Well stages 1 & 2 of the Stutz Tour of the Country (STOC for short, ha) are complete. We started off leaving Modesto at around noon on Thursday after we had a bunch of help packing our 16-foot Penske truck like a sardine can. Of course we reserved one nice location for my bike though.

Ei had placed a posterboard sign on the side of the truck that read, “Tennessee or Bust.” Unfortunately since it was on the side of the truck it only made it to Stockton. It proceeded to blow off and onto the grill of the truck following us! Seriously! It was hilarious. I could see that guy getting out of the car and wondering, “How did that got there and why Tennessee?

We stayed in Lake Tahoe that night, where we found some killer pizza for dinner. That is such a beautiful place. What a blue, picturesque location. Too bad the wind was raging and it was near freezing, brrr! By the morning, Stage 2, there were snow flurries.

It proceeded to rain and snow on us all the way to Carson City, NV where we gassed up the truck and headed to Elko, NV for the night. There were a few wonderful stops along the way (chuckle, chuckle). The first was at the Wilbur May Museum. This guy was any early 1900s rich adventurer and collector of rarities. It was a fun stop. The second stop was the largest sporting goods store I’ve seen, everything from Cervelo to Remington. Eli picked up a BB gun for the farm this summer and the family road the indoor ferris wheel (yes, indoor). These places may not be Disney, but they make the trip tons of fun and break up the driving.

We arrived at Elko safe and sound, had dinner, did a bit of laundry, and crashed. Oh, and Champ has been doing great in the truck, sniffing every state significantly and relieving himself all along the way.

The Lord has been good to give us rest, show us beauty, keep us safe, and let us get along (mostly, ha). Thanks for the prayers! Stages 3 begins today, Salt Lake City. Yep, should be interesting …

The good-bye parties are over. All the awards chapels for school are complete. The leftover items have been Craigs-listed or hauled to the curb for special pick-up. Even Champ seems ready to go.

One more thing left to do. Tonight will be special as Kaitlyn graduates from the eighth grade. Then we sleep one last night in Modesto before the journey begins.

The plan is to head to Tahoe the first night and depending on the weather, Park City, Utah the next night. My birthday (the 28th) will be spent in Colorado Springs (actually spending two nights there). We hope to visit Garden of the Gods and maybe eat a big burger or tour something fun.

After the enjoying the Rockies, the mid-west will bring us through Kansas, with a stop to see the world’s largest ball of twine (not much in Kansas). We are planning on staying with my uncle in Kansas City, Missouri before visiting Concordia, Missouri and the Arch in Saint Louis.  I grew up in Concordia, from fifth grade to tenth.

The final leg will bring us through Kentucky, Nashville, and then on to Knoxville/Seymour, TN. This should be quite the adventure with the dog, moving van, and the kiddos with Michelle in the car. Pray for our safety.

I plan on posting every other day of the trip. I will also be changing my facebook profile to a picture of the “you are entering _state_” signs, a simple track the Stutz’s app.

God bless, and thank you for your prayers.

Here is a copy of the my notes… Synergy12.

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.