Missio Colonia | Kevin and Kathi in Cologne, Germany

We could use everyone's prayers right now. Kathi and I are having a tough time jump starting our support raising here in Ohio. The first couple of weeks back home, we decided to take it easy and rejuvenate a little bit. Well, the rest period is over now and we're ready to really tackle what's before us. The difficulty is that we are not sure how to proceed from here. We started making appointments a few weeks ago, but those got canceled because of the recent blizzard and a flu virus that's making the rounds in the community. Now our efforts to meet with people are being frustrated by busy schedules. All the while Kathi and I are not doing much but hanging out at home, which causes us to feel guilty for not moving forward.

We're finding that support raising in a rural context is much different than doing it in an urban or suburban context. Everything moves at a slower pace, and people want to develop that relationship before talking about ministry. This is all great on one hand, but on another, we still feel an urgency to get this task completed. So, please pray that God would be opening up opportunities to share this vision we have to individuals and churches around here.

Here's an entry from my journal from today. I thought it might be encouraging:

So, after a long pause, I picked up my Greek to study some Ephesians again, and it brought such light on my current need for spiritual softening of the heart. I've been stuck on chapter 1 verses 15-17. It's the thanksgiving prayer that Paul gives following the amazing eulogy at the beginning of the letter. Paul's concern here is that the readers appropriate all of the spiritual blessings that are described in the eulogy. The emphasis isn't that these believers somehow obtain anew these mind-boggling blessings, but that they would have knowledge and revelation to see the blessings they already have in the spiritual realm. And there's the rub. Every beautiful and wonderful gift from above is secured for us in the heavenlies for all eternity. So, why doesn't my experience match with this truth so frequently? So often, as has been the case recently, I feel beaten, victory-less, and far from God's heart. Surely there's probably many reasons, but I'm seeing that the greatest battle in the Christian life is the fight of faith.

In his thanksgiving, Paul lets me know that he's praying that I would have the "Spirit of wisdom and revelation" that I might know God and all of the blessing I have as a son better. This doesn't change. But, our faith in and understanding of these things ebb and flow like the tides. My battle is a daily fight to believe and grab a hold of everything that God says is true about me. I am loved. I am a son. He is my gracious and protective and loving Father.

I've always asked myself, how different would my life be if I truly knew how much God loved me? Well, it seems now that it wouldn't be any easier than it is now. I would still face temptations, and I would wrestle with the world, the flesh, and the devil. But, there would be a constant stream of peace, hope, love, and joy flowing through me. Therefore, fighting the fight of faith is to pray moment by moment that God would be enlightening my spiritual eyes to see and believe everything that is now true of me in Christ. Sounds easy, eh? By God's grace alone, that is for sure.

Kathi and I have a prayer request for everyone. We've begun the process of looking for part-time jobs recently, and we found a really great opportunity. We stopped by the YMCA yesterday to find out about membership rates, and we just happened to ask if they were hiring. It turns out they are, so we are both going to submit applications. It would be so convenient if we could work at the same place, and it would also be nice to have the free memberships. We're going to drop off our applications today, so please pray that if it is in his will, God would open up the door to have us work there.

We made the move yesterday. We are no longer residents of Illinois, but once again we are Ohioans! Needless to say this makes Kathi very excited. We stuffed our Honda Accord to the ceiling with our remaining belongings and set off early yesterday morning. After surviving the Indiana/Ohio Tollway and a dubious visit to a rest stop Panera Bread, we got to Kathi's parent's house late in the evening. I don't think it has quite hit us yet, but this really marks a huge turning point in our lives. Chicago was the place where both of us set out on our independent lives and became "adults." We are dearly going to miss all of the relationships and memories we had forged there.

In some ways though, our lives are going to settle down a little bit. We will be busy with support raising here and finding part-time jobs, but we no longer have to worry about being nomads. We definitely need some down time, and we hope that the next week or so we can get caught up on some much need rest, rejuvenation, and reconnecting with Jesus.