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Simon Says > Jesus Says I saw this video from Francis Chan about making disciples and it really hits home when he compares how most of us have all played "Simon Says" as a kid, but yet we think that when Jesus says all we need...

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Heart Check For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others...

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Keep Me Humble I occasionally publish notes on my YouVersion profile, but for some reason they don't always show up, so I will also post them here. After reading Luke 8:9-14 I decided to write a letter to God and...

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Merry Christmas 2010 This year seems to have flown by! I am not happy to see it end, but I am thrilled for 2011 to start. This past year I found myself in several interesting places ministry-wise. Many of you know that...

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My Light Will Shine This year I am taking the page from a friend of mine, Adam McLane, and I will not only be passing out candy for Halloween but I will also have some coffee and hot chocolate for the parents that are walking...

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Jan

03

2012

Simplify

Posted by Todd Porter | Comments : (0)

Category : Life

Tags:

According to Dictionary.com simplify means: to make less complex or complicated; make plainer or easier.

That is the word I want to mark 2012 with in my life. Last year I felt like time just flew by and I missed way too much. This year I am determining that I will make my life less complex. I am not exactly sure how to do it, but I have a few ideas. I think that simply I need to learn to say no more to things that will make my life complicated and yes to the things that will make my life plainer and easier.

It is going to be that simple, even if it will be hard.

Jun

29

2011

I Heart Summer Camp

Posted by Todd Porter | Comments : (0)

Category : Life, Student Ministry

Tags: , , , , , , ,

As I sit here at summer camp in my bathing suit getting ready to head over to the dunk tank, because one of the games involves directors and counselors getting dunked, I reflect on how full my heart is when I am at summer camp. Sure it is exhausting. You hardly get any sleep. But it is also one of the highlights of student ministry for me every year. I really LOVE summer camp!

I am a product of summer camp. If my parents hadn’t dragged me to summer camp I have no idea if I would be sitting here as a pastor to students today. It literally changed my life. It was at summer camp that I finally decided to turn my life over to God and accept Jesus as my leader and forgiver. It was at summer camp that I accepted the call God had for me to be a pastor. There is something about getting away from all the distractions that helps teens to be able to focus and hear God’s loving whisper speak to them.

It is here as I sit at summer camp that i realize how grateful I am for the man God placed in my life when I was a teenager, who was my youth pastor, mentor and dear friend. Dan Nagele invested so much into my life when I was a teen and showed me how much God loved me even though I was not the most lovable. I am so grateful for the years as I was a young adult that he poured his life into me. We had some great times together serving together at summer camps where he really taught me how to be a Christ follower and a pastor. There are so many memories over countless years at summer camp that I could go on and on forever.

These past two weeks the memories of those years at summer camp with Dan have caused me to reflect on how important it is to invest in the lives of people. Here in America we place much more emphasis on investing for our retirement that I think we miss out on the investment we need to place on people. Dan is reaping a harvest of untold numbers of lives, because of the investment he made in my life. The lives I have had the opportunity to touch are lives that he has touched through the investment he made in me. That is a reward that is literally out of this world.

This week our theme has been “Story”. The first night we talked about the preface to our stories and while the preface can influence our story we need to realize it is not our story. Last night we talked about how the chapters of our story are being written and that God wants us to be hero or heroine of the story. Tonight we will be talking about how ultimately we need to let God be the author of our stories and so we need to surrender the pen to Him. God wants to let us keep our books, but He wants to the pen so he can write an epic journey for us. Tomorrow evening I will be giving a talk the last night of camp that will center around the bibliography and how we need to look at the sources that we are allowing to influence our stories. Not only that but we need to look at how we are influencing other people’s stories.

My hope and prayer is that these junior high students this week will walk away deciding that they want their stories to be an epic journey. That they will choose the write kind of people to influence their stories and that they will do what they can to influence other people’s stories in a positive way. I am so grateful that I can cite Dan Nagele in the bibliography to my story. Thank you, Dan!

Jan

01

2011

Lookin’ Back and Lookin’ Ahead 2011 Edition

Posted by Todd Porter | Comments : (0)

Category : Fitness, Life

I am not big on the whole New Year resolution thing and instead prefer to set goals for myself. I have two categories of goals: personal/professional and fitness. First my personal/professional goals….

1) Grow in my knowledge of youth ministry through attending a couple of conferences and reading books.

2) Invest in the lives of teens so that they can invest in the lives of their friends. This happens not only personally, but when I also invest in the lives of adult volunteers who are investing in the lives of teens.

3) Do more to care for our planet (i.e. recycling, conserving energy, etc.)

4) To live my life in light of these deep and profound words…

My fitness goals….

1) Run a half marathon.

2) Participate in the Warrior Dash.

3) Keep running in 5Ks and 10Ks.

4) Run at least 250 miles in 2011.

Those are my goals. Do you have any?

Dec

31

2010

My Top Ten of 2010

Posted by Todd Porter | Comments : (0)

Category : Life

Here are the top ten things in my life from 2010:

  1. Kimmy and I celebrated 15 years of marriage.
  2. Our house in Michigan finally sold after 21 months. Thank you, Chase Bank and Kyle McKee for finally getting it done.
  3. I completed my first year as a full-time youth pastor and have the most amazing group of teens.
  4. My church got a new lead pastor after a year of not having one and we are so blessed to have Brad Mitchell.
  5. I went to Haiti on a mission trip and words can’t even describe how amazing and life changing that was.
  6. I got to see my first Michigan football game at the opponent’s stadium. I also went with 4 people see their very first Michigan football game.
  7. I went to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with my family and celebrated a green Christmas. (I have seen enough white one’s.)
  8. I ran 217.57 miles and 60.77 of them came in the month of January. (I am shooting for 250 in 2011 and a half marathon.)
  9. I scored my first ever goal in soccer after playing only the past two years.
  10. Most importantly… I have grown in my relationship with God and done my best to share His love and hope with others.

Mar

18

2010

Holy Anguish

Posted by Todd Porter | Comments : (0)

Category : Faith, Life

Tags: , , , ,

I was watching the Cornerstone Church podcast from September 13th, 2009 and Francis Chan quoted a verse that has been haunting me ever since. It was Romans 9:1-4 and I have read it many times before, but never really paid attention to what it said. This is what it says….

I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit—I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel.

Paul is saying that we need to have so much love for our neighbors that we wouldn’t care if we were eternally separated from Christ, which is exactly what hell is, as long as they were able to connect with God and have a relationship with Him. Sure we can say that we are trying to love God and love others, but are we willing to take that “loving others” to that kind of an extreme? Do we even ask God to give us the kind of sorrow and unceasing anguish that Paul talks about here?

I love my family very much and I would do anything for them. However, I have to be honest that I don’t know if I would go to the point of saying that I would rather be cut off from Christ for their sake if it was necessary. That is pretty hard core. That is one of those things, as Francis said in his message, that I am not sure if I could ever attain. That is the kind of love that Jesus pretty much had for us. That is intense.

Every time I read that passage lately or even think about it I am pretty much brought to tears. It is such an overwhelming thought and quite honestly it is a place that I would like to find myself moving towards. I think that if the church would grasp that kind of a love for others then we would really see revival happen in this country. However, I can’t worry about what other people are doing. I can only worry about my response to this.

Jan

05

2010

Lookin’ Back and Lookin’ Ahead 2010 Edition

Posted by Todd Porter | Comments : (0)

Category : Faith, Fitness, Fun, Life

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

I have had the same goals for the past three years and so I will re-post them again.

1) Do something about my job situation, whether that means a new job and forget ministry all together, or do something to get into ministry.

2) Do more to care for our planet (i.e. recycling, conserving energy, etc.)

3) To live my life in light of these deep and profound words…

Little did I know when I posted this list last year that part of my first goal would be answered for me when I was laid off from the company that I had worked at for almost 15 years. Not too mention the fact that the owner of the company is my dad. That is how bad the economy is in Michigan.

After that happened my wife and I literally saw it as an answer to prayer. So we decided that my full-time job would be to find a job in the ministry as a youth pastor. Not long after that happened we were flown down to College Station, TX to interview with a church down there. That didn’t pan out for us but we had asked God all along during this almost 5 year process to close the doors we were not supposed to walk through and open the one we were. Almost 7 months after getting laid off we finally walked through that door and move down here to Liberty Township, OH so that I can take the job as youth pastor at The River Church.

I am so happy to take that one off of my list of goals.

My wife and I continue to recycle and we are hoping that we can encourage our church to do the same thing. It feels so good knowing that we are not being as wasteful and that we are doing our part to care for the planet that God has given us to care for.

Not only do I feel that this is something that I continually grow in, but I also am spreading that same message to the teenagers that God has given me the opportunity to pastor. I believe that if Christ-followers can grasp a hold of that concept that we will be able to have a greater impact in our country and world.

I had set three fitness last year as well….

1) To run a 10K.

2) To continue working towards competing in a mini-triathlon.

3) I plan on running in several more 5K’s again this year.

I ran in my first 10K when I ran in the Nike Human Race 10K, which was run by myself and then I uploaded my run to my Nike+ account. I then ran in my first 10K with a group of people on Thanksgiving Day when I participated in the 100th Annual Thanksgiving Day Race here in Cincinnati. My goal was to finish it under one hour and I did. I was very happy.

With the move down here I was not able to participate in the mini-triathlon like I had hoped to, but perhaps I will see about doing one this summer. The only problem will be trying to find a place to work on the swimming.

I did run in a couple of more 5K’s and hope to continue doing that. I am also hoping to help one of my youth pastor friends run in his first ever 5K.

Did you make resolutions or goals? If so, share some with me.

Nov

03

2009

Are We Being That Light?

Posted by Todd Porter | Comments : (3)

Category : Faith, Life

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Or are we hiding our light? Check out this passage in Matthew 5:14-16 (TNIV) – “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

As Christ-followers we are called to be a light to our world. The question we should always be asking ourselves is that if what we are doing is being a light to those around us? Or in essence, “am I doing what I can to let people see Christ in me and through me?” Or are we putting our light under a bowl?

One of the things that bugs me as a Christ-follower is that we have to have a “Christian” alternative for everything. Just do a simple Google search for “Christian MySpace” or “Christian Facebook” and you will find that there are a half dozen or more of these alternatives to Facebook and MySpace (do people still even use MySpace?). There was also an alternative to YouTube called GodTube, which is now Tangle.

ChristianTwitterToday, I just found out that someone created a so called Christian alternative to Twitter. It is called Christian Chirp and it even labels itself as “The Christian Alternative to Twitter”. Maybe they should have just gone ahead and labeled itself “The Place Where Christians Can Put Their Light Under a Bowl”.

I am really tired of people in the church finding new ways to hide from or take themselves out of the the world, because they are afraid of being influenced negatively by the world. But that is not what the Bible tells us to do. Check out John 17:15 (TNIV) – “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”

I am thinking that as Christ-followers we should have the same prayer as Jesus and instead of trying to constantly finding ways to remove ourselves from the world, that we would find ways that we can be that light to the world. We need to pray and ask God to protect ourselves from the evil one and trust that He will do His part while we go and do our part to be that light in the world that we are supposed to be a part of.

I believe that all of these Christian alternatives that we create are showing our complete lack of faith in God. And I believe that in some small ways that we are even setting ourselves up to be bigger then Him by doing this. If we don’t believe that He can keep us safe then we are really taking over the reins of our life and kicking God out of the driver seat. I am not saying that this gives us the right to make foolish decisions, but I am saying that we don’t need to wrap ourselves up in bubble wrap, because we are so fearful of the big, bad world. God will honor the prayer of the faithful asking Him to protect them.

I am choosing to not be a part of those things because I don’t want to hide my light under a bowl and I would rather set my light up as high as possible for everyone to see. I hope that through my life other people will see the love, mercy, grace and forgiveness of God. I want God’s kindness to show through me, so that others will be led to repentance.

Oct

20

2009

Wedding Ring

Posted by Todd Porter | Comments : (0)

Category : Life

Tags: ,

I saw this video recently and thought it was pretty cool. I don’t know if it is true or not, but I like it anyway.

Oct

07

2009

Living Life to the Fullest

Posted by Todd Porter | Comments : (3)

Category : Faith, Life

I just recently found out that someone that I love and care for very deeply will be losing her battle with cancer soon. Her name is Loretta and she is the wife of the man who was my youth pastor growing up. These two people have meant the world to me and have invested so much into my life. I feel in many ways that I am losing a parent. Dan & Loretta have loved me and cared for me in so many ways. Words just can’t describe the feeling that I have for them.

What can you really say or do for someone who has meant so much to you and done so much for you? The words “thank you” just seem so trite and meaningless. These two people invited me into their home when my parent’s were gone away on vacation, so that I wouldn’t have to alone and get myself into trouble. They invited me into their lives so that I could see how to live as a godly person. They invited me into their marriage so that I could learn how to be a good husband for my wife. They invited me into their ministry so that I could learn how to be a good pastor when I became one. They invited me into their hearts so that I could learn that I would always be loved no matter who I was or what I became.

I know that I am not the only person that they have touched and I know that I won’t be the last. However, how do you honor a person who has done so much and meant so much to you, like Loretta has? I think that the best way that you can do that is to live your life to the fullest. To live your life in such a way that you give your everything for the glory of God and to live your life passionately for Him. I think that is the best way that one can honor a person who has meant so much to you.

Pew PlaqueThat is what I intend to do. Not only that but I know that Dan and Loretta’s legacy will live on, because every life that God has given me the honor of touching will have been touched by Dan and Loretta as well. That is the beauty and legacy of every Christ-follower. It is not having a plaque on the back of a pew or the carpeting that is purchased from the generous donation left to the church in your will. It is the joy of leaving behind lives who have been touched, because you cared enough to love and invest in their lives. The question for you is what are you going to do to honor the lives of the people who have touched your life? What kind of mark will you leave behind? Will be a stupid brass plaque or will it be lives touched?

Sep

07

2009

Someone Pinch Me

Posted by Todd Porter | Comments : (3)

Category : Church, Faith, Family, Life, Sports, Student Ministry

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

pinchmeWow! I can’t believe that it has been almost a month since we moved down here to Cincy. We came down here to a house full of new friends ready to help us unpack. We quickly got everything unloaded from the truck and then was able to enjoy some delicious food made by a family at our new church. Even the next day we had another meal that a family from our church provided for us. It really helped us to feel very welcomed into our new community and home.

The week that we moved down here our new church was doing vacation Bible school. That gave us a great opportunity to meet some people at the church and to see people in action. It was neat to see people helping one another out and serving.

The church found me a great place to have for my office. I found a nice desk at Ikea as well. And despite the fact that we have gone there quite a bit since we moved down I insist that I am not addicted. :) However, I must admit that I was thrilled when I saw that there was an Ikea only 15 minutes from our new house.

Speaking of our new house, I am still in awe of how amazing it is that we have found such a great home in a very nice neighborhood. We are only 5 minutes from the church’s building and close to the kid’s schools. My daughter has a friend in her grade that also goes to our church only 2 doors down from us. My son has slowly began to make friends, which is a good thing because he really misses all of his buddies from our old neighborhood. It is nice to have a house where people can come visit and we can also have a group of about 20 parents come over. Our landlord is very nice as well.

I have already started making friends with some of the local youth pastors and they are a greta group of guys. They had organized the Unight Event before I came down, which was an amazing time for the teens to sing songs to God, listen to an amazing speaker named E.J. Swanson and then walk around Lakota East High School so that they could pray for their school and friends. How cool is that? I look forward to getting to know these guys better and seeing the amazing things that God can do.

We are also blessed to have an amazing group of elders at our church who are helping steer the ship while our church looks for a new senior pastor. Yes, you read that right. Our senior pastor resigned last week. I have been assured that my job is safe and that the elders believe that I am the man for the job. So during this time of transition the elders are going to be sharing the load and making sure that the church keeps moving forward. It is so peaceful to us knowing that God has entrusted this church with these five very competent men. The ship may be rocking in this storm, but knowing that Jesus is there in the boat is bringing us peace.

I am also in shock over how good the Michigan Wolverines did this past Saturday. They played a very good Western Michigan University football team and beat them soundly. I am looking forward to seeing what they can do when the Irish come to visit on Saturday. It is always a good rivalry game.

Last year, Michigan lost to all 3 of their biggest rivals for the first time ever and I don’t see that happening again this year. It was nice to see them win their opening game for the first time in 2 years and I hope that this year we can maybe also win our last game of the season for the first time in a long time. My prediction is that they will go 8-4 this season. GO BLUE!!!

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