#345 - LAUNCH DAY REFLECTION

Yesterday was incredible.

There are so many things I could share about the emotion and experience of officially launching a church, but there were one set of experiences in particular that brought me a tremendous amount of joy — hearing the positive feedback about our service from our first-time guests from Oakland.

Responses like:

“Usually reading the Bible is hard for me, but you made it come alive!” “I haven’t been a part of a church in years, but I’m so glad I came today.” “We’ve been looking for a church that both us and our kids can grow in.” “We already texted our friends, who also live in Oakland and are looking for a church, to check you guys out!” “Thank you for doing this, will your messages be available online so I can listen to them when I’m out of town?”

And my favorite response of all,

“We loved it and we’ll be back next week!”

These responses mean so much to me because the mission statement of our church is “To overwhelm Oakland with love.”

Now, I understand that it is going to take a tremendous about of time, energy and resources before our community of faith actually overwhelms the city of Oakland with the love of Christ in such a way where the city feels it in practical ways, but I am so thankful and blessed that, yesterday, during our Grand Opening Service, we took a forward step in that direction!

Our church was started in the city of Oakland, for the city of Oakland therefore every time we make a positive impact and impression on the people actually living in Oakland, I am going to celebrate!

#344 - A TOUGH TENSION TO MANAGE

I have to prepare myself for the voices.

Voices telling me that, as it relates to my preaching, I should be doing more of this and less of that. Voices telling me that, as it relates to my leadership, I should be doing more of this and less of that. Voices telling me that, as it relates to my dealing with people, I should be doing more of this and less of that.

Voices telling me that, as it relates to our church programs, we should be doing more of this and less of that. Voices telling me that, as it relates to our style of music, we should be doing more of this and less of that. Voices telling me that as it relates to our method of ministry, we should be doing more of this and less of that.

And because all of the voices I will encounter will not necessarily be all good or all bad...

I'm going to have to learn how to manage the tension between leading boldly while still listening carefully.

Because...

I don't have all the answers.
I'm not aware of all the best practices.
I don't have as much experience as others.

But at the same time,

God has placed a calling on my life.
God has placed a vision in my heart.
God has placed a gift in my hands.

Though I don't know it all, there are some things I do know and I can't allow the voices to cause me to question the things God has clearly called me to do.

Leading boldly and listening carefully - though it will be a difficult tension to manage, it will also be a tension that will cause me to listen ever so closely to the one voice that matters most...God's.

#343 - MY ONE LAUNCH SERVICE DESIRE

Though there are many things that I'd like to see take place during our church's Grand Opening Service, there is only one thing that I am intentionally praying for: the presence of God. 

Do I want to see a lot of people show up...of course.
Do I want people to enjoy the worship experience...absolutely.
Do I want the message to be impactful and memorable...for sure.
Do I want people to be touched by the testimony and baptism...no doubt!

But if those things all take place without the presence of God, in my mind, we have failed.

Only the presence of God can change a heart.
Only the presence of God can save a soul.
Only the presence of God renew a mind.

Only in the presence of God can one experience the power of God.

And it is my desire that everyone in attendance, from skeptic to saint, experiences the presence and power of God.

This past week, I came across a prayer that Moses prayed in the days leading up to the time when he was to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land. It is this prayer that I am going to be intentionally and intensely praying this week and I would like to invite you to join me in praying the same prayer as we prepare to launch our church. Thank you in advance for your support!

"If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth? Exodus 33:15-16

#342 - GOD'S TIMING IS PERFECT

I worry.

I worry about whether or not enough people will show up. I worry about the quality and clarity of my message. I worry about the quality of our music. I worry about whether or not we will have enough financial resources to continue doing ministry. I worry about finding a permanent meeting space.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't worry about these things constantly and I don't worry about these things to a point where I'm depressed, but I'd be lying if I told you that these were things I was not concerned about.

But in the midst of all these "worries," I am reminded of Isaiah's words concerning the character of God in Isaiah 55:8-9:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God's ways are better than my ways. God's thoughts arebetter than my thoughts. Not only are they better but they are so much better!

And because this is true, it can also be said that God's timing is so much better than my timing!

God's timing is perfect.

And it is with that profound truth in mind that I can trust that:

The timing in which He's going to save various types of lives...perfect.
The timing in which He's going to draw certain numbers of people...perfect.
The timing in which He's going to provide a permanent meeting space...perfect.
The timing in which He's going to bring in the required amounts of finances...perfect.

The timing in which He's going to address any other concern or worry that I have...perfect.

God's timing is perfect. My timing is not.

Therefore...

I must trust...Him.

#341 - THE SECRET I'M EXCITED TO SHARE!

I have never been more excited about giving a message in my life!

Today I began putting the slides together for the message I will be giving at our Grand Opening Service on September 15, and as the message began to come together in my head, I became overwhelmed with an excitement to preach like never before!

I'm excited because I feel like I have an incredible secret to share! 

In the teaching series we did through our Preview Service, Freed from Religion, I felt that I had an incredible secret to share about what the message of Christianity is. But for our next series, The Secret Heart of Christianity, I feel that I have an incredible secret to share about who the message of Jesus Christ is for!

For so long I felt that the message of Jesus Christ was for immoral and irreligious people who needed to get their act together! And though the message of Christianity is, to a certain extent, for those kind of people, the message of Jesus Christ is MORE for a whole other category of people who I'm convinced don't even know that the message is for them!

I'm so excited to share this incredible secret! 

I anticipate that it will be a pleasant surprise to people who don't believe in Christ and an even bigger surprise to those who do!

#340 - I FEEL SUPPORTED

There is no doubt that the journey that I have embarked upon, as a Lead Pastor of a brand-new church in the city of Oakland, is going to be a difficult one. Though this journey will include many joys, victories and successes, I am also aware of the fact that there are also going to be various obstacles, disappointments, frustrations and hurts. Pain will be present.

But tonight, I am comforted by the reality that, even in the midst of any present or future pain, I am supported.

I am supported by a group of people who love me, believe in me and are fully committed to my pursuit of God's call on my life.

These people include:

• My Wife - the one who's support I could not live without.
• My Family - the group of people who knew me and loved me before I was "Pastor Edward."
• My Sending Church - the group of people who originally confirmed and continually affirm God's calling on me to plant a church.
• My Core Team - the group of people who are in the trenches with me week in and week out.
• My Partner Churches - the group of churches who believe in the vision God has given theMOVEMENT and are supporting it with prayer, provision and people!

And last but not least...

• My Savior - the One who has promised that because He began a good work in me, He will be faithful to complete it!

I am so thankful for the many people who stand behind me and beside me as I pursue the call of God on my life. It is because of them that, even in the midst of fear and uncertainty, I can move forward with courage and boldness!

#339 - WORK IS WAITING

We rested. We shopped. We ate. We watched movies. I read. We rafted together down the American River. Then we rested some more. Shopped some more. Ate some more. Watched more movies. And then I read some more. In summary, our vacation was awesome.

But now our vacation is over, and it's time to get back to work.

Work is waiting.

Services need to be planned. Sermons need to be written. Directions need to be given. Expectations need to be communicated. Videos need to be recorded. Phone calls need to be made. Invitations need to be extended. Funds need to be raised. Meetings need to be scheduled. Volunteers need to be recruited. Orders need to be placed. Emails need to be sent. Presentations need to be prepared. Things need to get done.

As it pertains to successfully starting a church, a lot of work is waiting.

But as I prepare myself to jump back into the work that is before me, I am reminded of Luke's writings about the early church in Acts 6:1-4:

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Though a lot of work is waiting, I must be crystal clear on the work that is waiting for me.

Will I "serve tables?" Absolutely.

But the truth I must embrace (and not feel guilty about) as the Lead Pastor of this church is stated best by Matthew Henry in his commentary on this passage, I "must be God’s mouth to the people in the ministry of the word, and the people’s mouth to God in prayer."

Stated more simply: Prayer and preaching - this is my priority.