Opportunities

You know it is a tricky thing when you're a "professional" Christian. When I worked for an auto insurance company I got to be around a lot of people that weren't Christians, when I worked for the cell phone company I was around a lot of people that weren't Christians, when I worked on staff at a church I WASN'T around a lot of people that aren't Christians, and now while I'm working in retail sales I'm once again around people that need to know what a relationship with Jesus is all about. It is crazy that when you are a "professional" Christian you seem to be involved in missions more. One of the things I tried to do my last few months when I was on staff at a church was put myself into places where I'll be around non-Christians. One of the main things I did was join a public basketball league in the town where I live. When you are a pastor you have to make a concerted effort to put yourself into situations where you'll meet non-Christians and be available to what God might do. If we expect for God to do something in this world we can't just sit around and hope God will bring them into our church doors. My challenge to all pastors and to myself when I go back on staff at a church is to put myself into situations where God can use me to show people His love and grace.

Reality Check

This weekend we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We celebrate the hope that we find in Him both in life and death. This Good Friday wasn't so good for one of my childhood friends. Early Friday morning my friend learned that her husband was in a terrible accident and could die at any moment. My friend is eight months pregnant with their first child and just the thought of her losing her husband so early in life and with so much to look forward to is almost too much to handle. Her husband is currently in a coma and on life support but his vitals have improved greatly over the last 48 hours.

It is events like this that should and do cause you to stop and think, they make you appreciate what you have in life...health, family, friends. Hundreds of people are praying around the clock for my friend and her husband and we all believe that God has the power to heal but we just don't know if He will. On this Resurrection day we thank God for our many blessing and mostly the hope that we have in life or death because of what Christ has done.

Winds of Change

The Maddness of March is almost over as we enter April and the Final Four is this weekend. April is also an exciting time for Amanda & I because I'm talking with six churches right now and half of those six are getting very close to making a decision. Amanda & I are so excited to find out what God has next for us and it has been so exciting to talk with these churches. These six churches are located all over the country and range from 300 to 3000 in weekly attendence but it is amazing to see what God is doing all over this country. Change can be tough but I believe God uses it to mold us and make us strong so I look forward to whatever this next change will bring for us because we know God is faithful.