Been listening to some podcasts from Craig Groeschel from LifeChurch.tv over the weekend. I’m taken with the story of Jonah and his attempts to run from what God had called him to. God called Jonah to Ninevah and Jonah decided to go to Tarshish. Over the past few months I have been wrestling with some of the same ideas. God has called me to a specific place and to a specific people. I had reasoned myself into two other scenarios that are more comfortable and more manageable under my own power. Spent some time just hanging out with my wife and baby today and really had a chance to chat about what God is saying to me. It was great to be able to share my heart to the fullest extent with her and hear what God is saying to her. She is also a great filter for the stuff that is going on in me. The cool thing is that she, after listening to what I had to say, affirmed that she thought that was a good summation of is going on in our life. Some of you reading this will play an important role in fulfilling this calling on our lives. Some of you will be prayer warriors. Some of you will help us in ways I can’t really share right now. Some of you will think we are nuts. Some of you will be mad at us for ‘abandoning’ you. We need your prayers and support. We aren’t abandoning anyone and nothing is set in stone, but there is a change on the horizon, but how long the horizon takes to get here we don’t know. For those of you who are wondering about the church that I currently serve at, I’m there with all of my heart. I’m doing what I’ve always done and I will keep doing what I’m doing until God decides it is time to go. Make no mistake, I’m here while I’m here. I love the church that I am at and I love what we are doing in this community. Ultimately, however, this isn’t the place that I’m called to. I’ve been here for 24 years on and off, it is home, but like Nazareth for Jesus, it isn’t the ultimate focus of my ministry.
I was reading an article today for a leadership development process that I am about to begin with four other people from church. This article basically talked about the differences and similarities between the leadership style of the boomer generation vs. Gen X. I was really convicted and encouraged through this reading. I’m really pumped about this experience and I’m excited to see what God will do through us all in this time. I’m excited to grow with these other leaders and be challenged. I’ve known for a long time that when I’m not challenged I’m lazy. Challenges are good, they produce character.
Keep us in your prayers and be praying about how you can be a part of what we are called to do. It is huge and cannot be accomplished without you and God on our side. Thanks!
Blessings…
