I am going to attempt a new blog here…bear with me, this is my first blog. I am looking forward to getting to know you all better, so please read, respond, and ask questions! Here we go…
Where is the Spirit?
Have you thought about your future and what you want to do? Or what about the next week even…what’s happening in your life next week…this week? Where is the Spirit during this part/time in your life? can you see the Spirit’s presence in your life…if so where?
Hey everyone, guess what? I finally figured out how to update the blog!!!! Yeah, that is what happens when the older guy is in charge of the blog. Hope this entry finds y’all well and excited for the upcoming Christmas season. As you spend your time thinking about Christmas break, snow, what to get Randy for Christmas, take a few moments to reflect upon the true meaning of this season. The gifts you give are a very small representation of the gift we were given 2000 years ago. To think what that small baby would accomplish in it’s lifetime is mind boggling!!! I hope and pray that this season brings you many things; peace, joy, time with your loved ones and most of all an understanding and appreciation for that first Christmas gift. God’s peace. Randy
This past summer was full of awesome experiences here at Gloria Dei, and around the world! We took three mission trips this summer; Guatemala, Philadelphia, and Michigan. They were all great and unique in experience, but we all grew together through these great trips. It has been a great summer for me personally, getting the chance to see and talk with many different youth and adult leaders.
Now we look ahead to the school year and the changes that will happen. One big change is that I will be leaving Gloria Dei as Minister of Youth. I have had the chance to walk alongside many of you in your lives and your faith growth, and for that I thank God! You are an awesome group of youth and you have blessed me in my faith growth as well. I leave this program with memories and friends that I will never forget! I have accepted a position at Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp in Story City, Iowa as the Associate Program Coordinator. I’ll be working with local churches there and helping to plan several year round retreats and summer camps! I am super excited for this new venture in life, but also know that I will miss being a part of your lives here!
Sunday September 14 is my “farewell” Sunday and Soul Food. I would love to have the chance to see all of you there! My prayers are with all of you as you begin a transition of your own back into the swing of the school year. May you find God’s peace in the midst of craziness!
Hope you all are having an awesome summer…I can’t believe June is already gone! I just returned from our Guatemala Mission Trip with 13 awesome high school students! We had a great time learning and experiencing the people of Guatemala, leveling out a soccer field for the school, building some walls for the school, bartering in the market, and growing together. Check out the Guatemala page soon for pictures from the trip.
Looking ahead, we have 10 great high school students leaving for a mission trip to Philadelphia this Friday! We’re going to have a great time doing some inner city ministry together…keep us in your prayers!
10th inning Wednesdays continue to happen out at our land…check it out from 7:15-10pm every Wednesday!
What a great summer so far! I’m keeping myself pretty busy (as I bet most of you are as well!).
So far this summer, I had a blast with our 7th grade students at Good Earth Village Bible Camp. We played some crazy games, ran around a lot, played tons of ultimate frisbee, learned more about the Lord’s Prayer, and made some new friends. A great week!
Our Youth Softball Team continues to play on Wednesday nights. It’s a great group of youth and if you’re still interested in playing, we’d love to have you out!
We had our first “10th Inning Wednesday” event on the land last week. Students had a great time playing some games and hanging out eating ice cream. This week, our field is mowed so we can play some games! Each week we’ll have ice cream blizzards, smores, games, a bonfire, and some great time to hangout from 7:15-10pm.
This week is Vacation Bible School week in which tons of middle school and high school students are helping lead elementary students. They are fantastic leaders…and the kids love them! Thanks for all your help students!
On Friday, 13 high school students, Randy Jones, Kelly Dahl, and Chris Dahl will be heading on our first of many mission trips to Guatemala. Please keep them in your prayers June 27-July 5!
It’s been a great summer so far and I look forward to seeing all of you very soon!!
Hope you are all enjoying your first official week of summer! We have many great things going on throughout the summer at Gloria Dei!
Wednesday nights are huge…as we have our youth softball games (you’re all welcome to play) at Slatterly Park. Immediately after the game, we have “10th inning Wednesday nights” out at the church land (click here for map) Each Wednesday beginning on June 18, we’ll have a bonfire, many activities, and ice cream “blizzard” making supplies! Yum! You and your families are welcome to join us anytime from 7pm-10pm.
Another opportunity for you is “Dinner and movie with the Dahl’s”. Chris and Kelly Dahl would love to have you and a group of no more than 5 total people over for dinner and a movie with us! Here’s what you have to do: organize a group of no more than 5 people, call Chris, and schedule a date. Simple as that!
Also, if you have activities (sports, camps, performances, etc) this summer, Chris would love to come and see you in action! Send me an email or call him at (507)289-1841!
Also, make sure you’re checking out each age group’s page for more information on special events!
It has been a great week so far for me being in New Hampshire on vacation! One thing I’ve had the opportunity to do is go hiking for several hours in the vast wilderness that is the mountains of New Hampshire. While venturing out on my own up the trail, the following things came to my mind: “Should I have a trail map?” “What trail should I take?” “I wonder how many miles this trail is?” “I wonder what type of snakes are out here.” “I wonder if moose are violent.” These questions running in my mind brought up one main fear; being lost.
I began my hike out with absolutely no sense of direction or understanding of the landscape I was hiking in. I saw a trail that said, “Mt. Washington Trail”. Sounded good to me, and up I went. The trail was rocky, and steep, very steep. It had recently rained, so the rocks were slick, causing me to slip quite often. For an hour I followed this trail up, and up, and up, not knowing exactly where I was heading to. After an hour, I heard some rushing water coming from the other side of the trees. I came upon an awesome falls area but still didn’t know if this was my exact destination. At this point I decided to turn back down the hill.
Even though I had just seen extreme beauty and sense of peace, I again became worried that I wouldn’t be able to navigate my way back down the same path I took. Then one thing came to my mind; to be lost, we have to have a destination. The feeling of being lost tells you that something is not right, that you are not on the right path, and that there is a different way. As I headed down the trail, I tried to remember different landmarks that I saw on my way up the mountain. The terrain seemed similar, but there were points when I wasn’t sure if I indeed was still on the trail. I kept thinking about the “lost” times in my life. I thought back to when I left home for college. I thought about tough times in high school when it felt like I couldn’t do anything right. I thought about the strangeness of middle school and how I couldn’t ever figure out a way to fit in. I thought about the days where I wonder where God is leading my life.
I believe feeling lost is all inside our head. We might feel lost, but I know someone who can help. I know someone who has a roadmap for every place in the world. I know someone with GPS tracking that knows your exact location at all time. I know someone who will provide water when you need water. Food when you need food. Comfort when you need comfort. Shelter when you need shelter. A direction when you don’t have a compass. This being is your God, your Creator, your Guide, your Father. Feel lost? How about turning not to a map, but to your God? Try it…
Hey everyone! I know you’re all super excited for the end of the school year this week! As you find yourself in the midst of signing yearbooks, finishing finals, spending time with friends, I want to challenge you all to something…enjoy your life and see God’s goodness.
Today, and everyday, is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Your days might seem like they’re full of stress, full of worry, full of drama, full of mistakes. I challenge you to look at your days as gifts; to look at your friends as gifts, your family as gifts, your challenges as gifts. Enjoy these last days of school with friends and see the positive in the midst of your struggles.
Thanks be to God for all of you and for God, well, being God! Have a great few days everyone!
Hey everyone! I found this great clip from the band, ‘Switchfoot’, as they speak directly to seniors graduating from high school. Take a peek at this video…
This past Sunday, our community was blessed to have an awesome worship band, Breathe Deep, join us for Soul Food. It was a truly great night for everyone! We kicked our evening off with some crazy olympic games outside, inlcuding; Spoon and thread relay, shoe kick, crab-crawl-ball, body spelling, and spin-round-the-cone. After spending all of our energy, we came back for a delicious bbq dinner, cooked by: Randy Jones, Rob and Kathy Fuqua, Josh Wright, and Chris DePagter. We were then blessed to be lead in an energetic worship service lead by Breathe Deep. Their message of God’s hope, love, and pull in our lives was a central part of our time together. It was truly an awesome evening with many awesome students, leaders, musicians, and most of all, an awesome God we worship! Hope you all enjoyed Soul Food this year as much as I have, and we will start Soul Food again in September!
