One Down, 47 to Go

Yesterday I went over to Mercy Fitness Center and had my follow up Active Metabolic Training assessment. I had my first assessment on December 14 of last year. They analyze your VO2 max, aerobic base and anaerobic threshold along with other basic measurements.

Based on my fitness goals, they developed a 12 week workout plan customized to my needs. The workouts require you to wear a heart rate monitor and to workout in various heart rate zones. The goal is to achieve maximum results in less time utilizing the knowledge to your metabolism rate.

I was skeptical about Active Metabolic Training as I thought it was just for those interested in performance training. I didn't realize that it's also for those who want to work on basic fitness and weight management. I qualified on both of those accounts. With the help and encouragement of Dr. John Brownell, I took the plunge last December in my pursuit of better health.

I was late in getting my reassessment scheduled, so I was curious about how that would effect my results. From December 14 thru March 9, I had worked out four times a week. I use the word workout generously. My workouts involved walking on my treadmill for 35-40 minutes at various speeds and inclines to get my heart rate into the specified zones. Not really hard stuff. But it did take a level of discipline to get all the workouts in.

The period of time included Christmas and New Years breaks along with a 12 day vacation! I planned out my weeks and found a way to get all 48 workouts into my schedule.

And the results? I was fairly pleased. My Body Mass Index decreased by 10%! I lost 7 pounds and feel healthier. I have more energy and motivation. I know my results would have even been even better if I had been assessed in March.

I'm now motivated to tackle another 12 week exercise program. I started yesterday. One workout down, 47 to go!

Help Desk

As you know, I enjoy trying out new technology. I'm always looking for a new or better way of getting something done. I think I may have stumbled upon a new, cutting-edge device. I think it's destined to be a huge hit! Watch the video and let me know what you think!

You Made Me Want To Be A Better Person

leg·a·cy: something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor or from the past.

I've been thinking about legacy. In Mens Fraternity this past year we developed a list called, Before I Die I Want To. We listed things in six categories - be, do, have, help, enjoy, and leave.

So, what do I want to leave? How much time do I have to work with? Certainly it's not my stuff that my family will want. As a matter of fact, we're in a pitch mode right now. We are shedding things so that the stuff of life doesn't hinder us or get in the way of the new things God has for us.

I like what James Kouzes and Barry Posner have to say in their book, A Leader's Legacy.

"By asking ourselves how we want to be remembered, we plant the seeds for living our lives as if we matter."

"When we move on, people do not remember us for what we do for ourselves. They remember us for what we do for them. Exemplary leaders are interested more in others’ success than in their own. Their greatest achievements are the triumphs of those they serve."

"What if all leaders started each day asking themselves, “In every interaction today, considering all the people I interact with, what one thing can I do to make them better?’ When the time comes for them to speak of your legacy, is there anything better to be remembered for than “You made me want to be a better person”?

"Our challenge is to stay focused on the difference we want to make, why we think it’s essential to be moving in that direction, and on the people who will come after us to inherit what we leave. If we stay focused on the difference and the people, the legacy will take care of itself. When we choose to lead every day, we choose to serve. Leading is not about what we gain from others but about what others gain from us"

"Legacies aren’t the result of wishful thinking. They’re the result of determined doing. The legacy you leave is the life you lead. We lead our lives daily. We leave our legacy daily. The people you see, the decisions you make, the actions you take – they are what tell your story. It’s the sum of everything you do that matters, not one large bequest at the end of you tenure."

I like that. Legacies are the result of determined doing. If I stay focused on the difference and people, my legacy will take care of itself. So tomorrow I have the opportunity to do good, to serve others and to write another chapter in my legacy story. What will I write? And at the end of the day, will anyone say, "You made me want to be a better person?"

Rolling Out The Red Carpet

 This being Admin Professionals Day, we decided to roll out the red carpet for our New Covenant staff admins! Just after we convinced them that Tye couldn't get our mini-bus started and that we would have to resort to Plan B, a limo pulled up at the entrance to transport them in style! They got a tour of Cedar Rapids and ended at their Siamville lunch destination. Click here to see a slideshow.

A special "thank you" to Peggy Eichenberger, Brenda Gadd, Judy Greeb, Gina Green, Terri Hungerford, Gina Kaufman, Mary Nelson, Jen Olsen, Sharon Pagel, Kris Paulson, Donna Smejkal and Tanja Struve. Thank you for serving our church family, for helping make New Covenant an enjoyable place to work, and for going the extra mile! You are the best!

You're Familiar With His Work?

I'm waiting for our plumber to arrive and just read this great post by Kerry Patterson. Kerry is the author of Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High and records a monthly podcast.

His material is great stuff. But I especially enjoyed what he had to say today. You can read the entire article here. Spoiler alert - grandparents are crazy people. Read this post at your own risk!

Here's a paragraph from his post. Enjoy!

"When it comes to my own happiness, I do know a couple of things. First, happiness is not a constant state that one hunts down, tackles to the ground, and possesses. You never achieve happiness; you just experience happy moments. Second, we often assume receiving recognition for our labors will bring happiness. Not to say that it doesn’t, but sometimes, it’s surprising what kind of recognition truly matters."

So, how about you? What do you want on your tombstone?

We Are Family

I'm reading Joseph Hellerman's book, When the Church Was a Family: Recapturing Jesus' Vision for Authentic Christian Community. I'm reading the book because of my interest in the use of the family metaphor. I was also interested because Christianity Today listed it among the five top books on community.

Here is the way Hellerman begins the book.

"Spiritual formation occurs primarily in the context of community. People who remain connected with their brothers and sisters in the local church almost invariably grow in self-understanding, and they mature in their ability to relate in healthy ways to God and to their fellow human beings. Long-term interpersonal relationships are the crucible of genuine progress in the Christian life. People who stay also grow. People who leave do not grow."

In an age of hyper-individualism, I find Hellerman's analysis refreshing. There's something to be said about making relationships work. And did I mention that relationships take work? Just like our family of birth, we're stuck with one another. We might as well figure out how to make this relational thing work. At New Covenant, we call it becoming a "family of growing disciples."

Contrast this with the vision George Barna has for the follower of Christ, as outlined in his book, Revolution.

"Now its virtually impossible to craft a "typical" spiritual pattern, especially among people under the age of 40. Growing numbers of young adults, teenagers, and even adolescents are piecing together spiritual elements they deem worthwhile, constituting millions of personalized "church" models."

"Ultimately, we expect to see believers choosing from a proliferation of options, weaving together a set of favored alternatives into a unique tapestry that constitutes the personal "church" of the individual"

Personal church of the individual? This is a oxymoron. Collectively, together, we are the body of Christ, His bride. Or to use another metaphor, we are family!

On a group - individual continuum, place me toward the group side. My highest aim in life is not the pursuit of my personal goals and ambitions. Rather, I look for ways to serve my family, church and community for the glory of God, and for the good of others.

The family teaches me that the good of the whole is a worthy ambition. That relationships require sacrifice and service. That the world doesn't revolve around me and my wishes. And that people, even good people, will sooner or later disappoint and frustrate me.

The family also teaches me that some of lifes greatest joys can only be experienced with others. That meaning and satisfaction are found in the context of relationship. That together we can do more than any of us could do apart. That disappointment and trouble were never meant to be carried alone. And about the power of grace extended and grace received.

Given the option to choose between the Lone Ranger and Father Knows Best, I'll take Father Knows Best every time. Given the choice between the "church of the individual" or the church as family, count me in the family column!

I like the way Tim Keller describes this new tribal community, called out by God to be His family.

"The context for a gospel-centered life is never merely individual. The gospel creates a new community, a unique community. One of the immediate changes that the gospel makes is grammatical: we instead of I; our instead of my; us instead of me. This kind of new community is not an optional thing, an "extra" for the Christian; instead it's part of the overall purpose of God's kingdom."

"A new community is both the end of the gospel and also the means of spreading the gospel. God's promise in salvation is to create his "holy nation", a people that dwell with him forever. I will be your God and you will be my people." (Lev. 26:12, Jer. 30:22). So Christians, who are eternally united to Christ, are therefore eternally united to one another."

So, where are you? Are you a radical revolutionary, seeking out a portfolio of spiritual experiences in your quest for the personalized church of the individual? Or are you community connector, pursuing and serving God in the context of relationships? How do you understand the New Testament scriptures on the nature of the church?

Me? You know by now what I think ... we are family!

Welcome to NewCovenantBible.org

We launched our new website on Sunday. A few kudos are in order!

• Austin Spooner - implementation team leader, code writer, training, site architect and a lot of other things that I don't fully understand!
• Sandra Fancher - site design, usability testing and consultant
• Brett Mason - IT deacon and project leader
• Jeff Westrom - graphic design and consultant
• Kris Paulson - copy writer
• Andrew Male - graphic design, staff photos, video (including the embedded promo video)
• Peggy Eichenberger - loading pages, graphic design
• Brenda Gadd - editing
• Erin Bird - design consultant
• Voracity Solutions - the company that we used to design our site and to integrate it with our Arena church management software

My apologies if I missed someone or didn't attribute you correctly. A special "thank you" to our entire team. Having an effective web presence is becoming increasingly important as it's the first place many people turn when wanting to know more about us. Our first-time guests have often already checked our website over, watched a message and formed opinions about us before ever walking into one of our services!

Several cool features of our new site that you will want to check out:

• Our Mobile Site - We have a special mobile site. Check us out on your smart phone!
• ABF Finder - Now you can check out our Adult Bible Fellowships and select one or two that you want to check out. An email is sent to the ABF Community Leader so that we can follow up.
• Volunteer - Check out the Volunteer opportunities available and select one or two that you want to explore further. An email is sent to the ministry leader so that we can follow up.
• Online Giving - Manage your giving online. No more need to call the office to set up or manage your electronic giving.
• Online Registration - Register for camps, membership weekend, and other events online.
• Ministry Index - Don't overlook the cool, expandable Ministry Index on the top right.

Pretty exciting stuff. And functional too! Future phases include an online prayer module, business/ministry directory, classified directory, membership directory, small group directory/finder and more!

Let me know what you are looking for and what would be useful to you. Our website is a ministry tool to help equip us to become a family of growing disciples! It has a new look with some nice innovative features. All the for purpose of helping us accomplish our timeless mission of making more and better disciples in our generation. Welcome to NewCovenantBible.org!

Where Do People Find The Time?

Excellent talk by Clay Shirky, author and graduate professor at NYU. I just finished his latest book, Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations.

I love his concept of excess time or "cognitive surplus."

"Starting with the Second World War a whole series of things happened--rising GDP per capita, rising educational attainment, rising life expectancy and, critically, a rising number of people who were working five-day work weeks. For the first time, society forced onto an enormous number of its citizens the requirement to manage something they had never had to manage before--free time. And what did we do with that free time? Well, mostly we spent it watching TV."

And how much cognitive surplus do we have? More than you might think!

"So if you take Wikipedia as a kind of unit, all of Wikipedia, the whole project--every page, every edit, every talk page, every line of code, in every language that Wikipedia exists in--that represents something like the accumulation of 100 million hours of human thought. I worked this out with Martin Wattenberg at IBM; it's a back-of-the-envelope calculation, but it's the right order of magnitude, about 100 million hours of thought."

"And television watching? Two hundred billion hours, in the U.S. alone, every year. Put another way, now that we have a unit, that's 2,000 Wikipedia projects a year spent watching television. Or put still another way, in the U.S., we spend 100 million hours every weekend, just watching the ads. This is a pretty big surplus."

So, how are you spending and investing your time? Are you learning and participating and conversing and sharing and collaborating and growing? What are your goals for personal and professional development this year? What are you contributing at work and to those who are closest to you? Are you leaving the world a better place by your presence?

Where do people find the time? I find that I always have time for what's important to me. The world is waiting for our contribution. We have one solitary life. Let's make the most of every day!

Overcome Evil With Good

You've heard about Fred Phelps and Wesboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. But perhaps you haven't heard about Albert Snyder of York, Pennsylvania.
You're about to learn more about Albert Snyder in the weeks ahead as the Supreme Court has agreed to hear his case when it they reconvene on October 4.

On March 3, 2006 Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, 20, was killed in a Humvee crash in Al Anbar province, Iraq and was buried on March 10 in Westminster, Maryland. The Rev. Fred Phelps and members of his Westboro Baptist Church staged a protest outside the ceremony, including signs reading "Semper Fi, Semper Fags" and "God hates dead soldiers."

Then, on June 5, 2006,  Albert Snyder, Matthew Snyder's father, filed a defamation suit against Phelps and the Westboro Church in federal court, alleging church members violated the family's right to privacy and defamed Matthew Snyder on its website. The legal battle has wound itself through the court system and will be heard by the Supreme Court this fall.

Which brings us back to Albert Snyder, a father who tragically lost his 20 year old son while he was serving his country in Iraq. The latest story by the Associated Press details the fathers pain and agony.

Some nights Albert Snyder wakes up at 3 a.m. Other nights he doesn't sleep at all, tormented by thoughts of the hateful signs carried by a fundamentalist church outside his Marine son's funeral.

 "It's still very emotional," Snyder said in an interview at his attorney's office. "It's like I constantly relive this every day, and I just wonder sometimes, when this is all over, what I'm going to do with that void. Will the grieving process begin?"

This will be an interesting case of freedom of speech verses state protection. But regardless of the outcome, it's important to emphatically state that the kind of hatred the Phelps advocates has no place in the life of a follower of Christ. My heart goes out to Albert Snyder and the unimaginable pain he has had to endure.

I don't know how I would react if I were faced with a similar circumstance. I can't imagine loosing one of my sons. And I can't imagine the hatred that motives a person to hold up signs of condemnation at the funeral of an innocent soldier. There's some things in life I just don't understand.

It's times like this that I turn to the Scriptures for guidance and wisdom. Romans 12:14-15, 19-21 is just such a passage for this occassion:

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The Worth of A Man

We heard Dave Dravecky speak tonight at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes banquet. Dave's story is one of endurance, encouragement and hope. You can read more about the Dravecky's and their ministry on their website.

Dave's message is about finding our value and meaning in who we are, not what we do. He shared this poem, called The Worth of A Man by Carla Muir.

I once believed that what I did
placed value on my worth.
And walking where great men have walked,
I saw my dream give birth.

But dreams don't always last through life;
in fact, they often die.
The day I watched my dream pass on-
all alone stood I.

And in the searching of my soul,
God gave to me new peace.
Today I'm living other dreams-
the kind that will not cease.

In Jesus' eyes I'm valued so
much greater than I see
My worth is not in what I do;
it's in Christ's death for me.

Tonight, Dave Dravecky inspired us to persevere through adversity in order to reach a dream. He encouraged us to make a difference with our lives. That who we are and who we are becoming is more important that what we do. That cancer can take a man's limb, but that it can never rob him of his worth.

Tonight, Dave Dravecky reminded us about the source of the worth of a man.

Search On!

Did You Learn Anything?

By now you've probably seen the new Tiger Woods Nike commercial. The voice you hear in the video is that of Earl Woods, Tiger's father who passed away in 2006. The commercial was timed to coincide with Tiger's return to golf, playing in the Masters tournament this week after a five month lay off.

This commercial is strange on many levels. First, Tiger's blank stare is very strange. Then we learn that Earl Woods wasn't even talking about Tiger. He was talking about his wife, Kultida Woods, Tiger's mother! The audio has been all edited together to give the impression that Earl is speaking about and to his son.

At times, as I've watched the life of Tiger Woods played out in public view, I've thought I was watching scenes from The Truman Show. The film chronicles the life of a man who discovers he is living in a constructed reality soap opera, televised 24/7 to billions across the globe.

I can't decide, am I watching The Tiger Show or The Truman Show? I can't tell them apart. Both feature men who are living a constructed reality soap opera. Both are televised 24/7. Both are watched by billions across the globe. Both feature lives that are lived from the outside in for all the public to see.

And just when we thought Tiger was going to reinvent himself - to focus on character, integrity and honesty -  this commercial shows up. And we're reminded all over again that Tiger is a brand. He's owned by Nike and other corporations. His lines are scripted and his image is carefully managed. He's an entertainer and all the world is his stage.

This week, Tiger is once again playing golf. He's playing in the famed Masters at Augusta after five months of introspection and therapy. I guess I had hoped for more. For more authenticity and less publicity. For more substance and less facade. Instead I'm left to wonder, Tiger, did you learn anything?

Satisfied

 

We had an awesome time of worship today at New Covenant! We used the video venue in the Activity Center during all three services this morning.

My word today is satisfied .Satisfied - paid or discharged in full, as a debt or obligation. 

My sin debt has been paid in full. Not in part, but in full! My obligation has been met, fully satisfied! My only debt is to live my life as an expression of gratitude to God for what He has done for me. I'm indebted to Him!

This Easter I'm thankful that my God is satisfied. Through the offering of His Son, God satisfied the righteous demands of His holiness. And because He is satisfied, I too am satisfied. I have all I need and more than I deserve.

Today I'm thankful for the cross and the empty tomb! Today, I'm satisfied.

As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:11

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8

Overwhelmed

Is your "To Do" list bigger than your "Done" list? Are you drowning in a sea of paperwork. Do you get overwhelmed just by thinking about all you have to do?

Over the years, I have struggled with anxiety. I've had to learn how to deal with my constant companion. But what I've learned is that anxiety doesn't have to define who I am, nor do I need to be controlled by it.

I've learned that it's ok to feel overwhelmed. Anxiety reminds me that I'm not God and that I need to live in daily dependence on Him. Feeling overwhelmed usually indicates that there is something that I'm not dealing with, a decision I need to make, or an issue that needs additional thought and clarity. And I've learned about the value of sharing my struggles with trusted friends.

By nature, I'm not an organized person. This alone has caused me stress and anxiety over the years. But I'm slowly learning! I've implemented a comprehensive filing system at home and work. Microsoft Money helps me organize our finances. And Outlook, my HTC Hero, Clear Context, and ActiveSync help me organize my calendar, contacts and tasks. And within the last three years I've implemented David Allen's Getting Things Done.

I can't begin to express how freeing it is to be in control of my commitments and schedule! I'm still working on this stuff, but the results are incredible. Capturing all my commitments, active projects and  "to dos" in one place reduces stress and helps me be more effective.

Here is what David Allen, author of Getting Things Done said today on his blog about why people let themselves get overwhelmed at work.

"People tend to both over-commit and to be inefficient. Few people know exactly how much work they actually have, and therefore must take everything on that they think about and that others ask them to do. Their integrity forces them to agree to take things on because, not being real clear how many projects they already have on their plate, some part of them thinks they actually MIGHT be able to do it.

And, most people are inefficient because they don’t force themselves to decide what things mean and what they are actually going to do about them when they first show up. So they are constantly rethinking the same things over and over and not making any progress in doing so–only adding to their stress.

And when they DO finally decide what to do, it’s usually because they have allowed the situation to get into “last-minute” mode, and they now have to go deal with things as a crisis, one at a time, instead of in an orderly, timely, manner"

I've come to the conclusion that we have all the time we need. At the end of His life, Jesus said "I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do."

So, how are you doing? Are you overwhelmed? Take some time by yourself this weekend to review your commitments, list your projects, and identify your "next step" actions. Don't procrastinate. Make the hard decisions on the front-end. Keep your word. Clarify what's important to you. And then just do it! You'll be surprise how much better you feel!

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

In The Beginning

What cost $10 billion, took 25 years to build, spans two countries and is 17 miles long? Give up? The Large Hadron Collider! Put the emphasis on "large." This is big boy science! It's reported that this will be the most expensive scientific experiment in human history.

 The collider was funded by and built in collaboration with over 10,000 scientists and engineers from over 100 countries as well as hundreds of universities and laboratories.

And today scientists cheered the historic crash of two protons, which produced three times more energy than researchers had every created before. The protons were traveling at 99.999991% of the speed of light, speeding around the 17 mile course a whopping 11,000 times per second!

What does all this mean? I'm not sure. But here is what the scientific community believes this super collider will accomplish.

"This is a huge step toward unraveling Genesis Chapter 1, Verse 1 — what happened in the beginning."

"This is a Genesis machine. It'll help to recreate the most glorious event in the history of the universe."

"This is the Jurassic Park for particle physicists. Some of the particles they are making now or are about to make haven't been around for 14 billion years."

The consequences of finding those mysterious particles could "affect our conception of who we are in the universe."

A Genesis machine? Maybe. A colossal feat of human engineering? Absolutely. Will it help us learn how to live better and more meaningful lives in the universe? Doubtful.

So how should we respond to all of this? Where do we turn? Where do we go for answers? I think the scientists may be onto something. Let's go back to the beginning. In the beginning God ....

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17

Lunch Buddies

This past week I got to meet my new Lunch Buddy. His name is Deshawn and he's a 4th grader at Polk Elementary. Deshawn and I will have lunch together at least twice a month.  Twice is the minimum expectation, but I'm planning to meet with him three times a month.

I learned about the needs at Polk school several months ago from Peggy Sheetz. Peggy attends New Covenant and asked if there was any way our church could come alongside of her and the school to help out. Several of our staff met with Peggy, toured the school and learned about the special challenges her students face. Peggy is the senior staff at Polk, having taught there for over 20 years.

The biggest challenge is that over 80% of the students come from single-parent homes. Most are on the free and reduced lunch program. Many of the students are classified as homeless as they don't live at a permanent residence.

We learned that the greatest need is for caring adults to spend time with students. The Lunch Buddy, Math Buddy and Reading Buddy programs have more students who want to be involved than they have adults available to match them up with. But more importantly, I heard Peggy's passion and saw her heart for her students and her desire to make a difference.

I'm not sure yet exactly how New Covenant is going to get involved. All I know is that after listening to Peggy I had to personally do something. I chose the Lunch Buddy route which required me to go through an application/screening process with Big Brothers Big Sisters. After an interview and reference/back ground check, they matched me up with my Deshawn. Pretty painless.

Which brings me to telling you about my first lunch meeting with Deshawn. I arrived early to meet Kyla, the Big Brothers Big Sisters staff person who was our "match maker." As I waited for Kyla in the office, I got to meet Eric Christenson, the school Principal. Eric thanked me for coming and filled me in on Deshawn - a bright student who requested a Lunch Buddy who likes sports and would be someone he could talk to.

Kyla arrived and began my orientation. Memories of elementary school danced through my head as we headed down the hallway to the lunch room. Deshawn was dismissed from class early in order to meet me. We went through the lunch line, got our chicken sandwich, shoestring fries, apple and headed to an open class room for our formal introduction.

Kyla covered the required orientation training over lunch, snapped a photo of the two of us and then we were off to a nook in the hallway to finish our conversation. I brought a picture of my four boys along with me to show Deshawn. I learned about his family and that he just celebrated his Golden Birthday.

40 minutes after our first introduction, Deshawn and I were on our way to the office so I could look at the school calendar and then sign out. And the best part for me? Before I left Deshawn asked, "When will you come again?"

Our first lunch was in the books. We weren't buddies yet but we did eat lunch together! It was a good start. Deshawn and me, we're gonna be Lunch Buddies!

Servant Leaders

We had a great Deacon Meeting last night. Dave Sanders had the devotional. He titled it, Top Ten Things You Should Never Hear A Servant Leader Say. I thought you would enjoy this!

1o. Enough about you. Let's talk about me!
9. That's not my job. We have others who do that.
8. That's not my gift.
7. That was really my idea.
6. I'd like to, but that's the night I sort my socks.
5. I'll see your 30 years of service and raise you two.
4. It's not worth the effort. No one will notice anyway.
3. I don't know them, so I don't need to smile or even say hi.
2. Sorry, I'm saving this seat for a friend.
1. Hurry honey! We have to get their early to get a good parking space.

Thanks Dave! And thanks for being such a great example of servant leadership! But I have one more statement that you need to add to your list. Here is the eleventh thing you should never hear a servant leader say: "I don't know. I'm only a deacon!"

Renewed

Saturday concluded with concerts by David Phelps, Barlow Girl and Newsboys. I was impressed by all the bands desire to not only perform but to minister to people. You can see a slide show here.

All the bands did a great job but Newsboys were incredible. I'm not a big concert kind of guy, but this was different. Michael Tait demonstrated a humble heart for God and for the people of Cedar Rapids. They came to serve our community and that humility permeated the concert.

Keith Cook shared the gospel and asked for a show of hands after leading in a salvation prayer. There were a number of people near me who raised their hands. I met with two families to talk and record their information. Both families attend a catholic church. I plan to call the two men this week to see if they would be interested to meet for coffee to discuss the concert and the decision they made. Pray for me as I make these phone calls.

I don't know what the outcome of the concert will be. I do know that God used it to touch the hearts of many people Saturday night. We will continue to pray for open hearts and open doors for the gospel here in Cedar Rapids. And that God would continue to see fit to use New Covenant and Serve the City to accomplish His purpose in our city.

Saturday night Sharon and I walked several blocks to our car after a long day at the sports complex. We were both tired, but it was a good tired. Saturday night we returned home with a new sense of excitement about what God is doing in our city. We returned home strengthened and renewed.

Inspired

Sharon and I were assigned as Friends in the Sports Zone on Saturday afternoon. The Sports Zone was right next to the Family Fun Zone in the hockey arena. It was a perfect venue for the events.

I didn't know what to expect. I had seen Tanya Crevier at the FCA banquet a year ago. But I didn't really know much about Untitled Skateboards or the Strength Team. I came curious but I left inspired! You can see a slide show of the events here.

I was inspired by Tanya Crevier's passion! She is well into her 60's yet she exudes energy and enthusiasm. When I'm in my 60's I hope I have as much passion for life and sharing the love of Jesus as Tanya has! She's on incredible lady! She even taught Mr. Shucks some ball handling skills!

I was inspired by Untitled Skateboard's sincere love for Christ and their sport. Nothing fancy. Just three young men who obviously love skateboarding, love Jesus and who want to make a difference. They persevered through narly wipeouts, got back up and tried the same trick again. Wow! I would love to have just a portion of their perseverance.

I was inspired by the Stength Team's commitment to hard work. All of their feats of strength are accomplished without steroids or other substances. One member shared how he found his identity and acceptance in Christ after pursuing body building, drug addiction and steroid use.

The testimonies were impactful and the feats of skill and strength were awesome! At one point, the Strength Team said, young people don't try this at home. What the heck! Old people shouldn't be attempting this stuff either! And Keith Cook did a great job of sharing the gospel and pointing people to Jesus.

I won't be picking up skateboarding or juggling anytime soon. But I did leave inspired to live my life with passion and purpose. To use what God's given to me to impact others. To work at and practice my craft. And to find my strength and sufficiency in Jesus Christ. I left inspired!

Awe

As I reflect on the Noelridge BBQ on Friday evening, the word that comes to mind is Awe! I'm in awe as think about what God did. You can click on this link to see a slideshow of the event.

The concept was simple enough. Put on a BBQ, invite the neighbors, and build relationships. New Covenant teamed up with Eastview Christian to plan the Noelridge event. It was great working with Pastor Bill Holley and his team. James Wartian was the New Covenant point person and I was his helper!

We reserved the shelter at Noelridge Park just in case it rained. That was a good move! Eastview planned out the kids games, we put in our food order, went to 1300 homes with door hangers inviting them to the gathering, recruited volunteers, hung door hangers again the week of the BBQ, prayed and then waited.

This all seems simple enough, right? Yes, except it's never been done before in this neighborhood. Would anyone come simply because they got a door hanger? What would we do with 500 hamburgers, 200 hot dogs, 27 large bags of chips, 560 bottles of water and cans of pop if nobody came? I have to admit, there were times that I began to have some doubts!

Like on Friday morning when I woke up, went to the weather radar and saw the huge storm front coming our way. I followed it all day, and it wasn't going to miss us. And sure enough, at 6:00 PM, right as we began to serve, I felt the first sprinkle!

We began to make contingency plans. We moved the serving tables inside. We got the New Covenant umbrellas out and I began to wonder what we would do with all the extra food. Bummer!

And then God showed up. He had actually been a part of this all along. There's no other way you can explain what began to happen next. I stood in awe as He began to work in spite of the weather and my lack of faith.

I was in awe as:

1. I watched people begin to stream into Noelridge Park. The parking lot soon filled up and we sent a parking team out to direct people up to the Noelridge Pool parking lot! We filled up half the pool lot!
2. I watched people walking in the rain from the parking lot to the pavilion. Soon the pavilion completely filled up. Yet people continued to arrive. At one point, the line was 50 feet long out the door as people stood in the rain waiting to get their food!
3. I watched our people serve with grace, patience and joy! It was so much fun. I met some people for the first time from New Covenant. And we made some new friends with the folks from Eastview!
4. I watched Pastor Mark Eades and his team make and serve 250 snow cones to those who were standing in line for food! It brought a bit fun and enjoyment to what could have been a discouraging wait!
5. Bob Dye, Pastor Bob and our cooking team grilled up 500 hamburgers and 200 hot dogs! Bob Dye called earlier in the week and offered to bring the Youth For Christ chuck wagon to help with the grilling. We couldn't have done it without the chuck wagon. It even had an awning that kept the cooks dry!
6. I watched all the food we brought being served! Earlier in the day I was making plans on what to do with leftovers, and now I was worried about running out! But that didn't happen. We had enough for everyone, with a few hamburger patties left over. We used 650 paper plates and we probably served around that many people!
7. I met people from the neighborhood who showed up to eat. One woman and her three children were driving by, saw our sign that advertised Free BBQ and stopped to eat. They were early but waited 30 minutes and were one of the first through the line!
8. People asked me who sponsored the picnic. One person wanted to give a donation. Others stopped to introduce themselves and say thanks before they left!
9. As I talked to a woman from the Noelridge Neighborhood Association. She said they struggle to get ten people out to their meetings. And then she commented, as she pointed the people standing in the rain, "Look at this!"

Make no mistake, Friday night was a God thing. And it wasn't just at Noelridge. The same thing happened at some of the other venues around the city!

Friday night the rain showed up just as predicted. But something unusual also happened on that soggy summer evening. God showed up, and that changed everything!

Friday night I witnessed a miracle. To some, it may have looked strangely like a picnic, albeit a wet one. But to me, I was standing on holy ground in the presence of a mighty God. The Spirit of God was in that place and we served with a sense of awe!

Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today." Luke 5:26