Weekend of Fun and Community

The family and I had a great weekend. The long weekend and not really having anything to do really gave us time to just relax and enjoy ourselves. Since moving to Kansas City and being a fulltime youth pastor, these weekends don't happen often.

Saturday we just hung out, cleaned the house and did nothing much else. The house didn't take the long to clean since we cleaned it a lot last weekend. Sunday we had church and then in the afternoon we had Super Soaker Sunday with the students. We bought a ton of water balloons and a cool slip n' slide. The teens had a blast and got soaked, dried and then soaked again. We had so much fun. The coolest part is that we had like 5-7 families who came and hung out with us, ate some food and had good conversation. Monday we got up as slow as possible. Made lunch around 11 and just hung out till 2, when we went to church to spend time with some families.

Another great time of just hanging out and building community. I am hoping that over the summer we (the church) create more times for our congregation to build community with one another and grow closer as a people. I am thinking of starting to have Sunday Afternoon lunches where people just hang out at church, grill out and build community. I think it will be great for everyone.

Graduation is over...

I can't believe that most of the Graduation festivities are almost over. I have been to many parties and 2 graduation. We have about 15 students graduation out of our ministry this year, and I am excited for all of them. I remember my big day and the emotion it held.

I do have to say that society should really update the Graduation ceremony. I can't believe how boring and un-teenager it is. I fell asleep sitting there watching it. It seems that it is all about the adults rather than the students. I heard the same speech twice from the same people, it was kind of funny. So I don't know. There has got to be a better way of doing graduation that makes the Seniors actually want to go..

Any thoughts?

Confirmation 2008

In the Methodist church they have a tradition called Confirmation. This is a time set aside for an age group to be brought into the church as members. For Platte Woods, we offer Confirmation during the 8th grade year for a 12 week period. During this time we cover everything from the Bible, the beginning Church, the Methodist Church and personal Salvation. This was my first year ever doing Confirmation. Growing up in the Nazarene church, we didn't do confirmation. I am glad to be able to do it though.

I really believe in Confirmation. I believe that students should have the information to make an informed decision about their faith. We had 32 students finish Confirmation this year. 32 students who stood in front of the church last Sunday and proclaimed (with all their information) that they put their lives and faith in Jesus Christ. 32 8th graders who stood in front of 500+ people unashamed of their sin and giving their life to God.

I am very proud of each of these students and pray for them all the time. I know that what they did was hard. I know that some of them did it just because their parents wanted them to. I know some of them will leave the church or never come back, because they either don't understand God or want to know Him. That part breaks my heart. BUT I also know that there are those who stood in front of the Congregation and were serious about their commitment. I know there are those who want to live the life that God has for them. I know they love God and want to life their life for Him.

God has a plan for all 32 confirmation students. He wants what is best for these students, all they have to do is stick with Him...

When God takes Charge!!!

There are many times in my life where I thought that I was doing what God was telling me to, only to find out it wasn't. Do you ever feel like that. You get caught up in the emotion of the moment and go with the flow, only to have it come back at you.

I do that. When I don't take the time to consult God, to pray over it, to ignore the tiny cricket in my head telling me to slow down and be patient. So much of our life we are told to go with our feelings. To live for the moment, but the moment always passes and most of the time we are left thinking 'I waited for that' because we are always left wanting.

But I have also had the other side, I have been in God's will completely and could literally feel the love around me and His satisfaction with what I was doing. It is an amazing feeling and a place where I always want to be. You see, God knows what is best for us no matter what we think. We all think we are always right, but that isn't the case.

God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." God knows our life better than we do and wants nothing but to help us find the eternal feeling of being in his will...

Been a year...

I can't believe I have lived in Kansas City for a year. That's right, one whole year. A year ago today I started my position at Platte Woods Church. I still can't believe it. So many great things have happened since coming here and the future looks just as bright.

I am also sporting a new haircut... I challenged my students to bring their friends to a concert a couple weeks ago, and while they didn't get the exact number, they were close enough. So they had the chance to shave my head. I had a mohawk for a few hours but I quickly shaved that off.

I'm Back....

Wow, not even sure if people are still checking out my blog... If you are, thanks. Sorry it has been while. I am going to try to start blogging more. I am going to try to use it to start posting some curriculum, lessons, videos, etc from my youth ministry. I know there are people out there who can use this stuff but don't want to spend the money, so I am going to try to help. My first project will be a summer series called "What's the Difference?". We will look at the different religions of the world and see how they differ from Christianity and what we might learn from them. I am excited about this series and I think the students and adults are...

Be on the look out for more upcoming news.