Glad To Be Home

I did make it back from California. I arrived early Friday evening just in time to play in the Journey men's softball game and a flurry of weekend activity. BTW, the Journey men did finally put one in the "W" column!

The conference was a solid experience. I'll try to post a couple of my big takeaways later this evening. We were also able to grab a few hours to see the sites on Thursday afternoon--AT & T Park for a Giants game, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Lombard Street. It was awesome. I was, however, glad to finally arrive back in West Chester. I missed Andrea and the kids big time! There truly is no place like home.

I think the most interesting conversations that took place were two that challenged me to write a book. They said the Journey Church story is begging to be told. They both went on to say that there are many pastors/church planters out there that would really benefit from reading our story and hearing about some lessons we have learned along the way. The same thread of conversation surfaced today over lunch with another pastor/church planter friend of mine.

I wondered aloud if my blog might be the kind of place to push some of that content public. I am wondering also if any pastors/church planters reading this blog might be interested in a few post along those lines. Blogging some of that content would serve a two-fold purpose. First, it would force me to a disciplined approach to writing (blogging). Second, I could test the content to see if anyone finds it helpful. If you are a faithful reader of this blog and would like to see some of that content come to life here leave me a comment.

Conference Update (Part 1)

I arrived at the conference today not really knowing what to expect. I had nothing to match the experience up against so I rolled in with mixed emotions and low expectations. It became apparent rather quickly that this was going to be a very good experience.

I was a bit surprised to find out I will have to preach a 10 minute sermon that will be video taped and evaluated by a panel of distinguished communicators. Yikes!

I am really glad I decided to make the trip. I am now fully engaged in allowing God to use the next few days to shape me and help me develop as a preacher.

I need some sleep. More tomorrow.

Preaching Conference

In a few hours, I'll be boarding an airplane headed for the San Francisco area. I am going out there for a couple days to attend a conference on preaching. I have attended many conferences over the years, but never one on preaching specifically. One of Journey's sponsoring organizations strongly encouraged all lead pastors to attend and are paying for most of the trip. It was a no brainer. It should be a great learning opportunity.

The conference ends Thursday afternoon and my flight doesn't leave until early Friday morning so that will provide some time to cruise the town. I have a list of places I want to see since it will be my first trip to the bay area.

I am also looking forward to connecting and hanging with some of my church planting buddies. I am expecting a great week! I hope to find some time to blog about my adventure.

Fitness Update

It's been a while since I provided an update on my recent fitness journey. It all began when I opened my mouth in a small group that was discussing one of my talks from late November. I said something like, "Well, I need to be more committed to how I am taking care of myself physically." Since those words left my mouth, I have made an intentional effort to get back into shape. I am finally approaching that place I would describe as "back in shape." It feels good.

I am really enjoying my lifting sessions again. After almost 250 miles logged since early December, running is longer painful. It is actually a place where I can think, dream, learn, and pray.

There are times when I open my mouth and wish I hadn't. This time I am glad those words left my lips. They created the accountability I needed.

Both Journey softball teams took it on the chin last night. We had fun anyway!

I am pumped about Journey's gathering tomorrow. I love talking about relationships and marriage. I fully expect it will be a life changing moment for all involved. If you miss a Sunday you miss a lot.

I hope to see you in the morning...

Opening Day

The co-ed (6:10 p.m.) and men's (8:10 p.m.) softball teams from Journey Church kick off the season tonight. If you are in the Cincinnati area and want to see some mad softball skillz displayed then come join the party. Here's a link to the fields.

I Love Baseball!

It's been a while since I confessed that publicly. It's feels good to get that out into the open.

Speaking of baseball, I smiled as I read this report from the farm. My beloved Cincinnati Reds are getting ready to go on a run. I see the whole organization gaining traction. I hope they are playing games that matter when September comes.

By the way, is there a better story in sports right now compared to Josh Hamilton's? I think not!

GO REDS!

Journey Church Easter 2007

This past weekend was the second Easter celebration in the brief history of Journey Church. It was truly an amazing day as 391 rolled into LEHS for our morning gathering. Each of our ministry areas were clicking on all cylinders and it was truly fun to watch. In the adult environment, we may have experienced one of our best services in 15 months. Most importantly, we had 4 people make decisions for Christ!

I want to thank everyone who served on Easter Sunday. Each of you play such a valuable role and continue to do a tremendous job where you serve! God could not do what He is doing at Journey Church without you and all your hard work. You guys rock!

This Easter season will be forever marked by a conversation that took place yesterday afternoon. A good friend of mine called as he often does. He said that he wanted to meet with me and it was really important. We have had dozens of spiritual conversations in the past year and I knew he was getting close to crossing the line of faith.

Long story short, my friend gave his heart to Christ yesterday! How cool is that? It was one of the greatest moments I have experienced in fifteen years of ministry.

God is so good...

Weekend Update

Easter Sunday at Journey Church was awesome!

I'll update more later. I am in a meeting in Columbus today. I'll be back home later this evening, but I didn't want my blog to go untouched until tomorrow.

There Is No "I" In Team

During our staff meeting this morning, I sat back in awe of the wonderful people God has put in place to bring leadership to Journey Church. I consider it a great honor to be working along side each of them. You guys are awesome!

As we celebrated some recent ministry wins, we talked about the incredible volunteer based God has gathered. You all rock!

With the empowerment of God's Spirit, it is scary what the next few years can and will hold. What a ride...

Journey Church E-Invite

If you have a few more invitations to extend for Easter Sunday and/or the Exposed teaching series you can now do that via email from the Journey Church site.

Click here and fill out the form. You simply need to provide your name and email address and the name and email of the person you want to invite and click 'send.' Feel free to add a personal message in the field provided. When you click Send an email message is sent to that person that briefly describes Journey Church, including directions and times to our weekend gathering.

I am really looking forward to Sunday. I was at band practice last night and the set is going to be awesome! Let's continue to pray for all our invitations that have and will be extended. Pray people will be drawn to Christ and Journey Church.

Come expecting....

Madness Recap

March Madness was a real win for Journey Church. We touched 2,500+ people last week. Due to the weather on Saturday, we had to postpone the soccer ball giveaway. When that event is complete, we'll surpass the 3,000 mark! I am thrilled that over 200+ Journey people participated in the madness. I love what this kind of an effort does to those who serve. It is fun to watch people turn outward! (You can view the Channel 9 live Chipotle feed here).

I am pumped about the weekend. I fully anticipate dozens of new faces. I am really looking forward to kicking off the Exposed series. I firmly believe we are going to hit some major nerves with this series. You will not want to miss it!

I hope you and a dozen of your friends will be at Journey Church on Sunday!

Monday--Day Off

Today was "invested" in a much needed day off.

I'll blog more tomorrow on Journey's March Madness effort, the weekend, and Easter.

Burrito Madness

Thursday's burrito giveaway was unbelievable! In two hours, we gave away 627 FREE burritos. The line was either out the door or wrapped through the entire Tylersville Chipotle store. This brought our total served for the week up to 1,827 people. It is kind of fun to think about how this number gets multiplied as people share their experience with others.

I was once again surprised how often people asked, "Why are you doing this?" I was even more surprised by how many solid conversations were sparked in response to that question.

We did finally ended up back on Channel 9. They did a live report of the event during the 6 p.m. news. I'll link the story later today.

The Chipotle staff was awesome. The Journey team served BIG all evening.

The madness continues tonight at the Rave Movie Theaters. We'll have over 300 $5 gift certificates to give away.

Burrito BUZZ

A few minutes ago, we spoke with the manager at Chipotle. They are pumped about tonight. She also said people have been calling there all day to confirm the event and wondering if we are buying burritos yet. The place will be crazy busy tonight!

It's going to be BIG fun!

Bumped

Unfortunately, we were bumped from the follow up interview with channel 9. There is still potential for something as the week progresses. They even mentioned the potential of coming to our Sunday a.m. gathering. Pray!

More Media BUZZ

Channel 9 just called. They want to do a follow up story on March Madness. I am meeting them at Chipotle at 1 p.m.

Unreal...God is up to something!

Media Link

You can watch the Channel 9 news clip from the WCPO site. You will have to watch the commercial and then the clip will play.

If you are a member of Journey Church and would like to help us create buzz then show up at Chipotle (Tylersville Rd.) tonight at 6 p.m. Wear some Journey gear and plan to hang out as we share God's love with West Chester by giving out 450 FREE burritos.

Media Footage

This morning we were able to grab the footage from the Channel 9 site. We hope to have it up for viewing later today.

I'll post a link here when it is up on our site.

Journey Church In The Media

Both stations (9/5) did a great job with the story. I have a feeling we will not have a problem giving away 400+ burritos tomorrow evening or 300 gift certificates on Friday.

Gas Buy Down

The madness found another gear tonight...

The gas buy down was a huge hit! After we increased the buy down from 15 to 40 cents the placed filled up in less than fifteen minutes. All twenty pumps were two to three cars deep. It was incredible to see our team serving--pumping gas, washing windshields, and filling up washer fluid tanks.

By the end of the night, Channels 5 and 9 showed up for on the spot video shoots and interviews. If you read this before 11 p.m. (Wednesday) you might want to tune in. A reporter from the Pulse Journal also dropped by. All three news outlets appeared without any calls from the Journey team!

I love it when people ask, "Why are you doing this?" Answering that question never gets old.

What an evening! This is too much fun!!

Burrito ALERT!

The MADNESS continues...

God has provided BIG time. It isn't quite five loaves and two fish, but close! Okay, I am being a little dramatic on purpose.

We were able to work a sweet deal with the GM of the Tylersville Rd. Chipotle. We scored 450 burritos for $560.00. If you are counting at home that is $1.24 per burrito. They are normally $5.95.

If you are a Journey member then have your disconnected (from Christ and/or the Church) friends come to the Tylersville Rd. Chipotle Thursday (March 29th) between 6-8 p.m. The burritos are on Journey Church!

P.S. We were also asked if we wanted to do another FREE burrito Sunday at Chipolte (Tylersville location). Uh, YES! A Journey Church weekend program will be able to be traded for a FREE burrito. We'll likely do this on a Sunday in May.

Why We Don't Have More Margin

A couple months ago, I did a talk on money. It was a part of our "Stressed?" series. When I was prepping for the talk, I was really challenged personally. Andrea and I made some big changes at home with one goal in mind--create more margin. We are currently in our best stretch financially in over fifteen years of marriage.

Since then, I have worked hard to continue to challenge and educate myself more on managing money. I have a few blogs that I have been following. Today one of them posted some solid bullets on why we aren't rich. I would title it differently--"Why We Don't Have More Margin." Read more here.

Read each bullet slowly and apply them quickly!

Big Day

Sunday was a big day for Journey Church!

For the first time, we had over 300 (307) people at a morning gathering without it being a special day (ie. holiday, mailer, or personal invitation push). We are up in every category compared to the same 12 week period last year--numerically, financially, people serving, and people involved in small groups. We have also seen several more make commitments to Christ.

The student ministry is gaining traction. The transition to Sunday mornings has taken place and the students seem to really be digging it.

The new Kidmo (now known as The Upper Deck) venue is sweet!

I am very excited about where this momentum will take us...

March Madness (Continued)

The lanyard drop at LEHS was a huge hit! The students were digging them. Later that evening, I saw a random LEHS student walking into Frisch's wearing one of the Go East! Journey Church lanyards. Very cool!

We did the air freshener drop tonight at the Kroger Marketplace, Meijer, and Lowe's. I heard good reports.

Tomorrow evening we'll be buying down gas at the new Thorton's on Tylersville Rd. This is going to be a blast!

Thursday evening we'll be giving away FREE Chipotle burritos. Friday we will be passing out $5 gift cards at the Rave. We'll conclude the madness on Saturday morning by passing out blow up soccer balls at opening day of the WCSC.

So far we have touched at least 1300 people. By week's end, we'll have shared God's love with over 2,500 people!

Road Trip

I booked a last minute trip today. I was expecting to attend a preaching conference in Oklahoma City in May. The trip was planned because of the strong encouragement (err requirement) from one of our sponsoring organizations. The conference in Oklahoma City was canceled a few days after I purchased my airplane ticket. I was bummed.

A similar conference is being held in Mountain View, CA in April. I was informed Monday that said sponsoring organization would kick some extra cash to help me make the trip. I pulled the trigger.

Can you say upgrade? YES! Are the Giants in town? How cool would that be!

I have been to California, but not the northern part of the state. I am really looking forward to the conference and the trip!

March Madness

The madness kicked off yesterday! We gave everyone envelopes with a $5 bill and a card that explains what we are doing--sharing God's love in a practical way. The money was to be given away or used to bless someone. I look forward to hearing the stories of how people used their envelopes to touched someone on Sunday afternoon.

Today we'll be giving away 300 lanyards at the high school. We had "Go East!", the Journey logo, and website printed on them. I am looking forward to sharing God's love with 300 high school students in a couple hours.

BTW, we exceeded our $6,600 March Madness goal! The current total raised for the effort is $7,770. I continued to be encouraged by the generosity of the Journey peeps.

I continue to pray that our madness effort will deeply touch our community. I pray that it will lead to conversations and connections.

Tuesday's MM Event: Air Freshener giveaway.

Thinking...Dreaming

I am up late tonight. I can't sleep. My mind is racing. I have had fingers to keys for several minutes now and ideas are flowing. Some of them have been captured in emails. Others have been captured in my journal.

I am thinking future thoughts. I am dreaming about the kind of church community that God longs for Journey to be and become. I couldn't resist a copy/paste of some of that content. I suspect this will become a Journey teaching series, class, or document to be passed along.

I long for Journey to be defined by a few statements. I imagine a church where...

- It is normative for people to study the Bible and pray like their lives depend on it.
- It is normative that people learn to feed themselves.
- It is normative that people bring their disconnected friends to Journey.
- It is normative that people have friends and are friends.
- It is normative for people to serve others in big ways.
- It is normative for people to steward their resources well and turn them outward to bless others.
- It is normative for people to more faithfully follow each day.

These certainly are not new ideas. They are, however, extremely important ideas. They are defining. They are statements that shape a dream. They are more than a dream. They are a calling. They are Journey's reason for being.

They are also hills I will die on. I will give my life to see these things continue to find life in the people of Journey Church and those we will reach in the days and years ahead.

I'm all in!

How about you?

Weekend Wedding

One of my favorite parts of occupational ministry is doing weddings. I especially dig it when I have a connection with the couple. Friday evening I will have the privilege of marrying a couple of my friends.

The setting is going to be awesome. The moment will be magical! I am pumped about the next two evenings.

Larry and Melissa, I look forward to getting old together.

The journey is just beginning...

Mid-Week Update

If you are not in the email database then you missed the below update I sent out on Wednesday. If you would like to be added to the Journey Church database shoot me an email at tom[@]cincyjourney[.]com.

Dear Journey Church

I hope this email finds you in the middle of a good week. I wanted to offer a quick update from Sunday.

Our March Madness offering went very well! We have collected $4,690 to date which means we are only $1,910 from reaching our goal of $6,600. I am confident we'll get there! If you have a contribution you would like to make you can give that any time during the next couple weekends. Simply write March Madness on the envelope or in the memo section of your check. Also, there are plenty of spots to fill for next week as we serve West Chester each day of March Madness. Swing by the information table on Sunday and sign up to serve!

The launch of Big Student Ministry's Sunday a.m. gathering was a huge hit! They had 36 students present with several new faces. Sunday was a big win for Journey Church! I am pumped about the potential of touching students in the Sunday morning time slot. I cannot wait to see the story God authors in and through this ministry.

Finish strong this week. I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we continue our "Epic" teaching series!

~Tom~

Pete Comes "Clean"

I knew this all along.

This is certainly not news and it comes as a surprise to no one. As a lifelong Reds fan, it still hurts to read these words on the screen of my computer.

Pete, you let me down. You committed the cardinal sin of baseball.

As much as I would love to see you in the Hall of Fame and still coaching my beloved Reds, you do not belong there. You forfeited that right when you placed your first bet on baseball.


At least you bet they would always win...Geesh!

Burrito Buzz

Can the Church and Christ followers learn something from this?

I think the answer is a resounding yes!

I long for Journey Church to be the kind of place where it is normative that people invite their disconnected friends to experience what God is doing in and through our community.

When that kind of buzz begins to take full root there is no question what might happen at Journey Church.

Trust me on this, our best days are ahead!

Busy

The week started and has continued with a frantic pace. It is certainly moving faster than the speed of blog. My apologies.

We dropped a letter this afternoon about the launch of BSM's Sunday morning gathering and one more plug for March Madness. I am completely jazzed about the weekend. I hope you and a dozen of your friends plan to be around!

Through a very cool connection, Journey Church will be in the paper two more times in the next couple of weeks. I am certainly not going to turn down free advertising.

It will be interesting to see what the reporter does with the stories. One will be on how the Internet is shaping student ministry and the other will be a write up on March Madness.

Spring Forward

Don't forget to turn your clocks forward one hour this Saturday night!

Out Of My (Our) Hands

As the spring ministry season begins, the pace is picking up big time. Along with the pace, my stress level reached a climax this week.

I was processing that this afternoon with Andrea and my CMA coach when I realized the reason my stress level was climaxing. We have arrived at another juncture where we need God to show up more than ever. It feels real close to what those few weeks before launch felt like just over a year ago.

There is no question we are about to take another huge step out of the boat and the only hope we have of "walking on water" is God's presence and power. I am not nervous. I am not scared. I am curious to see what kind of story God will author.

I think stress arrives as I try to mentally (and emotionally) "control" the process and outcome. If there is one thing I have learned in fifteen years of ministry it is how completely out of my hands that is. All I (or the team) can do is build the rails. How fast and far the train moves is completely up to God.

We have been faithful, the best we know how, in laying down the tracks. What happens in the next twelve weeks is completely up to God. I plan to spend less time stressing and more time praying. I will invest less time worrying and more time trusting God is going to work.

I just heard the umpire say, "Play ball." If you are a part of the Journey team and reading this blog find your place on the field. We have a "game" to play!

Making My Money Behave

A few weeks ago I preached a message on money. The big idea of the talk was simple: margin in our finances we'll produce less financial stress and free us up to be more generous. As I prepared for the message, I worked through a ton of material on the subject. With each turn of the page or minutes spent listening to a podcast, I was both encouraged and challenged.

When I was finished preaching the message, I was very clear on the application points that needed to be set in place for my family. I immediately went to work. I am pumped to share those application points have been applied and faithfully followed for the past six weeks.

I can honestly attest to the fact that more margin brings less stress and frees one up to be more generous. I am glad my family listened, applied, and followed with discipline.

I look forward to the day when,
- We are servant to know one (Proverbs 22:7).
- We have more and more margin.
- We can give more and more of our money away!

We will get there...

Easter Personal Invitations

For our Christmas and Easter gatherings, we always provide personal invitations so the Journey peeps can extend an invite to their relational network.

The final proof of the Easter personal invitations are finished. You can pull down the full pdf here.

Cats Land Recruit

Our battle back to the top continues! Read more.

Fitness Update (Part 2)

In case you are wondering, I am still on the horse. I am hitting the gym several days a week and refueling with the right food. I am really beginning to see the fruit of the process. I am feeling better than I have in over two years.

Here are the highlights of my progress:

- I am approaching the 200 mile mark (I logged my first run on December 13th, 2006).
- The scale revealed a new low this morning.
- I am confident my body fat percentage is at a two year low.
- I can finally hit the weights and complete a full lifting session without fatiguing way too early.
- My mile time is way down from where I started (averaged 8:31 this morning for a 3.5 mile run).

I am excited about the warming temperatures in Ohio. I look forward to hitting the open road for my runs. The treadmill is getting old!

The part of this process I always forget is how it helps in other areas of my life. When I am doing the right things physically, it is so much easier to be right in the other areas of my life. I am glad I publicly hung myself out there. It was the push I needed.

Reading

I have accumulated an aggressive stack of books to read in the next few weeks. This stack has developed because of some commitments I made in several circles. I am walking away from each reading session with a great deal to think about. More importantly, I am working hard at making immediate application of what I am taking in as I read.

Here is what's in the stack:

The Bible (one year reading plan)
In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day (Mark Batterson)
Coaching 101 (Robert Logan and Sherilyn Carlton)
Mentoring (Bob Biehl)
It's Your Ship (Captain D. Michael Abrashoff)

This morning I was finishing chapter two of Batterson's book. I was struck by this statement, "God wants you to get where God wants you to go more than you want to get where God wants you to go" (you may have to read that twice).

I have recently given great attention to the daily direction of my life and how that impacts the big picture. I want to go where God wants me to go. I want that more today than I did yesterday. For me, this is becoming more and more of a whole life proposition. This morning the Holy Spirit reminded me how passionate God is about me living more faithfully as a follower.

Batterson immediately sets this idea in a context I could totally understand. He talked about his relationship with his kids. You know, how he longs for them to win at life. As I read I thought, I totally get that. I paused for just a moment to say thanks to my heavenly father for the reminder that He wants me to win and is preparing a road ahead of me for that to be the case.

God, give me the wisdom and strength to order my steps each day that will take me where you want me to go.

Easter Mailer

The final proof of the Easter mailer is at the printer. You can pull down the full pdf here. I am praying this mailer will further empower us to create buzz during our spring ministry season.

I hope to have the final proof of the personal invitations some time today. I'll post that when it arrives in my inbox.

One More Sports Take

My boys in Clifton ended a dreadful season today. Frankly, I am glad it is over. It hurt to watch the program struggle. This was the first season in years that I did not attend a game. I stayed away because I simply couldn't stand to watch the slide.

Trust me on this friends, they (we) will be back!

Reds 14, Twins 1

I know it is only March 3rd, but I cannot remember a spring when the Reds looked this solid. How fun would it be to have a Reds team playing for something in September?

I'm hoping...

New Easter Series and Mailer

We had a couple ideas brewing for our Easter series and they simply lost energy as the prayerful creative process continued. In a late night brainstorm early last week, we locked onto a powerful new direction! I am glad we remained open to that option.

The mailer is in the final editing stage. It looks fantastic! I think this series is really going to strike a nerve in the WC. I'll share the front design here when we get a final draft. I am hoping that will be during the day tomorrow.

The personal invitations for our Easter gathering are sweet too. The Journey peeps are going to love them [wink].

Off to small group...

New Weekend Series

Most of my morning has been spent with fingers to keys. I have been writing my talk for Sunday. I am beginning a new teaching series this weekend. We'll break away from the topic and return to it during the summer months. When it is all said and done, it will be a fifteen week journey. Those who work at it will be able to tell the story of the whole Bible. More importantly, I hope our community will grow in a deeper sense of how the story is intended to form and shape our lives.

I am jazzed about it!

If you want to prep for Sunday then take a few moments to read Genesis 1 & 2.

Growing "Pains"

One of the first church planting resources I can remember encountering was a toolkit that walked perspective church planters through the process of launching a new church from scratch. I still remember bullet points that were shared in those audio tapes. The one I recall most often is this, "Church planters and their teams must remain flexible."

There have been multiple times in fourteen years of church planting when I have reminded myself of that important reality. We are in one of those seasons right now. Actually, the past two years have required that we live in a constant state of flexibility.

The new year has brought some very steady growth (numerical, financial, spiritual) at Journey Church. It has been awesome to see! It has forced us, however, to make some critical decisions quickly. There have been multiple occasions when we have had to "turn on a dime." We are turning again. It feels right. It feels good. Man, this is fun!

In the next three weeks, several ministry moves will take place:

- We are purchasing a boat load of new ministry equipment!
- We'll be moving our student ministry environment to Sunday mornings.
- We have added another part-time staff person. He'll be building and leading the student ministry house band.
- We are adding another children's ministry class. Space in the 2-3 year old has quickly become a real issue.
- We are moving Kidmo to a new location and changing the name.
(In fourteen months, we have doubled the space needed and used at LEHS where Journey meets every Sunday.)

Each of these moves sets us up for the Spring ministry season that is beginning. We are trusting that God will use each of these moves to continue to allow our influence to grow in West Chester and the surrounding areas. I fully believe we are creating space for the people God will bring in the next few months.

There is no question the best is yet to come at Journey Church!

The Right People

I have been on a personal mission this year to put the right people in my life. One of the missing pieces was a mentor. Over the years, I have had some great people in my life to look to for wisdom and guidance, but no one who I would specifically call a mentor.

I invited a long time wisdom person in my life to lunch yesterday. The intention of the lunch was to extend an ask for him to consider mentoring me. He agreed and asked me to read this book.

I am pumped to begin this journey. It is well overdue.

I'm Back!

We had a wonderful time last week in Gatlinburg. It was restful and refreshing. We enjoyed some great meals. We shopped. We shopped some more. We did, however, stay under budget! I did manage to find the time to run 13+ miles in three days. This helped balance out the additional caloric intake during the trip.

We arrived home late Saturday evening to 4 more inches of snow. Journey had another tremendous Sunday despite the bad weather. I have been pleasantly surprised by how people have forged ahead in the midst of the late winter storms. We are currently on one of best two month runs to date despite the early morning storm that hit a few Sundays ago. Have I mentioned how fun this is? I sure I have.

The new week started with a bang! I was looking at a full inbox (I did manage to dodge the it for a few days) and calendar. As the weather changes, the pace of life will increase as well. Our team is working hard to prepare for three of our biggest days of the year--Easter (April 8), Mother's Day (May 13), and Celebration Sunday (May 20). I am pumped about our Spring ministry season. With the way our winter has been, I have high hopes for Spring!

Arrived Safely!

We arrived safely at our place of temporary residence in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The place is awesome! We are anticipating an awesome few days.

Time For Some Rest

My apologies for my lack of posts this week. It's been a really busy few days as we prepared to leave town this afternoon.

Andrea and I are headed to Gatlinburg for some much needed time away. We are leaving the kids with my parents. We'll miss them, but are really looking forward to being away without the kids.

We do not have any specific plans. We'll eat, shop, and catch up on some sleep. It will provide the perfect opportunity to also catch up on some recently missed date nights.

We'll be back early Saturday evening. My talk is written and I am pumped about the weekend at Journey. You will not want to miss it!

The Machine Is Us/ing Us

I can remember the first time I logged onto the Internet. Loading pages in a web browser took forever. Sharing files was a big challenge most of the time. A lot has changed since then.

A friend of mine shared a video that is worth watching. It chronicles some of that change.

That's Normal Here

A great deal of ink has been spilt unpacking the power of word of mouth marketing. It is interesting to me how people read this kind of material like it is a new idea. The idea and power of WOMM has been in place for a very long time.

It is clearly one of the ways Jesus intended to advance His redemptive cause in the world. Mark 16:15 is one place where Jesus clearly communicated that, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." It is really a simple idea: have a good experience and share it with others. It has the potential to spread like a virus working its way through a first grade classroom.

I have never been able to get past the question of why the Church doesn't advance with more force. In most churches I encountered, it isn't normative behavior for people not to invite their disconnected friends. I have often wondered why that was the case. I have a list of answers, but I'll save that for another post.

One of my biggest passions for Journey Church is that it will be a place where it is normal that people invite their friends. I have been thrilled to watch so many at Journey make a connection (to Journey and/or Christ) only to quickly and passionately invite their friends. I pray this trend continues. I pray it happens with greater force in the days ahead. We'll invest a great deal of energy to ensure that is the case.

9 Things A Leader Must Do

I swung by the bookstore yesterday to pick up a needed resource. I was immediately captured by the title of another book written by the same author that led me to the bookstore in the first place. As you might guess, I purchased both.

The premise of the book is simple: Successful leaders possess a shared set of behaviors and common actions.

Chapter one shares the first of nine things a leader must do: Excavate the soul. Dr. Cloud contents that buried in the soul of every person is a treasure. He goes on to say that successful leaders are those that "dig up the treasure of the invisible soul in order to bring dreams, desires, and talents into the visible world."

Dr. Cloud also adds some thoughts on why this treasure often remains hidden. I was quickly reminded of what has taken place in my life in the past thirty+ months. I couldn't help but see myself in each of those paragraphs. I spent far too many years allowing the treasure to be hidden. I did nearly everything in my power to dig, but often found myself cowering in the corner. I was afraid and paralyzed by a plethora of feelings, doubts, and questions.

I can look back over my shoulder now to find defining moments that provided the necessary courage to dig again and the relationships that gave me the much needed push to do so. With every day that passes, I am gaining more and more strength to keep digging. I continue to discover new ways to make the invisible visible.

You might be reading this post and feeling that some excavating needs to take place in your soul. If so then let this post be one of those defining moments in your life. Grab a shovel and dig with all you have. Buried deep within you is an invisible treasure. You have been uniquely created and called by God to make that treasure visible to the world.

Do not miss it or waste it. Dig. Dream. Live big!

Fitness Update

Ten weeks ago, I forced myself back into the gym with hopes of eventually getting back into shape. I am finally beginning to see the fruits of my labor.

Here's a brief update:

- The number on the scale continues to decrease.
- I have shed almost 17 lbs.
- I have run 106 miles since I purchased my Nike+ gear (I logged my first run on December 13th, 2006).
- I posted my fastest 5K time today: 27'31"
- I am using the fourth belt loop instead of the first one.
- All of my clothes are fitting much better.
- In a few weeks, there are some pieces of my wardrobe I will no longer be able to wear at all.

I am pumped I have allowed my yes to be yes and my no to be no! I am 6-8 weeks from my initial goals.

Would any of my reading audience be interested in running a 5k or 10k in late Spring/Summer? Leave me a comment.

CoachNet

I have been asked to serve as a national coach for my tribe. I was deeply honored by the invitation. They sweetened the deal by asking me to endure a few days in Orlando in May. How could I say no to that?

The training process officially kicked off today. I signed up for the online training through CoachNet. I am initially very impressed with the site, topics, and process. There is no question this will be quite the learning experience. I am confident it will also help me on a local leadership level at Journey.

Once I have completed the training, I'll be assigned a couple pastors in my region to coach. I plan to journal some of my learning's here. Stay tuned.

NFL Backpedaling

More details here.

Debt Snowball

One of the principles I shared yesterday in my "Money:Margin" talk was about what Dave Ramsey calls the debt snowball. I was informed after the gathering that I had not shared it accurately. After thinking back through what I did share, it was confirmed I wrong. Sorry about that.

Here's a link to clear up my misinformation. If you have consumer debt and are feeling the bondage that comes along with it then I hope you will begin to attack it! Margin and freedom await. I'm all in, are you?

Also, if you enjoy podcasts then you might consider adding Dave's to your list.

Sunday Report

Today was incredible! On the coldest day of the year so far, LEHS was buzzing as another weekend for Journey Church unfolded. I know I have said it before, but I continue to be amazed at what God is doing.

We kicked the "Stressed?" series off with a bang! Travis and the Journey House Band knocked it out of the park with their version of "Gravity" by John Mayer. It set the table for the "Money:Margin" talk perfectly! People seemed to really respond to the challenge to get financially free, build more margin, reduce stress, and live more faithfully by God's principles for managing money. Dozens responded to the 90-day challenge to live by the 5 principles that I shared today. I cannot wait to see the stories God authors as people make changes and become more free!

We had a couple dozen new faces (at least 5 households) this morning. I am beyond pleased by the way people continue to invite their friends! We were just shy of 300 at our gathering today. That is 40% more than we had on the same Sunday last year on the same weekend. The new year has brought with it a couple dozen new families who have made a church connection at Journey.

This momentum sets us up for a great Spring run!

* Photos by Nick Graham *

Dirty Shirt Night

The Cincinnati Reds revealed their giveaways today. This is my favorite: Ryan Freel "dirty shirt night." I have added those dates to my iCal.

I wondered if that will come stuffed in a beer mug?

I'm Confused

The NFL is ridiculous! In case you haven't heard the news, read this article for a few more details.

Why would any organization or business try to stop the buzz for what they are providing or selling? Why has it taken the NFL so long to protest? Churches and similar groups have been having these kinds of gatherings for years. I'm confused...

Your thoughts? Comment below.

February Series @ Journey Church

This Sunday I'll begin a new four-week teaching series designed to unpack how we can more effectively manage stress. I have really enjoyed prepping for this series. I think we have locked into four key areas that bring the greatest level of stress. I am even more excited about the words we have attached with each stress point to help us better manage it.

The series flow looks like this:

Money : Margin 2/04/07
Relationships : Boundaries 2/11/07
Time : Priorities 2/18/07
Work : Significance 2/25/07

This weekend I'll be addressing the topic of money. It's curious to me how nervous people get when the financial conversation surfaces in the Church. Most people will give friends, pastors, and churches the freedom to challenge them in every other area of their lives. It appears most of the time that this area is off limits. Therefore most pastors and churches shy away from hitting the topic head on. The result? People live in bondage. The statistics are clear. The level of debt and financial pressure that most people live with us overwhelming. The lack of margin holds us back and forces us to live with an unnecessary pressure.

What if we had more margin? What if we were more free? What could I do? What could you do? What could we do together?

I long to be more free. I long for others to be more free as well. I believe that cannot happen unless we get open and honest about money. I am glad the Bible isn't silent on the topic. I am looking forward to Sunday!

I read a great article this week that speaks directly to building financial margin and gaining more financial freedom. I am convinced that more financial margin means less financial stress.

Personally, I want more margin so I can be more generous. I firmly believe tithing (giving 10% of your income back to God) is the bare minimum. I have always been a person driven to exceed expectations. There is a deep passion brewing within me to extend my family's ability to bless others. For that to be the case, there must be more margin!

I hope you get to have as much fun this weekend as I will. If you are around Journey Church on Sunday I hope you walk away more free! If you cannot be there then check out the Journey podcast.

Proud Mac Owner

Almost four years ago, I took a bite. I have never regretted making the change!

There are dozens of reasons why I am glad I made the switch. It isn't because I like to be different. It isn't because I prefer the sleek design of Apple products. It isn't because of the cool things my Apple products can do with photos, music, and movies.

My Apple products have simply work. Here's a link to a few more reasons why I am proud to be a Mac owner. I have personally used all of them. Enjoy!

Please resist the temptation of coveting my toys (errr "gear").

You are welcome to come to the fold of prideful Mac users. There is always room for one more. You'll be better for it. Trust me...

Complement Not Cultivate

Several times a year, we hold what we call the Welcome To Journey Class. It is a key link in our assimilation process for new people connecting to our community. The class is designed to unpack the Journey Church dream, strategy, and structure.

I finally have language to more fully describe the goal of the class. Clearly and succinctly stated: The goal is to help new people understand how they can complement the vision of Journey Church not cultivate their own personal agenda. New churches have a tendency to attract a high volume of people who are simply looking to pursue their personal...uh..."stuff."

The role of the staff and key leaders in a new church is to make sure that no one gets the opportunity to hi-jack the vision. Our Welcome To Journey Class is one more environment in our community where we can paint the picture of God's preferred future and help people see how Journey Church can help them make a difference. It really is about helping people figure out how they can complement the vision.

I love when clarity comes. I love when I finally grab the language to describe it.

Email Help

I am working hard right now to improve the way I work and mange the tasks that come my way each day. Like many, email is a big part of the way I work. I am seeking to learn how to be more efficient there too.

Confession: I am probably the world's worst at effectively using the subject line in an email.

Tim Sanders has some great tips in a post he added to his blog today. It's worth a few moments of your time if email is a big part of the way you work too.

Test The Waters

Several of the Journey Church small groups are hosting Super Bowl parties Sunday evening. If you are not connected to a Journey small group this will be a great way to test the waters. If you do not have a place to watch the game and would like one you are officially invited! I would love to help you make that connection. Email me (tom[@]cincyjourney[.]org).

I am a die hard Bengals fan. I want to publicly admit that I am hitching my rooting interest to the Colts bandwagon. I would love to see Tony, Peyton, and Marvin get the big win.

With that said, GO COLTS!

I Love Coaching

When I was a high school junior I began to sense a call to occupational ministry. I did my best to run from and fight off that calling as I raced toward graduation. I finally gave up and answered the call as a freshman at Anderson University.

My personal plan was to be a teacher/coach. I wanted to share my love for sports with high school student athletes. Although my life has taken a very different path, I never lost the passion to coach. I have enjoyed coaching my kids as they have gravitated to some of the sports I love. There is nothing like handing off a passion.

I am also enjoying a new ministry role that is developing--coaching other pastors and church planters. Most of it is unofficial, but more and more I am finding myself on the other end of an email or phone line talking to someone who is in the trenches trying to figure it out. I love digging in with them to try to advance the kingdom. It is thrilling.

In the past few months, I have worked with pastors/planters in Ohio, Missouri, Kentucky, and Alabama. Everyday I wake up stunned at what I get to do with my life. It is beyond fun!

I love ministry. I love pastoring. I love coaching.

New Listening Material

I am a big fan of Audible. I pull down a book a month, drag/drop in my iTunes, and then sync my iPod. With the books on my iPod it frees me up to multi-task-- learn while I work out at the gym or listen while I am in the car.

I received an email today that this month's credit had been posted to my Audible account. I quickly went out and pulled down "Made To Stick." I have read a lot of good things about the book. I am excited to get going in the morning.

Busy Day

It was another busy one today. A good portion of the morning was invested in an online demo with Fellowship One. It was pretty impressive to watch our representative take over our computer in West Chester all the way from Texas.

Journey is quickly approaching a place (we are actually already there!) where we can no longer manage information the way we currently do. Spreadsheets and basic programs on a few great computers simply isn't good enough anymore. We are looking into some options and a totally new way to manage information. We plan to move quickly.

GWL Update

Great Wolf Lodge was awesome! Randy is right the best part is being just a few moments from home! I will add this, twenty-four hours is plenty of time to enjoy all the amenities.

I am excited about tomorrow. Brian and I will be team teaching. I really enjoyed All Question Sundays at Journey. They provide a nice break from our normal series teaching format.

I am also looking forward to the Welcome To Journey Class we'll be hosting in the evening. I love hearing the stories that get shared in this moment. It is always exciting to see people catch the dream of Journey Church.

Night "Away"

We are taking the kids here for the night. I hear the place is awesome. Should be a blast!

Good Coaching

As Journey Church was preparing to launch during the fall of 2005, one of the best things that happened to (for) us was our connection to CMA. CMA is a grassroots church planting organization affiliated with my tribe. The relationship has been huge! The biggest personal takeaway has been the coaching I have received the past 17+ months. I can quickly recall several pivotal conversations that took place that God used to shape me and what He has done at Journey.

I had my weekly call with my CMA coach this afternoon. Fred leads a new church in Indianapolis that is a few paces ahead of us. The conversation was engaging. Fred shared a post-it note that he keeps by his computer. It reads, "3 things I promised God I wouldn’t do when struggling with emotions (frustrations). 1) No self-pity 2) No excuses 3) Focus on the task at hand!" I asked him to send that to me in an email. He added this line, "God’s not on the other side of the wall, he’s with you! He led you there, let him take you over it!"

Often times in life and ministry, we find ourselves faced with walls. These walls present new challenges and barriers to the road ahead. Every time we approach them frustration and a plethora of emotions accompany us on the journey. In the past, I have had the tendency to give into self-pity, making excuses, and lose focus of the task at hand.

Most of my posts the past few days have been driven by my passion to go deeper--as a leader and a follower. I know this will require a new set of tools (responses). God continues to add tools to my toolbox that are important and necessary. I have added a digital post-it to my computer. I am publicly committing to keep these promises. With God's help, I will climb over the walls that arrive on my doorstep.

Bring on the walls!

Elegant Solutions (Part 3)

I must share one more quote from the same document, "Whatever your work, make it your art. All sorts of good things happen when you do." (This statement will find its way into my February 11th talk.)

Whoever you are and whatever you do, this is must reading.

Elegant Solutions (Part 2)

As I was bringing another day to a close, I was wrestling with a few frustrations that come with the church planting animal. I captured them in my journal, sent a few emails, and was about to close the lid. I decided to check a few updated blogs. I found the Elegant Solutions doc I mentioned below. I decided to read a few pages and that led to a few more. I am glad I kept reading. I needed to read this paragraph as I headed to bed,

"Slaying dragons and storming castles isn’t for the faint of heart. The root meaning of ingenuity means free thinker. In a world run by powerful bosses and inflexible systems, rarely if ever is creative license granted freely. It’s taken. And that takes basic courage. Or at least a soldier’s bravado. It’s the obstacles that make the achievement so impressive. If it was easy, we wouldn’t be talking about it. No challenge, no creativity."

I'll sleep better now.

Elegant Solutions

I just pulled down a pdf from one of my favorite blogs. It is a document based on this book.

I started reading and was quickly captured by this statement, "Here’s the thing: it’s not about the cars. It’s about ideas. And the people with those ideas. But not just any ideas. Mostly tiny ones, but effective ones nonetheless—elegant solutions to real world problems. Not grand slam home runs, but ground ball singles implemented all across the company by associates that view their role not to be simply doing the work, but taking it to the next level...every day, in some little way. Good enough never is. When an entire organization thinks like that, it becomes unstoppable."

I want Journey Church to be that kind of place. I want to serve in and lead that kind of organization. I am anxious to read the rest of the document.

Work On It

I have spent a great deal of time the past year "working in it" (to borrow an Andy Stanley prhase). The pace of my normal ministry week is hectic and often very chaotic. I usually find myself more reactive rather than proactive. I mean to say that I have allowed the urgent to drive my work week. I have spent way more time "working in it" than I have "working on it." It worked to get us to and one year post-launch, but I am beginning to realize that this approach will not work for the long haul. I must carve out time to not just "work in it", but to also "work on it."

I went to work this morning to carve out some important appointments with myself. In the coming months, I will spend a few hours and days like this:

1 hour a week working on it
1 day a month working on it
3 full days this year working on it
(Our staff and leaders will also be adopting a similar approach!)

It feels good to have those appointments scheduled. The big challenge now will be keeping them. I can already see and taste the fruit this will produce!

Welcome To Journey Class

This Sunday evening Andrea and I will be hosting another Welcome To Journey Class at our house. This ninety minute conversation has one purpose--to unpack the Journey Church dream. If you have not attended one of these sessions I hope you will Sunday night! We'll get started at 6:30 p.m. and be finish by 8 p.m . Childcare will be provided. Email me for directions (tom[@]cincyjourney[.]org).

Monday = Day Off

I rested today. After a very busy weekend, it was just what the doctored ordered.

Sunday morning brought "white death" to West Chester. It arrived just in time to hinder our morning gathering. It is amazing how less than 3 inches of snow can bring a city to screeching halt. Our team forged ahead. We had a great gathering, but the snow did keep many away. I am hoping this weekend we can quickly regain the momentum we were enjoying.

Last week Luke and I had the opportunity to sit down with a reporter from one of the local newspapers. They are doing a story on churches that meet in non-traditional locations. It was fun to tell our story. A photographer will be around Sunday to take some pictures. The story will be in February 10th edition of a newspaper that is just outside our local community. I am very curious to see what kind of interest that might stir up.

Weekend Consultation

I was recently asked to serve on a team of pastors/leaders around the state that would consult with plateaued and declining churches in Ohio from my tribe. I was honored by the invitation and have really enjoyed the training process during the past several months. One of the final pieces of the training process begins in the morning. We'll be observing one more weekend consultation at a church in Springfield.

The small group I attended tonight was simply amazing. I was reminded again what God has and is doing at Journey Church. It is incredible to hear people tell their stories.

I am so glad we never gave up on the dream...

Good Food...Good Conversation

I had lunch with a pastor friend of mine today. We hadn't been in conversation for almost ten years. I am pumped we have been reconnected. It was fun to pick his brain about church, ministry, and leadership. Honestly, I couldn't write fast enough as he answered the questions I was peppering him with.

In a word, it was engaging.

Here's the one thing that will hang with me the longest. He said, "What you need to be working on this week is what you will be most thankful for in two years." As I drove back to my home office, I thought about how tied I tend to be to what is seven days or seven weeks ahead of me. Two years? Really? I think he's on to something.

Recently I have been investing a great deal of mental energy thinking through how I do and should invest my work week. I was beginning to feel I needed a more strategically planned focus. I am one step closer.

Changes are being made as I type...

Up Late...

I am finally getting ready to shut the lid and call it a day. Before I do so, I need to capture a thought. I have spent much of the day wrestling with some intense feelings. They are driving me deeper. I am forcing myself to face the disequilibrium that is being created in my mind and heart. I am gaining clarity on what I need to do. I know the hard work that will be required and the discipline that will be demanded. I will become the leader I have been called to be. The stacks are high. I do not have a choice.

I am all in...

These words from Sunday's talk continue to echo for me, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:20 & 21)

Great Find!

If you are a leader you need to seriously considering subscribing to this. I pulled down my first batch of goods a few moments ago. I cannot wait to hit the gym tomorrow while I multi-task with the help of my iPod.

I set the personal goal this year to work through at least 52 books. I will far exceed that with the help of summary.com. For the record, I do plan to read 52 the old fashion way. This will simply allow me to read/learn/grow at a more rapid pace. I love technology!

I will be different at the end of 2007...

Must Read Blog For Church Leaders

This has quickly become one of my favorite blogs. It is well worth adding to your bookmarks or RSS feeder.

I was in a conference with Craig (one the two authors of the blog) in September. He helped me learn a leadership lesson I wished I had learned twelve years ago. He posted some thoughts in that direction yesterday. The leadership axiom is simple, but powerful: People will not go where they are not led. I think my staff is already sick of me repeating those words.

Plug that blog into your browser and read daily. You will not regret it.

Long Overdue

I am long overdue for my monthly two-day run of posts. A great deal of stuff has taken place since my last post. Here's a quick overview:

I celebrated 15 years of marriage. Where did a decade and a half go? I can honestly say that I love Andrea more today than I did 17 years ago when I swept her off her feet [wink].

Journey Church had a tremendous end to the 2006 ministry year. We had our biggest day as a church on Christmas Eve. We had over 200 first-time guest in our two gatherings. We also had at least 7 people make decisions for Christ. It was an incredible day!

I have kept my commitment to get back in shape. I have run right at 70 miles in the past 30 days. I have dropped 12 pounds and feel like a new person. It is amazing how when that area is in check other areas follow suit for me.

We purchased a new piece of ministry "equipment." I am loving the speed and additional screen space of my Macbook Pro 15". It is a huge upgrade for the Power PC Powerbook I have been using the past couple years.

This past Sunday Journey Church celebrated its one year anniversary. It was a truly special moment as we looked back over our shoulder and out into the future. I simply cannot wait to experience all that year two will bring. You might want to take a moment to listen to some of the stories that have been told the past couple weekends. You can listen here. (Listen to "A Beautiful Year" and "Auld Lang Syne").

See you next month...maybe sooner!

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.