When we set out on this church planting journey, so many people who had walked the road before us warned us that it would be one of the most difficult things we would ever do. (It certainly has been.) They said, “If you don’t feel a true sense of calling from God, and you can imagine yourself doing anything else, don’t plant a church.” (I couldn’t imagine (and I still can’t imagine) doing anything else.) They said, “Don’t be surprised when a year or two from now, most of the people who set out on this journey with you are no longer with you.” (Of course you think you’re going to be the exception, but here we are a couple years into this thing, and most of the people who set out on this journey with us are no longer with us. For some I understand why, for others I still don’t understand. In either case, it’s painful.)

I apologize if some of you are growing weary in hearing me express the emotional rollercoaster this journey has been (and continues to be) for me. It certainly would, in many ways, be easier and more comfortable to keep it stuffed inside and pretend like we have it all together. Some may argue that that approach would be better for creating stability for us as a fledgling new church community. Although everyone may not be feeling these things, and everyone may not be feeling them to the degree that I am feeling them, I suspect that I am not the only one wrestling through this journey. And so right or wrong, I’m attempting to continue to step out of my comfort zone and to be candid about what I am experiencing and feeling.

When I say this has been an emotional rollercoaster, it truly has been. Two Sundays ago we had a great turn out for our Sunday Morning Gathering. We had a handful of visitors who all really seemed to have a positive experience. I had the opportunity to connect with a number of other pastors in the area to talk about what the church is really meant to be, and to dream about how we can better work together for the sake of God’s kingdom. I had several clearly God-orchestrated encounters with unchurched people and the opportunity to speak into their lives. It was a great week! And then this past Sunday we had our lowest ever attended Sunday, and as much as I tried to fight it, I found myself in a heap of discouragement, wondering if God has completely abandoned us, and ready to throw in the towel. Deep down inside I know it’s not about how many people show up on a Sunday morning. I know that’s not what it’s about, and it’s not why we do what we do. And I wish those things didn’t effect me the way they do, but they do. I’m grateful, though, that God is using those things to work in my life and to continue growing me into the person He wants me to be.

This isn’t my first ride on this rollercoaster either. It’s been quite a regular occurrence over this journey. I remember distinct points a year ago, 10 months ago, 8 months ago, 6 months ago, 4 months ago, 2 months ago, where I thought maybe it was over. And yet, we’re still here. And all along this journey, when these moments of discouragement set in, as I do my best to press into God even in the midst of that discouragement, the fog begins to lift and God keeps bringing me back to my calling. I’m here not because Impact Community Church is the answer, not because this thing looks anything like I thought it was going to look like, not because we have a certain number of people coming on Sunday mornings, and not because certain people are here with us on this journey. I’m here because, at this moment, this is where God has called me to be. And no matter what the circumstances look like around me… no matter how much it doesn’t make sense, and it may not look like it’s going to work, until the Spirit of God makes it clear that I’m called to be somewhere else, I am praying that God will continue to give me the faith, the strength, and the obedience to stand and endure. And those of you that are called to be here with us, I’m praying for you as well, that God will continue to give you the faith, strength, and obedience to stand and endure as well.

Galatians 6:9 encourages us, "9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” The truth is, the harvest belongs to God. When it comes, how it comes, and what it looks like is God’s business. It may not look like anything we thought it would. It may not come as soon as we think it should. Our job is not to manufacture a harvest. Our job is to be faithful in doing good and to never give up. Our mission is not to build A church or even to build THE church. Jesus said He would build the church, and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. As a small segment of God’s one church, we have been commissioned to go and make disciples. With or without Impact Community Church, this is, and always will be our mission. But as long as God has a role for Impact Community Church to play in that mission, as a segment of His one Church, we will continue on. If and when God no longer has a role for Impact Community Church, as an organization, to play in that mission, I trust and believe that God will no longer make it possible for us to be in existence. I have seen enough of God’s hand in this journey to know, with certainty, that we are not here because we’ve willed this thing into existence, we’re here because God has called us to be here. And for as long as God calls us to be here, there is work for us to do. “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” Personally, I want to get beyond trying to figure out whether or not we are supposed to be here as a church community. I think the enemy would love nothing more than for us to spend all of our time trying to figure out whether or not we should be here, and to not spend any of that time actually fulfilling the Great Commission. I confess that I have been distracted and I’m sorry for that! As long as God continues to make provision for us to be here, let’s keep our eyes focused on the mission.

I was reading today in the book of Colossians. Paul wrote this letter while he was imprisoned for living out the mission God had given him. It was one of several occasions where Paul was imprisoned for His faith. He was also slandered, beaten, left for dead, was homeless. hungry… and the list could go on and on. I’m sure to many, these setbacks could have been viewed as clear evidence that God was not blessing the work he was doing, and that he should turn back from it and give up, but Paul refused. When I try to put myself in Paul’s shoes, and then look at the things I suffer in comparison (not enough people showing up on Sunday mornings, or people not being as committed as I would like them to be), admittedly I’m quite embarrassed! God has blessed me, and blessed us, beyond measure! What valid reason do we have for not wholeheartedly devoting ourselves to making disciples?!? But Paul wrote to the Colossians…

"24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. 25 God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. 26 This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people.27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.

28 So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. 29 That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.” (Colossians 1:24-29 NLT)

Again, the things I suffer, and the things we suffer, undoubtedly pale in comparison to the things that Paul was suffering. Regardless, we suffer for the sake of Christ, and for the sake of His church. And every once in a while, I think we need to be reminded why we do. The mission of making disciples, as Paul says, is about “warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us.” And the reason we do this is because, when the end comes, “we want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.” And I love Paul’s words in verse 29, “That’s why I work and struggle so hard…”

The mission of making disciples is not an easy one. Jesus never promised it would be. But as Paul also says, that’s why we need to depend on Christ’s mighty power that works within us, and not on our own strength. We struggle and we work hard, but we struggle and we work hard for a reason. And I am convinced that when the end comes, and we stand before God and hear Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant”, it will undeniably be worth it.

And so, we labor on...

1 NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

This week at Heartland Church we are continuing our Alternative Lifestyle series looking at Living Life in Community. 

We've talked in weeks past about how intentionally choosing to live alternatively to those around us and to follow Jesus is not an easy thing to do. It takes intentionality, hard work and discipline to make significant changes to our lives.

The truth is though, that the journey of pursuing an Alternative Lifestyle becomes exponentially more difficult when we try to do it on our own, because God has created us for community.

How many of you have ever tried to make significant lifestyle changes on your own? How successful were you? Statistics show that when we invest in making changes to our lives while surrounded by a support system of other people, we are much more successful than when we try to do it alone.

God never intended for us to journey through life on our own. We see in God's own triune nature (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) that he himself is a communal being. 

When God created Adam, the first man, he said, "It is not good for man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18) and he created a woman to be with him. 

God established his covenant with a community of people (the nation of Israel) who did life together. 

The book of Ecclesiastes speaks of the power of community and relationships. "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

In the New Testament we see Jesus living and doing ministry in community with his disciples. We see the establishment of the New Testament church, to which the Apostle Paul referred to as the Body of Christ - many parts who all need one another.

God has called us to live an Alternative Lifestyle and one of the ways we do that is by choosing not to journey through life alone but to surround ourselves in community. It's not always easy but it's one of the ways we begin to experience the fullness of life that Jesus came to give.

How are you doing at surrounding yourself with other people and doing life in community?

This week at Heartland Church we continue our Alternative Lifestyle series looking at the topic of Living Life on Purpose. The phrase Living Life on Purpose has a dual meaning in my mind. 

On one hand it speaks to the intentionality behind what we do... we are intentional and purposeful in the things we do. This is vital to following Jesus down this alternative path of living. When we talk about going against the norm and living according to an alternative way, that doesn't just happen by accident. We have to be disciplined, intentional and purposeful about the decisions we make. It takes hard work to live differently... do it on purpose!

On the other hand the phrase Living Life on Purpose also speaks to the idea of living toward the mission or purpose I was created for. The truth is God has created each one if us with a unique calling and has given us each unique gifts and personalities to fulfill the purposes he has for our lives. Ephesians 2 speaks of the salvation God has given us by grace alone and in verse 10 says, "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, SO WE CAN DO THE GOOD THINGS HE PLANNED FOR US LONG AGO." 

A big part of the challenge of learning to live this Alternative Lifestyle is discovering the purpose that God has for our lives and then making a decision to intentionally (purposefully) live according to it.

Will you live your life on purpose?

This is a powerful video in lieu of what we are talking about during our Alternative Lifestyle series. Are you giving God everything or just going through the motions of religion?

What does it mean to worship God? What does it mean to be devoted to him? For many of us we define these things in terms of portions of our life that we take to do something for God. Worship is something we do on Sunday morning at church when we sing together. Devotions are when we take time to pray in the morning and read a few verses from our Bible. But is this all that God is looking for in our worship and devotion? Is this the standard he has set for us?

Jesus seems to set the bar much higher. He states in Luke 10:27 that the greatest commandment ever given to those who would follow him is to "Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your strength and with ALL your mind..." Apparently Jesus isn't interested in having part of our love and devotion, he wants ALL of it! Have you ever thought about what it means to worship God with ALL of who you are?

The Apostle Paul reiterates this same principle in Romans 12 when he says "I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this," he says, "is your spiritual act of worship." So apparently worship isn't about singing songs to God or taking time pray in the morning or reading a few verses from the Bible, although those things can be an important part of our worship and devotion. True worship is about giving ALL of your life to God and not just honoring him in certain moments with certain portions of your life, but seeking to honor him every moment of every day with ALL of your life.

What adjustments do you need to make in your life to worship God with ALL of who you are?

This week at Heartland Church we are starting a new series called "The Alternative Lifestyle." The proposition of an "Alternative Lifestyle" suggests that there is another lifestyle that this is the alternative to. Each of us make decisions on a daily basis, both consciously and subconsciously, about how we are going to live our lives. And whether we realize it or not, our culture has a lot to say about what is the "normal", "acceptable" way to live. Many of us spend our lives trying to keep up with what is "normal," in the hopes that we can fit in, be accepted or even be popular and famous.

Scripture speaks to these life choices over and over again. The Bible often talks about what is considered a "normal" practice or way of thinking in the world but then offers an alternative way of thinking and acting for those who would follow after Jesus. Apparently, according to God, those who would be his followers should think and act differently from those around them. God offers an alternative to normal way of doing things and according to Jesus, it's this alternative lifestyle that leads to the abundant life he came to give, or as the NLT states, "a rich and satisfying life." (John 10:10)

There is one particular verse that has always struck me in this discussion about the choice to live a "normal life" like everyone around me or the "alternative life" God calls us to in Scripture.

Matthew 7:13-14
^"13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."


According to Jesus words in Matthew 7, the normal way of living (the broad path that everyone else is on) may be easier... and it may be more comfortable... and you may have a lot more friends on the journey... but it leads to one place, destruction. But the narrow path (the alternative way of living) although it may be more difficult... it may be more lonely... people may not understand you... but it leads to life!


So often we are so consumed with what feels good here and now that we forget about the final destination where our choices lead us. Think for a minute about what's "normal" today... stress, anxiety, busyness, being overworked, lonely, depressed, debt, brokenness, broken relationships, broken families, anger, bitterness, hatred, divorce... the list could go on and on. These are the destinations that pursuing a "normal" life has led us to. But Jesus offers us an alternative... peace, comfort, hope, joy, patience, love, acceptance, forgiveness, wholeness, healing... the list too could go on and on.


Which destination do you want to end up at? It's my hope that as we explore this alternative lifestyle over these next several weeks, that each of us would make a conscious choice to follow Jesus down the narrow path and begin to experience the fullness of life he came to give. Let His Kingdom come!

We've been in a series at church for a few weeks now called, "Masquerade". Figuratively speaking, all of us wear masks at different points in our lives to cover up or hide what's really going on. In doing so, not only do we cover up who we really are, but we also deny ourselves the opportunity to get real with God, deal with our issues and become the people he really longs for us to be. So this series has been taking a look at some of the different masks we wear and challenging us to take off those masks and get real with God.

This week we looked at the mask of success. If it's true that every mask we wear hides something, then what Pastor Mark shared, was that the mask of success hides the lack of true identity in Christ. As this thought was developed I thought it was a fascinating idea to think about. If you think about our pursuit of success in this world, often it is motivated by image. In other words, our pursuit of success is a pursuit to create a certain kind of image for ourselves with wealth, possessions, status, etc. And the level of success we reach becomes our identity. So in essence, our identity is not defined by who we truly are but by what we accomplish and achieve, and those things mask our true identity.

But if we take off the mask of success and redefine it in God's terms, the very foundation of how we define success changes. Where the mask of success is defined by image... an image we create for ourselves that becomes our identity... success in God's eyes is defined by our identity (who we are in Christ) and this identity becomes our image. We could very easily do the same things in either scenario, but the motivation behind why we do those things totally changes. No longer are we vainly pursuing wealth, possessions, and status to create an image for ourselves but we are pursuing the things that God stirs within us out of a sense of our identity in Him.

So the big question is, how do we take off the mask of success and redefine what being successful is all about? Well according to human standards which are based on image, you've become successful when you achieve a certain image of success... you've achieved a certain status and you appear successful. According to God's standard which is based on identity, you become successful when you understand who you are in Christ, you get a sense of what God has created you to do and you live your life to fulfill that mission of what you were created for... your calling from God. What exactly that calling is, and what it will look like is different for every one of us because we were all created with a unique purpose. But the real goal in finding success is to understand who God has called you to be... what he has created you for... and to boldly and passionately pursue that purpose with everything that's in you every single day of your life.

God is so good and he never ceases to amaze me with the things he does and the ways he works!

I've really been wrestling a lot lately with what it means to follow Jesus... not just ideologically but in practice... to really follow him... to really live my life differently.

So a group of us from church have been studying the book "Weird: Because Normal Isn't Working" by Craig Groeshel and really talking about what it means to follow Jesus and live for him... but not just talk about it, live it!

Well, God has really been dealing with my heart on the whole money issue lately... tithing, giving, generosity, living debt free, etc. and this is one of the areas in our study of "Weird" that I've really been trying to take some action steps. I know this is an area of my life where I've had the illusion of thinking I'm in control. So over the years we've been way more reliant on credit cards than we should be and in the end probably missed out on the opportunity to be reliant on God and see the miracles of his provision on so many occasions.

I've been feeling in my heart like God wants me to cut up all the credit cards and get rid of that illusion of control that keeps me from completely depending on him but it's like the worst time right now! We live in California but have a house in Michigan still that we've been renting just to try to pay all the bills. Well, our renters recently moved out leaving us with our normal bills plus our mortgage payment to carry... and to top it all off the city building inspector came through and cited us for $3000 in repairs which we don't have the money to pay for. The kicker is we can't rent the house again until the repairs are done so we have to do them.

I've been praying hard, believing God to provide, but all the while had a plan B waiting in the wings, knowing that I could use the credit cards to help pay the bill if necessary. Last week, the day that I got the estimate from the contractor, as I was crunching numbers trying to figure out how we were going to pay this bill, the church treasurer shows up in my office with a check for $500 that someone from the church anonymously wanted to give to us! It was as if God was reminding me that he's more than able to provide... Cool, indeed... however, there still is $2500 that we don't have!

Ironically, if we were able to find renters for the house, the first months rent, the security deposit and the $500 anonymous gift would almost exactly cover the bill. But we haven't had much luck in finding renters. Lots of interest but nothing coming through. So I just continued to believe that God could provide but my plan B was still waiting in the wings.

Well, today I was watching a message online about Bold Obedience to God and I just knew in my heart at the end of this message that the Bold step of obedience I needed to take was to cut up all the credit cards and trust that God would provide. I was terrified knowing that there was no other way to pay this bill if the credit cards were gone but I knew it's what I had to do to truly trust God in this situation. I collected all the credit cards and was getting up out of my chair to go run them through the shredder (still terrified if I was making the right decision) when I glanced at my phone and noticed I had an email. It was from one of the people who had previously gone through our house stating that they really liked the house and are planning to submit an application in the next couple days!

Nothing is for sure at this point but it was just the confirmation I needed!

The credit cards have been run through the shredder!

God is good!

I've been reading the records of the kings of Israel and Judah in the Old Testament. The records are filled with wicked king after wicked king who led the people of God in idol worship, sin and rebellion against God. And then every once in a while you find a king who was fully devoted to God and would destroy the idols, shrines and high places and lead the people back to God.

I've glossed over these passages before but as I read them today, I was particularly struck by the tremendous courage of these kings who were devoted to God and led the people back to Him. Certainly it couldn't have been an easy thing to go against the tide of what had become "normal" in that culture and to bring about significant cultural change. It had to have taken a great deal of courage and conviction to stand up against the cultural current and turn things around.

As I mentioned, I've glossed over these passages before, feeling somewhat removed from the cultural context but I wonder how removed we really are. Do we not live in a culture that is full of idolatry, sin and rebellion? Certainly our idolatry, sin and rebellion looks different than it did back then, but is it not still idolatry, sin and rebellion? Doesn't it seem that these things have become the cultural norm for us? We adapt ourselves to less than godly ways of living and become numb to them because that's what's normal.

I wonder, then, where are the leaders, the people fully devoted to God who would follow the example of these courageous kings and rise up with courage and conviction to bring change? It may not be any easy road to walk, but doesn't God deserve for us to take a stand for Him?

May God fill you with passion, devotion, conviction and courage to be all he has created you to be and to stand up for what is right.

Just wanted to say a special thank you to all of you who made donations to World Vision for my marathon run this past weekend. Together we were able to raise over $1500 to help children around the world who are suffering!

The race went well considering the fact that it was pouring rain all day! I was able to finish in about 5 hours and actually felt pretty good through most of it.

If you'd still like to make donations, it's not too late. You can donate online by clicking on the link below.

http://support.worldvision.org/site/TR/TeamWorldVision/General?px=1119816&pg=personal&fr_id=1290

Thanks again for your gifts!