The web home of Joel, Jennifer and Evan Searby, reporting on life in Gainesville, Florida.
The Searbys
Previous Posts
- Gators everywhere
- Disasters, Weather and God
- What a Mess!
- Robertson Repercussions
- A very eventful and interesting few days. We got ...
- Lots of exciting things are happening in our lives...
- I have usually kept this blog pretty neutral and f...
- moving
- "she doesn't like your biscuits"
- spanish-english food
Archives
- June 2005
- July 2005
- August 2005
- September 2005
- October 2005
- November 2005
- December 2005
- January 2006
- February 2006
- March 2006
- April 2006
- May 2006
- June 2006
- July 2006
- August 2006
- September 2006
- October 2006
- November 2006
- December 2006
- January 2007
- February 2007
- March 2007
- April 2007
- May 2007
- June 2007
- July 2007
- August 2007
- September 2007
- October 2007
- November 2007
- December 2007
- January 2008
- February 2008
- March 2008
- April 2008
- May 2008
- June 2008
- July 2008
- August 2008
- September 2008
Links
- The Raymers
- The Jarretts
- Kim
- The McKnights
- The Youngs
- The Bolins
- Juliet
- The Johnsons
- The Peines
- Joel
- The Castillos
- The Dunaways
- The Warners
- The Breezes
- The Whitlocks
- The Williams
- The Lozanos
- Shannon
- The Flammers
- The O'Malleys
- The Schlags
- The Birketts
- Crockpot Lady
- The Mills Family
- Joanne Cadwallader
Powered for Blogger
design by BAM Design
the searbys
Monday, September 05, 2005
amazing conversation
I had another amazing conversation this morning here at the coffee shop. God is certainly working here in and through me.
This regular who comes through the drive-thru every day and gets a triple espresso with warm cream came into the shop today. Usually he's very grumpy, bossy and wants his drink now. Today, perhaps because of the holiday, he was laid back and looking to chat. Our neighborhood police officer, Elgin, was also in the shop so the three of us chatted a while about various things. Then when Elgin left, Ben (I later found out his name) asked me what book I was reading. He'd seen my bible sitting on the counter. I said, "the Bible," like an idiot and he said, "I know that, which book in the Bible?" I said I was reading in John. The ensuing conversation was amazing. He poured out his heart to me about his past with the church, in the military, as a hippie, and all sorts of other things. He said he loved Jesus and really believed in the way of Christ but hadn't been to church for a long time because people seemed so petty. I have to admit I was hesitant to share that I'm the interim at Harvest right now because quite frankly, we're dealing with a lot of that. But, I did. As we talked about those challenges and struggles he said, "you know, I think I'll bring my family. What you're talking about as the vision of who we should be as the church is really what I'm looking for." I hope they come. His heart was so open. This guy who I thought was so grumpy was just melted as we talked about the love of Jesus and the truth of his amazing life. That's what it's all about. I pray that Harvest can embrace that and we can begin to see how God works to heal, to grow and to impact lives all around Gainesville with hope and love. If you're the praying type, pray for us as we seek that end. My first Sunday is coming up and I'm excited, nervous, hopeful. I am going to preach a short series on the life of Jesus, focusing on the character traits that we can adopt as his disciples. I look forward to how God will work in peoples lives, not because of me, but because of the truth and magnetism of the person of Jesus Christ.
Have a great Labor day!
-joel
This regular who comes through the drive-thru every day and gets a triple espresso with warm cream came into the shop today. Usually he's very grumpy, bossy and wants his drink now. Today, perhaps because of the holiday, he was laid back and looking to chat. Our neighborhood police officer, Elgin, was also in the shop so the three of us chatted a while about various things. Then when Elgin left, Ben (I later found out his name) asked me what book I was reading. He'd seen my bible sitting on the counter. I said, "the Bible," like an idiot and he said, "I know that, which book in the Bible?" I said I was reading in John. The ensuing conversation was amazing. He poured out his heart to me about his past with the church, in the military, as a hippie, and all sorts of other things. He said he loved Jesus and really believed in the way of Christ but hadn't been to church for a long time because people seemed so petty. I have to admit I was hesitant to share that I'm the interim at Harvest right now because quite frankly, we're dealing with a lot of that. But, I did. As we talked about those challenges and struggles he said, "you know, I think I'll bring my family. What you're talking about as the vision of who we should be as the church is really what I'm looking for." I hope they come. His heart was so open. This guy who I thought was so grumpy was just melted as we talked about the love of Jesus and the truth of his amazing life. That's what it's all about. I pray that Harvest can embrace that and we can begin to see how God works to heal, to grow and to impact lives all around Gainesville with hope and love. If you're the praying type, pray for us as we seek that end. My first Sunday is coming up and I'm excited, nervous, hopeful. I am going to preach a short series on the life of Jesus, focusing on the character traits that we can adopt as his disciples. I look forward to how God will work in peoples lives, not because of me, but because of the truth and magnetism of the person of Jesus Christ.
Have a great Labor day!
-joel
Wow, what a story! The love of Jesus applied to one life at a time, one encounter at a time, one bold willingness to share with a grumpy person. Now you have a new friend you have connected with! Jesus is working in you! Love, your mama
_____________________