New Blog Is Up June 2, 2009

Hello Friends & Readers

I am launching a new domain for my blog today.

You can now find me at www.pastormarty.com

There are still some kinks to work out with the new site.

For those of you who are generous enough to link me it would be great if you made the change.

Also – RSS & Twitter are not up yet but they will be shortly.

Sunday Recap June 1, 2009

Yesterday was a crazy day that started quite early for me. Here is the low down.

• I was awake with Lydia from 2-4am. Please pray for her as she continues to fight a virus that is plaguing her with a high fever.
• Went to the office to print the connector cards. Could not get them to print. Randomly (divinely) my computer shut itself off without me hitting anything and the connector cards started printing. Really random.
• Proabably to much information but made a mess of myself in one of the most random bathroom moments of my life. Got a text from the band and set up team that they were waiting for me to let them into the Bridgeview Center. Drove over there then back home to change clothes. Went back to the Bridgeview Center. Realized I forgot my notes for Membership class and went back home but couldn’t find them and went back to the Bridgeview Center again.
• The worship team had three different practices but none of them together. They had the idea of playing a FooFighter song but didn’t get to hammer it out in time.
• Good crowd with a number of first time guests.
• Two homeless guys that I have befriended showed up.
• I was pumped for the sermon/message yesterday. I don’t know that I have ever gotten more feedback on a message. Look for it to be online at www.ottumwabridge.org later this week.
• Got a lot of laughs from my Dodger baseball game story. Wish I could have told the 10 minute version instead of the 5 minute version.
• We are going to need to set up more stations for communion. Those lines were crazy long!
• One of our applications was have a meal with someone this week whom you haven’t had a meal with. DON’T FORGET!
• Membership class was awesome! We had 14 families sign one year covenants.
• Jenny made a snack supper for the family. We sat on a picnic blanket in our living room and enjoyed all sorts of goodies. I felt spoiled.
• Last night was the last night of Divorce Care. This group was amazing for those who attended it. I’ve been doing childcare for this. Last night we had an awesome scavanger hunt.
• In the morning I asked for a kitchen skillet for some homeless guys. I ended up getting four from someone. So I set out and to find my friends. I found them and had an awesome time hanging with them in their place in the woods. We talked mostly about baptism and what it means.
• Jenny and I kicked back and watched one of my favorite chick flicks (yes I’m fine with that) “the Prince & Me”
• The night was short as Lydia woke up with a high fever at 2 again and I did an hour shift with her.

A few set backs May 30, 2009

I am really sorry about the false promo of a new blog being launched on Friday. A few kinks developed and I’m not sure what I’m doing.

Blog posts that have been put on hold:

• How much are you willing to invest?
• Getting your hands dirty.
• Another bucket of rocks.
• Dropped again.

My plan is to have those up with the new site later in the week.

Almost Ready May 22, 2009

I have really been working hard on setting up a new blog that will contain thoughts on what I am reading in scripture, family updates, bridge updates, personal thoughts, and Growth Group connection points. It looks like this weekend I’ll be able to pull it all together thanks to my brother and will launch at a new domain name on Tuesday.

New Blog Coming Soon May 20, 2009

I’m working on a new blog site that will hopefully be up soon. I know it seems pretty strange to jump ship but I have a few ideas of things I’d like to do with this blog and I am unable to do them here at wordpress. I’ll keep you posted.

Lydia May 19, 2009

Last week was Toby’s amazing week but don’t worry. Lydia had her share of moments as well. Sadly for Jenny most of her moments happened to be around the toilet. For example – there was the time when she threw an entire roll of toilet paper in the toilet and the Toby decided to go number 2 on it. Or the time when Toby put a washcloth in the toilet and Lydia flushed it. Not all of her bathroom moments end in chaos. There are those times of celebration after she goes potty on the big girl potty. We are the parents who reward each success with some kind of candy. Lately it has been jelly beans. Here is the most recent footage of Lydia’s joy getting her jelly beans.

Lydia also is quite fascinated with Blythe. She enjoys giving her – her pacifier, kissing her head, and occasionally holding her. Sometimes though – she wants to be the baby. Recently she wanted to be swaddled like Blythe.

Another recent activity Lydia has taken on is helping in the kitchen.

And when all of those things don’t keep her entertained. She somehow takes great joy in just laughing.

In the Course of Time

Observation from recent reading – In chapters 2, 8, 10, 13 and 15 of 2 Samuel the words “In the course of time” appears. I think this is very helpful verbage for us to consider. Many of the exploits we read take place in our minds in a matter of seconds but were actually lived out over the course of hours, days, months, and years. Many of us are looking for a course of action that will fix or change things right now but scripture reveals that things transpire over the course of time. This is helpful to me both personally and as a church planter. I believe there are times when I long to see a radical change yesterday or implement a new way of doing things tomorrow but I’m learning that isn’t always helpful or realistic. Some of the dreams God has planted in my heart will take place – but not yet – they will happen over the course of time.

This is really fun to reflect on when I consider what has already taken place over the course of time. I think about my relationship with Jenny and how over the course of time we went from e-mailing each other, to engagement, to marriage, to being blessed with a family and so much more. Or I think about how just over three years ago thebridge was announced as a something that would be coming. Now, not even two years in we have stories of what has taken place over the course of time that could fill a book. Stories of how God has provided, blessed, carried, loved, and set free people who have come to thebridge.

Things to think about – What has happened in your life over the course of time? What are you hoping will take place over the course of time?