The WORST, BEST thing has ever happened to us as a family.

Just to throw this out: When God asks you to do something, it usually comes with a price. If it doesn't...you probably aren't doing much for His kingdom.

So as we are approaching month 10 of this calling, I wanted to give you a brief review of what has transpired the last 10 months. It can be described like this famous line: "It was the best of times...it was the worst of times."

1. We left our best, dearest, closest friends and family to answer the call to go to...where was that? Utah? Really? We left an amazing church that God allowed us to be a part of starting. A place that will forever be near and dear to our hearts. We may never pastor a church like that again. We love and miss you ALL at NH and in our community!

I can't even describe how hard it is to talk about what God us from...it was the worst, best thing that has happened to us as a family...and we STILL trusting that HE knows best! We miss and love you all with all of our hearts. You will never be forgotten.

2. Somehow between our move to where God was leading us, we ended up in a very surreal place called Decatur, Alabama. Thankfully they tolerate Yankees now and we survived the stay:) Once again, we fell in love with some amazing people at an amazing church that is kicking butt big time. No really, they are. And they were like a sweet balm to our souls as we were grieving our loss.

They took us in as family, and those are not just words. Thanks Dave and Dana and our XPT family! We learned so much while there...and made some friendships that will last a lifetime! We also found out they had a pretty good football team too! ROLLLLL TIDE! We love and miss you too!

3. After another sad goodbye following our 4 month interim in Alabama, we packed with one goal in mind. See next pic. It was on. NO turning back.

4. After a really, really, really long road trip...we made it to that place described in Genesis 22: "Take your [family] and go to one of the mountains I will tell you about...don't worry, you will know it when you see it."

Little did we know at this time last year that we would be leaving all we know and love to head to a foreign place outside of Salt Lake City, UT! So we did what were were getting used to...we unpacked again in a strange place.

5. As our family [that's their shadow heads] marched up a mountain to overlook the Salt Lake City area and beyond that we were called to...this "dark night" began to lift and we began to see more clearly what our mission was all about.

Partnerships with great churches like K2, and beginning to get out into the community [the pic below is the girls U10 Softball team that I coach...and this Saturday we will take home the crown...mark my words.] There are some great people here, and many who need Jesus.

5. There were even some people as CRAZY as we were who heard the call to join us in the calling to Utah. There are still some who are not with us yet...and our family will grow over the next few months...we wait for you!

We are in it to win it...for "no one who puts His hand to the plow and looks back is worthy of the Kingdom of God..." --Jesus

THANKS brothers and sisters for becoming a family to answer the call on our hearts. Words can't express what you all mean to me. Those here, and those who will be here soon.

Oh yeah, and we even started battling enemies like Rocky the Bull Moose.

Rocky does not like Church Planters...as you can see by his charging of us. Not sure who was dumb enough to stop for that photo op as we ran pretty fast in the opposite direction.









 

Good thing we have a leader who is as powerful as King David and he took care of the situation. [Yes that is really a dead moose. It just might not be Rocky. That might have been a stretch.]

6. Our staff hiked up into the mountains to chart the beginning of our journey for our first "lead team meeting". I shut my mouth and listened, learned and together we formed some foundation for what God was asking us to become.

We then carved a memorial into a tree to mark the day. [I hope that is legal in a National Forest...good thing we were a ways off the beaten path.] These guys get it, and we truly love one another. Something great is once again forming.

7. I am loving life as I am networking, raising prayer and financial support and serving our community as much as I can.

I also am still loving training other church planters like in this pic I took a top the Space Needle in Seattle recently. I am also jacked about the team of leaders we have running THE STICKS ministry. Such a needed gathering in our world today.

I am learning and growing through being coached myself, and coaching others not to make the same mistakes I have made. I am loving the calling God has placed on my life.

8. I owe so much to my amazing wife and kids...who have been a part of this calling and who gave their support since day 1. I wouldn't choose to do it without any other group of people in the world.

Thanks guys...I love you more than this calling.






 
Yep...we have a huge challenge ahead of us as we write the next chapters of this story God has called us to. 22+ cities out here do not have 1 NON-LDS CHURCH in them [no disrespect to our LDS friends]. That blows my mind. But that is why we and our team are here. That's why we were called to join the work out here and leave it all behind.

Thank you for being a part of this. You say...how am I a part?

Want to know how? WE NEED YOU IN MANY WAYS! Go HERE to learn more. SIGN-UP for our newsletter that will continue to chronicle our journey. We are 17 people away from 1,000 people on our Mission West newsletter update list. The 1,000th person to sign up gets something special from us...so go there now and sign up!

Thank for your prayers and for OBEYING the CALLING THAT GOD HAS ON YOUR LIFE wherever you are, and wherever you are headed. It's a big calling for you and for us...and don't forget that satan will not be happy with your OBEDIENCE. So when you feel down...do what I do and look at this picture and tell satan what he can kiss: