Eight Months Later

Today marks 8 months since I started at CPC (I actually meant to blog about how life has been here after the six month mark but obviously that didn't happen).

I figured I would break this down and share one big highlight related to: ministry, family and personal that have really stuck out to me since moving.

The Healthiest Church I've Ever Seen
I share this line because this sentence is something I shared with others or have thought about probably every day since we've been here.  I am constantly impressed at the level of health that I see at CPC.  We have a healthy staff.  We have a healthy body.  We have healthy Elders.  We have people that are emotionally healthy, spiritually healthy and get the need to invest into younger leaders.  We work hard and have lots of fun together!

Please don't misread my comment on health to mean that CPC is perfect; we know that we are not perfect.  But from someone who has seen A LOT of ministry I can confidently say that CPC is the healthiest church I've ever seen.  I'm not saying we are the best or the flashiest or the smartest or most creative but we are healthy and I needed a healthy church in this phase in my life.

We love the Peninsula
It's almost like God knew that we just needed to be in this area.  It has been such a blessing being back in California.  Its been a blessing being so close to great friends.  We have been exploring all over the Peninsula and Northern CA.  We have taken trips to Santa Cruz, the City, Half Moon Bay and Fishing in the mountains.  Living on the Peninsula has proven to be a great place for us to raise our family.  Charity has made some new friends here and reconnected with old friends.  Our kids have made some friends they love playing with.

We love that we can walk to the store.  We love that we can take family bike rides to 7-11 or the park.  We love that we have great friends near to us that we can visit and spend time with.  We love that God has placed us in such an amazing area to do life.  I think much of this is due to my completion of seminary but I also think a huge component is due to our location.

I feel like a new leader
Being around the team of people I work with has given me an increased hope in the local church.  I start with that line because I am learning more of what it means to be a person and a pastor up here.  I have people around me that are constantly encouraging me to lead.  I feel like I am getting to use my gifts and talents in new ways to help push back darkness in our world.

Not only has ministry gone well for me but personally I have been able to do some things I enjoy.  Being that Tahoe is about 3.5 hours I've taken a few trips up there to ride (and hit some powder days).  I've been able to see life-long friends up in Tahoe that refresh my soul to see.  I've been able to get a few fishing days in and actually landed some big ones!  I'm learning what life is like post seminary and learning how to be a father which has been a wild journey for me!

If I had to sum up our time here in one word it would be:
God knew that we needed to be here and we are absolutely loving it!