I was cruising some cool blogs and came across this. Some of you have most likely have seen this t-shirt. Found Mark’s blog a good read. We’d save lots of money on church publicity. The shirts history tracks back here.

Although I’ve hung out in ministry for a while and have been around the church, one of the things I’ve never had the opportunity to do is moderate a session meeting. I’ve always shown up and given my two minute Christian Education reports. Tonight I get to moderate my second session meeting. (the first one was at a church our Committee on Ministry asked me to moderate) I have to confess that I’m a little nervous. This will be the first time that folks at my church get to see me do something else other then play youth pastor dude with a bunch of students and preaching. I’m also excited that it’s a night where we talk about something I’m passionate about. What it means to be a church that not only evangelizes the world, but its own neighborhood. Off to session.

My beautiful wife had her birthday yesterday. It was that special birthday that everyone has to face. I’m three years shy of that special year and as I made mention of my wife’s birthday yesterday in church at on of the worship services, I heard one of our older folks yell out, “a gentleman doesn’t tell his wife’s age.” I laughed. I love my wife and all that she is and means to me and to my kiddoes. I only pray that as she begins a new year in her life that she would find much joy and happiness.

I have to say that each and every day was a blast. If I were to choose between being the “camp dude,” for a week or at church, I would choose camp dude. It was a great week. I loved every moment. It was also a great opportunity to hang with some collegians who are just at the very beggining of their youth ministry experience. The best part of the week was when I got to invite kids to to make a decision to follow Christ. There’s nothing more awesome then inviting a bunch of Jr. High students to considering what their lives would like if Christ were the center of their life.

One of the other joys I have had over the years is leading worship for the churches I’ve served. I had the chance as a youth to watch pastors I had as a kid like Mark Roberts and my youth pastor as a kid John Geary model what a worship leader was to be for a flock of folks looking to worship the Lord. My other worship influences for worship leadership came out of the Vineyard with worship leaders like Eddie Espinosa and the founder of the Vineyard, Pastor and Worship leader, the late John Wimber. This past week I got to help lead the music for the Jr. High camp I was at with our youth group and where I spoke. What an awesome experience. I don’t claim to rock at the guitar or even to have a voice like Esponosa, but nothing beats being able to lead a bunch of kids into the throne room of our God.

It’s hard to know sometimes if you have hit a bulls eye when it comes to talks with kids in youth ministry. Tonight’s theme (Which the camp wrote) was, “No matter what: God can count on me.” I changed it around a bit. “No matter what: I can count on God.” Now I know Jr. High was an interesting experience for me as a kid. I often was lost and unsure of what in the world God was doing in my life. I felt that tonight’s scripture conveyed a message that no matter what we go through in life, especially as a Jr. High student that God is with us. The Lord was most certainly present in my life and I hope that they got that same message that God is always present in the toughest parts of our lives and that we can rely on him to pull us from what feels like a lions den. The best part of today was that I got to hang with some of the kids from our church at poolside. One reflection about ministry today was that over the years there are trips Deb and the kids haven’t attended with me. I always miss them when I’m away and I only pray that the Lord will bless them this evening. They do get to join me on Friday. I can’t wait.

Camp food, lanyards, and a chance to observe, listen, and thank God for the opportunity to give a word of hope and to help some Jr. high kids come to know God’s love in a new way. Got to get my talk all ready for tonight. Here’s my text and our theme for the week: “No matter what: A love that won’t let go” and tonights talk, “No matter what: God will seek me.”

I remember the night before camp. I usually stayed up as long as I could until I finally fell a sleep . I also wished I lived at camp as a kid. I hated being at home. Camp for me was a way of escape from the chaos of growing up in a alcohol and drug dependent family. As I write this I laugh. Two of our kiddoes/campers are almost all packed, teeth brushed, mom’s out at target shopping for last minute stuff, and both are still wide awake. What’s cool is that I get to go. Can’t wait! I also get to speak to around a hundred Jr. high kids about God loving us no matter what! To be a kid again!!! This time though I praise God that our kids have a wonderful home, with loving parental units, and a place they feel safe, cared for, and where the Lord lives and loves them. No matter what!

(The Young Couple Almost 16 Years Ago!)

I just finished working with a young couple on plans for a wedding that I’m officiating at in July. In my first year of ordained ministry I’ve had the opportunity of officiating at three weddings. Between now and October I will officiate at three more weddings. I’m blown away by the responsibility that I’ve been given as a pastor to work with couples in helping them prepare for marriage. It’s an honor and at the same time a bit nerve wracking. You do your best for what you’ve been given in your little training as a pastor to equip, encourage, and teach couples how to be in right relationship with God and also with one another. It’s also a call for me to pray that the Holy Spirit will protect and will keep each of these couples empowered, equipped, and encouraged and built up for what each will face in their lives together as husband and wife. I’m also reminded when I get to meet with these couples of where God has brought Deb and I in our marriage. We’ve worked hard. I’m truly blessed by Deb in who she is and all that she is to me and to our three beautiful sons. God’s grace is amazing. I’m also grateful to the pastors and folks who modeled for us what a strong Christ like marriage was and should be.

“A New Kind Of Christian” and “Post Evangelical.” I had lunch with a therapist from our church today and he said I would enjoy them. Summer reading!

Thanks to Rev. Bill for Impressive Theological Constructs. Where was this when I was in my first year of seminary?

I was cruising the other Presbyterian Church and came across this this via this. They can’t be serious right?