Wedding rehearsal on Friday night—what a blast!Being @ Caesar’s Creek with a former student and his 1 more day to be bride, parents and family was a thrill.Then the wedding on Saturday with an incredible reception out doors—then onto Fairhaven for the Saturday night @ 6 gig.I really do enjoy speaking to that crowd—great people, laid back, great music— a great time to do ministry.Sunday a.m. came fast—speaking @ both services was really a great time for me—loved it, loved the people, loved the music—had a blast for sure.
Now the week is cookin.Tuesday staff has come and gone—time to work on uprising this coming Sunday night and the first parents meeting.Getting the ducks in a row to present to parents our vision, our heart our year, looking so forward to meeting with all of them.
So—so what now?Who am I kidding.If it were all about the above—that would be easy—it’s not—those things in ministry are the outside of what God is doing inside.Really?Yes.I am thinking about all that needs to get done, all that needs to happen—but I am also thinking about the how—
The how it will get done?It could be by shear force.It could be by shear energy.It could be by management of time, by management of people, it could be by management of whatever.In truth—I am going to seek God this afternoon to move mountains.To move the ministry along.To move in the hearts of students.
Yes, the only way the ministry is different than any other thing that happens in business, or at the Y.M.C.A. is that God is the catalyst.It is God we are ministering for and with.It is God that we hold high to move the ministry period.If it could be done in the flesh I guarantee it would be easy.It is not—many things need to take place and those things are of spiritual nature.Those things are what God is in the business of doing—Drawing people to Christ, drawing people to Himself, drawing people by the spirit to sort through all the junk so that we can focus on Him.
Yep—this afternoon is about calling out to the Lord to do big things in this ministry.
Oh Father,
That you would do mighty things in the Student Ministry.
That you would draw students to your Son.That you would cause an incredible movement that our students can be drawn to.That you would move this ministry to the place and places that you and you alone find to be beneficial.
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.Jeremiah 29.11
What a fine finish to an awesome week.Wow!Gorgeous end of summer type of night—and I just want to update my blog with a couple of highlights and things to look forward.
Interesting day today—supposedly a house viewing today—Marcie and I worked all morning to get the house looking great—I headed out to get my haircut—found out my girl was running behind—so I went and got 2 skyline dogs—came back and still waited for the haircut.Same time that was going on our dishwasher was supposed to get fixed after the showing—but know one showed and as I was driving up to the house the guy to fix the dishwasher was pulling up and Marcie was coming out of the neighbors house declaring a no show.Should the repair guy come in?Will the people finally show up?What gives?
All that to say—hmmmmmm what can one count on?Make a plan—look out.A schedule to keep—and if it gets jacked up, then what?Ahhhhh that is the reality of this life.Try your best to plan it all, with some room for the mess ups.Because you can never tell or know what really is going to happen—and today—one of those days for sure.
But—all that to say—there are some things that with some planning, prayer, seeking and trusting—God just blazes the trail ahead.I have been seeing that for the past month—un real the trail God is laying down… and to think—I get to be part of what He is doing—that is a thrill for sure.
Now, Saturday, tomorrow I leave for my 50th birthday bash that Marcie threw for me.Yes my birthday already happened—But Marcie got a time share condo in Pompano BeachFlorida for me to take some ole buddies.So—we catch a plane out and land in Florida to have a few dayz of guy time—fishing, hangin at the pool, the beach and eating like horses—it will be a blast.
Then when I get back—bam I have a wedding to do on Saturday the 12th with rehearsal on the 11th.Then on the 12th that Saturday night I speak at the Saturday night deal—my first speaking deal at the Fairhaven—I will be putting my finishing touches on the message while in Florida—Then Sunday preaching both services and then Bam—the first uprising in the worship center at 6:30
Oh man—lots of plans to consider—lots can go wrong… Right?Just like today.No—I believe that His plans are in place and we faithfully move through this life—and if some things thwart the plans—oh well—God will come through… I know… He has and He will.
Looking forward to preaching for sure—a little nervous—going with what is on my heart—which Dave Smith asked me to share—“Share your heart.”So I will.
Looking forward—
Blessings—I still don’t know who reads this blog—but it is fun—kind of journaling kind of thinking out loud.
But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
Well, I can’t believe that September is here!Unreal how time just blows on through.This time for me has been wild.Actually, this time for all of us is kind of like—living everyday by faith and then something back from God to sustain us all.
Cooper has started CentervilleHigh School.We moved to an apartment so we could enroll Coop on good faith—meaning that we really do live in Centerville—ultimately we will—but for now we also live in West Chester—at least one of us—some nights.
Marcie is on a trip to Chicago—with her company, so we had to take Harley Sioux to stay with a family because she could not live at the apartment nor could she live at the house by herself.So even the dog is in transition.Poor thing.
Alex is in Australia—having a great time, but struggling through love issues, what and where issues and why issues—typical 18 year old stuff—he too is in transition—I say better down under where he has to learn to trust in the Lord than here right now—doing something just to obtain some kind of stability would be I think, his tendency.Right.
I may just be at the best stage in my life for several reasons.The first big one is that the past few years has led me to a place where I believe and trust God period.This time of vagabond living is nuts, but I know God has a great plan.
Second, I am working at a ministry role that I love and is totally natural for me.I work with a great staff, great people and have exceptional people around me.It really is fun, challenging, and very satisfying knowing that in truth—I am just a vessel that God is using in ways I knew He would—not because I get it, but because I’m His.
Third, student ministry is my passion for several reasons—but the main one is simply that the prior years, serving as Senior Pastor, Interim Pastor, Youth Pastor at Far Hills and then the only pastor + the years in corporate sales have produced in me a deep love for students that I know I couldn’t conjure up on my own—but the 20 years of serving students, families and my own family have made me a little more confident in what works—let alone what is right and good.
Amazing that next week I get back from my 50th birthday gig Marcie gave me for my birthday—that is going to Florida with 3 buddies, a condo, deep sea fishing, and lounge duty.I come home—do a wedding on Saturday, preach at the Saturday night deal and then preach both services Sunday and then do Uprising on Sunday night—funny how I am embracing that weekend in a huge way—why?
Could it be that my 3 years in corporate sales prepared me for a new work ethic?Could it be that my time away from Fairhaven gave me a real love for working in a church like Fairhaven?Could it be that my time in the pit and the transition period is saying—just do the right stuff and don’t worry about the outcome?Could it be that I am just content being part of the movement of God period?
I think it is all of the above and for that—I am extremely excited, prayful, diligent, ready, and moving forward—Yes—as was once said not to long ago—
It’s all Good! Yep, I am excited-- God is doing-- following Jesus is a trip.
2 Corinthians 4.7
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
