our answer to prayer

Nate and I have prayed many things for our three daughters. At the top of the list is that they would love the Lord and trust Him as their Savior. It has been neat to hear them retell Bible stories from church or ask us questions about Jesus, Heaven, etc.

Yesterday Natalie and I were working on her memory verse for Awana. It was “Jesus answered, ‘I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.’” Natalie was interested in what this verse meant so we talked about how the only way we can get to heaven and be with God is if we truly believe that he died on the cross for our sins and we are forgiven.

Amy overheard us and said, “I want to go to heaven, I don’t want to go to that fire place.” Nate explained that Mommy and Daddy were going to go to heaven one day. Natalie wanted to know how we were sure. So we explained that we believe that Jesus is our Savior and that he died for our sins. She says, “I believe that!” Nate asked her if she had ever told God that she believed that about him. She said she didn’t and wanted to know how to tell him so Nate explained that when we pray we are talking with God.

Natalie bowed her sweet head and prayed (from my memory!), “God, thank you for sending Jesus as a baby. I believe that he died on the cross for my sins and I am forgiven. I love you. In Jesus name, Amen.”

What a blessing to hear our firstborn daughter profess her love for Jesus. We will continue to pray for her heart and that she would desire to know and love him more.

He passed!

It has been a LONG 6 months for us with Nate studying for Licensure and Ordination. Well, it is finally over. Yesterday and today, Nate had his oral ordination exams and passed! We are so excited and I am so proud of him. He will officially be installed/ordained at a service at our church on Nov. 1. This also officially starts his role at NPC as Associate Pastor. Next step…BABY #3.

Here is a favorite picture of the girls this fall:

Ministry Blessing

Last night I was blessed with 60+ high school students and staff invading our house for quite possibly the last time.  Jonathan, our middle school director and my wife Kara put on an open house here from 5-10 pm that brought students back together to share with me their experiences and joys from 10 years of high school ministry.

We ate, we watched pictures of the past seven years in ministry, we shared stories and inside jokes, we shared what a blessing the ministry has been to a variety of high school students.  People shared how the ministry had encouraged them in service and love of others, had saved them from hurting themselves, how it created an awe of God, a fascination with the Gospel, had built up and exhorted believers by reminding them of their identity in Christ.  The young men and women over the years has ministered to countless others in an eternal way.

God was good to me when he gave me, I don’t know, over 300-400 students and staff over the course of 10 years who challenged me, frustrated me, hurt me, blessed me, strengthened me, cared for me, and loved me.

They threw water balloons and snowballs and their backs, ate weird things to make me laugh, took random bets (and I paid out), played PS2 and N64 deep into the night, they crammed marshmallows into their mouth, nearly choked to death at my kitchen table, broke their knees, fingers, hands and feet and knocked themselves out trying to impress me skiing (or not skiing as it were), playing football, and running games at VBS. They tackled me, wrestled me, were patient with me as I learned very little sign language, (but learned to read lips well), they schooled me in basketball, made fun of my hairy body and pointy nose (I did too, so it was okay).  They sang for me, played my stupid games, they ministered to others, they helped me do the work of God.

He gave me young men and women who loved me and my family relentlessly.  They cared for my children, watched over my wife when she struggled through her biopsy results, they sacrificed their time, they gave their own earned money, they welcomed me into their homes for months on end and never charged a time, they prayed for me, they read me scripture, wrote me wonderful notes that I read often, they bought me gifts, they hugged me and kissed me.  They made me weep into the night: tears of deep pain and feverish joy.  They made me better.  They helped me fall in love with Jesus more, and they helped make me more like Him.  For that I am deeply grateful.

Thank you all, for loving me, for loving my wife and my children, you may never know the depth of how each of you has changed me.  You have shown both mercy and grace, have forgiven and forgotten many wrongs.  I love each of you.

Job Change

Since we told the current high school students and their parents yesterday, I feel like it is okay to tell the rest of those close to us. And since I want you all to hear it from me before someone else, this is the "best" way to do that…

I have accepted the call to be the pastor to 20’s and 30’s/young families at our church. The position oversees growth groups as well. As of January 1, I will no longer be the youth pastor at NPC. This has come from many months of prayer and deliberation with Kara, my parents, relatives and my growth group. We are excited about this change, but also sad to leave the high school ministry. We are grateful for the ways in which the students have blessed us.

There is a ton more detail for those who are interested, but I think this suffices for now! Just know that we are not leaving the relationships… Kara and I want to still have students over to our place, I plan on finishing well with our senior class, and we intend to maintain solid relationships with the students into the future.

I am also excited to share that Brian Dennert has accepted the call to be the new director of high school and college ministries at NPC.

Erin’s YG Baby Shower

Kara hosted a baby shower for the high school girls who were part of Erin’s small group(s) over the years. 

Not everyone could make it, but here are some pictures of the night.