Monday Reflections...

What a weekend! An amazing Blitz on Saturday as we passed out over 300 Hershey Bars to people on Valentine's Day...The cool part was to do it at a time when so many hard things are happening. There were a lot of smiles on people's faces. (Especially when we gave chocolate to the guys working at Cardinal Fitness! A little junk-food for the healthy ones!) It was sooooooo fun serving people.

Sunday morning was moving for me...Jerimae and Kyle just rocked...it was way more than just rockin' music...it was the heart and passion for Jesus that they both displayed. I was in tears as Kyle prayed over our church. I just love those guys...they love Jesus and show it!

The message was incredible..."It's Time to Out Lead" Just good to hear Jim's heart for leadership and seeing the characteristics that Jesus displayed...he is the perfect example of leadership!! A few things that jumped out at me...

-Greatest leader ever was Jesus Christ

-Jesus hand picked his team...there was no vote...no consensus

-Keys to picking good teams...Character...Competence...AND Chemistry...

-Many leadership teams fail because they only focus on the first 2 and don't focus on Chemistry

-Cast a compelling vision...Jesus did!

-Keep your passion Hot!

-Jesus confronted people

-Jesus continued to learn and grow...so if he did, we better too!

-You will find resistance!

-Jesus refreshed himself...took time to be alone...to pray

-Jesus had lonely times...

-Jesus finished strong...FOLLOW THROUGH!

Something is happening at Grace right now...something that I can't put my finger on...a move of the Spirit...I can't explain it, but I and others feel it...and I have to say...I LIKE IT! "SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD...LEAD US...GUIDE US...POUR OUT YOUR WISDOM ON US...WE NEED YOU!"

Valentine's Day

It was 14 years ago that I got to spend my first Valentine's Day with Kelsey...we had been dating for about 3 or 4 days...I was madly in love...dreaming of a wedding and what life would be like to be married to Kelsey. I'll just say...WOW...after 12 years of marriage...3 kids...I am more madly in love with her than ever. There is a beauty that I see in her today, that I didn't see back then...something way beyond her outward beauty...something that I can't put my finger on...something that I can't explain...something down deep inside of me...a mix of admoration for who she is and her love for Jesus, for me and the kids...something...does this make sense to anyone?!?! Cause it does to me!! I SURE LOVE YOU KELSEY LYNN BOUCHER!

Sunday Service...

I was moved...challenged...encouraged...Jim spoke Sunday on "It's Time to Out Give." I long to be involved in the Acts 2 church and believe that we are starting to taste that. In my small group Sunday night we challenged ourselves to pray about an opportunity to do something our in the community...some way to encourage...build up...just simply touch people...then BAM...right as we were praying an idea popped up to take meals to family that is struggling to make it in our church. It was AWESOME...EVERYONE was on board...Everyone wanted to help this family...we prayed and didn't have to even wait a week.

So, here is something we are wrestling with as a church right now...we are praying about our location...we love the atmosphere of the movie theater and have been praying about other options too...A place that gives us our offices and services in one location...a place where we can still have the atmosphere like the theater...Actually I have been kinda looking for months...praying that God leads us to the spot he wants...Movies 14 or somewhere else. We are in "talks" with a new location (actually old!, but new to us) in a store front...no final details...no definates...just stepping forward as God hasn't closed any doors and just keeps creaping them open!

Here is the deal for me...I DO NOT want a building or location to distract us from what is most important...and that is POURING OUR LIVES INTO PEOPLE...So, we are praying...actually I'm heading over to the location tonight to pray outside the doors...

Savin' $ in '09

Yep...I had a 4 hour dentist appointment today! 4 hours long...you are wondering to yourself..."did he have a major procedure done?" "How many cavities do you have, Boucher?" NONE OF THE ABOVE...just a routine cleaning. I went to the IUSB (Indiana University South Bend) Dental Clinic...had a dental hygienist in-training clean my teeth. Step-by-step-by step...take down your information (45 minutes)...look over your teeth (45 minutes)...wait for the professor (or whatever they call them) to o.k. the next step (15 minutes) and so on! So yep...I was a guinea pig today. She did a good job...it had been 2 years since my last cleaning and no cavities...Flossing does work! So, why did I go there...I would like to say it is because I wanted to be used to help train...blah, blah, blah...BUT I went because it is cheap! Kelsey, Chloe, Jaden and I all went for about what it would cost for only me at the "real" dentist!

Some thoughts on leadership...

I'm reading the book Tribes...GREAT book on leadership. Here are some quotes from my reading today...

"The secret of being wrong isn't to avoid being wrong!"
"The secret is being willing to be wrong."
"The secret is realizing that wrong isn't fatal."

"Do what you believe in. Paint a picture of the future. Go there."

The Church

The church is people...not buildings...not programs...not stuff...The church IS people...there aren't people in the church...People don't come to church...People ARE the church...so how do you think "The church" should spend her time and resources? Ummm...ahhhhhh...well...OH... ON PEOPLE!

I spent part of my morning meeting with Carrie Call a professor at St. Mary's College and former pastor. She has been part of a study on the spiritual climate of this area...I am more in love with our community now than I was before! Our community needs us to LISTEN first...we need to be compassionate to people...Some people in our community STRONGLY disagree with what we, as followers Jesus stand for...so how should we respond to them. How we respond will determine whether they are willing to hear our message and will determine how they view Jesus.

Pastor's Update

When it hits home...

After 15 years working for the same company, my mom was laid off yesterday...She has done more than punch a time clock...more than just "done her job..." she really loves the people she works with and works for...has invested herself well into people. My heart aches for her...please pray...right now...for her and all of the thousands of people who are looking for work...who have been like my mom and poured themselves into their jobs to not have them anymore. And remember this...God was not surprised by this either...he has not changed...his love has not changed...his compassion has not changed and his COME THROUGH POWER has DEFINATELY not changed!

Spiritual Training

Just like an athlete, we have to train our bodies and minds in order to have the spiritual, physical and emotional energy and strength to do what God has called us to...So, how are you doing with this? We're a month into the new year...we've set some goals (and if you haven't...GET BUSY!)...how are the goals going? Some tweaking that needs to take place? What can you celebrate?

These are the questions I asked myself this week...I set personal, family and church goals...and I will be evaluating them at the beginning of every month...I want more this year...I want to have clear direction and goals help me with that...So, set some goals or evaluate where you are...Let's see God do more through us than we have ever realized!

Monday Reflections...

Integrity...what an important-VITAL thing to live out. Pastor Jon spoke yesterday (he's our children's pastor at our Goshen Campus) and MAN...he nailed us...here are some Sunday morning highlights...
-The praise band ROCKED...just amazing time praising God!
-GREAT conversations in the hallways...lots of interaction
-I believe stronger now than ever before that God is about to do something amazing through us
-Quotes from Jon:
"Our word is everything"
"If our actions don't match our faith there is no integrity."
"You will often stand alone (when you walk with integrity)"
"You will have to stand last in line"
"God promises to give us everything we need."
"God gives us resources not to make us comfortable, but to make us more capable!"
"I will stand until the very end."
"Solomon took 7 years to build God's temple and 13 to build his palace." SOMETHING IS WRONG!
"God will give us the strength to stand up under" EVERYTHING in our path.