Transitions

Today is my anniversary! Julie and I have been married for 19 years this afternoon. And, I have to say that the longer I'm married to this amazing woman the more I am blown away by the pure joy this relationship brings into my life. I can't wait to see what the next 19 years has in store for us.

It's been a while since I have written anything on my blog. No good reason. Just haven't taken the time and haven't had the motivation.

We are currently in a major transition. I have left my position as pastor to take on a new role as a Program Director with FWB International Missions. The program I am heading up is called "Go 10 - Walk for the World." It's a campaign designed to unify young people on Christ's call for us to impact the world for Him and to challenge them to raise awareness/support by completing a 2,500 mile memorial walk across much of the US. More on the details later.

What does this mean for our family and how can you pray for us? Well, we are currently in the process of relocating to Nashville, Tennessee. Several people have asked how they could help or pray for us so here are some of our prayer needs;

*Julie a teaching job
*For our house to sell
*For our small business (Airblast Inflatables, Inc.) to sell
*That we would find a good deal on a home
*For our daughters during this transition - especially Karlee who will be a Junior in High School.
*For our church and friends we have left behind
*For the "Go 10" campaign

Thank you for praying!

I can honestly say that I am blown away that God is allowing me to be a part of this program. I believe it is going to be huge - much bigger than any of us can imagine and I am so excited to be in on it.

Thank You

Thank you.

I want to thank everyone for all the kind words and well wishes over the past week. This transition, like most are bitter/sweet.

Bitter because….

•It’s hard to leave those of you who have allowed us open access to your lives.
•It’s hard to leave those of you who have become friends and family to us.
•It’s hard to leave those of you who have allowed us to impact your life for Christ.
•It’s hard to leave those of you who have helped us grow closer to Jesus.
•It’s hard to leave those who have stuck with me and believed in me even when others did not – even when others left – even when others gave up.
•It’s hard to leave our home and neighborhood and all the memories we made there over the past six + years.
•It’s hard to leave a place in which you experienced God do such huge things in people and community. The fact that God allowed us to baptize 26 people last year and pull off a big event with over 20,000 people attending is simply miraculous. I love being a part of God sized things.
•It’s hard to watch your wife pack up a classroom and leave a school and friends that she loved so much.
•It’s hard to leave a staff that is like family to us. Mitchell, Steve and their families have a true passion for following Christ. I am honored to have served with them on the battle lines and would want few others next to me in the fight of faith. I wished so bad that I could take them with me for this next part of our journey.
•It’s hard to explain to three daughters that God is leading us away from their friends, schools, and memories.
•It’s hard to trust God with these “faith steps.” The older I get the harder they become.
•It’s hard to leave a place in which I failed to lead the “power brokers” to catch God’s vision of reaching this community for Him. Someone asked me yesterday what lessons I’ve learned over the past six+ years. My response, “plenty.” More on those lessons later.

One thing I learned early on in youth ministry is that no matter how hard you try it’s ultimately up to each individual person to follow Christ. We are just called to sow seeds. As I look around Lebanon I see a huge mission field that needs to be reached for Christ. I’m thankful for those who remain here to do His work and my prayers are with them.

My prayer is that I have lived in such a way that those who knew me saw Christ in the way I lived and in some way I may have compelled them to also live completely for Jesus.

Resignation

Today I officially stepped down as pastor of First Church of Lebanon. I have accepted a position with the Free Will Baptist International Missions Department and will be relocating my family to Nashville, Tennessee within the next couple of weeks. My transition is quick, simply because of the nature of my new position and the launch of a new campaign at the end of this July (not much time to get things rolling).

As one might imagine, this has been an extremely difficult decision. One thing I’m learning through all of this is that the older you get the harder “faith steps” become. Because the older you get the more stuff you have in your life that is impacted by your decisions – children, home, contacts, friends, family, you name it.

We have been privileged to invest six years of our lives leading and challenging the people of First Church to grow in their personal relationship with Christ and to make His name famous throughout the world.

As we work through this transition faze we greatly appreciate your prayers. Relocation means we have a house to pack up and sell. At the same time, we are trying to find a place to live in Nashville. Not easy while saying goodbye to friends and moving to a new city to tackle a Goliath of a ministry task.

Silence

Silence. That's where I am right now and it's not easy. I'm the type of person that likes to have a handle on things. I love to dream. I love to cast vision. I love to be stretched and challenged. But the last year or even few years has me searching my heart and head for deeper answers. That's made it hard to blog. I just don't know what to write or don't have much to say. Sometimes silence is golden.

I'm so thankful for my relationship with Christ and that this time in the valley has allowed me to strengthen my relationship with Him. It's in those hard moments of life that you realize just how dependent you are on Jesus.

I'm thankful for my family and friends. My wife and daughters are so amazing. I am extremely blessed - way beyond measure!

What I really hate about being in this valley is that I am losing my passion. It's just not there - like a fire that dwindles to a small flame. I almost feel like a dream is dying. Is it an attack of the evil one himself? Is it the difficulties of life in general? Is it my own stubborn will being broken?

I'm not sure I will ever know. But I do know this; Jesus is still my Savior and He is still on His throne. Only Christ can bring me comfort, peace, and healing during this time. My focus must be on Him during ever storm life has to offer.

The other day one of my good friends reminded me of Psalm 30 - what a great reminder!

1 I will exalt you, O LORD,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help
and you healed me.

3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave [b] ;
you spared me from going down into the pit.

4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his;
praise his holy name.

5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

6 When I felt secure, I said,
"I will never be shaken."

7 O LORD, when you favored me,
you made my mountain [c] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.

8 To you, O LORD, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:

9 "What gain is there in my destruction, [d]
in my going down into the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?

10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me;
O LORD, be my help."

11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.