It's been way to long.

Wow what a roller coaster year it was. So many great and wonderful things have happened and even a great many challenges as well. On the ministry front everything is wonderful. God is moving and new and exciting things are happening. As we look into 2010 I see a great many more wonderful things happening. New ministries, opportunities, and surprises. Maybe a new Senior Pastor and renewal in the church and a revived passion for missions in the world.

In the detention center small groups will be starting up in a week and I pray for complete success. Hopefully many youth will be inspired to walk by faith and trust in the Lord in all they do.

Still praying and trying to figure out solutions for our car crisis. It has been such a (h)uge distraction. Trying to find an engine to replace the old one has become quite the nightmare. I'm thankful for the truck that my good friend Dave has loaned me but I can't keep it forever and a solution I pray will be revealed soon. I'm so tired from all that has happened with flooded basement and blown engine. One thing is for sure I have a clearer sense of the struggles our Cedar Rapidians have had to face as they continue to rebuild their homes from the flood. It is a very vulnerable place to be. But, God is good, all the time. May God continue to give me a sensitive heart towards those who are hurting and struggling. Well time to get back to my daily activities. May all who read this know and be reminded that in the midst of challenges and struggles the Lord is in control and we can all know His peace. God bless. Keep on keepin on.

Spoiled

Wow! What an absolutely amazing weekend. It has been a long time since Iwas told that I didn't have to do anything and was not going be allowed to do anything but relax. It was such an amazing feeling. I actually fell asleep in a chair out on Mel and Jan's deck. I haven't been able to do something like that in years. We are truly blessed to have such an amazing church family and friends. Bryan and September are truly amazing friends that we have grown to love so much. And wow what awesome grandparents September has. By halfway through the weekend I was calling them grandpa and grandma. Jamie totally bonded with Grandpa Mel. It was so cool. I got to watch the kids ride horses and play with the dogs. I didn't have to do dishes and do laundry. I didn't even have to clean or fix anything. I just had a blast wrestling with my kids in the grass and playing toss the football with Emily. She actually has a good throwing arm. Can't say much about her catching. J/K Love you honey. :) I guess now it's time to dig in and get going on all my work. I guess all good things must come to an end. Unless your talking about Jesus.

It's been to long.

What a great last few weeks. Even in the midst of major change I can clearly see the Lord at work. I have been blessed with the joy of working with a team of amazing Christians seeking the Lords direction for our future. To see God's people working together for a common goal brings so much encouragement in a world filled with turmoil. I'm getting a weekend away with my family and a family that I have grown to love with all my heart. As I sit back a look at my life I can clearly see that my God is amazing and I am truly blessed. I can honestly say that I AM BLESSED.

Last night I had the joy of being involved in a house blessing for a man who has lost so much, but he has not lost his faith. As I heard him sharing with the group I was reminded of Job. He lost everything but praised Yahweh. Here is a man in my neighborhood who lost his house, memories, his health, and yet he is thankful to have a God who loves him. Talk about humbling. Whoever you are that is reading this remember that God loves you with every fiber of His being. He will hold you up, and He will never give up. Hebrews 13 "I will never leave you, I will never Forsake you."

Have an awesome weekend everyone. And to all my youth that have prom this weekend. Be safe, be wise, have a great time. And guys, show honor to your dates and protect their hearts and their reputations. Be a hero. Remember, "Chivalry is not dead."

A really cool night.

As I sit a reflect on the youth evening last night I realize a couple of really awesome things. How amazing our teens really are. If only we would stop and just listen to them. We did an activity called ,"Stump your Youth Pastor" It was really cool to listen to some of the questions they had. It looks like there will be a total of 8 people going on the missions trip this summer. I can't wait. This is going to be such an awesome experience. I also had the beginning of a very cool spiritual conversation with one of my teens. So overall a really great night and looking forward to a busy but fun day. God is good!

An achey heart.

Well it's been a while since I have updated. A little overwhelmed. Sometimes I would like to have a place to hide where there wasn't work to be done. Sometimes being able to fix things and being a work a holic is not good when you need to escape. With spring here I look at my yard and home and see all that needs to be done. Changes and responsibilities at church going up, seem like a mountain with lots of steep cliffs. Then I look at our school system and their laziness in helping young people become all they can be. Instead of helping our youth make right choices from wrong ones they send them away the first time they step out of line. Then I look at the countless families who were displaced by the flood of 08 and my heart just breaks at the overwhelming loss.

I'm not down. I'm not depressed. I'm tired. I find myself worrying. Not for myself. My challenges are small in comparison. I worry for those around me. My heart cries and my soul aches for those that I love and care about. I am reminded of Job and his response when he reached that point of just giving up on life. He said, "Who am I to question God. And His reasons behind what He does. I just need to let God be God." I know He has a plan for all of this. I know He sees all that I see and more. I know He knows the cry of my heart. He knows I feel ill equipped. And frankly I am ill equipped. :) But my biggest fear is that my heart would become numb to all that I see. My prayer is that God would not allow that to happen. May I continue to feel the pain for others and remain steadfast in my love of people and not become removed from those God brings into my life. I pray that whether His people are happy, sad, critical, encouraging, judgmental, peaceful, depressed, joyful, loving, or unloving that I would not become anything other than what He wants me to be. Loving, showing grace and peace. No matter how bad I might want something I pray that God reminds me that it is not about me but about Him and His people.

Another week over.

Hello all. It has been a really busy, stressful and cool week. Had my first UMCOR meeting on Weds. and wow we are helping a lot of people. Met with my clients and we are doing all we can to help them. I'm just thankful that the Lord opened up this opportunity. The teens went over and hung drywall, mud, and paint at the neighbors house. Sometimes action is a more affective teaching tool then teaching. The teens were awesome. The family was really thankful. I'm looking forward to today. Going to the cabin with Phil. Have to fix a water heater then hopefully go fishing.

What a week.

This week has been a wild one. I felt that God wanted me to take on case managing for flood victims around our church. The training was intense and overwhelming I don't think I absorbed that much info since college. And that was a long time ago. But, after training I got my first two official clients and it has been really cool how God has used this as an opportunity to share about Christ, hope, and Valley View's love for it's neighbors. I was so thankful for our men and youth that volunteered their Saturday to serve the Johnsons by installing drywall in their basement. What awesome servants of God we have in our little church. Tomorrow is a big day to. I'm so excited about finding out where God wants us to go as a church and me as a pastor. I have grown so much over the last 8 years and I'm looking excitedly to the years ahead.