Listen for HIs voice . . .

Is it just me or is it really quiet . . .

Maybe I’m just brain dead but in my life right now God seems to be really quiet. There was a time recently when God was speaking clearly and so often that I felt like I couldn’t keep up with all that He was saying and teaching me. Now there is just quiet. I really miss His voice. Usually this happens when I have gotten so busy that I let everything else take up space and make noise. In reflection, last week was a very busy week: Stone Mountain, Six Flags, VBS, and work on top of it all. Now my attention is turned to the balance of the summer and GodStock in August. It just seems like there is a lot of noise that I am trying to get through just to hear that special voice that I want to hear so much.

Pray for each other. It seems that Satan has gained a foot hold in our group some how and there are quite a few struggling spiritually. Pray for a fresh word from God as we move into the middle of the summer and pray as I now begin to look at next year as I look a putting together a budget for next year. I really feel that the best is yet to come this summer.

I am excited about one thing; we now have a speaker for GodStock – Matthew Elrod. I am excited about him coming and bringing a word form God. I am going to try and meet with Pastor Chad and Robbie next week and talk over some things because promotion time is coming up fast.
I am really looking forward to this Sunday evening, being back to normal schedule. David Roach will be bringing the word God has placed on his heart. Invite your friends and let’s pack the place out.

Until next time – keep your eyes on Jesus and listen for a fresh word – it’s coming.

A Great Week . . .

This has been a great week. It has also been a tiring week – but if I am going to be tired, I would just as soon be tired from doing things for my Lord – Jesus. This week has been VBS week and it has been a great week. Just a few thoughts from the week as it stands right now . . .

Tonight is the last night. How can a week go so fast.

Dan Carroll is the bomb. I have known Dan and his wife Kelly for about 12 year now. I love to watch him worship and I love to listen to him teach. There is no doubt that God has His hand on him and his ministry.

I will not plan a trip out of town the weekend before VBS next year. Unless it is a really good trip.

The students have definitely stepped up this week. I have watched as they stepped up to lead in worship through singing and playing their music. I am very proud of our students. They use the talents that God has given them for His glory.

God is giving me great ideas for this fall.

Soft base tennis ball is a game that everyone enjoys. Now I have to find a tennis racket that we can keep at the church. Kick-ball with a big kiddy ball is fun. I’m getting lots of new ideas for games.

We’ve been in the celebration time with the younger kids at the end of the night. I think that Mr. David is going to have girls throwing water balloons at him. I think I need front row seats for this.

I’m really looking forward to getting back to a normal schedule again.

I need to say I’m sorry to Crystal. I started something with a red pen that Mitchell (you need to say you’re sorry too) took over. I should not have started that – but it was fun. I’m sorry.

I don’t get to preach again until August.

Dan has challenged us about what we do for Jesus. He asked us what our passion is. So what is your passion and how are you using it for Christ?

I’m really tired, kind of. Physically tired – spiritually and mentally I’m supercharged. Now I just want some study time to spend with God and His word.

Well, I need to stop. Until next time – keep your eyes on Jesus and let’s get passionate for Christ.

Why Don't You Share Your Faith . . .

Monday morning and brain-dead . . .

I don’t know about the students that I was with this weekend, but I am tired and brain-dead this morning – so I will post just a few thoughts that are rambling around in my head this morning.

I really enjoyed Stone Mountain. It was my first trip there and now I want to go back so that I can see everything they have there. We went to the 4D theater – it was awesome. The effects were great and it sprayed water in Crystal’s face. We took the cable ride to the top of the mountain (I want to do that again and walk back down – maybe in the spring so that it is not so hot.) The laser show and the fireworks were the bomb.

The students and adults enjoyed Six Flags as always, although I think I will always miss the Six Flags that I grew up with. The lines were not as bad as I have seen them and it was warm but not extremely hot. Mitchell saw the inside of first aid a lot (I would had paid to nap in a 65 degree room) but the park gave him and Rhonda tickets to come back since they didn’t have the great time they were hoping for.

Sunday morning worship was great as always. Pastor Chad preached about what God expected of parents – great message. The music was over the top as always.

Irene and I made a trip to Union to her parents for Father’s Day. We had a great lunch that her mom had prepared and we got to spend some time with our nephew Drake. I napped on the way home and then Irene napped when we got home.

VBS is this week. I am meeting with Dan Carroll for lunch to discuss what we will be doing with the students this week during their time in VBS. Dan is a great guy with a real heart for students and ministry.

I am praying that God gets me through this week so that I can sleep all day Saturday. That means that I will probably be awake and not be able to sleep.

Am I the only one that feels like this summer is flying by?

Anyway, that is about it for now. If I can now get my eyes to focus I have to get to work. Until next time – keep your eyes on Jesus and ride with your hands in the air – this life is better than any rollercoaster.

A video for David Roach

Listening to yourself is funny . . .

Have to ever listened to yourself on a recording? I did that for the first time in a long time last night. I had a CD of the sermon that I preached last Sunday made and when Irene and I left the church after youth worship, I popped it in and began to listen. Now, I’m not exactly sure what I thought my voice would sound like recorded, but that was not it. When I heard my voice, I started laughing. When I would tell a joke, I would laugh – yes it is a little strange to laugh at your own jokes. I have had the Sunday evening worship services with the youth recorded since the first of the year and I have not listened to s single sermon until last night. I probably should listen to them a little more, it might make me a better student pastor and a better preacher.

The main reason that I started having the sermons recorded was so that I could have a record of what I had preached and so that I could let friends listen from time to time to help me improve the way I preach. I really need to get back to that because I really want to become better at what God has called me to.

I really hope that God is teaching all of our students and leaders as much as He is teaching me this summer. Until next time – keep your eyes on Jesus and record yourself and listen to it – it is a hoot.

Faster than a speeding bullet . . .

This past weekend was fun. I spent a lot of time at the church and with our students. Thursday I went over to the church after eating supper with Irene and helped Robbie, Mitchell, and Matt build some new sections for the stage that we use in the gym for our contemporary service and for our students services on Sunday evenings.

Then Friday was our first Landing Zone. Eric gave us a short devotion out of the book of Psalms. The he taught us some stuff about the guitar. We also had left over birthday cake and ice cream, before settling in to play PS3.

Saturday it was back to the church to continue to work on the stage and get the gym back in order for the early worship service on Sunday. I helped Robbie, Mitchell and Matt put the stage together, get backdrops hung, stage painted, re-wire the stage area, put together our new air hockey table – you get the idea. By the way, the air-conditioning is not working yet in the gym – so it was HOT.

Sunday came and we went to the early worship service and listened to Pastor Chad preach and then after Sunday School we went to lunch and Cleveland park with some of our students. Then it was back to church for the student worship service in which Eric Spann brought a message on music and the gospel.

The first week and weekend of summer came and went in a blur. If the rest of the summer is like this past week – the students will be back in school before we can blink.

End of the Week thoughts . . .

This week started quick and ended slow, but it was all around a good week. Just a few things that I have on my mind . . .

It really blows my mind that I have had over 1000 hits on this blog. Who would have thought that there would be people that would want to see what I have to say.

I am really looking forward to Sunday. Air conditioning is looking like a real possibility. Pastor Chad will be back from vacation and I can’t wait to hear what God has for us.

A big thank you to Mitchell, Joey and Matt for helping Robbie with the building project. I think the new ideas were great and are going to look fabulous.

We are starting lots of new things at the end of this week and next week: Landing Zone (today), Wednesday night discipleship classes start this coming Wednesday; we are doing a picnic and ministry afternoon this Sunday in Cleveland Park.

We are going to Stone Mountain and Six Flags next weekend.

Are we thinking big enough with GodStock??? Does it need to feed straight into something else???

I can’t wait for school to start back. Not because I’m tired of our students or I want them to be unhappy. It’s because of all the new stuff we’ll kick off with the start of the new school year that are going to be awesome. And no I will not give clues – but it is going to be great.

WOW, it has gotten HOT quick this year. June 8th and 94 degrees already.

GodStock t-shirts will be in next week – hopefully. They will be awesome.

Eric is preaching during youth worship this Sunday night and David Roach next Sunday night – I can’t wait to see what God has given them for us.

I have listened to 13 sermons by Perry Noble and Steven Furtick and 4 commercials about youth culture. My mind is in over load with what God is teaching me this week.

I really like the song “Day by Day” by DC Talk. Old song from an even older song.

I’ve seen the music for the youth praise band this summer – I am impressed. Practice hard – the lock-in will be here before you can blink twice. Then blink twice again and it will be GodStock.

I had one of our students write about the sermon that I preached last Sunday on her blog. COOL!!

I think my wife is the greatest and I could not get what I get done without her. God knew what He was doing when he put us together. But it still blows my mind that she married me. That is proof positive that there is a God.

Until next time – keep your eyes on Jesus – and get out of the boat and get your feet wet.

I preached twice yesterday . . .

I had the privilege of preaching twice yesterday morning. Let me start out by saying that anyone who preaches more than once on a Sunday morning – my hat is off to you. Pastor Chad (my pastor and one of the coolest pastors around) has now been elevated to hero status in my eyes. I told Irene after the first service “if I had to do this every week, I would have to loose weight and go into training.” I was exhausted after the first service and then an hour later I got up and did it all over again. I did enjoy myself a lot yesterday. I don’t know if God will ever move my calling to preaching full time but having the opportunity to preach God’s word is one of the most exciting things I do.

Another tip of the hat goes to my friend Robbie. He is our associate pastor, minister of music, minister of education, etc., etc., etc. He is truly one of the hardest working staff members that I have ever been around. I knew that he did a lot but I actually got to see how much he does yesterday. Robbie – you are da man. Superman and Batman have nothing on you.

Last night with the students we did something a little different – basically because I was brain dead. Some if it was good and some of it seemed lacking as I look back on our session together. I really want to challenge our students not to just spit out word and answers that they have heard someone else say in response to a spiritual question. I want them in God’s word so that they can say with confidence what God has revealed to their hearts and minds. When we had finished at the church; we went to Subway for sandwiches and then to Heritage Park. That was the first time I had been to that park and was very impressed. I really like hanging out with our students. That is one of the reasons that I am really looking forward LZ.

LZ (Landing Zone) is a time on Friday afternoons when we will hang out together at the church to play games, discuss the bible, play music, play video games, etc. It will be a time when we can get to know each other better (that’s called fellowship).

Just a couple of reminders of things that are coming up:

Deposits for the Atlanta trip are due this Wednesday - $25.00

Discipleship classes begin on Wednesday the 13th. This will begin at 6:45 pm in the gym. We will divide up into classes after that. Remember to bring your bibles, a pen or pencil and something to write on.

Youth group guidelines and rules will be given out and explained this Sunday evening at the end of worship. These will need to be returned to Mr. Allen with both your parents and your signatures on them. We will do this occasionally because we are picking up new members in our group.

I am looking forward to next Sunday because the youth leaders will be back from vacation and some of our missing youth will be back from vacation, yet others will be missing on vacation. Sunday will also be great in that Eric Spann is bringing the message to the students that night. I haven’t had the privilege to hear him yet and I am really looking forward to that.

Until next time – keep your eyes on Jesus and live your faith our loud – your life may be the only sermon someone ever hears.

Friday’s fall out . . .

Just a few thoughts that seem to fall out of my head at the end of a long week . . .

I am blessed to work for a great company. I may struggle with the aggravation from the work week, but I know that as long as I work hard, my bosses have my back.

I think that it is wild, that at 48 years old I’m a student pastor for the best group of students on the planet.

I get to go to Frankie’s Fun Park tomorrow with our students. I get to play video games and putt putt and maybe even eat ice cream.

I have the privilege of preaching for both morning services and the youth service this Sunday. Holy smokes – that’s two sermons in one day. Don’t panic, God’s got it covered.

We have events planned for our students all the way to next February and beyond. Boy are we going to be busy.

I can’t wait for Sunday. The music has been great and is getting better each week. I am looking forward to praising my Lord this Sunday.

Summer's here – our students are out of school and I have to work. I’m jealous!!

I have great friends. One is going to come to my house tomorrow and help me fix a ceiling fan – one of the most aggravating machines on the planet. We’ll have fun no matter what.

We have new t-shirts coming and our students are going to be blown away. I can’t wait to get mine. And yes Robbie – I got another big size for you too.

VBS is coming and I will get to hang with a good friend of mine as he ministers to our students. I can not wait – it is going to be great.

GodStock ’07 is only 85 days away. WOW!!!!!

There are a couple of big black snakes outside my office. What really freaks me out is that the skin that they shed recently is hanging on a tree limb above the walkway into the building. Now I have to look up and down for snakes.

I get to preach three times this Sunday. I am getting so pumped.

I wonder if I can talk my wife into going and getting ice cream tonight.

I’m going to miss the youth leaders that are normally at church on Sunday nights. They will be at the beach this week, along with part of our students – all separate but together is you know what I mean.

Until next time – keep your eyes on Jesus.