My Valentine, and the coffee shop.

On Friday Tatum dropped the kids off with the grandparents and set out on our valentines date night.  Were really simple when it comes to the whole dating thing.  We really just love being together and can spend hours just walking and talking.  This last Friday we found ourselves as usual sitting in Peets Cafe, sipping coffee, eating Gelato and talking for hours.  She had her usual evening half caf and I got my usual Hazelnut latte extra hot. I know my drink sounds a little girly but I'm convinced that the "extra hot" part balances out the feminine tones in "hazelnut".  We literally sat there for over 3 hours talking about anything from family and the kiddos to ministry and Kingsfield.

I am so blessed to have such a Godly and amazing woman.  She is always so supportive and so much fun to dream with.   The longer we spent talking the more and more excited we got about what God is doing and what He is leading us to.    I truly am amazed at how much God has blessed us with our marriage, our family and Kingsfield Church.  I left Peets Friday humbled by the goodness of Jesus...

Faith Works

At Kingsfield this last week we started a new series that I'm very excited about. Were doing a study through the book of James that were calling Faith Works. Life can bring about any number of circumstances. Each one giving us opportunity to see how big God is as we trust in Him. No matter what life may bring our way when were willing to trust in Jesus, He will always bring us through. James shows us what Faith looks like in the life of a believer under the everyday moments... The series will be online and can be downloaded off of our podcast.

I'm really excited about 2009 and all that God has in store... both for the Normans and Kingsfield Church. He is so good to us.

Chris

Christmas with the Normans

I don't know how time flies by so fast. My last post was forever ago and for that I apologize.

Lots has happened between then and now.. (I know, I'm hysterical), unfortunately way to much for me to get across in a blog update, but lets hit the basics...

Kingsfield has been great, were closing out the year strong and really excited to see what the Lord will do with 09. I always love new years. I know that nothing really changes, but still I get really charged to start thinking about what's ahead. Christmas Eve service was alot of with a great crowd out to enjoy some time together as one big family. We used the tension between Christmas almost 2000 years ago and a typical Christmas today to launch us in to our study of Isaiah 9. The Drama team helped paint the picture and did a great job, it was perfect. We'll have the service on line soon for those of you who were out of town.

The Family is doing great as well. Christmas was spent running around between families. We're grateful enough to actually enjoy spending time with our families. We're also very grateful that both sides actually only live a few miles from each other in Redlands. Today we reconstructed the house that was torn into pieces. Well really Tatum did that as I went to work assembling a bike, electric scooter, big wheel, and a mansion doll house, bigger than both my girls. Our new kitten Bella thinks it's for her.

Yes, I said kitten... I have never really thought of myself as much of a cat guy. Until my daugher started asking for one and then I happened to run across the "bengal cat". The bengal cat is supposedly more like a dog than a cat. They actually are very much about the fam, like water, hang their heads out the window while driving, can fetch, and learn tricks. Not to mention the fact that they actually look like a leopard. The one we got is 4 generations removed from the Asian Leopard and has a super cool print. Totaly safe so no worries... we did our homework first.

Baby Steven...

This past Sunday Morning I had the privilege of doing a very special baby dedication. Baby Steven is a 9 month old boy from from Haiti and has been staying with a very loving family in our church for the past 5 months. Steven had spinabfida and the Worrells took him in through mending kids. The sacrifice that the Worrells made gave Steven allowed for Steven to be operated on in the states.

On Sunday Kingsfield prayed for him as he will be going back to Hattie this week. The prayer is that Steven will be able to be brought back to the U.S. through an adoption agency early this next year.

I really respect the Worrells for opening up their lives to this child. Their selfless investment has radically impacted not only Steven life but their own as well.

I love watching what how God works when were willing to step outside our comfort zone.

I've got a short video that J&S Productions (Jono and Simono) put toether... so check back later and I'll get it uploaded for you.

So it's been on my mind

On the way home from a benefit dinner for Growers First we drove past main beach in Laguna Beach. At a stop light several students were making tons of noise on the corner and crossing the street with their signs, supporting their cause. Their efforts were in protest to California's yes vote on Proposition 8. Proposition 8 reversed the supreme court ruling to allow same sex marriages, and will now place a biblical definition of marriage in the California Constitution. It will be stated as “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California”

Several things hit me as I watched these students rallying together... I'll share one for now and maybe share some later.

One was the desperate need every generation has for a true cause. My heart really went out to them. So many are searching for something to stand for. They long for something bigger than themselves to unite them and give them purpose. I wonder if those students were really motivated by cause itself, or by the fulfillment that having "a cause" brings.

I wonder what would happen if the church was to embrace it's cause with the same "force" that these students have embraced theirs. Not that we would hold protests and picket parties, rather that we unite with a boldness in the proclamation of the Gospel.

It's my prayer that the church, with wisdom, would be careful not to "tear down bridges" with unchristlike behavior. Also that we would not simply "build bridges" for the sake of "unconditional love". Rather that we would keep the bridges we do have, build the bridges we don't have and then drive the truth of the gospel across. That we would care enough to boldly call sin, sin. Then we would boldly point sinners to the sinners savior, Jesus Christ.

That is Gods cause and it must be ours as well... Jesus said of Himself in Luk 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Paul wrote in 1Ti 1:15 "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst." The sin factor goes for every one of us. Rom 3:23 tells us "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God". But thanks the Lord that there is hope for even the worst of sinners. Rom 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord".

so we want change?

The votes are in and Barack Obama is our President elect. As he moves into his new role we need to be reminded of our role. Gods word tells us that our role is to pray for our leadership. Pray that God would grant him the wisdom to make the tough decisions that are before him. No mater what takes place, we know that God sits upon His throne and it's He who's ultimately in control.

America wants change and it's my prayer that we see it. Although America may be looking for it in the political and economic arena, the big change we need is elsewhere. What we need is a change of heart. Even if policy and procedure could usher in a strong economy it could never user in true peace. We would still be a restless people.

We were each created to thrive within a relationship with God. Outside that relationship we will never thrive or find rest. Jesus alone is the only one who could promise to provide for us the rest we are craving. Jesus said in Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. "

It's my pray that America would find what she is really crying out for. It's my prayer also that the church would be bold enough to proclaim the gospel and point the way.

The Resurrection

Sunday we had many people show up to our service for the first time. Many of them had come out to Blast and decided to check things out. We were in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 examining the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the hope of life beyond the grave. Paul describes the Integrity, the Implications and the hits us with the Issue. The main issue is not that the resurrection is hard to intellectualize. The issue is that the resurrection forces man to deal with God, who calls all men to surrender. Surrender is difficult for us because we like to be in control. Even if we don't trust ourselves, we often would rather trust ourselves more than trust God. When men realize that God is good and cares His people, surrender becomes easier but still not easy.

On Sunday there was a huge response and we say many first time commitments to the Lord.

Thank you Lord