Our Journey

"It's kind of fun to attempt to do the impossible."

-Walt Disney

The Journey: A Church Community

This is the name of our church plant. I love this type of connection because the notions of faith and journey are inextricably linked in my life and my own story.

And that brings me to a link I want to share with you: www.epicreality.com. This is the companion website to a little book by John Eldridge called Epic. I often get nervous when I start recommending every book by a particular author...but I've done that with Eldridge. Somehow I think he just "gets" some things about spiritual life that others miss. In particular he paints a picture of Christian life of actually being an experience of LIFE--not just laws, rules, suppression and an utter lack of human spirit.

There is much on his website and in his little book that echoes our own story, and our own epic journey.

The Journey: A Church Community.

I'm generally a late adopter--but it's growing on me. Quickly.

A Sysadmin's nightmare

While trying to check out a friend's LiveJournal I discovered every LiveJournal page displayed this:

Our data center (Internap) lost all its power, including redundant backup power, for some unknown reason. (unknown to me, at least) We're currently dealing with bringing our 100+ servers back online. Not fun. We're not happy about this. Sorry... :-/ More details later.

Wow...

Colts vs. Patriots

I don't usually attempt sportswriting, but I can't let this sit any longer.

Colts vs. Patriots. In Foxboro.

You'd think the Colts shouldn't even bother to show up. All we keep hearing about is how Belichick owns Manning, how the weather will be a nemesis to the "dome team", how Indy's 28th ranked defense is like swiss cheese and how all Brady does is win.

But let me get this straight: the two primary pieces of evidence are last year's AFC championship game and this season's opener. Both Colt's losses. Both at Foxboro.

In last year's AFC championship game Manning tossed four (count 'em, four) interceptions, James had a fumble, and the Colts high-snapped a punt into the end-zone for a safety. The Patriots were on a roll, playing on a muddy field in cold, windy conditions. All these advantages--weather, conditions, and turnovers--led to: that's right...a 10-point victory.

Fast forward to Week 1 this year. The Pats are defending champs opening up on their home-turn against the Colts. What does Indy do again? Manning throws a pick, two fumbles by Edge (one on the goaline), and a late sack of Manning drives the Colts outside of chip-shot field goal range. Then, of course, Vandy misses the 48 yarder that would have sent the game into overtime. All these miscues led to: that's right...a 3-point victory.

So you mean to tell me that The Pats need three turnovers and a missed field goal to win by 3? Or that they need four picks and a safety plus a muddy snowstorm to win by 10?

Over the last two games between these two the Colts have handed the Pats every conceivable advantage and the total point differential is 13? Why not 40?

Yeah, the Patriots are terrific. Yes, Manning played awful in last year's Championship game. But really, will the Colts forever be destined to lay eggs in New England? Perhaps.

Clearly this game should be competitive from the beginning. It will likely be close. In fact, no outcome will surprise me. But viewing the Pats as a sure thing or thinking that the Colts are somehow fated to futility is asinine. Someday the Colts will play the Patriots well. When Manning plays even average football, when Edge can hold onto the ball, when Vandy makes his field goals, when Brady makes that inexplicable pass, when a Patriot DB falls down in coverage, when Dillon drops the ball...someday these Colts will win. And that day could be Sunday. That's how the vaunted Patriots could lose a playoff game on their home turf.

Come on...New England fans should know this. Given that the Red Sox won the World Series obvioulsy anything is possible--even a Colts victory in New England.

WANTED:

Missionaries, church planters, small group leaders, children's workers, greeters, musicians, A/V techie types, people who love people, youth counselors, individuals with mad web skilz, photographers, news writers, newsreaders, vocalists, poets, soldiers, soccer moms...even University of Kentucky basketball fans.

Seriously. That's how big The Kingdom is.

I haven't written about it much in this space. OK, I haven't written about it at all.

"The church formerly known as New Life Community Church" is planting a church. We're declaring a "do-over". A mulligan. We're starting over; we're starting anew; we're closing down and reopening in the fall. We're experiencing metamorphosis on a grand scale.

Do the northern suburbs of Cincinnati need missionaries? We think so. Does the Kingdom crave a poetic touch? Clearly. Can you go on a missions trip while keeping your day job? We think so. I think Jesus commanded it with that pesky "love your neighbor as yourself" stuff...

And we need people. Specifically, we need you.

Now I know that of the three people actually reading this two of you are in Indiana. So maybe we don't need you specifically. But if you happen to know people in or near the Cincinnati area who might be looking for a church to plug into...send them our way. Know anyone involved with a church but looking for something more: something new, a sense of calling, a desperate need for passion, a drive for significance, upside to the nth degree? Send them my way.

And I may be crazy, but somewhere out there is someone looking for this kind of community, looking for this opportunity. Someone, somewhere, is willing to move here, make friends and dive in.

The pay sucks and the hours are awful. But the friendships are deep and it's Kingdom work and it rocks. Consider yourself invited. Pass it along.