I started this blog in October 2005. For more than four years, I've had the privilege of recording my journey on this site.
My life has been full of change this year, so why not on the blog as well!
This will be my last post here. But please--hold back the tears! Because starting today I'll be picking up the story over at www.bradleach.net. hope you'll link on over and/or subscribe to the new feed.
I want to thank each of you for taking the time to read this blog. If you've read it once, or one-hundred times; if you've been following for one week, or four years. Thanks for sharing in what God has been doing in my life. I'm honored--really!
I hope we can stay connected at the new site!
Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. -Psalm 33.8
I recently heard someone make this statement, and it came back to me as I prayed through Psalm 33 today.
As worshippers, we are to fear God and nothing else.
Fear takes all kinds of forms. Fear of failure. Fear of sickness. Fear of embarrassment. Fear of people's disapproval. Fear of hurting a person's feelings. Yet there's only one form that fear should take in our lives.
We fear the Lord. We stand in awe of him. We reverence him. We approach him confidently, yet cautiously.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and this is why. If we embrace the right fear the right way, we strip the power away from the wrong fears.
So we are at once fearful and fearless--full of fear and free of it at the same time.
Yesterday was Leah's first Mother's Day since Gabby was born. I really enjoyed celebrating the day with her. Watching her selfless service to Gabby this past year has not only increased my love and respect for her, but for my mom as well.
Mom, I wouldn't be here without you! (And I'm not just talking about your hard work on September 11, 1978). You have served me, protected me, encouraged me, cheered for me, defended me, fed me, and prayed for me.
I hope you feel honored today, not only for these things (and more)! that you continue to do, but for the person that you are. You are a caring, encouraging, behind the scenes servant--a true woman of God.
I love you!
I've been thinking about Moses this week. In particular, I'm imagining how he must have felt by living in between various cultures.
Moses was a part of three cultures. Born a Hebrew. Raised in Egypt. Lived in Midian. He was a part of three cultures, but wasn't fully in any of them.
I identify with Moses some during this season of life. I'm from Michigan. It still feels a little like home when I travel back, but it's not--not really. I'm living in Pittsburgh. We've got a great home there for the time being, but it's a quick layover. We're on our way to Philadelphia, but don't live there yet. At times it's all a bit disorienting.
Fortunately, when we struggle to know where we belong, we can remember to whom we belong. Your identity is not connected to your address. It's established in relationship to your God!
This morning I heard my dad share an interesting insight. At creation, God labeled the inauguration of time this way.
And there was evening, and there was morning--the first day. And there was evening, and there was morning--the second day. And there was evening, and there was morning--the third day.
In God's view, at least at creation, the day started in the evening and then continued through the morning. Or, as my dad put it, the day starts with rest, not coffee!
What if we went into the evening with this mindset, that the previous day is finished and we have the opportunity to start again? Would we value our families more? Our recreation more? Our rest more?
Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Wow. Finally got an hour break in the midst of all our driving, walking, praying, video shooting, building hunting, subway riding fun in Philly!
Last night we attended the Phillies game. Besides being pounded by the Mets it was a fun experience. We got the cheapest tickets possible and ended up in the upper deck. But we had a breathtaking view of downtown Philadelphia.
To be honest, sitting in those stands, watching a fight break out, and gazing at the downtown skyline made me feel so small. After the game we rode the subway down to South Street to experience the late night crowd. By the end of the night I was struck with a feeling that I've had many times during this recent journey.
I desperately need God's help right now, maybe more than at any other time in my life.
I don't say this enough, but this opportunity to plant a church in the city of Philadelphia is so much bigger than me and our team. We don't have what it takes to pull this off. It feels like a massive challenge.
Fortunately, we serve an all-powerful God.
It could be that the most important blessing I'll receive in the midst of this journey is the opportunity to throw myself again, with childlike dependency, on the mercy and grace of God.
A few weeks ago some of us from the Philly Project team visited Eastern State Penitentiary. This historic prison is located in the middle of one of our three focus neighborhoods in Philadelphia.
Eastern State was the first prison in United States history to attempt to reform prisoners rather than simply punish them. The goal was to make prisoners penitent, thus the name penitentiary.
The Quakers were instrumental in the philosophy behind the prison. They believed that the heart of every person was good. So if a criminal spent enough time in deep introspection he would eventually confront the evil in his actions and desire to change.
In an effort to force that introspection, the prison took solitary confinement to an extreme level. Prisoners were by themselves 23 hours a day! Furthermore, when they were allowed to spend a few minutes outside, they wore a mask so they couldn't see anyone else or be seen themselves.
As you might have guessed, this much intense solitary confinement didn't have the results that the well-meaning founders of the prison had intended. Instead, it caused some inmates to go crazy, and was eventually abandoned as too cruel a punishment.
Our time at Eastern State Penitentiary reminded me of the great lengths hundreds of politicians, reformers, activists, religious leaders, and philosophers have taken to change the human heart. Yet there's only one person who can effectively transform a person's heart.
Jesus Christ.
His passion to transform people in Philadelphia is why we're moving there to plant churches. Jesus has the power to do what no institution can do. And I believe his life-changing power will be experienced in Philly like never before!
Will I become an Eagles fan?
There are a few arguments people have offered as to why I should become an Eagles fan.
But still, here's my struggle.
For me, following a team is not a business transaction or missional strategy. It's a relationship. So I don't know how to make an intellectual decision to love another team.
I love the Pistons because I grew up attending games at the Palace with my dad. I still remember watching Vinnie Johnson hit the game winner at the buzzer to bury the Trailblazers for a second straight NBA Championship.
I love the Lions because I grew up watching Barry Sanders embarrass helpless defenders in the open field. I still remember watching him break 2,000 yards in a single season at the Silverdome.
I love the Red Wings because I grew up watching Yzerman and the Russian Five bring the Stanley Cup back to Hockeytown. I still remember ordering pizza during late playoff games, making up a Red Wings special, and getting it.
So will I become an Eagles fan?
Probably...but not because I make an intellectual decision to try and reach people or switch to a better franchise. I'll become an Eagles fan the same way I became a Lion's fan.
I'll watch a game winning drive with my son. I'll get caught up in the excitement of a city championship. I'll stay up late watching a playoff game roll into overtime.
And I'll fall in love.
As our team has started developing for The Philly Project, we have intentionally been slow to talk about roles. We made this decision for a few reasons.
First, a church plant is like a baby, rapidly changing and developing. As a result, a role that needs to be staffed in month one may be different than a role that needs to be staffed in month 9.
Second, roles will change based on our context. If we wind up planting in a neighborhood without any teenagers, we may not need a youth pastor.
Our philosophy has been to focus on getting the right people on the bus, and then addressing roles once the team is defined. Instead of committing to a position, we're asking our team to commit to the mission and values of our new church, the people of Philadelphia, and to Leah and I personally as leaders.
Of course, the challenge this approach creates is the tension of developing and defining roles within the team after it's been formed. This will be an important process for us that will be informed by our mission as a church, the needs of our target neighborhood, and the gifts of each team member.
This afternoon I met with Jane Patterson. Jane is a professional leadership coach who specializes in team coaching. She is also a member of Allison Park Church and a believer in the Philly Project. She is volunteering her time to coach our team as we continue to develop relationally, spiritually, and strategically. So thankful for her generous help!
Today she reminded me that every member of a team fulfills two distinct roles.
It was a great conversation and opportunity for me to think about the development of our team. And it made me even more thankful for the variety of gifts and personalities that are represented on our team so far!