Weekend in Chicago

Last week we went to Chicago to spend time with our friends Zack and Lindsey. They are both going to school up there this year, so we decided to hang out with them for a few days before their classes started.

We got up there Thursday night, ate dinner at Lindsey's apartment (it was delish). Then we went to the Art Institute (admission was free). We had a lot of fun (make sure to check out the pictures on our flickr site - see link below).

Friday morning we ate banana pancakes thanks to Chefs Zack and Lindsey (that guy should be on food network - not for for cooking though, but for eating and critiquing...maybe we can get a petition started). Then it was off to explore Chicago. We checked out Wrigley (a few blocks from the apartment - my friends Bake and Troyer would love it).

Then we went down town to see where one of the campuses for Zack's school was. We visited the mall, and of course stopped by the Hershey chocolate store (again...check out the pics). We thought of Kathy T. the whole time. We made our way to Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinders next (a favorite of Rachael Ray) where we ate pizza pot pie and HUGE grinders.

We missed our polka dancing lesson Friday night due to train delays. So we went to the park instead. Afterwards it was back to the apartment to watch the Bears and White Sox.

Saturday we woke up real late because we were up late the night before. So our first meal for the day was lunch at Goose Island. It was a great way to wrap up our time in Chi-Town. Thanks Zack and Lindsey. You guys rock!

For MANY more pictures make sure to check out the link http://www.flickr.com/photos/54979519@N00/sets/72157594259984275/

Leor's Visit

As many of you know, we hosted our friend, tour guide, and most importantly brother in Yeshua this past weekend. Leor, a tour guide in the Holy Land, visited with us Thursday through Monday. It was an amazing opportunity and experience for all of us as we did life together! We were able to spend so much quality time with him, asking questions, talking about Israel, end times, spreading the gospel to Jews, and so much more. We fed him plenty of good food (Cheeseburger in Paradise, Logan's, Shady Nook, Buffalo Wild Wings, Starbucks, and Maria's House of Pancakes). It was great!

We also enjoyed several movies, some time at the lake, a game of charades, more food, a tour of Kendallville, a visit to Wal-Mart (to pick out a gift for his daughter). What a great time!!

One of the most significant opportunities of the weekend was the chance Leor had to worship with us at LWC. He spoke Sunday morning sharing his heart regarding the place of the people of Israel in God's heart. He shared some of his story and testimony in Sunday school and during church as well. Sunday night we hosted a question and answer session with Leor. I think all who attended would agree it was a very insightful evening.

It's amazing to have a friend from the other side of the world...and to think that he worships the same God and is saved by the same Messiah as we are amazes me.

For more pictures from our weekend click the link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54979519@N00/sets/72157594247936681/

Amber's Baptism

Last week I had the great privilege of baptizing one of my friends and former student leader in my youth group when I was a youth pastor. God has really been working in Amber's life, and so she decided she wanted to be baptized. What an honor it was for me when she asked me to do it. We did the baptism service at Natalie's parent's pond. It was a wonderful opportunity. God bless you Amber! I can't wait to see the incredible ways God is going to work in your life!

Golf Trip 2006

As many of you know, I spent the past weekend (Thursday-Sunday) in Park City, Kentucky for our annual golf trip. It was, as it is every year, a golf marathon!! We played 124 holes of golf in three and a half days. My dad did the math and estimates that we golfed about twenty-two and a half miles.

It was so much fun. The 37 guys you see in the picture (we usually have 40) make their way down to the Park Mammoth Resort every summer. We played 18 holes Thursday (plus some extra in the rain), 36 holes on Friday (with 7 extra for fun), 36 holes on Saturday (with 6 extra holes for fun), and 18 holes on Sunday!

In our scheduled 5 rounds, I finished on the first place team 3 times and a second place team once. Not bad! Thanks to Jeff, Jerry, my Dad, Joel, Matt, Jordan, Randy, and so many more for all the fun. I'm already looking forward to our trip again next year.

For more pictures, click the link below...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54979519@N00/sets/72157594237429592/

Hard At Work

For those of you that are always wondering, I thought I would post some pictures to help you understand just what it is we pastors (Me and Aaron) do at work all week.

Bible Study (of course)

Sermon Preparation (gotta get ready for Sunday)

Church Phone Calls (we love telemarketers)

Thinking About Our Wives (so beautiful)

Solving Church Problems (not that we have many)

Conflict Resolution (we really do get along well)

More Bible Study (two guys in a small office - not a good combo)

Lunch (don't tell our wives)

Snack Time (same as above)

Testing Games For Youth Group (mentos and diet pop)

Obviously we do a lot more, but we thought we'd expose the lighter side of what we do. We are both so privileged to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, working with His bride, the Church.

Fun with Kai and Tracey

Well we spent time with our good friends Kai and Tracey last night. We haven't been able to hang out for what seems like forever. We met up at Starbucks (of course) for some refreshments and then headed off for Putt-Putt Golf and Games. When we got there we saw smoke from a HUGE fire down the road. If you read the paper or saw the news today you probably know about it. Check out the picture. You can see some of the black smoke in the sky coming from the fire.


After paying for putt-putt we were informed that there was a putt-putt tournament going on. They had the entire volcano course taken, so we weren't allowed to play it (that was the only reason we went - to play the revamped volcano course). Just a side note, the putt-putt tourney participants were definitely of a different breed. They took their putt-putt serious, a little too serious. I think you could make another movie similar to Best In Show that would highlight these guys rather than dog show enthusiasts. Those of you who have seen the movie know what I mean. Anyway, we played the jungle course instead (boring!!) and were disappointed. We were definitely ready to go by the time we were done, although we had a great time goofing around together.

When we left Putt-Putt we made a quick stop at Meijer to pick up a couple of essentials and enjoy a quick ride on Sandy the pony.




We also took a picture of T-Mobile's "Back to School" model. Man if that guy can be a model, can't we all! I'm just sayin.


Thanks for a fun night Kai and Tracey. We look forward to doing it again.