greggandcyndi

Moving Helper

Well we're moving to GA this month!  First, however, we're visiting family in the Quad Cities.  This means that we're packing everything now and loading up the 10th to drive the Uhaul to the Quad Cities, where there will be a POD waiting for us to unload into (and fill up with all the stuff we left back in the Quad Cities) which will be shipped to a yet undiscovered address in Braselton, GA.  Confused yet?  Though, as complicated as that may sound -it's going really smoothly and I'm not stressed out or anything.  I was telling a friend the other day that I've become a grown-up organized version of myself this past month and I think I'm actually going to be READY when we move. 

I made a calendar of what should be packed by when, which I'm ahead of -and I've kept all the paperwork and to-do lists together and organized.  Everyday I'm doing SOMETHING to get us closer to being ready.  Brennan has noticed I've become a little preoccupied with this, but today he decided that instead of literally pulling me away from whatever task it is I'm working on and chanting "Come on, come on, come on, come on, let's play, let's play, let's play, come on, come on, come on..." yes, instead of taking that route for the third week in a row, Brennan decided to help me label boxes.  Here are some photos capturing his very helpful nature...

freedom

there is a symbol at the center of the idea of our freedom as citizens of the U.S., it is the statue of liberty. it was given to the United States by France in 1885. one of the unique things about the statue is she is holding a tablet containing the text "JULY IV MDCCLXXVI" (July 4, 1776), it commemorates the date of the United States Declaration of Independence, the date the U.S. declared its freedom. in the declaration, we were communicating, once and for all, our freedom and our independence from the Kingdom of Great Brittan.

could you imagine the U.S. calling up the brits and asking them to take us back? that would be wierd. what would be the point? if we did, would we have to give back the statue? nevermind whether the French would actually want it back. if we called up the brits and told them we wanted to be ruled again, utterly dominated, mostly because we all want their accents, i am positive we would have to give back the statue, because the statue is the symbol of the freedom we have and the freedom we as a country give. we would have to give it back.

so what about the cross? do we have to give it back?

there is no doubt as U.S. citizens we take for granted and take advantage of the freedom we have. it is interesting to learn that many europeans now despise us as america because we seem so conservative, but the radical muslim world hates us because we are so liberal and immoral. either way, we treat the freedom we have as citizens of america as less than we should. in the same way, we neglect the freedom we have as citizens of the Kingdom of God.

more than 2 and 1/4 centuries ago we gained our independence from the Kingdom of Great Brittan. how long has it been since you gained your independence from the Kingdom of this World, and became a citizen of the Kingdom of God. and do you take your freedom seriously.

so many times i have gone back. i have forgotten my freedom, or worse, used my freedom to revolt. check this out:

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery-Galatians 5:1

if the Kingdom of God were the same as the kingdom of this world, all of us would have been hung for treason by this day in our lives, and we would have had to give the cross back; but this is one thing that can never be taken from us.

glenn packiam told a story about immigrants in the early years of our country. he talked about how people would come to this country and when the officials would ask them their native language, they would reach back and get a piece of scripture in their same tongue and hand it to them saying, "no one can ever take this away from you."

the cross is something no one can ever take away from you, not even you. the cross is a gift given permanently by the only true giver. let us, with every breath we have, cling to the cross and never, in our hearts or actions, try to give it back.

dealing

poker has gotten huge over the last couple of years.  i love watching the world series of poker on espn because you get to see what they can't all see: everyone's cards.  i love it when someone gets a monster hand and pulls down an awesome pot, having pulled others in too much. 

but what is most impressive about poker is the bluff.  the best is when you can see that someone at the table clearly has the worst hand, but bluffs his way through, getting others to put their money in, then further bluffing and getting them to fold.  i love this because people say that your life all depends on the cards you got dealt.  and i say that's bull.  sometimes you can do more with crappy cards than with the best cards...why?  because it's all about how you play them.

a good friend of mine sent me these questions in the wake of ted haggard's fall:

What is the atmosphere like?  What's going on in the church?  I . . . would be interested in your feel/take on things there.  I'm . . . looking . . .  for your take on how people (you included) are dealing with this.

the best way i can put it is that we have been given some pretty crappy cards and now we get to see what we can do with them.  and the honest truth is i am amazed at how the pastors, leaders and church members are playing them.  one of the things we have been taught here is that:

Situations don’t either make you or break you; they simply expose you for who you are.

and this church and its leaders are being exposed as great leaders.  the atmosphere is of course somber in light of what has happened, but on sunday morning, pastor ross announced that we were going to have a family meeting and 6,000 people immediately stood up and gave that truth an ovation.  this is exposing this church for what it is, and what i see so far is that it really is a healthy family that is choosing to pull together rather than break apart.

what's going on in the church is their will be meeting this coming monday and all the members will vote for 6 (3 men and 3 woment) to be on a search committee along with the three utmost senior staff members. they will choose a canidate and if he is approved by at least 3 of the 4 overseers, he will preach in all the services for three consecutive weeks, then there will be another monday night meeting for a vote. the person will need a 2/3  majority vote to be called. otherwise, the search committee will choose someone else and the process continues.  i think there are a lot of people that think it will be people from within, but you never know.

one of the biggest ways people seem to be dealing with it is personal examination and tightening connections with those they trust.  the fact remains: we are all sinners, fallen short of the glory of God.  we forget that.  we all have secrets that need to be let out with someone we trust.  this is a lesson ted used to preach, that there is no such thing as a secret, and i believe he knew it would come out eventually, it could have been now, or it could have been in heaven, but like pastor ross said on sunday, he believes we are all better off for knowing now.

it is amazing to see how hopeful people seem to be.  it's amazing just how much of a family this place really is.  it's amazing how well they are playing these cards...because from the outside it looks like the worst hand you could be dealt, but they probably couldn't be dealing with it better

the dealer deals, how would you play it?

 

imploding influence

the very first lesson we were taught on our first retreat as school of worship students was, "there are not secrets."  everything done in the dark will be brought to the light.  the overseers for the church released this statement:

November 4, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Life Church
Colorado Springs, Colorado

We, the Overseer Board of New Life Church, have concluded our deliberations concerning the moral failings of Pastor Ted Haggard. Our investigation and Pastor Haggard's public statements have proven without a doubt that he has committed sexually immoral conduct.

The language of our church bylaws state that as Overseers we must decide in cases where the Senior Pastor has "demonstrated immoral conduct" whether we must "remove the pastor from his position or to discipline him in any way theydeem necessary."

In consultation with leading evangelicals and experts familiar with the type of behavior Pastor Haggard has demonstrated, we have decided that the most positive and productive direction for our church is his dismissal and removal. In addition, the Overseers will continue to explore the depth of Pastor Haggard's offense so that a plan of healing and restoration can begin.

Pastor Haggard and his wife have been informed of this decision. They have agreed as well that he should be dismissed and that a new pastor for New Life Church should be selected according to the rules of replacement in the bylaws.

That process will begin immediately in hopes that a new pastor can be confirmed by the end of the year 2006. In the interim, Ross Parsley will function as the leader of the church with full support of the Overseers.

A letter of explanation and apology by Pastor Haggard as well as a word of encouragement from Gayle Haggard will be read in the 9:00 and 11:00 service of New Life Church.

this is an extrememely sad day.  the secrets committed in the dark have been brought to the light and a huge part of me wishes they hadn't. 

listen to me.  if you have never listened to me before, listen now.  you need someone in your life that you can tell absolutely everything to.  you need to get this.  don't skim over it.  get someone now.  and be completely honest.  don't leave anything out. 

shortly after we moved here, pastor ted was preaching from 1 samuel, from the story about saul losing the kingdom and about how david was going to be chosen.  ted talked about how if saul had done what is right, his destiny would have been fulfilled, but since he disobeyed God, his ministry and future would be given to someone else.

ted referred to jimmy swaggart.  he talked about how he was still annointed, he still spoke the truth in a powerful way, its just that noone listens to him.  his ministry and future has been given to others to accomplish.  he quoted jimmy as having said, "who could jimmy swaggart tell?"  and ted said he should have told anyone, the mailman, anyone.  and now...we see that ted should have told someone.

there will be others that will stand up and recieve ted's ministry, his influence, his future, and God will still succeed in his plans, but for right now, it looks as though ted haggard, sadly, will not be a part of it.

completely and totally unbelievable

it is completely and irrevocably inconcievable that pastor ted haggard had a homosexual affair and used methanphedamines, but today an email was released saying that pastor ted had admitted to some wrongdoing, but was not specific about what wrong was admitted to. 

i literally feel like i'm going to wake up any minute.  i woke up this morning and had to ask myself if i had been dreaming all the accusations.  it is just so unbelievable.

i am charging all those who read this to pray for pastor ted haggard, his wife and his 5 children (4 boys and 1 girl). 

i have never met and gotten to learn from, on a consistant basis, someone i respected more as a christian leader, teacher and pastor than ted haggard.  we know that what is revealed about his involvement in the coming days, will effect his influence and leadership in the kingdom of God.  we are praying, that even though a sin is a sin, that he was only involved in a minor and explainable way, so that he will be able to maintain a level of leadership and authority in the church.  this is a man far too wise to lose and to disappear completely from the church.

pray.  pray in the name of Jesus.  pray in the Spirit without ceasing.  mourn with those who mourn.  rejoice with those rejoicing.  pray.

thank you

It’s Colorado! That is pretty much my response when I’m asked how it is going. Yesterday I was standing in the parking lot of New Life Church, looking at Pike’s Peak. The sun wasn’t shining where I was standing, but the clouds broke over the mountains and it seemed like I could see every detail; I stood amazed at the beauty of God’s creation. And the thought crossed my mind; I would not be here except for the people who love us and helped us.

It has been incredible to see how God has provided for us as we have made one of the biggest decisions of our lives. And it is so important you understand you have been an important part of God’s provision. Even though there is probably no decision we have made as a family that has been this big, as we have been here less than a month, we already know it has been one of the best decisions we have made. 

Cyndi and Brennan and I have been getting settled in at the home of Linda Hayes. Linda is the wonderful woman that has opened her home to us and rented her basement to us. The basement is four bedrooms, a living room and a full bathroom. Cyndi and I have our own room, Brennan has his own room, Brandon Taets (a good friend of ours from the QC that is also attending the school) has a room, and we use the extra room for studying.

School has been very challenging, yet very enjoyable and rewarding. I have received positive feedback from instructors and am very excited about being mentored over the next year.

Every opportunity will be taken advantage of in the next year, and your prayers and financial support are deeply appreciated, because, in a very real way, you are helping us be here. You are a part of what God is doing in our journey and I am sure you are anticipating how God will use us in the future as much as we are.

God Bless and Thank You!

ouch

i have been in colorado for about 2 weeks now...my triceps are killing me, it hurts to laugh because my abs are hurting, and i get up way too early in the morning, but to be honest...those are my only complaints. 

for those of you that don't know...God is awesomes.  I enjoy the classes and the teachers...not to say i don't freak out at how much reading and quizzes there are, but still, it is great.

i am so constantly being challenged.  oswald chambers spanks me in the morning and then i go to class and am majorly challenged.  every part of this is going to stretch every part of me.  and i need it greatly.

this morning as i was attempting--and not accomplishing--to do 100 push-ups, and running 1 1/2 miles and running 5 wind sprints, i got really frustrated...not with the work out, or with austin pyle, the work out leader, not with the people that were late and so we had to do extra wind sprints, but with myself.  i used to be in shape.  maybe not that awesome of shape, but it was a good shape...and then, while i'm running and feel like i'm going to vomit up a lung, it hits my heart how out of shape i am spiritually.

it's weird.  dying while running, you would think, would cause me to be upset and ponder how out of shape physically i am, but i can't help but think about my spirit and my relationship with god in those moments.  they are breaking moments...moments that make me sick...that i am so far, that i have been doing ministry in this condition for a long time, that i could have been so much more effective.

but i am on my way.  i will be stronger in more ways than one.

strike up the band!

as most of you know, i am now attending the new life school of worship.  cyndi and brennan will be pulling into town in the next two hours, and this picture pretty much sums up my expectations for the year.  joy

last day

today was my last sunday at faith lutheran as the youth and family minister.  i had intended to stay until later this month, but i can understand that that church wanted to get things moving for what they will do now, so i can respect their decision for this to be my last day.

i'm going to miss those kids so much.  i cried so much today.  they really were a great bunch, and the parents were some of the best you could get. 

seeing how much people love us makes it hard to move, but we are sure...we are positive...we are resolute that this is the right direction.  the support has begun to come in and God is already knocking my socks off.

please pray for continued faith and trust in the God that owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

new life

well, i just told my pastor i am resigning to go to the New Life School of Worship.  it actually went pretty well.

i pray for him and for my church.  i know there will be a lot of people disappointed that we are leaving, but we know we are supposed to go.

please pray for us as we raise support, about $23,000, for tuition and moving and living expenses.