A Whisper Before An Answer

We've been having a great time here in Louisiana learning the culture, meeting new people and diving head-first into ministry. We've had the privilege of meeting so many students from around the world. UL has nearly 700 international students from 90 nations. Inviting them to join us for worship on Sunday mornings has been easy. Getting them all there has proven to be much more difficult.

When we moved here, the Lord spoke to me about selling my beloved Jeep Wrangler.

She was a beauty with 33" swamp tires and a 5 speed manual transmission. With the doors off and the top down, freedom was mine! However it was too small to carry students and our family couldn't even all fit in it (legally). I sold it within a few weeks of moving here and I found a great deal on a Volvo XC90. It only had room for 5, but it had a ton of storage space in the hatchback. We now had a vehicle that was dependable, built like a tank and with the versatility of carrying people and equipment, it was a great find. And then classes started...

Within a week or two, we met many international students who had no home church, had just moved to Lafayette and needed a ride on Sundays. For a few Sundays, Jenn would load up the kids in the Volvo and I would take our 7-passenger Yukon XL to pick up the students and then I would meet her at church. But, lo and behold, the international students started inviting other international students and, "Houston, we have a problem." We ran out of room.

About 3 weeks ago on my way back to campus after worship (24 miles round trip) I saw a blue Suburban parked on the side of the road. Although it had a few miles on it, the body was excellent and so was the interior. There were a few things that needed to be fixed, but for an '04, it was in good overall shape. And then it hit me. This wasn't like most Suburbans. This was perfect for us...it had 3 bench seats. Seating capacity = 9. Rarely do you find Yukon XL's or Suburbans with a bench seat in the second row (they all have captain's chairs like our XL) and never do you find a bench seat in the front. We would have room for 16 people between our two vehicles if I purchased this one. I called the guy up the next day (he was a believer and we had awesome fellowship) and he gave me a great deal on it (and he owned a local bakery and he blessed us with cupcakes and a cake for Jenn's birthday!) With a HUGE step of faith we bought it, sensing this was the vehicle for us. I drove it home and got it fixed up and within a week, it was my new primary vehicle.

The only problem was I still had the Volvo. I put the Volvo online and my pastor talked to some of his friends who sell Volvos and although my pastor received a lowball offer on it (about half of the selling price), I received no inquiries for an entire week. Nothing. Nada. Crickets. I started to sweat a little. Jesus probably literally laughed out loud at this point.

We prayed that the Lord would help us to sell the vehicle and for a week, there was silence. And then God whispered to me. This past Saturday I was invited to our men's breakfast at church. A missionary from India spoke a powerful message on trusting God. He shared a message on being faithful, even in our finances. He was so faithful with his God-given finances that he wouldn't even allow himself to rent a pull cart for $5 at the airport to pull all of his luggage even though he was exhausted from all of his traveling. This really stuck out to me. Jenn and I are faithful with our finances and we live on a cash-based system, have no debt, tithe and follow a strict budget but $5 here and $5 there doesn't necessarily concern us. But when the missionary shared this, it really convicted me that even $5 matters to God.

On my way home from the breakfast, I was talking to God about my car situation. I shared with God that nothing had happened for a week and out of obedience we had purchased that Suburban for the ministry. I quietly and simply prayed "Lord, would you help me to sell my car?" I had a peace about it and recommitted myself to God for every $5 in our budget. That afternoon, 8 people contacted me to buy the Volvo. It was paid for and picked up yesterday.

God sometimes allows us to go through a period of waiting because he wants to get our attention. I was reminded that my life is in God's hands. He's the provider of all things and I need to be faithful even with the "$5 things in life." Sometimes the whisper of God comes before the answer of God. What is God trying to speak to you about? What has he called you to do? Where are you not FULLY submitting to God? What are you holding on to? Even $5 matters to him. Surrender yourself and your situation fully to him and just see what he does in your life.

A whisper before an answer.

May you be blessed.

Looking back.. and wondering forward

Today, I turned 29... again. And it feels great!  My family threw me a surprise party yesterday afternoon at the pool after church (the pros of living in the south in September - you can still swim!).  Mady had a checklist going and Dad helped her with the logistics.  It was so much fun.  I celebrated with my fam, new friends and the best cupcakes in the universe.  (I won't mention the incredibly amazing donuts I had for breakfast!).

This morning I woke up to a sign on the my door that said "don't come out, mom."  The living room was decorated with pink balloons and pink zebra streamers, homemade signs, and some precious gifts.  My little party planner (mady) did an incredible job.  The kids and I spent the morning at the zoo and I'm looking forward to a peaceful night at home with my four favorite-ist people in the universe... did I mention I am looking forward to not having to make dinner.  Oh yea!

giraffes just aren't as exciting when you've lived next door to them!

thankful to be a momma to these three crazies

This afternoon I started to reflect... reflect on the years gone by and the years that are to come.  I thought back to my birthday 3 years ago, 2011... Mark and I had just come home from Ghana where our love for orphans and for the continent of Africa was taken to a new level.  We arrived home and learned the terrible news that my grandma had terminal cancer and that Mark's father had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (that happened within a week of each other).  Our dear friends from Ghana visited over my birthday.  My precious grandmother, who was so very dear to my heart, passed away just a couple of days after my birthday.  A hard year.  A difficult journey.

** i know I have photos somewhere of my birthday this year but I can't seem to locate them**


September 22, 2012... Mark threw a surprise party for me.  As we were getting ready to go out to dinner ( i had no idea there was a surprise party afterwards), we received the call from our adoption agency that they were shutting down the adoption program to Ghana and that we were not going to be able to adopt *our* little boy.  We had been praying for him and expectantly waiting for our son to join our family... Yet, now we were receiving this news.  My heart was crushed.  The tears would not stop flowing.  Mark was trying to console me knowing that he had this big party planned and he wanted me to try to enjoy myself.  We both were heartbroken.  Yet, we received a call that forever changed our lives... "Mark and Jenn, you may not be able to be an adoptive parent of one here in the US but maybe God is calling you to be adoptive parents to thousands in South Africa."  Yes, yes He is... Thus started our journey to South Africa...

too bad it's a little blurry


And...

September 22, 2013 -- I celebrated my birthday in Mokopane, South Africa at the Spur restaurant with some of the greatest friends that I've ever met.  Mark surprised me again and we had so much fun.  I ate mopane worms and boiled peanuts.... and some quesadillas :)  Memories made that will last a lifetime.  That was probably one of my favorite birthdays.  The journey to get there was hard.  A lot had happened to get to that point but being in Africa is forever etched in my heart.  Many of you know that we had to leave unexpectedly.  What many of you don't know is that it has really affected me.  I've struggled a lot over this past summer... (more of that to come in a later post).  I've dealt with a range of emotions that I can't even begin to explain.  My heart is still in South Africa.  Our dear friends.  The church.  The children.  The baby shelter.  My heart is still there.  God is working and He has perfect plans but I'll be honest when I say the journey from Africa to America has not been easy.

there's a tradition at SPUR in SA for birthdays - it's that the waiters / waitresses offer to feed you the first spoonful of your birthday ice cream after they wipe it all over your face first!

proudly displaying my bag of mopane worms... i'll spare you the picture taken when i actually took a bite

some of the group...

the other part -- because it's way to hard to get all of those people to look at the camera at once!


Now, September 22, 2014 we are yet again in a different place.  I'm celebrating in Lafayette, Louisiana where people love crawfish and cajun music.  It's humid beyond all get out and the weather is bi-polar. We have met some great friends (some of whom are from South Africa) and we are attending a fabulous church with a pastor who deeply cares about people and loves the Lord deeply.  We are currently waiting for word on an adoption that we started while we were in South Africa. We were told NO by the only two agencies that could help us here in the States... but yet God opened a tiny window.  Now we are waiting to see if the next step can be made and we can bring home our son whom we love dearly.  Whether he is here with us or whether he stays in South Africa, he will always be on my heart and the heart of my children who pray for him often.  We love you, Daniel and we hope to see you soon.

Memories.  Some are hard.  Some of fabulous.  I'll cherish them all.  I will choose to find peace where I'm at, even if that "place" changes many times a year.  I will choose to serve Him and follow Him in whatever direction He leads.  I will cherish these memories.  I hold them deep in my heart because each one is incredibly special. Each one is a part of MY story... MY journey.  Each memory has shaped me into what I am today.

My journey doesn't end here on September 22, 2014, thankfully... I'm looking forward to many years ahead and the memories that are created.  I'll continually praise Him.  I'll continue to see His calling on my life ... here, south africa, africa, wherever... (africa?) :)  I know we won't be in Africa again long term but I don't believe my time there is up.  Over time I know He will show me His plan.  We don't get to the mountain top without going through the valley... we don't heal without a wound... we don't grow without trials....

Thank you Lord for my journey... thank you for molding my story.  May it be for your glory!

Thank you for another year.... I wonder where I will be celebrating from next year???????

I dug myself a hole and it will save countless lives

My favorite sense is sight. I've lost hearing in my left ear and I'm ok with that. I've lost my voice before and I was perfectly fine. I don't have a good olfactory sense already. Going without the sense of touch would also be horrible (ask a leper) but my most prized sense is my sight. If I lost my eyes it would be devastating. I value my vision. Now, let me ask you a question.

What do you see in this photo? What's the first thing that comes to mind? 

"Mark's helping to dig a hole."

And if you said that you would be correct. Some would say it's a trench. Technically speaking it's a drainage trench. Some wonder why a campus missionary is digging in the dirt. Some would say it's a waste of time. My response is "I'm saving lives."

Vision. I've seen the end and you haven't. Allow me to paint the picture.

We're not just moving dirt. We're not just digging a trench. We're not just excavating. We're building something. You see, someone (our director, Eric) had a vision. He had a vision long ago and he made a plan. He is now executing his plan. It's getting built, and they will come, oh they will come. We're building a mini-soccer arena next to the Chi Alpha ministry site here in Lafayette, and it's going to save lives.

The absolute best way that I could evangelize today was by digging a trench. I didn't share a message or open the Bible.  I didn't speak a single word to a non-believer and I didn't host a crusade or pass out a tract, but the Lord still used me in a huge way to further his kingdom. All I did was dig in the dirt. Our vision is to build a mini-soccer arena so that they will come. To play a game. To meet new people. To be introduced to Jesus maybe for the first time. For college students to come hear a message - the eternal message. To save their lives. There are days when I preach a message. Today, I dug in the dirt.

Vision. Without a vision and implementation of this project, countless students wouldn't be reached. It may not be done for a few weeks but the gospel preparation has already begun. Don't let a seemingly meaningless task disrupt the gospel message. You may not see the beginning from the end, but the Lord does. Trust him, be led of him and walk obediently. Some days you preach a message, some days you dig a hole and some days you play soccer, but they can all be for the glory of God.

Simple talk. Simple walk.

May you be blessed.

The Non-Accidental Accident

July 30th, 2012. 2 years ago today. A day that will forever change my life.

Have you ever had a life changing event? Something happens to you and as you look back you realize that the impact of that time is still reverberating throughout your life today? Maybe someone passed away or you got a new job or you lost a job or you inherited a sum of money from a rich uncle. Maybe it was the day you got horrible news at the doctor's office or you made a life altering decision to give up a vice in life. I had one of those days. I was in a horrible car accident, but it wasn't accidental. Allow me to explain.

For 7 years I was an account manager and sales executive for a national reference laboratory which required extensive traveling. It was a good job with excellent benefits. We were living the American dream with a mortgage, an SUV and 3 kids. We were serving the Lord, directing a thriving college ministry and being a witness as he led us. And then it happened. The non-accidental accident.

I was on a business trip near Peoria and I was rear-ended. I had stopped on Route 9 waiting to turn left across oncoming traffic and a 20 year old kid who was distracted (!) rear-ended me going about 55 mph. He slammed me across oncoming traffic (praise God I wasn't in a head on collision as well) and down into the ditch on the other side of the road. As I shook off the confusion and exited my vehicle, I ran over and helped him push his totaled vehicle out of the road so that it wouldn't be hit by oncoming traffic. I was running on pure adrenaline at this point and then it hit me. The pain. My neck and left shoulder started to throb and so I just sorta laid down where I was and the ambulance came and put me on a stretcher and I was brought to the hospital. Jenn and the kids came about 2 hours later.

Hannah patting my head.

My left shoulder was 60% torn, requiring an extensive bankart tear repair surgery, a week in the hospital and 9 months of rehab at home and with a physical therapist. My lower back was also injured and I was in physical therapy for about 9 months for that as well. Both of them still bother me frequently. The surgeon told me that I'll 100% have to have a shoulder replacement within the next 20 years. The PA who assisted the surgeon told me afterwards that it was the worst bankart tear he'd seen in 4 years.

Hours of PT at my house using this pulley

But you know what? I'm glad I was in that accident. You see, I wouldn't be where 

I am now without it. We normally don't see the beginning from the end. We try to figure out the will of God, but as a whole, we're not very good at ascertaining it. We aren't called to understand God's will but we are called to believe him for it - to live a life of faith, trusting him with every move we make.

You see, without that accident, I wouldn't have had:
1. Nine months to quietly listen to God every day as he was ordering my steps
2. Met many people during my rehab who I prayed for
3. Sold my house and moved out of my comfort zone
4. Moved in with my mom and really re-reconnect with her (my dad passed away about a month before my accident)
5. Courageously raised financial support and moved 9000 miles to South Africa with Jenn and the kids
6. Spent an awesome 2013-2014 in Africa ministering to countless people who we still love and keep in contact with now
7. Moved back to the States and then moved 800 miles after 3 months to go into full time college ministry at the University of Louisiana.

You can ask questions of God but don't question him. Big difference. Don't for one second think that he has forgotten about you. Don't believe the lie of the enemy that you are alone. He has promised (I'll repeat myself - He has PROMISED) and he has given us HIS WORD and he doesn't lie, to NEVER leave you NOR forsake you. He is always there even if you don't see him with your natural eyes. We can sense him with our spiritual hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit. Did I appreciate all of the pain and suffering my wife and I and the kids endured after the accident? No. Did I choose to have the accident? No. Did I love getting addicted to pain killers and then having to go through counseling to step off of them? (the hardest part of the whole ordeal) No. Has it taught me a 1000 different things and taken me to places I would have never dreamed of? Absolutely. It wasn't an accident. It was a non-accidental accident. God allowed it to happen. I don't understand the will of God but I believe him. I trust him. And I love him. Our lives are in his hands and since he made me and formed me, I suppose he can do with me whatever he chooses.

I'll never be the same and for that, I'm thankful for July 30, 2012 on July 30, 2014.

May you be blessed.

11 steps to financial security (on a missionary budget) #7 might surprise you.

My wife and I are missionaries. It goes without saying that we've learned to cut corners. Choosing a faith-based career and not knowing what you will bring in on any given month (we are donor supported) can have its pluses and minuses. On the plus side - your faith grows steadily. On the negative side, there's always a chance you won't be able to pay your rent. I'll focus on the positive here for a few moments. Having worked in the secular field for 12 years as a sales executive in the medical field afforded me a lot of opportunities and taught me a lot of financial lessons. Here is my top 11 list to finding financial security - even on a missionary budget.

1. Get out of debt and stay out of debt. This may be a shocker, but debt is dumb (thank you Dave Ramsey). Having had no debt since last year (after we sold our house) has been so liberating. We spent years making payments on a house and vehicles. Never again.

2. Be sensible with your vehicle purchases. When we moved back from Africa, I needed to buy a second vehicle to get to work. Research, research, research. I searched for almost a month for a Jeep on craigslist, ebay and my favorite site: cargurus.com. Don't just walk into your local dealer and expect a "deal." The local dealers were $5k-$10k higher than online. Be willing to go out of state. I know there's a lot of lemons out there, but if you search and research, you can get a good deal. Don't be afraid to walk away. Ask me about the time we drove to Indiana 3 hours away, test drove a vehicle and drove home empty handed...

3. Can we spell "delayed gratification" or even "no?" How many times have we heard "I need to get it, and I need to get it now." New iPhone (mine broke - need a new one!), new TV, dining room set, addition on the home. Save your money. Don't even breathe the same air as one of those "rent-to-own" rip offs. Save your money. Buy something with cash. It's fun to write a CHECK for a big purchase.

4. Write out a budget. Actually sit down and think about everything you spend money on. Get a pen and a spreadsheet (Excel works too or some software - just use what you will actually use). Get some envelopes. Put cash in the envelopes. If there's $50 in the "eating out" envelope, how much money do you get to spend this month on "eating out?" Don't you dare say $100 - I'll borrow from next month's eating out envelope. You get $50! Ruth's Chris Steak House is not in your future. Steak-n-Shake is. Educate yourself on tax write-offs. You will thank yourself profusely on April 15th. Trust me on this one.

5. Invest in your future. You get $25 you spend $25. This leads to financial death. I had a truck payment of $340 a month (never again). If I took that $340 and invested it wisely for the life of the loan (5 years) at a modest 5% interest rate, in 5 years, I would have had almost $25,000. You can take that to the bank. If you travel a lot, don't buy a vehicle that's more than $10k. You'll destroy it and any money over that. You don't need to buy a $20,000 and after 2 years it's worth $10k. You just lost $10,000. Hope you enjoy the car.

6. Invest wisely in your future. Don't invest in a vehicle. They depreciate. Invest in things that appreciate. Invest with a good quality, trusted investor. Invest in your home. We bought a house in Champaign with an unfinished basement (on purpose). I spent 6 weeks in the evenings and weekends finishing the basement. It cost me quite a bit in materials and extra help (electrician, dry walling, carpet and plumber) but when we sold our house we got over double the cost of the renovation back. Learn a trade. I made $5k-$10k a year painting homes for friends and family a few weekends a month. Jenn started a jewelry business (hand-stamped jewelry). A few years back she made $4000 in November and December. Christmas was pretty cool that year.

7. Recognize that God is your provider. I've given you pretty sound advice but we have learned time and time again that God really is our provider. He takes care of us and we don't worry about things. (Having no debt and no payments certainly helps). We walk by faith and fully submit and surrender to him for our needs. We have never been in lack.

8. Marry a thrifty spouse. My wife rocks. Her favorite store? Goodwill. Her favorite website? Craigslist. Favorite time of year? Garage sales. We love buying used. But we are snobby when it comes to buying used stuff. We don't buy stuff just because it's a good deal. We buy quality used. Clothes, toys, furniture, anything really. Oh and if you find a great deal, buy it and then re-sell it on craigslist and score big. Done it many times. It's actually a game and has become sport for us.

9. Be a giver. We have always tithed 10% of our (gross) income. We have always supported other missionaries. We have always given offerings for special projects that come along. We love surprising people at Christmas time (rather than over indulging each other or our kids). We love paying for their meals when we go with our friends. We love doing projects and rejecting any payment. We thoroughly enjoyed  blessing many when we were in Africa. No one will ever know who or what it was. We love to give. It's also become sport for us. Who can we surprise? Who can we be a huge blessing to? Let's watch their face when they open (x) and they have no idea who gave them (x). Givers are never in need. We DO NOT preach a prosperity gospel but I have found a principle to be true: those that give just seem to be in a more stable place. God's economy doesn't make sense. 90% with him is worth more than 100% in my hands.

10. Cut coupons and look for steals. We will even go to a new bookstore, and find a book we like and then scan it on our phones and buy it used on amazon while in the store (free shipping with Amazon Prime). 2 days later, bam! we have our book. We will scour the internet looking for the best deal. My daughter wanted a certain lego set when she made about $100 at a lemonade stand (in 4 hours!) this Spring. Location, location, location (college campuses are the bomb!) The lego set went discontinued and went up over $100, even on line. We won the bid on an ebay auction for $60. Taught Mady a good lesson on delayed gratification and research and she saved $40.

11. Meet new people and read! You will only be in a different place in 5 years if you meet new people or read about something new. Take classes. Take online classes. Several years ago, the Lord led me to go back and take Bible classes at a seminary and get credentialed. I did this while working 50 hours a week, 3 kids, health challenges and running a college ministry. I also worked my tail off to get grants and scholarships ($2B annually goes unpaid) to get a full ride. Don't give me any excuses. Little did I know how much that would play into my new career now. I followed my dream and the pathway opened up. I sure didn't sit at home and complain. Go learn a new trade or skill. You only have 1 life to live - go for it!

I don't care what the Jones' next door bought. I don't put a lot of value on material stuff. I do care about what can I do to minister to people better. That may mean a new living situation or a new (new to me but still used) vehicle. I don't care who is putting an addition on their house (but I'll enjoy it when they do!) I don't care what fancy vehicle a friend buys or the newest fashion fads (that's obvious - ask my wife). I invest in what matters. People. I invest in what appreciates - mutual funds and property. Start somewhere. Don't wait until you can put a $1000/month into an investment. Start with $25 a month now. Start somewhere!

Have a goal. Want to get out of debt (not counting your mortgage) in 24 months? Make it a goal. Have the eye of a tiger. Get crazy with it. If we were in debt, we would have been disqualified from going to Africa as full time missionaries or to the University of Louisiana as campus ministers. What have you been disqualified from doing? God wants to use your resources in awesome ways. Seek him for everything and just see what joy it will bring. May you be blessed!

He Winked at Me and I Kinda Liked It

Growing up, my dad had eyes that twinkled. They would positively sparkle when he was exaggerating or telling some far-fetched story. He loved to tell stories that were engaging and entertaining. I guess that's where I learned to wink...he winked at people that he liked and loved. No one else would know that he winked, he winked just at me or someone he was talking to and it made us feel extra special. We had that connection. It was the Father-Son connection and it was a very strong bond. When he passed away 2 years ago from pancreatic cancer, although he was an organ donor, the only organs they could utilize were his eyes. Maybe someday I'll see someone on the street and when they pass by, I'll see a glimpse of my dad again.

My dad would wink at me and make me feel special.

A question started brewing within me, "Does God 'wink' to let his people know he cares?"

I believe he does. Allow me to pontificate.

Jenn and I were recently invited to the Illinois District Council up in Naperville, IL. On Tuesday evening, Jim Cymbala, of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, was the guest speaker. At the conclusion of his message, he invited all 650 pastors and spouses from around Illinois to come down to the altar to pray, worship and submit themselves to God. I was so moved that I ran down to the altar unfortunately leaving Jenn in the dust to fend for herself.

It was a powerful time of praying and surrender. At the end of that prayer time, Pastor Cymbala told all of the guys to turn to a guy next to them and pray for them and likewise for the ladies. I was standing there looking around for someone to pray with when I saw a tall, lanky guy towards my right also looking for someone to pray with. I tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around and we prayed for each other. I asked him how I could pray for him and he said he was church planting in Florida. I laid my hands on him and just poured myself out in prayer for him. It was a powerful time. As I said amen, he looked up at me and asked how he could pray for me. And that's when it happened.

It was one of those moments I'll never forget. It was surreal and zany. It was a huge confirmation. It was a "God wink."

I told him that we were moving to work in college ministry with Chi Alpha. He then asked me which state and I responded Louisiana. He then proceeded to ask me which campus and I said the University of Louisiana. At this, his eyes got real big and slowly he asked "which campus?" and I told him the University of Louisiana - Lafayette. At this, he quietly said, "That's where I graduated from in 2008." ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Out of the 4000 college campuses in the US and the the 650 people at this council and I end up praying with a guy who graduated from the campus where we are being sent?!?!? To say that he prayed for Jenn and I was an understatement. He went crazy in his prayer. Like all up in my business, yelling out to God, prayer. He saw it. I saw it. We sensed the wink of God. When he was done praying, we both yelled amen as tears were streaming down our cheeks. Our conversation about the campus afterwards was a source of joy.

As Jenn and I were moving to Africa last year, we had confirmation after confirmation of God's will. And although we've had a big peace about moving to Louisiana, there hasn't been that confirmation that sealed the deal. We were pressing forward anyways, knowing that God was leading us. To say we've sensed God's confirmation now is needless to say.

God moves in amazing ways. He leads us, he guides us and confirms his will along the way. As we are truly seeking his will, he will show us the path to take.

He winked at me and I kinda liked it.

May you be blessed.

The Invisible Church

I’ve recently started fast walking for exercise to coincide with cycling. Going up and down the long steep hills near my mom’s house has proven to be a great source of lung clearance.

Although I lived around these hills my entire childhood, I noticed something new recently. It’s not anything really to get excited about. Most people pass right on by without a single thought. It’s something very simple.  

A road sign.

This sign is not immoral. It’s not disturbing. It doesn’t affect most people. It’s just an announcement. The problem is what it’s announcing. This particular sign announces “Church Entrance” Why do they need a sign for this? How could this possibly be necessary? The problem is that this particular church is on a curve with a hidden entrance. Coming from a particular direction, you wouldn’t even know that there is a church around the curve.

It’s a hidden church.

This has powerfully impacted me the last couple of weeks. It’s blown my mind and caused me to pause and think. Isn’t the church to be the “light of the world, a town on a hill that can’t be hidden?” Isn’t the church to be known in the community? Isn’t she a candle in the darkness? Isn’t she supposed to impact communities in EVERY direction? Isn't she the very entity that the “gates of hell will not be able to prevail over?" The church has Jesus Christ himself as the chief cornerstone and we are built upon him. My goodness, it’s the focus of the God of this cosmos and we have audacity to hide it? Let’s shout it from the rooftops, let’s pound the pavement and go crazy announcing the place of purpose of God himself. This is an insane, bizarre, rock-awesome announcement not a boring proclamation.

I don’t like that sign anymore. I despise that sign now. It wreaks havoc on my theology. I want to take down that sign. Actually, I want to move the church. Now that’s an idea. How about we move the church so that it really does impact communities in every direction. Let’s take the invisible and make it visible. And then it struck me.

“Mark, I’m moving you. You are my church. You are to be my voice. YOU are the one that I don’t want to be invisible. You are to be the visible. You are a city on a hill. You are a candle in the darkness. I want to move YOU. To go. To represent.”

I’ve been given new marching orders. I don’t want to be an invisible representation of Christ. If I am invisible, my how the Kingdom suffers. “Lord, I’m here for you. Spirit, give me the words to speak. Give me a voice. I surrender to you.”

What if the church becomes immobile? What if we don’t become visible? What if the church becomes rigid? What if she loses her voice? What if we become invisible to the community? What if we don’t impact those who have lost hope? What if we have no answer for sadness, brokenness, loss, shame, and sin? What if we already have done all of that? Well, most likely this will happen….

See, this is that invisible church. Look real close. Do you see what I see? Notice the sign. No announcements. No pastor. No service times. Nothing. The grounds have been overrun with weeds and tall grass. The invisible church becomes another quiet entity. The invisible, immobile church becomes…a dead church. Lifeless. 

Stop and think on these things.