The latest on CA's move

What the latest on Calvary Austin's move North?

Land: We expressed interest in 17-acres on Picadilly (formerly Royston) off IH-35. The informal proposal included a donation by the seller. At this time, the seller is moving forward in a cash deal with another buyer. This deal may or may not make it to closing so this isn't dead by any means. Either way we need an interim place to meet as our lease in Austin has just over a year remaining.

New lease: We are negotiating to sub-lease Gold's Gym at Hester's Crossing and IH-35. This would allow us to merge all three sites where we meet on the weekend. Current sticking points are price and signage. If this were to work out, we would likely move later this year and would need an early release from our present lease in Austin.

Old lease: We have requested an early release from our present lease in Austin. Sticking point is new tenant(s) to replace income for owner. There has been interest from potential new tenants in the last few weeks. There is a good chance we could be released early.

Bottom line: Please continue to pray that if it is God's will, the owners of the Picadilly property would come back to us and accept our informal proposal. Pray that we could reach an agreement on price to sub-lease with Gold's Gym and on signage with Sky Ridge Plaza. And pray that Quail Creek Plaza would find new tenants and release us from our lease.

True Life

What if much of what you believed about life turned out to not be true? It's not like we have a great track record here. Santa Clause? Easter Bunny? Tooth Fairy? You thought a stork brought your baby brother! Think you've outgrown all that? Think again!

• Do you believe that water drains backwards in the Southern Hemisphere due to the Earth's rotation?
• Or that humans use only 10 percent of their brains?
• Or that a penny dropped from the top of a tall building could kill a pedestrian?
• Or that a dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's?
• Or that it takes seven years to digest gum?

None of these things are true. Check this. So again I ask, What if much of what you believed about life turned out to not be true?

• Things like "I can't help the way I am."
• Or "I must have everyone's approval."
• Or "Life should be easy."
  

What if those basic assumptions were false? What if they were ruining your life? This weekend we're going to talk about living a True Life based on one of the most challenging things Jesus ever said. Please join us for any one of four worship gatherings. Hope to see you there.

Why satellites rock

In September, we made the transition to multi-site ministry while ramping up to move north. That means we meet at several locations. In fact, we have four gatherings at three locations on two days . . . all one church. We still meet twice Sunday in Austin but we also meet twice Saturday: once in Cedar Park and once in Round Rock. We sometimes call these "satellites." Not because they're video venues. They're not. I speak at both. We call them satellites because they're offsite. Here's why satellites rock.

• Shorter drive - If you live north of our Austin campus like most of the people who attend our church, you don't have to drive as far to attend!
• More convenient day and time - If you work on Sunday or want to take a day trip or just sleep in, you can attend Saturday evening!
• New friends - If you like to meet new people and enjoy developing relationships that can enrich your life, these gatherings are smaller and may be just what you're looking for!
  
• Volunteer opportunities - If you enjoy the synergy of teamwork and you're passionate about making a difference, there are lots of opportunities to volunteer!
• Same great worship gathering - If you're looking for the same creative worship, relevant Bible teaching, and interactive ministry to children that we offer at our Austin campus, the satellites have got it!

These are just some of the reasons why satellites rock. Come see why nearly 25 percent of our weekend attendance has shifted to our Saturday satellites.

Grow through the motions

Have you ever been driving down the freeway and suddenly realized you should have exited like several miles before? Or someone says, "Are you listening to me?" and you realize you haven't heard a word they've said. Or you get to the end of a page only to realize you have no idea what you just read? It's so easy to go through the motions in life. And it's not just the little things. It's the big things. We do it at work. We do it at home. We even do it at church.

In the Bible it says, "Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day" (Psalm 139:16). That means that God has a plan for us today. That today matters! That on good days and bad days and every day, we get to choose. Will we go through the motions? Or will we grow through the motions? The choice is ours.

Join us this weekend to learn more about that. We gather at four different times so choose the time that works best for you. We gather at three different locations so choose the location that works best for you. We gather on two different days so choose the day that works best for you.

Do you believe in miracles?

So the 20th Olympic Winter Games are in the books. The Americans left with 25 medals - second only to Germany with 29. Didn't hear much about that. Kept hearing how NBC's viewership was down 37 percent from 2002. More people watched ABC's Dancing with the Stars than the closing ceremonies. How sad is that?

The Winter Games used to mean something. Remember the so-called "Miracle on Ice"? 1980? The United States ice hockey team - made up of amateur and collegiate players - wasn't given a chance against the powerful Soviet Union. The US was down 1-0, then 2-1, and then 3-2 before tying it at 3-3. With a little over ten minutes to play, the US went up 4-3. Al Michaels was calling the game on ABC. "Eleven seconds, you got ten seconds, the countdown going on right now...Morrow up to Silk...five seconds left in the game! Do you believe in miracles? YES!!! Unbelievable!" The US went on to take the gold and the USSR the silver medal. Just a couple years ago Disney made a movie about it called Miracle starring Kurt Russell.

Do you believe in miracles? What are miracles? Could you use a miracle right now? When He was on earth, Jesus performed lots of miracles. One of the most unusual is recorded in Mark 7:31-37. That's what we're talking about all weekend long. We've got four gatherings at three locations, so please join us on a day and at a time convenient for you. You don't have to be a kook to believe that God sometimes invades space and time to do cool things in the lives of people of like you and me.

Action!

"Action!" I always wanted to say that. You know like a film director? In a sense, that's what I'm going to be saying tonight at 1st Wednesday. At 7:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month, people who attend our weekend gatherings in Cedar Park, Round Rock, and North Austin converge on our Parkfield campus for an interactive worship gathering we call 1st Wednesday. We are taking different Bible verses that say "one another" as our theme. Tonight's theme is "Consider One Another."

Our worship space will be completely transformed tonight for worship-in-the-round. Bryce Heard, our missionary to England, will be there. We'll set up interactive mission stations where you'll have the opportunity to write Calvary Austin missionaries like the Heards, the Horvat-Kavais (check out their blog), the Langes, and the Mullas. There will be visuals. Scripture readings. Silent prayer. Communion. And afterward, a very special reception for the newest member of our staff, Darren Brock and family. There will be a special program for kids through fifth grade in our children's worship space. So program the DVR. Cowell can wait. Load friends and family into the car and check out 1st Wednesay at Calvary Austin!