Moving Forward

I'm back. quite a year. Let's just look ahead for now! Was a great Christmas season and still have one Christmas gathering to go. It's been great.

Looking ahead to 2010 I am reminded of Jesus' first introduction to the ministry by His Father, God. The Fast. Jesus fasted 40 days in prep for His next 3 and half years.

In our preparation to launch Velocity church in Mansfield Ohio we're going to fast for 40 days. Of course these will be what I call limited fasts, meaning, each at their own level, but from the heart, and no cake walk either. Something we can be glad that we're doing, and glad that we did for God's sake in the months to come! He'll train us & prepare us in ways we can't imagine. Fasts are likes Sundays, I've never had a bad one. Well.... I have had maybe two Sunday's.... oh well! Fasts are like rope and knives - Gotta have'em to do the task ahead!

Happy New Year!

Stay Focused

At Velocity we're experiencing some go times, hurry up and wait times, etc. Just like life itself. One thing I'm learning is to stay focused.

written prayer

I asked several men to pray for me this week over email, facebook, etc. In doing this, I sent them a prayer in writing and let them know that I would like them to return a prayer for me. I like it when those prayers come in, just in the nick of time! God bless my prayer partners and those who pray for me!

Continued Education

I went with my friend John to visit St Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church here in Mansfield today. I've been using my Sunday's to visit other churches for the sake of learning and simply because I'm curious. It was a good service and many nice people. The minister spoke about the woman with blood who reached out to touch Jesus' garment and how we shouldn't use our uncleanliness as an excuse not to reach out to Jesus. He also spoke to the subject of communion - he had good things to say. It was of course a very detailed and well executed ceremony with much repeating and corporate singing in Greek - by those who knew how. John says the Greeks say that Sunday's are for God and family. that's why the Greek restaurant in town doesn't open on Sundays and why the Mansfield Restaurant which is owned by a Greek person closes at 2pm on Sundays. That's why most people brought food in this morning for lunch with everyone after service - God and family.

I have a meeting with my pastors panel coming up this week about VeloCity Church. I'm looking forward to sharing with them and seeing what new takeaways I can gain from inviting some of Ohio's sharpest ministers to give me some support in our new church launch with VeloCity.

I once read a report about two church plants that were given all the same resources to start with. The one failed within a year the other grew and continues to go forward. The only difference was the one minister didn't seek out counsel and the other did. You guess which one is still moving forward!

I hope to gain insight and wisdom by sharing and receiving w/ others and by visiting other churches as I look for helpful resources to further God's Kingdom.

Vision

I have the privilege of doing a chapel service twice a month at Primrose Retirement community in Mansfield. One trivia point I learned today is the guesstimate on the youngest person living there is 67 years old... I love it there! Not only is the place itself a very nice, high class place where a guest can eat all the ice cream, drink all the soda water and beer... if you so choose anyways; the best thing about the whole place is the people!

So after a great chapel time of sharing and praying for my friends, I was left in the room with Helen and Gerry. Gerry's been blind since Oct. of '07. I always greet her, hug her, tell her I love her and most often pray for her to be healed in every service we have. Gerry is awesome- she's always smiling, caring, giving, all the like. Today, after everyone else left, Gerry's nurse was running a little behind which gave me the privilege of just chatting casually with Helen and Gerry.

Gerry told Helen and I that being blind is the most heart breaking thing in the world but she has hope in Jesus Christ. Not that she suppresses her heart ache and does deal with the hurt, on the contrary, she kindly and gently presses through with a smile and a kind word every time I see her.

I want to be more like Gerry! In the midst of trial and discomfort, I want to smile and share a kind word and roll w/ it as well as Gerry! She taught me something of vision today that 100 people with 20/20 vision may have never been able to teach me in a lifetime.

Hope in Jesus, wear a smile, say a kind word to someone near by and look ahead to the future of being able to see clearly.

Launch Team Specialists!

Was a great launch team meeting last night for VeloCity Church. Here's a quick glance at what we're planning for our launch "still soft" starting in January:

1. A 12 month effort to partner with non-profit organizations around Mid-Ohio.
We've got 12 entities in mind that includes partnering with the Humane Society, Cancer Survivors, Military Veterans, expecting mothers, single moms, domestic violence shelter, the list goes on through 12!

2. An assimilation process that helps us connect with the many great people we are sure to love!
We want to be sure that anyone who visits a VeloCity service or event knows that we are here for them. We live to see lives changed by the power of God's Word and by the power of His Working Holy Spirit! Our people are good people who plan to be on the spot to counsel, befriend, love, and mentor anyone and everyone who needs a good friend!

Seems simple enough, doesn't it? It's going to be a year that Mid-Ohio will never forget because VeloCity is for Mid-Ohio Moving Forward spiritually & economically! We pray that God helps us meet the needs of many people who are crying out to Him! God, please help us be salt and light, a strong tower, help us partner with other Christian communities, churches, and co-labors in Christ that want to see Greater Things in Mid-Ohio!

Give us strength, energy, rest, wisdom, knowledge, a team work ethic, give us all that we need to be your hands and feet in Mid-Ohio and beyond! Let us Rock the House for God with the Launch of VeloCity Church!

Oh yea, God must be about LifeChange these days! I asked my good friend Konan who planted a church in Pickerington, Oh if I could use the term they have for their vision statement; "LifeChange". He said sure, they've surely borrowed it from somewhere else as well. Then, the next day, the very next day - I saw a new church plant in Mansfield with the tag line Life Change! Ha! God is up to something awesome; I'm looking forward to God's co-workers rallying in these last days to bring about true LifeChange for all of Ohio and Beyond! These are great days to be apart of God's Kingdom -

Greater Things: Moving Forward in Our Faith, Faith Forward Motion with Speed, God Speed...

VeloCity Church is for God healing, saving, comforting and counseling people of Mid-Ohio! We exist to lead people to LifeChange through a new found faith in God!

Roll w/ us!

Mostly VeloCity Update

I love God, life, people, and so on...feeling well today! (full of high octane coffee too)

Quick reminder: At Church Planting boot camp I was strongly encouraged to document our progress through this adventure of starting up VeloCity church:

So, Update on VeloCity:

First of all, thank you for all of your prayers. I have people asking me constantly about VeloCity and just as many people telling me you're praying for us! So awesome! We have a great team of people who are dedicated to seeing lives changed as a result of our efforts. Matter of fact, there's only one reason we're planting VeloCity Church: It's to see lives changed!

Sat. was pastor appreciation day at VeloCity. It went very well. Our people our becoming extremely focused on our dreams and visions for VeloCity. It was a great dinner and I love our people! Thank you all! Our team of people show their appraceation to me regularly!- I'm blessed!

This was our second Sat. service last week. We meet at Mansfield First AG at 5pm. Our team shows up early to set up chairs and do sound checks in the youth sanctuary. Scott S. comes and puts out our tri-fold signs on the street corners one hour before service. As of now, we view our "soft launch" as a whisper to the community. This means we're not doing a lot of advertising right now, just word of mouth while we progress slowly each week. Sometime in December or shortly after, we'll start doing a bit more advertising, as we get ready for Easter Sunday of next year; which we're considering our Hard launch! By the way, if you're not busy on Easter next year, you may want to reserve your seat now, I think our first issue to face will be our small building! Oh, and if you're not busy next April 11th, you may want a seat in that service too, it's Mid Ohio Moving Forward Day where we've already scheduled the Mayor of Mansfield to be there and I expect several other area mayor's to show up in support of Mid Ohio Moving Forward Day! Oh, and if you're not busy for Memorial Day weekend... well, get ready to raise the roof for our veterans in a big way, they deserve it! Wait, we may do that celebration a week eary so I can invite some special people....hummm.... stay tuned for that Veteran's appreciation day - we love our troops and we plan to show them so!

So... Our Saturday night services are going well and people see the need for what we're doing. We have a planning day coming soon for the Cook rd. property. We'll be painting, changing lighting, doing some construction, the works! We hope to have our land sold within a few weeks...did I ever say much about that? I actually expect a call today solidifying the sale document, but don't hold your breath, it's a slow process, no fault of our awesome buyer, who..... The short story is that last April, my now good friend, who I will keep anonymous until the sale is complete; however, the buyer (out of generosity) met our asking price - may God bless him and his family abundantly!

Grandma Jean... I need Leonard to come to a service next May as we celebrate our Veterans. I think I've got a good idea... We'll do our service the Sunday before Memorial Day so there's less schedule conflict for all involved...

So, as of now, I prepare for some time with my loving wife and Kids for a week's worth of vacation. Molly asked me what "Loving Kids" means... Sort of funny - Then we come back home to pass out 500 hotdogs on trick or treat night at my house, along with 500 bottles of water with the VeloCity logo on them... and a bag of chips! Then our Thanksgiving dinner on the Ohio State Michigan Game day, don't worry, time is set accordingly to not miss the game... Then it's Christmas time! Schew...

Today: I'm reading and studying... And will bundle up Levi and Molly for their last ride on the Ultra before the nearly last afternoon of good fall weather is gone like the wind...

Love you all -

what I learned about ministry from a mechanical bull ride...

My evening started great with a few couples from the church gathering at McD's to talk, drink water, and sip coffee/hot chocolate. Was very good!

Then, we caught the end of Pastor Terry Garrett's youth service tonight and to cap it off he rented a mechanical bull for over 80 kids. I watched many teens ride that thing and I knew I had to try it for several reasons...if I have to explain, you wouldn't understand.

Well, I rode it. And rode it. And rode it. All on the same ride. It felt like forever even though it was just a few seconds. I did OK by the reaction from the people watching. Here's what I learned about ministry from before, during and after riding the mechanical bull...

1. Watch.
2. Study.
3. Ask.
4. Get a grip.
5. Stay Centered.
6. Flow.
7. If jostled and the operator stops the bull, readjust and give him the nod to go on.
8. Flow Faster.
9. Think Ahead.
10. Plan a respectable leap of faith when tired and need to let go.

Was a good ride!

Oh, and the best for last here - I had the best, I repeat, the best home made cinnamon rolls when I got home... Thanks jubilee! You and Mike are awesome!

Well Spent...

Yesterday: Our first Sat. night service as we Soft Launch into VeloCity church! We actually had a record breaking night in Children's church attendance! What a victory!! Thanks Mike and Jen for your ministry to the kids and much more that you do!! We had great praise and worship, a good message and a "win" for the night over all!! Thanks to Lead Pastor Tom Blair, (much much support) Pastor Terry Garrett, (uth sanctuary) Pastor Robert M. (lots of tech help), Pastor Dan B.(for helping retrieve Van for LFTL) and the Mansfield church for allowing us the privilege of using their facility for the next six months while we prepare for the hard launch of VeloCity church 2010 over on Cook Rd.!!!!

Today: Packed Molly and Levi in the Smith's minivan while they slept, picked up Brooks and Kate, stopped at Goasis for gas and high octane coffee with a chocolate bar "to go" that Krista bought while I pumped gas, drove to Stow, Oh laughing and having a good time, went to church service with C. Decker and Co, responded to prayer/alter time with much weeping and crying for the city of Mansfield and beyond, took pics of newly revamped stage, sound, and media for our purposes in Mansfield, went to lunch with worship leader & family, pastor & family, my wife and kids and our worship leader and his wife, what a crew, we laughed all the more and had so much fun together dreaming about ministry, music groups of old, and the future of Christ's church....

Drove home. Forgot wig. Drove to Ashland. Dropped off wig. Long story. Drove through Ashland, Madison, and Mansfield looking for KD Pizza sign since that's the basic idea of our new VeloCity Church sign coming soon on Cook Rd., found the sign on Marion Ave. in Mansfield; Came home, opened the Mac for the first time in 24 hours, and read a facebook message from a dear friend who is so excited that we are doing something great big for God through VeloCity Church!

Oh, the picture? It's a pic of a couple tears I left in the church from God's confirmation that today was "My Day", as I heard Him put it to me.... IN short, I asked a question 22 years ago and have not asked God the same question since then - until today. And I am sure he will answer soon as He did 22 years ago... I will post the question and answer when the answer comes...

I'm well spent today, was a good one!

Test Run

Last night was a test run, or in other words a pre-service for VeloCity Church. It was intended to be a walk through of all we'll be doing for service in our new temporary facility. Many thanks to Pastor Terry, Pastor Robert, and Pastor T. Blair for opening up shop for us and thanks to Terry and Robert for helping with sound, media, lights, camera, action, walk through for greeting team, the list goes on forever and the story never ends! Was a good night at Applebee's with the Garrett family too.

Was a good night... We're moving forward!

Onward...

The last Sunday as Southwood Hills Church for me and people in Mansfield, Ohio was last Sunday, Sept. 27th, 2009. It was a great service and many people said positive things about our past and even better hopes for our future. I'm very glad to be apart of what God is doing in Mansfield, Ohio!

I went to the Forum this week too. It's an annual event the Ohio Ministry Network puts together to provide continued education and special services for pastors in Ohio. The evening services were great and it's always good to see so many friends. It was awesome.

Tomorrow and Friday we prepare for our first VeloCity Church service. I'm so excited about the soft launch of VeloCity Church. Saturday nights will be important for us to maintain momentum going into next Easter Sunday. On Easter Sunday 2010 we go to our Cook Rd. property as VeloCity Church!

VeloCity Church start up plan:

This Sat: We start Soft Launch of VeloCity; meet every Sat. evening
April 4th, 2010 Easter Sunday: Hard Launch for VeloCity; Sunday's on Cook Rd.
Fall of 2010: Grand Opening for VeloCity Church; Sunday's and beyond

Stay tuned... we're moving onward!

Jumping from the boat....

I am fortunate to be who I am, where I am, married to the one I am, dad to the two best fun loving little kiddo's in the world, and pastor the people I am called to!

I'm walking by faith like never before and I was sharing some of our ministry story with someone recently and they encouraged me to document what God is doing in me and in Mansfield, Ohio.

So here goes - A quick review...

3 years ago I came to Mansfield Ohio to pastor Southwood Hills Church. Bottom line for Southwood Hills Church; a vision from God was necessary and surely coming like a steady steam pulling down the mountain, and I was called into the mix of what God was and is doing in Mansfield, Ohio!

I soon began attending Pastor Tom Blair's staff and prayer meetings on Tuesday's and a relationship began to develop between he and I, and the whole pastoral staff at their church. After some time, Pastor Blair and I started talking about big picture for Southwood Hills. The people needed hope, they needed a challenge, they needed a goal, they needed; A Vision.

Now, three years later, we're just a few days away from our last Sunday morning on Cook Rd. for a 6 month period. We're going to tarp our current church sign, and put up another sign that thanks the neighbors of the neighborhood for the many years of being a good neighbor and bid them good bye as Southwood Hills Church. The plan is, as of Saturday Oct. 3rd, 2009- to meet at Mansfield First Assembly of God on Sat. nights at 5pm until Easter of 2010. On that Easter Sunday morning, we come back to Cook Rd. and launch a whole new ministry as VeloCity Church. The details are many, the workers are few, but I'm sure that God will give energy and rest to our leaders as we trek forward with His divine will for our community through VeloCity Church!

Over the next number of weeks ahead, I think I'll use this blog spot to post updates, tributes, challenges, changes, victories, road bumps, and all the like - tastefully :)

In all, our church leaders and myself are attempting a once in a lifetime opportunity to jump from the boat, walk on some water, and take Jesus by the hand!

This new church plant as VeloCity Church was birthed by the confirmation of many signs from God, words of people, and my personal prayer time!

Pray for VeloCity Church - Mansfield is Moving Forward!

The Success of the Gospel...

"The success of the gospel exasperates its enemies, and it is a good sign that it is getting ground when the powers of darkness are enraged against it." Matthew Henry Commentary from John 4.

When you feel the enemy turning up the heat; stay in the game, stay focused, head up, chin high, be alert, take small steps forward - Our God is the God who exasperates His enemies! God will see you through because you are His and he's responsible for you. He won't leave you hanging, forsake you, or forget about you. He surely won't, He's the one who called you and like a Good Shepard He'll watch out for you, protect you, and lead you and yours forward to a place where the waters are still & the grass is green!

Consider this 3 part approach of living out a successful Gospel in your life- Especially when darkness enrages against you:

1. Accept the truth
2. Tell the truth
3. Be the truth

Boot Camp, Day Two

Fun, fun!

We talked about what God wants to do in our communities today....

Was a great day, lots of work, lots of discussion and dreaming about God moving across our nation as a whole. Churches are different all around town in method, and all around the nation in method as well. No right answer for method, the disciples were gathered in different venues, and they also told Jesus' story from their own perspectives, so we too have to hear form God for the best way to communicate God's Word to others in our community as they can and will receive it best.

We talked Acts chapter 2. The New Testament church in full swing! We talked relationships, teaching the Bible to others, the importance of everyone reading the Bible, eating together, sharing together, watching out for each other, and so many other aspects of a healthy church. We even watched some movie clips to help illustrate and promote discussion on God's vision of church health and talked about Simon Birch and Patch Adams, too! A cool day....

Tonight we did a high ropes course; the kind of thing that exposes some fear, some excitement, some risk, those types of things that we face everyday to a certain level... And certainly the kind of emotions pastoral leaders face when leading God's people.

Rode the Ultra for 30 minutes or so... and went to my room to do my homework for the day!

Was a great day!

...umm, I'm just now posting this article :) I wrote it last week and saved it without posting it cause it was 2am and I was to beat to proof read! The rest of boot camp was totally awesome... more to come on it soon!

Boot Camp

This is my first day at Church Planting Boot Camp. Since our church is planting a church because we love God and love people and want the best for them and our community - and there's never a cookie cutter way of doing things for God, because God is unique, in motion, always challenging us, growing us, and helping us find ourselves in His perfect will.... well, because of all that, there's much learning and seeking God to be done! That's what this week is all about. There are several week long schools going on at once, and it's designed to gather pastors together who are trekking similar experiences so that we can share stories, swap methods, trade prayer requests...most important, pray and keep praying, dream, and find a quiet place for our minds as we listen for God to speak.

Prior to coming there was Biblical and Community research to do; such as study on Moses' leadership and what God wanted to do at that time, also Joshua, David, and a whole list of Bible leaders that had big shoes to fill. -And also interviews in the community with people who have a good pulse on things so we can plan to meet the needs of the people we live near...

The camp is a week of fast paced activity & team discussion to help pastors answer 6 questions about us and our place of ministry:

1. What does God want to do?
2. Who am I?
3. What am I sent to do?
4. Who will do it with me?
5. How will we do it?
6.How will we evaluate the progress?

Stay tuned, this is gonna be BIG!

Press The Pace

I have two great paces to keep up with...

1. I have to stay on pace with knowing and growing with my kids and Krista. I love my kids, I love Krista. I want to keep pace with my growing kids and loving wife.

2. Pastoring our church is much fun and I enjoy it; I want to be sure to keep pace with what God is doing in all of our lives.

Find a challenge. Set your pace for the challenge ahead. At times, you'll need to press through the pace in order to swat the winners tape. In other words; chase hard, stay focused, don't trip, don't quit, slow if you must, but press on regardless.

I can only dream of winning a swim meet or marathon, but it's a good dream when I do! Find something that's challenging for you to attempt, then attempt it and finish it. In the end; win, lose, or draw, celebrate finishing strong at your own pace!

Really Live; For a Whole Minute!

So I was called to the hospital today to visit with a woman who had open heart surgery yesterday. When I walked in she looked so tired and in so much pain. As I approached her bed she was faintly saying as loud as she could, "Dear God, Jesus I'm in pain, Dear God, Jesus, I'm in pain..." She must have said it 15 times in the first few minutes I stood by her bed holding her hand. A nurse came in gave me a cup of ice and I took the job title of "Ice Feeder." So I gave my friend small bits of ice with a plastic spoon for about a half hour. It took about that long for the med's (from the nurse who came in) and ice to work enough for her to relax some.

Do you remember the last time that you begged for God to do something in your life? I remember being in such hospital beds gasping for air and hoping to live another minute. What about pausing what your doing right this minute, clear your mind, and consider how good God is. Think of how precious your kids are. What do you have in your fridge? How about your garage? What about your last vacation? Is God good or what?

He's good. Stop and beg of His mercies and ponder His awesomeness on your good days. We don't have to be in the hospital to beg for God's provision, let's do it today. Sometimes I really come to life when I stop and think of God's goodness and mercy, His gifts, His presence, His everything; my kids, my wife, my fortune, my garage, my day off, sunny days, Kingdom victories, ...the list goes on and the story never ends. Let's pause, and -Really Live; for a Whole Minute!

And, as my 5 year old son says when he really wants something from God, "Please Jesus" .... Please Jesus, give peace to Sally Long and healing to David Long! We love and trust you Jesus for Dave's complete healing.

Great Church Service: + derby cars, race truck, crotch rocket, and a 60 something nova...

Krista and I took the kids to their grandparents on Sunday...in Allen Co. Ohio where we were raised. By the end of the afternoon I had spent some time in the derby car barnyard where some friends were sawing and welding on derby cars, replacing a motor or two and tightening up the loose sheet metal from several previous derby's on some broke down surely unrecognizable Cutlass Supreme, or something! I left my good friend Chuck to take a tour of my brother in law's new hobby trophies. Spent a few miles at 120mph in Dustin's '68 Nova, walked around his '88 Chevy S 10 race truck, and my sister in law Candace let me take her (new to her) '99 Honda CBR 600 f4 sport bike for a short cruz around the block... yes, I touched 100 or so once then just took it easy. I couldn't stay for the derby car field run which is a favorite past time of mine most every year before the Allen Co. fair... but I can't complain with all the other action I was afforded that day. What a nice day....

I saved the best info for last - our church service was rocking awesome and God moved like an avalanche during the service. It was one of the most pivotal services in the history of my life as I laid out our plan for our name change, temporary relocation while we spruce up our current building for our Launch of Velocity Church on Easter Sunday April 4th 2010! Cool enough, it happened to be the first service Brooks and Katelyn Page were w/us, too. As Col. John "Hannibal" Smith from the A Team used to say "I love it when a plan comes together!" Who can turn back God's hand when He sets His mind to something? What weapon can be formed against us that will over take us? You know the answers to these questions - the answer is God is glorious, He is awesome, He is wonderful, He is the great I Am! There's nothing like His power, His love, or His overwhelming presence that gives peace to the anxious, comfort to the restless, healing to the hurting, & salvation to the possessed!

Was a great Sunday!!!

Rock on.... Velocity Church - Mansfield Moving Forward - Matthew 28:16-20.

My Saturday Nights...

Aahh... Saturday nights! I try to spend a low key evening on Saturday nights with my family as a prelude to Sunday morning. Tonight I'm watching Cake Boss and I'm really liking the idea of "Vision Casting" just watching Buddy's show about creating specialty cakes from scratch - no manual, no paperwork that tells him how to do it; He has to see the finished product in his mind, tell his team what he's seeing, communicate as clearly as possible and build a custom cake from the ground up to suit his client's order. Click here to see his site and order you a cake!

And so - The Ohio District office just came out with a new vision statement that I really like called "Custom Build." So many times we have to custom build ministry from the ground up and there's no field manual for the step by step plan. There are some good books out there for inspiration, but no play by play cookie cutter plan that's sure to work in your neck of the woods. Maybe it's a new ministry branch or a whole new Sunday AM approach... Go after it with prayer, total inclusion of all top leaders, and be totally transparent with people so they can:

1. feel your heart beat,
2. be confident that you're hearing from God, and
3. have their best interest in mind.

Gotta run - Cake Boss back on!

Team

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

There's nothing like a team effort. I love the concept of being on a great team. I enjoy the planning and execution of accomplishing a goal together with great people. Today, I'm feeling thankful for the team of people God as allowed me to partner with here in Mansfield. There are greater things yet to come and I'm excited to be apart of the big picture God is painting in Richland County on beyond!

To our launch team - You are awesome!!! To our supporters of VeloCity Church - You're a major blessing and I love you! Together we will stand firm, and continue to stand.

Speaking of Team: I watched "We Are Marshal" last night... I'm pumped! Great movie, great story of faith, prayer, and planning - and success!

decisions....

Executing a decision is often times more difficult than knowing the right decision to make. In other words; you know what to do, it's just hard doing it sometimes. In the event that your decision involves talking to someone about a tough subject; Execute your good hard decision today by:

1. Gently Communicating It
2. Showing Great Patience
3. Using Careful Instruction
4. Kindly Sharing Your Inner Most Thoughts on the Subject to Show Heart
5. Humbly Standing Firm on Your Decision

Back Home

Been to Florida and back on the bike - I love my wife and kids.... That's what I learned the most in the last 10 days!

Lean not on our own understanding

Think about what you fully understand. What do you know the most about? How do you understand math, science, or geography? How did the boy with the two fish and five loaves of bread do math after Jesus fed the 5K? He did math differently.

Trust God & lean not on your own understanding! Proverbs 3:5 That's a difficult thing to do. It takes faith, prayer, and planning. It takes sweat blood and tears! As I pray for God's favor in Mansfield, I'm asking God to keep my vision focused on the things he wants us to do. Believe me, I can't lean on my own understanding when it's time to move forward, I have to have faith that God is going to bring about the good things for people that I'm seeing in my prayer time. With a good bit of planning with great leaders, there's no reason why Mansfield Ohio won't be on the cutting edge of what God is doing in America!

Question

I've always wondered:

When two Christians argue and disagree, even when a wrong is committed, who does God side with?

God spoke to me yesterday while on the Harley concerning this... pretty cool finding here:

1. One who seeks Peace: Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

2. One who is quick to Forgive: Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

3. One who doesn't harbor bitterness in anyway at all whatsoever: Ephesians 4:31
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

God stands on the side of the one who controls his or her tongue and lays down all personal agenda's just to see who God is and how He will lead us without restraint of our own hang ups and short comings.

Trust God

Jump In. Ride the funnel. Trust God. A man plans in his heart but God orders his steps. And, as my good friend relayed it to me just an hour ago - It's the funnel style of serving God that's so fun. At the top or the start; the options are wide open with lots of choices. As you near the end of the funnel things pick up and move faster; your choices narrow and your only option is to Trust God and rest assured you'll always be dropped out at the right place.

Office Picture

I haven't wrote anything for about a week... schew. Today I sat in my office after some of our team leaders moved their office equipment out of my office so we and they could operate a little more smoothly. Anyway, I sat in my chair and stared at the picture on the wall in front of me. It's a picture of Jesus and a seasoned minister sitting at a desk in an office that my Mom gave me just before finishing Bible college. I had a ton of things on my mind and I looked up at the picture and my mind stopped in it's tracks. I sat and watched that picture like it was a movie clip. I saw Jesus reaching out his hand to the preacher offering suggestions, advice, even stern instruction. I saw that man listening to Jesus' every Word hoping to retain what he was hearing so he could apply it to his life and ministry. After just a short time of reflection in my own life, I was thankful I had those few moments with Jesus. I speak regularly of being still and knowing that God is who He says He is - and today I got to practice it with a few minutes of listening to Jesus speak to me while I sat still knowing He is God! Oh, I searched the net for that picture to add here, but couldn't find it!

Ole Swamp Hippie

When I was a kid my cousin had a big 1970 something Ford truck with the name "Swamp Hippie" tattooed on the top of the windshield to act as a sun deflector. Every time I saw that truck I thought of that big ole thing barreling through some dirty, filthy, smelly, wet land kicking up mud and water like a big clawed crocodile on some scrappy chase through 3 inches of water a top of deep clay like mud.

Come to think of it, the swamp never did give an impression of cleanliness.

A river without boundaries is just a swamp. Thanks to my good friend who presented this thought to me! What an extraordinary perspective! Are we a life giving smooth flowing river with a forward moving direction and a vision for the next great adventure; or are we stagnant, sitting around, waiting for the next inevitable drought to soak us up and carry us into the unknown where we'll be poured out of some cloud of doubt over the massive dry dead desert of Sinai.

Keep moving forward. Let it go, let it roll right off your shoulders. Don't stagger, don't worry, don't get scared, keep moving forward. Like a river, flow with God, period.

And, for boundaries sake - stay focused and know your limits or you'll find yourself far from the current of moving onward.

It would have been neat to take that big four wheel drive truck to the swamp and run it full bore. However, besides mudd'n, the only thing I can think of a swamp being good for is snake bites and jaw locks.

Don't let your life become like the swamp where there's no boundaries and only the dirtiest of animals live. Be a river, flow with life; like a river gives nutrients to the trees on the edge, let those who stand near you be able to find fresh ideas and positive thoughts to draw from.

Revelation 22:1
[ The River of Life ] Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb

Rollercoaster Ride 'N

I love roller coasters at the amusement park! However, I hate it when my mind takes on the roll of a roller coaster with my emotions! Let's strive to be sure and steady in our hopes for God's will to be done in our lives!

Our God is the same God yesterday, today, and forever. He's everywhere at once, even everywhere in history and in the future at once. Oh Yea, don't even try to wrap your mind around that, but our God is truly omnipresent and omniscient. He's knows how many hairs are on your head, he knows the root of your being better than you do; He knows all this and He still loves us and sent His son to die for us even while we were yet sinners!

Feel this out - hour by hour, day by day, let God be God. In other words, trust His every move while you live out the life He gave you. Stay in touch with Him and let Him sift and shift people, places, and things as He sees fit. Work on being honest, truthful, pure hearted, always ready to give an account for your actions and for your faith in God. Don't harbor bitterness when your mind starts tugging your emotions up the first big hill of that roller coaster of an emotional mood swing. Don't expect anything except God's will to be done; even more so, expect the unexpected - the Positive Unexpected! Plan in your heart and know that God still directs your steps! Meaning - God's will be done, not ours. Live as confidently humble as you know how. Make big plans, train much, study a lot... and then be ready for motion, moving, twists, turns, and many victories that you could have only imagined!

Well, now that I think of it... If God is the roller coaster operator; Let's Ride!

Team Effort

Leader - Don't chase your vision alone - it may seem like others go it alone; they don't - the best of the best always have a better team around them than who they are themselves. God gave Daniel 3 men; Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; David had Johnathon and Benieah just to name two; Moses had his hands full for years, and God raised up Joshua and Caleb for him because he was persistent, forward thinking, and motivated for God's sake.

Spiritually & Physically find yourself someone/some team who will challenge you, push you, someone you can make yourself accountable to. Then do something so big that it will require you to lean on God. Don't start something without God and then call Him to your rescue... Start with prayer & find your reason for being - which is your big picture, your vision; it's what you see completed. And... when you have that -

Chase your vision with prayer, discernment, recruitment, & a plan to accomplish it.

David became a man after God's own heart! Daniel became a chief in a foreign land; Moses split sea's, received the commandments, and made men out of boys to take a land that was promised as far back as Abraham! All these leaders accomplished great things with a team effort! You can too!

God's Team

IN our attempt to launch a new ministry I'm seeing God draw people together to accomplish His divine action packed desire for our community! God is awesome.... Thanks to all the people who are answering His call and joining this team to do and be the Love of God in Mid Ohio!!! All things work together for the good of those who Love God!

Romans 8:28
[ More Than Conquerors ] And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Wait a Minute

Here's what I'm learning this summer...

There's plenty of scripture that speaks of the importance of waiting on the Lord. For instance -

Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Waiting is irritating. However, take irritating and turn it into a challenge and see "who can be the quietest" the longest. Remember those games when you were a kid? Sure you remember; And now you know that the adults that put that game on had good reason for wanting the kids to be quiet! Either it was rest time, or the parents simply needed a break from the chaos! I don't know if God needs a break or not, however, there's good reason for Him to challenge us to be still, to be quiet, and to wait on His perfect timing.

In the end, He will be glorified, not ashamed. Choose to wait on Him... The time will come to move into action and reap a benefit that you've prayed for oh so many times! -have a great day!

Upside of Breakdown

Job 22:21

Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.

Submission to God is the upside of breakdown! When we are in need, we tend to call on God more fervently. My grandmother used to say "There's always something." So true, life never gives us a break! So, ...if there's always something, look for that something positive. Oh, it's not easy to see the positive, however; it's necessary! Here's something positive for you to consider...

Total submission to God relieves you of all anxiety!

Finally submitting to God is the upside of breakdown!

Legacy

Levi wanted top play with our old Dukes of Hazzard car top that in it's day, was attached to a hot little remote control chassis. I saved the body of the car and set it on a shelf. I got the car body down off the shelf and started to think of how awesome that car used to be in it's hay day.

When people remember you, be sure to leave a legacy that's reminds them how awesome you were in your day!

By the way: Your Day is Today!

Stay Focused on Your Vision

I have poor eye sight. When I was younger I was told that doing eye muscle exercises would solve my issue. Well, that's an incredibly long story... However, it relates well to spiritual focus. For one - it's crystal clear to me that in keeping my life focus; or what's referred to as my life vision for my household and for my ministry does in fact take spiritual exercises to ensure stamina while on my faith jog with Jesus. Those spiritual exercises burn just like lifting weights, running hard or doing visual exercises to strengthen the eyes. That's the point, without a challenge or a push back we typically just stand still. We don't push as hard forward when we're not in training or when we're not in the ring or on the field. Stay focused on your vision- your vision is simply your plan that will get you to your goal - reach for it, press hard for it. Keep your eye on the sparrow, keep your eye on the ball, stay attentive to your opponent, expect some push back- but expect to be victorious in Christ's name. At the end of the day, be sure to have stayed focused on what you set out for- not deterring from what God has set before you.

Building Excitment

Like an avalanche... are we ever building excitement in our church! It's so crazy, if you look around- there's just a few of us progressing forward; But if you look closely, you'll see we are as determined as Christopher Columbus. Don't tell them they can't! I like one of Mark Batterson's posts on facebook or who knows where I read it, it says this- "The good thing about inexperience is that you don't know what can't happen" Right on! Our team doesn't even know "No!" We're embarking on a once in a lifetime opportunity that none of us have experience doing and we're rolling strong with it! We've planned, and we're learning that God does in fact order our steps. He's so involved in our progress; God's timing is oh so amazing! Everything from adversity, accomplishments, first downs, touch downs .... God is great and His love endures forever!

Keep ur eye on Mansfield... something big is about to happen! God is setting the stage for spiritual renewal at home, spiritual revival in our relationships, and the chase is on for His most wonderful anointing to fill us who are willing to come and stand under the refreshing cleansing of His living water fall!

have a great day...

Fuel per Second

I met with my mom for lunch yesterday. Was awesome. We talked about life, cars, kids, church, people; the typical things! And when I got to the part of our current ministry circumstance in Mansfield, I expressed a few of my epistemological certifiable certitudes about the launch & how we need to best catapult our new ministry into existence - even though I'm feeling overwhelmed by following through with some decisions I know I have to make!

In short, our new ministry has to come off with excellence so that the community sees a confident attempt at being God's hands and feet in Richland Co. Ohio. After telling my mother every thing we need to have ready for our launch, plus expressing my concern of the cost...because I'm a tight wad at heart; my mother reminded me of something that will help me stay focused and confident during the start of this new ministry here in Mansfield...

"It takes more fuel to launch than it does to fly." -JGG This obviously means per second, or per mile, or while reaching an altitude. It takes more fuel per second to get up to speed than it does fuel per second to maintain speed. Or, it's more costly for fuel per mile when drag racing than when racing oval track. Keep in mind, as we launch this new ministry we're striving hard to create a drag racing machine that quickly transforms into a school bus for the long haul....if you follow that - I need you on this team!

When you pray, pray for our new church launch team here in Mansfield! We want our Father in heaven to be Glorified!

have a great day....

For Real

John 7:38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

I met up with some new bikers the other day. Right after we met, we took a break, and got back on the road, the leader pulled us into some veggie selling place on the side of the road only about 1 mile from where I met up with them! You see, it's all luck of the draw, sometimes bikers are about riding, other times they're about short rides from one ice cream stand to the next road side antique fly by night pop up tent sort of thing. When we stopped, I unstrapped Levi's helmet, patted him on the head and said "we'll be outta here soon, this can't be for real."

Wait a minute, they were all huddled round some water source. Then I overheard some guy saying, "Yep, the best water in the whole world comes right from this natural spring!" Ok, they had my undivided attention cause I was hot and Levi was irritable and a cool drink could solve both of those issues, if it was for real. I reluctantly walked over to see what's up. Oh my goodness Holy Water! It was cold, fresh, right out of the rocks, a natural cold spring! Best of the best. Well, by now, most of you who are familiar with Malabar Farm Inn know that there's a natural spring close by and it's a famous place for people to stop year round to get a drink of fresh, living water!

Let us pray that we can be so fortunate as to draw people to God as that water draws people from everywhere. No matter my frame of mind to start with, after I tasted that water, I was staying a while! Even more, got my picture taken drinking it!

That day, more than any other day I understood those scriptures where Jesus speaks of living water. I will thirst even after today, but the fresh anointing of God is something just like that water was to me and Levi. We were hot, tired, and our attention was scattered and we were a bit irritated at the circumstances. However, one taste of that water and our whole attitude changed! God is good, one taste of His fresh anointing, one touch from His gentle hand, one Word from His Holy Bible or even audibly, one sip of His cup of joy and refreshing sense of peace and comfort can change our attitudes toward God & toward each other! Seek His goodness, drink of His Living Water... It's for Real! -have a great day ....ps. the group of bikers led by my good friend Vince, happen to be a great group of riders!

4 Casting Vision

Was @ my good friend's home tonight talking all about leading a church through change. That's the talk of our ministry right now. Our leadership team is striving to accept that the only thing that stays the same is that everything changes. In our need for spiritual and organizational change, sometimes when I lay out a new plan I find myself painting large brush strokes and believing that the team naturally has a sense of which details will need to be executed to get the big picture painted; without actually taking the time to mention the details. I'm learning that assigning minute details and communicating clear directions is what makes or breaks vision casting. Finally, my friend says to me, "Even Pop Tarts have directions!" Sure enough, he went and got a pack of pop tarts (specifically, great value toaster pastries) and read the directions to me. Get a load of these directions!

Toaster: 1. Set The Toaster Or Toaster Oven At Lowest Or Lightest Heat Setting. Remove Pastry from The Pouch. 2. Insert Pastry Into Cool Toaster Or Toaster Oven. 3. Attend Toaster Or Toaster Oven While Heating. Do Not Allow Children to Operate Toasting Device Without Supervision*. 4. After Warming Pastry, Allow Pastry to Cool Briefly. Remove Pastry Carefully from Toasting Appliance. *Caution: If The Pastry Is Overheated, The Frosting/Filling Can Become Extremely Hot and Could Cause Burns. Do Not Leave Toasting Appliance Unattended During Heating Due to Possible Risk of Fire.

We have to be ever so cautious that when we explain a new plan or direction that we clearly communicate the details of how that plan will come to fruition. If we're not communicating clear directions, then no matter if we're the head of our household, leader in our church or running our own business, we won't get the results we expect if we don't communicate the details that are necessary. -Thanks Brent! U the Man!

Buy the way, I also heard that if you have to use a microwave to heat up pop tarts, you're too busy! Awesome thought, I like this since we haven't owned a microwave since.... - I don't think we ever have! - have a great day...

Faith and Victory

We used to sing that song "I'm walking in faith and victory..." I really want to do that, don't you? I mean really, no worries mate, I want the kind of faith that totally focuses on the future of good things. Not the present suffering. Faith and Victory! -that's want we all want. Right now I'm fortunate enough to be walking in faith and victory with a great team of people here in Mansfield Ohio who are all aboard for a total reconstruction of our present ministry. Simply put, we're not satisfied just being here, we want to do greater things for God! The short story is that we're closing the doors to a crippled ministry and starting a brand new church under a new name and new vision with greater things expected as we walk in faith and victory. For our ministry team, God wants greater things for us than we can even imagine. I pray that our team is blessed beyond measure for their efforts and their hopes for God to be the God of this city! There are many unknowns as we walk in faith and victory. It's almost comforting not knowing what's coming up next, because what ever it is, if our steps and God's steps are one right after the other, if we're praying and seeking to hear His voice, and reading His word, loving and forgiving each other, standing together undivided, looking to God for the next victory....God will make it happen! Who can turn back God's hand when He set's His mind to something?

God wants greater things for you than what you can even dream up on your own. The Bible surely says it best in Proverbs 16:9 "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." We have to plan, study, and show ourselves approved. And after all that, we have to be nimble enough to flow with God's moving, guiding, directing, sifting, shaking, and new paths to find, follow, and even create as we go with Him! A lot? Yes it is, that's why the road is narrow that leads to Heaven, not wide and broad as the the road that leads to eternal suffering. Faith and Victory isn't always ever present, but it is oh so ever promised for those who set their hand to the plow and never look back as we walk in faith and victory! have a great day...

The Push 4 Peace of Mind

Ecclesiastes 7:25 So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.

Romans 8:6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;

I was running behind schedule even before Monday came into being this week! My mind was racing for days on end... There wasn't any way I could catch up by mid week either, it's just one of those weeks! At the same time, it's a great week to be alive! It's sunny out, I have a new dark shorty windshield coming for my Ultra, what a great week, but I wasn't pushing hard enough 4 a peace of mind! My constant requirements to crank out paperwork has been bearing down on me, most of which I put on myself. I couldn't get my mind past missing my own deadline's and taking just a quick break! And right in the middle of the day yesterday when the D. O. sent out an Ohio family report I sunk in my seat as I read that one of my good friends was recently diagnosed with Hairy Leukemia. I stopped feeling so behind and started feeling so fortunate. My mind settled and my thoughts slowed as I thought about Bill's circumstance. Today friends, can you please set aside one full minute to pray for my good friend Pastor Bill Jones who ministers in Ripley, Ohio. He's an X engineer turned "Pastor Jones." He's optimistic about the chemo and has set his mind to focus on God's divine healing. He was rushed into the ER early this week and has had an I-V in him for several straight days now. I don't exactly know how he even facebooked me back with his I-V in while he lays in the hospital even today... Probably because he was running behind a little at the start of the week like me so he snagged his laptop to do work while laying in the hospital! Bill, you are loved! We look forward to you riding, loving people, and enjoying the sunny days God gives us for years to come! Oh, driving home last night I helped two different drivers change out flats on their cars.... God let me get my hands on something to fix and someone to help so I wouldn't feel so helpless... I suppose? Anyway, by bed time I had already asked God to have his way in my mind, not to dwell on the negative, and to keep Bill's mind strong and focused on the positive; and someday I'll visit w/ Bill N Ripley so he and I can sit on the Ohio river bank thanking God for His miraculous power and deliverance! Have a great day friends... Count your blessings, enjoy the sun shine, don't set such a high precedent for yourself that it may steal your peace of mind! Set your sights as high as God gives you the ability, know your limits & seek the mind of Christ in all things!

Cheap Cancer Cure

So, the word on the street is that there's this drug....

I was recently told about a cancer pill that cures most any kind of cancer. It's been around for a few years now, at least. From Canada? The issue is that it's not able to be patented & therefore pharmaceutical companies wont' pick it up because it won't make them any cash. However, it's inexpensive & has saved many lives even by the most uncommon cancers; but since it can't be patented ...for profit, it's not being distributed.

Spiritually speaking, when we see something that helps others who deserve help and refuse to do it for any reason, it's totally wrong! When we see a need that we can legitimately meet, it's our obligation to meet it the best way we can. Not hap haphazardly or with empty words or expecting a return on our investment. We do it because we're good people. When it's in our power to do good for someone who deserves a helping hand, Just do it!

Proverbs 3:27
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.

Dad's Day

Happy Father's Day to all dad's! I just got off the phone with my dad - if I can share just one quick note about father-son team work let me share this one... When I was in Jr. High sometime my dad and I entered a father/son team muzzle loader shooting contest on Father's Day. It was one of those extremely rare Sunday's that my mother let me miss church! The short story is that each father and son took the same number of shots at the targets so that it was fair for each team. At the end, My dad and I won the Shawnee Rifle Club annual father & son shoot! I've got the trophy on display still to this day. Here's a quick thought as Father's Day relates to our Heavenly Father. God is your dad. He's on your team. God will never let you down, He'll always make you look better than you are. He's with you from one victory to the next. He'll never leave you or forsake you. He watches out for you, He cares for you. And most importantly, He enjoys watching you for the purpose of His total fulfillment and joy - just as you like to watch your kids. He loves you so much that words can't explain. He enjoys seeing you happy and He will do everything in His power to prepare you for a life full of joy and many victories!

Trusting God

On a facebook wall post I read the familier saying that the will of God won't take you where the grace of God can't keep you. I'm praying that to be true. God's grace is sufficient for us. His love endures forever. His plans for us are to make us prosper because we belong to Him and we are His; hence, He and we won't be denied victory in our lives unless we deny Him. His leading into the unknown can be intimadating and His ways are off the charts unexpalinable. I think God likes us to be here, or there - where ever "Trusting God" becomes our first, last, and only instinct. Trust God today - You'll be so proud of yourself on the day you stand before Him and can honestly say "Yes Lord, I never doudted you for a minute!"

We are God's

My nearly three-year-old daughter brings today’s insight. Simply put, Molly said it best today, “God made us and we are His!” (She said from memory the verse from last Wed.’s children’s ministry called Bible Boot Camp) We are God’s, He made us – He won’t let you down, he’ll never leave you or forsake you. Who can challenge God? When God decides something, who can turn His hand back from doing what He wants? And, He loves you and wants the best for you. Ask of Him, and He will give it to you. Have a great day!

God Cares

In tough times, I’m still reminded that God is always faithful. In short, Krista and I had a difficult evening. It was just one of those nights where things didn’t line up like we’d hoped they would for us. Nothing too Earth shattering, but enough to make us feel blah…a little ☺ We went out for a while and on our way back home we rode home without saying much at all. We pulled in the driveway and Levi jumped out of his seat and on to his bike to catch a few minutes of ride time before bedtime. Molly sat in silence with Krista and I in the Jeep while we just took a deep breath and rested our minds for a few. Levi comes running to my door, opens the door and says “Dad, a bird’s nest fell out of the tree, it’s on the ground!” Enough said for me. God reminded me of the sparrow. Nothing happens in our lives apart from God’s will. God cares for every sparrow on planet Earth, how much more does God care for us?

Matthew 10:29 ”Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Have a great day!

Community: One Mind, One Purpose

I've never been so proud & excited to be a part of God's Kingdom. He is working in many ways around the world, the nation, and in our communities all over Ohio. I can see Him working and developing people's strengths and weaknesses. I can see Him speaking to people and they are listening to His voice. There's a good opportunity for people to experience the love and strength of Christ in our current struggling economy. People are listening with the intention of doing. Let's be first to communicate God's love and purpose to our friends and family. It's not about a church, it's about a reason for being. Today, let us consider 1 Corinthians 1:10 - "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. NIV" I just came from a mtg. with a group of community leaders in our area. I'm glad leaders are working together to promote peace, healing, helps of all kinds, and @ the foundation of it all, we're working together in the name of Jesus Christ! I see mayors, pastors, health dept. rep's, .....So awesome! Friends, begin praying for your part to deliver God's Word and works in these days! We can't all fit on "the stage", but we can all find satisfaction in being a part of something universal, intergalactic, huge of the huge, such is our God! Let His name be glorified ...as we decrease, let Him increase in all of us! Let your purpose be servant leadership at the level God has prepared you for. A group of servant leaders are those who are first to see and meet a need and last to be served. All of which are of One Mind, with One Purpose. If you want to be a servant leader in Richland Co. Ohio and to participate on a team of cross cultrual people of like mind that have a goal to represent God as One Church.... contact me today for details :) -TG

On the Edge...

My daughter seldom likes to hold my hand and frequently says "Me not like ur kisses daddy, jaw hair!" My whiskers aren't the main issue, they're an excuse - she's very independent. However, tonight after a great night with my beautiful wife Krista and two awesome kids @ Ci Ci's pizza, we all began walking across the parking lot over to our Jeep. My 3 yr. old daughter jumps up on the curb and then stopped dead in her tracks and looked over to me, reached out her hand and without saying a word she was obviously calling for my help. I took full advantage as she let me hold her hand while she walked the edge of the curb. Sometimes God allows us to jump up on the edge so that we'll reach for His hand. We're more concerned about getting ourselves to safety while God is more concerned about holding our hand. Next time that God takes you by the hand in a time of need, don't be so anxious to let go after the need has been met. He's never intimidated by your life obstacle, that's an easy fix for Him - He just wants to hold your hand.

Jesus Loves You

Not long ago when I was in need of hearing from God, he spoke clear as ever. You need to know that I've been wearing these rubber band/bracelets with the sayings on them just to give myself a reminder of positive things. So lately, I'm always wearing one... And, on a day when I needed to hear from God, I visited a friend's house in which I have not visited for months on end. We talked out in the yard and I ended up walking across their grass and I walked past one of those rubber bands like I've been wearing. I reached down to pick it up just to hand it to my friend so they didn't run over it with the mower. I flipped the band over and it read "Jesus Loves You." God doesn't miss the details. During a time when I'm wearing the rubber bands for positive reminders, God speaks clear as ever through a band I found in the middle of someone's yard that read "Jesus Loves You!" He loves you, too.