Randy

Please pray for Randy and all of the Shafer family right now. Thanks.

DLmail 11/25/2008 thumb up

I planned on four of us serving last Saturday night. I figured we would be cool, even though we had no staffers around. Keith, Jeannine and Rachel were off to Willow and I think Gary was missing as well. Susan took the leadership reins and bounced between the Treehouse and the Factory. Rick Rogy, uber qualified teacher, battled the audio/visual board without a tech volunteer as he prepared himself to present the lesson. I started noticing that a lot of kids were arriving early. Too many. I was just about to set up a card table and start charging a cover (I figured it would keep some kids out and our numbers managable and/or get me some extra Christmas shopping money) when help arrived. Zach Van Buren arrived to save the day. I had forgotten Zach was scheduled, but was so relieved to have him. So Kevin, Monica, Tim and Zach handled the 46 kids that came Saturday. It was a good night, although we really need more adults serving. There is a prayer request.

Kevin and Monica's groups finished their Operation Christmas Child boxes and delivered them. Zach and Tim had their groups completely under control and engaged. 55 (or more) 2nd-3rd graders came in for teach time, putting us over the 100 mark for Rick's teaching. Here is Rick giving the "thumb" up. What you can't see, and what I wanted a pic of was his left thumb. He injured it playing football earlier that afternoon and it was swollen to at least twice the size of his right thumb. Rick wins the award for the most swollen thumb/hand in the Factory Saturday.

This Saturday Tim will be back to join the Stewarts and me as we begin our lessons about Christmas. The lesson is titled "What if God didn't send an Angel?" Click here for the material. The memory verse is "This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world." 1 John 4:9. Our Bible story is "Joseph heard the Good News," Matthew 1:16-24; 2:1-15; Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-20. Be in prayer this week as you prepare and read these Scriptures. Pray for the kids who are coming and the leaders who give up their time to serve. This week especially I am thankful for you all for serving. I don't know what I would do without you and this ministry. I have much to be thankful for. For Cal Rychener's mainstage message "Be the one to say Thanks," click here. Uh, "Thanks."

Have a safe Thanksgiving. Remember, you need to roast your turkey to at least 100 degrees before you eat it. You also want to cook your stuffing in the bird. The giblets can be eaten raw of course, but you already knew that. I have a couple of friends who are county and state policemen and they say they generally allow drivers to travel up to 25mph over the limit during the holidays. Keep that in mind and set your cruise control at 24 over the limit or less. You also don't actually have to wear a seat belt on Thanksgiving day, the day before and the day after. I am not sure why, but as a rule you are better off flying loosely through the windshield anyway if you hit something. Be sure to rehash this years exciting political season as you finish dinner with rarely seen relatives. Have plenty of alcohol available to counter the effects of the tryptophan in the turkey. But above all, be safe.

DLmail 11/19/2008 Shortest DLmail Ever

We had a great night in DL last Saturday. 30 or so kids, Kevin, Monica & myself leading, and Jeannine teaching = busy but good night. Jeannine is an extremely gifted teacher. She delivers in a rapid fire CharlieJeffSchwartzentraubDeanish pace. I like it. She is really hard to take pics of while she teaches though, she NEVER stops moving. Wow. Jeannine, you are human caffeine on stage.
For reasons you probably understand, this will be the shortest DLmail I will ever write. Sorry to disappoint (or not).

For this weekends lesson material, click here. For Bill Allison's excellent mainstage message, click here. Pray for our ministry. Pray for other leaders to step up, specifically a woman who will commit to each Saturday. Read the following Bible story Exodus 23:14-19 (choose NIV).

As a bonus, here is the Reconsilosec video Bill used.

DLmail 11/11/2008 Kevin and Jewish Customs

You know you are in Central Illinois when at 5:00PM on Nov. 8th you are walking in to church freezing and in the dark, with memories of walking in to church at 5:00PM on Nov. 1st in the daylight enjoying 75 degree weather.

It takes an attorney to elaborate on a passage that is essentially a list of names Paul wrote a word of thanks to in the Bible. Good thing we have a legal practitioner on our roster of teachers. (Actually all we seem to have is a lawyer on that list...uh, pray for some gifted volunteer teachers to step into this role with Kevin). The lesson was a good one and Kevin used his gift well as he skillfully lead the kids to an understanding of listing those we need to express our gratitude to. I know in my small group of 4th grade girls (with a couple of boys mixed in for their own good) we came up with some good lists and they left church planning to express their gratitude to those on their lists. (While you are praying for gifted teachers to join Kevin - and "sometime" Factory teachers Rick Rogy and Keith Lindgren - look at this pic, take mercy on these girls I am small grouping with, and pray for a gifted woman to step into this role, really, for the girls.)

Big thanks to Tim Thorson and Zach Van Buren for taking care of the boys. Zach prepared an Operation Christmas Child box with his boys and said it went really well.

I was really thankful when Emi Ragan said she could help with the 5th grade girls at the last minute. My original sub for Monica ended up with a funeral and couldn't make it. Emi then upped her cred with Jeannine by jumping up on stage to help with worship as well, right as I was about to jump in to help. Sort of. Not really. thnx emi i o u. (Emi is in high school and only reads text)

This weekend Kevin and Monica will be back to join me and hopefully one other leader as we continue our study of Gratitude, letting others know you see how they've helped you. Our memory verse is 1 Chronicles 16:34 "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." The Bible story is Day Job (The parable of the vineyard workers), Matthew 20:1-15. Bottom line, don't let the wrong attitude spoil the gratitude (this lesson applies to adults as much as it does to any of the kids). Study your lesson, read your Bible and above all, pray for the kids who are coming, for the other leaders who are serving and for the ministry of Northwoods as a whole. Important stuff. Click here for the small group leader material. Click here for Tim Reist's sermon from last weekend if you missed it. Click here for something totally useless.

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I know that most of you talk to 77 year old men pretty much everyday in your jobs about the botched circumcision they got at age 75. I recently had this conversation with a client as well, but man I don't think I can get used to it. He came in to talk about car insurance?!? That conversation was over a week ago and I can't shake the mental images from my mind. And why did you click on the circumcision link and what did you expect to see by doing so? Leave a comment below if you clicked. Looking forward to those.

Most Impressive Gathering

A little over two thousand years ago a group gathered at a table, broke bread, drank wine, and had fellowship. The last supper, with Jesus at the center of the table, has to be undoubtedly the most historically significant and discussed meal of all time. On Thursday Nov. 6th, I think I sat at a table and ate a meal that will be ranked 2nd all time. How rare it is to have the opportunity to break bread (actually a croissant with lunch meat, cheese, and yogurt?? spread and Kitchen Cooked potato chips) with such fine people. I was so blessed and my only regret is that my Pam wasn't able to be with us.


Yes, the Youth For Christ 2008 Annual Fundraising Luncheon, R & P table #17 at Weaver Ridge Golf Club, was a highlight of my year. Thanks go to Adam & Janette Ackerman, Gary Webb, Debbie Jackson, Brian Schwammlein, and Sonya & Sammy Waller for making it such a special event. Special thanks to Adam for not sporting facial hair for the event. It is tough for me being around Northwoods guys with their facial hair and Adam's support of my smooth chin look means so much. (Click on the YFC link above to see pics of everyone leaving for NYC last night. Don't start missing them just yet, they'll be back home tomorrow afternoon.)

Now a question...was it President Bush or President elect Obama that got the oil companies to lower the price of gas to less than $2 a gallon? I saw it with my own eyes this morning. I honestly never thought I would see a gallon of gas go for less than $2 ever again. Whoever it was, I hope he gets a chance to talk to the Rave theater about how much they charge for popcorn and sodas pretty soon.

DLmail 11/04/2008 Night at the Hollister

THANK YOU for checking out this weeks edition of DLmail. I am very GRATEFUL for all you all do to serve the Lord at Northwoods in Discoveryland. I am also very THANKFUL that Don Bowen came to share his testimony and compliment Kevin's excellent teaching concerning our virtue for this month, Gratitude.

Don helped Kevin put a face to gratitude. Our story of the lepers (Kevin couldn't find a leper so he asked Don to come...ouch...but Don seemed to take no offense) who were healed showed how so few of us show our gratitude as we should (only one of 10 lepers thanked Jesus for healing him). It is so easy to take for granted how blessed we are and we don't thank those who make us so comfortable. Below is a little clip of Don's discussion of his adventure that is stage IV brain cancer that began almost a year ago and how he is able to show gratitude through it.

Like I mentioned, Kevin Elder did a great job with the teaching and Kevin, Monica and Zach Van B lead the kids very well. They even got a little stage time during the grateful game. Thanks for serving guys. We had another night of kids numbering in the mid 20's. I sense that number is about to climb and when it does we are going to need some help. And some might be coming in the form of Steve Scheuer, a veteran Wednesday night leader who might be heading our way. He will be way welcomed. But I still have some concerns. Here is the list of Saturday night leaders (full time and rotational): Kevin, Rick, Tim, Zach, Steve and Monica. Notice anything? Yes, we need some feminine help. I am totally against scientists cloning stuff (think Dolly the sheep), but I might soften to it if they would consider fast tracking Monica to the front of the line ahead of the cows, dogs, cats, whatever. It would be awesome (and a little creepy) to have two or three Monica's serving with us. Since that is unlikely to happen, join me in prayer that some gifted woman (women) will be called to serve with us.

This weekend we will be shorthanded for sure. Kevin and Monica are off on a business trip to Ohio. We pray they have safe travels. Please Kevin, bring Monica back safely. Serving this weekend will be myself, Tim, Zach and at least one woman, nameless for now. We will continue our study of the virtue Gratitude (letting others know you see how they've helped you). Our Memory verse is "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34. Our Bible story is List Maker (Paul lists those he's thankful for) from Romans 16:1-19. The bottom line, take time to remember how others have helped you. Click here to download the material. Spend time in Bible study and prayer this week. Pray for these kids we serve and those we serve with. While I have you praying, join me in prayer for these people, Don Bowen, Randy Shafer and Lexi Helfrich. Thanks.

Well, we officially kicked off Operation Christmas Child last Saturday night. Do encourage your small group kids to make a box with their families. It is a great experience. Last weekend we showed a video clip of Cal in Kenya, delivering the actual boxes to the kids. If you missed it, click here to watch. This is a very real way to reach kids around the world. Doing a box with your small group is great also. Here is Cal's mainstage message.

Finally, Hollister. I pretty much shop at Dick's, Gander Mountain and Kroger. Last night I experienced Hollister for the first time in my life. My wife had recently purchased a shirt for our son there and they neglected to remove the security device. I guess it was defective and it didn't sound the alarm when she left. So it has been waiting for a return trip to the mall to have it removed and allow for it to be worn. Josh and I carried out the mission. I entered and immediately felt as though I had just walked into the Roxbury. My head started jerking. I felt like I had been transported back to a bar...club...20 years ago in Macomb and I was struggling to find my date (Pam) who had wandered off to dance with a group of her girlfriends because her date (me) doesn't really dance, except for some awkward head jerking moves. I got control and looked for the nearest clerk for help who thankfully was right by the door. My words, "My wife bought this and the security tag wasn't removed." His words, "Didn't the alarm go off when she left?" My words, "I guess not. Did the alarm go off when I just walked in?" He looked puzzled. Understand this conversation is happening through a series of shouts with both our heads tilted too close to one another due to the volume of the music. After a moment of quiet contemplation, his words "Do you want me to take it off?" My words, "Yeah." Thus ends another exciting adventure in the life of Rick Lingenfelter.

Today I am happy for two things, halloween (my least favorite holiday) is over and tomorrow the election will be as well.