New design, new direction for Night Time Hike

As you may have noticed, I have taken about two weeks off from the blog. Now that God has clearly illuminated the next step in the path and we are working directly towards an Anglican Church plant in Gainesville, GA, I wanted to rethink the direction of the blog. For the past few months, the Night Time Hike has served as an update about the personal lives of the Fitzgeralds, a place to write out thoughts, express insights that God has given me, and give updates about to progress of our plans. In short, this has been a catch all place for whatever I wanted to write about on that particular night. This has been fun and I hope that all of you have enjoyed a peek into my life and my mind.

It is time now though for a change in Night Time Hike. I think that it is time for me to begin work as the pastor of this fledgling church. And while I cannot actually be present in Gainesville on a permanent basis until next summer, I can share the words and insights that God has given me right here. I can use this to blog to continue to report on the progress of the church, to update everyone on upcoming meetings (we will meet once a month in Gainesville until we launch next summer), and a place to ask help, prayers, and support. The plan is that I will be writing and posting updates on Mondays. Periodically, if I feel that there is something really pertinent (or just really funny), I will post when the mood hits.

Can I ask for your help? First, above all, pray. Pray that the Holy Spirit begins the work, first and foremost, in preparing the hearts of the people in Gainesville. Pray that God brings to this church the right people for the right jobs. And pray that I am able to handle all of this while finishing school, being an assistant swim coach at Asbury University, teaching art one day a week at a private school, and being the husband and father that God has called me to be.

Secondly, can I ask that you spread the word? Tell other people about this blog and about the mission of this new Church in Gainseville. I would love for word to spread all around about the work that God is going to do there. The more people that know, the more prayers will go up. I truly would love to have global prayer coverage. I know right now I have people faithfully praying in Michigan, Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, and here in Kentucky. How cool would it be to know that we had prayers in all fifty states and around the world being focused on Gainesville, GA?

You may have also noticed that the design of the blog has changed. I am experimenting around, so it may change a little until I get it right. I will be adding gadgets, videos, and a few other things as well. Hopefully it will end up looking polished and professional. Kinda the opposite of me on most days.

One last thought: When I served on staff with Young Life, I heard another staff person excitedly speak about the new area he had been assigned to and said with complete confidence, “God’s gonna blow this place UP, man!” With your help, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, that is exactly what God can do with this church to Gainesville, GA. God’s gonna blow this place UP!

To Gainesville we shall go!

Well, unless I am reading everything completely wrong, Brandie and I really feel like God is leading is to Gainesville, GA. We made phone calls today and have decided to go for it!

This is a pretty scary step, maybe the scariest step we have made in this nighttime hike. I mean, coming to seminary was big, but we always knew that it was for a finite time: 3 years and we would be gone. Now, we are making a step that really could plant us somewhere for the rest of our lives. Unless the path turns again, the boys will end up going to high school in Gainesville, maybe even finding their future wives there! This is big stuff...

So, the adventure is focusing, but it really has only begun. We have a LOT of hiking left to do. Good thing I have plenty of batteries for my head lamp.

How did my little Luke grow up?

Luke is starting preschool tomorrow. He is in the Lion Room and his teacher's name is Mrs. Debbie. I can't believe that my little Luke is old enough to go to school.

Tonight he was riding his bike. We had bent the training wheels up so they couldn't touch the ground, and he was doing incredible. In the next two weeks, I bet those training wheels will be off. I can't believe that my little Luke is old enough to ride a bike without training wheels.

He went to his Sunday school class by today at church, and Sam and Jack weren't even with him! This is an amazing feat for him. When did he grow up?

As he was going to bed he announced to us, "I not show my private parts at school tomorrow, 'cause I get in trouble."

Glad he was clear on that one before school started. He really is growing up...

Are some churches trying to be too cool?

Interesting article here about churches that are trying too hard to be hip and cool. I really have to agree with the author of this article. In an attempt to be reach culture, churches are desperately trying to imitate everything around them and it just comes across as, well... fake.

As someone who has worked in youth ministry for a LOOOOONG time, I first noticed this trend here. Youth ministries and youth pastors that try too hard just end up being cheesy and shallow. I think that this is why Young Life has been such a successful ministry. Young Life has always insisted that their ministry is relational. It is not based on glitz, glam, leaders having gelled hair and skinny jeans, or being cutting edge. I mean, I am pretty sure that Free Fallin' was sang at least once at every Young Life camp this year, and that song is far from cutting edge...its 21 years old. No, YL is simply adults (being themselves) sharing the love of the Gospel of Christ with teenagers.

Simple formula huh? Make a friend and share Jesus with them. The Holy Spirit doesn't need for us to make worship into a fancy light show with shocking and "cutting edge" sermon titles for Him to work. What He wants are hearts that genuinely love others and are willing to share their very lives them.

Can you imagine a church like that? I can.

Friday night

About to go to bed. We went to Cici's Pizza with Sam's soccer team tonight and then decided to run by the dollar theater and see what was playing. Ramona and Beezus was the only thing for kids so we went to go see itdespite much protesting by Sam that it was a girls movie. Brandie, Luke, Jack, and I loved it. Sam pretended to hate it, but I could tell by the twitch at the corner of his mouth that he thought it was pretty funny. He will deny to the end that he thought it was duuuuuuummmb, but I know the truth...Sam watched a girlie movie and LIKED it! Just don't tell him I told any of you....

Ministry together...

Brandie and I just had a great talk about the future. Don't want to give anything away yet because, well, you never know...

Since Brandie and I first started dating, I have felt that we had complimentary gifts for ministry. Just a week before we moved to KY Brandie and I were invited over to a friends house. Our friends had invited another couple, who God used to speak a word over us. This couple (who did not know a thing about us, including that I was about to start seminary) stated that God had gifted Brandie with insight, and I was gifted with the ability to proclaim these things. If you know Brandie and I at all, you know how very true this is. Brandie has the unique ability to not only "see" into the heart of a person, but to hear from God exactly what that person needs. And I stinkin' love to preach and teach. Complimentary gifts....

So, my question is which of the two options before us better uses our gifts together?

a clear picture

I realized that although I have given updates on our plans and on our life, I have not necessarily painted the clearest picture. My posts have been vague in many respects, partially because we really don't know what will happen, but also I think out of a bit of fear as well.

I have felt for a long time that my call was to ministry, and specifically to being the pastor of a church. In the past year, that vision seemed to be gaining more clarity as Brandie and I explored the Anglican Church. This, I decided, was were I really wanted to be. So Brandie and I began conversations with folks in the Anglican Church and the path looked as if it would lead us to Marietta, GA. Through continued conversations, that door seemed to close and another in Gainesville, GA open.

As Brandie and I began to discuss with each other this approaching decision, old fears and new desires were expressed. I am a known procrastinator, sometimes fail to communicate my plans to those that I work with, and love to fly by the seat of my pants. It has caused problems in ministry before. Are these indications that I shouldn't pastor? Plus, Brandie and I both have a desire to do something crazy, live on the other side of the world, and have an adventure. Add this to the success that God has given me in school, and the idea of pursuing a Ph.D and teaching on the college level has emerged.

So after an incredible meeting with the folks in Gainesville (as I have mentioned the past few days) we find ourselves at a crossroads on our night time hike. The headlamp has revealed a fork in the road and we have to read the signs to find out which way to go. Gainesville really excites me, and there seems to be a deep need there, but Brandie and I both want to make sure that this is God's will and not ours. If I am meant for something else, but decide to go to Gainesville, am I preventing someone else from being there? Am I really capable of being a pastor? Would my gifts be better suited to teaching? These are the things that we are praying about and seeking wisdom on.

Well, there it is. Everything in complete honesty. I hope that that gives anyone reading this a little bit better understanding of where our hearts and minds are as we look at this decision. As always, would you all keep praying? Thanks!

The boys start school tomorrow

Sam and Jack start school tomorrow. Because Jack's birthday is the cutoff age date for grade level, he was the youngest kid in his class last year. This year we decided it would be best for him to do first grade over again. He is such a smart, sweet kid, and I think this will really give him an advantage.

Sam will be going into 4th grade. Man, I don't feel old enough to have a 4th grader! I told him that he needs to read the classic Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. I really don't remember much from this book except the main character had a little brother they called Fudge and he swallowed his pet baby turtle. At the time I thought that that was the height of comedic genius. Now, I am afraid, if we had a pet turtle Luke would eat it. More reality than comedic imagination....

Luke won't start his pre-school until next week, but we have open house tomorrow night. I better warn his teacher to hide the classroom pets. Luke in school ought to provide some pretty funny stories. I'll keep you all posted.

Where we're at...

As we drove home to Wilmore today, Brandie and I discussed the Gainesville church plant. There is so much to be excited about there and so much potential, but we still just don't have a clear vision yet.

So, this is where we find ourselves in our "night hike" journey. God has illuminated the trail just enough to show us our next few steps. We'll pray and keep walking. Right now I think I know what direction the trail is going to take, but I really want to be grounded deeply in prayer before I say anything. Hopefully I can get a chance in the next week or so to spend a day by myself out in the woods. That is definitely where I do my best praying and thinking.

Until then, I have five essays to right for Church History II, a book review and 3 more papers due for my Psalms Class, and some prep work/ reading for my independent study that will start with the other Fall classes. Plus, now that I am the assistant swim coach at Asbury University, coaching duties will start next week. Whew. I am exhausted just thinking about it...

Great meeting with the Cleere's

We had a great meeting tonight in Gainesville, GA with the Cleere's and the most Rev. Foley Beach. We are really excited to see if this is where God is leading us, but still don't have a clear vision yet. We have set a date for August 29th to make a decision, so if all of you could be in prayer for us, that would be awesome. There is definitely a need for a church there and it really seems like we could get this church up and running pretty quick. The real question is not whether or not a church could survive there, its if we are the ones to start it. If anyone has any great words of wisdom, let us know!

Keep praying for us!

I'll post twice....

Down in Warm Springs for my mother-in-law 60th birthday bash. We didn't get here until 1:30 AM, so that's why I didn't post last night. I'll post again tonight to make up for my lost post. I did run yesterday, so I haven't messed up to bad.

I'll write more later...

Last day of class tomorrow...

It was a good week of Church History II. Great survey class and it really makes me want to dig deeper into several periods. The Pietism movement really seems fascinating as well as the 1st and 2nd Great Awakenings. I didn't realize it, but the 2nd Great Awakening really began at a camp meeting at Cane Ridge here in Kentucky. More people came to this revival than lived in the entire state at the time. Pretty amazing, huh?

Blog: Day 17 Run: Day 16 Weight lost 7 lbs

Tersteegen

I have no idea how to pronounce Gerhard Tersteegen's name, but we read some of his writings for Church History II today. Tersteegen was a Pietist in the 1700's and had some profound insights. Tersteegen wrote that true godliness comes from cleaving to Christ. The only way to hold fast to Him is to completely abandon ourselves; our every desire, our very will. As we cling to Christ, the Holy Spirit begins to transform in us our desires and our very sense of pleasure and joy. Pleasure and joy comes not in the indulgence of the carnal self, but in the denial of self and in the conforming our will to the will of God.

Something to ponder over...

More vintage ads

So THAT'S why my wife is so cute!

Good run tonight and good day in class

I took a break from straight-up running the past couple of days. On Friday I ran wind sprints up hills. On Saturday and Sunday I hiked with Sam about 3.5 miles each day. Since I was carrying pretty much everything in my pack except Sam's clothes and sleeping bag, I had a pretty heavy weight on my back. Tonight I got back to running and had my best run yet.

Blog: Day 14 Run: Day 13 Weight Lost: 7lbs

Today was the first day of Church History II with Dr. O'Malley. It was a long day, 8-4, but it was great. Talked about Luther and the beginnings of the Reformation. Tomorrow we'll talk about the English Reformation. I guess since I'm looking at planting an Anglican Church, I should really pay attention.

Long weekend, Long night, and a long week

Well it was a long but fun weekend. After the Braves game Friday night, I took Sam hiking and camping on Saturday. We got home this afternoon in time to go to the pool with the rest of the family and then go to church after that.

I took Sam camping so that we could have "The Talk". Sam was thoroughly disgusted and really couldn't believe that God would make having babies, in his words, "so gross!" He then told me that he would never get married and would just "fly solo" the rest of his life.

I will be up for a while reading tonight. I have an intensive class this week on Church History. Should be fun, but it will be a looooooong week. Wish me luck and keep Brandie in your prayers since I will be too busy studying to be much help around the house.