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My Blog Is Moving!!

Not only are we physically moving to IL, I am moving my blog.  Please update to 

larryboatright.wordpress.com

Thanks, and see you there!

BIG NEWS REVEALED!

Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you."  Genesis 12:1

This is the LAST verse I thought God would be using to speak to me at this stage in my life.  Yet after weeks of praying and seeking His face, I'm confident He has used it to speak to us in a clear way.

 

A few weeks ago Annette and I began a journey that has been filled with about every emotion you could imagine... but has finally led to some incredible news:  WE ARE MOVING TO CHICAGO!!  A close friend of mine is a pastor there and has invited me to join his staff.  After much prayer and wrestling, we came to the resolute conclusion that God was clearly asking us to take a step of faith and move there.

 

Take a deep breath.  Yeah, me too!  This has just blown us away!

I want everyone to know that we love SBC and the people here SO SO much, and this church has been a beautiful community for Annette and I and the boys.  Leaving here is the last thing we ever thought we'd be doing, and it's in some ways been as much of a surprise to us as it probably is to you, but I'm really excited and I'm confident God has been speaking to us and challenging us to take a huge step forward.  When we launched this whole Beyond Our Walls campaign, I never in my wildest dreams imagined that Annette and the boys and I would go beyond these walls literally!  We're going to spread some of the amazing DNA of SBC to a great church community in the suburbs of Chicago. 

Now on to the next step in our journey... we'll be transitioning there in the next few weeks.  I'll share insight into the journey as we go (as well as some history of how we got to this point).  

Everyone has asked me a number of questions, and I'll post some of these here:

1. Do you realize how cold it is in Chicago?  Answer: Yes, well aware.  We actually love the snow and bitter cold, and I make a mean chili as well as a mean chicken and dumplings.
2. Sox or Cubs?  Hmm, I don't know enough to make a decision yet here.  But I'll always be for the OU Sooners :)
3. What will you be doing up there?  Trying to stay warm :) I'm not entirely sure.  We're going to feel that out as it goes along.  I'll likely be helping with connections in some way here and there, and who knows what else.  It will be a lot of fun though and I'm excited to get to know more about the Orchard and the awesome people there!

The Orchard is a remarkable place with a powerful story and we're looking forward to diving in there!  We are going to miss SBC like crazy, but hope to come back and visit once a year or so on our "back to the homestates" tour.  I'm so blessed to have served under an incredible senior leader (who still thinks my blog is a man diary!) and alongside a great team of pastors, elders, staff, and volunteers the last few years.  I know SBC will continue to have a tremendous impact on this community.  Thanks SBC'ers for allowing me to be a part of your lives here!

It's bittersweet, but we look forward to Chicago.  If you're reading this and you're from the Orchard, we can't wait to meet you!  Look me up on Facebook or Twitter.

Now, where did I put my coat?

31 Years

31 years ago my father died in an auto accident.  It was an event that has shaped my entire life.  You see, I wasn't even born yet.  31 years ago this coming week, I was born.  My mom sat through the funeral of the father of her baby with me still inside.  It's hard to imagine what she must have went through.

21 years ago I experienced another kind of birth- a spiritual birth.  God invited me to join His family, and my life has never been the same.

These few situations has allowed me to go through life with a unique perspective.  I've sat across from kids who's hearts were broken, listening to their stories of their own tough situations and been able to understand where they were coming from.  I've been able to share the gospel with kids that wouldn't listen to anyone else, simply because of my background.  I had credibility.  I've had the privilege of sharing my story with thousands of people and have seen literally hundreds come to know the same Savior that I have.  I wouldn't change my past even if I could.

I love how Psalm 68:5 says "A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His Holy place."  Whether you had an earthly father or not, God is your Father.  He knows every need you have before you do.  He even knew you needed a Savior before you did, and made a way for you to be right with him.  I'm glad that for 31 years I've had a Father, even when I didn't completely realize it or respect Him the way I should have.  Praise be to God.

Big News!!

Hey all friends and blogfriends-

I've got some REALLY big news to share with you.

Ready for it?

Well I'll share it soon, I promise.   It will probably be Monday or Tuesday.

You're just not going to believe it!

Catch you soon!

Twitter has taken over...

hey all!

I've been sporadic here at larryboatright.com.  A friend introduced me to Twitter awhile back and it's taken my time.  I've been journaling some ideas for future posts but small things have found their way into the pipeline.

Got some big news coming here soon so stay tuned!  (doesn't every sporadic blogger say that to get people checking their blog from time to time??!!)

Scandalous Grace?

My friend David McLaughlin wrote a post that I think I'm going to have to re-read a couple of times to take it all in and it's simply amazing.  As a follower of Jesus, it would be well worth your while to read this article to frame the rest of your day.  You can read it here.  GO!

The Coffee House: A Cultural History

Here is a quote from Markman Ellis' The Coffee House: A Cultural History that I figured many of my friends would appreciate..

"Coffee-houses, which are very numerous in London, are extremely convenient.  You have all manner of news there; you have a good fire, which you may sit by as long as you please; you have a Dish of Coffee; you meet your friends for the transaction of business, and all for a  penny, if you don't care to spend more." 

This was written in 1719!