Powerful Words

Chloe, Jaden and I were reading the Bible before I put them to bed tonight...I just had to share the passage we read together from "The Message"

"Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?

God doesn't come and go. God lasts.

He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.

He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.

And he knows everything, inside and out.

He energizes those who get tired,

gives fresh strength to dropouts.

For even young people tire and drop out,

young folk in their prime stumble and fall.

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.

They spread their wings and soar like eagles,

They run and don't get tired,

they walk and don't lag behind."

(Isaiah 40)

Soccer Camp

We are 3 days away from Soccer Camp...CRAZY! I LOVE watching sooooooo many people get involved and help. So many people come together to make this happen AND give us the opportunity to provide 350+ kids from our community the chance to play soccer AND learn about Jesus. (THAT was a looooong sentence!!) This coming week is EXHAUSTING and EXHILERATING! Kids come to Jesus...over 1,000 people will hear about Jesus...and people serve their guts out.

GREAT JOB CHURCH...I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO proud of you!

Investment

How have you invested your life? Who will show up to your funeral and what will they say?

Today I had the opportunity to perform a graveside service for a lady who passed away at 91 years of age. She lived a FULL life...her first husband passed away after 19 yrs. of marriage and she had 3 teenagers...IMAGINE THAT...raising 3 TEENS! I loved hearing the stories that her daughter told about her mom...it was moving...funny and just beautiful.

This is the 2nd funeral I attended this week...Sunday was another...Mr. Balog is a band teacher at a local high school and his wife passed away last week of a heart attack...she hadn't been sick...it happened rather suddenly...shocked many people...Sunday's service was very moving...there were A LOT of people there...she had invested her life into so many...

As I was sitting at Mrs. Balog's funeral I reflected a lot on my own life...on the fact that God spared me at this time for a reason. And I asked myself..."How are you investing your life, Tim?" This much I know...I don't want people to say that he gave up after his health-issues..."man he was active...living for Jesus...investing himself in people...but after that heart attack in 2010............" I want to finish the race that God is allowing me to run in the way HE sees fit....investing myself well into people around me...I LOVE PEOPLE! Love learning to live life with them...to share their victories and struggles...

I want people to say "Tim loved Jesus...loved his family...and gave his life investing in people."

May that be said of all of us!

THAT IS FUN!

On Tuesday nights I have been studying John with a few guys...It is AWESOME! I LOVE their questions and their insights. I learn something new and fresh EVERYTIME I go through a study like this...People don't need a Bible degree to understand the Word of God! The Spirit lives in them and reveals truth and application to our lives. IT IS AWESOME! I was PUMPED UP when I got home! There is nothing better than God revealing his truth and doing that with learning that with other people! GREAT TIMES!

My little buddy turned 4!

Luke turned 4 yesterday! I sure LOVE watching this little guy grow up!! He gave his life to Jesus this year and I enjoy listening to him pray...I have to think that God just smiles when he hears those prayers! LOVE THAT LITTLE GUY!

He looks up to his big brother...he wants to do EVERYTHING that Jaden does...and he thinks he can already do it! He is such a passionate little guy and I cherish the times when he comes in and says..."Snuggle daddy...I want to snuggle you!" Then we play "big stormer" (You got it...Luke likes to make up words like I do! GOOD MAN!)

I can't wait to see what all God has in store for Luke...I look forward to walking beside him and then sending him off on his own one day!

I LOVE YOU LUKE AND AM PROUD OF YOU!

Memorial Day Weekend

BUSY weekend! Good time hanging out with family on Saturday...celebrated our nephew's first b-day! GOOD STUFF!!

We had a really fun and great service on Sunday! We have never done a service that was geared toward our country, but we did on Sunday...the reason was...if it wasn't for the 1.5 MILLION men and women who have given their lives protecting us, we wouldn't be able to PUBLICALLY praise God! We too often take our soldiers and their families for granted...SO we celebrated them!!

I played drums on Sunday for the first time in 6 or 7 years! It was really fun and went well...fun to do that again! Colin did very well leading and it was a BLAST watching kids marching around the auditorium. (We had the elementary aged kids in with us again this week) Great Sunday!!

Sunday afternoon Greg...a local pastor...invited several pastors and their families to his house for a cookout. It was really fun! We (the pastors) get together every monthish to hang out and talk church...life...other random stuff that comes to mind...and it was fun to have our families connect together. We are all from different church in South Bend area and 2 guys are in the same denomination! Our kids played and hung out and it was good to be together! And it is true...I did hit the ground several times during badminton...you just have to dive!! Always "just" playing to have fun!! Amazing guys...GREAT families!! THANKS FROHNA'S for a WONDERFUL evening!

Great time Monday too...had some friends over and hung out...Unfortunately our corn hole game was canceled due to rain... BUT I will say that Kelsey and I were up 6-2 when the rain started! Great time with friends!

Very good weekend!!

School is out!

I had my last teacher day at school today and school is out for the summer! I am extremely thankful for this teaching position and for the school system having a job for me. It has been a good year with the students and I learned A LOT about students with special needs...A LOT! I will miss their smiles...their love of life and people. I received hugs EVERY morning when I walked in the door...how many jobs do you have where that happens?!?! I'll miss those kids!!

Exciting Stuff Coming Soon!

Coming Soon at Church!

-Memorial Day Service Sunday Morning! (REALLY EXCITED about it!!)
-Soccer Camp June 8-10...over 300 kids registered!!
-Soccer Camp Volunteer Bash!! Friday June 11!!
-Grace Church in Wooster, OH is bring their youth group out again...these teens LOVE to serve!!
-Grillin' & Prayin'! Thursday nights through the summer...starts June 17th...bring food to grill and hang out together (at the church and people's homes!)
-Father's Day...OH BABY it is going to be fun! TOTALLY DIFFERENT this year...more details on Sunday morning!
-Church Camping Trip!! July 8-11 at Southpaw again! IT IS GOING TO BE A BLAST!

Fun in the SUN!

Finished running today and I was SWEATING!! It has been so nice to be able to go outside this week and exercise. THEN I got home to see Jaden and Luke playing in the sprinkler...So I just HAD to join them. Actually I went inside...filled up a bucket...went out the back door and called Jaden. Told him to meet me at the side door. He did! (Got to love it when the kids obey so well!!) While he was looking in the side door...I came up behind him and NAILED both he and Luke with a bucket of water. PRICELESS! Of course this set in motion a 15-20 minute water fight! VERY FUN!!

She said "I do!"

Today is Kelsey and my 14th year of marriage! AMAZING how time passes...this year has been one of our most challenging years...with work and health issues it has really been a challenging year. AND with that...I have to say that it has been our best as a couple. My love for her and SOARED to new heights...God's grace is SO HUGE and overwhelming and we have seen it over and over again this year!

I wrote Kelsey a letter today...a letter expressing how I feel about her and my gratitude for her love, care, encouragement and strength over the past months especially. She is an amazing woman...I am thankful that she has taken the vows she made to me seriously. I look forward to years and years and years more together...LIVING out the stories of our lives together.

Kelsey...I love you and am so proud of the BEAUTIFUL woman you are...THANKS for saying yes 14 years ago!