God's plan

It never ceases to amaze me how God orchestrates His plan to reach Columbus through our church. The people that God has sent to link arms with us, just blows my mind. To watch God grant us favor as all the details come together is truly humbling. I feel like these first 3 years have been foundational for what is to come. My prayer is that God would continue to do things that only HE can get the credit for because there is no way we ever could have pulled it off on our own. I believe!

why i read

I read to give - the more I read, the more I can help and give to others.
I read to lead - the moment I stop growing as a leader, so does my church and I make it very difficult for those who continue to grow under my leadership.
I read to see more - the more I learn and grow, the more I see.
I read to worship deeper - the more I understand God and who He is, the deeper I can worship Him.
I read to grow - either I'm growing daily, or I'm dying gradually.
I read to be creative - as I read I get new ideas for creativity.
I read b/c I love - my heart is to encourage, equip and empower others to experience LifeChange and this love drives me to read.

next level

With 2010 almost upon us, there is an excitement in my heart for what is coming. I really do sense that this next year will be a year of incredible increase for C3 Church. Not only numerically, but more importantly spiritually. It has been amazing ride this past year as God's Favor continues to be on us, but I truly believe that there is more. I feel that as a church we are standing on the edge of a move of God that will draw us deeper into Himself. That God is looking for a church that will put Him and His agenda first. My prayer is that this is a year of surrender and growth for our church. Oh God....may it be.

snow

Last night we got about 3-4 inches of snow. My kids are going nuts about wanting to get out in it. Today being my day off, I'm about to get them bundled up and make the trek out to the yard. Then come in for some hot chocolate....and then chili for dinner!
I love hanging with my family, as this is one of the most important things I could be doing with my time.

Christmas

We had 3 great Christmas Eve services, with a ton of guests. For our community, it just seems to really be a draw. As for the Sunday following Christmas (today)...not so much. In fact today, I'm sure we had to set a C3 record for "least" attended service this morning. Next year we are seriously contemplating canceling it. We would then encourage those C3'ers in town to spend it with their families and it would give all of our workers a week off. Time will tell if we pull that trigger for next year.

brothers

Last night was great, we got to hang with both my brothers and their wives and kids. We just chilled in my living room and told some old school stories. As for brothers, we have always been best friends. My dad used to say, nothing is thicker than blood and there is no bond like that with your brothers. We all share the same family crest (along w/our dad, grandfather and 3 others) which is a symbol of our bond and loyalty to each other. Every time we leave each other we say, "brother to brother, yours in life and death."

3 Christmas Eve services

I'm excited about our 3 Christmas Eve services. We have in the past had a huge turnout for our Christmas eve services and it has been from mostly non C3'ers. I'm excited to deliver the LifeChanging message of Jesus Christ. Our regulars all go out of town this weekend and this Sunday has traditionally been our lowest attended service of the year.
Have a very Merry Christmas to all!

never a dull moment with our staff

With our church under construction, mine, Gary's and Brent's office is a white 8ft table in the sanctuary and my old office is now main church office where our administrator works. Today she comes running into the sanctuary visibly distraught. She says she just saw a mouse in the office. So after we all laughed, I said, "I'll go get it." That's when Gary threw the flag. (challenged me to prove my statement) So the rules were set, I brought Brent into mix and we had 10 minutes to close that door and come out with the mouse. We each had a glove and Gary started the watch. We found it quickly and realized that it was a mole. Our hunting instincts took over as Brent scared it to me and I picked it up. It squealed as it tried to bite me repeatedly through the glove. In less than 2 minutes, the door was opened and the rodent was caught and released into the wild. There is never a dull moment around C3.

predecisions

"The most important decisions are the pre-decisions." - Mark Batterson
Many of the problems we wrestle with, could have all been taken care of with some pre-decisions. If you have thought through who you want to be and who you don't want to be. If you know your core values of what you stand for, it makes daily decisions easier because many of them have already been made. Or how about things like drawing boundaries in relationships, or the places you go, or even who you surround yourself with. If you have made the right pre-decisions, it makes the decisions a whole lot easier. What pre-decisions do you need to make?

wrecking me

It's amazing how God directs me to the right book, at the right time, for where I am at and where I need to go. The book I am in right now is again "Primal" by Mark Batterson. This morning while reading, God was shaking me up a little. In the book, there were a couple of quotes that led me to prayer for my own life and for those in C3 Church.
- The Bible is not meant to be read reactively, but prayed proactively.
- The Bible is a way for God to initiate conversation with us.
- The goal of knowing the Bible is knowing God.
- Our problem is we learn more of the Bible and do less, thinking all the while that we're growing spiritually.
- We are translators of God's Word with the way we live our lives.

I must say this morning, I closed the book and got on my face. My heart is to allow God to speak to me through whatever means necessary....and right now God is using this book.

Primal

Reading the Book "Primal" by Mark Batterson and it is challenging my thinking in a few areas. Here are some great thoughts:
- Don't let what you cannot do, keep you from what you can do.
- Our lack of wonder, is really a lack of love.
- Anytime you put an adjective in front of the Gospel, you distort it.

The two that are changing the way I interact with the Bible are these:
- You will never outgrow your diet of scripture.
- Reading without meditating is like eating without digesting.

Personally, I read the Bible probably 360 days out of the year. It is a habit that I have had for a long time. But sometimes a habit can become just a habit and I never want my time in the Scripture to become an empty ritual. So for 2010, I am committing to read and meditate more. I am going to look at my weekly schedule and cut away times to focus deeper on His Word.

a little less talk

Why is it that we talk about truth, but rarely ever apply it to our lives? Most of us are over educated and under applied when it comes to truth. Maybe we feel truth is too tough to live out or that it takes too much faith to step out and live it. What truth are you waiting for to apply to your life?

It has begun

Today, I began my marathon training for the Boston Marathon in April of 2010. I put myself on a 18 week program that does no more than 55 miles a week. I'm a guy who always has to have a goal. So, I already have my registration paid for when I get a notice that I have been selected for jury duty over the date of the marathon and C3's Ecuador missions trip. The good thing is, I just heard back today that they are going to try to work with me to change the date.....whew....I would hate to be a fugitive on the RUN and in and out of other countries...ha!

C3 turns 3

Tomorrow as a church, we will celebrate our 3rd b-day. I can't believe all that God has done in such a short time. I am truly humbled to serve such an amazing church and an incredible team. When I look at our past, I see God's hand of favor and I am beyond grateful for what He has done. As I think about the future, God is birthing some amazing dreams and vision in my heart. The past has been great....but the future is going to be flat out OFF THE HOOK! I am committed to keep chasing Jesus and to be a part of the DENT that He is calling us to make. May we dream dreams so big that if God does not come through....we fail!.............i like those odds.

evolving

It's amazing how C3 Church has and is continually evolving. We have our main focus of "LifeChange," and our discipleship process of Connect - Grow - Serve, but how we accomplish that is a work in progress. The day we stop moving forward and adapting is the day that we begin dying. This evolving leadership structure is tough though on those who desire to always be in control or feel they must have everything perfect. Honestly, we have never felt like we finally have it all together. Our team has had to be flexible as we continue changing in order to structure for the growth. It has been a fun yet challenging process......that we wouldn't have any other way.

cold

This morning a friend and I ran outside in the 20 degrees and 20+mph winds. Talk about a wake up call! It's always rough running in the REAL cold for the first time of the season. Not only that, but the first mile is always the most painful until your face adjusts and you get your body heat going. It's amazing though that after you have been running in it for a while that you soon get comfortable. It's the same way in life and it can be good or bad. Good for the fact that when you go to another level, you adapt to deal with it and it soon becomes the new normal. It can also be a great hindrance if you choose to stay too long in that comfort zone.

WOW

Tonight we were on the docket for the Cities Planning and Zoning meeting. If we had to stick to the City codes, it would literally cost our church $85,000 additional money on our new building. Praise God, they granted us the variances that we requested! The council even complimented us on all that we have done for the community! God has truly given us favor. I drove away from that meeting laughing, praising and even crying. I am totally blown away by all that God is doing and I'm just honored to be a part of it.

city council

So Tuesday is the day that we go before the City Council to see if they will give us some grace with a couple of variances on exterior lights and a dumpster surround. The decisions made in that meeting will literally be for tens of thousands of dollars. So please pray for us and that meeting.

Today, I also jumped in as assistant coach for my 5 yr olds basketball team. Can you say "chaos?" I'm just wondering how they are going to actually try to referee the games. It should be fun to watch. I love coaching my kids and investing in the lives of the kids on their teams as well.

East Central Section Christmas Dinner

I had a great time last night hanging out with ministers from the East Central Section. My grandfather, dad and myself were asked to be the entertainment. I hope they understood what and who they were asking....ha. We had a great time and the food was great. I will do whatever I can to have an opportunity to play music with my family. I don't want to ever take them for granted. Some day, I will be telling my kids and grand kids about the "good old days."

John G Lake

I'm reading a book right now on the life of John G. Lake. One word to describe it...powerful! His life is challenging my own walk with Jesus. This is such a greater anointing of God that we are not walking in. It is challenging me to evaluate my own life. Is Jesus truly my everything? I just talked with a guy who was in my youth group many moons ago and now is totally in love with Jesus. He literally sold EVERYTHING he owned and has only a backpack with 1 extra pair of clothes. He believes God has told him that he will bring the power of God to the homeless, but in order to do so, he must experience how they live. God is now supernaturally providing for his needs every step of the way.
I truly believe that there is so much more richness and power in Jesus that we in America are not walking in, myself included. God is beginning to stir something deep in my heart and soul...and I may just be crazy enough to believe that with His power we can change the world! The question is....who is willing to pay the price for it? I'm seriously searching my soul for the answer.

deer hunting

I spent Monday and Tuesday in the woods of southeast Ohio deer hunting. Tuesday was so beautiful! I love being in the middle of God's creation. I was also pumped to make the drive back to Pickerington with 2 big doe hanging out of the trunk of my dodge stratus....can you say HILL - BILLY?