Shovels

Shoveled another 6-10 inches of snow today. While I was out, one of our neighbors was out doing the same so I stopped down when I finished and asked him if he needed any help. We must have talked for 20 minutes out there in the freezing cold. There may be a few of us playing poker tonight so I invited him over, he said he had a couple things going on today so we'll see. Good stuff...

Title-less post

We've had a pretty busy couple of weeks...great times of being a family, living life with those around us...

To the casual observer it may not look like much more than a regular old mundane, boring, meaningless life...but lately I have been challenged again to see the kingdom in all of these happenings. Coversations with friends and strangers, favors being done, help being given, love being shown...if I can only keep my focus on the kingdom potential of each of the situations I might not find myself so frustrated by so many things that go on around me.

I love my life...my family...my friends...

Lord keep me focused on you and your kingdom

community is everywhere

We just spent a few ours this weekend at the church building for a board retreat, but it was cut short due to the 6 inches of snow that got dumped on us Friday night.

Julie George shared some information she learned from a conference she had been able to attend a couple of months ago.
Making Room For Life by Ron Frazee(I think that was the book's title and author)
I was amazed at the amount of talk there was of community. Not just "do another program" or a "how to try and build community amongst your small groups" type of thing. It was really the kind of stuff Sara and I have found ourselves attracted to and wrapped up in. I'm talking about radical, countercultural, loving your neighbors, sharing everything you are and have with those around you type of living. It was incredible to hear those things being articulated, probably for the first time for most people there, in a clear and concise way.

Sara and I just kept looking at each other and smiling in disbelief that we were actually hearing what we were hearing. Someone actually asked Sara afterward, "so...have you guys already read this book or something?" She and her husband come on Monday nights...they have really enjoyed this small community that has been forming.

As we and the rest of the board sat and shared from our hearts what the Holy Spirit has been doing in our lives, I was encouraged that things seem to be moving in the direction of truely wanting and longing for authentic community and "being the church" and away from "doing church."

I am hearing Scott and other leaders in this local body say and do things that I didn't think would ever be done or said. I know for a fact that God has kept Sara and I here for a purpose...and it is becoming more and more clear that this ship might actually be turning around. It takes time and we are only at the beginning of this cultural shift, but it is coming...slowly but surely... Well...I better help get things ready for everyone that's coming over tonight. I don't know where things are going, but it is obvious that things are going somewhere...

Snow day(s)

This is the third day in a row of being off school with the last batch of snow and ice we got. I didn't think we were going to have any delay at all today, things looked pretty good out there yesterday afternoon so I was pleasently surprised to see the TV screen this morning. Although now we only have one more clamity day before we have to start making them up.

Now that I've got some time on my hands I'm going to catch up a little on blogging...here goes...

I have been thinking a lot about the Tsunami victims and the people world wide that die every day of hunger. Eric posted about it recently and it just left me feeling a little embarrassed about how much we give away. We could be giving so much more away to try to "redistribute" the wealth we have been so fortunate to have. I used some ABC footage last week to make a video with the song "If We are the Body" by Casting Crowns and I must say movie maker is a gem of a program...it could make a monkey look like a genius. Every time I watched it, I got this pit in my stomach about the devistation not only there but around the world and how little I am doing about it.
I was talking to Scott the other day and I am really seeing the difficulty of living a life sold out to the kingdom of God while we are so filthy rich. I understand why Jesus said it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom. It is a constant battle of making sure I don't depend on our wealth for comfort, security, and a sense of importance. I fail at it often, but changes are taking place and I guess being constantly aware of it is half the battle.

Speaking of money...I bought an epiphone les paul last week with my "Christmas" money. I am feeling a little guilty about that now. I hope it wasn't a stupid move, but when we play gigs outside of church it is nice to have something a little more "beefy" for some of the stuff we play.
Also bought a 500 chip set of clay poker chips...the real deal, 11.5 gram chips...I am planning on starting some kind of bi-weekly poker night with a few guys and hopefully carrying that over to the neighborhood. I was thinking about it over break and came to the conclusion that $5 every two weeks is worth being able to connect with my neighbors. Some people have problems with that...I say I'd rather spend $5 playing poker with a bunch of guys and forming relationships with them then spend $20 out playing golf just to get frustrated...$5 of playing poker will do more for the kingdom than $10 to go sit in a movie theater in silence for 2hrs...I've obviously thought about this alot the past few weeks/months...

Monday nights are feeling more and more like family as we continue. We took a week off after Christmas and I missed it more than I thought I would. This thing is growing on its own and will probably be taking us places we didn't think we'd be going.

Last night one of our neighbors stopped over and asked about us signing a petition for getting city water out here at some point in the future. I mentioned to him about the poker night and that we'd also like to have them over for dinner soon and he seemed receptive to that so we'll see. Opportunities seem to be coming around more than ever now.

There is a woman I work with that shared with me about her baby daughter and how they thought there were some kind of heart issues they were having checked out. I told her we would be praying for her and her daughter and she seemed to appreciate that. It turns out that all the tests came back clear and she is just fine, Praise God. This lead to some more conversation about church and things of that nature. She goes to the unitarian church here in BG and loves it. She asked me though, about our church and if we had anything on Wednedsays because she was hoping to have something to supplement the unitarian thing during the week. I don't know what will develop here, I just hope that Sara and I can become friends with this family and be able to show them the love of Christ in that friendship.

Lord...thank You for Your patience with us.
continue to challenge us in pouring ouselves out for those around us that You love so much.
open our eyes to the needs You've placed us here to meet and thank You for allowing us to play this role you've called us to in this Epic tale You are telling...may we do it with humble hearts