On September 11, 2001, I was on my way to Alaska. I boarded a plane in Kansas City for my trip. I was flying to Minneapolis and then on to Juneau. Our family had just completed 8 years of ministry serving at Echo Ranch Bible Camp. It was my job to go back up to Juneau and drive home the truck full of our belongings.
I got as far as Minneapolis. We were changing planes. They told us there would be a slight delay in our next flight. As I walked down the hallway of the terminal, I remember looking into a bar to see what everyone was watching. On the screen was a factory with two large smoke stacks. I went in to find out more. Over the next 4 hours I learned about what we all know now was the attack on the Twin Towers. I spent 3 days in Minneapolis with some of Sal's relatives. Then flew on to Juneau as planned and drove home.
If you have a couple minutes, follow this link to an important lesson we all can learn from 9/11:
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
DebriS
Are You Ready? Yes I am. August is one of my favorite months. Weather starts to cool off and the kids are off to school. That can only mean one thing: football. Love the High School football. Even as a former Hillsboro Trojan, it was easy to love the Swathers. When you work with the youth and you see them giving their best, the romance blossoms quickly. Love the Huskers. Again, growing up in Hillsboro in the '80s, there was no Kansas football to love. I'm not exaggerating when I say I don't think either University ever won a game in the '80s. I'm happy things have turned around for them now. But there's no place like Nebraska. And I love to fall asleep Sunday afternoons to the Pros. I've changed my philosophy on Fantasy Football. I only draft guys from the 3 or 4 teams I like. For some reason the Browns players are always available.
Long day yesterday. Our Sunday School classes kicked off with the Gospel Project. It's a themed curriculum that connects 2 year olds thru senior adults. Everybody study the same ideas on their level. First time we've tried it. Right after lunch I headed to Tulsa with Ronnie B. If you are from Oklahoma, explain to me how it is they charge all those tolls and their roads still suck. Mr. Sooner, please invest our toll money back into the road. We actually had a great trip. Attended a Small Group seminar at Discovery Bible Church. It was awesome!! I am very excited about the direction our Community Groups are headed. As a youth pastor, it took about 4 attempts over 6 years to get the Hesston Youth's small groups working efficiently. My guess is it will take some time with these as well, but I feel better prepared.
I assume we all have phrases or Bible verses that spur us on to start, finish, or persevere through life's challenges. While working at Echo Ranch, we gobbled up any and all info that would come to us from the outside world. Once or twice a week someone would come back from town with not only the mail, but also a USA Today. As I read the Sports Section line by line, I came across this quote which I clipped and having taped to my computer at work:
"If you become paralyzed by the thought that you may be criticized for doing something, you're never going to be the risk taker you need to be as a good coach or leader. Risk taking is part of it. If it doesn't work out, you've got to accept the responsibility." Philosopher/Coach Jeff VanGundy
Risk taking as a leader isn't permission to be reckless. It's the courage to take a first step.
I close with a shout out to my friend, Kyle. Character is often revealed through adversity and/or change. You're a very good man.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Back to schooL
WOW!! Do you love it? What do you think of the "Breaking Bad-ish", chart of elements title? Sally's brother, Tommy G from the 57350, hooked me up with that. He's a great artist. Tom and his wife, Steph, are the ones who took Cass' senior pics. They do good work. Thanks guys!
SPOILER ALERT!! No Sex, Porn, or Intimacy this article. I know some of you will quit reading but I can't provide good gossip fodder every week. However, I hadn't planned on writing the things I wrote the last two weeks, so you never know what you might get. One of my weaknesses is that if I think it, I'll probably say it, or in this case, type it. Reminds me of the story from when we used to live up in Alaska and worked at Echo Ranch. Each summer we would have volunteers come in to help make the camp run. There was this dear, sweet old lady named Maude who worked in the kitchen. It's Alaska, so everyday, pretty much it rains. One morning I'm in the kitchen before she gets to the Dining Hall. Maude comes walking around the corner with a plastic sack over her head. And I say to Maude, "You look like a bag!" Probably had to be there for it to be funny, but they wouldn't let me forget I'd called her an Old Bag. Good memory nonetheless.
OLYMPIC UPDATE: I enjoyed the Olympics. I "hate" the NBC execs for putting basketball and soccer on the former Versus channel, but I also understand they are wanting to drive traffic to their new channel. As you probably heard, the USA won most medals. 46 gold and 104 overall. Did you know 31 were in Swimming and 29 in Track & Field? Amazing. 2/3 of medals came from two venues. My favorite story of the Olympics comes from my birth country of the Dominican Republic. In their history, they had only won 4 Summer Olympic medals...ever. 2 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze. One of the gold medals won in 2004 was by Felix Sanchez. He runs the 400 m hurdles. In 2008 his grandma died the morning Felix was to race in the Olympics. He came in 22nd out of 25. This year, school had already started at the University in Santo Domingo, so the administration setup TVs around campus and let the students out of class to watch him run. Felix won the 400 m hurdles again. 1st, 22nd, and then 1st. I read that they are going to rename the Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo after him. He is 35 years old. So do you think proportionately that Sanchez is a bigger deal to the Dominicans than Phelps is to the Americans?
SCHOOL: Tomorrow is the first day of school in Hesston. Cassidy is a Senior in high school. Carson starts his Freshman year. And Sally is still at the middle school. Mondays are my day off. I can't wait for August 20, my first Monday in 3 months with nobody around. It's the little things.
SPOILER ALERT!! No Sex, Porn, or Intimacy this article. I know some of you will quit reading but I can't provide good gossip fodder every week. However, I hadn't planned on writing the things I wrote the last two weeks, so you never know what you might get. One of my weaknesses is that if I think it, I'll probably say it, or in this case, type it. Reminds me of the story from when we used to live up in Alaska and worked at Echo Ranch. Each summer we would have volunteers come in to help make the camp run. There was this dear, sweet old lady named Maude who worked in the kitchen. It's Alaska, so everyday, pretty much it rains. One morning I'm in the kitchen before she gets to the Dining Hall. Maude comes walking around the corner with a plastic sack over her head. And I say to Maude, "You look like a bag!" Probably had to be there for it to be funny, but they wouldn't let me forget I'd called her an Old Bag. Good memory nonetheless.
OLYMPIC UPDATE: I enjoyed the Olympics. I "hate" the NBC execs for putting basketball and soccer on the former Versus channel, but I also understand they are wanting to drive traffic to their new channel. As you probably heard, the USA won most medals. 46 gold and 104 overall. Did you know 31 were in Swimming and 29 in Track & Field? Amazing. 2/3 of medals came from two venues. My favorite story of the Olympics comes from my birth country of the Dominican Republic. In their history, they had only won 4 Summer Olympic medals...ever. 2 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze. One of the gold medals won in 2004 was by Felix Sanchez. He runs the 400 m hurdles. In 2008 his grandma died the morning Felix was to race in the Olympics. He came in 22nd out of 25. This year, school had already started at the University in Santo Domingo, so the administration setup TVs around campus and let the students out of class to watch him run. Felix won the 400 m hurdles again. 1st, 22nd, and then 1st. I read that they are going to rename the Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo after him. He is 35 years old. So do you think proportionately that Sanchez is a bigger deal to the Dominicans than Phelps is to the Americans?
SCHOOL: Tomorrow is the first day of school in Hesston. Cassidy is a Senior in high school. Carson starts his Freshman year. And Sally is still at the middle school. Mondays are my day off. I can't wait for August 20, my first Monday in 3 months with nobody around. It's the little things.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Three 50'S
I have had a chance to have some great conversations come out of including a sentence in last week's blog about my battle with porn addiction. After living in Hesston for 10 years, I guess I just assumed everybody knew.
I have not tried to hide it: I lead seminars on "Sex, Porn, and Intimacy"; I speak about it in youth group, from the pulpit, at youth conferences; have talked about it an ad for the Hesston Record. But in case you've missed it, my testimony is this:
15 years ago I told Sal about my problem with porn. Toughest thing on our marriage, ever. Greatest burden ever shed, but just the beginning of learning more of who God created me to be. At first I was so ashamed and didn't want anyone to know. Slowly but surely, as God brought people into my life that I could share my past with, He showed me there was forgiveness and victory.
I call it an addiction to porn, because I believe that unless I continue to make choices to protect myself from temptations, I will get sucked right back into it. On one hand I loved it, while on the other I hated it. Satan would always tell me that I couldn't tell anybody about it. That people would reject me and hate me if I told anyone. What a liar. Oh, I'm sure there are some that do. But God has given me so much strength through the power of people knowing my past.
And there are three 50's that motivate me to share with people my story:
I have not tried to hide it: I lead seminars on "Sex, Porn, and Intimacy"; I speak about it in youth group, from the pulpit, at youth conferences; have talked about it an ad for the Hesston Record. But in case you've missed it, my testimony is this:
15 years ago I told Sal about my problem with porn. Toughest thing on our marriage, ever. Greatest burden ever shed, but just the beginning of learning more of who God created me to be. At first I was so ashamed and didn't want anyone to know. Slowly but surely, as God brought people into my life that I could share my past with, He showed me there was forgiveness and victory.
I call it an addiction to porn, because I believe that unless I continue to make choices to protect myself from temptations, I will get sucked right back into it. On one hand I loved it, while on the other I hated it. Satan would always tell me that I couldn't tell anybody about it. That people would reject me and hate me if I told anyone. What a liar. Oh, I'm sure there are some that do. But God has given me so much strength through the power of people knowing my past.
And there are three 50's that motivate me to share with people my story:
- 50% of men/boys use porn- Some surveys say that number could be higher. I go by 50%. I know most people will think, "Not my family. Not my husband. Not my son. Not my dad." In my experiences and conversations, I have found 50% to be true. If you want help, find someone you trust to talk to. Also, check out www.xxxchurch.com. Great resource.
- 50% of junior highers have engaged in oral sex- Again, my guess is your saying, "No, not here in Hesston." Parents, we have got to talk to our children not just about the birds and the bees, but about true love, intimacy, and God's plan for marriage. It is not the church's, school's or a friend's responsibility to be the primary influence of our kids. It is us as parents. We have got to step up and have the tough conversations, even about oral sex. Pick up Jim Burn's book "The Purity Code" for some great direction.
- 50% of marriages end in divorce- I think we are afraid to say our marriage is struggling. It is tough. We grow up dating and dabbling in sex/intimacy with the out of breaking up. What is it really like to give 100% to another person even when they don't deserve it. We have to do a better job in our churches of teaching God's perspective of biblical marriage and offering resources to help couples before the "D" word starts being used.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Twenty onE
I remember thinking, "How do you know if she is THE ONE?"
So many decisions we make are connected to the battle in our brain and/or our bodies over what we know and what we feel. Is it simply KNOWING she is the one or is it FEELING that she is the one?
Or is the success or failure of a marriage based on believing that no matter how bad it gets, no matter what my spouse does, I commit to "till death do us part?" What if you were asked before you got married to write down a list of things that would be the last straw? The thing that opens the secret passage way out of the hell you are living through in your marriage? What would you write down? I've never asked a couple in pre-marital counseling to do this, but I probably should. If we were honest, what would we put on our list?
With her permission, I tell this true story- A good friend of mine had an affair. After years of marriage, she looked somewhere beside her husband for fulfillment. She told her husband what was going on, expecting he would send her way. He didn't. By God's grace, they are still together today.
I want that kind of marriage. Sound crazy? I do not want to have to experience everything they have had to go through. But I want the strength to forgive; the resolve to persevere when everything in me wants to run away.
Will I stay or will I go? I haven't had to face that question...yet. Hope I won't ever have to. I know what I think I would answer, but I also know that like so many things in life, you don't know until you face it for real.
I thank God and I thank Sal for 21 amazing years of marriage. I know I will have to battle as hard or harder over the remainder of my life to protect this relationship. I am thankful to the men who have supported me and kept me accountable as I battle my addiction to porn. God has used them to protect me from so many terrible choices and consequences.
I love you, Sally Glanzer. You are THE ONE.
So many decisions we make are connected to the battle in our brain and/or our bodies over what we know and what we feel. Is it simply KNOWING she is the one or is it FEELING that she is the one?
Or is the success or failure of a marriage based on believing that no matter how bad it gets, no matter what my spouse does, I commit to "till death do us part?" What if you were asked before you got married to write down a list of things that would be the last straw? The thing that opens the secret passage way out of the hell you are living through in your marriage? What would you write down? I've never asked a couple in pre-marital counseling to do this, but I probably should. If we were honest, what would we put on our list?
With her permission, I tell this true story- A good friend of mine had an affair. After years of marriage, she looked somewhere beside her husband for fulfillment. She told her husband what was going on, expecting he would send her way. He didn't. By God's grace, they are still together today.
I want that kind of marriage. Sound crazy? I do not want to have to experience everything they have had to go through. But I want the strength to forgive; the resolve to persevere when everything in me wants to run away.
Will I stay or will I go? I haven't had to face that question...yet. Hope I won't ever have to. I know what I think I would answer, but I also know that like so many things in life, you don't know until you face it for real.
I thank God and I thank Sal for 21 amazing years of marriage. I know I will have to battle as hard or harder over the remainder of my life to protect this relationship. I am thankful to the men who have supported me and kept me accountable as I battle my addiction to porn. God has used them to protect me from so many terrible choices and consequences.
I love you, Sally Glanzer. You are THE ONE.
Monday, July 23, 2012
FriendshiP
Two years ago today I was sitting in the Dominican Republic. It was the end of my saBRADical. I had just spent two amazing weeks showing Cassidy my "homeland". As I finally got to a computer and checked Facebook, I found out Josh Murdock had been killed that morning in a float plane accident in Alaska.
Josh was one of the best friends a guy could ask for. Sally and I had gotten to know Josh and Lorna while serving as missionaries in Ketchikan. They had a little girl and boy about Cassidy and Carson's age. In some ways, we have never really spent enough time with them to love them as much as we do. During two winters we lived away from camp. Six months each time.
As I talked to Lorna today, I was hearing from a woman (and a family) talking about depending on Jesus to make it through each day. Although we've been to his grave and mourned with the family, it is sometimes still surreal to grasp that Josh is gone. He was an amazing man. Not perfect. But amazing.
Seems like I've been thinking a lot about friendship these days. Went last week to my 25th class reunion in Hillsboro. Great to see people for the first time, in some cases, since graduation. Sometimes I don't like going to the class reunions. I remember how much of a smart-alec I was. I'm sure they do too.
It's funny how relationships change. Remember going from Junior High to High School and how some of the people you always hung out with, you didn't hang out with anymore? Maybe I cling too much to the past, but I hate friendships changing. They are a lot of work. People move. Ideals change. I tend to hold on to the hope that the time and energy we have invested will stand the test of life.
That's probably why I've been greatly encouraged by connecting with a close high school friend again. Though living only a few miles apart, we have not done much together over the past 10 years. But he and I have been grabbing lunch lately. We've been talking about where life is taking us, where we want to get to, and how we are going to get there. I like that. It makes my heart smile again.
Josh was one of the best friends a guy could ask for. Sally and I had gotten to know Josh and Lorna while serving as missionaries in Ketchikan. They had a little girl and boy about Cassidy and Carson's age. In some ways, we have never really spent enough time with them to love them as much as we do. During two winters we lived away from camp. Six months each time.
As I talked to Lorna today, I was hearing from a woman (and a family) talking about depending on Jesus to make it through each day. Although we've been to his grave and mourned with the family, it is sometimes still surreal to grasp that Josh is gone. He was an amazing man. Not perfect. But amazing.
Seems like I've been thinking a lot about friendship these days. Went last week to my 25th class reunion in Hillsboro. Great to see people for the first time, in some cases, since graduation. Sometimes I don't like going to the class reunions. I remember how much of a smart-alec I was. I'm sure they do too.
It's funny how relationships change. Remember going from Junior High to High School and how some of the people you always hung out with, you didn't hang out with anymore? Maybe I cling too much to the past, but I hate friendships changing. They are a lot of work. People move. Ideals change. I tend to hold on to the hope that the time and energy we have invested will stand the test of life.
That's probably why I've been greatly encouraged by connecting with a close high school friend again. Though living only a few miles apart, we have not done much together over the past 10 years. But he and I have been grabbing lunch lately. We've been talking about where life is taking us, where we want to get to, and how we are going to get there. I like that. It makes my heart smile again.
Monday, July 9, 2012
AwaY
Been a pretty amazing week. After church on July 1st, we jumped in the car and drove to Huron, SD to be with Sal's family. What an amazing drive! Especially the last hour in Nebraska. Beautiful row after row after row of corn over rolling hills as far as the eye can see. Love it.
Carson spent 2 1/2 weeks up in SD with his grandparents, uncle, aunt and cousins. He had a blast. It's so cool to see him growing up and becoming a young man. Sal put his time there in good perspective: Carson being away allowed him to learn things and be taught be people he couldn't learn being with us. One of those things was wakeboarding. I think they went out about every night.
And Cassidy spent one evening taking her Senior pictures with Uncle Tom and Aunt Steph. They do an amazing job. Someone once told me to enjoy each stage your children go though. Very good advice. I am enjoying the indpendence Cassidy is developing.
Speaking of which, this Sunday, July 8, Cassidy flew to Seattle to spend a week with my brother and sister-in-law and their two kids. First time for her to fly by herself. Alaska Airlines flies direct from KC to Seattle. Used a few of my credit card airline miles to get her up there.
A special treat this week has been to eat sweetcorn from Gaeddert Farms. That stuff is declicious. Tomorrow night we will be grilling Buhler sausage (best on the planet) and eating sweetcorn. Can't wait.
Carson spent 2 1/2 weeks up in SD with his grandparents, uncle, aunt and cousins. He had a blast. It's so cool to see him growing up and becoming a young man. Sal put his time there in good perspective: Carson being away allowed him to learn things and be taught be people he couldn't learn being with us. One of those things was wakeboarding. I think they went out about every night.
And Cassidy spent one evening taking her Senior pictures with Uncle Tom and Aunt Steph. They do an amazing job. Someone once told me to enjoy each stage your children go though. Very good advice. I am enjoying the indpendence Cassidy is developing.
Speaking of which, this Sunday, July 8, Cassidy flew to Seattle to spend a week with my brother and sister-in-law and their two kids. First time for her to fly by herself. Alaska Airlines flies direct from KC to Seattle. Used a few of my credit card airline miles to get her up there.
A special treat this week has been to eat sweetcorn from Gaeddert Farms. That stuff is declicious. Tomorrow night we will be grilling Buhler sausage (best on the planet) and eating sweetcorn. Can't wait.
Monday, July 2, 2012
BeginningS
What is a BLOG? The answer I connect most with is, "A journal on the web."
Two years ago when I had a sabbatical from my position as Youth Pastor at Hesston MB Church, I decided to blog. Not indefinitely, mind you. Just over the 3 months I would be away from my position and my "family" at the church. Decided it was a good way to be responsible for the time I was being given away from my responsibilities without talking to everyone in the church throughout.
I called it "saBRADical" since I was literally in the middle of it. We all tend to see the world from our own point of view. I believe the challenge of life is not to be consumed with that view or the view that other's take for that matter.
Today I begin a second blog. We'll see where it goes and how long it "prospers". There are a variety of reasons, but I won't bore you with them.
I went with the title "Breaking Brad" because my guilty pleasure in life right now is the TV show on AMC called "Breaking Bad". The main character is a 50 year old man named Walter White. Walter is going through mid-life trying to figure out who he is and where he is going. Life hasn't turned out as he thought it would. Walter takes to making meth to provide for his medical expenses and his family. Then the "fun" begins.
No, this isn't a cry for help because I'm making drugs on the side. I do connect with the struggle to do right when I want so bad to do wrong, wanting to provide for all that my family needs (and wants), and learning to stand up for myself when a good portion of my life I let people walk on me.
And Walter shaved his head. I like that. Just wish I could grow facial hair.
Two years ago when I had a sabbatical from my position as Youth Pastor at Hesston MB Church, I decided to blog. Not indefinitely, mind you. Just over the 3 months I would be away from my position and my "family" at the church. Decided it was a good way to be responsible for the time I was being given away from my responsibilities without talking to everyone in the church throughout.
I called it "saBRADical" since I was literally in the middle of it. We all tend to see the world from our own point of view. I believe the challenge of life is not to be consumed with that view or the view that other's take for that matter.
Today I begin a second blog. We'll see where it goes and how long it "prospers". There are a variety of reasons, but I won't bore you with them.
I went with the title "Breaking Brad" because my guilty pleasure in life right now is the TV show on AMC called "Breaking Bad". The main character is a 50 year old man named Walter White. Walter is going through mid-life trying to figure out who he is and where he is going. Life hasn't turned out as he thought it would. Walter takes to making meth to provide for his medical expenses and his family. Then the "fun" begins.
No, this isn't a cry for help because I'm making drugs on the side. I do connect with the struggle to do right when I want so bad to do wrong, wanting to provide for all that my family needs (and wants), and learning to stand up for myself when a good portion of my life I let people walk on me.
And Walter shaved his head. I like that. Just wish I could grow facial hair.
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