Happy February.
Although we are still waiting for a few checks to come in it looks as if we have made our goal.  Thank you all so much.  Our 20 dollars, 20 days, 100 people challenge has helped us take care of a major hurdle for The CENTER.

I am currently finishing up the bylaws and a few other miscellaneous items for the IRS and will soon be filing all of our required documents for our non profit status.  Although quite involved, this process continues to teach Leanne and I to trust God’s favor and timing.  We’re so grateful for partners like you who are helping us accomplish something great for the city of New Orleans!

Soon we will begin efforts to raise full funds for The CENTER.  This will not exactly be a small undertaking, but I have no doubt in God’s provision and vision.  Confidently we will move forward.  I am working with a few people to come up with a realistic budget for the first 3 – 5 years which will then serve as a rough framework for outreach, programs, and staffing.

Our next benchmark goal is to have our initial fundraising promo material, information packets, and a more detailed description of services and resources offered at The CENTER ready by the end of February.

These materials will help us better communicate the vision of what we are doing and what is to come.  I can’t wait to share it with all of you.

That news will be coming soon but first allow me to share this with you…

When it rains, it pours. As you know, Leanne and I have been depending on God to take care of us day to day.  When we set out to New Orleans on January 1, we knew we would have a temporary home, but we had no jobs lined up, and very little money.  We left Southern California knowing it was the right thing to do, and God has continued to pave the way for us.  Don’t get me wrong it’s been challenging, but God is pouring down His favor. Before we ever left SoCal, God provided a free house for us to stay in New Orleans.  Then, when we thought we wouldn’t even have the money to drive across the country, we received a few unexpected (and very generous) gifts from friends.  We have been here a month now with no jobs, our bank account finally reached $0, and wouldn’t you know it?  God has given us jobs…not just one…but three. There is definitely a lesson to be learned here…but you probably already figured that out. On Monday I will begin work with the U.S. Census as a crew leader.  Then on Friday (thanks to God and old friend from NOLA named Tony), Leanne and I begin working as upscale security guards for a private firm. Believe me when I say we are celebrating…and not just because its Mardi Gras season! That’s all for this week.  As always thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support. In Awe of His Grace Christopher Oh yeah…one more thing… GEAUX SAINTS!!!!

Pray it up…

Please pray for:

1. Continued personal and spiritual growth.

2. Openness to serving the community at large.

3. The “higher-ups” who will be looking at all of our non-profit application materials–that God would give The CENTER favor in their eyes and they’d pass us through the system quickly.

4. Influence at our jobs.

5. Wisdom.  Lots of wisdom.

6. Bella to make friends and find her niche in the community.

7. A permanent home for us.

8. Us to be a strong, God-honoring, loving family.

39 more, identity, and the unity of a city.

Greetings from New Orleans,
What a week it has been here in the Crescent city!  Spring like weather has been hovering over the city, we are over half way to our goal and the New Orleans Saints are going to the Super Bowl.

First an update on our 20 dollars, 20 days, 100 people campaign.  We are over half way there with 5 days to go.  We still need 39 people to donate 20.00 for us to reach our goal.  Although we have received the paypal donations we are still unable to get some things straight with them which leaves us with snail mail only.  To donate please send to…

The CENTER, P.O. Box 850722, New Orleans, LA 70185.

Please make checks payable to the Crescent City Community Center.

If you are going to be partnering with us please shoot me an email and let me know so I can keep all of our supporters up to date.

Identity These past seven days as Leanne and I have been looking for jobs, spending time with Bella, and catching up with old friends we both found ourselves becoming frustrated.  This frustration stemmed from our lack of work.  Essentially so much of our time has been spent trying to find jobs that we have been unable to focus on the things that brought us down here in the first place. We are literally living solely on the grace of God, and you know, it’s a terrifying and beautiful thing.  The reality that settled upon us was this; For so long our identities have been wrapped up in what we do and what we have accomplished that we sought Jesus’ hand instead of His face.  We want his help but our too impatient to just rest in Him and His glory.  It’s not to say that our jobs or things we have done are invalid or bad its that in our humanness we attached our worth and drive from the external issues of life rather than being consumed with Christ. Personally this became clear to me as I was walking through City Park.  As I walked past people of every size, race, and economic standing I began experiencing conflicting emotions.  On the one hand my heart was breaking for these people and this beautiful city and on the other hand I was getting ticked off at God for not providing for us in ways that would enable us to focus on the vision he has laid out. It was then that I heard that still small voice reminding me of His greatness, His glory, His power, His saving grace, His will, His provision…It’s when He reminded me of Himself and how my identity was not found in Him but in me. I think its the reality of all of us.  Maybe it’s western culture, maybe its every humans insecurities or lack of faith…I don’t really know.  What I do know is how easy it is for any of us to miss the truth and greatness of God because of misplaced identity. So, today is a new day.  In fact, today is the day the Lord has made and I for one will rejoice and be glad in it because I know He is right here with us.

The unity of a city Yesterday, in what was one of the most exciting football games I have ever watched, an entire region came together as one.  I honestly, cannot adequately describe what The Saints mean to New Orleans.  And yes, they are just a football team but they stand for so much more. Last night after the game we ran out of our friends house and everywhere around all you heard were cheers, horns honking, fireworks, crying, and clapping.  It didn’t matter the color of someone’s skin, their education level, how much money someone had…last night we were one. My hope and prayer is that through The CENTER God will use us to not only reconcile people to each other but more importantly to Him and that the spirit of camaraderie and oneness will grow in breadth and in depth. If you get a chance take a moment to read this article from NOLA.com.  It gives you a better understanding of why last nights win was so monumental.

Pray it up… Please pray for: 1. Full humility and submission to God’s plan, both in the mundane     and the great. 2. Opportunities to be a blessing to the community around us. 3. Provision of the non-profit costs. 4. Jobs for Leanne and I. 5. God to guide us to the neighborhood He wants us in. 6. Our family and friends back in California. 7. Opportunities to network and build relationships in the city. 8. A permanent home for us. 9. Bella to acclimate well and find some new friends.

That’s it for this week.  Again, we only 39 people to reach our goal.  Thanks as always for your support, encouragement, and prayers.

In Awe of His Grace,

Christopher Lytle
The CENTER

Baby Steps Happy Friday! It’s a rainy afternoon here in NOLA, and I can’t tell you how nice it is to hear the steady rainfall outside our open windows! We’ve missed these rainy days and look forward to many more as we continue working in (and for) this city we love so well. This has been a great week for The CENTER.  Christopher filed the Articles of Incorporation on Tuesday and they came back approved on Wednesday!  This means that, according to the state, we can now officially begin the paper trail that will lead us to becoming a bona fide non-profit.  It also means that, with your help, we will file that paperwork by the end of January! 20.20.100.  Remember our challenge in our last update?  We asked for $20 during the next 20 days from 100 people.  So far, twenty-one people have taken that challenge, and this is only Day 7.  That means there are 13 days left to give!  The CENTER needs your donations before it can even come into existence!  January 28 is the deadline.  If you can give, we can file, and The CENTER can officially begin! There has been a snafu with PayPal, so we’re asking that you send your checks to: The CENTER PO Box 850722 New Orleans LA  70185 On the family front, we are all well.  Christopher and I are getting reacquainted with old friends and Bella’s making new friends.  We are still looking for jobs, but Leanne had an interview that we hope leads to part-time sales lead position (with benefits).  Christopher is still waiting to get a response from the applications and resumes he is sending out daily.  You can definitely keep that in your prayers, along with… Pray it up… Please pray for: 1. Our continued growth and maturity with God and one another. 2. Hearts ready to respond to the needs we see in front of us daily. 3. Financial provision for The CENTER and for our family. 4. Employment for Christopher and Leanne. 5. God to guide us to the neighborhood He wants us in. 6. Bella to have good friends and to grow up strong in her faith. 7. Opportunities to network and build relationships in the city. 8. A permanent home for us. 9.  Wisdom.  We are told to ask for it if we don’t have it, and since this is a new venture for us, we could probably use a lot of God-given wisdom!

Thank you for being our friends, supporters and cheerleaders!  We appreciate each one of you, and look forward to sharing more good news with you in the weeks to come. Thank you for supporting this God-size vision and the people who will be affected by it! With Love, Appreciation and Hope, Leanne Lytle LeanneLytle@gmail.com 562-484-4852

It was a beautiful Mid-February day. The sun was shinning brightly from above, save for those times when those large gulf coast clouds would pass lazily in front of it. This day was different than most days that we spent in The Quarter because it would be our last. You see, early the next day we would be driving what remained of our new life up to Missouri. Having been married for only four months and after having gone through Katrina and a painful job loss I needed to move on. It was just too painful and I was incapable of dealing with that pain. So I figured the best thing for us to do was to leave and start over…or run and hide…take your pick.

We walked from the French Market up Gov. Nicholls and I watched as a man was finally taking the boards off of his windows. He was somber. Not sad, or frustrated, or even relieved…he was just somber. It was as if there was no other emotion left that could be conjured up…he was just to tired. I guess everyone was tired…drained…numb. We made a left on Bourbon and even though it lacked the familiar stench the street normally emitted it still had its share of tourists milling about from bar to bar and club to club. Seeking a good time oblivious to the thousands of people still seeking their lost friends and family.

We headed back down to Jackson Square for some lunch and after watching my mother in law flirt with our waiter at lunch (those hand grenades will getcha every time) our family friend Tara and I set out to take some pictures. It was on this last little quest to capture life, or what was now life, that I ran into hope and conviction. I was roaming Chartres heading back from the Ursuline Convent and then made my way back up to Royal and while I was still on St. Philip St I heard it. Loud, jubilant, jazz.

It was the Krewe of Cork. The Krewe of Cork celebrates all things wine, food and fun and they were taking part in their annual Royal Street Stroll. As a crowd began to form I couldn’t help but begin to tap my feet to the infectious beats pulsating from the trumpet and snare drum. A middle age woman standing next to me had tears in her eyes as she leaned into me and said, “It’s so good to hear that sound again”. She asked me my story. How she knew I wasn’t a tourist I’ll never know but as I began to tell her my story and as she shared with me hers I realized that even though we didn’t know each other from Adam we were inexplicably bonded together through shared experience.

As I was getting ready to say good-bye she asked me what was next and I told her we were moving. She grabbed both of my arms and looked me straight in the eye and told me that I couldn’t leave. The city needed me, she said, needed us…all of us. It was in that moment in that random encounter that I felt the conviction of my own selfishness, but it was too late…we were moving away. She gave me a hug and she took her Krewe of Cork throw off her neck and put it around mine and she said just promise me you will come back. “Promise me you’ll come back”, she kept saying. “Promise me, you have to come back”. Now close to four years later we are going back. Going back to the Crescent City, the place we fell in the love with, we are going back.

You know, I still have that throw that woman gave to me. It’s in my camera case. I have kept it as a reminder of a promise I made to a friend I never knew I had. I kept it as a reminder of the broken beauty that is New Orleans. I kept it as a reminder that the plans God has come to fruition. I kept it because that cheap plastic strand of beads stands for something greater than itself. Something few could understand…resurrection.

Resurrection of a city, of a people, and of a shared dream.

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans? I do, but not for long…

Happy Holidays friends,

We wanted to be able to send another update before the holidays and our ensuing move to New Orleans…which is quickly approaching. Christopher has finished up his duties at Revolution Church and is now working part time at Macy’s for the holidays while Leanne is finishing up her tutoring responsibilities. We have shipped our stuff to New Orleans and we are currently living with an incredible family from our church for the month of December. Our plan is to arrive in New Orleans the first week of January and as you might imagine we are experiencing all the highs and lows of a big transition. Below are a few things we wanted to let you know about.

1. Miscarriage - Not a fun thing to share but we wanted to be able to share with you that Leanne miscarried early in her first trimester. After some tears, much prayer, and support we are both doing fine trusting God all the while.

2. We are moved – As we stated above all of our stuff is now in New Orleans and awaiting our arrival.

3. Partnerships – God is beginning to provide people in California as well as in New Orleans who are interested in partnering with us and The CENTER. It has been exciting to see God move even in this time of transition. It has served as further confirmation for what we are embarking upon.

4. Urban Missionaries – We have asked 15 people to pray and fast about moving down to New Orleans to join us in this new work. The conversations have gone incredibly well with many of these individuals and we are again trusting God through the process that He will bring those he wants. With that being said if what we are doing in New Orleans sparks something inside of you, let us know…we would love to talk with you and share the vision as well as answer any questions you might have.

5. New Email – Christopher’s email address will now be topher.lytle@gmail.com.

We hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year. We will send another update once we arrive in New Orleans.

Please continue to pray for us, specifically for the following…

1. Transition – There are still plenty of highs and lows in this transition. Please pray for our family to be united and strong through all of the unexpected surprises. Also pray for Bella. At 2 1/2 years old things are a little confusing.

2. Friends & Family – Some of our family and friends are having a difficult time with our move and we want the God of peace to work mightily in them.

3. Urban Missionaries – Pray for those praying and fasting about joining us in New Orleans.

4. Provision – We still need roughly 2,000.00 to cover the rest of our costs for moving.

5. Opportunity – Please pray for opportunities for us to connect with people and form partnerships for this new venture.

6. Wisdom and Clarity.

Feel free to email us with any questions you might have. Once again have a wonderful Christmas.

Ready to see what God will do,

Christopher and Leanne Lytle

Christopher 562.505.8302 topher.lytle@gmail.com

Leanne 562.484.4852 leannelytle@gmail.com

In a few weeks we will be leaving Southern California to complete our move to New Orleans.  As the time draws near I have been uncharacteristically reminiscent.  I have realized there are some things  I will actually miss about this place.  Of course I am going to miss family and friends to the point that I am pretty sure I will not be able to effectively communicate, but I will also miss a few things that are unique to So Cal.  So here is my list of 12 things that I will in fact miss about Southern California.

12. Jamba Juice – In New Orleans we have Smoothie King, which (in my opinion) is far below the deliciousness that is Jamba.

11.The Long Beach Airport – So fast, so close, so great.

10. Trader Joe’s – Oh Trader Joe’s – you and your ways.

9. Earthquakes – There not often and rarely large but they make an otherwise boring day a bit more interesting.

8. Mexican Food – It’s the closest thing to Mexico…literally.

7. Santa Monica – I always wanted to live in you.

6. Big Bear – My favorite escape.

5. The El Dorado Nature Preserve My favorite God spot…and about the only non beach nature around me.

4. My Ralph’s – You have ben the best neighborhood grocery store a guy could have ever asked for.

3. The Beach – Let me be clear, not the sand, but the beach.  Although dirty, you were always wonderful during sunsets and night-time bon fires.

2. In N Out – This needs no explanation

1. The Disneyland Resort – I will miss you most of all old friend.

There it is…Stay tuned for my list of things I will not be missing.

Hey there blog fans.  I wanted to let you know of a few changes.

Here at “Meanderings” you will continue to find updated posts about pretty much everything under the sun except for our upcoming transition to New Orleans and subsequent creation and launch of The CENTER – a new community center launching in Fall of 2010.

We have created a separate blog (just click here) for all updates of The CENTER and I would ask that you subscribe to these updates as we want our friends and family to be on this adventure with us every step of the way and to be praying for every aspect of our transition and The CENTER.

Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement.

Christopher

I had just been working on a blog about criticism in leadership when I came across another great post from Mark Batterson.  I figure why redo something that captures exactly what I want to say?  Criticism will always exists when you are a leader and I think Mark is far more pastoral in his assessment then I could be.  So here you go…it’s a great read.

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Criticism 101 – Mark Batterson

Thought I’d share a few thoughts on the topic of criticism. I’m honestly surprised I don’t have more critics than I do, but I have my fair share. Here is a simple rule of thumb: if you are a leader you will be criticized. Period. If you’re not being criticized you might not be a leader! But how you handle it is so critical.

A few months ago I heard Brian Houston say something so good and so true: “I’d rather be a film maker than a film critic.” His point? There are those who do and those who criticize those who do. I’d rather be a doer than a critic. And I’ve learned that the more critical a person is the less they’ve probably done. Just shooting straight.

In the words of Teddy Roosevelt: “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or the where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood.”

Life is too short and the message is too important to spend our energies criticizing each other. Infighting must break the Heavenly Father’s heart. It’s self-righteous. It’s sideways energy. And when we take pot shots at each other we’re just playing into the enemy’s hands. We need to be about the Father’s business!

Let me share a few lessons I’ve learned about criticism:

1) Thou Shalt Offend Pharisees. Jesus didn’t have the time of day for the self-appointed critics who formed the religious establishment. He didn’t back down. He confronted their hypocrisy. If you follow in Jesus’ footsteps, you’ll offend some pharisees along the way!

2) Don’t play defense. Life is too short to get defensive. Celebrate your weaknesses and failures. That’ll defuse criticism quicker than anything else. Keep a humble spirit but keep playing offense for the kingdom!

3) Consider the source! An insult from a fool is actually a compliment and a compliment from a fool is actually an insult.

4) Preach for an audience of one. The only person you’re accountable to as a preacher is the One who called you in the first place. Never forget it. And for the record, critics will also be held accountable for the criticisms they wield so easily and so quickly.

5) Don’t get into an argument! I love Proverbs 26:4, “When arguing with fools, don’t answer their foolish arguments, or you will become as foolish as they are.” The very next verse says, “When arguing with fools, be sure to answer their foolish arguments, or they will become wise in their own estimation.” Those back-to-back verse seem to contradict each other but I think they reveal a deeper truth: if you’re arguing with a fool you can’t win.

The bottom line? Don’t be a critic. Be a doer of deeds.