My Church Rocks

I finally found a decent coffee-shop in N. Austin-Primo 360. Glory to the Most High God for this discovery.

Life is going well. I’m so grateful for what God is doing with Help End Local Poverty & Vista Church.

This past week we ran out of chairs at Vista. So many new people are coming and we are starting to see unchurched folks find Jesus. Last night some folks got together and prayed for Zimbabwe, Egypt and S. Africa among other things. We have Com Groups getting together and feeding the homeless and serving the poor. I love it. God is doing something great. We have this organic missional DNA going on and so much of what is happening is not because of some leader but its more the community who simply desires to do something great for God and we (leadership) cheer them on as best as we know how.

Yet Jeff and I feel so messy and clueless. We feel like we let people down and forget to do things and our website needs to be updated and we forgot to call this person back or meet with that person over there. It’s never ending…I feel so inadequate…I’m weak and He is strong 🙂

Another words no man can take credit for what God is doing…I love it.

We have many hurdles to overcome and we are still a small church (130-160). But this time six-months ago we were 70 (ish). Let’s just say Leadership Network won’t be calling anytime soon! But Jeff and I feel like we are finally seeing the vision come alive. So fun. That being said, I feel completely exhausted. I have no energy. I hate it. Very rare do I lack energy. I’m trusting in the Lord that I will “get back to normal” soon.

Until then I will suck down some coffee and push forward enjoying the goodness of God and the fruit of the Kingdom.

Are You On Mission?

I’m currently hanging out at The Flightpath Coffee House in Hyde Park. I gotta say the naked pictures on the ceiling are making me a bit uncomfortable at the moment and the grouchy barista is somewhat funny and frustrating-we come to cafes to enjoy life right?

Charles and I hung out and caught up on all things church and Austin, fun times for sure. I really feel alive when I come to the city, I love the people, the creativity and yet it’s so obvious that we live in such a broken and fractured world. I feel like we pastors are on the edge trying to grab the hands of those who are falling and struggling and feeling hopeless. We want to create communities of faith-men and women who refuse to allow their city to be far from God.

My prayer this morning was this: “God allow me to live in the mess of this world and somehow help people find the real Jesus.” The Jesus that brings redemption, love, grace and hope.  What if we lived our entire life based on that prayer? Our time, money, gifts, material possessions, homes, businesses etc. What if we did that? Do you get the feeling that God is searching for people who will commit to that kind of living?

I want mission to be the core principle that drives everything I do.