Why did this happen?

Those following the adventure of launching this church know a huge area of prayer and need has been in developing a family ministry team. It comes down to this reality:

First- we absolutely need a top-notch nursery and children's program if we wish to have any connection with young families. It just a given, and the first impression matters deeply. ("Oh, sorry we have nothing planned for your 2 year old- just enjoy the service and come back in a few weeks and we should have something going.")

Second- folks don't get on board with a new church because they are dying to volunteer with a children's program. For most churches it is already the single largest volunteer based program.

So, imagine my delight when Meghan and Paula step up to the plate to help me get this team started- plan our preview service programs, get some volunteers, and see where it goes.
We get together yesterday afternoon, sit down to start planning on the front steps, and, I'm not making this up-

A kid comes running down the sidewalk asking for help, blood everywhere- he had been stabbed by his own sister, once in the neck and once in the shoulder.

Our day of planning a family ministry program sudden was taken over with giving the boy immediate attention, calling 911, and the numerous questions and police reports that followed.

So after an afternoon like that, one is left wondering, "Why did this happen?" Why today? Why were we there? And of course, why does a family sometimes become the place of our greatest pain and risk, instead of love and safety?

We didn't get anything done planning our family ministry program, but if nothing else, I have a renewed passion and focus to make this a priority- to love and support families, to provide a safe refuge, to even teach people, at the most basic level, how to be a family. I don't know all the answers, and I don't know where this is going, but I do know of one more family that needs our prayers and at least one "pastoral visit" from a guy who just happened to be there when a boy needed help.

Hats off to Paula and Meghan, the first responders and police officers that came to help.

Simpsonized

In honor of the premier of the Simpson's Movie this Friday, here's me, "Simpsonized."

And Here's Robin...
And if I had more time, I'd do our kids, but I've already wasted enough time on the site
www.simpsonizeme.com

And just for fun, a few favorite quotes:

Mr. Burns: I'll keep it short and sweet: family, religion, friendship. These are the three demons you must slay if you wish to succeed in business.

Homer: Are you saying you're never going to eat any animal again? What about bacon?
Lisa: No.
Homer: Ham?
Lisa: No.
Homer: Pork chops?
Lisa: Dad, those all come from the same animal.
Homer: Heh heh heh. Ooh, yeah, right, Lisa. A wonderful, magical animal.

Homer: Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals ... except the weasel.

Homer: Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.

Marge: This is the worst thing you've ever done.
Homer: You say that so often that it lost its meaning.

Laywer: Well, what about that tatoo on your chest? Doesn't it say Die, Bart, Die?
Sideshow Bob: No, that's German for 'The Bart, The."
Parole Judge: No one who speaks German can be an evil man! Parole Granted!

Krusty: So, have a merry Christmas, a happy Hanukkah, a kwaazy Kwanza, a tip-top Tet, and a solemn, dignified, Ramadan. And now a word from MY god, our sponsors!

Read more at www.thesimpsonsquotes.com

I hope all of you still have some respect for me as a pastor, father, and fellow human being.

God-incidences

It’s almost daily now that the coincidences that God sets up simply amaze me. Here are some things for which God gets the glory:

I drive to Burlington to visit a church, and end up meeting our Home Groups directors, Mark and Julie, who end up moving to London!
Robin and I join a dinner group and make friends with Adam. Later we find out that Adam sets up sound systems for a living. We just happen to need one.
I joke about needing land on the north side. The next week Kevin and Marj are at our home group, telling us how they have a connection with a man who has property on the north side and wants to see it used for God’s glory (who knows where this might lead!)
I kept struggling to find a web designer until about a month ago- turns out I’ve been walking by his house almost everyday for the past year!
I spend an afternoon in an audio shop, creating our wish list. The next morning the first phone call I receive is from a church selling some their portable sound equipment.
I commit our worship team to lead a service on July 15. On July 12 our band has their first practice- and they rock!
Robin bumps into a woman at a playground and they start talking about church. They realize we have a mutual friend in Kitchener. We’re simply left shaking our heads in awe.
Robin stops by the Northwest resource center to see how we might get involved with some service as a church- next thing she’s on the steering committee planning the Northwest Funday, booking our band and promoting our church.
So after all of this, and so much more, I have to ask myself- small world or big God?
I’m going to have to go with big God- big awesome God who keeps putting just the right people and opportunities in our path at just the right time.
Perhaps Jesus meant what he said-

ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

I'm a Rock Star In Canada...

I'm driving with Mike Fluit, one of our worship leaders, to pick up a mixer in Cambridge yesterday. Now Mike is a very humble guy, but he really is an accomplished musician. So I'm always bragging that he's on our team.
Anyways, Mike starts telling me about some of the videos he's done.
So we arrive at this church and I introduce myself to the guy waiting for us, then turn and introduce Mike as our worship leader, and add, "You may have heard him on the radio or seen his videos."
And the guy jumps right in and says, "I thought you looked familiar!"
I almost split my side laughing.
All this to say, God amazes me everyday with little surprises and connections.
And that Mike, and Nathan, and the rest of our worship team really are awesome.


P.S. Check out Mike's video here.

Risk Management

A few months ago I was asked to conduct a wedding. At the time I had just been officially “ordained” and could officiate weddings for the church.
But I was not yet legal in the eyes of the province.
I was honest with the family and told them I’d look into it. So after getting the proper paperwork in place and sent off to the proper authorities, I told the couple that I would be all set for the wedding. This, after all, was more than 10 weeks out from their big day.
It seemed like a reasonable risk.
Two weeks before the wedding it didn’t seem so reasonable.
A week before the wedding it seemed downright foolish.
A day before the wedding I was ready to save face and move back to the US.
After numerous calls on my part, I finally received confirmation- 3pm Friday afternoon- 4 hours before the rehearsal- I was officially given clearance to officiate weddings in Ontario.

I reflected with the couple that entering into marriage is a lot like risk management. You weigh the pros and cons, but in the end, you take a chance.

A lot of my work in planting this church comes down to risk management. We weigh the pros and cons, with think through our plans, we use our brains and we do the work necessary. We don’t just jump out on a limb and call it a leap of faith. A lot of well-intentioned Christians have done a lot of stupid things and called it leap of faith!

But in the end there is always risk- will the funding come through, will the volunteers show up, will we get the necessary equipment, will the people show up when we start services? There’s a lot of risk involved. And sometimes we have to wait until the final hour. But it’s been thrilling to experience, at every turn, how God and His people always come through.

What a day!

A few weeks ago the folks at Good News church in London asked me if I was available to preach. I was. But I decided to go bold. I asked if it would be OK if I brought a worship team to lead the service. They were game.
Prefect- now I had to organize a worship team!
Well, it really wasn't that far of a stretch- we had two awesome singer/guitarists in Mike Fluit and Nathan Birtch. If all else failed I knew even one of them could pull it off.
Fast forward to yesterday- words cannot express how awesome God is and how awesome our band is! After only two practices, only one with our drummer, these guys were tight, and it was all for God's glory!
Props to my peeps- Mike and Nate for leading this ministry, and for Sonya, Jeff, Steven, Melissa, Ben and Mike for pulling it together.
And it looks like we may have even found our sound guru.

But that was just the morning...


That evening our launch team gathered to go over our plans. More than 40 of us meet to eat, worship and get to work. I'm so amazed when I think about how far we've come. We have a ton to do, but it's getting done. 30+ volunteers are needed for each service starting in the fall. We're not quite half way there- but we will be.
God will build His church.
And we'll play our part.

The Logo

I've loved reading the comments regarding the logo, both here and on our facebook page.
Here are my thoughts on what it speaks to me and why I'm leaning toward this:
(We're still playing with the fonts, so don't get too attached to the cursive writing yet- it may change.)

• We stand together- "I've got your back"- We are in fellowship with each other.
  
• Together we reach out to the world- in all directions.
  
• The three "C" shapes reflect our name, "Connections Community Church."
• The the "C" shapes also reflect our mission: Connecting with God...with People...with the World.
• The overall shape reflects our Triune God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• The white space between makes a very simple cross shape.
  
• The trinitarian shape also connects us to our area- Ontario- which has the Trillium as its official symbol.
• The Trillium shapes is also distinctive of Celtic Christianity, which I won't go into detail on here, but which definitely reflects our mission and methodology.
  
• The color taps into the most essential of the liturgical colors- green, conveying grow in Christ.
• The color also reflects our commitment to stewardship.
• The overall look of the design has reminded people of a flower blooming, which I like.
• Overall the logo is simple- a value for the church and how we do things.
• The logo translates well to print and photocopying, a bonus.
  
• The font is still in discussion: part of me likes the interconnection of the cursive writing, part of me loves the crisp lines of the print.
  
• Finally- I just think it looks really cool!

And in case you're wondering- it would only cost about $100 to have this as a tattoo! Yes, I actually checked at the parlor down the street.