Ready for a New Season...

I am ready for somethings to change. Wearing the constant hats of Dad, Husband, and Pastor while trying to work two jobs and care for my kids is insane! I've never been afraid of hard work. In a weird way I've often sought after it, being drawn to the challenges. But despite my best efforts it just seems like the wheels are spinning with out producing forward motion.

More and more, autumn is becoming my favorite season. In a desert where our seasons are nice, nice, nice, and extremely hot!... autumn is the first relief from extremely hot. I am looking forward to this autumn as a season of change once again. Leah will be finishing school. I don't think either of us knew what a huge impact this would have on the rest of our lives. We are both older and adding one more thing has had a much bigger effect than it used to. Regardless, Leah has learned a lot, including recession resistant marketable skills. Come the fall she should have more flexibility with her schedule, a means of income, and greater capacity to run our house the way she'd like to.

We are going to be be placed as a CARES team with apartment life christian ministries. We are already approved and just waiting for the where question to be answered. We will serve like chaplains / activity directors for an apartment complex, and receive severely discounted rent in exchange. Moving into an apartment seems backwards, but I am convinced the American dream of owning a home and a dog is overrated. I am also really looking forward to this opportunity to reach the un churched and demonstrate the love of Jesus in an apartment community. The reduction in rent may allow me to cut back on my other work hours and/or allow us to get ahead a little bit on the debt and bills front. The time I spend as a CARES team will overlap some with what I do for the church, and those two roles should really compliment each other. I also recieved a call from the area director this week to talk about a certain apartment possibility...in the same neighborhood we live in right now. If this works out, it would mean very little adjustment for our kids as far as friends and school and also for our daily commutes.

Olivia is going to start kindergarden. Both her and Isaac will be in school. We just need to come up with a plan for Abi and I will have a real plan to get sleep. I have found watching three kids and sleeping is impossible. Inevitably one will not happen. All this to say... I am hopeful for what's a head.

Right now we are all okay. I am thankful for the various ways God has provided for us, and I don't want to miss all the oppurtunities that exist here and now. I'm just wondering how long this will last.

Misconceptions...

Moving to a growing area would be an easy place to plant a church.
I never thought this would be easy but articles like this make me think it's hard times for folks here, and it probably won't get better any time soon.

$3.oo is an outrageous price for gas.
It's sick that I would be willing to hurt someone to pay this "little" again. I never would of imagined a national average over $4. This plus the credit crunch partly caused by the mortage crisis, have made it a little bit easier to "walk by faith, not by sight". I don't have a choice.

It's a dry heat.
Where I live it's Hot. I left for the airport Saturday morning at 1:30am. It was 90 degrees outside... AT 1:30AM! To make it worse the A/C's not working at our house. It's supposed to be 113 today. Thank God for property management. I hope they get it working before homegroup tonight.

I've never been one to cry "attack of the enemy, attack of the enemy". And I always thought there was some sadistic oddness to the idea that "we must be doing something right, because look at all the devil is doing to thwart us" (Where does that word come from? thwart?). But lately, I've been identifying with those thoughts. Also, realizing this adventure is really about trusting Jesus. And still feeling extremely priveledged to answer his call, and to taste, even in a small dose, the danger of truley following him. This church planting thing... it's the wildest ride I've ever been on.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY everyone. Remember it's the Lord's Day.

Stage 4

I feel like I'm trying to figure out who I am again. I've lived in four states... Missouri (2 years), Kansas (8 years), California (21 years), and now Arizona (3 months).

I only ever had one real girlfriend. We were single, then dating, then married, now married with children. I know I'm building this theme of fours, but I feel like were at this next step where we are done making babies, it's different.

I was a volunteer youth pastor, part time paid youth pastor, full time paid associate/ youth pastor (that really was my official title. Is there a slash in your title?) And now full time but only paid part time church planter.

I worked at El Pollo Loco, for a chiropractor, for UPS, for the church, and now for UPS again.

I graduated from High school, Community College, Bible College, and am now looking at a promo pack from Phoenix Seminary wondering why someday couldn't be tomorrow. Time and Money.

When I first started driving I shared a Daihatsu Charade with my pops. The first car I ever called mine was a 1989 Mitsubishi truck (which I also shared with pops for awhile) I inherited Grandpa's slightly older Toyota truck, and then bought my Dad's Ford Ranger (we have shared alot of cars). My wife drove a KIA and when that and the truck both gave up, we bought our van... The 2002 Ford Windstar, complete with monthly payments and most recently, a broken transmission.

I catch myself remembering the way things used to be. I find myself just wanting to get away with a book. I occasionly doubt. I try not to let fear run my life. I am hopeful for tomorrow.