being real

This is a 20 questions sort of game that can keep you entertained for hours. It is pretty addicting.

When I first became a Christian I talk about this a lot more than I do now.
Tonight as my family was at Mc Donald’s we got into a conversation with a
lady that just got out of jail. The women shared her worries and concerns
about losing her car, worried about her job, and what she was going to tell
her 14 year old daughter about being in jail. So T and I prayed for her in
Mc Donald’s. I was a little surprised how much it touched the lady. She
began to cry, and right after we prayed for her she began talking about
wanting to get baptized. God must have just touched her heart. I reassured
her that God has been with her these past days she was in jail. She asked
for my contact info, because she was coming back to our town for a court
appearance in July.

I need to slow down more often and open my eyes to those people hurting that
need ministry. That is what this past weeks sermon was all about, slowing
down and seeing people and their needs, and then meeting those needs or
pointing them to the God who can supply their every need.

Yesterday and today we had are annual Confirmation retreat with our junior high students. It was a pretty good time for the students even though it was extremely cold. We have the retreat at a camp and the students sleep in cabins. The cabins are not heated and last night it dipped down to 27 degrees F. At least it didn’t snow like they are getting in Michigan.
I think the highlight for me was interviewing our 8th graders that are leaving us for high school. It is really cool to see how much they have grown these past two years and how much they enjoyed their small groups. Some of the interviews were very encouraging and others were quite predictable. This coming weekend is Confirmation Sunday. We are going to have JH students more involved than ever. We are doing two dramas and two of our students are going to speak. No sermon. We’ll see how it goes.

The parent that complained last week called me into my office tonight. I wasn’t sure if she was still upset. To my surprise, the parent apologized to me for the phone call she made. I think that was the first time something like that has happened in my 7 years of ministry. This is a little bit of a weight off my shoulders.

I got this from Kristen’s blog. Nothing much to do before I go to bed.

YOU:
Name: I will not say

FAVORITES:
Ice Cream: orange sherbert
Soda: Cherry Coke
Food: Mc Donald’s fries
Candy: Butterfinger
Chip: Plain Lays with Dean’s French Onion Dip
Color: red
Song: “Unite” by the Supertones
Sport: Basketball
Number: 10 (my old basketball number)
Season: summer
Holiday: Christmas
Book: Pickle juice…(from when I was a kid)
Magazine: Relevant
Vacation Spot: Wisconsin Dells
Actor: Tom Hanks
Actress: Nicole Kidman
Brand of Clothes: Levi’s
Brand of Shoes: I’ll go with New Balance. Running shoes.

CHOOSE ONE:
Peanut Butter or Jelly: jelly
Reese Cup or Butterfinger: Both equally good.
Book or Magazine: Depends on my mood.
TV or Radio: TV
Tape or CD: CD
Cold or Hot: hot
Sugar or Salt: start with salt, always end with sugar.
Chinese Food or Mexican Food: Chinese
New York City or Beverly Hills: NYC (gosh, these are so random)

FRIENDS:
Best: T
Funniest: Aaron
Shyest: Carrie
Kindest: Carrie
Most Outgoing: Kevin
Loudest: Chris
Most Talented: Aaron
Sweetest: Carrie
Has Always Been There For You: Mom and Dad
Makes You Laugh The Most: my kids
Best To Hang Out With: T…that’s why I married her!

QUESTIONS:
Do you like school: sure…college was good.
How many hours are you online a day: Way too many.
Have you ever been to a concert: Yes
Do you believe in God: Yes
Where were you born: Southern Iowa
Have you ever failed a grade: no
Do you have a job: yes
What is your biggest fear: losing kids/wife
Have you ever ridden a roller-coaster: yes
Have you ever been to Disneyland: YES! It rocked!
Have you ever been trapped in an elevator: Yes
Who did you talk to on the phone last: a SH student from our ministry
Who wrote you a note last: my daughter
What C.D. is in your C.D. player right now: the closest is Pillar
Have you ever smoked: Once…it was lame.

FIRST:
Best Friend: Matt Betz
Crush: Jaderian
Job : paper route
Album/CD: Bon Jovi, “Slippery when Wet”
Piercing/Tattoo: Ear pierced in high school… no tattos
Enemy: I don’t remember.
Big Trip: Egypt…Mission Trip first year out of high school

LAST:
Movie Seen: A Knight’s Tale
Beverage Drank: Dr. Pepper
Food Consumed: PB and jelly
Kiss: goodnight kisses frommy kids
Show Watched: Amazing Race

Have fun!

How bout you? Post yours in the comments.

A few days ago I had a parent complain about something about our ministry. The complaint was minor, however I think this lady blew it out of proportion. I called her back and left a message. I was just going to fix the problem and do what she asked. However, what she asked me to do was pretty ridiculous , and it was actually her responsibility, not mind. It was difficult, but I asserted myself and told her I didn’t think it was my responsibility to find a ride for her daughter to get to the retreat. She has not called back yet. Ethier she is really mad at me, or she took my words to heart.

It is my wife’s birthday today, and check out where we are going to celebrate!

We are pretty pumped. We first heard about it coming last year, and we have had our tickets since October. Hakunamatata!

I don’t like doing things I am not very good at. However, for the second time in my lifetime I am giving softball a shot. I am going to play softball with a group of 20-somes. The goal of me being on the team it to get to know these young 20-somes a little better. A few of them don’t know Jesus, and my prayer is that through this team they realize there is more to life than partying. I am not that great of a softball player but I think it will be pretty fun.

I have continued running daily. I’m not sure if I will get out today because it is a bit rainy today. I need to go now and judge our video scavenger hunt that we had last Wednesday.

I know…boring post…sorry.