Refreshing

Last week was totally amazing! Matthew Starner (Journey's Director of Worship and Arts) and I attend a leadership retreat with some old friends (and new) who are part of a youth ministry network. The topic of discussion focused on staying relevant in ministry. The reality is it doesn't matter if you are a youth pastor or a lead pastor, a director of worship or kids ministry, we can learn from one another and encourage each other as we strive to help others take their next step toward Christ.

The discussions we shared as a whole group and the individual conversations were refreshing, vitalizing and just down right fun. It is so great to be among a group of people who share your passion and encourage you to think outside the box and believe that no dream is impossible for God.

The company and topic of the retreat were not the only thing that was great. We stayed at an amazing place called "The Rock of Ages" This incredible 13 bedroom home right on Lake Eire is incredible. Just being there made it possible to relax and enjoy a few days to recoup and re-energize for ministry. I totally understand why Jesus would take his disciples away from time to time and why Peter, James and John wanted to stay on that mountain with Jesus. It was a lot nicer than a tent at Rock of Ages, and I could have just stayed awhile.

I pray that you and your family have a chance to get some mountain top time this summer. Time to relax, recoup and get energized for ministry. Expect that in the midst of your moment...Jesus will show up and encourage you as you live for him.

Journey On!

Bob

Seize the Moment

Most of us live as if we have all the time in the world. We let days, weeks and months go by without a second thought. We often put off until tomorrow that opportunity to visit family or a friend. We have been meaning to pick up the phone and call someone we love but we figure it can wait another day.

If there is anything that I have learned from the events of the last few months in my life or the events of this last week at Virgina Tech, it is this:

“Make the most of every opportunity, because we really never know how much time we have to enjoy the family and friends that God has blessed us with. Make the most of every opportunity to touch someone’s life and heart with the love of Christ. Always be willing and ready to help someone take their next step toward Jesus!

The time is now, today, this moment! Seize it and make it last!

Making the most of every moment with you,

Bob

In Loving Memory of Wayne Hughes

Sorry it has been so long since my last post. Things have been a little out of balance for me and my family since my Nephew Wayne was killed. Bellow is a poem that my Nephew David wrote in memory of Wayne. He shared this at Wayne's memorial and I thought that I would post it here for everyone to enjoy.

<Dear Heavenly Father,

Today were here to celebrate the life of our beloved brother,
You made only one, he’s not like another

A smile from cheek to cheek, with a Mohawk to go
God were going to miss him, take care of our bro

Please let him know that we’ll miss him so dear
But were doing alright, we’ll be OK. Down here

Show him around in your heavenly glory,
I’m sure he’ll tell you 5 or 6 stories

I'm sure He’ll love to see his dad,
And walk and talk where nothing is bad

And get a chance to be like father and son
Where every moment he fills like he’s won

A perfect place where there,s no more pain
Where there's nothing to lose and everything to gain

I’m a little jealous God that he gets to see you first
But I'm glad he lives in a world with no anger or hurt

Lord can I ask you just a little favor
Give him a mansion with Ferrari of his flavor

He lived in a small place his entire life
Give his something big, to imaginable for sight

But don’t let him get too spoiled peeling out on your streets of gold
If he get to careless give him a beat up olds

No I'm just kidding God, give him the best
And let him know we’ll see him someday, as we lay him down to rest

Thank you God for hearing our prayer
Take care of our bro up there

Wayne we all love you and miss you lots
You ll never be forgotten
Your legacy runs through your daughter
Give your dad Walter a great big hug for us
Till we see you heaven

Amen

On Our Way Home

Lissa, Mandi and I are in Chicago and ready to board a plan Wednesday morning to head for "home". Back to family in California where we will gather to comfort and encourage one another as we gather before the throne of God's grace. On Saturday, we will celebrate Wayne's life and find comfort in the hope that is ours in Jesus. It is a hope that does not disappoint us but is sure and certain in the Victory of Jesus over sin, death and the power of the devil.

Please keep Terri (Wayne's Mom) and Nikki, Shane and Jarrod (Wayne's sister and brothers) in your prayers that they will know that they are not alone and that we are all on our way home (heaven) and we will be with Wayne again soon.

On the Journey "Home" with you,

Bob

You're Never Alone

This last week has been one that I would rather forget or at least undo. Many of you already know that my nephew, Wayne Hughes, was murdered in California just a little over a week ago. This experience has taken me on a rollercoster of emotions, and questions that continue to race through my heart and mind.

It's at times like these that we most often question where God is in the midst of all of this. I have to admit that I have struggled with this question myself this last week. In my prayer and devotion time, I have cried out to Jesus for understanding in the face of a senseless situation, for hope in the midst of hopelessness and for His peace to fill my heart. I'm sure that you have or will be in a similar situation and i would like to share with you what I have discovered.

In Matthew 28, Jesus makes a promise to you, me and everyone who calls on His name. That promise is simply: "I will be with you always" Those words became the focus of my devotions, my prayers and my search for peace. I began to dig into scripture and discovered the truth behind the promise. Consider for just a minute Jesus promise, "you are not alone" in the face of these facts. We find Jesus with His disciples in the midst of the storm, with David in the valley of the shadow of death and in the midst of his enemies. He was with Danial in the lions den and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in a fiery furnace, with Johna in the belly of the "whale" and Mary and Martha when their brother died.

As I read these and other accounts I began to feel His presence with me, to understand in the depth of my heart and soul that God is with us no matter what the situation, no matter how we are feeling or reacting, regardless of how we got there, Jesus is there! It is so comforting to know that when life doesn't make sense, when it gets to hard for us to take another step, when the foundation has given way and we feel as if our world is falling apart...Jesus is There! He is with us always! To carry us, to comfort us to encourage us with His love.

I pray that you will never have to face a struggle like the one my family is facing right now, but I know that you will have similar struggles of your own. And when you do, my you remember that you are never alone!

Walking with Jesus through this Journey,

Bob

Do You See The Family Resemblance?

Last Friday, my sister Penny went to get her head shaved because her hair had begun to fall out as a result of the chemo treatments. I know that it was a very difficult day for her, so I wanted to do something to help.

So, while she was getting her head shaved in CA, I was getting mine shaved in MI. Those that know me, understand that this was not an easy thing to do. I am very OCD when it comes to my hair. But, I couldn't let Penny take this step alone! I was able to send pictures and made a video of the event for her and I was able to upload it to the net so that she could see it that same afternoon. I am so thankful that it help to bring a smile to her face and make the day just a little easier to face.

I thought that I would let you decide for yourself if you notice any family resemblance.

enjoy, Bob





Can you guess which ones Penny?
Here's a clue...she's the cute one!

Failure is not an option

Today I had the chance to sit with my sister Penny as she received her second dose of chemo-therapy. (just 6 more treatments...yea God!

I thank God that I could be here to walk a few steps with her on this journey that she is experiencing. It is a long difficult climb, but she is determined to be victorious as she trusts in Jesus to see her through.

Penny wears a rubber band bracelet on her left wrist that simply says: "Failure is not an option" It sums up her entire approach to her battle with cancer and I know that It's not just a motto or a wish, it is the conviction she has as she trust in Jesus, the promise of God that resounds in her heart!

I'm not sure what valley you might be facing or what hill you are climbing in your life right now, but what ever it is I want to encourage you not to give up. Do not lose heart because the battle is already won! If God is for us, who can be against us!

Today I will take another step with Penny, another step with Jesus, another step on the journey..."because failure is not an option"!

Bob