GlocalNet

On date night my husband, Kevin, often asks me the question, “so what is God teaching you?”  Some nights I jump on that question with an answer that no doubt offered much more detail than any male ever wanted to know.  There are days and seasons when God seems to work continuously to drill into me a truth that I need to accept or internalize in order to move into the next step of the journey he has planned.  Sometimes I drink in those lessons with passion. 

Other nights I’m literally speechless when Kevin asks.  The question catches me off guard and I find myself scrambling to come up with an answer just so I don’t come across as being unconnected or “unspiritual”  for the week. 

Truth is. . .though I’m always aware of at least a portion of the “God activity” going on around me and in me, I’m not always close enough to my Father to discern what He is trying to mess with and move in my life.  Have you ever been there?...this place where you know God is trying to pry something out of you like the splinter that my daughter, Claire, got in her finger while playing in the fields in KY last month?. . .she was aware of it. . .she felt the twinge of discomfort. . .but she would rather let it sit there and fester than to go through the trauma of digging that thing out.  And as soon as someone tried to hold her down to pry out the splinter, she would scream and run. . .retreat to a safe place.  I think that’s where I’ve been lately. . .aware of the splinter, but choosing to sit back and retreat in a safe place, hoping it would just pop out on its own.

But what I have discovered lately and throughout this church planting journey is that there are some things that God lets us choose on our own.  He gives us freedom and wisdom to make lots of our own choices and moves through life.  And then there are times when He chooses to completely push us into a corner and hold us down in order to get the results he wants (lovingly, of course).  It’s sometimes difficult and He has to push really hard.  For me, often there is a …

// Continue Reading //

  We started Cool River Church back in 2002.  Both my husband and I were very young and we were completely running on the adrenaline of leaping into a new adventure together.  I didn’t even need Starbucks back then to provide my jump start to the day.  And looking back, I see that initial adrenaline rush was actually somewhat sustaining for the first leg of the church planting journey.  Dreams and vision and the desire to “make it happen” really do provide a lot of fuel at first. 

I also remember how I was such a young mom during those days.  We had a 2 year old, a 6 month old and only about a year into it we found ourselves expecting #3.  I was in mommy mode constantly.  And in all honesty, so much of our first days of planting are quite a blur.  I remember the BIG moments - the markers that propelled us to where we are today.  But most of all I remember chasing kids.  I remember sitting up chairs at the school with baby #3 in a baby backpack while the other two cried or disappeared into the depths of the school, thus prompting an all out search from the entire setup team.  I quickly became the queen of getting three little ones to church on my own.  Potty training and dirty faces, nap time and trips to the zoo were typically the events that seemed to fill my days as Kevin did his thing and worked so hard to put roots in the ground for the Kingdom and the church in our community.  I had friends and I built relationships and I did all of those hospitable things like get the house clean for small groups, but I’m here to tell you that the mommy card trumped the church planting wife card many more days than not.  Looking back, I think my role was much more about holding us all together in the middle of starting a church than the actual act of starting the church itself.

Today life is different.  The adrenaline rushes seem to come and go instead of come and stay.  The new adventure we journeyed into has become our life.  It’s an amazing life.  The flow is more constant.  The days have become more predictable.  We are exactly where God wants us …

// Continue Reading //

Typically these days I get up at 5:00am and drag myself to the gym.  I know some amazing men and women who are able to wake up and immediately get on their knees.  Some days that’s me.  A lot of days I’m in such a mental fog that all I can do is get on the elliptical and burn calories to the top news on CNN.  Today was that kind of day.

But I must say that my most favorite way to jump start my day is with God.  I find myself able to focus and connect with Him much better when the world is still quiet.  My current challenge is that this year, when January arrived and new year’s resolutions were the topic of everyone’s conversations, I vowed to join a gym. . .  And yes, I admit, that quickly my typical time of going to Starbucks in the early AM with my Bible, iPod and journal had to be tweaked because there was no way I could possibly get up any earlier to get in a workout AND my God time and still be alive by 2pm.  This has proven to be a challenge.  I messed up my groove once again.  I seem to be the queen of change - of trying something new - of getting bored with routine.  I suppose God knew what he was doing when he called me to be a church planting wife.  I actually like it when no day is the same.  But I must say, the ability to embrace change and movement as the next thrill ride on the journey has it’s advantages AND its disadvantages. 

Some days I find myself envying that person who is so consistent and steady.  I’m steady in a lot of ways, but in a lot of other ways I miss the steady boat completely.  I’m easily distracted.  I’m a thinker.  I’m always intrigued with bettering myself and my family and finding balance in my life, and yet, some days all of my striving is in vain.  Some days I find myself feeling so guilty for all of the things that I don’t do well that I wake up only to realize that I’m doing nothing well at all.  And on those days - like today - I have no doubt that Satan starts to throw a party …

// Continue Reading //

First I saw this on Entertainment Tonight.  Then today I was reading a friend’s blog and discovered this video. . .WOW. . .if you haven’t already seen it, I promise it will be 7 minutes well spent.  Get ready to cry.  Get ready to cheer.  Get ready to be embarrassed. . .

The moment the reality show’s audience and judging panel saw the small, shy, middle-aged woman, they started to smirk. When she said she wanted a professional singing career to equal that of Elaine Paige, the camera showed audience members rolling their eyes in disbelief. They scoffed when she told Simon Cowell, one of the judges, how she’d reached her forties without managing to develop a singing career because she hadn’t had the opportunity. Another judge, Piers Morgan, later wrote on his blog that, just before she launched into I Dreamed a Dream, the 3000-strong audience in Glasgow was laughing and the three judges were suppressing chuckles.  Click Here for more

BUT…

Grazie Susan Boyle! from seb fil on Vimeo.

In the world of church planting we are often willing to enlist anything or anyone that moves and breathes if they are willing to help fold chairs and change diapers and make coffee.  But I wonder, how many Susan Boyle’s do we overlook in our church plants and our towns every day?  Who are we failing to allow to shine? I think I’m a bit embarrassed.  Way to go, Susan!!!

_______________
posted by Amy Colón
To continue to connect even more, check out the church planting wives group on Facebook

It’s almost April 15!!  You know what that means. . .your taxes better be done!

I believe that one of the biggest things that everyone forgets to prepare us for when jumping into starting a church is TAXES!  Boy did we learn our lesson the hard way.  Being a “self-employed” pastor definitely has some perks.  You can write off just about anything.  But let me just YELL out loudly. . .PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make sure that you find a tax person who truly knows everything there is to know about PASTOR taxes.  Take it from the mouth of experience. . .you don’t want to make the mistakes we did.  It might cost you extra to go somewhere other than HR Block or one of those other chain tax companies, but it will be well worth it in the end.  It took us 2 years to dig out of a HUGE tax mess that was naively created simply because we didn’t get the right advice.  And believe me, there is more than enough to concern you in the middle of starting a church than Uncle Sam. 

Here is my #1 recommendation if you are just starting out or not fully confident of your tax preparer…Clergy Financial
You don’t have to live near them. . .they will consult and do everything with you over the phone, email and mail.

I hope I’ve saved you a few headaches today and in the future! 
_______________
posted by Amy Colón
To continue to connect even more, check out the church planting wives group on Facebook

A story from Cool River Church in Superior, Colorado. . .

From day one of starting Cool River Church, it has been our hearts desire to serve our community like crazy.  In a town of 12,000, we have seen about 6 churches come and go in the 7 years we have been here.  And yet, God has chosen to keep us alive in a place where 90% of the population is unchurched and there is no standing church building of any faith or denomination.  The ride has been absolutely amazing.  We have had to morph into a very distinct community of faith. . .one that seeks to meet the needs of a specific town in a specific region of our nation. . .Boulder County, Colorado.  And we have done this in one very specific way. . .service. 

Of course, service isn’t all we do, but in trying to seek a way to step into the lives of those around us - those who may never actually come to an official church service - Cool River has always tried to be the church apart from the Sunday morning.  It’s what we’re supposed to do, right?  And in doing this, we have had the opportunity to jump in with both feet into the activities and lives around us.  Cool River has never pulled off our own big event apart from Sunday morning.  Instead, we have chosen to come alongside the town in every event they plan and offer and do the dirty work that no one else wants to do.  We set up and break down festivals and Easter Egg hunts.  We flip pancakes on 4th of July.  We just try to be available.  AND the really cool thing is that we aren’t alone in this endeavor to love and serve Superior.

Today I’m sending out a GIGANTIC THANK YOU to NorthWood Student Ministry.  These kids and leaders have committed themselves, not to Cool River Church, not to spending a sunny Spring Break at the beach, but to working harder than I have ever seen a group of teenagers work in my life and truly changing the hearts and lives of those in Superior, Colorado with the genuine love of Christ.  Their hard work and commitment over the last …

// Continue Reading //

Do you ever find yourself at a crossroads with God where he won’t let you move any farther until you deal with what is staring you directly in the face?  That’s where I have been for the past week. . .trying desperately to deal with my junk, fix my life, care for my family, love unselfishly and dodge the realities God keeps shoving into my path..  After 6 years of church starting, I’m so used to doing more and being more. . .and darn that pride thing, it’s hard to let go of the “more.”

We are 6 years into the church planting process.  And for the first 4-5 we have literally been in survival mode like all church starts.  As a wife, you wear lots of hats.  You move fast.  You learn by trial and error. You hold your breath.  It is exhilarating. . .a journey like no other.  I learned to be a fabulous multi-tasker simply out of necessity.  And it has been great fun!  I am amazed at how much God has allowed me to “pull off” over the years.  Been there?

Now we find ourselves a bit more established.  The seasons of life are changing.  The journey looks different now as the church is becoming more solid.  The church itself doesn’t need me as much - not for things like making coffee and running the children’s ministry.  Though the season of “pulling it off” was necessary, God is bringing me to a place of really being able to hone in on the top things He has called me to.  The problem is, today I’m sitting here in this weird funk because I can’t seem to figure out what those top things really are.  Or maybe I know, but I can’t seem to lay down my pride long enough to accept them.  I’m so stuck on being MORE.  And God won’t let me move.  So I’m in the middle of making some decisions.  And in the middle of it all, I thought of you.

I guess more than anything I’m writing to encourage you if you are in the beginning stages of doing it all. . .enjoy every moment.  That season lasts for such a brief moment.  It won’t last forever.  And if you embrace it God will teach you so, so much about Him and about yourself.  And when …

// Continue Reading //

I just discovered a new blog series (a friend of a friend sort of connection) and wanted to direct you to it.  It seems to fit perfectly with our conversation about keeping our marriage and families healthy in the middle of starting a church.  Check it out - “8 things that Destroyed Our Marriage”
_______________________
posted by Amy Colón
To continue to connect even more, check out the church planting wives group on Facebook

Did you notice it, too?  The very day after Christmas and the aisles were already filled with Valentine’s and chocolate hearts!  It’s amazing how the marketing world wants to move us so quickly from one holiday to the next -from one expression of celebration to another.  And you know, I think we have learned the pattern better than we realize.  Life seems to be all about getting to the next level and celebrating the next milestone.  Whether we are burning holes in the carpet as we take our babies hands, just trying to get them to take those first steps, or we are sitting up at night dreaming about the future of our families and our church with our hubby over a warm decaf. . .we always tend to look towards something yet to be attained.  At least I do.

My oldest daughter, Emma, went to bed the other night asking if the next day we could make Valentine’s for her friends.  The question caught me by surprise.  Quickly I found myself imaging a calendar in my mind and thinking my reply should be that we have a long time until Valentine’s Day.  But we don’t!  O my goodness, it’s less than a month away!  Emma is quit the planner and celebrator.  And I suppose it’s a good thing.  She always keeps me on my toes.

But just like planning for the next celebration of Valentine’s Day, we as church planting wives also live in a world of looking to the next milestone that is party worthy.  We dream about what church will look like when. . . .what life will be like when. . .how much better things will be when. . .how we can focus more on our marriage when. . .  And if I’m not careful,  I find myself thinking about the “when” so much that I fail to even notice the “today.”  Have you ever been there?

There are a lot of things that we don’t have control of when it comes to church planting - they’re in God’s hands where we much prefer them to be.  But one thing we CAN do today is be the keeper of our Marriage and Family.  One thing in the middle of all the uncertainties that we CAN celebrate is the very most important thing that God has physically gifted to …

// Continue Reading //

Do you believe in making them??
I personally think that whether people take the time to voice their new years resolutions, plans, hopes or dreams, we all think about them.  It’s refreshing to sit back and entertain our thoughts about the possibility of a fresh, new start.  There’s just something so energizing about getting rid of the old and moving forward.  That’s why I really love this time of year.

Last week I spent 2 days away as I try to do at least once or twice/year.  I book a hotel room in a snazzy hotel and just sit back and relax and think, plan, journal and take naps.  This year in particular I was reading through my journal from 2008, and do you know what I noticed?  I noticed an Amy who was really putting a lot of effort into life - pushing hard, moving fast and always longing for something.  And to an extent, I think this was good.  I have always heard people say that you can measure some amount of success if you can look back over the past year and see that you are further down the road in a positive direction than you were the year before.  This I can attest to for my 2008.  God has taught me some very important lessons and moved me forward.  But I also noticed an Amy who was really stressed out.  She was fussing a lot about life and kids and pleading with God to rescue her when things started to be too much to juggle.

And in the middle of it all, I found myself asking the question, “what was the #1 thing I learned in 2008?”  Though there were many, I landed on this simple, yet profound thought. . .  “God has gifted me with the ability to do many things well, but He has created me to only do a few of those things NOW.”  I have taken a 2 year journey of finally discovering this simple fact.  God has made me a great multi-tasker.  I have taken pride in that for too long and I have had my hands in many things.  It seems to many as if I can “do it all.”  But I can’t.  Not well. I see it all to clearly today as I sit here and write.  And so for …

// Continue Reading //

Page 1 of 2 pages  1 2 >