Deurty

The Tigers game on Thursday was great. I was able to take my family which was special. I especially cherished having my kids participate in something that always was precious to me as a kid. They won! We had amazing seats and I'll post some pics soon. Tomorrow looks like it is going to be beautiful. We are at the Waterfront Stadium in downtown Grand Haven at 10 am. You are invited. Justin Schaap, our new worship leader, will be leading our band. If you are interested in keeping up with the conversation over the summer you can visit: Watermark Podcast. Thankful, sd

The Takas family goes to Johannesburg and as soon as they arrive the city is hit with snow. The place of gold is covered in white stuff! This is the first time since 1981 according to reports. Welcome to winter in June! Pray that Mike and Carol won't be kicked out of the country for bringing Michigan weather with them. To keep up with the Takas family you can visit their site at: Takas Fam Reminds me of waking up in Israel to big snow! Ahhhh sd

"It is in the nature of pastoral work to walk into an alien world, put our feet on the pavement, and embrace the locale. Pastoral work is geographical as much as it is theological. Pastors don't send memos, don't send generic messages, don't work from a distance: locale is part of it. It is the nature of pastoral work to be on site, working things out in the particular soil of a particular parish." - Eugene Peterson from Under the Unpredictable Plant. Location, location, location. sd

I came across some old movies of fellow bloggers that I forgot were around and thought I'd share them with you for old times sake... Thompson Jones Smith "I Am" annimation Enjoy, sd

This Sunday looks like another amazing day to gather outdoors. Last weekend we had a great time seeing people on the lawn. It was a laid back atmosphere with a lot of connecting. This Sunday we are back at Mulligan's Hollow at 10 am. Come on out and join us for the fun. If you want a calendar of where we are at you can visit our site: Watermark Web Site. Today I get to spend some time with my Rabbi - Pete Yo. :) Sizzle, sd

During my trip to NYC with my dad I had the opportunity to read a whole book in Central Park. Wow - a whole book. (Hooked on phonics worked for me.) The book I read was, "Under the Unpredictable Plant" by Eugene Peterson. I chose this book because it is one of his books that deals with 'being' a pastor. The book revolves around the story of Jonah. He does a masterful job teasing the story and bringing out gems. Anyways, I wanted to submit a quote from the book for your consideration. "We cannot nurture the life of the Spirit in a parishioner while holding a stopwatch. We cannot apply time management techniques to the development of souls." (p.164) I find that I am an impatient person. When it comes to working with people I tend to think about sprints instead of marathons. I like to see change and I like to see it fast. If someone isn't getting with the program (my program) I wonder what the problem is. (Maybe it's me or maybe life and spir...

Hey, This past spring break I stopped in at the Watermark Church in Tampa. I really enjoyed worshipping there. One guy that was very welcoming was the worship leader. His name, I believe, was Tommy. Anyways, he writes his own worship music and Watermark uses it to express their heart to God at their gatherings. I noticed they made a music video around a song he played on the morning I was there. I really enjoy it and recommend it to you. So, because he gave me hospitality and he is a brother in Yeshua :) I'll throw this your way for a watch and a listen. See you on the lawn tomorrow at 10 am! Happy Father's Day, sd

This weekend we are gathering at Mulligan's Hollow at 10 am. My biggest fear is that rain will hit and that we'll have to scramble to find the best "plan b" location. (We may do the YMCA or the High School in case of rain in case you are wondering.) But, looking at this forecast gives me some peace. If it rains I pray it will quit by 7 am Sunday morning. It looks like it is going to be hot and sunny so bring your sun tan lotion and a lawn chair. See you there in the sun - Lord and Craig James willing. :) "The lawn is where I meet God." - Thomas Zoily sdul

Congrats to Justin Verlander for throwing a no-no last night against the Brew crew. Epic! He was throwing serious gas into the ninth inning! I gots da Tiger fever (like I always have, but at least now I don't get sick.) Way to go JV. Now if we could take that performance on to the softball field, sd

This Sunday, June 17th, we are moving from Grand Haven High School to Mulligan's Hollow behind the Tri-Cities YMCA in Grand Haven. We are gathering at 10 am. You are all welcome to come and join us. Bring a blanket or a lawn chair. The kids can play on the Imagination Station for part of the time. Soak it up baby, sd For more details or directions of this summer's locations click here: Watermark Church.

Isaiah 63:9 "In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the Angel of His Presence saved them; In His love and in His pity He redeemed them; And He bore them and carried them All the days of old. " Deuteronomy 1:30-31 "The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place." In Scripture, God is described as the Creator of the world. He is called the "Father" of Israel and later by followers of Jesus. (Following redemptive moves by God: for example: the Exodus from Egypt and the work of Jesus on the Cross.) The image of God as Father is an amazing picture. (Unless your own father was a scoundral and that idea is a hard pill to swallow.) God is called the Father of the fatherless. In Isaiah you hear God cal...

I am back in the pocket. I have returned from my time in jam packed NYC. Many highlights, but the best was spending time with my dad. I got to see the Yankees lose, eat breakfast outdoors every morning, take in Times Square lights, eat NY cheesecake, take a nap, read a couple books, ponder in Central Park, try Japanese candy, etc... It was a refreshing time. I am sure my dad will post some pics and I'll rip him off and add to his reflections or photos. Go there: Dibs Maturing My dad and I did see this dude (Richard Belzer from Law and Order) eating with friends. Of course I saw him and promptly ignored him. sd

I am getting out of Dodge and heading to NYC for five nights with Dibs (aka: Deurty Old Man, aka: Dibs Maturing, aka: my dad.) I am looking forward to this trip and it is coming at a really good time. I hope and pray that it will be refreshing and a good infusion of creativity and vision. Going to a big city always seems to stir my heart. I'll be reading, journaling, visiting sites, planning some leadership things, and having fun. We are going to a Yankee game and I'll be quietly rooting against them. (Sorry Nate Sean) We will be visiting a couple churches while we are there. The ones I am sure about are linked below: Redeemer Pres. Brooklyn Tab. We'll do the prayer meeting on Tuesday night at the Brooklyn Tab. Anyways I'd appreciate your prayers for my family as I am away and for my own soul's renewal. Also that my dad will be okay with me walking into him. :) Thompson is 36 today, sd PS: One of my all time favorite posts by my dad is from July 2003 and it ...

This week we are talking about being an alternative transformational community. This is a mouthful, but a great image. In the book of Acts (in the Bible) it describes the earliest followers of Jesus as a community that stood out in the surrounding culture. They were promiscuous with their money and stingy(chaste) with their bodies. This stood out. I may have commented on this before and so forgive me if I have, but it appears that, as followers of Jesus, our primary concern in being an alternative to the surrounding culture is to just listen to Christian music (which I like some), avoid swearing (we all have different levels of what swearing is), don't drink booze (for some denominations), don't smoke (at least don't inhale), don't ride a motorcycle (unless it is a Harley for most pastors trying to keep their mojo), etc... Are these really the distinctive marks of a life following Jesus? These are so easy. What about character issues? What about not seeking reveng...

Have you ever noticed that when someone tells a parent that their baby is adorable the parent says, "thank you." Maybe they are speaking for the baby who is unable to say, "thank you." But it seems as if the parents are taking credit for the baby being cute. I am sure that good looking people have a better chance of producing a child that is so cute that you could just "eat his little face." But what about babies that are not nice to look at? Should we have parent's apologize for their baby's looks? If we take credit for the cute we should probably take credit for the not cute. (code for ugly) So, I want to say thanks for my kids and I want to apologize on behalf of my parents for me. :) Out on the streets - out where we meet... sd

Well, It's over. I am out. We raised, $460.00 thanks to some really generous people. Thanks again to those who contributed. Thanks also for sticking with me as I took time to talk about this. I hung out with Maryanne Gregory (from Watermark and also in jail) at Snug Harbor and got to eat some donated grub from Arbys while I made some phone calls. (Including you Wade Breeden!) Why did I do this? First of all, I was asked. Oh the power of "the ask." I forget about the power of being asked. It forces you to make a decision. Secondly, I wanted to participate in a community oriented event. As a pastor it can be easy to get focused on only the local church and this was another way to help the wider community and assist in a cause that wasn't my normal environment. (I believe the local church has to be my focused environment, but sometimes it is easy to become limited in my focus.) Third, it was a stretch that I wanted to do. My word for the year was, "courage...

Today at 1 pm I will get arrested "for good." My goal was to raise $1,000 and so far we have raised $390. If you have been considering giving but haven't yet you can visit my MDA website and donate online. Thanks again - this should be interesting. :) Deur MDA Lock up Slammer jammer, sd I'll give you an update.

This week is a week of firsts for me. First time doing a community charity event. The MDA lockup is on Wednesday. I get picked up at 1 pm at the HUB and have to bring the donations that have come in. We've raised $275.00 of the $1,000.00 goal so far. I am hoping to still see some money come in for Jerry's kids. Maybe I should do my own telethon for a good cause and call it, "Deurty's kids." That may not be good. First softball game this year on Thursday. The goal is to win at least three games this year and to not get smoked every week! First time I had to call an animal control person to remove a sick Raccoon from our yard. He was sitting under our tree all day and so we had to pay someone to remove it. There is nothing better than paying money to get one of nature's beasts out of our hair. First time I made brats for the year. Yum. sd

I am currently at 20% of my goal to raise $1,000.00 for MDA and to get bailed out on Wednesday, May 2nd. Enjoying sitting outside today and playing baseball with my kids. I have pinned too much of my soul satisfaction on whether or not the Detroit Tigers win. Help! :) giddy up, sd

Well I am now (at least through online giving) at 10% of the $1,000.00 goal for MDA. If you are interested in helping me get bailed out please visit my page at: Get Steve out of Jail! A special thanks to those who have emailed and told me that they didn't think I would last in the slammer. Thanks for the confidence! But, thank God, I'll be at Snug Harbor on May 2nd. Thanks! Prison break, sd