A student made this for me and preformed it on my last night at CSM. It may be the best gift I’ve ever received! …besides salvation.
Goodbye, CSM
September 10th, 2011 
joshherndon Lots of mixed emotions tonight as we said goodbye to Central Student Ministries… It’s unnatural, saying goodbye to something you created. But far more than the “institution of” CSM, it’s the day-t0-day relationships that I’m really going to miss.
My wife compiled a video of some memories from the last three years. So fun!
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New Directions
September 4th, 2011 joshherndon Man! Life is moving fast. For the past few months, I’ve felt like I’ve been pulled physically and spiritually in two-directions: one in Burlingame, where we are preparing to launch The Sacred Church in January, and El Sobrante where we’ve been ministering at for the past 3 years.
We had our last Sunday at Central Assembly last week. It was sad saying farewell to some good friends and great ministry-partners. I will always cherish my time in El Sobrante. And this upcoming Friday is our last night at CSM. It’s really, really tough leaving this– just three years ago I started CSM FRIDAY NIGTHS, and saying goodbye will be very, very tough (it still hasn’t “hit me”, honestly).
As we go forward, joshherndon.com will be my primary outlet to regurgitate my thoughts, feelings, and experiences of a 26-year-old church entrepreneur on the San Francisco Peninsula.
Cheers.
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Evie: Baby Thoughts
July 30th, 2011 joshherndon My wife wrote some “baby thoughts” today on her blog. Here’s a couple of my favorite:
1. Babies have an amazing capacity to poo. We’re talking projectile poo, multiple-times-a-day poo, mass quantities of poo, loud and unashamed poo, seeping-out-of-the-diaper-and-onto-your-jeans poo…even tiny, “Why did I even change this diaper?” poo. Be prepared for poo.
7. Babies have more wardrobe changes than Britney Spears. Seriously. If I’m staying at home, I keep my girl in a simple onesie or zip-up PJ’s, because let’s face it: Babies are messy…and not only that, you have to change them on a regular basis, even if there isn’t a smellable or viewable mess. Constantly squeezing something over your baby’s head and trying to contort their arms so they can get in and out of a cute outfit isn’t much fun for baby…or mama.
10. Babies are a gift. From God. A miracle, really. So no matter how much you feel like worrying, being possessive, or throwing in the towel, it always comes down to this: This is God’s baby. God’s child. He’s given me this gift, so yes, she’s mine in a sense…but God is in control. I have no right to be paranoid or overbearing (please remind of this when she is a teenager). God has her days all numbered, He knows how many baby hairs are on her head (a number that, for my girl, is shrinking lately!), He has it in control. It was that way in pregnancy, too. We really don’t have much control over how their bodies develop, grow, and thrive. We just have to trust. Trust that God’s plan is best for this child. It’s hard sometimes to let go of our control-freak human nature, and yet it’s so much easier once we do. And it’s amazing how much stronger and intuitive babies are than we think. I’ve already worried about the dumbest things, only to realize that God has put instincts and reflexes in this child that cause her to take her of herself. Pretty cool.
You can read her full post here.
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Flash Mob at the Boardwalk
July 24th, 2011 joshherndon This past week our students went on our annual summer camp! I’ll write down a few thoughts later, but I organized a Flash Mob at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for one of our “activities”.
So much fun!
You can see it here: http://youtu.be/uyqCtC6pJhg
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Giving a Speech? Don’t Embarrass Yourself
July 16th, 2011 joshherndon 
I'm dedicating baby Emily today with 80 family and friends present.
There are some unwritten rules of edict when giving a speech on another person’s day of honor . And unfortunately, I find myself cringing more than applauding to most wedding, birthday, or memorial services. Today, I’m having the honor of dedicating my best friend’s baby, Emily, on her first birthday. As I reflected on some of these unwritten rules, I thought I’d spell it out for any of you who aren’t aware of them.
When giving a speech on another person’s day of honor (wedding speech, a toast, dedication, etc.):
- Don’t think this time is about you. Please refrain from talking about yourself; it’s not your day. In fact, make a point not to say “I” or “me” at all.
- Avoid telling stories. This is a classic downfall: remember that time when we… truth is, no one cares.
- Make sure your jokes are tasteful. Nothing’s more awkward than a sour joke, followed by awkward silence and a blushing bride.
- Remember it’s not a roast. Unless, of course, it is. Then go to town.
- Use lofty language. You want to sweep people off their feet, not logically convince them to.
- Sing praises. Give honor, blessings, support, and love to the person.
- Be confident. If you look like you know what you’re doing, most people will assume you do and give you the benefit of a doubt.
- Memorize it. Write it, edit it, practice it, edit it again, practice it more, put your notes aside, and let it fly.
- Memorize it (part 2). Don’t ever, ever wing it.
- Know there’s nothing better than a good speech. And there’s nothing worse than a bad one.
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Whiplash
July 13th, 2011 joshherndon Well, my life is moving fast.
- One month ago, I make the public announcement that I was going to be moving to the San Francisco Peninsula to start a church!
- Two weeks ago, my daughter Norah was born! We have all been doing very well adjusting to our new family. Norah has been very good to us, letting us sleep and keep our sanity.
- One week ago, I started working at Starbucks in Burlingame! I’m doing this because the benefits are unbelievable. Not only am I getting great healthcare, but I’m meeting hundreds of people a day. When you plant a church, you gotta know people. And right now, I’m making coffee and earning the right to be heard.
- One day ago, I made The Sacred Church public with http://www.thesacredchurch.com/ and my heart behind the plant:
With so much going on, it can give you a case of whiplash. But we are very excited for the path that God is leading us down. Can you please pray for our new adventure? That God would show us favor?
Thanks!
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Norah
July 1st, 2011 joshherndon 
At this moment, Norah is about 41 hours old. She’s been blood tested, hearing checked, and swaddled (a lot). She’s learned how to poop, pee, and eat. She’s crying, staring, and smiling (but only when she passes gas). There’s a lot I’m going to learn over time, but in these past 41 hours I’ve experienced more of who God is in these past 2 days than I ever have before.
Here are some verses than have been running through my head since Norah.
John 3:16: For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son…
God gave His only son to die. And His son did so willingly. Really? I would carpet bomb every city from here to Malaysia for a girl I’ve known for 2-days. The humility, sacrifice, selflessness that must take is… astonishing.
Genesis 2:7: Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.
If love is the essence of who God is, creation the essence of what God does. For six days he spoke the stars, sun, animals and insects into existence… then he formed and breathed man into existence.
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Inconvenient, Financially Risky, and Socially Questionable
June 14th, 2011 joshherndon Since announcing we’re resigning from a paying and stable ministry position for church planting, a non-salaried calling we’ve recived a couple of different reactions. I’ll classify them into a couple different categories:
“Why would you do that?”
“You’re stupid.”
“That makes a lot of sense.”
Jesus’ fist followers had to leave their well-paying jobs for a salary-free calling. I don’t know if we’d call them foolish:
One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-20)
It’s easy to answer God’s leading when it’s convenient, well-funded, and socially understandable. But what if he’s calling you at the most inconvenient, financially risky, and socially questionable time? Would you follow?
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The Tension Between Saddness & Serenity
June 13th, 2011 joshherndon Last Friday was one of the more difficult days of my life– we announced to our students that Evie and I are resigning from being youth pastors. It’s obviously very sad news, but at the same time we’re excited for the things to come. Evie and I are going to be starting a church in my hometown of Burlingame. It’s a difficult tension, between saddness for goodbyes and serenity in God’s leading. I think this is where I best understand Paul in Philippians 4:6-7, where he says:
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Truth be told, I don’t understand how I can be in peace. My wife and I, with a baby coming, are leaving a paying job to a salary-free calling in a more expensive area than we’re living right now. Yet, we have peace. Surpasses my reasoning, God elevates me to serenity, calm in his leading.
Here’s the letter I recently posted on my facebook.
Friends and family,
For three years, Evie and I have loved starting our lives in El Sobrante. We have built relationships with some of the greatest people on earth. We have learned underneath wise and loving leaders. We have felt love and peace in our comings and goings.
So it comes with sadness that Evie and I have resigned as youth pastors and teachers at Central Assembly and El Sobrante Christian School.
This move comes with no ill will, backroom dealings, or bad feelings. This departure is completely motivated by God’s leading. We love our church, we love our school, and we believe in them both.
This summer, we (including baby!) will be moving to the San Mateo area and will be starting a church! Church planting is something that God has been drawing me to since my high school years—though, we never anticipated it coming so soon (I’ll be talking more about this at a later time).
I pray that we would all take this news with more excitement than grief. God has obviously done great things thus far, so we can expect him to do greater things in days to come.
Our gigantic amount of love for our church, friends and students cannot be properly communicated. So please trust us when we say, we love you and thank you. If you have any questions/comments/love/support/funny jokes/etc., we’d love to talk with you! Until then, your prayers are appreciated.
All of Our Love,
Josh, Evie, and baby.
You’ll be hearing a lot more about the plant soon, but until then know that your prayers are appreciated on this new leg of the journey.