A couple of weeks ago Will, the pastor of Journey Church, challenged all of us to 'Journey Out' and to serve and love on others around us. At that particular service - we each received an envelope with a random amount of money inside and we were challenged to think of someone who we could bless with this money over the course of the week. Now I wouldn't particularly call myself an outgoing or relational person - so my first thought was to 'accidentally' leave my envelope at church. But low-and-behold it made it's way home and has been sitting on the desk taunting me. :) I thought about going through the drive-thru at McDonald's and anonymously paying for the person behind me, but I didn't feel that would fulfill the true goal of this endeavor. So I began to think of what I could do and got very excited over an idea to help do a home improvement project for friend that I have been spending time with over the past several months. She had noticed the picket fence I painted in Lacie's room and had mentioned wanting to do that in her daughter's room. Neither she nor her husband are 'handy' with that kind of thing - so she felt it might just be a pipe dream or something they did once they could set aside some money to have it done. After thinking of this idea I went to small group that night and heard an exciting story from one of the girls who had already blessed someone that week. Hearing her story only engerized and pumped me up to offer up myself to this friend. On Friday we met for a playdate and I waited for the right moment to explain what our church had challenged us to do and that I would like to offer myself up to her. While I did get the opportunity to fully explain what brought me to South Carolina, why I was apart of this church and so forth (all brought on by questions from her) - my opportunity did not come. For with every answer I gave to her questions - I was met with cold responses and obvious walls. I went away disappointed in myself that I didn't just push through and offer anyway.

I got to really thinking about it over the weekend. And felt myself beginning to feel discouraged and doubtful. Then I ran across Hebrews 12:2-3 that says, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."  This morning I decided that I would try again and called my friend. I explained what we had been challenged to do and that I would be honored to paint her daughter's room for her. After some hesitation, she very thankfully said yes.

My prayer for those of you reading this is for follow through - that I haven't just made some grand gesture and then don't act on it. And also that I really allow Christ to flow through me - not getting in His way - as a relationship with Jesus to my friend 'is fine if that's what you're into'. I ask for prayers - that I might put away doubtful thoughts, but trust in a God who can move mountains. Finally, I just ask that you pray for this family - that they in time (whether I am honored to experience it or not) come to know Jesus as Lord, Savior and glorious friend.

A few weeks ago my brother Tim and sister-in-law Emily asked if it would be possible to send some pictures of our new world here in South Carolina. Specifically they requested pictures of our new friends and church life. Fortunately my good friend Rita got a new fancy camera for Christmas and has been taking a number of pictures for a website project we are working on.

Images on Picasa
Images on Flickr.com

In addition to the pictures I will give a quick run down of a Sunday:

6:45 A.M. – Isaac appears at the bed side and inquires “Daddy – you sleepin?” He then crawls across me to the middle of the bed and requires a blanket and a pillow.

7:00 A.M. – Isaac informs me that he will be playing in his room and asks me what path he should take “second path or first path” (a Dora the Explorer reference) Second path is my reply, because First Path is over mommy and Sarah really doesn’t appreciate being a jungle gym in her current state.

By 8:00 A.M. I have seen the entire alphabet at least once and most of the letters lay at my bed side in a pile – I have made most of the sounds all common animals make and had the “How you spell it Daddy?” question at least 10 times.

9:00 A.M. – I have breakfast ready to go. Most Sunday’s include pancakes and Sarah’s favorite Bacon!

Between 10:00 A.M. and 12:00 P.M. – I get a shower and make any last minute preparations for video that might be used in the service. 

12:00 P.M. – Lunch

12:30 P.M. – Head over to the church building

Between 1 P.M. and 2:30 P.M. – Setup. Each week we put up black curtains, setup a 12’ x 12’ screen, setup light trees, sound, drum riser, video projections, rearrange about 150 chairs, put up signage (inside and out), redecorate the foyer area, and setup the stage. I work on getting the walls up and then focus most of my attention to the sound board, speakers, video, computers, and lighting. Quite a process. 

Between 2:30 P.M. and 4:00 P.M. – Sound check, band practice, stage lighting setup, and video. Basically we run through everything, make sure media shout is ready, videos are cued and sound checked, the PC is ready to record the sermon, and the band’s sound levels are good. I get to run the lights, sound, and sermon recording for the service and Rita runs the media shout software and the video.

4:00 P.M. – Will’s sound check (always fun to hear what Will is going to say during sound check)

4:15 P.M. – Sarah and Isaac show up and Isaac always has a big hug for his daddy – sometimes he has a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for me.

4:30 P.M. – Doors open, pre-service music is blasting, and I’m generally looking to find some water and something to snack on. Last week Kyle (the before mentioned Rita’s Husband and our very talented drummer) had tater tots to share. Yummy!

4:55 P.M. – Places everyone. 

5:00 P.M. to 6:20 P.M. – The Journey Church Gathering - Where I'm stationed behind a big black sound board, Isaac is in the toddler room and Sarah is rotating to her assigned volunteer role (greeter, toddler room or preschool teacher - depending on the Sunday.)

6:30 P.M. – I go get Isaac from childcare so he can run and play in the sanctuary before breakdown begins. He and most of the other kiddos enjoy the open space and freedom to run and scream.

6:45 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. – Breakdown, time to put it all away. Everyone gets into the act including the ladies and children - folding curtains, moving chairs, and rolling up cords. Isaac loves to help daddy put away the cords but he really enjoys collecting the pins (3-1/2 bolts) that hold the curtain structures together in the special bolt box. He does balance his work life and singing career by stopping from time-to-time to sing something that is on his heart. (Favorites include – Take me out to the ballgame, You are my sunshine, and The Pirates who don't do anything.) If he sees a microphone - watch out. All-in-all it takes a mighty effort of about 8 or 9 of us to put it all up and about 15 of us to get it all down.

About 7ish Sarah heads home to make dinner.

8:15 – Isaac’s bedtime. 

8:30 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. – Small Group Materials are created by a team of people based on the message delivered by Will that evening. Will and I record his message to small group leaders for the week and we generally eat something delicious.

10:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. - Sarah types up the questions, insights, and instructions for the week. I take the recorded sermon message and work with the audio to balance the sound and prepare it for the web.

By 11:30 - the Sermon for the week is posted to the website along with the small group audio message Will recorded earlier and the small group questions and instructions.

Just enough time left for a glass of milk, a cookie, and a kiss before drifting off into dream land. Goodnight…