Potential Risk To Hearing?

If you are an iPod owner this is worth a few minutes of your time.

In a couple weeks, I will have been married for 15 years. It is been a terrific journey. Andrea allowed me to pull the trigger on some new gear to celebrate. I bought one of these and one of these. I also bought these.

If you are wondering what these products have in common. Watch this.

Long Time...

I did something today that I haven't done in a really really long time. And no, it wasn't blog. (hater)

I went to the gym and worked out. I am on the road to recovery. The mission is simple: restore discipline!

Dreaming...Planning

Our team (staff/elders) is headed out of town for the evening and most of the day on Saturday. The agenda is to define the 2007 win(s) for Journey Church. This will help us plan and prepare for the 2007 ministry year. I'm pumped!

I'll be back late Saturday evening to set up "shop" at the alternative location of Sunday's Gathering. This weekend is the one day out of the year we cannot use LEHS. It won't be ideal, but we are going to make it work. We are going to pack the place!

Dream BIG!

I realized something about myself this week. It was sparked through one brief conversation. The conversation led to some great tension in my mind. The tension led to a couple hours of soul searching. The soul searching led to a realization. It isn't earth shattering, but I certainly needed to see it.

This week I realized I haven't been dreaming big enough. In less than one year, I had crawled into a very safe corner and several others have followed. God visited that corner on Wednesday and I am no longer there.

Be at Journey Church on Sunday to hear more. Hint: Christmas is only six weeks away!

My apologies for the lack of action here last week. I was in Columbus and Akron most of the week for some training of a new coaching role I have been asked to assume around the state for my tribe. I am very honored to have been asked. I love the Church. I am pumped to be in a role that will allow me to more directly impact change in the Church. It will be interesting to see how God uses the newly assembled team.

I raced home Friday evening to be surprised by the empty trees standing around my house. The leaves seem to have fallen faster and with greater force this year. This reality left with a huge task on Saturday. I am proud to announce that I have almost won the battle! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel...

Journey had a great day yesterday. I continue to stand in awe of what God has and is doing. It is beyond fun!

The calendar is very full this week. I am going to lay low today to prep for the coming week.

Block Party Tonight!

Final preparations are being made for the big block party tonight. Journey Church will be in full force this evening in a neighborhood near the high school where we meet on the Sundays. Our agenda is simple: love on the neighborhood! It isn't too late for you to get involved. Shoot me an email if you would like to be a part of the fun! Hoping and praying the rain holds off..

tom [@] cincyjourney [.] org

WOW...What A Weekend!

Words simply fail to describe this past weekend. It was completely thrilling from start to finish. I continue to be amazed at how God is working in and through Journey Church. What a ride!

My Saturday conference was very well received. People were connecting with the content. It was a learning moment! The wedding Saturday evening was spectacular! The Sunday morning gathering at Journey was off the charts. One of our best weekends yet! Our Welcome to Journey class was packed. The conversation was engaging. People were connecting. Mission accomplished! The day was brought to a close with a short Journey Church leadership team meeting. More on that later...

Just about every moment from this past weekend was filled with activity beginning early Friday morning. It left me in much need of a day off today. I plan to spend the day working in the yard. This might be the last time I can battle the leaves without also battling cold weather. When the day comes to a close, there will not be one leaf on the ground! It is too bad that will only last for a few hours. I will win...eventually!

Weekend Preparation

Today was weekend prep day. Besides the usual writing I do on Thursday, I finished a talk that I will be giving this weekend here. It is weird how the Journey weekend topic and my assigned session for Saturday are so closely connected. I am pumped about both teaching in both moments.

The weekend will prove to be a busy one. I'll be teaching my conference in the morning on Saturday. I'll finish just in time to catch Hannah's last soccer game. I have the wedding I mentioned above Saturday evening. Sunday will bring the usual and another Welcome To Journey Class in the evening.

If you haven't signed up for the class (5-7 p.m. at my house) and would like to we still have a few more spots. Shoot me an email and I'll add you to the list (tom [@] cincyjourney [] org).

I'm off to get my hair cut and then head to small group.

Finish strong!

Tonight I was reminded why I do what I do. This evening was the rehearsal for the wedding of a young couple that connected with Journey on launch day back in January. It has been thrilling to watch their journey the past several months. I was deeply touched to read the words they wrote in a card they gave me and to hear family members share the change they have seen in them recently. Saturday will be a very special moment and I am honored to be involved.

On a totally unrelated note, there has been a major upgrade to the Planck estate. I now have 19.5 yards of freshly poured concrete in the front of my house. We'll be using it as a driveway for the foreseeable future. With the help of a kind friend and a Bobcat we removed the poor excuse we had for a driveway on Saturday. I cannot wait to roll into my crib on the new slab! I have one more "small" purchase to make before the home improvement will be complete. Tytus and Hannah (errr me!) need one of these.

Small Groups...We're Back!

When Journey Church launched at the beginning of the year, Andrea and I made the decision that we wouldn't be involved in a small group. We wanted to give our full attention to a couple key points in our follow up and assimilation process. While we plan to continue to give the same energy in that direction, we also felt the need to be connected to something that is deeply important to both of us--a small group. When our small group fall/winter session kicked off a few weeks ago, we landed in one of our groups. We aren't leading. We aren't hosting. We are simply participating. It feels right. It feels good. We glad to be back.

"The Treasure Principle" (Part 2)

A few lessons I learned and/or was reminded of while reading:

1) The more I give the more free I become.
2) My giving is a reflexive response to the grace of God in my life.
3) The act of giving is a vivid reminder that it's all about God, not about me.
4) God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.
5) Just because God puts His money in my hand doesn't mean He intends for it to stay there!
6) I have a greater capacity to give, but choose not to.
7) In fifteen years of ministry, I have not taught the Biblical principles of money/giving well or often enough.

"The Treasure Principle"

I read a great book yesterday. If you read this blog and I have any influence in your life please read this book. It will take you about an hour and you will not regret it.

The person who gave me my copy purchased several hundred and is giving them to local churches. By weeks end, I will 150+ copies for Journey Church. I want every family in our community to have an opportunity to read this book!

Discipline

I was reading blogs late this evening when I came across the following quote from one of my favorite bloggers: Greatness is achieved when disciplined people engage in disciplined thought and take disciplined action. That is quite a statement coming from a man who has invested a great deal of time studying the subject.

The blog post went on to ask three engaging questions:

1. Over the last 90 days, what were your top 5 accomplishments? (big picture stuff, not, "I preached a sermon")
2. What were your top 3 priorities last week?
3. What are your top 3 priorities for this week and are you on track to reach them?

Life and ministry move at such a frantic pace most weeks, it is so easy to get lost in undisciplined movement. One of my big weaknesses right now is discipline. I have been sensing that reality with greater force recently. If Jim is right then I must not only identify the weakness, but also make the necessary changes to restore discipline. I have already added a few digital post-it notes to my computer to move in a new direction. I am making applications as I type!

What good can $100 do?

This is awesome!

Tuesday Update

I spent a majority of my day today touring AIG's facility. Luke and I were invited to a special pastor's luncheon. It was hard to pass on the FREE lunch. I was really impressed with AIG's whole deal. It far exceeded my expectations.

The evening was invested in helping Luke prepare his new estate to Jen's standards. I am pumped for them. They are hoping to move in this weekend. I am pretty sure I am too busy to help them.

The rest of my week is packed. If you need me I will have my head down and I will be running up the score. For those of you wondering what that means, I'll be working extremely hard the next few days. However, I will not be too busy to blog.

More tomorrow...

Fall Has Arrived

Today I am "resting."  Resting this time of year at my house means fighting the battle of the leaves.  I usually lose until late November.  I love fall.  I hate the mess it creates. If you need me today I'll be "resting" behind my mower.

I'm Back!

I know I have said it before.  I know I have promised to add content to this page with regularity at other times in the past. Regrettably, I didn't deliver. As the week ends, I have been sensing the need and desire to become a more regular and determined blogger.  I am publicly making that commitment again.

I'll look forward to sharing...

Home Sweet Home

I arrived home this evening just in time to make my yearly fantasy football draft. It was a close call, but I was there before the first pick was made. I'll update more fully later on my week in Nashville. I am off to bed now.

I missed my wife and kids the past few days. I am glad to be back! There really is no place like home...

Nashville Update

Today was a long day of table discussions. The 150 delegates were placed in 14 discussion groups to brainstorm practical ideas spinning from the vision our national director cast Wednesday evening in the keynote address. Although the 12 hour day of brainstorming was exhausting, it was very productive. I am hopeful for the Church of God (Anderson, IN). I really do believe a fresh wind is blowing in our movement of churches.

We will finish with three more hours of brainstorming tomorrow morning and then I'll be traveling back to West Chester. It has been time well spent.

Location: Nashville, TN

I am in Nashville, Tennessee for the Church of God (Anderson, IN) strategic planning and visioning conference. This event is designed to clarify the national vision for our movement of churches. I am one of 150 delegates who have been invited to spend a few days dreaming for and clarifying the future. I am honored to be in this historical moment.

Journey Church is in full preparation mode for the fall ministry season. It has been a tremendous summer and I am pumped for the fall. The Journey team is fully prepared to re-plant our foot back on the gas. I cannot wait to see what God has in store!

Back On The Horse

After taking most of the summer off from blogging, I am ready to get back at it. I wasn't too consistent up to that point and have decided to get back in the daily groove. Stay tuned for more content here in the days ahead!

Hilton Head, SC

We're on a much needed vacation. I'll be back in action after the July 4th holiday.

Until then, I'll be resting...

Quick Update

YAC was great! I am still wishing the rain had stayed away Saturday.

Sr. High campers have been registered (one of my primary SWOA camp responsibilities) and are having an awesome week! We plan to be out there Thursday evening to help bring the week to a close and make some preparations for Jr. High Camp on June 26th.

I am pumped about finishing the iBod series Sunday. I cannot wait to talk about the topic "We Are Family." We are yet to open this topic to our community.

I am ready for vacation. Hilton Head here we come (leaving June 25th immediately following Journey's gathering)! I see some white ball chasing in my near future. I think I'll get a head start this weekend.

The summer is upon us and I need take a breath...

Really?

It is June 8th and my beloved Cincinnati Reds are ALONE in first place!

Someone pinch me. I must be dreaming...

Camp Mode

Today was the half way point of a very busy week. I am now in full camp mode. This weekend we will be kicking off the 2006 camping season at Camp Lebanon. Our district camping program serves the 55 Church of God (Anderson, IN) congregations in southwest Ohio (Journey Church is one of those fifty-five churches). We hope to have 400+ students at our five camps this summer.

For more than a decade, I have spent much of June and part of July in (or running back and forth to) Lebanon, Ohio. I am really looking forward to getting another camping season going Friday evening with our young adult camp (for 18 to 20-somethings). I am pumped about spending the weekend with some of Southwest Ohio's best and brightest young adults!

This will be my final go around as the district coordinator for SWOA Camps. The time has come for me to pass the baton. I will remain connected to the district camping program for sure and I will continue to champion the cause in our community, but I will be officially retiring from my leadership role in late August.

It has been a great run. I have been privileged to work with a great team. The future of SWOA Camps is very bright.

Memorial Day Parade

We spent the morning passing out bottles of water (770) and popsicles (500) at the West Chester Memorial Day parade. We could not have asked for better weather. We didn't have to ask anyone twice. With what we were charging (NOTHING!) and the early morning heat, we couldn't pass the goods along fast enough. No one was refusing our practical expression of God's love.

It was awesome to watch 60+ Journey team members serving big by sharing God's love. I was so proud of the passion and enthusiasm I saw in our team.

My favorite comment of the day was a young lady who said the following as she took a bottle of water, "I see you all everywhere!" She made my day with those words.

I plan to make sure that continues to be the case for Journey Church. I never want our community to be hidden. We will continue to challenge the "holy huddle" mentality that shapes so many churches today.

Stories

During the past year, I have become increasingly aware of the stories God is authoring around me. When I zoom out for just a moment to view what God is up to, I am amazed at the work of His masterful pen. I am going to begin to capture some of those stories in my personal offline journal (sure wish I had taken a more disciplined approach there). I am not totally sure how or if God might use them, but I do not want them to be lost.

As I prepare to close the lid on my Apple 12 inch old school Powerbook, I am overwhelmed by the story God is authoring in me. When I think about the "small" decisions that I have made over the past two years, a different choice at several junctures could have changed the whole path of my story. The decisions we make, small or big, shape our story. God, I pray you will continue to give me/us the wisdom to choose well.

Practicing Greatness

Recently, I have had this nagging sense that I need to quickly restore some discipline in a few areas of my life. With the frantic pace of life in the past year, I have allowed a few areas to simply lose the traction required to sustain a long-term run. All I needed was a push in the right direction.

That push came in the form of an email almost two weeks ago to the day. I received a leadership email that lands in my inbox a couple times a month. This particular email was advertising a new book. I do not typically respond to product purchasing opportunities in emails. However, that personal tendency gave away to a quick book purchase several days ago. I followed a few links about the book and quickly decided to pull the trigger. I am glad I did.

Practicing Greatness unpacks seven disciplines of extraordinary spiritual leaders. I am only a few pages in, but I am really digging the direction the author is taking me.

I was stunned by the opening line. The author began with an Elton Trueblood statement he heard while attending seminary, "Deliberate mediocrity is a sin." WOW. In some areas of my life, I am "guilty." I will change that.

Weekend Preparation

I spent the day like I do most Thursdays, preparing to teach at Journey on Sunday. I really enjoy the study and writing process I go through each week to prepare. I would be lying if I didn’t admit that some talks come together easier than others. This week it came together "easy."

I am really excited about the new weekend teaching series that kicks off at Journey on Sunday (series card: front/back). We’ll be talking about the new identity that comes when we make the decision to follow Christ.

The music that plays in our head and heart matters because it not only shape us, but also the life we live. I hope this new series will challenge our community’s thinking on the source of our identity and how that impacts of lives we build.

Celebration Sunday (Review)

As I mentioned last Thursday, Sunday was a day we had marked to celebrate what God has been up to the past several months. There are simply no words to describe what happen at Journey Church on Sunday. If you weren't there you missed it! The moment cannot be fully recaptured by a blog post or video. They wouldn't even begin to do it justice. The moment was truly electric!

Our kids from KidMo shared a couple of their songs. It was fun to hear Stephanie talk about the work God has been doing through this ministry area. The kids were awesome and it added to the energy of the moment.

I took a few moments to share the story behind the church. The story was interrupted with several unprovoked cheers from the congregation. It was fun to experience the energy, enthusiasm, and ownership in our new community. If you missed the moment you can listen to that piece of Celebration Sunday here.

We baptized 13 people Sunday. It was truly a powerful moment for our community. It was the perfect memorial for our Spring ministry season. After the gathering, I had several in the lobby say they would have gone forward to be baptized if I had extended the offer. What was I thinking? I suppose I was too caught up in the moment. Upside is, we already have a list of candidates for round two!

I am not totally sure how the rest of the Journey story will be written, but I do know that God is positioning Journey Church to make a huge difference in West Chester and beyond. I am glad to be on the team!

It is even more apparent now...God isn't finished with us yet!

Nike + Apple

Two of my favorites are teaming up!

I am not surprised that Apple has once again created another cutting edge product that puts them ahead of their competitors. Steve and his team are brillant!

This might just get me back in the fitness groove. It is painfully obvious I need to do something.

{Comments about Celebration Sunday will be posted soon!}

Celebration Sunday

This weekend Journey Church will bring its spring ministry season to a close with what we are calling Celebration Sunday. It will be a moment for our community to celebrate what God has been up to the past several months.

As we head into the weekend, I keep thinking of the moment the people of Israel crossed the Jordan River into the Promise Land. When they did, God asked them to build a memorial as a reminder of the work of His hand and a promise fulfilled. They carried large boulders out of the river to build a reminder of the occasion.

This Sunday we'll be doing the same. We won't be building a memorial with large stones, but the occasion will be marked by 13 people being baptized! It is going to be a powerful moment! When I look back over my shoulder, I am overwhelmed by what God has done! I have been celebrating for weeks. Sunday will be a continuation. How great is our God!

More Sleep?

This article is worth reading.

Our time in Louisville went very well. I am very hopeful about what can happen in and through them. It will be fun to watch God continue to author their story.

On a less important note, this was tragic!

Sharing The Journey Church Story

Andrea and I will be making a day trip to Louisville, Kentucky tomorrow. We have been invited to share the Journey Church story with a launch team that is preparing to start a new church in Louisville. We are excited about sharing what God is up to in West Chester.

Here is the big idea for our talk: God not only wants to do a work through you, He wants to do a work in you. I made this statement at the first launch team gathering we held as we prepared to launch Journey Church. At the time, I didn't realize how prophetic those words were. As I look back on the short Journey Church launch story, God did a big work in our launch team. The fruit of this work was and is Journey Church. I am praying for the same kind of stirring in Louisville.

We would appreciate your prayers.

Yes, I Received The Message

On Wednesday afternoons each week, I have a conference call with several other church planting pastors from around the country. The call is meant to serve as a place of both encouragement and learning. Each call includes some time when the different church planting pastors share some stories of what is happening in their new church starts. I love to hear what God is doing in new churches around the country. I also enjoy the learning time. This time always includes some thoughts meant to challenge us to think about the different aspects of planting a new church.

Today the topic was prayer. As I held the phone to my ear, I was convicted as the conversation leader talked about the value and importance of prayer. The material being shared certainly wasn't anything I hadn't heard before. It didn't need to be. The familiar reminder served its purpose.

In the past several weeks, my prayer life has been more like a conversation in an iChat window than a personal conversation with Andrea or a friend. I know which way is more productive and which way provides fuel for my soul. I have some changes to make. I am making them as I type.

Happy Birthday To Me!

I bought myself a birthday present this evening. It was the new album by Marty Casey. Marty was the guy that didn't win. I was disappointed by the choice INXS made, but I knew Marty would end up with a record deal out of it. I am enjoying those tunes as I type.

My favoritie track is Trees. I don't know what it is about that tune, but I dig its vibe. I refuse to admit how many times I have listened to this one track since I pulled the album into iTunes. Don't even ask!

I still think Marty was the right choice.

Sorry!

I apologize that I haven't kept pace with this blog. I could offer a list of excuses, but that would not be good enough. If I am going to have a blog then I need a more disciplined approach to add content to its pages. I offer my sincere apology and make the commitment to do a more faithful job. Cool?

With the Easter season behind, May promises to be a busy month on both the home and ministry front. I didn't realize how crazy the evenings would be with two kids involved in sports (Tytus in baseball/Hannah in soccer). There are days when even two parents do not seem to be enough. Juggling schedules has been a circus act the past few weeks. However, I am loving watching the kids enjoy their chosen sports and teams.

May will be a fun month around Journey Church. We are planning a baby dedication on Mother's Day (May 14th) and a baptism on what we are calling Celebration Sunday (May 21st). Celebration Sunday is a day at Journey Church where we'll be celebrating the birth of a new church in West Chester. God has authored some amazing stories in the past 15 weeks and we felt a day to celebrate was in order! It is going to be a blast to throw a party over what God has been up to!

A moment of honest confession: I am still amazed at the way God is moving at Journey Church. A few months ago, I stood before a faithful group of 40 adults (our launch team) and painted a picture of what I sensed God might be up to as Journey launched on Sunday January 15th. It has been a blast to watch God author a story beyond the one I painted.

In eleven plus years of church planting, there were so many times when I wanted to pack the car and drive away. I am so glad I didn't. I simply never felt that release. Now I see why. God wasn't finished with us yet!

Easter At Journey Church

Easter at Journey Church was a huge win for the kingdom and our community. I know I have written this way too many times on this blog, but I continue to be amazed with the story God is authoring in our community. I am completely overwhelmed (in a good way) every weekend when the lobby fills with people. I love to watch the buzz develop on Sunday mornings at Journey Church.

We finalized the summer schedule today. I am pumped about what is on the horizon. I am especially looking forward to May 21st. We have marked that as the day where we plan to fully celebrate what God has done in the launch of Journey Church. We'll be extending the opportunity for baptism on that day. If you are interested in being baptized please send me an email (tom[@]cicnyjourney[.]org).

This Sunday we'll be finishing our Easter season series by looking at "Focusing the Possibility of our Legacy." I cannot wait to unpack this topic and pull the entire series together.

You're Invited!

If you are in the Cincinnati metro area and reading this blog I want to personally invite you to Journey Church this Sunday.

No church experience is required. You do not have to dress up. The coffee will be hot and waiting for you in the lobby of Lakota East High School. The Journey House Band will share a few songs, we'll show a powerful piece of media, and I'll be sharing a message entitled "Awakening Our Passion For Life." It is going to be a great moment.

I hope to see you there!

Gearing Up!

I am so pumped about the Easter celebration at Journey. I fully expect Lakota East High School to be buzzing with energy on Sunday. I just dropped 80 personal invitations in the mail to some people/households I sure hope take me up on the invite!

Week thirteen (Sunday April 9th) surprised me a bit. I was expecting to see us take a hit in our weekend attendance because of the way spring break fell in West Chester. Instead, we enjoyed our third highest attended Sunday since launch day. We had two more people make commitments! We have seen at least 31 commitments in the first 13 weeks! We have experienced some big wins in the past few weeks. We have seen many first time guests return for second and third visits. I think most of them are going to make a church connection with Journey! It is beyond fun to watch new people connect each week.

Our co-ed softball team took it on the chin Sunday evening. However, I hear much fun was had by all! Our men's team kicks off the season Friday night (8:10 p.m. at Queen City). It is so exciting to see these new sticking places forming in our community. I love how softball teams can cement relationships and help people feel connected.

I am pumped about the warmer weather and getting outside. I am taking a day off on Friday so I scheduled my first tee time for Friday afternoon. I am looking forward to chasing the little white ball around one of Southwest Ohio's finest courses. I am sure I'll be a little less pumped around 4:30 p.m. on Friday since I haven't hit a golf ball yet.

Journey Church Resources

If you are interested in some tools we have and are using at Journey Church I have created a place to share them. Feel free to bookmark the site and check back from time to time. I'll be adding more content in the weeks and months ahead.

Apple Turns 30!

I would like to extend birthday wishes to Steve and the team at Apple Computers. In my humble opinion, you all continue to produce the best gear on the planet.

I hope you keep your heads down as you continue to run up the score! By my calculations, it is no longer a contest and I enjoy watching you embarrass "the competition."

Spring Is Picking Up Pace

Hannah began soccer last week. Tytus officially kicked off his little league season tonight. Adding those activities to an already busy calendar is going to be a real challenge. I am, however, glad the weather is changing. I am looking forward to getting outside under blue skies and warmer weather.

Tomorrow will be a writing day for me. I plan to hide in an undisclosed location to pray, study, and write. I enjoy Thursdays. I'll flip the lid on my Apple Powerbook, open my Bible, and ask God for something significant to say about "Uncovering A Purpose At Work."

This week I have had several unique opportunities to tell the Journey Church story. Each time I have shared it, I was more and more amazed by the story God is authoring. We are living a dream, our dream, God's dream. I hope I never wake up. My prayer has been a simple one, "God, please help me/us to not mess this up."

The inbox has been popping all week with great stories about March Madness and notes of how people are feeling about Journey Church. Each story and email leaves me more hopeful about the road ahead. God is definitely up to something very special and I am glad to be in the mix of what He is doing.

Sorry...

I really do know better than to make a promise that I might not be able to keep. Funny thing is, this past Sunday at Journey I preached about keeping promises. I sincerely apologize that I haven't keep pace on this blog the past few weeks. Life has simply been moving at a pace that simply hasn't allowed for the needed space to post here.

Know this, Journey is coming off its best weekend since our launch day on January 15th. We had 280 in worship on Sunday. The place was buzzing with energy. It was the smoothest weekend we have had in a couple weeks. The band was HOT! The Spirit was present. I have NO doubt lives were impacted! It is beyond fun to be walking this path.

I was amazed at how well the gym worked for us this weekend. We met in the gym because of the spring production of Guys and Dolls at Lakota East High School. We made some good decisions headed into the weekend that made a real difference. It required a great deal more work on the set up end, but the payoff was worth it.

On Tuesday last week, I had one of the most incredible experiences of my occupational ministry life. I had the great pleasure of leading a single dad to the Lord at a local coffee shop in West Chester. It was amazing to watch his eyes open to the truth of God's grace. As we were closing our conversation I said, "Welcome to God's family." He quickly responded with, "Thanks for inviting me!" It was awesome!

The week of March Madness went great! We touched 1200+ households with God's love as we gave away various items all week long. We did have to end up canceling the quarter giveaway at the car wash because of the weather. We are rescheduling that event for later in April. We'll be touching an additional 400 households later next month. We were planting seeds and trusting that God will water them. I think the biggest benefit is what God did in those that served. Something big happens when people turn outward.

Update...Sort of

As I finish my day, I apologize that I do not have time to add a full update. I am also sorry I haven't posted at all this week. It is been a crazy few days. I'll get to it late Sunday evening or first thing Monday. I promise.

Madness Prep

Preperation for March Madness is in full force at my house this afternoon! We are prepping to touch 1,500+ households next week. I can't think of any better way to spend a Friday afternoon.

Easter Ministry Season

Tomorrow marks an important day in the life of Journey Church. I suppose it is officially the day our Easter ministry season begins. In the next ten weeks (between March 26 and Mother's Day), we will welcome a second wave of new people into our community. Our Easter mailers goes to the post office in the morning. They will hit West Chester and the surrounding areas beginning Monday. I am pumped to see how God uses our third mailer. March Madness will kick off Sunday. We'll spend the following six days serving West Chester.

The first nine weeks have been fun and I am confident the next ten will be as well!

All Questions Sunday

The inbox really starting popping today with some great questions for Sunday. Brian and I have our work cut out for us. It will be fun to answer some real questions that people are wrestling with. Thanks to everyone who hit the inbox. It is becoming clear that a second (and maybe a third) "All Questions Sunday" is on the horizon.

MacJournal--Two Thumbs Up!

I have spent the past two weeks with a program I really dig. I have enjoyed it so much I pulled the trigger to purchase a license today.

When I pulled down the free trial version two weeks ago, I made the commitment to journal 15 minutes each day. I have pretty much kept that commitment. I haven't journaled so much in months. It feels good to be back in that groove. I suspect it will help me bring more content to this blog as well. It has a built in feature that allows me to publish entries straight to my blog!

If you are a journaling fan and a Mac user I highly recommend MacJournal.

Getting By

It has been a tough few days. They have been a complete blur. I am still in shock. I am sad. I am grieving the loss of a dear friend. I have questions. I have questions that will never get answered. I am trying to walk by faith. It hasn't been easy.

Canipe Memorial Fund

A memorial fund has been set up for Chad's children. I encourage you to be generous.

Life has a way of forcing us to deal with situations that we prefer to never face. I am traveling one of those roads today.

I lost a dear friend this morning. Chad went home to be with his Father. Our loss is now Chad's gain.

Please pray for Renee, his two sons, and all those connected to him. He will be deeply missed for one reason--the way he lived his life. He changed the world. He changed my world.

Easter Mailer (Update)

After a great deal of refining, our Easter season mailing is finished. It was a collaborative effort by a great team of people (you know who you are...thanks!). I dig the final product. If you would like to see the whole piece that goes to press in Phoenix Monday shoot me an email and I will hit your inbox (tom[@]cincyjourney[.]org).

We'll have 41,500 of those bad boys in our possession no later than Monday March 13th. They will be addressed and mailed on Friday March 17th. They should begin to hit West Chester (and some of the surrounding area) beginning Monday March 20th. The new weekend series kicks off Sunday March 26th!

I am totally pumped about the 12-week run that begins this Sunday. We have been preparing for our second run for the past few weeks (March 5th to Mother's Day). Momentum and energy are high at Journey Church as we prepare to welcome a new wave of people into our community. I am already jazzed about the lives that will be changed in the days ahead.

There is a great deal of work that needs to be completed so we are fully prepared for this 12 week run. We'll work like it totally depends on us and pray that it totally depends on God. Please pray for God's continued favor.

All Questions Sunday

When we finish the Live Big! series on March 12th, we'll have a one Sunday window before our Easter series begins. We are going to try something we are going to call "All Questions Sunday." We are going to give people a chance to ask any question they want about life, the Bible, Christianty etc. I am going to share the moment with a volunteer from Journey who is a very gifted communicator (Brian Schermerhorn) and has been team teaching with me. We are really excited about the format. If it goes well we'll likely redo a couple times a year.

If you are going to be around Journey Church for "All Questions Sunday" (March 19th) and have a question you would like to see us address then simply email it to me (tom[@]cincyjourney[.]org) before 5 p.m. on Tuesday March 16th.

Let The Madness Begin!

We recently added a new page to the Journey site. It offers a few more details about the madness that will be unfolding in March. Check it out here.

This Sunday I'll be sharing the third talk in our "Live Big!" series. The talk will be about serving big! The series will conclude next Sunday with a message about loving big! These two sermons will set the perfect context to challenge our community to share God's love with West Chester beginning March 19th. I cannot wait to challenge our new core to launch out into the community and share God's love in practical ways!

Let the madness begin...

Easter Mailer

I spent a big part of the day tweaking our Easter mailing. The inbox was popping all afternoon with updated files with last minute tweaks. We hope to send it to the printer in the morning. I am really excited about the mailer design and the new sermon series it will promote. I will share the mailer when it is all finalized.

Journey Podcast

We are podcasting our Sunday sermons. For more information about podcasting and how to get Journey's weekly podcast go here. If you are not an iTunes user then you can simply grab them here.

Speaking of Journey's website. We have added a bunch of new content recently. Check it out!

Insert Key...Pedal To The Floor

The past two months have brought a myriad of emotions. I have been scared. I have been anxious. I have been thrilled. Planting a church has a way of bringing out the best and worst of the human emotions.

As we finish our seventh week, we are finding a groove--set up is getting "easier", I am becoming less and less nervous about it all unfolding, and people are making significant connections. We had 220 in worship on Sunday. We have close to 270+ people in the mix. Most importantly, we have seen 24 people make commitments in 7 weeks! We continue to see new faces. People are connecting to Journey Church. Momentum is still extremely high! God really is authoring an amazing story.

As the calendar changes to March, we are planning to find an even higher gear. March Madness (I'll share more about that later) will force us further outward. Our third mailing will go out on March 17th & 18th. As we head into spring, we are preparing to welcome a whole new wave of people into our community. When I think about what God did through a launch team of 60, I can't sleep thinking about what he might do through 270+!

I was thinking this afternoon of a word that Steve Sjo. spoke into my life a few days before our launch back in January. He said, "Tom, I believe what Journey is about to experience is going to be like taking a drive in a V8 automobile on an open road--insert key and put the pedal to the floor." When Steve shared that with me, I hoped it was true. I really hoped we could travel at a speed that would allow us to have a big impact on Southwest Ohio. The word that God gave Steve seems to be the story we are living.

I am simply trying to enjoy the ride...

It Is Coming...

Find out more Sunday morning at Journey Church.

Boston Legal

I failed to mention by personal relationship with the writers/producers of Boston Legal. I asked them to work in a Journey Church promo during our Live Big series. They did so last night. I am sorry I failed to mention that on my blog so you all could watch.

It happen during the final scene when Alan turned to Denny and said, "In the meantime, live big my friend. Live big!" Many thanks goes out to my friends at ABC. You all are great. The timing couldn't have been better!

(The only part of this post that is true is what Alan said to Denny. It was priceless!)

Writing

I am hiding out this morning at the West Chester Public Library. It has recently become one of my favorite places to sermon prep. I have a corner where I prefer to hide. It is quiet and comfortable.

I have my favorite Bible, Powerbook, and moleskine. Each one a necessary tool for my work today.

Share Your Story

I sent out the following email today. If you are not on Journey's list and read this blog please feel free to respond to me in an email (tom[at]cincyjourney[.]org]). Also, if you would like to be on Journey's email list then pass me your address and I'll make sure you get added.

Here's the email. I really do hope many of you will share your story.

The heartbeat of Journey Church is to inspire people to live big! We hope many of you have been inspired at Journey the past few weeks. Would you take a moment to share how Journey Church has impacted your life? Please do your best to share how you have been touched, encouraged, and/or in inspired in a couple sentences. We hope to share a few of these stories in future communications/promotions (ie. web page/mailing). We will NOT share your story in any capacity without your permission.

I will look forward to hearing from you...

Thanks!

~Tom~

Live Big!

A year ago this month, a core of Christ followers was dreaming of a church that could impact Southwest Ohio. In January and February of 2005, this core invested a great deal of time capturing God's dream for Journey Church. As we clarified the dream a phrase began to surface that would become our motto. These words succinctly communicated our passion as a community. These words certainly were not new. They were words Jesus used to define Himself and the work He longs to do in people. Jesus' words continued to echo in our minds and hearts. I can remember repeating them over and over again. They had completely captured our attention. We heard Jesus say anew, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).

The mission and vision of Journey Church is summarized by a phrase (motto) that is shaped by Jesus' words in John 10:10, "Inspiring people to live big!" We have put those words on nearly every piece of communication since the spring of 2005. We did so because those words define the calling of Journey Church. They clarify why Journey is in existence. They define how we will invest our energy, spend our resources, and the path we will continue to encourage people to take.

This weekend I will begin a new four-week teaching series that will unpack this idea. The idea is simple, but definitely loaded. I am excited about unpacking what it means to live big!

Even a casual read of the Bible will reveal that Jesus came to bring us more than a mediocre existence accompanied by a good job, nice house, and a comfortable life in the suburbs. He came to give us life, a big life! Jesus was clear that He desires us to live, think, serve, and love big!

In the next four weeks, it is my hope and prayer that those hanging around Journey will not only be inspired to live big, but will!

Chaos

I have used one word to describe my life in recent days and that word is chaos. As fun as the past five weeks have been, it really has been chaotic. The plate has been beyond full. As you can probably tell, it hasn't left much room for blogging. I am yet to find the space to log my thoughts on this page. It has been completely impossible to find the time. I suppose I need more discipline as it relates to blogging. Know this, I am trying.

I spent the evening hanging around the house. It was actually pretty quiet. I was able to finish a few clerical task that needed to be completed before Sunday. Andrea spent the evening with some girlfriends. Tytus spent the night with a buddy. Hannah had a friend over to spend the night. They played very well together. They were asleep by 10 p.m. This left me alone for a few moments. The house was quiet long enough to post an update. I grabbed my Powerbook and put my iTunes on shuffle. It has been a nice way to end the week.

The pace of the weekend promises to be speedy. The calendar is full of events. I am looking forward to each one.

I am excited about Journey's fifth Sunday. We'll be finishing our first teaching series. We have challenged our community to extend an invitation to a friend. I hope the weather doesn't get too bad this weekend. We are prepared for a big moment as close our "Desperate Households" teaching series.

This weekend at Journey, we'll be promoting a new teaching series. I am very excited about teaching on a phrase that is very important to our community. Our motto is to inspire people to live big and we felt it was important to unpack that phrase early. The graphic above is what we'll be using to promote the new series. Once again, our graphics guru has delivered in a big way.

I continue to be amazed at the story God is authoring at Journey. I found out this week that we have been added to Tony Morgan's list of churches he is watching. I am not sure what he is looking for, but I am honored that Journey Church is on the radar screen of churches that are making a difference.

Bono Talks About Saving the World

If you haven't seen or heard this you need to.

* Thanks for the link Chad.

Newest Ministry Logo

Our graphics guru delivered again! Here's his newest gem.


Doug also designed our student ministry logo.


I love the way both spin off Journey's logo. It is good to know people with skills. Thanks D!

God's Provision!

As we closed the 2005 financial year at Journey, we did a year-end financial gift campaign. We asked people on our launch team to give a one time year-end gift above and beyond their tithe. I also did some year-end gift asks of some people in my life that were outside our launch team. God provided in a big way.

I sent a follow up letter to my outside support team on the Monday after our grand opening. I wanted this team to hear the story of what God was doing at Journey. At the close of the letter, I opened the door for my outside support team to contribute in 2006. I specifically wrote a few personal notes at the bottom of a couple letters with more of a direct ask.

One of those notes was a direct ask for a $5,000 gift for some additional equipment needs we have (i.e. a digital color copier). This person had already given a generous 2005 year-end gift of $10,000 in December. I hesitated to add the additional note and direct ask. It was the Spirit's leading that gave me the boldness.

This afternoon I swung in the post office to grab the mail from our box. I was excited to see a familiar envelope. It was a personal letter from one of the most generous men in Cincinnati. The letter was accompanied by a $5,000 check!

I continue to be amazed at the way God has and is providing!

The Journey Church Story

A pastor friend of mine in Kansas City thought our story was worth repeating. He asked me if I would do an interview to be placed on his blog. You can read the interview here.

Weekend Three Report

We had another tremendous weekend...

Big Student Ministries started with a bang Saturday with their first house party! It was so exciting to hear the stories from the gathering. Luke is building the student ministry from the ground up. He has an amazing group of students as the foundation. He also has a great team of adult leaders. They are going to make a difference quickly!

Sunday morning was another powerful moment for Journey Church. I continue to be amazed at how smooth the team works to make it all happen. This weekend we faced some new challenges. It started with some pretty heavy rainfall just about the time the set up crew was unpacking the trailer. The wind did a number on our road signs. Speaking of the road signs, we failed to cover one small detail and the township picked them up about 9 a.m. because we didn't have a permit. It's a long story and I'll spare the details. We'll have the necessary paperwork processed before this Sunday. The weather broke loose about 10:05 a.m. with very heavy rain and hail. Yes, you read that correctly, hail. It was beyond weird for a late January day in Ohio. Being a portable church will continue to presents us with weekly challenges. I am confident we'll overcome each one. It already feels like we are finding a groove and that feels good.

I was pumped to hear that three more people made commitments on Sunday (20 in three weeks). We are in the church planting "game" to help people find Christ. It is clear that is happening and that makes all the hard work even more worth it!

The weekend was brought to a close with an open house at my place. It was fun to open our home to provide some relational space. There were moments when it was difficult to even move in a couple rooms. The volume so high at one point, I was having trouble hearing the person I was speaking to. It was awesome to hear the stories of how people found their way to Journey Church. It is clear people are enjoying what is happening and have made a church connection. I look forward to helping each of them advance in their spiritual journey and empowering them to make a difference in West Chester and beyond.

It is becoming more and more evident that launching with the Desperate Households series was a great choice. It has been so encouraging to hear the stories of how our weekend gatherings are impacting people.

Monday is officially my day off and I laid low most of the day. I am gearing up for a busy week. I hope to write more as the week progresses.

Amazed!

I have spent a great deal of time this week reflecting on the happenings of the past two weeks. If I had been given the opportunity to write the story of how our first two weeks would unfold, I would not have changed a thing. It truly has been an amazing ride. It has simply been impossible to step outside the excitement that is present. We truly have found ourselves in sync with something God was already doing. I am still amazed!

This weekend is packed full of gatherings. Our student ministry will kick off Saturday night with its first house party. Weekend gathering number three is only a two days away. Sunday evening my family will be hosting an open house to provide some space for relational connections.

It should be fun...

Sophomore Sunday!

The buzz continued in the lobby of Lakota East High School as people gathered for our second weekend gathering. We had 280 people experience our sophomore Sunday and another 2 people made commitments to Christ (total of 17 in two weekends!). We continue to be amazed with the story that God is authoring in this new community.

I want to share a word of thanks to the long list of volunteers who have worked beyond hard the past several months to ensure that God had every opportunity to work as Journey Church launched. Our staff, leaders, band, and launch team have been unbelievable. It has been completely thrilling to watch our entire team embrace the mission and vision of Journey Church. Our team is a living testimony of what God can do when followers choose to be outward focused. You guys are the best!

I really do hope to post often on this blog. The inbox has been popping like crazy. My phone is ringing often and the schedule is full. I am loving it! Eventually, I will find a groove and work blogging into my daily routine. I thank you for reading and hope you will continue to do so. Feel free to take a moment and drop me a comment. I would love to have a feel for who is reading.

We have begun one of the most exciting adventures anyone can take. The Church really is the hope of the world and I am honored to be a part of what God is doing.

Launch Day Images

The week is nearly over and I have only posted once. Please accept my sincere apology. I will get into the blogging groove eventually. Please be patient.

I do have a few images I would like to share from Journey's grand opening. The first picture captures the buzz that was present in the lobby as people were gathering. The second image captures the powerful moment at the close of our first weekend service. We lifted this prayer together as we closed, "You're all I want...You're all I every needed...You're all I want...Help me know You are near." It really was a special day.

The weekend is almost upon us. I have a talk to finish writing, a few appointments, and several phone calls to make. Our second Sunday is almost here. I am excited about continuing the journey. I am pumped about God continuing to raise up a church community in West Chester, Ohio that will inspire people to live big!

Journey Launch Day (Part 2)

The launch of Journey Church took place on Sunday January 15th. It was truly a special moment. Lakota East High School was buzzing with energy. We had 347 people experience our first Sunday morning gathering. The moment was truly electric! God moved in a big way and 15 people made commitments to Christ!

I wish there was some way that I could capture all the stories that have been told in the past twenty-four hours. I really would love to share them. There is simply no way to do that. Know this, some amazing stories have and are being written. God is at work.

One thing continues to be very apparent in this journey, God is positioning Journey Church to make a difference in West Chester and beyond. My hope and prayer is that we can faithfully steward that responsibility and calling. It is going to be a fun ride and I am going to enjoy every moment. It is truly an honor to lead at a place like Journey.

There is no question there will be challenges along the way. I suppose it wouldn't be any fun without them. We'll continue to be flexible. We'll also continue to listen for the Spirit's voice. As we are, God will continue to move. He promises that and He will be faithful. I have my seat belt fastened and my helmet is secure. I am ready for the ride.

I really am looking forward to capturing that story here. I hope you enjoy reading.

Journey Launch Day!

God continued to author an amazing story yesterday as Journey Church officially launched. I have some amazing stories to tell and will get to that later this week. Today we are working hard to follow up with sixty plus families that filled out connect cards. I will write more, I promise.

Control...Alt...Delete

If you are finding this blog for the first time you won't notice anything different. If you are a seasoned reader of tomplanck.com then you might be wondering what happen to the old stuff. Well, I deleted it. There were simply too many cobwebs to overcome. I decided that if I was going to make a new go of this blog gig then I needed a fresh start.

A fresh start of my blog seems very appropriate because that has been the theme of my life the past year and a half. This Sunday (January 15th) Journey Church will be officially born. There is an "all in" team of Christ followers in West Chester who are passionate about "inspiring people to live big!" It is this passion that is driving us to open the doors of West Chester's newest church. Prepping for launch day has been an amazing ride. We have prayed, dreamed, and worked very hard. We are ready. There is great anticipation of what the coming days and months will hold.

This week I have spent a lot of time reflecting on the road I have traveled in the past eighteen months. The part that amazes me the most is where this road has taken us. I firmly believe we have gotten in sync with something that God was doing. The first time I am asked about how Journey Church did what it is about to do I already know my answer. It will be a very sincere, "I have no idea." There is no doubt I could share some wisdom, but I honestly believe what is happening is way beyond good leadership, a solid marketing plan, and strategic outreach. It is a God thing and that cannot be manufactured. One can only hope to be in sync with what God is already doing. I am simply trying to stay out of the way and let God work. Isn't that what good leaders do?

After much consideration, I think I will make a go of this blog deal again. I only have one regret about the past several months. I wished I had more faithfully chronicled our story.