Hebrews 6:14

YOU GOTTA HAVE A BIG DREAM THAT DRIVES YOUR DAILY ACTIONS AND DISCIPLINES YOUR CHOICES MOMENT BY MOMENT. This is true for all of us who are attempting something that is HUGEMONGOUS.

God had a way of getting people's attention in the Old Testament by promising them extreme reward for accomplishing His mission in their lives. A prominent example of this was Abraham and the promise that God made to him that his offspring would be more abundant than sands on the seashore. (Genesis 22:17)

Hebrews 6:14 recalls the Genesis experience of Abraham when it says, "I will most certainly bless you, and I will greatly multiply you."

Now, I know that this text was not a promise to me or for me, but I sure would like it to be mine. My greatest hope is that God would use me to accomplish MUCH for His Kingdom on the move through this world. And, it's one of my dreams that Phos Hilaron Church would be counted strong in Loving God, Loving our Neighbors, and Expanding the Neighborhood.

So, here's to stretching the text so that it applies to me and you and PHC today!

And, here's to YOU in discovering God's BIG Dream for YOU that will bring about the disciplined daily actions and habits necessary to accomplish the dreams of your wildest imagination!

I'll be thinking about that one simple verse a lot today and praying that God would say the same thing to me (at least in a spiritual offspring sort of way!).

Enjoy THIS day,
Jeff Fuson



Jeff Fuson serves as Point Leader for Phos Hilaron Church near Louisville Kentucky. Jeff's # 1 passion is being a husband and daddy. A close second is seeing people grow spiritually. As a Professional Speaker Jeff also serves as a Keynote Speaker & Trainer crafting & delivering high impact keynote addresses & training events for Entrepreneurs, Banks, Credit Unions, and small to medium sized non-profit & for profit enterprises. He's got one incredible wife and 3 awesome children.

Creative Risk & Launching at the EDGE of Disaster

As a church planter who chose to launch with a staff I think a lot about stuff I didn't have to think about as a Youth Minister at a large church - like how to make payroll for the team every couple of weeks. And, God is full of surprises -- like the fact that we've made it every single time and that He's given us everything we've needed right when we've needed it. He has been out in front of us the whole way.

There's no question that a cash infusion would allow us to do some really cool marketing campaigns and add some video production gear to boost our creative team capabilities a notch or three, but the 'needs' are being met.

Lesson # 1 for me = God is IN this with us and HE's resourcing the movement

Lesson # 2 for me = What God Originates He Also Orchestrates (originally spoken by Troy Dobbs)

Lesson #3 for me = Launching with a strong creative / missional edge drives some 'normal' church people away, but it draws those with a missional heart and a will to impact culture. It's a natural filter.

Lesson #4 for me = 'risk fatigue' is lurking among our team and in my heart all the time. Sometimes we ask ourselves if we should keep pushing the missional and creative edges because we know that it 'costs' us in terms of reaching more 'churched' people right now who could help resource the movement. But, we also know that 'playing it safe' invites a slide back into 'church as usual' which is death to the dream of Phos Hilaron Church. The core of our dream is to reach those who are M.I.A. (Missing in Action) from the Kingdom and those who are P.O.W.s (Prisoners of War) and in our hearts we know that this means that as leaders and as a body PHC must 'cowboy up' and risk playing behind enemy lines, going hand to hand and heart to heart in our neighborhoods, and taking it to the streets in all ways possible. So, we ask for courage to dance at the edge of disaster where God can show Himself strong and abundantly able to do what He wants to do to resource this movement.

Lesson #5 for me = Play to Win or Head to the House. Since God is in this we don't have to 'play it safe' and we don't have to protect our gains and play 'not to lose' -- we can stay aggressive in our methods and dreams and actions (don't read that as obnoxious and 'in your face' , rather read it as taking creative risks to advance the Kingdom of God in creative, compelling missional ways). So, a personal mantra related to the enterprises in my life these days is 'Play to Win'!

I had an old coach who pulled us aside before a big game and gave us a great pep -talk that started something like this, 'Boys, it's not how you play the game, it's whether you win or lose. And, if you lose, don't come back...' He was just kidding, kind of...

And, if I said that to Phos Hilaron Church I'd be kind of kidding, but kind of serious, because the church in America has become so preoccupied with 'pretty and nice' that we've forgotten that our leader took the ball across the goal line up a dust covered hill spattered with his own blood--not pretty, but effective! Sometimes winning does matter and sometimes winning God's way is to play hard and do the gritty work of advancing the Gospel in unorthodox ways. If you wonder about whether God is into 'unorthodox' ways consider how He brought salvation to us -- a Virgin, a baby, a cross! Not orthodox, but ultimately EFFECTIVE.

Just thinking today!
Play to WIN or Head to the HOUSE!
Jeff Fuson

My Best Buddy!

I was shocked!

My heart filled like a water balloon drinking from a fire hydrant.

Floored and awed and "HAPPIER than a tornado in a trailer park" as 'Mater would say. (you've got to see the movie, Cars!)

It was just me and my little guy chillin' at Starbucks because he was thirsty and we got a bottled water and split a mocha frapacinno. So, I asked him, who's your girlfriend and he just got a shy freckle-faced grin and acted a little embarassed. So, I went on, 'Who's your best buddy?' and I fully expected it to be Tristan, or Nicolas who he spends nearly every waking moment with, but his answer floored me and flooded my heart--he answered, 'You'.

Oh God, You know that we live in the land of God provisions, especially these days as we wait and wonder what You're gonna do with us, through us, and for us at Phos Hilaron Church. And, I'm blown away by how you have cleared every hurdle, opened every door, provided every resource, sent money from the strangest of places and most of all I'm amazed that you show me how to be loved by sending me a little freckle faced 'best buddy'! Thank-you.

Amen.

Jeff Fuson