Taking a Break

I've been away from the blog lately. I've been away from twitter, facebook, and just about everything else too - including my "work" of starting a new church. And you know what? I'm not sorry for it. Instead I've been hanging out with friends that came to visit. Last week six former students and another friend flew in to spend a week with us here in Durham. It was so good just to hang out with them. I laughed a lot. I don't think I've been laughing much lately. Now they are gone, but by mom flew in and so did my cousin. My cousin and I are leaving today to drive up to Virginia to meet another cousin. The three of us are going to Baltimore for...

Read More

Art that speaks

My five year old daughter taught me a huge lesson the other day. She was busily coloring on a piece of paper. After she was done, she folded it up neatly and handed it to me. When I unfolded it, I saw a picture of a beach setting. I thanked her for the beautiful drawing and she went back to coloring. Only this time, she wasn't taking her time at all. She started scribbling on the paper with multiple colors. "What are you doing?" I asked. Her answer gave me huge insight. She said "This one is for Joy, this is how she colors." You see, Joy is 18 months old. Hannah is right, when Joy colors she simply puts marker to paper wherever it lands and lets...

Read More

One

One year ago today, I was on I-40 somewhere in the middle of the United States. I had just left the only place I'd ever called home in Yucaipa, CA. I had left the only ministry I'd ever known. I left my extended family, my friends, my security, my paycheck, much of my stuff. Ahead of me there were many more miles on my way to Durham, NC. There was also a new life waiting for me, a new adventure, a new ministry, new friends, new neighbors, new purpose, new challenges. As I sat with the Story Church launch team on Saturday night in my house, I was blown away by all that has happened over the last year. What began as a vision God gave me and my...

Read More