So, I mentioned a few days ago how I’m using Proverbs as part of my daily reading.  As I’m finishing up Chapter 27 today I read this:

“Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds;  for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.  When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in, the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.  You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you and your family and to nourish your servant girls.”  (Pr. 27:23-27, NIV)

The message version starts out:

“Know your sheep by name; carefully attend to your flocks; (Don’t take them for granted;” (Pr. 27:23-24a, MSG)

These verses talk about knowing those that we have been placed in charge of – the fields, the lanbs and goats.  Each one is different, each plays an important part in the big picture and each one requires to be cared for in it’s own way or it will wither and die.  If they are tended for and cared for the family is fed.  I like how The Message says – “Don’t take them for granted”. 

This got me to thinking about the journey I am about to embark on in Rittman.  One of the things I’m going to need to start doing as I look forward is putting together teams – tech, sound, a band, small group leaders, etc.  Each one of the people that God brings forward will be different, each one of them will be unique, each one of them will have their own storys – where they came from, where they are, who they are, what their dreams, hopes and struggles are. 

As I think about this I realize that my biggest job isn’t going to be finding these people – it’s going to be getting to know them, equipping them and placing them in positions where they will be able to grow and thrive.  To build relationships with them!  To give them the ownership and the opportunity to do the things that God has made them for, that God has called them to.   It will be to care for them so that they can care for others.

I am looking forward to getting to know these people - whoever they may be – and watch how God uses us to feed HIS family!

“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.” - Proverbs 18:22 (NIV)

So, I’ve been reading through Proverbs as part of my daily devotions.  One of the cool things about the book of Proverbs – 31 chapters – you can read one a day (I know, some months have 30 days, February has 28 – you just don’t read the whole book those months).  I came across the above passage and it just kind of stopped me in my tracks.  I looked up translation from The Message translation which I liked even better:

“Find a good spouse, you find a good life – and even more: the favor of God!”

And that’s exactly what I’ve found in Beth.  I have found a good, dare I say great, spouse.  I have found a great friend, and have been blessed with a great life!  Throw in the favor of God and it’s like the cherry on top!

So, the next day I came across this:

“Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.” – Proverbs 19:14 (NIV)

God has definitely blessed me with a prudent wife.  I was also starting to see a pattern in my readings.   Then, on Sunday I was reading Beth’s blog and saw this verse:

“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways.  You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.  Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.” – Psalms 128:1-3 (NIV)

I looked at that third verse, “Your wife will be like a fruitful vine…”.  This is so cool, because if there is one thing about Beth it’s that she is growing – non-stop.  Not only is she growing – she’s making an impact on so many people and I know that she will continue to make an impact as we reach out to a new community.  She bears fruit!

I realize I don’t speak enough about how lucky I am to have been blessed with Beth.  With all that has transpired over the last few weeks – and all that’s ahead of us – I just wanted to take a moment and recognize all that she means to me.   So, I’ve decided to be COMPLETELY un-original and create a little list.

The Top 10 Reasons Why My Wife Rocks!

• She puts up with my bad jokes – and even laughs sometimes.  She says I get three “funnies” a year.  Of course, thanks to the joy of children I do have SOME audience for my humor (though I know that is fading as they get older).
• She is an amazing cook.  Seriously, I could sit here and try and tell you all the reasons why but all the proof you need is right at my waistline (time to start getting on that treadmill again)!
• She loves the outdoors.  She loves to hike and walk in the woods and just hang out doing what some might consider “nothing” – but I think it’s great.
• She can surprise me.  This year for Christmas she pulls out a letter and lets the family know that we’re going to the Alive Music Festival again.  A week’s worth of camping (see the previous point), swimming and band after band after band!
• She’s always cold.  OK, I know that may sound weird – but consider this – I’m always warm, so it’s a good excuse to just snuggle
• She’s stuck with me through a lot of crap.  When others may have turned tailed and run she stuck with me and with God’s help made it through it.
• She know Christ as her Lord and Savior.  Over the last few years she has gone from not knowing Christ to accepting Christ as her Lord and Savior.  It’s so cool to see her hungering to learn more and to dive into God’s Word.
• She’s not afraid to share her faith with others.  Now, I say “not afraid” and that may not be totally true, but she does it and does an amazing job of it.  I’ve watched her organize and speak at a couple of woman’s retreats and to say that she has a gift is an understatement.  She brings tears to my eyes listening to her share about what Christ means to her.
• She love our children.  She would do anything for our kids.  She does so much for them and does it without complaints (well, 99% of the time, but we all have those days).
• She love me.  She stands beside me and supports me.  She loves me no matter what I do.  She loves me tenderly and passionately and she isn’t afraid to love me harshly when I need (or deserve it).   She is the best thing that ever happened to me and I can not thank God enough for the blessing that he has given me in my wife.

The bottom line is, as I continue to follow God’s call to ministry I know that I’m not doing it alone.  Beth is right there with me the entire time as well.  She will be going through this with me, she will support me and love me no matter what.  She will tell me where I’m doing well and where I need to work harder.  She will let me know when I am honoring God and when I’m losing my focus.  She will make sure that I don’t let my ministry to the church affect my ministry to my family.   She will take her time and listen to God’s voice until he tells her how he wants to use her.

Thank God for blessing me with a good wife!

How have you been blessed by YOUR spouse?

I know it’s been a full last week and a half but I finally wanted to get my thoughts up here.  As I mentioned on the 14th – the 15th was my last Sunday leading worship in Wadsworth.  To say it was an emotional morning for Beth and I is an understatement.

Jim’s sermon spoke about the start of the church and the power that the Holy Spirit gives us.  He talked how we are filled with the Holy Spirit and that we are called to go out and be disciples to the world.  This then lead into all of those from the Wadsworth Church that have been called into ministry.  This led into Jim announcing that I had accepted the position in Rittman.

I was then given the opportunity to say a few words to the congregation.  Here is what I said to the 9:30 service (FYI – Jim had just talked about how Stephen was martyred for his faith which explains the first comment I make):

After this I knelt at the rail and there was a time of blessing and prayer.  This was done at all three services.  To say that a few tears were shed would be an understatement.  I know Beth has written about it some on her blog (which I strongly encourage you to check out – my wife is so amazing)!!

As I stood up there leading worship there are a few things that really struck me.  One – the people on the platform with me.  Each one of them are amazing people that I could write pages about.  From Andy & Terri – one of my most memorable times singing was when Andy and I did a piece at a Holy Thursday service – I sang as Jesus and he sang as Judas, it was one of the most powerful and amazing pieces that I have ever done and to be able to do that with him is something I will never forget.  Paul who was one of the cornerstones of the service and has walked down this road with me and will continue to walk down it with me.  Rick, Bob & Shawna who are amazing musicians and have meant so much to me over the years.

The other person on the platform with we was a part of the other group that meant so much.  Andrew is one of the youth in our church and has been with the team for a few weeks, but I have had the chance to sing with him for a few years now at youth functions.  All of the youth mean so much to mean and I am really going to miss seeing their faces every week, I’ll miss hanging out with them and being a goof on retreats and at lock-ins.  They are such an amazing group of people that have touched my life in so many ways.  I have every intention of staying in touch with them (all of those that will let me) and look forward to watching how God continues to use them.

As I’ve said, I will miss seeing my family at Wadsworth each week – but I am excited about the new family that God is making us a part of at Rittman and I’m anxious to see how God will use us there.

Keep checking back here often as I will be beginning regular updates on what is happening in Rittman and look forward to having you walk with me.

Tonight was the 2nd Annual Overlook Elementary Talent Show.  Last year the girls each played a piano piece.  They were great and able to keep their heads hidden behind their music and play their songs.

This year they decided to step out and join with a friend or two to sing a song.  Talk about stepping out of your shells!!  Both of the girls did great and their friends were awesome as well.

Brooke really has come a long way this year and I couldn’t be more proud of her.  She was so nervous and about 10 minutes before it all started she walked over to me and said she was nervous and asked me to pray for her so we stopped and prayed right there and she walked away saying “I’m not nervous anymore!” – I LOVE IT!!

Note:  You can watch both of these in High Quality by hovering over the up arrow in the lower right corner once the video starts and clicking on HQ.

Ally and her friends were the final act of the night.  Between their singing and some awesome choreography they brought down the house!!  The song they did will be featured over the loud speaker at school on Friday as the “Friday Fun Song”!

WAY TO GO GIRLS!!

God has definitely blessed me abundantly!

Those that have been reading my blog for a while may remember some posts I’ve done regarding how I’ve been thinking about/struggling with/contemplating God’s call on my life (see here and here).

I have been serving as a worship leader and working with the youth at Wadsworth for the past six years and just loving it.  I’ve begun going through the candidacy process in the United Methodist Church to help clarify for me exactly where it is that God is calling me to serve him.  I have been able to serve in a number of ways both at my church and through things like the Emmaus community.  Most of the time it is through my music – sometimes it’s technical (being a geek is good) – sometimes it’s youth.

Beth and I have been at the Wadsworth United Methodist Church for the past ten plus years.  The church – the people that make up the Wadsworth United Methodist Church – has become our second family.  It is the place where Beth came to know Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.  All three of our children were baptized there.  Wadsworth has been a place that has loved and supported Beth and I when our marriage was struggling.  They have allowed me to work with the youth and have given me the opportunity to lead Christ’s people in worship on Sunday mornings.  Beth and I have been encouraged and challenged by the staff and other members to step out of our comfort zones on a number of occasions and in doing so we learned that nothing is too far out of a comfort zone when you have Christ!

Over the last six years I have been a member of a family that is the Wadsworth United Methodist Church’s Praise Team.  I have had the privilege of leading worship with an amazing group of people who have a heart and passion for Christ and for His people.  It is only because of the love and support of the people at the Wadsworth United Methodist Church I have grown as a man, as a musician, as a worshiper, as a husband, as a father, as a leader, as a person…and most importantly as a disciple of Christ.

Which brings me to where God is leading me now.  This Sunday will be my last Sunday to lead worship at the Wadsworth United Methodist Church.  Beginning March 1st, I have accepted a position on staff at the Rittman United Methodist Church.  I will be responsible for planning and launching a new contemporary service (fall of 2009) and for building and maintaining a web site for the church along with other technical needs.

This is bittersweet.  I have no doubt that this is where God is calling me to serve him right now.  The way that this all came to be could only have been orchestrated by God.  I am very excited about what he has planned both for me and for the Rittman United Methodist Church.  Of course, it also means I am leaving behind all of the amazing people at the Wadsworth United Methodist Church.

To my family at Wadsworth – Thank you.  Thank you for accepting me and loving me, thank you for loving Beth and our kids.  Thank you for being a part of our lives and giving us unending support.  We will miss you all on Sunday mornings but the joyful thing is that we aren’t moving and we are looking forward to finding new ways to continue to cultivate the relationships that have been formed.  We know that you will all still be a part of our lives and we will continue to be a part of yours.

I would ask you all for your continued support and prayers during this process.  Prayers for me, for Beth and for the kids as we make this transition.  I would also ask for prayers for the community at the Rittman United Methodist Church.  I know that the tasks ahead of me are large and that I will face my share of challenges – but I KNOW that I am not doing this alone.  I know that God will be right there with me every step of the way.  I know that God has plans for me that have not been revealed yet and I am looking forward to seeing how he uses me and leads me in all of this.

I would invite you to follow my journey here on this blog.  I plan to update this site as to what is happening with our lives and with how things are going at Rittman UMC.  Once the new service is ready to kick-off this will be one of the first places it is announced.  You can also e-mail me at here and follow me on any of the “Other Splashes” listed over on the right.

As Romans 12:1-2 says,

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

May you live every aspect of your life as an act of worship and may you be transformed by Christ.

Well, tonight was a good night.  Some things that have been germinating for a while are now ready to sprout.  I am really excited, and a little nervous, but I know that in the end this will be a great thing.  I can’t wait to see how God is going to use me, my wife and my kids.

Sorry, but I’m not going to go into any details tonight…but keep watch this weekend for a major announcement!

Well, this has been a monumental last few weeks for my wife in the area of technology.  First she got a Facebook account to reconnect with old friends and now…

Sprouting Seeds is her new home on the web.  That’s right, Beth now has a blog.  Stop over and give her some encouragement.  I’m looking forward to reading what she has to say.

If you have any suggestions for additions to her blog or any issues with it let me know as I’m still the resident geek in the house and will be helping with upkeep!

So, earlier this week I posted the story about Jason McElwain.  An example of a school getting behind one of their classmates and supporting him and loving him.  Then there is this story.  Maybe you’ve already seen it – I first saw it a few months ago – but it’s worth watching again.

This is the story about a coach that had an idea…and a community that embraced that idea and didn’t just TALK about showing God’s love to others – they put it into action.  They took the words of Jesus literally when he said:

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  (Matt. 22:36-40)

They loved God by loving others – by loving those that some might even say were unlovable.  They didn’t just do it a little – they went all out.  They could have just sat over on the visitor’s side and cheered a little bit every now and then – but they cheered like it was their own kids.  They could have made a sign and hung it up, but they made a spirit line and a banner for them to break through and run through.  They showed those kids that someone out there loves them.  They showed those boys – and everyone that watches this – what the love of Christ can do.  They gave these kids hope!

So, what can we do to show the love of Christ to someone this week?  How can we step outside of our comfort zone at school, at work, in our neighborhood?  How will you respond to Jesus’ call to love your neighbor as yourself?

Wow…just wow!

So, the Super Bowl was Sunday night.  While last year’s game was amazing, this years games was as good – if not better.  Congrats to the Steelers.  As a life-long Browns fan I can hope to one day enjoy that same  feeling.

Of course the other story on Sunday nights was the ads.  There were some pretty bad ones and a few funny ones.  I laughed out loud at the Pepsi Max “I’m Good” ad and the Doritos’ “Crystal Ball” ad.

But then I saw this one:

Just another Gatorade Commercial, right?  But do you recognize the person in this commercial at the 16 second mark?  His name is Jason McElwain.  Maybe you saw his story during the NBA Finals last year.  His story is absolutely amazing.  I saw it for the first time last week and my words can not begin to do it justice. Watch the video below for the full story (you may want to have a Kleenex handy):

What struck me about this was the obvious love the coach had for Jason and the love and support of the student body.  The fact that he was able to accomplish what he did makes the story that much more amazing.

This story has been on ESPN, shown during the NBA Finals and Jason got to meet the President last year.  Word is that once this story got out most of the Hollywood Studios were knocking on his door to get the rights so it can be made into a movie.  Move over Rudy….there’s a new story to be told.