JUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow. Time fly’s. Not but 2 years ago I was just about to leave a job and jump into the unknown!!!! What a jump it was, from Grays to Orsett to Stanford and into transit. From Transit to Kosova, to Turkey to Uk and back to Kosova, across Europe into a more scary adventure. Then the biggest and best of all to America.

Ever stand and take in a landscape? I took a trip through the cascade mountains 2 weeks ago with my beautiful Fiancé Tina. We were able to see some amazing views. Today as I sat and prayed in the park it was like God showed me the landscape of life. Massive stretching mountains, hills deep deep valley’s, streams lakes rives and seas. Then my feet. It like he was saying “just check out the beauty of it all!!!!, I hold all this together, but look! (As the camera sweeps across the vast expansive view right down to the floor in front) I gave you 2 feet to walk it. Sometimes you’ll be up there, others....down there. But through it all I take as much care of you as I did putting it all together in the first place.

Today I took another leep. From all I know, all the friends I’ve made over the biggest part of life, from the foundations that have been built and from all the things that I have known to be home. To the next step. Out into the wild...... well into Colchester at least. Into a new community, a new family (not naturally) and a new job/focus. I get scared quit easy but at this point I feel like Im well in the right place. And if the journey has taught me anything so far it that he is right there with you all the way.

‘Sometimes it’s not so much about the destination but the journey that takes you there’?

3.....,2......1.......jump!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lets see whats out there?!

was, is and will be

Ahh, I’m not sure if anyone still read this, but I do update every now and then. Mainly big things or seemingly spiritual highlights. But to be fair isn’t all of life worth celebrating?

So this is about airing out my inner thoughts and my take on the ‘was’ ‘is’ and ‘will be’

So I’m in Calgary airport (for a 7 hour stop over) Nice. I just left Seattle Washington and my most favourite girl in the world. I have just spent the best 6 weeks ever with my then girlfriend, now fiancé. WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO. Yes! Over the course of the summer I did propose and against all advice she may have had and all the right responses she may have given she agreed to marry me.

I just wanted to say what a great time we have had over this past summer.

It’s been amazing. Letting someone in so close to your life they have to see all that goes with it. Sometimes good sometimes bad, often just normal. Normal we have been, shopping, cooking, walking, eating holidaying, messing about, praying, visiting, meeting people, discovering new places, finding church and generally just doing life. May here and now say ‘life is MUCH better shared!’

It’s been the best, regardless to what anyone says I found America, nice, friendly, welcoming (welcome welcome Darren) fun and exciting. I loved meeting people, working and living.

Highlights include – being able to be part of the work at Recovery Cafe. Nero!!!!!!!! Camping like a propa outdoors person. Driving through the mountains listening to adventures in odyssey. Sharing my journey, the journey of 24-7 prayer and of the boiler room at 217 with the guys at ‘scum of the earth’ church. Meeting Rob Gregerson. The Goon docks!!!!!! A.k.a Astoria Oregan. Voodoo Doughnuts. Meeting and getting to hand out with some kool folks, John, Tiff, Jenn, Jess, Ronald, Zach, Liz Darren, Friendly Jeff, Caleb and David & Peter. But most of all just time spent with Teenie.

Oh yeah and getting engaged too. That was fun

So here I sit, in an airport on the brink of change. I feel like I left something behind! I did, she is wonderful, beautiful and the most precious person. Yet torn as we are we both embark on what we know God is leading us into for the next year (wow a year seems sooooo long)

I have great memories of the ‘was’. The year that was, transit, the boys, a life of prayer outworked in mission. The summer that ‘is’ and had tragically just come to an end. The connection of hearts, the life shared the plans planed and the future dreamed of. And I look forward, hard as it may be, to the ‘will be’, the year ahead full of its challenges and excitement. Prayer community, out4good, new family and friends (not forgetting any old ones of course) And the will, will be. Life together with one incredible Christine Elizabeth Aurand (one day Lawton)

Here’s to you ‘will be’ and all you may hold. I pray that the ‘will be’ God holds is the one I walk into. Amen

Be love!!!!!!

Steve, an apostle of Jesus the Christ on a journey of finding faith in the strangest of places.

To all the saint of the church of Transitier, to Gods elected representatives, strangers in this world yet with a deep rooted hope. Those that have been, or are about to be scattered far and wide to spread this gospel of love.

May grace and peace be with each one of you as you embark on this journey of life that is constantly being unfolded before you.

Much time has passed since we gathered together at the forming ground of Corritunesis, in the land of Essexaliea. Often we pray for you, never once thinking that you are incapable yet always understanding that God does nothing but in response to prayer.

Times have changed since we were last together and life has seen us all stretching out into the great unknown. But let it be known unswervingly my dear friends that none of us are in this alone. As the body we are connected to each other and the Christ himself. If you are ever in need please, do not hesitate to ask for prayer and of course keep constant dialogue with the farther, who is always looking out for you ready to get involved, at your request.

Brothers and sisters, the road is hard and fraught with dangers, yet let us never become tired of doing the good works he has at hand for us. Each day you rise begin by inviting him in, cultivating that relationship that we all long for that bond of farther and son/daughter.

Please, even though at times it may be hard, never let the word of God depart from you it is your life line, your incite into a loving farther and his longing to interact with his children. Hold on to it, you don’t know how blessed and privileged you are to have it in your hands.

Family, Love people, until you feel you have nothing left to give, than love some more. Let this be what defines you. Your love for one another, and not just those you like.

Waist yourself on Gods work, Sometimes it will seem pointless, who loves cleaning toilets or picking up litter, But it is SO important in the building of the kingdom to come. Some may laugh and accuse you of wasting your life, I say what better way to waste yourself than at the mercy of God, directly responding to the needs around you.

Look for beauty in everything and everyone, this will help as you seek to live as an act of worship.

Keep on growing, in this kingdom, you never get too tall. Keep on learning, your never realise how little you know until you learn something new.

Listen to Gods heart beat, pick it up, use it to build in a rhythm of life that both works practice and is in line with your farther.

Friends, there is more I would like to share yet I fear there would not be enough paper to write it down on.

Don’t forget where you came from, not because you going back but because it will help you determine where you are going.

Live generously, hope undoubtedly, pray persistently, and speak boldly, but never prideful, keep calm, there’s always time to take a breath.

But most of all, Love, love from the gut, love those who are loved and those who have never even so much as heard the word let alone understand it. You are loved, so be love.

I pass on heartfelt greetings from our dear friend Christine, she wishes you all well and hopes to visit soon (I hope so too)

May this love that we have heard so much about consume you. Until our time comes,

May Peace and love stay with you.