I read this from Thomas Merton this week: “There is one condition if you desire intimate union with God, you must be willing to pay the price for it. The price is small enough. In fact, it is not even a price at all: it only seems to be so with us. We find it difficult to give up our desire for things that can never satisfy us in exchange for the One Good in Whom we find all of our joy – and, moreover, we get back everything else we have renounced besides!”

Thomas Merton is talking about the secrets of contemplative prayer. Contemplative prayer is a gift to connect us with the pure and perfect love of God – the only gift that can truly make us happy. Psalms 1 emphasizes true and lasting delight doesn’t come from our success, our fun, our financial security, or the many other things which drive us so. Happiness, healing, and peace all come from the same source. But there are so many Christians that “have practically no idea of the immense love of God for them, and of the power of that love to do them good, to bring them happiness.”

Although I love God, and I want to be happy, when I step back and look at my life this past year there were many times that I lived more like “chaff that the wind drives away.” I was not anchored in God’s love. Don’t get me wrong, I love God and that love was the what drove me to serve and sacrifice for his kingdom. But when all that work, albeit good, begins to drive you – It becomes destructive. It becomes the wind that drives your soul away from God.

Merton goes on to say this: “The fact remains that contemplation will not be given to those who willfully remain at a distance from God, who confine their interior life to a few routine exercises of piety and a few external acts of worship and service performed as a matter of duty. Such people are careful to avoid sin. They respect God as a Master. But their heart does not belong to him. They are not really interested in him, except in order to ensure themselves against losing heaven and going to hell. In actual practice, their minds and hearts are taken up with their own ambitions and troubles and comforts and pleasures and all their worldly interests and anxieties and fears. God is only invited to enter this charmed circle to smooth out difficulties and to dispense rewards.”

Ouch. I think we all wish that we could say that was never us, but at times all of us find ourselves guilty as charged. and so I continue to seek a new life that is satisfied only when I find myself in his presence, anchored in his love. No longer driven by performance, by rewards, by what people think, but rather only by this one single thought: that I might rest and be found in his love. I believe when I discover how to rest in his love – I will have something worth giving away to those who don’t know Him and to those who do.

So…I’ve spent a lot of time asking God questions, and seeking answers for years of my life – but this past few weeks, I started something new.

I’ve not often been SILENT – and said: “God, your turn, You ask the questions.  You give the answers.  I will sit silently and listen.”  It was, and is, a Job 40 moment.  When you realize your questions are not about understanding God’s ways but rather controlling life’s outcomes.

Don’t get me wrong, I still have lots of questions.  Questions that need answers.  But I’m done setting the agenda.  When I meet with God, I must relinquish the agenda to Him.

I’m only beginning to understand that every circumstance is a servant of Christ, it serves to purify my heart (1 Peter 5), demonstrate His power (1 Cor. 12:10), strengthen my faith (James 1), and increase my dependence on His Spirit for my life (1 Peter 1:4).  Here’s the thing, I can’t truly grasp and live out this perspective amidst the noise.  This comes only after I flee, be silent, and pray.

Much yet to learn…

Over the last three weeks I was preparing to come out here to Tozer seminary where I take graduate classes. There was a lot of assigned reading and a lot of due dates. “Don’t rush” was a challenge while I was preparing for school. Now that I’m here, I’m realizing how essential for “don’t rush” is to connecting with God’s Spirit, and how essential connecting God’s Spirit with being at rest on the inside! Slowing down means I need to swing wide open my heart to the life of Christ. Swinging open that door means humbly opening myself to the supernatural, to daily repentance, and constant prayer. For me, this is a great challenge that I will, as Teresa Avila says, continually strive rest in the interior castle of my heart where God awaits. I know who awaits me there, and nothing can match that.

Well – it’s hard a believe another year has flown by!  We’ve had a wild year…if that’s why your here…let me get right to it!

Family:  This was a full year as a family.  I’m still in school, we were knee deep in facilitating portable church in a hotel each week…until God gave a great gift of a new facility…then we were waist deep in both!  Susie has been busy this year keeping our family organized on top of her leadership roles at Daybreak in video production and worship arts.  The boys turned 12 this year, and are now in 7th grade!  Can you even believe it!  Let me give you a couple highlights of our year.

This years project!

So…we did a little landscaping.  Susie really wanted to improve the way the two decks and brick patio came together.  So, we went to Stouffers of Kissel Hill and they drew us a design.  Nice, eh?  Well, we did buy lots of plants, pavers and junk.  After lots of digging, and spreading stones (thanks boys) – we were really  happy how it turned out.  Next summer…we’ll make the other side you can’t see in the picture look just as sweet.

On a plus note…the boys are old enough now…they got to be apprenticed in the fine art of landscaping!

Caleb shoved 2 tons of stone into place. That's my boy!

Jacob decided it was time to learn to mow! Every dad likes to hear that!

Jacob after his bike accident in the E/R.

Punch the Frequent Flyer E-R card…..In the Spring, Jacob had a nasty accident.  He was coming down a stone hill on his bike at boy speed (which is much faster than any normal person would think of going) – and he went over his handle bars.  He did a face plant onto the stones…and took some major road rash on the face, as well as a level 2 concussion.  You know when your child can’t remember what happened that night or even over the last 3 weeks…you get a little scared.

Our family spending a day at Blizzard Beach @ Disney. What blast!

Family vacation minus dad!  Yikes!  It happened again…just like the last 4 years of school.  I ran off to study at Tozer Seminary for 2 weeks while my family trekked to Florida for a week.  They had a good time, and were glad Dad rejoined them…just in time to hit a water park…and then drive home!  Well, the water park was fun. (left)  The long drive home?  Well, family of four and luggage packed in a corolla for 16 hours…like the song says…”makes you want to shout!”

American Home Life Student visitors from China!

Surprise House Guests! We also had a surprise visit from some Chinese students touring the U.S.  We had a friend call us with the need…and we had 12 hours till they arrived!  Well, we really couldn’t come up with any reason not to be hospitable – so we said yes.  Justin and Sam were great kids.  We had a little trouble communicating, but nothing a campfire and some smores couldn’t over come!   By the time they left, they Susie had even indoctrinated them into being Steelers fans! (right)

Painting...again! An old elementary school becomes Daybreak@Good Hope Road!

Much of our Summer was spent as a family painting, cleaning, and fixing…Shaull Elementary to become Daybreak @ Good Hope Road.  If you don’t know…God was really at work and were able to go from being portable each week at the Park Inn, to having a 24/7 facility.  It was no small feat to get the place ready, but lots of Daybreakers pitched in to get it done.  (Although, we spent so much time there that my son’s told me we just needed to throw down some sleeping bags and camp out!)  If you want to see more about that…check out lots of my blog posts from earlier this year.

The boys say goodbye to old Straw-man

AUTUMN TRAGEDY.  Our fall Straw-man porch guard decoration…was…well, falling apart.  He was no longer

Yikes...don't be a Straw-man slacker around here!

completing his duties, and even after many warnings, we decided to make an example out of him.   So, mom and they boys staged an official firing squad (which they loved).

Twenty Years and more in love than ever!

SEPTEMBER CELEBRATION!  Susie and I celebrated 20 years this fall!  Cool, right?  And by celebrate, I mean, we went to Red Robin on a gift card with the boys.  *Sigh*  Life as parents…all part of the gig.

What’s on the horizon?  Well, I’m taking a sabbatical this Spring.  I’ll be completing some schooling, doing a monastic retreat, traveling with Suz to a Pastoral renewal center, and getting some coaching.  I’ll be off from regular Daybreak duties from January 15th to May 15th.  (check my blog for updates on where I am and what I’m learning!)  The boys will be learning their new art of riding dirt bike (their Christmas present!).  Susie will be enjoying seeing me more often and not competing for my attention so much while I do school and work!

Thanks for tuning in!  Hope your year was just as fun!

The boys campout with Cousin Aaron@Raystown overnight. Never can have too much fun as a kid, right?

For me as a pastor, I have enjoyed this journey immensely.  It has been rich with reward, and full of great sacrifice.  Serving Christ at Daybreak is certainly one of the greatest joys of my life.  Over the past two years, however, I’ve also experienced a new level of personal sacrifice and trials as we’ve gone on this adventure.  As I’ve shared with many of you, in the weeks leading up to launch I was physically and emotionally exhausted.  Though I’ve been enjoying the new freedom we have at our new facility, I still have not had the time to recharge my soul and renew my leadership.  The elders of Daybreak have decided to give me the gift of a Sabbatical to continue my education and renew myself in Christ.  I’m thankful both to Daybreak’s leadership and my Daybreak family for allowing me to re-invest into my family and my soul after my almost 7 years of vocational ministry here @ Daybreak.

A Sabbatical is a biblical concept based on the Sabbath.  It is a rest from work.  In my case, I will be taking a rest from my normal Daybreak duties from January 15^th through May 15^th.   During that time, I will be continuing my graduate work (only 12 more credits to graduate!), taking a Monastic Retreat, traveling with Susie to a place for pastoral couple’s renewal and investing regularly into my sons.  I’m really looking forward it, though I will miss hanging with my Daybreak family each weekend!

Daybreak @ Good Hope Road has a great team with very competent leaders.  And while I’m gone, Pastor Joel and Pastor John will be providing consistent leadership on the weekends in my place.  They will be meeting with your campus leaders as well to support them.  With a great teaching team, worship arts, children and students ministry all in place, you can be confident that Daybreak @ GHR will continue to be a place of life-change for both you and any guest you invite!   Fear not, I will come visit Daybreak@GHR after taking 4-6 weeks to visit some local church plants on the weekends!  Local Ministries will be led by Pastor Ric in my absence.   He will be supporting the leaders of FPU, Ministry Placement, and Community service team.

Please don’t hesitate to ask some questions if you have them!  Just email me @ shawn.andrews@daybreakweb.com.

Stay up to date with what’s happening via my blog…just subscribe and you too can enjoy some of my musings!

3 IMPORTANT UPDATES! (You’ll want to check this out…so you can come celebate with us!)
1. Just 2 more Sunday’s at the PARK INN!  10/2 and 10/9…we’ll be at the Inn…then we move to Daybreak @ Good Hope Rd!

2. PRAY for our New location: For the next 6 weeks, will you pray for our move to our new location? Just REPLY to this email and say “YES, I’LL PRAY”
- We’ll send you an email daily, and you can take just 5 minutes to pray and ask God to prepare us for what he’s going to do!

3. Come HELP on Saturday morning 10/8 (8am – 3pm) to move stuff in, put up signs, clean and get Shaull ready for us to move in!

Elders praying over Daybreak @ Good Hope Rd in the new worship center!

Wins!

Are you wondering…what’s happening?  What’s up with our location?  What’s God doing these days?

First – A BIG THANK YOU to those of you who make an enormous contribution each Sunday @ CPC.  From Setup, to Worship, to Children & Students, and Hospitality….you make our church family a place of welcome for guests…and we’ve had many this summer checking us out!  Arranging your summer schedule to serve God isn’t an easy task – but on behalf of your whole church family – THANK YOU for making sacrifices.  And, I invite any of you who aren’t yet part of our team – to check out a place to serve on Sunday August 14^th at our Ministry Expo.  You’ll have opportunities to speak with team leaders, find out more information, and sign-up!  We’d love to help you enjoy the fun of serving together.

I can’t help but think, God is up to something…something big to which He is inviting us.  We have all sacrificed this past year, and now He’s giving us a lot of momentum as we prepare to move into the Shaull building.  What’s He up to?  First, He has given us so much favor with CV schools and the township.  One year ago, CV wasn’t interested in leasing, now they are delighted to partner with us.  Second, the zoning doesn’t allow us to have any new church worship service in that zoned area (e.g. the school), but the township is committed to change that so that we can.  And just last week, God prompted someone to give $7K towards our move in expenses so that we would have enough to really welcome guests and be a place of hope for the community.  I’m no genius, but I’m pretty sure this adds up to something that will challenge us, bless us, and allow us to experience God’s mission in a whole new way.  Are you ready?

What’s coming…(If you miss this, well…you’ll have missed it!)

A Campus Name Update!  What’s in a name?  It’s important to have a campus name that distinguishes our two campuses from each other, but just as importantly, helps your guest invite to be effective.  Effective means when you tell someone about the place your spiritual family meets and where they might come on a Sunday to meet God – they get a sense of location and familiarity that sticks.  That’s why several months ago, I asked for your input on a name.  About 30 of you took the time to give me some thoughts on it.  Based on your input, most of you liked including the new road name we will be on in the name “Good Hope”.  This coming month at our campus leaders meeting, and elders meeting, we’ll discuss and decide on a final name so we can start making signs!

More painting is on the way…keep reading for the details!

When can we move in?  We are hoping to have a lot of the painting done by the end of August.  We are praying and talking with CV about the possibility of allowing a few of our ministries to have weekday meetings at the new facility in September.  By mid-October, we hope to have an occupancy permit and a “grand opening” of our new facility.  Anybody sense a party coming up ? J

For now, we’ll be at the PARK INN until October 9th. It’s very likely we’ll be able to start services @ Shaull on or shortly after October 16^th!

How can you pray and help? (Here, it gets even better? J)

Jesus said in Matthew 20:19-20, “Go and make disciples…baptizing and teaching them to obey…and I will be with you.”

What is our task?  To help people on the life-changing journey with Jesus.  This makes God smile…and it changes our community one life, one family at a time.  So – never stop praying for your friend, neighbor or family member.  Never stop sharing the love of Christ both in deed and in word.  Never stop inviting them to come and experience the Jesus family at Daybreak.

And while you are on that journey – schedule some time to be part of something really cool.  Help make this new facility that God is giving us into a welcoming environment where people can come and celebrate God’s grace each week.  Let’s create a place where we can rally together and go change the world, ok?

Missed the paint days?  Check out our first one!

Next painting & work days:

1.  Saturday, August 13^th from 8:30am – 12:30pm.

2.  Tuesday evening August 16^th from 6:00pm – 8:30 pm.  (Small Group painting party…bring your whole group and finish off an area at Shaull together!)

3.  OR if you have some daytime hours and want to paint…contact me, I’ll help you get started!

PS.  YOU’VE LOST SOMETHING – MAYBE I’VE FOUND IT!  I’ve got a lost and found that now consists of a small King James Bible and reading glasses, three fold out lawn chairs, and a XL blue fleece jacket.  Looking for it?  Please email janet.fry@daybreakweb.com and she’ll get you reunited with your stuff!  Thanks.

Serving Christ Together,

Shawn Andrews, Carlisle Pike Campus Pastor

Check out the April CPC update below!

New Diggs...Coming soon!

Wins!

God did something AMAZING this week!  As many of you know, we’ve been praying and proposing a lease at the Old Shaull Elementary School (map).   This facility would give us 24×7 visibility in the community and open many options to grow.  It’s a great location on Good Hope Road just off the Wertzville Rd exit on Rt. 81.  (4 miles from the Park Inn).

Well – we started a conversation with CV School district (who still owns it) about a month or two back, asking if they were open to leasing in lieu of selling.  They said yes!  So – we submitted a proposal for what we could afford – and we just got an email today saying they approved our initial lease terms!  We still have some negotiating to do for the specifics, and we are still working out the timing.

Want an idea of what it looks like?  Check out my iPhone tour (*WARNING* I’m an amateur and filmed it sideways…it’s kinda funny at first…till your neck starts to hurt. )  “Like it” on facebook.  Tweet it.  Share it with friends.  It’s cool. (And say thanks to Pastor Joel for being willing to lead the team (Andy Shay, Lon Lebo, Craig Hatch, Michelle Wierman) to investigate this facility while I have been working hard in other areas.)

For now, we’ll be at the PARK INN until August. We’ll let you know if we can do something sooner.

What’s coming…(Oh yeah…you don’t want to miss this!)

Our CPC PICNIC!  Don’t miss it.  Saturday, MAY 21^st from 4pm-6pm @ Creek View North Park.  (map)  Expect an invite soon by email.  You can respond and let us know what you want to bring.  You don’t want to miss it – Carrie Lebo has promised to bring some ice breakers that will make you laugh at me…I can’t tell you how excited I am about that! J

On Mother’s day…we’re hoping to do an outdoor service under the Park Inn tent…so pray for good weather!

How can you pray and help? (If you’ve read this far, why stop now?)

Jesus said in Matthew 16, “I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”

WE are the church.  When Jesus left, He said WE would bring His Hope to the world.  The local church brings HOPE to the world.   Around 400,000 people in our area don’t attend church any given Sunday.   My guess is many of those same people lack a life changing journey with Jesus.  Who are they?  Your family.  Your friends.  Your co-workers.  You neighbors.  Your waitress @ Red Robin.  Your cashier @ WAGs.  Isn’t it the greatest privilege on the planet to be part of the local church bringing the HOPE of Christ to the world?

So – pray that God forwards HIS mission THROUGH us.  Pray that God will use us to FORWARD HIS mission to impact the Carlisle Pike Community!  Pray for the people around you who need to know Jesus.  And Pray that our new facility will be a beacon of hope planted in the community and transformation planted in the community!

Carlisle Pike Campus – We did it!  We’ve overcome the odds to find a great location to meet at for 4 weeks @ East Penn Elementary.  Many of you have commented on how much you love the acoustics and feel of East Penn Elementary (CPC @ EPE!)  I’ve appreciated your input, and the experience has been really helpful at helping us see what “could be” in the future.  It’s good to be back at Park Inn now consistently!

Aren’t those Setup & Teardown folks just amazing?  Speaking of which – we played a really awesomely cool video this weekend celebrating our 6 months at CPC…and what it takes to be “portable”.  Check it out on Youtube. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj2aoszxA5k)

“Like it” on facebook.  Share it with friends.  It’s cool.

BTW – Thanks Hospitality team for working the coffee for us while we were at East Penn…it was yummy.

What’s coming…(this is exciting stuff….keep reading!)

Maybe you are wondering what’s up with being portable and such…So, let me share what I know…

Current Location:  Over the next several months, we’ll be CPC @ Park Inn.  We have a contract with the Park Inn until August, 2011.  Thanks for making all the adjustments; we’ll have a steady location again through August.  (except for Easter when both campuses will come together under the big tent!)

Future Possibilities:

For now, the elders have authorized a CPC Location Task force.  Our own Andy Shay and Lon Lebo are on that task force looking at a very specific possibility – the Old Shaull Elementary School (map).  It’s a little more central to our campus attendees, easy to find, known in the community….and its been for sale for a long time.  We actually looked at it about 1 year ago, but felt like the timing just wasn’t right. Since being at East Penn Elementary, and having a great handle on being portable, we think multiple possibilities could exist for us using some of the Old Shaull Elementary.  The team is just getting started, so I’d like you to simply start praying.  We want what God wants…when He wants it.  Let’s just pray, and watch to see how God works.

Location Schedule

3/20 – 4/17:  Park Inn

4/24:  EASTER – Together under the TENT at Gettysburg Pike Campus

5/1 – 8/28:  Park Inn

How can you pray and help? (If you’ve read this far, why stop now? J)

Jesus said in Matthew 16, “I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”

WE are the church.  When Jesus left, He said WE would bring His Hope to the world.  The local church brings HOPE to the world.   Around 400,000 people in our area don’t attend church any given Sunday.   My guess is many of those same people lack a life changing journey with Jesus.  Who are they?  Your family.  Your friends.  Your co-workers.  You neighbors.  Your waitress @ Red Robin.  Your cashier @ WAGs.  Isn’t it the greatest privilege on the planet to be part of the local church bringing the HOPE of Christ to the world?

So – pray that God forwards HIS mission THROUGH us.  Pray that God will use us to FORWARD HIS mission to impact the Carlisle Pike Community!  Pray for the people around you who need to know Jesus…and let His love OUTFLOW from you to them!  Invite them out…you know they’ll love it!

Serving Christ Together,

Shawn Andrews, Carlisle Pike Campus Pastor