Well, today was a surreal day. I arrived at the NC East district camp to help set up(they are still there setting up while I’m typing this) and greeted friends who had wondered if and when this day would come. I’m pumped to be on this team. I want to get to know the youth pastors I don’t know as well and do what I can to make the team even stronger. It was a fun day filled with laughs, dirty hands, and pizza. So far, the transition is going smoothly, and the people here have been great. I miss my Chichester peeps tremendously, but I know they are friends for life. Pray for me as I have my first meeting tonight with the adult leaders of the youth group. I just want to get to know them and get a glimpse of where their hearts are coming from. It’s the first step toward building a solid team of 10-15 volunteers before school starts and then it’s on. God is good. His grace and mercy be with you all.
New Day, New Office
I wonder if students would use as much profanity when writing on people’s Facebook walls if they realized that other people(including their current and former youth pastors) could see it.
Well, I spent most of the day yesterday setting up the office, registering the girls for kindergarten, and hanging with Wesley Grubb. By the way, there are a whole lot of Grubbs in the Davidson county phone book. Karen is getting the house set up and things are looking great. God has provided out needs through the kindness of the church folks including some great food, a new fridge, and a washer and dryer are on the way. There were so many people Friday to help unload the truck that it was emptied in less than 30 minutes. We are still sorting through stuff and that may take a while. Thanks for your prayers. Please pray that Drake adjusts to being in a toddler bed. He hasn’t made it through the night yet, but we are hopeful.
I will have my thought on the Wesleyan General Conference when it is over. My unnamed source has threatened litigation and loss of grapevine privileges if I quote him. Gotta get back to work. Peace and love to all!
All my bags are packed…kinda
I don’t remember being this tired with such a bad headache. However, the truck is loaded(except for a few things), the NBA finals start in 5 minutes or so, and life is good. There’s a great line in Star Trek Generations(my nerd status is now confirmed) where Captain Kirk tells Captain Picard to never give up being a captain of a starship because, “While you’re there you can make a difference.” I’ve been thinking about that a lot the last few days as I’ve had lots of time to myself. Do I make a difference? Have I made a difference? Will I make a difference? Why do I want to make a difference? What difference does it make? I try to learn from my mistakes, but I also see the mistakes of others and try to learn lessons from them as well. One lesson that I’m trying to apply more effectively is this-nothing I do in ministry will make a difference if through the hours of investing my life into others I am not being shaped and formed by God and for God. I think ministry can become second nature and what we “do” rather than who we “are.” There have been many people through the ages who had great “ministries” while their personal lives were falling apart. Captain Kirk eventually sacrifices his life to make a difference and save a planet. His dying words and thoughts were,”Did we make a difference?” I know I won’t if God isn’t making a difference in me every single day.
Speedy Gonzales
Okay this will be brief as I have a million and 1 things to do. Church gave us a great send off yesterday and Puseys had a great youth party for us last night. A great day and we got alot of cleaning done. Karen leaves tonight with her mom and I load the truck Thursday. I have so much to do the next two days it’s not even funny. Keep us in your prayers-can’t wait to update you all on our status and start blogging every day again. Peace, love, hope, and joy to all!
The Big Announcement
Well, after lots of prayer and seeking the Lord, we have accepted the Youth and Worship position at Denton Wesleyan Church in Denton, NC. We will be moving in a week or so in order to be a part of both NC East youth camps. Thanks for all your encouragement and prayers. I especially want to thank the people of Chi United who have been so supportive and encouraging during this whole process for our family. So I have a lot to be thankful for. Here’s a list of praises and requests…
1. Some people never get to work at a great loving church. Denton will be my third great loving church. Central First and Chi United are both great churches with people who loved and helped me to grow in my faith.
2. I have been able to work with great pastors-Fred Andrews, Tom Harding, Pete Wood, Mike McClung, and now Charlie Collins and Kelsey Hart.
3. We have lived in two great communities and are moving to a third great community.
4. I have worked with awesome teens and leaders in SC and Pennsylvania and look forward to working with great teens and leaders in Denton. From Nancy Zeigler, Bill Weeks, Dr. J, the Woods and the dozens of college interns in Central to Lynda Pusey, Kevin and Lisa Nodis, Charlie Kramp, Paul and Karen Taylor at Chichester, I have been surrounded by great adult leaders(even the ones I may have forgotten to mention by name). I also can’t say enough about the teens at each church. It is hard to leave such amazing kids.
5. Bottom line…I am blessed. My family is blessed.
Requests…
1. Pray for my mom as she watches our kids this week. Pray for her strength and for our kids to listen and mind her.
2. Pray for traveling safety for Karen and I as we drive and move to Denton next week.
3. Pray for Chi United as they search for a new assistant pastor and for Denton in the transitions there.
4. Pray especially for me as I finish preparations to speak at NC East Senior High camp. To quote Perry Noble,”God is rocking my face off right now!”
Much love to all my friends, neighbors and family. To be continued….
Random confessions
1. My kids are watching Charlotte’s Web. I have no idea what the movie or book is about. Am I the only over 30 person to make it through adolescence without reading or seeing it?
2. I tweaked my knee at Breakout and it’s bothering me a lot. Of course, it’s been carrying too much extra weight for 10 years.
3. I’ve had nightmares that woke me up the last two nights. The first time I dreamed there was a snake in the bed and I jumped out of bed. This isn’t the first time this has happened so Karen knew to just tell me it was a dream and that everything was okay. Of course, I was just standing there half asleep and hyperventilating. Last night, I dreamed that my kids and some others were riding on the backs of two crocodiles. Apparently this was safe, but then Drake fell off and was about to be eaten by a third one when I woke up in a cold sweat. Snakes and spiders have woke me up before, but that’s the first time a dream about my kids has. What do these dreams say about me?
4. I’m not scared of the dark. I’m scared of what could be lurking in the dark.
5. There is a conversation I have to have this weekend. I’ve never had a conversation like this before and I am a bit scared. It’s an important one and I trust God will be in it. It is a good conversation to have and I believe God will reveal his will through it.
6. Drake is up from his nap and getting into stuff so I’m off!