Preparing for the future

My apologies for the delay in posting this blog!! I must admit that it had been quite a busy week of writing and editing, so the task of writing another document in the afternoon on Friday just wasn't going to happen. Anyways here is an interesting thought I heard last night about education:

"Education is not about obscure facts and little test scores, education is about the overall effect of years of slow absorption of concepts, philosophies approaches to problem solving the whole process so grand and so encompassing."

The idea that the seemingly monumental amount of time that we spend in school (for many university students over 17 years of schooling before beginning a career) has a deep and grand purpose encourages and inspires me!

This last week was encouraging and fun, I spent a lot of my time up in Bellingham interacting with students and building the community. I prepared numerous documents that will enable me to succeed in future meetings with incumbent leaders around the city and state. These documents included the expectations of community core team members and community hosts, the 2009-2010 annual report, and a brochure explaining more of who we are and what we are striving to accomplish. My hope is that these documents will enable me in the coming months to effectively encourage incumbent leaders, that are nearing their sunset years, that their input and engagement with younger generations is vital to the success of future generations.

As I continue forward, pray that the Holy Spirit would move in the community that I live and work in, that leaders would rise to the calling that God puts on their hearts, and that a community would be transformed. There is a great work happening in the Bellingham community and a great shift is occurring. Thank you for your love and encouragement along this arduous journey!

Fall

As fall begins to sink its teeth farther into our daily routine I have begun to realize how change affects everyone. The change in season causes our surroundings to change, the trees change color, the temperature drops, rain becomes a part of our daily routine, and coffeehouses are seemingly more attractive.

Over the past few weeks I have traveled great distances and discussed with people the idea and thoughts behind community. What does it mean to be the Church that Jesus calls us to be? I have found many different answers but one is constant, that Jesus must be at the core of everything.

This past week Bellingham faced the difficulty of starting the process of grieving the loss of a Western student, and a young daughter both of whom will be missed. With these losses the faith that we hold so dear and close to our hearts shows itself fiercely in the hearts and eyes of the community.

In my work and personal life I had the wonderful opportunity to see and experience the love of Christ through the Church as many close friends wade through the difficulty of grief. These losses only spur me onward with more passion and fire, this is why we need to empower leaders and prepare the emerging leaders! These men and women, through Jesus, can make a lasting impact on the world, they can help the hurting, search for the lost, and point us toward a bright and hopeful future.

This week:

• I met with a couple of house leaders and talked about what it means to have a constant discussion around who Jesus is and what it means to follow him.
• I talked with a good friend in India and was deeply encouraged with how big of an impact he and his brother are having across the world.
• I met with two key leaders in the community that are thinking strategically about how they can connect emerging and incumbent leaders.
• Had coffee with a dear friend who was instrumental in starting the fort and learned more than I ever have about the thought and inspiration of writers.
• Brainstormed new names for WSL
• Picked up a new mac
• Met with the Western Christian Faculty Forum to see where potential synergies could emerge.

Be sure to stay posted! I'll be sure to keep you updated at the end of the week.

A new adventure

On Sunday I completed my first marathon! In 3 months I went from not being able to run a mile without having painful shin splints to finishing 26.2 miles in 5 hours and 21 minutes! The training and discipline required to finish was much more than expected but very worth while!

As for the work that was accomplished this week I felt like I was running at a break neck pace! On Monday my work partner and I left for an adventure on the eastside of the state. We spent Tuesday meeting with students at Whitworth and WSU. It was very encouraging to be able to touch base with these friends and catch up and see where they live, learn, and lead! I shared a meal with a couple of friends and asked them about their lives and the meals that they shared. To me sharing a meal together everyday of the week seemed like an uncommon endeavor for a college students, but them it was common place a daily occurrence that was necessary for relationship. I was reminded of the time that my friends and I spent at the fort sharing life and intentional relationship. Overall, this short trip was so encouraging both for me and our friends on the east side of the state! I'm excited to go back soon.

Thursday was a busy day, we had breakfast with students and heard about their heroes and hopes for the coming week with their houses. We had lunch with Mark Warren and a pastor friend. Talked with friends about setting up a luncheon for Bellingham in October, and finished the day talking with the leads for CCF and The INN (two college ministries). It was a great day of learning and building relationships!