Yesterday was a good day for Eternity! It was a humbling day for me.

I spent the day in Jefferson City and had five meetings. Normally, that’s not a big deal but my eight year old son got his first taste of church planting yesterday and I have to say he sailed through with flying colors. (More to come on that just a little bit later) Here are the highlights (a bit long but well worth the read):

• I met with two pastors yesterday in the Jeff City area and we had great conversations. I’m so thankful God has given me favor in their eyes and they were both extremely helpful but in very different ways. One pastor is helping to introduce me to everyone he can and is putting me in situations to share the vision of Eternity with other pastors. He’s a great man who has a tremendous heart to see the Gospel advance in the region. The other pastor simply just encouraged me to preach the word. He had tremendous words of encouragement, counsel, and exhortation and it was an absolute joy to hear him say that “we’re not competitors”. I just wish all the pastors in the area felt that way. Coincidentally, the ones who look at new churches as competition are usually pastoring churches that haven’t had a new convert since the Great Depression.

   

• I met with a guy yesterday who shared an incredible story of what God has been doing in his life and he shared that when he and his wife went to Eternity’s website and heard the story of what God was up to in my life, they clearly sensed that was what God has been preparing them to be a part of. He shared with me about his broken past of several marriages, failed relationships, debauchery as a young man and how Jesus clearly and decisively moved in his life to redeem him and give him a new heart. When I asked him what stood out to him the most about what he found on the Eternity site, he shared one simple word: Sincerity. People are desperate for something that is simply real and true and I was very humbled that somehow that had come across in our vision.

   

• I met with a guy named Michael Burris yesterday and you can read more about his story here. Michael is an amazing guy and his story is even more amazing. I was encouraged and challenged by his deep passion to see the Gospel actually move people to show tangible love and compassion to those around them. It is obvious that he deeply loves Jesus and is led by the Holy Spirit. His exhortation to do all things in love was very humbling for me.

   

• I met with a fantastic couple last night for dinner and it was great to hear their hearts. They’re enthusiastically pursuing Jesus and it was obvious that God was doing something amazing in their lives. It’s great to hear a wife say that she’s proud of her husband because he’s stepping up to be the spiritual leader and pastor of his house. It’s great to hear a wife say that she loves John Piper. AMEN SISTER! Oh, that all women in churches today would be lovers of deep, rich, doctrinal truths. I about ordered the whole restaurant dessert when she said that. When I asked them what drew them to Eternity their simple answer was: Jesus! They’re just desperate for a place that will focus on Jesus and not spend 55 minutes in a business meeting deciding whether the youth should get pizza or sub sandwiches at their next outing. People have broken lives, broken pasts, and wounds that are very deep. People don’t need us to play church. They need Jesus.

   

• Finally, my son. Sometimes you wonder whether or not your kids are getting it when it comes to Jesus. Yesterday, God showed me clearly that He is at work in a young eight year old heart. During my meeting with Michael Burris, Trey wrote him a letter sitting at a booth behind us that simply read: “Dear Mr. Michael: Thank you for meeting with us. You are very cool. My dad is awesome and he’s also a great teacher. Love Trey” If that wasn’t enough, at our dinner meeting, when the couple I described above was sharing with me about their daughters, Trey piped up and asked them: “What are their strengths?” You should have seen the look on their faces. I just smiled. He had obviously heard that question somewhere before.

   

Yesterday was a great day. I’m so excited about the days to come.