Chill Out

It seems the closer we get to Christmas, the crazier some people get.  We are 15 days away and so much is happening.  If going from house to house to see family causes you to flip out on someone, why do you do it?  If making 60 dozen cookies causes you to stress eat, why do you do it?  If spending hundreds of dollars you don't have so your kids get the perfect gifts sends you into a whirlwind of worry, why do you do it?  If trying to prepare the perfect Christmas Eve candle light service has you wishing it was over already, why do you do it?  If the Christmas season brings you more panic than peace, something is wrong.  If this time of year causes you to be jumpy instead of joyful, something is wrong.  If you have fear over something going wrong rather than having fun, you missed it.   How about you just "Chill Out"!  This is supposed a time of year filled with kindness, love and lasting memories.  Take some today to evaluate what your next 15 days look like.  If you dread them, then you probably need to take some time for yourself and get alone with God.


Philippians 4:6-7 (ncv)  Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. ⁷ And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

What's Next

As I am approaching 5 years as a lead pastor, and trying to navigate a building change or addition, I am constantly asking God,  "What's Next?". Many times, that question is followed up by the reality of me having no idea how to do what He has in mind. I constantly find myself in prayer with God and having conversations with mentors and friends that I value a great deal. I realized a long time ago that if I want to go very far in ministry, I need to surround myself with people who have taken a similar journey. Of course I know God has given me a vision for ministry and yet at the same time, He instructs us to seek advice. So, if you want to know what the next step is, you likely need to follow someone that has taken the step prior to you. 

Proverbs 19:20-21 (esv) Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Purpose First

We've all been there. You get an idea or thought and you act on it. You plan out so many things that you just know it's going to work how you planned. When you get into the thick of things, something happens you didn't plan for. You don't understand it and you may not even get why it happened. Sometimes, the end result seems to be better than what you planned. How about this? As you go through this week, seek out God's "Purpose First". You can still make the plans necessary to carry out what is ahead but when you seek God's purpose as the end result, it will save you from some unnecessary setbacks and possibly even some failures. 

“You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.”

Proverbs 19:21 NLT

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.