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?

Oh that it were only one thing that I was working through. The first thing that comes to mind is how I still sin and invent new ways to commit old sins. This should be a surprise to no one, but the key here is learning how to confess and repent reliably. It is not good enough to just create a sin and repent cycle, but that in my repentance I am able to see the change of events that lead me astray and that I am able to reform the chain by God’s grace.

Generosity

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

I work in the Mission Control Center at NASA Johnson Space Center, and I have been able to give tours to a number of friends and family. While it is work to me, and quite enjoyable, I am sometimes surprised at how thankful people are for the tours. Most people in the work force there are happy to give tours too, so I’m not unique in this regard, but it does remind me that I am very fortunate to have had this career and that it is because my steps are ordered by the Lord.

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.

Do you see a man skillful in his work?
    He will stand before kings;
    he will not stand before obscure men.
Proverbs 22:29 (ESV)

Your breath is borrowed from God. Do a good job.

Creativity

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

My life in the city of Houston has been filled with both joy and tears. I have been a part of teams that have been very successful, and I have had a number of efforts crumble in misery. But the work of reaching out to people in need and helping them get back on their feet sticks with me the most. It is like bringing new life to the city, and in the end Houston is forever changed for the good.

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?

As I listened to Pastor Chris’ great sermon on diversity this morning, it kept hitting me that the question of, or the need for, diversity started with the creation of man. You see, God made man, the creature, to rule over and explore the whole earth. That meant that as people spread over the earth they would have different experiences and so they would learn different aspects of God’s wisdom. There would be common things, like not killing and not stealing. But there would also be things like living on an island vs living in a desert, vs living in grasslands. So, being on a diverse writing team is part of the effort to collect the broadest sweep of God’s wisdom that we can get, and this team is wonderful for that.
^’26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”’

h – The Hebrew word for man (adam) is the generic term for mankind and becomes the proper name Adam

Genesis 1:26

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?

I used to be very careful about letting on that I was a Christian when in non-church settings. We could all probably use a bit more boldness in this regard, but I’m no where near where I used to be.

2) The one area of weakness in your writing?

I would like to be more organized in my thoughts and have devotionals that are more tightly to the point, while being thought provoking.

3) Your favorite pizza topping is…?

I love supreme pizzas. A well balanced concert of flavors with a perky sauce and nice butter crust. Wow, that’s good stuff.

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

So, the last thing I watched on my TV was The Avengers movie a few weeks ago. However, today I was re-watching a series of videos on Daunte’s Divine Comedy on my phone. Then there were also a few snatches of a baseball game on my computer too.

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

I had a technical writer tell me that there was no such thing as good writing. There was only good rewriting, and I have found that to be true. I think my best initial drafts happen in the early evening timeframe, then after I have slept I am able to make it flow better.

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

I do love the beach, so it would be hard for me not to think of San Diego California. That is were I went to high school, and I have family there. So, if the circumstances allowed, I would certainly look at moving there.