wow....
so...you haven't been blogging lately....my wife reminds me- as if i didn't know.
i really don't know why i have not blogged for nearly two months, i guess i don't have to come up with an excuse- rather just accept the fact that i am a slacker. but the heck wit the past, let's life in the present and focus on the future- i mean really good things are coming!
i continue to be amazed at how fast time flies. it is already december, and our first worship as Advent is this coming sunday- crazy, scary, exciting, amazing, and scary are just a few of the words that seem to describe the way i am feeling heading into sunday. i truly have no idea what to expect...we could have 20 people and we could have 90 people show up. to be honest, i will be thrilled with 30- seems like a good round number. we sent out 7000 postcards, put it in the paper, have talked to tons of people, but who knows who will show up- all prayers are appreciated as we approach this day. i am so moved by the way this community has embraced the coming of a new church- there is a such a sense of partnership with the township and other leaders of the community. it seems that we will truly become a community church insomuch that we will be reaching the needs of the immediate community on a different level than the methodist church is. at least that is our goal, and the hope of the townspeople who feel largely that the methodist church has forgotten about the community they are part of. of course...this is their perception and one must wonder what really is going on.
tonight i was able to attend the fire/ems officers meeting as was asked to consider being their on-call chaplain to help with crisis situations. i am pretty sure i am going to do it- seems like a great way to be involved in the community, and it is definitely something they as a department need.
our family continues to become more and more settled in our new community. i think we are at a good place now- this is our home, and we are loving it. we have most of the house painted now in preparation for the baby in january. anna is ready to get the kid out of her soon- in four weeks she will be full term. her and logan traveled to MN this weekend to visit her grandpa who was moved to hospice care. seems like now is the season for ailing grandparents. both of my grandmothers continue to be in and out of the hospital, and the distance thing really sucks when those you love are hurting.... logan loves life- all the time- and very much enjoys the snow that we have (i enjoyed the first two feet because i got to use my new snow-blower but now am quite sick of it!) we have gotten probably 6 feet of snow already! thank goodness most of it has melted away.
i miss all of my friends daily- dreaming sometimes of the good old days in seminary! yet, listening, watching, and reading to the ministry they are doing and the lives they are leading makes me realize we are all where we need to be- serving the Lord who calls us to serve. wow- what a great calling this truly is. here's to blogging more than once every 2 months- cheers....jg
i really don't know why i have not blogged for nearly two months, i guess i don't have to come up with an excuse- rather just accept the fact that i am a slacker. but the heck wit the past, let's life in the present and focus on the future- i mean really good things are coming!
i continue to be amazed at how fast time flies. it is already december, and our first worship as Advent is this coming sunday- crazy, scary, exciting, amazing, and scary are just a few of the words that seem to describe the way i am feeling heading into sunday. i truly have no idea what to expect...we could have 20 people and we could have 90 people show up. to be honest, i will be thrilled with 30- seems like a good round number. we sent out 7000 postcards, put it in the paper, have talked to tons of people, but who knows who will show up- all prayers are appreciated as we approach this day. i am so moved by the way this community has embraced the coming of a new church- there is a such a sense of partnership with the township and other leaders of the community. it seems that we will truly become a community church insomuch that we will be reaching the needs of the immediate community on a different level than the methodist church is. at least that is our goal, and the hope of the townspeople who feel largely that the methodist church has forgotten about the community they are part of. of course...this is their perception and one must wonder what really is going on.
tonight i was able to attend the fire/ems officers meeting as was asked to consider being their on-call chaplain to help with crisis situations. i am pretty sure i am going to do it- seems like a great way to be involved in the community, and it is definitely something they as a department need.
our family continues to become more and more settled in our new community. i think we are at a good place now- this is our home, and we are loving it. we have most of the house painted now in preparation for the baby in january. anna is ready to get the kid out of her soon- in four weeks she will be full term. her and logan traveled to MN this weekend to visit her grandpa who was moved to hospice care. seems like now is the season for ailing grandparents. both of my grandmothers continue to be in and out of the hospital, and the distance thing really sucks when those you love are hurting.... logan loves life- all the time- and very much enjoys the snow that we have (i enjoyed the first two feet because i got to use my new snow-blower but now am quite sick of it!) we have gotten probably 6 feet of snow already! thank goodness most of it has melted away.
i miss all of my friends daily- dreaming sometimes of the good old days in seminary! yet, listening, watching, and reading to the ministry they are doing and the lives they are leading makes me realize we are all where we need to be- serving the Lord who calls us to serve. wow- what a great calling this truly is. here's to blogging more than once every 2 months- cheers....jg
Justin! I'm so glad you're back. i've missed reading about your life. the occasional phone call was great - hearing your voice would always make me homesick, so to speak, and i'd rush to your blog to see if there were any new updates. It's really good to hear from you.
Advent and the Grimms are in my continuous prayers. I hope the last month for Anna will go well. I think about all my friends who are pregnant and how soon they'll all be popping out new little gifts of God. It's so exciting.
Blessings and prayers and love from here for you always and especially this weekend!
Posted by
~moe~ |
9:10 AM
I have thought of you weekly as I check you blog...I almost called and told you that I missed the blogging!
What an exciting time for you J. I sense that you are humbled by what you are called to do and I have a feeling that is a good place to be at. My mind wanders to what it must be like for you right now in your ministry. I wonder if you get paralyzed sometimes because there are so many options of what you could do?
Well, Advent will be in my congregations prayers on Sunday. AND that fire, etc... chaplain sounds really cool and I know you can keep up with studly men...Paz
Posted by
Chad K |
9:11 AM
j-glad to see you have returned to the online world.
i have great confidence in what God is doing through you in the Lake Ann community and the people the Spirit is leading to the faith community known as Advent. i pray daily for each of you and the missions God has called you to. we will include Advent in our prayers this Sunday at both churches here. i know this weekend is going to be scary and exciting at the same time. it will also be a time to see the amazing way God works in and through people. i pray you will have a sense of peace and excitement as the weekend unfolds and you will realize that, like John, you are not the one people are looking for, you are the one who has witnessed the love of God and have come to testify!
Posted by
Leland |
11:07 AM
yay, you're back! been thinking about you, especially when we are snowblowing our driveway. region 5? what were we thinking?
i'm sure you're crazy busy, but try to enjoy the moment. so few of us get to watch the birth of a congregation, i envy you that opportunity.
i just looked out the window and it's snowing again.
Posted by
kendi |
11:41 PM
keep that snow over there kendi. We have enough! and yipee more on the way!
Posted by
Justin G |
7:54 AM