Undone

I'm back from our elder retreat...This retreat complete ripped me up...shredded me...honestly...I was on my knees crying last night...why? Because I love this area...I love South Bend...I believe that God wants to do something here through us that will just blow my mind...I believe that there are a lot of people in this city that do not know him...do not love him..do not follow him...and it breaks my heart...aches my heart...it brought me to my knees...so my prayer is: "God...you Break Through...do it, God..."

Here are some highlights from our weekend:
-I loved the hour+ car-ride with my wife...love talking with her
-I ENJOY hanging out with the team and their wives...we have A LOT of fun together!
-I didn't like watching my basketball team leave the retreat, and I couldn't play because of my ankle!
-We watched a message by Perry Noble (a pastor in S. C.) Quotes:
"Don't take your eyes off of where you are going"
"You are messed up"
"I want to be in a place where it is o.k. to not be o.k."
"When you run from God it gets really bad"
"Less politics (in church) and more Jesus"
"God will provide...all you have to do is follow"

THEY WERE PORTABLE FOR 4 YEARS! HAD THOUSANDS COMING...

Jim had us write out different memories that we had of the year...I'll post those at another time...

AMAZING weekend...can't wait for tomorrow morning!

Retreat...

Our annual elder retreat starts tonight...I love the time to get together with the staff and elders, their wives and hang out together...pray together...wrestle through the future together. I LOVE working with them and look forward to what God is going to do through Grace. I have spent A LOT of time praying about what God is and will do through us...I know the other guys have too..."God we long to join YOU in what YOU are doing...reveal it and give us the courage to ACT!" CAN'T WAIT...is it 6 p.m. yet?!?!

Best $1 you'll spend!

I love our worship pastor Jerimae's heart. HE LOVES PEOPLE...he is so much more than a musician...so much more than a "music guy." He has the heart of a pastor...he loves people...especially hurting people. Recently he recorded a new song called "Break Through." The song IS his heart...I would encourage all of you to go to the site listed below and buy the song for $1...PLUS...EVERY CENT WILL GO TOWARD BUYING FOOD VOUCHERS FOR PEOPLE! Here is a word from him about this:


Jerimae Yoder- New Song

The Long Awaited NEW Song!
After a two year hiatus from the studio, the new song "Break Through" will be available exclusively through www.indieheaven.com/artists/jerimaeyoder.

Please download this song- it's only $1! All proceeds will be going to feed homeless and struggling families through Grace Community's "Community of Hope" ministries in South Bend IN. We give out food vouchers to as many people as we can through Community of Hope. We had over 150 people show up last month and only 40 vouchers. Please help us be apart of the solution- it's only a buck!

You can also click on the following link to take you to Indieheaven's Fan Favs charts. Click on view other charts" and view all. The song was just added so look near the bottom of the chart (today it was #127).

Lastly, this song came out of the prayers of our people- literally. It poured out onto a page Friday, January 9 and we played it that Sunday in Worship. I thought that would be the end of it, but the response was bigger than I anticipated and many asked me to record it, so I did. Let this song be your prayer for 2009!

Forward this on to a friend who likes music and has a dollar- Make a difference in someone's life.

Jerimae

A life lesson from...flossing

Growing up I can remember going to the dentist and it was the same story EVERY time. "Tim, you need to make sure you floss, because if you don't your will get gum disease." Later it became, "Tim you need to floss because you are in the early stages of gum disease." GUESS WHAT?!?! That didn't motivate me...I was warned, by an expert, and still didn't do it...well, I did it, you know, once every once in a while...so a couple of cavities later, some swollen gums AND one PAINFUL dentist visit I started to floss...and I floss VERY regularly...actually, I fear not flossing because my gums are the best ever and I don't want to get out of the habit!

MAN...the same is said for my spiritual life and Bible Reading...God is the expert and he says to be connectd to him. Reading the Bible is a HUGE part of staying close to God and I HAVE TO DO IT...WHY? Because I have to stay spiritually healthy...I have to be growing and learning about my Creator...I have to stay consistent or else, just like I used to with flossing, I'll just stop...and then I'll be spiritually unhealthy...I have to clean out my heart and take care on my mind and heart. I have to consistently read the Word...if not, I'll get out of the habit and start looking to my own wisdom (VERY SCAREY THOUGHT!) and not God's wisdom...

I best stop right now 'cause I haven't read the Bible yet today...BOUCHER, GO DIG IN!

ARGH...You know what...I no sooner typed that last message and I checked my email...replied...got flowing and now it is several minutes later and I STILL HAVEN'T DUG IN...Alright...I leaving my office...going to the couch...and READING MY BIBLE!

Career Talk

I get to go to Jaden's Kindergarten class and talk about what I do for a living...I can't wait! It should be fun...I'm taking some popcorn for the kids, since we meet in a theater...got some pics too...looking forward to sharing my life with them and that you really can have your dream job!

Senior Recital...WOW, you mean I could sing?!

We went to Kelsey's grandma's apartment in Indy today and she popped in a video...and the video started with Kels playing violin at her senior recital at Grace College...MAN COULD SHE PLAY! She REALLY needs to get that instrument back out and play again...the kids just were looking at the screen in awe...that "Is that really you mom?!?!" BEAUTIFUL...

THEN, grandma hit the rewind button and BAM...there I was...in a tux...singing my heart out at MY senior recital...1 hour+ of me singing in German, French, Italian and English...folk songs, "serious songs" and show tunes...even ended the recital with "Be Thou My Vision" and you know what...God really has been my vision over the past 13 years!

FUNNY PART...I still messed up on the same song...after all these years...13 to be exact, I still started singing a lullaby in French and then made up German words for the whole first verse before I got back on track in verse two! The best part is, no one really knew! Even my friend, who spoke German and sat in the front row, didn't realize that I made up the words!

It was really, really fun to watch...brought back A LOT of memories of some painful HOURS spent in practice rooms. WOW!! FUN MEMORIES!

The Flood

You thought I was going to talk about Noah didn't you! Well...I'm sitting in the office right now...can't sit at my desk, cause there are boxes all over it...can't sit in Jerimae's office, cause there are boxes all over it. I'm waiting (very patiently I might add ;-> ) for the carpet cleaner to come...for those of you who missed it earlier this week, we had a flood in our office on Saturday. Ceiling tile on the floor...large puddles...mess EVERYWHERE...I have been very impressed this week with the workers in our office building...they have put in A LOT of hours getting us back on track. Today is one of the final steps to getting our office back...come soon Mr. Carpet Man...

So what are my thoughts today? Honestly...hoping that this is almost over. I just don't like to spend too much time on moving stuff...cleaning...I am thankful that nothing expensive was destroyed. God really had a hand it that...cause A LOT got wet...

Oh Mr. Carpet Man come soon...please come soon!!

God is in control...

Do you believe it? How does that phrase..."God is in control" effect the way that you live? How does it encourage you? I set it out as a goal for this week to take time and stop everything...and just listen and pray to God. THAT IS NOT EASY...life is busy...there is a lot to be done...BUT I have to stop all that and let my mind only think about God...tough-VITAL-and then I'm grateful that I did it...so here I go...off-line...BUT on-line with the creator of the world...

Hey...find your time to stop too...I KNOW THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TIME to do that, BUT you can't afford to NOT stop yourself and turn your mind to our creator...

Historic Day...

Today was a historic day...As I watched the inauguration of now President Barack Obama, I was moved. The whole ceremony...the future...the "changing of the guard." To think that 44 times there has been a peaceful change in power in our country...incredible. His speech today was moving and powerful...he is a dynamic speaker...I pray hard for Pres. Obama...for the decisions he will have to make...I thought Rick Warren did an outstanding job of keeping his prayer focused on what the day should be about...the quartet was breath-taking...the # of people that were there to experience the day...millions of people. I'm so glad that I watched it...would have been amazing to have been there...

Monday Reflections...

I found myself at the end of our service yesterday with tears streaming down my face. Jerimae and the band was playing God of this City...and I couldn't control myself. I LOVE the Michiana area...my heart aches and breaks for this area. I long to see every person in a relationship with Jesus Christ...a life-changing...real...deep...passionate relationship with Jesus. I long to see marriages being restored and more than that...I long to see EVERY SINGLE marriage THRIVING. I long to see kids...coming to Jesus...following him and loving and helping other people. I long to see the elderly in our community finishing strong...I long to see thousands in our area saying this is the year to get serious about their relationship with God...to run from addictions...run from trying to be good enough and simple come to God and turn to him.

We started our series on our theme for this year..."It's Time...to THRIVE!" Pastor Jim really "brought it" during his message yesterday...He set me up for my "breakdown." And I have to say...I'm glad he did!

After the service we had our 2nd Direction meeting...a chance for people to learn more about what is happening at Grace. This one was more info driven than the first one and very good. One question that came up was "So how do you decide when to be live and when to have video?" GREAT QUESTION...our principle is that we are 3x's video...1x live every month. That is a PRINCIPLE though...we have time when we are video 4-6 weeks straight and then 3 of the past 4 were live. The point is...we want the Spirit to guide what is shared and not some ridged rule...I believe it has worked well...

Another question was about our location...here is the deal for me...I would love to be in a more permanent spot someday...actually, I believe we will be...may be months...may be a year or 2...seeking God's heart on that!...BUT that is not an end all. Portable or not...Church building or warehouse...pews or chairs...Main St. or Back St...those things are not what is most important. Most important is whether or not the Spirit is moving among the people...Are THE PEOPLE attached to the ultimate power source...are THE PEOPLE using their unfair advantage (The Holy Spirit)...are THE PEOPLE friendly...are THE PEOPLE passionate...If those thing are there...WOW...the sky is the limit..."God always keep Grace Community using YOU as the source of EVERYTHING that we do!"