On the Market

I've been out of the blogosphere for a while as we have been working hard to get our house on the market. We were finally able to call in the realtor a couple of days ago to have it listed in time for the Labor Day weekend. Keep us in your prayers as we all know the market isn't all the great. Thanks!

HSM2

We watched HSM2 last night with the kids. (For those of you that aren't in the loop, HSM2 stands for High School Musical 2 - the much-anticipated sequel to the surprise Disney-hit.)

Ethan absolutely loved HSM, so he has been eagerly anticipating the premier of HSM2. The date has been circled on our family calendar, and he has been going through the process of X-ing off the days and keeping track of the official count. For the past two weeks, we have gotten our morning countdown update during breakfast.

We let the kids stay up late last night to watch the movie. When it was over, we attempted to quickly whisk them off to bed; however, Ethan suddenly broke down in tears. He couldn't explain why, but I think the weeks of anticipation combined with the sudden reality that it was over was simply too much to handle.

Good thing it will be on every day for the next two months!

What Will It Be Like?

I have been wondering lately...what will it be like to say goodbye to the FVCC family on September 9th?

Karen & I have been a part of the FVCC family for the past eleven years - ever since graduating college back in 1996 and moving to the Fox Valley area to own a Dairy Queen. During these eleven years, we have experienced a multitude of joys and struggles alongside our friends at the church. During these eleven years, I have discovered what it means to be a pastor and to be called by God to serve with my whole life.

How can you express how much you love an entire church? How can you explain why you must leave? How can you say goodbye?

I've got four more weeks to figure it out...

Heading to Peoria

It's official... I am joining the staff of Great Oaks Community Church in Metamora, IL which is a bedroom community for Peoria, IL.

The whole family spent last weekend with the church. I taught during the worship services and had my final interview with the Leadership Team on Sunday afternoon. The Lead Pastor, Bill, informed me later that afternoon that they would like to extend the invitation to join their staff. My primary focus will be adult small groups.

I am excited about this opportunity to use my giftedness and passions to help people discover the joy of living the Christian life in community with others. I truly believe that people grow the best in small groups as they are prayed for, challenged, encouraged, and held accountable.

It looks like my last Sunday at FVCC will be September 9th. I must admit that it is difficult to temper my excitement about this opportunity before me. I know it will be tough to leave FVCC and all of the friendships we have developed over the last 11 years, but the peace we have tells me it is the right step to take at this time.

To all of you who have prayed for us - even if you didn't want to and even if you prayed against us leaving - thanks for playing your part in our story!

My Brother Got Married!

My older brother, Steve, recently got married in a Buddhist wedding ceremony in Thailand!

He met his wife, Nok, (sounds like "Coke") during a vacation last year. She is a friend of one of his co-worker's wives. When she learned that he was considering a vacation to Thailand, she connected Steve with Nok via email. While in Thailand, Nok served as his in-country liaison and informal guide. During this vacation, they fell in love, and at the end of the two weeks, Steve proposed.

Since that time, they have been working together to file all of the paperwork for Nok to immigrate to the US. Last weekend, while my family was gathering together on a farm in southern Indiana, Steve was in Thailand getting married. They were schedule to return to Chicago a few days ago, but I haven't heard anything yet.

Insomnia

It's 5:15am on Sunday morning, and I cannot sleep.

I am preaching this morning at Great Oaks Community Church in Metamora, a bedroom community to Peoria, IL. Later this afternoon I will be meeting with the Leadership Team for my formal interview. These are some of the last steps in the process for GOCC.

Nervousness is not the source of my insomnia. I admit I am anxious to preach, but it is the good type of anxiousness (excitement). I think mostly my lack of sleep is concern about missing my alarm clock and my ride to the church. Karen and the kids are staying behind at the hotel and meeting me at the church for the second service. (On a side note, it is extremely difficult to get ready in the morning in a pitch black room with your entire family trying to sleep!)

I couldn't ask for a better environment, though, since I can't sleep. I am sitting in a secondary lobby of the Stoney Creek Inn in East Peoria. The lodge setting with moose & bear, a two-story river-rock fireplace, and a big-screen TV with the Great American Country channel playing country music videos suits me just fine (currently playing: "A Little More You" by Little Big Town and, no, the remote is not broken...I chose the channel!)

I'd really appreciate your prayers this morning and afternoon...thanks!

Under the Door

Following our family reunion yesterday, we stayed in the Hampton Inn in Princeton, IN. We went swimming, ordered some late-night pizza, and stayed up way too late watching a movie.

This morning I wake to find Ethan walking past the foot of my bed. I smile and wave as I roll out of the bed and stretch. I walk towards the bathroom to find him standing by the door to the room looking at the floor. He turns and says to me, "Somebody shoved a piece of paper under our door."

Knowing it was our bill for our night's stay, I look beyond him to the floor. I don't see anything.

"What did you do with it?" I say.

He looks at me somewhat strangely as if the answer should be obvious and replies, "I shoved it back out!"

An Open Letter to FVCC

The following is a letter that was mailed to the church late last week informing them of my recent resignation and my search for where God is calling me next...

Dear FVCC Friends & Family,

There are times in life when decisions need to be made that are neither easy nor enjoyable. Now is such a time…

I wanted to let you know that I recently submitted my resignation to our Elders. I realize that this may surprise most of you, but please know that this was not done lightly or quickly and only occurred after several months of prayer, reflection, conversations with mentors, and intense personal struggle. I love this church and the people in it, but it is time for me to move on to another phase in my ministry. I have not yet identified where God is calling me, but I wanted to be above reproach with the Elders and the church by informing you of my decision to pursue such a transition.

Every church and every pastor has a preferred style of ministry, and it is vital for the health and growth of the church that this style of ministry be shared by each. During the last few years, I have noticed a growing discrepancy between my preferred style and that of the church. Please understand that neither is better than the other; they are simply different. FVCC is pursuing some great ministry initiatives, and I pray that God will continue to bless this church, the leaders, and the members in the coming years.

It is with great sadness, and eager anticipation for the future, that I leave the only church I have ever served. FVCC is where I discovered my calling into ministry. It seems like it was just yesterday that the church took a risk and asked me to accept a staff position despite having a lack of experience and education. Since that time, I have discovered the joys and struggles inherent in being a pastor. I am who I am today because of my time here at FVCC.

For the past 11 years, my family and I have been blessed to be a part of this church family. We have spent time with you in countless worship services and small group gatherings. We have laughed together over meals and cried together over pain and suffering. We have celebrated the birth of children together and mourned the loss of loved ones together.

Along with the sadness, though, comes a great deal of peace in this decision. Karen and I understand it is the right decision, despite the pain and disappointment it may cause. The reality is that if I were to maintain my current position with everything I am experiencing, I would be dishonest to our God, to those around me, and to myself.

Please pray for Karen and me as we attempt to determine where God is calling us. It will be difficult to move away from the church and the Fox Valley area, but we are open to God’s leading. I look forward to the time we have remaining together, and I thank you from the depths of my heart and soul for allowing me to be your pastor.

Personal Branding

Have you ever noticed how people "brand" themselves without even thinking about it? Many of us put bumper stickers or logos on our cars. We have t-shirts that reflect experiences or organizational involvement (most of my t-shirts are FVCC event shirts!). These things immediately tell everyone around us some little piece about our lives. So why am I telling you all of this?

I was at my local gas station this morning pumping gas when a woman pulls up to the pump in front of me. As she puts the car in Park, I immediately see the Jesus fish on her trunk and a cross hanging from her rear view mirror. Right away, I realize that she has some level of faith and is probably involved in a local church.

As she steps out, I see the Teva sandals and a muted-colored t-shirt with a picture of a whitewater rafter clutching his oar flying upside down out of his boat. The tag line on the shirt reads, "Getting this high in most states is a felony." She's a rafter.

I walk over because I have just discovered from her personal branding that we have two major things in common - Jesus and whitewater rafting. (On a side note, I think Jesus would have liked rafting...)

Now mind you I don't know who this person is, so in an effort not to surprise her as I walk over (friends tell me I can appear a little intimidating to people that don't know I am just a big, friendly bear) I say loudly and from a distance, "So where do you raft?"

She turns with a look of confusion on her face and then looks down at her shirt. She replies with a tone of amusement, "I wondered how you knew I go rafting! I raft the Youghiogheny." I tell her I typically raft the Gauley (see picture), and we have a brief conversation about rafting. We soon part ways and continue in our day.

Moral of the story: if you brand yourself, be prepared for somebody like me to start a conversation with you.

Voice from Iraq

I was working in the office today when an IM popped up from a good friend of mine who is serving in the Special Forces over in Iraq. We grew up together back home in Newton, IL. He played a significant part in my accepting Christ, and he was also the best man in my wedding.

We used to have these late night discussions together standing out in his driveway along with his two brothers and some other friends. We would talk through all of the normal stuff of life - school, sports, girls, motorcycles, cars - but we would always end up on the topic of faith. I miss those late-night discussions...

It was great to be able to connect with him even for a short time. He isn't due back until next year, but I am looking forward to getting together with him when he does. Be safe, JQ, and know that I am praying for you. Love you, bro!

iPhone Hype

This post is for all of you fans of the new iPhone, but it is primarily directed towards two of my closest friends and co-workers. You know who you are!

Here is the first paragraph of an article from tech-blog www.switch.com...

"Contrary to what the hype would have had you believe, Christ himself did not return to Earth this past Friday to render judgment. Apple simply released a cell phone. Now that the day of days has come and gone and the planet is recovering from its collective hangover, we think it's time to step back and ask ourselves just what the heck happened. What did we all get caught up in?"

For the full article, check out http://www.switched.com/2007/07/03/does-the-media-love-apple-too-much/

You Know You Live in a Small Town When...

Yesterday morning, my wife and I were starting the day and we are making plans for the evening. I made the assumption that we would be doing projects around the house or in the yard. Suddenly she says, "Maybe you should take the kids to the worm races tonight."

Excuse me? The worm races? (I am not making this up!) It turns out that our library was hosting an activity for kids to learn about earthworms, so after dinner last night I packed up the kids and went out for an evening of small-town fun.

The head librarian read a kid's book about worms and then it was off to the races! She gathered the kids around three different rifle-range targets, placed a huge nightcrawler for each child in the bullseye, and then sprayed them with water (the worms...not the kids).

After a few minutes, the worms started moving and writhing. The winner was the worm that moved outside of the target area first. I was proud to say our table won! (You couldn't really keep track of whose worm it was...maybe next year we can paint little numbers on each of them.)

After the races, they took the kids in the back of the library and had them make their own worm out of tongue depressers, decorative craft balls, and googly eyes. It was honestly a lot of fun for the kids and the parents. That's life in a small town...

Transformers

I went with some friends to see the Transformers movie last night. AWESOME! It is easily one of the coolest movies I have seen in a long time. Michael Bay and the crew from SKG did an amazing job on this movie. The plot line was solid. The action was intense. The special effects were seamless.

Two thumbs up...five stars...whatever top rating you want to choose, this movie is worthy of it and more. You have to go see this movie! Some of the people who went last night were not into Transformers as kids, and they even loved the movie.

Since it was the first showing of the movie in the Chicago market, there was a ton of energy in the crowd. We were clapping, cheering, shouting, etc. It was entirely contagious! The best was whenever Optimus Prime (the lead Transformer for the good guys) would roll up and start kicking butt. The whole crowd erupted; it was awesome!!!

We were seriously considering staying at the theater to watch the midnight showing...it was that good! I am definitely seeing this one in the theaters again, and it will be added to my personal library when it comes out on DVD.

The Dangerous Book for Boys

I was just reading in Newsweek about the book, "The Dangerous Book for Boys." The book is gaining popularity - not because of it's ability to offer trivia, history, and advice for pre-teen boys - but because of the nostalgia it provides for men in their 30s and 40s. "Picture a world where your father walks with you down a starlit road, pausing to point out Orion. He recites Robert Frost, knows how a battery works - and all the rules about girls."

The article was commenting on how men, in our technologically-driven, modern world, feel they have litte, if any, fatherly advice or experiences to pass on to their sons. Quoted in the article is Stephanie Coontz, author of "The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap," who says that parents worry they aren't spending as much time with their kids as past generations did. In truth, she says, "people are spending more interactive time and resources on their kids than ever before." The real problem is they think they have less to teach them.

I know I thought about this even before I had children. I am not mechanically-inclined. I don't know how to fix an engine or build a tree house. As I jokingly state, "I have the spiritual gift of lifting. If you need something moved, call me!"

What skill-set am I supposed to pass on to my son and daughter? What happens if they are small and weak and cannot lift anything? What will they thank me for some year down the road as they tell my grandchildren everything they learned from me? "Yeah...your grandfather...he really understood how to move a piano..."

Maybe this is why I am so passionate about getting my kids out into the wilderness. Here is a skill-set, an experience, that I can pass on to my children and to their children. I want them to discover the joy of camping and hiking and rock climbing and whitewater rafting. I want to see their surprise and appreciation as they encounter wild animals in their natural habitats and as they stand at the edge of a cliff overlooking a deep, mountainous valley. I want to hear their laughter as they swim in a mountain stream and explore the tidepools along the beach. I want to watch their eyes twinkle and their imaginations expand as they watch a sunset or gaze up at the Milky Way. I want them to eat food that was cooked on a fire in the middle of nowhere. I want them to get dirty and smelly and learn how to poop in the woods.

I want them to learn to love the unknown and to experience the thrill of discovery. I want them to learn ingenuity, creativity, and resourcefulness as they adapt and overcome any obstacle that comes their way. These are traits, after all, that will benefit them no matter what course they choose in life. And these are traits that I can pass on to each of them.

Reflections on Sunday

We had a great experience yesterday during our 10:00am adult service. We had 8 people place membership with two of them being baptized in the service. I had the privilege of baptizing one of them (water was cold!) who has recently joined my couple's small group along with his wife, and the other individual was baptized by a fellow friend. (One of the things I love about FVCC is that you do not need to be a pastor to baptize someone. We allow any immersed believer to perform baptisms.)

It is always amazing to see people accept God and discover a new way to be human. Both of these individuals had grown up in the Roman Catholic Church, but their families had never made their faith personal. God... church... whatever... were all kept at arm's length as something you do out of requirement not personal belief and conviction.

This is not to say that all Catholics do this; some of the most devout Christians I know are Catholic. But for these two individuals, they made the conscious choice to make their faith personal as adults, and it happened to occur as part of our family here at FVCC. I am looking forward to seeing these two guys grow in their faith and knowledge of the Word.

Baptizing Charlie

I had the privilege of baptizing Charlie last Sunday during our 10:00am adult service. It was an awesome experience all around!

Charlie and his family are very special to me. His father, Mike, is a member of my Wednesday morning Men's study and one of my whitewater rafting partners. His mother, Suzy, is our Women's Ministry team leader at FVCC. She is so optimistic and keeps me laughing all the time.

Just a couple of months ago, I had the privilege of presenting Charlie with his God & Me award during a Cub Scout ceremony. This was an award for walking through an extensive study of the Christian faith and beliefs. As an Eagle Scout and a Pastor, this was a great experience.

While I would love to take credit for Charlie's faith and spiritual growth, I believe the credit falls to Mike & Suzy for doing an awesome job raising Charlie and his brother in a strong, Christian home. Great parenting, guys!

Family Emergency Plan

I saw a commercial this evening that reminded me of something I would see in the background of movies like V for Vendetta (2005) or Children of Men (2006). Both of these movies are set in the not-so-distant future when the world is falling apart and there seems to be no recovery. (This is not an endorsement of these movies; they are simply provided for illustrative purposes.)

The commercial I witnessed tonight began with innocent-faced children asking their parents how long they should wait after school... after soccer practice... after piano lessons... before going to a friend or relative's house. The sincere but stern voice-over then stated, "Will your family be ready in case of a terrorist attack? Make sure your family has an emergency plan in place."

What?!? I didn't see that one coming...

I understand that we live in a world where terrorist attacks are possible. I understand that we live in a world that is much different than it was just seven years ago. But have we already moved into the not-so-distant future as portrayed in Hollywood science fiction?

Along the same lines are all of the recent advertisements from the CIA seeking out new recruits. Have you seen these? Isn't the Central Intelligence Agency supposed to take a more subtle approach to recruiting?

Please understand that I am not making a political or social or even spiritual observation here. I am simply lamenting the recent historical turn-of-events and wondering aloud what the future holds for my children and grandchildren.

Honestly...this is why I don't watch the news. Call it avoidance if you will, but it seems like everything on the news deals with death, destruction, greed, etc. I would much rather watch Man vs Wild or Survivorman. After all...if a major terrorist attack happens and the world falls apart around me, I am taking my family into the wilderness! Remember Red Dawn (1984) with Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey, and Lea Thompson?

Sorry for the most depressing post I've ever done, but that commercial really got me thinking...

Weekend at the Lake

A couple of weekends ago, Ethan and I went camping with some friends at Devil's Lake in Baraboo, Wisconsin. We had a great weekend hiking, climbing, swimming, fishing, and connecting with God through His creation.

The forecast for the weekend was rain...all weekend. We were very fortunate that we only experienced a few sprinkles and one major shower (which we had advance warning of thanks to some friendly neighbors in the campground).

The first day at the Lake, we decided that the guys would go hiking and rock climbing on some of the bluffs surrounding the lake. We parked at the trailhead and hiked to the top of the bluffs. Alex and Jay started setting up the top rope when I quickly realized that Ethan & I needed to be at the base of the cliff...not the top. One of the guys asked if Ethan could rappel down the 100 foot cliff. I don't think so!

Alex said he thought there was a shortcut up the trail some that would lead to the base of the cliff we were climbing. Russ, Ethan & I started off in search of the shortcut. We never found it, but there were some possible routes if we were simply willing to go bushwhacking. Ethan was game, so down we went.

We got down about 100 feet - slipping and sliding on the mud, holding on to roots of trees - only to find ourselves at the top of another sheer cliff. I left Russ & Ethan there for a minute while I scouted out a new route. About fifty yards to the north, I found a 150-200 foot boulder (talus) field that presented the best option for descending the rest of the bluff face.

Ethan was a little skeptical at first, but he soon got the hang of downclimbing the boulders. There were a few times where Russ & I had to pass Ethan down a drop that was too big for him to climb down. By the end of the climb, Ethan was doing it all on his own and picking out his own routes. It was awesome to see him overcome his fears and enjoy a new challenge. The rest of the weekend, he was looking for any opportunity to climb on some boulders!

TV Guide

Just thought I'd give you some insight into what was on the TV in my house tonight as we got the kids settled down before bed, did some laundry, and posted on the blog...

America's Funniest Videos - the old ones with Bob Sagget (my kids are big Full House fans, so they love to see Danny Tanner in a different light)

NBA Finals - Congrats, Spurs!

Throwdown with Bobby Flay - wings this time...and Bobby lost!

Ace of Cakes - that guy is awesome! Who else uses power tools to make cakes?

American Chopper - Australia bike...not my favorite bike they've ever done...

Donald Miller & David Crowder

I went to Willow Creek Community Church last night with some friends and fellow staff members from FVCC. We went because the David Crowder Band was leading worship and best-selling author, Donald Miller, was speaking (Blue Like Jazz; Searching for God Knows What; Through Painted Deserts; To Own a Dragon).

I've got to tell you... it is so refreshing as a pastor of a church to simply be another face in the crowd during a worship service. I didn't have to worry about people missing their cues. I didn't get anxious when the microphone didn't work (which happened last night; it was really encouraging to all of us pastors to know that happens to them too!). I didn't keep watching the clock wondering if we were going to end on time so we could get people out of this service and in for the next service.

I really appreciated Donald Miller's words last night. Using the story of Joseph, he walked through the elements of a great story - a great protagonist; negative turns in the form of pain, suffering, struggle, and rejection; positive turns in the form of healing, redemption, and acceptance; and a great ending (and it doesn't have to be a positive ending - think Friday Night Lights).

He challenged us to embrace the negative turns in our story...to understand that the challenges and struggles we go through only add to the greatness of our story. As a follower of Christ, we already know the ending of our story. As a result, we have the freedom to embrace the positive and negative turns life throws our way.

One of my favorite illustrations he used last night was from his experience hiking to the great Incan city, Machu Picchu, in Peru. The hike to this UNESCO World Heritage Site takes 3-4 days, covers 26 miles, and crosses three mountain passes. About three miles into the hike, the guide stopped at a fork in the trail.

He stated that if they were to take the trail to the right, they would arrive in Machu Picchu in about six hours. If they took the trail to the left, they would arrive in the city in three days after hiking another 23+ miles. He told them that the Incas only allowed individuals bringing goods into Machu Picchu to take the trail to the right. Everyone else had to take the longer and more challenging trail to the left. The goal was that by experiencing the more arduous journey of the longer trail, the citizens would appreciate the city - the destination - even more.

After hiking the trail to the left and arriving in the city three days later, Miller shared that his appreciation for the city was exponentially deeper than the tourists who took the bus to the famed city. In the same way, we will one day look back on our lives and appreciate the struggles and challenges we experienced because they helped us grow in our faith.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)