The Browning's
Stressful Love 10/22/2009
 
I talked with a friend last month, and he made a statement that has been on my mind for the last several weeks.  My friend, Marshall, said, "I've noticed that the things that stress me out the most are also the things that I love the most."  Wow!  That is so true.  The top 10 factors that bring me the greatest amount of stress are also the top 10 passions of my life.  Maybe you aren't following me.  Let me give an example.

I love being a pastor.  I get to help people in their greatest times of need.  I get to see their life find purpose through their relationship with God.  I get a front row seat as He builds His Kingdom before my eyes.  While it is the greatest thrill on earth to be used by God in a mighty way, it is also most stressful.  I feel the weight of being God's mouthpiece.  I feel the immense pressure of being a visionary on His behalf and when people in my flock hurt, I hurt alongside of them in a transcendent way.

Okay, I recognize this experience is unique to me in comparison to the typical reader so let me give another example.  How about you guys who love golf?  Does it bring you any stress?  When your fade turns into a slice or when every putt seems to lip out, does your passion turn into frustration, anger, or stress?  How about parenting?  I love my kids, but they bring about a great deal of stress.  My 9 year old daughter is the love of my life, but she stresses me out to no end. She is already asking me when she can have a boyfriend.  I told her yesterday that she already had a boyfriend (her daddy) and I wasn't ready to breakup yet and probably won't for a long time.  I can only imagine what it is going to be like when she is a teenager.

How about marriage?  Your Career?  Your favorite sports team?  Why is it that the things we are most passionate about bring about the greatest amount of stress?  I think about Jesus on the cross, which must have been the greatest moment of stress in His incarnate life.  Why would he endure such stress?  Why endure the whips, the mockery, and the abuse?  If my illustration is implied to Jesus' death, the implications would say that Jesus had an unquestionable, deeply passionate love for God's children.  So much so that He would endure such excruciating stress that made the pores on his brow sweat blood.  Oh how He loves us!
 
 
There are so many things to be excited about at the Journey Church.  We are seeing life transformation happen in families, individuals, and in our community.  Next month we will be having our third baptism service as we celebrate the milestones in several of our family members lives.  Also, we are seeing 85% of those adults in our worship service attending a small group each week.   This tells us that the people in our church are serious about growing in their relationship with Jesus.  We are currently planning multiple mission projects.  This month we will be hosting a movie night at a local elementary school where we hope to engage with hundreds of unchurched families in our community. 

We are also excited about the recent growth in our worship services.  Each month since June we have seen our average monthly attendance rise.  Because of this growth, we have been forced to plan for our future.  We plan to move into our new location in the beginning of 2010.  These plans are going to require a lot from us.  A major theme at our church lately has been sacrifice.  We know that our people are responding because over the last few weeks we've seen our church sacrifice in a major way.  We had our "First Offering Sunday," last weekend where we raised over $35,543!  Added to the money that had received before the first offering service, we have raised a total of $49,891!  That is real sacrifice for a church made up of families, new professionals & college students.

We still have a lot of work ahead of us.  In the next 4 months we will be building a stage for our new santuary, painting a building, constructing a riser system, and decorating an entire interior.  We are also about 20% below our total pledge goal, which represents about $40,000 more in pledges that we need over the next two years.  If we could identify 10 givers who would pledge $3,000 and 10 givers who would pledge $1,000 we could reach our goal.  If you could play a part in these plans, please let us know by turning in a Rebuilt Pledge card.  We can accomplish this together!