**Mustard Seed Distributed**

Fall has always been a great time of year to me, the coolness in the air, football games on Friday nights, leaves crunching under your feet, camping in the cool weather. But this fall things are much different. It is still a beautiful time of year to me, but I look around and see new things and new places to experience fall. Not just fall, but life. Life is different for me now. In so many ways. Each day is a challenge to trust Him more. No matter what the season.

So look closely, and you will see what I mean. A dog in a doggie wheelchair. That's right. The hind legs don't work, you get Fido a wheelchair. Only in nyc. After seeing fido scooting along, we got to spend time riding our bikes in Prospect Park with Mateo and the Mayes'. What an incredible place to live. While spending time at the park, we got to see the bridge near the audobon center that was built in the 1880's and a monument erected about the same time for soldiers that died in the revolutionary war in that location. I am amazed at the fact that the history of this city goes back to the beginning of this country. And that I get to live here.

Today I sit in my new homestead realizing the glory of God and his promise of faithfulness to us. Today was the ribbon cutting for BSCS, and I got to hold the ribbon on the end while students, staff, and school board members did the proverbial cutting of the ribbon. It's still somewhat of an odd sensation when I look around and realize where I am working this school year. I am amazed at the fact that sometimes, I drive over the Brooklyn Bridge. Me. T$. I sometimes see the Empire State Building if I am on a tall building in Brooklyn. I help to set up and tear down equipment for a church that is starting a new thing in Manhattan. I get to run in one of the most beautiful parks I have ever seen in my life. I get to learn things like what language they speak in Nigeria, and I get to hear parents use it when they pick up their kids from school. A school of hope and of promise. I get to find out that the charter met final approval for what may become the school T$ gets to lead

This type of encouragement comes in many ways. Here are the ones that I experienced this week: Through the Holy Spirit-the gentle voice of God coming to you continually--but only when you actually engage in listening and heeding His voice Through an incredible mentor-someone that can guide you in wisdom, knowledge, and the challenge of truly following Jesus Through a wonderful spouse-someone that loves and serves you more than themselves Through children given to you from God-my daughters have a zest for life that continuously reminds me of the joy of living Through the support of family and friends-this happened without even speaking to any of them. Just knowing that many that I love believe in me. Through justification through Christ-knowing that my sins were bore on his shoulders so that I might have relationship with the Creator Through God's people-I am encouraged simply by the immense population of God's people, black, white Korean, foreigners in a land--just like I am

Today marks the first morning gathering for communitas. Many years and many tears have passed before this day by many people involved directly or indirectly in this church plant. But for me, as I woke up well before my alarm this morning, it is an honor to be a part of this morning's festivities. It is a priveledge for me to be involved with a courageous group of people united together in a dangerous mission with an unknown outcome. God continues to surprise me with His mighty providence for me, for my family, for my brothers and sisters in Christ, and for communitas nyc. It is an honor to serve His glory and majesty in this world where we try to bring a piece of His kingdom here to earth. It is an honor to work to take over territory from the enemy for Him. It is an honor to get in our van this morning, drive into Manhattan, and gather with others that are seeking to track their lives the way Jesus wants us to track them. It is an honor.

Today was the first time that I got to run in over a week (I think). I've been quite busy working for the last few weeks helping prepare to open the new school. There is a lot to do, and I'm still learning a lot each day about what that looks like in Brooklyn. Today at work, my supervisor told me that the co. will have their vote on the 15th of Sept. That vote will be to approve the site for dreams. That site happens to be less than 2 miles from our apartment. What are the odds? Oh, hang that. "Jesus is with you." That's what I heard on my run today as I pondered just how close that is to our new home. Running has become a time for me to work out with my excercise partner-Jesus. I didn't realize how much I checked out of life and checked in with Jesus on my runs. But today it was invigorating physically, mentally, and spiritually. With the first week of school nearly under our belt, dkny said to me this week after the first day-"just think, 3

These are the words that my boss used to describe the first day of school that happened today. Those words resonated in my head for quite some time today, and all the way home, and throughout the evening. These words are a great descriptor of my experiences in being involved in the opening of a new charter school in Brooklyn-'an absolute delight'. It has been a lot of work. It has been a lot of pushing. But it has been an absolute delight. To listen to the girls talk about their new school tonight at dinner-an absolute delight. To hang out with the neighbors on our front stoop and play four square-an absolute delight. To know that I am living here in WT because I am following Jesus-an absolute delight.

Living in this city has not worn off on me in the least. I am blown away each and every single day that God had this city in His plans for the kkft, and in particular for me. I mean, usually we are going camping for the Labor Day weekend with the whole K gang at Uncle Don's Campground, and that I missed because of the fun laughs and smiles we would share, even if Shivo was making her noises. But this year's LD weekend involved a few new experiences. Sick pete and two of the girls were with us. No big whoop. Wedding in Central Park Saturday morning with one of my heroes, briggsy. (Why is he my hero? Because he is following Jesus, and because of that, he came to nyc with no job. Wanted to leave, but continued to follow Him, and then he found his wife, moved back to MI to get real jobs, and ....) Then we spent time doing wonderful things with them, including getting caught up into Brazil Fest 2009. So full, you can't even understand how to move from one inch to the n

Sunday, pastor's wife asked me to speak to communitas at the gathering. About the 'daily bread' that God has given superstar and I in our journey to nyc. It was a great excercise in processing the daily struggle to follow Jesus. Particularly when He calls you to do something that is abnormal-sell your house, quit your job, move to one of the largest cities on the planet, and start a church. See, I enjoyed my daily bread in my suburban lifestyle. Waking each day in the home I built the way I wanted to build it, with the car I wanted to buy in the garage, going to the job I thought was best for me, eating, drinking, smoking when and what I wanted when i wanted it, serving myself first instead of focusing on others, living my life the way I wanted to live it. Don't misunderstand, I think I was following God somewhat, but not really. So my daily bread conversation at the gathering (that was supposed to be 10 minutes, but went 20) was a strengthening reminder to me