In the day or two following a great loss, I have taken time to reflect on life as I know it. The life I am leading, where I am headed, what I am doing to make the world a better place....
I have 2 voices going through my head....Kathleen gave us an example unlike any I have ever witnessed in real life. Her love for family, church, and God is an inspiration to me. She taught me so much in the last year and I will think of her every time I need to make a decision (I should clarify here, anytime I need to make a church decision - all things fixing/handyman/plumbing/building related will still be consulted through my Grampa, RIP).
Kathleen taught everyone she came in contact with, (especially over the last 2 years)how to fight a good fight. She never did anything half-way, everything, even in death, was full on, 100%, ready to go, get out of my way, lets rock....I am no longer living life half-a*&. not anymore. take life by the horns....
...the other voice is John Mayer, at his concert a few months ago, he talked about how if we can follow extraordinary people, learn from their mistakes, and take their life and model our after it, we don't have to go down any bad roads again...and we can learn how to REALLY live...amen and amen in the wake of the loss of Kathleen.
no more half-a&* from me....more postings, more books being written, more reading, more learning, more ordination, more loving family, more hanging with friends, more...living.....
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
empty promises
I am prety sure at this point NOBODY is checking this blog. I would have stopped a long time ago, in fact, I did..oops...
So here is it, the first blog post in a long time. I am going to really try this time to get into more of a habit. Seriously...
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RAIL
At camp this summer, I had a great moment when a Jr. high camper came up to me after the last nights worship service and was really excited. Here is a transcript of the conversation:
Camper: "I don't know what is wrong, I am like, so excited"
Me: "Why?"
Camper: "Does this feeling ever go away?"
Me: "What do you mean?"
Camper: "ok, I just served communion for the first time in my life and I love this feeling!" Does it ever go away?"
Me: "Nope"
Camper: "Really? This is so awesome!"
At which point she spazzed to her friends...
It was an awesome moment and served as a great reminder for me of what a joy it is to be the go between God and human in that moment of rememberance.
Very often I get to be the catalyst for God to do God's work in peoples hearts, that is just cool!
I do think it is interesting the variation of people's responses when they take communion.
The "funniest" is when people thank me (like I had anything to do with this). It is a socially appropriate response when people give you something, I know that, but I know my role in this act and there is no need to thank me...I promise.
"Thanks be to God" is my verbal response of choice. The ritual is designed to be a reminder of all that God has done and sacrificed for us, thanks be to God!
Serving communion feeds my soul and receiving communion is one of the "thinnest places" for me to encounter God. What a powerful opportunity!
So here is it, the first blog post in a long time. I am going to really try this time to get into more of a habit. Seriously...
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RAIL
At camp this summer, I had a great moment when a Jr. high camper came up to me after the last nights worship service and was really excited. Here is a transcript of the conversation:
Camper: "I don't know what is wrong, I am like, so excited"
Me: "Why?"
Camper: "Does this feeling ever go away?"
Me: "What do you mean?"
Camper: "ok, I just served communion for the first time in my life and I love this feeling!" Does it ever go away?"
Me: "Nope"
Camper: "Really? This is so awesome!"
At which point she spazzed to her friends...
It was an awesome moment and served as a great reminder for me of what a joy it is to be the go between God and human in that moment of rememberance.
Very often I get to be the catalyst for God to do God's work in peoples hearts, that is just cool!
I do think it is interesting the variation of people's responses when they take communion.
The "funniest" is when people thank me (like I had anything to do with this). It is a socially appropriate response when people give you something, I know that, but I know my role in this act and there is no need to thank me...I promise.
"Thanks be to God" is my verbal response of choice. The ritual is designed to be a reminder of all that God has done and sacrificed for us, thanks be to God!
Serving communion feeds my soul and receiving communion is one of the "thinnest places" for me to encounter God. What a powerful opportunity!
Monday, July 28, 2008
wow! what a summer
I guess it has been a while since I posted anything here! It has been a crazy and unreal kind of summer, both in schedule and amazing things that have happened.
As I sit here, I am recovering from 2 amazing weeks away, the first was at Sr. High Camp and the second was Sr. High Mission Trip. And at the same time, some of my dearest friends have just had their second child. They are spending the first few hours together, and I hope to see them all tomorrow.
In the meantime, there are about 1000 stories and thoughts I want to post, and I have made a commitment to myself to get them out there so that others might enjoy as well.
Here are some of the topics/titles that are in the hopper...
"The other side of the rail" (communion post, awesome story)
"Mission Trips thoughts"
"It's almost like homeless people are real people"
"Never drive a bus in a cemetery at night"
"Always fill your youth trips with awesome adults"
" A new understanding of youth empowerment"
" A new understanding of sharing the blessing of ministry"
"Answering the call to ministry" (made my summer!)
"Why we need a lot more adults/parents in youth ministries"
" Some awesome program ideas I had a 2 am while sleeping on the floor"
Lots more thoughts coming, I promise...thanks for hanging with me over the summer!
As I sit here, I am recovering from 2 amazing weeks away, the first was at Sr. High Camp and the second was Sr. High Mission Trip. And at the same time, some of my dearest friends have just had their second child. They are spending the first few hours together, and I hope to see them all tomorrow.
In the meantime, there are about 1000 stories and thoughts I want to post, and I have made a commitment to myself to get them out there so that others might enjoy as well.
Here are some of the topics/titles that are in the hopper...
"The other side of the rail" (communion post, awesome story)
"Mission Trips thoughts"
"It's almost like homeless people are real people"
"Never drive a bus in a cemetery at night"
"Always fill your youth trips with awesome adults"
" A new understanding of youth empowerment"
" A new understanding of sharing the blessing of ministry"
"Answering the call to ministry" (made my summer!)
"Why we need a lot more adults/parents in youth ministries"
" Some awesome program ideas I had a 2 am while sleeping on the floor"
Lots more thoughts coming, I promise...thanks for hanging with me over the summer!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
leaving...
I am sittting in my office, and after a whirlwind weekend, am preparing to leave on a weeklong trip...choir tour and mission trip....
I hope I have a chance to post throught the week about my travels, so check back often...peace.
I hope I have a chance to post throught the week about my travels, so check back often...peace.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
a postmodern slap in the face...identity crisis
today I got a flyer for a very popular youth ministry conference that happens 3 times all over the country every year. It is put on by a HUGE publishing company that publishes a slew o books on "postmodern" youth ministry. (Have no idea what I am talking about, click here for a postmodern primer)
I was struck beyond words at the cover...this is what it says: (only with fancy graphic designs behind it)
NATIONAL YOUTH WORKERS 2008
make it a convention
make it a camp for youth workers
make it a spiritual retreat
make it whatever you want
...whatever you need
...its yours
I have been to these conferences and they are spectacular. they always bring in the "biggest bands" and the greatest speakers. They make you laugh, they make you cry, they teach, they connect. They are really a great tool for youth directors....twice...I went three times and the third time seemed like the same thing, just with a different "theme".
I know other people go every year, and if that is what works for them, great! I just got tired of the "show" given my current state of mind and ministry context.
The thing that is so striking to me, is that these conventions have always been very specific in goals and targeted in purpose and knew exactly who they were and what their purpose was....
now...the postmodern lens has come into view...and the attitude of "whatever" is creeping into this event.
Sounds to me as though this company is having a REAL BIG identity crisis...
In try postmodern fashion - they seem to be struggling with identity formation and identity evolution.
One of the things that this generation of youth ministers (and ironically enough - much of the education in this was done by THIS company) has been taught, is that the generation that we are working with now (you and your kids) have had, are having, and will continue to have identity crisis and times of exploration. Long gone are the days of people retiring having worked for a company for 40+ years (or 10 years for that matter). This is not a product of loyalty, this is a product of career shifts.
As we all go through the next few years together (talking to my SUMC people here) I look forward to exploring identity in Jesus Christ with you. I believe vocation and calling are central themes to happiness in life. I look forward to sharing this adventure together.
Questions for you to ponder:
What are you passionate about?
If you could do one thing for the rest of your life what would you do?
What would you do with your time if someone gave you 100 million dollars?
Who are you (deep down) and how i god shaping the person that you are becoming?
Who has greater influence on you - God or friends?
Leave your thoughts in the comment section if you wish...
I was struck beyond words at the cover...this is what it says: (only with fancy graphic designs behind it)
NATIONAL YOUTH WORKERS 2008
make it a convention
make it a camp for youth workers
make it a spiritual retreat
make it whatever you want
...whatever you need
...its yours
I have been to these conferences and they are spectacular. they always bring in the "biggest bands" and the greatest speakers. They make you laugh, they make you cry, they teach, they connect. They are really a great tool for youth directors....twice...I went three times and the third time seemed like the same thing, just with a different "theme".
I know other people go every year, and if that is what works for them, great! I just got tired of the "show" given my current state of mind and ministry context.
The thing that is so striking to me, is that these conventions have always been very specific in goals and targeted in purpose and knew exactly who they were and what their purpose was....
now...the postmodern lens has come into view...and the attitude of "whatever" is creeping into this event.
Sounds to me as though this company is having a REAL BIG identity crisis...
In try postmodern fashion - they seem to be struggling with identity formation and identity evolution.
One of the things that this generation of youth ministers (and ironically enough - much of the education in this was done by THIS company) has been taught, is that the generation that we are working with now (you and your kids) have had, are having, and will continue to have identity crisis and times of exploration. Long gone are the days of people retiring having worked for a company for 40+ years (or 10 years for that matter). This is not a product of loyalty, this is a product of career shifts.
As we all go through the next few years together (talking to my SUMC people here) I look forward to exploring identity in Jesus Christ with you. I believe vocation and calling are central themes to happiness in life. I look forward to sharing this adventure together.
Questions for you to ponder:
What are you passionate about?
If you could do one thing for the rest of your life what would you do?
What would you do with your time if someone gave you 100 million dollars?
Who are you (deep down) and how i god shaping the person that you are becoming?
Who has greater influence on you - God or friends?
Leave your thoughts in the comment section if you wish...
blogger vacation
my friend Rob had a great blog the other day about how hard it is to blog...he went on a 2+ month hiatus from blogging (not the first time he has done this either) and he came back with a blog about how hard it is to blog about funny. It is so true...
I wish I was better at blogginf more regularly, but new schedules bring new habits...I am will try to set aside a few minutes each day over the sumemr and begin using this time as a SPIRITUAL PRACTICE...
Here we go...
I wish I was better at blogginf more regularly, but new schedules bring new habits...I am will try to set aside a few minutes each day over the sumemr and begin using this time as a SPIRITUAL PRACTICE...
Here we go...
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