The Family Church "The FC"

Yesterday, another church we are partnering with launched 3 miles down the road in Pickerington.  It's my friend Adam Dinnell.  He is a great guy with a great heart and I believe that he is going to to do well.  I really believe that God is going to use our relationship to tear down wall of territorialism and pride amongst churches and leaders.  Last time I checked there are more people that don't go to church in our area than do.  In fact, if they all decided to show up to church one Sunday, there wouldn't be enough room if every church had 5 services.
I'm proud of Adam and his team and are believing God will use us together to take our City for Jesus.

Courage

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather it's pushing through it.  As we follow Jesus, He asks us to live a life of faith and faith requires courage.  Courage then, should only be waiting for one thing....a green light from Jesus!  If we move before the green light, it's not courage it's foolishness.

between the lines

I read the Bible and I often wonder what happened between the verses or between the lines.  For instance in my life, I would say "I felt called to be a pastor at teenager, went to Bible College and took my first youth ministry position."  In that sentence there is so much life, tests, decisions, ups and downs, between those lines.  Between the lines is the real journey.  It's where the goosebumps and emotions fade and where real faith has to be lived out.

later

Later.  We have all used it.  For some us it defines our lives.  We procrastinate and waste precious time.   We miss God ordained windows of opportunity because we live out this word.  See you later....later!  What in your life needs to be NOW!

shut up and listen

My dad taught me at a young age, if there is someone that knows more than you, watch, ask questions, listen and learn.  It's true that when I am the one talking I am learning very little.  I will admit it's hard not to always share what we are doing.  The truth is most good leaders and conversationalists will always turn the conversation back toward you.  I have missed many good opportunities to learn and grow, because I was talking.  We have to fight that urge and stay disciplined.  Another key is to always have a couple great questions in our hip pocket ready to throw out.  So the next time you find yourself in a conversation, I challenge you to consider who is talking more?

reloading

This year C3 has partnered to help launch 6 new churches in the US and one in Kenya.  God has allowed us to bless these new churches with people, finances as well as Pastors.  Although we have given away a couple hundred people this year, our church is still 100 people larger than last year.  God's Word is true, you reap what you sow.  I have this deep sense that we still have a lot spiritual seed in the ground that will be bearing fruit in the near future.  We are in a reloading season as we have just hired 4 new full-time staff members in the past 9 months as well as a couple part time employees.  I can feel the momentum building and can sense through God's Presence that something is about to break loose at and through C3.  It's about to get crazy!

trust

Trust is the glue in relationships.
Trust goes hand in hand with influence.
Unity thrives in trust.
Trust greatly reduces the need to explain.
Trust eradicates fear.
Trust is the foundation of any longterm relationship.

Are you trustworthy?  How easily do you trust?

action

I think it is crazy how we ask God to change us, all the while we have NO desire to change our actions.  That is one of the differences between just saying we are "sorry" and being remorseful to the point where we hurt bad enough to change.  If we truly want to change, we will do whatever it takes so as not to go back.  I'm not saying we will never fall again, but we must ACT and move in an intentionally different direction.