Its been awhile

The Godfather 3 which I thought was quite a terrible movie especially when compared to the first two had one shiny gem within it, a line of dialogue from Al Pacino that I have not forgotten to this day. Right before he has a heart attack he shouts, “As soon as you find you’re way out, They pull you back in!!!” Now I might be off on the accurate word for word translation on that but I think you get my point. That line has been haunting me in my own life the last few days. I think that sin for me personally does that. It’s when you think you have put something from your past that you struggled with behind you and feel immune to it, it comes right back out to get you in full force and if you aren’t careful it can put you right into that same abyss you were once in feeling cut off and separated from God. I have been finding myself lately flirting with things from my past that I know are sin and I should totally not be putting myself in those positions. Thankfully God in His grace and mercy has helped me to remain on mission inspite of myself.
I bring this up to say that lately there has been so much transition with my job, moving, the church plant, stress, distraction, life, time, or whatever excuse that I have not been very accountable in my life to my friends or church community. This makes it very easy for those old temptations to creep in, especially for me. I find that community is the glue that binds and the relationships and honesty with those people that helps me stay on mission. No man is an island, and to go about it with that approach especially in your faith is ultimately going to result in failure. You need people to be involved in your life to keep you humble, honest, faithful, and accountable. I thank God everyday for the people He has brought in my life the last year. They have helped me in so many ways that they will never know. I pray everyone finds community like that. I look at them as my extended family. Maybe to some that’s extreme but I believe that’s what being the church is all about.
In closing on this I want to say I have not talked much about the charter colony church plant at all. Well reality has sunk in and I am here and we are doing this thing. Do I think it will be easy? No. Do I think its what God wants? Absolutely. Everyday I see the opportunities and challenges He has before us here. There are so many un-churched and de-churched people who need to be reached with the loving and redeeming message of Christ. I want to ask everyone who reads this to keep myself, Steve, Nate, Jessie, Katie, Dave, Nina, and James in your prayers. I think this is going to be the most challenging thing we have ever done, but I wouldn’t have asked God for a different group of people to do it with. To everyone back in Lynchburg!!! I haven’t forgotten you. I love you guys! I wish Jt and crew the best and I am constantly praying for you. You guys are still my family too!!
On one last side note: This is a shameless plug for everyone to come to my Christmas party on Dec 13th. Please let me know if you need an invite on facebook or anything else.