Discipleship Group

I have a couple of guys that wanted to start a discipleship group together. I searched for a book and was not sure if it was going to be good or not. I know that discipleship is more than a book, but we needed some sort of structure. So I bought a book called Discipleship Essentials. I am so glad I did. It has been incredible. It is perfect for a new believer seeking to know how to go deeper with God.

Both of the guys are doing well and our first conversation today blew me away. God is so good. I pray the Lord continues to bless this time that I am having with these guys, and that they grow deep in their relationship with Christ.

Powerful Sunday

Wow, Sunday was a powerful service. God was certainly doing something new withing the hearts of people at Salem Friends Church. I cannot put my finger on what was different, but something changed.

My prayer is that this will not just be an event, but will be the start of something new. A new wine skin as it were. We talked about manure pits, and being redeemed. God help us to be a redeemed people who seek to take part in loving and serving others while bringing them to you to be redeemed themselves..

Next Sunday we talk about compassion. This is where the rubber hits the road. This is where our faith and deeds collide. May it be so. Amen!

Back in the Swing of Things

It has taken a while to get re-acclimated to Iowa. Colorado felt like a weird trip, but it feels a little now like we stepped back a few paces from where we were when we left. After being back a week, it is starting to get better.

Always busy, I am fearful for the final projects in each class as well as the capstone project. This is a lot of work. I am not sure where to begin. Lord please help me stay balanced in the midst of chaos. I pray you help me get the job done, and to get it done well. And then... pay back student loans. Yay! Not. :(

Last Day

Today was the last day of F2F. I will not be back to Quaker Ridge for a while. I took a picture to remember that wonderful place. I have so many good memories their both with people and with God. I am truly thankful for how He has worked in my life through that place.

It was sad to leave. I was anxious to see my family, but we will not be in that place again together like that. I am thankful for graduation to be able to see those wonderful people, but after that... disband. A bit sad. Thank God for heaven.

Weird F2F

This is the last F2F we will have and it has been a little weird. Normally their is a lot of time spent together at night. However, this year the evenings seem to be quiet. People are choosing to relax in their rooms or find quiet places to be alone to work or pray. This is not inherently bad, but different from times past.

It is hard to be away from Iowa right now because it did feel like we were gaining some ground. Now we are back in CO and I am afraid we will get out of sync again. Ezra has been sick all week, and my wife is frustrated. She is not enjoying this visit at the moment because she cannot do what she wants to do: hang with her family.

Lord please help Ezra to get better soon. Bless our time at home. Amen.

Gaining Ground

I cannot believe that we have been in Iowa for almost 6 months. Looking back at the last half year, time has flown by. It has taken a while, but I finally feel like we are starting to gain some ground and lay some foundational work.

I am working with the leadership of the church to restructure ourselves in such a way that we can be more effective in ministry. I have composed a leadership structure document that will be presented at the next business meeting. Lord I pray that they can catch the vision.

Ministry with individuals seems to finally be taking some root as well. We had an incredible break through with a couple Cairistiona and I have been meeting with. Also others are beginner to show signs of growth.

Friendships are becoming more natural as well. I am meeting regularly with other pastors in the area and this is a huge answer to prayer and a blessing.

I am thankful for all of this because I know it the God who does it and not me. Thank you Lord!!!

To Believe is more than a thought

“Trusting Christ does not take the form of merely believing certain things about him. Moreover, knowing the “right answers” does not mean we truly believe them. To believe them means that we are set to act as if these “right answers” are true. Perhaps the hardest thing for sincere Christians to come to grips with is the level of real unbelief in their own lives: the unformulated skepticism about Jesus that permeates all dimensions of their being and undermines the efforts they do make toward Christlikeness.”

Excerpt From:
Willard, Dallas. “Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice.” NavPress. iBooks.
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God can be funny sometimes. I was just thinking about this yesterday, and then read about it during my evening devotions. I grew up in the church and therefore, know a lot of "Christian stuff." I even preach and teach about it all the time. The trouble is, sometimes I wonder if I really believe it. 

Do not get me wrong, I am not turning my back on the Lord or anything to that degree, but I tell people to let go of everything and run to Christ. Then I come home to all my safety and comforts. I cling to the things that are not necessarily bad, but are still worldly.  If I truly believe that Christ was all I need, wouldn't I be more willing to give these pathetic comfort and pleasures up?

I do believe Lord. May my actions show it. May my life show it. May my integrity show it.