He is Risen!

He is risen indeed! Easter is such a great celebration. I am always reminded of trumpets blaring on Sunday morning, standing during the Alleluia Chorus and family celebrations from my childhood days. It's amazing how the reality of a risen Savior can be lost amidst all the celebration. Think about it for a moment. Jesus died. He really died! Remember the last funeral you were at and the lifeless body of the person who had passed on. I have never seen or heard of someone getting up out of a casket.
The scriptures say in Luke 24:1-6, "On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen!" Jesus has conquered death, He defeated the grave, He was laid in the casket but got up and walked out! It's reality like you are sitting somewhere reading this right now. It happened!
What difference does it make to you? I know that as Christians it gives us hope for life beyond the grave but does Jesus resurrection make any difference for the life we live here one this earth? I believe it does but I'd like to know what you think. You're welcome to comment and I'll weigh in later. Blessings!

The Stream is Flowing

The word for the "Count Me In" lunch for Living Streams Community Church was....EXCITING. I know that's what I was as I looked out on thirteen families who have heard God's call to be part of this new work. We were almost all there as far as I know. Some are still praying, some are staying and going to help us through their gifts of giving and some are staying to press the kingdom at BRCC.

Last week was a Gideon-like journey. Beginning with my own faith being stretched, "Who me God?" Then wrestling with God about numbers and finally hearing our troops will be limited to just those from BRCC. (Go Brandywine! Lifeway CC needs you!) As I prayed, fasted and pursued God's strength, He answered and filled me with vision that this new thing is His idea and He is going before us and will use us. Just as He went before Gideon, He is already at work in a new community preparing them for our arrival. He has called out to a group of followers that are ready to do battle for Him. They are a good group, some younger, some older, some in the middle. We have sound equipment, a worship team and worshippers! We've assembled, offered our bodies as living sacrifices through communion and now we'll prepare.

The stream is flowing! It's Alive!! Together, we're following Jesus to reach the world for Him, one life at a time.

Something is Up!

Can you sense it? It's that time of year again when spring is just around the corner, NCAA tournament basketball is going to start up, we preparing to celebrate the ressurection of our Lord Jesus AND not to mention the first gathering of those who are jumping into the stream! My heart is full of excitment with a touch of pain. This coming Sunday is the "Count Me In" lunch when God's people answer God's call to be a part of Living Streams Community Church...I'm excited about that. The pain comes from the thought that some of God's people have not been called to this work and this lunch is the first sign of an impending goodbye to some of my friends. I knew this work would call for me to place my relationships on the altar in an act of worship. So today, while I look forward to walking together with Jesus and His people into a different community, I am beginning this week with a tear in my eye for those who will stay behind. You are close to my heart this week. There is work for you to do at BRCC. Press on! For those about to get wet in the stream, start to look ahead, put your hope in the Lord for He has something planned for us that none of us can imagine. Blessings!

Precious Moments

Time has flown by since my last entry. Our family was attacked with a flu like bug and all of us were sick in one form or another. Praise the Lord it was mild, only lasting for a few days, unlike others we know who have been struggling for a couple of weeks. Our prayers are with you!
In the last couple of weeks I have had the chance to speak with some of you about your decisions to step out with us and jump into the stream. We've had lunch together, coffee, phone conversations and just good old fashioned fellowship. Thank you for those moments, they have been precious to me as I listen to God's work in your lives.
The events of this past week have reminded me of just how precious moments with people are. Pastor Earl's son-in-law passed away suddenly from complications with the flu. He has left a wife and six daughters. It's easy to grow accustomed to the every day with our family, our spouse and children. It's easy to take for granted the acquaintances and friends we interact with every day. In fact, it's the normal way life goes. It's not until something like a tragedy takes place that we stop and take an inventory of what's really important. Below is my inventory over the past couple of weeks:

• The voice of God through His Word
• Retreating with Lori in Brown County
• An afternoon with a smiling 2 1/2 month old named Lucy
• A conversation with Casey about her life with God
• Hearing Garrett pray on Sat. morning with the guys
• Playing games with Gavin and Maisy
• Watching men be used of God at the M2M Feast
• Lunch at the Wetzel's
• Discipleship meetings turned into friendships

I could go on! These are all precious moments to me. Gifts from the Good Giver. Take inventory today, continue to pray for Living Streams CC and your involvement. As the Count Me In lunch approaches on Mar 16, my excitement and anticipation grows. I long to see the beginnings of a new community of God come to life in and through us. I am praying for all of you!