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.

The week begins

Well what a roller coaster weekend. Lots going on as we get ready for the adoption. I'm so excited that we are almost finished with all of this. I am so thankful that the Lord saw it in his perfect plan to make it so that we could adopt. I wouldn't trade any of my kids for a hundred biological ones.

Tomorrow I begin my FEMA/UMCOR Training class. I'm really excited that Julie Walters and I will be taking the class together. It's funny it is kind of like being a foster parent even before we were certified we had two kids. And even before I finish the class I have to cases already. Boy do we have our work cut out for us. One of my cases continues to go through struggle after struggle after struggle. My heart just breaks for these dear people. Hopefully, we will be able to offer some help and encouragement.

Well, off to make dinner.

The Loss

Wow. I've spent the last couple of days meeting with some of our church neighbors who were affected by the flood. Just speaking to them and hearing their stories is so humbling. How blessed I truly am. Our church area flood victims haven't even had advocates to help them with FEMA and volunteers and grants. Thank God that Pastor Mike is allowing me to get certified as a FEMA Case Manager next week. It will be two days but worth every minute. Then Valley View will be able to support and help these local families. Hopefully we can bring some joy and peace into their lives. Isn't this what Acts 2 is all about? Helping those in need. Just one of the families not only lost everything but FEMA failed to follow through on what they said they would. Then on top of that the husband found out that he will be unemployed in June. Then on top of that they are doing the repairs to their home pretty much by themselves every moment they are free. Then they are fighting with insurance and others. Oh, and then one of their family pets had to be put to sleep. How much more loss can one face in a year. Thank God that this family knows the Lord and that he is the source of peace, hope, and strength. I'm praying for you and all the loss you have faced.

A day at the office

It's a beautiful morning and I'm in my basement office working on my Acts study. Maybe I'll chisel out a window in the wall. :) Today should be a good day. Have lots to do and I should be able to get it all done. It's kind of nice after beginning my personal study in Acts the Lord has truly opened my eyes to all that I have done and how much of the stress and burnout is due to my own efforts. The early church had such a simple approach to ministry and it worked. I love it when my Philosophy of Ministry is challenged. It's good to think outside the box sometimes. Or in my case I guess I live outside of it. I'm coming to much more defined clarity as to the purpose of Christs Church and myself as a pastor. It's to develop in people a passion for God, a passion for people, and a passion to serve the world. That's what the early church was committed too. And the result. "The Lord added to the church every day those who were being saved." How will that look here at VVBC. I have yet to receive that revelation from God. But I believe it is coming.

A great date.

Well. Last night was a great night with my bride. I surprised her and took her to a figure skating show at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. One of my teens was performing in the show. Emily loved it and I have to admit it was fun to watch even though I'm not a big fan of ice skating. Leah was phenomenal and they had some really cute little skaters too. There was this one little girl who couldn't have been more than three or four and she had a bike helmit on and was skating in the show. She was absolutely adorable. Kind of had me thinking about Chloe in that role. Emily and I had the same thought and laughed a lot. It sure was nice to go out on a date with my wife.

I am working on youth group stuff.