The first time I met you, Dion, we talked (VERY briefly, due to the number of people trying to get your autograph and take pictures with you) about Thomas (Czinder) and his "call" to St. Matthew. Over the few years we'd been together at St. Paul, the Czinders had become our very closest and most trusted friends, and we had just gotten even closer in asking them to serve as God-parents for our son, Peter.
I hope I'm not speaking out of line when I say this, but when Thomas first started talking to us about the interest from St. Matthew, he was pretty sure that nothing would come of it. He wasn't looking to leave and just allowed his name to stay in the running more as a professional exercise than anything. But over those months, as we heard that his name kept making the shorter lists, his heart changed to one that really was wondering what God might have in store in Walled Lake. And when he was issued the call, we were very much torn.
If we encouraged him to take it, we would be wishing away our best friends and an incredible music director. However, if we encouraged him to stay, would we be standing in the way of God's will for our selfish desires? It was funny...Thomas showed me a video that you had made about St. Matthew and its purpose, as well as the promo for your latest "Extreme Makeover" sermon series. And after glimpsing through the rest of the website, I shrugged and said to him, "You should take that call. It seems absolutely perfect for you."
We knew what we wanted. But, we knew what God wanted too, and we were not about to stand in the way of that. We didn't know what would happen to our friendship or our church when the Czinders left. We didn't know what this would bring...but we believed that God's will was being done, and we realized our role was to support that.
The REALLY funny thing was that we ended up being blessed by that decision too. Through them coming to St. Matthew, we found this church as well, and it's made a tremendous difference for us, even in our short time here.
We would like you stay, Dion, and I'm sure many people would say the same. But stay or go...we need to trust that God is working in this. If God is working all things for the benefit of His children, then we need to believe that, whether you say 'yay' or 'nay,' God has planned to benefit Trinity in Kansas, St. Matthew here in Michigan, the Garretts, and the rest of us with this call. We may not be able to see how just yet. Whatever you decide, Dion (or more importantly, whatever God decides)...we want you to know that we're behind you.
Submitted by Matt Farina on April 29, 2008 - 9:37am.
Dion.... don't read below this line.... just don't.
For everyone else, here's the plan. First, go out and rent the movie Real Genius with Val Kilmer to get the idea. Next, we're going to knock Dion out, replace a filling with a speaker/transmitter and than "place a call to him from God". Who's in?
For kicks lets see if we can get him to break dance during a sermon. :)
I love it. Not only did you reference one of the few good Val Kilmer movies, but it's fun and he'll have no idea, because if Dion does anything right...it's follow instructions.
And good luck finding a Bible verse that speaks against teeth transmitters. ;)
We're behind you, Dion.
The first time I met you, Dion, we talked (VERY briefly, due to the number of people trying to get your autograph and take pictures with you) about Thomas (Czinder) and his "call" to St. Matthew. Over the few years we'd been together at St. Paul, the Czinders had become our very closest and most trusted friends, and we had just gotten even closer in asking them to serve as God-parents for our son, Peter.
I hope I'm not speaking out of line when I say this, but when Thomas first started talking to us about the interest from St. Matthew, he was pretty sure that nothing would come of it. He wasn't looking to leave and just allowed his name to stay in the running more as a professional exercise than anything. But over those months, as we heard that his name kept making the shorter lists, his heart changed to one that really was wondering what God might have in store in Walled Lake. And when he was issued the call, we were very much torn.
If we encouraged him to take it, we would be wishing away our best friends and an incredible music director. However, if we encouraged him to stay, would we be standing in the way of God's will for our selfish desires? It was funny...Thomas showed me a video that you had made about St. Matthew and its purpose, as well as the promo for your latest "Extreme Makeover" sermon series. And after glimpsing through the rest of the website, I shrugged and said to him, "You should take that call. It seems absolutely perfect for you."
We knew what we wanted. But, we knew what God wanted too, and we were not about to stand in the way of that. We didn't know what would happen to our friendship or our church when the Czinders left. We didn't know what this would bring...but we believed that God's will was being done, and we realized our role was to support that.
The REALLY funny thing was that we ended up being blessed by that decision too. Through them coming to St. Matthew, we found this church as well, and it's made a tremendous difference for us, even in our short time here.
We would like you stay, Dion, and I'm sure many people would say the same. But stay or go...we need to trust that God is working in this. If God is working all things for the benefit of His children, then we need to believe that, whether you say 'yay' or 'nay,' God has planned to benefit Trinity in Kansas, St. Matthew here in Michigan, the Garretts, and the rest of us with this call. We may not be able to see how just yet. Whatever you decide, Dion (or more importantly, whatever God decides)...we want you to know that we're behind you.
Here's The Plan
Dion.... don't read below this line.... just don't.
For everyone else, here's the plan. First, go out and rent the movie Real Genius with Val Kilmer to get the idea. Next, we're going to knock Dion out, replace a filling with a speaker/transmitter and than "place a call to him from God". Who's in?
For kicks lets see if we can get him to break dance during a sermon. :)
Brilliant!
I love it. Not only did you reference one of the few good Val Kilmer movies, but it's fun and he'll have no idea, because if Dion does anything right...it's follow instructions.
And good luck finding a Bible verse that speaks against teeth transmitters. ;)
the voices in my head
you guys are funny. Thanks for the humor and the encouragement.