Happy Ten Year Anniversary, Unite99

Ten years. That's a long time. In God's time, that's just a quick errand down to the local store for a bag of chips. But it's hard to believe that on this date, October 30, 1999, a Seventh-day Adventist University campus would be completely transformed. La Sierra University in Riverside, CA, and its most gracious and progressive President at that time--Lawrence Geraty, opened up its doors, and 5,000 people, 20+ bands/artists, news media, ministries, churches, youth groups, teams of prayer warriors and scores of volunteers all converged for what would be, to this day, the first and only Contemporary Christian Music Festival ever produced at the grass roots level in the Adventist church.

Lives also changed. Mine would never be the same [click here for a detailed account on the planning of this event from the "Sanctification" lenses soon after my divorce]. And I can speak for a group of dedicated friends that were blind-sided, along with me, by a Mack truck with the Holy Spirit behind the wheel! For most of 1999, we enrolled in a year-long, spirit-filled journey to plan a mega-event that was way over our heads. We just knew we had to Follow Orders and trust the outcome and have faith.

And so it was. Below are a few news clippings I've saved. Although some of the font is too small to read from the original scan, you can click on the images to get an idea. It was a success. And none of the planners will say it was of our own doing. It simply wasn't. We were only instruments. The event was designed by the Master Organizer who specifically placed a vision in the hearts of His faithful servants. We were just responding to a call. And what a call it was.

Here's what the Adventist News Network wrote before the event.

I'm Famous

I'm trying to think back if I've ever been featured in an actual print newspaper article. Outside of denominational print mags and web news about either an outreach event I've done or a men's ministry I'm leading, and maybe work-related plugs on trade journals, I can't think of any time a reporter came to my house to interview me for a feature. So this was pretty cool. Circulation is probably a few retired Seventh-day Adventists and their dogs, but, hey, I made the news! Here's the web version of the article.

Here's the front page with the mug shot on the right-hand corner above the beer article, which, is a headline in itself considering the history of no alcohol in the Adventist mecca of Collegedale.


Here's the article. Note that wife Noelle made a cameo appearance in the picture. You'll have to click on it to blow it up. Do you see her?

Finding Your Mission

One of my latest articles, "Finding Your Mission" has been published by Answers For Me, a practical support website to answer life's questions and issues.

Finding Your Mission
by Marcel Schwantes

Imagine being confronted with a "life or death" need to know what your true mission in life is. Many of us would probably be forced to reexamine who we are, and what we're really about. Those who have never known what it's like to feel a commitment and burning passion to a cause would suddenly know, deep down inside, that they came with a purpose far greater than to “make money,” "survive" or "make ends meet."

That was me eleven years ago. My adult journey up to that point was a case study of a man ruled by his own arrogance and selfishness, not aware that the life choices he made were misguided with no spiritual compass or map.

Accountability and integrity were only distant acquaintances of mine. “What's in it for me?” was the make and model of my vehicle of choice. Impulsiveness and an ego the size of the Grand Canyon were frequent passengers on this perpetual joy ride down the boulevard of broken relationships and bad career choices.

Continue reading...

My Friend Marc

This is one of my best friends, Marc. He's originally from Holland, a true Viking and a man of God with a heart bigger than life. Marc is probably the most intelligent man in my inner circle. I've seen Marc go through a lot in the ten years that I've known him. Some good things, and other rather difficult things that has tested his faith. We've had many deep, philosophical and spiritual discussions over the years about anything from God, relationships, marriage, careers, to his love of superhero comic books (do not get into a trivia contest about which superhero has what powers and how they got it. You will lose) .


I've also learned tons from his expertise--fitness and nutrition (Marc is workout fanatic, having been a body builder in the past and although not schooled in nutrition, his knowledge surpasses that of many PhD's). Marc is also a self-taught theology junkie. He knows more about the Bible than many pastors and, I venture to say, has a scholar level understanding of hermeneutics and apologetics. I've lost count how many different versions of Bibles and concordances he either has read or owns. In fact, at one point a few years ago, Marc started writing his own Bible version!

Earlier in the year, I was floored when he informed that he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. With several states now between us, I was left with phone calls and emails to stay connected to updates on his daily 5-hour chemo grind at the hospital. Although this has taken a physical and mental toll on Marc at times, sapping his energy and strength, it has not taken his spirit. He has written a blog called Dealing with Testicular Cancer which is dedicated to educating men about this disease in hopes that they might not have to go through what he is going through.

I highly recommend starting at the beginning of his journey, which explains why he's writing it, and build from there--read of the warning signs of this type of cancer. It is hard-hitting, as Marc gives some very intimate and painful accounts of how this has impacted him at every level.

I hope you'll take the time to visit his blog and give him a shout out. And spread the word!

Rock Lobster, 30 Years Later

It's funny how certain things from my youth tend to return in cycles. Back in the day when I was 30 pounds lighter, sported a flat top, wore skinny checkered ties and trench coats, I listened to some very cool bands (cool only to those teens who weren't into heavy metal and hard rock). I still occasionally enjoy reminiscing over the music of my generation on my iPOD. One of those bands was the B-52s.

One day after my birthday (June 11) I, along with my wife and some friends from church went out to a Riverbend concert in Chattanooga. The headlining act? You guessed it--the B-52s.

Talk about a surreal time warp. Thirty years after I discovered them in my zit-faced, teenybop scrawnyness, here they were, now probably pushing 60, still rockin' and putting on a show for both parents and their teenage kids discovering them first the first time. The surreal part is that I never got a chance to see them in concert in my youth. Now, with really no intent or urge to flashback to days long forgotten, I stood sat with other fortysomethings singing giddy to lyrics like "Boys in bikini.....girls in surfboard...." at the top of my lung. Too funny. And now also a memory etched in my recent past.

Fred Schneider still had the unmistakable quirky vocals despite the wrinkles and sunken eyes; singers Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson, minus their signature beehives of the 80's, put on a few pounds but were still having fun on stage. Guitarist Keith Strickland looked like the same guy 28 years later. They didn't move as much of course, but still put on a great show and came out for an encore to play their first two hits from their first album--Rock Lobster and Planet Claire.

Here's a then and now look at the B-52s.


And a five second Google search got me exactly what I was looking for--a video of them playing at the same concert we went to. The audio quality is poor off a digital camera, and also try to ignore the cameraman's own singing to Rock Lobster--their encore song. But I don't blame him. I was doing the same thing!

Good times. Now, back to reality.....