By David Osterhaus

Last week my wife and I welcomed our second child, a son. My wife and I were thrilled; our two-year-old daughter was blind-sided. The following parenting quotes (most by Bill Cosby) have kept my wife and I entertained during this past sleep deprived week:

“Even when freshly washed and relieved of all obvious confections, children tend to be sticky.”

“The quickest way for a parent to get a child’s attention is to sit down and look comfortable.”

“Always end the name of your child with a vowel, so that when you yell, the name will carry.”

“The truth is that parents are not really interested in justice. They just want quiet.”

“Having a child is surely the most beautifully irrational act that two people in love can commit.”

“The arrival of a baby coincides with the departure of our minds.”

“I guess the real reason that my wife and I had children is the same reason that Napoleon had for invading Russia: it seemed like a good idea at the time.”

All joking aside, I feel blessed to be a father and am overjoyed to have added a new member to my family. Especially since he is a boy! God is so incredibly good, and even during these sleepless nights I am reminded of his love for me and the responsibility of showing God’s love to my growing family.

A Life Story - David Osterhaus

By David Osterhaus

It’s time to begin thinking about Life Groups in the Spring. I want to take a moment to share the impact that Life Groups have had on my life. 

When my wife and I first started attending Life Church we knew very few people in the area. A move from Texas left us with very few acquaintances and no nearby close friends. 

We started attending Life Church and immediately started looking for ways to meet people and make connections with people who had common interests. Life Groups seemed like a good choice. One of the groups that immediately sparked our interest was a group for young marrieds to come together for potluck style meals and an evening of games. It wasn’t an intense Bible study group, but that wasn’t what we were looking for; we wanted the opportunity to grow friendships. 

I still remember the first few times we met with the young marrieds group; my wife and I had a great time playing games and talking. We always left feeling more energized and excited that we had made connections and were creating friendships. 

Thee years later, there are several couples that we have stayed close with from that first Life Group. These are the people we call when we have an emergency and need someone to watch our daughter, the people we want to celebrate birthdays with, and the people who will join with us in prayer over anything at anytime.  

I have also become involved with a few men’s groups. The time spent with other men of God is a great opportunity to grow and have deep conversation about everything from the Packers’ recent win to the role of the Holy Spirit. I have met some men that I consider mentors both in my faith and in my personal life. These men set an example for how to walk out a Christ-centered  lifestyle and give me both accountability and a new perspective on God’s word. I took a picture at my men’s Life Group this past week and we all look pretty happy for 6:45 in the morning!

Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:46-47

By David Osterhaus

My definition of success has changed a lot over the years. As a child, success was being the fastest on my bicycle or the best at Nintendo. As a teenager, success meant Airwalk tennis shoes paired with oversized jeans, and although I hate to admit it, frosted tips in my hair. (Yes, I rocked that look.) During my early adult years I viewed success as establishing a solid career along with a wife, dog, and two to four kids.

Today I have a job I enjoy, a beautiful wife and 1.5 kids. And yet, I still feel driven to push myself to become a better version of me. But how do I define success today? What does God view as successful?

Biblical heroes don’t exactly reflect the modern definition of success. David had a disastrous affair that resulted in the death of his son. John spent most of his early years living in the wilderness and eating crickets. Paul spent a large portion of his life in prison.

I think some would even argue that Jesus’ life wasn’t successful. He wasn’t formally educated even by the standards of the time. He had no valuable possessions or titles. He did have a loyal following but was still faced with rejection by most of the people he encountered. And yet, no one would argue that each of these individuals had a profound impact that had permanent and massive resonance in the world. 

The Bible warns against defining your life and value based on your bank account or other status symbols (James 1:9-11). God asks that you seek out him in all aspects of your life. Instead of planning my life according to my evolving definition of what a successful life is, I find myself looking to God and asking what he has planned for me (Jeremiah 29:11).

All that is not to say that I should become complacent with where I am now. Instead, my idea of success today is to have a single-minded focus on God and to seek him and his plans for my life. Today my view of success is to obey Him and obey his laws the best I can. 

— 

By David Osterhaus

Parenting presents a constant learning curve. My one-year-old daughter Eve, just like most one-year-olds, is constantly exploring her surroundings and playing the daredevil. Her cat-like curiosity leads her into precarious situations, like balancing over the edge of the couch or scaling the kitchen cabinets like Spiderman. 

The other morning I watched her as she discovered something entirely new. Most of the time I wonder what goes through her head as she licks the TV remote or assists the dog in destroying my unread Sports Illustrated. Recently she discovered the joys of twirling for the first time and now she spins and spins in sweeping circles, unable to control her laughter.  She does it again and again; it’s an expression of pure joy. I couldn’t help but marvel at the new perspective I was getting of my relationship with the Lord. 

I wonder if God looks down from his throne and smiles when he sees one of his own children discover something new?  I imagine it wouldn’t have to be something huge, perhaps a lesson as small as learning to pray, how to handle a difficult situation with integrity, or maybe even something as trivial as learning to twirl a bit.  The Bible says a wise child brings joy to his father (Proverbs 10:1).  It is my prayer that I will continually grow in the Lord and seek ways to bring him joy. Not because he requires it of me, but because I now know the pride and joy a father feels when he sees his child grow.

1. What’s your role at Life Church?

Director of Community

2. Besides Life Church, what are you passionate about?

My Family, Music, Golf, Softball, Watching Sports, Eating

3. Share some things on your “bucket list.”

Go to all 50 states, go to a Super Bowl, shoot under par for a round of golf

4. Who’s influencing you right now?

Pastor Aaron, Robert Morris, Aaron Rodgers

5. What’s your favorite meal?

Too hard to pick one…Steak, Mexican, Chicken Alfredo, Cheeseburgers, all food is good!

6. What’s something we may not know about you?

I had a photo published in the USA Today.