Keep Pointing in Waterloo

if I can see you...

I see the picture you posted of him when he was holding a newborn version of you in his arms.

I see the last happy picture of the two of you together.

I see the generational picture of him, you, and your kids.

And if I can see all of these things that you're doing today to remember your father, so can your Father in heaven - God.  Your Dad with a capital "D."

Before your dad first laid eyes on you in the hospital, your Dad saw you and loved you.  That's a powerful thought.

Because your Dad sees you, you can rejoice if your dad died in Christ. You'll see him again because your Dad sent his Son, who died, rose again, and conquered death.  Your dad and you are alive in the same way at this very moment because of Jesus.  That's a powerful thought.

Because your Dad sees you, you can rest in His comfort and peace today.  He desires nothing more than to draw you to himself today.  He will never die and never leave.  He promised.  He's comforting your dad and you in the same way today.  That's a powerful thought.

And because your Dad sees you, you can have a happy Father's Day.  Because even though you might be without the man who gave you your earthly life, you will never be without your Father who gives you life to the fullest.  And that's a powerful thought.

So: Happy Father's Day.

Gus.

I just got back from a lunch with Pastor John.  Usually these are pretty routine - once a month, talk life, talk church, talk people... head back.  Just a good time to connect.  Familiar rhythm.

And this one started the same way.  We met up at Beck's on University.  Booth near the back.  A couple of college-aged girls were sitting in the booth behind us. Waiter takes our drink order.  We start talking about LeBron's block that was a replaying on some of the TVs around us.

Then Gus walks in.

I know his name is Gus because it says so on his shirt.  Gus is a big guy.  Gus is a biker.  Gus sits at the bar.

But none of that really gets either my or Pastor John's attention.  It wasn't until Gus sat at the bar, ordered a shot at 12:30, and then took it over to the booth behind us to "strike up a conversation" with the two girls in the booth.  That's what got our attention.  In fact, both of us struggled to stay focused on what we were talking about.  We were dialed into what was going on behind us.

I can't really relay to you how the conversation went between Gus and these college girls.  Suffice it to say: Gus was on a mission, and these two girls were the target.

About 15 minutes later, after much giggling, number exchanging, and not-so-subtle innuendo, the girls leave laughing, and Gus heads back to the bar.

Now, this is what I love about our pastor, Pastor John - it's what comes out of his mouth about Gus.

Strike that.  I'll get to that.  What I love about Pastor John is what doesn't come out of his mouth about Gus.

He doesn't say, "Can you believe the language that he used?"

He doesn't say, "How can someone be drinking this early in the day?"

He doesn't say, "I guess that's just what this world is coming to" and then ignore Gus' loud outbursts at the bar until we leave.

Here's what Pastor John says:

"Dude... we gotta talk to Gus."

Yes we do.  

So I figure out a way to worm into the conversation he's having with the bartender, and then Pastor John slaps the seat next to him and gets him to sit down.  And for the next 30 minutes, Gus talks about his life, his exploits, his women, his life in Hollywood, and all in vivid detail.  He even showed us a few pictures on his phone that we wished he would've kept to himself.  

But in between the more colorful parts of his story, he also told us that he hasn't slept in 4 days, that he drinks all the time, and that drinking doesn't help him anymore.  He told us that his dad wasn't ever around.  And he told us that, just a few days ago, he drove down University Avenue at 120 miles an hour, potholes and all, surprised that he made it home alive.  He didn't know why he did that.  Just sat in his house afterwards and cried.

Now, those were footnotes to what he really wanted to talk to us about - women, booze, whatever.  And he was way too far gone to really have a meaningful conversation either way.

But my whole point in telling you this story is this:

Everyone has a story.

It's usually not the story they are projecting.

Usually it's under a lot of mess.  You're going to get a little dirty if you want to uncover it.

But if you do, the story is pretty familiar.  It's pain.  It's confusion.  It's self-medication.  It's a little self deception.  And it's a desire for wholeness.

Now, maybe it's not the big biker guy who walks in the bar.  Maybe it's the guy a cubicle over.

But it's the same story.  

And unless you allow God to insert you into their story, they may never know God's story.

So:

Who's your Gus today?

Time to slap the seat next to you and start listening.

bump up weekend

Hey parents,

This weekend at Waterloo is what we call "bump up" weekend.  It's the first weekend where your kids might be trying out the "next level" environment.  So:

• if you have a child who will be attending kindergarten this fall, check them into Kidventure this weekend.
• if you have a child who will be heading into 6th grade this fall, take them into the service with you this weekend.
• if you don't have any kids, enjoy all of the sleep that you're getting.

See you this weekend!

Still on! Different location! Bring lawn chairs

Hey all,

Looks like we will be moving away from the amphitheater this Sunday... but we were able to land at the Riverloop Expo! Located at 460 Jefferson St, Waterloo, IA 50701
(http://goo.gl/maps/hX9dx) just across the way from the Public Market in downtown Waterloo. 10:00 a.m. for children's activities/bounce houses; 11:00 a.m. for the service.

One thing that is critical: BRING LAWN CHAIRS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. That's the one major difference between the amphitheater and the expo. Your rear end will thank you.

See you all at the Expo this Sunday!

Church on the River

We have been working a long time now on our Church on the River event - the community church service at the new Riverfront Amphitheater as part of My Waterloo Days.  Unfortunately, due to river levels, it's looking like we may have to cancel this event.

In light of this possibility, I wanted to create an FAQ to get us all on the same page:

If we cancel, when and how will we know?  We will make the call to cancel by this Friday at noon.  We will be making the announcement in several ways: on this blog, on the Prairie Lakes Church website, via email, as well as notifying some local media outlets.

Will we be holding service somewhere else?  Yep.  We will be holding the same service, just on site here at PLC Waterloo.  

Anything special about this service that we need to know about?  Well, I'm so glad you asked.  Because yeah, there is.

First: we will still be having some family friendly activities at 10:00 a.m. - games, bounce houses, etc. - just on the grounds at PLC Waterloo.  Weather looks pretty good.  So, come early for that.

Second: if you planned on serving at Church on the River, we are asking you to still plan on serving this weekend at PLC Waterloo.  Your job might change, but it's still a "all hands on deck" weekend for us.

Third: our friends from Cedar Valley Community Church had planned to cancel their Sunday service and join us on the river.  Well, even if we cancel that service and hold one here at PLC Waterloo, they are still planning on joining us.  So, plan on a bunch of new faces this Sunday either way.

In light of that, a couple more things that you need to know:

First, plan on parking as far away from the building as possible - including the East High Parking lots, and along Vine and High Streets around the church.  Create as much space as possible closer to the church for guests, if you're able.

Second, we will not be having Kidventure this weekend.  Plan on having your Kidventure-aged kids in the worship service with you.

Finally, be prepared to sit in an overflow area in the gym, if we need to create space in the worship center.

Think that's it from me for now.  Again, hopefully we're able to hold this event on the river.  But if not, I wanted you all to be prepared for this weekend.

Dad is near.

I'm typing this from a hotel room in Indianapolis.  My family and I are on our way back from a week long vacation in which we've seen friends and family through Kentucky and Tennessee.  It's been great.

But that's not really what this post is about.

The lights are off in the hotel room.  My wife and I are both on our computers, starting to catch up on email, and taking a look at the week ahead as we prepare to re-enter normal life.

My daughter is asleep in her pack-n-play.  And my son is asleep in one of the queen beds.

Both of them, sleeping peacefully.  In a room they've never been before, in a place they've never been before, after being in the car for several hours and around people all day they really don't know well.

But now, they're asleep.  At peace.

They have no idea what tomorrow brings.  Hopefully, all it will entail will be another 7 uneventful hours in the car; maybe a stop at a McDonald's (or "Old MacDonald's," as my son calls it) and a few gas stations.

But it could just as easily be something completely different.  For all they know, we're going somewhere completely new.  For all they know, we're never going back home.

For all they know.  And yet, they sleep peacefully tonite.  Not a care in the world.

There is a reason for this.  And it's not just because we have great kids - although we do. 

Although they have no idea what tomorrow holds for them, there is one thing they do know - and therein lies the reason for their peaceful sleep:

Mom and Dad are near.

That's it.  That's literally the only thing they know; all that is familiar to them tonite.  Mom and dad.  Different bed, different smells, different sounds - totally foreign and unfamiliar place.  Except for mom and dad.

As I think about my tomorrow - and yours, too - the same is true for you and me.  We can sleep peacefully tonite because our Father is near.

Doesn't matter where you are.  What you're facing.  What's ahead or behind.  Your Dad is near.  First he sent Jesus, and now he sends the Spirit.  Not because of what we've done, but because of his great love for us.  Can't be taken back because of what we failed to do.  His presence is his decision; not ours.  He loves us still.  He is still near.

So I hope you all sleep peacefully tonite. You have all the reason in the world to do so.

God, our Father, is near.

what a cool weekend.

What a great weekend.

Yesterday we spent the entire weekend celebrating what God is doing in our church and community through you.

And it was awesome.

Breakfast burritos, baptisms, and stories from people inside and outside the church of how God is impacting them through you.

We heard from a new PLC Waterloo attendee that she had to "forget everything she thought about church" - in a good way! - as she's found her way into our family.

We heard from a Boys and Girls Club staffer who said that there would be a huge hole if we ever left.

And we heard from an East High School teacher who said that we serve without qualification - and that's what makes the most impact.

Thanks, you guys.  It's been worth the journey.  And I'm looking forward to what God has in store for us.

breakfast burritos at church. yes.

Hey all,

This weekend at Waterloo we'll be celebrating the impact that God is making through all of you who are serving!  We'll be doing this in a few ways:

• Breakfast burritos.  Nothing says "Yea, God!" like some eggs, meat, and cheese all wrapped up in a tortilla.  Starting at 10:15, we'll be serving free breakfast burritos, along with some fruit and rolls for you and your family.  Come early and join us for brunch!
• Stories.  You'll be hearing from people who have been personally impacted - from a new family, to a staffer at the Boys and Girls Club, to a teacher from East.  I've had a chance to hear some of their stories personally.  It's going to be powerful.
• Baptism.  We're baptizing 3 people this weekend at Waterloo.  More so than anything, this is the reason why we serve - to change lives.  Something that baptism puts clearly on display.

So, hopefully you all can join us this weekend.  Also - there will be no Kidventure this weekend.  We'd love for your elementary-aged kids to join us for the worship, the stories, and to see the baptisms with you.  Wee Kids will still be available for the little ones.

 

4th Wednesday & the Club

Hey all,

Just wanted to make sure you had on your calendars a couple of opportunities coming our way to connect and bless our community together.

First: this Wednesday, at 6:00 p.m., we'll be having our 4th Wednesday event.  Bring a dish to share at 6:00, then we'll head across the street to East to do some light yard work and clean up.  Bring your gloves, rakes, and any other lawn & garden tools you might want to use.  In case of bad weather (which at this point, it looks like it's gonna be cold and rainy), we'll eat together, and then perhaps see if there are any projects around the church that we could knock out.

Second: Chuck Rowe, the director of the Boys and Girls Club, just posted this opportunity on Facebook:

So how do I ask for help on facebook . . . AND keep things a surprise at the same time? Oh well, Ill just go for it. On May 4 and 5 we are going to be updating our teen center at the Boys & Girls Club. We need volunteers to help paint, put in some flooring, etc (We will have a contractor there, so you dont need to be a pro). Shifts each day will be from 9-12, 12-3, and 3-6. We are doing this over a weekend so that our teens will be surprised when they come back to Club on the following Monday. A great project for a church group, work friends, or families. Let me know if you are interested, which shift you would like to do, and how many are in your group (no more than 5 per shift). What a fun and easy way to impact the lives of our youth.

Contact him at chuck@cedarvalleyclubs.org if you'd like to help out.

Otherwise, see you Wednesday!

 

the Boston tragedy: a Christian response

Shocking, terrifying, and saddening to hear about the events that unfolded today in Boston.  Unfortunately, we are probably still days away from being able to quantify the damage done - from lives lost, to people injured, to property decimated.

But the magic of social media allowed the mushroom cloud of people's responses to form rather quickly, and gives us a peek at what many are thinking and feeling in real time.

As I've surveyed people's responses to the tragedy - especially Christians' - I'd like to offer a few things for those of us who carry Christ's banner to consider as we share our reactions, both to our online communities and in conversation with one another.

Do take some time to pray.  Intentional time.  Extended time.  And often.  Not just the brief prayer in passing.  But from the heart, allowing the reality of the devestation to sink in a bit and shape your prayer.  Pray for those who have lost, those who are injured, first responders, and the churches and other organizations who will be caring for this community long term.

Don't make it about you.  It's not about you, how you feel, how this impacts you... at least, at this point.  It affects you, sure... but our first response should go beyond ourselves and identify with the families who have lost loved ones, people who have lost limbs, business owners who have lost their businesses, and a community who's world is dramatically different now.  You can go back to your work, house, or life tonite.  Some of them can't.  Think about them.

Do more than just pray.  Organizations like Samaritan's Purse or the Red Cross will undoubtedly be responding to this tragedy in the coming hours and/or days.  Keep a look out for first responders and donate to their cause.

Don't use this tragedy as a platform for something else.  I've seen the events in Boston already linked to the issues of gun control, the political landscape, or some other hotbutton issue.  That's disrespectful.  Keep the main thing the main thing.

Do respond with biblical truth and the hope that it promises.  God is alive, and is close to those in pain.  He is familiar with tragedy, and is personally acquainted with violence that stems from evil.  He endured the cross.  He can identify and empathize.  In time, He can even redeem.  And He is in control, even when things that are evil are allowed to occur.

Don't settle for spiritual platitudes.  Verses that talk about how "everything will work out in the end" do more for us who are bothered by this tragedy from afar than for those who are dealing with it up close.  Job's reaction to his tragedy sums up how many in Boston are feeling right now:

20-23 "Why does God bother giving light to the miserable, why bother keeping bitter people alive, Those who want in the worst way to die, and can't, who can't imagine anything better than death, Who count the day of their death and burial the happiest day of their life? What's the point of life when it doesn't make sense, when God blocks all the roads to meaning?

24-26 "Instead of bread I get groans for my supper, then leave the table and vomit my anguish. The worst of my fears has come true, what I've dreaded most has happened. My repose is shattered, my peace destroyed. No rest for me, ever—death has invaded life."

For right now, people in the throes of this tragedy need tangible help and prayer.  They need God to intervene and care through his body and through other systems of care.  And we, even from hundreds of miles away, can be a part of what God is doing.  Let's work with Him, not against Him.