2007 Recap...

I love these moments to look back over the past year and see all that has been happening in the lives of the Furrs. God has been so faithful in a miriade of ways...I could not be more grateful for the following and even more...

- Last December/January brought much prayer, fasting, and seeking godly counsel, culminating in my decision to resign from Northwest Christian Community. I had moved my family from "home" in Buffalo in order to pursue God's leadership to step into a Lead Pastor role. That exercise went much differently than I had intended (shocking, I know, that life goes a little different than planned...). I announced my decision to the congregation, and began a journey to see what would happen next.

- God opened the door to a substative conversation with one of the senior pastors of The Chapel. As he laid out his vision for the role the church can play in the lives of people and a region, I was captured. So many of the things he talked about resonated with the deepest places of my heart. And through a very thorough and rigorous process, I joined the staff of The Chapel in Libertyville.

- I am now a Campus Pastor. No, this has nothing to do with college ministry (I had a few friends ask me how my college ministry at Liberty University was going...nope). The Chapel is one church with several local expressions, called campuses. I lead one of those campus in Libertyville. It's a gift to be a part of such an amazing staff team and community of people. The people from the church have welcomed my family and me with gracious warmth and friendship and partnership. I lead a staff that gives themselves fully to the mission of Christ. I have been welcomed into friendships of depth and healing.

- Heidi continues to grow in grace and wisdom, wearing many different hats - wife, mother, woman, Christ-follower, friend. I watch her invest in people with a heart filled with love, grace, and wisdom. It's amazing - not because I'm surprised, but because it's always amazing to be so close to the tender work of God. I see Him in her in profound ways.

- Izak is growing up. I can't believe that I met him just over 5 years ago. He enriches my life in big ways. He teaches me to speak more gently and walk more slowly. He teaches me to laugh at the silliness of life. He teaches me the peace of a good snuggle in the morning. My son is a treasure to me.

- Liberty is a young girl of confidence and passion. She is not so fast, taking her time to get where we need to go. But she gets there with a passion and a joy reserved for those who actually appreciate the journey. She sings loudly. She dances wildly. And she has an expression at the ready for any circumstance. She's totally my daughter - we both roll out of bed only when we have to and aren't completely convinced the day will be kind. But we both also warm up to the idea of walking the earth before noon...usually. She is my "baby-girl" and I love her freedom. And I suspect she's going to be pretty stoked to find out that her daddy works in a town called Liberty-ville!

- Levi is coming into his own. He loves his mommy - and does alright with Daddy when she's not around. He loves his cars and the movie, Cars. Levi and Mommy collect all the figures from the movie and make sure they are hidden in special places because you don't want to lose such a treasure. He is a boy among boys - loves dirt and car noises and big trucks. He loves to run at you from across the room. And he can be heard shouting from his crib, "Tickle me!"

My kids redeem me. Without them in my life, I would work too much, not laugh enough, and hold on to a lot more selfishness. Oh, the selfishness is still there, but in order to hold the hand of a toddler, you have to let go of a great deal of it. God uses my children to shape my heart.

When we were married, Heidi made a commitment to go where I go and make her home in that place. She has made good on that without a complaint or even a wince. I could not be the man I am without her by my side. My partner. My beloved. My friend.

As I look back over this year, it's been a very hard year. It's been a year of redemption. It's been a year of stretching and challenge. But knowing that God is walking with me, shaping my character and guidling the way, gives me the courage to advance, even if only one step at a time. This Furr Journey is truly a journey of obedience and trust. And every step of trust that I take, God has proved his faithfulness over and again. I'm not sure that it makes the next step of faith any easier, but it does increase one's confidence that it will be an adventure worth taking.

So here I am, on the edge of 2008. It will, no doubt, be another year of growth in many ways. It will be a year of more milestones for the kids. It will be anouther year in which I experience the amazing blessing of an incredible wife/friend. In all that, it will be anouther year to experience the gentle, guiding hand of my Master, who challenges, pushes, and leads me into places that feed my soul as only He can.

May you know the same in 2008.

Peace on the journey,

M@