It's Time for a Good Time: Lifeline!

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Tonight is the last meeting of our first Lifeline Connection Insight Group that meets here at the Urban Center. It has been really awesome these past couple months as God has been moving in our lives individually, but also helping us to make what will probably be some lifelong connections. Hopefully we will have other LLC groups starting soon, but you always remember the first round. 


We have been working with a family this week here at the Urban Center whose son has a home, a business and a family. Unfortunately he also has a problem and he is on the verge of losing everything. If he comes to Teen Challenge he will not be able to work for several months and will definitely lose everything then. He would be a great candidate for Lifeline Connection - someone who still has hope of being able to regain control of their life while working on their transformation without quitting their job and moving to Colfax.

The Insight group is awesome because it can benefit any person who is open to the Lord's working in their life. The purpose of the Insight Group is to help each participant "walk in the way of understanding" (Proverbs 9:6) as it relates to an individual who is struggling with a life-controlling problem or who wants to learn how to avoid being mastered by anything of this world. The big idea of the Insight Group is to assist members along the path total wholeness--physically, emotionally, and spiritually--and to encourage them to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The thing that makes a Christian small group like this different than a secular one is that secular groups seek about "behavior modification" through peer pressure and group dynamics. Although there is a place for positive peer pressure and group dynamics in the Christian small group, there must be a change of heart. This is what we refer to as transformation from the inside out. I love to be a part of groups where people are drawn to each other and build relationships as dynamic as our group as been the past nine weeks, but I really get excited when I see people grow in Christ and become more aware of how Jesus Christ wants to be a part of their life on a daily basis!

Tonight's group follows on the heels of a very full and busy weekend.... here are some of the highlights:

Iowa Speedway Chaplaincy
Last weekend I was at the Iowa Speedway in Newton for the Indy Cars! I went to the track on Thursday evening to set up our ministry tent and then I was back out to the track on Friday morning to run the shuttle cart for people with disabilities. In the afternoon I went into the pits where I met with and spoke with several of the safety crew members and met the chaplains who travel around the country full-time with the Indy drivers, their pit crew members and their families.

Chaplains Mark & Audrey Young checking out an infield display!

One of the chaplains is in charge of distributing the leftover food the Indy teams have left when they pack up to leave town. And with the help of Iowa Speedway's Director of Chaplains' Mark Young, I was able to secure a trailer load of groceries for Teen Challenge which was a huge blessing. Since the last race started after 9P.M. on Saturday night I also went ahead and got a handful of comp tickets for Teen Challenge staff member Jon Koegle to attend the race with some students. They really had a good time at the race track and in loading the food and taking it back to Colfax. Even though they didn't get to bed until after 2A.M. on Sunday morning, they were really pumped and grateful. I am really grateful for good friends like Mark Young and Jon who made this blessing happen. I truly was just the "middle" man in this exchange! But, it is mostly a great testimony of God's faithfulness! The students thought that they picked up enough groceries to provide almost a week worth of meals. That is truly awesome if it proves to be that bountiful!

On Friday night before the race I gave the benediction. I was surprised at how nervous I was. I think what made me nervous is all the choreography that went into place before the 47-second  prayer. The introduction of drivers, recognition of several key sponsors, race track executives, and of course the presentation of colors by our military representatives. Then they stick the microphone in my hand and tell me not to mess up! After I said the benediction I handed the microphone off to the young lady who sang the national anthem. As she was singing my heart was racing like I had just run a 5K race. It was pretty exhilarating. 

On Saturday I had brunch at Teen Challenge in Colfax and then went back to the racetrack and spent the afternoon handing out water and visiting with folks who had come all over the Midwest to attend the race. It was pretty much more of the same from the day before. We did have a storm front come through and dump several inches of rain on us. I was up in the Control Tower at the Command Post during some of that. It was fun hanging out there and seeing all the stuff that happens behind the scenes at a big event like this was.

Sunday Morning Service in New Sharon

Pastor Scott & Charlene Collier, New Sharon

On Sunday morning my wife and I picked up five students and we went over to the Assembly of God church in New Sharon, Iowa where we shared about Teen Challenge in their morning service. It was really great hanging out with my friend, Pastor Scott Collier and his family and congregation. I love his heart for people and his desire to help them.

Scott is also an assistant football coach for the high school and he stays very busy with many other things. We talked at length into the afternoon about bringing Lifeline Connection to his community through his church. The biggest problem isn't the desire, but in finding the time to do everything. Scott is definitely one of those pastors who may want to do Lifeline with all his heart, but may have to turn it over to people in his congregation because he is so busy!

That is one of the great things about Lifeline Connection, is that the leaders do not have to be experts. The material is prepared by experts so the facilitator is just helping people interact with each other and process the material into their lives through relationships and practice. 

Lolo Jones, Member of the 2012 Olympic Team

Other Weekend News

• LoLo Jones qualifies for the Olympics. She is an American track and field athlete who specializes in the 60 and 100 meter hurdles. She won three NCAA titles and garnered 11 All-American honors while at LSU. Because NBC Sports was broadcasting the Olympic trials and also broadcasting the Indy Corn Ethanol 250 from the Iowa Speedway; the race could not start until Lolo was done running. So I am glad she qualified even though it made for a late night in Iowa. 

I love Lolo because I appreciate the way she takes a stand for virtue. A lot of people hate on her for that, but I think any dead fish can float downstream, Lolo may not be on the U.S. Olympic swim team, but she is still making waves in a good way!

• Kevin Youkilis was traded from the Boston Red Sox to the Chicago White Sox over the weekend. I do not like the Red Sox but I am a big admirer of Kevin Youkilis. He is one of those blue-collar type players who does not appear to have lots of natural talent, but grinds and grinds until he grinds down the other player/team and ends up on top. He has won some well-deserved awards, championships and accolades over the years. I think the White Sox got a great deal in this move and I am happy to see Kevin change the color of his socks. I try to put on a clean pair at least once a week..

• I got a new Droid Bionic to replace my Blackberry last Thursday, so I spent the weekend trying to figure it out. Oh my, I am definitely tech-challenged. If anybody wants to meet for coffee and some tutoring, shoot me an email and let me know. 

Bless you much my dear reader! You are loved!