| Of the next steps |

Have you ever experienced a moment - or perhaps a series of moments - where you feel like your feet are dragging to do the thing you've always done? For me I remember jobs I've had where the next (and certainly better) job was already in sight; I remember struggling to drag myself to work, for I had already begun to remove myself mentally from the first in preparation for the second.

Well, this is how I feel right now. God has given me two glimmers of what's next. In the first, I saw a hurting and broken world in the Czech Republic. I saw people who simply know nothing of God. While in Canada people know enough to refute and refuse God; in Czech, people know so little it's alarming. I think I can already say at this point that God is calling me back there someday. Hopefully that someday is soon. Hopefully it is next year.

The second glimmer began today. While Emily awaits news on whether or not she'll be accepted to Tyndale's Bachelor of Education, we have agreed that we both sense God's leading to stay in Toronto. And since we have begun to realize that life will continue here in Toronto, I have begun to wonder what I'm to do in the coming year. And so today after a fun and challenging hockey game, Em and I went to a Tyndale Seminary info meeting. While it all seemed rather interesting but nothing really stood out to me, a single conversation after the meeting caused me to question what's next for me.

You see, I have a growing heartbeat for church planting. Not the kind of church planting that moves people from one "dying" church to a new "thriving" church. No, not that at all. But new inroads for the gospel, new people knowing God, and ministry in brand new ways. The same beautiful gospel message of salvation and grace to a different people and in different packaging.

So I asked about that. And the kind Tyndale chap directed me toward the 'In-Ministry' program. It's basically an MDiv program that is modular and modified into six week courses so that it can be done coincidentally with ministry. I think that was always the scare for me when thinking about a potential masters program, that I might have to sit through more years of school before God would actually use me. But with church planting on the horizon and Wellspring at my side, I'm excited to consider this program as a possibility for what's next.

This is precisely why these glimmers have me dragging my feet a bit. I have a paper looming and I really should be focusing my attention on it, but I cannot focus on the simple and the mundane. God has amazing plans for Em and I! Seven years I've committed to my undergrad (six on and one year off in the middle), and now I can finally see, and I can finally tangibly interact with what's ahead.

Here's the catch. I truly believe that part of God's call and confirmation on His people is left to His people. He may have called me into pastoral ministry, but it took others coming alongside of me and encouraging me and confirming me in order that I would truly know that was the path for me. Likewise, this MDiv program and the prospect of church planting, do you see God using me in this way? What do you - my family and my friends - see God doing with this head, this heart, and these hands and feet?

Cheers.