Boucher's Blog

Take Ownership! (Good Job Chloe!!)

2012-01-21T20:29:00.002-05:00

Chloe came home from swim practice the other night and made my day! They have different practice groups...4 different levels. After practice she told me that she asked her coaches if she could move up to the next level. She said that she was meeting the times in the level she was in, but wanted to be pushed more...so she asked to move up. So, I asked her if mom had told her to do that...she said no...she just did it!

NICE! She is taking ownership of her development!! That is a parent (and coach's!) dream!! I am sooooo proud of her!

THEN today at her swim meet she says..."I was really comfortable in my other group, but you can't get better if your comfortable." ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?!?!?!?!? This girl gets it...really she does.

I quickly had my mind run to the messages that Sam has been preaching on the past couple of weeks...the essence of the messages is to take ownership of your spiritual life. That YOU are in charge AND responsible for your growth...then my mind ran to how my spiritual life is going...Chloe's challenge ran deep for me...Take ownership AND go do something about it!!!!

Dear Swim Dad...STOP IT!

2012-01-21T20:18:00.002-05:00

Chloe had a swim meet today...and I was about to go CRAZY up in the seats! For the 2nd meet in a row there is a dad there...with his own stop watch...yelling at his child and shaking his head after EVERY race!! REALLY?!?!?!? How does this HELP your child be successful? How does this make him better at all?!?!

NOW...those of you that know me, know that I'm a "little" competitive...I love to compete and LONG to have my kids and EVERY ONES kid do their best...when I'm coaching I'll talk...pry...beg...plead...SHOUT...to pull out the best in that child...NOT screaming or raving...but I can get a little fired up!!

BUT THIS PARENT...COME ON!!!!!!!! Do you want your child to HATE the sports? Worse yet...do you want them not to like you?? Your not the coach and if you think the coach isn't pushing your child hard enough...then contact them...and make time to talk to the coach. But you...sitting up in the stands as a wanna-be coach when what your child really needs is a cheerleader...COME ON!!!!

Here is the deal...there are way to many parents out there that are trying to live their sports dream through their children...let them go...let them thrive...let them develop and ENCOURAGE THEM.

PLEASE don't take this that we shouldn't push our kids...We do...we have high expectations of our kids...we expect them to perform at their best...did you catch the key word...THEIR personal best.

Hey...will someone remind me of this blog someday...when I'm sitting in the stands and no longer coaching my boys??? Thanks! (I don't coach Chloe, because she picked a sport that I have NO CLUE about!! :)

The Journey from here

2012-01-10T19:57:00.002-05:00

My brother in-law Ed had major surgery today...Kelsey was down with her parents, family, and church people at the hospital. Everything went as well as it could...results won't come for quite a while.

MANY have been praying for Ed...for the whole family...lifting them up. Pleading with God for healing and for wisdom for the doctors. Begging God to help him come through...as of this minute things look very good for that! Praising God!

Now the journey really starts for him and his family though. It is from here on that they will need MASSIVE support...as a people we are VERY GOOD at being there in the urgent moments...it is in the "long haul" that we struggle. And understandably so...life is busy and if you are not in direct contact with the person who is battling...you won't have the same urgency.

This is not intended to discourage us...BUT instead to encourage us to think right now of a couple of people that you need to connect with...people who you know are wrestling through some junk...and give them a call...an email...ask them to grab some coffee or go watch a game together. Don't assume that someone is contacting them...because they might not be! YOU might need to be that person!

As for Ed...his journey is up ahead...he has a FANTASTIC support system around him...people that will walk with he and his family every step of the way. There was proof today at the hospital...and my prayers have been and will continue for his stretch to full recovery.

Random Stuff

2012-01-09T21:18:00.002-05:00

Chloe was reading my blog tonight and said: "DAD you need to do another Random Stuff" So...being the compliant dad...here goes...random stuff as it runs through my head tonight:

-Praying hard for my brother in-law Ed...he has surgery tomorrow.
-Praying for people to have a passion for God...not just their comfortable lives
-Ever get some life altering news...the kind that you know will change the rhythm of your life forever? How did you respond to that?
-I'm glad that I know God...I'd be scary without him!
-OK...here is random stuff...I had a dream last night that I was back in High School...there was A BUNCH of former classmates...we were playing games and I was really being annoying!! It was weird! Glad I woke up!!
-Coaching basketball...5/6 girls...good group
-I JUST LOVE pulling the best out of people!
-I REALLY HATE THE WORD CAN'T...JUST DRIVES ME CRAZY!
-What if...every person on the Southside of South Bend made a decision to not just say they believe in Jesus, but to live like him...MAN...the compassion...the people who would be shown love that right now think no one loves them...the kids that would have homes-clothes-time with someone who cares...
-Listened to Romans 8:28...great verse...life verse for me.
-Along those lines...one of the hardest days of my life was Pearl Harbor Day, 1989...blew out my knee...created a lot of pain over the years...Truth is...I probably NEVER would have met Kelsey and had the family I have right now, if it hadn't been for #35 undercutting my knee...so today...I'm thankful to him
-That one moment in time is still getting me...I just had an MRI...torn ACL (I knew that already), torn meniscus and "worn down" cartilage. Seeing the surgeon on Wednesday to see what is next.
-Back to Ed...my bro in-law...I don't always understand why tough things happen to good people...I know...we live in a world that sins...that has evil in it, but still...this stuff just stinks...glad God doesn't just leave us in these times...I hold on to the verses that say...although we are outwardly wasting away (our bodies our gettin' old) still INSIDE I can be renewed day by day...priceless words right there. (2Corinthians 4: 16)

Did you feast today?

2012-01-05T20:22:00.002-05:00

Several years ago I went through a study that had pretty strict accountability...probably the best accountability I have experienced...at the end of every study the question was asked..."Did you feast on God today?" I HATED that question...cause it wasn't...did you do your token couple of verses or say a little prayer...the question was...

DID YOU FEAST on God today?

Sam preached on Sunday and the essence of his message was this same thing...he asked us what the things were that we didn't want to bring into 2012 with us...he encouraged us to grab some paper and confess...repent of...the things that we wanted to leave behind. Then we TRASHED our lists and took communion together...POWERFUL and meaningful stuff right there!!

BUT...his biggest point was that NOTHING...ABSOLUTELY NOTHING would change unless we surrendered to God. That unless we fell more and more in love with HIM...we would come to the end of 2012 and nothing will have changed.

THAT brings me back to the question...so...DID YOU FEAST ON GOD TODAY?

Deep question...and I encourage you to ask yourself that question...and to ask it when you wonder why God isn't answering you...could it be that you aren't really spending time with him? That you just keep asking for things and not looking to him as your source of strength?

HEY...the best part is...HE WANTS US! NO REALLY...he really, really wants you to talk to him and spend time with him...he wants to hear what you are struggling with...he wants you to thank him...

SO...how about in 2012 we make the choice to FEAST on the God we claim to love...I wonder and get excited about how our attitudes and life will be different at the end of the year...gets me excited to think about...

Wrapping Up 2011

2011-12-31T14:27:00.006-05:00

Whoa...

Hmmm....

Uh....

Well...

Where do I start in talking about 2011? LOTS to "unwrap" here...LOTS happened...

I started this blog a few days ago...decided I just didn't like it! I saved it for myself for another time. Frankly this year has really hurt...I have felt lost...awkward...confused...just strange for a a great deal of the 2nd half of this year. The year started with a dream...a challenge...renewed vision and direction for me and our church...anyone who has read this blog or lived this with me...knows where that journey led...(if you're new to the blog...just head back to May and June and start reading!)

God's faithfulness though is what has been my focus over the past week as I thought about how to finish off the year...I have thought about this BEAUTIFUL, funny, adorable, cute, snuggly, little girl that was a true gift from God this year. She has been sunshine in the midst of a storm...a true miracle and treasure from God. SOOOOOO grateful for her and that God blessed us with Sadie Lynn Boucher THIS YEAR...that wasn't an accident!

I'm also quite grateful that the very week that the decision was made to close our church (and put me out of a job) that our school system offered me a full time position. WHO GETS THAT?!?!?! God was soooo good to us...to give us $ and insurance while many struggle to find a job. AND to have a job that I enjoy...I'm grateful.

OBVIOUSLY there are other blessings...Sadie isn't the only amazing family member that I have!! But those 2 things are my 2 biggest highlights from the year.

Our Little Puppy

2011-12-28T23:02:00.002-05:00

Alright...for those of you who love pets beware! If you don't like pets...SOFTEN UP!

Today was a sad day over here...after 12 1/2 years, we had our little puppy Zeke put to sleep...I know...12 is old for a puppy, but he was a Yorkie...so he was forever a puppy! That little dog brought a lot of joy to our family...he was my leg warmer while watching TV...my playing buddy...he was sooo stinkin' stubborn! He just did things his way...I'll even miss yelling at him for his little whimpering when he was gated!! (That used to make me sooooo mad though!)

I still remember like it was yesterday...the first time we brought him home and I played with him in the kitchen...FUN!

The bottom line...for us...he was part of the family. Just part of who we are...A LOT of tears were shed today...lots...I already miss the little guy...his night time licks...even right now...if he were here he would be looking at me with his little Zeke look...head tilted a little...as if to say..."WHAT ARE YOU STILL DOING UP...get to bed!" I think people really miss out when they don't have pets...I know that loss is hard...that life has enough trouble without pets making it harder...but the fun and joy is sooooo worth it!

Here is what is on my mind though...enjoy the moments...sure with pets, but more than that... With the people in your life. Don't have regrets...say you're sorry while you still can...forgive that person while you still can...run after that dream while there is still life in you...use your life...your remaining days to influence people in positive ways...AND DON'T STOP OR LOSE HOPE...appreciate what you have while you have it!

A MRI...A Picture...Today

2011-12-27T14:32:00.005-05:00

I had a MRI today on my right knee...it's been bad for over 20 years...hurt it back in High School. Kels made me an appointment with a knee doc a couple of weeks ago...guess she was tired of watching me struggle to get up and stuff...(BTW...is it bad when the doctor walks in and says..."oh...from the looks of your x-ray I would have thought you were 20-30 years older!" Nice!! Guess my knees really are 60-70 yrs. old!!)

ANYWAY...today I had a MRI...they put you on this uncomfortable table...tell you to not move anything...AND they keep the room freezing cold...THEN the machine turns on...and it is STINKIN' loud!!

SO...during the time I was in there...I prayed...for 30 straight minutes...with loud banging of the machine...I prayed...prayed for A LOT of people...friends...family...pastors...marriages...perspective...students...teachers...principals. It was just sooooo good to come before God and put some people in front of him.

Then...there was physical therapy today...while I was in there the therapist had a picture on the wall...it said: "Attitude...a little thing that makes a BIG difference." The picture was of 1 drop of water falling onto a completely still body of water...then you see the ripple effect...it was really a powerful pic for me...1 drop of water created a GREAT DEAL of ripples...our attitude will dictate whether those are positive or negative ripples...

Which brings me to today...what are we going to do today? How long will we allow the circumstances of our past dictate how we live TODAY? When will we step up and say...I am a child of the LIVING God...saved through the blood and resurrection of Jesus Christ...I am created to do great things for God!

LIVE. Live today. With whatever circumstances you are in...THRIVE. Make the most of what God has placed in front of you. Don't be so consumed with yesterday or tomorrow that you miss your chances today!

Dashboard...GREAT STUFF!

2011-11-07T20:00:00.004-05:00

Pastor Sam NAILED it yesterday...we started a new message series at church called Dashboard. You know...the warning lights that go off on the dash of your car or van...they let you know...TROUBLE...BETTER GET YOUR VEHICLE IN TO BE FIXED! (I probably like this soooo much 'cause of our own dashboard problems!)

So Sam hit 12 Spiritual Warning Lights that could go off on the dashboard of our lives...here a some highlights that hit me..

*If God answered all of your prayers NOTHING of significance would change on earth...
This one is HUGE...we pray and pray and pray for God to help US with this...help US do that...be with OUR kids...OUR homes...OUR jobs...NONE OF WHICH ARE BAD...but what about earth shaking stuff...what about people that need Jesus...what about issues that affect our city, nation, world...what about...Are our prayers EARTH SHAKING? Are we PLEADING with God to do some CRAZY STUFF?

*You keep going back to a place where God moved you to spiritual growth.
-This is mine RIGHT NOW! Been thinking of this one for a couple months...I used to go to the East Race...down to the river...for times of meeting with God. Over the course of this year I have tried to go back there...to have that time with God...only I've been forcing it. The time has come for me to find a new spot...a new place to connect with God...I've been moved into a new season of life...and the time has come to find a new spot to connect with God. I look forward to finding it, just as I have finally gotten to a point of being excited to find out how God wants to use us now.

Here is the thing on the last one...you can't force it...you can't force change...simply make the most of each moment that you're in right now...seek God and wait...and wait...and wait...NOW that is ACTIVE waiting! It's not lazy...it's not just sitting around...BUT waiting on God...looking for him and GRABBING EACH MOMENT AS IT COMES!

Can't wait to see where my new spot will be...can't wait for that feeling of connection with God...the time of seeing HIS clear vision for how HE wants to work in his church and through me...did I mention that this is fun! (Now there is a shift over the past few months!) It's fun to try to unpack what God is doing all around me and how I and my family fit into that.

Enough for now!!

Reflections

2011-10-16T22:09:00.002-04:00

Had the privilege to preach today at Keller Park Church...the church is making a HUGE difference in the Keller Park Neighborhood here in South Bend...Really making a difference as they practically have been serving there...Their pastor...Ryan Yazel...is a friend of mine and has a true shepherd's heart...a deep care for people and where they are. I believe the work he does there brings a smile to God's face!!

Today I talked about wisdom...about making sure that we have the right filter...that we use GOD's filter for figuring out what the best decisions are for our lives. And I'll admit it...it was just good to preach this morning...not because I was preaching, but the process it takes to get it done...and the opportunity to speak to a group of people...a group that is truly living out the Great Commission...I enjoyed the time of prayer...pleading with God for words to share...for insight...the research through the Word...looking for ways to practically connect the Word to our lives...(Not tooooo hard to do when you get to speak on the book of James!)...the concern on Saturday night of whether people would connect with it...Ryan thanked me several times...but let's be honest...I'm the one who is thanking him for the opportunity to share the Word...to have my own heart stirred up again...

Word of the Week: Courage!

2011-10-12T20:36:00.003-04:00

Asked my students what courage was...some really good discussion! We decided that if fear is absent then you don't need courage. Why be courageous if you aren't worried or afraid...it just isn't needed. So in order to have courage, we have to be confronting a struggle, fear or worry of some kind...

When I think of courage with my students...my mind runs to their homes...I don't know all of their stories. I don't know what life is like at home...but some of the stories I know...it's heart-breaking...students dealing with sick parents...another with a parent that has passed away...some not living with mom and dad anymore...others watching mom and dad going through a divorce...One student came up to me and told me how her young cousin passed away in a car accident.

These kids have courage to simply SHOW UP and give their best at school. I'm so proud of them...for working hard...for working to overcome some of their life circumstances. It is a privilege to teach these kids.

Then I think about the teachers and staff...thinking of things that are happening in their personal lives yet...they show up every day and pour their lives into these students...all while more expectations are heaped on them...and frankly the much of the blame for student's low scores. It is a privilege to serve with a group of people that want to make a difference in these kid's lives.

Then there are our administrators...both have walked through some illnesses over the years, yet they still have smiles on their faces as they work with us, the kids and their parents. They have courage each day as they face the struggles of doing what is best for our school...I don't envy the principals, and I'm soooo glad that they have not lost hope in these kids!

COURAGE...facing TOUGH STUFF and being willing to walk through it.

What is your struggle...your fear right now? What is the wall that you can't see over? The thing that makes your stomach turn? Will you be willing to face that struggle? Will you be willing to walk through that fear? It may not feel good...but as you face it and walk through it...YOU are living with courage!! So take the next step...(Hey...have you ever written something and thought that just maybe you were writing a note to yourself?? Hmmmmm....)

Random Stuff Around the Bouchers'...

2011-10-06T20:07:00.003-04:00

Random Stuff as it pops in my head...
-Chloe ran a FANTASTIC final race at her City meet this week! SO proud of her!!
-1 1/2 years ago, Chloe would walk during a 1/2 mile run!! SO STINKIN PROUD OF HER!!
-DID I MENTION...how proud I am of the way she has improved...NICE!
-Wish I would have been a swimmer...that has sure helped Chloe's running!
-Wonder what Sadie will grow up to be like...the older 3 are so unique...wonder what...
-Luke received his first progress report...It was really good!!
-Teaching today...it was like watching myself through the lives of several kids...
-What is it about drummers...they just have to push and tease people...then they give that smirk...the "What?!?! I didn't do anything?" smirk...(not that I have EVER given that look!!)
-Teaching is really tiring...it is like preaching 5-6 times a day...I come home feeling spent each evening...
-Why do we sometimes expect more out of others than we do ourselves...that sure is backwards!
-Teaching a group of kids math...helping with their skills...the group is a challenge, but I really am enjoying connecting with these kids.
-Took my 7th grade band out to the football field today...rehearsed for a halftime song we are playing next week...
-Since we were outside...I raced the band in a 40 yd. Dash......
-OH...did I mention that I beat the 7th graders?? Some athletes in the class...guess the old band teacher can still run a little
-SPEAKING OF RUNNING...Jaden ran a 6min. 30 second mile...WHAT?!?!?! That is faster than any of my mile times this year!! (OR last year!!)
-THE KID IS 8 YEARS OLD!! Now he just needs to keep his limbs healthy
-I'm a different teacher after having worked with Jim Brown and the guys at Grace Community...I work differently...and better...A little of that DNA rubbed off!
-Wonder what life will be like in 5 years
-I know this...Sadie will be 5...Luke 10...Jaden 13...Chloe 16...Whoa!
-This weather is AWESOME! 80 during the day...cool at night! Almost makes me want to move to Cali!
-Feeling really blessed...amazing Savior...BEAUTIFUL wife...great kids...and so much more!

You just never know...

2011-10-04T21:04:00.002-04:00

You just never know what is going to encourage someone...I cannot tell you how many times a simple note or text...really encourage me. Today was one of those days. 3 very simple things made my day...

First it was a call from a very good friend...the call was for a microphone that he needed, but he ended up encouraging me more than I can express...AND it all happened in less than 5 minutes! It was simple...but soooooo good!

Then I received an email...from another friend...asking for help...it came out of the blue, but his request really encouraged my heart.

THEN...the icing on the cake...it was really short...the shortest of the 3...a text...YEP...you got it...a text...very few words, but it came from a person I deeply respect and haven't talked to in a while...it made my day and encouraged my heart to hear from him and know that he was thinking of me.

You have been there haven't you? A time when someone shares a simple word...a phrase that just lifts your spirit...just pushes you forward...simply makes your day. Not a huge conversation, but something to boost you up...

Today made me think...who do I need to encourage...who do I need to give that boost too...let's be honest...most of the time we don't even intend to encourage in those moments...they simply happen. BUT let's pray...pray that God allows us to influence people...not just in the BIG ways that many can see...but in the little things...in the simple conversations...in the times that we may never even know about...

SO DO IT...send that text...that email...that quick call...the one that will lift someone up...don't think for a SECOND that it doesn't matter...do it!

Word of the Week: Integrity!

2011-09-27T21:31:00.002-04:00

I have been wrestling this school year with how to best influence my students...I realize the fact that the majority of my students will not be playing the instrument they play right now when they are my age. So yes...OF COURSE I long to see them be the best musicians they can EVER be! And MORE THAN THAT...I long for them to be the BEST PERSON they can possibly be. THE VERY BEST!

SO this week I started a word of the week...we take some time to discuss the word...and my hope is as we do this week after week...these life skills...maybe a story that is shared will help to shape my student's minds, hearts and lives.

This week...it is all about integrity...all about doing the right thing when people are and are not watching. Being the very most trustworthy people...people that their parents, teachers, peers can trust...

This made me think about my life too...how am I doing with protecting and guarding my integrity? I have LONG had the desire to be the same man at work as I am at home...to be the same at church as I am at home...

If you are reading this...that is my prayer for you...my prayer is that you will walk through this life with integrity...that you will hold your head high, knowing that you are trustworthy...that you do the right thing even when people aren't watching you. AND I pray...that if there is something...something that you are holding back...something that you think no one else can see...something that holds you back from living with integrity...that you will deal with it through the forgiveness of our God AND through walking with others in accountability!

If this couch could speak...

2011-09-26T20:22:00.002-04:00

15 years ago my brother and sister in-law gave this couch to us...before that it belonged to my grandma...I remember when it was moved into her new apartment when I was in 5th grade after my grandpa had passed away.

Whoa...lots of memories...think of all the things that this couch has seen...think of the moments...the memories...sad stories...heart breaking stories...AMAZING joys...tears of joy and broken moments...prayers...teaching moments...wrestling...couch-covers...TONS of desserts...movie nights...FUN memories!!

A couple of moments for me...

My favorite of all would have been sitting on that couch interviewing my grandma...I had to interview someone and then write a paper on them in high school. I will never forget (I just got CHILLS thinking about it!) that time with grandma...it was sooooooo priceless...hearing about her growing up years...her life with grandpa...how she missed him. (Over 50 years of marriage! Cool story there...Kelsey's wedding ring has gma's diamond in it...so it is rounding 70 year of marriage in that diamond!!) Priceless times.

I also remember watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy with Gma...THEN YEARS LATER...I got to sit on that couch and watching the same show with MY KIDS!

That couch has a lot of memories...it was beat-up...torn-up...but it was still hard for me to send it to the curb...LOTS of memories!

Reflections

2011-09-18T19:48:00.003-04:00

Used to "reflect" every Sunday night or Monday morning...thought I'd bring that back for at least 1 week!

My thoughts from church this morning and more...
-LOVE being at Living Stones and the people we are reaching
-Message touched the people around us...could see it in their body language...lots of tears
-This series is PURE POWER! EVERYONE has been Sucker Punched...that out of the blue thing that happens to you and just feels like a punch out of no where...the sickness...a family member's addiction...an affair...hearing about cancer...a heart attack...you get the idea...something that just comes out of no where.
-When I heard a few of the stories...stories from people here at Stones...how they are hurting...what they have or are going through...this is home.
-When I heard a few of the stories...it brought tears to my eyes...that people live with such pain
-When I heard a few of the stories...it made me praise God that I have never had to walk alone
-Sam...i.e. Pastor Sam...gave people permission to ask God questions when they get sucker punched...YES! Job sure did!
-By the way...STOP AND THINK FOR A MOMENT about Job...how his life was turned UPSIDE DOWN in a matter of moments...loss of family...job...health...yet he worshipped God...whoa.
-ALSO...glad Job asked some tough questions...I know I do...at times I feel guilty for asking.
-BEST QUOTE OF THE MORNING: "If I can't get an answer from God, where will I get an answer?" Think about this...when we question God...we are telling him that we have no where else to go...no one else to turn too...that if he doesn't have the answer...no one will
-BUT...know this..."the key to healing is not getting the why questions answered...it is focusing on HIM." True healing happens when we get our eyes, heart and mind focused on Jesus Christ!
-As you work through your pain...focus on how to serve others.

More Stuff...
-I used to love every Sunday morning...seeing Aaron Tuttle...he has the very best smile that I have ever seen...it was SO GOOD to see that smile this morning!
-Living Stones is a very friendly place...especially for a church its size...impressive!
-Wondering how to get involved...feel lost in that area--want to...not sure where/what
-Chloe went to the opening Kickoff for the youth tonight...SHE LOVED IT! JUST LOVED IT! Had a blast...GREAT JOB STONES!!
-Been spending time on the Cost of following Jesus...been spending time asking God to break my heart for struggling people and people that need him
-Kelsey is amazing...the way she takes care of our family...me...the way she raises our kids...the woman of God she is...I'm blessed.

How much is it?

2011-09-17T12:10:00.002-04:00

How much does it cost? This is something that I have been thinking about a lot this week...NO...not because we just had to redo our family room, have furnace issues AND have things we need to fix in our van. (Although it sure could be those!!)

I have been reading in the Gospels...Matthew, Mark, Luke and John...been reading about what it costs to follow Jesus...Also...been thinking and reflecting A LOT on what it cost Jesus to come down here. I feel overwhelmed and convicted when I think of this...Jesus gave up the "best seat in the house" to come down here...he was sitting right beside God the Father...sitting in perfection...enjoy the PERFECT company of his Father, yet...because he LONGS to give us the chance to have that same company with God, he gave that up...and he came down here to live.

This convicts me...because I like to feel sorry for myself sometimes...convicted because when I compare ANYTHING that I have EVER lost in my life it simply doesn't come CLOSE to what God gave up for me...for you.

So, how much is it? Salvation is free...It's free...there is NO COST to accepting God's love...none! After we have taken that step, then we must live in obedience and THAT is costly AND worth it!! Doesn't mean that we don't enjoy life, but our focus shifts...shifts from focusing on our happiness to focusing on how do we please God and encourage others.

Take the plunge...stop waiting around for tomorrow to come...stop hesitating and give your life to Jesus AND take the plunge to live as HE wants you to live...how he wants you to live!!

DO IT! You'll be glad you did...

Where you are...Make the most of it!

2011-09-15T21:19:00.002-04:00

Where do you find yourself right now? Are you doing what you dreamed that you would be doing 5...10...50 years ago? Are you living the way you longed to live? Have the job that you want? Family? Money? How about a passion for God? A relationship with him? Are you closer or farther from him?

Where are you right now? AND better than that...are you ok where you are? AND even more than that...are you making the most of where you are?

Life is such a journey...lots of paths...detours...and the key is to make the most of each moment. God knows where you are...he knows your dreams...but more than anything else...he simply wants your heart...he wants YOU...He loves you...NOW GO! Go make the most of your life RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE!

The search is over

2011-09-12T19:14:00.002-04:00

It has been 3 very interesting months...emotional times...relaxing times...restless times. When we closed our church 3 months ago, we had no idea what we were going to do. Frankly we are still figuring it all out! But we finally came together as a family on where we are plugging into a church body.

We have weighed A LOT of factors...and it has been very difficult for all of us...Kelsey...me...and our kids. We have visited some INCREDIBLE places...places where God is really working...and places where good friends are pastoring...frankly...that has made this very hard for me...knowing some of the pastors--we haven't wanted to jump too soon. And it has been hard because WE LOVE GRACE COMMUNITY!

Here is the thing...it is time to move forward...and I have been UNBELIEVABLY wrestless...frustrated...urgh inside! Just restless to get back to serving...to be more than just a Sunday attender...SURE I have liked sleeping in...liked not having Saturday night stress about Sunday...but I'm sooooo ready to get involved HOWEVER! Whatever...

The cool part is...the kids are excited too...excited to be settling in to the church where God wants us...

Looking forward to what God has in store for us at Living Stones Church...Why Living Stones? GLAD YOU ASKED!

THEY LOVE JESUS!
They share A LOT of Grace DNA...LOVE outreach...LOVE serving people...
THEY REACH OUR neighborhood...YEP...MINE! They want to touch the 46614 &46613 zip codes...AND THAT IS WHERE WE LIVE! I simply love the southside of South Bend and look forward to jumping in and expanding our influence here in SB.
We wanted to LIVE church where we are and Living Stones is just that...real people...they even say in their bulletin that they are a "come as you are church!" NICE!
I could go on and on, but Pastor Sam is a friend of mine and might get a little bigger head...so I'll stop now!

Where do we go from here?? GREAT question? No idea how we will plug in...no idea what ministries we'll connect with, but I know where we are going..how we are moving forward and I cannot tell you what a relief that is for me AND my family! (My kid's faces LIT UP when we said we were going there...Chloe asked to go to youth group this coming Sunday!)

Been a journey so far and looking forward to beginning to write the next chapter of what God wants to do with the Bouchers'...

The Night Before School

2011-08-24T20:57:00.002-04:00

Our house is BUZZING tonight...the anticipation of a new school year...Chloe moving up to 6th grade...J in 3rd and LUKE ENTERING KINDERGARTEN!! Plus I am starting tomorrow!

A LOT of energy tonight...boys that had trouble falling asleep...Chloe is bouncing around...it is sooo cute and fun!! And Sadie is baby-talking like crazy...I think she is excited too...(I wonder what she will think tomorrow when she goes from having 6 of us to just her and mom!!)

The first days of school have so much anticipation...so much hope...kids and teachers are full of dreams for the year--I have been prayer walking the hallways and praying for my students, teacher, admin and staff at our school. EXCITING!!

ALRIGHT...back to getting a few last minute things done!!

From the mouth of kids and other thoughts...

2011-08-21T20:53:00.005-04:00

Tucking the boys in tonight I told them how much I have enjoyed being around more this summer...how grateful I am to Grace Community Church Goshen's leadership for paying me through the summer so I could be with my family...and have time to reflect and restore. We always pray before bed and Luke prayed this tonight...

"God...'at (at means "that" to Luke...)help us to move on from Grace Community Church so 'at we can really like our new church..."

Whoa...the prayer of a 5 year old! He really touched me with that prayer...my kids LOVED Grace...they were more than just "the pastor's kids" there...they enjoyed their friends...enjoyed the people...their teachers...and what AMAZING perspective for Luke...He loved Grace, but he already sees the importance of moving on! I believe that God will honor my little man's prayer...God will lead us to just the right church and he will have us fall deeply in love with the church!

Other things...
Today was the end of my summer...I have meetings tomorrow at Jackson...more on Wednesday and then students on Thursday. It is strange to think that after 7 years I will be back teaching full time...been part time for a lot of that, but this is different. A bit strange feeling...I am looking forward to the adventure of the school year...seeing what opportunities there are.

Feeling grateful tonight...grateful to be a child of God...grateful for my family...grateful for my friends...for how blessed my life is and has been...

"What If..."

2011-08-20T20:21:00.002-04:00

School is about to start and "What if..." is a question that students LOVE to ask...last night Kels, Chloe and I watched "Soul Surfer" If you haven't seen it...it is a MUST SEE! Powerful true story...and just as good as the movie was the documentary of the actual person...

What if...is a question that has wondered through my head a few times in the past months...I learned A LONG TIME AGO to shut out that question...at least when it is coming in a negative way...Between that movie and my class reunion last weekend...I have thought about some what ifs...

-What if I hadn't blown out my knee my junior year...that changed the direction of my life...at the time it was DEVASTATING...now I see a clear detour in my life...a detour that led me to Grace College to study music...a detour that led me to my AMAZING wife and 4 kids...a detour that gave me the opportunity to fall in love with a city I hadn't heard of and see many lives changed for eternity...Sure college soccer would have been great...but I wouldn't trade the last 20+ years for that!

-What if...what if I hadn't stepped out and spoken up and wanted to plant a church? What if I would have sat on the sidelines...truth?? I would have missed out on meeting some amazing people...missed out on watching people walk into the arms of Jesus for the first time...met people that have shaped my life forever...people that I dearly love...

-What if...I had been more strict with myself and not had a heart attack...(ooooo...this is a big one!) the answer I keep telling myself is the same one from the movie last night: "God works all things out for the good of those that love him." And I'm holding on to that to be honest...I could go on and on about how this has changed me...and changed me for the good (and it really has!)...but truthfully...I have to get back to you in 10 yrs or so and give you God's big picture on that one...from my earthly standpoint...I believe that if I had not had that heart attack I would still be the pastor of Grace Community Church South Bend...but clearly God had other plans...and I plan to find it out!

-What if...what if...instead of looking for God...looking to fall more in love with HIM...we keep feeling sorry for ourselves? What if...WHAT IF...we keep looking so hard for that next opportunity that we miss HIM...that we miss the opportunity to fall in love with JESUS...this is where I'm at tonight...

What if...can be a good question if it is used right...that movie last night moved me...challenged me..."What if..."

"God...move EVERYONE who reads this post to fall more deeply in love with you...to stop worrying about the 'What ifs' and to focus on you...oh...you really do love us...for all of our questions...our struggles...our victories...thanks. In Jesus Name..."

"Doing Great!"

2011-08-17T09:46:00.002-04:00

I remember hearing a story about a pastor of a large church who was attending a conference and eating with some other pastors...they had gone around the table and asked how each one was doing...they all spoke of how GREAT everything was going in their personal lives and their ministries...when it got around to this pastor he said that it was time for him to go...because "we really don't need each other anyway since everything is so perfect."

See that pastor knew some of what was happening in the other pastor's lives...he knew that one of them had a marriage that was in trouble...another pastor's ministry was falling apart...yet they all had to much pride to admit what was happening and ask for help...so that pastor removed himself from the conversation...

How often do you do this? This isn't about spilling every struggle to every person you know...but do you have people that can share your struggles...that you are willing to be honest with? If not...I encourage you to pray for that person to come into your life...OR maybe they are there and you are not willing to open up...DO IT! Be willing to be honest and share the struggles of your heart...that life just isn't as perfect as put it out to be...THEN you will find true encouragement to walk through this life!

"Do you like your seat?..." Class Reunion!

2011-08-16T15:23:00.003-04:00

We had our 20 year class reunion...it was good to see some of my classmates and hear what they have done over the past 20 years...during our dinner Saturday night...Julie Solomon (Cookro) who I had gone from Kindergarten through graduation with read some papers from 3rd grade. They were sooooo funny...they were short letters from each classmate...Mine...well...it wasn't the nicest...here it is...

"Dear Julie, Do you like your seat? I don't. Your Friend, Timothy"

AND THE DEAL WAS...we sat by each other!! Ouch!! Now you couldn't find a sweeter...kinder girl than Julie and I wrote that! We got a good laugh about it, but I imagine it wasn't toooooo funny at the time...

Reminded me how much our words can hurt others...Julie read mine letter through laughter Saturday night, but how often do we say things...simple things...that can shoot through someone's heart.

Let's be careful with our words...careful to say things that encourage other people...build them up. I'm lucky...I wrote that in 3rd grade and Julie is forgiving!! So that makes it funny now...BUT it is toooo easy to hurt others.

Pain Creates Compassion

2011-08-01T08:13:00.002-04:00

Pain...tragedy..."tough stuff"...disappointment...these things can destroy a person if you are not careful. BUT they can also do something else...the difficult stuff in life can create compassion. Those hard things do something inside of us...make us want to help other people...make us understand another person's struggles...

I was reflecting this morning on a story from some months back...a person was going through a very difficult situation and another person really came along-side of them and loved them. I wrote this in a journal entry at the time...

"Then it hit me...we just want no pain...but without pain there is no room for moments like this...what a teachable moment...to step up when someone else is hurting!"

We long to live without pain...but it is truly in those painful moments when we are softened to think of other people. It is in those moments that we become more compassionate to others.

Allow your pain to help other people...allow it to soften you and to push you towards helping people.

Give Everything You Have!

2011-07-26T10:08:00.004-04:00

Coaches OFTEN talk about giving everything you have in sports..."Leave it all on the field!" I have to confess that I was EXTREMELY proud of Chloe, Jaden and Luke at the Triathlon on Saturday...they had to swim 25 yds...ride their bikes for 1.3 miles and run a 1/2 mile.

During practice (YEP...we practice for the triathlon...the older actually ask to practice!) Luke didn't think he could do it...it was quite a struggle to get him to finish...QUITE difficult. At the race he really stepped up...his run was what most impressed me...we were so proud of him...and it was his first race ever!!

I cannot say enough about the week that Jaden had last week...we once again spent time thanking God the night before the race that Jaden could even do it...1 month ago--we asked his doctor if we should have him try the race...she said: "he can try it...might be good to have a goal out there for him." 1 month ago he could hardly run...he had an AWFUL time after he had broken his leg...he didn't want to do the race...mostly because he didn't think he would finish as well as what he would like...So he worked hard and raced yesterday...

THE BEST PART of his race was how he felt afterwards...he felt like he wanted to throw up! He had left EVERYTHING on the race course...he gave his best!! And he finished 2nd in the 7-8 yr. old group and had a fast enough time that he would have finished 5th in the 11-12 yr. old age group. I am so proud of his effort more than his place...he gave EVERYTHING...wish you could have seen the look on his face when he had someone coming from behind trying to catch him...PRICELESS!!

THEN there was Chloe...3 years ago...actually 2years ago she had to walk several times during her run...YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN HER SATURDAY! He was MOVING on her bike and on the run. (Not mentioning the swim...cause OF COURSE she rocked that!!) I was a PROUD PAPA when she was sprinting the last 100-200 yards...she GAVE EVERYTHING and blew her time from last year away by 45 seconds...YEP...she felt like throwing up too!

So proud of the kids...giving EVERYTHING they have!!

How are you refueled?

2011-07-25T14:37:00.004-04:00

Some years ago I went through some of those personality tests...one of them revealed how you were energized or how your personal energy tank was refueled. Some people LOVE to spend time with people...and when they do, it restores them...fires them up--refuels them. Others are simply DRAINED when they meet with people...it just saps all of their energy and they just HAVE TO get away-by themselves to restore.

How about you? How are you energized? What refuels you? Does spending time with people fire you up or drain you...do you need time to get away...to get by yourself?

Personally...I am refueled by spending time with people...I like to have quiet sometimes, but not nearly as much as I enjoy a good meeting or time to hang out. My tank gets FILLED up by spending time with people...that is why I feel SOOOOOOO good today...Last night I had the chance to talk with a friend a hadn't talked with in over a month and then this a.m. I had my first meeting in a month with a friend...MAN--it was sooooo good! I left my conversation this morning just ENERGIZED! Spending time with people just charges my batteries...especially when the conversation is focused on our walk with God...his church...and vision/direction of our lives. GREAT STUFF!!

Understanding how we get refueled can help us understand better how we need to recharge...if you are a person who gets recharged by people...you better MAKE TIME for that...and if you are recharged by being alone...make sure you make time to be by yourself...

TODAY...it was just good to be with friends...good to hear what God is doing in their life and wondering where we will be in the next 1-5 years...no answers from he conversation...but just good to be hanging out together!

BLAZIN' Hot day in and out of the pool!

2011-07-20T10:49:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was Chloe and Jaden's Conference Swim meet...it was HOT! REALLY--REALLY hot out there! Arlington Swim Club did a good job of having everything ready and running...5 teams were involved...it was a fun day!

Having a great meet at the end of the season depends on how you prepare during the season...WAY TO OFTEN kids (well...PEOPLE) want to have results without the work that goes along with it...they just want to go do it! Chloe and Jaden work hard at their swimming...Chloe does EVERYTHING that the coaches ask and several times this season Jaden is quite coachable...he would ask to swim longer with the older kids...

Then this week as they prepped for the meet...we talked to them about the heat...and got them to drink a lot the day before the meet and told them to eat WELL at the meet...to flee sugar especially...we told them that we would get them treats AFTER the meet! Excellence is planned neglect...if you want to be excellent and at your best you have to give something up...SO...yesterday they both gave up sugary snacks and ate really well...

Their sacrifice paid off!

Chloe improved ALL of her times in each race...I loved watching her track down 2 swimmers in her 100 IM--showed her heart and desire to be her best! She won 2 of her other heats...scored points for her team and beat some swimmers that she had not beaten all season! PLUS she is an AMAZING teammate...several times she would stand at the fence cheering on her teammates! AMAZING job to Chloe!!

Jaden came in to the Conference Meet as a top 5 swimmer in each of his races...he ended up winning 3 conference titles yesterday and came in 2nd on his other race...the one he lost may have been my favorite...he was ranked 4th coming into the race and was tracking down the leader at the end...he cut 7 seconds off of his time in that race...7 seconds!! Crazy! Loved his attitude after that race too...his understanding that shaving that much time off is a HUGE accomplishment!!

Both of our kids had a FANTASTIC meet...and the biggest reason was because of the work and discipline they had in practice and then their willingness to be disciplined on race day so they could be at peak performance. Proud of those 2!

The Journey Moves Forward...

2011-07-18T14:07:00.002-04:00

A good friend asked me Friday night..."how yuh doin' man?" I think I gave him a blank stare at first...THEN Luke had to go to the bathroom...so he gave me a few minutes to think...I came back and talked to my friend for a few minutes and the question has been in my head for the past 3 days--how am I doing?

Sunday morning came and we spent our 2nd Sunday at Living Stones Church...a FANTASTIC--Jesus centered--community impacting place--the pastor and I are really good friends and the church has similar DNA to Grace Community...As I worshipped during the last song tears came to my eyes...I don't even remember the song...but the point was "God...I'm lifting my hands to you...submitting to you...to your plan...your direction..." And I don't know what that means...or what it will look like.

Here is what I know about our new journey right now...
-God is in control
-I am REALLY...REALLY...REALLY enjoying my family...REALLY! I have NEVER had time like this to spend with my kids and there is NO POSSIBLE WAY I AM GOING TO WASTE A SECOND OF IT!!! We are making some memories!!
-I will be teaching school in August. AND I am already praying for my students...parents...staff...etc. God opened this spot and I WILL NOT MISS OPPORTUNITIES!
-Awkward...good word to describe how I feel about a lot of areas of life...this is a strange season right now.
-AMAZING time meeting with Pastor Bob Combs in Ohio...he has been a life counselor of mine...just loved the conversation--he doesn't tell you what to do...but his questions and comment pierce the heart
-Conclusion from my time with Bob...(that is another blog post!)
-What is aching my heart...that the people of Grace have to find a new church home and that they ACTUALLY find one and plug in...I pray for them often and by name
-Did I mention how much fun I am having with my kids?!?!?!?!?!
-Read the book: Plan B and am in the middle of "Church in the making" LOVE both books. (Oh...go ahead and read between the lines on the 2nd book...Yes I would LOVE to be back in full time ministry again if God provides the right opportunity!)
-Started a new workout plan...running and working out--been wanting to do this for some time.
-Next steps in ministry: NO CLUE! Not sure about church...not sure about the future...church planting? Lead pastor somewhere? A VERY attractive thought is to be on staff with a healthy, thriving church and team for a season (or longer)...Not sure but am definitely praying along these lines
-Missing Grace...all of it...already talked about our people, but I miss the guys in Goshen--realize with my time off that the past 2 years has been quite hard being part-time...my relationships with those guys had slipped a great deal...not our love for each other, but the fact that we rarely spent time together--face to face time matters...missing the guys-need to get over there and play some ball with them
-NO NEW STUFF: I have added things to my life for YEARS! I LOVE to be active...love to be involved and I have promised my family to not just JUMP into things for a season here...that I won't just say YES to things so that I'm busy...but say yes to the best things for reaching people and my family and my health...
-Next step? Digging Deep into the Word...Figure our our church home...wrestle through with God and Kelsey on our next ministry spot...Reflect on the past 7 years-lessons learned?...Prepare a plan to personally grow this upcoming year-I want to be intentional about the time that I have been granted right now.

Much of what has been going through my head is hard to put in words...I don't really know how to express all that I have been feeling...BUT I am CONFIDENT that this time of awkwardness will continue to develop our family's character!

Things I Am Learning

2011-06-29T16:10:00.005-04:00

Whoa...the past month and 1/2 have been some of the most emotional days of my life. Last week...when everyone was out of the building for the last time--I was walking around alone...My emotions just let loose...I cried and cried and prayed through my tears...thanking God for the honor of being a pastor...for the honor of serving the people of Grace Community Church...I didn't want to walk out the doors that day...didn't want it to be finished. It was a difficult time...

This week...I honestly don't think that reality is sinking in...it feels like I'm on vacation and the reality of finding a new church to attend and the fact that I am not a pastor at this time...crazy...

BUT...I have been reading a book titled: "Plan B." Figured that was a GREAT book for me and our family's lives right now! I'm marking up-folding up pages and putting book markers (well...actually torn up posted-note pieces!) EVERYWHERE...this book is SO RIGHT ON...here is what nailed me yesterday and what I am putting out in front of me as I reflect, restore and refuel this summer:

"Often in life, the what, when and where are not going to turn out the way you want them to turn out. You don't always get to choose those things, but you get to choose the why."

PERFECT! That is RIGHT WHERE I AM LIVING TODAY! I thought the what, when and where was right here in SB--leading Grace Community Church SB/Mish and planting other campuses around the region. CLEARLY...that was not God's long-term plan...

BUT...Although the what, where and when are different now...does that mean that I check out of the game? Or that I only serve HIM when I am in a full time ministry position...ARE YOU KIDDING ME...of course not!! I have to focus my energy on the WHY EVERY SINGLE DAY! Why am I here? It's simple...I have the OPPORTUNITY to still influence people for Jesus...to love HIM with all of my heart...and to pour my life into people...done! If I am doing that--the what, where, when will take care of themselves.

MY PERSONAL PRAYER is that through all of this that I will honor my Savior...he himself had that ultimate Plan B (OK, OK theologians...I know..."God doesn't need a Plan B..." Just stick with the whole context of the point!)...think about it...Don't you think Jesus would have preferred Plan A...that the world would be perfect and without sin...that he wouldn't have to die?!?!?! OF COURSE...BUT he choose to give us free will...he choose before time that Plan A would really mean A WHOLE LOT OF PAIN--Even for himself.

SO...As I walk through all of the emotions of closing the church and the dream of planting this church--I am going to work hard to focus on the "why" of life...and WHY am I posting this?? So you all can keep me accountable and make sure I keep my focus right! So thanks for your help!!

"As you walk along..."

2011-06-24T07:05:00.002-04:00

5 years ago I came on staff at Grace Community Church...I had known Pastor Jim for some years before that-known about his passion for lost people-his heart for the church and that he was a fantastic speaker. What I learned as I hung out with him was his understanding of his guys on staff-that although he had high-very high expectations-that he DEEPLY cared for the guys on his staff. He spent whole staff meetings simply asking how the guys were doing and finding out more about their families. Sure he wanted to reach lost people...sure he wanted to be sure that they were doing their jobs...but he cared just as much about their hearts...speaks to his character.

Trust is another word that gets thrown around in leadership circles...the bottom line is Jim trusts his leaders...and PROVES IT by allowing them the freedom to lead and make decisions. He lets us do our jobs without him "looking over our shoulder." NOW don't get me wrong...there is accountability and he'll be asking what is happening...but you know that when he questions something it is because he longs to understand and wants to make you better.

HERE IS THE THING I LOVE THE MOST...Jim is a "as you walk along..." type of leader. He's not into tons of meetings for meeting sake...his training and leadership happen as you walk along in life. Grab the teachable moments...he is the best I have seen at this...he wants people (and himself) to learn from every moment...to get the most out of it. Jim has a good example that he follows on this...Jesus led this way...he didn't have seminars and classes...I imagine he taught around campfires and along the path...Jim gets "it."

It has been a honor to serve and learn from Jim as we have walked along through life...God has truly blessed him with gifts and Jim has maximized his impact...Jim tells me "you know God will tell you well done..." and I believe that Jim's influence in my life is one of the reasons why. "Thanks Jim for allowing me to serve with you at Grace...God has expanded his Church and I have learn so much from you. Love you bro!"

Last Service At Grace Community Church SB/Mish

2011-06-20T08:19:00.003-04:00

Where to begin..........

I prayed a lot last week that God would be honored through our final service...along with that I prayed that the people of Grace would be honored and encouraged. It was quite a powerful, moving and emotional morning. We had debated with our leadership over whether to have our last service this week or next week...although it was Father's Day it was good that we did it yesterday...many people have talked with me, especially over the past week that emotionally they are "done." That they just could continue to go through this for another week...it has been a month of services now since we announced that we would be closing...emotional roller coaster...

Our service lasted for 2 1/2 hours yesterday...2 hours of that were people sharing how God, Grace Community and how PEOPLE have impacted their lives...marriages restored...people that have come to Jesus...friendship forged...as the pastor I have a lot of the "inside scoop" on some of these stories...and the amazing part for me is that people are truly speaking from their hearts...the stories are real and not just emotional reactions...

NOW...we would not be Grace Community if we only shared the moving stories of life change! I was ambushed AGAIN this week as about 10 guys had nurf guns and shot me in the middle of the service...it was a fun moment!! I had to run through the building to get away from the gun fire...good stuff...I have just loved the fun that we have had here....

Travis and the band led very, very well...they allowed the Spirit to just move in them and through them...the closing song was "Not To Us"...it has been a theme song for us...and no better way to finish...before that I read a list of things that we have done ministry-wise in the community and finished with 30 baptisms and 450 people that have expressed faith in Jesus Christ in 4 years...AMAZING NUMBERS! 450 people have their names etched in THE Book of Life through the Spirit working through the people of Grace. Incredible #'s! We gave God a Grace Community clap offering and then sang "Not To US"...tears flooded a lot of faces...powerful, encouraging, honoring...

There was a surprise for me yesterday...my prayer was that God and our people would be honored...God and his people did something for me too...I felt deeply honored by what people shared yesterday...many stories of changed lives are burned in my mind...memories that made me feel that I invested well...not a goal of mine yesterday, but I left encouraged...sad to see this chapter end-very encouraged by the life change that has happened.

Toward the end of the service I was given a book...a book with pictures of Grace and people signed it...Kari Tuttle presented it--it was a powerful moment...she spoke into my life...said that the book has been written for my families time at Grace...this book is complete...BUT she and the people expect to see our family have MANY books on the selves in the future...ways that we have influenced lives...GREAT STUFF!

A lot of emotions...honestly not even trying to figure them all out...trying to soak it in...learn from this...grow from him...and PRAY HARD that as the people of Grace stay FAITHFUL...stay connected to our Savior and the local church...that they will influence MANY, MANY, MANY people toward Jesus Christ...

I love you Grace Community and am so thankful to have had you in my life!

talked about this being a chapter in my life and how the church expects there to be many more books

Be Still and KNOW...

2011-06-18T17:28:00.003-04:00

Got back from a run just a while ago...wanted to clear my head as we move toward our last service at Grace tomorrow...I had a GREAT run...it is soooooo humid and the sweat just poured off of me...at the same time-it felt like God was pouring strength into me...spent time praying as I ran for every family of Grace SB/Mish by name--pleading with the Father to guard their faith and love for him and HIS church.

Then-God gave me a message...no not in a spooky kind of way...but through a scripture and a song. As I got ready for my shower and verse and song that just kept running through my mind was "Be still and know that I am God." HE is God...HE has a plan...HE has control--even when we don't! This morning was quite tough for me...heading to the building for the final Saturday prep for the service...tonight though-I'm encouraged...as I sit still before God...as he gives HIS encouragement through HIS Word...it is so true...HIS WORD IS LIVING AND ACTIVE.

"Thanks God...that when we become still before you...you still the trouble in our hearts."

God is good.

"How are you doing?"

2011-06-17T13:34:00.003-04:00

GREAT QUESTION...we ask that ALL THE TIME..."So...how are ya?" "Doing OK?" That has been a tough one for me to answer...at times you could ask the question every minute in an hour and get a slightly different answer...had times in your life like that?

Here is what I know to be true...God...the Almighty God...PROMISES to "never leave us and never forsake us." That he remains with us even when we feel like he is not there...and he loves us sooooo very much. I am so glad for that...glad that I don't have to earn his love...

Today I am very thankful for good friends...people that are willing to speak love and encouragement into my life--God has blessed me with people who really invest in me...I am so grateful...

So when people ask me: "How are you doing?" I say "Alright" Because I am...I'm hurting due to a significant loss that is happening with church...and I am good-knowing that I have loving family and friends in front/behind/and beside me...

Bottom Line...God is good-therefore-I am too.

My Spot

2011-06-14T10:46:00.003-04:00

(Picture from my spot)

I went to the East Race today...there is a spot along the river where someone made a cement slab just for me...(nice of them!) I have spent HOURS in that spot praying and seeking God. I have praised him and celebrated victories...I have had dreams of what God could do in the city birthed there...and more than once I have cried...

Today I remembered...remembered why I took the leap of faith to start this church...why our family went on this journey-sometimes with great cost--health problems...lost friendships...strained family relationships--but through all of it, God has shown himself...he has sustained us, directed us. He has provided a path through darkness and has given HUGE blessings. I thanked God today for the opportunity to be a pastor for HIS church...to have the opportunity to serve the people of South Bend...And I asked him about what is next...what the next step in our journey will look like. (No answers BTW!)

This much I know...God has ALWAYS been with us...he will continue to be with us...AND he takes these tough times in our lives and develops us into better people...God is good.

Best Smile I've Seen in 6 weeks!

2011-06-13T21:04:00.002-04:00

Jaden gets a look in his eye...it's a look that I know all toooooo well-when he gives it you don't have to see any part of his body except his eyes...when "The Bouch" as I call him gives that look...his eyes just light up. It happens in sports--when he gets that look...I feel bad for whoever he is playing...(unless it's me!)...when he gets the look when he is wrestling with Luke and Chloe...I just KNOW what is coming...he has the same look when he performs in his school concerts or when he is practicing for a presentation at school...his eyes just LIGHT UP...it brings a smile to my face thinking about it!

Truth be told...we haven't seen that look in Jaden's eyes for weeks...ever since that AWFUL day at school when he broke his leg...the look has been gone...it's not that he hasn't had good days, because he has had A LOT of them...he has had fun...he has made the most of his situation...but that little something extra has been missing...

Today he went back to the doctor...his cast has been off for a week and his leg is just sooooo weak...when sitting in a chair he could lift his leg to be straight. He is going to physical therapy on Wednesday, but I just couldn't wait that long. So we went to "Daddy Therapy."

At first it was tough...I had him try to lift his leg from 90 degrees to straight...I had to help him for the first 8-10...then I started having to help him less...a little later we showed mom what he was doing...he did 20 this time (ok...it was more that 20 cause I just can't count! :) and I applied pressure to his leg and made him work for it...AND THEN IT HAPPENED! The look...that look that just MADE MY DAY! That little glimmer in eye..."The Bouch" was back! Something clicked in his head as he started to do these exercises...I gave him a goal for tomorrow...that I would be able to add weights (rocks actually!) to his leg and then lift those by the time I got home from work. THE LOOK CAME AGAIN...he said..."Dad, I want to lift 20 rocks tomorrow!" MADE MY DAY AGAIN!!

This is such a simple thing...something we all take for granted...simply lifting our leg...yet for my big man--it meant the world to him...for the first time he actually believes that he is going to walk and run again soon. (I'm thinking of waking him up for some midnight exercises!!!! ;)

Random Reflections

2011-06-13T12:30:00.004-04:00

-School is out and knowing that is would be a VERY emotional week, I took it easy this morning...Went for a run...prayed and then had a meeting out at Southpaw. (Figured out our family's summer vacation too!!) I have continued to run throughout the school year, but it has been tough over the past months since Sadie was born. I have to get up earlier and have my run done by 6:30, so I can take Chloe to the bus stop---SO...it was VERY RELAXING to get out there and just enjoy a PERFECT morning.

-This coming Sunday is the final Sunday for our church--crazy to think about all that God has done and that 2 weeks from now--I won't be working here--lots of emotions have been running through me...our family has poured our lives into seeing this church launch-reach and love people and working towards being self-sustained. Yesterday was probably my hardest day so far...I have had more emotional days than yesterday...but honestly I was in a daze most of the day...(AGAIN...this is why my run was sooooo good this morning...sunrise-cool breeze-exercise and Jesus-->PERFECT!)

-God is working in a group of people in our church...they are praying about staying together and seeing where God leads them...praying for wisdom and direction for them daily...great group of people...

-Jaden is really hurting...he got his cast off last week and his leg is SOOOOOO weak-he is going back to the doctor today-we are going to ask that he gets some physical therapy...he is walking incorrectly because he doesn't trust his leg and he has very little strength. Hard to watch a kid who can run an under 7 minute mile barely walk...and he is a lot like me and he is very reflective...so what is happening with the church really eats at him...he won't seem like it around people...but it is tearing him up.

-I praise God for friends...one of them is about to walk through the door right now and we're heading for lunch! Love that God gives us great people to walk through life with!

SO...since it's lunch time-I'm DONE reflecting for now!!

God's Grace

2011-06-08T13:31:00.002-04:00

Grace...undeserved favor...for so many people that word is just tough...one group is unwilling to allow God to give them grace...they feel that they don't deserve it...the believe that they shouldn't receive grace and that they must do something to earn it.

Then another group of people have a hard time giving grace...they sure want it for themselves, but they do not give it to other people. They hold on to bitterness and anger...frustration...pain...they just won't let it go...all the while hurting themselves more than they are anyone else.

I am proud to have been involved in a church that HEAPS ON GRACE! A lot of people say "we should show grace" but when someone comes in...someone struggling...they receive judgment instead of grace. I have learned a lot over the past 5 years that I have been on staff at Grace...none bigger than releasing God's undeserved favor on people...And the truth is...we all are going to need some grace from someone someday!

The Journey

2011-06-05T13:29:00.003-04:00

We said that last week would be our only funeral service...that we were not going to stay "down" even though is it tough and emotional right now. Everyone is at a different place in their journey...everyone is processing things differently. The neat thing is watching the people of God come together and encourage each other.

We gave everyone the calendar for the month today...told them of the process we are going through as we close...AND I told them how much it speaks to their character that they came back this week...it says a lot about the people there today...that they want to finish well.

I preached on "Attitude" this morning...and we looked at the life of Joseph...Joseph was given a dream by God...a very clear dream that his brothers and parents would bow to him and his leadership. Joseph HAD to have been VERY EXCITED about his dream...I imagine that he had picture of what that might be like and how cool it would be to get to that point. I compared that to our dream of planting a sustainable church is South Bend...one that would passionately pursue the heart of God...one that would love people to Jesus...one that would be IN the community...and that has been an exciting vision that God has given us.

HERE IS THE TRICKY PART...look what happened to Joseph...think of his journey...his brothers want to KILL HIM...and they instead choose to sell him off! (Which was a blessing when you think about it...Joseph was probably devastated when his brothers sold him...but his life was actually saved in that moment!) Then he worked his way into running a leader of Egypt's home...only to have that taken from him by the owners lying wife...THEN he goes to jail...works his way up to being in charge of things...helps out a guy in jail...only to have that guy FORGET ABOUT HIM...Think of what Joseph must have been feeling...how far away did his dream have to feel at that point.

HERE IS THE THING...Even in the darkness...even in the hopelessness that one day his dream would happen...EVEN THEN...Joseph did the right thing over and over...he trusted God...he lived his life with integrity. Who would have blamed Joseph for having an affair with the leaders wife? Really? Didn't he "deserve" some "happiness?" BUT...Joseph knew better...he knew that he needed to do right by GOD...not by his own personal feelings ...

Then there was breakthrough...The guy finally remembered Joseph and the LEADER OF THE COUNTRY put Joseph in charge...in charge of everything...THEN...his brothers show up...I wonder what that moment was like for Joseph...when he saw his family again...when they finally bowed to him...finally he had his dream come true...only the journey was REALLY tough...LOTS of detours...but all of those detours led him to the place where he saved his family.

For us...the message is that God NEVER has a PLan B...he ALWAYS has us where he needs us...sadly at times this means that we experience things that don't seem to make sense...times where like Joseph we have our dreams shattered...here is the question though...someday when we are able to see more clearly...someday when we see Jesus face to face and we are able to understand more of the big picture...will we see that the pain led us to a different path...a better path for more people...that our pain was actually our and someone else's gain...to encourage more people...to see more people come to him...I'm staking my life on that truth...

Facebook at its best

2011-06-03T14:35:00.005-04:00

I have been following a friend on Facebook whose wife has been having serious complications with her pregnancy...he has been able through FB and Twitter to update everyone on what is happening...this is truly FB at its best...the number of people that can pray and pray specifically is MULTIPLIED because of FB.

The same has been true since I posted about our church closing...I have received some GREAT encouragement from people that I am only connected to because of FB. God has used them to really uplift my life--simple words of encouragement--showing that they care. Thanking God today for FB...

Thanking God for Kids!

2011-06-02T21:01:00.005-04:00

Some people have wondered why we would want 4 kids...WELL...with everything that is happening in our lives there is nothing more priceless than a simple smile from Sadie Lynn...Every morning Sadie gives me her priceless smile and it just makes my day...that little baby girl is just adorable...Just lights up our world...

Then today is Luke's bday--he turned 5 today...5 years ago we were at a very interesting spot in our lives...a spot where we wondered what God was up too...THEN God came through in a huge way...Luke has given us so much joy and SOOOOOOO many laughs over the past 5 years...he is SOOOOOO funny! Just love that little dude...We got him a new bike and you should have seen him riding that thing over a ramp we built last summer...HE GOT AIR!!

AND JADEN...that kid is just an overcomer...he has been in a cast now for about 3 weeks...but tonight there he was...serving our neighbor and sweeping her sidewalk while hopping on one leg! LOVE THAT HEART...making the most of your circumstances!

Chloe...............words cannot express what she has meant to Kelsey and me over the past weeks. With Jaden hurt she has had a lot more responsibility and she is rising to the occasion. She is turning into such a young lady of God...proud of her...

In the midst of everything else...these 4 amazing people...the 4 that God has given us have provided so much encouragement. I am soooooo grateful for each of my little ones!

The Ending of a HUGE part of our lives...

2011-06-01T14:40:00.003-04:00

Last Tuesday the leaders of our church decided that it was time to close our campus. We had set out benchmarks for 2011...goals that if we were close to reaching them we would continue to move forward. Our attendance had grown this year, but in the past month we have found out that several families will be moving away-AND the big one is that we are not a self-sustaining church...honestly we are not close-we have A LOT of young families and we just have not been able to get over the financial hump...

This has been VERY HARD for a lot of people...we have a group that really loves each other...our Savior...and serving our community--they enjoy getting their hands dirty. I have been praying hard that people will stay strong in their faith through this time...that they will find and connect with a church that loves Jesus and JUMPS into the community...

Personally...I haven't EVER cried this much in a week...I care DEEPLY for the people here...for this church...our family has poured their lives into the work here and it has been very rewarding. I have not had a plan B...never wanted to do anything else with my life...I have a sense of peace about the decision...YET...I feel sick about it...years and YEARS of investing my life...Can't really put this into words real well...

Here is what I know...I know that God loves me and this group more than we can even possibly express...I know that our God is faithful-that even though we didn't have a plan B-he already knows what will happen...I know that he wants us to be real-to share our hurt, anger, joys with him...(Our last Sunday will be a CELEBRATION of what he has done here!) And I know...that the influence of Grace Community Church South Bend/Mishawaka will be far reaching. I am deeply sad by this AND I am confident that God will continue HIS WORK through HIS people. Lots of feelings and emotions...Thank YOU LORD that I know you!

Do the right thing because it is the right thing

2011-05-20T14:04:00.002-04:00

I have said this phrase MANY times over the past 5 or so years...mostly I say it about our church...we do the right thing-we take care of and love people in our community because it is the right thing to do. We have had people take advantage of the help that we give...but the bottom line is...our job is not to judge who "deserves" help and who doesn't...our job is to love and take care of people. Why? Our Savior did that for us..."even while we were still sinners Christ died for us." Even though we hurt him...reject him...deny him...he STILL loves us and gives us the opportunity to come to him.

SO...it is time to not hold back your love...SHARE IT...sure you will get hurt in the process...sure there will be people who are ungrateful...BUT...the reward you get...the "well done" you will received from your Master...THAT is worth every bit of it...Now get out there and serve someone else!

Been a while!

2011-05-18T14:20:00.003-04:00

Been well over a week since a post...a few things have taken place in that time and honestly I haven't known what to say. SHOCKING isn't it...Boucher was a bit speechless!! I'm not a big writer, but I usually don't post something just to write...but for the first time since I starting blogging...I really didn't know what to communicate. Ever had those moments in life? Where you are going along...life is happening...and your just not sure what to say...what do you do in those moments?

For me...I prayed a lot...I OFTEN pray for wisdom and discernment...but over the past couple of weeks, I have been BEGGING GOD even more...I simply long to respond to people...speak to people in a way that honors God and shows people respect...a prayer has been to see people the way GOD sees them and to see the best in them. THAT IS QUITE HARD sometimes...but the alternative...just always speaking your mind and not thinking the best in others...that is a dark road...probably "fun" in the moment...but doesn't do you or anyone else any good.

I have also been reflecting a lot on how good God is...on how he just simply has a plan worked up...that when we pray...we need to focus our prayers on HIM...focusing on the fact that NO MATTER how he answers...he has OUR best interest in mind and he loves us more than we can EVER imagine!

Stop saying "I should..." and GO DO IT!

2011-05-04T14:23:00.002-04:00

The South Bend Tribune published an article today about the keys to a healthy heart...OBVIOUSLY the article peaked my interest! Another reason it got my attention was I was at the doctor today. (STOP WORRYING MOM...it wasn't because I'm sick or feeling bad!) I realized when I was there that I haven't been to my family doctor in almost a year!! WHICH MEANS that I haven't been sick enough to go! (Very profound huh?!?!) I used to go to the doctor for colds and other junk at LEAST 2-3x's per year...

Here is the thing though...in the past year I have changed my diet. I have DRASTICALLY changed my diet...I still eat "fun" foods, just not NEARLY as often!! I have exercised more consistently in the last 14 months than EVER in my life...AND I have maintained my body weight for a year. (In the past I used to go waaaaaaaay up and then down...up and down...up and down) Isn't it interesting that when you start to eat the right stuff and take care of your body...you end up seeing the doc less!! THIS ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE!!

SO...my point is this...and I cannot say it STRONG ENOUGH...PLEASE stop saying "I should start to take care of my body..." "I should really start to exercise..." and STOP JOKING about what you eat...cause frankly IT ISN'T FUNNY!! This message isn't just for those that are over-weight...there are some people (as I was) who just BURN UP CALORIES and don't look overweight...BUT YOU KNOW that you aren't taking care of your body and that you aren't healthy!!

When we aren't taking care of ourselves it is robbing God, your family, and yourself of the very best YOU!

I did that for many years and I have had to deal with the regret...I KNEW my family history and limitations...I KNEW that I had close family pass away at a young age due to heart disease...BUT I went around eating and living like I was invincible...like "it wouldn't happen to me..."

I encourage you to take responsibility for your own body...YOUR THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN and don'tnot wait until any longer...get to your doctor...talk to a trainer...do what needs to be done to honor God with your health...TRUST ME...you will be sooooooooo glad you did!!

Aim for a target!

2011-05-04T13:38:00.002-04:00

14,975 people live within 1 mile...1 MILE of our church building...86,822 people within 3 miles...and 179,581 within 5miles...THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE! And frankly our church was drowning in the fact that we were attempting to touch EVERYONE in that area!

SO...at the beginning of 2011 we made the step to focus our influence on the 1 to 1.5 mile radius of our church...we wanted to make a maximum impact and to do it in the best way possible. NOW...this has come at some sacrifice...BUT...the benefits are amazing...

This is so fresh in my mind because of the opportunity I had to meet with Mrs. Martin today...she is the principal of McKinley Primary Center which is our neighborhood school...Mrs. Martin is PASSIONATE about the kids in her building...she LOVES them! She is giving up part of her summer so they can have a summer school experience. "NO ONE" around here gives up their summer! AND she is allowing us to have our Field Days Camp at the school!! WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US!! I am sooooo excited about the work that she is doing and how that allows us to influence our community!

I love how when we focus our attention...when we narrow our focus...clarify our direction...then God blows open opportunities for us!! VERY COOL!

Overwhelming!

2011-05-03T12:37:00.003-04:00

We started a new series of messages at church...We are calling it Amp'd-a study on the book of Ephesians. I LOVE the book of Ephesians...probably my favorite book in the Bible...it has a DEPTH of our understanding of God and it is VERY practical...VERY! Real life stuff...

This week was about ENCOURAGEMENT for those that follow Jesus...THINK ABOUT THIS...God...before ALL CREATION knew who you were and picked you to be on his team! That is INCREDIBLE STUFF! Just INCREDIBLE...God didn't know the idea of me...HE KNEW MY NAME...AND he picked me to follow him. I think that is some REAL encouragement!!

WATCH IT! Some of you are going to jump on this one...your going to make this EXTREMELY complicated...I encourage you to not go there...simply rest in the fact of knowing...that you can KNOW FOR SURE that you will be in heaven one day...you can know because you simply believe in Jesus Christ and what he did in giving his life and rising again..AND you have made him LORD...he is in charge of your life...if you have done that then you are SEALED...you are going to be with Jesus...

NOW GO LIVE IN THAT TRUTH AND HOPE!!

Tornado Relief! JUMP IN!!

2011-04-29T17:11:00.000-04:00

Hey Grace Community Church...NOW is the time for us to step in and help!

We have an opportunity to partner with Church of the Heartland (the church that used to run Ugly Mugs) and provide relief for the families in Alabama. Church of the Heartland is partnering with a church in Alabama to bring supplies and possibly a team of volunteers.

IMPORTANT DATES:
ANYTHING THAT COMES IN THIS SUNDAY WILL BE TAKEN TO ALABAMA THIS WEEK!
We will also be collecting items throughout the week and next Sunday.

Here are the ways you can get involved…
#1 Items to bring church:
-Blankets
-Diapers and wipes
-Baby Food/formula
-Socks
-Bottled Water
-Juice (individual)
-Packaged food for distribution

#2 Give monetary donation (Check to Grace Community Church and note “relief”)The money will be given to trusted ministries DIRECTLY involved in the relief effort.

#3 Drivers are needed to take donated items either to a ministry connection in Indianapolis or straight to Alabama

#4 Volunteer a few days…working side by side ministries helping those affected by this disaster.

Mr. Douglas...a teacher with a legacy!

2011-04-29T16:02:00.002-04:00

Today was our staff vs. the students basketball game at Jackson. It was fun to beat up on the boys a little bit...they are always sooooooooooooooooo cocky (unlike me!) and then the old games take 'em apart a little! It was fun!

Today reminded me of the my first staff vs. student game when I was in 8th grade...I will NEVER forget the EVER COMPETITIVE Mr. Douglas shoving me into the wall!! I was a LITTLE upset, BUT he is a teacher that I just LOVED! (He did finally apologize!)

Mr. Douglas ran his gym class in a way that he truly invested his LIFE into his work and into the boys. Back in the day we had separate classes for girls and boys...Mr. Douglas would then split us up in AAA, AA and A...so that everyone would have a chance to compete and win...not politically correct today, but it gave EVERYONE a chance to be successful at their level...we would give $.25 at the beginning of each new sport and if we won our division he would give us trophies! The battles in his class were INTENSE...FUN memories!!

I'll never forget one time I was complaining about a call in basketball...Douglas grabs his whistle and in his unique voice starts yelling..."Boucher...if you want me to blow the whistle...I'll blow the whistle...play the game Boucher." The next time I touched the ball..."WHISTLE" "Foul on Boucher!" I looked at him in disbelief! The next time I got the ball..."Whistle" "Boucher walked with the ball...come on Boucher...what's the problem...get your head in the game?!?!" Seems mean...but you can bet I didn't whine about any calls for the rest of the year!!

At the end of every school year...Douglas would use his own money and put on a SPORTS DAY...Mr. Douglas had people from all over the world come and check out "his program."...Sports Day was an ALL DAY LONG event...and it was a CARNIVAL! Races...Pop drinking contests...food...("6 pieces of peperoni...more than you'll ever get in the cafeteria!")...he would pay for a band to come and they were usually ROCKIN! THEN...we would earn points and get prizes...and he bought A TON of stuff for prizes!! He was a VERY generous man!!

Douglas was also good at pouring MANHOOD into his students...he was a man's man and he expected us to man up. To walk like men...to treat the girls well...to compete with EVERYTHING we had...and to "not wear polka-dotted shorts..." He wanted us to battle against the odds...he would tell us..."give me the worst team and I'll beat all of you in volleyball...doesn't matter who I have...we'll win...I'll will us to win!" Crazy thing...he was right! His intensity was contagious...he longed to pull the best out of each of us and in his unique style he sure did!

My brother and I can go on FOREVER telling Douglas stories and using his unique voice to do it...I am grateful to him for the fire that he burned in me...for the time that he took to pour his life into us! I have A LOT of great memories from Manchester Middle School...MANY of them revolve around Mr. Douglas!

How you live matters!

2011-04-28T13:22:00.003-04:00

What you do...both when people are watching and when they aren't matters. Plus you just never know when someone is watching you...you don't know when their eyes are on you.

Those of us that have children see this in them ALL THE TIME! We "catch them" doing good or otherwise...and the look are their faces is priceless! The look of "OH you just saw that?!?!" Just priceless!!

Here is a good thought though...as your children grow up...or maybe they already are...what will they see in you? Will they see a life that is consistent with how you raised them? Will they see a lack of integrity in your life? Will your life reinforce the principles you are teaching them? How you live really matters!

Over the years...between teaching and pastoring, I have heard parents say: "I don't understand why he/she acts like this...why do they act this way." At times, it is obvious that mom and/or dad are trying to teach principles and values that they are not living themselves. SO OF COURSE their kids aren't going to buy it! They aren't going to follow!! HOW YOU LIVE REALLY MATTERS MORE THAN WHAT YOU SAY! Another way to say it is...what you teach with your ACTIONS is more important than what you teach with your words!

The question we all need to answer is...Are we consistently living our life in the way we expect our children and others to live? THEN...the 2nd question is do we acknowledge our mistakes...our mis-steps...do we make things right? Do we say we are sorry...do we show our kids that we are a work in progress...OR do they just see inconsistencies...

"Train a child in the way he should go..." PART of that training is living the example in front of them.

This is the thing that is most convicting to me...AS Jesus looks at our lives...as he sees how we live and what we think...as he knows every motive that we have...What does he see...For starters...I'm glad he is a forgiving God AND I'm glad he gives us HIS Spirit to help us! 'Cause we can be inconsistent at times...

How you live your life matters! You are influencing people...one way or the other...you ARE influencing people...MAKE THE CHOICE to POSITIVELY influence others!

Enjoy the moment!

2011-04-25T13:25:00.003-04:00

WAY TO OFTEN we run from one task to the next...from one event to the next...from project to project and we never take time to breath...never take time to enjoy the moment...

HEY GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH...ENJOY THE MOMENT! Yesterday was a FANTASTIC day.

ENJOY THE MOMENT...because we prayed LIKE CRAZY for God to move and he RESPONDED! NOW we have to THANK HIM LIKE CRAZY AND ENJOY THE MOMENT!

ENJOY THE MOMENT...enjoy how 8 people are now sure that when they die they will be in heaven! They responded to Jesus Christ...made him in charge of their lives!

Enjoy the moment...that we had our largest attendance ever (next to our Sunday after soccer camp last year)...MANY visitors...Some people that have been prayed for and invited for a few YEARS came!

Enjoy the moment...your hard work paid off! You went out in the community and EGGED people...you delived a dozen eggs to over 400 homes and many people showed up because of it! WELL DONE!

Enjoy the moment...the powerful and moving moments of worship on Sunday...the priceless time of reflection...BIG POWERFUL music!

Enjoy the moment of all the smiling faces at the Egg Dash.

Enjoy the moment of all the work that went into filling the eggs and it took less than 30 seconds to finish the dash!! LESS THAN 30 SECONDS!

Enjoy the moment of seeing soooooo many people serving...serving because they love Jesus...this church and our community!

ENJOY THE MOMENT because you know as well as I do...that trouble isn't hard to find...so we HAVE TO-HAVE TO-HAVE TO enjoy these amazing moments!

ENJOY THE MOMENT...because we prayed LIKE CRAZY for God to move and he RESPONDED! NOW we have to THANK HIM LIKE CRAZY AND ENJOY THE MOMENT!

A Special Day!

2011-04-24T19:43:00.003-04:00

Wow...

This morning was one of the 2 very best church services and Sunday mornings that I have EVER been involved with!! I beg God a lot...plead with him to show up...I long to see people in our community come to Jesus...I plead with him to change people's lives...ask him to allow us to influence people right here in South Bend, Indiana. That he would give us the opportunity to share HIS story with people and then have the respond to it...

There was a lot happening today...people praying...playing instruments...singing... teaching children...setting up food...putting out eggs for our egg dash...greeting and welcoming people...setting up chairs...tech people...and so many more! There was a GREAT DEAL of investment into this morning and frankly these people invest like this weekly! So when God shows up the way he did today...it is breath-taking and rewarding!

The building was electric (It was our 2nd highest attendance EVER!) and you could sense THE Spirit of God moving in people. The music and time of reflection was priceless...and then it happened. And I just LOVE IT when God allows us to see this...people responded to follow Jesus Christ...It is SOOOOO fun to see people take the step to make Jesus in charge of their lives...it is a moment to CELEBRATE! After we prayed and people acknowledged that they turned to Jesus...POWERFUL...just powerful!

Then we headed out for our egg dash...it's a dash because it is over in about 30 seconds!! 5000 eggs GONE in 30 seconds! CRAZY! It was a really fun atmosphere and Michelle and her team of people did an INCREDIBLE job making this happen. What a fun time for our church and the community!

On a morning when we celebrate the amazing miracle of Jesus' resurrection it is soooo FANTASTIC that God comes through and changes people's lives! Our goal this morning was to honor God...that he would be pleased with EVERYTHING we did...in the end...he blessed us beyond our dreams! Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!!

Still Blown Away...

2011-04-21T14:25:00.002-04:00

I first gave my life to Jesus over 30 years ago and I am still blown away by what God did for me...for all of us. Jesus LEFT HEAVEN...HEAVEN!! It's perfect there...NO PAIN...no suffering...no screaming...crying...sadness...and he gave it up to come down here and be hated, beaten and die...and to do that when he didn't do ANYTHING wrong! We are barely willing to suffer at all! We LONG for "the easy life." AND JESUS HAD IT ALL...but gave it up for 33 years to live down here...so we could have the opportunity to experience heaven. I am overwhelmed today...overwhelmed with his sacrifice...I am sooooooo thankful too...thankful that he didn't stay in that grave...that he ROSE UP! Ultimate victory!! Now if we choose to follow him we can experience heaven...(what a day THAT is going to be!!)

I encourage you to spend some time in John 18-21 this weekend...allow yourself to be overwhelmed with the greatest gift ever given!

So much to carry...

2011-04-18T14:38:00.003-04:00

I don't even know where to start this blog today...I left school this morning with tears in my eyes...my heart aches for some of these young people...The choices they are making...the things that they have already been exposed to by friends or classmates...by their own families. It leaves me with a heavy heart for them. Many of them have struggles at home...parents that fight or just don't pay attention to them...some don't live with their parents. There are some that are really the ones raising their syblings...

Every year that I have taught school I leave with kids that I would love to adopt...love to take in and provide a place of safety...of encouragement...of structure...a place where they can see how much a mom and dad love them...and hear about the God of the universe that can help them. They carry such a load.

It is a priviledge to be a teacher...to be part of their lives...to have the opportunity to influence them and to know them. I only wish that I could get into their heads and provide the message that GOD LOVES THEM...that HE thinks they are BEAUTIFUL...HE longs to know them...and he will meet them RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE AND WALK WITH THEM FROM THERE! They don't have to be perfect...God will walk with them...and will provide the strength to overcome...more than that...to thrive.

DON'T GIVE UP...DON'T EVER GIVE UP young people...seek out God...learn to trust again...MAN...the load they carry!

JESUS said: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11: 28-30)

Going Egging!

2011-04-15T13:54:00.003-04:00

Part of the mission of our church is to be IN the community...we don't expect people to simply come to us...AND I simply do not like going door to door...I don't like it when people come to my door selling stuff so we don't go selling Jesus that way. SO...on Saturday we went egging! It was quite cool to take a dozen eggs to 400 homes around our church building and egg people...NO...NO...we didn't throw the eggs at people...instead we give them the eggs that were picked up from a farm that morning! It is sooooo good to simply serve people with nothing expected in return! Fun sharing Jesus' love in simple and practical ways! And definitely a more constructive way to go egging!!

It's YOUR job!

2011-04-12T15:04:00.002-04:00

This is YOUR job...no one else...it is YOUR responsibility...YOU get the blame...bottom line? It's on YOU! Huh? SOOOOOOO glad you asked! I am reading through a book called "Axiom" by Bill Hybels...I read it a while back and am going through it with some leaders in our church. A quote in the forward got to me today...here it is... "The leader's third responsibility (if you want the other two, you'll have to buy the book!) -and toughest of them all- is self-leadership, the commitment to constant improvement as a leader. Few things are more tragic than seeing zeal, talent and a God-given goal fail because a leader neglected to get better." MAN...that is convicting...to many people blame EVERYONE ELSE for things that happen...even for their own personal failures...when we MUST take responsibility for ourselves...we must be LIFELONG learners...keep growing...learning...being stretched. When we do we will more effectively lead others!

A GREAT Vacation...even some blood!!

2011-04-11T14:23:00.003-04:00

Vacation was really good! We got some projects done and I played A LOT of hide-n-go seek tag with the kids and neighbor kids!! We basically run and run and run until someone gets caught...I LOVE THIS GAME! Jumping fences...falling around corners...the kids get skinned knees...holes in their pants...grass stain...PERFECT! We also played a serious game of "fumble." It's a game we created where you use a small football...inside the house...one team "fumbles" the ball and you score when you get the ball under the piano bench...THEN...IT'S ON...not a whole lot of rules!! Bodies flying around...tears shed...A LOT of laughter...and even some blood! I got a knee to the nose and ear...after the game I was bleeding behind my ear...I HAD NO CLUE THAT I WAS BLEEDING...the game must go on! Then we found some of my blood on Jaden's shirt...might be because he had me in a serious head-lock!! IT WAS SOOOOOO FUN! Then of course there was Wii Bowling...I had to "step away" for a minute and Chloe "bowled" for me! ONLY she threw it in the gutter EVERY TIME and I lost my pro status!! I OWE HER! We ended vacation with our first family trip to Strikes and Spares...road some go-karts...played mini-golf and bowled. Chloe and I raced with the go-karts and Luke road with me...You should have seen Luke! A great week!! Good times!!

Tech Fast!

2011-04-01T16:05:00.003-04:00

I am just about to leave the office and head on vacation! Looking forward to a week of hanging out with the family...This vacation is going to be a technology fast for me...I'm not going to be checking email...blogging...visiting blogs...heading to Facebook...I'll be turning my cell phone off and no research on the internet...I try to do this a couple of times a year...I get soooooo reliant on tech stuff and it is just good to put it aside and focus on family! SO here we go...see you next weekend!! Looking forward to some time with the family and getting things done around the house!!

Don't Burn Bridges!

2011-03-31T14:49:00.004-04:00

I will never forget the winter of '94...I learned a VALUABLE lesson that winter...I had taken a semester off from school (which is a blog post for itself!) and my dad had gotten me a job at his work. IT WAS SOOOOO BORING! Not because it was my dad's work, but because it was winter and the warehouse at a lumber yard is just not that busy... After working there for a short time they cut my hours because there wasn't enough to do...naturally as a young guy I was pretty ticked off! So I decided to start working for my neighbor who owned a landscaping business...BUT instead of going to the manager and giving notice...OH...I gave notice...like..."I'm done today!" He was a bit upset...(and so was my dad!)...of course at the time I didn't think I was wrong, but as time passed I realized that for AT LEAST my dad's sake I should have given more notice...and frankly, I should have talked with my dad about it! STUPID! (Hey Dad...I'm still sorry for that!!) After about a year I wrote the manager a letter and apologized for how I handled things...told him that I wanted to be a man of integrity and I just BLEW IT! The lesson I learned is that you just shouldn't burn bridges...I claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ and I just didn't handle that well...not for the job or for my dad...and you just NEVER know when you might need a job or the help of someone you are GOING OFF on! What sparked this story was a guy from our church used to the the worship pastor at a church in Michigan...and when he was leaving that job he had a choice to make...he could either go off on everything he didn't like...OR he could finish well! He chose to finish well...really well and here is the CRAZY PART... Because of that...he was able to go back their this week and talk about how his family was going to go to China...and the people gave him a SIGNIFICANT amount of money!! HOW COOL IS IT that he and his family were able to do this! Had he burned that bridge...had he said things to hurt people on his way out...had he not finished well...this opportunity would have NEVER happened! 2 Things...make sure you finish well with whatever you are doing! If for no other reason than for the sake of your Savior Jesus Christ! AND...who do you need to talk with and apologize? Apologize for the way you have handled something...in your family...former boss...coworkers...store clerk??...go make it right and STOP burning bridges!

Check the mirror first!

2011-03-30T15:18:00.003-04:00

I wish that I had $100 for every time my students ask me why? Why do we have to do this assignment? Why do I have to write this paper? Why did you GIVE me THAT grade? WHY do I have to have a detention? Why...why...why???? As many of you know...when someone asks me a question, I simply LOVE to send it back at them..."What do you think?" or "Why do you think you EARNED that grade?" AT TIMES it is in that moment that they realize or become honest with themselves and admit what got them the grade or consequence... It is sooooooo easy to see this in my students and my kids...BUT...how often do we...as adults do the same thing...we blame our boss...or better yet...GOD for the situation that WE put ourselves in! We blame him and wonder why he won't change our circumstances...YET the choices we are making are helping to create our circumstances. What would happen if we decided to look in the mirror first...to take responsibility for our actions...if we do that...I bet we would end up BEGGING GOD for forgiveness...and it is then...within our repentance that changes will start to happen...that we will begin to see breakthrough... Let's stop blaming others and God for our circumstances...rather...let's take responsibility for our choices...seek his forgiveness where needed and then take the steps...no matter how difficult that will result in real life change!

A little Competition...or is it!

2011-03-28T15:49:00.004-04:00

We are doing a little "friendly" competition between the guys and girls at the church...whoever brings in the most eggs for our Egg Dash on Easter gets to have dinner made and served by the other...WELL...the ladies were in the lead...well...a SIGNIFICANT lead after Sunday morning...

THEN I GET A PHONE CALL today...a lady wants to "drop something by the office..." When she shows up...she has 1000 EGGS (That is the 5 boxes on top of the women's box...which was ALREADY full!!) This is quickly becoming a LANDSIDE advantage for the ladies...GUYS...we have some SERIOUS WORK TO DO!!

The good news is we are well over half-way to our goal of 5000 eggs...maybe we will end up with 10,000 eggs by the time this is over!!!!

Time to step up men!!

Jaden Blake Boucher

2011-03-27T14:25:00.003-04:00

Jaden turns 8 today...Many parents have said over the years "to enjoy every moment because they grow up so fast!" That is soooo true! I feel that the last 8 years have just blown by...He is growing up and I am soooo proud of him! Friday was Report Card day!! Nice way to jump into the weekend, eh!? It could have been a long weekend for him...only he is doing an outstanding job...He really does his best on projects...actually I think he has done more projects and presentations already in school than I had to do in all my years in school! He is reading at a high level...very sharp in math...(you bet I'm bragging...it's his birthday!!) Here is the thing though...I love that he is doing so well...that he is excelling at school...But I am the most proud of him for his attitude...he continues to come home with "O's" for outstanding behavior on his report card. His teacher tells us that he is a leader in the room and will do the right thing even when others aren't...THAT is what we are looking for! For him to be a leader in his classroom...to do the right thing and lead others to do the same... 8 years ago I started to pray for him...for the boy...young man and man that he would become. I PRAISE GOD for who he is today and PRAY like crazy for him in the years to come...that he will continue to allow God to shape his life...That Kelsey and I would have wisdom on how best to raise him...that he will find a woman of God to marry...that he will follow Jesus for life! Hey Jaden..."I love you big man and am sooooo proud of the boy that you are! I look forward to continue to watch you grow up and getting to be part of your life! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!"

We aren't that poor...

2011-03-25T13:23:00.005-04:00

I am on the board for Grace In Action USA...GIA works hard to reach love kids and give them the tools...the life skills...they need to succeed in life...the curriculum is simply FANTASTIC!! (AND NO I'm not the one who wrote it...I'm not that shameless!!) Last week at the board meeting Pastor Mike Tabor from "The Happy Church" shared their story...Sure is a funny name for a church! BUT...it TOTALLY fits their community. They live and minister in one of the poorest areas in our COUNTRY...SO...when they bring in a HAPPY CHURCH it is the perfect name. As he was sharing I was deeply convicted...convicted on how much stuff I have...I know the worldwide stats...the ones that speak to how wealthy we are here in the US...When I was in China, I saw some neighborhoods that were simply "houses" made out of scrap. That affected me, but there was something about hearing stories of things that are happen so much closer to home... His talk is shaping how I make financial decisions today...what do we need vs. what I want...whatelse can we give up to help others? Do I really need something THAT nice or can I be content with less? It was a really good perspective shift for me!

GET MOTIVATED!

2011-03-23T12:45:00.004-04:00

What does it take for you to do your personal best? What has to happen for you to "kick into gear" and improve at something. Today at school, as I was heading to the office I passed the gym class...truth be told...I have OFTEN thought that I should have been a P.E. teacher! The class was running the 40 yd. dash in the hallway...OF COURSE...where there is a competition and race happening I HAVE TO STOP and see what is happening...

As I watched student after student run down the hall, it became QUITE obvious that they were NOT giving much effort...one young man...a 7th grader...about as big as me and he was OBVIOUSLY an athlete ran the 40 in 6.7 seconds...REALLY!?!?!?!?!?!?! 6.7! Of course being the very mild-mannered...quiet person I am...(Sarcasm for those you who may not know me well!!) I told him that I could beat that time EASILY wearing my dress shirt...dress pants...AND dress shoes.

OF COURSE...after I said this I went down the hall to run the 40...LET ME REMIND YOU that the students are in their gym clothes and I am in my dress pants AND DRESS SHOES! I might add that I already ran 3 miles this morning before I went to school! (Just have to make sure you have all of my disclaimers out there!! ;)

I got to the starting line...those nervous feelings were there...CAUSE the music teacher HAS to be under 6 seconds or it will be COMPLETE embarrassment! I took off running...with my cell phone-keys and wallet still on me...and ran it in 5.4 seconds...not bad for the old guy!

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS HUGE...You should have SEEN the students run after I got the fastest time...they were FLYING down the hallway! A little motivation...can't let the "old teacher" MUCH LESS the music teacher beat you...Well...no one did until the young man who had the 6.7 sec. time went again...only this time...he finished with a 5.2! He was MOTIVATED to do his personal best!

A couple things hit me when this happened...

FIRST...WHY do we wait for others to bring out the best in us? When will we STEP UP and take responsibility for ourselves...for our lives...to be the best we can be...to give our best! Not wait for someone else to motivate us! Because when we start to take responsibility for our lives and work to be our best...THE SKY IS THE LIMIT for what we may accomplish!

SECOND...Are you bringing out the best in others? By the way you are living your life...are you bringing out the best in other people...today I did in a race...but I have been really challenged to make sure that I am doing what I can to pull the VERY BEST out of people...the very best!

You just NEVER KNOW what lessons you might learn when you are just trying to walk the halls...

Take Aim!

2011-03-22T15:19:00.002-04:00

Our church turned 4 years old this month...we launched our South Bend Campus from our church in Goshen that has been there "forever!" For much of the first 3 years we had a split direction...and a lot of that happened because of our locations...we had our services in Movies 14 in Mishawaka and then our office in Downtown S. Bend...about 10 minutes away. Now 10 minutes doesn't seem to be much if your from a town like I grew up in in Ohio...we had a McDonalds...and an AMAZING pizza place and we drove for everything else! But here, those 10 minutes are a change in culture!

The deal is...we really tried to impact both areas and did to some level...but the truth is...we were making a random and not overly focused impact...if you have a split direction...you aren't going to maximize your influence...So...we have mapped out a 1 mile radius around our building...there are 14,975 people in that 1 mile...and 3,598 households...our target is to focus our energy and resources into this area...THEN we can have a maximum influence.

NO...we aren't going door to door and "attacking" people...but we will be OUT in our community and finding ways to love people and do things for them. We have had a HUGE opportunity open for us with a school that we partner with...the principal is VERY open to community partners and we are blessed to have someone working at the school! This summer we will be doing a Field Days camp at the school...For the 3 weeks after the camp we are having Community Family nights (OK...we will be coming up with a better name than that, but it works for today!!)...including a WATER FIGHT...possible an outdoor movie night...and we talked about creating portable walls and providing paint for kids to come and create "stuff" on the walls...constructive graffiti! We ended our Community Hope food vouchers and are transitioning it to help families right here within a mile of our building...We are also dreaming of doing an after school program that engages kids in fun...learning about practical life skills...AND about Jesus! We have some AMAZING curriculum for this! Can't wait to see who God raises up to lead it!!

Oh...and we will be going Egging too! Passing out 1 dozen eggs to 500 homes in our target area...giving people something practical that they can use and letting them know that Grace Community is around! At Easter we will have our 5th Easter Egg Dash...with 5,000 eggs! We call it a dash because there just aren't any eggs hidden!! We are giving away a prizes, including a family of 4 trip to a water park!! Hope we win!

Our church MUST focus in on a target...Jaden played a Wii archery game during the service...in the first round he shot all over the place...up in the mountains...at a waterfall...random shots...I bet he hit SOMETHING! BUT...in round 2 he took aim at a target...he NAILED all three of his arrows on the target...Bottom line...we will have MAXIMUM influence when we focus our energy, gifts/abilities, $ and resources on a focused target...

Random Reflections from the weekend....

2011-03-22T15:07:00.002-04:00

Random things from the past weekend...

-NCAA Tourney...I went from best to last...THANKS NOTRE DAME!
-The Buckeyes are ALIVE AND WELL!
-Luke told me on Saturday "I want to die, dad." I was about to respond with "No you don't!!" Then I stopped and asked..."Why?!" Luke: "Because then I get to see Jesus." Love that little man!
-Finished off one of my most challenging weeks of teaching EVER...Glad I'm in a building with some AMAZING principals and staff!
-Sadie best be up to her birth weight...the Bouchers' need some sleep!
-Kelsey is sooooo amazing...the things she accomplishes in one day...I long for her efficiency!
-Hide 'n Go Seek Tag in the yard...with the kids and neighbor kids...I JUST LOVE IT!
-Bought some exercise equipment...after 3 free treadmills...I used my bday $$ and bought some other equipment...NOW to rearrange the basement!!
-Why, oh WHY can't Notre Dame go deeper in the tourney (sorry...I just can't get it out of my mind!)
-Sunday morning...GREAT morning...got ambushed and then had a FANTASTIC service!
-Jaden got to play the Wii during our service...he was my "expert" on hitting a target...he was SOOOOOO excited to help me!!
-I think I drove 10,000 miles on Sunday afternoon...too many places to go!
-Ended Sunday with a GREAT couples group...talking about sex!
-We were all challenged to make sure we talk with our kids about the GOOD of sex...how simply AMAZING it can be if you keep it in marriage...and it can simply be amazing!
-OK...so actually ended my Sunday with my tourney bracket being BLOWN UP by Notre Dame! (yes there is a theme here!!) The Bucks are my only hope!!

I was under attack!!

2011-03-20T13:57:00.002-04:00

This morning I was preaching on the direction of our church...the title of my sermon was "Take Aim!" During our announcement time (and without my knowledge!!) A guy (I will not give them the gratification of having their names in print!! :)...he yells from the back of the auditorium "Hey Tim...what is the title of your message this morning?!" THEN 4 or 5 guys pop up around the auditorium and "Take aim" on me with Nerf guns! IT WAS SOOO FUNNY...and a GREAT way to start our service!! I had no idea they were planning this!! (I should mention here that some of them are AWFUL marksmen!!) Then...when it was about done...Colin comes from behind me on stage and gets me from close range! UNBELIEVABLE...our worship leader shoots me from behind...

Paybacks are sweet boys...PAYBACKS ARE SWEET BOYS!!!!

OH...I should mention that I did get hit by one "bullet" from the BACK balcony area...NOW THAT is a Nerf gun!!! LONG RANGE!!

Welcome to Grace Community...where you just NEVER KNOW what is going to happen...
LOVE IT!!!!

Priceless Bday gifts!

2011-03-18T13:33:00.002-04:00

I LOVE my kids...and it is always so cool how the simple things make a HUGE difference...Chloe, Jaden and Luke each made me bday cards...they are sooooo very unique and just touched me. Then Luke made me another card and put $1.12 in it! It was sooo cute...he went to his bank and gave me $...And drew a picture of a big storm and a tornado! Quite the interesting bday card I must say!

In the morning, Jaden made me close my eyes...he led me to the garage...I was expecting something that he built or a stick...some sort of contraption! When he told me to open my eyes...I looked up and he had straightened the WHOLE garage! AND IT WAS A MESS BEFORE...HOW cool was that!!?? It really looked good and organized...VERY COOL!

It reminded me again that sometimes...no OFTEN it is the SIMPLE gifts...the ones from our own hands...the ones where we invested part of US in it that make the most impact.

I'll never forget those gifts...the time that Chloe took to make a sign and then a card for me...Luke's card with $$ in it and then Jaden-using up HIS play time to help me and clean up the garage...PRICELESS!

Trust...hard to build...EASY to destroy!

2011-03-16T15:27:00.003-04:00

I have been thinking a lot about trust...both the building of trust and the destroying trust...It started with Coach Tressell and his issues at Ohio State...not telling the truth...and trust...a career based on integrity has been brought into question...I have had MANY talks with husbands and wives...where trust was there, but through choices made...it was destroyed...children with their parents...workers with their bosses...students with their teachers...workers with their bosses...and on and on...it is soooooo hard to build trust and it just takes a few moments to destroy it all!

I also believe that trust can be rebuilt...that relationships can be restored...and sometimes even made better than before. A poor decision or MANY poor decisions doesn't have to ruin a life...it may ruin a season of life...maybe even a LONG season of life...but IT DOESN'T HAVE TO DEFINE who you are, who you will be or what your legacy will be.

Live is a way that allows you to build AND KEEP that trust...make choices today...maybe in this VERY MINUTE that allow you to build trust with others. AND make sure you are doing it when no one is watching you too!

I've Waited...

2011-03-15T11:57:00.002-04:00

"Back in the day" we used to sing a song over and over and over again called "I've Waited on the Lord on high...I've waited and he heard my cry." For the past year that was my song...waiting...waiting and often not really patiently waiting for God to move in me...to restore my love and passion for him...his church and people that need him. Slowly...often VERY SLOWLY...he has done it!

We all go through dark times...the trouble for me was when I was out of the dark time of my life I expected to jump RIGHT TO spring and summer seasons! But (as this winter proves over and over this year!) the winter season is a process...but when it is finally over beautiful things happen. I really sense that right now in my life...Spring has just sprung...Even though I'm VERY tired from our new little girl...there is just so much growth happening...I like it!!

One of the last to things to jump into the Spring season of life for me was a passion to lead...I LOVE to meet with people...to hear the their story...what God is doing in their life...to encourage them on that journey...to walk through struggles and victories with people...AND I LOVE casting a picture of what God longs to do through people and his church...BUT for a long time that has been dried up in me...it has felt like a long winter season!

BUT...over the past couple of months something has been happening in me...a restored vision and passion for what God is and wants to do through me and HIS church...and frankly...it feels REALLY-REALLY GOOD! I CAN'T WAIT to go to work...Instead of longing for a day off...I can't wait to dive in...can't WAIT to meet with people...Can't wait to see what God is up to next...It feels soooooooo good to be in the Spring time of life...so good!

It is a pretty good bday present!!

Past vs. Present

2011-03-14T14:10:00.003-04:00

vs.

This week is going to be a TOUGH one! My hometown teams are in the NCAA tourney and they are playing each other! Zippy from Akron U. takes on the Mighty Leprechaun from Notre Dame!!!! (I know...the Zips Mascot is a Kangaroo!! Really!?!?!?!)

I grew up in Akron...I remember watching Bobby Huggins throwing off his suit jacket on the Zips sidelines...NOW...I live a few minutes from ND and our church is walking distance away!! People park in our parking lot for Irish football...So...a decision has to be made...deny the original hometown or my current one...

GO IRISH!! I have to go with the Irish on this one! The Irish are my #2 team after the Buckeyes...so sorry Zippy...the Irish are going to SHOOT ALL OVER YOU!

As for the rest of the tourney...I have long said that I'm a Buckeye fan, but as long as the Irish and Bucks don't play...I pull for the Irish...SO GO IRISH...right up to the final game and LOSE TO THE BUCKS by 1!!!!

Weekend Reflections

2011-03-14T12:51:00.002-04:00

We closed out the Upwards hoop season on Saturday with the closing ceremony...I was quite impressed with Trinity Church's new lighting in their gym...really makes the place feel like an auditorium...very nice! The director shared a story from the funeral he attended the day before...a funeral for a 30 yr. old young woman...She loved Jesus so the funeral was a celebration he said...that is still so young to be gone from here...But the CHALLENGE he gave was moving...bottom line...we really don't know how many more days we will get here...have we chosen to follow Jesus AND are we making the most of our life. Whoa...deep and powerful!

Then Sunday morning comes and we finish our "I am Legacy" message series...We all long to hear the words "Well Done!" from our Savior...from God...are we living in a way to hear those words? How are we investing our lives? How are we influencing others closer to Jesus? Hopefully we are influencing others close to him!

The bottom line is...we have to...HAVE TO...HAVE TO...do things with love! Toooooo often we do the right thing to check another thing off our list...but we must work to do it out of love for God and other people...YEP...even those that are hard to love! AND YEP...that isn't always easy!

We finished off our morning yesterday with our first Chili Cookoff...I said I wouldn't eat much Chili because I'm a spicy-food wimp...BUT I did anyway and am paying for it today! BUT it was worth it...some REALLY good Chili! It was a really fun afternoon...there were people still hanging out 2+ hours AFTER service was over! Good times!

Whoa...this is powerful

2011-03-12T21:47:00.002-05:00

I was just about to head to bed when I ran across this blog a good friend of mine posted...THIS is celebrating the Word of God...it is just moving..."Lord, renew my thirst for your Word..." Click the link and CHECK THIS OUT!

www.sambarrington.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/a-passion-for-the-word-of-god/

Leviticus

2011-03-09T18:21:00.003-05:00

Read through Leviticus...A LOT OF LAW! Something NAILED me though...all of those offerings and sacrifices...all of the rules that God had...HE WAS SERIOUS! If his people didn't come prepared...if they didn't come in a certain way...they just might die! Imagine that...GREAT CARE had to have gone into preparing a sacrifice...

I was deeply challenged as I read that a few weeks back...challenged to make sure that in all that we do here...prepping for a Sunday morning...that we make sure we are giving God our personal best...nothing less!

How are you doing with this? Are you giving Christ your best...at home...work...in personal time with him? Are you falling deeper in love with him? Man...back in the day they lost their lives for a lack of prep...may we ALWAYS give God THE best of us!

Sunday Reflections

2011-03-06T16:04:00.002-05:00

A year ago I spent the first Sunday in March in my chair at home...created my own service...I had had a rough week and had the morning off...I remember listening to "I Will Rise" and being deeply moved...that although my world was suddenly changed...as my Savior rose from the grave...I would rise up out of the circumstances I was in...

I have had that same feeling...same sense in our church...that God is up to something...the past 6 weeks have been some of the VERY BEST at Grace...AND THEN there was the first Sunday in March 2011...TODAY...WOW! God is doing some incredible things at our church...in the people. It is sooooooooooo good to be involved in it!

Today started ROUGH...I couldn't find my keys...got out late...but there was NO WAY that was going to stop me from bringing my best! I had spent Saturday night praying...listening to some music and reviewing my message and holding my little girl...AND I was preaching on Legacy...and BEING YOU! I was letting Satan win that easily...

When I got to church...right before the worship team practiced...I was up in the sound booth giving them my Powerpoint...Jerimae started to talk about what God was doing in his life...JUST MOVING! POWERFUL! People started coming for the service and we had several visitors again...fun to watch people talking and interacting...there is a REALLY REALLY good spirit at church...

WE celebrated Jamie today...he has been drummin' with us since about the beginning...God is moving him to a different ministry and we had the chance to pray for him...he has been SUCH a huge encouragement and servant here!

WORSHIP WAS AWESOME! I realized that we pray A LOT during our services...I really like that...Think about it...if we are going to worship God...we should spend significant time talking to him!

Then Anita kicked off the message with a video and sharing about the youth doing a 40 Hour Famine to raise money for food for starving children. She IS the message I preached today...she is ALREADY living it! PERFECT way to kick things off!!

Our message today focused on LIVING as God has wired YOU to live...not how others think you should live or how YOU THINK others want you to live...God has uniquely wired you...crafted you...giving you a unique set of talents, spiritual gifts and abilities...STOP WAITING and go live!

Ended the message talking about that day...when all of us will be sitting on the Judgment Seat of Christ...those that have made Jesus Lord will be the only ones there...and it will be there where how we lived is judged...good and bad! DON'T HAVE ANY REGRETS when you get there! LIVE TODAY...find that one thing that you can do great for God...and do it...

The cool part of this message is that I can list examples of people in our church, like Anita, who are living this out!

The excitement of what God is doing is GROWING at Grace..."Thanks God for allowing me to be involved in it!!"

Lessons learned from Kickball!

2011-03-03T13:56:00.003-05:00

Since it is ISTEP week (Indiana's standardized test)...I took my choir class into the gym to challenge them in California Kickball...it is a REALLY fun game and you get to RUN A LOT! I love to play with my classes...they realize that Mr. Boucher can do more than teach music!!

ANYWAY...our team went into the last inning with a slight lead...those choir kids can play! But then something happened...there was a call that some of our team didn't like...only instead of "asking" about it after the play, they started to argue the call DURING THE PLAY! This allowed for 15 runs to score. YES 15 runs...see in Cali Kickball...1/2 of the team runs on each kick and you don't stop running! (YEP...I've scored more than once on 1 kick! IT IS FUN!!) We ended up losing the game...of course I JUMPED AT the teachable moment there...The bottom line is...a close game ended in a blowout...NOT because of the bad call (if it was really even a bad call!) BUT because our team lost their composure!

HOW OFTEN does this happen in life?!?!?! Something happens to us that we don't like...maybe it was even unjust...BUT we respond sooooo poorly that we miss opportunity after opportunity...they just run right by us! We have to GET OUR HEADS above the mess...keep an ETERNAL perspective, so we don't let something even worse happen because of our response or lack of response!

OH...the things we can learn from a little game of kickball!!

Track it cause the facts don't lie!

2011-03-01T15:50:00.003-05:00

Over the past couple of months I have noticed that my energy is not where it was...being a heart patient this concerned me some so I went to the facts...I tend to over analyse things so I went to the facts...I'm still exercising...I have been keeping diet...my cholesterol is actually better than what it was...BUT THEN I went to the HARD facts...you know...the ones that you write down!

For the past year I have been keeping a log of my exercise...I log my time-distance-pace-heart rate avg and max-inside or outside running...Late last week I looked over my log for the past 3-4 months and realized that I have been exercising...but not nearly as much or for as long! SO THE FACTS showed me that reason for less energy is that I have been exercising less. My doctor told me early on that I can keep an intense pace if I keep up with my exercise, diet and rest.

SO...I am now reworking the "rhythm of my life" so that I make sure that I am taking care of my body the way I need too.

This has made me wonder...how many times do we "adjust" the facts in our minds...do we make ourselves believe we are ok when really we are hurting ourselves? How often do we make excuses or plain out lie to ourselves...believing that the way we are living is "all good." I challenge you...take a look at the HARD FACTS in your life...make sure that what you THINK is actually reality...if it isn't...take the steps to make the changes needed...you sure will be glad you did!!

A Day That Changed My Life

2011-02-28T20:12:00.002-05:00

One year ago today...almost to the minute...I received life-altering news in that room at Memorial Hospital...the doctor came in and told me that I had had a heart attack. I am forever grateful for true friends...friends who promise to stand beside you through anything...and then they did. I am forever grateful to my wife...I doubt that she figured she would have to live her vows of "in sickness and in health" before she turned 35...and I am thankful to God...because he was there...through all of it...he carried me for much of the year...and he did and continues to teach me A LOT through this...

I have gone back to that heart floor...and prayer walked...taken time to remember...remember that God has given me the opportunity to LIVE longer here on earth for him...to remember the questions that I had after it happened...to remember the commitments I made as I walked the halls after surgery...to remember that God loves me...at my best and at my worst...that he is RIGHT THERE leading me forward.

I am thankful that God didn't take me yet...that I still have more time to invest in my wife and my children...that I still have more time to influence people closer to Jesus...I plan to make the most of the time that he has given me...I encourage you to do the same. Make the most of every opportunity...because you really don't know which day down here will be you last!

Reflections and Stuff

2011-02-28T14:31:00.002-05:00

I have often said that when it is time to celebrate...you better CELEBRATE!!!!! We can ALWAYS make of list of the things we want to be different or improved...BUT...when God moves and good things are happening...TALK ABOUT IT! We beg and plead with God for things...we cry out to him...we long for him to come through...then when he does...too often we give him a quick "Thanks..." and then go back to pleading and begging...SO...here is a list of things...as they pop in my head that I am thankful for today...things to CELEBRATE!

-An AMAZING wife who loves Jesus, my kids and me...AND she really seems to love being my wife!
-Sadie Lynn...beautiful...precious...a gift from God
-Chloe Marie...beautiful...driven...caring...incredible
-Jaden Blake...stud...tender-warrior...servant (he made his bed AND his brother's bed for his mom without us asking!!)...competitive (ok...so that is a discriptive word for ALL of the Bouchers!)
-Luke Edward...handsome...energy...cleaner-upper...
-I watched as people came forward Sunday...knelt down and prayed that God would help them to live the legacy HE called them too...POWERFUL.
-I CRIED as I watched a man-husband-father come back to Jesus!
-Cried AGAIN as Justin shared his testimony...how God is healing his heart and restoring him...Our God is soooooo good!
-DEEPLY encouraged as I watched a guy come back to our church...and God used him RIGHT AWAY to help another person who was hurting...Our God is REAL good!
-Blown away at how people are inviting people who are inviting people right now to come. I have been BEGGING GOD to have people connect with him and with us...it is happening!
-UNBELIEVABLY grateful that we have people to lead worship at Grace that LOVE Jesus passionately and are outstanding musicians! INCREDIBLE!
-Our children's ministry is...well...FANTASTIC! We have people leading that aren't just doing it out of duty...They REALLY....REALLY love God and kids! WE are soooooooooooooooooo blessed!
-WE are blessed to have a group of people who FAITHFULLY clean this building...every week...they come and go and no one knows there here! They do it with a servants heart! JUST OUTSTANDING!
-The ushers and greeters...they are soo good!! These guys LOVE to talk to people and LOVE to serve people!
-We have a tech team that loves Jesus and does outstanding work...they serve and serve and serve!
-Our youth leaders...3 people that are giving their time and working with our youth! AND THEY LOVE IT! Soooooooo encouraged by their work!
-What about Hunter? This young man...and 8th grader...comes every Sunday...it has been FREEZING outside and yet he continues to take the signs out to the road...he has walked through some SERIOUS snow this year!
-THen there is our muggers-2nd Sunday set up crew-outreach planners-THE INCREDIBLE Doughnut greeters! (GO BLUMES!)-Crazy Bulletin lady-set-up people-AND MANY MORE...God is just sooo good!
-PRAISING GOD that he has proved our best 2 months of giving in a long time! THANK YOU!
-People giving their time to learn more about Jesus and have fun working out with Zumba and playing Corn Hole!
-VERY GRATEFUL to the faithful who come and pray at Prayer Encounter

I just typed it out as they came to me...God is just so good...so good...HE is worth celebrating!

1st Night & More...

2011-02-24T14:35:00.005-05:00

Sadie's first night at home was last night...YEP...it was a long one! Like most babies...she likes to sleep...only she does it when SHE wants too!! I had the 2-4 a.m. shift last night, but I still managed A LOT more sleep than Kelsey! IT IS SOOOOOO GOOD to have both of them home...

Another priceless moment last night when we brought her home...Chloe, Jaden and Luke were SO EXCITED! The smiles on their faces...the competition to see who would hold her when...(as a "fairly" competitive group...can you just imagine the Boucher household now!!) They are so good with her...I love looking into their eyes and seeing the joy on their faces...Just look at the pics from the hospital...notice their joy...just pure joy! LOVE IT!!

When I went into Chloe and Sadie's room last night (that was weird to say!!)...I told Chloe that I was such a blessed father...she gave me the "what are you talking about dad?!" look...I told her that I am so blessed that my new daughter has a big sister that is someone to look up to and model her life after...I can't express to you how blessed I am that Chloe is Sadie's big sis!! WOW!

THEN...at the hospital yesterday our doc...Dr. Suttor...tells Jaden..."now you and your brother are the protectors..." PERFECT! That is EXACTLY what I have been talking with them about...that men are PROTECTORS...and they need to be that for their sister. NICE! The best part...I trust that they will be just that!

God has blessed me with an amazing family...these kids and their mother...I am soooo blessed!

Priceless

2011-02-22T14:13:00.002-05:00

When a baby is born...that moment...it's priceless. When you have the opportunity to see firsthand the creativity of our Creator...when he reveals his amazing power...his infinite creativity. Think about it...there are BILLIONS of people on the plant...yet little Sadie Lynn Boucher is unique...she is BEAUTIFUL...My heart just melts when I see her!

When Sadie was born yesterday it changed my world...then as I read in Psalms this morning I was reminded of just how creative our God is...I am so thankful that he made each of us in a unique way...I am SO THANKFUL that Sadie is now here...I can't wait to hold her again...PRICELESS!

"Hold up the light!"

2011-02-17T16:28:00.002-05:00

A Facebook friend posted a video on his wall this week of a singing tour I went on back in 1990...that tour changed my life forever! Just months before I had blown out my knee and realized that I was not going to be able to play sports in college...I was devastated...then in the Spring, Continental Singers called and asked me to finish my audition tape. (Yep tape!) For some reason they accepted me and WOW was it intense...10 weeks of touring...90+ concerts...living on a bus with 35-40 other 16-28 yr. olds...INTENSE...the time with God was amazing...God changed my heart...my focus...from me to him. What my goals to his...it was really fun. (Of course...a 17 yr. old...touring the country...seeing 30+ states, Canada and traveling 18,000 miles! AWESOME!)

God used that time to really shape my future...to put a desire for him in my heart...to quit just saying I was a Christ-follower toward BEING a Christ-follower! I am forever grateful to my parents for letting me go and for singing "Hold up the Light" over and over and over again...because it got through and changed my direction...and I am so thankful that it did!

Stuff

2011-02-17T16:19:00.002-05:00

Random Stuff...
-I LOVE what God is doing in the people of our church...GREAT Stuff!
-The past month has been the best month I have had in at least 1 1/2 years!
-Ran a 10k for the first time
-My cholesterol went up...DON'T worry...only my GOOD cholesterol went up!!
-Teaching is going well...what a privilege to pour my life in these kids
-TONS of stuff happening in the building these days...FUN!
-Cool to have more and more people dropping by the office...CAN'T WAIT to be full time!
-So....when is this baby coming?!?!?!?!
-God is so good.
-Really...he really is so good!
-I am overwhelmed with his strength and forgiveness
-Wonder what heaven will be like?
-Miss seeing Clarence Eichorst...I know he is celebrating with Jesus...but I sure miss him!
-Wonder how many prayers he said in his 90+ years...crazy to think about!
-Can't believe it has been 21 years since I toured with Continental Singers for the first time!
-Saw a video of our Continental group singing on Facebook...full-choreography...BRIGHT outfits...funny!
-That tour changed my life FOREVER!
-Jaden ran a mile in 6 minutes 52 seconds on the treadmill...MAN!
-I haven't run one that fast yet this year
-Chloe is working HARD in swimming to reach her time to make divisionals...I'm so proud of how hard she works!
-Luke went over to Kels yesterday...she was resting with her eyes closed...he bent down and gave her a kiss on her cheek...PRICELESS!
-Kelsey...so glad she is the mother of my kids!! MORE THAN THAT...I'm glad she is my wife!
-Time sure pass by fast...real fast!
-The snow is melting...

1 Year!

2011-02-16T13:37:00.002-05:00

We have now been in our building for a year! I had a BLAST last week going through old pictures of the building project. A lot of friendships were sparked during that time...A LOT of prayers were said through the building...a lot of belief that God was going to come through and help us get this done on time...God provided over and over and over again...with people volunteering their time...100's of hours were given to get this project done...

I will never forget the Sunday when we wrote down people's names on the walls...names of people that we longed to see come to Christ...some have given their lives to Jesus since then...other we are still begging God for...It is so good to know that this building was dedicated to reaching people for Jesus Christ...it is also cool to think about how the building is being used now. I prayed just a few months ago that we would use this building better to influence people to Jesus...since that time we now have a women's exercise group that meets here on Monday nights...they exercise and then study the Bible...a men's group here on Tuesdays...we are studying Genesis and then playing corn Hole...Youth Group and Prayer Encounter on Wednesdays...a marriage group on Sunday nights...and a HUGE-FUN Super Bowl party! Very cool to see God blow open the doors of this place and connect us with people...

I look forward to seeing what God is going to do through this place in the next year and years to come!! VERY COOL!

Happy Birthday Grace!!

My Valentine

2011-02-14T15:15:00.003-05:00

Loves Jesus...Courageous...BEAUTIFUL...loyal...perfect fit...amazing...fun...keeps me sharp...lives our vows...fantastic mom...INCREDIBLE cook...unbelievable at keeping our home...loves animals...strong...smart...mine!

I love you Kelsey Boucher!

Legacy

2011-02-13T17:21:00.002-05:00

Someday...when the pastor is standing by your grave...in that moment...what do you want him to say? How do you want to be remembered? How will you be remembered?

I love our theme at church for 2011..."I am Legacy." How we live today DETERMINES what our legacy will be...so how are you doing?! Hey...instead of dreaming about it or thinking that SOMEDAY I'll start living the way God longs for me too...DO IT NOW! GO live! Give your life to Jesus and follow him...Allow him to make something beautiful out of the story of your life. HE CAN and will...you just have to jump on board!

I CANNOT WAIT to see what God is going to do through this theme! CANNOT WAIT!

Reflections

2011-02-07T20:13:00.002-05:00

WOW...FUN...COLD...A BLAST! Just a few words to describe Sunday! The Winter Bash was soooooooo fun...the brats were cooking...people wearing shorts...steaks to the game winners. GREAT time worshipping our Savior!

Some thoughts from the message
-GET the right messages in your head! If you start your day and end your day complaining about the weather...WHY IN THE WORLD do you think you are having a bad day?!?!?!
-How do you get over the blues?? SERVE OTHERS!! Jesus was DOWN...hurting emotionally after hearing the news that John the Baptist was killed...BUT he had compassion on the people and SERVED THEM! Pump someones gas in the snow...buy food for a struggling family...take some dessert to work...FIND a way to help others!!
-ENJOY THE MOMENT! Go make some memories!! Get out in the snow and PLAY! (Oh...and having a snowball fight after the service in my swimsuit was a BLAST!!!! )
-GO DO SOMETHING CRAZY! Think about this...JESUS walked on the water for 3 1/2 miles...you got it...3 1/2 miles! Jesus...the Savior of the world...the one and only PERFECT man...he had heard that John the Baptist was brutally killed...he served people...fed A LOT of people with very little food...THEN he went out and took a walk on the water! WHAT A WAY TO DEBRIEF after a CRAZY day! SURE he did it to teach his guys a lesson on faith...AND I think he may have done it to debrief and get a RELEASE from some much STUFF that was happening around him!

THEN we had the Super Bowl party last night...over 40 people came to the church and watch on the big screen. VERY FUN night!!

Pouring life into others

2011-02-04T14:23:00.002-05:00

I believe that EVERY person needs someone(s) pouring their life into them...a mentor...someone to help them along in their spiritual/life journey...it is vitally important! I have been thinking back today to men that poured their lives into me...men who-without them...I wouldn't be the man I am today. God was those men in different ways to shape my life...I am ETERNALLY grateful to them!

Who are those people in your life? Have you thanked them recently? Are you still learning? Still growing? Are YOU pouring your life into someone else?

I pray for you...anyone who reads this today...that you would seek out someone who will pour their life into you AND THEN that you will pour your life into someone else! DO IT!

Beating the Winter Blues!

2011-02-03T14:56:00.003-05:00

Sunday we are going after it! We are NOT going to let the snow...cold weather...gray skies...beat us this year! We are OVERCOMING IT!

This Sunday we are going to have our first ever WINTER BEACH BASH! FUN music...wearing summer clothes...Friendly competitions (very friendly, of course!)...the grill will be running and we'll have a special grilled steak for the winners! WE ARE NOT going to let the Winter Blues win this year!

I've spent this afternoon working on my message for Sunday...I am EXCITED and READY to preach right now!!!! Don't miss this week!

AND THE FUN DOESN'T STOP...Sunday night we are having a Super Bowl Party on the BIG SCREEN in the auditorium...it is going to be a fun night! CAN'T WAIT!!

1 month...really?!?!?!

2011-02-02T20:48:00.004-05:00

We are a month or less away from Baby #4...I got the stroller put together and the car seat in the van...The room is ready...Kelsey has washed the baby clothes...Things are coming together!

It's funny though...I still don't "feel" like we are going to have a baby here at the house in a month. I KNOW, I KNOW...it doesn't matter what I FEEL...because she IS coming! I imagine...one day real soon...the REALITY of it all will hit! REALLY hit...and that cute little girl will be in my arms!! Can't WAIT TO MEET HER!!

Reflections

2011-01-31T14:31:00.002-05:00

God is good. Real good.

This past week has been unbelievable! One of those weeks where God shows up in so many ways in so many people's lives. Just incredible! A man gave his life to Jesus...a couple is working through some serious stuff in their relationship, BUT THEY ARE WORKING THROUGH IT! Men were used to encourage and help a man walk through some junk in his life. Spiritual battles were fought and the victory belongs to the LORD! Fears were faced and overcome...sin was TURNED ASIDE...people are back at work...MEN ARE LEADING THEIR FAMILIES! Great victories for the Kingdom of God! I feel blessed to walk alongside of the men and women...teens...boys and girls of this church as we figure out how to best live our life for our Savior and each other!

Relentlessly pursuing God's heart! Starts with the work of prayer...Pursuing God's heart is exhausting and exhilarating !! Jump in!

Recruiting

2011-01-28T13:59:00.002-05:00

As a band/orchestra teacher I have been going out this week and recruiting 4th graders for next year. It has really been a good time...the high school teachers have brought some of their students...many of which are my former students. It was REALLY GOOD to catch up and see what is happening...I haven't seen some of them in 4-5 years!

I love watching the 4th graders faces when they play the instruments for the first time...they are sooooo cute and excited! Some of them have NEVER played an instrument like this and many never will again...One of the things this always brings out in me is to remember that excitement...to remember how EXCITED I was when I first started playing...music can feel like work too often...but bringing the passion back...that excitement...that's my hope as a teacher...that I won't just teach them notes but give them an enthusiasm and passion for music. It is fun when it happens!!

Posted that and then THIS...

2011-01-26T15:21:00.003-05:00

So...I post "relentlessly pursuing God's heart" and then yesterday happens! I cannot even come close to sharing what the experience was like at our men's group last night...God has allowed me to witness people giving their lives to him in large groups...in large numbers...1 on 1...last year at Wild @ Heart a man gave his life to Jesus with 70 guys listening in on it. Last night was unique...every man shared their heart...and because they did, God used it to bring a man from darkness to light. POWERFUL! EVERY GUY shared as the Spirit led him. IT WAS AWESOME to see God break down barriers...all kinds of barriers...God is soooo good.

It is so good to see God working through men...seeing men stepping up in sharing their faith...

The angels celebrated last night and SO DID WE! A new name was written in the Book of Life and I had the privilege to be there...Tuesday nights just keep getting better and better and better!

Relentlessly pursuing God's heart

2011-01-25T13:21:00.002-05:00

The phrase "relentlessly pursuing God's heart" just wouldn't go away during our elder retreat over the weekend. That we would be known as a church that is relentlessly pursuing God...take a moment and picture what that looks like...imagine a group of people that are seeking God in that way...picture it. Dream about it...GO LIVE IT!!

I long for this in my own life and in our church...we are not perfect people...but when we give our lives to Jesus a hunger forms in our gut...a hunger to know God more...a hunger to share what he has done for us with other people...a deep desire to do whatever he asks...This can happen here...right here at Grace Community Church...of course that is a choice that each person must make, but we can do it!

So what does that look like in your personal life? What does it look like for us as a church? I look forward to seeking out AND LIVING that answer with you!

Reflection

2011-01-24T13:55:00.003-05:00

Great weekend...Great time with God...great time planning and dreaming with our team...OUTSTANDING service on Sunday!

Some Highlights...

-Dinner at the Boathouse in Warsaw Friday with our leadership team...GREAT food!
-Strange to think that my college dorm used to sit right where that restaurant is now!
-UNBELIEVABLE worship and time in the Word Friday night...The Spirit moved. I can't describe the time with words...
-Game night...well...it was Fun...REALLY FUN! LOTS AND LOTS of laughter!!
-11:30 p.m. + -2 degrees + Hot Tub = AWESOME!
-Colin and I braved the weather and hung out OUTSIDE talking and relaxing in the hot tub...ice crystals were forming in our hair...It was fun!
-Saturday's retreat...GREAT and challenging conversation...I am soooo grateful for the team that God has given me and this church. GREAT group of men and their wives!
-Sunday morning...WHOA! Worship was THROUGH THE ROOF GOOD! Jim's message...RIGHT ON!
-THEN...people just hung around...almost an HOUR after the service people were still there talking

The weekend was just good. Real good. Having time to listen to the voice of God and to watch God speak through people...THAT is good!

Retreat!

2011-01-21T12:35:00.002-05:00

Tonight is our first SB Campus Elder retreat...I LOVE planning these things...LOVE watching God work in people individually and together...AND I LOVE what God does through these times together of learning, dreaming and planning. We just instituted elders at our church so we are branching off from our Goshen elder retreat...YES we are still 1 church in 2 locations...This is our chance to dream and talk through what God wants to do through this campus...The cool part is...about 1/2 hour away the Goshen gang will be doing the same thing!! God is going to move this weekend!

I cannot wait to see what God does as he continues to bring our group together. Looking forward to a GREAT weekend with the elders and their wives!

ALRIGHT...back to finishing up the plans!!

Read it!

2011-01-21T12:34:00.002-05:00

Here is a post that Pastor Jim has on his blog today...READ IT!

thebrownbytes.blogspot.com/2011/01/listen-to-right-voice.html

Walk a mile...

2011-01-20T22:55:00.002-05:00

My heart aches for people...everyone has their own unique story. Their own journey...we can so often be quick to assume things about people...but what if we had the chance to walk a mile in their shoes...how would that change our perceptions? Oh how it would!

This school year I have had a student who has been a struggle in one of my classes...defiant...just tough to work with! Just a few weeks ago I got just a glimpse into her life...into what she has gone through...it really opened my eyes on how to approach her and work with her...my heart broke for her and what she has experienced in her journey...

Another story...I had lunch with a friend a while back...we hadn't talked in a long time...I could tell something was bothering him...we talked about some stuff...some tough stuff, BUT he didn't get to the deep truth of what was happening...he hid it...I had NO IDEA what was really happening...just where he really was...his world was crashing in on him, but he didn't share it with me or anyone else...didn't share it until it was too late...MAN...if he only would have talked...would have let us walk the mile with him...

2 lessons here...ONE...Open yourself up to other people...when you are hurting LET THEM IN! DON'T HIDE! Let other people you trust walk with you...

2nd...Stop! Stop assuming you know what and why someone is acting a certain way...STOP TODAY and look around...no REALLY look around...SEE people today...and remember that God made them...he loves them...allow that to break your heart...to drive you to pray...pray HARD for people...both for what you know and what you don't!

Check out this blog

2011-01-20T14:06:00.002-05:00

A good friend of mine and the children's pastor at our Goshen Campus Jon Rauch started a blog...IT'S ABOUT TIME! It is worth you time to check it out...here is the link:

www.becausejesusloveskids.blogspot.com

There is no Plan B

2011-01-19T14:03:00.002-05:00

Whoa...I was watching the Biggest Loser last night...something really grabbed me...one of the people was really struggling...and instead of hitting his issues head-on he was planning his escape plan...his Plan B was already in place. Now it isn't bad to plan...but when your planning of escape in a situation causes you NOT to give your ALL...THAT is a problem.

How often do we do this? In relationships..."if we stop dating, we can still be friends." REALLY! You are already planning to break up and not make it! GUESS WHAT?! You'll probably get what you are aiming at! Argh!

We do this with our dreams...with jobs...relationships...church...we create escape clauses...then we give the "guess it's good I had a Plan B."

WHAT IF...what if we dove into our relationships...if we didn't create an escape plan? What if we did the same with our children...friends...church...work? What if we went after our dreams with EVERYTHING we have...with no plan B...with no escape clause...

Scare you? Sure, but don't let it paralyze you! GET UP AND CHASE DOWN YOUR DREAMS! STAY WITH YOUR WIFE OR HUSBAND! PURSUE...PURSUE...PURSUE!