God's doin some things
I asked for more of God, to really experience him instead of just act on his principles, and he's changing things. The Word becomes alive. It pierces my heart more. I can worship. I am not cynical (or not nearly as much as I was) and uber critical of every last detail. I can just worship God. Amazing! Until I just wrote these words, I didn't really realize how big of a deal that is. I hardly ever felt like I could worship in any kind of setting before, but now I can anytime I hear a sweet song I like. Crazy. I am becoming more free. It's not natural/normal yet for me to raise my hands, but it's becoming more so (not as worried about other people and what they think). I don't always feel God's presence. Even when I pray, sometimes it feels like nothing has changed since before when I wasn't seeking God's presence out as much. But something is different. His word penetrates me more. I am more willing to speak boldly about things I am learning and experiencing. I can see God working in situations. I am beginning to learn and embrace who I am in Jesus. Slowly. I repeat those promises back to God in prayer, and I am sure of them. I don't have things figured out, but I know that all I need is God's presence in my life, that Jesus would dwell richly in my heart, that I would be sanctified through and through. All I know is that I need to come to God and ask, ask, ask. Be real and ask. I don't feel like one thing is changing incredibly fast, but that just about everything is slowly undergoing a deep shift from its roots. My perspective is becoming different. God's doin some things. God's taking my feeble efforts at speaking and sharing his word and transforming them into something powerful true. I have this growing desire and sense of urgency to be spending quality time alone with God, listening, seeking, asking. I think God's stirring up his people to really embrace him and his Spirit and live with him. I think he's doing something big. That's what's up.
I believe God gives us words of wisdom not only to benefit us but to benefit others. So as I am learning and growing, I'll post some thoughts on this little site. Feel free to check them out if you like.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Monday, October 15, 2007
What's Good
Allright, here's the latest:
The past couple weeks have been kinda slow on the business side of things at the cafe. While we have been getting new customers virtually every day, there are still times where no one comes in as well. Part of that is due to some unusual circumstances which haven't allowed Sam and me to go promote at PCC, and some of it is just because we are starting a business from the ground and it takes awhile. Needless to say, the word is getting out to the community and we're excited for that. Today especially has been encouraing because we had a good time promoting and there have been many new people who have come in to check it out due to the signs we have up or just because of word of mouth. I talked to one of the leaders of the Black Student Alliance at PCC and she wants to use the cafe for a poetry slam they put on. All good things! God is doing stuff down here, and we're trying to give him the credit. Sam and I are trying to surrender the whole ministry to God and have faith (ie do what we can do, and then give the results to God and trust Him), but it's so easy to grab on and try to control things ourselves! Always a struggle...
We are having open mic nights every other Friday evening, and they have been incredible. It has actually seemed really therapeutic for many people to come and get things off of their chests. We've experienced quite the range of talent and a variety of performances, from rap to piano playing to spoken word to oprah to full bands. It's a great way to facilitate community where people can express themselves in a safe environment.
On the other Friday evenings we started that gathering I mentioned in my previous post. We are calling it Doulos, and we're doing it for three months and then reevaluating (By the way, Doulos is greek for slave or bond servant, showing who we pledge our allegiance and service to). We had the first one a couple weeks ago, and it went great. People really felt okay to speak up and share as I facilitated a discussion, and we also had a good time of praise.
DJ and Charese and Marlene came down this past week/end. It was wonderful to see them. We went to the Melting Pot for dinner Saturday, and it was incredible. Fondue is great. Also, DJ and Charese are pregnant. Good times. Unky Doug.
Peace,
Doug
The past couple weeks have been kinda slow on the business side of things at the cafe. While we have been getting new customers virtually every day, there are still times where no one comes in as well. Part of that is due to some unusual circumstances which haven't allowed Sam and me to go promote at PCC, and some of it is just because we are starting a business from the ground and it takes awhile. Needless to say, the word is getting out to the community and we're excited for that. Today especially has been encouraing because we had a good time promoting and there have been many new people who have come in to check it out due to the signs we have up or just because of word of mouth. I talked to one of the leaders of the Black Student Alliance at PCC and she wants to use the cafe for a poetry slam they put on. All good things! God is doing stuff down here, and we're trying to give him the credit. Sam and I are trying to surrender the whole ministry to God and have faith (ie do what we can do, and then give the results to God and trust Him), but it's so easy to grab on and try to control things ourselves! Always a struggle...
We are having open mic nights every other Friday evening, and they have been incredible. It has actually seemed really therapeutic for many people to come and get things off of their chests. We've experienced quite the range of talent and a variety of performances, from rap to piano playing to spoken word to oprah to full bands. It's a great way to facilitate community where people can express themselves in a safe environment.
On the other Friday evenings we started that gathering I mentioned in my previous post. We are calling it Doulos, and we're doing it for three months and then reevaluating (By the way, Doulos is greek for slave or bond servant, showing who we pledge our allegiance and service to). We had the first one a couple weeks ago, and it went great. People really felt okay to speak up and share as I facilitated a discussion, and we also had a good time of praise.
DJ and Charese and Marlene came down this past week/end. It was wonderful to see them. We went to the Melting Pot for dinner Saturday, and it was incredible. Fondue is great. Also, DJ and Charese are pregnant. Good times. Unky Doug.
Peace,
Doug
Less Frequent Posts
Hello friends, for those who actually read this, I wanted to let you know that I am going to write less frequently now. It will probably be like once every couple week instead of every six or seven days. I will probably keep putting pics up (which I have a few I need to upload soon). The blog's main purpose was to help with the transition from Spokane to Pasadena, so if you do read this and want to stay updated, just give me a call and I would love to chat. Like I mentioned, I'll probably update this once every couple weeks or so.
I'll write an update soon. Thanks!
I'll write an update soon. Thanks!
Monday, October 1, 2007
Internet Fun
Hello friends,
Quick word here (after I wrote those words, I realized that I think I start almost every blog off with something like that. And usually they're not that quick or short. Oh well).
God's working in the lives of the people here in Pasadena. For the past couple weeks, Sam and I have been feeling like God is trying to do more in our community. There are a lot of people who are pretty new in their faith, and they have been growing. At the same time, Sam and I have been feeling convicted that God wants to grow people more, so that we can become more mature in our faith. For most of us, the only time we spend some time in the Word with others is at Crux on Wednesday nights, and we haven't been doing praise and worship there because it is an outreach first gathering.
So Sam and I have been praying and wondering what we should do. Last Wednesday Sam spoke on this topic at Crux, and afterwards there was a tremendous response from a large part of the "core" of Crux. People have been feeling the same way-that they want to be fed in other ways, they want to step up in ministry and serve others who are younger, and they just want more of God. It was incredibly encouraging to see how God has been working in everybody's lives, guiding and convicting us in similar ways.
The students who spoke up on Wednesday at Crux have decided that they will take the week to really seek the Lord out (in prayer and in the Bible) and get together again this week to see what they have come up with. Most of the people I've talked to all agree that they want to have a time of corporate praise/worship, some more accountability, some more in-depth teaching/learning in the Word, and a greater time of corporate prayer. So we're going to get together this week and see what we are going to do. Very exciting! I might be the one who is heading up the teaching at these gatherings, which I'm excited about. It will be good to get back into teaching the Word like I was in Spokane.
Please be in prayer as we try to listen to God and be more obedient. It is exciting because I feel like with this other gathering we are becoming a more holistic/healthy ministry/community. We have our outreach focused avenue of Crux, and now we're getting another gathering together for those who are interested. And we have the everyday ministry of the cafe as well.
Another note: Sam and I have been quite convicted of this idea: I have all to often thought of Christianty as an adjective in my life, not as the main noun. In other words, I consider myself to be caucasian, an athlete, a musician, have red/brown hair, a Christian, etc. Jesus often times is another adjective, another part of my life which describes who I am, but not the core from which I find my identity and live. Jesus wants us to find out identity solely in Him, understanding that everything seems like rubbish/crap compared to the all surprassing greatness of knowing Him (Philippians 3). Jesus needs to be the best part, the main part, with all the other "parts" of me being far less important. Check this out: say you are meeting someone. They ask you who you are, what you do, etc. And the most truthful, accurate way of describing yourself is for you to say "I know God" or something like that. It may sound crazy/corny/stupid, but if it was really the way you felt, if you really believed and understood how amazing it is to know God and to be found in Him, then it would seem incredibly natural and right. For me, Jesus is all too often simply another adjective which contributes to who I identify myself to be, when in reality he deserves to be the one who defines who I am, motivates what I do, and supplies the energy to carry all of this out. Hit me back if you have any thoughts on this.
Once again, this is long, but it's been awhile. Heck, I don't know if anyone even reads this, but it's a good way to get some thoughts out there.
Til next time,
Doug
Quick word here (after I wrote those words, I realized that I think I start almost every blog off with something like that. And usually they're not that quick or short. Oh well).
God's working in the lives of the people here in Pasadena. For the past couple weeks, Sam and I have been feeling like God is trying to do more in our community. There are a lot of people who are pretty new in their faith, and they have been growing. At the same time, Sam and I have been feeling convicted that God wants to grow people more, so that we can become more mature in our faith. For most of us, the only time we spend some time in the Word with others is at Crux on Wednesday nights, and we haven't been doing praise and worship there because it is an outreach first gathering.
So Sam and I have been praying and wondering what we should do. Last Wednesday Sam spoke on this topic at Crux, and afterwards there was a tremendous response from a large part of the "core" of Crux. People have been feeling the same way-that they want to be fed in other ways, they want to step up in ministry and serve others who are younger, and they just want more of God. It was incredibly encouraging to see how God has been working in everybody's lives, guiding and convicting us in similar ways.
The students who spoke up on Wednesday at Crux have decided that they will take the week to really seek the Lord out (in prayer and in the Bible) and get together again this week to see what they have come up with. Most of the people I've talked to all agree that they want to have a time of corporate praise/worship, some more accountability, some more in-depth teaching/learning in the Word, and a greater time of corporate prayer. So we're going to get together this week and see what we are going to do. Very exciting! I might be the one who is heading up the teaching at these gatherings, which I'm excited about. It will be good to get back into teaching the Word like I was in Spokane.
Please be in prayer as we try to listen to God and be more obedient. It is exciting because I feel like with this other gathering we are becoming a more holistic/healthy ministry/community. We have our outreach focused avenue of Crux, and now we're getting another gathering together for those who are interested. And we have the everyday ministry of the cafe as well.
Another note: Sam and I have been quite convicted of this idea: I have all to often thought of Christianty as an adjective in my life, not as the main noun. In other words, I consider myself to be caucasian, an athlete, a musician, have red/brown hair, a Christian, etc. Jesus often times is another adjective, another part of my life which describes who I am, but not the core from which I find my identity and live. Jesus wants us to find out identity solely in Him, understanding that everything seems like rubbish/crap compared to the all surprassing greatness of knowing Him (Philippians 3). Jesus needs to be the best part, the main part, with all the other "parts" of me being far less important. Check this out: say you are meeting someone. They ask you who you are, what you do, etc. And the most truthful, accurate way of describing yourself is for you to say "I know God" or something like that. It may sound crazy/corny/stupid, but if it was really the way you felt, if you really believed and understood how amazing it is to know God and to be found in Him, then it would seem incredibly natural and right. For me, Jesus is all too often simply another adjective which contributes to who I identify myself to be, when in reality he deserves to be the one who defines who I am, motivates what I do, and supplies the energy to carry all of this out. Hit me back if you have any thoughts on this.
Once again, this is long, but it's been awhile. Heck, I don't know if anyone even reads this, but it's a good way to get some thoughts out there.
Til next time,
Doug
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Quick Note
Hey, felt like the Lord was teaching something, so I thought I'd share it with y'all. As I have mentioned in previous blogs, Sam and I have been making it a priority and a habit to pray together before we open up the cafe each morning. During these times of prayer, we have been asking God for encouragement, for new people to come, for God to make something great out of our often misguided and small efforts. One of the main things God has been teaching me is that through prayer we can see that God is working and give him the credit/glory for it. Because we have been chatting with God in the mornings (and consequently more throughout the day), we have been more aware of God answering our prayers. Instead of just glossing over someone new coming to the cafe, I can attribute it to God and thank him for the encouragement and for working. The Psalms talk all the time about ascribing to God the glory that is due him. Through prayer, I am beginning to see all the blessings he gives to me, and I am grateful for them. I think it makes for a healthier, more grateful, more biblical relationship with God. Recognizing God working throughout the day is like I am putting on a new set of lens to view the world because I can rightly attribute things to God and thank him for them.
Those are my thoughts for the night, bye
Doug
Those are my thoughts for the night, bye
Doug
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Sunday
Hello friends,
It is now Sunday and Mitchell and I are currently slothing it in front of the tv, eating chips and salsa and enjoying two leather recliners. Seahawks football starts in t minus one hour. Gotta love Sundays
Mitch is doing well, he has been out of the hospital since Monday morning. His birthday is this Tuesday the 18th, and then the next day he is supposed to go back into the hospital for his fourth (and hopefully final) chemo treatment. It's been real nice having him around. Yesterday Dion, Mitch and I decided to take a trip out to Manhattan Beach and check out the water. It was actually pretty chilly (much cooler than the water at Laguna Beach), but it was fun. Sam and Christy took off for Oregon on Wednesday for a friends wedding, and they are coming back tonight around 10. I've been training two girls (Rebecah and Tahlia) in the cafe and that is coming along nicely. Sam, Dion, and I have been setting up a booth and passing out fliers at PCC the past couple weeks, so business at the cafe has been increasing fairly steadily. We are certainly pretty slow still, but the word is getting out slowly but surely. I have been trying my best to remember the names of all the people who come in, but it's getting difficult due to all the people coming in. I believe we're going to do another open mic night this Friday evening.
Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers, as you can tell things are going well and God is moving. He has been really affirming what we're doing and Sam and I are confident we are on the right track with the whole cafe ministry.
Til next time,
Doug
It is now Sunday and Mitchell and I are currently slothing it in front of the tv, eating chips and salsa and enjoying two leather recliners. Seahawks football starts in t minus one hour. Gotta love Sundays
Mitch is doing well, he has been out of the hospital since Monday morning. His birthday is this Tuesday the 18th, and then the next day he is supposed to go back into the hospital for his fourth (and hopefully final) chemo treatment. It's been real nice having him around. Yesterday Dion, Mitch and I decided to take a trip out to Manhattan Beach and check out the water. It was actually pretty chilly (much cooler than the water at Laguna Beach), but it was fun. Sam and Christy took off for Oregon on Wednesday for a friends wedding, and they are coming back tonight around 10. I've been training two girls (Rebecah and Tahlia) in the cafe and that is coming along nicely. Sam, Dion, and I have been setting up a booth and passing out fliers at PCC the past couple weeks, so business at the cafe has been increasing fairly steadily. We are certainly pretty slow still, but the word is getting out slowly but surely. I have been trying my best to remember the names of all the people who come in, but it's getting difficult due to all the people coming in. I believe we're going to do another open mic night this Friday evening.
Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers, as you can tell things are going well and God is moving. He has been really affirming what we're doing and Sam and I are confident we are on the right track with the whole cafe ministry.
Til next time,
Doug
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Quick Update
Hello friends, a couple of things:
1. first off you should check out our website: corridorspasadena.com
It's legit. It's pretty new so we're working on adding things, but it's a good start.
c. We just mailed a new newsletter which shows what's been up over the past month or so and has pics and all that good stuff. If you got the first one about a month and a half ago, then one should be coming real soon. If you didn't, and you want one, email me and let me know.
VII. Because I spent a good amount of time writing that letter, I won't spend a lot of time writing this blog update, but feel free to call me or email me if you want to know more of what's going down here
rrs. Glorious news is upon us: the NFL season starts in t minus forty minutes, and tonights match up should be a doozy. Colts and Saints. Lovely. Sam and I just ordered NFL Sunday ticket, which means we will be able to watch all of the Seahawks games, as well as endless hours of all the other matches. Glorious. We plan on setting up shop on Sundays in Sam's living room, getting our recliners out, some mini fridges full of goodies and refreshments, put on our Seahawks jerseys, and sloth it for a majority of the day. Probably all day. Yes, we've turned into those guys.
4. On a different note, we've all been really encouraged by the cafe. It's been slow (especially in the mornings), but there I've already established some good relationships with some locals who come regularly, and I'm confident that we are doing what God wants us to be doing. Tomorrow night we are having an open mic session, and there has been a great response by local musicians and artists. Should be fun, and should be a great way to get some exposure. God's been giving us encouragment every day, showing us that (even if it seems slow) we are on the right track. Many people have said that this kind of community hang out is exactly what the area needs and people have been stoked.
IX. Sam and I have gotten up every morning a half hour before we need to to get together and just pray and chat with God and read some of the Word. It's been good, because it is something I'm beginning to rely upon. It's often tough at first because I'm sleepy, but God always meets us there and gives us a word for the day.
q. Thanks for your prayers and thoughts, I thought this update would be quick but it turned out to be long. Oh well. I don't have any new pics, so I'll just take one of myself on this computer and post it just in case some of you forgot what I look like.
Til next time!
Doug
PS happy bday to Dad, Smashly, Justine, Bishop Thomas, and everyone else who's day is right around here
1. first off you should check out our website: corridorspasadena.com
It's legit. It's pretty new so we're working on adding things, but it's a good start.
c. We just mailed a new newsletter which shows what's been up over the past month or so and has pics and all that good stuff. If you got the first one about a month and a half ago, then one should be coming real soon. If you didn't, and you want one, email me and let me know.
VII. Because I spent a good amount of time writing that letter, I won't spend a lot of time writing this blog update, but feel free to call me or email me if you want to know more of what's going down here
rrs. Glorious news is upon us: the NFL season starts in t minus forty minutes, and tonights match up should be a doozy. Colts and Saints. Lovely. Sam and I just ordered NFL Sunday ticket, which means we will be able to watch all of the Seahawks games, as well as endless hours of all the other matches. Glorious. We plan on setting up shop on Sundays in Sam's living room, getting our recliners out, some mini fridges full of goodies and refreshments, put on our Seahawks jerseys, and sloth it for a majority of the day. Probably all day. Yes, we've turned into those guys.
4. On a different note, we've all been really encouraged by the cafe. It's been slow (especially in the mornings), but there I've already established some good relationships with some locals who come regularly, and I'm confident that we are doing what God wants us to be doing. Tomorrow night we are having an open mic session, and there has been a great response by local musicians and artists. Should be fun, and should be a great way to get some exposure. God's been giving us encouragment every day, showing us that (even if it seems slow) we are on the right track. Many people have said that this kind of community hang out is exactly what the area needs and people have been stoked.
IX. Sam and I have gotten up every morning a half hour before we need to to get together and just pray and chat with God and read some of the Word. It's been good, because it is something I'm beginning to rely upon. It's often tough at first because I'm sleepy, but God always meets us there and gives us a word for the day.
q. Thanks for your prayers and thoughts, I thought this update would be quick but it turned out to be long. Oh well. I don't have any new pics, so I'll just take one of myself on this computer and post it just in case some of you forgot what I look like.
Til next time!
Doug
PS happy bday to Dad, Smashly, Justine, Bishop Thomas, and everyone else who's day is right around here
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