under pressure.

Have you ever had one of those days when you can't stop thinking about what you should be doing, but you're not doing it because you're too busy doing and thinking about stuff you don't really care about doing or thinking about?

Today was one of those days.

In certain areas of my life, specifically my passions, I feel as though I'm at sort of stand still. Right now, I stay busy doing a job that I'm blessed to have, but it's not the goal. I didn't move here to work an 8-5 job (yea, 8-5), but the 8-5 job is what helped me move my family here. I get that. And I'm very grateful to have a decent job when so many don't have a job to go to.

That doesn't mean that the plans, ideas and thoughts just stop floating around my head and quietly wait for me to be ready. Today, it felt like my head was too full of different thoughts. It aggravates me and frustrates me. I prayed about it...honestly, out of sheer frustration. God helped me come to the startling and groundbreaking conclusion: It's not what I do; it's who I am.

If God is the one who planted these dreams, passions and desires in my heart, then He certainly has everything in order. There is a time to His plans, and I can't let the 'other' things in my life distract me.

He leads; I follow.



one love...one life.
Guy

COMING SOON

(Before pic)
I've been waiting to post these photos for a while now. What is this...? Well, this is God's provision, that's what it is! The Golden Triangle Mall, more specifically, the regional management team that manages the Golden Triangle Mall, decided to 'give' a 4500 square foot retail space to Journey Church. OK, they didn't literally give it to us, but the 'price' would make even an old bitter-faced man smile ear-to-ear!
The deal with the mall was that we needed to renovate the space ourselves. I can't speak for the rest of our team, but I completely understand that I am quite limited when it comes to building walls and construction. We collectively decided to find someone to do the work quickly and prayed for God to provide. That someone came along and donated all of the labor to the church. All we had to do is buy the material.
The space will be multi-purpose for us. This will be where we have our administrative offices, leadership development training, small groups and mid-week kids experience. We are praying that God will continue to provide in all ways so that we can maximize what we have to reach our community.



(Current pics)


Our space should be done within the month! For those who keep up, I'll keep you posted on the progress. We are crazy excited...

distance between.

I'm a recovering pessimist.

As with most people in recovery, there is always the threat of a relapse. The thing about pessimism is that it sucks. Really, it does. It sucks the life right out of you. It's more than the glass is half-empty. It's the fact that the glass probably won't ever be filled again. Finding hope, having faith and trusting in things greater than you do not just happen for a pessimist, nor do they come easy. It's the reason why I sometimes have great difficulty with people that are prone to always having a bubbly personality. I am baffled by their ability to smile...always. I gotta admit, it really used to get at me from time-to-time. Not so much now. Although, I still have my moments.

I love optimists. I am intrigued at their seemingly natural ability to see the upside in every situation. If the glass is not full (yet), then great. There's room to put more. I have to be honest here. I still struggle in this area. I consider myself to be a 'practicing optimist'. Although it doesn't come as natural or instinctual, I am learning that the distance between pessimism and optimism is more than frame of mind and the power of positive thought. It is in large, the difference between faith and unbelief.

'Unbelief is a sin by which men greatly dishonor and displease God, and deprive themselves of the favors he designed for them.' (Matthew Henry)

In 2 Kings 7, we find an unbelievable message delivered by the prophet, Elisha. He boldly stated that the famine was over; that suddenly people would have an abundance of food after a time of severe famine. One of the king's advisors ridiculed the words spoken by the prophet. I would say that this would be a common response from many. I would also say that many, just as the advisor, would be dead wrong. Elisha, the prophet, then told the advisor that he would see the miracle, but never personally experience it.

All too often, we deprive ourselves of what God has designed for us due to our lack of belief. God is the god of the impossible and miraculous. When we choose unbelief over faith, we severely limit ourselves and allow ourselves to be robbed of God's provision.

Choose to trust and put your hope in Jesus, who is the author and perfecter of your faith. Don't give up on believing God for something just because you can't see it. Ask Him to give you eyes to see and ears to hear.

one love...one life...

Guy

success suicide.

Just about 6 months ago, I packed up my family to enter terra incognita. With hearts full and pockets empty, we leaped into a new life as what most refer to as church planters. However, we like to think of ourselves as cultural missionaries. We are cultural constructionists. We love to build relationships and integrate these relationships into a community. This obviously happens on different levels. For example, I am the Connections Pastor at Journey church. (Check out our weekly podcast to hear a talk I gave on unanswered prayer.) My business is to develop a organic network of small groups where people are living life together and being challenged to follow Jesus in personal and authentic ways. By the way, this week we are beginning our first semester of small groups we call, Journey groups...crazy creative, right?! We have 6 groups launching this week! Our biggest issue so far is that our first group that met Sunday evening is already a bit too big to be considered a small group. We had 25 people show up!

Now back to my point.

In addition to pastoring at Journey church, I work a full-time job. Everyone knows that I'm a pastor. Most of them are still unsure exactly what that means. The ones that I work with directly, drink, swear and talk about everything pertaining to life...politics, healthcare, reality TV, sports, etc. I love it! From time to time, they'll ask me about my perspective on different issues. In each of the moments, God has created a sacred space. I can see it in their face as we talk. Everything is stripped away...all the bravado, ego and safeguards, are forgotten for the moment. I love it!

Just this week, I was jokingly accused of committing success suicide. To make a long story short, I helped another co-worker and let her benefit from the sudden success we experienced. When asked, why I didn't take credit, I told my director that the team was more important than any one of us as individuals. He said that was admirable. I politely told him that it was more right than it was admirable. So far, I've heard from a couple other people on the team that said it was 'very cool' of me to do that. I love it!

Honestly, it wasn't that big of a deal to me. BUT it was a big deal to them, and it was a big deal to God. I certainly don't deserve a pat on the back for being who Jesus died for me to be. But I am absolutely thrilled that it meant so much to the team that I work with. My prayer is that my attitude begins to mess with them and challenge them in ways unexpected to them.

one love...one life...

Guy

Grace.

'But by the grace of God I am what I am'

1 Cor. 15:10

In regard to grace...

He paid a debt that I could not.

He made a way where there was not.

I have always been keenly aware of my inability to do many things. Yet I have done many things. There are many things left to do. I read this verse earlier today and it has been floating in my thoughts all day. I am what I am, not by my doing. I get that. God's grace has undone my past. Who I used to be, how I used to be and what I used to be is no longer me. It was not an evolution or point of maturity. It was a marked moment in my life when I became more than just aware that God did exist in a present state. I began to understand that He was precisely aware of my life and actually concerned with me knowing Him. The past became the past and it no longer affected my decisions and actions. It was done.

But there is far more about grace than often thought about. Many think of grace in terms of something that only affects our past. Grace is also active in our present and future. Like the apostle Paul, we need to approach each day with the understanding that not only are we not operating and living tied to the past (mistakes, fears, failures, etc.), but we now have a different source to 'tap' into...a different strength to run with...a different wisdom to depend on.

Live in the grace of God today...and tomorrow.

By the grace of God, I am what I am...(and I will be who He intends me to be)

one love...one life...

Guy