Hi, Mom!!

I found out that my mother reads my blog everyday...that's pretty cool. You've got to understand that she's pretty new to the whole internet thing. Three cheers to a hip mom!

A couple years ago, in preparation for Izak's arrival, we took a Bradley birth class (Bradley is a pretty intese 12-week deal that helps husbands coach their wives in drug-free childbirth). Our class was great - we really got to enjoy hanging out with each other every week - you get pretty close with people when you talk about the bodily parts and functions of childbirth! They were a great group!

We've gotten together several times since we all had our babies - it's always been fun. Yesterday was another shin dig with the group...and about a hundred other friends and family connected with one of the couples. It was crazy!!

We finally left as Izak melted...went to Chili's for a nice quiet time together!

Well, it's a slow news day in Hamburg, NY...hope you have a great Memorial Day!

God, thank you for raising up men and women who have given their lives for the freedom that we enjoy in the United States. Keep your hand on those who are in harm's way today - that they might know your presence. We long for peace, which is only a vapor until you bring your ultimate peace in person. Amen.

still waiting...

Heidi and I continue to wait for #2 to show up...so many people have been praying and encouraging. And several of our friends say that their overnight bags are packed and ready to go at a moments notice...we have great friends!!

Heidi and I took advantage of the lull to go on a date last night. It was nice to be out together. We went to the Pizza Plant, a great place up in Williamsville - a regular haunt when we were trucking up there for birth classes for Izak.

Today was a nice family morning. We took a walk in the sun (which we haven't seem much the past week) and I mowed the lawn.

I'm performing a wedding this afternoon at Como Park Lighthouse. Should be a great day for an outdoor wedding.

Not much else to report...

Peace,

M@

frustration...

Heidi has been sick every day of this pregnancy. She doesn't complain nearly as much as I would! But the saga continues...she started having contractions (the kind that get her attention) on Sunday. We got ourselves ready to go at moment's notice...holding...holding...holding...still nothing. Come on, God...toss us a bone here!

She's having enough of the contractions to be miserable but not enough to really jumpstart labor in a big way. But again...very little complaining...she's a rock!

All I have to say is that this kid had been be very adorable and smart to make up for the pain he/she has already caused!! As long as he/she has Heidi's genes, that should be a slam dunk!

I've been poking around the office this week. Trying to get things nailed down so that I'm ready to go when Heidi is. It's hard to stay focused on the administration part of work when I know that I'm going to meet this baby soon.

The making of a baby is such a profound thing...right now, God is doing His handiwork in the secret place of the womb. He's crafting a child that will grow into adulthood...He knows every details of that little life becaue He's the one who is "knitting" him/her together. We don't know the name because we don't know the gender...but God already knows the name...and all that goes with it.

I never cease to be amazed at the mystery of creation and life. And only He knows when I will get to meet this little one...

Back to shop-talk...

Last night our congregation voted to build a community-oriented youth center (The Hub) as soon as possible. This 3.5 million dollar building will be the only one of its kind in our community - a safe place for teens to hang out and ultimately hear about Jesus. It's an exciting journey.

Tonight I'm meeting with a group of people who are exploring the extension of our church's ministry into the city of Buffalo. I'm excited about the next steps. It's a great group of people that are working together to see Jesus honored in the city...can't go wrong when that's the goal...as long as that stays the goal...

Peace,

Matt

crazy times...

Let me recap the past few days....

Sunday...I spent most of the day at a Board retreat for Peace of the City. POTC is a ministry to children, youth, and their families on the westside of Buffalo. I've been on the board of this urban ministry for the past 3 years. It's a pretty incredible way to invest in the lives of people who have been forgotten by society.

After that, Heidi and I spent much of the evening getting ready for labor and delivery of the new Furr kids who is on the way soon.

Monday...we spent most of the day hanging out at home and at a friend's house. Audry and her daughter Ainsley (who is about Izak's age and much more verbal) had us over to their house. Audry will be running point on Izak's care when we go to the hospital to deliver the new baby.

Tuesday...started bright and early with a meeting with John Lee and Mike Burgess. John is a strong partner in urban ministry and a good friend (he and his wife Sue came for dinner Friday night). Mike is a minister at an African-American church in the city and a man of sound character. I learn so much in my conversations with him. He is wise and humble.

We spend much of our time talking about the importance of learning to be a good follower before trying to be a good leader. I have seen so many ways that God has used a 2x4 to teach me those lessons. I believe I'm made to lead. But my training requires becoming a good follower. I'm not so sure I'm good at it, yet...but He gives me many opportunities to grow in this.

After a morning of staff meetings, I met with a group of men who are key leaders in a variety of churches. We're talking about church planting in the city. I have the overwhelming sense that God is bringing together many special pieces, even though I have no idea how they all fit together yet. It was a great lunch together. God's leading and you can't go wrong with that!

So here we are...Tuesday night. Just finished watching NCIS - great show!

Oh yeah...Heidi's having contractions...

Matt

for what it's worth...

Izak slept in a bit this morning. As he gets older, he's sleeping a bit less. He used to sleep about 14 hours at night! Now it's down to about 11...I'm still used to going to bed sooner so that I'm nice when he wakes up earlier

He is such a great kid. He's always smiling and laughing! It's true...others are struck by that, too. He's living up to his names sake - Izak means "laughter."

I've got a couple marriage preparation counseling appointments today (I do about 15-20 weddings every summer) and then we're going to a young adult cookout! Shut up...we are, too!!

I'll actually be taking on a larger role in leading the 20-Something ministry this next year. As the church is looking to be intentional in preparing for the upcoming generations of leaders/worshippers in the church, I'll be investing more of my time there. I should be fun...and provide no shortage of blogging material, I'm sure.

Heidi woke up feeling pretty bad this morning - after a night of crazy contractions...probably nothing to get lathered up about, but...just a reminder that another month will probably not pass before we have another baby...WOW!!! Can't wait to meet that little one...If you're the praying time, please pray for us as we draw closer to the date and for Heidi who is ready to be done but never compains - I'd be complaining to anyone who would listen and I'd even chase down those that don't! She's a rock!

That's the scoop from Lake Wobegon...

Matt

I love Friday!

One of the great "perks" of working full-time in the church (notice I didn't say, "in ministry" because everyone is in full-time ministry as they take what God has given them in Christ into every facet of life on earth...back to our story...) is that I get two Fridays each week. On the real Friday, it feels like Friday - like the last day of the week, eveyone is happy and ready for the weekend. Even though I work on Saturdays, Friday still feels like Friday. Then, on Sunday, it feels like Friday again because Monday is my official day off. So when the worship gathering is wrapping up, I'm heading out the door to 36 hours of rest with my family! I love it!!

Let's revisit the () from above: it's an important distinction...I work for an organization called a church. But the Church is everyone who loves Jesus and works for him no matter where they are - 24/7. People say that I've been "called to ministry". True. But so has Heidi, whose ministry is caring for people dying of cancer at Roswell Park Cancer Institute...so has my friend, Rick, who is a speech pathologist and invests himself in helping mentally retarded adults learn to communicate and swallow well...so are many of my friends who invest themselves wholely in their family as a stay-at-home mother...if you are a follower of Jesus, you've been "called to ministry."

It's an important distinction and it's not just symantics. If you see me as the "called" one, then you pay me to do ministry on your behalf or to you. But if we are all "called" ones, then you will take your investments as seriously as you would expect me to.

There is a special role that I have been appointed to play as a leader. That role comes with a pretty intense accountability from God for how I execute it. We are not all called to leadership with the Body of Christ. But we are all called to ministry...

Don't know how I got there, but...for what it's worth.

Heidi and I are having some friends over for dinner tonight. John and Sue are a couple from the church. I have worked with them (mostly John) on issues and projects related to ministry in the city (Buffalo). They are both passionate about urban ministry - no doubt you'll be hearing more from me about some exciting adventures in church planting, collabrative ministry partnerships, and city transformation in the near future. I'm looking forward to our time with them over dinner.

Peace,

Matt

Regular Wednesday...

Not much to actually report today. Spent the morning finishing personal/ministry evaluations - usually about as much fun as a root canal - and in staff meeting - which I normally like. I enjoy the team of people that I work with...I suppose i'm fortunate in that. I've heard so many stories of people, even on church staffs, that don't get along and don't connect with their ministry partners.

This afternoon has been all about digging out from under the piles of papers on my desk. Paperwork isn't why I got into ministry - but it's a part of it, I know. So I staple myself down and try to work through things. It's getting there. Next step is to bring in the leaf blower to clean things off!

I'm about to go home and spend some time with Heidi and Izak before coming back for a long evening. I love my work. But I love my fam even more!!

I'm struck by so many people who are through the family-raising part of their life only to feel a lot of regret - I wish I had...

I don't want to regret spending too much time at work. I want to stand before a group of people and encourage them to make good decisions about time and priorities having wrestled through them myself...and made good choices.

So I'm off...

Matt

barbers, pastors, and artists...

I took my parents to Elmwood Ave in Buffalo yesterday to walk around and see the variety of artistic expressions (Elmwood Ave. and Allentown are the areas where most of the artists hang and have their stores in Buffalo). I'm still a rookie at that part of town because I didn't realize that artists, like barbers and pastors, take Mondays off...silly me. We had a good time, anyway...I got to show them around Buffalo, with the variety in culture in a very small city.

Today is back in the office. My head feels a little foggy, trying to get back into the swing of things after a week of "vacation" - I use the "" because we didn't take off anywhere, we just stayed in Hamburg and did things around the house. It was sort of strange to "vacation" at home...I guess that's what happens when you have a toddler and one more about 3-4 weeks away from birth...

Heidi feels pretty terrible these days - pregnancy isn't fun for her. She's got an incredible spirit, though. God is strong in her, shaping her perspective in a pretty powerful way. I am humbled to be her life-mate.

One of the things I've been stirring on in a pretty big way is the relevance of the church in our changing culture. What it means to connect with spiritual seekers is changing...or are they?

Several of the books I've been reading talk about these issues and propose a shift in the way we view "church." I smile as I read them because many of the things they are suggesting are the foundational dynamics of a church I planted in Ipswich, MA (New England Christian Community). It's a church that is still growing as a worshipping community in a little town north of Boston, MA. But the basis was that we would BE the church in such a way that God is honored and that skeptics and seekers would be able to investigate the claims of Jesus without the "trappings" of the modern church. I'm too late to write my book but the books might have been helpfur 7 years ago! Anyway...

Peace,

Matt

hangin' with the 'rents...

My folks have been in town since Friday night. It's been a nice visit. Izak, my 18-month-old is totally in love with Grandpa...it's pretty fun to see. He wants to always hold his hand when they walk and likes to sit in his lap - that's the good stuff!

I was struck yesterday by the significance of our stories. On Friday, there was a funeral for a 29-year-old guy who decided to call it quits by chewing a .38. He didn't know God, as far as anyone knew, including those closest to him. Unless my theology is totally wacked, the guy paid sticker price on an eternity without God. It's hard to find hope in that kind of situation.

About a month or so ago, I was a part of a funeral for another young guy - about 24, who died by accident or suicide (things still aren't conclusive). I had just picked up a mentoring relationship with him. A year ago, I baptized him while he was on leave from the military. He was making some good choices but still struggled with depression. But there was something different in the grieving for this guy...

Two stories of two young men. One being changed by Jesus, the other desperate without Him. There isn't a neat and tidy "take-away" point in this...I'm just struck by the difference. And the importance that is found in the difference.

Peace,
Matt

prayer experience

last night i wrapped up a series on prayer that i've been teaching through at catalyst (the worship gathering for the 20-something ministry at hamburg wesleyan church). it's been a fun thing to do, leading the journey for this relatively new group of people.

last night we capped off the series with a "prayer experience". we took the four dynamics of prayer that we talked about the previous weeks and then did them. have you ever wondered how in the world you could pray for an hour? Over 20 young adults did that last night. the four dynamics were: God as father, listening in stillness, forgiveness, and intercession. the stillness room and the forgiveness room were the "popular" ones - meaning that people came out of them with a sense of something profound having happened in them.

we ended the evening with musical worship and then a discussion about what we just experienced. it's fun to be a part of something that works as well or better than you imagined. our church is not on the cutting edge of these sorts of things, so this was totally new...i'm sure there will be more to come.

my parents are coming today. they are currently driving somehwere in canada. they'll be here until tuesday morning. should be a nice visit...though our house is small and has only 2 bedrooms. i'm sure more will be coming on that adventure...


Peace,

Matt

here we go...

growing up in west michigan, i used to love going to pleasure island, a water park near muskegon. climbing the ladder to the top of the winding slide, i'd feel the rush of standing over an unknown fate. I saw people coming out the bottom - it looked like they were having a pretty good time. Now it's my turn to release myself into gravities grip...

that's a little how I feel posting my first ever blog...i've looked things over...it looks like some pretty good times...not convinced anyone will care...not convinced that i care if they do or not...

so here i go!!