From Concrete to Dust

The last two weeks have been defining moments for me this year, oddly enough with the same God inspired result.  I probably couldn't have been in two of the most different places in the world in back to back weeks.  

The first week, we flew to Chi-Town (my favorite city) for the biggest Creative Arts Conferences in the country.  We had a great time, it was refreshing, relaxing, and a time of renewal for our team.  However we didn't walk out of there with any life changing concepts. At first I was very frustrated, because I had all of these preconceived ideas on what we would take home, and how it would change the way we did church.

 Could it be that a church of 6 or 700 in a country town create services like that of churches that are 10 times our size.  I think the answer is yes...  Maybe not on the same production level, but with the same innovative creative concepts.

What I learned is that we were doing stuff right.  We are in a good place. We are in a place where God wants us to be:  We've got to keep pushing to get better, take chances, fall down and get back up! 

 But in the end, BE SATISFIED and ENJOY WHERE YOU ARE!  

A lot of times, that's hard for me.

After Chi-town we turn right around and make the drive to Mexico.  What a journey!  

For the first times in my life, I experienced the way the rest of the world lives.  With my own eyes I watched and eight year old girl with a stick in hand dig through piles and piles of trash in a land fill to find food and something for shelter.  It turns out that's what she does all day with the rest of her family for life and income. 

I took this picture one night before our VBS just a a simple reminder to all of us to pray for these people! I can't wait to see what God does as we continue to partner with these cities.

My take home from Mexico:  Never take your life for granted.  Enjoy where you are at!

Enjoy your home. Enjoy your family, Enjoy your friends.  For we are in a good place.

God takes me across the country in two totally different economic stratospheres just to say: 

Enjoy, don't take where you are and what it is given to you for granted because one day it can all change.

Seems simple.. huh, but sometimes it's so easy to forget how good we have it. 

Man.. it's good to be home.

 

Leaving Yesterday...

(I Stole that title from a band I once knew.)

I took this picture yesterday on the way to the water park that we rented out.  Yesterday in all of it's chaos was incredible.  We had over 750 in worship and 115 in our Hispanic service... It was a good day with lots of energy. Any time you let a band all under the age of 11 lead worship, there is energy, no matter what they sound like..  I say all that to say I'm thankful to be at this place in my journey together with these people.  It's taken some weird twist to get here, but I'm glad I'm here....

That picture reminds me of the thousands of churches and people around the country that are always looking in the rear view thinking back to the "good old days."  (Sometimes I'm one of them.)

 What were the good old days ? I mean... really? 

Do you even remember them? 

Did you even consider them good days?

I'm glad we are at a place, where we can focus on the big picture.  The one in front of us, the future. 

It's time we quit looking in the past, and start remembering the past is the past for a reason.  

It's time to forgive, forget and celebrate what you've learned.  It's time to move on.. together..

These are the days to step out, trust, love, support, and enjoy where we are going together.

It's time to quit looking back in the rear view, and starting looking ahead..

It's time to do something big.. It's time to dream..  

Let's leave yesterday... shall we?

Ecclesiastes 7: 8

The Black Jelly Bean

As I was sitting at the hospital today, waiting for the boss to get his shoes shined (on my recommendation.)  We met a man name "Dr. Shoe"  As I sat there and watched the man, I was somehow reminded of the black jelly bean.  Let's be honest, no one likes the black jelly bean, they are different, lack color and taste horrible. The black jelly bean is the outcast of the family.  No one wants to associate with it.  In fact, many people will go through bags just to pick them out to throw them away. 

I'm not for sure, why Dr. Shoe reminded me of this.  Perhaps, because he was a little different, extremely hard to understand and may have once in his lifetime been the outcast.

But the man had a passion for shoes, he had a passion for his job, and he had a passion for people.  

I'm thankful that God creates those who are different, I am thankful that God uses a man who shines shoes to remind me that there are those in my life who are the black jelly bean that I need to love on, extend a hand of encouragement to and to pray for.

If we were honest, we've all been the black jelly bean one time or another in our life.  During those times, we look for love, acceptance, and a good hug.  

Who is the black jelly bean in your life?  Don't know of someone?

Perhaps we never notice them because we look over them. 

Perhaps we never notice because we aren't looking.  

I think there is something when Jesus says love your neighbor as yourself.  It's easy to love those who we have a lot in common with, fit into your crowd, and aren't an embarrassment to be around.

Perhaps, to many times, we are Christ followers have said this to the black jelly beans.

It isn't easy to love the black jelly bean, but Christ does just as much as You and I, and he calls us to do the same!