Blog My Sojourn Live

Right to the EDGE!  Right?  I mean really— I was right on the edge the other night—I was getting very close—I was crying out to God for relief—absolutely at the end of myself—and the next day—an offer on the house and a done deal.

There are many ways I could go with this—many ways—but the issue for me was not that I was belly aching and God bailed me out.  I wasn’t belly aching.   I was truly broken hearted, really in need of a touch from God.  I laid it before Him all day—I was literally crying out to Him for relief from the pressure of living in 2 places, the pressure of knowing it would have to be a movement from Him and I could not make it happen—this was going to be His deal period. 

I came to Him though—I cried out to Him.  I didn’t go to anyone else.  He and He alone was the only one that could hear my valid cry.  God and God alone was the only one that could bring an answer—the sale of the house.  It was God and God alone that finished it.

I could go on and on, but I won’t.  It was like David crying out for relief—and God in His timing answered.  Same for me—it was honest, down to the bone, sheer heart hurting and God heard my agony and brought an offer.

So?  So the Scriptures are real—I continued to remember this verse—

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13

No, I wasn’t tempted.  But I was under stress beyond what I could bear.  Really?  Yes.  I had enough—I was tired, worn out—completely beyond what I could bear.  I was gone and God brought relief!

Thank you, Lord for your Faithfulness!

Thank you for anwering my prayer!

Thank you!

(I love you because you are God)

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The “Unshakable” series has been great!  Absolutely right on.  The life of Joseph after being thrown in a well, sold into slavery, wrongfully jailed…is certainly a lesson in adversity.  No doubt I have never faced that kind of adversity.  But…

These past few months—living separated from Marcie and Cooper so that Cooper could go to school legitimately and possibly play for the hockey team has been difficult.  The waiting game on the house to sell plays havoc with me—while wondering what the right price—how much to continue to spend on an apartment, the lack of communication with Marcie—all while trying to build a “next generation ministry” is beginning to take its toll on us.

Should we have just kept Cooper here in West Chester and continued the commute?   After all, Marcie has been commuting for 10 years and I have been doing it for since the end of 2007.  I know that Cooper was not connected at Far Hills and I know that he is connecting to people at Fairhaven and Centerville—should we have still done it?

The hassle of living apart from Marcie means that as a couple the times to discuss issues is either done via the phone or over a quick dinner so that I can drive home to let out the animals.  Is it worth living in 2 places right now?

The issue of ministry—out every night with relationships to build, with ministry to do has of course value—it is my job—but at what price?  Then again, am I thinking correctly?  Is this adversity part of a plan?  I am having tough time dealing with it today and tonight.  I am not sure that this plan makes sense.  After all, a house payment, an apartment payment, and now we found out that in order to make hockey legit, we all have to move into an apartment, get proof of our living there and live there… which means that the animals must make the trip, or we push them out on other friends and family. 

I am struggling tonight—it is not the adversity of Joseph.  I don’t have an illness, Alex is good in Australia—but there are other factors that I am not able to write about—too much to write—anyhow—the enemy is attacking, I am feeling it—we are all feeling it.

Is it worth it?  Are we strong enough?  Am I strong enough?  Where is God in all this?  Is this His plan?

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I know that it has been a long long time since I blogged.  It seems like a whirlwind since I started back at the Haven—Fairhaven that is…Nevertheless, it truly has been a rush of sorts.  Transition, learning the “vibe” of how the staff works, learning new people and of course getting reunited with many from the days back when.

All in all it has been great- working with Kevin, Jane and Dave as the youth staff—building a team a new small group leaders, working on Uprising—developing long range strategy, and so on—all very, high important areas for sure.

Then there is the house situation—living in 2 places—apartment life, house for sale—on and on and on.  It seems everyday is a day of letdowns, movement forward, and forward and then, a step backwards—sometimes life in itself is a major test—let alone the issues that God may just have a hand in and on.

So, nothing major to report—except—in this life style of ministry—there is no doubt that all of this—the daily things, the relational things, the minutia, the big, the little are all for the glory of God.  That being said, do they all feel good?  No.  Do they make sense?  Not always.  Does life dole out everything correctly?  Nope. 

So through this whirlwind called life—I sometimes wonder what God is doing—I tell Him, I ask Him, I seek Him, I cry out to Him—and in this time—I am remaining honest, authentic, and certainly trusting in Him to keep us (the Solin family) doing His thing.

Continue to pray for us—the devil would like nothing more than to side track us, discourage us--- so I, we continue to need the prayers of our friends to see us through.  Yes, this blog is about my “sojourn” of ministry—my life—whether I am working at the church or working at a different kind of job—my life is still about His ministry.

Peace out

Psalm 40 till the house sells.

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Wedding rehearsal on Friday night—what a blast!  Being @ Caesar’s Creek with a former student and his 1 more day to be bride, parents and family was a thrill.  Then the wedding on Saturday with an incredible reception out doors—then onto Fairhaven for the Saturday night @ 6 gig.  I really do enjoy speaking to that crowd—great people, laid back, great music— a great time to do ministry.  Sunday a.m. came fast—speaking @ both services was really a great time for me—loved it, loved the people, loved the music—had a blast for sure.

Now the week is cookin.  Tuesday staff has come and gone—time to work on uprising this coming Sunday night and the first parents meeting.  Getting the ducks in a row to present to parents our vision, our heart our year, looking so forward to meeting with all of them.

So—so what now?  Who am I kidding.  If it were all about the above—that would be easy—it’s not—those things in ministry are the outside of what God is doing inside.  Really?  Yes.  I am thinking about all that needs to get done, all that needs to happen—but I am also thinking about the how—

The how it will get done?  It could be by shear force.  It could be by shear energy.  It could be by management of time, by management of people, it could be by management of whatever.  In truth—I am going to seek God this afternoon to move mountains.  To move the ministry along.  To move in the hearts of students.

Yes, the only way the ministry is different than any other thing that happens in business, or at the Y.M.C.A. is that God is the catalyst.  It is God we are ministering for and with.  It is God that we hold high to move the ministry period.  If it could be done in the flesh I guarantee it would be easy.  It is not—many things need to take place and those things are of spiritual nature.  Those things are what God is in the business of doing—Drawing people to Christ, drawing people to Himself, drawing people by the spirit to sort through all the junk so that we can focus on Him.

Yep—this afternoon is about calling out to the Lord to do big things in this ministry.

Oh Father,

That you would do mighty things in the Student Ministry.

That you would draw students to your Son.  That you would cause an incredible movement that our students can be drawn to.  That you would move this ministry to the place and places that you and you alone find to be beneficial.

Pray with me and for me.

Don

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For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.   Jeremiah 29.11

What a fine finish to an awesome week.  Wow!  Gorgeous end of summer type of night—and I just want to update my blog with a couple of highlights and things to look forward.

Interesting day today—supposedly a house viewing today—Marcie and I worked all morning to get the house looking great—I headed out to get my haircut—found out my girl was running behind—so I went and got 2 skyline dogs—came back and still waited for the haircut.  Same time that was going on our dishwasher was supposed to get fixed after the showing—but know one showed and as I was driving up to the house the guy to fix the dishwasher was pulling up and Marcie was coming out of the neighbors house declaring a no show.  Should the repair guy come in?  Will the people finally show up?  What gives? 

All that to say—hmmmmmm what can one count on?  Make a plan—look out.  A schedule to keep—and if it gets jacked up, then what?  Ahhhhh that is the reality of this life.  Try your best to plan it all, with some room for the mess ups.  Because you can never tell or know what really is going to happen—and today—one of those days for sure. 

But—all that to say—there are some things that with some planning, prayer, seeking and trusting—God just blazes the trail ahead.  I have been seeing that for the past month—un real the trail God is laying down… and to think—I get to be part of what He is doing—that is a thrill for sure.

Now, Saturday, tomorrow I leave for my 50^th birthday bash that Marcie threw for me.  Yes my birthday already happened—But Marcie got a time share condo in Pompano Beach Florida for me to take some ole buddies.  So—we catch a plane out and land in Florida to have a few dayz of guy time—fishing, hangin at the pool, the beach and eating like horses—it will be a blast.

Then when I get back—bam I have a wedding to do on Saturday the 12^th with rehearsal on the 11^th.  Then on the 12^th that Saturday night I speak at the Saturday night deal—my first speaking deal at the Fairhaven—I will be putting my finishing touches on the message while in Florida—Then Sunday preaching both services and then Bam—the first uprising in the worship center at 6:30

Oh man—lots of plans to consider—lots can go wrong… Right?  Just like today.  No—I believe that His plans are in place and we faithfully move through this life—and if some things thwart the plans—oh well—God will come through… I know… He has and He will.

Looking forward to preaching for sure—a little nervous—going with what is on my heart—which Dave Smith asked me to share—“Share your heart.”  So I will. 

Looking forward—

Blessings—I still don’t know who reads this blog—but it is fun—kind of journaling kind of thinking out loud.

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Psalm 33.11

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Well, I can’t believe that September is here!  Unreal how time just blows on through.  This time for me has been wild.  Actually, this time for all of us is kind of like—living everyday by faith and then something back from God to sustain us all.

Cooper has started Centerville High School.  We moved to an apartment so we could enroll Coop on good faith—meaning that we really do live in Centerville—ultimately we will—but for now we also live in West Chester—at least one of us—some nights.

Marcie is on a trip to Chicago—with her company, so we had to take Harley Sioux to stay with a family because she could not live at the apartment nor could she live at the house by herself.  So even the dog is in transition.  Poor thing.

Alex is in Australia—having a great time, but struggling through love issues, what and where issues and why issues—typical 18 year old stuff—he too is in transition—I say better down under where he has to learn to trust in the Lord than here right now—doing something just to obtain some kind of stability would be I think, his tendency.  Right.

I may just be at the best stage in my life for several reasons.  The first big one is that the past few years has led me to a place where I believe and trust God period.  This time of vagabond living is nuts, but I know God has a great plan.

Second, I am working at a ministry role that I love and is totally natural for me.  I work with a great staff, great people and have exceptional people around me.  It really is fun, challenging, and very satisfying knowing that in truth—I am just a vessel that God is using in ways I knew He would—not because I get it, but because I’m His.

Third, student ministry is my passion for several reasons—but the main one is simply that the prior years, serving as Senior Pastor, Interim Pastor, Youth Pastor at Far Hills and then the only pastor + the years in corporate sales have produced in me a deep love for students that I know I couldn’t conjure up on my own—but the 20 years of serving students, families and my own family have made me a little more confident in what works—let alone what is right and good.

Amazing that next week I get back from my 50^th birthday gig Marcie gave me for my birthday—that is going to Florida with 3 buddies, a condo, deep sea fishing, and lounge duty.  I come home—do a wedding on Saturday, preach at the Saturday night deal and then preach both services Sunday and then do Uprising on Sunday night—funny how I am embracing that weekend in a huge way—why?

Could it be that my 3 years in corporate sales prepared me for a new work ethic?  Could it be that my time away from Fairhaven gave me a real love for working in a church like Fairhaven?  Could it be that my time in the pit and the transition period is saying—just do the right stuff and don’t worry about the outcome?  Could it be that I am just content being part of the movement of God period?

I think it is all of the above and for that—I am extremely excited, prayful, diligent, ready, and moving forward—Yes—as was once said not to long ago—

It’s all Good!  Yep, I am excited-- God is doing-- following Jesus is a trip.

2 Corinthians 4.7

 ⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

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I thought I would take a moment to let my blog speak for me about what a day in the life of the Next Gen pastor looks like.   I was going over my day oh about the past few minutes and thought I would write it out—sometimes even I can get lost in what it is I do.

So—today was a typical day to a degree.  I got up took care of all the hygiene issues, took the dog out and headed into work down good ole construction laden I-75 which was absolutely packed this morning.

While I was driving I called my assistant Jane and left a message.  Called Kevin’s cell phone which is not good because the reception on campus @ Fairhaven is brutal—so we didn’t connect.  I tried both again and found them in Kevin’s office via the receptionist—and talked with Jane about some good news for her and then to Kevin about good news for the total budget for the remainder of the year.  Great opener before even getting into the office.

By the time I was in—the day was rolling along.  Met with Kevin, Dave and Jane over lunch and talked about several areas of the Next Gen ministry.  Sr. High, Middle School and then where we may launch the College Ministry and when.  During lunch I got a call from Glen in order to meet with all the tech guys so that we could all get on the same page for the upcoming usage of the worship center for Sept. 13 uprising.  Great meeting with staff—nothing better than good team work, and honest interaction in order to accomplish total church movement together.

By the time all that was done—it was 2:30 and I needed to put the finishing touches on the Sunday a.m. talk for the Sr. High.  As I cracked open the Scriptures to engage—my thoughts and the direction of where I was headed for Sunday mornings I was reminded of my total dependence on material from the Scriptures.  I was reminded on how much fun I have writing and developing all of my own stuff to speak and to influence Students.  Most don’t know that I actually write and develop my own talks—I don’t get material from others—I actually just think through there where I want to take students—and then build on each talk from the theme that I believe God is showing me through His leading as I spend time and abide in Him.  Plus, I am also working in my mind at the same time-- my talks for uprising-- based on my reading and love for the book uprising by McManus.  The thing about "uprising" is that yes while I am using McManus's writings for some of my talks-- the talks are developed as I then go to experience, my Biblical interp and how to apply for High School Students.

So the Sunday a.m. is about moving through life by faith as a High School Student.  Uprising is about persuing the way of Jesus as the model by which one one purues life.  Lots to work with, but much more to work from-- Biblical truth, experience, life!

I worked on the final copy of the talk for Sunday a.m. finishing around 4—and then got the team ready to head to Cedarville for the volunteer student fair with Kevin and Dave.  We had a great time as we drove together, met many students and drove back together.

We left Cedarville campus and was back to Fairhaven by 8, which means I was home by 9 p.m.    Now that I have been home for a couple of hours my attention has turned to Alex in Australia, Cooper living at mom and dad’s in Dayton and Marcie at home with a pile of things on her mind.   We took Harley for a fast walk, got Cooper signed up for...

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I was talking to a graduate student today that used to volunteer for student ministry.  She was exceptional with students—finishing school this past year and now completing her summer job.  Now what?  What is she going to do?  We talked today on the phone about all her possibilities.  1 possible new job might be a little over her head—but she could learn it and do it for sure.  1 possible can’t begin till 2010.  So what should she do?  Transition is not easy for us that is for sure.

Is it the insecure feeling?  Is it the possible opportunity that one may fail?  Is it the lack of knowing how it will all shake out?  Probably, any of the above at anytime in all of our lives.  It seems the whole world is in transition especially where we live—the United States of America—in transition.  And where will it go?  Pretty scary for sure.

Transition—ahhh transition.  Transition is all around us.  I think that it is good depending on where I sit or you sit.  Change brings transition.  I sometimes wonder if change just for change has value.  But I do know that change because of something moving the change—that is God moving to change is very good.  Understandable?  Easy to understand?  Easy to do?  No not at all.  But if God is moving—then change is inevitable.  Change then becomes a movement of God—regardless of how one understands or gets it—God’s movement is good indeed.

And the movement sometimes starts within me.  The movement may begin within a leaders mind and heart—nevertheless God’s movement is more valuable than staying the same at anytime—don’t you think?

This transition time that we all are in—produces some fear—“perfect love casts out all fear.”  Transition may bring confusion—“God is not a God of confusion.”  So what about transition? 

How bout the words from this old Hymn--- 

Leaning on the everlasting arms by Eli­sha A. Hoff­man

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Or the words of David in Psalm

Psalm 16:5 

 ⁵ LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
       you have made my lot secure.

Yes, transition is tough—but in Him we can know we are secure in His everlasting Arms!

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Well, another chapter in the Solin continued transition.  Our house continues to be on the market—I think we are no in day 46 or so.  Centerville High School starts Wednesday and Cooper was really hoping to tryout for Centerville Hockey—so we are renting an apartment in Centerville so that Cooper can get started on time, and we can be a little closer during the week for work and school.

So the saga continues—during my time at FarHills Community Church it was really tough on Cooper not being able to connect with other students in the ministry.  It was also tough on all of us to be back and forth—sometimes staying in Dayton for hours for an hour meeting and then head home—long days for sure.

It is a little much right now—watching Alex fly to Australia a few weeks ago—today watching Cooper drive to Dayton to stay at mom and dad’s so he can get up to start Centerville while Marcie and I live here—very weird.  I have wondered today if God is preparing my boyz to be independent.  Has Marcie and I prepared them for being on their own?  I don’t think so—but there is no other way around this—it has been a long couple of years—lots of twist and turns and really pointing me to Trust in God about everything… everything. 

Trusting in God goes beyond the typical daily things—yes—this is about trusting Him with the big picture—the whole picture--- my life, Marcie’s life, my 2 great boys life.  The how, the why, the when, the where—everything—and I will admit, it is not always easy.  Today was one of those days.

Yes God has a plan.  Yes I am supposed to be back at Fairhaven.  Yes there is a reason for all this—but, really?  Yes it is time to trust in Him hugely.  Trust Him for every detail.  To trust Him not only with eternity, but with the next year and more years to come till eternity.  Tonight is one of those nights when I think I have a garage full of stuff that the realtor told us to move out in the garage—you know to sell the house—I am still moving boxes to my office at Fairhaven… the boyz are in transition, I am still in transition and trusting Him with His plan isn’t so easy. 

But, I’m sure that trusting Him is where He wants to be… trusting Him with and for everything.

Psalm 37:4-6 

 ⁴ Delight yourself in the LORD
       and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD;
       trust in him and he will do this:

 ⁶ He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
       the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

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Matt. 6.21

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matt. 6.28-34

²⁸"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Today was a day for me to consider the continued struggle with what I would call along with  many—the externals.  You know?  The stuff that we all are concerned about—

Clothes, looks, passions all the stuff on the outside—all the stuff that we consumers get consumed with—

On the other hand—I actually believe that many look the other way when considering the above mentioned and pass it off as—I’m o.k., I don’t do the big outside stuff—I don’t cheat and steal and whatever else on the outside is big—so I can seek after money and nice clothes with labels and I can pursue whatever I want as long as I’m not committing the big ticket items.

Here is my personal deal for the day as I read Matt. Chapter 6.  First, I did not read it with other people in mind—I heard from the Lord today as I wrestled with “my treasures”.  Yes, I considered my treasures, my heart, my passions, my stuff on the inside that is lived out the way I pursue my life.

I do very much want to build a ministry built on the “right” things.  I thought about my passions, my heart and came away moving past ministry and into my ego.  Is my student ministry working toward reaching campuses, students, moving from group to ministry about my ego?  Is it about big?  Is it about large for me?  I came away from this day of contemplating Matt. 6 evaluating the reason why reaching students is my passion and my heart and dealt with this:  That I am about reaching students because it is right.  That reaching students and building a ministry that is focused outward is right—why?  Because reaching students is not about big—although big will be the result—it is about all the students that are unreached because in truth not many have thought beyond themselves.  I want students to see and learn first hand that where their treasure is-- will show itself-- in the how and what they pursue-- 24/7 and hopefully they will be more like the one they call Lord and Savior.  That is my passion, that is my heart, that is where my treasures are.

Selfishness is actually a very large part of Matt. 6   People, myself included that only think about themselves think and move toward the externals as the fix—the clothes, the stuff all the trimmings somehow make us happy.  The Words of the Christ prove the sadness of selfish living.  Selfishness is based from a heart that is all about the person.  People that struggle with the stuff have not yet trusted Christ for all of their needs and wants.  In truth, my treasure is where my heart is—and reaching students is my heart.  Why?  I think I know the truth to this—its because, I have seen first hand...

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