Last night we had our Santa Cruz church plant meeting. It was a special time.











First, someone new joined our team and her name is Alana. She has been feeling God’s tug to join up and finally did. She is a great woman of God. At Yaks (our coffee shop) on Monday nights we give all college students 50% off on everything and it’s a chance to meet people. Alana has been coming down and closing with us, but all she does is wash dishes. She washes dishes from 6 to 10pm; most people would complain. We all volunteer at Yaks, but Alana inspires us all. Alana wants to start a church (Ukraine?); we want to equip and send her with a team from our SC church.











It was Laben’s birthday last night. He’s 24, but he’s also 1. We bought him his own German Chocolate cake with a 1 candle on it. He’s been walking with Jesus and walking with me in a discipleship friendship for 1 year. He’s grown. We all took turns telling Laben what things we admired about him and what we see God doing in his life. It was awesome. Most people never experience this within their physical family; most people believe the church isn’t a family. We are the church and we're family.










I shared with Laben what it has been like for me to have him as a spiritual son. It was special because my spiritual father was there, pastor Mike. It was also special because Paul, who is now following Jesus because of Laben, was there too. Four generations of disciples. Four generations of “sons.”

We love each other and couldn’t imagine doing life without one another. We are not hirelings. We are a family and we’re growing: people, who love Jesus and his church. We are the hope of the world.

February 21, 2006
Gunman still on loose in Watsonville's first homicide of 2006
Santa Cruz Sentinel
WATSONVILLE — Police are searching for the gunman in what they say was a gang-related shooting Sunday that left one man bleeding to death on the lawn of an apartment complex on the city's West side.
The victim, Arturo Ortega Cardenas, 31, of Watsonville, was shot several times in his upper abdomen and died at the scene, police Capt. Manny Solano said.










I wonder where this guy went to church. I wonder what church in the area was reaching out to him. I wonder if he knew Jesus’ love and forgiveness through God’s missional people. I wonder if anyone ever emerged into his neighborhood.











I wonder if this guy could go to church. For that matter, I wonder if this guy would ever get invited to church. I wonder if this guy could tell you what "missional" people look like.

"Your son' suffering is a challenge to God. India's (SC Gang member's) brokeness is an even greater challenge to Him. What is He going to do about His creation which is now so ugly and so painful? Satan used man and woman to spoil God's creation. God responds by sending His men and women--the missionaries--to begin to restore what has now become so ugly. The New Global Mission-Pg.85-Samuel Escobar
God give us the strength to be that church.

Last Wed. we took carnations to the Mall with tags on them saying, "Jesus thinks you're awesome." I’m not sure how many flowers we gave out, but it was something else seeing people walking in the mall with them. I hadn’t thought about it and admit it was odd handing flowers to other guys! Everybody seemed really appreciative of receiving the flowers though. We even had some people come and ask us for “one for their friend.” This is a great way to (a) get out and show God’s love (without a come to my church attached to it) and (b) show “The College Group” how to evangelize, share their faith, and confront others with God's thoughts about them, since Jesus thinks you're awesome!

Paul confessed Christ two weeks ago and he's about to hand flowers out!





Hasham (in the center) is still checking this whole Jesus thing out, but he was game to help.

This last week was pretty awesome.
Two new guys came to our "The College Group" small group and after I confessed my struggle with lust they opened up about sins they struggle with and have never confessed to anyone in "church."
The other "The College Group" small group never got to their discussion, because they go side tracked praying for Afghanistan and each other!
God has been leading us (Santa Cruz & The College Group) to go to India this summer; we (Santa Cruz folks) are wondering if this will be the location for our first international church plant?! (Dreaming big here folks) God confirmed India in some pretty funny ways. What's better is I won't be leading the trip, but my disciples will be. (See Acts 29)
At our Santa Cruz mtg I shared the values of our little community: Love...Go...Equip...We spent a large amount of time talking about loving God as living sacrifices (Romans 12) especially in the areas of purity and holiness. Looking at Paul's comments of "all things are permissable, but some things are beneficial" we agreed that we will judge things we look at or listen to by asking "is this permissable or beneficial?"
A few of us got together to pray last night and it was an incredible time of worship and prayer. We prayed for the church plants going out from this church (Buffalo NY & Santa Cruz), India, our community here in Redding, The College Group, and for more of a passion for Him and a willingness to give up our agenda for His.
This last week was pretty awesome.

February 7, 2006
Five Santa Cruz churches target of 'hate crime'

SANTA CRUZ — Vandals struck five Santa Cruz churches, a Christian bookstore and the historic Santa Cruz Mission Adobe on Saturday night in what police are calling a hate crime.

The vandals used a stencil to leave specially crafted messages and images about a half-foot across. One depicted a cross with an equal sign followed by a swastika. Church leaders said another stated "Abort Christ," a message one minister called "stunning and distressing."