As I mentioned in my last post, the last year or so has been an interesting one for me. What started out hazy has become clear. What started out as frustrating has become exciting. Before I tell you about this clear, exciting picture, let me tell you a little about my journey.
- 9/2009 – I read Francis Chan’s “Crazy Love” in one sitting. It was a powerful reminder of the relationship wants to have with us. It is a relationship based on His almost unimaginable love for us.
- 11/2009 – The image of serving at a ‘different’ church entered my mind…and would not leave. I honestly wasn’t sure what ‘different’ meant, and honestly I was a little unnerved by this.
- 1/2010 – Frustration set in. This ‘different’ church was still in my mind, and it wasn’t Grace Point. The differences between this ‘different’ church began to make me frustrated with Grace Point, our leaders and our Life Groups. That frustration then was focused on my family and finally settled on me. His message to me? “Stop worrying about Grace Point, her leaders and Life Groups. Stop worrying about your family. Start worrying about yourself.”
- 4/2010 – I went to a Church-Planters Conference with Pastor Terry, where the following quote stuck in my head: “God forbid I lead my family to a place of safety and comfort”. Why? Because in this place there is no need for God…because I’ve got it covered! In this place there is no evidence of God…because I can explain it! Many, many parts of Francis Chan’s “Forgotten God” book reinforced this quote. Many, many passages of Scripture reinforced it as well.
- 5/2010 – I somehow made my way to Acts 2:42-47, which I have read and studied out many, many times before. But this time it was different. This time it made clear the prior nine month journey.
- 6/2010 – God made it VERY clear to me that the ‘different’ church in my head WAS Grace Point. I wasn’t supposed serve somewhere else…phew!
I’m planning on elaborating on the clear picture that is now in my head in my next post. Before then, I would encourage you to read Acts 2:42-47 a few times and try to get a picture of what that first church was like. Here it is:
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47
3 comments
Robert Kimball says:
August 5, 2010 at 11:46 am (UTC -5 )
Tom– We are so happy you have decided not to leave Grace Point. Period. You have added so much to the Grace Point Family. God many times makes things “uncomfortable” for us for some reason…we struggle to find out that reason, as you have done.You have surely shown all of us an example of what we need to do to follow those uncomfortable moments, allowing God to guide us in our search for an/THE answer. May God continue helping you and providing resources and answers to those uncomfortable feelings.
Bob and Barb Kimball
Larry Klabunde says:
August 5, 2010 at 10:06 am (UTC -5 )
Tom, I just found RADICAL by David Platt at Lifeway, right beside Crazy Love. He has a website: http://www.radicalthebook.com Check it out. He is a solid Bible teacher, whom I have listened teach in the past. His book outlines a specific strategy he is leading his own church in following this year. You may find it inspirational.
Tom Houser says:
August 5, 2010 at 10:29 am (UTC -5 )
Thanks for the suggestion Larry. Now the question is should I add one more book to my stack of bought-but-haven’t-read-yet books. Did you buy the book?