Launching a brand new kind of faith community that is Jesus-centered and unashamedly Scripture-based and seeking to carry the cross of Christ into the culture of our community has been the most difficult thing I have ever done, but also the most rewarding.  My family and I have grown so much from it, and WE ARE IN IT TO WIN IT – WE ARE IN IT FOR LIFE!!  Building a church that is all about Jesus from within a totally unchurched culture in the heart of New England has been brutal, but every single time we get to see Jesus change someone’s life, I am reminded that ministry is so beautiful.  Ed Young Jr likes to say that ministry is “brutaful” – I like that!

When we first started The Dialogue Church on April 7th, 2007 I was obsessed with being different from every other church, but then I realized that I don’t want to be so different that not even Jesus thought of it.  Seriously, as church leaders we can get so infatuated with an idea about church that we lose sight of the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ.  Whenever that happens division and destruction are sure to follow.  I personally had to repent of my misguided focus and INTENTIONALLY DETERMINE TO MAKE THIS CHURCH ALL ABOUT JESUS.

Jesus wants to grow this church more than I do, so my job as the pastor is to help our team identify the growth barriers and then to remove them one by one.  Nobody has to convince Jesus to grow His church, He has already promised to build His church on the foundation of God’s Cornerstone, Jesus Christ Himself.

Its amazing how often I have to be reminded that THIS IS ABOUT JESUS.  That THIS life is about Jesus, THIS church is about Jesus, THIS marriage I am in is all about Jesus; its not about my wife or me, but its about Jesus.  THIS thing called parenting is not about me or my kids, but its about JESUS, the divine instructions He has given to me to be fruitful and multiply and to train up a child in the way he/she should go. This calling to pastor a miraculous movement of God in Manchester, NH is about Jesus, its not about my agenda or preferences but its about Jesus and His agenda.  Its not about being liked but its about leading according to the vision Jesus has given through His Word and confirmed by His spirit in my heart (and then affirmed by wise leaders around me).  THIS LIFE IS ALL ABOUT JESUS.

You would think that in the church world it would be easy to stay focused on Jesus, but ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE WHEN PEOPLE START MEETING JESUS, LIVES BEGIN THE TRANSFORMATION PROCESS, AND THE UNSTOPPABLE FORCE CALLED THE LOCAL CHURCH BEGINS TO GROW AND SPREAD INTO THE CRACKS AND CREVICES OF OUR CITY.

I can tell you this, much like Joshua, FOR ME AND MY CREW WE ARE GOING TO SERVE AND SACRIFICE FOR JESUS NO MATTER WHAT THE COST!  People will come, people will go, but WE ARE GOING TO MOVE WITH THE MOVERS.

I will listen to my coaches and let go of my critics. I will receive wise counsel from other wise leaders (not just anybody who has a blog or voice) in order to become wise, and I won’t despise correction and instruction like fools do (Pro.14:7-8).