Written in Heaven

“But what about you?” he [Jesus] asked. “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:16)

We made an announcement today at BridgeWay regarding the future of Brooke and I. We are going to be leaving BridgeWay to pursue the calling God has put on our lives to start a church in Fishers, IN.

In 2005, I attended North Point Community Church with the staff from Ottawa First Church, where I was serving as youth pastor. As I sat through their service, I was moved beyond words. At the end of the service I had a ‘cut to the heart’ moment. God was asking me to be part of starting churches like that one. Since then, I’ve prayed about that nearly daily waiting for God to give me the go ahead.

In 2007, I was presented with an opportunity to start (aka plant) a church. I had the passion to do it, but not the knowledge. I called a friend of mine named Dale Schaeffer who was a couple years into a plant called BridgeWay Community Church. I ran all this by him and asked him what he thought. He said if he were me, he’d come to BridgeWay to learn about planting for a couple years and then go out and do it. I thought that sounded pretty good.

Since March of 2008, I’ve been on staff at BridgeWay and Brooke and I have loved every second of it. There have been days where I couldn’t believe I was this blessed to serve with a team and serve people that I loved so much. God has been so good to us!
Last October, I was in a period of praying and fasting when the call to plant continued to surface. It was as if God were saying, “I know you love it here, but this isn’t your last stop. I need you to move.” I began to ask God simply, “where?” He took me back to a conversation I had with a youth pastor in 2006. Our youth groups were doing a joint missions trip to Noblesville, IN, a town neighboring Fishers. One night he asked if he could show me something. I hopped in his Jeep and he began to drive me around Fishers. He showed me and explained to me the exponential growth the town was experiencing, and shared with me how the church hasn’t been able to keep up with the cities growth. My response was “someone should do something about that.”

I know this now, but you should never say something like that, because God will make you do it. I’m kidding of course, but usually when you have that feeling, it’s a sign of God asking you to be that ‘someone.’

So there I was. I knew I had to plant, I knew where, but I also wanted to bring people with me. I knew that God wasn’t just calling me, but that he might be calling other families from BridgeWay (and other places) to go with us. Regarding BridgeWay, I asked God to bring families to mind that need to go with us. Almost immediately, two families came to mind: Dave and Lori, and Damon and Daylene.

I also decided that if this was really a “God thing” that I wouldn’t have the need to talk to them about this, but that God already had. So my prayer became that if God was really speaking to them about this, that they would come up to me and let me know, without me ever asking them or letting them know what God was doing in my heart. I figured, this has got to be pretty bulletproof at that point!

Two weeks after I began this prayer process, Damon came into my office and asked what I was going to do now that the Pekin Campus had closed. The conversation went like this:
“What are you doing?” (Damon)
“What do you mean?” (me)
“Now that the Pekin Campus is closed, what are you doing? Are you leaving?” (Damon)
“No, we’re going to keep on here and wait for God to tell us what’s next.” (me)
“Ok, well if you’re going to leave, we’re going with you.” (Damon)
“(nervous laugh), ok that’s cool. Hey how bout them Colts?” (me)

Not the most spiritual response. To be frank, I was pretty shocked and changed the subject out of sheer nerves. Damon and I were meeting weekly, so I continued to pray and knew that if God were doing this, he would bring it back up and I would have to act. The following week Damon walks in as angry as I’ve ever seen him:

“What’s going on man?” (me)
“Furniture, windows, and sprinklers.” (Damon)
(long pause) “I’m sorry, what are you talking about?” (me)
“Furniture, windows and sprinklers!” (Damon)
“Help me out, what are you saying?” (me)
“Furniture, windows and sprinklers – these are the things I’ve given my life to: furniture, windows and sprinklers. I’m so tired of working for industries that don’t matter. I feel like God has had me in these places to learn, and now he wants me to use all of this knowledge for the church. I feel like you’re supposed to go start a church, and I’m supposed to go with you to help you do it. Is that a possibility?”
After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I told him about Fishers and what God was doing in my life regarding that city. His words, “We’re in.” I told him that he should probably run that by Daylene (his wife), which he did. They’re in.

Two months later, I was still praying this prayer about Dave and Lori. Dave and I went to lunch one day (January 8 to be exact) with no real agenda, just a hang out meeting (or so I thought). On the way to lunch (dude couldn’t even wait til we sat down!) he says:
“Lori and I have a bet about you and Brooke. Don’t get mad.”
“What’s that?” (me)
“We think you’re going to leave to start a church.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Well, every time you speak on Sunday, I feel like God is telling us that you need to do that every week, and that I’m supposed to help you do that. Do you think that’s a possibility?”
Again, long pause. Luckily this time I had tortilla chips to fill the dead air.
“Absolutely.” I began to tell Dave of the Fishers vision and he said just like Damon said, “We’re in.” I recommended that he go run that by his wife, which he did. They’re in.

There are other folks who have prayed about this and God’s told them no. This is a win. Anytime you hear from God it’s a win. There are people not from BridgeWay that are praying about this and are planning on joining us. God is moving in people’s hearts in a huge way.
I can’t wait to see what God has for us. He already has his hand all over this journey, and we’re already ‘living in the miracle’ as Chuck Kohler would say.

I heard a song the other day by a guy named Fred Hammond. The song’s called ‘Not Just a Man.’ In Matthew 16:16 Jesus asks this pointed question, “Who do you say that I am?” He asks that question to each one of us and ultimately it’s how we answer that question that determines the life we live. In this song Fred Hammond says this, which sums up our Fishers journey:

“I hear Him ask again, who do men say that I am?,

and I feel the need to make the whole world see,

that He is not just a man (He is God),

He’s not just a baby (He is King),

No, he is not just a lamb,

But the Lion of Judah,

My Savior and Ruler of all!”

Thank you for your prayers and support for all of us as we pursue God’s calling on our lives!

LIFEGROUP Questions

10/17/10

***Remember that we always start LIFEGROUPS reminding the group that the purpose of LIFEGROUPS is to ‘belong and become.’ To find a group of people we can connect to and build friendships, and become more like Jesus each day.

***Also reinforce the ‘Vegas Rule’ – what happens in LIFEGROUP, stays in LIFEGROUP.

DNA Week 3: Connecting with God’s Purposes

1. What is your current job? If money were no object, what would you do for a living?

2. Do you believe that God really has a purpose for everyone? Why or why not?

3. A common phrase that people say is, “it will work out in God’s timing.” What does that mean? Do you believe that? If so, how does “God’s timing” impact the purpose God has for you?

4. Do you know what purpose God has for you? If so, are you living it out?

5. What excuses do we make for not pursuing the purpose God has for us? Are any of those legitimate excuses?

6. What next step did we each take Sunday regarding our purpose (seize your season, embrace your destiny, surrender your life)? Let’s pray for each other regarding purpose. Pray for those who are engaged in their purpose that they would continue to pursue it in a way that honors God. Let’s also pray for those who are trying to discover the purpose God has for us that we would find it and embrace it.

***Always close your group with a time of prayer. As a leader, you can lead this or you can all share in the requests praying for one another. You need to know where your group is at to determine what would be most comfortable in that setting. i.e. don’t ask people to pray in the group if you’re not sure they’re ready to.

LIFEGROUP Questions

10/10/10

***Remember that we always start LIFEGROUPS reminding the group that the purpose of LIFEGROUPS is to ‘belong and become.’ To find a group of people we can connect to and build friendships, and become more like Jesus each day.

***Also reinforce the ‘Vegas Rule’ – what happens in LIFEGROUP, stays in LIFEGROUP.

DNA Week 2: Connecting with Others

1. Who was your best friend growing up? Why did you guys get along so well?

2. Are you a person who would prefer to spend time with others or time alone? Why?

3. Why was Jesus so intentional about living in community? What does his example communicate to us?

4. What is something you’ve tried to do by yourself that required another set of hands (i.e move something, build something, etc.)? How did that work out?

5. What life situation have you gone through where you’ve tried to do it by yourself, but you really needed someone else? When have you gone through a situation where you had others along side you to help you through it? What was that like?

6. At BridgeWay, we talk about authenticity as a core value. If we can’t be authentic in our LIFEGROUPS, we can’t be authentic anywhere. Let’s pray as we start this semester that God would help us to be authentic and transparent with one another as we move forward in this semester.

***Always close your group with a time of prayer. As a leader, you can lead this or you can all share in the requests praying for one another. You need to know where your group is at to determine what would be most comfortable in that setting. i.e. don’t ask people to pray in the group if you’re not sure they’re ready to.

What a great day yesterday! Here are some thoughts on another winner at BridgeWay:

• It was a real privilege to speak today as we continued our series Modern Family. We talked about shaping the future of our children and families.
• Dale was in Fishers, IN today working with Landon and the team at a NewStart Church that has their Grand Opening next week. Be praying for these folks as they get ready to impact that city for Jesus.
• We also had another ministry team out in Champaign today helping a church with an outdoor service. It's great to see God using BridgeWay in so many ways on one day!
• We talked about step one in shaping the future of your family was to have a vision for where you wanted your family to end up.
• I talked about the vision God gave Dale for BridgeWay - "that people who are disconnected from the church would be encouraged and equipped to follow God's purposes for their lives." I asked for a show of hands of people who would consider themselves disconnected from the church prior to coming to BridgeWay. In both services, at least 75% of the people there had their hands raised!!!! God is doing some awesome stuff!
• We also talked about how it's tough to lead your family on the mission God has for you if you don't know what God's mission for your life is. This past Friday I was talking to a mentor of mine who shared with me a tool that he uses with people in his church to find their mission in life. It's pretty awesome. If you're interested in working through that tool with me, let me know (mattrobinson6504@gmail.com).
• Also, wanted to give a big shout out to the set up team for setting up in a torrential down pour. Always fun! These guys are troopers and never complain and are happy to serve.
• Reminder, we are moving to Tremont High School starting October 3! This should be a pretty great move for our church. We have an informational meeting this Sunday, September 26 at 5:00 pm at the BridgeWay Ministry Center. Come join us!
• We were also challenged by Dale to be praying and fasting this week for this move to Tremont, as well as for the families in our church as we are in the midst of this Modern Family series.
• Want to give a shout out to my lady, as she celebrated her 29th birthday yesterday! I'm blessed to have an awesome wife who loves Jesus and is a great mother to our son. Happy Birthday Brooke!
• The Colts brought it last night and got a phatty win against the Giants - a great way to end an awesome day!

Keep praying BridgeWay - the best is yet to come!

I ran across this quote this morning and I can’t get it out of my head: “The way we spend our days is the way we spend our lives.”

Upon first read, this seems like a pretty ‘duh’ type statement. However, there is a profoundness to this statement that won’t leave me alone.

This leads to the question, well, how am I spending my days? More importantly, how am I spending my days compared to how I desire to spend my life? That’s the most important question, and like any good planning exercise, we have to begin with the end in mind: “When all is said and done and I look back on my life, how do I want to have lived it?”

I have a few ‘greatest fears.’ Some involve my family, but only one involves me. My fear for myself is that I will come up short of the plans God has for me to accomplish regarding his work in the world. So how am I spending my days to ensure this doesn’t happen?

I decided to unpack how I’ve spent this week. It’s been a week of preparation for Party in the Park, a volunteer meeting, and LIFEGROUP sign ups kick off for next week, among other things. Along with all that, I’ve gotten to have some great conversations with folks about what God is doing in their lives, and through those conversations I’ve been grown and shaped as well. To be able to plan on 31 people being baptized, plus countless others positively impacted by the church, what could be better than that?

I really am blessed to be able to spend my time doing stuff that will make a difference for eternity. I’m blessed beyond words and grateful to God and this church for these opportunities and am thrilled about how I get to spend my days.

What about you? Where do you want to end up in life? Is the way you’re spending your days going to get you there? If not, what are you going to do about it?

God bless you on your journey to a life well spent.

I love Party in the Park! Seeing people get baptized is about the greatest thing that a pastor could ever witness. More than that, I love hearing the stories that come out of these decisions to be baptized. Many of these stories were the results of dominos and meaningless conversations.

On the dominos front for instance, I had breakfast with a guy today who has been radically transformed by Jesus. All he wants to do is see his friends come to be transformed the way he has been. So he was telling me about a guy who he had been on for months to come with him to church. He finally came, and within 2 weeks had decided to follow Jesus, experiencing incredible transformation. They both began to invite this guy’s son. Finally, he agreed to come only 2 weeks ago (from the time I’m writing this) and gave his life to Jesus and is experiencing real life transformation as well. As we sat at breakfast this morning, this guy kept saying over and over again, “I’m so jacked up! God is so awesome!” Dominos, spiritual dominos.

On the meaningless conversations front, there is a man in our church who is a leader in many ways. He got connected to our church because another leader from BridgeWay saw him in line in the post office and struck up a conversation with him about his t-shirt. Several years later, as a result of a ‘meaningless conversation’ this random dude from the post office has found his church home here, found the love of his life here who he married, and found his purpose in life through his ministry involvement at BridgeWay. Like I said, meaningless conversation.

This concept has really got me thinking. What meaningless conversation does God want me to have that could lead to a domino effect of lives being changed around me? On a much more introspective front, am I even aware of those moments where I’m supposed to have a ‘meaningless conversation’?

Maybe, there is no meaningless conversation. Maybe God designs all conversation to be some kind of domino effect. It may take seconds for the dominos to fall, maybe weeks, months or years, but you gotta think that He’s up to something much bigger than we can wrap our minds around.

So, prepare yourself for meaningless conversation! You never know when God is going to turn a meaningless conversation about a t-shirt into a long row of spiritual dominos toppling over.

I’ve really been thinking about the idea of discipline lately, namely self-discipline. I looked up the definition of discipline in the dictionary, and there are about a dozen definitions. In my life, I would have to say that discipline would be defined as “doing the things that I need to do, even though I don’t feel like doing them.”

I’ve also recognized an error in my thinking about discipline that God is slowly correcting. I used to think that discipline = workaholism. I thought a life of discipline meant that you spent relentless hours at work, studying, working, etc. God’s been showing me that that’s not what discipline is at all, and in fact, workaholism flies in the face of discipline at times.

For instance, I recognize that per my definition (doing the things that I need to do, even though I don’t feel like doing them) I violate discipline more often than I think. I know that I need to rest regularly and take time off, but sometimes I don’t. I know that there are times when I need to be with my family or taking care of things at home, but instead I do something else. In fact, there are times when I’m with my family and my head is at the office.

This is something that God has been really challenging me on for the past few months. God is saying to me that discipline requires presence. In other words, wherever I am, I need to be present there. I need to be present at the office when I’m counseling with someone. I need to be present with God when I’m reading scripture. I need to be present with my wife and son when I’m spending time with them.

It’s amazing how often I’ve caught myself violating this idea of discipline since God began to point it out to me. So, be present; wherever you are. The other stuff will get done; it always does. Live disciplined in this way, and watch how much more God allows you to appreciate each moment of your life.