Tinkerbell

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

I just want to start this update off by giving thanks to God the Father for all He is, all He has done, and for the steadfast promise of what He will do.  Erin and I have been so blessed by Him up to this point in our lives and want to direct all praise, thanksgiving and honor to Him.

With that, here's an update!

Tinkerbell.

As summer rolls in, cars begin their melting process, AC bills sky-rocket and the Mavericks provide us with great water-cooler talk, the pace of life is picking up around here.  Erin is working hard at her job, serving as a leader in the 20s group at Woodcreek, planning a wedding and preparing for a marriage.  I am working on finishing well at Woodcreek, preparing for the transition of leadership in Senior High, and beginning to sow the seeds of our new life together in McKinney.

I'm pretty sure you're supposed to do all of life's major transitions all at the same time, right?  Get them all out of the way?  Sort of like ripping off a band-aid - just do it all really quick and it might sting for a bit but then it gets better!  Right?

That reminds me of what my college mentor, Chris Taylor, told me when I unveiled to him last winter what I felt God was leading me to do - marry Erin, quit my job, move to another city, look for a new job and plant a church.  He lovingly bestowed some kind, godly words of wisdom to me.  He leaned forward, drew me close, looked me straight in the eyes and softly said...

"You're an idiot."  : )

It was all in love and fun and he said it as a loving older-brother/father-figure would and we laughed about it.  The truth is I've never argued that fact.  I am an idiot - an idiot saved by the grace given to me by Jesus.  But I do appreciate Chris' words of wisdom as he was "speaking the truth in love" reminding me that if I was doing this under my own power and determination, I was an idiot.  But I know he believes, like Erin and me, that God's story is full of Him doing amazing things with simple, ordinary people.

And, although I may be an idiot trying to do many of life's hardest things at one time, the only way I could be a bigger idiot would be to say "no" to God as He leads me (and Erin) this way.  And, just to make it clear, there's no way an idiot ends up with a girl like Erin! : )

So, you're probably asking what in the world this has to do with Tinkerbell.  Well, I am moving into our McKinney home this weekend, 6-weeks or so before Erin joins me as Mrs. McCullough, and this is the key that was left for me to open the doors of our new abode.  Needless to say a trip to Lowes jumped to the top of the 'to-do' list.

But it's exciting.  I plan on imploring my "fresh-baked-cookies-hand-delivered-to-the-neighbors" tactic that I used at my apartment to begin getting to know and building relationships with the people the Lord has placed around us.  I've found this tactic to be quite lucrative in making friends and breaking down walls.  As my friend Jon Lilley told me once when I second-guessed if this was a good idea, "Who doesn't like getting cookies?"  Good point.

So, pray for us.  The time is drawing nearer and we are growing more and more excited to follow Jesus into this unknown (unknown to us, not Him).  But there is a specific prayer request that you can still lift up for us.

I am still in the job hunt here in McKinney and trusting God has something in line for me.  I just want to be faithful to being where He wants me to be.  Please pray for that and if you have any connections to people or places in McKinney that might be looking for part-time or full-time work, please let me know! You can email me.  Also, you can read more about the Job Hunt at this blog post.

Thanks again for the support and feel free to comment or send any emails!  You don't realize the power of your words of encouragement to us in this process!!

As Paul wrote in Philippians 4:20

To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.