the other side of the lake

on the move

2010-06-01T13:48:00.000-07:00

The blog is on the move.

I'm going to start writing over here now. Actually, kinda already did. Just forgot to tell anyone. Oh well.

This has been a great blog, chronicling our time in Kentucky and move to North Carolina. A lot of change has happened, much of it captured here. Thanks for walking with us. Hope you continue the journey in the new home.

a response to haiti

2010-01-14T15:21:00.000-08:00

In Epiphany we have learned that awakening calls for action. We've all been shaken awake by the destruction in Haiti this week. I am moved by the rapid, passionate and creative response.

One of my friends, Stevan Sheets, is mobilizing action through thisishaiti.com. I love this guy, and I'm proud of his creative expression of mercy and compassion.

The Love Chapel Hill leadership team has responded as well, issuing the following response to our people through Facebook and Twitter today:

As news reports of devastation continue to roll in from Haiti, the question continues to rise, "How can I help?" The chaos and loss of life is overwhelming, but there are people on the ground there who are able to save lives and provide hope. Love Chapel Hill has teamed up with two organizations that already have people in Port-au-Prince working around the clock. The American Red Cross and World Hope International. You can join in supporting their efforts in three simple ways.

GIVE $10 to The Red Cross: text "HAITI" to 90999 - You'll receive a text to confirm the gift. Reply "YES" and $10 will be added to your next cell phone bill (standard text messaging rates apply).

GIVE any $$ amount to World Hope International by going to their giving page: worldhope.org Your gift will provide water, food and essential supplies for survivors to begin healing and rebuilding their lives.

GIVE $$ on Sunday. This Sunday Morning at Love Chapel Hill all cash given during the offering will be sent to World Hope International for their relief efforts in Haiti.

You can help! First... PRAY! And if you are able, simply choose one of these giving options. If you have any questions about these or other giving options, don't hesitate to email team@lovechapelhill.com or call 919.442.8828

LOVE with the Heart of Jesus!

The Love Chapel Hill Leadership Team

epiphany

2010-01-06T10:10:00.000-08:00

Today is Epiphany, a day celebrated by the ancient Church to mark the manifestation of who Christ is and what He came to do. It is historically observed on the 12th day after Christmas.

Even though we are a new church that desires to experiment with innovative and creative expressions of our faith, we will always root the future in our past. We are a small part of something Bigger. We want to orient ourselves in this larger Story and remember who we are and who we have been.

So with this in mind, we are exploring a series that flows out this season of Epiphany. Our creative, catchy title will blow you away. It's called... wait for it... wait for it... Epiphany. Crazy, I know.

Here are a few scattered thoughts from the messages so far:
Luke 2:21-40 (Jesus dedicated in the Temple)
-Epiphany means "sudden realization or manifestation of meaning."
-It is not about digging up deeply buried treasures, but about recognizing treasures that are hiding in plain sight.
-It is not about opening up new and far off frontiers, but about opening up our eyes to the truth right at our feet.
-The truth, beauty and goodness of God are begging to be discovered. Look with the wonder and awe and freshness of a child and you will experience Epiphany. Your heart will say, like Simeon in the Temple, "My eyes have seen your salvation, prepared in the sight of your people, a light for revelation..."

Matthew 2:1-18 (The visit of the wise men)
-The only thing worse than the person who has all the answers to every question is the person who will accept no answer to any question.
-Our hearts are ships at sea, sojourner souls on a quest for meaning. We encourage the journey because we have experienced a small glimpse of the destination. We honor the quest because we worship the King that waits at the end of it. We celebrate The Searching because we believe in The Finding. Epiphany is possible.

our first baptism

2009-12-09T15:09:00.000-08:00

We celebrated our first baptism this Sunday. It was an incredible experience. We gathered and huddled and slipped on the muddy banks of a cold Morgan Creek. On a 40 degree day in December, we celebrated and participated in the new life of our friend Tony. Two weeks ago Tony asked how he could embrace the new life that is offered through the love and grace of Jesus Christ. He is Jeanine's brother, and right there in the room where he has crashed countless weekends on their couch, Justin walked Tony into the Kingdom.

Tony is a Marine, soon on his way back to Afghanistan. There's this thing he does when he shakes hands--a Marine thing, he says--where instead of the normal grip, hand in hand, he grips higher up on the inside of your forearm, while you're gripping his. The test then, is to see who is the stronger man, who has the strength to wrestle and turn his arm on top. In all of my personal experience, Tony has never lost.

Until Sunday.

As he went beneath the frigid water (yes, even cold for a hard core Marine) he let Someone else win. He surrendered. He submitted. He humbled himself to a stronger man... One strong enough to save.

This is the beauty of baptism. The submission and submersion, an old life buried beneath the water. A new one raised fresh and new. (And really, really cold.)

Watch the video of Tony's baptism here on Justin's blog. And as you watch, remember what it was like when you were baptized. And in your heart, go under with him, reaffirming the work God accomplished in you. Remember what it was like to come up new and alive, soaking wet and drenched in grace.

the story so far

2009-11-21T14:26:00.000-08:00

It has been an exciting couple of months for us at Love Chapel Hill. We have been humbled by the way God has paved the way for us with His Spirit. Here is an article from reporter Ali Rockett of the Carolina Journalism Network. Thanks Ali, for listening to our story, and for retelling it. And thanks to our friends and fellow pioneers in this experiment in grace.

Read Ali's article here.

a shared journey

2009-10-11T21:39:00.000-07:00

Jesus sat down on a hillside, opened His mouth, and reshaped the world.

Every Sunday over the next several weeks, we are walking through His revolutionary teaching known as The Sermon on the Mount. These words have transformed history. They can do the same thing in our hearts.

So, we are inviting you to join us on a shared journey into the life and teachings of Jesus. Over the next 40 days we will immerse ourselves in His story as told by the good news writer Matthew. We are going small with this thing, reading just one chapter of Matthew a day. And going even smaller with the three chapters that make up the Sermon on the Mount. We will move intentionally slow through this portion, sinking into the words and letting the words sink into us.

Join us on this journey into the words that reshaped the world. And let them reshape you as well. Read along each day here.

the varsity

2009-09-27T20:37:00.000-07:00

This Sunday, October 4, Love Chapel Hill will find our first home in the historic Varsity Theatre on Franklin Street.

The Varsity is a classic. It is a landmark, an icon, a central piece of Franklin Street's cultural landscape. Since we are a church with a heart for Chapel Hill, it is fitting that we make our home at the heart of Chapel Hill. But we want to make it clear to the community that we are not the new owners and we are not turning it into a church building. We love the history and heritage of this place, and want to see it continue to be a vibrant center of creativity and community.

Thank you to all of our friends who have prayed with us for a location. We are humbled by God's goodness in this. We can hardly believe it. I have a whiteboard on my wall (I know that makes me a nerd) where I've brainstormed possible meeting places. One by one, most of our best backups fell through. And at the end of it all, we are left with our first (and most far-fetched) hope.

I've said before that I've dreamed of this since high school or college. But I'm not sure 'dream' is even the right word. As I think back, it's almost more like a memory that I couldn't even understand at the time. Like God was planting a seed back then that He would slowly and patiently cultivate into a dream years and years later. I am sure I would have never thought of this. But somehow, the subtle memory of it is there. So, really what we are walking into is not our dream or vision or idea, but God's genius and goodness and generous kindness. This is the extravagance of His grace, up in lights and splashed across the marquee.

grace-onomics

2009-09-21T07:44:00.001-07:00

Chris Wang (left) is an economics major at UNC. We met this summer by the Old Well on campus. One night I was sitting on a bench, nervously thinking and praying about our first Worship at the Well the next day. He walked by twice, so I said hello. He asked, "What are you reading?" I answered,"Oh, my Bible." He excitedly sat down next to me and said, "I just became a Christian three months ago and this is my first week in town. Can you tell me where I can find a good Church?"

He's been with us ever since.

This Saturday night, we were hanging out around a table and Chris said, "You know what I don't get? I don't get grace. I study economics, and it just doesn't make sense."

It struck me as one of the most beautiful sermons on grace I've heard in a long time.

Then, grabbing a piece of paper, he attempted to force it into the realm of reason. Scratching out multiple graphs, Chris tried to make it square with the laws of supply and demand. His final thought: "If price is free, and supply is infinite, then demand is satisfied."

birthday party

2009-09-02T08:46:00.000-07:00

My cohort and comrade Justin Simmons and I were both born in September. This year, we're throwing a different kind of birthday party. And you are invited...

Join the party at mycharitywater.org/mattandjustin. To learn more about charity:water and the Born in September campaign, check out their story here. We are inspired by this organization and the journey of founder Scott Harrison. Their work is marked by passion and refreshing creativity. Not to mention real, life-changing impact.

dad

2009-08-22T08:31:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite writers/thinkers of late, Alan Hirsch, recently sent out the following tweet: "A saint is a person who makes it easier for others to believe in God."

That makes me think of my dad.

We threw a surprise party for his 60th birthday last night, and it had me reflecting on that quote. I have found in working with teens and college students that an entire generation is trying to navigate through broken relationships with fathers, and the real effect that has on how they view God... and how they think God views them.

I am deeply grateful for my dad, who loves and leads in such a way that makes it natural and possible to believe in God as a good, loving Father. My brothers and I are blessed for that. And at the same time, we are acutely aware that many sons and daughters have experienced a different reality, and this very same relationship has defined and affirmed their disbelief.

So, calling all saints: let your life be a reason to believe.

Thanks dad.

layers

2009-07-20T17:14:00.002-07:00

Gary Kurtz is our good friend and resident photographer (as well as expert on everything from tree herding to tree camping... yes, tree camping... as in sleeping in a tree).

With a theologian's eye, Gary captured this shot of Jason Tuggle leading Worship at the Well this weekend. What thoughts about worship does this image evoke? What story is it telling? What message is it crafting?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

summer of love

2009-06-30T12:07:00.001-07:00

We had a great day last Saturday. Since the first day she rolled into town, Jeanine Simmons has had this idea to give away PB&J on Franklin Street. So, on Saturday we set up a table, bringing the banquet to the street. We have been guests at the Table. Now, we get to be hosts. Can't help but remember the parable of the Banquet, when Jesus speaks of the host who rewrote the guest list, and got crazy with it. That is the spirit in which we decorated Franklin Street with colorful chalk, pointing the way to a free lunch. The table was spread with a wild assortment of bread, endless flavors of jam, and even homemade, organic peanut butter (courtesy of April Hastings). And to chase it down, PB&J's perfect partner in the dance of deliciousness... ice cold milk. White and chocolate, from local dairy Maple View Farms. Childish? No way. Child-like? Absolutely. And isn't that how the Kingdom shows itself?

Then, later that evening, we had our first worship gathering as a church. With the Old Well as a backdrop, we worshipped the God that loves us and loves our city. Our mission is never simply about our love for Chapel Hill, or even our love for God. It is about His love for us. The kind of Love that is so real, so robust, so full, so strong, so ridiculous, that if we catch even the smallest glimpse it will mess us up forever. The kind of Love that crossed every line and climbed every wall to get to us... to reclaim us... to rescue us. What would happen if we lived like we believed in that kind of Love?

We will Worship at the Well again July 18 and August 22 at 7 pm. Bring a blanket and a friend.

*Photography by Gary Kurtz and Nick Coronado.
The whole photo album is on facebook. Look for the album titled 'Worship at the Well.'
Or click on the flickr badge in the right border of the blog.

worship at the well

2009-06-18T13:39:00.001-07:00

This Saturday night we are holding our first worship gathering for Love Chapel Hill. We will be meeting on the green next to the Old Well at 7 pm.

The Old Well is a landmark in Chapel Hill, a distinct symbol of the town and the University. It has always been a central image of life in our community-- once as the shared source of water, now as the required photo-op for visitors. That is why it is fitting (and strategic) for us to hold our first worship gathering on this spot.

We would love for you to grab a blanket and a friend and come join us. As always, please pray for us as God continues to dream through us for our town.

love buckets

2009-06-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

Last week we carried out another Love Chapel Hill mission. With the generous help of my friend Izzy AhKuoi (Dustin's dad) and Family Garden, we filled 6 large buckets with beautiful flowers and left them around town. A simple sign encouraged people to take a flower as a reminder that they are loved.

We did not expect to witness any of the response ourselves. The plan was to drop the buckets in strategic locations and slip away. But as we were carrying a bucket to the local hospital that morning, we offered a flower to a group of nurses heading home from the night shift. They asked who the flowers were for. We answered, "You."

They were clearly surprised (and maybe a little confused). As they took a flower, they said things like, "Last night was so tough. I need this flower. You don't know how much this means." As they walked away, One nurse said to the other, "See, doesn't that make last night go away?"

An older gentleman, with the help of a cane, was walking behind the nurses. He waited until they had flowers, and stepped up to see what was going on. We offered one to him as well. He seemed hesitant for a split second. Then, pulling one from the bucket he said with heavy emotion, "My wife's been real sick. Maybe this will do something for her."

We saw people, flowers in hand, walking Franklin, waiting at bus stops, riding their bikes. Businesses and offices put them on display in vases. Little kids, homeless guys, college students. By mid afternoon, not one single flower was left. Not one.

sarah's mom

2009-06-05T15:33:00.000-07:00

Many of you know that Sarah's mom underwent brain surgery this week. While visiting us in NC, Mary Ann experienced confusion, headache and trouble with her speech. A trip to the ER on Monday and MRI revealed a mass on her brain. Surgery was performed on Wednesday.

You can follow frequent updates here. Thank you for the love and support that you have shown during this time. Please continue to pray for Sarah and her mom. Crisis tends to pull back the curtain on what we really believe. We found that our immediate impulse was to turn to friends for prayer.

the call

2009-05-20T13:31:00.000-07:00

When I first heard Regina Spektor's song 'The Call' a year ago, I was struck by the first several lines. As each new phrase unrolled, they captured the process of my own calling to plant a church. I heard it again yesterday and felt affirmed in that calling and grateful for the journey I like to call 'the long road to yes.' The sentiment is simple, but true to my story. Here are the lyrics:

It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word
And then that word grew louder and louder
Until it was a battle cry...

update: free franklin

2009-04-28T20:30:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all of our friends who helped us pull off FreeFranklin last week. Several people contributed money and manpower to Love Chapel Hill, one quarter at a time. It was exciting to hear our folks coming back with stories of surprised parkers, wondering why someone would do that for them. I like the way Justin put it, saying we were "interrupting the pattern of their daily routine" with unexpected love.

Even our DS (my pops) and our Assistant DS (Ernest Mullins, our greatest champion) participated in this quiet conspiracy. We are consistently moved and humbled by this kind of support and belief from our friends and leaders. One of my favorite moments from the day came when a guy gave dad two quarters to "help with the cause." Love is contagious. Pray that we keep catching it. And giving it away.

free franklin

2009-04-12T20:53:00.000-07:00

We are part of a new church with a mission: to Love Chapel Hill. But how, exactly, do you do that? How do you love a city?

Well, there are two things that everyone knows about our town:
1. Franklin Street is the symbolic and historic heart of Chapel Hill.
2. Parking on Franklin is a pain in the tail.

So, let’s start here. Let’s Free Franklin.

One day this Spring, we will pay for everyone’s parking on Franklin Street. The day will not be announced before hand. It will be an unexpected surprise. A free gift. This is our small way to Love Chapel Hill.

This is not a random act of kindness, but an intentional move of Love. An underground, grassroots conspiracy to give ourselves away.

Free Franklin. Are you in?

Sign up at FreeFranklin.com

good friday

2009-04-10T07:26:00.000-07:00

It's Friday morning. Good Friday morning. And that word "good' won't let me go.

"Good" is possibly one of the most important ideas to ever find its way into our theology.

In most cases, good is not as good as great. But today, I can't help but think that good is greater than great. Confused yet? Here's what I mean...

Anyone would assume that if there is a God, then He is great. By pure definition, He would have to be. If He is God, then He is immensely powerful, unrivaled in strength and might. To create and control all that we know, and have yet to discover, would require utter greatness.

That God is great is no surprise. Anyone would expect that. Even assume it.

But here is the surprise. Here is the 'better than you could have hoped for' revelation. Here is the twist in the plot that even the most optimistic and romantic among us would never dare to dream. God is more than great. God is good.

While limited power has corrupted the best of us, His purity of intention and motive only enhance His strength. His is a power that is not fueled by pride, but by humility. He demonstrates His might by mercy toward us. He moves with kindness and compassion. When our sin separated us from Him, His love launched a rescue mission to come and win us back. Setting aside His greatness, He became one of us. He embraced humility, and on this day on the cross, even humiliation.

He died, and took our sin with Him to the grave. He was raised back to life, and leads us into the new reality of resurrection.

Our selfish pride sealed our fate. His humble love changed the stars.

Yes, God is great! But, even more, He is good. He is full of mercy. He moves with kindness. He pursues us with forgiveness. He captivates us with grace. God is good.

one shining moment

2009-04-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

It's been a good week here in Chapel Hill. Several good friends came to town to watch the game and celebrate Carolina's win. Dustin AhKuoi even put in for vacation days several months ago just in case. That is love.

Here are a few videos to relive the experience. Starting off with the classic, 'One Shining Moment.' As a kid out at Webb Court (aka Jake's), this song was the soundtrack running in my head as I played basketball for hours. Enjoy the inspiration.

Cool time lapse shot of the celebration on Franklin Street. Can you see us? Another reason to Love Chapel Hill.

Timelapse: Franklin Street after the victory from The Daily Tar Heel on Vimeo.

Here's a longer video of the chaos.

Franklin Street: The Celebration from The Daily Tar Heel on Vimeo.

And as promised before, another picture with the green man.

our new worship band

2009-04-05T18:24:00.000-07:00

We found our worship band for our church. What do you think?

Bobby Knight looks like he almost blew out a knee on that slide. And he calls it 'The' Guitar Hero, in vintage old guy style. Classic. Another reason to love college basketball.

urban coyotes

2009-04-01T14:16:00.000-07:00

We were in DC last weekend for vacation. Riding the metro one morning, I saw this interesting newspaper headline: "Urban Coyotes Stir Alarm."

Well, I agree. The alarm was definitely stirred. But so was the intrigue.

Urban coyotes? Is this a new band that I haven't heard of? Or maybe an advanced, more sophisticated breed of beast, with cultured taste in trendy art and music? I pictured packs of them hanging out at the local coffee shop, with their skinny jeans, ironic vintage tees, dark rimmed glasses, scarf. Probably reading a collection of poetry from an obscure African farmer / activist / documentary filmmaker. Those smug urban coyotes. I wish I could be that cool.

follow the story

2009-03-23T19:56:00.000-07:00

Interested in Love Chapel Hill?
Here are several ways to follow the story.

Check out our spring newsletter at lovechapelhill.com
Become our friend on facebook at causes.com/lovechapelhill
Get frequent updates through twitter.com/lovechapelhill
Or watch the story unfold at youtube.com/lovechapelhill

let's dance

2009-03-17T14:07:00.000-07:00

I flat out love this time of year. Nothing like it. Full of imagination, dreams, unlikely heroics. Maybe that's why it conjures up imagery from ancient epics and fairy tales... 'Cinderella'... 'David vs Goliath'...

So, here are my picks for the Final Four.

Midwest: Louisville; West: UCONN; East: Duke; South: North Carolina

This sets up the ultimate Carolina-Duke battle in the Final Four. I hope they never meet in a championship game. Someone might die and cities would burn. And apocalyptic horsemen would appear on the horizon. It would not be good.

In the semis, Louisville takes out UCONN, and Carolina moves past Duke in a triple overtime blood bath / offensive barnburner. Barnburner is a great term. Coach K and Roy find a new level of respect for each other that nearly borders on like. Meeting at halfcourt for the postgame handshake, Roy invites Mike to lunch on Franklin St. Mike laughs. They agree to carpool to 'the story' Bible study instead.

This sets up a final between Louisville and UNC. The Big East has a chance to prove that they are the best conference with the best team. But they fail miserably. Roy's classy paisley tie tops Pitino's sleazy white suit. The ACC is hailed as unrivaled and Carolina collects the crown. We all go dancing on Franklin Street and I get my picture taken with the random celebratory green man...again.

What are your predictions?

hope is always

2009-02-23T18:32:00.000-08:00

Since I started substitute teaching a few months ago, I've heard a lot of interesting things come out of students' mouths. Most of which is followed by me saying, "Under no circumstance is it ever appropriate to use that word to describe anyone or anything."

You can use your own creativity to fill in the blanks. On second thought, maybe you shouldn't. Anyway, I'm sure your imagination would fall far short of what they can conjure up.

So, you can understand my surprise when I heard something that grabbed my heart. In a good way.

In a recent class discussion about a short story, middle school students were describing the mood created by the author. One soft spoken, shaggy haired kid offered this assessment: "The story is tense, scary and dangerous all the way through. But even though you feel afraid, hope is always present."

And there it is.

weddings

2009-02-19T12:28:00.000-08:00

Been thinking a lot about weddings lately. This week 'the story' discussed the 'water into wine' miracle of Jesus, as he gave a glance of his glory at a wedding. Sunday night Sarah and I visited greenleaf vineyard, another church plant in Chapel Hill, where my new friend Rodger Otero gave an excellent sermon on the parable of the wedding banquet. And a couple of weekends ago I had the honor of officiating the wedding of close friend and former student Jimi Moore.

I'm swimming in wedding imagery. And it's deep water.

This union-- two into one through love-- is a small glimpse of a larger story being told through Scripture. It is more than a ceremony. It is mystery and theology all dressed up in tux and gown.

Weddings wake in us ancient memories and early longings. They remind us of the God who fell in love at first sight in the garden. Who proposed to His people through Abraham. Who literally wrote His love in stone by way of Moses. And when looking for a perfect way to communicate His love, He calls His Church a beloved bride and names Himself the strong groom.

It's no mistake that the whole story is bookended by a wedding. It begins with a husband and wife in perfect union with God and each other. It ends with a wedding feast at the restoration of all things.

Weddings whisper the hope of a God who gave all He had to win our hearts and secure our rescue. This is the kind of Love that turns submission into strength and surrender into victory. The kind of Love that embraces sacrifice as its most eloquent articulation.

The kind of Love we have always hoped is real.

carolina / duke

2009-02-11T12:54:00.000-08:00

This is a special day around here. It's not Christmas in Carolina, but it's pretty close. You can taste excitement, breathe anticipation.

With the gravitational pull of a Death Star tractor beam, 'The Game' locks onto every conversation, every train of thought, and drags it in.

It's classic. It's epic. It's Carolina-Duke. There is nothing like this in sports. Yeah, I said it. Nothing. A national rivalry between neighboring giants.

To prepare for tonight, do yourself a favor and watch this video. Consider this clip your pre-game warmup. Like layup lines for the soul. It captures the moment and meaning in image and word. It's written by Fred Kiger, a teacher from my high school, and one of my new favorite writers. His passion for the game, especially 'The Game', is pure and poetic. You can almost smell the Carolina pines in his voice.

So, suit up in your favorite shade of blue. Sip a little Cheerwine or your momma's sweet tea. And soak up the best that basketball has to give us.

the story

2009-02-02T14:52:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow we are starting an open Bible Study through the book of John. We're calling it 'the story: a journey in the life of Jesus.' We'll meet every Tuesday night at 7, upstairs McAlister's Deli on Franklin.

Why Franklin Street? Because it is one of the coolest places on earth. And it also happens to be the historic heart of Chapel Hill. A crossroads of culture where eclectic masses merge. People ask if we have a target audience. Nope. But we have a target place. Give us Franklin Street.

Why a restaurant? Because there is something about a shared meal and a table. The early Church broke bread together frequently and intentionally. Nothing like a little sweet tea to grease the wheels of curiosity and conversation.

Why a Bible study? Because discipleship is about following Jesus. Being rescued by his love and shaped into his image. Our goal is to orient our community, from its earliest days, in the story of Jesus. And explore what it means to live and love like Him.

Pray for us tomorrow night. We want to tell the Story, and help Chapel Hill find her place in it.

at the corner of 44th and 1st

2009-01-20T16:26:00.000-08:00

We woke up early this morning to a world covered in snow. It reminded me of a blog I read recently from my friend Beka Dean: "There really is something hopeful about a landscape completely covered with snow; everything is clean; everything is new."

It's true. A blanket of snow enables you to see a familiar landscape in a fresh light.

Kind of like today. The inauguration of President Barack Obama helps us remember a history we've always known, while seeing it a different way. Now the stories take on a surprising shape, draped in unique meaning. Your eye picks up emerging contours of hope and possibility. And a feeling of something new.

It was striking to think of him standing on the steps of the Capitol, looking out across the sea of citizens, and catching sight of the Lincoln Memorial in the distance. He had to be reminded of two men whose legacies echoed back from those steps, across the crowds and generations.

A proclamation. A dream. And an oath.
Converging at the corner of 44th and 1st.

remember

2009-01-18T19:46:00.000-08:00

We're often told we should remember the past, so we won't repeat it.
True. But we should also remember the past so we will repeat it.
Recalling people of courage, love, justice and mercy. Memories that carve out a better way, and teach us how to walk well in our own time. Today's a good day to remember.

i love you europe

2009-01-16T13:08:00.000-08:00

The greatest acceptance speech in history? I dare say yes, my friend.

the long road to yes

2009-01-07T14:14:00.000-08:00

On the cover of last week’s Relevant Magazine was Pete Greig, founder of the worldwide 24-7 prayer movement. (Just don’t call him that to his face. He doesn’t seem to like it very much.)

Pete is cool for many reasons. Mainly because he’s British. Which means he has all sorts of cheeky sayings (like “cheers mate”) and he adds flavor and color to otherwise bland words by spelling them with the letter ‘u’ (flavour and colour, for example).

Pete came to Asbury last year to encourage our fledgling little campus house of prayer. Hearing him speak was an important experience for me. It stirred and provoked desires in me that weren’t really dormant, but had certainly been stealing a nap. I already read (mostly) his book Red Moon Rising, and resonated strongly with the story—a story of a truly significant move of God… the kind that starts small but swells so fast you can’t possibly keep up. You can try to stay ahead of it, but you just end up bent over, holding your side, huffing “Go ahead without me. I’ll catch up later.”

I’ve always wanted to be part of something like that. Always. Since I was a kid, my favorite stories have always been about a small group of friends facing ridiculous odds. Their only hope is a fool’s hope. But they risk it, and somehow come out on the other side. Looking back, it seems like the end is inevitable. Meant to be. But in the thick of it, you have no clue how things are going to turn out for good. (Think Sam and ‘the stories that really mattered.’)

Seeing that cover immediately sparked a memory. Early last spring I spent a day with a mentor and a friend at the Abby of Gethsemane, tucked away in the Kentucky hillside. It was raining hard, and we were walking a trail surrounded by trees. I was wrestling with what to do after graduation, a months long struggle. Sarah and I were still unsure if planting a church was the right thing. There were so many unknowns, so much fear, so much potential for flat out failure.

That’s when I thought of Pete. And his story. How I had always wanted to be part of a story like that. Always. Was this that chance? Was it worth the risk of failure?

I knew then that my heart had taken another strong step toward Chapel Hill. And it wanted to drag me along.

I was so deep in thought I didn’t see it coming. But at that moment—exact moment—the trail led us out of the trees, a wide clearing opening up around us. The gray sky made the green field seem that much more vibrant and fresh.

The same thing happened in my heart. Something opened up. My will baptized beneath the first rain of spring. It wasn’t the moment, but it was a moment on the long road to yes.

small acts, great love

2008-12-09T17:00:00.000-08:00

It's exam week at UNC, so Justin and I went to campus and served free hot chocolate to students on the way to classes.

We are also collecting food for our community kitchen and food pantry, which are in desperate need right now. We placed boxes in our apartment complexes and invited our neighbors to serve alongside us. After just one day, our box was packed! We were pretty pumped about that.

Please keep praying for us as we actively explore what it means to Love Chapel Hill in creative and authentic ways... in ways that point back to Jesus, the root of the Love we're trying to spread... in ways that cause people to see what we do, "and give glory to our Father in Heaven."

Check out the video below. Short spot for our Christmas food drive.

thankful

2008-11-25T12:27:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all of you who are believing in and praying for 'Love Chapel Hill.' We are deeply grateful for friends like you.

Check out our fall update at lovechapelhill.com. Click on the button that says COAHP Online Newsletter.

You can also follow the story at our prayer blog.

Or receive frequent updates through twitter.com/lovechapelhill.

when love comes to town

2008-11-18T16:23:00.000-08:00

Love
has the courage
to cross every line drawn by hate
and climb every wall built by fear

fuel

2008-10-22T12:44:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I attended FUEL, a conference for Wesleyan youth pastors in Indianapolis. I was deeply encouraged by several things... seeing old friends again, being stranded in the airport with the fellas from NC (pictured: trying to entertain ourselves), and being with Dustin & Miriam for third time in four weeks.

But I was most encouraged by the direction of the conference itself. Rather than focusing on more nuts and bolts of ministry strategy, this was focused on the often neglected soul of the pastor. The main sessions were about marriage and mercy, while the breakouts zeroed in on topics like addressing the inappropriate, accountability, family as our first call, protecting integrity and confronting sin in ministry. Says a lot about our leadership-- reveals their wisdom and heart for the pastors they serve. Props to Scott Simmons and Matt Rhodes from our Spiritual Formation Department for a great conference.

bailouts, ben harper, and a better way

2008-10-02T08:41:00.000-07:00

Rollin' down the street (makes me think of a snoop/dre classic, circa mid 90's) this morning, listening to npr ('as was his custom'). Much of the talk swirling around the current economic crisis, and the so-called bailout bill that the Senate passed with all of the enthusiasm of a kid downing a spoonful of doctor's orders. Closing eyes, holding nose.

Needing a break from the bailout, I turn on some music, via the handy "oh just surprise me" shuffle list. Enter Ben Harper- who strikes me as part pirate, part prophet- singing about a better way...

What good is a man who won't take a stand / What good is a Senate with no better plan / But I believe in a better way.
Reality is sharp, cuts like a knife / Everyone I know is in the fight of their lives / But I believe in a better way.

This post is not an indictment of our leaders. Nor is it intended to be political commentary.
It's a reminder of what is bigger. And better.
Here's to the Better Way. And to The Pioneer who paved it, drawing us in behind Him.

i am a tree

2008-09-25T16:34:00.000-07:00

My good friend Jeremiah introduced me to a beautiful song, ‘How He Loves Us.’ You should watch the video on his blog and read his post about it. (Disclaimer: In about 2 and a half weeks this song will probably be huge and possible overexposed, and I’m gonna look like a dork for writing about it. But as my older brother Kris would say, ‘Oh well.’)

What strikes me about the song is the creative language and imagery used to describe the utterly indescribable love of the Father. The beauty is not only in the writing, but in the truth that the writing is somehow able to capture. Lines like ‘If grace is an ocean, we are all sinking.’ And the first verse which says, ‘He is jealous for me. Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree, Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.’

Last weekend I took a quick trip down to North Carolina’s Outer Banks to visit my grandma on Harkers Island. With this song still ringing in my heart, I noticed something. I noticed the trees.

The trees on Harkers Island are flat out mangled. They are twisted and bent and often the branches look like they are all leaning in one direction instead of sprawling outward in different directions from the trunk. Like many coastal communities, HI has experienced the blunt power of hurricane force winds barreling up the coastline. Long after the gusts have died down, and the boards are taken off of the windows, and the gas prices return from their astro-adventure into the outer reaches of the earth’s atmosphere, certain signs stay behind. The trees still bear the marks…proof of the pathway of a violent storm… forever bent beneath the weight of the wind.

He loves like a hurricane. I am a tree. I am mangled up and twisted by the sheer force of unbridled Grace. Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy, until I am utterly reshaped, unable to return to the stately posture I once held, when I once held my ground.

hope

2008-09-16T15:37:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday our friend Maggie invited me to preach at an outdoor worship service she started called Green Chapel. She asked me to share on ‘hope for today.’ Luke 4:14-21 was the passage of focus, zooming in on these mind-bending words of Jesus: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” The following is a collection of thoughts taken from the message.

‘Hope is a seed in the ground waiting for the harvest.’

‘Hope is heavy with expectation, a word weighed down with beauty and confidence.’

‘Hope is most often associated with a day far off…as yet unfulfilled…situated firmly in the future. But Jesus takes what is far off, what is future, and drags it into the present.’

‘Yes, we look forward to going to heaven. But we must remember that heaven has already come to us. Hope is not there and then, but here and now. It is not out there. It is in you.’

‘That’s the thing about hope. It is restless. And it refuses to stay politely put. It first takes root in our deepest places until swelling up and spilling out into every corner of our lives and every corner of our world.’

fac et spera

2008-09-01T14:05:00.000-07:00

While in Charleston this summer, we stepped into a cool little antique shop. You know, the kind of the place that is so high end that you instantly discover you have no right to even make direct eye contact with any of the furniture, much less look at the price tag and pretend you aren’t calculating how many months’ worth of rent that armoire would set you back. But it’s too late now, because you are already inside, and the awkwardness of having the shop owner look upon you with disgust is slightly better than immediately admitting defeat, apologizing for the mistake and backing out the door. Yeah. That kind of place.

At the front of the shop sat a sculpture that caught my eye. It was a young man with a bag of seeds slung over his shoulder. His arm was stretched out and reaching back, as if he were sowing the seeds, flinging them out over the soil. On the base was an inscription: FAC ET SPERA.

The shop owner saw me eyeing the piece and walked over. Surprisingly, she didn’t ask me to leave. Instead, she smiled and warmly explained, “Work and Hope.”

FAC ET SPERA: Work and Hope. What a fitting inscription. The seed is sown and watered by the sweat of the planter’s brow. But the harvest is out of his hands.

the love list

2008-08-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

Here's a rundown of a few friends that are doing things I'm proud of. So stinkin' proud that I had to share it with you. So, go check them out and share the love.

1. the bridge project: Josh, Laura, and Anna Grace LeRoy serving as a prophetic witness of personal holiness, racial harmony, and social healing in Asheboro's East Side. Read Josh's blog for insightful social commentary that alternates between side splitting, soul stirring and eye opening.

2. the coffecover: My friend Shauna Lott (I was her youth pastor in Indy) has invented a reusable coffee sleeve, a result of her entre-creativity and eco-sensibility. A good idea from a good heart.

3. creatives: Dustin AhKuoi has been one of my best friends since high school. He is seriously the single most talented person I know. You should start reading his blog. He recently wrote a series called 'generations of creatives' in which he remembers the family members that planted the seeds of art in him from an early age. My favorite is the one about his dad, Issy.

4. worship seminary: My friend and mentor JD Walt teaches on worship in a series of short youtube films. To really dig into this discussion, follow his blog FARMStrong.

5. redeem team: Raise your hand if you set your alarm for 2:30 AM to watch Team USA win the gold in basketball. Oh really? Just me? Well here is what you missed. Turned out to be a real test, but the world's greatest players came together as the world's greatest team. I love this game. Cue single tear.
(OK, so Kobe and LeBron aren't exactly my friends. But I'm still proud of them.)

planting

2008-08-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

Planting: The latest City on a Hill video. Props to independent film-maker Justin Simmons.

08 / 08 / 08

2008-08-08T14:27:00.000-07:00

Driving back home last night after a late work session with Justin, I start praying for Chapel Hill—the people and the town. Praying that Jesus will teach me how to live and love like He would. I decide to skip the shortcut, and drive the long way home, taking me down Franklin Street. Just a moment or two after making that decision, my phone buzzes.

Maybe it’s Sarah checking in. Or Jeremiah. I left him a rambling, "trying to be funny" voicemail earlier.

Instead, it’s my phone's calendar appointment reminder for an event labeled “08/08/08: Where are you? And what are you doing?”

Several months ago, probably somewhere back in early March, Sarah and I had no clue what we were going to do after seminary. We were searching, wrestling, wondering. In the throes of this confusion, I picked out 08/08/08 and wrote myself a note in the future. ‘By then, we will be somewhere, doing something,’ I thought. ‘Wonder what it will be.’

So, last night around midnight, my phone buzzes with a note from the past.

08 / 08 / 08: Where are you? And what are you doing?

The answer: Headed down Franklin Street. Praying for Chapel Hill.

Savannah / Charleston

2008-08-04T13:50:00.000-07:00

We had a great vacation last week. LeRoy/Simmons excursion '08. This year there was a double destination: Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC. Both very cool cities with thriving and artistic downtown areas. And dang good food.

Summer Love. Charleston.

Southern Seafood. Including the classic shrimp and grits.

Sarah's new friend, Paula Deen. Savannah.

the landing list

2008-07-19T14:43:00.000-07:00

A quick list to catch you up on life since landing in NC a week ago.

1. Last Friday I finished up a week at Indiana South District camp. To all my new friends there: remember who you are in the eyes of the Father, be baptized into the new pattern of life pioneered by Jesus, and stay filled with the Holy Spirit. Peace up, A-town down.
2. I came home from camp on Friday. We loaded up the u-haul that night. We moved to NC on Saturday morning.
3. Sarah’s parents, David and Mary Ann Presher, helped us move out of Wilmore, and move in on this end. They are awesome. Thanks so much for all of your help and support.
4. Sarah’s dad led the way in assembling in our new furniture, from a store that shall remain unnamed. Let’s just say that if Dave hadn’t been there, I probably would have searched out the nearest Swede and punched him in the face.
5. We now have new phone numbers. If you need it, email me at matt@lovechapelhill.com. (While in the store, we saw Carolina basketball player Danny Green. Pretty cool).
6. We had NC East District Conference this week. Still feeling incredibly encouraged by the moving support and love shown to the four church plant / mission projects.
7. We have pretty much settled into our new place. Here’s a brief video tour. The film is not exactly Sundance material, but she'll do. Come and visit us soon. Much love.

goodbye wilmore

2008-07-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

We are packing things up and preparing to say goodbye to good ol' Wilmore in the next week and a half. It's funny how attached you can become to streets, buildings, wood trails, short little statues of John Wesley, and even gas stations (much love to clucker's). I am very grateful for this place, this time, and especially the people who have made this a rich experience for us. To all of our Wilmore friends: thanks and we love you. Peace.

"Goodbyes are hard. And you can't hug a city."
-Aram Mitchell

love chapel hill

2008-06-23T16:25:00.000-07:00

Swing by the new lovechapelhill.com. This is the home of the city on a hill project, a new church plant in Chapel Hill, NC. Our mission is to love God with everything we have, and everything we are. And to 'Love Chapel Hill' in His name with His heart.

Massive thanks to partner and seasoned globe trotter (not the trickster basketball kind, although that would be awesome to see) Justin Simmons for pouring extensive time and talent into making this happen.

And here's a little 'love chapel hill' old school mixtape to listen to while you check it out. (Featuring the hill's native son James Taylor, of course.) Reminds me of the good ol' days when you waited through all of G105's 'top ten at ten' so you could record your favorite jam, only to have the dj yap over the entire first half of the song. Props to friend and celebrity blogger Chad Brooks for the mixtape discovery.

i heart wesleyans

2008-06-17T13:34:00.000-07:00

Last week I hitched a ride (13 hours through the night) to attend the General Conference of The Wesleyan Church in Orlando. (Nerd Alert!) The trip reminded me of why I love Wesleyans, and why I'm proud to call this my Church.

Most significant for me was the historic election of our first woman General Superintendent, Dr. JoAnne Lyon. Dr. Lyon is the founder of World Hope, which for the past 12 years has thrust itself into the fight against human trafficking, HIV/AIDS, and other worldwide issues of social and spiritual injustice. I have a pretty good feeling we're about to be pulled in right behind her.

I was also moved by the passing of a bold statement on immigration. The strength of this statement (and the strength of the vote to pass it) were especially surprising for a few reasons: 1) We are in the throes of a heated Presidential election. 2) We are a Church that trends heavily toward conservatism. 3) The loudest voices of conservative thought would not be very happy with our stance on this. But these are not our theologians. As a Church, we now publicly declare that we are 'for' the outcast and oppressed, that we are 'for' the stranger, that we are 'for' those seeking refuge and hope, regardless of the political climate. Guided by the Biblical mandate of self-emptying love, we take a stand. Read the statement here on Keith Drury's blog (aka, the man who invented blogging).

I am proud of our history. The roots of the Wesleyan Church reach back to a small collection of courageous activists and abolitionists. They were 'for' freedom from slavery. They were 'for' equal rights for women (rights that stretch from the voting booth to the pulpit). They were 'for' the kind of heart holiness that wells up and runs over into the most mundane and magnificent expressions of mercy and grace. A movement born out of a great moment.

But here is the question. What is the next fight? What is our next great moment?

Maybe we are living in it now.

"May we see God's future Kingdom invading the present." -JoAnne Lyon

5 years!

2008-06-07T17:31:00.000-07:00

Today we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary! It was a great day of reflecting back on the moments that have made up our journey so far. God is true, beautiful, and good. And He has used these five years to continually reveal that to us.

Thank you to our friends and family who have added rich layers to our lives together. We are blessed by your wisdom, encouragement and grace.

Photos by the talented Carissa Martin.

the lion and lucy

2008-05-30T14:54:00.000-07:00

Sarah and I recently returned to Narnia, going to see Prince Caspian (on the opening day, of course, due to me being a dork). My favorite scene is between Aslan and Lucy, when she dreams of meeting him in the forest. The trees magically move to form a path, revealing him to us for the first time in the film. In the book, it goes down like this…

“Welcome, child,” he said.
“Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”
“That is because you are older, little one,” answered he.
“Not because you are?”
“I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”

Lewis writes theology into every word and roar from Aslan’s mouth. I love this thought…that as we grow older and wiser, as we further feel out the edges of our intellect, God grows larger (though never older) in our eyes. At least when we see and think rightly. Even as we receive degrees declaring us ‘masters of divinity,’ we still fail to corner the mystery. This should not be frustrating, but deeply encouraging and inspiring. It is an invitation to move further up, and further in, finding a snowy wood on the other side of the wardrobe, and an entire world stretching out beyond that.

As we outgrow our bedtime stories, there is still one Story that will continue to outgrow us.

obi-wan wisdom

2008-05-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

Today in Chapel at Asbury, Dr. Robert Mulholland (spiritual formation guru and Asbury's version of Obi-Wan Kenobi) talked about the interesting distinction between the following two ideas:

Be in the WORLD for GOD.

Be in GOD for the WORLD.

Any thoughts on the differences between the two?

a city on a hill

2008-05-11T17:54:00.000-07:00

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
-Matthew 5:14, 16

The way of Jesus is more than a faith, more than a collection of common beliefs. The way of Jesus is a movement, leaving a trail of transformed lives in its wake. It is a rolling, rising tide of grace. And we have been swept up in it.

The same grace that searched us out with the hope of rescue is sending us out with this message of Love.

We have answered an unshakable call to plant a new church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. To form a new community of Spirit-filled Storytellers, creatively expressing the mercy of God. To live as captives to the truth that sets souls free. To become what the prophet Isaiah called, "a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor..."

To be light in the dark, like a city on a hill.

the hill

2008-04-13T18:28:00.000-07:00

I recently had lunch with my friend Chad. As we were walking back to campus, he reminded me of the old phrase, "You have to pick which hill you are willing to die on."

I've picked my hill.

wildland

2008-03-13T13:56:00.000-07:00

Every head bowed
Every heart opened
Coming together
Set apart

Hiding in the nooks and crannies of a holy place
Stretched all out
Tucked away
Proper pews become primal tents of meeting

Communion
No loaf to touch
No cup to pass
But the Bread is being broken, and souls are drenched in wine
A taste you can’t shake from your mouth

Canopies of praise
Cathedrals of worship
Cloaks and crowns of prayer
Falling over shoulders and brows with a perfect fit

Draw me in with you
This fertile wildland
Until I’m caught in the crossfire of the Love
Holdng the Three as One

abide in me

2008-02-06T15:35:00.001-08:00

The new Asbury Reader launched this week. This is one of the projects that I get to work with in my new role here at the seminary. Here's the deal: Each semester we walk through Scripture together, sharing this story that we find ourselves caught up in. This time the journey leads through John, wrapped around Jesus' invitation for us to 'abide in the Vine.'

To go along with each chapter of John there will be a bonus podcast, featuring companion commentaries from our faculty. Check out the introductory interview here.

We'd love to have you join us in this. We'll be updating it online everyday at asburyreader.com

(props to Teresa VanderMolen for her beautiful design and Chad Brooks for this animation.)

something...

2008-01-22T06:55:00.001-08:00

Back in December I graduated from Asbury. Yeah, it feels pretty doggone good. The obvious question to follow has been, ‘what’s next?’ Well, the thing is, we don’t really know what is next for us. But what little we do know is probably best framed by this one image.

Back in the fall, Sarah and I took this picture while walking a trail in the North Carolina mountains. The moment I saw it, I was immediately reminded of a quote from the great thinker and writer GK Chesterton:

‘There is one thing that gives radiance to everything. It is the idea that there is something around the corner.’

And there you have it.

The Way Forward

2007-12-23T20:46:00.001-08:00

The T-Shirts Strike Back!

2007-11-29T19:21:00.000-08:00

I finally figured out a way to win the t-shirt battle... every time Sarah gives one away, I'll just MAKE another to replace it! Brilliant!

We have teamed up with our good friends Justin and Jeanine to create a few t-shirt designs. They will be on sale this Saturday at Wilmore's Annual Craft Fair, held in the Asbury Seminary Gym from 9-4. Swing on by and check them out. The profits will go to the 'Asbury for Darfur' effort.

(Think John Belushi's famous 'College' sweatshirt)

a shared journey

2007-11-02T14:08:00.000-07:00

One of the things I really love about Asbury is that we read together. We have a 'common text'... a daily Scripture guide that is put out by our Chapel Office. I think that one of the greatest frustrations for folks in their devotional lives is that they just don't know where to start, or where to go next. That's what this is for.

We would love to have you join us in this shared journey through the shared story. Right now we've been reading through Acts and the revolutionary roots of the Jesus movement. It is updated everyday online at www.asburyreader.com

Treat Yo Momma Right!

2007-10-09T16:27:00.001-07:00

Today is my mom's birthday. She is a remarkable woman...the sweetness of her spirit rivaled only by the sweetness of her tea! Everyone who meets her falls in love. When we were growing up, our friends often flooded our house, and were always welcomed by her warm hospitality. Many of them came from broken situations, and seemed to find a comfort and peace from being in the home she established. She is straight up Proverbs 31. Happy birthday to a woman of gentle strength... a breath-taking example of Christ-like humilty and selfless love.

Check out the video for a few words of appreciation from the poet laureate of gilded grandeur. Nothing says authority like a well kept mohawk, people. I pity the fool that don't love their momma! (Much props to my brother-in law Bryan Presher for unearthing this tasty gem!)

Tower O' Tees

2007-09-26T16:06:00.000-07:00

This all began when I ran out of room in all of Matt’s t-shirt drawers. And if any of you know my husband, you know he is obsessed with t-shirts… t-shirts from summer camps, from colleges, from his high school and college years, from churches, from youth groups, crazy shirts he just can’t live without. He has to have at least 3 of each color. So anyway, I just placed them on top of one of our dressers until they could be stuffed back into their home. Then I just found myself placing all of them on top of each other instead of putting them away. The pile, as you can see, has clearly gotten out of hand. And the sad fact is that there are 4 more drawers full. Goodwill here we come.
-Sarah

Maw Maw

2007-09-23T18:38:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had a surprise 80th birthday party for my grandma, better known to the world as 'Maw Maw.' She is an amazing woman, widely admired for her blazing heart for Jesus, her sensitivity to the Spirit, and the depth of her intimacy with God. One of my favorite things about Maw Maw is her lively sense of humor... 'spunky' even. There is a real joy that flows out of the deep wells of her young spirit.

While she was opening her presents, with every eye locked in on her, she started leading the whole group in singing 'Blessed Assurance.' A cool old man in the back row broke out his harmonica and started playing along. It was amazing. In a way, that tells the story of who she is. Even though she was the center of attention, she quickly turned it away from herself and onto her greatest Love.

If at the root of sin is the shifting of our focus away from God and curving it inward upon ourselves, then maybe at the heart of holiness is turning our focus away from ourselves and humbly submitting to the unrivaled reign of God. Maw Maw is a beautiful portrait of this kind of surrendered life.

Layers

2007-08-16T13:12:00.000-07:00

I had the honor of speaking at a camp out in Iowa earlier this summer. On the first night of the camp, a drama team performed a powerful skit where they painted a picture of Jesus on the cross. They left it displayed on a music stand next to the stage.

Being somewhat of a jerk, it took me all of 4 seconds to realize that I needed that music stand for my Bible and notes. So, I had a friend move the painting. Notice I didn’t actually move it myself. I’m not that much of a jerk. In my defense, I did ask him to keep it displayed in a prominent place. He gently placed it in the center of the platform, which was decorated with various road signs (ah, classic youth camp), where it stayed all week. It wasn’t until the very last night that I noticed he had set the painting right next to a sign that read ‘one way.’

Layers. While I was preaching my heart out all week long, this simple image was quietly telling a story behind me. I believe there are rich layers to our worship that most people will never notice… including us. But they are there. Telling the story. Scripted by the Spirit, unseen but unmistakable.

summer update: anna grace!

2007-08-08T18:08:00.000-07:00

The first of several summer updates...
Anna Grace LeRoy has arrived! My brother Josh and his wife Laura gave birth a couple of weeks ago to their first daughter. She's a lovely little thing with her mom's good looks and her dad's sense of humor (you know, because of the pooping and all). Here are a couple of pictures. For more, click on our new flickr banner.

ray boltz + iwu van = bff

2007-07-13T12:17:00.000-07:00

Sarah and I have been on the road quite a bit this summer... updates are coming soon... but for now, let's have fun with this:

While I was at a camp in Iowa last month, I sent the following text to a few folks:
"I am riding in an IWU van listening to 'The Anchor Holds' by Ray Boltz."

Here are a few of my favorite responses:
'Oh my.' -Sarah
'Watch the lamb, baby!' -JD Walt
'Drive it off a cliff this instant' -Dustin Ahkuoi
'Let me guess: Master's Praise? Get out of the van and walk.' -Dan Bellinger
'And belting it out right along with ray, I'm sure!' -Marlee Lockey
'That sounds delicious' -Dustin Holloway
'DUDE! My dad would love a ride in that van' -Jeremiah Aja
'You're messed up.' -Stephen Cady
and my personal favorite...
'I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul' -Jimi Moore

Anyone else have a response they would like to add? The whole 'ray boltz has a mullet' joke has yet to be explored... the 'thank you' song hasn't even been touched...the possibilities are limitless.

it's official!

2007-06-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we heard 'summertime' on the radio for the first time this year, which we all know marks the official beginning of the summer season. When we heard it, we performed our civic duty: we rolled down the windows, turned it up, and let the anthem ring out as we pulled into the Cracker Barrell parking lot. Thank you DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. Thank you indeed.

the golden sessions

2007-05-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

My brother Josh is graduating from Asbury this week. Over the last three years, we have had the honor and pleasure of sharing this seminary experience with each other. Who gets to do that? Who gets to walk through seminary with his brother? I am humbled by the privilege.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about friendship and brotherhood. I have been blessed in my life, with two brothers that are my best friends, and friends that are like brothers. They are sure signs and symbols of God’s grace in my life. And I am deeply thankful. C.S. Lewis said it right (imagine that) in his rich work, The Four Loves:

“…each member of the circle feels, in his secret heart, humbled before all the rest. Sometimes he wonders what he is doing there among his betters. He is lucky beyond desert to be in such company. Especially when the whole group is together, each bringing out all that is best, wisest, or funniest in all the others. Those are the golden sessions; when four or five of us after a hard day’s walking have come to our inn; our feet spread out towards the blaze and our drinks at our elbows; when the whole world, and something beyond the world, opens itself to our minds as we talk. Life- natural life- has no better gift to give. Who could have deserved it?”

shared ordeal 2

2007-05-08T14:39:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, our small group (which I like to call The Fellowship: Wilmore Chapter, because I am a dork) set out on our second 'shared ordeal.' Every now and then we like to throw ourselves in over our heads, and find a way out together. This time our wives blind-folded us, drove us out into the middle of nowhere, and left us for dead. Having to find our way back home, we walked for three hours, and almost died...twice. It was awesome. I kept having flashbacks of 'Goonies.'

To see video footage of the shared ordeal, check out our small group blog at http://asburyfellowship.blogspot.com/

Social Mercy

2007-03-28T11:05:00.000-07:00

It is incredibly encouraging to see a generation awakening to issues of social justice. Young idealists and dreamers are channeling their ample creativity, energy, and passion towards the poor and oppressed of our world. Even if (when) the celebrity culture loses focus and moves on to the next frontier of the carefully cool, I believe an impassioned core of committed will remain.

This renewed thrust is a return to our roots. Social justice is a proud part of our holiness heritage, a mark of the Wesleyan movement. Not to mention a central concern in the legacy of a man named Jesus.

But lately I’ve begun to wonder if justice alone is enough. We are compelled to fight for justice on behalf of those who have been denied it. But shouldn’t we fight for more than justice? Is there a step beyond it?

I believe that the ‘more’ is mercy.

Mercy and justice are not the same. They are two sides of the same coin… partners in an intimate and intricate dance, each taking the lead when appropriate…they embrace…they kiss. But they are not the same. A beautifully compatible contradiction.

Justice is fair. Mercy is anything but.
Justice sets things right. Mercy sets things free.
Justice establishes equality. Mercy unleashes extravagant love.
Justice wins for us our rights. Mercy gives us more than we deserve.
Justice is spreading the wealth. Mercy is emptying the purse.
Justice is concrete. Mercy is mysterious.
Justice is the cause. Mercy is the motive.

So, let’s coin a new call: Social Mercy.
A call to set right the laws of man, while setting loose the love of God.

March Madness

2007-03-17T20:48:00.000-07:00

Most people know John and Charles Wesley as the brothers that became reformers of the Church and founders of the Methodist Movement. But few realize that they were also the most dominant backcourt tandem of their day. As you can see from this picture of John, he was a straight up BALLER! Mean cross-over and serious hops.

We dressed up the Wesley statue at Asbury, complete with thuggish headband (idea credit: Jeremy Summers), for the kick-off of March Madness—the most wonderful time of the year.

65 teams, all setting out with the same two things: hope and possibility. Anything can happen. Giants fall. Underdogs shine. Brackets are rendered worthless. And little kids everywhere are taught to dream. That’s the beauty of this thing they call the Big Dance.

Is there any greater event in the world of sports?

Revolution

2007-03-11T20:44:00.000-07:00

Let’s try something. Let’s back away from revolution. Not the real thing itself, just the word. Over the past several years we in the Christian subculture have used it so often to describe so much that we have almost stripped it of its power. That word used to freak me out…it had sharp edges…it was dangerous. But we have somehow managed to domesticate it.

It has become a glossed over slogan. A tag line. A way to market concerts and camps.

I recently saw Amazing Grace, the movie about the life of abolitionist William Wilberforce. You should go see it if you need something to do on a weekend (or with the rest of your life). His efforts and convictions brought down the British slave trade. In one scene, the following interaction takes place with his friend Thomas Clarkson:
Wilberforce: “You speak of revolution as if it is a safe thing.”
Clarkson: “It is just a word.”

It is more than a word! It is not a safe thing! I’m not sure you can call something a revolution until someone has spilled some blood over it. This scene reminded me of these words that I scribbled down while waiting in an airport last summer:

revolution begins in the streets…with the oppressed…revolution is never an institutional initiative… it is fluid and flexible… grass roots… from the bottom up… does not fit into existing structures and categories and doesn’t seem to care or be bothered much by that… there is no business model for this…

Revolution begins in the heart of a person driven by a love that is willing to pay any cost. As a result, nothing is ever the same again.

Maybe we should back away from that word for a while, out of deep reverence and respect for it. Out of love for it. Out of hope of being a part of one some day. Let’s reserve it for something that we are actually willing to fight for, to bleed for. It is far too dangerous a thing to be taken lightly.

Disclaimer: One of my best friends is a youth pastor whose group is named ‘Revolution.’ This is in no way meant to be a slam on him. In fact, I know without a doubt that he gets what the word is about. He was a part of a group of kids that taught me what it meant years ago. Now he is leading his own small band of insurgents, with the hope of turning the world upside down with revolutionary ideas like grace and love. That, I believe, is the real thing.

40 days

2007-02-24T18:29:00.000-08:00

This week marked the beginning of Lent, the season of 40 days leading up to Easter. Here are a few scattered thoughts on the season.

Lent is the beginning of the end. (Of course, ‘the end,’ we will later find out, is only the beginning. But that has to wait.) This is the part of the play that grows dark and heavy. Tensions tighten. Traitors whisper. Jesus turns his face toward Jerusalem. And we follow him on his journey to the cross, embracing it for ourselves as well.

Lent is a time of submission. A wilderness experience. A desert exile. A season of prayer and fasting. People often fast during these 40 days from something they love. Every time we reach for that former love, we are reminded of our first love.

Lent is a time of memory. ‘Remember your frailty, and put your hope in Jesus.’ That’s how our speaker for the Ash Wednesday service put it. We begin lent by being marked by a cross of ashes, reminding us in two bold strokes of our past despair and our future hope. This is one of those things that is layered with richness if we will look for it.

Lent is a time of repentance. A season when we are honest with God and ourselves about sin, and our desperate need for rescue and redemption. Repent and believe the good news.

proud aunt and uncle!

2007-01-20T14:35:00.000-08:00

On December 29, my brother Bryan and his wife Beth had their first child, Owen Robert Presher! Owen is the most precious thing I have ever seen.

And the other picture is of our adorable little nieces, Peyton and Raegan. They are the daughters of Matt's older brother Kris and his wife, Jessica.

-Sarah

Pilgrimage

2006-11-12T15:49:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine passed away. His name was Virgil Mitchell and he was 92 years old. Dr. Mitchell was pretty much a legend in The Wesleyan Church... a humble giant... an encouragement and conviction to my spirit. One week before he died, I had the honor of speaking to him on the phone and thanking him for his well-walked life. His voice was strong and full of courage. This was a man of gentle greatness and I am blessed to have known him. Here is a poem I wrote in his honor...

'Pilgrimage'

little old man
as big as they come
age-ed and wise
easy and young

look in his eyes
what do you see?
holiness ablaze
encased in the meek

homeward bound pilgrim
journey of joys
the thunder
has a gentle voice

let me walk in the shadow
that falls where he stands
a planting of splendor
tall oak of a man

Shared Ordeal

2006-10-26T19:59:00.000-07:00

I recently went camping with the fellas from my small group (The Fellowship: Wilmore Chapter). These guys have been a great source of encouragement and growth for me over the past couple of months. Much props (I'm so gangsta) to Keith Jagger, Ryan Forbes, Justin Simmons, Jeremy Summers and Josh LeRoy for a ridiculously cool "shared ordeal" that deepened the bond of an already strong friendship. A few things made this excursion unique: a) It was my second camping trip in the same weekend. b) We selected our campsite based on which one had the funniest name. c) Such a method of selection landed us on a campground that also happened to be an old west ghost town/abandoned trailor park. That, my friends, is a recipe for adventure. Much love to the hobo brotherhood.
("Shared ordeal" is a term that Keith uses a lot. I loved it so much I stole it. That's him in the 'stocks' that we found in the ghost town's public square. I told you it was freaky.)

Ah, my trusty old friend.

Koom-by-ya, My Friend

2006-10-25T16:07:00.000-07:00

A couple of weekends ago Sarah and I went camping with our very good friends (who also happen to be our cool neighbors) Justin and Jeanine Simmons. We headed out to the Red River Gorge here in Kentucky. We had a beautiful, clear night. Oh yeah, and it was cold as all get out. But the fire more than made up for that. Special thanks to wilderness guru Seth Lundeen for letting us borrow his tent.

More Hoosiers Pictures

2006-09-30T21:02:00.000-07:00

Hoosiers Weekend 06

2006-09-30T20:00:00.000-07:00

Here’s to an era gone by. A day when the true ballers and shot callers rocked black high top chucks, ‘quitter’ socks, and shiny sugar shorts (with, for some unknown reason, belts). It is about time that these golden greats received the respect they deserve. So, last weekend a small band of brothers set out to do just that. Gathered from the four winds, they came. This is their story…

Okay. May bad on the dramatic intro. I couldn’t help it. Anyway… my ‘old school homies’ came to visit good ol’ Wilmore last weekend to help me celebrate my 30th birthday. We dubbed it ‘The Jimmy Chitwood Invitational’ because on Friday night we all watched “Hoosiers” on a giant screen (thanks Justin), and some of us may or may not have teared up…again. But just a little. The next morning, we drove 3 ½ hours to Indiana to play ball in the actual gym where they filmed the movie! That’s right…the Hickory Huskers’ homecourt. It is preserved to look just like the film. (Check out thehoosiergym.com.) Amazing. Here are a few pictures to commemorate the pilgrimage. Sorry I am a sweaty beast in most of them. The cool old fella you see is a man named Reid. He volunteers at the gym as resident story teller, tour guide and hoosiers historian.
Much love to my fellas…my best friends in the world…those that I have begun to describe as the fellowship (or, to borrow a very fitting phrase from Tim K, ‘the brotherhood’). Even if you weren't there, you know who you are. I love you guys. Also, thanks to my sweet Sarah, the mastermind behind the whole weekend (and everything else that’s good in my life). And, of course, we tip our hats to Shooter, for reminding us to never get caught watchin’ the paint dry.

KingdomTide

2006-09-12T13:19:00.000-07:00

This is a song that my friend Mark Benjamin and I wrote together 2 years ago. It was inspired by a series of chapels at Asbury Seminary named KingdomTide. The vision and the voice behind it came from JD Walt, the Dean of the Chapel. At first, I admit that I didn't really understand the image and what he was trying to say. But soon, the image of the Kingdom and God's work and presence in the world as a rising, unstoppable tide worked its way down deep inside me. Since then, I haven't been able to shake it. I have found myself actually drawing and doodling the image... swelling waves, rising tides, unleashed momentum. Recently my friend Matt Lewis and I were eating at the Great Wall in Wilmore and he began to share the same story... of an image and idea (vision) that had been gripping his heart... I knew before he even said it what the image was going be... the rising tide. It's a metaphor on the move, a visible word with a life of its own. It is also consistent with the kingdom images drawn out by Jesus...the kingdom is like a mustard seed... like a pinch of yeast... like something that starts out small and unassuming, but swells and pulses and churns and explodes... like a tide on the rise.

"Kingdom Tide"
Hear the roar of rushing wind
Breath of God, bring life again
See the waves of coming change
A mighty movement advancing His name

Dawn breaks through the darkness
Hope swells like the sea
When the body is as one in beloved community
A city on a hill
The light you can't hide
You can't stop the rising of the Kingdom Tide

Feel the flood sweep through the streets
In its wake, the song of the redeemed
Taste the rain fall fresh and new
Awakening the world to You

May Your Kingdom come
May Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven

Priest (part 3 of 3)

2006-08-02T18:59:00.000-07:00

This is part three of a three part series that attempts to express my personal theology of preaching. It is adapted from a paper written for a class on preaching for Dr. Ellsworth Kalas at Asbury Theological Seminary. It’s not complete. It’s not exhaustive. It’s simply a reflection of where I am right now.

PRIEST: The Preacher, Part 3
“Their lives were of equal force with their words.” -John Wesley

What we say and how we say it meet in who we are. My final role as a preacher is that of Priest. Let me first say that wrapped up in this understanding of preachers as priests is the role of the pastor. We are called to preach to the hearts of people, sharing in their joys and sorrows, nurturing them in their faith, and building real relationships with them. The office of pastor and shepherd is a particular passion of mine. However, I intentionally chose this specific image of priest because of its Old Testament significance. In the Old Testament, the priests were set apart, ‘consecrated’ people. They were the ones who bore the honor and danger of handling the holy things of God. They were charged with living up to the high calling they had received.

As a preacher, I am a priest in the sense that I must live a consecrated life, a life set apart. I recognize the weighty responsibility of my calling. I understand that I live by a higher standard. Yes, I should challenge my people to embrace the highest standard of holiness, but I have to lead the way to those heights. Yes, I need to call them out as a ‘kingdom of priests,’ but I must first become the example.

In my role as a preacher/priest, sermons move beyond what I say and how I say it. They become who I am.

Our sermons drip with authenticity when we begin “by dipping and seasoning all our words and sentences in our hearts before they come to our mouths (George Herbert).” As a consecrated preacher, all of my messages come from God, but they come through me. Before they hit the ears of the hearers, they pass through everything that I am, shaking and shaping all along the way. Truth traveling through personality. This passage is often painful because “the Word is a sword which first strikes and cuts the preacher’s own sinfulness, exposing inconsistency and hypocrisy (Raniero Cantalamessa).” The consuming fire of the Living Word journeys from the page through the heart to the lips, engulfing falsehood and forging authenticity.

What we say and how we say it meet in who we are. The words we say will fall to the ground, empty of power, if our souls do not live up to our preaching. As Dr. Kalas put it, “Words are what we have to give people. Never be apologetic for that. Only be apologetic if your words do not match your life.” After all, how can I expect for my words to transform the lives of others if they have made no difference in my own?

MY PRAYER: To Guard the Anointing
Raniero Cantalamessa issues a difficult critique of the modern day preacher in his book, The Mystery of God’s Word. He says, “There is something missing in us preachers, something concerning the substance, not the externals. We need to rekindle that relationship with Jesus as Lord living in the Spirit, from whom all strength comes.” All of our talents and gifts become our own disgrace if we speak with wise and persuasive words, yet lack the demonstration of the Spirit’s power. I must seek to sharpen my skills and deepen my gifts, but these are secondary to my own walk with Christ. I must guard that relationship above all else.

I believe that my dad’s words will chase me onto every platform and into every pulpit where people let me preach. He told me when I was younger, “There is a vast difference between talent and anointing. Son, guard the anointing.” For many of us preachers, perhaps what is missing is the anointing we once walked in. I imagine that many of us have attempted to preach without it, never even realizing it was gone. My prayer is that God will protect the anointing, and that He will never let me confuse it with talent. My prayer is that I will walk in the grace of his call on my life, drawing from it courage and confidence. I pray that He will shape me into a faithful communicator of the greatest things. I pray that what I say and how I say it will always meet in who I am.

Poet (part 2 of 3)

2006-07-10T20:09:00.000-07:00

This is part two of a three part series that attempts to express my personal theology of preaching. It is adapted from a paper written for a class on preaching for Dr. Ellsworth Kalas at Asbury Theological Seminary. It’s not complete. It’s not exhaustive. It’s simply a reflection of where I am right now.

Poet: The Preacher, Part 2

“All the preacher has is words.” This is Barbara Brown Taylor’s assessment of the tools of this trade. Therefore, we better make the most of what we have.

While what I say is of the utmost importance, it is also my duty to pay careful attention to how I say it. Since all I have is words I must give myself to making them count. As I become a master of words I become a better servant of the Word.

In this sense, my second role as a preacher is to be a Poet. A poet pours his heart and soul into his words, and his words into his heart and soul. I must understand the power of the well-placed word to rouse the spirit and stir the imagination. The right word meeting with the right moment can move the earth.

American history is marked by monuments to this truth. Roosevelt’s fireside chats helped drag us out of depression and carried us through days of war. Martin Luther King’s dreams shook us awake to recognize old hatreds and fresh hopes. Our leaders opened their mouths and as a result, walls have fallen, heads have lifted, and men have even walked on the moon.

The difference, of course, is that for preachers, we are dealing with greater things than space travel and global threats. We are dealing with greater things than even life and death. We are dealing with heaven and hell. And all we have for the task is words.

“No man has a right to say any beautiful or powerful thing till he gets some thoughts beautiful and powerful enough to require it. Only good and great matter makes a good and great style.” With this poignant turn of a phrase Horace Bushnell reminds me that a word in itself is not enough. It requires something else to fill it out, Someone else to lend it strength. Here is where my role as prophet and poet embrace. I must find the fitting words to serve as a channel for God’s Word to the people.

This sacred nature of shaping a sermon demands my best effort. It calls for and deserves the full use of my sanctified creativity, the employing and expanding of every good gift. In a sermon, something very strange is taking place. Heaven and earth are colliding as God’s secrets are being revealed. “With His finger, the Holy Spirit, God touches that hidden point where the human spirit opens to the infinite (Raniero Cantalamessa).” If God is present in this work we do, then we better prepare a fitting welcome.

Prophet (part 1 of 3)

2006-06-13T17:37:00.000-07:00

This is part one of a three part series that attempts to express my personal theology of preaching. It’s adapted from a paper written for a class on preaching at Asbury Theological Seminary. It’s not complete. It’s not exhaustive. It’s simply a reflection of where I’m at right now.

Prophet: The Preacher, Part 1
Sometimes truth can pop up in the strangest places. Like for instance, from the mouth of a politician. In his farewell address to the nation, one of my favorite Presidents, Ronald Reagan, summed up his eight years of service in these words: “In all that time I earned a nickname, ‘The Great Communicator.’ But I never thought it was my style or the words I used that made a difference. It was the content. I was not a great communicator, but I communicated great things.”

In this final address I find the first rule of preaching. Communicate great things. And, as a preacher, my calling in life is to communicate the greatest of things- the very Word of God. In this sense, my first role as a preacher is that of Prophet.

Now, please understand what I mean when I use that word. I am not referring to someone who predicts the future, or anything like that. I am working from the following definition: A prophet speaks to the people on behalf of God. Prophets carry a message that is not their own.

This is at the same time freeing and frightening. It is freeing in the sense that it does not depend solely on us- we deliver an ancient message that rests on God’s power and authority, not our own. On the other hand, it is frightening in the fact that it does not depend solely on us- we must rely on hearing from God. That part of the process is always tangled up with danger and mystery.

Who am I to handle the holy things of God? That is not only a good question. It is the right question. I must approach my preaching with a deep humility and healthy fear. But at the same time, I should be bold as I remember that God has called me to preach, and gifted me to walk in that call. As my preaching professor Dr. Ellsworth Kalas (cool name, even cooler old man) charged us in class, “We must be confident that we speak God’s Word and careful because we speak God’s Word.” This is a difficult, yet crucial balance. It is with this balance that I begin my searching of the Scripture, listening for what to say.

Barbara Brown Taylor describes this stage as “hunting for God” in the text. She says, “The process of discovery begins with the text. Whether I like it or not, I approach it believing that God is in it and I commence the long, careful discipline of panning for gold.” This discovering and digging has become one of my favorite parts of preaching.

I love to live with the passage for a few days…reading and rereading it and the surrounding context…I underline, circle, draw arrows, and make notes of the key words and phrases. It’s always interesting to see which words or ideas rise from the wreckage of red and blue ink and start to shape the direction of the message. In all of this, I have developed an image that reminds me of what is taking place. I see the text as a deep pool of water, and dare myself to sink down into it. Not to run impatiently along the edge and dive head first with an obnoxious splash. But to sink down slowly, wading through the shallows, and ending in immersion. My prayer in the process is that God would help me hear and see what is hidden in plain view.

As I approach the platform then, I can do so with the courage and confidence that is formed from walking in deeper places, with the words of Another still ringing in my ears and spilling from my mouth. The people to whom the message is delivered should sense this rightly directed strength. As Dr. Kalas writes, “something particularly significant is at stake when the preacher takes the pulpit. This is a time for strength and assurance.” This strength should not be confused with arrogance. It does not mean that our hearts won’t be heavy with the task at hand. Personally, I am nervous every time I preach. But I always remember something my dad told me. He said, “Son, the moment you stop being nervous is the very moment you should start getting nervous.” Good point. If I were not a little nervous under this great responsibility, then something would probably be wrong. So, I take to the platform with a confident nervousness, and preach with a powerful weakness.

something in the way she moves

2006-06-07T19:25:00.000-07:00

This is a good day. Three years ago today-- June 7, 2003-- I married Sarah. That, my friends, was a great move.

A couple of nights ago I was reflecting back on our wedding. The people that were there to share it with us. The way she looked gliding gracefully down the aisle in her dress, with every eye frozen on her. The way I wore my tux, striking the perfect balance between classic sophistication and ground breaking cool. (Okay, I may have exaggerated that last part a little…they call that creative license.)

One thing I will always remember about that day is that I wasn’t nervous. Not in the least bit. That is a very strange thing for me. I get nervous about everything. I try to hide it, but it’s there. This past Sunday I preached in a tiny country church with only about 16 people in attendance… I was nervous. Just yesterday I had a question in this summer class I’m taking… got nervous about raising my hand and sounding stupid, so I whispered it to the guy in front of me and told him to ask it. That’s just me. I get nervous.

Yet, on the biggest day of my life, standing on the edge of a moment that would change everything forever, I wasn’t nervous. I was calm. I was relaxed. I was at peace. It’s not because I was naïve enough to believe that the road ahead would be an easy one. I was fully aware of the sometimes-painful process of forging two into one. I knew this thing I was walking into was serious and deep and difficult. But I also knew whom I was walking with. And there was something about making this vow to her and with her that put me in a place of peace.

I think James Taylor said it best. “There’s something in the way she moves, looks my way, or calls my name that seems to leave this troubled world behind.” That’s it. There’s just something about this girl. She sets my heart on fire, but she puts my mind at ease.

A Tribute to Pa: The Echo of the Empty Tomb

2006-05-25T16:04:00.000-07:00

Last week my grandpa passed away. He was one of the coolest men I’ve ever known. He was deeply loved and respected as a man, husband, father, and grandpa.
Everyone had a favorite funny story to tell about him. But there is a greater story that leaves us with more than warm memories. It leaves us with peace.
His name was William Bell Guthrie…we just called him “Pa.” This is a collection of scattered thoughts and reflections on his life, death, and life again.

Pa never did like change. That’s probably because he could hardly imagine life getting any better than it already was. He was born and raised on Harkers Island, a tiny little fishing village along the Outer Banks of North Carolina, complete with its own unique culture, peculiar accent, and beautiful people. It’s a place, in many ways, untouched by time, and that’s just the way they like it. So do I.

Pa lived his whole life right there on the end of that island at the end of the world. In fact, the only forces strong enough to move him from that spot were love and war. He was drafted to fight in WWII just as the struggle was winding down. When he got back home, he met my grandma and fell in love. She lived almost 20 miles away from the island, but he would set out walking/hitch-hiking to see her. Now tell me that’s not cool.

When they got married, they moved in with his parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters… the same house he was born in… the same house his grandpa built…the second oldest house still standing on the island. Before long they built a home of their own right across the street, where he lived until he died. He was born, raised and buried all within a half mile of each other.

Thanks to Mr. Roosevelt, he was a life long Democrat who often said he would vote for the devil before he voted for a Republican. Not too long ago, he bragged to me that he liked Bill Clinton so much that he voted for him three times. That’s right, three times. The last one was a write in vote.

You could always find Pa in his classic khaki pants, ‘Sperry Topsiders’ boat shoes, and a stash of orange flavored tic-tacs tucked away in his shirt pocket.

His favorite spot on earth was his front porch swing, complete with a view of the water and the Cape Lookout Lighthouse. Spend five good minutes with him on that porch in the salty ocean air and you’d understand why.

Pa never did like change. But he has experienced a transformation.
About five or six years ago, he finally gave his life to Jesus Christ. And for us, there is great peace in that. I know that people think Christians are crazy because of this. That there is something odd about our ability to defiantly celebrate, even through fresh tears. Is it naïveté…or denial…or something worse?

I believe it is hope. Hope in a Savior who experienced death, so we could experience life. Hope in a God who still has the last word… who stares the fierce finality of death in the face and says, “It will not end here.” Through the resurrection of Jesus on Easter, our covenant with the grave has been revoked, and our fullest future has been secured.

It is hope…because we walk in the aftermath of Easter… because we live in the Echo of the Empty Tomb.

Make no mistake; we grieve hard over the loss of a man we deeply loved. But still there is hope that rises up in the hurt.

“This sickness will not end in death.” John 11:4

my drive home...

2006-04-20T10:55:00.000-07:00

Every night when I drive home from work, now that spring has arrived, I get to enjoy what makes Kentucky so beautiful! Most times, the sun is starting to set and I drive past farm after farm of horses with their little ponies. The rolling hills and the fences outline each farm. Two places that I thought I would never live, Indiana and Kentucky. And I definitely love them both!

-Sarah

Spring!

2006-04-14T06:50:00.000-07:00

I love spring! I think this is my favorite time of all the seasons. It's has been beautiful in Kentucky. The leaves are starting to sprout, the sky is so blue. Now that we have our own little yard, last summer I decided to try my luck at gardening. I think everything I have ever planted has died...until now. Look at my pretty flowers. I didn't think they would make it through the winter, but they survived!

2006-03-24T17:03:00.000-08:00

Someone somewhere just lost a bet. That's right folks the LeRoy's now have a blog. We decided to jump on the bandwagon. Here's why we caved. Number 1, it's a good way for our families and friends to read up and see what's happening from week to week. Number 2, it's really embarassing when you google your name and nothing shows up. Come visit again soon...we should have something posted within the next six months or so.