Losing Life

Thoughts on being Pregnant

I came across this quote in Alan Hirsch's book The Forgotten Ways.

""From very early on, God had birthed into us a sense of missional obligation to those outside of the church...we somehow intuited that we were 'pregnant' with other churches that would reach unreached people groups in our city." 

The only thing I would change about this quote is the word "obligation".  (Pretty presumptuous of me to change anything about Alan's writing)  I would change it to the word "opportunity."  Although "obligation" perhaps better fits the Biblical precedence set for helping lost people find their way back to God.  I like "opportunity" because the Jesus Mission no longer feels like my obligation as a Christ Follower.  Helping people find their way back to God is feeling like the greatest joy of my life.

I can't think of any way better to reach as many people as possible with my life then to pour into the lives of other leaders who will then share Jesus with the world.  Seriously, I've thought about it, and I can't think of any better way to spend my time.  If you can think of a better way, let me know...no kidding here...please let me know.

In the meantime, ReachoutKC is pregnant... with triplets actually.

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.

Here it is....

40 small groups by September 2009, 19 months after we launch a new church in Kansas City, MO.  That means 400 people grouped.

Does that seem aggressive to you?  Why or why not?

Perhaps it depends on your perspective.  If you were in India and a leader for the Indian Gospel League...this goal would be downright embarrassing.  They reach tens of thousands every month.

Should the goal be higher, lower...what do you think?

An insanely agressive small group plan

• My boss asked me to put together small group goals and plans for the first 18 months of the new church.

• I debated over my plan.

• I like to REACH my goals…I like to WIN.

• So...should I set some goals that will be easy to reach. (easy is relative here)  There is no “easy” in church planting….I guess…I don’t really know yet.

• Or, should I set some goals that will stretch us and make us really work hard?

• Hmmm…..What would you do?

• Since I am a naive, church planting newbee, I went for the super aggressive goal, of course.

• Wanna know what it is?  I will tell you tomorrow. (that was so Vince Antonucci)

• But I will tell you this.  As soon as I put it together, my boss said, “I remember now why I hired you.” Huh,and all along I thought he hired me just for the “life secret.”

Don't be Jealous

We were in a t-shirt shop in Ely, MN a week or so ago.  Although very far north, the shop was run by a guy with a south of the border accent...who was as fun as anyone I have ever met.

You picked out the transfer and he made the t-shirt while you watched.  Every time he made a t-shirt he would hold it up for the whole store to see and he would say...  "hey everyone look at this...Don't be jealous!"  Then he would turn up the music in the store and start clapping and get everyone to dance.  Of course we could not resist the fun and I think we walked out with twice as many t-shirts as we had planned.

Today, I was setting up our ReachoutKC office downstairs in our basement.  It is not quite done yet, but as I stood back and looked at the space, I thought about the guy in the t-shirt shop.  I wanted to turn up the music, do a little dance and say ... "hey everyone look at this...don't be jealous."

Good Things

• My table arrived
• Mitchell made the Jets football team
• The kids all had a good first day of school
• My boss gave me a whole list of church planting things to do, so I can start getting busy again
• It is only going to be 96 degrees today instead of 103

Who wouldn't want to be their friend?

Judiann couldn't sleep last night because she was so excited to ride the bus, Jake was concerned about when and where to go for lunch and Mitch is only thinking about the last cuts for the football team tonight.

Every year I take their picture at the front door on the first day of school.  And every year it is the SAME door.  This year the door is different.

Thanks for praying for them. 

How can you lose a table?

One of the long list of cool things about living in Kansas City is the Nebraska Furniture Mart.  It is miles and miles of very reasonably priced, quality furniture.  So, we need a table for our dining room to go with the chairs Jim and Lori gave us.  Lori mentioned the chairs might look good with a glass table...which I thought was a great idea.  And I have my heart set on a round table.  I just like the way a round table feels especially since I am considering my dinning room the church conference room where we will have ReachoutKC staff meetings...until that free or nearly free office space presents itself.

So anyway, Troy finds this glass round table at NFM for $75.00!  Yes, you saw that right!  How cheap is that?  It was in the clearance room. 

So, we go to pick it up and we wait at the loading dock for nearly an hour.  Finally after watching everyone else having a furniture pick up party without me....I call our of my car window to one of the employees.  "Hey, I am feeling left out, I want to join the furniture pick-up party."  Well, he comes over slowly with a nervous look on his face.  "Ma'am, we lost your table." 

Sometime between Wednesday and Friday, they lost my $75.00 table.  So sad.

But we agreed to give them a few days to look for it, but asked them when they find it to deliver it for FREE.  They agreed.

I'll keep you posted.... 

Eventful Day

Yesterday...

• Mitchell had to get a cast on his arm.  The Dr. thinks that is best since he suspects injury to the growth plate.
• Both the boys registered for school and got their class schedule. 
• I had coffee with some neighbors while Judiann played with the neighborhood girls. (well I didn't drink coffee...you know I don't like it, but perhaps I will learn.)
• I painted Judiann's room pepto bismol pink...it's cool.
• I organized some move in help for Josh and Matt who arrive on MONDAY...yeah!