God Builds A Team...

In A Living Room
Nearly five years ago I asked a group of my friends to join me in my calling to plant a church. I had little to no idea what it meant to plant a church, but they responded. Everyone in that group is supporting us financially in some way, and two of those crazy people just moved to Cleveland to be apart of our launch team.

From Momentum Christian Church
About three months ago I shared the vision of Exile City at Momentum. From that I've met with a dozen or so people over dinner and coffee to share the vision of our church plant to Love Beyond Reason. Many have committed saying, "I'm in!"

With A Greasy Spoon
Approximately two years ago I met a young seminary student who asked me to be his field mentor and I agreed. We met regularly over breakfast at a "greasy-spoon"as he calls it. We became great friends and ministry partners. Throughout our time together I began praying that God would call him to help start Exile City. Upon graduation he told me he was moving to Cleveland to be apart of our team!

At the Cult of Apple
The other day I walked into the Apple Store and a young man, who I met a couple weeks before, walked out with my repaired laptop and said, "Here is your laptop and by the way count me in for your church plant. I want to help any way I can."

To Love Beyond Reason

I am blown away about the quality, passionate, and straight up amazing people who God is bringing together to start Exile City. Thank you God for your blessing. God is up to something to reach the people of Lakewood, Cleveland, and beyond with a LOVE BEYOND REASON!

Music Monday | Airplanes by B.o.B.

Big Paramore fan, so I'm digging it. Also loved Dan and Shannon Smith covering it this past Sunday at Momentum Christian Church.

Exile City: Why Lakewood?

A lot of people don't know much about Lakewood, so I wanted to share a few things on why we are taking roots to plant a church there.

• Most densely populated city in Ohio. Also the most bars. 
• Most densely populated suburb in between New York and Chicago. 
• Nationally recognized library [Ranked 2nd best in the Nation]. 
• Values the arts. 
• Values small local business. 
• Great restaurants. [a.k.a. The Melt as seen on Food Network]. 
• Affordable housing. 
• Many young adults and working professionals. 
• Great parks. 
• Business Week says it's a great place to raise kids.
• Very few churches, and a huge need for Jesus.
• And now it's one of America's 10 Coolest Suburbs!

P.S. - Buy our house in Mansfield for $39,900 so we can move to LAKEWOOD!

MM | "Don't You Know Your Beautiful" by Seabird

Seabird is completely creative, catchy, contagious, and cleaver! I dig their music especially this song. My favorite lyric of the song goes...

"I see you laughing
But I know inside that you're crying
Just tell me what happened when things went wrong
We'll try to make sense of it all"

Good stuff.

Living and loving a hottie for 4yrs going on 400!

Today is my anniversary! Sondra, you are smoking hot! Brilliant like a precious diamond! You shine like the sun!  You are an amazing mother and an awesome wife. You rock my world and you are the greatest gift God has given me. I love you more and more each day! My life is full because of you. I adore you.

Ecclesiastes 9:9 NLT

Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil.

Music Monday | John Mark McMillan

Completely rocked by this album.  It has a old folk rock feel (think Bob Dylan), but is more singable and accessible.  Many have heard his song called "Oh How He Loves Us" because band like David Crowder Band have covered it.  That song was birthed out of deep pain in John's life. He explains here...


Other songs on the album like Skeleton Bones and Death in His Grave [video below] rock my world.