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.

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.

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.

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?

Reading Update

I just realized that it has been a REAL long time since I did a reading update.  Normally, I’m a one-book-at-a-time kind of guy . . . but with my crazy schedule, things are changing.  It takes me too long to get through each book.  Some of the books I am reading right now are how-to books.  Not something I want to sit down and devour . . . so I’m trying something new.  I’m reading one how-to book and one fun/inspirational book at the same time.

 

Dangerous surrender was really awesome.  I actually finished it a while ago, but I never did a follow-up.  A couple pastor friends’ wives started reading the book and in turn talked their husbands into reading it.  They then both suggested for me to pick it up and read it.  It was defintely the kind of book I needed to motivate me and get me fired up for what God has in store for Emily and me.  It was also a great encouragement as I think about the past 6 years that I have been waiting to move forward in church planting.  It makes me value the learning process.  Definitely a good read for anyone.

 Vince Antonucci has probably become one of my primary teachers as I get ready for this church planting thing.  He and I have emailed back and forth a couple times . . . but in reality, most of my learning is coming from reading his blog day-by-day.  His perspective on church is radically different than where I came from.  His brain doesn’t work like everyone elses’, so you’ll find yourself rolling on the floor laughing at the same moment you’re crying out to God in repentence for your hardness of heart or stupidity.  Knowing what his blog is teaching me, reading his first book is a no-brainer for me (I Became a Christian and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt).  I read 5 chapters last night while taking a break from something else.  Awesome stuff!  I’m only on chapter 6, and I already KNOW this is a must read for anyone wanting to impact the USA with the name of Jesus.

 Planting Growing Church for the 21st Century is my current how-to book.  I’ve had it on my shelf since my last year of seminary. It’s a few years old, but still some valuable information for a church-planter-to-be.  I’m trying to read some books specifically about church planting.  Unfortunately, most of them say pretty much the same stuff.  Maybe if I keep reading them, I’ll eventually learn what they have to say.

 

 

Are you a leader?

If you are a leader in anything . . . I have something that’s worth your time.

If you are a leader in the church . . . I have a must-read for you.

Shawn Lovejoy is doing a series on “Not-so-commonly talked about leadership practices.”

His post today was awesome.  There’s definitely a balance to be had between being a leader and taking care of your family . . . But I think our American “keep me safe, comfortable, and well fed” culture has kept leaders from being leaders.

Great post.

Coolness Ahead

I’m only at work for a little while this morning, because I head to Millbrook in a few minutes to spend the day with Church Planters.  I’m really excited.  Normally, we only have a few of us meeting together to talk shop.  BUT, Journey Church Millbrook is hosting the Developing Churches Network this month, so we get to talk shop with a lot more folks this month.  Actually, they have scheduled speakers that are talking shop, but I’m hoping to learn and glean a lot.  I’m hoping it will lead to some connections with planters who can really help Emily and me prepare for what God has for us down the road.

 Well, I gotta run!

Excited about Tomorrow

It’s a few minutes before noon on Wednesday.  I just finished one task at work and am taking a quick break to write this before grabbing lunch and jumping in to something else.

BUT, more than anything, I am excited about the next 3 days.

About 24 hours from now, I will be leaving home in Auburn to go with Emily to Baltimore for a 2-day scouting trip.  The folks in Baltimore going to help us evaluate a few communities to begin the process of narrowing down our focus to invest in a local community and build up a church.

I am SOOOO ready to Transform Baltimore!

PRAY FOR OUR TRIP TO BE VERY PROFITABLE!

Pray for our house to sell.

Pray for the assessment process to continue to move forward.

Pray for finances to start a church.

Pray for clarity in how/when to transition from architecture to church work.

Pray for a healthy baby.
(OK, I can’t stand it anymore, it is now out for the world to know.  Emily is about 3mo. Pregnant!  Woo Hoo, I’m gonna be a Daddy!)

Want to make a difference?

Do you want to make a difference with your life?

Have you always had a sense that God is calling you to a “normal” career, but you want to use it to accomplish great things for the Kingdom?

Maybe you’re about to graduate and don’t have a clue what is next.

Perhaps I can help.

Today, I’m starting a new category on my blog: Baltimore Jobs.

I’m going to list links to articles I find online related to finding jobs in the Baltimore area.

Why would I do that?

I want to help folks find “normal” jobs in the Baltimore area . . . and use those jobs as a platform to help us plant a new church.

Come join us!