There's Gotta Be a First Time For Everything

I made my pastoral debut at ministering this past Sunday at Trailhead Church. I titled my message "Pivot Point" and we talked about how useless "New Year's Resolutions" are because of the half-heartedness that goes into it and instead looked to heart-filled commitments that cause pivot points in our lives where real change occurs.

Overall, I think it went pretty well but in all honesty, I'm my own worst critic. I start thinking about the "Should have saids" and the "should haven't said" and the "I sounded like I was preaching Mormonism here" and so on and so forth. Now, if you've ever ministered before, you know what I'm talking about. You feel like the entire audience is disecting every word you said and keeping a tally sheet for everything you could've done better, when that's nowhere near the case. Ultimately, if you seek God and let Him speak, He'll say what needs to be said and sure, there are things I could've done better but you learn and improve and realize that the things you could've done better was not what made the message (I think I may have heard that from somewhere).

Anyway, that was just my thoughts on Sunday. This weekend, Pastor Josh is finally starting his series on "Heaven and hell." We've been anticipating and planning for this for some time and to be honest, I think I speak for much of the Trailhead Staff when I say that this is the most excited we've been for a series since our launch back in September. We're going to talk about Heaven and yes, even hell for four weeks so be sure to be there and be sure to be inviting people out! I know that the first initial thoughts of a series with "hell" in the title is a bit frightening but don't worry, we're going to have a real and honest look at eternity. Why? Because Jesus gave us a real and honest look at eternity and we at Trailhead are not afraid to talk about it because of two reasons. #1 - We want you and your loved ones to go to Heaven and #2 We really don't want you or loved ones to go to hell. So we're going to talk about this sensitive but important subject to inform, to help people understand, and to motivate others. God's got something big planned for this series and you don't want to miss out!

More Than Just Some Pilgrims and a Dead Bird

Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that seems more like an appetizer to another holiday. I mean, admit it, when Thanksgiving comes, you think "It's now Christmas time!" I mean, we look forward to Thanksgiving because basically it's our one day of the year where the whole purpose of the day is simply to eat a lot and no one will judge you for it. Sure, there's something about pilgrims, Indians (Native Americans for the politically correct crowd), a big boat, and some rock, but none of that's important. We just eat and finally feel free to bring out the Charlie Brown Christmas CD (or if you're in my family, Kenny G's Christmas CD, because you can't celebrate the birth of our savior without Kenny). It's amazing how much we really take this day for granted. We really lose sight of the significance of this day and what we should do other than just eating. Thanksgiving is about being thankful and it's about family and friends. Not only that, but it's about helping others be thankful for their Thanksgiving.

Yesterday, instead of having a regular service, Trailhead Church decided to bless others with a Thanksgiving that may have not have had a Thanksgiving at all. First off, I was so thankful to see all the people come out. I would be lying if I said I expected so many, so shame on me. Kudos to all that came and chose to help others and spend some time with other church members. Also, a big kudos to Jodi for being such a huge help at finding these families! So we met at the Ramada Inn and prepared the baskets with food, devotions (Santa Biblias for our Spanish speaking friends), and then we split up into our groups and headed out to deliver the baskets. My group (Ashley, Hillary, Joe, and myself) had the convenience of having our people be relatively close to each other. Unfortunately, we didn't have the convenience of speaking the same language (hence, the Santa Biblias). But lucky for us, Ashley could speak a good deal of Spanish and they could speak enough English for us to deliver the food and pray with them.

Even though there was a language barrier between us, it was obvious to see that they were thankful to be blessed with a Thanksgiving. How grateful they were to have people pray with them and deliver them a simple meal that we take for granted once a year. I can't remember a time where I didn't have a Thanksgiving. I can't remember a time where it was an option to not have a Thanksgiving because we lacked. To look in these peoples' eyes and see their thankfulness that someone would take the time just to pray with them and to deliver them a large meal, shows me that they weren't expecting to have anything like that this year.

This isn't about our generosity as people. This is about showing people God. The only reason we were able to purchase these meals was because God gave us the funds to do so and the only reason we did it was because the Holy Spirit directed us to do this. God is the great provider and this Thanksgiving, He wanted to provide for these people and show them Him through us. He also wanted to show me what I take for granted. Thanksgiving is more than just a meal. It's more than just a gluttony fest and it's more than just a trailer for Christmas. It's about being thankful. Thankful for a God that provides for us. Thankful for a God that sets us free from things we didn't deserve to be set free from. Thankful for a past redeemed, a present that makes sense, and a future that's secure. Thankful for great friends and family in my life that I see God work through everyday. Thankful that God gave those families the opportunity to sit down with each other and enjoy a large meal together and be thankful themselves.

This Thanksgiving, I'm going to have the privilege of sitting down with my family and enjoying a large meal with them, but I'll think about those families that probably understood very little what any of us had to say (except for Ashley) and think about them sitting around eating this huge meal and enjoying the time they have with their family and I know that they'll look at that moment and they'll see God.

Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go visit you? The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Matthew 25: 37-40

Giving to God is not just about giving your money in the offering, giving your time in prayer, and giving your all in worship. It's also about the giving of yourself to others through love and giving them something to be thankful for.

I've noticed that since the launch of Trailhead Church, it feels like I'm just living weekend to weekend. My week just goes by like it was nothing and then the weekend's here. It's as if every Monday, somebody activates my flux capacitor and it's Friday. Will this change when I'm actually living in Burlington? Will I still go weekend to weekend or will it slow down as I'm able to be more active in weekly stuff and evening services? I don't know, I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Anyway, on another note, I'm looking forward to Sunday. I'm really believing that we're going to have a great turnout this weekend and see some new faces. I like the Ramada but I can't wait until we have our own building down the road. Then, there's no more setting up and tearing down, and no more having to clean up after wedding receptions and having to enjoy the smell of dried booze at 7:30 in the morning.

It's hard to believe that these are someday going to be the moments of nostalgia (wow, that sounded like something straight out of an Alanis Morissette song). That someday we're going to look back in awe of where we started compared to where we're at. When we look in our sanctuary and think back to the Ramada or when we finally finish decorating our children's sanctuary and think back to that to that little cubbie hole in the back of the convention center. I mean, you never know who's going to walk in next at the Ramada Center. Quite possibly, one of the most influential people in our church's history may have their first Sunday with us this Sunday. We don't even know it, but elders, pastors, and missionaries could be just now coming. I can't wait for that day where we just look back.

Church Planting Through The Eyes of Forrest Gump

I have been spoiled my entire Christian life. Anytime I've gotten involved with a ministry, that ministry or church has been established in terms of a name or financial resources. Church planting is a whole new ball game. Especially when it's planting in a completely new city where you have no contacts or some sort of established name to fall back on.

Trailhead has had it somewhat easy compared to other church plants. I mean, (completely through the favor of God), we have been able to have these financial resources to buy amazing equipment and provide amazing marketing and outreach before we even had one seat filled! So sure enough, we were extremely excited to get this thing underway. What started in a meeting some time ago was now manifesting from vision to reality. I mean, we knew we were going to grow into a mega church within the first month. I mean, it only makes sense that since we have been blessed with so much, that we would have at least 5000 people the first service! Right?

Not quite. Now, I would first like to say that at Trailhead, we have been blessed with some awesome people coming into our doors. We have been so thankful for the smiling faces and amazing personalities that we have been able to worship and become friends with, but we haven't exactly broke the 5000 mark yet. One service we had about 30 people (granted, about 20 of them were people visiting from the West Virginia), one service we had 12, one service we had 20, and one service we had about 7. One thing that I can say about this is that regardless if you have 5000 or 5 people there, the exact same God of the 5000 is there with the 5 and He has showed up every Sunday to meet with us in amazing ways. I can honestly say that I have yet to have had any disappointment in any service (except of course, I didn't get to feed any babies yesterday and that's just too adorable), but we know that God does have bigger plans for us in terms of growth.

Let's get one thing straight, numbers are important! It's true! I know it may not seem to be the most humble thing in the word to say but seeking to have a high number is important in ministry. Not so you can have have a high number for the sake of having a high number, but because you have a high number of people coming to Christ and/or growing into a deeper relationship with God and I think we can all agree that having 1000 people on fire for God is better than 10.

So (to get to the point), I was thinking yesterday while I was having a bit of prayer time before service started and I got to thinking about Forrest Gump. I know, I'm sure others on staff were probably thinking of something deeper and more spiritual than that, but for some reason my mind went to Forrest.

Unless you are Hillary Chaney, I'm sure you've seen this movie. Well anyway, you probably remember when Forrest became a shrimp boat captain to honor his friend, Bubba and Lieutenant Dan came out to be his first mate. Well, they had the shrimp boat, they had the crew, and they had the sea...therefore, they should immediately be set for life! Just throw over the nets and wait for the shrimp! Not exactly......

One time they would have about three, another time they would have five, then they had a toilet seat, then an army helmet, and this trend continued. Needless to say, they weren't exactly pulling in major amounts of shrimp. Forrest then gets the notion that they should pray and the next scene cuts to Forrest singing in a choir at a small African-American church with Lieutenant Dan drinking from his flask in the back. Then, the movie cuts back to the boat where they pull up......nothing, and Lieutenant Dan says to Forrest "Where is this God of yours?" and Forrest replies with the famous narrative, "It's funny that he said that, because right then, God showed up."

Well, the crew of "The Jenny" was caught in this hurricane. The hurricane was so bad that the only shrimp boat that survived ended up being "The Jenny." Cut to the next scene and Forrest and Lieutenant Dan are pulling up massive nets filled to the top with shrimp and the Bubba Gump Shrimp Corporation would go onto being a multi-million dollar corporation.

Though, we often hear the stories of churches starting out massive, seldom do big things start off that huge. I've heard of mega churches having 1000 their first service and I've heard of mega churches now starting off as a bible study a couple of years prior to launch. Like the crew of "The Jenny," many times we start off with the 5, 7, 20, or the toilet seats, but does that mean that that is the destiny for the future? No way! That just means, that we are starting. That just means it's the beginning and we continue to seek God no matter the size of the church. Then the storm comes. Now the storm can be anything and it can happen in a moment or over a period time. It can be the rain of revival (that's the fun one), it can be a time where the only thing you can do is trust in God to survive (like being caught in a hurricane), or it can be a difficult time where anything preventing you from true growth is destroyed, whether it be ignorance, lack of faith, or your own personal spiritual immaturity (the other shrimp boats). Paul wrote in Romans to rejoice in your sufferings because in your sufferings, in your struggles, and in the time where all you can do is trust, you grow spiritually and you develop the trust and Godly characteristics needed to take yourself, your vision, or that goal to a much higher level. In a way, you are growing up depending on how you respond to the tough times. We're never destined for just a beginning. There's so much more destined for us in our lives and in the life of Trailhead Church, than a few shrimp in the nets. Sometimes you need to have those nets that are filled with only a few shrimp (or even sometimes the toilet seats) to fully appreciate the full nets that are destined to come after the storm and sometimes you need that storm to get you ready for those nets.

I thank God all the time for the people that have came to the church and not only have came but want to be involved. It kinda weirds me out to think about how some of the people walking through those doors of the Ramada Inn may be on staff one day or be elders, deacons, children's church workers, youth leaders, or start their own ministry in the church. I thank God for the small nets and I thank God for every storm regardless of the form it comes in, because that simply preps me and my spirit for the full nets about to come, and we do the same at Trailhead Church because we know that we are being prepped for something much bigger than a beginning.