Portland at a glance

Well, it has been a full week since I arrived in this beautiful city and I hit the road tomorrow morning so I thought I'd give an update while I know I can :)

The last 5 days has been filled with experiencing the city. There are so many different places to eat and enjoy life. So many different micro-brew beers! It's fun to experience the tastes of Portland. Some places to hit if you're ever in town would be, Hedge House, Stumptown Coffee, The Waffel Window, Horse Brass Pub, Biddy's, Hopworks, Belmont Station, and anything McManamin's (especially Edgefield). Go to Powell's Books, the main one on Burnside. Do not pass up the Japanese Gardens.

Tuesday night I had the opportunity to commune with some of Desiraé's church plant team. We had dinner, a very Oregon dinner, enjoyed a good word and discussion on Jn. 15:1-17 and it was so encouraging to meet some really passionate and determined people. We talked about abiding/remaining in Christ. It became apparent that plants do not have to focus on producing fruit; fruit is a response to being deeply and well rooted in one's source of life. We need to be less, if at all concerned with doing good things, but rather put all efforts into being deeply rooted in Christ's love and knowing him and his heart and trust that our lives, because of our rootedness, will radiate his glory.

This, I hope and plan, will be a major part of this adventure and en devour. I have never allowed myself this much space for getting to know God. Pray that I take advantage of it.

Later today, because it's been today for 40 minutes, I will be sticking out my thumb in hopes someone will respond with grace and curiosity. Pray for providence. This has never been a mission trip for me, I do not feel a calling from God to do this trip, but I know it is blessed by him and I know that I am always a minister, I am always on the Kingdom's mission.

I have no idea what the next few days, weeks or months look like, but I know that if I live life in the name of the Jesus and for his glory, this is going to be one epic Journey.

shalom