Never Settle

I am stirred in my spirit today about settling. As I feel I am gaining traction as a lead pastor, I am being challenged to "Never Settle" for where Velocity Church is. Challenged to not be satisfied with the great things that have happened in Mansfield the last 4 1/2 years but to know that there is so much more to be done for the Kingdom of God. Velocity Church has been in a great season of growth and spiritual maturity as of late but I know that the Holy Spirit has so much more to accomplish through my leadership. 

What about you? Do you have that job you have always dreamed of?  Are your finances better than they have ever been?  Does your relationship with Jesus seem to be closer than ever?  All that is great but there is so much more. The cool thing about serving God is that there are no limitations; except the ones we set in place when we settle for where we are or for what God has done. Today, I challenge you to take a look at your spiritual walk and see where you have become comfortable or settled. Once you discover that, chase after God with all you have. Acknowledge and praise Him for all he has done but ask for His guidance as you move forward because He has so much He wants to accomplish through you!

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Philippians 1:6 NLT

The Call

14 YEARS AGO TODAY, I RETURNED THE MOST IMPORTANT PHONE CALL OF MY LIFE!!!  It was the just the previous year on May 14, 2000 that I came to really know the incredible grace of God and was saved.  Unfortunately, I thought the "old way of life" was better for me and at this point 14 years ago, on May 6, 2001, I was as far from God as I had ever been.  It was early on a Sunday morning when my phone rang and I let go to voice mail.  Needless to say, the previous night was a rough one...remember, I had walked away from "The Call" God had on my life.  The voice mail came through so I figured that if they left a message, it must be important.  It was Amy and she had just got back to Lancaster after spending the previous day with some friends at King's Island and wondered if I would like to grab breakfast.  At this time, Amy didn't have the best life scenario going on and she was looking for something to do besides go to her apartment and deal with whatever came up there. 

Up to this point, Amy and I had only spoken a few times on the phone in addition to the casual conversations we would have at Crosssroads Center for Youth where she worked as a probation officer and I ran the open gym program.  Now, let it be known...I liked her...like REALLY LIKED HER but I didn't know how she felt about me.  We agreed to have her swing by my apartment in Millersport and we would grab breakfast and go from there.  The day consisted of breakfast at Bob Evans, a walk around Buckeye Lake, grabbing lunch to go at Rally's and going to Rising Park to eat, a walk up Mt. Pleasant, a trip to the watch 'The Mummy Returns', and then we went to my best friends house to play cards.

At the time, we had no idea what God had in store for us.  A couple months later, I dedicated my life back to God (after one crazy night with cops...maybe later I will write about it), Amy gets saved, we then get engaged on her birthday and on April 6, 2002, we were married...only 11months after that phone call.  I am so thankful for a God that had a plan for me, that included extending me grace to come back to Him after I had walked away and re-establish "The Call" he had placed on my life.  What is even cooler is that God used my stupidity and my ignorance when I walked away from him, to provide me with a wife that would answer "The Call" of ministry partner.

No matter where you are right now...if you feel that God has a plan for your life, whatever it is, will you answer "The Call?" Maybe you haven't yet come to know the saving grace of God...guess what, he is calling you to give your life to Him...just answer "The Call."

--Romans 11:29 (niv) for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable 
--Romans 10:13 (niv) for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

--Proverbs 16:3-4a (niv) Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. ⁴ The Lord works out everything to its proper end—

--Proverbs 16:9 (niv) In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

Digging In

It has been a pretty intense 13 months for Velocity Church from the end of 2012 until now.  In October of 2012, we were averaging 31 people on a Sunday morning.  November of this year, we had a record high average attendance of 62.  The November attendance record was the 5th monthly increase in a row.  There is a great deal of things that have happened since my last post but the best thing were some things that God dropped in my spirit about "Digging In."  Looking back...I'm so glad I listened to what he had to say.  Did I know at the time that God was about to bring people in to Velocity Church right and left? No! Did I feel that by staying on task and focused on God's plan, that some incredible things could happen? Absolutely! So, when things get tough and chaotic, just dig in and leave the results up to god.


Galatians 6:9 (nlt) So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.  

Moving Forward

WOW!!! What a day today at Velocity Church!  Today, I wrapped up a series called Mirrors: Your Faith Reflected.  In week 1, we talked about the side view mirror of a car.  We all know what it says, "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear."  I shared some truths about why we need to know that,  "Objects in mirrors are closer than they appear...So Is God." In week 2, I shared why we need to leave some things in the rear view mirror from our past, especially for people that have hurt us, through confession and extending forgiveness to them.  Today, it was all about looking through God's mirrors and not our own.  People were encouraged to stop looking through the mirrors of lies and start looking through God's mirrors, His Word.  This series has been a pretty intense one, especially for me and some personal struggles I have been dealing with concerning burnout and having to work a secular job while pastoring.  I came across a scripture today and the Holy Spirit put the following thought in my mind, "Now's the time for Velocity church and you as a pastor, and a leader, to begin "Moving Forward!"  This is extremely important because Velocity Church's mission statement is "Velocity Church exists to lead people forward in their faith in God." Apparently, God needs me to know that before Velocity can lead people forward, that as a church, we need to move forward as well. 

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ncv)  ¹⁸ The Lord says, “Forget what happened before, and do not think about the past. ¹⁹ Look at the new thing I am going to do.  It is already happening. Don’t you see it?  I will make a road in the desert and rivers in the dry land.

People Watching

For nearly 3 months now, my lovely wife, Amy, and I have been on a journey to create a healthier us.  We have changed the way we eat (not a diet per say, just eating less and not late) and going to the gym 4-5 days a week.  We have seen some amazing results and we praise God for those results.  As we have become healthier physically, we have become healthier emotionally as well.  As we are spending more time together at the gym or going for walks, combined with the fact that we keep each other accountable in our weight loss journey, we seem to have a new spark in our marriage.  Simply put...we just feel closer.  That in its self is awesome.  However, today while doing a workout on the seated leg press, I really began to observe the other people there working out, when a thought came to mind...Who is really committed to getting and staying healthy and who is just hanging out?  The cool part is that the Spirit began to share with me how others are observing believers.  As a believer you must realize that people who aren't saved are "People Watching" to see if you really are committed to the cause of Christ.  We are occasional example of God to others.  When they see you, do they know you are committed or do they think you are just hanging out?  Do you love the un-loveable, weep for the lost, help the helpless? Or, do you just go to church (the "gym") and hangout with other believers (committed "gym goers") hoping you may fit in.  Trust me...people know when you are committed and when you aren't because they will realize if you do what you do for God or for show.

Colossians 3:17 (NIV)  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Familiar Faces

This past Sunday (May 6), the family and I took a trip back to New Beginnings A/G in Tiffin.  A place where I no doubt learned the majority of what I know now and where I first served in full time ministry.  The four years of ministry in Tiffin was a tremendous time of learning and doing, often times taking on a task or role that I never thought I would be able to do.  This weekend was a special one for us.  As we walked in the church it was so great to see so many people that have impacted my life or the life of my entire family.  The kids saw friends they haven't seen in quite sometime and Amy and I enjoyed shaking hands and getting hugs from those that we were close to.  Even though time and distance keep us from seeing our New Beginnings family at times, I am excited for the day that I will spend eternity in Heaven with them and so many other "Familiar Faces."

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 (ESV)  ¹³ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. ¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵ For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Checking In

It has been a ridiculously long time since I have shared some thoughts on here.  Fitting I guess since the last post talked about shifting gears.  Guess I finally down shifted, haha. It has been a little over a year now since I have been serving Velocity Church as lead pastor.  It has by far been a fast, fun, enjoyable year.  There have been some tricky times here and there and some decisions to make that I didn't expect to face in the first year but all in all, I would do it all over again.  The family is doing very well and things at the church are going just as good.   I'm just glad that God doesn't forget about us and that he isn't about "Checking In" from time to time to see how we are but that he is always there.  In the last couple weeks, I have been really evaluating my time with God.  I have been trying to focus on him more throughout the day and not just try to get in my 15 minutes in the morning and then never look to or think about God again.  God is always there and as believers, we need to always be mindful of that.

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”