Signs of Things to Come

by | November 21, 2009 | Uncategorized

We spent the weekend with Mark and Linda Derringer and their girls (visiting us from Orlando, FL). Had a great time connecting with a family that we love, admire and respect.

Mark is a great head of their home. He works hard to provide for his family and loves Linda and the girls deeply. Linda is an incredible mother and role model for the girls. They, like us, have four children. Their girls range from pre-teen to twenty years old. They have lived through what we are experiencing right now. The absolute joy of raising four kids. They have also experienced the stress and challenges of raising little ones.

Our oldest, Max, is almost six. Our youngest, Ben, is ten months old. Sandwich them with Mary (four) and Jack (two) and we have a very busy household. Spending time with Mark and Linda was so good for us. Besides just getting to reconnect with great friends, we had a preview of what our life is going to be like in the not-so-distant future.

I love seeing the love Mark and Linda have for each other. I love seeing the way that their investment into their children has returned in amazing children. Spending time with them gives us encouragement to just keep doing what we’re doing. Keep investing into our marriage, loving our kids, teaching them about Jesus, disciplining them and encouraging them.

So grateful for friends. So grateful for the past three days with the Derringers. Sad to see them go. Glad to know they are still a part of our lives, even from a distance.

I Love Doing What I Do

by | November 18, 2009 | Uncategorized

I am in a season of life that I am working toward the realization of dreams that have been in my heart for years. It’s amazing because I am seeing dreams come alive in front of my eyes every day.

All of these dreams include people. Lots of people. People I know and people I am still to meet. I don’t want to do this alone. I don’t want my family to live life alone on a self-created Docusen Island. God has blessed Dara and I with a like-minded group of people that share common dreams for their lives. We are all very different. But we are all working toward the same goals. Generosity. Compassion. Creativity. Love. Friendships. These are just some of the values that are at the core of who we are and what we hope to become.

I love doing what I do. And what I “do” is LIFE with an amazing group of people that encourage me to chase my dreams and enjoy the ride along the way.

We’re All In This Together

by | November 16, 2009 | Uncategorized

Dara and I moved here in July, 2008 to start pursuing this dream from Orlando, FL. We had no idea how God would form the team that he intended to help us start Center City Church.

Jerred and Randi Peacock just moved this weekend to Charlotte from Orlando, FL.
Will Morgan moved over the summer from Jacksonville, FL.
Clark and Salina Beasley are coming early next year from Atlanta, GA.
John and Ginny Gum moved early last year from Orlando, FL.
Chelsy Zick is moving next week from California.
Liz Chinchilla is moving in the coming months from Lakeland, FL.
Ben Getz moved here a couple of months ago after graduating from Radford University (Virginia).
Sarah Gailit moved here a couple of months ago from Orlando, FL.
Patrick Bader moved here over the summer from Lakeland, FL.
Brandon Docusen moved here over the summer from Orlando, FL.

I celebrate our team so much because it’s completely impossible for me to even think about starting a church without a group of people that love and care for each other. Those that have come from out of state join an amazing group of friends that we have made in Charlotte. We love each other. We look out for each other. We dream together. And we are seeing miracles happen all around us as we continue to move forward.

We’re all different. And we’re all in this together.

Moving to the Center of the Board (Part 2)

by | November 15, 2009 | Uncategorized

A couple of months ago, I wrote a blog called “Moving to the Center of the Board”. I explained that a basic strategy in chess was to control the center of the board. If you can accomplish this simple plan, you are in prime position to attack or defend. I related that to the fact that Dara and I felt God’s call to move to Uptown Charlotte (the community where we are planting Center City Church). We believed that he was moving us to the “center of the board” in Charlotte. This move would help us understand our culture better, quickly react to the needs of our community, etc.

We had an amazing door open at a beautiful townhome in Uptown. Perfect location. Less than a half mile from the school we wanted Max to attend. And that door promptly slammed in our faces days before we were to move, leaving us confused and wondering if we had heard God clearly.

Fast forward a couple of months. We are still living 20 miles north of Uptown Charlotte. That same door opened again. Or maybe God’s been propping it open all along. But the bottom line is that we just signed the papers on the same home that we attempted to get three months ago. Only difference? It’s $200/month less than it was originally.

We move into our new home on December 1st. I’ve learned along the way that God knows what he’s doing at all times, even if it is confusing to us. So excited to finally move to Uptown!