Advancing

SonicFlood: My First Sunday

This morning was my first official Sunday at Alliance Fellowship.  SonicFlood led worship.  For those who might be unfamiliar, SF could be described as praise and worship on steroids.  As you can see they toned things down quite a bit for our church. They came to serve.  Tonight they played Montana State University in front of about 1000 large.  I had fun watching them wake up at the motel this morning!  They were in Portland/Vancouver only yesterday.  Before that was a whirlwind trip to Anchorage, AK with a performance Wednesday.  Most of them have wives and/or kids back at home missing them dearly.  Thank Jesus for Macbooks with built in cameras...a great way to stay in touch!

After 2nd service we took the guys to a fun restaurant in town called The Naked Noodle, specializing in noodle dishes from around the world.  I had a chicken pesto dish.  Yum!  While we were waiting for our food I asked former Paul Colman Trio bassist, Grant Norsworthy (below), for a favor.  I got my kids on the phone and Grant talked with all three of them!  To give a little insight into this guy's heart, when I mentioned how much I'm enjoying Bebo Norman's latest CD, he didn't even mention that HE had played on Bebo's earlier CD, Try.   

I start work tomorrow morning.  (Bought an alarm clock tonight!)  I can't wait to get started!  Next Sunday I get to try and follow SonicFlood.  Jesus, help me!

A Promise Fulfilled

Just over 2 months ago I received an interesting message on my cell.  I was sick at home.  Not expecting any calls from "Montana" I let the intrusion forward to voice mail.  We get lots of out-of-state calls into the internet department of Discovery Honda.  I figured it was either an Ebay lead or referral from a previous Montana client.  To say I was surprised when I finally listened to the message would be a bit of an understatement!  Let me explain.

You see, I had just gone through an extremely disappointing and useful candidating process with a great church in Alaska.  Long story short, I was 1 of 2 chosen for serious consideration.  They went with the other guy.  The only rub was how freaking long the process took.  It was like 10 months to a year before I had a "final answer."  They prayed.  We prayed.  Applications and resumes.  Phone interviews and board meetings.  When things didn't work out I decided it was time to reevaluate where I was headed.  I would take a season to wait on God.  After a couple months I guess God felt I had waited long enough.

The call came on Wednesday, July 12th from Pastor Dan Nagel of Alliance Fellowship in Bozeman, MT.  This 6 year old church plant needed a worship pastor.  I was recommended to Dan through my college music professor, Tim Smith.  Interestingly, my wife, mother-in-law and youngest daughter stayed the night in Bozeman the same day Dan called.  They were returning from a dinosaur dig in Wyoming when all this was going on.  Note:  No one in our family had ever stayed the night in Bozeman, MT previous to Dan's call.  God had my attention.

So it all began.....again!  Phone calls, application and resume, interview with Alliance Fellowship's search committee, prayer, and finally an invitation to visit AF and Bozeman. We were pumped!  I took a weeks vacation and we headed over in our '97 Mercury Villager packed to the max.  Some close friends of ours, Paul and Shari Loeffler, had just accepted a youth pastor call near Missoula.  They graciously made arrangements for us to stay with a fun couple from their church.  This was a huge blessing as it broke up the 9 hour drive.

Once in Bozeman we stayed the first three nights in a cabin at Yellowstone Alliance Adventures, a C&MA campground only 20 minutes from town.  This was ideal as it allowed us to connect as a family while trying to recover from some nasty colds.  After our days of R&R, a 4 1/2 day candidating process began.  We were invited into the friendly homes of AF folks.  Afternoons were spent at the senior and associate pastor's homes.  All in all we were in 19 meetings.  I hope we didn't pass on a blessing (our colds) to too many people during our stay!  On Sunday morning I led the worship music for both services.  I had no voice but fortunately the worship team was very supportive.  Our son, Christopher, added some edge on guitar.  God met us.  Many people testified of experiencing God during the services.  We left Bozeman with a sense of faith and expectancy of what He might do.  And He would have to do a lot!

The position originally presented to me was part time.  So I spent an hour with the sales manager of Simpson Honda in Bozeman, investigating different part time solutions to pay the bills if AF decided to call us.  You can imagine my excitement and relief when Dan called me Saturday, the 16th of September, offering me a full-time pastoral position.  When my wife, Deea, heard the news she just about fainted*!  We had been praying, believing, and hoping for an opportunity like this for several years now.  Thank you, Jesus!

Half of my time will be spent leading the music ministry of the church.  Half is yet-to-be-determined.  What is clear is this church wants me to serve pastorally, helping them reach Bozeman with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  That's what I'm excited about.  A call.  A mission.  A promise fulfilled.

We are officially in limbo as I submitted my letter of resignation to Discovery Honda 3 days ago.  Our house went on the market today.  After the house sells we have the difficult job of saying goodbye to a loving church family who have equipped and trained us for the journey that lies ahead.  Please pray for us during this exciting and difficult transitional period.  Thanks so much!

*   "wet herself" - earliest manuscripts

Hey! It's Me, Jesus!

Pastor Manny must have made Jesus an offer He couldn't refuse.  Now the Son of God is pimping his church, Newburgh Assembly of God.  Jesus goes Kung Fu TV at the end when his lips go out of sync.  After watching Jesus plug NAG (Coincidental abbreviation?  I think not!) for 30 seconds try moving your mouse without getting creeped out!  Seriously, this is very sad.  (HT:  BH)

Mohler And Harris On Dating

9 Marks has some fantastic audio resources available to church leaders for free.  Last night I stumbled upon an interview with SBTS president Al Mohler and I Kissed Dating Goodbye author Josh Harris on the important topics of dating and marriage.  The provocative thoughts shared here (primarily by Mohler) could encourage some great discussions within families and churches wrestling with how to define a Biblical pathway leading to marriage.  At the end of the interview Josh mentioned that his churches' youth pastor recently made a strategic move to make parents a vital part of their youth program, involving them in weekly meetings.  Josh feels this will bring long term change affecting how his church views male-female relationships.  I personally believe that this inclusion of parents in church youth ministry is a Biblically sound alternative to the prevailing model.

The God Journey

Wayne Jacobson and Brad Cummings are a couple brothers in Christ stepping "outside the box of organized religion."  They have discovered great liberty and responsibility outside of the traditional church model as most of us know it.  Their podcast, The God Journey, chronicles this story, discussing the joys, wonders, trials and challenges associated with discovering Christ in a spiritual world without walls.  I highly recommend it.  Here's a good episode. 

I had the pleasure of speaking with Brad (right) for over an hour last night.  What a great guy!  He's 39 years old, has 3 kids, and has pastored/preached in a mega-church for several years.  We discussed the subjects of calling, ecclesiology, theology and church planting.  I appreciated his wise counsel and humble tone.  I feel like I made a new friend.  Thanks, guys, for sharing your journey with all of us.

Supersize Your Weekend!

Chuck Colson graciously responds to some questions from Mark Driscoll.

Skye Jethani asks, "Are Megachurches Birthing the House Church Movement?"

Barna poll shows pastors are good motivators but poor strategists.

40 Days of Purpose

A highlight film of our 40 Days of Purpose campaign at Grace Harvest Church.

Tip: After you start the video hit pause until the video loads completely.

Tim Keller on Church Planting

Steve McCoy over at Reformissionary is an SBTS grad who enjoys learning from other camps.  One of his favorites is Tim Keller(left).  I've noticed serious "Keller pimping" on the right side of Steve's blog.  I'm looking forward to diving in.  Last night I listened to a 30 minute teaching Keller gives called "Why To Plant Churches."  He addresses common misconceptions and criticisms while highlighting the missional benefits of church planting.  Made me think.

A Radical Sabbatical

The Shermans made some great connections during their stay in Mazatlan.

Mentoring: An Important Interview

Adrian Warnock recently interviewed Josh Harris, author/pastor of Covenant Life Church, on being mentored by popular author/pastor, CJ Mahaney.  I'm familiar with Josh because his father, Gregg, has been a home schooling authority for years.  It was Gregg's tape series that put the advantages and challenges of home schooling in perspective for Deea and I.

I was reminded in the interview of the role mentoring plays in Christian discipleship.  I've been fortunate to have been mentored over the last 15+ years by my pastor and good friend, Doug Sherman.  Doug has invested much time and prayer into our relationship.  At times I've wished for something more "apprentice-like."  But Grace Harvest Church is a relatively small church and staff opportunities have been few.  Still, I'll always be grateful to have witnessed consistent Christ-like character modeled first-hand by a truly honorable man of God.  The church needs more of these kinds of relationships.