An Update,
An Invitation, and
A few ICYMI's

Oh hey, , it's been a minute since you've heard from me, huh?

Well, I won't presume that you've missed me, but rest assured that I've missed YOU!

Writing, speaking, and creating for you is one of my life's joys. When I don't get to do that for a while--for whatever the reason--there's a small part of me that goes unfulfilled.

So without further ado, let me share just a bit about what's been going on in my life,

what's coming up soon,

and a few other things you might've missed lately.

UPDATE: We Moved

In the summer of 2019 our family moved to a new home in San Diego that sat at the base of a mountain and looked out over the city--even offering ocean views from our deck and second floor (pic above ^)

It was a ridiculously incredible house that we were frickin' lucky to have found and acquired.

And we loved and lived the crap out that place! 2019 turned out to be one of the hardest years of Kate and mine's life and that house literally saved us.

Plus, it was the world's greatest party house. We threw parties of epic proportions: Costume parties, Harry Potter parties, Roaring 20's prohibition style parties. From house concerts to weddings, we loved that house well, and it loved us in return.

Then the pandemic hit and quarantine began and, to be honest, we were here for it. Had we been quarantined in any other place we've previously lived at, we might've killed each other.

But at that house? We thrived.

Living at that house, I finally understood the concept that "place and space" can be an additive benefit to life.

No joke. Prior to that house I'd only ever been like, "What, it's just a house. Does it have a bed? A tv? A fridge? Cool. I'm good."

But this house changed all that.

I loved living there (even in spite of all the wildlife that I don't particularly care for. I'm looking at you, rattlesnakes, tarantulas, scorpions, rats, and coyotes).

It's hard to convey just what that house meant to me and to our family.

Then, one evening in late September we got an email from our property manager: the owner is selling the house.

We had to move.

I cried. Hard.

We had a podcast scheduled that evening. We cancelled it. And cried some more.

We were devastated.

We did
not
want
to move.

Moving is hard enough when you want to do it. Even harder when you don't. And hardest of all when you love where you lived like we did.

Anyway, needless to say the last two months have been a whirlwind. It happened to be the worst timing, market-wise, to move: record high rent prices in San Diego, spiking out of nowhere, sealing our fate to no longer be able to afford to live in the city (we now live in Lakeside, a city north/east of SD).

However, I have to also tell you, in an incredible act of blessing from Beyond, our dear friends--upon learning about our needing to move--organized a GoFund Me page to rally people to help us cover the extravagant costs of moving. Y'all, the Goal was met (and exceeded) within like 48 hours. That was the brightest light we could've dreamed for! 😭😭😭

So we moved in to our new place at the end of October (also, by the way, the same week we moved our church to a brand new location. Oooooof... so stressful).

And while I'm adjusting (slowly) to the new house, I'm still pretty wrecked about it.

Anyway, that's my life update.

Thanks for letting me share.

I've just about got my new office/studio space setup in the garage, so I hope to be writing regularly again over at Perspective Shift, as well as getting back to my livestream show, The Alter.

But hopefully now you understand why I've been pretty silent around these parts lately.

What about you, though?

How have these past two months gone for you?

Anyone else forced to move recently and wanna commiserate?

INVITATION: Another Round w/ Sean McDowell

You might recall earlier in the year when Sean McDowell, an evangelical professor and author, invited me on to his YouTube channel for livestream discussion on Progressive Christianity.

I enjoyed my conversation with Sean because I rarely get to engage someone from that world who approaches me with charity and respect. And I felt Sean did that.

I'm not great at it yet, but I strongly believe in the importance of staying in conversation with people I vehemently disagree with.

I'm afraid of my own silo. I often get drowned out by the echo-chamber I live in. While it can be comfy and safe, ultimately I don't think it's good for me.

Anyway, our first conversation itself was fine enough (I often feel like I can't really give people like Sean what they want, because they so desperately want a type of clarity that I fundamentally can't provide them. So sometimes those convos just go in circles of disappointment. And also: don't read the comment section. Good lord, it's no wonder people flee from Christianity some times!).

All that to say, this Friday at 2pm PST Sean has invited me back on to his show to discuss homosexuality in the Bible.

I invite you to tune in if you're curious, but please be warned: the audience will primarily be non-affirming, evangelical Christians. So if you DO tune in, I strongly advise you to close out the chat.

Obviously on a topic like this, there's no illusion that I'll change Sean's mind or he change mine. But I don't think that's the point. Again, I think/hope the point is to continue practicing listening to each other, giving charity and respect to those we disagree with, and hopefully move the larger needle towards greater Love.

In Case You Missed It... 

RECENT TEACHINGS

Over the last couple months since our church, Sojourn Grace, returned to in-person gatherings, I've given messages on:

• How to handle the weight of the world on your shoulders.
• How to deal with languishing, that feeling we feel post-quarantine.
• The un-justness of the phrase, "Just do it!"
• How Christianity is (supposed to be) a self-critiquing religion.

GIVE THE UNCLOBBER COURSE AS A GIFT

For the holiday season you can now order my UnClobber Online Courses as a Gift for friend, family member, or loved one!

That's it.

Phew! This might be a record long email.

If you read it all, or even just made it down this far, I thank you and applaud you.

See you soon!

You are loved.

-Colby