Archive for June, 2007
June 30, 2007 at 12:22 am · Filed under David
Taryn and I had a chance to get away for a few days and go down to the beach in Nags Head, NC (aka - OBX, Outer Banks). We had a great time as we were celebrating our 5th anniversary! Big Number 5! Although, ”T” and I have known each other for over nine years now (Long Story… Ask her… I am slow OK!!!) It has been a great five years and we wanted to do something special in order to best celebrate what God has done in our marriage and now with our growing family!!! Yes, I did say growing family as we have just recently, and as you could imagine - excitedly, found out that we will are EXPECTING a new addition to the Stine Family sometime in early January 2008. I keep quoting Psalm 127: 3-5! (Check it out later…)Â
All we can think is that God must think that we are capable to launch-a-new-church and be second time parents at the same time. God has been so good to us, and we will let Him be strong in both of these great happenings (John 3:30.) I keep joking with Taryn that since we are planning to launch DC Metro Church with 2 Sunday Morning Services, maybe God is planning on sending us twins? As Taryn would say to that, “please pray for David!”
Although we thought long and hard about whether to take a vacation during such an important time in our “pre-launch phase” of the church, we felt that God would rather us focus on our 1st ministry, (US!) before attempting to further our 2nd ministry (Church!)  We also know that He wants to build the church anyway, so we will let Him do it the way it was intended…Â
           Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord Builds the house, its laborers labor in vain…”
What a revelation this has been as I am excited to say that we had an incredible trip, and much peace because of it… Go God!
After a few days of “beaching it” OBX Style, we were able to get re-focused on all that lies ahead for us, our growing family, and for DC Metro Church (S.M.A.R.T. Goals are my favorite!) Sometimes it is just a good thing to take a break, celebrate, communicate, re-focus, re-energize, and possibly even do some cuddling (if you are married!) 
That is all for now,
David
PS - Keep Cuddlin’ it up! (same disclaimer as listed above!)
June 24, 2007 at 11:38 pm · Filed under DC
Another Great WeekendÂ
I hope all of you have had a great weekend, the Stine Family had another great weekend as well… Although we have been working very hard on DC Metro Church, meeting new people and preparing for our outreaches and events throughout July and August, did manage to set it aside this weekend for what has become our Saturday “Family Day.â€Â Every Saturday, we go up to Capital Hill and enjoy the sites and fun stuff going on (there is always something going on up there…) This weekend we went to an area called Eastern Market which is basically the grocery store and more for Capital Hill. “No grocery store chains in this town…†This place is over 125 years old and serves as the “Center of Town†for the people who live on Capital Hill, very cool spot I might add… We enjoyed it with two friends from Daytona Beach, Ray and Summer Mobley, who will be moving up in the next couple of weeks to be a part of the DCMetro launch team!Â
Here are a couple other things going on as of this weekend:Â
Praise Reports:Â
- We just ordered our church equipment!
- Launch Team at 21 incredible people and growing…
- We are planning on starting with two services from day one (GO Big with God!)Â 9:00am and 10:15am (Starting September 9th)
Prayer Requests:Â
- Pray that God would send the perfect worship leader, singers, and musicians to our team, our main request is that the relationship with these individuals would be incredible.
- Pray for our first outreach on July 7th. We are participating in the city of Alexandria’s and
America’s Birthday Celebration right in the heart of our target area. We have a great booth and a ton of stuff to bless the community with…
- Pray for the smooth transition of all of our launch team members who are moving from other places (Virginia Beach, Jacksonville, Pennsylvania, Dumfries, and
Minnesota.)
God continues to meet our needs above and beyond in DC, but keep praying as we believe (Ephesians 3:20) that He is going to send 100 people to be a part of the launch team as well as answer our prayer of having 400 people at our first Sunday, September 9th.  It is going to be a great week, DavidÂ
Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, accordingn to his power tha tis at work within us…”
June 14, 2007 at 12:27 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Well the Stine’s are adjusting well, as you can see by the look on Isaac’s face, to our new home.Â
It was a wild ride to find a place to live, but that was most likely the hand of God working in and on our lives growing us as His pace alotted.
I was reflecting on Zechariah 4:10 today as it states: “Do not despise the days of small beginnings…”Â
As I read this I am reminded of our situation right now. Although we do not by any means feel that God is calling us to launch a small church, I do know that everything that starts “in God” has a small beginning… We can see God’s hand in this concept in nature, as well as in ourselves as we begin our lives through infancy and mature from there.Â
God has been teaching us so much during this pre-launch season, as we are delighted to be where He has sent us, whether we are small or big…
Growing w/Him,
Pastor David, Taryn & Isaac (& DC Metro Team)
June 13, 2007 at 5:08 pm · Filed under David
It was a great weekend last week as I spent time at Church of the Highlands with Pastor Stovall Weems as well as the Great  ”Highlands” Team. www.churchofthehighlands.com
It was their second to last weekend in Mountain Brook High School where they started the church just 6 short years ago. In two weeks they will move into their incredible new building which we toured in total amazement as God has grown their church by leaps and bounds in such a short amount of time in Birmingham.
The Launch Team and I will be visiting again as I have gained much wisdom from the great people at this church as well as their great pastor, Chris Hodges.Â
Keeping you posted on what is going on in DC.
This week I have been reflecting upon the idea of loving your neighbor as yourself… Seems to be a pretty profound thought, right? Well as we have been in DC for a little over a week now, I can see that it is very easy to get our eyes “off the ball.” There is always something that can get us focused on what we do not need to be focused on.  (isn’t that always the case?)
As I read the passage out of Mark 12:29 - 33 where Jesus is asked by a pharasee: “which is the most important commandment?” He simply looks at him and says: Love God, and Love your neighbor as yourself! Although we have heard about this passage before, I have had to continually remind myself that it is all about God, and People! Other than that we are missing the Mark, literally…
Jesus even goes on to tell them that it does not really matter how much you give offerings and sacrifice (in any way), Loving God and Loving People is still much more important! (No matter what you do in life…)Â
Pretty simple: Love God, Love People!
I am convinced that we will have success in life by focusing on these two things more than anything else…
Have a great week,
David
June 10, 2007 at 8:15 am · Filed under David
I tend to find myself in Birmingham Alabama pretty regularly these days…Â
I am here with Pastor Stovall Weems (Lead Pastor of Celebration Church of Jax) and Tarik Stewart (The coolest trinidadian of all time.) It is odd, but the three of us have made this trip before not so long ago. Stovall will be preaching in all of the three morning services today, and I will be checking out how this incredible church does the set up and tear down part of their ministry. This will be their second to last week in Mountain Brook High School where they have been meeting for the last five years as a mobile church.Â
After talking with some of their team last night, it is so obvious to feel the excitement as they move into their new (and incredible) building…Â (It got me so excited about DCMetro’s future!)
As DCMetroChurch heads into the beginning phase of our church life in a Theater, I am sure that I will get some good ideas as “Highlands” is known for their ability to make it excellent in a short amount of time…
Also here, God has been speaking to me about the word “Calvary” out of Nehemiah 2:9 NIV. I have some thoughts but I will get back to you on it…
 Have a great Sunday,
 David
June 7, 2007 at 1:22 pm · Filed under David
I find myself reflecting more and more on the idea that we are definitely creatures of habit. I am sitting here in one of the coolest coffee shops in DC called “The Buzz Café,†where I am enjoying several conversations with potential DCMetroChurch launch team members via email and phone while enjoying a fresh cup of Buzz’s finest coffee (High Buzz Potency!) as I realize that I would be doing this no matter where I was in the world. I always “default” to persuading people to do Something Great for God while asking them to be a part of a huge vision (Whether mine or someone else’s), while sitting in a coffee shop, drinking (you guessed it) coffee. Â
With that said, we all do not sway to far from the way that God has designed us, almost to the point that we become very predictable to ourselves and to others. Here I am as my own example being persuasive, and encouraging others to take a huge step of faith… With many quirks and flaws along the way…
With all of our quirks and flaws, we have all been hardwired to use what God has given us, not to look like a “default”, but rather an intentional part of God’s bigger plan and purpose… Therefore we should never be ashamed of our “default” or that we do not have other gifts and talents. God has given us everything we need to fulfill His Great Purpose on earth together by using what He has given us…Â
So keep on being yourself (He Made You, YOU!), and I will keep doing my thing too…Â
The Psalmist said it best by saying: Psalms 139:4 – I praise you (with my life, actions, spirit, and gifts), because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (By You!)PS – We made it to DC and are getting settled in, as well as ramping up for a July and August full of Launch Team Outreaches throughout the city! Go God!
PSS - Move to DC, and do something Great for God!
