What a Week!!!

After we left Kansas City we headed toward St Louis and on the way we had the opportunity to connect with some of Debie’s family. We hadn’t seen them in a little over 30 years and it was fun to just around a table getting caught up and sharing our stories. It was an awesome time.
Next we took in the St. Louis Arch. Now when you’re 20 miles away from this steel arch, and you can see it, you know it’s big… but when you’re standing under it, staring 600 feet up, it’s amazing, architecturally speaking, that something that sleek and smooth in texture and design, can be so enormous. You can see why it’s one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. Reading all the history and actually being there was very inspiring. It made me (Rob) want to build something.
How many of you have been to, or heard of, Valparaiso, Indiana? Us either. This small town about an hour outside of Chicago came alive with rich history when Tamara Tanner gave me (Debie) a walking tour. Gene and Tamra Tanner, our hosts for the week, pastor the Valparaiso Nazarene Church. They are doing some really innovative things in worship and are in the middle of building a new worship center. We were so encouraged by their ministry. We’ve picked up insights at every church so far.
While we were there we launched out and went to Amish country. It was quite amazing seeing horses pulling the plows through the fields and the little horse drawn buggies. We couldn’t help but think of the shooting at the Amish school a few months ago, and how redemptive they were in their response. We were reminded that all our advancements haven’t necessarily given us the most important things in life. We also enjoyed an Amish buggy ride tour.
We walked the campus of the University of Notre Dame. WOW! It’s pretty interesting to see what a few billion dollars can do for you. We saw “Touch Down Jesus”… I’m not sure that was what they intended, but that’s what football fans the world over call him. We peeked through the locked fences of the football stadium. We heard a few minutes of a graduation concert in the cathedral, and were so impressed with the beauty and grandeur of this enormous campus built a little over 150 years ago.
We spent a day in Chicago. We took the train into the city. We were glad we did it, and have sympathy for those who have to do it every day. The city was truly remarkable… the history, the architecture, the pizza. It was all fantastic.
Yesterday, we worshipped with the Tanners at Valparaiso in the morning and at Mars Hill where Rob Bell pastors in the evening. Both services were a blessing. In the morning they were casting vision for their new building and in the evening, experiencing a baptism, similar to ours in format.
Well, we’re off to enjoy Michigan. Have a great day, and thanks for looking in on us.
We miss you all.
Rob and Debie

Pentecost, Mother's Day and More

The last few days have been a wonderful chance to slow down just a bit and hang out here in Kansas City with our kids. It has been awesome. Kristi flew in and joined us, and with Tim’s parents and sister, there were eight of us. It was a wonderfully full and fun house, especially at game time.

We have had some of the best bar-b-que in KC at “Oklahoma Joe’s”. It shares space with a gas station / mini-mart… but people stand in lines out the door most of the day, which walk them past the snack food racks and all the other stuff on sale. Every few minutes our kids greeted another seminary graduate and their families lining up to eat pulled pork or hot links and ribs. Mighty tasty!!!

The springtime in KC is pretty spectacular. We spent some time in Loose Park, not like our parks. We walked around the 100 plus acres of rolling hills lakes and gardens, Civil War reminders, playing some along the way, enjoying the gorgeous colors with everything blooming.

Our son-in-law Tim Gaines graduated from Nazarene Theological Seminary Suma Cum Laude, with a 4.0 GPA. He was given the honor of “Most Distinguished Preacher” and preached the morning message at Kansas City 1st Church of the Nazarene. His speaking skills surprised and captivated all age groups. We felt so blessed to be under his ministry on one of those rare days where the celebration of Pentecost and Mother’s Day fell on the same day.

(Debie) Both moms in the house felt honored and appreciated with a beautiful breakfast, love from our children, considering Tim’s speaking and commencement like thick chocolate frosting on our Mothers’ Day “cake”. Every moment spent with our children, hearing of their dreams, their views, their laughter, is a gift. Every day spent with loved ones, seeing the people they are becoming, as we are all “becoming” at every age, is something I pray never to take for granted.

I (Rob) have been reflecting on the amazing privilege of having God’s own Spirit dwell in our lives. That same spirit that stirred as life came out of the nothingness in the work of creation, that same spirit that empowered Elijah and all the prophets as the Israelites witnessed again and again the power of God… that same spirit, the Spirit of the Living God was unleashed at Pentecost not simply to dwell in the world but to live in my heart and life so that the power of God could be unleashed to transform and heal my brokenness, and to shape me in the likeness of Christ so that I could be restored to fully experience the blessings of a relationship with God, and to make God known to those around me. Wow!!!

We are on a rich journey and feel God’s presence and your prayers.

All our love,

Rob and Debie

Conquered the Flatlands

Yesterday we made the drive from Denver to Kansas City. We were told that they were digging a tunnel all the way from Denver to KC and that they were going to call it the scenic route. 611 miles of flatland. Still… it was a wonderful time. Debie has become the queen of fixing gourmet PB&J sandwiches on the road. They are mighty tasty.

In Denver we stayed with another pastor and his wife, Stan and Janet Reeder. They pastor the Westminster Church of the Nazarene. They are doing some amazing things. They have just bought 80 acres and are planning on relocating. They were a wonderful encouragement to us.

For the next few days we will be here in KC with our kids, getting ready for Tim’s graduation from Nazarene Theological Seminary. We are so proud. We will post some pictures of the ceremony when that happens. We are also going to have some famous Kansas City Barbeque while we see the city and enjoy family.

May God’s grace and peace be with you!

On the Road to Cheyenne

This morning we woke up in Salt Lake City (Not looking for a new church here) and are on our way to Cheyenne Wyoming. We’ve driven through snow capped mountains and beautiful lush valleys. We have seen deer, which readily came up into Pastor Jerry and Grace’s back yard, a few antelope… but we haven’t seen them playing yet. You might have to think about that one. We got to see the spring salmon run with Rob’s brother, Jerry, his wife Cynthia, and their kids, Patricia and JJ, some Sturgeon that were about six feet long, and I am not giving you a fisherman’s tale. These things were huge. It is absolutely amazing to see the beauty and diversity of God’s creation.

We went to see the movie “Expelled”, which was very insightful. We enjoyed it and would recommend it to any of you interested in the debate between Intelligent Design, the belief that life originated from a higher power, and Evolution, used as Darwin and others to explain the origin of life. Not as boring as it sounds, many funny moments.

We have now visited three wonderful churches. They each are clearly focused on seeing lives transformed. They each come at it in their own unique way. We are learning a great deal and have received much encouragement from each place we have been.

We continue to read in 1 Samuel in our devotions. It’s no wonder they call it Amazing Grace. God sure put up with a lot in those days. Pretty sure he still does. We are reading and discussing two books together right now, alternating between them as we are out on the road. One is Kay Warren’s Dangerous Surrender, and the other is called Focus. Both have given us many useful insights.

We are keenly aware of how blessed we are to be a part of our Olive Knolls family and to be held up each day in your prayers. Please know that we are praying for you as we go along.

May God bless you in a special way this week,

Rob and Debie

Continuing on the Journey

God you are letting us see new pieces of your heart revealed to us in the hearts and lives of your servants, these marvelous men and women who serve in pastoral leadership roles around the country. They are diverse and complex in their backgrounds and journey of finding and following you. Their stories are full of amazing grace. They are also, at the same time, amazingly uncomplicated and likeminded, all having been taken over by this simply mission to make a difference in their world. They see life through the lens of mission as they have sought to define it. They are learners. They are not afraid to try new things. They choose joy even when circumstances are difficult. God what a blessing to be in such incredible company. The day now awaits us... there is much more to see and learn.
Blessings,