Last night was one of those wonderfully awkward nights that I both loved and hated.
We got some stinky news from a dear friend who is being called elsewhere (as in not MainStreet). It left both Jer and I sort of shell shocked (though we saw it coming) and feeling like we're not enough. And then we have to remind ourselves that we don't have to be enough because God is enough. And He's building this church, and He's brought people into and out of this journey before. But it still stinks. Jeremy said our church planting director told him to expect that we will probably turn over every person on our team before the church really starts, so it's at least comforting to know that it's not just us that have gone through this.
And from this news to our new LifeGroup kickoff... only to have everyone we invited not show up. Argh. BUT. Jer and I got to have dinner with our host couple and hear their story... Cliff and Ruby have been married for 61 years. It was fun to sit back and listen to people who have gone before us and to hear their journey with the Lord and with the church. AND... Ruby has a history of praying things into fruition. Those stories were cool to hear.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Growing Fast
This is Peter at 11 weeks old. He has outgrown all of his 3 month clothing. Jer and I assumed we would have a tall baby, but this is nuts. He is growing fast, and he is healthy. We are grateful.
I pray that MainStreet would grow fast and healthy, too.
Baby Pete, meet Baby Church.
MainStreet Covenant is a real church!
Jer and I have always thought that, but now we look more like a 'real' church according to American standards. We had our first Sunday morning preview service in September, and are now one week away from our second one!
There were 147 people - which includes tiny people like Peter - that joined together to break new ground in Mound on September 18th. God showed up and took care of all the silly things for us, and we had fun watching person after person come through the door. It was a little overwhelming, but then again, we've been saying that God will build his church and it really has nothing to do with us. There were people there we've never met before, so that was really fun to see. According to church planting 'rules', at least 50% of your church body should be from new contacts. Jer and I were talking afterwards, and I think of the 147 people there, we only knew 20 or 30 of them when we said yes to this last spring. God is building this church.
I am excited.
I am especially excited to see how Baby Pete and Baby MainStreet grow up together.
Jer and I have always thought that, but now we look more like a 'real' church according to American standards. We had our first Sunday morning preview service in September, and are now one week away from our second one!
There were 147 people - which includes tiny people like Peter - that joined together to break new ground in Mound on September 18th. God showed up and took care of all the silly things for us, and we had fun watching person after person come through the door. It was a little overwhelming, but then again, we've been saying that God will build his church and it really has nothing to do with us. There were people there we've never met before, so that was really fun to see. According to church planting 'rules', at least 50% of your church body should be from new contacts. Jer and I were talking afterwards, and I think of the 147 people there, we only knew 20 or 30 of them when we said yes to this last spring. God is building this church.
I am excited.
I am especially excited to see how Baby Pete and Baby MainStreet grow up together.
Friday, June 10, 2011
It's been awhile!
I have to apologize for my absence from blogging... this spring I finished up two classes for my master's program, and then jumped into another one this summer. It ends two weeks after the Fish is due. (Needless to say, I'm not quite sure how that will work yet!) We also wrapped up meeting with our LifeGroup for the spring, but replaced that with a Dave Ramsey class every Wednesday - our buddy Graham will be taking that over, so I may find a free night to myself soon! We launched a Backyard Bible Study on the Sermon on the Mount last Sunday and had 16 people in our backyard. I realized I really like hanging out with these MainStreet people, so that was good.
And now Jer and I find ourselves staring at parenthood from about five weeks out (although I'm sort of expecting to have a little bit more time!) It's crazy to think about. Pretty soon there will be one more Berg body in our house. Jer and I are trying to sneak in whatever free time we have together and appreciate it. That usually happens around 10:30 PM until I NEED to fall asleep. Jeremy plays guitar for the baby, makes up poems, and we play Scrabble on his iPhone. Last night I got to pray for our marriage, for parenthood, and for God's mission in Mound and how that may affect our family. It's pretty fun to think about when we actually (well... 'I' actually) take time to reflect on it. We have been blessed.
And now Jer and I find ourselves staring at parenthood from about five weeks out (although I'm sort of expecting to have a little bit more time!) It's crazy to think about. Pretty soon there will be one more Berg body in our house. Jer and I are trying to sneak in whatever free time we have together and appreciate it. That usually happens around 10:30 PM until I NEED to fall asleep. Jeremy plays guitar for the baby, makes up poems, and we play Scrabble on his iPhone. Last night I got to pray for our marriage, for parenthood, and for God's mission in Mound and how that may affect our family. It's pretty fun to think about when we actually (well... 'I' actually) take time to reflect on it. We have been blessed.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Should I feel bad being excited about this?
So... sometimes God takes things that are not-so-awesome and uses them as something awesome for someone else.
I think of Jeremy's cousin Scott and his wife Amanda who lost their precious little daughter two weeks ago and decided to donate her organs to other babies in need. Eight month old Eden was waiting for new lungs herself when God welcomed her home. Scott and Amanda took their not-so-awesome situation and turned it into a glorious day for many other parents. May they be richly rewarded for that decision.
Well, MainStreet is on the 'awesome' receiving end of one of these types of things. A few weeks ago, another Covenant church plant decided to close shop after their planting pastor stepped down. This church has been around for almost 4 years. That it's closing is not so awesome. But.
Working like the kingdom does, Jeremy got an email that MainStreet gets first dibs at their equipment... sound stuff, kids stuff, hospitality stuff... and we don't have to pay for it. Jer and I are headed over to pick up some of this stuff in about an hour. I have no idea what's included, and I'm sad for the church that closed.
But oh man am I excited about this unexpected blessing.
I think of Jeremy's cousin Scott and his wife Amanda who lost their precious little daughter two weeks ago and decided to donate her organs to other babies in need. Eight month old Eden was waiting for new lungs herself when God welcomed her home. Scott and Amanda took their not-so-awesome situation and turned it into a glorious day for many other parents. May they be richly rewarded for that decision.
Well, MainStreet is on the 'awesome' receiving end of one of these types of things. A few weeks ago, another Covenant church plant decided to close shop after their planting pastor stepped down. This church has been around for almost 4 years. That it's closing is not so awesome. But.
Working like the kingdom does, Jeremy got an email that MainStreet gets first dibs at their equipment... sound stuff, kids stuff, hospitality stuff... and we don't have to pay for it. Jer and I are headed over to pick up some of this stuff in about an hour. I have no idea what's included, and I'm sad for the church that closed.
But oh man am I excited about this unexpected blessing.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Small Begets Big...
More from the Divine Commodity:
In the economy of God's kingdom, big does not beget big. It's precisely the opposite. The overwhelming message of Jesus' life and teaching is that small begets big. Consider: God's plan to redeem creation (big) is achieved through his incarnation as an impoverished baby (small). Jesus feeds thousands on a hillside (big) with just a few loaves and fishes (small). Christ seeks to make disciples of all nations (big) but starts with a handful of fisherman (small).
Silence, prayer, love, friendship, fasting , hospitality... these are tiny and seemingly inconsequential mustard seeds that, when fully grow, become the largest plant in the garden.
I think the vision of MainStreet is big, but it is starting with a small group of committed people. Crazy what Jesus can do!
In the economy of God's kingdom, big does not beget big. It's precisely the opposite. The overwhelming message of Jesus' life and teaching is that small begets big. Consider: God's plan to redeem creation (big) is achieved through his incarnation as an impoverished baby (small). Jesus feeds thousands on a hillside (big) with just a few loaves and fishes (small). Christ seeks to make disciples of all nations (big) but starts with a handful of fisherman (small).
Silence, prayer, love, friendship, fasting , hospitality... these are tiny and seemingly inconsequential mustard seeds that, when fully grow, become the largest plant in the garden.
I think the vision of MainStreet is big, but it is starting with a small group of committed people. Crazy what Jesus can do!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
And a Thought on Community...
More from The Divine Commodity:
Henri Nouwen once observed, "Community is the place where the person you least want to live with always lives." When we abandon ship because it holds people we don't like, we also abandon community.
More thoughts on that later...
A Few Thoughts on the Church...
Jeremy was given the book The Divine Commodity by our friend Joe. In it, Skye Jethani writes about the loss of imagination in the church, and how we've fallen prey to Consumer Christianity. There are SO many good thoughts in this book, and I feel like they're super applicable to our situation - especially in light of the church plant. Anyways... on to one of my favorite passages from the book:
"...What impacted a person's spiritual growth most were personal Bible reading, prayer, meditation, a meaningful relationship with a friend or mentor, and serving others... All of these practices are relationship-focused... It is the community of Jesus' followers on earth - men, women, and children filled with God's Spirit, living in communion with Him, one another, and the world. It is a spiritual and relational entity. And this church is critical to the advancement of God's mission in the world and an essential component of our spiritual formation.
In the New Testament we see the earliest Christians organizing their communities to provide for the poor, ensure proper instruction, and extend formative and corrective discipline. Every relational community, like a family, needs structure. But the goal of any structure should be strengthening, not replacing, human relationships which are the medium God uses to carry out his transforming work. The Holy Spirit inhabits human beings, not institutions...
The goal should not be abandoning one structure in favor of another, but rather fostering meaningful human relationships through which real ministry happens...
Beginning on the smallest scale, this means relearning the lost art of friendship."
Thursday, February 17, 2011
It's swimming...
I think it's funny how God shows up at just the right time in just the right way to let us know He's in control.
I started classes again, so now there are a few days each week I leave the house at 6:30 in the morning and walk back through the door around 10 PM. Yesterday was one of those days. Jer had spent the whole day meeting with people, but returned to an empty house.
When I got home, he was in a funk, mostly about 'momentum', but also about feeling lonely. And I don't like it when Jeremy is in a funk... I don't deal well with sadness. But I was completely absorbed by the fact I hadn't been home yet (needed to unload groceries, unpack my garbage, take my bath...) He decided that to spend time together, he would clean the bathroom while I did my thing so we could talk (best husband ever!)
But he was still pretty low when I was ready to go to bed. And then... the kid kicked me. Or flipped over. Or did something to say 'Hey! I'm here too!' It was a pretty cool moment in our house - the first time I was really aware there was something inside me. Jer and I have both decided that God gave us this baby as a reason to spend more time together. And as a way to not be consumed by church stuff.
It totally worked last night. So thanks, God.
I started classes again, so now there are a few days each week I leave the house at 6:30 in the morning and walk back through the door around 10 PM. Yesterday was one of those days. Jer had spent the whole day meeting with people, but returned to an empty house.
When I got home, he was in a funk, mostly about 'momentum', but also about feeling lonely. And I don't like it when Jeremy is in a funk... I don't deal well with sadness. But I was completely absorbed by the fact I hadn't been home yet (needed to unload groceries, unpack my garbage, take my bath...) He decided that to spend time together, he would clean the bathroom while I did my thing so we could talk (best husband ever!)
But he was still pretty low when I was ready to go to bed. And then... the kid kicked me. Or flipped over. Or did something to say 'Hey! I'm here too!' It was a pretty cool moment in our house - the first time I was really aware there was something inside me. Jer and I have both decided that God gave us this baby as a reason to spend more time together. And as a way to not be consumed by church stuff.
It totally worked last night. So thanks, God.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Well. Huh.
So it's been awhile...
In the last two months, Jer and I found out we're having a kid. AND the church reached its funding goal (yay). So last week Jeremy got paid for the first time. And now I find myself drifting off into daydreams of how much we will tithe to the new church and how much we can hide away to send this kid to college someday. Or retire. Or whatever. Because for the last 6 months we have been living on one salary and a couple of generous gifts from friends. Having 2 paychecks again makes me feel like we are really, really rich.
There are two things you should know about my money habits: 1) I love saving money and hiding it away. Love having a safety net for those just-in-case moments. 2) One of my spiritual gifts is giving. I haven't met too many other 20-somethings who like writing out checks to charitable organizations. And these two things don't always line up together so well.
So here's where my mind has been going: in 3 years, we will need to become a self-sustaining church, bringing in money to do ministry and hopefully pay Jeremy the same salary that's set right now. Quite frankly, the Berg's don't really need everything he's being paid because we've learned how to live on less. Not that it's been fun, but we can do it. Our church planting director told us to just tithe back whatever is in excess, which I'm totally cool with.
Right now are launch team hovers around 30 people, but about 80% of those are college kids or young adults. Meaning: not a lot of extra funds. And a lot of young people haven't established budgets or spending habits that include regular tithing. We think throwing $20 into the basket every couple of weeks is good enough. So how can Jer and I model healthy giving habits? When I think about the amount that we are planning to tithe each month, it sounds GIANT to me. But that's mostly because we will be giving from a 2 income family, and I'm used to that anymore. I am also excited to trust God with that, though. It's totally something we can work into our life.
And then there's this kid thing. How do you even know what that will cost? Will I want to go back to work once it's here? If we return to a one income family, can we still tithe the same amount (that would be sacrificial for sure!) MainStreet will need money, and if it's not there, Jeremy won't get paid. And do we keep moving towards the cafe? And will that even help at all or will it become a financial burden? Oh the questions! And wrapped up in this is our desire to share our new excess with our friends in need... bump up our monthly giving to a few of our missionary friends and add a couple others to the list (not kidding - this stuff brings me joy!) But will we set expectations for them with what we give, and what happens if I quite my job and we drop it back down?
I think I'm more aware of this stuff than ever because the last 6 months have made us rely on God for our financial needs each month... 3 times completely and totally needed the gifts our friends gave. And I want to be that kind of friend for others. That, and we've had to raise the church funding ourselves. (I should really say Jeremy did this... I wasn't much of a help). We know what it's like to be on the other side of the fence now.
Anyways... this was a really unconnected post, but that's what's been running through my head this week. How do we live generously but still within our means?
In the last two months, Jer and I found out we're having a kid. AND the church reached its funding goal (yay). So last week Jeremy got paid for the first time. And now I find myself drifting off into daydreams of how much we will tithe to the new church and how much we can hide away to send this kid to college someday. Or retire. Or whatever. Because for the last 6 months we have been living on one salary and a couple of generous gifts from friends. Having 2 paychecks again makes me feel like we are really, really rich.
There are two things you should know about my money habits: 1) I love saving money and hiding it away. Love having a safety net for those just-in-case moments. 2) One of my spiritual gifts is giving. I haven't met too many other 20-somethings who like writing out checks to charitable organizations. And these two things don't always line up together so well.
So here's where my mind has been going: in 3 years, we will need to become a self-sustaining church, bringing in money to do ministry and hopefully pay Jeremy the same salary that's set right now. Quite frankly, the Berg's don't really need everything he's being paid because we've learned how to live on less. Not that it's been fun, but we can do it. Our church planting director told us to just tithe back whatever is in excess, which I'm totally cool with.
Right now are launch team hovers around 30 people, but about 80% of those are college kids or young adults. Meaning: not a lot of extra funds. And a lot of young people haven't established budgets or spending habits that include regular tithing. We think throwing $20 into the basket every couple of weeks is good enough. So how can Jer and I model healthy giving habits? When I think about the amount that we are planning to tithe each month, it sounds GIANT to me. But that's mostly because we will be giving from a 2 income family, and I'm used to that anymore. I am also excited to trust God with that, though. It's totally something we can work into our life.
And then there's this kid thing. How do you even know what that will cost? Will I want to go back to work once it's here? If we return to a one income family, can we still tithe the same amount (that would be sacrificial for sure!) MainStreet will need money, and if it's not there, Jeremy won't get paid. And do we keep moving towards the cafe? And will that even help at all or will it become a financial burden? Oh the questions! And wrapped up in this is our desire to share our new excess with our friends in need... bump up our monthly giving to a few of our missionary friends and add a couple others to the list (not kidding - this stuff brings me joy!) But will we set expectations for them with what we give, and what happens if I quite my job and we drop it back down?
I think I'm more aware of this stuff than ever because the last 6 months have made us rely on God for our financial needs each month... 3 times completely and totally needed the gifts our friends gave. And I want to be that kind of friend for others. That, and we've had to raise the church funding ourselves. (I should really say Jeremy did this... I wasn't much of a help). We know what it's like to be on the other side of the fence now.
Anyways... this was a really unconnected post, but that's what's been running through my head this week. How do we live generously but still within our means?
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