Jan. 22

I am so grateful that God lets me do this. 

Seriously, I love what I do. I get to spend my life involved in some really awesome stuff.

 

-I get to meet and build relationships with lots of people. 

-I get to help build community with many of those peeps. 

-I get to play great worship music with some really talented musicians who are also my friends.

-I get to teach and share the Gospel with people in all kinds of situations- some are "normal", some are crazy; but they are all amazing.

-I get to use what God has given me to serve Him and His kids.

-I get to be a part of starting a brand new church. (This is so cool, I can't find the words.)

-I get to share this adventure with my incredible wife and daughters. (This is also way too cool for words.)

-I get to be the hands and feet of God to some of His creation. 

-I get to be His messenger by sharing His Word. (This puts the "awe" in awesome)

-I get to love God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) every single day, and cultivate an abiding connection with Him, that will carry on into eternity.

Do bad things ever happen? Well, sure they do. I suppose I could make a list of those things, too. But why? I mean, we don't exaclty need to be reminded of the bad stuff in our lives, do we?  It seems to me that it's the good stuff that can be so easily overlooked. 

And I guess that's my point: We get to choose what we focus on.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  

-Philippians 4:4-7

This Scripture doesn't say "pretend things are good," or "change your life by thinking happy thoughts." It is reminding us that God has given us the ability to choose joy- even in difficulty. That our Mighty God is ready to hear our requests, and take up our cause. That He can give us a peace that goes beyond any one's ability to comprehend, and that-even in difficulty-we can be thankful.

So what do you have to be thankful for? My life is in no way trouble-free. But those things I listed above really are amazing to me, and I get to be a part of them all the time! 

I'm not telling you that you have to make a list like mine. But an exercise like that sure can put things into perspective.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory 

that will be revealed in us.  -Romans 8:18

Thanks for praying for C3! Please join us this week in thanking our Great God for all He has done and is doing in His church! 

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Jan. 14th

This week it's actually cold here in Houston. It rarely drops below freezing here, so I know I have nothing to complain about! But I mention the temperature for another reason.

Recently, many of us at C3 have begun to get to know a couple of guys who are living on the streets near an I-10 overpass. Yesterday during lunch, I offered to get them to a place where they'd be out of the cold, but they were hesitant. Why? I'm not sure. Fear, skepticism, pride, doubt- these things don't disappear when you become homeless. When we finished with lunch, it was incredibly hard to say goodbye and drive away. We've tried to make sure they have warm clothes and sleeping bags. 

It was below 28 degrees last night here, and they were outside.  

We cannot make a decision for anyone else (Christ-followers should truly understand this), but we can certainly pray that God will softly speak to their hearts. 

Ironically, I was able to share the Gospel at length with them yesterday, and they were eager to talk (the conversation was driven by their questions, which was great). But the Good News of Jesus Christ goes beyond talking. When we say we love Him, it only makes sense that our words would be followed with action. 

Please pray that we are showing the Gospel every bit as loudly as we speak it. And please pray for our new friends.

Thanks!

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Jan. 7th

What a cool and crazy holiday season!

C3 had our first worship gathering "out of the house" on Christmas Eve. Although many of our core group were travelling etc., we still had a great turnout! The facility we rented was pretty ideal for our adults, but since it has only one room, we are still looking for a space that will give our children's ministry the space they need, too.  Please continue with us to pray that God will help us find the right place. We don't want to "lock in" to a long lease, or make a purchase too quickly, so we will be perfectly content to rent on a weekly basis right now. 

While I'm excited about Christmas Eve, our biggest news comes in the area of "Serve the world." 

In early December, I met a couple of great guys who were living under one of the overpasses at an I-10 intersection. From this meeting, some of our core group have begun what we are (for the time being) calling "the overpass ministry." 

I know, creative. 

Anyway,  the name isn't the important part. What is important, are the ways we are getting to know some great folks who don't have a place to live, or sometimes anything to eat. This is not "charity" work, or a handout. This is the Kingdom of God. When we serve someone that might be regarded by some as "the least of these," we are serving Christ Himself. Please join us in praying that our great God will lead us where He wants us to go with this opportunity.

Thanks so much for praying!

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Dec. 24th

Merry CHRISTmas!

Tonight, Convergence will hold our first service outside a home!  We'll be meeting in the Creekstone community clubhouse for our Christmas Eve service, tonight at 6:00. Our long- term prospects here are unlikely, since there is only one room, and our regular Sunday gatherings need space for our children's ministry as well. But it is a wonderful facility and will be great for tonight's service, with seating for almost 50, a kitchenette and restrooms. 

Please join us in praying for tonight's worship gathering. It looks like we may have several guests with us for the first time, and we want to share the light of the Gospel of Christ clearly, and with love. 

I hope this Christmas season is a blessing to you, and hope you will be used by our Mighty God to be a blessing to someone else!

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Dec. 16th

Howdy!

Christmas is approaching, and C3 is hoping to have our first service "out of the house" on Christmas Eve. We are working now to secure a local community clubhouse for this "family-style" gathering, and hope to get a feel for how this location might work for us in the future. Please join us in praying for this gathering!

C3 also just had our first "official" gathering devoted entirely to prayer. It was a great time, and will be a regular part of our schedule. From that gathering, I'd like to share some requests from a few of the people who were there:

• Wisdom concerning a job situation.
• Wisdom for financial guidance during the holidays and into the new year.
• To see people the way Christ sees them, and to love them as He loves.
• A home for C3. A facility that will grow with us; that fits our "DNA." And that in all things we seek God's guidance first, and then continually throughout.

"Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians than praying together.  Never do they love one another so well as when they witness the outpouring of each other's hearts in prayer."
     ~ Charles Finney

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Nov. 29th

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our internet connection has been down at home this week (since Tuesday night or maybe Wednesday morning), so I've had limited access over the past few days. Since I've been given the opportunity to "borrow" a connection for a few hours today, I do want to take this chance to ask for your prayers concerning a few special folks this week:

• J.D. is a very good friend to many of us at C3. Though now making their home in Alaska, we still consider he and his family a part of ours. With that in mind, J.D.'s mom is recovering from surgery in Austin this week, and I hope you will join us in praying for her recovery, as well as peace for J.D. as he can't be there with her.
• There is a little girl, just a few weeks old now, named Alexis Hocanson, who is recovering from some fairly serious heart work in a hospital in Columbus, OH. The most recent development involves potential temporary paralysis of some of her cranial nerves. Please pray that the Great Physician will restore this beautiful little girl to full health and allow her to be home in Findlay with her whole family for Christmas.
• Our search for a temporary new location for C3 continues. Pleas continue to pray with us, as we are needing to get into a larger place soon. Our gatherings lately have been possible, but very "cozy!"

Thank you for praying for these needs, and for continuing to partner with Convergence Christian Church!

In Him We Live,

Jeff

Nov. 20th

Hallloooo!

This week, we'd like to ask you to continue praying for some of C3's friends, who are serving our great God in other parts of His Kingdom, as well as some folks close to home:

• Beth is a part of Healing Pointe Community Church in Terre Haute, IN. Please pray for God's peace and encouragement as she faces some tough times.
• Mare is working in Nigeria with Global Christian Ministries and recently had to get all of her co-workers out of jail. Needless to say, they are struggling against both flesh-and-blood and spiritual forces there. Please pray for strength, protection, boldness, and daily bread.
• Please pray for a family member of one of our core team. God knows who it is and what is needed.
• Please pray that I (Jeff) will honor our God through this ministry- that my example would reflect Jesus and my will would be yielded to HIS.

Thank you for praying!

In Him We Live,

Jeff