Losing Life

Reviewing year one...planning year two

As small groups go, I set some pretty lofty goals for year one of Restore small groups.  In a recent meeting with my boss, I was asked to reveiw my original small group plans, and compare them to our current reality.  

My original goal for March of 2009 - 32 small groups

My current reality for March of 2009 - 20 small groups (as of 7:00pm tonight)

We have a total weekend average attendence of around 520 (340ish of those are adults)  180 or so adults in small groups.  Just over 50% adults in groups.

I am excited, but not satisfied.

Small Groups Change the World

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead.

I have an exception to this quote.  Jesus actually changed the world, however he DID choose a small group to do it.  Restore's newest world changing small group leader, Keith Moran and his wife Melissa.  Was Troy's apprentice, now leader of his own group.

Small Groups and Generosity

Check out Tommy Bowman's story of his small groups generosity.  This is a small group of young married couples.  Tommy is the worship and arts Director at Restore....and small group leader extrodinaire.

189 to go....

I have a goal fo 209 workouts in 2009. That is an average of 4 workouts a week. Well...here I am with 189 to go. After just 20 workouts, I feel absolutely GREAT.  Seriously.  I feel stronger, I have more stamina, I feel mentally sharper, and I have more energy at the end of the day.  I actuallylook forward to working out.  Today, with the great weather, I ran/walked outside and I felt I could go on forever.  I only came home cause I had to get back to work.

My birthday boy

This is my favorite picture of the birthday boy, Jake.  Even though he is 6'2", and 18 years old today, I still think of him as naked in a sink needing a bath.

Fun McMahon Weekend

  A weekend in pictures, most taken by nine year old Judiann: 

Jake and Tori at High School Court Warming Assembly

 

Mitch fulfills his monthly baking responsibilities for the hospitality team at Restore.

 

Jake and Alexis ready for Court Warming Dance Saturday night

 

My friend Nancy baptizes her neighbor Brooke

Jake and Mitch playing basketball on a 48 degree Sunday afternoon

 

Judiann playing with the camera while the boys play basketball

 

The end of a great weekend

One more thing...

The only thing about eating out of my fridge...someone has to go out and shop for that food and bring it home and put it away.  It is all such a bother and really puts a cramp in my workday.  Oh ya, Troy has pretty much done all the shopping.  Never mind.

12 Days....

No fast food, no ordering pizza, nothing has past my lips except food from the grocery store.  Some of you are proably like... "what's the big deal?"  Well, for me...I hate to cook, I work a lot, and when I am not working,I like to hang out with my kids, so honestly we were picking up food or eating out more then we were eating at home. 

So, we went COLD TURKEY.  And I have eaten my share of cold turkey from the fridge. 

The hardest part, Sunday afternoon.  I am usually STARVING by 1:00 and really want a Chipotle burrito bowl. 

I have not succumbed. 

The gym?  Let's just say, I think they know my name.

Big Idea Small Groups

Since the beginning of Restore Community Chruch (9 months since the launch of weekend services, and 14 months since the launch of small groups) we have been using the big idea in our small groups from adults to students to kids.  That means the topic of the message taught on Sunday is the content of our small group discussion. 

14 months later, here is what I see in adult small groups:

150 (give or take 10) adults in small groups.

150 people GET the mission, vision, culture and values of helping people find their way back to God.

150

people GET multiplication and reproduction as a means to help even more people find their way back to God.

150 people are MOBILIZED to change the spiritual landscape of Kansas City and the world.

150 people are asking WHAT"S NEXT? in the my spiritual journey.

I am convinced that one tool God is using for spritual momentum here in Kansas City and at Restore Community Church is Big Idea small groups.  It's called Missional Velocity.  Check it out at Big Idea by Dave, Jon and Eric.

Goodbye Panda Express, Hello YMCA

Two personal goals for 2009 :

• A month long fast from eating out (this includes takeout, but does not include work related lunches)  If you know the McMahon family at all and how much I "LOVE" to cook, you know how really big this is.  Mitchell put it well, "this sounds like punishment for you mom."  And in many ways he is sooo right.  So if I make it a whole month, I am planning some reward for myself, got any suggestions? 
• 209 in 2009.  This means 209 workouts in the year 2009.  Anything that gets my heartrate in the target zone for 30 minutes or more counts as a workout (so needless to say, Troy will be asking me to wear my heart rate monitor to bed - smile here) 209 workouts is about 4 a week.  Just worked out this morning, so I have 208 to go.