Burn baby burn

Yesterday I took the girls to their cousin's house to swim in their new pool. The girls loved it. Daddy endured it. The water was very cold, but the sun was warm. So much in fact that now my shoulders and neck are sun-burned. Oh so worth it for a great time with my girls. By the way, I made sure the girls had sun block on.

On another Daddy note. One day with Daddy, and Ellie does the following with great skill:

1. Rolls with speed toward anything that catches her attention.
2. Army crawls to things within 3 feet.
3. Sits up by herself from the belly position.
   

Not a bad days work.

--Ben

Prayer Update

The newest information on my father's condition is available at www.severnriverchurch.com or by just clicking HERE.


--Ben

Please leave your house

We had another showing last night. Our house has been up for sale 29 days now, and I received a call yesterday that said a Realtor would be showing the house at 5:30. Basically they were saying, "Please leave your house." So we got everything ready and then we headed out. It was neccessary, and they were polite, but there is something frustrating about being asked to leave your own house. Even though you're glad to do it, and you want to sell it, somewhere in your mind you are thinking the whole time I wish I could go home.

--Ben

When Crying Is Beautiful

Take it from a transparent parent. You do your best, and sometimes you have to make mid-course corrections. Our second girl, Ellie, has become a bit spoiled. She receives entirely too much catering by her grandparents, mother, and aunts. (even her father on occasion.) Primarily in the area of transportation. She wants to be carried, she wants to be stood up, she wants to sit over next to the toys, or whatever. The problem is we pick her up and move her. Subsequently she is 10 months and is skipping the skill of crawling. It has gotten to the point that now if she doesn't get the accommodation she wants, she'll throw a little fit.

Well, today is a different day. Because today the girls are with Daddy. We started the morning on her belly 5 feet from the toy box, and she, after crying a while, found a way to motivate herself over to the box.

She doesn't like this you know, but she needs it. And for the fits? A quick application of hand to chubby thigh seemed to give her some reason for pause and reflection. It's gonna be a great day.

--Ben

Assessment

Yesterday I had the chance to sit in on my first church planter's assessment. We sat with a couple that had a very strong interview. They are going to be good church planters.

For my part I was nervous. You know that feeling when you've sat through training and then you're asked to do the thing you were trained for and you have that uneasy feeling? It's the same feeling I have about CPR. I've been trained, but sometimes I wonder if I'd be able to remember how many thrusts and how many breaths.

Anyways, I felt good after it was over. It last four hours. I was the wing man for an experienced assessor. We'll turn around the results in two weeks. Now I have to go back through all my notes and interpret the results. Should be fun.

--Ben

Prayer Update

My dad is still in the hospital, and a new prayer update has been posted at SevernRiverChurch.com. You can go right to the prayer page by clicking HERE.

--Ben

Assessment

Today I'm participating as an adjunct assessor. We are assessing a church planter. I received training for it, but this is my first one. I'm very excited.

My goal is to make it a more worthwhile thing than I experienced at my assessment. It should be fun.

--Ben

Grateful for prayer

Good morning,
I just wanted to say that I know many people are praying for my dad. I wanted to say thanks. Within hours of finding out the latest setback over a hundred people began praying. Thank you. If you'd like to add my father to your prayer list I encourage you to check-in here or our prayer page for updates.

Thanks again,
Ben

Prayer Update

For ongoing prayer information on my father, I would direct you to our church's prayer page. I'll be updating the information there.

You can get there by clicking HERE.

--Ben

Born for this

Yesterday I had a conversation with my dad, and I'm sure that it could've been influenced by the gravity of my dad's health situation, but I became very moved and very passionate. It centered around a core value issue for me. That's what core values do to a person. They wind them up inside at the thought of existing any other way. Each of us have issues that are so deep inside us that when presented with any alternative we well up with emotion.

In the midst of this discussion, reminiscing about a decision that we made early on in the church plant. I uttered words that I wasn't even prepared for. They were words that slipped through my lips so fast, and yet so full of feeling that I was taken aback for a moment. "I'm doing what I was born to do", came the words. And just like that, I remembered.

The truth is when you give your life to something, no matter how passionate, excited, and committed you are, it just becomes routine sometimes. You work for ways to improve what you give your life to; to make it the best it can be. As a pastor I know I feel the stress of a metric of success that I haven't attained, and so I work to improve our church's influence and significance. But at the end of the day I can forget that I don't do this because it was an exciting job opportunity. It isn't a move to advance my career. I'm in this because God chose me. He had this planned since before my parents planned me. My calling is God ordained and directed, and He has me right where he wants me.

As I spoke those words yesterday I felt an enlightenment in my spirit. "I'm doing what I was born to do." And there ain't nothing better.

--Ben

CONTACT

Today, I'm putting together the mailer that will be sent to all of our SRC family explaining, enlisting and encouraging us in CONTACT. For about a month now we've had a coalition of prayer partners praying daily for our church and the new initiative, CONTACT. CONTACT is about contacting our community to conduct an industry standard needs assessment of our area. We're targeting a sampling of 1500 people. That means a paper trail to 1500 conversations that we've had asking what the best parts of our area are and what the greatest needs are.

How will SRC look different in September after we've spoken with 1500 people?

More important, how will our community look different because we spoke to these 1500 people?

--Ben

Prayer Need

I have a prayer request again for my father. He is in the hospital and if great need of a healing miracle. For further information on this prayer request please see Severn River Church's prayer page HERE.

--Ben

Walking on Campus

Today I'm walking around the campus, praying, and strategizing with a Chi Alpha Campus Missionary named Mike Godzwa. Mike is currently serving American University in the DC area. I reached out to him for his input on how we could reach the campus at AACC, and he volunteered to drive up and meet with me to talk.

I've been praying about campus ministry a lot, so I'm looking forward to hearing what he has to say.

--Ben

Memorial Day Fun Run

Yesterday was a doozy. Church in the morning. Then the church picnic. Beautiful day for the picnic. Then on to a graduation party, congrats Becky. Then to our family's picnic. It was a quick pace, and at the end of the day it was so nice to get in bed. Hope your weekend is full of adventure as well.

--Ben

White Board Wrap Up

Here are the takeaways from each of the speakers at the Whiteboard Sessions (WIBO).

Mark Batterson:

1. In the context of prayer, God will ressurect dreams.
2. We need to confess our small dreams to God. (Is. 55:8-9) Our dreams fall 13.2 Billion light years short of God's dreams.

Vince Antonucci:

1. Seek and Save God's lost children. (The church is not seeking and saving the lost, we're seeking and saving the saved.)

Tim Stevens:

1. Reality 1: Most churches aren't impacting their culture.
2. Reality 2: Spiritual interest is growing in our culture.
3. Conclusion: Leverage the culture or risk losing your impact.

Darren Patrick:

1. You find your idol when it gets bumped, because you have an internal connection to it.
2. Idols hide among root sins. The root of sin always lies in Comfort, Approval, Power, or Control.

Mark Dever:

1. God is displaying himself through the church.
2. God's word builds the church.
3. The Church is going to win.

John Burke:

1. Stay Connected. Fruit Happens.

Perry Noble:

1. Know your calling
2. Understand Priorities
3. Understand temptation

Ed Stetzer:

1. You can't get to faith without going through doubt.
2. God promises his presence not all the answers.

Those were the summary thoughts of a day spent at WIBO.

--Ben

When you can't keep up with Daddy...

This morning I had the girls (a typical Friday morning) I kept them here at the house, and when I laid Ellie down for her morning nap, I took Sydney out to play while I mowed the lawn. For some reason Sydney found a reason to be near me as much as possible. I would find myself almost tripping over her at times, because it seemed like she was always following me around. When I settled into my main mowing pattern (parallel lines to the house) Sydney was literally following me row for row, but after a while she couldn't keep up any more. That was when the idea that many of us are like that with God popped into my head. So here are some lessons when you can't keep up with your daddy...

1. When you can't keep up with daddy, find a place where you can watch Him. Sydney finally pulled up a seat on our front porch. From that vantage point she could keep an eye on what I was doing. Many of us when we realize how big God is and how small we are just head off on our own. We lose sight and interest in what our Father is doing. Instead, I recommend staying in a spot where you can see what he's doing. You may not be able to keep up with everything he's doing, but it's worth your time to keep your eyes on Him.
2. When you can't keep up with daddy, occupy yourself with what He's given you. Sydney had a blue ball that I had given her to play with. God has given us a lot. When we find ourselves keeping our eyes on Him, we can occupy ourselves with the blessings he's given us. Sometimes things get taken away too. I take things away from Sydney from time to time based on what I think she needs, or items I don't think are right for her to have at the time. And maybe the most provacative thought from this is that sometimes I take things away from her because she is annoying me with it and keeping me from doing what I'm doing. In the child-centric society we live in we don't see God as He is sometimes. It is a Father centric world that He's created. If he takes things away that's his business. And nobody likes whiners.
3. When you can't keep up with daddy, grow up. Sydney is 3 years old. It's no wonder that she can't keep up with me. But it won't be long that her body will mature and grow, and she will keep up with me. Just because you can't keep up with what God is doing now, doesn't mean you can't eventually grow and mature to the point it is easier to keep up. When you grow up your father will be proud of you, happy to share parts of his work with you, and give you responsibility in His family.
   

--Ben

Why is it so tiring?

I heard one of the guys I went to WIBO with say that he was tired, then laughed and said, "And all I've done is sit all day." It is amazing how on a day that you seemingly do nothing, your body responds by feeling tired and your eyes feeling heavy.

I really felt bad for the speakers right after lunch because they are at a huge disadvantage. Everyone has sat all morning, runs to a local restaurant dealing with the stress of finding one, waiting to be seated rushing through the meal and getting back to their seats. Then there is the post lunch crash, and it didn't matter how good those speakers were, we were not going to hear what they're saying, because we're working so hard to stay awake.

Why is it so tiring?

--Ben

The Whiteboard Sessions

Today I was away at a one day conference in Reston, VA. It was compliments of my friends at Capital Christian Fellowship via Noah Kaye. It was a good, long day. The Whiteboard Sessions is a one day conference that hosts 8 speakers for 30 minutes each. They are supposed to bring one "take away" to their presentation. It turned out more like 8 sermons in a row, which I gotta admit, was a little tough.

Tomorrow I'll post specific thoughts that I gleaned from the speakers.

--Ben

The Fishing Hole Remix

Several weeks ago I started working on the development of a business leader book club. It is exclusively designed outside the scope of SRC for the purpose of putting me in contact with unchurched and dechurched people. Jesus said he'd make us fishers of men, so I went looking for a new fishing hole. And low and behold I found one, and I didn't even have to dig it.

My sister Sarah works with the wife of a business owner in the area and he, as it turns out, leads a book club for business leaders. I ended up invited and I had a blast last night. It was great to hear their discussion. It was a totally diverse group a retired engineer who now does consulting, a computer engineer, a guy who is a customer service manager, and me. It was fascinating to listen to their life experiences. I felt like I learned so much from them.

They seemed fascinated by me too. I felt like I did quite a bit of talking (maybe too much) but they kept asking questions, so I kept giving them answers. I think that they were most intrigued at the idea that there is a business side to Church. It was great. I'm looking forward to the next group. We're supposed to be reading a book on the economics of energy. How stimulating!!! I haven't heard one of those recommended at any pastors meetings.

--Ben

The telltale sign of security....generosity

So much of our spiritual vitals are summed up in the management of our life. Managing Time, Talents, Treasures, and Truth (that is the way we share the Truth of Christ) are of utmost importance, because the way we manage those is who we really are. The life that honors God is one that surrenders all of those to Him.

It is an interesting paradox the Faith-life. When everything else in the world tells us that success is built on what we get, faith defines success by what we give. Where society measures achievement by what we collect, faith measures it by what we give away.

This morning I was thinking about the needs of this area. I was surrounded on certain streets with the stuff of societal achievement. We are sometimes too quick to believe that stuff brings security. In fact, only faith brings security. Even people who "have it all" but can't freely let it go are not secure. Their insecurity prohibits them from giving. That's why I'm inspired by those, no matter what tax bracket, who are secure enough to give.

This Sunday we had people at different income levels come privately and ask how they could give to the missionaries that we had share about their lives. These are people whose faith has made them secure enough to give. The telltale sign of security is generosity.

--Ben

Snack Basket Makes Hit

I have had a very good morning. I've been exploring the area as part of the recon of a new marketing strategy. We'll be targeting specific types of housing in the community. I may write more on that later. For that data info, I'm doing a combination of driving and online searching.

Then I pulled onto campus and visited my friends in the facilities office. If there is one beachhead that I've established so far it is my alliance with the facilities managers. Last week I sent a snack basket to their office, and it was a hit. I want to specifically thank Sarah Gilt (my sister) who works for a local florist. She handled the order and her employer, A Blooming Basket, did a fantastic job. I highly recommend them in the AA County area. It actually made me a new friend. I had never met the Boss in that office, but she was blown away from our act of generosity. It was nice to be able to express our thanks for 19 months of great service from the college. My friends ended up talking with me for about an hour. They started sharing their connections on some initiatives that we have coming up. It was great.

--Ben

PS. BTW, if you'd ever like to hear the story of how $40.00 saved us $700, let me know.

Truck time

This morning I unhitched the trailer and took care of some maintenance on the church's truck Big Red. We needed to purchase a new battery and get an emissions inspection. So I've been running it around. While I was out I filled her up and got a carwash. Now, isn't this the most intriguing news you read on the web?

--Ben

Summer Session Catalog Updated

Happy to let you know that the Summer Session Small Group Catalog has been updated and completed. You can check it out, and sign up. Open Enrollment ends in two weeks.

--Ben

Voicemail

I collaborated on a video project that Jenn Harrah was working on. It was a lot of fun for my part and I'm hearing that the final cut looks really good. We'll see. For now, to see the Artwork check out my friend Drew's Photo Site. Enjoy!

--Ben

The Rush

We got a call on Wednesday night from our real estate agent, that she'd be sending a bunch of other agents over to see the house. So we had to go into overdrive to get everything just perfect for them. We worked really hard Wednesday night, and then in addition to the agents coming through we had our first showing. We'll see, but there were a lot of little things that I had to do that I had lost motivation for. But this was the catalyst I needed. The house really looks great.

--Ben

Four Bucks

Gasoline is 4 dollars a gallon. Are you kidding me?

--Ben

Convoy of Hope

Today as part of my monthly trek out to Hagerstown I get to attend a vision meeting for a Convoy of Hope outreach in the Hagerstown community. Convoy is a non-profit organization that mobilizes the delivery and distribution of food and clothing to the needy. They work in partnership with local churches and civic organizations. They do deliveries to disaster areas, and set up help for local cities as well. Maybe one day we'll spearhead bringing them to Annapolis.

--Ben

On campus

I'm spending the balance of my morning here on campus. I'm back at the Cafeteria, just hanging out and working. I spent some time praying (with my eyes open), journaling, reading, and fielding emails and calls. I got to talk to one guy today, just a short conversation, but a start. I saw my friend Reinhardt (public safety), and I'm about to visit my friends in facilities management. This campus is more and more on my heart and mind. I spent several hours in focused prayer yesterday afternoon. I'm looking for an opportunity to establish CONTACT on campus here.

CONTACT is an initiative that we're implementing this summer of CONTACTing 1500 people from the surrounding community. I've learned from experience that places like this require an attractional approach (meaning getting them to come to us), because otherwise we get kicked out for proselytizing. I'm thinking of a table with a banner inviting people to participate in the survey. I'm thinking that a drawing for a $50.00 gas card would help grease the wheel. What do you think? Any suggestions?

--Ben

The Chapel and the Power Drill

I spoke at ACA today. It was a good time. When I speak there I have a tradition of brining up the 8th graders and harass them, I mean ask them simple questions to frame my message. It is always a delight to hear their answers, because they know so much, but they suffer a bit from mental constipation. They just need a chance to clear some things out. They are always good sports. They really make coming to ACA a ton of fun.

--Ben

Special Guests This Week

This week is a World Need focus for SRC. We're going to be looking to the continent of Europe. We have two special couples that will be joining us. The Martins and the Galyens are missionaries to Europe, and they'll be sharing about the activities they'll be doing for the next four years this Sunday at SRC. They have different purposes for going to the field, but the same mission. In fact, they share the mission of SRC to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey God's word.

I look forward to having them. We're going to experiment this week with a new form of missions service. Each missionary will give a brief description of their work, and then I'll join them to spend the balance of the time discussing missions. I think it will be an exciting format.

See you Sunday!

--Ben

Prayer

I'm headed to a prayer meeting today up in Northeast Baltimore City. It is a combined prayer meeting with pastors from all over the Baltimore area.

--Ben

The Big Yellow Ball

Outside my window is a big yellow ball in the sky. Does anyone know what that is? I think I've seen it before, but after inches of rain, I'm not sure I remember. Sure is nice though.

--Ben

I'm quacking up

Rain has deluged this area for several days now, last night was the worst. It dumped about 3 inches last night, and continues to rain today. I am really tired of it. I hate to see the depression that settles on other people because of the weather. The good news is that we will likely not have a problem with our reservoirs this summer. So the green grass should last through summer with no water restrictions.

--Ben

Small Group Open Enrollment

We're in a season of open enrollment right now for those that attend SRC. If you're looking for the way to the online Small Group Catalog CLICK HERE. More groups are being added. But there are already some great groups to choose from.


--Ben

Response to a comment

I had a commentor ask a questions so I wrote a response. It turned out so long that I thought there might be information you'd like to read as well. The question was what I was doing to reach AACC more effectively for Christ. The long and short of it is that anything would be an improvement.

Thanks for checking in. I'd like to give you a really bold and inspirational answer, but the bottom line is that I have no idea. That is why I spent the morning, and will again spend this morning, in prayer. In addition, I've contacted a respected campus missionary to give me advice. He'll be walking the campus with me at the end of the month. He has recommended a book, and given me leads on several other campus missionarys.

I'm challenged by what I heard recently that students are looking for Relationship, Authenticity, and Substance. So that's what I'm going on campus to try and provide.
I don't think you and I have ever met, and I don't know how much of my story you've picked up. But I'm a church planter with a church open for 19 months. We meet on a college campus, and have seen zero (0) come to Christ from the campus. Off campus yes, but not on campus. Jesus didn't give us his Spirit to have those kinds of results.

So I'm trying to figure it out. Break away from the perspective that I pastor a church in the community, and get to a perspective of an apostle in the city. That's why for me the language is changing. In the gospels Jesus and in Acts Paul and his entourage would head into cities and go to specific places. Jesus hung out at wells. Paul went to the synagogue, centers of thought, markets, and rivers. I'm trying to identify those in the "city" that is AACC.

At this point I'm desperate for God to do something. So I'm working like it all depends on me, and praying like it all depends on Him. And getting ready for the stoning. :-)

--Ben

The Market

This week, I have really been looking at this area through the eyes of a missionary. God has been speaking to me about a different perspective for seeing my community. I spent Thursday morning at the "well" of AACC. I sat in the cafeteria, praying for the students and that I could effectively help them find their way to Christ.

Today I went to the market. The Severna Park Chamber of Commerce held a trade show at Marley Mall. I went and met the vendors introduced myself as a fellow member of the Chamber, and invited people to SRC till my cards ran out. (I'll need to pick more up tomorrow.)

It was a great trip.

--Ben

Did I mention that we pray

I'm back from the 91st annual assembly of the Potomac District Council. It was a great time. Before I left I mentioned that we pray at this event, and this trip was no exception. In fact it was a really refreshing time of waiting on the Lord.

The church was a great venue, staffed with great people, and everything was done excellently. I don't think there's anything that I would change. I also really enjoyed the time I got to spend with my sister. It was a delight.

--Ben

An Annual Trip

Each year I attend the business meeting of our church network, the Assemblies of God. Churches from all over MD, VA and WV are represented by pastors convening to conduct the business of this non-profit organization. I really enjoy it.

You may wonder what business meetings are like at a convention of Pastors... Well, here are some highlights.

1. Meetings contain prayer. Prayer at the beginning. Prayer at the end. And Prayer during the session. It is not uncommon for us to pause and pray before making a decision. (Probably a good practice for church leaders.)
2. Meetings have a chairperson and parliamentarians, reports from department leaders, and election of officers.
3. Each day features a plenary session that involves great music, prayer, and preaching in a very challenging way. I really enjoy sessions like this. As a pastor it is nice to just be the person in the seat hearing someone else pour into my life. Our chairman is our District Superintendent. He functions as a pastor of pastors.
4. We get to see friends that we only see at these events, and it's always nice to catch up with them and to meet new friends.

This year I get to travel with my sister which will be nice. We're carpooling, so it'll be a great chance for me to hear her talk for 3 or four hours. I'm looking forward to that already. :)

--Ben

Losing the Faith

Our Losing the Faith series is about to wrap up this weekend on Mother's Day. I have really enjoyed this series, and have been encouraged by the response of people who have been tracking with it. It's definately one of those issues that people deal with. In fact, I think we'll be packaging this series as a resource for people that might need to hear it in the future.

I'll be honest and say, that I have no idea how to do that, but we'll figure it out.

--Ben

Are you kidding!?! MacGyver

I do about 80+ percent of my TV watching online (legally) through the broadcast websites. Yesterday I was checking in over at CBS (the poorest run), but noticed that they were advertising a number of old shows. One of them is MacGyver. You can watch all seven seasons currently at cbs.com/classics.

I know you love MacGyver as much as I do, so I had to pass on the tip.

--Ben

POW WOW

Tonight I'm playing out at the Eastern Sectional Pow Wow. It's up in Baltimore County. My friend Drew is going up to play drums. It should be fun. I'm looking forward to it.

--Ben

Short Film

I'm working on a short film inspired by the voice mail from my daughter a couple weeks ago. Jenn Harrah a member of SRC and a graduate student at Towson University asked if I would collaborate with her on a short instructional film. So I'm instructing on Spiritual Formation from Romans 8 with the voice mail as the story arc. I'm really excited to see how it looks. I'll post it when I can.

--Ben

Prayer Support

I sent an email yesterday to a number of friends asking for prayer. I believe so much in CONTACT, that I'm desperate to prepare the way in prayer. Would you consider joining us in prayer? The contents are below:

The month of May is starting tomorrow, and it is a strategic month for SRC. For one thing it is the month that SRCers will be signing up for their small groups. Small groups are the life of SRC. Without them, we are just a hollow shell. But more importantly if we are going to accomplish our mission of Making Disciples, Baptizing Them, and Teaching Them To Obey God’s Word, then each SRCer should be involved in Large Group, Small Group, and Prayer Group. That is one reason why May is a strategic month or SRC.

The other is that in the month of May I will be rallying our church to an initiative called CONTACT. It is an initiative to contact our community in an unprecedented way. I have set a goal of contacting 1500 people from the community surrounding the college where we meet. I can’t accomplish that alone. I’ll be asking our church to participate in a number of activities throughout the summer (June-Sept) that will put us in contact with 1500 people.

Our goal is simple CONTACT 1500 people. Our motivation is much more personal. You see, we value cultivating community connection. We seek to answer the question, “If Severn River Church stopped existing tomorrow what would our community miss?” We done some good things so far in this start-up, but at this point we haven’t yet fully gotten the pulse of our community’s needs.

Would you help me? I need your prayers. I would like to ask that you would commit to praying for CONTACT for the 31 days of May. That’s 31 times that you’ll stop and say, “God would you help Ben and SRC to make CONTACT this summer.” It is such an undertaking that I feel without your prayers, we’re destined to fail. I’m interested in doing CONTACT with the philosophy that we pray like it all depends on God, and work like it all depends on us. I need your prayers.

This is how I’m asking you to commit:

1. Make a note to pray and put it somewhere that you’ll see it all 31 days.
2. Email me back to let me know I can count on you for prayer. (ben@severnriverchurch.com)

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he is and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6