Almost There

By the time you read this, my next support letter should be ready for printing. Better extraordinarily late than never...? You be the judge.

This has been one of those weeks that seemed really busy until I looked back on it. Perhaps I did too much thinking about the future and that made things seem busy. Or maybe I just don't have the stamina for work that I once did, especially now that I don't have a regular work schedule. Anyway, it seemed like a busy week, but it probably wasn't.

Mandi and I are looking forward to our trip to Thailand. We are also looking into a fun idea which will help us connect to you in person. We have been throwing around the idea of traveling around the country to places where we know people, and putting on house parties to share our vision for missions with small groups in a warm and familiar setting. I have just begun recording my first album, and by the time we would start these house parties, I would be able to perform a number of the songs as a part of the gathering. Honestly, I love the idea of community and missions, bringing together like-minded people around the idea of the great commission. Realistically, if we were able to act on this idea, it wouldn't happen until August, maybe September. If you like this idea or would be interested in hosting one of these in your home, anywhere in the country, please let me know via comment or the email address toward the top of the screen.

So feel free to wait beside your mailbox for my new letter, unless I don't have your address. Please, if you want a letter, make sure I have your current information. Thanks.

Weekly, schmeekly

Man, I've already set myself up for failure with this whole regularity in blogging thing... Better slightly late than never, though, I suppose.

So the big news from this week is that I bought tickets to Thailand! This is just for a survey trip, check the place out, meet a bunch of people, see if it all really clicks with me. There is a retreat for all the Pioneers people in the region scheduled for the time I'll be there, so this should be a great time to really connect with a lot of folks. And here is the very best piece of news: Mandi is coming along! I asked her to think about coming along on this trip even though things didn't look monetarily, but God came through in the way of a nice tax return, and within the week I had purchased TWO tickets (at a great price, I might add.) This whole decision had blessing written all over it, and I'm stoked about it. If ever there were a good test of our relationship, flying and lay-overing for 28 hours should get nerves frazzled and let our true colors out. Could be interesting! (Do I smell a reality TV series? If so, we can exaggerate every reaction and emotion to make for better television. Let me know if you have funding for something like that...)

I now have 130 people in my Facebook prayer group, which is awesome. I didn't know how many people would be in to joining another group, but there was a significant response, which is great. So again if you're a Facebooker, click here to join my group.

It's been a busy week, and this week is going to be busy as well. However, I'm still hoping to get a fresh letter sent out for your reading enjoyment. Again, if you think you might have been left off the mailing list, please send me an email at the address at the top of the screen.

This week pray with me that the prayer and financial partners I need will keep coming in. Recessions don't affect God's work because He has infinite resources. Also pray that I remember that He's in charge and not me.

Thanks for praying. Cheers.

Practical Points

I have this goal to update my blog every Monday morning. So far I'm only about 12 hours late for this week, but next week I'll be on top of it. Hopefully.

Last Thursday I had a great talk with my Pioneers people, asking for advice on a few key items. Probably three or four months ago I reached a point where I had exhausted my list of connections that could help me build my support team. It was around that time that I met Mandi, and surprise of all surprises, I got a little distracted. (And with good reason, methinks.) So I got some suggestions regarding what to do next, which I'm hoping to implement as soon as possible.

First, I need to increase my list of prayer-supporters. Now, unfortunately, I've been horrible with communication, so those people on my email-list haven't been receiving updates at all, so there may be some of you on my list who've never received anything from me, aside from my very first letter back in July. I'm planning to get an update email and letter out within the week, so if you're already in my database, you're good to go. However, I suspect it's going to take a couple weeks to really see who's on the list and who I've forgotten. If you don't hear from me in the next couple weeks, please contact me so I can get you onboard.

For my Facebook-addicted friends, I've started a Facebook group for those interested in walking alongside me in prayer. Within the first three days I have almost 120 members in my group, which is fantastic. If you're interested in joining the group, please click here. I plan to update that page every Monday as well, and while much of the same information will be displayed on the Facebook page and this blog, it is certainly worth checking out. If you don't have a Facebook account you can still check the page, but you will not receive word of updates or be able to participate in discussions. Check it out.

Another new idea is much more participatory for all of you. I'm interested in gathering people together to build community around missions (specifically mine, but others are more than welcome to partner with me in this. In fact, I would encourage it.) I've been thinking it would be great to gather people together for some fun, perhaps a time of free worship, and I could share some Pioneers media with the group, explaining what I will be doing with Pioneers. What I need are people interested in hosting a gathering in their home, and suggestions for ways we can make this an enjoyable experience. This could be a chance to bring people together in a unique and God-honoring way. Think about it.

Also, if you have a connection with a church body who would be willing to hear about my Pioneers work, I could really use the connection. I would love to present at your church, but if I'm not able to be there, I can get you any presentation tools you might need to present on my behalf. Obviously I would love to present in person, but sometimes it just won't work out in an ideal fashion. Let me know if you have a connection.

And as always please be praying that the support I need will come in, and that I will be patient in the meanwhile. Stay in touch by commenting or emailing me at the address in the picture at the top of the page. (Trying to avoid printing the address to avoid those sneaky spammers.) Thanks so much, and God bless!

Back on track!

Good day to you all!

So I recently had to do some serious thinking and praying about where my life is going right now. From last April until late November I had no doubt whatsoever that I was supposed to raise prayer and financial support in order to go overseas and make videos about what God is doing through Pioneers. There were no distractions, and my vision was singular. Then God decided to have a little fun with me and introduce me to an incredible girl named Mandi. Up until November I didn't have anyone but myself to think about, which has often seemed like an advantage to me. Being single gives you certain freedoms of movement, certain freedoms of lifestyle. However, at the introduction of my significant other, I was forced to add another variable (albeit a very cute and important variable) to my life's equation. So instead of responding to the challenge of new perspective, I kind of dropped off the face of the earth, neither moving forward nor backward toward my goal of working with Pioneers.

A little more than a week ago I realized that this doesn't have to be an either/or process, but God, in His infinite wisdom, is quite capable of orchestrating whatever He thinks is best. I'm convinced He still wants me to pursue work with Pioneers, and in light of that I'd like to announce that I'm back on track! I've definitely neglected those of you who have pledged support, and for that I apologize. I know I've said it before, but I plan to have a new letter out soon with current stats and prayer requests. I also had some magnets printed up with my pretty mug on them so you can put it on your fridge and remember the guy who has so unjustly neglected you all. Believe me, I love all of you with Christ's brotherly love, and look forward to communicating more frequently as I pursue the ideas and people God has placed in my life. And please feel free at any point to give me a verbal or textual slap upside the head if I ever drop off the edge again.