Family Ties

This past weekend we packed up "The Goose" and headed up to Philly. My sister recently had a baby, Ben Lewandowski, and we wanted to meet him. It was also our last trip to Philly before we move so we wanted to see everyone. I know that my mom wants to see Lucy as much as possible.

It was a great weeked, minus the trip up. Stupid us left Richmond around noon and hit tons and tons of trafic from D.C. to Delaware. I-95 is what hell will be like. We finally made it to my brother's place by 8:30. Of course road trips are a bit more hectic with an 8 month old.

Some of the highlights include, getting a cheesesteak, meeting Ben, eating some pizza, dining at Don Pablos, and time with my family. It was great to watch Lucy and her cousin Matthew interact. He is coming to visit us in a two weekends and that should be real fun to watch.

Well, it is getting late, already after midnight. I need to hit the sack. To close things off here are some pictures. I was to lazy to add more. So deal with it.

When it rains it pours

Thanks Stephen, our realtor, for this quote. It's true. Things that once looked bleak and far off have moved quite close. Only by God and his extraordinary plan.

Things are moving in great ways. We now have 2, yes 2, face to face interviews. The first one scheduled is with Silvercreek Reformed Church in German Valley, Illinios. We are going to be traveling there November 3-6.

Last night we got a call from First Christian Church in Beloit, Kansas. They asked us to come out November 17-20.

We are so excited about these possibilities. We are trusting that God will make it abundantly clear which is the right church for us.

Beyond that we are also traveling up to Philly to see my family, and our new nephew, Benjamin James Lewandowski! The weekend between the two church trips my brother Matt and his family are coming to visit.

Busy weeks ahead, but we are super excited to see how God is working everything out.

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The Big Three One

Well today is my 31st B-day. Can't believe that I am full fledged in my 30's.

My birthday really snuck up on me this year. We have been so busy with job searches and home sellings, and things like that. But it is good. Dawn has been great! Her and Lucy got me some Muppet stuff and some clothes. I am also going to watch some of my BSG later. I have gotten hooked into that show. If you have not started watching it, and you love sci-fi, check it out. I am renting the discs from netflix. If you are watching season 3 tape it for me b/c we don't have cable.

We are going to go out to Fridays tonight with some friends and then come back and have some Carvel icecream cake. I love that stuff.

Well, things are good these days. I just wanted to write something.

Homeless, jobless, but looking for adventure!

I think I worked myself too hard today. I was doing yard work, meaning mowing, raking, and planting more grass seed. I think that the grass will look great once it all takes root (no pun intended, just coincidence). It's crazy though. It'll finally look good, and we will be out of here. I can't believe we actaully have a buyer for our house. That is exciting. It was crazy though. Today while I was working on the yard, another person came up to me and told me that they were wanting to put an offer on our house. To quote our realtor, "When it rains, it pours."

Well, I wanted to give people an update on the job front. I know that many people are praying for us. We are so thankful, and it is exciting to see how our prayers will be answered. God is good... ALL THE TIME.

Well, there are a few positions that we did not get. Today I received a letter from a church, Skokie Valley, telling me that they were not moving forward with me. They can be so polite sometime. I am fine with it, but am uncertain how that came about. When I talked with a search committee member a few weeks ago things went really well. But then I heard nothing until today's post arrived at our home. Well, I think it is all for the best. My biggest concern about this church was our financial survival. It was in one of the wealthiest areas of Chicago. It's all good.

I also received a rejection e-mail from Orchard Park Presbyterian Church. I had an interview with them over three weeks ago. They told me they would get back to me in 1-2 weeks. I received an e-mail yesterday. As I have said before, someday I am gonna write all about how I think churches should go about hiring people. Stay tuned...

Well, it has not all been bad new. I have had two interviews this week, and one more set up for Sunday. So, who knows?

Monday's interview was with the church in Beloit, Kansas. I think that want really well. One of the really great things that I learned in this interview process is that this church in pursuing one candidate at a time. They said that if they liked me that they would begin to contact my references and then get back to me. Well, I heard that they have contacted at least one reference. So, that should be really cool.

Today's interview came out of German Valley, Illinois. It was a really good interview. I really thought I did a great job presenting myself. This church has been moving slow, so who knows. Is that a bad sign, or a sign that they think things through. I am not sure.

Sunday's interview is with First Baptist Church in Harlan, Iowa. I don't know how this one will go. Honestly, I think I may have just sent them a resume, and no application. This may mean we have an interview, then they send me an application. I can't keep track of how things work at all these churches.

A few days ago, maybe Tuesday, I got a call from Heartland Baptist church in Sioux City, Iowa. They said they were impressed with me and will be sending me an application this week. Sioux City, huh? Could be good.

I have also filled out an application this week for Crestwood Christian Church. The big up side is that this church is in St. Louis. I love St. Louis. We will see how this one also plays out.

Well, there is much to consider. There are many possibilities. Who knows where God will be sending us. I am looking forward to seeing how God will play this whole thing out.

A breath of fresh air

Well, things were looking down. Our hearts were breaking and we saw no real glimmer of hope. But God is good! ALL THE TIME! It's hard to remember that sometimes. It is hard to remember it with our hearts, when all around us our head is telling us to give up hope.

Last night someone made a offer to buy our house. We should be accepting the contract in the next hour or so. That is such a huge answer to prayer. Last night I also had my interview with the church in Beloit, Kansas. I really think that it went well. I am currently their top canidate, and I hope it stays that way. They are going to be contacting my references sometime this week, too.

On top of that, I just filled out an application for a church in St. Louis. It also sounds like it couuld be a great oppertunity. And I would love to live in St. Louis. I hear they have some big metal structure there.

Well, thank you all for your prayers. God is at work. I know that. I did know that yesterday morning as well, but the stress seemed to be muddleing it up for me.

Tired, worn down, and just plain exhausted!

Hey everyone,

I just thought I would let you know how I am feeling these days. Well, look at the title and take a guess.... Man this process is really hard. Back in July, I thought this process would be exciting. I thought that God would open up so many doors, that my tough choice would be picking the right one. Well, things are not at that place. I have a few positions that are in process, and still waiting to hear about some other ones. I have two interviews this week. I am excited about this one in Beloit, Kansas. I have had two good phone conversations with them already, and am hoping for a third. I also have an interview with Silvercreek Reformed Church on Thursday night. Please keep them in your prayers. I also know that things are progressing with a few other churches and I hope that they will also move forward.

This search takes a lot of energy out of Dawn and I. It stresses us out, and we then begin to take out our frustrations on each other. I hope that this search ends soon for the health of our marriage. I am tired of arguing, misunderstanding, and transferring stress onto each other. Please keep us in your prayers. We really need it!

Today was a crazy day for us. Along with all the job related stress comes the house selling stress. Today 3 groups of people cam to see our house, which is a great things. I was on my was to church when I was got the call telling us there would be 2 showings between 12 and 1:30. I had to turn around and it was a quick clean of the Reiss home. We are getting pretty good at having our house in order in about 1 hour. Still I ended up missing the service. I was teaching Sunday school, so I had to turn to be at our church (school) by 11am. Then this afternoon we got another call to tell us our home was going to be shown at 5:30. We took a scenic tour of Ashland, VA.

Tomorrow I am going to look into temporary work. I really don't want to, but if we don't have any money coming in then we are in trouble. We have a few options. There is substitute teaching... That can be good money as long as they call you. I was also going to look into temp agencies. I guess I should also fill out a few applications at some retail places. This is a real hard thing for me to do. I wrestle with it because I wonder if it is showing a lack on trust in God. When we started this process we trusted that God would provide for us. Some of me thinks that taking a job here is telling God we don't completely trust him and so we are taking matters into our own hands. Then there is the rational side to it all. We need money coming in, so I need a job. Some people support one argument, some another. Is there a right answer, I really don't know, but tomorrow will be application day...yippeee!

God... I know we are following you... We are being broken down and can only trust that you will provide. Please provide... please.

Is my faith simplistic?

I recently recieved an e-mail from a pastor of a church and this is what he had to say...

Your statements of belief near the bottom of your email give a largely simplistic view of doctrine. We believe that students are capable of learning the Word in doctrinally significant ways. What I am looking for in a man who is interested in being a youth pastor at North Park is that he knows the Word and what it says in the major areas of Christian faith. What this would look like is a more complete version than the one you have provided, and clearly grounded in Scripture by including references that support those beliefs. It is not an emphasis on an academic understanding of the Bible and theology. It is the opportunity for us to see that you have searched and studied the Scriptures diligently, and formed the foundation of your faith in the statement you would provide.

Here is my statement of faith...

• I believe that God exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• I believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, and He was crucified on the Cross to take the punishment for our sins upon Himself. I believe He rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven.
• I believe Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to be the guide and counselor of those who place their faith in Him. The Holy Spirit gives each of us gifts to glorify God and share His love with others.
• I believe that only through faith in Jesus Christ can a person be saved. All men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; there is nothing anyone can do to redeem themselves other than placing their faith in Jesus.
• I believe that the Bible is the divinely inspired, infallible word of God.
• I believe that Christians are to strive to live like Jesus not only with words but with actions.
• I believe we can grow closer to God in studying His word and in prayer.
• I believe Jesus is coming back to redeem creation by obliterating sin once and for all.
  
  
  What do you think. Is my view simplistic? Does adding references and christian termonalogy make my beliefs more valid?

I was tempted to write this pastor back and give him a piece of my mind... well I did, I just didn't send it.

"I could reword my beliefs and place scriptures next to them, but when you boil it all down you would get the same thing. I believe the basics of the Christian faith, and I try not to get caught up in obscure doctrines that are ultimately just differences of opinions. I do have a deep understanding of what I believe, but I don’t feel the need to use fancy words just to impress people. I want my beliefs to be understood by the everyman. I do not like the implication that my doctrine is simple or that I am not well studied in the scriptures. I do read and study the scripture. I love to discuss what the Bible says and means with people. I love trying to wrestle through the hard questions that the scriptures say. I love to help students wrestle though things in the Word and help them own their faith...

...I have been applying to churches left and right over the past few months. I have been trying to jump through the hoops that they ask to… fill out application (each church with a different set of questions), send statement of faith, talk with head of search committee, talk with senior pastor, phone interview with search committee, all then telling me they will get back to me in a few weeks, but it takes longer, much longer… I am tired of being treated like a lab rat hoping for a piece of cheese. I am tired of people making judgment calls on my beliefs, abilities, and trust based on a few e-mails and phone calls. Sure, maybe you are not the person I need to write this too, but I feel that even if I were to give you what you asked for, I would probably not get the job. So you have the pleasure of my brief “Falling Down” moment.

The process of looking for a ministry job is tiring. I have been at it for over two months. My heart has been through the ringer to many times to count. I love God the father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I love being a Christian and trusting God with my whole life. I love that he has called me into youth ministry, right now I cannot think of a better calling. I love working with students. I love helping them know Christ and to grow in Christ. I love to spend time with them. I love to build up adults to serve students. I love to watch them fall in love with youth ministry. I love planning youth events. I love my family. I love my friends. I long to reach out to the world with Christ’s love. What more do people want from me? What other hoops do they need to set up so I can jump through them?

Well. I just wanted to get this out there. Don't worry, I did not send this to that pastor, but I was tempted. I especially like the link to Falling Down.

Let me know if yoou think adding references would make my theology stronger? Is it worth it? Who knows?

Frequently Asked Questions

I decided to put some of the most asked questions from the billions of applications that I have filled out on my webpage. Check out the F.A.Q.'s, listen to my sermons or puppet shows, see some videos I created, and more.

The Search

Well, I know those of you who check this blog are wondering how things are going on the job search. Well, things are going slow and we are just hoping to know more about where God will be taking us. It is obvious that He will provide, but what that looks like and where it will be is still way up in the air. Well, A few blogs ago I mentioned that we were still in good standings with a church called, The River's Edge, in the thumb area of Michigan. Well, that position isn't going to happen. We found out about a week and a half ago, and it made that night a really tough one. It was a real tough one for Dawn and I because we really felt that this could be a possibility. We were actually going to visit at the end of October, but then I talked to the pastor for 10 minutes on the phone. Well, during those 10 minutes the pastor got the feeling that I did not trust him, because of I asked about salary and a youth budget. The phone call ended abruptly (as the call must have been dropped... not Cingular I guess)and then about a half hour later I got a rejection e-mail from him. As I look back, I am thankful that this happened, but not thankful for the way it all fell apart. I really think that churches need to be better about the hiring process then they are. That is another soapbox. I will someday rant about that extensively, but not today. So where are we?

What does the job search look like currently? Well, I have been filling out a billion applications and having a bunch of phone interviews. It does not look much different then it did about a month ago. Here are some of the highlights.

Saturday, September 31st I talked to the Elder in charge of the search committee at First Christian Church in Beloit, Kansas. It was a really good conversation. I was impressed with the impact that the church was having in that community, especially among the youth. This past Saturday, October 7th, I had a conversation with the church's pastor. Yesterday I received a call from the aforementioned elder and he told me that they wanted to set up a phone interview with the search committee. For those of you counting at home, that is 3 phone interviews with this church, zero visits to date.

This past Saturday I had a great conversation with a man named Lew from Skokie Valley Baptist Church, just north of Chicago. This was another great conversation. I really enjoyed talking to Lew. He was born in Jamaica and had an accent (but he never said "mon" ...go figure). He actually sounded like a Solomon, a friend from church, so it made it easy to talk to him. It sounds like a great opportunity there. This church is a multi-cultural church which is quite appealing. Another interesting this about this opportunity is that the church has a daycare, and the lady who runs it also has a puppet company. I was told they were meeting on Sunday (the 8th) and I should hear back from them soon. Our question here is if we can financially survive in that area.

Well, Saturday I also talked with a man from Heartland Community Baptist Church in Sioux City, Iowa. It was also a good conversation. He also asked me to send him a statement of faith and other things about myself. It is a good thing that I have done a million application. I was able to cut and paste some things together. Let's hope it was effective.

One funny (yet also frustrating) story is that of Silver Creek Reformed Church, in central Illinois. I originally snail mailed them an application on September 14th. This was one of the original batches of applications. A few weeks later I received a letter telling me that they would be reviewing applications and would get back to me in early October. They called on Friday (October 6th) and asked if they could set up an interview on October 19th. It is crazy how long it takes some churches to do these things. I think it is frustrating because they have to wait for the search team to be all present. Arghh! Don't get me started... don't even get me started.

Another church is Orchard Park Presbyterian Church outside of Indianapolis, Indiana. Two weeks ago I had an interview with them. It went OK I guess. Can I just say that I hate talking on the phone, and these phone interviews with the search committees are hard because you can't always hear people, and you cannot read their reactions. There are often odd pauses too because speaker phones are odd things. Well, I was told I was going to hear back from them in two weeks, and still nothing. I even sent them a reminder e-mail. I am hoping that I will hear from them soon...preferably tomorrow.

I have also has 2 great conversations with the people at YouthCompass who are looking for people to fill positions in Germany and Italy. Dawn and I feel that this could be something we do in the future, but probably not yet. One of the huge hurdles would have to raise $40,000 per year. I must say though, being back in Europe does sound nice.

Well, I have also sent out other applications to places and am waiting to hear back from them. Places like...

Maple Grove Evangelical Free Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. I sent them an application awhile ago. I am hoping to hear from them soon.

West Evalgelical Free Church, Wichita, Kansas - they even sent me a $5 Starbucks gift card. yum... But that is all I know.

Northpointe Community Church, Dewitt, Michigan. The pastor said that the elders would discuss my application ad get back to me some time this week. One interesting thing about this church is that they have a puppet on staff. Check out their site.

Impact 2818 - a camp in Indiana who is looking for a Jr. High Program Director. I e-mailed to find out the status and they told me I should hear more about this position by early next week if they want to interview me or not. Working at a camp could be quite interesting and exciting.

Roseau Evangelical Covenant Church is in Northern Minnesota (about 10 minutes from Canada, ey?). They called me a few weeks ago and told me that they were going to contact my references, then I heard no word from them. I e-mailed them last week and finally they called me today and told me that they were still waiting to hear from my references.

Another place I have been communicating with is North Friendship General Baptist Church in southern Indiana. I has an awkward interview with them. First they called late, or so I thought. Sometimes these time zones can be tricky because you don't know which zone they are in (especially in Indiana) and when they will actually be calling. Well, they called halfway through Lost, so I was a little distracted. Also the phone interview was a bit odd. They seemed disorganized. They mostly kept asking me if I had questions for them and random questions for me.

I know there are others that I have sent applications to and a ton more that I have sent my resume to. It is a crazy world this job search. Please keep us in your prayers. We are hoping that some of these leads will turn into actual visits. I am getting tired of searching for jobs and filling out applications and having phone interviews, but never going any further than that. Please leave me a comment of encouragement.

Selections from Psalm 37

Trust in the LORD, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.
Better is the little that the righteous has
than the abundance of many wicked.
The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
when he delights in his way;
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the LORD upholds his hand.
For the LORD loves justice;
he will not forsake his saints.
Wait for the LORD and keep his way,
and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

These are the words I need to cling to in this time of transition and uncertainty. I know that God will see us through.

A visit from an old friend

Well, this week I decided to pull an old friend off the shelf. Dangerous Wonder is a book that changed my life. It is a book that inspired me to truly seek after God with the passion and excitement of a little child. Mike Yaconelli (who I was able to meet once before God took him home) challanges us to approach life with the dangerous wonder, risky curiousity, and wild abandon of childlike faith. This book was instrumental in responding to my call to go to Hungary, and helped me navagate those unique waters.

I pulled it off the shelf again (for like the 5th time through) and was once again excited about the faith life that God has for me and my family. We are in a tough time. A time where all we can do is lean on God's good grace, and Mike continues to remind me that we are doing the right thing.

I am so excited to be working my way back through this book. If you have never read it. I highly highly highly recomend it. And to whet your appitite here is a little taste...

What moments! What holy moments! To be in the presence of God, frightened and amazed at the same time! To feel as if you are in the presence of Life itself, yet with your soul shaking in both ter­ror and gratitude.

I want a lifetime of holy moments. Every day I want to be in dangerous proximity to Jesus. I long for a life that explodes with meaning and is filled with adventure, wonder, risk, and danger. I long for a faith that is gloriously treacherous. I want to be with Jesus, not knowing whether to cry or laugh.



While I have you here, I have another great book to recomend by Blue Like Jazz scribe, Donald Miller. It is called To Own A Dragon and it writen for men who have grown up with out fathers. As I read it, it was a little too scary how much I related to Don's attitudes and views of the world. It is often hard for those of us who have grown up with an absent father to understand what it realy means for God to be our Heavenly Father.

I want my brothers to read this. I really think it is something that can help us understand who we are and how to be men in our world. If your dad was absent in your childhood (and you are a guy) then I think you need to read this book. Oh, and even Jeff Foxworthy thinks it a worthwhile read.