g3 men's backpacking trip

I was reminded this past weekend how much I love the outdoors, especially in the Sierra Mountains. The smell of pine trees, clean air, and dirt in your hair. :)

It's so easy to get caught up in all the craziness of modern society and lose sight of what's important in life. But somehow taking some time out, slowing down, and just walking around in the middle of a forest, by a lake, up a mountain of rock boulders, gives me some perspective on things.

This past weekend I got to spend a couple days with 4 other great guys from g3 (New Church's young adult group) up at Lake Margaret near Kirkwood ski resort. It was such a blessing to enjoy some unhurried time together hiking, swimming, telling stories, playing the bean game, and much more.

It makes me want to get out to the mountains more often, we'll see what we can do.

Steve



Here's some pics from our trip:

g3 Men's Backpacking Trip

College Life Summer Kick-Off

On Thursday the 26th, we kicked off the summer with the college students with a BBQ at our place, some worship, lots of fun puzzles and some brainstorming about events for the summer.

It was great to see a lot of folks again and catch up with what's been going on in their lives, and it's always great to host people at our place.

We decided to work our way through the book of James this summer as we meet on Thursday nights.

Here's a link to a few pictures from the night:

CL Summer Kick-Off

DC/NYC trip

Audrey and I just returned from a week in Washington DC and New York City. The occasion was to visit Audrey's sister, Esther, as she had some time off work last week. We took the opportunity to see some other old friends out in the area as well. Got to see our friends Tim and Dawn just a few days before they had their first baby, Emma Grace, congrats you guys!

It was a great trip in a few ways, first it was nice to just get away and relax and be refreshed a bit. Second it was great to see friends again and catch up with what's going on in their lives. And third it gave me (Steve) a chance to reflect on all that God's been doing lately in our lives and in the life of New Church. Describing what's been going on lately really helped give me perspective on why I'm doing what I'm doing and a greater appreciation for how good God is and how much He's been doing in our midst.

I came back really excited about what God has in store for the ministry here at New Church, it's definitely a time of change and transition, but more and more I'm sensing it's also a time of growth and really good new things on the horizon.

Here's a couple pictures from our trip, and a link to a few more:

DC/NY Trip

College Life End of Year Party

It was a joyful time to celebrate with many of the students, remembering the good times and good things of this past year. And thanking God for all that He has done in each of us and in the community. It was sad, and yet exciting to pray for the several seniors who are graduating and heading in different directions. Our hope is that their time spent with us at New Church and with College Life has prepared them in some small way to live as intentional followers of Jesus the rest of their lives, and use the gifts they've been given in the churches where they find themselves over the coming years, whether that be here or elsewhere.

It's been a joy to be a part of their lives for this short time, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the Lord does in their lives as they move on from here.

Here's a couple pictures from the celebration time at our (Audrey and I's) apt. a little over two weeks ago. Enjoy!

Steve

End of Year Craziness

For two weeks now I've meant to sit down and write something about all that's been going on, but there's been so much that I haven't had a chance. Some things that have been happening that I'm hoping to write more about:

Ordination Ceremony 4/27
Housewarming 4/26
Last Spiritual Leadership Seminar 4/30
Last Bible study 4/29
Audrey's new job and our adjustment to that...
Last College Life Leadership gathering- 4/20
Graduation Sunday and the Dwight Way Partnership- 5/4
Jesus in Berkeley 2008
Trip to San Diego- 5/1-5/4

Yea, I think that'll keep me busy for a while. So yea, just to say I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, but lots has been happening.

Spiritual Leadership Seminar

Every Wednesday evening in April (2nd-30th) 18 students plus Audrey and I have been, and will be, meeting on campus to discuss issues surrounding spiritual leadership. It was really encouraging for me to see the great response as we invited people to consider coming to the class. The 18 students represent close to half of the students we have regularly attending bible studies and College Life events.

We using a book called "Spiritual Leadership" by Oswald Sanders to guide our discussions, but we hope it will mostly be used to spark discussion. We've had two meeting already and our third one will be tonight. The last couple went really well, it's been great hearing what they have to say in the discussions. We've asked each of them to take a chapter from the book and lead the class in a short discussion on that chapter, so it's been cool to watch them as they lead the class, see their style and what they find important. We've also had them write a one page reflection each week on one chapter of their choice from the reading, and that may be the best part as Audrey and I get to read what they are struggling through as they read the book and think about what it might mean to be a leader.

A common theme in their reflections so far has been that they never really saw themselves as a leader, or ever really becoming one, but now they are realizing that their perception of what a leader is was too idealistic and that it may be possible that God could use them to lead in His kingdom by serving others (which is what leadership in God's kingdom is all about).

Please pray for these students that they would take to heart the things God is teaching them about what He desires for their lives to be about.

Ordination Exam- Passed!

Thanks to those of you who prayed for me this past Thursday. I definitely felt the Lord's presence during the exam. I was still nervous, but it turned out to be a great time together with the pastors and ministry leaders that were there, and I felt like I didn't embarrass myself much at all. It was encouraging to hear their feedback afterward as they encouraged me to really take hold of the calling that I have and go for it.

It's a bit of a strange feeling being on this side of the exam that I had been working toward for so long. There's a sense of relief that it's over, excitement for what comes next, and a little bit of a let down not having that big thing to work toward. But most of all it's humbling to watch what the Lord is doing in my life, and see confirmation from those in ministry already. I hope and pray that the Lord keeps me faithful to the work to which He has called me, and that I hold on dearly to the one who has called me.

For now, it's time to catch up on all those things I put off while I was studying. =)