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Thoughts on the Journey

Bella started school this week. At some level sending Bella to school is unrelated to our journey to Ireland, yet at another level the reality is before us that all of our kids will be going to school in Ireland. The need to transition them toward that change is real, but not pressing. It’s in the back of our minds.

We are slowly beginning the support raising adventure. I’ve often heard that a big part of any endeavor is stepping out the door and getting started. It’s been hard to get started. Life gets in the way. I’m slowly recovering from knee surgery. I’m getting around well now. Laura has been swamped with birthday parties, kid’s trips, the CRCS newsletter et al.

My work at the church is good, although I have divided passions. I know that God has called us leave, just not yet. I long for us and our church family to continue to encounter the God that has grabbed our family and shaken us. I see Him at CPC. He is at work here, grabbing folks.

The journey continues. Please pray that our family and our church will continue to experience the ongoing conversion that is needed to see the world with God’s eyes and continue to pursue His mission.

G

Putting things in perspective

Population of the Republic of Ireland: 4,000,000

Those confessing to be born again: 30,000

Population of Alabama (2006): 4,500,000

“born again” Christians 3,015,000

*According to Barna “The statewide data showed that Alabama earned the top ranking for the percentage of residents who are born again: 67%

Where we going?

It’s hard to move toward a dangerous place. But isn’t the journey of faith a journey toward dangerous places? If there’s one thing that has resonated in my life lately, it is that the Gospel is a person, a message propelling us toward dangerous, risky places. The surety of the love of God for us flows out of us. It goes somewhere and that somewhere is often very risky.

What are dangerous places? Relationships with those different than us, time given to the unlovely or unlovable, honesty, confrontation, sacrifice. Dangerous places are places where our skills, competencies, and talents are suspect. Dangerous places require God to show up. Supernatural power is needed.

Going toward Ireland is dangerous. Raising support is dangerous. Loving my wife is dangerous, confessing my sin is dangerous, giving up my self-worship is dangerous, being a friend is dangerous, praying is dangerous…sometimes breathing is dangerous.

But, there is really good news in dangerous places. If we place the weight of our longings and failings on Christ, He will not be crushed. He is sufficient for us. We can find the strength to persevere, in His transcending love for us! HE WILL UPHOLD US!

Go do something dangerous!

G

Catch -up

Wow! I cruised over to the Morgan Journey blog today and was surprised at how far behind I am in updating the watching world on our adventure.

First, thank you to everyone who prayed for us and helped us on our trip to Philadelphia. It was good to have the time away with my bride and to know that a steady stream of prayer was being offered on our behalf.


Secondly, the week of assessment was exhausting but good. As most of you know, Laura and I were appointed by World Harvest Mission to join their Church Resources Team in Ireland. If this seems like a big, life-changing thing, IT IS!!!!!!!!!!

As we have returned from assessment, the enormity of what lies ahead of us has slowly begun to sink in, and stress and anxiety with it. To be honest, the goal of raising the needed support and getting to the field in two years, seems impossible. We feel overwhelmed and incompetent. How can we do this? We don't know enough people nor have enough talent to pull this off!

This is the place where the transcending reality of the love of God for us becomes real. At this place we realize that all the idols we run to for strength are empty and powerless. There is no hope to be found in reputation, comfort, self-worship, perceived moral superiority or any other emptiness. Our hope must be in the living God. The God who has seen us as we really are and said, "It is finished". I love you in my Son and will guide you to the place of your calling. Walk with me.

The path before us is unsure. How we will get to Ireland, we don't know. We do know that our Father loves us, is all-powerful and is good!

How can we not prosper!

The Next Chapter

A lot has happened since the last post on the Morgan Journey. Our trip to Ireland was a blast. While there we spent time with two World Harvest Mission teams, getting to know a lot of folks and experiencing a small taste of Irish culture. Laura documented much of the trip on her blog… here

Since our return we have been busy living life with four kids and a new dog, and pursuing the next step with World Harvest. After meeting with both the MAP and CR teams in Ireland, (see previous posts) the general consensus seemed to be that we would fit better with the CR team. Much to our delight, we were issued an invitation to join this team ministering in Dublin. With our Golden Ticket in hand we were then instructed to apply to the mission board and seek to attend their Assessment and Orientation (A&O) week. With all of our references submitted and the application complete, Laura and I waited to see if we would be asked to come. Alas! The deception continues! We fooled the mission board enough that they have actually invited us to attend A&O this coming week from June 1^st through 6^th.

So here we are again, thinking, hoping, dreaming that God has called us to a ministry and now submitting ourselves to an assessment. UGH!!!!!!!!!! (read anxiety)

Almost a year ago Laura and I made a commitment to each other that we would walk through any door that God opened for us, and we would do so without condition. We never dreamed when we made this commitment that we would be considering missions much less that we would willingly put ourselves in the vulnerable place of assessment again. This is the door that God has opened.

Walk we will.

The schedule for this week:

Laura and I fly out Saturday afternoon to Philadelphia. Assessment starts with dinner Sunday night. On Monday we meet the World Harvest staff and other candidates, have a time of instruction and do a group project. On Tuesday we go through a series of interviews on our vision, finances, spiritual formation, personal (lots of personality tests) and others. Wednesday morning we take a trip into Philly while the Assessment Team meets to decide our fate. We meet for their decision that afternoon. If approved, we meet Thursday and Friday doing orientation type things. If we are not approved, we try to get our flight moved up from Friday to Thursday so that we can come home earlier.

Please pray for us and our kids. A family will be living at our house caring for Bella and Emma, and the boys will be with the Hambrights in Athens.

Laura and I covet your prayers. Please pray for faith. We desperately want this to be an experience of following our Savior and not a life or death thing.

I don’t like to write, so that’s all for now.

Steve

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Yes, We are finally leaving for Ireland!

Please be praying for us that God will:

Protect our children
Give us a safe flight
Give Laura and me clear direction on His leading
Help us to believe the Gospel and be able to be ourselves

Peace
G