hoedown 2007

Granted it's been a while since I logged in with everyone here in blog land, but the Hoedown means it's high time! We had a great time once again at this years Hoedown, hosted by the ever faithful and generous Matt & Jean Kokonnen. How can you not have fun with a couple hundred college students Line dancing and Square Dancing with great food, prizes (donated by local businesses) and the incredible pie eating contest.

I love this event every year--kudos to our incredible student leadership team for pulling this thing off with excellence once again and the leadership of Matt Esswein our College Ministry Assistant. Check out the pics to get a flavor of the night!

dancing of course

lots o' friends

dance instructors--our own Gabba & Kaleo

Pie eating contest!

great prizes from local businesses
(Thanks Trader Joe's, Jiffy Lube, Movie Experience, Lisa Leonard Designs, Cold Stone Creamery, Marie Calendars, Albertson's and more!)
is that Jr High Director Ben Collins??

what i'm reading

I have turned to 9 Marks Ministries and their excellent leadership interviews for a couple of years now as a source to feed my soul for life and in pastoral ministry. I finally just finished reading Mark Dever's 9 Marks of a Healthy Church and am encouraged and challenged by hte issues Dever puts forth.

He makes clear from the beginning that these marks aren't an exhaustive list of practices that should occur in churches. He choses these because he believes they are hte oens that are falling more and more out of practice in today's church. I can say that I agree with Dever for the most part. I found his chapter on leadership very practical, the chapter on church discipline has done much to improve my undestanding of that practice and I was stirred by way of reminder as I read the first chapter on Expositional Preaching.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to better understand God's calling on the Church.

The 9 Marks are:

1. Expositional Preaching
2. Biblical Theology
3. Biblical Understanding of the Good News
4. Biblical Understanding of Conversion
5. Biblical Understanding of Evangelism
6. Biblical Understanding of Membership
7. Biblical Church Discipline
8. Biblical Discipleship and Growth
9. Biblical Understanding of Leadership

one of our own!

One thing I am passionate about in our college ministry here at Grace is the stewardship we have in training up those who will go out and serve Christ in all kinds of vocations. Just over a week ago, one of our own, Jessica Reed (former Student Leader in our college ministry!), was back in town for her first professional engagement as Papagena in Mozart’s "The Magic Flute." Jessica is currently pursuing her graduate studies at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. I regularly get emails from her where she continues to evidence her growing faith and desire to serve the Lord where He calls her. Way to go Jess!

Check out the Tribune's article on Jessica!