Jeff's Reflections

Good times at Woodmen Valley

I led worship this past weekend at a neat church here in the Springs--Woodmen Valley Chapel.  They have 2 services Sat pm and 2 Sunday a.m., at 2 campuses.  I led at one with a worship band.  It was a wild technological experience--they link up both sites and go back and forth throughout the service--some songs I led, at both sites-- live or via-satellite, and I support-led other songs when the worship leader from the OTHER site led some at both campuses...and both bands played along for all the songs!  It was pretty crazy but they do it all the time and it works!

At the Glen I usually lead worship by myself, so it was fun to work with a great team of musicians...and I was glad to have the chance to lead at a neat church in town. 

Benefit Concert for Joel Menzel

Last week I had an amazing few days in Austin, TX at Concordia University.  I led a worship concert/cd release party for a dear friend, Joel Menzel.  Joel was a student at Concordia, and a friend to my whole family when we lived in Ft. Worth.  He was a budding worship leader and songwriter, and we spent alot of time together with music and ministry.  He was killed in a car accident last spring at the age of 19--a horrible loss for all of us.  Joel had begun recording a c.d., and a team of us finally pulled it all together and the concert last Wednesday was the 1st time they were available for sale. 

It was a moving, worshipful, amazing, and tough night.  I loved spending time with great musicians and people from Concordia, and getting to see excellent people from St. Paul Lutheran again who came for the night.  We sang a number of Joel's songs--a definite highlight for me.  I'm so thankful his parents, Win and Kathy, asked me to put it together and be a part of it.  And I can't wait to worship with Joel in heaven!

The c.d.s are being sold for $10 and all the proceeds go to scholarship students who want to go into full-time ministry.  A great cause!  If you want to order 1, or 20, contact the Menzel's at JOEL'S CD . 

Back to Guatemala

Patti and I had an amazing trip to Guatemala in mid-March. We led the Spiritual Emphasis Week at the school we taught at in the 1st year of our marriage, the Inter-American School of Xela. It was Patti's 1st time back since we left in 2001--the 4th graders she had taught are now 10th graders, so it was great for her to see them again.
We lead chapels for K-12 graders, then some of us went on a 3 day retreat with the 6-12 graders. It was like camp---we led meeting times with music, games, skits, and God-talks, and we all had students in our rooms. I loved hanging out with a group of 11th grade musical and fun guys in my room. We had prayed alot, because these kids had heard it all about God, and most were pretty numb and indifferent to their understanding of God. It's a good challenge to just try to be faithful to love them well, speak the truth, and trust God to bear fruit. We did see some neat breakthroughs--some kids opened up, and we got to hear and see that God is definitely at work.
Just being back in Guatemala was a great blessing--the wild beauty, the sites and sounds and smells, Lake Atitlan, the colors in the blankets and clothes...We loved it! And we got to spend 2 days at our favorite orphanage, which had moved to an amazing cliff over-seeing Lake Atitlan--incredible view. But the best view was the over 70 kids we got to hold and hug and play with. Patti and I feel that it's inevitable that we will adopt from there, some day.
It was great spending the trip with the Davis family from Ft. Worth and the Roses--our friends that taught with us there back in 2000-01. We hope to go back some day soon, and eventually take Ben and Genna with us. Pray for Guatemala, and seek chances to serve--in and out of the country.