The Start of a New Chapter

Last week on Sunday (6/18), the church I began attending almost 9 years ago, Logos Community Church-McAllen ceased to exist and while she closed her last chapter, three new chapters and seasons began for McAllen, Harlingen, and Edinburg.

We didn't merge with another congregation, rather by the grace of God we worked diligently on the health and vitality of our church in the midst of much change, hurt, and loss.  A season of revitalization is upon us and our aim is to be a people faithful in the gospel and in making the name of Jesus famous. 

OUR HISTORY: The Short Story

In 2008, what started off as a bible study in a living room and then having our real and official move to a youth pavilion/garage in north McAllen (Thank You to BT-McAllen!), Logos Bible Church was planted. The mission was simple and hearts were passionate: share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those who do not know Him. For many, the birth of this church plant went hand in hand with the start of their relationship with Christ. 

In 2011 our small church was growing relationally and numerically, engaging the city that we loved, and disciples were being made. Additionally, we faced new challenges: we were starting to grow up! What began as a church with the average age of 22 was now seeing marriages flourish and new families attend.

In 2013 we moved to our current location in what used to be a bookstore on one side and an old pizza shop on the other. During our time here and by the sole grace of God, we planted 2 additional campuses in Harlingen (2010) and in Edinburg (2016) and installed elders in our McAllen campus. 

As we continued moving forward, we grew as a family does. After all, the church is the people called together by God and not a building. And like many families, we have seen incredible seasons of blessing and seasons of difficulty where we were pushed to unite and mature for the sake of growing up into the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4). 

In the Fall of 2016, the elders at all 3 campuses decided that our mission would be better effective in our cities if we became independent churches. While this was a decision that was difficult, it was also a decision that brought much excitement as we championed one another for the sake of the gospel across McAllen, Edinburg, and Harlingen.  Additionally, we experienced the departure of our founding pastor and preacher, Tom Weaver as he accepted the call to pastor Mission Church in San Antonio. With many tear-filled eyes, we said our good-byes and prayed for him and his family as they, too, entered a new season in a new city. 

For me, my family, and our church family, the past three months have been filled with several ongoing emotions as we entered transition, but by God's grace, He brought several men around me to speak wisdom and counsel in addition to overwhelming support from our church planting network, Acts 29. 

My goal was to capitalize on health, create space for questions, and transition with transparency. And while there was much work happening behind the scenes, Sunday, June 18th was the last sermon as Logos Community Church- McAllen and as you read this, we have officially begun our journey as Storehouse Community Church. 

WHY STOREHOUSE?

The name "Storehouse" comes from Isaiah 33:5-6 where he writes "...there will be times of security for you, a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord is Zion's treasure." Some translations say that He will be "the stability of your times" in the place of "storehouse." The treasure that is found in the storehouse is the fear of the Lord; a relationship. One that is gifted to the people of God by God. It's knowing who God is and what God has done, particularly in Jesus Christ by sending Him to die for sinners on a cross, forgiving, and reconciling them back to the Father. 

Who we are is simple: to be a church that is saturated in the gospel and exists to declare and demonstrate the beauty of Jesus to the heart of McAllen. We're not perfect, no local church is. But I pray that we are faithful as we embark on the mission and direction God has called us to in McAllen.

If you're reading this, I would covet your prayers--not just for me and my family, but our church family. There's much work to be done and our hope is to see lives redeemed by the blood of Jesus!

My Summer Top 5's

The summer is upon us and that means it's hot in Texas. At heart, I'm an introvert and for me that usually means I like a handful of things to do, many I've written about. Nevertheless, I thought I'd share my top 5's on things I like to do a little more during the summer months.

Hope you enjoy!

TOP 5 BOOKS

1. Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul David Tripp
I started this book a few weeks ago and it's been incredibly good for my soul. Really, anything by Paul Tripp is good for the soul. But this book particularly has been refreshing for me as it's been a pastoral resource in counseling but also in my own life. I would highly recommend it. 

2. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
This was one of the first books I read when I became a Christian and the first I read from C.S. Lewis; his arguments and wisdom continually come to mind and it's rather nostalgic for me. 

3. The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions
Prayer has always been an area of weakness for me and over the past several months, that has been incredibly convicting. These collection of prayers from the Puritans is amazing and a great help to me in my daily prayer life. I highly recommend it. 

4. God's Word Alone--The Authority of Scripture: What the Reformers Taught and Why It Still Matters by Matthew Barrett
I'm 3 chapters in and I love this book because it's a rich culmination of early church history and the reformation. Additionally, we're about to do a 5 week sermon series on the 5 Solas so naturally this is a great resource for study. 

5. Reset: Living a Grace-Paced Life in a Burnout Culture by David Murray
I have yet to start this one, but it's on my desk. I've been burnt out before, both as a bivocational ministry leader and have almost burnt out as a full-time pastor. This is definitely a must read for anyone in ministry. 

Top 5 CIGARS

1. Flor de Las Antillas by My Father
This is a great quality stick, both in its performance and price. This is definitely a medium smoke, but lots of smoke. It has a hefty tobacco flavor with some added sweetness to it. 

2. Prensado by Alec Bradley
This is one of my favorite sticks, a common go-to. It offers rich coffee and chocolate flavors; great breakfast stick (as in, a good smoke with coffee) or dessert stick. 

3. All Out Kings by Drew Estate and Caldwell
This is the newest one in this list and was really looking forward to it when it came out. Thanks to my boys out at Cigar Saveur, they hooked it up! Definitely a great stick and hard to find in my experience. This is a medium strength cigar with a lot of rich flavor--earthy, black coffee, leather, and sweet tones throughout the smoke. 

4. AFR-75 San Andreas Maduro by A. Flores 
This one is a little harder to find, but when you do find it, it's hard to be disappointed. Don't let the maduro wrapper intimidate you as this is a mild-medium smoke. The flavors are a great blend of a natural tobacco sweetness, creamy, and very smooth with a long finish; it's definitely a smoke for anytime of the day. 

5. Liga Privada T52 by Drew Estate 
If you have some extra cash, then Liga Privada is a good "special occasion" cigar. I only get these when I'm out of town because they don't carry them in McAllen and they're a little expensive (anywhere between $13-16). Nevertheless, lots of smooth tobacco, creamy, and leather flavors; long burner.  

If you choose any of these great sticks OR you have a few of your favorites, but are missing a good cutter. I suggest Cuban Crafter's Perfect cut. It'll be the only cutter you need. 

Top 5 COLD BREW COFFEE

1. Chameleon Cold Brew Coffee
Chameleon Cold Brew is definitely a constant in our fridge. It's also distributed throughout most grocery stores in Texas so it's easily accessible. The original is my favorite; strong in its strength (it's concentrated) and rich in chocolate flavors.

2. Black and Blew Coffee by Cuvee
This is a delicious treat; it's sweet and creamy both in it's flavors and texture. A friend and I would love to have this on tap in our office because it's that delicious. 

3. Grady's Cold Brew
Grady's is very creamy, much more creamy than Chameleon and I mean that in its flavor and texture which gives it a little "heavier" taste to it. The earthiness is very sweet and great for the early morning or after dinner. 

4. Bear State Cold Brew Coffee
Sometimes, when you drink black coffee (hot or cold brew) it can taste quite bitter in its notes. Bear State has done a phenomenal job at making a cold brew that is very sweet from the start (but also pairs well with creamers or almond milks). Not bad, Cali. Not bad.

5. Bruja Cold Brew Coffee
This is a very easy drinking coffee--great on a hot day. If I'm not mistaken, it's a brazilian bean; smooth nuttiness flavors with a hint of sweet. 

We Moved!

Where do I begin!?

The past 3 months have been an absolute whirlwind of change, transition, and emotions. In March, I became the Lead Pastor at Logos Community Church, a church that we have called home for the last (and almost) 9 years. That, alone, has been an incredible and humbling experience. Many days feel like there's simply not enough hours in the day in an effort to pastor a church, develop leaders, and set forth vision toward our future.. But before I jump into that, the main objective of this post is that we have finally moved into our new home! 

OLD TOWN McALLEN

Previous to our new house, we were renting a house in central McAllen, a part of the city known to many as "Old Town" because of its deep historical roots in addition to it being a small and thriving urban neighborhood. As we began to look for houses in McAllen, I knew this was the area of town we needed to stay in as it's the heart of the city. And as the heart of the city, my desire is to see the neighborhood as well as our city impacted through gospel saturated community. The best way that I have learned for there to be cultural renewal and city engagement is by moving directly into the neighborhood, so out of conviction and desire (John 1:14), that's what we did. 

Old Town McAllen is the section of the city where several cultures collide unlike other parts of the city. There are thriving local businesses, young professionals and entrepreneurs who value culture, art, and community involvement, low-income families, a large school population, a historical district, and a growing entertainment district. It's a beautiful blend of rooted history and cultural value.

COMMUNITY

One of the most encouraging aspects of this move for my family and I has been our community group. Not only did they help us move into our house, but have been an amazing support in the midst of this transition. The men have helped by taking care of and discipling our son, loving him and hanging out with him while the women have been supportive to my wife's needs whether it was boxing up our old house or being available emotionally. It's been incredibly overwhelming in the most tear-soaked-thankful way! 

WHAT'S NEXT?

We're throwing a party. 

THANK YOU

So many people contributed to this move, whether through lifting boxes, words of encouragement, or wise counsel and we simply wish to say Thank You. My family and I are excited and encouraged, we long to see people meet Jesus in our big neighborhood, and while we're still not finished with the overall transition, moving in has been a tremendous reminder of God's faithfulness towards His children and evidence of His grace and provision. May this house become our home and a tool to minister to those in and outside the church. 

Reclaiming "Quiet Time" | Encouragement

Reclaiming Quiet Time: 1. An Introduction | 2. Discipline and Devotion | 3. Encouragement 

Over the past couple of weeks, I have written about reclaiming "quiet time." A time that is intentionally set apart for the purpose of encountering God through prayer and His word; a discipline toward spiritual growth. I have walked through what this time isn't and what it actually is, biblically. Today, we'll look at the practical approach of this time of worship. There are many forms that this time can take and while there's isn't a "one size fits all" formula, there are some things, I think, are important as you approach this discipline.

Whether you're looking at starting "quiet time" or re-starting it, here are 4 things you can do to not only have success, but more importantly to be fruitful. 

1. PICK THE TIME

Perhaps it's simply church/Christian culture, but many have often argued that this time of worship is best reserved for the mornings. For starters, don't listen to them. Secondly, for many, yes, the morning's work out best for them because they may be early risers and morning devotions are great ways for them to start the day off right. But not everyone is a morning person so if that's not you, the idea in this section is to merely pick a time--mornings, lunch time, after work, evenings, etc. 

The point is that this time is (1) intentional and (2) sacred. Guard this time because it's a time you should look forward to; encountering God through prayer, engaging Him through the Scriptures, and spiritual growth that is practically applied in the daily.  Additionally, I'd add that whatever time you pick, know that it can be seasonal. In other words, different stages of life call for changes in schedules so if you know your schedule is changing, don't be afraid to move this time. Here's a quick example: before I was married and was a father, my time with God was always spent best in the evening, after the day was completely done. I loved reading, praying, and writing at night. Now, I look forward to an early bedtime and my time "quiet time" is in the mornings right before breakfast, generally around 7:00 a.m. That works for me, I'm awake enough to function and can concentrate better than I can at 5:00 a.m. 

2. BE FAITHFUL WITH A LITTLE BEFORE YOU'RE FAITHFUL WITH MUCH

For some, these posts may have built conviction and so they're pumped about scheduling their time with God for an early Monday morning worship and by Wednesday, they're discouraged and done because they couldn't keep the schedule. Start by doing two things in this section: (1) choose the amount of time--maybe starting off with 20 minutes and (2) choose the amount of days you know you can be faithful with---perhaps starting off with 2 days a week. 

While prayer and meditation should be something we do throughout the entire day (1 Thessalonians 5:17), the goal of this particular time is faithfulness. I lead a small group of dudes in a monthly bible study and many of them have to schedule this time in the mornings due to their schedules, but also struggle waking up at 5:00 a.m. everyday, especially when they've never done it or they're brand new parents and sleep is scarce right now. So, we set up, for them, two days a week for a month at 45 minutes- 60 minutes each day. So far, they've remained faithful to that time and have seen fruit in their relationship with God. That's what we're going for: faithfulness. Next month, we'll increase the amount of days. 

3. START A JOURNAL

So many have told me they can't journal--it's difficult and can they can hardly see the benefit. In some cases, that may be true; journaling isn't their thing. However, I would argue that you at least try. Especially if you are starting with something like 2 days a week for your "quiet time." The point of journaling is to slow down in order to write and process your thoughts and prayers. It's a fantastic little tool you can use as a way of helping you memorizing scripture and something you can look back to so you can see how God has been at work in your life.

A journal, for me, helps me answer two questions when my mind is going several hundred directions: (1) What has God done? and (2) What is God doing?  One of the men in our group hated journaling; he gave it a shot while walking through James and hasn't stopped since. Another uses journaling as a way of helping him remember general things apart from Scripture, it also helps him communicate and articulate his prayers instead of feeling scatterbrained. 

4. PRAY

A pastor once told me, "you can't read scripture without praying and you can't pray without using scripture." When you begin to read your Bible, pray and ask God to reveal Himself to you through the scriptures and as you pray, incorporate what His word is teaching you and what has been revealed to you. This is also a great way to improve your memorization of Scripture and to be aware of what is being revealed to you. Prayer is a must during this time--approaching God boldly, in confidence, and as a result of our relationship with the Father (Hebrews 4:16). 

There are a ton of resources out there to help you with your quiet time, but all you need is God's Word and to be faithful. This short list are things that are vital to my time and have helped and encouraged me the most. Remember, this time is intentional and we should look forward to it; yes, life and schedules will happen--they're inevitable--but be faithful to protect and guard this time as it's time spent glorifying God and recognizing our need for him. 

RECOMMENDED READING: A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul Miller; Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney; New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp

Reclaiming "Quiet Time" | Discipline and Devotion

Reclaiming Quiet Time: 1. An Introduction | 2. Discipline and Devotion

Last week, I began a short series on reclaiming "quiet time." If you haven't read the first post, you should start there as we continue this series. But as a quick recap, I mentioned that "quiet time" is a period of time that is dedicated to devotion in God's word and prayer. Additionally, I began last week's post by noting that "quiet time" does not change how God views us; it is not a reflection of your maturity nor should it keep you from approaching the grace of God because of your sin. This week, I wish to dive a little more into what "quiet time" means and why it's good for us; addressing whether it's biblical or not. 

Let's begin by defining "quiet time" a little more clearly since last week we primarily looked at what it isn't. "Quiet time" is a concentrated time devoted to encountering God in His word and prayer for the purpose of spiritual growth and so that we might live out what we learn during this time. 

"Quiet time" is a discipline with the central focus of this time being encountering God privately and personally; worship. Further, let me add that this is a devotion. In other words, I understand that we may pray throughout the day or even listen to sermons, but I wish to emphasize that this time is specific, intentional, and purposely set aside. This time should help us in our spiritual development as we engage and encounter God through His word and prayer; lead us to confession and repentance; and ultimately leading us to our worship of Jesus. Remember, time in devotion should be a great reminder of our need for a Savior. This time should best help us develop and understand the renewal of our minds, conforming our lives to the grace of the gospel.  

The end goal, in my opinion, is that we would engage our need for Jesus during a time such as this daily. Paul, in Ephesians, tells us that we are to be imitators of God and as we look to Jesus throughout the content of the gospels, we see Him in constant, concentrated times of devotion and prayer (Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12; Luke 11:1). So, should you have this time in the morning or evening? And should you always have a journal alongside of you? I don't think that's the point. Regardless of what your time looks like, the crux is setting intentional and regular time alone with God for devotion, prayer, and worship. For me, it's early in the morning with my Bible and journal, lots of coffee, and headphones. What about you? 

RECOMMENDED READING: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney