So, here it is... a wind-down to 2008... and the final mind-dump of the year. A few things are rolling off the top of my head, this evening... probably because I'm headed home from the office (I have a meeting each Sunday evening at 9:00 pm with The Village guys- then usually get caught doing office work and writing and other things until about 2:00 am or 3:00 am, since late at night is the only time my phone doesn't ring. By the way, in the event that you want to call it, too, and add to the 200-plus calls coming through each day, the number is 205.22...).
Wow, what a rabbit trail there! Here's the dump:
Began blogging, facebooking, and twittering all this year. Oddly enough, it's remarkable that all of these potential time-wasters have come in great use for us. We're using the blog, now, to connect volunteers to real-time ministry that's going on (we're praying and planning and working towards revival in the heart of our great city). We have 2,500 pounds of food landing at our warehouse each week... we have an intern starting first of the year (next week!), and we have an army of volunteers that is building and gaining momentum. Much of that is happening through the media of these three opportunities. So, we'll keep using them and see how it rolls in 2009.
Had the "I'm a grown up man" speech given to my by a village guy for the, likely, 666th time. And, that's about what I feel about the speech. Usually, I hear it when we give a guy correction from something stupid he has done (i.e., "don't tell me to quit drinking... I"m a grown man. I know this has cost me my wife and family... and will cost me my job... but, who are you to tell me what to do...? It just one grown man talking to another..."). Usually, I respond with something smart and quick, out of frustration. Tonight, I actually stood with the men and talked to them about being a grown man and what it means per the Scripture. It was a great time and I think some of them saw some things they had not seen (Of course, one or two are still wondering on what basis one grown man would say to another...).
I'm excited about the 21 days of fasting that we're running out of
The Downtown Church- it starts on 1/4 (a Sunday) and cranks through 1/25 (another Sunday). At that point, we'll have a feast after the morning worship service. If you want to learn more about this, you can follow the notes on this site.
This means that we will take a break in the Gospel of Mark series. We'll get back to it first of February. For the next few weeks, I'll be teaching on fasting- as we do it. (By the way, in what could be a purely stupid move or an act of genius- not sure which- we'll be posting the notes on fasting on this site before we teach them. That way, you can study and come prepared. Of course, the audio files will go up afterwards. You can, for instance, get the notes from the lesson today, Lesson 01,
by going here).
During this fast, we're doing the following things: updating this blog with prayers and prayer requests... and answers, meeting to pray at the warehouse in our prayer room (around the clock prayer, for 21 days- sign up next Sunday and thereafter to jump in and stand watch in the room at some point for a 1-hour shift at least, pray at various places around the downtown area that we feel to be strategic to what we're doing. We'll post the sites via Twitter- and on this blog. So follow me there (
or hit this link), if you're twittering.
By the way, the Southtown progress is coming quite nicely (don't know if that sentence even makes sense, but you catch the drift). Ministry teams are forming, leaders are stepping up... new musicians are lining up to fall into the band... I think God is going to do something incredible.
We should be up on iTunes later this week. And, of course, you can subscribe to the podcast on this site. We'll upload audio of teaching and of worship- and even post the videos from some of the things we've shot. Look around and see what you can find. This is going to be a great interactive site for us- I'm hoping you'll use it.
Had a great evening with Clint & Traci Wagnon, some of our dear friends that were here when we began The Downtown Church. Since then, Clint has gone on to plant a church in Orlando, Florida called
Crossway. (By the way, we help plant churches like this all the time through the Developing Churches Network.) Be praying for them- he has a dad that has just called in hospice and is also navigating some issues at his church related to property & meeting space, as well as bold leadership into the missional harvest set before them. It was great to hang out with them and laugh and share too large of a meal together. By the way, we have 5 kids and they have 4- so our house became a bit like a zoo. Great times!
Feeling amazed and blessed that I get to do this. Was just reflecting that it was about a year ago that God told me to quit the other job I was working at a local rehabilitation center- and go downtown to work. Not sure what we would do, or how it would go, I have been amazed at His provision, at your passion and energy, and at the opportunities that He continues to set before us.
I'll post more later this week about details of some of the above... Look for Pastor Rodney to hit some updates as well. Due to the ease of posting on this new site, we'll have more coming at you.
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