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Today I celebrate twenty years of working full-time at TreeHouse.

In 1989 I walked onto the deck of the Brooklyn Park TreeHouse and there was Anne Marie Bovie.  “Hi,” she said, “who are you?”  I feel in love with TreeHouse, a home away from home for thousands of teens and parents.  Each person is expected to “help make this a safe place and to build community,” and they do.

When people join our community they find an caring environment with consistent values.

Our Values

* Spiritual Vitality
* Multidimensional Personal Growth
* Caring Relationships
* Service
* Teamwork & Collaboration
* Community
* Accountability
* Innovation & Growth

Angry, depressed and lonely describes most of my teen years.   If I had given up as a teen I would never have known most of you.  I would never have come out of the basement.  I would never have come to enjoy my parents, made lifelong friends, found hope or gotten to know God.

I felt so unworthy.  Ever felt that way?  I was smart but “stupid”.  I was gifted but misguided.  In my anger and angst I would make foolish and hurtful decisions.  Those decisions would make my life harder.  Leading, of course, to more anger and angst.  Building one upon the other anger became bitterness and angst became depression.

Last night as I sat in a TreeHouse support group I was awed with the humility and accountability of the teens present. They listened patiently and compassionately.

Directly and indirectly each teen reminded the other that “this is a safe place.”

Each teen who wanted caring support received it. And, remembering previous concerns, teens asked one another about issues and concerns that were mentioned in previous groups.

Without breaking confidentiality, similar questions include “How’s it going with…?”, “You said that…?”, “Wait, did you…or didn’t you?”

Loving God includes being willing to allow the bright light of God’s word shine in your life. While, from personal experience I know how scary that can be, it truly is freeing to live with integrity. It’s scary living in the fear of God, but it’s amazingly freeing to rest in an awareness of your own imperfections without pretensions. It’s then that we can truly experience the wonderfulness of God’s love.

Do you like surprises?

When was a time you were surprised? Really surprised?

If you asked me when I was a teen if someday I would want to read the Bible on purpose I would have said no. If you said later in life I would want to read it, read it everyday, and then want to help others to understand it I would REALLY have been surprised!

I read my Bible almost every day because when reading it:

I love today! What we’re doing today makes today one of my favorite days of the year.

Today is our help others change the world day.

I’m writing this not to sound prideful nor to get your accolades. I’m writing because if you don’t have a day like today I think you will want one.

Today is the day when we give away the rest of our random donations money. Gratefully, though I sit home this week on an unpaid furlough, I have a job. Though my wife Amy’s part time hours got cut back, she has a job.

I love snowboarding.

My favorite time to snowboard is during or just following a snowstorm. Yesterday & today the first snowstorm of the 2009-2010 winter descended upon the Twin Cities.  We have three inches of snow in the driveway with more coming.  The winds carving beautiful etches in the snow.  Drifts and drifting snow  danced through the streets and yards.

I wished that I was snowboarding.

I’ve had wonderful snowboarding buddies over the years.  Miska & I tearing it up.  My dad & I in sub-zero weather.  Wonderful memories snowboarding with Josh & Shannon: laughing, chasing, playing follow the leader, muttering, and challenging one another.

In the evening when were not talking or laughing I’m “not watching TV.” Yes, the TV is on, but I am usually reading while the TV plays in the background. Somehow I can pay attention to both my reading and the TV. I’m multitasking.

Multitasking.

Maybe I’m maximizing my time.

Maybe I’m increasing my productivity.

Maybe I’m lying to myself.

What I do know is that I’m dropping in on Facebook, checking an email inbox, messaging a friend or reading my RSS subs.

Tonight something changed. Right in the middle of reading a great article written by Shane Claiborne I stopped.

Have you ever met a celebrity?  A favorite band?  A compelling author?  A poet whose words changed your heart?  A doctor who changed your health?  A therapist who changed your mind?  A minister who changed the direction of your soul?  A friend who help heal your wound?  A lover who helps heal your aloneness?

Do you like to name drop?

You might be impressed if I said I play basketball with Lebron, play guitar with Rodrigo, or sing with Christina.  You might want to sit down and have coffee with Jimmy Carter and me.

I have what you want!

It’s my birthday and I have what you want! And I want you to have it!

I know you may be thinking what’s he got? Does he have that 700 hp Shelby I saw on the Speed Channel? No, I don’t. Does he have my mortgage payment? No, sorry nope. My tuition? My future spouse? My health? My hair back? My fantasy football title? An iPhone? Sorry, none of those either.

I do have a copy of The Truth About Chuck Norris that I’m gonna give away tonight at TreeHouse. But you can buy your own copy.