1 down. 1 to go!

One week that is! Yes, this is my busiest time of the year, but also the most rewarding. We just finished our week of Vacation Bible School for our "youngins." It is a fantastic week, with high energy and passion for Jesus. We learn Bible verses, do crafts, play games, swim, and rock out with the band "Captive Free." They are a part of an organization called "Youth Encounter" and are always a featured addition to our VBS exprience. Check them out at youthencounter.org. They always do a great job of creating the enthusiasm in our kids. We now have many kids coming back to help when they get older. It's great to see that their experience leads them to want to give back. Even through college, they come because they love to be at VBS. I love that, and I hope that always will be the case.
The next week is our Sr. High mission trip to Brooklyn, NY. 18 of us will be traveling in 2 vans and driving in the middle of the night to get there. This will be a powerful week for our youth and I am excited for them. Please pray for our safety as we travel (that 3 drivers will stay awake!), and that the Holy Spirit would be so powerful that our kids would come back energized to always be Christ's hands and feet.
I'll try to blog every day while on the trip. Talk to you soon. Amen.

Real Life?

It has been almost two weeks since we've been home from LiFest, and almost two weeks since my last blog. Life has returned to what might be labeled "normal." Or at least as normal as my life can be. My speaking duties are behind me for the time being and my youth ministry duties are back in full force. The next two weeks will be spent running VBS and then traveling to Brooklyn, NY to participate in a Youthworks! mission trip. It should be amazing.
Speaking of "real life," my last two weeks have been spent in preparation for these next two big events. In between, I did make time for some "fun." Jen, Allie, and I did spend some vacation time to visit my Dad in northern Michigan (Alpena, where I grew up). After returning to the great town of Sparta, MI, I had the pleasure of playing in a local softball tournament. I love to compete, have fun, and win. Little did I know that I would be doing none of these. I scratched together a team of church league players thinking that the level of competition would be similar to our talent level. Upon arriving at the tourney, we found this not to be true. We were in way over our heads, and about four good players short of being where we should haved been. What was troubling, however, was not how much better the other players were (they were impressive), but rather their attitudes. I got the sense that playing softball and winning trophies was essential to their existance and necessary for their esteem. They walked around like they were extremely important (arrogant, to be exact), and used language that should not be spoken in public. Sadly, their attitudes incited one of my players to respond in kind, setting off a couple of "less than stellar" moments of excessive testosterone emmission. Cooler heads prevailed without major incident, but the atmosphere was set and a pall was cast for the rest of the day. We lost both of our games that day and exited ingloriously. If it sounds like I am sour grapes about losing, I am not. It was more the bad attitudes that ruined my day. It's true, I don't like to lose, but at the end of the day, I had a moment of perspective. I realized that, although I lost badly in a softball tournament, my life is about the victory that I always have in Jesus. I felt badly for the men who place their value in the trophies of this world. When the games are over and their bodies don't allow them to compete any longer, what will their lives be about? I pray that they come to know the Jesus that I know. That they would come to know the Jesus that fills my soul and allows me to feel like a winner even after a loss. I pray that they find a purpose in their life that is bigger than themselves, and realize that true value in life comes from knowing, loving, and serving Jesus. As I went to bed that night, I thanked Jen for the life that we have. I thanked her that we can love Jesus, love each other, and serve Him with our lives. Now that is what I call living a "Real Life." Amen.

Oh, the People You Meet!

Our time at LiFest has been awesome! (I know, that is such a youth ministry word. Oh well.) Jen, Allie, and I have met some truly amazing people. We've bonded with Noell and Dan from the band "Reilly," I've prayed with Caleb from the band "Sevenglory," talked with Michael Tait from the "Newsboys," Chris the bass player and Mark, the lead singer from "Casting Crowns," and even spoke briefly with Rev. Jim Wallis. All of those people have amazing gifts, and they are using them for the glory of God. What makes our experience at LiFest complete, though, is the meetings I've had with all the wonderful people that are here camping, working, and volunteering. They may not be on stage like the people I've mentioned, but they do have something in common with the "on-stage" folks. They all have a heart for Jesus. It shines through in their conversations, their smiles, and their enthusiasm. No they are not "on-stage," but they are using their gifts to serve God in their churches and communities. This has been a great picture of God's Kingdom...God's people joining together for worship, for fellowship, for inspiration, all in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Rockin' & Rollin' at LiFest!

God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good (Thank you Peder Eide)! I spoke this morning at LiFest, and I believe God spoke through me and despite of me. Besides, it's His message, not mine. So, of course, it went well. When we carry Christ's Gospel of love, He can do amazing things. I feel very affirmed in what happened today, and I know that I am blessed to be one of many carriers of that carrier of the Gospel. Today's talk was about the power of forgiveness. When we forgive those who have hurt us, I believe powerful things happen in our lives.
1. We show that we have accepted God's gift of grace in our own lives. He always and endlessly forgives and loves us through the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. We stand in obedience to Jesus, maintaining our fellowship with Him and with those around us. He is all about forgiveness, and He commands us to do the same. When we follow his lead, and obey His commands, we are all better for it!
3. We heal! When we have been hurt, we become broken. And the deeper the hurt, the greater the brokenness. Sometimes justice is needed and warranted, but know this...justice will not heal our brokennesss. Justice will not end our bitterness and anger. Only forgiveness will. I truly believe that complete healing will only happen through forgiveness.
4. We show Christ to the world. We are all called, as Christians, to be witnesses and lights to this hurting and dark world. There may be no more powerful witness to Christ's love than when we forgive those who have hurt us most. The world wants us to seek revenge, but Jesus calls us to forgive. When we do forgive, others will see Jesus. Amen.

Today has been a true blessing as I have met many great people. I have also learned that White Sox fans (Chicago fans) Twins, Vikings (Minnesota), and even Packer fans can be really great people (right Lydia from Fon Du Lac!). I didn't think it was possible, but, once again, I've been proven wrong! Ha Ha! I love you all, and I'll talk to you later. Peace!

One day until LiFest

Wow! I can't believe that LiFest starts tomorrow. I hope everyone is praying to be in tune with the Holy Spirit while we're there. I don't feel that we have to pray for the Spirit to be there. I know it will be there. It is just a matter of all of us letting the Spirit carry us while we're there.
And speaking of letting the Spirit lead....I had the opportunity to do the preaching at my church on Sunday, July 4th. It was a great day to reflect of freedom. I am thankful for the freedoms we have in this country...freedom to worship regularly, freedom to attend awesome music festivals like LiFest, freedom to live peacefully, etc. The freedom I am most thankful for, however, is the freedom that I have in Christ. I am free from the bondage of sin and fear. I am free to love Him and my neighbor. I am free from even thinking that I have to be perfect or measure up to a certain standard. Now certainly I want to live to please God, but I am free to make mistakes, knowing that we have a gracious, loving God, who always redeems us through His son, and our Lord, Jesus Christ. And, I am free to realize the more I rely on His strength and less on mine, the less mistakes I make. Freedom in Jesus is the best freedom one could ever have. The more I realize that, the better my life is. Amen.

Gearin Up for LiFest!!

I can't believe LiFest is only 6 days away. I am thrilled that the good people at Life Promotions have given me an opportunity to be a part of this amazing festival (Thanks Bob! And Jen L. for all your hard work.). I have been to LiFest many times, and I know that the Holy Spirit will be working overtime during our time there. One can't help but be swept up by the excitement of hearing God's word expressed through awesome musicians & speakers. As I think about speaking on Thursday morning (The Power of Forgiveness: 10:30 a.m.-shameless plug), I pray that I would be prepared, but that I would also get out of the Spirit's way so that I might be used the way Christ wants to use me. There are many opportunities to hear God speak to us at LiFest, and I am only one of those, but what a great responsibility! To God be the glory, and may His Holy Spirit be working right now, preparing the hearts of all of us who will be there to speak, to play, to listen, and to worship. Amen!