Pleaded with us for the privilege…

Posted 20 Jan 2011 — by nick
Category GCM, Ministry, Scripture, Spirituality

As a support-based missionary Paul’s writings have come to life for me. Recently I was reading his second letter to the church at Corinth and my eyes widened as a smile filled my face.

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth to check in with them after some time. You’ll recall that in his first letter to the church he was dealing with some rather egregious sin issues. Here he addresses them and references back to his past visit and letter and offers pastoral advice as usual. Among the topics he wants to discuss is their giving.

The church in Jerusalem has come under some hardships. In response Paul has been taking up a collection of gifts from the churches elsewhere to help the church in Jerusalem thrive again. The church in Corinth has promised to give and he is sending Titus to urge them to finish their ministry of giving – to do what they said they’d do.

Paul is raising support.

There is this church in Macedonia that Paul can’t help but brag about. He’s writing to the church in Corinth and he is telling them about this church in Macedonia and how they’re so poor he didn’t really even ask them to give, but they PLEADED with him for the privilege to give.

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.  In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

2 Corinthians 8:1-7

As another follower of Christ some years later, I get Paul’s excitement here. It’s not often others plead with you for the privilege to give. I can also get Paul’s excitement about generous giving.

Today we’re at 42% of our needed monthly support. It’s overwhelming when I stop and think about that, 66 individuals have chosen to give generously to see another church thrive, 51 of them on a regular basis.

January 2011 Update

Posted 05 Jan 2011 — by nick
Category Creation, Family, Friends, Fun, GCM, Illini Life, Jesus, Ministry, Photos, Spirituality, Winter

Hello friends below you should find our update letter for January 2011.

Download (PDF, 297KB)

Christmas in Vermont

Posted 02 Jan 2011 — by nick
Category Creation, Family, Fun, Photos, Winter

Amy and I spent the week before Christmas in Killington, Vermont with her family. It was a combined Christmas celebration and pre-celebration of her youngest brother’s high school graduation. We both agree, it was a sweet Christmas present and welcomed time with family to play and relax.

Here are some pictures from our time on Killington Mountain.

For unto us a Savior is born

Posted 25 Dec 2010 — by nick
Category Jesus, Scripture, Spirituality, Videos

Happy Christmas to all!

One of our traditions is to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas often during the advent season. It reminds me of being a kid, but also reminds us of the reason to be celebrating. The birth of our Savior.

I love hearing Linus tell the story, you can hear it here:

Merry Christmas!

Posted 18 Dec 2010 — by nick
Category Family, Friends, Fun, Winter

Amy and I head out for our holiday travels tomorrow morning. I’m not sure how much computer access we’ll have between now and then, so I thought I’d take a minute to wish you all a Merry Christmas now.

Merry Christmas!

December 2010 Update

Posted 16 Dec 2010 — by nick
Category Family, Friends, Fun, GCM, Illini Life, Jesus, Ministry, Spirituality, Winter

Hello friends below you should find our update letter for December 2010.

Download (PDF, 281KB)

Thinking about Grace

Posted 24 Nov 2010 — by nick
Category Jesus, Ministry, Scripture, Spirituality

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Lately the topic of grace has been on my mind, in a different sense than usual though. In the past weeks I’ve fallen into the trap of thinking of God’s grace solely as undeserved forgiveness. It’s always been easy to see where I’m far from God – the times I lose sight of the Kingdom of God and embrace the kingdom of Nick. Grace is ever-present when I acknowledge my faults and turn back. I get that sort of grace.

The difference lately comes not in the distance from God in a classic “sinning” sense, but in a more crafty “sinning” sense. Somewhere in the past few weeks I’ve fallen into a mindset that God’s favor is won when I live a certain way, when I do certain ministry tasks, when I’m a good missionary. To which God says “Nope, it’s about Grace.”

I can find myself in this trap of thinking, I’m doing pretty good, God must be happy with me because of that. To which I hear “Nope, it’s about Grace.” He’s always happy with me, because when He sees me He sees a dearly loved son – not my past, present or future. Just a son washed clean.

So the grace goes both ways. Not just forgiveness of my sins, but forgiveness of my thinking that I earned any of my standing with God. Which you wise folks might point out is sin as well.

November 2010 Update

Posted 07 Nov 2010 — by nick
Category Family, GCM, Illini Life, Jesus, Ministry, Spirituality

Hello friends below you should find our update letter for November 2010.

Download (PDF, 378KB)

Celebrating Baptism

Posted 02 Nov 2010 — by nick
Category Creation, Friends, Fun, GCM, Illini Life, Jesus, Ministry, News, Spirituality, Technology

Summit Church Beach BaptismsI spent last week in Orlando, FL near the headquarters of GCM, as a stop along the support raising trail back to campus. My good friend Chris hosted me at his place for the week as I worked at finding times to meet with folks and share about the work I do and – during the off hours – spent much time working on upgrading the GCM network firewall with our IT department.

Shortly after arriving in Orlando I found myself standing on the beach facing the Atlantic Ocean. Chris’ church was holding their Baptism service – which is much more of a celebration than most churches I’ve attended. I loved the atmosphere and excitement as we celebrated brothers and sisters making a public display of the inward commitment they had made to follow Jesus.

Together in community we shared a meal, cheered as 113 folks were baptized in the waves of the Atlantic (including some more notable figures), worshiped together in music and voice and shared our lives. This church thinks about baptism much the way that Illini Life does – it’s an event we want to celebrate as a church community. It’s worthy of celebrating as we watch others make a public declaration to the church body that they belong to Jesus.

Traveling life of a missionary

Posted 25 Oct 2010 — by nick
Category Fun, GCM, Jesus, Ministry, Spirituality, Television

Airtran flight 561 seat 26C from BMI (Bloomington, IL) to MCO (Orlando, FL). At just over a half hour into the flight drinks and pretzels have been served, passengers hide their faces in books, laptops, crossword puzzles – the normal routine.

Like most on this flight, Orlando is my final destination. I hear rumbles of Mickey Mouse, Harry Potter and the Beach. Sounds like fun! Likely for me this week won’t hold any of those staples, at least not in the vacationing sense. I’m on the support raising road back to campus – Orlando is a stop along the way. This week I’m hoping to meet with new and old friends of Amy and I to share about the great things God is doing at University of Illinois and how they can be a part of it.

While I’m there I’ll also be working with the IT guys in the GCM office to install a new network firewall; lending my expertise and experience from my past life as a network engineer. I’m excited to be able to serve GCM in this way. Consulting time of network engineers tends to be pricey so I’m happy to save us those costs.

Isn’t that how we do church? You might have a knack for hospitality so you host welcome events and greet people at the door on Sunday. Or you might be a gifted singer so you lead us in worship. Maybe you do both. Me, I’m a nerd that gets networking and computers, but I also love sharing about Jesus with others. As a missionary I get to do both. Admittedly, the networking and computers hardly ever, making it exciting when I do get the chance.