Generosity bestowed

In my fall resolutions, I mentioned wanting to find new ways to be generous. Well, I've been learning ever since that day.

To start with, my friend Dan Erickson taught me to find creative ways to be generous to people. I told him how I had been thinking about starting to do some design work on the side but wasn't sure how I was going to buy my own equipment to get started with. He told me it might not be as hard as I thought and in about two weeks this computer showed up at my house. Dan knew of a computer his company owns that was not going to be used anymore and figured out a way to make it mine. He obviously didn't have to do this, but he did it and I am very thankful.

The next lesson was taught by people responding to the F3 tornado that went through Nappanee a few weeks ago. I heard a story of a lady whose house was destroyed yet she went out and bought 10 bags of groceries to donate to the food bank. Her reasoning was simple - she has insurance and some people don't. She knew some people needed those groceries more than she did. Wow!

Another lesson came my way yesterday when Leslie Yoder stopped by our house unexpectedly. I was at work, but she talked with my wife and somehow stumbled on the topic of cell phones. My wife just broke her phone (which is insured) and my phone has not been working very well (roaming almost all the time). Leslie and her family recently switched wireless companies and had an unused phone from their old company, which just happens to be our company. So, she went home and brought us this phone. She also brought some games for our kids. The generosity didn't stop there, either. Leslie called us last night and offered us free tickets to Saturday's Notre Dame game. This will help me check off one of my other fall resolutions.

I've written about the Yoder family before, and I continue to be amazed at their

generosity. They've taught us so much about how to be selfless servants.

The most amazing thing the Yoders have done for us has nothing to do with giving us things. What we are blown away by every time is the genuine care, kindness and friendship they give to us. I can't imagine very many couples with one child in college, one in high school and one in junior high who would make the time to spend with us.

This is where the story gets even better because not only do we have the Yoders, we have Mark & Cindi Lantz (who I've also written about before) who seem to enjoy spending time with us. They are around the same age as the Yoders and have one child in grad school, one in college and one in high school. They are busy enough without us, yet they make time to invest in our lives. What a blessing!

So, I've learned a few lessons on generosity. If I will invest some creative energy in it, maybe I can bless someone else. If I will invest some time, maybe I can bless someone else. If I am selfish, I'll never be a blessing.

Am I a loser?

192.8

When I looked down at the scale this morning, that is what I saw.
That's pretty disappointing. Not because I'm terribly overweight, but because it's more than I thought it would be.
I was telling some people this weekend that I thought I should weigh about 180 pounds. I'm 6'1" and in college I hovered around 170. So, I figure 180 should be a pretty good weight for me, as long as it's not a flabby 180.
When I was talking about losing weight, I thought I would need to lose about 10 pounds to get down to 180. So, that's why it's disappointing. Now, I've got to lose 12.8 pounds.
It may not seem like much, but I've never even tried to lose weight before so I know it's going to be tough. I'm going to try my hardest to stop drinking soda of any kind. I'm also going to try to exercise at least 3 times per week.
So, am I a loser? I hope so.

Does it count if someone else does it?

I made a fall resolution to go for a drive with my family simply to look at colorful leaves. Well, I've come up short and I think time is running out for me to get it done. But, I was happy to read this morning about a trip Corey Mann took with his family. Thanks for picking up my slack!

Lucky kid

There is a little girl out there who is about to be blessed.
My friends, Derry and Janelle, are anxiously waiting for her. In fact, they have been waiting for her for more than 5 years.
I believe this little girl has been waiting for them too. Even though she is not coming to them in the expected way, I believe she was created to be their child.
This little girl has no idea what kind of love she's about to be showered with. Derry and Janelle have no idea what kind of love is about to be born inside them.
I can't wait to meet this little girl. I feel like I've been waiting for her for a long time, too.
God is good!!!!! All the time!!!!!!

This is a picture of Derry and Janelle at New Year's Eve. With the arrival of a newborn in their home, I'm guessing they'll have this look on their faces quite often in the next year or so!!!!!

Why Can't I Help?

As most of you probably know by now, Nappanee (the city where I work and go to church) was hit by a tornado four days ago. It was devastating. I just got to drive through one of the hardest-hit areas this morning and I couldn't believe my eyes.
My family and I were seeking shelter at home the night the tornado hit and we didn't know until the next morning how bad it had been in Nappanee. We spent that day doing our normal stuff, but were feeling a need to try to help.
Saturday we sent the kids to my parents' house for the night and called to see what we could do. We were denied. We were told our help wasn't needed.
What?
How could there be that much damage and our help wasn't needed?
It turns out that there was such an overwhelming response that there wasn't enough organized to accommodate all the people who wanted to help.
My first reaction to being turned away was frustration and a little bit of anger. All I wanted to do was help and I wasn't allowed to do that. My attitude was less than exemplary.
We received a call later that day asking if we could help from 10-Midnight at the church. I was hesitant at first - again my attitude was terrible - but we decided to go. I am glad we did because just getting the perspective of all that had happened it two days was worth the trip.
I now understand how too many people trying to help can be a bad thing.
I also understand that there's plenty of work to do and it's going to take a long time to recover from this tragedy. So, I'm trying to be patient and wait for a time when there is a need I can fill.
Please pray for Nappanee. This is an awful time, but if people can possibly meet God during this time it could be wonderful!

For some pictures and a great perspective of the last few days, please read Derry's blog.

I'm blessed!

Some of you who read this blog but don't know me very well may have wondered why I don't talk much about my wife and kids, at least not in specific terms. Well, that's because my wife is pretty cautious about how much information I put on the www. I can't blame her.

Earlier this week, she changed her position - slightly - and you're all in for a treat!

Below, you'll see a picture of the most beautiful woman in the world. You're probably asking, "Why would she let you put a picture of a supermodel on your blog?" Well, that's my wife Katie!!!!!!!

Man, is she beautiful or what?

I want to tell you what makes her so beautiful, because it's not as obvious as it may seem just by looking at her. You see, this woman is one of the most fun people I've ever known. She loves to laugh. She loves to be silly. She loves to help others have fun.

On top of being really fun to be with, Katie deeply loves people. She cherishes relationships with family and friends. She is a great encourager and shows her love for others in amazing ways.

Katie is a wonderful mother as well. She takes amazing care of our two kids (who I can't share much about yet). One of the passions of her life is being at home to raise them and teach them how to love Jesus.

My wife is an amazing friend. I know she's always got my back, even when I don't deserve it. There's nobody else I'd rather be with than her.

Katie is also very gracious. She has forgiven me for some pretty huge mistakes and she doesn't hold a grudge for any of them.

Most of all, my wife is a Godly woman. She loves Jesus Christ and wants to be more like Him every day she lives. She serves Him and shares Him with others.

So, even though she may look like a supermodel, that's not what makes her beautiful. She's got a lot more to offer than that! And, man, I am blessed!!!!!!!

Regeneration

"We are not going to tell a generation to go to hell. We're going to tell them they can have the Kingdom here and now."

That's what my pastor, Dave Engbrecht, said during a recent meeting I was in discussing the upcoming Global Impact emphasis at Nappanee Missionary Church.

Have I ever told you how much I love my church? Man, I am so glad to be attending and working at NMC. I love the heart my church has for people of other nations.

Every year, NMC devotes a certain month (or week) to emphasize the things we're doing around the world to minister to people in need. There's a new twist this year, though. Our focus is not going to be geographic. It's going to be demographic and we're calling it "regeneration."

We're targeting anyone 20 and younger. We want to tell that generation we believe in them, we love them and we want them to have eternal life.

I run sound during the junior high gatherings on Wednesday nights and I love those kids. Yes, they can be annoying, frustrating and perplexing, but once you get past all that there is an incredible amount of potential. They're creative, energetic, bold and just dying for something to get excited about.

I'll try to post more about this whole idea of regeneration as we move forward. Please pray for anyone you know who is 20 or younger. They need your suport!