How Did We Get Here? (Jan, 2012)
This is the question that so many of us ask when we find ourselves in unfamiliar territory … when the known begins to give way to the unknown.
A few Sundays ago, Russ stood before the body at Image Church for the first time as Communities Pastor. I, of course, stood by his side…literally and figuratively. Lead Pastor Chris Rhodenhizer spoke of our decision …more accurately, our response to God’s calling… to go into ministry by becoming full-time staff as having been made with much prayer and fasting. While this is certainly true, I’d like to elaborate on the story that goes beyond going without to stretch back almost two decades.
I hope you’ll enjoy reading this series of postings as much as I have enjoyed writing it. I pray these words will encourage and inspire you to listen to God’s voice, to obey His Word and to keep moving forward.
A Glimpse… (2006)
On a beautiful day in early Spring, 2006, Russ & I sat on a bench watching our three children play on the playground. As we often did in those days, we had walked to Cameron Elementary School in Alexandria, Virginia, from our home a few blocks away. We would talk and dream and laugh and plan during those afternoon outings, our conversation invariably migrating toward the future. Our future. This looking forward was as common for us as for any other military family. A new assignment, a new city, a new home, a new church … every two to three years…that was our “norm”. As soon as life would settle down into a comfortable routine, as soon as meaningful relationships would begin to bear fruit, as soon as we had found THE best restaurant in town, the movers would pull into the driveway. However, by 2006, Army life could begin to wind down if we so chose, opening up the real possibility of a new chapter for the Perkins’ family. This prospect of retirement would bring with it big dreams … dreams of laboring for the Kingdom full-time…dreams of making disciples…dreams of reaching the world … from a tiny corner of Northern Virginia. As we verbally expressed our deepest desires and our greatest aspirations that afternoon, we could imagine a life that now is. As those who know us…and the long conversation that is our life together…can appreciate, this was not the first time Russ and I had discussed such things.
More, more!!!