It's official, I'm engaged!

As of last night, at 8:00pm, I am officially engaged! Wow! Here's how it went down...

Ashley is ridiculously hard to surprise because she is most brilliant when it comes to gaining secret information. So, I pulled out all the stops...including a few lies (you have to do what you have to do). For the past several months, she knows I've been writing and composing a special song for her. Every few weeks I told her it is coming along little by little, trying to build some excitement. Since she has been expecting a proposal for the past few weeks, I told her I didn't have the ring, I haven't talked with her Dad, but I would play her the song to tide her over until the proposal (I talked to her Dad the previous day and picked up the ring yesterday). Well, yesterday I told her the song was ready, and since I was trying to surprise her, I couldn't have the ring on me because she feels my pockets often, hoping to find the ring box. Knowing I would sing her song to her downstairs, I previously hid the ring in the game drawer of her entertainment system. Well, the song moved her to tears (it was the bomb), and to make sure she was totally surprised, I asked, "Ok. Now can we watch 24?" She said, "What? Are you serious?" Then I said, "Or we can play a game," as I moved towards the game drawer. She recommended a game, but then I turned around and said, "I have something better." She was blown away and couldn't believe what was happening! I dropped to one knee and asked for her to marry me. She immediately said "Yes!"

It truly was the most incredible feeling ever. I'm not gonna lie...I was pretty nervous, not because I thought she would deny, but because you only get one chance to make it right, and I wanted to blow her away. Mission successful!

Believe

As of February, my church has just begun a 3 year Mission Expansion Project for current facilities development, new campuses in RDU, and a permanent broadcast campus. We're calling it BELIEVE based on Ephesians 3:20-21,

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ultimately, our church is truly experiencing a movement of God. For some reason, God has decided to take our proverbial "five loaves and two fish" and multiply them into something miraculous. We are making a huge impact in our city, tons of people are experiencing Jesus, the gospel is advancing, the broken are being healed, the skeptics are becoming followers, the poor are being clothed and fed, and the church is being inspired to seek first the kingdom above all other things (additionally, in six years we have planted four churches, three new campuses, and currently have 40 members who are serving as international church planters). It is awesome! I love my church! If you want to hear what the media is saying, you can catch this story covered by NBC 17 here. They were at our main campus in Brier Creek two Sundays ago to see what our "Day of Hope" was all about.

The next blog post will include some of the major statements our church is rallying behind. They are powerful.

Hanging out with Mark Driscoll

Last Thursday I had the opportunity to spend some time with my pastor, who lined up a speaking engagement at UNC for Mark Driscoll. Driscoll was in town for the Acts 29 Boot Camp and the 20/20 Collegiate Conference at Southeastern Seminary. He is one of the best communicators and pastors I've ever heard. His church, Mars Hill Church, is thriving in the least churched city in America, Seattle. He has written several books, he speaks hundreds of times a year, he founded the Acts 29 Movement and The Resurgence, he has a great wife and five children.

Fortunately, I was able to hang out with Mark for a couple hours Thursday evening. He is wicked smart, hilarious, encouraging and humble. Here are a two insights I'll share with you from my time with him:

1. His church has grown from the size of a small group to 8,000 people in 12 years. There has been a 40% conversion growth, which is incredible for any church. When I asked him to elaborate on this he said, "Honestly, I know this may sound cliche, but it has all happened because of the grace of God." I also asked him if this only happened during the Sunday services, to which he immediately replied, "It happens all the time. Our people are great about building relationships with Non-Christians. They hang out, eat together, and follow up with people who visit our church."

2. Right before Mark went on stage to speak to 750 college students, I asked, "So, what goes on in your mind before you preach?" He said, "Nothing really. Right now I'm thinking about my kids. If you get nervous before you speak, you've already bummed out. Truthfully, you just have to have some balls and say what you know to say...especially to college kids."

You should get his podcast and visit his website. I would highly recommend every book Driscoll has authored. I've read most of them, and they have been transforming for my life and ministry. Seriously, you want to follow this guy!

More Pics

Here are a few pics from the massive St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. I cannot imagine the worth of this place. While Catholics fall under the umbrella of Christianity, there are some obvious differences in how Protestants read the Scriptures and implement them. The highlight of my pictures was from a statue of St. Jude. I'm not completely sure if this guy is identical with the Biblical author, but I had to take a picture and post it on the blog because this is where the blog name comes, Jude 25. It reads, "to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

New York City

Last week I spent three days in New York City on Manhattan Island with my lovely girlfriend. Fortunately, her Alma Mada, App State, has a cheap place for alumni to stay when visiting the city. It's a cool little pad on 24th Street and Park Avenue, and the layout is similar to a hostile. Thanks ASU!

If you've ever been to New York City, you relate when I say...I was completely blown away by the size of the buildings, the crowds of people, the fast pace society, and the cultural melting pot of endless nationalities. The city is incredible. We visited Times Square, the Empire State Building, Battery Park, Pier 17, Wall Street, Central Park (with a carriage ride), the Late Show with David Letterman (we were promoted to the 2nd row because of Ashley's enthusiasm!!), Rupert's Deli, the Broadway show "Wicked," the American Museum of Natural History, the Plaza Hotel, FAO Schwarz (Yes, we played on the big piano), Trump Towers, The Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, China Town, Little Italy, Macy's, and much more. Ashley was awesome. From the moment I gave her the go-ahead for the trip, she already had our agenda planned for the entire three days, including meals. She's the bomb.

There was so much insight I learned from our visit. One, Ashley and I were in the minority most of the time, especially in the subway. It was quite humbling to be out of our comfort zone. Two, you have to make mad cash to live in Manhattan! Three, it is ridiculously cold in January. Four, always bring running shoes because you walk endlessly. Five, Jesus created and loves every single person in this city. He has made them to know him, to glorify him, and to live a joyful life of abundance through him. He is the God of this city. It was a great visit, and you should definitely check it out sometime while you are still in good shape.

(more pics in the future)

Missional Networks

A huge goal for me is to be constantly engaged with the unchurched community around me. For years it seemed as if I only had relationships with people in a Christian bubble. It was not my plan to be this way, and I find it very unfortunate and sad that this was my reality. What is even more discouraging is the process of escaping this context. I was so far removed that it took approximately an entire year to feel like I had made a complete escape. When I look at Jesus’ life, he poured time into two main networks. First, he was constantly teaching and training his disciples, growing them and developing them to be leaders for his mission. And second, he was hanging out with the social misfits, prostitutes, and crooks of his day, namely, the unchurched crowd. So, here is a list of the networks I see for developing relationships with those who are unchurched. I have not mastered this list, and I don’t know most of my neighbors by name, but I’m constantly trying to engage people in these areas.

1. Family—often the first place to begin is your immediate and distant family. While this is sometimes a hard group to reach because of past experiences or fear of pushing family away, you likely already have a relationship with these people.


2. Neighborhood—unfortunately we live in an individualistic society, and this may be an obstacle for your area, but this is a huge place to develop relationships with the unchurched.

a. Meet your neighbors
b. Invite them over for dinner and parties
c. Participate in Neighborhood functions (block parties)
d. Use the holidays. Meet people at Halloween; give gifts (cookies and food) at Christmas
e. Volunteer with the HOA (Home Owners Association)


3. Workplace—this is probably your best network for reaching unchurched people. You spend upwards of 40-60 hours a week with these people month after month after month

a. Attend work parties
b. Bless your office with breakfast or lunch occasionally
c. Engage in conversations when people seem interested
d. Invite your co-workers over for dinner, parties, baby showers, wedding showers, ball games, etc…
e. Be intentional on business trips to spark conversations in the car or plane


4. School/Education—get to know your classmates and professors

a. Invite your classmates to parties and functions
b. Volunteer at your school
c. Bless your class in a creative way


5. Social Ministry—bless those in your city who are marginalized and in poverty; engage with rescue missions and programs who bless the poor


6. Community Programs—volunteer to serve when your city has a marathon or fundraiser


7. Sports Leagues—if you or your children are active in sports, use these opportunities to be a part of a city league; engage with others players and parents and invite them to hang out at parties and such


8. Recreation/Entertainment—wherever you find yourself every day in the community, be intentional about knowing people where you regularly go; try to visit the same places regularly so you get to know the people

a. Coffee shop
b. Restaurants
c. Movie theatre
d. Gas station
e. Grocery store
9. Online Relationships
a. Facebook
b. Twitter
c. Myspace