PAUL JONES

Bonhoeffer: On Life and Death

2012-02-28T19:54:00.005-08:00

Here are some more thoughts along the theme of "Life and Death" that struck me during my Bonhoeffer reading of the past week.

Understanding Christ means taking Christ seriously. Understanding this claim means taking seriously his absolute claim on our commitment. And it is now of importance for us to clarify the seriousness of this matter and to extricate Christ from the secularization process in which he has been incorporated since the Enlightenment (83).

There is no way to peace along the way of safety. For peace must be dared, it is itself the great venture and can never be safe. Peace is the opposite of security. To demand guarantees is to want to protect oneself. Peace means giving oneself completely to God's commandment, wanting no security, but in faith and obedience laying the destiny of the nations in the hand of Almighty God, not trying to direct it for selfish purposes. Battles are won, not with weapons, but with God. They are won when the way leads to the cross (241).

In a world where success is the measure and justification of all things the figure of him who was sentenced and crucified remains a stranger and is at best the object of pity. The world will allow itself to be seduced only by success.... The figure of the Crucified invalidates all thought which takes success for it standard (361).

Death reveals that the world is not as it should be but that is stands in need of redemption. Christ alone is the conquering of death.... Only in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ has death been drawn into God's power, and it must now serve God's own aims (384).

Time belongs to death, or, still more so, to the devil. We must buy it from him and return it to God, to whom it must really belong (411).

And then, after a lifetime of intense devotion and focused faith, it is no wonder that Bonhoeffer's life ended with these words. When informed that it was his time to go to the scaffold, he replied, "This is the end. For me, the beginning of life."

Bonhoeffer: On Scripture

2012-02-26T15:14:00.004-08:00

A few days of vacation in the Palm Springs sun has afforded me the luxury of powering through a book I have wanted to read for a while- Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. While it is a pretty thick read, this book has really hit me at several different levels all at the same time: as a follower of Christ, as a lover of history, as a pastor, and as a husband.

Over the next few days, I want to share some of the quotes that captured me the most. Here are a few thoughts on the Bible that rekindled a passion to pursue Christ through His Word with deeper devotion.

First of all I will confess quite simply- I believe that the Bible alone is the answer to all our questions, and that we need only to ask repeatedly and a little humbly, in order to receive this answer. One cannot simply read the Bible, like other books. One must be prepared really to enquire of it. Only thus will it reveal itself. ... Only if we will venture to enter into the words of the Bible, as though in them this God were speaking to us who loves us and does to will to leave us with our questions, only so shall we learn to rejoice in the Bible (136).

The Psalter filled the life of early Christianity. But more important than all of this is that Jesus died on the cross with words from the Psalms on his lips. Whenever the Psalter is abandoned, an incomparable treasure is lost to the Christian church. With its recovery will come unexpected power (368-369).

It always seems to me that we are trying anxiously in this way to reserve some space for God; I should like to speak of God not on the boundaries but at the centre, not in weakness but in strength, and therefore not in death and guilt but in man's life and goodness.... The church stands not at the boundaries where human powers give out, but in the middle of the village. That is how it is in the Old Testament, and in this sense we still read the New Testament far too little in the light of the Old (467-468).

All throughout his life, Bonhoeffer daily saturated himself in the Word of God and it produced in him a heart that was submissive to the will of God. I admire his devotion to Scripture as the actual Word of God. I admire his discipline to find room for the Bible in his daily schedule. And I admire his obedience to live it out with fierce determination in the midst of a chaotic world of evil. May we all come to know God's Word in this way.

Spring Artswalk at REALITY

2012-02-17T14:58:00.000-08:00

This past week we finalized our church's plans for spring Artswalk happening Friday, April 27th. For those who don't know what Artswalk is, it is a 2 day celebration of art where the businesses of downtown Olympia open up their spaces to host art and artists of various kind- music, photography, painting, crafters, etc.

In addition to having some local art on display in our building, we are excited to host another Latte Art Throwdown before enjoying the music of Amanda Sue Winterhalter and Beth Whitney. If you are local, I hope you can come join us as we hang out with our downtown neighbors.

You can check out some of Amanda's work here.

And here's a video of Beth Whitney and her husband rocking the upright bass.

EP.2 Beth Whitney - LIVE at Columbia City Theater from Voortex Productions on Vimeo.

A Snapshot of Missional Community

2012-02-08T21:02:00.000-08:00

Among all the popular discussions about being "missional," it is easy to get lost in the formulas and strategies and lose sight of the big picture. Mission is about real people joining God in real life to make disciples of Jesus. I love how this video captures this heartbeat among our friends up north in Tacoma.

Soma Communities - Missional Community Profile - Tacoma, WA from Soma Communities on Vimeo.

The Best Part of My Day

2012-02-01T21:56:00.000-08:00

One of my most cherished childhood memories is actually not confined to one particular moment in time. It's not a purchased present, a lavish vacation, or an occasion of personal achievement. Rather, it is the regular pattern that was tied to our nightly bedtime routine. While there were times when a busy night overran the normal schedule, most nights were capped off by my parents coming to tuck my brother and me into the bunk beds of our shared bedroom. Then, with a meaningful prayer, a hug, and a kiss, also came the words from my dad who often laid down next to me on my bed... "Ah, the best part of my day." While it may not seem like much, I can't emphasize enough how those priceless words instilled the sense of value, worth, and significance that children crave.

Now, almost two decades later and with three kids of my own, it's my own deep desire to pass on this legacy and make the most of our bedtime routine. I know that not everyone had the luxury of a father who modeled this kind of spiritual leadership, but I would encourage every parent to start simple. It's the little things that make a big difference.

1. Pray: Each and every night, I pray individually for all three of my children. Before I leave their room at night, I lay my hands on their little bodies and lift them up to their Father in heaven. I pray for their health- physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. I pray for their sleep- that they would be filled with the peace of God and rest in His finished work. I pray for their protection- that Jesus would keep them from evil. I pray for their dreams- that their minds would be filled with things that are lovely and good. And while I pray for their present, I also pray for their future. I pray for their future spouses, their future education, and their future purity- that they would be men and women whose hearts are changed from the inside out. And last but not least, I pray that they would know of their need for a Savior and that they would come to know of His love at an early age. It's never too soon to pray for the people they are becoming.

2. Touch: Children need to know they are loved and there is power in loving touch. My kids love it when I climb up on their beds and spend some extended snuggle time. Hug, kiss, rub a back and help them actually feel your presence. And when you pray, know that there is something spiritual and powerful in the laying on of hands.

3. Bless: Both in your prayers and in your common conversations, never underestimate the power of your words. Affirm God's work in their life: they are made in the image of God, they are "fearfully and wonderfully made," they have unique gifts and personalities, and they are a heavenly gift. Tell them what you are proud of, encourage them in their successes and their failures, and find ways to connect their life to the One who has richly blessed us.

4. Listen: I must admit that my wife is much better at this one than I am, and you would be amazed how often her quick bedtime routine turns into an hour long talk-fest with the girls. One simple question often turns into 2,000 words and many tears (because some times little girls just need to cry). I am always amazed at what just how much my kids are dying to be heard.

Sometimes it takes 5 minutes and other times it goes much longer, but it's the best part of my day. And I know its a legacy worth passing on.

Rhythms of Grace

2012-01-31T21:51:00.000-08:00

A helpful thought from Eugene Peterson in Working the Angles:

The Hebrew evening/morning sequence conditions us to the rhythms of grace. We go to sleep, and God begins his work. As we sleep he develops his covenant. We wake and are called out to participate in God’s creative action. We respond in faith, in work. But always grace is previous. Grace is primary. We wake into a world we didn’t make, into a salvation we didn’t earn. Evening: God begins, without our help, his creative day. Morning: God calls us to enjoy and share and develop the work he initiated.

A Great Read on Marriage

2012-01-30T13:18:00.000-08:00

Over the past 12 years of marriage, Callie and I have occasionally selected a book to read out loud together to help foster deeper learning, discussion, and connection in our marriage. And while the book itself often isn't the most important element (because anything that sparks good dialogue in marriage is a win), in this case, we landed on a real treasure.

We are only a couple chapters into Tim Keller's latest book, The Meaning of Marriage, but we've found it to be both helpful and inspiring. Here's his premise at a quick glance:

"Through marriage, 'the mystery of the gospel is unveiled.' Marriage is a major vehicle for the gospel's remaking of your heart from the inside out and your life from the ground up. The reason that marriage is so painful and yet so wonderful is because it is a reflection of the gospel, which is painful and wonderful at once. The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope. This is the only kind of relationship that will really transform us. Love without truth is sentimentality; it supports and affirms us but keeps us in denial about our flaws. Truth without love is harshness; it gives us information but in such a way that we cannot really hear it. God's saving love in Christ, however, is marked by both radical truthfulness about who we are and yet also radical, unconditional commitment to us.... The hard times of marriage drive us to experience more of this transforming love of God. But a good marriage will also be a place where we experience more of this kind of transforming love at a human level.... Through the gospel, we get both the power and the pattern for the journey of marriage."

If you single or married, this could be a great discussion in your home. Check it out.

Advent

2011-12-06T20:11:00.000-08:00

As November drifts into December, it's time once again to prepare our hearts for Christmas through the Advent season. During our corporate gatherings at Reality, this means wreaths, candles, colors, readings, symbols, and other means to dive into the rich stories and symbols of Christ's birth. However, in an attempt to connect the meaning of Advent to our life as servants and missionaries in everyday life, here is a great resource worth trying.

25 Days of Giving - Reality LA

Creepy Hand

2011-10-30T18:24:00.001-07:00

Ever since REALITY moved into our new location almost 3 years ago (and our sign became a bit more prominent in downtown Olympia), I have heard a variety of people's reaction to it. Generally speaking, it is never good.

I have had many kind souls offer me a educational seminar on the historical facts of the crucifixion- that the Romans nailed people to the cross through the wrist and not the hand. I have had people call it the "creepy hand" and blog about the mysterious church in the Carnegie Building. And I have even had one woman yell at me that I should be ashamed of myself for displaying a "violent, graphic, and offensive" image. She suggested that we should go after a much more loving image than someone being brutally killed. I tried to explain to her that the crucifixion marks in the hand of Jesus is actually the most loving image I know. She didn't like that so much. So, you can only imagine why I typically brace myself for some heated conversation whenever the topic gets brought up.

I tell you all that because of this...

Last Thursday, a woman came to the church building during the middle of the day asking to talk to a pastor. She had recently moved to the area, was in the process of securing work, and had a number of significant challenges facing her and her almost teenage son. After letting her talk and hearing her story for quite a while, I finally asked the question, "If you just moved here, how did you come to find us? Do you know someone that is part of our church family?" Then she replied, "Well, you are never going to believe this" And with that she started to search through her pockets to show me something.

Initially, I wasn't sure what she was going to pull out. Being downtown has prepared me to expect just about anything. But, after checking a few pockets, she pulled out her cell phone and she showed me a picture she had taken. She said, "Back in March, when I used to live in Arizona, I took this picture and felt as though there was something very special about it." Then, as she turned the phone to show me, I saw that it was a picture of a hand with a shadow of light directly in the middle of the palm. She then went on to say, "I was walking downtown one day and I came across your sign. As soon as I saw your logo, I knew that I had to come check it out and that it would be a good place."

As I heard that, I chuckled and thought, "Score one for the 'creepy hand.'"

4 Questions

2011-10-27T15:47:00.000-07:00

As we have been re-visioning the direction of REALITY over the past few years, we have come to find these four identities to be central to who are as a church: Family, Servants, Disciples, and Missionaries/Ambassadors. Instead of tethering our people to core values (which are usually only spoken of and rarely lived) or a catchy mission statement (which may change and people tend to forget), we are calling our church body to live out the identities that Jesus has secured for us on the cross. These are not just ideals that we strive to attain- these are realities that Jesus has already accomplished on the cross. By His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, we ARE His children (family), we ARE His servants, we ARE learners who follow in His way, and we ARE a sent people to declare and demonstrate Him in the world. (Thanks to Soma Communities for helping bring us back to Scripture on that).

The only problem is that we fail to live out the fullness of who Christ has made us to be. What I have found in my own missional community and in the those of our church, there is a need for constant course correction in these as we tend to excel in 1 or 2 of these identities while neglecting the others that are most uncomfortable for us.

Here are some questions to help you see where there might be a need for some gospel correction in your life and community:

1. To Whom Do You Belong? Who knows you? Who has a right to call you out in your sin? With whom do you practice the "one another's" of the Bible? Who knows it is their job to remind you of our Father's love, grace, and affection? To whom are you accountable?

2. With Whom Do You Learn? Who do you process the truth of Scripture with? Who can you safely ask questions to and find solid answers from? Are there people in your life to make sure that you are a "doer of the Word" and not just someone who has made learning an end in itself? Are there people who are helping you be a disciple who makes disciples?

3. For Whom Do You Live? Who is on the receiving end of your time, talent, and treasure? Is the majority of your life built around yourself or specific people that you can bless? What do your conversations, calendar, and checkbook reveal?

4. To Whom Are You Sent? Are there people who do not know Jesus who are a regular part of your life? Who is the Spirit leading you to intentionally engage with the truth of the gospel both in word and action? Who are you making disciples of right now? Will they be able to make disciples of others?

If you can't name specific people, chances are you missing out on a dimension of healthy spiritual living that God has created you for.

The Goal of a Sermon

2011-10-24T19:39:00.000-07:00

Recently, I have been reading through a book that I picked up a while ago but haven't gotten the chance to make much headway in it- Preaching & Preachers by D. Martyn Lloyd Jones. Here's a thought that I am continuing to work out into practice.

Any true definition of preaching must say that that man is there to deliver the message of God, a message from God to those people.... In other words he is not there merely to talk to them, he is not there to entertain them. He is there- and I want to emphasize this- to do something to those people; he is there to produce results of various kinds, he is there to influence people. He is not merely to influence a part of them; he is not only to influence their minds, or only their emotions, or merely to bring pressure to bear upon their wills and to induce them to some kind of activity. He is there to deal with the whole person; and his preaching is meant to affect the whole person at the very centre of life. Preaching should make such a difference to a man who is listening that he is never the same again.... It does something for the soul of man, for the whole of the person, the entire man; it deals with him in a vital and radical manner.

This is the kind of approach that Tim Keller describes as "Preaching to the Heart." And, if I am honest about the evolution of my own preaching, it is something that I have been mindful of for only the past 3 years or so. When I go back and listen to some of my old sermons (which is torturous for any pastor), I find that I often relied upon moralistic imperatives that sought to induce change by leaning hard on the will (3 reasons why sin is bad and you need to stop sinning).

Now, if this becomes the goal of preaching- preaching to affect the whole person at the very centre of life- then my points, my stories, my alliterations lose significance for they have no inherent power to change people in the heart. Often I hear pastors lament that their people don't remember their points a week after they are preached. If I am honest, I don't remember them either, and I am the one writing/saying them. But, if in the preaching event, the truth of the gospel is brought to bear and people are changed on the spot by the power of Jesus, then the exact phrasing a week later is really insignificant.

In fact, I agree with Keller when he says that he knows the Spirt is really working in his sermons when people put down their pens and stop from their note-taking. It is a good sign that the person has just moved from the transmission of information to a moment with God.

Next time you listen to a sermon, I hope it results in transformation that leaves your soul changed.

Back From the Dead

2011-10-12T16:23:00.000-07:00

As of late last night, I am officially trying to do the impossible: bring this blog back from the dead. For the longest time, I have been locked out of this site because I had forgotten my password and had set up the account with an e-mail that I no longer have access to. But, after exhausting a long list of possible username/password possibilities, I cracked the code and regained access.

So... here's to a little "resurrection" of Resurrection Living.

6 Months

2009-01-31T21:44:00.000-08:00

It's been way too long since I have done anything on this blog. We'll see if a new year means more communication with others.

In the past few weeks, we have passed the six month mark of our official move to Olympia. Part of it may be this milestone and part of it may be the change of a calendar year, but I have found myself looking back a lot recently. In some ways I can't believe that is has gone this fast... and in some ways it feels like we have been in Olympia forever.

Regardless, I am a thankful man. I am thankful that God made our housing transition as painless as possible. We love our new house, our neighborhood, and this city that God has placed us in. We love that we can walk Kayla to school and that so many of her classmates are also our neighbors- living within walking distance around us. And last but not least, we love our church. We know that God matched us up for a reason and this year should prove to be a ton of fun. I am learning a lot- there will be some future posts for sure on that topic.

I am currently teaching through the book of Acts for our Sunday morning and evening services and we are working through the Psalms of Ascent on Thursday nights (Psalm 120-134). Feel free to listen along off our website - www.realityolympia.com

One of the biggest church issues we are working through right now is related to our building. Our current space is beautiful and has been a blessing to our church for the past years, but our lease is up at the end of March. We are outgrowing the space for adults and kids and have been in discussion with the owners of the old Carnegie Library (just 3 blocks east of our current space) for months now. Things have moved along tremendously well and we might be signing a 5 year lease for the new building as soon as next week. That will make for a busy next 2 months of painting, renovating, and cleaning but it should be fun. Keep us in your prayers!

Backpacks for the Kingdom

2008-09-30T14:14:00.000-07:00

Over the past few months of getting settled into a new church and new city, I have been praying for our church to find meaningful ways to live the gospel in Olympia. Shortly into my time here, I started getting to know an organization called the YC (Youth Connection) which is only a few blocks east of our location.

They are a "non-religious, non-profit" organization which serves the teenage/high school students of Olympia by providing community center care- food, tutoring, and a safe environment to hang out (pool tables, wi-fi, and lots of video games). Oh, and it just so happens that everyone that works there is a Christian...

A few weeks ago, one of the staff who comes to Reality often, shared their desire to provide school supplies and backpacks to the growing number of homeless teens they work with. They want to do whatever they can to help encourage these young men and women in the pursuit of school and education. So- hoping the best- I jumped on board and committed to 15-20 backpacks by the end of September.

This past Sunday marked the last church service of the month and the pile has now grown! I'm so thrilled with the response that we have had and look forward to bringing our 43 backpacks jammed with school supplies over to the YC. I pray that this is just one of the first steps Reality can have toward working with and loving those students... and the first step of many more to live the gospel in our city.

Home, Sweet, Home

2008-09-23T21:04:00.000-07:00

Finally, finally, finally - after 2 1/2 months, 6 houses, and a thorough tour of the Olympia area, we moved in to our new house this past Friday night. We had plenty of help from Reality people and knocked out the storage unit in a few hours. We have spent a lot of the weekend unpacking all the boxes and there still is plenty more to go- but... it's home.

It's amazing how a few months of not having a permanent residence makes you appreciate the simple things of life- knowing what cupboard/drawer the silverware and plates are in, having your clothes without wrinkles and hanging up, and best of all- really being able to exhale when getting home at the end of the day.

Thanks to all who help house or find housing for us.

For those of you "out of towners" - here's our new address:

1714 Pear St. NE Olympia, WA 98506

We are keeping just our cell phones without a home phone.

Oh- and did I mention that there's a spare bedroom open and waiting for whoever wants to come and visit!

Bumper Cars... Enough Said

2008-08-15T20:51:00.001-07:00

Vacation Fun in Seaside

2008-08-15T20:37:00.000-07:00

Our much-anticipated Jones family beach trip is now upon us. Talk about a recipe for success... 12 young cousins under the age of 8, the 3 original Jones kids (with spouses), Grandma and Grandpa, and one huge beach house overlooking the Pacific. What a great way to beat the heat and find some rest in the middle of our Olympia transition. Here are some fun pics of day one.

We Bought a House... No We Didn't... Yes We Did!

2008-08-12T22:01:00.000-07:00

So- following the fun that is our life... As I told you in my last post, we made an offer on a house, received a counter offer that was more than we wanted to swallow, and walked away on Tuesday trusting that God had something better for us.

This past Saturday night, while out on a much-anticipated dinner date with Callie (the kiddos were with Callie's parents), we received a phone call from our real estate agent. She was just calling to inform us that the seller had reconsidered our original offer and was now willing to accept it. We just smiled and laughed and are extremely excited about the prospect of closing on that house by September 18th.

These past 2 months have been an incredible ride of faith and truly like never before, nothing surprises me when it comes to God and His ways.

Oh- and Cam- there is an extra room waiting for Logan's "big brother."

We Bought a House... No We Didn't

2008-08-07T17:12:00.000-07:00

Just keeping you up to date on the Jones' house saga...

Last Thursday night we put an offer on a house that we have had our eyes on for the past several months. Because it is a "buyer's market," we offered $10,000 under the asking price and awaited a response. Maybe I should say that we patiently awaited their response.

Contractually, they were supposed to respond by Friday night. Friday night came and went with promises of news by Saturday. Saturday night came and went with promises of a Sunday deliberation. By Sunday night they were saying that we would hear by 12 noon on Monday. So, finally, some time Monday afternoon, they responded with a counter offer that was just slightly over our pre-determined limit. While we probably could have pushed it and made it work, we didn't feel right pushing our boundaries.

So, after all that- we walked away trusting that God has another house for us.

In the meanwhile, we are continuing our greater-Olympia house tour. First Tumwater, then the Westside of Olympia, then Tumwater again, then Lacey, and now a house out in the country toward Yelm until next Tuesday.

Please pray for us because living out of a suitcase for a month is wearing on all of us a bit.

Church as a Gift

2008-08-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

Even though I haven't been "doing ministry" for that long, over the past 9 years of pastoral ministry, I have seen in my own soul the best of serving the Lord and I have seen the worst. And one of the greatest challenges to every person in vocational ministry is to find the balance between self-effort and God's activity. One of the most common traps that is so easy to fall into is to buy the lie that any "success" or growth in a ministry is due to your own hard work, natural talent, and/or personal effort. You will often hear at pastor's conferences, "Yeah, I started out with only a handful of people and then I grew it to hundreds or thousands." Really, you grew it.

I have been reminded and humbled in this regard recently by my most recent job change and ministry assignment. As most of you know, I just moved up to Olympia to pastor a church that is bit over 2 years old with about 200 people in the downtown area.

And here's the beauty of it right now for me- this church is a gift of God by His grace... period. I was saying to my wife the other day. I have done absolutely nothing to earn, deserve, or merit this church. I can't even be tempted right now to take any credit because I haven't done anything but show up. The people aren't there because of me- they don't know me. They aren't gathering because of my great sermons- they've heard only a couple. I didn't plant this church, I haven't "grown" this church, and I have no claim to it. It belongs to Jesus. I am grateful for those who have gone before and labored to get it to this place, but again, it wasn't me.

Every day I come to serve and every chance I get to preach, I do so with thankfulness and joy because it really isn't my church at all. And I pray that as the years go on, I would remember that. When I am tempted to take credit down the road, may I remember that this is a gift. It doesn't belong to me and if anything of spiritual worth comes from it, all credit, glory, and honor must go to One who really is building His church... and that's Jesus.

Amsterdam on My Mind

2008-08-01T09:10:00.001-07:00

For the past few days, I have really been thinking and praying a lot about Amsterdam. A large part of that is due to the fact that there is a team of young adults over there right now carrying out a mission trip that I was going to be on if I didn't leave for Olympia. As I read their blogs, I can replay the sights, sounds, smells, and the emotions of being there with the team last year.

Mission trips are always profound times of spiritual growth for me. By being forced out of my routine and comfort zone, God always stretches, refreshes, and speaks to me in new ways. Last summer was definitely no different.

The other day I was going back and reading some of my journal entries from last summer's trip. It's amazing how that time shaped my heart, my views on incarnational ministry, my desire to reach the city, and gave me fresh reminders of the brokenness of humanity.

So- from Olympia this morning- I pray for:

-The conversations at Vondel Park to by marked by love and messages of Jesus

-The addictions and wounds of the Red Light District to be met by the freedom and healing of Jesus

-The darkness of the city to be overcome by the Light who is Jesus

-The prayer and worship of the saints to exalt Jesus because when He is exalted... things cannot help but change.

And I pray that the lessons I learned from my time of ministry in Amsterdam would change how I do ministry today in Olympia.

Daddy Dates

2008-07-28T21:03:00.000-07:00

In the midst of our changing, ever-moving lives, we have tried to keep some of the same routines from our life back in Vancouver. That has meant the continuation of our long-standing "Daddy Date" tradition.

Due to the way our week unfolded, Kelsi got to go first. She chose a lovely dinner with me at Red Robin, or "Red Robins"

as she calls it. I think she chose to go there because she has memories of us going there as a family back in Vancouver. After a wonderful cheeseburger meal, we headed over to the nearby mall where she got to pick out her favorite candy from the candy store. It took a while but she finally got the perrrfect bag of gummy bears. The end of the night found us at Toys R Us where Kelsi got to pick out a special toy to bring home. What a fun night with my Little Jo-Jo.

Kayla's turn came the following Saturday and we had a special lunch date at Johnny Rocket's- a 50's style diner in the Capitol Mall.

It was a similar place to the Stardust Diner back in Vancouver where we had been on previous dates. After lunch, we took in the latest Pixar movie, Wall-e. Once the movie wrapped up, we headed over to Toys R Us to equal the playing field from Kelsi's date. A Mary Poppins doll and a Buzz Lightyear toy for Logan later, we headed home.

I am always amazed at two things every time I do a Daddy Date. First, it blows me away to

watch the waitresses reaction at my girls when they learn they are on a "daddy date." I hear, "your daughter is so cute" every time. Second and most importantly, both my girls literally glow during our dates. They know they are so valued and loved and they get extra cuddly. I recommend it to every father in the world!

Sold!

2008-07-28T20:42:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to announce that our house in Vancouver has finally sold. And has it ever been a whirlwind of a week. Last Thursday morning (July 17th), we got a call from a realtor saying that he had a couple that liked our floor plan and wanted to show it that afternoon. By that night, they had been back twice and had made an offer that was very close to our asking price.

Due to their pressing need to get into a house by the end of July, we chose to do the impossible- pack up our entire house in 3 days, load a U-Haul the next day, and drive to Olympia to put it in storage to cap it all off. So, as of this past Saturday (July 26th), I closed the door on our Public Storage unit and wrapped up one of the most crazy weeks of my life. All our earthly possessions are now in Olympia and we are free to start formally pursuing some of the houses we have been keeping our eyes on.

Note to self- don't move for a long time.

Extra note to self- when you do move, don't try to do it all in 1 week.

Reason to Love Olympia #1 - The Waterfront Area

2008-07-10T17:02:00.000-07:00

I know I am being duped because I am moving here at the most glorious time of the year- but man, is the waterfront area of downtown Olympia spectacular when the the sun is out. Blue sky, blue water, and beauty.

The other night we packed up the kids and played a bit down at a play structure a few blocks from the church.

Here are some pics of the what I think

are the cutest kids in the world. You can see the Capital building in the background of the one with all of them.

A Full Week

2008-07-10T16:53:00.000-07:00

Though it may not seem like a big deal, this week is actually a huge one for me and my family. For the past couple of weeks, we (or I) have been doing the commute things back and for between Olympia and Vancouver. A service in Olympia one day, back down to Vancouver for the next few days. Another service in Olympia one day, and back down to Vancouver to wrap up life at Crossroads.

But, as of this past Sunday, July 6th, we are Olympians for a full week. Not only did I get to preach my first Sunday AM and PM, but we actually stayed in town after it. God has been very faithful to provide housing for us as we are basically crashing different people's homes who are on vacation. By doing that, we basically have free housing covered between now and the first part of August. We are so grateful for all those in Olympia who have welcomed us with open arms and literally given us so much to help in this process.

For those who care, here is our itinerary for the foreseeable future:

-Sunday, July 6th to Sunday, July 13th: Olympia @ Ben and Shaelyn Mead's house

-Monday, July 14 to Tuesday, July 15th: Vancouver @ home

-Wednesday, July 16th to ?: Olympia @ Zack and Randi Wilson's house

Oh, and be praying for our house to sell. We have shown it 12 or 13 times in the last 2 1/2 weeks, but still no official offers. We trust that God will take care of this, but it can be stretching some times when it feels like it is dragging on forever.

Off and Running

2008-06-20T16:28:00.000-07:00

Very early this morning, my wife and I returned from our first "official" time up in Olympia as pastor of Reality. I headed up Wednesday afternoon to be part of an elder's meeting and then spent Thursday morning driving around the great city of Olympia with a realtor. It was a great driving tour that allowed me to walk through a couple of houses we had found online and provided me with good insider information about the various neighborhoods, schools, and such.

By far, though, the highlight of the 2 day trip was Thursday night... the first official service of the church where I was able to share a bit of my story and answer questions from people in the church. It's really hard for me to put into words what all I was feeling that night. How do you explain the culmination of so much prayer, discussion, and waiting? Everyone was so warm and inviting and I think everyone could sense a bit of relief that the whole "search process" is now over. Without a doubt, good things are ahead.

I know that the next few weeks (hopefully not months) of commutting until the house sells will be tough - kind of that feeling of not being here and not being there. But I am so excited to start meeting a bunch of people and leading toward the mission that God has laid out for us.

Changes, Moves, and Transitions

2008-06-04T17:45:00.000-07:00

It's been almost a year since I last blogged on this site ... I guess it is time to dust off the keyboard and get back to sharing more of my thoughts, questions, and journey. A lot has changed in the past year - a lot has changed in the last week.

As of a week ago, I am now the new pastor of a church named Reality up in Olympia, WA. Over the next month, our family will undergo the transition of selling our house, wrapping up our duties here in Vancouver at Crossroads, and shift into the the new life God is calling us to up north.

I know more than a few of you guys from Olympia have checked out this blog to try and get to know the "new guy." Sorry that it has been so outdated that it was tough to get a good read on where I am at. I am really looking forward to sharing more of my thoughts and even interacting with you all here and other cyber-places as this transition thing moves on. If I could blink my eyes, get my house sold, and be all settled in Olympia, I think I would. But the better part of my heart knows that even this part of the journey is God-inspired and incredibly valuable.

To those in Vancouver- we will miss you tons.
To those in Olympia- we are so excited to meet our new family.

Please pray for us