Recently, I have been invited to be young again. I say that because most people think I am younger than I am and so I get invited to do things that are not necessarily age appropriate. So, from time to time, I get invited to do something that I am not physically able to handle. To think that bowling is one of these things makes me physically sick to my stomach.
Over the past two weeks I have been hanging out with some great people (Jake Bouma, Joe Bouma and Brandon Mick) at the local bowling alley. There is a great late night deal on Wednesday, and since those days are generally pretty long, I thought it would be great to unwind from a hard day of ministry by knocking down pins. Little did I know that I absolutely stink at it. The first week I was not only humiliated to have the lowest score (2 of the 3 games I bowled were not even over 100), but I also had to sit and watch as Karla bowled a 156.
This week on my second roll, I actually injured by back making almost impossible to bowl except in “granny” fashion. What happened to me? When I become someone who couldn’t role a round ball down a lane? Had I bowled like this when I was younger I may not have considered youth ministry a viable career at the time.
I do not plan on giving up, but I do plan on stretching out now before each game. Like I said, I am old.
With only 4 people left until my 500th friend on Facebook, I thought I would take applications to see who I will pick as my 500th friend. It is not too late Seth Green.
Well, the church that doesn’t exist does it again. On Saturday, we had a community event in Waukee, IA for Westwind Church that blew the lid off of anything we have done to date. With inflatable games, 20+ artist venders, 4 bands, and free food, the folk of Westwind showed the community their love for art, and for people.
You can find out more at the Westwind Church site.
Seth turned 6 yesterday. As you can see by the video, he is pretty pumped about it.
It was a great day of friends, food, and American over-spending. The kid gets more presents in one day than most Third World kids do in their lifetime. We tried to make it much more experiential than extravagant, so we went swimming, and to an I-Cubs game. It was a great day for the entire family. Seth is now into Indiana Jones which is funny since he won’t be able to see that movie due to mature subject matter (like melting faces) until he is much older. But he now has all the action figures (thanks to Nanny Bromund) and the Indiana Jones Lego video game (thanks to Nanny Taylor).
Someone once told me, “Whoever said you get your kids for 18 years is a liar. They start going off with their friends at age 12, so you get them for that at the most.” I think about that a lot as I watch my kids grow up. I am amazed how fast it goes. Amazed and scared. Seth showed me the hair on his arms and said “Look Dad, I am getting hair like you.” Soon Seth will be big like me. Sooner than I think. Thank goodness we both will still like cake.
Last night I had the time of my life at The Underground at Grace Church in Eden Prairie. One of the most awesome volunteer staff, in all of volunteer-dom, Linda Haugen, set up a Grace Church Student Ministry reunion. Most people cringe at the idea of a reunion (Karla and I have our 20th this year). However, our gathering was one of the most fun experiences I have had in a long time. Seeing how young high school punks turn into amazing adults, with spouses, and kids, and more kids, was an incredible opportunity for me.
When I took the High School Pastor position at Grace Church in 1996 it was with great excitement and eagerness to see what kind of ministry skills I had. I quickly found out I lacked in all of them. I learned quick, though, and began to pastor 10-12 grade students in a mega-church. I had more students in my ministry than I had people at my former church! I made a lot of mistakes, but did the best I could, always trying to focus more on the people than the job. Seeing the people who made the journey with me last night, made the 5 years at Grace a much more meaningful experience.
Overseeing the 3-year high school ministry program only allowed me to see a very small window of a person’s life. You can only see so much of who a person is in 3 years. Last night allowed me to see the mercy, grace, renewal, and eternal nature of God in the lives of students. There were students…I mean adults there that have seen God do great things in their lives. They have seen restoration. They have followed God’s guiding. It was incredible to see.
Lastly, I would just like to comment on life-long ministry. Linda Haugen is an incredible volunteer, who sat me down once a long time ago to tell me that she had to leave the high school staff because God was leading her to minister to her now graduated small group. It made total sense. We are not supposed to run in and out of the lives of people. When we commit ourselves to God’s work, it should be for a lifetime. I loved seeing all the old leaders (interns, associates, and staff) there who have committed their lives to ministering to the people around them.
This is one reunion experience I wish I could revisit every year!
It was a great day of friends, food, and American over-spending. The kid gets more presents in one day than most Third World kids do in their lifetime. We tried to make it much more experiential than extravagant, so we went swimming, and to an I-Cubs game. It was a great day for the entire family. Seth is now into Indiana Jones which is funny since he won’t be able to see that movie due to mature subject matter (like melting faces) until he is much older. But he now has all the action figures (thanks to Nanny Bromund) and the Indiana Jones Lego video game (thanks to Nanny Taylor).
