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Just Remember…

Recently, Byron blogged about coming through a difficult time…personally, and for our family. He tells the story of wanting to quit (I was tempted more than he was, I’m ashamed to admit), and his realization, in retrospect, of what he would have missed had he just walked away.

We are just now starting to see some of the fruits of the struggles, stress and intense pain of the past couple of years - and this Sunday at C3, we will celebrate a new phase of the journey in our official “launch” in the theater.

I’m looking forward to just soaking it up and focusing on the “why” of the mission rather than on the memories and casualties of the past. We all need to be encouraged and “lifted” at points in the walk, and Sundays at C3 - now - do that for me. Don’t get me wrong, they are exhausting…but, it’s a productive and positive kind of stress - The kind that gives you the energy to keep on going. It’s supernatural.

I remember when someone asked me, “What if it doesn’t work…what’s ‘plan B’?” - I responded, “It has to, we’ve given everything to this mission - there is no ‘plan B’. “…

C3 is not an experiment, it’s a calling - a fluid and ever changing way to exercise and live out “loving God, and loving others”. It’s about connecting: with God, with others, and connecting others with God. That is a life-long journey, and a life-changing one as well.

There have been great heartaches along the way, of course. But there have also been great encouragements. Here is an example of one.

God sends the healing rain at just the right moments along the way - and though sometimes it can feel like you’re crawling through the desert without any water, hold on - the rain is on the way! He won’t leave us in the desert - He hasn’t brought us this far to leave us now…

So, am I looking forward to Sunday - even though it’s exhausting and hectic and crazy? …to the Yes!!! There aren’t words to describe what Sundays mean to me in this journey. And this Sunday, in particular, I will take it in and…just breathe - and remember what it’s all been about:

It’s about HIM - It’s about US - It’s about THEM…and them, and them…(infinity).

And, on Monday, there will be pictures, memories, and new friendships - and changed lives - to remind us all why we stay on this path.

So, hold on! It may just feel like a typical Thursday - But Sunday’s coming!!!

Sunday’s coming…and it’s gonna be a brand new day.

Peace.

Published
by
angiebledsoe
on January 17, 2008
in church, faith, hope, life, links, love and sunday
. 0 Comments

Oh Happy Day!

We opened the services with this song (Oh Happy Day!) - at 9:00, the computer wasn’t “up” yet, so there were no words! No matter, the people sang anyway!!

This is a description of what our morning at the theater was like. (Pics coming soon!)

When “The Crew” got to the storage unit to pick up our three honkin trailers, the gate was locked and they had changed the code - panic! No matter, they just got in!!!

Because of the delay, we were late in the set up - and this was our first real time to do it. No matter, The Crew just was C3 and got everything unloaded and set up even faster.

It’s like a domino effect with things like that, so the band (the majority of which is brand new and has never played together) didn’t really get much of a practice, so the 9:00 service was our practice. No matter, we just got out of the way and let the Spirit take over…and He did!

We had some issues with our C3 kids check-in stations, so the lines started backing up. No matter, once the kids got into their brand new rooms (with the awesome “C3 Kids” teams), all the stress was forgotten…and they rocked for Jesus!

The theater employees couldn’t believe the amount of people that were coming in the doors - so they were concerned that we would never make our deadline for being out of the theaters…

…No matter! We just relieved their fears by working harder and faster - and with smiles on our faces - and we made it…it all got done, and the theater employees were left with our sincerest thanks for their patience and support.

It was wonderful to see so many people taking ownership of their community of faith, stepping up, and being the Church! It was awesome to get to hang out between services and watch “The Staff” (greeters, hosts etc…) greeting everyone, and taking them to where they needed to be…engaging them, asking how they could help - being C3!

There are too many things like this to mention - too many stories to tell - but the bottom line is that it’s all coming into focus…

Byron asked the people this morning: “Can you see it? What’s happening - what God’s doing among us…can you see the church coming into focus?” We may still have to look with hopeful eyes to see all that it’s going to be, but we don’t have to look as hard as we did yesterday…and tomorrow it will be even clearer!

It’s coming - like the wind, like the sunrise…like each new day - it will arrive! And we get to be a part of it…

…Oh Happy Day! :-)
Peace.

Published
by
angiebledsoe
on January 6, 2008
in church, faith, hope, life, love and sunday
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When Monday Comes

It’s hard for me to believe that it’s January already…

The fall was a blur…the holidays, a whirlwind…and this week has hardly seemed to arrive before it was gone.

Now it’s Friday…and the weekend’s here.

Weekends for us (and many others in the ministry) are the start of the work-week rather than the conclusion. Especially, for us at C3 right now. Tomorrow’s a training day for the theater launch (beginning literally at the crack of dawn) and then Sunday morning - we do it all over again (again literally at the crack of…well, you know).

And then it’s Monday…meetings, planning, tweaking, calling, emailing…recovering.

For me, Mondays are like most people’s Saturdays - only there’s still work to do, I just feel like a zombie trying to do them. I’m expecting this Monday to be crazy-tired, but good…

Good because we’ll have one “theater Sunday” under our belts - good because it’s gonna feel awesome to finally get to be who we are - good because I know the C3 volunteers encourage me with their energy and enthusiasm - good because lives will be changed.

I can’t wait for this particular Monday - because of all it means.

It’s Friday now - and we have a long road ahead of us to get to Monday…

…but I know that when Monday morning gets here, all of it - the work, the exhaustion, the sleepless nights - will just be a reminder of what really matters: the love.

and love…wins.

Published
by
angiebledsoe
on January 4, 2008
in church, faith, hope, life and love
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Home Again…

So, we’re just coming in.

Ethan said, “I can already see the moon!” (at only 6:30, that usually means it’s fall, for sure).

Traveling wears me out - how does sitting still for hours do that?

Tomorrow it’s back to the grindstone…

I wonder if I can still hear the cranes…maybe they haven’t gone by yet.

Josh came back with us (we caravan-ed) - he’s here for good now. His enthusiasm inspires all of us.

I was thinking, last night as Byron was praying over him at his ordination, that it doesn’t seem that long since Byron was ordained…

and it probably won’t be that long until my boys will be launching out into the world - in whatever profession they will be called to.

Time goes quickly.

I hope that when my kids become adults…

…they can still “see the moon” and every other beautiful thing around them.

Here’s to shooting for the moon.

Peace.

Published
by
angiebledsoe
on October 22, 2007
in faith, family, life and random
. 0 Comments