The 3 Things God Has Told Me

I'm not one to say that I've ever heard God's audible voice, but over the last 7 months I have distinctively felt impressed 3 times that God was saying something to me.

It first happened in May while I was praying through if I was really prepared and equipped to start a church. I was on a retreat to Yosemite National Park and I was reading some scripture and staring at the incredible mountains, when suddenly I felt God say "I am big enough." I took a deep breath and looked around at His incredible scenery and just started worshiping Him.

The next time was in July. I was working out in the yard and hauling off some stuff to the dump. While I was working I started thinking about why we were choosing Tennessee, was it just my desire to be back near home. I started wondering if the whole idea of church planting was just me and not God. Suddenly I felt God say "Don't doubt Me." The power of this feeling was so loud and I started to cry. (I'm glad no body else was out there.)

Finally, last week I was praying about our finances or lack there of. I was questioning why God wasn't supplying more funding. Suddenly I felt God say "Watch Me." In other words we have taken a huge step of faith and I need to keep my eyes on Him instead of staring at all the potential problems.

Now when anything happens I review these 3 statements: God is big enough. Don't doubt Him. Watch Him Work.

It keeps me going!

Angel at Super Target

Okay this is one of those crazy God moments. I had been at Starbucks having a cup of coffee with a local pastor. Rebecca called and asked me to run into Super Target to get some soy sauce. As I pull into the parking lot I notice a front row parking space! I pulled up to the spot and saw the spot infront of this space was empty too . I started to pull all the way through but another car pulled in from the other side. So I put the cruiser in park and got out to go in to the store.

As I come around the side of the car, a man was walking by and said "Do you like your Cruiser?" I said yeah, especially since it was a gift. This led into a 30 minute conversation inside the store about the new church.

After we talked the man looked at me and said that he felt like God wanted him to give me something and he reached in his wallet and pulled out a $100 bill.

God's so cool.

New Theater

Here's a picture of where Crossbridge Community Church will launch on Sept 13th of 2009!

I signed the contract with the theater the week before their Grand Opening. So we were part of the VIP's that got to attend the opening night festivities. We watched the mayor cut the ribbon and then we were among the first group to see a movie in the theater.

The kids couldn't believe that we all got free popcorn and drinks.

I just kept walking around, silently praying for everything I went by. Everyone else in town thinks the theater opened so people in Smyrna don't have to drive to Murfreesboro to see a movie. We know the truth though, God placed the cinema there so in September 100's of kids are going to ask their Mom's and Dad's to take them to the movie church! (Check out themoviechurch.org)

Crazy Snow Storm

Last week Rebecca ran to Kroger to get some groceries. About an hour later she calls and says she's stuck in traffic and wondered if I had looked out side lately. I went and looked and saw the craziest snow storm I had ever seen. You see it wasn't freezing so the snow should have been melting as it was hitting the ground. But the snow flakes falling were so huge and falling so fast, that the sheer number and size were overpowering the melting and lo and behold it was sticking and accumulating! It was about 7:00 at night and we knew the snow would disappear rather quickly so we bundled up the girls and went outside.

We built a snowman and then the neighbors came out with their sled and it was on. The kids had a blast and we got to start building relationships with our neighbors. Thanks for the snow God.

The Search for the Support Church

In December I began my search for a local support church. This is a must for any funding organization. A local support church is a church in the area that supports your vision for planting a church and is willing to back you with finances, people, resources and prayer. I have had several "pastorial" friends who have said I could put their church down as a support church so I could get funding from the Tennessee Baptist Convention but that they wouldn't be able to really help us with any support at this time.

I feel God that if God has given us this vision, then he's stirring a church somewhere in Tennessee to the same vision. My job is to find them.

Over the last two weeks I've begun to emailing every church in the area trying to meet and get to know as many pastors as I can. I haven't found that LSC yet but I've got to eat a bunch of free lunches.

ARC Round Table

The first week in December I got to go to Little Rock to meet with a group called ARC. ARC is a church plant funding organization. Boy those guys are on the ball. They have a very clear vision of church planting and they have an incredible heart to help. Hopefully this trip will result in a connection that will be very advantageous in the future.

Amy Grants Yard Sale!!!

One of our first weekends in Nashville we heard that Amy Grant was having a charity yard sale at a local college for a friend with a special needs child. Rebecca and I love a good yard sale so we headed into Nashville to check it out. We looked around at a lot of the booths and then headed to the center booth that was marked as "Amy's Stuff." And who was there selling Amy's Stuff? None other than Amy Grant herself. Rebecca said we should have brought the camera. I reminded her we were Nashvillians now and shouldn't act like tourist. All that said we did buy a few things from Amy and got to talk to her for a few minutes. Cool.