first way meeting

i know this blog is a very late in coming, but better late than never.

our first meeting as a church was amazing. if one word could describe it, it would be FUN. i really think everyone had a good time. if this is an indicator of how things will go, which i believe it is, we are going to have a great family coming together celebrate Jesus, and make an impact in people's lives.

amy and i are convinced that every person there was a gift from the Lord.

the Father is just so faithful to give insight and direction. things that we needed to make certain rooms complete came through cool ideas from different people with items that were already in the building. God knew it all along, but we got to discover it, which is always fun.

october 11th is our next service, and it's going to be better. very excited about it.

the best part of it all, is the people that make the church. different views, different ideas, different personalities, but we came together in unity.

that is awesome.

set-up

well, our first set-up is behind us! it was a great learning experience, and everyone was awesome. it took about 5 hours to finish, but it was great.

How may I serve you?

We always hear this at restaurants, but when is the last time you heard it at a church gathering, or something like it? Hopefully it wasn't that long ago, because that is what the Body of Christ should be, a "serving portal"!

In a world so focused on itself, which it has always has been,the church should stand out as a place where you can be served and should be serving. Just think, everyone coming to a place and everyone receiving something because everyone is serving in some capacity. After all, Jesus said "I didn't come to be served, but to be a servant", and in his day and age that was quite a statement. He was a rabbi, and most of his contemporaries had lost the focus of why they were rabbis (or teachers). They were supposed to be leading in the serving, but they turned inward and wanted to be served, and held their status over people's heads for selfish reasons.

That was totally backwards, they were supposed to be the example of ultimate service. Serving doesn't just mean waiting on someone at a dinner table, but it's a call of the heart for people. It is a deep desire to "be of service" to others. Hold the door open for someone, pick up a piece of trash, and yes serve others in the local church.

Keep in mind though, this doesn't come naturally, it comes forcefully! That is, you forcing yourself out of your comfort zone. At the same time, it becomes addictive because it satisfies like nothing else.

simple

i have realized that life has become complicated! i know, amazing discovery huh? but its not my life that seems complex, but the life of the church, or what the church should be.

as amy and i reach towards starting The Way, i have had the opportunity to complicate every part of it. i guess by nature i am a detail person, and sometimes that's good, sometimes not so much. in the calling amy and i are on... not so much!

People! bottom line, it's about people, and getting them in partnership with Love so they can discover true life.

that's simple isn't it?

discover love, family, and life!

first time for everything

Well, I guess it's about time! I've never blogged before on something like this. It's pretty cool I guess, but I have noticed that people sure put a lot of info about themselves out on these things.

I mean once it's out, it's out! No turning back. Even if you go back and delete it, someone else could have already got it. Let's keep some things to ourselves, not everything has to be out there. Keep some things sacred, and don't compromise your soul. I may be old fashioned, but I don't want everyone to know about the latest trial in my life. Nor do I want to know about everyone else's latest drama!

Not everything is for public consumption!

Is this even what a blog is? I'm not so sure.

Man, I sound like a dad!