Deurty

Well - we are getting ready to go drop off the kids at my folks, do a wedding tonight in Jackson, MI and tomorrow head to a cottage with the rest of my extended family near Traverse City. I have been going to this cottage since I was a baby. It is cool to share the lake, the fishing and fun with my kids now. A great relaxing and recharging time that we take annually. I may end up doing some Audio Blogs from time to time. Picked up the van today. Everybody wang chung tonight! sd

I was just thinking about a dude from college who used to tell his girlfriend that she looked more beautiful to him everyday and today was tomorrow. Get it? I guess he was trying to persuade her that she was more beautiful than he could articulate, but then again he did articulate it. Why am I saying this? So that you single guys have a sappy line to use on the ladies! Just kidding - you should stay single - that is the Biblical way... WHAT! How do you read your Bible? :) I have been watching the Democratic National Convention the last few days when the work day is done. I saw Al Sharpton yesterday. That dude is funny and his hair should be a national treasure. He made a comment that said (roughly quoted): "We need to stop trying to control what people are doing in the bedroom and start worrying about putting food on the table in the kitchen!" He got a big cheer for that - and then he basically said the same thing again. It was almost like he accidently said t...

Another friend (and former Spring Arbor Alumni) Doug McPherson (Dougie Fresh) started blogging. Doug is a great guy with a great heart and his family is active in a very young church reaching the lost. The name of the church is Heartland and it is in Ionia. Read about Doug under the link entitled: "D Fresh." Just got back from a late night fire at Takas'. We chatted with some guys about what we want our legacy to be. One thing I said was that I wanted my family to say that I listened to them - that I always had time for them - that I valued them. I first thought of all the spiritual things, but went with this one, because it is easier to be held accountable for. So - am I listening to my family? Am I putting down this stupid computer and listening? :) Can you hear me now? Good. sd

Watermark Update: We are going to be adding another gathering and are currently looking for the exact timing, but have a phenominal team working on details and waiting to get insights from people on stuff. I will send out a letter and FAQ sheet to Watermarkers this week. I will lay out more reasons why later - probably tomorrow... But don't hold me to it! :) Blogging World: I am pleased to introduce you to a good friend and a blogger to his core: Wade Breeden. He plays the didge, has an awesome family and follows Jesus. Check this dude out and feel the vibe at: "Wade da drumma" link to the left. My throat: Still hurts and I am popping Ibuprofin like a mad man. My son: Wears his plaid hat all day and even sleeps in it! I have no idea where he gets the idea to wear his hat all the time! :) Vacation: We have a vacation coming up the first week of August in the Traverse City area. I'll hit that soon. Jesus: I really want to follow Him more an...

For the last few days I have had a terrible sore throat. Today I woke up and went to the emergency room to visit with a doctor. I am not someone who goes to see a doctor. When I was a kid the philosphy of my folks was that eventually we would get better - why see a doctor? So - stubborn Steve rarely goes and when I do they don't seem to give me anything to help. Today was an example of this. It is a virus that I have to wait out. Before hearing that it was a virus I suggested that the doctor give me the anti-biotics needed and I would be on my way... (kind of a joke) the doctor went into his belief that we are pushing too many anti-biotics on people and that the medical community is having people wait out sickness, I felt like a guy who came acting sick to score some drugs and he was setting the record straight. Some people have a difficult time picking up joking - especially when it is done in a serious manner with not enough sarcasm in the tone of my voice. Kinda f...

Well my honey is home. She even survived IKEA. Many of you have heard my difficulties with IKEA. When we lived in Sydney we had a close relationship with the furniture giant. We lived about a five min. drive to a big ole store. Also our church, Crossroads, leased a former IKEA warehouse (from my memory). So Vicki and I were excited to learn that IKEA was in the states as well. But what used to be a little adventure in Sydney - now became hell on earth in Chicago's suburbs. I am all about a bargain (I am dutch background), however the loooonnnngggg wait in traffic, the exciting build up of finding great deals to write down only to not find it in stock ANY TIME WE GO!, and the unhelpful staff that discusses how they can avoid work drives me bonkers! But alas, I am a follower of Jesus and I should not be concerned with material possesions and petty frustrations....right? But - anyways - it is nice to have Vicki home. Tonight I was going to go golfing, but found myself wit...

My dad (Dave Deur: aka: Dibs; aka: Deurty old man) has come up with a fun look at different types of people. He asks "what kind of Bob are you?" He plays off Bob the Builder and SpongeBob Square Pants. Check out Dibs and his Bobbing at: DIBS Things worked out well today at home with the kids. I even made it to work out first thing in the morning! Yikes that was hard. I spent some time with Mike Morgan for lunch and Eric Laug in the afternoon - good time with good fellas. Then hung out with my dad for Marios pizza in Holland. I really like Marios. In fact let me get some quick comments on the best pizza in West Michigan... Where is the best pizza around here? I have something spiritual to say I suppose - because all of life is spiritual right? :) Check out my dad's thoughts. Bye now, sd

Staff meeting this morning. We worked through: > Coast Guard Parade We are planning on having a float in the parade in which we are going to pass out flavor ice to the crowd. This is an act of kindness to the city with no strings attached. Lots of work to do. It is August 7th and gives us an opportunity to show love to our community. > Baptism We are going to have a special baptism at North Beach (in Lake Michigan) on August 15th. We are working through the details. Over ten people have signed up - with more time for people to sign up! That will be a special evening. > Leadership Summit We are going to this great leadership event and worked through some items related to it. This is August 12-14th. Finally, I wanted to mention that I will be Mr. Mom for the next two days. My lovely wife is going to Chicago with my sister and mom. Vicki has set my pathetic self up well for meals (I guess cereal isn't good for the kids to eat for every meal.) :) ...

Real quick - i'll connect on the gathering later... Welcome Clint and Jamie Ussher into the blog world. Clint was my Aussie intern and all around good friend. We go way back with Jamie. :) Vicki makes awesome alfredo pizza! I believe I can fly, sd

Hung out with Paul and Stephanie today. Great time! We went downtown tonight and grabbed some ice cream, walked to the end of the pier and then took in the musical fountain. The fountain's musical theme was the 1980's. I expected Devo, Flock of Seagulls, even Bryan Adams, but endured Neil Diamond, The Beach Boys and a little, "Don't worry be happy." It is funny how some music defined the decade and others were just made and played in the 80's. I won't make a spiritual analogy. We did hear a little Christopher Cross - who reminds me of my dad - because my dad loved the song "sailing." Also he just makes me chill out and feel good. I need to listen to Christopher Cross more. :) Then I'll throw in some Dan Folgerberg and James Taylor and finally look in the mirror and declare myself a "family man" with no taste in music. Then I'll announce: "I don't care." Funny - as a teen I made fun of the famil...

Back in the pocket. Great time away of planning and work with my dad. Beautiful spot high above the Muskegon River. Woods surrounding us - on a deck - listening to the river... Peaceful. Quiet. Calming. I slept well. Got the following done: > Completed a book entitled: "Making Room for Life" > Worked on my schedule and standard week for the year ahead > Spent time listening to God and working through some personal items > Laid out Core Focus ideas, potential dates and communicators > Worked through priorities for this season of Watermark for myself and the team > Read the book entitled: "Missional Church" > Listened to three tapes by Dwight Pryor regarding the church > Studied other materials regarding the purpose of the church > Laid out the August conversation series about the church: "Reimagine." > Finished the first message (Aug. 8th) for that conversation > Identified details and little things ha...

Gone this week until Friday evening. I will be: > Planning message topics and conversations for the year > Studying for and writing messages for our August conversation > Reworking my schedule and life to bring more balance and health > Strategically looking at the fall and next steps for Watermark I think I picked too many things... Please pray that God would guide and I would hear Him. Also for the family as we are apart. He gives and takes away, sd

** Real quick ** I just noticed that my dad (Dave Deur) had someone find his blog from a anti-gazing ball comment he made in the early days of his blog. He gets probably one to two hits every few weeks from some random stranger typing in "Menards gazing balls." Instead of finding someone giving praise to these looney creations they get a mind full from the DIBS master! So - I want to join the band wagon and get some poor sucker to waste their dialup time loading deurty while they look for these bizarre balls... Menards Gazing Ball Menards Gazing Ball Lowes Gazing Ball Builders Square Gazing Ball Lawn ornament gazing ball Bowling ball gazing ball Garden gazing ball I'll keep you posted, but in the meantime I will also try to attract some of my old classmates: 1990 Holland Christian High School Holland Christian Alumni Class of 1990 HCHS 1990 William King's buddy Geoffrey Goorhouse (If you came to this site because you were looking for gazing b...

Yesterday: Had district conference for the west michigan district of the wesleyan church. (denomination we are a part of) Did you know? That Wesleyans were born as an anti-slavery movement? Wesleyan's were a part of the underground railroad. Did you also know? That Wesleyans were active in women's issues and promoted women in ministry before the 20th century. One of our general superintendents (big bosses) said that even though we were extremely active in the anti-slavery movement we have a very small percentage of african american's apart of our churches. We need to work on the BELONGING... We come from a socially progressive denomination that pushed for social justice as an outgrowth of holy living. The question for Watermark and every Wesleyan church... WE HAVE A GREAT HISTORY - WHAT DOES THE PRESENT AND FUTURE LOOK LIKE? I am happy to be apart of the God given wesleyan story and I want to see us recapture the love of Christ that leads us to holy livin...

Got my kicks on mentoring 66. Spent time with two interns from Spring Lake Wesleyan and downloaded ministry stuff and church planting. I love to talk about who God is calling us to be. It really gets me excited. The sheer cost and payoff of living life in the vision God has been laying out is refreshing and compelling. (I would say intoxicating if I was a New Zealand Wesleyan.) :) I was reminded of a few things: 1) This vision God has laid out is something I and my family are called to regardless of anyone else joining or leaving. THOUGH NONE GO WITH ME - STILL I WILL FOLLOW - NO TURNING BACK - NO TURNING BACK. 2) If Watermark disolved would the community we live in miss us? I want that to be a resounding yes because we are bring Christ and His Kingdom. 3) We are to be a GO and BE Church - not a COME and SEE Church. We want people to see themselves as extension chords and not as batteries. Batteries need recharging and then they use up their energy and come ba...

time for bed. (other random stuff not in order) had prayer with paul hp today laid out this sunday's gathering and talk played bz flag for a while worked on my chat for the high school group (cession) tomorrow morning met with kris m and laid out some future stuff prayed for thompson's special time with the doctor chatted with rj deckert for a spell did the hungry howies thing - ugh did some planning on my study break for next week goodnight. sd

Golfed this morning and had my best round of nine ever on a normal course! I shot a 43, which for me is outstanding. I had a great time with a few guys from my life group and a neighbor of one of the guys. Very good time, but Vicki said I never told her I was going. I left at 7 am for a 7:30 am start time and I thought (KNOW) that I told her I was going at that time.... BUT alas - I may have said it, but just thought it. She knew I was golfing, but was unaware of the time - so she woke up and thought something bad happened, because I was picked up and the cars were around, but no Steve! Anyways - I just realized again how poor of a communicator I am when it comes to my wife. HELP! :) My Trooper needs a new transmission! AHHHHHHH! It will cost way too much dough and it wouldn't be worth fixing - at least I don't think. I need to crunch numbers and look at the potential life span for that white beast. We are looking at different options... Trade in and buy a mini-v...

My friend and former student Luke Beattie is in the blog world and sharing some thoughts from his side of the hemisphere. I'll call him "aussie Luke." Luke and I sang Billy Corgan tunes together back in the day. :)

Spent the day with my family and extended family at my folks. They live across the street from a park and a beach on Lake Michigan. We hung out under the blazing sun and I got burned. I went and picked up hot dogs and stuff for Sunday morning. It will be fitting to gather and worship God, the ultimate freedom giver, on the fourth of July. Have a great weekend! I'm golfing tomorrow with my dad and two brother in laws. I'm addicted to caffeine, sd