I have been reading through Exodus lately in my devotional times and this statement that God sent to Pharoah through Moses:

“But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

I can’t help but wonder sometimes about how and why God allows or places certain people in certain places of leadership and influence, but this is a powerful statement.  Something to chew on on Super Tuesday.
 

Before I forget to post it, last Sunday was a really good one at Iron City.  Our attendance numbers were back up in spite of a lot of people still out for the holidays.  The band was really kicking too — they did a version of Auld Lang Syne that just about tore the house down. 

I had the week off from preaching, so my Catalytic Pastor took the helm and shared a message called, “I Wish You An Unhappy New Year.”  The idea is that we at Iron City hope your new year is marked with dissatisfaction in every area that doesn’t match up with God’s plan for your life. 

I have a theory that Satan is often more subtle than we give him credit for — in my life he spends a lot more time trying to convince me that things are “good enough” than he does trying to coax me to do things that are outright wrong.  God’s plan is not just “not bad” or “good,” but the “best.”  You can download the message here: http://www.ironcitychurch.com/downloads.html.  He did well as always.

Another treat was that my sister, Cheri, and her kids were here (my brother in law Eric couldn’t make it this trip).  Cheri finished out Dad’s message with a song and did an amazing job.  That’s on the recording too if you get the chance.

I am so ecstatic about this new year and what it holds for Iron City Church.  This week we start a new series called “Together,” where I’ll lay out some of the things that we’re going to be working on as a church.  I can’t wait to be back in the saddle — this week I’m sharing a message called “The New Year’s ReVolution!” 

If you’re in the Pittsburgh area and wondering what ICC is about, this would be a good week for you to come check us out….

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

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!

Man, we had an awesome morning at Iron City today.  Our folks did a great job serving, the music was smooth, and I felt like the message went well.  The only downside was that half of our people decided to take the day off.  I’m calling it “Ouch Sunday.”  I’m not sure if it was the gorgeous fall weather or what, but to say that we were a little slim today would be a huge understatement.  We had a total of 27 in attendance this week.  That’s a low point for us so far, but we still had 3 first timers and they seemed excited.  We’re going to have to spend some serious energy this week working and praying to make more new contacts and follow up with the people that have been coming. 

We started a new series called “Building Blocks” this week, from 2 Peter 1:5-9.  I talked today about laying a foundation of faith – how any good building project has to begin with a solid foundation.  The message download is here.  I’ve been in a funk the last couple of weeks with my preaching, but I felt much better (more like myself) today. 

The hard thing about a week like this one when attendance is down is that there is no clear reason for it.  I’ll be spending a bunch of time praying and trying to diagnose what’s happening.  All in all, it was still a great day though!

We wrapped up “Thank God It’s Monday” today.  Here are some thoughts:

• I’m sick of being sick, but I’m loving this cool weather
• With a lot of the stuff going on lately, it feels like there’s a lot of spiritual warfare going on.  I’ve got to be sure to spend some serious extra time with God this week
• I felt like I was speaking underwater this morning, but it still seemed to connect with people
• I love teaching about God’s mission for His people like I did today – challenging people to let God use them to change lives
• It’s amazing at this stage how much of a difference it makes when 2 or 3 families are out
• We were a little shorthanded in just about all areas today, but I’m constantly amazed at how our people step up to the plate
• Our new series, called “Building Blocks,” kicks off next Sunday – that should be fun
• Talked to a guy tonight from Georgia who was interested in possibly coming up and being a part of ICC.  I encouraged him to talk and pray with his wife about it
• Amber, TJ, and I got to spend some time and eat dinner with a newer family from the church this evening.  We had a great time.  Got to get to know each other, cast some vision, and – my favorite – eat some great steaks together
• TJ is a little animal sometimes.  I love this kid so much I can’t believe it
• We had 48 people at ICC this morning.  Same number as last week, but a very different crowd.  I love church planting
• Can’t wait for date night with Amber tomorrow night!  We didn’t have an official date night last week with everything going on
• I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life but starting this church.  Thank you God for letting me be a part of what You’re doing!

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!

One of the things I’m committed to in planting Iron City Church is that I’m not going to be one of those guys whose only scripture reading on any given week consists of what they have to read for Sunday’s sermon.  That may work for some people, but it leaves me feeling dry after a while.  Anyway, part of my reading for today was Psalm 103.  What an amazing reminder of the nature of God.  Here’s the passage that just grabbed me this morning:

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
       or repay us according to our iniquities.

 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
       so great is his love for those who fear him;

 12 as far as the east is from the west,
       so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 13 As a father has compassion on his children,
       so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

 14 for he knows how we are formed,
       he remembers that we are dust.

He doesn’t give us what we deserve (thankfully), He removes our screw-ups from us as far as the east is from the west, and He has compassion on us – I love this part – because he knows how we are formed, that HE made us from the dust.  What an amazing God we serve.  I can’t tell you how many times my mind wanders and I wonder how God could use me after all the junk I’ve done – what a reminder of His mercy and grace!

Yesterday marked our second weekly service at ICC.  We’re going through a series called “Thank God It’s Monday: Why Going to Work Doesn’t Have to Suck,” and yesterday’s topic was dealing with authority.  Good stuff.  I really enjoyed it and I’m definitely loving the weekly opportunity to preach to this ever-changing flock that God has entrusted/is entrusting to me as a pastor.

We launched ICC with a team of folks made up of locals who we’re trying to connect with (unchurched/dechurched from the North Hills area) AND like-minded believers from other churches who all committed to helping us get started.  After last Sunday’s Kick-Off Service, we sent the vast majority of the latter group back to their church homes.  That meant that yesterday was our real baseline as to where we’re starting on this journey.  And the state of the church is pretty good after week #2.

Our total attendance was 33 for our first weekly service minus the training wheels.  Our systems are still in their infancy, but the people who are stepping up to serve are amazing.  With just our own ICC folks working, setup went smooth, all areas were handled with excellence and grace, and God honored all of that by bringing out 6 first time families.  Each of those families indicated that they enjoyed themselves and most stated that they plan to come back next week. 

Incidently, one of the big reminders I’m getting already is that when you plant a church for people who don’t do church, the weekly church attendance habit is not natural.  We’ll be spending much of this week trying to determine what else we can do to get those fired up first timers back a second, third, and fourth time…

All in all, God is at work!  The atmosphere yesterday was charged, people were challenged (me included), and my prayer is that even as we speak people are being used as agents of life-change in their workplaces, schools, and communities!

Well, we’re less than 12 hours from the start of our first weekly service.  Seeing as this blog is primarily to serve as my journal, bear with me for a minute while I try to record some of the thoughts/emotions that are going on tonight:

• It’s fall — and that actually means cooler weather here in the ‘Burgh
• We had a good time at our block party today — some good connections
• I’m excited beyond description about tomorrow morning
• In the area of what depends on us, I know that we’re ready to rock it out tomorrow
• In the area of what depends on God (like who shows up), I have no idea what to expect tomorrow
• In all areas, I’m pumped to get the ball rolling for our weekly services and start building some momentum
• I have a feeling that this fall/winter is going to see some serious Mo’ around ICC
• I kinda wish the Steelers’ home opener wasn’t tomorrow
• I’m so thankful for like-minded people all over the country who keep showing up to help
• I can’t wait to start the regular routine of Sunday worship at Iron City Church!
• It doesn’t matter what happens in the morning, I’m going to thank God like crazy tomorrow afternoon
• I already love the people that God has brought along to be a part of this church
• I’m stoked to have Jeff & Leslie Mousa up for good now (Jeff’s our new executive pastor)
• I cannot imagine doing anything else with my life than leading ICC!
• Can’t wait to post tomorrow and record how God shows up and shows off tomorrow!