After years of wishing it would happen, prayers being lifted, and ideas swirling around, God has moved and fulfilled a dream this evening. A simple website and Facebook group brought 8 individuals together tonight, disciples who have tremendous talent and realize that God can be glorified through them individually and through our time together as a group. More than just hype. More than just people hanging out for the kicks of it. Each a member of a different church, actually fulfilling the call to be in community not just on Sunday mornings.

Each bringing their own unique knowledge of various technologies, and hearts to train others or learn from each other. While we sat in a reserved “community room” at Panera Bread many questions were asked. The “oh you know him?” remarks were made, but most importantly, each one knows Him. The Him that matters in life. The Lord who has given us this life and these talents to serve Him and others. Something like this gathering can’t be coordinated perfectly, and I am thankful that God reminded me that He was going to take care of it. Usually when you leave things up to God they turn out better than if you hold onto the reins too tightly.

The next gathering of these disciples is already scheduled for March 5th here in Columbus, OH. We probably won’t be meeting at a Panera Bread, but were so thankful that they allowed this to happen. We have a friend that has booked a plane ticket from Atlanta to join us and would love to have more locals come for sure. We even have a guest speaker, and fellow digital disciple Kary Oberbrunner, coming to share some powerful truths with us. Be sure to join our Facebook group to be notified of the time and location. We’re sure God’s going to be there, wherever He decides to let us hang out! You know He has done a good thing through you when you receive simple thank yous, and I praise Him alone for such a successful time! I’m proud He allowed me to simply coordinate a time and place for Him to show up. I offer a simple thank you His way and am eager to follow where He leads.

I’m now on a mission with this blog. A mission to share what I am passionate about, and to help people that I haven’t helped yet.

For those that don’t know me too well, I am a pretty calm and serious person. There have been crazy moments in my past, but the people I’ve met recently wouldn’t have guessed that. If you want to laugh all of the time, act like life is a bowl of cherries, or slide down rainbows……wrong blog to be reading, sorry! I’m struggling at the moment with the post I wrote back on January 20th, sharing the two ministries I am preparing to be a part of. One is the BibleTech conference I am speaking at and the other is the Digital Disciples local gathering I am starting (small group of creatives and techies).

What’s nagging at me is that there is this huge gap in my mind as I look at both of these ministries. When I picture (and hear about) people attending a conference, I am haunted by the feelings kids get on Saturday mornings when they are leaving from a week of highs with friends at a camp. You’ve probably experienced it. You’re exhausted as you are leaving. The worse part? You don’t even know where to go now that you are headed back to a life of normality and loneliness. And there’s a good chance it will be like that for more than a few days. I’ve been to a few conferences, and I can’t say that one has really changed my life or impacted me tremendously. Giving me something that I can’t wait to give to someone else. Sure, I’ve “learned” and met new people. But where does it go from here? And I’m going to go speak at one of these conferences?!?!?

The other, as I posted earlier, is something I am anticipating greatly. It’s exactly what I believe we all should be doing, but we’re not. Spending time with other people, pouring into their lives on a continual basis, sharing and learning from each other while not holding tightly to the wisdom of this world. You’ve probably been where I am right now. You realize that you could change the world, but you’re not sure if you could handle the task. There are many other people as, if not more, talented than you in that area, but you hold back from interacting with them. You like it just where you are, and would prefer not to REALLY get “social”.

This is where my brain is at the moment. Excited about going to the conference, but wanting more to change just one life there than be that hyper-social-freak-show that wants to meet everyone and make sure they have his web address when they leave. Fewer followers to me is better, if it results in deeper relationships. More like making a new lifelong friend than a pen-pal you write to once or twice. Or your 1,600th friend on Facebook that doesn’t even care who you are! One thing I do know. I am not the only one that thinks thoughts like these. I’d be thrilled to hear a few that have raced through your mind! HELP!

This map is from a different era. I remember staring at these maps while sitting in the small sunday school classes or during sermons that had everything but my undivided attention. Compared to the methods of transportation we have today, the travel alone in Bible times should cause us to be in awe of their dedication. Disciples and apostles were called to go out, leaving their comfort zones with one mission in mind. Reaching the lost for Christ. They weren’t called to greatness before they left on these journeys. Sometimes the largest impact is made in the smallest of meetings, or through plans that don’t make perfect sense before the first step is taken. What was about to happen through them really had nothing to do with their plan or even preparations. When God was moving there was nothing that got in the way. Not the sea, a prison or the possibility of being stoned to death. And the results…..they were life-changing and even sometimes soul-saving. The following verse applies today, just as much as it applied to those people.

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.” John 8:31

What is about to take place here in Columbus, Ohio is truly special. Not because of any of the people that are involved, but because it is obvious that God is moving in a new way. I’ve included another (more contemporary) map that requires the type of cost as the one above. The map isn’t really remarkable because of the distance traveled, although it is fascinating. My friend Daryl (aka spirit20 on Twitter), who I’ve never personally met, just booked a flight for our second gathering of Digital Disciples here in Ohio. He shares the same passion many of us do (online and here in Ohio). Daryl knows that God is at work, but he doesn’t stop short of saying “here am I Lord, send me”. What turns my soul sideways is the fact that this isn’t about the numbers attending, exposure, financial profit or fame. With God moving, prayer taking place, and a focus I’ve never seen before – there’s nothing that can stop a journey like this. The mission is to grow closer to our heavenly Father. Sure, we’ll focus some on technology, but the God I serve has been able to move through things that seemed even powerless or impossible. It won’t take specific technologies for Him to speak, although many of those will help. The Spirit has been at work, planning this occasion long before it was even planned.

Daryl is just as excited about this as I am, I can tell. If the Spirit is working in your life, a trip to Columbus is not required. You’re more than welcome to attend one of our monthly gatherings (starting on February 5th), and my doors are open to house you and hopefully make money less a part of the picture. If you would love to make it, but can’t, please do us a favor and join us on Facebook or call me at 614-787-8544. We’re excited to start looking at ways that Digital Disciple gatherings can take place elsewhere, if that is what God wants.

One thing I’ve learned recently about being a Christ-follower is that the path you are walking cannot be planned. There are some things that you pursue in your walk with the Lord that require more out of you than you can handle, and then there are some things that arrive as a blessing almost too soon for you to be able to truly understand how much of a blessing they are. The two events / organizations below have made this even more clear this month as God has brought them into my life.

BibleTech 2009 is a conference sponsored and hosted by Logos Bible Software in Seattle, Washington on March 27-28th. This is the second year for the conference, and I’ve heard last year was a tremendous success. After interviewing Logos Bible Software and seeing the impact their Bible study software has had on believers around the world, it’s not really a shocker to believe that.

Somehow talks began of me traveling out west and being one of the speakers for this year. It will be an honor to hang out with so many individuals who desire to allow the cross of Christ to invade their lives and re-define how they are using technology. I will be discussing what it means to “Become a Digital Disciple”. God is moving in today’s culture through technology, but I think He’s ready to stretch us beyond a few limits. If you’re interested in joining me at the conference, I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t make it, but long to be stretched in both technology and theology, I believe the ministry below might be for you. I’d be thrilled to have you pray for me as I prepare for this exciting event – specifically that God would really change lives through the discussions and friendships made.

It’s finally here! The first gathering of Digital Disciples will take place on February 5th in Columbus, OH. A ministry that excites me more than any that I’ve been involved with before. God’s called me to start something that I really wish would have been around years ago. A ministry of free monthly local gatherings, starting here in Ohio, where individuals will have the chance to grow deeper in their use of technology and their walk with Christ. This truly is the first of its kind, from what I have seen across the web and while interacting with others. There are groups and conferences whose desire is to push the church (organizations) to increase their use of technology, which are great and definitely needed. I’m thrilled those groups and conferences exist, but I believe that God desires to move beyond the four walls of an organization and really stretch individuals to unselfish measures.

The first time I got some decent technology training was while attending college, a result of some serious sacrifice on my parent’s and my part to even make that possible financially. Imagine your friend or family member having the chance to come and learn from others that have been in their shoes. People enjoy technology, but there’s always room for improvement. No matter if you are what the world calls an “expert, amateur or beginner”. But that’s not where it stops. Just learning technology is fun for sure, but that only takes us so far. What about understanding how God wants to use it, or even how He might want to shape the rest of your life through His Word and lessons you can learn with others like you. God works through His Word, through the Spirit and through the lives of others. I believe that can be accomplished, and that’s why I have started this ministry. I’d be thrilled to have you join me on February 5th here in Columbus, Ohio, or to help you start a Digital Disciples group just like it in your town! Please do me a favor and share the http://www.DigitalDisciples.net website with your friends and family that might have even just a little interest in this. My first desire I have in starting this ministry is to allow others to grow in Christ, or possibly even meet Him for the first time.

Kind of ironic that the cross is at the center of both of these logos, don’t you think? Thanks for reading and praying!