I guess I shouldn’t say it’s my news, as it is my family’s news, or the news of God’s work in my family.

The Short Bullet-Point Version:

• I turned in my notice to Big Valley Grace as of May 22.2012 (BVG was gracious to let me announce now and stay around till then)
• I will be moving to Tennessee after Kaitlyn’s 8th grade graduation on May 23rd (this is near Michelle’s family. This is a return home after she has followed me around the country for 15+ years. I am so happy for her.)
• This is a step out of professional ministry into full-time markplace, itinerant preaching, & writing a book ministry.
• Michelle and I will be job hunting soon; her for a social work position and me for Certified Personal Trainer/Instructor positions in a corporate office or in a local gym chain. I will also be doing odd jobs and/or church teaching gigs as well.
• Michelle will be finishing her Master’s of the (universe) Social Work degree through a highly accredited online program.
• The kiddos are excited and nervous, as any kids their age would be!

The Longer More-Drawn-Out Version:

I have been feeling the tugging of God on my life for quite some time now toward this decision. God has been just deepening the convictions I have about professional paid ministry and my role in that. I want to be a shepherd of God’s people, investing in the kingdom, and teaching people to be followers of Christ forever. And oddly enough, I believe (that is what makes it a conviction) that you don’t have to be a paid church employee to fulfill this aspect of the Great Commission mandate. Therefore, God has called me into the marketplace– to be a tent-maker of sorts like Paul in the epistles of the New Testament. There is nothing unholy about being vocationally “church-free” and dedicated to the work of the ministry. Some people call this laity.

These convictions have led me to develop marketable skills outside the church as a Certified Personal Trainer, Spin Instructor, Extra-Sensitive People Person, Teacher, leader, and writer. My hopes are to use these skills and be a light of hope in dark places in very intentional ways ( I Peter 2:09).

I feel much like the priests of the New Testament that worked in the temple, and when they pledged allegiance to Christ ceased performing the sacrifices in the temple. They switched from all they had ever known because of the miracle of the Risen Christ. In this transition, I feel I can relate in many ways. This is a starting over place that will take a lot of faith for myself and my family. God is pressing our buttons of earthly security in a big way. So pray!

It is important to say that Big Valley Grace has been a true home and family for us– especially that supremely special group of people on Sunday nights. I have found the grace of God was not without effect on my life (I Cor. 15:9-10) through the work of Jesus in this place; in Spiritual formation, Jon Byron, Spiritual Direction, the Journey, & Celebrate Recovery. I have seen God raise me from valleys of death (a valley) to new life in Christ while here. And lately God has given me a heart for a smaller church context. Big Valley has almost felt too big for us. God has truly let me discover the full meaning of our church name.

My family is excited in this venture, but we are also nervous. We are happy and sad, curious and fearful. And all together my family are my favorite people in the world. I can’t imagine making it through a transition like this without them.

We appreciate all the prayers you can give us. Pray that we continue to believe the hope of the gospel and the security of Jesus first and foremost. Pray that we find jobs. Pray that we coach and encourage our children well during this season of life. Pray that out kids adjust to new schools, and that our move goes safe. Basically, just when you remember us, pray!

We look forward to the times with friends from now until the end of May. Please don’t say good-bye to me yet. I want to seriously pour the best of me in the rest of the time we have left. It will be special moments of friendship, teaching, and definitely a good laugh or two.

So that’s the news. If you’d like, please contact me on Facebook if you have any questions (or the contact page via this blog!) I want to answer questions you may have about my future steps– especially ones you may not fully understand. God is good, and I can’t wait to tell you how I see Him preparing for our future!

Shawn Stutz & Family

** Thanks for reading this… if you catch a spelling error or grammar issue, please let me know. It was after midnight when this was written.

It’s December… wow, time flies.  I believe I will be taking a break from the blog during December.  Let me take this moment to invite you to our special Christmas Weekend at Bi Valley Grace entitled “Hallelujah, Emmanuel!” on December 17-18. There will be a 4 and 6 pm presentation on Saturday as well as a 9 & 11 am presentation on Sunday morning.

I hope you can make it.

Solomon asked for wisdom more that provision. But God provided him with so much more; family, riches, influences…

Maybe I ought to be more concerned with the pursuit or prayer for wisdom and discernment than with money, food, or goals/pursuits and more.

What do you think?

Thanxgiving is my favorite holiday!  I like to spell it Thanx because it puts the Christ back in Thanksgiving! Christ’s name begins with an X in Greek. Therefore, I give Thanx for the many blessings He has provided me. Here are a few reasons that I love Thanxgiving:

• Faith & My Father’s Gifts: My God in heaven has given me such great blessings and gifts through life in Him… and He makes all the rest possible too.
• Family: I have the greatest kiddos, the most wonderful wife, and even a pretty great dog!
• Food: I just love the Thanxgiving Carbs, pumpkin pie, and the turkey comma that follows!
• Football: You can’t beat The Lions & The Packers on Turkey Day… not to mention a triple dose of the NFL!
• Film: I love a good movie and Thanxgiving usually provides Charlie Brown, Elf, and It’s a Wonderful Life!

One thing I don’t fully enjoy is the whole Black Friday mess… especially now that they are bleeding over into my Hallowed Thursday. Michelle and Kaitlyn are braving the crowds and the chaos while Eli and I sleep off the comma!

I pray you enjoy this blessed holiday with the “F’s” and hopefully not the Black!

Today is a milestone in my journey of fitness, life overall for that matter.  As of this morning I broke the 200 lb. threshold.  I should probably call it a choke-hold since my weight has been an ever-present reminder of my lack of discipline, insecurity, and unhealthy coping mechanism for many years now.

I went off to college in 1994 at 190 lbs. and my brokenness had no bounds. My first semester saw the addition of the Freshman 15. Not long after that I ballooned up to 255, maybe more around the birth of Kaitlyn. The years following saw the roller-coastering of fad diets and leaf-turnings, but nothing corrected the reasons that I chose food for reward or punishment. However, through the grace of our Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit enabling my lifestyle of eating and exercise discipline, I have seen great victory. I don’t need food to comfort me when the gospel of Jesus is enough.  I don’t need food to punish my sorry sinfulness away. I have the grace of Jesus and the promise of life, hope, and glory in Him.

Psalm 63 states that “He satisfies me as with the richest of foods!”

So, this goal, beginning in February, has been properly realized today! And I am excited! Yes, I will have a feast this week, but then it’s back to the discipline of health that has been a life change now for just under 10 months.

Want to know more, ask me about it.  I love to share how this victory came to be!