When I first moved out to Vegas, people in both Las Vegas and Brunswick (the city I came from) began to ask the same question, mostly as small-talk chit chat, but i never knew how to answer it.  For a long time, I just gave the people the answer I knew they were looking for, because I didn’t have a better answer formulated in my brain.  Finally, after over 2 years, and talking to other people at CRCC who had the same issues, I am ready to come clean:

QUESTION(S): "So, did you feel called to Canyon Ridge?", "So, did you know Canyon Ridge was where you were meant to go?"
ANSWER:        "NO"

Surprised?  I think most people would be.  The truth is, I never heard the voice of God say "GO TO CANYON RIDGE IN LAS VEGAS….".  This may shock, surprise, and even offend some Southern Baptists I know.  But the truth is, I’m not sure that anybody ever really has heard that (with some exceptions I understand).  In my case, i believe it happened like this:  The early years of my life were spent developing my spiritual walk, as well as my talents and abilities.  At a relatively young age, I realized that I was being called to do Full Time ministry SOMEWHERE, doing SOMETHING for God.  At the time, I thought God was "calling" me to specifically be a worship leader, or heavily involved in music.  I thought this, mostly because that’s what I was doing at the time, and I liked it, and thought I could do it forever.

What I understood much later, was that God didn’t call me to SPECIFICALLY perform a task such as worship leading, or even run a sound board.  He called me to do His will, and to help spread His word.  It took me a while, but I finally came to terms with the fact that maybe God doesn’t call us specifically to do a thing.  In my case, He gave me a set of skills and talents, and free will.  Then, when I mistakenly thought He was telling me to lead worship, he was ACTUALLY telling me to take my gifts, to take my free will to choose my path, and to explore any opportunities that would allow me to use my gifts to glorify Him.  Those open doors could have led me anywhere on earth, and they are what ultimately led me to Las Vegas.  Now, after being here, and being able to identify what my calling really was, I can see that CRCC is exactly where I needed, and still need to be.  Was I specifically called to Canyon Ridge Christian Church?  No.  But there is no doubt in my mind that this is exactly where I am supposed to be.  My JOB as Technical Director is to oversee the Audio, Video, and Lighting Systems at the church….my calling is to use those systems to help, in any way I can, spread the Word of God, and show the Love of God through service.

I encourage and challenge anybody who is in a season of discernment in their lives.  Maybe…just maybe…you aren’t going to get the neon sign falling out of the sky pointing in the direction your life should go.  Pray up; and then look and see what God has given you, and use them to the best of your abilities, to show the best of His, in whatever situation God sneds your way.  He knows what He is doing, even if you don’t.