Hammers and Nails!

OH MY GOSH THE WALLS ARE UP! Finally the building we looked at on paper is taking on a physical form. Its strange how a building can appear smaller at different points during the building process and then open back up again. I can't wait for them to start pouring the final concrete and painting the walls! yesterday I got a call from a local church saying they took an offering for 210 and wanted to send it our way for a donation! Such a cool thing to do as church body! I feel like people are starting to understand the vision of this place. 210 is about people, for people, and most of all NEEDS people to make it there home, outlet, and ministry. I LOVE that a community is willing and wanting to join in a vision together. Speaking of, this Monday an awareness and benefit concert about the slavery and human trafficking that's going on in America, is being held at the First Assembly Church in Visalia at 7:30 its free and you should come and learn about what is going on. The only warning I'll give is, when you become aware, what will you do? Change is a reaction to tragedy...I want to learn about the tragedy so I can change.

The Never Ending Story…continues.

It’s a year later from when I first walked into Don’s office in September 2006. and there is sooooo much to be done before we open 210 in January 2008…yes of course the building still needs to be built up but so does my heart. Even through all of the blessings, through all of the “Yes’s” and amazing people that have stepped forward to help or donate in HUGE ways…I still doubt my abilities… I still fear failure…I still think “WHY ME LORD?”. It’s all so unbelievable that he loves us THIS much, he loves us enough to reveal himself everyday to us in so many ways! I just need to remember to, like in that one movie “Facing the Giants” that Glen from Elevate let me borrow (thanks Glen) “We will praise him when we win and we will praise him when we lose.” 210 is coming and HE is the only reason we will be ready, and the only one who can prepare us. I feel so lucky to have such a loving, competent, reliable, trustworthy, generous, dream making, heart melting, peace providing, grace overflowing, faithful God. Through all my weaknesses you are stronger.

The “Don” of a new day…

I sat by my parents pool were I had been living for the last few months, preparing for what I would say to Don, and how I would say it…There were two things I didn’t want to happen during the meeting #1 I didn’t want to loose my validity (because I get so excited about this dream, I sometimes don’t explain myself well and sound a little crazy…) #2 I didnt want to come across sounding like my way was the “right” or only way to run this…if they wanted to build this building to enlarge their church campus great, that just wasn’t where I was headed. I realized my best bet was to make an outline…no, have two key words that summed up my business plan…the words came to me, "Unity" and "Community"…I ran inside the house and grabbed a really big Bible, the kind with random words you can look up and find Bible verses for…I picked Ephesians 4:4-6. I met with Don and another man named Rob Herman that afternoon in Don’s office and in hand was that huge Bible along with my thrift store 70’s suitcase filled with dreams and a business plan. “Don before we start I want to read a Bible verse that basically sums up my business plan and everything that I am trying to convay.” I opened my honking huge Bible and read, “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” I was so worried that I wouldn’t be "heard"…again…but before I even finished reading the verse and explaining why I chose it…Don and Rob’s ears were opened and for the first time, not mine, but GOD’s plan was heard… They loved my ideas, loved them! Even the ones I was afraid to share ‘cause they seemed a little TOO out there. Nothing was being shot down…nothing disregarded…I felt God’s love being poured out through the way these men responded. I continued to share every idea under the sun with these men and for two hours we talked and tear-ed, and laughed at God’s Big plan. “You mean to tell me that in 2005 you were writing this business plan at college in Irvine while we were purchasing the Bogart’s and Lulu’s building?” “Yep.” “Colette, do yo know that of all the verses you could have chose to read from the Bible, you chose the one that was picked by the elders and deacons to represent the year for this church…its on my wall signed and framed behind me…” When I left Don’s office I didn’t know whither to laugh, or cry…so I danced all the way to my car.