Am I Dreaming?

Have you ever asked yourself this question? Were your reality is so incredibly far-fetched and unreal that you thought you were dreaming or that you were just imagining something that really isn't real at all. As I have been living this faith journey out with Christ of the last, going on 9 years now, I find myself from time to time asking this question. There have been moments that were just so surreal for me and it was almost like it really wasn't happening, but yet I was fully present in the moment and more alive than I have ever been before in my life.

Some of these moments would be like the first time I felt the weight of my sins lifted from me and the Holy Spirit come on me like fire and consumed me in the moment and forever, or like the moment I saw my beautiful bride-to-be walking down that aisle towards me as I waited for her to give herself to me and I to her for the rest of our lives here on earth, or like the first time I was able to hold both my daughters in my arms and then months later stand in front of the body of Christ and dedicate them unto Him. These are just a few of those moments in my life, were I found myself asking the question, Am I dreaming? Is this really real?

A sense of awe and wonder would come over me and the realization of God's grace in my life would break me into streams of tears each and every time. I was recently reading Making Small Groups Work and it was in this book that for the first time I heard this definition of grace. Grace is receiving something in your life that is needed, that you could never acquire on your own. This is way beyond a random act of kindness or even unconditional love, though these things are all part of God's grace, grace is much more. Think about it for a minute. What is it in your life? Was there ever anything in your life that you needed (known to you or not) that someone gave you in love with no strings attached? I'm getting a little of the subject here, but I guess this is my way of explaining how I felt and feel during those "Am I dreaming" moments.

There is a story in the book of Acts in the 12 chapter were Peter was in prisoned by Herod and the church was earnestly praying for him. While in prison, he had 4 guards and their teams surrounding him at all times, while being chained between two of them. An angel of the Lord appeared and broke his chains and opened wide the cell gates and led him out. During this time the text says that Peter thought he was seeing a vision from God but then quickly realized that this was his reality, God's grace in action! Then a few verses later we see it again, when Peter knocks on the door of those who were praying for him and a woman by the name of Rhonda answered the door, so startled when she saw him she couldn't even open the door, instead she runs back to tell everyone that Peter's at the door and they all think she's out of her mind, or that she must have saw his angel. Once again, God's grace in action and the power of prayer for the miraculous. I wonder if those involved in this miracle shed some tears along the way?

My question is why are we not having more of these moments in our lives? Not only personally but as the body of Christ as well. Why do we not see the miraculous as much and why do we just settle for a complacent life? We should be seeking, knocking and asking for God to give his miraculous provisions in our lives, Physically, Intellectually, Emotionally, Spiritually and Socially. We need to come to Him like a child, humble and full of faith and assurance that our Father in heaven wants and longs to give us good gifts of his mercies and grace. Far to often we find ourselves just drifting through this life with the comfort and safety of our lives, which we seem to manage quite well, with all our innovation and gadgets to help us through, we leave now room for God to do the miraculous, let alone do we think to even ask. How sad.

Lord, break us and help us to know and see the depths of your love for us and how you long to have our affections and how you long to show us your might and power in our lives as we live this walk with you, out in a world that so desperately needs to know you and see you at work through your saints. By your Holy Spirit, send the fire into our lives once again and empower us to be the witnesses you have called us to be.Help us God to know you more each and every day. It's in the wonderful, mighty and powerful name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

All the Drama?

From the ever increasing horror film industry (6 fold growth) in the last decade, to all the "Trauma" episodes on TV and increasing sex scandels and porn on the internet, why do so many fall into this trap of needing to "feel" or "believe" in something. I think the answer is at the core of who we are as humans being, we were created to have relationship with God and so if we don't believe in God we will beleive in something. We were created with feelings and emotions, that were ultimately to be to God's glory and when we find our lives rooted in Christ and are bringing all those feelings and emotions towards him, then we are begnning to live a full and abundant life. I think all the terror, horror and the need for all this trauma and drama, comes from this healthy desire that we all have, but its unfortunetely being focused, misguided and channeled in the wrong direction, leaving people with "feelings" and "emotions" for the moment, but then leaving them with emptiness and void, seeking out that next thrill or emotion to feel. My question is what are we filling our lives with? What are we allowing to come through the windows of our bodies into the depths of our souls? God longs to have a relationship with all people and to have us be totally fulfilled in Him and Him alone. He has made that way through Christ and Christ has and is redeeming all things unto him. If you have never surrendered your life to Christ, I would challenge you to take a step towards knowing Him today by just acknowledging Him as the Son of God who came and lived a sinless life and died for the sins of the world (you and I) and was then resurrected on the 3rd day and who now sits at the right hand of the Father, until the final consummation of all things and the day of Judgement. God has a plan and a purpose for you far beyond anything you could ever imagine or dream of, but you must be willing to surrender to Him as Lord of all and Lord of your life. To find true life, you must lose your life for Christ' sake, then through Him you will have eternal life. God did a miracle in my life and He wants to do one in yours as well, won't you let Him?

Up to speed...

Ok...I must confess that I didn't even realize how long its been since I last posted, I knew that it's been a while but I didn't think it was over 3 wks now! Time is flying this summer. So anyway I thought I would catch you all up to speed on what's been going on with us...

• Just getting back from a week vacation, visiting my family in PA. It was great to see all my friends and family again and to do absolutely nothing, minus a few rounds of golf :)
• Lot's going on at Overflow, we are currently "under construction" with our space at the mall, turning our store front into a full blown Cafe! then in the back we are constructing walls and spaces for offices and prayer rooms.
• We also have 2 serving groups, one came in this past week and one coming next week to help with those projects and some around the neighborhoods.
• Please keep me in your prayers for this Sunday that I would preach God's word with boldness and love.
• Also the girls are both fighting colds since vacation and feeling a bit run down, so pray for them and their health that its gets better fast.

And so I will leave you with a word that the Lord has been having me dwell on this week found in Gen 25:19-34, the story and beginnings of Jacob and Esau. Particularly verses 29-34, where Esau sells his birthright, it states that Esau came in from the fields weary feeling like he was about to die! Jacob tells him to sell him his birthright, listen to Esau's response... "Look, I am about to die; so what is my birthright to me?"

WOW.... what a powerful picture of our fleshly desires, so much so that Esau doesn't even care about his inheritance! And the Lord softly spoke to me and said, how many times do we forfeit walking in our inheritance to satisfy our fleshly desires, how many times to we hunger after the wrong things in this life that ultimately will only satisfy but a moment! Are you willing walking out on your inheritance for the desires of this world to leave you empty, or are you walking out of your Father's house with all your blessings to squander it away in wild living like the prodigal son? Some of us have forfeited our inheritance and don't even know it! Some think that because they are still in the house of the Lord and never left the 4 walls of the church that they have something coming to them! How wrong could we be?

Lord help us to see your goodness and mercy, help us to not be like spoiled children backbiting you and one another, help us to have grateful hearts and joyful souls for what ever you bring into our lives, materially and spiritually, cause ultimately you are the only one that matters, all else will pass away in this life except for what you have place within us to take with us into eternity where we will glorify you all our days and continue in the works that you prepared for us before the foundations of the world.

Sunshine Blue Skies

Summer sunshine and blue skies have finally burst on the scene here in southwest Michigan and in a lot of ways this is what’s been happening in the life of Overflow. As summer is now upon us with the warmth of the sun beating down on us and the cool breeze coming off the lake and as people gather at the beaches, picnic areas and recreational hot spots, we find ourselves becoming more and more the beautiful community and bride that Christ has called and commissioned us to be in our world!

There are many wonderful things going on this summer in the life of the church and wanted to give you all a sneak peak at “the happenings” that are taking place over the next couple of months.

July 12: Overflow Community Picnic and Worship Concert at Riverview Park
July 31- Aug. 1: Local Camping Trip; Bonfire, Camp food and Good Times!
Aug. 8: World Pulse Music Festival; Free Concert! Come one, Come all!
Aug. 9: Summer Baptisms and Picnic at Lake Michigan.
All Summer: Tidal Wave of Serving


Even in the midst of all that is taking place this summer, it’s so very important that we remember that in everything that takes place and in all the things that we do, it never equates for who we are in Christ, individually and collectively as the body. We are His bride, his workmanship, his spotless unblemished bride, because of who He is and His righteousness that has been bestowed upon us through the cross. So as the sun shines this summer and as the warmth of the days and the cool breeze of the air refreshes our bodies and mind, let us not forget the one and only true source that brings forth light and refreshing airs to each one of us and those around us, the one and only true Son who radiates his love from the throne room of Heaven at the right hand of God, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

A Beautiful Community

Yesterday we had an accident occur at our church that meets in a movie theatre. A young boy was just being a young boy if you will and had an accident that caused a fairly large gash in his leg which required numerous stiches and some stables to close the wound. Needless to say it was a pretty scary moment for all of us. But the best part of all is how I've watched our community respond in love and support for the family

So I want to say THANK YOU to all of Overflow for responding the way you all did!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for being the covenant community that we are called to be and this is truly a gift from God. A lot of times we don't think about our salvation in terms of community, however, I think that it's a vital part of how and why God extends His mercies and gace to us. Community helps us to grow-up in our faith and our love for one another, conforming into the likeness of Jesus everyday as we surrender/submit our lives to God AND to one another. This is how we are to be a "light" to the world as we show others "the new day and new way" thats found through Christ alone. So I want to say thanks to all again from my heart for showing what it means to be part of the family of God as we live in this beautiful community together.

Grace and Peace to all.

Broken Windows...

ok...so I thought I would share some insight from this book I'm reading called the tipping point by Malcolm Gladwell. I'm in a chapter right now called the Power of Context. In this chapter the author gives the account of the crime wave of NY City in the 80's and how in the 90's something dramatic happened to turn this thing on its head "tipping point".

There is this thing called the Broken Window theory, basically its that if a window is broken and not repaired then that sends a signal to everyone out there that no one cares and no one is in charge which leads to more broken windows and eventually more and more crime, deeper and deeper...Gladwell says that in a lot of ways this is how crime becomes an epidemic, its almost like a fashion trend that catches on, its contagious, mixed with the right context. So the story continues on "how" the city officials began to "tip" the city back in the right direction. He tells the story about fixing the subways of all the graffiti, even though people thought that this was the "least" of the problems, they started there with the small things and sent the message to all the criminals, they also did this with the farebeaters as well, not paying for the subway and jumping gates. Little by little they were sending a message.

here is a quote from the chapter...

"When crime began to fall in the city - as quickly and dramatically as it had in the subways - Brattion and Guiliani point to the same cause. Minor, seemingly insignificant quality-of-life crimes, they said, were the Tipping Points for violent crime. Broken Windows theory and the Power of Context are one and the same. They are both based on the premise that an epidemic can be reversed, can be tipped, by tinkering with the smallest details of the immediate environment."

So, what does this look like on our blocks and neighborhoods? I guess the old proverb "a little can go a long way" is true. What can we be intential about in the small things that will be contagious and help to bring the tipping point to BH as we live our day to day lives....just something to think about.

Let the Tidal Wave of Serving Begin!!!

This week kicks off our Tidal Wave of Serving here in the Benton Harbor, St. Joe region. Here's a sneek peek at what's been going on... (Click on Tidal Wave). More to come over the summer, stay tuned.

The Tide's Coming In

A few months back I listened to a sermon on revival, it was probably one of the best sermons I have ever heard on the subject. I think primarily because the sermon focused on the sovereignty of God and not human efforts in trying to attain God's goodness, mercy and grace. This sermon so impacted me that I made numerous copies and distributed them to all the people in my circle that I thought would enjoy it, engaged it and learn from it.
As of late, I have found the tide coming in, in my own life. God has been taking me deeper and deeper into the river of life with him and teaching me things in the quite still places of my soul. I have found that in and through my times of study and in my preaching of the word there has been more of him all over it! And it's been totally rocking my world. I'm preaching with a conviction like never before and letting it all be out there, there's been such a freedom that I have never experienced before and a trust that God is releasing the power of his word and it's like a tide rising up and overwhelming people.
My prayer is that I just continue to hunger and thirst for more of him and his righteousness and that God graces me with his presence, while keeping a humble heart to be used by him in mighty ways. I pray that the fruit of my life brings complete and total glory and honor to him who is worthy to be praised forever and ever! Amen.

Perfect Timing

God's timing is always right on point. Have you ever wondered, "what if?" Like what if I didn't listen to what I knew God was leading me to do, or what if I never said the words I knew I was to say to someone. Im sure we have all experienced some form of the "what ifs's" throughout our lives, some of us more than others I'm sure.

Today I experienced one of those perfect moments. I knew all day today that God was leading me to something that I really wasn't wanting to do, but knew that I needed to do it (you know what I mean?), and so I must confess, I pulled a Gideon on God and through out the fleece today and sure enough, confimation again. Now, I know that and beleive that the "fleece" story is not one to take on all the time, but sometimes my mind just works that way, not sure how theologically correct that is, but I do know that God speaks to me in those ways from time to time.

So as I walked in obeidence today and with God's help was very thankful and happy to do it, God showed up in ways that I'm not sure would have happened otherwise and so it makes me ask myself the question, "what if?" What if I would have chosen not to listen and obey my heavenly father as he was leading me, then what? Would the blessing still have come? Would another have been ministered to in ways only God can do? I would have to logically conclude that things would have turned out another way, better or worse? I'm not sure.

I believe with all my heart in the soveriegnty of God and that all things that He wills to happen, will happen, one way or another, but the question is are we going to be part of it. God is at work all around us and as he leads us and asks us and requires of us things for his goodness and purpose, his kingdom here on earth, are we going to be obedient to him? Or are we going to miss the blessings he has for us and for those around us who are in need of him.

The Joy Set Before Him

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." -Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

Jesus alone is who we need to be looking to for our understanding of what true joy and peace is and can be in our lives. We must know that this life is not always perfect and a lot of times doesn't turn out the way we think it should, especially if we are following Jesus at all costs. A lot of times we get trapped into this mentality that if we are "following" Jesus and living the "right" life as we think we should, then everything turns out hunky dory.
Obviously, we know that this is not always the case, most times its not. Often times we are led to places where God wants to meet us and these are places that we may not be comfortable going to. The cross of Christ always bids us to come and die, die to our self and all our desires of our flesh, that we might truly live in Christ. Philippians 1:21 "to live is Christ, to die is gain" are the words of Paul, a man who got it, he understood what it meant to truly live and to have Joy and Peace in any and every circumstance which he found himself. Which a lot of times were situations none of us would want to be in (see II Cor. 11), he was often whipped, beaten, tortured, in prison, ship wreck, homeless, you name it, Paul went through it and ultimately leading to his death.
Why would anyone willingly go through all of that, just as Jesus did as he set the example for all of us. Why suffer? Why lose everything? Why give of yourselves wholly to others with no reservations? Why? I believe that the answer to these questions of "why" point us directly to the cross. Until we understand how to die on that cross, until we understand what it means to lose our lives, so that we may gain life in Christ, we will continue down that same old path of familiarity that tells us to just settle, that its time to just grow up and be responsible, make sensible decisions, that you have everything in this life that you need, continue to be a good steward of what you have.
The problem is, is that road leads us to a place of emptiness and unfulfillment, a false joy, a false hope that never really satisfies. On the other hand, there is another road where true joy, everlasting joy and peace is set before us and is now at hand for those who dare journey down it. However I must warn you that it WILL COST you something, it will cost you your life, your desires, your dreams. You may even have to go through things that are not pleasant, things that at the time are not fun at all, however God will meet you in those situations, he wants to grow you and mature you in your faith and trust in him. Rom. 8 talks about being conformed into the image and likeness of Christ Jesus, Hebrews mentions that God disciplines those he loves, God loves us enough to never leave us where we are at. He consistently calls us to die daily to our lives and to follow him, as Jesus' words, "pick up your cross and follow me". When we do this and are faithful to what God is calling us to, whatever that maybe, he is more than enough for us, to sustains us and to produce within us all the good fruit of his Holy Spirit. And once we become obedient over the long haul and have an understanding that this life is not my own, then his Joy and Peace come upon us and we begin to experience life to the fullest as Jesus promised, and the Joy that was set before Him is now set before us as we learn to follow Him. Christ Alone.

MY GIRLS!!

Nothing in the world is more precious to me than my girls, other than my wife, who I have vowed to be with till death due us part and to whom I love and cherish more than anything in this world. One day my girls will grow up, discover boys and eventually one day leave Casey and I for another man, to start a life of their own together.  But in the mean time I'm going to enjoy these moments and God willing the many more to come.

Right now, as I write this post, I am sitting in the St. Joseph Hospital with Olivia, who was admitted today with Flu-like symptoms and possible phenomena.  No results back yet on anything, probably not till morning.  So I just finished rubbing her head and tickling her back before she feel off to sleep for some much needed rest. As for the rest of the night, I'm sure lots of prayer and reading of the word, between nurses checking in and taking temps.  

These girls are so precious to me and as their daddy, I want nothing more than to protect them and to make sure that they are taken care of in this life.  The last thing any parent wants to see is there child sick or in any kind of pain for that matter.  I know that my God is a good God and its my prayer that one day, God quickens their hearts by his grace that they may be made alive in Christ Jesus.  I pray that above all else, that God would reveal himself to them and that his Holy Spirit would make them alive from their dead, sinful nature, that they would know the depth of his love. I pray that one day, they both would be able to say, as John has said of himself in his gospel, the one whom Jesus loved, that's me!  I have often whispered that to them, and would say something like "do you know Jesus died for you, He loves you!"  This is my prayer tonight, yes I'm praying for a fast healing and good report, but more than that, I'm praying that God would have mercy on them and that his grace would be extended to them.

check yourself

1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?[a] 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."[b]
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Lately God has been showing me a ton about myself, my selfishness, my motives, my ignorance, etc... you get the point. So this morning this was the word that struck home with me as I continue to play merry-go-round in my mind about the importance of struggling well, God's grace, confession, obedience over the long haul, did I mention God's grace... anyway I think you get the picture. Isn't it so easy to fall into complacancy in our walk that we total miss out on our intimacy with our Lord Jesus? Just getting caught up in the everyday things of this life, our routines, work, family... I mean life is noisy and if we are not taking the time or disciplined to have and make time to meditate on God and His goodness and mercy, if we are not taking time to confess and repent of our sins, it's the little things that crept in slowly and begin to kill and snuff out any longing and desires of the Holy Spirit that is within us.

5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?

Why do you think Jesus talked about fasting as something that would be done as the norm in the life of a Christian? He knew exactly why he was saying what he was saying, He knew that we would need to arm ourselves with this type of armour along with prayer. Throughout the bible fastings were done with the intent of helping in spiritual matters and purposes, abstaining from food or drink for a time, to set oneself apart to the Lord and to seek him on matters at hand.
What would be some "matters at hand" for us today? What would be reason for us to do as James 4:9-10 tells us to cry out to God and to humble ourselves before him who is worthy?

Some of you may even be thinking why do I need to do that and what benifit is there to always being down and out, crying and mourning about things. What you have to understand is this passage is talking about a repentant heart that is crying out to God for forgivness, not once, but a continual understanding that we must continue to struggle well within ourselves and we do that by continual confession, repentance and moving forward. But most of the time we just dismiss anything that seems really not that big of a deal, right? I mean come on, do I really have to repent over all the little sins of my day? I mean isn't some of that just the way I am and will always be? I'm really not that bad of a person, and when I accepted Christ years ago didn't He cover even my future sins?

Yes, Christ did cover all our sins when He died on that cross for us. The fact of the matter is, is that we still struggle with our sin nature (see Paul in Romans 7, look at all the men and women of God for that matter) and so the question is what do you do with it? Do you dismiss it? Bury it? Ignore it? OR do you confess it to God and somone else? Do you repent and turn in a different direction? Are you obedient of the long-haul?

Are you struggling well, or are you fading into a life of complacency and mediocrity in your life?

Incomprehensible

Incomprehensible, this is the best word that I could think of that describes what God has done in my life. His grace and mercy overwhelms me at times,to think about it and I often times I find myself flowing in tears of gratitude for this new life and family that God has given me. I'm often reminded of where God has brought me from and as I reflect on that and how his grace found be just where I was I'm reminded through my wife and family just howmuch he truly does love me, cause I wasn't deserveing of any of it. I'm so thankful and grateful each and every day for what he has given me that I could never look back, there's no turning back once a person has experienced the incomprehensible love of God. 

Father, I thank you with all my soul and all my being for your incomprehensible love that you have graciously extended to me. God help me this day to livelike there's no tomorrow for you and your kingdom and allow me to take this love and extend it to all people that I come in contact with each day, starting with my family first and then out into the world who does not know you. May this love you have given compell us to grow closer with you each and every day, forgive us of our sins and continue to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Father I love you and I give you thanks to you today for this fullness of life you have given through your son who died for our sins that we may know you fully and be restored to you.

Look Around....

So I have been thinking a lot about discipleship lately, well to be honest with you that's all I really think about the majority of the time. Questions like, What does it really mean to be in Christ?, or to have the mind of Christ... or sometimes I find myself meditating on the differences in theologies of progressive sanctification verses total sanctification/baptism of the Holy Spirit and/or a 2nd work of grace. Needless to say, I could go on for days thinking, studying, and talking doctrine and theology and the orthodox/orthoprax from which we live and believe.

I recently came across a blog by Mark Batterson that he shared on the importance of us having both a "Paul" and a "Saul" in our lives. The main take away from his blog for me was simply this "LOOK AROUND..." and ask yourself the question, who are we spending time with? If we are to be growing and maturing Christ followers than we must have both Pauls and Sauls in our lives to bring about balance, not only within our selves for our spiritual maturing, but also for the birth and the maturing of others as well.

I believe that we have truly been experiencing this at Overflow in some really natural ways. For instance we are a church that is focused on reaching the un-churched and de-churched in our world, journeying together as we learn to passionately follow Jesus and joyfully serve others. We have been doing just that, journeying together, some of us have been Christ followers for 5, 10 and/or 15 + years, while others just started knowing what following Jesus really means and some are still trying to figure it out or whether they believe at all, and that picture of everyone together is a beautiful thing. Discipleship IS taking place, things are happening in peoples lives, change is occurring with the hearts of people, and yet at times its hard to see it, its hard to not let the little things swamp you and overwhelm you, its hard at times to not just throw in the towel and take yourself to a place where it maybe just a bit more comfortable, a bit less stressful, a bit less time consuming....however through it all God is giving His all surpassing love and grace, his peace that transcends all understanding, his joy that is unstoppable to show us that it is He that is doing a great work among us, just Look Around...

Great Leaders

"Great leaders bless people. They inspire and encourage. They help people become more than what they have been, maybe even more than they thought they could be. Great leaders help people be a part of something bigger than themselves. In short, great leaders, leave people better off than they were before the leader entered their lives"
-Reggie McNeal in Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders

Amazed

Last night we had the opportunity to hang out with some really cool people, got to meet some new faces and share the love of Christ with those in need of His love.  We shared a meal,fellowshiped and listened to a great teaching from God's word.  We all gathered at the Emergency Shelter of Benton Harbor, who were gathering to celebrate all those who were with the program and all their accomplishments in the last year.  Stories were told and shared, community was oozing from within and people were genuinely excited for one another.  There was no racial/social or economical walls anywhere to be found, people just doing life together and loving on one another, oh and by the way about 30 children had a blast playing with the volunteers, having snacks and learning about Jesus...as one kid put it, this was the best night they had in a long time, but was sad to see us go and wanted to go home with us. Needless to say this brought tears to all our eyes but we know that God is on the move in big ways, we are just trying to be where He is already at work.

New Home in Benton Harbor!

“...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Phil. 4:11-13

This is a scripture that has been LIVING in and very much so part of our lives for the past two years now, and we have seen and been part of the the awesome wonders of God, and now have come to know this verse to its fullest meanings in our lives. We have been living here in our new home for the past month now and have been really loving it.  Here are a few things that we have been loving about it...

• It's our first actual house to live in (even though we are renting).
• We are loving our block and meeting our new neighbors.
• Having a small yard for the girls to play in.
• Our good friends and partners in this church plant together are right down the road, the Bennett's.
• Learning what it truly means to follow Jesus at all costs and to live on mission everyday.

God has truly reshaped my paradigm of ministry for the last couple of years. Coming out of college I thought I had it all figured out and new exactly what it all should look like.  I had the picture painted and knew what was best for me and my family. I mean, why not? I did everything I should have done in the right way, right? God called me, saved me by His grace, called me into ministry, went to college, graduated with honors, plenty of ministry experience under my belt, married the most beautiful woman ever :) what else could a guy want or do...and so what "should" have followed just simply didn't. 

We didn't end up at "that church", you know the one I'm talking about, the one that could actually afford to pay us and give us a nice little package with all the benefits, etc. Nope, that was not what God had for us, He was calling us to be part of something different, not better or worse, just different.  As I'm writing this I am smiling from ear to ear, knowing that this is the best place I have ever been on my walk with God thus far in the last nine years of journeying with him. God had to show me what ministry truly is and what it really is all about, and that is people. Loving God and loving people, PERIOD. And what's most important is that we are living on mission, following Jesus, selling out our lives for Him everyday, recklessly abandoning all else and going hard after all that He's laid before us.

So that brings us to where we are currently at with Overflow, Benton Harbor, Urban Missionaries, SW Michigan, helped to start a church, not only that but a children's ministry of all things.... and guess what these are all things I never thought or dreamed of doing right out of college, especially the children's ministry thing :)  And now looking back on the last two years of our lives and where God is leading us now, I thank God for His grace and mercy that has been seeing us through and allowing us to be part of what He's been doing all along.  Thank you Jesus! We've learned what it truly means to be content, just your orindary radicals living in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

1 Year Celebration and Baptisms

This was from that night we had our celebration party along with a baptism service. It's amazing to see how God is bringing together all people from all walks of life, isn't that what the kingdom of God is all about? Praise God!

Here is a great picture of our 1st-5th graders in SPLASH childrens ministry, having a ball as usual.

This is Pastor Brian, he looks a lot taller in this picture than in real life :)

Bobby is a great friend of mine, he and his have been attending Overflow for about a year now, he was baptized last summer in Lake Michigan, by my and Brian along with 10 ft waves !!

So there are some great pics from our 1 year celebration! It's been an amazing year to be part of all that God is doing here in this region.

Experiencing God

"Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 6:11 (NIV)

"Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."
Luke 14:33 (NIV)

For the last 14 weeks now we have been facilitating a life group for young adults using the study "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby, if you have not heard of this study or have been through it, I HIGHLY recommend it! It's been a great tool to help navigate us through God's word and what it means to experience God in our lives and what a personal relationship live out in authentic community really looks like. I'm not going to recap the studies for you, but I do want to give some highlights of how we have been experiencing God in our lives lately...

• His lovingkindness and peace sustaining us through our move to Benton Harbor.
• His grace working and living through us each week as I work 2 jobs and Casey takes care of the two little ones along with everything else. (It's here that we have been learnning to be content and sensing His peace in every moment of our day)
• Last Sat. we were able to get out in the nice weather and meet a few of our neighbors through helping one another in some much needed yard work :) which was very nice. Since we are now living in a prodominitely black community, you don't know what its like to be in the minority until your in it and how cool it is to see God working all around us. Our neighbors are really great people! Looking forward to the BBQ's this summer!
• We as a church, Overflow, just celebrated our 1 yr birthday on March 16th...this year we have seen around 30 some salvations along with nearly 25 baptisms! But the coolest thing we have been seeing God do is transform lives! Like only he can do.

So there are some ways in the last month or so that we have been experiencing God. God is at work all around you, you just need to keep your (spiritual) eyes and ears open to notice what He is doing. So here is the challenge, anytime this week you know, think, see, smell, think you smell God at work around you, drop whatever your doing and GO BE PART OF WHAT HE IS ALREADY DOING. Then reply back to this blog to share your experiences with others and let's see God at work!

New Post, New Look, New Beginnings

Well, it is that time again... and man has it been a while! So here we go a new post, a new look, and now a new purpose. I really want to use this as a tool to help communicate with friends and family what we have been up to out here in Michigan and for all to keep a close eye on our two beautiful girls as they are growing up, really fast! Olivia turned 2 in April and Madeline is 6 1/2 months and as you can already see Olivia has no problem with being the big sister!

This picture is actually from back in probably sometime in Nov/Dec. We will be getting more pics and posts up real soon, promise! I plan on just sending out emails letting everyone know when I have a new post up. I'm really looking forward to this and being able to share all that God has been doing in our lives lately and man do we have somethings to write about.