**Mustard Seed Distributed**

MG-The man, the myth, the legend. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. What will you do with it? I want you and everyone else to know that it is rare to develop a deep relationship as a male with another male. However, in my listening to God, and reaching out to you, you have responded. You have been vulnerable, truly REAL, and laid it all out on the table. I have so appreciated that, as many males in our society enter into relationships with other males, they hold back and don't open up with their true emotions, feelings, ideas, visions, or whatever you may have. They don't allow other men to see the REAL them, myself included. What makes us so stupid? Pride? Arrogance? Stupidity? Not sure, but I thank you for being my friend. Now go get a kleenex.

So the Christmas extravaganza is all over. It was the most incredible Christmas I have ever experienced. Watching the video about how Christmas has a Face made it all complete. Watching my girls experience joy-even with the limited amount of presents-was incredible. Harry gave us a check for $1000 for no apparent reason. The generosity and demonstration of pride in that maneuver is pretty incredible. Superstar and I need to pray about how we will use that, and what it should be for. I couldn't help but think in every event revolving around Christmas this year if we will actually be able to do the same things next year. It is sad at times to think we might not be able to be at certain events, or enjoy being so close in proximity to our parents. I wonder if we will be able to afford to come to Michigan (notice I didn't say home...) for Christmas. If we can, how different is that going to be? VERY.

I just felt like God told me that I needed to write to all of the leaders at Kensington for some time. I was raised Catholic, and when I got to high school, I stopped attending. I couldn't figure out why we were going to church, saying the things we were, but then I would see the same people not living the way they spoke or living the things they spoke about. I first attended Kensington in 1993 at Troy High School. I was attending CMU at the time, and had just started dating Superstar-now my wife. I was living in Mt. Pleasant, and Superstar was living in Oak Park completing internships for her degree. My friend, Fish, who ended up being my best man in my wedding told me-"You need to check out this church my sister is going to." I very much trusted his opinion on everything, and I think Superstar and I attended together. I will never forget walking into the auditorium at THS where they were playing U2's 'I still haven't found what I'm looking for...

Here we are. Christmas. 2008 is next week. Hard to believe. Christmas has a Face has been so meaningful to me, mostly because of my girls. They wrote letters to Santa today, asking him to just leave them one present, and to take the rest to people in India, Africa, and Detroit. Livvy asked Superstar: "Why doesn't Santa just take them presents every year?" She's five. How do you respond to that? Well, Liv, you see there ain't no Santa. Way to spoil the season... It was really humbling to know that God is at work in the hearts of each of us, and really cool to know that others are going to see his Face this year because we were willing to see His face through our face, and shine the light on others' faces. God Bless Us Everyone.

What an awesome thing to be able to serve for the Christmas services. It's been 12 hours over the last two days after a LONG day at work trying to keep the students (and the teachers) under some level of control before Christmas break, but how incredible to see people's talents being used to show people Jesus. Every time the Light of the World video came on, I welled up like a schoolgirl. I can't wait to see the total for Christmas has a face... Put the house up for sale on Wednesday, had a showing today. I am faithful that God has a buyer for us, and my prayer is that it will sell in the first 30 days. Superstar says that I shouldn't test God like that, but after the rose story, I think he can handle this one. Interesting conversation with a neighbor's kid after school yesterday at bus duty. I think he's in 9th grade now. You see, Superstar sent out the Christmas letter and photos of the girls to friends and family. It just so happens that we have frien...

"And then.............depression set in." So we own this house. We can't own the house and afford to move to NYC. We need to sell it. I am SO fortunate that my dad is such an awesome man. You see, he is a plumber. And a heater. And a licensed builder. And does finish carpentry. Etc. Among all of his talents, the greatest one is his gift of giving. Maybe that's why I tend to be so giving of my time, energy, and talents. Because he modeled that for us. Never complained, never gave out of compulsion. I remember going to Mrs. Asquiths' house on Christmas Eve one year because her heat wasn't working. She was in her 90's I think. Anywho-back to my dad. The casa de kelly that we have now is only because of my dad. He helped us draw up the plans that we wanted. He organized his friends, contacts, etc. in order to make this house a possibility. He called in chits. He 'traded' things for our house to be a possibility. He allowed us to mov...

And there we were, on our way to Cutie Petootie's first birthday party. This week brought comfort from God on obtaining work in NYC. That was a great boost to my struggle with actually being crazy enough to do what he says. More comfort came in spending the entire afternoon with the launch team. I mean, you take these people, and God asks them to do something. They respond by actually stopping to listen, hearing Him, and then doing what He says. Just another Saturday night, right? Not exactly. How much more powerful can you get than spending quality time with others that listen and respond? The joy and the laughter and the smiles are inexplicable. Sick Pete, the Yankee, Amsterdam, and the Pastor all in the same room just yucking it up. No particular reason, just yucking. (Although Sick Pete and I enjoyed the Yankee and the Pastor walking out in mid conversation, with them not even knowing we were in mid conversation!) It was very enjoyable getting to know la Puertoriqueñ...

Why is it that we doubt God? He created the universe, is the creator of all that is GOOD, and yet we doubt his power and ability to work, his ability to lead us to what is best for us. I am thankful for the men in my life that are willing to help me become more Godly. Sick Pete, Donald, Hammy, Berman, Plastic Song, Cay-uh, broinlaw, Yerdie, White Trash, et. al. What kind of men would we be if we weren't working to encourage each other and hold each other accountable? Why do men specifically put up tough guy barriers? Why do we seperate ourselves from each other? An answer to my prayers in this NYC thing is the Pastor. I have prayed to have a more Christian male in my life for years. I used to have that in Pretzel, but we have moved apart for many years. And so I thank God for the men in my life to encourage me. And so we continue to doubt. Here's the revelation. Faith is something you need to trust. Without faith in someone, including God, there is no trust. So we ...

So, today at school a student got hurt, unconscious when I arrived on the scene. 911, ambulance, the works. So, I prayed that he would be ok, went in the ambulance to the hospital, he's ok. Thank God. Afterwards, got picked up by bb and cdubs at the hospital. They asked if we could stop for a drink on the way home. Absolutely. Thank you. We're having a beer (or three), and they know about NYC, so they ask a question about it, I'm talking about it. They are really awesome and have been so supportive of my following God, it has been incredible. So we're having the beers and I'm going on and on about how I'm really fine with everything about the whole deal. But I'm talking about how I'm worried about actually obtaining a job in NYC from Rtown, how I don't know how I'm going to be able to support my family and actually afford doing this, blah blah blah. So we had a nice conversation, and as they have done since day one, they are supportin...

And so onward we go toward NYC to start a church. Does anyone know how challenging that can be? I mean, I am in a successful career as an educator, and have continued to take on more responsibility. God has blessed me with some abilities in my role as an educational leader, and I try to use them each day. (Although when a parent screams at you, it can be challenging.) I really enjoy my work, and I thank God for that each day. I can't imagine not enjoying the work I do to 'make a living'. We also have been in our dream house for five years now, which I built alongside my father, uncle, family and friends. Always dreamed of building my own house in the woods. Well, we have trees behind it, anyway. Love our home, not just a house. There are so many memories that are precious to me and Superstar in it. Also love the fact that my daughters attend a great school with Donald as the principal. They love it. My wife stopped working years ago so that she could 'be the...

And so, one August evening, after attending a conference on being a supt., I came home and my lovely wife said to me: "I just feel like you have this vision and mission for your career, but not for our family." So I for the first time in my life stated my mission outloud for my family to my wife: "To utilize the skills and abilities that God has blessed me with wherever He wants me to, and that our children would know that is why I do what I do, and they would understand I do it because I am following Him." That began the deepening of Superstar and I's relationship. (I don't think that is a sentence, but it's my blog.) I went to the Leadership Summit the next day at KCC, and was balling my eyes out for no apparent reason. I felt like he told me NYC, but wasn't really sure what was going on. When I came home and told Superstar what was happening, she had been washing the minivan and also heard New York. Thus this journey began. Since then, God...

Born in PH, lived in smalltownville USA, went to a HS with 62 others in my class. Was rude to most people, but got good grades, played sports, had fun. Dad was the school board president, mom was a bus driver, so didn't get away with much at school. Dad was a plumber in real life, used to work with him on Saturdays and in the summer. Learned a lot about work ethic, putting your best out for anyone, and earning money, oh yeah, and life, too. Knew I wanted to be a teacher, went to SC4 for two and a half years. Went off to CMU to get me a degree. It was a lot of fun being unsupervised on a permanent basis. Too much fun? I think not. However, CMU asked me to not come back until I knew what grades were all about. That happened twice. Went to a CC there, pretty much lost the respect and support of my parents, but didn't want to move back home. Kept fighting through adversity, had some more fun, then realized that I was supposed to be with someone-CharCharSuperstar. But s...

And so-this is the beginning of a new journey-blogging. I feel that I am supposed to start recording my thoughts, emotions, growth, and whatever other crap I can come up with. The entire purpose of this blog is to communicate my journey with God. I know, not something you want to read. However, I'm starting to realize that all the 'Jesus Freaks' I used to think were actual freaks, are really just incredible people that are following the Creator. Enough of the blah blah blah. I'm really just a crazy person that has listened to Him, and decided to take my entire life and give it to HIM. That means taking my lovely wife, my two children, my minivan, my house in suburbia, my comfortable job, a handsome retirement package, etc. , and getting rid of all that to move to NYC to start a church. No big deal. I can tell you from the beginning of this new journey, I knew that it was God, and that I can not say no at this point. I'll share more soon, and continue to shar...