Wednesday Nights at Columbus Road

S.M.I.

Many Hands Make Light Work

Columbus Road just completed Vacation Bible School last week. Our VBS ministry is quite different from most in that our teens have a great deal to do with this program. Former pastor Jeff Westcott designed and implemented a program that we call S.M.I. (Student Missionary Internship). S.M.I. is a discipleship ministry that trains teens to serve in the local church. As part of the S.M.I curriculum, the teens plan and execute a VBS program. Each aspect of ministry is done, start to finish, by the teens.

They are responsible for planning, decorating, purchasing and implementing the VBS program. I am so impressed with the commitment and dedication shown by each of the young people involved. Our S.M.I. summer ministry takes place not only at C.R., but also at our church plant in Pittsfield, Illinois.  The students provide the same VBS there during the second week of July.

I came across some interesting pictures this week. Each one of the pictures is of young people who led some aspect of VBS this year, and who were also participants in my first VBS at Columbus Road eight years ago. God has moved these young people from being spectators, to participants, to servants in just eight years. Take a look:

Madison Now

Madison Then

Ben Now

Ben Then

Collin Now

Collin Then

Graduation at Greenville College

Our New Christmas Picture 

I am very proud of Matt Cowman. It is great that he graduated from college. I never doubted that he would. He is a focused young man who has a lot to offer to others. I am proud of the impact he made while at Greenville. He made a conscious decision to invest in the lives of others. It was very evident on the last day there that he did not waste any time.

My Three Boys (Mike, Jay, and Matt)

Our family hosted countless young people in our home over the last four years due to Matt's hospitality. Any person who could not go home for a break ended up at our place. We interned one of Matt's friends, Jay Yousef, and practically adopted Michael Carlisle over the four years. Many others greeted our family on graduation day. Parents, professors, and students, all thanking us for Matt. This is what I am truly proud of.

So here is my take away from Sunday. Thank you, Greenville College, for developing and facilitating the gifts and abilities in Matt. He has been given so many opportunities to impact others. Greenville is a very good school that I highly recommend. Another thing that I have been reminded of is that a school should be judged by the people it develops, and not the pedigree that it provides. Few employers today ask where you went to school.

I Couldn't Resist

Great Friends

Great friends are hard to come by. If ya got one, hold tight and don't let go. In the world of electronics, fast-paced living, and dramatic change, friendships are hard to develop. I have been blessed beyond words to have these two amazing friends for the last fifteen years.

I have experienced so much life with the Westcotts. Most people, other than your own family members, do not experience the birth of your children, the purchase of your first home, the death of a parent, become a client for your business, and participate in a decade of ministry together. I have lived these things with Jeff and Julie Westcott. This does not include the countless car purchases Jeff has made or the number of animals they have brought into there home. We have experienced together about everything that life could hand a person.

I want everyone to know just how important Jeff and Julie Westcott have been to me. Any level of success or accomplishment that I have experienced would not have happened without Jeff and Julie's help. Countless projects and ministry initiatives have happened with those two heavily involved. We have a lifetime of stories, experiences, and lessons that I cherish. I count myself to be incredibly blessed to have served alongside them.

I am going to miss having them in my everyday life, but what I know is that they will always be in my thoughts and prayers. Visits and vacations together will be planned, and who knows a ministry project here and there maybe in our future?

Lesson from a Garage Sale

Treasures

Have you ever been to a garage sale? Most people reading this blog would answer, "Oh ya" Have you ever had a garage sale? The answers would vary depending on the age of the person and possibly where they are from. 

Garage sales have been a part of the Cowman tradition for many years. I think that we have had a sale for the last 8 years running. I usually initiate the annual event by picking the date and rallying the troops to gather up some of the treasure found in closets and the storage room.

We have never gotten rich from any of our sales nor have we really created more space in our storage but many memories and lessons have been learned through the years that make it a priceless annual family activity. Here are a few lessons we were able to pass onto our girls this year.

Two Ambitious Sales Representatives

Micheala learned that there are a lot of old men that go garage "saleing". I think that is hilarious !!! So all you guys out there who do not like that your wife goes... it may be your destiny. She also discovered that rainy days create opportunities to be patient and not to close the sale just because it is cold.

Meredith gained insight on how to speak to people. She was a great sales person and her skills were honed. Money is something that many teens do not have to manage. They usually spend the money that they are given or earned. Meredith enjoyed operating the register (which I have provided a pic for you).  Exchanging money is a great skill to learn.

Madison shared with me in her normal insightful fashion. She said, "I am learning that things come and go but what is important is the people you are with", Hmmm.... from the mouth of teens. She went on to say that we live with much more than we need or find useful. I guess that should help us on the purchasing end, right?? We will see.

Register

After all these years, I still can't believe I have three daughters. They are now teenagers and I am loving my time with them. Experiencing different activities and providing opportunities for the girls to learn and grow thrills me. You may want to consider the everyday things to teach the everyday things.

A Lesson in Finishing Strong

2013 Mid-America Cup College Showcase U-14 Girls Champions

Have you ever found it hard to finish strong? Have you ever found your heart in a place where you wanted to just ride it out? Have you ever just thought, "I will settle.... settle and let the chips fall where they may."? I think one of the hardest things for human beings to do is to finish strong. People tend to fade when the going gets rough or near the finish.  I was reminded this weekend that oftentimes the best is found at the end...if you finish strong.

This weekend was a reminder to me that if you finish strong, great things can happen. My Quincy United U-14 girls played in a tournament in Peoria. We have been very successful this season, but that did not guarantee us success this time. We started off slow on Saturday morning, but managed to pull off a 2-0 win in our opening game. I was not too concerned, since we never play well in the first match of a tournament.

Our second game was later the same day. We came out slow (again) and were not playing well together. As the game went on, we continued to make mistakes and we looked very sluggish. Things fell apart for our team and we ended up tying 1-1. We should have destroyed our opponent, but we didn't. I felt like I had called a poor game and my team under-performed. Our backs were against the wall...We had to win the next match or we would be coming home early.

I decided to call a rare team meeting. We all gathered in one of the hotel rooms just before we all called it a night. I began the meeting by apologizing to my team for my poor coaching and for not preparing them for the task at hand. I then challenged the girls to do a heartfelt evaluation of their performance and desire. They were all ears and leaned in. The last thing that I told them was, win or lose, I wanted them to finish strong. I could live with the results as long as we finished well.

Sunday's match was quite a turnaround. The girls came out with passion and heart. The match was a battle. We scored early in the match and the competition responded right after halftime to tie. The second half was hard-fought. We were running out of time. A tie would put us in our cars and headed home to Quincy. The girls didn't give up, and with one minute left in the match, we  scored! We played hard to the very end, and now had made it to the championship. We finished strong!!

We were excited to make it to the final, but we were beat up. Two players were injured in the match, and we had only two hours to rest before the last match. I didn't have a lot to say before the final match. I told the girls to leave every ounce of energy on the field and to finish the deal.

We came out and exercised our will against the Peoria team and won in convincing fashion. A 2-0 victory led us to the podium. We finished strong even when things were not going well.

 Are you at a moment in your life in which you need to finish something strong? I will leave you with this quote:

"If the word QUIT is in your vocabulary, then the word FINISH is likely not." - B.G. Jett

Pittsfield First Renovation Update - Flooring Completed

GATHERING AREA

CLASSROOM

CLASSROOM

Easter Sunday Service Favorites

There are several things that I truly love about Easter Sunday. I thought I would list a few of my favorite things. 

Breakfast 

The breakfast that Shane and his crew prepare for us is amazing. The biscuits and gravy are a favorite of many. They serve breakfast from 8:30 til 10:00 in the KidZone building.

Music 

The music is full and energized. There is just something about Easter where people sing from a place of victory vs defeat. I am looking forward to listening to Allison, Jen and Amy at the beginning of both services.

Preaching 

I really enjoy speaking to people. Sharing the Gospel in a clear and simple way reminds me of my times at the Huron County Jail. We will be looking at Romans 8:1-16. It is a passage that clearly states that we are no longer condemned.

Clothes 

Everyone puts on their Sunday best at Easter. I like to dress up and Easter is no exception!

Baptism 

I have the privilege of baptizing two people Sunday morning who have come to Christ as a result of the ministry of Columbus Road. 

Friends 

I enjoy seeing friends who have come back into town for the day to visit family.

Focused 

We are all attending the services to celebrate the forgiveness of our sins and the salvation Jesus provides through His resurrection. 

I look forward to tomorrow and I hope you are also. What are some of your favorite parts of Easter? 

If you do not have a church home, you are more than welcome to come to Columbus Road. Our services are at 9:00 and 10:30.

2013 CR Archery League - Off to a Super Start !

I had the opportunity to stop in and visit the opening night of the Columbus Road Archery League. I walked in to a room filled with enthusiastic archers. We have over 70 people participating in the 2013 league. People of all ages and skill levels have joined in on the fun. The league spans over a ten week period. Teams are formed and  scores kept to determine champions at the end. Here are a few pictures to help capture the night.

At Full Draw

A Full House 

Check Out The Equipment

A special thanks goes out to Wes Siepel, Brian Hodges and Doug Althide for their leadership and management of the league this year!

Bill Hybels - On the Beauty and Power of the Local Church

"I have a little mantra: There's nothing like the local church when the local church is working right.
When the Spirit is in charge, and when God's anointing power is on a church, lost people are getting found, and found people are growing up, and lonely people are getting enfolded, and bored people are finding purpose and a cause, and the poor are being cared for. To me, when that's all happening, prompted, and empowered by the Spirit as opposed to fueled by human power, that is the most beautiful activity I've ever witnessed."

Graham Chapel at Washington University

This weekend I had the opportunity to perform a wedding in St. Louis, Missouri. Jay Yousef and Alex Brand were united in marriage on Saturday afternoon. The ceremony was beautiful and went off with- out a hitch. Graham Chapel was simply amazing. I have never performed a wedding in a venue like Graham. As I was looking around the chapel I discovered am inscription at the base of the stained glass window. It comes from I Kings 8:58 and reads: The Lord God be with us, as He was with our fathers, that He may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways and to keep His commandments. It is undeniable that many of our institutions of higher learning were centered in Biblical Christianity.

Front View

Rear View