Jesus and Java

“I’ve learned that trusting and following the heart of God is the most beautifully risky thing you’ll ever do. It requires much risk, much sacrifice…but it is the most satisfying and fulfilling thing you’ll ever do. In many ways, we know that this story we’ve been a part of is just beginning…and we are thrilled that God chose us to be a part of such a magnificent story.”

::Aaron Ivey

These words are so true, they reflect the struggles of adoption and the struggles of life. You can read the full post here.

We have been lifting up organizations such as Real Hope for Haiti and Compassion International in prayer and rightly so. We have been lifting the people of Haiti and all those who have come to their aid in prayer also. I would encourage you to continue to lift your voices to God for those in Haiti, to continue to give finically and sacrificially.

“God burden our hearts for the widow and orphan. Burden our hearts for this hurting country, for the people of Haiti. Amen.”

excited to release this video, especially with ALL that is going on to get Amos home these past few days… share it with friends!

::Aaron Ivey

To those who read my blog be in prayer that Amos will come home soon.

With everything that has happened and is happening in Haiti I would encourage you to not just pray but give. Below you will find links to two organizations that do a lot of work in Haiti. I recommend donating to both of them. Also below you will find 2 video clips.

Real Hope for Haiti

Compassion International

The first clip is from CNN this morning featuring the Ivey’s, a family that is in the process of adopting another child from Haiti. I found Aaron’s blog a few years back and have actually got to meet him face to face and I have to tell you God has burden his heart for the people of Haiti. Aaron and his wife give of themselves to those in Haiti without restraint and to the glory of God.

The second clip again shows the Ivey’s in their home town community of Austin, TX and their desire to help raise money and awareness for the situation in Haiti as well as other local artists. A local Non-Profit called Music for the City is onboard for a concert Monday. Also of note is Steven Bush, another guy I have meet. Bush is a amazing photographer and plays bass with Aaron. He is selling prints at the concert, some of which where shot in Haiti, they are also available online here. The concert is going to benefit Real Hope for Haiti

Man I encourage you to pray for Haiti, but more I encourage you to step out and make your faith an action of love for God by donating money to the cause. I know of one church that just launched last week that is taking their tithes this week and donating 100% to help in Haiti. That amazes me and I hope it inspires you.

Follow Aaron on Twitter @aaronivey
Follow Bush on Twitter @stevenbush
Follow Compassion on Twitter @compassion
Follow Help Haiti Shirt on Twitter @helphaitishirt
Follow Music for the City on Twitter @musicforthecity

This weekend marks a huge turning point in the lives of a few friends here in Durham.

Jeremy Copeland, a close friend and church planter moved his family to Durham North Carolina from Southern California about the same time we moved here. Jeremy is the lead pastor of story church and this Sunday marks the official launch of their church plant here in Durham. Another friend I meet through Copeland, an Irishman named Alastiar Vance is leading worship for Story Church and does a brilliant job. His family moved here from the UK awhile back.

If you’re new to the area or have been here awhile, or maybe you have tried other churches or given up on church all together I would encourage you to check them out. Service starts at 10AM, below is the address, but don’t trust your GPS the school where they meet just opened this year.

Spring Valley Elementary School
2051 Northern Durham Parkway
Durham, NC 27703

So I’m asking those who read my blog to take some time this weekend and over the next few weeks and months to commit to pray for Story Church and the ministry God has already allowed them to do in Durham. You can follow Jeremy on twitter @pastorcope, Story Church @storychurch, and Alastair @alastairvance to keep up to date on what God is doing.

I can’t believe it’s been since the 22nd of November that I have updated my blog. I have been so busy with Lauren and the student ministry at our church that I have not had much time to update here.

Lauren is doing amazing. She had her trach taken out and the stoma stitched closed this past weekend. She is now home and making noise. She is quite a bit hoarse but that is to be expected. She has “discovered” her voice we thing and sits and makes noise when she reads a book. The greatest moment is one I posted on twitter. I could feel her breath on my neck as I held her sleeping body in my arms. It brought tears to my eyes because it’s one of those things must of us take for granted.

The student ministry is going full throttle this month. I actually can’t wait till the end of the month so we can all (students included) breath a little. We had a spaghetti lunch this past Sunday to raise some money for our winter retreat which is scheduled for the 20th-22nd of December. We are heading to Boone, NC for two days of skiing and worship/retreat time. I’m going to be teaching and Justin Teseniar is going to be leading the music this year. I’m hoping that this will be a very reflective soul searching time for our students as they reflect on this past year and look to the new one that is upon us. Last night and tonight we are volunteering at the Christmas Toy Store which is hosted by our local association of churches and is an opportunity for our students to help those in need. We have Refuge tomorrow night as well as a parent meeting to follow for the winter retreat and a few other events this month for the church as a whole and our student ministry. December is also a time I do a lot of planning for the following year and really try to get my brain wrapped around the direction God has for us.

Fun Times!

Digging around on my friends blogs has lead to a few thoughts of conviction on community today. I’d like to share this quote from Bush, who besides being an amazing photographer, who challenges with his images, is also a man who challenges with his words. I’ve meet this guy in person once and have to say he inspires me and I love him for that.

We want to know the names of the people on our street, and begin to know their stories. It’s pointless for us as a family to move into this neighborhood if we never meet the family two houses down, or the man who lives at the end of the street. We can’t love and serve our neighbors if we don’t know their names or their situations. I feel like the backyards and security fences of America have been one of the biggest hindrances to great community being formed. It’s time for us to come outside, and embrace the world in all of it’s beauty and brokenness. I am hoping God will grant us favor with our neighbors, and that relationships will be formed.

::Steven Bush

If you want to read the full post check it out here.

I’ve started reading a book this week called “Crazy Love,” I know, you read the title and your like what? Just hear me out a minute. It is a book by pastor/speaker Francis Chan, who many of you in our church have likely never heard of, but I would encourage you to pick up this book and give it a read. I am on the first chapter and desire to share with you something Chan wrote in the preface.

“This book is written for those who want more Jesus. It is for those who are bored with what American Christianity offers. It is for those who don’t want to plateau, those who would rather die before their convictions do.”

I stand amazed when I read this and have to admit that I am VERY bored with “American Christianity” and what it offers as Chan has said. I believe when we step back and look at our Christianity, that is our personal belief in Christ and what the word “disciple” means, many of us would have to admit we have reached a plateau having found the comfort it offers good. I would also add our desire to continue the journey to the summit has waned considerably and I fear for many it may not exist at all.

In my own life, I have this desire of wanting more Jesus of wanting to follow Him no matter the cost but am I willing to do what it takes? Are you willing too? Are we as a church willing? I am excited as I read the pages and scared too because the words are challenging my soul. Later in the preface Chan goes on to say,

“We need to stop giving people excuses not to believe in God. You’ve probably heard the expression “I believe in God, just not organized religion.” I don’t think people would say that if the church truly lived like we are called to live. The expression would change to “I can’t deny what the church does, but I don’t believe in their God.” At least then they’d address their rejection of God rather than use the church as a scapegoat.”

Wow. He is right you know, I’ve know many people who say this and I have to agree we give people the excuses. Christians stand before the world and are looked upon by our actions, our lives, and our churches. Sad but true, the actions of a few speak for the majority. I’m not sure the direction this book is heading, but the title “Crazy Love” and Francis Chan’s desire to pursue God, “to lead a church of comfortable people into lives of risk and adventure” sounds like a great vision to me. I’ll leave you with the closing words of the preface and hope you pick up a copy of this book.

“Come with me on this journey. I don’t promise it will be painless. Change, as we all know, is uncomfortable. It’s up to you to respond to what you read. But you will have a choice: to adjust how you live daily or to stay the same.”

This next week is going to be busy.

Monday: appointment for Lauren with peds neurosurgery, OT appointment for Lauren, work at the church in the afternoon, meeting with Copeland to get speakers back, drop drum set off to Justin Teseniar, and work on service for refuge Wednesday.

Tuesday: Work on service for refuge & setup the worship area. Be home by 3PM so the nurse can leave. Stay with Lauren until the nurse comes at 11PM while attempting to work from home. Watch lots of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Fallout 3 Game of the Year Edition drops. Cook Dinner.

Wednesday: Up early for nurse to leave, finish service details/setup for refuge, pickup the outlaws I mean in-laws from the airport (I might have lunch with them if I am lucky), nurse leaves at 4 when my sweet wife gets home (she will be happy to see her parents). refuge at 6PM, freak out because I don’t have someone to lead music, then remember that my computer can handle it.

Thursday: Lauren’s surgery. We love visitors but Duke is not allowing ANYONE to visit other then immediate family members and no one under 18. Clergy are an exception, which covers just about all the people I know! However please call my cell before coming to see us. Lauren will spend at least the first day/night in the PICU of her 5 day stay and no one but us can be in there with her.

Friday: Stay with Lauren in hospital, hopefully on step down, pending how she recovers. Work on service stuff for Sunday. Push lauren around Duke in her stroller for 12 hours (pending how she’s doing). You laugh but last time we walked around Duke that much with her. We saw the fish tank (her favorite thing at Duke) every few minutes.

Saturday: Stay with Lauren in hospital.

Sunday: Morning service & movie night at church, stay with Lauren in hospital.

Alastair Vance leading on Vox and Guitar tonight. Here is the setlist:

Praise Is Rising
From The Inside Out
Take All Of Me
Surrender

The message tonight is on Consequences which is part of a video driven series called Choose from BluefishTV featuring Marcus Goodloe as the speaker and stories from various teenagers about addiction to sex, drugs, and porn. Tough stuff tonight but worth hitting on. I can’t wait to share this story of surrender with our students and invite them to write on the “wall” and give these things that so hinder their lives to Jesus and let him work in their lives.

The wall is a black piece of foam board that they can write on with a marker and it disappears so what they write is between them and God. I guess you could call it a wall of confession. It was up last week and we are going to use it for the next few weeks.