We should find people of great influence in our peer group and in our discipline and listen to them. Because they differ slightly from us, these people sharpen us. Sometimes they are achieving such greatness that we feel a drip of depression looming in our seeming lack of accomplishment. But that only remains when we focus on our accomplishments or lack thereof.

Many would call this sort of activity “self-centered.” I contend that it is probably not “self-centered” enough. Perhaps we need to go even deeper into searching ourselves - we need to search inside of ourselves to find the still small voice instructing us. This voice trumps all external, peer-reviewed comparison. It says, “Keep running the race” and “fight the good fight” and “I will give you rest.” Man, I love that still small voice.

Just a quick note to tell you all that we made it into Chicago without a hitch (besides the one on the trailer!!).  Thank you for your prayers.  Today and the next few days include lots of unpacking and job hunting.  We’ll be in touch soon!

So apparently one good turn deserves another.

Trina and I just returned AGAIN from Chicago, our second trip there this semester.  Like most trips there, it was a world wind tour, though this one seemed to be right on target.   We had two main objectives.  Find an apartment, and meet with the CDEA.

When we left Chicago back in middle March, we weren’t sure whether or not we were following God or just chasing our own tails.  For the last 3 years we had been gathering contacts and notes about what we felt was a pull to Chicago to plant churches and to live as missionaries in an urban context.   When we went to Chicago in March, we were able to meet up with just about EVERYONE I had been in contact with for the last 3 years, and even pursued several job offers.

As we were flying home from Chicago, we both felt the same - we had worked our tails off to respond to what we felt was God’s call in Chicago.  We felt like we had tied all the knots, set the sails, and prepped the ship.  Now all we needed was God’s wind.  We felt like if he didn’t provide then, we could walk away from it all.  You might get the sense of this anxious waiting from my last post about it. 

A few weeks went by.   We waited.

Katrina went down to Austin, TX with the MRNA gang while I stayed up in Abilene to focus on my COMPS oral defense that was coming up.  She had an amazing time down there and met some amazing people (I really wish she would write a post about that!).  Through the workings of what can only be the Holy Spirit, Katrina came back a changed woman.  Her boldness in the face of some of our doubts was inspiring to me.  We had decided earlier that Katrina might be the one to hear from God WHEN we need to leave for Chicago.  She came back from Austin saying we were ready to go.

That was nice, except we still didn’t have a job, or any kind of church planting network to work with there.  But TWO days after Katrina got back, we got a call from Lance Hurley, executive director of the CDEA (Chicago District Evangelistic Association).  CDEA wanted to support us, and Lance wanted us to meet the rest of the board!  Totally a confirmation.  We didn’t know how we were going to afford another trip up to Chicago, but then God provided funds that we didn’t even ask for!

So our trip in April (2nd trip - 24-29) was a focused trip to pick out an apartment and meet with the CDEA board, mostly consisting of church planters, and ministers.

Our time in Chicago was very encouraging.  We found an AMAZING home in the city, close to the train, a wonderfully diverse neighborhood with a university nearby, not to mention the beautiful Lake Michigan only a few blocks away!  Our new friends in the CDEA were very affirming and gracious, and we were surprised by their ability to boldly consider this opportunity for an exciting, innovative, church plant in the city.   They also committed to supporting us financially in a big way and hope to help out even more in years to come.

We’re super psyched!!!

We’ll be moving to Chicago at the end of May.  Until then, we’re just waiting to see what God has up his sleeves!

Here’s a great shot of Katrina and our buddy Annie in a magnolia tree…g-e-oORGEOUS!

When I first heard of the social networking site, Facebook.com, I thought - “Great, just another way to collect loose associations - my friends are now baseball cards.” I could write twenty blogs on this topic. Many of my friends were interested in engaging with this media (they are early adopters, I suppose), but I just felt frustrated. (Partly because I’m somewhat introverted and I value loyal relationships… even when it gets difficult, and the whole machine seemed to be straight from the CIA and everyone reads / has access to what everyone writes, which makes it shallow at best.)

At the time, I thought these networking sites would become a substitute for good old-fashioned relationship… You know, the old pastime of face-to-face conversations with multi-sensory communication. As the years went by, I managed to avoid signing up to any social networking sites, until after I graduated, and my job required it. Then I became very active on these online communities, primarily with the goal of being able to communicate effeciently.

But rather quickly, I’m seeing the perks and the drawbacks. This kind of communication changes life and numbs us to some extent. It’s one-sided, layered with covert messages, “disposable” yet permanent, and rather time consuming (if one allows it to become so). Now, I’m seeing people treat other people as disposable in ‘real life.’ It’s almost as if these sites teach us to dehumanize each other. I’m not quite sure why this is, but I do not like it. It’s almost like our full color lives have turned “black and white…” (more specifically into binary code 0101010101…) I don’t think the answer is to boycott the sites - they’re a part of the culture, but at the same time, I’m looking for some constructive ways to engage in activities that value people and honor God in that context. Any ideas?

Just a quick update late Sunday night to say we made it back from the weekend PRE-MAC retreat just fine.  We got back around 9pm Saturday, and invited the Fittz’s to stay at our apartment and send them off proper after breakfast this morning.  Daniel, the Fittz’s, Katrina and I had a great conversation about our team, about the church planter’s assessments we went through over the weekend, and what our next steps will be together.  I may have some reflections on the retreat later on.

Now if I can just bring my mind down from the clouds for long enough to finish a book and a 10 page paper for class tomorrow night.  Oi.