You Have a Story Worth Telling

TOMS & Coffee a good pair.

I love being a pastor, I just don't like telling people that I am a pastor.

Whether it comes up in conversation at a coffee house or in line at the grocery store or just in those random moments of life I always seem to pause or stammer about my calling.

To be honest it's a combination of fear and the assumption that I would be one of "Those" pastors or christians.  I do not want to be lumped in with the conserative-judgemental Christian boat, however I do not want to be a Christian apologist either.

The bottom line is that I need to own who I am and not be ashamed about it.

Recently I have been reading about Blake Mycoskie, Chief Shoe Giver of TOMS (for every shoe you buy TOMS gives a pair to a child in need), in his new book Start Something That Matters, he talks about the power of your story.

"If you organize your life around your passion, you can turn your passion into your story and then turn your story into something bigger- something that matters."

Blake would actually wear two different colors of TOMS just so that he could have opportunity to share his story.

He is willing to look a little foolish for something he is passionate about.

I have to get over that fear of looking foolish... of not being cool.
I have to come to grips that not everyone will like me or what I do.

My goal is to share our story about our church in the conversations of life.  To listen to that still small voice in those moments that are not planned and go for it!

I have a story worth telling.
I have a call worth living.

To Find Hope to the Valley. 

What's your story?

Brave

Father and Son HHI 2011

"When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened."
-Billy Graham

Growing up in Philadelphia you would think that I was a tough city kid.  I wish I was the one who won the fights and got the girl.  I wasn't much of fighter, and rarely ever got the girl.

In middle school, I was the kid in jogging pants and a Phillies jersey, not exactly the bad the boy the popular kids wanted to be around.  Actually, I like to think of middle school as a layer of hell found somewhere in Dante's Inferno.

There were moments where I found my self standing up to the class teacher more than the class bully.

I wanted to be brave.

As a father I see many of my qualities echoed in my son.  Some good, some not so good.

One quality I think he gets more from his mother than me is the ability to be brave.

This week we have the privilege of vacationing with my In-Laws at Hilton Head Island.  We can see the beach from our window and there is nothing like being at the beach.

This is definitely a step up from the Jersey Shore, but than again, I think most things are a step up from the Jersey Shore.

Going to the beach with a toddler who is 18 months old can be an adventure.
The ocean can be a very scary especially to someone who can barely see over the kitchen table.  However, making the most of the vacation time we headed for the beach the first day of the week.

As we came to the beach where the sand meets the water Keane had fun splashing and watching the waves come to shore.  That is until one of those waves knocked him over.

 Tears soon replaced his smile.

No one likes to be knocked down, no matter how old you are.

As Keane ran back to the shade of our umbrella and comfy beach chairs, I thought his day in the sun was over. A few moments later he was making his way back to tackle the waves again.

So we faced the ocean together hand in hand.

He got knocked down again, but he got up.
He no longer cried because of the waves,
He would now shout at the waves.

Watching my son I felt inspired to tackle my own waves in life.
It can be easy to turn your back on your fears and go where it is safe,
whether it be the shade of the umbrella or the comforts of the suburbs.

There is so much I want to teach my son,
to never give up and to persevere in tough times.

To have him learn from my example and be brave.

This time I found my self learning from his life,
This time I learned to shout at the waves.

What I Learned from Snubbing Mark Batterson

Butler Township Fest 2011

The journey of church planting is a crazy ride and it has allowed me to go in and out of many church circles.  A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to meet a great influence of mine, Mark Batterson, and talk church planting.

Two things will always stick with me from with that day.

 One thing Mark Batterson said.

 And one thing I did, or should I say, didn't do.

In his office, which was pretty cool, nestled above Ebenezer's Coffee House, was filled with books.

You can tell a lot by a person by the books they have on their shelf. 

Mark has an eclectic mix of books which is no surprise to why he is such an effective leader.

Upon looking around his office and reading book titles, he offered me one of his latest written books at the time "Wild Goose Chase," and I said, "No I already have it."

Call it nerves.

Call it stupid.

Call it a snub.

I didn't say that it was one of my favorite books.

I didn't say that I have purchased and repurchased that book 

because of giving it away so many times.

I didn't allow him an opportunity to give. 

Followed by a puzzled look on Mark's behalf he graciously continued the conversation about church planting. 

And he left me with one of the most valuable pieces of information about church planting... location.

Batterson said, "One way you can find a location to plant a church is if you can see yourself raising a family in that area."

I found that statement to be very true and very encouraging as we have landed in Drums PA to plant Valley Community Church.

However, that conversation always left me with a bittersweet feeling, because of the snub, or the fact that when I get nervous sometimes and I say no when I should say yes.  

Which leads me to this past weekend, our church plant's first official event for VCC.  We had twenty volunteers from three local churches (MountainTop Family Center Church, Berwick AG and Faith AG Church) giving their time for the Butler Township Festival.  

There were times when I thought we had too many volunteers and found myself wanting to say no to some individuals.  

I guess my reasoning or fear was of having too many people 

standing around because all the jobs were filled.

Thankfully I said yes, and as it turned out, every single person that helped us this past weekend had an important role to play making it a total success.  There were situations that came up that I did not foresee and we needed more people than I originally thought.  

It's a good thing I said yes.

If I said no, I would have robbed a person of making a difference.

I have learned to say yes more than no.  

Even when people at the office offer if I want something for lunch.

Even when people offer a drink in the waiting room.

Even when people ask to volunteer.

There are times I think about that look that Mark Batterson gave me. 

If you asked him, he probably wouldn't even remember, but I do...

Because I have seen that look in others when they've wanted to be generous and giving

and thought I had everything I need.

It is good to give but,

I am learning that I am not too good to receive. 

Our Story to Valley Community Church

"Find Hope in the Valley"

"A person, who never made a mistake, never tried anything new."

- Albert Einstein 

It all started when I was a Youth Pastor back in York, PA praying for one of my students at a Youth Conference.

I was praying for him and I felt God speaking to me.

"Transition from youth ministry in two years to plant a church."

The next staff meeting we had, the Pastor announced he was going to retire in two years.

I think God was up to something.

The process began as we applied with our District to become church planters, which included a week long "Boot Camp" training and a thorough interview that lasted 5 hours.  We learned a lot and made some great connections.

My wife and I really hit off with the Pastor that interviewed us, Rodney Murphy.  We talked about planting a church outside Baltimore, MD and some of the creative things we wanted to do there.

The next year would prove to be a wild roller-coaster of emotional highs and lows.

We transitioned from Youth Ministry to step out in total faith to raise support for the church plant.
Our son Keane was born and he is such an amazing little guy. So full of life.
I was excited to speak at my alma mater Valley Forge Christian College for a chapel service.

We even ran into Rodney Murphy that day at VFCC and he mentioned if we ever change our minds about Maryland to give him a call.

It was not easy trying to raise support and raise a family, but sometimes faith doesn't aways make sense.

That idea would prove to be true as the church plant in Maryland faced many obstacles and challenges that could not be overcome.  The plug was pulled before we ever had a live service.

We had to make a phone call.

Our District informed us that there was a team of three pastors who raised support and were looking for a church planter.  One of those pastors turned out to be Rodney Murphy.

The same person that interviewed us to plant a church
would be the same person to help us plant a church.

After a number of interviews and trips up to the Valley between Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton we fell in love with a small town called Drums.

The dream of Valley Community Church began...

Where God can turn failures into faith.
Where God can turn second chances into new beginnings.
Where God can bring Hope in the Valley.

The Church of Allstate

I like to watch TV.

I prefer to watch sports, especially when the Phillies are winning,
and I have to admit The Food Network is pretty addicting.

Network TV on the other hand, has something missing, it could be Lost & 24. Sometimes, I find the commercials more engaging than the Primetime line up.  Especially one type of commercial, featuring my favorite "President."

Here are a few that really speak to me...







It could be the subtle piano playing in the background. The dignity and quit confidence in David Palm...err I mean Dennis Haysbeart's voice, but the point is made without shouting and without gimmicks, but its made with simple truth.

People matter more than things.

Sometimes it may not be the having the answers but having the time.

Who you are with, is more important that what you have.

It's interesting, one night my wife and I were watching TV and one of the Allstate commercials came on and she said, "If Allstate was a church, that's one I'd attend."

She was thinking the exact same thing I was... good timing, good wife.

The rubber is starting to meet the road in our journey to plant a church and that will probably be my next blog.  I have been going to a lot of different churches listening, looking, and taking notes.  The goal is not to steal ideas or copy programs, but to be inspired.

Our hope is not to be the cool church, or a trendy church, we just want to be a church that gets "It."

Allstate might be on to something...
Allstate gets It.

"First pay attention to Me, and then relax.
Now you can take it easy- you're in good hands." Proverbs 1.33 (The Message) 

We may be just figuring this Church Plant out, but
we know that we want this church to be God's church.

We want to be in Good Hands.

A Brother's Journey of Faith to LifeChurch.tv

Salvatore DiSalvatore is not a new character in a Martin Scorsese film.

He is my brother.
He is my best friend.

Sal has always pushed me and inspired me, because his faith is uncommon; different.

When many would give up on their dreams because life got too busy, or the journey was too long, or quite frankly fear got in the way of faith; Sal would never settle.

It's hard to wait, to be still.
It's hard to be Sal.

His journey began when he chose to attend Regent University to pursue a Masters in Communications and Film.

Sal loves to tell stories thru media, and his stories make great sermons.

There were some people who discouraged him from leaving the comforts of Philly to go down south to Virginia and chase the dream.

I never understand why people encourage others to be more practical,
sometimes I think practical is another way of saying settle.

Sal would continue to navigate that tension during his years in the south,
especially his final semester. The school put on a short film festival at the local theater and Sal's movie dealt with the cycle of sin in a very artistic and poweful way.

It was different, but apparently Pat Robertson doesn't like different

It got pulled from the festival.

Sal returned to Philly crushed, but still had hope.

When his friend's accepted other jobs, filming commercials or editing, Sal wouldn't comprise what God called him to do. He was focused on his goal of making a difference in Christian media.

I remember one time when he had an opportunity to go to a film festival on the West Coast (fully paid) he declined.

Personally, I thought he was crazy for not going, but he said he prayed about it,
and felt that God didn't want him to go.

Sometimes faith doesn't make sense.
Sometimes faith is weird.

I would see that puzzled look again throughout the next couple of years
as it transfered from my face to others.

When people would ask about my brother and what he is up to, I would tell them about the latest script he was working on doing or the latest project he was doing pro bono for a friend. I would see this subtle look in response.

A subtle look that turns to a smile.

A look that says be practical... settle.

I think Sal never gave up, because my parents never had that look.
They always believed in him. Always supported him.

My parents have always been in his corner (mine too).

People need someone in their corner.

One night Sal called me and we were talking about what's next.

He was frustrated.

This wasn't our first conversation like this, I found my self wanting to say, be practical, think of the short term instead of the long term.

Settle was on the tip of my tongue.

But this time, the conversation was different.
I listened more and talked less.

Sal seemed to have renewed energy as he told me about a position he just applied for.

LifeChurch.tv had a position open and thought he would send his resume. He didn't know about the church and asked if I heard about it.

I laughed. As a church planter, everyone knows about LifeChurch.tv and Craig Groeschel.

I just finished reading his book "It" too.

We prayed.
He didn't get the position.

He did get a phone call.

From there he began writing some scripts for their kids ministry not really expecting anything.

They loved his stuff, and trust me its good.

Sal has always had good stuff.

And they saw it too.

I couldn't believe it when we Sal and I had another conversation and he told me that they hired him full time to be a writer and work on their creative team.

I cried.

It had nothing to do with my brother getting a position at a prominent church.
It has everything to do with knowing that there is someone out there that believes in him.

That God answers prayers.
That God gives us dreams for a reason.

If we are willing to be alittle different,
to never settle
to be like Sal.

Life Is Good

One of the traditions I am starting with my son is taking walks.

He loves being in the stroller and looking around. He likes to ask questions and watch the bunnies and dogs go by as we roll around the neighborhood. My hope is that as he gets older and out grows the stroller, the walks will continue (cross my fingers for the teen years).

I think and pray a lot as we go around the block, water bottle in hand and ear buds in place.

At times it is hard to focus on the good when my mind seems drawn
like a tracker beam to the bad.

There have been people who have put up a show in public
only to be the opposite behind closed doors.

There have been people who seem to have all the time in the world when it benefits them
but when you are no longer a commodity you no longer have their time.

There have been people who I looked up to with awe but has lately turned to shock.

It has been a mental battle not to become cynical-christian-guy or
pastor-chip-on-the-shoulder.

That has never been me.
I am an encourager not a critic.

When I was younger I would share with my Pastor how
afraid I was of going into the ministry because of being hurt by people.

I assumed the hurts would come from the congregation.
I never imagined it would come from other pastors.

So I walk and stroll and pray, feeling overwhelmed
hoping my neighbors would believe it was the wind making my tears and not my past.

And just like that, I was reminded in a whimsical, childlike way about life on the sidewalk...

Sometimes kids just say it the best.

"At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike." (matthew 11.25 NLT)

I like to pride myself at times of being a well read individual, looking for the latest hot book to dive into or thought provoking quote to highlight, but it just might be the neighborhood kid with the colorful chalk that will inspire.

My hope is that when I am older and walking around the neighborhood with my son listening to his laments about the latest girl who broke his heart or the teacher that seems to have it out for him, I can remind him that we will always have choice to make.

That there will always be bad in a broken world,
but there is hope, there is good,
if you're willing to look down into the colored chalk of your soul.