Time to Go

Classic Starbucks scene (Clockwise from the left): Young couple looking into each others eyes, mustachioed older dude in a hawaiian shirt, two ladies chatting it up about who knows what, business man with his IBM laptop, two giddy scrapbookers with scissors and stickers spread out over two tables, and  a guy sitting by himself drinking coffee, listening to Pandora, and trying to write a blog about church planting in Colorado. Yeah that's me.

I was really hoping to weave together some incredible words for you that would tell our story and inspire you at the same time. I just don't know how to do that right now. I'm sitting here in Liberty, Missouri, but feeling like I might as well be half way to Mars. What a strange time in our lives. Let me update you on where we are at:

The fam is great. Aisha is getting more and more gorgeous and more and more independent every day. Gabriel is a hoot. He prefers to have at least 5 scratches, bruises, or other injuries going at all times. Rachel is enjoying the peace of the 2nd trimester and looking really pregnant! Myself... I'm fighting a nasty case of poison ivy on my FACE.

More importantly, we are making decisions and taking leaps of faith daily like never before in our lives. God has drawn our hearts to somewhere else. He has set our compass toward a city, and like Abraham heading out from Haran to the land God promised him, we are also walking through territory we've never seen before and we are headed to a place where no one knows our name. We have a sense of calling, perhaps you could even say destiny, that makes Fort Collins seem familiar to us, though we've never lived there.

Last week we signed documents by faith on a lease for a home on the south side of Fort Collins. Amazing story here: We have found out the hard way that the rental market in Fort Collins is crazy. Because of the college and the economy, most good rental properties spend just hours on the market before they are leased out. Rachel and her mom Gay went out to Fort Collins last week with the simple goal of finding us a place to live. After a frustrating week and only one weak lead, they were preparing to head back to the airport when Gay's phone rang. It was a property manager who had a property she wanted to show Rachel and Gay immediately. The ladies rushed out the door and met the property manager at the house. It was an older home, but well kept and had tons of space, a big back yard, and sat right up against the mountains - just minutes from hiking and camping - a perfect fit for us. After the tour, the three ladies stood in the family room talking through the details. After Rachel told her our story, the woman began to share her own: The rental contract on the house had fallen through the night before, and while the woman was sorting through the over 40 voicemail inquiries about the house, she heard Gay's voice in her ears and God's voice in her heart telling her that we were the ones who needed the house. Pretty soon all three women were crying together, in awe of the way God works. They signed papers and the house is ours July 1st.

This week I'm taking phone interviews for jobs in Fort Collins and telling them, by faith, that we'll be there in 3-4 weeks. I'll be candid here and tell you that the reason all of this is by faith is because there is a chunk of change that it will take to move out there that hasn't materialized yet. Rent due: July 1. Baby due: November 16th. Church launching: Mid-Feb, 2012. And I'm still sitting here in Kansas City!!! I gotta be honest, though, I love this. What a cool place to be!

Abraham made it to where he was called, and his story of faith is epic. I serve Abraham's God, and He will not abandon me as I obey Him in ruthless faith, either. I can't wait to see what God does in the next few weeks. I'll keep you posted!