Welp, Christmas has come and gone. It was here with a flurry as a blizzard blasted Ada with almost a foot of snow. This blizzard did shut the church down for our Christmas Eve Experience but it did not phase us for our Christmas Dinner for the Hungry. It was awesome seeing so many volunteers show up to help serve those in need in the Ada area. I believe the final number of deliveries and walk ins was around 400-500 people. It was awesome to be able to serve as the hands and feet of Christ on this day when we remember His birth. I am amazed to think that this idea was birthed in the heart of a child around 5 years old. It is amazing to think that God probably tried to pour this vision into so many leaders and adults in our area but we were too busy/distracted to listen to the calling of God but a child heard and ACTED on what God spoke. Thanks Dave...
Blessings,
Zac
Monday, December 28, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Week in preview...
I am looking forward to the next few days... Yes Christmas is around the corner and I will see family and friends that I have not seen in a while but this year I am excited about the possibility of doing something different. On Christmas day I am working, not with other church's or as H2OChurch but simply with other believers as me and my family serve the needy on Christmas day. We will be feeding and delivering food to those in need on this day. It is so easy for me to get caught up in the rush and business of Christmas and forget what it is all about. I want to raise my kids in a mindset that Christmas is about giving back just like God gave His only son Jesus for me and you we should find ways to give to others in the hope that we can possibly share with them the greatest gift of all... JESUS...
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
12/10/09
Okay, I have shopped for 0 Christmas presents at this point and just got the Christmas tree up last night but I did do 3 miles of cardio today so that is a good thing:) December is flying by so fast that I am not sure what to think... We are less than a week away from our OPERATION CHRISTMAS where we are providing presents and care packs for 100 kids in need in the Ada area another week away from a party we are throwing for our little kids to celebrate Jesus's birth then Christmas eve Experience, then Christmas and all the craziness that goes with that plus serving food to the hungry Christmas day with DAVE-O and somewhere in all of this managing my mom walking through stomach cancer:( Even with all of this going on I am going to make sure to make time and pull away each day so that I don't just let the craziness control me but I find time with God in the day so that He can control me... Have an awesome Christmas season and don't be controlled by the things that don't need to be controlling you give the reins over to the one who can see what is coming down the road...
Blessings,
Zac
Blessings,
Zac
Monday, December 7, 2009
Blogging time...
Okay I have been out for a bit but hey it is just a blog:) Here are some highlights... My dad was diagnosed with cancer about 5 weeks ago and we were taken aback by that but we took it in stride and they removed his kidney and in turn the cancerous tumor, two weeks later my mom went in for stomach surgery and they found a tennis ball sized tumor in her stomach and they cut out 50% of her stomach. The tumor came back as cancer and now we are having to look at chemo and radiation. I am not really sure how I take this news because it is really scary but I am really bad about mentally checking out of tough situations and just walking through them and I kinda feel that I am doing this here and just taking it day by day. My wife has even asked me "Aren't you sad, and my response is yes but I just am taking it as it comes". I guess this is just a survival mode that we go into when things get tough... Today I have started my fight. By fight I mean my battle against what has happened to most of my family and that is putting on the weight and just settling. I have put on too much weight and now I am fighting back I have a target of being 185 by summer. I am doing this the old fashioned way of running, lifting weights, drinking water and eating better. I am really pushing myself to do this so I am laying off of most fast food and going to bed earlier so I can wake up at 6:00am to work out. I am excited about the next phase of my life, I graduate from EMT school in two weeks and will be doing that part time for a bit but I think I have a nack for it and really enjoy the this field. My wife and kids are healthy and I Praise God for that daily and I am part of a growing vibrant ministry that is about seeing lives changed for Christ, I don't think it gets much better than this.
God is good:)
God is good:)
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Mountain Biking by Doug Fields:)
For years I’ve had buddies tell me, “You’ve got to get into mountain biking…it’s amazing! You’d love it! A lot of ex-athletes wind up doing it.” My usual first response is, “Who you calling an EX-athlete?” But my second response was always, “I’m too busy with my own kids’ sports to have one of my own.” That would usually shut them down for another year or two before they’d come back with that maniacal look and say once again, “Dude, you’ve got to try it.”
A couple months ago my doctor didn’t tell me to begin mountain biking, but he did say, “You’ve better find some type of exercise program that you like or you’re going to die.” (I’m not sure those were his exact words, but they’re close.) Then, I was dumb enough to tell my wife what my doctor said and she told me, “If you don’t find an exercise program you like, I’m going to kill you before you have a chance to die.” So with that external motivation I sent an email to some mountain-bike friends and asked if anyone had a spare bike I could borrow to get me started—they all replied in similar language, “Dude, yeah…awesome!”
So as I sit at the keyboard, I have less than one month under my belt into the “world of mountain biking.” I now own a bike (bought it from a friend); I also have a helmet, shoes, clothes, gloves, and most of the gear “required” for this sport. Basically, I have everything needed except for the cardiovascular condition, the needed skills, and the coaching.
After my first ride I realized mountain biking is not like the bike riding I did as a kid. It’s not “jump on your bike and ride all day.” It’s much different! In addition to the extreme terrain there are so many moving parts that add to the confusion: 3 front sprockets, 5 or 6 back sprockets (I can’t remember), 2 brake levers, and 4 shifting systems
My list of “how to” questions could fill up the page.
I can already feel my cardio condition changing, but I desperately need the coaching to get answers to my questions.
You may be thinking, “Does this have anything to do with youth ministry or has Doug lost all blood to his brain?” Well, here comes the youth ministry connection. On this morning’s ride I began to think about how little I know about this new sport/hobby. I really need a coach. I have so many questions. I’m not sure when to shift on the hills. I apparently have a tubeless tire that I wouldn’t know how to fix if I got a flat. I have front shocks that need to be adjusted based on the terrain and I don’t have the slightest idea what to do. I fell off my bike today because I couldn’t unclip my shoes from the peddles when my chain came off the sprocket. My list of “how to” questions could fill up the page.
As I was riding and wishing for a safe and caring riding partner/coach I began to think about the teenagers in our ministries. What are we doing with all their questions? Do we even know the questions they’re asking? Or do we assume they’ll catch everything about Jesus as they begin their ride with him?
Like I need a riding coach, teenagers need a Jesus coach. While mountain biking is much more complex than “jump on a bike”…so is following Jesus much more complex than a simple “come to church.” For a month I’ve been riding every day, tinkering around at the local bike shop, reading magazines and Web sites to try to find coaching tips, downloading trail guides to my iPhone, and asking a lot of questions… And I’m still confused, frustrated, and wanting someone to coach me. I want someone else to care enough to care about me.
Could it be that our youth ministries have become good at getting teenagers to come to church… but we’re not so good at coaching them on how to walk with Jesus? Then, if they don’t know how to walk with Jesus, they graduate from our ministry and graduate away from church. Do the kids entrusted to your care (as a youth pastor over several or as a volunteer over a few) know that you want to coach them in the ways of Jesus? Do they leave your youth ministry knowing that there is a caring, loving and available adult who wants the best for them? Who won’t laugh at their questions? Who will walk beside them as they struggle and fall? If so…great! Way to go! Those teenagers are blessed. But if not, what might need to change within your youth ministry and your personal leadership style so teenagers will know that they’re not a number to be counted or a seat-filler, but rather a young follower of Jesus who needs a little help with the call of Jesus to “follow me”?
Jesus spent most of his time with the few. Yes, he spoke to and fed the masses, but his most common audience was the few. Who are the few that need you right now? They don’t need to be invited to church, they need you…coaching, listening, loving, and caring you. Walking with Jesus is an adventure… but it’s one that requires more help and coaching than we’re probably aware of.
A couple months ago my doctor didn’t tell me to begin mountain biking, but he did say, “You’ve better find some type of exercise program that you like or you’re going to die.” (I’m not sure those were his exact words, but they’re close.) Then, I was dumb enough to tell my wife what my doctor said and she told me, “If you don’t find an exercise program you like, I’m going to kill you before you have a chance to die.” So with that external motivation I sent an email to some mountain-bike friends and asked if anyone had a spare bike I could borrow to get me started—they all replied in similar language, “Dude, yeah…awesome!”
So as I sit at the keyboard, I have less than one month under my belt into the “world of mountain biking.” I now own a bike (bought it from a friend); I also have a helmet, shoes, clothes, gloves, and most of the gear “required” for this sport. Basically, I have everything needed except for the cardiovascular condition, the needed skills, and the coaching.
After my first ride I realized mountain biking is not like the bike riding I did as a kid. It’s not “jump on your bike and ride all day.” It’s much different! In addition to the extreme terrain there are so many moving parts that add to the confusion: 3 front sprockets, 5 or 6 back sprockets (I can’t remember), 2 brake levers, and 4 shifting systems
My list of “how to” questions could fill up the page.
I can already feel my cardio condition changing, but I desperately need the coaching to get answers to my questions.
You may be thinking, “Does this have anything to do with youth ministry or has Doug lost all blood to his brain?” Well, here comes the youth ministry connection. On this morning’s ride I began to think about how little I know about this new sport/hobby. I really need a coach. I have so many questions. I’m not sure when to shift on the hills. I apparently have a tubeless tire that I wouldn’t know how to fix if I got a flat. I have front shocks that need to be adjusted based on the terrain and I don’t have the slightest idea what to do. I fell off my bike today because I couldn’t unclip my shoes from the peddles when my chain came off the sprocket. My list of “how to” questions could fill up the page.
As I was riding and wishing for a safe and caring riding partner/coach I began to think about the teenagers in our ministries. What are we doing with all their questions? Do we even know the questions they’re asking? Or do we assume they’ll catch everything about Jesus as they begin their ride with him?
Like I need a riding coach, teenagers need a Jesus coach. While mountain biking is much more complex than “jump on a bike”…so is following Jesus much more complex than a simple “come to church.” For a month I’ve been riding every day, tinkering around at the local bike shop, reading magazines and Web sites to try to find coaching tips, downloading trail guides to my iPhone, and asking a lot of questions… And I’m still confused, frustrated, and wanting someone to coach me. I want someone else to care enough to care about me.
Could it be that our youth ministries have become good at getting teenagers to come to church… but we’re not so good at coaching them on how to walk with Jesus? Then, if they don’t know how to walk with Jesus, they graduate from our ministry and graduate away from church. Do the kids entrusted to your care (as a youth pastor over several or as a volunteer over a few) know that you want to coach them in the ways of Jesus? Do they leave your youth ministry knowing that there is a caring, loving and available adult who wants the best for them? Who won’t laugh at their questions? Who will walk beside them as they struggle and fall? If so…great! Way to go! Those teenagers are blessed. But if not, what might need to change within your youth ministry and your personal leadership style so teenagers will know that they’re not a number to be counted or a seat-filler, but rather a young follower of Jesus who needs a little help with the call of Jesus to “follow me”?
Jesus spent most of his time with the few. Yes, he spoke to and fed the masses, but his most common audience was the few. Who are the few that need you right now? They don’t need to be invited to church, they need you…coaching, listening, loving, and caring you. Walking with Jesus is an adventure… but it’s one that requires more help and coaching than we’re probably aware of.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
New Series...
I am pumped about the new series that will be kicking off in 1 week at H2OChurch called "GHOST". Lifechurch.tv will be diving into a 4 week series on the Holy Ghost... We will also be doing some awesome life changing messages with our H2OKids. I am looking forward to see what God is going to do in this next series.
Zac
Zac
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
H2OChurch Fallapalooza!!!
I am pumped about what God is doing at H2OChurch and how He is moving in awesome ways. November 8th we are kicking off the Fall with a blast out at Cornerstone Kids Ranch. Everyone is welcome and there are so many things geared towards our H2OKids that it is going to be incredible. H2OChurch will also be having a meet and greet with our new pastor that has just joined our team Gary Lukens and his wife Lanita Lukens. We look forward to this awesome evening of fun and fellowship. Don't forget we are taking our Engage ministry students to the nightmare October 30th as well...
Have an awesome day,
Zac
Have an awesome day,
Zac
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