Kids at Church

The State of the Christian Address

The State of the Union Address is on tonight & it got me thinking about a touchy subject for me:
Being an American vs. being a Christian
I am obviously both, but I am a Christian 1st. If you claim to be a Christian that means you believe in & follow the Jesus of The Bible. I really feel that Christians' political opinions are worth a pile of crap if they don't live like a Christian 1st & an American 2nd. I love politics. I love watching debates on the news, hearing people argue on the radio, & all of the intricacies of political gamesmanship, but... I'm still confused when Christians say they don't make their political choices based on their spiritual beliefs. Call me crazy, but that seems like the most upside down thing. Being an American doesn't define what you do or believe as a Christian, being a Christian defines EVERYTHING about you.
I'm not trying to convince anyone who or what to vote for. I'd much rather you follow Jesus than any corrupt politician in either party that puts on a show for you to get your vote & then doesn't deliver on any of it. Stick with The Deliverer. I'm proud to be an American, but I'm still not sure exactly what the definition of an American is, besides being a citizen of America. I do know what the definition of a "real" Christian is (follower of Jesus) & what a Christian is supposed to do:

Matthew 22:37-39
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

The neighbor is everyone around the world. I don't have the strength to love everyone as an America, but I do as a Christian.
Those are the Blue Prints, the Cliff Notes, the Mission.

One day I will stand before the God of the Universe & He's not going to ask me how good of an American I was.
I'm Nick Schultz & I'm proud to be an American... who has the freedom to live for Jesus.

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Caught Up In Circumcision

What is more important to you: The color of carpet, having pews, singing hymns or the danger of having a guitar on stage instead of an organ? These are all "vital" points of anger & bitter debate for many churches & their members around America who cannot come to the realization that the church really isn't about them. I'm still in my 20's though, I can handle sitting in a different seat every Sunday... Check back with me in 20 years.

My name is Nick Schultz. I currently work for a church as a Children's Pastor & have been attending church regularly ever since I decided to give me life over to Jesus 10 years ago. There are 2 very basic things that I have picked up over these 10 years: It is not about me & the church's (& individuals) that are growing are the one's that get this.

In Acts 15, Paul & Barnabas are called back to Jerusalem to answer & debate the "important" issue in the church at the time, "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." (Verse 1) So what right? Who doesn't want to stop helping the poor & spreading God's love to talk about circumcision? Paul & Barnabas had to stop everything they were doing to go debate this issue because it got so out of hand with the church leaders. They were all over the place starting churches, building up leaders & helping people turn their lives over to Jesus. The church back in Jerusalem was becoming something other than Jesus & the global church as a whole had to take a time out because of it. Paul & Barnabas' homeboy Peter was upset & laid it down for everyone, "No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." (Verse 11) Basically, he's telling them the same thing we have to constantly tell ourselves- It is not about me. Circumcision, baptism, pews, hymns, carpet, communion, King James Version, untucked Pastor's shirt? Pick your church's poison. Pick your personal poison. Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating church hopping every year because you found something wrong with the 15th church you are now a member of. Church is like a marriage, the commitment & work happen after the honeymoon.

Paul says it best in Galatians 6:13-15 , "Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation."

It isn't about me, it is about a new creation. A new creation is someone deciding to live a life for Jesus & not themselves. You make an impact when you get out of the way.

If your church leaders talk more about who & what is already in the building instead of who isn't in the building yet, you might want to get out of there before you get stuck in a circumcision debate.If you are the one starting or getting Caught Up In Circumcision debates... Get over yourself & get out of the way!

Nick Schultz
SchultzeeTime.com
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Isaac in the Crib

Exercising for Jesus

A couple years ago I used to work out every weekday morning at 6:30 am before heading off to my job. I loved it because that is when a lot of the elderly people work out & it isn't crowded in the gym at all. Getting to the gym in the afternoons hasn't worked out so well this year, so I've been trying to get in early again. I'm running into all these people I used to see all the time again. Today I went early enough that I could take my time. Instead of the usual "rock out to music & rush to get everything done in an hour" I took some time to take the head phones off & catch up with the people I used to see all the time.

The Result:
-A guy who is unemployed lost 30 pounds because of depression, not exercise.
-Another unemployed guy who is going back to school & training to be a cop for a whole new line of work, has a wife & 2 little kids.
-A man who lost his wife to cancer 7 months ago, son in college & in high school.
-All 3 guys now know at least 1 person is praying for them.
I never would have suspected anything if they hadn't told me. They never would have told me if I didn't ask them. I never would have asked them if I didn't make a decision to listen to what God wanted me to do instead of what I wanted to do for myself.

Psalm 33:13-15
From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind;
from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth-
he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.

It was a good morning. Hopefully I can continue the exercise of getting my plans out of God's way!

Haiti Remembered

2 years ago Laurie & I went to Haiti with a group from our church on a mission trip to contribute to one of the missionaries we support called Jesus in Haiti Ministries.
I'm sure you have already seen plenty of pictures & video from what has happened with the earthquake, but it is a week later & it made me think about what has happened to those people. Being with the people there was one of the best experiences Laurie & I had. The 2 pictures below with Laurie & that child was the hardest time we had in Haiti. Trying to get the child medical care by driving all across the country was an overwhelming experience enough. Then to find out that the child died hours later after we found a hospital was horrible. Multiplying that times thousands more in the situation they are in now is mind blowing to imagine.


Being able to use our gifts & passion for children in the poorest country in our hemisphere was such a joy. Laurie was trying multiple ways to figure out a way to get down there & help out medically, but that is almost impossible to get down there. Praying, giving money, collecting items & helping out at Matthew 25 Ministries is what we have to do right now.



Take some time to pray for our missionary there, Tom & his ever growing family that is taking in kids who need a little hope. Also, for Linda, a member of our church & good friend who has been there since the quake hit. As well as the entire country.
Bonswa!

You can check out some of our Haiti trip pictures here: at SchultzeeTime on Facebook

Isaac Taking a Bath

Little man pooped all over himself & then peed all over my leg when I took him to the tub... Got to love him!

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Isaac's 1st Time Crawling (Backwards)

Isaac Snow Video

8 Months Old - 1st time in Snow

Isaac Top 10 Pics of 2009

#10 - The Pose


#9 - Monkey for Halloween


#8 - 4th of July


#7 - Lumber Jack


#6 - 1st Close Up


#5 - 1st Taste of Food


#4 - Senior Picture


#3 - Catalog Shot


#2 - Secret Santa


#1 - The Arrival

Happy New Year from Isaac

He pooped all over himself about a minute after I shot this. Then he pooped later on his new UC Bearcat outfit that I wanted him to wear for the big game. The unpredictability is what makes it all so exciting. Here is Isaac New Year's morning doing his favorite activity...jumping.