a work in progress.

I cannot believe the response I’ve received from politicians, professional christians and the inside out.  Since my first blog post in the series, it’s hard to count how many conversations I’ve had with people (most of which are young leaders) regarding these topics.  It’s really encouraging to me because 1) people actually read my blog and 2) people are re-thinking leadership in the same way.  This proves to me that God is doing something much bigger with the Church and leadership in the Church that surpasses the work He’s been doing in me.

For those of you who are experiencing the same stirring in your spirit about leadership–keep living an exemplary lifestyle.  Don’t just talk about it, question it, complain about it or philosophize about it, but BE the change you wish to see.  Live a lifestyle that’s worth following.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.  -1 Timothy 4:12

By the way, I do plan to write more things in this series.  I’m trusting God’s guidance to write in a clear, uplifting and edifying way so that people will be encouraged rather than discouraged.

It’s been a busy but refreshing last couple of weeks.  Last weekend, I had the opportunity to lead worship at our church.  This weekend, I had the opportunity to preach…to adults.  If you would have asked me a year ago if I’d be preaching to adults…I would have said, “I don’t even know if I want to go back into ministry.”

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been out of “professional” ministry for close to a year to the date.  I find myself questioning a lot of things.  Is it ironic that after six years going full-throttle in ministry that I’ve spent this last year (my seventh year) unemployed and finding rest and recovery in acts of pure service to different churches?  Maybe it’s a sabbatical or jubilee that God has provided?  I understand that it’s possible I’m reading into everything.  But it’s also possible that God, in His sovereignty, could be preparing me for something.  I’m not sure what God has in store.  Only time will tell.  I trust that God will continue providing clarity.

Below is my message from the weekend.  It was for a series called, “Life Happens.”  We’re going through the book of Philippians.  My main text was Philippians 4:4-7.  Also, I heavily used the movie, Stranger Than Fiction as an illustration.