Category Archives: Church

Building a Church or Being the Church

Posted on March 26, 2020 | 1 comment

Several years ago I had the privilege to be a part of a group of people who were learning to be the church. We started what we called an intentional community where we were seeking to share our faith and life with others.

Our gatherings were simple. Once a week we came together, ate a meal, laughed, shared stories of thankfulness, and the ways in which we were seeing God at work around us. We also had a time where both the adults and kids discussed the Scriptures together. It was not a Bible study.

Friends, neighbors, and local college students were involved. We were sharing faith and life and it was beautiful. But then our focus shifted a bit. We went from being an Intentional Community to having “services.” The expectations changed and many became uncomfortable with our gatherings. We were trying to BUILD a church versus BEING the church.

As a result of the Coronavirus, many churches are working hard to try and figure out what it means to build the church when people can’t COME to a service. As a result of technology, we are streaming services as we sit in our living rooms. We say “come watch and invite your friends to do the same”. God is using online services to do great things, He is BUILDING the Church, but how do we BE the church.

LifeStation Communities are on my heart again, simply because I feel like the CHURCH, followers of Jesus, should be looking to partner with other followers of Jesus in the places they live, work, learn, and play. The Church service one attends really should not matter. We should be working together to love and care for our neighborhoods and workplaces.

What if, in the midst of all this change, WE the Church would leverage our resources to equip one another to BE the church in the places the Church already exists. What if we would work together to simply be the church wherever our lives are stationed? What if our focus shifted from BUILDING a CHURCH to BEING the Church?

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Posted in Church, Faith & Life

Tagged BE the Church, Church, Coronavirus, DREAM, Faith & Life, Followers of Jesus, LifeStation

So, I Preached Last Weekend

Posted on July 14, 2019 | Leave a comment

A few Months ago the lead Pastor (Josh) at StillMeadow Church, the Church our family has been attending, asked if I would preach. I didn’t have to think about it much, as I love talking about Jesus.

But this was a little bit different for me. Over the last few years I have lead several weddings, which I really enjoy, but preaching from an assigned scripture, on a stage, it’s been five plus years. And over these years I believe I have changed significantly.

The last time I was on a stage talking it is what I was paid to do full time. At some points, I was working on one of two messages a week. I was able to be well prepared and comfortable. But this time was different. I have been working construction full time for 4+ years. My schedule is dominated by work and showing up for kids sports practices and games. So, preparing was so different.

The highlight of preaching this past weekend was the response of my oldest son Jacob. For some reason Jacob was drawn my preaching. He requested not to go to kids ministry. He wanted to hear his dad. After I spoke he come up and said dad that was awesome. We went out for dinner, and while their the host said how is your day, he responded, awesome my dad preached at our Church. On Memorial Day I was asked to pray and Jake said “dad pray like you preached.” Not sure what is going on in my sons heart but I loved it.

Several of my friends and family have requested to listen to the message. For some reason the normal Youtube feed did not work so I recorded it late Sunday night for my Grandparents. Since many have requested it I have decided to share it here. Much different then Sunday morning live, as I was pretty exhausted, but hopefully you can still capture the point that was on my heart.

DOWNLOAD MESSAGE

Closing Lifestation BIC

Posted on February 3, 2018 | 1 comment

Many of you are aware that several years ago I was tasked with planting a local BIC church in York. Over the past few years my family has had the opportunity to get to know some amazing people. We have had moments where faith and life were shared in deep ways and I believe that Jesus has been honored.

Throughout this time we have learned that sharing faith and life is very difficult. Even though we believe that people matter, it didn’t make relationships any easier. Each of us brought our unique personalities and opinions as we were all walking through different seasons of life.

One of the hardest things we’ve experienced over the years was when someone made a decision to move on from LifeStation for one reason or another. Some moved, and others realized that they needed something more in a “church.” And yet, many remained faithful despite the challenges and changes.

I believe, now more than ever, that the church is people…it’s a gathering of people who believe in and desire to follow Jesus. The church is people and when two or more are gathered in the name of Jesus the opportunity for faith to grow is exponential. Now, more than ever, I believe in the church.

So why close LifeStation?

To be honest, I grew weary of the expectations that the church places on one another, as well as the pastor. Being full-time in the workplace and trying to pastor a church is extremely difficult.

The good thing is that there are a lot of good churches throughout York County that desperately need good people to join with them in what God is doing.

I love simple church without the expectations. Some of the sweetest times that I recall were when LifeStation first got started and we were simply gathering because we wanted to share faith and life with each other. It wasn’t about a church…it was about one another. I miss the simplicity of that.

This is where my hope lies. I hope that as LifeStation officially closes, God will give us all the opportunity to share faith and life in deep and meaningful ways again. I hope that people will sense a freedom to come and spend time with us, even if they are a part of another church fellowship. My family is plugging into another local church, but we want to continue to meet with you, the church, and those not yet following Jesus, in our homes and wherever else our lives are stationed.

So yes, LifeStation is officially closing. However, in many ways, this is still just the beginning.

May God bless you and keep you. May you experience the peace of Christ and power and presence of God wherever you go!

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Posted in Church, Faith & Life

Tagged Church, LifeStation

And he said “Contemplating My Existence”

Posted on August 4, 2016 | Leave a comment

Last week I went from Jury Duty on Monday and Tuesday to restoration of a fire-damaged McDonalds on Wednesday. Pretty much since then it has been non-stop lets get this thing opened. In a week I have met some new people who I look forward to getting know more. In a week I have learned a lot about running a fast paced job for GCM.

But today, I was reminded how God is working. Sitting at a front counter waiting for some material I needed for my project, I apologized to the man next to me for taking so long. He said no worries, I’ve got time, I’m just sitting here contemplating my existence. My response “wow that is deep.” He said, “yeah I am sorry man.” I said “no problem, just got to be careful what you say out loud, I’m a Pastor and love those kind of conversations.” He responded with “yeah I know where I am spending Eternity.”

After a bit of silence I said, “glad you got eternity figured out, for me the hardest part is walking the unknown day to day journey.” To which he replied, “yeah that seems to be the hardest part.” This lead me to talking about why “sharing faith and life” with a community of faith believers is so important. I shared my thoughts on church and he was interested. He said, “I don’t like ‘traditional Churches’.”

The guy next to me then said “so you must not like mega/large churches.” I said, “I simply don’t think there is one model for everyone anymore. We need different types of churches for different stages/seasons of life people are in.” He said, “yeah I’m a pastor too, and I’m out here working like you. I’ve been doing bi-vocational ministry for 10 years. The church I’m a part of has around 100 people and everyone ministers to each other.” We chatted and the “Contemplating my Existence” guy listened in and said “thanks for conversation”.

Seriously, two Pastors, who are living out their faith and life a bit different in the same store with a man who is Contemplating his Existence. God is working wherever our lives are stationed. He is drawing men and women unto Himself.

Lord help my eyes and ears be open to what you are doing. Help me to be like Christ to those I come in contact with. May the way I live, think, and act be used as seeds of hope and faith in the lives of those I come in contact with in the places I live, work, learn, and play!

Resigning as a Paid Pastor

Posted on December 31, 2014 | Leave a comment

It is official. For the first time since graduating college in 2005 I will not be paid to be a Pastor. I will still be a Pastor, because it is who I am, I just won’t get paid to do it. I will still be giving Pastoral leadership to LifeStation Church, I just won’t get paid to do it. Ok I think you get the point.

Over the past 10 years God has showed me so much about myself. Finally I feel like I can embrace the fact that I am a Pastor. So why am I leaving my paid position as a Pastor? Over the past 10 years I have unknowingly bought into the idea that the best way God can use someone who has a desire to impact people for Jesus is for them to be in full time ministry in some capacity. But God has been burdening my heart with the idea that no matter where our lives are stationed, followers of Jesus can and should have an impact. Wherever followers of Jesus are light should shine in the darkness. I think I believe that….but maybe I don’t believe that one is important as the 99.

Over the past year God has been showing me that as I share my faith and life with one or two the impact can be just as significant as the message that I share with hundreds. I am learning that my presents in the world, as a Pastor, matters just as much as what I do. As a paid Pastor I had the tendency to get caught up in what I got paid to do. Often this distracted me from being with God and others. Being paid to be a Pastor put a burden on me that made me feel like I had to produce. I had to show my self worthy as a faithful servant. I had to produce results. I think this often lead to me missing the 1 for the 99. I looked at peoples gifts and abilities and what they could do for the church and often missed them.

I am learning that as I spend time being with 1 the impact still happens. As I love and care for the 1 that God puts in front of me, God some how works in my life and theirs. He encourages us and then multiplies this effort. The 1 often goes and spends time with another and the cycle repeats itself.

Yes I am no longer going to be a PAID Pastor, but I believe that God is setting me free to love and serve people like never before. I believe God wants me to see and experience the fact that no matter where my life is stationed, as I am aware of the people who God places in front of me, I will have an impact for Christ. I will encourage others to follow Jesus as I spend time with Him and reflect His light into the world.

WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING?

Starting January 1st, 2015 I will be an employee of General Construction Management based out of Mt. Joy. Several years ago my dad took over ownership of this company and he desires it to be a company that God uses for His glory! I am going to join his team and do my best to learn the business. In more ways then one I am stepping out of the boat and trusting God to give me the wisdom and understanding I will need for this new season of my life. I am trusting God to help me, a Pastor, to use my other gifts and abilities to increase my influence for Jesus.

I am thankful for LifeStation Church and the support of me on this journey. I am thankful that we are standing together to declare a different way to live life.

This year I believe God is asking me to draw closer to Him then ever before. As a “Paid” Pastor some times my drivers was marked by shame and failure. I wanted to have an impact. I wanted to produce. This year I am walking out of the darkness and into the light. This year I want to walk into the HOPE OF LIFE and the FREEDOM Jesus won for me!

NOTE: I do not believe that I was wrong to be a paid “Pastor”, actually I think full time “paid” pastors are important, but God is showing me that I need to believe that He can use me wherever my life his stationed.