State Street Community Church
Friends
Why I like the Gregs
Aug 9th
Yesterday at State Street, our worship leader (Greg Clark) introduced a new song that he and another one of our worship team members (Greg Weiler) wrote. It’s a song called Need This Moment. It really got me excited because I love that they used their talents and gifts to step outside of the box to write their own music. It’s a good song and they put a lot of themselves into writing it. As their pastor, there’s nothing that makes me happier when they flourish in the space that God has given them.
I really like the Gregs. Greg Weiler is in his 50′s (doesn’t look a day older than 49 though) and Clark is in his 20′s. They’ve been able to transcend generational boundaries and they’ve become good friends. Outside of the Church, I don’t know if you’d see these guys with the friendship that they have. But, with the common bond of Christ (and a mutual love of music), they were able to collaborate on something beautiful and meaningful to them (and to others). This is one of many reasons why I love State Street. Multiple generations from different social realities and makeups are willing to collaborate their creativity to produce kingdom results. Yesterday was a day (like many others) that I was really grateful to be a part of the State Street community.
Timshel
Feb 23rd
I have some friends who have recently went through something terrible. Their lives are filled with grief, confusion, and sadness. I hurt for them. I remember the times in my life that were marked with loss and sadness. Though these valleys always seem like lush farming ground for the handiwork of God, there is no getting around the emotions and realities that these situations bring with them. I pray for my friends daily and take comfort in the restoring power of Christ.
After my mother died in 1997, I remember the overwhelming sense of abandonment that accompanied my loss. At 15 years old, the role a mother plays in a son’s life can only truly be understood fully when the mother exits his life. It’s at that point that you get a sense of how unprepared and ill-equipped you can be without the tutelage and loving guidance of our moms.
I’ve been thinking a lot about grief and how the church can walk along people during difficult times. If there’s one thing that grieving people do not need, it’s the well-intentioned but often unhelpful axioms that we’ve come to expect; “It’s all a part of God’s plan” “God’s in control” “It will be alright in time.” There’s nothing inherently wrong with those statements in theory but, in practice, they do very little for the griever but minimize the grief with expressions.
My latest musical obsession is an English folk/bluegrass band called Mumford & Sons. On their latest album, they have a beautiful song called Timshel (which is a great Hebrew word study… but that’ll come later…). When I heard the song, it reminded me of something that gave me comfort during my time of grief (and I hope it gives comfort to those struggling reading this). Here’s a lyrical section of the song…
And death is at your doorstep
And it will steal your innocence
But it will not steal your substance
But you are not alone in this
And you are not alone in this
As brothers we will stand and we’ll hold your hand
Hold your hand
I remember it like it was yesterday (though it was actually in 1997). A friend came up to me and with a sense of sincerity that couldn’t be faked and told me, “Nate, I just want you to know that I really have no words for what you’re going through but I want you to know that I’m here for you whenever you need me.” My friend wasn’t a trained counselor and I could tell that he truly didn’t know any words that would accomodate the situation. There was no trying to fix my grief or trying to give advice to help expedite the sadness that my soul felt. It was just an invitation for community. “I’m here. You’re not alone.”
There are literally hundreds of verses in scripture about loving each other and community but my favorite is a small and to-the-point one in Romans. “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
In times of crises…
grief…
sadness…
loss…
illness…
joy…
celebration…
…what if we looked at it as an opportunity to live out the calling that God has put on His church; be devoted in your love for each other and honor each other. Suffer with each other. Sit with each other. Be sad with each other. Grieve with each other. Devote your life to each other. Let each other know that “you are not alone in this.“ That’s when the church becomes the Church. There’s a very real and beautiful power in community.
Update on Haiti
Jan 13th
Since many people have called/emailed/facebook’d me about what’s going on in Haiti, I thought I’d compile all the information that we have here.
As all should know by now, Haiti was rocked by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake. Haitian Support Ministries, an organization very close to my heart, is located in Jacmel, Haiti (on the very southern edge of the island). From what I can gather from the news, outside of Port-au-Prince, Jacmel is the area that was hit the hardest. The head of the ministry and pastor of Calvary Christian Church, Jean Claude Pierre, lives right outside of Jacmel with his wife and two youngest children. The Pierre’s oldest son, Lewis, is currently in Port-au-Prince in his last year of high school (preparing to come to the States for college).
We have not heard from any of the Pierre family yet. As devastating as the earthquake was to the buildings, you can only imagine what it has done to the telecommunications sector of Haiti. We were able to contact a woman in Jacmel through Facebook that lives in Jacmel. According to her pastor (who knows Pastor Jean Claude), they believe that the church/orphanage may be one of the many buildings that collapsed. She couldn’t tell us with absolute certainty but that’s what she was hearing. I’ve spent hours tonight looking through pictures of Facebook, Twitter, and the various news sites hoping to get a glimpse of the church and orphanage(s). I haven’t had any luck yet.
Mark Stuart, who was formerly in the band Audio Adrenaline, is in Jacmel, Haiti right now. This was the email he sent out earlier:
Hi everyone….
Our internet is working finally. So I’m sending this to a few of you….
Everyone here is ok, but we are all very scared. The buildings held up great, but there are several houses right around us that have collapsed. Also, Hotel Cyvadier had major damage, while the brand new three story “peace of mind” hotel was demolished. Francine, one of our teenage nannies was in afternoon school and escaped while the building was collapsing around her because she was sitting by the door…however many of her classmates died yesterday. Many houses and and buildings have collapsed in Jacmel including the hospital. I know most of the news there is coming from PAP, but there is substantial loss of life here on the south coast. We need prayer for wisdom and strength. Its very chaotic here. We were able to buy diesel this morning and hopefully get more propane for cooking tomorrow. Last night was crazy…slept on the dirt in the center of the village…away from the buildings. Tonight we may venture back indoors, but that is yet to be decided. We go in and out to get necessities. The Haitian people are numb and sad to say very used to death, but this has created what seems to be a hypnotic state. I’ve never been in a situation were you feel SO helpless, fearful, and small. The tremors are coming again as i type this. Whoa!!!
Mark
– everyone
mark stuart
What can you do to help? You can go to the Haitian Support Ministries website and donate online or send in a check. If the damage in Haiti is anything like what the American media is making it out to be, there will be a lot of reconstruction and rebuilding that needs to happen (physically, emotionally, spiritually, structurally, etc.).
You can also continue to be in prayer over this situation. It pains me to think about the devastation and lives lost in Haiti. This is the time for the church to step up and be the church. As the Gospel of Matthew writes, “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
I will be updating this blog as I know more.
5 Greatest Spiritual Influences on My Life: the MBC
May 5th
My friends mean a lot to me. My siblings will tell you that I’ve always been quite sociable and rarely in need of friends. That might be a bit of a stretch but the truth is that I really, really value community. If I can do something with someone else, I am happy. The Monday Breakfast Crew is a group of six stately young men who meet together every Monday, rain or shine, to do life together. We first met while students at Bethel College and we’ve maintained a close relationship ever since. If you’ve followed my blog for any significant time, you’ve likely heard me brag on or reference these guys. They’re a very important part of my life.
I discovered a long time ago that I am an excellent procrastinator. If I can do it tomorrow, I’ll do it tomorrow. To prevent me from falling to far into Procrastinatorville, I have put different measures in my life that help me be productive. In my work life, I call this my schedule. In my personal life I call this prioritizing my fatherly/husbandly responsibilities. In my spiritual life, I call this spiritual disciplines. If I don’t pray regularly, I’m off. If I don’t meditate on Scripture regularly, I’m off. If I’m not in community regularly with individuals that challenge and stretch me, I’m off. When I spend a few hours every Monday morning talking about life with five guys that know me very well, there’s some sense of dynamic spiritual connectedness that charges me. It’s community and I believe it’s what we’ve been created to be members of.
The MBC has six members (as stated above); myself, Ashley Swanson, Jason Miller, Andrew Deselm, David Cramer, and Seth Bartlette. If I had to break it down into strengths, I would say that Ashley is the discerning one, Dave is the intellectual, Andrew is the humorous one, Jason is the thinker, and Seth is the visionary. All of us have very different lives (one of us has a child and one is going to be a dad in a few months, four of us are married, four of us work at a church but all in different positions, three of us have advance degrees, etc.) yet the community that ia forged through sharing what life has thrown at us and the oneness we have in Christ. I’m blessed to call them friends and spiritual influences in my life.
5 Greatest Spiritual Influences on My Life
Apr 20th
This week I’m going to talk about the 5 greatest spiritual influences in my life. These are the people that have helped shape me into the flawed but hopeful person that I am today. Without them, I can’t say for sure where I’d be. With them, however, I know that I’ve gained more than I’ve given.
I believe in accountability and mentorship. Though I’ve been in vocational ministry in some way for almost 10 years, I feel like there are doors that open all the time that I don’t have the proper education or experience to navigate. So, throughout this week, for better or worse, you’ll read about the people that have helped shape my spirituality.
5 Greatest Spiritual Influences on My Life: My Family
Apr 20th
I was 17 when I decided I wanted to be a pastor. Whether it was a “calling” or a spiritual high from being at a youth camp, I’m not sure. But, I remember calling my dad and uncle to inform them of my decision and I was greeted with the same response, “Well, Nate, we knew you were going to be a pastor your whole life.” How they knew, I’m not sure. But, they knew (and, quite honestly, it really squelched my excitement in telling them my news).
There’s a few experiences and specific people that I can remember very vividly and their influence speaks very loudly to me still today. Some of these experiences that I remember:
|| the time my Grandma Peterson gave me encouragement to explore Scripture. I was 13. She said, “You know, Nate, the Bible has all kinds of information that we should all follow.” My grandmother grew up in church and is certainly a very spiritual person but hasn’t attended a church in many years (even when she gave me that advice in the mid-90′s). But, that permission from someone I love was important to me.
|| the time my uncle Jay asked me to “help” him. I was a very opinionated junior in college and my uncle had just started his transition from being a plumber-to-pastor (not the most traditional of ways to being a pastor, I suppose). Most of my classes in college to this point were the basic liberal arts classes (psychology, intro-to-whatever, etc.) and I surely didn’t know much about leadership yet he wanted ME to “help” him. It was if God spoke through him and said, “I believe in you.” Incredible moment for me.
|| the ambulance had just took my mother away. Though we didn’t know it in that moment, but she had just passed away from this life into the next. My dad, who had been the traditional 2-weekends/month and 2-weeks out the summer divorced father, had picked my sister and I up at our house in Rolling Prairie (we didn’t know he was about to be the sole parent/provider for my siblings and I). We were on our way to the hospital to get the unfortunate news about my mother when he stopped in the middle of the road and prayed with us. We hadn’t been very serious “church goers” but it was a moment I’ll never forget. I’ve never prayed for something with as my fervor as I did that night.
Even today I have some of the best conversations about faith and religion with my brother Ryan. I admire my sister Heather’s faith through the many trials that she’s went through in the last few years. I’ve always admire the way my brother Brandon wants to take care of those that are hurting. My Grandpa Loucks has the best oneliners about God/faith that could only come from someone who has walked through life with and without Hope. I’m grateful for my family and how they’ve stretched me spiritually. Without them, I’m not sure I’d be in the place I’m at today.
Pray for the Prenkert’s
Feb 8th
Robby Prenkert was a professor of mine at Bethel. His brother, Derry, is a pastor (and a good friend to many friends of mine) at Nappanee Missionary Church. Instead of trying to rehash what has happened to their family this weekend, I’ll just quote Derry’s blog…
So many questions are hovering and there’s been enough traffic on this blog that I wanted to give a brief update.
My dad, Kip, was in an accident Friday about a half mile from his house. He was the only person in the car. He suffered serious head trauma. The next 24 hours included enough reports and twists and turns that could fill a twenty posts.
After some tough turns for the worse yesterday afternoon, We were were informed last night that all signs are outwarldy pointed toward him being brain dead. The neurologist will be here this early afternoon to give us a more definitive assessment. We have taken the past 12-14 hours with the approach to be prepared to let go, but at the same time be praying for a miracle.
My brothers and their wives are here with my mom. There has been awesome support and prayer from extended family, friends and church.
Dad is a follower of Christ.
He’s an awesome husband, father, and grandfather. We want him around and healthy. At the same time, we know that no matter the outcome, he will be restored.I preached it two weeks ago… and we’re claiming in trust right now.
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
My prayers (and hopefully yours) are will the Prenkerts during this difficult time.
Welcome to the new nateloucks.com!
Feb 5th
I’ve been blogging for a few years. My blog has always been a place to keep my thoughts, communicate ideas, and to create community amongst friends. It was becoming increasingly evident that my former blog wasn’t the most suitable place to further that agenda. So, here we are.
The new nateloucks.com has a few main pages of interest:
- About: just a little (quite literally) about yours truly
- Music: some of the music I’m passionate about. My “best of…” lists are on this page w/ links to some of the music.
- Media: any videos that I make for Nora/Ema is put on this page. Our Romanian family might be interested in that page.
- Books: books that I enjoy or have impacted my life significantly.
- more to come in the future, I’m sure.
Please take a look around, subscribe to the RSS, and join the conversation that is sure to take place. Welcome!
Link Love: the LCers
Dec 17th
// THE LCers //
April Milam
Krysta Bordner
Amy Purtha
Gary Davis
Jim Conlin
Jodi Sheeler
Lamb’s Chapel isn’t really a blogging church. We’re probably more of a facebook church if we were forced to align with any social media trend. I like it when people from the LC blog. I find it’s a way to dive deeper into community without having to wait until a weekend worship experience or a small group meeting. Anytime one of these people updates their blog, I get excited. They’re great people and I’m blessed to be connected with them.
April Milam: April and I have known each other for many years. She and her husband Shawn (and daughter Gabby) have been good friends to Ema and I over the years. April works at a library and, possibly consequentially, is a terrific writer. She also teaches a preschool class on Sunday morning.
Krysta Bordner: Krysta moved to bright and sunny LaPorte, IN a few years ago from Orange County, California. She helps lead music on the weekend and does a magnificient job heading up our young adult community group 2:42. I appreciate the friendship she has with my wife and the love she shows my daughter.
Amy Purtha: Amy started coming to LC when we had our young adult Saturday night service a few years ago. She brought with her some very cool girls affectionately known by the staff as, “the girls”. Amy might one day (if she plays her cards right) be in the same family as April (she’s dating April’s brother Mike). She’s involved with our student ministry. Amy is always an encouragement to me. Great gal.
Gary Davis: Gary has been at LC for less than a year. But, in his time, has been a great resource for me and has challenged my thinking about community and growth. Gary is married to the former Trista Todd and is also getting ready to go to boot-camp in May. I’m grateful that Gary and Trista are at Lamb’s Chapel. It’ll be a sad day when he leaves in May. Gary also plays drums for the weekend worship band.
Jim Conlin: Like Gary, Jim plays drums for our weekend worship band. Jim and I were once in a band called comewhatmay. We rocked out in that terrible-high-school-garage-band-will-girls-notice-us way. He’s married to THE Erin Conlin and has three lovely children; Ethan, Jaz, and Dylan. Jim’s a good friend and my resident know-everything-about-Mac’s guy.
Jodi Sheeler: Unlike the rest of the bunch, Jodi attends our upstairs service. She has two extraordinary boys that bring a smile to my face every time I see them on Sunday. It’s fun to read Jodi’s thoughts and to enjoy her boys’ experiences vicariously through the blog.
If I forgot any LCer’s blog (that is regularly writing), please let me know. There’s a good chance I did.
Link Love: the MBC
Dec 16th
Every Monday since time began, I’ve met with a group of guys. In the beginning we would meet for lunch then we became adults and decided to switch our regular meeting time to the morning. We talk church, music, theology, politics, and experience life together. Four of us are pastors, one of us is a professor, and the other is Andrew.
Seth Bartlette: Seth is the pastor of student ministries at a really great church in Mishawaka, IN called St. Mark’s Missionary. Seth is married to Nikki and graduated from Bethel College in 2005 with a youth ministry degree. He enjoys long walks on the beach and whispering sweet nothings into Jason’s ear.
Dave Cramer: Dave is an editorial assistant for Ethics and Medicine and currently an adjunct professor at Bethel College while he gets ready to embark on a Ph.D. Dave is married to Andrea and graduated from Bethel College in 2005 with biblical studies and philosophy degrees. Dave enjoys reading books and knowing words that the rest of us can’t understand.
Andrew Deselm: Andrew just finished his M.A. in Film Studies from the University of Buffalo. He’s also in the process of applying for Ph.D. programs as well. Andrew graduated from Bethel College in 2006 with degrees in English education and English literature. Andrew enjoys looking out his livingroom window and pondering about times much better than these when a kid could be a kid and the man didn’t hold ‘no one’ down.
Jason Miller: Jason is a pastor at another great church Granger Community Church. He has a dog named Jack. Jason graduated from Bethel College in 2007 and is hoping to begin graduate work at the University of Notre Dame in the near future. Jason enjoys tickle fights.
Ashley Swanson: Ashley Swanson is an associate pastor at Harris Prairie Church of Christ in Granger, Indiana. It’s a great church and Ashley is a terrific pastor. He’s married to Stephanie and graduated from Bethel College in 2004 with a degree in youth ministry and in 2007 with a Masters in Ministry. He’s currently working on his M.A. in Theological Studies. Ashley enjoys speaking with a cowboy accent and saying things like, “darn skippy” and “pertin’ dang clear”.
EDIT: Who turned off the comment section? I want names.