Building Homes and Enjoying Life Together

A New Home

Our youth group returned last evening from their missions trip to Mexico. 47 students and 13 adult sponsors spent the last ten days, 60 hours of which was spent riding in an unairconditioned bus, on a trip to Mexico to build houses for needy families. We partnered with Casas por Cristo to build three homes in Juarez.

Josh's team is pictured above in front of the three room house that they built in three days for a family of eleven! You can click on the picture above to see a short slide show of the team as they returned. You can also go to New Covenants website to see additional pictures of the mission trip.

The debriefing time last evening was powerful, as our teens shared from their hearts regarding the impact this trip had on their lives. The mother at Josh's work site made the entire team a meal cooked on a skillet over a fire made from the leftover scrap lumber. Tears were shed as the keys to the new home were turned over to the families during the dedication ceremonies.

How do you measure the value of a missions trip? By the dollars that it cost to send the team? By the number of houses built or people who come to Christ? Or by the lives transformed?

The futures of three families in Jaurez, Mexico were forever changed by a team from Cedar Rapids, Iowa who before last week, they had never met. The families faith was strengthened and given new hope by a gift they didn't deserve and could never repay.

60 teens and adults returned with hearts that were pierced by the goodness of God, thankful for His many blessings. Blessings they didn't deserve and could never repay. Hearts full of appreciation for shelter, food, clothing, family, and the new level of community they developed with one another. New relationships that grew out of building homes and enjoying life together!

Never Quit Dreaming

#1 Seed DesMoines Lincoln and #8 Seed Kennedy

Wednesday was a perfect day! The sun peaked through the overcast sky after an early morning thunder storm as we traveled with the Dunhams to DesMoines to watch Linn-Mar take on Davenport Central and Kennedy play DesMoines Lincoln in first-round games in the State Baseball Tournament. The weather cooperated, the games were decided in the last inning, and all four teams left their hearts on the field. I have seen better played baseball before, but I've never seen two more exciting games played with more effort.

You can click on the picture above to see a slideshow of the day. But be forewarned, there are over 100 pictures and it may take you awhile to get through all of them. It will be well worth your while as these two games represent all that is good about baseball - competing, giving your best, teamwork, playing with heart, split-second plays decided by inches, never giving up, coaching strategy, executing under pressure, the exhilaration of coming through in the clutch, and the pain of not making the play.

Two teams continue on in their pursuit of a State Championship and two teams lost, but all four are winners. They all played the game with dignity, sportsmanship, and heart. Players struck out, walks were issued and errors were made at key junctures of the games. On a hot, muggy Iowa July day, four teams dared to dream. Kennedy and Davenport Central pulled off 7th inning heroics, and Lincoln and Linn-Mar returned home to dream of another day.

It was a perfect day. We experienced a great double header in beautiful Principal Park, Sharon and I enjoyed the company of the Dunham's and Karen Schultz, and we were able to cheer on our teams as they competed at the highest level of baseball in the state.

Congratulations Linn-Mar Lions for a great season. And good luck Kennedy Cougars, Eric Schultz and Robert Dunham in your quest for a state title. You have competed in the game of baseball this summer, but the lessons that you have learned in the process will live long past the memory of your won-loss record. In your pursuit of victory you have learned that failure makes your stronger, that a dream is worth pursuing, and that teamwork lightens the load and enriches the journey. You have reminded us all to never quit dreaming!

The Old Man and the Computer

The Pew Internet & American Life Project issued the results of a new study on blogging last week. Among other things, the Report indicates that:

• Eight percent of internet users, or about 12 million American adults, keep a blog.
• Thirty-nine percent of internet users, or about 57 million American adults, read blogs.
• Eight-four percent of bloggers are 49 years of age or younger!

Yikes, I'm the old man. I would have responded to the Pew Survey on blogging but my telegraph was down and the Pony Express no longer stops at my house. For all you younger "whipper snappers" who use all that "new fangled" electronic media like telephones, television and the internet, here are a few ways you can make your blog reading more enjoyable.

• You can subscribe to blogs using a web-based blog reader like Bloglines. Bloglines is a free online service for searching, subscribing, creating and sharing news feeds, blogs and other web content. Bloglines makes it easy for me to follow 30 plus blogs, telling me when blog authors have added new articles or content that I haven't yet read.
• If you use a web portal like MyYahoo or MyMSN, you can subscribe to many blogs on your home page using RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds. My blog has icons at the bottom of the right hand column you can use to subscribe to my RSS feed, pushing new content to you home page shortly after it is published.

Wow, I've got to go. I didn't realize that it's past my nap time. I need to get a glass of warm milk and some rest. This typing wears me out. Until next time boys and girls!

Champions

We traveled to Dubuque last night to watch Linn-Mar play Hempsted for the right to move on to the 4A Baseball State Tournament. The Lions came away with a 9-1 victory, giving them their first State Tournament appearance since 1995! You can click on the picture above to see a short slideshow.

Linn-Mar will face Davenport Central at 2:00 next Wednesday in DesMoines. Win or lose, it has been a great year. The team has shown class and good sportsmanship, proving themselves to be champions. Go Lions!

From Boys to Men

Josh and Jon

Today is Josh and Jon's "golden birthday", they turn 18 on the 18th of July! Wow, where has the time gone. What awesome young men they have become. We celebrated by eating at one of their favorite restaurants, the Texas Roadhouse.

As I reflect back on the past 18 years, here are some of the things I most appreciate about Josh and Jon:

1. Their hearts for God.
2. They willingly serve others.
3. They enjoy spending time with their family.
4. They are content with what they have.
5. They are appreciative.
6. They are conscientious and work hard.
7. They are honest and dependable.
8. They love to have fun.
9. They aren't embarrassed by their dad and mom.
10. They make good choices, including their friends.
11. They seek out the advice and input from others on important decisions.
12. They are responsible.
13. They seek to make an impact on the lives of others.
14. They desire to grow in their relationship with Christ.
15. They laugh at my jokes.
16. They are good friends.
17. They enjoy baseball!
18. They love their dad and mom.

Our family pictures remind me that my boys are growing older. Some people mark time by the calendar, believing that chronological age makes a man mature. Others believe that life experience makes a person wise. And although I know that my boys are growing older, I'm the most proud because they are also growing up.

I know that my boys are growing up when they think of the needs of others before their own ... when they are thankful for what they have been given ... and when they are generous with their resources.

The calendar on the wall reminds me that today is Josh and Jon's 18th birthday. But the quality of their lives demonstrates that they are growing from boys to men. They are becoming great men of God. Happy Birthday Josh and Jon!

The Ultimate Team

The Cobra Kai Ultimate Team

I spent yesterday in Ames at the Iowa Games with Jon and a group of his friends from the youth group. Jon entered a team, the Kobra Kai, in the Ultimate Frisbee competition. They played five games and finished 3-2, a good outing for a team that has never played together before. You can see a slideshow of the team by clicking on the above picture.

The Kobra Kai learned a lot about Ultimate yesterday. Jon and his friends play for recreation and fun. However, yesterday, they faced some teams that play competitive Ultimate at a club level with offensive and defensive plays. They learned that 43 year old men can "smoke" them, that young legs can't make up for team work, and the importance of stamina and endurance. Did I mention that the heat index was over 105 yesterday!

In spite of the suffocating heat and humidity, it was a great day. They are already talking about "next year" and new strategy so that they can put together the Ultimate Team!

It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This!

Palo Baptism

What do 400 pieces of chicken, four watermelon, nine tables full of food, 350 people, the sun setting over Pleasant Creek Lake and 41 baptisms add up to? One incredible evening! You can click on the picture above to see a slideshow of the picnic and baptism.

Baptisms are a time to celebrate the transforming power of God at work in the lives of people. It reminds us that New Covenant is a family of growing disciples. And that boys and girls, teens and adults alike all need Jesus.

Many of those who were baptized this evening talked about the importance of community and the support and encouragement of their small group. It was awesome watching small group leaders, dads, and grandfathers assist with the baptisms. It all added up to one incredible evening. It doesn't get any better than this!

Let's Celebrate!

We enjoyed the 4th of July yesterday along the west bank of the Cedar River. We joined thousands of others downtown, enjoying the beautiful summer evening and a spectacular fireworks display. You can click on the picture above to see a slideshow of the evening.

Downtown is definitely the place to be on July 4. It's as if the entire community decides to celebrate together. The experience that we collectively share gives us a sense of connectedness and community.

It was a perfect evening to gather downtown for a fireworks display. It was a perfect evening to gather as a community to celebrate!