Words from the Warehouse

The Last Post

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:51:00 +0000

Follow the rest of our story at raybrim.com.

The second to the last post on this blog

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 01:33:00 +0000

Looks like it will be at least Monday before the next blog is ready. Check in then for a link.

No more "Words From The Warehouse"

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:17:00 +0000

This will be the last entry on this blog under the name "Words From The Warehouse." Tomorrow will be the first official Sunday where there is no Axios. We will be attending The Point Church where my friend, Brian Jones, is the pastor. This doesn't mean that I am ending this blog or leaving the "blogoshere" but it does means that the next time I post, this blog will take on another look. It marks the ending of one stage of my life and the beginning of a new one. With this blog, my life has literally become an open book and the next chapter is about to be written. If I were to write an autobiography, the chapters may look like this:

Chapter 1 - Indiana Born: Once a Hoosier Always a Hoosier (1960-1978)

I loved being raised in Indianapolis, IN. I am not a Bulldog or a Volunteer nor will I become whatever a Colorado person is but I am and always will be (even though I have not lived there in 30 years) a Hoosier. In the Bible, people were always identified by birthplace, parent and vocation. I can proudly say that my father's name is Nolan, a Kroger Dairy man from Indianapolis. I am his son and a product of that environment. It is a big part of who I am and the reason I always shop at Kroger.

Chapter 2 - Chattanooga, TN: Class Rooms and Dorm Rooms (1978-1984)

Some of the best times of my life were spent at Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga. I graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible and went on to Seminary there. I finished my graduate work in 1984 but did not officially graduate with my Masters of Religious Education until 1986. Some of the best friends I have ever had came from this chapter of my life especially my three brothers: Tim Shelton, Mark Trammell and David Snow. I loved being on my own, meeting a whole new group of people, and opening up my eyes to the world around me. It was a great time.

Chapter 3 - Dark Years and Wilderness Wanderings (1984-1986)

Without going into any detail, all my hopes and dreams and my calling came to a sudden stop shortly after I left Tennessee. All that I had ever wanted to be, the thing that I felt called to do, what I had studied and prepared for, was to become a Youth Pastor and it seemed like that was not going to happen. I remember talking to God about Romans 8:28 and telling Him that I had Him beat on this situation. Fortunately, this wasn't the last chapter of my story and God's promise proved to be true. Here's the subpoints to this chapter:
Geigertown, PA: Where the Wheels Came Off
Chicago, IL: A Lot of Fun But Still Falling Apart
Atlanta, GA: The Rebuilding Begins
Ft. Lauderdale: The Move I Didn't Make
Woodstock, GA: Johnny Hunt and the Darkness Is Lifted

Chapter 4 - Woodstock\Canton, GA: New Life, True Love, and Fulfilled Dreams (1986-2002)

The first time I went to First Baptist Woodstock, God spoke to me and the dark years ended as suddenly as they began. Johnny got me active in the Youth Department. I met my true love in 1988 and married Pattie in 1989 and instantly became the father of three. My dream of becoming a Youth Pastor became a reality in 1990. I served as Youth Pastor and eventually, Associate Pastor, at the Hopewell Baptist Church in Canton for 12 years. They were good years, great memories, wonderful people, and I will always be grateful to Pastor Norman Hunt for giving me that opportunity.

Chapter 5 - Holly Springs: Axios and a New Call (2002-2008)
In 2000 I began to sense God leading me out of youth ministry. Pattie and I publicly surrendered to a new calling but we were not sure what that calling was. We ended up staying at Hopewell for 2 more years as Associate Pastor until it was evident that it was time to move on. It was never my intention to start a church and I was hesitant to say that I wanted to be a Pastor but much like Paul, when he was at a crossroads and watched God block every effort until he received a vision for a new direction, the vision for Axios was birthed by process of elimination. I knew that I didn't want to assume a role as a "staff" person again and I felt no inclination to move from this area and I saw no churches that were compatible with the vision God was giving me concerning church but I had a group of people ready to follow my leadership. So we decided to start Axios and God miraculously provided the means and the place and planted us in Holly Springs. He gave me a heart for the town and gave us six wonderful years with the ups and downs of church planting for which I will always be grateful.

Chapter 6 - Denver, CO: The Adventure of a Lifetime? (2008-?)
When we started Axios, I always had a sense that the 5 year mark would be significant. I didn't know what would happen at that mark but I felt that we would know if we had succeeded or if it would be time to say "It's been great but its time to move on." When that day came, it was not clear what God was doing. There was plenty of good things happening and significant victories being won but by Easter of this year it was clear that the latter of the two was coming true. The swiftness of the way things transpired following Easter literally felt like God was pulling the plug on this ministry and on the first Sunday in June, 6 years almost to the day of our first service, we held our last service in the warehouse. But as swiftly as Axios was coming to a close, God was opening a new door in Colorado. I believe that God used these years to prepare me for what is to come. I do not know if Colorado is my final destination or just a stepping stone to the significant ministry God has ordained for me to do. But I am grateful that there is still another chapter to write and that God has counted me worthy (axios) of this new call.

Thanks to all of my family and friends that have followed this blog and stayed in contact with me through this medium. You can follow this Colorado chapter of my life with my next blog. Check back at this blog for a link to my next blog. Hopefully it will be up and running by Wed, Sept 10.

Sadie's Road Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:20:00 +0000

We had a great Labor Day weekend even though all of us went our separate ways. Rayanne went camping with Jenny and her family and friends. Joe went camping with Rachele and her family and friends. That left Pattie and I going to Tennessee to see our parents all by ourselves and no one home to care for Sadie. And even though Ben was coming home, his schedule was full so we took her with us. She did great and absolutely loved my family's pond as you can see in the video. I hope your weekend was as great as ours.

Don Miller's Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:02:00 +0000

One of my favorite authors and speakers is Don Miller, best known for his book Blue Like Jazz. He gave the benediction at the opening night of the DNC. You can debate whether he should or shouldn't have accepted this invitation and you can disagree with his political leanings but I believe the prayer was well composed and delivered. Listen to the video and tell me what you think.

Look at our house

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:01:00 +0000

We had someone come and look at our house today - our first potential buyer. It was weird having a stranger walk through our house with such a critical eye. But she seemed pleased and stayed for a while. She said that she would like to bring her husband by later. Her response to our house doesn't surprise me. Pattie fell in love with it the first time she saw it. It seemed to be perfect for us. I also love this house. It was an answer to prayer and a fulfillment of dreams. God was good to us in giving us this house for the last so many years and I expect His goodness to continue as we seek to follow Him.

We've come full circle.

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 20:47:00 +0000

Today was the last time that we would be meeting on Sunday morning as Axios Church. The irony of it all is that a little over 6 years ago, we began Axios by meeting in this same living room with a handful of people about the size of the group that met today (Jim, Donna, me and Pattie are the only one's left from that original group). At the first of April 2002, our group began to visit different churches on Sunday morning and then met at our house on Sunday nights to pray and look at Scripture and seek guidance concerning starting a church. At the first of May, we felt led to begin Axios Community Church. We began giving and praying because we knew we would need God's power and financial resources to take on this endeavor. God began to immediately move and amazingly and , to me, miraculously provided a warehouse space for us to begin in. We had our first official service on June 2, 2002 with 50 people. There are too many stories to tell of the good things we accomplished, the lives that we touched, and also of how God worked in me to mold and shape my faith, my thinking, my life into the follower I am today. Of course, there are also stories of failures, disappointments, missed opportunities that have also led us to where we are today. But I am not sad, nor full of regret, or ashamed but honored by this opportunity called Axios, grateful for this journey, and excited about the next endeavor, dream, challenge that lies ahead. In 2002, while we met in our home, we looked at the different prayers that Paul prayed for the young churches that he had helped start but then had to leave behind. Through this study, we discovered our name "Axios" in a prayer in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12. It is the Greek word translated "worthy." Today, we looked at one final prayer which is also my prayer for all who have been a part of Axios, for all those who read this blog and all who seek to be fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. It's found in Ephesians 3:14-21 and says:

"For this reason I kneel before the Father,
from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
I pray that out of his glorious riches
he may strengthen you with power
through his Spirit in your inner being,
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
may have power, together with all the saints,
to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—
that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more
than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us,
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations,
for ever and ever!
Amen."

Home For Sale!

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:21:00 +0000

This evening at approximately 6:00, a "For Sale" sign was placed in our front yard. It is a glorious sight. It is the day we have been working toward. It took me about 20 minutes to get the sign into the parched, dry, hard ground but it is in. Hopefully that will be the hardest part of selling this home.

Why would God need me in Denver?

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:57:00 +0000

Church planting can be a mystery. I have seen church plants come into this area only to disappear in a short time and some that have taken root and seem to be fruitful. There are other churches in Cherokee County that started about the same time or shortly after we started Axios in 2002. Several of these churches have pastors that are not from around here. They moved from Iowa, Arizona, Ohio, or from other parts of GA just to plant churches in this area. During the year or so that we struggled at Axios, I would often wonder why God had to bring these guys in from other places when I was right here, ready, willing and able to be God's man in this area. Now that I tell people that I am moving to Denver to start a church, I often get the this reaction, "Why would God need to send you to Denver to plant a church? Doesn't he have someone in Denver that He can use in Denver?" I have some thoughts about this:

I am not a Georgia native. Most of my life has been outside the state of Georgia. I was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, went to college and seminary in Chattanooga, TN, worked in Geigertown, Pennsylvania and Chicago, Illinois and then moved to GA in 1986. I may have moved here before these other church planters but I still had to move here to get here. The point is that I don't necessarily belong here. I do believe that God divinely led me here and that He has used me here in ways I never could have imagined but He is now divinely moving me again and as His follower, I must simply go. The only difference in this move is that I am not alone. I am moving with my wife and daughter and the ones that I am leaving behind (especially my 2 daughters, 2 sons, 2 sons-in-law, 4 grand kids) are more dear to me than any I have ever bid farewell to. It makes it harder yet I feel more excitement than sadness and more love and encouragement from those closest to me than ever before.
Just because I have lived in Cherokee County for 22 years doesn't necessarily mean I am the best man to reach Cherokee County. If being a native of an area makes you the best candidate to reach that area, then no one should ever venture out and missionaries should all stay home. Jesus seems to teach the opposite. He said in Matt 13:57, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor." Longevity and familiarity do not always translate into converts and disciples.
"Going" and "sending" have been a part of the Christian mandate since Jesus' ascension. How else could the Gospel be spread around the world? Why wouldn't God send me? Why isn't He sending you?
In Acts 21, the Apostle Paul was staying with Philip who had 4 daughters that prophesied. But it was a prophet from Judea that God used to bring His message to Paul. 4 prophets right in the house where he was staying but God brought the message from somewhere else. Sometimes the outside voice is more readily received than the insider's voice that has been there all the time.
Isaiah 28:11 says "Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people." This may be a loose translation of Isa. 28 but it seems that God is saying that the people of Ephraim were not listening to local voices so He was bringing in outsiders as a last resort to bring repentance. Sometimes the foreign voice brings about the results God is looking for better than the local voice that has become common and drowned out. Maybe this is why there is a church planting movement going on right now. Maybe God is doing everything He can to get the attention of people. And if that means moving a guy from NC to Woodstock or a guy in Holly Springs to Denver then so be it. And praise God that He is active and moving and expanding His Kingdom.

Something Weird!

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:08:00 +0000

I had this song stuck on my mind last week. It came out of nowhere and I sang it on my bus everyday last week.

"Don't pull your love out on me, baby
If you do then I think that maybe
I'll just lay me down and cry for a hundred years
Don't pull your love out on me, honey
Take my heart, my soul, my money
But don't leave me drownin' in my tears"

Then I was driving in the car Friday night and scanning through stations and this song came on the radio. What are the chances of that happening? It was weird.

And then today, I went to the dentist, a new dentist that I had not seen before. He thought I looked familiar and in talking found out that he went to school with my daughter, Jenny. Not only was that weird, it made me feel old. I have been here too long. I'm ready for Denver.

The Inevitable and the Possible: Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:20:00 +0000

Finished this series by looking at the end of Matthew 25 and what is known as the "Judgment of the Nations" or "The Sheep and the Goats." God gets very specific about what He is looking for as evidence of our relationship with Him: feeding, clothing, sheltering, healing, befriending those who cannot feed, clothe, shelter, or heal themselves. I don't believe that this is a complete list but it does give us a picture of what a follower of Jesus Christ should look like. Of course, we could sum it up by asking "Are we living a life of love?" After looking at several passages concerning this judgment, I am convinced that the Bible teaches that it is possible to do these things (acts of compassion) as well as other Christian activities (Matt 7:21-23) and not have a personal relationship with God. But it is impossible to have a relationship with Jesus Christ and not do these things. It's what we do because we belong to Christ. We care, we love, we are moved with compassion to meet the needs of others. I don't feel like I have been honestly taught about this in my younger Christian life. I feel like we have been more concerned about "being good" rather than "doing good." That we have concentrated on not doing something wrong rather than attempting something great for God. "Separation from the world" trumped "compassion for the world." Its time to get our hands dirty, to dig a well, to rescue a child caught in slavery or sex trafficking, to take a meal to a neighbor, to visit a widow, to give more money than you have ever given before. Its time because the inevitable IS going to happen and maybe sooner than you think. It is possible to make a difference today. Its up to you to do it.

Working hard!

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:04:00 +0000

I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel about the house being ready. I'm so tired of working on it and talking about it and blogging about it. But, I must say, the house looks great.
Rachele came over Saturday and helped all day with the house. That also meant Camille was here and that's always a good thing. We got a lot done between Rachele, Pattie, Joe, Joe Stag and myself.
Ben came home for the weekend. He said it was weird knowing that their was no bed and really no place for him to come home to. It was a little sad. The good thing is that he loves his new college and believes that the Lord did an amazing thing to get him there. I'm very excited for him.
Jim and Donna came over last night. Jim helped me with an electrical issue that I am just not comfortable to try myself. He did it easily and then we all went out to eat.
Friday was a good bus driving day. I received an unsolicited hug from an ES kid and 3 "I love you"'s, 1 "you're awesome" and 1 "you are the sweetest man" from my high schoolers. Its nice to be loved. Giving out blow-pops didn't hurt any.

Sunday Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:13:00 +0000

Continued my series on "The Inevitable and the Possible" from Matthew 25. Looked at the parable of the talents. According to this parable, to prepare for the inevitable (standing before God and giving an account for your life), you must see yourself as a servant and a steward. When we see that we are servants, we realize that we serve Someone greater than ourselves. It keeps us from becoming self-serving, self-centered, and just plain selfish. The selfish life is not a rewarding life and leads us far away from the possibilities to change the world and live a meaningful life. A steward is someone who has been entrusted with someone else's stuff. God has entrusted us with much (wealth, time, talents, etc.) but make no mistake, it all belongs to Him. It may feel like yours but He could take it all back tomorrow. So make a point to use it all wisely and with His goals in mind. To know that God trusts me with His stuff and that He wants me to use it for His kingdom opens up a world of possibilities. He doesn't micromanage. He leaves it up to us on how to invest and what to invest in but make no mistake, He expects a return. What are you doing that proves that you are ready for the inevitable? There is a whole world out there that needs you. Find a cause to champion and be a hero to someone in need.

Busy Life!

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 01:50:00 +0000

Did a wedding on Friday night at Lake Arrowhead. It was outside, right on the water and was absolutely beautiful.
Spent Saturday cleaning out the rest of the garage and started on the basement. The basement is filled with sound and a/v equipment from the church. It was a big task. Took most of the day. Joe and Joe knocked a couple of other tasks off our list and Pattie was also hard at work. We got a lot done and our to-do list got much shorter.
They started our roof late Friday afternoon and worked till they ran out of shingles on Sat. Finally finished on Monday. It looks great.
Sunday, we installed a dishwasher. I say "we" but I mainly watched my friend, Jim Warrington, do most of the work.
Monday, Pattie and I took Ben to Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, GA. It's about 2 hours away. Ben has a basketball scholarship there. Nice but small school. He was able to get an apartment which is as close to the school as most of the dorms. It's good to see him back at school and pursuing his dreams.
Jim and I were going to take Ben's bed and desk to him tonight since his apartment is unfurnished. But the rain made us put that off until tomorrow.
Pressure washer guy is coming Thursday and hopefully we will have a sign in the yard by the weekend.
My friend, Dwayne, told me that I should stop working on the house and just put a sign up. He says God wants to sell my house but all my fix-it stuff is holding up progress. I'm starting to believe that.
And in the midst of all this, the other things of life are happening. I'm still pastoring a small group and driving a bus twice a day and getting my ice coffee. Plus trying to plan for Denver.
You all can put your violins away now, I know that you are busy, too.

School Started.

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:20:00 +0000

Monday put me back behind the school bus wheel. It wasn't bad. I got chewed out by a mom who said I got to her son's stop 4 minutes too early and preceded to tell me that I was not running the route properly and didn't like the fact that he had to cross the road to get on the bus. I would have had a little sympathy if her son was in kindergarten but he is in high school. She needs to let go of his teenage hand and let him experience life on the other side of the street. Then I have a high school route and mistakenly picked up a middle school girl. Which, after we both figured out she was on the wrong bus, I had to take her back to her house only to discover more of my actual high schoolers at the stops that I had already been to. So I ended up driving the route twice. But other than that, it was a great day.

The Inevitable and the Possible

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:46:00 +0000

There are things in this life that are inevitable because God has willed it. There are things that are going to happen that we can't stop no matter what we do. And then there are things in this life that are possible because we will it. We decide to get involved, to engage the culture, to create a new future. We make things happen. For example, it is inevitable that Jesus is returning. God has willed it. But it is possible to be prepared for His return. It's not inevitable but possible. It is inevitable that we will give an account for our lives. God has willed it. But it is possible to be found faithful at that judgment. Its our choice. It is inevitable that God is going to change this old world. God has willed it. But its possible to change the world or at least somebody's world now if we decide to. It is inevitable that life as we know it will end either through death or His return. God has willed it. But it is possible that our life can make a difference and can be well lived. Its our choice.
I do not fear the inevitable. God has given me time to prepare for those events. But I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead of me and my family. When you are prepared for the inevitable, the possibilities are limitless. I can make a difference. I can join with God in creating a new world. I can change the future. Its possible to do the impossible. And the great thing is that you can, too, if you so choose.
We are following a new path full of uncertainty. Success (or what we think success is) is not inevitable. Ease, comfort, wealth are not guaranteed. But the possibilities of God using us in Denver is enough to make the journey worth it. I'm thankful for the opportunity.

Are you enjoying life?

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:46:00 +0000

Do you enjoy life or just endure it? If the joy meter was hooked up to your heart, what would the reading be? Don't confuse joy with pleasure, happiness, fun, excitement or any other feeling that is temporary and dependent on the circumstances, activities and situations of life. Joy includes those things but is best measured when things aren't going so well, when things aren't fun, exciting, pleasurable or even happy. Joy is not event-driven but God-given. The Bible says that there is joy in God's presence and since God is always with us (the #1 promise in the Bible), joy is always available. Its evidence that we are rising above rather than staying under the circumstances. It comes from knowing that whatever is happening is temporary and that life and love is not out of reach nor eluding me but has been there all along. Psalm 139 is a beautiful picture of the presence of God and concludes with a very important inventory to see if we really understand His presence in our lives.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart" If we have secrets and things that need to remain hidden and are unable to lay ourselves bare before God and afraid that someone may find out what you did or who you really are then joy will always be elusive to you. Is there anything that you are hiding from God or others?
"Test me and know my anxious thoughts" Fear and worry are things that rob us of joy. It is not a path of trust and peace. Jesus taught in the parable of the sower that it is the cares of this world that choke out the life that God desires for you to have. God says to worry about nothing and pray about everything. Worry has never solved a problem (it usually magnifies a problem) but God has been known to do amazing things for those who trust Him. What is keeping you up at night that should be given to the Lord?
"See if there is any offensive way in me" Often we sacrifice joy on the altars of pleasure, expediency and acceptance. Sin may bring temporary pleasure and satisfaction but eventually leads us to a dead end. Is there anything that you should confess?
"And lead me in the way everlasting" Sometimes joy stays just out of reach when we are not pursuing the life and work that God has called us to do. We set our sights on the next purchase or promotion or award only to find that it doesn't satisfy. Maybe we hate our job or just feel that there ought to be something more or greater to live for. And you are right, God has a plan and a purpose for you, good works that He has ordained only for you to accomplish. Is there something or someone that you feel you should be helping? Is there a charity that you should be active in? Find out what would bring you joy and just do it.

Sunday Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:26:00 +0000

I know it is Thursday but I still want to tell you about Sunday. We are still met at the Dorr's house and will be there again this Sunday. It has worked out fairly well.
Joe led worship and did a great job. I was impressed.
Pattie and Donna returned from Florida on Sat. morning. I was glad to have her home. She had a great time and her back held up well. Keep praying for her as it is still tender.
Took Jim and Donna to Longhorn's for Jim's birthday. That was fun as well as good.
Finished our series on "Behold Your God!" with a look at God's omnipresence. It was a good finish to the series.
Starting the final series as Pastor of Axios next week. We will be looking at Matt 25 and examining each of the three teachings from this chapter. I do not feel really sad nor do I feel like this is the end. We are on a journey and that journey continues. For the last few years, our journey through life brought us together and now our roads are parting. God has a plan for each of us, a next step, a new place to grow, a chance to follow our dreams. May we all faithfully continue down the straight path of trust in our God and take comfort in the promise that this path will bring the greatest amount of glory to God and the greatest amount of blessing to our own lives.

Finally getting to blog.

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:44:00 +0000

Sorry for not posting lately but I am slammed trying to get this house on the market. So far I have had the front porch jacked up and secured and painted, the inside trim and doors painted, the deck waterproofed and sealed, the garage cleaned out which was no small task, the roofer delivered materials and a dumpster yesterday and the garage doors are suppose to be installed today. This leaves pressure washing the house and driveway, painting the outside windows, and a little yard work. It's a shame to move after getting the house looking so good. I saw Gary Lamb (pastor of Revolution Church and is moving into our old warehouse space) the other day and tried to sell him my house. I reasoned that since he is wanting to reach Holly Springs, he ought to live in Holly Springs. He didn't bite. He did give me a tour of the warehouse and showed me the changes they were making. I was impressed. Its going to look real good. I have no doubt that they will draw a crowd.

Can I Live to Be 140?

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:26:00 +0000

I was sitting at McDonald's yesterday, sipping my medium hazelnut ice coffee, when a thought occurred to me: "I want to live!" Now, not that I had a death wish before this but I suddenly had a new desire to see the next century. So for me to see the year 2100, I would have to live to be 140 years old. Not impossible. Others have lived longer. Methusaleh, Abraham, Moses to name a few. But where did this thought come from? I have a great life, an awesome wife, a wonderful family but when you live in a world where there are hardships, sorrow, difficulties, toils, trials or whatever other word you can think of to describe how we get worn out, the thought of living past 80 can feel wearisome. Then I thought, "I will certainly have to change some things if I am to attain this goal." For one, I would have to stop coming to McDonald's and drinking ice coffee everyday. I must admit that this lessened my desire to live that long but I was still wondering what made me think about this. Then it occurred to me that "change" is the answer. When you are stuck in the bill paying, house keeping, car driving, fast food eating routine that we call life and feel that we have arrived and this is how it is going to be, it is easy to say "Come, Lord, quickly." The last 2 years have been difficult at Axios. Meeting budget was a challenge. Seeing good friends being led away to other churches was discouraging. This is not to say that good things weren't happening also. The last 2 years have also been good. I have read more, learned more, grown more personally than I ever have and there were people getting saved and new families attending. But when it became evident that we had to move out of our warehouse space, I did not know if I had the energy to keep this going. I did not know if changing locations was going to make a difference. I knew that I didn't want to try another 5 years and still be in the same place. I was not unsure of my call just unsure of whether we were in the right place. So I began to pray. And God immediately began to move. And now we are moving to Denver. God is moving us to Denver! He has something more in store for us! It energizes me, excites me, scares me, challenges me but most of all it makes me want to live! It is true that when you stop learning, you stop growing. And when you stop growing, you stop changing, and when you stop changing, you die. What are you reading? Who is challenging you? What new dreams are you dreaming? What new challenge is waiting for you? Moving is not necessary but growing is. God wants to change you and make you cry out "I want to live!" Maybe I won't make it to 140 but I'll die trying.

New Route

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:21:00 +0000

I was disappointed to find out at the bus meeting that they had changed my route. My high School route is the same but my elementary is different and that's the one I was really looking forward to doing again. I loved those kids and now I only have 2 months to get to know a whole new set of kids. It will still be fun.

Sunday Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:28:00 +0000

Great to be at church today. I was pumped about the message.
Spoke on God's omniscience from Romans 11:33 - 12:2. Just reiterating one point. The opening line is "O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God." God's wisdom enriches our lives and is better than an endless supply of money. Most people think that most of their problems would be solved if they had more money. I sometimes fall into that trap. We see money as an answer while God consistently exposes it as the problem. Jesus taught things such as how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, that it is the "deceitfulness of riches" that chokes the seed of the Gospel and keeps it from bearing fruit, that it competes for the lordship of your heart, that we should beware of all kinds of greed. The Bible further teaches that the love and desire for money is the "root of all evil." It's not only the problem but also the test. It tests who and what we are putting our faith in. Our lack of money causes us to turn to God while the overflow of reaches opens new challenges of obedience. God says that He is the answer and following Him enriches our lives.
Pattie went with our friend, Donna, to Daytona for the week. Its their opportunity to spend time together before we move. I don't like being away from my wife but I hope she has fun.
Went to see the Batman movie with Joe, Bob, and Monica this afternoon. It was very good. It was weird watching Heath Ledger knowing that he is dead now but his performance was incredible.
Hated that Greg Norman couldn't pull out a victory at the British Open.
Have a bus meeting tomorrow morning. I'm looking forward to it.
I'm ready to get on with our move to Colorado. I'm anxious to get started. I hate waiting for everything to get done before we can move. I pray everyday for a fast, generous buyer.
Its hotter that whooey!

Offense or Defense?

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:01:00 +0000

I'm still intrigued with the story of Jonathan and Saul in 1 Samuel 13 and 14 and how it relates to Daniel 11:32 (NASB) "the people who know their God will display strength and take action." It is often hard for people to muster the courage to act on their faith. We are obsessed with comfort and safety and do everything possible to prevent the uncomfortable and the risky. Jonathan and Saul are in contrast in this story. The faith of Jonathan is what we should strive for but Saul is the usual picture of how we live. Jonathan had an "offensive mindset" that caused him to initiate action while Saul was more "defensive" and ended up just reacting to the circumstances around him. Jonathan was always taking the battle to the enemy while Saul was always waiting under a tree for God to do something. Jonathan was tackling problems and overcoming obstacles while Saul was talking about problems and using obstacles as an excuse not to move. Most of us don't act because of a lack of resources while Jonathan faithfully used the one sword that he had. Most of us don't act because we think we are alone while Jonathan went with just his armor bearer and God. Most of us like to retreat to the comfort of our homes while Jonathan scaled the cliffs in search of victory. This is one leadership lesson that I believe God has taught me and is teaching me. As a leader, I often waited to long for the sure sign or the clear voice from God only to eventually react to the difficulties I was facing. Instead of initiating action, I allowed my actions to be dictated by circumstances. Fortunately, failure is never final and God is honing me for a new task. May I learn to initiate before I am forced to react. What about you? What does God want you to initiate? What command should you start obeying today? What obstacle is telling you that you can't or shouldn't? God is for you not against you! Go! Do! Act! Live! Conquer! Even dieing is glorious when you die trying the very thing God has called you to do.

Colorado News

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:55:00 +0000

Monica sent me these stats about the most obese states. Here are the 10 states with the highest percentage of adult obesity, according to a 2007 survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
1. Mississippi, 32.0 percent
2. Alabama, 30.3
3. Tennessee, 30.1
4. Louisiana, 29.8
5. West Virginia, 29.5
6. Arkansas, 28.7
7. South Carolina, 28.4
8. Georgia, 28.2
9. Oklahoma, 28.1
10. Texas, 28.1
That good old Southern cooking is killing us but what a way to go! The least obese state in the Union is, you guessed it, Colorado with only 19% obesity rate. I hope I don't tip the scales when we move there and they lose this ranking. I feel slimmer just thinking about moving there.

House Keeping

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brim) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:07:00 +0000

We have been working hard on getting my house ready to sale. I have been painting the trim in Rayanne's room and the master bedroom. Insurance man came and looked at our roof and agreed there was sufficient hail damage to merit a new roof and front gutters. This is a huge answer to prayer. We are past due for a new roof. They said they could have it scheduled and done in under 2 weeks. Brian came today and jacked up our front porch and put new supports in. I am always impressed with his work. If you need remodeling, decks, fences, etc. you should contact him at Classic Design 678-386-6061. Went through the house with Pattie and decided what to take and what to give away. We are definitely downsizing from a 5 bedroom home to a two bedroom apartment. Much of the stuff that we own was given to us and we would like to return the favor. If you need some things or know someone who has needs, let me know. We would rather give it to specific families rather than to Goodwill. Still have to stain the back deck, paint the front porch, pressure wash the house and driveway, do a little yard work, and figure out what to do with the rest of the church stuff. I've got to get this house on the market before August. I'm tired already. God bless all the people who work in this hot sun.