State Street Community Church
Posts tagged Family
Tuesdays with the Loucks’
Aug 25th
Finn is five months today. He’s got 2 teeth and is learning how to move. He’s very different than Nora was at his age. Not better, not worse, just different.
Nora talks. And then talks some more. Then she’ll talk even more. You want to talk about the moon? Nora’s in. You want to talk about Mickey Mouse? Nora does too. She’s a great little conversationalist and it’s been so great getting to know her personality.
Here’s a peak into our lives on an average Tuesday night:
A New Year’s Resolution
Dec 31st
I’ve decided to come up with some resolutions for the coming new year. I haven’t always made conscious decisions on what to do in the coming year but, in an effort to live a bit more of a disciplined life, I feel that this might do me some good. Here are some of the things that I’m striving for in 2010:
- Blogging: I’m convinced that in many years, the things that I write on my little section of the internet will come in valuable to either (1) myself or (2) someone I care about. It’s not that within the confines of this html there are bits of unparalleled profundity. It’s more that I value written history and stories. This blog, in some small way, can track the evolution of my story. Maybe I’m romanticizing it a bit, but I have a feeling that my kids will one day find that valuable to them. If nothing else, it gives me a way to have a creative outlet outside of what I do at State Street.
- Weight Loss: I prayed for weight loss. I honestly did. Then I got sick. I’ve went through a few weight cycles in my life. As of January 2009, I was in a heavy cycle. I was tired, grumpy, and I truly believed that my physical well-being was affecting the other elements of my life (spiritually, emotionally, mentally, et al). So, I prayed about it and got sick. It was a crawling-out-of-the-bathroom-because-you-have-no-energy-to-walk type of sickness. My insides declared fatwa against the natural world and were winning. After I recovered, I lost 10 pounds. Then another 10. As of December 2009, I’m about 60 pounds lighter than where I was a year ago. I feel great, I have more energy, and it’s given me the motivation to live a more disciplined life. For instance, I use to eat a ton of fast food (McDonalds, Burger King, etc) and I’ve cut that out almost completely. After getting done at church at 10 PM or later, I would be hungry so I would stop and eat something, drive the 25 minutes home, and then go to bed. I’m trying to time my foods better now. It’s mostly small dietary things but it’s been keeping the pounds off. I’m hoping to keep this weight off and to possibly even lose another 15-20 pounds.
- Reading: I am the king of starting a book and never finishing it. If I didn’t visit the bookstore in 2010, I’d still have enough unread books on my bookshelf to get me by for the year. I want to read 25 new books this year. This shouldn’t be hard and I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m not reading as such right now. On top of this, thanks to the recent youversion.com updates, I will be reading through my Bible this year again. This time I’m going to be going chronologically through the books of the law all the way to the last epistles.
- Family: My wife is incredible. She’s the love of my life. From the time we got married, I’ve went through seasons where I managed my time well and then not so well. She knew that the last quarter of 2009 was going to be hectic with the remodeling of our State Street campus so she gave me a bit of a pass. In 2010, I’m coming back home. No more being gone for 3-4 nights a week. I WILL NOT sacrifice my family at the alter of ministry. The way my children view the church and Christ will be filtered through what I do now with them and our family. It’s unquestionable that many pastor’s kids have a hard time separating the church, the family, and the parent’s time involvement in each. My desire is that my family will know and understand how much of a priority and passion that are to me in 2010.
These are the things that are on my mind and that I’ve been thinking about.
A Letter to My Unborn Child
Aug 23rd
Dear Baby Loucks,
Let me start off by saying, “I love you.” From the moment your mother told me that you were to be, I’ve loved you. We’re nearly 6 months from your out-of-womb arrival and you already fill my thoughts. Your sister, Nora, does as well.
It’s not that I’m obsessed with you in that fatherly overbearing way (though I’d put money on me being overbearing eventually). It’s more that I believe in you and your potential. I often find myself dreaming about what you will be and how you will be it. Will you be a doctor? Perhaps an English professor? An accountant? A garbage truck driver? Will you be compassionate? Daring? Funny? Quite frankly, I’m still in the stage wondering if you’re going to be a boy or girl (for the record, mommy thinks you’re going to be a girl and I think you’re going to be a boy. Your mommy is usually right about… well… most things.) Whatever it is that you will become, I believe in you. I will be your biggest fan, your greatest ally, and your best encourager. I’m your dad and I love you.
Though you’re roughly the size of a lime, I’ve read that your head comprises nearly half your total size. Proportionately, you’ll never have a better brain-to-body ratio even as a big-headed Loucks child. So, let me give you some simple advice as your cognitive development furthers. It’s good to know these things now and expect a quiz on March 19th.
Your mother is the most important person in my life. I love her like no other. Without question, you’ve hit the jackpot in the baby lottery. You’ve got a tremendous mommy. She will love you well. And, even though you’re killing her with whatever is causing the nausea, she will forget about it the moment she sees you. You, me, and Nora are her life. She loves like a mommy should love.
Your sister is the first born; expect first born tendencies. She will surely know what’s best for you even better than you know for yourself. She will likely give you advice. It’s the duty of the oldest sibling. There’s no doubt in my mind that you will be her baby. We love Nora. She will be our one and only first born child. As a father, there’s nothing that I would like more for you two than to love each other well. One day your mom and I will be gone and it’s been my experience that your siblings are your best connection to who you were, who you are, and who you’re going to be.
Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you about what consumes my prayers. I pray that you will be a strong, courageous, God-loving, justice-seeking, peace-filled, compassionate boy/girl that knows that they are meant for amazing things. It’s a privilege to be your dad. March 19th, come quick!
Always know that daddy loves you. – Your dad
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.
Ob-la-di
Mar 4th
March 2009 marks 6 years that my wife and I have been together (this June will be four years of marriage). She’s my best-friend, an encouraging wife, a compassionate mother, and one of the most talented people I’ve met. When we first started dating I was a young, eager college kid that wanted to change the world. Now, I’m getting older, weigh much more, but still want to change the world. I love the way she loves Nora and myself.
I’m making a DVD for Nora’s birthday (which will be an on-going video documentation of her life to one day show her friends… she’ll be like, “Come on, dad, they don’t care” and I’ll be like, “Psh! They WANT to see it, who wouldn’t?”). The first part of the video is about how Ema and I met and were married (we call these the pre-Nora days). Again, I’m blessed to be married to such a wonderful woman. Need proof… watch this…
Daddy and Mommy Pre-Nora from Nate Loucks on Vimeo.