"If I'm asleep when you get home..."

As a teenager and into my young adulthood, I lived in a small town outside of New York City. It was a magnificent town with woods and views across the mighty Hudson River and some wonderful people. Aside from the New York weather, and maybe the 'pace-of-life' I long-struggled to adjust to, it was practically perfect. Before that, before living in New York I was a young teen living in Southern California where I went to the beach, saw movie stars and hung out by the pool with family and friends. It too was practically perfect. In fact, my whole childhood was practically perfect.

The 'practically perfect' part was influenced by the cool locations, but the truth is we could have lived in Fargo [though I'm thankful we didn't] and my childhood would still have been practically perfect because my amazing Mom and Dad [and my 2 brothers and 3 sisters] made it that way. They of course are not perfect people, nobody is, but their love and support shapes who I am every day. I consider myself an amazing husband - because I saw in my father, what one looks like. I'm a good care-giver because of the great care I always got from Mom.

At the dinner table Mom and Dad always made sure there was plenty, in fact it became somewhat of a joke as the years have gone by. "Do you want more sauce?" Mom would ask on spaghetti nights. "Would you like some hot gravy?" Was her constant question when turkey was on the table. As we aged, we learned that the answer should always be yes, because she so loved to take care of us that she wouldn't eat her own dinner until she knew we were satisfied.

As a young high-schooler, when I started 'going out' at night she'd stay awake to make sure I got home safely. I'd find her sitting in the kitchen reading, or cleaning as if she wasn't waiting up for me, but I always knew, and I always liked it. Later, when I started driving, she'd remind me to 'drive carefully' and yup, even though I'd be out later... she'd be up, making sure I got home safely.

Then, as a less-young teen, I was out later and later and eventually I could stay out beyond when she could stay up but she could not rest until she knew I was home safely. So a new rule was created and enforced. "If I'm asleep when you get home, wake me up so I know you got home safely". A simple rule you'd think, but Mom is a heavy sleeper. So, being the great son I've always been, I'd go into their bedroom and in a loud-whisper I'd begin. "Mom, I'm home."

No response so I'd get a little louder... and then louder and eventually I'd practically shout. Finally, she'd awaken, but not with a gentle smile, acknowledging my presence, nope, she'd pry her eyes open, see a strange man standing in her bedroom and begin screaming, not a whispered dream-scream, but a full-on terrified, blood curdling scream. Seems funny now, but it was horrifying. It was horrifying every time I got home. For years. And it continued all the way through my younger brothers and sisters.

Now, these many years later, it seems Mom's time to care for us is coming to an end. No more can she freshen our sauces and gravy, no more safety tips, and no more waking her up when I get home.

So, dear sweet mother, I say one more time that yes... I really, really want some more of your wonderful spaghetti sauce, I will drive carefully and most importantly, if you are asleep when I get there, I will wake you up to let you know... that I'm safely home.

Some thoughts on our move to Bagley

After an awesome season at North Murray High School, Rock Bridge Chatsworth has moved to Bagley Middle School. Our service times remain the same at 9:15am and 11:00am.

The move has raised some questions - so here are some answers:

Question: Was Rock Bridge Chatsworth 'thrown out' of North Murray?

• No. Our relationship with the folks at North Murray is excellent. Our plan has always been to leave that location when North Murray moved out. We had hoped to move to the new facility with North Murray but construction is not finished on the areas we'll use.

Question: Then why leave the original site now?

• The new folks in our original building need a LOT of space and we will soon be in their way. The school system has worked hard and found us a solution that limits our 'portability' through the summer and even into the school year.
  

Question: Are we 'settling' at Bagley?

• No. Bagley is an excellent facility with amazing staff that offers us many things that were not available at NMHS. Parking, lobby, volunteer headquarters, worship center and kids space are AMAZING!

Question: Will we still move to NMHS when the construction is finished?

• The easy answer is "yes... but". NMHS will have an excellent theater that makes it VERY interesting but the truth is we will have to evaluate when the time comes. We will follow God's leading.

Question: Why don't we simply buy, rent or build a permanent location?

• Finding a site that is a good location, has enough space and a potential 'cool factor' has not been hard to do. Finding a space that is LEGAL to use is another story. To have church there are specific laws and rules that must be followed. There must be certain numbers of parking spaces based on the size of the building, there must be sprinklers and proper exits not to mention air-conditioning and the needed technology. All this says that finding a site that meets the needs is hard. If a great site that meets our needs becomes available at a price we can afford we will certainly take a prayerful look at it.
  

Question: Why don't we just buy the Chevy building?

• I can give you three-point-four-million reasons. Rock Bridge Chatsworth is a small, locally funded church and even churchwide we feel the impact of the economic crisis just like anyone. Purchasing such a site is totally out of the question at this time. [Yes, a lease would be considered if the owners were interested... they are not]
  

Last Question [For Now]: Doesn't moving kill the church?

• No. I can site several examples of churches that have moved and the moves actually created a cool buzz and led to growth. A certain church that started in the 80's with just a few, moved several times in their history - they even had a somewhat private slogan "We're a great church if you can find us". They didn't build for YEARS and now run over fifteen thousand people.

Please spread the word about our move - the school is looking amazing and Sunday is going to be awesome!

Stinky food

So the last two months or so have been a little crazy in my world; okay, a lot crazy. Two trips to visit sick family in New York, then a rush trip back to Georgia for a funeral and this week the church is moving from the now former North Murray to Bagley Middle School.

On Monday night of this week, a few of us were working up at Bagley and my amazing wife delivered dinner to the work team. We were all hungry and ready to eat when Gail walked in and we knew in an instant what we were about to eat. It was the smell that gave it away, it was strong, and spicy and wonderful and the hungry crew ate some serious food!

When our dinner first arrived it smelled wonderful. In fact, it smelled wonderful all night long, and even into the next morning as it wafted through the still air inside the school. But later, the smell turned bad, real bad and today the smell was so horrible we wanted it gone, we wanted it as far away as possible as soon as possible. It took only a few minutes to track down the source of the rotten smell, it was the garbage can that we used to throw away the leftover food from Monday night, the food had gone stale and then gone rotten. I immediately took the bag and can out to the trash, rinsed out the can and within a few minutes, the smell was gone ans we were back to work.

Consider the life of some Christ-followers:

• In the beginning of our faith-walk, our arrival is welcomed because within our excitement we bring the nourishment God offers
  
• Our positive impact may be felt even after we've left the area
  
• But we can go stale, possibly becoming rotten to those that encounter us
• Those that once welcomed us may then want us to go away
  
• If we become 'stale' in our Christian life, we may even become an annoyance that is removed from the lives of those we were hoping to nourish.

Don't bring rotten Christianity to the people around you. Stay fresh with time in God's word, with prayer and time with others that are trying to remain fresh. Then, go bring the nourishing love and amazing life that comes from Jesus Christ.