Reflections of 2008

People say that as you get older, time goes faster. And thats true for me, especially this year. Its been amazing year for the family. As I reflect, I still can't believe we've crammed so much in to only 12 months! Here's what happened for us:

• On this very day last year we still hadn't sold our house and we were expecting to only be out in the States by Summer at the earliest.
• We came to an agreement to sell our house in mid January and had exchanged contracts and were out by 28th Feb!
• Mac was refused an operation at Bedford hospital on his hernia 2 months before we were due to leave. He was allowed last-minute to have an MRI scan at Addenbrookes to look into why he was having seizures BUT he woke up half way through the MRI, leaving it highly unlikely that the doctors would operate on him.
• Miraculously a doctor at Addenbrookes agreed to operate on Mac only 2 weeks before we left for the States
• Mac had a major seizure in Bedford town centre just 3 days before we were due to leave.
• Amazingly he has not had one since we got here! Nothing short of a miracle.
  
• We moved to St Louis to do a Church Planting Internship on March 13th.
• Holly and Poppy have settled really well in Wentzville and are both enjoying school.
• Pops is in the school choir and Holly started playing flute in her band at school.
• We have served at Jubilee in Wentzville since its first preview in March and enjoy seeing around 70 come every week already!
• I've read what feels like 100's of books about church planting!
• I've learnt LOADS from Rick, Curt and John during this year during my internship. I would be totally clueless without this internship! (Now I'm just 50% clueless!)
  
• God has clearly spoken to us about moving to Charlotte NC, to start a church plant there!
• God has drawn Sarah and I so much closer together over this past year and I can't wait to spend many more years on this adventure together!
• I've learnt how much I miss England. I really didn't think I'd miss my friends and family this much and it really hurts sometimes. BUT, its worth it and I thank God every day for Facebook and the internet!

So, while I praise God for a life-changing 2008, I can't wait for a more incredible 2009. If we ever get to the point where someone asks "What are you excited about for next year?" and we say, "Er, not much", then there's clearly something wrong with our walk with God! No matter what our circumstances, God calls each of us to step out of our comfort zones and take risks for Him. Whether its moving countries or cities, or sharing the gospel with our friends, it should ALWAYS be exciting and risk-taking!

And lastly, and (maybe) sadly, this is my last ever post on this blog. I seem to keep people up to date on stuff more through Facebook now so please check that out often. Also, I've started a new blog which is more about my own journey and will hopefully particularly serve the folks we gather in Charlotte. Please go to www.euancrane.blogspot.com and subscribe to my more regular but shorter posts.

Hope to see y'all soon.

Road trip to Charlotte

Sorry for the long delay in writing but its been a busy time! Us 6 Cranes have just got back from a trip to Charlotte. This time though, instead of a relaxing 80 minute flight with just me and Sarah, this time it was a 15 hour drive with the 4 kids too! The car DVD player was the best 100 dollars I've ever spent! We stopped off in Nashville on the way there and way back and met some great people from Lifehouse Church which is the Newfrontiers church there.

This was the first time we had been there since we knew we were going to start a church there and possibly spend the rest of our lives. We were all so excited and we had an amazing time. We hung out with some great new friends and were made to feel at home wherever we went. Thanks to the Honeas and Kelly Grenga for putting us up.

The girls loved it and seem to have made more friends there already than they have made in St Louis in 9 months! Sarah and I looked around several neighborhoods, several houses and several schools with the kids and quickly fell in love with the city.

We can't wait to get there in March. If anyone of you guys in England want to come over and visit then we'd love it. We're just 2 hours from the Smokey Mountains and 3 hours from the ocean.

We really feel that God is breaking our hearts for the city and helping us fall in love with the people there. Which is a good job really.

Here's some pics of the kids to liven up a post which I couldn't think of any jokes for!

Jogging

I went for a jog the other night for the first time since I've been here. The reason I went is because I haven't been able to play soccer for the last couple of months and my belly is getting noticeably larger! I think there's something OK about getting bigger all over as proportionally everything looks OK but being thin everywhere else and just having a 'sticky out' belly looks particularly unattractive. So I decided to do something about it! I decided to go for a run.

The problem for me is that running is a 100% battle of the mind. It was such a mind battle that I thought I'd blog about it to see if anyone shares these same battles! When I'm running I turn into a schizophrenic with 2 voices in my head. Here's how my crazy mind worked a couple of nights ago:

"Right, I've seen pictures of my friends running so it must be easy. Lets get dressed and go." (I'd planned my route to be exactly 1 mile there and 1 mile back)

(now dressed and wearing a new super cool headband). "Looking good. This new headband will surely make me run faster."

(outside the house) "Ooh I feel a bit stiff. Shall I stretch. Nah, stretchings for girls. Lets go." I then turn my ipod on and put on Brad Paisley. I also set my stopwatch just because I'm competitive!

00.30secs "This feels good. I don't know why I don't do this more often. And country music is GREAT to run to!"

00.40secs "This slight hill isn't causing me any problems at all! I'm suprisingly good at this running thing. I should maybe enter some competitions. When is the next St Louis marathon. I'll check when I get home."

1min "It's getting a bit tougher now. I'm sure I'll get over it in a second and get a 'second wave'."

3mins "Flippin'eck. Maybe its just the cold weather causing me to find it tougher to breathe. Yeah, just keep going. Good old Brad Paisley. Concentrate on the music"

5mins "Maybe I have mild asthma. You know I haven't been feeling too well recently."

7mins "I've definately got asthma. Running isnt normally this hard. The weather is really cold too. Shall i walk for a bit. I really think it would be better for me. No don't, that's weak. I'm not a loser. I'm not a loser."

8mins "The route I planned on google maps must be wrong. I've run much further than a mile. At least 2.5 miles. I'm gonna turn around now. (actually I turned around about 500yards short of my mile marker convinced Google was wrong!)

9mins "Thats better. Google was so wrong. Homeward bound now."

10mins "I think I'm going to be sick. I can feel that chocolate dessert coming up. Its really going to be better if I stop. For my own good. No, don't stop you fat loser. OK."

11mins "Oh no, there's 3 teenage girls on the other side of the street. Are they laughing at me? Its my headband isn't it. I knew I looked a bit gay in it. No, its not that. Its my fat belly. They're laughing at how fat I am. Or is it because I'm running so slowly. OK speed up. Thats good. Oh, they're laughing at the phone they've got. Phew."

12mins "Slow down Euan, they've gone. Wow, that really took it out of me. I hate this. And the worst thing is that if I don't do this again, it'll make NO DIFFERENCE to my belly. I may as well just stop now then. I'll stop. No, can't stop, not far to go now."

12mins "I hate running. I'm NEVER doing this again. I hate it. If I want to lose my belly I'm just going to eat salad for the rest of my life. Thats much less painful."

13mins "Oh no, a guy walking his dog and they're coming straight for me. I've got an idea. Just as I run passed, look at my watch and say a number quietly but just so he can hear, and he'll think I've been running for longer. What number shall I say? (out loud)"45". Thats good. He'll think I've been running for 45 minutes. I've restored some of my masculine pride!"

15mins "I think I'm going to die! I haven't written a will yet. What will Sarah do with the kids. What kind of a man dies on the street while running? No, if I'm going to die, wait til I get home."

16mins "Nearly home. How can I get away with never doing this again? Thats it. Injure myself. A good manly injury which means no matter how much I'd want to run, I just can't. A dislocated knee, swollen ankle, cut off my leg. That'll work."

16mins and 54 secs exactly. "Home." Poppy greets me at the door. "Dad, are you OK?" "I'm dying Pops. Get me oxygen, water, something. "Goodnight Dad."

It then took me about an hour to stop sweating and breathing heavily. I'm still stiff too. I wish I'd warmed up!

I can't decide whether to go through this trauma again. Can anyone else relate to this or is it just me? Comments welcome.

Poppy's 10th Birthday

We all celebrated Poppy's 10th Birthday on Wednesday. I can't believe our baby's 10 years old. Poppy was our youngest child for nearly 8 years so in many ways she still feels like our baby. But she's fast become a young woman.

For those that know Pops, you'll know what an amazing, strong, wild, loud, passionate, kind, beautiful, crazy, exciting, funny, loving girl she is. She lights up any room she walks in and has got the biggest, widest most beautiful smile I've ever seen. You'll see on the video that there isn't one picture where Pops isn't giving the most beautiful widest smile ever!

So I made a video of what we did on Wednesday. We woke up early (6am...lets not go there) to open presents, and then after school we went out for a meal to Appleby's where the waiters sang Poppy a surprise song. We then went home to have some birthday cake and carve some pumpkins (which we've never done before and I have since found I have quite a talent for!) Poppy's was looking great until it rolled off the table and landed on its face, thus ruining hours of (my) work. (another reason to hate Halloween.) On Saturday she has some friends over for a slumber party and then they're all going to watch High School Musical 3!

Poppy, we all love you. You're the most amazing girl and we all love you grow into an amazing young woman.

Enjoy this video.

Please Help Me - I'm starting to LOVE Country Music!

Maybe its a sign that we're called to the South. Maybe God is changing my heart. Maybe its an attack from the Devil.

But...I'm starting to love Country music! I never thought I'd say those words. I used to hate it and anyone involved in it. (Dolly Parton didn't help!) But now, whenever I get in the car I just can't stop my finger from turning the radio on and tuning into 92.3 W.I.L. Country Music Radio. I've tried sitting on my hands, biting my nails, anything. I just can't stop it.

In fact, now I choose it over the cool young University radio station, and my favorite Chris Tomlin album. Does anyone know a cure? Before you (English people) judge me, let me tell you why (I think) I love it. Why don't we call these reasons, 'My Symptoms':

• Every song tells me a story. They're not just about love or whatever pop songs sing about. They sing about anything. I've heard songs about tractors, church, big women, bald men, alcohol, clothes, car crashes, prison dogs (honest).
• The songs can make me laugh or cry.
• Most of the tunes and melodies make me feel happy.
• You can sing a song and use words like preacher, bible, tractor, studmuffin, honkytonk, without being weird.
  

Before you judge me, you have to listen to these songs. By the way, Brad Paisley is my favorite! You gotta check these out!
Online - a great story about a geeky guy ("a sci-fi fanatic, mildly ashmatic") that when he gets online is a stud ("drives a Mazzarati, a black belt in karate"). You gotta watch the vid!
I'm Gonna Miss Her - About a guy whose girlfriend tells him to choose between her and fishing! (the title says it all).
I'm Still a Guy - The words to this are great eg. "When you see a deer you see Bambi and I see antlers up on my wall" and "You see a priceless French painting, I see a drunk naked girl."
Things that never cross a mans mind - "I need to go shopping, these shoes are all wrong" and "Lets turn off the t.v, can't we just talk." Brilliant. Whilst looking for this song I found the girl who sings it on a game show. You HAVE to see the clip.
And lastly, an example of how you can sing about a combine harvester and still come off mildly cool.

Anyway, I'll await lots of abusive comments and emails from the English amongst you. I'll await more recommendations of Country artists from the Charlottans.

Keep praying for me! I need it.

ps. if anyone wants to send me CD's or mp3 files of people like Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flats, Kellie Pickler, Bucky Covington then feel free! I know, desperate and poor!

More great reasons to plant a church in Charlotte!

Ok, so apart from being called by God to go to Charlotte, there are some other great reasons to go. Remember also that some of these are the reasons why God called us there anyway:

• Its the 19th biggest city in the US with 671,000 people living there!
• In fact, there are 2.5 million people in the whole metro area of Charlotte.
• It was voted 'the Best Place to Live in America' by relocate-america.com in 2008.
• Many of the early settlers there were Scottish! Amen!
• Billy Graham was born there.
• Its only 3 hours from some amazing beaches.
  
• Its the 2nd biggest financial city in the US after New York!
• The International airport is the 30th busiest in the world. Also, you can fly directly to Heathrow from there. (book flights soon please)
  
• People can play golf all year round and not even use temporary tees or greens. (Dad, don't forget to bring my clubs over in Feb)
  
• They have Trader Joe's grocery stores.
• An IKEA store is being built there and will open in Spring 2009. (this was the clincher for us going!)
• Its not helpful to put 'Charlotte Church' into google images!...(I told you not to but I knew you would!)

Please be patient in emailing us to tell us that you want to come with us. My email system will be clogged up and I can only respond one at a time...

Breaking News!!

Hi Everyone. To save you skim reading this whole thing while I build up to tell you some very exciting news, I'll just come out and say it:

WE'RE GOING TO PLANT A CHURCH IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA!! WOOHOO!!

Sarah and I are so hugely excited about this. On reflection of the past week (which I'll get to in a mo) this news is a HUGE weight off our minds. Many of you reading this may be in the same boat, not knowing where you are called to or going to live. It can be hard at times to feel really settled in a place while you're waiting for God to speak to you or to lead you somewhere. So to know that when we move we can truly settle and put down some strong roots is amazing!

Let me tell you briefly how this came about. Get comfy...

• We knew of a small group of people gathering in Charlotte soon after we arrived in April time (ish). We thought nothing of it but knew then it could be a vague possibility.
• About 4 weeks ago we decided (along with John Lanferman) to go and visit the group with Carl and Virginia Herrington which had now grown to over 60 people.
• We had an amazing time (read the last post).
• While we were there we felt God 'whisper' to us that it was right to go. During this time Sarah had a word that we would be there by the time the leaves had grown back on the trees. I also had a dream where I felt God say 'GO' and (this is funny) I woke myself up shouting the word 'Go' and I was actually laying in a running position on the bed. I burst out laughing when I realised what had happened! Also Holly felt she had a picture of an angel in the clouds pointing towards Charlotte! (By the way, God has done an amazing thing in the girls hearts and they are super excited about going!)
  
• We knew that the week we returned we had a prophetic guy called Julian Adams and one of New Frontiers Apostolic leaders and pastors Jeremy Simpkins in town to do some prophetic stuff so we were hoping for some lightning bolt from heaven.
• (Actually I felt a bit greedy. I wasn't sure if I was asking for too much from God but Sarah and I really needed to be sure as we know that when times get tough, you need to know God wants you there!)
• God blew us away. Julian had a word for us (actually a few words) that were very encouraging and he quoted a verse from Psalm 37 that I often pray over me and Sarah. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." This is our story really. God changes our hearts to give us the passion and desire to something, then we pray and ask God if we can do it...and hey presto, He gives us the desires of our heart!
• After several prayers from Julian, Jeremy, John & Carl I was 99% sure God was calling us to Charlotte (Oh me of little faith!)
  
• BUT THEN...
• Julian came up to me quietly and said he felt the day before (while we were praying in a large prayer meeting for a leader for Charlotte) that God was telling him I was the one to lead the group in Charlotte! He didn't even know we were thinking about it or had been there!
  
• That sealed the deal!!

A timescale for going has yet to be decided but as soon as we know, you'll know. We know many of you have been praying for us and so 'thank you' for your prayers. God is so faithful!