New Year's Eve Mind Dump

WHAT A YEAR!!!
2007 has been filled with many interesting moments for the Trevino family. Check out the list of some of the high lights of our year.

1. We found out that we were going to have a baby.
2. God began to stir our hearts about church planting.
3. We resigned from the church that we ministered to for 4 1/2 years.
4. I was jobless for three months.
5. I reached my highest weight.
6. We had a baby boy in May.
7. We became parents.
8. We acquired a $15,000 hospital bill!
9. I started to teach at a private school.
10. I started to work at American Girl...AS SECURITY.
11. I went to Las Vegas for a Pastor's conference.
12. God took care of our $15,000 hospital bill...no joke! We serve an AMAZING GOD!!!
13. We had our first Christmas with our little boy.
14. Finally we had our first New Year with our little boy.
    

As you can tell 2007 has been a roller coaster of events. There were many moments that I felt alone and directionless but in all this craziness I discovered the faithfulness of God. I learned that no matter how dark, lonely, scary, directionless I might feel is will always be for me. I learned that my refuge was in God and my strength can only come from my heavenly Father. I can't wait to see what's going to happen in 2008.

First and Last pair...

This Christmas was my son's first Christmas and he hit the mother load! He got everything from his first teddy bear to clothes to all kinds of toys including a bango that speaks in english and spanish and finally to his first pair air jordan. My baby sister (his Tia "aunt") got my 7 month a pair of air jordan. It's amazing to me how Jordan is still this HUGE icon. I remember the days when air jordans came out and everybody wanted a pair but they were so freaken expensive so only the rich kids got them. It's amazing how things don't change. I was so happy for my big boy but I let him know that this was his first and last pair of jordans.

I'm really thinking about bronzing them when he out grows them:)

I LOVE my ipod nano!

I know that most of ya'll have an ipod already but I just needed to shout from the rooftops...okay blab on blogger that I finally got my ipod. Not just any regular ipod but an ipod nano! You see we recently had our baby and I just couldn't bring myself to buy an ipod so this Christmas my in-laws (that's right my in-laws) bought me one. I LOVE my in-laws not just because they bought me an ipod nano but because they have been an amazing support to me and my family. I have the greatest in-laws in the world! No joke! I am very blessed to have them in my life.
Anyway, for the last couple of days I have been downloading cd's, music, audiobooks, and podcasts. I love this thing! The best part of my ipod is that I can always have up-to-date pictures of my family! If ya'll know of any podcasts that I should check out let me know.

Viva Las Vegas!

My Vegas trip was amazing! The conference that I attended at The Church at South Las Vegas was awesome. Pastor Benny and his staff did an great job hosting conference. If you are ever in Las Vegas you got to visit The Church at South Las Vegas I promise you that you will leave with a new perspective of what church ministry is all about. I flew in a few days early to be able to experience one of the three services The Church has. I attended the 9:45am service and I was totally impressed with my whole experience. From the moment that I drove into the parking lot, to the moment I walked into their facilities, to the moment that the worship started, and finally to the moment that Pastor Benny preached blew my socks off! It was very clear that The Church worked very hard making sure that everyone that came to church had the best experienc possible. Everyone person serving had a smile on their face and genuinely welcomed every visitor with love and compassion. WOW!!!

As the service started you could feel the energy and excitement in the sanctuary. The music was rocking, the worship team and choir worshipped without care. I loved it! It was so refreshing to see a church worship Jesus with everything they got. Do you know what was really cool...Pastor Benny worshipped with everything he had. I was great seeing the Senior Pastor of one of the fastest growing churches in America relentlessly worshipping Jesus. The culture of this church is RADICAL!!!

The Sunday night service was the start of the A.R.M. Conference. The speakers for this years conference were Dr. Sam Chand, Bishop Eddie Long, Phil Cooke, and Pastor Benny Perez. Dr. Sam Chand did an amazing job teaching about leadership and preaching the Word with authority and simplicity. You got to check out his website he has some amazing material on leadership...for FREE. On Monday night Bishop Eddie Long brought the Word. I'm not joking when I say this I wept the entire time he preached. The presence of God was so thick and the Word spoken was strait to the point. Just what I needed. Tuesday was more of a workshop environment. Pastor Benny and Dr. Sam did a great job teaching on leadership. During lunch Phil Cooke spoke about culture and the church. He spoke on how the church can affect the culture around us by making simple and strategic decisions.

The entire experience were amazing! I highly recommend visiting The Church at South Las Vegas and attending the A.R.M. Conference. I promise you it will rock your socks off!!!

Going to Vegas!

It's been a while since I have blogged but life has been a little crazy for the last couple of months. Along with learning to be parents we are still in a ministrial transition. Exactly tomorrow morning I'm flying out to Las Vegas to attend a Pastor's conference at The Church of South Las Vegas. The Senior Pastor, Benny Perez, is an amazing man. He and his team are doing some awesome things in Vegas. They are truely changing the culture in Vegas. Other than attending the conference I have the honor of having lunch with Pastor Benny on Friday. I can't wait to sit down and hear what Pastor Benny has on his mind regarding church planting, networking, and pastoring in Vegas. I'll let you know what happens in Vegas when I get back!

Fall Back!!!

Don't forget the time-change tonight and to set your clocks BACK an hour! Enjoy your extra hour of sleep!!!

Transitions

Webster dictionary defines TRANSITION as; 1 a : passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another : b : a movement, development, or evolution from one form, stage, or style to another.

So transition sounds like it's a great thing. Then why do we sometimes...okay most of the time label transitional times in our lives as seasons of hardship and frustration or a waste of time? The reason I ask this question is because lately it's felt like my life as been in a state of constant transition. We do everything in our ability to avoid transitional seasons?The reality is transition has to happen for us to move forward to our God ordained destiny.

It up to us if we are going to allow the season of transition that you and I are in to be a time of frustration, stress, and depression or a time of discovery, renewal, and joy.

Just a thought I had to get out of my head.

Am I Called?

Let me be transparent with ya'll. Laterly I have been really struggling whether or not I am called to plant a church. After I left the church that I was at for 4 1/2 years I wasn't sure what was going to happen but I knew that God was going to do something that I had never experience in my life.

Several months into this new season I find myself questioning my calling. I don't know if any one else has ever found themselves asking these questions;

• Will I be a successful church planter?


• Am I ready for this kind of responsible?


• Will people have faith in me and my wife?


• Will I be able to motivate the people around me?


• Will I be able to raise the money for this vision?


• Will our vision ever happen?
• Do I need more time?
• Do I need more training?
• Will people connect to the vision?
• Should I work with a church plant or another church for a season?

Pretty sad I know...the thing is that I know that God has called me and my wife into full time ministry. In the last couple of weeks I have had two conversations with people looking for a youth pastor. I love youth ministry...I love teenagers discovering their God ordained destiny but I sense in my spirit that I need to prepare for leading a church.

I know I shouldn't ask questions like these. I know it sounds like I don't have faith right now. But that's where I'm at...but earlier tonight I read this great blog called Be Secure in Your Calling written by Gary Lamb. It really made me remember how God called me into ministry as a teenager and reminded me that ministry has many seasons and one of them is where I am currently but I must remain faithful and secure in my calling. If you are questioning your calling YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BLOG. Thanks Gary for writing this blog it ministered to me and challenged me. For the rest of ya'll let me know what you think?

his first "official"cold:(

For the last couple of days our son has been feeling a little icky. All night my little man coughed and had a stuffy nose. Around 2:00am he woke up crying and trying to breathe. It kind of freaked me out. Because it sounded like he was choking on his own snot. I quickly picked him up and he looked at me with his big brown eyes and smiled as if he was thanking me for not letting me choke on his snot. As I feed him he struggled to drink his bottle because of his stuffy nose. It was so hard seeing my little man struggle like that. Around 3:00am little man finally fell asleep...actually we both fell asleep on the rocking chair. I laid him down in his bed...thought out the night he moved so much. It seemed like he was so miserable there were times when he struggled to breathe which made me jump out of bed and make sure he was breathing. So we had a long night last night

On Tuesday morning we took little man to the doctors. We had a great visit but it was "official" little man's first cold. When we went to the docs he didn't have a fever the only symptoms he had was a bad cough and a stuffy but later that night the fever came and it was another long night. Anyway please pray for our son and for us to recover from a week of very little sleep.

is it a JOB or MINISTRY? pt.1

Easter 2007 I resigned from my full-time ministry position. Honestly, this was one of the hardest decision that I have ever made but I knew that it was the right move not just because it was the healthiest move for my family but it was definitely a God move. So the following week I found myself in position that I hadn't been in a long time...JOBLESS! Reality slapped me in the face...jobless, no income, a baby on the way, my wife on bed rest, and somewhat directionless.

I knew that God was for us and that He had our situation already worked out but when you are literally living one day at a time it's hard to remember that our destiny is already written. The one thing I was sure of was that I didn't want to walk into something because of fear or pressure. Whether a secular job or a ministry position I wanted to know that God Himself moved mountains to put me there and if I didn't see and sense that in my spirit I didn't want any part of it. Sounds impressive and strong but try telling that to a eight month first time mommy. SHE GIVE ME THE LOOK! Guys you know what I am talking about...the LOOK!

Although this was a very crazy time in our lives I knew that God was going to show up in a BIG way. After my son was born once again reality slapped me again. Not only did I have to provide for my wife but now we had a baby that was depending on us. Daddy mode went into over drive. I started to freak out...it had been one month with no job which means no income. But every time we had a bill it was paid, not once were we late on our house payment, we never missed a meal not even my dogs. God is so good and faithful.

During the months of June and July I was applying for different jobs and speaking when I got the opportunity. Honestly, I was getting frustrated and a little depress. I knew that God was in control but when every door that you try to open gets slammed in your face you begin to question anything.

Now it's the middle of July. I was searching the Internet for jobs at this point I was willing to do anything...well almost anything. I saw that Buckle at a mall near us was hiring. It looked great and promising so I got up dress and drove to the mall. This certain mall was familiar to me because five years before I worked there as a security officer. Anyway I met the manager had a great interview he wanted to hire me but he couldn't promise me the pay I needed and the hours I needed. I walked away a little disappointed but I knew God was doing something. After I left Buckles I went to visit a friend from my security days at the mall. I started to share my situation with my friend she looked at me and told me that American Girl was hiring for security. I had know idea who in the world American Girl was all I knew it sounded girly so I wasn't really interested. After I found out it was a doll company I really didn't want to work there, but my friend encouraged me to check it out. So I started to walk to the store space where they were hiring people but I bumped into another friend that worked on the maintenance staff. He asked me what I was up to, I told him that I was looking for a job. Suddenly he screams out "you got to work at American Girl". I told me that he would take to me to the manager so I jumped into his golf cart and we headed to the American Girl store.

I KNOW THIS IS LONG BUT I AM ALSO AT THE END!!!

So my friend introduce me to the manager. Let me put it in the simplest way I can say it...3 months my way...1 hour God's way. In one hour I got a job that I was not looking for but God knew that I needed. My new employer gave me the pay that I asked for, they gave me the days I wanted to work, and they worked with my schedule so I could teach at a Christian school during the morning. In one hour I went from jobless to gainfully employed. The question now is was this just a job or something more?

how do you measure success?

I have been thinking about this question alot lately. The thought of being successful makes people do crazy things some times. Usually when people think of success they think of arriving at some kind of status in their career. Attaining the corner office with windows, making serious money, having a title, and even getting a parking space with your name on it. In short power, money, and position.

Now being successful isn't a sinful thing or something we should run away from but I believe it's how we view and define success that will determines if we TRULY become successful in life

Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well".

This is the blue print to a successful life. Jesus made it very clear if we want a truly successful life we must be kingdom seekers. In other words when God's priorities become our priorities we will see success in every area of our lives in our marriages, in our families, in our relationships, in our ministries, and even in our basic needs.

It's time to measure success differently so stop measuring yourself to the church down the street or to that Pastor across town and start becoming kingdom seekers.

A Divine Yes

Once again Bil Cornelius wrote an awesome post that I thought you had to read. I pray that you enjoy it.

“and He is the Divine Yes…” 2 Corinthians 1:19 NLT

Having a Divine Yes, an affirmation of what you are all about makes a “no” that much easier to give. Have you ever felt pulled in too many directions? The answer is not just saying no, but doing “no.” Doing no means that you say no and give it no more thought. If you say no to something other than God’s best but then are consumed with guilt, or worse the “drama” that follows from people who don’t get it, then even though you gave a “no” you are living the “yes,” which is a predisposition to please others rather than your highest calling which is devotion to God.
You cannot put your focus into making sure everyone understands you. Where your greatest passion lies…that deserves your highest attention, your most passionate pursuit without apology. Give your highest call your time and attention.

Top List of Sayings that Motivate

Just read a top ten list of sayings that Mark Batterson put out along with some other amazing people and one saying that I personally created and love saying I thought you would like to read it. Enjoy!

#1 Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshipping what's right with God
#2 There are ways of doing church that no one has thought of yet
#3 The greatest freedom is having nothing to prove
#4 Live as if today is the first day and last day of your life--Fredrick Buechner
#5 Criticize by creating--Michelangelo
#6 Irrelevance is irreverence
#7 The healthiest, happiest and holiest people on the planet are the people who laugh at themselves the most
#8 The church ought to be the most creative place on the planet
#9 Stop living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death
#10Lovepeople with they least expect it and least deserve

A few honorable mention:

#11 Your best thought about God on your best day falls 13.2 billion light-years short of how great and how good God really is!
#12 It's not about what you can do for God. It's about what God has done for you.
#13 God wants you to get where God wants you to go more than you want to get where God wants you to go!
#14 The greatest message deserves the greatest marketing
#15 Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention
#16 "There are no great things, only small things done with great love." - Mother Theresa"
#17 Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of wise men, instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho"'
#18 How?' is not a question that keeps people up at night or gets them up in the morning." - Chris Erdman"
#19 He who has a 'why' can endure any 'how'." - Friederich Nietzsche"
#20 Jesus didn't so much practice what he preached as preached what he practiced" - Steve Chalke"
#21 Creativity is the natural result of spirituality." - Erwin McManus"
#22 If they want me to believe in their God, they'll have to sing me better songs... I could only believe in a God who dances." - Frederich Nietzsche
#23 "It's never too late to be who you might have been"
#24 "You become what you worship"
#25 "We aren't human beings, we are human becomings"
#26 "Do or do not... there is no try" - Yoda

and finally my personal favorite saying:

If your dreams don't scare you, you're not dreaming big enough yet! - Gabe Trevino

Stealing People...

Okay this is going to be a ranting and raving blog if you don't like don't read it...

For those of you who have ever left a church and decided to stay in the same community and plant a new church how many of you have ever been accused of "stealing people". We in the church use a fancier word "proselytizing". I knew that when we decided to stay where we have been for the last five years and plant a church it would eventually tick some people off. After a phone call that I received today I believe the ticking off officially started. Even though the conversation was friendly it still amazes me that the people that I ministered to for nearly five years would ask me if I was "stealing people". "Stealing people" that sounds so stupid and childish!!!

First of all, people don't belong to us they belong to God. I'm not trying to sound super spiritual about this I just want the church to stop looking at people like trophies and begin to see the real needs of people. The people in our community need a real God to come to their rescue. But how will they ever see, how will they ever hear about this real God when all that the "leaders" of the church do is accuse the next church in town of "stealing people". For the love of God grow the heck up! Image what would happen if the church began to WORK TOGETHER to met the needs of the people in our communities. What a concept...

Second for you Pastors, don't leave the community that you have invested you life into unless God himself tells you to move. Read this very carefully Pastor you have been called by God and not by man. Stop letting the people around you dictate your destiny. First of all if anybody has a problem with you they need to STOP talking to everyone else (which is called gossip) and come talk to you about their concern (read Matthew 18) if they don't let God deal with them and move forward. Don't lower yourself to their level. Don't allow what they are saying about you distract you from your destiny I promise you your Heavenly Father has your back!!!

Finally for you trophy collecting churches maybe if people are leaving your church that might be an indication that something is wrong. I know that we would all like to believe that our church is perfect and is the only church that God moves in but I got some bad news for you God can and does move in a lot of different churches. Here's the thing people want strong leadership. They want leaders with a vision and a back bone and if they don't get it they will go find it!

So stop blaming everyone for the issues that you are having at your churches! Maybe it's time to reevaluate if your church is relevant and is meeting the needs of the people in your community. It's time to grow up!!!

Church In A Box Rocks!

This morning I went to a GREAT church! The Life Church is in Cumming Georgia and meets at Silver City Elementary. I have visited several different churches in the last couple of months but I have not visited a church meeting in a school yet so I didn't know what to expect. Let me tell you I was totally impressed with the passion of the Pastor, with the commitment of the people,and with the vision of the church.

A great friend of mine told me about this Pastor and church. Last week I was sharing with him my heart and vision for our church. He told me that I had to met with Pastor Hal Hardy at The Life Church. I so called him up and met a new friend. He invited me out to his church to check it out and to show me what it is like to do "church in a box".

God is so amazing I have been praying that God would give me favor and lead me to Pastors who want to see God move in "out of the box" ways and that is literally happening at The Life Church.

The Life Church is a GREAT example of doing church in a school setting. It's amazing what you can make happen in a school cafeteria when you think creatively. It was awesome seeing the church operate during and after the service. The passion, the commitment, the love for people. I was so honor and blessed this morning. On top of that Pastor Hal and his family take me out to lunch and spent so time with me. It was such an honor hanging out with this family. If you ever are in Cumming Georgia on Sunday morning and are looking for a church that loves people and wants to turn this world upside down for Jesus than you HAVE to visit "and maybe even stay" at The Life Church. I promise it will bless your socks off!

Lion Chaser's Manifesto

If you haven't read it by now you got to read "In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day" by Mark Batterson. This is one of the most influential books that I have ever read in my life. After reading this book it challeneged me to re-evaluate my prespective on life and ministrty. If you don't want to be inspired and challeneged DON'T read this book it will miss you up! Below is the manifesto of a Lion Chaser. If this doesn't turn your crank then your crank is broken.

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshipping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion!

do you really lose your wisdom when you lose your wisdom teeth?

This morning I took my wife to the docs to get her wisdom teeth pulled out. First of all please pray for my wife's quick recovery. I hate seeing her in any kind of pain. Second, as I sat in the docs office I thought to myself with a name like "wisdom teeth" these teeth sound really important than why the heck to we have to get them ripped out of our heads. Do we lose wisdom when we lose our wisdom teeth?:) I think so because why in the world would we put ourselves through that kind of pain...just a random thought I wanted to share with you.

connecting with others!

God is so amazing! In the last couple of weeks the Lord has been giving me favor with some awesome Pastors. I have been praying that God would give me favor with men and women who are shaking things up and who love to think outside the box. Who don't let religious traditions and denominational expectations stop them from reaching the lost.

I believe that God is in the business of strategically placing us and connecting us together to expand His kingdom. I can't wait to see what God is going to do through these connections. If you are a BIG DREAMER drop me a line and lets start kicking satan in the teeth together!

Great Meeting...It's time to get CRAZY!!!

Last night we had our first informational meeting. In my opinion it was a great meeting. We had 20 people total, 10 were kids and 10 were adults. Of course, I invited a lot more people than that but I had a lot of last minute cancellations. There was a special appearance by a great friend of mine that totally encouraged me. Anyway I started the meeting with a little worship. I played the only two songs I know. Afterwards I prayed and began to share my heart.

I started out by saying that logically this is the most crazy time in my life to plant a church. Easter of 2007 I resigned from our church as youth pastors, I have been out of work for the last three months, we just had a baby, I just started a new job last week and I am going to start teaching at a school next week. I said that in the last three months my life has been turned up side down. Honestly, the last three months have been painful, humbling, and lonely. I pointed out that before God moved in the lives of the people in the Bible they usually went through a season that was painful, humbling, and lonely. I said that it's when we are in this state that God usually ask us to get a little crazy with Him. Like Noah, Jonah, Abraham, David, Peter, and even Jesus. In every one of these lives there was a moment when doing what God ask them to do was crazy...logically it didn't make sense...it was risky but at the end it was totally worth getting crazy.

Last night was risky, it was humbling, it was CRAZY! At the end of the meeting I held out a bowl and towel. I said that this is what Life Revolution Church is all about. Being servants. Totally sacrificing all that we are, moving out of our comfort zone, truly learning what it means to pick up our cross and follow Jesus so that people who are disconnected, lonely, and living a mediocre life can meet Jesus as friend, Savior, and King.

Honestly, even though i shared my heart out I truly believe that may be 3 out of the 10 connected to what I was saying. Let me be totally honest with you...I just read Perry Noble's current blog entitled "Some Things I Am Celebrating". It's a great blog you got to read it. But basically he's writes about all of these great things that are happening at a bunch of different churches. Salvation's, baptisms, record breaking attendances, and hundreds of lives being changed forever. Believe me I am totally pumped up about what God is doing in these places but I am so desperate to see God move like this in my community. So being human I started to compare myself to these pastors and ministries. I started to think how the meeting went last night. That's why I said that I believe that maybe 3 out of the 10 people connected to what I shared last night. After sharing this insecure moment with my amazing wife she reminded me that God doesn't want me or our ministry to be a carbon copy of anyone else. Logically I know this but sometimes in our desperation logical goes out the window and fear and insecurity try to move in. Thank God for my wife...you got to have somebody that you trust that can kick you in the butt to snap you back into reality.

The reality is even if we have only 3 people that connected to the vision that we shared last night then it's time to get CRAZY! Even if we have only 1 person that connected to the vision we shared last night it's time to get CRAZY! As I sit here and write this blog I'm realizing that only thing that is keeping me back from get crazy and dreaming big is...ME. It's time to get CRAZY and move forward and start a LIFE REVOLUTION in Cumming Georgia!!!

Just Be You

Hey everyone I just read this post from Bil Cornelius blog. I thought you would like it I pray that it encourages you. Thanks Bil for the great word!

Don’t deny who you really are. As a leader, people will want to bend your ear with their agenda. This is an attempt to make you into who they want you to be. A typical view of vision is when people ask you what you want to accomplish, but real vision is not what you want, rather it is who you are. A real vision from God is not something you shape…it shapes you. We must learn to be unapologetic about who we are because of whose we are, and simply run the race we have been given, rather than trying to run in someone else’s lane. If you want to know God’s direction for you, look to Him. Just remember that the best clues to His will are in you…He already placed a passion and a gift in you. Where your passions and gifts collide is where God’s will is for you. Follow your true calling. That’s where the fruit in your life is.

when the bridge falls down

I'm sure you all of heard what happened in Minnesota. It totally hit my wife and I hard. We went to North Central University which is only a few miles from the bridge. We drove on the bridge everyday when we lived there. I literally drove underneath this bridge thousands of times. My wife and I affectionately call Minneapolis "our city". I am so proud of our fellow Minnesotans that rose up and reached out to perfect strangers.

Please pray for the people whose lives were changed for ever. Especially for the families that lost love ones in this tragedy.

tales of a fat pastor pt.1

hey ya'll I woke up this morning determined to get into shape! To be honest I have said this before. I would start great but two or three weeks into it I lose steam. Although I am 29 it may seem like I have a long time to live I know that I am totally out of shape. Every tme I think of my future I see a huge fat pastor trying to catch his breathe...sad I know. I want to an example to my son in ALL things spiritual and physical. I want to be here for my wife, I want to see my son and children grow up, I want to see my kids get married and start a family of their own. I want to be able to hold my grand children some day. I know it sounds kind of sappy but it the truth. I want to be able to stand in front of my church one day healthy and slim not fat.

So today I am committing to a healthier life style. It's time to grow up and get healthy. I have a lot to do for the Lord and I don't want to miss any part of it because I'm fat and breathe less. So to keep me motivated I decided to make my weight place. Here it goes 256. My goal is to get down to 190. So please pray for me to be faithful this time and see real changes.

the life of a bi-vocational pastor - pt. 1

Since Easter I has literally been jobless. That doesn't mean I have been lazy...I have applied at many places but every time I think it would be a great job the door slams in my face. For instances...

TRUE STORY: HAND TO GOD...
I love eating at Chili's. When I worked at the church Chili's was my second office. It's funny because I knew almost every employee at Chili's including the table numbers. I know pretty sad...whatever. Anyway so when I was looking for a job I thought I could totally work at Chili's I knew the menu and the managers and the employee it would be perfect. So I applied, took the personality test and scheduled an interview. Two days later I was went back for the interview. The general manager didn't know about the interview so he asked me if I could come back the following day. As I walked out I said to the Lord if the manager calls me tomorrow to cancel I will know that You don't want me to work there. The following day 45 minutes before the scheduled interview the general manager called to cancel our interview. He said that he was feeling well so he was going home. Immediately I remembered the conversation I had with the Lord the day before. The manager wanted me to come by on Monday I told him that I would think about it.
All weekend I prayed and asked God if He really didn't want me to work there. I tried rationalize why I should to work there. Quick money, I knew the managers and the employees, then I got spiritual...I could be a witness. So on Monday I got in my Jeep and headed to Chili's.

Before I tell you what happened next you need to know that I had just drove my Jeep from Minnesota to Georgia two weeks before.

Anyway, I was on my way to Chili's knowing that God didn't want me to work there when all of a sudden my engine shut off. Immediately I knew what just happened. I don't know if you believe God can work like this but I do. Sitting on the side of the road I decided to have another conversation with God and first apologize to Him and told Him I would definitely would work at Chili's. After 20 minutes I turned the keys and the car turned on. I told my father-in-law what happened and he told me to get it checked out. I told him that I knew what happened God made it very clear that He didn't want me to work there. But he insisted that I get it checked out and guess what...the mechanic couldn't find anything wrong with the car.

I honestly believe with all my heart that if we totally trust God with everything...money, food, car, home, jobs, family, He will never disappoint us. I can't wait to tell you the rest of the adventure tomorrow.

Can't wait 'til Sunday!

This is going to be a crazy week. As some many of you know my wife and I have been sensing that God has been moving us to plant a church. Long story short for the last three months we have been praying and fasting for direction for this church plant. Through a series of "divine appointments" we have come to the conclusion and feel at peace with planting the church in Cumming Georgia. So this Sunday we have invited some people to come over to our home so we can share our heart and vision with them. I have been preparing for this day for a long time! I am so pumped! I'll let you know what happens.

Daddy University Lesson #2 - Pain is Temporary

My son is two months old today! Becoming parents has totally changed our lives. Honestly I never thought I could ever express or feel this kind of love for any one. Every time I look at my son, it's crazy, I turn into putty. Anyway today we had to take him to the doctors. I have been dreading this date because this is his two month check-up...in other words SHOT DAY!

I hate shots. I remember as a child my mom and nurses holding me down so the doctor could prick my finger. Seriously I hate shots!!! As we drove to the doctors I prayed that I would have enough self-control to not drop kick the doctor when she gives my boy those freakin' shots. I think the hardest part of today's doctors visit was the wait. Of course my son had no idea what was going on but we did. We knew when those needles went in he was going to scream his lungs out and there was nothing we could do about it. I knew once it was over it was over and the pain would eventually go away. But as a daddy I want to protect my family at all cost.

I guess the Daddy Lesson that I learned today was that there will be moments in life where the wait will seem tough, painful, and overwhelming but once the wait is over it's over. After the shots were done and the screaming stopped all my son needed was to be loved on by his mommy and daddy.

So the next time you feel overwhelmed remember it's only temporarily and at the end I promise that if you reach out to our heavenly daddy He will reach out to you.

Free Chapel Rocks!

This morning my family and I attended Free Chapel in Gainesville Georgia. Honestly words can't describe what we experienced today. It was AWESOME! The faculties were great, the worship was amazing and the preaching was inspiring. The whole experience was crazy.

Once again I have "heard" a lot about Free Chapel, let me share this from personal experience you literally can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit at Free Chapel. Through the people, through the music, and especially through the preaching. Pastor Franklin spoke about family today. He said that we should view our families as tools for God to redeem other families that don't know Jesus. I never really thought about my new family like that. Another statement that got me thinking and convicted my heart was that we need to reestablish the prayer altar in our homes.

Okay men let be honest with our self how often do we as men led our families in family devotions? I know we can get busy, I know that life gets out of control, I know that there are several things fighting for your attention. But do you know something as I sat there experiencing this amazing service I was so overwhelmed with God's presence. As a church planter I desperately want our church experience God in powerful ways but more importantly I want my family to experience God in ways that the world has never seen. I want my son and future kids see God change thousands of lives, I want my kids see people physically healed, I want my kids and wife to walk with all the authority God has given to us. I want to live life to the fullest.

I promise you if you visit Free Chapel you will be overwhelmed with the presence of God and inspire to live life to the fullest.

WOW...what an amazing church!

Hey everybody my wife and i just visited an amazing church tonight. We went to Mountain Lake Church in Cumming Georgia. We actually live in Cumming so it was a short drive. Anyway the worship was great, the message of great, and the people were amazing. We were extremely blessed tonight. Got to be honest...I didn't know what to expect. When I told some people that we were going to Mountain Lake tonight suddenly they felt it was important to tell me what they "heard" about Mountain Lake Church.

(If you like to critize other churches this will tick you off!) If I have one more person tell me something about "WHAT THEY HEARD" I'm going to kick them in the head. I'm not joking! Stop criticizing churches that are thinking outside the box. Especially if you have never visited the church. My God churches that think outside the box should inspire you not make you insecure. It inspires me that people exactly went to church on a Saturday afternoon. It inspires me that a team of Pastors have made church exciting, fun, and relevant. It inspires me that people would get to church early on Saturday afternoon to make sure that our visit was a great experience. So next time you want to talk trash about any church, please for the love of God, visit the church first. Even if you still don't like the church don't go run your mouth off to other people and fool yourself by calling it informative discussion. The bible calls it gossip and gossip can send you to hell. I'm glad I got that out of my system.

Anyway Pastor Shawn sermon series is called Losing My Religion. Tonight he was speaking about how traditions can become religious. He stated that traditions make us religious when we forget the why behind the what.

Growing up in the church all my life I can see how we can forget the why behind the what. Tonight's message confirmed why I believe God has called us to plant a church. I don't want people to get caught up in religious traditions of the church. Our desire is that people experience God, become like Jesus, and influence the world. When people leave our worship experiences one day I don't want them to JUST leave another service, after hearing another sermon. I want people to leave with a Christ experience not a religious experience. The reality is that religion won't change people Jesus will.

So if you are ever in Cumming Georgia on a Saturday afternoon or a Sunday morning you got to visit Mountain Lake Church you will be inspired.

Daddy University Lesson #1

After seven years of praying for a baby on May 30, 2007 our prayers were answered. The Lord blessed us with a healthy little boy. I never knew that a baby could change your life so much. Sure you have an idea or you think you have an idea, but when it's 4:30 in the morning and you've done everything that you know to do and the your baby still won't stop crying...those are the moments that you find out what your made of. Last night was one of those moments. As my son cried his head off last night I felt so unprepared and frustrated As I sat there looking at my son crying I felt extremely inadequate to be a daddy.

I realized that the only way that I would ever be the father that my son needs is that I would have to discover the heart of our Heavenly Father. In those seasons when life feels overwhelming, those moments when all we can do is cry, it's in those moments when God wraps us up in His arms and comforts us. So when I wrapped my son in my arms last night, feeling overwhlemed and inadequte, our Heavenly Father was doing the same thing to me. It's amazing how becoming a dad has given me a glimpse into the heart of our Abba Father.

all I have is $21.00 and a VISION

For the last couple of years I have been praying about planting a church. Although I was in full-time youth ministry in a great church something inside my wife and I felt out of place. Easter 2007 was our last day at our church. I resigned not knowing where we were going, no new job in place, and a baby on the way. You're probably thinking "what's wrong with this guy"? If you knew me you would know this is not in my character. I hate change especially without having a plan in place. But that's where I found myself on Easter Sunday 2007. Before I left church that day one of my students came up to me and handed me $21.00. I tried to give it back to her but she told me that she wanted to plant the first seed into our church so that her kids would have a great church to go to one day. What you don't know is that this girl is only 15. I was so humbled and honor that she saw that much potential in my wife and I. So for the last three months we have been totally trusting in the Lord to provide for every one of our needs. I could honestly say HE has been faithful through this entire transitional season of our lives.

During this season God has been expanding our faith like crazy. He given us a love and passion for the people of our community that we have never felt. He put in our hearts a huge vision that only He can accomplish. I am beginning to learn that God loves dreamers. So after praying and waiting and with $21.00 in our pocket my wife and I have decided to plant a church in our current location. Honestly I have no idea what that means or how we are going to accomplish it. All I know is if we don't do this we are going to be miserable for the rest of our lives. I also can't stop thinking about all the people that would miss their opportunity to meet Jesus. So with $21.00 and a Vision from God we are jumping into the amazing, unpredictable, crazy world of church planting.

If any church planters out there have any advice please share it with us. We would appreciate it. I can't wait to see what God does with $21.00 and a VISION!

Life Lessons #2 Failing Forward

“For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10b, NLT).

You may know a little about Thomas Edison. He was a great inventor who lived about a hundred years ago. He invented the electric light bulb, the record player, motion pictures, and about a bazillion other things (actually, the number was 1,093 patented inventions). One of the things he worked long and hard at inventing was a new type of battery. He tried different chemicals and metals and designs, changing one thing for one test and one thing for another experiment. Some worked better and some worked worse, but for a long time he was unable to come up with exactly what he was looking for. A friend once came to see Edison when he was working on the battery. Edison remarked that after ten thousand experiments he was still not satisfied. The person was astonished. “What?” his friend said, astonished. “Ten thousand failures?” “Why, I have not failed,” Edison responded. “I’ve just found ten thousand ways that won't work.” Edison’s friend made the mistake of confusing an unfinished experiment with a failure. But Edison knew better. We make a similar mistake sometimes when we confuse failures and sins.

God doesn’t expect us to go through life without failing. He knows we’re going to try--and fail--many times (maybe even ten thousand times!). You may have failed the first ten times you tried to ride a bike without training wheels; but you didn’t give up, did you? But God doesn’t mind when we fail, unless our failures are also sins. You see, a sin is a choice to do something our own way rather than God’s way. A sin is failing to do right when we know what’s right. A sin is failing to obey God. So don’t be afraid to fail. All of us do it. Some of us have even failed ten thousand times! Just make sure to choose God’s way--the right way--instead of your own way, and he will turn even your failures into something good!

No Sacrifice, No Victory

I just saw the greatest movie this summer...TRANSFORMERS!!! I loved it!!! The graphics were crazy, the story line was amazing, and the characters were great. I'm telling you have to see this movie. If you grew up watching the Transformer cartoon you will love this movie. It will take you back to those care free days.

But the greatest line in the movie was "no sacrifice, no victory". (WARNING-this part may provoke you to want to live a transformed life) What a thought provoking line. When I heard this line it made me think about how I have been living my life lately. Have I been living a sacrificial life lately? Have I been willing to sacrifice me so that Jesus can live in me. When we sacrifice our personal issues, habits, attitudes, people will see Jesus in us which leads to a victory for God's kingdom. Imagine what would happen if we woke up every morning with this motto. We will be able to TRANSFORM the world for Jesus!

You got to watch the movie. I can't wait til it comes out on DVD!

Life Lessons #1 - STRESS SUCKS!

I found this on another blog and thought it was awesome. I definitely got some areas to work on. Thanks to Mark Driscoll for posting this. I hope it helps:

• How can I better organize my life to reduce stress?
• Accept the size of your plate and fill it.
• Exercise.
• Do not allow technology to be your Lord.
• Have two cell phones.
• Have two email accounts.
• Have someone schedule appointments and screen all email.
• Consider getting rid of your voicemail.
• Delete emails quickly.
• Have an assistant send you a daily items email.
• Use an out-of-office autoreply as needed.
• Sabbath hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually.
• Schedule your vacations first and block them out on your calendar.
• Pick an acceptable release valve.
• Appoint someone other than your wife as your lightning rod.
• Spend most of your time training leaders.
• Pay attention to what God is saying through your body and emotions.
• Feel your emotions but do not allow them to drive you in a bad direction.
• Do not worry yourself into a frenzy.
• Work from conviction, not guilt.
• Get a coach or a counselor.
• Have a study and an office.
• Schedule meetings rarely.
• Say no, and keep saying no.
• Get a wedding coordinator.
• Carry a notebook at all times to jot thoughts and notes.
• See your days as buckets to fill.
• Consider regular medical massage.

the "CALLING" in the middle of transition...

I know this is going to sound like I'm whining...it's my blog deal with it. I'm sitting here feeling confused and dazed. I know transition is a part of the journey to our destiny. I know that God uses transitional seasons to speak to us, to stretch our faith, to challenge our thinking, to discover how faithful He is. I get it! But what to you do when you know that you are CALLED to serve Jesus and you're walking in what seems like an endless trip in transitional land? Any thoughts?

Flesh People vs. Faith People

I just started reading this book Right People Right Place Right Plan-Discerning the Voice of God by Jentezen Franklin. Since i am in a state of transition i thought this would be a perfect book to read. As ministers we are constantly surrounded by people and being Pastors we want to think the best of people but I'm sure many of you had close encounters with "wolves in sheep clothing". In his book Pastor Jentezen writes about Character Discernment which is simply "the ability to find relationships that are good for you, and to avoid those that are not". Simple i know, but how many of us really pray that God gives us character discernment. We get so busy with "doing" the ministry and growing the church that we think more people equals success. Don't get me wrong we have to be concern with the numbers. If your church isn't growing you better figure it out and fix it because the longer your church is stagnant and fruitless the more people are going to hell.

What i am talking about is as Pastors and church leaders we need to be careful the kind of voices we let into our circle of influence. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:5 "Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." We need to be able to discern "flesh people" from "faith people".

FLESH PEOPLE

• tear you down.
• feed your fears.
• waste your time.
• drain your energy.

FAITH PEOPLE

• build you up.
• feed your faith.
• fill your life.
• draw you closer to being the person God created you to be.
• the ones who will be lovingly honest with you.
• they are strong when you are weak.

I'll shut up now i don't want to ruin it for you. This book is really challenging me and helping me during this season of my life you've got to read this book.

TRANSITIONS...

Since October 16, 2007 my life as been in a constant state of transitions. This is the day that we found out that we were going to have a baby. After seven years of waiting and trying this was the greatest news of our married life! But it seems like this was the catalyst that start a wave of transitions in our life. I understood that a baby was going to change our lives for ever...and now that he's here i really understand that but i just wasn't ready for all the transitions that were around the corner.
At the time I was in full-time ministry at a great church. i loved it! My wife and i were ministering to a bunch of amazing teenagers! For almost 5 years we poured our hearts into these amazing teenagers and children. It was so worth it!
In March 07 we began to sense that God was preparing us for a ministerial move. Honesty...i hate transition! I really hate transition...especially with a baby coming transition was the furthers thing from my mind. But God has a way of expanding our faith. So after serving our church for almost five years our last Sunday was on Easter Sunday. Leaving our church was hard but i knew it was time to leave and prepare for the new season that God was bring us into. Two weeks before i left our church i told the church that there will be a time in all of our lives where our faith would be put into action. So since Easter my faith in God and His Word has been in over drive.
I wish i could tell you that i was a rock and woke up every morning with this unshakable faith but i would totally be lying. i didn't have another ministry position lined up, i didn't even have another job lined up. i know what you're thinking..."what's this guys problem"! After spending some much needed time with my pregnant wife at the time fear and insecurity started to set in. I felt like a failure. I'm about to have a baby and i resigned my position what was i thinking. i felt like this for weeks.
But then on May 30th at 4:25pm my son came into our life. Something happened to me that day. Even through i still didn't have ministry position or a job when i saw my son for the first time all the fear and insecurity disappeared. I realized that this one person was depending on me and my wife to take care of him. That night i wrote in my journal that all I wanted to do was become the man that God has created me to be. In was in the state of transition that I realized that to become that man I would have to give up the familiar and secure to walk into my God ordained destiny. When I become God's man, I will become the husband my wife needs, I will become the father my son needs and someday I will become the pastor our church will need. So I guess TRANSITIONS aren't that bad. It has made me grow up, trust God, and expand my faith. God is always leading us into our destines and transitions are just pit stops where he refines us to walk into our destiny with confidence in Him.
Yesterday i read this in Psalm 27:13-14 "I am still confident of this: i will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD".
So no matter where God leads us I am confident I will see God's goodness through this season of transition.
the transition journey continues...

first time blogger

Well i finally did it...i created a blog. actually i have no idea what i am doing. i am so not tech savvy. i usually get a friend to do "computer things" for me. two things that really make me feel insecure are computers and cars. but this morning i woke up and decided to trackle one of these insecurities so here i am discovering the world of blogging all by my self. later this week i will be trackling my insecurities about cars more on that later.