Deurty

We are once again participating in the 24-7 prayer vigil across the world. This week - every hour - on the hour - someone is praying at the HUB. I really enjoy these weeks and find myself challenged, filled with hope, and enjoying my times with God. Interested in participating? Give us a ring to sign up for an hour slot... We've got to pray just to make it today. sd

Hey gang - been on vacation and got back for Coast Guard Parade. Good fun serving thousands with free water... :) Tomorrow we are back at the High School at 9:30 and 11:00 am. Back in the saddle -the pocket - the groove... Go Tigers, sd

hey gang (all two of you beautiful people you!), last week i spoke at a youth camp in indiana. it went well and our family had a great time. autumn cut her self and received nine stiches. it is a hard thing to watch your child in pain and to know they must go through it. she was brave and i was proud of how well she did. autumn and i got to go sailing, which was a real treat. i really had a great time and found it relaxing. i would love to get a little sailboat (sunfish). good fun! the past couple of weeks we have been meeting at mulligan's hollow on the lawn and it has gone very well... in michigan you need to take advantage of the weather in the summer or you are bumming all winter! this week we are meeting at the waterfront stadium near downtown GH town. 10 am. lots to do this week so i will say hasta lavista, sd

Meet with us for the next couple weeks (July 16 & 23) at Mulligan's Hollow behind the YMCA in Grand Haven. We are getting together at 10 am. Bring a lawnchair or blanket. The weather is supposed to be amazing! So get out into the sun and hang with the gang... Hola & Adios, sd

I have been hanging out with J-Z (Jerry McCammon) on Tuesday evenings to watch the short lived series, "Firefly." I have totally been sucked in to the story, the characters, and the whole backdrop. I am bummed that this series didn't make it beyond a season, but they did get a full length feature film called, "Serenity," which is good, but you miss some of the clever interactions between the characters... Anyways - if you enjoy science fiction and want to try something different - I encourage you to rent the series on DVD... A little joy in the middle of the week. Plus, I get to hang out with J-Z. This weekend we will be gathering at Grand Haven High School at 10 am. you can't take the sky from me, sd

My brother in law and I decided to throw the baseball around yesterday afternoon. I felt like a kid again as we threw fly balls to eachother, tagged out imaginary runners, and fielded ground balls. Playing catch has been one of the most simple and meaningful connecting events in my life. I know that is a big fat statement, but I think it is true. Playing catch with my dad is a huge memory for me. Pitching with my mom as she squated like a catcher for me as a young high school boy on a Colorado vacation. Playing long toss and spending countless hours with William as we threw the ball around. Warming up in high school with friends. Out on the lawn with Paul, at Spring Arbor, while cutting class on an exceptionally warm day. Playing catch with new friends in Australia as a part of the Seven Hills baseball team. Warming up with Watermark softball fellas - the perfect moment, before the perfect storm! And now a time of chucking the ball to Bif. Good times with two gloves, one ball, and ho...

See you this Sunday at the Waterfront Stadium at 10 am. In fact all gatherings in July will be at 10 am. Here is the schedule: July 02 Waterfront Stadium - 10 am July 09 Grand Haven High School - 10 am July 16 Mulligan's Hollow (behind YMCA on the lawn) - 10 am July 23 Mulligan's Hollow (behind YMCA on the lawn) - 10 am July 30 Waterfront Stadium - 10 am In case of rain on the days we are outside we will be meeting at the YMCA at 10 am. Hope to see you there... Bring your own chairs and blankets when we are at Mulligan's Hollow. Pray for sun! sd

I guess I don't need to ask for permission to slowly plow through some stuff, but I wanted to give you a heads up. Last year I began to find words, books, ideas and feelings to describe and speak to what was stirring inside me. I read an amazing book and gained great insights and courage, but found all the momentum gained from this was lost in a very tough, but fruitful year. So, I am going to take my time and try to see some positive changes take place in my life and call of being a pastor. I must be patient. Here are some questions: What is a pastor? What is it to "succeed" as a pastor? With these questions in mind...what does a pastor's schedule look like? How does a pastor live? How can you pastor and serve without your own soul and life deteriorating and finding your self becoming bitter and angry? I have been in some sort of pastor role since 1993 and I may be too far in to this to be asking such basic questions... AGAIN, but I don't think the first...

I thank God for my father and grand fathers. They are great examples and inspirations for me as a man, husband and father. The Tigers blew out the Cubs! Excellent. I have been a long suffering Tiger fan and now it is finally paying off. My favorite thing to do is to listen to the Tigers on the radio - old school! (minus Ernie Harwell) :( Anyways - hope all you dads had a great fathers day. July 2 we will be at the waterfront stadium in Grand Haven at 10 am. You are invited. huevos, sd

Summer is here and with it comes a fresh season of life. I tend to think I am more relaxed and relational in the summer. I don't know if this is the case, but it is a strong perception that I have. It is amazing how often I find my life, my feelings, my focuses going in seasons. So... for now I'll stop analyzing, give myself a break, and enjoy the sun. Sunny side up, sd PS - I had my first aussie burger of the summer. A big fat burger with friend egg on top... no beatroot though.

Well - I did hit 8 out of 10 free throws but the Pistons lost...maybe though I was supposed to hit 10 out of 10???? hmmmm. Or maybe the world doesn't revolve around me. nah - I need to hit 10 out of 10. :) Anyways - bummer the Pistons lost, but they played horrible in the play offs. Vicki and I actually slept more than four hours last night! Thanks to Willem (our new baby) for sleeping a little bit. Swagman, sd

Well last night the Pistons won. Many people would think it was because they played hard, worked together as a team, and made their shots, but I know better. The reason was... that I made 10 out of 10 free throws at home before the game. Now, before you shoot down this down as just superstition and think I am being to full of myself (to think that the world and a dumb sporting event outcome would hinge on me making free throws... let me submit last years track record for your consideration: (here is an excerpt from last year's blog entry detailing my own little quirks of thinking everything depends on me): BUT - I have proof that it all depends on me (aka: I am a god) During the Detroit Pistons Finals series with the Spurs I often would shoot hoops in my front yard before the game. I started to hit a bunch of free throws and told myself that I hd to hit eight out of ten free throws for the Pistons to win. I did not do it for games one and two and the results were losses for the...

The dude arrived Thursday, May 25th around 2:30 pm. 7 pounds and I think 12 ounces. 20 inches. A little smaller than our other two, but a half week earlier too. Cute, quiet, soft, and carrying weapons... you should see his guns! :) Vicki did an AMAZING job in the labor. Vicki and Willem are fine. We are hanging out in Holland and should be back soon. PS - seeing a baby born takes your breath away. a freaking miracle. Three kids=pushed over the edge and ready to buy a Quiet Riot album, sd :) - metal health!

We are about to go into the hospital for an induction. Hopefully by tomorrow the baby will be out and healthy. I'll keep you posted. sd

NOTICE: Watermark Church is currently looking to hire a worship pastor. This is currently a part time position. (20 hours) Do you know someone who would be a good fit with Watermark? Email me: steve.deur@iamwatermark.com Thanks, sd If you are the praying kind - please pray for God to bring us the right person to our close knit team. :)

Three updates and comments: 1. My wife typically does not enter into labor naturally. So, our pregnancy's tend to go long and produce big kids. Therefore, if she does not have the baby by Wednesday - we will be going to the hospital for baby number three to be induced and ripped from the comfortable environment of my wife's womb. :) So next week at this time - God willing - we will have another diaper to change. I am pumped up! 2. As a result of the baby countdown - my wife is in full nesting mode. She is like a well oiled machine getting the house ready, cleaned, prepared. This nesting thing is pretty powerful. If we could harness that energy we could run a fleet of SUV's on that power! 3. I served as an assessor for our church planting assessment center. In a nutshell, this is a couple days of intense work where we look at people's lives and help bring clarity to whether or not they would be an effective church starter based on 13 characteristics. It is c...

Our softball team won on Wednesday. This is a new experience. I am not sure how to process this... Baby is due in about 3-4 weeks. Getting the house ready. Like the time I dug a hole, sd

Well, we had a bit of a final staff dinner with Mike and Joni Morgan, before they travel to California. We had the dinner at my folks... they put together a great meal and it really special to be all together. We really have a great team and it is an honor to work with them. We had a good time remembering funny stories, important moments, and the time we've spent together. We also spent some time affirming Joni and Mike. As you may know, Mike has been our worship leader since Watermark began. Mike and Joni are going to San Diego for college and work and we'll miss them. Anyways - I'm not going to take time here to get sentimental. :) Nate did a good job yesterday speaking about "gathering people" and not "judging people." Our job is to fish for all people (all kind of fish) and not to be the ones to decide who is in and out. It can be easy to focus our attention on trying to intellectually win an argument of faith with someone. Although, I don...

Today we are hosting the pastors of our community for the monthly prayer gathering. We are all going to be crammed into the HUB (our office/meeting space). We'll have worship and prayer from 11-12 and then food and chatting from 12-1. I enjoy getting together with other pastors. It gives a sense of unity in the Christian community. I have no idea how many people are coming. It could be big or a bust. I just said bust. sd

My life group has been going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University DVD. It has been really good and really challenging! For example: He actually tells you not to spend money that you don't have! The nerve of that guy! :) Last night we learned about negotiating. I am a terrible negotiator! I'll walk in and say a lower price and then the salesperson will say no. So then I mumble, "Just kidding" under my breath and pay full price. I just do not like trying to get a deal, but I love getting the deal! Any good negotiating techniques???? Here is one from Dave Ramsey: Show your cash! People know a deal is about to be done and they get emotional. Any thoughts? Deal or no deal, sd