A New Adventure

"Well, that didn't take long."

Those were my wife's words when I accepted a position at The Church at the Triangle heading up their Creative Arts Team. And really, who can blame her for saying it? It's only been 3 1/2 months since Freedom River closed its doors.

But when God gets involved, I guess it's really not surprising at all. Looking back at the sequence of events at both the final days of FRCC and what the Lord's been up to at CATT, His fingerprints are all over this situation.

Probably the most surprising thing is that I actually stopped to talk to the two people who had veto power: Jesus and my wife. It would have been VERY easy to blurt out a "YES!" before Lead Pastor Lee Towns ever finished making his offer. But I took the time to pray over the decision and also make sure Debbie was on board.

One reason for the amazing ease of the decision is my growing friendship with Lee. He and I have hit it off from almost our first conversation. We have a very similar view of church and ministry. We read a lot of the same authors. We listen to many of the same podcasts. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the Lord will deepen our relationship. And I'm very excited to serve under someone who has such a clear vision for the months and years ahead.

I'm looking forward to leading worship for the first time at CATT this week. Jesus is up to something. Come check us out some Sunday morning.

In Christ,
Jay

Home Again

Looks like our church search is over.

Since Freedom River's last meeting on October 5, 2008, my wife and I have been on the lookout for a new church home. We've visited some great places. We've met some wonderful people. We've seen God at work in a variety of cool churches.

But something special happened when we visited the Church at the Triangle for the first time on November 16th. The atmosphere was like no place I've ever visited. More like a cool coffee house. Ever sit at round tables during a worship service before? Well, you do at CATT.

The people were warm and friendly. The band was tight and rockin'. The sermon was biblical and applicable. For all of the other neat places we visited, this just clicked. It was like putting on your most comfortable pair of old jeans. Most importantly, God is clearly at work.

Lee and Carla Towns began laying the ground work for CATT more than a year ago. They launched August 24th of 2008. I mean this thing is brand-spankin' new and fresh out of the box. It still has that "new church" smell!

One thing that has made this even more special is the fact that several Freedom River refugees are also attending CATT.

Deb & I are looking forward to serving Christ's Kingdom at CATT in the coming weeks. What will do? Wherever the Lord wants us.

Join us sometime. Check us out at http://www.churchatthetriangle.org/.

It's good to be home again.

In Christ,
Jay

Job Insecurity

The headlines and evening news are chock full of downturns, bailouts and layoffs. Seems everyone is concerned about job security. 

But let's talk about "Job insecurity."   Not job, but Job.  You know...the guy in the Old Testament.  Yeah, THAT Job.  You see, Job had lost it all.  Not just his job, but also his health, his wealth and most of his family.

I sat down and read through this amazing book in one reading the other day.  What an incredible reminder to me about reading the Bible.  So often, I'll check out a verse or two here or a chapter there, but never see the B-I-G picture of an entire book.  Not this time.  Read Job in one sitting.

For 37 chapters, we read about this once proud man whose life is now nuked.  We hear the loving "advice and encouragement" of the three stooges: Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar.  We are right there when Elihu lovingly and firmly speaks some sense to this broken man.  We read Job demanding a hearing with Almighty God.     

And then God shows up.  Oh, does He ever show up!

God hits Job with an unending barrage of challenges that start with phrases like, "Have you ever..?" and "Can you..?" and "Do you know..?"  The Creator questions him on such topics as geology, astronomy, zoology, biology and philosophy.  Imagine the hardest blue book exam times a gazillion.  And Job had no idea this would be on the final.

Job is left there...stuttering and stammering.  "I am nothing--how could I ever find the answers?" (Job 40:3a NLT).  

"Job insecurity."

Interestingly, God never tells Job why he lost it all.  And Job is fine with that.  After experiencing first hand the awe-inspiring and jaw-dropping power of God, it just doesn't seem to matter.  And God drenches Job in His amazing grace by restoring him.  "So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning" (Job 42:12 NLT).

If you ever doubt the power, the majesty, the holiness or the knowledge of God, crack open your Bible to the book of Job.  Read it all the way through.  I think you'll experience "Job insecurity."  And that's a good thing.

In Christ,

Jay