/// dream the journey

I'm working to return to the blogging world soon, though Twitter definitely gets more of my attention these days.

Lacey and I are the process of big life change. Last October we came in contact with Boystown through Velocity. The people we have met through this organization have changed our lives and brought so much joy to us. We have developed such close relationships with the Family Teachers - Andy and Angie, some of the Directors and Admin staff, and the teenagers who are in their care. It's pretty incredible to step back and see that God is orchestrating some things that I think will have some major future impact.

As for the present though, we recently completed all of our training, home studies, interviews, and inspections to foster two teenagers from Boystown. What makes this even sweeter is some of great friends are doing this alongside us with two other kids.

The elephant in the room for our first interview was how young we are. I threw it on the table and addressed it quickly by stating that we love these kids and want to make a life-long Kingdom impact in their lives. It's certainly a little unconventional. All I know is this a big need God placed in our lives, and we want to respond to opportunities and needs in obedience and faith.

So without further adieu, welcome David and Stephanie into the Henderson Home. They will join our family in the next couple weeks. A new adventure awaits...

This past year Lacey and I were apart of a church planting internship in Dallas with Northwood Church and Glocalnet. It was such a great learning experience, as this is what we feel is God’s plan for our lives is in the future. Our time at Northwood was more challenging to us than we thought possible and helped us grow deeper in our relationship with God and our commitment to see holistic transformation take place in individuals, a city, and a place in the world through God’s power through the local church.

As a culmination of this internship with Northwood, I am traveling to North Vietnam this October 20-31 on a short-term missions project with a number of other volunteers. Northwood has been working in Vietnam over 10 years developing areas such as business, education, and healthcare for the entire country, while at the same time building relationships and seeing God transform lives. During our time, there will be teams working with orphanages, installing a computer lab at a school and providing training for other areas of education, and developing businesses and leaders for the country.

The need is great, but the rewards from our work will be much greater. However, this trip will also be a huge challenge. I am writing this letter to ask for your support in any way possible. I understand that support through prayer is as equally important as financial aid; so, I am asking for both. I know that my trip will be more successful with the support of family, friends and the people I love. The total cost of the trip will be $3,000, which will cover airplane tickets, housing, food, and local transportation. My first installment is due August 1 and all money is due September 5. Each donation is vitally important. Please pray and allow God to challenge you to support this trip with your finances.

Donations are tax deductible if made payable to Northwood Church. Please mail donations to Northwood Church 1870 Rufe Snow Drive, Keller, TX 76248 and note my name. It will then go towards my account. Also, remember our team in your prayers in October, as there is sure to be spiritual and physical strain on the team. Pray that this trip will be effective and purposeful in meeting the needs of the poor and oppressed, the hopeless and orphaned.

Thank you for your support and care. I appreciate your interest and encouragement. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for our team and the Vietnamese people that we will be working with.

Also, if you have not already done so, consider joining my Facebook group to follow along on this journey.

Earlier this year I wrote this about what God has been teaching me: "I'm understanding in the smallest way the Kingdom of God. God wants to enter into, redeem and reign over every person, every culture, every community, and all creation. Come thy Kingdom in my life." Personally, I don't want to reduce God to just the church, and sadly that happens all too often. While he is (and should be) greatly involved in the church, there is a larger domain - one that includes every domain/area of society, including the church. And as the body of Christ, we have been released, mandated, and commanded to carry Christ and His Kingdom into the world.

Reposting this from Alan Hirsch today.
In my writing I came across this quote today by theologian Richard Neuhaus (who died earlier this year). It is worth considering because of the implied association of the Church with the Kingdom of God.

"Alfred Loisy the 19th century historian was right in saying that Jesus came proclaiming the Kingdom of God but what appeared was the Church. The disappointment was and continues to be severe. But the great irony is that today we alleviate our disappointment with the contemporary Church by pointing back to the New Testament Church --which was the great disappointment to begin with! Our restless discontent should not be over the distance between ourselves and the first century Church but over the distance between ourselves and the Kingdom of God to which the Church then and now is the witness.(my emphasis added)" - -- R.J. Neuhaus, Freedom for Ministry, 33.

This is my last set of notes to post from Catalyst One Day. I appreciate Craig’s heart and attention to this topic, especially a “leadership” conference. It really is the foundation to be used in the fullness of God’s Spirit. I’m slowly learning to put this thought into consistent practice.

Organizations love to settle because it’s the easy thing to do. They settle not only in practice, but in paradigm as well. You sometimes have to change the way you think to get something different. Here are some notes from Craig Groeschel, session 2 at Catalyst One Day last week.

1. Think differently about your church culture.

2. Think differently about programming.

3. Think differently about the mission.

4. Think differently about people leaving the church.

5. Think differently about limitations.