Kingdom Living

So, this year for Lent, our church decided to have Wednesday night soup supper and small groups. This was a break from routine for our Sr. High youth group, as they were willing to give up their normal time to include adults. The adults, however, came to the community center, where we normally hold youth group, and joined us for dinner. After dinner, we split into cross-generational small groups where our teens served as small group leaders. We shared highs & lows, watched a video, had a Bible Study/discussion, sang together, and prayed for one another. The small groups ended at 8:00 each night and our youth continued with youth group until 9:00. Through it all, I believe that we got a taste of the Kingdom! Our culture naturally leads us to separate ourselves. We separate by age, gender, race, interests, etc. Churches, in many ways, are no different. Too often, our young people and older people don't know each other. We may sit near each other on Sunday morning, but we are not sharing lives. Through intentionality our Wednesday small groups did just that. For 5 weeks, we shared our lives together, as youth and adults took time and entered into meaningful faith conversations. I call this "Kingdom Living" because I believe this is what God had in mind when He was thinking about his Kingdom. I believe our churches must create space where people of all ages are sharing faith together, reading scripture, praying together, and building relationships that are rooted in Jesus. Our youth were sacrificing their normal youth group night, and could have had a skeptical attitude. To their credit, they participated with optimism and were not disappointed. Many of them felt affirmed, accepted, and listened to. They even asked if we could do this more often! Our adults who participated were also pleased with their experiences. Many were very impressed with our youth and were pleased they were able to interact with them. Multiple adults told me that they didn't really know our youth at church, but now feel like they can interact with them more and hopefully build on the relationships that were formed.
As I consider what builds faith in young people, and what keeps them connected to church, I am convinced that more cross-generational/"Kingdom Living" experiences will go a long way to growing faith that lasts and building healthy congregations. I am thrilled that our church got a taste of the Kingdom. I am looking forward to more! Amen.

Extravaganza-Final Take

Well it's over now, and I am on my way back to Grand Rapids. It has been another wonderful experience learning, networking, having fun, worshiping, and making new friends all in the name of Christ and furthering His kingdom.
The other workshops I attended was one led by Lost & Found. It was about creating cross-generational events and opportunities in the congregation. It was discussion based and there was great input from people in what they were doing and why we should do it. There is great value when we consider the mission of the church to be inclusive and separatist. There is great value when a church believes that "youth ministry" is everyone's job. We make baptismal promises don't we? We promise to be a family to the young ones when  they get baptized in our midst. Also, we can learn and grow from one another. I also went to a workshop on re-thinking discipleship with our young people and their parents that was led by Tiger McCluen. And I had a few good conversations with Dr. Rich Melheim about killing Sunday School. These all had to do with a congregational & family approach to youth ministry. Adults. teens, and young ones must share faith together! We must be in conversation together. The journey is ours to do together. I am looking forward to coming back to Mamrelund to expand on these ideas. I am ready to celebrate, tweak, and add. We can celebrate what we do well, tweak what we do pretty well, and add things will benefit our congregation!
But first...I think I will stay home with my kids tomorrow! Thanks for sending me Mamrelund.
Amen.

Extravaganza: Take 2

Wow! Yesterday was a full day. I have enjoyed being on a worship team filled with excellent singers and musicians. We are singing a variety of hymns, folk songs, and praise jams! It is good. The speakers are diverse, and we even have a comedian keeping us laughing. I have networked and connected with many old friends and few new faces. I am picking brains and listening in on good workshops. Here is what I have so far...
1. I had lunch with Lyle Griner from the Peer Ministry group. He is passionate about creating leaders in ministry among our young people. We talked about doing a training in the summer. A great way for young people (any people for that matter) to stay connected to the church, and more importantly Jesus, is to equip them, empower them, and energize them for leadership. There is much more we can do with this!
2. I went to a workshop called "The Jesus Gap." This was an amazing workshop that was research based, identifying what our young people in the ELCA truly know about Jesus. We use many churchy words, and talk about God in general, but if our young people and parents don't know who Jesus is, then we are failing! The results were alarming, but all is not lost! It was a great reminder to never assume people know, and to always, always make our ministries about Jesus! I am looking forward to sharing this when I get back!

OK, that is all for now, but I do have much more to share. Right now I have to go to worship!!!
Amen.

Extravaganza- Day 1

Hey Friends! I am in St. Louis at the ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza. This is a conference for youth workers, pastors, lay leaders, etc. - anyone who does youth ministry. It is a chance for us, from across the country, to gather for refreshment, renewal, networking, worship, and learning. It is a great opportunity for me to keep growing as a minister to and with our young people, their families, and our congregation.
I arrived yesterday, got settled, found out when and where I will be leading my workshop, exercised, and started getting in the groove. Today, I met and practiced with a group of musicians who will be leading worship. Yes, I weaseled my way into some stage time as part of the worship team. It's OK, they invited anyone to join. This afternoon I am looking forward to attending a couple of early bird workshops and then will be at worship tonight!
In the meantime, I am getting ready to go on a free brewery tour! Gotta have a little fun too!
Thanks for reading.  There will be more to come later.
Amen.

Shine!

Matthew 5:14-16: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Shine! That was the theme at our ELCA statewide youth gathering in Michigan last month. I have blogged about this event before. This year was amazing! The event had over 600 youth and adults in attendance, and many lights were shining. I am very proud to be a part of the planning team for the the event we call "The Gathering." The speaker, Tasha Schuh, was inspiring. The main musician, Agape, was invigorating. The entire event, from worship to recreation was excellent! As a youth minister I was extremely proud of our youth from Mamrelund Lutheran Church. They were wonderful lights shining brightly.
Warning: Proud leader about to brag!!
We took 15 youth and 5 adults to the 4 day event. 7 of our youth served as small group leaders. 4 of our youth were victorious in the "Olympics" game called the chariot race. Our praise band was asked to lead worship on the last night. We have a H.S. guitarist (Kelsey) and vocalist (Meg) that were on stage leading the masses in praising God. Our entire youth group led a section of worship that we did on Easter morning a couple years ago, called "Easter in 3 Words." Check it out on YouTube.
Our kids were leaders up front, but they were also lights behind the scenes. They were welcoming of strangers from Alpena who became friends quickly. They were active participants in all areas of the Gathering, and they came home renewed, refreshed, and ready to "Shine." I have taken larger groups to the Gathering, but this group was definitely shining with the best of them.
After we returned, we shared with our congregation, in worship, how the Gathering impacted us. Again, our youth stepped up to shine. They had the listeners laughing and crying. The Holy Spirit was moving and our young people were moving with it.
In our culture today it is true that young people involvement in mainline churches is declining. This is very troubling to me, and as a full-time minister, I am working to fight back against the trend. But this month, at our church, our young people are leading the way. They are shining and ready to keep growing. The mission for me, our parents, and our congregation, is to keep 'em going. We must empower, equip, and energize our young people for ministry. The leaders today will lead our church tomorrow as well. If we show them how to "Shine," and give them opportunities to "Shine," I believe they will "Shine" brightly. What better could we do for our youth and the world today?
Keep shining Mamrelund youth! Amen.

Wrecked Again!

Hey all you faithful blog readers. I am back after a few month hiatus. Sorry it has taken me a while to blog, but here we go again...
Well, it happened. I got wrecked by God. Again! In a good, wake up kind of way, though. I had the privilege of taking my Sr. High youth to LiFest a few weeks ago and it was awesome! LiFest is a huge Christian music festival held every year in Osh Kosh, Wi. We camp for 4 days and listen to some of the best artists in the Christian music industry. It is very uplifting and inspiring. In addition to being inspired, I got wrecked! You see, LiFest is much more than just the music. It includes great speakers, workshops, video presentations, and a strong presence by Compassion International. I have been to LiFest at least 5 times now, and have always had a wonderful experience, but this year God got me again. It wasn't that I didn't expect to hear God speak to me, or that I was blindsided by something new. Maybe it was just the right time in my life for listening, or hearing God call to me in a different way.
On Friday I went to hear Shaun Groves, national singer/songwriter and Compassion International Advocate, speak at one of the side stages. God used Him to pry open my heart and my ears. He taught from scripture in ways I had not heard before. He was teaching from Exodus 16, where God provided Manna for the Israelites. Every day, God provided enough for everyone. He clearly instructed His people to take only what they needed for their families for that day. Those who were greedy, or didn't trust God, and took more than instructed, had their leftovers turn to maggots. I was immediately challenged to think about the "leftovers" in my life, and how they can become "maggots" to me and my family.
After this teaching on Exodus, Shaun took us to the Apostle Paul in Galatians where he was remembering his commissioning from the Apostles who told him to "...always remember the poor, which I was already eager to do." From there we opened to II Corinthians 8:13-15, where Paul was talking about equality. Paul says that nobody is to leave themselves hard pressed, but that we all should strive for equality. "At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn, their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality. As it is written (Exodus 16), 'He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little'."
This was the beginning of my wreckage! Who am I that I live in such excess? Why do I have so much when others have so little? What do I really need? What is really important to me? Will the things I think are important turn to maggots? Maybe they already are, and I just keep filling myself with things that aren't truly satisfying. The word that stood out to me was "enough." Is God enough, and do I trust Him enough with my life?
The next day, the entire youth group went through the "Compassion Experience," an air-conditioned trailer run by Compassion International that sends participants through an audio guided journey which details the life of one of three Compassion "graduates." These are real success stories that show those on the guided journey the impact that Compassion has on thousands of lives across our world. This was the culmination of God wrecking me that weekend. The end of the journey in the experience places the participant in a room with sponsorship packs all over the walls. It is our opportunity to respond to the challenge we just received "to change their world" through Compassion. Now, this is not nearly my 1st experience with Compassion. In fact, Jen and I have sponsored Munga from Kenya since 2005. But this time I broke down in tears as the 1st packet I encountered was a little girl from India who was the same age as my daughter Allie. They are both 5 years old. I couldn't fathom Allie having to endure the hardships that Saraswati was enduring. I couldn't imagine Allie not feeling loved and not knowing Jesus. I could hardly breathe when I read that Saraswati lived in an area that is a high risk for human trafficking. That was it! I (Jen and I) was sponsoring another child. I left that trailer with a sponsorship packet in hand, wiping my face of the tears & snot, and holding a free T-shirt. Yeah, free T-shirt!
The final piece of the wreckage was when I called and told Jen that 1. We sponsored another child and 2. I was willing to cut out some of the "leftovers" in my life to do so.
 So God wrecked me enough to give up Direct TV. Considering my sports watching addiction, this is significant in my world. But I don't want maggots! I want to be the person that I challenge and encourage others to be. Mostly, I want to trust God with everything in my life, and be able to tell everyone that He truly is "enough."
Now pray for me as I muster the courage to make these changes!
To God be the glory! Amen.

Death and Resurrection

I Corinthians 15:54-55: When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

With this being Holy Week, I thought it was a good time to reflect on death and resurrection. Frankly, I have been thinking about that lately, anyway. We celebrate resurrection and new life this Sunday on Easter morning. But we must realize that their is no resurrection without death. It seems obvious to say that Jesus had to die before he could come back to life.  As Christians we should know that Jesus, through His death and resurrection, has conquered sin and death. Our faith tells us that His grace provides eternity for us. But death and resurrection isn't just an end of life proposition. What if we thought of death and resurrection in our everyday lives. I believe that Jesus is calling us to resurrection in the here and now.
2 Corinthians 5:17: "So if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come."
In Christ, we are made new. In Christ, we experience resurrection. But remember, there is no resurrection without death. This can be tough because we all want to experience newness and resurrection, but many of us fear the death part. Not only are many of us afraid to see people die, but we are also afraid to let habits, attitudes, rituals, programs, biases, and even traditions die as well. In many cases, we even struggle with letting our sinful ways die.
So as I ponder Christ's death and resurrection this week, I am asking myself, "what needs to die in my life so I can experience resurrection?" I want to have new life as a father and a husband. I want to feel new life in my ministry at Mamrelund Lutheran Church, in my relationships with others, and in my relationship to Jesus. Not that any of these areas are terrible, but I can't wait until death is at the doorstep. Jesus wants us to experience life abundantly! Now. So, in order to truly live an abundant life in Christ, I have to be willing to examine my life to see what needs to be put to death. I have to be willing to put to death the things that I think are important, in order that Christ can bring new life to the areas that are truly important. And I must trust that whatever dies will pale in comparison to what Jesus is waiting to resurrect.
This is not an easy process, but it is a worthwhile one. I believe that the church, both the body of believers and the individual members, should always be thinking about death and resurrection in this way. There is much new life to be lived, but the question is, "what are we willing to put to death?"
I pray this Easter season that we all would experience death in life-changing ways and resurrection in life-giving ways, to the Glory of God the Father. Amen!

Never Once

I have been meaning to blog this entry for a while, but this past Thanksgiving, I had a moving experience. As is tradition, I travel to Alpena every year for Thanksgiving. It is great to see family, friends, and play in the annual football phenomenon known as the "Turkey Bowl." Every year is a good time, even if my wife and kids go back to Sparta without me (she has a Black Friday shopping tradition). This year was one of the best years in a while as I was able to re-connect with some of my best H.S. friends that I haven't seen in quite a while, and my team even won the football game! When Sunday arrived, I decided that I could stay long enough to attend church with my Dad. It's usually a nice, but rare, occasion when I am able to worship at the church of my childhood. Sometimes, however, it can be difficult going back because you realize how much things have changed since you have been "home." We have a tendency, I believe, to want our childhood memories to be exactly as we remember them, and then get disappointed when we discover they are not. I have found myself in that mode of thinking as well. I am human. Nevertheless, I was happy to be going to church with Dad. Although there were many different, unrecognizable faces, I was able to find some familiar faces, and was even able to sit next to some old neighborhood family friends.  Then, before Mass began, they honored miss Sally, who was celebrating her 90th birthday. I was confirmed in this church over 20 years ago and I remember miss Sally who encouraged me in my confirmation, sent me birthday cards, and even sang in the choir with me. And here she was today, with that very familiar smile and encouraging presence. And then the Holy Spirit moved me. It reminded me that this place and these people were a big part of my faith journey. It reminded me that God was in this place years ago, and He is still here today. As I kneeled through communion, I couldn't hold back a few tears as I became emotionally grateful. I was grateful that God allowed me to be a part of this faithful body of believers and that He was, indeed, still there. After Mass I said my good-byes to Dad and immediately headed for home. I was listening to Matt Redman's new CD called "10,000 Reasons." (Amazing album by the way!) The song "Never Once" came on and the words struck me. Again, the Holy Spirit was stirring in me. I heard the words, "Never once did we ever walk alone. Never once did you leave us on our own. You are faithful. God, you are faithful." Yes, there was more emotion! It's a long drive between Alpena and Sparta, so I had a lot of time to reflect. This is what I realized. I was leaving the place and the people that set me on my faith journey and I was returning to the place where God has sent me to do ministry, meet my wife, and start my family. With every step of the journey, through every trial, tribulation, joy, and celebration, God was with me. He has been holding me up and guiding me through every phase of my life. When we talk about faith, we often talk about us having faith in God. But I was overwhelmed as I realized what tremendous faith God has in me. He is faithful to all His people. When he says "I will never leave you or forsake you" he means it!  Our roads may be bumpy and winding at times, but God is with us in every bump and every turn. Whether I am in Alpena, Sparta, or on the other side of the earth God is faithfully with me, because he loves me and believes in me. I am humbled, uplifted, and grateful at the thought of how faithful God is. This is the God I love and the God I try to serve with my life. This is the God I want all people to know. "Never once did we ever walk alone. Never once did you leave us on our own. You are faitful. God, you are faithful." Thanks God. Amen.

On the Road Again

After reviewing the last month of my life, I have realized....I've put on some miles!
Dec. 27-30: "The Gathering" -State wide Sr. High youth gathering in Lansing, MI(see previous blog)
Jan. 4-6: Jr. High "Youthquake" retreat in Lansing, MI
Jan. 24-28: ELCA Natinal Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza in Anaheim, CA
Jan. 31st: Youth Ministry Consultation with Bethlehem Lutheran in Traverse City, MI
Feb. 2nd: "The Gathering" planning team follow up meeting in Lansing, MI

So, over the course of 5 weeks I will have traveled around Michigan (Lansing 3 times) and out to California, all for the sake of Youth Ministry. Am I bragging? Am I complaining? I think I am really thanking God for all the opportunities I have had to work with our youth and with others in building His Kingdom. I have loved every minute of it, and I can't imagine doing anything else. I hope that through it all, our kids, their families, and I all have a greater sense of who Jesus is and how He wants to impact and influence our lives.
Keep me movin' Jesus! Amen!

P.S. More to come about the Extravaganza. It was awesome! Stay tuned!

Mountain Top Faith

I recently had the great fortune of taking our Sr. High youth to our 4 day, state wide youth gathering known as "The Gathering." 5 days later I took our Jr. High youth to a similar 3 day version for them known as "Youthquake." I am still a little tired. LOL! I still love it! I have been to countless retreats in my life, and I have enjoyed them all. I love that we get to leave the "real world" and enter a place where praising God and growing in faith is the goal and the norm.  I love that we can gather together, with other Christians from our state, and focus on Jesus. Of course these retreats are not perfect. We are human, after all, and we are surrounded by teenagers! Yes there will always be a hiccup or two, but mostly these retreats take us to the "mountain top," which is a good thing, and a great place to be. Time after time I have seen youth at these gatherings take down their masks and walls and open up their closely guarded hearts. Often times something happens within them where they experience Jesus and feel His Holy Spirit in new and exciting ways.
This year's theme at the Sr. High gathering was "Grace-Full." I believe all of my Sr. High youth, because of attending "The Gathering," have a better understanding of God's grace, in both the receiving and giving of His grace. The theme at the Jr. High Youthquake was "Thrive." It  centered on Jeremiah 29:11 which reads: "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you; to give you a hope and a future." The speaker was inspiring and effective. He grabbed their attention and helped them consider what God's plans for them is about. The kids were challenged to look at "The Baggage" in their lives and then wrestle with the thought that God loves them no matter what!
Our youth were truly impacted while on the "mountain top." The problem, however, is the coming down from that mountain top experience. Sometimes we get wrapped up in the feelings of the experience and believe that if we don't have that same feeling when we come home, then something must be wrong. Other problems are that we come home, changed, to a home or a group of friends who aren't  "changed" and who didn't experience what we experienced. It can then be very easy to forget what we learned, thus falling us back into the same old same old lifestyle and longing for our next journey up that mountain. I do not believe that is what God intended for us in those retreats.  No, it is not realistic to believe that we can be on that mountain all the time, but we can take the experiences and let them transform our everyday lives. We can take what we learned and apply it to our families and our friends. I don't think God expects us to be on that high all the time, but He does call us to love Him and be faithful. What we experience at those retreats may not seem to be "the real world" but they can be. If we come down that mountain committed to seeking and loving God in our every day life, then "The Gathering" and "Youthquake" have done their job. At their best, spiritual retreats are a spark that keeps our fires of faith alive and keeps us longing for Jesus. My hope for our youth is when they come back, they would seek Jesus more and more so that the walk down the mountain would be less and less. Amen.

Tigers Fever!!!

If you are a sports fan in Michigan it would be difficult to not catch "Tigers Fever." Our beloved Detroit Tigers are one win away from eliminating the New York Yankees (again) and advancing to the World Series. These are exciting times and I am definitely all in. I was able to go to game 3 in Detroit to witness Justin Verlander lead the Tigers to a 2-1 win and a 3 games to 0 lead in the series. It was awesome! Not only was I in the stadium, but I was there with three of my best friends. We loved the game, the comraderie, and the hours of male bonding. Nothing brings guys together better than watching our favorite teams. We were cheering, high fiving, and nervously anticipating the games' final out, which seemed to take forever to achieve. Whether I am in the stadium, or watching at home, I truly love being with a crowd of my friends and family enjoying the spirit of the game that unites us. Just last Sunday, we were in my living room hugging and dancing as the Lions completed their comeback with an overtime victory. It was great a great celebration shared by a house full! Unfortunately, of course, not all the games end in celebration. Yes, sometimes the agony of defeat elicits negative emotions and even inappopriate behavior. My only explanation for such histrionic behavior, in both victory and defeat, is passion. I am definitely a passionate person, especially when it comes to my sports teams. I am, however, convicted at times. I do ask myself if spending so much time, energy, and even money, is worth it in the big picture. My wife wonders if I am as passionate about her as I am my teams. And I know Jesus is asking me if I am as passionate about Him as I am my sports teams. As someone who is in full time ministry, my first response would be "of course I am." But I keep hearing Him ask the question. What would my life look like if my first and foremost passion was about knowing Jesus and helping others know Him as well. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Does the way I spend my time, money, and energy reflect my love for Jesus or something else? I think this is a question all Christians should ask themselves. People who know me know what teams I cheer for, but do they really know how much I love Jesus. I think they do. But those passions can't be on the same level. Jesus has to be first. I know this is a struggle of mine, to keep my passions in their proper order, but I will always be a fan. I can't help it! My prayer, however, is that someday when people remember me, they will talk about Jesus first. In the meantime, I will keep doing ministry and keep cheering my heart out. May God bless you all, and Go Tigers and Lions!

Us Change?

Revelation 22:13-  "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."
James 1:17- Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows.

God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The message of the Gospel is good news for all people about a savior whose love never wavers. Jesus' grace is consistently abundant! This has not changed in over 2000 years! The only thing that changes with our faith is us. And that can be a blessing. Although God is always the same, I believe that He never leaves us the same. Christ is in the redemption business and business is always good. We are in constant need of redemption. Our salvation is assured when we claim Jesus as Lord, but our daily selves are always in need of His grace. When we walk with Jesus, we are being renewed every day. In other words, God is constant, but He is constantly changing us. God always takes the old, tired, worn aspects of our lives and makes them new. He will never leave us the same!
I think in our churches, we sometimes forget this. What I mean is this...although the message is the same, the way we deliver it must sometimes change to reach the people.  We must be open to new ways and methods of communicating the Gospel so that in this world of constant change, people can be changed by Jesus! Change is inevitable, but I pray that the change happens in the hands of Jesus. His change is truly life giving!
I am proud of my church, Mamrleund Lutheran, for being open to the many changes we have begun to implement this fall. Change can be hard in church, but it is in the name of Jesus, and following the lead of the Holy Spirit that we are making changes. And really, if change is in the name of Jesus and led by the Holy Spirit, what have we to fear? If it is of God, we know and trust that it will always turn out great!
So here's to change, not for change's sake, but for the sake of Christ always changing us! Amen.

"Who Do You Say That I Am?"

In Matthew 16:13-20, Jesus asks his disciples a very important question..."Who do people say that I am." The disciples gave him a variety of answers, and then he asked THE question. This is the question that all of us, Christian or not, must answer..."Who do YOU say that I am?" The disciple Peter was quick to answer, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." I believe that all of us are faced with this question everyday. Non-Christians or Atheists cannot avoid this question either. Jesus changed the world, and even they must come to terms with who he is. They may say he was nothing more than a good man or teacher, but they still must confront Jesus. That is why it is vitally important that we, as Christians, answer this question daily. When asked, I'm sure most Christians would say that Jesus is the Messiah, just as Peter did. But what if others are looking for the answer without asking the question? What if people who are seeking Jesus are trying to find him by examining our lives? What answer would they discover? Yes, it is grace that saves us, but will others see Jesus when they see us? Will others come to know the living Messiah because of the way we live? In no way am I saying that Christians should be perfect (we cannot achieve such lofty expectations), but I am saying that we should be trying to answer this question in all areas of our lives. Do we show Jesus in our work, in our play, in our relationships, at the ballgame, in traffic, in our anger or frustrations, in our everyday dealings. "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus asks the question everyday. What is your answer today?

Almost Heaven Part 2

On the last night of our West Virginia trip, Pr. Mark took our group to a place called "Beauty Mountain." This was a viewing area high in the mountains overlooking the New River Gorge. It's name was understated. This view was gorgeous. We arrived as the sun was setting over the mountains, creating a very serene atmosphere. Pr. Mark instructed us all to sit in silence and take in all that God had to say to us. For at least 10 minutes we worshipped in the silence, yet heard so much. As I gazed over the amazing creation, I felt really small. The mighty river below, that we raced down the day before, seemed almost insignificant. The vastness of the scenery overwhelmed me and I wondered to God, "Who Am I?" Sometimes I feel very important and big. Sometimes I feel that this world could not survive without me, and I have a jaded view of my significance. But on that mountain I felt like a speck of sand on the beach, or a wave on the ocean. This world has long existed before me and will long exist after I'm gone. It was a humbling moment. But, then, I heard God speak to me, saying, "yes, I created all this long before there was you. And yes, my creation is much bigger than you. But you are still more important to me than all of it. Remember, I did not die for the mountains, the rivers, or the setting sun, I died for you. This creation will all end someday, but you will be with me forever in paradise." Of all the wonders that God has created, He still loves us more than all of it. That is also a humbling thought, but a life-giving humbling thought at that! Amen.

Almost Heaven...

Almost Heaven, West Virginia! I just recently returned from a Sr. High trip to West Virginia, where we did volunteer work with the National Parks and then did some whitewater rafting on the New River, & "duckying" on the Gauley River (A "ducky" is an inflatable kayak). The trip involved both hard work and hard play. Our work in the parks seemed unspiritual, but it was hard work and much appreciated by the park rangers. Our evenings were spent playing in the water and bonding as a group. It was a good week. The high point for me was probably on Thursday. Most of the day was spent on the Gauley River where "Old Man River" was laughing at me! The river definitely knows how to humble the proudest of egos. I felt confident going in that I could handle my ducky and not be taken victim like other novices. There were 54 of us, plus river guides, duckying down the river that day. After falling out of my ducky into the first 3 rapids, I was embarrassed, my confidence clearly shaken, and my ego sorely bruised. Luckily for me, thanks to the help of the amazing river guides, that was all that was bruised. As the trip down the river continued, the words to the song "You Never Let Go" started playing in my head. "Oh no, you never let go, through the calm and through the storm. Oh no, you never let go, in every high and every low. Oh no, you never let go, Lord. You never let go of me." The more I sang those words, the more my worries and fears subsided. And yes, I started to figure out how to survive the rapids. I only dumped in one more time out of about 20 more opportunities. What I learned on the river that day was a great metaphor for life. There are times when we can float along peacefully, enjoying the beauty around us (it was gorgeous!), and the company of our loved ones. Those are great times. There are also times when others are in troubled waters and we are called upon to lift them back to safety. It feels good to be a "hero," helping others in their time of need. And then there are times when we can't hold on and the river is taking us for a ride, washing over us, and we are helpless. It stinks to need help from others, but without it, I could have been swept under a rock and possibly drowned. I didn't care how I got back in my ducky, I just wanted back in! Yes it was humbling, but that is what community is all about. Helping when you can, receiving help when you need it, and being thankful for those that were on the ride with you! At the end of the day, only about 5 people didn't fall in the river, but we were all glad to have survived it together. We were all proud of one another, not for our "duckying" abilities, but for the community we had on (and IN) that river. I truly believe Jesus was at the center of it. Remembering that He never let's go of us, AND being surrounded by such a great community, was what kept me going and ultimately provided for me an awesomely spiritual experience. I truly believe that God's greatest gift to us is Jesus, and His next greatest gift to us is one another. Thanks, "Old Man River" for reminding me of what our Christian lives are all about. Amen.

Jesus, My Hero!

On this the holiest of weeks for Christians, I have been encouraged by my Men's group to write why Jesus is my hero. So here goes...
Jesus, you are my hero because you are always changing the old and making them new. You changed the course of history. Dates and times are based on your life. You changed entire cultures and their tradtions. You changed our view of God, how we know God, and how to draw near to God. We don't have to work to get to you, you came to us. You changed religion to relationship. You give us your unconditional love, grace, and forgiveness through your sacrafice instead of our having to earn your love. Because of your resurrection you have conquered the grave, changing our fear of death, and giving us eternal life!
You continue to change hardened hearts, drawing them to you through that love that you lavishly provide for us. Yes, Jesus, you are always changing the old for new, but you are never changing. You are our rock that doesn't roll. You are Alpha and Omega. Yes, you are the same always, but we never will be when we live our lives for you. Jesus, Thank you for being my hero.

Mission Trip Post #4- Wednesday Night

Wow! Today was our best day. Everyone felt fulfilled in the work that we did. My group served lunch at the Salvation Army to an extremely diverse clientele. Others switched to work with the elderly and others did Kids Club for the first time. We were all blessed by and through the work that we did today. I must confess that my group's day started a bit rough. We were an hour late for our worksite because we set out for the wrong Salvation Army. To make matters worse, we got lost looking for the place that we weren't supposed to go to. Sometimes I am not so bright! When we called to get corrected, we were told that our site was about 5 minutes away from the church. Oh well, at least we got to see new parts of Brooklyn.
The real power of the day came in the evening. We got to go have fun at the world famous boardwalk area known as Coney Island! We rode the "Wonder Wheel," played games, ate coney dogs, and had some much needed fun. When we returned for the evening worship time, the spirit really moved us. "Club" time is what they call it when all 65 of us gather together to sing, listen to a helpful talk about the day's theme, and pray together. The other part of the night is spent in our own church groups. That is when our kids had a time of spiritual purging. The mood had already been set in the large group, and we continued it in a powerful, Holy Spirit filled way. We affirmed one another, forgave one another (for those who needed to do that), sang togeher, cried together, prayed together, and knocked down some major walls spiritually. Our youth became more real to one another and to God tonight, because He became more real to them.We were weak, but Christ was definitely strong in our weakness. I am very excited for tomorrow's day of service and tomorrow night's grand finale. The Holy Spirit is moving, and I am just trying to hang on to it for our kids' sake. I'll see you tomorrow. Keep praying! Amen!!!

Mission Trip Post #3-Wednesday Morning

Sorry gang, that I didn't write last night, but immediate sleep sounded better. Yesterday was a good day, too. We repeated our work sites and will be switching sites today. My group will be going to the Salvation Army, while others will be switching to elderly care homes or kids club (VBS) sites. Our youth who have been working with the elderly have been pleased. They are meeting many people of great diversity, and with wisdom in their stories. I told you earlier that we are in a neighborhood with pockets of diversity. One section is Chinese, another Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Hassidic Jews, etc. They asked us last night if we live in cities with "pockets" of diversity. I told them that we live in the Swedish ghetto with a few Germans and Danes mixed in. I said it has explosive potential, but we maintain the peace pretty well. It's interesting that the peace in Brooklyn is kept pretty well. We are free to walk in these neighborhoods in our free time (not night time), with an adult. We have not felt threatened or unwelcomed at all. To me, that is a taste of the Kingdom of God. We are not where we should be in our integration, especially of the Gospel, but getting a taste makes me want to strive for more.
OK, I'll give details of our new work sites tonight after we visit Coney Isand. Amen.

Mission Trip Post #2- Monday Night

We survived our first day at our worksites in Brooklyn with a mixed bag of responses. Most of our group were working with elementary aged children, while some worked with the elderly. Not everyone had a moving experience. Some of us were left feeling useless and wondering what good we were doing. Others were very inspired and even one was moved to tears. Kyrstin met a boy at VBS who told her that he had recently witnessed a shooting. A handful of other children were talking about other, similar, experiences that saddened our hearts. We all agreed that 6 & 7 year olds should not have these experiences. Despite the variance of emotions and expriences, just on day one, we all believed that God was at work and that we would all be challenged in many different ways. We have been talking about stepping out of our comfort zones and trying to see the world around us with God's eyes. This is not easily done, but it is definitely worthwhile. We will keep striving toward those goals as we journey into day 2.
Personally, my highlight of the day was singing, loudly, in the subway station! There is nothing like praising God in unique places. I'll talk to you all tomorrow. Please keep the prayers rolling. Amen.

p.s. The Brooklyn Bridge is very cool! We got our picture taken with some aspiring models. How fun!

Mission Trip Post #1- Sunday Night

We made it to Brooklyn! We weren't the last ones and we made it without incident. We did get a little turned around in Newark, NJ, but that was just a hiccup. Kathy and Dawn split the driving in one van and I, miraculously, (with the help of a bottle of "5 hour energy" and some great worship songs) drove the entire trip on only 3 hours of sleep. God is good! I never felt tired, or that I was putting any of our kids in jeopardy. Overall, the trip took appoximately 14 hours, including the stops. The kids were great. They mostly slept, but we did have some fun interactions as well. We arrived in Brooklyn driving through Staten Island. We could see the Statue of Liberty off in the distance as we crossed from the island to Brooklyn. We arrived at our church by traveling through a smaller, but highly populated version of Chinatown. The  community we are in is highly diverse with "neighborhoods" sectioned off in different ethnicities. I mentioned the large Chinese section. In addition, we are close to a Puerto Rican community, Hassidic Jewish community, Indian, and Middle Eastern communities as well. We begin our work tomorrow, and I am very excited for our youth to be working amongst and with this broad range of diverse people. Now, I am off to pass out! Good night and Amen!