January 24 – “Return to reboot”

I didn't take a walk today.  Too much going on with church and discernment meeting.  I actually missed it.  That's the feeling I want to maintain.  I haven't felt that way about exercise since I was running a lot back in Denver.   I was not as sore as I expected after basketball yesterday.  Nathan told me he was sore, but not as bad as he expected.  Cory said he was so sore he could hardly move.  I'm kind of in the Nathan camp on this one.  Not as bad as I expected.    The lady from Kingwood who has been coming to Seaside brought five or six teenage boys with her to church today.  They made a dent in a row or two.  They have a home over on the Freeport side of the San Luis Pass Bridge.   We had a big discernment meeting today.  Our purpose was to look at the finances of the school and church and see where we stood.  On paper it didn't really look too good.  We have almost used up the reserve money God gave us back after the storm through insurance and gifts from unexpected sources.  We needed it for both the school and church operations as well as building expenses.  That's OK.  It's what God gave it to us for.   Now we need to decide what we are going to do next – what will our trust and obedience begin to look like now?  There is not enough cash to complete construction of the school building.  We have to make sure we have enough money to pay the teachers' salaries.  And the church still needs to be about doing what God has called us to do, and that will continue to require money as well.   As bad as it sounds, though, this is not a hopeless situation here.  We have done that whole building without going into debt.  In spite of the hit we took from the hurricane, we are still alive and kicking.  We decided to put together our own little mini-fundraising campaign to finish up the building.  We are going to shoot for $30,000.  I think that's a reasonable enough amount.  I think we can reach it.  There are several grant opportunities that have opened up for us.  Some involve matching funds, so if we do our part we may get a grant that will take us to what we need.  With some changes in our teaching style and a consolidation of efforts, the school should soon be pretty much self-supporting with tuition.  The church will be able to concentrate on getting equipped for ministry in our new Galveston.  As we carry out the purposes of the church – worship, fellowship, discipleship, and service - God will direct more people into our paths and give us opportunities for evangelism.  I say we need to be optimistic.  Show that we have hope!  I encouraged the church to get refocused on our purposes for existence in the Book of Acts.  We'll probably do a solemn assembly of prayer soon.  One of the guys at the meeting quoted some of my words from the past.  "When you're not sure what to do, or when circumstances look tough or confusing, return to the last place where you knew God was at work and start again there."  Return to reboot.  Good advice.  So where was that last place?  Hmm…   Chris left for Bay City again.  She will be back tomorrow night.   Still no car.  Toyota Rav4 is still my choice.  We have to decide if we'll go with the used one, though.  New one is still out of reach.  I just want to get something and be done with all this pouring over parts of the newspaper I never even opened before.   Acts 2:42-47 says, "42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."   Father, help us remember where we last saw you really working at Seaside.  We want that again..  Amen.