Losing Life

Goodbye Beach

I'll admit it.  Things were so busy the weeks leading up to Christmas that when the day after Christmas came and we were off to Mexico, I secretly wished we were going to lay on a beach somewhere.  I wanted to sleep, swim, read, and daydream.  I really didn't feel like building a house.  You're shocked aren't you?  And I seem like such a nice person.

But, as soon as we arrived on site, I was so happy that God had me right there in Juarez.  Building this house will remain one of the highlights of my life and even more cool, we got to do it with my entire family.  My parents, sisters, brother-in-laws and nieces and nephews.  It was incredible.

Day one...This is where Flor, Sergio and their three kids lived, sharing the home with lots of relatives:

Day Three:  Flor and Sergio and three kids get a new house:

 

Judiann makes a new friend:

This absolutely beats laying on a beach any day...hands down.  There's only one problem, I really want to do it again.  My beach days could be gone forever!

Generosity

This is just really, really good.  And it made me think.  It made me want to make some changes. And it made me excited about the future, and it made me believe that God is smiling.   Check it out.  Click on December 8 and 9 video.  What does it make you think?

KC Women mobilize Christ Followers in India

Check out my friend Belinda and other Kansas City women challenging the women in India  and Sri Lanka to reach their villages for Christ.

Our New Home

I was going to hold off posting about our new house until every "t" was crossed and "i" was dotted so to speak.  But, in the words of our new friends Nate and Jill, Troy said, "We are claiming it in the name of Jesus."   So in the spirit of "claiming it", here is our new house in Kansas City.  God is tremendously and completely faithful.

God has impeccable timing

It appears we have sold our house.  Provided the housing inspection and termite inspection are all agreeable to the buyer...we are sold.  God's timing is truly perfect!  Selling our home now puts us with a closing date of July 18th.  Registration for Park Hill High School is August 1st and Mitchell starts his football club on August 1st.  Couldn't be better.  I knew at the end of this journey I would have a great story of God's timing...I just couldn't wait to tell it.

Bowmans in KC

We are so excited to welcome Tommy and Jessica Bowman to ReachoutKC.  God has answered many of our prayers with these two.

Tommy is a singing, guitar playing, music writing, worship leader.  He is one of those people who is naturally cool....that's like being cool without having to try.  And he likes sports, which is a huge plus according to Jake and Mitch.  Tommy will serve as our Worship and Arts director.

Jessica is currently (well for about 4 more days) a high school teacher and volleyball coach.  She asks lots of questions and when it comes right down to it, she says, "I just really want to be on this team!"  You gotta like someone who wants to play and is willing to risk everything in order to do it.

We admire this couple greatly as they are demonstrating remarkable faith.  Their passion for Jesus and people is apparent. I have no doubt that God is going to take their willingness and gifts and make a huge difference in the lives of people in Kansas City.

Read more about Tommy and Jessica's story at www.bowmansinkc.com. 

Team Dinner

We had dinner with our ReachoutKC on Sunday night.  These people amaze me.  They are so missional, so courageous, and so filled with faith. 

Here are the praises we shared around the circle Sunday night.

• God called ME to do this!
• I love this team.
• God provided help with fund raising
• Joy
• God's comfort
• Being part of this team
• Everything is falling into place

Top 10 reasons we like Luke

1. Luke spent the weekend at our house.  Bragging the whole weekend that he sold his house in Oklahoma in like 2 days or something like that.  Whatever...We liked him anyway.

Here are the top 10 reasons we liked Luke.

1. 1. He wants to trade his life for helping people find their way back to God.

2.  He wants to spend a year with ReachoutKC as an intern.

3. He plays the drums.

4. He is a KU fan.

5.  When it comes to doing church he knows what he likes and what he doesn't like.

6.  He is the son of Gary and Belinda Kendall, church planters and pastors at Indian Creek Community Church in Olathe KS.

7.  He is young, and we might look younger when we hang out with him.

8.  He asks lots of questions.

9.  He got up at 5:00am to help set up for church at the high school.

10.He drained the portable baptism thingy.

What is going to happen?

Everyone knows that before one school year ends, the paperwork is filled out, the fees are paid and your kids are registered for the next school year. 

But for us, no plans are made, no paperwork filled out...no school registered for.

Is my home going to sell in the final hour so that I can purchase a home in Kansas City and get an address in order to register my kids in time to start school by the 2nd week of August?  Are my kids going to start school here in Naperville because my house is not sold yet? What is going to happen?  Really, I am on the edge of my seat here waiting to see how this is all going to play out. 

I should panic.  Or not.  It is much too late to panic now. We are already waste deep in this water.  Panicking will only make me drown. Perhaps God is waiting until we are in completely over our heads.

God is in control.  So cliche, but utterly and completely true. 

National New Church Conference

The National New Church Conference was great.  I am especially proud of my friends.  Todd Wilson who put this thing together, Dave, Jon, Eric B., Tom, Bill, Sherry, Pat, Eric M., all the CCCer's who made cool stuff happen at this event from boxing to bunnies dropping from the sky...it was fun, fun, fun in true CCC fasion.

Check out this video that includes a clip of me sharing our dream for ReachoutKC.  This was played as part of the conference.  I got lucky, I know the video guys.