the emotionally healthy church

I love to read. Anyone who knows me and spends any significant amount of time with me knows this to be true. I regularly engage in conversations with people about books they are reading and what they are enjoying in the literary world. I love to share my thoughts, when asked, on a book or books that I have read. It’s not often that I definitively say that a book is a must read. After a few recommendations attached to these very words from a few trusted brothers in my life, I jumped into this book and I must echo their sentiments. I have a book that I’d like to classify as a must read.

The Emotionally Healthy Church by Peter Scazzero is a book that I’m so thankful to have read. I’d hate to ruin the opportunity for you engage in this work with a fresh palate, so I won’t launch into a full review. The main premise is simply the necessity for us to understand that emotional health and spiritual maturity are inseparable. It addresses so many issues that have plagued followers of Christ for years. As humans, we know that even when we connect to Christ and our lives our redeemed, our flesh and our spirit are at war. In Galatians 5:17 it says, “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” This book was a great reminder that I need to be aware of how my flesh and my history can affect who I am in ministry. I’m thankful to have been introduced to this book and I’m thankful for the way it has affected my life!

clay

I certainly know that Richmond is where we need to be for this season in our lives. It has been amazing to see the Lord move in ways that I could not have anticipated or even asked for. He indeed knows what we need and we’ve definitely seen that if we submit to His will and ways, He is faithful to direct our steps. We have been blessed with the opportunity to partner in ministry with individuals who share a like mind and heart for the work that the Lord has set before us.

Ministry looks a lot different for me here in California on a day to day basis because I was blessed to spend a lot of time with students, walking through life and talking through spiritual conversations in Tennessee. I’m realizing that this is still an area that I am passionate about and miss greatly. I’ve also been blessed with the opportunity over the years to travel around the country, sharing the gospel message of Jesus Christ through speaking and music. This is another area in which the Lord has been affirming me that I am not supposed to lay down just yet. A few weeks ago, I was in Springfield, IL and during that trip, the Lord reminded me that He has gifted me in some specific ways that I have to be intentional about cultivating and using.

I’m sharing this because I would love for you to pray with me and for me that I can understand how I am supposed to reconcile these passions and ideas with the work that the Lord has called me to in Richmond. I have songs in my head and in my heart and would love to record them but don’t know how to take the next steps financially and relationally because this would be the first time doing so outside of the Nashville area. I just want the Lord to have His way in all areas of my life. I want to be available for His use and glory in whatever ways He sees fit. Our desire is that we are truly like the clay in the Potter’s hands, being molded into what He sees as best for us.

thankful

I’m sitting alone in my office.

I share this office with two amazing co-laborers in the faith. I think about the way these guys continually challenge me with their pursuit of Christ, encourage me with their words and actions and offer community with their families to Monique and I. I can’t help but be overwhelmed as I sit here and consider all that the Lord has allowed for me to be blessed with.

The quiet in this room helps me to reflect on the hustle of the past two weeks of settling in our new home, meeting new people, exploring the new city and engaging in new ministry opportunities and gospel relationships. It feels amazing to stop and sit in the reality of what the Lord has done and where He currently has us.

I look around this room and think about the conversations, prayer times and learning that will occur here. In the few interactions I’ve had with the beautiful people of Living Hope Neighborhood Church, I realize my inability to lead or even exist in my own strength. I’m humbled by the beauty and genuine nature of their pursuit of truth and I’m completely reliant on the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit to show me how to move. I feel desperate for help… and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I see the ordination certificate on my shelf and I can’t help but smile and think about the hundreds of people that are praying for Monique and I back at Strong Tower Bible Church. I’m so thankful for the time that the Lord gave me there to help me to mature and grow according to His ways. The relationships that seemed to have been left behind in Tennessee have actually made the journey with us, and that makes my heart warm.

I look at the clock hanging on the wall, in this new office, and I know it is time to prepare for our Sunday gathering. But before I get up, I’m going to sit for a few more minutes and just thank the Lord for all that He has done, is doing and will do. Why don’t you do the same.

roller coaster

The last few weeks have been a roller coaster of emotion and activity for me. It all started a couple of weeks ago when I went under the knife to correct a deviated septum. The surgery was definitely necessary but it certainly knocked me out (both figuratively and literally) for a couple of days. The day after I had the splints removed, I flew out to New Jersey and was blessed to have the opportunity to administer my first wedding for a great friend of mine. The wedding was a beautiful picture of the Gospel and God’s grace. On an off day between the rehersal and the wedding, I had an opportunity to return to the town where I grew up, South River. Simply driving through the city was surreal because I hadn’t been back there for any significant time in about 10 years. After visiting a bunch of significant landmarks and the places that I had lived as a child, I had the opportunity to reconnect with my dad. This was significant for me because I hadn’t seen him in person in the same number of years that I had since been back to my town. It was a sweet, yet difficult, encounter that I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to have. Later, in the same day, I took a ride over the bridge into Sayerville to visit the cemetery where my dear friend Mike Daly was laid to rest in 2008. He was pretty adamant in his desire for me not to see him in his weaker, sick state during his wrestle with cancer so I did my best to honor that. It was the first time that I have been able to visit his grave. After about a 6 hour stop back in Franklin, TN, I flew to Texas to speak for a week at a camp for an amazing ministry called House of Faith. There were a ton of amazing and challenging things that transpired during my few days there, and I left extremely encouraged. Once landing back in Franklin, I was blessed with the opportunity to share my heart in my last sermon at Strong Tower Bible Church, the place that I’ve been for the last 10 years. All of these activities and events happened, mind you, in the midst of planning and preparing to move across the country in only a matter of weeks!

I think it goes without saying that the emotional highs and lows that were experienced during this trip really took a toll on me. Though all of these encounters and experiences were both productive and necessary, my ability to find rest and peace in my connection with the Spirit of God was truly tested. In the times when I felt so emotionally drained and sad, I had to audibly cry out to the Lord to hold me up and be my rock. In the times when it seemed there wasn’t room for more joy, I had to be mindful to remember his desire for me seek joy continually. I had to proactively seek out the Lord and trust that he had me in His hands, even in the times that it didn’t feel like it. The beautiful, and yet challenging, thing is that this is exactly where the Lord desires for our hearts to be always.

I’m so thankful for an amazing wife that consistently provides encouragement and love in the midst of trials and challenges. I’m so thankful for friends that care deeply for my physical and spiritual well being. Most importantly, I am so thankful that the God of the universe, that created all things, is simply mindful of me. This roller coaster ride is full of nerve wracking, faith-inducing excitement… and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

affirmation

Everyone said this summer was going to fly by. They were right. With an extremely busy schedule in the month of July, it will only increase the velocity at which it seems we are traveling!

I can’t believe that we are only mere weeks away from moving across the country to Richmond. The more that I meditate on the greatness of God and His graciousness to include us in His plans, the more I am blown away and humbled. I know that this next step is the one that we are supposed to take as a family. The affirmation that our decision is the proper one has been overwhelming! There is no feeling like feeling the leading of the Lord in a certain area of your life, walking toward that calling and hence seeing numerous and blatant points of affirmation that it is, indeed, the direction you should be moving.

Along with our steps toward Richmond, I’ve also taken some steps toward furthering my education at the masters level. Because moving to a new city and serving in a new capacity in ministry is a big undertaking, I was a bit hesitant in committing to the idea of seminary. As I prayed and pondered, a had the increased sense that I was to journey toward this, as well. In a number of ways, the decision to submit my application has been affirmed, as well. (I still haven’t received word on whether or not I was accepted, though.)

I realize that California is a great distance from Tennessee, but as each day passes, the move to Richmond feels less like a giant leap of faith. Let me explain. As I’ve shared before, I’ve committed to live out the know will of God and allow the unknown will to reveal itself. I know that the known will of God for my life is to preach the Gospel, serve the poor and love others well (make disciples). I will have the opportunity to walk toward all of these things, it just so happens that I will seek to be obedient to the known will of God in California. I want to do all that I can to serve my wife well as a leader in our family, and I feel that I can only do this in the best way by being obedient to what the Lord is leading us toward.

It’s hilarious… we’ve been hearing the words Richmond and Living Hope (the name of the church) in passing so often! Even as I’m sitting in a coffee shop writing these very words, I just overheard a man loudly say “Richmond” to another gentleman in conversation. Some may say that it’s the “new car syndrome”. You know, its like once you decide to purchase a new car, you start seeing them everywhere. Well, that’s what some may say… I say that it’s our gracious Lord giving us just a bit more affirmation. I love it.