Every Boy Needs A Buddy

For right or wrong, much of how I look at myself is through the roles I play. I'm a follower of Jesus Christ; a husband to one awesome woman; a father to four incredible boys; a father-in-law to three (soon to be four!) wonderful daughter-in-laws; a son to Bud Pagel; an adopted/surrogate grandfather to Annaclare, Annika and Allison; a Pastor to a growing church family; a friend....  You get the point!

Recently I have added one more role or title. Monday evening I went to the Metro Youth Football League fields to watch Deshawn play football. He's on a Wash 6th grade team. Deshawn and I have been Lunch Buddies through Big Brothers Big Sisters for the past two plus years.

It was a beautiful evening for football. It was just cool enough for a jacket, perfect football weather. The smell of fall leaves, the sound of parents cheering on their teams, and the glow of the lights breaking through the darkness to illuminate the fields created a memorable evening.

I arrived a little late and was trying to find the field Deshawn's team was playing on. In my search I came across one of Deshawn's friends, who immediately said, "Hey, you're Deshawn's Lunch Buddy!"

In that moment, something incredible happened that I wasn't prepared for - my heart filled with pride! I was honored to be known as Deshawn's "buddy."

I was the only person at the game Monday evening who was there to cheer on Deshawn. His teammates had parents, friends, aunts and uncles at the game to cheer them on. I got photos. Deshawn even scored a touchdown and made a solo tackle! I got to see it all!

Monday night brought back a lot of memories of watching my own sons play Metro football on those same fields. But I also reflected on my new title. I'm Deshawn's Lunch Buddy! It's a title that fills my heart with pride.

Every son needs a father. Every person needs a friend. Every team needs fans. Every boy needs a buddy!

Freely Give

Twenty years ago today I began serving at New Covenant Bible Church as Pastor of Discipling Ministries. That was a long time ago! I had just turned 40. Ryan was entering 4th grade, Jason 2nd grade and Josh and Jon were three years old! I won't tell you how old Sharon was. She was young!

A lot of things have changed over the past 20 years. New Covenant is relocating to a new facility. All four of my boys have graduated from college. Three are married and Jon and Trista have a wedding date set for October 22.

To celebrate my 20 Anniversary, I want to help finance a drilling rig for Zimbabwe. You can read more about it here. $165,000 would purchase the rig and fund the drilling of 20 wells. We are partnering with the Mushayamunda Christian Development Foundation. This is a ministry sponsored by Dennis Matangira and his family. Dennis is from Zimbabwe and attends New Covenant.

MCDF works with 20 schools that represents over 10,000 children! Only five of these schools have a well and clean drinking water! The first priority will be to drill wells for the 15 schools that don't have accessibility to clean water.

In addition, over 100 villages and other schools have contacted MCDF to help them drill wells so that they can have access to fresh water. Each well will be drilled and given in Jesus name. This is a great opportunity to demonstrate the good works and the good news of the gospel.

God has been good to me and my family over the past 20 years. I'm thankful for His faithfulness and provision. During the next 20 years, if I'm fortunate enough to live that long, I want to give back to others who have less. I want to leverage all that God has given to me for the kingdom. I want to invest my finances, influence, skills and time into things that will have eternal value.

This fall, I want to provide clean drinking water for villages and schools in Zimbabwe. On Sunday, October 30 I will be hosting a party and gathering at New Covenant from 3:00-5:00 PM for those who would like to join me in making a financial contribution to this Well Drilling Project. Save the date! More information will be coming.

I hope you will join me in giving thanks to God for His many blessings. And I hope too that you will give generously so that others can have clean water in Jesus name. Freely we have received, let's freely give.

Dynamic Inventory

Josh and Diana were planning on moving from Cedar Falls to Forest City tomorrow. A week earlier, Josh had gone to his local UHaul dealer and signed a contract for a 14 foot truck to be picked up on Sunday at 9:00 AM. They planed to make the move on July 31 as they have to be out of their apartment by August 1. So far, so good.

This evening at 4:45 PM UHaul called Josh to tell him that they don't have a truck available to rent to him. They called Josh and then end of the day and he had no opportunity to call others companies or make other plans. And to compensate him for the inconvenience they offered him $50.

Why does something like this happen when you have a signed contract? It happens because according to UHaul they have a "dynamic inventory!" Dynamic inventory? In essence, they lead people to believe that they have a truck secured when in fact, UHaul has no idea if they will have one available for you to use.

When you go to reserve a truck, they might as well say to you, "Call back on the day you want to rent and we will see what we have available." Or, "We have no idea what we will have on the lot. Your guess is as good as ours. It changes every day. We specialize in dynamic inventory." But when you have a signed contract you are led to believe you have a truck. But in fact, you don't.

And this isn't an isolated incident. I've learned this is common practice with UHaul. You can read about it here.

Thanks to friends we were able to secure a trailor and 15 passenger van to help make the move. God provides and Josh and Diana will get moved. It made for an interesting evening as we scrambled to make alternate arrangements.

So, next time you need to make a move, find a hauling company you can count on. One that keeps it's word. One that delivers on its promise. And one that doesn't have a dynamic inventory.

Tune Up

New air filter/spark plug and my old air filter/spark plug!

Last week several of us took our new Young Adult Pastor, Seth Watson, out for lunch at the Flying Weenie. It's a right of passage for all new interns and pastors!

Over the course of our lunch conversation the topic of lawn mowing came up. So I told Seth, "Watch this Seth, I'm going to get Tye really excited. He's going to come right out of his chair!"

People began to guess what I would say next. The set up was complete. So I announced, "I've had my lawn mower for 11 years and I've never sharpened the blade!"

Now you need to know something about Tye Male. He's passionate about his grass and lawn mowing. He double fertilizes his lawn, and mows on Mondays and Thursdays. He double cuts his grass and has immaculately straight lines. He has a spare blade so that he can keep a sharpened one on his mower at all times. His lawn is a thing of beauty, admired by the entire neighborhood!

I'm not sure if Tye was shocked or amused by my shameful admission. Perhaps he felt compassion for a "backslidden" brother. I really don't know. All I do know is that several days later Tye showed up in my garage, removed the dull blade off my mower and took it in to be sharpened.

And today, he returned the blade, bolted it back on my mower, changed the spark plug and installed a new air filter. Neither the spark plug or air filter had been changed in 11 years either!

I can't wait to try out my "new mower!" What started out as a funny story has turned into an act of service. Tye is using an area of his passion to serve me in an area that I just "get by." Thanks Tye for your friendship and servant heart!

Which brings me to the idea of the importance of and need for regular tune ups. Neglect and even abuse of a lawn mower is one thing. Ignoring or failing to maintain things that are valuable to us can have catastrophic consequences.

I've learned a lot about this the hard way. Take these examples.

• My marriage needs regular tune ups. Sharon and I are reading and discussing Love and War, a book on marriage. We've learned over the years that if we aren't intentionally moving toward one another, we are drafting apart. Ask Sharon to tell you the story about her engagement ring some time.
• My physical body needs regular tune ups. I go in for dental check-ups every six months. I just had an appointment this past Monday. I ignored doing this when we were first married which resulted in years of dental work to correct the problems it created. Sharon and I go in for regular chiropractic, physical and eye exams.
• Our finances need regular tune ups. I've balanced our check book monthly for our entire married life. But during the past five years we have worked harder at intentionally managing our finances with a spending plan that we monitor several times a week.
• My spiritual life needs regular tune ups. I set aside 45-60 minutes 4-5 times a week for Bible reading, prayer, and time along with God. Weekly times of corporate worship feed my soul. Our small group and times of prayer help me connect with God and others for healthy spiritual growth.

Regular tune ups are important. Neglect them at your own peril! We care for the things we value.

This week I have enjoyed celebrating the 60th birthday of a friend, coffee with one of my sons, dinner and conversation with a missionary friend, conversation with Sharon about our marriage, breakfast with two friends, and coffee with several other friends.

This week, take time out of your busy schedule to spend with the people and projects that you really care about. Don't let the urgent squeeze out the important. Have that long-needed conversation. Begin that neglected project. Hug a family member. Check in with an old friend. Even mow the lawn! It's time for that long over due tune up!

In Need Of A Friend

Life is circling back around on Sharon and myself. We met at Iowa State University in 1971. It was my junior year and Sharon's freshman year. I knew Mark, Sharon's brother, who lived on my dorm floor in the Towers. Through Mark's encouragement, we both got involved with Bible studies and weekly meetings with The Navigators.

Which led to .... nothing at first. Ah but later (several years later), I began to notice this cute girl who had an awesome walk with God. And I decided I wanted to know her better. And the rest is history. I like to tell people that I liked Mark (her brother) so well that I married his sister!

The Navigator ministry connected us with a group of students who loved Jesus and who believed they could change the world. Scripture memory, Bible study, summer training programs, conferences and weekly gatherings helped lay a solid spiritual foundation in our lives that we are still building on today.

I'm thankful for Mark and the many Navigator staff who prayed with, cared for and invested in us during a very important time in our lives.

And now, 40 years later, one of my sons is sensing God calling him to the same ministry, to invest in the lives of students with The Navigators. Jon and his fiance, Trista, will be married October 22 of this year. It's their prayer that they will be fully funded by that time so they can be on campus, ministering with Kyle Nelson and the rest of the staff and student leaders at UNI.

It's my prayer that Jon and Trista will be used of God at UNI. That they would build relational connections with those far from God and equip those who are followers of Christ. That they would seek out freshmen students and others who are at a crossroads regarding who they are, what they believe and who they want to follow. That they would befriend students and help them grow into young adults.

And I hope they will be on the lookout for a quiet girl from a northeast Iowa farm and I shy guy from a small central Iowa town. They're a little overwhelmed right now. They hope they can make friends. They aren't sure what they want to do with the rest of their lives, but they hope the next year will be good. They're not real comfortable talking about spiritual things, but they would be interested in meeting people who have a vibrant, genuine faith. Something real, something that makes a difference in life. Keep a look out for these two. They are in need of a friend.

A Life Worth Living

On new years eve I like to use spend time reviewing the previous year. I found a list of questions that I really like to use. I modified the list and here is what I now use for my year-end review. Solitude and time alone with God press meaning into my busy life and help me live more intentionally.

Socrates has said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." Psalm 90:12 says, "Teach us to consider our mortality, so we might live wisely." (NET) Wise living and a life worth living require regular review and time alone with God and His Word.

2009 was a very busy year with lots of changes. Several things that were hi-lights for me:

• I became a Lunch Buddy at Polk School and began meeting with DeShawn.
• We awarded the first Pagel Family Scholarship.
• Our first Family Vacation in Colorado with our adult kids and spouses! 
• Sharon and I had many important, honest conversations and our relationship is growing and thriving!

It's your turn now. Feel free to change the questions and make your own list!

1. If the last year were a movie of your life, what would the genre be?
2. What were the two or three major themes that kept recurring?
3. What did you accomplish this past year that you are the most proud of? These can be in any area of your life—spiritual, relational, vocational physical, etc. Be as specific as possible. 
4. What do you feel you should have been acknowledged for but weren’t?
5. What disappointments or regrets did you experience this past year? As leaders, we naturally have high expectations of ourselves and others. Where did you let yourself down? Where did you let others down?
6. What was missing from last year as you look back? Again, look at each major area of your life. Don’t focus now on having to do anything about it. For now, just list each item. Here is my list: 
7. What were the major life-lessons you learned this past year? Boil this down to a few short, pithy statements.
8. What issues or opportunities will you face this coming year? What do you want to trust God for?

Kim Sent You

The day is off to a great start! We found a small bakery called the Estes Park Pie Company that makes cinnamon rolls. The shop opens at 8:30 AM and we arrived shortly after 9:00 to pick up our freshly baked treats.

However, much to our surprise, they only had two cinnamon rolls left! I explained to Vallerie how sad all of our kids would be if we went home empty handed! My sob story must have worked as Vallerie volunteered to bake up eight rolls for us if we were willing to wait.

No problemo! I asked Vallerie if there was an up-charge for hot cinnamon rolls and she assured me that the price would be the same. The recipe Vallerie uses is a family favorite, passed down from her grandmother. 50 minutes later and we were the proud owners of eight warm cinnamon rolls! It was all I could do to get them home without eating one!

They looked delicious, they were warm and they smelled incredible. The only thing left was to put Vallerie's cinnamon rolls to the Pagel "taste test!" And they didn't disappoint! Everyone agreed that they were as good as Sharon's, which is saying something! A glass of cold milk and the morning culinary treat was complete!

If you're ever in Estes Park, stop by the Estes Park Pie Company and check out their cinnamon rolls. I hear their pies and cakes aren't bad either. But stop in early or you may be disappointed.

Oh, and say "hello" to Vallerie for me. And tell her that Kim sent you!

Blind Ambition

You need to watch this video! John Bramblitt lost his sight but gained his vision. Check out John's website which features some of his newer art and style.

People like John Bramblitt remind us that our attitude and outlook limits us far more than our circumstances. That creativity is part of what it means to be made in the image of God.

What limitations have you accepted as "normal?" What boundaries and barriers is God asking you to move past? And when you feel all hope is lost and the quest is too hard, remember John Bramblitt.

A Blessing!

One of our sons moved out last week. He's on a six month missions trip with Send International to a country in eastern Europe. He will be assisting a missionary couple with the construction of a camp in the mountains that will be used as an outreach to Muslim families and children. Pretty neat stuff!

Which son, you ask? Preston Smith, our "adopted son"! Preston came to live with us the day before Thanksgiving 2008. He originally came to Cedar Rapids as a volunteer with Eight Days of Hope in the fall of 2008. Preston enjoyed his time in Cedar Rapids so much, he decided to move here to volunteer with flood relief. We offered Preston a place to stay and the rest is history!

Preston refers to us as his second family, and to Sharon as his Iowa Mom! He introduces himself to Josh and Jon's friends as their "other brother!"

Last fall we enjoyed hosting Steve and Linda, Preston's parents, in our home for a week. It was a great time getting to know them. They have raised an awesome son!

This past week, Steve and Linda returned again. This time they came to help Preston pack up his room, clear out the garage, return tools, and prepare to leave. We are excited for Preston and the new adventure that awaits him.

But we also experienced a sense of sadness that only a parent of adult children can understand. I'm convinced that letting go is the hardest work a parent ever has to do. Our home is now a little quieter. There's no one else at the dinner table in the evening. His room is empty. This past week we walked with Steve and Linda as they readied their son and his stuff for departure. I'm sure they had a long, lonely trip back to West Virginia.

In November 2008 Preston moved to Iowa, knowing almost no one. Eighteen months later he flew out of Cedar Rapids, leaving an adopted  "Iowa family" and his mark on our community.  Thank you Preston for the blessing you have been to us and our entire church family.

The Great Adventure

Today is my birthday and wedding anniversary, all rolled up in one! Days like this invite me to ponder and reflect - reflect on the past, where I'm going, God's goodness and sovereign leading.

The movie Up best captures this season of life for Sharon and myself. We both love this movie! Up is a metaphor for how Sharon and I want to live the rest of our lives - shedding those things from our past that hold us back, enjoying each day as a gift from God, and pursuing the great adventure He has for us!

The pivotal moment in the movie for me is when Carl stomps into his house, the house that he has been dragging behind him in his pursuit of Paradise Falls. His is mad at Russell. He is tired from his long journey. He reaches his destination only to find that he is all alone. Alone with his stuff. The quest has left him empty, tired and alone.

Then Carl discovers Ellie's photo album. He thumbs through it and learns that Ellie lived her adventure. Ellie's life was full and satisfying. Ellie never reached Paradise Falls but she lived her dream.

And then Carl reads these words from Ellie that transforms his life. Thanks for the Adventure ~ now go have a new one!

Carl throws a piece of furniture out the door of his house in anger and disgust. And in the process, he realizes that his "stuff" is what's holding him back from pursuing his new adventure. He begins to shed the extra weight, pitching furniture, photos, and memories out the door. The stuff Carl pitches are treasures from his past, but they won't be needed on his new adventure. In fact, to insistently hang on to the past is to lug around extra weight that holds us back from reaching our new future.

Sharon and I are so thankful for our past. We're thankful for God's goodness to us. But as our children grow, leave home, get married and begin their own lives, it's important that Sharon and I continue to grow and move forward. As much as we love to reminisce about the past, the past is over and we no longer live there. The past is meant to fuel our future.

So today, I'm thankful for God's faithfulness. I'm thankful that 33 years ago Sharon said "yes!" I'm thankful for four incredible sons and two awesome daughters-in-law.

But I'm also thankful that God has a new adventure in store for Sharon and I together. That the best is yet to come. That our adventure isn't just a goal to achieve, but a daily way of life to fully enjoy in the present. As Russell says: "Sometimes it's the boring stuff I remember the most!"

Today, I'm thankful for Sharon and our great adventure!

During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me." Exodus 12:31-32

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!

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?"

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?

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

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!

Renewal

Sharon and I have been enjoying Sanibel Island, Florida for the past week. I can't believe how fast the time has gone! You can click on the picture above to see a slide show. We are staying with my dad on the island. He has cooked our evening dinners for us, it's almost like having our personal chef!

We are within walking/biking distance of the ocean and beach! The weather has been in the 70's so we have spent a lot of time outside. This past week I walked 21 miles and biked 37 miles! Sharon and I started each day with an early morning beach walk of 4 miles. What a great way to start your day!

I have been mostly unplugged this past week, making it very relaxing. We went to two spring training baseball games. There's nothing like watching baseball in February when it's 70 degrees in Florida and 10 degrees in Iowa! Sharon and I are working our way through the TrueFaced Experience guide, and we've had good conversations each afternoon in a local park or coffee shop over the topics of trust and grace.

We've also enjoyed evening walks on the beach at sunset, bike riding, extend times in the Word and times praying together. I read two books and have had fun capturing some photos of our week. It's been a great vacation. But better yet, it has been a wonderful time of recreation, refreshment and renewal.

Turn Off and Tune In

There's a new study out on what makes people happy. The study conducted by the University of Maryland sociologist John Robinson was published in the December issue of the journal Social Indicators Research. It looked at public opinion data from nearly 40,000 people ages 18 to 64, as well as time-use diaries that detail how people spend their days.

And what did the study conclude? They found that happy people spend more free hours socializing, reading and participating in religious activities, while unhappy people watch 30 percent more television!

The most recent figure from Nielsen Media Research indicate that the average American watches 4 1/2 hours of television per day. That is 31 1/2 hours every week. This is enough television to make anyone unhappy! Life is too short and there is too much to do to park yourself in front of a television that many hours a week.

Now, don't get me wrong. I enjoy a good TV show or sporting event as much as the next guy. Just last night all four of us watched the Syracuse Orange beat the Kansas Jayhawks in an exciting overtime basketball game. Our emotions went from elation to frustration during the course of the game. It was a thoroughly enjoyable family time.

Now, we don't know if watching television makes a person unhappy, or if those who are unhappy are drawn to more television as a way to ward off their unhappiness. But make no mistake, heavy television watching correlates with unhappiness.

So tomorrow, choose to be happy. Turn off the television. Engage in stimulating conversation. Enjoy hanging out with family and friends. Tell a funny story. Recall God's goodness this past year and thank Him for His many blessings.

Take time to turn off and tune in.

It Will Come Back

We had a great Men's Fraternity session this morning titled, "What Every Dad Needs to Know." Good stuff.

Our boys are grown and on their own, or well on their way. They're not hanging around the family room at night, not raiding our refrig, not playing in the marching band, not inviting friends over, not playing whiffle ball in the back yard. They're not living at home anymore. And if I think too long on this kind of stuff I begin to get sad.

But then I think about what our boys are doing now. Ryan is married, is finishing up his degree at OU and has accepted a full-time position with Chesapeake Energy. Jason is engaged with a January 3 wedding date just around the corner, serving students at Timberline Lodge in Colorado. And Josh and Jon are students at UNI, involved with The Navigator ministry and growing in their relationships with Christ.

When I think about the way God has blessed Sharon and I with four incredible boys and what they are doing with their lives, I get all teary eyed. But these are tears of joy and gratitude. God is so good and so faithful!

Robert Lewis shared this Erma Bombeck story. I end with this.

When Mike was three he wanted a sandbox and his father said, “There goes the yard. We’ll have kids over her day and night and they’ll throw sand into the flower beds and cats will make a mess in it and it will kill the grass for sure.” And Mike’s mother said, “It will come back.”

When Mike was five, he wanted a jungle gym set with swings that would take his breath away and bars to take him to the summit and his father said, “Good grief, I’ve seen those things and do you know what they look like? Mud holes in a pasture. Kids digging their gym shoes in…It will kill the grass.” And Mike’s mother said, “It will comeback.”

Between breaths when Daddy was blowing up the plastic swimming pool he warned, “You know what they’re going to do to this place? They’re going to condemn it and use it for a missile site. I hope you know what you’re doing. They’ll track water everywhere and you’ll have a million water fights and you won’t be able to take the garbage out without stepping in mud up to your neck and when we take this thing down we will have the only brown lawn on the block.” “It will come back,” smiled Mike’s mother.

When Mike was twelve, he volunteered his yard for a campout. As they hoisted the tents and drove in the spikes, his father stood at the window and observed, “Why don’t I just put the grass seed out in cereal boxes for the birds and save myself the trouble of spreading it around. You know for a fact that those tents and all those big feet are going to trample down every single blade of grass, don’t you? Don’t bother to answer,” he went on, “I know what you’re going to say—it will come back.”

The basketball hoop on the side of the garage attracted more crowds than the Winter Olympics. And a small patch of lawn that started out with a barren spot the size of a garbage can lid soon grew to encompass the entire side yard. And just when it looked like the new seed might take root, the winter came and the sled runners beat it into ridges and Mike’s father shook his head and said, “I never asked for much in this life—only a patch of grass.” And his wife smile and said, “It will come back.”

The lawn this year was beautiful. It was green and alive and rolled out like sponge carpet along the driveway where the gym shoes had run…along the garage where bicycles used to fall, and around the flower beds where little boys used to dig with ice tea. But Mike’s father never noticed the new grass. He anxiously looked beyond the yard and asked with a catch in his voice, “He will come back, won’t he?”

This Is Home

I've had Switchfoot's "This Is Home" running around in my head for some time. I knew there was a blog post in there somewhere, I just didn't know when or what.

I first heard the song this past summer on ESPN of all places. They used it as their theme song for the Title Town USA contest they were holding. I loved the song but didn't know anything about it. Josh did some hunting around and found that it was done by Switchfoot for the Prince Caspian movie.

This morning I put a slide show together using This Is Home. I used pictures from Eight Days of Hope. Enjoy!

This Is Home reminds me that this world is not my home. That my real home is in heaven. And it's imperishable and eternal. That it will never be destroyed. And that in my new home there will be no more tears, no more death, no more mourning, no more crying and no more pain. This is my real home, the home where I belong.

Every man, woman and child longs for a home like this. A place to call their own. A place to belong. I want to help people find their real home, a home prepared with love just for them.

I've been created for a place I've never known. This is home!

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1-3