For new things to begin, old things have to end (kinda)

Today, we helped Jim and Kelly pack up a van and a Uhaul for storage and clean the house they are vacating. It's another step in the move to Thailand to work with good friends at Compasio. They don't have all the funds they need yet but it is coming in slowly but surely. We're getting surprise hits at the YWAM Modesto Paypal button (wanna surprise us? You can HERE! : ) and we are assured that God is going to provide all they need.

A couple of nights in Modesto and then they are off to pack up their storage, get some training and say goodbye to family down south while they finalize their plans.

It's a bittersweet time. We are sad they are going and happy to watch God do what he does so well. He sends, he ignites, he breaks our heart, he gives us a choice, he invites, he compels, he opens doors and creates connection and he loves when we love... when we love so much that we can't help ourselves but pour it out into the broken places of the world. He loves when we are so captured by his love that we drop it all and go and do the thing his love has compelled us to do.

For them, it's taken a lot of frustration, obstacles, communication and plain hard work to get here. And they are not 'here' yet but it's coming. What helps is to remember why. It's love, love so big we call him God, that makes it worth the effort. The Sustars have made me want to get ready to go. Only I'm going here for now. What is it that holds us back? Let's pack up the non-essentials, put hindrances away, keep what's important, say a prayer with our friends, support one another and take off into the good works that have been prepared for us to do.

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" Eph 2:10

This is a video of the "why" they are going. If you're reading on facebook, you can find the video HERE. And you can follow the Sustars at their blog HERE.



By the way, that great song is "The Reckoning" from the album Counting Stars by Andrew Peterson.

September's Song of the Month

I write songs. They do not make the whole world sing but a few people may enjoy them. I rarely have the opportunity to sing my original songs. And here you are...probably a friend, at the comfort of your own computer....why not sing some songs for you? I also thought having a goal would help me get my songs in some sort of rough recorded form.

This song I wrote in 2009, after our family's visit (with Global Youth Network) to the Tsartlip First Nations community outside Victoria, BC in Canada. "First Nations" is how Canadians refer to native or aboriginal people. You can read about that trip HERE.

Stelly's Crossroads is the name of the street that runs the length of the village on one side. One side of the street is the First Nations community and the other side is predominately white middle class style homes. We fell in love with the community and culture in our time there and plan to go back for a visit maybe in the Summer of 2011.

If you're reading this on facebook, you can listen at our podcast site HERE. You and all these other nice folks can go there, listen to the player, download the MP3 for pod-ableness and subscribe to future posts using itunes.

So, here it is, my first song of the month, "Stelly's Crossroads". Enjoy!

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How to start a children's ministry...

I was reminded this morning of the three simple steps to starting a children's ministry...

Step 1. Get some friends together...



Step 2. Find some kids...



Step 3. Hang out with them for a bit.

My business card

Sustar Send Off!

We are hosting a send off fund raiser for the Sustar family, preparing to leave us here in California to work with our partners in Thailand at Compasio. So, save the date and c'mon out to...

Salida's Kountry Kitchen
4702 Broadway in Salida
Tuesday night, September 21
From 5 - 8pm
$10 gets you a burger (with all the fixins), fries and a drink.
We'll have some live music and entertainment from our community
Get some plates to go or stick around to enjoy the food and company.

All profits go to help the Sustars get on the plane for their new adventure. Do you want to know more? Folow their journey at their blog...CLICK HERE!

Tickets are on sale in advance and available at the restaurant or from the YWAM Modesto guys
For more info, call Chris at 209-404-4027

9/11 Airport neighborhood clean-up day!

Thanks to our friends at Advancing Vibrant Communities and some good hard working partners from Millcreek Church and...um...Sam (pictured below).

This...



is no longer there...



!

It was a great day to be working together with the body of Christ in our city. Lots of stuff got done. Let's hear it for good, filthy work!

Becoming a fool

All of the liturgical readings today are about God’s way of turning our world’s wisdom upside down...

“If any one among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.” - 1 Cor 3

“...who shall stand in the holy place? ...(he) who does not lift up his soul to what is false” - Ps 24

‘(Jesus) said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." - Luke 5

I am consumed with this world and following after its wisdom. I desire to live for the joy in God's kingdom. May I become more of a fool in this life so that I can see the wisdom of the kingdom. How can I let go of the false life and embrace God's reality. How can I become foolish? How do I lift up my soul to what is real? When and how do I drop my nets where it doesn’t make sense?

"If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
- C.S. Lewis in The Weight of Glory