Kretzu

A Letter To/About Gateway.

It all started as a flicker of hope in one couple; Paul and Jessica Stewart. A hope of what a church could be. Then it grew into a group of friends who wanted to do things together that both displayed God’s love and told his story of redemption and renewal. Thankfully, it’s no longer just a group of friends that are trying to do something together, it is now a church full of people that live their lives following a certain way.

The transition from “friends doing events together” to “people that live the way” is what makes The Gateway Church so beautiful. We no longer do “good things” on a scheduled day or at a certain place, but it’s infiltrated each of our lives. It’s changed the way that we talk to our coworkers, the way that we buy groceries, and the way that we spend our evenings. It’s changed our view of poverty and our opinion of wealth. It’s decided how we interact with our community and the world around us.

What once was just a group of friends that read the gospel has become a community of people - both friends and strangers - that are having their entire lives transformed by the gospel.

That’s what church is supposed to be. It’s not about memorizing lines, understanding theology, raising your hands, bowing down, or even getting that tingly feeling when the harmonies are just perfect during Beautiful Things. It’s about being transformed by the gospel.

Unfortunately, as humans, that goes against everything that we’re comfortable with. We’re really good at figuring out the rules, learning the process, and “attending.” Jesus didn’t call us to put on our church clothes. Remember the first time people put on clothes? It was because they wanted to hide their shame. Jesus calls us to a transformation of the heart, mind and soul. There is a very real threat to each of us (and to Gateway); the threat of the persona. We are always just one statement away from trying to cover our shame, hide our brokenness, and clothe our weaknesses.

I will never forget Sunday, September 13 2009. For one, it’s the day The Gateway Church opened it’s doors. But there is something else that happened that day. I was on stage singing and I saw a guy come in about 10 minutes late. He looked pretty tired and very uncomfortable. He was kind of disheveled and had an ill-fitting dress shirt on. Once he got to his seat (the end seat in the last row, of course) he looked at me kind of funny. If you know me, then you know I’m not the dressiest guy. I usually wear t-shirts and jeans on Sunday, and sometimes a hoodie. (The blazer of our generation.) Anyway, he looked at me in my t-shirt and then started unbuttoning his dress shirt. He took it off, balled it up, and put it under his seat. As the weeks passed and I got to know his story, along with many others stories, it became clear that Gateway was a place that people felt like they belonged. People that had been in rehab, kicked out of churches, and spent time in jail felt like they belonged…right next to the rest of us liars, adulterers, gluttons, and greedy Christians. Gateway has been a place that all of us could stand together and not feel shame for who we are or what we’ve done.

That. Is. The Gospel.

Emmanuel, God With Us, taking on the sin and shame of the world so that we don’t have to bear it anymore. The creator, taking what has been broken and making it new again. No longer living with us as a physical man, but living inside of us, renewing us slowly from the inside out so that each person we come into contact with has the opportunity to know and experience the Living God!

As weird as this may sound, I am so thankful to be leaving a church that embraced this to its fullest - because now I know that it’s really possible! I’m thankful because we now hope to experience this kind of community and this kind of church with our family and friends in California.

While we are overwhelmingly sad to leave Des Moines, The Gateway Church, and our friends here - and while we may feel like it’s somewhat of a dark night - we see a flicker of hope. And we now know what can happen with even the smallest flicker of hope.

Goodbye Des Moines #2 (The Recognition)

Des Moines has got it going on.

Forbes says we’re the top city for young professionals and the best city to raise a family. We’re the richest metro (U.S. News & World Report), in the top 10 cities for the next decade (Kiplinger), first in bargains for real estate (msn.com) and renters (Time), the top place to “go green,” (National Geographic) and second happiest state (MainStreet.com). We’re also the top city in adjusted median income (aka you get the most money out of your paycheck.)

When Es and I first found out about the job in Des Moines, we did our research. None of the above information was available at that time though. We knew there was a lot of finance and insurance business, and that’s about it.

Es and I had very different expectations from each other when we came out to interview. Es was expecting a cornfield. I was expecting a sprawling metropolitan city. Somehow Des Moines ended up falling squarely in the middle; small town personality with big city passion.

Music, art, coffee, film, bikes, the outdoors, DIY, technology, shopping local, eating local, entrepreneurship…all of these things and more are what have caused me to fall in love with Des Moines.

Es and I spent the first year we lived here trying to explain to our friends and family back home what exactly Des Moines was like. We tried to compare it to other towns or cities, but without very much luck. There isn’t really any other place like it, and I think that’s because Des Moines doesn’t really want to be like any other city. Just like an awkward teenager, as it continues to grow it seems to just become more confident in it’s own personality and it’s own skin.

I really do love this city. My wife and I have spent the majority of our life together here. My son was born here. We took risks here. We help create a community here. I accomplished musical dreams here. We discovered new passions here.

So as we move back to California and end up in some city, town, or suburb on the west coast, I can confidently say that the biggest thing that will remind me of Des Moines is my wife and son. My family. It’s forever a part of us and who we are, and I’m really thankful for that.

Goodbye Des Moines #1 (Best Eats)

This will be my first “goodbye post,” highlighting some of my favorite things about the last 2+ years our life here in DesMo.

I’m going to start it off with an “easy” post: My favorite places to eat in Des Moines.

The Best Places To Eat In Des Moines.

Pizza.

1) Big Tomato Pizza Co.
There is no shortage of pizza places in DesMo, most of which are pretty tasty! But when it comes to the taste and creativity, Big Tomato beats them all.

I’ll be completely honest; The “service” is scary. It’s 1 part soup nazi, 1 part grub line at a maximum security prison. I mean, it shouldn’t be a surprise. The neon sign on the window says “Lousy Service.” The first time I saw it I laughed at the “silly, ironic ‘bad service’ sign.” The second time I saw it I both feared and respected it as a sign of truth and warning. Read any of the trip advisor, yelp, or urban spoon reviews and you’ll find no shortage of complaints about the service. (The best is when a Big Tomato employee starts responding to peoples complaints here haha. “F*** it, don’t come in. I swear…if I hear “How many people does a large pizza feed?” I’m gonna have a f***ing aneurysm. I don’t f***ing know, lady. One really really fat person? Sixteen not so hungry people?”)

However, from classics like pepperoni to DesMo staples like honey-garlic on alfredo and on to crazy concoctions such as feta/green apple/honey, bbq beef brisket, or philly cheese steak - which tastes like an ACTUAL philly cheese steak.

The ONLY downsides to Big Tomato are no tables and it’s a bit pricey (unless you get by the slice after 10:30pm).

I know I wrote a lot about this place, but if I could only eat one thing the rest of my time in DesMo, this would be it.

2) Fongs Pizza
This is the first place we took almost every visitor that we had in Iowa. It’s one of the most unique concepts and places I’ve been too and has pretty great food.

Mostly known as a pizza place (they serve some other stuff too), they offer traditional pizzas as well as Asian-influenced pizzas, like the crab rangoon pizza (which is my personal favorite).

3) Gusto Pizza Co.
Gusto is a bit newer here in DesMo, but they came out of the gates swinging. I would say these are gourmet pizzas, but they aren’t in any way wussy. My favorite pizza on their menu is the West Of Philly (a version of the philly cheese steak). The main reason that I am putting them on this list is because of a special pizza they made over the week of Saint Patrick’s Day. It essentially incorporated all of the irish influences into a pizza. Corned beef, white cheddar, sweet carrot puree, and guiness glaze. It was one of the most incrdible things I’ve ever eaten - no exaggeration.

Mexican Food

1) La Rosa
La Rosa is one of the most obviously family owned/operated spots in town. They have the best tortas I’ve ever had in my life, and their tamales are pretty tasty too.

2) Abelardo’s
Abelardo’s is a small chain started by a family member that owns a chain called Alberto’s in southern California. It is an identical menu and has an identical taste. It’s great authentic Mexican fast food, it’s cheap, and it’s open later than anywhere else in Des Moines. And by later I mean 24hrs a day.

Other

1) La Mie
La Mie is a little french bakery/bistro on 42nd. Every morning they make a plethora of fresh pastries and bread, and they also serve sandwiches and breakfast and stuff like that. It’s all good. My favorite is their bread pudding, which they include little chunks of fruit and little chocolate chips in. Es’ favorite is the cinnamon chocolate chip scone, or their french toast. I will fiercely miss this place.

2) Palmers
When we moved to Iowa, we lived 2 blocks from Palmers Deli. This was a problem for our wallets and our bellies. This is one of the greatest delis I’ve been too.  Tons of sandwich options, incredible salads, great soups, and a full spread of desserts too. I usually go with a rueben, but the beefeater is great also (a hot roast beef, pastrami and cream cheese sandwich).

3) Centro
I almost didn’t include Centro here, but I’ve got to give credit where credit is due. Centro has been consistently a part of our DesMo lives. They have the best french toast I’ve ever tasted, incredible wood-fired pizzas (the BBQ Chicken is incredible!), great sandwiches, Es’ favorite salmon in Iowa, and much more. It’s classy enough to be “fancy,” but comfortable enough to be “casual.” It’s been good to us.

That’s the official list, people. However, I feel like I need to give a list of the other great offerings of this city - the honorable mention list, if you will.

1. George the Chili King - great cheeseburgers and fries, and the most glorious dive I’ve ever been to.
2. Zombie Burger + Drinks - this place has all the crazy toppings you could want on your burgers, but the burger itself is really great too! Don’t discount their hotdog options, either.
3. Tacos Andreas - good tacos, best papusas in town.
4. Jimmy Johns - I know it’s a franchise, but I will definitely miss these sandwiches and the obnoxiously loud music.
5. Woody’s Smoke Shack - best BBQ in DesMo. Home made pies and free cornbread don’t hurt either!

Two Years

Two years ago yesterday, Es and I got on a plane and flew to Des Moines, Iowa. 

We had no clue what we were getting ourselves into.

I’m working on a few other posts with some thoughts and memories.  Those will come later on today and this week.

The Micro-Machine Airplane from chris kretzu on Vimeo.

Iowa’s High Points from chris kretzu on Vimeo.

Sunday Set List 6.5.2011

In my continued effort to try and post the upcoming Sunday’s set list for you all, here is the latest edition.

I’m always trying to find upbeat songs that aren’t cheesy or superficial, and also that work at The Gateway Church.  It’s tough, and it shows.  Most of our songs are slow or mid-tempo songs, and while there is always hope and joy found in the things of God, it’s really nice when the music reflects that.

So that being said, we’re bringing in a couple new song this week and I think it will work really well at Gateway.  It’s theologically sound, upbeat, catchy, and I think will translate well to our community.

This Sunday we’re doing:

I Am Set Free - Sons & Daughers
Tear Down The Walls - United
Our God Is Love - Hillsong
When The Tears Fall - Tim Hughes

I Am Set Free:
This is a great tune that just takes off and soars.  The lyrics are ultra simple.  In fact, if you know the title, then you know about half the song.  Sons & Daughters continue to write great stuff and I can’t wait for their full length.

Tear Down The Walls:
Pretty sure I’ve written about this one before.  It’s a great song with a strong message.

Our God Is Love:
This is the new one we’re bringing in this week.  Generally I try and stay away from too much Hillsong stuff.  Tear Down the Walls and With Everything are the only songs of theirs currently in rotation at Gateway.  However, I love this song, and I feel like we can strip the “Hillsong” out of it and it will sound even better.

When The Tears Fall:
This week we are starting a brand new series in the book of James.  The first chapter deals a lot with suffering, and this song is one of the best worship responses to suffering that I’ve heard.

So that’s what we’re doing this week.  Hopefully it helps give some insight and you can check the songs out before Sunday morning!

~chris