Because Relationships Matter

Jeff & Brianna

Just moments after their ceremony, our son is really happy! He has good reason as he's married a wonderful woman - we're thrilled!

"We mesh real well"

Hey Kathy! I wanted to share this story with you.... My husband and I attended Starting Point last March(2008) really to gain friends that shared our beliefs and were in a similar life stage since all our friends prior to that were single and didn't have kids. We all feel like we hit the small group jack pot. Of course we have differences every now and then that we work through, but for the most part, we mesh real well.  This past month was my birthday and we were getting together at one of the couple's home for small group and they surprised me with a cake and gifts!! Not just any cake though, a GLUTEN FREE CAKE(because they know me and they care and know that Evan and I have celiac disease, therefore can't eat anything with wheat, barley or rye..NO FLOUR!).  Making a cake like that isn't exactly cheap.  They also treated me to a pedicure gift certificate (since we talked earlier that week about how I'd never had one and would like to experience it) and a beautiful journal (since they know how much I love to write).   WOW!! I have NEVER had friends that remembered and acknowledged my birthday, let alone go to those great lengths!!  It was wonderful, we are still broke financially (I have this strong feeling that it will turn around in the near future), but my life is VERY rich and you can't buy that....AWESOME! Thanks for facilitating groups....keep on keepin' on!

Some groups mesh real well, like this one. Some don't. We don't measure success by the number of groups formed. We win when people experience a space where relationships can be formed. Our goal is to create pathways for people to enter relationships, and see what gets created!

Turning Point launches Monday, June 1, 6:30

View Point launches Monday, July 13, 6:30

Starting Point for Elkhart (Married or Single) and Starting Point for Singles (Granger campus) both launch on Monday, July 27, 6:30 

It's gonna be a great summer!

BOGO

A little known fact about me is that I wear size 12 shoes. I've had multiple beliefs over the years about this.

1. Since I'm about 5'10" tall, I figured that God had to give us tall people big feet so we don't fall over. 
2. The extra weight of pregnancy makes your feet grow. Mine were size 10 before I had kids, and I moved to size 11 after Amy was born, and size 12 after Jeffrey. Good thing we only had 2 kids. 
3. Because the largest size I had ever seen in women's shoes was size 10, I thought this was as big as feet grew. Seriously. I first found size 11 in a Penney's catalogue when I was a young mother. I was very excited! Then I discovered size 12 at Payless shoe stores. I was extremely excited! I'm not certain that my feet grew when I was pregnant, or if I just wore my shoes uncomfortably tight until I found the larger sizes.

What I do know is that I first learned BOGO = Buy One Get One from Payless. However, I have been given the chance from Wiredchurches.com to offer a BOGO special to one of you! 

Check your calender - yes, now - go check it! Can you make it to Granger, Indiana on Thursday & Friday, June 25 - 26? If so, buy one workshop for $99, and get one free! 

You can a) attend 2 yourself on back to back days, 2) bring a friend to attend a workshop with you, or 3) bring a friend to attend a different workshop being offered on the same day - you choose! We're trying to make this a very easy entrance ramp for you!! 

Be the first to post a comment or email me with the confirmation that you can attend, and I'll get you the details to make it happen! I'll look forward to seeing you at the end of June!

Another 90 households...

We finished another 13 week run of Financial Peace University, and over 90 households went the distance learning how to better manager their money!

Below is a snapshot from one couple: a stay at home mom and her husband who is a firefighter. You can read the amazing story from Mo's full blog post here.

In March of 2008 Andy and I took a Financial Peace University class through our church. Taking that class still stands as one of the best things we've done in our marriage....Budgeting is my crack, and I'm an addict.

....Andy and I have been on a strict budget since March of 08. Our goal is to be debt free [with the exception of our house] by spring time next year. If we stick to the plan and follow through we will have paid off 31,375 dollars in debt in two years. Debt free at the ages of 24 and 26 sounds pretty good to me. In that $30,000 we will have paid off a Jeep, a Ford, a Honda, and a furnace. So far we've knocked them all out but my Honda.

Did you catch that their primary income is that of a firefighter? She gives many details on all the things they've done to earn extra money, and the self-control they've been challenged to maintain. It's not been easy! 

While many make some changes very quickly, it's encouraging and inspiring to hear from those who are going the distance to make lasting change! Way to go Mo and Andy!

I'm graduating!

Early this week, I got this text message from our son, Jeff: Grades are in for the semester. I got a 4.0! I'm graduating!!

There are lots of reasons to celebrate...

• Graduating from Purdue (pictured here with us and his sister) 
• Engineering degree
• Got a job (whew!)
• Last time we're moving a child out of a college dorm/apartment
• He's almost off our payroll (Woohoo!)
• Getting married to an incredible woman (in 10 days!)

I smiled when I got that text. Engineering at Purdue has challenged him. It tested him. Jeff likes to compete. He likes to win.

The first couple years were tough, but he kept working it; he didn't give up. He started figuring it out. He's been wanting to knock a semester out of the park, to master the classes, and he kept getting closer - but not quite there. The last semester of his senior year, he did it!

For us, our celebration has nothing to do with grades. Our son is really proud of what he's accomplished. He's shown persistance and tenacity. He's finishing well. He recognizes his accomplishment.

Life will bring more challenges. He's ready. We're really proud of him!

Proverbs 22:29 Observe people who are good at their work - skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don't take a backseat to anyone.

Politics & Religion

Most relational wisdom advises to keep conversation away from topics on politics and religion. It's no wonder that as our pastor is preparing his Letter to the President, he is consumed.

Many ask me about training volunteer leaders. I lead in Groups from what is modeled by my leaders. Rather than tell you, I thought it more helpful to show you. Here's the email I sent this morning to my Starting Point for Singles leaders as they prepare to talk about the content of the weekend service during their group time.

I was reading my Bible this morning, and I thought of you. In Romans 13 & 14, Paul is writing about our role as responsible citizens and cultivating good relationships. Here’s a link to it on biblegateway.com. This will be helpful to you.

I thought of you leading conversation, the tension in difficult conversations, trying to protect the atmosphere around the table – all this while being aware of your own personal reactions to the topics being discussed. Whew! The burden of leadership is heavy. 

Many who lean toward conservative political beliefs will likely hope that Mark Beeson "really puts the liberals in their place”. Many who lean toward liberal political beliefs will likely expect Mark Beeson to deliver “conservative Christian beliefs and moral superiority”. It’s possible that both will be disappointed; it’s possible that both sides will hear things that Mark didn’t say; and it’s possible that both sides will not hear things that Mark did say. I know that Mark Beeson loves Jesus. I trust him. I’m praying for him.  

As you enter your group conversations, I am praying that you will be quick to listen and slow to defend. I’m praying that you will seek to understand. I’m praying that you will not hesitate to speak in love to express concern for those in the group – how they are experiencing one another. If you are feeling uncomfortable, let them know, “I’m not sure our conversation is helpful. How is it for all of you?”

More than anything, I want you to know that I trust you. You are leaders who have been trustworthy. You demonstrate that you love God and you love people.

You don’t have to do this perfectly. There will be someone who is critical, someone who believes that we, the church, or you should have handled something differently. Hurt people hurt people. There will be a time to reflect and see what we can learn, but for now, let it go. 

I’m on your side. I believe in you. I’m with you. I’m certain that as we love one another well, God is right beside us, cheering us on. Rest in that truth.

Peace,
Kathy   

...a place for me.

As people made decisions to move from being an admiring fan to a committed follower of Jesus, many of us reflected on who we are. I received this beautiful message.

At the end, as Pastor Beeson was giving "instructions" I found myself listening and questioning....am I follower? What's my place? Like I needed to check off the items on a list and decide which category I'm in. I'm pretty sure I at least already started following - but maybe I've fallen away? I need to be sure I'm in the right line...I decided to stick with the "already following" box and hope for the best.

As people began to come up I was  overwhelmed. Tears began to stream down my face and I felt an outpouring of love, compassion, joy, tenderness... A sense almost, that it was possible to embrace every single person.  Mixed with the most incredible gratitude and awe - that God chose me.

I could hear Mark Beeson's words (ok, Jesus' words) "Feed my sheep."  "Feed my sheep."...and the tears just kept pouring. I felt complete release of the "guilt" of not being a missionary or a big superstar church person or something else I would  be or should be if I were doing it right.

I knew beyond all doubt that I was in my "place." That I was 100 %, without question, an "all in" follower of Christ. That I am the church, this is my church and my place is to invite (hopefully by how I live my life), welcome and walk along side whoever God puts in my path in whatever capacity that is.

Nice to know God has a place for me.

Always On

A man came to GCC for the first time 9 days ago. Check this out...

1. He went to church on Sunday.
2. He volunteered at the Community Center on Tuesday morning.
3. He attended 1st Wednesday service.
4. He bought a Bible, Message translation! (Love that version!)
5. He went to 2nd Saturday to volunteer.
6. He came to a weekend service on Saturday night. At that service, he decided to move from an admiring fan of Jesus to a committed follower! 

A neighbor who he'd only talked to one time, about 6 months ago, invited him. As he told me Saturday night, "This has been quite a week for me!" Yeah - I'd say so! 

Who is watching you?

What are they noticing about you?

When will they remember it?

I received an email about 12 days ago about this same guy. It was from one of our amazing volunteer leaders. He wrote, "I received a phone call this morning from a neighbor, and I'm not sure what to do. I had one 15 minute conversation with him about 6 months ago. He said that he could tell from our prior conversation that I had a strong faith in God and wanted advice in that direction. He said that he didn't know anyone else to turn to. I invited him to come to GCC. The call rattled me a little. The reality hit me this morning after that phone call that people truly are watching us."

He was just living his life as a follower of Jesus. It made a difference.

Every miracle begins with what you can do and ends with what God can do!  

I'm sorry. We don't have a ministry to help with that.

If you want to serve the people in your church well, memorize those lines. I was recently asked how long I had to practice them in the mirror before I could actually say it. Point taken. It's not easy; it's hard - most anything worth it is.

It's also hard to acknowledge who you are and you are not. We know that we will not be able to provide care for every need and every hurt that every person brings to our church. If you have too many needs and too many ministries, and a commitment to help people know they matter, you are exactly where I was a few years ago.   

I had help. It's available to you too! Sort it out by starting with this book, Less Clutter & Less Noise. (Really, our Care & Groups strategies began by figuring out what we wanted to communicate, and the ministries came after that step.) 

Then, come to Granger on June 25-26, and you can talk to the author up close and personal for a full day. It'll cost you $99 and will be worth every penny!

If you stay for Day 2, we'll make a Lasting Impression! (Ok, there are other great workshops, and I won't create stupid puns for all of them, but I just wanted you to know that I could!)

Jim's Cardboard Testimony

In our service this past weekend, a couple dozen people told us who they were before and after Jesus found them. This is Jim. 

His message spoke loudly. Too many people feel the way he did. They are sitting all around us in churches and outside of churches not knowing how much they matter.

Jim has ben taking steps. They lead him to a group of guys who laugh, listen, have some fun, and care.

I'm proud of Jim and really glad that he's learning how much he matters!