Sister Saturday | Swinging Sisters

I uploaded 20+ videos this week since I have been busy with ministy. Below is a playlist of several videos of the girls swinging. We love going to parks with Selah and Aliyah! They love it too.

Monkey and the Fish | Book Review

Have you ever read the bible and had thoughts, notions, and hunches about how you should live a life of love towards others, but had no idea how to do it? Are you concerned with the formulaic way of the church and you are more interested in an organic spiritual awakening in peoples lives? Maybe you are a leader or minster and you wonder how you can lead your local church to love like Jesus?" Do you feel that you are chasing ministry trends, and you would rather be listening and responding to the spirit of God?

If you answer yes to any or all of the questions above, then you have to read Monkey and the Fish by Dave Gibbons. This book talks about how our life as followers of Jesus should be about 3rd Culture or painful adaptation. Dave defines 3rd Culture as the mindset and will to love, learn, and serve in any culture even in the midst of pain and discomfort. Three questions that come from the book that will guide my ministry for the rest of my life are...

1. Where is Nazareth? Who are the people on the margins of life? Who are the outsiders? Who are suffering the most? Instead of looking for the leaders who can offer the most to our churches/movements/organizations/own kingdoms, Gibbons teaches us to look for who are the most in need. It is the model of Jesus. It is how God operates. God's power is most perfected in weakness. 
2. What is my pain? Instead of always looking for our own spiritual gifts/talents/resources, Gibbons encourages us to identify with our greatest pain. It is through our pain that the world can relate. It is our pain that shows the power of Jesus. 
3. What is in my hand? What has God given me? Use that. Stop focusing on what we do not have or comparing ourselves to some myth. Stop trying to become something we are not.

This is the first book I've read in a long time that have given me new eyes on leadership and the life of a Christian and it is simple in nature. It has awakened a fresh perspective on leadership in my mind and a hope for a more kingdom minded church in my soul.

Monkey and the Fish is not just a book I like, it is a book that will guide me and my church plant for many years to come. I have already bought five copies to give to the leaders of Exile City. Thank you Dave for this work!

Exile City, Bars, Cigarettes and a Divine Moment

Exile City's mantra is "Love Beyond Reason." This means that we love others beyond reason because God loves us beyond reason.

Several months ago as I thought about our prelaunch phase I felt that God was calling us to love beyond reason by throwing parties for the people and serving the City of Lakewood (and greater Cleveland).  Nothing says, "we love you," like throwing parties. Nothing says, "we care," like selfless service to the community.

Last Friday Exile City Band was scheduled to play at Starbucks in Garfield Heights, but due to their A/C being broke the show was moved to the Rockside Tavern in Garfield Heights. Yep it's basically a bar. Sondra and I arranged a date night and headed to the Rockside Tarvern for a great night.

The band led by Dave Mariano did a fantastic job of covers from dozens of artists including Kings of Leon, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rihanna, Pink, etc.  During the set I had a moment of worship unlike anything I have ever experienced.  As I sat in the patio area of the bar listening, the band started playing Something Beautiful by Need to Breathe.  As I sang along I found my eyes closed, I began worshiping God.  With my eyes closed, my voice singing loud, and my nose full of cigarette smoke I felt that God was telling me... "this is exactly where you need to be." Jesus calls us to go into a dark world, to love on those who think God could never love. In that bar I had a divine moment where I felt I was smack dab in the middle of his will to love beyond reason!

"If you want to reach people for Jesus, you're going to have to sit in the smoking section." -Neil Cole

Music Monday | Healing Begins by Tenth Avenue North

Tenth Avenue North is one of my favorite new Christian bands. Healing Begins, their new song address our hearts when we finally confess, where the light meets the dark.

Here is the story of how the song came about...


Listen (or buy) the album here...

Engagement Story

One of my favorite questions to ask married couples is "What's your engagement story?" I love the creativity, the personalization, the excitement and anticipation of the story. Check this one out...

Graffiti Proposal from PR!MO on Vimeo.

I also think that engagement stories are similar to salvation stories. It's personal and unique. There is anticipation and excitement. It's just a different kind of love story.

• What is your engagement story? 
• What is your salvation story?

Funny Friday | Star Trek

'I am Beautiful' by Joshua & Nathan Flynn from Joshua Flynn on Vimeo.

Exile City's Planting Partnership

We often think that the Lead Pastor of a new church is the Church Planter, but I believe he is not the only one who is planting the church. Everyone who gives their time, treasure, or talent to start churches deserves to be called a Church Planter. They are participating in the mission to spread the Good News of the Kingdom in many lives. Our mission is to reach those who are far from God in Cleveland (and beyond) through church planting.

The scriptures speak very clearly that we (all followers) are to spread the Good News of the Kingdom. Many parables call this seeding or planting. He speaks of different soil (or hearts) that the seed will fall on and the results will vary. We can learn a lot from these parables, but what is certain is that we can not make the seed (the good news) grow in someones heart. God does that. However, it shows that we have a part to play. We scatter seed and nurture believers.

In 1 Corinthians 3:6 Paul says, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow." Planting is a team effort and we need you. That is why we have Planting Partnerships. To plant healthy growing churches it takes a healthy amount of finincial support. Below are our three Planting Partnership Levels....

      Seed-er ($50/month)      Water-er ($100/month)      Harvest-er ($200/month)

I ask that you take time, pray, and ask God if He’s calling you to be a Church Planter by investing financially in the harvest. To get involved in Church Planting by supporting us and our mission. If so click here and follow the directions on how to give.

Musicology Series: Improv (Additional Notes)

Yesterday, I preached the fourth message in our Musicology Series on Improv. The big idea: Taking God-sized risks in life makes all the difference.  Like risk-taking musicians who improv in their music, we too should take risk as we follow the God-sized dream that God has placed in our hearts.

My frien-tance (not sure if he'd consider me a friend or acquaintance) Mark Batterson wrote an excellent book on facing fears and chasing dreams called In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day.  From that book he has written something he called the Lion Chaser Motto:

"Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away."

During this message I talked about my God-size dream to plant a church that changes lives in Cleveland and beyond. 

Music Monday | Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch

The lyrics and tone of this song rocks my world!


Lyrics of Orange Sky:
Well I had a dream
I stood beneath an orange sky
Yes I had a dream
I stood beneath an orange sky
With my brother standing by
With my brother standing by
I said brother, you know you know
It's a long road we've been walking on
Brother you know it is, you know it is
Such a long road we've been walking on

And I had a dream
I stood beneath an orange sky
With my sister standing by
With my sister standing by
I said sister, here is what I know now
Here is what I know now
Goes like this
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, in your love, in your love

But sister you know I'm so weary
And you know sister
My hearts been broken
Sometimes, sometimes
My mind is too strong to carry on
Too strong to carry on

When I am alone
When I've thrown off the weight of this crazy stone
When I've lost all care for the things I own
That's when I miss you, that's when I miss you, that's when I miss you
You who are my home
You who are my home
And here is what I know now
Here is what I know now
Goes like this
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, in your love, in your love

Well I had a dream
I stood beneath an orange sky
Yes I had a dream
I stood beneath an orange sky
With my brother and my sister standing by
With my brother and my sister standing by
With my brother and my sister standing by

Funny Friday | Star Wars Dog

Funny Friday | Momentum's One Man Band

As we continued our Musicology series at Momentum the Creative Minister shows his chops downtown.