"Where" are we going?

In 2012 Tiff and I felt the call of God to plant a church.  I felt incapable, unqualified, and wasn't sure what this church would look like, how it would operate, or how it would ever work out.  Let's be real, I was in my mid-twenties, I had no seminary degree or other lead pastor experience, no financial backing from any denomination or organization, little to no funds available, and my favorite hobby involved making comedic mini movies while wearing a mullet and short shorts. (If you have not seen any of our announcement vids this just got awkward.)  But, I did know that God had gripped my heart for His people and He called me to the daunting task of leading them.  So in May of 2012 we launched Vertical Church in faith.

From the beginning, I knew this ministry had to be centered and focused on Christ because ultimately I had nothing of value, nor does anyone, to really offer but Jesus.  What I didn't know was what that exactly looked like played out in how we would function as a ministry.  I kind of felt like Abraham when God spoke to him and said, "go to the land I will show you."  I knew I was supposed to go but I wasn't sure where or how.  In that process of waiting and seeking to discover "where," I found myself putting more value and stake in what I thought a successful church looked like more than what God said the church should look like.  I was pressured into American church culture thinking that better programs, cutting edge facilities, gifted staff and speakers, cooler lights and a talented band was key to church success and growth.  In the eyes of many we were being somewhat successful in that we were growing in attendance...but, the harsh reality is that I was doing everything to gather people "to church" but doing little to prepare them to "be the church."  My intentions were pure but my methods more rooted in religious activity than spiritual productivity.  My heart continually burned for the church, the lost, and the hurting but in the midst of the noise of what I thought I was supposed to do, I couldn't hear what God was calling me to do. 

It wasn't until I was willing to completely abandon everything: my desires, my dreams, my wants and ideas of what I thought church was, did God really begin to show me the "where."  The reality is God could care less about how creative and well-orated my sermons are, our programs, where we meet, our marketing strategies, church activities, or our vertical T-shirts (which are totally sexy)...this stuff is all great, but what God cares about is are we making disciples? Are we doing the best we can with the grace and resources given us to do so? Or have we limited how we measure success by what happens within our services rather than what happens outside them?  Are we truly helping the poor, outcast, and those without a voice?  Are we being Jesus to a city, culture, and our nation that needs the love of Christ more than another organization and entertaining service?  Are WE being the church!? And if that was His purpose for THE church it should be the main purpose of OUR church.  Even if it means sacrificing "good things" for the sake of better things to bring Him glory.  A church obsessed with fulfilling His purpose and bringing Christ glory is a successful church and will bear fruit of their labor.

In 2012 we launched A church; in 2013 we strive to BE the church.  We are going to place value in what Christ said in His word more than what culture, other churches, and society says.  We are going to be less concerned about how many people we can get to show up to a service, sign a card, check a box, or pray a prayer but rather concerned with raising up disciples and leaders who can help impact this generation.  We are going to allocate our resources to better take care of those who can't take care of themselves.  We are going to be salt and light in the darkness.  We will build lasting friendships and establish a greater sense of authentic community and unity in our church.  We will pray for the lost, the hurting, and one another.  We will love unconditionally, recklessly, and tangibly.  We will proclaim the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ with boldness and will not compromise the truth.  We will saturate ourselves in the goodness of His grace and surrender everything we do to His purpose and plan.  We will BE the church.

I cannot promise you this will be the most comfortable, convenient, or easy task, but I can assure you it is worth it.  We will not be perfect and I by no means have all the answers.   God never asked us to have all the answers but rather to trust and obey.  I believe the plan of God is found when the people of God live in radical obedience to the purpose of God.

"Where" are we going?  It really has little to do with a location, religious success, or achieving our humanistic goals.  Our "where" is about "being."  And if we can empower and prepare God's people to BE then the world might be able to SEE the Jesus in us and we might impact this world the way God intended us to do.

McBlessed

This past Saturday was our Spread the McLovin' Outreach.  We picked up 150 McDoubles, drinks, and chips and headed downtown to give it out to the homeless and less fortunate.  I didn't know quite what to expect, all I knew was that I wanted to meet a need and try to somehow instill a sense of hope and life that is found in Christ to those we were going to be ministering to.

By the time we got down to Monroe Park my ride smelt like a mobile Mickey D's wagon, but our excitement and anticipation outweighed the intense aroma of McDouble goodness.   After driving around for what seemed like an hour, we finally all found a place to park and set off on our mission to feed the hungry.  At first, it seemed like a small group of people but as soon as we started handing out the goods people came from what seemed like everywhere.   As we were handing out the food and drinks my heart broke as many expressed how they had not eaten all day.

It was awesome to not only give out food to those who really needed it but even more awesome to be able to sit and talk with them, hear their story...and just be a friend.  I was surprised at how open most of them were to pray with us and even more shocked about what many of there requests were.  I would think living on the streets you would ask us to pray for you to get a car, house, or something, but most didn't want us to pray for a free handout.  Many wanted to pray that they would find work and be able to provide for themselves, some wanted prayer for their family and did not ask for anything for themselves. One man's request really shook me to the very core.  As the clouds grew darker and the rain began to fall he looked me in the eye and asked that I would pray that he would have a heart more like God.  I was taken back and humbled by this man's honest request.  It made me feel guilty that a lot of times my prayers are completely selfish and all about what I want and desire and here is this man who really has needs in his life but wanted us to pray for what really mattered and what is truly the most important.

The plan was to minister to the homeless and hurting in Richmond, but I realized from that moment that Spread the McLovin' ministered not only to the homeless and less fortunate, but truly impacted my life as well.  As the rain began to pick up and we handed out the last of the food and scattered back to the shelter of our vehicles many of them sat on benches covering what little they had in trash bags, as I watched it really put things back into perspective.  Sometimes we forget how good we have it.  I may not have the nicest of everything or have all I want, but one thing I know...my last name may not be McDonald but I sure am McBlessed!

IN IT TO WIN IT

When I was a teenager my youth pastor had the great idea of doing a fundraiser in which we were to run for two hours straight! Obviously this had to be some kind of sick joke, but we all agreed. The concept was that we would find people who would sponsor us for a certain amount of cash per lap and this money would go into the youth fund.  As a testosterone-raging teen boy this quickly turned from a friendly fundraiser to an all out competition. There were probably 40 of my peers lacing up to run that day but there was one person who I had my eyes set on, my Big Brother! Ain't no way I was letting anybody get more laps than me, especially HIM! I ran with all I had, pushing through the burn, and avoiding the urge to kick the broseph in the kneecaps to assure my victory.  It was intense and I gave it all I had so that I could "win" that spring day and earn bragging rights.

Scripture says we to are in a race and that we should run in such a way as to get the prize. We should run with heart and a drive. So many times we forget that this life is only temporary and what really matters is where you stand at the end of this race. It's easy to get stuck in the routine and grind of every day life and forget our purpose and lose sight of the goal. We lose our genuine desire to be with Christ and to see others come to know Him, and before we know it our full-on pursuit has been reduced to a mere walk or even a stand still. 

The great news is that life is a marathon and if your reading this your still in the running.  It's not always easy to pursue Christ completely and there will be times your lungs are burning and your cramping up and your gonna feel like giving up.  But, if we fix our eyes on Jesus, our goal, our prize and consider what He bore for us it will give us the strength to endure.

So...quit standing there like a statue, walking like you just escaped the senior center, and start running like your  IN IT TO WIN IT!

Hebrews 12:1-3
"...and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."


1 Corinthians 9:24-25
"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. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

HOW MUCH YOU BENCH?

How much ya bench? It is probably one of the most common questions asked in any weight room among guys.  It is like a staple of one's manly hood. Although it is one exercise, it is treated like it sums up a guy completely on how strong of an individual he is.  The impression it makes upon having a big bench weight is what spurred on the events that took place. 

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to hit the gym with a friend of mine.  Working out was a fairly new experience for him but he displayed a lot of heart as we grinded out the reps.  After about halfway through our intense workout I asked him to do something I knew he was incapable of doing.  I asked him to put 315 pounds on the bench and to press it! I knew (as well as he did) that 315 pounds was way more than his 150 pound frame could handle.  He had no shot at lifting that much weight by himself, but I thought it would be clutch to get it on vid knowing that I could spot him picking up the slack.  As he got under the bar, camera rolling, he almost decided to cop out because of fear that I wouldn't be able to lift the weight and he would be trapped under the iron.  I assured him I was there and encouraged him to trust me.  Despite his fear, he laid down under the bar, lifted it, lowered it to his chest, and pushed with everything he had in him.  It wasn't easy but I was there to carry any load that he couldn't press on his own.  Needless to say, we got a sweet vid of this skinny kid pushing some mad weight! 

I have come to a place in my life where I am that skinny kid in the weight room.  I have never planted or pastored a church, but yet my heart is burning with this desire to fulfill what God wants for my life.  So, I get to the gym and God says I want you to plant a church I want you to do something that is bigger than you, something that you know you can't do on your own.  At first there is that great excitement and pumped feeling...and then a little fear starts to kick in.  But, Christ has always been there assuring me the whole time, encouraging me to step out in faith and to trust Him knowing in myself it is way to much weight for me to handle.  The funny thing is, that is the beauty of this whole experience.  I know that the success of Vertical Church will be through nothing I have or could do on my own, but only through Christ and to him be all the Glory. 

God doesn't expect us to be the strongest, most qualified, and talented to use us.  He just wants us to get under the bar and trust Him when He calls.  It won't always be easy and at times it will be a struggle, but we can rest assure that if we keep our eyes focused vertical on Jesus He will never fail us. 

How much ya bench?  I think that is the wrong question. The real question should be: Who is your spotter?

1 Corinthians 1:26-31