Life between the eyes

I have spent the last few months working with Journey Church to prepare for our big launch. The Easter service next week will double as our official "launch". We have been running an Alpha course recently and that has been a lot of fun. The band has been working hard to get ready for the service. We plan to do a blend of video and music combined with a breakfast and followed by an easter egg hunt for the kids. It promises to be quite fun and we are praying for 200 guests. If you are a praying person, pray for us this Sunday.

I had a revelation recently concerning faith. I was talking with my Alpha group this past week and the question I asked them was "when you think about God do you feel love or fear?" As the group gave their answers I realized that I did not have a good answer. I decided I better start thinking quickly.
My answer seemed to come to me as I shared. I told the group how I had determined to follow Christ when I was four years old. Since that time I had always felt the closeness of the Spirit. When I rebelled as a young adult, it was the absence of that feeling that convicted me and brought me back to a life of faith.
As for the the question at hand, I can't say that I feel either. I have such an analytical mind that I over-analyze things more than feel them. I find my mind trying to figure out what response of mine will get the response from God that I want.

At that point I realized that faith for me is accepting where and what God has me doing right now. Though this may seem like basics for some, It was an epiphany to me. All the planning and strategizing I do in my life have to be submitted to God's will, or they will not be successful. As a servant of Christ, I won't be happy if I am not doing God's will. More on this to come . . .

The newest addition

Here is part of the reason I have not blogged recently:


I will post more images this weekend.

Christopher

Life the Universe and Everything

As you can see by the title, I have determined to keep the focus of this blog quite narrow. I'm new to blogging and I figure it will take a little while to get the hang of it. I'll probably blog about a little bit of everything I am experiencing, so please expect randomness.

The major thing in my life right now, after kids and family, is church. I'm part of a church plant called Journey Church in Salem, Oregon, so I'll probably be blogging about that as well. you can check it out at www.journeysalem.com

Today I was thinking about impressing God. Do you really think it's possible. I'm constantly introspective. Asking myself if I compare with this Christian, or that one. The Bible says God looks at intention, or heart, though. I can remember a few years ago, I was a young leader in our church at the time, and I was learning to pray for people after the service or at prayer meetings. Trying to listen to God's reply, or for his reply, it 's rarely fiery letter 30 feet high. More often it's a subtle feeling that you are pretty sure isn't from you. Anyways, I wanted to learn to pray like the older men in the church. I don't know if God was impressed, but I sure was. If I was God, I'm pretty sure I would answer those prayers. Fast forward a few years and I am thinking back to those times and thinking that a sincere prayer is what God is listening for. But what about best intentions? Do those count? What about the times I've hurt people even though I had planned to help them. What does God think about that? I'll probably have to think some more on that. And I'll certainly accept suggestions on that one.

As to the church-plant, it has really been an adventure. Right now we are renting a school commons, and that means we have to show up early to set up and have band practice (I play the bass guitar). One thing I've noticed is that by the time we start church I am much more focused. It's not like when we had a building and our family would roll in about 5 'till and still be wiping the sleep from our eyes.

That's all for now