O Christmas Tree

Our Tree

Our family enjoyed putting up our Christmas tree on Saturday. Click on the picture above to see a short Christmass tree slideshow. Our family tradition is to cut our tree and set it up on Thanksgiving weekend. Part of the fun for our boys is to run through the tree farm, playing catch with the football.

There is always healthy debate regarding which tree to select. It's mandatory to look for at least 30 minutes before settling on just the right tree. It's not unusual to hear, "How about this one" or "I like this tree" ten or fifteen times during our quest for the perfect tree.

But over the years, I have come to realize that trees are much like people - there are no perfect ones. The "right tree" somehow uniquely combines the things that are important to us - width, color, density, height, and character. It takes some time to select the "right tree," but once you find it, you know it's yours!

I have often thought that it would be easier to purchase an artificial tree. But then I recall all the great memories we have surrounding the selection of our Christmas trees. There was the time that the tree blew off the top of the car and landed in the middle of the highway! And the time that the football hit me in the face as I was cutting down the tree! And then there are the pictures each year with the boys in front of the chosen tree.

And so each year I have concluded that although artificial is easier, fresh is way more fun. And if I have to choose between convenience and memories, I will vote for memories every time. In January our Christmas tree will be turned into compost, but the memories of this Christmas season will live on into the future. There are some things in life worth the effort.

No Greater Joy

Thankful for family

It was the ultimate Thanksgiving for any father - all four of my sons were home to celebrate! Josh and Jon traveled to Chicago with me on Monday to spend time at Moody with Jason. We left Chicago on Wednesday and picked Ryan up in the Quad Cities on our trip back to Cedar Rapids.

As we were traveling together in the van on I-80, I realized that it just doesn't get any better than this! Reunited once again - we are connected at the heart even though we are physically separated by geography. It's an awesome thing to be moving through life together with companions you love!

And today we traveled together again. This time Sharon joined us and we made a trip to Waukon to be with Sharon's family. We visited Sharon's mother who is in the hospital recovering from a broken hip. It made me thankful all over again for my family and for God's goodness to us this past year.

Today we enjoyed the usual Thanksgiving pleasures - fabulous turkey, candied sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and football. But more importantly, we spent time together as family, reconnecting with one another, giving thanks to God for His many blessings. Today on this day of thanksgiving, I have no greater joy!

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 4

Chicago Visit

Moody Bible

I took Josh and Jon to Chicago to visit Jason and to make a campus visit to Moody Bible. Josh and Jon took in seven hours of class, chapel and Bible study on Tuesday. It was a good slice of campus life including sleeping with the guys on Culby 9! I forgot what it's like living in a guys dorm! We had a great trip. Click on the picture above to see a short slideshow of our visit.

My Favorite Things

Pastor Bob

We had a great Membership Class this past weekend. Click on the picture above to see a short slideshow of the class. It's always fun getting to spend uniterrupted time with new members, getting to know them better. And of course, I love sharing what God is doing at New Covenant, along with our mission, vision, values, history and structure.

The added bennefit is that I get to teach the Membership Class with Pastor Bob. A week ago Pastor Bob talked about 'teaming up' in ministry. We get to do just that in the Membership Class. Teaming up with Pastor Bob means twice as much fun and half as much work!

I was reminded of how much I enjoy teaching the Class with him this past weekend. Pastor Bob had a wedding rehearsal on Friday night, so he was unable to attend. I missed his enthusiasm and energy on Friday evening, which made me appreciate teaching with him all the more on Saturday morning.

Pastor Bob loves Membership Weekends. He tells me before each Membership Class, "Just think Kim, we get to do the Membership Class this weekend!" His enthusiasm and passion rubs off on me and helps remind me of the joy of serving together.

And Pastor Bob was in rare form on Saturday morning. He was full of energy and humor. He was excited because he was getting to do three of his favorite things - enjoy food with friends, help teach the Membership Class, and root for his Ohio State Buckeyes!

Young At Heart

Pastor Kim, Freddie, Howard and Pastor James

I was invited to attend the Young At Heart "potluck lunch" today. The food was fantastic and the fellowship even better! I always tell James that his flock does the best food!

After the meal we took the opportunity to honor Freddie and Howard VanderSchaaf. Freddie and Howard were instrumental in starting the Retired Adult Fellowship ministry over eight years ago. They have been a friend to many, and we appreciate the contribution they have made to New Covenant over all the years. We also recognized and thanked Waldo and Joyce Spencer for their help with the group. You can click on the picture above to see a short slideshow of our meeting today.

It was a great time with some great people. It was a great day to be young at heart!

Wholehearted Worshiper

Surrender

We had a great Friends Class yesterday with over 25 people attending either the morning or evening session. What a great group of people!

This week we looked at what it means to be a wholehearted worshipper. We talked about worship style and our philosophy that utilizes a blended approach. I love the diversity, variety and creativity of our times of worship. Every week is different and you never know what to expect! That's the way worship should be - fresh, new, and heartfelt.

How about you? What helps you connect with the heart of God? Where are you at on your journey of becoming a wholehearted worshipper?

I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. Jeremiah 24:7

A Beautiful Weekend Continued

Jeff and Leah

We were able to help celebrate the wedding of Jeff Anderson and Leah Middleton on Saturday afternoon and evening in Rockford, Illinois. It was a wonderful time to be with family on this special occasion. Click on the picture above to see a short slideshow of the wedding.

Leah was everything you would expect of a new bride. She was absolutely radiant and deeply in love with Jeff. It was a day to remember. A day when family and friends gathered to witness the miracle of two becoming one. Two people coming together to commit their lives to Christ and one another. To love one another the way Christ loves the church. This kind of love is a beautiful thing. Two people - one faith, one hope, one love, one purpose, one Lord. It was a beautiful weekend.

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. Ephesians 5:31

A Beautiful Weekend

Elder, Deacon and Equipping Staff Retreat

We had an awesome Elder, Deacon and Equipping Staff Retreat this past weekend with over 25 people in attendance. We enjoyed the new Sill Barn meeting room at Camp Courageous. Click on the above picture to see a short slideshow of the Retreat

Each ministry area shared their vision and strategic goals for the next five years. This fall retreat is always one of my favorite meetings of the entire year! How exciting it is to hear 18 ministry areas share their vision of what the future of New Covenant could look like.

There is nothing more exciting and compelling than being around a group of people who love God, care for one another and are committed to a common mission. Our times of worship knit our hearts to God's heart. And our times of sharing knit our hearts to God's vision for our church. It's a powerful and beautiful thing when people live and move together in unity. It was a beautiful weekend!

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity. It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. Psalms 133:1-3

Happy Birthday Sharon

Our birthday girl!

We celebrated Sharon's birthday tonight, complete with brownie cheesecake!

Sharon .... fun loving, committed, adventurous, seeker of truth, servant, multi-tasker, energetic, heart for God, generous, hard worker, faithful friend, caring, and enthusiastic. She is all this plus much more. I am a blessed man.

Happy Birthday Sharon!