Tory Farina

Future AG Fallow up...

I told you a while back that I started a blog for the Future of the fellowship we are associated with. It was a smashing success. We hit it hard. Wrote what we had been feeling and found a whole group of like and not so like minded people who were ready to talk openly and honestly about some deep issues.

I discovered the power of a God Idea. He takes the small things and blows them up.

We have now been invited down to the AG national Headquarters to talk with the Superintendent. He wants to continue the conversation and we want to help make a difference. I was afraid and didn't think I could make a difference. Now I know that when I feel like that... I need to do it.

Olivia Kristin Farina

This was meant to go up the day Olive was born but the dog took a bite out of my power cord again and I just got another one from Dell.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WOW! What an experience to say the least. We spent last night timing contractions and praying and tried to get sleep.

At about 6 this morning E woke me up and said the contractions are getting a little more intense. I took the dog out, made coffee, got some breakfast up to her and at 6:50 her water had broken. Things got real intense real fast at that point. We took quick showers, loaded bags that had been unloaded from the night before and called the dock. I love the docks calm response.

"Well... it sounds like you should go to the hospital." I don’t know what I was looking for but I thought maybe something like a Yoda Saying... or something I hadn't thought of before. So we fallowed doctor’s orders and not a moment to soon.

There wasn’t a bed for us so in the hallway E's contractions went into over drive. A room finally opened up for us and boy am I glade. They checked her and with a hurried look called the doc. Who was stuck in traffic! (Is it just me or is every road tore up this summer?) A sub was brought in as E started to feel the need to push and push she did... The real doc came after a few and the hand off was made and in about 20 minutes... I was cutting a cord and wide eyed at this bundle of joy on E's chest.

I feel in love. She was purple and gross and I have to be honest when she was crowning the doc asked if I wanted to touch the head and I hesitated. But when I saw her there crying I loved everything about her. Everything!

So now we are resting and enjoying and healing. Enjoy the photos!

 

Comfort Food

We spent the morning at the Hospital trying to induce the baby. Man was that stressful. The whole process got us a little worked up. We woke up and loading everything into the car and waddled up to the maternity floor get all strapped up and then you watch this little strip of paper pour out of the machine and some how that tells when a contraction is happening.

After a few hours of this the nurse drew blood and then said, "OK go home and get some rest if nothing happens we will see you back here tonight." Now we are chilling E is sleeping and I am feeling like I have had a ton of coffee and haven't. You know that jittery feeling when the caffeine is getting to you? That is what I am feeling. I might make a pot of coffee... maybe the caffeine will help take the edge off?

But we have done a few things to prepare our spirits.

1. I have listened to "Healer" by PLanetshakers over and over... Great tune!
2. Philippians 4:6-9

   Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

   Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

3. Your prayer's are a comfort for us. Thank you!

We will go back soon so hopefully ill have pictures to share with you soon.

Baby Farina

We are so close!

Tomorrow we go in to get some gel which we are praying is enough to send her into active labor. Just pray the hospital is not full tomorrow. E and I are ready for the baby to get here.

We have a name picked out. I am stoked about it and I am not telling until it comes out.

Take a look at the baby room and E hopefully on her last day as a pregnant woman.

Check back for more updates.

Baby on the brain!

BABY! That is all I can think about.

I shot a commercial with Comcast the other day that went well and since then all I can think about is holding my little pink bundle of Joy. I wonder if that is how God thinks about us? If he is as excited about my baby as I am. Maybe because he knows who she will be he is jazzed even more than I am.

I am working on a message for Sunday on The Sway of They. Who are They in your life and what did They encourage you to do that you would not have done had They not been there? I have been a Youth Pastor and I see your kids running around the theatre and I want them to find the right they. Now that I am having my own child I can not help but feel a greater burden to pray and talk about who they are in our lives. Imagine if our kids found an awesome they to hang out with. A group of world changers that inspired one another to be better than they are. The contrary would be devastating. I want nothing to do with the They that brings our little ones into temptation and destructive behaviors and sin.

Who are they in your life? Do They encourage you? Do They discourage you?

May God give us great They's in our life! May God give baby F great They's! I pray that I can be apart of the They that she looks back on with fondness knowing that I helped her get to her potential.

Comcastic!

I need you to pray!

A few weeks ago we got a call from Comcast asking us if we like to use there products. I said yes and gave a few reasons why we liked what they offer. They then asked if we could meet. At the meeting they wanted to know if we would be willing to be in a commercial representing our church and letting the world know we use comcast.

They called last week to schedule the video shoot. We will be talking about High Point Church for Comcast and our add will be put on cable TV's around the city, for free! WOW! God is good. I have wanted and been praying about ways we can cross market and get our name out without costing us big dollars.

Pray that...

• people will see this and the Holy Spirit will draw them to the theatre on Sunday.
• I will look and speak well. I need the Lord to help me with what to say.
• the camera crew, that they would capture us well and come away with a positive impression of Christ and his church.

We are passionate about making Christ known in this community. It is amazing that Comcast is going to help us do that for free.

When a Man loves a Woman

I am preaching this week about the character trait of Love. I am struck by the amazing story of love and redemption found in Hosea. The first three books tell a love story of a man who chased after his unfaithful wife. He fought through some of the most difficult moments a man, a husband and father could possible fight through. I dint want to ruin the story because it is a good one but this Sunday we will talk about what it means to truly love someone.

My thoughts this week

• We had a great time on Wednesday night at the picnic. Great food! Thanks to Kurt for manning the grill and all of you who brought something tasty.
• Sharron was baptized. It is such a special moment for me when I baptize someone. She told of how she had a fear of water and had just within the last couple of years truly given her heart over to the Lord. She said that since we had been talking about facing fears she new now was the time to be baptized and face her fear. When I brought her out of the water she started to cry out to God and I was so elated. God has changed her for the better and we witnessed her public proclamation of that change.
• I was impacted by the bridge falling on 35W. How many people were on that bridge that did not know Jesus? I don't know but I am resolved more than ever before that High Point is called to reach this city. My prayer is that none would perish in this city. I have been praying a lot about that lately. I have to be continually reminded to get out of my comfort zone and share about my faith. It could mean eternal life or death for someone.
• I am excited about seeing the new Jason Bourne movie. I know it isn't spiritual but it is what i have been thinking about.

I feel like I am apart of History.

As of Yesterday 6,000 absolute Unique visitors have visited www.Futureag.blogspot.com. It is a place that allows ministers to talk about how we can better reach people for the cause of Christ. The church is at times behind the times when it comes to technology but there is a resurgence in using the latest technology for the Christ's name sake. We have to be on the edge.

Porn right now in our culture is the fastest integrate of technology into there business. That is ridiculous! We can not let that continue to happen. I am convinced that the church has the potential to be the most creative place on the planet because our God is all about creativity. I am always looking at new trends to gather ways to help aid in the mission of High Point Church.

Maybe we can help the rest of the AG to take that journey with us?