New Monday!

Wow.  I can’t believe it!  This is the first week of my new work schedule.

Due to my need for more time to invest in getting this church planting thing underway, my office has agreed to allow me to change up my work schedule.

From now on, I will be working 9-10 hour days, Tuesday-Friday, and will check emails and take phone calls on Mondays to fill in my 40 hours, but will not be “officially” working for the office.

I don’t want to waste this opportunity.  It’s now noon and I’ve met with the guys at Journey, written several emails, am working on some local research in Towson, and am going to spend some time this afternoon working on an architecture job search in Maryland.

I have a few other contact issues to follow-up on . . . so having this new schedule is going to make a HUGE difference.

If you want to hang out with me in Auburn on some Monday, let me know!

20-hit update

We’ve been back from Baltimore since Tuesday, and I haven’t even had time to write an update.

That’s the nature of vacation, isn’t it?  You have a great time relaxing, being rejuvenated, reconnecting with your wife, etc. etc. etc. . . . and then you get back to the piles on your desk at work . . .

Well, here’s the update:

1. Emily and I are convinced that we will be locating to Towson, Maryland . . . Probably around January.
2. We fell in love with the community, had a great time talking with some locals while attending some local 4th of July events.
3. I made some connections in architecture.  One in particular was extremely positive and I’m looking forward to how it all works out.  Having a job in the area would give Emily and I a ton of peace to know that God is at work.
4. Enjoyed the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra set to fireworks a whole lot more than dealing with the crouds and rain for a merely good fireworks display at the Inner Harbor. 
5. Inner Harbor fireworks had two launch-points — most from Ft McHenry, and some from a barge in the harbor.  Either one would have been bettern than Auburn’s usually are.
6. Spent a lot of time driving around in a silly little KIA . . . but we got to know the area well and have zeroed in on a couple of specific communities within Towson to watch for a house/townhome to meet our needs.
7. It’s more expensive in Baltimore, but not quite as much as we had originally expected.  I’m hoping I can find a job that will fill in the difference. Would be nice to get full-price on our house here as a help . . . and One more outside job, like an average-sized house plan would pay off one more debt before we go . . . anyway . . .
8. We took a lot of things slow for our vacation.  Emily is getting bigger.  I am excited to be a daddy!  Less than 10 weeks left!  It’s funny how walking around with the cutest pregnant lady ever becomes an automatic conversation-starter.
9. Drove through Towson one night . . . passed 4 Starbucks stores with no more than 3 customers.  Obviously not a good place to meet people during the evenings on a holiday weekend in Towson.
10. Went to church at another fairly new church in the area.  Am glad to see them doing what they are doing . . . but was also glad to see that they are a different flavor than our vision, so we’ll be able to reach different folks and impact Towson together. One of the pastors said he would hook me up with a local ministerial association that really wants to get things done.  I would love an opportunity to network with other local pastors to Transform a city and region!
11. Towson University is in Towson . . . They are the Tigers and have an Auburn Drive on campus.  That MUST be a sign from God!
12. Several possible meeting locations came to mind . . . but actually getting into them may be a challenge.  This will be a God thing!  So many possibilities, I’m confident we will be able to grow at least one relationship to opportunity.
13. Already have a location in mind for a church office.  Awesome location, and it’s pretty cheap, too!  Long-term issue, but couldn’t believe the possibility fell in my lap!
14. Spent tons of time just praying as we saw  people in neighborhoods, walking down streets, navigating through the mall, filling a ski-slope to watch fireworks, etc.  The area won’t be an easy area, but it already feels a bit like home.  People need a life-changing encounter with Jesus.  I want to be the delivery man to take it to them.
15. Was glad to see Roxie healthy when we got home (was sick when we left).
16. Roxie was definitely glad to see us.
17. Roxie is being very dilligent to protect Emily’s growing belly.  Definitely not a typical Chihuahua.  Curious to see how she does with Katie when she is born.
18. Was extremely glad to have absolutely no contact with my office while I was gone.  First time since we started the company 3 years ago that I was 100% unplugged from the office.
19. Since our vacation, God has just been working on my as I read the Bible like He hasn’t done literally in years.  I’m getting really fired up for everything that is happening over the next several months.
20. I’ll be glad to get back to Journey Church tomorrow and see what’s up with our new series, “WAKE UP!”

Well, I hit 20, so I need to stop. More later.

Great Word

Hey folks!

I’m on vacation/church plant scouting, but decided to take a few minutes to read a blog or two before heading out this morning.

Vince had a great word this morning about tradition, contemporary, and compromise.  Read it here.

’nuff said.

So You Think You Can Dance?

Well, as you read this, I’m on vacation.  I actually wrote this post before I left, but time-delayed it to appear after Wednesday’s episode of So You Think You Can Dance?

I started watching this show because Emily loves dance.  However . . . the more I watch it, the more I realize that EVERY CHURCH PLANTER LEADER OUGHT TO WATCH THIS SHOW!

Why?

I’ve been reading a lot lately about communicating the never-changing truths of the Bible in ways that the culture understands.  You have to understand your culture so you can communicate Truth in their language.  Don’t change the truth . . . adjust the way you communicate it . . . Translate it for your people . . . I am convinced that Jesus was a student of the culture as much as a student of the Scriptures . . .

ANYWAY, I started listening to various types of music lately.  Sometimes I wonder what those far from God get out of the songs. So You Think You Can Dance helps me know.  A large number of the dances are set to popular music.  More than that, a lot of the dances demonstrate the choreographer’s understanding of the music.  Their interpretation through dance is a clear communication of what they are getting out of the song.

You want to not only know what you’re people are listening to, but what they are HEARING in what they are listening to, So You Think You Can Dance can give you a primer into the hearts and minds of the culture.

On the Road Again

I am extremely excited about the coming week!

I actually get to 100% unplug from the office for an entire week.  Barring a major catastrophe, I am unavailable to the office.  This is the first time in 3 years I have decided to be unavailable.  Every previous trip . . . vacation, and even a mission trip to Thailand, I was available by email or by phone.  I am unplugged from the office this week.  Why?

1. First and foremost, this is our last vacation as “newlyweds.”  With the impending arrival of Katie in September, this trip will be a great opportunity for Emily and I to reconnect and spend some time together just enjoying each other . . . praying, visioning, dreaming, and just relaxing and having fun.
2. This trip is not all fun-and-games.  We’re aiming to nail down a community to plant our lives in the VERY near future.  We have several fun activities planned to be a part of a specific community in the Baltimore area.  Rather than focus on the touristy holiday stuff, we’re going to try to identify some of the more local events and see how we can fit in the community.
3. I do have to admit, we’re going to try to see the fireworks at the Inner Harbor.  Where better to celebrate July 4th than with fireworks near the site where the words, “and the rockets’ red glare” were penned?
4. We’re going to check out some of the real estate market in the area.  I’m really looking forward to seeing what is going to be available to us in our price range.  Looking online, we think there may be some really good prospects.  This is actually a surprise for us, because we expected stuff to be a whole lot more expensive.
5. Honestly, if we get a chance, I might check out a few of the architecture firms that I looked at online . . . I don’t want to think architecture much on this trip, but if I can get the ball rolling on some employment, it would be awesome.
6. This list may sound busy and not much like a vacation . . . but we’ve got it planned in such a way to keep some free time and some flexible time.  PLUS, when you’re going to a city you’ve fallen in love with, anything can seem like a vacation.

I might blog from Charm City . . . but if I don’t . . . You know how to pray!

Overdue Update

I’ve gotten really bad about blogging this summer . . .

Another quick-hits list:

• I am meeting a great friend and mentor, Al Jackson, from Lakeview Baptist in Auburn today for lunch.  I’m REALLY looking forward to spending some time with him.  I consider him to be one of the greatest leaders to personally invest in my life.  As Emily and I prepare to relocate and finally get our lives moving in ministry, I know he will be excited and will be a great help on the journey.
• I’m REALLY getting pumped about our Scouting Trip/Vacation this week.  Emily and I are leaving for Baltimore on Wednesday to scout around, meet some people, look for community impact opportunities, get a feel for the real estate market . . .
• When we get home, we hope to be able to start naming a specific community for us to focus on.  We’re 98% sure now.  The next 10 days will hopefully reveal the last 2%.
• Having 100% certainty on a community will set us free to run full-force into support-raising.
• I sent out a couple resumes to architecture firms in the area so I can have gainful employment from day one.
• I really need everyone out there to help us pray through some stuff related to associations and assessment processes.  I’ve been struggling a lot with it lately.
• We’re going to take a few days to experience July 4th Baltimore-style . . . We’re thinking about going to see the Baltimore Sympohony Orchestra’s celebration on either July 3 or 5 . . . and we’re probably going to brave the crowds at the Inner Harbor on July 4.  I’m sure this will make Auburn’s stuff at Samford Park look pretty lame.  I’m looking forward to it.
• I’m looking forward to this week as a focussed time to reconnect with my beautiful bride, Emily, before baby Katie arrives in September.
• I finished reading Pop Goes The Church this week.  It was definitely helpful for me to think through WHY, HOW, and WHAT related to using Pop Culture in the church.  I’ve grown accustomed to the idea in the past several years . . . but just introducing Pop Culture elements and actually leveraging the culture for the Gospel are two totally different things.  Help me think it through BIG TIME.
• I’m really stuggling with “renewing my mind” lately.  My brain is overwhelmed with the visual power of my work in architecture.  Every time I try to focus on something else, it seems to get overrun with drafting images or code issues.  I HATE IT.  I can’t focus in prayer time.  I can’t focus on reading my Bible.  Please just pray that this Scouting Trip/Vacation gives me an opportunity to “HIT THE RESET BUTTON.”  I need it.
• From the previous note . . . If you don’t think the visual and musical arts have power over the way people think, you’re an idiot.
• I have a blog post related to that thought coming soon.  I have to finish thinking it through and writing it.

Enough hits for now.

Reading Update

One thing I didn’t mention in my Quick Hits:  I’ve been reading a lot again lately.

Currently, I’m reading, Pop Goes The Church by Tim Stevens of Granger.  As I prepare for church planting and pastoring, it’s a great help for me to think through how to balance the Truth of the Bible and the influence of culture in how our church communicates.  It’s more than just cool series titles, rocking music, and awesome graphics.  Thinking each of those things through to communicate the Power and Truth about Jesus Christ to those who are far from God.

I also recently read Mark Batterson’s In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day.  Great book.  More than a great read. It helped me to filter through some of my hesitations to packing up to moving to Baltimore.  Sometimes we just need to face our fears.  Take a risk. I’ve been in Auburn for almost 14 years.  That’s actually close to half my life!  I’m known for doing crazy things and being a bit of a lone-ranger.  But I have to admit that packing up and moving to a big city where I know very few people can be scary.  Getting past my fears and listening to God’s call in my life is a big deal for me right now.  This book was a help.  Having a guy like Mark an hour or so down the road when we get to Baltimore is also a bit of an encouragement!

Quick Hits

I’ve been really busy lately, but I want to keep everyone up-to-date . . . here are some quick-hits:

• I’ve been spending a lot of time praying lately.  A LOT of time.  I’ve been praying and meditating in my car.  I’ve been extending my prayer time in the morning.  I’ve been praying during pockets of my day.  I’ve been carving out time to pray most evenings.
• The biggest prayer I have right now is for God’s eyes to meet people where they are.  This prayer has been ovewhelming me both for Auburn and for Baltimore.
• I’m praying for God to do BIG things during our scouting trip in July.  I want to see him do such BIG things that I don’t even know what to pray for!
• I’m praying to be a godly husband and father.  WOW.  Father.  Craziness.  Baby Katie is due to arrive in less than 100 days!
• I’ve been spending a good bit of time putting together parts and pieces for moving to Baltimore and starting a church.
• Technology stuff is expensive.
• Praying for our house to sell at just the right time.
• Starting looking for options in architecture for a job between relocating and launching the church.  Found a couple really good prospects.
• Started compiling my resume for architecture for the first time since 1997.  Slightly out of date.
• Emily’s mom is coming in to town this weekend for a baby shower.  Should be fun.  Seriously. That’s not meant to be sarcastic.
• Seeing some big stuff happening at work.  Finally seeing some fruit for some things I’ve been working on for almost 3 years.
• Started praying with my bosses about how to make some transitions and adjustments to prepare for Katie’s arrival and for me to relocate to Baltimore. 
• I’m absolutely loving ONE PRAYER at Journey.  Why didn’t somebody think of this sooner?  1,400+ churches joining together.  Over 800,000 Christ-followers seeking the same thing.  How awesome is that?

We all scream for ice cream.

I had a little addition to my day that was a great encouragement.

In response to my rant on churches in Montgomery, I got to have lunch with a guy today who believes God is calling him to plant a church in Montgomery.  I was able to encourage him with some “church planting insights” I’ve learned over the past year, and also was able to point him to a couple of specific areas in the city the would be good places to consider focusing energy.

Being able to talk back-and-forth with someone who is kind of at the same place I am was helpful.  The idea of moving to a city that we know so little about can be scary sometimes.  Being able to be open and honest about it, and to share how Emily and I are finding support mechanisms to help us through, in a way the conversation became a support mechanism in itself.

So why the title of this post?

Well, in talking about church planting, I came up with an ice cream analogy.  Yes, churches are like ice cream.

Here in Alabama, people LOVE BlueBell Ice Cream.  I’m not from here.  I don’t understand it, but it is reality.  Some people like vanilla, some like chocolate, some go crazy for Moose Tracks or some other flaver . . . but whatever the flavor, the ice cream of choice seems to be BlueBell.  The one thing that gets me, is when you turn a BlueBell carton around, the ingredients list is rather complicated.  There’s all sorts of gook in there that you just don’t really know what it is.

When you look around at churches, they are very much the same way.  If you’ve grown up in church, you tend to like the way church is done.  You may prefer a Vanilla Church, or a Chocolate Church, or be real adventurous and like the Moose Tracks Church . . . but when you get past the basic flavors, they’re still all BlueBell churches . . .

There’s a few churches out there that have tried to break the mould.  Unfortunately, a lot of these more “contemporary” churches, when you get down to it, arene’t really any different.  It’s kinda like trading in BlueBell for Edy’s or Haagen Daas.  You’re going for a different brand, but when you turn the carton around, the ingredients list really isn’t any different.

What we need are some Breyers churches.  Remember the Breyer’s commercials?  Simplicity.  Cream, Sugar, Vanilla.  When somebody far from God shows up at church, they don’t want a bunch of goop getting in the way of what the church is about.  They want to experience and understand the bare essentials.  We all should learn to appreciate the essentials and try to let go of some of the extra stuff we’ve become accustomed to.

What brand and flavor of church is your church?

Time Flies!

I just realized that it has been over a week since my last post.  Can I just say I’ve been really busy lately?

Some good news coming out of the office (architecture stuff.)  Some things came up that may help with some transitions in the coming months.  Definitely exciting.

Glad the Jamaica team got back safe and had a great time.  I hear God did some really cool stuff.  Can’t wait for a report.

I stayed up praying a long time last night.  God is really working me over on a couple of things for Baltimore.  With a scouting trip planned, I’m getting pumped up.

Katie’s nursery is coming together.  Really cute.  Really girlie.  But, Emily and I both decided to keep the baby pastels to a minimum.  It’s like “sophisticated baby.”  I like it.  Can’t wait for the glider to arrive.  Emily and I are going to fight over it as a place to read until Katie arrives.

Emily is just so darn cute to look at.  The growing belly (which moves every now and then, how cool is that?) is making me realize how close I am to being responsible for raising another human being!  Craziness.

Fathers day is coming up.  Never thought much about that holiday before.

Well, I’m still busy, but thought I would give a quick update . . . back to work.