http://jwestfall.com/blog Real Faith, Real People Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:56:15 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Ever since I grew up in West Africa, I dream of returning to the Cameroons and reconnecting with my childhood. My dad in his practical way, advised me to save money- "just go to Haiti. It looks feels and smells like Africa but it's cheaper to visit." I took his ... http://jwestfall.com/blog/2010/01/19/aiti-mon-cherie/ A few weeks ago I was down on Aurora Blvd. getting a radio put in our car. Aurora is a stretch of strip malls that runs from Seatac airport in the south, all the way to Everett in the north. It could be described as a 'working area' since ... http://jwestfall.com/blog/2009/09/29/stereotypes-r-us/ Sitting in the Pastor's office at old First Church was a bit intimidating.  I was a college student seeking advise from the Pastor of my home church. I  had lots of energetic, pre-seminary, business management major, know-it-all enthusiasms. Having just written a paper on "Management by Objectives" I dropped a few ... http://jwestfall.com/blog/2009/07/06/25/ Looking out over the Puget Sound from our deck, I am continually captured by the beauty and the apparent peacefulness of the water.  That got me thinking that actually not a lot of life is both beautiful and peaceful. While in Zambia exploring ministry partnerships to help AIDS orphans, ... http://jwestfall.com/blog/2009/05/30/not-all-beauty-is-peaceful/ “When God wants to teach us something he takes us on a trip.” Bruce Larson taught me that many years ago and it still rings true today.  Speaking of today, I’m writing this from my little room in Guatemala, where I am studying Spanish, meeting folks from all ... http://jwestfall.com/blog/2009/03/16/es-la-vida-a-view-from-guatemala/ I usually think of New Year’s with a certain amount of indifference.  What is the big deal anyway? Isn’t it just an artificial time to pretend to be happy, and get in some time drinking and waiting for the magic moment when we start anew?  But wait… how ... http://jwestfall.com/blog/2009/01/06/a-national-holiday-of-grace/ It was about to be my first cold, wet winter.  We were prepared to leave our home in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, to move up to Seattle and begin a new ministry at the University Presbyterian Church.  Would we fit in? Would I be welcomed by the staff? Would I get ... http://jwestfall.com/blog/2008/12/14/weve-been-waiting-for-you/ "Who are you trying to reach with this new Harbor Church?"  I was sitting across from him at the 5-Spot cafe on Queen Anne Hill.  I was eating the 'special breakfast' which had a weird blend of eggs, peppers and pulled pork (carnitas). "Are we going to target an age ... http://jwestfall.com/blog/2008/11/25/faith-for-the-adventurous-spirit/ I like the sound of that: “Real Faith- Real People”.  As a skinny teenager in San Diego, I was sick of playing church, playing games and pretending that life was different than it really was.  Imagine my surprise when I was introduced to the most real Christian I ... http://jwestfall.com/blog/2008/10/06/real-faith-real-people/ .  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, ... http://jwestfall.com/blog/2008/08/24/the-adventure-continues/