September means lots of things. To me it’s a hope that this hot, sticky weather won’t hold out much longer. I have noticed it feeling a little cooler in the mornings (or maybe I just want to sit on the back porch with some coffee in the mornings so bad that I’m imagining it) but it still gets disgustingly hot & humid by 8.
I don’t have a super recent picture of the garden – the squash & pumpkins are loving this weather & have completely gone crazy. The squash are starting to bloom, maybe we will have some fruit here soon. I have been tempted on several occasions to pull them out of the ground….they take up so much space. But now that it seems they are on the verge of doing something I guess I can stick it out! Everything else is growing nicely as well, except for my spinach. But I think I have time to plant again before it’s too late.
Yesterday I tried my hand at baking bread. Something I’ve always wanted to do & be good at! I think I got my yeast too hot 
because my dough was super sticky (kinda like when you make pizza crust) and flat as a pancake! Needless to say, there was no rising action. I knew the loaf wouldn’t turn out, but I went ahead & baked it just to finish. That was the heaviest loaf of bread…ever! It was supposed to be cinnamon raisin. Planning to try again today, hopefully with better results!
I think a lot of y’all know we’ve been church hunting for about the last two months now. Putting on your best smile & meeting new people each week & listening to a new pastor can definitely take a toll. Several Sunday’s I would cry in the car on the way back to the house. Nothing compares to Veritas out here. Veritas felt/feels like home. It’s the first church Chad & I attended together after we were married, where each week we knew we would hear the truth of the Gospel & see again how big our need for the Lord is and we were brought together with an amazing group of people in fellowship throughout the week. It was deep, it was heavy, it was convicting. We haven’t found anything like that in FL. In his book Radical Reformission Pastor Mark Driscoll talks a lot about how important it is for churches to be culturally relevant. Christian cultural commentator Ken Myers says there are 3 forms of Christian culture in the church: High culture (compared to a gourmet meal, connected to tradition & referred to as an art), folk (compared to a home cooked meal from a family recipe, emerges from a community as outpouring of lives lived together, highly personal, endearing & enduring) & pop culture (compared to a fast food meal, easily accessible, less requirement to engage, experience before patience & difficult to distinguish from advertising). Veritas was definitely a folk church. Lots of people living openly in front of each other – sharing struggles & triumphs, grounded in the Truth. We have yet to find a folky church here – all we have seen so far are churches comparable to high culture. Where are the people to connect with? Where is the genuineness? Walking with the Holy Spirit is no easy task, I need a community of someones to do it with me.
I will say this – the lack of what we are looking for has pushed Chad & me even more to become that. We spoke to Matt, the leader of our community group from Veritas, & he told us to be the church that we are looking for. Such simple advice, but so true. Spiritually, Chad & I have grown so much (individually & together) since we have been in FL. Digging out the truth in the Word and taking hold of the things we believe – striving to be ready with Scripture based doctrine if someone asks. Speaking the Gospel to ourselves & each other daily. Extending grace. Striving for humility. We also listen to podcasts from other churches to get the meat that is missing on Sundays. Veritas just started a study of Judges, which we got to skype into for the sermon & it was such a blessing! I can’t say that I wouldn’t jump at the chance to be back at Veritas, but I know right now we are right where God wants us. Laying foundations in our marriage and for whatever is ahead of us.
It’s been hard and frustrating and disappointing and the start of a new adventure. But we are learning and striving to live more Gospel centered lives.
Adventures in a New Frontier 