Bruised Reeds and Smouldering Wicks

The Most Important Person to Lead is Yourself

2011-10-19T08:30:00.000-07:00

Having been in church planting for 28 years I have not only shot myself in the foot numerous times, but also watched other perfectly competent leaders do the same. While I don’t know who came up with the title for today’s blog, I do know that it is true.

Here are four ways we can lead ourselves.

· Lead yourself in the ways of God. As one recent church planting leader said, “If I don’t have my relationship with God right, nothing else will be right.” You would think that we would learn this lesson early on, but the number of 50 year old pastors who are still struggling with this leads me to conclude that it is a lifelong battle to be fought.

o Make a leadership choice to connect more fully to Jesus today.

· Lead yourself in overcoming fears. When we get scared we have three typical responses—Fight, flight or freeze. It takes careful leadership to have a thoughtful, prayerful response to a frightening set of circumstances. Saying, “I will walk by faith in my God in this instance” requires a leadership choice.

o Make a leadership choice to confront that situation that is causing your fear this week.

· Lead yourself in breaking new ground. The default mode of human nature is to walk by sight- to return to the safe place. But just like the church that says, “We’ve never done it that way before” so a leader who always returns to what has worked in the past without considering the future has limited the reach of his leadership.

o Make a leadership choice to try one new thing in the next thirty days.

· Lead yourself into replenishment. Often as leaders we think that green pastures and still waters are for those we preach to, but they will never make it there if we don’t model what that looks like. If the leader sets the standard of workaholism—read skips her day off, the all who follow or report to that leader will do the same. Taking a Sabbath day, affirms our belief that God is in control of our church plant and that He is Lord.

o Make a leadership choice to take care of yourself better (rest, exercise, or vacation) this year.

Your spiritual, mental and physical health as a leader will determine your effectiveness. The better you lead yourself the more effective you will be in leading others God has placed in your sphere of influence. Go ahead, lead! Lead yourself, lead your family, lead your church plant. Lead, because God cares what you do.

Prawlking

2011-10-18T08:40:00.000-07:00

Having renewed my life plan, I have committed myself to exercising and praying more. This morning I was able to prawlk (prayer walk) 2.7 miles. At first I could only walk and my only prayer was, Lord, help me get home. Now I am finding that I can seek God's face and favor while walking.

I'm finding that Paul Cardall on Pandora radio is really conducive to distraction free meditation. And being ADD ("Dear Lord, oh there goes a bird, hmm look at that flower, wonder what the 49ers are going to do") I need all the help I can get.

This morning I was actually able to jog about 1/3 of the way. Prayer during that time reduced to "Lord help me not to die here", but am looking forward to "Progging" (prayer/jogging) with more than a survival prayer.

I believe that exercise is part of God's plan for my life. It may not be the thing I look forward to the most, but I long to grasp His highest purpose for my life and I know I cannot do that without exercise. So, I obey trusting that God is doing His good work in my life.

United airlines ugh

2011-10-14T08:06:00.001-07:00

Landed early couldn't get a gate.sprinted through lax to be treated rudely by gate agents. No wonder SouthWest cleans up.

www.marcusbigelow.com/lifeplanning

Early in the Morning I will praise Him

2011-09-28T05:44:00.001-07:00

Ps 28:7

The Lord strengthens and protects me;

I trust in him with all my heart.

I am rescued and my heart is full of joy;

I will sing to him in gratitude.

Finding Clarity and Direction,

Marcus Bigelow

Cell: 707-718-3730

Untitled

2011-09-26T07:16:00.001-07:00

Just listened to an incredible TED presentation of a 2000 voice virtual choir. http://www.ted.com/talks/eric_whitacre_a_virtual_choir_2_000_voices_strong.html The need for community is strong.

I won something. That never happens.

2011-09-19T07:46:00.001-07:00

I am so excited! I just found out that I won a free copy of @MWBuckingham’s new book, StandOut: http://mhyatt.us/pBBTIK

StandOut

2011-09-13T06:42:00.001-07:00

Just read review of StandOut by "Strengths-Finder" Marcus Buckingham. Looks like a good read. http://michaelhyatt.com/a-review-of-standout-by-marcus-buckingham.html#respond

Blow Out!

2011-08-29T08:09:00.000-07:00

Driving on a Blow out!

Yesterday, my son in law was driving to church in my Tahoe, when kerwhang thump,thump thump. Sure enough, a blown tire, on the freeway, next to a cement wall with no shoulder! He didn’t plan it, he wasn’t dressed for it, but it happened anyway. He limped along for a ½ mile until there was a place to pull out of traffic. Today we are tire shopping.

As I waited for the service provider (my jack was too short and my lug wrench didn’t fit—duh!) I thought about our lives. Almost everyone has had a blowout, both on the road and in life. We never plan for it, we hope it doesn’t happen, and most of the time in life our lug wrench doesn’t fit! So, what do we do.

So, here’s a couple of thoughts for when you have a blow out.

· Have a good tow service! In life that means first of all, having your relationship with God in order. I think we all experience temporary atheism at times when we worry that somehow God will not show up in our crisis—but He always does.

· Have someone you can call. The time to tend to our relationships of friendship and mentorship and counsel, we will be frantically searching for someone to fill that void when we are least prepared to do it.

· Don’t keep driving on the blowout. It’s dangerous and it will only cause more damage. We don’t know if the tire could have been saved before driving a ½ mile on the blow out, but if we had gone much farther we would have ruined the rim, the brakes, an axle and ???. I’m always amazed at how people try to brush their “life blowouts” under the rug and act as if nothing has happened.

Tomorrow I’ll talk a little more about this in my blog, Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow—Stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive!

Driving on a blowout!

2011-08-29T08:06:00.001-07:00

Driving on a Blow out.docx Download this file

Life Planning

2011-08-26T09:09:00.001-07:00

If we would only give the same amount of reflection to what we want

out of life that we give to the question of what to do with two weeks’

vacation, we would be startled at our false standards and the aimless

procession of our busy days.”

— Dorothy Canfield Fisher

When the passion is gone

2011-08-22T06:54:00.001-07:00

On my way home from church last week, I said to my wife, “For the first time in over 25 years, I don’t have something I’m passionate about! I’m really scared!” For the next 25 minutes on our ride home, my godly wife helped me climb down off the ledge and consider some good things about this “tweener” time. I put these forward as hypotheses not fact. I’m still trying to figure it out.

Yeah though I walk through the valley of “passion” death,

1. I will fear no evil—for Thou art with me. My wife gently reminded me that God is still in control and still loves me and Phil. 1:6 still applies, God is not finished with me yet. Intellectually I know these things, but when I get scared, I sometimes get stupid. Many of us in church planting (and other leadership pursuits) are wired to lead with passion. The question rings, “What if I never regain passion?” For me the answer is, “I will probably regain passion, but even if I don’t, God is still with me.”

2. He makes me lie down in green pastures. My wife, four mentors, my accountability partner and several friends have said, “God is giving you a time of rest.” As church planters and leaders we have given the same advice to many others but it’s hard to take our own medicine. For 28 years I have led at full speed ahead. I have had victories and defeats. I am learning to lie down.

Last Sunday afternoon, I took my two year old grandson for a walk to pick Queen Anne’s lace for his Grandma. Two weeks ago I helped my 13 year old grandson learn to work hard at a physical task. Had I been rushing off to a meeting, I would have missed two delightful moments. My soul is being restored.

3. My cup over flows. In this time of change, I have been bombarded with calls, emails, and other expressions of love. I am reveling in the relationships that have been built over the past 30 years. I am learning to stop and appreciate how many wonderful relationships I have.

4. You guide me in paths of righteousness. Nature abhors a vacuum. I don’t like being passionless. My first response has been to fill my passion vacuum with the first thing that came along rather than wait for God to guide me in the right path. Several opportunites have come my way. My first tendency is to jump, but God is teaching me to wait patiently.

As I stated at the top, I’m still trying to figure it out, but these are the things that are helping me walk through this time.

Divine Encounters

2011-08-09T08:27:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I have asked God for a divine encounter. Recently my heart has been stirred that I need to ask God for someone with which to share Jesus. I have gotten so "professional" in my Christianity, that I have forgotten its about being in relationship and abiding in the vine and seeking and saving the lost on a personal as well as professional level.

In study this morning for a Bible study I will lead on Sunday, I came across these words from Ray Stedman, "There is an excitement that comes into our lives when we really, genuinely put the affairs of God first, and do not even bother to think about the provision of our own needs. This is why God says, "Now is the accepted time. Today is the day."

I want that to be me today. I want to genuinely put the affairs of God first! So, God, I'm asking for a divine encounter, for eyes and a heart to see it, and for boldness to be available for that encounter.

I'll let you know what happens tomorrow!

How long has it been since you prayed for a divine encounter?

The World is Flat (and other myths)

2011-08-05T07:06:00.001-07:00

I just found out today that the 110 year "fact" that the tongue has different areas for tasting sweet, sour, bitter, etc, is a myth. It was first formulated in 1901 by a scientist who exaggerated his research and it become dogma for 100 years. However, recent researchers (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/health/11real.html?_r=1) have proven the map is wrong. The whole tongue tastes everything and there are not just four types of tastes but at least five and probably a sixth.

Everything people tell us is not always based upon fact. A hundred thousand high school science teachers can be wrong.

The real point of my blog involves where I came across this shocking revelation. It came in a video called "Read this before our Next meeting". Many meetings are called for the wrong reasons and only frustrate the participants. Check out this video http://michaelhyatt.com/videos/read-this-before-our-next-meeting. I'm going to read the book.

Finally, take a candy cane, touch it to the right side of your tongue, then run it all around your tongue. You won't find any great scientific fact, but it will taste a lot better than an onion.

The importance of belonging

2011-07-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

I used to read lots of Louis L'Amour westerns (if he was still alive and writing, I'd still be reading but I've read them all). The hero was always a tall, lean, strong-jawed loner who rode in off the range, saved the town, fell in love with the girl of his dreams, and then settled down.

Americans seem enthralled with the strong loner. The reality is that none of us do well in a vacuum and all of us need to belong. For the past 8 years, since Stadia was formed, I have had the privilege of working with a team that has made us all better. When things go well, you have people around to celebrate the victories. When things are tough, there is no place better to be than in the middle of people who love and care for you.

For me, being part of a team is a natural. I'm a relationship sponge and have rarely met someone I didn't like. For others, it takes a bit more work. But, it is worth it.

It's not rocket science, it just takes connecting with people, caring for them, and letting yourself be open, honest and vulnerable to them. Sometimes it will not be reciprocated, but most often, the rewards far outweigh the risk. If you don't have a family or team to which to belong, start now to build one. Take the initiative. You'll be glad you did!

Thanks, Stadia team, for being my family.

digital kisses

2011-05-20T06:58:00.001-07:00

I just kissed my wife good morning on Skype. It’s really not the same. I miss you honey!

Together we will,

Marcus Bigelow

President | Stadia: Together We Will…

333 Sunset Dr. Rocklin, CA 95765 | 707-718-3730 cell
www.stadia.cc

If Jesus comes

2011-05-20T05:51:00.000-07:00

While I doubt seriously that Harold Camping is right about May 21 being the day Jesus will come (he's been wrong before), every time someone predicts Jesus coming I am forced to say, "He could be right", not because of their own ability to forsee the future,but because Jesus could come at any time.

Here is my prayer for every single person I know (and more abstractly for those I don't know),

1) I pray that you know Jesus as your friend, Savior and Lord. There is no way under heaven by which you can share eternity with God without knowing Jesus personally.

It's really pretty simple.

First, you must believe that Jesus is the God's solution for our lives and throw yourself on God's grace. I know I'm not good enough in myself to ever earn God's favor-- and in your heart of hearts you probably agree with that. (About yourself--if you know me I know you agree about me!)

Second, tell someone that you believe. It doesn't have to be a preacher or in church, just acknowledge to someone that you are going to trust Jesus. When we try to be secret Christians, Satan snatches it away from us by convincing us that our choice to follow Jesus wasn't really real.

Third, agree with God to go his way. Instead of always trying to do things your way, make an about face and agree to do it God's way.

Fourth, be baptized. Being immersed is a spiritual drama wherein we act out the saving event, Christ's death, burial and resurrection in our life. There is nothing magic about water baptism, but God has said he will meet us there.

So, if Jesus comes today or tomorrow, I pray we will spend eternity together basking in the glow of God's love and lving out an eternity of challenge and fulfillment.

I was going to say, thank you for being my friend. But, if Jesus comes tomorrow, I'll just tell you in heaven. See you there.

Hate

2011-05-13T12:41:00.001-07:00

Hate is like a boomerang that misses the target and comes back and hits you in the head.

Louis Zamporini

Together we will

2011-04-19T06:47:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite bumper stickers. I’ve been reading some of the Holy Week scriptures. This morning Matthew 24 was my choice. Living in California, not too far away from the fellow who is predicting that Jesus will come on May 12, my thoughts were caught by Jesus words-- no one knows the day so stay alert! Jesus could come in 23 days, 23 hours, or 23 years. We live on a long driveway, so when we are expecting company we often look to see if they are coming. I want to live my life with a sense of expectancy that Jesus is coming.

It is so easy to be lulled into complacency and figure that I’ll get around to sharing the good news with my neighbors, I’ll get around to reconciling with my enemy. Jesus tells us that if we are hard at work when he comes, we will be among the blessed. So, I’ll be alert, looking for the return of my Savior and I’ll stay busy, living out, though grace and the Spirit, God’s call on my life.

Insomniacs Anonymous

2011-04-14T06:45:00.001-07:00

At 4am I founded a new organization, Insomniacs Anonymous. We will only meet in the middle of the night.

We need each other

2011-04-13T09:34:00.001-07:00

Alexis De Tocqueville

If each undertook himself to form all his opinions and to pursue the truth in isolation down paths cleared by him alone, it is not probable that a great number of men would ever unite in any common belief. . . without common ideas there is no common action, and without common action men still exist but a social body does not.

http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=52d5c7778a3adfda535c3b349&id=527ece7616&e=b5fc4a0be3

One of the best posts on being a leader

2011-04-13T06:54:00.001-07:00

Just finished reading Michael Hyatt’s blog post on Advice to a new leader. One of the best I’ve ever read.

Together We Can and We Will!

2011-02-03T08:08:00.000-08:00

Just this morning I have had the incredible blessing of reading reports from several church planters who make Stadia what it is.

Scott Bloyer, in Aurora, CO, just spent a wonderful day at Children's Hospital with the leading MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) and Grudge match fighters, praying with the children and their families and sharing Christ with the families and with the Grudge trainers (I'm not quite sure what Grudge trainers do-- I don't need anyone to help me hold a grudge-- but I think it has to do with professional fighting on TV). As you can tell by my comment, I could probably never touch a grudge fighter for Jesus, but Scott and his team of MMA fighters do it all the time. So, together we can and we will!

Scott Pugh and Velocity Christian Church in South Euclid, OH have served their community so well that not only have 42 people been baptized in the past 20 months, but one of the Cleveland Browns players has agreed to do a football camp for all the youth of S. Euclid. I don't know any Cleveland Browns players, but Scott does, so, Together we can and we will!

Recently Tom Jones and Brent Foulke came back from Ecuador where more than 14 of our church plants and church planting partners are transforming 4 villages where no church exists. By April, these four villages will have churches bringing the gospel as well as clean water and education to the citizens. I don't speak Spanish, but the four church planting couples who will lead these works do, so, together we can and we will!

It's all about synergy which is a fancy word for saying that together we are better and accomplish more than we can alone.

This gospel will be preached in the whole world.

2011-01-26T02:07:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I posted. Blogging is not a natural activity for me. I have promised myself to do better in 2011. A friend of mine describes three kinds of people in the digital world, those over 55 are normally digital fugitives, those from 35 to 55 are digital immigrants, and those under 35 are digital natives. I'm almost 60!

Nevertheless, I am going to try to be more consistent in writing this year.

In my Bible reading today I came to this passage which inspired me.

Matt 24:12-14
12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
NIV

It reminded me that God loves the Sudanese refugee as much as my neighbor across the street. He loves the villager in Manta, Ecuador who earns $1 per day as the "millionaire next door".

I saw a motorhome billboard driving down the street last week proclaiming that Jesus was coming on May 21, 2011. I doubt it, there are too many places in the world where the gospel is not yet preached. Part of me wants Jesus to come on that date, but part of me prays, "Lord tarry a little longer, there are so many who do not know you."

And while I'm quite sure that the guy who is predicting the end of the world is wrong (he also predicted 1988 and 1989--- OOPS!) I do know that the end of the world will come, with judgment day. I pray that many millions more will come to know Jesus as Savior before then.

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T18:38:00.000-07:00

How can we forget that only a mother can love certain kinds of faces? Chocolate faces, runny-nosed faces, crying faces, or sometimes a combination of all three.

First day of my sabbatical

2010-05-07T12:51:00.001-07:00

Wow! I’m kind of scared. What do I do or better yet, what do I not do on a sabbatical. I’ve been reading “The Rest of God” And resonate with the thought that a Sabbath dedicates the time to God. So, during my sabbatical I am trying to be fully present in my relationship with God. (Not even sure what all the implications of that are.)

I find myself wrestling with my own arrogance when I wonder if God really can get by without me. I’d never voice it that way, it sounds so bad, but when I look at my attitude I wonder if that isn’t really what a dark corner of my heart believes. Father, forgive me.

Anyway, stay tuned. I may need someone to talk me off the ledge after a couple of weeks.

Marcus Bigelow

President

Stadia: New Church Strategies

Office: 916-626-3090

Cell: 707-718-3730

Blog: http://bruisedreedsandsmoulderingwicks.blogspot.com/

Finding My Way Back to God video

2010-05-04T09:46:00.001-07:00

I just watched this video from a Stadia Church. Wow, I’ve got wet eyes and a renewed sense of why I work for Stadia. http://www.vimeo.com/8696933

Marcus Bigelow

President

Stadia: New Church Strategies

Office: 916-626-3090

Cell: 707-718-3730

Blog: http://bruisedreedsandsmoulderingwicks.blogspot.com/

Untitled

2010-04-28T12:01:00.001-07:00

This is a really great succinct presentation of the gospel.

Marcus Bigelow

President

Stadia: New Church Strategies

Office: 916-626-3090

Cell: 707-718-3730

Blog: http://bruisedreedsandsmoulderingwicks.blogspot.com/

Spiritual obesity

2010-04-22T05:23:00.001-07:00

What if all the overfed Christians got out into mission? The NFL is 22 men in need of rest being watched by 50000 people desparately in need of exercise.

The church in America today?

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"You cannot give a second chance to someone who doesn't own his failures." ~Jud Wilhite

2010-04-21T19:17:00.001-07:00

Marcus Bigelow

President

Stadia: New Church Strategies

Office: 916-626-3090

Cell: 707-718-3730

Blog: http://bruisedreedsandsmoulderingwicks.blogspot.com/

Exponential is great

2010-04-20T10:47:00.003-07:00

Listening to Mark Batterson lay out the Word.

Sent from my Android phone using TouchDown (www.nitrodesk.com)

Balaam

2010-04-20T10:47:00.001-07:00

Its not about where you're going, it your attitude on the way.

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Sign at a pizza parlor

2010-04-11T12:02:00.001-07:00

If a man speaks and there is no woman there to tell is wrong is. . . he?

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Follow the new STadia Webpage, Facebook and Twitter pages

2010-03-31T09:41:00.001-07:00

Hey Friends,

We have just updated all our social media accounts for Stadia. I’d love to have you join me on Facebook and Twitter. Just look up Stadia and become a Fan or follower. Thanks.

Marcus Bigelow

President

Stadia: New Church Strategies

Office: 916-626-3090

Cell: 707-718-3730

Blog: http://bruisedreedsandsmoulderingwicks.blogspot.com/

Promised Recipes

2010-03-25T10:18:00.001-07:00

To all you Bootcamp planters,

Here’s the recipes from last night.

Yummy Hash Brown Casserole

1 1/2 c. sour cream

2 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

1 can cream of chicken or mushroom soup

2 T. dried onions

1 (15 oz.) shredded hash browns

4 T. butter melted

Cornflakes to cover- (about 2 cups) crushed

In a large bowl mix the sour cream, cheese, soup and onions together. Use your muscles and mix the hash browns and the creamy mixture together until well blended. Press mixture into a casserole dish or 9 x 13 inch pan. Mix the melted butter and the cornflakes and spread over the top of the potatoes and bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees until heated through and bubbly (45 minutes).

Easy Chicken Marinade

Mix together equal parts of olive oil, soy sauce, and lemon juice. For 10 chicken breasts, we used 1/2 cup of each making 1 1/2 cups of marinade. Pour over partially thawed chicken 1 hour before cooking. (Using a gallon size Ziploc bag is the easiest way to marinade and clean up is a breeze.) Caution: If you marinate longer than an hour, the lemon juice will begin to cook the chicken.

Preheat grill on high. Put chicken on and close the lid. Turn down to med. low and leave for 8-10 minutes depending on the size of chicken. Flip and close lid again for 8- 10 minutes or until cooked through.

Listening to Dennis Murphy

2010-03-23T16:03:00.001-07:00

Barry Smith just hit it out of the park as he talked about how God has carried him on his journey. Now Dennis Murphy is laying it down about prayer. Tammy and Donna, you should be proud of your men. They are great men of God.

Marcus Bigelow

President

Stadia: New Church Strategies

Office: 916-626-3090

Cell: 707-718-3730

Blog: http://bruisedreedsandsmoulderingwicks.blogspot.com/

Listening to Barry Smith

2010-03-23T15:43:00.001-07:00

Just listening to Barry Smith tell his awesome story of how God has worked in his life and church plant. What a dude!

Marcus Bigelow

President

Stadia: New Church Strategies

Office: 916-626-3090

Cell: 707-718-3730

Blog: http://bruisedreedsandsmoulderingwicks.blogspot.com/

Meeting with World changers

2010-03-23T11:21:00.001-07:00

I’m in a bootcamp this morning with 10 couples who are planting churches around the US. What a great thing! I’m old enough to be the father of all of them. There is hope for the next generation.

Marcus Bigelow

President

Stadia: New Church Strategies

Office: 916-626-3090

Cell: 707-718-3730

Blog: http://bruisedreedsandsmoulderingwicks.blogspot.com/

Check out Verve

2010-03-16T11:20:00.001-07:00

Verve, our new plant in Las Vegas, opened on Sunday and Monday. With the irrepressible Vince Antonucci at the helm you know it’s going to be great. Check out his blog at http://www.vinceantonucci.com/.

Marcus Bigelow

President

Stadia: New Church Strategies

Office: 916-626-3090

Cell: 707-718-3730

Blog: http://bruisedreedsandsmoulderingwicks.blogspot.com/

Update from Chile

2010-03-09T06:11:00.001-08:00

My son-in-law, Jonathan, along with a group of believers from the churches in Santiago went south to help those devastated by the earthquake. Here is his eyewitness report of their encounters.

Marcos smiled, he smiled and applauded. He applauded as he moved closer to me. He was in the arms of his mother and father as he talked with me. Marcos was like an infant, a twenty-something year old infant. He suffers from cerebral palsy. His house was very near the sea and the means, that which came in as a great tide, took them to a tiny hill far away from the sea. Their home is now four sticks with a blanket as a roof. There are no walls, everything in their lives can now be seen by anyone.

They had not received help for an entire week. The group I went with gave them water, but they were the last people to receive it. It was what was left of a 20 liter container that we had already given out to their new neighbors, people who, like them, were forced by fear to the height of a hill.

The only things we had left had already been given out, and I was left with nothing but a tiny water bottle I had filled in the morning to drink throughout the day. I had forgotten that I had it. I remembered it when the others in my group told me this family received only leftovers. When I gave the bottle to them, this adult child smiled. He smiled and applauded. The water was put in a cup and the child drank it. I spoke with the family and Marcos smiled while I talked to him.

The day before, another group of people, in another place, applauded when they found out we had arrived from Santiago. When they received their food, they laughed with relief, for it was another day they would be able to nourish themselves in those places which, because being dangerous areas, no help was arriving without the accompaniment of the armed forces.

We arrived to their area without any accompaniment to other places where no help had yet arrived, places where, one of the welcomes was given by a man who was sharpening his machete on the pavement. I explained to him that we had brought help to one of the local churches so that they could distribute it. I said goodbye to the man with the machete with a hug and smiles.

People applauding and smiling when we gave water and food. Isn't this what people do when they receive good news--applaud and smile?

These are the images I have in my mind. I don't want them to get erased. I hope they never disappear. I hope not to remember them as a type of monument to goodness, but I hope to recreate these actions again and again in my life. I hope that we can all do this. I hope that together we have the privilege of being received with smiles and applause when the good news--love--arrives in the form of water and food. This is the least we can do.

With love,

Jonathan

Chile update

2010-03-03T19:31:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends and Family.

This is day 5, since the big quake.

I share with you a few details and my heart.

The days we are living seem unreal. My heart breaks thinking of those who still have not contacted loved ones, are still missing, who have lost everything, who are waiting for food, basic supplies like toilet paper, diapers, something to drink. The roads are horrible, and the city of Concepcion is living under curfew for all but six hours a day, under military control. We are struggling to know what to do and how to help.

There is a team of men who are preparing to travel south, with supply packs to help families in need, and look for missing persons. They are not sure yet if they can travel into Concepcion or not, because of closures and law enforcement. The desperation has led to looting, rioting, robbery, and it is heartbreaking. People are having to defend what is left of their homes, fighting with whatever makeshift weapons they can use for defense.

And I was able to do our laundry today. I ate lunch today. I went to the wholesale store across the street from where I'm now living, to help buy rice, pasta, toilet paper, matches, etc. I cleaned a bathroom here at the house. I call on the name of Jesus to bring peace and provide relief for those who are suffering.

Some good news. Our neighbors, whose first floor apartment appeared in the previous pictures I sent, were able to get almost everything out of their apartment. Fernanda and Felipe were married in Nov, just starting out. Jonathan and I had talked this morning, and I had told him I was thinking of suggesting this couple to those of you who had asked me how you could help us personally. I had explained we didn't really need anything at this point, but didn't want to not provide another option. This morning, I prayed about suggesting Fernanda and Felipe to some of you who asked. And God reminds me that he is so BIG. Before we can even ask, he surprises us sometimes. I am grateful for a glimmer of goodness as today, I have been very sad about what is happening in the south. When I stop and think about it,

sadness creeps in.

Please pray for the potential team that is preparing to travel down.

We should know more by later this evening, but they will need special permission from the authorities to be out on the streets out of curfew. And we are not sure it is possible for them to even arrive there.

One friend of ours, a dentist who lives in Concepcion and served for almost a year in the Women's Center in the Middle East, finally made contact with us by text message. We are grateful. she is Ok, but says that in Concepcion, everything has been horrible. She asks for prayer for those who are suffering and the conditions there.

There are many families that are still missing or unheard from.

I will write more as soon as the decision is made about the team's travel. And anything new that presents itself.

Thanks for being with us. We need you.

Anna (with Jonathan) and our team here.

Update from Anna

2010-03-01T20:51:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends and Family.

I regret it has taken this long to write. Today I was able to get my computer out of our office.

Thank you for being in prayer for our country, and the affected areas.

I'll skip the details of the quake, as you´ve already seen them on CNN.

Some people have seen Jonathan on CNN, as there were reporters at our building on Saturday morning, as it was one of the worst hit buildings in maipu. A few friends recognized him.

If you would like to read my previous updates, you can see them on my dad's blog at marcusbigelow.posterous.com and it will keep me from writing all over again.

If you haven't heard other news, please read the blog before continuing for our personal family information.

We are "finished" with our apartment, gratefully having been able to retrieve all of our things, furnishings, etc. We are amazed. Thanks for praying for us.

Please keep praying for our country. Further south, there is so much damage, and many lives have been lost. You have seen it on the news. They do obviously try to show the worst parts, and there are many without homes and without anything.

Our mission is working to communicate how we can help, through our churches in the south, and the affected families in those regions. One of our pastors here in the Santiago region is now without a house. Many people are still missing in the south, and many thousands still without roof, or water and electricity. The government is reacting, and there will be a lot of repairs. People are still waiting to hear of family members.

In a few hours, we, as a mission, will have something up on our website, where you can see how to donate funds to relief efforts. You can see that at www.iamweb.org, please keep checking back.

Many of you have written and we appreciate your prayers and thoughts and questions. I will try to update you as the days go by.

Jonathan and I are now looking for a new place to rent, and we are amazed at how little we will need to replace. We got everything out fo the apartment, except some dishes and small items that broke. We simply need to decide in what part of town would be best, what are our options, etc. Please don't worry about our financial needs, just continue to be faithful to the monthly commitments you have already made. God will continue to provide as he always has. I will be sure to let you know if we need anything else. Please, instead, if you would like to make a one-time gift, consider the Relief Effort Fund.

We thank God for the loving family that has taken us in and the roof over our head, and the showers we took this morning.

With love and gratefulness to all of you for your faithful support.

Anna (and Jonathan)

IMG_1171.JPG Our neighbors' first floor unit. They were unable to go back in, as we were able to.

IMG_1177.JPG The tower most affected in our building.

IMG_1181.JPG How we found our office this morning. They say the building will be back to normal function on Wednesday. (I am not so sure yet about that.)

IMG_1184.JPG

all we have left is words

2010-02-28T13:28:00.001-08:00

Give your children to God. Yesterday when the phone rang and we learned about Chile, my wife said, “They are in God’s hands.” Every since they were born we have been learning that lesson. But today again, we have learned it anew. You can’t control how the circumstances of life will affect your children, all you can do is trust them into the hands of God. It doesn’t come easy, in fact, as time goes on it becomes harder and harder, so my advice to parents is give your children to God early and often. So that, when their apartment is destroyed by an 8.8 earthquake, you can say, “They are in the hands of God”.

You should know that my wife says it better and more calmly than I do and is my source of strength and reminder that if God loved Anna enough to send His son to die for her, He is not going to play fast and loose with her life.

Below is Anna’s communication for the day.

Subject: all we have left is words

Hello family.
Jeff snapped this picture of us as we finished taking stuff out yesterday evening. These were the last items we took in our hands, and he thought the scrabble was hilarious.
Today we went back with guys and trucks and we got to take everything out. all the appliances, the furniture. We are grateful. A family is storing it for us now. Tomorrow we will begin to ask around for housing and see what our options are.

We are still very tired. We didn´t sleep so well last night. There was a morning wakeup aftershock around 8:45, which made me nervous, but it was a bit sad seeing our other neighbors for the last time. Many had trucks too. Some nearby house neighbors helped out by loading the trucks, while we brought the items out. As I saw the building again, I am reminded how impossible it would have been to get out any later (on the other tower). I haven`t watched much news today yet, but have heard the death toll is rising. substantially. The southern cities are so damaged and destroyed. We pray for those who are riskign their lives and working endlessly to repair and restore life to these communities.

I´`ll call you later.
Anna

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jeff Phillips <iamjeffphillips@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Feb 28, 2010 at 2:10 PM
Subject: DSCN0347
To: Anna Bigelow <anna.bigelow@gmail.com>

DSCN0347

About Anna

2010-02-27T13:15:00.001-08:00

All,

About Jeff and Kathy and family... they are without electricity and are running a generator, but they are ok, too. They can´t use their phones. He went by our building around noon , our concierge told us that he had been there.

Jonathan is coming back from there now, we will eat a late lunch here, and then with a group of guys and trucks, we will try to get as much out as possible. it seems our tower is a bit more possible to enter but only to get a few things out. We will go before dark. we still haven´t slept yet, have been trying to reach other families in the south, that are related to some our of workers on the field. We still haven´t showered, but we will wait. We are glad there is water at this house--very grateful. I´ve never been so grateful to be able to wash my hands.

We grabbed the important paperwork. We hope that the builder will be able to take responsibility.

Further south, there is much destruction, damage, the death toll is rising. Around here, some buses running now, that’s how Jonathan went to the apartment. There is a cloud of gray above the city, and it is not cloudy today. there don’t seem to be too many fires, so perhaps some of it is dirt and dust from buildings.

Keep praying with us, there are many who have lost much more than us, and there are SO many without hope. Jonathan and I are in good spirits, very thankful for how God provides.

We are a bit sad we won’t be going on the outing with the congregation tomorrow, to an all day picnic, where at least two from our groups were going to be baptized. I think it will still happen, maybe just not tomorrow.

We love you all. I will try to send an email soon, but my computer is stuck in the office, and I heard that building is closed, it appears to have sunk. Just the day I chose to leave it there. So, I don´t have my mailing lists here.

Thanks,

Anna

Marcus Bigelow

President

Stadia: New Church Strategies

Office: 916-626-3090

Cell: 707-718-3730

Blog: http://bruisedreedsandsmoulderingwicks.blogspot.com/

Update from Jeff Phillips

2010-02-27T13:09:00.001-08:00

Dear Extended Family,

Thank you for all of your concern.

Just got a generator going so we can communicate.

Phillips family all OK.

Back dividing property walls on our home and several of the church properties collapsed..

Lots of things broke.

The apartment we were purchasing as our wonderful retirement plan partially collapsed (Oh Well). Anna Bigelow and her husband were renting it. All people got out.

Thank you for your prayers.

Jeff

Thank goodness for Skype

2010-02-27T08:29:00.001-08:00

We just finished talking with Anna and Jonathan. They are safe, as far as they can tell the mission’s families are safe. They still have not made contact with Jeff and Kathy Phillips, but they suspect that they are okay as well.

They were giving thanks for their hand crank flashlight because power was out. As far as they know they didn’t lose anything in the earthquake, but, they don’t know if they will be able to go back in and get their stuff out. They grabbed clothes, important papers and a bag of muffins when they ran outside.

It is summer, so it was not cold. Everyone in their buildings escaped without injury.

Anna

2010-02-27T07:42:00.001-08:00

Anna and Jonathan’s apartment building was hugely damaged in the quake but they are staying with another family from the mission. Preliminarily it looks like they will have to find another place to live. Jonathan’s family is also okay.

Marcus Bigelow

President

Stadia: New Church Strategies

Office: 916-626-3090

Cell: 707-718-3730

Blog: http://bruisedreedsandsmoulderingwicks.blogspot.com/

Anna is okay

2010-02-27T07:36:00.001-08:00

Just received a Skype from Anna that she and Jonathan are okay in Chile.

Marcus Bigelow

President

Stadia: New Church Strategies

Office: 916-626-3090

Cell: 707-718-3730

Blog: http://bruisedreedsandsmoulderingwicks.blogspot.com/

Website

2010-02-26T07:55:00.001-08:00

In case you want to look at some more Albert Einstein quotes, the site is http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.quotesayings.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/albert-einstein.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.quotesayings.net/&usg=__Rj-dgREZqUAS_LY_lOA5OMEGTu0=&h=779&w=562&sz=55&hl=en&start=2&sig2=KfgEHLVC47B7sBKwtIgibQ&itbs=1&tbnid=pm1KcPR_LIc15M:&tbnh=142&tbnw=102&prev=/images%3Fq%3Deinstein%2Balbert%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=Du2HS5r7H4jWtAO8wpSGAw

Marcus Bigelow

President

Stadia: New Church Strategies

Office: 916-626-3090

Cell: 707-718-3730

Blog: http://bruisedreedsandsmoulderingwicks.blogspot.com/

Albert Einstein

2010-02-26T07:52:00.001-08:00

I’ve been reading a bunch of Albert Einstein quotes this morning. My favorite so far is “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” I love this because it rings so true. It hurts to make mistakes but it also is an inevitable consequence of moving forward.

Don’t know where this came from but, “Hail to the snail. He only makes progress when he sticks his head out.”

Marcus Bigelow

President

Stadia: New Church Strategies

Office: 916-626-3090

Cell: 707-718-3730

Blog: http://bruisedreedsandsmoulderingwicks.blogspot.com/

Denver is beautiful

2010-02-22T14:29:00.001-08:00

I’m looking out a window at beautiful snow glistening in the bright sunshine. Looking forward to being home tomorrow night.