NewRhythmProject

I HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING MY BLOG UPDATES

2011-04-27T08:19:00.000-07:00

Thanks again for subscribing to my free blog updates. I wanted to make sure that you knew that I have moved my blog to a different carrier and we could continue our interactions together. I would also like to ask you a favor or two.

If you have found my blog posts valuable, would you take a moment to subscribe to my new site? You can do this easily by clicking on subscribe tab on the right column directly underneath my profile picture (on the new site). After you subscribe, the posts will automatically be sent to your inbox so you can view them at your convenience.

Would you also consider sharing my posts with others that you think may benefit? I have made this really easy to do by placing share options at the end of each post. You can click on any one of them and immediately share with others through facebook, twitter, and email.

Also, I would welcome any input you may have about my blog. You can simply comment on this message if you'd like to.

Warm regards,

Jason

www.jasonyost.org (click here to view my new blog)

Nica 2011

2011-02-23T12:07:00.000-08:00

We had such a great time in Nicaragua. I could not have hand picked a better team. We are already making plans for our next trip. It was amazing to watch everyone contribute their energy through the skills and talents that each person had. We started working on the second floor of the Coffeehouse Project. They hope to complete the rest by the end of the year. We got to spend some time at the school this year as well. We are dreaming about future projects that can benefit the students and bring self sustainability to the school. The opportunities are endless. I'll post more information and ideas real soon. Thanks for all of your support in bringing a new rhythm to Nicaragua!

Nicaragua 2011

2011-02-11T13:35:00.000-08:00

We are heading out on Monday morning to Managua, Nicaragua with a group of 12. We are so excited to head back this year to continue the efforts to construct La Puerta Cafe, a coffeehouse project to bring economic empowerment and social equality to the Deaf Community in Nicaragua. We will also be teaming with missionaries Matt & Eva Barlow to work with the students at Christian School for the Deaf. The school was established by the missionaries over fifteen years ago. They just has their first graduating class last year and their numbers are up to over one hundred students. It has been amazing to be a part of the story that God is writing through that couple in Nicaragua. We are honored to have this opportunity and cannot wait serve.

Decisions Points [cont.]

2011-02-10T11:39:00.000-08:00

It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.

Show me a successful individual or company and I will show you an individual or company who knows what their values are. Think about it. We have a lot of entrepreneurs here. So much time and energy is spent in defining and creating missions statements and core values during the beginning stages of an organization Why? Because it’s easy to make decisions when you know what you value and every decision you make is based off of those values. So you spend most of the time upfront defining those values so the rest of the journey is easy. How much more important is this with your own individual lives and families? It’s worth the time to identify and define your values.

Have you ever read through the record of Joseph and Potipher's wife? It is a great example to this context. Listen to Joseph's response after he is tempted on numerous occasions, “Come to bed with me!” But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house (Gen 39).

This is amazing how Joseph is able to recite his values in the heat of the moment (pun intended). Put yourself in the story and tell me if this is not breeding ground for a fall. Joseph has gone from rags to riches. He just came off of a really bad situation with his family and he is emotional and physically drained. He is put as head of the household in Potipher’s palace. He can have anything he wants and he can make anybody do anything he wants. He has power, he has favor, and he has money at his disposal. And a fine, well dressed, well proportioned woman that probably smells really good shows interest in him and tempts him more times than one. What would you do? Listen if you don’t know or define your values, this is a hard choice for anybody. Look at the times in your life that you are most susceptible to fall. You either really tired, emotionally drained, coming off a successful high, or just caught off guard. You have to know your values in order to withstand these situations. It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.

Decision Points [cont.]

2011-02-09T09:28:00.000-08:00

Noah was faced with an enormous decision as a leader. Did you know that it took Noah about 100 yrs to build the Ark? Noah's Ark was three stories high (Genesis 6:16). Its total deck area was equivalent to the area of about 20 standard college basketball courts or 36 lawn tennis courts. The world had to wait until AD 1884 before the Ark's size was exceeded, when the Italian liner Eturia was built. On top of that, the world had not yet seen rain up to this point. So every single day Noah is out there laboring and hoping it wasn’t bad pizza. Can you imagine what the neighbors must have thought? Or perhaps what his wife and kids may have thought? I cannot imagine working on the same project for 100 yrs and only by faith believing that it will even be used. This was a hard job to accomplish for any leader. There was no immediate gratification, no promotions, no 401k, just 100 yrs of the same old thing. The big question is, how was he able to remain faithful to the call? Because Noah understood that future outcomes can be influenced by our choices in the present. Before the story ever began we knew that Noah was a righteous man and blameless before all the people (Genesis 6:9). He made a decision before the "moment" came. That decision was able to sustain him during the times that he wanted to throw it all away.

Decision Points

2011-02-08T09:42:00.000-08:00

Our life can be summed up by the decisions we make. You cannot get away with making zero decisions. That’s a problem because some people are very decisive when it comes to avoiding decisions. You get that later I am sure. From the time you wake up in the morning until the time you go to bed at night you will have made thousands and thousands of decisions. Some of those are made quickly and more easily. However some decisions are more serious and take time to evaluate. Since such is the case I wonder if it would be advantageous of us to be very aware, very purposeful and very careful when it comes to making the right decisions that will inevitably direct our investments throughout our lives (and I don’t mean financial). Think about it! Don't just wing it!

Senate Meeting

2011-02-02T09:14:00.000-08:00

We are heading to the Reception for International Adoption today. Please pray for favor and many great connections today as we continue to find different ways to impact the orphans of our world. Stay tuned for updates and information on how you can help. Enjoy your day!

Relational Impact

2011-01-27T10:06:00.000-08:00

The past two weeks have been filled with many great meetings and relational connection. Even more so than usual weeks. Before I let myself get bogged down from all the mental capacity being consumed up, I decided to take on a slightly different perspective. I started praying for each meeting of the day on my commute in to the office. I know this doesn't sound like a super spiritual concept but it allowed for my relational anticipation to become re-energized. Instead of wondering if I could get through all of the meetings I was eagerly anticipating each one. Then comes the big revelation. John 5:17 reveals that the Father is always working, always. That puts a whole new weight on how we should view our relational interaction. If you show up and the other person(s) shows up, you have no idea what the impact could be. Do not underestimate the potential of your meetings and/or connections with others throughout the day. Treat it like an honored guest and see what happens.

Divine Providence

2011-01-26T09:03:00.000-08:00

We received a letter today from the US Senate offices inviting us to join them for the International Adoption Reception coming up in February. We are so grateful for this chance to serve, learn from, and partner with likeminded leaders with a heart for the world's orphans. One of the things that we have prayed often here at newRhythm, is that God would give us opportunities to spread hope to as many orphaned and vulnerable children as possible. And that these opportunities would go beyond our resources and abilities to create them. This is called Divine Providence. We have seen so many influential partnerships and relationships created with people and organizations that we have no business even talking to at this point if you know what I mean. It is so humbling to be entrusted with something that is way bigger than us. It makes for some amazing opportunities and beautiful stories of hope. The key is humility and character, these are non-negotiables. There is no better place than on the road marked with divine providence. How does your life and/or organization reflect Divine Providence?

The Bookshelf

2011-01-19T10:58:00.000-08:00

When I was younger I never liked to read. The bookshelf was something I stayed away from and was afraid of. Now, I embrace the bookshelf. In fact, its the centerpiece of the room. As I have progressed in years I have developed such a love for books. You have heard it before, reading is knowledge and knowledge is power. It is so true. I feel like I am gaining multiple degrees and vicariously gaining lots of life experiences through reading books. Just for personal preference I never read fiction, always non-fiction. Not sure exactly why. I would just rather give my time to factual and tangible information. Must be my personality type:) In case you care, here is what I am currently reading:

Parenting Beyond Your Capacity- Joiner/Nieuwhof
Adopted for Life- Moore
The Measure of a Man- Getz
Reclaiming Adoption- Cruver
The Shaping of a Christian Family- Elliot
Switch- Heath

One Small Step

2011-01-14T08:43:00.000-08:00

Tis the season to evaluate and innovate. Most of us are gathering up all the hats we wear (that was metaphoric) and making appropriate evaluations and changes as we look forward to a wonderful and more efficient new year. The key here is to focus on small steps or changes that will lead you towards a giant leap. Think about it this way, its your direction, not your intention that will lead you to your destination. Even the smallest or seemingly the most insignificant change can lead to your greatest decision and accomplishment. For what its worth, one of my life goals is to publish a book. Honestly I do not even know where to begin. I need to do some research to get up to speed in the writing and publishing communities. So, this week I have connected with Thomas Nelson Publishing Company to get the ball rolling. Looks like there are some very affordable and promising opportunities available. That's my one small step towards a giant leap. Remember this: if you don't stock the toilet paper it's not just going to appear. You just have to do it! And the result is fabulous! What are some of your dreams or goals this year? What one small step can you take today to help you make that giant leap?

Response > Reaction

2011-01-13T06:42:00.000-08:00

Yesterday marked the one year point since the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Over the past year we have heard so many amazing stories of people leaving behind their comforts to serve a country in need. Even right now we are walking with a family through the process of adopting two boys from Haiti. The tragedy has been horrendous, we can all agree. But in the midst of the tragedy God has been writing so many beautiful stories. These stories are written out of the muck and mire. They are written out of the uncomfortable, terrifying, and insecure places we find ourselves when we respond to a need. In the moment it may seem like a nightmare but in the end it's a story that we wouldn't change for anything. Those are the stories that are worth being told. They are the stories that we want our children and grandchildren to hear. Your response to a need in always greater than your reaction. Our reactions prick our emotions and rarely end up with thoughtful and sustaining production. However, a response invokes a giving of oneself. In order to respond we have to be "all in". Our time, energy, and resources are available when we respond to something. So, as you are walking along analyzing the needs around you (i.e.- Haiti, Human Trafficking, Orphans, AIDS, Homeless, Education, etc) make sure that you don't leave each issue with a mere reaction. It's worth your response.

Adoption Week

2011-01-11T08:50:00.000-08:00

Seems like this week is adoption week by default. I got two emails yesterday alone for families who wanted to sign up for a New Rhythm Consult to talk about the possibilities of adoption. We are also connecting with two New Rhythm families at the end of the week to celebrate their Haiti adoption process. This stuff is amazing! We are so humbled to be a part of the amazing stories that God is writing in families. I am inspired everyday when I have the chance to listen and serve these wonderful people. If you have been thinking about how you can care for orphaned and vulnerable children and you are interested in a consult email us at info@newrhythm.org.

China

2011-01-07T07:15:00.000-08:00

We are brainstorming different opportunities to partner with organizations to make a large impact locally and globally on the orphan care front. We always want to make sure we are balancing those efforts. Reaching only those who our next door minimizes our effectiveness. Reaching only those who are across the water makes us hypocrites. Our goal is to work hard at making sure we are hitting on all cylinders both locally and globally. Today we are conferencing with ShowHope to talk about a trip to Maria's Big House of Hope in China. Details will come soon. We would love for you to join us:)

The Origins of New Rhythm

2011-01-05T13:50:00.000-08:00

I almost never write a post this long but I thought it was worth the share....

“I’m so sorry, there are no available families at this time.”

It was a little over a year ago today that I remember hearing those words from my wife after getting a phone call late one evening. It was a late wintery night and we were sound asleep. Both of us were warm and cozy underneath our goose feathered down comforter when suddenly the phone rang. It was two in the morning and Shelly immediately jumped up to answer the phone. We have gotten phone calls like this one in the past, after all, my wife Shelly is a social worker and it is her job to help find placements for children in emergency situations. It is safe to say that we were kind of used to this type of situation but for some reason this night was different. It was a call for a sibling set of three. They waited after school for their parent or guardian to pick them up but they never came. It was hours later at this point and there was still no sign of a parental figure for these children who were all under the age of eight. The Social Service Department was calling around to agencies to try and find a safe, loving, and comfortable place for these kids to go temporarily or with potential permanency, depending on the outcome of the situation. As Shelly perused through her list of families she noticed that all of them were full and she was not going to be able to help these kids find a home. When she hung up the phone I couldn’t stop picturing those three young kids sitting in a waiting room, with no warm colors on the walls, no comfortable seating, and with no one to hold them or play with them and tell them that it is going to be ok. As far as we know, they are still in that waiting room today.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that during this same time that Shelly received this particular phone call I was at an unsettled place in my life, wrestling intrusively, and wondering if I was actually finding my life fit within the pages of scripture. Sure I believed in the Word of God and read it and went to church and encouraged others to do the same but there was a huge gap I felt between what I was reading in the Bible and what I was actually doing with my life. The gap in this case wasn’t defined by the deep dark sins of commission and the things I was doing in secret or in the open. In fact it had everything to do with the things I wasn’t doing, the sins of omission. It was the parts of the Bible that I read and then just turned the page without giving proper attention to the words before me. For example, there is a particular verse found in the book James that speaks specifically about caring for those children that were on the other side of the phone that night. I have read many, many times before. It is written like this, “Religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after the orphans and widows in their distress.” Did you notice those two adjectives that were chosen specifically to describe God’s design for religion, in this case meaning the church? The words are pure and faultless. Those are heavy words with enormous definition. The word pure means it is not mixed or adulterated with any other substance or material, it is without any extraneous or unnecessary elements. And faultless, it means free from defect or error. Wow. Just reading these words gives you great anticipation for something so beautiful and so powerful and so genuine and yet when I think of the noun that they are describing, the church, it doesn’t quite match up. I want to be careful here. It would have been easy for me to stop right there and join the conversation of how much the church has missed the mark over the past several years and point my finger at how adulterated and stained the church really is. However, simply joining this conversation is not going to make my life, and/or the church, pure and faultless. You know what is? Actually believing and doing what the Bible says to do. In this case it is to care for the orphans and the widows. Then, after you have done these things, your faith and deep convictions will be known all around the world for generation to come as pure and faultless. That is what I want my faith to look like.

So Shelly and I started having this conversation with one another about how we could utilize our abilities and experiences in an effort to mobilize the church and the community to care for orphans and walk out the pages of scripture in a pure and faultless way. That is how New Rhythm Project came into existence. The more and more we had this conversation, the more and more we found out the need.

Did you know?
there are 163 million orphans in the world?
there are over 100,000 children available for adoption in the U.S.
there are over 4,000 children in foster care in D.C.
if 1 family in 1 in 4 churches adopted one child their would be no more waiting children in the US
if only ¼ or less of the churches in D.C. got involved, there would be no more orphans in D.C.
if you got involved there would be one less orphan in your community

Collaborative efforts are what New Rhythm is all about. We educate and mobilize communities to care for the orphans. New Rhythm goes into a community and pulls out the red carpet from the church door to the government door. I know this may sound taboo but according to the Bible it is the church’s responsibility to care for the children, not the government. That is where the new rhythm happens. So first, we connect with the local DSS and other agencies to find out the particular needs of the community and solicit partnerships. Then we join with a business organization or church and educate them on the doctrine and logistics of orphan care. Finally, we help customize plans with individuals or families, and directly connect them with specific childcare organizations according to their needs and/or desires to serve. The result equates in major community needs being met which includes: finding stable and loving homes for children to find permanent or temporary placement, healthy communication and networking between businesses and organizations, & the church finding a new rhythm, rising to produce a movement that holds credibility to the adjectives that God had in mind for it.

If you are interested in having a New Rhythm come to your church, business, or community group please contact bookings@newrhythm.org

Sin and Bones

2011-01-05T04:50:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already, take some time this month to map out a plan or goals for the year. It doesn't have to be exhaustive, it can be short but make sure its direct so you know what you walking towards. I have found this practice to be invaluable in every aspect of life. There is something important that happens when you create a plan and stick to it. Its like your synapsis' fire on all chords in order to see that plan resolved and you are able to make decisions that enable you to reach your destination. It is also of upmost importance to share your goals or your plan with others. This is a great way to not only help you stay the course with accountability but it also creates an opportunity for you to inspire others to dream as well. The dangerous part is the flip side. Life without a plan creates an environment for us to make bad decisions on the whim which we will more than likely later regret. So don't end your life with just sin and bones. Make the most of it and dream outside of your capabilities and see what happens.

Proverbs 5
You don't want to end your life full of regrets, nothing but sin and bones. Saying, "Oh, why didn't I do what they told me? Why did I reject a disciplined life? Why didn't I listen to my mentors, or take my teachers seriously? My life is ruined! I haven't one blessed thing to show for my life!"

The Greatest Resolution

2011-01-04T04:01:00.000-08:00

Interested in great health, personal growth, and occupational success in 2011? Look no further than Proverbs 4:20-27:

"Listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live; body & soul, they're bursting with health.
Keep vigilant watch over your heart; thats where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left;leave evil in the dust."

Logo Launch

2011-01-02T06:59:00.000-08:00

What a joy it was to launch our brand new logo yesterday on 1/1/11 at 1pm. We also did a pre-launch for our webpage so it was a two for one deal. We are so grateful for the opportunity to serve individuals and families through new rhythm project. And to think, we are starting the year with three adoptions from Haiti. What an amazing privilege. Here is to a great year with hundreds of children in loving families! Thanks for your support and love.

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T17:36:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to everyone. We are so excited to launch our brand new logo and webpage today on 1/1/11 at 1pm. Want to have a look? You can check it out here. I hope that everyone has made time to reflect on years past and dream towards the future. Here is to good times in sharing hope for 2011! I would love to hear what your dreaming for 2011 if you care to share.

Weekend Reflections

2010-12-22T06:14:00.000-08:00

What an emotional weekend we just came off of. We had our New Rhythm Christmas Party, we celebrated our last Sunday at Georgetown, and we had a birthday/open house party on Sunday afternoon. It was a lot of fun but a lot of emotions as well. Shelly and I have been reflecting on the past year and we are filled with great hope for what is to come. It has been a tough year for sure but where there is pain there is gain so we wouldn't trade it for anything. As the proverb reads, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." We'll share updates really soon on where we will be focusing our energies for 2011. For now, enjoy your holiday and focus on some R & R!

1st Annual Christmas Party

2010-12-17T13:22:00.000-08:00

We are gearing up for New Rhythm's first annual Christmas Party. It was a year ago this month that God birthed this vision inside our hearts. Shelly and I gathered up a few of our close friends for a dinner and we did our level best to vocalize this crazy idea about an organization that would travel the world and rescue orphaned and abused children and place them in families. We weren't even sure what it looked like or if it even made sense. We all agreed we would keep it in prayer and hoped to have details and ideas secured for us to begin to move forward. Well this year we launched New Rhythm Project in August. We have built some great relationships and developed critical partnerships. In just five months we are in the process of three adoptions from Haiti, we have partnered with BestKids of DC to facilitate mentors for DC Foster kids, we are recruiting a number of Fosters Families through small groups and mini forums, and we are running a Foster Care & Adoption Initiative with a couple hundred families in just a few weeks. We have been so humbled and honored to walk along side individuals and families as they find their role in defending the cause of the fatherless. We are so blessed and very grateful. So tonight well reflect on God's faithfulness and celebrate the future as we look ahead with great anticipation. In the words of the great Tony Bennett, "The Best is Yet to Come!"

Good Purchases

2010-12-15T06:20:00.000-08:00

It was two years ago this month when our team sat around a table at the Cheescake Factory and I had an idea. Everyone of us gets tons of Christmas Catalogs that encourage us to buy more things that we don't really need. What if we created a catalog that coincided with our missions projects and people could purchase goods in each area of the globe that we were working with that year. As a result, over $100,000 has been given to missions in just two years. We have just started our third marketplace catalog and I cannot wait to get started purchasing some gifts that really matter to the one who is receiving. Feel free to check it out and see if there is something that perhaps you may want to purchase. It's a great way to gather your friends, family, staff, and other networks too. You can come together and make a huge impact this Christmas from just one click!

Annual Family Planning

2010-12-08T12:43:00.000-08:00

Shelly and I will head out to Williamsburg during the last week of December for our family planning retreat. I view this as the backbone of our family. Every decision we make throughout the year depends on whether or not it fits the plan. We go into this with much prayer and anticipation. I For what it's worth to you, we plan and/or set goals in five different areas: Physical, Mental, Financial, & Fun. t has been a great way to track God's faithfulness throughout the year and identify where we are in the journey that we feel like God has called us to. A year ago we wrote down to make a decision whether or not to purchase a home or keep renting. We happened to moved into our new home this summer. A year ago we wrote down to finalize all details, board, mission, vision, branding, & contracts for our non-profit. We are so grateful to have launched in August and the organization is thriving. So as we look in to 2011 our hearts are encouraged and our faith is stretched to believe God to more than we could ever ask for, hope, or imagine. And oh yea, there are those things that happen throughout the year as well that you just can't plan for and God's faithfulness is always there to sustain you. Give it a shot this year. You can do it individually or with your spouse and children. You will be amazed at how much it helps you to stay focused and see God's hand at work in your life.

Environment is Everything

2010-12-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever notice how different you feel when reading a book in a stylistic coffeehouse with comfortable chairs and warm colors on the wall than reading a book in your office at your desk? Doesn't it also seem like you can day dream a little longer and more creatively in that coffeehouse or away at a scenic cabin with the fireplace going and the snow falling outside the window with a hot cup of cocoa? What am I saying? Environment is everything. Sometimes you have to step outside of the office to let the neurotransmitters go. A change of environment creates some space for creativity and imagination. I have been dubbed around the office as the "candle guy". For some reason I am so much more productive with the candles lit and the jazz music playing in the background. Try it sometime. Your environment is important to your productivity and creativity. Maybe you need to get out of the office for an offsite brainstorming meeting or reflection time? Maybe you need to add some paint to the walls and maybe some warm feeling decor? Give it a shot, I bet it helps. PS- Christmastime seems like the best time for this. The Christmas decor makes for such a warm environment dripped with imagination.

Back in the Saddle

2010-12-02T12:05:00.000-08:00

Thanks for your prayers. I am back in the office this week. We are full steam ahead in end of the year evaluations and new year planning. Some very cool opportunities are waiting for us on the horizon. I am not at liberty to share at this time but certainly will as time permits. I am healing well and should be 100% by Christmas hopefully. Thanks so much for your continued prayers and support. Keynote: seek the Lord, not opportunity. Opportunity inevitably comes after one has sought the Lord!

My Charity Water Campaign

2010-11-23T11:16:00.000-08:00

I wonder if we could create a new rhythm when it comes to holidays and birthdays. At the present and in times past these occasions tend to make us lean towards selfishness and have sent us on a mission to satisfy OUR needs. But, what if we used these occasions to satisfy the needs of OTHERS? After all, what needs do we really have? Are they really needs or just merely wants? If you look at the world around you you will see greater needs than that of your own. The beautiful thing is that you and I, we have the influence and the resources to provide some of those needs. So I say, why not? It starts by simply stepping out of your original mind set and or comfort zone and creating a new rhythm in your life to bring awareness and provision to the greater needs of human beings across this world. We can make an impact today. Instead of sending me a card or a gift, make a donation to provide clean water to a community in need. Since I will be completing my 28th year I thought it might be cool if you could give $28 towards the cause. 100% of your donation will go towards clean water. Lets do this thing! You can change a life today and celebrate mine at the same time

Check out my @mycharitywater campaign. Help me raise money for clean water for my bday. http://www.mycharitywater.org/givenow

On the Reading Shelf

2010-11-06T12:01:00.000-07:00

In case you care, here is a list of books that I am currently reading. I always get inspired when I see what other people are reading so if this is helpful then so be it, if not, then so be it again.

Radical - by David Platt
Purple Cow - by Seth Godin
Forgotten God - by Francis Chan
Sun Stand Still - by Steven Furtick
Building Social Business - by Muhammad Yunis
I currently find myself reading through the Psalms in our Bible Reading Plan

Enjoy!

ReThink Holiday

2010-11-05T14:47:00.000-07:00

I was reading an article recently that shared a blurb from the American Census Bureau. It stated that last year Americans spent 41 million dollars on pumpkins most of them only to cut up and set by the front door. I wonder if it is worth us rethinking how we celebrate holidays. That is a sickening fact. It is time that Americans begin to rethink the celebration of our holidays and see how we can divert the usual monetary flow for the greater good of the world. Think about it. What if we created a holiday were one day every year we gave over 41 million dollars to provide clean water for the different countries in need which in return would prevent diseases and early deaths? What if we created a holiday were one day every year 41 million americans opened up their homes to orphans that had no place to go? In just a few years there would be no more orphans in this world. What if we created a holiday were one day every year we gave 41 million dollars to micro finance individuals to create small business in the less developed countries of our world and worked towards some sustainability in communities? I would love to here your ideas as well...you fill in the blank...what if we created a holiday were one day every year_______________

Are You Comfortable?

2010-10-21T08:48:00.000-07:00

Is caring for orphans radical because it makes one uncomfortable? Or is it the norm, and how we were created to move & live? When you read the Bible what do you see? Does your life reflect that of the scriptures or rather your own interpretation of them? THINK ABOUT IT

New Rhythm Updates

2010-10-21T08:44:00.000-07:00

We are working with BitterSweet Creative to give us a face to the organization. We are brainstorming daily to come up with some ver creative ways to organize information and display it attractively. NRP is also connecting with Christian Alliance for Orphans, Show Hope, and Safe Families to create some synergy and mobilize the nation's capitol to advocate and provide hope for orphans. Some very exciting stuff is on the horizon. Shelly and I just met with the NCC Mom & Dad's group to talk about orphan care and they are moved to action. I am so thrilled to see the potential but most of all the action that is getting ready to take place in our community.

Clean Water

2010-10-01T11:54:00.001-07:00

Gifts of Water from Water Missions on Vimeo.

Are you looking for a way to give thanks this Holiday season? You can do that by teaming with your family, co-workers, friends, etc...to bring clean water to those in need. Check out this video and take the challenge at Water Mission International. I dare you...I double dog dare you!!

The Storyline

2010-09-29T07:06:00.000-07:00

I just attended the story conference in Chicago. We had such great times. Chi-town was on one of our goals for this year so I was happy to mark it off the list. It was my first time spending time there. I have always just flown through and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Chicago is big, clean, and a sole provider of all types of meat. I thoroughly enjoyed. In fact, one day we had a progressive lunch and ate at four different places. Crazy I know but worth the experience. That was a really long intro to say that I have been challenged lately with telling the right story. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and he began a story that is beautiful, glorious, full of love, grace, and everything good. He began a story that is majestic and wonderful and it is our job to tell that story. Here is what I have been chewing on lately in my readings. All stories have themes. We derive themes from the big idea, the priorities, the consistent points of the story. The Bible has a theme, Jesus' life has a theme, and your life has a theme. The question to ask yourself is, "What is the theme of your life?" Now, the answer should parallel with that of Jesus' life theme. So, what is Jesus' life theme? Well, as you read through the Bible and look at the life of Jesus and the Words of scripture one can see that the central theme is HUMILITY. Jesus' life was such a pure example of humility and the Words of scripture reveal to us how much God hates pretense and arrogance. Here is the deal...If your life's theme is not humility then you are telling another story, not the story of God. Ten times out of ten the story is about you. We need to take heed to this and constantly remind ourselves to clothe ourselves in humility. Here is a good way to protect yourself from falling into the death trap of pride- continually ask yourself, "what is my motivation for what I am about to do?" It is very easy, too easy in fact to fall into a cyclical pattern of doing ministry or performing our responsibilities only to satisfy our need of self-grtification. One day we received praise for doing something in our particular jobs or responsibilities and people thought highly of us or made something of us and so we decided to make a career of it. Now every time we write that article for work, make that video for church, give that presentation, preach that sermon, write that blog and steadily check that hit counter, post pics or update our status on FB and anxiously hope for comments, or perform any task at all, the main motivation is us hoping people will like it and talk about it for days to come so we can feel great about ourselves and what we accomplished. The only thing missing in that is....the story of God. We have to guard ourselves from this cycle of self-gratification. It is good for nothing and it leads to death. My heart is challenged by this and I want to embrace this tension all the days of my life and lean towards humility. Are you with me?

Campus Alpha Phase 2

2010-09-21T12:13:00.000-07:00

We are launching campus alpha tonight for round 2. Tonight we will be giving away a Nintendo Wii, playing cornhole, and eating lots of pizza. If you don't think that is spiritual, think again? It is going to be a great season. We have been praying for this day. A lot of prep has gone into making this a reality. I am so thankful for our team. What is even more exciting? There are 6 Universities across the nation that will be using our Alpha videos on their campus this fall.

Christian Alliance for Orphans

2010-09-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

We are meeting with the National Director of Christian Alliance for Orphans today on Capitol Hill. We are so excited to have this opportunity to connect with Jedd Medefind. We are praying that this could give New Rhythm a larger platform for the #orphansnomore initiative.

FCA

2010-09-14T12:27:00.000-07:00

I hung out with the FCA Leaders on the East Coast this morning. I love connecting with FCA. They are good people. Love what they are doing to reach youth and developing leaders. I had a great time leading worship with them. They booked me for next year already for the entire week!

On the Horizon

2010-09-10T19:21:00.000-07:00

We have a few things on the radar the next few weeks. This coming Tuesday I will be leading worship at the Regional FCA Conference in Baltimore MD. I always love the opportunity to connect with the FCA guys. I love their ministry and what they do to raise up leaders. This coming Thursday through Saturday I will be leading worship at the PYM District Youth Leaders Conference with Jeff Deyo in Williamsburg. The following week I am heading to Chicago to connect with Willow Creek's Orphan Director to talk about partnerships with New Rhythm and attending The Story Conference. The week after that Shelly and I will be meeting President Jimmy Carter as we work together to build a house for Habitat for Humanity. So excited to meet President Carter and give our time to invest in home that will bring hope to a family in need. Finally, that weekend we head to Atlanta for the Catalyst Conference. We go with our entire staff at NCC. It is one of the best conferences I have ever been to. I always walk away from it with a few things that stretch my perspective and challenge my heart towards change. It is going to be good. After all of this we will be getting ready for my second surgery at the University of Maryland Hospital. Not so much looking forward to that one but I trust the Lord as we walk through it. He has been faithful and never ceases to amaze us as we walk in obedience to Him.

7 Things You Can Do To Help Orphans

2010-09-01T07:49:00.000-07:00

Making It Official

2010-09-01T07:09:00.000-07:00

We have had some great meetings this week about making New Rhythm Inc. official. We met with BitterSweet Creative Group on Monday to talk about Logo and Branding for the organization. That was fun thinking about all the creative ways that we can market and function as the face of a company. Then last night I met with a lawyer to go over all the warm and cozy details of paperwork for a 501c3 status. It doesn't look like it's going to be too bad but I am not the type that enjoys details and paperwork. But these are all necessities in bringing the vision to reality and accountability. We are so very excited as you can imagine. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers for us as we continue to journey through this process.

Orphan Sunday

2010-08-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

Check out this link and be informed. Utilize the resources to advocate for orphans!! Mark your calendars and plan a life changing moment to make a difference in the life of a child. www.orphansunday.org

NRP Open Forum

2010-08-24T11:18:00.000-07:00

We launched New Rhythm Project last night at our NCC Week of Justice Event. It was such a cool thing to see. We had different Child Welfare organizations from DC present and we were so blessed to hear real life stories from those involved in adoption, foster care, and mentoring. What a great opportunity to bring a New Rhythm to the community. The big idea: We are not doing our due diligence if you don't think of the church when you think of Orphans. We must do something and do it now. You can be the solution for children in your community!! For more information on the evening or how you can get more involved email us at newrhythmproject@gmail.com.

Pick Your Path

2010-08-12T12:40:00.000-07:00

Our ABILITY to find the right path depends on our SUBMISSION to GOD (read that again). Show me where you made a bad decision and I will show you where you did not submit to God. Show me a decision you made that brought glory to God and put you on the correct path and I will show you where you willfully submitted to God. **Remember, direction, not intention, determines our destination. You can have the greatest intentions and still end up at the wrong destination. It’s all about your submission to God.

Transitions

2010-08-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Transition are a great tension. If navigated well with sensitivity they can become a blessing on both ends. We are in the process of transitioning (notice I didn't say loosing) a lot of our leaders to our new launch at Potomac Yard. This is a bitter sweet journey. On one side it is tough to let go because of the investment given to each leader. However, it is a joy to see each leader take a step of faith to expand their influence in other areas. The transition is also a great opportunity for others to take a step of faith into leadership positions where they have been serving. So, if handled well, transitions can be a win win for the organization and encourage others in their faith. If you are navigating through a transition keep a good attitude, look back enough to honor the investment, and keep moving forward to invest in the successors.

Alpha

2010-08-02T07:41:00.000-07:00

This month we will finish up the Alpha Videos and distribute them to a number of different colleges in the nation. I am so excited about this opportunity. We never thought it would have such an impact when we had the idea a year ago. Here is a sample of the first video.

Alpha_more to life? from National Community Church on Vimeo.

Baptism by the Bay

2010-07-28T10:09:00.001-07:00

Check out our Baptism video. Behold he is making all things new. If anyone is in Christ they are a new creation, the old is gone and the new has come!!

Baptism by the Bay 2010 from National Community Church on Vimeo.

Check Up

2010-07-22T06:22:00.000-07:00

I had my check up with the surgeon yesterday. Looks like everything is healing well. The pathology reports came back negative which means there is no trace of the tumor and the surgery was successful. Thank God for His grace in finding this thing the way we did. If I never got my braces I would have been in trouble. Deep breath......thank you God! I will see the surgeon again in the middle of September and we will discuss the next and final surgery that will hopefully take place in the middle of October. Thanks so much for your continued prayers as Shelly and I continue to Navigate this journey.

Weekend Reflections

2010-07-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

This past weekend packed full of very moments. Saturday night I joined the team at Ebenezers to lead worship. I had such a great time with those guys. The environment and vibe at Ebz is just awesome. The sound is pretty much the best of all of our locations too so it's always a blast to jam out there. Then Sunday morning I spoke at Georgetown. I loved having that opportunity to share the Word with our congregation. It was my first time back in the preaching mix since I had my surgery. Such a cool moment to be able to articulate what God has been doing inside of me over the past few months. Then Sunday night we had our baptism celebration at Sandy Point right next to the Bay Bridge. That was a great time of hanging out and celebrating what God is doing in others lives. I was so proud of Shelly. She had the privilege of baptizing one of her girlfriends. What a cool moment. One thing that was especially cool. After this packed filled weekend I was not tired or exhausted when most times I am ready to just crash. When you are able to participate in the things that God has gifted you to do, it ends up being more refreshing then exhausting. Leading music and teaching/speaking are the two main things that I feel like God has wired me to do. I made a commitment to myself this weekend. I need to do more of the things that God has directly called me to and learn to delegate the rest. It's the moments and experiences that we have with others that cultivate our lives. I want to be a part of those moments with others. I don't want to miss any moments due to being exhausted because I failed to be a good steward of my time.

Legends

2010-07-16T05:54:00.000-07:00

We are continuing our Legends series this week at NCC. I will be sharing a message about the prophet Nathan. One thing is very interesting about Nathan. The written records of him are very scarce. In fact there are only four accounts of Nathan in the Bible. However, his impact continues to proceed his life span. Nathan had a great influence on King David. He was there for David at the most pivotal points in his life. It is scary to imagine what course David's life may have taken if it wasn't for the prophet Nathan. To hear more, join us this weekend at NCC or tune into our podcast or videocast at theaterchurch.com.

Hospitality

2010-07-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

You can always tell and feel the difference when someone has a gift of hospitality. They seem to go the extra mile to make you feel comfortable and welcome. You can always tell when someone does not have that gift as well. You know it as soon as you walk in the door or as soon as you call customer service with a question (ahem budget trucks). Hospitality can make all the difference. That is one of the things we have desired since we have been in our new home. For the past two weeks we have had people over and grilled out almost every day. I must say I am loving it. Hospitality is a great thing to strive for. You never know how you can make a difference in somebodies life. It is the moments and experiences that we share with others that cultivates our lives.

New House

2010-07-08T06:03:00.000-07:00

We are almost three weeks into our new home. What a blessing it is. We love our new place. it has so much character and the location is amazing! We could not be more satisfied. There is a really cool back story to getting this home. Well, it wasn't very cool at the time but now, looking back, we are so thankful for God's hand at work in our lives. It was in January that Shelly and I decided to look for a home to purchase. We were ready to start a family and we were renting on the Hill, which is more than a mortgage itself, and it began to feel like we were taking cash each month and throwing it into the trash can. So we decided it was time to make an investment since we both felt like we would be around these parts for a while. We searched and searched and learned everything there was to know about home buying and foreclosures. We put an offer on one home that Shelly and I absolutely loved and lost it. Then we searched again, all the while hoping we would find one before the first-time home buyers deadline. We were on a mission. Finally we found one that seemed to be a good fit for us. We got the contract and prepared for the 30 day waiting period to get all the paperwork in line. After the 30 days we waited and waited and signed two more extensions making it 40 days. You can imagine the waiting period. We had to move out of our place so the next tenants could move in so we were homeless for what we thought was going to be only a couple days. After the second extension we found out that the house was not able to be sold because the owners did not pay off their second mortgage. Are you kidding me? At this point we had already unpacked all of our stuff into the garage of the new house. Now we had to rent another truck, pack up all our belongings again, and find storage to keep our stuff until we found another home. Unfortunately now the deadline was over for the tax benefit. Nothing was going our way. We doubted our process and wondered if we totally missed God. Then we found out that the first home we put a contract on, the one we thought we really wanted, had become available again because the people had a problem securing the loan. We couldn't believe it. We thought for sure this was God working on our behalf. So we put yet another contract on the house and waited and waited. After two weeks of waiting we found out that they gave it to someone else without even contacting us back for a counter or final offer. We were devastated. How could this be happening? We decided to stop looking because the whole deal took a toll on us physically and emotionally. We did not know what we were going to do but we did know that we were done searching for homes. After a few weeks our realtor emailed us about a property that he had seen and thought it would be worth us looking at. He thought it was a great home that was priced well below its worth. We shot him down and said we were not interested. The next day we felt like driving by the property just to confirm that we should not be interested. Well, we took a look and became interested. To make this long story short we made an offer along with four other people. After making a final offer we got the contract. What's even more ironic is we moved into the house two days after my surgery. Well, our family moved us in two days after my surgery. After all was said and done we were homeless for more than 90 days, we missed the $8,000 tax credit, and our settlement fell on the day after my surgery. I know, sounds crazy right? However, the house is the best location of all the homes we saw, it's $90,000 cheaper than the last house we had a contract on, Shelly will be able to stay at home with the children if she wants to, and we got this home after we got out of the way and let God do what He wanted to do.
If we are honest our human nature desires to gravitate to logic. We think if it's not logic it's not of God right? Well our story goes against all logic and believe me I thought we made the wrong decisions because of it. But then I read the Bible and nothing in the Bible is logical. God brought us an amazing gift in a home and an amazing story to go with it when we stopped trying to make it happen and removed ourselves from the equation. Not only did we get a great deal out of all of this but we also learned a great lesson that we will take with us for many years to come. I hope this post challenges and encourages you in your life. Always remember, it may not look like the way you think it should. Leave that part up to God.

From Humility to Humiliation

2010-07-06T07:20:00.000-07:00

The time has come. The Israelites are crying and complaining in search to fill a void in their lives (sound familiar?). Could a king satisfy the fix? In God’s unconditional love, He grants their request and anoints Saul as king over the people. Now, I am going to cheat a bit because I know the rest of the story but this is what intrigues me and causes me to evaluate my heart. If you are familiar with Saul’s life you know that he does not finish the race in the same manner that he started. In fact he went from humility to humiliation. Listen to Samuel’s response when he first found out that Samuel was implying that he would soon be crowned king, “...but I am only a Benjaminite, from the smallest of Israel’s tribes, and from the most insignificant clan in the tribe at that. Why are you talking to me like this? Saul’s heart was so pure and from the sound of that statement he was a humble guy. What a way to start the race, right? However, we both know that the prize does not come from how well you start the race but only how you finish it. This statement is a long way from a few chapters later when Saul ascends the mountain and instead of making an altar to God he made an altar to himself. Wowzers! What in the world happened. Was this the same guy? That is scary. How could this have happened? As you read through the pages of Saul’s history you can begin to notice something. He eventually misinterpreted God’s faithfulness with his own ability to govern the people. This is a very dangerous act! This is where my heart is challenged. I look at Saul’s life and I know that I do not ever want to mirror his life but at times I find myself doing the very same thing. It is very easy to get into the mode of performing to my talents and abilities and leaving God totally out of the equation. So here are two thoughts on how to keep your life from mirroring Saul’s life.

1. As I live my life I want to find myself in circumstances that move beyond my ability to handle. That is when the power of God can freely move in my life and I have no choice but to remain in a constant state of humility. Is the current state of your life controllable, comfortable, or safe? Take a risk. Go on a missions trip, serve at your local church, participate in an outreach project in your community, invite your neighbors over for dinner. Whatever you do, do something that takes you beyond your ability to pleasantly control the situation.
2. ALWAYS pause long enough to record and remember the mighty works of God moving on your behalf and NEVER fail to praise (thank) Him for it.

Freedom

2010-07-05T15:39:00.000-07:00

I am so grateful for our freedom that we have as a country but most of all I am grateful for the freedom that we have in Christ. I had a thought today though as I was reminiscing over our relaxing weekend. Do we live as free as those who are persecuted or are we the ones imprisoned? Meditate on that for a bit. Happy Independence Day! Remember our true independence is dependence upon Him.

Staff Retreat

2010-07-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

We had our annual staff retreat this week. We have such a fun time with no agenda but to play and pray. It is so relaxing and the team connection is amazing. So thankful to work with an organization that makes these time priority. We hiked out to St Michael's with the staff and families for a two day R & R. I think our numbers doubled this year. It is so cool to see how our staff has grown in just one year. I think there were like 17 children on this trip. There may have been 4 or 5 last year. So cool to have this cohesion among our staff. We enjoy life that is for sure!! Here is a pic of all the gentleman around the pool table. If you will notice, someone had the the idea for everyone to sport a mustache so I apologize ahead of time:)

Unconditional Love?

2010-06-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

You have heard the term before I am sure and you have probably had no problem understanding the term or believing it, or have you? I have been in the ministry for ten years now and I must admit that I am not sure that I have a grasp on the act of unconditional love. I thought I did, but now I am not so sure. This thought was initiated from my recovery from surgery. I have had two conflicting emotions during my recovery process that have perplexed me. The first one came rather quickly when I came home from the hospital to rest and recover. The feeling was amazing. I have not relaxed that much or had that mental state of relaxation for years and years. This is sad but true at the same time. Now, after a few weeks, I have started to feel a slight bit of depression because I have not been able to do anything or produce any results for quit some time now. This my friends is a problem. I have either trained myself and/or society & ministry has taught me to produce, accomplish, & do something in order to receive love, acceptance, or affirmation. These emotions tell me that I do not yet fully understand or believe in the unconditional love that Christ offers me. It's unfortunate but ministry in and of itself can direct you and condition you to think and act contrary to the Word of God. This has been a revelation to me and I am on a journey to retrain my mind, my actions, and how I act or respond to others in this area. The Bible is very clear. There is nothing that we can muster up or do that can make us worthy to receive God's unconditional love. It is just who He is. He made us with perfection and precision. His love is offered to you in every spectrum whether you are close or far away. It does not come once you think of something really cool to implement at work and then get the attention of others as a result of it. It does not come after you have written your first book. It does not come after the purchase of your new home or the birth of your first child. Nothing, nothing, nothing you can do makes you eligible. It is done. It just is. We have to really train our minds to comprehend this because we have been conditioned to think otherwise for so long. Think about how this effects you as an individual. Do you really believe in unconditional love? Does the way in which you live your life and spend your mental energy reflect unconditional love? Think about how this effects you as a leader or a manager of an organization. Do your actions and expectations reflect unconditional love? Are the people under your supervision able to express themselves in a way that honors God and follows His leading? Think about it. This could be the thing that transforms every area of your life and most importantly your perspective of God Himself. Please don't misinterpret what I am saying. This is no excuse to sit around and become a flake in the wind. This is only a desire to inspire you to find out where God is moving in your life and act on it instead of chasing the tumbleweed in the wind to try and produce results that in the end just brings countless feelings of exhaustion and emptiness. So you have heard the term before, but do you really believe it? Your heart will let you know for sure. I want to, but I don't think I am there yet.

What a Gift

2010-06-23T07:21:00.000-07:00

Christ Holds It All Together

^15-18We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body. ^18-20He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.
^21-23You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God's side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don't walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message.

Back in the Mix

2010-06-22T05:31:00.000-07:00

I am back in the office today. I have to admit I am not sure I am going to last the whole day but I wanted to come in and give it a shot. Feel like I need a beach trip for some inspiration. Lol! I am going to work on the Alpha Videos this week so we can get them ready for national distribution. So excited about this opportunity. Who would have thought that a random idea a year ago would make such a huge impact. I love it!

Why Worry?

2010-06-03T07:49:00.000-07:00

As my surgery has been approaching I have been faced with the temptation to worry. Divinely enough, my particular reading topics this week have been related to worry vs. trusting. It seems that trusting is far more relaxing and energizing then worry. I even came across a great definition for worry in my readings from the Christian Atheist, "worry is the sin of distrusting the promises and the power of God." Wow! So quite honestly worry is a sin. When you worry your perspective of God is false. You minimize His power and His truth. When you put it that way it seems preposterous to worry, right. Who am I to take the reign from the creator of all things and profess, by worrying, that He is in fact NOT able. Ouch! I do not want any part of that. However, when you and I worry, that is exactly what we are doing. Be encouraged by this scripture today and know that worrying will accomplish absolutely nothing. Trusting in Him is way better use of your life and energy.

1 Corinthians 10:13 - ¹³No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.

Those Who are Lazy- LXVI

2010-06-01T05:08:00.000-07:00

Have you ever looked at one of those pieces of art that play tricks on your eyes? You know, you can look at it one way and then turn it and see something totally different. Pretty freaky huh? I think that can happen to us sometimes when we read through the pages of scripture. We can read something that perhaps we have read before a few times and out of nowhere see something totally different. This can happen for a few different reasons. One, the Holy Spirit can bring something to your attention and enable you to digest scripture from a different perspective or you can read a different version of scripture and see different things via different linguistic styles. This definitely happened to me when I read through 2 Thessalonians chapter 3. I have read this passage before, in fact many times before. I have always understood the mentality that you should work hard for a living and provide for your family and not be lazy. Reading this passage through the lens of your household makes perfect sense, right? But what if you read it through the lens of the church. Yowzer! It puts new meaning to the phrase “if you don’t work you don’t eat.” Have you ever felt this way or ever heard someone say, “I don’t feel like I am getting fed at this church”? My question to you would be how have you invested in that church? Because this is saying if you don’t work first then you do not eat. Or how about the next passage that reads “now we are getting reports that a bunch of lazy good for nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated!” Jeepers! I don’t know about you but I want to make sure that at no time do I fit the category of a lazy good for nothing in the church. I don’t want to simply take up real estate in the church and spend my time spectating. On the contrary, I want to invest my time for which Christ Jesus invested His entire life for and remain a participator in this organism that we call church. Where are you on this scale? What does your church experience look like? Sitting and standing with an occasional head bow? Or are you investing and sweating to share the message of hope? If it’s not the latter than do something now to change it. Sign up for a ministry this weekend at your local church. Find an area of need in your community and meet it. Get creative but don’t get lazy. Time is ticking!

4 Day Weekend

2010-05-28T05:44:00.000-07:00

Shelly and I have the awesome privilege of celebrating a 4 day weekend for Memorial Day. I know what you are thinking, "Doesn't everyone get a 4 day weekend for Memorial Day?" Well the answer is no. Pastors rarely get a 4 day weekend and for myself and Shelly, it has been a really long time since we have been able to enjoy a 4 day weekend. I am so thankful for my team at Georgetown. They enable me to take time off and the organization never skips a beat. I do not take that for granted. A great team gives you the opportunity to blow off some steam. Corny I know. But anyway, Shelly and I are going to make the trek to a remote town in WV for a few days with the family. Its an annual family reunion trip that has gone on since way before I arrived. Excited to pop up the tent and kick back for a bit with the guitar, a cornhole set, and possibly a fire. Should be a good times and great relaxation in preparation for the busy week ahead filled with moving, weddings, and surgery. Via Con Dios!!

Out of Control

2010-05-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

You have heard the term before and it mostly resonates with a bad connotation. However, I wonder if it's exactly the place where God wants us to get to. As I read through the Bible I do not see people or situations in control. On the contrary! It is to our advantage to be "out of control" even though it goes against everything inside of us. It is when we are "out of control", that God is in control and quit frankly I cannot imagine a better place to be in. I do understand however that this is easier said than done. Recently I received some news that shook my control. A few months ago while getting my wisdom teeth removed my oral surgeon removed a cyst that was wrapped around the root of my right wisdom tooth. It turns out the cyst was a rare dental tumor that deteriorates bone. The good new is that it is benign and will remain that way. The bad news is that the only resolution to the problem is to remove the bone a centimeter in each direction to eradicate the tumor from ever coming back again. So.....I will have to undergo two surgeries. During the first surgery the doctors will remove a portion of my jaw bone and replace it with a titanium rod. Then 3-4 months later I will undergo another surgery where they will take bone from my hip and graft it in place where they removed my original jaw bone. Yes, this is going to be a bit of a journey and yes I am going to be ok! My movement and facial structure will remain exactly the same. The only side effects will be numbness on the bottom right half of my lip and I will loose my back two teeth but they will get replaced in the end. Now, I would not be honest if I said I was not nervous. However, I know in my heart that this news did not come as a surprise to God. In this case I have no other option than to turn over the control to Him and trust Him with my life. So yes...I am out of control right now and it seems like the right place to be. In other words, "I am out of control and proud of it!" I am humbled and honored that God would trust me with this journey. I will do my best to keep you updated on the process. Shelly and I appreciate your prayers for us. Can I encourage you today to pray and ask God if there are any areas in your life that He would like you to release control? I can tell you this...it may not be easy...But it is the best question you can ask!

Ouch!

2010-05-14T07:18:00.000-07:00

I am reading through 2 Kings for our LXVI Reading Plan and I came across this portion of scripture that made me stop in my tracks and evaluate my life. I wanted to encourage you to do the same. OUCH! How does your life match up with this passage? 2 Kings 17:

^32-33 They honored and worshiped God, but not exclusively—they also appointed all sorts of priests, regardless of qualification, to conduct a variety of rites at the local fertility shrines. They honored and worshiped God, but they also kept up their devotions to the old gods of the places they had come from.
^34-39 And they're still doing it, still worshiping any old god that has nostalgic appeal to them. They don't really worship God—they don't take seriously what he says regarding how to behave and what to believe, what he revealed to the children of Jacob whom he named Israel. God made a covenant with his people and ordered them, "Don't honor other gods: Don't worship them, don't serve them, don't offer sacrifices to them. Worship God, the God who delivered you from Egypt in great and personal power. Reverence and fear him. Worship him. Sacrifice to him. And only him! All the things he had written down for you, directing you in what to believe and how to behave—well, do them for as long as you live. And whatever you do, don't worship other gods! And the covenant he made with you, don't forget your part in that. And don't worship other gods! Worship God, and God only—he's the one who will save you from enemy oppression."
^40-41 But they didn't pay any attention. They kept doing what they'd always done. As it turned out, all the time these people were putting on a front of worshiping God, they were at the same time involved with their local idols. And they're still doing it. Like father, like son.

On the Road Again?

2010-05-12T08:04:00.000-07:00

Feeling the itch to hit the road again for a Worship Experience Tour. I miss it and it's been too long. You know that feeling that you were created to do that one thing and you don't feel like you are doing it. Well i am getting that nudge to get back on the wagon. It's been a good season of rest but it's time! I am in the process of making some old and new contacts, putting a band together, and writing some songs. I love the journey of leading others in lifting up our Creator God. There is nothing else like it. There will be a new site up soon. Look for it! Send me an email if you have a venue and would like to host an experience!

Could it Be?

2010-05-07T06:13:00.000-07:00

Shelly and I have been on a housing search since January. It has been a trying season for sure. We bid on one house twice and lost it both times. We received a contract one one house, moved in our belongings and then lost the entire deal due to the lack of diligence on the sellers part. We have experienced every kind of emotion in the past 5 months. Though it has not been easy, it has been a good journey of testing our character and our faith. What do I mean by testing our faith? For the past month we have been homeless to a point. Our belongings are packed up in storage and we have been staying with family and friends with no comfort or security of a home. This situation has drawn us closer to God and challenged both of us in making sure that our 100% security is found in Jesus, not in safety, a comfortable home, logic, finances, or anything else but God himself. When the act submission comes, then His timing follows. Recently our Realtor e,ailed us out of the blue and said he found what looks to be a diamond in the rough. It was an older home, newly renovated, right off of RT50, and on half an acre of land with a gorgeous backyard. It also happened to be eighty thousand dollars less than the homes we were previously looking at. After viewing the home Shelly and I both agreed to putting a contract on the home and after competing with four other offers, they accepted ours! It's not over yet. With our previous experience we know that anything can happen between now and then but we are one more step closer to securing a home and establishing a family. My feet are tapping but I will not dance until the keys are in my hands:)

Book It

2010-05-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

I love reading. The more reading the more 2nd hand experience you receive from the author. One can acquire a whole lot of experiences through reading. I remember when I first started to enjoy reading. It was in elementary school I think. I found out that the more books I read the more free pizza I got from pizza hut. What a deal! The program was called Book It! I wonder if that started the trend? Who knows. Anyway, in case you car here is a list of the book I am currently reading for May. Mo Money Mo Knowledge!

Everybody Communicates Few Connect- John Maxwell
Christian Atheist- Craig Groeschel
From Garden to City Reading Plan

Steward the Story

2010-05-03T06:23:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite people to read about in the scriptures (besides Jesus of course) is Joshua. I love his courage and leadership in times of uncertainty. His faith is so inspiring. Yesterday, I read a portion of scripture in the last chapter of Joshua that stood out to me like a 3D TV made by LG. Joshua gathers the people together, the old generation and the new, to steward the story of God and pass on the leadership to the next generation. You may have heard the speech before, it ends with, "choose this day whom you will serve. For me and my house we will serve the Lord". What stood out to me was the paragraphs before when he shared the story of God and how He delivered them and provided for them and never once let them go. Joshua was stewarding the story of God for the next generation. He was really asking them who they would serve. In a sense he was being sarcastic and laying it all on the table to Glorify God above. That challenges me on how I am stewarding the story that God is writing in my life. What am I capturing for my kids to see God? How am I slowing down to write or collect artifacts that reveal God's story and his faithfulness in my life? How am I stewarding God's story for my family, my peers, and total strangers? Shelly and I are in the process of buying a house. Last night we talked about the importance of placing around artifacts that we have collected from trips and/or different times in our lives so we can share the story of God with our guests. We also are thinking about tailoring our personal stories into children's stories for our kids before they go to bed at night to instill in them God's faithfulness to them and their family at an early age. There are so many ways to steward the story. Get creative and do it today. People are waiting with anticipation to hear your story.

Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.
² Joshua said to all the people, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River ^[a] and worshiped other gods. ³ But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the River and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac, ⁴ and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.
⁵ " 'Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out. ⁶ When I brought your fathers out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. ⁷ But they cried to the LORD for help, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians; he brought the sea over them and covered them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the desert for a long time.
⁸ " 'I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land. ⁹ When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you. ¹⁰ But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand.
¹¹ " 'Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands. ¹² I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you—also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow. ¹³ So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.'
¹⁴ "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. ¹⁵ But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Miracles

2010-04-27T06:48:00.000-07:00

We right in the middle of our Miracles Series @NCC. I don't think it's coincidence that as I connect with people during the week I am finding that so many are in need of God to do something in their lives that is beyond human ability. It is interesting to think about though. All of the miracles that we face are really micro miracles compared to the macro miracle that God performed when He created something (all of creation) out of nothing! Wow! That is encourages. I will put my hope in trust in the One who is able. Whatever situation you face today know that God is more than able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than you could ever ask for or imagine. Would you have ever thought of the salamander or the ocean's tide?

PYLC 2010

2010-04-23T11:07:00.000-07:00

Potomac Youth Leadership Conference from Ben Engle on Vimeo.

Exponential Trip

2010-04-21T11:54:00.000-07:00

Great times in Orlando. I feel like my seretonin levels rise to a new level when I come to Florida. Here are a few of the trip highlights:

*dinner at Maggianos with Matt Chandler, Francis Chan, Brian Mosely, and Mark McCarthey
*meeting Lou Giglio and hearing his first session at Exponential
*experiencing Chan's workshop on true submission to God
*breakfast at the hotel was amazing
*palm trees
*meeting Dave Ferguson and the Exponential Team
*Downtown Disney & the Irish Pub Doughnuts (thanks Chris)
*Downtown Orlando with Nate and Ashley
*SouthEastern University Chapel
*The new Kia Sportage is really nice and handles well
*we made a few turns that led us in the wrong direction more than a few times:)

I am still downloading thoughts from the session in my heart and brain. I will share some thoughts when it's complete.

PYM Youth Convention

2010-04-18T15:43:00.000-07:00

Hung out with Kristian Stanfill and the band this weekend. Great guys..great time! Kristian is one of the worship leaders at Passion City Church in Atlanta. They recently released a new album. You should get it, its good! Off to Florida in the morning for Exponential Conference. Should be great times! Always love the opportunity to hang out with church planters from all over the nation. Super stoked about connecting with Lou Giglio and Matt Chandler. Enjoy your week!

Dude Where's my House?

2010-04-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

We found out that we just lost a house after being in contract for 40 days. Some weird things have happened that were way out of our control. As frustrating and devastating as it is and sounds..we are still confident in the Lord. Perhaps God is protecting us from something that we do not yet see. We have two choices. We can get mad and get even, or trust in God with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding, and enjoy a life of peace and patience. After contemplation we have decided to go with the latter. So for now we will embrace this story that He is writing in our lives, enjoy the moment, enjoy the process, and enjoy the people. An interesting opportunity is coming on the horizon that I cannot yet share but I will keep you posted. Here is what I (we) are trusting in today:

"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us". Ephesians 3: 20-21 MSG

"Trust God from the bottom of your heart;

don't try to figure out everything on your own.

Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;

he's the one who will keep you on track.

Don't assume that you know it all..... Proverbs 3:5 MSG

.....in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight". v6 NIV

PYLC 10'

2010-04-13T12:30:00.001-07:00

Excited to be at the Potomac Youth Leaders Conference this year. I will be leading worship along with Jeff Deyo. If you are a youth pastor or youth leader in the area you should check it out. Always a good time with the PYM team.

New Rhythm Project

2010-04-07T08:18:00.000-07:00

Shelly and I are in the process of creating an organization that will resource the local church to live up to the standard of James 1:27: "Religion that God the Father accepts as pure and without fault is this: caring for orphans or widows who need help, and keeping yourself free from the world's evil influence."
Pure and without fault is a heavy adjective. If I am honest, when I think of the church today as a whole, I do not think this is the best adjective for the church. That is a problem. The need is obviously great and there is so much more we can do. So we are currently fleshing out a plan to equip the local church to be the hope for their community. New Rhythm Project will work to educate, advocate, and facilitate for foster care, adoption, & mentoring. Please pray with us as we continue to develop God's plan for NRP. Stay tuned for different ways you can get involved to help the cause.

The Big Move

2010-04-06T05:47:00.000-07:00

Shelly and I bought a house!! We are moving in today and tomorrow. We are so excited about this opportunity that the Lord provided for us. Going to be a long sweat equity day but worth every drop.

Offense or Offense?

2010-04-05T10:47:00.000-07:00

As we have been reading through the Gospel's in our year reading plan I have been encouraged in so many ways. This month especially I feel like God has given me a new perspective on offense. In one way, Jesus was always offending people when He went about teaching. His teaching was so simple yet so challenging. For those that were not ready to hear it, they got offended. But so what, right? It was the truth and in the end it changed their entire lives. I think sometimes I am way more concerned about offending people than I am at making sure the truth is exposed. I need to be more unapologetically apologetic. On the flip side Jesus taught about offense as well and how we should respond. He of all people had reason to be offended. After all, the very people he came to embrace and love, killed him. But, he was always willing to forgive because He came to this world to play offense. Jesus made it very clear that when you hold on to offense you are not playing offense. Make sense? The goal is to go into all of the world and share God's story with anyone and everyone. However, if we are worrying about who did this and who said that, we are no longer playing offense and we are missing the point. That challenges me to let go of the little things and pray though the big things. There is much work to do here and no time to stay on the fence thinking about our offense when we should be playing offense. Am I making any sense?

Easter Celebration & 5th Location

2010-03-31T06:04:00.000-07:00

This weekend is bumping with lots of celebration and events here at NCC. This Friday we will start the Holiday with 2 Good Friday services at our Ebenezers Location at 5pm & 630pm. On Saturday we will host our annual Easter Eggstravaganza at Lincoln Park on Capitol Hill and Quincey Park in Ballston. After the Egg Hunt you can come on back to Ebenezers for our Baptismal Service that will happen at 630pm. Finally, on Sunday, you can choose from one of our 5 locations and 9 services. We'll add a new location to the mix this Sunday as well with our newest launch at Gala Theater in Upper NW. So mark your calendar for one or all of these celebration opportunities and we'll see you there!!

Dream Team

2010-03-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

Here and Now

2010-03-25T06:45:00.000-07:00

We have a saying here at NCC that goes like this, "a change of pace + a change of pace = a change of perspective". Its true isn't it? Especially when it comes to missions trips. We sacrifice time, money, and energy. Travel to a place we have never been to before and are not familiar with and boom. Something clicks. I love the feeling. It's like you are really walking out the pages of scripture. You are no longer reading stories that don't make sense to you. You are living the words written in the Bible. You are trusting God with all your heart and leaning on Him with everything because you have no cognitive category of where you are or how to navigate through it. That is how it was for us in Nicaragua. We were reading through the pages of Jeremiah and they were becoming so real to us as we spent the days destroying the old facility and tearing down walls to build up new ones. It was awesome! It was all good! The problem however is often times found in the return to normal life. The change in pace and place is good and it will bring a change of perspective to your life, but most importantly, are you walking obediently to the pages of scripture when you are right in the middle of the place where God has placed you. If the Bible only comes alive to you when you leave the country for a week then something is terribly wrong. In the same way God uses you across the world, He desires to use you across the cubicle. In the same faith you practice in an unfamiliar land, God wants you to practice the same faith in your very familiar neighborhood. So what is it going to take? Maybe apply the same thought to your everyday life. Change up your normal schedule. Throw in a curve ball and force yourself to get uncomfortable and go in a different direction and watch what God can do. He has called you to be a prophet to the nations and that means right here and right now!

Team Nica

2010-03-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

We had such a great team in Nicaragua. There were 17 of us. Which means 17 different backgrounds and personalities. However, we meshed so well into a family so quickly. One of the girls comments on the last day was, "we are like one big non-dysfunctional family, i could not have picked it any better". God did some amazing things in us and through us. I was reminded of the scripture in Corinthians when Paul talks about the body of Christ. We are all different parts that make up the full body. I think we all got a better understanding of that verse on this trip. I loved the fact that we represented different cultures and language on our team as well. Each day we blessed our meal in a different language. Some of the different languages were: English, Spanish, ASL, Nicaraguan Sign, Cantonese, amd Southern Virgina:). We were all acting as one body throughout our week. It just felt good. Everyone was doing what they were created to do. As a result there were no insults, bickering, quarrels, or anything of the such. It was a miracle in the making:) I wonder if at home (USA), if we were all doing what we were created to do, and not trying to be people we were not, if there would be more fulfillment, more accomplished, and less quarreling. There is something to think about!

Nica Reflections

2010-03-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

From before you were born, you stepped into a story that was written by God. In Jeremiah 1 the Bible reads that "before you were in your mother's womb, He knew you." God had a story in mind for you since before you were even breathing air. What an amazing concept. Stories can be so powerful. We can loose ourselves in stories and they can even be a catalyst of change in our lives. Some of us will never be the same because of some of the stories that we have heard, seen, or experienced. Last week 17 of us got the opportunity to share in the story that God is writing in Nicaragua. Its amazing enough to know that God is the author of your story and on top of that He gives us moments to be a part of someone Else's story too. God is such an amazing author and orchestrator of life. What an awesome privilege to be the ink in His book. Are you living the story of God? Are you allowing God to write your story, or are your writing your own? His-story never ends. What are on the pages of your story? It's never too late to hand over the pen!

Nicaragua 2010 Final Day

2010-03-22T12:01:00.001-07:00

This is our last night in Nicaragua. God has done so many amazing things. I am finding it hard to put into words at this time. We worked hard and long each day and gave all we had. We loved God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. The pages of scripture has come alive to us here as we have walked through the book of Jeremiah as a team. God called us to another nation to tear down the walls and build them back up again. We have had four days of demolition and today, our final day, we dug a trent to lay the new foundation. We are so humbled to be a part of God’s story here in Nicaragua. Our final reading as a team came today in Jeremiah 50. What an amazing feeling to walk out the pages of scripture:

4 “In those coming days,”
says the Lord,
“the people of Israel will return home
together with the people of Judah.
They will come weeping
and seeking the Lord their God.
5 They will ask the way to Jerusalem[c]
and will start back home again.
They will bind themselves to the Lord
with an eternal covenant that will never be forgotten.

We have given of ourselves for such a time as this. That those who are lost and without justice or hope could come home and find a place in God’s story here at La Puerta Cafe de El Camino Iglesia!!

Gracias Jesús para esta vez que hemos tenido que compartir juntos. Pueda esta historia continúa ser escrita en los corazones para siempre. Amén

Nicaragua 2010 Day 2

2010-03-17T16:15:00.000-07:00

We accomplished some more demolition today. 2 more walls came down and we hauled hundreds of pounds of rubble off to another site. It was another scorcher at 95+. One moment today was considerably special. Right after we finished blasting the first hole in the wall before lunch, Matt (the missionary here), grabbed the sledge hammer and started hitting the wall himself. One by one pieces flew off and the team cheered him on. He wasn't able to hear our cheers but you could feel the encouragement in the air. The vibe was big. He was swinging away and we were cheering away at the top of our voices. It reminded me of the time when the Israelites were in battle and as long as Moses hands were in the air they were winning. When Moses got tired and his arms fell, they started to loose. Then others came along to encourage him by holding up his hands right along side of Moses. In the end they won the battle. In the same way we are here as a team to lift us the hands of the Barlows. They have been doing this long before we got here and will continue to press on as we leave. As we were watching him hit that wall I was so honored and encouraged to be a part of this vision. Matt is a little older and less in shape so it made the story seem that much more inspiring as he was pounding away at the walls and they came crashing down. Their investment here has prepared the way for walls to come crashing down and due to God's amazing grace we get to be a part of the story. What a feeling! Off to dinner again. We are heading out tonight for the church service. The Pastor asked if I would share the Word tonight so say a prayer and believe with us tonight. We have our fun day tomorrow. We will be going to explore a Volcano, view a lookout spot at Granada, and shop a bit at the Mercado. Thanks for your prayers. Well update again soon.

Nicaragua 2010 Day 1

2010-03-16T17:31:00.000-07:00

We made it safe here in Managua. Its 95 degrees! We started day 1 with demolition to tear down and make way for the coffee house. Its no coincidence that while we were swinging the sledge hammer, we were singing, "tear down theses walls...and hope us rising.., and the church is called "the way" Go figure! That seems to be the theme of our trip. We are tearing down the walls of injustice among the deaf and building up to provide others the opportunity to see "the way"! Dinner time...

LXVI- Jeremiah 24-26

2010-03-11T07:34:00.000-08:00

We are up to chapter 27 now and its easy to feel like you have read the same chapter 27 times. I mean come on people, listen to the man sent by God already! How many more times and in how many more ways can one persuade you to return back to God before you and your whole nation becomes dismantled like rotten figs? Now, we find ourselves at the end of chapter 26 and it concludes leaving you on the edge of your page, wondering what is going to happen next. When I finished reading the chapter I could hear the beep..beep..beepbeepbeep...stay tuned for next weeks scenes of chapter 27. Jeremiah found himself in a tight spot. What were the people going to do to him? As we read in the parenthetical paragraph we see what happened the last time someone spoke out publicly like this and challenged the people. It wasn’t pretty. I couldn’t help but try and put myself in the moment and think about what Jeremiah might have been feeling. Was he scared? Was he feeling a sense of excitement and destiny? I would guess he was probably feeling a bit of both. He was living an adventure. The best part of that is Jeremiah was living an adventure established by God. So whatever the outcome, he could never go wrong. How thrilling and exciting, right? Jeremiah is not pressured by the cultural norm or the pattern of the world. He is not backing down because he is the only one in the classroom or the cubical that is a believer. He is on a mission, sent by God to tell His story in order to save a nation. My friends, the same is true for us. If we are honest, the similarities between the nation of Israel then and our nation now are pretty great. God has sent you on a mission to tell the story of God. The weight and value of that message has the power to influence generations beyond your existence. Let me say that from a different angle: You have the opportunity to influence your classmate or co-worker in such a way that can change the course of their history, their children’s history and their children’s history forever and ever. Wow! How cool that God would give us the privilege to take part in this story. So let me ask you. What are you doing right now, this minute, wherever you are? Are you allowing the cultural norm to sway you? Do you feel out numbered? God has placed you where you are in this season for a reason. Do you want to get away? Or do you want to jump into chapter 27 and live the adventure of God? The end of the story is up to you..you get to choose your own adventure!

Formula ONE

2010-03-05T09:41:00.000-08:00

Our ABILITY to find the right path depends on our SUBMISSION to GOD. (read it again)

Show me where you made a bad decision and I will show you where you did not submit to God. Show me a decision you made that brought glory to God and put you on the correct path and I will show you where you willfully submitted to God.Remember that your everyday, simple decisions are what lead you to your destination! God cares more about our response to His Spirit's leading today in this moment than about what we intend to do next year.

Trust

2010-03-03T08:14:00.001-08:00

Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight.

Lately I have been reminded and challenged by this Proverb. May these words of faith, hope, and love cover you like a blanket in your time of great need.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding
This terminology of trust is related to the idea of lying helplessly facedown. Vulnerable and dependant upon God.
Lean not- “do not prop your self up with”….the pattern of this world, your own conventional wisdom
We are to lean in his direction alone and not part with what we feel in our hearts. That is way easier said than done because we are all prone to fall on how things feel or look at the time but cannot afford to live by those standards alone. There is too much at stake here. Lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Notice here is says in ALL your ways. It doesn’t say in most of your ways. In all..meaning in your dating ways, your financial ways, your educational ways, your professional ways, your leisure ways. Not just on Sunday ways or only when people are watching ways..ALL means ALL!
Acknowledge Him- we see who He is in our lives and respond accordingly. What's the proper response, Submission. We release control of every arena of our existence.
And finally, when we do that, He will direct our path. If you get these things right…the right path will be obvious. If you trust God and refuse to lean on your limited understanding of the world, the best path will become so unmistakably clear. Divine direction begins with unconditional submission.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Nicaragua

2010-03-03T08:10:00.001-08:00

We are leaving for Nicaragua very soon. So excited to make the trek with our team. There is nothing more satisfying then living in community with others and living to share the hope of Christ with other Nations. Pray for us as we travel to help build and establish a local coffeehouse for the Deaf and minister in a Deaf School in Managua Nicaragua March 15-21

Job 1-15

2010-02-22T06:16:00.000-08:00

As I am reading through the book of Job I find myself challenged in many ways. One particular situation has become illuminated in my mind, suffering. Suffering is followed by so many questions that have been pondered and debated for many years as to why, who causes suffering, and how should we deal with it. Now, here is a disclaimer: I am not omniscient and do not have this all figured out, but here are a few thoughts that I have recorded that have changed the way I think about suffering.
In my heart of compassion I always am looking for ways to help those around me who are suffering. If someone is struggling in their marriage or needing help managing their finances or dealing with a loss of some kind, I am always prone to do something to alleviate their pain and suffering. Its a great intention but sometimes not the best practice. Job's friends shot off all kinds of thoughts, counsel, and ideas that they thought would fix Job's problems. However, in reality they had no idea what God was up to. God had a plan for Job and was totally in control at every moment. Job said it himself, "we take the good days from God, why not the bad days too." There is always a reason, sometimes and perhaps most times, we do not understand it. It may help to train our minds to think, what can I get out of this? instead of how can I get out of this? We need to mourn with those who are mourning and rejoice with those who are rejoicing. Shared suffering is dignifying and can produce life-changing results. There is no short cut to success and there are no short cuts to anything worth waiting for. Today, let us rejoice in our sufferings and look for God to lead us through.

All Location Celebration

2010-02-18T13:39:00.000-08:00

For the first time in NCC history we had every location in one spot for a celebration service. It was incredible. We hosted it at the Lincoln Theater on U Street. Talk about some history. It was pretty cool to be playing on the same stage that Ella Fitzgerald and The Duke have graced before. It was an awe inspiring night. I wonder if we'll be doing more of this?

LXVI

2010-02-18T13:27:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, as a Church, we started our one year Bible Plan. This year we will walk through the Bible together with a custom plan. Our weekend sermon series will correspond with what we are reading throughout the year. So excited about this. J. I. Packard said it best, "any Christian worth his salt will read the Bible from cover to cover every year". So here we go!! I have a feeling this will be a monumental year in our lives as a church! Feel free to take the challenge along with us.

National Alpha Prayer Breakfast

2010-02-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

Kari, our staff intern, and I had an amazing opportunity this morning to share the story of what God has been doing at Gallaudet University, specifically with Campus Alpha. Kari did an awesome job telling the story and we got the chance to meet some really neat from different parts of the US and the world. I gentleman in particular was so moved by what God is doing here in DC that he gave Kari $500 cash to start the process of writing a book to record everything that is happening along with some leadership lessons and 'best practices' in Deaf Ministries. We were pleasantly surprised for we both thought that one day we would have the opportunity to record everything in a book.
I am a strong believer that God is able to do more than we could ever ask or imagine. When you put your sights on what God wants to do and you concern yourself with the things that God is most concerned with, everything else will fall into place and productivity will happen for the glory of God. What a cool opportunity we all have to be a part of God's story. We are just a small part of God's big plan to redeem humanity. It is such an honor and a privilege. Every trial and obstacle is worth enduring for the great prize of changed lives filled with faith,hope, and love! My heart is encouraged today. Whatever you find yourself doing, do it with excellence and do it for the Lord. For your work in the Lord in not in vain. Now enjoy the snow!

Limitations = Miracles

2010-02-04T07:23:00.000-08:00

Our greatest limitations provide a recipe for the greatest miracles. Wherever we are without, God is all the more with us. Feel no discouragement in sparsity. God wants to show His glory to you in the same way he showed it to Gideon.

Judges 7:1-7
Jerub-Baal (Gideon) got up early the next morning, all his troops right there with him. They set up camp at Harod's Spring. The camp of Midian was in the plain, north of them near the Hill of Moreh. God said to Gideon, "You have too large an army with you. I can't turn Midian over to them like this—they'll take all the credit, saying, 'I did it all myself,' and forget about me. Make a public announcement: 'Anyone afraid, anyone who has any qualms at all, may leave Mount Gilead now and go home.'" Twenty-two companies headed for home. Ten companies were left. God said to Gideon: "There are still too many. Take them down to the stream and I'll make a final cut. When I say, 'This one goes with you,' he'll go. When I say, 'This one doesn't go,' he won't go." So Gideon took the troops down to the stream. God said to Gideon: "Everyone who laps with his tongue, the way a dog laps, set on one side. And everyone who kneels to drink, drinking with his face to the water, set to the other side." Three hundred lapped with their tongues from their cupped hands. All the rest knelt to drink. God said to Gideon: "I'll use the three hundred men who lapped at the stream to save you and give Midian into your hands. All the rest may go home."

God cut Gideon's army down from 32,000 to 10,000 then to 300 men. God was creating a recipe for miracles so everyone could see that He was God and all credit and honor belonged to him. Are there areas of you life today where you feel discouraged because there is just not enough? Hold on tight and stay focused because God is getting ready to do something that you can't even imagine!!

Narnia

2010-02-03T07:01:00.000-08:00

Went to bed last night in DC..woke up today in Narnia! It is gorgeous outside from all the powdery snow. I have to say I have really enjoyed the wintery wonderland this season. It has reminded me of God's creativity. He is so beautiful and seems to have no end to creativity! I love it!

Another reason for feeling like I am walking in an imaginary today? someone paid for 2 masseuses' to come in today to give all of our staff a 20 min. massage. Again, His creativity never ceases to amaze me. Lol!

LXVI 2010- from garden to city

2010-01-29T08:52:00.000-08:00

Off to WV for our annual Leadership Retreat. Such a great time. We'll host our 200 leaders this weekend for a State of the Church Address which will include a synapses of last years stats along with our vision for 2010 and where we are headed as a church. Included in all of this is loads of fun and maxing and relaxing to the sounds of WV. Always such a blast. Can't wait to partake in the festivities!! Catch you on the flip side.

Humble Times

2010-01-28T11:47:00.000-08:00

When you find yourself in situations that expose your fears, remember the promises of God. Every situation that you face that brings you to your fears is a situation that will breed a miracle. When you realize you are no longer in control, you realize the true meaning of your faith journey with Christ. Coming to an end of yourself means you are stepping into a new beginning with Christ. That my friends is the place that I want to be over and over again. What situations are you facing right now? How can you let go of the control in our life and simply follow Christ?

Campus Alpha

2010-01-27T11:46:00.000-08:00

We just launched Campus Alpha last night at Gallaudet Campus. So cool to see God move in such a big way beyond the boundaries of culture and language. We had 50 people show up for cornhole, pizza, & the first Alpha ASL Video. It was such a monumental time. I don't even think we will realize the impact in our lifetime. A number of International Students from Saudi Arabia came out to join us. We couldn't sign their language and they could sign ours but we had a blast playing games and cracking jokes the best we could. God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we could ask for or think about. So excited for the next 7 weeks of Campus Alpha.

Extravagant Grace

2010-01-13T11:37:00.000-08:00

I love this story of redemption and grace. Joseph was faced with so much disappointment in his life and had every reason to become a frustrated and bitter man. Instead he was careful with how he entertained his thoughts and allowed God to do an amazing work that redeemed him, his family, and saved many many lives. Patience and Obedience is the key to a fulfilled life.
Genesis 45
^1-2 Joseph couldn't hold himself in any longer, keeping up a front before all his attendants. He cried out, "Leave! Clear out—everyone leave!" So there was no one with Joseph when he identified himself to his brothers. But his sobbing was so violent that the Egyptians couldn't help but hear him. The news was soon reported to Pharaoh's palace. ³ Joseph spoke to his brothers: "I am Joseph. Is my father really still alive?" But his brothers couldn't say a word. They were speechless—they couldn't believe what they were hearing and seeing.
^4-8 "Come closer to me," Joseph said to his brothers. They came closer. "I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt. But don't feel badly, don't blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives. There has been a famine in the land now for two years; the famine will continue for five more years—neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me on ahead to pave the way and make sure there was a remnant in the land, to save your lives in an amazing act of deliverance. So you see, it wasn't you who sent me here but God. He set me in place as a father to Pharaoh, put me in charge of his personal affairs, and made me ruler of all Egypt.

Primary Source

2010-01-08T10:19:00.000-08:00

^19-23 When his master heard his wife's story, telling him, "These are the things your slave did to me," he was furious. Joseph's master took him and threw him into the jail where the king's prisoners were locked up. But there in jail God was still with Joseph: He reached out in kindness to him; he put him on good terms with the head jailer. The head jailer put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners—he ended up managing the whole operation. The head jailer gave Joseph free rein, never even checked on him, because God was with him; whatever he did God made sure it worked out for the best.

Research can be broken into two basics categories, Primary & Secondary. Primary sources are those that actually experienced the history or record first hand while secondary is referred to as the sources that got the info from a messenger or gossip so to speak. The information came down from a second hand therefore its a secondary source. Its an amazing experience to move through these sources in our own life. What do i mean? Its a a way different impact when we "hear" that God is faithful and that He will never leave us or forsake us or that all things work together for good, than to actually be locked in a messy and smelly jail sell for something that we did not do only for God to exalt you to the second highest place in Egypt. As I travel along this journey it has been such a humbling experience walking through the Bible and experiencing things in a 'Primary Source Fashion'. Whatever situation you find yourself in today be confident and know that God is for you and who in all of creation could stand against that? He is writing your story. Be patient and obedient. Attitude and perspective is everything. I want God to be able to use me like He used Jacob. Everywhere I go and whatever I do, no matter what circumstance I find myself in, still God can use me and His Name will be glorified!

2 Revolutions

2010-01-07T06:41:00.000-08:00

This year Shelly and I made two specific resolutions that we call revolutions because ultimately they will revolutionize our lives. One is to read through the Bible cover to cover this year and journal through the process. The other is to get up an hour earlier to accomplish this. We bought some new Bibles and Journals as well to go along with the freshness of the task. So far its been great. This small change has made a huge impact on our individual lives, our marriage, and our day as a whole. One of our best decisions yet. In case you care, we decided to read through the Message Version. What decisions or changes have you made this year? One simple decision this year can change your life forever. I mean that in so many ways.

Undercover Spy

2010-01-06T13:05:00.000-08:00

If you know me well then you know I have a keen sense for observing and "knowing where all the exits are and how long it will take to get there" at all times. Well tonight I get to have a little fun as I get to act like a secret agent in the spy museum. Sounds childish I know but let me have my fun. I have been wanting to go there for a few years now and have not made it. Tonight we have free tickets. The free part makes it priority. After you read this last sentence the post will self destruct in 5...4...3...2.....@#@#%$@%^

The Climb

2010-01-05T12:51:00.000-08:00

Shelly and I got a free pass to one of our local gyms for the new year. Just so happens that it has a huge rock climbing wall. Get to cross off one of our year goals already- join an extra curricular activity. We are taking an intro to Rock Climbing Class tonight!! Should be fun.

New Year Revolution

2010-01-04T09:32:00.000-08:00

Shelly and I had the opportunity to partake in a nice relaxing new years getaway. During our time away we did our annual marriage eval, year eval, and goal setting. It was just what the doctor ordered. In fact, we decided that we are going to make this place our annual new years tradition spot. So excited!! We are starting off on a better foot this year than I think we ever have. Our communication and preparation was so beneficial. We discussed pros and cons and made necessary improvements both individually and as a couple. I am so excited about this new year to come. I felt like this year we were making a new year revolution instead of mere resolutions. The small changes we made to our everyday lives hopefully will result in greater influence and relationships for 2010. What our goals boil down to basically this year is to love God more, love each other more (individually & a couple), and love people more. This year I want to be in the best shape of my life spiritually, physically, mentally, and financially. Here's to 2010!!