Best friends and a photo shoot

Susie, Brenda (L), Hannah (R) Morgan

Robin Koskamp just dropped by and gave me some cool pictures of her daughter, my daughter and two other young ladies. Click on the picture for a slide show. (the bruised foot is Brenda's - it's broke)

I just love it that Morgan has made such good friends and they have so much fun hanging out together. These pictures are taken at Noelridge park where there are some beautiful flowers there in cascading gardens. Lots of people have their wedding pics done there, in fact, Allyson had her homecoming pics there.

Thanks so much to Brenda, Susie, and Hannah for being such great friends to my daughter. She REALLY loves being with you. There's nothing like best friends!

A busy weekend coming up

Thanks for reading "Tye's Jazz," a blog about my life and learning. My hit count has soared over the past week or two and I hope that you find this a treat to read. Please leave a comment anytime!

This weekend includes a retreat where I will lead worship for one session, a wedding gig (sax), and a dance gig (I'm not dancing, but playing sax!) with the D Anthony Big Band. WOW! So, there won't be much blogging this weekend if any. Have a great weekend!

Men's Fraternity Update

We had another 137 men come out this morning for Men's Fraternity and it was another incredible morning. This morning we talked about "Facing the Father Wound." We were challenged with eight proactive remedies for the absent father wound. Here is point #1:

1. Make sure your son has the "essentials."

a. Make sure he hears....

• "I love you"
• "I'm proud of you!"
• "you're good at _______."

b. Make sure he has...

• A manhood vision
• A code of conduct to live by (dad models this)
• A transcendent cause - something to love other than himself

We covered a lot of territory this morning. There was some great sharing around the tables as men processed the things they heard. As we unpack the "stuff" of our lives, God is doing a great work and I can't wait to hear how this affects not only the men of our church, but also homes, workplaces, our communities and the world!

“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.” Mal 4:5-6NIV

A pony ride and a pumpkin

Mackenzie and Duke

Today was our annual pony ride and pumpkin patch visit. It was a beautiful day, but at 38 degrees and 17 mile an hour winds it was absolutely frigid. But I can tell you that the smile on Mackenzie's face made it all worth it! After the horse ride, she picked out a pumpkin, and we were out of there! It was cold! But my heart was warmed as I saw KK light up as she climbed up on that horse. Click on the picture for a slideshow.

Audio Adrenaline/Mercy Me Concert

I'm not a concert goer, meaning that I don't buy tickets to concerts. But sometimes someone will give me tickets and we get to go. Such was the case last night. It was off to Waterloo Iowa about an hour north. Allyson, Morgan, Lindsey and Austin went with me - Judy doesn't like loud music. We went up early to have an adjustment made on my Mark VI sax at Tenor Madness which Thomas did in just a few minutes. Thanks bro!

We ate at Pizza Hut - I forgot how much I like that pizza. It was fun. The good news is that we were only like 4 miles from McElroy Auditorium were the concert would be. We headed on over to McElroy around 5:30. We got in line - prob about the first 200 people. I'm used to going to concerts in the big city. There were probably only 3-4 thousand people there. McElroy is an old auditorium with low ceilings. The seats are old wood stadium seats and their were posts to hold up the ceiling. It reminded me of a miniture Cincinnati Gardens - what I remember.

The concert was incredible. The warm up band was ok. Then came Audio Adrenaline. WOW! I loved it! it could have been louder - low ceilings probably hurt us there. I love their energy, passion! It's a Big Big House, Ocean Floor, He Lifts Me Up where just a few of the great songs they played.

Mercy Me came on next and they were fantastic as usual. Word of God Speak, Spoken For, So Long Self, and of course I Can Only Imagine were all included. Bart's voice was huge as usual. It's amazing to see him pulling the mic away from his mouth and still coming out over top the band. He also talked about his upbringing in a southern baptist church. He challenged the crowd to grow in their faith toward maturity, unlike some of the unkind elderly people in the church. : (

It's hard to believe that Audio A has been at it for 15 years. Adios Audio Adrenaline. Thanks for the memories. You were awesome!

Man Laws, uh, Male Laws

Two burned skillets at the Male household

Ok, it's Friday and I slept in this morning. I finished my 5 year plan and Micro Vision narrative and sent it to our Business manager at 11:30 last night. Whew!

So, this morning I'm kinda stretching out, getting ready to do some work (church) and I'm checking email, reading the news, etc. I put a skillet on the stove to make eggs...And then walked off to check something on the internet. BIG MISTAKE! Next thing I knew was smoke was billowing off the stove! I opened all the windows and doors to air everything out. Once the smoke had cleared...

So, why are there two burned pots in the picture? Good question!

Judy decided to fix some oatmeal. Well, she needed to check something on the internet as well and next thing I knew smoke was once again bellowing from the stove!!! It was a good laugh for both of us! The house still stinks like burned oatmeal. But, we do live in the City of Five Smells, now we made it six!

Have you seen the Miller Lite commercials? They are really good. Click here to see one. Well, we are now going to have Male Laws (as in the Male household). Here's Male Law #1:

When cooking on the stove, don't leave to check your email, weather, or stats on your fave team's game. Male Law!

Men's Fraternity Update

We had another great meeting this Wednesday morning! I can't tell you how thrilling it is to see men streaming into the activity center at 5:45 AM each week. This week Robert Lewis drilled down one of the five wounds a man faces from his father - the all alone wound. Matt Thede started our session with a video clip from Gladiator - I love that movie! It was the scene where Marcus Aurelius tells his son Commodus that he will not succeed him as Caesar but he has chosen Maximus. Marcus then says that his son's failures are a result of his failures. Whoah! Then Matt shared a personal story about hunting with his wife - ask him!

There was some great sharing around the tables again this morning and I can't wait to see how God is going to use this in the lives of our men at NCBC and Cedar Rapids!

128 men showed up and I am thrilled to see men connecting in community!

Tye out.

My 5 year plan and the power of a praying husband

I just started Stormie Omartian's book The Power of a Praying Husband and I can't wait to get into it. The truth of the matter is that I have not done a good job praying for my wife and family, although I have made improvements this year. I really want to go to the next level in my prayer life, so pray for me. Since I just started the book, I don't have a lot to review, but wanted to challenge you with this quote on page 25:

Whatever you don't pray about in your life you leave up to chance. And that's not good enough when it comes to your marriage.

I am wrapping up my 5 year strategic plan this morning and afternoon. I don't do ministry by chance - there's a plan. That made me wonder about my strategic plan for prayer and my marriage. hmmm. I think I'll work on my 5 year strategic plan for prayer next week. Any ideas?
Tye out.

Servant Leadership for Teams

(this is taken entirely from Desktop Devotions from Servant Leadership)

Since I'm a little pressed for time today, here is the devotional that I received today from the fine people at Lead Like Jesus.

Trust is also a key factor in the successful implementation at the team level. Without the outcome of trust developed in the one-on-one relationship, empowerment will never happen. Individuals in the group will never “empower” each other to accomplish an assigned task if they do not trust each other. (Inspiring thoughts from Lead Like Jesus: Beginning the Journey Participant’s Study Guide - Page 17)


For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. And for this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 2 Timothy 1:5-7

PRAY: Father, teach me to trust You more each day so that I can display, for those I lead, my trusting relationship with You. Give me all the trust I need for this day and expand it in the days to come. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Where's Tye?

Where's Tye? I had to get away this morning for a couple of hours to work on my 5 year plan and microvision. It's not by strong suit. I'll try to get something posted up tomorrow. Tye out.

Men's Fraternity Update - What if you missed a session?

I have had a lot of calls and emails from guys who are so stoked about what is happening with Men's Fraternity that they don't want to miss a single session! That is GREAT!!! But, what if you have to be out of town for a session? I've got some good news for you.

You can go the Men's Fraternity website, click on "Missed a session?" on the left side of the page and download an mp3 format audio version of any one of the sessions. There is a $5 charge for each download. The good news is that you can put this on your mp3 player and listen any time.

Men's Fraternity continues to reach men and we've only started! In the coming weeks we will begin hearing about biblical manhood and what this looks like today. But first we have to "unpack" the stuff of our lives to get ready.

Thanks Mick for giving me a jump!

Ok, so I spend most Monday mornings at Panera right? This morning I took the old toyota pick up truck (225K+ miles) so Andrew could drive something more dependable to school. Besides, I love that old truck!

Well, I left the lights on ("burning" if you are in the south) and needed a jump ("boosted off" in the south). I tried a roll start - no go. Emailed the church (no cell phone) for help and Mick, our resident bonified country boy, came to my aid with jumper/booster cables. Actually the cables were Peggy's. Thanks Peg!!!!

It was a bummer. It was raining, I'm not feeling too goood, and my fave car wouldn't start. Thanks Mick for boosting me (personally!) and the truck!

Rainy days and Monday's always get me down?

Rainy Days and Mondays
Words and Music by: Paul Williams & Roger Nichols

Talkin' to myself and feelin' old
Sometimes I'd like to quit
Nothing ever seems to fit
Hangin' around
Nothing to do but frown

Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.
What I've got they used to call the blues
Nothin' is really wrong
Feelin' like I don't belong
Walkin' around
Some kind of lonely clown
Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.

Funny but it seems I always wind up here with you
Nice to know somebody loves me
Funny but it seems that it's the only thing to do
Run and find the one who loves me.

What I feel has come and gone before
No need to talk it out
We know what it's all about
Hangin' around
Nothing to do but frown
Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.

Tye here. I know that the writers are talking about a love interest, but let's think of Christ as our ultimate lover and friend. So what should we do on when we're down - run to him. Cool.

Tye out.

Power of Praying Wife - Part 2

I really enjoyed The Power of a Praying Wife. Let me give you another quote from the book that kinda stopped me in my tracks. Now I have read such things in men's books before, but never in a book for women. It's actually kinda reverse chauvinistic and really caught me off guard. Check it out. In the chapter on "His Priorities" she makes this statement: When it comes to your husband, it's not so much a matter of how much time you take, but that you do take time to make him feel like he is a priority. (p128)

Now check out what she says next - I can't believe this ever made it past the editors!!!

Just greeting him first thing in the morning with a smile and a hug can make him feel he's important to you. So is asking him, [tighten your seat belt] "Is there anything you want me to do for you today?" (p128) (brackets mine)

If you want your husband to love you more, you need to love him more. It always works, especially if you're praying about it as well.

That's servant leadership!!! This scares most people off! But I want you to know that it really does work. Again, can you imagine a world where everyone tries to out serve one another?

The Power of a Praying Wife - part 1

I know it seems kinda strange that me, a guy, would be telling you that I just finished reading The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian but I want you to know that his book is a MUST READ for all women! Bill and Cheryl Currie gave Judy a copy and told me it would be good for me to read it, so I did. Check it out. Here is a woman that has actually come to some udnerstanding about how to encourage men! Listen to these quotes from Omatian's book:

I began to pray every day for Michael [her husband], like I had never prayed before. Each, though, I had to confess my own hardness of heart. I saw how deeply hurt and unforgiving of him I was. I don't want to pray for him. I don't want to ask God to bless him. I don't want to ask God to bless him. I only wnat God to strike his heart with lightning and convict him of how cruel he has been, I thought. I had to say over and over again, "God, I confess my unforgiveness toward my husband. Deliver me from all of it." (p17)

That's it! it all starts with forgiveness and we need it as much as anyone. When we pray for someone else God usually reveals our own self-centeredness and sin! We cannot change another person so stop trying! We can however submit our lives to God and in faith pray for those around us.

Check out another quote.

Don't write off the marriage. Ask God to give you a new husband. He is able to take the one you have and make him a new creation in Christ. We have God's pwer on our side. We don't have to leave our marriages to chance. We can fight for them in prayer and not give up, because as long as we are praying, there is hope.

This is an awesome book that every woman should read. It is chocked full of helpful tips, advice, and encouragement. You have a partner in life when you read her book. Let me know what you think!

Tye out.

It's all about me!

Yesterday was the 45th anniversary of my birthday and what a birthday it was! I get to play my sax in Brass Line once a month (click here to listen, then click on the media player on the left) so I was at the church at 6:45 AM. We played in three services in the morning and one in the evening and it was so much fun. Then there was a memorial service at 1:30 then back home to veg. Back to the church at 4 PM, but a quick stop at Panera for my weekly IC Mocha! Brass Line warm up at 4:30, service at 5 PM, Adult Singles ABF Leadership team at 6:30 PM and home by 8:30. WHEW!

In the five o'clock service Ed Luebe had me come up front and the church sang happy birthday to me - I felt bad for James Wartian who celebrated the big 4-0 this week. Thanks Ed - I owe you one - wink, wink.

I love being 45! I love the beautiful wife of 21 years God has given me and the four incredible extremely gifted and talented children he gave me. I love the ministry God has given me! I love serving on staff at New Covenant Bible church with other servant leaders. I love being in a place where I am challenged to grow in my leadership. It's especially exciting to be back playing my sax again. Wow!

Tye out.

Men's Fraternity Update - 190 men's lives touched!

We just completed the roster for the first 4 weeks of Men's Fraternity and I can't believe what I am seeing on the Excel spreadsheet. It says that we have seen 171 men since the official launch of NCBC Men's Fraternity on September 20. If you add the over 20 men that have attended our evening edition of Men's Fraternity affectionately called MF PM we can now say with confidence that Men's Fraternity at NCBC has reached over 190 men!

Hats off to the leadership team who has met since the first week of May! Ed Luebe, Matt Thede, Tom Green, Dan Van Zoest, Jeff Dunham, Ken Smejkal, Kurt Tennyson, and Lance Greco! You guys are doing an AWESOME job!

Special thanks and kudos go to Joe Meyers and his team that are meeting Wednesday nights at his house with around 20 guys. Thanks Joe, Steve Boerhave, and Brian Wohlers!

Finally, all praise to God for blessing this ministry!

Tye out.

Millionaire TV stars get a little testy

Alright, let's take a left turn and head for left field today. I just read where the two actors who play the doctors on Grey's Anatomy got into a bit of a tuffle this week just in time for ratings week. Now, I must confess that I have never watched this show. I think I tried, but for some reason or another I didn't think it was any good, or maybe not appropriate. Whatever.

Click here to read the article if you even care.

BTW, there IS a country song that talks about how a guy wants to be famous so he can pitch a fit when his latte isn't just how he likes it, and he can wreck his Ferrari on the way to rehab. The song title Celebrity. Hilarious and pathetic.

BTW (again), it kinda wigs me out when I see people like this who are making millions to entertain us.

Tye out.

Men's Fraternity - another great week!

123 men came out at 6 AM this morning to learn how to lead lives of authentic manhood as modeled by Jesus Christ and directed by the word of God. There were are least 5 first time guests this morning that we are aware of! I am so stoked about this! Praise the Lord!

This morning Robert Lewis (via DVD) talked about 5 wounds that men have that need to be unpacked and dealt with. They are:

• Absent father wound - dad was never there for one reason or another
• Overly bonded mother - mom was overly protective and this leads to men not knowing how to treat women. They either control or they relinquish leadership role.
• All alone wound - we were created for relationship and we need that in our fathers in when that doesn't occur it wounds us
• The vision wound - living for the moment. This person typically has difficulty planning ahead because they can't see past today. (that's me)
• The heart wound - "work hard and you'll get where you need to go. Don't depend on others - you don't need anyone."

After the DVD, men sit around their tables and discuss the things that Lewis spoke about. It is exciting to see men starting to connect in community at Men's Fraternity.

A name change for my blog!

Well, in just a little over a year now I have been blogging on blogger. I started out with the title "Pastor Tye's Weekly Update." When we were told that we would have to leave First Baptist church in Medina I eventually started sending out an email to prayer partners and friends who helped hold us up in prayer. It eventually evolved into a weekly email called "Pastor Tye's Weekly Update" and included updates about our family, a devo that I wrote, and job search news. I think the last one I sent out was update #51.

Once I was hired by New Covenant Bible Church I only sent out updates about once a month. Then I started blogging and it was easier to have people look at the blog. Then, came a watershed moment when I was leading a "Lead Like Jesus" small group and I changed the name to "Tye's Weekly Update" because we were challenged to not pursue titles before our names like the Pharisees of Jesus' day. Just call me Tye! I don't need titles!

Welp, in an effort to keep up with the Jones's, I am now going to get a domain name registered so i am going to change my blog title again.

Since I love Jazz music and the Lord is just opening up one door after the next - including having my horn overhauled and getting a tenor for future band jobs - I thought it would be appropriate to have something that has jazz in the title. I thought of: pastorsjazz.com. That was kinda weird. Then we came up with tyesjazz.com. i still haven't purchased the domain yet, but will very soon.

Hope you like it. Let me know what you think!