Nope...I've not been dreaming for the past 11 days or so...I really do have three children! What a gift!
I feel tired. I haven't been up all night with Levi...I've actually slept pretty hard. Heidi works hard to make sure that I get my sleep at night. So it's not that. But I'm still tired. It may be the anticipation has finally caught up. It might be that I've been on "vacation" these two weeks, and my body has been asking for rest...not to be found just yet. It might be that my main charge these two weeks has been to invest in my toddlers. Whatever it is, I'm tired.
I'm ready to jump back in at Northwest. Though I haven't been out of the loop totally, I've been very intentional to stay as far out as I could. It was good. I'm so thankful for Kevin, in whom I place complete confidence and trust in my absence.
I'm thankful for new friends. Northwest has done right by the Furr family. They have cared well for us in so many ways. And some have done even more.
Did I mention that I'm tired?
Peace,
M@
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Friday, October 21, 2005
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
And the name is...
Levi Lawrence Furr was evicted from his one-room condo with jacuzzi tub at 11:05am CST on Tuesday, October 18, 2005. After 1.5 hours of intense labor and only two hardy pushes, landlord Mommy got the job done in incredible fashion. The 9 pound 4 ounce evictee was heard proclaiming the injustice of it all, saying, "WAAAA!"
Both Heidi and I will elaborate more another time, but there's the scoop. Thank you for those who have encouraged and prayed with us during the past nine months. It's been quite a ride and we are thankful for the gift of Levi.
Peace,
Matt
Both Heidi and I will elaborate more another time, but there's the scoop. Thank you for those who have encouraged and prayed with us during the past nine months. It's been quite a ride and we are thankful for the gift of Levi.
Peace,
Matt
Birth Day...
There are only two things that can get me out of bed at 5am...one is golfing with Rick in "heaven" and the other is...the birth of my child. Heidi and I are about to load up the car and serve notice to the little one she's been carrying for the past 40 weeks. Time to get out!
I had a hard time getting to sleep, as you might imagine. It's exciting to think that I'm going to learn this child's name today. For 40 weeks, this child has been known only by God. Heidi has felt his/her presence, but only God has known his/her name. Today, it will be known by the rest of us. I'm excited about that.
And also today, I will be standing by as Heidi earns another Mother badge of courage and strength. I can coach and encourage and be near, but I cannot carry the load. At the end of the day, it is a load that only she can carry. And she has done so with amazing grace and fortitude in the past; I am confident that she will today.
Well...here we go.
Peace,
Matt
I had a hard time getting to sleep, as you might imagine. It's exciting to think that I'm going to learn this child's name today. For 40 weeks, this child has been known only by God. Heidi has felt his/her presence, but only God has known his/her name. Today, it will be known by the rest of us. I'm excited about that.
And also today, I will be standing by as Heidi earns another Mother badge of courage and strength. I can coach and encourage and be near, but I cannot carry the load. At the end of the day, it is a load that only she can carry. And she has done so with amazing grace and fortitude in the past; I am confident that she will today.
Well...here we go.
Peace,
Matt
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Change of Pace...
Change is fun...I enjoy it. There has been a nice change of pace and one about to come.
Willow -- This past week, I spent most of my time at Willow Creek, a great and effective church south of here about an hour. The conference was pretty good and provided a nice change of pace for me.
Kevin spoke -- I didn't do the weekend conversation this week. In planning for F3, we determined this would be a good weekend for Kevin to speak. Even though F3 has not arrived, we stayed on schedule. Though I love communicating, it was a nice break for me. I've been here about 9 months and this is only my third weekend not speaking...I was starting to wear down a little. Thanks, Kevin.
Eviction -- F3 is coming his week, ready or not. If not prior, then on Tuesday morning, he/she will be invited to breathe air via some minor medical stimulation.
Paternity time -- Since F3 will be coming Tuesday, I'm off this week to be with my family. We have some great people who will be helping to care for the kids, but I'll be there to help and spend some time getting to know the new one.
So there...on several fronts, it's been a change of pace. I find that to be refreshing.
Little personal rememberance: 3 years ago today, Heidi and I embarked on the journey of parenting for the first time. I got to sneak into my son's room and sing Happy Birthday this morning...he smiled and said, "I am three." Yes you are, my boy...yes you are.
Peace,
Matt
Willow -- This past week, I spent most of my time at Willow Creek, a great and effective church south of here about an hour. The conference was pretty good and provided a nice change of pace for me.
Kevin spoke -- I didn't do the weekend conversation this week. In planning for F3, we determined this would be a good weekend for Kevin to speak. Even though F3 has not arrived, we stayed on schedule. Though I love communicating, it was a nice break for me. I've been here about 9 months and this is only my third weekend not speaking...I was starting to wear down a little. Thanks, Kevin.
Eviction -- F3 is coming his week, ready or not. If not prior, then on Tuesday morning, he/she will be invited to breathe air via some minor medical stimulation.
Paternity time -- Since F3 will be coming Tuesday, I'm off this week to be with my family. We have some great people who will be helping to care for the kids, but I'll be there to help and spend some time getting to know the new one.
So there...on several fronts, it's been a change of pace. I find that to be refreshing.
Little personal rememberance: 3 years ago today, Heidi and I embarked on the journey of parenting for the first time. I got to sneak into my son's room and sing Happy Birthday this morning...he smiled and said, "I am three." Yes you are, my boy...yes you are.
Peace,
Matt
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
30 years...
I was two years old. 30 years ago on this date, a group of 4 families joined together to unite behind a crazy vision to live out the reality of the kind of church talked about in Acts 2. 30 years ago today, this new community gathered togehter for their first worship gathering at a movie theater...the Willow Creek Theater. Today, Willow Creek Community Church has invited about 20,000 people to join them on this journey of living out the Acts 2 church and has influenced millions around the world, through conferences, teachings, and books. They have been inovators and standard-bearers in the area of church leadership.
I spent much of today on the Willow Creek campus. Bill Hybels, the founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek seemed startled by the realization that today was the precise brithday of this new community. It was sort of cool to be there on this day.
Willow Creek has given churches permission to do church differently. It reminded leaders that the church exists for those who are not yet members. It reminded leaders that God is the ultimate Creator, therefore is honored in excellent creativity. This small group of people stepped out, risked much, worked hard, depended on the Spirit in challenging way. And God moved in and through them.
I am a beneficiary of their vision. Today, I lead a church in becoming the community that God wants us to be. We haven't adopted Willow's mission statement, but we share a heartbeat -- to become a community that does right by the reputation of Jesus in our community and world.
Happy Birthday, Willow...may your best years be ahead of you!
Peace,
Matt
I spent much of today on the Willow Creek campus. Bill Hybels, the founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek seemed startled by the realization that today was the precise brithday of this new community. It was sort of cool to be there on this day.
Willow Creek has given churches permission to do church differently. It reminded leaders that the church exists for those who are not yet members. It reminded leaders that God is the ultimate Creator, therefore is honored in excellent creativity. This small group of people stepped out, risked much, worked hard, depended on the Spirit in challenging way. And God moved in and through them.
I am a beneficiary of their vision. Today, I lead a church in becoming the community that God wants us to be. We haven't adopted Willow's mission statement, but we share a heartbeat -- to become a community that does right by the reputation of Jesus in our community and world.
Happy Birthday, Willow...may your best years be ahead of you!
Peace,
Matt
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Christian = Republican?
I just read a very interesting article about Ms. Meiers, the President's pick to the Supreme Court. The article was giving a glimpse into her personal life, by relating the story of her making a decision to give her life to Jesus. It was short, but unbiased...
...until it got to the end. Almost in one sentence, it said that she gave her life to Jesus and then became a Republican. It's one thing for some backwoods hick pastor or freakish tv president-wanna-be to connect the two, but a major media outlet?
That's actually troubling to me. It troubling because someone who isn't a part of the movement of Christ-followers looks in and sees not a transformational movement but a political agenda. While I might be trying to share how someone can live in freedom, people will see me as trying to recruit to the Republican party.
It would be just as disconcerting if the association was with the Democratic party, so don't get me wrong. I reject the complete notion that one's faith in Jesus dictates a certain party affiliation...neither one is "God's party."
I'm glad that Ms. Meiers has given herself to Jesus. I think it's pretty cool that someone of faith could very likely be sitting on the highest court in the most powerful nation in the world (at this point in history). I pray that she leverages her influence well.
Peace,
M@
...until it got to the end. Almost in one sentence, it said that she gave her life to Jesus and then became a Republican. It's one thing for some backwoods hick pastor or freakish tv president-wanna-be to connect the two, but a major media outlet?
That's actually troubling to me. It troubling because someone who isn't a part of the movement of Christ-followers looks in and sees not a transformational movement but a political agenda. While I might be trying to share how someone can live in freedom, people will see me as trying to recruit to the Republican party.
It would be just as disconcerting if the association was with the Democratic party, so don't get me wrong. I reject the complete notion that one's faith in Jesus dictates a certain party affiliation...neither one is "God's party."
I'm glad that Ms. Meiers has given herself to Jesus. I think it's pretty cool that someone of faith could very likely be sitting on the highest court in the most powerful nation in the world (at this point in history). I pray that she leverages her influence well.
Peace,
M@
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
doing church differently...
I was reconnected with some friends from Australia recently. Ken and Leanne spent some time in Hamburg before returning to their home country of Australia to start a new church. We had good times together...shared a few laughs...grew a bit as our lives intersected.
They have been home for a few years now. their vision for the church they lead is that it would be a community of people sharing life together for the honor of Jesus. Amidst the variety of pressues they face (denominational, peer church leaders, financial, let alone spiritual), they continue to hold true to that vision.
It's a powerful statement on several levels:
1) the power of a husband and wife committed to the same calling. They are truly partners in this ministry; neither one is token by any means. Their passsions and gifts create incredible momentum as they humbly serve together.
2) the power of a vision. They have not been swayed by the winds of time or change. They are not jumping on anyone else's bandwagon. Frankly, they make the "emerging church" look like yesterday's news.
3) the power of community. They welcome anyone to the table. It's not a rich church that has a few poor folks. It's a community that is made up of all kinds of people. The poor and broken sit at the same table as the whole and "successful." They learn together and from each other. It is truly a community where all are welcome. And it's in the heart of a city. And in the process, lives are being transformed...slowly as in process, but transformation nonetheless.
Check out the link to their community on the right...City Wesleyan.
Peace,
M@
They have been home for a few years now. their vision for the church they lead is that it would be a community of people sharing life together for the honor of Jesus. Amidst the variety of pressues they face (denominational, peer church leaders, financial, let alone spiritual), they continue to hold true to that vision.
It's a powerful statement on several levels:
1) the power of a husband and wife committed to the same calling. They are truly partners in this ministry; neither one is token by any means. Their passsions and gifts create incredible momentum as they humbly serve together.
2) the power of a vision. They have not been swayed by the winds of time or change. They are not jumping on anyone else's bandwagon. Frankly, they make the "emerging church" look like yesterday's news.
3) the power of community. They welcome anyone to the table. It's not a rich church that has a few poor folks. It's a community that is made up of all kinds of people. The poor and broken sit at the same table as the whole and "successful." They learn together and from each other. It is truly a community where all are welcome. And it's in the heart of a city. And in the process, lives are being transformed...slowly as in process, but transformation nonetheless.
Check out the link to their community on the right...City Wesleyan.
Peace,
M@
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