Averageyouthpastor

You've Got to Love Children

Let Me Tell YOU Something!

Do you know that God wants to know you personally?  

As someone who has spent a large portion of their adult life serving in full-time ministry, I am surprised by how much I told other people that and how inconsistent I was about applying that to my own life.  

I talked the talk without always walking the walk.

Since August I have been looking for what's next for me in ministry.  It's been exciting and very refreshing for me.  One of the things I have learned during this transition time is that I have made a lot of rookie mistakes in ministry! 

I began to realize how often I would read the Bible and look to apply it to the people I was given the opportunity to lead.

I realized that I spent much more time praying for others and very little praying and talking to God about myself. 

I discovered that when I would read books I would look to find ways to apply the information to others and rarely to myself. 

I found that on Sunday mornings I was much more concerned with processing the service than I was with my own personal development.

If you were to ask me now what's been the best part of this time away from ministry for myself I could honestly say it's been getting my relationship with God back on track.

God wants to know me.  He wants to have a relationship with me.  Through that relationship, He wants to work through me to encourage and impact the lives of others. 

I know for the 2-3 people that read my blog that this is something that you already knew. Nothing mind blowing for you hear.  

Or is it? 

Do you spend consistent time talking to God about what's going on with you?

Are you allowing God to work on you before He works through you? 

If you serve in any position of leadership in a church I would say that before you are given an opportunity to tell THEM anything, let God tell YOU something.  

Remembering...

I remember waking up in my apartment in Springfield, Missouri, turning on the television and watching the 2nd tower get hit live.  I sat there for the rest of the day, in total shock, watching the events unfold.  

Music has a way of bringing me back to specific moments in my life. I remember watching the tribute special a couple of weeks later that raised money for the families of the victims and watching Bruce Springsteen sing, "My City of Ruins".  

This is one of those songs that brings back all of the emotions I was feeling during that very tragic time.  

May we never forget the lives that were lost on this day.

Goodbye For Now

Yesterday evening I was privileged to have the opportunity to take the most amazing person in the world out for ice cream...my daughter, Abby.  We decided to go to Dairy Queen where we shared a Banana Split and we laughed with each other...loudly...and a lot. 

While we were sitting there a mom came in with her two children and sat in a booth close to us. They were all enjoying their ice cream, not as much as Abby and I, when the mother received a phone call.  Now I don't know who called her and I wasn't trying to be nosey, but I could tell by her tears and by what she was saying that she just found out someone very dear to her had just passed away. 

I just couldn't take my mind off of this family for the rest of the time we were there.  I wanted to get up and give them a hug.  I wanted to see if there was anything I could do for them.  I wanted them to know that, in some ways, I knew what they are going through.  But what I did do was enjoy the rest of the time I had with my daughter eating ice cream, go to the car, and I quietly prayed for the family as we pulled away.  

Losing those we love and care for is such a difficult part of this life.  We will always have the memories to cherish and remind us of how much those that we care for have meant to us.  We also have the hope of everlasting life and the opportunity to see them again when they are in heaven.  

Sometimes it's important that we are reminded that this life we live is only temporary.  As I sat there sharing a special moment with my daughter last night, a family was grieving over their loss and beginning the process of saying goodbye.  

I don't know the name of the family and I didn't feel like it would be appropriate to speak with them last night, but I would pray that during this time they would have peace.  I pray that they would hold on to the hope that someday soon they will be together again.  The peace that comes from knowing that can make a world of difference.  It doesn't have to be goodbye forever...my prayer would be it's only goodbye for now. 

"I will turn their mourning into gladness.  

 I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow."

                                                                                            Jeremiah 31:13

 

Today

Today is an opportunity.

Today isn't yesterday.  Today is a new day for you to make the most of.

Today is going to happen whether you are ready or not.  

Today is a day that cannot be wasted or looked past.

Today you have a chance to try again.

Today could change your life....Today YOU have the opportunity to change someone else's life.

Today is an opportunity. 

Be intentional and make the most of Today

Perspective

Life can be overwhelming sometimes.  It's so easy to get caught up in what's being thrown at us everyday that we forget to take a step back and enjoy the moment.  Maybe today would be a good day for us to take a look at life from a child's perspective. 

Children can't help, but be loud, joyful and full of life.  I have yet to meet a two year old that is overwhelmed with all of the responsibilities that he/she has.  They love life and their face shows it.

I am not saying that we all should neglect all of our responsibilities and begin to live careless lives.  I just think that we can sometimes become a prisoner to the negatives and we lose focus of all of the great things that really make our lives special.  

Take a moment today to enjoy the good things in your life.
Take your spouse on a date.
Play with your children.
Call a close friend and let them know how much you appreciate them.
Invite Sam and Dana to dinner.
Laugh.

We only get one chance at this life. 

Why not make the most of it?

(Don't you just love that picture of my 2 year old, Sidney, above?)

Could There be a Better Way to Live?

“He has told you, O man, what is good; 
 and what does the LORD require of you
 but to do justice, and to love mercy,
  and to walk humbly with your God?” 
                                              Micah 6:8

Last week I had the opportunity to attend Mission Community Church for the first time in Gilbert, AZ.  I thought the experience was incredible from the moment we stepped on the campus, to way they took care of our children and the service itself.  I also really appreciated what they are doing to have an impact the community.  They recently changed their name from Superstition Springs Community Church to Mission Community to reflect what they are all about as Christ-Followers. Their mission is simple - Do Justice, Love Mercy and Walk Humbly w/ Our God, which is taken from Micah 6:8. It isn't just a cool phrase to them either.  It's a way of life that they work very hard to ingrain into the culture of the church. 

Since Sunday, that mission has still resonated with me personally.  

Could there be a better way to live?

Do Justice. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly.

Take some time today to reflect on this passage in Micah.  

Does your life reflect your commitment to these three statements?

What can you do today to do a better job of living your life in this way? 

It's exciting to see what God is doing at Mission Community.  I look forward to seeing what God does through this church over the next few years.  

Lessons I've Learned from the UFC

#1 BONES BREAK...WORDS KILL

Have you ever had someone say something negative to you that you will never forget?

We all have these moments that are recorded in our minds. Moments we wish would have never happened.  When we replay the things that were said in our minds, it still hurts and the words still affect us. 

In Mixed Martial Arts there are rules the fighters must follow.  They wear itty-bitty gloves that protect their hands and, somehow, limit the damage inflicted to their opponents.  As a cage fighter, you also have the ability to tap out whenever you have had enough punishment. 

Life isn't always like this.  Words can be very painful.  As much as you would like to tap out and move on....sometimes the pain of the words remain long after the fight is over.  

Just like breaking a bone in your leg, like my buddy in the picture above, there are things that people can say to you that cause you to need to go through a time of healing afterwards.  

Have you taken the time to heal from the words that have been said about you?  

Have you been able to bring yourself to recovery and become a stronger person because of the experience?

Have you tried to forget about the injury and been walking wounded ever since?

God wants to heal you.  Know that. God doesn't want you to feel the weight of the words that have been spoken to you any longer.  He wants you to learn what you can from the experience and move on.  Forgive.  Maybe never forget.  But forgive. 

Are there things that have been said about you that you have started to believe about yourself even though you know they are not true? 

Take some time today to view yourself through God's lens and not through the lens of others.  

My prayer for you today is that you would no longer feel like you have to carry the weight of those words anymore.  That you would begin a conversation with God about the hurt it has caused you and start the process of forgiving.  

I pray that you would have someone you can trust come into your life that you can talk to about what's happened to you.  Someone that believes in you and is willing to walk with you through this season in your life.

I pray that today you will no longer have to walk wounded.  

The Joys of Retirement

A couple of weeks ago, I officially retired at the age of 32.  

_{The perks to my life of retirement have been outstanding!}  

I know that many of you are probably jealous that I was able to make this decision at such a young age....and you should be.

So, to help you see exactly what you are missing out on, I thought I would share some of the highlights of my new life of freedom!

1. Kathie Lee is Back on TV!                                                                                                   

 Just in case 3 hours of the Today Show weren't enough, they have an additional hour for you to enjoy immediately follow Regis & Kelly! I would have never known about this incredible discovery if it wasn't for my retirement.  And the best part.....KATHIE LEE!  Who better to close out the 4th and final hour of the Today Show than America's Favorite TV Personality, Kathie Lee Gifford? With segments such as "Natural Remedies to Cure Baldness" and "Safest Vehicles for Soccer Moms", the show is both informative and entertaining.  

2. Farkle                                                                 

For those that have never heard of Farkle, it's not a new Christian curse word....it's like a really boring version of Yahtzee.  I now get to play the game that is sweeping the Facebook Nation whenever I want!  The only problem that I have with Farkle is that it has really hampered my Bejeweled addiction.   

3. Maury Povich is Not the Baby Daddy

Maury Povich is on a mission.  Who is the Baby Daddy?  I had no idea that there were so many people that wanted to find out the answer to this important question on national television. Maury Povich is like that really weird Grandpa that I never wish I had.  Thank you Maury for the blessing that you are to so many!

4. Phone Solicitors 

I could have sworn we were on the Do-Not-Call List.  Thank you for calling a couple of times a day to sell me a product that I don't want.  Better yet, thank you for reminding me to make sure that we are actually on the Do-Not-Call List.  I do find it kind of fun to turn the game back around on them.  I try to sell them a product at the same time they are trying to sell me one.  It's very frustrating for them and very entertaining for me.  My goal is to get them to say, "No Thanks." to me and then hang up.  It's a nice twist to a usually monotonous phone call.  

Jealous?  Bitter?  Don't be.  Everyday that you work is another day closer to your retirement. Take this post, print it out and read it as often as you need to. 

Hopefully, I have given you all something to look forward to.  

I wish I could write more, but Kathie Lee is on!  

The Monkey and the Fish - Question #3

(Part 3 of 3 to the questions presented in my recent post, "The Monkey and the Fish")

Could there be times where I feel I (monkey) am helping someone (fish) when I am actually doing more damage than good?

I have some serious issues.  Most of you that know me already knew this.  Those of you that read my blog and don't like me are holding yourselves back right now from writing a lengthy comment to this post, breaking down all of the problems you believe I have.  Please...I already know.  I am a work in progress and have a lot of areas that I need to improve in.  One of those areas that I know I need to get better in is the fact that I think I am Dr. Phil.  I am a little less qualified than he is and my close friend, Toby, has a lot less money than his close friend, Oprah. Other than that, we have a lot in common.  I seem to think that whenever someone begins sharing their life problems with me that what they really want me to do is blow them away with my incredible wisdom and offer them the solutions that will change their life forever. Even worse, sometimes when someone is speaking to me about a subject I stop listening to what they are saying and just wait for them to finish speaking because I am more focused on what I am about to say than I am on what they are saying.  Anyone else have that problem?  I think that people are sharing things with me because I am the cheapest version of Dr. Phil they could find.  

I wonder how often I thought I have been helping someone when in all actuality I was really hurting them?  

How could that happen? 

Here are some ways that I feel I may have done this.  

I have shared advice without truly listening to the situation and not weighing the alternatives.  

I have misused my position as a Pastor to lead people in believing that everything I say is on loan directly from God to them.  

I have assumed that by taking someone out of their circumstance and inviting them to a church service that I have shown them how to make the course corrections they need to make in their own lives when they get home.  

I have placed too much emphasis on people making a decision to become a Christ follower and not worked with them on the baggage they brought in with them before they made that decision and was more than likely still with them when they left.

Can you relate to any of these scenarios? 

What are the times in your life that you have had the intentions to help someone, but might have been more hurtful than helpful?

You might not be able to go back in time to right your wrongs, but you can learn from those moments and work to not allow it to happen again. 

A hurricane stranded a monkey on an island. In a protected place on the shore, while waiting for the raging waters to recede, he spotted a fish swimming against the current. It seemed to the monkey that the fish was struggling and needed assistance. Being of kind heart, the monkey resolved to help the fish.

A tree leaned precariously over the spot where the fish seemed to struggle. At considerable risk to himself, the monkey moved far out on the limb, reached down, and snatched the fish from the waters. Scurrying back to the safety of his shelter, he carefully laid the fish on dry ground. For a few moments, the fish showed excitement but soon settled into a peaceful rest. - An Eastern Parable

Remember, a fish fighting the current of the ocean is in a better place than if it was "resting" on the shore. Some situations are better to push through than to get out of. It seems like God is able to mold us into His image more through the difficult times than He is the good.  Your help might not be helping as much as it is hurting.