Like the snake who calls the lizard a reptile
Like the chimp who calls the jester a clown
When I tell you, “You oughta be ashamed of yourself”
I’ve gotta set my knees on the ground
O how the mighty have fallen
O how the reckless are crawling now
O how the mighty have fallen
Such a long way down
Thank you, please don’t swing your shovel at my head, friend
No, I truly won’t appreciate that sound
When you tell me I surely should atone for my sin
I hope you know the fate of the proud
O how the mighty have fallen…
– The Choir (Hindalong, Byrd)
Interests:
Leadership, living missionally, Photography, baseball, graphics, computers, technology, writing, cycling.
Education:
BA – University of Maine, Journalism
MA – LBTS, Theology (focus – Church planting)
In 1984 I married my college sweetheart, Robin. We have raised three awesome kids – Josh, Shara, and Jake – who are all uniquely gifted.
I’m a son, brother, husband, grandfather, father, photographer, designer, coach, shepherd, writer, children’s author, reader …
Favorite Movies:
Field of Dreams, It’s a Wonderful Life
Favorite Music:
The Choir, U2, Paul Simon, Country (yeah … I know … sorry.)
My Story
I grew up the youngest of three kids with two sisters ten and twelve years older than me. My parents were average, middle-class Americans doing the best they could. My Dad was an alcoholic, on and off the wagon, while my mom worked to hold things together every time dad slipped.
I never doubted my parents’ love. Despite his illness, my dad had three priorities that were evident no matter where he was in his struggle; God, country, and family. We were in church most every Sunday morning and both of my parents held positions of leadership in our church.
I married my college sweetheart in 1984. Together, we raised three fantastic children, Joshua, Shara and Jacob, through the normal ups and downs of life. We met every challenge together.
In May of 2011, I became aware of my largest struggle yet. Without a liver transplant, I would die. I declined rapidly and was hospitalized approximately every 15 days over the next year.
On May 7, 2012, my son gave me half of his liver to save my life. Today I am living life again and so very thankful. I face the common concerns of people living with transplant but that’s fine with me. I’m alive!
Today, every day is a bonus day. We have five grandchildren and are thankful for a full and active life. We are actively sponsoring 4 girls in third-world poverty in Guatemala and are very active in our local church where I serve as Lead Pastor. I also am actively involved in volunteering with Donate Life, Rotary International, my local schools, and The Locker Project addressing food insecurity in children.
Drinking from the Same Dipper 
Hello Scott,
I wish you all the best on your journey. My 2 year old daughter had a liver transplant January 23, 2009. She was a very healthy girl, until she woke up January 5, 2009 with jaundiced eyes. The cause unknown, but probably viral. After 1.5 weeks of hospital visit, she was admitted and watched for acute liver failure. In the meantime, numerous family members were being screened to be her donor. She is a very lucky little girl!! On January 21, 2009 she was diagnosed with acute liver failure and listed on the national donor list. 2 days later her Aunt was told she was the perfect match and went to surgery that same day. At this time my daugher’s health was plumiting. After a 6 hours donor surgery, my sister came out of the OR without complications. She has healed without any long term complications. My daughter also had a straightforward 10 hours surgery without surgical complications. Following her liver transplant we have experienced a couple bumps in the road (neutropenic that resolved 1 year later, high blood pressure that resolved 4 months post transplant, anaphylactic food allergies which is being managed still with avoiding certain foods, asthma which was stimulated by the allergies, a lowered immunity due to the immunosuppression which will be lifelong), but life has returned to a new normal, not much different than her senior kindergarten friends. Our faith has been a big part of our journey as well. We are very thankful for our miracles! Since the beginning of our journey we have raised $100,000 towards improving the health and wellbeing of liver transplant recipients through research at The Hospital for Sick Children through Ashley’s Angels. Thank you for sharing your story. All the best!
Sherrie
Absolutely awesome!! Praise GOD!!!
The trifecta….personally designed by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!!!
I could not be happier for you, for Robin, your children and family!
WOW!!!
Best, Julie Goodwin
Hi Scott,
You don’t know me but my name is Joe Rosario but I suspect that we have a lot in common, as I received a liver transplant at the Lahey Clinic in 2007. Just to ensure you that I am not some kind of nut I was on a conference call with the NEOB (your sister was also on the call) and the subject of your fund raiser that was being held today came up. I decided to check it out and I actually had the chance to meet your sister today at the First Parish Church. Like yourself, one of the options presented to me by my surgeon was the option of a living donor. I come from a large family and was fortunate enough to have family that wanted to volunteer for this. My younger brother drew the short straw and actually was my donor. Just so you are know both him and I are doing well.
I just wanted to take the time today and introduce myself. I know first hand what you are going through. So please, if you have any questions or want to talk about my experiences (and yours) then please feel free to contact me either by phone or e-mail. Below is my contact information.
joerosario74@gmail.com
H 282-6982
C 450-1520
Trust me when I tell you that you will get through this and come out of it feeling like a new man.
Scott, please post a picture on your ChipIn page – also…make updates on it..that might help.. also, make sure you mention it on every one of your postings. Nobody likes to beg, but dude – you – if nobody else needs the help right now and that is what your brothers and sisters are here to do for you! So far, so good..keep it up. Lotsa people praying for you!
Oh! and about the debt being “forgiven” at the hospital – if you need me to talk to that lady, you let me know. I’m sick myself, but I’m a fierce little tigress. If they’ll take the 10k on the 27th of June, they’ll take it on the 27th of August or September 🙂 This is about humanity! You let her know that we are pulling together to raise money and that the hospital will be paid and we are doing everything that we can but money doesn’t grow on trees – even on money trees as I found out as a kid! Then, ask her for a donation and give her your ChipIn page link:)
wendy.onsted@gmail.com
Love to you and your family!
Wendy
Scott, you need a page on chipin.com for donations. Love, wendy
Pingback: Your Kid’s an All Star? Wow!… | ECC | Youth Worker Update
God bless you, brother. I just came to this post from a mention and online reprint of it by Mark Oestreicher at churchleaders.com. I am the administrator (that is, “pastor” in all but official title) at St. Clare Church in “the other Portland” in Oregon. Just want you to know I’m sending a link to your post to our church’s coordinator of youth ministry and to the director of Youth/Young Adult Minstry for the (Catholic) Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon.
I’m a YM Leader in 3 Catholic churches in Rochester NY and I’d like to use it as well. I saw it on whyismarko? Very well written! I’ll be following you from now on too.
hi scott!
my name is rondi pogue and i am the director of the high school ministry at a church down in san diego, ca. we came across your article about kids and their sports and the parents response to them. we LOVE your article and that is the biggest challenge for us down here. we have shared your article with so many people and they have had great discussions about this topic.
we are wanting to print your article up and give it to our parents (obviously putting your name on it) so they too can read it. would you mind if we did that? i wanted to double check with you before i did anything.
thanks so much!
again, GREAT article!
Of course … use it to help. Thanks for asking.
Credit and a link to my blog at https://scottlinscott.wordpress.com is appreciated.
I’m doing the same.
Thanks Dan. I signed in and am looking around.
Scott,
I noticed you re-tweeted Doug’s tweet about joining the Summit Team here at LT. Thanks a ton for doing that. The more people who know about it, the better we can serve youth workers. I also wanted to let you know about an online community of youth workers. It’s called Leading Youth Ministry. LeaderTreks created created our own Ning (free online social network similar to Facebook) solely for youth worker to get together and share ideas about leadership in youth ministry. Check it out if you can and if you feel it is valuable, please tell others about it as well. Thanks Scott.