Tag Archives: LifeStation

Asking for Help

Posted on December 3, 2024 | Leave a comment

While our kids were younger, over and over again we heard “mommy, daddy, help me”. As they get older, we hear this less and less. As adults our pride and desire to prove our ourselves leads us to very seldomly asking for help.

This doesn’t make sense to me. If any of you are like me, the reality is, we don’t have it all together. We don’t have all of the answers. Every day is filled with its own struggles. What would happen if we admitted I’m not all right. I’m not OK. Most days I’m just barely getting by.

What would happen if we began to ask for help in the midst of our struggles. At work. Hey I don’t understand how to do this effectively. At home. Hey kids I don’t have time to do your laundry, can you help? To another soccer mom, my schedule is packed, is there any way you can bring my kid home from practice?

What if we began to reach out to those who we knew may be struggling? What if we started asking each other “how are you doing” and actually meaning it? Hey can I help you do “Blank”. My issue is I often don’t make the time to listen, when I ask the question. I am too busy accomplishing my own task. I’m not alright. I’m not okay.

What if somebody in the places your life is stationed is asking for help? Do you hear them? Will you listen? Will you be willing to let them know, I’m not alright and that’s okay, because you and me, we are not alone. Let’s start humbly asking for help.

What if we all embraced this song.

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Posted in People Matter

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Discovery Bible- What is this?

Posted on November 10, 2022 | Leave a comment

This morning I had the privilege of gathering with four other guys for breakfast and a Bible Study. Currently we have two groups of men, the women haven’t showed up yet, who gather once a month to Discover how the Bible can have an impact on the way we live.

A Discovery Bible study is a bit different for many of us. We approach the Bible with fresh eyes, only focusing on the text for the day. This equals the ground for those who have never studied the Bible or have been disconnected from their faith. For those who have studied the Bible for most of their lives it is challenging to read each scripture without our presumptions. It’s going to help us better relate to those who have never studied the Bible. And in the meantime the insights have been fascinating.

Check out John 5:19-30. What do you learn about Humanity? What do you learn about God? Be careful…GOD is not mentioned. What do you like or dislike about this passage? (We didn’t like the fact that God is not mentioned and that Jesus appears to be talking in 3rd person). If what we read is true how might it impact the way you live or view life? Is there anything this scripture is calling you to personally do or be?

I have been enjoying these LifeStation community groups! Many of those who have been showing up for these two have been from the construction industry and I can’t wait to see how God uses these gatherings to help us follow Jesus in the places our lives are stationed!

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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

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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

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Facebook Message Reminded Me- UnKnowing Impact

Posted on July 10, 2016 | Leave a comment

This week I received one of the most impactful FaceBook messages I have ever received.  Someone who I had brief interaction with several years ago sent me a message simply to let me know how his life has changed. I had no IDEA the impact my life had on him.

My desire is to encourage followers of Jesus to declare a different way to live life where ever our lives are stationed. To believe this God has asked me to step out of my comfort-zone. I am in the most challenging season of my life and sometimes I wonder how does one really make a difference for God.

The FaceBook Message I got came at the right time. See, in my heart I believe that no matter where our lives are stationed, we can have an impact for God, but often I hear a different message. Despite having moved away from full-time paid ministry over a year and a half ago, sometimes I still hear voices from my past that basically say, “to really make a difference for God you have to be a pastor or missionary.” There are days when I feel like this. There are days when I wrestle and say is this statement right? Maybe full time ministry is the only way to have an impact.

But this Facebook Message reminded me that often followers of Jesus can unknowingly have impact on the lives of others. I was reminded that 6 years ago I simply went out and spent some time with a young man. I don’t remember much about that day. I remember basketball and then going back to drop him off at his house. His parents where home so I went in to introduce myself. And this is where the impact happened.

The Facebook Message states that as I entered his home the dynamics of his household changed. The brief time we spent together was the start of transformation in his family. …”our faith has been spreading. And the wake up call all began that day when you took me out and came in to meet my family. You personally have been an extreme blessing to my family, with your presence alone you changed the dynamics of it for the better.”

I write this for one purpose. I write this because this helps me to continue to believe that no matter where our lives are stationed we can declare a different way to live life. As we share our faith and lives with others, “our presence alone can bring about change.”

It is the desire of our hearts that is key. My prayer is that we would be able to trust God with the impact our lives make. We don’t need to compare. We don’t need to have a list of people we have brought to church. It doesn’t even matter how many people you have “saved.”  What matters is the desire of your heart. Because maybe, you’re unknowingly having an impact.

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Posted in Faith & Life, Live

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A Balanced Pursuit

Posted on April 24, 2016 | Leave a comment

I am learning a lot these days. Life outside of full-time paid ministry has not been easy. Over the past year we added a fourth child and entered the world of Construction. Our family has been in a very different season.

In the midst of this season, God has been faithful. God is using me and our family for His glory, but very different ways. Our time commitment to our Church and Community has been very different. After a long days work I get home and my wife needs a break. Because of my experience, I’ve realized that some of the expectations that I place on others, especially in my faith community, is unrealistic. Sharing faith and life is not easy. People go through different seasons where commitment levels vary. Our commitment level to our church and community has not been as high as it has been in the past, but God has still used us in both our church and community.

As I say this, God has been challenging me to think beyond this season. Our kids are getting older and we are starting to adjust to my new job and its commitments. My wife and I are closer than ever. My appreciation for all that she does has increased. My kids are becoming more involved in the community as they develop friendships and participate in activities. Naturally, our community involvement is increasing.

So what specifically is God challenging me with?  Although we have different seasons, I need to have a balanced pursuit of God. Because of my calling and spiritual gifts, there are certain things that I need to be doing to BE healthy. For the past 5 years I have been discovering more and more about myself. The Kavanna House and their Spiritual Practices class heightened my understanding of this. During the Spiritual Practices classes we developed a Rule of Life, which I am still learning to apply today.  This Rule of Life, is the Balanced Pursuit of God that I am desiring. I am still not sure what it looks like, and I believe it will shift a bit with different seasons, but this is the way I desire to live my life.  This Diagram depicts my Rule of Life and a Balanced Pursuit of God.

 

Screen Shot 2016-04-24 at 4.43.38 PM

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Posted in Faith & Life

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Reflecting on Another Birthday

Posted on April 14, 2015 | Leave a comment

Last Friday I turned 34. It is hard to believe how fast time flies by. Tonight I shared with LifeStation that often I find myself “searching for Jesus”. Some how I find myself growing frustrated that at 34 years of age I don’t have it all figured out. I still have more questions about my future then I do answers. There are days where I feel like I am walking close to Jesus and other days where I feel like I’m not sure that I am on the right path.

With that and with all the uncertainty that lies in front of me if I could have/declare anything as a new 34 year old it is this

My hearts desire, regardless of how I feel, is to have a heart like His.

I will fail.

I will mess up.

I will let myself and others down.

But at the foundation of who I am I just want to be what He wants me to be….I want a heart like His.

Lord Jesus Christ I pray that no matter where my life is stationed this coming year that my heart will continue to beat for you. Lord I pray that no matter what the cost that I will find myself pursuing You and Your Kingdom. Help me to love as you love.

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Posted in Faith & Life

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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.

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Posted in Church, Work

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