Rattles and Horsetooth Falls

Today was a super fun day with the kids. We woke up this morning we woke up and made cinnamon rolls the kids love and then spent some time reading some prayers, talking, reading and sharing. It is exactly what our family needed; together time, centering time on Christ and then off to go hiking near Fort Collins. At times I think we're crazy for even attempting to go hiking with 4 kids yet the older boys do great. Isa walks maybe a total of 40 yards of the total 3 miles. She has me worked and rides on my shoulders singing the whole way.

After hanging out at the trailhead while Jacob got some early lunch, we strapped Jacob in his Baby Bjorn and we headed up for an easy 1.5 mile hike to Horsetooth Falls. Jonathan became our saftey guide and was very concerned for Mountain Lion, Bear and Rattle snack attacks (He read all the warning signs at the trail head.) Often I would get rebuked for walking 10 feet in front of the rest of the group.

We made it to the falls in about 45 minutes but to our dismay it was September dry. Booh! But there was a cool rock the kids all climbed and we took a great picture. Right after the picture Benjamin asked me what that noise was in the bushes. I just told him it was the wind in the bushes. He said, "No! I see a snake." Yep, he was right. About 3 feet away from my foot lay a Rattle Snake. As boys, we started throwing rocks at it so we could hear the rattler. Stine, about 30 feet away told us to stop and then we headed off back for the van. We all need safety warnings.

Benjamin was proud of saving my life and we have committed to studying in science tomorrow the affects, dangers and ins and outs of Rattle Snakes.

That is what a great day is all about. Falling in love with Jesus, connecting as a family and enjoying God's killer creation. AMEN!

Categories: God, Family

New Address for Blog

Just wanted to let you know that I have a new address for my blog. Not much of a change but it should be easier to remember.

I am now at www.SteveVanDiest.com

Our Photo web site has also been changed to: www.VanDiestClan.com

The old blogger addresses will still work too. Enjoy

Categories: Blog

What to do in Simple Church?

I know from experience as I have tried to share God's vision for simple church so many questions about details have surfaced? What to do with kids? Who is going to lead worship or teach? I know that I haven't really experienced much of the answers or even have them in my brain, but I do know why I believe God is calling Christine and I to start a simple church; to reach those people who are yet to know Christ and His community. That is so much of our desire and prayers lately yet we're waiting for the Lord's word of 'yes, go now."

Today I came across a simple 20-25 minute video that answers much of the heart and details behind simple church. This may help you too in your journey of seeing how God is calling you to 'do' and 'be' the church.

Video: When you come together.

There is a great description in words at What do we mean by simple Church?

Categories: Church, SimpleChurch, ChurchPlanting, God

This Beautiful Mess

This past summer a good friend of mine, Eric Heistand, recommended I read Rick McKinley's, of Imago Dei, book: This Beautiful Mess: Practicing the Presence of the Kingdom of God. I finally got my library to buy it and I read it this past month. At first my mind was somewhere else but over time I really appreciated his approach, story telling and wisdom on the Kingdom work of God.

I believe a new form of Kingdom work is birthing in the U.S. and it isn't just a new strategy to reach out to people. I really do believe it will require a new way of thinking and living entirely. It is not just church in a new skin. It is a melding of a social gospel and a conservative gospel. It is the Kingdom as Jesus taught and lived the Kingdom.

One thing I caught from Rick's stories and examples is that he is a pastor/leader that really knows his vision and mission but gives away freely the strategies and methods for how people are going to do Kingdom work. If were were to bring an idea that God gave you, he wouldn't try to morph that idea or persuade you to fit it into a current structure. I picture him looking at you and blowing a strong Spirit filled wind under your wings and telling you to go, trust God, take a step of faith and we'll, the church, will encourage you along the way. It doesn't seem to be about Rick's church growth or kingdom but really about transforming his city, Portland.

Here are a few things that stuck out in my mind and heart while reading it.

• In our kingdom, we begin to believe we can fix all our messes. In Jesus' Kingdom, He alone can start with our messes and accomplish something we never could have imagined. And He does. p. 21
• To be human is to live with loose ends, with people and in a world of loose ends, feeling you've been made for perfection but knowing you can't get there on your own. Knowing that you've been placed here to bring a taste of something beautiful and blessed. p. 23
• He has issues with our interpretation Gospel of the Kingdom: 1. We reduce the Gospel of the Kingdom (Its just the church). 2. We spiritualize the Gospel of the Kingdom (Its completely realized now). 3. We postpone the Gospel of the Kingdom (It will only be realized in Heaven). p. 38
• The Kingdom is a lot less like building the business of Christianity and a lot more like slipping into the matrix of Jesus. p. 63
• The Kingdom is, we are witnesses. p. 65
• Signposts of the Kingdom radiate the most beauty when they're planted in the middle of the most mess. p. 92
• The larger challenge we face today is that so many Evangelicals aren't really participating in creation at all. They're putting in their time as aliens in the natural world while they wait for the real show to begin: the Lord's return, Judgement, eternity. p. 120

I do believe as God reveals a new way of living, bringing about His glory, worshipping His fame, extending His love we must take a look at, ponder and change what it means to do the Kingdom work of Heaven. Then and only then can we say "This Beautiful Mess."

Categories: Books, Kingdom, Church, God

A bit of Heaven

Yesterday was a great day in the Van Diest family. Saturday night we went out to dinner with our friends, Rietemas (11 year anniversary) and the Williams. Amy Yablonski, our good friend, came over to hang out with us and watch our kids. So on Sunday morning we headed to Fort Collins to grab a great breakfast at Lucilles. No luck, 1 hour wait and we were all dying of hunger. So we headed over to the Rainbow Cafe and had a wonderful time.

Amy came out to Boulder, CO about 2 years ago after she graduated from Baylor to work with us on campus at CU. She has been a great friend and it was awesome to hear about what journey God has her on right now. This past summer she ended her time with Campus Crusade and is now working for Amali as a consultant. They do pr consulting, event planning, fundraising, media relations and so much more. It is super fun to see how God is using Amy to bless so many others in the non-profit world with her gifts and talents.

After we got home, I needed some couch and Broncos time. God bless DVR's. I can watch a game in about 2 hours. What a huge family blessing. Not only was the game watched quick but the Broncos won in the last second with a rushed field goal. We're not the Patriots but we are 1-0. During the last few minutes of fast-forwarding, Billy, my neighbor called and said get over to Mitch and Ming's (other neighbors). They had dumplings, beer, and great Korean ribs. My mouth started watering immediately. One of my best friends in high school, Frank, was Korean and I still remember the taste bud singing of his moms Korean ribs. Mitch is from Texas and is far from Korean but Ming is Asian and I think in about an hour I must have eaten 10 ribs.

The afternoon continued on and on as the kids were running around the yard with about 12 other kids and a huge, strapping young man from Asia, Dragon Lo. Lo plays AA ball for the Colorado Rockies. He is a good friend of Mitch and Ming as both of them have worked for Charlie Monfort (owner of the Rockies) for some time. It was so fun to see Lo and kids from 2 years old to 15 years old throwing dodge balls at his each other. We laughed and relaxed all afternoon.

Fall is coming so I grabbed my fire pit and then we sat huddled around the blaze as the sun dipped behind the Rockies (mountains that is, no Lo) and tried all sorts of bottles Mitch brought out from the cellar. Thanks to some great gifts and not so great gifts from people around the world and Charlie Monfort we drank some great $200 port, $800 cognac and a frightening tasting white liquid (I think it was Ethanol 85). We're testing to see if that last one will kill the grass alongside the patio.

We talked economics, politics, war, family, culture, spirituality, church, religion, and listened to U2, Garth Brooks and some others I didn't recognize. Seeing the neighborhood come together, eating, drinking, laughing, kids playing, and talking about the Kingdom was a small taste of Heaven for Christine and I. We thanked God for the 6 hours spent on the patio. We prayed that God would come, bless each person there and that they would experience His love and mercy.

This is a bit of what we want to see God do through us. We want to have the time, space and heart to listen, relate and be with people who live in Greeley. We keep coming back to the prayer to God, "Can we do this full time and trust God to birth missional, apostolic Christ-centered communities all over Weld County?" "Can we see God's Kingdom come here in our own neighborhood."

It was an encouraging afternoon and a bit of the vision God is giving us.

Categories: God, Family, Kingdom

Thought about Grace a bunch

These past 9 months Christine and I have thought a ton about God's grace. We are learning maybe for the first time that following Christ, living for Him, and leading in ministry isn't about our efforts and hard work. Life is truely about God pursuing us with His love and mercy. We are so thankful for that and it has breathed a fresh new perspective and spirit in us to follow Jesus wherever He calls.

This video below reminds me that God's grace is needed much more than we, the beholder, can imagine.

Categories: God

Life Isn't Fair

Two weeks ago on my day off, my good friend Ethan, who loves Disc Golf, called me and my neighbor, Billy, to go play disc with him for about an hour. I'm horrible and it isn't my favorite pastime. But hanging with Ethan and Billy is something I didn't want to pass up on.

After about an hour Reza a local reporter and photographer walked up and asked us if she could take some shots. Well two days later this crazy photo of me, holding a cigar, stuck in the trees, shows up. Then if you visit the Greeley Tribune website there is this shot and a shot of Billy. The reason life isn't fair is there were no props giving to Ethan, the disc loving thrower.

Oh well. My 15 minutes of fame.

Categories: Friends, Sports

Opening Game Day Weekend - Fun - No Wins

Saturday was the beginning of Saturday Game Days for the Van Diest Family. Thankfully Isa and Jacob are not in sports yet. Jonathan opened up with his first football game. He plays Defensive End and Tight End for the Buffalo Bills. But he has been working out with LT and he really looks good (Picture on Right).

He did great but his team lost, I think like 45-0. We played a great team from Eaton. Jonathan is number 27 and is having a ton of fun. I'm proud of his hard work and heart for the game and his teammates.

Benjamin's team had their first game too. He's playing 6-7 year old soccer and I think we have one 7 year old, one 5 year old and the rest are 6 year olds. We also got beat 9-0. It must have been the coaches fault (I am that coach). Much better than last season as we lost our opener 10-0. Benjamin is a great player and goalie. He saved a strong shot off his forehead.

It is fun hanging out in the park all day Saturday and just seeing these little rug rats run around.

Categories: YouthSports, Family

We made it by God's grace

Today Christine and I celebrate 14 years of marriage. After this year and hitting some potholes and speed bumps in our marriage I can now honestly say, "It is by God's grace we have made it thus far."

I would say we're crazier about each other now more than ever; raw, real, honest, growing and loving, no strings and only by God's mercy.

Categories: Marriage, Family

New Photos coming your way

Hey all I have to make a public confession. I am totally smitten by my kids and my wife. Wow. Check out Summer is Coming to an End - Booh.

Categories: Family, Photos

Broncos - Here He Comes

Most of you have celebrated and will be celebrating the start of college football and the NFL. I smell it in the air in early August and it keeps me awake at night. I also know my addictions are pretty severe so I didn't sign up for the fantasy football leagues my friends have been begging me to be part of.

We here in the Van Diest family are celebrating the start of Young American Football Jonathan style. Jonathan put on him body armor, boiled his mouth piece and banged heads with other 9 year old boys about 2 weeks ago. What a great rite of passage for all young boys. I still remember those days clearly. They were ingrained into my head a bit later as I was 15 years old. I have been helping coach his team and it has been sheer joy to watch him catch on quickly and love the game I so love. He'll be playing tight end and defensive end. His first game is Sept 8 at 11am if you want to drive up to Greeley to catch some real head pounding action.

If I knew how to insert some audio it would be the Monday Night Football song. So just hum it to yourself.

Categories: Family