That’s right Ethan had his first day at his new school in Liberty, in his new class, with his new teacher, and his new classmates. This is one of those tough days for Jill and I. The decision to GO to Liberty was a loaded one. We felt compelled by God to make this move. But in this moment when your son has to go to a new school and meet new friends, its difficult to not feel guilty. But, he is the smartest, most talented, & cutest kid.
On our way to school we recount our 3 goals for each school day: Make a new friend, Make good choices, and learn something new. I think he accomplished all of that today. If you watch the video to the end, you will see our neighbors taking their daughter to school. Ethan’s class is right across the hall from her class. It’s a lot of fun actually knowing our neighbors!
Yesterday, was a pretty incredible day at Restore. It’s actually the day that we have been anticipating for a long time. It began with celebrating where God has taken us as a church community over the last 533 days that Restore has been in existence. Then Troy unpacked what it looked like to go.
As a new church that has seen an average attendance of over 500 people, the right thing to do is for us to continue to move forward on the Jesus mission. We have an intense belief that what that means for Restore, is to reproduce. It’s part of our mission: Reproduce artists, leaders, and churches. It’s that whole thing about choosing to embrace change. Every place that Jesus went, he changed things. Lives were forever transformed, withered limbs were strong again, and those who had no hope discovered new hope. So when it came time for Jesus to move on, people begged him to stay. They loved having him around, I mean who wouldn’t? But there were those who needed to hear the good news, and so he would Go. Not only did he go, but was constantly sending his disciples out. I would have pushed back on that, I mean here is the messiah, why would I leave him. But there were those who havent heard.
So Jill and I are choosing to embrace the change, by going to Liberty to start Restore.
For me this is the opportunity to return home to the place where I grew up. But it’s more than nostalgia. We feel compelled to go and help people find their way back to God in Liberty, MO. Since last fall, we have been praying for God to show us what he is up to in Liberty. Where is he at work? Where is the need? Earlier this year we began community needs assessment interviews to begin to answer those question. We moved to town just a month ago and Ethan begins school on Wednesday. We have been trying to get to know our neighbors, because that is where going begins… in our neighborhood.
What has been overwhelming has been the fact that we aren’t going alone. This summer I have had many conversations with those who are at Restore who are embracing the change and going to Liberty. They aren’t going because it is a shorter drive on Sunday morning, but they feel that they are being sent. They have a deep sense that God is at work here that are compelled to be a part of that work. I have had conversation after conversation people are inspired to go and be on mission in their family, neighborhoods, and work place. People like Tracy…
Troy closed out the morning by encouraging everyone to go. For some going meant stay to go by stepping up to serve at Restore. For others, it meant to embrace the change and go to Liberty. Many people filled out cards stating where they were going. It was incredibly affirming and encouraging.
So what about you? Where are you going? Maybe God is speaking to you about that next step that you have thought was too outrageous. Maybe you are keeping change at distance. But, what would it look like for you to be sent, for you to embrace the change, for you to go? If you don’t know where, I have a place in mind…
So, I mentioned a while back that a big announcement was coming. This announcement is life changing. (but it doesn’t involve an addition to the family.) This has been a year of change, really. We finally sold our house, Jill became a manager for Starbucks, we moved to a new town, and this wednesday Ethan begins the 1st grade. To tell you the truth change is difficult. We gravitate towards what is comfortable, don’t we? We want things to be in a state where feel like we have control and understand what is going on. This week I was readin the first part of the book of Acts. It picks up where the gospels left off. The disciples are with a risen Jesus. This is the same Jesus who was crucified and then rose from the dead. Things are going great. The gang is back together again, except for that shady Judas. But, their understanding of a victorious messiah included overthrowing the opressive Roman rule. So they ask him:
This makes perfect sense, right? Why would Jesus come all this way, peforming miracles, subverting authority, and even rising from the dead. This was the idea that they were comfortable with. But, there was a bigger story going on here, and they didn’t have a clue. It was bigger then just them or their people. That is why the last words Jesus left with them was to wait and then to go. Wait for the Holy Spirit and then go. Go and be His witnesses… not just in Jerusalem, not just in Judea, not just in Samaria, but to the ends of the earth.
Wait.
Go.
That’s it for now. Wait for the big news and go to this page tomorrow. See you then!
I am a lot of things... a stay at home dad... an off site video producer for the Chapel.. a media arts director for Restore Community Church and a wanna be church planter. Read here to see what happens when all of this collides.
