the time has come……..

Yesterday morning we set out early to unload the trailer and bring in 24 cases into a theater in Claremore Oklahoma.  We once again prayed and invite a few friends and family to come and be apart of a non-threatening environment in which people could see Christ and not be hindered by barriers of judgement, hypocrisy, or legalism.  I watched person by person come in and continued to be reminded of how incredibly good God is.  He longs for people to come to know him intimately.  He longs for their hearts.  He longs for my heart.  He longs for your heart.  I didn’t sleep well the night before as it had been nearly 3 years since I had given a message.  Oh how I’m not the same person.  I can’t hardly wait 3 more weeks until our 3rd preview.  

At the beginning of this endeavor God tugged at Amy and I’s heart to take a 21 day Daniel fast to confirm this pulling to begin taa step of faith with The Well.  In my heart then I knew that one day when ever it was he would direct me to do a more extended one.  The time has come.  I wish to not bring attention to myself as Matthew 6 talks about, but to put myself out there for the sake of accountability and spur another on to go after God with all they have inside themselves.  I’ve never done anything like this before, but I’m reminded of my ironman.  If I could have the kind of discipline to stay on a bike for 5 hours and endure that kind of discomfort – I hope I have that same drive for my Lord and Savior.  

Here’s some things I’m believing for:

1.  A complete desperation for our infant church: everything involved – that it will not be a statistic of closing shop after a short          time, but a body of transformed people transforming a community one person at a time

2.  Our financial status and being able to give my all to The Well

3.  A deep intimate relationship with Christ would be birthed that would set the tone for years of ministry for the long haul

4.  That I would hear God’s voice like never before

5.  A vision that won’t be shaken

6.  I would establish a prayer life that I would hold to for many years to come

7.  A young man that at times struggles to lead himself would come out of this fast as a Man of God to lead a church

 Isaiah 6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Daniel 9:3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

Joel 2: 12 “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

Matthew 6:15-17 (The Message)

 16-18“When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don’t make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won’t make you a saint. If you ‘go into training’ inwardly, act normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face. God doesn’t require attention-getting devices.  He won’t overlook what you are doing; he’ll reward you well.

 Acts 13:2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

So here we go.  I’m checking out on my blog until after The Well is launched publicly to this community.  My desire is that from the start I would give everything I’ve got to start this church.  This is my final step.   This has never been about me and always will be about Christ.  May God continue to orchestrate every step and may one of my friends on our garage wall find the inner peace and passion that comes from living for something more than ourselves.  Please pray that I would hear something for our team’s sake and for the sake of The Well.  If not…… I have no business pursuing this endeavor.

found wanting & desperate

Last night I layed in bed during the early hours shivering a bit because our woodstove obviously ran out of wood to burn.  I twisted and turned and realized it would be one of those nights.  For me I don’t get frustrated I welcome them.  No one needs me and I don’t have to be anywhere or do anything but lay in my bed.  I sinced my master, creator, and heavenly father beckoning my name just as he did Samuel in the O.T.  So…… I listened.  And I listened some more.   It found me wanting.  It found me desparate to hear his voice.  So many times the routine, the list, the responsibilities and the “spoils” rudely interrupt the smooth rhythm of my relationship with Christ.  I allowed my father to wrap his arms around me and remind me that he is pleased with me.  He is taking care of all things.  He is lining the details of The Well and despite everything that I still feel like needs to happen before Feb 22 – he reminded me who’s church it is and who’s orchestrating every step.  I find major comfort in that.

This morning I got up and couldn’t hardly wait to open Galatians again.  I’ve been reading and studying this book for a month now and can’t wait to use it as our main text for our opening series called Stripped.  We will attempt to talk about the elephants in the church and strip away the barriers of: hypocrisy, judgement, and legalism.  The last week Brad will lead us into a conversation about the one that was ultimately stripped and how he strips away all of that junk so we can be free.  Here’s some of my reflections this morning:

S – Galatians 6

“Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.  Don’t be impressed with yourself.  Don’t compare yourself with others.  Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life”.  :4-5

O – Paul is writing to this church and a little, well quite a bit aggrevated that men had turned Jesus into a religion with rules and regulations that didn’t come from God but man.  He talks about not living with bondage of man made rules but living free in Jesus.  He basically tells us not to have a big ego or look at someone else’s life.  We are responsible for ourselves.

A – This is an extremely timely passage at the start of a new year.  I’m looking forward to sharing with passion a message burning in my heart for our Preview #2 this Sunday about making life happen not waiting for it to happen to us.  So many of us wait around for something to fall in our laps, wait for a call, wait for this and wait for that, instead of being proactive.

P – Jesus just as you spoke into my life last night and this morning and right now as I write.  I pray that you would speak to me today and not allow the details of life to interrupt the sweetness of our conversations each day.   I pray that you would burn that message in my heart that it would come from you.  Jesus I have spent that last 3 years driving around in a truck as you birthed a thousand personal messages in my heart and transformed me a day at a time.  Some how some way use one of those to help transform another.  I love you and help me to take responsibility in areas of my own life where I may lack discipline.  But…. help me remember where my strength comes from to pursue life.  Amen

I’ve decided as look at my 2009 goals and put my spokes in alignment and take responsibility for my life.  My theme for this year is summed up in one word – DESPERATION.  If I can stay desperate for Jesus then everything else in my life will be fine.  If I stop being desperate and drift than everything will get out of alignment.  

What about you what is some goals or perhaps a theme that you are placing before you this year?

G.I. Cambo

Just call my son after getting back from a birthday party G.I. Cambo.  He freaked out as we wiped his face in the shower and freaked out his little brother with the mask on his face.  Good stuff.  In so many ways I feel like some of our team is like Camden.  We are like Mel Gibson about the charge on the battle field to reach a community for Christ.  You mine as well paint our faces as we launch out with the love of Christ!

a day worth living over and over

Today was an absolute day worth living over and over again!  Some of our team ventured over to Owasso to catch back to back church services with Lifepointe Church and Destiny Life.  One met in a movie theater and the other met in a school.  I was a little jealous that the Dickenson 10 was really a 9.  There’s one whole theater room that is empty and left unfinished so Lifepointe gets to use it for storage.  I loved their signage and their staff was unbelievably kind.  I felt a little badly that the movie promo ads along wit the soundtrack interrupted the message.  I’m glad to know movies at Cinema 8 don’t start until after we are gone.  Destiny Life is a church here in Claremore that actually does another venue in Owasso and I’m humbled to have a growing relationship with Glen.  Any Pastor that sticks in one community for as many years as he has in someone that I want to grow from!   Lunch at Compadres was icing on the cake as we discussed what we could take with us to add some spice to The Well.

This afternoon I got to swing by Wood Manor.  It had been way too long since I have visited my elderly friends.  After receiving a suprise email this afternoon about some of our team jumping ship with seven weeks to go, I needed to go to a place that I knew none of the church stuff mattered and that I could be reminded of why I’m doing all of this Well stuff.  I know times will come in the future and I always need places to go that remind me of the beginning callings and the yearnings to reach and serve a community.  For me one of those places will be Wood Manor as I love them they in return are like medicine to my spirit.

I was blown away when my friend Jim’s eyes teared up when I walked in his room.  I can’t wait until the day that Harold and Frank will be sitting in the theater during our launch date on February 22.  My motives have never been to go over recruiting anyone to attend The Well – that would mean I would be doing a lot of funerals……  Sorry couldn’t resist.  But….. they keep my heart pure – knowing that I’m loving with no strings attached.  I love these people for they are like my grandparents!  I couldn’t help but feel a little badly when one of the older guys didn’t know who I was – old age setting in.

Tonight our team met to discuss our ministry teams.  Brad did a phenomenal job leading our discussion and I’m proud of him for leading as our Gifts Pastor.  We once again shared stories of having a pursuing love and a heart to love each other.  We talked about ways we can protect each other as we begin this church.  We dismissed and minutes went by while no one left.  Everyone kept staying around eating and talking and laughing.  I was reminded of something I heard some years ago.  A sign of a close team, organization, business, or church is when everyone is able to leave and they don’t have to be there anymore – does anyone continue to stay when they don’t have to?  Our team does that like I’ve never seen.  We went rather long tonight and I’m not ashamed to admit that I think it is because we can’t get enough of each other.  If we can pass that along to each person that comes to a theater here in Claremore – I think a community’s perception of church may be changed……

We spent a large bulk of time laying hands on the garage wall as we added 50 more names to the list.  The prayer time was powerful and my heart was broken as I heard our team praying out loudly the names of those that are away from God.  We ended the night taking a picture of a new community that I am now involved with – four eyes community.

uninvited guests

It was an honor to bring in the New Year’s with good friends.  It was the first time I had ever played Apple for Apples and I learned that I stink.  I watched my wife and good friend Matt drill out Guitar Hero while I excused myself of embarrassment.  A little sparkling apple cider went down good as I shared a kiss with the love of my life at 12am on 2009.  How cool was it to start my marriage off for the new year in the best way!

I’m currently thinking through my year in review and celebrating key moments of 2008.  I’m also looking at my spoke goals for 2009.  When I got home I realized something occurred in 08.  I started growing out my facial hair a bit and recognized quite a few uninvited guest.  They came unannounced and didn’t help me as I recently turned 30.  It is bad enough there’s no hair on the dome but the little hair I do have on my face it’s got to be stinken grey.  Not cool.  Does anyone know how to dye facial hair?

one awake and one out

Last night some good friends came over to play a little Phase 10, eat some burgers, and down some Dr. Pepper.  Meagan and Brandon just recently added a new addition to their family.  Seeing Amy hold this adorable little boy put immediate fear into my bones.  Would I ever see that day again?  Perhaps.  Probably.  I don’t think she is settling for being the only female in the house with three male monkeys!  Only time will tell.  

Half way through the game Cale decided to go ahead and go to sleep at the table.  I came in second and my talented wife brought up the rear – sorry babe couldn’t resist.  If Meggs wouldn’t have thrown in her cards so quickly using her baby as an excuse to get home I think I might have been able to be the Phase 10 King…. Just kidding – I told these ladies they are far more of a man than I will ever be giving birth to children……… That didn’t go over very good.

It was a great day and it was a progressive day as some of our Pastors met to knock out our gifts strategy as it pertains to volunteer teams.  We are inching closer to our Preview #2 Gathering next Sunday.