What I've been doing instead of blogging

I have to tell you about this book I've been reading. I grabbed it to take to work with me for lunch time reading because I couldn't find anything else quickly. It's a book Dave's mom gave us to read a while back and I never got to. But I laughed, I hurt, I cried, then I sobbed, and I was convicted over it.

I think everyone should read this book--"Same Kind of Different As Me" by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. Maybe you've heard of it, maybe you haven't. But I recommend it. No, I insist you read it. I found a couple sites where you can order it online for less than $5--you can't beat that!

As we're planting Jesus in Hot Springs, God is sending us some people that I'd like to keep at arms length--but we can't! We have to love them and get to know them--without judging or condescension. We have to share Jesus with them and then invest in their lives as we try to disciple them and bring them (and us) closer to the Lord.

I was so convicted of my biases and prejudices as I read this book, but it was so applicable to what we're doing here. And it is so applicable to your life too. Jesus sends some people into your life that aren't the kind of people that you want as your new BFF. But Jesus calls us to be more than spiritual snobs to these people. He wants us to play a part as He restores them to Himself.

Bottom line: Read this book--then leave me a comment telling me your thoughts on it!

Thanks
Lad

One Year Later...(and counting)

What a difference a year makes, huh?... One year ago on July 1st I found out I had a tumor in my groin. The next morning, I had surgery to remove it at Forrest General in Hattiesburg. A few weeks later, while at Bogg Springs teen camp and after taking a CT scan, I found out the cancer had spread to lymph nodes near my kidneys and that chemo was likely. 3 months of chemo, a little lost hair, millions (maybe a SLIGHT exaggeration) of needle pricks, and many prayers from amazing family and friends later-Dr. Bellare texted me on December 23rd that I had no sign of cancer in my body. HALLELUJAH!

Still to this day, God has seen to it that I have No sign of cancer in my body.

One year... So much has happened in one year. I have seen so much, felt so much. And yet I feel like I have learned two consistent things: 1. I have some truly marvelous friends who have prayed for Lad and me month after month, day after day, (and now) for a full year. I want to say thank you for all who pray for us here in Hot Springs. God IS moving here. We are seeing God move here. But I also want to thank those of you who pray for my health.

I have seen a new doctor and we have another CT scan schedule soon. Also, my chemo damaged my lungs and we have to do breathing tests every six months. I'll have that done in a few weeks.

The other significant thing I learned this year is that God is still on the throne. Ain't that good news? He's the ultimate authority, and reigns supremely. You can't impeach him, dethrone him, or out vote him. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And I need Him. He never left me through this last year, and He's not about to start this year. I have never known of my need for Him more than I did this last year, and He came through with flying colors.

This year was tough, but I just wanted to say Thank you to all of you. Thank you for your prayers. Whether you prayed consistently or inconsistently, THANK YOU! But I wanted to thank the Almighty. Words cannot express my gratitude for letting me live another day for Your glory.

What does this next year hold? I don't know... but I want to live every last minute of what I have left for Jesus Christ.

New Core Group members

The Garage Church has just added 2 new core group members. Meet Andrew and Amanda! They just moved here from another part of Arkansas and commited to being a part of the Garage Church before they ever got here (that's faith!). We love them already! Andrew is running a business here in Hot Springs and Amanda will be working very soon (we're praying for a job). They are very close to mine and Dave's age (a little younger), so that's pretty cool. Deby and I have added Amanda to our LTG (I just remembered I was supposed to tell you more about those...oops) and Mike and Dave have added Andrew to theirs.

Our LTG's are spreading like wildfire! Praise God!

Okay, a little about LTG's (so I won't forget again). They are Life Transformation Groups (LTG's). We are using them as our primary method of discipleship. This is how they work. Each group is made up of 2-4 same gender members. Each week, you meet to review a preset group of accountability questions. We also commit to reading 25 chapters of the Bible each week. As part of the meeting time, we discuss our reading and then hold one another accountable to some general issues as well as specific issues that we have asked to be held accountable to. They are very cool!

I just heard someone ask, "What happens if you don't read all 25 chapters in one week?" That's a good question. We just encourage that person and all group member re-read that section of Scripture for another week until we've finished it. And, no, it doesn't get old. The Word of God is alive! We've learned that something new comes out of each reading. It's amazing!

One of the cool things about LTG's is that you don't have to be well versed in the Bible to participate. Brand new believers belong in LTG's, Long time believers do too! I love that LTG's let new believers explore scripture with the help of an intimate group. In the Garage Church, we want ALL our members to think that Christians read their Bible daily. And we try to set the example of that. I love that concept!

If you're not part of the Garage Church (and most of you aren't), let me be the first to tell you--Christians read their Bible daily--you should too!!! Join us in reading 25 chapters per week. Choose 5 chapters and commit to reading those 5 chapters 5 times this week. It'll change your life!

More news to come!

Keep praying for God's harvest in Hot Springs.

Love you all

Lad

Teamwork

Dave has been shelling peas every spare minute he's had today. So tonight, we put up peas....lots of peas.

What a night of worship!

Sunday night is our core group meeting night. Tonight, Andrew and Amanda, our newest core group members were there. They just moved to Hot Springs from antoher part of Arkansas and commited to joining us before they ever arrived. Mike and Deby met them earlier this month and Dave met them last week as they moved in, but I didn't get to meet them until tonight--and they're going to be a GREAT addition!
We had a great Bible study tonight and then got to grill hamburgers. Then Mike's two younger sons and their wives came in for a visit. One of Mike's sons broke out the guitar and led us in some praise and worship! Really great night!
Dave and I just got home from spending the 4th of July with family in Alabama. We had a great time, but it's always nice to get home.
Pray for us this week, Deby and I have added Amanda to our LTG (info on that later) and Dave is starting his second LTG this week. We're excited to see some spiritual growth in Hot Springs. Things are picking up slowly, but definitely picking up.
I have to go to work tomorrow, so bedtime is coming quickly. I'll try to post in the next couple days to fill you in on more info.

Thanks for praying--keep it up!
Lad

New Venture

We've started our second Bible study now. It meets at the crisis pregnancy center here in town (AKA Change Point). This past monday night there were 10 people there. It was great! I wasn't there (I had to work), but Dave got to be there. We're having doors open up to us through Change Point to reach some of their clients for Jesus. We never know exactly what areas God wants us to get involved in, but there are more opportunities in Hot Springs than we can realistically become involved in. We're having to say no to some things that although they would be good opportunities, we don't feel that God is leading us to spend considerable time on them. Maybe in the future though...

Keep praying. He is still the God of this city!

God's Amazing Timing

Today stunk. My attitude was pitiful and nothing suited me all day. I didn't want to have to work today and had volunteered to be overstaffed if the hospital census was low--and they overstaffed someone else!!!! I felt so slighted--and I dwelled on it all day. I'm serious about my attitude being sorry. The bad part was, it would've been a good day at work, if I'd just gotten over my selfishness and moved on. I did get off early and I am thankful for that, but I still have to get past this little disappointment before tomorrow morning (when I go back to work).
I got home this afternoon and checked Facebook (doesn't everyone do that when they get home every day?) and there was a message from a girl I went to high school with. I saw her name and it immediately took me back to my senior year....

**this is me reminiscing**

I remember our guidance counselor asked me to talk to this girl and to try and share the Gospel with her. I'm not sure what all she was into in high school, but she ran with a rough crowd and was seriously in danger of making nothing productive of her life. She and I had been friends in middle school, but rarely saw each other in high school. But my counselor thought it would be in her best interest to hear from me. So, she gave us her office one morning and I told this girl that I thought she could make more of herself than she thought. I remember very specifically sharing the Gospel with her. She didn't have any intention of accepting Christ at that point, but I promised to pray for her.

So today I got a message from her. She told me thank you for praying for her and told me that she wasn't saved back in high school, but is now. She is married and has 6 beautiful children.
I was humbled by that message. I can't believe she even remembers me, much less thought to write me and let me know what became of her.

God really is in the business of restoring lives! He reminded me of it through that one little Facebook message. What a great reminder to keep praying for restoration in people's lives. No one is "too far gone" for God's restoration. His word is true when He says He came to seek and save the lost! Praise God the lost are still being saved!

What all has happened in the lull.

I apologize for writing so little (none) over the last month. To say I let time slip by is an understatement. But let me catch everyone up on the goings on in Hot Springs.

We are still having our Friday night Bible studies at Mike and Deby's. Our crowd fluctuates, but we are still encouraged. Our study in James is going well and I think there is some real growth going on.
Since I last wrote, we have started a second Bible study. This study meets on Monday nights at Change Point, the local crisis pregnancy center. It is our newest endeavor, and is just getting off the ground, but we have great hopes for what God will do with it.

Dave continues to work several jobs. Aside from our Garage Church ministry, he is part of the interim pastor team at Antioch Baptist Church. Our goal there is to help bring restoration to that struggling church. We're building relationships with the people there and helping them to identify areas that need improvement. They are wonderful people and I believe truly have a heart for Jesus. Dave is also working part time at Chick-Fil-A, which I love--who doesn't love their chicken!? He is finding his niche in the team there and establishing some relationships. He's busier than ever, but doing well.

I'm still on at the hospital. I've been able to do some work as charge nurse which is a big thing since I've only been there since April. God has definitely blessed in my job. He is bringing some patients and their families into my life in ways I didn't think possible. The only downside to my job is the long hours. I'm getting to work as much as I want to--and more. The 12 hour shifts are long and by the time I get home, I'm beat (hence the lack of blog posts). God has been SO good to me lately though. He is blessing my job in ways I didn't even know to ask Him for.

I'm hoping that Dave and I will be able to travel to Alabama next week for the Fourth of July. I'm definitely going, but we're still waiting to see if Dave is off work yet. I'm really excited to get to see my family. Seems like forever since I've seen them. I'm really eager to see my grandparents. I'm becoming more aware that they will not be with me forever and I needs to make the most of the time with them.

The ministry of the Garage Church is taking a more solid shape every week. We're able to reach out to a very eclectic group of people. Some have car/motorcycle interests, some don't. But God promises that He will give the increase, so we just keep trusting.

Just one story to share about one of the people we're getting to know:

Mike has been able to get to know a man named Hank who is associated with one of the motorcycle clubs here. This many is a serious biker and pretty rough. When they meet, Hank is always eager to talk to Mike, but it was never about anything very serious--until the other day. A close friend of Hank's recently passed away and he was telling Mike about it. Mike took the opportunity and asked him, "Hank, what do you think happens when someone dies?" Hank became very quiet and then said, "Man, I don't know." He quickly changed the subject then and Mike let him. Please pray that Hank thinks more about that question so that we will have the chance to tell him that there is more to this life and then even more after that!

Thank you to everyone who has put up with my lack of posting. I really will try to do better.
Thank you to all you prayer warriers who have texted me that you're praying. We're doing well and God is blessing.

Keep in touch and stay tuned...
Lad

And God blessed...

Sorry my post has been such a long time coming. But good news comes to those who wait.
Last night was our first official small group bible study. I got there about ten minutes late (I had to hurry to get off work in time!) and when I drove up, the driveway was full and there were cars in the street. Okay, so one of those cars in the driveway was Mike's, but still...we had a grand total of 7 for our first small group. Now some of you are saying, "Seven, what a let down." But others of you are really getting our excitement. Since our core group is four, that means there were three people there for our FIRST small group!
I think that our first three will be a repeat three next friday night. And hopefully multiply into more.
Their being there was definitely an encouragement to us. Encouragement to keep meeting new people. Encouragement to keep spreading the word that the Bible is relevant to everyone. Encouragement to keep telling people that Jesus is what's missing in their lives.
Please keep praying for an even greater harvest and life change in those we make contact with.

A few of our favorite places

As promised, some pics of mine and Dave's favorite places. When we first moved here, Mike and Deby took us for ice cream--at the King Kone. They have the BEST soft serve ice cream ever--for cheap! We learned last week that they are closed on Sundays, but I must say its worth waiting for. As a matter of fact, Dave and I went and got ice cream tonight--Yum, yum! The King Kone is just down from my hospital and it is so tempting to get ice cream on my way home.

Now this next place is one of my favorites because it makes me laugh. This has been my favorite intersection in town since we moved here. As I was driving through our residential neighborhood on my way to work, I saw this sight. Right in the middle of the neighborhood are these two newspaper stands. The thing that kills me is that if you can see the street behind them, you'll see that it is a dead end! I'm not sure who's bright idea it was to put these stands in a neighborhood on a dead end street, but maybe they know something I don't know. Or maybe they just knew I needed something to smile about as I drove by.

Constant reassurances

It's really late and I have to work the next two days. Expect a longer post on Friday. But for tonight, let me just say that God keeps reminding me that He brought us here.
If you've scrolled all the way down to the bottom of the blog, you'll find the quote that I keep telling myself. It isn't scripture, but is basically a paraphrase of God's promises in His Word. I had a really tough day at work Saturday even after working as hard as I could. I was so down. Today God provided me reassurance that He's responsible. I got some very good comments today at work. (More to come on that later...) He has a plan for me. He wants what is best for me. My obligation is to devote myself wholly to Him.
Please pray for me. I want to be wholly devoted. Maybe it sounds selfish, but I want to keep myself devoted if for no other reason but so that God will be responsible for me. Don't misunderstand me. I want to be devoted because I love Him, but in the spirit of full disclosure, I love that He is willing to take control of my life and the things that are allowed into it.
I hope you are willing to be fully devoted too.

Stay tuned and keep in touch. I'm loving the comments that people are leaving! Keep them coming! It keeps me blogging to know that people out there are reading.

Lad

PS - More pics to come this weekend (when I'm not working)

Disillusioned Farming

The other day, we were talking to Mike. We were discussing how different it is to be part of a non-established church. Mike made a comment that is so true. He said, If we were talking to an experienced farmer and griped that we had planted seed two weeks ago and didn't have anything to harvest yet--that farmer would think we were crazy! But the same is true of our church plant. We really began about two weeks ago "planting seed" in Hot Springs. We are disappointed that we haven't harvested any, but we have to be realistic too.
The Bible says that some plant and some water, but God gives the increase. That is a very freeing but very difficult thing to accept. My natural tendency is to think we should work harder, meet more people and then have an immediate and large harvest. We really should be trying to meet more and more people, but we cannot disillusion ourselves into thinking its that hard work that brings people into our church plant. God promises to take our efforts and at His pleasure, turn them into a harvest.
Please pray for God to do just that--increase our church through our efforts and forming relationships with people and desire to make more and more disciple-makers!

The Hot Springs "space needle"

I promised pictures of Hot Springs. Unfortunately, I have been busy with stuff ever since. What stuff, you ask? Changing the oil in the car, I found the donut shop in town (Viva la Spa City Donuts), I've cooked three times in the last week, I harassed the landlord and maintenance guy until they got my dishwasher fixed (the fix ended up being a new dishwasher--okay by me), and...oh, yeah....there's that thing called work.

But I can share one picture with you. I think this is a cool thing to see in Hot Springs. They call it the mountain observation tower, but I think it would be better named, the Hot Springs Space Needle. Right at downtown, you can turn and wind (and I mean wind) your way up the mountain. Near the top, there is this cool "space needle". Haven't been up it yet but maybe soon. Right now I've just got the ground view.

Tonight I'm very tired. I worked today and got a lot of good experience, but I'm worn out. I came home and put together a hodge-podge supper (taquitos, fries, grilled cheese sandwiches, and leftover peas and leftover broccoli from supper last night). Now I'm ready for bed!

For all you Judson girls--Good night, Sweet Dreams

The Journey of a Thousand Miles...

Sometimes I think we lose sight of the rest of that Chinese proverb. In following God's call to Hot Springs, we want to see people come to Christ immediately. We want our small group Bible Studies to grow by leaps and bounds from Day 1. But technically, all God requires of us is to tell others about the good news of Jesus. The Bible specifically says God gives the increase--not us. It gets discouraging to hear "No" over and over again. But we know God called us here and if we dedicate our selves to His mission for us, then our success will have to be measured in Kingdom terms. Unfortunately, Kingdom terms means we may never see those successes here on Earth. Don't get me wrong, we're not quitting! That's not even an option! But this is a very different environment for us. We all came from traditional church backgrounds--established churches. So just the four of us for church seems a bit odd. Satan would love to get a little foothold in this issue and pull us WAY down. Pray for continued motivation for us. Pray for the many unbelievers in Hot Springs.

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to try to post some pictures of Hot Springs and its beautiful sights. The picture in my blog title is from the top of one of the mountains overlooking downtown.

And this is a view of the Arlington Hotel from atop the mountain. It is a historic, but beautiful hotel. Al Capone was known to stay there when in Hot Springs. There is even one of Al Capone's cars in the lobby (pic to come in the following weeks). Downtown Hot Springs is an awesome place with little shops everywhere. You could definitely spend a day just roaming through the streets and checking out the sights.

Meet Mike and Deby

Many of you have heard us say we've teamed up with Mike and Deby, but most of you have no idea who we're talking about, so let me introduce you!

This is Mike. He's been a pastor and church planter for many years. He also worked with Reach America doing church revitalization consulting. Mike is the senior pastor of our new Garage Church. Mike is into motorcycles and cars. He spent last week teaching Dave a little about detailing cars. Mike introduced the vision for the restoration of Hot Springs.




And this is Deby. Deby is a school teacher and loves kids. She shares my new found interest in quilting too. Deby is really one of the coolest people I've ever met. She seems quiet and reserved when you first meet her, but when you get to know her, she's not what you'd expect. She's way fun to hang with and I love having her as my friend.
Deby also has the most powerful hand mixer I've ever used. The other night I was mixing up tea cakes at their house and the mixer grabbed my spatula and pulled it all the way through the beaters--and my fingers went with it! Needless to say, it knocked the bark off my index finger. I don't think anything is broken, but it sure is sore.

We have been spending a lot of time with Mike and Deby so that we can build our team even stronger. They are wonderful mentors to us, but even more--they are our friends!

A Timely Word

Today, Lad and I read from Proverbs 15:23 (NLT) "It is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!" Well, those words could not be more appropriate for what is coming in the next few days. Tomorrow I get to fill in preach at a small church in our association. I always am a bit nervous but, for some reason, I am more nervous when it is a new place to speak. This church has agreed to help our church financially every month. Somehow, my preaching is our way of saying "Thanks!" Let's hope I don't reverse their giving and they require me to pay them for the opportunity to preach... Well we'll see.
Then this Tuesday, I will preach the funeral messages for a dear friend from Ebenezer. His death was a surprise, at least to me. Pray for this family. As Solomon said, "It is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time." I pray that the God of all comfort will comfort these in their time of need.
Lad has been working nearly everyday at the hospital so the apartment is still not completely finished. The things left to do need a woman's touch. I help, but she is the brain behind the beauty. Can't wait to have all of you over when we finish.
We sent out our first report this week to our dedicated prayer partners. If you did not get one and you would like to be one of our fifty families who pray for us daily, then let me know. We will try to get our info to you quickly.
We continue with our small group meetings this week. There may be some fluctuation with our times as we gather folks to come. We are farming our area, making contacts and beginning relationships that we hope will lead to our ultimate goal: restoring Hot Springs.
Thank you for your prayers.

First day in a new Hospital

I started my new job today. It went pretty well. All day long, the other nurses were saying what a day it was and how rough this floor is. WHATEVER! Apparently they've never worked on a floor like I worked. I'm sure they have bad days too, but the call light didn't go off ALL DAY like it would in 30 minutes back home. The things they were complaining about, I thought nothing of. I'm choosing to have a positive attitude about this floor regardless of what they say.
Thank you for praying for my first day.

In church news, Dave and Mike meet with Tim Wicker, the church planting strategist for Arkansas Baptists. Pray for safe travel but also an effective meeting.

Nothing much else to tell. Just know that God is blessing us right when we need it. He is SOOO good.

Stay tuned and stay in touch.
Lad

Like Kids at Christmas

Today we got our cable internet hooked up. Coming from our rural Mississippi dial-up--THIS IS AWESOME!!! Most of you have had high speed for years--well, we haven't. We really are excited about it. I keep telling Dave, "look how fast it is". It really is cool.
I had orientation at work today. It was fine, just slow paced. Tomorrow I hit the floor for my first "real" day of work. I'll work the next two days then off over the weekend.
My apartment is still a wreck and I got home today and just didn't have it in me to work on it. Dave and I spent the afternoon driving around. Since I got lost on the way to work AND the way home from work, I figured it would be smart to figure out my route this afternoon. I have found the way to work without getting on the main, busy, redlight filled roads. That's a huge blessing. I'm only ten minutes from the hospital which seems unreal since I had been driving 45 minutes one way. I miss my big hospital back home, but I'm sure in due time, I'll settle into this new hospital, new routine, new people and new EVERYTHING!
This week, our goal is settling and rest. Then we hit the ground running.

I've noticed that many of you are following our blog! That's fantastic! If you're lurking, please add yourself to our Prayer Partners/Followers. We'd love to know you're lurking around.

Our prayer needs:
1. REST for this weary couple.
2. The many unbelieving residents of Hot Springs.

Stay tuned and in touch.

Just a little glimpse into our move!

I have gotten so many text messages from lots of you who are asking how our move is going. And honestly, I'm too tired to answer all of them. So I'm hoping that if you texted me, you'll read this and get an update.

What Dave said about the apartment is so true. It is so much better than the one she originally showed us. This one has a dining area, a laundry room (instead of open laundry closet, and a much larger kitchen. Apparently, this is the wheelchair accessible building, so doorways are wider and the floor plan more open. Let me tell you--that made moving in so much easier. All our stuff doesn't fit, but overall I'm super pleased. There is room in the kitchen/dining area for my pantry and my dining room table (minus any leaves). The balcony patio is large enough that my deep freezer fits out there with NO problem. Isn't God good to bless in these small areas!! They were affirmation that He really does take responsibility for me if I stay wholly devoted to Him.

Thank you to all of you who prayed for our move! It was very uneventful. One of our friends from our church in Mississippi came with us to help us move and he was such a blessing! There's no way we could have done what we did without him. We also had a guy from another local church show up to help. I've never seen a truck unloaded so quickly!

I took a couple of before and after pictures for you. I meant to take a picture of the apartment stacked to the ceiling with boxes, but I was too tired and apathy took over. Sorry! But I can show you the before and what it looks like right now. Hope to post lots of pictures now that we have high speed internet and can upload them in less than 6 hours. :).

This is the kitchen. It is twice the size of the kitchen in the other apartments. My pantry is on the other side of the refrigerator

This is the dining area. It is just off the kitchen.

And this is now. It is a mess! Boxes and stuff everywhere. At least we can find the floor in some areas. And it will be put together soon.

Stay tuned and in touch. I'll be posting more updates soon.

Alive and Well (but definitely STIFF)

Whew! Moving is done. Truck unloaded, turned in, and paid for. You know Lad has been fretting about the apartment. Well, the apartment we got is not the one we looked at. It is so much better. Last week, we were praying that God would let us enjoy living so much closer to each other. Last night I told her, I really like this apartment better than I thought I would. And she agreed. I love little answered prayers like that. My wife has been such a great support and blessing in this whole move and transition to this point. I could not have asked for a better gift from God than her.
A few months ago, Mike and Deby Prince took us to a lookout point over Hot Springs and we prayed for this city. We want to see a city that has never really been under God's leadership restored to a Mighty, Awesome, Forgiving God. Then as we drove home, I remembered a song I had heard at teen camp and for me, it has been my theme song for this move.

You are God of this city. You are King of these people. You are Lord of this nation. You are.
You're the Light in this darkness. You're the Hope to the hopeless. You're the Peace to the restless. You are.

There is no one like our God.
For greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city.

Every time God answered another of our prayer requests (for job, housing, sold houses, bought houses, finances, timing, helpers, etc.) we would praise God for his plenteous blessings. Then I remembered the words. "Greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city."
And I would be overwhelmed by the reality that God was only letting us see a tiny part of what he could do. And the questions I was left with were these, "God if you can take care of these obstacles that I think are so impossible and you can still do greater things yet, what more will we see? What all can You do with the surrendered lives of 4 nobodies like us?" And I stand in awe as I realize, "There is no one like our God!"
I feel we are on the verge of something great. It has nothing at all to do with the people involved but with the God who is mighty to save a city and it's families. Can God still change WHOLE CITIES? (i.e. Ninevah) If that is to happen, Satan will notice. We need your prayers now, more than ever before.

Moving: T minus 12 hours

Tomorrow is the big moving day. The truck is packed except for that piddly little stuff that really doesn't fit anywhere. If you've ever moved, you know what I'm talking about.
Today was our last Sunday to worship with our current church in Mississippi. It was hard to say goodbye. They are some very special and caring people. We couldn't ask for a better church family.
The final verdict on the housing issue is.....drum roll please....the apartment. Several different things came up that made both of us feel like the apartment is the right choice. It'll be small, but we're both thinking we'll enjoy our time there. God is continuing to supply our needs. He's super good at that!
Right now, we are putting together our prayer team. Our goal is 50 individuals or families who will commit to pray for us daily. We will send this group of people bi- or tri-weekly reports on the goings on and events of The Garage Church. We know that this is not something that everyone will be able to commit to, but some of you are serious prayer warriers who will lift up the needs of the ministry as well as Mike, Deby, Dave and myself. If you're interested in being on this prayer team, please contact me and let me know. We're not quite to the 50 people/families mark yet, but we trust that God will supply pray-ers for us.
Please pray for our safety as we travel. We're leaving at about 5:30 in the morning and headed to Arkansas.
We're going to have a lot of figuring out to do. Lots of logistics to work out. But I'm confident that God will provide answers in His time. All we have to do is listen and obey.

Our prayer needs:
1. Safe travel
2. Strength and endurance to finish this move.
3. An opportunity to share our faith through this move
4. The many many unbelieving residents of Hot Springs, Arkansas

Stay tuned and stay in touch,
Lad

Still waiting and trusting

I still have no housing answer yet, but I truly feel like God is asking for me to completely put my faith in him to handle the housing issue. We should hear something soon, and I'm very glad of that. I'm still excited about how God will choose to work this out.
It seems like we're on a sort of count down. Only a few more times to worship with our church family here. Only a few more work days for me. But still many boxes to pack. The big stuff is packed, but now I'm to the piddly stuff. Sometimes it is just overwhelming. But with this "countdown" of sorts, we're getting more and more excited. Excited to see God work in new and fresh ways. Excited to see lost people come to know Jesus in a real and personal way.
God has answered prayers this week for Dave and me as well as Mike and Deby. Dave got the port out of his upper chest where it was placed to be used for cancer treatment. That was just one more reminder that God has allowed us (Dave) to be a cancer survivor! Praise God! Mike and Deby were able to close on their house, which needed to happen before they could move to Hot Springs. Mike met with First Baptist Church, Amity, AR and they officially agreed to be our partnering church. We still have many prayer requests and more come up every day!
Our current and pressing prayer needs right now are:
1. Housing for us
2. Strength for this upcoming move
3. The city of Hot Springs and her many, many unbelieving residents

Please pray with us!
Stay tuned and keep in touch!

Lad

Allowing God to work

Tonight, the director of missions for Garland County (Hot Springs) is going to ask that we be allowed to live in the vacant parsonage of one of the area churches. This is a huge thing for me. I'm not concerned that God will provide the finances for us to live--I know He will. He has already given me a job. I'm not concerned about meeting people--I know God will put them in our lives. I AM concerned about housing though. Why is this the thing that trips me up? I don't have clue the first. But my thoughts have been consumed with it. I'm praying that God gives me peace to wait and trust Him. And I am waiting and trusting, but I don't think I'm doing a very good job at it. I'm praying multiple times a day (sometimes multiple times per hour) about housing. I know God hasn't forgotten that we need a place to live. But I'm having to turn this concern over to Him multiple times.
Please pray with me about our housing situation. Also, please pray that I chill out, stay out of the way, and let God do what He wants to do.

Thanks in advance for your prayers,
Lad

A big, scary decision!

Lots of people already know, but I feel the need to give you the whole story.
Dave and I have been praying for several months about joining a ministry team to plant a church in Hot Springs, Arkansas. When Dave mentioned it the first time, I thought, "NO WAY!" But over time, God brought me around and has truly changed my heart about it.

We're partnering with Mike and Deby Prince and moving right after Easter to Hot Springs. We're going to be planting a garage church. Our goal is to reach people through their interest in cars, trucks and motorcycles. We'll start with small groups and when we have multiple small groups, we'll merge and have corporate worship.

Needless to say, this is a huge decision. I'm leaving my job and have found a new one there. Praise God (do you realize He works very quickly sometimes!)! We have to find housing and Dave a job. But we're VERY excited. God has been moving in some huge ways in preparing the way for us. If He's moving this much before we ever get there, I'm excited to see what He does once we hit the field.

I'm creating this blog to keep you informed on our progress and our efforts. But also to make our prayer requests known. We will need your prayers so much. Please partner with us in prayer--I know it works!

Right now these are our major prayer concerns:
1. Housing for us
2. For our current churches (Mike & Deby's and ours) to have a smooth transition into new pastors and pastor searches.
3. the city of Hot Springs, AR

Stay tuned and in touch!

Lad