Soccer has started

I'm not sure why I jump into the responsibility of coaching the boys soccer teams. I only played 2 years and I was 9 and 10 years old. I guess that makes me an expert. :) It is a ton of fun to see the boys interact with their friends, learn the game and just have a ton of fun. Jonathan is in his 3 year playing and Benjamin in his 2nd. The blessing is that Benjamin's league doesn't have practice so I can manage coaching his team and Jonathan's. I really enjoy being around the boys and making them laugh.

I guess there are two reasons to keep coaching these teams. 1. I'm around the boys when I normally wouldn't be. It gives me more connect time and time to work with their character, their work ethic and how they deal with loss. 2. I love the community of parents in soccer. Jonathan's team is mostly returning players which means we have gotten to know the parents fairly well. They are great people, encouraging, and loving towards me and the kids. I have coached soccer and basketball, basketball being a love of mine. Basketball on the other hand doesn't foster a good community of parents and kids. It is indoors, no food and drink allowed, and noisy. But there is something about soccer. Saturday mornings, the fall, warm weather (mostly), oranges, snacks, drinks and playing at the playset afterward all provide a cool environment for connecting with each other.

We had our first set of games this past weekend. Jonathan's team had a double header and they won 6-0 and 3-1. Benjamin's team, unfortunately, lost 2-3. His team is pretty funny. You can probably envision the blob of kids in one circle kicking the ball with no order or plan. Jonathan's team is growing and getting positions, centering the ball and breakaways.

I'm looking forward to more connections with the parents and kids and even more so the end of year party that we will hopefully host in good weather.

A must read - Liquid Church

I just finished the book Liquid Church by Pete Ward. It is a challenging and insightful book on worship, mission, and community of the church. He encourages us to look at the church as being liquid, not solid. "Liquid Church is not a program or mission project; it is a community rooted in the fellowship of the Holy Trinity. The intimate dance of God can be experienced only by those who accept the invitation" (p.98).

One of the most encouraging and insightful chapters to me is Chapter 9: Regulating the flow, Part Two: The Spirit and Grace. I love his insights from Moltman, Kuyper and Edwards. This chapter is worth the $9.

Another aspect of the book is as we try to engage people who don't know God often we just try to tell them that they need God. You need church, God, salvation, the Bible, etc. On the other hand, as we begin to understand what people are looking for, experiencing and searching for we may change our approach and just attempt to raise their awareness of their desire of God. It is a bit messier and not as clean and controlled but as people learn their desires are for God we must trust that this new kind of church is the answer. The liquid church is a bit ambiguous and chaotic. But it is also engaged into the culture, immersed in it, loving it, changing it, interacting with it, and showing the love of God to it.

Enjoy the read.
Categories: Books

Leading Leaders

We are already two weeks into the fall semester at CU. Ministry is going well and I am enjoying leading some of the best staff and students in the world. Last year we made a change in our emphasis on how we will gather and grow students. We believe that in order to reach all the students on the CU campus we must go after the students, getting into their worlds and not just ask them to come to us. We have gone away from pushing our attractional (come to us) weekly meeting and are planting little mini communities all over campus. Our desire is that every type of student will have a Christ centered community within their immediate reach to see the person of Jesus in the lives of other students.

What I need to do then is lead leaders so that they will in turn lead other leaders, specifically students. Ministry for us at CU has changed from a ministry focused on me or the rest of the staff to a ministry built on students reaching students. These past two weeks have been hard but the encouraging elements are when we see our vision of students reaching students happening. It is fairly humbling when ministry isn't about me, my efforts on campus with students but I have taken a different role; helping staff and students do the work of Christ centered communities in their worlds.

Through the whole process I'm learning to inspire others, train them, coach them, resource them and help them experience God in great community. Can't wait to see what this all looks like in 2 years.

She loves football!

Having a little girl is an exciting adventure. Let me share with you what has been happening.

If you didn't know, this past week was the opening week of NCAA football. I look forward to this time of year. I love the weather in Colorado, I love the beginning of the fall semester on campus and the experience of going to a Div I football game at Folsom Field is WOW!!! Yesterday was no different but now I have a little girl to join me.

Saturdays are always started with making the kids (really the boys) pancakes. Then I looked over and Isabela was ready for the CU vs. CSU game. She was wearing a cute little pink Colorado Buffalo shirt. She too was excited for opening day. She joined me for our tailgate party and cheered loudly. Unfortunately she didn't get to go to the game but when I pulled into the driveway afterward there she was hanging out in the front yard (still wearing her shirt, she had dirtied it yet), CU flag flowing from the porch and then with open arms and a huge smiled jumped up and down for me. That has to be one of the greatest experiences. CU wins with a 40+ field goal with 9 seconds to go and then I come home to my beautiful princess waiting for me.

The rest of the night I played Mr. Mom as Christine hung out with her dad. The boys were playing Bionicles, cards and cars and this is where the playtime dynamic changed. Before we could place Isabela on the carpet, leave and 30 minutes later she hadn't moved and inch. Oh well, that's over. Now the chaos begins. She learned to crawl and we're all in for a treat; Bionicles ripped apart, cards thrown all over the room and knick knacks knocked down. She has found new freedom and is loving it. Her brothers are now at least amused but I'm not sure how long that will last. Having these three kids at home, playing, loving each other, laughing, even fighting is life. They bring so much to a home and we are so grateful.

The day ended and Isa even watched some football on TV with me. She continues to grab my heart and fully knows that I am wrapped around her little finger. You know I'm already thinking about going to get her a little CU cheerleader outfit.

12 Years and Counting

Today is my 12th anniversary. Wow! We have made it this far. I sit here this morning and am so thankful for the past years. I was talking to Christine a couple of nights ago and we were so excited for the next 12 years. It has been a great journey filled with hard work, great challenges, growing love and an amazing family. We can't imagine what growth, adventures, joy, struggles and fun the next will be. Although the next 12 can have all sorts of experiences (good and bad) attached to it, we look forward to moving ahead together.

One thing we have been noticing the past few years is our growing desire and practice to show the other much more grace and forgiveness than the previous 9 years combined. It has been refreshing to know that the one I love, know the best and have been married to loves me, accepts me, and forgives me. In this openess and vulnerability of our weaknesses and fear we have found a great freedom to be who God has made us; with all our mistakes and issues. And at this point we have found our love for each other grow.

It is super fun and refreshing to just be Steve. She loves me, inspires me and encourages me to be a better husband and father. I am super grateful to God for the women he placed in my life 13 years ago.