I am convinced more than ever that the Christian life,  for those who really follow Jesus, is the most adventurous life ever. I remember playing highschool football growing up. I loved it. I loved playing with as much intensity as I could muster. I also remember the day after the game feeling every one of those hits (hits that I had obviously given).  I remember strutting around the house proud of every one of those bruises.  I always made my mom, dad and my sisters check them all out. So here is the point… I loved what I got to do so much that I didn’t mind the bruises.  This last year we closed down the church we started 5 years ago.  It was a very painful experience.  After several months of great growing lessons, I can still feel some bruises.  As I look back now, I’m proud to have had the experience. God is good and he wants for each of us to know him. The only way we get to know him is on the field!!! 

I read this the other day and thought it was some good stuff by a guy I met a few years back (Mac Richard)

1.  BRUISES MEAN YOU’RE REALLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE TEAM. Players who sit on the sideline never get bruised. They hold clipboards and carry water and critique those who are actually on the field.

2.  BRUISES PROVE YOU’RE NOT A PANSY. Players who are afraid to stick their heads in a pileup, block someone bigger than themselves, or tackle a runaway ball-carrier never have to worry about bruises.

3. BRUISES HEAL. Bruises aren’t permanent. What’s a little pain and discoloration in exchange for the unbridled joy and thrill of being on a team that’s moving in the same direction and being someone who contributes to that movement.

4. BRUISES ARE REAL. No one ever got bruised playing a video game. Bruises mean that you’ve moved from virtual reality to actual reality. You’re not talking about it, studying it, or critiquing how other people do it. You’re actually playing the game.

  I never want to be the guy sitting on the sidelines with no bruises. I am thrilled about what’s next.

I titled this “Unwritten” because I really have no idea what God has next for us.  Truthfully I am scared by the idea of not knowing the future. You can’t plan for or adequately prepare for what you don’t know–but somehow I think God likes it that way. Not knowing the road causes us to lean on him rather than leaning on what we know or can expect.  I am reading in my One Year Bible now in the gospel of Matthew. I thought that it was great how in Matthew 2:19-23–God in his Sovereign plan moved Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus where he needed them to go. But to Joseph this had to be frustrating and scary.  Joseph had already been given a dream and told to go back to the Land of Isreal since Herod was now dead. Good news right… Well right after they set foot out to go home after a long wait at the Shepard’s hospital they find out that Herod’s son Archelaus is now the king.  So does that mess up Gods plan?  No way God will not be mocked– Joseph being scared re-routes the course to Nazareth. Yes-get the picture–he is called “Jesus of Nazereth”   Sometimes I get so worried about what the plan is going to be that I miss seeing God in the middle doing what he does best(BEING IN CHARGE).  I love the fact that God gives freedom and control. Freedom for us to choose him and follow, and even when we blow it or a catastrophe comes he reminds us that he is Sovereign and still in control.  I am excited about our future. I am excited to see where God will take us next and because he is ultimately in control I am OK with the story being still unwritten.

Recently Shawn Lovejoy, Paul Peterson and I did a podcast on the importance of being prepared to Launch.  You can check it out at churchplanters.com under podcasts. I think its some pretty good stuff. Not because of what I know but because of what I’m learning!!  I am grateful to Shawn and the Mountain Lake team for the opportunity to learn from and with them.