Some may call me lazy...

... and that may be correct, but not in this case. I know what you're thinking, "This guy lambastes us all for not posting comments on his blog and then he decides to just take an entire week off." Pretty sad, right? Well, here's the thing. I have had a bit of a dilemma this week as I have wanted to post new stuff but I didn't want the missions trip blog to get pushed out of the top spot, never to be read again. So, if you're reading this and you haven't read my blog about the missions trip, please take time to check it out. So... that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

SRC Prayer Walk
Laurie and I really enjoyed our time with those of you that went on the prayer walk this past Saturday. It was fun getting to know you all a little better. It is going to be exciting to see how God arranges all of the details for us to move down there and start investing in the students of SRC and the surrounding community. (Side note to Doug: Thanks for taking us to the Naval Academy, we'll be praying for your work there.) We're looking forward to the next time we can all get together. Speaking of next time...

Crab Feast is much needed!!
Could we make plans for a SRC crab feast? Laurie works this weekend but we are both available the weekend of the 9th. Any interest in making that happen? I have been living in PA for too long... I need some crabs in my belly. I'm willing to chip in toward the cost, unless we can go catch 'em instead (Side note to Janet: you may come to regret having told me about the boat :), Laurie and I LOVE being out on the water!)

Our Info
I had told some of you at the Prayer Walk that I would post my contact info on the blog here, but Doug got me all scared that someone in cyberspace is going to steal my identity if I put too much info on the blog. :) So, if you would like our current contact info, feel free to email me at matthew.boyer@comcast.net.

Thanks SRC!
Thanks so much for your friendliness when Laurie and I came down on Saturday. We really had a blast. We're already anticipating our next chance to hang out!

-Matt and Laurie

WOW

Peru was awesome!! Thanks for all of your prayers!!

This is what it boils down to... the Peruvian people think that we are wealthy because of the material things that we possess but we saw them as wealthy because of the type of loving community that they have. We were asked repeatedly, "What do you think of our town?" Our immediate response was to tell them they had a beautiful town. After they returned a skeptical look, we would explain that the people of the town made it beautiful. Their smiling faces made us forget we were in the middle of the desert. And though they had much less in a material sense, they were rich in family, community, kindness, and gentleness.

Hace Frio!
You might be surprised to hear that the temperatures in Peru only reached about 65 during the day and got down close to 40 at night. It was their winter season. So, we got as much use out of our long sleeve tee's and sweatshirts as anything else. It was actually quite amusing though. I spent most days in a short sleeve tee or a polo as we were visiting the people in the community. But the Peruvians would come out like they were bundled up for a snowstorm -- hats, gloves, heavy sweaters, etc. I felt like a real tough guy. I guess those cold PA winters are good for something!

Inspiration from Below the Equator
The church that we worked with this week is actually a church plant in the town of Laderas de Chillon, a suburb to the city of Lima. Spending time with Pastor Guillermo and his family was encouraging to Laurie and I. Their excitement for what God is doing through this church plant got us really energized for SRC. Although "Iglesia de Vina" in Laderas has had it's share of growing pains, the overhwelming sentiment of the church and it's community is one of passionate expectancy!

Relational Leadership
My greatest concern at the halfway point of the week was the feeling of ineffectiveness. I felt like there wasn't much I could do in 9 days to really make an impact on this city. It just seemed like there was so much need and not enough time or resources to meet those needs. All of that changed on Friday when I spent the whole morning with Pastor Guillermo as we went door-to-door in the community. As we went about the town and got to know the people, I got to see his heart for the people and his concern for their well-being. I felt completely comforted knowing that the work we did in those 9 days would be carried on in the weeks and months to come. Having a relational leader like PG to lead this church gave us great confidence that the lives that were touched during our ministry there would have a great place to grow in their faith.

I have the same kind of confidence in Pastor Ben and I can hardly wait to get involved in ministry with him and all of you in the upcoming months. It is a great thing to have a humble, relational, and encouraging pastor to lead this church. Be encouraged Ben! I have great faith in you and fully believe that God is using you to build His work at SRC!

Su Madre
Ok, so you know I couldn't let this whole blog go off and not say something off the wall... One of our translators sold soccer jerseys as a side job. He took the orders early in the week and personalized each jersey to our specifications. So, each person chose what they wanted to have on the back of their jersey. Some went with their last name. Some used somebody else's. Initials were popular. I even convinced one kid to just put ?Donde estoy? (Where am I?) on the back of his jersey. I almost had myself convinced to put "Backing Up" or "How am I walking? Call 214-6119 for compliments or concerns" but finally decided that the title of this section would be most appropriate, "Su Madre", which of course means... Your Mom.

Short Term Missionaries!!

Laurie and I leave tomorrow for a nine day missions trip to Lima, Peru! Please keep us in your prayers as we go. We are excited and scrambling... trying to get all of the last minute packing done before we go to bed tonight, if at all. :)

For those that have been on a missions trip before, try another one sometime soon. If you haven't, look for an opportunity to go as soon as possible! This will be my fifth missions trip and I can tell you that every time I go, I go with the intention of giving myself until I can't give anymore; yet, I always return feeling like I received way more from the Lord and from the national people than what I was able to give away!

This also serves as an announcement that I will be away for the next nine days, thus, I won't be updating the blog or checking my email. However, feel free to email (matthew.boyer@comcast.net) and post your comments while I am away. I always enjoy coming home and seeing the encouragement that's waiting there for me!

God bless,
Matt

Are you in "The Circle"?

Ted Dekker, author of a bunch of best-selling fiction and one of my favorite writers, recently teamed up with Frank Perretti to write "House." Being a Ted Dekker fan, I recently borrowed the book from Mahbee (my mom) and I am currently about three chapters in. Although I have just started reading it, I expect that it will be another great book. So far, I've read The Circle trilogy, Obsessed, Showdown, and my favorite fiction book to date, Three.

If you've never picked up a Ted Dekker book, start with Three. It will keep you guessing right to the end. My wife is not a reader but since I've gotten her into Ted Dekker, even she can't put it down.

"The Circle" is sort of a fan club for Ted Dekker. They'll keep you up to date on everything cool that's coming up and what new projects Ted is working on... I say that like we're on a first-name basis (which, of course, we are.) Just go to www.teddekker.com for more info.

Anyway, I guess this blog is just my attempt to get you guys hooked to a really great author. So check him out if you have a chance.

Peace out and sauerkraut!

A Bit More Relaxed Now...

Sorry about my previous post, I'm not sure what happened. Maybe I had a little too much Nog N Blog going on (Read my previous "Top Ten" blog if you don't know what I'm talking about). Nog N Blog has been known to create huge mood swings and spontaneous verbal explosions.

So, here's something cool that happened just the other day. I shared this with those of you that were at the small group meeting last night but I figured it would be good to post it just in case there are those of you that couldn't attend. Here goes...

As I was cleaning up around the house in preparation for a college age small group that Laurie and I host on Monday nights, I came across a photo album. As I picked it up and took a look, I recognized it as the photo album that was given to me by some students that were in my youth ministry at Christian Life Assembly. I was at CLA for three years and shortly after I announced my resignation from the church, the students put together this album, filled with pics and notes and letters and other momentos from my time there. Every time that I've looked at it, it's reminded me of all of the great stuff that happened and all of the students that were impacted during my time there. But when I picked it up just the other day, it had a different impact than what I'd felt before. As I looked through the book, I became energized with the thought that pretty soon, we're going to be able to start a whole new set of memories with a brand new set of students at SRC! That got me pumped!

Laurie and I have had a hard time keeping our energy and enthusiasm at a high level being so far separated from all of you. We've been praying for God to give us more moments like the one I just described... moments that will keep us excitedly looking forward to our opportunity to step into this great adventure with each of you. So, thanks for your continued prayers. They are working!

Matt

No comment?? I'll still keep posting...

I've tried to handle this nicely. I've tried to be calm and understanding. I've attempted to remain rational and patient. But, that's it! No more Mr. Nice Blogger!! I need some comments! Do you think I'm just writing to read what I wrote?? (Okay, I guess I am... but that's not the point!!)

The point is... um... that bloggers are people too. Sure, you might think that we all just live in a world of make-believe, popping out blogs a dime a dozen, inebriated by the exuberance of our verbosity. But I say no!! If you prick us, do we not bleed?? If you tickle us, do we not laugh?? If you poison us, do we not die??

Your lack of commentary is the poison that saps us of our lifeblood. We thrive on your thoughts, quips, and quotes, logging on 3... 4... 5 hundred times a day. Hoping. Longing. Yea, even expecting, to see that comment total below our latest entry soar into the high single digits.

So, please, if you have any sense of human decency, ready your fingers and dust off your keyboards. Summon your mouse and crack open that musty thesaurus one more time. It is time for the commentators to rise up-ah (please pronounce with all the angst of a fiery a/g evangelist) and restore the down-trodden, the lowly, the depressed -- the blogger that has lost his audience.

Thank you.

Amen.

The Office

So, this is it... my long-awaited update on "The Office" via the blog. First and foremost, let me just say thank you to all of "The Office" faithful out there. We couldn't have made it through season 2 without you. It seems that Dunder Mifflin has created quite a following out there in cyber-space.

Speaking of cyber-space, the first webisode of The Office will be available at nbc.com/theoffice on July 13. And available now in the nbc store is the Dwight Schrute bobblehead. Follow the link below and use the coupon so that you too can have that "moon-faced kid" staring at you all day long!!

http://www.nbcuniversalstore.com/detail.php?p=8368
Code "DUNDER10" will take 10% off all The Office items, too!


Huh?? What'd She Say??

So, it's been rumored that in the final episode of season 2, "Casino Night", Pam said something to Jim immediately following the forbidden lip-lock. Sadly, this has been the subject of debate on The Office boards for the last few weeks. Most agree that they likely said nothing of importance and that the audio was simply removed. Others have said that it looks as though Pam says to Jim, "Let's get outta here."

I, however, have a different theory all together.

First, we must assume that Pam and Jim are both incapable of any coherent words as they have both been rendered speechless by the suprising spit-swap. We must assume, therefore, that when they were finishing their kiss and pulling away from each other, Pam's mouth opened in disbelief at what had happened. Then Dwight, speaking in falsetto from off camera, whispered in a nearly indiscernible tone, "I'm eatin' chowda here." Little did he know that his off-camera remark would cause such a heated debate.

But then, that's why you have me. I'm here to clear up this nonsense.


Office Trivia

So you think you know the office?? Test your knowledge with the following quiz. Post your answers as you find them. Add your own questions as you think of them. Can I be stumped?? I doubt it... but I guess we'll see. Do your best!

1. What is Michael's favorite NY pizza joint?

2. What action figure does Jim have on his desk?

3. In "The Fight", what does Michael claim the writing in the framed picture on the wall of the dojo means?

4. What is Michael's ring tone?

5. What is Dwight's favorite movie?

6. How was Dwight's name misspelled in Michael's screenplay Threat Level Midnight?

7. Where is Dwight's bathroom located at his farmhouse?

8. What type of mp3 player did Roy get Pam for Christmas?

9. What did Phyllis give to Michael as a Christmas present?

10. In "The Dundies", which person got the award for being the hottest person in the office?


For more meaningless office drivel... go to work!! -- or, visit nbc.com/theoffice

Matt