I was in the swimming pool at the country club when people came running out of the clubhouse announcing news of a lunar landing.  Being merely a young teen, I hadn’t paid much attention to rocket launches and such.  I wish now I had.

Launching BC3, although not nearly as technical as a NASA space shot, has been a tremendous ordeal — fun, busy, harried, stretching, and a host of other verbs and adjectives can be used to describe the process.  Starting anything new is tough, at first.  Starting a new church in a community whose few large meeting places are public schools in an area beginning to transition from rural farm land to suburbia can accurately be compared to being strapped to the front of an Apollo rocket.  Unless one has a very strong sense of calling, it can appear to be nothing short of stupidity.

But then, there is that calling thing – an inescapable tap on the shoulder by the Almighty, saying: “Son, here’s what I want you to do!”  Those who have felt it, know exactly what I’m talking about.  It’s similar to having the Principal tap you on the shoulder on the playground, stirring inside you a strange and undeniable combination of fear and pride.  Fear – because you know Principals don’t come to the playground just to join in the baseball game at recess.  This is pretty serious stuff and you never know how it’s going to turn out.  Pride – because of all the anybodies on the yard, the Principal picked you to personally visit. 

When God tapped me on the shoulder and said I was going to launch BC3 (Bent Creek Community Church), it felt much the same.  The biggest difference came in the level of authority between God and the many Principals I’ve ever known (although as a Grade Schooler, I didn’t think there were any differences).  Principals are human, just like everyone else – trained, committed, and authorized to be sure – but limited nonetheless.  BUT GOD…

His authority complete.  His power unlimited.  His knowledge and view of life unobstructed by time or space, nor anything within either.  Therefore, when He taps and says “start this church,” you know deep down inside that He intends to support the work.  I might not know how He will, but I know He will nonetheless.  Watching how He does it is the joy of this journey.

It takes faith to sense that divine tap and respond in obedience to it.  It also takes faith to become one of those who join with “the tapped one” and become a part of something so new and so seemingly precarious.  But how often in life are we allowed into the inner sanctum of the workings of the Almighty?  So many drift through this life as if getting to the end is the goal.  Everyone will get to the end – it’s just how long each will take to reach that destination and where they will go afterward that differs.

It’s the few who allow themselves to venture out in faith and explore that dimension where God must act or else failure is guaranteed, who experience the hand of God.  Those who become a part of a new church are privileged to see God at work; watching Him do the impossible as if it was routine (which it really is for Him – we’re the ones for whom it is unique).

The astronauts, engineers and physicists at NASA are privileged to, as Star Trek episodes described it, ”boldly go where no man has gone before.”  We’ve all marveled at their exploits and awed at the souvenirs they sent or brought back, but that’s as close as most of us will ever get to space travel.  On purpose, it has been limited to the elite.  BUT GOD…

…wants everyone to experience His workings.  He desires to share His life with all who will come to Him by faith – not just in salvation, which is only the beginning of a marvelous life with Him, but in a daily, intimate, and awe-inspiring journey under His divine direction and power.

So what are you waiting for?  Sign up for spiritual astronaut training right now.  Join one of God’s “tapped ones” and help him launch the new work God has assigned to him.  If it’s BC3 He’s directing you toward – HALLELUJAH!!!  Unlike NASA, I can use all the help I can get!  Are you ready?  Strap in and welcome to the ride of your life!!!