I do a terrible job of updating the blog with the books I am reading. Here are some church planting related books I am currently reading or recently received:
See here for a complete list.
Austin City Life musicians have written some remarkable songs over the past 12 months. Now, after singing them and experiencing the transforming presence of God through them, we are excited to announce that our first EP, ONE, is coming out.
The album includes:
Go here for more info on Austin City Life Worship album ONE.
This week has been a great week for us to experience the grace and power of Christian community. Since I returned from Dallas we’ve had a steady stream of prayers, texts, calls, and helps. In addition to what I listed above, our City Group has served us with abounding grace. Chris is cooking a meal for us tonight, Dodsons are watching our kids for a brief anniversary weekend getaway, the Nixons took our kids yesterday so we could sleep and have some time to talk this trial through, to share our reflections on how God wants to change us through all this.
It’s been remarkable to watch how God has steadied Robie through a scary time, how she is reprioritizing things for the kingdom, and to simply enjoy my most wonderful, precious, companion, friend, wife and mother. I’ve been challenged to trust the Lord with everything from my wife to our church, to fight impatience with grace, to soak in Scripture, to love freely, to live my faith out loud more.
Today is our 9th Wedding Anniversary and man has it been an amazing 9 years! So grateful for Robie. She loves me so well, serves our family so faithfully, and has followed, supported, encouraged, and counseled me through one of my greatest challenges, starting Austin City Life as a very imperfect, broken, limited man. From sewing to running, Robie lives life uncorked, overflowing in joy and creativity. Man, my life would be so boring without her! I love you, hon!
Here’s to nine years of remarkable grace, joy and adventure…and to a community of grace focused on Jesus and living out his mission!
While you are at it, check out Dallas Willard on technology and community.
For those that are wondering or have not heard, we had another scare with Robie’s health last night. While I was in Dallas she called to say that she had lost peripheral vision and some of her line of sight vision. This has been accompanied by some head pain. Doctors told us to send her in for a MRI scan. We drove back (read=Justin Hroch) at 2:30am and received the good news that the scan was clean. Doctors are urging her to see a neurologist, suggesting it may be MS. We’ve read and heard about severe migraines causing this and are hopeful that is the diagnosis.
So, we’re wiped and grateful for all the emails, texts, and phone calls. Robie is resting and her vision is back to normal, thank God. A special thanks to the Klebs, who stayed with the kids while I was in Dallas and Sam took Robie to the hospital, where he stayed with her till I arrived around 6:30am. We’re grateful for the news and support we’ve had. Times like this drive you into the Lord who alone is our Strong Tower and with whom we are safe. Nothing like you wife’s life flashing before your eyes to drive you to prayer and deep gratitude for her. Come what may, we are together hoping in the God who designs even the scariest times for our everlasting good.
