Lola, The Street Evangelist

Lola sitting in front of the fireplace being a good girl

If you know us, you know we have a four-legged daughter named Lola. She's an American Boxer Bulldog. She's our 85 pound lap dog and she's a little over 4 years old. We got her when she was about four months old and though she's brought some aggravation into our lives, she's "one of us" and she's part of the family.

After moving here to Montrose, CO Rachel and I have gone on some neighborhood walks and taken Lola with us and she does really well (until she sees a cat and then it's on like a chicken bone!). Anyway, it's really neat how having a dog can open up conversations with people you've never met before. Just this past weekend, we were able to meet a really nice young family in our neighborhood and connect with them. We were able to tell them about CHURCH180 here in Montrose and the family seemed really interested!

Just last night, Lola and I went on a walk a little later at night and a neighbor flagged me down to ask about Lola. I ended up talking to him and his wife for about 20 minutes just getting to know them. It turns out that we have a few things in common and we hope to invite them over soon to get to know them.

The moral of the story you may ask??? I realize this is silly but I'm dead serious. Don't ever think of your dog as "just a dog." Your dog can be a bridge that helps you get to know other people and develop relationships. Use every tool you have to point people to Jesus - even if it's a dog. Your dog may very well help you point someone to faith in Christ. 

First Days In Montrose

Ok . . . I realize it's been a while since I updated this blog. But hopefully, I'm back to some sense of normalcy (whatever that is).

I began driving to Montrose, CO on June 9 and got here June 10. I spent the next few days cleaning our rental home and getting it ready for Rachel and the boys to arrive. After getting chemical burns on my hands for a short time from Lysol cleaner, I now realize that house cleaning is NOT my calling in life.

Rachel and the boys flew in on June 13. Her younger sister Rebecca was so nice to fly out with her to stay with us a couple of weeks and help out with the boys. She's been great!

The moving truck got here on the 14th (Tuesday) with most of our stuff but we're still waiting on the second shipment to get here who knows when. Moving our junk in and unpacking our junk is not something that we found to be extremely exciting. If nothing else, we realized (especially Rachel) that we have a lot of things we simply should just get rid of. We spent Wednesday all day unpacking some more.

Thursday was a day set aside for just fun. After all we've been through over the last several months, we needed it. We drove an hour and a half up to Telluride, CO where a friend of mine is a pastor (Tree Cooper at Alpine Chapel). We met him, his wife Robin, and Anna for lunch and then rode the gondola (enclosed ski lift) up to the top of the ski mountain there. Simply put, the whole area and especially the top of the mountain was nothing short of God's unbelievable and beautiful creation.

Friday and Saturday (June 17-18) were more unpacking, cleaning days, and time with the family. Sunday, we went to a friend's church here in Montrose that started about 4 years ago (Chip Martin at Celebration Church). Chip's a great guy.

Monday and Tuesday were more unpacking days and just spending time with the boys. I love our boys! Last night (Tuesday) we invited our area missionary (Brad Cowger) and his wife Traci over for dinner and had a great time with them. They've become great friends.

Today, I'm sitting in my part-time office (the Looney Bean Coffee Shop in Montrose) beginning some work on church planting stuff.

As you think of us, please pray for us. While Montrose is incredibly beautiful and as close to perfection as anywhere I've ever lived, we're still finding it hard these first days to adjust through the transition. Being away from everything that's comfortable, safe, and familiar has been tough on all of us. Cross has really had a difficult time adjusting with a new room at night times. Pray for him. Pray for Rachel and I as we work together on our new calling to be unified and solid for what God has called us to do here. And pray for Kip to adjust in his own little way.

Why would we move away so far and step into so many venues of uncertainty?? Why would we go into a situation where we're not sure if we'll have much of an income? One reason and one reason only  . . . . Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior who has lived sinlessly, died sacrificially, and rose victoriously. There is no other reason at all. Jesus . . . . all for Jesus.