Birthday time…Thanks Dad

Well, ready or not it's here!! Tomorrow morning we give birth. TC3 comes out of the womb of PW and enters the world. God's appointed time has arrived. Rehearsals, meetings, shopping sprees, prayer meetings and studying have all ended. Tomorrow morning 9:30 am God brings forth TC3. Pastor Josh will lead us in worshipping the King then I, well, then it's my turn to stand and talk. To enter into my destiny. Vision 08: Without Vision people perish. This is becoming more than a launch sermon title; it's becoming an anthem. It rings in my ears: Lead or Die! Quit hiding (matter of fact, all hiding places have been stripped). Not just speaking a message, I've done that plenty of times. But, this time, I become Pastor. I put on the mantle. Sure, we are still covered under the authority and leadership of Dad, but I feel it. I know why his face has had that look so many times. It's not a bad stress. Its concern, responsibility, care, love and nurture. I guess the best way to say it is he is a true shepherd. I hope that's what I feel. I want to feel that. I want to love and care and lead like that. Definitely not want to feel stress because I want to impress, but I want to feel stress because I care and want to nurture as he does. I think that's what I feel. I pray to love more than the idea of TC3. I want to love each and every individual. He set the shepherd bar high. I want to lead with excellence and professionalism. I want to care and nurture as a father and shepherd. I think I feel the right pressure. I think I feel the right stress. Yeah, it's the right one, thanks Dad.

 

You know I work out. I know the difference between the right pressure and stress and pain in my muscles and the wrong type. That's easy to discern. This is different. But I think all his mentoring, parenting and leading has paid off. I think I feel the right stress. Speaking of birthdays…this event keeps reminding me of looking down and holding that little girl. She truly melted me. I recall the day I found out we were pregnant. We went for a walk in the rain. I remember Heather entering and showing me the pregnancy test. I was napping in our chair studying for seminary. As we walked I remember talking to Heather and telling her that only that baby in her belly could name me Daddy. Any denomination could name me bishop, any church could call me pastor and any school could give me the title doctor. But only that little girl could name me Daddy. Well, now, Luke has come along and joined the game as well. And, yeah its true that I could go to a church and be their pastor. But TC3 is the only church that can first name me Pastor. Sure, I've been Pastor Jeremy @ Park West. But that's different. I'm the associate. Sure, I love and care for Park West, I grew up there. It's like my younger brother (27yrs old). But only a Dad can love a son. Only a parent's love will do. That's what TC3 is doing to me. I love PW, but TC3 is mine. Don't misunderstand me, I know that it's God's. I used to always get upset when a Pastor would speak of "my church". I would think, "Doesn't he know that it's God's. He doesn't own it." But now I know. It's a godly pride thing. I parental pride thing. You don't know the love and pride I feel for TC3 and it's not fully here yet. I have spent time with the leadership team: Pastor Josh, Pastor Jason, Pastors Jason and Ginny, Misty, Tim, Lee, Justin and Brandon (even though they technically have to stay at PW)-the whole worship team, the hospitality team, the Gear Team, prayer team and others. I love them, I know them and God is birthing this church first thing in the morning.

 

Well, time for one more prayer, few more thoughts on the order of service and rehearsing the sermon in my head a little and then off to bed to see this thing happen.

 

WOW, I'm really stoked now.

 

God bless,