Holy RSS

So this morning I got some people frazzled.
Which is good.
But I wanted to clarify, and clarify is the wrong word, make known LOUDLY the point again.
The point was not to say that sharing the redemption story of your marriage is bad.
IT IS GOOD, NEEDED, AND NECESSARY.
We just don’t have enough people who have avoided the pitfalls so many of us fall into speaking into our marriages and lives.
My GREAT friends…
Like long conversations into the night friends…
Meghan, Jenni, Cindy…
They have walked both sides of this issue and write unbelievable stories of Gods working hand in their marriages and lives.
That is their story to tell and God WANTS them to tell it.
I just know, and they ALL would agree, that there is NOT NEAR enough people speaking to the ways they have AVOIDED these things.
Trust me…Heather and I could have our own week of how Carlos almost screwed the marriage up for you to see.
But instead of letting you know what a dumb#!@! I was, and how gracious she still is, I thought I’d let you guys throw some models of consistency and great marraiges our way so we can find those people online.

Anyways.
Just thought I would throw that out there.

Changing NOTHING from what I wrote before but adding a few words to your flava…
In order to become something you study the something you want to become.
Get it?
Good.
Los

Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen (Rom. 1:20). It’s amazing how many excuses people come up with for rejecting God.

We have a church.
Soul City Church.
It was instrumental in bringing a transformational mindset into my family and marriage.  We would sit on Jarrett and Jeanne’s sofa for hours and weeks and months talking about how to live out this new way of thinking about church and the Gospel.
Last November I wrote this about our hearts for the city and living downtown and ministering 7 days a week.
The good news is that we are still doing that.
That bad news is that it won’t be in Chicago.
To keep it short…
The Whittakers are in a season of life that looks somewhat similar to a tornado.
Yes we are tornado chasers.
You know that and we know that.
But after this summer we took a good hard look at our family, marriage, kids, and life and decided that it would not be in the best interest of our ethos to move to Chicago right now.  Financially, mentally, physically, and emotionally it would be inching us closer to an unhealthy place than we feel comfortable inching towards.
Notice I left Spiritually off that list.
That is because what I experienced in those months together with our Soul City Church family here in Atlanta grew me more spiritually than I have grown in years.  Lots of years.  This is where our decision sucks.  We were being shepherded by 2 of the greatest pastors we have ever known.
Chicago has NO idea what they have just acquired in The Stevens Clan.
So this is where our spirits are heavy.  To lose that spiritual community is tough.
So we are pulling in tight to get that back.

So where are we?
I’ve been all over this summer.
Our family based out of California from May until last week.
Just because I was touring so much.
Now we have come back to Atlanta and moved from the burbs to DOWNTOWN Atlanta.
Grant Park.
I Can walk to the zoo and to Turner Field.  I had more neighbors welcome us in one day than in 2 years in East Cobb.
It’s just the way of these urban trekkers.
It.  Is.  Awesome.
So we shall bloom here for the time being.
Please keep Soul City Church in your prayers as God is OBVIOUSLY listening.
The amount of favor He is showing that community is AMAZING.
From their new worship gathering space to the people He is sending.
Keep praying so He can keep listening…

So Atlanta…The Whittakers are back.  You will see me around Buckhead, Crossroads, West Ridge and the like…
And the fact that there is a bus stop right outside my house is music to my ears.
MARTA…It’s SMARTA
Thanks for praying for our journey!!!!!!!
Los

What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate (Mark 10:9). Marriage is so valuable that God has done all he can do to protect us from the destruction of divorce.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted (Matt. 5:4). Have you fallen from any trees lately? God will lift you up—blood, tears and all.

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him (1 Cor. 2:9). Do we dwell on struggling to find the answers to the Why?

God made it evident to them (Rom. 1:19). I am confident that there is a point in every person’s life where there comes an awareness of God.

The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God (Rom. 8:7). No one is neutral. We are either God’s friends or God’s enemies.

Test the spirits to see whether they are from God (1 John 4:1). How do you test the spirits or false teachers?

Take the… sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:17). The devil is no match for the truth. His hope is to convince you to lower your weapon.