SPCC Blog for nathan

A time for self-discipline (part 2)

nathan@spcc-cma.org — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 01:00:00 +0100

I mentioned in my last blog about the physical joys of self-discipline. And how I was seeing the connection between how I treat my physical body and holiness... 1 Tim. 4:7-9 talks about how physical training has benefit, but that training in godliness has eternal reward. I have come across some verses that tie those two things together. I am finding that you can not separate the two from each other. In our compartmental, North American views of life we like to separate our [...]

A time for self-discipline (part 1)

nathan@spcc-cma.org — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Wow, I have been feeling really good lately. I am about a month into a very consistent exercise routine... I am averaging 5 work outs a week with some weeks getting six in. I hit the weights Mon, Wed, and Fri. Tue, Thurs, and Sat, I have a group cycling class that kicks my butt. Tim Quick and Austin McFadden love to point out and laugh at the fact that there are only two guys in the cycle class; but I don’t care.

Back in High School I wa [...]

Gift Cards

nathan@spcc-cma.org — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 01:00:00 +0100

Have you been to Safeway lately? They have this place called "The Gift Card Mall"... our family was on route for a Christmas party and the gift exchange was only gift cards. Having heard the radio commercial about the 250 gift cards at Safeway and needing to pick up appetizers for the party we made the stop. Some of you may know that it can be silly and pointless things that create high levels of excitement for me. But even I was not prepared for the sight of 250 gift cards in on [...]

A powerful moment

nathan@spcc-cma.org — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 01:00:00 +0100

Even now and then God graciously connects with your heart in a way so powerful it brings you to your knees in worship. In those moments my heart responds with a deep cry for closeness to Him. The longing for God is renewed in a fresh way...

I had one of those moments a few days ago, but it starts a few months back. CiY (JH fall retreat) is a JH conference that we attended for the first time this year. Thirty some students of ours went to Portland and joined a few thousand others [...]

Simple youth ministry

nathan@spcc-cma.org — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 01:00:00 +0100

So often youth pastors are hounded to have the next big event. We are told that students need and respond to glitz and glamor, that to reach them it must be new... Many youth groups clamor after events that are flashy and cost approximately the same as the gross national budget of a small european country. I must admit, I am not completely immune to this disease, and we do have many crazy and "unique" events here at SPCC. But I am always surprised when November comes around, and w [...]

Who am I looking at?

nathan@spcc-cma.org — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 01:00:00 +0100

I am currently typing this blog while sitting in the waiting room of a San Jose Hospital trauma intensive care unit. I have just come out from seeing my brother, who because of a severe motorcycle accident, up until a few hours ago was balancing between life and death... We are now being encouraged by the doctors that Jordan looks like he is through the worst and continues to become more stable. Jordan is currently in a medically induced coma to aid in healing and lower stress for the mult [...]