house church part 1... assuming i will write about it again

i was at our house church last night in alhambra. we had a few visitors, a few old faces show up and the regulars. i usually get asked about church, because of my position working at a non profit that supports the local church in working with young people in urban areas around are country. i also get asked... what church do you go to? i am always proud to say that i attend a house church in alhambra with a few people. we have no building... we dont plan on moving into a building someday... we just meet in a living room and hope that we may inspire other to do the same. i am not against the traditional structure that most americans choose to gather in and call church. but i do think that the house church movement is better... for me at least or why would i do it. here are a few reasons that i believe that there is great value in meeting as a house church.

• you are never just a number... if you show up than you were probably invited and you already now a few people and they will introduce you to the other few.
  
• you get to ask questions and dialogue with people in regards to the reading from the scripture
• you are able to stay engaged each others life on a regular basis... our house church had been breaking off at the end of the evening to pray for each other in small groups. we have not done this the last few times... i hope we get that part back soon.
  
• it is not based on the leadership of an individual.
  
• you have the flexibility to start one with your own group of friends... i have a group of guys that i am very close with that i have met a few times on my back porch.
  

i have more reasons that i love house church, but i am not in the writing mood. my last thoughts on this post are that i think the small aspect of church is the most important than any large gathering. it is where true community is built that is why when i ran a youth group i would tell students if you had one thing to go to each week... i would encourage them to go to their small group over going to a large service. it is where true discipleship and growth and evangelism can take place. that is it for now.

vegas with the kids

natalia (my friend chris' daughter) and kade listen in to the details at the shark reef at mandalay bay. kids love to see sharks!

evan looking for the lions at mgm grand hotel.

the lewis boys chillin at the valet service outside 'THE Hotel" at Mandalay Bay hotel. we had a great time with pillow fights, late nights, video games, lots of food and some cool pools.

Field Trip with Kade's Class

kade, anthony, kyle and jonathan got to hang out with kade's day all day. i was the most popular chaperone and a few kids cried becuz they were not allowed to be in my group. we went tp pacific park in santa monica... a little board walk with rides and games (i hate those games that rob you of money and are impossible for a 6 year old to win)

you have to love the ability of kade to throw his peace symbol so well at the age of 6!

the bus ride home had jonathan and kade knocked out as we slowly drove back on the beautiful 10 freeway that is always ridiculous. i feel for pablo that use to drive it everyday for work, so many years ago. when i may it home... i crashed out also

i fell through a ceiling .... lol

it has been a great week and we have one more day of work in the bryan's home. our crew has pretty much drywalled most of the house and should finish it tomorrow. i did partially fall through the ceiling while putting insolation in the ceiling. yes, it hurt. but i think i will survive. joey from gateway also fell through and bruised his ribs. he is just trying to draw the attention away from me. oh. well. i thought i would post some pics from the trip and will put some more up next week or over the weekend. peace.

matt dunne from alhambra trying to create a hole in the ceiling!

dave's shirt shows how much we are sweating while working!

i love my glowing tennis shoes!

these are pictures of rows of trailers that people have lived in since katrina

evidence that alot of work is still needed in new orleans

i am back in new orleans

i am back in new orleans for another week. i will be helping rebuild some home of people who have been affected by katrina. i was here over spring break with the organizations tigersgo and they are a great group of people from clemson that love jesus and their neighbor with amazing compassion.

we shared a meal tonight with three survivors of katrina. i spoke with an older lady that was moved to the superdome as katrina hit, but than was evacuated out of the city to dallas, tx. she was there for a few months and bounced in a few places, but now is back in new orleans. she explained with almost tears coming down her eyes about how she lost everything, including her two cats. i thinks she misses the cats the most. my heart was broken. they speak about a disaster that hit almost two years ago, as if it happened last week. i think the trauma from the event is immeasurable. i don't blame them because as you drive through the city you are constantly reminded of katrina. you cannot go one day without being reminded of the devastation.

i know what i do this week is a drop in the bucket of what needs to take place, but one of my desires while here is to really encourage those that are serving here year round. a guy named dave monte that graduated from clemson and chosen to move into the community and host people year round that want to serve. he is amazing. the churches that are hosting and partnering with tigersgo are amazing also. a true appreciation and a desire to learn what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. i will try to post some pics up over the next few days. peace.

kade's first broken arm...

kade fell off the monkeys bars and slightly broke his arms. he was a trooper as he got his temporary splint and we are going to get his permanent cast in a few hours.

GBLT Issues and the Urban Church

i have not been blogging much over here, but i have been posting on the uywi blog. it has been mostly about the meeting i am hosting in a number of regions in socal. ben and i also just posted a new conversation that i am having with andrew marin of the marin foundation about the gblt community and the church. we just put up the answers from the first two questions and will be posting one a week for awhile. check it out.