Our First Financial Supporter...and she's 7!

Today I'd like to share with you a story about our first financial supporter.  Her name is Madison and she is 7 years old.  For our Tampa friends and family, if you haven't heard about Madison's Mission you are missing out.  At the bottom of this post is more information on Madison's Mission as well as a links to her FB page, blog and a recent video segment from Fox 13.  It's definitely worth the visit!  She is an incredible little girl with a heart for people and making an impact on her community.  If her story doesn't spur you on to good works...you should check your pulse.  :)

Madison is a daughter of a good friend & co-worker of mine.  At church Madison has recently learned about church planters and hasn't stopped talking about it.  When her mom shared the news of us moving to Colorado to plant, Madison's immediate response was "I want to help"!    Even though her mom and I have worked together since before we both had kids (can't believe it's been that long), I've actually never met Madison...which makes her financial gift all the more special.

Thank you Madison!

Meet Madison

About Madison's Mission

Madison's Mission, a cause to help local families in need, was created by a little girl with a big heart, Madison Brewer. If you would like to donate and help Madison fufill her mission please message or email helpmadisonsmission@hotmail.com.

Description

Six year old Madison Brewer of Dover is a little girl with a big heart. She is embarking on a mission to raise money for local families in need. Back in August, Madison asked her mother for an empty milk jug. Naturally, her mother asked what she needed a milk jug for. Madison explained that she wanted to collect money for a local family who couldn't afford to buy food for the upcoming holidays. Once her parents, Ryan and Deanna Brewer, realized just how serious she was about this, they began brainstorming on ways to make it happen. With the help of a friend, Devony Davenport Scott, Madison's Mission was created and the journey began. If you would like to help Madison fulfill her mission, please visit www.helpmadisonsmission.blogspot.com, or email helpmadisonsmission@hotmail.com. Donations can also be mailed to PO Box 1533, Dover FL 33527.

Click here to see Madison on FOX 13's  Hometown Hero - Madison's Mission!

To find out more about our big adventure this summer and how you can join our support team, check out this blog post.  Big NEWS!!!! 

Spring has sprung!

  It is kind of funny, after spending so many years in Florida, and being so young when we moved South from Illinois; I can't say that I really REMEMBER a true spring time experience.  This morning,  I was taking Micah, my oldest, to school and I was driving through the historic section of Wake Forest, which is lined with beautiful old homes that have been well taken care of, and extremely well landscaped - but because this is not Florida, and we HAVE seasons, things have been dead and barren for some time now.

  Well, in the last few weeks, spring has sprung all around and I have to say - I am a bit overwhelmed at all of the growth, green and beauty surrounding me.  I had gotten so used to the colors of gray and brown, and the barren trees without leaves, that to see everything full and alive and growing - makes me feel rather claustrophobic as I walk, drive or run around town.

  As I pondered this thought this morning, I wondered - is this sometimes true for us as followers of Jesus?  Do we experience growth, new life, and the wonderful beauty of a relationship with Him - and get overwhelmed and feel like running back to the barrenness of the old way of life?  Do we feel overwhelmed and sometimes scared of all that a life devoted to Jesus offers?  I think we can get so used to the dead way of living that perhaps, a taste of freedom can be scary.  It can make those of us who have been walking paths of dead religion and comfortable idolatry run back to the familiar because the luscious life of new growth, new life and beautiful glory for our King - makes us uneasy.

  A word of encouragement as well that I am walking in right now, with a bold step in faith to move to Colorado and plant a church (gotta work this news into this blog somehow)

BIG NEWS!!!!!!!!!

Well, there is BIG NEWS for the Tyler family; and no I am not just talking about the baby girl joining our family in a few short weeks! Though we are super excited to meet our daughter and start our family of 5; we have almost even bigger news...we are moving to Colorado in just a few short weeks!!!!!

That's right - always on the move, and ever hoping to step further out in faith and obedience, we believe God has called us to plant a church in Loveland, CO with some very close friends of ours!  We are so excited for this journey and can't wait to begin a new phase of adventure and obedience.

Frequently Asked Questions about this decision:

Why Colorado?
Several years ago, God placed a call on my life to plant a church, but I knew I was not ready and the time was not right.  In the last 6 weeks (yup, things are moving fast) God has released us to pursue the call He gave us a long time ago, and partnered us with some very close friends who have awakened in us a desire and passion for the city of Loveland, Colorado.  The West is a different culture and place than either Katie or I have ever been in, and while we love the South and being in the "Bible Belt"; we want to go where there is a need for people to find and fall in love with Jesus, and the city we are called to has roughly 85% of the population with little or no desire for a relationship with Jesus - but they have an interest in spiritual things! So, we believe that the fields are white unto harvest and the time is right, and so begins our trek out West!!!

Why now?
The best answer to this question, is quite simply; because there is no time like the present.  Our kids are young and we believe it will be easier to adjust to this kind of a culture shift now, rather than waiting.  We also have watched as God has opened up the doors for us to make this kind of a radical shift now; and so we want to seize the opportunity while we are free and able to.  Also, the area we are moving to is in a stage of development that really excites us about the opportunity; there is a lot of new families, new homes and new growth; but very little commercial development - which means families have not settled into patterns and routines; and since they are making "new choices" anyway, it is a prime time for the Gospel to take root in their lives and establish a "new way" of doing life!!

What's your plan?
This questions is a little tougher to answer, but basically - we want to pursue Jesus as we love our community and engage in the ever-changing world!  We believe that if we are first disciples and obedient followers of Christ, and engaged and in love with the city; God will take care of the rest.  Some of our planning and dreaming is going to be hazy until we are able to have "boots on the ground" and actually be LIVING in the city.

When is this happening?
God is so good, and in the midst of a big season of change - He has provided just enough of the path ahead for us to continue to take steps in obedience and move forward with His plan!  We are going to get to meet our little girl on May 21st and than it is off to the races, essentially...My wife is going to have a scheduled C-section (prayers appreciated) on the 21st and begin her 6 week recovery from major surgery.  During her recovery we are going to simply enjoy a season of calm, try to raise support for our adventure and really just love on our kiddos and enjoy our last few weeks in North Carolina.  But, beginning the last week of June, we pack, load a U-haul and begin the 29 hour drive to Loveland, Colorado - pulling a car and loading a van with 3 kids (a 7 year old, a 17 month old, and a 7 week old) - planning to arrive in Loveland on July 3rd.  AND THIS IS HOW AWESOME JESUS IS - we ALREADY HAVE A HOUSE IN COLORADO!!!  We have been blessed with awesome internet searching by my wife and found a rental company that is willing to work with our situation and rent us a house that is in the PERFECT location, the PERFECT size, and just within our budget, and it is available the DAY WE NEEDED it to be and they rented it to us sight unseen (which is actually a HUGE deal - most companies refused to even consider it)  So; if all goes according to schedule it looks like this:

May 21st - have baby girl
May 22nd thru June 27th - family time, recover from surgery, raise support for our adventure
June 28th - pick up truck and begin loading U-hual
June 30th thru July 3rd - drive to Colorado
July 4th - begin setting up a life in Loveland!!!  (and probably try to blow stuff up!)

Does the church have a name?
Yes, we do - and the name of our church is "Waypoint Church".  A waypoint is a GPS marker and since we are moving out West where the community is extremely outdoorsy and passionate about adventure, we thought a waypoint would connect with the culture; however we also want people to realize that there is simply one marker, or waypoint that they need to focus on and direct their lives and that is Jesus, the true WAY.

Do you have a website?
Yup, you can visit our page that is ever expanding and improving at www.waypointonline.org 

What about money?
Money is such a sensitive issue, and when you are trying to move across the country with a family and set up a new life and a new ministry/church it requires quite a bit of it.  Here is the basic's  - God is faithful and He has blessed Katie and I with jobs that are transferrable - so we have employment in Loveland already.  This is a HUGE stress-relief, however, the church itself needs a lot of funding to get going, and we also need assistance in the simple cost of relocating across the country.  Stepping out in faith and moving so quickly after having a baby is definitely testing our faith, as we look at the amount of money we are going to need to spend to get out there, pay to set up a life (first, last, securities and whatnot) and we look at how much having a baby costs, plus all the moving expenses - and the total gets rather large in a hurry!  But we are trusting that God is going to raise up supporters who believe in church planting, and want to be a part of the story God is writing in Loveland!

If you feel like you are one of those supporters you can mail support to:

Longs Peak Baptist Association (write "Waypoint Church" in the memo line)
P.O. Box 755
Loveland, CO 80539

How else can people help?
We are in need of quite a bit right now, so anything you can contribute is appreciated.  We need people to pray for us like there is no tomorrow!  The spiritual attack since we stepped out in faith and decided to run this race has been intense - so please be praying for our families.  Also, be praying for the city we are moving to, that God would begin to work in the hearts of people and stir lives to move in His direction for His glory.  We also would love to know if you have connections or relationships in Loveland or Fort Collins - our world seems to get smaller each and everyday and if you know of people we could reach out to and connect with, please let us know.

What's next?
For us right now, we are simply going to continue to pray and make people aware of our adventure and wait for God to do big things as we pursue Him.  We ask that you would pray for us, pray about getting involved and joining our adventure and we are grateful for those who respond in obedience and help us follow His leading as we make this move and begin this journey.

Confessions of a waiter...

Some of you may or may not know this, but since we moved to NC I have been waiting tables at an Olive Garden in Wake Forest - and if I am completely honest, it is the most fun job I think I have ever had!

I truly love my job, but every once in awhile I have the need to vent some of the frustrations we waiters/servers endure - and this blog seems like a healthy space to vent.

Here are some common frustrations of the service industry:

#1 - People who don't tip well, regardless of service!  I only make $2/hr and all of that goes to the government, so if you don't tip me, I don't make money.  A respectable tip for good service is 20%.  If you can't afford to tip, don't come to the restaurant!

#2 - Small children who DESTROY the surrounding area with cheerios, breadsticks, sugar packs, small animals, and whatever else they get their hands on.  I understand that kids make messes (I have 3 of them) but is it that hard to at least ATTEMPT to pick up after them???*

#3 - Arriving at the restaurant 40 minutes before the rest of your party and DEMANDING to be seated.  For real?!?! Be patient and wait for the rest of your party, don't waste my table and my time, I need to earn a living.

#4 - People who order "extra" lemons for their water and than add sugar to it to make their own NASTY lemonade.  Come on now, don't be cheap, we sell lemonade, just buy yourself a glass!

#5 - Patrons who decide to come into a dining establishment 20 minutes before close and eat an appetizer, dinner and dessert.  Take it to go, I wanna go home!**

#6 - People who leave "tracts" as a tip, or write "Jesus loves you" on the tip receipt - that's not witnessing and you either missed an opportunity or offended an unbeliever when you do this!  Man up and share your faith and engage with your waiter if you want to witness - we will be willing to talk, just take the time and make it happen!

#7 - Guests who refuse to make eye contact, spend the whole time on their cell phones, or simply treat the waiter like a grunt and not a person.  I got feelings to, Jack, how bout you hang up the phone and make some eye contact!

#8 - Teenagers.  Your young, spending someone else's money and think everything is funny or dirty - grow up, get a job and stop being annoying.

#9 - People who eat their entire dinner and THEN decided to complain to the manager about the food quality and demand free food.  We know your game, it works, but don't be like that - it makes you lame!

#10 - Dropping a $100 bill on me. Come on now; break that somewhere else - all I got is a little coin purse and no time to run around trying to play that game

* A combination of #1 and #2 may cause an aneurism in your waiter, please don't be those people!

** A combination of #1,2,5 is just plain evil

YOU WRONGED ME!!! or did you??

I have been reading a book called "The Advantage" by Patrick Lencioni and the premise is about building a healthy team...

In the book he talks about the importance of building a COHESIVE team; that trusts one another.  One of the important factors in overcoming trust issues is recognizing within ourselves the "FUNDAMENTAL ATTRIBUTIVE ERROR"

This error, that occurs within the human condition is quite simply this - when I am wronged, it is because the person who wronged me is an evil, greedy, manipulative, spiteful wretch of a human being.  However, when I wrong someone else - it is because my situation/environment/upbringing caused me to be this way; thus making it not REALLY my fault!

As I read these words - a whole new understanding of how I view conflict and relationship strain opened up for me.  I don't know about you, but when I feel slighted or wronged, I find the worst in people to blame and I take it intensely personal!  However, if I find that I have offended someone else; it was because I am a busy man who makes mistakes and WOULD NEVER intentionally hurt anyone else.

What a crazy double standard!!!!

Wouldn't life and relationships be so much better if instead of justifying ourselves and blaming everyone else; we gave one another the benefit of the doubt and sought to understand each other and extended grace upon grace?