Yesterday, we lost 2 great friends to a tradgic set of circumstances. We do not know exactly what happened and we may never know. What I hope and pray is the focus of everything is the 6 kids that they left behind.
They are wonderful kids and they have to be struggling mighty of not having their mom and dad. They range from the ages of 4-13. I cannot imagine.
My heart breaks.
The thoughts and writings on this blog are the thoughts of Jeff and do not necessarily represent the views of Grace First Parish of Russell and/or Lutheran Campus Ministry of Southwest Minnesota State University.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Going Deeper: Puerto Rico
I wanted to share with you the theme for the week and how it was broken down. The students really connected with the themes and I am looking forward to seeing how it will play out in their life.
- More Jesus / Less Me
- More Courage / Less Fear
- Less Do / More Be
- Less Here / More There
- Less Ego / More Love
As I went through the week and still processing, I am not sure which one I struggle with the most. I think that it is More Courage / Less Fear. However, Less Do / More Be is close behind if not first and I just do not want to admit it. I like "doing". I like "results".
- More Jesus / Less Me
- More Courage / Less Fear
- Less Do / More Be
- Less Here / More There
- Less Ego / More Love
As I went through the week and still processing, I am not sure which one I struggle with the most. I think that it is More Courage / Less Fear. However, Less Do / More Be is close behind if not first and I just do not want to admit it. I like "doing". I like "results".
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Almost A Month
Well, it has been almost a month since I have posted here. i need to place my facebook statuses over here. Making a 140 charachter response via the phone is so much easier then logging on to a computer and putting thoughts down here.
It has been a very busy month as I have made the transition to the new church. things are going fantastic. In week 1, my focus was the Sr High Curriculum and we have that mapped out for the school year (Aug - May). The second week was dedicated to Confirmation. We are making some changes in the curriculum to hopefully create more of a flow while emphasizing the strengths of the existing program. In between the curriculum prep, I was meeting with various staff and ministry leaders. In week 3, I was in Puerto Rico with 18 students and 4 other adults. Here are a few pics:
Our group inside the rain forest
A few of the students at a roadside stand getting canapas - the love to eat them and to throw them
The beach a few blocks from the hotel we stayed at going in and out of the country
View from Old San Juan
One of our youth taking a break on the worksite when she found an animal friend.
While there, we participated in a local kids club, worked at a Salvation Army, helped at a Juvenile Retention Center, attended local church services and helped with a few work projects at a local school academy.
If I get my act together, more on the trip later.
It has been a very busy month as I have made the transition to the new church. things are going fantastic. In week 1, my focus was the Sr High Curriculum and we have that mapped out for the school year (Aug - May). The second week was dedicated to Confirmation. We are making some changes in the curriculum to hopefully create more of a flow while emphasizing the strengths of the existing program. In between the curriculum prep, I was meeting with various staff and ministry leaders. In week 3, I was in Puerto Rico with 18 students and 4 other adults. Here are a few pics:
Our group inside the rain forest
A few of the students at a roadside stand getting canapas - the love to eat them and to throw them
The beach a few blocks from the hotel we stayed at going in and out of the country
View from Old San Juan
One of our youth taking a break on the worksite when she found an animal friend.
While there, we participated in a local kids club, worked at a Salvation Army, helped at a Juvenile Retention Center, attended local church services and helped with a few work projects at a local school academy.
If I get my act together, more on the trip later.
Friday, July 02, 2010
A Long 2 Weeks
It has been a long two weeks as we have tried to pack and clean the house and move and begin to unpack the boxes into our new home and for us to get familiar with the new area and the new ministry (job).
I am giving this update from my new office, which I need to do some work on as well, but that is going to have to wait for awhile.
In the near future (after the holiday), I will give some updates and be a little more active again.
I am giving this update from my new office, which I need to do some work on as well, but that is going to have to wait for awhile.
In the near future (after the holiday), I will give some updates and be a little more active again.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Happy Father's Day
Happy Father's Day, Dad. I love you. I am glad that we were able to come over for the reunion and see you and the family.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Nava: 1st Pitch = Grand Slam
From Boston (AP) via Yahoo Sports
Red Sox outfielder Daniel Nava has hit the first pitch he faced in the big leagues for a grand slam.
Nava became only the fourth player to connect for a slam in his first major league at-bat—and second on the first pitch. Cleveland’s Kevin Kouzmanoff(notes) did it on Sept. 2, 2006, against Texas, according to STATS LLC.
Nava accomplished the feat in the second inning of Boston’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday when he sent Joe Blanton’s(notes) fastball into the Red Sox’s bullpen in right field.
The lefty hitting Nava was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket before the game. Outfielder Josh Reddick(notes) was optioned back to Pawtucket.
Nava is the 10th player in Red Sox history to homer in his first at-bat, and just the second to hit a slam. Rip Repulski hit a slam on May 10, 1960.
I think he should retire ....
Manassas, Virginia
Here we come.
One of our best family friend (Crystal)and myself are going to be taking 9 children and youth (10-12 year olds) to Manassas tomorrow. We will be there from Sunday - Friday.
We are looking forward to serving and our service may look a little something like this:
- therapuetic recreation camp
- summer camp
- helping at an assistant living center
- VBS outreach
- neighborhood clean-up projects
It should be great and I am looking forward to watching them serve and shifting my mind (hopefully) off the move for 6 days.
One of our best family friend (Crystal)and myself are going to be taking 9 children and youth (10-12 year olds) to Manassas tomorrow. We will be there from Sunday - Friday.
We are looking forward to serving and our service may look a little something like this:
- therapuetic recreation camp
- summer camp
- helping at an assistant living center
- VBS outreach
- neighborhood clean-up projects
It should be great and I am looking forward to watching them serve and shifting my mind (hopefully) off the move for 6 days.
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
21 Days ......
21 days till we move in Indianapolis, including a mission trip to Virginia and a day reunion in West Virginia.
My mom came over for 24 hours and helped get us started. There is a lot that is left to do in the packing/cleaning stage and time is of an essence with everything else on the table. In the end, I am sure that everything will get done.
Last night, Stacey and myself agreed that we are so looking forward to being done with the move and beginning to start this new chapter in our life. Don't get me wrong, we are going to miss Wooster and we are going to miss some of our wonderful friends greatly. Thankfully, we will only be about 4 1/2 hours apart.
But, we want to be out of the chaos of the move and we want to be in our new home and we want to be working for/with the great team that is in place over at CTS.
The next three weeks will be insane. Let the rollercoaster begin and we look forward to landing in Indy in 3 weeks from today.
My mom came over for 24 hours and helped get us started. There is a lot that is left to do in the packing/cleaning stage and time is of an essence with everything else on the table. In the end, I am sure that everything will get done.
Last night, Stacey and myself agreed that we are so looking forward to being done with the move and beginning to start this new chapter in our life. Don't get me wrong, we are going to miss Wooster and we are going to miss some of our wonderful friends greatly. Thankfully, we will only be about 4 1/2 hours apart.
But, we want to be out of the chaos of the move and we want to be in our new home and we want to be working for/with the great team that is in place over at CTS.
The next three weeks will be insane. Let the rollercoaster begin and we look forward to landing in Indy in 3 weeks from today.
Lady Gaga on Church
Lady Gaga is on the top of the music world right now. She is a very controversial musician and as an individual that works with teenagers, she is talked about quite frequently. She reminds me of the Madonna when I was a teenager.
She is "racy" and she tackles some themes that are very edgy and many would consider very disturbing. However, this post is not about that. I just want to share a PG picture of her (in case you do not know who she is) and some of her words recently about church that she shared when she was on Larry King.
I put a bold on the word that is very telling for me. I think that there are many individuals are CONFUSED about religion, church and spiritual issues. They are on a journey and they struggle to grasp what is happening in their life and this crazed world that we live in.
Just some words to think about. For me, it is just a reminder of how important conversation is and to listen and hear people's stories.
She is "racy" and she tackles some themes that are very edgy and many would consider very disturbing. However, this post is not about that. I just want to share a PG picture of her (in case you do not know who she is) and some of her words recently about church that she shared when she was on Larry King.
"I struggle with my feelings about the Church in particular....in terms of religion, I'm very religious. I was raised Catholic. I believe in Jesus. I believe in God. I'm very spiritual. I pray very much. But at the same time, there is no one religion that doesn't hate or speak against or be prejudiced against another racial group or religious group, or sexual group. For that, I think religion is also bogus. So I suppose you could say I'm a quite religious woman that is very confused about religion. And I dream and envision a future where we have a more peaceful religion or a more peaceful world, a more peaceful state of mind for the younger generation. And that's what I dream for."
I put a bold on the word that is very telling for me. I think that there are many individuals are CONFUSED about religion, church and spiritual issues. They are on a journey and they struggle to grasp what is happening in their life and this crazed world that we live in.
Just some words to think about. For me, it is just a reminder of how important conversation is and to listen and hear people's stories.
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