Mosaic Church Culpeper

Competitive

2010-05-18T19:33:00.000-07:00

I hate to lose. It really gets to me. Especially when you lose to the same team twice by one run. The toughest team in our league who holds an undefeated record. It hurts. I'm too competitive. I start going over the "should ofs" in my mind. We "should of" done this...I "should of" done that. My wife said she wished there was something she could do. She knew something was wrong when I came in the house all quiet. But, I told her just to leave me alone for awhile, so I could get over it. It's not happening. Here I am writing about it. I just need to vent.

Why am I so competitive? Is that the way God originally intended for His people to be? I'm not sure Adam was very competitive. Who was he going to compete with? Eve? I guess he could, but probably not and sleep in the same garden. I don't think that Adam originally had the need or desire to compete. He and Eve originally were in complete harmony with each other, nature, and God. Much changed when they crossed the boundary God had set. Chaos began internally and eventually passed on to the first two human offspring. Cain kills Abel. Why? Was he jealous? Competitive? Maybe.

I'm trying to make this competitiveness I feel fit into my Christianity. Was Christ competitive? I know He was zealous. Does that count?

I'm learning that being competitive isn't necessarily wrong for me as a Christ-follower. But, if I allow that competitiveness to cross the boundary it can become sin for me. I can be competitive for a game as long as I still love people. I can be competitive as long as it doesn't turn into bitterness or revenge-seeking when I lose. It still hurts to lose, but it would hurt even more to lose my integrity and reputation to others around me. Lord, help me.
Duane

Silence

2010-03-06T18:40:00.000-08:00

My good friend and fellow pastor of Mosaic, Joel Gaines, wrote this poem that we used tonight as we examined the Christ's dependence on his Father. It reflects some of the struggles we battle in our minds when we know we need to spend time alone with God. These are great word pictures that describe what we all go through sometimes, the fears, the questions, and the results of silence and just being with the Father. "But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer." Luke 5:16

The cold fear destroys what guard I have

Naked, exposed like a victim

Gathering what protection I can

The futility of my defense

Longing for the noise of my wisdom to blanket this moment

Will I like what I find?

Courage to listen?

Passion to be?

Guilt for what I have been?

A sword that pierces?

A wildflower grows to exist

Reflecting the beauty of silence

Relaxed as the sun reflects its simple duty

Revealing the cruelty of those too consumed to notice

The value of existence

Why?

2010-01-28T20:30:00.000-08:00

"Why in the world would God let this happen?" That's what I've been thinking lately. I don't understand. I'm supposed to be giving a report right now...a praise report...a report detailing how God came through at the last possible moment. But, He didn't. He chose not to. I don't know why, I just wonder. I want to know why, but I don't think He's going to tell me...at least not yet anyway...maybe never, in this lifetime. I'm supposed to be reporting about how I trusted God, had faith in God, and He came through. How He's an "on time God"...maybe not MY time, but surely on time or just in time. But He didn't. And now I wonder, why?

2 and 1/2 years ago, we put our house up for sale, packed our bags and moved to Culpeper, VA to plant a new church, Mosaic Church. God said to "go" and so we went, trusting that God would somehow allow our house to sell. It was out of our hands. We came with no guarantee of a job and not knowing a soul in this community. But God said "go" and so we went. God has since provided a great job and has grown Mosaic from 0-40. He has done some amazing things and provided in some amazing ways! God has put some great people in our life and we have made dear friends and relationships here. I'm confident that God has been in this journey with us every step of the way.

On Friday we received a letter from the attorneys that our house was foreclosed on. We had not been able to keep up with rent in Virginia and a mortgage in Florida, and because we weren't living in the home, the bank would not give us any help. The President's bailout wasn't any help for us and Freddi Mac never came through. Even after finally renting the house, the bank would not take payment unless it brought the mortgage current. Impossible. So, after exhausting every possible means of modifying the loan and being turned down, the bank finally foreclosed. We can add our name to list of millions here in America.

But, why? We trusted God. We stepped out in faith. We've seen Him do miracles in so many other ways and situations. Why not with this? Why in the world would God let this happen? As I shared my thoughts with a good friend tonight, he had no answers for me. How could he? But, he did remind me of some guys in the Bible who were in a tough situation. They knew God could come through for them. They trusted that He would. But there was no guarantee. It reads like this:

"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Daniel 3:16-18

Did you catch that? "the God we serve IS ABLE to save us...but even if he DOES NOT." Could he? He could. Would He? They didn't know. But, they were still going to worship and serve Him alone. Boy, I needed that. Thanks, Matt. Could God have done a miracle in this terrible economy and allowed my house to sell? Yes, He could. He was able. But even is he does not...and he didn't, I will worship and serve Him alone.

So, I do have praise report. I don't understand God and his ways, but I will trust him anyway. I will worship and serve him alone. What a journey this is turning out to be!
Duane

Frozen Pond

2010-01-05T03:44:00.000-08:00

My son surprised me yesterday. It wasn't the good kind of surprise, either, like when someone gives you a gift you weren't expecting. No, he surprised me with something that caused fear to come over me. We went for a walk down to the pond in the park behind our house yesterday, because the pond has frozen over with the very cold temperatures lately. We wanted to go see it and maybe step on the ice a little bit along the edge to see if it would hold our weight. It was a father and son adventure. When we stepped out on the edge of the pond, we could see that it was definitely frozen enough to hold our weight. That's when my son surprised me. Before I could warn him, he fearlessly walked out about 15 ft from the shore on the ice, and said, "I did this yesterday, Dad, I know it can hold me up." That's when the fear came over me. "What, you did this yesterday?" Now, I'm thinking back to yesterday. When did he come down here by himself? Then I remembered. We had asked him to go walk the dog, Buster, down at the park. Now, I knew. He had gone down there when he walked the dog by himself. At that point the "what if" fear began to grip me. "What if" he had broken through the ice and I wasn't around. Without becoming angry, but certainly wanting him to understand how serious I was, I began to instruct him to never do that again. This was something we were to do together, never alone. It reminded me that it is impossible for me to always know what my son is doing at every moment. This is not the first time I've been surprised and it surely won't be the last, but God is never surprised. Just that morning I read these words in Proverbs, "For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths." (4:21) God is never surprised! That is amazing, wonderful, and disconcerting all at the same time. He's never surprised at the good and bad things He sees. And, yet, He is still compassionate towards me. Disappointed sometimes when I want to do things my way, but always lovingly drawing me back to His perfect way. He sees me stepping out on the ice and flirting with danger. He doesn't remove the consequences if I fall through the ice, but He certainly there to dry me off and warm me up; reminding me that His path is always the best and I should never try to do life alone.
Duane

Smells like Garbage

2009-10-13T18:33:00.000-07:00

I left my unfinished chicken salad lunch in my classroom that doubles as an office for myself and two other co-workers over the weekend. Upon entering the room, I was immediately greeted with a smell like the one when you're driving in your car following a garbage truck. Wow, something had cured over the weekend. My quick Sherlock Holmes investigation led me to a plastic Safeway bag that encased the smelly culprit... two plastic containers with the remains of Friday's leftovers. I never realized how much a smell can leak out of a plastic container. When my co-workers entered the smell zone they immediately questioned with great interest, "What's that smell?" I don't know why I didn't want to part with those cheap plastic containers. They must have cost at least a buck at Wally World. But, I didn't want to throw them away. I guess I'm too cheap. So, I tried putting them in an empty filing cabinet. It didn't work. The smell was still seeping out and hanging like a dark cloud in the room. Finally, I put them in the trash can, wrapped them up in the trash bag and threw the whole thing out. The wonderful smell of rotting food finally left the building. The smell remained until we had it removed. I've always kinda felt sorry for those guys who collect my garbage every Friday morning around 6:30 am and have to ride on the back of those trucks. Do they get used to the smell? I'm glad those guys do their job. They probably feel unappreciated.

You know, I've collected a lot of trash in my lifetime. Not just literally, but metaphorically also. You see, there are things in my life that really smell. Garbage. I've been jealous. Jealousy stinks. I've lied. Lying reeks. I've gossiped. Gossip is foul. I've made people and things into idols. Idols have a stench. I've not loved my neighbor as myself. Unloving is offensive. I could go on and on. Failures. Regrets. Shame. My bag of garbage I carried around was overflowing and it really stunk. Until... until the Trashman took it all away. The smell remains until you have the garbage removed. The Trashman asked me one day, "Can I have your trash? Will you give it to me?" Until then, I had no idea how to get rid of the stench. On the day I decided to give my garbage to the Trashman, he took it all. He took it all away.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

He'll take yours, too.

Duane

Details and Toilet Paper

2009-10-07T03:21:00.000-07:00

It was amazing. What we've been praying for for such a long time finally happened. God answered our prayers in a mighty way. The grand opening of Mosaic was pretty cool! It all went really smooth... except for the toilet paper. So many details. I thought I had it all covered. I had checked my list twice to be sure we had everything covered. My wife, Mechelle, had even given me a call earlier in the morning while I was taking care of a few other details, to remind me to check the bathrooms for toilet paper. Everything was done. The evening began with Mandorla playing music. It was cool. I get up to welcome everyone who showed up. A great crowd. Then it happened. I hear a voice from behind me say, "Uh, Duane, there's no toilet paper in the bathroom." The voice was from Esther, our violinist, a member of Mandorla, and faithful part of Mosaic. Apparently she knew first hand (no pun intended). Wow, what an embarrassment. You need toilet paper! Not good. So, what do I do? I send Joel on a mission... a mission to track down a roll, real fast. Well, he wasn't able to find a roll, but he did, with Mechelle's help, find a stack of napkins. Oh, well. Sorry, ladies. I guess we're not a perfect church. No matter how hard we try, we're not. And, that's okay. It just keeps reminding me that we're not, but He is. I overlook a detail. He doesn't. I forget things. He doesn't (except my sins that He's forgiven). I'm not perfect. He is. I'm glad God cares about the details and He never forgets one. "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:26. There is no detail in my life that He doesn't care about. Nothing that is insignificant. 6 billion people in the world and He knows how many hairs I have on my head. Wow, what a God! I have a great God!

Psalm 150

¹ Praise the LORD.
       Praise God in his sanctuary;
       praise him in his mighty heavens.

² Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.

³ Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,

⁴ praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,

⁵ praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.

Duane

All Invited

2009-10-02T02:29:00.000-07:00

It's finally here! October 3rd! Mosaic's Grand Opening! A year and a half ago Mosaic started out as a small group of people in my house. It since has grown out of my living room (thank the Lord... love to have you at my house, but not all at once!) Tomorrow's a big day. Lot's of details to get done, but it will happen, Lord willing. We are praying for good weather for our cookout at The Stable Restaurant across the street from us, who will be providing burgers, and all the fixin's for everyone who attends. The free food starts at 5pm, then at 6pm, Mandorla will be playing a mini-concert in our service. KidMo will be if full swing for the kids at 6pm also. After the service we will have desserts for everyone to enjoy. So, if you're in the neighborhood, stop by and celebrate with us or check us out. Love to see you.

Duane

Actions

2009-09-09T18:36:00.000-07:00

At my other job, I often encounter students who make great claims, but the reality is, their actions do not confirm their statements. One might say, "I will do such and such" or "I'm gonna stop doing this or that," but, then turn right around and do "such and such" or continue right on doing "this or that," when you step out of the room. I asked a student the other day, "You said you were going to do 'this', but what are you really going to do?" How many times does this describe our lives? Our actions don't support our words. You might say, "Well, I believe I'm a person of good character and I really try to live out what I say I believe." But do we really? I believe that most of the things we say we believe, we do back them up by our actions. But, then there are those beliefs where we really drop the ball. Our actions really come up short of our beliefs. For instance, I was thinking this week of the reality of Hell. For most Christians, this is a core belief. We believe there really is a Hell, because Jesus said there is a Hell, and the New Testament writers confirm this truth. Even though it is sometimes hard to comprehend, most Christians believe that there really is a place where all those who reject God and His salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ, will spend eternity, separated from God in a place of eternal fire and torment. Most Christ-followers believe this. I believe in this reality. But, this is where I sometimes drop the ball with my actions. For if I believe in this truth of a real Hell, then I would never want anyone to go there. So, why do I seem so nonchalant, so careless when it comes to warning those I love and care about. Why do spend so much time praying for my own personal needs, instead of praying for them to come to faith in Christ?

Lord, thanks for being a forgiving God. I agree with you that I have many times failed to confirm my belief with action. By your grace and through your Spirit living in me, help me to warn them, pray for them, invite them to come and hear the good news that You experienced Hell so they would not have to.

Duane

NotReligion - Home

2009-09-08T18:50:00.001-07:00

NotReligion - Home

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King of the Mountain

2009-07-07T14:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I ventured up 522 to Sperryville, VA, where I caught 211 and made my way up to Thorton Gap. There I got in line to show my annual pass to the national park service person. Before leaving on this adventure, I asked my traveling companion if he had ever been up to Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Mountains, and he said "no." This was a complete surprise since this person had lived in Virginia his whole life and could see the mountains from just about anywhere in Culpeper. He had seen them from a distance, but had never been there and experienced their beauty. So, when we made the turn on to Skyline Drive, I knew my traveling companion would be in awe. I was not disappointed. As we pulled off the roadway onto one of the many overlooks he said, "This is really beautiful." I agreed with him and said, "Let's get out and take this all in." As we stood there on top of the Blue Ridge Mountains looking out towards the west we were speechless as we attempted to comprehend all that our eyes were seeing. We were at one of the highest points on Skyline Drive and down below was the great Shenandoah Valley. Houses and barns looked like you could reach out and pick them up with your fingers. Automobiles appeared as ants. At 3500 ft we watched hawks glide on invisible wind currents below us in search of prey. We were both just standing there in quiet wonder when my travelling companion broke the silence with, "I would like to have a house right here!" I was again surprised, but this time at his reaction and thoughts upon experiencing the beauty of the mountains. I responded with, "Yes, and you could be sorta like... king of the mountain." Then my friend made this statement, which caught me off guard. He said matter-of-factly, "I AM king of the mountain." We both kinda laughed then got back in the car and drove to another overlook not far down the road. I thought about that statement later..."I am king of the mountain." Sometimes I feel like that. And sometimes I believe I am king of the mountain...at least king of my mountain. Sometimes I do try to be king. Sometimes I act like I am king. That is...until my mountain begins to crumble underneath my feet. It's then that I am ready for someone else to be king. Sometimes I try to take the place of the one who is king. I say things like, "I've got this" or "I've got it under control" or "I can handle this." But, when my mountain starts to crumble it reminds me that I really don't have this under control and I can't really handle this on my own. I need someone else to be king...someone who can handle all this...someone who really is king of the mountain.

God, be king of my mountain. Take your rightful place. Let me not even entertain the thought that somehow I can be king. For you alone are worthy and able to truly be king of the mountain.
Duane

Identity Theft

2009-03-29T03:53:00.000-07:00

Too many Christ-followers are suffering from "Identity theft". It seems like every other commercial on t.v. is about how to keep your identity from being stolen and have your life ruined. The one that amazes me the most is the dude that drives around town with his social security number painted on the side of semi-tractor trailor. He's pretty confident. I'm nervous about putting it out there on anything let alone a tractor trailor! He's confident that with the protection of his company no one can steal his identity. But, it seems to me that too many of us have allowed someone to steal our identity. The evil one would like nothing better than for me to have the wrong perception of who I really am. So, he tries to steal my identity. He whispers in my ear, "you're not good enough"..."you're a failure"..."you're unworthy"..."you're unloved"..."you're hopeless"..."how could you keep making that same mistake over and over again? You're unforgivable." Apart from Christ, I am all of these things. But, in Christ, none of these are true. That's who I really am. In Christ I am good enough, I am a success, I am worthy, I am loved, I am full of hope, I am forgiven. And if you know Christ, so are you. "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy, and dearly loved..." Colossians 3:12

Confidence

2009-03-23T19:52:00.000-07:00

Have you ever tried out for something and didn't make it? I recently asked those who attend Mosaic Church this question and the response was what I expected. Everyone had a story of not making it, coming up short, or not-good-enough. Most of us have experienced it in life, being on the "B" team, the J.V., the practice team, not making the cut. Most of us know what it feels like to check the list to see if you made it, only to find your name missing. It's painful. Your confidence level takes a nose-dive. You doubt yourself whether you could ever be good enough.

When it comes to living out my life with Christ, sometimes my confidence level takes a nose-dive. Paul says to "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience" (Colossians 3:12). Boy, I blew some of those this week. So, if I'm not careful, my confidence that Christ can live out these qualities through me, can leave me. But, I was reminded by a fellow pastor that God has confidence in me. He believes in me. He has faith in me. I have been "chosen". I am his disciple and I he chose me. That gives me confidence. I'm reminded of this every time I think of those original 12 disciples. They were all "not-good-enoughs". They were "unschooled" and "uneducated". But Christ had confidence in them. He believed in them. He had faith in them and he chose them. A group of "anybody's". He chose them to be his disciples and they changed the course of history.

What if we really believe that we can live like he lived? We've all heard it said that we must have faith in God, and correctly so. It all starts there. But, maybe what we've failed to realize is that He has faith in us.

Duane

Who is this man?

2009-01-11T18:34:00.000-08:00

Who is this man called Jesus? Why should I give him the time of day? Who is this man called Jesus? He said he could show me the way.

Who is this man called Jesus?
What makes him any different than the rest?
Who is this man called Jesus?
He said he could give me life at it's best.

Who is this man called Jesus?
Why should I trust him, I've been hurt so much?
Who is this man called Jesus?
He said he could heal me with just one touch.

Who is this man called Jesus?
What I have done, he could never forgive.
Who is this man called Jesus?
He said come to me so that I can live.

Who is this man called Jesus?
Why should I trust him with my life?
Who is this man called Jesus?
He said I'll prove my love by giving mine.

Friends

2008-12-16T03:36:00.000-08:00

"I've never been to an outdoor Christmas party." That's what I heard a few times last Saturday night (12/13/08). Maybe it's because Joel and I are from Florida where it's not uncommon to do things "outdoors" most of the year or may we're just a little crazy, but that's what we pulled off here in Northern Virginia. Who cares that it was below freezing! The band played on! It was a little crazy. Do you know how hard it is to roll up a bounce house that has frost on it? Let's just say that rubber tends to get really hard when it's cold. But the party was really cool (no pun intended). I met some really neat people. Two ladies came with some special friends that they work with after seeing our flyer in Dairy Queen. Another lady came with her two sons who's husband is a local police officer. A man and lady came with their kids who just moved in down the street one month ago. Plus lots of old and new friends that we've made since moving here to Culpeper.

Friends, that's an important quality of Mosaic Church. We want to be friends, to be a friend to the community. The Bible has a lot to say about "friends." It says that in order for a person to have friends he must be friendly. Kinda goes without saying, but we've all met some really unfriendly people. In fact, there have been times when I've been the one who was unfriendly. It's a quality that I have to work at, because I don't always feel like being friendly. Do you? Jesus once said to his disciples, "I know longer call you servants, but friends" (Duane's translation). There's something special and meaningful about being called a "friend." Real friends are too few sometimes. I heard someone say one time that when you die you need to have 6 real friends, because that's how many you will need to carry your casket. Jesus also said, "No greater love than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends." Sometimes I'm unfriendly. Sometimes I am a good friend. But, there is no greater friend to me...to you, than Jesus. The greatest act of friendship and love would be to give one's life so another could live. I heard a story one time about a little boy, maybe 6 or 7 years old, whose baby brother was born with a rare blood disease and needed a blood transfusion immediately. The only one with the same blood type was his older brother. So the father asked his son if he would give his blood for his brother. The little boy said yes of course, but not quite understanding it all. As the little boy was lying on the bed next to his baby brother and the blood began to run through the tube to his brother, he looked at his dad and said, "Daddy, when do I die?".

Be friendly. Be a true friend. Trust in the One who is our friend.

Assessment

2008-12-11T03:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my wife and I traveled to Richmond to meet with an Assessment Team for the SBCV (Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia). Although we don't put it in our name, we are a Southern Baptist Church and I am a Southern Baptist Church planter. (We are not ashamed to be a Baptist at all, we just don't want the name Baptist to be a barrier to the gospel) Every year, as a church planter, I am assessed by a group of guys who are or have been church planters themselves. It was very valuable to sit with these guys and discuss where we've been and where we are going with Mosaic Church of Culpeper. I want to say how much I appreciate their insight, guidance, support, and encouragement. It was tremendously encouraging to be with these guys yesterday. Before the assessment I was asked to write a "state of the church" address. Basically, to evaluate where we've been, what worked well, what didn't work so well, and where we are headed. It's good every now and then to stop and do an assessment, not only on what you do, but also on who you are. It's good to ask the tough questions, "How am I doing in my walk with God?", "What's worked and what hasn't worked so well in my journey?", "Where am I headed?", "What do I need to improve upon or do differently to better my relationship with Jesus?". Sometimes in life, like church planting, you can get caught up in so many other "things" that you loose focus on the most "important thing." Assessment helps us to refocus and redirect. Have you done an assessment lately? Maybe you need to stop (I know that's hard for all of us) and do a little soul searching. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you've gotten off a little bit...a little bit out of focus.

Power

2008-11-30T15:28:00.000-08:00

Travel, it's what many of us do, or did, over the holidays. I traveled to Florida on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, but it was not for the holiday, or to eat leftover turkey with my mom. No, I went there to attend the funeral of my uncle James. Fortunately I was able to travel by airplane than make the 13 hour drive. While sitting there strapped into my seat on the Boeing jet paused on the runway for takeoff, I waited in anticipation for the pilot to push the throttle full thrust sending us down the runway. Having flown a few times, there's a sense of fear right at the time the plane begins to move forward. A fear of "what if?". But also there is this amazing display of power. As the plane lurches forward and your body is thrown back into your seat, you hear the roar of the powerful jet engines. I flew out of Richmond International and had a connecting flight in Atlanta, so there were four take-offs and landings on my trip. Each time I was impressed by the power it took to propel a gigantic plane filled with passengers down a runway and then into the sky. Incredible power. But, nothing compared to the power of God. As we study Mark's gospel at Mosaic Church here in Culpeper on Saturday nights, Mark continually puts the power of Jesus on display. Recently we examined the incident where Jesus cast demons called Legion out of a man living in a cemetery in Mark 5. Jesus has all authority and all power to command even the unseen demonic world. He has the power to change a man's life. One moment he's a crazed maniac, the next he's in his right mind. Changed. God has the power, real power to change our lives, the power do do anything. His power is on display all around us. We usually overlook it, but it's there. Where do you need to see God's power displayed? He can do the impossible. He can change lives. He can calm the storm. He is all-powerful and can make the impossible possible.

Rich

2008-11-16T19:15:00.000-08:00

I have to make a confession. I like to watch cars go round and round on a track. I like Nascar. Don't knock it unless you've experienced it! There's nothing like sitting...no standing, in the stands as 43 cars go by, bumper-to-bumper, at 200 mph! Talk about about a rush. Tonight I saw the end of the last race of the season in Homestead, Florida. I saw Jimmy Johnson become the Nextel Cup Champion for the third straight season. Something only one other driver has ever done. Pretty cool. Then something happened that really made me jealous. For his accomplishment, they handed Jimmy a check for $7.2 million dollars! That blew me away. $7.2 million dollars for driving a race car...for driving in a circle and turning left. I'm really jealous! But, seriously, it made me really think about what our world...our society...culture, rewards. Again, understand, I really like racing. I like to go to the races. I've taken my whole family to Daytona several times to the Pepsi 400, and my girls even like to go. But, it really struck me as I saw him lift that check high over his head for $7.2 million dollars, about the vast difference between what God values and what others value...what God rewards and others reward.

We've been having a discussion about money here at Mosaic the last couple of Saturday nights. A hot topic for all of us lately, especially in this election we just experienced. But, there are a couple of things that I am continually reminded of: 1) Compared to the rest of the world, most of us here in America are rich. If you have a car then you are rich, because 90% of the world doesn't own one. If you have fresh, clean, running water, then you are are rich, because most of the world doesn't. I don't have to have $7.2 million to be rich, just have a car. Here's what the Apostle Paul says to us rich folk: "Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever imagine--to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous." (1 Timothy 6:17-18 The Message) I don't know what Jimmy Johnson will do with all that cash...it doesn't matter...I don't answer for him. But for rich folks like me, God values being rich toward others and generosity. 2) In God's Kingdom everything is reversed. In His kingdom, the last will be first and the least will be honored. I'm a citizen of the kingdom of God here on this earth. To make a difference in the kingdom here and now, then my values have to be reversed also. The last and least, not the first and the most, should be where my values lay.
I'm still jealous, though. $7.2 million for driving a car! Where's the fairness in that? Oh, well, God knows.
Duane

Broken

2008-10-19T18:48:00.000-07:00

I just finished a tough week at school. To help support us financially, while planting Mosaic Church, I'm working as a Therapeutic Day Treatment counselor at Eastern View High School. I basically work with at-risk kids all day at school. Kids who are on the verge of being kicked out of school. I'm there to help, hopefully, to keep them in school. After school I am working as an In Home Counselor for a troubled kid and his family. A family that has had generations of anger and dysfunction. I'm there to help give them some hope and help them find a way to change. So many broken lives from so many broken and dysfunctional homes. When I was a full-time pastor, I tended to stay in my "church world". I hung out with mostly my Christian friends. I did "Christian" things with my "Christian" friends. It was safe and non-threatening. Working in these two environments, a public high school and a dysfunctional home, has, and continues to open my eyes to the broken, lost, and desperate world I live in. At times I feel like a missionary in a foreign country. Stepping out of my "church world" and into the "real world" seems foreign to me. A whole other world. Where I'm the minority. Yet, that is where I need to be. I believe its where Jesus would be if he were here in Culpeper. He'd be where the broken, lost, and desperate people are. He'd be at a public high school and a home of a hurting family. And yet when you think about it, He is there. He's there through me, because He lives in and through me everyday. It reminds me of "Jesus and his disciples were at home having supper with a collection of DISREPUTABLE guests. Unlikely as it seems, more than a few of them had become followers. The religion scholars and Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company and lit into his disciples: 'What kind of example is this, acting cozy with the riff-raff?' Jesus, overhearing, shot back, 'WHO NEEDS A DOCTOR: the healthy of the sick? I'm here inviting the SIN-SICK, not the spiritually-fit." Mark 2:15-17 (The Message)

Duane

Unexpected

2008-09-29T19:33:00.000-07:00

September 30, tomorrow, is our one year anniversary here in Culpeper, VA. One year ago we rolled into town on a Sunday afternoon in a big orange U-haul truck with our Pontiac Vibe in tow. It doesn't seem possible that one year has already passed! But here we are one year later. This has been the toughest year of my life. This has been the most amazing year of my life. The journey has taken many twists and turns. It has taken me places that I didn't expect. A year ago, I never expected to work in a place like Sears or be a Substitute Teacher or be employed by a counseling agency and working full-time in Culpeper's new high school. I truly expected Mosaic Church would be fully launched by this time, but God's timing has been different than mine. Sometimes I wish He'd do things on my schedule. Sometimes I question God's judgment. I question His decision making. Imagine that! Me, a mere mortal, questioning the infinite God. He is so patient with me. I am blessed by His grace. Right now, Mosaic church is at 25 people strong. We have grown from 7 to 25 in the last 2 months. Some of the original people who started with us in April, who I expected would be a part of our launch team, are no longer with us. God is building His church with the people He wants. I expected those who started with us to still be with us, but God had different plans. I wonder what God is doing sometimes. I'm learning to expect the unexpected with God. We have received unexpected gifts from people many times over that past year. Unexpected blessings! We've also had unexpected challenges in our personal finances. I keep trusting God. I expect Him to come through for me, His child. And He always does, but usually in unexpected ways and with unexpected people. I guess that's why this has been such a difficult yet amazing journey. I never know what to expect with God. That's what makes the journey exciting. I'm leaning not to worry, just expect something unexpected.
Duane

He wants my Heart

2008-09-22T19:01:00.000-07:00

What makes you angry? People who cut you off in traffic? People who talk on the cell phone in a resturant? Injustices in the world? The neighbor's dog who barks at all hours of the night? Mean people? It could be anything. Have you ever thought about what makes God angry? You could probably come up with a few things. Maybe war, or parents who abuse and neglect their kids, or government officials that commit genocide, or...it could go on and on. In our study of Mark's gospel on Saturday nights, we discovered something that makes God angry. In Mark 3, Jesus, God the Son, got angry at the religious people and their "hard-nosed religion". The religious people of Jesus' day, called the Pharisees, were more interested in religion on the outside than they were about a relationship on the inside. Their hard-nosed religion defined the way they lived. They were into keeping rules and trying to impress God. And all that mattered to them was that everyone else kept the rules too. God was not impressed. He hated what they were doing. Why? Because it wasn't from their heart. In chapter 7, Jesus, speaking about the Pharisees, quoted Isaiah, "These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn't in it. They act like they're worshiping me, but they don't mean it." God wanted their heart. All they gave God was their lip service...and it made Him angry. It's like giving someone a gift...or saying its a gift, but only doing it because you feel you have to. Its not really from the heart. Nobody wants that kind of gift. God only wants our heart. Where do we get off anyway thinking that we can do anything to impress God! We can't, but we can give Him our heart. And that's what He wants the most.
Duane

The Name

2008-09-15T20:09:00.000-07:00

I went to my first AA meeting last night. I can hear what you're thinking. "What?!" I went not as a member but as a visitor. One of our guys here at Mosaic Church is a recovering alcoholic. He and his wife and son have been coming for about a month and a half now, every Saturday night. Pete goes to an AA meeting just about every night of the week. The last couple of weeks, Pete has asked me to go with him to one of their open meetings. I really want to be a support for him, so I told him I would go. So on Sunday night we drove to Madison, about 15 miles away to a Presbyterian Church and there I attended my first AA meeting with a group of mostly men and a few ladies. Pete introduced me to several of his friends and then we went into the church fellowship hall and found a place to sit. I kinda felt like church...since it was in a church, and we were sitting on the back row. They took an offering to cover their expenses and even prayed. A couple of things really struck me as the meeting began with a few announcements and then the introduction of the night's speaker. One was the use of the terminology of "higher power". I could tell that the speaker was very religious. He spoke about growing up here in America and about having parents from India. Yet, I'm not sure which God he was referring to. Was it "Allah", one of the many thousands of Hindu gods, or Jesus? Another thing that struck me was that the name of Jesus was never mentioned. It's amazing to me that people can talk and talk and talk about God and "whatever that is to you", yet when one brings up the name of Jesus people get offended and controversy breaks out. I'm not saying it does at AA meetings. I don't know, I've only been to one. But that's what the name of Jesus does. It divides. There's no gray area. His name either excites you or offends you. Now don't get me wrong, I think that AA is doing a great job of helping people get sober and stay sober. In fact, they're doing what the church should be doing. They are accepting, they hold each other accountable, and they welcome you back even when you mess up. Sounds like a church, but its not. AA has done a wonderful job helping my friend Pete and I'll go back with him sometime to show my support. As a church, we should model acceptance, accountability, and welcome each other with open arms even when we've blown it. But what makes Mosaic different from AA is the name of Jesus. He is the healer of our diseases. He is the comforter of broken hearts. He is the grace-giving God of mercy to those who blow it time and time again. He is the name by which we are saved. Without Him it doesn't matter if you gain your whole life but lose your soul.
Duane

Perfect

2008-09-14T18:48:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a historic day for Mosaic Church. 20 of us celebrated our first communion as a church here in Culpeper. As we began our celebration we opened it up for anyone to share their past experiences with communion. It was very interesting to hear the different experiences people had had in the past. Some shared their experiences as children growing up in the Catholic church and on into adulthood. How mechanical and impersonal it seemed. Others talked about the different traditions that really weren't explained. Some had never participated in communion...ever. Several had no idea why we take communion or the reasons why it important to our faith. How refreshing it was to share our first communion with a group of people excited about starting a new church...a new faith community. Everyone put aside their expectations and their past experiences to enjoy something fresh and new. And that's precisely why Jesus came. He came to start something new. He put aside the old plan, the old covenant, with its limitations, its incapabilities, and brought us the new plan, the new covenant, "written in (his) blood". A plan that is capable and unlimited. It takes away all our sins... from anyone who will believe. No matter how checkered our past. No matter how scetchy our present. No matter how uncertain we feel about our future. His body was given for us. His blood was poured out for us. To do what we couldn't do...save ourselves. "Christ made a single sacrifice for sins...It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people." (Hebrews 10:12-13 The Message) That's a perfect description of the people here at Mosaic Church in Culpeper, VA. Some very imperfect people being perfected by a perfect Savior.
Duane

Inside Out

2008-08-25T19:17:00.000-07:00

Who's job is it to change people? The President? The Preacher? Who has the authority? The right? Even if a person did have the right and the authority, can a person really change another person? Maybe, if we're talking about outward change. A plastic surgeon can change a person's appearance. A personal trainer can make you loose pounds and change your weight and body build. But, does outward change really change a person? It may give a person more self-confidence. A person may feel better about themselves. We all know this to be true. But, where does real change begin? Where does lasting, enduring, transforming change take place? I grew up in a church where real change was looked at as something that affected you mostly on the outside. There wasn't a written list of "do's" and "don'ts", but you heard about them all the time. You knew what they were because they were mentioned in every sermon. When a person came to a service dressed differently, they would get the stare, or someone might even say something to the effect, like, "we don't dress that way around here." Growing up in that atmosphere, you always felt guilty, judged, and bound up. You really never felt "free". What I discovered over the years is that a list of rules that attempted to change me on the outside to conform to someones idea of holiness, never really changed me. In fact, it only made me desire to go against those ideas all the more. At Mosaic Church we don't hand people a list when they walk in the door. We don't tell people this is what you need to start doing and this is what you need to stop doing. It's not my job. I don't have that authority. But, there is someone here at Mosaic who does. His name is Jesus and by his Spirit he will change us from the inside out. That's what he came to do. We need to stop trying to do His job. Holy Spirit change me! Change us! Cut out everything in me that doesn't look like you.

As he preached he said, "The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I'm a mere stagehand, will change your life. I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism--a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit--will CHANGE YOU FROM THE INSIDE OUT."
Mark 1:7-8 (The Message)
Duane

Destiny

2008-08-04T19:43:00.000-07:00

What is God doing? When I receive salvation by faith in His Son Jesus, is He done with me? Is the rest left up to me? Most Christ followers would say "no", but unfortunately most don't live their lives that way. I believe that many people who call themselves "Christian" live a performance based Christianity. Most would say that they believe in "grace" but their lifestyle says that they believe like the old saying, "if it is to be, then it's up to me". What am I talking about? What I'm saying is that a lot of Christians act like God does the saving (He gets the whole thing started) then He leaves it up to us to carry it out and make all the necessary changes. Some also believe that Christians are the agents of change in other people's lives...that it's our duty to change people over to our way of thinking...over to our way of living. Is that our job? I don't think so. We discover truth. We share truth. The changing of a life is up to the Spirit of God. The change that's necessary in my life is made by the Spirit of God. He does the changing. I'm not called to live the best I can and do the best I can to change in me what needs changing. My best isn't enough. Only He can change me. I need His best. I need Christ living in and through me by His Spirit. Christians who believe that God saves them, then the rest is left up to them are performance based Christians. They have their list of do's and dont's for themselves and especially for others. But apostle Paul said this, "By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge--a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete" 2 Corinthians 1:22. God gave us His Spirit...His pledge to us. We can't do it ourselves. That was the whole purpose of giving the Law. To show us that we can't live up to it. We need help. The Spirit is the "beginning of what HE is destined to complete." Who will complete it? HE will! That's a promise! It's a promise that I can't keep, but He can. He made my spirit new by making me alive with Christ and He's transforming my soul...my mind, will, emotions, personality, etc., to be more like Him everyday. That's our destiny.
Duane

Waterfall

2008-07-24T18:41:00.000-07:00

One of the things that attracted me to Virginia was the mountains. And a great thing about living in Culpeper is that I'm only 3o-40 minutes away from beautiful Skyline Drive that etches its way along the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah National Park. A couple of days ago, my friend Joel and I, took the afternoon off to ride up to the mountains. A few weeks earlier, my family and I had hiked to Dark Hallow Falls up at Big Meadows on Skyline Drive, so I thought Joel would enjoy this hike to experience these breathtaking waterfalls. After parking the car near the entrance to the trail, we grabbed our water bottles and headed down the mile and a quarter trail to the falls. One of the things that caught my attention right away was how small the stream is where you begin your hike. By the time you get to the falls the water is rushing over the rocks at hundreds of gallons per minute. Its amazing to me how such little water could become a tremendous deluge of water in just a relatively short distance. Jesus described the kingdom of God in a similar way. He said it was like tiny seed that grows into a huge tree. For now Mosaic is in the trickling stage and by faith I believe God will grow His church into whatever He wants it to be. The key, I'm learning, is "God" will do the growing. Its mysterious, just like the mysterious way a trickling stream becomes a gorgeous waterfall. I don't have all this church planting thing figured out, but I know He does. So, I'm content to keep doing what He's created me to do, and that is to become all that He wants me to be. For all of us, I believe it all boils down to this alone...a journey to become all that He wants us to become. God has plan for our lives. The plan is not mysterious, but rather simple. Jesus said it very plainly when he said that it all comes down to loving God and loving others. Imagine what our world we would be like or even our town, neighborhood, family, if everyone was becoming what God intended us to become...people who love Him and love everyone else around us. Some days it seems to come easy, other days I just don't feel like it. Its a journey of "becoming". On our way back up from the falls it became very clear very fast that the hike would be much more difficult. We took our time. We took a lot of breaks, especially when Joel's leg began to cramp. Even though this journey of life I'm on sometimes seems easy and other days is extremely challenging, I'm believing that my trickling stream will come along side of other trickling streams and together we will become God's waterfall here in Culpeper.
Duane

The Pew Has Left The Building!

2008-07-20T17:51:00.000-07:00

"We're giving away the pews from the choir loft" we heard the pastor say this morning at a church my wife and I attended. The church is going through a remodeling phase and the pews in the loft have to go. He said, "Anyone who would like to have one can take one. They're free." As I thought about the offer I wondered what would someone do with a pew at their house? I couldn't imagine anyone using one or replacing one of their couches for an uncomfortable pew! What would be the purpose? Maybe it could be a memento or a piece of furniture that would spark conversation by those visiting your home or maybe it could be considered an antique. Whatever it's purpose would be it's still out with the old and in with the new. The old pews are out the door and being replaced by something new. The old pews are leaving the building, never to be brought back again. They have no more purpose in that sanctuary. That's Apostle Paul said about Christ followers. He said, "anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The OLD LIFE IS GONE, a new life burgeons" 2 Corinthians 5:17 (The Message). When I received my new life by faith in Jesus Christ, my old life was crucified with Christ and buried, never to come back again. I rose with him a new man. Sometimes I can try to accomplish things in my flesh, but my old man, my old nature is gone. He has no purpose in this sanctuary any longer. He has left the building, never to return. When Jesus creates something, "It is good."
Duane

More Than We Deserve

2008-06-30T19:57:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you get more than you expect...more than what you deserve. "God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he's rich in love" Psalm 103:8 (The Message). I have been wanting to take Bryce to a Major League Baseball game for some time. Now that we live within driving distance of the Washington Nationals I've been looking for an opportunity. Yesterday morning I went online to see if they were playing at home and what the ticket prices were. And to my pleasure I saw they were playing the Orioles at 1:30 and there were "family fun" tickets for $14 which included a hot dog, drink and chips. So, we headed out towards D.C. We parked in Vienna and got on the Metro (the subway system for D.C.) which took us to within a block of the Nationals Park. We got in line at the box office to buy tickets but were disappointed to find out that the Family Fun Tickets were sold out and the only tickets left were $10 standing tickets (that means you have to stand somewhere, you don't have a seat) or the Diamond Club seats which were $175 a piece. We walked away disappointed that we had traveled so far and were so close, but couldn't afford to get in. Bryce began to cry and I was brokenhearted for him that he would not get to see the game. As we walked around the entrance trying to decide what to do next, an older gentleman walked up to us and asked if we needed tickets. He said he was an attorney from D.C. and had a group of season tickets that he didn't need. The face value of the tickets were $55 and he said he would take $25. We told him our situation and the tickets we had come to buy and he told us that these would be much better. We didn't have cash on us so to our surprise he said he would take a check. We thanked him and excitedly walked to the gates and on towards our seats. Our tickets took us to place called the Stars and Stripes Club...an air conditioned club with food vendors, shops, and lots of lounge chairs and tv's. Our seats were on the first row of the lower deck along the third base line. It was more than we expected. We had planned to sit in the right field upper deck with the family fun tickets, but this was more than we could have imagined. And what a game, too. Belliard hit a 2 run home run in the 12th inning with 2 outs to win the game for the Nationals. What a day! Some might think that all this is coincidence, but my God is a God of mercy and grace. We get more than we deserve and He doesn't treat us as we deserve. I was surprised by what happened. It's not what I expected or planned. Sometimes God has something better.
Duane

Fellow Traveler

2008-06-30T18:22:00.000-07:00

So many lessons to be learned on this journey of faith. One of the many that I'm learning is to be faithful wherever I am, in whatever situation I'm in, and with whoever I'm able to come along side in their journey. A new guy started working part-time at Sears a couple of weeks ago. He's a pilot part of the week and needed something part-time to help with the bills. I know what it's like to be the new guy at work so I'm trying to help him learn the ropes as quickly as possible. The other day as we were unloading the semi-trailer full of appliances and stuff into our stock room, he began telling me about being laid off from his pilot job that same week. He and his wife and son moved here from Northern Virginia to get out of the rat-race, like many others, but now he's facing some pretty tough times ahead if he doesn't get another pilot's job soon. He has a big house and an even bigger house payment. What do you say to someone in this situation? I don't have the answers for our economy. I live in a community where over 150 homes have gone into foreclosure since the beginning of the year. All I knew to do was share a little bit of our story and how God has done some amazing things. I told him about John, whom God had sent into our lives to buy our house and keep our credit it tact. I used our experience to tell him that God can do something amazing in his life too. I can't guarantee him anything. But, I know first-hand of God's faithfulness to me. I read about it this morning where Samuel reminded unfaithful Israel, "God, simply because of who he is, is not going to walk off and leave his people" 1 Samuel 12:22. Since then, he has asked me questions and it has opened up a conversation that I hope will continue and hopefully lead him to Jesus. As a Christ-follower, the end of my journey is already settled, but what I do along the journey is for me to decide. Will I come along side of others as a fellow traveler and help lead them in their search for knowing God? I don't know how all this is going to turn out, but even if it's just to help one person on their journey to really know God, it will have been worth it.
Duane

Saving Ourselves

2008-06-16T19:06:00.000-07:00

John and I were talking this afternoon about the Culpeper Soapbox Derby which will take place this coming Saturday on Blue Ridge Ave, the street I live on. Our street will be blocked off to traffic with orange cones and hay bails lining the street. We were told the other day by a police officer to park our cars some place else or we wouldn't be able to get out of our driveway after 5am. It's a big deal in our community. It's to be a family event. Fathers and sons, Moms and daughters all building soapbox cars together to compete. One winner from each age group will advance to the Nationals held in Ohio. But the thing that struck me most was one fact about the soapbox race that I wasn't aware of until John told me. He said that each driver runs two races against the same opponent. The first race with their opponent's wheels on their own car and the second race with their own wheels on their own car. I found that quite interesting. Here in this "family fun" event rules had to be made because of those who would try to cheat by doctoring their wheels. I was amazed. I had no idea. It proves once again of the total depravity of mankind. We can't even be honest in an innocent, family fun event like the soapbox derby. Now, I know that not everyone tries to cheat, but given the right circumstances...who knows? It reminds me again that we all need a savior. We can't save ourselves. We can't even keep ourselves from cheating in a kid's race. God brought us here to Culpeper, not because it's a terrible place filled with cheaters. No, he brought us here to tell the people that there is One who can save us... even from ourselves. Jesus.

Duane

Thirsty

2008-06-09T13:39:00.000-07:00

What am I thirsty for? I ask that question as I listen to the rain beat down on our house and I watch the river that flows through the park behind our house rise. I've been asking myself that question for a few weeks now ever since I watched a video called "Thirsty". The first week of June, at our Saturday night Mosaic Church, we talked about being thirsty for hope . That very week a friend of mine at work told me that his best friend's ex-girlfriend hung herself from her kid's swing set on Memorial Day. The neighbors found her dead. She had lost all hope. Since then, my friend who told me the story, who himself is a recovering alcoholic, hasn't shown up for work in three weeks. No one's heard from him lately. He's back drinking again. Is it that he's drinking to satisfy his thirst or is he drinking again because there's a thirst deep within himself that he has never been able to quench and he thinks he can quench with alcohol? Has he lost all hope of ever quenching his thirst? Does the alcohol simply numb the thirst for a while? I believe that humanity was created with a thirst...a thirst that only God Himself can quench. We see it from the very beginning with Adam and Eve's desire to walk with God in the garden. They were thirsty for a relationship with their creator. The animals, even creation itself, couldn't satisfy that thirst for relationship with God. Humanity is hopeless without the God who made us thirsty. I find myself trying to satisfy my thirst for Him with other things...so many times. Those things always leave me thirsty. In the New Testament, the prodigal son tried to satisfy his thirst with everything but his father. But, when he finally went home, he found his father running to him, ready to quench his thirst. What am I thirsty for? Ultimately, God. He's not who I always run to, but He always runs to me.
Duane

Spy?

2008-05-27T18:42:00.000-07:00

Mom flew in from Jacksonville this weekend accompanied by my brother, David. Since this was her first visit since we moved here last October, we wanted to show her around and catch some of the museums in D.C. One of the museums we spent some time in was the International Spy Museum. We saw all of the gadgetry used over the centuries by spies from all over the world from as way back as the Old Testament, where the Bible talks about Joshua sending spies to spy out the promised land. It was a great museum. At the beginning of the self-guided tour we were shown a picture and asked to pick out the people who looked suspicious and were spies and objects that were being used for spying. Some things were very easy to pick out but others were very difficult if you didn't have a trained eye. It made me wander, what if someone had a portrait and I was in this portrait along with others and people were asked to pick out the "Christ follower"...would they pick me? Of course only God knows our heart, but if someone had to pick...? Is my life different so as to be noticeable to others? What would give it away? Does my life point people to Jesus? I really don't want to be a "spy" for Jesus, someone who deliberately seeks to hide his identity. But, I also don't want to be the guy on the soap box with a megaphone either. I want to be somewhere in the middle...balanced. Loving God out loud by quietly loving my neighbor.
Duane

Fresh Start

2008-05-13T03:05:00.000-07:00

There are days when you feel like you need the slate wiped clean, you just need a fresh start. At the store that I work a few days a week, we sell a fuel additive called "Fresh Start". It's a small round cartridge that you put in your gas cap of your lawn mower. Everyday it releases a drop of chemical that keeps the gas clean and fresh so that the engine will run smooth. This morning I was reading Psalm 32 and David said, "Count yourself lucky--how happy you must be--you get a fresh start, your slate's wiped clean" (The Message). David says this to us as a statement of fact, it's a done deal. You can count on it. You can bet your life on it. How do I know this to be true? Because, as he gave them the cup of wine to drink, Jesus told his disciples, "This is my blood, God's new covenant poured out for many people for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:26-29). Like the drop of Fresh Start that keeps the gas clean, my life is kept clean by one drop of blood. It cleansed me and it cleanses me. It made my spirit alive. It gave me a new heart that his holy. A place that is clean. A place that God could dwell. David goes on to say, "Count yourself lucky--God holds nothing against you" (v.2). Does all this mean that I never sin anymore? Hardly. When I do sin, I become filled with guilt, like David. When I don't confess it, like David, "all the juices of my life dried up" (v.4). But when I admit to God my failures, when I confess and admit to Him that He's right and I'm wrong, like David, "Suddenly the pressure was gone--my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared" (v.5). Everyone needs a fresh start. My God is the God of the fresh start...the God of the clean slate...the God of the second chance...and the third chance...and the fourth... It's a grace that I cannot comprehend, but I am overwhelmingly thankful for. It's available to all. Come to Him and you too can count yourself lucky.
Duane

Humbled

2008-05-01T03:15:00.000-07:00

"So--who is like me?
Who holds a candle to me?" says The Holy.
Look at the night skies:
Who do you think made all this?
Who marches this army of stars out each night,
counts them off, calls each by name
--so magnificent! so powerful!--
and never overlooks a single one?

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, (O Duane)
or, whine, Israel, saying,
"God has lost track of me.
He doesn't care what happens to me"?
Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?
God doesn't come and go. God LASTS.
He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.
And he knows EVERYTHING, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young fold in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,
they walk and don't lag behind."
Isaiah 40:25-31 The Message

Just when I thought God had somehow overlooked my situation...my circumstance...God pulled it off. He did what only He could do. Just when I had exhausted every avenue, idea, and plan of my own, God came from what seems out of nowhere and performed the impossible. I am humbled.

Two weeks ago I received a phone call from a man I had never met. He found out about our situation with our home in Florida from someone I don't know. He and his partners specialize in buying homes. My first conversation with John was on a Saturday afternoon. The next day he drove to Okeechobee, Florida (5 hours from Jacksonville) to look at our home. That afternoon he said he would buy the home. Granted, he's not going to buy it for premium price, but considering we have received letters from lawyers in Tampa about foreclosure procedures, we are thrilled. But, that's not the really amazing part. This guy, John, who I have never seen, and only talked to on the phone, is going a step further...beyond what people in his type of business would usually do for people in our circumstance. Get this--he has contacted the bank and is paying $10,000 to bring our mortgage back in good standing, and he is going to pay our monthly mortgage payments for the next few months to keep our credit in tact. He then is going to send a work crew to Okeechobee to, in his words, "doll up" the house for him to resell it. He will buy the house from us and close on it in the next 60-90 days. Is that incredible or what?!! This is no joke or con. Those who know him completely trust him and know his integrity.

I am humbled. God did what only He could do...the impossible! He's an on-time God. He receives all the glory. What a journey this is turning out to be!
Duane

Details

2008-04-22T19:35:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I forget that God is interested and concerned about little details as well as the big stuff of my life. He has a way of reminding me. There are many requests I make to God that to me seem insurmountable and even impossible. But, I know that what appears to be gigantic to me is really quite small and really no big deal for the One who created, well, everything. So, if my big stuff is no big deal to Him, then what does that make the little stuff. You know, the little details. Like, lost keys or parking spaces or help to make it through the day, or etc. An amazing thing about my God is that He even "gives a rip" about my small stuff! I tend to think that God only hears me or is only in the big prayer business. For me that's been the "sell my house" prayer and the "build Your church" prayer. Don't get me wrong, those are very important prayers. I'm asking God for those and more. But, what He's teaching me is that He is passionate about me and every single detail of my life. One way He reminded me of this was last week while I was sitting at my son's cub scout meeting. Once a month the cub scouts have their pack meeting where everyone gathers in the fellowship hall of the church where we meet. Each den leader hands out awards for the previous month. One special thing they do to raise money for the pack is sell raffle tickets for baked goods. Each ticket is $1.00. On this night we didn't have much cash on us, so we gathered all the change we could find in the house. Bryce had enough to buy 3 tickets. Not much when you considered there were probably 75 boys all buying tickets. During they night they would pause periodically to call out numbers. One by one the boys would go up and redeem their prize and pick out delicious home-made brownies, cookies, or cakes to take home. As it was nearing the end, I asked God if He would bless Bryce by having his ticket called. It was just a quick little prayer. But, I thought I'd just ask, because I could see the disappointment in Bryce's eyes each time his number didn't get called. As soon as I prayed, it wasn't 5 seconds later that Bryce's number was called. I was amazed. I just thanked God for His care. Now, not every little prayer gets answered like that. God's not a genie that answers every wish we have. But, He used that to remind me how much He cares about it all. Even raffle tickets and brownies.

"Even so, every detail of your body and soul--even the hairs of your head!--is in my care; nothing of you will be lost." Luke 21:16-19

Duane

Kiss It Goodbye

2008-04-15T19:04:00.000-07:00

Maybe its because I was raised in a home where money never seemed to be an issue. At least, if it did, I was never aware of it. Or maybe its because I've always tended to take the easy out, play it safe and never "really" stepped out in faith. Whether it was upbringing or personality for some reason the "Christian life" hasn't been that "dangerous". Yes, there have been many difficult challenges, especially as a pastor and dealing with people. But, is being a Christ-follower supposed to be easy? I'm not talking about never having any problems. Of course, everyone has problems now and then. But have we taken away some of the dangerousness of the gospel message...the dangerousness of life change...and replaced it with a message of simplicity? A message that says Jesus doesn't require that much, just believe. I've been challenged in my own personal faith greatly over the last six months. Sometimes I've wanted to have back the less difficult, easier life. I have never been on a journey like these last six months and now I am faced with one of the most difficult, faith-challenging experiences of my life. We are on the verge of losing our home that we put up for sale and left in Florida. It could be foreclosed on by the bank. In fact procedures have already started. Some people told me last August that God would surely sell our house since were were stepping out in faith. And maybe He will because He's God. But, what if He doesn't? What if He's taking us down that path? Here's what I read this morning in Luke 14: 25-33, the Message Translation, "One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, 'Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters---yes, even one's on self!---can't be my disciple. '" Then He said in verse 33 (this is the real kicker), "Simply put, if you're not willing to take what's dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it goodbye---you can't be my disciple" . Wow! "Can't be my disciple". Notice Jesus says this to a group of people who had been following Him. These people liked Jesus and wanted to hear what He had to say. But maybe they had just been hanging around for the free show or the free food. It's like He wants to make it clear to them that the Christ-life is a dangerous life. You have to be willing to kiss it all goodbye and be satisfied with just Him. That is not the easy life. That is the dangerous life, the Christ-life. I could lose my home. The bank could foreclose. My credit could be destroyed. But what is all that compared to Him. I have to be willing to kiss it all goodbye and be satisfied with just Him. So whether I keep it or lose it, keep it or kiss it goodbye, I want to be satisfied with Jesus. I want to be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 4 when they told King Nebuchadnezzar, "Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace...But even if he doesn't, it wouldn't make a bit of difference, O King. We still wouldn't serve your gods..." Keep it or kiss it goodbye, it won't make a bit of difference if I'm satisfied with just Him.
Duane

Breathe

2008-04-13T19:30:00.000-07:00

Saturday night at our second Mosaic Church gathering, my friends Ben and Michelle led us in singing a song by U2 called 40. The words are taken out of Psalm 40, "I waited patiently for the Lord and He inclined and heard my cry, He brought me up out of the pit out of the miry clay." Great song. It got me thinking about Psalm 34 which I had read over several times lately. When we finished the song I shared some of the verses. I love the translation from The Message. It goes like this: "I bless GOD every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. I live and breathe God..." Those last fives words are amazing words. As I read them last night they stood out like never before. Can I say those words honestly about myself like David...I live and breathe God? At first I really doubted weather that was possible. After all, I have sinned. So, how could one "live and breathe God" if there is sin in your life? But, the more I think about it, the more I remember that David certainly was not without sin. He ordered Uriah's death. He slept with another man's wife. He had family problems. He wasn't a very good father sometimes. He was concerned about numbers. That being said, how could he pen those words? I, like David, have committed murder, because I have hated someone, and Jesus said that was murder. I have committed adultery because I have lusted and Jesus said that was adultery. How could any of us say those words honestly "I live and breathe GOD?" As I wrestled with it the Spirit began to remind me of who I am in Christ. My identity. David could pen those words because of his identity. In Christ I have been made alive. I have been given the spirit of Christ and that spirit is righteous because He is righteous. Like David, I sometimes give in to my flesh...my old way of doing things without God. But, my spirit is still righteous because it is new. "The old is gone, the new has come." Christ is now my life (Colossians 3:4). "I am crucified with Christ and I know longer live, but Christ lives in me." (Galatians 2:20). So, yes, I can say like David, "I live and breathe GOD". He is my life. He is the very breath I breathe. It's amazing when you think of it. Every time I breathe it gives praise to God. It's His breath. It's His life. So lets take David's advice in Psalm 34:3, "Join me in spreading the news, together let's get the word out." Take a deep breath and breathe GOD!
Duane

FEAR

2008-04-02T18:56:00.000-07:00

As we accelerate towards our first "official" Mosaic Church gathering there is one emotion that keeps trying to push itself to the forefront...FEAR! Of course there are many other strong feelings right now, like excitement and anticipation and relief and hope. But even in the midst of being excited about finally getting started and that sense of anticipation about what God is going to do, there is also a little sense of fear in the back of my mind. Fear...because I haven't spoken in front of a group of people in over 7 months...because there are so many things I want to say on this first gathering, but I don't want to overwhelm...that nobody will show up...that I might blow it...that I might not be creative enough...that I might bore them to death...Fear. One thing that I'm starting to notice as I'm writing this is that I might just have an "I" problem. I've been saying "I" during this whole search of my emotions. I believe God is saying to me that as long as its all about "I" then it won't be about "Me" ("Me" as in referring to God). In my flesh fear desires to take over. But, in Christ, in living His life through me, peace takes over. I have an amazing sense of peace. A peace that goes beyond human understanding. I told my friend Joel last night that this just feels right. Starting Mosaic Church in our house this Saturday night feels right. I'm at peace with that. That is Christ living His life through me. When I allow myself to revert back to my old flesh patterns, fear takes over. It does every time. But when Christ is living in and through me, what do I have to be afraid of? As I was writing, the words to "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" came to mind:

"Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing: Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He; Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same, And He must win the battle."

There really is nothing to fear! "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace." Colossians 3:15

"For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory" Colossians 3:3-4

Duane

Dependence

2008-03-29T17:59:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been reading one of the Moody Classics on the life of George Mueller entitled, Answers To Prayer. If you don't already know, George Mueller lived in the 1800's in Bristol, England. He opened many orphanages that ministered to thousands of children. The amazing thing about him was he started with little or no money and he never told anyone his needs. He simply prayed and asked God to supply. By that he was totally dependent upon God to meet his needs. He never depended upon himself or other people, but God alone. He said that what prompted his total dependence upon God and not man was the fact that he saw so many believers who did not really believe in a LIVING GOD. His desire was to encourage other's faith in a LIVING GOD and that God would receive all the glory for doing what he and no one else could do. One of the statements that George Mueller wrote was this: "Either we trust in God, and in that case we neither trust in ourselves, nor in our fellow-men, nor in circumstances, nor in anything besides; or we DO trust in one or more of these, and in that case do NOT trust in God." These and many other statements have caused much introspection. Do I really trust God? Sometimes I don't, I have to say. I sometimes come up with my own solutions or a plan B if God doesn't come through. Sometimes I trust in others and what they can do for me. When it comes to God's provision for my financial needs I can easily call someone, a friend or family member, when I get in a bind instead of simply praying and trusting God to provide. I have to admit that sometimes I get scared and think that He's not going to come through and I begin to try and figure things out on my own. How much of what we do as a church involve truly trusting God completely? How much of the money and support we raise comes from truly trusting God or is it trusting in man? These are things I'm struggling with and trying to work through. I believe God is using these times in my life to grow me into more dependence on Him. If God doesn't come through, then I'm sunk. When it comes to Mosaic Church, if God doesn't come through, then we're done. Dependence. I think this is exactly the place he wants me to be.

"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all---how will he also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:32
Duane

Running

2008-03-23T18:25:00.000-07:00

Today is Easter. Today we celebrate the very pinnacle of our faith, the resurrection of Christ. What a glorious day that gives us all hope. The awesomeness and divine power displayed in the resurrection of God's Son is hard to express in words. Yet, this morning, as we read John's account of the most important event in history, I had to laugh. Wait a minute, before you cast me off as a heretic, hear me out. As we stood in church and read John 20 it stood out to me that twice in the passage John points out that he beat Peter in a race to the tomb. I had to laugh. Sorry. But it just struck me funny that right in the middle of retelling the story by the inspiration of the Spirit, John feels the need to point out that he "outran Peter and reached the tomb first" (v.4). Isn't that funny? Well, to me it was. Why the need to point that out? It's like John was saying, "So Peter and I started to the tomb to go see if Mary's story was true, and, oh, by the way, I outran Peter and got there first..." I've been thinking about this today. Why the interjection? I can't really say for sure because I'm not John, I can only give my own commentary. To me, though, it speaks of the humanness of the resurrection. These are real people involved in this story. They're not made up! We all know about and focus on the divine power of the resurrection. But, there's also the human side, the finite side to the story. Christ rose again to give us new life. To give us His life. To give John new life. The guy who could outrun Peter any day of the week. Christ, the Divine Son of God died and rose again for human beings, even competitive guys like you and me and John. He did what we couldn't do ourselves because we are mere mortals. Humans who are competitive and pacifist, philanthropists and selfish, over-achievers and under-achievers, moral and immoral...human. He rose again to give life to us ALL. Thanks John for bragging about your race to the tomb. Thanks Jesus for giving me, a mere human, Your life.
Duane

Growing

2008-03-21T20:36:00.000-07:00

I'm being taught so many things on this journey. It seems that I encounter situations and people everyday that Father is using to bring about either changes in my life or deeper understanding of Him or greater insight into what it means to be a Christ-follower or being light in darkness. I'm learning to live out Philippians 2 where Paul tells us to put others needs above our own. Now I have found that somewhat easy to do around my family...most of the time. I mean I really do put my kid's needs before my own. I have gone without so that my kids could have. Most of the time I put my wife's needs before mine...not always...but most of the time. I can be selfish. Okay, some of the time I put her needs before mine. But, where I really struggle is with those I really don't care for. You know...those hard-to-get-along-with people. Sometimes they can be the person you work along side of everyday. Putting their needs above my own can be difficult. I struggle with it sometimes. In my job at Sears we work on an hourly wage plus commissions based on sales. It can be very competitive. There is a temptation to be dishonest with my fellow employees. For instance, when someone calls and wants to buy an appliance, but they want it put under my fellow employee's number so that they get the commission. I have a choice. I could put the sale under their number or not. The customer would never know. So, I have a choice. Put their needs above my own or not. I'm growing. I learning to put my selfish desires aside and let Him live His life through me. It's not easy. I haven't always been honest. I have failed, but God in His grace is growing me. Thank you Father for your grace.
Duane

Relentless Pursuit

2008-03-04T17:18:00.000-08:00

What does God want from me? What are His expectations of me? These are questions I have thought about often. More often than not, I usually answer these questions with something I have to do. What is it God wants for me to "do"? What's my "to do" list from God? That list that will make Him happy with me if I complete or at least attempt. Maybe if I share my faith with more people or be a kinder person or love my wife more or think less bad thoughts or say less bad words about others, or etc... The list could go on infinitely. Even though these are good things, is that really what God cares about? What I do or don't do? I don't think so. Don't misunderstand, even Jesus had a "to do" list. In John 17:4 Jesus prayed, "I have brought you (Father) glory on earth by completing the work you gave me (Son) to do." There is work to be done. But is that what Father wants of us? Is God helpless and just can't get things accomlished without us? Am I that arrogant? God gently reminded me again what He desires from me. I haven't been able to get away from these verses in John 17 lately. In verse 3 Jesus prays, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." There it is. Father wants me to know Him. That's what we are called to do. That's what this journey is all about. Knowing Him! My job, your job is to relentlessly pursue knowing God. Nothing else matters.

Duane

"Breathless Expectation"

2008-02-25T19:30:00.000-08:00

I picked up a book at the Evolve conference last week by Mark Batterson titled, In A Pit With A Lion On a Snowy Day. I've been using it as a devotional book each morning. If you haven't read this book you need to get it! Chapter 5 is called "Guaranteed Uncertainty" and the Holy Spirit really worked on me through the words Mark wrote. He starts the chapter with a quote from Oswald Chambers, "To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways; we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness; it should rather be an expression of breathless expectation." That really made me think...am I really certain of God...so certain of God even though I don't know what will come about by the end of the day? And, is that a sad feeling or feeling of incredible anticipation for what God will do? Life should be lived in "breathless expectation" of God. I should be so certain of God that I live in anticipation, like the song says by Steven Curtis Chapman, "This is the great adventure." But, if you're like me, you don't always live that way. Even though I say I'm certain of God I tend to live not in breathless expectation but more in acute anxiety. But God in His grace keeps teaching me to trust Him and He continues to remind me that He loves me even when I'm not living in "breathless expectation". But that is where I want to live. I started out this day not living in breathless expectation. I really felt down for some reason. You ever have those days when you just can't seem to get going? Then God's grace showed up and reminded me that I can be certain of Him. I had to go to the Alltel store to get a replacement phone for my daughter. I thought I was going to have to pay $165 bucks but ended up getting one for free. Then our realtor called and said she had 4 calls today about our house. She said that she hadn't had four calls about any house recently and that the prospects for renting it looked good. God is in the business of pulling off what seems impossible...He keeps graciously reminding me. So, why not just live in "breathless expectation"? I'm learning that's the way to really live.

Duane

How Big Is My God?

2008-02-22T05:56:00.000-08:00

The road trip was definitely a "God thing". God did so many amazing things in my life and in the group of guys I went with...I'll brag on God. There have been moments in my journey where I could undoubtably sense the presence of the Holy Spirit in a place. On Monday afternoon, sitting in the worship center of Mountain Lake Church, I had that sense...that God was truly there in our presence...that the Holy Spirit was speaking to me through a young pastor from Charlotte, NC, named Steve Furtick. It was a powerful moment. Steve challenged me with two statements. (1) "Courageous leadership is not the result of cut and paste. It must be born from the inside out." (2) "The difference between a daydream and a burning vision is the audacity to act." The first statement has to do with how some in the church planting world tend to copy what others are doing instead of following the moving of the Holy Spirit in their own life. The second statement has to do with "How big is my God?" Is my God so big that He can do anything? If I really believe that, then I will have the audacity to act in faith. God can do the impossible. He wants to do something so big in my life and in the life of Mosaic Church that can only be explained as it was God. It will be said, "There's no other way it could have happened except for God". Father knew what I needed to be reminded of. I needed to remember that this journey I'm on...this thing called church planting...this vision of Mosaic Church in Culpeper, VA, is so big that when I look back I can only say that it was God and God alone who pulled if off. How big is your God?

Duane

Road Trip!

2008-02-13T19:22:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago a fellow church planter, Clint Clifton, of Pillar Church in Dumfries, asked me to go to a conference in Atlanta called Evolve. He said it would be free, so, being the intelligent guy that I am, I said "yes". What he didn't tell me was that I'd be travelling with 7 other guys in an RV! I haven't been this close to a group of guys I think since high school. I bet the smells won't be any better either. You know, come to think of it, Jesus travelled around with a group of guys for 3 years. Well, not in a RV, of course. But, nevertheless, he became pretty tight with his disciples. They did life together day in and day out. Imagine that! They ate, drank, walked, slept, laughed, cried, prayed, and played together. These guys hung out with the Creator of the Universe...God in the flesh. It's almost inconceivable that God would care about us so much that He would come and live with us. He emptied Himself and wrapped Himself in flesh and hung out with us...lived life with us. Amazing isn't it that God would care about our mundane day-to-day stuff. But, He does. He proved it by living life with those guys for 3 years. Then in their hour of grief, as His disciples were confused, discouraged, and brokenhearted, Jesus shows up again to walk with them. "Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus...Jesus himself came up and walked along with them" Luke 24:13,15. He came to walk with them and heal their broken hearts. That's what He wants to do with all of us. But not just to walk with us, but to live in us. You can't get any closer than that! Have you ever thought, "I can't live this Christ-life." Well, that's right, you can't. But He can and will as He lives in and through us. What a trip this is Jesus!

Duane

Where Did Jesus Go?

2008-02-10T19:09:00.000-08:00

A certain Bible verse seemed to jump off the page to me this morning as I listened to a pastor give his sermon. The verse is in Luke 19 and the story is about Jesus entering the city of Jericho where He meets a man named Zacchaeus. Word spreads in the town that Jesus has arrived and Zacchaeus really wants to see Him. But, as you probably already know, Zacchaeus was a short man, and, not able to see over the crowd, runs ahead and climbs up a Sycamore tree and waits for Jesus to pass by. Now verse 5 is what struck me this morning. It reads, "When Jesus reached the spot, he stopped and looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus come down immediately, I MUST STAY AT YOUR HOUSE TODAY.'" The thing that really struck me was the fact that Jesus goes to where the lost are. He doesn't wait for them to come to Him. He goes to where they live, where they hang out. He goes to their turf. He doesn't ask them to come to His. He meets people where they are. As I think about this, I am also reminded that Jesus now lives in me by His Spirit. Paul said in Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME..." Christ lives in me and through me. Christ is my life (Colossians 3:4). If Jesus' passion is to meet people where they are, how does He do that today? Through me. Through you. We can't sit back and wait for the lost world to come to us. We have to go where they are...their turf...where they hang out. Where would that be today? Maybe the bars, coffee shops, parks, bowling allies, parties, wherever people hang out. "Wait a minute", someone might say, "Christians shouldn't go in bars." Well, Jesus went to those places (maybe not the bowlings allies) and He was criticized too. Verse 7 says, "All the people saw this and began to mutter, 'He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.'" He sure did. He went to be the guest of a sinner, because that's why He came. Verse 10, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Most churches I've been a part of sit and wait for the lost to come to them. Mosaic Church will be a place where we prepare the people to go to the lost.

Duane

Setting Our Sights

2008-02-01T18:27:00.000-08:00

I used to be an avid hunter. During our years living in Michigan I would go deer hunting with several guys from my church. One of my best friends, Bryce, whom our son is named after, taught me a great deal about hunting. Bryce hunted and trapped almost year round. He even travelled out west to hunt big game like Elk. One of the things he taught me was how to set the sight on my gun. Every year before deer season opened we would take our rifles, mount them on stands and set our sights. We would look through the scope, put the cross hairs on the target and fire. After looking at the target to see where we hit it, we would then make adjustments to our scope until the bullet was hitting the bullseye each time we fired. One of my concerns since we came to Culpeper was who was going to be our "target". Who were we going to focus on reaching? Not that we don't want to reach everyone. But every church seems to have a target whether they say it or not. Every church seems to do well at reaching certain age groups or types of people. Every church has a purpose. Who will be our target? As we set our sights the target is getting clearer. God is using people He has put in my life to help bring us into focus on who He wants us to reach. As I have prayed for God to show me and guide me He has begun to bring people in my life who are helping us narrow our focus. One of the real needs it seems in this community is for ministry to 20 somethings. There are lots of churches with great ministries to families and children and older adults, but there's not a lot going on to reach the 20 somethings...young adults who have graduated and are going to college or beginning a career. All of what God has put in our hearts...the vision...the dream for Mosaic seems to be ideal for reaching these young adults. The casual, come as you are atmosphere will do well to attract and reach them with the life-changing truth of the gospel. Pray for us as we continue to seek God's guidance and narrow our focus and set our sights.

Duane

The Extreme Sport Of Church Planting

2008-01-27T18:18:00.000-08:00

Watching the finals of the Winter X Games I'm amazed at how extreme these guys will go to win a medal at their sport. It's just crazy to watch these guys back-flipping snowmobiles 20ft in the air or nailing some amazing snowboard tricks on the half-pipe. They will go to extremes to find new ways to take their sport to another level and win the gold. I'm lovin' watching these guys! This week I got to hang out with some other guys who, along with me, are in the extreme sport of church planting. I say extreme because we are doing whatever it takes to reach this generation with the life-changing message of Christ. Paul says, "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever" 1 Corinthians 9:25. Paul reminds me that I am in the greatest sport in the world. I'm on the greatest team in the world. Reaching our generation for Jesus is the reward that will last forever, because people last forever. What a privilege to be on the same team with guys like Clint, Jamie, Matt, and Jonathan.

Tonight we had seven here at our home to continue sharing our vision of planting Mosaic Church here in Culpeper. One of the challenges that we face is figuring out what will be most effective in reaching the people of this community. It's an extreme sport and sometimes it takes extreme, out-of-the-box, unconventional ways. Pray for us as church planters to have wisdom and direction from Father to know what will be the most effective for the Kingdom.

Pray also for us as we interview a young man from Beaumont, TX for the position of worship leader. His name is Joshua Rogers. We are asking Father for the right person for this important position on our launch team.

Father reminded me this morning, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" Galatians 6:10. So we keep going, because its not about us, its about those who aren't on the team yet.

Duane

Get-together On Sunday

2008-01-22T20:41:00.000-08:00

I hate meetings. So I not calling it a "meeting". We're having a "get-together". It's my passion to share the vision God has given me for Mosaic Church. So...we're having a "get-together" at our house at 102 S. Blue Ridge Ave here in Culpeper at 6:30 PM, Sun. Jan. 27, to share the vision. We have met many people and several who have expressed interest in the kind of church God has called us to launch. So we're going to get together in a casual setting, our home, and share the vision. We are looking and praying for God to send us the people He wants to join our launch team. It will be a great opportunity for everyone to get questions answered and learn how they can help us carry out the dream God has planted in our hearts. So, if you're in the area, come on over. We'd love to meet you. If you're far away...Pray!
Duane
P.S. There will be food!

Dealing With Loss

2008-01-20T20:04:00.000-08:00

Yesterday one our immediate family members died. Although she wasn't human, she was a member of our family. Rajah, our cat, was killed crossing the road in front of our house. She was brought into our family 17 years ago Michigan when I was on staff in my first ministry position. She was there all those years as our kids grew up. I am deeply saddened. I've had others tell me over the years the pain they had felt losing a family pet, but this time I'm experiencing it. I've been effected by this loss much more than I ever thought I would be. I miss her coming and sitting next to me in my chair at night and her loud meow in the morning when she was hungry. This morning when I took Buster (our dog) for his walk in the park the song "Blessed Be Your Name" came to mind. I started remembering the words to this song that I've sung many times over the last couple of years. "Blessed be Your Name when the sun's shining down on me, when the world's all as it should be, blessed be Your Name. Blessed be Your Name on the road marked with suffering, though there's pain in the offering, blessed be Your Name...You give and take away...My heart will choose to say, Blessed be Your Name." Those are easy words to sing in church when things are going great. It's another to sing those words when you don't understand or see. God gives us so many good things. And sometimes He takes them away. That's when I have a choice. Will I choose to bless Him or blame Him when life doesn't seem fair? I shared this with my wife this morning and then when we got to the church we attending right now while preparing to start Mosaic...guess what was the first song we sang? You guessed it..."Blessed Be Your Name." I guess the Spirit knew I needed that.
Duane

Opportunity To Advance The Kingdom!

2008-01-14T05:42:00.000-08:00

Thanks for your continued prayer and support of what the Lord is doing here in Culpeper, VA. God has given us an opportunity to lease a place to begin holding services for Mosaic Church. It is in the downtown area of Culpeper at 128 W. Culpeper St. where the former Rock Academy used to meet. This is exactly where we believe God has called us to start Mosaic. We have the opportunity to lease the top floor of this historical building. It has a large open meeting room with hard wood floors, one full length brick wall, lots of windows, large wooden columns, and another smaller room that will work well for the nursery and kids church space. It has lots of character and will create the "come as you are" coffee house feel to it that we want. We are believing God that He has this spot reserved for Mosaic to begin bringing people to Christ. Now, here's where I need your help. The lease is $1575.00 a month, which is the best rate I've seen anywhere here in Culpeper. We need the first month's rent to be able to sign the lease and get going. Will you help us? Maybe you could give a whole month's rent? Or maybe a part of a month. Whatever God puts on your heart, large or small...it will all go towards expanding His Kingdom. Pray about what you should give and lay up some treasure in heaven. We would like to be able to start the lease Feb.1.
If you would like to help us, you can make a check out to Mosaic Church of Culpeper and send it to us here at 102 S. Blue Ridge Ave, Culpeper, VA, 22701. (it is tax-deductable) Let us know. If you need to talk to me further, call me at 540-718-9033.
God is going to do some awesome stuff!

Duane

For Lease...Pray For Favor

2008-01-09T19:19:00.000-08:00

Tonight we met with the owner of a building in the downtown area of Culpeper. It has two floors. Both are for lease either for seperate businesses or one to lease both. There are two large rooms and three smaller rooms. It would be an ideal place for us to start Mosaic Church. The owner would certainly like to lease to us. I feel like Nehemiah when he had been given a vision from God to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem. Nehemiah, being a slave, had to ask the king for permission to return and rebuild the wall. He wept, fasted, and prayed. He asked God to give him favor with the King. He said, "O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man." (Neh.1:11)

That's what I'm asking God for tonight. As we talk to the owner and negotiate we are praying for favor. To get a good price in the lease...to be able to afford to lease both floors. Maybe he will do even better. Pray for us and pray for favor as we look to lease this property to bring people to Jesus.

Duane

Doing Life Together

2008-01-08T17:31:00.000-08:00

One of the things I am learning on my journey is how to do life together. Over the years it seems as though I've become rather independent. When I say that I mean that I really don't need anyone else outside my family. I've always had plenty. My last pastorate I was paid quite well for the size church and community. I really didn't need anyone else. Not to say that I didn't need God. Of course I needed Him, but my life with my fellow "Christians" was far from what I read about in Acts where the church "had all things in common" and they shared and met one another's needs. They even sold land to help one another out. They were really dependent on God and He met their needs through each other. Now God is teaching me what it means to do life together. Its one of the core values of Mosaic. We aren’t interested in being a church where a lot of people get together for an inspiring service but never move beyond the casual arm's distance relationships of an auditorium. We want to grow by really "doing life together." Community is knowing and being known, loving and being loved, celebrating and being celebrated, and serving and being served. To help me learn how to do life together God has brought Joel and Dana along with us. They came with us here to Culpeper to help us launch Mosaic. Joel and Dana have helped me begin to learn what it means to do life together. They continue to bless us when we are in need. I never have to ask. God is using them to teach me to receive. I've never been good at that. It's my pride. Somehow its been engrained in us to never admit that we have a need. Pride. God is gradually removing pride and teaching me how to do life together. Its how life should be...getting below the surface and really loving and being loved. Thanks Lord for using Joel and Dana to teach me on the journey.

Duane

Christmas With The Triplets

2007-12-30T17:39:00.000-08:00

Everyone should experience the holidays with two year old triplets. It's one I will never forget. My brother, David, and his wife, Dana, came to visit us from Florida with their 5 yr. old, Daelyn and their 2 yr. old triplets, Cameron, Carson, and Rachael. Christmas was rather quiet in comparison until the family showed up in their 30 ft. RV the day after Christmas. The next four days their never-ending instructions filling the air like: "stop that", "leave your sister alone", "come 'ere, come 'ere...", "don't grab the kitty", "get down from there", "give her that toy back", and "who's that smell coming from?" Our days were filled with trips to the National Zoo, Lincoln Memorial, and National Christmas Tree in Washington D.C., and Fun Land in Fredericksburg. At night when the kids finally went to bed we were all too tired to do much else but go to bed ourselves. But what fun it was and I'm so glad they came!

When I think about my little nieces and nephews I am reminded how much I sometimes act like a 2 years old in my walk with Christ. I sometimes have to be told the same thing over and over by the Lord before I finally obey. I'm not always friendly and I don't always like to share. When I've done wrong I'd rather go hide. I can be good at telling God about other's faults. I can really make a mess sometimes. But, unlike earthly parents, who, because of their humanity can become a little stressed and impatient sometimes with their children, my heavenly Father never looses patience with me His child. Father's grace is inexaustible. Father's mercy is unending. I feel undeserving when I make a mess of things, yet Father reminds me everyday that I am His.

"The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love...he does not treat us as our sins deserve...as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust." Psalm 103: 8-10, 13-14

Duane

In Awe of God

2007-12-23T04:16:00.000-08:00

I have a few reasons to be in awe of God today. Even though I don't understand everything He's doing (or what I may feel He's not doing), He still amazes me with His goodness to me and my family. He's good to me even when I'm not feeling or acting good towards Him. That's His grace...and it still amazes me. Here are a few of the ways God has been good to me: 1) Both my daughters are home for the holidays...Becca from Liberty University in Lynchburg and Aleese drove all night from YWAM Orlando with a friend she dropped off in Richmond. 2) Two ladies showed up at our house this week with about a dozen bags of groceries...they said the Lord had laid it on their hearts to give is the food...wow! 3) Another lady from the town of Orange (about 20 minutes from Culpeper) invited Mechelle to come to her consignment shop. She then let Mechelle pick out clothes for herself and Bryce and then gave them all to us free...wow! 4) Mechelle and I celebrated our 24th anniversary on the 20th...we celebrated with hot, juicy burgers at Five Guys. 5) Someone gave us a $100 gift card to Walmart...left it in a Gideon's New Testament in our mailbox. 6) PACE (our homeschool group) gave us a $50 gift card to Wallyworld (Walmart). 7) Gifts came in totalling $250 towards our Community Project. My family handed out over 400 roles of scotch tape this weekend in our community. 8) Our neighbors went to church with us and then we hung out together afterwards.

So, like David, I "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever" Psalm 136:1.

Duane

How Did I End Up Here?

2007-12-17T18:41:00.000-08:00

Sitting in a 6th grade Agriculture class as a substitute teacher today, I found myself asking the question, "How did I end up here?" I asked myself that same question last week as I was putting up stock for the Sears that I'm working for part-time. Sometimes the path towards the vision that God gives is different than what you expect. But its the path that God lays out to take us to the exact place where He wants. And here's the cool thing...even though it may not be what you expected...God always suprises. Let me give you an example. Sunday afternoon I was working at Sears (I'm working there until Mosaic starts meeting) and the first guy who walks in buys a freezer from me for his house. We chatted and I commented about how I knew some people with his last name in Florida. I helped him load it into his truck and away he went. I thought I'd never see the guy again. This morning (Monday) I walked into F.T. Binns Middle School and I'm escorted to my classroom by one of the staff. She's fairly new to the school and has to search for my class and then she accidently unlocks the wrong door. My door was right next to the one she unlocked. As we went into my class a gentleman walks out of the class next door to see who unlocked his door. He looks at me and says, "You look really familiar, do you work anywhere else?" I said, "Yes, I work at Sears." He said, "I thought so, you sold me a freezer yesterday." What a suprise! Later on as we were walking down the hall I got to tell him why God had brought me to Culpeper. Is that amazing or what?!

So, how did I end up here? God wanted me here to meet that guy. Who knows what God will do with the seed I planted. So, be faithful wherever you are and wherever He's taking you. You'll end I right where you're supposed to be.

Duane

Around The Bend

2007-12-10T18:20:00.000-08:00

"Lord I don't know where all this is going or how it all works out. Give me a peace that's past understanding. A peace that has no doubt." Those are the words to a song by the Newsboys that God used to speak to me. This journey of faith that we're on has twists and turns and bends that are impossible to see around. We're asked to trust. And that's not easy. Sometimes things don't turn out like we imagined or pictured it in our minds. That's when I have to remind myself that the journey is about God bringing me in line with His plans not Him into mine. I was informed today that we would not be able to lease the Culpeper 4 Theater as the place where we could meet for worship. That was a real let down. I really wanted that venue to be the place where we met as Mosaic Church. That, plus the struggle financially and the fact that our house hasn't sold yet in Florida, has really challenged my faith...my trust in God. Obviously God has different plans than I had for where Mosaic will meet...I'm content with that. His ways are always better, yet they're not always clear from the beginning. But, He knows where all this is going and how it all works out. I choose to trust.

Duane

The Substitute

2007-12-03T18:46:00.000-08:00

Remember when you were in school and you walked into class and discovered you had a substitute? Remember the things you would try to get away with? Well, today those days came back to haunt me because today I was the substitute. Another way for me to get out into the community and to help us out financially right now is to substitute teach in the Cupeper County School System. So, today I got my first call...freshmen learning disabled English. It definitely was a challenge to work with the few who had disabilites, but most were just lazy and didn't want to do any work. The High School schedule is divided into 4, 1and1/2 hr. blocks. One of those blocks was a teacher planning period with no class. As I sat in one of the teacher's lounges with all that time on my hands I pulled out my Bible and began to read. Needless to say, I got some pretty strange looks, but everyone was friendly. During lunch I went into the lounge where there were seven teachers eating lunch around a table. I pulled up a chair and made small talk. They were friendly, for the most part, but by their conversations none of them seemed to be Christ-followers. Someone has said to me, "Why start another church when there are already so many?" Well, just go to the nearest school...sit in a class...sit in a teacher's lounge...then you'll understand why we need another church. There's a lot of friendly people here, but friendly people can still miss heaven and end up in hell. Pray for us as we try to make it hard to go to hell from Culpeper. Help us financially. We need your support!

Duane

Puttin' Up The Christmas Lights

2007-11-29T17:51:00.000-08:00

It's that time again. Time to drag out the Christmas lights. This is my job. Mechelle decorates the inside of the house. I do the outside. The lights we brought from Florida fit that house perfectly. My challenge this year is to figure out how to put up the lights on a new house. My friend and boss from Sears, John, let me borrow his extention ladder. I've never had to put lights on a two story house. Well, the challenge was met and the house looks pretty good...if I do say so myself.

This reminds me of something I read this morning in Luke 11. One of the challenges of being a Christ-follower is being authentic...being real and honest about our struggles. The opposite of authenticity is hypocrisy. That's one of the things that Jesus challenged the Pharisees about...their hypocrisy. They looked pretty good on the outside, but on the inside Jesus said they were like a graveyard. I'm not saying our house looked bad on the inside...Mechelle's done a great job, but you get my point. Our lives can look pretty good on the outside, just like my house. But on the inside we can have sins, struggles, doubts, secret addictions, that we don't won't anyone else to know about. Oh, we look like we've got it all together, but... Our challenge as Christ-followers is to be real, honest, authentic. The book of James in the New Testament tells us to confess our sins to each other. Now that's being real. People need to see how Christ is helping you with your "stuff". The world is hungry for authenticity. Its had enough of the other.

Duane

Thanksgiving With The Neighbor

2007-11-25T17:28:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving morning started off with our tradition of enjoying Mechelle's homemade Monkey Bread. Yum! After breakfast we started a new tradition. Here in Virginia there are Christmas tree farms all around. So instead of buying our tree from the Lions Club in the park in Okeechobee like we've done the last 10 years, we decided to go to the Glen Gary Tree Farm to cut our own fresh tree. When we got back to the house our neighbors were outside with friends they had invited over, but we noticed our neighbor across the street was by herself. Miss Lucy is in her eighties and was out bagging the leaves in her yard for her garden. While Becca and I took the tree in the house, Mechelle and Bryce walked across the street and invited Miss Lucy to have Thanksgiving Dinner with us. A few hours later, Joel, Dana, and the kids came over, then over came Miss Lucy. As we sat and talked with Miss Lucy while the turkey was frying, we learned a lot about her past. She grew up in a convent, had two husbands who both had passed away, and had three children who seldom came around. She had lived in the same house here in Culpeper for 25 years and had seen a lot of changes. Suprisingly she told us that when she lived in the convent she knew God but she didn't know Jesus. But the most suprising thing she told us was that in 25 years of living in the same house on the same street we were the first to invite her over for a meal. Imagine that! Someone could live in the same home for years and no one reach out to them. But, sadly that's the way it is for many. We felt honored to have Miss Lucy sit down at our table and share Thanksgiving with us.

Thanks to all of you who have been a part of sending us to reach the Miss Lucy's of Culpeper.

Duane

Workin' In The "Real" World

2007-11-19T19:25:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I had what some people call a "real" job. But I have to admit I haven't stood on my feet for eight hours straight in many years. Yet, I'm kinda enjoying being a bi-vocational pastor for the time being. One of the challenges of being a full-time pastor is that you can sometimes isolate yourself from people outside of "church". So its been fun to work again outside of the walls of the church building. Each day I meet new people from our community and I've made some new friends with my fellow employees at Sears. On the way to work these last 5 days I have prayed that Christ would live His life through me as I work...that I would be a good employee...that I would be kind to everyone, even the one employee that the others can't seem to get along with. I also pray that Christ will show me ways to share Him with the people I come in contact with...even if it's just through an act of kindness.

"Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

Duane

A ride in the country

2007-11-13T19:05:00.000-08:00

This morning I went to Substitute Teacher Orientation at the Culpeper County School Board building. I sat in a conference room with about 25 other people who were being taught along with me about the "do's" and "don'ts" of being a good "sub". Now that's some exciting stuff! I met some interesting people, some of which I'm sure I'll see in the halls and classrooms of Culpeper's schools. Some of the people I met were confident, others were nervous and a little unsure of themselves. But everyone is looking to make some income and to help better their financial situation in life. People from all walks of life. Some retired teachers and some who hadn't been out of high school for too many years. But all were looking to better their situation and maybe to make a difference in the classroom also.

This scene reminded me that everyone wants to better their situation financially, but unless Christ betters our situation its all futile...vanity...a chasing after the wind. When Christ forgives us and gives us His life to live through us, then life has meaning and hope.

After sub orientation, Mechelle and I took Bryce to his art class which takes place at a home in Reva which is about 10 miles out in the country. After we dropped him off, we turned right out their driveway and just started to drive to see where the road would take us. The scenery was amazing. Mountains off in the distance...rolling hills and valleys filled with all the colors of autumn leaves...something we missed living in Florida. There is something peaceful about a ride in the country. It turns my thoughts to God and ignites my imagination as to what heaven might be like. I know it will be a place of peace and beauty...maybe just like our ride in the country. So lets take as many people with us, because as I read in Hebrews 8 this morning, "He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he ever lives to intercede for us."

PRAYER REQUEST: Pray for me as I start a job working at Sears tomorrow. I definitley will be bi-vocational until Mosaic Church gets going and is able to support us. The owner of Sears is a great Christian guy who we met through our homeschool organization. I will also begin substitute teaching by the end of this month.

Pray for Joel. He's trying to get another job working as a police dispatcher for Fairfax County. It's a job that pays really well and will really help out their financial situation. He needs this job...so pray!

Pray for Mechelle as she begins taking on-line classes to become a Medical Transcriptionist. A great job for a home-schooling, stay-at-home mom.

Pray for wisdom on what the next steps are for Mosaic Church.

I want to do, as my dear friend Scott Brown told me recently, "God's thing, God's way." Not "my thing, my way" and not even "God's thing, my way"...but, "God's thing, God's way!"

Making it hard to go to hell from Culpeper!
Duane

You Just Never Know

2007-11-06T16:58:00.000-08:00

Everyday is an adventure, because you just never know what God is going to do. He is always working behind the scenes where we don't see and then He shows up when we don't expect Him. What a cool God we serve! I have been praying for God to continue to make Himself known to me and to help me to trust Him more.

Today, I was reading in 2 Kings 19 about how Hezekiah, the king of Judah, and his people were trapped. There was no way out. All looked hopeless. The king of Assyria had brought his mighty armies against Judah. Assyria had destoyed all of the surrounding nations and was about to descend upon Judah. The king sent a representative to demand that Hezekiah surrender or be destroyed. Hezekiah went to the temple and laid it before the Lord. God spoke to Hezekiah through His prophet Isaiah. Isaiah prophesied that Sennacherib (king of Assyria) and his armies would be destroyed, and that is exactly what happened.

But, the most amazing thing to me, was what God said through Isaiah. He said (talking about Assyria and what they had done and all the nations they had destroyed up to that point), "Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it. In days of old I planned it; now I have brought it to pass" (2 Kings 19:25).

Did you get that? God had brought Assyria to Judah's gates. God had planned it! Sennacherib just thought He was in charge. Why did God bring Assyria to come against Judah? Maybe one reason is so that Hezekiah would have no other recourse that to trust His God...the only true and living God.

Why does stuff happen in our lives? Maybe God just wants us to trust Him and realize that He IS in charge. He's got it all worked out...planned out...ordained...and He will bring it to pass!

You just never know what God is going to do. Today, Mechelle and I walked into The Raven's Nest Coffee House here in Culpeper. Gordon, a member of Culpeper United Methodist Church was standing at the counter and we were greeted by Jessica the owner. She began to tell us that several people had asked here about the informational meeting we are having at her place this Thursday night. Then she gave me a business card that a lawyer from Richmond had left wanting me to contact him about Mosaic Church.

At first I was kinda nervous wandering why a lawyer would want me to call him. But Jessica said it was cool. He wanted to find out more about Mosaic. So I gave Him a call. His name is J.C. He said He was a Christ-follower first and a lawyer second. He had been in Culpeper to represent a young lady whose dad was a pastor but she had got into some trouble. Before going to court, he had been praying about what to say to this girl, being a Christian, and how he could get her some help here locally. He said that he was walking by a building and saw our flyer advertising our meeting. He liked what he read, so he wrote down the information and after the court appearance he prayed with the young lady and then encouraged her to come to our meeting and check us out.
He also met another young lady who worked at one of the resturants downtown and encouraged her to come check out Mosaic Church.

God is using a guy I have never met to bring people to Mosaic. Isn't God amazing! He's coming back to Culpeper on the 16th, and we're getting together to share the vision of Mosaic Church.

You just never know!

Duane

Looking For The Right People

2007-10-31T19:10:00.000-07:00

I know God is already working behind the scenes preparing the right people to join our launch team for Mosaic Church. In order to connect with those people we are having an informational meeting next Thursday, Nov. 8, at The Raven's Nest Coffee House in historic downtown Culpeper. We don't want people who don't share our vision to be a part of this team so we are trying to weed out those who have a different idea about launching a new church than we do.

One of the ways we are doing this is by our advertisements on flyers and in the newspapers. We hope to create a stir in the community...which is good advertising. We might even make a few "Christians" upset. That's okay. We're not trying to reach them anyway. God sent us here to reach the lost...the unchurched of Culpeper. Here's how our ad reads:

"Are you gifted, talented and willing to do whatever it takes to change the face of church as we know it? We want you! We want people just like us to help change what church has been to what it can become. We despise judgmental attitudes, gossiping know-it-all's, and well-dressed better than you pew sitters. We are starting a church for those who do not go to church for whatever reason. We believe you're out there just waiting for an opportunity to be a part of something from the ground up. If God is moving you to be a key player in this new work please join us at THE RAVEN'S NEST COFFEE HOUSE, Thursday, November 8, at 7:00pm for an informational meeting about MOSAIC CHURCH."

Pretty edgy, I know...but we are looking for the right people God is preparing who share our vision of a "Come as you are" church. A church passionate about reaching this postmodern culture of today.

Pray for us...pray that the word will get out...pray that the one's God is preparing will come.

If you would like to invest in God's kingdom...we are looking for financial partners. It takes money to start a new church. There is nothing greater that you could invest your money in than the kingdom of God! 100% return! How much is a changed life worth?

Let us know if you would like to partner with us.

Duane

Pumpkin Carving Party

2007-10-31T18:45:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago, Mechelle came up with a great idea to help us get to know our neighbors. She organized a pumpkin carving party. It was always a lot of fun. This year she wanted to continue the tradition so we invited the neighbors over last Saturday night. Both our neighbors and their kids came over along with Dana, Melody and Micah (Joel had to work). There were twelve of us down in our basement were we had put up lights and decorated. We carved pumpkins, ate chili and Mechelle's famous apple slices and toffee. We also homemade pumpkin ice cream. At the end we put candles in the pumpkins, turned off the lights and had a great time admiring all our creations. We gave away prize for the best. Everybody had a great time. Its just another way we are trying to reach out to our neighbors and be good friends to them.

One thing we are passionate about here in Culpeper is that we are not just going to "go" to church or even just "start" a church, but we want to "be" the church. Not a building but Christ's body reaching out to this lost world.

Don't just "go" to church, "be" the church!

Duane

Our First 25 Days

2007-10-25T16:49:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that it's been 25 days since we rolled into town. A lot has happened in 25 days. Joel and Dana met us here to help us unload. I've never had to lug furniture UPSTAIRS before! That was a new experience. I've always wanted a house with an upstairs and God has provided it. God is so good! We have a full basement, so really we have a 3 story house. More than I ever imagined. The first guy I met in Culpeper was a guy named Walter. He came walking up from the park behind our house and started talking to Joel and I. I offered him some cash and he helped us unload the U-haul. The first week we spent unpacking boxes and setting up the house. The first few days were rough for Mechelle...looking at all those boxes and missing her home and friends back home. But, once we got it all together she felt better.

The second day we were here Mechelle met some ladies down in the park and found out about a Cub Scout Pack down the street from our house, so Bryce is in Pack 198. We didn't have internet access at our house the first week so I went to a coffee shop in downtown Culpeper called The Raven's Nest Coffee House. Everyday I would go in there and I've gotten to know the owner Jessica. She's a single mom with two teenagers who opened this coffee shop in June. She's very interested in the church we are planting and has even offered her shop to us to have our first informational meeting on Thursday night, November 8th. Pray that she will see Jesus in us as He lives out through our lives.

We are busy building friendships with our neighbors. Dave and Tracey live next door and have two daughters, Sebrina and Kylie. Jeff and Jennifer live two doors down and have two sons Jess and Jason. Mechelle walks with Tracey in the mornings in the park behind the house and I played golf with Dave this week. We had dinner with Jeff and Jennifer last week and just hung out and talked for a couple of hours. We are having them over this Saturday for a Pumpkin Carving Party in our basement. Pray that we will be good friends and have opportunities to talk with them about their need for Jesus.

Here's what's happening with Mosaic Church: We are in the process of securing the Culpeper 4 Theater as our meeting place. Pray that we will get a contract on it soon. We have a web-designer working on our web-site. We hope to have it up and running by next month. The cost of designing and hosting the web-site is $625. We are getting our Incorporation and Tax I.D. at a cost of $225. We have another guy designing our church logo and business cards for $500. So, as you can see we have some intitial expenses. If you would like to invest in God's kingdom, we'd love to hear from you to help us with these and other expenses.

Our new address is 102 S. Blue Ridge Ave., Culpeper, VA, 22701.

Our home phone is 504-825-9886.

Making it hard to go to hell from Culpeper!

Duane