So, I know I need to blog…not just out of obligation…I really do NEED to blog.
…and I’ve had so many thoughts lately. But, when your husband - prize “fighter”, type-A, first born…English Mastiff of the human world - says, “Oh, yeah well, maybe you should just sleep on that blog…” after you tell him your thoughts, well, you think twice!
So, here I am…thinking twice.
And, that thinking involves a lot of pondering the goodness of God…instead of pondering the stupidity of others…..it’s just that they are both so overwhelming in their abundance!! 
I’m so often tempted to want to defend myself…my ministry…my church….the vision of my church….our passion. Especially when I read statements (of the somewhat negative “persuasion”) about our “style” of ministry from others…..
But, instead, I’m trying tonight to remember….yesterday. Sometimes that’s hard for me to do on a Monday…it wouldn’t seem so, since it’s only been 24 hours…but still.
You see, yesterday:
- I woke up before the sun to get to C3....the only day of the week that I would be excited to be up so early!
- I was greeted at the theater our church calls home by countless volunteers who had arrived much earlier than I - already putting in hours of work by the time I strolled in with my “Starbuck” in hand…
- I practiced with the band - songs like “The Time has Come”, “Cannons”, “Sing My Love”……and “Stronger” - none of which are vacant of the majesty and wonder of God…or the person of Jesus Christ. (Look ‘em up!)
- I heard Byron preach…from the Word of God - straightforward yet, applicable….and from the Old Testament!!
- I watched as lives were changed….8 adults praying to receive Christ as their personal savior.
- I saw little children running to go to learn about Jesus…happy….the diversity among them staggering.
- I saw a “sea” of Black, White, Asian, Hispanic…a tapestry of colors reflected in the faces.
- I witnessed C3 members picking up “Feed the Children” boxes to deliver to families in need - many of these members struggling themselves under the weight of these economic times.
- I welcomed other couples into my home for “Community Group”….and heard stories that made me weep.
- I sat across from couples who were completely “unchurched” just months ago….listening to them discuss scripture!
- I went to bed worn out, but humbled by such a day….to be surrounded by such a people….such a church as C3.
- I went to sleep reminded of the awesomeness of God.
And, as I focus on these things….
…as I list them out - and there are so many others from just ONE DAY….
I can’t seem to remember what I was so bent out of shape about….something about the stupidity of….I can’t recall……
Oh well, must not have been that important after all!
Isn’t God great like that?
I guess I just needed to remember…
…good thing He’s more gracious to me than I am to others at times.
Peace.
I love C3…so thankful for it being a place of such diversity and authenticity!
Love it and love you! Praying for you.
God has blessed C3. He has shown me more in two years than I had experienced in a lifetime!
i can’t even describe how much C3 means to me. I’m so thankful to be part of this church and serve along side such awesome people. people who genuinely love others and want to reach them.
love you angie.
and i love me some C3.
Yes, well, you 3 ladies are….you know…..SO C3!!!
I have these thoughts, temptations really to argue or defend our church; our way of doing things. Then I see the good our church is doing and the trust God has placed in us to reach the unchurched so I just laugh and let the comments roll off “like water off a ducks back”. (and I live with this temptation, literally.)
“Fiddle dee dee…….”
WOW! I have those type of days too.
I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for welcoming us into your home. For allowing me to feel so comfortable to share deep & personal stories with you, Byron and the other couples. Never in a million, could I have even imagined that I could find myself so comfortable, sharing details of my personal struggles with people who are strangers. But, the funny thing is; I do not consider any of you to really be strangers. I feel as though you are all family. In the short time that we have shared, you need to know that I personally have shared more intimate details with you than with my own family. I do not feel judged or looked down upon even knowing that what I am sharing makes me feel shameful in a lot of ways. I sincerely want to just burst when I am with all of you and tell you how incredibly humbled and happy it makes to have accepted that invation made to me in December. I can not put into words what it is I feel when I think of how many excuses I honestly came up with to avoid attending that service. But, I couldn’t, and I could not be more grateful to have made the choice the made. I discovered the beauty of C3 through my “adopting family”, if not for them, I …….IDK!!
Again, I thank you. My life and that of the ones I love the most might be a story in the news…..(NEED I SAY MORE?. If not for that one first time, stepping into that theater (with all the doubts and worry over judgement), I may very well not have been here to tell the story. And although it shames me deeply, it is where I was when I got here. And for what C3 has done for me, I am eternally thankful.
I look forward to the service and there has not been one, where I don’t walk away thinking “that one was just meant for me”, when I see the sunset now, I think of you, Angie, and see it in a whole different way. I see the way you look at me when I tell my story and can not avoid feeling you are honestly caring and touched by it, EVERY TIME. I appreciate your compassion and your kindness. Thank you for what you and your husband are doing. Keep up the good work and don’t let the negativity bring you down. If I can be of any inspiration to push through it all, I hope I can. My life has been changed by this movement and there is a lot more to come to me and I believe sincerely that it is because of what this movement truly is, it is for people like me and I am proud to say it. I will continue to invite others because I want to share in my happiness and my new life….Peace!