The process of fundraising has been such an exhilarating and challenging ride. We are about to embark on our second round of packets that we will send out to family, friends and churches all over the country. The response so far has been overwhelming. We still have a ways to go, but God has shown himself so very faithful to this point.I am so humbled and amazed every time we get a donation - large or small. I never take for granted the fact that people could be using that money for so many other things, yet they decide to invest into our family. I am motivated to work hard and stay focused...

So good to arrive home tonight. There is just something about crossing the state line into North Carolina that does something in our hearts. It's cool to feel like we're coming home. Today was filled with lots of driving, kids who don't like being couped up in the car for 10 hours and brief moments of sanity for Dara and I when all three take naps.We're back. So glad to be home.

It has been great to be in Orlando, but I'm ready to head home to Charlotte. It's funny to hear myself saying that, but it's so true. I have spent the better part of today steam cleaning our carpet and getting ready to show our place on Monday to this couple from out of state. If you pray...PRAY FOR US! They are interested in renting from us for a while to see if they like the area and then would potentially buy our condo if they like the area.Settling things up here would be such a relief and allow us to really focus solely on Hope Church and getting on with our life in Charlotte. What a...

So today really proved to be an unexpected day of decisions. We turned around in Daytona to come home and make some minor improvements to our home after hearing of some pretty serious interest from an out of state couple. The next couple of days will include getting real estate documents ready in case of an offer and general cleaning and such.I truly believe that God is teaching me so much through this process. I don't like it - let me start with that. However, I'm grateful for the experience because it's forcing me to depend on God at a level that I've never known. It's weird for me because...

The Docusen fam departed today around lunchtime pointed in the direction of North Carolina. We got a phone call that changed our plans once we reached Daytona Beach. We have a couple that is interested in our condo so we have returned to Orlando to try to figure out the details and see if this is it.Please pray that God gives us wisdom and direction as we make some pretty major decisions in the next 24-48 hours with our condo. My prayer is that God would be "a lamp to guide our feet and a light for our path."

I am reading through 2 Kings right now and it is so very interesting to me. The main thread is that the kings who honored God were blessed. The kings who disobeyed God's clear instructions lived in unrest and turmoil. It seems so simple when we read it as an observer. JUST FOLLOW GOD! However, I think it is simply human nature to want to go our own way. I feel it every single day. I think the kings that honored God had the same temptations, but a different decision. They chose to honor God.My choice today, and every day, is to honor God or go my own way. I feel like God is letting me see the...

It has been great to reconnect with our friends and family here in Orlando. I was chatting with Dylan York today (of Band Marino fame...check them out) and it was neat to hear the words coming out of my own mouth. I told him that I feel like I am at a point in my life that I am doing exactly what God created me to do. It’s like Charlotte and Hope Church is a perfect match for my DNA.I love the fact that church planting is so multi-faceted. I love the fact that each week I can go from sermon prep to working on music to graphic design to marketing to community relations to building sound and...

I feel like coming back home has given me perspective on being in Charlotte. I miss home. Crazy, huh? I’m the same guy that said I would never leave Orlando, yet here I am driving around Orlando thinking about Charlotte. I love coming back and seeing my family and friends, but I am genuinely excited about getting back to Charlotte.I love how God works. I remember talking to a dear friend, Malcolm du Plessis, several years ago and he told me “home is where God plants you.” That is so true. Home is Charlotte and I am so grateful for that. I love the fact that God has put a love in our heart...

The kids were amazing today on the way to Florida. We only stopped TWICE the entire trip. Way to go Docusens. We're hanging around the house tonight with the fam.

Dara and I are loading up the Docusen clan and heading to Orlando in the morning. I am doing Kyle Van Cleave's wedding on Sunday. Should be lots of fun. It will be nice to see all of my friends and family again.I absolutely love living in Charlotte. The one thing that has been an interesting adjustment, though, is the fact that we simply don't know too many people here. In Orlando (where I lived for 20+ years) that just wasn't the case. It's all a part of the process, not even a bad part. We have so enjoyed this time as a family to just hang together and begin the process of building our...