Trying to put into words what I feel tonight, just 12 hours before the official start of City Community Church.  Today was rather surreal, last minute details, loading the truck, special setup times and music rehearsal.  I’m not sure the reality of it all has hit me yet.  Just thought I’d try and capture a few random thoughts in the moment.

I’m overwhelmed at the love and faithfulness of our team…some we’ve known for years, and others we’ve just met along this new leg of the journey.  My kids seem really excited, wired even tonight.  I think they’re ready to get back into some sense of normalcy (although they might be terribly mistaken about anything normal on the horizon).  It was nice to have a break from the Sunday to Sunday routine, but I think we’re all ready to get back in the swing of things.

Believing for a great start tomorrow.  Nathan’s kicking off our very first series: “Imagine.”  Don’t know what to expect, but I have this great sense that if we just stay focused on creating encouraging and challenging God-environments, we will somehow be able to create a place that is essential to people’s lives.  Only time will tell, and tomorrow is just step one on the journey.  Ready or not here we come.

I’ve started to change the way I pray for my kids.

I think we all have this dream of what life should be like.  It’s a little different for all of us, but regardless of location, race, or socio-economic background, we all want good things for those we love.  So we dream of our son becoming a doctor, our daughter the CEO of a fortune 500 company, or at the absolute least a marriage providing all the comforts of the American dream:  2.3 kids (still struggle with the math there) and a two-story house in the suburbs with a picket fence.  Your picture may be a little different, but suffice it to say we want the best for those we love.

Jesus said to pray “…don’t let us yield to temptation but deliver us from the evil one.” (Mat. 6:13)

That verse says a lot about protection from sin and physical harm, but very little about keeping us naive and sheltered.  As a father, I often fear that sheltered is what I desire.  I want my children to be happy, to love their lives and feel secure.  But God never promised happiness.  He did promise purpose.

So my prayer has changed, or probably more my perspective on the same prayer.  I still pray diligently for protection from sin and physical harm, but I’m beginning to pray that God makes us dangerous in the way we live.  Not “bungee jump off the nearest skyscraper” dangerous (although that could be fun), but bold and courageous.  Jesus called us to radical discipleship.  If that is lived out through 2.3 kids and a picket fence, I’m great with that.  But if it means feeding AIDS orphans in Swaziland or serving the poor in inner-city LA, I’ll celebrate that too.  I’m praying for dreams of purpose, not happiness.

Keep us safe, but not sheltered.  Make us bold.  Make us courageous.  Make us dangerous.