Fielder said it best when he told Kevin he missed a great lesson. We had the kick off of First and Ten on Sunday and Kev was nowhere in sight. We only had 27 there so I thought I’d share a couple of pictures for you who missed it. Hope to see you next Sunday. (And Braden was not impressed by Moses but considered posing for a picture – I was too slow on the snap.)
Lisa
The DINKS life group is starting up this week on Sunday September 9th at 7:00pm. Contact the Ballews, Bairs, or Robersons for more info or you can check out their awesome flyer.
Last Sunday as I started my “boys only” trip with Braden, we stopped in Houston to hear Gregg Matte of Breakaway (it’s an Aggie thing) fame. His series is about whether or not the church is relevant. He came out dressed the way the 5th pastor of FBC Houston would have been dressed in the early 1800s. The critical thing to understand is that while fashions change and music styles change, our Saviour is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The message does not change- God loves us which is why He provided a way to have relationship with Him through His son’s death and resurrection. The plan does not change- meet people’s needs and you gain a more captive audience. A simple plan and a simple message. When we minister to those in our class, that is important work. When we go to Guatemala on missions, that is important work. When we build connections with one another through socials, it is important work. No one wants to feel lonely or alone. No one wants to feel like there is no purpose in what they are doing. The life groups that are about to start, help us to build connections with others in a smaller setting. It makes it easier to ask for help when it is needed, easier to help when it is asked for, and to hold each other accountable for our walk. Those connections make it easier to choose to give up a weekend to do a garage sale or to make sacrifices to go on missions. The studies we do in those smaller groups require more of us usually than Sunday morning studies do. It allows us to go deeper than we can on Sunday mornings. Groups are smaller and the time is doubled. Sunday mornings can sometimes feel rushed- so much to do in so little time. However, Sunday mornings allow us to have a unity with a larger purpose just like the church service does on a much larger scale. The topics we cover on Sunday mornings are meant to help us be better spouses and parents by becoming more like Christ whether the study is a marriage topic or a more Biblically based study like Ecclesiastes or the life of Christ. Obviously, with 40 or so people in class on a Sunday morning someone is finding relevance in what we do- whether it is in the friendships, the serving, or the studying. My prayer is that we continue to be relevant to young married couples and families in San Antonio and that we continue to do it in a way that honors Christ’s name.
By the way, it is birthday weekend in our class. I do not have the class roster with me so I may be missing some; however, I know Levi is crossing the threshold into his 30s and still does not look as good as Kara or Amy who also celebrate birthdays this weekend.
Blessed to serve with you,
Kevin
It’s not much but we have a photo gallery. So, if you have any photos that you want put on the site let me know.
Josh
WOW! Friday night we had an incredible turn out for dinner at Chris Madrid’s. We had twenty-five adults and five little ones. It was a blast just hanging out and talking, especially after many of us had been couped up all day on Thursday due to the heavy rains. Friday evening was so beautiful that we all sat outside together. I would congratulate the winner of mini-golf, but that would just sound like bragging and pour salt in the wounds of my wife. It was an extremely fun evening and I want to thank all of you who made time to come out and eat and play mini-golf.
We have our last Sunday night social of the summer tonight at the church in the gym from 4-6 ish. We will be playing volleyball and I assume we will go to dinner after that. With summer over (teachers report back tomorrow), life groups will start on the second Sunday of September. I hope everyone will make the effort to get in one of our smaller life groups so you can get to know some people in the class a little better. Building connections is a key component to growing in Christ.
Kevin
Galatians 6:9-10 (New Century Version)
We must not become tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time if we do not give up. When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.
So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.
I am so honored to lead such a group that never tires of doing good. Whether it is working towards the mission trip or doing habitat or ministering to someone within the class that has a need, you all always rise up to serve. It starts here at home by meeting the needs of those in this class- meals when babies arrive or surgeries occur, helping people move, etc.
This weekend we had quite a crew go out to the Boerne house and help John and Donna move from Dallas to San Antonio. They are an amazing, Godly couple and I am thrilled to have Chad’s parents closer to us. John has taught the class on several occassions and we are blessed each time. They have allowed us to use and have offered for us to continue using their beautiful home at Tapatio Springs for many of our parties. Pray for them as they transition from Dallas to SA. Leaving their house and friends and church behind after thirty years is not easy.
I want to personally thank those who gave up their time to help Chad and his family this weekend. Bo went up with Chad and helped pack and load the truck in Dallas and then took turns driving the truck and their cars to get them to Boerne. Friday night Chad, Bo, John, and Josh had almost everything emptied by the time I showed up with Chris P. and Donna who flew down. Jason came out a little later Friday night. Saturday morning Chris H., Dave W., and Peter came out to help hang plywood and shelves in the attic. Levi brought lunch and then joined in the work Saturday afternoon. As generous as John and Donna have been to us through the years it was nice to see so many be generous with their time and their hard work to help them get situated in the house.
Of course, it didn’t stop there. Ian, Denisse, and Emma had an unplanned “remodeling” of their house Thursday around noon. Go to www.ianwarshak.com to see pictures. We took a love offering Sunday morning and I will be taking food gift cards to Chili’s, Sonic, EZ’s, and Taco Cabana to them this week. Your generosity continues to move me.
Stephanie Bowman is traveling to SA today with Sydney and Ava to watch her neice and nephew while her sister tends to her husband after the boating accident in Port A. They cannot airlift him yet since he is not stable. They are having to bring doctors in since they do not have them on staff. We may be mobilizing a group to take her and the kids dinner since she will be taking of four kids by herself indefinitely. Pray for her brother-in-law Mark who will see a neurosurgeon today to determine if he needs to have brain surgery.
Again, thanks for being the incredible reflection of our Father. You wear His name well and I can only imagine how proud of you He is since my heart burst with pride to serve alongside you all.
Humbled to be your leader and your friend,
Kevin
Make sure you plan on joining one of our three fall life groups. They are a little smaller than class which allows you the opportunity to get to know some people on a more individualized basis. We will have a DINKS (double income, no kids) group led by Brian & Holly, Josh & Lindsey, and Peter & Julissa. Dates and curriculum are being worked on currently, but this group is going to be young, active, and exciting. The other two groups are kind of one with two parts. We will meet together at 4 for some sort of opening activity most times and then split into guys and girls discussion groups. The men will be doing a study on leadership looking at the life of David. Our leaders will be Bo, Levi, and Jason. The girls will be doing a Beth Moore video series on the heart of a woman and will be led by Katie, Christy, and Lenzie. In the spring this group will go back to two co-ed groups assuming God provides enough leaders. Please be praying about whether or not God wants you to co-lead a life group.
Kevin
Make sure you mark your calendars for Friday, August 17th! Anyone in their right mind who has ever eaten at Chris Madrid’s knows it is the most incredible hamburger in the world- my favorite is the macho porky! We will meet there at 6:15 and then when we are done we will head to Coolcrest mini-golf. It is a great San Antonio tradition. The large trees provide lots of shade and make it a pleasant time to be outside even in San Antonio in August.
On August 19th we will have our last Sunday summer social. We have the gym reserved from 4-6 and look forward to having our best turn out of the summer.
Kevin
Those of you who have been in class the last two weeks have been fortunate enough to see the incredible chemistry and teaching talents of Dr. Kara (aka. THEE BLESSING) and Katie (aka The GIFT). These two women are extraordinary people. They do so much for the class, the lifegroups, and are two of my biggest encouragers and dearest friends. They have so many gifts and talents that I simply cannot list them all, but I will say that I am a huge fan of both of them and am thankful God has chosen to bless me with working alongside the two of them.
Well comrades in prayer by now you have heard the latest blow our class has suffered about the Simpsons moving back to North Carolina. While we are thrilled God has blessed them quickly with the opportunity to move back home to be closer to family, we know that our loss is big. We have lost major contributors to the class recently with Stephanie, the Odegards, and now the Simpsons moving to various locations. We pray that God will continue to bless those families the way He used them to bless us. We pray that God will provide church families for them to be ministered in times of need and places where they can join the work God is doing and use the many gifts and talents they each have. Hope everyone can come give the Simpsons a proper Texas send off on their last Sunday with us. They are a sweet, generous couple and we will miss them dearly.
Kevin
