anonymous

Every week we get a letter with $20 that says. "for C3 Church." There is never a return address or anyway to track it. This has gone on for probably more than a year. Today in the envelope there is a letter inside, still not signed, but at least a note. This person said they were in the drive-thru of Taco Bell behind a car with our C3 sticker on it. When the mystery person pulled up to the window to pay, they found out that a C3'er had paid for theirs as well. The attendant said it was payed for and that our person said to tell them "God Bless." The anonymous person was so touched that they payed for the person behind them, with the same instructions, to say "God Bless."
It's amazing how one act of random kindness can create a chain reaction. (yeah...I'm a proud pastor right about now)

the right questions

It has been cool to go from community group to community group to cast vision, share details and answer questions about our new building. There is an excitement as our church grows and lives change. We have gotten some great feedback and ideas on how to maximize space and make the most of every square foot. The key is asking the right questions. Questions like, how will a guest feel when they walk in? What will this building say to those we are trying to reach? What is the wise decision 3 years from now? What obstacles do you foresee with this design and how can we fix it? I have learned if you ask the wrong question, you get the wrong answers. But, if you can ask the right questions, you will get you the right answers? What questions are you asking?

together

We are excited about what God is doing at C3. Last week, we broke through another new growth barrier. As we move forward to build, we are going to ask our people to stand in the gap financially and with prayer to make this step toward Greater Things. Our heart is that we want as many people as possible to give something. Really it's not about the money, but about allowing God to use us to do something bigger than ourselves. I want my 3 kids to open their piggy banks and decide what they want to give. So when we do get in this new building and they see kids coming to Jesus, they can say, "I helped this happen." There will be no guilt tactics here, just an encouragement to be a part of Greater Things!

authentic

Today we had our pastors meeting for our section. A section they voted me in to lead (what were they thinking?). I'm always humbled and honored to lead these meetings. My heart has been to steer these meetings from monologue to dialogue. Today we talked through a book called "Confessions of a Pastor." So myself and another pastor talked about the "pastor mystique." This is where everyone expects you to be perfect and you buy into it and wear a mask that ends up hiding your pain. I started off by opening myself up and sharing an issue in my own life. This opened the door for several to confess what they had been carrying. Granted, it was nothing that they would lose their pastorate over, but it was "authentic." We broke up into groups of 2-3 and shared our hearts. I think it was the beginning of something amazing as walls are beginning to come down. We are all human...pastor or not....and it's time we just be real!

directed

So Sunday after church, we went to our family restaurant, CiCi's pizza. It feels good that when I walk through the door, the workers automatically throw my special "BBQ/pineapple/chicken pizza in the oven. It was good to see the former manager back....a guy whom I haven't seen in a couple months. At the end of our meal I went to ask for change to leave a tip, and the manager asks me for a favor. He asked if I would go to the store and buy him 3 big bags of drinking straws. (not something I get asked everyday) Funny thing was, I felt I should do it. Driving down the road, I'm laughing. I get to the store and see a worker there whom we helped last year financially when they were in need. I wanted to talk to her but she was behind a desk far from the register. Suddenly 3 people switch places and she waves me over to her register and we had a conversation. I walked out of there and realized that God just used me and it took a manager asking me to go get straws to do it. You never know.

12 years

Tomorrow, Keri and I will celebrate 12 years of marriage. I am more in love with my wife today than I have ever been. We just had an amazing weekend away (Thanks mom and dad for watching your kids). Keri is the love of my life and my best friend on the planet. I am blessed beyond measure! God has given me an amazing wife, 3 wonderful kids and a house with a big backyard. We have 2 vehicles that run and have more "stuff" than any one family should have. I am rich beyond money! I am so grateful to God for all that He has given me. May I never forget how blessed I am.

van

Today, my Keri and I will drop the kids of at my parents and go to pick up our "new to us" van. We will make it an overnight stay for our 12th wedding anniversary as well! Bob Biehl said "Maturity is putting process between opportunity and decision." Too many people haven't counted the cost or just spend spontaniously. Before we even thought of a van we figured out what we could "really" afford, began saving cash and started looking for "that deal." I think we found it! We are driving to Cleveland knowing exactly which van, for exactly what price (previously haggled). We have had our mechanic look at it (thanks uncle Keith!) and know exactly when we will have it paid off. We know the "out the door price" and how much we need to finance and what the payement will do to our budget. If our test drive works out, we will be rolling in our 05 Honda Odyssey! All that to say, we have put a process between coming across this van and purchasing this van.