Bowling

Yesterday was our very first Twin Cities Area Youth Worker's Bowling Day. What a great day! Five youth workers showed up representing four different ministries. It was great to be able to hang out together, get to know each other, and laugh at each other as we attempted to bowl.

Bowling Day is an informal way for youth workers to unite, ask questions of each other, rub elbows with other people in ministry, and learn from each other. For a bunch of non-bowlers who average about 100, we did pretty well. If you are a youth worker in the Twin Cities we'd invite you to join us next week. The plan is to meet every Tuesday from 1:00-3:00 at the Brunswick Zone in Eden Prairie. Brunswick has given us a special rate. Games and shoe rental are just $2 a piece. Hope you can join us!

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

Proverbs 27:17

Happy Birthday Zachary

Hey Zach,

You're four years old today! Happy Birthday, Buddy. I am so blessed to have you in my life.

I fell in love with you the day that Mom told me that she was pregnant. For nine long months Mom and Dad waited for our little guy to be born. When you came -- wow -- did our world change. You came in the midst of a huge transition for your family. Just two weeks after you were born, we moved to Minnesota. Your early life was a whirlwind, but you were the sweetest little guy. If ever a baby went with the flow, it was you. We still thank God for your personality. You've brought even more joy to a home that was filled with three other joyful children.

You're getting to be a big boy now. You finished your first year of preschool last week. You have been riding your brother's big boy bike. You are starting baseball next month. You're growing up sooo fast. It's hard to believe four years have come and go.

On your birthday I say, "Thank You." Thank you for one last night of three-year-old hugs and kisses that you offered so freely to Mom, Dad, Breanna, Chris and Jeremy last night. Thank you for the four-year-old hugs and kisses that you couldn't wait to give when you woke up this morning. Thank you for your fun little giggles. Thank you for your bigger than life four year old sense of adventure.

As you turn four there is one thing that I am especially grateful for. It's an event that happened fifteen nights ago. Do you remember? It was Mother's Day evening, and your big brother Chris took you into your bedroom. You had all sorts of questions about Jesus, and for 45 minutes Chris explained God's love to you. When you came out of that room, you announced to us all that you were a Christian, because you'd asked Jesus to forgive your sins and come into your heart.

Zachary, I'm proud of you. I'm so happy that you love Jesus. And, I love you. Happy Birthday!

"Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves. Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate."

Psalm 127

Baccalaureate Weekend

Baccalaureate Services took place at Wooddale Church last night. I have to admit that I don't like Baccalaureate. I love what it represents. I am proud of my students. But I don't like it because I have to say, "Goodbye," to a group of students that I have come to adore over the years. The Class of 2005 is a group of students that have literally changed my life. Working with them has been a joy, and I'm going to miss them.

Here is an excerpt of what I shared with them last night:

I am going to miss the Class of 2005. You have changed my life. I remember praying for you before you joined the Senior High Program. I prayed that God would use me to be a spiritual influence in your life. After three years of working with you, I believe that I can say that I have been encouraged by you as well. It was in Romans 1 that Paul spoke of his desire to visit the Roman people. He so wanted to spend time with them. He said:

"I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong - that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith."

Romans 1:11-12

That is what I pray has happened for you over your years in Wooddale Student Ministries.

Do you remember when you left the safety of Wooddale's Children's Ministry and entered a big room with a big woman who gave you the biggest hug that you have ever received in your life? Do you remember feeling scared? Do you remember when Heather showed you her favorite muscle? Do you remember your first day of high school? Do you remember your AUG final? Do you remember Project Canada?

Do you remember all the fears that you had of leaving Wooddale's Junior High Ministry, Heather and the leaders that loved you and walking through the doors of the Senior High Ministry? Do you remember when you met Jill? Do you remember hearing her voice and wondering what her hair would look like today? Do you remember Matt and Alaina DeYoung, and the love that they had for you before they left to go serve another church as youth pastor?

Do you remember See You At the Pole? Do you remember any of Greg Speck's once a year challenges to the students of Wooddale? Do you remember what your favorite Greg Speck microphone antic was? Do you remember your Growth Group? Do you a question you had about God? Do you remember a question from Pizza and God Talk? Do you remember a spiritual crisis that you went through? Do you remember a friend's spiritual crisis and what it was like to walk through it with them?

Do you remember what it was like to serve the people in the inner cities of Seaside, California, Toronto, Canada, or Minneapolis, Minnesota? Do you remember getting off of a plane in Guatemala and hearing another language being spoken, then driving another six hours to the rain forest only to hear one more language spoken? Do you remember the feeling you had when you built a house for a family that so desperately needed a home, and the feeling that you had when you saw how happy they were with the tiny home they had? Do you remember wondering why they could be so happy with so little and wondering why you, who had so much more in comparision were not so happy?

Do you remember retreats? Do you remember Chi Town? Do you remember the lesson that made you mad? The lesson that put you to sleep? The lesson that changed your life?

Do you remember your favorite song that the worship team played? The song that you wish you were singing right now? Palms playing guitar barefoot, hoping to impress yet another girl?

God has been at work in you these past few years. My prayer is that you'll allow him to continue to work in and through you. It would be a grave error in the way that we do ministry if we allowed you to think that you have "arrived" spiritually since you are graduating from high school. May it be true of you that when you are eighty years old, you are at a point of spiritual depth that is far beyond where you are today. And, may it be true of you that as you leave for college, the work force, or the armed services that you take God with you. He won't leave you, and we pray that you will passionately pursue Him.

Your class verse was chosen by a parent. It is Psalm 32:8 and it says:

"I will instruct and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you."

Psalm 32:8

God has good plans for you.

Paul started a lot of churches. And, he cared so much about what happened to them after he left. In Colossians he wrote:

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fulness of Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority."

Colossians 2:6-10

I believe that this is a strong senior class. But, every year I hear from students who leave our student ministry and have their faith shaken by hollow and deceptive philosophies. May it not be so with you.

I want to close with a prayer. It is the prayer that Paul offered on behalf of another church that he started. This time it was the Ephesian church. Would you bow your heads as I pray Paul's prayer over you?

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole familyin heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:14-21

Farewell Class of 2005. We love you.

Star Wars

So, what's the deal with men and Star Wars? I was at my daughter's soccer game the other night, and ran into one of my friends. As we talked he asked if I was going to let my son see the new Star Wars movie. I told him that I'd heard that this one had definitiely earned its PG-13 rating, and that I was going to check it out before letting Chris see it. He asked me when I was going and I told him that I would be at the 12:01 showing for the very first screening in our area. Then I told him I had an extra ticket and asked him if he wanted to go too.

Immediately he was like, "Oh yeah!" He began to think of every possible way to ask his wife if he could go. You see, that's the way it is with guys. We love action movies. The original Star Wars was the first movie that I ever saw in a theater. I was seven years old. I couldn't stop talking about the movie for weeks. Every game that I played for the next year revolved around the movie. I was Luke Skywalker saving the day. My second grade crush was always Princess Leia. It was great.

You know what's even better? The fact that Jesus Christ is a hero worth emulating. He is worth giving our very lives for. Like Star Wars, Jesus calls his followers to a heroic quest. His demands are tough. They are intimidating. They are impossible, apart from Him. Praise God that we have a Savior who is worth following.

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

Philippians 2:5-7

A Week In The Life . . .

The past week has been a busy one. In the span of seven days I feel like I've been around the world. The hectic pace just did not stop. In so many ways I saw God at work. Let me share a few.

Monday:

Monday is meeting day. From pastoral staff meeting to student ministries meeting to senior high staff meeting, this day is a busy one. In the past few years of working at Wooddale Church I have seen God use this time in so many ways to shape my week, challenge my thinking, and inspire me. Last Monday was no different.

Thank you God for the privilege of working with men and women who love and honor you.

On Monday night Cyndi and I split duties. I took Christopher to his first ever baseball practice, with little brother Zachary in tow. Cyndi took Breanna to her first ever soccer practice with brother Jeremy in tow. What a great night! I was so worried that Chris wouldn't be able to hit the ball, or that he'd miss the fly ball. He did great. I'm told that Breanna fit in just fine with soccer. She knows so many of her teammates and is loving the game. After practices two groups of Schulenburgs converged on Coldstone for ice cream.

Thank you God for healthy children, family time, and challenges that you bring us in life.

Tuesday:

Wooddale is a teaching church. That means that I have many opportunities to interact with church leaders from around the world. On Tuesday I met with Pastor Mike Grecco from Crossway Community Church in Melbourne, Australia. I took him to Bilimbi Bay Restaurant in Eden Prairie. It's become one of my favorite spots when people come from out of town. What a wonderful lunch! Mike is the Executive Pastor of Crossway Church, and it was so exciting to hear what God is doing in this vibrant community of believers in Melbourne. Crossway's student ministry is at a crossroads and I was able to share some ideas that Mike is planning on taking back to Australia to implement. Many of those ideas are things that have come after years of hard work, frustration, and then seeing God work to do incredible things.

Thank you God for Your Church around the world; that we as Americans don't have it all figured out, and that you are moving in new and unique ways each and every day.

Wednesday:

Wednesday is always my favorite day. There is something so special about the community that takes place on Wednesday nights when 150-200 teenagers gather together in Wooddale's gym to worship God. But, this Wednesday was extra special. We began the day at 8:15 a.m. with the Wooddale Pastoral Staff Retreat. Our pastoral staff takes four retreats a year. This retreat took us to Minneapolis and St. Paul to visit the "First Churches."

Stop one was the historic First Covenant Church in Minneapolis. This church is beautiful. It is located across from the Metrodome, where the Twins and Vikings play. Being a historic downtown church means that you have stained glass, balconies, seats for 2000 people, and an attendance of around 200. The 1970's were tough on downtown churches. Suburbia changed the downtown church, and now many struggle to survive. First Covenant has an annual budget of around $1,000,000. $400,000 of that is raised through parking lot rental fees to people going to ball games, or working downtown. The pastor of First Covenant is a godly man. He has not lost his vision of seeing God work through his church to reach Minneapolis for Christ. Gentrification (for a discussion on gentrification see http://members.lycos.co.uk/gentrification/whatisgent.html) is changing this urban neighborhood. There is hope once again that this church will reach masses of people. For now, this large building is inhabited by about 20 different para-church ministries ranging from Prayer Transformation Ministries to a ministry reaching India with evangelistic crusades. Several churches use First Covenant as their home base as well. Spanish speaking churches, an Ethiopian fellowship of Christians, and more!

Our second stop was First Baptist of Minneapolis. This church has an amazing history. With capacity of more than 2,000, First Baptist also reaches just a fraction of that. There are between 300-400 worshippers on Sunday. This church once housed Henrietta Mears famous Sunday School class of over 400 women. This was before Henrietta Mears moved to California. Youth ministry owes a great deal of debt to this woman of God, who had a vision for reaching students long before churches were reaching them. She had a huge impact on the lives of Billy Graham, Bill Bright, Torrey Johnson, and more. She founded Hume Lake Camp, the largest Christian Camp in America, and was influential in the launch of Campus Crusade for Christ. I had been to this church several times before, and didn't know this about the church. Although, I'd played basketball in the gym that used to house her class. The gym has a unique sloped floor that was designed for that class. It's tough to play basketball in, but it must have been an amazing gym to teach in.

Billy Graham also had an office in First Baptist. He officed there while serving as President of Northwestern College. The College also met there.

First Baptist has a new, young pastor who had been the Senior Pastor for four days when we arrived.

Our third stop was First Covenant Church of St. Paul. We first dined for lunch at an authentic Mexican restaurant in St. Paul. While at the restaurant we were told that we would have to park across the street from First Covenant Church because of the funeral procession for slain St. Paul Police Officer Gerald Vick. (This has been a huge story in the Twin Cities. You can read about it at http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/05/11_scheckt_vickfuneral/). The Mexican restaurant was fantastic! I love authentic restaurants, with ethnic music playing on the Satellite Radio. It was awesome. Before the trip we were told that the Minneapolis Churches were more conservative, and the St. Paul churches were more liberal. I was pleasently impressed with the depth of spiritual life at First Covenant of St. Paul. There is a zeal for evangelism. The Hmong community is alive in St. Paul. 20% of the church are Hmong people. You can read about our thriving Hmong Community at ( http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/11643899.htm). The school across from the church is 70% Hmong. First Covenant wants to do all that they can to reach this community.

Our last church visit was to First Baptist of St. Paul. This is a liberal church with a very intersting history. It was fun to see what is happening at this church. A daughter congregation has started there and meets on Sunday nights. They have created their own songbook, with songs that are unique to their spiritual experience. The thing that struck me most about First Baptist of St. Paul was their heart for the poor. The pastor wore a button that said, "Poverty is a Christian Issue." It was indeed an interesting day.

From there, I went back to Wooddale where about 75 parents showed up for our annual parent meeting. Then it was off to The Garage. I walked in while it was in progress. It was awesome to walk in to a room with so many students worshipping God. God spoke in an incredible way when I felt less than prepared to teach. I spoke on the man who was blind from birth, and many students responded in meaningful ways. We released our Garage Worship CD after that, and sold about 60 of our 100 copies.

Phew! What a day.

Thank you God for your work in the city -- for the Body of Christ in it's many forms. Thank you for diversity and the lessons that we can learn from each other. Thank you for the historical faith of our forefathers and the faith of the generation that is on the rise.

Thursday:

Thursday began with my monthy supervision meeting with Ken Geis, Wooddale's executive pastor. From there I went to the Eden Prairie Police Department for my chaplain meeting. What a fascinating meeting. Scott Neal, the City Manager for Eden Prairie (You can read his Web Log here - http://edenprairieweblogs.org/html/scott_neal.html) spoke to us about the new businesses coming into Eden Prairie, and plans for a new school at Grace Church (www.atgrace.com). Then we met with two Drug Enforcement Agency officers. They spoke to us about the current drug crises in the Twin Cities. I found out that Twin Citians are rather snobbish about their drugs, and prefer the more expensive, pure drugs. We held a number of different types of drugs that had been seized in previous raids. These guys have a tough job, and I was reminded to pray for them.

I took the rest of Thursday off to be with my family. We had a great day.

Thank you God for the men and women who protect us. For a family that so far has been spared the pain of drug abuse. For the help that you offer those stuck in addiction, and for your incredible grace.

Friday:

Cyndi and I had a chance to have a breakfast date and to shop for birthday invitations for Zachary's fourth birthday party. From there, Cyndi went to an event at Zachary's school, and I served Hot Lunch at Calvin Christian (www.calvinchristian.org). I love seeing my kids when I serve hot lunch.

Then it was off to Wooddale to prepare for our Operation Guatemala El Salvador prep retreat. I cashed an expense check, contacted trip leaders, talked with the youth pastor at our host church (Park Avenue Church http://www.parkavechurch.org) and got things ready for the retreat. What a great trip. Our students were divided into three teams. We put them on city buses in Eden Prairie and Edina, and made them find their way to one of three restaurants. Our teams went Big E's Soul Food, Salsa a la Salsa Mexican Restaurant and Safari Restaurant. (http://www.bigesoul.com/; http://www.digitalcity.com/twincities/dining/venue.adp?sbid=117383452; http://www.startribune.com/stories/456/5110004.html) I ate at Safari's. It was a Somalian food resturant with some of the best food I've ever had in my life. No meal was over $9, and we had great conversation with the guys who work at Safari. A young adult from Wooddale's twentysomethings ministry has connected with the guys at Safari. It was a great time. The Somalians who work there are Muslim, and it was great to build bridges around the cultural and religious spectrum. Somalians always serve bananas with their meals, and you are supposed to cut it up and eat it with your food. So, I mixed my banana with my steak, and you know what? It was incredible. I'll definitely be back.

After dinner, our kids had a tour of Minneapolis with Chris Brooks, President of Urban Reclaim (http://www.urbanreclaim.org/). Chris and I have been friends for a couple of years now, and I am always in awe of the way that he serves the inner city. Chris shared his passion for seeing Minneapolis and St. Paul transformed with the Gospel of Christ. One thing that he spoke about that touched our students was the lack of youth workers in the urban context. North Minnepolis is the most dangerous part of our city. In North Minneapolis there are dozens of churches but only one full time youth worker. We have five full time youth workers at Wooddale Church alone. I was convicted.

We ended the night with a screening of the film Hotel Rwanda. No other film has convicted me as much as this one. It is the story of a new hero of mine named Paul Ruesabagina. You can visit the film web site at http://www.mgm.com/ua/hotelrwanda/intro.html. Our students were struck to the core at the Rwandan genocide. Over 1,000,000 corpses were left in the wake of the genocide that took place just eleven short years ago. As Americans we largely ignored the problem. The screening ended at 1:30 a.m. and we went to bed.

God, may we never lose site of the vision that you have for the city. May our quest for more be replaced with a desire to minister to those with less. May you be glorified in your church and in those who call themselves your children. Help us see others in the light of Jesus.

Saturday:

The retreat was far from over as we awoke early on Saturday. Breakfast was at 8:00 and then we listened to students share their reports about the countrys of Guatemala and El Salvador. We heard about the 35 year civil war in Guatemala that resulted in 200,000 people "disappearing." We heard about governments, militaries, soccer, Quetzal birds, papusas, economies, Catholicism, and more. It was a great morning.

We were originally scheduled to go to Starring Lake Park in Eden Prairie from 10-2 to practice our ministry for Guatemala. God had other plans. A downpour sent us back to Wooddale Church to allow our basketball, childrens, medical, mime and service teams to practice on our church site. We didn't know it at the time, but a Somalian basketball team has been using Wooddale's gym to practice for an upcoming tournament every Saturday from 1-3 for the past few months. Our coach asked their coach if our OGES team could practice against theirs. They were thrilled for competition, and our basketball team had a chance to connect with about 20 Somalians. There are 200,000 Somalians that have relocated to the United States, about 40,000 of which live in the Twin Cities. We will be playing them again on June 4, in a church with a gym, so that the Somalians can invite thier families. We're praying that this relationship will develop further.

Our retreat ended at 2:20, and I was home by 3:20, on time to take Breanna to a Twins game. I served as a parent chaperone for this event. It was so nice to be able to spend the time with my daughter. I was one of the only parents at the game, and Breanna still isn't too old to let her dad sit by her. What a great night! The Twins lost, but I won! It was fun to get to know some of Breanna's friends. I drove a van with five junior high girls to and from the school, and then we drove a bus to the game. One of the boys wanted to start the wave, and so I helped him get it going. After several tries, we made it half way around the stadium.

Thank you Lord for the Somalian people. For a nation that is coming to our doorsteps. For time with my daughter. For baseball and the Minnesota Twins!

Sunday:

We woke up early on Sunday, and prepared for the drive to Oakwood Church (www.oakwoodonline.org) in Waconia, MN, where I was preaching for the fifth time this spring. Oakwood is a daughter church of Wooddale Church that is in search for a senior pastor. We have enjoyed every week we've been at Oakwood. Oakwood normally meets at Waconia High School, but a bomb threat at Waconia High School (http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=96935) forced the church to meet in their tiny ministry center this week. It was nice to meet in a smaller church. It reminded me of my days as a child worshipping at Fox Valley Bible Church (www.fvbc.org) when it was in a small chapel. I preached my sermon called, "When You Still Haven't Found What You're Looking For." It was a good morning. Many in the congregation were moved, and it was so nice to have the opportunity to share with them.

Cyndi and I put a turkey in the oven before we left for church, and we had a Thanksgiving like feast with our kids for Sunday dinner. It was a great meal together.

After a busy week and a turkey meal, I needed a nap.

On Sunday evening we went to Grace Church to see the children's musical American Ideal. Several of Breanna's friends were in the play. The message of the musical was that life should be all about God and not about us. Using the television show American Idol as the model for the musical, the play did a great job of pointing out just how egocentric most of us live our lives. It was a great night.

Lord, help me to remember that it's all about you. Thank you for children. Thank you that children can teach adults lessons that sometimes we miss. Thank you for your patience with us. May all that we do be all about you.

Until next time . . .

A Tragedy

This past Saturday my Eden Prairie Police Chaplain pager went off. It read "[Dispatch04] medical: please call asap dispatch regarding a medical. 4 year old not breathing."

I've been a police chaplain for almost two years now, and no amount of training prepared me for reading those words. In the past two years I have been to numerous death scenes, counseled people contemplating suicide, and worked with families whose children had run away, but this was different. I knew when I read the words that this child was not going to breathe again. Chaplains aren't called in for joyous occasions when a child who was on the brink of death is revived. Chaplains are called in to assit a family in their time of greatest need.

As I picked up the phone to dial the police department my heart trembled. I didn't want to hear the dispatcher tell me that it looked like the child was going to die. But, that's exactly what I heard, and I was summoned to arrive at the house as quickly as possible.

When I arrived at the home two of my favorite officers were waiting outside. One of them is the Seargent who heads up the Police Chaplaincy program. He is a godly man who is passionate about seeing our community transformed. His eyes told me all that I needed to know. The child had indeed died. He told me that the family was in shock. They were angry. They had asked the officers to leave the home. The paramedics had come and taken the body to the hospital. What was left in the house was a family that was broken, in need of a healing that will take a long time to come. My Seargeant wasn't sure that the family would want to see me, but he asked the subordinate officer to go to the door and see if it would be okay if I came into the house to talk with the family.

A shaken up Grandpa answered the door. This house was full of people -- Both sets of Grandparents, an Aunt and Uncle, Cousins . . . It looked like a party was going on. (The family was preparing for the First Communion Celebration of an older son. The boy who died had been in bed sick with a cold. He choked to death in his room.) But instead of laughter and smiles, the house was full of concerned looks, tears, and anger. The first thing I heard was one of the Grandmother's saying, "Get him out of the house, we don't need another stranger here." The Grandfather said, "This one is okay. He's a chaplain." He then introduced me to the father who had just lost his precious four-year-old. The father embraced me. He held me tight as if he didn't want to let go. As if holding onto this stranger might somehow bring his son back. He looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "Why would God allow this to happen?"

Nothing prepares you for that question. All I could say was, "I don't know. But, I know God loves you." And with that, his wife called him to tell him it was time to go to the hospital." Nine words. That's all I was able to give him. I pray that God will give this family peace. That this family will feel God's loving arms wrap around them. That a mom, who lost her son the day before Mother's Day, will be able to forgive.

It's said that 80% of marriages in which a child dies end up in divorce. I pray that this precious family will be able to overcome this tragedy. Please keep them in your prayers. There were three sons, this was the youngest. Two older brothers who didn't know that their brother had died when I was at the home were going to find out the sad truth at the hospital less than an hour later. I can't imagine what this family is going through.

Thank you God for my kids. Help me never to take for granted the time I have with them. Thank you for my wife. Thank you for life. It is precious. It is not guranteed. Help me to live every day to honor you. Thank you that you gave us your only Son. Thank you that you know what it is like to lose the one who you love the most. Thank you for the hope of the resurrection, and for life everlasting. May this family come to know you, if they already don't. Bless them. Strengthen them. Sustain them with your everlasting love.

Moms

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, and I can't help but think how blessed I am to have three incredible women who play that role as part of my life.

I am so grateful to God for the wife that He gave me. Cyndi is my best friend, my confident, and my partner in parenting. I am constantly amazed at the wisdom that she displays in the parenting of our children. Cyndi, you are a treasure that is beyond compare! Thank you for not only being a great wife, but a great Mom.


"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value."

Proverbs 31: 10-11

I want to thank my Mom too. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect Mom. I'll never forget the way that you prayed with me. When I was down, you were there for me, and when I was up, you were the first to celebrate with me. Thanks for loving me like you do! I love you.

Finally, I want to thank my Mother-in-law for the way that she raised Cyndi. I got to spend a day with my Mother-in-law this week, and I was reminded of just how great you are. Thank you for all did to make Cyndi who she is today.

Happy Mother's Day

The Garage Worship Live 2005 CD Releases Next Wednesday

It has been a dream of mine to see The Garage Worship Team put out a CD since coming to Wooddale Church as Senior High Pastor in 2001.

Steve Oakes, our Worship Team Leader, has put in countless hours producing that dream. Next Wednesday, May 11, 2005, that CD will be released. I received my advance copy of it yesterday, and I cannot stop listening to it. The songs sound great! How awesome it is to be able to take the corporate worship experience of Wednesday evenings in my car with me. I'm pretty sure that as I was driving in my car today, people were staring at me. I had my windows down, the music cranked, and I was singing at the top of my lungs. I couldn't help it. I really felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in my car today as I worshipped God.

Thank you to Steve for your incredible leadership of this team for the past several years. Thanks too to Nathan Dull and Chris Aelis for recording the sessions, running sound, and duplicating the CD's. Thanks to Matt Volenac for the great art work. Thank you Josh Tryon for duplicating CD's, ordering materials and printing our CD covers. And thank you to Laura Becklund, Chris Earl, Andy Frost, Brian Krueger, Brett Palmberg, and of course Steve Oakes for leading us to the feet of Jesus each week as we worship. You've truly been servants, and exhibited what it means to be lead worshippers.

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100