Life Happens When We Least Expect It

Over the last four years the Pastors in my life have been very great at helping me open my eyes to the spiritual warfare that happens. They have also been great about preparing me as a church planter and Pastor for the spiritual warfare that will occur in my life and in our family. I am so appreciative for their instructions because what has happened to me over the course of this last week could have ushered in some major depression and frustration in my life.

Yesterday - I attended a funeral for a friend I mentored my Senior year in High School, I found out that another great friend has stage 4 colon cancer, and my Grandpa (the only grandparent left) is having some health problems. Normally, I would question why and it would set me off track for the things that need to be accomplished for Generation Church! However, because I've been preparing for some major spiritual stuff to occur, dealing with these events (although sad) have been opportunities to share Jesus' love and opportunities for growth.

The overall point I want to get across is that life happens...how we choose to respond and how we are preparing for life makes all of the difference!

When the Blind Lead the Blind

As a part of my personal time with God I am reading through the book of Romans. I am doing this for a few reasons. The first is because I cannot be reminded enough that God's grace is abundant and it is the only reason I am who I am. Secondly it is a great reminder that I am so stinkin' sinful and am in total need of a Savior, because if admission to Heaven were based on me...we are all screwed. Finally, Romans is a great reminder (and a great tool) that there are so many people that we need to introduce to Jesus.

Well, today I wanted to share just a small portion of Romans 2 that hit me hard!
19 You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. 20 You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth. 21 Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? 22 You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples? 23 You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. 24 No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.” - Romans 2:19-24NLT

There are several things that hit me:

1. Recognition of my calling to start and lead Generation Church- I am 100% that this is what God has called me to do and to be a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness.
2. I must be practicing what I preach at all times!
3. My relationship with my wife and my commitment to her, our marriage, and the intimacy between us is the number one priority relationship outside of my relationship with Jesus.
4. It is vital that I do not give anyone any reason to walk away from Jesus.

So what do you get from these verses and how can you live a life so that you are not a blind man (or woman) leading the blind?

Sunday Night Unwind

What an amazing day! I missed being with our friends at The Pointe Community Church, but loved being invited to share my heart at St. Joe Community Church for a great friend of mine.

Here are a few thoughts of my day:

• Haven't preached this hard in a long time-I LOVE IT!
• I'm pretty sure I pissed some people off
• I'm pretty sure I inspired some people to BE THE CHURCH & Christians Jesus wants us to be
• COMPLETELY BLESSED beyond belief this weekend, God totally did some awesome things in the Brown family life this weekend.
• Loved watching Butler beat VCU...still a little upset that Kentucky lost, not because I like them but because I DO NOT LIKE UCONN!!! Blah!
• I am going to be glued to the tv on Monday night, watching Butler (wish I had my tv that is sitting in KY, watching a game of this importance isn't the same without my big screen HDTV)
  
• As I preached this morning, God laid it on my heart to step up even harder in our efforts for reaching Indiana.
• I believe that Generation Church is going to be influential in planting at least 10 churches/campus' in Indiana in the next 10 years and at least 1 new church in every 50 states in the next 10 years.
• Reading "Sun Stand Still" with my leadership team...only two chapters in and am BLOWN AWAY!
• Looking forward with connecting with my mentor/coach, Charlie, this week!
• Got to act like a lil kid today at Chuck E Cheeses with my son and some new friends of ours!
• I AM SO PUMPED ABOUT what God has called us to do in Noblesville, and excited for the churches and people that God has placed in partnerships with us (thanks The Pointe, Fall Creek, St. Joe, LifeGate and many of you out there thinking about partnering)
• Looking forward to seeing some of our logo concepts in the next few days...which reminds me I've gotta get a website started (any ideas on cheap hosting domains, etc)
• I CANNOT WAIT FOR NEXT SUNDAY...and for EASTER!
  

Well, those are about all of the thoughts I've got going through my mind this evening!
Peace, Love, & Chicken Grease!

I Used To Take Notes From Starbucks

Starbucks. One coffee company that has changed our culture forever. I really love the atmosphere of Starbucks. It is a cool, place that has comfortable seating, lust loud enough background music, and tasty coffee (not saying that it is the best, but it does the job). I used to dream about planting a church that has a Starbucks like experience. I used to take notes from every Starbucks experience that I had. I would write down the color scheme on their walls, their lighting, their music, their displays, seating, etc. However, things have changed dramatically.

Don't get me wrong, I still like the environment at Starbucks. BUT...the biggest thing that has dramatically decreased (if at all even remotely present any longer) is the personal attention that I used to get. Not that the Barista's are impersonal, or unfriendly, but I have not walked into Starbucks in the last 2 years with any of them asking for my name and thanking me by name. That's right, it used to be that Starbucks would ask for my name and then once my order was ready, greet me by name and thank me by name, this doesn't happen anymore.

It is this impersonal experience that I refuse to let happen at Generation Church! I want every guest/owner/family member that walks through the doors to be personally greeted and feel as though they are worth something. For me, using my name shows that you care about me; the church must let people know that we care for them! It must be personal (this is not saying that the vision that God has laid on the Pastor's heart is compromised by the personality of everyone in the church, it just means that people must be the most important aspect of the church!)

Leaders in the Church, Starbucks, and anyone else of influence...make your experience personal it will bring worth to those you serve and open the doors for community!

It's Been an Interesting Few Months

Yes, I know many of you may have noticed that the last time stamp for my last blog was the end of January. Well, this blog is more of just an update, and I will get back to more meaningful blogs later this week.

Cyndi, Micaiah and I are all together in Indianapolis!!! We made the decision that it was getting too close to Josiah getting here and we hate being apart. Another factor is that in order for Generation Church to be launched when we feel like God is leading I needed to move up here and start meeting people. So, we are renting a 1 bedroom apartment for all of us to be together while selling our house in Kentucky and our new home in Noblesville is being finished. We laugh because we have gone from 1800 sq ft to 650 sq ft and sometime in June we will be going to about 3400 sq feet. God is truly working, we have signed a contract to build our dream home (for the same cost of buying an already built one) in Noblesville. I have already met several of our neighbors and have already began to invite them to Generation Church (and we aren't even meeting yet). We have several families very interested. Please keep praying, we want our house in KY to sell very quickly but know He has the right family for the right time!

Cyndi is doing great! She is loving her job, although recruiting is very slow at the moment, mostly because of lack of marketing. She is healthy and strong, as well as Josiah. We go back to the doctor on April 11 for a 3D ultrasound (which was ordered by the doctor due to a potential complication) several third trimester tests and just to keep things on path for Josiah's June appearance. Cyndi has definitely entered the very uncomfortable state of her pregnancy, as it is becoming difficult for her to sleep, having to use the bathroom every five minutes, and (although I think she is HOT and looks fantastic) she has now become self conscious about the baby bump that has taken place. All in all things are awesome!

Micaiah has started preschool/daycare and it was a bit of an emotional time for he and I. You see, he has been my side kick for the last two years. Although, I will miss being with him all day everyday and the awesome ministry doors he opens for me, it is time for him to get friends his own age. It also frees me up to go to Starbucks and meet with people (that's where I am at right now, and I just had a random lady shout to the entire store that she knows me, but she really doesn't). Micaiah being in preschool also allows me to partner with and serve alongside The Pointe Community Church while we getting things under way for Generation Church. Their Lead Pastor, Charlie Fehrman, has been a great blessing in my life and has become a mentor as we plant.

God is truly blessing us! Thank you so much for your prayers, support, and love that you have show for Cyndi, Micaiah, and myself.