Real Encounter

I worked at the bike shop a couple weekends ago with a guy named Brad Bennett. A stand up, passionate, hard working, Christ loving man of God. Brad is the founder of Real Encounter Ministries. Brad and the other professionals use action sports as a platform to share the life changing message of Jesus Christ.

Check out the video to see how their ministry works.

Confirmation Sunday

The best Confirmation Class i've ever been a part of. What a blessing these students are!

Jesus on Twitter

I saw this video at my parents church (FBC Ellisville) over Easter weekend.

Types of Love

(Schweitzer Youth - 2010 High School Mission Trip)

There is a lack of love. A lack of friendship. A lack of community. All because of sin.

We see this in Genesis, where God creates the man and the woman for the purpose of oneness. They have friendship, and intimacy , and loving affection, but, sin comes and immediately they hide from each other. They hide from God. They cover themselves. Shame enters into the human equation. There is separation between the man and the woman and God, and the man and the woman and each other and that's what sin does. Sin isolates us from God. It also isolates from one another. It ills life, and it kills love, and it kills oneness, as God has created us to have.

This has come to be such a pressing matter in our culture today that we live in a world that is almost completely void of real Christ-like biblical love.

C.S. Lewis talks about Need Love and Gift Love. He says that need love is where I love you, because you do something for me that is beneficial. That is a contractual sort of love where, "Well, you make me feel good, so I love you," or "You do kind things for me, so I love you," or "You meet a need that I think I have, so I love you."

He says that Christ-like love is a gift love where, "I give affection to you with no demands or expectations in return. It is a covenantal and not contractual love. It is not predicated upon terms. It is just given freely, and graciously, and happily, without ever expecting that you will give it back to me or make up for it, or that this ever in any way be an equal giving of love."

So, what kind of love are you giving to your friends, family, co-workers, strangers?

Need Love?
or
Gift Love?

Samson Cryopreserved

Did you know that Samson, from biblical stories, was cryogenically frozen back in 1200 B.C.? I thought he died with the Philistines in the book of Judges. But as I was watching ESPN the other day, I think I was proved wrong. I guess people back in the day knew he'd be good for something, so they brought him back and he's now playing for the French National Rugby Union team.

Check out this video for some of Sebastien Chabal's (Samson's) highlights as a rugby player.

STL 9 - ANA 3

Angela and I traveled to St. Louis this weekend to visit my family and go to the Blues game last night. It was one for the record books. Stewart & Shattenkirk, welcome to the team!

Game Highlights


Two in Seven Seconds


PostGame Interview: Stewart, Oshie, and McDonald

Generation to Generation

We have a new Sermon Series coming up that deals with the different generations within the church and how we, as a church, can use this to our advantage.

What's the Big Deal about Jesus?

The Schweitzer UMC staff gives their opinions on the question:

What's the Big Deal about Jesus?

Aaron Rodgers' Faith

Aaron Rodgers isn't just a NFL quarterback, and Super Bowl MVP. He's also a mentor off the field. Check out this article about Aaron Rodgers and how his faith has shaped his game.

Click HERE to read the article.

God is not a White Man

"God is not a White Man"

Gungor

Big Shoes to Fill

Joshua 1:2-3

Verse 2

"Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them."

I read this the other day and instantly felt unworthy. Not the kind of unworthy where you beat yourself up about all those things about yourself that aren't perfect but unworthy in the sense that there are some tasks in life that are HUGE and that cause you to rely on a strength/power completely other than your own the whole time you engage it. That's what I felt.

Then God makes this sweet promise...

Verse 3

"I promise you what I promised Moses: 'Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you.'"

It seems that often all we see is the task before us rather than combining that with the promises God has already given us. Verse 2 in isolation seems undoable until verse 2 rolls around and reminds us how Moses was operating all along. I wonder how many of us need the reminder daily that we have the opportunity to operate with the provision of God for our lives... doesn't mean it'll be easy but it does mean our steps are blessed when they're ordered by God!

If Verse 3 isn't enough to get Joshua fired up and ready, then check out Verse 5.

Verse 5

"No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you."

That is God saying "I got your back!" What would this mean for us if we believe God was "For us" like this? I'm not saying that God is saying to us what He said to Joshua in the same way that he said it to Joshua.... BUT check out what Jesus says to us in John 14:12...

Hard to Follow

There is a leadership saying in the book, IT, that says a leader can only lead people as far as they have gone themselves.

But there's one thing of this truth that we need to be careful of, especially when it comes to the way we communicate to inspire and motivate the people we're trying to lead.

A person walking ten miles ahead of you is a hard person to follow.

It's one thing to say you've been ten miles ahead and you're going to lead them to the destination. It's another thing to tell people that "I'm ten miles ahead, come find me." Leaders lead the way. Leaders should inspire people to raise their game by their life and what they say. Leaders can only take people as far as they have gone themselves. But they also have to live and communicate in such a way that the people following them believe it's possible to get to where they're going as well.

In your leadership, try to be an example that people can aspire to be like while still being a person that people can relate to. Then you'll be able to lead people to where you've been.

Bear Grylls' Faith

My Church is Awesome

Just take a look. You can't argue that God is doing some amazing things at Schweitzer UMC.

Enjoying People's Failure

It's a sad day when you're more excited to see the team you hate lose rather than the team you love win.

I've experienced this recently. I used to simply cheer for the Blues and against the Chicago Blackhawks. But after last year, I started to become more interested in seeing the Blackhawks lose than my Blues win. Partly because the Blues had a bad season last year, but also because I've just grown to hate Chicago so much that I'd rather see them fail tan see my own team win.

Many churches and individuals fall in to this same mindset. They almost get more excited when they see bad things happen to ministries they disagree with rather than for the good things God is doing in their own church.

For a sports fan, it's sad. For the Church, it is tragic. Anytime we get to the point where we're rejoicing over the failtures of other churches, we should weep. And then repent!

I wonder sometimes if the problem is that it's hard for us to accept the fact that Jesus loved and died for the church down the street just as much as He did for our own church. The church across the nation too.

That includes the church that fell apart because their pastor had an affair.
The church whose music you abhor that's failing.
The church that went bankrupt.
The church that tries too hard to be relevant or the church that you think caters to a traditional crowd. And neither is growing.

You may not agree with other churches, but we're all Christ's bride. And before He died for all of us, he prayed that all of us would be one. Not that we'd rejoice when one of us falls. Do what you will, but I'd rather not be opposed to the prayers of Jesus. Lets be honest, he had a rather powerful and effective prayer life. I'm not going to waste any time trying to undermine Him.

When you see other churches fail, even if it's because of their own sin or stupidity, don't praise God for their failure. Pray to Him for their restoration. But first, how about praising God for your own successes? Praise God for His faithfulness in your church. In your life. That's where your most intense worship should be anyways, right?

Holiday Blues

A young kid named Michael Houska has a bone disease that is deteriorating his bones. He can't walk, much less skate. Therefore, Michael doesn't have much to smile about these days. Until, the entire St Louis Blues roster stopped by the children's hospital to say hello.

In addition to talking with the kids, the players brought gifts and signed autographs for them, leaving lasting memories in a place that most children would prefer to forget.

"We put a smile on their faces and we try to make the best of the moment and have fun with the kids," said Colaiacovo. "There's nothing like seeing a kid smile."

St Louis Blues Forward & Enforcer Cam Janssen, and Forward David Backes sign autographs

St Louis Blues Forward, David Backes, hangs out with Michael Houska in Hospital

David Backes, Cam Janssen, and Stefan Della Rovere pose for a picture with a child

Backes, Janssen, and Della Rovere pose for a picture

Janssen takes a break from fighting on the ice to play air hockey with a child

Backes, Janssen, and Della Rovere pose for a picture with a teenager in the hospital

Luke 5:1-11

Jesus spoke to the disciples, and told them to put their nets into deep water and try to catch something. Simon, believing in Jesus, cast out his nets. The catch was so big, that his nets began to break, and Simon had to call in reinforcements. When Simon saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and told Him to go away because he was a sinful man. But Jesus said, "Don't be afraid; from now on, you will fish for people."

Jesus showed Simon and the rest of the fisherman that he could use anything to bless people. In this case, he used the fisherman's equipment to share his power.

The St. Louis Blues players have fame. They are put on a pedestal by many, and therefore have an opportunity, if they choose, to share the Good News with anyone they come in contact with.

What blessings do you have in your life that you are able to put to use in order to bring glory to God and share His Good News?

Bring Light to the Fight

Hockey gets a bad rap sometimes because of the fighting that takes place during the game. Some people do not understand it. Here's a video to shed some light on the fighting in Hockey.

Galilee 2011 Promo

Galilee Promo from Tim Smith on Vimeo.

Interested vs. Intrusive

If you have kids or work with students and your heart is to really help them navigate the rough teen years, you understand that this is not an easy task.

Adults, with your (in my own eyes, i am not an adult yet) years of wisdom, experience, and ultimately Convergent Thinking you have tendency to be EXTREMELY intrusive as students begin to process the Big Issues in their life because we want to help them:

- sort it out

- make the right decision

- avoid any heartache and/or pain

- understand truth/consequences/reality

This works great if we have the relational equity to do it but if not, this can blow up in our face in the form of a student completely shutting down to any influence or input we want to have in their life WHEN THEY TRULY NEED US THE MOST. (We know that, they don't necessarily know or if they do, they don't acknowledge it)

(IMPORTANT NOTE: Parents, don't assume you have that relational equity just because they're your child. If you haven't taken the time to truly 'sow' seed, the relational dynamic seed, there is no possible way you can 'reap' the harvest of that type of relational seed.)

In this post, I'm just trying to raise awareness of this cultural reality. I have no solutions. If you have any, feel free to comment below and help us all out.

As we try to embrace this youth culture, my encouragement to us all (myself included) is that we learn the balance between being INTERESTED and being INTRUSIVE, so that we can be even effective in reaching this generation for Jesus!

Mystery Hour Yoga

There is a monthly Late Night talk show here in Springfield called The Mystery Hour with Jeff Houghton. Each month, he presents a improvised monologue based on a suggestion from an audience member, a local band plays, and Jeff invites guests from around the area to interview.

My parents were in town last weekend for my Mom's birthday, and we went to the Mystery Hour. And good thing we did!

We got the unique pleasure to see Janie Wilson, a member of Schweitzer UMC (where I am the Director of Youth), teach Jeff Houghton some Yoga.

Take a look.