i have not forgotten about blogging.

i'm just busy. too busy to blog? i guess. that sounds pretty lame, right? sorry.

here are a few things going on.

• our house is up for sale and we are moving to little rock. know anyone needing a nice little house in the bryant area?
• we're making progress on our new space for thecitychurch. should be finished up in a couple of weeks. we're still having weekly worship experiences on sundays at 10:20. join us would you?
• big relaunch experience is scheduled for Feb. 21.
• next session of city groups begins on Feb. 28.
• next baptism experience is on March 21.
• next All-Access Membership Class is also March 21.
• April Fools is on April 1.
• welcome back to the blog and thanks for shopping at Wal-Mart.

CONFUSED, BUT DETERMINED

That's how I'm feeling right now. A friend of mine, Thomas Young, took his own life this weekend amidst a conflict with his wife, and I just don't know what to think about any of it. Here's the link to Thomas' church with their statements from the weekend. I've worked with Thomas at a couple of camps and had him in my previous church for a week, and he was the real deal. So, how does he, or how do we get to a point in our lives where this is an option? Or why do we turn to alcohol or drugs or unhealthy relationships, or anything destructive really? I really don't understand any of this, but here are a few of my unfiltered thoughts. We live in such a broken world. I believe that Jesus came to give us an abundant life, but the setting for that life is terribly shattered. So many of have so many hurts, scars, wounds. And so often, in the midst of the hurt, we in turn, choose even more destruction. Here's what I know. We are broken and frail, and we need help. That help must come from Jesus. And I believe the local church has to be a place where the broken can unashamedly come and find the Healer. I've spent a little over a year now working with a team of friends following God's lead in launching and leading THECITYCHURCH in Little Rock. While after hearing about Thomas' death, it would seem almost justifiable to just throw up my hands and give up on trying to reach out to the hurting throughout central arkansas. I, however, will not. In fact, it's been my prayer this evening that this tragic and unexplainable event will fuel my passion for this community even more. I almost want to drag people into the doors of the church to hear about the life change and transformation that is so readily available. I believe that while the brokenness surrounds us, the scripture will hold true, "He who is in me is greater than he that is in the world." In other words, the power of God will win. I think God is big enough to handle my questions and confusion after hearing about Thomas, and I believe He is also still in control. Some questions we have in this world may never be answered, but my hope is not in this world, it's in the Saviour of this world. This is me begging you, if you don't have a church home and you live around here, get to THECITYCHURCH this sunday. If you're reading this in some other town or city, find a vibrant, local church and get there. Will it be perfect? Nope. It's made up of broken people like me and you. Will there be hypocrites? Probably. It's made up of broken people like me and you. Will you begin to find hope? James 4:8 says, "Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you." May we begin to find the hope and healing for which we are so desperately looking.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

Well, let's just get right to it. We're Moving!!! Yep. Moving. Last week was one crazy week, but before we talk about that, I need to back up a little. Last summer, there were a few families that began meeting that had a heart for the Riverdale, Hill Crest, and River Market areas of LIttle Rock. We began searching out possible spaces to launch THECITYCHURCH, but nothing was working out for. Too big, too small, too expensive, too yuck. So, right before we had our first preview experience in January, we worked out a deal with the Statehouse Convention Center. We had our first two previews there while all the while continuing to search out a more stable meeting place. Through a series of contacts, we were able to reach an agreement on the facility we're currently using. We would be able to lease the space month-to-month while they continued to have the building on the market. What a blessing this was. Huge. We moved all of our stuff in and made it ours.

A couple of months ago, several of us began to talk and pray about the future. We knew this wouldn't be our permanent space, so we go back out and began looking again. We wanted to make sure we didn't get put in a bad spot if and when our current building sold. And what a wise decision this turned out to be. We found an amazing space in the Riverdale area of Little Rock, exactly where we were looking a year ago (but could not afford). We've been talking with the property owners for about two months now and had gotten pretty close to reaching a lease agreement, but we were still not quite ready to take that step. Honestly, it was going to take a miracle for us to get in there.

So, last Tuesday I get notice from our current lease agent our space had been sold, and we had 30 days left! Yikes! I had to keep my hands in my pockets to keep them off the panic button. But, God is so much bigger than 30 day notices, contracts, and money. By Thursday, we had gotten word that God was providing for us to get into the space in Riverdale! Unbelievable. So, we've gotten the lease stuff going for our new space and will hopefully be ready to sign the contract this week or next. We don't have any sort of move in date right now because there are a few issues we still have to work through, but God has been faithful.

This area is a vibrant area full of young families, single professionals, college students, med students, well, just about everything. There's approx. 2000 people within walking distance of the space, and it's just two or three minutes from Hill Crest, The Heights, and the River Market.

I can't even begin to express my excitement for the possibilities that are ahead of THECITYCHURCH. This is huge, and we hope you will continue to be a part of it. In fact, if you've not been able to make it to church for a while or maybe you just got out of the habit, I want to personally invite you back. Come be a part of something bigger and more life changing than anything we could have ever imagined. It will take all of us, and I don't want anyone to miss it.

We're still meeting in our current location for another few weeks, and we'll be sending out and posting updates as we get them. For more real time updates, be sure to follow me on facebook and twitter. The links are below. Thanks again for being involved in THECITYCHURCH. The sky is not the limit for THECITYCHURCH, there is no limit.

http://www.facebook.com/darenneely

http://www.twitter.com/darenneely

TUESDAY DUMP::NOV. 11

• Had a big creative team meeting to plan for our Christmas series. Most people will go to church around the Christmas season, so we're trying to make this a series of very memorable experiences. This will be the time to bring someone with you. Series begins Nov. 22.
• Helped Ashley's parents move this weekend. I'm not really built for moving things around, but we had a lot of fun. Big house with lots of hardwood floors=lots of sock skating and one busted lip.
• Had a really good sunday at THECITYCHURCH. Back up over 100, 9 first time guests, 18 in Big City Kids, 12 in Little City Kids, raised some awareness to the orphan problem here in central arkansas.
• Bought the game "Gassy Gus." He eats until he farts. Kids love it.
• We got Friday the dog "fixed." He seems to be having lots of questions about life now.
• My Pathfinder is still at the shop. Transmission is out. Those are really cheap. I may just get an extra one and let the kids play with it out back.
• Spending a couple of days at the Dirt Conference. It's a church media conference. Lots of church nerds around ie. Tyler Tarver and Kyle Agee.
• Go out this week and open you a twitter account (it's free) and follow me for daily updates on THECITYCHURCH, life, the kids, local eateries, book reviews, book reviewer reviews, table top tennis, tropical fish, and Ghost Hunters.

BEEN A WHILE

Wow, it's been quite a while since I've been on here, and so much has happened. I'll try to give you the highlights:

• spent 9 days in Thailand getting little Reese. everything went really smoothly. Not much on the food, but thank the Lord for global chain restaurants.
• took Reese about 2 days to begin to figure out that she was stuck with us. she's done incredibly well with everything. relationships, food, sleep. we have been so surprised at how quickly she has adapted.
• met at the airport by so many of our friends and family. reese is so blessed to have such amazing people pulling for her.
• jet lag is something special. wow. it took an entire week for me to get my days and nights straight. i'm talking falling asleep in public, on the toilet, you name it, it happened.
• really missed thecitychurch while we were gone. everyone did such an amazing job while we were away, especially little josh inmon, our choir director. he took care of so many things.
• i've set a little goal of having 200 people at thecitychurch before the end of the year. that's lofty buy doable. how? well, if all of our regular attenders were there together, it would put us between 125-140. and if just a percentage of those brought someone with them, bingo. 200. easy, right?
• baptism experience on nov. 15. need to be baptized? let me know.
• christmas series begins on nov. 22. wear your favorite christmas sweater.
• my life could not be better. thanks for all who make it that way.

MONDAY DUMP::OCTOBER 12

• Almost too much to post this week.
• Spent a few days in Atlanta at Catalyst. It's a leadership conference that sets the standard for all conferences. Tony Dungy, Dave Ramsey, Andy Stanley, Rob Bell, and on and on and on. We took a group of 8 from THECITYCHURCH, so we hope the impact of this conference will be long lasting!
• In reference to the above trip, way too much time with 5 guys in one hotel room.
• Getting ready for our trip this week to Thailand. Her bags are packed but ours aren't. Lots of little things to do this week. Can't really explain what I'm feeling this week. Too many emotions. Exited, nervous, honored, blessed, happy, gassy. All of these things at the same time.
• We'll keep this blog updated on our trip as much as we can. Not really sure how much access we'll have. We'll do our best. We'll do our best.
• Everyone's invited to the airport on Sat. Oct. 24 at 7 in the pm. Bring balloons and some cake. I think Reese likes cake.
• Patiently awaiting some potential huge news for THECITYCHURCH. That's all your getting on that one.
• My truck is broke. Working from home this week, so if you're in the area, stop on in.

MONDAY DUMP::OCTOBER 5

• Spent a lot of the week getting things together for the trip to Thailand.
• Continued to get money and encouragement for the trip.
• Had another great week of city groups. This is my first time in a small group in a long time, and it's been so helpful.
• We had a little cookout over at one our church member's house. Way too much food, and way too many laughs. Thanks Carl and Stacey.
• Razorbacks dominated.
• One of the better mornings ever at THECITYCHURCH. Why? Not really sure. Just really good morning. New people everywhere.
• Had a baby shower for Reese. Got lots of really cool stuff. Thanks to everyone for everything. We've really felt loved over the last few weeks by our new church family.
• Leaving on Wed. to Atlanta for a leadership conference called Catalyst. There's several of us from the church going. This will be mine and Ashley's 5th year to go to this conference. Really good things happen each year. It was at Catalyst that God really began to give us clarity on adoption. Thanks to the church for allowing and making it possible for me to attend again. I'll be posting lots of stuff on my twitter page and facebook as well. We'll be back on Saturday, then it's off to Thailand next Thursday!