It feels like so much has happened in a short amount of time. After all the prayer and conversation, here's is how G-d seems to have sorted things out.
It might be a good idea to begin by reminding everyone that there may be prayers that you should never pray. Prayers for patience are usually met with long lines, lost phone, numbers, extra commas, and alarm clocks that don't go off. Prayers for courage met with hilarious moments like realizing you are genuinely afraid of clowns as they drive down the highway on the way to frighten children at their fifth birthday party.
So we wildly continue to pray..."Make us a church only you could build."
So far this has meant twists and turns that have been incredible and reshaping.
First a quick follow up on the last four leads we chased. The first was the 7 acres that John owned. It sold, door closed. The second lead was the old Singing Hills property. This entire development is on hold. Third was the the twelve acres. This idea never seemed to gel at all. At this point along with many others projects in the present economy not much else is taking shape on the development front. Finally, the River side spot has not surfaced either although there are a few options that remian possibilities.
And so there we were without any real possibility. Feeling as if we had been somehow obedient to a fault. Then Jamie finally made the phone call that lead to a conversation with Rebecca.
Until the phone call we had prayer as our only rudder. We had asked for people near and far to pray on our behalf, gathered all the reponses over time, and noticed specifics among generally encouraging words.
The specific things came in groups. Strange Groups. One was a group of prayers that at some point mentioned the building being on a hill. While somewhat directionally helpful, we live in the Hill Country, so the odds were good.
Another was how the building was "very close", or "in our back yard." The back yard phrase was used enough to motivate me to stand in my back yard and try and see something I hadn't seen before. This only lead to watching deer and feeling like an idiot.
The third clearly distinctive group did not encourage my manliness but was a deeply biblical image. This was the image of a Rainbow.
So we looked for Rainbows. We waited to see a building we hadn't seen before on a hill, and increased continually the area we defined as our "back yard."
Months passed. Then Jamie called.
Rebecca and her husband Sean were opening a new business and had finally been able to get close to opening the doors. She asked Jamie to pray partly because they had felt compelled in prayer to be closed on Sunday for family and worship. She knew it was crazy but really felt G-d's leading. Then she said "We were hoping maybe a church could meet there on Sunday."
The business is located directly behind our present worship space in Spring Branch Middle School. It is on top of the hill. It's called the Emerald Rainbow Family Fun Center.
We will need to leave the school after Christmas. (Which will again be at Anhalt Hall) We are presently working out all the details. Some more creative than others.
The truth is the ER as it is affectionately known by the staff is not ideal. But, we are sure we are called to move there.
No doubt we will come to understand as we follow. By the way the name "Emerald Rainbow" comes from Revelation 4. Take a look...
"After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne."
-Rev. 4:1-3
