need for true companion, companions...

being away from everyone in my life these past few days has been good. as somewhat of an introvert, i'm definitely recharged by these times alone.

and yet it definitely brings to bear the God-given need in me for others. i miss keri! she is my best friend, my confidant, my lover, my true companion (little shout out to marc cohn -- love that song). something very supernatural about the bond between us. the mystery of marriage. wow. such a tangible, powerful connection. and that translates to a very real need right now, 4 days from seeing her.

thank You, Master, for the gift of a true companion.

i'm also keenly aware of my need for companions...male companions in this journey. it's hard. and i'm so broken. i yearn to fulfill the purposes and plans He has for me, and i find so much of how He spurs me on, humbles me, lifts me up, and transforms me is through some fellas...just a few fellas in my life.

thank You, Master, for the gifts of great companions in my life.

in this hard but extremely exciting season of life, i'm aware of the need to prioritize time with keri -- intentional time -- and time with a few close friends -- intentional time.

i want to serve, to lead well. i want to give sacrificially and generously. i want to obey radically.

and to do these things, to honor Christ in these things, i know a necessary component is intentionality with these amazing companions.

thank You, Master, for speaking to me in this way in the midst of my personal, solo retreat...
.

please let us be this kind of church

i recently received a note from a friend. worth sharing as we plant this church...

Loren,

I just had a very heavy but encouraging lunch with a friend. Apparently my friend's daughter recently became pregnant; she is fresh out of high school. She is having a really tough time because she doesn't feel like she can return to the church she was attending for fear of facing harsh judgment. As this guy was pouring his heart out concerning his daugher, my own heart was breaking because I knew her well and I know she's a believer. While we were discussing his daughter's now-interrupted future plans, he leaned over and said to me "She won't go back to that church but do you think we could send her over to you?" By "you," he of course means Ecclesia Clear Lake. My heart really began to swell and I responded positively at his delight. I have her cell # so my fiancee and I will meet up with her as soon as we can call her.

Praise God Loren! This is why we are here, to love the broken down and those who feel like they don't belong in church. Praise God for the church of losers, drop-outs, pregnant teens and sinners! Feel free to share this with the other people involved in this mission because it's truly a blessing.

Master, make us this kind church...

too long between posts

wow. just when i was getting proud of myself for being all 21st-century savvy with a blog and all....i go silent....

well to catch up quickly, i found out baby #3 due in december is a girl (yeah -- that's girl #3 -- you know how to pray for me). i mourned the discovery for about 10 days...now i'm celebrating. if she gets under my skin half as much as abbi and emily, oh boy....





i do have a unique arrangement with keri, one that i'm a little sheepish to admit. i've got "exclusive naming rights" on this one. keri really wanted to find out the gender, i really didn't want to, so i came up with a proposal -- she gets to find out and i get to name baby #3. so now i'm throwing every random name i can think of at keri. i'm definitely looking forward to introducing our new daughter to keri at the hospital. i can just see it now: "keri, meet paris."

i've enjoyed teaching at ecclesia houston a couple times in the last four weeks. i was surprised to have been nervous the first time, i guess because i didn't know a whole lot of folks there. spoken so many times the last few years, often to bigger crowds, but.... maybe a healthy anxiety -- keeps me sharp, i guess. regardless, i felt great about 'em both. i'm really excited to teach more, as God has affirmed that gifting in me (and clarified some other areas where i'm weak!). nothing like getting to lean into your strengths, a value i'm embracing more and more!

good segue to mention a gift from above in elizabeth owen as our new part time administrator at ecclesia clear lake! i'm confident she is going to be especially strong where i am weak and therefore allow me to thrive in the use of my gifts and strengths. (thank You, Master!) if you know her or if you're just excited about God using her big time in the formation of ecclesia clear lake, drop her a note at elizabeth@ecclesiaclearlake.org. i'm so grateful and excited!

here she is with her way cool rocket scientist husband, jeremy
(they've got a fun blog)


here elizabeth is helping organize a 400-kid
dodgeball tourney -- see, she can organize and have fun!

also very excited to have a good friend diving into this church plant journey -- nate messarra. i've loved knowing him since he was a sophomore in high school. watched his heart for the Master only grow these last 6-7 years (is he 21 now?!). he's been in scotland for the past year, among other things serving as a part of regarding hope, an emerging missional church in glasgow. i'd be pumped for him to lead and help shape our new church regardless, but i'm even more jazzed as his box to put church in, however big it was before, has been expanded.

here's nate, 3rd from the left, "mentoring"

some high school kids last year

he's a good friend, a passionate lover of Jesus, and a dreamer. three great reasons for me to love him being in the thick of it with me/us. (check out his blog)

right now i'm on a 3-day getaway to focus on preparing to teach this fall. some generous fcc friends (mike & debbie hickey) are allowing me to stay at their suhweeeet lake house on lake mcqueeny (near seguin and new braunfels). wow. it's nicer than my house! it's good to have generous, affluent friends, especially those like the hickeys who love Jesus and see their stuff for what it is. things here have gone well. i've been able to do a ton of reading and praying. only now beginning to do much writing, but i'm very excited about diving into the gospel of luke as a new church. i feel an extra weight as the teaching in this first season of a new church speaks so loudly for who we are and who we want to be. pray for me, as well as for jack wisdom and chris seay who will be teaching with me.

18 days till this little church plant endeavor becomes a reality. i'm soooooo fired up! God only knows what He's got planned to do in and through us....