I know it’s just barely January 3rd (only about 10 minutes left), but I have to post an anniversary thought….

It was exactly one year ago today that God confirmed to me the answer to a question and a season of prayer about the WHERE of church planting. 

In spite of a neat-looking US map with 7 cities (not this one) marked out and nearly 4 months of praying specifically about which of those 7 cities we were supposed to land in, it was 365 days ago that we realized without a doubt that we were exactly where we needed to be — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

The 12 months since then have been filled with many, many questions and struggles, but knowing the answer to the WHERE question has made it all good.  And I’m way more committed to transforming the Pittsburgh metro area with the love of Jesus today than I was last year at this time!

Can’t wait to see what’s in store in the next year!

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/

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

Well, Amber, TJ and I went to Chicago for turkey day to spend some time with her mom and brother.  It was a good time.  We headed out Wednesday morning and came home Saturday evening.

Chicago is an interesting city.  It was – go figure – windy while we were there and a little chilly.  We spent a lot of time hanging out in the hotel and then driving around.  It was good to relax a little bit, even if part of that relaxing was watching my LSU Tigers lose their shot at a national championship in 3 OT’s to Arkansas.  Arkansas!  What is this world coming to….

Made it home uneventfully Saturday evening about 5 pounds heavier (thank you Chicago deep dish pizza!) and a little bit more relaxed.  Good trip.

Since we live on a street with no sidewalks, we decided to take up the offer of our friends Doug and Amy Daw to drive out to their neighborhood and join them for some trick or treating last night.  TJ gladly wore his monkey suit (literally) all night and was a trooper. 

He got to ride on my shoulders most of the night - again I was reminded of the joyful hilly terrain of southwestern PA as I climbed the flight of stairs up to a bunch of front doors.  No gym time for me this morning because I did my stairclimber training last night with the monkey on my back.  By the end of the night TJ was leaning off my head to make his own selection from people’s candy bowls.

I’ll post photos whenever I can track down our camera….

Today was a full day, but a very good day!  This week is looking busy already.

Tomorrow is a study day and I’ve got a couple of other tasks to take care of.  Then date night tomorrow night.

Tuesday I’m meeting with a group of church planters for the first time.  I feel like I’m kinda jumping into their thing, but they invited me.  I know Aaron and have met Jason and Russell through the blogosphere.  I love talking shop with other church planters!

Wednesday is my other study day and I’ll be trying to get ahead on sermon prep.  I’ve also got a pastors’ lunch meeting with a bunch of local pastors.  That’s always a good time.

Thursday I’m sharing with another group of church planters about “Raising Your Church’s Awareness in the Community” at our Church Planter Network at Inner City Tabernacle of Faith (Address: 5643 E. Liberty Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15206).  That’s from 10 AM to about 1 PM.  If you’re interested, come on out.

Friday is the day off and I’ll probably have to work on a web design job.  I’m hoping to be feeling better by then.

Saturday will be putting finishing touches on stuff for Sunday and hopefully catching some college football, then it’s Sunday again – starting a brand spanking new series: “Building Blocks”

In the midst of all this stuff I’ve got a few other meetings to squeeze in and some time to spend out in the community.  Should be a good week!  Can’t wait to see what God’s got in store….

I used to love that segment of SNL – Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey…  A tribute: my random thoughts on this Saturday night:

• I’m stoked about tomorrow at ICC – finishing up our Thank God It’s Monday series with a message called “Seasoned and Lit”
• I am beginning to endure enjoy the total unknown feeling of who’s gonna show up this week at Iron City
• My nose, chest, and sinuses have been stopped up pretty bad for a couple of days now and I’m just about ready to breathe again — praying for God to work in spite of me in the AM
• My sister has been in town since Wednesday night.  She’s the worship leader at her church and she attended a conference here locally Thursday and Friday.  It’s always fun to have her around, even though I feel like we have hardly seen each other this week
• Please excuse my heartbreak for the next few days: my LSU TIGERS just lost in three overtimes to the Kentucky Wildcats . . . .
• I had some really good meetings this week with a lot of different folks.  I love how God takes my “ordinary” encounters and turns them into divine appointments
• Got to hear Jim Cymbala (from the Brooklyn Tabernacle) in a pastors’ luncheon this week at Heinz Field (where the Steelers play).  It was good stuff
• My wife is not feeling well either and TJ (14 months old now) has been in a whiny stage this week.  Praying that we’ll all wake up in a different zone tomorrow
• I am pumped about what God is doing at ICC and I’m stoked about what’s coming for the rest of the fall and winter.  What a fun ride!

What a week!  It’s been a while since I posted anything, but it’s been a busy week.  First the short week (trying to fit everything into Monday and Tuesday of last week), then Catalyst.  Amazing.  We all go to different conferences for different reasons, but for me, God has used Catalyst as, well, a catalyst in my life.

I first attended back in 2003 and it was my first exposure to such a large group of young(ish) leaders together in one place.  God spoke to me through so many things that year, but especially through Rob Bell’s testimony about finding a healthy life pattern.  At the time I was running my own web design company, working with a local sign company, and working with an auto racing team traveling all over the country.  The question that broke me was, “stop for a second and think about this: where will I be in 5 years if I don’t change something in my routine?  Now what do I need to change?”  The next day I retired from racing and within a month I proposed to Amber (the second best decision of my life, behind committing my life to Christ).  Three months later, I was able to hear and submit to God calling me into vocational ministry.

Then last year I was able to attend again.  This time it wasn’t any one speaker in particular, rather the entire experience, that spoke to me.  I think it was just observing how God was at work in and through so many varied people/groups/areas from all over the country and the world that motivated me to get serious about trying to figure out the next steps for Amber, TJ, and me.  Within two months after Catalyst ended, I had resigned my current position and moved to Pittsburgh.  Another month later, God had confirmed our call to plant Iron City Church and invest our lives in seeing the Pittsburgh metro area transformed with the love of Jesus Christ.

This year, the experience was again refreshing and challenging.  I am not going to list all the things that I heard from everyone.  I had some serious issues trying to get online at Catalyst (not sure if I was the only one), so I was forced to actually sit still and listen and let some of what was being said sink in.  I will say that Francis Chan’s message toward the end of Thursday’s sessions rocked my world.  He broke out some real, honest to goodness, authenticity, and said that it’s entirely possible to grow a massive church and have a “successful” ministry without loving the people you are serving OR loving Jesus like we are called to.  He challenged us to realize that – like Paul and Jeremiah each record in scripture – God selected us to be used for His mission in the world before we were even born.  So much good stuff.  So little time to process. . . .

Wonder what God’s going to do in my life through all this information and inspiration.  Will it provoke some continued transformation?  I like to think so.

It’s hard for me to believe that my little boy is 14 months old today.  He’s growing like a weed and I just get overwhelmed at how awesome it is to be his dad.  I thank God for the amazing stewardship that is parenthood.

I’ve never been all that good at the long haul.  I’m the offensive lineman on the football team who could hang with anyone for the first 5-10 yards off the ball, but faded in the 40.  My attention span lends itself to the sprint - to moving really quickly and in short bursts.

I spent many of my 29 years overloading myself with multiple passions and activities to the detriment of my health: relationally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  I’ve been quoted as saying such wise, forward-thinking nuggets as “sleep is overrated,” “I can deal with anything for 6 months,” and “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”

That’s making this church planting thing even more of a struggle for me at times.  God didn’t call me to spend a couple of years doing this Iron City Church experiment and then move on.  This is my life’s calling and I intend to start, persevere, and finish well – in such a way that God is honored, the name of Jesus is made more famous, and people’s lives are transformed radically with His Gospel.

That being said, the routine thing is going pretty well thus far.  My weekly schedule (for now) looks like this:

• Sunday: Setup/Worship Service/Breakdown/BFSAN (Big, Fat, Sunday Afternoon Nap)
• Monday: Study Day #1 (recharge from Sunday, work on sermon prep for next Sunday, read, listen to podcasts, etc.) & Date Night with the finest woman in America
• Tuesday: Meeting Day #1 (most of the day for ICC peeps/potential ICC peeps/community leaders/general & staff meeting in the evening)
• Wednesday: Study Day #2 (work to finalize this Sunday’s message, begin prep for next week and early study for future messages/series)
• Thursday: Meeting Day #2 (available for meetings part of the day and then work on various ICC tasks in afternoon)
• Friday: OFF (recharge/God time/family time/Tommy time)
• Saturday: Final preps for Sunday, College Football

In addition, I’m going to the gym at least 3 times a week in the mornings and trying to sleep regularly.  This is my current plan for sustainability in ministry.  I’m thinking it’s a start.  I’ll keep you posted . . .