Great Christmas!

Thought I would leave you with this picture of the lights on our beautiful house. Our last Christmas in this house was one of the best Christmases ever. Less gifts, less spending but more relational. Here are some highlights:

• Christmas Eve breakfast with all of our kids and grandkids.
• The band playing Mannheim Steamroller's "Carol of the Bells" with images of prophecies fulfilled by the birth of Christ at the Christmas Eve service at His Hands was worth the whole trip.
• Christmas morning with Pattie, Ben, Joe, and Rayanne. Some of the gifts: Broncos shirt, new camera, tickets to GA Aquarium, jigsaw puzzle, movie tickets, books.
• Spending Christmas afternoon with Pattie's mom and brother Doug. We never get there on Christmas Day but this year it worked out. I love my mother-in-law and it was a joy to spend this day with her.
• Going to my Mom and Dad's is always fun and relaxing. Got there Christmas night and stayed until Monday. My niece, Kathryn, and her husband, Ben, came in from Wichita which was an added blessing of being there.
• Spent Sunday back at Pattie's mom's where Kris, Rachele, Camille, and Joe joined us. It was a good day.
• We all went back to Mom and Dad's that night. First time Rachele and Kris had been there in awhile. We had a great time. They brought their new game "The Last Word." I don't think I have laughed that hard in a long time.
  
• Went by the grave site of Walter Raymond Conway, Pattie's father in the Chattanooga National Cemetery. I missed out in meeting this man but I have a love for him. Pattie speaks very fondly of him and I enjoy hearing his story and of his love for his children. It will be good to meet him on the other side of the grave.
• Good to be home Monday night. Looking forward to a good New Year's!
  

Merry Christmas!

What a great day! All of our kids and grandkids came over for Christmas Eve breakfast and gift exchange. Jenny brought a delicious hashbrown casserole, Rachele fried a mound of bacon and pot of equally delicious grits, and we made the pancakes, scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy. We cooked together in the kitchen for about an hour and listened to Bing Crosby Christmas. I love my family. They are all wonderful people. Had to add this picture of Camille. She is a joy! I hope that your Christmas will be as sweet and wonderful as ours.

When Wants Become Needs

I need a laptop computer. There is no way around it. I no longer have a church office. My home office is not conducive for work. I am still kicking myself for being talked out of a laptop when we needed a new computer at Axios and now I have a desk top that feels like an anchor. My office needs to be where ever I am. I will not have the luxury of a church office in Denver (at least at the start.) Not only could I keep up with this blog better but it allows me the freedom to do valuable work now. I used to want a laptop but now it is definitely a need. I specifically want a MacBook. It will be the system that we will be using in Colorado. I currently do not have the means to purchase one but maybe someone who is reading this blog wants to partner with us in ministry and provide this essential tool for our ministry. "You have not because you ask not." I have been asking God and now I am asking you. God has chosen to provide for His ministries through the generous giving of His people. Maybe you will be an answer to my prayer.

I'm a Grateful Man!

I know that I have been whining about not being in Denver yet but today, as I sat on our front porch and had a tea party with just me and Camille, I had to thank God for not moving us as quickly as I wanted and for giving me these cherished times that I would have missed if God would have answered my prayer quickly. I had to dismiss my feelings of urgency, my desire to get on with it and my need to perform and just rest in the fact that God loves me and cares about every aspect of my life and wanted me and Pattie to have one more Christmas in our home near all the family and friends that we love. I am thankful to be here and feel more love this season than I normally do. I am a grateful man! But, Lord, can we please get on with it in January? This waiting around is killing me.

Great Weekend!

• Began Friday night watching The Fourth Wise Man. Stars Martin Sheen and even has an appearance by his son, Charlie. Good story, good message, acting was not great, but still I would recommend it.
• Spent Saturday morning working in the yard. Mowed, raked, blew, etc. It looks good. Mowed the yard twice to mulch up the excess leaves.
• Spent the afternoon and early evening putting lights on the house. We didn't expect to have Christmas here this year but now I'm glad we are. Its nice to decorate the house one last time before moving. It looks good.
• Took a break from decorating late afternoon and went to the Holly Springs Christmas Parade. It wasn't as good as last years. It was missing our great float and the Clydsdale team.
• Hated to see the Gators win Sat. night even if my best friend is an avid fan.
  
• Went to His Hands this morning with Jim and Donna. Got to worship with Brian and Jenny. That was nice. They have a great building. Music was great. Had three songs that I hadn't heard before but spoke to me in different ways. One was on the cross, one was on freedom in Christ, the last was on fire. I have actually been thinking about fire a lot lately so this song jumped out at me. Bob needs to learn it.
• Don't worry! I'm not planning to burn down anything anytime soon.
• Went to lunch with Jim and Donna and then the VA hospital to see our friend, Dennis. Keep praying for him.
• Did Christmas shopping after that. Made me miss the Falcons game which isn't all bad since they lost.
• Camille has been very sick so we bought an early Christmas present and took it to her to make her feel better. It was a Santa that sings and dances to "I Want to Move It, Move It" from one of her favorite movies, Madagascar. She loved it.
• The present was actually from my mom and dad. Thanks, mom and dad, for the great gift! She loved it!
• Got home in time to see the Cowboys lose and then watched the Amazing Race finale. In both cases the best team won.
• Decided to grow my beard out. I'm trying to convince my Elementary School kids that I am Santa Claus.
• Love this cold weather!
• I miss preaching.
• I have to sell this house!
• Have a great week!
  

Cheaper Than Gas

A church in our area recently had the following message on their sign, "Try walking with Jesus, it's cheaper than gas." I often disagree with the messages on this particular marquee. Their short, pithy statements targeting travelers often fall short of biblical accuracy and cheapen the message that they are desperately trying to convey. This message, in particular, bothered me because of things that God has already been stirring in my heart and mind. The account of the rich young ruler found in Luke 18 has troubled me a lot over the past couple of years. Until reading The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne, I had never heard anyone preach that Jesus might actually be serious and expect us to sell everything that we have and give to the poor. Why did Jesus require this of this young man and not of others? I know what I have been told: that Jesus knew his heart and that this man was relying on riches and valued them above following God or something close to this explanation. But who of us would have passed this test? I could imagine a seasoned, "mature" follower of Christ selling everything for a Savior they have grown to love but who of us would have done this at the beginning of our relationship with Christ? Would you have chosen to follow Christ if it meant selling everything that you have? Would you have exchanged personal wealth for a personal relationship with Christ? Would you have walked the aisle, prayed the prayer, entered the baptismal pool if it meant giving up everything that you own? But the reality is that following Christ requires such sacrifice. It is true that salvation is free and grace is a gift and righteousness is bestowed but following is costly. Jesus' own words in Luke 14:33 were "any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." What does this mean to you? Does this picture your life in Christ? This was not an isolated statement. Luke records several similar accounts that the other Gospels leave out. Luke 12:33 tells us to "sell our possessions and give to the poor." He also tells of Zacchaeus who, after embracing Christ, gave half of his possessions to the poor and more than compensated for those he had cheated. The first disciples understood this sacrifice also. After the rich, young ruler refuses to sell all, the 12 Disciples point out to Jesus that they had left everything (vocations, homes, family, etc.) to follow Him which prompted a wonderful promise from Jesus. The first converts at Pentecost sold all that they had and had all things common and a strange thing happened - "there were no needy persons among them." But what does Jesus really expect from us? From me? What are we to do with these verses? One solution would be to just read the other 3 Gospels and leave Luke alone. But where is the integrity in that? In Amos 3:10, God says that Israel did "not know how to do right who hoard plunder and loot in their fortresses." Are we guilty of this also, hoarding God's blessing and wealth in our homes while many go without? I don't know how this all plays out in my life let alone in yours but I do know that we ought to learn how to do what is right with what God has given us. We are selling our home and have an opportunity to change things. An opportunity to live on less (I didn't say "without" just "less") and give more. A time to imagine what it would look like to give 50% instead of 10. A chance to accept the risk of caring for the need of others before fulfilling our own wants. Again, I use words such as "opportunity" "imagine" "chance", to show that the time to rethink how I use my wealth is now but what that will look like is still a mystery. I just want my heart to care beyond the end of my driveway. I want my wealth to spill out beyond the walls of my home. I want my faith to cost more than gas.

I'm Back!

• Sorry for taking so long to post. Definitely took the week off.
• Had a great Thanksgiving week that started last Sunday with dinner with all of our kids at Jenny's house.
• Got all of our Christmas up last weekend before leaving for the holiday. It was nice to come home to an already decorated house.
• Finished painting Ben's room last Monday. It definitely needed it. We have some water leak issues in that room. My friend, Justin Dildine, is coming this Thursday to repair or replace our water heater and fix the leaks coming from the bathtubs.
• Left Tuesday for TN. The Sequatchie Valley, just on the other side of Chattanooga, is one of the most beautiful places you will ever see. We never get over coming down the mountain and seeing the valley below.
• Spent Wed. with Pattie's mother. I really enjoyed our visit with her and I'm grateful that she looks healthy and seems to be doing well after a rough Summer. We also stopped in on our way home on Sat.
  
• Thanksgiving Day at Mom and Dad's was great as usual. My mom is a great cook and I enjoy being with my sister, Pam, and her family. We missed Penny and David in Ukraine but got to talk with them on the computer. Their sons, Nathanael and Andy, were with us. Missed my sister, Nancy, and her family in Indianapolis also.
• Could the football games on Thanksgiving Day been any worse?
• When we all get together, we are a game playing family. It's a lot of fun. Andy, Nathanael, Rayanne and I played games one afternoon and sang along to the Carpenter's Christmas album. We should take that act on the road!
• Camille joined us Thursday night and warmed up quickly to her great grandparents especially my Dad. She is too sweet. She was no trouble and we thoroughly enjoyed her being with us.
• Our dog, Sadie, also made the trip and even the cold weather couldn't keep her out of the pond. Camille got a kick out of her jumping in the water.
• It was a little hard coming home on Sat. with Camille, Rayanne and Sadie in the back seat.
• Went to the Pointe Church on Sunday morning. It was a great service and we partook of the Lord's Supper. It was very meaningful to me.
• Visited our friend, Dennis, in the VA Hospital on Sunday afternoon. He is doing better but still in ICU. Keep him in your prayers.
• Can you believe the Falcons won again? You have to love that!
• Back to bus driving Monday morning. The week off was nice but I enjoy my route so it is not a drudgery. It snowed off and on all day but nothing stuck.
• I'll post some more this week but this is enough for now. I have a lot of thoughts going on in my head and I hope to get them down on paper.
  

Weekend Update

• Thanksgiving holiday week is here! That means no school and a trip to Tennessee.
• We leave on Tuesday to see Pattie's mom and my parents in TN. We love this trip and thankful that everyone lives close enough to enjoy the holidays together. We will return on Sat.
  
• We started pulling out our Christmas stuff on Thursday night. We want to be decorated before we leave so we won't have to do it when we return.
• Camille's birthday was Friday and we have celebrated all weekend. She is quite a girl. Her genuine excitement is a joy to see. We kept her on Friday so we had some special things for her but the real party was on Saturday night at Rachele's with friends and family. It was a lot of fun.
• Had breakfast with Bob Saturday morning. Two men eating Deluxe Breakfasts at McDonald's, discussing church, life, family, finances, etc. is a good thing. It was good to share things on my heart as well as hear Bob's thoughts on these issues.
• A Realtor called and wants to show our house to an out of state client coming in for the holidays. His client saw our house on the internet and specifically asked to see it. That's encouraging. Now it has to be ready to show when we leave.
• The weird thing was that the Realtor was Mark Phelps. I used to work in the landscaping business with him back in 1989 -90. Haven't seen him in a long while.
• We are going to The Pointe Church this morning.
• We are having a family Thanksgiving Dinner at Jenny's today. We usually don't do Thanksgiving together. We usually all go see other family in different directions but this year we decided to share it together even though we are all still heading in different directions on Thanksgiving Day. I love my family and am really looking forward to this afternoon. I hope Ben makes it in from college for it.
• We are taking Sadie with us again and will also have Camille from Thursday night until Sunday. Ought to be fun!
  

Sunday update

• Went to Watermarke Church Sunday morning. Watermarke is a "strategic partner" of Northpoint Community Church where Andy Stanley is the Pastor. My daughter, Rachele, and her family attends there and it is also where Joe is working. The unique thing about these partnerships is that Andy Stanley is the Teaching Pastor via video. Live worship band, excellenet children's ministry, great youth ministry, creative elements, up-to-date technology and you get to hear Andy too. Andy is one of my favorite speakers so it was atreat to hear him.
• Rachele led the worship and did a great job. It has been a while since I've heard her sing and it was good to hear her beautiful voice and remember the talent God has given her and to hear her heart as she shared more than just song during the worship.
• It was cool to see the work that Joe does also. And it was easy to see the creative elements that Joe Stag was bringing to their staging.
• Went to lunch with Bob and Monica. We are talking about ministry opportunities that may be available to us while we are waiting to move to Denver.
• Went to an ordination service Sunday night at First Baptist-Canton for Alan Putnam. Alan was in my early youth ministry at Hopewell and became a leader there. His wife, Courtney, was saved through our youth ministry and it is where they met and married. It has been a blessing to see them both mature, earn degrees, and hear of their ministries in Austin , TX. They are also expecting their first child. I am very proud of both of them.
• Everyone is coming over for cake tonight for Pattie's birthday. I love my wife and look forward to celebrating her with family and friends.
  

What I've Been Reading

• Finished re-reading An Unstoppable Force by Erwin McManus. Probably the best book on what church should look like and what a pastor's role is in this modern age that we live in. I think its a must read for any pastor or church planter.
• Just finished The Shack. I thought that this was a great story and would recommend it to anyone. That said, it is not without controversy. You will find many who embrace it wholeheartedly while others claim it is heretical. It is a fiction story packed full of theological thought. It is a fresh look at the Trinity and how God works in this world. You have never seen God portrayed in such a way. I do believe this: God is bigger than the box you have put Him in and the life you are living. This book will put you outside of that box and could make you uncomfortable but that is not always a bad thing. Maybe it's time to let God out of your box and let Him fill in the spaces of your life.
  
• I am currently reading God Wants To Save Christians by Rob Bell. Speaking of the Pharisees, Rob writes "In Jesus' day, people could read, study, and discuss the Scriptures all their lives and still miss its central message." Speaking of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, he says "In Jesus' day, people could follow Him, learn from Him, drop everything to be His disciples, and yet find themselves returning home, thinking Jesus had failed." If that could happen in Jesus' day, it could be happening now in our day. I am convinced that much of mainstream Christianity including evangelical Christianity has embraced an Americanized Gospel that keeps us from being the church God intended us to be. This is another controversial book but it is time for us to become thinking Christians rather than programmed, streamlined, stay in your place and don't rock the boat conformists.
  
• I am just finishing Joshua in my Bible reading. Joshua is a book of obedience, courage, conquest and victory. It shows that with God we are bigger and stronger than the enemy that comes against us. I love chapter 17 where the tribe of Manasseh wants more land but Joshua says that they can clear another part if they need more space. They replied, "The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have iron chariots, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel." But Joshua said to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh-"You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have iron chariots and though they are strong, you can drive them out." We are stronger than what we think if we will just conquer our fear and move out in obedience and faith.
• I am also nearing the end of the Gospel of John. The last teachings of Christ in chapters 13-17 are beautiful, picturesque, poetic, encouraging, inspiring and worth reading over and over again. I love Jesus. This Gospel causes me to fall in love all over again with a Savior who truly loves me.
  

Great Weekend!

We had a great family weekend. Mostly Pattie and I together but Rayanne was in and out of our activities.

• Friday night, we just wanted out of the house so we went to Old Navy to look at winter clothes and Target to see Christmas decorations. It was a lot of fun for not buying anything. We ended up at Dunkin' Donuts eating ice cream and drinking chai lattes.
• Saturday we go up and rode to the mountains. We probably missed the peak color by a few days but it was still beautiful. Went to one of the apple orchards and had apple cider and apple cider donuts. They were good!
• Pattie and I went to the mall and K-mart. We were surprised that they both had Santa and kids were already sitting on their laps and getting pictures made. I'm actually starting to wonder if I could do the Santa gig!
• Sunday at the Pointe was very good. Pattie and I were greeters. It was good to be a volunteer again and get that perspective. Our pastor is doing a series called Supernatural on demons, angels, etc. It has been very good.
• Went to the VA Hospital with Jim Warrington to see our good friend Dennis who had a major surgery. He was doing good and looked better than I expected. Dennis is a good man and a faithful supporter of Axios and my family. We love him.
• Ate at 5 Guys for the first time. That is a great burger!
• Falcons and Dolphins and Colts all won. It was a great football Sunday!
• Heading to the bus now. Everyone have a great week.
  

A Little Perspective, Please!

Has the election left you lost and disheartened? Maybe you need a little perspective. Nothing can shake the foundation of our lives when it is built on Christ. And at that foundation you find these three things no matter what is happening in the world: faith, hope, and love. So take a deep breath and relax and consider these thoughts.

1. Choose faith not fear. It's amazing to me to hear all the fear-based conversations. Yesterday I heard a bus driver say that there will be another civil war if anything happens to Obama. There would be major riots nationwide with looting, burning and killing. I saw a poll on election night that said 17% of voters were terrified to think of Obama winning. Same poll claimed that 23% said the same of McCain. We fear opposing view points. We have mistakenly believed that our political ideology is also God's ideology. We feel threatened when our position is questioned. Erwin McManus wrote, "It is easier to be certain you are right when you have never heard an opposing argument or when you are in the majority position." Fear proves that we are placing our trust, our security, our peace in something or someone other than God. If this election has created fear in you and you feel like our world is falling apart and that a mistake has occurred and that we have not just lost an election but somehow God was also voted down and out of power then read Rom. 13:1-7. Have faith in God. He has established the Obama presidency to work His purposes in the world. We did not necessarily elect Obama but, more accurately, God has placed him in this position for His good purposes. This does not make Obama a saint. Romans 13 was originally written of an oppressive, pagan, Roman Empire and of emperors that believed themselved to be god. God is in control and maybe we all need a "change" and to be shaken out of our comfort zone and place our trust back in God.
2. Choose love not hate. Not only do we dislike opposing viewpoints but we also are afraid of people who are different (race, culture, religion, etc.) than us. I have heard what I can only call "racist" rhettoric although the people speaking would deny being racists. I have heard more jokes that demean the fact that Obama is black in recent days than I have ever heard. And many of these jokes come from people who profess Christ. I sense a fear among well meaning people of Obama's black heritage and Muslim name that mostly flows from a lack of knowledge and misinformation. This is an historic election but the significance can be lost in the attitudes of people who are uncomfortable with this type of progression and freedom. If this world is going to truly "change," which was the main word of the Obama campaign, it will not be because of an election result. Love cannot be legislated. Change will come because love prevails and especially the love of Christ from God's people. According to I John 4:7-18, it is fear that squelches love. We fear losing control and lash out at those whom we feel are stealing it from us. God is moving other races, cultures, religions, worldviews right on to our soil in masses. God is bringing the mission field to us, to our neighborhoods, to our streets. It is no longer enough just to give money and send missionaries. We have to embrace a missionary heart and mindset in order for us to extend love to those around us.
   
3. Choose hope not despair. Despair is for those who cannot see the potential in the world around them or feel powerless to make positive change to create a better world. Neither of theses attitudes should be true of a Christian. Because Christ is alive the possibilities are endless and with the Spirit of God in our hearts the power is already here. I find great hope in the fact that Obama is a believer. I have heard his testimony a couple of times and he seems to grasp what salvation is and is able to articulate it. I have no more reason not to believe his testimony than I would to disbelieve the faith of President Bush. That makes Obama my brother. That means Christ resides in his heart. I have to believe that he too is seeking God's guidance. I have to believe that God can and will speak to his heart and that he hears God's voice. That makes it even more imperative that I follow God's desire as found in 1 Timothy 2:1-8 and pray for our new president. I must support him, not only in prayer but in word and deed. I must not resist his authority but submit to it. This does not mean that I can't disagree with him but my relationship in Christ demands me to live above the fear, hate, and despair that is trapping so many people.
   

Slowing Me Down

Waiting is not a thing that we naturally like to do. We don't choose the longest line to the cashier or the slowest lane of traffic but the shortest and fastest. Since accepting this new call, I have been trying to get in the fast lane to Denver. After all, once God shows you what to do and where to do it, why shouldn't you get started immediately? So in June, we surrendered to the call to Denver and in my mind, I imagined listing my house by the end of July, selling it no later than the end of Sept, moving in Oct, and launching the church at Easter. But, just like in Atlanta traffic, every lane that I have chosen has become the slow lane. Now it looks like that it will be Jan or Feb before we get out of here and our launch date for the church is now being pushed back to Sept 09. But the longer I sit in the slow lane the more comfortable I am with God's timing and allowing His plan to supersede mine. There are things that I can't control and no matter how loudly I rev my engine or how long I blow my horn, it does not move me along any faster. Now, I would rather try to run ahead of God than to lag behind but running with Him on His schedule, at His pace, is the most ideal. So that means I have to keep altering my plans and resubmit them to Him. This includes our Commissioning Service. When we first decided to have this event, I felt that we needed to do it as soon as possible (thinking that we were leaving sooner than later) so Nov 8 was the earliest we could pull it off. Then we tried Nov 15 and it didn't work. Then after returning from Denver and realizing we will be home for the holidays, I didn't sense it was necessary to have it on Nov 22 (plus it wasn't working for Bob and Monica). Now we will put it off til the new year or until we know more definitely when we are going. This service is important to us but I have to let God work His timing into this so please be patient with my seemingly indecisive decisions about this service. I won't name a date in this blog again until invitations are in the mail.

Move Over David Blaine

Joe has finally mastered the art of levitation. This is not trick photography or photoshop. I don't know what they are teaching him at the church he goes to but I guess I had better find out.

Another Denver Update

• Did an amazing drive up Pike's Peak on Wed. I'll post some pictures later but I know they will not do justice to the awesomeness of God and His creation.
• Also stopped in at Focus On The Family. That is worth seeing. They have done a great job with a visitor-friendly atmosphere.
• Went to the 16th Street Mall on wed. night. This is an open mall that spans several blocks on 16th St. No cars allowed. A wide variety of people from the affluent to the homeless. It can break your heart.
• I'm hooking up with Bryan Sederwall from Denver Church this morning. I have followed some of his story and think he is doing a great job. It will be good to meet him in person.
• Went and saw Scum of the Earth Church yesterday. Just had to see it with a name like that.
• Going home tomorrow with mixed emotions. I'm ready to be here but home is still Georgia.

Colorado Update

Got a chance this morning to get on a computer so I thaought I would give a quick update.

• The weather is absolutely amazing and the scenery is incredible. It's colder here in the morning but I think the days have been warmer tahn what Atlanta is experiencing.
• Spent Monday looking at several apartment locations throughout the city that I was told may be coming open soon. All have potential, all would require a different strategy, not all of them are a good fit for us. We were able to get out and walk around the areas and talk to people and just let God speak to us. It was a very special time for Pattie and I.
• Had our interview yesterday. It went great. Tracy Spencer was awesome and you could tell that she has a church planting heart. They are excited about us but she reminded me that the process may be slow. It looks like we will be in Atlanta for the holidays which isn't all bad but if it goes to far into 2009 without the house selling or an opening coming up, I think I will go crazy!
• Went to Columbine High School where they have a wonderful memorial to the students who lost their lives that day. Many of them had strong testimonies of knowing the Lord. There was also a beautiful wall with quotes engraved in stone from students and city leaders. One quote that stuck with me was from a student who said, "There are defining moments in everyone's life but I will not let this define me."
• We are heading to the mountains today. We will probably go to Pike's Peak near Colorado Springs. It will be fun.

Two Things

• Pray for our interview with the Apartment Life Area Director on Tuesday at 10 AM. It's suppose to be a two hour interview. Its been a long time since either of us have done the interview thing but I'm looking forward to it.
• We are changing the date of our Commissioning Service because we were not able to secure a place to meet on the 8th. We are tentatively scheduling it for the 22nd.
  

Flying to Denver

We have been getting ready to fly out early in the morning for Denver. Our flight is at 7:45. We will be returning on Saturday around 9:00 pm. Neither the elementary school or high school routes were happy about me being gone all week. The last time I was out for just a day and one of my High Schoolers got suspended from the bus. I hope after 5 days I still have someone to pick up when I get back.
I found some interesting facts about Denver. Here are a few of them:

• Demographics: The City & County of Denver has a diverse ethnic population including 11.1% African American; 31.7% Hispanic; 2.8% Asian and 1.3% Native American. Metro Denver has an ethnic population of 5% Black; 18% Hispanic; 3% Asian; 1% Native American and 3% multi-racial.
• Highest Educated City: Denver is the most educated city in the U.S. Denver has the greatest percentage of high school and college graduates of any major metropolitan area in the U.S.; 92.1% of the population in the metro area have high school diplomas and 35% have at least a bachelor’s degree, according to the U.S. Census. The national average is 81.7% for high school diplomas and 23% with a college degree.
• Baby Boomer Capital: Denver also is the nation’s baby boomer capital, with the highest percentage of boomers of any major city, according to the 1998 U.S. Census. One third of the city is between age 35 and 54. Including small cities, only two had a higher percentage than Denver -- Santa Fe and Anchorage. Among major cities, percentage of boomers is: Denver 32.8%; Seattle 31.5%; Atlanta 31.4%; Washington 31.4%; Portland OR 31.4%; San Francisco 30.8%.
• Healthy City: Denver is also the “thinnest” city in America, and Colorado is tied as the “thinnest” state with Hawaii. A federal report in late 1996 declared that half of American adults have a weight problem, but Colorado is the exception with less than 20% of Colorado adults being overweight. The active lifestyle in Denver, the great weather, the abundance of recreational opportunities and the high education level are credited for this fact.
• Denver really is a mile high. There's a spot on the west steps of the State Capitol building that is exactly 5,280 feet above sea level.
  

Coincidence?

Often when you are following the Lord, things happen that some would call chance or fate but we know that it is much more purposeful and intentional than that. I received an e-mail from the Area Director of Apartment Life in Denver with whom we will be interviewing on Oct.28. She expressed that our situation was unique and that hey had never "taken steps like this before." She means that no one has ever moved from one city to the next in order to become a CARES Team in that city. And no one has ever used Apartment Life as a starting point of a church plant. I love being unique!

But she also said this: "My husband and I are also church planters. We have planted three churches in Colorado and he is the State Director of Missions for the SBC here. It is wonderful to hear that you have a heartbeat for starting something even in the apartment community. I already know of some people that would jump in and help you in the ministry of the Overlook if that is where God wants you to be!!" How cool is that! Another church planter and someone who is charge of church planting for the state of Colorado. Now this may not be a big deal or it may be a vital connection. We'll have to wait and see. But to see God move unknown people in our path with similar heart and calling is encouraging and exciting.

Sunday Recap

• The Pointe was great this morning. The band is always good. The worship is genuine, the worship leader, Alex, is talented, humble, seems sensitive to the Spirit, and they have all the pieces. They're a complete package.
• They showed a 30 minute movie called Oversold. It's a modern day version of the story of Hosea. Hosea was an Old Testament prophet whom the Lord commanded to marry a prostitute who proved to be unfaithful and eventually needed to be bought out of the sex trafficking industry. This movie is a good parallel and stars a former porn star who was redeemed out of that industry and born into the family of God. It was very moving, music was great, acting was a little amateur but powerful message.
• Bought tickets for Pattie and I to fly to Denver next week (Oct 27-Nov 1). We have an interview scheduled with the Denver area director of Apartment Life on that Tuesday. This is a necessary step in moving to Denver. It would be awesome if a property came open while we were there and that we could go ahead and do a placement interview. The placement interview is the final step and is held with the actual apartment complex. The rest of the week will be spent walking the streets of Denver praying and allowing God to speak to us, direct us and either to confirm or change the vision that I feel He is birthing in me. I can't wait!
• My grandsons are spending the week with us. Jenny and Brian are going to Vegas for a getaway and we get the boys. It will be fun.
• Camille is in Disney World with her Mom and Papa this week. She had a special lunch today with Pooh and Tigger. I would have loved to seen that.
• God is good. I love living this life!
  

Picture Day!

It was a beautiful day for picture taking and we did a lot of it. Joe Stag met with us to get a picture for a prayer card we are doing for our Commissioning Service on Nov. 8. Here are a few of my favorites.

Pirates we be!

Today I handed out pirate eye patches to the kids on my elementary run. I had my eye patch on as they boarded the ship and in my best pirate voice I declared, "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. Welcome to the Black Pearl. Pirates we be today!" Everyone joined the crew and together we practiced saying "Arghh" and "Pirates we be." The other kids boarding the bus next to mine only wish they rode the cool bus. It was a lot of fun. I always said if I wasn't in ministry I would either be a short-order cook at Waffle House or a pirate. Today I lived the dream!

Made My Day!

I was at McDonald's yesterday when an attractive, young lady (late 2o's early 30's) approached me. She said, "Please don't take this the wrong way but has anyone ever told you that you are a very handsome man?" I said, "My wife has but it is very nice of you to say so too. You just made my day!" Sorry there were no other witnesses but it really did happen.

Sunday Update (and Fri, and Mon, and Tues)

• Friday night, we went and heard Joe play at the His Hands Coffee Shop at what they call Friday Night@Blue Light. It was good to hear Joe again. Joe Stag also played and sang with Joe along with their friend, Tyler. Joe's voice continues to mature. He did a great job.
  
• Great service at The Pointe. A timely series planned 6 months ago yet it feels like he designed it at the last minute to go along with these troubled financial times. He used 2 Tim 1:7-14 (esp. verses 7 and 12) as his text and said that in uncertain and troubled times, fear does not have to take over our lives. If the ups and downs of the financial market cause fear or security, our faith is in the wrong thing. No matter what is happening "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is . . ." He is able, He is all powerful, He is love, all knowing, always present, caring, full of grace, HE IS GOD! And the transaction that matters is what I have deposited into His account (my life, my faith, my heart, my family, my finances, etc) because that is where I find real security. Amen!
• The band was awesome and the closing song really spoke to me. I just wish I could remember what it said! It was a Jon Foreman (Switchfoot lead man) tune.
  
• Had Bob and Monica over for supper on Sunday. It was fun. I gave them 4 different timelines. Each timeline began with a different date of actually moving to Denver and a different date for launching the church. It's just nice to have a plan. We also are planning our commissioning service on Nov. 8. Make plans to attend. You will probably be getting an invitation in the mail next week.
  
• What about those Falcons! What a game! I watched the whole thing. We played great the whole game. I couldn't believe Elam missed a short field goal which would have secured the victory. Then I couldn't believe that we lost it with 11 seconds to go. Then I couldn't believe we won it on the last second field goal! It was awesome!
• I had Monday morning coffee with my friend, Jeremy Graves, the pastor of Marietta Vineyard Church. He is always encouraging and very excited about our Denver move. He is praying about partnering with us. I love Jeremy's heart for the world and his love for this area.
• Pattie and I took Rachele and Jenny to Ruby Tuesdays for lunch on Monday to celebrate their birthdays. It was great to spend that time with them. I love my daughters!
• Went to one of the schools Monday afternoon to speak to a principal about the boy who was suspended from my bus. I was hoping to shorten the sentence but it was to no avail. He did appreciate me going to bat for the student though.
• Today I have been overwhelmed with the presence of God. I woke up with a thankful heart. It was my first thought and I automatically began to thank God for everything. I'm thankful that God has called me to Denver to plant a church. There are so many people who do not know what God wants them to do with their lives. I am thankful that I have a house to sell. There are so many people who do not have a home. I'm thankful that Jesus sits on the throne at the right hand of God and that everything has been placed under His feet. There are so many people who are slaves to this world's systems. I am thankful that He is the Lord of my life. Otherwise I would be wandering aimlessly, lost, dependent on my own wisdom, talents, and abilities. These are just a few things that came to my mind.
• This was in contrast to Mon. morning where I woke up at 4:30 am with a sense of panic. That's just to let you know that I am not trying to paint myself as some spiritual giant. I often have to battle to stay above the fray.
• My thankfulness led to praise and praise is a powerful force. It can set you free! It can loosen chains! It can open up doors! Just ask Paul and Silas.
• Keep praying for Pattie's back. This has been a long ordeal. Pray that God will completely renew her.
• I hope to have good news this week!
  

Church News

• Had a good meeting with my new Pastor, Brian Jones. He is very encouraging and supportive of this move to Denver. I know he wants to do more and I hope that maybe he could send a missions team out this Summer to help us out.
• I have a few meetings set up to raise some financial support. Pray that these will go well.
• We are having a Commissioning Service on Nov. 8. All family and friends are invited. Time and place will be announced soon.
• I believe that we will hear from Apartment Life soon. I think we will have to move quickly when the call comes. Keep us in your prayers. Sometimes it feels like we are never getting to Denver and then I almost panic when it feels like it could happen any moment.
  

Bus news

• One of my High School guys was suspended from my bus for the rest of the semester. It really bothers me. It happened while I was at the Launch Conference and a sub-driver was filling in on my route. He was goofing off at the bus stop and I feel like the driver overreacted to the situation and tried to make him sit in front. He reacted by saying many choice words for which he should be suspended but for almost 3 months is way too much. He has not given me any trouble all year. I think many drivers create their own problems.
• The Elementary kids were trying to come up with a good nickname for me this week. I'm all for a good nickname. One suggestion was "Stingray." One little girl wants to call me "Gangsta R." I still like "Turbo" from last year. I might get that tattooed on my right arm.
• Its driving range time and all drivers have to go through the course. I didn't do as good as last year. I did obliterate one cone. It was unrepairable. The judge said he was going to let me take it to Denver as a reminder of my driving skills.
  

Our New Praise Band

Since Joe and Joe are not going to Denver with us, we will need a new Praise Band. Maybe these guys will work.

The Last 5 Books I Have Read

Wide Awake by Erwin McManus. I love books about vision and dreaming big for God. I love to be challenged by the possibilities of doing what you are called to do. No one challenges you better in this way than Erwin McManus. This is a must read book. I highly recommend it.

Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense by N. T. Wright. I really enjoyed this book. I have been drawn lately to apologetic type books - books that would convince outsiders by presenting good arguments for Christianity or refuting opposing views. This book presents Christianity in a positive manner by confirming the reliability of the Scriptures (although you might not agree with him on all points), outlining the history of God's work in this world, upholding the Lordship and deity of Jesus Christ and a wonderful presentation and explanation of the Gospel. I'll give it 4 1/2 stars or a thumbs up or on my own scale of 1-10 (1 being "don't waste your time" and 10 being "buy it now!") I give it a 9.

Wild Goose Chase: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God by Mark Batterson. This is a great book. Don't read it unless you are ready to move, act, do! He claims the Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit - An Geadh Glas - "the Wild Goose." The Wild Goose was unpredictable, had no set pattern, hard to track and hard to tame just like the Holy Spirit. When following the Spirit, you never know where He will take you or where He will lead you. Most of the chapters deal with tearing down excuses for not following Him or reasons why we try to keep Him caged. I particularly liked his chapter on "responsible irresponsibility." The responsible thing is to follow the Spirit but it may look irresponsible to others. This is a 10, 5 stars, thumbs up.

It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It by Craig Groeschel. A good church leadership book but not really anything new. I've read it before in other similar books. However, I liked his passion about every leader being able to get "it" because "it" comes from the Holy Spirit and is available to all who believe and lead. I give it 3 1/2 stars or a 7.

The End of Reason by Ravi Zacharias. I am a huge fan of Ravi but don't waste your time on this. It is a refutation to atheist Sam Harris who wrote a book called Letter to a Christian Nation. Unless you are swayed by Sam Harris' book, this book is unnecessary.

Great Weekend.

• We had Camille for most of the day on Sat. She's awesome! Her new thing is "No way, Captain!"
• Bob and Monica came over for supper Sat night and to talk about Denver. The Launch Conference really lit my fire. I put together a time line of things that need to be done to start our church in March. This is an aggressive time line considering we haven't moved yet and we don't know when we will move. I did hear from Apartment Life and they expect to have 4 openings in downtown Denver this month of which one of them is for us. All 4 complexes are in the heart of Denver and are within a mile or two of Coors Field (baseball,) Bronco Stadium (football,) and the Pepsi Arena (basketball.) We are excited about this news.
• Of course, any time line that you put together has to get approval from the Powers above. In this case, the Lord Jesus Christ has to sign off on it. Unfortunately, most times you don't know if He approved it until the date has come and gone. Nevertheless, I must plan. Its not wrong to plan (I would say it is wrong not to plan. You know the old saying, "Failing to plan is planing to fail.") but it is wrong to assume your plan is also God's plan. You should make your plan and then work your plan but have such a surrendered spirit to allow God to work out His own plan in His own time.
  
• Check out one of the apartments that we may be moving to here.
  
• I have always had Easter as my goal to launch our new Denver church but I would really like to launch at least 4 weeks before Easter. That would give us two days after our launch date that are natural crowd drawers - Easter and Mother's Day. It would also give us nearly 3 months to build momentum before Summer hits. Please make this a matter of prayer. It would be very hard for me to be delayed in such a way that would make it difficult to even launch by Easter. If we don't make it by Easter, it would probably be Sept before we could launch. God will work His plan.
• Cooked a new supper dish on Sat night that was very good. You can find it here.
• All the family got together for Ben's birthday this afternoon. Its always fun to have everyone together.
• The Pointe Church was excellent today. They have a great worship team and they started a new series that they planned 6 months ago on what happens in tough financial times. Talk about God's timing! They also started a second service and I think it went very well.
• Falcons won! That was a great win.
• Cubs are out but I'm liking the Dodgers even though they are a West Coast team.
• I have a lot to do this week about our Denver move. My wheels are spinning!
  

A Good Sign

The last 2 days I have seen gas stations with gas with no lines. Maybe that is a good sign that we are almost out of this ridiculous gas shortage. It has been crazy around here. Most gas stations have been out of gas and those with gas have lines that sometimes would cause you to wait over an hour. My solutions was to get up at 5AM and get gas and that worked well. It changes how you drive and think. When your gas tank was close to 1/2 full you would start thinking that you should get gas. I think this has added to the gas crunch because people who would not normally stop to get gas would stop to top off their tanks out of fear. The big puzzle to me is why it was only happening in Atlanta. Every other city has gas but not Atlanta. It's weird. Hopefully it is over now.

Launch Conference

I went to the Launch Conference today and thoroughly enjoyed it. It inspired me, gave me a new confidence and reminded me of my call. I left there with a new sense of urgency to get going and start over again. I didn't realize how closing Axios had taken a toll on me. I don't really consider Axios a failure. We did some great things and reached some people that wouldn't have been reached. But I didn't succeed either. We are not leaving behind a new church. Everything rises and falls on leadership and so I take the "fall" personally. My confidence has been shaken somewhat. But this conference has lit my fire once again. This renewed confidence does not come from my track record and is not in my abilities and skills but comes from the God who has called me. Without this "call" I would quit, find a new profession, stay in Georgia. The call never ceases. Its in my heart and whispers in my ear. It cannot be laid down for any length of time until it begins to burn once again in my soul. It cannot be ignored without paying a great price. To follow it is also a costly endeavor but it is also a path of blessing. I cannot tell you how I know I am called, I just am. It has been confirmed through His Word, prayer, by other people, by outside circumstances. It is not imagined but real. His call is specific and for me includes the following:

• God has called me to minister to people.
  
• God has called me to preach His Word.
  
• God has called me to plant a church.
• God has called me to Denver.
  
• God has also called my wife and Rayanne to go with me. ( Thank God!)

My heart is on fire tonight. I pray that God moves us quickly.

The Axios Prayer

In my Bible reading, I have been going through the letters of Paul that he wrote to the young churches that he had planted. Today I read the first chapter of 2 Thessalonians and came across the prayer that inspired the name "Axios" in verses 11-12 and was reminded again of how great this prayer is. Here are just some thoughts on that prayer:

With this in mind, - he was just writing about the inevitable return of Jesus where He will exercise judgment on those who do not believe and will glorify Himself in those who believe. Both are motivations to follow the Lord faithfully which should result in the rescue of those who are lost and a life that brings glory to God.

we constantly pray for you, - this was very important to Paul and it caused him to pray.

that our God may count you worthy of his calling, - we were "saved" from something but also"called" to something. We were saved from God's inevitable judgment through Jesus Christ and called to a life of love and good works. Paul prays that we will live up to this calling. There is a lot riding on this.

and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours - that God's power will get behind every good intention and every good idea that we have to fulfill His calling on our lives so that it will amount to something great for His kingdom.

and every act prompted by your faith. - What is your faith prompting you to do? How is it moving you? What do you see yourself accomplishing for God? What action do you need God's power to work through you in order to accomplish? What need is your faith moving you to meet?

We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, - this is how you bring honor to the name of Jesus.

and you in him, - and through this, Jesus will also honor you.

according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. - but it all comes back to the grace and favor of God.

Sunday Recap

• Went to The Pointe Church with Bob, Monica, Jim, Donna, Jamey Boy and Jamie Girl (yes they are married and have the same name!) and their little son, Brody. It is still good to be connected with the Axios family.
• The Pointe has a great praise band and we thoroughly enjoyed the worship songs.
• Brian Jones' best statement: "The early church did so much with so little while the church today does so little with so much."
  
• I am still not sold on meeting in a school. Its just a personal preference. The Pointe, along with many other churches, does a great job in the school. I'm not ruling it our for us but I want to look into other alternatives before jumping in.
• Ate lunch at Zaxby's with everyone. Saw a kindergartener from my bus. Every afternoon when we start leaving the school, I yell to the kids, "Hold on to your diapees, babies, we're moving out!" (This is a quote from the Rugrats Movie) They all yell and scream that they aren't babies but they secretly love me saying it. So this young boy wanted to tell me to hold on to my diaper. I love being a bus driver.
• Watched the Falcons crash and burn. The Broncos also went down. Miami and the Colts did not play. That's good because it was a bad weekend for my teams. Georgia Bulldogs also were humiliated at the hands of Alabama. The only good thing was that the Gators lost. That alone almost makes it a good sports weekend.
• Went to Bob and Monica's last night for supper. We had a great time planning and praying about Denver. We are all getting very excited and anxious to get rolling.
• One of my favorite shows began last night - The Amazing Race - and I missed it!
  

Random thoughts

• Still been working on the house. Ben and I pressure washed the driveway and the sidewalk last weekend. I am amazed at how dirty it was. They look white now.
• I am going to be painting Ben's room today.
• I'm tired of working on the house but feel I need to do everything necessary to sell the house. I thought of Noah who took over 100 years to build the ark. I bet he woke up some mornings and thought the last thing he wanted to do was work on that stupid ark again!
  
• The last couple that looked at our house liked it but wanted a bathroom in the basement.
• We are watching Camile today. Always a joy. We also will be going to my grandson, Jacob's baseball game.
• I've lost about 8 pounds recently. One statement that has helped me was from Pastor Brian at Ewtonville Baptist Church in Dunlap, TN. He told me at camp back in June that "if you want to lose weight at our age, you pretty much have to stay hungry." This line has been stuck in my head and makes my hunger bearable.
  
• Pattie and I cashed in a gift card at Red Lobster last night. It was delicious. Endless shrimp, what a deal. So much for staying hungry.
• A kid on the bus told me that I look like a president of the United States - Benjamin Lincoln.
  
• I go for a physical on Monday.
• Pattie's back is much better. Still not completely healed but better. She starts physical therapy soon.
• Birthdays are coming up. Ben's is on Tuesday, the 30th; Rachele's is Wed., the 1st; Jenny's is 10 days later on the 11th.
  
• Brian Jones, the pastor at The Point Church, is paying my way to a church planting seminar called Launch on this coming Tuesday. Very generous of him and am thankful for his friendship and his kingdom mindedness.
  

ESPN Christianity

I love ESPN. I don't have to spend 2-4 hours watching a game. I can just tune in to ESPN and watch a minutes worth of highlights and get the score and be good to go. It's amazing that they can take a 3 hour game and reduce it down to 60 seconds or less of the best plays. I think we do the same with the Bible and our faith. We like the highlights. We like the best verses. We like the great promises. We love the positive, nice, pleasant, "get rich," "get well" verses of the Bible but pay little attention to what accompanies these verses or the context in which it is given or other verses that might say something different. For instance, we like Philippians 4:19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." But we don't quote 4:12 "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." We love Jeremiah 29:11 but don't want to accept 2 Timothy 3:12. We love this promise but ignore this command. We want this but are not happy when this happens. Are you upset because you feel God didn't come through? Has God disappointed you by not answering a certain prayer or saving you from a certain situation? Maybe you are trying to live in the highlights instead of deepening your knowledge of Him or understanding the whole of Scripture. ESPN doesn't show the sacrifice, discipline, blood, sweat and tears that it takes to make the highlight reel. In order for us to live in the highlights as Christians, we also must be willing to make the sacrifice, accept the discipline, spill our blood, work up a sweat and shed our tears. Cheer up, my brothers! Hang in there, my sisters! Be strong and of good courage! Every trial or difficulty has an end and the reward, the highlight, is for those who don't quit, who persevere to the end. The best highlights are in the bottom of the ninth, after the two-minute warning, the 15th round, the last 10 laps. But you don't get there without playing the rest of the game.

More than one dog in the hunt.

I love NFL football. The first NFL game that I remember watching was in 1971 as a boy of 11. It was the longest game in NFL history and was won by the Miami Dolphins. I instantly became a Dolphin fan which was great timing because they had their perfect season the next year. In 1984, Indianapolis got their own franchise - the Colts. I have faithfully cheered for them since then. In 1986, I moved to Atlanta and added the Falcons to my list. Now, since I am moving to Denver and I must "become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some," the Broncos are my new home team. Woe is me if I was just a Dolphin fan or an Falcon fan. Thankfully the Colts and the Broncos look like they can contend this year. I feel sorry for those die-hard, only one team fans. You ought to be a "one-woman man" but when it comes to football it is not a sin to love more than one team. I always have a dog in the hunt. In baseball, I have one dog (the Braves) which means I lost interest by the All-Star break this year. I will watch the post season but who am I suppose to cheer for? A California team? No way. An East Coast team? Maybe. Hey, wait! I lived in the Chicago area for almost a year. Go Cubs!

High School Reunion

Last Friday, I set off for Indianapolis for my 30 year High School reunion at Heritage Christian School. I was impressed with how the campus has changed and been improved. I was also impressed that my principal, Al Leinbach, was still with the school but in a different capacity. We were State Champions in Soccer in our Senior year and since then they have had several State Championships in other sports. There were 70 in my Senior class and only 15 showed up but we had a great time together. The reunion was from 1:30-4:30 and then we went to O'Charley's for dinner together and hung out until 8:00. It's amazing that after 30 years (the last reunion I attended was 10 year) with no contact with any of them that I feel so connected with them by sharing the common bond of graduating together. I was amazed at their stories of tragedy and triumph and excited to see how God was alive in their hearts. It was a great time. Here are some highlights:

• Our class president, Ed Blackwood, couldn't attend because he is inAustrailia planting churches.
• My friend, Mike Lockwood, couldn't attend but I found out that he also preaches.
• Donna Kindred has an amazing story of their daughter being healed from a rare form of cancer. I don't remember Donna being the most spiritual minded person in HS but God had done some radical things in her life. God was definitely present in her and her husband's lives. She prayed an amazing prayer for us all as we left O'Charley's. Her best line, "If you think I talk a lot now you ought to get me speaking in tongues."
• Doug Wilson also had his own amazing story of overcoming Hodgkin's Disease. He had a year of chemo and radiation where he never got sick or lost his hair. He is now healthy and looks like a Harley dude with ponytail and tattoos. It was a good story and great to see him.
• Anna Toby went through divorce and single motherhood only to find God was everything she needed and eventually a great husband. Her story was beautiful and her tender heart was encouraging.
• Kathy Day and her husband planted a church in Michigan. We hit it off right away as we talked about the difficulty and blessing of church planting. Kathy is definitely a spiritual uplifter. She is great to be around.
• Marshall Best has 6 kids and authored a 700 page book on Bible prophecy called Through the Prophet's Eye. He is sending me a copy but told me it was different and to use what I agree with and throw out the rest.
  
• Steve Barnes came the furthest - Phoenix, AZ. He owns a travel business.
• Jim Acheson was a blessing to be around. Overcoming his polio, he is a great bowler and golfer.
• Anita Kennedy is still sweet as can be.
• Kenny Andrich was there. I have a funny story about him but too long to share here.
• Doug Theiss and his wife headed up the reunion. Thanks again. You did a great job.
• It's always great to see Greg Bowman.
  
• Angie Beagle, Marty Summers, Meg Hassinger, Janet Pryor also attended.
  

Thanks for Praying!

After posting my prayer list yesterday, 2 things happened:

1. We heard from Apartment Life and they expect to have as many as 18 openings in Denver by next month. She also said that we would probably be placed in a downtown Denver complex. She was quick to say that this is not set in stone but looks very likely. We were thrilled.
2. Someone came and looked at our house today. After two weeks of no activity, someone came today after asking you all to pray. We were excited.

Sometimes when you are waiting on God you can get the sense that you are forgotten and that nothing is happening and suddenly God answers and shows that He was at work all the time. I hope to share with you soon some ways that I have been seeking God this week and how He has led me to pray about our situation. Maybe it will help you as you wait for your situation to change. In the mean time, don't stop praying. God has shown us that He is working behind the scenes but we are not there yet. I praise God for this encouragement and can't wait to see how He works it all out. Take the poll on the sidebar about prayer and if you have a chance, leave me a comment about the answer you chose.

6 Ways to Pray for Us

1. Pray for the sell of our home. I have always envisioned and hoped that we would sell our house by the end of September. That always aroused skepticism in others considering the state of the housing market but I believe that God wants us in Denver and I believe that He has a buyer for our house. All authority has been given to Christ which means that He is not bound by housing trends and economic indicators. I yield to His timing and His plan but pray every day that today is the day.
2. Pray that Apartment Life will be accepted by new apartment complexes in Denver. We would like to begin our ministry in Denver with Apartment Life. This organization places Cares Teams in apartment complexes with the purpose of developing community and ministering to the tenants. They have recently met with three companies that expressed a high interest in this amenity. Pray that these new mission fields will be opened in the Denver area.
3. Pray that an opening in Apartment Life will coincide with the selling of our home. Moving to Denver is not contingent on an opening in this ministry but it would be a great financial help and an opportunity for God to place us where He wants us. Otherwise, we have pretty much settled on an apartment complex in Lone Tree.
4. Pray for a job to provide income for our family. We have some friends that will continue to support us as we move to Denver but it will not be enough to sustain us. If the Apartment Life gig works out, I will probably consider school bus driving. An apartment is provide through Apartment Life (or at least at minimal cost) and I believe we could manage under those circumstances. If Apartment Life does not open immediately then I would need a more full time job.
5. Pray that Pattie and Rayanne will adjust to Denver. It's not easy making such a big move. My wife and daughter are very excited about the move and are 100% behind it but it does mean leaving people they love to go to a place where we know only a couple of people. Pray that we will find a church to partner with until our launch date. Getting Rayanne in a youth group and being around other believers will be very helpful.
6. Pray for Denver. Pray that God will prepare the hearts of people to readily accept the Gospel and will partner with us in reaching Denver. I am thankful that Bob and Monica are going with us as our Worship leaders but we will need others to join our team - musicians, children's ministry, sound and video techs, creative set designers, artists, computer expert, nursery, etc.

Your prayers mean a lot to us. Prayer changes things. Prayers empower, encourage, lift, and set us free. Prayer reminds us that we can't do this alone. We need God and you. We will fail by ourselves. Prayer is essential.

Geronimo!

Sorry for the delays in getting this blog going but finally it is here. One of the craziest things I have ever done is jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Having never done it, I hardly slept the night before. I was scared. But I went through with it and it was scary but also awesome, unbelievable, freeing, and inspiring all at the same time. But I would have never jumped if I hadn't been confident that my parachute would open. Sometimes following God feels like jumping out of an airplane. You take a leap of faith even though you have no idea what the outcome is going to be. Its a little scary but you will never experience the thrill unless you take that leap. And you are able to do it because you have confidence in the One who has called you. This move to Denver is a leap of faith. There are a lot of unknowns but the one thing that is known - that God has called us and is with us - enables us to move. "Daring to move" is the next chapter (chapter 6) in the story of my life. I hope you will follow along, interact, share your thoughts and life with me as I share our life with you.