Update on Chris...

Hey everybody,  Jason here.  Just got back from the hospital and logged in here to throw out a quick update.  He's doing well now after having surgery this morning to remove an infection from the wound on his back from his last surgery.  He got a staph infection and was in a great deal of pain for the last few days.  It seems that everything went smoothly, and they were able to remove all of the infection.

Keep him in prayer for the next few days though.  There is a *possibilty* that the infection got into his bloodstream.  They are testing him for that today,  most likely it'll be negative.  Also,  he'll probably be in the hospital for a couple more days so if you want to visit him, he's in CCU room 7 on the 3rd floor (above the ER).  Or you can call 682-7111 and have them connect you to CCU and then to Chris Stroud.

Let's all praise God for the amazing work that He's doing in Chris' life!  God will be faithful to see this good work He has begun through to completion!  Amen!

*EDIT*   UPDATE AS OF JUNE 26:

The doctors have just informed Chris that he might be staying at the hospital for up to TWO WEEKS.  The extended stay would be to insure that his wound heals under proper supervision and constant care  so it's not necessarily a bad thing, but lets' keep him in prayer and visit him when we can.

Update from Kyle

Hey men,
Wow, I can't believe I figured this blog thing out. First time. Guys, I'm so stoked to have heard from a few of you in the time I've been up here in Seattle. The Lord has just been working overtime up here with the city and the people in it.

For those of you who haven't been up in this area, it's a totally different place than Carp. I miss the little town I grew up in as a kid, surfing, skating, getting into trouble and just being in paradise. But there is a beauty and treasure up here just waiting to be revealed. Just for starters, Seattle is "the most educated city in the nation" with more residents who have a college degree than any other city in the nation. There are more dogs than children, and Christians up here. Seriously. It is a place where you go to heaven if you recycle and vote for Obama, not that either one of those things is bad in itself, but just to give an idea. There is such an anti-establishment undercurrent here that questioning truth and authority seem to be the norm.

As you might imagine, being a Christian here is not popular. It's really weird. There honestly is some persecution up here for standing up and proclaiming Jesus as Lord and calling people to follow his Truth. Even just loving on people as He calls us to is seen as kind of weird.

But I'm digging it hard core! The Lord has been working on me hard up here. I got plugged into an incredible church that seriously is changing the streets each day. If you want to check it out, just visit www.marshillchurch.org. Pastor Mark is our preaching pastor, and it's a big church, but the community and movement it has is being used by Jesus like nothing I've seen before. On any give Sunday, there are about 5,000 people who attend any one of 4 services at our main campus.

My life has been so blessed you guys. After much prayer and encouragement from you guys, I've gotten engaged, found a job, and moved into my first place ever. God is so gnarly. After praying all summer and fall for a job to come, the Lord delivered in perfect time and place. I work for the Pacific Coast Feather Co. (www.pacificcoast.com) and am loving it. The people here are great to work with and the job couldn't be more fun. I am learning tons each day.

The apartment I moved into is a rad little place in the city. It is a killer little place in a rad part of town and the Lord was so good in helping me find it. It will be the perfect place for Brittney and I to start our life together.

And the raddest part - being engaged. Well, being engaged has definately been very hard and a trying time for both Brittney and I, but only through the Holy Spirit's help and direction, we are better than yesterday and looking towards Him always. We have grown in ways that we didn't imagine, communicating better, become more intimate without any of the physical sin blocking our way, and just living for Him as a couple! He has taught me a lot about my role as a leader and one day guiding our family more and more towards Jesus.

I have met up with a great community group filled mostly with people in their early 20s. Because of the huge need for community groups at Mars Hill, the set up is a little different. We don't really have community group seasons, as they just run all year long and people stay with the same one - once they find a group they fit with. That being the case, we have a method called "replication" where more community groups are formed by the splitting off of pre-existing groups. To better explain, the group I'm now part of will eventually split into two separate different groups once our numbers are consistently around 20 people each week. And by God's humor and perfect plan, he has put me in the place of "apprentice." This basically means that when our group is ready to split, I will become one of the new community group leaders. I have had some amazing time with a few of the leaders at church and they have poured into me unceasingly. The whole idea of walking as Jesus walked is to create disciples, and as men and leaders we are called to do the same that He did. This is the idea at Mars Hill - to be constantly pouring out into people and raising up new disciples, so that ultimately, this dark and sin-filled city will serve God like never before. It's like a hurricane here boys! There is so much going on and I hope you all have time to come and make a trip up at some point. I would be more than happy to set you up at my place and hang out whenever.

I didn't have addresses for you all, but just to make it known, you are all invited to the wedding this summer. We are getting married Sunday, August 10th at 6 PM on Mercer Island (just 2 minutes east of downtown Seattle). I know it's a trip, but I wanted you to all know you are loved and thought of. I miss Monday nights with you guys, singing, talking, learning, laughing and loving. You have all played such a huge role in God's plan for my life. I'm not quite sure what it is yet, but I know you were ALL instrumental in setting a solid foundation for my faith. In a time when I was brand new in my walk, you stayed on me, preached the truth and encouraged me to follow you all in the march towards our perfect Lord. I hope to hear from you guys soon. I will definately keep checking back on this blog thing and letting you know what's happening. Until then, I'll keep holding down the Pacific Northwest until Jesus has His day. Later on gentlemen!

Peace and love in Him,
Kyle

Update from Ivan

Thank you all for your continued prayers for our lives here in Colorado. A big focus for us spiritually is the opportunity we've been given to start a college/young adult ministry in Longmont. As we tell people around here what we feel that the Lord is putting on our hearts, people warn us that it is going to "blow-up". That certainly isn't the goal, but I think those comments are indicative of the hunger in the area for people in this demographic to worship, pray, study and fellowship together.

Listen Up has served as a wonderful model for me. As Taylor says, leave your shoes and your masks at the door. That's really what Chrissy and I are praying for, is to facilitate a gathering where people can get real with God, get real with themselves, and get real with each other.

I'll be teaching, which is really exciting because I believe that is one of my spiritual gifts which I have infrequently had the chance to apply. But as James warns, "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." That freaks me out!

My request, as you guys pray for this, would be that Chrissy and I are humble, repentant, and submissive to God's will. I know we all sin, and I don't want to take the yoke of legalism, but I don't want to be a blind guide teaching from a point of hypocrisy. Also, if you could pray for unity of vision and direction between myself and a few others that will be a part of the leadership team. And most importantly, pray for God to change peoples lives and raise disciples to be sent into the harvest.

Love you guys and be sure to give my brother Aaron a noogie for me.

Brad Paisley and Sara Evans: New Again

LAST NIGHT

HEY GUYS I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT HOW GREAT OUR DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. I FEEL LIKE WE ARE GAINING NEW INSIGHT IN HOW TO LIVE OUT OR WALKS WITH GOD. I ESPECIALLY THINK TALKING ABOUT HOW WE SOMETIMES CONFUSE PEACE FOR FEAR IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF. I KNOW THAT THIS IS ONE OF MY STRUGGLES AND I WANT TO HAVE THE DISCERNMENT WHEN I AM THINKING THIS WAY. ON THIS NOTE I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR YOUR GUYS PRAYERS. I AM CURRENTLY THINKING ABOUT RECONCILING WITH SOMEONE WHO I WAS FRIENDS WITH A FEW YEARS AGO. THIS PERSON WAS VERY MANIPULATIVE WITH ME AND LIED TO ME ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. ONE OF WHICH AFFECTED MY RELATIONSHIP WITH EMILY, (THIS WAS THE LAST TIME I HAD A FRIENDSHIP WITH HIM. AT THIS POINT I AM ONLY CONSIDERING THIS, AND PRAYING FOR THE LORDS GUIDANCE. HIS NAME IS ERIC, AND I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR PRAYERS AND SUGGESTIONS. MY BIGGEST STRUGGLE WITH THIS IS I DO NOT WANT TO BECOME HIS "BUDDY" AGAIN, BUT I DO WANT TO CLEAR MY CONSCIOUS OF THE MESS THAT I FEEL CAME FROM THIS CONFLICT OVER TWO YEARS AGO.

PEACE
NEIL

Sweet and simple testimonies

Men's Group moves to Montecito

2126 East Valley Road

Ahh, yessss, finnally we're moving back to Tarik's in Monn-teh-cii-toe. Guys, I know these directions may seem wacked but it's just like riding a bike after you do it the first time. We'll post some guys out front to make sure you don't miss us. Here are the directions:

From the North:
Take 101 South;
Exit (on the left) Sheffield Drive;
Make left at Stop;
Make Right at next Stop (Sheffield Dr);
Take windy road (stay left) all the way up the hill until you get to East Valley Road (CA 192) at next Stop;
Make a left onto East Valley (CA 192);
House is 3/10 of a mile on the right hand side...pass Romero Canyon, Orchard, and Tabor Lane but drive slow and pay attention! It comes quickly.
Park by the boulders on the left and walk across the street up the driveway (the mailbox on the driveway will say 2122; that is the right one) you will see the new house; walk up to the second house on the property.

Please park responsibly...make room for others across the street by the boulders...there may be some parking along the driveway if you come early.

See you tonight. Peace.

Glenn and Deb

Well Glenn and Deb took off this AM. They are stoked for what lies ahead. Keep them in prayer during this transition. TG

Worship Music

Hey guys a few of you asked for a copy of some of my sheet music it is available to download from the gmail account - Charles

Glad to be back!

Hey guys,
Just wanted to say that it was sweet being back tonight and that you guys are such a blessing. These past few days have been down-trodden and depressing, and the Lord used you all to bless, encourage, and cheer me up. Thanks for being submissive to the Lord. :]

P.s. Neil and Fred, great job tonight.

P.p.s. Glen, you and you're wife are such an encouragement.

"'Not by might or by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty"

-Zechariah 4:6

-Aaron "Absent" Feeney.

P.p.p.s. Thanks for the name Taylor. ;]

Glenn Odell

Hey guys,

Don't you wish the good times would last forever? Our season with Glenn is coming to an end. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says:

To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up [that which is] planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

So tonight is our last night with our friend...until he blesses us with another visit. And here's why he's leaving:

Hi Guys,

We just wanted to share the background behind what, to some, may seem an improbable and out-of-the-blue move.

We will be leaving Santa Barbara for the small northern CA town of Quincy, Monday June 16. Quincy is an unincorporated town of just over 5,000 souls and is the county seat of Plumas County. It is 2 hours north of Lake Tahoe, where the Sierra Nevada Mtn Range ends and the Cascade Mtn Range begins. The county economy is timber based and Quincy is home to the county’s last mill. There are many places to fish with lots of challenging jeep trails nearby. At 3,500 ft elevation it is a four season climate.

We have been to Quincy many times over the last two years. My oldest son (Matt) is a captain with the Plumas National Forest and has lived in Quincy for the last 8 years or so. Recently, my middle son (Seth) took a promotional transfer (now I have two fire captains in the family) to the Lassen National Forest from the Flagstaff, AZ area. This brought his family (including my grandson Jacob and granddaughter Jasmine) to within an hour of Quincy.

The most significant ingredient in the decision to move was our dear friends (Bob and Dee Burwell) accepted Jesus into their lives 3 months ago (a year ago they asked us for our testimony). Quincy presents a big challenge for spirit-filled believers. It seems pretty bleak right now with a smattering of very small (dying), main-line denomination churches plus a small presence of the JW and LDS cults. However, there is a small group of believers (6-10 couples) that has met in a home on Wed. nights for the last year or so. Their teaching, worship and fellowship is right-on, and we were welcomed with open arms! We hope this bright spot will be used by The Lord to bring revival to Quincy. Matt (my oldest) has been with that group since its beginning.

Bob and Dee’s commitment to The Lord was an answer to my prayers to God that He show me just one tangible sign of fruit being produced as I walk my path with Him.

The love, teaching, worship and fellowship we have experienced with our Reality family has enabled us to grow in so many ways. We’ve seen our faith become established on that firm foundation that is “The Lord”. Not that we have attained (in the Phil 3:12 context). We have been prayerful in our consideration of this big step. One of the most meaningful signs He gave us was the welcome the four of us received at the church-in-the-home. We certainly feel “stretched” spiritually by this undertaking, but we feel that moving out of “the comfort zone” and not settling for being merely “fat sheep” waiting for the rapture is consistent with the goal of finishing the race strong (not by our works-but by our abiding in Him).

Bob helped us get our first load of stuff to Quincy the Monday after the Baptism. He attended Reality with us and witnessed Deb’s baptism and it blew his doors off!!

Bob and Dee will be back in SB next weekend (Father’s Day) to help us pack up the remainder of our stuff. They will be with us at church as well! Dee wants to experience being in a room with 400+ people who love Jesus and are worshipping Him together. We will be back in SB for a short time after the move, to finish preparing the SB place for rental - so you will see us again!

Deb will certainly miss coming in weekly to lend a hand. It has been such a blessing to be able to serve The Lord in that capacity.

You guys remain our core family and will continue to have our support for the foreseeable future. Our love for you is deep, spiritual and emotional and will have to leave it at that…

Thank you so much…
God bless you all!

Glenn and Deb Odell
P.O. Box 737
Quincy, CA 95971

men!

be in prayer for chris today, he's having surgery on his back. the Lord has already revealed himself through all this by sending chris a doctor who has been extremely helpful in getting him this surgery right away, and i believe we'll continue to see the Lord's hand moving throughout the surgery and recovery. i'm not sure of the visiting situation yet, i know he's in surgery right now and that there's a couple hours after where he can't have anyone come see him, but after that he would love for us to go see him. if anyone gets updated on how he is or anything, post it, i'll do the same. love you all, praise the Lord, see ya tomorrow.

e

Keith, Ben, and Ivan!!!!!! Whats cookin'?!!

Hey guys, We here in SB just had a nice break on Memorial day to celebrate our countries service men and women of past and present. It was nice to reconnect last Monday after two weeks. Soon we will move to Tariks place in Mont eh seat ooohh... Pool, Hot tub, BBQ etc. Need I say more? We will start to meet from 4pm to 11pm to fit in all the fellowship and cannonball competitions. Not really. How is Listrenup going there? How can we be praying for you guys? Hope this finds you well and we look forward to gettin the latest.. TG PS We have tons of shirts if you want them.

Christian Gymnastics