Beautiful blessing

I am someone who has been involved with church stuff ever since I was a baby. Started to get more involved during my high school years and I continued to be drawn to Jesus in college, which leads me today. I started to get involved with a house church (hc) with Common Ground. I stayed with one group for 3ish years and saw a lot of people come in and out of it. It was a really good place for me. For the past month or so I've been thinking about my experience in hc in Indy and my experience so far in eugene. How do you combine those two things?

For the time I was in my hc I was really focused on that group. I was going to college and still had my college friends, but slowly I started to spend a lot of time with my hc. But I think I started to get a little too comfortable in that space. And God started to direct me elsewhere. My time with my hc was what I needed during that time and season I was in. It was not a waste. We need to be in community with people who love Jesus. But I think back to those times and then think of where I am now.

I'd love to see my new friends join us for Wednesday and worship with us. My heart desires and aches for that. But I know I am not in control of that (thank goodness). I know that I need to sometimes be uncomfortable and love people that are not always like me. I loved my hc in Indy, but I need to branch out more then I did back then. I need my community, all the eugene team, but I need my friends outside of it. I realize how comfortable I get if I just focus inwardly. So it's a balance. I could not survive with out the eugene team fighting for me through prayer and support and I could not see the raw beauty of God like I do in my friends that don't follow Jesus. I would miss out on a lot of beautiful moments only God could orchestrate.

So my prayer for all of us is to step outside of our "group" and get to know some people who are not like us. When we do we will be absolutely amazed at who Jesus is. I learn so much about Jesus from the people who aren't involved with "church" and/or "religion". I know that God has comforted me while I've been out here in eugene by using my friends who are not involved with "church". That puts tears to my eyes just thinking about. I wish I could express to you just how much that means to me. What a beautiful blessing.

Much love,
Stacie :)

Easter Weekend

This weekend we had a cookout at Alton Baker Park and invited friends from the library, running group, work, and where ever else we've met people. This is a time we would normally be with family so it was fun to have a bit of the mid-west with us... even if it was just cornhole and wiffleball. It was fun to get people together to eat and play. Sunday morning we got together and had communion at one of our service sites, aka- Clint and Rachel's apt.

The beauty of a child!

So I just need to take a minute to brag about my children. I hope you don't mind me doing so! A few weeks ago Rachel and I and the kids were eating lunch. Rachel and I were having a conversation about theology and the church. Elias began talking when he heard us talking and so we asked him what he had to say. And he said, "I think God died so he can rescue people." I about started to cry right then and there. I can assure you that Rachel and I had not said anything about that in our conversation at that time. Since then, I have written Elias' quote down and put it on our refrigerator like any good parent does...ha! It's so beautiful when a 3 year old gets the simple truth of the Kingdom of God. Maybe that's why Jesus said we must change and become like little children in order to enter the Kingdom of God.

Now, I don't want to leave Jael out. For the last few weeks our church has been navigating through the Lord's Prayer. So Rachel and I began reciting the Lord's Prayer with Elias each night before he went to bed. Elias picked it up pretty quickly and can recite it easily now. But Jael would often times be in the room when we would practice it with Elias. She is beginning to say a few words now but we didn't think she could say what she did one night about 2 weeks ago. We were getting ready to say our bedtime prayers with our children when Jael began reciting the Lord's Prayer. She got all the way through 'give us today our daily bread.' Again, I think I about started to cry. Rachel and I couldn't believe it. We didn't even know she had been listening each night as we practiced the Lord's Prayer with Elias. Well, 2-3 days later she recited the entire thing. Unbelievable! The funny thing is, she doesn't articulate the words real well, but I know exactly what she's saying. In saying that, I'm pretty sure I sound the same way when I pray, and I'm grateful that God knows exactly what I'm saying.

Our family and our church are doing well in Eugene. We would continue to ask for you to pray for our church. Please be asking God to draw hearts to himself. Please pray that we would be sensitive to his leading and that we would live out the words of 1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15)

Clint

Simple

"Do you have a light?
No, sorry, I don't have one.
Can I ask you a honest question?
Sure, go ahead.
What do you think about God?
Well, I think a lot of things; He is pretty big.
Yeah, that's true."

You see, Robert Stewart asked me for a light and for about 5 minutes, he engaged in brief, but fitting conversation with me. He asked about my thoughts on God and religion. He stated that he has faith, in fact, he claimed he had not only faith, but knowledge too. As he was leaving he said, "Keep the faith. It's not about the quantity of life, but the quality. It's that simple. My name is Robert Stewart. You know, like Martha, but I'm Robert. She's got the money and I've got bottles and cans (as he points to the cart he has attached to his 10-speed). Keep the faith. See you around."

Recently, I have been desiring to strip away the complexities of life. The drive for success, the need for material possessions, the craving for a higher number in the checking account; these are being challenged. It's a good feeling, actually, to be relieved of this need for stuff. A lot has happened since being in Eugene that has frustrated the societal norm of success. A lot is still happening, for the better I think. I was talking with Staci tonight and I was saying how relevant the Gospels really are in this time. Often it is easy to think, "Yeah, they are great to study, but they did occur 2,000 years ago." But there is more to it than context and chronology, or else they wouldn't be so transcendent. As I think about the ministry of Jesus, I realize that He had no possessions, no home, and no savings account. Oh yeah, neither did those other 12 guys that tagged along. Yet, they ate, were clothed, and had places to stay. Certainly, I must work and earn enough to pay the bills, support my family, and go to the grocery every now and then. But maybe there is something to be learned about the absence of excess. I haven't figured out what exactly that is yet, but Staci and I are willing to journey through it. I have been reading a book by Donald Miller called "Through Painted Deserts," one I have read before, but have a new look on it now. In it, he talks about the societal pressure to have stuff and maybe that not being the way it was intended by our Creator. He writes, "And maybe when a person doesn't buy the lies anymore, when a human stops long enough to realize the stuff people say to us to part with our money often isn't true, we can finally see the sunrise...and know, this is what I was made to do. This is who I was made to be , that life is being given to me as a gift, that light is a metaphor, and God is doing these things to dazzle us" (p. 77).

I didn't initiate the conversation between Robert and I, but I am sure glad it happened. I certainly do not have it all figured out, but I hope that I am beginning to understand the thankfulness of having just bottles and cans.

D

Living in Eugene

I love this city. It's good for me to be here.

I don't worry about the same things as I did when I was living in Indy. People don't really care what you look like. Any outfit, and I honestly mean any outfit, is acceptable here. No one looks at anyone different. You can go into some of the restaurants downtown and you will find so many different people crammed into a little building. Some of the best places to go here in eugene are also the smallest, go figure. I find that people are friendly, will talk to you if you talk to them, and the pace of life is so much slower. People are really trying to take advantage of the present life. People like to get out and experience as much as humanly possible.

God is so present here in this city. I'm so blessed to be able to partake in what He is already doing. He's one step ahead of us, watching out for us, and guiding us.

Much love,
Stacie :)

Goodbye Eugene...

Maybe it's that Eugene doesn't need you...
Rather, you need Eugene.

I will never forget these words spoken by Larry Mitchell on a building-top in Toronto this past summer. It seemed like a great idea, and I felt like I should embrace it. So I did...I thought.

I arrived to Eugene August 9, 2008 eager to take on the world, or Eugene, or...I was just plain eager. I knew God was doing something cool in our lives back in Indianapolis, and I was certain He'd continue out in Eugene. He didn't disappoint. In these past several months, I have experienced hurt, joy, laughter, friendship (like the real kind), community (also...like the real kind), blessing, fear, love, and the list goes on. I can't always say that I've felt close to God, but I am certain He was not far. God has continued to purify my heart, making me into something more useful for His Kingdom.

Tonight is my last evening here in Eugene, and it stings a bit. It doesn't sting with regret, guilt, or fear of making a wrong decision; rather, it stings with leaving a city that has loved me well. I set out on this mission to love the people of Eugene as accurately as I knew how, but I'll admit, I've learned more about "loving" from the people here than I was actually following through on the action. My colleagues at work have rallied around me through hard days, and willingly shared in my joys. My community has reached out to me when I needed it...like REALLY needed it...and has taught me how to be a brother in Christ. My friend Mike has not only helped me realize my own discriminatory heart, but has been relentless in his pursuit for our friendship. Eugene has loved me well.

I am a transformed son of God because He has allowed me to struggle through these times of unfamiliarity, loneliness, and culture shock. He has orchestrated such beautiful friendships, conversations, and situations to allow me to see that there may be more about me or my life or this world that I've been missing for 24 years. In the past week, I've had the opportunity to travel to northern California to see the mammoth redwoods, to the Pacific coast to see sculpted rock formations, and to Crater Lake to see a pristine lake 6 miles across, and God has been speaking one resounding message to me...I'm small. I'm not insignificant to the Kingdom, but Eugene is going to be fine without me. This church body is going to be fine without me. Center Point School is going to be fine without me.

And, so, with a grateful heart, I say goodbye to the very city that was willing to welcome me in. Thank you to all who have prayed for us out here. Please continue to battle for Clint, Rachel, Stacie, CJ, Staci, Derek, Sarah, Drew, Elias, and Jael through your prayers. This is right, and they are the right people for this city.

I love you all,
Colby

Refreshed...

Sometimes I forget how amazing this state is, being cooped up in the apt all week (I work from home). I took a little road trip to the coast last weekend. Just me, my ipod, and my camera. Here's a few things I saw.

How do you get the tiny saddle on?

Jellyfish at Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport

Cape Blanco

Heceta Head (my favorite place)

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Bridge in Newport

View from highway 101

I heart Oregon. Just for the record.

-Cj