Pursuit

This post from Matt Chandler, pastor of Village Church in Dallas, TX deals largely in the realm of church planting, but one part of the post really captured the heart of my forthcoming move and transition.

"The truth is I didn’t become the pastor of a church in the suburbs of Dallas because I had a grand vision for growing a dynamic, life-transforming, church-planting, Gospel-preaching, God-centered church. I took the position because after a great deal of conversations, prayers and fasting, my wife and I felt it was the direction God, through the Holy Spirit, was leading us. I came to The Village because I thought that by doing so I would get to see more of Him, experience more of Him, sense more of Him, see more of me die, more of my flesh perish, the old man in me lose more power…He is the great end that I am after. He is why. In 1 Timothy 4:10 Paul writes 'For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.' I love that verse. We toil, yes. We strive, yes, but where is our hope? What, or rather, who is the goal? I love preaching the Gospel and I love planting churches but I do those things because in them there is this unbearable weight of His presence. This crushing majesty that makes me want to cry, sing and scream all at the same time."

And this, in short, are the best words to describe why I would leave it all behind. I love NewSpring. I do. But the greater work of God these days is IN me. The work THROUGH me, by the mercy and grace of God, will be an uncontainable outpouring of a heart shaved of pride, selfish ambition and apathy.

And I can't wait...

Favorite thing today: There is nothing in me that can afford these, but I think I literally heard the green/blue pair singing to me from the pages of the JCrew catalogue. These are much more in line with my budget and, in fact, I am wearing them today!

Hookers and Robbers

Do yourself a huge favor and run right now and download "Hookers and Robbers" from Charlie Hall's new album Bright Sadness.

Cannot. Stop. Listening.

Favorite Thing Today: The brilliance that is Sabrina Ward Harrison.  My heart is so happy when I am soaking in her books.

Moving On

See I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? Isaiah 43:19

I wish I could take you all back in time through the past two weeks of my life.  Tornadic might be the only adjective to do it justice.  But when the Spirit wind blows, lives can certainly be stirred and swirled.

I have resigned from my job at the Convention.

Two weeks ago, this was not even a possibility.

In October, I will be starting a brand new, shiny new job at NewSpring Church in Anderson (www.newspring.cc).  I will be serving the incredibly talented Ken Wilson (www.avclub.us) and his incredibly talented staff.

There are TONS of details I am intentionally leaving out of this post to spare you the length.  But I can certainly assure you that even the smallest part of this story points to God, who sees our greatest needs, who gives good and undeserved gifts to His children and who sovereignly sits on a throne that is never shaken or thwarted.  

As I mentioned here, our inheritance is secure in Christ.  Our lives are not left to chance.  We are heirs.

Oh, and just for the record, I am so excited about this new opportunity, I can hardly stand it!

P.S. - Please go to NewSpring's site and watch the Exodus sermon series (Sept. 7).  It will change your life.  I promise.

Favorite thing today: Taste Book - Now I can corral all those little recipe clippings from Southern Living.

Delightful Inheritance

I have been walking around for three days with a tiny note card reading:

"Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.  The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance." Ps. 16:5 - 6

And hear God speak peace, rest and assurance to you today.  In Him, we are heirs to God, joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).  

Our paths are sure.  

Our inheritance set.