Patrick O'Connell

My new blog

I have started a new blog. I am posting all of my new entries here.

I will shut down Atropica in the very near future.

I pray that you will continue to follow my journey on my new blog.

Blessings.

A Month???

Yeah, I know that it's been nearly a month since I blogged. I know...I know...

Stoked about ServeFest

I am stoked. This morning I am off to participate in Restore's second ServeFest. My entire family is going to serve. I tell you all of the details when we get back.

1001 Books You Must Read

I love lists.

And I adore books.

That's why this is so cool.

I also have a habit of over-committing myself to things. (I get them done I just make myself work harder). So I am definately NOT challegning myself with the entire list.

How many of these books have you read? Would you ever try to read them all?

Mom is Visiting

My Mom is coming for a visit this weekend!

It's her first trip to KC--ever and I am really excited. I can't wait to show her around. She's also excited to check out the service at Restore. I recall that when I first told her I was going to move to KC to help start a church she didn't freak out. Rather she did what she's always done--encouraged me. This was a great comfort to me and a circumstance I know God was all over.

Videoshoot

Yesterday we shot a video for Restore at my house. Nate filmed three of us sitting a the  breakfast bar in my kitchen talking about our fathers for a segment he's putting together for the UFC series. In the piece we simply tell each other the various experiences that we've had with our Dads and some the conflicts with them.

To be honest, I struggled with what I would share about my father. Sure I had agreed to participate in the shoot but I really wasn't sure what I wanted to say about my Dad. Our relationship through the years has been challenging to say the least. I wanted to be honest for the video and yet I really wanted to be respectful of my father. Hard to navigate these but I think I/we did it. I am praying that when we show the video during service we might inspire people to take another look at their relationships with their fathers.

First Baptisms at Restore

Several weeks ago. Profound and moving. I can't wait for more.

Restore's First Baptisms from Nate Williams on Vimeo.

Haiti in July

So it's official. I am going to Haiti in July with C3 Missions.

I've been told there is no place hotter than Haiti in July.

Please pray for me, the mission, and the people of Haiti.

Restore Community Church Reachout Launch Meeting

At Restore we call it Reachout. It's our way of serving the community and making a long term impact in the lives of our neighbors, our community and the world.

It's our dream that what we become a church of difference-makers in our community. Our Reachout ministry is one of the ways we can do just this.

The Reachout rollout meeting is Sunday, June 1, 2008, immediately after the 10:00 AM service. We are going to provide you and overview of our efforts and then start a dialog about ways we can really begin to make a lasting impact in our community. If you want to be a difference-maker in our community, serve your neighbor, or just change the world, then come and join us.

Be the church!

ReachoutWork

I spent a good deal of my day talking about our Reachout strategies. I loved it and yet I find myself exhausted. I mean Tommy and I really feel we have a vision for this thing, a vision we have thought and prayed and researched. But when you start telling other people about it the real work begins.