Broken iPhones

It's rare for me to publicly admit to a mistake that causes embarrassment.  Besides, why own up to a mistake if no one else even notices -- right (I know, I have issues!)?

Three months ago, I made one of those mistakes that makes a grown man cry.  Many of my friends know that I am a card carrying member of all things Apple. I love Macintosh!  Moving to the iPhone was the best thing I ever did, but it also created some challenges for a klutz like me.

Three months ago, my headphones were plugged into my iPhone as I jogged on the treadmill at the gym.  I think I was setting a world record for greatest form for a rookie runner (probably not...).  As I hit my stride, my heart was pounding, and my arms were flailing... wildly enough to catch the cord of my earphones and knock my phone onto the treadmill.  

Whack!  Zip!  Bang!  

Those are the noises an iPhone makes when it hits a moving treadmill, and then flies into the wall behind you.

My first reaction was horror... and then shock... and then embarrassment.  

Fortunately, only three people witnessed the fiasco.  Einstein (also known as the guy running next to me ) said, "You should leave that at home... I mean, we come here to get away from those things."  Silly mortal.  No one ever leaves an iPhone behind!

Miraculously, there wasn't even a scratch or dent.  The wise person would have rushed out to the store and bought a bullet proof case.  Not me.  I waited... until I dropped and cracked the screen before I went and bought a case... for the replacement iPhone.

This whole story makes me wonder about broken people.  The longer we work with a church plant of people who have given up on church, but not on God... the more brokenness we encounter.  We're glad that God allows us to work with all kinds of people who need some mending and care.  In the midst of that work, God reminds me of the mending that still needs to be done on my heart. 

Just One Ray...

Ever felt like you've been in a fog?  What happens when the fog just won't clear.  I'm from Colorado, so I don't know what to do when the sun won't shine!  We've had more than five days of fog here in Boise... today was the first day I got a glimpse of the sun in a long time.

I need sunshine!

Sometimes the work of church planting is difficult.  A patch of fog rolls in and it's hard to know how to break through and find the sunshine.  For 14 weeks, we've set up and torn down the same equipment for church services.  We use 1834 feet of cable each week... hundreds of chairs... hundreds of cookies... gallons of coffee... and one team to get it all done.

A ray of sunshine came to my inbox today.

Denise wrote, "Canyon Ridge is the best church I have tried."  I know that doesn't sound like much, but just a glimmer of hope is all that a person needs sometimes to keep moving forward. It's good to know that people notice the hard work invested in making Canyon Ridge Church real and relevant.

Happy New Year!

My dog ate my Mac... and that's why no recent posts appear (ok, we don't have a dog yet, and if we did, I wouldn't let it anywhere near my Mac!).  The Christmas season was great.  So many good things are happening with the church... we are averaging 150-160 people, we have set up/tear down mastered, we have a solid core of people... and life in Idaho is better than we imagined.

Not all is roses though.  Boise is experiencing major snow over the past few weeks.  The locals keep telling us that so much snow is unusual... one week, it snowed six days!  I add that because those of you in the "field of ministry" understand that snow kills attendance!  Especially here where the Idahoans don't like to drive in snow.  We prayed really hard that it wouldn't snow last Saturday -- God obliged!  Of course, the snow picked up Sunday night and all Monday, but at least it didn't prevent people from coming on Sunday.

Keep praying for us.  Our church needs $2000 more a month to make up

for shortfalls.  The staff is adjusting with pay cuts, but we are confident the situation will make a quick turnaround.  We saw a major increase in December giving because our people believe it what we are doing and are giving sacrificially.  Our situation is a lot like the rest of the non-profit world, and we know that tough economic times won't slow down our work of connecting people with God.

Enjoy our Christmas and a couple of Fall photos (Naomi is in her Susan from Narnia costume that Mary made, and Gracie is looking for the "Great Pumpkin" at the pumpkin patch).  Drop us a line or call -- we'd love to hear from you again!