Chad Veach is the pastor of Zoe Church in Los Angeles, CA . Chad and his wife Julia have a two beautiful children, Georgia Estelle and Winston Charles. Chad is a fan of golf, the Lakers and people.
We are getting really excited about the launch of our church; ZOE LA.
Starting a church has been the adventure of a lifetime. More fun and more fulfilling than I ever anticipated. God has blessed us with a “dream team” (not to be confused with ‘92 Olympic dream team). The team is the strongest part of our church!
As we prepare to launch our church, we felt like our first responsibility was to identify everything we needed to purchase. While identifying our needs, we likened the process to an engaged couple.
Have you had one of your friends get engaged? They do what most engaged couples do… immediately head to Target and start shooting the “scan gun” to identify everything they NEED to furnish their first apartment! They shoot the scan gun at everything! Towels, blankets, sheets, lamps…etc.
When thinking of the preparation of an engaged couple, we thought, let’s do the same thing for our church! AND make it just as easy for people to be involved with getting our church off the ground!
SO HERE’S WHAT’S NEXT:
Our team has gone through everything we need at ZOE from our Kid’s ministry to production!
On our website – www.startforthehouse.org – you’ll find items ranging anywhere from $10-$10,000 that are available for purchase. You can even donate to our general fund through the donations tab or the PushPay app. We want to give everyone the ability to sow into the genesis of our church… no matter what your resources may look like!
Our deadline for purchases is July 12th (the date of our next gathering). We invite you to consider joining us in giving towards the needs of our church!
One thing we know for sure… is that God is in this!
It’s so evident. It’s so tangible.
Our church hasn’t even officially launched and yet we already have countless stories of God’s provision and miracles!
All that to say, we would love for you to be a part of START FOR THE HOUSE!
We love you and pray God’s best in your life,
Chad and Julia
1. YOU CAN’T TELL ME NOTHIN
“Pride is the only disease that makes everyone else sick besides the person that has it.“
2. SO INSECURRRR
I know a leader that used to walk into a room and say to himself “everyone here loves me and wants me here”……………… until he was convinced of it.
Sometimes you gotta convince yourself of the truth until you believe it!
#selftalk
3. UNRESOLVED ISSUES
“Sin won’t destroy your life… but silent sin will.”
If you keep sweeping stuff under the rug and not dealing with the issues of life, eventually that stuff will catch up with you.
These are the things that can slow you down in seasons when you should be running hard after what’s in your heart.
4. CAN’T CONTROL YO TONGUE "Who can control the tongue?” - James
Nothing opens and closes doors for you like the words coming out of your mouth.
#ifyoudonthaveanythingnicetosay #dontsayanythingatall
5. BELIEVE YOUR OWN HYPE
The worst leader is the one who’s more loyal to their gift than what they are a part of.
The leader who’s impressed with themselves is rarely impressed with others.
I’m always listening to the leader who raves about the gifting of others!
6. OPPORTUNISTIC
Don’t ever become the “looking for the next great opportunity” leader.
These leaders are always looking for the #landofopportunity because they’re convinced if they get there… then things will really take off. It never does :(
Stay faithful where you’re at and watch God blow you away.
7. CAN’T STIR IT UP
Don’t go stale.
Don’t go dull.
Don’t get routined.
Don’t fall asleep on the job.
Stir up the gift of God within you! Stir up your faith!
8. UNGRATEFUL
To say thank you is to admit that someone else provided this…
Can’t think of anything that pleases God more than the “attitude of gratitude.”
Happy birthday (party) for Winston… @juliaveach, always delivers
“5 things that God requires of people who lead in the church…”
(as written by Paul, see 1 Timothy 3)
1. Spiritual Preparedness
- BE READY. AT ALL TIMES.
In other words, leadership doesn’t come with a punch card. You don’t clock in and out.
Jesus was known for doing more work outside the church than in it.
Gods looking for people who STAY READY!
2. Self Control
- RESTRAINT. SOBER MINDED.
In other words, if you can’t control your tongue, emotions, temper, spending and eyes… how can God trust you with His people?
Self control (meekness) is like the San Antonio Spurs… underrated, overlooked… but CHAMPIONSHIP MATERIAL.
3. Social Graciousness
- COMMON SENSE. COMMON COURTESY.
In other words, how we treat people matters to God.
Socially, you should be able to do well in any environment.
Paul did. Jesus did. Why can’t we?
Often times what separates a good leader from a great leader is behavior.
#allaboutthatsocialgraceboss
4. Domestic Order
- HOME LIFE. WHAT REALLY MATTERS LIFE.
In other words, if you can’t take care of HOME, why would God trust you with CHURCH?
God is not a God of confusion. How confusing to have someone represent God who’s home life is a disaster… but their church life is #DOMINATING.
God is stoked when our home life matters to us as much as it matters to Him!!!!!!
5. Holy Living
- SET APART. A GRADE ABOVE.
In other words, God asks us to be set apart… because He is set apart.
Holy living looks different to each person. I’ve learned you have to live by “your own convictions”, not anothers.
I would suggest that you look into the bible to find out what the standard of HOLINESS truly is…
Who’s “winning”?
In life.. who’s really winning…
I keep having this thought.
I keep asking this question.
Is it the one with the biggest following? …. The person with the most money?
Or maybe it’s whoever has mastered gluten free healthy eating and is in tip top shape (oh how I envy you)
I keep drawing the same conclusions on who I think is really winning…
WHO I THINK IS WINNING…
1. The one who is CONTENT..
- I think you learn how to be content.
Paul did.. he said “I’ve learned how to be content with a lot and how to be content with a little”
I personally don’t think God makes you content with a LOT until you’ve proven to be content with a LITTLE.
Contentment could be the great gain in life.
Being satisfied and fulfilled with what you have and where you are…
2. The one that loves THEM-SELF…
- Not in a narcissistic, weird, self absorbed way…
But in an appropriate, balanced, “I really like the way God made me” type of way.
I think you should love you… your life, your story, your gifts, your grace, your body.
It’s really hard to love others if you don’t love yourself.
3. The person that lives in COMMUNITY…
Oh to have good friends.
Oh to live life with people.
“Life isn’t about what you’re doing… but who you’re doing it with”
I’ve learned you can go through anything in life… just as long as you have people with you!!!
4. The one who’s in awe of GRACE…
- When you understand this whole thing is the grace of God.. you’re in constant SMH (that’s for the kids YO).
You transfer from a one time realization of grace… to a perpetual state of praise…
#JESUSISGRACE
5. The one who sees the POSITIVE in everything and everyone…
Happiness is a choice, not a feeling.
Being positive is the greatest weapon you and I have to combat a status quo life.
6. The one who RECEIVES more than they GIVE…
- You can’t out give God.
The person who is winning… in my opinion… is the one determined to receive daily from Gods love.
Long gone are the days where the daily focus was what you are gonna do for God…. #religion
Here to stay are the days where we can daily enjoy Gods goodness…
(also, I highly recommend daily doses of ice cream)
-LOVE U.
Hope you’re winning.. wherever you are :)
1. Be bigger on the INSIDE than on the OUTSIDE.
“Your OUTSIDE world can’t get bigger than your INSIDE world”
2. Give gifts.
- A fantastic way to be a blessing…
also, I wanna give gifts with symbolism attached.
Could mean more.
3. Be strong in my grace.
- I love the grace that’s on my life… and I love the grace that’s on yours.
BE STRONG in that grace…
4. Always choose influence.
- Many have chosen SIZE over INFLUENCE.
I’m refusing that mistake.
(btw… your obedience to God should always lead to influence)
5. Care about the details.
- Excellence is seen and sensed.
See Daniel 5 for more details.
6. Be better at 70.
- The goal is to be better at 70 than I am today.
#BA70
7. Assess for awareness.
- Half the battle is just understanding where you’re at now… what’s changed..
and what success is in your current role.
8. Mutual submission.
- The highest compliment to give and receive.
9. Gossip well.
- Bragging behind peoples back is an art form. I aspire to be great at it.
10. Understand the HUMAN CONDITION…
- I think you can really help people… if you understand people.
11. Shine bright in dark places.
- I used to try and shine brightest in already bright places.
Foolishness.
12. Give people the benefit of the doubt.
- No “jumping to conclusions”…
I hope to change that… and/or never do that again.
13. Take credit for nothing.
- This whole thing is a grace thing.
No man can take credit for what we are all enjoying…
14. Treat people like they are indispensable.
- Writing people off, cutting them out, eliminating them is criminal behavior that exposes immature thinking…
People are not dispensable.
15. Drink more water.
- Cc. Coach Cobb #FYCNYC
16. Look more like Johnny Depp tho…
- 21 Jump Street Johnny Depp… Not Edward Scissor Hands Johnny Depp
I’m not saying you have to… I’m just saying it might be a good idea.
1 Perhaps… If it ain’t broke, break it.
Mix it up. Try something new.
I’d rather be spontaneous… or in the moment… than “PREDICTABLE”
#funkyfresh
2 Perhaps… there’s a way you can tell if people are with you.
People who are with you tend to have 3 things in common with you…
Their view (this is how we see God)
Their values (this is what’s important to us)
Their vocabulary (this is how we talk)
#rideordies
3 Perhaps… it’s better to say “woah” than “go”
I’d rather have to slow someone down than constantly motivate them.
#getit
4 Perhaps… we shouldn’t box people into a moment or season of their life.
Do you remember David as King or David as adulterer?
Don’t box people into the mistakes of their past. God is bigger than that… He’s in the changing lives business.
#boxingday
5 Perhaps… you should make the decision when you KNOW the decision.
Wait. Be patient. Take your time. Then make the decision.
As in, “until you know, do not go.”
#dontbethatguy
6 Perhaps… you should keep your “opinion” to yourself :)
Despite your inclination, people really don’t want to know what you think.
Unless they ask you, “what do you really think?”
#YEP!!!!!
7 Perhaps… you should let your wells go deep.
If there’s more… go for it.
If deep calls unto deep.
Maybe, just maybe we shouldn’t live life on the surface.
#deliriouswasabandandtheywereawesome
8 Perhaps… we should all become MASTERS OF DISCRETION.
Personally, I think there is no higher compliment than being “trusted”
A person who lacks discretion is rarely trusted or fully followed.
#realtalk
9 Perhaps… I should go the “second mile”
Minimums create mediums. Last time I checked, God wants to reach the whole world.
(see Colossians 3:23 for more details)
#8mile?
10 Perhaps… grace is better than you think.
One day we will find out just how gracious Jesus is.
Until then, I’m going to live my life from the thought “He’s more gracious than you think”
#selah
11 Perhaps… It’s better to be open minded than closed minded.
I recently heard a story of a famous rapper who threw 20 creative people in one room and let each of them speak into an idea. Never once shooting anyone’s thoughts or ideas down.
I immediately thought ‘I should be more like that’.
Open minded people rule.
#art
12 Perhaps… my life impacts others more than I think.
Your life is probably effecting more people than you care to imagine.
This should alter the course of your decisions and behavior.
#youmatter #youmatter #youmatter
13 Perhaps… this really is “life” or “death”.
Heaven is a reality. So is hell.
So if this whole thing is real… then perhaps… I’m just throwing this out there…
maybe we should live with a sense of URGENCY!!!!
#occupyallstreets
1. The greatest way to get to know JESUS is through reading your bible.
The bible points us to Jesus.
2. The bible shows me what TO DO, what NOT TO DO and what to do when I HAVEN’T BEEN DOING WHAT I’M SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.
It teaches me… shows me what to do.
It rebukes me… shows me what not to do.
It corrects me… shows me what to do when I haven’t been doing what I’m supposed to be doing.
(see 2 Timothy 3:16 for more info)
3. Reading the bible will make you WICKED SMART (insert Boston accent)
The bible doesn’t just make you wise; it will make you “smarter than your teachers!”
“I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.”
Psalms 119:99
4. The Bible helps me understand who God really is.
The bible teaches me what God is about and what He’s NOT about. I’ve heard it said “the number 1 cause of atheism is Christians.”
Heartbreaker quote. Game changer reality. I pray that we would never misrepresent God’s heart. The more I understand who God is, the easier it is to represent Him. I’ve found it hard to represent someone you don’t know. God got so mad at Job’s friends for misrepresenting Him.
(see Job 42:7 for more details)
5. If God did it for THEM, God will do it for ME.
Reading the bible reminds me of this reality.
God has not changed. And He will not change.
The God of the bible is the God of today.
So if He did it for them, why wouldn’t He do it for me?
6. I don’t study IT, it studies ME.
The bible shows me where I’m at in life.
“For the word of God is alive and active… it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12
In the best way, the bible exposes us.
#bodybags
7. The AUTHOR teaches you what it says.
The bible is the only book that when you read it, the author comes and personally teaches you what He is saying.
8. It helps me have GOOD THINGS TO SAY.
Whatever you put in your heart… that’s what is coming out of your mouth. Common sense says, “if I put junk in me… junk will come out of me” but if I put “good things” in me… then that’s what will come out of me.
Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
(see Luke 6:45 for more details)
9. It has ANSWERS to my QUESTIONS.
Any question I have about relationships, finances, marriage, purity, priorities, destiny, the afterlife… or the return of the SEATTLE SUPERSONICS… it’s all right there.
