The value of story

I had a conversation this week that really helped solidify the value I place on story. We often speak of the gospel story but rarely do we share it as a story. Rarely is it told from creation to fall to redemption to restoration. I had the opportunity to briefly share the story as I was talking with someone who was unsure of their faith. I found that because I had laid the basis of that story in the conversation it made it so much easier to go back and refine the details and use parts of that story as I helped them to gain a better grasp on God and the journey of faith. I had no idea what Bible knowledge this person knew, but regardless because I shared a simple story I could return to the story, and add to refine details as I needed them in explaining the heart of God to this individual. I have to say it was refreshing not feel like I had to whip out my Bible and assault this person with an array of verses, and try to prove point by point why they should change the way they believe. Instead the approach was simple. Share the story of the gospel, and then bring everything back to how their views don't line up with that very same gospel. Use the gospel to encourage and to show the gracious, loving God that we serve. I hope this encourages others to go and do likewise.
SR

Domino #2

Ok, domino number 2 has fallen. Our house has sold. Now comes the hard part, moving. I absolutely hate moving. I do not find joy in packing. Nor do I find it in loading trucks and storage units. Now, I wait on domino #3. That is finding a new house. That is where the joy comes. I am looking forward with great anticipation to being settled in the city to which God has called me. May God help my family and I to live out our calling.

SR

Step 1

Step One has finally been accomplished. I have a job in Pittsburgh! Next step - attempt to live and work in the same city. Now I go back to waiting on God, while preparing for my start date. Make no mistake about it, God provided me this job. God will sell my house, and God will provide us a new place to live and build his church. I will wait and rest. I will do all I can, but I will rest in the fact that the Sovereign God who controls the universe is directing my paths and working while I am asleep. However, today I rejoice! I celebrate! God is working out his plan, and today was a victory! Today is a good day and I will savor it. Feel free to dance along if you want, or maybe just grab a big bowl of ice cream. Whatever floats your boat, or tickles your fancy, etc., etc.
Enjoying the ride,
SR

Core Value #1

At our church planting Boot Camp (hosted by some really out of place guys in the SBC), we were challenged to come up with a set of core values that would serve as the identity of our church. SR and I, being a little uuhh, off kilter, came up with an alternate list of about 40 core values that are of great importance to us. I would like to present the first. It was initially around #23, but I believe we would both agree that it deserves to be moved to the very top of the list of ones that didn't quite make the cut.

CORE VALUE #1: New Member Lemon Law

I hear the amens already...



P.S. I have learned of a grave issue that I feel must be worked out here. It has come to my attention that my friend SR, has the disturbing an un-American quality of not liking cake. I'm not sure how to deal with this, but maybe I should have seen it coming. He is Canadian after all. Sheesh.

Once Every 56 Years...

Something is happening that only happens every 56 years, and it is the worst possible year for it to happen. My wife and I are attempting to purchase resources we need for church planting, pay off school bills, and save a decent amount of money before I become a broke student again. We had a great financial plan all set up for the next 5 months before the move to Pittsburgh. Except for this every-56-year-phenomenon....

See there are 52 weeks to a year. Except on leap years, there are 52 weeks and a day. Every 7th leap year, or 28 years, an extra week has effectively accumulated on the calendar. No big deal. Until two weeks have accumulated on the calendar, which happens every 56 years - in this case, 2008. In 2008 there are 27 pay periods for those of us who are paid bi-weekly. Which means that my paycheck is lower by about $200/mo to evenly spread out over an extra paycheck. It would mean nothing if I were to be here for the entire year, for I would just get an extra paycheck this year. But with a June departure date, I am waving goodbye to that $200 a month as I scramble to figure out how to pay my bills. Stupid Leap Years.....

Core Values

Doxa Church started as a dream of a church where several things that we see as significant deficits of the current evangelical church were done right. We called these our Core Values. Now, having been through Boot Camp and multiple assessments, our core values have shifted and become better focused on the mission of the church. But we still see these as foundational to our vision and identity, and indeed to the Church as she is meant to be. They are, in all of their ridiculously alliterated glory:

(1) Masculine Leadership
(2) Meaningful Membership
(3) Missional Relationships

IN the coming weeks, SR or I will create a series of posts to flesh these out and open up discussion about what we mean by these ideas. For now, if you have any initial thoughts, feel free to add a point of interest.

School Started

Today, using my NEW Sony Viao Laptop (which I have 18 months to pay for) I logged onto my online Biology Course for the first time. I am taking it through Harrisburg Area Community College, which has the unfortunate Acronym of HACC. Hopefully in the summer I will be enrolled in the University of Pittsburgh to pursue a Master's Degree in Education. That, in turn, will be so I can pursue a bi-vocational career in secondary phsyics education as part of our church plant strategy (more on that later). But first, I must complete ONE class that is not in my undergraduate record. Biology. I have an Engineering Degree, and the only class I need that was not already taken is Biology. So, I am a student again, in order to become a student, in order to get a contributive job, in order to help plant a church. So this is sort of Yak shaving razor thing (see Ren and Stimpy or the Evangelical Outpost for an explanation).

This will be a good warm-up before I start the full time classes. I haven't been a student for some time, and I may be rusty! :)