shift

God is doing something incredible in and through our church.  People are coming to Jesus, this year we are planting 5 churches, we are busting out of our building, hiring new staff and looking toward what is next.  It's a lot and I am beginning to feel the weight.  Now don't get me wrong, I am loving it, as this is what I dream about.  I also realize that I must again shift my schedule, leadership, family life, personal time, prayer time, etc, to meet these new demands.  Shifting requires me to let things go, assess what is truly important and put my efforts there.  This is tough, but needs to happen.  I have had to do this before as our church has grown, kids have grown, and have gotten more responsibility.  If I don't shift, I will redline and eventually burnout.  Do you need to shift?

change

Change before you have to. 

I think this says it all.  For many, we won't change until we are forced t0.  By then, there is usually damage that has taken place.  Most of us won't change until the pain of staying the same, becomes greater than the pain of change.  So...change before you have to.

Own Up

I got back home close to 3am last night as we traveled from Missouri for my grandmothers funeral.  It was truly a special time reliving her life and the legacy that she left us.
This morning I was up early as I had the privilege of speaking 2 school assemblies to the Lakeview Jr. High boys.  I took our new Youth Pastor Tony Bartkoski with me to speak a piece of it as well.  We had a great time challenging these young men to OWN UP and take responsibility for themselves and their actions.  They were a great group of young men.

my grandmother

Tomorrow I'm leaving early to Missouri to attend my grandmothers funeral.  Personally, I see it as her homecoming with her Jesus.  My grandmothers health was failing and her mind had slipped over the past couple years.  She was ready for heaven.  Grandma Call was a true woman of God.  She loved Jesus her entire life and knew how to pray.  Her faith was real and could be seen in her love for God and people.  She has left me a legacy and I am walking in the heritage she created for me.  I'm honored to be called her grandson!  I could ask for no more, than that my grandkids will feel about me, the way I feel about her!  I love you Grandma Call and I'll see you heaven....and I will do my best to bring as many people with me.  Your love for Jesus lives on in me!

both reveal

This past weekend I coached both my boys basketball teams.  We lost both games in the final period.  Bummer.  The truth is, how we act after we win and lose both reveal a lot about who we are.  I've seen both bad winners and good losers.  I challenge my boys after games like that, that we have to control our emotions and let Christ shine regardless.

Church planters unite!

Today, we are having 2 meetings for church planters.  It is amazing when you get into a room full of leaders who are full of faith and willing to take risks.  We realize that we are better together and come today to learn from each others experiences.  What could happen if several leaders with a heart to see Columbus changed by the power of God began to work together in unity?  We are going to find out.  I believe that we can take the City for the name of Jesus.  All of us are better than one of us!

timing

Lance Armstrong has recently come out and admitted that he has done performance enhancing drugs.  When we have messed up it is key that we own up, but timing is everything.  The longer we wait to tell the truth, the more damage to our reputation is done and the less grace we will be received with from others.  The truth is, we are all going to fail and make bad decisions at times.  The key is, how fast we apologize and make it right.  The faster we apologize, the more credibility we have and most people are open to forgiving us when our hearts are sincere.  So, own up quickly!

weighed not counted

Jesus doesn't count disciples, He weighs them.

When Jesus weighs us, what does that reveal?  How much do you weigh?

Executive Leadership Team Retreat

Had a great weekend with our team this weekend.  We laughed, prayed, dreamed and cried together.  God has sen us some amazing leaders with a passion to help further the vision of C3 Church.  God is up to something big.

obedience and understanding

Faith is obeying, even when you don't understand.  It's easy to obey God when we know "why" we should do something.  But is that really faith?  Faith in God is obeying Him regardless of our understanding.  Faith is where our trust in God far outweighs our need to understand.

the result of failure

What is your response to failure?  Do you get mad and frustrated or teachable and determined?  The truth is we will all fail and how we respond to it will determine how our lives play out.  How do you respond to failure?

traction

It is amazing how we have been working away behind the scenes at planting churches for the past year or 2 with some fruit, but now it seems that we are gaining traction.  It's so exciting walking with these church planters that we are helping to launch.  There are 4 of them that will be launching this year in the Columbus area as well as a 5th that we will work with in Kenya by building them a church.  It's almost like the seeds were planted and now it's beginning to come out of the ground and soon will bring forth fruit.