Amazing

Just between you and I, I really had no idea how Connections would ever launch.  Yes, God has patiently groomed a Pastor and his family, raised men and women to stand by his side, created relationships within the homeless community and the community at large, raised support within the church, and overcome every obstacle, but a homeless church born during a recession? 


God continues to amaze me.  There is nothing too hard for Him.  Wednesday, during a seemingly unimportant lunch of leftovers with our Boys and Girls club hosts, God placed two more pieces of the puzzle.  By the end of the lunch we had a temporary location for our church and outreach center which will be co-located at the Boys and Girls Club during non-club hours. We also gained our future location in the abandon theater behind their existing building.  


This victory did not come from my clever planning or networking skills.  It came because God is faithful.  For months, I have been scanning real estate listings, talking with property owners, reaching out to friends of friends with money and influence, introducing myself to city and county leaders.   The mountain of impossibilities seemed to loom larger with every dead-end.  It is easy to become discouraged when you are expecting a miracle and instead you are greeted by fear, distrust, discrimination and skepticism.  However, it makes the victory all the more sweeter when God's love floods the room from a completely unexpected source.


Theresa, the President of the Boys and Girls Club, is not giving out of her abundant resources.  She was hired to make tough financial decisions and stabilize a struggling agency. They have been forced to close several clubs in our area and let go staff.  Where others refused to give out of their abundance, Theresa shares out of compassion for our community.  


There will be many more challenges ahead.  Today we celebrate God's faithfulness and provision in difficult times.  Years from now when we are ministering to hundreds or thousands, may we remember this week and how God launched Connections.


Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV)
¹⁷ “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

Romans 8:31 (NIV)

³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?   

Luke 21:1–4 (NIV)

As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. ² He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ³ “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. ⁴ All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Preachin' (Part 2)

Our first  Sunday went really well.  We met in a small unconditioned room in the basement of the Boys and Girls Club.  Dylan Jackson lead worship with an acoustic guitar while Jasmine and our Dylan belted praises loud enough to be heard by neighbors passing by.  Words to our song streamed across a TV from our wall at home, as Jenna sat at a small desk at the front of the room running PowerPoint from my laptop.  Yet, when God showed up during our first song I felt as though I was standing in the finest church ever conceived by man.  It was was the same power I have felt at our well appointed home church and the simple sanctuary of Rescue Atlanta.  Where God's people are; there is His church.

The message I delivered was strong and received.  I wasn't nervous and felt God working through me.  That is not to say I was comfortable.  I preached from behind the pulpit most of the service and lacked the conversational style God is still developing within me.  The most powerful moments were when I left script and shared my heart.  That has been the strength of my outreach style and has followed me to the pulpit.  My prayer was answered; God decreased Jeff's presentation and poured from his heart.  May every Sunday go as well.

Speaking of every Sunday, did someone forget to tell me Pastors are required to prepare 100-150 fresh messages per year?  Wow, this is going to require God's strength and wisdom.  Up until this point I've prepared 50 bible study topics (maybe nearing 100 while teaching Sunday school and leading Mighty Ones) and preached 4 or 5 times per year.  For memorial services I was given a week to prepare for special events often over a month.  

Last week I lived the message I was preparing.  Every conversation and bit of news was considered as a possible illustration.  Every scripture examined carefully.  My message became part of the family; then I delivered it (twice, gave a condensed version to the Mighty Ones) and it moved out.  Monday morning there was a new message waiting to be adopted.  This one, a Father's Day message, different than last weeks but loved just as much.  

I am certain God will develop my skills and preparing a message will become easier.  I believe Pastor Larry could prepare and deliver a heartfelt message within hours.  Right now I am still discovering Preacher Jeff.  My style is still being crafted.  There are parts of Pastor Larry which have imprinted on me and will be part of my delivery, but there is much more God has imprinted on me which is still finding its way to the surface.

A week ago I, if you had asked, I would have confessed I was as surprised as anyone God chose me to preach.  I only arrived at the pulpit by tiny steps of obedience over the span of seven years.  Today, I know I am meant to preach.  Words which once only found there way to the page will now find there way to the hearts of those I serve.  God has been preparing me for this time since the beginning; lets have church!!

Preachin' (Part 1)

Connections begins holding services tomorrow for our leadership team and supporters.  I have been a minister with the Assemblies of God since 2006, I've prepared bible studies, memorial services, testimonials, and the occasional sermon, but this is the big leagues (ok, maybe the AG farm team).  It has been a great week.  


There are things you discover only by stepping out in faith.  I have enjoyed the process of developing a message to share.  It has called me to go deeper into the bible than I have ever gone before.  This job comes with great responsibilities and I don't take them lightly, but it also comes with great blessing.  God has given me a backstage pass to His show;I see passages from Old and New Testament blending together like never before, I feel His guiding hand from words chosen to the type of background for the presentation; simply amazing.  He has increase my confidence and understanding so I can pour into others.  Remember when your parents gave you the keys to their car for the first time, something like that. 


I am nervous too.  What kind of voice will God give me?  What style will he craft in me?  Will I bring him Glory?  Will I be able to express my overwhelming joy while portraying God's message clearly?  Will I break free from convention and preach as He would have me preach; can I be my authentic self?  


Lord, do not allow me to shame you; let your words of wisdom, encouragement, conviction, and love pour from me.  Decrease me, leaving only you. 

Running the Race

I coasted this week.  It wasn't that I didn't accomplish anything.  I completed our application for funding, introduced myself to Boys and Girls Club (our summer hosts), established a new relationship with The Shelter and the jail, organized our finances (now that we have some), and had productive meetings with our core team.  Looking back over the week, I definitely coasted.

We purchased new bikes last weekend for the whole crew.  All of us need to exercise more and we have a great trail not far from our house.  On our first trip I dreaded every uphill and sought out every downhill.  Uphills require work; your heart pumps, knees strain, and you often have to shift to a slower gear.  On the downhill there is a breeze, your body relaxes, and you are encouraged not to pedal at all.  Unfortunately,  there seems to be more uphills than downhills.  Which means if you are riding for the downhills and dreading the uphills; enjoying the journey may be very difficult.

Friday morning Jasmine and I woke early and headed to the trail.  In the middle of the ride my perspective changed.  I was no longer seeking out opportunities to coast; I wanted to get the most out of my effort.  Why wake up at 5:00 to coast?  I met every uphill with a new exuberance; a chance to push myself, a chance to test my endurance.  On downhills I shifted to a faster gear and continued to press.  I was surprised at how much ground I covered.  When we got back to the trail head I was exhausted, my legs felt rubbery and my breath was ragged, but I knew I had gotten the most out of the experience.

As Christians we are tempted to coast.  We dread the next challenge and seek the easy days.  Have you noticed there are more challenging days than easy days?  If you are living for the easy days finding joy in this life is difficult.  What if we allowed God to change our perspective?  What if we welcomed challenges; pushed ourselves, allowed our endurance to be tested?  What if we fought the temptation to rest during the easy days and kept pressing forward?  

Paul referred to the pursuit of God as a race.  Running a race well requires focus, endurance, discipline, and stamina.  These same attributes are found in Christians who are seeking God to the fullest.  How well are you running your race?  Are you giving God your best effort or are you simply trying to survive until the end? 

Acts 20:24

²⁴ However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

1 Corinthians 9:24

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  

Galatians 2:2

² I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.

Galatians 5:7

⁷ You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?  

2 Timothy 4:7

⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.