Internal Cannon

This past weekend I had the joy and privilege of going to MN (and WI) to be in one of my best friends' wedding.  Eric and Scarlett- I had such a blast! Also had some much needed time with a small handful of loved ones. 

My first (and only planned time for the duration of our Seattle residency) time being back in MN definitely left me with an overall assurance that it is where we are supposed to be long-term.  True, my heart is divided amongst many cities, but the vision I received is for The Twin Cities.  I believe God is preparing us to head-up a unique non-profit with a special home in the heart of MN.

While seeing the Needle from above (in the plane), then riding the light-rail home from the airport (we are the third stop from SeaTac- a ten minute ride), I came across a helpful realization.  Returning home to Seattle I was ready and willing to get back to the grind- to know that I am here for only a time, and a specific purpose that impacts my future ministry.  Focused and ready to get at it!

Also, it's always very encouraging when this email rolls around:

"Dear Joshua,

On behalf of all the River Valley Church pastor's and staff, we want you to know that you were prayed for today. Each week at our staff meeting we pray for 20 individuals and/or families in our church and this week you were on our list. God bless you and we hope you have a great day!!

Sincerely,
River Valley Staff"

Got that this morning and made the day- a perfect start to being back!

-j

Mist Rising

My most favorite music has always stemmed from artists who blend musical styles (311, RHCP, DMB, Mraz, Beastie Boys, Project 86).  They all draw on various influences, and then make something entirely new by combining them into one, creating a hybrid style. 

I too, am a hybrid. 

Throughout my life, I’ve often had a hard time identifying with any one particular thing.  I live in the tension of being a part of multiple worlds.  It’s a major factor that makes me who I am.  I put extreme emphasis on belief, diversity, and being relatable and relaxed.        

I recently experienced an epiphany moment of massive encouragement.  I essentially realized that who I am is who God created me to be, and I have the freedom to pursue a dream that is personally suitable.  It presents a complete shift in thinking, and all is in heavy prayer.  With all that said, you can expect a nonprofit that images the hybrid concept.  

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

Isaiah 60:1

-j

New Shalom (feat. Pro)

This week marked a whole year since the first Legacy Conference we attended.  It's been around for a handful of years, and is held at my alma matter in downtown Chicago.

This is what's up:
The Legacy exists to equip those that are serious about being disciples of Christ to make disciples for Christ. This is accomplished through biblical training (Legacy Conference and Legacy University) and networking opportunities of like minded urban leaders.

 It is essentially an urban-minded conference with workshops taught by hip-hop artists, featuring concerts at night by these same artists.  Also leading the workshops, sessions, and discussion panels are college professors, pastors, church planters, and poets.

For us,  theLegacy was one of the first action steps in pursuing urban ministry as a couple.  It was a good reminder that we are called to inner-city work, and that we wouldn't have to change who we are to do it...

Here's a video I put together shortly afterward, to share our experience:

Tell Your Heart Heads Up

On Saturday we had another opportunity to go down to Portland (PDX), and spend some more time with The Snider’s and BridgeTown, Inc. 

After four days with them back in March/April, Marshall (Snider) gave us an open invite to come back down.  He has been over-the-top in accommodating us.  It is so important to have people like him become a part of your picture; immediately willing to invest and open up their life to you, with no “real” return.  Through both trips down, I’ve been given a lot to think about, chew on, and learn.  They’ve been growing experiences. 

BTown Kids” is a branch of BridgeTown, Inc. that is most visible during the summer months, as every Saturday holds a multi-site event.  We received personal tours of all three BTown Kids sites.   While at each, we got to peek in on the differences and similarities, while learning the history and meeting the directors.  It was awesome seeing how the locations were so integrated within their particular communities.  At the last site we got to meet up with Lesley, Sam, and Noah (the rest of the Snider clan), it was fun seeing them again!

This time we left Seattle early and returned late the same day- after the carved out BTown time, we went downtown for Saturday Market (Angelina’s Gyros food-truck, we had on our first trip and vowed to visit again), the Portland Aerial Tram (cool views of Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens, and our rides ended up being *free*), and Deschutes.  No Voodoo doughnuts this time- too long of a line and that sun was blazin'!

Learn more about BridgeTown, Inc. HERE

Marshall, you inspire me to dream and have a vision for an organization that matters, and to invest in those who have little clue what they’re getting themselves into… it means so much.    

-j

 

Love and Peace or Else

Just a quick summer update...

This week I began working with Urban Impact Seattle, as a classroom assistant in their summer day camp.  I'm there for a handful of hours each week- building relationships with the students (3rd-5th grade), interns (high schoolers), teachers, and program director.   

On Mondays the class is working on a community asset mapping project (learning about their neighborhood and receiving a $500 grant to implement whatever they come up with), and Wednesday afternoons are swimming lessons at a local beach.

We have a really good group of students, and I'm excited to be a part of this years program!

 

The Space Between

The past week @ Malibu Club proved to be an adventurous opportunity for me to join in on, in the best possible way...  

Malibu is a remote island (no cell service/internet/media/etc), owned by YoungLife up in B.C., Canada (see trip itinerary in previous post), located at the mouth of the Princess Louisa Inlet.  

It was an honor to be a part of the first ever, Mars Hill church-wide Students Summer Camp.  To serve alongside some of our amazing leaders (you know who you are) was a privilege. YoungLife and our program team definitely hooked it up.  There was wakeboarding, zip-lining, a foam party, the blob, spontaneous late night pool party (jump in with all your clothes), caribe tubing, kayaking, beach volleyball, dragon canoeing, an obstacle course, a high ropes course, the rock scramble hike …these were all the things we did throughout the week.  

Our speaker was Tim Gaydos, the Mars Hill Downtown lead pastor (also the Mars Hill band Citizens guided worship).  He spoke on: The Story of God, Identity & Worship, the Fall of Man, Redemption, and Restoration.  It was such a perfect, sequential platform for processing with our students.  

Kevin, who is the Rainier Valley Students Lead, and I shared a cabin with five high school guys (best cabin).  Every night we all had time to discuss the message as a cabin, and it was such a blessing for Kevin and I to be a part of our guys’ lives through that time and all the activities.  They really took to us (two 20something white dudes they’d never met before) and opened up in ways that we can only thank Jesus for.  

Personally, I had a surreal moment (yes, in addition to my 7am wakeboarding sessions) with God.  It was after the Redemption message on Sunday night… grey skies with light rain, Citizens' instruments gently echoing throughout camp, with everyone outside in a personal space to be in a contemplative, reflective, and prayerful state.  I’ve only experienced this a handful of times throughout my life, and describe it as a moment of truly gripping an Eternal Perspective.  It was simply God and I, everything (read: EVERYTHING) else was stripped away.  Purely amazing. 

Please pray that Kevin and I would begin to do life and walk alongside the guys from our cabin. Pray that this experience, for our students, would not be an experience that quickly fades into a memory, but that it would be the beginning of a legacy…  

Paul, js, Joelvon, Kevin, Roberto, Davonte, Cliff

The Hand, the Furnace, the Straight Face

I'm goin to camp! 

Mars Hill Students is hosting their first ever, annual summer camp at the Malibu Club in British Columbia, Canada.  Malibu was originally built in the 30's as a vacation spot for the rich and famous, but is now owned and operated by YoungLife.

 It's an amazing opportunity I have to join in on this.  That said, this will be only the second time Shelley and I have been apart since we've been married, and it's for nearly a week... the camp/island is so remote there is zero cell phone service... I'm going to miss her so much...

Please pray:
 -that we'd both grow as we're apart
and
-students experience Jesus

I'm looking forward to getting students out of their everyday life for a time to hear Jesus-centered messages, soak up the beauty of the landscape, be involved in 24/7 community, and enjoy tons of activities!

ps
Here's a glimpse into the craziness of our itinerary-

Malibu Summer Camp: Wednesday June 20th-Tuesday 26th
1. Meet at 11pm
2. Depart 2:30 am
3. Drive from downtown Seattle to the Canadian Border (2 hours)
4. Crossing the Border (1/2 hour to 2 hours)
5. Drive to the Sunshine Coast Ferry Docks (1.5 hours)
6. Take the Ferry (45 minutes)
7. Drive from Langdale to Egmont where the Malibu Princess is docked. (1.5 hours)
8. Taking the Malibu Princess to the Malibu Club (3 hours)
9. Arrive 1:15 pm