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.

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.