Laugh. Love. Learn.

June 2006 seems like a long time ago. I’ve had two kids since then. And moved to another county. Then I was 25; now I’m 28. 28 seems much older. In June 2006, The Vine was an idea. A concept. A vision. A burden for specific people in a specific community that seemed rural and undeveloped. Everything definitive about the organization was contained in a 5 page Word document. But the prospects were huge. I knew without a doubt that the vision in David’s heart was God-inspired, and I couldn’t believe I was getting the chance to be a part of it. Everything was surreal.

I remember being nervous about pre-launch meetings…would anyone come? What would they be like? I remember literally praying that God would send computer-savvy people to be on our team, and that (in my introvertedness) I’d meet them…and lo and behold, Kris Jones showed up at the first meeting (thank you, Jesus.)

I remember our first Christmas Eve service in December ’06, an attempt to turn a fish-camp-looking golf pavilion into a worship center. Let’s just say we tried really hard. We had a really cool video that was half of the message…great idea until we lost power in half of the building. Lights out. Projector out. Everyone turning awkwardly to look at one projector across the room. Our first “real” service on Easter ’07 wasn’t much better, from a technical standpoint. We weren’t set up until the very last minute so the band hardly ever practiced, and we had major video issues…again. But somehow I managed to not pull my hair out and continued to learn…because I believed in the vision. I believed in the vision when I hauled our 50-pound Mac Pro and cumbersome 20” flat screen all the way from Loganville, every week. I believed in the vision when I had to schedule different worship leaders and an entire band every week for 3 months before we found Gregg. I believed in the vision when we stacked 900 bazillion chairs in the black box, week after week. I believed in the vision when we no longer fit, and had to scramble to come up with a plan for overflow. I believed in the vision when we decided to have a family Easter festival the day before Easter, and 1,000 people showed up. That was one busy weekend. We believed in the vision enough to sell our house and move our kids to Braselton. I believed in the vision enough to leave my secular job – which I loved – and risk moving to a new job, just to be closer to Braselton. I believe in the vision enough to use all of my “free” time to make sure Sunday mornings are as excellent as possible. Sometimes I believe in the vision to the point of tears. And though the vision is about people, and a church is not a facility but a group of people, something about opening a facility felt like fulfillment of a dream. Not that we’ve arrived – nor will we ever – but it’s a great next step. It will enable us to take more next steps. It will enable us to reach more people, and become a hub for ministry throughout the community. It remains surreal. And when I look back on the nights I’ve questioned everything, and wondered why I was here and if it was all worth it – I know that it was. And it continues to be. Every life that is redeemed and restored – every person who lives in freedom – makes it worth it. Every single life that is changed because they enter into a relationship with Jesus makes it worth it, over and over again. Salvation never gets less exciting!

And though it would seem that our fun new equipment and nice chairs in the new worship center are most exciting to me, they are not. I’m most excited for our children. As I lay awake Saturday night, all I could think about was the likelihood that our children will meet Jesus in this place. Each Sunday they’ll learn about Him there, and worship him corporately there. The Kidzu worship room is my favorite place in the entire facility, because the kids get to sing and dance and worship, and be EXCITED about Jesus! I’m so thankful that our kids have a place to learn and grow and have fun under the leadership of adults who love Jesus. I couldn’t believe what I saw when I visited Kidzu Worship on Sunday – the atmosphere was electric and the Spirit was so clearly present – and I am thankful. Thankful for a place where we can fill people up and send them out into a hurting world to be Jesus for people…to be the church as it was intended…and gather on the weekends to celebrate who God is and all that He has done.

Praying that the name of Jesus is always lifted high, above all other things,
Rebecca

I’m so excited/nervous/grateful/apprehensive/undeserving/ecstatic/overwhelmed/and downright giddy about opening the new facility at The Vine this weekend that I almost can’t think straight.

If you live in the Braselton/Jefferson/Flowery Branch/Winder/Hoschton area, please come check it out! Also, if you have any friends who live in that area, make sure to invite them! 9:30am & 11:00am

I’ve always felt guilty about not going to Africa. Don’t get me wrong — I fully recognize the responsibility Christ followers have to advocate for social justice and minister to the least and the lost — but for some reason, the thought of moving, or even going, to another country doesn’t make my heart beat out of my chest like other opportunities to serve do. I have friends who’d pack their bags and move to a third-world country in a heartbeat. So, I’ve often wondered, is something wrong with me? Is my lack of passion about this a measure of faith?

The older I get, the more I’ve learned to have cautious expectations. Not that I think God can do less — just that my expectations or hopes aren’t always His plan, and His plan is always good, always better, always perfect timing. I must have read this post by Tony Morgan at least a hundred times, trying to figure out why I’m doing what I’m doing in this stage of life. Don’t get me wrong — I’m 100% thankful for provision for my family — just sometimes unsure of how this stage fits into the big picture. But I recognize that my responsibility is to be faithful and diligent regardless of circumstance.

I’m not sure if I’ve ever talked about work on this blog, because…I just don’t. I teach English. But not like I used to teach English. I teach English to kids who don’t speak English. Many of them are 17 & 18-year-old boys. Most of their stories of how they came to America are horrendous and desperate. Few of them live with both parents. Many of them have no parents in America at all. Almost all of them work (for minimum wage) and several of them wear the exact same outfit to school, every single day. They really enjoy school lunch. They can’t go to the doctor if they get sick, because they don’t have insurance or money. One guy who came in January and spoke zero English (couldn’t even count to 10) hadn’t been to school since he was 10, and another guy works 40+ hours a week at McDonald’s to help pay rent for the 2 trailers he lives in with his 3 adult sisters and 7 nieces and nephews. That’s a lot of responsibility for an 18-year-old. Several of them haven’t seen their parents in years, and one guy told me he’s been trying to call his mom in Mexico for 3-4 months, but he can’t find her. (And, therefore, doesn’t even know if she’s alive.) These kids aren’t like me. I have no conception of their reality. Their version of the American Dream and my description do not align. To be honest, a lot of the time I don’t even know what to do with them. I mean obviously we follow the curriculum…but in the grand scheme of things, that’s so insignificant. Sometimes all I know how to do is smile, and encourage, and let them know that they matter to me (because they matter to God!)

Friday night was Hispanic Awards Night for my school system. Obviously I was a little out of place there, , and the entire ceremony was in Spanish. But two of my students (neither of whom have parents) received awards for improvement and achievement. I wondered if they’d show up, but they did — with their entire families! They were so excited for me to meet their relatives (who, of course, speak no English. ) I was so proud of them for receiving these recognitions, even though all the odds are completely against them. And, for the first time all year, my heart started to beat fast and I caught a glimpse of purpose. Even if these kids don’t come back next year, and I never see them again after the next 10 days (which is entirely possible,) maybe I’ve been able to love them and value them in a way that honors Jesus and moves them one step closer to Him. That’s what I’m praying, at least.

Apparently, for this season, God’s brought a mission field to me.

This is what I want it to be. Trying to raise kids who love Jesus with everything they are is the most humbling, challenging, convicting thing I’ve ever attempted. They’re here all the time. They know if I’m in the Word or not. They know if I choose to respond out of love or frustration. They’re very aware if I’m at church when I should be at home, which is an intricate balance since our involvement at church is also modeling how to serve… Every night since Tanner was conceived I’ve begged God to give her a passion for Him, and for His Word, and for others at a very early age. So when I walked in to hear her singing this while she played with her toys, my heart melted… *video*

Sunday we celebrated 2 years since we launched The Vine. On one hand it’s hard to believe it’s been that long, and on the other hand I almost can’t remember life without it. Gregg made an awesome video to commemorate our 2nd year…God’s done a lot in twelve months! Check it out.

Here’s our One Year Video, if you’re looking for more video goodness…

And we’d love to see you Sunday at 9:30 or 11:00 as we continue our current series, Sensational God!

it’s cool to get older. i like it. not because i like birthdays so much as i like how things have changed. instead of thinking about what i “want” i’m just thankful for what i’ve already got. i woke up thinking about how tremendously blessed i am, and thankful for life… all i “wanted” for my birthday this year was to be with nick & the girls. there’s nowhere else i’d rather be, whether they’re behaving or not. my list of favorite things to do has changed. it includes:
1. sitting right next to Nick, both on our laptops. i love his presence.
2. watching Food Network with the K-dawg, listening to her stories, and watching her love Tanner.
3. rocking Tanner to sleep, while she sings “Jesus Loves Me” with me.
4. laying awake at night while Jaxson kicks and rolls around. i think he’s trying to communicate. can’t wait to meet the little guy.
5. family Cheeto-Puff eating. i’m not sure why, but our kids LOVE Cheetos and get so excited!
6. having nowhere to go and nothing to do. and a clean house with the windows open.
7. watching the birds on our bird feeders on Saturday mornings. Tanner loves the “peep-peeps!” (see, toldja I was getting old…birdwatching? seriously? i don’t know their names or anything, but i like the little yellow ones.)

my goals for 28 are to love my family like nothing else matters, and to find ways for us to tangibly be the hands and feet of Jesus…there’s a weird passion in my heart that i can’t yet identify, but i refuse to get any older without figuring it out. i’ll keep ya posted on that one.
and, in the meantime, i’ll leave you with some (not really new) lyrics that are, for some reason, messing me up right now. peace-out

It is not a human right
To stare not fight
While broken nations dream
Open up our eyes, so blind
That we might find
The Mercy for the need

Singing, Hey now fill our hearts with Your compassion
Hey now, as we hold to our confession

It is not too far a cry
To much to try
To help the least of these
Politics will not decide
If we should rise
And be your hands and feet…

This morning was a great experience at theVine as we celebrated the Risen Savior and kicked off a new series, Sensational God. James, Nick, Kris, Matt, and Jeff spent long hours making sure the new set was ready for Easter, and I was really happy with how it looked! We re-used the spandex wall tiles that we implemented during a previous series…but differently.

theVine[band] was excellent today, and my favorite song was “You Found Me” by the Fray. Gregg captured different images of the motion visualizers on iTunes, and created png files with key works in the song, to simulate a pseudo click-track. It worked wonderfully.

As a part of the message, Jason, our outreach pastor, shared his testimony. His story is such a radical testament to the redemptive power of the Gospel and to how JESUS can overtake your life and make you new… it’s awesome. And Gregg did a great job filming and editing… Check it out:

If you missed us this morning, you can listen to the message by clicking here.

Join us next week at 9:30 or 11:00 for week 2 of the Sensational God series!

our SON.

We’re already in awe of him. Today at the perinatologist they zoomed in on his heart…you could see all four chambers, the major veins, the directions of bloodflow…and I couldn’t help but thinking how amazing hearts are, not only physically, but in the fact that Jesus will live in his heart as well. The physical and spiritual are so intricately and mysteriously intertwined. I’d been excited before, but as we watched the doctor count his individual fingers and toes, and check all of his organs, and show us his perfect little lips and nose and face, and as we watched him swallow…I was amazed. Speechless. Not only that God creates life, but that He does it with such precision, and that He’s entrusted us to take care of His precious little boy. BOY. Haha. Not sure what to do with a boy, but I’m looking forward to figuring it out! We are so very thankful…

And so are his big sisters!!!

“As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.” Ecclesiastes 11:5

“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.” Ephesians 3:16-19

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.” Psalm 139:13-18

Christmas Eve was amazing. We had two services in the Elan Ballroom at Chateau Elan, and everything was gorgeous. This year we had help from the guys at DCR Media, and their expertise + our learning via school of hard knocks led to a super-organized, minimally-stressful, totally rockstar service. We pulled off our most technically-complicated adventure yet, and it makes me really excited when thinking about the future of theVine!
Nick’s stars looked amazing, especially when coupled with all the LED lighting…

Here was my view for the evening. I think the most exciting part of the night for me was watching our team do such an amazing job! It’s so cool to see people find the sweet-spot of their talents, and two of our people were in new positions…clearly positions they were made for! Morgan Collins OWNED calling all the camera shots, even though we only gave her one preview monitor. Homegirl earned herself a future seat at the video console in our imaginary video control room. Robbie Pancake had been holding out on us with his phenomenal camera skills, and he got crazy-awesome shots all night! In addition to providing quality entertainment on the tech comm system, Nick & James held down the wide shots, and Mr. Kris Jones (a.k.a. MacDaddyPro) handled ProPresenter like a champ. Also, we couldn’t have done what we did without the 20-or-so volunteers who assisted with set-up and tear-down…it went smoother and faster than ever before, thanks to their dedication! (and muscles.) I still can’t believe I get to be a part of this team…it’s surreal. And in Braselton. Haha. Braselton?!? Who would have thought…

Tanner enjoyed getting all dressed-up and coming to Christmas Eve with LaLa and PaPa, and she was especially excited about eating grapes from the snack area!!! That was the highlight of the night for her.

And finally, this was just too cool not to take a picture of … it’s in the atrium at Chateau Elan — they put millions of REAL cranberries in their fountain!!! It was sooo awesome. And creative. Major cool points.

The music was great, the message was great, nobody caught anything on fire, nothing glass got broken, the Macs behaved, and only one person got gaff taped.
I can’t wait for 2009 at theVine!

Tonight we had the privilege of meeting Mr. Landon Jones! Landon is an incredible miracle, and we are so excited that God chose Kris & Jessica to be Landon’s parents! We’ve been praying for little Landon since way before he was even conceived… it’s so exciting to hold him, hear his sweet baby noises, and rub his little head… God answers prayers!

Tanner kept saying “baby!” “baby!”

Sweet boy…

And I went ahead and started teaching Landon about ProPresenter. We’re training him up right and he already loves Macs. Landon’s going to lead the next generation of the technology team at theVine!

Congratulations Kris and Jessica. He is absolutely perfect!