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Last week my family went on a vacation.  It wasn’t a holiday, we weren’t traveling to meet other family, and it wasn’t a trip for work that we called “vacation”.  It was a true, me taking a few days off, and us getting a hotel for no other reason than to get away as “The Anderson’s”.  It was beautiful.

THURSDAY: The girls had swim lessons in Decatur, then we packed up for the Gateway City.  Checking into our hotel (thanks Orbitz!), we took the girls for their promised swim in the hotel pool…on the roof!  Then we changed, and went out for dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory, and a leisurely stroll through the park around the arch & along the flooded riverbank.  Bedtime around 9:30pm.

FRIDAY: We got up early so we could be at the (free!) zoo by 8am.  Between 8-9am, there is free access to usually admission-costing exhibits.  We were able to pet stingrays and sharks, then head over the children’s zoo/play areas/exhibits.  Our kids had a blast!  The weather was hot, but we spaced it out with visits to indoor animals (LOVE the Penguins, of course!), and did quite well.  We took a train ride after lunch, and left still feeling great.

Next we headed over to the (free!) Science Center, where our kids enjoyed a few exhibits for younger kids.  Most of the (free sections of the) museum is for an older age group, but we still enjoyed a solid couple hours there.  We returned to our hotel for another long swim on the roof, soaking up the sun and scenery.  Then it was dinner at the hotel (we had a giftcard!!), and a seemingly early bedtime of 9-ish-pm after an extensive family reading/playtime.  (Bedtime with 3 toddlers in a hotel is always “ish”)

SATURDAY: We awoke at a relaxed pace, and headed over to Park Avenue Coffee (LaFayette Square location) to try a few of their 73 flavors of “Oooey Gooey Butter Cake”.  It was all that I imagined butter cake could be, and then some.  Our girls loved it, and they had a great outdoor patio area to enjoy.  We walked around a bit near there, enjoying the weather and throwing a few pennies in the fountain.  Then we drove around the city a bit, being rerouted due to a “For the Cure” 5k Walk. 

Next we ended up at Union Station, where our girls loved the “Fudgery“, complete with vocal entertainment, crowd interaction, and fresh fudge samples.  We walked around a bit, got flattened souvenir pennies, and mommy got to grab a quick “salad-to-go” from Houlihans before we went back to the hotel.  After a quick lunch of stuff we brought, Sarah laid Ruby down for a nap while I took the older two out exploring the city.  We went under the arch to the museum and old-timed snack shop, and then walked deep into the downtown area to visit Schnucks and be in awe of all the all buildings!!!

We went for a quick swim in a pool that was jumping with people (many celebrating something or something else with a bit of 21-and-older beverages), and decided to go out for dinner.  We wanted to check out President Obama’s favorite pizza place, “Pi Pizza“, famous for their cornbread crust.  It was, indeed, great pizza, no matter your opinion on the man.  It was even better topped off with some Ted Drewes Frozen Custard!

We ended the day by walking from the hotel down to the “City Garden“, where our girls LOVED playing in the colored lights and spraying waters of the fountains!  They played until well past sundown, and we walked back to put our soaking wet kids to bed.

SUNDAY:  We began with a light in-room breakfast purchased from the Arch store on Saturday, sausage and cheese, and crackers…mmm.  We did a short Bible story in honor of the Sabbath, of when Jesus “went on vacation” with his family, and his parents lost track of Him.  Then we changed into our suits, and headed back over to the CityGarden for some more playing in the fountain while the sun was up!  Our kids SERIOUSLY loved these fountains!  And during the day hours, you’re allowed to swim IN the actual fountains!  Gotta love that, and we really think Decatur, Illinois NEEDS something similar!

After a quick change, we checked out of the hotel, and went over to a SONIC (mom’s favorite) for lunch.  Then it was off to the “Magic House“, which is a children’s museum on steroids!  We spent the first couple hours in a building apparently for older kids, but found quite a bit our girls loved.  Then we realized an entirely different building meant for kids our girls’ age, and began to explore that!!  We definitely could have stayed, alas they closed at 5:30.  So after a TON of exploring, pretending, learning, and playing, we headed out to meet family from the area for a quick dinner at Fazoli’s, before our girls passed out on the way home.

Altogether an INCREDIBLE time away with family.  A very good reminder that a vacation with 3 toddlers CAN be done, done well, and done inexpensively!!  And Saint Louis is a great city to take such a trip!!!!

Last week I had the privilege of attending a concert over 10 years in the making.  I was introduced to “Dispatch” back in college by a few close friends I traveled in a band with.  Their incredible music, and faith-infused lyrics caught my attention.  Unfortunately it’s also when the band stopped playing together.  They went off to do their own solo stuff.  My attention was drawn to Brad, who went off to form “Braddigan“, with songs that touched more deeply into faith elements, and even actively involved his shows with bringing light to places in the world that were dark.  He connected with established ministries and offered hope to people living in the garbage dumps of Nicaragua.

I have to say, the music was incredible, as expected.  But I got a lot more than I’d imagined/expected along with it. 

Mind you, I haven’t really attended a large concert that wasn’t labeled “Christian” in a long time (Hootie & the Blowfish), unless you count walking past one at Decatur Celebration.  I realize this concert probably isn’t what all shows are like, but it reveals quite a bit about how we are wired/created as humans.

Thousands of people, standing shoulder to shoulder, filled to the brim with emotions (or hormones? or drugs/beer?), singing the lyrics loudly…many moving to the rhythms.  Let’s just say the entire venue began to smell like burned palm branches, and it was not anywhere near Ash Wednesday.  So how can so many people fill themselves with so much alcohol and weed, and be shouting out introspective lyrics about grand themes like forgiveness, God, Love, Jesus, hope, etc.?

I found a small clue, in one of their most popular songs “Elias“.  The very first line, sung in an Eastern Zimbabwe tribal language, says “If I could meet my Jesus I would be very happy with him”.  The song goes on, with a great message about community, helping out those in need, and being stronger when they are stronger.  Dispatch has even created ways to help communities in Zimbabwe, because of the story that inspired the song.

But as the woman behind me cried “This is the most high I’ve ever been!!!”, and a few minutes later, through the same tears, “Did you know that guy helps people who live in TRASH!!  I can’t believe it!  People live in garbage!!”….I wondered if something may be lost in the translation of God’s love for His people.

The lyrics focus on humanity being very happy with Jesus…and with each other…but neglect any mention of what God desires for His creation.   I found myself, in the midst of enjoying great music; burdened to prayer for the crowds that were right on the edge of experiencing a bit of who God is….but deciding only to go as far as it benefits me and mine.

I have no doubt that God is at work, both in those moments and through their music beyond.  But the concert experience reminds me there are other forces who would love to masquerade as a meaningful faith experience…

May we carry the light this week…

I think five years of anything in particular can prompt a bit of a reflection. June 1st of 2006, I was officially hired by Moundford Free Methodist Church in Decatur, IL. Sarah and I had spent over a year in Decatur, waiting on God, believing He had called us here. Not only to be near family, but to be deeply involved in a ministry that held family in high regard.

Spending some time in prayer this morning, the picture above seemed to capture exactly what I wanted to convey. I feel as if the sun has only begun to rise on what God has for us here. It’s hard to express just how thankful I am for where we are, and the ministry we’re enabled to live out. The relationships we’ve built, and continue to build on.

Family has definitely been a focus of our life and ministry ever since coming to Moundford. After all, for most of our tenure so far, we’ve added a child every year or so to our own. We began here with no kids, and now our home contains so much cuteness that we should probably charge admission. It’s a tremendous blessing to have a church that acknowledges the sacrifices of having a youth pastor at my stage in life. They could have a younger, “pre-child”-stage youth pastor with unlimited time and resources to give. They could have an older, “grown-child” stage youth pastor, who can pack up the kids or leave them at home and knows how to navigate parenting with professional life. Instead they’ve been enduring a youth pastor who is still learning how to balance a hugely demanding family role with a job that he never clocks out of.

I like to believe my family is a HUGE part of my life as a minister. It seems my church family agrees. We continue to experience God’s “Yes!” to this path of raising a family and ministering among the people of the greater Decatur area.

There’s another side to this coin. I’m almost 30, and there’s that overly-quoted statistic about the short tenures of most youth pastors. Any youth pastor with a balding spot gets asked, “so when do you think you’ll become a senior pastor?” My response, this morning at least, would be something like:

I get to preach often. Sometimes to the whole congregation. I get to lead worship on occasion. I get to teach/discuss/study scripture. I get to visit people in the hospital, and pray with people in their homes. I carry a burden for our church’s needs in a way that drives me to prayer as one of their pastors. I also have a special love for the youth, and this stage of life that is so ridiculously fluid and foundational. I get to focus much of my energy/efforts towards calling these young adults and their families to the revelation/transformation of Jesus Christ and His Spirit. I get to help feed the hungry. I get to minister in a city that is marginalized, and actively working to reach out to the marginalized…in a congregation that is increasingly globally-burdened and active. I am in the midst of God freeing captives, bringing redemption, and giving New Life. And that’s an abbreviated list.

I think this is a pretty good place to be. And we have only begun…