FBCLarry

I went for a ride on Tuesday evening.  It was a nice little ride.  The temperature was just right to wear the jacket and hold down the bugs.  I took a spin down Hwy 32 toward Stockton, MO.  I went down to Masters Landing to see what was new.  What was new was how much the water was up.  This is a picture of the road to the fishing dock by the swiming area.  As you can see the parking lot is under water, alot of water.

I found it a beautiful sight.  There was very few boats out and the cove was dead calm.  It was easy to hear God and do some thinking in such a lovely spot.  I guess the lake is full and since I just came back from El Salvador, I am too.

Picture 1 is our server space before the move and the center and right picture are the after picture.  We where able to make a new secure room for our church servers by taking eight feet from a classroom.  We now have a locked and air conditions space for our servers.  Meet the servers from left to right.  Box 1 is our smoothwall firewall.  Box 2 is our Domain control.  Box 3 is the work horse data server and vm server.   The vast expanse of open playwood is for future growth and a later telephone project.

Ok, I have been planing with twitter over the past couple of months.  I am starting to see the value of the service.  It is great for quick updates on where I am or what I should be doing.  It was really handy on my last quick trip to Colorado.  twitter - I am stuck on I-70 in a snow storm.   twitter - Safe at the hotel.

I could also see some benefit for use at church.  twitter - the sermon sunday is…..  twitter - college supper is …

I don’t know.  I just love finding ministry uses for emerging technology.

Oh, if you want to follow me - lstehr on twitter.

Warning it is habbit forming.

Life at FBC is moving at a very rapid rate for me.  But safety and securing have been on my mind with my “back burner” projects.  However, a couple of those projects are slowly moving to the light of day.  Here are the current horse race of projects that are in the lead.

Project #1 - Preschool Move (bad baptist word) and Security

My friend Amy D (Interim Childrens Minister) is close to consolidating our preschool on to two floors and dealing with the congestion in our preschool hall.  The solution is a mix of moving some classes, new furniture, new security doors and a computer check in system.  When it comes together it will be a sweet project.  This project is in the lead for going from idea to touching lives.

Project #2 - Server Room

As the IT man for the church (lot of help from Robert, Russ, and other volunteer brain trust members) we have been on a search for a secure, climate controlled, limited access location for our growing infrastructure needs.  It seems it may be possible to take part of a little used room and add a wall, and poof - space for a server room that should last us for a good while.  The nice thing - out of site and out of mind.

Project #3 - Asterisk Server

The leased Nortel is showing it’s age in features, function and size.  If three things come together moving to an internally managed phone server would be a reality.  If we have a place for the server (server room), if we can wirelessly like our remaining two buildings (prices are dropping for hardware) and we organize the team of people to pull wire, patch things together it is a done deal and will save the church some cash down the road.

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Originally uploaded by lstehr

It does not seem possible, but I have been part of the ministry staff at FBC Bolivar for the past ten years. I always celebrate my ministry anniversary on the first Sunday of March, since my first Sunday at FBC was in March of 1998.

I would like to thank a couple of friends for not letting the day pass without fanfare. Amy D. and Amy B. you made my day. Thanks for making a special effort to make me feel special.

I have spend the past ten years as the youth minister to with a fantastic youth group that has helped shape my faith and life. I have 1000’s of pictures and 1000 times the memories.  I have also been blessed to work with some fantastic youth leaders and parents. They have made the journey enjoyable and productive.  The experience with the staff of FBC Bolivar has been a wonderful time of growth and adventure in my life.

Now, I begin the transition to Young Adult Pastor at FBC. I am excited about what the next 10 years will bring. To God be the glory…

I guess I should put up some fancy graphic. I guess that would make it more visually interesting. I will go on a search for an OBU logo and and SBU logo. Today is more about being a proud parent than logos.

Jake, junior history major and soccer player, is doing well at OBU both academically and athletically. Luke did his college visit to SBU today and will be a Bearcat in the fall of 2008.

I think what I am most proud of is the decision making process that has lead both Jake and Luke to follow God directives for their lives.

Well, today is the day.  This morning the announcement will be made that I have accepted the position of Young Adult Pastor at FBC.   I am very excited about the new opportunities that God has placed before me.  I am looking forward to working with adult in the 18 to mid 30’s at Frist Baptist and in Bolivar.  

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Originally uploaded by lstehr

The “big box” that the motorcycle was shipped in has been converted to a couple of knockdown bookshelves for college. While the bookshelves look recycled from a shipping crate, they provided a day of great fun. I am sure they will prove themselves useful for holding some amount of books and things in Jake’s college apartment and Luke’s future dorm room, the great benefit was the father/son time.

You see, between the noise of hammering and sawing shared bits of life and wisdom. We worked together to make decision and design changes. Maybe that is the really value of the bookshelves. Decisions where made and wisdom was passed. In that process I am sure that a deeper respect for each others talents and gifts where gained. That is a great value. A great value to me anyway.

You have to love a father/son project and time to love and share.

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Originally uploaded by lstehr

Well, the big box has finally made the trip from New Hampshire, to Boston, to Cleveland, to St. Louis to Bolivar. After what seems like a hundred screws the shipping crate is open and the contents revealed.

The contents, one 2002 Yamaha 650 Classic (deep blue and black). After a trip to the gas station for gas. A trip to the parts store for oil. Then a little trip around the block wearing my new leather jacket (a very nice gift from my wife) and my black helmet. I am sure i look so “biker”.

The first trip on the new bike was to the post office to mail my taxes. I had to come home and get some more clothes for a ride down town. It is only about 35 degrees here in Bolivar today.

I think the box is significant. As we grow older we allow people to define a box of us. We become all to accepting of the box to the point it defines us. Today, I pulled out a drill with a screw bit and opened the box. I put on a leather jacket and took a ride in the winter sun. Older, sure. Wiser, I hope. But, I took a ride the the heart of a high school guy with a bike…