Thanks

Being grateful is a good thing. I believe it is the primary way that we avoid greed, materialism, despair, worry, self-centeredness, and pride to name a few. So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, here are my top 5 things that I am thankful for today.

1. God's provision - He always provides what I need, and that goes way beyond finances. I'm talking emotionally, relationally, etc.

2. My family - I am so blessed to have a beautiful wife and two amazing girls. They are a gift from God. Aside from my nuclear family, I have been able to connect with some extended family lately and it's been a huge blessing. Thanks to technology my cousin and I had a face to face chat via skype the other day - 14 years after the last time we had seen or talked to each other!

3. Community - Moving to NC was at first a lonely experience. God has blessed us with an amazing group of people that we are beginning to do life with here.

4. Encouragers - Not sure what else to call these people, because that's exactly what they are for me. It's an amazing thing to know that people believe in me, and are willing to give financially toward that and to lift us up constantly in prayer.

5. Creation - Wow. I've always loved being outdoors. The trees here, the wildlife, the beauty of lakes and creeks and fields. The garden of Eden must have been something to behold. I feel so connected to God when I'm outside wandering through the wild.

So what about you? What are your top 5?

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Surprised by Hope

During my recent trip to California, I read N.T. Wright's latest book Surprised by Hope. It was a pretty powerful book dealing with death, life after death, and life after life after death. And no, I didn't just repeat myself. Wright is brilliant to say the least. His knowledge of the New Testament is pretty much without equal. Anyway, there are probably a dozen things I could write about from that book but I think I'll limit it to two posts.

Very early in the book, as in page 6, Wright points out what is one of his primary reasons for writing this book: One's view of death and what happens thereafter are critical to how we live life in the present. He spends the better part of the book explaining what he means, but let me try and flesh it out a bit here. If you believe that after death there is nothing - then this life becomes about having all the fun you can, indulging in any and every pleasure you want. If you believe that God exists and will ultimately forgive all people, then once again how one lives in this life is not all that critical. If you believe that after death, God will ultimately destroy all of earth and as a Christian you will be transported to heaven, then what you do on this earth today really isn't all that important. Who cares about being "green" or recycling or any of that. It's all going to be burned up anyway, right? For that matter, what good is it to seek justice or work for the poor or any of that when the physical world, along with all of its problems will one day just go away? Wright suggests a different option however. He suggests that the biblical model is that heaven will one day come to earth and God's kingdom will ultimately reign here in this place. If that's the case, then our lives here matter a great deal. For Wright, life in the kingdom here and now is about making the reign of Christ a reality here in the present. It's doing and being the answer to the prayer "Your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven." If this is ultimately God's intent, then our lives become about partnering with him in that endeavor.

The hope of the gospel isn't just a future state in some distant place. The gospel is hopeful now, here, in this place.

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Speechless

Sometimes there just aren't any words to say...

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Home

I flew to CA last week and just got back here again last night. I lived in the same city for pretty much my whole life until moving here to Durham just three months ago. So to go back and visit was kind of a weird experience. I was a little worried about going to be honest. I was worried about being conflicted. Moving across the country wasn't an easy thing to do. Now that we're here, I love it and consider this place home. But for thirty years before that I called my little city of Yucaipa home. I had a great time in CA connecting with family and friends that I miss so much. But after a couple of days - I longed for home. And home has changed. So it was kind of weird being in the place I called home for so long, but not feeling at home. I thank God that in the physical move of houses and stuff, he moved my heart as well. My heart is in Durham. I long for this city to be the place that God intended it to be. I long for resurrection, for hope, and for renewal.

I know that some of you out there have experienced moving. Some of you have lived all over the place. What would you call home?

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Meet the Family

Tonight was an incredible night for Kimi and I. After three years of praying and dreaming about church planting and forming new communities, tonight we had a house full of people who desire the same things. In the picture are 21 of us, kids included, who dream of doing life together in meaningful ways. I can't express in words what it's like to begin to see in reality some of the things that God has been putting in my heart for so long now. Thanks to all of you who are praying and participating with us.

If you live in Durham and are seeking a community to share with and do life together, please let me know! We'd love to grow this group and create more communities just like it as well.

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Church Planting Update

This has been and will be a big week for us as a church plant. A week ago we sent out our monthly newsletter to keep everyone updated on what has been happening. In that newsletter we made people aware that we are still hoping to add around $600 per month in monthly support. Yesterday I got a look at our most recent support records and I was thrilled to see we have added $550 per month in support. Wow! So cool. This extra support is really going to help us as we turn the new year and begin forming our launch team. With that said, we will continue to reevaluate the financial situation for Story Church as we go and make adjustments as they are needed. But a big thank you to all of you out there who support us both financially and prayerfully!

The really big news though is that this weekend will mark the very first home group that we will have. I'm really excited about it and I feel so blessed that we have met so many great people so fast. We've invited 16 adults who come with around 10 kids. We'll be having a meal together as well as talking about the future and direction of this group. Pray for us in this exciting step toward what God has called us to do.

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Vote

Well, I just voted in what is probably the most significant election ever. I realize they pretty much say that every single time there's an election. But, it is the first time that an African American man is up for president, and a woman is on the ticket as well. No matter how things end up, it will be historical. I must say that living in the south has given me a completely different perspective on just how historical this really is. So anyway, make sure you get out and vote. You want to be able to tell your kids you were a part of this historical day.

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Pray

Here's a great idea that is long overdue. Check out what Carlos Whitaker is doing through his blog. Let's jump on board with this and pray like crazy over the next couple of days.

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