Answering the Call

The following is a modified email I recently sent to my family:

I have had a very interesting past couple of years. I got married and bought a house with my wonderful wife Sarah, I tried planting a church with a good friend of mine, I was promoted at work to the department head of engineering, and I have worried about my company going out of business. But one of the greatest things that has happened is that in the past few months I have been meeting with a couple of guys in accountability and discipleship. I have been challenged, and I have been examining my heart and where God wants me. I have been struggling with wanting to know what I have been called to do on this earth. One thing for sure is that I am called to live a life with Christ in his love, to Love God and to Love others, and to go and make disciples of men.

I think I have always known what it was that God has called me to do, but it's almost as if I kept avoiding the subject. I have never thought I was good enough, talented enough, or anywhere near what I think is the standard by which most people judge this calling. The truth is, I am right, but, God can use the least of us to do amazing things.

I was asked on a Friday night (May 29th) by a good friend of mine if I thought I was called to be a Pastor. My gut reaction to this question (that has never been asked of me FLAT out like that) was yes. So here I am, finally accepting the FACT that God can use me to do amazing things. I told Sarah this when I came home that night at 2 in the morning, and she asked me how I felt about that. I was honest with her and I will be honest with you. I told her I was scared. I am scared because I am trusting God but that is also why I am not hysterical, or quitting, God has given me the strength to face my fears and be a Pastor.

Now you may be asking, "Well if this is new to you then what was the whole church plant thing about?". Well when I had teamed up with my good friend Josh Burcham, I was joining him as the "creative arts pastor", to me that was just a fancy name for the guy that did the graphics and artwork and creative stuff for the Church. My Calling to be a pastor is more than that. I know now that I was no where near where I needed to be to help plant a church. I have learned so much in the past couple of years about me and my relationship with God and where I was and where I needed to be.

I have found that God has been speaking to me through My friends in my Monday night Bible study, the guys I meet with on Tuesdays, Sarah (of course), and my Family. These are people I trust, people I know are rooted in the gospel and have amazing relationships with God. So now I ask God. What do I do now? What is my next step?

I am asking for your prayer. Prayer that I might be patient in waiting for God to tell me what to do, prayer that I might be listening when He speaks to me, and prayer that I will be obedient to what He asks of me.