Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Stuff I Would Be Doing...

...if this were a "normal year."

In past years I would have spent the last two weeks of December developing sermon outlines. It was always nice to start the new year weeks or months ahead on sermon prep. This year is different. I'm not devoting time to writing sermons because, quite frankly I don't know who those sermons would be for, nor when those sermons would be preached.

 All I've really done the past week or so is cook and clean. I may have a backup vocational option as a domestic waiting for me. But after Steve (and Sarah) and Kaycie (and Ben) leave us to return to their own homes, it's game on for Deb and me.

Next week it all begins. I'll be giving away books, and packing up the ones I don't. I'll be making multiple trips to the dump. I'll likely be delivering donated furniture to an in-patient mental health facility, taking our vehicles in to insure they'll be Alaska ready, and figuring out what absolutely, positively must be fixed before we turn this house over to new owners. (With a house built in 1912 it's a certainty everything needs to be fixed.)

And I will prepare to deliver a sermon, my final sermon for the church we will be leaving. That will be fun, and hard, and gut wrenching, and joyous. And I will pray for the people God may allow me to pastor in the future; unknown to me, but fully known by Him. All I know is that those people probably live in Alaska.

And I will continue to pretend life is "normal," even though it isn't and won't be again for quite some time.


Thursday, December 22, 2011

Things I will Miss, Part 3

I will miss Soteria Church. Throughout the past nearly seven years I have had the suspicion God had me plant this church primarily so He could do a work in my own life. I've just prayed throughout that no one else would get hurt in the process. I have learned a lot, primarily through my mistakes. There have been highs and lows, joys and sorrows, failures and successes. Some would say Soteria Church was my "baby," while others might say it was the scene of the crime. I would say it was all a work of God, and in spite of me.

I will miss meeting with the elders. We have often jousted like medieval knights but love each other and the church we are collectively called to lead and serve. I will miss Chuck's daily phone call check in's.

I will miss my Tribe who have truly become family and made our times together their priority. Seeing them grow in gospel fluency has blessed me. I will miss child-proofing the house each Thursday evening, and letting everyone know the beverage options even though they already had it memorized. I will miss how they knew to walk into the house without knocking, and how some made an immediate turn to the refrigerator.

I will miss our annual rafting trip on the Oregon Deschutes. I will miss writing sermons with Soteria Church's people in mind. I will miss driving down to the waterfront on early Sunday mornings to plead for God's mercies as I prepared to enter into worship and deliver a sermon. I will miss driving by other churches in town and asking God to give them hearts to worship in spirit and truth.

I will miss walking the streets of North Everett on Thursdays asking God to use us to make His own Name famous in town. I will miss gathering on Sunday nights with our men to pray.

I will miss the ones who came and stayed, and even the ones who came and left, for God has used all of them to teach me, humble me, and reform my heart.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Things I will Miss, Part 2

I will miss Everett. Our first 14 years in the area were spent in upscale Mukilteo, where we lived in a nice neighborhood and our children attended nice schools with other nice children. Five years ago we moved to Everett. Everett has been different, more eclectic, more interesting and entertaining, and I will miss this town.

I will miss the giant aircraft carrier parked nearby. I will miss hearing the harbor seals barking when the wind blows onshore. I will miss Kate's, the Irishman, Buck's and Terracotta Red. I will miss Everett Sports Performance on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. I will miss seeing people walking with their kids to evening hockey games.

I will miss local residents who decorate their yards for Halloween...and leave the decor up year round. I will miss evening walks with Deb in the marina after happy hour at Woodfire or Lombardi's. I will miss wondering if the sound I just heard was backfire or gunfire. I already miss my police scanner. I will miss friendly police and sheriff personnel who are never more than a minute or two away from responding.

I will miss my own neighbors who have become friends: Nelson and Dana, Kevin and Paula, Ghaly and Sue, Louise, Sharyn, Barb and Rhema, Pat and Carole, Mike and Melissa, and Dave and Jan. I will miss the monthly "Block Watch" potlucks and meetings in our home.

I will miss the men who pastor churches in our city. Scott Mitchell, Matthew Savage and Ken Sutton have been to me dear brothers and co-laborers, and none of them felt it necessary to point out the disparity in our ages.

And I will miss responding to people who ask, "You live in Everett? By choice?"


Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Things I will Miss, Part 1

We are soon to conclude what has been my second tour of duty living in the Seattle area; and a fine city it is. I know I will miss the view on clear days of both Rainier and Baker. I will miss seeing the Sounders games live. I will miss the sight of crew teams racing on local waters. I will miss the view of Seattle's downtown at dusk.

I will miss how the entire town is disabled when any snow falls (sort of) and the top story of the news day being "chance of snow." I will miss Jazz Alley. I will miss our two favorite restaurants the Metropolitan Grill and Palisades. I will miss reading the Seattle Times sports page each morning. I will miss seeing the Westin Office Tower in Belltown, as that building reminds me of when I had a "real job." I will miss the view from the top of the Space Needle.

I will miss the people I worked with downtown who did not love Jesus or His Church, but were my friends all the same. I will miss seeing my friends who pastor churches in the region with truth and grace. I will always appreciate how God educated me, humbled me and transformed me during my two stints here in Seattle.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Prospectus


Here is our Juneau church planting prospectus describing when, where, how and more importantly why we are setting out on this adventure.

Juneau Church Planting Prospectus

Moving on

In ways tangible yet mysterious God has directed Deb and me to leave Soteria Church in capable hands and relocate to Juneau Alaska to plant a new church.

We made our announcement to our church in October, and leadership transition is progressing in healthy ways. We are selling our house in Everett Washington and preparing to send our stuff via barge before boarding ourselves onto the ferry for a Juneau arrival on January 30.

This blog will serve as my record of our Alaska adventure and the joys and pitfalls of starting up a new church.