It's been an amazing sequence: Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ivan. One coming right after the other in rapid succession.

I've felt like that at times. Have you? The hard winds of adversity and challenge striking one right after another in rapid succession.

The good news that encouraged me today was from Romans 12:18, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

Isn't it great to have the shelter of Jesus when the hard winds blow?

Along with countless millions, we have been captivated by "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" in the Olympics. One thing that strikes me is that these finely tuned athletes train to have their peak performance at the Olympics. They strive to achieve their personal best at the right time.

Through out July and August, we have been sharing a series of messages on The Prayer>>> The Lord's Prayer. It seems to me that we are in a season of ministry when there is a significant need for more intense prayer and intercession. Here's why:

1) We are in a new chapter of ministry with the declination of Calls by Pastor Dion, the conclusion of internship by our Jason Scheler, and the Call and acceptance of the Call by Pastor Rob.
2) We are heading into a new school year.
3) Our local environment is racked by economic bad news and a messed up Detroit political situation.

Summer relaxation provides ample time to enjoy a good book. Well, St. Matthew is a good book of God's writing. It sure seems as if we are entering a new chapter.

This new chapter is signaled by the Call declinations by Pastor Dion and the Call and arrival of Pastor Rob. It is also marked by a realignment of ministry responsibilities among senior staff members.

So, what will the new chapter contain? I don't know. But that's part of the adventure and anticipation of a good book. And that is true all the more so, when God is writing it.

Have you ever heard the saying: "The tension was so thick you could feel it in the air"?

One of St. Matthew's core values is this: God has called St. Matthew to partner with Him in passing on the passion for Jesus to the next generation. That core value is lived out in a variety of ways including Nursery, Children's Messages, Children's Church, Kids Praise, Family Room, Connex Zone, Hearts and Hands Child Development Center, School ministry, Middle School Ministry, Senior High Ministry, and Family Ministry.

Wow! I can't put into words the thrill of sharing Jesus with an enormous tent full of people. Once again God provided a "window" of no rain so that people could gather under the big top for worship and family fun. It makes me grateful just to be part of a people so anxious to partner with God in touching human lives with Christ!

Thanks to all the volunteers who worked on our Power Lab Bible Adventure Camp (VBS), Wii tournaments, movie night, car show, outdoor worship and church picnic!

God has led Pastor Rob Nelson to accept the Divine Call to join our team as Associate Pastor at our Wixom campus. At this point we are working out the details of his installation/start date. His wife is Nicki. They have two boys, Gus and Felix. Here is what he writes:

Dear Members of St. Matthew Lutheran Church,

Do you do "dumb" things? I do. Not because I want to. I don't. I'm not talking about your average "mistake because you were in a hurry" thing. I'm talking about a major "what was I thinking" thing, a foolish thing, like putting the reds in the washer with the whites. I'm talking about the kind of thing that you are embarrassed to even think about, let alone tell someone.

Several of us are reading a book entitled, "Half Time," by Bob Buford. It points out that in the first half of our lives we are consumed by career, marriage, and family. It is a matter of survival and seeking to achieve success. But somewhere around that infamous 40th birthday (give or take a few years), we realize that much of what we've poured our lives into isn't as satisfying or meaningful as we thought it would be. There begins the search not for success, but significance...for doing something that matters...for doing what God created us to do and being what God created us to be.