The Adventure Continues…
. I’m sitting in a La Quinta Inn in Missoula, Montana heading to Seattle. All around us are people on vacation, but not us. We are moving. I know, everyone is moving, but we really are moving.
I have been invited to launch a new church in the community of Edmonds, Washington, where we lived for ten years. We are excited to reconnect with our many good friends and develop new friendships as well. Edmonds is just north of Seattle along the Puget Sound. Ferry boats shuttle folks across to Kingston, and sea lions bark along the shore while they wait for the salmon to run.
Downtown Edmonds has quaint shops and boutiques. Jerilyn Brouseau ran a great café in town with the best pecan rolls I have ever tasted. Of course she no longer runs it since she sold her recipe to Cinnabon for a small fortune. I guess it was the best they had ever tasted too.
The next few months will be filled with evaluating and researching best options for location, building a leadership team, and developing strategy for new congregation. I taught ‘New Paradigms for Congregational Renewal’ at Fuller Seminary for about ten years, but after my experience at Colonial Church of Edina, I am starting to question whether old, hardened people in old hardened churches can experience true spiritual renewal. I guess now I am going to try “Newal”. I believe that you can plant a new congregation across the street from an old dying church and the new one will grow and bubble with life. I wish it wasn’t so, but wishing doesn’t bring the fresh winds of the Holy Spirit to the old dry church.
So here’s to Newal and all that is to come… Bye for now.
on August 25th, 2008 at 2:40 am
John,
Let’s stay in touch. I’m excited to hear how your project develops.
Ron
on August 25th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
dear John and Eileen praise the LORD may his blessings be on both of you as you start this new ministry for Him. we will be praying for the success of the ministry and that the right people will be brought around you to make the team God would have come and help you. We are so happy for you!!!!!!!!:) Has your house sold in Edina yet? Remember God works all things together for good for those who love the Lord. Let us know how things are going now and then. We check E-mail every day, or you can call (307) 682-4598. We will love hearing from you.
In Christ Carol & Mike
on August 28th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
John,
This is great having access to your blog revealing the inter-workings of you mind! Looking forward to your new adventure and each new surprise around the next corner that our Lord has in store for you and Eileen.
Carl
on September 8th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Hi John!
I recently heard that you had a website and decided to use a little bit of work time to check it out.
We are thrilled to hear about your move back to Edmonds!
I am crushed to hear I didn’t make top choice on pecan rolls – oh well, I guess getting rich and all that stuff wasn’t for me. I am still at F5, but my good friend, Jeff, left many years ago. He is living a splendid life! Please let me know when you arrive – we would love to have you and Eileen over to our home. We left the condo a year and a half ago and bought a nice little house 1/2 mile away.
on February 11th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
Hey!
For some reason – you guys stay on my mind. For many reasons, but primarily for the sermon that John preached on Jeremiah 29 – “plant your gardens/marry and multiply”. It has stayed with me now through a move to Southern California, Nashville, TN, Houston, TX back to Nashville, TN. Now a classic midlife divorce. For me, the
reality is that we are all in exile and home will be on the other side.
I haven’t seen you for 17 years – I know this because my baby is going to graduate from high school in May. So,
I have living proof that something pretty wonderful happened during your stay in Walnut Creek.
Of the friends from WCPC I keep up with – Patty and Shawn’s Benjamin is graduating from Biola next Spring and is
the top candidate for “the first wedding” from our group of families. Tom and Patricia Alston’s, Katrina, is graduating from Biola as well. The youngest of our crowd, Ryan and Richard Alston are called the “Twin Towers” at school. There are no small people in our lives.
On the whole, everyone is ok and some things haven’t changed. Matt Sears mom still lives and terrorizes the family
and the neighbors, Sandi and Richard Grove are still married and the complaints are the same – Cathy Sears still
runs at a frenetic pace taking care of all in her path, Shawn’s church still meets in a Middle School and thankfully
Squirrels breakfast still has homemade scones.
I wonder how you are – Sandi keeps me updated. You could be concerned for me considering, but actually I am ok.
God has me. I hope that is true for you. Man, I wish someone had said to me in order to have a strong faith, you
are going to have to go through some fires. I may have made another choice.
Eileen, I remember having lunch with you and Sandi right before I left Walnut Creek. That was a hard move.
I am so glad our paths crossed. You seemed to have a direct connect on the Lord because you knew something
was up before the words hit air. Hoping your boy is well.
My boy has been a real challenge (he bit a kid in the nursery at the age of 9 months) Mom has not forgotten. (TO THIS DAY). Just in the last week or so there has been a shaft of light – I have prayed over that child for 20 years –
God surely doesn’t answer on my timetable! He is teaching me to wait – I didn’t ask for that.
Anyway, I think I am going to have Jeremiah 29 painted on my wall.. It really has been a touchstone.
Write back if you have time.
Just a few weeks ago, I heard a sermon on that particular scripture. So, thanks. If any of those dark and creepy
people at WCPC give you grief, send them to me. I’m the perfect storm – fat and angry
“T” Reese