My son TJ is now about 17 months old (that’s almost 1.5 years for those of you who don’t have kids) and we were so excited about this Christmas.  Amber and I held off on buying for each other to make sure we were able to get plenty for TJ — he’s still at the age where “the good stuff” is relatively inexpensive. 

So we spent hours wrapping various gifts the last couple of days and had all these grandiose plans that he’d get to open some gifts on Christmas Eve and then the special stuff would be there today.

Instead, TJ was asleep by 7:30 last night.  Not “napping” or taking a break — KNOCKED OUT!  So ix-nay on the Christmas Eve gift opening.  Then, today he did get the feel for ripping the paper off and opening stuff, but it took a while.  Not to mention, he was very much focused on one gift at a time.  All that to say this: he is again crashed and we still have gifts under the tree.

Please don’t misunderstand this as a complaint.  We’ve spent the day trying to enjoy and savor every moment, because I have a sneaking feeling that this may be the last year for a laid back, take your time kind of Christmas.  So we’ll open more presents tomorrow and just enjoy it while we can . . . . .

Here’s some photos: http://tommyduke.com/christmas/album/

I thought Sunday was an amazing day at Iron City Church.  Here are some thoughts from the day:

• Our setup team is un-flipping-believable.  I really think they get smoother and quicker every week.  I also think one of the reasons for that is that I am doing less and less during the setup time, so they can save the time from having to go behind me and fix stuff.
• Amber and TJ (and Dena) got in a car accident this morning about 30 minutes before the service was going to start (see previous post).  It was a rainy day in Pittsburgh and our car’s right rear quarterpanel now has the scars to prove it.  Thankfully, no one was hurt.
• We had a full band on stage this morning.  They really rocked the house with some updated Christmas faves.  I will be stoked when we can gain a little more consistency in this area.  If you play the drums or bass and live in the Pittsburgh area, shoot me an email, let’s talk….
• Jeff and I both announced this morning that the “little box” we put out for the last couple of weeks was filled by our peeps with over $350 worth of gift cards and mass quantities of food that we gave to be distributed through North Hills Community Outreach.  ICC peeps – now that I know what we’re capable of, just wait ’til ‘08!
• Once I got over the shake-up of the car wreck and walking back in just in time for the service, I thought the message went well.  I felt very comfortable and really had a great time sharing this morning.  I wrapped up our Conspiracy series (from Isaiah 9:6-7), talking about Jesus’ role as our Prince of Peace.  Good times.
• For those of you ICCers who have been out of town, be sure to check out the Iron City Church website to download the message MP3’s or you can subscribe to the ICC Message Podcast through iTunes.  Here’s the link: http://www.ironcitychurch.com/downloads.html
• The crowd was low again (weather, illness, and holiday travel largely to blame), but I felt like the mood in the room was great.  The church “conspired” to give a poinsettia to each family in attendance as a gift back for Christmas. 
• I love Christmas, and the “holiday season” in general, but I’m just about ready for our people to get back in town.  Next week is going to be another awesome Sunday with our Catalytic Pastor preaching a message called, “I Wish You An Unhappy New Year.”  Don’t miss it!
• And don’t even get me started on what’s in store for 2008!  The ‘Burgh had better hold on tight . . .
• Merry Christmas!

God is all about putting things in perspective and teaching me on this church planting journey.  Actually, just on the journey of following Christ He’s constantly teaching me things . . . if I’m listening and looking out for the lessons.

Today I had one of those lessons that I didn’t have to look very hard to find.  I was milling around before church this morning, getting some things in order and – heads up for some pastoral honesty – worrying about HOW SMALL our crowd would be on a rainy, day before Christmas Eve Sunday morning in a 4 month old church.  That was the extent of my worries – how many and which people would be there for the service – until Jeff caught me in the lobby and said “I thought you were already on your way!  Here’s the diaper bag and my keys, take my truck, Amber’s been in an accident!”

Talk about a total shift in focus.

After a few seconds of Jeff briefing me about where they were and what they needed, I jumped in his truck and headed for the scene of the wreck.  No longer were my prayers wrapped around who God would send to ICC for the morning service or how the music would sound or if I’d done enough sermon prep this week.  My wife and son (and another good friend of ours) had been in an accident and that was my total focus.

About halfway to the scene I collected wildly running mind enough to spend a few moments in prayer before I pulled up.  Thankfully, everyone was fine and the car now has a slight “badge of honor,”  but it was a lesson in priorities.  And it was a lesson in something else. 

I was sharing a message this morning about how Jesus serves as our “Prince Of Peace,” and He spent the morning reminding me of how often I fail to allow His peace to reign in my life.  As backwards as it sounds, I really think there are times when I would rather wallow in a pity party or let myself be worked into a frenzy than to live the victorious life I have available in Jesus – a life complete with a peace that “transcends all understanding.”

God help me to make a concerted effort to hand over my troubles and worries to you and let the Prince of Peace reign in every area of my life

I love Christmas.  I enjoy giving gifts (and receiving them in moderation).  I enjoy spending time with family and friends.  I enjoy stuffing myself with various food items and watching football on television.  I even enjoy hearing Christmas music on the radio (for the first 14 hours at least).

But more than all that stuff, I love CHRISTMAS.  I am amazed that the God of the Universe loved us so much that He sent His own Son – Jesus Christ – to take on flesh and dwell among us.  I really like how The Message Bible phrases this sentiment (John 1:14).  It tells us that Jesus (the Word, God’s Son) “became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.”  Unbelievable.

Why?  Because we were created to live in a relationship with our Creator.  He made us with the opportunity to choose good or evil and we chose evil.  That left a separation between this Holy God and the unholy us.  And no matter what we tried, how we thought we could “make up for it” or “be a good person,” we couldn’t — ever.  This is why religion itself is a failing venture.  Because there is no way we can make our way to God.  In less spiritual terms, we were screwed.  Because the price to be paid for these screw-ups (aka: sin) is death.

That’s where Christmas comes in. 

The turning point of God’s Conspiracy to save us and redeem us is that He sent Jesus.  Not to be born into a wealthy family with a silver spoon up his in his mouth.  Not to rise up to political power or special religious office.  But to be born to a common, hard-working, real family. 
And to live a sinless life. 
And most importantly to die in our place.  To pay the price for all of our sin. 
And not only that, but being fully God, Jesus defeated the one thing that takes out all of the rest of us: death itself. 
He rose again three days later a victorious champion.
Through the finished work of Jesus, God made a way for us to Himself.

And He offers that payment to us for nothing more than to receive it.  What a deal!  In return for cashing in our screwed up lives, He gives us a new one.  Complete with a relationship with God now and forever.  Eternity.

Yeah, we celebrate all of this again at Easter, but it’s Christmas that made Easter possible.  It’s only because of Jesus’ birth, that we can celebrate His death.  It’s only because of Jesus’ death that we can celebrate His resurrection.  And it’s only His resurrection that gives us Hope.  For today.  For tomorrow.  And for eternity.

And that’s why I love Christmas!

Man, yesterday was an interesting day.  For the third week in a row, we had some sort of wintery weather issues and yesterday was by far the worst we’ve had.  We had our lowest attendance so far yesterday, but the mood in the place was good.  Beyond that, I was able to spend a little bit of “family time” during the message, discussing some things that I think we all needed to hear.

We finished collecting food items and gift cards for North Hills Community Outreach yesterday and the boxes were overflowing with goodies that will be delivered over to their headquarters in the next day or so.  It’s exciting to be just a few months old as a church and be able to help make a difference for those less fortunate in our community.

After church we all got together at Ami and Billy Moore’s house to eat and watch some of the Steelers game.  Ami and Billy were great hosts and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the game in HD for a change.  It spoiled me to the point that it was hard to come back to the house and my standard def television.  It was also fun to just be able to hang out with some of our folks with no pretense or anything.

This weekend reminds me of one of my favorite descriptions of what I believe the church should be: a FAMILY on a MISSION.  A family in that we love and care deeply about one another (see John 13:34-35).  On a mission together with God to reconnect men and women to himself (see 2 Corinthians 5:16-21).  In my experience this duality is extremely hard for a lot of churches to balance.  Either they’re a strong family with little or no concern for the world around them going to hell, or they’re on a mission without a healthy connection to one another to the point that people fall away from the body.

In terms of Iron City Church, I am praying specifically this week for: more connections to people who are far from God, the health and protection of our church family (we’ve got some people struggling right now), a full house for next Sunday’s conclusion of our Conspiracy series, and a continued buildup of momentum within those who are already committed.

We’re in the middle (exactly in the middle, actually) of a Sunday morning series called “Conspiracy.”  During these 4 weeks we’re exploring the fact that the first Christmas marked a turning point in God’s eternal Conspiracy to change the world by redeeming lives through Jesus.

In addition, we’re “conspiring” with a local organization (North Hills Community Outreach) to help out some folks who are having a hard time during this season of the year.  If you’re in the Pittsburgh metro area and interested, we want YOU to help us out.

We’re collecting GIFT CARDS (under $25) and NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS this Sunday.  If you can help out, bring your items to North Allegheny Intermediate High School this Sunday @ 10 AM when you come to worship with Iron City Church!  Let’s show off and be the hands and feet of Christ during this Christmas season!

We have had some snow in the last couple of weeks, but today’s high was 61 and it’s been raining all day – go figure!

If I’m honest, the weather around here is a little bit like my attitude sometimes.  Am I the only one that feels that way?  One day it’s sunny and beautiful, I’m feeling confident and solid in who I am and the promises I have in Christ.  Then the winds blow a little bit and next thing you know I feel like the dark clouds have rolled in and there’s no end in sight. 

Has God changed? 
Is there any less of His power available to me?
The answer, of course, is a resounding NO!

Sometimes we all need a reminder of the life-changing power and love of Jesus and the fact that it’s always available.  whether you feel like it or not.

This is especially true in starting Iron City Church.  Church planting is not an easy, overnight process.  God is working on me in a big way lately in this very area: He’s teaching me that the ups and downs of the little day to day wins and losses can’t be my “barometer” as to what’s happening in the grand scheme of things. 

The great thing is that “transforming the Pittsburgh metro area with the love of Jesus” has been part of God’s mission WAAAAY longer than it has been mine!  And now that He’s given me the chance to be a part of it, I plan to guide this ship that He’s building through all sorts of storms and sunny days . . .

Thank you God for the gift of PERSPECTIVE

I’ve developed some friendships since moving to Pittsburgh with a lot of folks from just south in West Virginia.  And I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those WVU Mountaineer fans for completely choking Saturday night!

Because of your sincere concern and Pitt’s best efforts, my LSU Tigers will once again play for the National Championship this January!  Geaux Tigers!

We started our new series yesterday.  It’s called “Conspiracy: The Ridiculous Plan that Changed Everything,” and it’s about God’s conspiracy to make a way back to himself through Jesus.  The service itself went all right, but there seemed to be a lot going on under the surface.  The weather was a little cold and slippy and our overall numbers were down a bit, but I think the best way to describe the mood was “heavy.” 

God has been doing some unbelievable things in and through ICC lately and I think yesterday was just a prime example of spiritual warfare.  It’s so easy to get caught up in those things we can see and touch and feel and “control,” but from time to time I need to be reminded of this:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.     Ephesians 6:10-12

Praise God that He’s doing something here in Pittsburgh that makes the enemy stand up and take notice.  I love the fact that we know how the story ends and that he has already been defeated!  The same Jesus whose birthday we celebrate on Christmas has already won and we can walk confidently in that victory!

I had the distinct pleasure of visiting the doctor’s office again today (for the second time in two weeks) for a sinus infection and some sort of an “eye thing.”  He started me out on an antibiotic for each issue last week and neither seemed to make much of a difference, so today he amped things up a little.  I had sinus surgery about a year and a half ago and have lived a pretty blessed life, health-wise, since then.  Until now, that is.  Praying that God will go ahead and knock this out…