Our Church Planting Journey!

Who was Jesus?

2007-11-14T11:36:00.000-06:00

I agree with Piper that being neutral on who Jesus is would be cruel at best. Yes i am Christ follower....yes i believe the death, burial, & resurrection or Jesus to be true.....yes i know that requires great faith.......yes i know that there are many evidences that suggest that Jesus was who he said he was.

Yes, i really believe that embracing and enjoying God is the most important thing that i will ever do.....in fact eternity hangs on it.....(yes i really believe that when people die they spend an eternity somewhere). So yes.....i hope that you would embrace Jesus as Truth as well and long for him with great joy. I hope you would embrace Jesus both intellectually and with all of your heart. But i know that you cannot enjoy something until you fully embrace it! Only then does bring joy and fulfillment.

Now I know that some of you see this as complete foolishness, others see it as myth, or even worse a crutch to explain the hard to explain things.

Jesus is......the Christ, the son of God, he is the channel of mercy & grace to a broken and hurting world. Ephesians 2:4-5 "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ."

My encouragement to you.....in your loneliness, in your hurt, in your quest for truth, in your search for meaning & purpose in this life: try Jesus....i know that sounds trite to some of you....but investigate HIM, his claims, the bible......could it be true? Could he really satisfy?

Indeed.....yes! i (by his grace alone) have embraced it....and millions of others have too. What about you? Who is Jesus to you?

Finding Our Place in His Story

2007-11-13T16:34:00.000-06:00

So i read a quote today that struck me.....

"We are lonesome animals. We spend all our life trying to be less lonesome. One of our ancient methods is to tell a story begging the listener to say - and to feel - Yes, that's the way it is, or at least that's the way I feel it. You are not as alone as you thought."
- John Steinbeck

I am not sure of Steinbeck's theology....but his thoughts resonate with what I find true of most of us. People are very lonely, even in our 'connected' generation (facebook anyone?). It's nice to feel normal, it's nice to know I am not alone!

How about you? are you connected? or are you surrounded but on your own little island of isolation?

One of those light bulbs moments was when I realized that my story is part of an even bigger story! No more meaningless....no more loneliness. What about you.....what role has God played in your story up until now?

So Why Bother?

2007-09-17T10:34:00.000-05:00

That is the question that most people are asking when it comes to being apart of the local church: Why Bother? As we have spent the last nine months investing relationally in North Austin - we have asked hundreds of people about God, church, Jesus, & Christians.....the responses have been candid and revealing!

Each week at Crossroads we are taking a look at the top 6 perceptions that "outsiders" (men & women outside of the church who would say they are not followers of Christ)have of Christians and the local church. Check out Gabe Lyons & David Kinnaman's book UNchristian (releases 10/01/07).

These past two weeks we have looked at the perceptions that Christians are Hypocritical & Only care about getting people "Saved"......We would love your feedback and to hear your stories! Do you aggree or disagree.....you can listen to past messages on our website www.crossroadschurchaustin.com.

We survived lift off!

2007-09-10T23:09:00.000-05:00

what a day! we finally went public as a church.....what a great day to do life with so many new people. I am extremely grateful to be apart of what God is doing in Austin, TX. Thanks to many of you for doing life with us! I am excited about the journey ahead and look forward to growing with you.

Who Knows You?

2007-05-29T22:25:00.000-05:00

Who really knows you? That question came to mind after reading a quote recently, people today are "acquainted with many people, but they are known by none". Who really knows you? Your dreams, your passions, your failures, your thoughts, your skeletons, your fears, your good & bad habits, your junk? Who knows what you are thinking about right now? Does anyone care? Would you share if someone would listen? Do you have at least one person you dialogue with on more than just a surface level: how are you today? how about the Longhorns? Did you see American Idol? What's up with all this rain?

I sure hope so.....ironically enough i find this topic of community interesting! According to a recent Gallup poll - "Americans are among the most lonely people in the world"...how could that be with all of our stuff and access to people? Yet, most of us come home and hide within the four walls of our dwelling place and turn on the tube and get lost for hours on end. Or better yet we text, im, and email our closest friends w/o ever seeing them face to face.

Without a doubt we were created for community, Matthew 22 and Genesis 2 affirm this. I wonder, are you truly living in community? Does someone know your story (your parents or your bride don't count....they have to know it!) Better yet - do you know someone else's story, their hurts, dreams, fears, successes?

What keeps you from living in community with others? Do you think living in community reflects the image of God? Who are you intentionally getting to know?

I Need Your Advice!!

2007-05-22T22:16:00.000-05:00

So I have talked to hundreds of people in recent weeks about the start of this new church.....and for the most part, find that people are open to the idea - even if they don't believe what i believe....only a few have been rude about it.

I need your help!!! So what advice would you give me as we start a new church in North Austin? I am a pastor....here's your chance to tell me what you think!! Why do people stay away from church? What factors would cause you to investigate church....the principles of the Bible, Jesus? What turns you off about church? How would you reach out to those who are not Christ followers or church goers? I look forward to reading your post.

Blogging....a necessary evil!

2007-03-09T15:07:00.000-06:00

so...it's been a while. when i started on this journey - my gut said i would struggle providing up to date post. I mean - who really has time to write about their life & if they do.....are they really living life.....and to be even more frank - who really reads this anyway. if you are one of those sick individuals who have nothing better else to do with your life.....then here is my dribble for you today or this month is more like it. church planting.....creating environments where people who could give a rip about God would want to show up and do life with other people...trying to answer the real, meaningful questions of life.....loving people where they are and realizing we are all on a journey. trying to undo the mess of people's life often created in the first place by well-meaning christians in the first place. By God's grace.....and only His Grace can we love people rightly & lead them to Him......that He does love perfectly and that life in Him and with Him satisfies. Just maybe......i will not get in the way of that. More dribble later.

Prayer....Apartment Life....& the New House

2007-01-27T19:48:00.000-06:00

First of all....thanks to the hundreds of you for praying daily for our family. We are seeing answers to our requests each day and grateful to God for His provision!!! This week we hosted our last official event with Apartment Life as a CARES team. This ministry has been an incredible experience for our family. We have grown in our hospitality and relational evangelism. Christy has often cooked for 75+ people. She has been stretched out of her comfort zone and done an amazing job! We are sad to leave the relationships we have cultivated these last six months. We hope to see some of these folks join us at the plant in the months to come. However, we look forward to moving out of 1200 sq. feet with 5 people......our new house fills like a mansion. By the way, our new address is 13105 Lubbock Lane, Austin, TX 79729. We scrubbed base boards, potties, and doors today for seven hours. Within an hour, Lauren and Claire were unearthing 'worms' in the back yard. That was a great sight to see. Join us on Febraury 11th for our first Vision Gathering at HCBC Northwest.

Every Man, Woman, & Child.....

2006-12-05T16:44:00.000-06:00

that's right.....can you imagine what it would look like if every man, woman, and child in NORTH AUSTIN had the chance to hear the life chaging reality of Jesus Christ from the lips of someone they know. Make it even more personal: what if EMW&C in your neigborhood heard the gospel, in you work place, in your school......we could change the world. Can you imagine what it would look like if your friends, neighbors and co-workers were living out of the center of God's purpose for their life......to know Him & give Him GLORY???? There are 258K in North Austin, 1.4 million people in greater Austin, 300 million is the US and over 1.5 billion on the planet.......are you taking responsibility for your circle of influence? Join us in reaching both our neigbors and the 10-40 Window......Ask God for His heartbeat and agenda - and then join Him quickly!!

Happy Birthday Christy!!!

2006-10-31T16:21:00.000-06:00

33 years and counting! I am married to the coolest Halloween baby ever born. Thanks for making our lives fun everyday! You take care of me and the girls without fail. You bring order to our family everyday and you do it with a big heart and beautiful smile. You are loved so much!!! Thanks God for creating Christy and giving her to us!!! Happy Birthday.

Overwhelmed by Grace

2006-10-12T16:52:00.000-05:00

The chains of sin are gone......we have been set free, my God - my Savior has ransomed me & like a flood - His mercy reigns! Unending love.....Amazing grace....a reason to rejoice always!!!

Our Purpose in Life

2006-10-11T10:55:00.000-05:00

Both general & specifc......think about it! we were made in the image of God (we represent HIM).....we house Him (the very Spirit of God lives in us).....and we were made to GlORIFY Him. Our general purposes for being on the planet! so what about my gifts...my passions....my unique experiences? Jesus came specifically to to do the will of the Father - to reconcile us to the Father....to restore His reputation.

We too are on the planet for specific purpose(s). Mine: to accomplish the marching orders of Acts 1:8....to extend His family....to seek out the lost.....all the while bookended with bringing HIM GLORY.

How cool to be apart of the God created.....mandated institution called the local church. May i (we) seek to accomplish the marching orders of Acts 1:8 until the day comes when we will join with every ethos.

Greater Austin

2006-10-09T16:15:00.000-05:00

Austin, Texas.........what a great city! Home to the largest state university on the planet....the center of Texas politics......a high tech mecca......and culturally savvy!!! Did I mention that Austin is 84% unchurched. That's 1.26 million people in a region of 1.5 million that have no connection to the greatest institution on the planet......the local church. The median age is a young 31.7 and 36+% have a college education compared to the national average of 26.5%. So what? you ask.......

Simply put: Austin is ripe for the explosion of the Holy Spirit to do a great work in the lives of Every Man, Woman, & Child in the greater Austin area. I hope you will join me in reaching this great city for His Glory!!!

Starting Point

2006-08-17T14:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the blog spot of the Traywick family!!!! We created this to let all of our families and friends get a picture of our day to day lives as we prepare to plant a church in greater Austin, TX in the next 18 months. Thanks for your encouragement, support, & prayers as we strive to bring God greater Glory!