Welcome back. You belong here.

The tension between starting and ending seems like a swinging bridge
It tilts forward and backwards, not knowing which way to swing
The hope of a new beginning, mixed with the sorrow of broken promises
The anticipation of a great start and the ability to move as one

People that serve and lead and love and learn
Those are people to die for and dream with for the rest of your life

To not put on a thing called church
But to hang out with people in my living room
Worshiping God
Reading the Scriptures
Praying for one another in authentic community
We call it “family council”

And every day talking to people without Jesus
To Robert the mail man
Who has 100’s of illegal DVD’s and war stories to tell
It’s what he does to pass his time
He needs something more

To Gil the real estate guy who came by my house
Big smile, firm handshake
His face all over my neighborhood store

He sat in my living room
Would never set foot in my cool church
We spoke of homes, moving and faith
It felt like the most genuine church I’ve had in years

To not fight wars of old
But to go to a hilltop and be transformed
By authentic relationships
With a few guys that love one another
Over beers and smokes, sin and grace
Theology and cheesy 80’s music
That’s what transforms

I’ve tasted of that sweet wine and had plenty of drink from that wonderful spout
It’s transformed me
It’s forever changed me

I have been transformed by church maybe once or twice in my life
Church doesn’t transform, Jesus does
Jesus, relationship, authenticity
People that live differently than I do
I love Jesus but not the church
But if the church could only change….Can it?

To hang out with people that challenge me to serve the poor
(I don’t need to amass more stuff)
To go to Africa, Latin American and serve the poor, the children
Is what transforms

To do beautiful music, to write passionate lyrics
With a close group of friends
To create and dream, to paint and see beauty
To inspire others and push the boundaries
To dream and inspire, to live in the ideal of beauty and truth

To recyle, eat healthy and save the earth
To work for a great tomorrow and a happy ending to our planet
With my wife and children living passionate lives
To create experiences together with them
To live from their air
To breathe into them

To see young people believe
To help them see that God forgives
To help them see the value of discipline and hard work
To hear their dreams to change the world
And actually see them do it
And to come along

That’s what transforms
That’s what I am here to do
On this earth
Until I see you face to face
It’s Jesus in me
The Spirit in me
The Father in me

Have a great day,

Into the future,

davidT