Seeking Him

As a pastor, many things can interfere with trying to live a Christian life.  That may have caught you off guard, allow me to elaborate. If I'm not careful, I can get too wrapped up in helping others, managing the business affairs of the church, and spending countless hours in sermon preparation.Though all those things are necessary and important for the work of the ministry, I know that the number thing on my list needs to be "Seeking Him."  Sure, when my life is over, I want people to think of me as a person who was there in their time of need, as someone who did all he could to protect the integrity of Velocity Church, and a preacher that was used by God to transform lives beacause of a relevant word; but, above all, I want to be known as a man who sought God with all he had. 


Ephesians 5:15-17 (ESV) Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

By Faith

So many times as believers we can get wrapped in figuring out if the things we do are by chance or what God is asking us to do.  As a new lead pastor, I have been thinking about this a lot lately.  As I bring a message with a word that inspires someone, did I do it by chance or because God laid it on my heart.  As I try and get the people of Velocity Church to be faithful in their finances and missions, will they do it by chance or because they know it is what God is asking them to do.  Well, coming up in 8 days is a large outreach for Velocity Church called Party in the Park.  This is costing us time, energy and lots of money, but, I am certain that we are doing this outreach because God has set aside this time for us to do this, we are doing it "By Faith."  Even though we do no not know how many people will be impacted next Saturday or how many families may soon call Velocity Church home, we will do it because of our hope in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen

Challenge Me

As a pastor, I tend to put a few messages together that are geared for one purpose...to challenge the believers in the room.  Many times, those messages come from something that the Spirit has laid on my heart as a personal challenge, but other times, I feel that it is good for Christians to be challenged in their thoughts, their views and their walk with Christ.  Today, I got my challenge form a book I started reading called "not a fan" by Kyle Idleman.  With just the prologue and first chapter, many of the things I have thought as a pastor or Christian, have been challenged.  It's one of those times where I believe as leaders, if we are going to challenge others, we must be willing to be challenged by others.  As of this morning, I'm hoping to be challenged more and more in 2011.  I hope that you too will say, "Challenge Me."

Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Real Change

As we look to move into a new house this weekend, our family can't help but talk about change.  The kids are excited that they get their own rooms, for a change.  Will and Ryann are excited about changing schools.  Amy and I of course, will be looking at changing many of our current routines that we have been accustomed to in Tiffin over the last 4 years.  The new move even affects Mom because for the first time in her life, she will park in an attached garage.  This Sunday, I will be preaching on how true repentance must always bring change, in a message titled 'Stirred, but Not Changed.'  For too long, Christians have been stirred by a convicting message or a prophetic word but they fail to make a "Real Change", repent, and turn from the sin or temptation in their life.  It does the believer no good to feel sorry for themselves in the natural.

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV) Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Still Alive

In case you are wondering, I'm Still Alive.  Things have been crazy busy lately for me; a week of Mega Sports Camp, followed by a week of Senior High Camp and leaving camp to close on our new house.  Things have been extremely difficult juggling schedules, traveling, and study time. The good news...God has been there every step of the way.  I am even more happy to be alive in Christ.

Ephesians 2:4-9 (NCV) ⁴ But God's mercy is great, and he loved us very much.⁵ Though we were spiritually dead because of the things we did against God, he gave us new life with Christ. You have been saved by God's grace.⁶ And he raised us up with Christ and gave us a seat with him in the heavens. He did this for those in Christ Jesus⁷ so that for all future time he could show the very great riches of his grace by being kind to us in Christ Jesus.⁸ I mean that you have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God.⁹ It was not the result of your own efforts, so you cannot brag about it.¹⁰ God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.

Not Me

Recently, I began reading through the book of Acts again.  I figure, as a first time pastor of a church, why not read about how the first church of Jesus Christ began.  As I read now, at this point in my life, I realize things that I didn't before.  A couple things jumped out at me in the last day or so.  In chapters 5 and 6, we get a glimpse of what it means to have the Holy Spirit doing the work through men and God getting all the credit.  That is what I want my heart to be..."God, since you will do it through it me, I want you to receive all the honor and glory."  Whatever God's plan is for me at Velocity Church, whatever great things happen, I want to honestly and humbly tell people, "Not Me."

Acts 5:38-38 (NIV) Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

Acts 6:10 (NIV) but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

I Can't

As I look ahead to this Thursday nights' ordination service, I find myself thinking about when I first began to feel the call of ministry on my life sometime during the latter part of 2000.  I've been thinking about how I felt about not being saved too long, not growing up in a church, not knowing all the worship songs, not having any public speaking experience, no post high school education, etc.  Needless to say, I had a ton of excuses and it never really hit me until the fall of 2005 when my pastor at the time at New Hope Assembly of God in Lancaster, asked me to consider coming on as youth pastor.  My first thought was "I Can't" and  those thoughts from 5 years earlier started to re-surface and it wasn't long after that God was telling me, "Good, then you will let me do it through you".  Those similar thoughts came as I saw things begin to fall in place for me at Velocity Church.  How can I be lead pastor, I've never put a church budget together, I've never been in a board meeting (except to inform them I was leaving Tiffin), I am only used to preaching on a Sunday morning once a month, etc.  You know, those thoughts weren't around too long as I remembered that what God told me in 2005, is still true in 2011 and for the rest of my life.  So when you find yourself in a situation like this, remember, God will do it through you.


2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT) Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.