Mentors Part 3-Jeff Gross

This post is part of a series of 12 posts. Click here to see the original post.

When I was a freshman in high school we moved to a new town. The first church we visited was Family Bible Church. I attended the youth group and recall walking in the very first time. I walked into the basement of the parsonage where the youth met and was embraced immediately by a twenty-something who introduced himself as Jeff, the youth pastor. Over the next few years, I developed a strong relationship with Jeff Gross. I sat under his teaching and guidance. Through various messages, personal conversations, and group discipleship, Jeff revealed that Jesus was living, personal, and active. No longer was Jesus a 2D character on a flannel graph board that lived long ago, but a real and powerful God who was still active in the world and in our lives if we would allow.

Jeff introduced me to various disciplines. He taught me how to pray, study the Bible, and kept me accountable. I knew that I could count on Jeff to check in and see how my relationships, friendships, and walk with the Lord were going. He pushed me to be a stronger follower of Jesus. He also taught me the basics of the faith. He journeyed with me from simply knowing Jesus and knowing the Bible to living it out in powerful ways.

I first experienced missions under Jeff’s care. My heart was stirred in powerful lifelong, changing ways as I served the poor and broken. Because Jeff introduced me to missions, God used these opportunities to prepare me for future service and also helped propel others into ministry. Jeff’s influence was multiplied in my life and into others. He allowed me to join him in ministry. I felt as if I was an important part of “doing” ministry. He allowed me to witness much of what most of the students would not have seen in youth ministry. It was like an informal student leadership role.

Because of these experiences, I had a deep desire to pursue and succeed in youth ministry. Jeff was an amazing model and mentor developing me as a follower of Christ and encouraging me to pursue ministry when God called me to it.

President

I am currently working my way through Shane Claiborne’s book “Jesus for President”. This is the first book I’ve read of his and I find him quite interesting. Here are just a few quotes that have jumped off the page at me.

“…the church has fallen in love with the state and that this love affair is killing the church’s imagination”

“Mixing the church and the state is like mixing ice cream with manure. It may not do much to the manure, but it sure messes up the ice cream.”

“The political language (that Jesus used) doesn’t harmonize with the contemporary church project of “reclaiming America for God.” Precisely the opposite: Jesus was urging his followers to be the unique, peculiar, and set apart people that began with Abraham. He didn’t pray for the world in order to make governments more religious; he called Israel to be the light of the world–to abandon the way of the world and cultivate an alternative society in the shell of the old, not merely to be a better version of the kingdom of this world.”

“Jesus would make for a bad president. It’s hard to imagine Jesus wearing a “God Bless Rome” T-shirt and promoting his campaign with stickers and buttons and a 100 million dollar campaign…nevertheless, he was political…calling his Messiah or Lord is like acclaiming him-unlikely as it is-as president. He was the president who did not want to be president. His politics aspired to something different from state power.”

“Jesus taught a third way…This third way teaches that evil can be opposed without being mirrored…oppressors can be resisted without being emulated…enemies can be neutralized without being destroyed.”

I’m sure I’ll be adding more quotes from this book in the near future.

Saturday

More photos from Saturday. Thanks Lauren.

Ovation

A few weeks ago I saw this comic in the Detroit Free Press. I am happy to live in a country that is healing and moving past the ugliness of racism. The fact that Obama is a nominee for president is huge. No matter how you feel about McCain or Obama and their stances we all need to understand and honor the significance of these events.

Mike Thompson from the Detroit Free Press drew this comic and wrote these words below.

History is made

One hundred years ago this August, racial tensions in Springfield, Illinois reached a tipping point, sparking an ugly race riot that lasted two days. When the smoke cleared, hundreds had been wounded, numerous black-owned businesses and homes had been destroyed and seven people lay dead. The riot led directly to the creation of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

One hundred years later, an African American from the same state of Illinois has captured the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. Barrack Obama, who launched his presidential bid in Springfield, made history as the first African American to win the nomination of a major political party. The symbolism becomes richer when you consider that Springfield is the adopted hometown of President Abraham Lincoln, who led America through a bloody civil war to end the repulsive institution of slavery.

Rainbow

Shortly after everyone left our house on Saturday I looked outside and saw this over the lake.

Reunion

On Saturday we hosted the first Karbusicky family reunion. It was a beautiful day and a great time with family. The day included burgers, hot dogs, kayaks, tubing, bocce ball, horseshoes, croquet, great dessert, bingo, prizes, and much more. Here are a few pictures from the day.

$2

Two weekends ago Lyon Lake had their annual garage sales. Joanna, Aubrey and I made the loop around the lake. Joanna made a $2 purchase which I have fallen in love with. She bought a breadmaker.

This breadmaker alone is going to add the pounds on. We’ve already made two loaves of white bread and two coffee cakes.

Earlier this week Joanna and I made Calzones. I made fresh dough in the bread maker, grilled shrimp, green peppers, onion and topped it with a tomato based Vodka sauce. So good.

The two dollars was well spent.

Gladwin

This week Joanna, her mom, and Aubrey traveled to Gladwin to visit with family.

Aubrey and her great grandpa.

Aubrey and Betty

Aubrey, Grandma, and Great Grandpa

Aubrey and Aunt Mel

Wicked

I’m really excited. I just found out that we are going to see Wicked when it comes to Detroit early next year. It is a musical that I’ve wanted to see for years. I’ve been told it gives you a new perspective on The Wizard of Oz.

Mentors Part 2-Grandma Karbusicky

This post is part of a series of 12 posts. Click here to see the original post.

My grandma knew heartbreak and tragedy. Her daughter, 18, was killed by a drunk driver. At that point she cried out to God and committed her life to him. Over the years she helped lead many of her children and, also, her husband to Jesus. She was a great model to us. I remember Grandma having her Bible next to her chair with a devotional nearby. Also on top of her TV was a sculpture of praying hands. This is how I remember my Grandma. She was one who prayed for her family and was an early example in my life of someone who deeply loved Jesus. She followed in the footsteps of her mother who prayed for her and the generations who would come after that we would all know, love, and serve Jesus.

I do not recall many conversations with her, but I remember how she finished life, she finished well. Shortly after my Grandpa Karbusicky died of cancer, she was diagnosed with cancer. She spent many of her final days in the hospital. My grandma took advantage of those final days. She continued to love and care for her family, but she also shared her faith and shared Jesus with the nurses and doctors who cared for her. Many of them complimented her faith and attitude even as her body was failing her. To the very end of her life, she was a bold witness for Jesus even though she could have been bitter due to her sickness. I am challenged by her conviction, love for Jesus, and steadfast faith. She continues to shape me long after her life and death.