and the least of these was moving and convicting. But you don't need to go to Haiti to love and serve these folks. The Western 'church' must do more. I must do more.
  

• The 'church' spends too much time on focusing on Christians. By all means Yes for Sunday worship, teaching and communion. Yes to a small group or accountability. But that's it. You got the Holy Spirit. You got a Bible. Come on- self sustaining faith on 3!! The 'church' should then go out and redeem the culture. Sunday 9am-11am- focus on believers. The rest of the time we are sent out to serve, love, and share Jesus with the world.
  

• The definition of discipleship is not what you think. Over and over the speakers talked about discipleship in the context of people that don't know Jesus. Evangelism. I really thought they were speaking on the wrong topic. Nope. Just seems I had the wrong definition. Life on Life, investing your life and the gospel in someone... that doesn't know Jesus, that's discipleship!

• Missional means many things to many people.. same with missional communties...and this has led to a simple thought becoming a jumbled, mangled, mess that people think is to hard to accomplish. I mean what do you love to do? Find people who don't know Jesus that love to do it too. Hang out! Be intentional! Too complicated? Love God. Love your neighbor (or classmate, roommate, hall mate, workmate, family, friends, etc etc).
  

• Speakers like to wear black.

• Frances Chan is a great communicator. I hope he can move his 'church' missional. I really do.

• Ed Stetzer said it best. "The 'church' has made it acceptable to sit in the pews week and after week and do nothing, and call yourself a Christian." The American or western 'church' has said it's been born again, and knows the Living God, but lives pretty joyless, spiritless life.. Who wants that?
  

• Frances's, can I call him Frances? He said that when he tells his daughter to clean her room, she doesn't go pray about it. She doesn't go get some friends and do a study on it. She doesn't go memorize what he said. She goes and cleans her room! But when Jesus says do something, or don't do something, what does the 'church' do? Convicting as all get out...

• The 'church' should be the most generous folks in the world...and we should laugh the loudest & cry the hardest.

• Spiritual disciplines are needed yes, but can we rename them, or preach a lot of gospel around them? I mean whats cool about spiritual disciplines? That's gonna make someone want to give their life to Jesus? We can't reduce the faith to them.

• You shouldn't have to say missional disciples. Disciples should be missional. A Christ- follower is a missionary. We shouldn't have to beg Christ- followers to be missional.
  

• The biting sarcasm of Jesus is awesome. I knew he was from the Northeast! :)

• Are we for people or against them? Do we point out God's work in them? Can we find a little bit of truth & then just listen.. really listen?? I can list the people the 'church' is not for.. and so can the world.. sad :(

• Ordinary life + gospel intentionality = hanging out with less church people and instead focusing on folks that don't know Him yet

More to come.. A lot more is stirring in my head and heart.. How bout yours? What's going on in your head and heart?

Home for the Holidays

I decided to drive home from Texas to Connecticut for the holidays. Yes, it is many states away, and in the heart of winter, but I wanted to bring my dog home and stay awhile with the family. So I packed up the jeep with diet coke, found a friend to tag along, shiner jumped in, and off we went on an adventure.. and yes we hit the 'storm of the decade'!

I haven't lived in Connecticut since the summer of my sophomore year of college- go JMU. Since then, I have lived in Harrisonburg and Vienna, VA; Fort Myers, FL; and Austin, TX. It's been like 14 years since I've spent an extended time at home due to my workaholicness. Since then I've worked for:

• Chilis- Server, Cook, Trainer & Corporate Trainer for New Store Openings
  
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes- Summer Camp Staff & College Staff at JMU
  
• Intervarsity Christian Fellowship- College Staff at JMU
  
• Mclean Bible Church- College Ministry Staff
• Leesburg Park & Rec.- Pre-k-3rd grade Sports Instructor
  
• The Little Gym- Sports Director, Program Director, New Gym Trainer & Lead Teacher
• Southside High School- Women's Basketball & Soccer Coach
  
• Fort Myers Christian School- K- 8th P.E. Teacher, Athletic Director, Men's and Women's Basketball & Soccer Coach
• UW Sports Ministry- Head Coach
  
• Hill Country Christian School- K- 8th P.E. Teacher
• Hill Country Bible Church UT- Church Plant Core Team, Student Fellowship Director, Associate College Director, College Director & Connections/ Missional Communities Director

Many places, many jobs, and much time away from my family. I've tried to visit 4-5 times a year since. so that's like 60-70 visits, maybe more.. I have loved my work and have felt very useful in these positions and have seen much fruit of the my labor. Not sure why God has chosen to call me out and use me- a sacrcastic, sports loving, single from New England. But his calling has 'kept' me from my family.. and it's very, very hard on me.

Yes, I know my S.H.A.P.E. and am living in the calling and gifting. I have magic powers, and can connect folks to Jesus, His community and His calling on peoples lives, but the head and heart are heavy some days..

So I drove home, unpacked, and am staying awhile.. Shiner likes the snow. I like have Uconn, Yankees, and NY Giants on every sports show and newspaper in town. I like seeing my family everyday. I babysit, run errands, and just be.. with the family. Don't worry, work is getting done via emails, facebook, texts and calls.

Call it a vacation, a sabbath, a holiday. I call it a disconnect and reconnect. Much needed.

The work will be there when I get back.. It always is. :)

Seniors... don't waste your year.. or you're life!

It's your senior year.. where did all the time go? Just yesterday you were a wide eyed freshman wondering where your classes were, shopping for a church and ministry; making friends and finding your way.

As a freshman you ran around getting involved in all sorts of activities.. ate way to much mac and cheese and went to every football game.. yeah! You were poured into by upperclassman and adults who cared about your spiritual health. You saw godly people of the opposite sex and got giddy but decided to just be with Jesus..

As a sophomore you dove (or were pushed) into leadership, led folks and served and got overwhelmed but leaned on Jesus.. and still ate way to much mac and cheese in that kitchen you loved in your off campus apartment. You held parties for way to many occasions,and had a blast. You wondered who your future spouse would be..

Junior year you got your rhythm, felt much older and wiser, and began to think, huh.. holy crap I'm a junior! You wished you were a wide eyed freshman who could just sit and soak and listen but knew you had so much to give back so you tried to balance the two. You were asked about summers and internships and jobs and loss some sleep over that.. You think or thought you found your spouse.. and wondered why it was so easy/hard.

Senior year.. yessssss you've arrived. You are legal. You are the leaders of the school, church, life etc. You are tired, yet giddy for this year. You wonder what your place is at church or ministry. You are busy interviewing for jobs, trying to get motivated for classes, trying to not get overwhelmed with future stuff. You feel burned out. but have learned so much and have so much to give.. But don't know how best to balance it all. Did I mention your legal now too :) and planning how to date long distance or get engaged or how you can meet someone before the real world begins..

I hear you! I understand!! I've been there! I came to know the Lord in college.. sat and soaked.. led small groups.. was put in leadership.. felt overwhelmed and burnt out.. then went into ministry full time!!!! I saw all 8 of my roommates get married within their senior year and 2 years after college. I went to more weddings my first 5 years out of college then in my entire life time combined!!! Ha!

Here this:

I want you to have a great senior year!
I want you to love Jesus more!
I want you to find great jobs!
I want you to find a godly spouse and have an amazing marriage!
I want to see Jesus move and transform you and those around you!

But you have been through so much! You do have so much to give to those bright eyed underclassman! But you do need to think through what happens in the next season. You do.

So I have a few nuggets of wisdom for you. For this your senior year.. And the next season of your life! You may disagree with some things.. super.. Just ask the holy spirit what you should hear or not. Holy Spirit on 3!!

Senior Year Nuggets of wisdom:
- Be with Jesus.. However you do your relationship with your savior thing.. do it.. make time for it. Or you just won't.. and you will suffer for it.

- Be careful with your new found freedom. You got wisdom, life experience, time and the law behind you. Just be wise. Don't peak to soon :) Pace yourself with your fun zones ok?

- Give back to those younger than you. Take some freshman through scripture; go on a weekend mission trip and spring break trip; Take some underclassman to HEB or Walmart.

- Serve in the church. Don't be the guy too cool for school. Be a greeter, help plan events, hand out bulletins.. Don't ask to lead, just be a servant!

- Begin to Live missionally in your neighborhood and at your job (if you have one) - this is where your future missional community will be! Get some practice investing in these places!

-Join a community group.. You're not too cool for school. Meet in a small group with other believers each week. After graduation, when all the weekly ministry meetings pass away, this is where your spiritual community will be.. a small group through your church

- Get more involved in your local church. If you've been a para church ministry person during your four years.. fantastic.. but there aren't many para church ministries for folks after college.. Your local church is where the action will be. Get a taste of it now!

Future planning- Life after college.. a few things to think about...

- Find a church and THEN find a job... there is not a good church everywhere.. the salary, insurance, benefits.. its not enough.. your spiritual life is the most important thing... it is.. so before you sign the dotted line.. do a church search.. please please please...

- Before you move somewhere new for a job, grab some friends to go with you. Starting somewhere new is hard.. especially after college where you had great community and were known. How about taking your community with you to that new city.. and start over together?

- Do your homework before you sign up.. Make sure the company is one you want to work for.. one you want to tell others you work for. Are they shady?? Don't be shady :(.

- Make sure you have a life. Work is not life, but a part of your life. Your weekends, hobbies, vacations etc. are important. Make sure this new job allows you to be you.. and not consume you.

- Don't start that new job until July/Aug. Give yourself time to sleep, play, recover, travel, etc before you start a job that gives you two weeks vacation a year. Take a break. You have the rest of your life to work.

- Establish some credit. Get a credit card.. Start buying gum with it. Pay it off every month. It will help you later (car loan, rent, mortgage etc).

- Start saving a bit. Start giving a bit.

- Spend a year volunteering and giving back.. to your campus church or ministry. :) Get a job that pays the bills and be a volunteer campus minister. We need you.

Seniors.. have ONE of the best years of your life!

Is one church and/or one ministry enough? a college students question....

are you a believer on a campus? then you're probably in the midst of church/ ministry shopping right now.. which i applaud you for. you need a community of believers around you; you need to be taught the word; have people praying and care for your soul; using your gifts to build up the body; being help accountable; yes yes yes.. if you're not seeking out a church to call home while you're at school.. please check your spiritual pulse.. and preach the gospel to yourself.. holy spirit on 3 :)

but, alas, some of you have your shopping cart full of churches and ministries, and are ready to jump in and be a part of multiple ministries on a weekly basis. 2 churches on sunday; 2-3 different bible studies; serving here and there and everyone; multiple social circles in multiple communities..

yeah no beuno.. while i appreciate your zealousness for heaven points.. and your desire to find community and not miss out on any opportunities.. it is not wise to be a part of multiple ministries and multiple churches at once.. yes i said it. committing to less is better.. for you and for them.

why? you just want to know god more.. you just want to worship more.. you just have so many interests and gifting.. you'll be missing out.. they'll be missing out on you :) i know i know.. how can you just pick one church or one ministry and go all in.. why should you?

well giddee up..

1- consumerism..bad- the more churches and ministries you're in.. the more you consume.. yes.. but as you take take take.. how much do you give back- with your time, talent, $$, etc.. you sit at the table and eat.. and then get up and go somewhere else for another course.. leaving your dishes behind.. leaving other people to serve you.. but you're not serving or investing there..

2- relational quota- how many relationships can you maintain..well? the more communities, bible studies, groups, etc that your in, the more relationships youll try to maintain, how deep can you go with so many folks vying for your time? will you really be known, or just be the guy who comes, says hey, and then leaves.. to run to the next group.. dont be that guy :)

3- serving- yeah, see # 1, are you giving back? are you using your gifts to serve the body? or just taking?

4- do you leave room for margins in your life? are you so busy running to and from different christian activities, that you don't have time to stop, reflect, pray and see god at work around you? hamster wheel life? just keep running.. noooooooooo

5- how many people that don't know jesus yet do you know.. like really know??.. and how many know you? the more churches and ministries you are involved in.. the less ministry you're doing.. yeah.. not what jesus taught. investing in peoples lives takes time... time

so one church.. one ministry is enough. and best. one small group. one serving team.

don't be a consumer.. go all in.. be taught, be cared for, be known, be trained and equipped, be sent out, be called to worship... one church!- one stop shopping!!!!