Twelve Years

What do eggs, flowers, and doughnuts have in common? 
     People often buy each of them in a dozen. 
What did the tribes of Israel and Jesus' apostles share? 
     They numbered twelve. 

For good reason, the number twelve interests me today.  (I cannot help but hear the voice of Sesame Street's Count in my head as I write those words.)

Twelve years ago, on June 1st, I began serving as pastor of Rabbit Creek Church.  Without exaggeration, I can say that these past dozen years have been some of the best years of my life.  While every pastor is biblically instructed to love their church, I love Rabbit Creek with or without receiving instruction to do so.  Rabbit Creek is a great church for many reasons.  I think it is fitting for me to share twelve.

1. Rabbit Creek Church is a Jesus church.  We talk about, follow, sing about and to, serve, preach, and show Jesus.  
2. Rabbit Creek Church is in Alaska.  You're probably familiar with the first rule of real estate - location! location! location!  We have the privilege of location!
3. We have a great pastoral team.  I thank God for the men and women who love Jesus, serve our people, practice creativity, and laugh.  
4. Our people are real.  I decided to end that sentence without continuing with "warts and all," but (as you can see) I returned to the wart words.  I don't love warts, but I really love when a church family shares stories of victory and defeat, joy and pain, as well as faith and doubt.  Not because I rejoice in defeat, pain, and doubt; I don't.  But because I relish real.  
5. Our people embrace "out-of-the-box" thinking.
6. Our people give faithfully.
7. Our people love children.
8. Our people support our teens.
9. We sing with joy.
10. Rabbit Creek Church embraces the call to missions.
11. Our people support me and our team.  
12. Our church is full of people who understand the importance of living their everyday, ordinary lives for Jesus.  Not one person has asked me to stop repeating that call to action.  And I say it a lot!

For those dozen reasons (and more), I love Rabbit Creek Church.  So, here's to our church and here's to (Lord-willing) another dozen years together (at least).

#ordinarylives

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