Camp and Camp


Man, there seems to be two things that youth ministry revolves around Summer Camp and Winter Camp. These two events which take so much planning and execution are great, but just when you have one all figured out and planned you are making the plans for the next one. Then when you throw in Missions trips and activities and service projects and . . .

It seems like I’m always having to plan some major event and then a bunch of little ones. This is fun and all and these events are totally worth the effort because of the change that they create in the lives of students, but man do they keep one busy.

6 months just fly by

Well the past six months have just flown right by,

So much has happened that it would be hard to write about. But here are the high lights. I started working as the student ministries pastor at the Northgate Church, in Seattle, WA.

Our church has voted to sell our current campus and move to a campus that will better meet our needs as a church. This new campus will also open up amazing opportunities for growth.

This process of becoming in essence a new church is very exciting and scary at the same time. We don’t know all the challenges ahead of us, but we are ready to go where God is leading.

The hearts of the leaders and of the people are becoming brand new. It is really quite a unique thing that is happening. I would hesitate to call it a revival, but a re-birth.

I would never have thought a year ago that God would be taking me through this journey, but I couldn’t imagine to be anywhere else.

Too Long

It has been too long since I last posted on this blog. But ultimately who’s reading this except me. Life has slowed down a lot. Since leaving position of Youth Ministries Director 1 month ago I have been relaxing and really focusing on getting my relationship with God tightened up. It’s amazing what you take for granted when you are in the ministry. I never want to get to that point again. I have been reading The Message, lately and I have found that this paraphrase is very refreshing. I am enjoying the bible like I haven’t for a long, long time.

I am still in the process of applying for the Youth Pastor position in Northgate, and things are looking good, but not locked in. God is in control and I’m okay with that.

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

So I just purchased the new U2 album, and I must say that I am in love with it. This album has a depth of emotion that I haven’t heard in popular music for a long time.

As a way to get my self in the mode for this new album I listened to every u2 album, and I came to a shocking realization. All That You Can’t Leave Behind is really not a great album. Yes it has a lot of great songs, but it lacks a certain unifying quality to all the songs, “New York”, “Peace on Earth” and “Wild Honey” stand out as tracks that are just so different from the rest of the album that it diminishes the flow of listening. They are not bad songs but they just don’t fit.

I am pleased to say that Atomic Bomb does not have that problem, the band really put together a great unified album that tugs at the heart and soul of the listener.

Right of the top I knew this album was going to be great even if Bono can’t count.

Now I can’t wait for the Tour that I am going to make every effort to attend.

Resignation

Well it’s out in the open now. I am resigning my current youth pastor position and I will be embarking on a journey that is completely unknown to me. On one hand I am really excited, on the other I am quite anxious about what on earth I am going to do. I feel a lot like Abraham going to a place he didn’t know because he decided that following God is better than being comfortable.

I feel God is pulling me into a new place, and I think he is going to do a lot of work in my spirit refining me and reminding me of what he has called me to, and giving me bigger dreams and just filling my passion up again. I am really, really excited. I know that where ever I end up God will be able to use me to build his kingdom.

Exciting stuff.

God’s Grace

one of the things that I have been trying to come to terms with is a biblical understanding of God’s grace. And when I read the Bible I can clearly see implied messages of God’s ultimate sovereignty and authortity, and whoever comes to grace in Christ is secure in that grace. And I love that and I welcome it because I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, and I would personally never leave his grace. I can understand that eternality of salvation.

But I guess I get caught up in questions is when I see people who were active in the church, and would say that they loved God, when I see these people turn away from God, it is hard for me to say that they were probably never really saved.

I was talking to my wife last night about these issues and she made a really good point that they were around God, but they were never really in God. They felt the effects of God’s presence, but they never dwelled in God’s presence. They heard the right things for them to do, but they didn’t fully “Buy into” the beliefs.

That helped me understand how they could have possible never really been saved.

Mortality

I just heard that a very influential person in my life just had a heart attack of some sort. I don’t know all the details, but man this really hits home. As far as I know he is still alive but man mortality sucks. I wish we didn’t have to go through these hardships in life. I wish I could say with confidence that I would see you tomorrow, but I can’t do that.

It reminds me about what James says about don’t live in tomorrow making all your plans and stuff. Rather you should live right now in God’s grace, doing what God would have you do.

Help me Lord to make the most of the right now!

Confrontation

What is it about people, that we don’t like being told how we are messing up. I am under the same curse. I hate being corrected, but yet I need it, at times I crave it. Sometimes I need a good butt kicking to get me going in the right direction.

At our youth ministry there are some kids who are rebelling, trying to “find their own way”. And the problem is their own way is destructive and dangerous, and it is scary for me to see them going through this. When I talk to them about this, they seem to not care and just keep doing what they are doing. Now they are saying that they need space and time away from the ministry, which is good and bad, but ultimately very frustrating.

It’s days like this that I just want to quit and do something different, less stressful. But I have to rely on God and remember that I’m here becuase he has called me, and I need to trust him, that as long as I do what he wants me to do I’m in a pretty good place.

God Help me. Comfort me. Direct me. I want to build this ministry for you and not for my own glory. Thank you for all you’ve done and I pray that you would continue you great and awesome work. I want to see lives changed by your power, and I want to be used by you.

Amen