City Life Starter

Background: We are going through a series on the values of our church. In order to help us think about these values, our City Life Houston Starter Team will answer questions related to each specific value. Let’s see how they do!

Authenticity

Tell us something that you are working through in your faith right now?

Whether God can make a rock so big He can’t lift it. It’s a real stumper. Okay, I don’t really struggle with that question. Actually, I struggle with authenticity, and I use humor to mask it. Honestly, that’s not true either. I’ll get back to you.

Generosity

When has someone’s generosity toward you or how you have been generous towards another changed how you see God?

When my wife decided to marry me. I thought that was pretty generous of her.

Excellence

(2 parts) What is one verse that has inspired your walk with God this year? Now, write the shortest reflection and application you can possibly do with the verse stated above.

John 17:4 – Jesus glorified the Father by completing the work the Father had given Him to do. Likewise, I glorify God by completing the work He has given me to do. My work is integral to my glorifying of God.

Creativity

Write a paragraph using the words, City, Life, and Houston, but that makes no mention of the church.

Many find Life in the City of Houston unbearable. Hour-plus commutes to and from work twice per day in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Stifling hot weather nine months out of the year. Repeated flash floods, and mosquitos the size of small birds. So, I live on the eighth floor of a mid-rise in downtown Houston, where the flood waters and mosquitos cannot reach me, and I walk to work through the underground, air conditioned, tunnel system. You might say I’ve adapted.

Diversity

(2 part Question) Given that we have a diverse church as well as a diverse writing team, what stands out to you most about being a part of this team? Why should someone read what we write compared to other Christian blogs?

Because here you get the perspective of a handful of different writers each week, often writing on the same subject or passage of Scripture. You can see how the Holy Spirit shows different parts of a truth to different people. It’s one of the many reasons we need each other.

Boldness

I’m not afraid to answer these 6 questions…

1) What’s something about your faith you used to be embarrassed to admit, but aren’t anymore?

When I was in college, I used to pray for our basketball team to win games. I understand now that there was probably a better way to pray. At the same time, I’m grateful the Lord meets us where we are in our faith. And, I would mention that we did win our conference that year. Just saying…

2) The one area of weakness in your writing?

I have a tendency toward writing that is too dense: stacking too many facts, arguments, proofs, ideas, and examples into a single sentence. See, I just did it again!

3) Your favorite pizza topping is…?

Cheese.

4) What was the last thing you watched on your TV before answering this question?

The Informant (2009), starring Matt Damon.

5) You write the best when…(place and time?)

I’m at The Fifth Vessel Coffee Co. on a Saturday afternoon, sipping on a low fat latte.

6) If you had to choose a place to live outside of Houston, where would it be? (Has to be within the U.S.)

Prosper, Texas. I figure something good must be happening there.