The Big Move

Well, it's here!

Natalie has packed the whole house.
We washed the windows and deck.
Sally's crew loaded up her truck.
Davo and Sarah got the keys.

It's official. We're moving to Maryland.

What do I think? Well, mixed.
There is nothing good about leaving Chicago.

There's plenty good about going to Maryland
and about staring a new congregation.

But there's nothing good about leaving my new home.

In the past, whenever, I'd get stressted, I'd imagine I'm
biking along the streets and alleys of my boyhood home
in Paris, Tennessee. I knew every building and turn.

Those familiar images comforted and calmed me.

Paris is still my hometown, but I was surprised to find
recently as I returned from a few weeks in Maryland
that Chicago is now my home. It's where I 'belong.'

It just feels like home.

I love the city and it's history, it's impulses and politics,
it's diversity and directness. This is my place of rest.

And I'm leaving... if not for good.

So what does themove bring?

Well, I never in my wildest dreams thought the church
would call me to start a new congregation.

I was totally unprepared and delved into what I call
Seminary II... learning everything I could about
launching a new community of new Christians.

We're not hoping that believers will join. But doubters.
We're not looking for religious people. But rebels.
We're not planning to repeat the past. But watch God
paint the future.

And we're not prepared. But we are completely ready
to take this leap of faith!