Today is May 20, 2008. Thirty years ago there was a screaming baby boy that came into this world named Timothy Bryce Wilson at 7:37 am.
The transition to thirty hasn’t been a big deal for me. I know there are a lot of people try to stay eternally 29. NOT ME. Dear Lord no. I have earned this age. I think those feelings also come from a verse from Timothy that talks about not letting anyone looking down on you because you are young. I am so sick of that verse. I feel like my whole life I have claimed that verse and still do. Come on people I AM THIRTY! I don’t feel young. My knees creek, my back hurts when I wake up, my hair is thinning by the day, and the sport I play the most is golf. I know I am thirty and will readily admit it. People in their twenties shouldn’t feel this way.
I guess thirty is still fairly young to be leading a new movement of God. It was around this time in Jesus’ life that he started his ministry. I can’t imagine being the Son of God and waiting this long to do what you were really here for. Maybe there is something about this age. I do feel like I am entering a distinctly different era. You know who you are. You know what you’re good at and what you’re not good at and you’re hopefully ok with that. You don’t need all the excitement and thrill of your twenties. I am most happy being with my wife and having my son climbing on me in our living room. I would be incredibly bummed if Veritas doesn’t work out but I know that isn’t what defines me. I would much rather have my wife feel fulfilled and have kids that know they are loved and important to me than a church that looks successful.
Also today I have thought of how much we don’t know about Jesus. A lot of things have happened in my life up to this point. I can’t imagine my story being told with a focus on the next three years of my life with only a smattering of information from my past to fill in the gaps. I guess it brings out some of the humanity in Jesus to me. We both were at a point of transition at this age and moving into what we were made for. I just hope there isn’t a mob from Bay View that wants to kill me three years from now.
So as I enter this next decade of life I have a God that loves me, a wife I don’t deserve, a beautiful son, a goofy dog, good friends, loving family, and an opportunity to live out what I believe I was made for. So all in all I think I am in a good place. Here’s to the thirties. I think forty might be a little more traumatic, we’ll see.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Ending Well
I have been thinking about endings a little lately. I know it sounds weird with being at the cusp of a new movement of God. But there were a couple things that have come about that have made me think about finishing well.
The first was someone saying that the true impact you will make in ministry and in life will be what you do from 35 to 55. It was a little frustrating because I still not even out of my twenties. But the one thing that I was encouraged by was that God is allowing us to start a church before we get to our prime. When you think about it what you do with your kids, career, marriage, and other relationships in that time is crucial to how things end up. What you do in this time period is crucial to how things are when your are in your 60’s and 70’s. Will you be estranged from your kids, or will they be bringing the the grandkids by often. Will you be happily spending your golden years next to the one you have loved for decades or spending it alone.
Another instance was reading through the end of Deuteronomy where Moses is coming to the end of his time leading the people of Israel. God shows him all that God had promised to the people of Israel. What Moses did in his prime was crucial to how he finished. He made a mistake in his prime and it drastically affected how he finished. He was not allowed to enter into the land that he had lead the people of Israel to for the better part of a third of his life.
Then the last thing that prompted these thoughts is from a guilty pleasure of mine. I grew up watching Hulk Hogan, The Hart Foundation, and Macho Man Randy Savage and the rest of the World Wresting Federation. I stepped away from it for quite a while but I have recently got pulled into the petty drama of the WWE. Over the weekend Rick Flair, who has been in wrestling for 35 years, had his last match at Wrestlemania. The stipulation for the match was that if he lost he would have to retire. He lost and therefore had to retire. As he left the ring at Wrestlemania the crowd was cheering and giving him a standing ovation. Then on Monday night he had his chance to say his final goodbye to the fans and the rest of wrestling. He gave his speech then one of the current stars came out and said he wanted to say thank you in person and that there were some others that wanted to say thank you as well. For the next ten minutes there were retired wrestlers that had battled against Flair, and present stars hugging him and saying thank you. By the end every single one of the people in the WWE were out by the ring clapping and saying thank you for everything he had done for their “sport”. Vicky was watching it with me and she was saying what a shame it was that he had to go out with a loss. But as I watched I don’t think there could be any better way to go out than to have your peers and family thank you for what you had done to lay the groundwork for where they are today.
I was writing some stuff down the other day about what I want to be known for by the time things are wrapped up in my life. The first was that I was good husband, second was that I would be a good dad. If I fail in ministry but those two are good I will be happy in the end. But as far as ministry. I want to be know as someone who multiplies. I dream of starting other churches from Veritas, helping other church planters through coaching them, empowering “normal” people to dream and execute what God is dreaming for them to do. I hope like Rick Flair that when I retire from full time ministry there will be a line up of people that can say thank you for doing what you did because it made it possible for me to do what God has called me to do. Don’t get me wrong I want to see God grow Veritas and I want through Jesus to make a lasting dent in this neighborhood. But I want my legacy to be how I helped others, whether they are another pastor or someone at Veritas, to have the courage to follow what God has dreamed for them.
The first was someone saying that the true impact you will make in ministry and in life will be what you do from 35 to 55. It was a little frustrating because I still not even out of my twenties. But the one thing that I was encouraged by was that God is allowing us to start a church before we get to our prime. When you think about it what you do with your kids, career, marriage, and other relationships in that time is crucial to how things end up. What you do in this time period is crucial to how things are when your are in your 60’s and 70’s. Will you be estranged from your kids, or will they be bringing the the grandkids by often. Will you be happily spending your golden years next to the one you have loved for decades or spending it alone.
Another instance was reading through the end of Deuteronomy where Moses is coming to the end of his time leading the people of Israel. God shows him all that God had promised to the people of Israel. What Moses did in his prime was crucial to how he finished. He made a mistake in his prime and it drastically affected how he finished. He was not allowed to enter into the land that he had lead the people of Israel to for the better part of a third of his life.
Then the last thing that prompted these thoughts is from a guilty pleasure of mine. I grew up watching Hulk Hogan, The Hart Foundation, and Macho Man Randy Savage and the rest of the World Wresting Federation. I stepped away from it for quite a while but I have recently got pulled into the petty drama of the WWE. Over the weekend Rick Flair, who has been in wrestling for 35 years, had his last match at Wrestlemania. The stipulation for the match was that if he lost he would have to retire. He lost and therefore had to retire. As he left the ring at Wrestlemania the crowd was cheering and giving him a standing ovation. Then on Monday night he had his chance to say his final goodbye to the fans and the rest of wrestling. He gave his speech then one of the current stars came out and said he wanted to say thank you in person and that there were some others that wanted to say thank you as well. For the next ten minutes there were retired wrestlers that had battled against Flair, and present stars hugging him and saying thank you. By the end every single one of the people in the WWE were out by the ring clapping and saying thank you for everything he had done for their “sport”. Vicky was watching it with me and she was saying what a shame it was that he had to go out with a loss. But as I watched I don’t think there could be any better way to go out than to have your peers and family thank you for what you had done to lay the groundwork for where they are today.
I was writing some stuff down the other day about what I want to be known for by the time things are wrapped up in my life. The first was that I was good husband, second was that I would be a good dad. If I fail in ministry but those two are good I will be happy in the end. But as far as ministry. I want to be know as someone who multiplies. I dream of starting other churches from Veritas, helping other church planters through coaching them, empowering “normal” people to dream and execute what God is dreaming for them to do. I hope like Rick Flair that when I retire from full time ministry there will be a line up of people that can say thank you for doing what you did because it made it possible for me to do what God has called me to do. Don’t get me wrong I want to see God grow Veritas and I want through Jesus to make a lasting dent in this neighborhood. But I want my legacy to be how I helped others, whether they are another pastor or someone at Veritas, to have the courage to follow what God has dreamed for them.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
History Makers
Here they are...the beginning of Veritas! This is the Launch Team!We don't know all that is to come.
We don't know exactly where this road will take us.
But, we know Who is leading us. We know that God has gone ahead of us and is at work in Bay View. We are looking to join Him in His work.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Two or Three
I was reading in the old testament today and ran across something I think might be interesting. There are many places in the laws that says to convict someone of wrongdoing there must be two or three witnesses. There are many other places in scripture that keep to this principle of two or three people being witnesses to something to validate it.
Then in Matthew 18 Jesus says “where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Is Jesus saying that when two or three of us gather in his name there should be something to witness. There is this principle of the two or three people being witnesses to something. Maybe every time we gather in the name of Jesus there should be things happening that need validating. Jesus says that when two or three gather he is there. If Jesus is present with us as we gather maybe something should be happening. Jesus our redeemer is present with us. If Jesus shows up somewhere that is quite significant. Although I haven’t been to a lot of gatherings that need witnesses. Things are pretty run of the mill we sing, talk a little, teach some stuff, and then go home. I think most people would believe that kind of stuff happens when we gather. Lets intentionally invite Jesus to gather with us and maybe see what happens. Maybe if we truly invite the presence of Jesus or truly gather in his name we will need some witnesses of what is going on, otherwise who would believe it?
Then in Matthew 18 Jesus says “where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Is Jesus saying that when two or three of us gather in his name there should be something to witness. There is this principle of the two or three people being witnesses to something. Maybe every time we gather in the name of Jesus there should be things happening that need validating. Jesus says that when two or three gather he is there. If Jesus is present with us as we gather maybe something should be happening. Jesus our redeemer is present with us. If Jesus shows up somewhere that is quite significant. Although I haven’t been to a lot of gatherings that need witnesses. Things are pretty run of the mill we sing, talk a little, teach some stuff, and then go home. I think most people would believe that kind of stuff happens when we gather. Lets intentionally invite Jesus to gather with us and maybe see what happens. Maybe if we truly invite the presence of Jesus or truly gather in his name we will need some witnesses of what is going on, otherwise who would believe it?
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Why start a new church?
I have heard the question “Why start a new church?” a couple times over the past couple months. Mostly the question has been asked by other pastors as a stock question for me to answer for their congregations. I haven’t heard that question from anyone else. No one has just asked me “So why are you doin this instead of just working at another church?” I don’t know if people are thinking it but not asking the question outright or if that question really isn’t there. Are we as entrepenuaers in the kingdom of God just coming up with excuses and creating the question? I hope the case is that people hear that Vicky and I are starting a church and it makes sense to them. I hope that people see that we are doing what we were designed before the foundations of the earth to do. So the question of “Why are you doing this?” doesn’t dawn on them. I hope asking us “Why are you starting a new church?” is like asking a bird why it flies? That is just what birds are supposed to do, and starting this new church is what we are supposed to do.
But if they do ask I have an answer in the form of a song by The Robbie Seay Band from their song “Go Outside” off their album “Give Yourself Away”.
Go Outside
Go outside
And praise the God who mapped the stars out in the sky
Gather ‘round with those who love and sing
He is our King
No one should be left out
No one should be left out
No one should be left out
No one should be left out
If you have air to breathe
Hear your call to sing
Written by Robbie Seay, Ryan Owens, Chase Jenkins, and Seth Woods © 2007 Birdwing Music (admin. by EMI CMG Publishing) / All songs used by permission. All rights reserved.
I just bought this album with some I tunes gift cards from Christmas. (thanks Kossows) I was listening to that song this morning in a busy coffee shop in Bay View. I was tucked into the corner just watching people as I listened to it. The overwhelming sense that many of these people were being left out of the joy of following Jesus brought tears to my eyes and renewed my hope that God is at work and we are following his plan for us.
Vicky and I believe there are people who live in and around Bay View that are being left out of an opportunity to fall in love with Jesus. So that is why we do this to show people who Jesus is and why following Jesus is what we as humans were created to do. As long as we have air to breathe that is the song we will sing. Join with us in singing the song of hope to the hopeless, the song of joy to the joyless, the song of redemption to those that need to be redeemed.
But if they do ask I have an answer in the form of a song by The Robbie Seay Band from their song “Go Outside” off their album “Give Yourself Away”.
Go Outside
Go outside
And praise the God who mapped the stars out in the sky
Gather ‘round with those who love and sing
He is our King
No one should be left out
No one should be left out
No one should be left out
No one should be left out
If you have air to breathe
Hear your call to sing
Written by Robbie Seay, Ryan Owens, Chase Jenkins, and Seth Woods © 2007 Birdwing Music (admin. by EMI CMG Publishing) / All songs used by permission. All rights reserved.
I just bought this album with some I tunes gift cards from Christmas. (thanks Kossows) I was listening to that song this morning in a busy coffee shop in Bay View. I was tucked into the corner just watching people as I listened to it. The overwhelming sense that many of these people were being left out of the joy of following Jesus brought tears to my eyes and renewed my hope that God is at work and we are following his plan for us.
Vicky and I believe there are people who live in and around Bay View that are being left out of an opportunity to fall in love with Jesus. So that is why we do this to show people who Jesus is and why following Jesus is what we as humans were created to do. As long as we have air to breathe that is the song we will sing. Join with us in singing the song of hope to the hopeless, the song of joy to the joyless, the song of redemption to those that need to be redeemed.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Focus
I have had two experiences lately that have led me to a conclusion. One experience was reading through the book of Numbers. I originally wanted to read Numbers to read around the passages that talk about Caleb. I wanted to get the full context for those stories. Then the other experience was reading the journal of my Great Grandfather. It was from the time when he was starting a church in Berkley Michigan. The journal was from the first couple years of the church. It started as a Sunday School in 1919 and then became an official church a couple years later.
The conclusion I came to is there is something holy about recording the events of our life.
Numbers has a few stories here and there of the Israelites but for the most part it is history and the “boring” things that most people skip over. There are all the instructions about sacrifices, what to do if this certain thing happens, how many men there were in each tribe who were over 20 years of age, and other things that make for incredible teaching series.
The journal included many mundane details to some. But for me it was a rich experience. It was so enriching to see that a lot of the same things I am doing to build this new church he was doing nearly a century ago. There are details about the weather for a given day, what people he visited in a day, what items they received from people, and records of what was talked about at a given service. These were all mundane details that meant so much to me. I saw how he relied on God and his love for Jesus and people. His relationships seemed so deep. I have heard from many people about his life and his incredibly large impact on their life.
I think there is something holy in the things we see as mundane. Those mundane things are part of history they are part of God’s plan. When we focus on these details of life we are bringing into focus part of God’s plan for human history be it a very small part of that plan.
Numbers has a few stories here and there of the Israelites but for the most part it is history and the “boring” things that most people skip over. There are all the instructions about sacrifices, what to do if this certain thing happens, how many men there were in each tribe who were over 20 years of age, and other things that make for incredible teaching series.
The journal included many mundane details to some. But for me it was a rich experience. It was so enriching to see that a lot of the same things I am doing to build this new church he was doing nearly a century ago. There are details about the weather for a given day, what people he visited in a day, what items they received from people, and records of what was talked about at a given service. These were all mundane details that meant so much to me. I saw how he relied on God and his love for Jesus and people. His relationships seemed so deep. I have heard from many people about his life and his incredibly large impact on their life.
I think there is something holy in the things we see as mundane. Those mundane things are part of history they are part of God’s plan. When we focus on these details of life we are bringing into focus part of God’s plan for human history be it a very small part of that plan.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Names
I thought once we had Caleb the stress of naming an entity for eternity was passed. WRONG! Now we have the church. With naming a church, you might not even be there forever. The name of our old student ministry at Harvest has already been renamed. 212 student ministries is no more.:(
So we are stuck on a couple of different names. They have pros and cons but we really need to nail one down.
Possiblities:
Veritas-Its latin for truth and it has a good vibe to it but may not be readilly pronounceable
The Well-many biblical references,Concept in farming of building a water source to keep cattle carraled instead of fences-so you make Jesus the source instead of defining who is in and who is out, also there is actually a public well in Bay View. One con though would be that there is a denomination based in WI that are the wels, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Church,
There are a couple others that have been thrown around: Crazy Church, The Pulse,
Any Thoughts from anyone reading this would be appreciated
So we are stuck on a couple of different names. They have pros and cons but we really need to nail one down.
Possiblities:
Veritas-Its latin for truth and it has a good vibe to it but may not be readilly pronounceable
The Well-many biblical references,Concept in farming of building a water source to keep cattle carraled instead of fences-so you make Jesus the source instead of defining who is in and who is out, also there is actually a public well in Bay View. One con though would be that there is a denomination based in WI that are the wels, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Church,
There are a couple others that have been thrown around: Crazy Church, The Pulse,
Any Thoughts from anyone reading this would be appreciated
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