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."