just between us...

Break up the creative rut...

2011-01-25T12:52:00.004-05:00

Alright - so, I'm back. For now.

I'm going to pick up the writing experiement right where I left off. I've felt in a creative rut over the past month or so. Instead of staying there I've done a few things to break the mundane I was feeling. First, I purged my cubicle and started over. It's true. I took down all the eclectic things that were in my cubicle and started over with a more clean look. I'm enjoying that. Second, I went on vacation and experienced a different culture. Going away from the normal scenery always puts me into a more creative mode. Lastly, I started reading fiction again. Now, if you know me you know this one is huge. I honestly haven't read fiction books since high school. In fact, my life over the past 8 years has largely consisted of leadership books, church books, college text books, and psychology books. I started reading The Help and it's a great book that paints vivid characters. Gets the juices flowing.

The blog expresses creativity, but it also is a catalyst to create creativity. I don't think that makes sense to anyone but me.

Create. Express yourself. Be bold. Change it up.

My writing experiment

2010-10-06T08:57:00.003-04:00

Hey - my writing experiment is put on hold.
I had a crazy busy weekend, and a crazy busy week, and I'm getting ready to leave today for ATL.
So, writing.
Hold on for now.

In other news...
I've been thinking about relationships and the complexity of them.
Relationships are interesting - especially non familial relationships.
You have no obligation to anyone.
No guilt to have a relationship.
It's a gift to have great friendships.

Life would be easier if we didn't connect outside of our families.
But, life wouldn't be as rich and colorful.

Today, thank God for the friends in your life.
If you happen to cross paths with one of your friends - thank them for their relationship.
If you have a friend who you haven't connected with in awhile take time to build into them.
If you have a wall built up with a friend - take time to tear it down piece by piece.
Thank God for friends.

Swiss Festival

2010-10-02T22:23:00.003-04:00

Sugarcreek, OH. Quaint. Cute. Wonderful.
Today, we had a special visitor.
His name? Jesus.
You may know him by a different name, but the clothes and beard give it away.
As I was standing there watching him parade down the street I could only think of 2 people.
My twitter/blogger friends.
@prodigaljohn and @jesusneedsnewpr

In fact, @mrsleeannmiller and I mentioned them at the same time.

All in all, a satisfying day for Sugarcreek, OH, the Swiss Festival, and Jesus impersonators everywhere.

Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days

2010-10-02T08:42:00.002-04:00

You know, yesterday I posted my goals for the month, and I actually did read a book yesterday.
Now, the book is just over 100 pages in length, but it is meaty and convicting.

Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why

2010-10-01T14:37:00.003-04:00

I have two for this month...

1. Start exercising 3x a week. I want to get more healthy.
2. Read a book a week. I am working on growing my skills in my job.

There ya go!

Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

2010-09-30T11:42:00.002-04:00

Day 06- Favorite super hero and why

2010-09-29T07:42:00.003-04:00

I have good memories of watching the old Adam West Batman and Batman: The Animated Series with my sister after school.

Batman.
The people's super hero.

Why is he my favorite?
He was a normal guy who did great stuff.
Plus, he had the coolest gadgets.
And the best girlfriends.
And The Bat Mobile?
Need I say more...

Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been

2010-09-28T22:35:00.002-04:00

Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have

2010-09-27T08:18:00.000-04:00

Ugh. I bite my nails.
Now, it's not the nail biting that leave 1/4 of an inch on my fingers.
I just bite the white part.
But, it leaves my fingers looking rugged and unkempt.
Ugh.

Day 03- A picture of you and your friends

2010-09-26T21:30:00.005-04:00

Wow.
I am SO thankful for the many different friends I've crossed paths with over my life.
I have so many people who've influenced me to be a better person.
So, here's a sample of some really great people.

Some people live near.
Some live far.
Some are in my life daily.
Some I talk to yearly - or even less.
Some I am still really close to.
Some pick up right where we left off.
But, they are all awesome.

Day 02- The meaning behind your Tumblr name

2010-09-25T22:28:00.001-04:00

Okay, so this list is from a Tumbler website - what my sister uses to blog. So, I'm going to use my blogger names...

My blogger name is matt beres. It's my name. Duh.

But, "just between us..." is funny to me. The irony of writing private thoughts on a public site is interesting to me.

So, there it is...

Day 1

2010-09-23T17:32:00.005-04:00

A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself.

1. I've never seen Forest Gump or Titanic.

2. I lived in Sydney, Australia.

3. I once promised to a. Move out of Ohio. b. Live in a big city. c. Never work at a church. See how that turned out?

4. I was arrested. Once. For a prank.

5. When I love people, I love them.

6. Italy is on my list of places to visit. Oh, and Maine too.

7. I used to collect Moose...was it a phase? I dunno.

8. The older I get the more content I am not to be in the spotlight.

9. I do miss acting though.

10. Arizona Green Tea!

11. Sometimes I salivate when I'm cooking, or even talking about food. Fat Tendency.

12. I think too much.

13. I am fiercely loyal. Sometimes I hold on to someone or something too long, in fact.

14. I have a weird obsession with Post It notes.

15. I wonder if blogging is narcissistic sometimes?

30 Day Challenge

2010-09-23T17:30:00.001-04:00

I like writing. I really do. I just need a little prompting...and I think this challenge might inspire me to write more.

Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself
Day 02- The meaning behind your Tumblr name
Day 03- A picture of you and your friends
Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have
Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to
Day 06- Favorite super hero and why
Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why
Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days
Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad
Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends
Day 12- How you found out about Tumblr and why you made one
Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
Day 14- A picture of you and your family
Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play
Day 16- Another picture of yourself
Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have
Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them
Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/ being with in the future
Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else
Day 23- Something you crave for a lot
Day 24- A letter to your parents
Day 25- What I would find in your bag
Day 26- What you think about your friends
Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge
Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?
Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned
Day 30- Who are you?

Text

Blogging.

2010-09-14T14:31:00.001-04:00

Dear Blogging,

I really like you. I do. It's just...

I've been doing real things outside of the computer. You and your friends Facebook and Twitter have just been put on hold. No, I haven't forgotten about you - just taking a little bit of a break.

I'll be back someday.

Matt

Blogging

2010-06-21T12:00:00.003-04:00

I took an unplanned break from blogging. I mean, there wasn't a huge reason I haven't blogged and there isn't a big, life-changing nugget I want to share today. But, I thought of blogs this morning and the lack of love I've been giving mine...

So, here's a brief rundown of things going on in my head as of late...(this could be scary...)

-I live in the country. Like, there are chicken coops that run down my road country. I never thought I would love the country as much as I do.
-I have a SWEET job. It's true. I get to work with awesome kids and volunteers here at NewPointe. It's challenging, but worth it.
-I am personally growing so much. You might not see it, but I am.
-Read Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. It will make you grow so much. People might not see the growth, but you will.
-Courage. Have it. Get it from the right source.
-Relationships are challenging and require constant work. When you stop working on relationships you don't have them.
-I'm 25. Yes, I am 25. It hit me the other day. I'm not a kid anymore.
-Toy Story 3 made me emotional. If you haven't see it don't judge me. Back up off...
-Who knew 2 stuffed animals tied to a string could be so much fun?
-The simple life is desirable to me right now. There was a time where I wanted in excess, but after moving so many times I'm finding that simple is good.
-2012. The movie, not the year, is predictable and not imaginative.
-Laughter is infectious.
-Sometimes I take life way to seriously. When I get out of my routine I see the bigger picture and how I'm just a small part - and that is a very good thing.

surrogate...

2010-04-06T16:14:00.002-04:00

a surrogate, by definition, is someone who takes the place of another person.

now, culturally you automatically think of a surrogate mother. don't go there. i'm not. you don't need to either.

this weekend i had time with two of my surrogate families here at newpointe. saturday i hung out with my walnut creek family doing a little bit 'o spring cleaning and hanging out. we got their house ready for the summer. scrubbed down the porch. put out the summer furniture. rearranged the living room. you know, stuff i used to do with my family.

sunday was easter. now, if you're a "transplant" like me you'll understand. see, my family doesn't live here and i work at a church. so basically i work every holiday and don't really have blood family to spend it with. so, sunday i spent time with my new philadelphia family. we came home after church. ate ham. ate potatoes. ate rigatoni. (cause they're italian and they have 'traditional' foods AND italian foods on holidays. double score!) ate candy. played with their kids in the yard. cut down limbs from a tree. ate dessert - twice. you know, stuff i used to do with my family. (except replace german wherever you see italian.)

and this weekend, at both houses, i realized something. family is something we can take for granted, but it's also something we can create.

you see, no matter where i live or what my life looks like i can always create a family.

maybe you feel alone, but here's what i'm learning. you can be the change you want to see. do you want surrogate family? take a risk and put yourself out there.

sometimes taking the first step is hard, but it is definitely worth it.

you spin my head right round...

2010-03-23T10:14:00.002-04:00

my head is spinning. in fact, my head has been spinning for weeks. i've taken on a new role here at newpointe as the velocity director. (our environment for K-4th grade kids) naturally, when you get a huge, awesome opportunity you have ideas and dreams, but sometimes (if you're anything like me) you head can start spinning.

my head's been spinning for a few weeks and now, today, is the time to start putting some meat on the bones. (confession is good for the soul, so writing it out here is good i suppose.) this afternoon i'm going into planning mode. i have two goals, and two plans to write. i'm excited.

the real reason i wanted to write is to share a tool that i got from north point's leadership blog. this morning dave d reminded me of this flow chart. i'm excited to get my thoughts on paper. check it.

Steering Through Chaos

2010-03-17T17:05:00.001-04:00

Steering Through Chaos is a must read for any and every church leader. Actually, I take that back. Steering Through Chaos is a must read for any and every church leader who wants to change and grow through big visions that God’s put in their heart. If you’re a church leader who is content with the progress of your church, or you are comfortable with the way things are being done right now, then don’t read the book. You’ll get convicted. You won’t do anything about it. Then, you’ll feel guilty. It would be better to just leave this one alone.

If you’re a church leader of the former crowd then definitely pick up this book! Steering Through Chaos will definitely help navigate through the changes that will take place in your church. From the get go author, Scott Wilson shares his heart and journey on the path to change. Scott shows the heart change he went through before he even thought about changing his church. In fact, Scott’s vision is based on how he’s aligned his heart with God’s.

Scott’s attention to story and the narrative of his own journey through change are what drew me into reading the book. It’s more than just a manual, it’s a journal of change. His book also includes discussion questions that would be extremely helpful if you are leading a staff, board, or key volunteers through a challenging change process.

Personally, this book is helping me right now as I am experiencing change in my ministry position. I’m excited about the future, but Scott’s book reminded me how to handle the change, and keep the chaos coming!

family resource

2010-03-16T16:20:00.003-04:00

i'm one of those people who get excited about stuff and just have to tell people about it. it's true. when something is really cool, or i just like it, i feel the need to tell people about it.

today, you will witness what i mean.

i had read on blogs about a storybook bible that was great for kids and families; naturally, i ordered it. well, today i received it in the mail and i am pretty pumped!

it's called...
the jesus storybook bible.
written by sally lloyd-jones
illustrated by jago
and it comes with audio of the entire book, narrated by david suchet

the book itself is pristine and sally lloyd-jones has taken some of the most well-known stories of the bible and condensed them into stories appropriate for 1st-3rd grade kids. her writing captures the stories, but also shows the heart of jesus. after all, the tag line of the book is, "every story whispers his name."

here is an excerpt from the first chapter...

"Now, some people think the Bible is a book of rules, telling you what you should and shouldn't do. The Bible certainly does have some rules in it. They show you how life works best. But the Bible isn't mainly about you and what you should be doing. It's about God and what he has done."

Right from the beginning I love her perspective on God and our relationship to Him.

The book is illustrated beautifully by an English artist named Jago. His illustrations are vivid and bring the stories we all know and love to life. he does a great job capturing them all.

another great feature is the three cd set of audio so kids can read along with their book. i listened to two stories today and was blown away by the interpretation. i loved it!

if you are interested in teaching these stories to your kids i would suggest ordering this resource from amazon!

just pick up the sharpie and go

2010-03-11T11:15:00.002-05:00

a blank page and some sharpies.
you can be terrified of them
or
you can feel liberated.

sometimes when people are given a blank slate or a fresh start is can be scary. maybe there is outside pressure, or internal expectations of perfection. or maybe they just don't want to get it wrong.

sometimes a blank sheet of paper and sharpies can feel liberating. it feels like you have the margin to dream. it might seem like there are endless possibilities.

today, no matter what tasks you have to do look at your day as an opportunity to dream, grow, and change. don't get fooled into thinking you have to live up to a standard, or you have to be perfect.

the world is waiting for you to be liberated.
just pick up the sharpie and go.

The Me I Want To Be

2010-03-09T16:14:00.004-05:00

We are in the middle of a series called, "The Me I Want To Be" based off of the book by John Ortberg. The series has been really really good so far. And this Sunday will be no exception! Dave D'Angelo is going to be bringing a powerful message. (I got to hear the preview today and it is outta this world. I only heard about the first 10 minutes, but it was very convicting.)

You won't want to miss this Sunday at NewPointe!

Here's the bumper video from this series - pretty cool.

Old School Poetry

2010-03-08T15:47:00.002-05:00

This poem was tucked away in the pages of a modern book about the changing church. Seriously, right in between talking about the "Google" generation and the transitioning church was this awesome poem. I thought it was awesome. Awesome enough to share.

The world, I thought, belonged to me –

Goods, gold and, people, land and sea –

Where’er I walked beneath God’s sky.

In those old days, my word was “I.”

Years passed: there flashed my pathway near

The fragment of a vision dear;

My former word no more sufficed,

And what I said was – “I and Christ.”

But, O, the more I looked on Him

His glory grew, while mine grew dim;

I shrank so small, He towered so high,

All I dared say was – “Christ and I.”

Years more the vision held its place

And looked me steadily in the face;

I speak now in a humbler tone,

And what I say is – “Christ alone.”

post-it notes...

2010-02-24T10:19:00.004-05:00

i have a pile on my desk. it sits to the left of my keyboard, by the pen cup, next to the phone. there is a small space that has become somewhat of a collection area for post-its. and sharpies. and gum. and movie tickets.

first, let me just say that i love post-it notes. i love the size. i love the stickiness. and i love the convenience. i just love them. i actually love all office supplies - truth be told.

anyways, post-it notes have become my recording system for quotes from friends, people i read, or verses that have an impact on me at a particular time. i write it down on the post-it, hang it up on my computer screen for awhile, and when the stickiness comes off and it won't stay up - it ends up in the pile, or the post-it graveyard as i'll call it.

the question is - what do i do with all these post-its? i mean, i can look through them all and think of specific times where they had an impact on my. i can read through the verses and i know what fears they were battling, or how god was using that on my heart. i can look at the quotes from friends and think about specific conversations we had. it's kind of like a time line of the past 2 years of my life.

sometimes i don't know what to do with the post-its. do i throw them away? do i file them somewhere? do i use pushpins and hang them all over my cube? but, i can't bring myself to hide them away just yet.

you know what i think? we all have post-it notes sitting around - maybe physically, but maybe more in our memory. maybe we we need to do is keep the post-it note stuck in our head somehow. maybe we need to find a way to capture the lessons and legacy left in the post-its.

after all, there was a reason they were written on that little yellow piece of paper in the first place.

believe 2010

2010-02-23T14:31:00.002-05:00

man, i'm still processing our msm retreat from feb 12-13 this month. believe in cincinnati, oh. how do you completely process taking 80 5th-8th graders and leaders to an event for msm students with thousands of other kids? how do you sort through a worshipful and visual experience with kids who are trying to figure out how to connect with god? i don't think i can completely process it all, but i do have a few thoughts...

-something happens when you take someone out of their normal routine and distractions.
-something happens when 80 msm students ride on a charter bus for 3 hours straight.
-something happens when 13 leaders are focused on building relationships with students.
-something happens when an area is full of students raising their hands to worship god.
-something happens when students are taught how to connect with their god.
-something happens when msm boys overtake a hotel room and leave their middle school funk.

what happens (except in the last one) is that god comes and changes people. god comes when we remove our distractions. god changes students and leaders when their focus is on building relationships with each other. students grow when they are taught how to connect with god through music.

god.shows.up.

Believe 2010...

2010-02-16T10:06:00.002-05:00

This past weekend we took 80 middle school students to Cincinnati for a conference called Believe. Seriously, it was an awesome experience. I want to write about it sometime, but I'm still processing through the weekend.

In the meantime, I put together an iMix on iTunes of all the songs we sang. If you're a student, or if you're a parent this is a great way to keep what you experienced. Download the music now!

If Only...

2010-02-10T13:30:00.001-05:00

When I was in school I was the chubby kid. Yep. It's true. The.Chubby.Kid. You know him. You know him for three reasons: 1.) You ARE the chubby kid. 2 .) You're friends with the chubby kid. or 3.) You make fun of the chubby kid. Everyone knows the chubby kid.

I really didn't like getting picked on; I mean, who actually enjoys that kind of attention? So, when I got to high school and got a little self confidence I promised myself I would never make fun of the chubby kid. I also promised myself that I would use my experience to make light of rough situations in life.

You know, as I look back on that experience I now realize I had two choices. 1.) I could've been mad at everyone who made fun of me and ignored them for the rest of high school. My defenses would be up and I would have walls around everyone and keep them at a distance. OR 2.) I can use my past to fuel my future and the choices I WILL make.

The Bible gives us great examples of people who used their past to fuel their future. One of my favorites is Saul. I mean, Paul. Well...read this and you'll figure out the confusion.

There was a guy named Saul who was the main man when it came to killing people. He was the best of the best in that department. And to make matters worse hit targets were all people who believed in, and followed the principles of Jesus. He was a great killer - oxymoron, huh? Anyways, one day he was traveling to a city called Damascus and God met him on the road. No, God didn't come in a bush this time and didn't use a talking donkey. Instead the sky opened up and a great light came down on him. In fact, the audible voice of God came out of the sky. Basically, God asked Saul why he would persecute the people the follow Jesus - and said when he persecuted Christians he was in turn persecuting God too. Saul was upset and maybe a little embarrassed - and when the heavens closed up and the voice went away - Saul was blind. His encounter with God on the road actually caused him to believe in Jesus and his blindness went away. Now, here comes the cool part...

Immediately after his blindness was gone he joined with the disciples in teaching about Jesus. IMMEDIATELY. His identity was so changed that he wanted a new name, so he changed hi name to Paul. Paul used his past identity as Saul to fuel his passion for teaching others about Jesus. In fact, Paul went on to author 13 books of the New Testament!

It's tempting for us to get caught up in our past regrets or past sins, but Jesus doesn't want that for us. Instead he wants us to have life - and life to the full. AND Jesus wants us to take our past and use it to fuel our passion for the future. You see, all of us have a "past" and we can use it to help others not make the same mistake, or not become bitter.

What is in your past that you can use to fuel your future?

love language...

2009-12-23T15:51:00.002-05:00

there's a language that we all speak whether we realize it or not. it's called love languages. a love language is the way you give love to others and the unique way you feel loved by the people around you. there are many ways you can give and receive love, but our quest in relationships is how to show and receive love well from the people around us. it's not always easy and it takes investigation and intentionality, but in the end it is definitely worth the effort.

the love languages are as follows...

physical touch
acts of service
quality/quantity time
words of affirmation
receiving gifts

(i think there should be something about food in there, but ya know...)

think about yourself...when do you feel most loved by the people around you? for me, i feel the most loved when i have someone's undivided attention. i feel loved when someone takes time out of their busy day to talk, or spend time together. it really doesn't have to be a huge chunk of time, but the more intentional the time is, the more i feel cared for.

although i love spending time with the people i love i feel most loving towards others when i get a gift. i don't know what it is about gift giving that does it for me, but it's seriously one of my favorite things in life. gift cards are great, but i love buying that special gift for someone. when i give a gift i want the person to know that i have thought through what i want to give and there is intention behind my purchase.

the love languages can radically change the relationships in your life - it's changed mine. i remember getting frustrated with people who would try to serve me, when all i really wanted was a conversation. i'm sure i have people in my life who wish i would not worry about buying the perfect gift, but show them love in their specific love language.

maybe this christmas the best gift you can give is the gift of understanding. with a little understanding and a little common ground we can learn to love and be loved even better.

for more information on the love languages check out "the five love languages" by gary chapman, or go to his website here.

hands on learner...

2009-12-16T14:59:00.005-05:00

the thermostat in my house stuck on 62 degrees about 3 weeks ago. wasn't a big deal until recently when the temps consistently dipped below 32 degrees. needless to say - it was chilly in the big old house. i mean, it's drafty anyways, but it was extra chilly.

yesterday the facilities director from newpointe came over and declared the thermostat dead. he offered to fix it, but i decided to tackle the project myself. yes, you heard right. matt beres. all alone. doing home improvement projects.

i was nervous. about the time this photo was taken the heat was leaving the house and i feared sleeping in 30 degree weather all night. but, i have to say - i successfully installed it all alone! i was pleased with myself.

i had no idea how to install a thermostat. i didn't even know where to begin until i decided to take it apart and get it done.

aren't our lives like that? i was thinking this morning how similar that is to my own life and spiritual growth. i mean, we all say that we want to grow as a leader, as a christ follower, as a (fill in the blank), but many times we are unwilling to have our lives sitting on the dining room table all torn apart fearing it won't be put back together how we want.

the most growth in my life has happened when something is going on in my life forcing me to change, not just sitting around reading about leadership, growth, etc. i think, deep down inside we are all hands on learners who need real life examples.

so, when you're sitting there with the parts and pieces of your life spread out all over the table just think about the growth that is going on in your life.

and don't worry - the heat will come back on.

christmas...

2009-12-08T18:27:00.000-05:00

with christmas comes the holiday commercials. i'll admit it. i'm a sucker for the touching hallmark holiday commercials, but this year a set of commercials really got under my skin. the target lady. did you see her? she was crazy. and seriously, the more i watched her, the more annoyed it became...until i saw this commercial.

i laughed out loud the first time - ask my sister.

fourscore and seven i have a dreams ago...

2009-11-13T12:24:00.002-05:00

one of my goals the past couple of months has been to grow in the area of communication. i've always admired actors and speakers for the way they can craft words and emotions to encourage people to move. the world uses speaking and acting for entertainment - not a bad thing. but, as a steward of god how can these talents be used for him? the question: how can you use speaking and communicating to encourage people to move towards life change?

Woah...

2009-11-05T08:22:00.001-05:00

rainy day...

2009-10-31T13:13:00.002-04:00

today i had plans. i had plans to get alot done, which i still could. but, when i woke up and saw the rain and found myself surrounded by good friends many of my tasks got put on hold. real value comes in the relationships we have with each other.

our culture places priority on wealth and success in our tasks. but, really, at the end of the day what matters more is the impact you are leaving on the lives' of the people you bump into every day. your spouse. your kids. your family. your close friends. the people you work with. the people who scan your groceries.

so, today. on this rainy day. no matter what you have planned. no matter what tasks you need to get done. take some time out for the people in your life. the little people. the big people. the people you haven't connected with in awhile.

after all, the only thing that will last past our time here on earth is the relationships we've had with each other.

Improv Everywhere

2009-10-23T20:40:00.000-04:00

I dig Improv Everywhere. They are creative. Witty. Funny. And, oh so random.

Check out their latest - Grocery Store Musical.

Fall in Holmes County Ohio

2009-10-23T08:46:00.001-04:00

life is short

2009-10-12T15:02:00.003-04:00

today i had a new, surreal experience. a student at garaway hs died in a car accident yesterday, so i went to the school today to talk and pray with students. it was really good to be there for students, hear what they were thinking, and just give a few hugs. it was good. but, it was really weird.

when a kid dies there aren't always answers.
when someone passes away everyone processes it differently.
when you lose someone close your emotions run wild.

it's good to grieve, but it feels weird when you need to get back to normal life. i encouraged the students today not to go back to normal life, but pick one thing they want to change about themselves.

what about you? in light of death and the reality of life what is something you need to change?

i never want to miss opportunities to show people how much i care about and love them. yet, the busyness of life and petty things get in the way of doing my goal. today, be intentional about showing people around you that you care.

Group Life Conference

2009-10-12T10:31:00.003-04:00

If you serve in small group ministries here at NewPointe we want to invite you to a one-day training event on Saturday, October 24th from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm. The event will be held here at NewPointe, and will feature some of the best communicators in the country. We'll even have time to break down the material together so we can directly relate it to the area in which we are serving. More details are available at the link below.

You won't want to miss it!

Click this link to register online!

bohemian act...

2009-09-19T09:29:00.003-04:00

started a good book this morning. you know - a book. it has crisp pages. clean white margins. it's like facebook - except with purpose. and you have to think when you read it.

a thousand miles in a million years by donald miller is on deck this morning. if you've never read him check out blue like jazz, then searching for god knows what, then catch up to his latest. this book is great so far. his honesty is refreshing and gives me an honest belly laugh - like facebook profile pictures.

it's funny to think about the way we portray ourselves in our work and every day life. so many of us try to be the upstanding leader who is unshaken. donald miller, like many of us, tried the mysterious, dark and unaffected bohemian act. or maybe we throw ourselves into work avoiding relationships - knowingly or unknowingly. i'll admit it - i've tried all of these at times.

there is something real and almost beautiful when you sit across from someone and they strip off the mask, exposing their weaknesses and insecurities. when the bohemian act is off real relationships can turn on.

maybe you are hiding. fearing that your weaknesses being exposed will make you look...well, weak. jesus blows this myth out of the water. in fact, so many things about following christ are counterintuitive. the first shall be last. love your enemies. pray for people who curse you. losing life will give life. exposing weakness makes you stronger.

put off the bohemian act and get real...

I Gotta Feelin'

2009-09-15T09:09:00.004-04:00

read a post by Carlos Whittaker this morning called, "What The Church Can Learn From The Black Eyed Peas."

carlos says, "I believe this video annihilates the idea that people want to show up to an event (church) and stand in rows and be sung and talked to.
Safety is overrated.
People want to be a part of something big."

i totally agree.

check this out...

Campus Launch

2009-09-14T15:00:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was a big day for NewPointe. We launched two brand new campuses on the same day! It's been exciting to see what God is doing in both Millersburg and Louisville Ohio!

Nothing but the best...

2009-08-05T22:11:00.004-04:00

My high school career was spent between the music wing, yearbook office, and the theatre of Stow High School. The bulk of time was most definitely spent in rehearsals for plays and musicals. At this stage in my life I had natural abilities that the directors saw and used. One director pulled more out of me than I ever expected. Mr. Putka.

Mr. Putka was an extremely talented artist. He had the ability to paint three dimensional bricks or siding on a piece of plywood. He was able to make a paper mache sculpture look as though it was made out of Italian marble. His voice was roaring, but he knew how to use it to calm and soothe or fill a 600 seat auditorium.

Students at our school fought to get into Putka's plays. He did good shows, yes. But, the real win was the opportunity to work with him. My junior year I had the chance. I was cast in "Look Homeward, Angel" in a lead role. I was estatic. Being a lead role you spent more time with Putka. He gave you deeper feedback. You really had the chance to learn.

So, we started practices and I was doing great. I had most of my lines memorized. I had the blocking down. I knew my Southern accent. I had my movements and characterization perfected. Then - it happened.

One night in practice Putka drilled down on me in front of the entire cast. He picked apart my blocking. He challenged my accent. He questioned my choices of movements and characterization. I was crushed. I thought I was doing everything so well - what went wrong. As I sat there in front of the cast my chin started quivering and a few tears just rolled down my cheeks.

After practice that night Putka pulled me aside and explained our interaction. He explained how much he cared for me and how he wanted me to succeed. He unpacked the potential he saw in me as an actor and a leader. Putka said I was doing great, but he knew there was so much more in me I hadn't given. That night something changed. I grew as an actor, leader, and as a person.

As we go through life we are constantly changing and growing. If you're lucky - like me - you have people in your life who are genuinely interested in you as a person and want you to grow. It's our job to give people permission to speak into our lives and really make changes. Even when we sit there with chins quivering and tears rolling down our cheeks we can know that we're being pushed to change and grow because someone sees something in us that we haven't seen ourselves. It's painful to hear that we aren't reaching our potential or we're doing something to stunt our growth, but when that's said in love and genuine interest we can rest assured that our best is waiting on the other side of the hurt.

Putka had a saying. True then - true today...

"Nothing but the best and no regrets."

I want to live my life offering the best I know how and looking back witout regrets.

no hitter

2009-07-24T08:09:00.004-04:00

top story on sports center this morning? mark buehrle, a pitcher for the chicago white sox who pitched a no hitter last night. what a cool thing to watch...

for those of you who don't know what a no hitter is, here's the brief in matt beres terms...the pitches that go across the plate never get a guy on base. they can be strike outs, fly balls, or grounders that get a man out on first. (sorry if this isn't the correct, technical definition)

so, i sat down this morning and watched the story and heard all about mark buehrle and his perfect game. honestly, he did a great job. great pitching. but, to me what really shone was how the team backed him up. the highlight reel showed that the entire team had a part in this amazing game.

amazing play: a batter was up and hit what looked like a home run. enter, dwayne wise. dwayne went right for the ball and jumped the wall for the out. amazing play.

you know, as i turned on the tv i thought mark buehrle was THE MAN. but, as i watched the story more closely i realized that this victory involved more than just mark. in fact, the entire team played an amazing defensive game. everyone did their part to catch the flys. get runners out. and scurry for the grounders.

in life one person usually gets the headline stories. whoever is spearheading the project, being the point person, or leading the efforts. but, look closely, because usually there is a team of people behind the scenes helping the leader do what he needs to do. sometimes guys like dewayne wise get recognized and sometimes they don't. either way it was an amazing play.

if you're on a team - remember to make your leader shine. make your buehrle shine. help others see his efforts and leadership.
if you're a leader - don't forget that there is a team of people helping you do what you need to do. in fact, there may be a dewayne wise backing you up.

the prodigal...god?

2009-07-20T21:26:00.002-04:00

one of my favorite stories of the bible is "the prodigal son." we all know and love the story because something in us is moved by the unconditional love of the father. for years i have identified with the younger son and have been compelled by the father's unwavering and consistent love for his son.

people have been talking about this book called "the prodigal god" by tim keller. i love the story. really appreciate keller's verbal communication. so, i picked up a copy at amazon.com. (they aren't paying me to say that - believe me...)

started reading it tonight and made it through the introduction and first chapter. meaty.

so, here's what i'm sayin...(really what keller's sayin...)

first, i was intrigued by the title of the book. "the prodigal god" naturally, your mind starts thinking about god leaving us and coming back or god rejecting our relationship with him. keller enlightens the word prodigal to mean, "profuse or wasteful expenditure; recklessly spendthrift." in essence, our god is prodigal in his grace for us.

second, it's unfair for us to call the story the prodigal son. really, there are three characters in the story and if you look at the audience he's speaking to people who identify with the older brother instead of the younger brother.

i don't know if this makes sense to anyone, but the book is already awesome. it's causing me to think...

who do you identify with in this story?
the younger brother or the older brother?

i think i can see myself in both brothers at different periods in my life.

just something to think about...

contract vs. covenant

2009-07-18T11:21:00.002-04:00

how do we view the relationships in our life? do we view them more as contracts or covenants?

in relationships you can live by a contract - which says, "you do this for me, i do that for you."
or you can live by a covenant - which says, "i am committed to you no matter what."

it's easy to live by contracts with people. we can make up check lists in our heads and check off the boxes that meet expectations. when expectations aren't met we feel validated for your reactions and frustrations. when the list is consistently unmet we walk away from the relationship all together. the relationship is entirely focused on self and selfish needs.

a covenant relationship is much harder. covenant relationships are based on commitments. a relationship based on covenant makes the choice to love even when it's hard. when the other person isn't reacting the way we'd like - we don't give up. when things change or we feel like the relationship is unsettling, we plow through and show love anyways. we give the other person space to do what they need to do and become who they need to become. the relationship isn't about us at all.

think about the relationships in your life.
contract relationships come and go. they are easy to form. they hold value - yes, but based on what?
covenant relationships are hard to come by. they might feel uneasy at times, but you both know you're committed to the other person's good.

don't take the easy way out. do work in the relationships god has put in your life.

someone like nancy

2009-06-04T10:01:00.003-04:00

part of my job here at newpointe is to lead small groups for students. i love it. seriously, the meetings with our small group leaders are one of the highlights of my job. it's so cool to see our small group leaders get involved in the lives' of students and really help them grow in their relationship with god and each other.

one of our small group leaders, nancy bell, has been involved with student ministries for awhile - long before i got here. she's been so faithful in loving her girls and walking with them through hard times in their lives. in the last year her group has gone through some pretty serious and heavy life changes and she's been right there with the girls. nancy embodies what we expect out of small group leaders. she loves the girls, relates to them well, spends time with them, and ultimately points them to jesus.

i could go on, but there are some people who can say it better than me...

Someone Like Nancy from NewPointe Community Church on Vimeo.

tell the story...

2009-05-20T14:32:00.002-04:00

i'll admit it...i love a good story. i do. it doesn't really matter how it's packaged, just give me something compelling that speaks to my humor or heart.

Law & Order.
30 Rock.
Extreme Home Makeover.
Everybody Loves Raymond.
Friends.
The Office.

all of these tell a story with the goal of making you laugh, cry, change the way you view the world, or just help you suspend belief for awhile.

the church has similar goals. we want people to change the way they view the world or view themselves. we even want people to be compelled enough to tweak their behavior.

if you look at jesus you notice that he usually taught in stories, parables, and real life examples. jesus used the power of a good story to get to the heart of those who were listening. he used compelling examples that spoke to the lives of every person. in the end - he was successful at helping people change their views and behaviors.

as a church we need to be
vivid storytellers who paint scenes
not
sterile communicators who transfer knowledge.

what's gettin me excited...

2009-04-23T16:38:00.002-04:00

these are exciting and crazy times here at newpointe.

god is showing up in a huge way. he's changing people's lives and letting them experience community like they've never know.

heck, god's changing my life and teaching me more about community every day...

check this...
easter sunday was a huge day at newpointe.
the halls were packed.

also, this sunday 11 people are getting baptized! how exciting is that?
some of the staff got a little preview this afternoon...
you won't want to miss baptisms this sunday...

there's nothing better than being a part of life change.

books and movies...

2009-04-13T16:42:00.002-04:00

you've heard the saying "don't judge a book by it's cover..." but do we really live life giving others the freedom to be who God intended them to be? i don't. sometimes i fall into the trap of looking at someone and assuming they will act a certain way, say a certain phrase, or look at life in a certain way.

we all know it's wrong to judge people in this way.
sometimes our assumptions are right.
sometimes are assumptions are dead wrong.

i love when my assumptions are blown out of the water.

check this video to watch your initial assumptions get blown out of the water...

use it or lose it...

2009-03-26T14:24:00.002-04:00

have you ever seen those assessment tests? you know, those quizzes where you answer questions to find out what you're going to be when you grow up. how about the test you take to find out what spiritual gifts you have? or how about the quiz on facebook to determine which "Friends" character you are? okay, maybe not the last one...

now, i'm not dissing those quizzes because they can be very helpful. i mean, i took them when i was younger and some actually helped me see things in myself i hadn't before. but, i think sometimes we spend so much time taking the tests and quizzes about ourselves that we actually miss out on living and serving.

want to know how i really found out about myself? want to know my secret? i DID something. i got in the game. i learned more about my giftedness and my serving abilities while i was actually serving. i learned more about my personal goals and passions while i was doing something - anything - even if it wasn't the ideal.

you want my advice? if you want to know what God wants you to do; if you want to figure out how you're gifted - start doing something. seriously, stop analyzing and evaluating and start serving.

it's when we're in motion that God can use us - danger comes in stagnant living.

friends...

2009-03-20T13:55:00.002-04:00

gonna continue with the fans vs. friends topic.

most people like the fans - and they get the friends and fans confused, i do too. fans come and go. they swoop in your life and tell you want you want or need to hear - and do it with boldness. after all, they have nothing to lose. we admire their courage, but they are risking nothing.

a friend gives you advice or a kick in the pants, but they are slow to speak and quick to listen. quick to listen - slow to speak. you see, when you're a true friend you are doing life with someone. relationship must move from professional to personal. you know their other person's personality and still like them. sometimes you hurt each other, but at the end of the day you'd do anything for the other person.

i don't want to be a swooper. i don't want to come into someone's life like a tornado and tell them truth, give them advice, mess them up and leave. i'm in it for the long haul people.

doing life together is hard.

think about this - are you giving more time and trust to the swoopers?
or - are you looking to the friends to do life with you?

in a lifetime you'll have hundreds of fans, but the friendships are what will really matter.

fans and friends

2009-03-18T16:04:00.003-04:00

read a great blog this week by steven furtick about the difference between a fan and a friend. have you ever heard of this? he combined a bunch of teachings he's heard in his blog post. i've been thinking about it and thought i would share.

whenever you're in a position in the public eye - leading an organization, working at a church, involved in the community, etc... - you have two types of people in your life. fans and friends.

a fan is someone who is there for you. fans love to be around you because of the energy you bring. they love you because you both love the same things - and the minute they find someone else who loves the same things, but they can be with them at a limited personal expense - they are gone.

a friend is someone who is there with you. a friend is someone who is doing life with you. friends celebrate with you in your success - but more importantly they are with you in times of defeat. a friend knows you in a real way and they still like you. when the charisma and the energy wear off they are still there - and it seems like there is nothing you can do to run them off. they are committed.

man, we all need more friends in our lives. sometimes it seems we give more attention to the fans because of the way they make us feel. the fans make us feel like we add value. but, we all really need to pay more attention to the friends in our lives. we really need to work hard to prioritize the people in our lives who are willing to walk along with us through the ups and downs of life.

fans aren't bad. they can help you and encourage you, but in the course of a lifetime fans will come and go - friends will always be there, no matter how hard it gets or how hard you push.

2009-03-09T11:59:00.001-04:00

Check it.

a few things...

2009-02-26T16:39:00.003-05:00

just a few things before i leave the office for the weekend...

-my mind hurts. i have been thinking really hard this past week. it's been really good, but it's tiring.
-i love newpointe. we are growing and we have to add another service! exciting!
-i am surrounded by great leaders. dave, kevin, dwight...all great leaders.
-this week i was reminded of god's love for me. if you believe it and live it your life will change.
-a good friend reminded me to find my confidence in god - and nothing else. good reminder.

it's been a big week and i am tired, but it's a good tired.

voices carry...

2009-02-02T16:50:00.002-05:00

when we go through certain circumstances and situations in our lives we often turn to family, friends, and coworkers to give us some advice or encouragement. if you're anything like me you realize that God uses these people in a great way to guide us towards decisions or give us wise words. many times people offer us advice that - while good intentioned - can leave us confused, or take us down a path we never intended to go. on the other hand there are people who consistently offer good advice that is logical, Godly, and wise.

here's the important part. make sure that the voices you listen to are pointing you to the character of God, giving you wisdom, and have good intentions. sometimes there can be so many voices coming at you that you are confused, but you need to choose which voices are louder. it is up to you to make sure the people who you love, trust, and know are pointing you to God drown out the voices that speak in haste or plant thoughts you know aren't wise.

someone asked me today, out of all the voices you hear 1. who's is the loudest 2. and who's are you choosing to believe.

people are always ready to give you their two cents, but remember to turn up the voices that speak God into your life, then believe that what they say is true.

after all, voices carry.

a good problem...

2009-02-02T12:08:00.002-05:00

man, i just got out of a meeting with the operations team here at newpointe. wanna know what we talked about for two hours? growth. you see, here at newpointe we are running out of parking and space for people and we have to come up with solutions to these problems.

i got up to go to the bathroom during the meeting (maybe that's tmi) and while i was walking i was thinking how great this discussion really is...you see, we aren't getting heated about the color of the curtains or what kind of chairs we should buy. instead, this group of 13 people were getting animated and passionate about finding a solution so more people can experience jesus in a real way.

it is so good to be a part of newpointe and what God is doing!

what I do...

2009-01-29T16:25:00.002-05:00

maybe you don't know what i do. maybe you have no idea what someone in youth ministry does through the week. well, john bunn from http://www.johnbunn.net/ was walking by my office the other day and thought the books and materials i've been reading looked funny. he thought it would be funny to put a picture of it on his blog, but never got to it. so, i thought i would give you a little insight into what i do through the week AND what we will be studying in HSM (high school ministries) the entire month of february.

where the heart is...

2009-01-12T13:12:00.002-05:00

okay, so we've all been there before. you know, the place where you're really frustrated with someone. you may or may not have to interact with them often, but you find yourself constantly frustrated with this person. you might have to work in teams with them, or you might just bump into them every once in awhile. they might be under your authority - or you might be under theirs. either way, we've all been there. we've been frustrated with someone.

think about this - when you know someone's heart it is easier to "deal" with them.

when you know someone's heart it helps you understand why they do the things they do.

when you understand someone's heart who is misunderstood - you can understand why they say the things they say.

when you get to know someone's heart you have insight as to why they view the world the way they do.

when you know someone's heart you realize that they are just as messed up and broken as you are.

here's the challenge - most likely there is someone in your life who you are frustrated with or just don't understand. my take - get to know their heart, it will drastically change your perspective.

eph 1:11-12

2009-01-06T08:55:00.002-05:00

this past summer i read the book of ephesians. it's an amazing book, and it seemed like the verses were punching me in the gut as i read them. have you ever felt like that? you're reading the bible and the verses and the truth in the words just hits you so hard. this summer ephesians was like that for me.

last night i was re-reading ephesians and these two verses just jumped out at me...thought i would share...

it's
IN CHRIST
that we find out
WHO we are
and
WHAT we're living for.
Long before we first heard of Christ and
got our hopes up,
HE HAD HIS EYE ON US,
had
DESIGNS ON US
for
GLORIOUS LIVING,
part of the
Overall purpose
HE
is working out in
Everything
and
Everyone.

ephesians 1:11-12

here's what i'm saying...

everyone wants to find out who they really are. teens, college aged people, and adults. everyone. we are on this journey to find out who we are, how we're gifted, and how god can use us. so, we go on this search. we take tests. we read books. we consult our friends. we look to our family. seek validation from the people who know us best. we go to great lengths to find out who we really are, don't we? but, the bible is pretty clear that we can find out who we are and our purpose in the person of jesus christ. crazy, huh? you want to find out why you were created and how you're wired? look to jesus.

lastly, god has an overall purpose for our lives. in fact, it says god has an overall purpose that he is working out in everything and everyone. many times we get frustrated with our situations, or we get frustrated with the way people respond or treat us. why? why do we get so upset? i think it's a problem of perspective. when you realize that god's overall purpose is to grow you and the people around you more like him you can take everything in strides. when you recognize that the person you are frustrated with is on the same journey in their faith as you - you give more grace. when you realize that your current circumstances are in your life to draw you closer to jesus and make yourself more like him - you can have peace. when you understand that god is still working in your heart and life - you don't have to keep striving and grasping.

when you understand who is in control
and
everything happens for a greater purpose
you can
live at peace with yourself, your circumstances, and other people.

"Matt is so upset at this one person in this one town for that one thing..."

2009-01-05T16:20:00.003-05:00

the past couple weeks have been busy, yes. watch me acknowledge christmas and the new year. yay. it's 2009 - acknowledged.

here's what i'm saying today...

over the past few weeks i've been talking to people about this facebook status thing/twitter messages. it seems as though there is this misuse of both feeds to passive-aggressively send messages to people who may have hurt or upset each other. oh yes - this has been happening since the beggining of facebook. i, too remember the days of yore when i was in college and someone would write not-so-subliminal messages to each other using their facebook or other online venting device.

here's the bottom line. all of us need to get better at conflict. nothing is accomplished with passive aggressive messages or rude glances. no problem has ever really been resolved in the virtual world without direct contact.

have i been a culprit of this? of course.
do i see how hurtful this can be? definitely

this past year my good friend dave has really been teaching me how to approach conflict. i usually choose to run from these feelings and emotions and just "ride the wave" of conflict, but in the end nothing is resolved. usually what happens is most of us stuff the feelings for awhile untill the conflict comes up again and we start over with the vicious cycle - resolving nothing.

moral of the story? don't be passive aggressive - be direct. this is the only way to change and grow.

ps - if you think every status update or twitter feed is about you...get over yourself.

christmas post

2008-12-23T16:42:00.002-05:00

i'm actually not going to do a christmas post. i see it more as an obligation right now - and to be honest, i don't have anything to say about christmas. wait. i will say that christmas eve at newpointe is going to be off the chain! unbelieveable! strong! just plain awesome! that's all i have to say about that...

it's all about your motives. did you get that? ALL about your motives.

so many things you can say.
so many things you can do.
so many talents you can show.
so many ways you can act.

but, at the end of the day it's all about your motives. someone said to me this week that at the end of they day they have to be able to live with themselves and sleep easy at night. wow.

it's all about your motives.

adjusting and aligning your motives is an act, not something that just happens. it seems to me that when you don't take an active approach to your motives you usually don't have good intentions. think about it - if you are not deliberately doing something for the right reasons then why do it?

just thinking out loud - let's keep this just between us...

the real pictures...

2008-12-15T16:16:00.006-05:00

got some of the more "professional" pictures from leeann today. there are some cool shots. best has to be kevin getting his head powdered...

lights, camera, action!

2008-12-11T15:06:00.007-05:00

this morning i was able to do something very, very cool. i had the opportunity (scottish emphasis for dave) to be on a local cable tv show. it's true. i filmed a segment for amish country living, hosted by my friend leeann miller. she asked me and kevin west to come on and do a show that will air the week before the superbowl. so, we decided to have a "dip-off." i made some spicy buffalo wing dip and kevin made his personal version of guacamole. so cool.

leeann has a great production team who come in early and literally turn her kitchen into a tv set. she has great people working on it. look for it on http://www.amishcountryliving.com/.

after my segment was done...

kevin - getting his makeup done by jenny bunn. kevin was the first guest in the history of the show to have his head powdered! whoop!

random

2008-12-09T18:37:00.003-05:00

my buddy dave has inspired me to be more frequent and less "deep" in my posts. now, don't get me wrong - i love the deep, but the frequent is important. i don't have a ton to say right now, so i'll just give you some snippets...

-chicken wings are the real deal...especially at Hog Heaven. now, i know there are differing opinions about the best wings in T-County, but so far Hog Heaven is my pick.
-dave's new hat reminds me of gavin degraw, not someone in the navy. ha.
-being who you are is better than trying to be something that you're not. always. (that was verging on deep, but i'll spare you.)
-twitter is fun. i mean, how else would i know if dave mast was here all night working on the exchange server (whatever that is) and what kevin west ate for lunch today (baked potato and chili)?
-getting ready to go to aqua (our college age experience). gotta love the aqua peeps.

so, there's a little peek into what's going on in my world, but let's keep this just between us...k?

what a ditch

2008-12-08T12:30:00.004-05:00

man, god has been rocking my face off with the topic of love. i don't know why this has become such a big theme over the past couple of weeks, but i guess you never really reach the "arrival" state of loving people around you.

two big thoughts on love for you today...

1. my good friend leeann shared a thought with me the other day that was really profound. have you read the story of the good samaritan? (luke 10:25-37) if you haven't read it you should. seriously, one of my top stories - right up there with the prodigal son.

i am really trying to grow my love for people. i mean, true love. not some expressive, distanced, safe love - but true, messy, up close and personal love. when we are in true community and true love with others we get to see their stuff and they ours. it's pretty ugly. often, we try to rate and judge people based on their baggage to see if they are worthy of our love, but god calls us to something so much bigger and deeper than that.

look at the story of the good samaritan. if you haven't read it in awhile - take a moment right now to look up luke 10:25-37. now, think about this. there was this man laying in a ditch. all the religious people passed by his beaten, bloody body. they didn't get close - in fact they didn't even get close enough to know what happened. instead, they just walked by.
along came the good samaritan (the hero). he looked at the man, had love for him, and helped him.

he didn't ask questions about his past.
didn't question how he got there.
didn't wonder if he was making right decisions.
wasn't worried about being taken advantage of.

he just loved.

the good samaritan knew that god's calling for him was to love. period.

so, he picked up the man, took him to an inn, and paid for him to recover.

the end.

2. 7

the average dating time in america is 7 months. now, i got this from wikipedia, so i don't know how credible it is, but it will help my point so i'm going to use it.

7 months. 7 months is fun. when you think about it 7 months is just enough time to get to know someone's likes and dislikes, their interests, their basic personality. but, after 7 months you know. you know most of the surface things about a person after 7 months. you start seeing flaws and having to work through relational conflicts. it gets rough. so, the temptation is to break it off. it's old, stale and boring. i've heard people say, "it's just not fun anymore..." or "it's just too much work."

true love and true community lasts longer than 7 months. at 7 months the "excitement" is gone. you know how people will react. you know basic knowledge about them. the temptation is to move on when the going gets tough.

it is easier to start a new relationship than work on the one in front of you...

isn't it true? it's easier to find new friends - more exciting.
it's easier to have an affair and get remarried again - more intrigue.

so what? here's what i'm thinking...keep working on the relationships god has put in your life - they are there for a reason. don't give up.

work on your marriage.
work on your friendships.
work on your relationships.

don't let 7 months become a relational pattern for you. if you do - you'll find yourself lonely and unknown by those closest around yu.

love well.

2008-11-20T08:41:00.004-05:00

how well do you love? i've been thinking about this lately - what is love, what does it look like, how do we show it, etc...

i'm going out on a limb to say that most of us don't spend enough time thinking about how we can love our family and friends well. love is not a passive action of just being "nice" - love is an aggressive action that requires knowledge, action, and sacrifice.

people don't usually feel loved by small talk and smiles - there's more to it than that. it takes knowing someone; knowing what makes them excited or upset, knowing when they need compassion, knowing when they need some space, etc...

i stumbled onto this article in a magazine. it's a short one...

we feel free to pick and choose how we express our love, based largely on what seems loving to us. we even use "personality types" to rationalize not doing what love should do. we selectively express our love - mostly based on the way we like to be loved. shouldn't we be dedicated to finding the most meaningful, powerful ways to love others?
on the receiving end, do people have to guess what we mean when we show love, or are we clearly demonstrating what's on our heart? god's love is continual, unconditional and obvious. he goes out of his way to be sure we recognize that he loves us. are we loving god - and others - like that?
loving people should be like scattering seed. as our love falls on others, they shouldn't be left wondering what we are feeling or thinking. we should be so "on target" and so expressive that we leave no doubt. after all, that's the way god so loved the world, isn't it?

my challenge - don't leave your love and appreciation for those closest to you a mystery. love is an action - do it!

the devil went down to newpointe...

2008-11-19T09:50:00.008-05:00

rumors have it that the devil came to newpointe on sunday. . .

(click to enlarge)

My stages of growth right now...

2008-11-17T12:04:00.005-05:00

Craig Groeschel did an amazing talk at Catalyst about the stages that we usually go through when growing. . . Here they are. . .

1. Stretch Me.

"There is always more you can give. Don't let anyone talk you out of your calling or discourage you in the work you're set out to do."

I've been stretched in unbelievable ways over the past couple of months. God has asked me to do things that I wouldn't have chosen by myself. Being stretched is painful, but good.

2. Heal Me.

"Heal me from my addictions, people pleasing, adrenaline rushes, hunger for progress. Caring more about what people think than what God thinks. People pleasing = Idolatry."

It is easy to look at others and point out the ways they need healing, but what about me? God is healing me of things I didn't even know needed work. Being stretched reveals areas in your life you may have never thought you needed healing.

Healing leaves scars - and that's okay.

3. Ruin Me.

"Are you allowing yourself to be ruined by God, or are you trying not to become a part of the ruining process? Don't be satisfied with superficial relationships - it keeps ruining and healing at bay."

Just when you're excited about your healing it seems like God shows you other areas where you need ruining. Pride. Critical Attitudes. Avoiding Community. Etc.

Growing is a process and never ending cycle of stretching, healing, and ruining.

what i'm watching...

2008-11-04T10:39:00.002-05:00

New Creation from Pace Hartfield on Vimeo.

that's "nice"

2008-10-23T11:04:00.002-04:00

nice is the enemy of passion.

i was taught from the time i was a little boy to be a nice boy. people would tell my parents, "oh, matthew is such a 'nice' boy!" my teachers would write, "he's such a 'nice' kid." friends have often described me as being, "a 'nice' guy." really? is that it?

society and the church have done me a disservice. i'll admit it. i'm nice.
i am a nice guy.
i do nice things.
i say nice words.
i act nice.

nice is the enemy of passion. i don't want to just be known as a "nice" person. honestly, look at history. what "nice" person in history changed the world, or called people to something bigger than themselves? what "nice" person really did something big in life?

nice is the enemy of passion. you see, christians have been told to be nice. we've been told we should turn the other cheek and not make relational ripples, but the problem is we become passive instead of passionate.

we compromise what is right for what feels right.
we keep our mouths shut when we see a need for change.
we become relational doormats that don't ruffle feathers.

so, how do we change this? how do we take our "nice" little lives and change them so they become more passionate? here's what i'm thinking - live with intention.

nice is passive.
passion is intentional.

when i love - i want it to be intentional and sacrifical.
when i show compassion - i want to be broken and affected.
when i challenge people - i want to call them to something bigger than themselves.
when i speak up - i want to change people's thinking and maybe upset them in the process.
when i speak encouragement - i want it to be full of truth.
when i see sin - i want it to be black and white.

i'm tired of being nice. nice never gets you anywhere. at the end of my life i don't want someone to say, "matt beres was such a nice guy." instead, i'd rather have someone say, "matt beres lived every day with passion."

there's a huge difference.

new show...

2008-10-20T15:47:00.002-04:00

so, i don't usually watch dancing with the stars, but with these two new contestants i just might start...

(click to enlarge)

like drinking from a fire hose...

2008-10-14T09:47:00.005-04:00

went to catalyst conference last week in atlanta, ga. if you've never been, or you've never heard of catalyst you are missing out. seriously, the best conference i've ever been to.

catalyst has a history of famous, amazing speakers that give their thoughts to church leaders. maybe you've heard of andy stanley, john maxwell, franklin graham, or erwin mcmannus. these guys are amazing and have definitely helped shape the church. they have a ton of insight and they have great ideas to share.

this was my first time to catalyst and i noticed something neat. they are getting more and more young speakers. you know, people like me. about 1/4 of the speakers were under the age of 35 and they are doing amazing things in the church. i was challenged.

during steven furtick and matt chandler's talks (both young guys pastoring churches) i felt the burden of leading. i mean, i am the future of the church. people my age.

funny thing is...andy stanley bluntly said this idea in his final talk. he basically said that if you are over 45 it is your job to move out of the way and mentor and cultivate the younger leaders in your church. wow. that's huge.

needless to say catalyst had a huge impact on me. i'm just starting to unpack it all, but it's gonna be good.

spiritual friendship...

2008-10-07T09:16:00.002-04:00

i listened to a message by tim keller yesterday. it is significant - significant enough to blog about it...

a good talk - with good purpose.

the gospel doesn't only send you deeper into the heart of god, but it also sends you deeper into the heart of each other. you see, as christians we have (should have) a deep desire for relationship, or connection with each other. many times we try to deny this because it's too hard, too vulnerable, takes too much work, or you don't want to come across as needy. in reality, the need for each other and the desire to connect is a sign of spiritual health. if you're content to live on your own little island and not get messy in relationship with anyone there is a real, serious, spiritual problem.

i mean, think about it. in the beginning god created adam. adam had the most intensive devotional/quiet time with god, but for some reason god saw this as a problem. there was a real problem when adam only connected with god. so, god made eve. interesting, huh?

according to keller; friendship love is the hardest love to create and maintain. why? because there are no sociological or biological pressures - you can just walk away at any time. you see, you will forever be connected to your family through biology and our cultural family structures. you will forever be connected to your significant other because of hormones and biology. but, a friend is someone in which there is little to no pressure to connect.

why is friendship so hard? well, to be a good, deep friend it takes sharing. sharing a few important things in your life.
things. money, food, home, etc...
experiences. shared stories and experiences.
time. sacrifice an amount of time to invest in each other.
emotions. you have to share what you are feeling.
common interest. keller proposes that this is christ.
shared decisions. this is the decisions you make in your life that are important. exhortation - pressuring and pushing each other to grow.

bottom line. friendship is based on two people with the same goal in mind. spiritual friendship is based on two people worshipping the same lord.

how are you doing in the friendship area? we need each other. we were designed to need each other. are you allowing people to speak into your life and be deep friends?

pacing and leading

2008-10-01T13:18:00.002-04:00

i'm reading up for a meeting i am running tonight. we're talking about pacing, then leading with teens (and each other). point being that it is easy for us to get close to teens (and each other), but the issue usually comes when we know we should challenge others.

listen to this...

"when we face challenges and struggles bigger than we are it matters less who is cheering for us in the distance and matters most who is alongside us in the midst of the battle."

phew! if you know me you'll understand this... for too long i've worried about, given attention to, and prioritized the people cheering for me in the distance always assuming the closer people would be there when i needed them. lately i've given more thought to the people who are already running alongside me. i've been trusting them more and letting them have insight into my battles.

we really can't worry about all the people who are cheering for us in the distance. sure, it makes us feel good about ourselves and might give us a boost of encouragement every once in awhile, but really we need to cherish and value the people who have been - and will continue to be - alongside us in the battle. they are the people we should allow speak into our lives. they are the ones who should get our three hour blocks of time. they are the people who should get our affection. they are the ones who become a part of our family. it is all about priorities people.

30 days to live...

2008-09-29T16:43:00.002-04:00

so, if you're not at newpointe here's an update. two weeks ago we started a series called one month to live that challenges us all to live like we were dying. well, today a pretty cool thing happened...

someone loved me and spoke into my life. they said things that were deep, vulnerable, and open - as if they were dying. the time they carved out for me was a sacrifice. the things they said were encouraging. they told me how they felt about me.

have you ever been loved like that? humbling - to say the least.

my commute...

2008-09-24T09:00:00.005-04:00

yeah, i have a commute now. i moved to phila this weekend, so now i drive 13 minutes to work instead of 45 seconds. honestly, i enjoy the commute. gives me time to think and get my brain wrapped around my day.

my commute thoughts today were about answered prayers. check this out.

1. prayed for traveling opportunities - internship in australia.
2. prayed god would take me to an awesome job - i work at newpointe
3. prayed god would give me good people around me - great friend/mentor, small group guys, older sister
4. prayed for a vehicle (always wanted a wrangler) - god gave me a very cheap, reliable jeep liberty
5. prayed god would give me a space to be hospitable - moved into a huge house this weekend, no rent - just bills to pay! (and to top it off i have cable and wireless...)

so, honestly, my life doesn't look anything like what i envisioned, but it is awesome to see how god provided these things for me over the past year...amazing.

more than you can even ask or imagine...

on forgiveness...

2008-09-16T16:55:00.003-04:00

i read this today...

"i'll never have to forgive anyone more than christ has forgiven me."

wow, that's huge. i mean, when you look at life like this it should push away any piece of bitterness, any hint of "wall building", any hurt feeling.

colossians 3:13 says, "get along with each other, and forgive each other. if someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the lord forgave you."

that's how we should be living...even if we have more than one month to live.

start something epic...

2008-09-13T15:38:00.003-04:00

this morning dave d, kevin, and i held our first volunteer training together. it went really well...

the theme for this year is called "start something epic..." we got some handy cinch packs and water bottles, so if you see them around it's student ministy people.

it was really good to get our volunteers together, and since we've had a bunch of new HSM volunteers as of late, it was good to introduce everyone to each other.

dave and kevin knocked it out of the park with their talk on what makes an epic story and how we can coach students to make their stories epic. also, when working with students it's important to make sure there is an epic story going on inside of your heart too. challenging.

i, of course, was the host/game guy - and i had a ton of fun.

we ended the morning with communion as a group. it was just a good time to get together, hang out, talk student ministry, and take in some teaching. good morning.

leaning...

2008-09-11T08:18:00.004-04:00

i'm sitting in a coffee shop this morning.

there is a mentally handicapped man sitting in front of me talking very loudly. at first his loudness took me by surprise, but turned into something beautiful - something i needed to hear. eddie was sitting there alone, then one of his friends walked in and started talking about the sickness he's been dealing with. they chatted - loudly - for a few minutes about how he was feeling and how he's missed going to church. all of the sudden something happened. at the top of their lungs they broke out in song in the middle of the coffee shop. it almost sounded planned.

"leaning...leaning...leaning on the everlasting arms!"

eddie was sitting in his seat waving his cane like a conductor - his friend the orchestra. their music not beautiful to the ears, but most definitely beautiful to the soul.

eddie - whoever you are - thanks for the reminder.

love like this!

2008-09-05T10:55:00.004-04:00

ephesians 5:1-2 (the message)

watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. mostly what god does is love you. keep company with him and learn a life of love. observe how christ loved us. his love was not cautious but extravagant. he didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. love like that!

something i'm learning lately...

our love as humans is cautious. here's what we ( I ) do. we love people cautiously. what does this mean? well, lately this has meant i haven't been giving people closest to me the benefit of the doubt. i haven't been assuming the best of them. i haven't had their best interest in mind. i have been building up walls based on assumptions, not facts. not good.

when you think about what christ did for us - killed his son - that should make you love even more. just like the verse says - watch and learn what God did and do it. if you'll just keep company and spend time with God he'll teach you how to love people around you better. he'll teach you how to love those closest to you with an extravagant love that is untypical. he'll show you how you can love not expecting anything but to give everything of yourself to the ones you love.

that's how we should love.

love without caution.

what i'm reading...

2008-08-29T10:23:00.004-04:00

i had a great morning yesterday. god woke me up. seriously, i was laying in bed and woke up at 5.30 am - for no reason. i tossed and turned for almost an hour and finally said out loud, "fine!" so, i got up, wrapped my comforter around me and curled up with my bible on the couch. i was squinting thrugh my old glasses and the coffee in my hand let off curls of steam that clouded my vision. it had been a few days since i really, and informally talked to god - so we had a lot to catch up on...

i was reading in ephesians 1. when i came to this verse the clouded vision from my coffee turned into clouded vision from welled up eyes as i read...

It's in
Christ that we find out
who we are and
what we are living for.
Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up,
he had his eye on us,
had designs on us for
glorious living,
part of the
overall purpose
he is
working out in
everything and
everyone.

did you catch that? read it again.......seriously....

read it slower.

it is in CHRIST we find out who we are and what we're living for! in him! man, it seems like we're (i'm really talking about me) always looking for others to tell us who we are and what are purpose is. we're always looking to others to tell us our significance. we have our eyes open to our friends and family to tell us that we are accepted in this life.

you see, god had his eye on me and you before we were even thought of. the cool thing is...his design for glorious and abundant living is way better than anything we can ask or imagine.

so, today - just today - work on living for christ and not trying to live up to the expectations that others put on you, not because their expectations are bad, but because they aren't always the overall purpose god has for you.

a free book!

2008-08-28T10:30:00.001-04:00

want a copy of wild goose chase?

leave me a comment...

wild goose chase...

2008-08-19T11:12:00.004-04:00

by mark batterson

this book was released today to the public, but i had the cool chance to get a copy from the publisher early. i actually didn't get the book untill yesterday since i was on vacation, but i will be reading it soon and telling you all about it.

untill then check this out...

Most of us have no idea where we’re going most of the time. Perfect. “Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit–An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’ The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it’s like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something….Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure.”

Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of Washington, DC’s National Community Church, widely recognized as one of America’s most innovative churches. NCC meets in movie theaters at metro stops throughout the city, as well as in a church-owned coffee house near Union Station. More than seventy percent of NCC’ers are single twentysomethings who live or work on Capitol Hill. Mark is the author of the best-selling In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day and a widely read blogger (www.markbatterson.com). He lives on Capitol Hill with his wife, Lora, and their three children.

back in the saddle

2008-08-18T10:33:00.001-04:00

well, here i am...back in the saddle at work...if you can call it that...

i am excited to be back, honestly. i love laying on the beach and not having a schedule, but there is something to having a purpose in your life.

i'm excited for what is going on. people's lives are being changed and things are going at a fast pace. sometimes it's hard to catch your breath, but it is all good...

"no upcoming appointments"

2008-08-09T21:12:00.002-04:00

since yesterday my moto q phone has said "no upcoming appointments." usually i would be concerned, put out, and looking for something to do, but this week is different. just this morning my sister jen and i drove down to a beach in north carolina to spend a week with our parents. to say the least - i'm pumped!

i brought a few books, some music, some sermons, and a beach chair. what else is there?

community impact day...

2008-08-04T10:32:00.003-04:00

it's true. i do love my church. there are so many people here who are trying to make a dent in this messy world and yesterday was no exception...

a few weeks ago dwight said we were cancelling church to stop being "spiritual porkers" and be spiritual doers. some people looked at him like he was crazy...you know, like he should be in the looney bin. who in their right mind would stop a sunday and kick people out to do projects in their community? well, newpointe community church - that's who. maybe you missed the sunday where dwight said that people who are frustrated with this and might go to another church on aug 3rd should stay there. ding!

anyway, yesterday was awesome. there were over 1,000 people in yellow shirts doing projects around holmes and tusc counties...and other people helping out without the free shirt. it was an awesome time watching everyone clean up parks and schools, give free hair cuts to kids, do health screenings, and deliver boxes of food to the county's food pantries.

HSM pitched in by taking 55 HSMmers and volunteers to Dover South and Dover Middle School. we spread mulch, pulled weeds, and painted benches - it was awesome to see everyone pitch in.

Here are a few pics I grabbed from john b's blog...

hell. yeah!

2008-07-26T09:38:00.003-04:00

i'll be at camp for the fifth and sixth graders speaking about a moldable heart. man, if you can get this into students early enough just think about where they'll be down the road.

tomorrow i'm talking about hell. yeah, i said it h - e - double hockey stick. i hope the middle schoolers are ready for this, cause it's coming at them tomorrow morning. but really, what is hell? so often we focus on the fire and pain, which is all well and good. but, tomorrow i'm focusing on hell as the opposite of heaven - a place void of God's presence. man, to be separated from the love of God forever is the worst thing possible...

in the kountry

2008-07-25T22:44:00.002-04:00

now, i understand when people spell things for artistic liberties, but this is not that case. i had to laugh at this. mind you, this was posted at a truck patch - whatever that is...

Go 08!

2008-07-25T08:15:00.002-04:00

Aug 3rd will be a lonely day for our building out here on Rt. 39 in Dover. The rumors are confirmed...we're shutting down that Sunday. Instead of coming to church - we're being the church. i'm pretty pumped about it all. dave and i are taking the hsmmers out to the dover schools and doing some yard work that morning, then having pizza. yum.

aussie aussie aussie!!! oy oy oy!!!

2008-07-23T13:44:00.004-04:00

the aussies have left holmes county.

last week two of my friends from australia came to holmes county to "have a look" around. we had a good time together. we went to two indians games, cedar point, eidelweiss, and walnut creek cheese. seriously, what more could you ask for out of ohio? really...

i didn't have the heart to tell craig we don't wear these anymore...

descriptive or prescriptive?

2008-07-08T09:39:00.004-04:00

this past week i was in florida with our students at big stuf camp. we had an awesome time on the beach, going to sessions, and just hanging out. life changing really...

the sessions were amazing. the speakers were great, but my favorite part was the worship. it rocked. the guys from north point did an awesome job. i love singing, but it was cool to pause and just watch high schoolers praise jesus. awesome.

lately i have been thinking about singing at church. honestly, sometimes i have a hard time saying some of the words that are in songs we sing. for example, how can i sing songs that say "you have my whole heart" or "i live for you alone" or "everyday it's you i live for"

i struggle with this, so i was thinking about it this past week...

are the lyrics we sing descriptive or prescriptive? are the songs that we sing describing the condition or our heart at that moment - or are the lyrics a prescriptive goal?

thoughts?

injury loves company

2008-06-28T08:14:00.006-04:00

this past week my friend dave was injured playing church basketball. yes, it's true. it happens in churches across the country. 25-45 year old men get together and relive the glory days of basketball - thing is, the guys at church keep getting hurt. maybe God is telling them something - i don't know.

anyways, this week was dave's turn to get hurt. on tuesday he landed funny on his ankle and got a high ankle sprain, which i learned was worse than a low ankle sprain. i was worried.

you see, this very afternoon dave and i are taking 25 high schoolers down to florida for big stuf camp and his involvement was in limbo for a brief moment. luckily he is okay.

yesterday i took dave (aka crutchie, gimp, etc...) out for a field trip to wal-mart (he was excited...) to buy some things for our trip. some things i learned...

1. don't take the motorized cart from a older woman who is asking where the bathroom is as she gets off the vehicle. (dave said it was warm. ew.)

2. those things can turn on a dime.

3. there is a secret club for people who drive these. they always smile at each other and make a hand gesture. (dave wouldn't tell me - i'm not in the club)

4. the aisles in wal-mart really don't fit two of these.

5. it's weird to see a 29 year old healthy man in one of these vehicles.

the end

exciting things at church

2008-06-25T14:44:00.004-04:00

there are always exciting things happening here at newpointe community church. one of the coolest parts about being on staff is that we all get together on monday mornings and share some of the neat things God has been doing here. this past monday in particular was exciting to me, so i thought i'd give a rundown of a few of the exciting things that are going on.

- the big give. at the beginning of the summer our church launched a program called the big give (yes, like oprah) where we gave small groups 400 dollars to do a service project in the community. so many people have been touched by this program. one group purchased gas cards and stood at the pump and gave gas away. another group found a local business in dover and gave them a facelift. a couple of groups put their money togeter and gutted and renovated a bathroom for a widow woman.
i guess this weekend someone called into a local radio station and shared how they had been touched by this program - the DJ aired the location of our church.

- suhad. if you aren't from newpointe you may have never heard of suhad, so here's the brief story. our church consistently sends mission teams to egypt to help our one missionary, blake. a woman that blake knows there is 35ish and she has terrible pain in her hips. so, our church paid for her to come over and have surgery at the cleveland clinic. her surgeries went well and people are taking good care of her. before suhad was a woman cursed by her culture for her disability, but her new hips have given her a chance to have a better life. plus, she has told so many nurses and doctors about her love of Jesus.

- aug 3 we are stopping church. it's true. we are taking one sunday off from teaching and focusing on serving. so, we're going to have service projects all over the community that morning...exciting.

- go '08. we're having a food drive this summer to fill all the food pantries in our county. it's true. last year we asked for 1,000 boxes and received 1,200...this year we're asking for 1,500.

- sports ministry. this fall we are having a full time sports ministry coordinator. this area loves sports, so hopefully this is another opportunity to get the community involved with christ.

- small groups. our church is pushing for 300 small groups by the end of the year. this is huge!

- 2 satellite churches. yeah, we're looking at 2 different locations to branch the influence of newpointe community church.

wow. it's fun to be a part of a changing and growing church.

ps...also, there's a couple from our church getting married soon that recently got together after 20 years of divorce! how cool is that?

i love my church

2008-06-16T08:18:00.003-04:00

last week i read a book called "pop goes the church" by tim stevens. great read. the book talks about using pop culture to your advantage while teaching truth to your church. it was funny reading the book at my current state...

i shared this with dave and dwight last week...it was fun reading a book where your church is used as a good example and not a bad example. you see, i grew up in a church that viewed the culture as bad and completely separated themselves from anything "secular." something i love about newpointe is that we use the world around us to reach people for Christ. i guess that's why you can see me dancing to "i'm bringing sundays back..." or why we have used "waiting on the world to change" on a sunday morning. or why we did a series called "the reel newpointe" and used video clips to teach our values as a church.

yesterday was no different. i came to church and "bring me to life" by evanescence was being sung. you see, we're in the middle of a series talking about emotional health, but this isn't something only "christians" talk about. everyone wants emotional health. everyone wants to feel. everyone wants their inner person to be alive. even evanescence.

i'm learning heaps...

2008-06-03T12:55:00.002-04:00

oh my. i could write a book on what God and life in general have been teaching me lately. i don't want to write a book, but i will submit a short list.

- you have the opportunity to push yourself from good to great. the choices you make and the leadership you display will either set you apart from the norm. do it. be a purple cow wherever you are.
- people change. friends change. i change. the question is...are you willing to accept and love through the changes?
- leading is stretching, but once you've had a taste at leading it's really hard to sit back and wait.
- God can work in everyone...with a little prayer and patience.
- all relationships take time. if you're willing to do the work it will pay off.

this isn't an inclusive list, just the things that have been on my mind lately.

yesterday i went to a funeral for dwight's (our lead pastor) mom. she had been battling cancer for a number of months, so her death wasn't tragic or sudden. in fact, the funeral was amazing. it was a beautiful celebration of her life. there are many highlights from the service, but the most prominent part was how much of what was said pointed to christ and marie's love relationship with him. i believe dwight said it best at the end when he told all of us that if we walked away from the service thinking his mom was great we would miss the point. instead, we should be thinking about the greatness of jesus. it was a good funeral. the best i've been to.

mid-weekend

2008-05-25T07:08:00.002-04:00

sunday morning, so it's the mid-weekend for me, right? no work tomorrow!

my family is here from NJ - we're having a great time. funniest part is watching my mom play guitar hero - which she loves! so, we played for awhile friday night. it's funny.

my family thinks i'm amazing, but little do they know that i'm still on medium level. i have to admit that i'm getting better though. i mean look at this...

we got new msm nametags...

2008-05-21T11:09:00.010-04:00

i'm excited about our new nametags for msm this weekend...

here's a sneak preview...

why am i so excited, you ask? well...let me tell you...

1. a nametag like this looks awesome
2. it was a cheap, valuable investment in our msm staff
3. easily identifies our staff
4. gives clarity to a "win" in student ministry

many times we (lead youth workers) know what an environment should look and feel like. also, we get to hear about the "wins" from our staff. this small investment reminds msm staff their reason for volunteering, but also shows them what a successful sunday looks like.

we forget to celebrate when we get a win in student ministry. a win could be something as simple as explaining what msm looks like on sunday morning. a win could be having a meaningful conversation with a student. a win is connecting a student with a peer who is already engaged in the environment. a win is taking a student into deeper connection with god.

it's easy to get discouraged, but if you (the lead youth worker) clarify the wins for your student ministry staff they will be looking for the wins on a weekly basis - and sharing it with each other.

that's good stuff.

ideas...

2008-05-19T14:44:00.001-04:00

just looking for some ideas for church and stumbled on this...

made me laugh out loud in my cubicle...

a song...

2008-05-13T15:53:00.005-04:00

there's this song that's been in my head for awhile now. it randomly pops up at the most opportune times over the past couple of months. if i could give it away to everyone and make them listen to it i would.

it's called shadowfeet by brooke frasier.

i was living in sydney, australia for five months last year doing an internship at a church. the people there were beautiful and i loved getting to know them. a few nights before i left a family from the church took me and other youth workers out for a picnic. the night had great views of sydney, gourmet picnic food, and speeches about how we had all touched their family in some way.

each of us received gifts - mine being "australian" things. one of the gifts was an album by brooke frasier, a christian singer from australia. after we said our sappy goodbyes i got into my car and popped the cd in. the first song that came on was "shadowfeet" by this brooke chick. i wasn't too excited about the song, but i began to listen to the words...

'when the world has fallen out from under me,
i'll be found in you, still standing,
when the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees,
when time and space are through,
i'll be found in you'

man. that's huge. at that time i was so unsure of where i was going to be living and working. i mean, i had a few job leads, but nothing was definite. my parents had just moved to nj. my sister was far away in college. i was done with all of my formal school. i needed to become an 'adult.' i was scared.

that night i was driving away from this family and thinking about all the unsure things in my life. i was scared. but here's the thing. when the world has fallen out from under me i need to be found in god. when everything in my life is unsure i need to have my trust and confidence in him. when there are crazy things happening in my life i need my character to be found in jesus.

wow.

that song still gets me sometimes. i let things in my life affect me more than they should. i empower others and situations to steal my joy. i forget who i need to become like. i don't remember who is in control.

i'll be found in you.

that's huge.

i've been neglecting you...

2008-05-06T09:06:00.007-04:00

it's true. i have been neglecting my blog. please, forgive me. i've been busy.

this past week i was busy at work, and then my grandparents came in for the weekend. crazy times with them. seriously, my grandparents, or nanny and pappy as i call them, are the coolest. i mean, when i lived in australia they came and visited me for three weeks and took me on a snorkeling trip to the great barrier reef! (yeah, they are in their mid seventies...)

i have to admit, i love the nice weather here. i've been out in the yard - gearing up for backyard BBQ's. i really love summer. i made a few purchases this week that add to the summer festivities. i'm quite proud of the backyard.

yeah. it's easy living out here in amish country...

yesterday was awesome...

2008-04-21T11:05:00.002-04:00

yeah, yesterday morning at 10:05 was awesome. we started a new service for hsm students in the warehouse. we kicked off the first sunday using some videos to introduce what's going to be happening. you already saw the sundays back video, but here are the rest...

bringing Sundays back...

2008-04-18T15:40:00.001-04:00

so, dave and i are starting a new service for hsm students on sunday. i guess you could say we're bringing it back...