Edgar Cabello's Blog

Rediscovery!

2012-01-27T06:04:00.000-08:00

I was privileged to share my (Southgate) story with Mark Meyer and the Maximizer guys that meet weekly to talk about making an impact through business in the context of the kingdom of God and the local church. They were so receptive and supportive! A real blessing! I rediscovered (as I do quite regularly) the heartbeat of our vision found in Jeremiah 29:7 "Seek the Welfare of the city where I have sent you..." It dawned on me as I was driving to the 6:30 am meeting that "J297" would probably be the best way to describe what we want to be all about at Southgate. What a great way to start the day!

The Church is the Cause

2012-01-24T13:10:00.000-08:00

One of the challenges of local church life is money... you know, having enough of it to do what the church is supposed to do. Why is that? Lack of teaching? Skepticism? Greed?

Here's what I think. Most people aren't greedy, they just need a good reason to give and the church just doesn't seem like one. This chasm in our understanding of seeing the church as a viable cause is deep and wide but, it is earned.

But, I for one think the church is a good cause. It has the potential to mobilize an army of volunteers in a moment's notice because its rooted in a value system (theology) of love, compassion, care & hard work. (Notice I said it has the 'potential' to do this.) There has been too much separation in our understanding of who we (the church) are and what we do. Our identity has too often been rooted in a doctrine we talk about rather than a way of life we demonstrate and sometimes describe. Perhaps if we witnessed churches catalyzing movements & becoming more like community centers and less like temples we would earn a new reputation.

This is Isaiah's confident, hopeful prediction about God's people, his church...

"The nations will see your righteousness. World leaders will be blinded by your glory. And you will be given a *new name by the LORD’s own mouth."

Isaiah 62:2 (NLT)

* The new name: "Sought Out" from Is. 62:12 (NASB)

What kind of shift needs to happen for the church to be seen as a good cause?

Change is Hard

2012-01-23T16:31:00.000-08:00

You never know how hard until you're being tested by it. Change that is... We (Cynthia & I) experiencing change in a big way in our lives right now...

Cynthia's grandmother just passed marking the end of an era for her family and even our church.
We are now empty nesters as our youngest (18) son graduated early and is pursuing his music dream out in California.
Our church leadership team has gone through a massive transition that has tested friendships, faith and loyalty. Not easy, but necessary.
We are in a 21-day season of prayer & fasting that is leading us back to our king, Jesus. It couldn't have come at a better time for me. That much is certain.

"There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things." Machiavelli

"Christmas on Wheels"

2011-12-24T06:39:00.000-08:00

What can I say? In all my years of ministry I've never been as excited about a 'church service' as I am right now. We determined that just like Jesus caused a ruckus at His arrival that we would too. No candle lighting in this one. Less than six weeks ago we were in a staff meeting that turned into a brainstorming time and voíla, we agreed a bike giveaway was a good idea for Christmas at Southgate. Initially we figured we could pull off giving away 25-30 bikes on short notice but that soon ramped up to 100. You know how brainstorming meetings go; you lose all sense of reason. So we began to execute a plan that would have us teaming up again with five of our local partners: Heroes Camp, Five Star Life (Jackson Middle School), Xavier School, Sonnyvilla & The Crossing Educational Center. We would also ask Southgate people to 'nominate' kids they thought could use a big Christmas surprise. We also figured every kid should walk away with something, so we purchased hundreds of sleds so that every kid received a gift. So, tonight & tomorrow we gather to worship Jesus and open gifts... and witness some kids being surprised by the generosity of people who love them enough to buy 100 bikes (& 700 sleds), lovingly put them together and open their arms to these precious kids on Christmas weekend. This moves me!

Merry Christmas!

Repost: On the Floor

2011-12-13T12:59:00.001-08:00

This is the way we want to lead our church.

What She Loves to Hear

2011-10-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

I've learned after 25 years of marriage to Cynthia what she loves to hear. Perhaps you might suppose "I love you!" or other sweet messages, but that's not what my wife loves to hear. She loves to hear the sound of a vacuum cleaner with me at the controls. She is more of a show-me kind of girl than a tell-me type. I actually do verbalize my love for her quite often but mostly because "words of affirmation" is my love language. Hers is "acts of service." She appreciates when I tell her nice things, but it means more to her when there is a healthy balance of other sounds around the house as well. I love to serve my wife.

"3 in 5"

2011-10-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

We're on the threshold of a new day at Southgate church in South Bend. We will be starting three new church campuses in the next 5 years. Our 1st campus pastor is Jack Hildreth. He and his wife Olivia will be joining our team the middle of next month. This month we have been teaching and sharing about what it means to step into a new reality in our giving. So to culminate our series "The Blessed Life" we will be pooling our resources to make our vision of "3 in 5" a reality. We are asking our people to give a generous investment to this vision. Plus there are a couple of other outreach projects included as well. Our goal is $40k! Let's blow this goal out of the water, Southgate! Take the Generosity Challenge!

Neighbors & Partnerships

2011-10-06T09:23:00.000-07:00

Several years ago we sold a building we could no longer use to Xavier School of Excellence, a charter school located just beyond our parking lot. Since Southgate is vested in seeing education improve in our community we have begun a relationship with our new neighbors offering the use of our facilities, creating relevant activities and even providing a work force. Here is what is happening this Saturday October 8th between Xavier & Southgate.

A God thing?

2011-09-24T09:26:00.000-07:00

This is a helpful and practical treatment to determine whether you have a 'good' idea or a 'God' idea... My friend Ps. Tim Dilena (pictured) posted this on Facebook. I thought it was worth sharing here.

Here are 7 ways to tell how something MAY be a God thing:
1. Everyone says it can’t be done…
2. You feel you aren’t qualified…
3. There aren’t enough resources available…
4. It makes no rational sense…
5. People call it (or you) stupid…
6. It would give God all the glory…

7. It honors God and is true to His Word…

Time to Plant

2011-09-14T13:51:00.000-07:00

Why plant churches? A terrific teaching from Tim Keller, Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Manhattan NYC.

Love thy neighbor...

2011-09-12T11:30:00.000-07:00

Meet Sharon, one of our Southgate neighbors. Last Saturday a team of 'servolutionaries' went to her house to help her tidy some things up and the results were amazing. At the end of the day the team prayed with her and blessed her with a total landscape overhaul. Sometimes loving our neighbors looks like this...

Shacking Up!

2011-08-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

We will be shacking up February 24, 25 & 26th 2012 with Paul Young, author of The Shack. That's right, Paul will be our guest at the Southgate Marriage Encounter then join us on Sunday to cap off the weekend! We are thrilled at the opportunity not just to have Paul visit South Bend, but at the prospect of blessing many with his life story. He is a wonderful, down-to-earth guy with a huge loving heart for people. Make plans to sign up soon as it will surely sell out quickly! You can contact Cynthia: cynthiac@southagte.cc if you would like more details.

My book list...

2011-08-01T14:52:00.000-07:00

Here are a few books I've recently read and ones that I currently have my nose in...

For the City

Darrin Patrick & Matt Carter

Excellence Eugene Peterson
The Great Divorce C.S. Lewis
Soul Print Mark Batterson
Linchpin Seth Godin

"Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers."
— Harry S. Truman

Video: Diversity's Symphony

2011-07-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

We ran out of time to show this video during the message at Southgate yesterday. I was hoping to use this in illustrating the idea of being a 3rd race in Christ, so here it is. Thanks to Scott Williams, David Bowden and Emanate Media for this awesome message.

Multi-site Endeavor

2011-07-18T12:36:00.000-07:00

Here are a few questions we didn't get to at our Q & A time during our family vision talk.

Will new campuses share the activities and services of Southgate? Yes. Whether that be youth ministry or Wednesday classes we can foresee sharing many resources especially in the early going of each new campus.
Will there be churches outside of Indiana? Possibly. We have not forecasted beyond 5 years at this point.
How will churches be financed? We will begin to raise funds this fall through October's "Generosity Challenge." We are also looking into partnerships with planting experts like the ARC that offer start up loans for new church plants that engage their training process. Ps. Dino Rizzo author of "Servolution" is on the ARC lead team.
In 5 years what will the church’s connectivity look like? Our goal is to develop churches in a closely connected network that share a common vision expressed through several campuses spread about South Bend. The desire is to preserve and express spiritual DNA and core values, but express the Gospel in ways unique to each campus's leadership, culture and environment.
Will the Westside campus be a Spanish language church? It will have Spanish 'flavor' but will not be a Spanish church. Primary (ie Sunday) gatherings will be in English but there may be secondary ministries in Spanish. Much still needs to be defined.

Tim Keller on City-wide Gospel Movements

2011-07-16T10:38:00.000-07:00

Tim Keller is the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan and author of numerous books including Counterfeit Gods. He shares about transforming cities with the gospel of Jesus Christ here.

Quote from Howard Schultz' new book "Onward"

2011-06-28T15:44:00.001-07:00

....amen

Spiritual Formation 4 Kidz

2011-06-22T12:28:00.000-07:00

Meet Paul Pedersen (and his little sister Emily.) He is one of our 5 year olds at Southgate. He just started going to The Loft (k-5) on Sunday mornings where he is currently learning the story of the exodus from the Old Testament. Because of the interactive, creative environments and the amazing leaders who care and teach the children, we find that kids not only remember their 'lessons' but end up talking about their experience with others. That's where Paul comes in. Here is a letter from Paul's mom, Cindi about a recent conversation she had with him....

I just had to send you guys an email after our ride to the sitter this morning. This whole week, Paul has been talking about how God sent the “beetles” to eat everything that was green, and the frogs, and the flies, and the water turned to blood, which made the fish stink… ;-) And yesterday, he was singing “I Am Free” all day...

Well, this morning, he asked me if I remembered about the “beetles”, and he told me about the other king with the snake on his crown that dreamt about the fat cows and the skinny cows and that there would be no food, which is what he and Will (Paul's dad) read about last night before bed. So, we got to have a great conversation about how we don’t have to worry because God takes care of His people, like he did with His people in Egypt and the way he warned the king with the dream.

All of that to say, I’ve worked in the Loft, I’ve seen the concepts click with the kids as I was teaching, but to see the impact of the Loft from a parent’s perspective has only increased how much I love it and how aware I am of the impact it has on our kids. I knew Paul would love the Loft, but I had NO IDEA how much! And to see it clicking for him after just two weeks, it’s been so amazing! The Loft makes it so easy for us, as parents, to have those conversations with our kids…

Thanks for writing the letter, Cindi! It's great to partner with parents and give them tools as the primary shapers of their kids lives.

Lift!

2011-05-17T04:36:00.001-07:00

So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. http://bible.us/2Thess1.11.NLT

It's vital we pray for one another... lifting each other up to God with faith and love. Have a great day!

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Hearing + Seeing + Feeling God

2011-05-16T07:37:00.000-07:00

Our venue for teaching children K-5 at Southgate to grow in their faith is called The Loft where we use creative ways and creative leaders to deepen their experience with God. This month at Southgate, we're teaching kids (and adults, by the way) about the Holy Spirit. Here is the teacher's guide for our Music & Motion Studio for the month of May. Take a look and see below one way we are approaching spiritual formation with Southgate children.

MUSIC & MOTION STUDIO

May 2011

KEY POINT: We “listen” to the Holy Spirit by following His guidance and directions

Required Materials:

Drum set moved from big room

Bass guitar with amplifier

Signs (listed under activity) taped to the handbells

Ping pong balls for each child with the verse written on them.

Prayer

Gather the children together, take prayer requests, and pray together.

Opening Activity: (10 min.)

Ask the children to raise their hands if they know of anyone who is deaf. Ask children to raise their hands if they can explain how deaf people communicate if they can’t hear with their ears? (sign language, body language, pictures, etc.) Ask the children if they think deaf people enjoy music? Because deaf people cannot hear all the notes, they focus on the rhythms and beat. Deaf people enjoy clapping, dancing and feeling the beat of music. Use the example of being in your car and feeling your car move if there is a car with loud bass music nearby.

We are going to try to see if we can feel the beat of music. Explain that you are going to choose well-behaved children to help play instruments. Have everyone put their hands on the ground and allow them to lay down or touch their faces to the ground if they want to feel the beat better. Explain that the volunteer will play a drum beat and they should close their eyes so they can focus on feeling the vibration. Allow a few volunteers to play the drums (and bass if possible) and let the children know that if you can get through the lesson, you’ll let the rest of the children take a turn at the end of class. Just a reminder that they should not play as loudly as they can because of the other classes.

Lesson: (10 min.)

Why are we talking about deaf people when we are learning about the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit has many jobs, and one of them is to help guide us and know what we should do. Hold up the picture of Donald Duck. Explain that cartoons often use a picture of a good angel and a the devil trying to help a person decide what to do. The angel tries to get the person to do the right thing; the devil tries to get the person to do the wrong thing. Does this happen in real life? Actually, it does- but not with little angels talking to us.

This is why we learned about how deaf people can enjoy music without actually hearing the notes. The Holy Spirit does talk to us, but just not in a voice like we use to talk to each other or like a little angel sitting on Donald Duck’s shoulder. Often the Holy Spirit helps us know what to do by giving us a feeling like you felt when you heard the drums. Have you ever thought about sneaking some candy or taking something that’s not yours? Raise your hand and describe if you had any strange feelings when you were thinking about doing it or maybe afterward? Allow a few responses, and explain that one of the ways the Holy Spirit guides us is with a feeling of right and wrong. We really need to stop and think about these strange feelings we get because it could be the Holy Spirit trying to talk to us. Because feelings can be confusing, we should always double check if it really IS the Holy Spirit by reading the Bible, asking a church leader, or our parents. If the feeling is the Holy Spirit, it will always be the same direction as what God tells us in the Bible.

Activity: (10 min.)

The Holy Spirit has lots of jobs like giving us peace when we are worried, hope when we are sad, and comfort when we are lonely. The job we are talking about today is how He gives us guidance and helping us make decisions. We are going to play a game to help us remember this. This month we are talking about how the Holy Spirit is like wind that guides us, and for the game we are going to use our wind (our breath) to guide a ball through an obstacle course. I am going to lay down these bells that have signs on them with bad things we sometimes face. Let’s read them together: stealing, watching bad shows, unforgiveness, being mean, disobeying parents, and anger. The Holy Spirit helps guide us around these things in real life, and today you are going to guide your ball around the obstacles. When you are done please sit along the wall and wait for the others to finish their turn. (You can set up two courses for larger classes so they get through faster). Demonstrate by getting on your knees and blowing the ball around a few obstacles. Seat the children in a line order against the wall and remind them they should return to these seats when they are waiting. Explain to the children that they will be allowed to take the ping pong balls home. Ask them to set up an obstacle course for their parents and explain the lesson to them. Remind 3-5th grades that their Journey Guide will collect their ping-pong balls and hand them out again as they are leaving the Big Room.

Review: (5 min.)

Ask children what job the Holy Spirit has that we talked about today? How can we be sure a feeling we get inside of us is the Holy Spirit?

Finish the morning by allowing children to play another round with the obstacle course or playing the instruments and feeling different beats.

@ScottWilliams is hunting elephants!

2011-05-02T09:35:00.000-07:00

Church Diversity is a book by a practitioner. That's what I love about it most. This isn't theory, this is on-the-ground, battle-tested strategy about confronting Sundays in church... the most segregated day (and often place) of the week. Not only have I been able to speak directly with Scott around this topic online and by phone, but just a few weeks back he and his wife LaKendria visited our church in South Bend. What a privilege to meet them and hear their heart in person! It was so affirming and encouraging to get them 'in the house' to see what has intentionally developed here at Southgate. It's true, you don't hunt elephants by accident and church diversity doesn't 'just happen.' On pg. 38 Scott writes, "Race is just one of those things that people would prefer to ignore... ignoring the elephant is not going to make the elephant get up and waddle out of the sanctuary." This is too true for real change to happen. This topic needs to be aired out! Church Diversity opens up not only a cultural conversation, but a theological discussion about God's intention for His church. Bravo to Scott for taking up this challenge and refusing to submit to the status quo. "Church diversity sucks, but it doesn't have to." @ScottWilliams Q: Is this an issue worth writing a book about? Post a response and you could win a free copy of Scott's book!

Shoes Off

2011-04-22T10:45:00.000-07:00

I am in Bloomington visiting my son, Maxwell (a student at Indiana University) with my family. We hit the very hilly, hiking trail at Yellowwood State Park this morning trying to get out before the forecasted storms moved in. We didn't have long walking sticks and backpacks because we weren't there to sight see. We travelled light for speed. My wife, Cynthia, who is in great shape, led the pack. She's small, fast and pretty hard for me to keep up with. In fact she is in considerably better shape now than when we came a couple of years ago. It was a workout. It has been quite rainy here in C. Indiana, so the low-lying areas are quite muddy and even swampy at times. That's how my shoes got so dirty.

At about the 3.5 mark of our 5 mile trek, we found ourselves at a creek bed nicely filled with very cold water. We had to cross or track back and do an extra 1-1.5 miles. While we played with the decision, Max's girlfriend, Serena (a student at Notre Dame), doesn't get involved in the discussion. She just takes off her shoes and starts across. It's around 48° mind you, and I don't like walking anywhere in my bare piggies let alone across a cold creek bed with tiny, sharp rocks. Ouch! But across we went. Sometimes we just need someone to take off their shoes and GO! I know I did today.

As I reflect on Good Friday I am so grateful Jesus took of his sandals, his clothes and his majesty and walked the 'way of pain' for us. His selfless, sacrificial act of leadership closed the gap between us and a saving, loving God. Today is a holy day, so perhaps we should make some time to take off our shoes, stand on holy ground and give thanks for what He has done. Have a great, Good Friday!

Starting the Week

2011-03-29T19:32:00.001-07:00

This is Bob, one of Southgate's elders. Every Monday at 7am he helps us get the week started right.

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Why Should Leaders Consider Tweeting?

2011-03-28T11:16:00.000-07:00

How Can Christian Leaders Get Started with Social Media? from Michael Hyatt on Vimeo.

Click

2011-03-23T11:26:00.000-07:00

When you find someone who 'speaks the same language' as you, it is special. What I mean is people love talking shop around whatever their craft or passion is. So whether your 'art' is music, science, business, communication, leadership, etc. it is always a treat to meet someone like yourself; someone who thinks about the same stuff. I have been blessed by Scott Williams concerning church leadership in a multi-racial context. You could say we've clicked.... long distance. He will be joining us this weekend at Southgate in South Bend to help lead our marriage retreat along with his wife LaKendria. I am so privileged to not only meet them, but host them for a couple of days. I can't remember the last time I spent so much time talking with someone over the phone before I actually met them in person. It seems Scott and I talk the same language. Nanu, nanu.

Think on these things....

2011-03-10T08:49:00.000-08:00

Critics, cynics & naysayers often speak loudest, it's good to get to this final thought right away. Turn down the volume on doubt and darkness.

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

Join Casey Martin at 6:30 Wednesday nights in March at Southgate for a fun conversation about Phil. 4:8 using the book below.

Coming Soon....

2011-02-22T20:42:00.000-08:00

Steal...

2011-02-19T07:32:00.001-08:00

Fight with your Spouse!

2011-02-09T09:02:00.000-08:00

Our upcoming March marriage encounter is going to be amazing! Don't wait until the last minute! Click here for all the "Fight for your Marriage" details. Scott Williams will be our guest for the entire weekend, and I couldn't be more ecstatic! Scott is the Campus Pastor of the Northwest Oklahoma City Campus of LifeChurch.tv. To find out more about Scott, his family and his new book check out his blog & his bio.

February Series...

2011-02-02T07:37:00.000-08:00

Coming out of the Awakening series (aptly named as far as I can tell...) and the 21-day fast, we are moving into February asking for 'new eyes' to see what God sees. Jesus said to his disciples in John 4 after his discussion with the 'woman at the well' .... "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest..." New series: "The Fields" starts Sunday!

Fight with your spouse...

2011-01-27T21:22:00.001-08:00

Cynthia & I got together with three Southgate couples who care deeply about their marriage and the covenant of marriage. We ate a delicious meal together then did some brainstorming and planning for our marriage weekend in March. This year's theme is 'fight with (as in alongside) your spouse... as you fight for your marriage.' It is sure to be an amazing weekend dedicated to building the most important relationship you could have with another human being. It's affordable (85.00) and close to home... Comfort Inn & Suites in South Bend. Special guests to be announced very soon. Save the dates: March 25-26 2011.

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This week's Sunday fill-in answers...

2011-01-20T11:38:00.001-08:00

Fasting Makes You Hungry

2011-01-15T10:48:00.001-08:00

We're one week into a 21-day fast at Southgate Church. The goal of this fast is for us to simply get closer to God . So far so good. I'm not sure how it works but fasting definitely breaks one's normal rhythm and gets me thinking and directing my life back towards God. This is definitely producing new hunger in my life. It's not too late to join in since we still have two weeks to go. It's true, fasting makes you hungry.

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Great thought for today...

2011-01-14T05:53:00.000-08:00

When transformation is the goal this may help keep things in perspective...

"I'm not what I ought to be, I'm not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am." John Newton

Note: Looking for a good devotional tool for this fast? Try this one.

Awakening Video Message....

2011-01-10T10:47:00.000-08:00

Awakening Wk. 1

2011-01-09T07:10:00.001-08:00

Today we embark on a 21 day journey to get closer to God as individuals and as a church family. Please take a moment and post what God is doing in your life through this time of prayer and fasting. You can sign in (it only take a couple of minutes) or remain anonymous. Let's encourage each other on the journey!

5 Things That Will Change Your Life.... Dave Ramsey

2010-12-08T21:22:00.000-08:00

9 Homemade Christmas Gifts That Might Actually Get Used

2010-12-04T16:52:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Christian Personal Finance for this article...

Let’s be honest, we have all received some homemade Christmas gifts that never saw the light of day again – sometimes they are well intentioned and so we might not care that our peppermint-scented ruler holder won’t get too much use. The thought and love behind it makes up for it’s lack of usefulness. But what if there were some Christmas presents you could make and give to people that they would appreciate the thought (more than a gift card), were used and enjoyed, and saved you money to boot?

The recent issue of Real Simple magazine has a few ideas for homemade Christmas gifts that got me thinking. As a guy who thoroughly enjoys food (don’t we all?) if I can eat it, I will enjoy it. But there are a few other gift ideas listed below that I think would have a decent chance of being enjoyed by many!

1. Chocolate Nut Bark

This one was featured in Real Simple and is indeed real simple! You only need to buy 12 ounces of semisweet chocolate and 2.5 cups of mixed nuts. You then melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a (but not in) a saucepan of gently simmering water, stirring occasionally. Next you spread the chocolate evenly on a parchment-lined 9×13 inch baking pan and sprinkle with the nuts. Refrigerate until firm (about 30 mins). After that you can break into pieces and keep at room temperature for a week.

2. Beeswax candles

This was a homemade gift that I received one year and loved it. I particularly enjoy beeswax candles over paraffin wax (the wax used in most candles) because of their health benefits. Buying them can be expensive, but making them really isn’t too difficult and can even be fun. I like making tea lights because they are simple, but if you want something even simpler you can learn how to make rolled beeswax candles.

3. A homemade clock

You can go to just about any crafty store and find a Clock Kit for just a few bucks. You can then decorate a piece of wood, ceramic, or just about anything and turn it into a clock.

4. Monogrammed Journal

This was another one that Real Simple had that I thought was pretty cool. Basically you just buy a hardback journal and add a little creative flair to it. They say to get a few letter stamps and rubber banding them together, so you can stamp the monogram consistently. From there you can let your imagination run wild – check out the pic for inspiration.

5. Chocolate-chip cookies

Get a little Christmas Tin, make cookies, and give it away. This is a winning gift every time!

6. Painted pot for plants

This was actually a homemade gift we received for our wedding. The giver bought a standard clay pot and decorated it and painted our names on it. Then she planted a little plant in it and we are still using our pot today! It’s a great way to take a simple item and give it some personality.

7. Build a birdhouse

I haven’t done this in a while, but I built my mom a birdhouse when I was about 12 or so and she cried. This was a perfect example of a homemade present having so much more value than a store-bought one. I could have probably purchased a far-superior birdhouse for a few bucks, but my investment of time and energy into it made it a great gift. For a little instruction you can check out this video on how to build one from a single piece of wood.

8. Gold-leaf vases

This was also in the Real Simple issue and while I wouldn’t get that much of a kick out of these, I think my wife would dig them. Basically you can just find a few small vases from the thrift store and get a Gold Leaf Kit. From there you just follow the instructions in the kit – you can and should add your own creative flare…

9. Terrarium

I remember making one of these as a kid and loved watching the the little contained eco-system. I used an old gallon jar of Mauls bbq sauce and had it for years. This post has some great ideas to get you started.

A few more links if you are looking for additional homemade gift ideas…

What about you – what homemade christmas presents have you enjoyed receiving or giving?

This article was a reprint and was originally published in November 2009

10 Minutes Well-spent

2010-12-04T10:41:00.000-08:00

How much will you spend this year?

2010-12-01T07:45:00.000-08:00

A new poll projects spending this Christmas will reach an all-time low of $616.00 per American. This is down from a record high of $866.00 in '08. Many will go in debt 'for the sake of the kids' this year and suffer for it next year when the bills comes due. Be wise in your spending. By all means, celebrate Christmas giving in moderation and within your means. But, more importantly, be sure to worship the Christ Child, Jesus, liberally and without measure.

J-E-T-S jest jets jets

2010-11-29T16:06:00.000-08:00

Last week I was able to fulfill a childhood wish. I visited The New Meadowlands stadium with two of my sons. What an intense atmosphere with a TD to give the Jets the win with time running out. Check out Fireman Ed leading the Jets Chant!

Brooklyn....

2010-11-15T04:47:00.000-08:00

I can't get that song "New York" by Alicia Keyes and Jay-Z out of my head these days. This is the 2nd time in a month we have been in NYC and I have to say, I love New York... such a different world from N. Indiana. We're staying in an apartment in Brooklyn during our time here. Our flat is right in the middle of a neighborhood to help us get into the whole experience. It's 7:30 am and we're about to walk to the subway to begin a leadership conference at Brooklyn Tabernacle, a great church in this great city. Got to go.... I have a walk ahead of a train ride. Peace.

Me Too!

2010-11-08T18:11:00.000-08:00

My church is very special. Every pastor should feel that way about his or her church, in my opinion. Having been in leadership at the same church for as long as I have, I recall a handful of special gatherings. Last Sunday was one I will always remember. Steve Reynolds is one of our associate pastors who is a gifted communicator and excellent leader of youth. Steve kicked off a new series titled Gracenomics (with permission from Mike Foster, the author of a great little book by that title.)

Preaching is an interesting art because it is mysteriously effective in so many forms. There are some that are excellent wordsmiths, some humorists and some that just 'bring the fire,' but what Steve demonstrated last week was what I'd call a living eucharist: the breaking of bread and the outpouring of wine. What I am saying is Steve was being broken and being poured out, like Jesus, as he preached a powerful message of grace complete with gut-level honesty and unusual authenticity. I am convinced the church is hungry for communication and honest leaders that carry God's brokenness for the hurting.

This was brilliant. At one point, Steve said, "I am going to share something that I have in the past or am currently struggling with. And if you can relate say, 'Me too.'" We like people to talk back to us at our church, so that is not odd at all. But, that he lead us in a very public time of confession just kicked the door down for our mixed-race, mosaic crowd to respond with honesty to the message. The presence of God and the sense of healing as grace was being exchanged between husbands and wives, friends, brothers and sisters was thick in that space on that special day. If you have about 37 minutes listen to Steve's message & story and see if it doesn't help you see and experience God's grace a little better. It was indeed one of those days I will remember as unusually powerful and special.

Team Sport

2010-10-29T06:54:00.000-07:00

I had a reunion yesterday with some guys I have come to really like, love and appreciate. We were all part of Scott Hodge's coaching group last spring. Twelve of us talked church, life and leadership from January to June online with an onsite meeting in May with Scott and his team in Aurora, IL. I thought it was interesting how all but two of our teammates showed up yesterday to our online reunion (one was on the phone, so you can't see him in the photo) just to catch up and hand out some attaboys to some guys who are leading, struggling and winning. All of us need and actively looked for support outside our context when we joined up in December of '09 . Yesterday was kind of like a play date, in some respects, because for 90 minutes a dozen leaders weaved encouragement & prayer with some horsing around. Honestly, I long for that kind of companionship and release of my squirrelly-self with no pressure to be the best behaved guy in the room. Yeah, I realized again how I really do need the body of Christ, and I need it in many forms. Thanks guys. Let's do it again soon!

Brilliant!

2010-10-23T09:59:00.001-07:00

This marketing campaign has been around forever. It seems the truly good ones get the job done over time. Chick-Fil-A is a solid company that has managed to portray, not only their values, but really good food. They have gotten great mileage out of theses cows, toooooooooo!

Take the Generosity Challenge

2010-10-04T09:24:00.000-07:00

The world of the generous gets larger & larger; the world of the stingy gets

smaller & smaller.

The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.

Please help cover these projects by giving

1-day’s pay here.

2010-09-20T13:05:00.000-07:00

In the month of October I will lead a group on leadership on Wednesday nights at SGC from 6:30 to 8pm. We will rally our learning around the book, Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders. With more than 500,000 in print, it has proven itself a timeless classic in teaching the principles of leadership. Sanders presents and illustrates those principles through biographies of eminent men such as Moses, Nehemiah, Paul, David Livingstone, and Charles Spurgeon. You can download this book for free here. You will be asked to create an account before you order, then enter SEP2010 in the coupon space provided at check-out. I hope to see you there starting October 6th.

Starting Saturday Sept. 11th at SGC

2010-09-02T15:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our friends at GCC who have generously guided us through some of the early dealings of making a monthly commitment to serve the community. They have been serving on the 2nd Saturday of most every month for the last five years. That's commitment What they have given us has been much wise counsel, their blessing to use an idea they've worked hard to shape, plus this nifty logo. SGC (Southgate Church) has also been hugely impacted by Dino Rizzo's book, "Servolution." So, 2nd Saturday offers us one way to start a revolution through serving. We will kick it off next week in anticipation that other churches will come along for the ride. What if all through our city on the 2nd Saturday of each month the church (made up of many congregations) was visible offering help, service, ministry, etc to people and organizations that have had to cut budgets or simply need a hand getting a job done? Wouldn't that be an amazing show of unity and care for others? I think so, too!

Mosaic as a Core Value (Repost of May 15th entry)

2010-08-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

Whenever people talk about race it is provocative. It remains a very sensitive subject in the U.S. Southgate is intentionally embracing a blending of races we've called 'mosaic'. We are intentionally building a leadership team that reflects the diversity within our congregation. It is a challenging and rewarding process. It is now core to our corporate identity. The stats below are just a reminder how much of an issue this is for the church in our nation even in the 21st century.

(reposted blog)
Q: Are U.S. churches multiracial? (What about your church?)
A: Sadly, no. Eleven o’clock Sunday morning continues to be the most segregated hour in America. A study by sociologist Michael Emerson showed that churches where 20 percent of members were of a racial minority comprised only 7 percent of U.S. congregations. Overall, 5 percent of Protestant churches and 15 percentof Roman Catholic churches were multi-racial. But Sociologist Scott Thumma found that megachurches, in the 2005 “Megachurches Today” study, may be changing that balance. In his study, 35 percent of megachurches claimed to have 20 percent or more minorities. What’s more, 56 percent of megachurches said they were making an intentional effort to become multi-racial.
Want to know more? Read People of the Dream: Multiracial Congregations in the United States by Michael Emerson, (Princeton University Press, 2006) Also, read the Megachurches Today report here.

Help for Parents

2010-08-14T12:28:00.000-07:00

None of my boys are fanatical about video games....at least right now. In our home we have played sports games on PS3 or XBOX plus the classic Nintendo games, but we are not a gaming family by any definition. I am always blown away how huge the gaming industry has become. Here are a few stats offered by a Harris Interactive poll on gaming and addiction within the ranks of youth.

The average 8-12 yo plays video games 13hrs per week.
The average 13-18 yo plays video games 14hrs per week.
23% of youth say they have ‘felt’ addicted to video games.
44% of youth say their friends are addicted to video games.
9% of child gamers are clinically addicted.

Here's the help part. My friend Matt Yaggi has been developing a resource called Reviews4Parents to assist moms and dads to make informed decisions about gaming. I would consider him an expert on the subject of gaming. He will be our special guest at Southgate Sunday August 15th, 2010.

Honduras...

2010-07-09T09:13:00.000-07:00

We're getting a quick look at the beautiful country of Honduras. I am here with my wife Cynthia, and two youngest sons, Maxwell and Garret. We will be working alongside Jason & Sarah Furrow, a young couple who we have begun to gravitate toward over the last year. Their vision for community development in the mountain village of Urraco is compelling. They are doing missions in a new and innovative way that aims to change not just the village they live in, but the economy of this Central American country. We will be doing life with them for the better part of the next two weeks... learning their adopted culture, living their rhythm and helping build into the community. When you pray for us please mention Jason & Sarah and Give Hope 2 Kids. Maybe next time we come you can come, too!

Staff Meeting Tuesday

2010-06-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

It is Tuesday, which is our staff day. My birthday is Friday so they brought me bagels and a gift card. That's kind of standard procedure around here, but I still like getting a gift card. Today we updated our 6x6 plans and shared some successes and some failures. We don't expect everyone to bat 1.000 each time, but we do expect each other to make a significant contribution to the success of Southgate. What is 6x6? It is the plan for each of our teammates to accomplish the six things in six weeks that will most positively impact SGC. We hold one another accountable to actually get our stuff done. We also shared our APEST test results with one another today and saw the balance of leadership giftings (Ephesians 4) represented on our team in a new way. My results are below. You can find out more about the APEST test here. I am proud of our team and respect their leadership gifts and effort.

T.A.P.E.S.
Teaching	33
Apostolic	30
Prophetic	30
Evangelistic	23
Shepherding	7

Austin is getting married today...

2010-06-19T05:28:00.000-07:00

Hey Austin,

In case you didn't know, you're getting married today. Many have asked me how I feel about this so I figured I would explain in this letter to you. Here is how I feel.....

Proud. You are an impressive young man in many ways. You're dependable and loyal. I don't think you know another way. It's instinctive at this point and we all benefit from it.

Confident. We have lived in close relationship as a family and have spoken freely about life and all that comes with it. Mom and I have told you all we know and tried to demonstrate authenticity in our marriage before you and your brothers. You have been a very important part of our family dynamic and I believe you have the basic tools to begin to build your own family with Meagan. I am not worried about you at all.

Joyful. You have chosen a very good girl, Austin. She is a good fit for you and for us. She has been part of our family unofficially for quite some time now, but making this official today gives me great joy. We all love Meagan and everything about her. She will make a great wife to my most excellent son, and that makes me very happy!

Satisfied. God has been good to us. It makes me think of Psalm 107 which says, "God satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." I give thanks to God today because he has satisfied us, hasn't he?"

I don't know if you remember this but your name means 'revered' or 'respected'. As your dad I can honestly say I respect you and I am pretty sure anyone who really knows you in this room does as well. Austin, you must be a strong, resilient, loving, sensitive leader in this marriage. Initiate conversation when you don't feel like it. Pray with Meagan often, and depend on the Holy Spirit to lead you. I think Meagan would agree with me when I say, you are the best man for this job.

I Baptized Jesus.....

2010-06-06T06:07:00.000-07:00

Meet Jesus meeting Jesus...yeah that's what I said. This is Jesus DeLeon one of our SGC family who was baptized last week. Jesus (pronounced: hey-soos) is a follower of Jesus (looks strange when you write it, but it is true.) He chose to be immersed in water following the example of Christ in the Bible. It is always so exciting to experience baptism with young believers who have decided to follow the path of Christ. He and several of his brothers and extended family have recently experienced a major life change because of their newfound faith. Feel free to pray to Jesus for Jesus and his family. I know they would appreciate it.

Meet Steve Reynolds

2010-05-29T16:40:00.000-07:00

SGC Staffing: Since summer of '09 I knew we would be transitioning at the leadership level. One of our key staffers moved away and it left us with a substantial leadership void. After a few days of panic about who I could find to fill some pretty amazing shoes, I really felt a nudge from within (ie Holy Spirit) to not switch into replacement mode. The plan was to take the 09-10 school year and 'feel out' the needs that surfaced through prayer and observation. I knew we would need a key leader to help us develop our kids ministry initiative to the next level, and I was pretty sure we would be looking outside of SGC to fill this role. After many conversations--which I highly recommend having--with some trusted advisors and leaders we came up with a plan we felt pretty good about. There was a strong sense of agreement. Casey Martin, our youth minister, for the last three years has stepped up to the role of overseer of all children & students. We call it 936, the number of weeks from birth to age 18. Casey has developed into a dynamic leader and team builder...and he was here all along.

From this process has come a new staffing strategy and a new face(s) on our team. After reconfiguring out team, SGC is proud to announce Steve Reynolds as our youth minister. Steve and his wife Marcy have been in youthwork for most of their eight years of married life while they have produced five children of their own. Steve will continue to work for the Crossing while running point for 12ONE SGC's ministry to middle and high school students. You can find and learn more about Steve on Facebook and follow him on Twitter. A big welcome to Steve and the entire Reynolds family!

Mosaic Experiment

2010-05-26T06:02:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite voices in the church today is Mark Batterson who has built a really great church in DC and written books like In a Pit, Wild Goose Chase and now Primal. I am grateful for this godly leader. Mark is famous (in my world) for saying these liberating words.... "Everything is an experiment." It is powerful and empowering to go into a risky situation with this idea firmly in mind. I want to live more like that every day!

So, this weekend at SGC we will try an experiment. Our Sunday service will be in Spanish and translated to English, and it's never been done here before. Why? Because we are a church that celebrates the mosaic nature of our multi-cultural church. This Sunday we celebrate Jesus Latino-style complete with music, preaching and tamales (...for sale to help with our mission to Argentina.)

Now in Spanish....

Una de mis voces preferidas en la iglesia es hoy la Mark Batterson que ha incorporado una iglesia realmente grande en la Washington D.C. Soy agradecido para este líder santo. El es famosa (en mi mundo) por decir estas palabras de liberación…. ' Todo es un experimento.' Es de gran alcance y de autorización para entrar una situación aventurada con esta idea firmemente en mente. ¡Quiero vivir más bién eso diario!

Así pues, este fin de semana en SGC intentaremos un experimento. Nuestro servicio de Domingo estará en español y será traducido al inglés, e nunca hecho aquí antes. ¿Por qué? Porque somos una iglesia que celebra la naturaleza del mosaico de nuestra iglesia multicultural. Este Domingo celebramos el Latino-estilo de Jesús completo con música, la predicación y tamales (… para que la venta ayude con nuestra misión a la Argentina.) ¡Todos estan bienvenidos!

The Lost Art of Apologizing

2010-05-23T09:58:00.000-07:00

You ever struggle to apologize? As part of The Orchard's (Aurora, IL) People of the Second Chance series Scott Hodge gave some helpful advice on how to apologize.... maybe this will help you.

Apologizing made easy...
1. Acknowledge your failure
2. Acknowledge the impact of your misdeed.
3. Actually tell them, "I'm sorry."
4. Commit to change.
5. Shut up. (No need to explain how you were misunderstood or other cool reasons that help you manage your image.)

PS..... Teach your kids to apologize & own their failures. It's never to early to help them take ownership.

Multi-racial churches in the United States...

2010-05-15T14:16:00.000-07:00

Q: Are U.S. churches multiracial? (What about your church?)
A: Sadly, no. Eleven o’clock Sunday morning continues to be the most segregated hour in America. A study by sociologist Michael Emerson showed that churches where 20 percent of members were of a racial minority comprised only 7 percent of U.S. congregations. Overall, 5 percent of Protestant churches and 15 percent of Roman Catholic churches were multi-racial. But Sociologist Scott Thumma found that megachurches, in the 2005 “Megachurches Today” study, may be changing that balance. In his study, 35 percent of megachurches claimed to have 20 percent or more minorities. What’s more, 56 percent of megachurches said they were making an intentional effort to become multi-racial.
Want to know more? Read People of the Dream: Multiracial Congregations in the United States by Michael Emerson, (Princeton University Press, 2006) Also, read the Megachurches Today report here.

On my mind....

2010-05-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

I stole this idea from a friend who may have stolen this from someone else, but one thing is sure there are no original ideas, just good memories. Anyway, this is what is on my mind today....

Progress attracts criticism and disunity. It seems to me when you really get going there is a whole different set of problems that suddenly appears. Division makes life difficult, and is too often unavoidable.
Being misunderstood is still difficult for me. Just when I think people 'know my heart,' I am reminded how prone I am to hurt people and that being misunderstood is simply a burden of leadership.
Personal space matters. As we adjust to a different living environment, I am jonesing for the familiar turf of my house....the one I just sold to total strangers (possibly otherworldly aliens.) This brother needs some elbow room!
The business of church makes me long for the days when it was only about (youth) ministry. I love and appreciate my role as the senior leader at Southgate, primarily because I love my church and embrace my calling to lead a local church. But, even though it was difficult, at times, to work under someone's leadership (ie as a staffer), it insulated me from stuff I would rather not be doing... stuff I would still rather not be doing.
Friendships matter. I need friends outside of my context; people I can vent with and complain to about people they don't know and will (hopefully) never meet.
Give grace. Always be slow to judge, ok at least try to slow it down a bit.

That's what is on my mind today, Monday May 10th 2010.

Servolution!

2010-04-27T08:06:00.000-07:00

Sonnyvilla is a partner of Southgate. Hear what Josiah Martino, Executive Director of Sonnyvilla had to say about our most recent project here.

Too Busy

2010-04-26T06:53:00.000-07:00

Bill Hybels wrote a book about 15 years ago called Too Busy Not to Pray. All I can say is amen (again) to that. But, I am definitely having to learn that lesson all over again. For example, I find myself getting in position to speak to our people at SGC too often feeling like I have not fully participated in the joy of preparation. I always prepare, you know 'do the work,' but too often I miss the joy of meeting Jesus and sharing in the anticipation of what the Spirit wants to do. This needs course correction, not so much out of guilt trippiness, but out of relational emptiness. Prayer nurtures that relationship and it is too easy to take a pass on that which brings life. I'm reminded again today I need my friend Jesus most when I am busy. Time to pray.

3 am

2010-04-08T23:51:00.000-07:00

I am not a guy who stays up very late, so here I sit in a hotel lobby in Ft. Lauderdale at 3am. My poor little wifey Cynthia has a stomach deal that is keeping her pretty close to the toilet right now. I just made a run to Walgreen's for some tummy relief but I think this is going to have to run it's course. We're pretty sure it is a 24 hr deal because Garret just suffered through a day of it. Life has been very busy lately and we really need this break together. She slept nestled up to me on the plane from Cincinnati to south Florida and I just prayed that our union would be restored to full strength and that she would decompress and get healed of anything that needs a touch of God's grace. Sometimes life and good stuff like ministry, selling a home and the daily push can put demands on your attention that just leave you feeling distant from the ones you need most. That's what I mean by being restored to full strength. I will now return to our room and see how she is doing and do my best to be part of the healing process of her body and her heart.

2010-04-07T10:41:00.000-07:00

Mark, the New Testament, writer captures Jesus as the ruler who serves and the servant who rules. You just can't get away from the odd way his government works as you look at the life and dealings of Jesus. "If you want to be great, become a slave. If you want to be rich, sell all your stuff." In his own words: "The son of man came to serve, not to be served and give his life as a ransom for the world." Jesus, the revolutionary came as a servant....servolution.

www.southgate.cc

Prayer in Motion

2010-03-31T11:43:00.001-07:00

The path is a metaphor for our journey in Christ. There is nothing “magical” about the labyrinth. There are no tricks the walker must figure out to walk it. There is only one path. The walker sees the design laid out before her or him throughout her or his walk. Yet, there is the mystery of prayer that we somehow communicate with our creator and our creator communicates with us! The Holy Spirit’s work within us enables us to pray. The scripture says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8: 26 – 27)

Prayer Labyrinth at SGC on Good Friday April 2nd from 11a to 7p. Child care is available from 4-7. Enter the gymnasium at the north end of the parking lot next to Michigan St. You will be asked to take off your shoes.

Children are a gift.

2010-03-28T20:32:00.001-07:00

Transition Journey

2010-03-16T09:25:00.000-07:00

This is a brilliant transition map from the book "Change Monster" by Jeanie Daniel Duck. We had an amazing conversation around this idea and the development of SGC today. Tuesday staff meetings are a highlight of my week! (Click the map to enlarge.)

Aaaahhh, you went there!

2010-03-09T10:19:00.000-08:00

That's what we're doing at SGC these days. We're 'going there' concerning marriage relationships and the raw truth behind the lives of our people. One of our core values at SGC is authenticity, so what you will witness here is all that and then some. Meet Ray and Micle Flora. They are professionals working in the field of health and medicine and they are loads of fun to be around. Micle is one of our amazing worship leaders with a gift from God that saw her through many dark days. Here they share their story of overcoming a nightmarish season of their life that led them to the brink of divorce. Five years later they are going on a cruise to Hawaii... to celebrate 15 years of marriage. Rough & Tumble? Yes! But worth it? Absolutely! Congratulations, y'all!

On the floor.

2010-03-08T17:44:00.000-08:00

This is the way we want to lead our church.

Hitched

2010-02-21T19:26:00.000-08:00

New series has begun at SGC. We are connected to some people in our lives by choice and we're connected to others by fate or by virtue of our family line. Whatever the connection, relationships take work. We will delve into some of the key ingredients that produce winning marriages, families & friendships. The first message, Obsession can be summed up in this sentence: Becoming obsessed with what people think about you is the fastest way to forget about what God thinks about you. Join us live on Sundays at 10:30 or catch the podcast here.

Broken

2010-02-18T08:24:00.000-08:00

Jesus said he didn't come to earth for people who are well. He made it very clear he came like a doctor to the sick and broken among us. And while it is true that we are all sick and broken to some degree, we are not all put off to the side like some of the kids I met this morning. One of the unique things about Southgate, the church I get to lead, is our relationship with an alternative school called The Crossing. Each day they hold school they take time out to talk about life...Family Time. Today a young man named Jonathan shared his story of how God has kept him safe after being left alone by his parents and losing his brother in a shooting death a couple of years ago. What a story! The best part is that Jonathan was a Crossing kid but now is Crossing staff. He is still healing but he is definitely less broken. Prayer requests? Two kids at the end asked for prayer for their dads who were in court that day. Broken, but asking for God to help them become whole. This goes on under our roof each day of the school week here at SGC. People think we have church on Sundays and we do, but they probably don't know we have it every other day of the week as well. It's just a little bit different than one might imagine. "The church is the school and the school is the church..." Steve Chalke

Who's on your team?

2010-02-16T08:28:00.000-08:00

A guy asked me some time ago to be on his 'Board of Directors.' I asked if he was starting a business or non-profit or whatever.... He said he was trying to build a team of people around him who he respected to help him manage his life and challenge him to growth & godliness. That is brilliant! Life is a team sport and we all need a team or a board of directors. I am grateful to my team who make me better in so many ways. Think about it. Who stretches you? Who challenges you to be a better you? This doesn't happen accidentally. Go ahead and fill those seats. Who is on your team?

The Zalas' Journey of Faith

2010-02-08T09:53:00.000-08:00

On Sunday morning February 7th, SGC featured an interview with John and Joyce Zalas. They spoke candidly about their marriage journey as they cared for their daughter Alesia who passed away one year ago. View their story here.

A Few Reflections from last year

2010-01-29T19:13:00.000-08:00

Here are some things that I fondly look back on as 2010 matures.

Cynthia and I ran two 5k's.
The Crossing school (an outreach to public school casualties) moved into SGC.
My son Austin announced his engagement to Meagan Allen, his longtime sweetheart.
SGC was finally & officially out of debt!
Notre Dame hired Brian Kelly as its new head coach.
I was selected to be part of a coaching community with Scott Hodge of The Orchard and 12 other pastor guys. It began yesterday. It was amazing.
We put our house up for sale to downsize since we will soon be a family of three co-habitants
Bought our plane tickets for Honduras to go on a two-week mission in July with Max and Garret, my two youngest sons.
Celebrated my 20th year on staff at SGC (the last 5.5 in the senior role)

I think this will be a good year, too.

Donald Miller's Response to Pat Robertson

2010-01-15T03:57:00.000-08:00

“You seem angry and tired. Christ loves you. He is not impressed with your religious posturing. He really loves you. You don’t have to hide behind anything anymore. The good news really is that good.”

For Don's full response click here.

Why SGC Partners with The Crossing #3 (Family Time)

2010-01-08T07:41:00.001-08:00

This is Ronnie and Becca Bunton. They are Crossing staffers. Not too many people make much noise about this, but they are also missionaries to students that just can't fit in to the 'normal' school environment. The Crossing offers an education leading to a diploma (not a GED) but more importantly it offers a family. This is why Ronnie and Becca do what they do. They love Jesus and they want these kids, many of them troubled and neglected, to know Jesus loves them too. They also know the importance of family. Everyday Crossing staffers sit with the students and have 'family time.' It may start with a simple question: "What's going on?" That sometimes opens a can of worms as kids pour their hearts out to loving, willing leaders who listen and make it a point to invest not only in heads, but hearts. The Buntons are excellent leaders who model family and invite Crossing kids to be part of theirs. This is just another reason why SGC partners with the Crossing.

Why SGC Partners with The Crossing #2

2009-12-27T06:44:00.000-08:00

Rob Staley (shown on the far left) is the guy who started The Crossing. He was a high school principal for almost 20 years. Before that he was a guy trying to get through college so he could teach and help kids. Before that he was a struggling youth with a 'wild streak' and an attitude. He was 'trouble' and he was troubled! He experienced a major life change when he was a senior in high school and found a new life in Jesus Christ. That was the genesis of his calling to make a difference.

Fast forward to 2003. Rob by then was a seasoned principal known for his no-nonsense discipline approach to learning which means if a student doesn't cooperate, he/she is out....suspended, expelled. That's life in the public school where the responsibility of the leader is to make sure that the educational components are well-oiled and functioning while ensuring people who are distractions and obstacles to the learning environment are dealt with. Understood. But where does this kid go? You know....the kid who cussed out the teacher...the kid who retaliated an insult with a left jab to the eye....the chronic truant...the kid with 'special needs.' That is the question that got under Rob's skin and into his heart. He had to do something about this.

So rather than being the guy who sent the troubled youth away from the school, he would reposition himself to be the one who would greet them on their way out the door. He became the solution to his own problem; his personal problem as a troubled youth from days past and his professional problem as an educator. Basically, he couldn't bear to watch one more kid slip through the cracks only to be eaten up by the streets, drugs, a life of crime and possibly death. That's when The Crossing began. It began in one man's heart. Next post I will share what has happened since that time.

Why SGC partners with The Crossing: Reason #1

2009-12-19T07:18:00.000-08:00

Something to Believe in through Someone to Believe in....

School is school is school, right? Students end up at the Crossing for a myriad of reasons ranging from poor performance in school to violence to arrogance to resistance to any kind of authority or very poor attendance. For the stubborn child we have found they need something to believe in and to be a part of…something, anything! Most of our kids were never eligible to be in the sports programs at school even if they wanted to because their grades kept them ineligible. Most of our kids, actually all kids, learn behavior and response patterns from their parents, many of which are inappropriate, so they act out. I teach an evening elective class for our Butler students. We are building a 1958 Buick street rod. This will be a high horsepower street machine on a light ‘94 extended Caprice chassis with a squeezed 455 dual quad power plant. The powerless among us embrace any opportunity to be empowered by any means possible which makes big horsepower cars a real hit! I wish you could all experience an evening with our young men getting dirty, busting knuckles, and turning wrenches! We all love the smell of axel grease and welding smoke and the growls that come with every successful accomplishment. We presently have the entire project disassembled to the last bolt! Sandblasting the frame, painting and reassembly are the next events in the process. Our kids love adventure, activity, and hands-on life! We have discovered that when kids find acceptance and actually become an “innie” rather than an “outie,” everything else flows a whole lot smoother. When we do life with them in the “club,” they find it easier to do life with us in the day-to-day business of school. Another awesome perk in this whole relationship is that they become deeply loyal to those who chose to care enough to include them in the “fun” parts of their personal lives. We love our kids deeply and they love us deeply too. Did you catch that? They love us deeply, too. That is the work of God in their lives that occurs because we choose to behave with them as Jesus would. “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

This Blog was written by Don Riley of The Crossing Educational Center, a partner of SGC.

What does a Trillion dollars look like?

2009-12-15T16:36:00.000-08:00

Ukulele Boy Is a Hit on the Web..

2009-12-14T18:55:00.001-08:00

This kid is destined for greatness!

Thought you might want to know...

2009-12-14T16:00:00.000-08:00

Just caught wind that as of today (12.14.09), Facebook will automatically index all your info on Google, which allows everyone to view it. To change this option, go to Settings --> Privacy Settings --> Search --> then UN-CLICK the box that says 'Allow indexing'. Facebook kept this one quiet. Copy and paste on...to your status for all your friends ASAP. I thought you might want to know.

Get Moving.

2009-12-13T02:58:00.000-08:00

This time of year has many great attributes and a unique beauty, but personally I find myself wanting to hide out from the cold, greyness of the northern Indiana winter. Something needs to kick into a higher gear for me this time of year. What's it called? Oh yeah, discipline. That is what carries me through the hype-less seasons of life when it is easy to excuse myself from that which helps me build upward. Another idea that works nicely here is faithfulness (being loyal to your values and passions)....not exciting concepts but the stuff that keeps 'coal in the furnace' when it feels like the fire's dwindling. So, here is what I am going to do. I will commit to being in a place of prayer where I can hear God's voice. I will work out my body. Whether I feel like it or not. These are orthodox concepts with monumental impact on us spiritually//relationally//physically. Gotta go.

Dr. Grant Mathews on the Bethlehem Star

2009-12-12T10:47:00.001-08:00

Grant Mathews, Ph.D (Astrophysics) is coming to SGC this weekend to discuss the phenomenon of the Christmas star as part of the "Godisnowhere" series. He is currently working on a book on his research. He will be discussing the nuances of science and faith along with Joshua Cameron, Ph. D (Aerospace Engineering). Here is a short report on some of what he has found.

Going Poll Crazee

2009-12-02T11:25:00.000-08:00

We're testing this public polling service for our December series called "Godisnowhere" Take one moment and vote in this test poll and we will share the results soon.

Create interactive meetings at Poll Everywhere

Charlie Weis....Did he get a fair shake?

2009-11-30T08:10:00.000-08:00

How long do you allow someone to develop into a premier leader, in this case, a premier college football coach?

When Lou Holtz accepted the ND job in 1986 he had 16 years of head coaching experience. We were fortunate enough to get a seasoned ball coach. His ND record: 100-32-2 was impressive.
Bob Davie was known as a defensive specialist but had no head coaching experience. His ND record: 35-25.
Ty Willingham was an assistant at several D-1 programs before coaching Stanford for seven seasons prior to taking the ND job. He led the Cardinal to a 44–36–1 record as head coach. His ND record: 35-25; much like his previous record.
Charlie Weis had reached the pinnacle of NFL success as an assistant coach with the Superbowl Champion New England Patriots, but he was never a college football head coach. His ND record: 35-26.

Was Charlie a bad hire? Look at the previous coaches, Davie and Willingham, and the struggles they had. Is it reasonable to think it would take only a few years to rebuild a badly beaten-down football program? Did they give him ample time to develop into a great college coach or did they think his Super Bowl rings were a good enough resume? Or was Charlie's development not taken into consideration. It will take a grrrrrreat! coach and some serious soul searching & personnel shifting within the UND administration to bring this program back to prominence. I don't think a return to glory is going to happen within five years, if at all.

I will always be an Irish fan, I just don't expect a national championship any time soon. And boy, do I hope I am wrong.

2009-11-28T10:56:00.000-08:00

These five guys have provoked me to think more about God, spirituality, leadership and me. Here they are and a short description of their contribution to my life.

John Wilson. John is my associate at SGC. He is one the most Jesus-like guys I have ever met. Compassion and mercy mark his life and he demonstrates this every single day. He has walked with me for many years and has literally watched me, but more importantly helped me 'grow up.'
Chilly Chilton. Determination, tenacity and faith are what rush to the forefront when thinking about him. He has taught me about life in the face of adversity. Chilly is a true leader. Our hearts were joined the day we met in Phoenix and are connected forever.
Ron Martoia. Ron coached me and our team for two years during some pretty uncertain times in my life. He has helped me start to develop my inner life and specifically the leader within more than any single person. His guidance during a key season of leadership formation was literally a lifesaver for me. Ron was the hand on my shoulder guiding through the tenuous waters of church leadership. I love this guy!
Jerrell Jobe. I had the honor of working with him for 12 years. He may be one of the most complete people I know. Jerrell helped open my 'ears' to the voice. His depth and discipline still impress me, but not as much as his humility. Jerrell is the real deal! I miss him every day, now that he has moved to Texas.
Jeanne Mayo. OK so she's not a 'guy,' but she is a true hero to me. She is the world's youngest teenager (at 55+) and the world's greatest youth pastor. She tirelessly pours her life into leaders, students and whoever else happens to walk by. This lady loves people, plain and simple. She champions underdogs, encourages the weak, and believes in those who feel hopeless. Hundreds call her "Mom" and thousands have been transformed by her loving touch and relentless commitment to love the unlovely. I am one of the fortunate souls to have gotten close to this 'hall of famer.'

There are more than just 5 guys, but these very special people come to mind right now as I reflect upon my life.

I am 2nd.

2009-11-16T07:07:00.000-08:00

I like this website.

What BUGS me...

2009-11-06T09:46:00.000-08:00

Ok, now it's on! "This is the stuff that moves me to a place of agitation and even confusion at times. Let me add that complaining has gotten a bad knock. It can be healthy if done in taste and with discretion and moderation...Tongue in cheek makes it more bearable too. So with my tongue firmly lodged against the soft interior lining of my mouth, here we go...This stuff bugs the daylights outta me:

1. Dirty shoes. Go ahead and throw them in the wash or pull out an old toothbrush and get that muck off those kicks. I am a believer that shoes deserve more attention than they get. So, go ahead and clean 'em up or throw them out if they're more than a few years old...OK? You know who you are.

2. Butter Fingers. That's right, dropping things....from my keys to my cell phone to a glass of milk, few things bug me more. I hate dropping things! I can end up 'losing my grip' on many different levels when this happens.

3. Repetition. People tell me stuff... a lot of stuff. It's part of my role in the lives of others and I do try to listen well, but when people insist on saying one thing three or more different ways, I want to come unglued. I sometimes interrupt when I get really annoyed, and say something like, "Ok, I get that..." Is that rude? Probably.

4. Grocery Store Parking Lots. It seems all the rules of the road get thrown out the window in store parking lots. What's up with cars cutting across parking spaces and surprising folks traveling the marked driving areas? What's up with people walking up the road like they're a car? Note to pedestrians and motorists: Walk/drive at 90 degree angles in designated areas when crossing the parking lot of any store....before someone gets hurt, aaaargh! Someone deputize me!

5. Know-it-Alls. Come on! Is there no subject you are not a final authority on? You never played a down of football but you somehow have strategy figured out at the professional level....Bang! (pretend gunshot to the head sound effect) I just assume that Charlie Weiss, or any other coach for that matter, has a better grip on the finer points of the game than I (or you) do. Call me crazy, but armchair critics make me want to gouge my eardrums out.

[huff, huff.... deep breath, exhale...]

I am now at the point of diminishing return. Thanks for listening.

What makes me sad...

2009-11-01T20:02:00.000-08:00

This is list #2 of stuff that I have discovered about myself over the years. This is what makes me sad.

hopelessness
unresolved conflict
Sandra Bullock movies
closed mindedness
cloudy days
the final day of vacation
Notre Dame losses
broken marriages
missed field goals
materialism
unfaithfulness
distance

Monday Reflections

2009-10-26T11:01:00.000-07:00

Over time you learn some things about yourself and how you interface with your world. So this week I am going to share a few things I have learned about me in list form. Here goes list number one....

Stuff that makes me happy.....

Hugs from children. (I love cuddly little kids.)
Cynthia running her fingers through my hair.
Praying with the SGC elders
Coffee blended just right (café con leche)
Finishing a workout
Going to ND football games with Cynthia
Hearing exaggerated stories from my father-in-law, Johnny
Traveling with Cynthia
Watching my sons wrestle
Laughing with my mom
Riding a bike real fast
Singing in the car

Next...stuff that makes me sad.

Baggage Series Playlist

2009-10-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

Here is our music playlist from our current series called Baggage.

UndoneLifehouseShower the PeopleJames TaylorYour FreedomHillsongMy DelivererRich MullinsWant to Know What Love IsForeignerFragileStingCrashing DownMat KearneyAtmospheretobyMacCrossesZero7Arms OpenWideHillsong UnitedYour PromisesGlorious UnseenDirty SecondHandsSwitchfootBrighter Than SunshineAqualungUndeniableMat KearneySimple ThingsZero7Sweetly BrokenJeremy RiddleThis WorldZero7TodayZero7 Fix YouColdplay

You will hear this playlist during the October Baggage Series at SGC.

church diversity sux

2009-10-01T13:57:00.000-07:00

Did you know that only 5.5% of all Christian congregations are considered multi-racial*? So what is a multi-racial church, you ask? According to one study (footnoted below), to qualify as a multi-racial church, no more than one race makes up 80% or more of your congregation. So you can be 79.9% black or 79.9% white and technically be considered multi-racial. Are you getting this? Only 5.5% of churches in the U.S. meet this criteria....which is pretty generous, in my opinion. We all know that segregation in the Christian church is a fundamental problem, but so few are talking about this. That's what I like about this guy.

Scott Williams is the pastor of the NW campus of lifechurch.tv in Oklahoma. He delivers some straight talk about church diversity in this 9-minute video talk from a worldwide video conference called The Nines. It was a full day of talks by various church leaders given 9 minutes to speak their peace. In this talk Scott tackles racial diversity. I think it is excellent. Tell me what you think. Click here to watch.

*Figures obtained from calculations using the 1998 National Congregations Study directed by Mark Chaves

Let's Keep Fighting for Rob

2009-09-23T21:10:00.000-07:00

Here is a message for our friend Robert Feuille who is fighting cancer. Rob is a young 26 year-old father of three and husband of Amy. He deserves our attention and prayers. Please click here and read his blog and click here to follow him on Twitter. He is an honest soul, a talented artist, a brave warrior and a humble servant of Jesus. Click this video of Psalm 34 as recited by my dad (father-in-law) John Bullard, Sr. to encourage our friend and brother in his fight.

Meanwhile back at the ranch...

2009-09-17T19:26:00.000-07:00

When we got home from Florida we really hit the ground running. Upon returning we have taken on a pretty heavy load of counseling and marriage intervention. Not to mention all the administrative work to prep for our annual meeting. Seasons! That's what we experience in life, isn't it. There is a time for everything. We were fortunate enough to really unplug for two weeks, but now it's time to buckle down. It's a busy season. That's what happens in the rhythm of life. My current challenge is reconnecting with God and re-tuning my spiritual rhythm. I can tell I'm out of sync, but confident I will find the groove again. I need to go back and listen to this message I delivered at SGC back in July called "Rule of Life." Just click on the podcast icon and download it for free. It's on my iPod so I can practice what I preached.

A few thoughts @ the tail end...

2009-09-02T07:20:00.000-07:00

We're nearing the end of a 2-week break from work and church ministry in Panama City Beach, Florida. I am in a season of life that calls for more than micro-breaks. I know I need at least one extended break each year. Fortunately I have been at SGC for 20 years which means I get a generous vacation allotment. Longevity has it's benefits...but it also has it's pitfalls. This is one of the reasons Cynthia and I have made getaways part of our personal and family rhythm. Sometimes you just have to hit the refresh button on life. That's what this is all about. We've found a small haven along the beach in the Florida panhandle where we unwind and reconnect. Unfortunately because of a busy summer and conflicting schedules, none of our boys could come along. Here are a few thoughts and remembrances as we near the end.

We took time to do stuff we like doing and stuff we need to do more.
We put over 140 miles on our bikes (280 together)
We ran and walked about 30 miles.
We really love each other 23 years later.
We cooked meals together and ate out a few times. (we try to watch how much we spend)
We took time to experience romance again.
We talked about a zillion different things.
We spent hours in the Gulf of Mexico just horsing around.
We prayed together.
We went to church together, and once I went by myself.
We read many books. (not together)
We took a few photos.
Now we're getting ready to go home and it is all good.

Goofing Off!

2009-08-27T07:17:00.000-07:00

Last night Cynthia and I went to the grocery store for no good reason. We were a bit bored after one week on vacation so we went to pick up some peanuts and popcorn. I never knew grocery stores sold tennis balls, but this one did, maybe that's 'point-of -purchase' strategy in Florida. Of course we got a movie and looked at all the delicious ice creams and decided to pass (although I think I am hooked on Ben & Jerry's 'Cherry Garcia' frozen yogurt) and just cruised the aisles laughing and joking about everything & everyone we saw. We had so much fun! It was like we were in high school and had nothing to do. She challenges me in so many ways that make me better, but last night was all about the jokes and mindless time spent with my very best friend in the world.

Letter from a friend....

2009-08-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

I have been tweeting and directing people to this website for the last week or so. Rob Fuille from Austin, Texas (Fuel) is undergoing a very sensitive and serious treatment for stage iv testicular cancer. Rob is 26. The following letter is from Josh Cameron, a friend of mine from SGC and Rob's brother-in-law.

My friends,

I was hoping you could disseminate some information about Rob to
Southgate. I don't know how you usually do it but most people we speak
to don't quite seem to understand the situation (sorry, it is kinda
long):

Robert was diagnosed with well advanced stage IV testicular cancer in
February and underwent four rounds of chemotherapy. The treatment was
effective in significantly shrinking his tumors but was ultimately
unsuccessful at curing the disease. The tumors in his liver and lungs
are now growing rapidly again. The aggressiveness of Rob's cancer has
surprised even his physicians in Austin, TX. The only option now
available is two rounds of high-dose chemotherapy at the world
renowned Indiana University testicular cancer program in Indianapolis.
In order to help Robert survive the aggressive chemo, he will receive
transplants of his own stem cells (harvested last week) after each
round.

Rob is married to my sister Aimee and they have two ridiculously cute
little girls and a boy on the way. The chemotherapy drugs are very
toxic and Aimee cannot be with Robert at any time while she is
pregnant. She and the girls are in El Paso, TX with my mom and dad
waiting for her September 7th due date. Robert's second dose of chemo
will probably be about that same time. After their son is born Aimee
will still have to wait a week or two before seeing Rob. She and the
children are planning on moving to Louisville, KY (about 90 min from
Indianapolis) to live with my other sister Sara during Robert's
lengthy recovery. Needless to say, it is very difficult for them to be
apart during the treatment and the birth of their first son.
Fortunately, Robert's brother Joe will be able to pursue independent
study credits this semester and can therefore live in Indianapolis
with Rob. Additionally, my "unique" job situation is also allowing
Shauna and/or I to be with him many days each week.

Robert and Joe were with us at church last Sunday when Edgar asked the
congregation to pray about our situation. I think very few people,
including Edgar, were aware that Rob was in the room. That made the
obvious outpouring of support and prayer even more powerful to us.
That experience, and many other examples of care from many of you at
Southgate have been overwhelming to Robert and to Shauna and I. That
you should care so deeply for a man who is connected only peripherally
to our community has been very moving. It is probably the most
beautiful expression of what the brotherhood of Christ can be that I
have ever experienced. Please keep praying for Robert and Aimee and
our families, some of the hardest parts of this struggle lay ahead.

Please keep them all in your prayers.

My Holiday Book List

2009-08-21T11:22:00.000-07:00

God is Back! By Micklethwaite and Wooldridge

Outliers By Malcolm Gladwell

How the Mighty Fall By Jim Collins

The Blue Parakeet By Scot McKnight

The Lost Message of Jesus By Steve Chalke

Hopeful Imagination By Walter Brueggemann

She's a beast!

2009-08-21T10:24:00.000-07:00

That is a compliment, BTW. My wife, Cynthia is a beast (the good kind)! I realized it today as we were on a bike hike in Florida along the gulf coast west of Panama City Beach. As we rode westward from our house in Carrillon Beach the rains came. It was tempting to turn around, but instead we took a short break under some shelter in a nearby village and waited for the storm to pass. As we started back up the rains came again, but by then we were nicely soaked and kept going....and going. We were on a 'roll'! She insisted we get to Watercolor even when we discovered it was not the place we thought it was. We were going to WATERCOLOR, because that's what we said we were going to do. We finally stopped there for a coffee soaking wet, and about 13 miles from our house.

Still raining and with a long ride ahead, she turned on the jets and really rode hard through mud puddles, wet sand and up hills. She even took a spill trying to avoid a huge water hazard and fell on the street. I felt awful! I had to drag her off the street to keep her from getting hit by a car. She rubbed her bony, bloody elbow jumped on her bike and took off again. She may be the most determined person I know. I am thinking to myself, "How many women would tough this out? How many guys?" Not sure, but my woman does! Twenty-six miles in the rain.... she is a beast! I am impressed by her resolve and tenacity (driven by her character) to fulfill her promises, big or small. She has re-invented herself since she turned 40. She's way more active and healthy than ever before. She continues to generously demonstrate the charity and kindness of Jesus to those she encounters wherever she goes. I am proud I married this woman almost 23 years ago. She's my little 'beast.'

Here come the Irish!

2009-08-14T21:35:00.000-07:00

2009 Notre Dame Football Schedule

Sept. 5 NEVADA
Sept. 12 at Michigan
Sept. 19 MICHIGAN STATE
Sept. 26 at Purdue
Oct. 3 WASHINGTON
Oct. 10 Open Date
Oct. 17 USC
Oct. 24 BOSTON COLLEGE
Oct. 31 vs. Washington State (@San AntonioTX)
Nov. 7 NAVY
Nov. 14 at Pittsburgh
Nov. 21 CONNECTICUT
Nov. 28 at Stanford

BIG IMPACT BOOKS!

2009-08-07T06:02:00.000-07:00

I Tweeted this question just today: "What three books have made the most significant impact in your life?" So I expanded my list to my overall Top 20. I could go on but I attempted to be diverse by including books on theology, church, business, leadership and culture. These all impacted me for different reasons and created dialogue in my life and relationships on a host of subjects. I would not call most of these 'classics' but for some unique reason, mattered. Some deepened me spiritually. Some expanded me relationally, culturally and even vocationally. Let me start by saying that without equal the Bible has been the single most consistent & transformative volume in my life. It just keeps giving! So that said, I will begin my list by mentioning one book in the Bible that has captured my attention for years. I have not explained why these books have mattered in order to make this list simply a list. (Don't pay too much attention to the order.)

1. Proverbs. Written mostly by King Solomon is a deep well of wisdom.

2. A Handbook for Followers of Jesus Winkie Pratney

3. The Nature and Character of God Winkie Pratney

4. Blue Like Jazz Donald Miller

5. The Davinci Code Dan Brown

6. Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis

7. Screwtape Letters C.S. Lewis

8. What's so Amazing about Grace Phillip Yancey

9. Pour Your Heart into It Howard Schultz

10. Orthodoxy G.K. Chesterton

11. Letters from A Skeptic Greg Boyd

12. The Monkey and the Fish Dave Gibbons

13. Leadership and Self Deception Arbinger Institute

14. The Dip Seth Godin

15. The Word That Redescribes the World Walter Brueggemenn

16. Intelligent Church Steve Chalke

17. United by Faith Michael Emerson

18. The Shaping of Things to Come Michael Frost, Alan Hirsch

19. Good News About Injustice Gary Haugen

20. Gang Leader for a Day Sudhir Venkatesh

If you would like to know why any of these books mattered to me, feel free to ask.