A Major Step Within Reach

I just went by and spoke to the landlord of the place we would like to lease. He has agreed to our terms. Our one-year lease will begin June 1. He has given us a month of free rent so we can make the transition in the space. This will be Java Journey (javajourney.org) under the umbrella of Living Hope Church. Thanks for your prayers - keep 'em going.

Please Pray

Four of us met with the landlord of the space we've been looking at. The place right next to where we were looking is just now opening up. It's about 500 square feet smaller but has most of the work done.

We all had dinner afterward and agreed that I will call him tomorrow and ask for $200 less per month for the smaller space than he is asking, one month free and a one-year lease beginning June 1.

I'll post the result when I found out his response.

GPS "God Possesses Sovereignty"

"Recalculating route. Make the next legal U-turn."

For those of you who have been following our very deliberate process, you will recall how we wrestled with the issue of either going non-profit or for-profit. We initially chose the latter.

Now that we've hit a giant stone wall of the banking industry freezing loans (we applied to 6), we've discovered that in the time-period, we saw community and like-minded vision develop with different fellowships. This was a surprise we did not anticipate or foresee. Our organic (house) church has been fortified by the strength of trust and intimacy that we did not have the first 12 months of living here. The support of what we want to do has flourished into the hearts of those who are part of our bi-weekly gatherings. Other followers are hearing the heartbeat too. On Sunday, May 24th, we will share our vision with Trinity Fellowship Church in Hickory. Our prayer is that we will appeal to those who can help us upfit the location for reaching out to the community through Java Journey.

So as it stands presently, we are going establish Java Journey under the umbrella of Living Hope Church (an established non-profit). LH will eventually buy the equipment we have purchased and will oversee the JJ ministry and operation.

We will provide more details as we travel down this artery.

A Long Hiatus

Sorry about the large gap. We've gotten to a critical turn. The following post(s) will detail.

Back in the "glimmer of hope" mode

As of this writing, we are about ready to mail an application in to a cash-source entity outside of the conventional bank. We are operating on guidance from a recently made acquaintance. Stand by - - -

DIW

"Dead in the water" - as far as the "coffee shop" goes - - - I learned that term in the Navy. It means that there is no wind or engine to drive the boat/ship. The only thing that can move the vessel is a current. That's where we're at right now. It does not mean that we are not moving. It just doesn't feel like we are. We're fine with that as the strong sense (sorry - can't find any other word) of God's presence prevails.

We had our initial house church gathering last week and it went very well. We will gather every other week - as the community has requested it. It's no cooincidence that a fellow follower I crossed paths with just prior to our first gathering handed me a book with a very red cover. It's called "Pagan Christianity" by Frank Viola and George Barna. Funny - I had not heard of it as it was published in 2002. I am now devouring it and strongly resonating with what I had always suspected about why "we" (the conventional church) DO the things we DO. I hope to provide excerpts in this blog and my personal blog (http://differentcloth.blogspot.com). In short, the writers have the courage to do what many think should not be done. They actually throw the baby out with the bath water." All the time I assumed the baby was a "Christian" one - but it turns out that the baby is (this word has been used so derogatorily but it fits here) PAGAN.

A glimmer of hope

Among the handful of private lenders we have approached, only one has reflected a generous demeanor. "The economy" is causing balking on the part of others. The one is praying about what can be done on our behalf and will get back to us.

Sunday is Day 1 of our community of followers. We will gather at our house from 10:30 - Noon. This will have an open-paticipatory context and not the conventional "this is how you do church."

What Do You See?

We've applied to and been turned down by nearly a half dozen banks for an unsecured loan to give us the last 1/3 of needed capital to start. So we are both "seeing yellow" right now. What do we mean?

Take a look at the traffic signal in the accompanying graphic. What do you see? How do you interpret it? It's a still picture so you really can't tell what action is occurring. Most often the yellow light is the warning to communicate to automobile operators that a transition from flow to stop is about to occur. According to the North Carolina Drivers manual: "A circular yellow signal means 'caution' and indicates that the signal is about to turn red." Everyone knows that red means STOP. But the illuminated light could also be flashing. The NCDM makes that distinction in stating: "The flashing yellow signal has the same meaning as a warning sign. Slow down and proceed with caution."

Which one is it? That's what we want to know. God is either telling us to be ready to stop or to proceed slowly with caution.

We've both determined that unless we are able to have the last portion of the resources needed to launch, then we cannot proceed with what we dreamed and imagined. We're not afraid to come to that conclusion for fear of creating an impression of "failure." But (as we've learned over and over and over) there are always the possibility of "God-surprises" along our path.

To be upfront with you and according to the business plan ("counting the cost"), we need about $30k to lay the groundwork. We've got about $60k either available or already invested at this writing. We've avoided asking friends and family to help fill the gap as we are aware of the cultural track-record of damaged relationships that can result. But perhaps it is time to ask others to take a risk. All we can guarantee is that this portion would be our number priority within our budget to compensate. We have a very high credit score and have never been in hot water with excessive debt. That's just what we're thinking primarily. Perhaps 3 could help us by providing 10k each; or 6 with 5k; 10 with 1k...

If we can approach this route, we would find someone to collect our payments and distribute them on a monthly basis with agreed interest and late fees to facilitate prompt disbursement.

We'll visit this and proceed if we determine that the light is flashing and not about to turn red.

Shalom!

"Are We There Yet?"

Any time my kids asked that on our historic family road trips, I slipped ye olde cassette tape of "Paul Simon's Greatest Hits" in the venerable car deck and played a particular song. The song that was best fitting of the temporary/eternal dilemma being felt by all was a ditty called "Slip Slidin' Away." All 5 of us would jump in at the chorus and sing with empathetic passion; "Slip slidin' away. Slip slidin' away. You know the nearer your destination, the more you're slip slidin' away." It sure feels that way when you are eager to get where you're headed.

We keep anticipating on "opening in a few short weeks" (when people ask us) - but those few short weeks keep "slip-slidin' away." It has to do with getting the last 1/3 of funding, hearing back from the architect, signing the lease, scheduling the upfit - plus other unforeseen shtuff.

The words to the final verse go:
"Whoah God only knows, God makes his plan. The information's unavailable to the mortal man. Were workin' our jobs, collect our pay. Believe were gliding down the highway, when in fact were slip sliding away."

Amazing on those trips of old we eventually got where we were headed. We learned patience then and we're still learning it thanks to your prayers. We really believe we're getting close - but we will see.