**Mustard Seed Distributed**

It stands today in my new city. My growth and my knowledge of just what it means to be a participant in the daily life and living here continues. Each day. I learn something new about living here. Today, the kkft made our way into Manhattan to serve at St. Joe's Soup Kitchen. The three hours we were there were over in a flash. Thanks and kudos to 'Steve' that runs the place. He made the girls feel special in their tasks. "I need a driver," he would say. And one of the girls would drive the cart full of fruit cocktail to the other end of the 'restaurant'. "I need a washer," he would say, and they would hurry to get to him and wash the table. Precious to see their faces in a serving role. I got to open so many large cans of stuff. Also got to put our hands into the spaghetti and meatball sauce and smash tomatoes. The thing is that what I wanted to do today was lay in my bed this morning. I wanted to take the whole day and serve myself...

Part of the interesting lifestyle of New York City is the distinct ownership in one's neighborhood. No matter where you live in this grand city, people take great pride in 'their neighborhood'. And you certainly don't want to live in another neighborhood if you like yours. And this is part of my acculturation to New York City, to Brooklyn, and to Windsor Terrace. This is MY neighborhood. And I love it. I am starting to own it, and I'm not even sure that I have the right to own it if I have only lived here for a short time. But I do. Running down third to ditmas today, I saw people of at least seven to ten different ethnicities. And I loved it. I wonder if this will be my neighborhood for a generation? My neighborhood.

I know, I know, I know. I have not TAKEN the time to blog this week. I know. It's not that I didn't want to. I did. So many unbelieveable things to write about. The Gerdy family was in town this week, and it was so cool to have them in our new home. Good time had by all, and really enjoyed sharing things in the city with them. Especially enjoyed the 'boys night out' and attending the Staten Island Yankees game. The stadium is right off the Staten Island Ferry, and you overlook the southern tip of Manhattan from your seats. Pretty neat. Also have really spent this week trying to understand my role in communitas-what is it that God wants me to do to be fully devoted and serving to this church so that others might see Jesus through our work in this great city. I am starting to think I have an idea of the role He has for me here, but I am ever prayerful in that thought process. If you think of it, pray that God will reveal to me what my specific role is in commu...

ALL THAT YOU WANTED Give it all, and get it all. My desires destroyed to fulfill the purpose. Great suffering in order to live freely. Anguish in watching the world go farther away behind me. New places, new times. Not what I wanted, but what I needed. Homogeneity destroyed. Love pours over, the waves rush in; the tide is higher than ever before. All that you wanted. All that you wanted. All that you wanted.

So as I sit on the porch on LBI-thanks once again to raver and anne-I reflect on a few things. One-I will miss my pal Jimmer. I so enjoy just being with him, talking with him, laughing with him, talking about life with him. There are only a few men that I have deep relationships with in this world, and Jimmer is one that will last a lifetime. Bench good-beach bad. Two-a get away is necessary at times in your life. You must leave your current state of chaos in order to make order and sense of this world. Physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. Three-how do you serve people that are not church going and tie them into a community of Jesus followers? I sit on this deck on a Sunday morning thinking of my community of Jesus followers and what Sunday means to them. And I look about this house, and this street, and this island and see people that don't even know what that means. How to you connect their life to the life of our creator that they don't know? Back to the ...

It is a challenge to sit in the passenger seat for me. It is hard for me to allow people to make decisions I already think will not work out. Much like pastor, I don't like to pass by things and what I see as wasted time to do things that are not proven to be successful. It is hard to be humble. It is hard to put others first. It has been a challenge for me this week with all the things to do on the list for our new school opening to let go of things that I think should be this way or that way. On the bright side, our family has a new home. It is beyond my belief to come home to my family in this city that is ours to live in and serve others. Meeting with the pastor this week in our new city renewed my sense of growth and accomplishment in personal and community growth for communitas. I am so looking forward to being here on the ground to serve our church community and start a small group in our home. That has been the biggest part of our lives over the last ten years, and...

Well, after much ado about summer, vacations, trainings, travellings, etc., Saturday meant piling all the kkft into the van and heading 'home'. After living the last 4 odd weeks out of a suitcase, it certainly felt great having a final destination of our new home in Brooklyn. It was beautiful to look around me in the van and see the three most beautiful girls in my life surrounding me on my journey. However, it was an emotional morning for all as we gave our final hugs and kisses to my family. Friday night meant the panks, the in laws, the cuz's, and us hung out by the fire and had some pie. But the morning brought emotions I may have been ignoring. Maybe I just already detached myself long ago from the idea of leaving our family and friends. Maybe I just realized how hard this is emotionally for everyone. In any case, many tears were spent by a number of people. But in reading Nehemiah this week, in particular on the first morning official with the kkft in place, t...

No it's not so random, so people should stop saying that. However, I will use the term appropriately with my 'random' thoughts: -Summer vacation for at least three weeks without serious work hours is something everyone should get and do no matter what their profession. Stress in the world would cease to exist, and there would be no such thing as road rage. -I love my wife and my family. Spending time (as mentioned above) with them leads me to the reminder that I have the greatest life in the world and the greatest wife and the greatest children. Cedar Point, bro's house, butt tree's, soak city, the maples hotel, the motel 6, hog heaven, the amway grand, the terrace motel and the beauty of a wedding and dancing with my daughters and wife. Life is grand and I love them. -I have the greatest job in the world, and I am convinced it is a gift from God because I trusted Him with everything. I am so thankful that I love what I do, the people I work with, and the peop...