Prayer List

I covet your prayers over the next week as God prepares us for Summer Breakaway.  Currently we are taking 160 to Breakaway this year that is 59 more than last year and 100 more than 2 years ago.  A lot goes into this week so we need as much prayer as we can get.

Some Specific requests are:

• The countless details still to be done
• Those bringing the Word…Pastor Cal, Sean, Bobby, Keeley
• That students will be saved and transformed by the Holy Spirit
• The band “Meet the Sky” that they would lead us to the Throne of God
• The volunteers, that they may be spiritually ready to pour into these teens
• That the lifestyle decisions would last beyond the retreat
• For rest to be multiplied
• For physical safety and spiritual risk

Alive in Review 061709

Teaching Series: Mind Games

Theme: Looking at absurd things Jesus said and did and the ramifications

Bible: John 9:1-41

Attendance: 215

Vols: 24

Length of Service: 50 x 2

Breakdown:  Attendance wise it was the lowest night we have had in months.  I attribute most of that to Summer and living in a lake town.  Brooke Overholt led worship and did an acoustic set and it was really great.   The message focused on the blind man being healed using a spit mudpie.  The bottom line was that Jesus is in the life-changing business.  We need to let him change us any way he can/will/pleases.  Several students prayed to receive Christ and several signed up to be baptized at the end of the month.  Overall it was a decent night.

Praying for the team

I am lifting up my volunteers right now.  Tonight is a big night.  Not because there is any special event planned but because there will be hundreds of teenagers here needing to hear the Gospel and before they get to the program to hear about Jesus, they will hear about Jesus from the actions of our volunteers.  Over a game of pool, basketball or just hanging around.  They will hear about Jesus from how we treat them, by our smiles, by our actions and reactions.

Also, I am praying for the volunteers for our Breakaway trip in 12 days.  We will have over 120 students attention for 5 days.  I am praying for holy conversations to occur over ice cream in the snack shack, in the dorms late at night or even walk around the campus.  God is on the move.  Let’s pray that we will see where he is going.  Join me will you.

NBA and youth ministry

Sitting here watching game 5 of the NBA Finals and am noticing some distinct things about basketball that parallel in ministry leadership.

1) There is always a leader on the team

Kobe, Labron, Howard…these guys ARE the stars.  If they are not in the game the win is going to be difficult.  However, no matter how skilled the star the team will not win unless the support cast works together.  This is true of all sports but with basketball probably more than any other.  If the rest of the team lays down the other team simply has to triple up on the star.  Similarly, in ministry there is a always a leader.  He/She is usually dynamic and usually holds the vision and direction of the ministry.  However, also like Basketball the ministry CANNOT win without the rest of the team.  NO LEADER no matter how dynamic or innovative can function effectively without good support.

2) You can’t spend a lot of time on a good shot

Unlike most sports Basketball players play offense and defense.  Which means you can hit a 360 slam dunk and wow the crowd but you don’t have any time to wave your arms and celebrate.  You have to get back down the court to defend!  In ministry our game is never over (well not until Jesus comes back) however, we do get some good shots in.  When we do we don’t have time to pump our chests or celebrate our glory because we need to get on defense.  The enemy (the other team) is quick to score back on us.

3) Fouls come at stupid times

The thing I hate about basketball is all the fouls.  The stupid fouls to stop the clock.  The stupid fouls that come from nowhere.  Well such is life in ministry.  Fouls come at stupid times and for seemingly no apparent reason.  It comes from a hard conversation with your pastor, a volunteer losing their faith in your vision, a student running away from Jesus…the same student that showed so much promise.  Those fouls hurt.

Anyway, nothing book worthy just some YM thoughts as I watch Kobe.  Gotta go they are on a run.

Hurry up and fast

With Breakaway coming in just 2 weeks I plan to do a juice fast.  There are some things that can only take place through prayer and fasting.  I am hoping/believing/expecting great things at Breakaway.  To prepare my body and my spirit I will be on a juice fast for the weekend.

I blog on this not to brag or to bring glory to myself but to seek your prayers and to invite you to join me.  You don’t have to fast food.  A few weeks ago, I fasted media (TV and Radio).  Fasting is not usually that difficult for me but lately I have felt a bit weary and when you are weary the first things to go is your discipline.

While fasting I will be praying for…

• Renewed passion and revival in my spirit
• The hearts of the students going to Breakaway to be transformed
• The health and growth of PNCC and Alive Youth Ministries
• Pastor Gary Lamb of Revolution Church and for the protection of the integrity for pastors everywhere
• my wife and girls

I hope you join me.

Alive in Review

Teaching Series: Mind Games

Theme: looking at some absurd statements from Jesus and why he said them

Bible: Mt 15:21-28

Attendance: 265

First timers: 7

Volunteers: 30

Length of service: 55 x 2

Breakdown: The night was pretty awesome considering my brain is fried getting ready for Breakaway.  We had a 2 song set list in the beginning that was very up (King of Majesty and Take it all).  recognized students going to Breakaway and went straight into message.  The title tonight is “why’d he call her a dog?”.  The way the sermon took shape it really became a message on racial reconciliation (which was cool because we had 21 african-american teens in the program last night, 4 first-timers).  The mood was good in both services, kudos to KidsPointe the 6th graders came in ready to worship, however there is an obvious leadership vacuum now in the MS service without the 8th graders.  We ended the evening with a video worship piece from Hillsong playing the song Hosanna.  The HS one at a time stood up raising their hands in worship…it was quite a sight.  Numbers were down a bit, I hope due to vacation.  Overall a good night.

Intoducing…Bobby Webster

In the world of Alive Youth Ministry Bobby really needs no introduction but now he is part of the team in an official capacity.  Bobby is coming on to the youth ministry staff as a part time associate in youth ministry.  He will be assisting me in more of  an official role in preaching/teaching and campus ministries.  I am glad to have a close friend serving with me.  He has a sincere heart for seeing teenagers come closer to Jesus.  Bobby has 2 sons in the program and a daughter in the children’s ministry.  His wife Nancy also is on the youth ministry staff as my personal assistant.  Bobby is a salesman for Coastal Air Solutions.  Please pray for Bobby as he juggles family, ministry and work and pray for Alive Youth Ministries continues to grow and flourish.

Alive in review – June 3

Teaching Series: Collide – Our monthly combined MS/HS worship experience

Theme: Graduation

Attendance: 300

First Time Guests: 12

Volunteers: 30

Length of service: 90 minutes

Breakdown: We definately learned our lesson from the last Collide.  We kept it simple and focused on worship and experiencing God.  The band was on point last night with breakout performances from Kristin and Shayla.  Brooke Overholt made a guest appearance and they team did a Barlow Girl number that was quite impressive.  A highlight was the time of communion, seeing 300 come up for communion is a sight that never gets old.  We had 2 graduates share from their heart, Andrew wrote a rap for the group that was incredible and Katie shared a sobering poem to encourage the younger kids to learn from their mistakes and lean on God.  It was a special night and a good night.

Frustration: after the service we had a couple of guys get in a fight.  I lost my cool after one of them threatened to go get a gun.  Had to expel 3 kids from the program.  That is necessary but hurts deeply.

Spiritual Check Up

I just finished recording our volunteer training CD for June.  I thought it would be cool to share some of it on my blog.  I know that health is important.  I know that guys that aren’t chunky work better than guys that are.  I know that it is in my best interest to stay healthy not only physically but also emotionally and spiritually.  However, that said…I stink at staying healthy.  I go to the gym religiously and then take months off.  I eat well and then basically keep BK in business.  I maintain a healthy study time and then get “busy” with Church stuff.  I protect my sabbath and then choose to stress instead.  I am the definition of inconsistency.  So from time to time I have to give myself a check up.  It usually comes when my wife yells at me and tells me to snap out of it, but hey whatever works!

When you go to the doctor, there are a few things that he always does…before he robs you and prescribes things you don’t need.

1) They weigh you = What is weighing you down right now?  What unconfessed sin are you carrying around with you?  What relationship issues are unresolved and it is eating you up inside?  Stop carrying that burden.  Deal with it and give it to the Lord.  He will lighten your load.

2) They take your blood pressure = What are you stressing over?  i am reading a book right now about David and goliath and the author pointed out that while the Israelites were focused on the size of Goliath, David was focused on the size of God.  What are you focussing on?  Your Goliath (large as he may be) or the strength and providence of God?

3) They check your pulse = How fast are you running?  I am not talking literally here.  I mean how many of you are burning your candles at both ends?  How many things are you doing and at what pace?  I took a day of media silence yesterday and embarrassingly it was HARD!  I am used to doing, doing, doing…to sit still in silence was almost akin to water boarding for me.  We need to learn to rest.  We need to learn to sit and listen.

4) They check your temperature = In Revelation Jesus asks if we are Hot or Cold, because lukewarmness makes him sick.  How is your zeal for Christ?  How often does your passion for Jesus shine through whatever you do?  When is the last time you shared the Gospel with someone?  When is the last time you dug into his word with excitement not routine?  Ouch, that hurt me.

5) Say ahhhh = They always stick that popsicle stick in your mouth and make you say ahhhh.  What would they hear coming from your mouth?  Would they hear words of encouragement?  Would they hear words of love and peace?  Would they hear bitterness?  Would they hear cynicism coming out in the name of humor but actually a form of anger?

5 things a doctor always looks at, why?  Because, in the simple things a lot can be determined.  Every now and then we need to do a simply check up to make sure we are healthy…and put the doughnut down too!

Alive in Review

Teaching Series: The Face of Love

Theme: Love gives

Bible: Luke 10:25-32

Attendance: 295

First Time Guests: 4

Volunteers: 30

Length of Service: 50 minutes x 2

Breakdown:  Middle School Service went well.  Played a little role playing game on stage with some students and they had a blast.  Worship was good in the MS service and GREAT in the HS service.  We said goodbye to a great volunteer Sam Caddell who is moving to Texas this week.  We will miss him dearly.