Sunday was my last day at Genesis Metro. In two weeks, I’ll be moving to Hutto to officially begin Resonate Community Church. I had the opportunity to speak one last time, and I shared about the simplicity of Kingdom Pursuits. Feel free to leave any of your thoughts or reactions in the comments.
UPDATE: I know, I know. I sound like a chipmunk. I’m working on it (any Audacity users out there?). In the meantime, enjoy a full-length sermon in half the time!
It has been a long time since I have felt overwhelmed. I like to have a lot going on at one time otherwise I tend to get a little bit bored. I like the challenge of keeping everything in order and keeping up…I guess I put some kind of silly value on myself for that ability. But, all of a sudden I have to admit that I am feeling a bit overwhelmed and fearful of all the activity going on in my life! I think sometimes when we take a little step of faith in trusting God, he expects our steps to get bigger with each new step. I’m content with taking the baby steps, but I think God has decided to have me leap over puddles the past few months. Let me just share some of the things that have me closing my eyes and jumping, but knowing God is going to catch me!
I have a wonderful husband, Brandon, and a precious little girl named Peyton who will be one in 2 short weeks. We made the decision a few months ago to join another family in coming to Hutto, TX to start a new church. We have known Kyle, Erika, and Kylie Sears for 2 years now, and were very excited when they invited us to join them in the adventure of church planting. Brandon and I prayed about it for several weeks and we are both certain that God has planned this opportunity for us at this specific time in our lives. So, we started the process of getting everything in place to make this move. If you have been reading Brandon’s blog, you have read about how his job with Texas Instruments worked out. I am still amazed at how understanding and supportive his boss was in our decision. I thought Brandon would definitely have to find a new job and I thought that would be one of the scariest parts of this transition. Since that fell into place so quickly, I thought everything else would to. I say I thought they would….I know better than that, I really just hoped everything would be as easy. Who would ever struggle with their faith if God just magically opened all the doors?
I didn’t expect to run into an issue with selling our house. We have a great house that we love that is only 2 years old. The neighborhood is something you see in magazines and I couldn’t imagine anyone not wanting to jump on our house. Especially since we went over the top with our upgrades…we planned on living here for at least 20 years. But, the builders are still building in our community and there are way too many other homes for sale as well. The realtor who came and visited with us wouldn’t even take us as clients because we would end up loosing between 20 and 30K from what we owe on the house for the market price in our area right now. I didn’t see that coming! So, we made the scary decision to rent our home. I’ve rented homes before when I was in college and I know the mindset that can happen when “it’s not really my house anyways”. I have family members who think we are going to be so sorry to let someone rent this home. They think people are going to just destroy it. I’m choosing to believe that God already has someone in mind for this home who will respect it and love it like their own. Apparently they just aren’t ready to move yet since we havn’t had any calls or anyone visit our home since the “for lease” sign went up 2 weeks ago. Does that make me a little uncomfortable and anxious? Of course….especially since we will be closing on our new home in Hutto in 3 weeks. Patience is definitely not a virtue of mine. I learned a long time ago not to pray for patience because God takes me very seriously and is always quick to answer that request with a long waiting period for whatever I’m wanting at that moment. Seriously though, that is something I struggle with all the time. I’m leaning on Philippians 4:6-7 even more and more this month because it says:
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I need that peace from God right now! We are told not to be anxious about anything. I have a hundred things I can be anxious about right now, but what a waste of my time that would be. God is in control and I need to move out of the way. I know that things will work out with this house in God’s timing.
His timing can be quite surprising as I discovered last week when I took two pregnancy test and they both came out positive! But, you will hear all about that added adventure in another blog!
One of the most common questions that I have been asked as I’ve told people that Cindy and I are going off to help begin a Church is what my role will be. I’ve been asked if I’m going off to be associate pastor or whatever other title you would want to bestow on someone.
It’s surprising to me that there is an automatic assumption that we are going off to help start this church and because of that we’re getting a specific role or specific title. There isn’t one. Cindy and I are heading down to help start the church. So, what role do we play? Well, what needs to be done? Because, basically we’ll play the role of whatever is needing to be done at that particular day and time. That means that one day we may have to play the role of treasurer. Another day we’ll play the role of encourager to Kyle and Erika (and eachother!). Another day we’ll play the role of organizing some community event. We’ll definitely play the role of hosts as we invite people from the neighborhood over to our house and into our lives. We’re going to play the role of giving as we begin to truly tithe for the first time in our lives (I’ll definitely have more on this later). A title tells us what we’re supposed to do. For us, no title is best because we’re going to try to do whatever needs to get done!
My role at work is already changing as I get closer to going remote full-time. I can already feel that most people do not expect that I will be with TI in a couple of years. In fact, my new boss has told me that his fear is that in two years I’ll tell him I’m leaving for ministry. Well, guess what! I’ve already left…well, sort-of. Yeah, we’re going off to do ministry. But, thankfully I don’t have to “leave” to do that. I plan on still working. I plan on still making money (and we all know a new church needs the money!). I don’t see myself stopping this at some point in the future. In fact, there’s a better chance that I’m with another company in two years than not working outside of ministry. But, it’s time that we all realize that we don’t have to stop our career, we don’t have to go to seminary, we don’t have to live like paupers to do ministry. Folks, we can all do it and we can all start today!
For Cindy and I that means moving to Hutto. That means me working remote and making professional sacrifices. For someone else it may mean more involvement in their local church. For others it means finding a local church and getting involved! And, yes, for others it may mean giving up a career or something more drastic. But, we don’t have to do all this for a title or someother alterior motive. We do it for one reason, and only one reason. We’re called to it. God calls us to take action, and then you do it. We need to stop finding excuses and talking about all the cups that are half empty and start doing what we’re called to do. If you feel called to step up in minstry…just do it!
For me and my family, we’re called to start Resonate Community. For now, call me the Titleless Apostle. And, you know what, that’s the best title I can have.
I love comfort- having next door neighbors that you have known for years, living in a place that has all that you could ever want for your children, being two hours away from family, worshiping in a church full of friends, and the list could go on and on. This has been my life for a while now. Being a part of the Frisco community and our church here has been wonderful. Who in their right mind would ever want to leave?!
I remember this question coming to up for me four years ago when Kyle and I moved to Frisco, Texas with another pastor to start the church we now call Genesis Metro. Although we were leaving less than ideal circumstances, it seemed like a crazy thing to do. I had heard the statistic- less than 30% of new church starts succeed. We had no jobs, no home, and no real idea what we were getting into. What would people think? Kyle and I were sensible people who always made logical, rational decisions. With my tiny mustard seed of faith, which seemed even more minute when compared to my husband’s, we moved.
Those next years were hard and full of change, which I despise. I had to learn to be flexible. I had to learn that I must to take the initiative and connect with people in an authentic way. I had to learn to work on a team. And most importantly, I had to learn about how God could work out what seemed to be very bleak circumstances for my good, and to further His kingdom.
When I look back, and see all of the difficult things that we went through, I see how He has used each of those instances to prepare me for this.
Our family is again going to leave a very familiar situation to go into the unknown. Funny how you just know sometimes that the conviction that you are feeling is God, and undoubtedly nothing else. As we prepare to embark on this new chapter of our lives, I can’t help but to think about what He has in store for us this time. My faith that God can use me is much bigger than before, and I will take comfort in that.
I remember a distinct sermon from Tim Bourne, pastor at Genesis Metro. He spoke this the weekend after the men’s retreat. He said that God spits out luke warm milk. He wants hot milk, but would even rather have cold milk than luke warm. I talked to my wife that weekend and we both knew that we were both just luke warm. Not in our marriage. Our marriage is awesome and having a baby girl is a total blessing. But, outside of that everything was just luke warm. There simply was no passion in what we were doing. When we spoke about the Church and prayed about it, a sense of passion began to stir in each of us. Once we committed to going, without knowing how all the things were going to work out, the passion was starting to burn.
So, how were we going to get to Hutto? One critical area that had to be figured out was my job situation. I had posted my resume to a few companies and then my boss got promoted. I knew that with her promotion that there would be several other changes in the functions that were going to report into her. I knew that I was looking for a way down to Hutto (Austin area) and felt that I owed it to her to let her know what I was doing. I didn’t want her to make a bunch of job changes assuming that I would be part of the team when I realized that I would be quitting in a few months. I really didn’t want to tell her because I didn’t know when I would leave. I mean, would you go tell your boss that you’re going to quit, but just don’t exactly know when? Seems kind-of stupid doesn’t it? But, I knew it was the right thing to do. So, I set up a meeting with Darla. I told her the story of the Church and that we were going to be leaving. I told her that before I left TI (Texas Instruments) that I wanted to close every possible door because it is such a great company. I knew two things. 1) I was going to be moving and 2) it was going to be pretty soon. The rest…well, the rest was just somehow going to work out.
Darla’s response was amazing. She told me that they wanted to keep me. That I could keep doing my same job remote. I would need to travel back to Dallas (3 hour drive) one day every other week, but the rest of the time I could work from an office at home. Now, it helps to know that my job is very conducive to working remote and I do it a couple of days a week right now…but to agree to let me do it full-time was far beyond anything that I could have expected. So, one of the monster items that had to be worked out was now worked out! I would not have to change jobs to help start this Church. And, working from home would give me even additional flexibility to have a greater impact for the Church. This is crazy! And, you know what. Not only did TI retain an employee by allowing me to work remote, they will also get an employee who is going to work harder for them. I mean, how can I not? What they are doing for me is amazing and I hope that the results that I can deliver for them are equally as amazing.
Who knows if this will really work out? Maybe I’ll get down there and six months later I’ll be leaving for another company. Maybe TI will want me to go? But, this company is giving me a great opportunity to follow my heart and God’s leading to start a Church, while continuing in my current job. How cool is that!
I’ve never blogged before and don’t really know where to start. In fact, I just deleted a couple of rough drafts and am starting over. Covering history just seems impossible, so let me start more recently.
My wife (Cindy) and I have decided to move to Hutto, Texas with our daughter Peyton. We’re moving for one reason and one reason only. We’re looking to live a life of passion. We believe that we have found that passion by sharing a vision with Kyle and Erika Sears (and their daughter Kylie) on what Church should really be about. It’s about community. It’s about connecting. It’s about going through life together. And Cindy and I have decided to take the biggest steps of faith (outside of accepting Christ and what He did) that either of us have ever taken.
Hutto is about 3 to 3.5 hours away from where we currently live. For us, that means two main things. 1) I have to find a new job and 2) we have to buy a new home and sell our current home. But, before I jump into those I want to cover how we came to this decision in the first place. The next couple of entries will cover the job and house…maybe the next several entries!
Crap, I just re-read what I’ve written. I just don’t know how to do this. I guess some are natural bloggers…I guess I’m not one of the “some.” I had written about how I came to Christ, how Kyle and I started talking about starting a Church…and it just didn’t feel right so I deleted it. Now I’m reading this and that delete button is blinking in red! But, you know what, the whole goal of what we’re targeting with Resonate Community is to be honest and real. If I keep deleting what I’m writing and editing, will that be real? I think not! So, here goes nothing!
I’m not a great Christian. I believe in Christ. No questions about that. I give financially to the Church, but not as much as I know I need to. I serve by setting up Church on weekends, but I miss a lot of the weekends I’m supposed to be there. I’ve worked in the nursery, but no one counts on me in that area. I’ve led Bible studies, and some of those have been unsuccessful. And, I’m about to help start a Church. Are you kidding? It’s me, my wife and baby and one other couple. I’m half of this Church and it’s supposed to succeed? How in the heck is this going to happen?
You know, when Kyle spoke to me about starting a Church I knew almost immediately I HAD to go with him. I didn’t want to admit it, but there was something in me that knew. But, I prayed. I told my wife and she prayed. And, you know what…the more we prayed, the more we knew. I can’t say that I have a freakin clue why God put me on the Earth or why he would save me. But, I do KNOW that He did. And, I also KNOW that he wants me to go start this Church. How do I know? I don’t know how to really explain it. It’s like there is a this bridge. Below it is all this water and rocks. But, I know the bridge will hold me. And, I know I have to cross it. And, that is what we’re going to do. We’re crossing it. I know the bridge will hold me, but I still have to take that first step onto the bridge trusting it’s the right thing to do. We’re going to do whatever it takes to build this church because I believe it is what we are supposed to do. I believe that this is exactly what, at this time and moment, what God wants me to do. It doesn’t mean we’ll be successful. It doesn’t mean we won’t have struggles. But, I am totally convinced that he wants me to take this step of faith at this moment. Be willing to leave my job. Sell my home and buy a new one. Move to a new community. For once to live for Him instead of for me. I just know it…I may not be a “Super Christian”, but I am a willing and available Christian. And you know what, just maybe God wants someone who is just willing and available. In fact, that’s what he usually does isn’t it? But me? Yikes!
A few years ago I reviewed Spiderman 2, and quoted a Newsweek article:
Much has been made of the fact that “Spider-Man” was the first post-9/11 blockbuster, and the conventional wisdom is that the film was a phenomenon because America needed heroes again. But maybe it’s something more. To the rest of the world, the superhero symbol of the United States is Superman—broad shouldered, unconflicted, virtually indestructible. For decades, we’ve preferred to see ourselves that way, too. Spider-Man is none of those things. He’s burdened by self-doubt. He wants to do the right thing, but isn’t always sure what that is. He’s constantly forced to choose between helping others and helping himself. He looks tough, but he’s easily injured. In America after September 11, Superman was who we wanted to be. Spider-Man was who we were.
I wrote that Spiderman is a better superhero, the best actually, because he embodies a little bit of all of us. It’s the story of the frail finding strength, the weak becoming powerful. Superman was a has-been of the early 20th century, irrelevant to the reality of our times.
But I was wrong. Bryan Singer has managed to create a movie that restores the glory of Superman, giving him a unique and necessary voice within the superhero genre (and our lives too). The story picks up after Superman returns after years years of soul-searching among the stars, and the wreckage of Krypton. The world has moved on, especially Lois Lane, who has won a Pulitzer prize the her story “Why the World Doesn’t Need Superman.” (It’s apparent that Superman was gone on 9/11, causing much of the disdain for his disappearance.)
Superman returns to show that the world, does indeed, need a savior. They are striving after one, crying out everyday for rescue. Marlon Brando reprises his role as Jor-El, and has this to say: “Even though you’ve been raised as a human being you’re not one of them. They can be a great people, Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you… my only son.” For all the melancholy, troubled superheroes we worship, Superman shows us that we still fall short. We need a savior, someone stronger, faster, more powerful than we can ever dream. We need a light to show the way. The Christ imagery throughout the film develops the concept of why Superman truly resonates with us as humans. We have a distinct need for someone greater than we are. And when we find someone who is our Savior, our lives are changed. Even when Superman is unable to save the day, we still want him back, to try again. Deep down, I think that, even when we feel that God has let us down, we desperately want him to try again.
Just hearing the Superman Theme (now my ringtone), it gives you this sense of wonder, of freedom, knowing that there is something still inherently good in this world. We just need to look up in the sky.
So last time I mentioned that I would explain what I mean by “living inside-out”. It’s the criteria we judge our success on, so it’s important to get a decent understanding of what this kind of living looks like. Put simply, living inside-out means authentic transformation.
But let’s start at the beginning, shall we? I think that within us there is this longing for significance that is imprinted in every human being. Whether you want to call that a soul, a spirit, chi, whatever, it’s there. The Bible says that God has written eternity in our hearts, and I think that we all (to some degree) know it to be true. It’s a knowing that goes beyond the rational mind, but undeniable nonetheless. When that part of us is awakened by the light of Christ in our life, he begins to pull the very image of God from within our hearts and give it hands and feet. We suddenly find that, starting at the very basic level of thought, priorities, and desires, we are changing for the better. Our lives truly have significance and meaning. And as we find our heart and mind being renewed and opened to Christ, we start living differently. Inside-out.
Authenticity is key in this process. Before we can begin to overcome our struggles, we need to admit they’re there. I think a lot of churches want to you live a good life, then come to church. But if we can’t find a place where we can be honest with each other that we do, in fact, struggle in this life, then we’re probably not going to find much hope for changing. Transformation without authenticity is often short-lived and short-sighted. It’s based purely on emotions (most often guilt). Now, some people are content to be authentic, but never experience transformation along the way. Authenticity without transformation is stagnant and mundane. It’s lazy and a cop-out.
At Resonate Community, we want to live inside-out, constantly seeking to live a life that reaches the full potential that God has in store. We know that we’re not perfect, and we need all the help we can get. That’s what church should be all about. People helping each other find the heartbeat of God for their life. He is desperately seeking after us, calling us with the hope that this life can mean something more. If we can open our hearts to it, we’ll find our souls awakened by the author of eternity.
