Sunday Night Thoughts...

Jim really challenged us this morning on how we raise our kids...great points! I long to have my kids passionately following Jesus and I pray that I will lead them in the best way possible. This Sunday is the first one in WEEKS where we didn't have technical issues...Jerimae and I prayed over the tech equipment this week...PRAYER WORKS!

Granger Community Church is launching their first satellite campus in a couple of weeks at a theater. Their team came and checked out how we use our theater...Their campus pastor Jeff is a passionate, God-lovin', full of vision guy. I pray for them often! Having them visit is a benefit to us too...I'll get a fresh set of eyes telling me what his impressions are of Grace. Praying that those guys reach 100's, even 1000's of people. GO GET EM BOYS!

My parents have been here all weekend...been a great time hanging out with them! Tomorrow Mark and I will be running in a 5k...not sure how good of a time we'll have because of losing training time when I hurt my knee...we'll see...hoping to be in the 23 minute area...

GO TO BED!

Got on Facebook for the first time last night and I think that I found another addictive behavior. I have found people on there that I haven't talked to in YEARS! Unbelievable...it is fun to catch just a small picture of their lives. I am TERRIBLE at keeping up with old friends, so it has been great...

There haven't been too many things that really surprise me, but entering the world of Facebook took me back. There's a whole world out there that I knew nothing about...so many people are on there and you can really find out a lot about people. WHOA!

My parents are in town from OH and dad, Jaden and I went to Jaden's first High School football game...then my dad had the quote of the night as we were watching the halftime band show: "You know, Timothy, it has been 20 years since you did that 50's & 60's halftime show." OH MY WORD!!!! There has been so much "water under the bridge" since that time...20 years...So many people...life changing decisions...my wife, Kelsey and 3 kids...graduated High School, College, have had 2 teaching jobs and worked for 2 churches...this makes me dream about "What will the next 20 years be like..."

"Hey, Tim...go to bed!" I think I will...

Verse of the day...

"Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue." Proverbs 17: 28

Oh, now that is a GREAT quote!

1-0 Baby!

My 7th and 8th grade soccer team opened up their season today with a 7-0 win. The boys played hard and one boy had 5 goals and another had 4 assits. NICE! What I liked is that they started to play smart soccer...they won the right way and won with class. I have a great group of boys...I could go on and on and on and on with a recap, but I know Kelsey is reading my blog right now and she has already heard it all!! Don't want to bore my honey baby!!

Oh, that was good...

I went to Mark Beeson's blog today...he is the senior pastor at Granger Community Church. OH MY WORD did he have an awesome post...It is a long post, but it is worth it. You can read it here... http://www.markbeeson.com/mark_beeson/2008/08/craig-groeschel.html I'd be interested to hear your comments about it...do you know what it is or not? Have you ever experienced it? Can you sense it at your church? What do you think...

GOD'S TIMING ROCKS!

Our kids did their Blitz yesterday (see yesterday's post) and I got a call this morning from a lady who received one of the school boxes, asking if someone from our church could go visit her son who is in jail. Well, he is in Elkhart jail, so I called our Goshen campus and got the # of Tom, the man in charge of our jail ministry. Talked to his wife and he is going TONIGHT to the jail! So, within 24 hours of receiving a school box, this young man in jail will rub shoulders with a CHILD OF THE KING who can give him eternal hope. NICE GOD...I love your timing!

A moment to remember...

As I was typing the last post I was watching the U.S. men's volleyball team win gold. What a story of team...a story of overcoming your circumstances...The men's coach's father in-law was murdered last week in China and now he is a gold medal winner...what incredible swings in emotion...I can't even imagine all of the things that he is feeling...I had chills while I watched it...I even teared up! WOW...

Sunday Night Thoughts...

Today was a dream come true for me during our service...Jerimae, our worship pastor, had 2 people bring in original art work and explain it...that was the intro to the worship set. (One of the ladies was Karen, his wife!!) Unbelievable...it was great heart prep...for 3-4 years I have been dreaming of having art, the visual arts, involved in our service. OH DID JERIMAE COME THROUGH! I was moved by their explanations...just wonderful...then the music was great and he and Kyle played at the end of each song...a chance to reflect on the songs we were singing. Oh, it was good...

BEST PART...that was only the beginning! Jim spoke on "why follow through?" Talking about marriage. He spoke about the benefits of staying together with your wife until "death do you part." Oh, I was in tears...from laughing, from being challenged...I have chills just thinking about it. At the end of the message Jim had us go outside and take sidewalk chalk and put our wives and our names in it...It was cool...

BUT IT IS NOT OVER YET! Then we had pizza after tear-down and had our Kid's Kare and Share Blitz. Blitzes are outreaches we do out in the community...simple, practical touches of Christ's love in the community...COOL! The kids made fun boxes for kids in our community. It was a school box with fun stuff in it...cool idea...the kids helped to plan it, put the boxes together and then they delivered them...went to hospitals, homeless shelters, neighborhoods, parks...AWESOME! Jeff & Sharon our Kidzone leaders did a great job empowering our kids.

What a day! PRAISE GOD for all that he is doing!

Here are the highlights from Jim's message:

Why follow through?

1. There is a blessing of obedience. God will bless you if you stay true to your commitment...God blesses purity!

2. The "we did it" factor. DON'T BAIL OUT...stay with your marriage!

3. Blessing of new memories and sharing the old ones...if you bail out...who are you going to share those memories with?!?! SHARE THOSE FUNNY AND GOOD TIMES!!

4. Legacy passed on to your kids...BREAK THE GENERATIONAL PATTERNS OF SIN!

5. Time to become one! work through the hard times...

6. The fun & spark of love...what else needs to be said on this one!?!?!?!

The pain of defeat...

I LOVE competetion...love to put everything out there and see what happens...to try to bring the best out of people. I love to pour myself into what I am doing. Tonight our men's softball team played in a tournament...we were down by 4 runs in the bottom of the 7th and scored 4 to tie the score against the #1 team. Then we ended up losing in the 8th inning. MAN THAT WAS A TOUGH LOSS!!!! GREAT to be in the game, but stinks to lose. Then we played one of the weakest teams an lost. UNBELIEVABLE...I have to say it was hard to take. I'm still fuming. I know...some of you out there are saying... "It's just a game Tim." Sure...I hear you and I may believe that in the morning...BUT I really want to be at my best and our team's best. I REALLY enjoyed the guys...fun group! Competition is not something that we should be afraid of, but soemthing that we need to learn how to shape...mold to be constructive and not destructive...

As for softball....As they say..."there's always next year..."

Patience in the process

I'm coaching 7th & 8th grade soccer at a local public school. It is the school where I used to teach before I went full time as a pastor. I love coaching...I enjoy working with the guys to do more than they think they can. What I don't like is the process sometimes...I just want to jump ahead and have all of our passes sharp...players in the right positions...GREAT defense...I have heard it said that we need to enjoy the journey...I am working on that in all areas of my life...to enjoy the process as well as the result...

Interesting Experience...

Kelsey and I went to the the famous Ruth Chris Steakhouse tonight. We were given a gift certificate at Christmas...If you have never heard of it, I'll just say that one steak was $38 and that was mid-range...The place is beautiful...dark wood...the service is amazing... friendly... professional...very polished...the food was well...WOW!!!! I can still taste the amazing flavors in my mouth right now...a couple hours later. BEST PART: The woman I was with is just BEAUTIFUL! MAN I LOVE THAT WOMAN! So glad she said yes all of those years ago...

A couple of other impressions of the night:

-The server had our table, another table and a group of at least 12 and I never felt like she was rushed...or didn't take care of us...tipped her well!

-We were offered a 2nd platter of broccoli because they thought our first one looked small...WHAT KIND OF PLACE DOES THAT!

-The portions were HUGE...I AM STUFFED!

-The table of 12 people was OBNOXIOUS! Very loud...more like Hacienda or Logan's...Have to say that this is NOT the atmosphere we were looking for...It was hard to hear each other talk...I expect that at Logan's not Ruth Chris...

-Did I mention how great the steak was!?!?!?!?!?! OH BABY!

A trip down memory lane...and then some!

Full day today...on the run!

Started out this morning running a couple of miles with Mark, my running partner. My knee has been bothering me...not as much pain today. I hope to be at full strength so I can race on Labor Day. It's been frustrating to be held back! I just want to let lose and GO...

After running I helped get the kids up for school and then drove to Goshen for our staff meeting. We meet every Tuesday in Goshen with the staffs of both campuses...I can't express to you how encouraging it is to work with those guys...it goes way beyond work...it's more than just doing ministry together...there are real friendships...real people...AWESOME GUYS!

I left the staff meeting and headed to Warsaw (actually Winona Lake, IN) for a meeting at CE National. I'm teaching a class this fall at Grace College for their youth ministry program. Grace and CE partner together for the program. The trip down memory lane was that I got to Winona a little early, so I stopped by the music building at Grace. I went to Grace and graduated with my Music Ed. degree in Dec. '96...I prayed through the building and had the chance to talk with Dr. Gano...one of the best, most challenging prof's I ever had...

Then had the meeting at CE and met my teacher assistant Nick...he is a passionate guy and I can't wait to work with him! When we finished lunch I ran into Prof. Faber...my choral and music ed professor...SHE IS THE BEST OF THE BEST! She believed in me when I was a raw, immature, WAY INTENSE, college student...she gave me opportunities that were HUGE in shaping my life.

Couldn't talk long though 'cause I had to get to LaSalle Academy in South Bend and coach soccer...Got there 10 minutes early...(not sure how that happened...I kept getting behind the SLOWEST DRIVERS EVER!) I enjoy coaching...great chance to help to shape kids lives.

Had to run from there to home because Kesley teaches piano lessons...Had an AWESOME dinner and then played some soccer with the neighbor kids. (Which by the way, Jaden and I won the game 6-2...there were 2 of us and 6 of them...Jaden scored two goals and he was the youngest player out there!)

Alright...I know this may sound crazy, but I really enjoy crazy days like this sometimes...Just doing several different things...having to switch gears and put on different "hats." FUN! Guess that's why I enjoy being a campus pastor so much...I get to wear A LOT of hats...

Hey...I'm watching the Olympics now...

Sunday Night Thoughts...

CRAZY morning...the power blew at the theater...then it blew again...then it blew again and we weren't even started yet...the set up team did a GREAT at finding new spots for power and getting everything going. AND GUESS WHAT?!?! Even with all of the rat race GOD MOVED! One person made a decision to follow Jesus today! HOW COOL! Through all the craziness of our start...through our weakness...God comes through! We have a great team...have I ever mentioned that before??!!!!

One Church, Two Locations, Three Venues

OH YEAH BABY!!!! Our Goshen Campus launched their 2nd venue on Sunday...that means they have 2 services happening at the same time...no not an overflow room...it is 2 separate services...two praise bands, but ONE speaker...Jim was live in one room and projected in the other. The new space is cool! So, on Sunday when we started our service at Movies 14, we had 3 services happening at the same time...2 in Goshen and 1 in South Bend!! I LOVE IT! We didn't build a bigger auditorium...we just added another really cool space that also can be used all week long! Just another way to reach people with the gospel...the new room is amazing...cool...there were 40 decisions for Christ on Sunday! YES! YES! YES! Finding ways...creative ways to reach people!

Practice what you preach, BOUCHER!

Alright...I preach and preach and preach to people about making sure they take care of their marriages...about making sure that they spend time with their kids...about "when your home...be HOME..." because too many of us are home, but we are working on other things. Well, I have been doing well in 2 of those 3 areas...which is good % in basketball and AMAZING in baseball...but life and family not so good!

Kelsey and I went on a date last night for the first time in 3-4 months...no joke...AWFUL! Can't expect my marriage to be healthy...can't expect to keep the fire alive... if I'm not taking care of my bride! I long to have those smiles that were on our faces 12 years ago when we got married to continue to be there. Bottom line is...we all slip up...we all mix up our priorities sometimes...the key is GET BACK ON TRACK...lose the guilt and go make it right! Husbands...let's make sure that in the process of career, ball games, diapers, school, the economy, AND EVERYTHING ELSE...let's be sure to take care of our bride...to not just say that we love them...but show them...MAKE IT HAPPEN GUYS, believe me, you'll be glad you did!

I'll tell you this...it was fun...went to Panera for dinner...walked along the East Race (St. Jo River) and had a frozen custard (that's what my family always called them!) at DQ...AND we talked and talked...held hands as we walked...just hung out together. Someday, when the kids are grown, I'll be so glad that I took the time to keep our marriage fresh...

THANK GOD for Michele from our church...she watched our little ones...fed them...and put them to bed! Always helps when you know your kids are in good hands!

GUESS WHAT?!?!?! We get to do it again next week too! Michele is coming again and we get to go out again...

(Hey, I recognize that girl in the pic, but who is the guy with about 25 more lbs and those COOL glasses?!?!?! Who is that guys?)

I want that...

Reading in 2Timothy...chapter 1 and verse 7 is just pure power... "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." MAN...BE BOLD...I have the power of the ALMIGHTY GOD on my side. As I have read over this and over this the past two days the phrase that really nails me is spirit of self-discipline. How disciplined am I really? I know what it takes to be spiritually, emotionall, physically sharp...to be at the top of my game...Look at what Micheal Phelps has been able to accomplish. Sure, he has A LOT of talent, but he has more than that. Many talented people never make it to the Olympics, because they lack the self-discipline and they are willing to make the sacrifice. This is a process, isn't it?!?!

Here is the thing...if I am to be more like Jesus, then I must, MUST work on my self-discipline...this goes for reading the Bible, praying, fasting, sharing my faith, as well as eating, exercising, learning, etc. It can be overwhelming sometimes...BUT God says that he will give us the strength to do it! TAP INTO THE POWER EVERYONE!!!!

First Day of School

Chloe and Jaden had their first day of school yesterday...they were so cute! Jaden was TIRED after the first day and Chloe had a BOAT LOAD of homework...MAN...TOUGH TEACHER!! Kelsey said that Luke was asking her questions and at her side most of the day...he is not used to having Chloe and Jaden gone...

School starts tomorrow...

The kids start school tomorrow...I am so excited for them...Went to their school tonight and met Jaden's teacher...I just love the beginning of a school...the excitement, the reuniting with friends and learning new friends...finding out who your teacher will be...getting to see your old teachers...FUN! Chloe and Jaden will be riding the bus together tomorrow...COOL! How fun!!

Side note...the 4x100 men's swimming relay last night was incredible! Probably the best race I have ever seen!! WOW! I love watching the Olympics...

The East Race Baby!!

Kelsey, dad (kels' dad), Chloe and I went down the East Race today...it is a part of the St. Joseph River that has white water rapids...IT WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FUN! We went in circles...hit waves sideways...GOT extremely wet...BUT NEVER FELL IN! Chloe did a great job and she was so excited to go again...FUN!

Sunday Night Thoughts...

Summer hours are over at the theater! It was sooooooooooooo great today...we catered in lunch today with a little Subway and just hung out at the theater after the service...we had a lot of people stick around...FUN! So, nice to not have to tear down so fast and be out of there...

The service for me was moving...we finished the series "Bridge Over Troubled Waters." Talked today about how to deal with prayers that don't get answered...storms that never end...Think about the Israelites in Exodus 1...they were slaves in Egypt for 400+ years...MANY MANY people prayed that God would come through for them in that they were free...BUT God can come through for us deep inside of us...Philippians 4:7 says that God can give a peace that goes beyond our understanding...a peace that doesn't make sense...A LOT of people need that...

Another thing...sometimes we have a praise band and at times Jerimae plays alone...I like both...Jerimae just ROCKED today...God used him this morning...LOVE coming up to speak after he sets me up with AMAZING worship!!

Excited!

I am excited about tomorrow...our Goshen campus is opening their new building...a lot of prayer, planning...more prayer...has gone into this...in fact the foundation was poured on the names of people who need Jesus...I LOVE THAT! Praying for God to blow our Goshen gang away this weekend!

Looking forward to our service as well...we finally don't have to run out, so we are going to have a meal after the service at Movies 14...it will be fun to celebrate the great job everyone has done getting tearing down over the past copule of weeks.

Kelsey's B-day

Kelsey's birthday is today!! She continues to be 25 years old...we married really, really young! She is soooooooo amazing...Big party was hanging out at Chloe's school and meeting her teacher. Fun & mind blowing...Chloe is going to be in 3rd grade...I don't imagine when Kels was having birthdays through the years that she ever dreamed she would be going to meet her daughters teacher on her bday someday...My kids and I are sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo lucky to have her! THANKS GOD!

Facing Your Fears

Post #3 in less than an hour...1st time for everything...

Today while the kids were swimming I realized that I'm going to have to practice what I preach...I challenge my kids and other people to face their fears...to overcome what they think is impossible...

One of those things for me is swimming in deep water...no joke...My biggest fear is drowning and I don't have a great story as to why...just always have been afraid and I never have learned to tread water...I can swim some (no endurance!) and have been "through" the deep end before...but I have NEVER jumped into water over my head...never dove into deep water and have DEFINITELY never gone off a diving board.

"So why are you blogging that Tim?" GREAT QUESTION!!!! I guess because now EACH ONE of you is my accountability...I am making it a goal to jump into the deep end, learn how to tread water AND jump off of a diving board by next summer...I don't want to miss out on the fun of playing with my kids in the deep end...don't want to have to find reasons to not get in...it is time to practice what I preach...face my own fears...and "do more than I think I can..."

Hey...is it really true that when you write it, you have to follow through or could I just erase this post and act like I never wrote it?

Just asking...

A little 3 year old fish...

We went swimming tonight with friends of ours. Their daughter is a little fish...she is 3 years old and swims in the deep end!!! Not just that but she jumps in the deep end...does flips in the water...hand stands in the water...SHE IS 3 YEARS OLD FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!! It was amazing to watch!

My kids are doing so well in the water...Chloe is so good...I love to watch her swim the breast stroke...it is a thing of beauty. Jaden faced his fear today...he would NOT go in the deep end, but tonight he jumped in and then it was over...off he went. Luke...he just jumps and jumps and jumps...really fun to watch!

Running Partner

I'm training for a 5k race in September...the best part is I have a running partner this time! I LIKE HAVING A RUNNING PARTNER! Mark and I have been running together for 3 or 4 weeks now...a running partner really helps to keep you motivated and pulls you through the tough parts of a run. At different times we have helped each other...When we run 2 miles he usually pulls me through...he was a sprinter in college for crying out loud......today we ran a 5k and I pushed him through the hill...we work to not leave the other one behind, but to push each other...we want to bring out the best in each other.

We need friends like that in our lives...people who will pull us through the hard times and push us when we think we can't do more. The phrase that comes to mind is one that Jim, our lead pastor says: "You can do more than you think you can." I long to be the kind of leader that pulls the best out of people...That pulls people through those tough long hills in their lives...who challenges someone to give more when they go toward the finish line...and who CELEBRATES the victories and learns from the failures...

Sunday Night Thoughts...

Lots of things to think about tonight...

1. WOW...WOW...AND WOW!! What a moving service this morning...Tears were pouring out during the closing song. To think that Job stood strong in the worst adversity ever...that he went without fault...that he never cursed God...then to know that God wants to meet us during those dark times...I was just undone...When Jerimae and the band played and sang the words..."Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...I won't turn back I know you are here" MAN...THANK YOU GOD FOR THIS MORNING!!

2. With 10 minutes before the start of the service we didn't have power to our projector (remember our message is on video, so the projector is just a little important!)...With 5 minutes before the service was to start we had no power to the lights in the auditorium and NO power in our Kidzone area...At 9:30...we had everything up and running...we prayed...we ran cables...we found power, baby!

3. Pastor Jim and his family came to our service today...I love having him there...here one cool part for me...I remember back when I first started teaching and the principal came in to observe, I would "kick into another gear." What I love about what we are doing here, is that I didn't know Jim was coming today and I wouldn't have changed ANYTHING that we did. I know Jerimae feels the same way...I love that we try to do our best every week to have a service that creates an atmosphere where people connect with God and others...AND it helps that Jim is a very freeing and empowering "boss" and wants what is best for us...sure he has HIGH expectations of us, but it is for our and the Kingdom's benefit...I love working with him!

4. We had to be out of Movies 14 in MINUTES after the service today...looking forward to school starting so we can get our later "be out" time back! BUT our group did an AMAZING JOB AGAIN at tearing down and getting out of there! WELL DONE EVERYONE!!!!

5. I start coaching at LaSalle tomorrow...that is the school where I used to teach. It will be my 6th year coaching 7th & 8th graders...I look forward to working and pouring my life into the young men...

6. I'll apologize now if I forget an appointment, your birthday, anniversary, email address, phone numbers...WHY you ask? Because I have the dreaded blue screen on my laptop. Yes my laptop may have "bit the dust!" I may have lost a lot of info...SO GO BACK UP YOUR FILES RIGHT NOW...DON'T WAIT OR YOU MAY BE LIKE ME...haven't backed up in...well I'm not sure how long!!!! Here is hoping we can save something off of my hard-drive!

Soccer Camp 2

I helped with a soccer camp this week near Brown School. Another church in our area and several other organizations put it on. They did a good job with the camp...they are reaching an area of our city that desperately needs help. It is always so cool for me to see the kids playing soccer and then in discussions about life and spiritual things. GREAT WEEK!

Cool thing...our team is so amazing at Grace! The camp this week used everything from ours...registration forms, basic schedule, team postures, name tags, and on and on...I was reminded AGAIN this week why the people of Grace are so amazing...such great people using their gifts for the Kingdom...I LOVE IT!

Not that I'm competitive...but if I was...My team lost the first coaches' game 3-2 today...MAN it was a close one...I had a goal called back because it was halftime...and I missed a shot with seconds to go too...OK, not a game that really matters, BUT MAN...MAKE THE SHOT BOUCHER!!!!

Wisdom...

Reading Proverbs right now...today in chapter 1 a couple of phrases jumped out at me..."My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them." The whole idea of peer pressure...This isn't just for teens...it's all of us...we all need to not give in to wanting to fit in with those around us. To run from sin...

The other verse that got me today was: " ...whoever listens to me (wisdom) will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm." WOW...how true that is...may we all LISTEN and then ACT on wisdom and not the other voices that can be heard!!