blessed are the flexible…

April 16, 2009 at 12:48 pm (Faith, Family, Leadership, Men's Stuff)

i have often preached in sermons, quoted in conversations and counseled people using the phrase, “blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.” another statement i’ve used has been, “the only thing that is certain in life is uncertainty.” now i am at a place where i have to digest those sayings for myself.

our intown location has for three years has used the ballroom at twelve in atlantic station for it’s sanctuary. it has been a great location for us. we were the first church to have service in atlantic station. it was birthed from atlantic station’s motto, “live, work, and play.” we have for three years added a fourth and most important dimension, “worship.”

however on May 3, we are going to be relocating to the fabulous loudermilk center on edgewood street in Atlanta. this facility was almost dropped in our lap. it offers to us some unique opportunities that we did not have in Twelve such as: additional space for children’s ministry, room to do mid-week bible study/small group sessions,  increased visibility, it allows us to direct money to ministry and not just maintenance. in short it gives us room to be a little bit more creative in what we offer.

on top of that my lead pastor, business partner, protege and most of all friend, tyson moore, has been offered a tremendous promotion with his job that requires relocation to arizona. wow!!! i must admit i hate to see him leave. he has literally taken the lead of our intown church and run with it. his leadership skills honed in the boardrooms of corporate america has been invaluable in providing leadership to our intown location.

not only is he a ministry colleauge, but a business partner. we have literally started ventures together that made us smile on the way to the bank as well as caused us to wonder what in the world have we gotten ourselves into? lol!!! in addition, he has been in the truest sense of the word a FRIEND. tyson, haiston and i have developed a great bond between us.  we have traveled together on vacation; broken bread together over dinner; played each other on the golf course; prayed for each other during difficult times; laughed with each other at the comedy club; cried with each other at the renewal of vows (those who were there remember). LOL!!! i guess you get the point- we are gonna miss this dude and his family. yet we are happy for the opportunity that God has given him. you deserve it doc.

 if i am 100% honest, i am a lil nervous about the move from atlantic station and tyson moving to arizona because i have become comfortable at Twelve and with his leadership.  but when i reflect over my life, i was nervous on my first day of high school; nervous on my first day of varsity football paractice; nervous taking the ACT (old school); nervous when my folks dropped me off at Grambling; nervous when i moved to Atlanta for seminary; nervous about becoming pastor of mt. sinai in ’93; nervous about getting married; nervous about parenting; nerovous about starting businesses, etc.

i think every now and then God shakes us up to remind us that He is our source and strength; He is the Author and Finisher of our faith; transition is never easy but it is so necessary and unavoidable in life. i’m learning to sit back and enjoy the ride of life. i’m standing on tip toe anticipation to see what God’s next move is. i hope you are also…

trusting in transition,

wtp3