A Blog by Jason Salamun

If you’ve ever been to Project Church you will notice it’s more of a friends and family gathering than a religious service.

That’s intentional.

Most people associate church with being a building or an event.

The truth is neither are true.

We are a people. We are a family.

We may meet in various spots (like coffee shops and homes), but the places we meet in and the things we do isn’t the church.

We are the church.

And since the church is a people, we don’t merely invite people to a service but rather, we invite them into a story.

The church is a friends-becoming-family community on a mission to share God’s love and centered around the gospel of grace we find in Christ.

So if you consider Project Church your church, I want you to know that you’re part of the family.  You belong.

If it’s been a while, we miss you and hope to see you again soon.

If you have yet to join us, I want you to know that we’re the kind of family that will always invite people into our story and that includes you.

We don’t care about where you’ve been, but where you’re going.  What are you waiting for?

Join us this week as we gather to connect in community and grow through the gospel of grace.

No empty religious rituals, just an authentic community of grace, truth, mission, and meaning.

All because of Jesus.

A couple more updates for you all..

Podcast

You can now listen to messages online and through podcast via iTunes.

Go here to listen directly.

Click here to subscribe in iTunes.

Facebook

Are you a fan of Project Church on Facebook?  If not, what are you waiting for?

We’re going to be utilizing this space to dialogue over questions and topics in the near future, so get connected if you aren’t already and join the fun.

Check out the discussion tab to converse.

We hope to see you this Sunday morning at 10am at Alternative Fuel Coffee House downtown next to the Firehouse Brewery in downtown Rapid City, SD.

Visit projectchurch.net for more info.

Grace!

Ever had a pebble chip your windshield?

If you have, then you know that the first thing you do is get it repaired.

If you don’t, that small chip will turn into a big crack.

I’m guessing there are relationships in your life right now that have a small chip.

This leaves you with two options:

1) Ignore it (and hope it just goes away)

2) Take care of it (and don’t take your chances)

If you ignore it, odds are that small chip in your relationship will grow into a full-blown fracture.

If you take care of it, you may prevent that small chip from becoming a full-blown fracture.

Make the first move.

Take care of the chip.

And don’t do crack.

This morning, my Maw Maw took a turn for the worse.

An early morning call led me back to her bedside

We rode the waves of imminent death and slight improvement.

In a moment, when it seemed clear she would soon leave us, a dozen people crowded into a small mobile home bedroom

To hug, to pray, and spontaneously sing “Amazing Grace.”

It was beautiful.

Meanwhile, huge wind gusts rocked the trailer.

Seemed a fitting moment for my Maw Maw.

A feisty, ornery, and restless spirit.

And full of love.

As we surrounded her in that room, these words came to mind.

a room-filled with memories.

of a grandmother, mother, and friend.

a cancer in the lungs

a fighter ‘til the end.

an ornery wind blows

outside like a knife.

a simple, ironic picture

of the story of your life

the caregiver to many

today, many who give care.

surround your bed together

in song, in tears, and in prayer.

watching as you struggle

for air to enter your chest

you’ve always been a restless soul

now your soul can rest

Somehow, to the nurses surprise, she is hanging on.

I’m not surprised.

She’s always been scrappy.

So thankful to have the chance to tell her thank you.

For always being there.

For being a bright spot during dark days.

For being my Maw Maw.

She smiled as best she could.

And asked me, “Can I go now?”

I told her yes.

Go be with Jesus.

And I’ll see you there someday.

She’s unresponsive now

Playing teeter-totter between life and death.

It’s so hard to die when you’ve always fought to live.

But paradise is knocking.

Ultimate joy awaits.

Peace is at hand.

The finish line is in sight.

And his name is Jesus.

Some thoughts from the road.

If you can’t view the video, click here.

Later this week I will embark on a journey.

The highway of my life.

You see, my Maw Maw (grandma) is dying.

The cancer in her lungs has overwhelmed her.

She now has days to live.

She pretty much raised me the first 11 years of my life.

So I’m driving down to say thank you and goodbye.

In addition, I will see my mother for the first time since I was 14.

And a brother who’s finishing up his time in prison.

And a long-lost sister I’ve only met once.

And a bunch of rough childhood memories.

I expect this trip is going to mess me up.

Trail of Memories

In a good way.

The path of my journey takes me from my hometown (Rapid City, SD).

Through the place I met and married my wife and served in the Air Force (Colorado Springs, CO).

To the place I was born and lived until I was 11 years old (Lubbock, TX).

I’ll be driving through a trail of memories.

Some good, others not.

Such is the highway of life.

I’m inviting you to join me later this week.

I will chronicle my journey here via video.

And on Twitter via 140 characters.

To be honest, this trip is not going to be easy.

But it will be good for me.

My hope is that my journey will help yours.

To know you’re not the only one with a past to confront.

Or a goodbye that’s hard to say.

Or a shattered heart that God’s putting back together.

We all have a story.

Thanks for joining me.

And caring.

Live Free!

Jason