Update 11.20.08

Well it's been awhile and I just decided that I should write a little bit. Things that have happened lately include:
getting pantry stocked by a clergy appreciation dinner
looking forward to having my family coming to my house for Thanksgiving
Drinking americanos at Starbucks
playing Fifa '08
trying to figure out junior high schoolers
proceeding on my car situation.

Last week I went the Athens GA to scope out the town a little bit. I'm going to take my family there when they come. I'm also going to Longhorn steakhouse tonight. It should be relatively incredible. Other than that, I just continue to plug away, trying to learn the best I can how to be a good youth minister. Enough for now. I'll talk to ya later...

The Way I see it #141

"I used to feel so alone in the city. All those gazillions of people and then me, on the outside. Because how do you meet a new person? I was very stumped by this for many years. And then I realized, you just say, 'Hi.' They may ignore you. Or you may marry them. And that possibility is worth that one word."

--Augusten Burroughs

I read this quote today at Starbucks and enjoyed it, so I thought I would share it. Hope you enjoy!

Ressurection letters volume II

Last night I went to a free Andrew Peterson concert in Conyers, GA. The name of his album is the title of this post. The songs are all about how Jesus brings new life--resurrection to all those who put their hope in him. The stories in the songs are really powerful. I enjoyed it thoroughly and bought two c.d.'s. It is called volume two because after they had already wrote all these songs about our ressurrection, they realized that all this is possible because Jesus died and rose from the dead. So they are going to go back and write volume 1--all about Jesus' ressurection. I'm looking forward to that one too.
TTYL

The Roller Coaster of Life

Well this last month has been way up and way down. There seems to not be any middle ground. It's either really good and pleasant, or really frustrating and depressing. A month ago I got my shoulder dislocated. Not long after that I got to go home, to Joplin MO and see family--a great time. However, when I was gone, my plans I had set up for youth group just flopped big time. I got that worked out though and the next week I got to go to a huge conference for free, and actually get paid to go to it! However, the night before I was leaving I received very disturbing news that someone wanted to quit helping with the ministry because they felt that I had pushed them out. Once again I was in the valley. Well I got that worked out and hosted a good friend in town for the weekend. That was awesome. Then the next week, I was just complaining to God in my journal because I felt slightly burnt out, and it was really hitting me hard that this thing I signed up for doesn't just end. It's ongoing, all the time. Well that day, God showed me his faithfulness like crazy and everything went better than I could've hoped. The very next day, someone pulled across my lane of traffic and I crashed my car into a minivan. I'm fine physically, but my car might be totaled because it is so old. I don't have money to buy a new car. Then, on top of that, I found out that two people close to me made some very foolish decisions. It really disappointed me. Both of them have potential for leadership.
I'm still awaiting the outcome of this car thing. It's frustrating and confusing, but causing me to trust all the more. Hopefully the next direction is up, since the last few days have been filled with really sucky stuff. It makes me really evaluate my title, because sometimes life doesn't seem like it's so good. I guess it still is. I know I'll get through it, and that sometimes life just happens.

Planes and razorblades

So I flew four times in three days, carried on all my luggage, and it was great. Of the three airports I was in (Atlanta, Chicago, and Springfield Missouri) my bag only got checked in Springfield. I was honestly frustrated because I knew that I didn't have anything in there I wasn't supposed to. I even packed all my liquids and gels in a little ziplock like they want you to.
When I opened my suitcase today I realize why they might have stopped my bag. The pair of shorts I packed had a razor blade knife in it. I big box knife! I snuck on a razorblade on accident! I guess I'm not the brightest knife in the shed. Maybe the airport security isn't either though seeing how they pulled my bag out, searched it and missed the knife.
Last week before I left for the three day trip, I had that box knife in my pocket and just threw my shorts in without really looking. I got a kick out of that today unpacking all my clothes.

My Trip Home

Well, I'm sitting in Springfield Missouri's airport after a rush of two days back in Joplin, my hometown, at a CIY brainstorming session for next summer's MOVE conference. It was great. I got to meet several new people, and make great connections in ministry in several different states. Yesterday (wednesday) we had a planning session all day. We got a lot hammered out. We talked about theme, scripture to go along with it, issues that our students face, all kinds of stuff.
About 5:00 we were finished for awhile and so I headed on over to OCC and went to the cafeteria to see some people. It was a crazy mix of seeing new faces and seeing some people still there that shouldn't be. It brought back good memories. I got to see several friends and hear how this year was going. I guess things can go on without me. I also went up to Williamson 1st and saw my old floor. That was really cool too. The guys are doing great and really stepping up in their leadership.
Seeing my family was really great too. We surprised Megan and Jordan on Tuesday night. I rang the doorbell on Tuesday night about 9:00 and Megan was super surprised and excited. I'm smiling right now as I think about her reaction. I saw her wedding video and the improvements to the house they had made. At one point Megan said, "You guys gotta see what I did in the bathroom." Immediately my mind thought of something I'm sure Megan didn't mean. We had cheesecake and tea, and played a game. A great time. I really love my family alot. They are so cool. I'm extremely blessed to have them.
One more tangent. Last night we ate at Stouts, a very original pizza place in Joplin. There was a table in the corner with a family of four that made Georgia look not so redneck. These Joplinites each ordered their own pizza! Not a personal pan, but an entire pizza. The Dad put his all away and the rest of them finished over half. They were missing teeth but not manners. They were actually very clean and respectable, but the sheer amount of pizza was incredible.
These past three days have been incredible. I love what I'm doing, and the new people I've met, but it has made me miss the Ozark relationships. I hope we can import that Ozark culture where everyone is so focused on Kingdom value things and the sense of community and understood need of it is so great. I was the only single person this entire weekend. Everyone else was talking about their families and children and such. It made me a little lonely. I'm doing okay though. Things will happen in their right time. Now I just want to focus on getting a roomate and having a little extra money to pay mortgage and do a little more flexible things. I never want money to trap me though. It can easily do that the more we have of it. There is a fine line I don't want to cross of having enough extra for when a rainy day comes, and putting your hope of salvation in the dollar bill. Maybe this stock market bailout thing can teach me a lesson about that. Anyway, that is enough for one day. A lot about a lot. So many emotions are going through my head right now. Untill next time...

Maybe I'm not so lucky

Well, 9 days ago I dislocated my right shoulder playing soccer in a local indoor league. Maybe I'm not so lucky after all. Everything is fine now, and I seem to be recovering well. I see the doctor in two days, so I'm hoping he will give me good news and a good plan for rehab.
It sure makes normal tasks difficult if you only have one hand. Try driving, cooking, doing laundry with your non-dominant hand.
To make things better though, I'll be in Missouri this next week and see my family, which I'm really excited about. I'll be doing the CIY thing, evaluating the conference last summer and looking at next summer's theme and ideas. I'm really honored and excited. I'm trying to get ahead so I won't have to stress about lesson plans and all that. I think I'm almost there. This first year continues to be a mixture of good, new, hard, stressfull, and a lot of mixed feelings. I was looking at pictures of the OCC soccer team today on Facebook and it got me missing it. Also the dorm life and cafeteria life is just so special. However, there are plenty of good things here. I also am confident this is where I need to be right now. I just need to get over the stress of planning trips many months out, and trying to decide on themes for retreats and such. It's all going to be okay.
Well I guess it's time to go back home and watch football and take notes on Exodus. Untill next time...

I'm just lucky I guess

This past week I've found out about two really cool opportunities. First, I've been invited to be a representative at a conference to promote a new book. This is a conference that I already wanted to go to, but it gets better. They are going to pay me $100 to go and volunteer. The only thing I'll have to do is adjust my day off at work and go. It will be pretty cool.
The other thing is a CIY planning session for the MOVE summer conference. I've been invited to help plan and evaluate so next year will be better. What's so great about this is that CIY is located in Joplin where my family lives. I'll get to see them again, plus many Ozark friends that I miss. That will be really neat. I just have to make sure my bases are covered at church. That shouldn't be a problem--I already have preliminary plans.
Beyond that, I continue to grow and be stretched. Last night after youth group a girl asked "You said that God wins in the end. Does Satan know he is going to lose?" That made me wonder where in scripture points to that fact. Sometimes ministry is hard. Alot of the time I just hope that what I am doing is accomplishing what I intend it to. I just want these students to grow up into mature Christian adults who know how to take care of their own spiritual lives. I want it to be so much more than just something we do on Sundays because we've always done it. I want it to be so much more than just a Lion's Club. Our communities need to be intentionally focused on Jesus.
Tonight I plan on going to a JV football game and then on to my soccer game. Life continues to be good even though there is so much that is also hard and stretching. Well, untill next time.

Good Quote

"The world needs you to find the hero within you. The real battle is not between good and evil but between less and more. Most of us don't choose the worst life; we just don't choose the best. We can't afford for you to sleep through your dreams. . . Very few are meant for a life of notoriety, yet all of us are meant for a life of significance." --Erwin McManus

That has been a lot of what I've learned in my first three months here in GA. Alot of people, alot of the time just get by and live an okay life. I don't want to be them. I want to live the best possible life I can!

Life and Ministry

Well, just to catch up on what's been going on recently. Today I woke up at 5:30 to leave at 6:00am for the hospital in Atlanta to see one of our youth group girls who was having a procedure. She was really glad that I was there. It was definitely an investment in my ministry, but a short night. My attitude about it started out good, then changed to aggravated, but then changed back to good after I got back about 10:00. They gave her "loopy medicine" which took awhile to take effect, but once it did, it was really funny. At one point, she turned over from lying on her back to getting on her hands and knees on her bed and putting her face into the pillow! Lot's of fun.
Last night was also a first for me. I led the youth band for the first time. Things went well. No major problems. My microphone lost battery power right at the beginning, so Jennifer ran and got new batteries and replaced my mike halfway through the first song. We've only practiced twice, so I was overall pleased.
Also, last night I had a video chat session via skype with 1st floor Williamson. That's the floor I lived on for three years in College and was RA for two of those year. I really loved that place and those guys. It was really cool to see them.
Other than that, just still learning and adjusting to life in GA. It's familiar now, yet still new. It's home in most ways, but still new in many as well. I'm going to dive back into an N.T. Wright book now. Wish me luck!

Friday Night Footbal

Last night was the first game of the Loganville Red-Devils football season. They were playing a team that was supposed to beat them pretty badly. However, Loganville pulled it out in overtime 29-28. It was cool to experience the local fun. More and more this is becoming home for me. It's really not been that bad of a transition. I'm not too homesick or anything. God has brought a fair amount of friends into my life, for which I am incredibly grateful.
Last night I noticed something. Most of the youth group was at the game. They were enjoying themselves and their friends. I'm sitting here at Starbucks writing this and Starbucks is once again (as usual) pretty busy with a fairly large crowd. What is it about these places, these events that cause people to be such a part of that community? What is it about high school football that brings so many people together. Why is the team so big when many don't even step on the field to play. Why are they commited to it? Why do people sacrifice their money at Starbucks for a drink they could make at their house for a small fraction of the price?
There is just something about the community of the football team--even being in the audience. We are called to something bigger than ourselves, and we start saying things like, "We have the ball our 40 yard line." Why do we say "We?" I'm not out there. But somehow I belong to the team. There is comraderie. Even at Starbucks, there is some sense of this community that brings people together.

What can the church learn from these places? I'm not really sure. There is something about high school football and Starbucks though. There is just somethng that brings people together and calls them to commitment. All those guys have to pay the price every day in practice and most don't even step on the field. Why do they still go? Somehow they believe, (and know) that what they do is important. They are part of something bigger than themselves.

Well I guess that's enough for now. Just stuff to think about. I have to go to a funeral now, and then get ready to have some friends over for dinner tonight. Untill next time...

growing up

Well, today I ordered business cards and personal postcards online. Pretty cool. I got to upload my own design. I'm excited for them to come in. They are simple, with only my name on them. Then I can write whatever else I want to on them.
Other than that, earlier this week I bought a card table with folding chairs. It's weird that I would buy something like that but I'm domesticated now. I also get excited about grocery shopping, which is weird as well.
These things make me think of when I was younger. I had bunches of homework and I thought my life was pretty crazy busy. I remember thinking, "Wow, I can't wait till my life is like yours Mom. Then I can just work from 9-5 and be done. Forget homework and all the other stuff. My life will be much easier then." But now I'm here. I'm older, and I was way off base back when I was younger. However, even though it's stressful, it is good.
Okay, that's all for now. I'm sure I'll be back before long.

Birthday fun

Well, yesterday was my birthday and it was a good one. This was the first birthday that I spent away from Joplin, but I still felt the love of so many family and friends. I got something like 40 facebook messages, a couple of texts, several phone calls, including both my parents and my newlywed sister and my brother in law. I talked to a good friend on the phone for 30 minutes and received a couple of cards as well. I also received hotwheels from a six-year old and candles from a four year old. Oh, and I got two cakes. So all in all, it was an awesome day. These are truly the best presents anyway, more than money and all the other stuff, just the communication with people you love and knowing that they love you is pretty cool.

Home!?

Well, I am now in Joplin MO, arriving safely after an all night drive from Loganville GA. It took about 12 hours, two of which I slept. I just woke up from a nap back down in my old room in the basement. Already I've got right back into the swing of things--eating breakfast homemade by my mom, playing with Cali, our little dog, and tonight we are going to have some more family time.
The reason I'm back for these few days is because Megan is getting married. I'm really excited for her, and super glad to be here. Jordan her fiance is great, and I like him a lot. He treats her well and they really love each other. It's good to be home...
However, there's a different feeling now. I still feel right at home wit my family, and there is always going to be an aspect about Joplin that is "home" but the feeling when we pulled in today was different. I knew that I would only be here for a few days. I'm a home owner in GA now, or least on my way to becoming one. I've made investments in the students in the youth group, and tried to make new friends and relationships in Loganville, whether that is at Starbucks, the grocery store, my neighborhood, or wherever. Home for me has started to change and in many ways has already, even after only two months, become Loganville, GA. I pay a mortgage, electric, water, and gas bills to companies in GA. The people I talk to every day live in Loganville. The students in the youth group that I'm thinking about, praying for, and hanging with are all here. The church body that I worship with is here. It's just different. There are parts that I love and parts that are really hard.
Home for me has changed, and that is really crazy.

Incarnation!?!

So I was getting ready for a youth group lesson about the Incarnation of Jesus and asking questions like--what is it exactly, why do we need it, what makes it so amazing? One observation that I came across that I had never thought of before was from Genesis 3.8 when God was walking in the Garden. I mean, I had noticed that before, but never thought about it in this certain way. See I had also been reading Scriptures like Col. 2.9, "The fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form..." Then Phil. 3.21 speaks of of our bodies being transformed into a body like Jesus' glorious body. Hebrews also speaks of a mediator, which is Jesus, that has to be a man so he can understand fully the situation that man finds himself in.
Anyway, what I'm am getting at in a roundabout way is that Jesus is still living incarnationally--fully God and fully man. Paul writes that the fullness of the Deity lives--currently--in bodily form! It seems to me that one thing that the Incarnation does is start the restoration process to get back to Eden. There was once a time when God walked in the Garden and Adam and Eve heard him. I'm not sure exactly what that was like, but what if he was in human form--incarnationally fully God and fully man. What if Jesus coming to our level--taking on a body, dealing with sin, and identifying as our perfect high priest is part of the restoration process to redeem this broken and fallen world.
Pretty cool to think about. Jesus is reigning as fully God and fully man--Incarnationally. Through Him we ar on our way back to Eden--to the perfect dwelling!

Mixed Emotions

Well, I am about a month and a half close to two months on the job here at Corinth Christian. For the most part things are going well. I'm enjoying people, making new friends, watching new movies, getting settled in a house, learning to cook, and being domesticated. I'm getting used to life as an adult.
Last night at youth group two things happened. First, before it started, three girls from the group gave me a not that was filled with encouragement. They all said that I was doing a good job and they enjoyed having me here and that they hoped that I was enjoying myself and liking them as well. That felt pretty good--to have someone tell you that you are awesome.
But then later in the middle of youth group, I was preaching and right after I made a historical claim, I heard someone whisper (but loudly) "that's not true." Now, if it was just an ordinary kid, it wouldn't have made me nervous. The problem is, this kid is super smart, probably on the level of a genius. It really made me think hard about what I was saying. I trust this kids knowledge. It made me realize that I have to be on the top of my game and I can't just make a claim because it sounds like it should be true or because I read it somewhere. I need to make sure I've documented everything and done very careful study and research.
Now, it could have just been a misunderstanding between what I said and how they heard it, because I did a little more research today and I feel like I was right--it might have just came out wrong. Nevertheless, talking about Jesus and making claim for Him and in His name is a big deal.
All in all though, I am happy. I am learning new things all the time. They are stressfull to the max sometimes--people telling me that they want to do what they can to help. I don't know if they really mean it, or if they just want to keep an eye out. Plus, everyone has their own ideas about how things need to be done, or how they have been done in the past, and I've only been here a month. It's becoming more and more my home though. Last night at youth group, I was the most myselft I've been here yet. I was nice.
Anyway, enough for now, I'm going to go eat lunch!

Why pray...especially in groups

If God already knows what we need, why pray? Why go before the all-knowing God of the universe with the facts and requests of our menial lives. In addition, yesterday, someone asked me "why do you pray in groups. I find it easier to pray and easier to focus when it's just me and God"--plus we all could pray at the same time rather than just listening while the others pray.
It was a question that no one had asked me before for sure. At first I was blown away, and shocked but then gained composure and answered the best I knew how. I said as a community we are a body, each not complete without the others. We learn more about God and each other as we approach him together. God has given us passion about different things, and when we pray we learn the broader picture of God. I also tried to paint the picture of him learning about his father and loving his father more deeply while simply listening to him interact with his mother, or his brothers. He would see different sides of his father and get to know him better simply by watching him interact with others.
Anyway, this is just one example of how I am learning a lot at this time in my life. If you read this, please post a response to the question--why pray in groups, or even more generally--why pray at all. I want to get a broad perspective. Thanks. Untill next time...

Whirlwind of awesomeness

Well, things are off to a good start here at Corinth Christian Church.  This last week CIY Move came and went in a whirlwind, my second week on the job.  Things are crazy but they are good.  I got to baptize two students in the Atlantic Ocean of Savannah on Thursday.  That was quite an experience.  Then right when I got home today, I met my neighbor Jeff.  He is really cool and was very friendly and invited me to hang with him and his fiance on the fourth and seemed like he would be willing to help whenever, with whatever.  It is so cool how the Lord answers prayer like he does, because I was praying this last week at CIY that I would meet my neighbors and then I get home and that is the first thing that even happened.  Then I got to take a nap and refresh from the tiring week in my new bed and slept comfortably in my house.  The Lord has been so good to me.  I woke up from my nap and went grocery shopping on a gift card given to me by church members.  And now I'm at Starbucks writing on my new laptop that the church bought for me as a work tool.  

I don't deserve any of this and I just find myself in the middle of so much blessings.  I need to be very careful to not get prideful.  All of this is a gift from God--everything from life, to computers, to neighbors to a house.  

If you read this, please stop for just one moment and think about all the good things in your life right now, and thank God that he has been so gracious to you.  I'm loving this ride, even though it is tiring, and new and it will be really hard at times.  I'm learning a lot and it's totally worth it!

It's finally here

Well, I 've been talking about it for awhile now, and anticipating it for some time, but I'm finnally here in Loganville GA as a youth minister. Things are great so far. I'm settled into my new townhome, and my set up is pretty good. I have all the essentials and everything--I'm not going to starve and I have a place to sit. It is still becoming my home though. My parents accompanied me on the trip to help me move in. They left this morning, so today I am really starting to realize that I'm an adult now. I'm looking forward to everything and learning a lot. I've got to go for now, but I'll be back soon. I love you all if anyone even reads this. As always, life is good...

Changes

Change sucks. But change is good. Change will stretch us and grow us into the people God is shaping us to be. I'm processing all of this right now because in one month I'll experience the biggest change of my life so far. I'm moving thirteen hours away, and it's going to be hard to say goodbye to relationships here--old and new. I'm confident that this is where God is leading right now, and I feel very good about this chapter of my life, but that doesn't make it easy. As a youth minister, I will be involved in students lives who are hurting and need hope. They are often confused, and rebellious, and far too often I feel like I don't have big enough eyes to see their hurt, and a big enough heart to feel it like I should.
My only hope is that God would open up my eyes and my heart, and work through me in such a way that it is obvious it is Him and not me.
My life is changing very much in the upcoming months. But some things never change--like a God who is faithful and who loves us. This reminds me of the very title of this blog. No matter what life throws at us, life is still good, because we are not ultimately in control. Change is good!

Wordplay

Basically I just stumbled into this picture tonight and was reminded once more that graduation is so close. I thought I would share it with you all. Hope you enjoy it!

Buying a house

Okay, growing up is weird. I'm graduating in two months and hope to be buying a townhouse down in Loganville. In the past two days, I have purchased a loveseat, a living room chair, dining room table with four chairs. They are all second hand and definitely used, but they came at a good price, and at least I have something now.
It's kinda weird, you know, becoming domesticated. Parts of it are fun, but parts of it are scary. I still have a pretty long list of what people would suggest you need for your first time in a house out on your own. I know a few things though. I know that Corinth Christian Church is very good about taking care of its people. They are so good! I also know that I have a God who cares for even the lillies of the field, the sparrow, the wind and waves, sun, moon and stars. I think he can manage a little time for me. He is more than capable and willing.

It's been awhile

Well, it's been like a year and a half and I finally got back on my site. It's pretty weird, going back, but anyway, I thought that I would just update anyone who sees this as to what's going on in my life.
Here in two short months, I will be moving thirteen hours away to a place called Loganville Georgia. I will be working at a church their called Corinth Christian Church. It's a really neat opportunity, and I'm excited about it. However, I'm also nervous because it's change. It's always easier to just stay the same where you're comfortable you know. I guess change is when you grow the most and realize the most that your strength doesn't come from yourself.
Now it's just finishing up school which I am more and more ready to be done with. I'm ready in a lot of ways to just be living in the real world and realizing all over again that life is still good, even though it's hard sometimes.