Bloom

One of the things I have always enjoyed about Kansas City is the distinctive seasons. Spring has arrived and the signs are everywhere. The grass is green and the hum of mowers can be heard almost every day. The trees are in bloom and the flowers and plants are emerging. The Royals season has begun with hope of a miracle season and traffic has picked up on the local bike paths. You get my drift. Of course the spiritual parallels of new life are everywhere, but I will leave those to your creative imagination. What looked dead and dormant, buried in snow and ice a few months ago is now fully alive.

As mentioned last week, Jena and I will be taking off for a family vacation. We leave tomorrow for California.

He is Risen

I am pretty sure I used the same title for my Easter Weekend blog last year; "He is Risen," but it still applies and never gets old. Our family celebrated in true Christian American style. We attended a city-wide egg hunt sponsored by a local church on Saturday. It was pretty crazy. Tons of eggs and people from all sorts came out of the woodwork for the free stuff. Sunday we attended church and Sunday afternoon Jena and I colored eggs with Kaiden. The true meaning of Easter was certainly not lost in all the cultural celebrations. He has risen, indeed.

Some Quick Hits:

-The co-ed volleyball league started last Thursday. I quickly came to the realization that volleyball is much harder than it looks. We had a great time playing, though (staff, residents, big brothers and sisters). By the way, we lost too. Team Yellow got roughed up by Team Green.

-During our weekly chapel service last Thursday, Larry did a fantastic job sharing his personal testimony. He served in Leadtime last year and is currently an intern.

-Coming up at the end of month, the Killer B's, once again, have another concert. I am losing a key musician and it will be his last "gig." More to come on that...

-Our numbers have shifted a little. 12 girls and 15 boys. It always seems to come in waves.

-Jena and I will out of town next week on a much needed family vacation.

You are deeply appreciated as members of our ministry team!

Disney on Ice

Last Sunday, Jena and I took the boys to see Disney on Ice at the Sprint Center. Whether 13 years old, 4 or even 40 we all had a blast. Disney seem to have that effect on you.

Shelterwood life is moving forward at the usual pace. On the horizon is Parent's Weekend, Camp Galilee and Pre-Summer break. For now, the new volleyball league is about to begin. Similar to basketball, this is another c0-ed all property league. 25 folks are signed up and games begin next Thursday. To add to the team spirit , this time around we have color's and jersey's.

I shared this morning during our weekly chapel service. With Easter just around the corner, I took a page out of the Josh McDowell school of thought. Specifically Evidence That Demands a Verdict and More Than a Carpenter. Jesus was no ordinary man. He claimed to be God. Lots of people like to downplay it by sticking with the old "Good Teacher" position. Not gonna work. No only did he claim to be God but he was tried and executed for that very claim. I addressed the issues, the facts and the validity of the Bible by taking a non-spiritual approach and no scriptural references. The Core of who WE are is centered around who we believe Jesus to be.

Last Day of Spring (break)

I only wish today was the last day of Spring season but it's just the last day of Shelterwood Spring Break. Of course that would be mean summer is here, but it will come soon enough. The rain has started but not yet in full swing which means the healing process of the long bitter winter has begun. It has been relatively quiet on campus during the break week. With all the recent intakes; however, we did have a fair number of residents around including two additions during the week. One more guy and one more girl.

Blessings to each of my faithful ministry partners. You are appreciated!

Thorny Ground and Beyond

No matter where you journey, you cannot escape difficult people.  Yes, even in ministry.  Last week I was reading the parable the sower and I specifically noticed the thorny-ground seed.  I realized that those folks are still in the "church."  The worries of life (what other people think) and the desire for gain (personal agenda) make them ineffective (insecure and even detrimental). Wow.  Two things surface:  1) Lord keep me from "sliding" into thorny ground and 2) Give me the strength to deal with those that have.  

Last week, as mentioned before, was "Beyond Shelterwood."  We sent one group of staff and residents to El Paso to serve local families and champion nearby mission/outreach organizations.  This morning in chapel two of the teens shared and I wish I could relay all the stories but suffice it to say they encountered God.  Upon hearing the testimony of a local from El Paso, one of the teens re-committed her life to Christ and both of them chose to be baptized in water.

Back in KC, our groups split in two.  One team worked with Impact Ministries and refurbished a duplex belonging to a missionary to Haiti.  The second team worked with Faith Hope Ministries.  Faith Hope is located downtown and provides food and daytime shelter to the homeless of Kansas City.  Since I worked with Faith Hope I have a few additional details.  We helped them sort a large warehouse of furniture.  When homeless folks are transitioning to independent living they are given furniture from the warehouse.  Kansas City residents have donated to Faith Hope and the warehouse was full of unorganized stacks of donations.  We sorted, moved and tried to provide easy lanes for Faith Hope staff to fill "orders."  We also served hot meals during the day and sorted through bags of donated clothing.  

Next week begins Spring Break for Shelterwood.  Many of the residents will be travelling home to spend time with family and several will stay back, too recent to our program for healthy interaction back at home.  We are now at 29 residents.  15 boys and 14 girls.

  

Smackdown

Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment (aka WWE) came to town last night with the weekly television show, Smackdown.  Corey and I attended with our friend, Jeremy and had a great time.  Live from the Sprint Center, it was filled with a lively cross-culture of Kansas City.  Even though I had a fun time hanging out with Corey, I think what I enjoyed most was realizing that my life has a lot less drama than the WWE.  It was a soap opera with spandex, tattoos, and masks.  Folks held up signs and screamed when their favorite wrestler was announced.  Good times.  

A few notes from  Shelterwood:  our marketing team is doing a fantastic job of bringing in new families.  After an intake this morning we are up to 27.  Another family is scheduled for Friday bringing us to 28.  It's a little stressful as the lone Case Manager handling 28 kids but I am thankful that our vision is slowing unfolding.  Next week is our semi-annual Beyond Week.  We are sending one group to El Paso, TX for a Hispanic missions outreach and the rest (including myself) are staying in KC and participating in serve projects with local non-profits organizations.  I am not a team leader (which is a good thing) so I don't have details yet.  The inaugural Shelterwood basketball league wraps up tonight.  The 4th and final week games.  We will resume with a volleyball league in early March following Spring Break.

First but not last

The famous photo accompanying this latest blog was taken in August 2008 and is know as "First Day in Kansas City."  Now, don't be too fooled by all the smiles; it was a construction zone and we were busy unloading trucks and assembling beds and desks.  The look on Nate's face (back row, second from right) is probably a more accurate depiction of how we all felt.  This was the first day but not the last.  Many faces have already changed and the property has certainly changed and yet God is not finished.  The Doulos train rolls on and I am thankful beyond words that you are on board!

Lots happening lately on campus.  We had free tickets to the Casting Crowns concert at the Sprint Center in downtown KC yesterday.  Both houses attended, over 40 in all.  One of our newest residents is a close friend of the lead singer and so the band sent a slew of tickets.  The Wednesday night inter mural basketball league has created quite the buzz.  Great games, trash talking, lots of smiles and shortage of breath.  Senior directors, kids, teachers, staff and leadtimers are all involved.  It is a glimpse of the Kansas City property vision...another first but not last.  Our chapel season is going strong.  In our last service, one of the Shelterwood residents shared a personal testimony.  For chapel, having one of the kids share was another first . Lastly, this weekend the parents of our Leadtime students are attending the annual family weekend set aside specifically for that program.   Kicks off tonight with dinner and a "talent show" and concludes Sunday morning with a worship service.  Shelterwood Director, Todd Ellet will be sharing preceded by worship led by myself the the Killer B's.