We're back and have NO KIDS

Dawn and I returned home last night from visiting my parents and sister in Mississippi. It was a good trip but it was a long 14 hours. I got to go fishing a few times there, but didn't really catch much. I think the heat was too much for the fish to bite. We hit the mid 90's every day. We've both returned with head colds that we got down there from who knows where and Reagan and Connor are spending the next couple of weeks with my mom and dad. They really enjoy spending time with my parents as they are good at spoiling them. I'm extremely thankful that Reagan and Connor get the opportunity to know them. Grandparents are truly a blessing from God!

On another note, I was offerered a position down there by my parent's pastor. I was pretty much given cart blanche to do whatever I felt like God wanted me to do and they would give me a salary. It sounds good, but I'm gonna spend some time praying about it for a while. If I'm honest, I don't really feel led there at this time, but who knows maybe I will soon.

I did discover while there that once again people are not really understanding what it is we are going through or doing. Just so you know, we are not mad at the church or are we hurt by it. We just feel like God is directing us into new waters, so to speak. He is shaping us for what He has planned and we are trying to be obedient to that call. Continue to pray for us as we will continue to pray for you during this journey. I am excited that some of you are getting more excited about what it is that God is calling you to. Continue to seek him and he will be faithful.

Blessings!

REVOLUTIONARY?

It's late, so I might ramble a little as I write this, but hopefully I will communicate what I'm trying to say in tonight's post. Here goes. I was having a discussion the other day with Dawn and we were talking about the "church" and what it's really all about. Now, if you haven't been in our discussions in the past then you might get caught off guard with some of this. We were talking about how much the church in today's society looks very much like the church during Christ's time on earth. It seems that much of what is happening in church is the result of what has always been done and not necessarily of what needs to be done. Now, don't get me wrong here, there are some God-fearing followers of Jesus in the church, but as we have considered attending other churches in our area we have realized that they are all the same. Yeah, they may have some different types of music or they may have skits or dancers or a different "flavor" but really their offering the same food. They worship through song, they pray once or twice, they take up an offering and then someone preaches. The people leave and they come back to do it all again maybe on Wednesday or again on Sunday. It's just following the rules and avoiding the "bad" that's what christianity seems to limited itself too. And you know what? That's sad. I'm sure that God can't be happy with that. Whatever happened to the church being people instead of a place we go? When did we get to the place that we stopped knowing how to minister to people who didn't come inside our buildings? When did we stop going out and being among the people and ministering to them on their turf? I don't know when it happened, but it stopped long before I was born and unfortunately, I was taught to do the right program and the people will come to us. Sorry, wrong answer, but that is really the mindset of many who call themselves christians in North America. I really think that we are heading toward another shift in how we "do" church in our country. I think there will be someone like Luther who will once again begin a new revolution and shake up the church. Maybe he or she is already standing out in the desert leading the path, maybe it will be more than one, but I believe it will soon happen. A realization that I've had is that even our prayer life and scripture reading are a result of this type of programming mindset that we've all been taught to follow. Both are just one of the steps that we must add in the mix if we want it to be "successful". We even have charity prayers in church once or twice per week. We've lost the understanding that prayer is vital to who we are in Christ. It's more of a thing we check off our list each day rather than the thing we depend upon to make it through the day. And, not just to make it through, but to be able to hear and do what God is calling us to do on a moment by moment basis. I can't say I've ever really experienced that, but I've read about it in the Bible. How else would the Apostles be able to know when and who to heal? How could they even have that kind of belief or faith if they didn't trust that God was leading them in that moment? I'm rambling like I said I would, sorry. The church of Christ was supposed to be the body of Christ. It's supposed to be an organism not an organization. It's supposed to move and stretch, reach out and pull close. It's supposed to be more than a place to gather, rather it's supposed to be Christ to a world who is desperately seeking something or someone that will save them. I've been asking myfelf lately, What's it going to take to shake the church up again? Who's going to be brave enough to step out and fight for what we're supposed to be doing? Who's going to have the guts to step outside of the four walls of their church building and instead of inviting someone to church will become the church to someone who needs Jesus? I'm praying that I am. I'm praying that I will find myself going to do that. But, truthfully, it can't be done alone. It can only happen when we all begin to get to the place that we are truly wanting more from our experience with God than routine and security. We've retreated within our four walls because they are safe, but unfortuneately, they are dull and lack life. Jesus, on the other hand, knew that the life that he promised us was among the people. That's were the party was, that's where the challenges were, that's when the miracles happened. So, I guess my question to you the reader of this long post is: Are any of you ready to step out of the building and get into the Body? Are you willing to join me and more importantly Christ in this? My prayer for you is that you are.
May you consider all that God is offering you today.
Blessings.

New Exciting Things

I am excited to post this week as I have been watching God work in tremendous ways in and through our lives. I get the honor of presiding over another couple who were in my youth group who are getting married today. They are a sweet couple that I have been blessed to have participated in their lives over the past 6 years. I have been blessed to see how God has been working in Ben and Lori's life in the past few months. It's great to know that God is in control. As for news around here, our neice has decided to move back home with her mom. I am very greatful that she has, according to her, thought through some of the issues she had and is trying to work them out with her parents. As for us, we're doing great1 for a guy who is unemployed, I seem to have a job land in my lap almost weekly and have rarely had a week since I resigned that I didn't get some sort of paycheck. We have been able to see how God is directing our path closer and closer to our ministry goals and are excited about what He has planned for us.
On another note I bet you can't guess who's turning 36 this weekend. Ok, I'll give you a hint. She's my wife, and the mother of my children. No...not her. It's Dawn you silly! If you get a chance drop her a note and tell her Happy Birthday on June 4th. On top of all that good stuff, out of the blue yesterday, someone put a contract on the house that I am selling and should close at the end of the month.
Well, for all of you of whom I haven't posted on your blogs lately, Ihaven't forgotten you, in fact I have been reading your stuff, but just haven't spent the time to write. I am praying for you and am excited that many of you are now done for the year with school and are finding jobs and ministries that you can be involved in this year. May God bless you all.