My head is still spinning after Velocity at Mountain Lake Church.  Thanks to Shawn Lovejoy, David Putman, Jenny Rodder and the whole Mountain Lake staff and volunteers for creating an atmosphere for God to move mightily.  I'm still processing all that I heard and experienced.  It will take some time.  However, I wanted to give you a glimpse into a few things that God really used over the last two days to speak truth and breathe life into me.  

  • I get pumped every year because I remember sitting around a table at staff meeting in the early days of Mountain Lake Church (I was on the ministry team for a time before moving to Auburn and planting Journey) and talking about a conference that would one day happen.  The first name that surfaced jokingly was the "Clueless Conference" because as church planters we all feel pretty clueless at times.  I'm glad they didn't go with that name… and for certain, Shawn and David have a clue.  They are two of the greatest allies a church planter could ever have.  
  • I loved it because my wife Sonja got to go.  It is always WAY better when she's with me than when she's not.
  • I got to share the conference with some of our team.  My goal is to get everyone on our ministry team, paid and volunteer as well as our Strategic Leadership Team to the conference.  It's great for inspiration, training and team building.  
  • I get to see more people in my "tribe".  I love being around church planters.  We all get to compare fashion… who has the latest cool print on their shirt and wonder if the trend will ever be to tuck our shirts in… who knows… it could happen!
  • I drink from a fire hydrant from guys like Rick Warren, Steven Furtick, Shawn Lovejoy, and others.
  • I learn from people who are doing some great things like Pete Wilson in Nashville and Jeff Murphy in Columbus, GA.  
  • I meet new pastors and old friends… I even got to see my old youth pastor (and I do mean old!) Tom Hudgins who was up from Clearwater, FL with his son in law, Matt Laughter. 
  • I left there with a journal full of notes, a heart full of passion, a renewed sense of calling and clarity… and I'm scared to death… because it means some uncomfortable things are coming next.

What's next… I could have come back like many others who attend conferences and put the notebook on my bookshelf next to all the other conferences I've attended… and quickly jump right back into doing the work… Sunday comes in a few days and I have to prepare a message and have some meetings.  

BUT

I'm going to do something different… I'm going to listen… intently… purposefully.

I'm going to go back through my notes prayerfully and look at all the actionable items I wrote down this year.  Then I'm going to beg God to show up in power as we attempt to get CRAZY for the Kingdom and for the sake of the Gospel.  

I have a feeling we may make some people uncomfortable, maybe even mad… some may even leave.  I don't ever want that, but I know that God is calling us to be and do some radical things and it will be hard work.  So, Journey Church, get ready… God is about to do something awesome.  It may not result in huge numbers, but then again it might.  It may not result in more resources to use to impact the kingdom, but then again it might.  Here's what it will result in… Total absolute abandon to the Kingdom of Me and a renewed focus on the Kingdom of HE (Jesus… as if that weren't obvious).  Not sure what all that looks like right now, but I will tell you that over the next few weeks we will all be challenged greatly.  I hope you're up for the challenge because on the other side there is a "Well done, good and faithful servant" just waiting for those who are willing to take the trip with us.

Tomorrow I'll share some of the specifics, quotes, and principles I learned from the people at the conference.