Returned and reEngineering

Heather and I had an absolutely fantastic time at the Acts29 Retreat in Vail, CO this past week! An incredible blessing to be away and spend time with fellow church planters. Such an encouragement to hear how God is at work in various contexts through various methodologies, but all centered on the Gospel. So good. It also gave Heather and I space to think through how the past few months have been...to reflect on all the good that God is doing and to think proactively about what things need to continually be reengineered and adjusted. One of those things is my schedule. Nothing major, but things like trying to think ahead to Sydnie being gone at school all day starting in the fall. How do we maximize time spent as a family in the midst of a fairly busy schedule? These are conversations I enjoy having with Heather and am thankful for her insight and push-back (when needed). The past 6 months have been an absolute blast and an absolute blur. Definitely needed the get-away to think and process and simply enjoy what God has given us. The plane ride home was pretty productive as I got a chance to write out some of my thoughts and plans. We'll see if it translates from Moleskine to real life.

Vail Trip

Pastor Dad

I am looking forward to reading this free book courtesy of The Resurgence. I'm thinking you should check it out as well. Happy Father's Day!

Re:Lit | Pastor Dad | eBook by Mark Driscoll

What Has God Prepared in Advance for Me/Us?

In Ephesians 2:10 Paul writes, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. I was reminded of these words last Friday night, as Vision360 church planters gathered for a time of worship and prayer. One planter, who was bold enough to go first and express what is probably in the hearts of every church planter, asked for prayer regarding his heart ability to celebrate with other pastors on how their church is going. It can be tough not to be competitive. To say the right things from the mouth, but to not speak them genuinely from the heart. At least it is for me. I appreciated this man's honesty and articulation of something I too need prayer for. In particular, the verse above was brought up and the reminder that God has prepared good works in advance for not only me, but our entire church plant collectively. The point is not to dwell on the prepared for in advance good works of other churches, but to ask if I/we are being faithful to the works that God has for me/us? It's been helpful and freeing to think on this. Helps drive out the comparisons. Helps me keep a gospel identity, rather than a works identity.

What kind of manure are you?

A friend of mine once said that Christians are like manure: spread them out and they help everything grow better, but keep them in one big pile and they stink horribly. Which are you? The kind that reeks, around which people walk a wide swath? Or the kind that trusts God enough to let Him spread you out--whether that means going outside your normal group of Christian friends, increasing your material giving, or using your time to serve others?--Francis Chan, Crazy Love

Had a chance to read this book last week and shared this quote from the final chapter on Sunday. I definitely feel the tension of not allowing myself to "pile up" and be insulated within the confines of the "church." One might think it'd be easy to not be "confined" since we don't have a church facility, but that is not the case. It's like everything wars against mission and I am realizing the continual need for intentionality.

How Tim Keller Found Manhattan

How Tim Keller Found Manhattan | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

The Best of Van Gundy

The True Test...Making Much of Jesus

I shared the following quote in yesterday's teaching from 1 John 4:1-6. Makes me wonder how often we give credit to a worship team, or a preacher instead of giving glory to Jesus?

“But, of course, and this is the greatest test, the true Spirit always glorifies Christ; He is always in the center; He is always given the pre-eminence. And the true prophet is not the man who talks about experiences and visions and what he has done and seen, but about Christ. And when you have heard him you do not say, ‘What a wonderful man’; you say, ‘What a wonderful Savior!’ You do not say, ‘What a wonderful experience this man has had’; you say, ‘Who is the Man of whom he is speaking?’ The attraction is to Christ; he glorifies Christ.”
--Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Life in Christ