Come to Pieces our Youth Musical June 11-14 here at NUMC.  11th - 13th starts at 7 and the 14th at 6 pm… Hope to see you here!!

 

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Happy New Year!  Did you receive all you wanted for Christmas?  I am

hoping you received more than you wanted in love, mercy and grace

during this season.  How are you going to start off this new year?  With a

bang?  Timidly?  or are you just bummed that you have to go through

another year of school and junk?  What are you worried about?  I turn

39 years old in April so don’t talk to me about being worried or worn out!

I will be 40 next year, 40 did I say it loud enough?  40!  Well up till

recently turning 40 was beginning to wear on me.  What you say?  It is still a year away, well that is

true, but it is funny about what we are culturally imprinted to worry about.  I look around when I sit

still long enough and realize 40 is really not that old.  I am in good health, shucks, I really never truly

thought I would live to see 35 much less 40.  So, where does this leave us?  It leaves me with a

greater understanding of what life can be at any age.  I know many in their 80’s that are as full of life

as many of our teens. 

 

It was once said by someone that on a gravestone they print the date of your birth and the date of

your death and in between those two is a little -, a “dash” and it is what you do and who you are

during that “dash” that really matters. 

 

I am dashing through this life and sometimes it seems like I am dashing with ankle weights on in a

bog that seems like I can’t take the next step, then sometimes I feel like I am moving as fast as

that runner from the Olympics, the “Lightening Bolt”.  I am sure you feel the same.  So what about

2009?  Well I am praying for 09!  However, I am not just going to pray, I am going to be proactive

about this New Year.  I hope to accomplish some things in my life that I haven’t before and reach

some goals that I have been striving for.  I hope to develop and enrich some relationships with folks

that I might not even know yet.  I am setting my site on growing deeper in my relationship with God,

maybe more than all other years pressed together.  I want to savor every minute with my family and

I want to see the students and non-students of this ministry grow in faith, love, mercy and grace with

God, themselves, their families, their friends, and all of their lives.  I look forward to some of the

changes that will come for our ministry here at NUMC this year.  A new building, some changes we

will be making in our programming, new growth and tons more excitement are all things that will

keep the new year a fun one.  I am looking forward to dashing through 2009 like we did 2008 with

God’s speed and success.

 

I am writing this while still in 2008, but it is just mere days away from end-ing.  I look forward to 2009 with all of you and pray that we all grow in

Love, Mercy and Grace in this New Year of Opportunity.  Come on, Paul

says, run the race!  Now, let’s DASH AWAY, DASH AWAY ALL!! 

 

 

As I type this these crazy kids are swimming in a huge natural hot springs pool that is pretty neat.  It is about 9 pm your time and they are having a great time swimming in this spring water of about 104 degrees.  Yeah moms, they will change and dry before they walk back.  LOL… This thingy is so cool, you would have to see it.

Well today, we had one more injury and it wins the prize thus far.  Haley Russell hurt her knee pretty badly and it might be her MCL in her knee.  She is braced up and will get further treatment when she gets home, so basically, her skiing is over for 2008.  She has been very courageous and I am very proud of her.  Mom and Dad are doing good as well.  We are all pretty healthy at this point.  We will leave the mountain here tomorrow night at about 6 pm your time and hope to be home somewhere around 6 pm on Wednesday.  We look forward to being home, but have had a good trip as well.

I am always amazed at how these teams and trips get put together and the way God interacts in all of this.  We have had just the right people for the right times and things.  Little things to Mike and his work daily with contracts to Jil as a nurse, to Chuck skiing with all the crazy youth.  I have example after example of youth and adults being the right person for the right season we are in.  I stand amazed at our wonderful group daily.

Tonight we looked in Micah and talked about rest and Mountains and faith, mustard seeds, and taking heart in there is Christ to fight our wars with us and that we can really find peace.  We have heard of many of the personal losses this past week and have prayed for and with each of those grieving at home and our church family at NUMC.  Thanks to everyone for allowing us to do what we do.  See ya soon, we are coming home tomorrow!!

 

Glenn

Howdy from CO Y’all!!  Well, I know the word is out that we had a good trip over.  It was long, but the kids really did a great job riding!!  Bus drivers were good!  No Crazy Ed as of this post…

Everyone is up and walking, we do have a few bumps and bruises though!!! 

Lisa — Bad strained knee

Glenn — Strained knee a bit, but it was one of his bad knees… lol

Laura Stephenson — slight cut on her head where she hit herself with a pole…

Ryan Russell– fat lip and strained shoulder where he hit himself with his goggles when he fell.

So, that is not too bad at all is it!  Basic skiing bumps and buises.  No one is broken and beat up too bad at all.  Hopefully we will keep up with this trend.  Sunlight Ski Mountain is awesome!!  We are having great weather, the people here are very nice and the snow is wonderful.  Good mountain for our level of skiiers.

We will have some great pictures to view and the mountains are absolutely beautiful right now.  We have all commented how we have had a great White Christmas.

We had a great worship time tonight where I talked about the Transfiguration from Mark 9, and how that was a transformational Mountain Experience where Jesus told Peter, James, and John to not tell until the Son of Man has been offered up.  Well we can be loud about our Mtn. top experiences as Christians, because Christ has been offered up and we talked about doing just that!!

We are looking forward to a great day of skiing tomorrow and hope you are doing great at home.

 

Well until tomorrow, See ya soon

 

Glenn

Welcome to Advent!  Did you hear about the people that got run over at the mall to do their Advent Shopping?  You didn’t?  Well how about the sale papers that could wrap a hundred presents did you get your Advent Sales Papers? 

Well me either!  Advent is about preparing, but for me it seems to be more about waiting.  During the first Christmas and prior to that people had waited for a Messiah.  Oh, they wanted it more than anything.  I bet they knocked down every Donkey in the way to get to that little stand that had the Messiah news in it.  Much like we wait and prepare a game plan, no a battle plan for our shopping.  Some crazy wise men with more money then sense traveled miles and miles to see this special deal.

I have just traveled miles and miles for Thanksgiving.  I don’t want to go anywhere else for a while.  So, I sit here tonight preparing for getting out the tree, ornaments, watching my fav shows… I love those cool little cartoons.  I even have my first party to go to tomorrow night!  It is only December 1st… Things to do, places to go, a new year around the corner.  I am still waiting and preparing.  For what you ask, well down in Whoo-ville they might say:  Peace, blessed Peace on Earth!!  Christmas is coming and love is coming with it!  Christ is coming and taking our hearts, souls, and lives with Him as well. 

Well, Welcome to Advent One and All!  May it be blessed and a new time of preparing.  NOT for shopping though, but for that little baby spoken into Messiah, that HE and HE alone might bring Peace to this world and maybe, just maybe, your own heart!!

Come I am!

HOWDY Y’ALL!!

 

 

I HATE TO WRITE THIS EMAIL BUT AFTER WEIGHING ALL OF THE OPTIONS AND LOOKING AT ALL THE WEATHER DATA AND TALKING WITH JIM HOLLMAN THE LANDOWNER AND PRAYING HARD AND DISCERNING WHAT IS THE BEST OPTIONS FOR EVERYONE.

 

WE HAVE DECIDED TO POSTPONE OUR CAMPING TRIP FOR HUNGER TILL SATURDAY OCTOBER 4 AND SUNDAY OCTORBER 5^TH!!

 

NOT MUCH WILL CHANGE EXCEPT THE DATE, PLEASE BRING THE SAME STUFF, AND HOPEFULLY MORE PEOPLE CAN COME, BUT IF FOR SOME REASON YOU SIGNED UP AND YOU CAN’T COME BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE PLEASE LET US KNOW!!!!!

 

THESE ARE SUCH DIFFICULT CALLS TO MAKE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MAKE THEM WHILE THE SUN IS SHINING AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS GOING TO BE PERFECTLY WONDERFUL, BUT ALL THE WEATHER GUESSERS THINK WE WILL HAVE RAIN AND CRAZY WEATHER EARLY IN THE MORNING ON SUNDAY DUE TO THE IKE HURRICANE AND SO I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT EVERYONE! 

 

SORRY IF THIS MESSES UP YOUR WEEKEND PLANS, BUT WANTED TO GET THE WORD OUT EARLY!!

 

 

WE WILL HAVE EDGE SUNDAY NIGHT @ 5:30!!!

 

COME TO BELLS AND CHOIR AT 4:00 AND THEN COME TO EDGE!!

 

REMEMBER CAMPING FOR HUNGER ON OCT 4-5!!  HOPE YOU CAN COME!! 

 

HAVE A GREAT SATURDAY SEE YA SUNDAY!!

 

GLENN

I am writing this on Saturday morning.  Looking out my window at the house and the backyard grass needs cutting, the trampoline looks inviting, cleaning out the carport is on the list of things to do.  The girls are all off doing their things.  Two on retreat one about to go to the movies with friends.  Me with my list!  You might think I am complaining, but I am very content with this.  I love it when I get into this get it all done mood.  They are off and can’t tell me what to NOT throw away.  LOL!!  The bussel of the house will soon reappear and my list will grow once again.  I don’t have many Saturdays where I can do this and I am enjoying this one. 

A friend of mine that is in ministry is having some struggles in the youth ministry area of their church.  We were talking the other day and some of what he said reminded me of some really good youth ministry points.  Youth Ministry is a stewardship program!  It really is the youth minister and that team along with the entire church working with those young-uns to suffer them into Christ!  Through programming and lots of other things, people forget that.  I promise to support the church by my prayers, presence, gifts, service, witness and I vow to help raise these little ones in the etway that they should go.  Christian Church-goers make big commitments to children and setting an example before them.  I pray our Youth Ministry does that.  I know people have their desires and most of those truly are earthly about what they think their youth ministry should be doing, but I pray ours stays one about making young disciples.  I love the fact that our graduates hang out until they HAVE to leave.  That means so much to all of us and them.  I know this Sunday will be weird with them all gone and those Foreign Exchange Students as well.  P.S. on them…. I just finished reading many very sad Facebook quotes by those young people.  They learned some things at NUMC, some about God, some about Friendships, some about cool Adults, but a ton about a church that loves kids.  Some that are still wrestling with if God even exists are wrestling harder now.  I love that!!!  I can tell story after story about how this youth ministry has touched lives.  Funny thing is I can tell them now as not only one of its Shepherds but also as one of its parents. 

Shepherds!!  There is not a better way to state what we do there.  I wonder if the SPRC would change my title from Director of Student Ministries to Shepherd of Student Ministries?  Ha, that would be radical!!  However, it would be a bit more true and realistic.  Well I have rambled a bit longer than I planned today!  I have those lists remember!  If you are on your knees or in your closet anytime soon and your praying and you run out of things to pray for, please add our youth ministry and all of their Shepherds on there.  Add yourself as well!!  You are one of those Shepherds!!  God Bless you all!

SYS
Glennjamin

Wow, I get home from Nica and am on such a high!  Barbie’s grandmother is not doing well and is expected to die at anytime.  I am going through the hum-drum effort of checking and returning the plethora of emails and there is one that rocks my world!  My buddy Fred Stovall has died!!  Whoah, he is a year younger than me!  I am friends with his entire family, even coached his daughter’s soccer team this year.  Fred was a great guy and I am still in shock that he has died, but between all I have seen recently and Fred’s death, and now watching one of our grandmothers quickly slide away, boy you better hug and love on those with you!  Proof in the pudding that this life is way too short!

See ya soon my friend.  We will have to workout in Heaven!

Glenn

I enjoyed the resort we spent last night at, but y’all the Pacific Ocean is so wonderful.  I love that big blue body of water, and to have communion in such a moving way on that beach as the sun is glowing from over the horizon.  Well it was absolutely amazing!!  Also, to relax in the hammocks… wow…

Team, we are right this moment at the Best Western and we just finished dinner.  Y’all all looked tired!  I probably did too, but y’all looked tired and Content!  That feeling you have after a job very well done!  You deserved your day away and you deserve that content look as well.  The challenge we want to leave you with is to not be content for long!!  Enjoy the moment then go find another task which you can sink your teeth in and continue to glorify God by taking his love to the next person.  Thanks for being a great team!  Y’all rock and we appreciate and love you all very much!

Well all of you back home, we love you as well and we are heading home.  TIe a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree because here we come!  We ask you pray for safe travels and look forward to holding you all in our arms as we have held you in our hearts this past week.  We are all still pretty healthy and heading home, what more could you ask for!

Have a great day of worship!  See ya soon, and y’all keep checking with my blog!  I am going to keepthis upwith thoughts and other things, so check back often and leave comments as you can.  I think we will have a good time here

Glenn

Well in about an hour or so we are all leaving for the Resort to check it out for a day or so, that is if we can get all the women out of the Mercado first.  I was reading the comments and the blog just now and I wondered if they thought we were just sending home the stuff you wanted to hear.  The actual reality is that we did NOT!  I cannot believe what a wonderful group this was.  They got so much done in such an efficient manner and this week really was good.  Daphne and I were talking about this last night and as team leaders are very proud of our team, church and support system back home.  El Ayudante’s staff does a great job at helping make this easy and wonderful, but without you guys and people with a Servant’s Heart to come here or go anywhere and be the CHURCH, then we are truly lost.  Last night it popped in my heart and I shared with the team as we were talking about taking this home with you, that the Disciples had to do that after the death and resurrection of Christ.  They couldn’t just sit around twiddling their thumbs, of course they did for a day or two, but they got up and got into action.  Action equals service to me!  You can’t sit around wondering IF and you can’t sit around afraid.  This team has been an Action/Service team.  They have done many FIRSTS here in Nica and we are proud of that as well, because that means we are helping to grow this place in new ways, and that God is growing our spirits in new ways.  The fun part about that is that many are reponding and allowing themselves to be molded into a new thing.  I pray that this spirit catches quickly and runs rampant in Nica, NUMC, and the rest of the world. 

Everyone is still healthy!!  Great week health wise except for a couple of scrapes and bruises and one twisted ankle.  Heather, watch that loose rock!  LOL… Everyone is really good and that is great!!!!  We are off to Managua this morning to shop, then to the Resort to rest, then tomorrow to the Best Western to get ready to jump on those silver wings home on Sunday.  Please, try to not be jealous, but yes, as long as weather cooperates, we will be having communion on the beach beside the Pacific as the sun sets tonight!  I will take a picture for ya!

Love to all, we miss you, but we are going to miss this place as well!  We will be home soon, pray for us as we travel and continue to bond and spread the gospel in our presence, because my Espanol is not spreading much gospel, it is too poquito!  LOL!!!

See Ya Soon

Glenn and your Nica Team