I have been up here in Chico for about a month and I have experienced my first heartache. Now do not worry it does not involve my family, in fact they are incredibly awesome and understanding. No this is something that I have asked God for and did not realize how much it would hurt. I have prayed that God would give me his heart for the unchurched and now that all of this has happened pain has become apart of it. I want to clarify I am not feeling rejection but rather concern for the people that I am coming into contact with.
We are starting our Bible Study next month and so I have invited many people that I have met in the community. Two of them I had very high hopes because their openness to conversation. As you have guessed both of them have passed on coming. No big deal right, only it is really bothering me. Not out of concern for the launch team that we are building but our of concern for them. In the process of building relationships compassion has come walking in. I really worry about them and genuinely feel happy when I see them.
So in pastoral tone I lean back take a drink of my coffee and ponder what is God showing me? Well I would have to say... They matter! They matter to God so they matter to me, us, the church. What if we could care for everyone like this, not trying to get them into church but trying to get them to God.Try to get others to the person of Jesus because of what he has meant to us. This is not the cry of the evangelist it is the cry of the broken hearted. Jesus save us all.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Rhodes Family February 2009 Update
Dear Family and Friends,
We have been in Chico for a month now and we love it. It is so beautiful here! We have been getting out and about and making a lot of great contacts.
Jeremy spends most of his time out in coffee shops striking up conversations and getting to know people in the community. He has made a lot of very interesting contacts and beginning to develop some good relationships. He has also gotten involved in the Pastors network here in Chico and met some great men who are very supportive of what we want to do here.
As a family we have been getting together with a few other families that we have come in to contact with during this process. We have been invited into their homes and they have been very welcoming to us. We have had a chance to meet all of our neighbors. It is so nice to know whom you are living next to.
Elizabeth and the kids have been going to storytime at the library and are looking to join a Moms group here pretty soon. Elizabeth has already met some other moms at the library and hoping to meet more people with kids the same ages as ours there. As soon as the weather clears we also plan to get out and explore the parks here.
We are planning on starting our in home Bible Study the first Thursday in March. Please pray that God will bring the right people to the study and that it will be fruitful. We also ask that you pray that God builds His church here. We are merely the vessels and we know that He will work in amazing ways.
Again we thank you all for being a part of this journey with us. There are still some of you who haven’t sent in your commitments yet and we please ask that you begin doing so now. We cannot do this without your faithful support. And as always, if you have not yet committed to support us and would like to you may do so at www.sunergeo.org/donate. If you have already pledged support to us and would like to sign up for automated debits you may also do so at www.sunergeo.org/donate. We encourage you to do this so that you don’t have to have the pressure of remembering to send a check every month.
We will keep you posted on what is going on up here. We always welcome visitors so let us know if you would like to come up for a visit. For more frequent updates and Jeremy’s thoughts you can check out our blog, listed below. God bless you!
Blessings!
Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes
We have been in Chico for a month now and we love it. It is so beautiful here! We have been getting out and about and making a lot of great contacts.
Jeremy spends most of his time out in coffee shops striking up conversations and getting to know people in the community. He has made a lot of very interesting contacts and beginning to develop some good relationships. He has also gotten involved in the Pastors network here in Chico and met some great men who are very supportive of what we want to do here.
As a family we have been getting together with a few other families that we have come in to contact with during this process. We have been invited into their homes and they have been very welcoming to us. We have had a chance to meet all of our neighbors. It is so nice to know whom you are living next to.
Elizabeth and the kids have been going to storytime at the library and are looking to join a Moms group here pretty soon. Elizabeth has already met some other moms at the library and hoping to meet more people with kids the same ages as ours there. As soon as the weather clears we also plan to get out and explore the parks here.
We are planning on starting our in home Bible Study the first Thursday in March. Please pray that God will bring the right people to the study and that it will be fruitful. We also ask that you pray that God builds His church here. We are merely the vessels and we know that He will work in amazing ways.
Again we thank you all for being a part of this journey with us. There are still some of you who haven’t sent in your commitments yet and we please ask that you begin doing so now. We cannot do this without your faithful support. And as always, if you have not yet committed to support us and would like to you may do so at www.sunergeo.org/donate. If you have already pledged support to us and would like to sign up for automated debits you may also do so at www.sunergeo.org/donate. We encourage you to do this so that you don’t have to have the pressure of remembering to send a check every month.
We will keep you posted on what is going on up here. We always welcome visitors so let us know if you would like to come up for a visit. For more frequent updates and Jeremy’s thoughts you can check out our blog, listed below. God bless you!
Blessings!
Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
two for the price of one
I am back in Chico reflecting on Sunday and my time with Bridge Community Church. I had a great time with those great people!
As I mentioned in the previous blog I had not preached in many months so in my insecurity I prepared enough information for two sermons. That is right Bridge got a twofer.
Now I want to assure you that I did not preach for an hour but I passed my personal time limit that I have been so disciplined in keeping. I had a clear point but in the words of my beautiful wife she said it was good but too long I think it should have been two sermons. So there you go! The results! Other than my monologue the day was wonderful. My kids really enjoyed the children's program and we were blessed by connecting with one of the churches that support us.
As I mentioned in the previous blog I had not preached in many months so in my insecurity I prepared enough information for two sermons. That is right Bridge got a twofer.
Now I want to assure you that I did not preach for an hour but I passed my personal time limit that I have been so disciplined in keeping. I had a clear point but in the words of my beautiful wife she said it was good but too long I think it should have been two sermons. So there you go! The results! Other than my monologue the day was wonderful. My kids really enjoyed the children's program and we were blessed by connecting with one of the churches that support us.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
it has been a while
Once again I find myself in a coffee shop with little sleep and a hope in my heart. Elizabeth and I have resembled zombies for the past week because our kids are sick and so they wake up every few hours crying throughout the night. They slept through the night when they were babies so this is a new experience for us to enjoy.
However I did not start this blog for pity's sake no it has a purpose... and it will be revealed... right now!
I will be preaching at Bridge Community Church this Sunday in Redding. I am very excited to be there. I have not been there since they have committed support to us. Their Pastor, Joel asked me to fill in for him because he is going out of town and I was very happy to do so because I love getting a chance to guest speak at different places. Then something occurred to me... it has been five months since I have even lead a bible study. This should not be a problem writing sermons is like riding a bicycle, it is fun, you need to wear a helmet and you never forget how.
So back to why I am in a coffee shop with hope in my heart. I still have noy written the sermon for Sunday and I am hopful that God will let me know what I am preaching because I do not have a clue. Now Joel if you are reading this do not worry because it will spoil your trip.
I know what some of you are thinking, it is valentines day talk about love. Well valentines day was invented by people who sell cards, candy and flowers besides it has been Gabriella's Birthday for the past four years. So you see I now sit... wait... an idea... no... no... it is gone!
However I did not start this blog for pity's sake no it has a purpose... and it will be revealed... right now!
I will be preaching at Bridge Community Church this Sunday in Redding. I am very excited to be there. I have not been there since they have committed support to us. Their Pastor, Joel asked me to fill in for him because he is going out of town and I was very happy to do so because I love getting a chance to guest speak at different places. Then something occurred to me... it has been five months since I have even lead a bible study. This should not be a problem writing sermons is like riding a bicycle, it is fun, you need to wear a helmet and you never forget how.
So back to why I am in a coffee shop with hope in my heart. I still have noy written the sermon for Sunday and I am hopful that God will let me know what I am preaching because I do not have a clue. Now Joel if you are reading this do not worry because it will spoil your trip.
I know what some of you are thinking, it is valentines day talk about love. Well valentines day was invented by people who sell cards, candy and flowers besides it has been Gabriella's Birthday for the past four years. So you see I now sit... wait... an idea... no... no... it is gone!
Friday, February 6, 2009
family affair
Today was another great day in beautiful Chico CA.
I was at my usual hangout Starbucks. I know, I know, I am not supposed to like it there but I do! I have met some great people there and had some good conversations.
I had a chance to follow up with a guy that I met a few days ago. He is not churched but he seems interested in checking us out. However this blog is not about me, not hardly this is about the family. I get a lot of people checking in with me and asking how it is going, the answer to that question changes every few moments. The person that is my hero today is Elizabeth.
Today, Elizabeth and the kids went to the library for story time. This happens twice a week and many moms in the community bring their kids. During story time today Elizabeth had a chance to meet another mom with children the same ages as our kids. Through the conversation she found out what we do and she said that she and her husband might be interested in helping. You can trust me it is hard to have any exchange of words with the kids around but just like that she made a connection, she is better at this that I am. You see my hero.
Please pray for us as the good work continues...
I was at my usual hangout Starbucks. I know, I know, I am not supposed to like it there but I do! I have met some great people there and had some good conversations.
I had a chance to follow up with a guy that I met a few days ago. He is not churched but he seems interested in checking us out. However this blog is not about me, not hardly this is about the family. I get a lot of people checking in with me and asking how it is going, the answer to that question changes every few moments. The person that is my hero today is Elizabeth.
Today, Elizabeth and the kids went to the library for story time. This happens twice a week and many moms in the community bring their kids. During story time today Elizabeth had a chance to meet another mom with children the same ages as our kids. Through the conversation she found out what we do and she said that she and her husband might be interested in helping. You can trust me it is hard to have any exchange of words with the kids around but just like that she made a connection, she is better at this that I am. You see my hero.
Please pray for us as the good work continues...
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
rocking the shema
For those who are not hip to the Jewish tradition the Shema is their call to worship from Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. It is said in the Shabbat which is their service and that is where I was on Friday night.
On Friday morning I was out in Starbucks (I know I should be in local coffee shops but that is where I am now) and I met a Jewish gentleman. I was asking him about church names and he informed me that he was Jewish and invited me to synagogue. I am currently field testing names Encounter Church, InterActive Church, Tapestry Church (please leave your name preference in the comments on this post, please do not be sad if you preference is not chosen). At the Shabbat service I had a great time we sang some Old Testament passages in Hebrew. I must admit my voice does not sound on key in Hebrew either.
I had the privileged of having some dialogue with the Rabbi and she invited me to the inter-faith meetings and I will definitely blog about those. Before I spoke with her I had a very interesting conversation with a man who was once on a launch team for a church plant that did not get off the ground in Chico and now he converted to Judaism. I stood perplexed as he relayed the story and I was wondering were Jesus went in this guy's life. To know Jesus and then decided he is no long the Messiah and continue to wait for one was new to me. I have met people who walked away from the church but they left religion all together. Never have I found anyone to go from Christianity to Judaism. Our hope is that he may come back.
Hope is a funny thing. It is term thrown around recently, but what is hope? Hope speaks to a world and says that while it may look dark now, God is in control. Though the storms may wage, God is in control. While people are killing one another, God is in control. And while we want to be, God is in control. It is hope that sent us to Chico and it is hope that God gives to all of us. Hope that eternal life waits for all of us.
Please pray for us as we meet these great people. We already love them before we know their name.
On Friday morning I was out in Starbucks (I know I should be in local coffee shops but that is where I am now) and I met a Jewish gentleman. I was asking him about church names and he informed me that he was Jewish and invited me to synagogue. I am currently field testing names Encounter Church, InterActive Church, Tapestry Church (please leave your name preference in the comments on this post, please do not be sad if you preference is not chosen). At the Shabbat service I had a great time we sang some Old Testament passages in Hebrew. I must admit my voice does not sound on key in Hebrew either.
I had the privileged of having some dialogue with the Rabbi and she invited me to the inter-faith meetings and I will definitely blog about those. Before I spoke with her I had a very interesting conversation with a man who was once on a launch team for a church plant that did not get off the ground in Chico and now he converted to Judaism. I stood perplexed as he relayed the story and I was wondering were Jesus went in this guy's life. To know Jesus and then decided he is no long the Messiah and continue to wait for one was new to me. I have met people who walked away from the church but they left religion all together. Never have I found anyone to go from Christianity to Judaism. Our hope is that he may come back.
Hope is a funny thing. It is term thrown around recently, but what is hope? Hope speaks to a world and says that while it may look dark now, God is in control. Though the storms may wage, God is in control. While people are killing one another, God is in control. And while we want to be, God is in control. It is hope that sent us to Chico and it is hope that God gives to all of us. Hope that eternal life waits for all of us.
Please pray for us as we meet these great people. We already love them before we know their name.
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