Leslie and I leave tomorrow for Assessment. This is our first big hurdle to planting a church. We meet with a team of people who will "assess" our ability to successfully plant. We are not worried about it at all, but really seek to hear God's voice speaking to us this week as we discover more about ourselves and about this process that we are beginning.
Thank you for your prayers.
Saturday, October 30, 2004
One of the things I love about Seattle
I went to Starbucks, which I often do with the rest of this newfound culture that I live within. There, sitting by myself with my journal, I began eavsedropping on conversations around me. The table ahead of me, four Russians (you can pick that language out instantly). The table behind me, an older Cambodian couple (I did not know this until the following conversation took place.) A white man approached the Cambodian couple and began a conversation as if among old friends. He is French and had once lived in Cambodia and was sharing with them all of the things that he loved about their country.
At the playground in downtown Bellevue this morning, it was like a who's who of nations as kids of all colors, shapes and sizes played together. There were Europeans, Asians, Americans and African-Americans all playing as if the world were right. And it was in that place.
At the playground in downtown Bellevue this morning, it was like a who's who of nations as kids of all colors, shapes and sizes played together. There were Europeans, Asians, Americans and African-Americans all playing as if the world were right. And it was in that place.
Monday, October 18, 2004
Sunday, October 17, 2004
Saturday, October 16, 2004
Decisions, Decisions
My brother-in-law offered me tickets to the Huskies - Beavers game for today. It happened to be at the same time that my beloved Sun Devils played the #1 ranked team in the nation - the USC Trojans. Decision - stay at home camped in front of the TV or spend time with my son Joshua at a football game that I could care less about. Turns out I made a GREAT decision. Josh and I went to the game together and had a blast - with five boys one on one time is hard to come by. As for the ASU game, let's just say that it would have been a long and depressing afternoon at home camped in front of the TV.
Thursday, October 14, 2004
A New Era
I recently read a quote by Henry David Thoreau which says, "How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading in a book!"
There were obviously more elements that played into my life than the reading of one book, however, there is one book that I give more credit than others. I read Erwin McManus' book, "Seizing your Divine Moment" at a time that I was eagerly seeking God, but I was looking for some easy pre-defined (by me) answers. I wanted certainty.
Isn't that ironic. I want to live by faith, but I want certainty. Faith implies a certainty in God's presence in our lives, but it doesn't remove uncertainty from life. It still requires the unseen or there is no need for faith.
A quote: "But don't look for God to fill in all the blanks. Don't wait for Him to remove all the uncertainty. Realize He may actually increase the uncertainty and leverage all the odds against you, just so that you will know in the end that it wasn't your gifts but His power through your gifts that fulfilled His purpose in your life."
There were obviously more elements that played into my life than the reading of one book, however, there is one book that I give more credit than others. I read Erwin McManus' book, "Seizing your Divine Moment" at a time that I was eagerly seeking God, but I was looking for some easy pre-defined (by me) answers. I wanted certainty.
Isn't that ironic. I want to live by faith, but I want certainty. Faith implies a certainty in God's presence in our lives, but it doesn't remove uncertainty from life. It still requires the unseen or there is no need for faith.
A quote: "But don't look for God to fill in all the blanks. Don't wait for Him to remove all the uncertainty. Realize He may actually increase the uncertainty and leverage all the odds against you, just so that you will know in the end that it wasn't your gifts but His power through your gifts that fulfilled His purpose in your life."
Speaking to Our Children's Hearts
There is a Russian family that lives down the street from us. Their two girls go to the same "homeschool" school that we take our boys to. We saw them at the bus stop last week and realized that they were taking the city bus to school every day. We talked to them and offered to give them a ride on Mondays and Wednesdays (the days we attend). This was the first week that picked them up.
I found out that they have lived in the United States for the past ten years. Elena, the wife, did not speak a word of English when she moved here and still struggles with her English, but is able to carry on a conversation with a little help from her 10 year old, Kristina.
Two things really impacted me in our conversation on our trips to school this week.
First, I began asking Elena about their church. They are Russian Orthodox. I wish that I could explain it in the broken English that she used because it was so cool. She said that in Russia, she did not go to church. Only old women like grandmothers go to church, but she was baptized when she was young. Her husband was raised Muslim. When they were married, he wanted to go "see" a church - just look, not for anything else. He began to read his Bible and has just recently been baptized into the Orthodox church. They seem to have a real hunger for a knowledge of God so join us in praying for Dimitry and Elena, that we would be able to help satisfy that hunger.
Second, she was explaining to me that most Russian familes do not teach their children the Russian language. This is very important to her. I asked why and her answer was powerful. "I cannot speak my heart to my children in English. If they don't speak Russian, I will never be able to share my heart with them." I know many families who speak the same language who could learn a lot from that statement.
I found out that they have lived in the United States for the past ten years. Elena, the wife, did not speak a word of English when she moved here and still struggles with her English, but is able to carry on a conversation with a little help from her 10 year old, Kristina.
Two things really impacted me in our conversation on our trips to school this week.
First, I began asking Elena about their church. They are Russian Orthodox. I wish that I could explain it in the broken English that she used because it was so cool. She said that in Russia, she did not go to church. Only old women like grandmothers go to church, but she was baptized when she was young. Her husband was raised Muslim. When they were married, he wanted to go "see" a church - just look, not for anything else. He began to read his Bible and has just recently been baptized into the Orthodox church. They seem to have a real hunger for a knowledge of God so join us in praying for Dimitry and Elena, that we would be able to help satisfy that hunger.
Second, she was explaining to me that most Russian familes do not teach their children the Russian language. This is very important to her. I asked why and her answer was powerful. "I cannot speak my heart to my children in English. If they don't speak Russian, I will never be able to share my heart with them." I know many families who speak the same language who could learn a lot from that statement.
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Humble Pie
Part of the process of being a church planter is that of "Assessment." In other words, before an organization will invest their resources into you as a church planter, they want to make sure that it is a good investment. Leslie and I are going through assessment with five other couples in November. In preperation for the assessment we were directed to a website that would distribute three psychological tests that would be used (against us) to help analyze our strengths and weaknesses.
Now you have to understand that I like these tests. I find them fascinating and not the least bit intimidating. Leslie on the other hand feels quite the opposite. So I go first. In taking all three of these tests, it takes a little more than three hours of solid sitting in front of the computer to finish. I was fascinated by the fact that one of the tests includes some math and logic questions rather than the simple, "Would you rather be at a party or sit at a computer" type questions. I like that, math and logic. We homeschool our kids and I teach math and logic to my 4th and 6th grader. In fact, at one time I was pretty good at math having gotten through Calculus in high school.
I attack the questions with eagerness and breeze through it.
Now enters my wife. It's her turn to face the music and she does not like it one bit. I obviously can't influence her answers so I disappear (showing up every so often because I know that the math and logic questions are coming). There were three questions that were particularly tough and I'm just curious as to how she will handle them.
Let me make a long story short. I peak over her shoulder as she answers the tough questions. I really wanted to give her some advice on them, but I refused (gotta keep the test honest). After she had committed to her answers I could finally come to the rescue. "Honey, you got all three wrong, but those were really tough ones." So she asked me to explain how to get the right answers. One by one I explained. One by one she explained how she got her answers. One by one I realized that she was right on every answer and I was wrong.
Burning. Confusion. Frustration. Those were just what I was feeling the next morning when I woke up. "Now they are going to think I don't have a brain cell in my body." "Who is going to let a guy without logic start a church?" Those were just a few of my thoughts. But mostly, it was dealing with the fact that my lovely wife who hates personality tests schooled me in math and logic. God hates the proud and exhalts the humble.
I guess that is what I need to remember as we venture into this church plant. It's not about me...it's about God in me. Abraham lied. Jacob decieved. Moses stuttered. Joshua and Gideon were fearful. Elijah ran away. James and John fought for prominance. Peter denied. Paul fought the very work of God. John Mark got homesick. I can't find anyone in Scripture who did what they did based on their own skill or ability. It was all about God in them.
Now you have to understand that I like these tests. I find them fascinating and not the least bit intimidating. Leslie on the other hand feels quite the opposite. So I go first. In taking all three of these tests, it takes a little more than three hours of solid sitting in front of the computer to finish. I was fascinated by the fact that one of the tests includes some math and logic questions rather than the simple, "Would you rather be at a party or sit at a computer" type questions. I like that, math and logic. We homeschool our kids and I teach math and logic to my 4th and 6th grader. In fact, at one time I was pretty good at math having gotten through Calculus in high school.
I attack the questions with eagerness and breeze through it.
Now enters my wife. It's her turn to face the music and she does not like it one bit. I obviously can't influence her answers so I disappear (showing up every so often because I know that the math and logic questions are coming). There were three questions that were particularly tough and I'm just curious as to how she will handle them.
Let me make a long story short. I peak over her shoulder as she answers the tough questions. I really wanted to give her some advice on them, but I refused (gotta keep the test honest). After she had committed to her answers I could finally come to the rescue. "Honey, you got all three wrong, but those were really tough ones." So she asked me to explain how to get the right answers. One by one I explained. One by one she explained how she got her answers. One by one I realized that she was right on every answer and I was wrong.
Burning. Confusion. Frustration. Those were just what I was feeling the next morning when I woke up. "Now they are going to think I don't have a brain cell in my body." "Who is going to let a guy without logic start a church?" Those were just a few of my thoughts. But mostly, it was dealing with the fact that my lovely wife who hates personality tests schooled me in math and logic. God hates the proud and exhalts the humble.
I guess that is what I need to remember as we venture into this church plant. It's not about me...it's about God in me. Abraham lied. Jacob decieved. Moses stuttered. Joshua and Gideon were fearful. Elijah ran away. James and John fought for prominance. Peter denied. Paul fought the very work of God. John Mark got homesick. I can't find anyone in Scripture who did what they did based on their own skill or ability. It was all about God in them.
I'm in the 2004's
My good friend, John Chandler, still teases me about being stuck in the 90's - primarily because I always want a hard copy of everything rather than trusting a computer. So now, I'm hip with the jive - I'm a blogger! I've been reading several blogs for a while now and John has got me convinced this will be one of the best ways that I can keep in touch with people regarding our church plant here in Seattle. So here it goes. I don't know that you need to expect any words of great wisdom here, probably more questions than anything, but I'm sure that you'll see my heart bleed here every once in a while. Welcome to the 2004's.
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