My Epic Journey

Day 2 started early in the morning–at least for this youth pastor.  Worship began at 8:30 am with Station 2 leading and Duffy Robbins speaking.  It was an amazing time of reflection and a great way to start the day.

After worship we began our 8 hour intensive tracks.  Thankfully they weren’t 8 hours straight.  After wrestling what may be the best track for me to take I decided that Dave Rahn and Chuck Klein’s track, Moving Your Ministry on to the Campus, would be most fitting for me.  Our church is located in the fastest growing school district in the state of Ohio.  There averaging a new Middle School every two years and a new High School every three years.  It is hard to keep up but it is also an amazing mission field.  Over the past year I have been racking my brain as to what is the best way to get a vibrant campus ministry going.  I was extremely pleased to have some great insight from Rahn and Klein as to what has worked well for them.

Later that afternoon I got of watch Megan Vallely at a cheerleading competition that was also being hosted at the Convention Center.

I left early and missed the evening talk which was led by Kay Warren, pastor’s wife of Rick Warren and Saddleback Community Church.  It was Anna and my 11 year anniversary.  We got rid of the kids (thanks Upchurch family) and went to the Cheesecake Factory.

Overall Day 2 was a great day and it made me look forward to Day 3.

i am excited.  very excited.  tomorrow i am heading to the national youth ministry conference.  one great thing is, i don’t have to go to far because this year the conference is held right here in columbus, ohio. 

i am excited for a couple of reasons:

1. i am tired.  i’m not sure if it because of the grad class, just a packed ministry winter, or satan using people to pick on the little things, but i am tired and i can feel it.  i’m afraid my ministry can feel it as well.  i need a fresh look, a creative springboard but even more, i need to be with my peeps.
2. hanging with my peeps.  i need to hang with my peeps.  the ones who know what i am going through, that have the same passions i have and the same love for the same group of people that i love.  I need my peeps.

i am hoping to take away from this conference:

1. a renewed love for my amazing epic volunteer staff,
2. a renewed love for my students,
3. a new love for the students in my community,
4. a new love what God has called me to,
5. but most importantly, a renewed love for my God.

i am asking for your prayers this weekdend.  pray that my passion for ministry is renewed, that i am reminded as to why God called me and that i come away with an excitement for ministry that i have never felt in the past 11 years working with students!

As I sat in front of the TV watching Rick Warren (Pastor of Saddleback Community Church and author of best-selling book, The Purpose Driven Life) being interviewed on Dateline, I was struck by two of his quotes:

“You don’t realize God is all you need until He is all you have.”

I know in my own life, especially during times when things seem to be going well, I lose sight of my need for God.  I think I can do it on my own.  And then the rug is pulled out from under me and I realize just how important my dependency on God really is.

“I am naturally inclined to have sex with every beautiful woman I see, but that doesn’t make it right.”

I love this quote, especially as we head into this year’s high school retreat, The CHILL.  The topic is purity.  I want to express to my students, especially the guys, that their sexual drive is actually given by God but there are confines to that gift.

Continue to pray for Rick Warren as he will continually be put into the public spotlight for his views and this beliefs.