Family

Gospel & Our Culture Network

The Gospel and Our Culture Network has a revamped site which looks good.  If you are unfamiliar with GOCN, here's some info from their site...

The Gospel and Our Culture Network has been spawned by:

  • the cultural currents of Western society and ethnic tradition that have shaped how we live in North America.
  • the rapid changes taking place as we move from a "modern" to "postmodern" form of society.
  • the growing un-ease of the church as it experiences a dislocation from its prior places of importance.

The aim is to explore what these things mean, under the light of the gospel, for the life and witness of the church.

[...]

The network offers companionship for Christian leaders and groups eager to work together with others who share similar concerns. It brings together people from a wide spectrum of churches -- from Mennonite to Roman Catholic, from Anglican to Southern Baptist -- and a range of local ministry settings.

  • It puts theological educators and ministry practitioners into fruitful contact with each other so that effective strategy and sound theory may be wedded together.
  • It provides mutual encouragement between denominational administrators and local congregational leaders to discover models of the church capable of sustaining a living and faithful witness to the gospel in our contemporary world.
  • It encourages the formation of local groups in which pastoral and lay leaders of congregations work together to develop practical responses to contemporary challenges.
  • It makes available resources and materials to facilitate vision and change in the missional life of the church.

City-Bound

Dsc_0065Our family is taking the train into Chicago on Monday.  It's supposed to be a gorgeous day, clear and 83 degrees.  We plan on going to the Field Museum first and then spend some time in Millennium Park, which is a favorite hangout for our family when in the city.  The only pictures I have of Millennium Park were taken before I got my Nikon d50, so it should be a good photography trip too. 

Very excited because I love to spend long days off with the family.  Not too long ago we spent a day in Lincoln Park.  You can see those pictures here.

Lucky 13

AnnivMy wife and I were married on July 24th, 1993 in Pontiac, IL.  We have since moved six times (Carbondale, IL, Denver, CO, Fort Worth, TX, Louisville, KY, Lexington, KY, & Woodstock, IL) and produced four amazing kids (Sarah, Jack, Elijah, and Daniel). 

In 13 years I can honestly say, HONESTLY say, that my wife is as hot now as she ever was.  And that I am still the recipient of a wonderful gift: a beautiful woman who loves me despite all my failures and faults.  What a treasure she is to me.

McCoy Missional Learning Center

A couple of weeks ago I found the sign up date for kid's baseball this summer here in Woodstock for my two oldest boys.  So yesterday I loaded them up in the car and headed to Sports Authority to buy some real baseball gloves.  After getting a good fit and taking a few minutes to soak up the smell of leather, we grabbed three gloves (one for each of the boys and one for me).  We also bought a couple of regulation baseballs.

We came home and de-tagged, went outside and started to play catch.  At that moment I realized I have never taught anyone to play catch with gloves that catch and balls that can hurt.  My kids are all experts at wiffle ball and Nerf stuff.  But this is the real deal.

So we formed a triangle, I told them to hold their gloves out face up, and I started under-handing the ball to them.  They missed most of the first 20 throws, but every time one would catch the ball it was a triumph.  Then they progressively started catching more, and more.  All the while I was also teaching them the proper way to throw by pushing off with their right leg while shifting their weight over their left.

Dsc_0001 Then just before it was time to come inside for the night I decided to toss the ball a little too close to my oldest son's face.  He missed the ball, but the ball didn't miss him.  It popped him on the lower lip which was punctured by his lower teeth drawing plenty of blood, a swollen lip, and a few tears (his upper teeth fell out naturally, I didn't throw it that hard!).

After comforting my son and putting the kids to bed 30 minutes later I realized that the hour I spent playing baseball with my boys wasn't just a great time with my kids, or just a proud moment as a dad.  That would have been enough.  But it was also an hour of training at the McCoy Missional Learning Center (MMLC). 

I'm teaching my kids how to do something they can love that will put them on teams with other kids, and those kids have families, and some of those families don't have Jesus.  And the only physical distance between us and them can be bridged by "Play ball" and "Batter up" and "Atta boy" and "That's my son, at third base.  Which one is yours?" and "Good to meet you.  We'll see you at next week's game."

Seattle: Monday

Space Needle in the Clouds

We ate breakfast this morning at Cafe Minnie's.  Omelets the size of your head.  Sheesh.  Then we took a trip to the top of the Space Needle.  Beautiful day, beautiful view.   To See, Look Away

Click on the pictures for a larger version, and take a peek at my other Seattle pics.

Reform & Resurge begins in the morning.  Hopefully we can meet up with a few of you tonight.  We are in the Holiday Inn, Room 204.  Give our room a call, or email me.

Seattle: Sunday

We left Bloomington, IL this morning at 7:06am, flew to Chicago O'Hare.  Then took off at 8:35am for Seattle and arrived at about 11am.  A couple from our church, Mike and Gail, were already here and picked us up.  We went directly to Pike Place Market and watched them toss some fish around.  What a cool place, tons of fruit and vegetables for sale, a bunch of cafes and restaurants.  We ate at the place where Tom Hanks ate in Sleepless in Seattle.  I had shrimp cakes.  Yeah buddy.  Good stuff.

Then we checked in at the Holiday Inn and took a short break.  Refreshed, we went to Sonic Boom music store (through the recommendation of some of my blog readers).  What a great store.  Found a couple of CD's I've been looking for and couldn't find in my neighborhood.  Then we went to the 5pm service at Mars Hill Church.  It was great.  Maybe more on that another time.  Dinner at P.F. Changs, which rocked as usual.  I also got a few pics along the way.  I'll try to get a few of those up tomorrow.

It's been a very, very long day and I'm exhausted.  Nighty nite.

Reading, Reforming & Resuring

My wife and I leave this weekend for the Reform & Resurge Conference in Seattle.  It's should be a spectacular time.  If you are going and want to make sure we connect, please email me and we can swap cell numbers (pastorsteve [at] gmail [dot] com). 

StetzerI'm also digging into Breaking the Missional Code by Ed Stetzer & David Putman.  Anything Stetzer writes should be recommended reading for all missional guys.  I would imagine it will also be excellent for anyone who needs to understand the missional concept, like anyone with "Baptist" in their church name.  Hehe, c'mon, that was funny.

I hope to come back from Seattle with some great pictures, the experience of drinking a mocha at the original Starbucks, Spirit-led insights to rock my face off, and Tim Keller's Sharpie'd signature on my arm (so I can have it tattooed in later). 

Okay, I'll settle for the first three.

Back Home

Dsc_00471We're home after a very long day of driving.  I have many new pictures from the trip, though most are more art focused than "moments to remember."  God's grace sent us to the Louisville P.F. Changs for lunch.  My parents bought us pizza for dinner as we stopped through Pontiac, IL to retrieve our cat (Calvin).  It was an exhausting day after an exhausting week, but we are so encouraged by what God has done to us and through us on this great trip.

More tomorrow.

While I Was Away...

Having a great trip to OBI in the Kentucky "sticks."  God is doing some great things as I preach.  Students are responding to the Gospel.  I'm tired, physically and emotionally, but the words keep coming.  Awesome stuff.  I should be home and posting again on Friday.  Here's a pic just outside the front door of where we are staying.

Uh, Moo!

Michael Spencer (the iMonk) is a great host.  I'm at his house right now on his wi-fi.  If you read his online stuff, he's everything you think he will be.  Well, all but the Kentucky twang.  Actually he has presented me with a very prestigious award.  I'm honored.

In other news...

William Dembski leaves SBTS for SWBTS.

Dan at Eucatastrophe has some Keller quotes.

In Lexington, KY

We are in Lexington, KY in a Residence Inn.  Nice.  Our good buddy hooked us up with a sweet room for like $100 cheaper than if we got it ourselves.  We are headed tomorrow to Oneida, KY where I speak at the OBI commitment week.

Tonight we spent time with my good buddy and former pastor, Kyle McClellan and his family.  Then we had dinner at Ruby Tuesdays with Wes, Nick, Julie, Isaac and Kyle.  I've never had so many things go wrong at dinner, and may post more details on that soon (if I feel I need to vent).  But the company was great.  Van joined all of us for conversation after dinner with the guys hanging out first at Coffee Times (skim moka cap) and the ladies at the hotel with the kiddos.  Then we all merged at the Inn for conversation to about 1am with an Ale 8 chaser.  Yeah buddy.  It was a great time with good friends who we first met while they were studying at the University of Kentucky.  I haven't laughed that hard in some time, usually over some of Wes' hilarious comments about cardiologists.

Today we drove for 7+ hours, dropped a few bills at the SBTS bookstore (it's all about the Hamiltons, baby), spent some change at Ear-x-tacy in Louisville (which is a fantastic independent music store), ate at Stevens & Stevens Delicatessen (the Woody Allen and garlic roasted potatoes), and spent a ton of time hanging and talking with friends.

I may not be able to update much over the next few days, but if/when I get on for a minute I'll try to let you know how things are going.  My first talk at OBI is Sunday night at 7pm.  Then Monday through Wednesday I speak at morning chapel and then in the evening at 7pm (except I don't speak Wednesday chapel).  If you think about it, please pray for me and the students at OBI.

Speaking on Love & Sacrifice

The next two weeks are shaping up to be very busy for me. 

A week from today I start speaking at Oneida Baptist Institute's "Commitment Week."  This is the boarding school in Kentucky where Michael Spencer (iMonk) is campus minister.  I will be speaking six times on the theme "Love & Sacrifice."  Preparing six messages for 3 1/2 days is a bit overwhelming, but I'm totally into it and pumped about it.  The music will be led by Matthew Smith who is with Indelible Grace.  Pretty cool, eh?

Our family of six is taking a rental van and road tripping it.  We think we will try to stay the night in Lexington, KY Saturday night so we can spend some time hanging with friends on late Saturday afternoon and evening.  (If you are in the area and want to connect, or buy us dinner, email me.)  Then Sunday through Wednesday I will be speaking at OBI to a bunch of middle and high schoolers, as well as OBI teacher and employees, about Jesus.  It's going to be a great trip.  If this comes to mind, please pray for the students and for me as I prepare.

Oh, and by the way, I pulled an April Fool's joke on my wife yesterday.  I created a new email addy, internetmonk (at) gmail.com, and sent her a message from "Michael Spencer" saying that our arrangements for housing at OBI have fallen through and that there is no place for our family to stay now, so she and the kids will probably have to stay home.  She bought it.  Sorry honey!  I love you!

Choices

I was leaving the house today while my family was sitting at the kitchen table coloring.  I said, "Goodbye, I love you!"  My 9 year old daughter called back first, "I love you. Make good choices."  Besides being the funniest thing I've heard in a while, it was actually very good advice.

Stop Saying I Love You

My five year old got in a bit of trouble this morning and said to me with tears, "I don't like being my age because I do so many things wrong."  So we talked about sin and forgiveness and Jesus.

He was running through the house a few minutes later, happy and playful.  I called him into my home office, tears over his own sin still in my mind, and gave him a big hug and said, "I love you buddy."  He responded as he always does, "Me too."  Then he said, "Dad, can you stop saying 'I love you' so much?  You say it too many times."  Precious.

Now, as I'm about to leave the house I shouted good-bye to everyone and my five year old shouted back, "I love you!  I love you so much!  I love you more than Playmobil toys!"

Having kids teaches me so much about life, love and God.  What a gift.

It's GROUNDHOG DAY!

Dsc_0054There aren't too many places to be on Groundhog Day, but I happen to live in one of them.  I'm in Woodstock, Illinois where the movie Groundhog Day was filmed (and yes, it was filmed almost completely in Woodstock).  We have all sorts of events in town around Groundhog Day, but of course the centerpiece is when Woodstock Willie emerges from his fake stump and pronounces his forecast for the duration of winter. 

Dsc_0074_2 Punxsutawney Phil, the more notable rodent, saw his shadow and predicted more winter.  But Woodstock Willie (who doesn't appear to have his own web presence) was more optimistic, to the delight of hundreds of onlookers this morning.  I had a nice chat with the glorified squirrel after the fact, and told him that he would be roadkill if he is just pulling our chain.  He assured me that his trick knee was in fact indicating the end of winter.  We'll see.

Here are some pictures I took of our Groundhog Day festivities with my daughter.